Derryfield Today, Fall 2006 by The Derryfield School

today

Derryfield

NEWS FROM THE DERRYFIELD SCHOOL

Country Fair Weekend > Letters from College > Seussical

FA L L 2 0 0 6

Roman Holiday Middle school Latin scholars once again celebrated Roman Holiday on Wednesday, November 8. The day was filled with classic games, including Caesar Dicit and chariot races (in the rain!). Students finished off the festivities with a Roman feast and short skits.

contents Table of

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Dianne Connolly Chair Windham, NH

DERRYFIELD TODAY

John Allard ’83 Manchester, NH

Annie Branch Director of Communications

Bradley Benson ’78 Derry, NH

Diane Allen Staff Writer

Christine Cikacz Chester, NH

Griffin Bodi Krause Design

Nigel Donovan Treasurer Bedford, NH

Arthur Coviello Hollis, NH

Puritan Press Printing

Jennifer D. Melkonian Interim Head of School Hopkinton, NH

Jim Davis New Boston, NH

CONTRIBUTORS

L. William Davis II Hopkinton, NH

Eileen Haletky Cavallaro ’86

Steven Burke Vice Chair Bedford, NH

Janice Romanowsky Secretary Hampstead, NH Cathryn Vaughn ’91 Assistant Secretary Manchester, NH

FALL 2006

features FEATURES

Letters from College

by Annie Branch

Dr. Louis Fink Bedford, NH Paul LeBlanc Manchester, NH Donna K. Lencki Candia, NH Lourdes Maldonado Manchester, NH Walter Milne ’82 Manchester, NH Constantinos Mokas Manchester, NH Eric Nickerson Windham, NH Jeffrey Pollock Manchester, NH

Kate Erskine Director, Summerbridge

Keeping Things Fresh

by Eileen Haletky Cavallaro ’86

Awakening a Sense of History Rick Zeller

by Diane Allen

Andy Moerlein VAPA Department Kathleen Rutty-Fey ’87 Director of Admission Jenna Bee ’05, James Jorgensen ’06, Tim Kramer ’06, Emma LeBlanc ’05, Jaclyn Leeds ’06, Eric Spierer ’06, Emma LeBlanc ’05 ADVANCEMENT

departments DEPARTMENTS

Message from the Head Around Campus

Diane Allen Alumni Coordinator

Cougar Athletics

Lori Evans ’00 Associate Director of Advancement

Summerbridge Spotlight

Gail Gordon Advancement Assistant Alice Handwerk Director of Advancement

Update on Alumni Life After Derryfield Faculty Profile

2 4 10 12 18 22 29

FRONT COVER: Bruce Berk, Director of College Planning, summits an inflatable at Country Fair. INSIDE FRONT COVER: Middle schoolers compete in the chariot race during Roman Holiday. Derryfield Today is published by the Advancement Office at The Derryfield School. If you note errors, please notify us at 603.669.4524, ext. 123 or send an email to abranch@derryfield.org. Correspondence may be addressed to: Director of Communications, The Derryfield School, 2108 River Road, Manchester, NH 03104-1396. The Derryfield School welcomes students of any race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin. The School does not discriminate in its hiring, admission policies, or programs on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, or disabilities.

www.derryfield.org

BACKGROUND: Carrie Foster ’00 enjoys a pre-dunk moment in the faculty dunking tank at Country Fair. TOP: Rose King ’09, Alysha Phaneuf ’09, and Adam Spierer ’09 bury themselves in hay at Country Fair.

head

Message from the

Lasting Relationships times sooner, sometimes later, but always, our paths eventu‑ ur long‑tenured faculty is testament to the fact that ally cross again. An email in our inbox, a letter or card in teaching at Derryfield is an experience that offers many rewards. Perhaps the greatest of these rewards our mailbox at home or at school, a leisurely visit during a long autumn weekend or on winter vacation, sometimes are the individual relationships that we build with students even a chance meeting on the street, and the dormant rela‑ due to the unique nature of our interactions with them. As tionship is revitalized, seemingly not missing a beat. We their teachers, advisors, coaches and directors, watching share in their excitement of interesting classes, making the them grow and mature, seeing them in a variety of roles – team, being cast in a role, declaring a major, or accepting a student, actor, artist, athlete, service volunteer and many job offer. We treasure celebrations, the invitations and more – faculty members cannot help but form strong con‑ announcements of weddings nections with their students. and births. While these As the years pass, these bonds “Alumni embark on their new lives as college “updates” serve as validation are reinforced and teachers freshmen, gone from our everyday lives, but of our already positive share in their students’ various feelings about our students, successes and disappoint‑ certainly not forgotten. And sure enough, they also help remind us ments, offering support, guid‑ sometimes sooner, sometimes later, but always, what is truly important – ance and advice along the relationships that endure way. Tests are passed, papers our paths eventually cross again.” and are remembered. are written, curtains rise and Derryfield is both an academic and a social institution, as fall, games are played and races are rowed and run. shown on the pages of this issue. An art teacher discusses a Seemingly overnight another “senior year” is upon us and unique opportunity for professional growth, an exchange we write letters of recommendation, edit college essays and student reflects on her time at Derryfield and our own offer advice to advisees with questions about the next step in their young lives. It is in some ways a bittersweet process, alumni relate their experiences as they move on from Derryfield. for while we all must move on eventually, we truly do miss our graduates when they begin their journey in their “life after Derryfield.” Yet, with each passing year, faculty members begin, once Jennifer D. Melkonian again, the process of helping a new group of students pre‑ Interim Head of School pare for the world beyond Derryfield. Alumni embark on their new lives as college freshmen, gone from our everyday lives, but certainly not forgotten. And sure enough, some‑

Derryfield Today – Fall 2006

JANUARY – APRIL

events I M AG E S O F D E R R Y F I E L D For more photos, visit our online gallery in the ‘Exploring Derryfield’ section of www.derryfield.org.

calendar

FEBRUARY Winter Carnival

Jazz All-State Music Festival

2-4

College Planning Night for Juniors

Summerbridge Saturday

MARCH Senior Blood Drive

Upper School Musical

8-10

Sophomore Spaghetti Dinner

8&9

Lyceum Gallery Reception

APRIL US Admitted Student Reception

MS Admitted Student Reception

Classical All-State Music Festival

5-7

Senior Dinner

Parent/Faculty Association Auction

Summerbridge Saturday

MAY Prom

Spring Concert

Lyceum Gallery Reception

Summerbridge Saturday

Awards Day

SAVE THE DATE

parents’

auction Clockwise from top right: Zoe Sobin ’11 climbs Rock Rimmon for gym class. n Than Moore ’07 performs at the Talent Show. n Coxswain Kendall Kaspar ’10 gets a front row seat during crew practice. n Rachel Moss ’11 and Sarah Blaisdell ’12 in a scene from Seussical. n Patrick Khayat ’07 and Austin Nijuis ’07 load a car with Thanksgiving baskets of food. n Jared Hammer ’12 interviews his grandfather during Grandparents’ Day.

www.derryfield.org

This year’s PFA Auction is 007: Casino Royale. Prepare to dress in black and white, don dark sunglasses, gather your gadgets from “Q” and head to “M16” headquarters (C.R. Sparks) on April 14 at 5:30 p.m. Check out the PFA page at www.derryfield.org for updates.

campus

Around

STORIES Founders’ Day New Horizons’ Top School

Seussical Andres Institute Remembering Scozzafava Thoughts from Switzerland

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY The following members of the Derryfield senior class were inducted into the National Honor Society during the Founders’ Day celebration on Friday, September 29, 2006: Maeghan M. Buckley Olivia D. Cowenhoven Hillary E. Fink Hilary A. Hamer Paige E. Houlihan Patrick J. Khayat Kirsten H. Laaspere Jackson K. MacKenzie Camden A. McKenna Ralph E. A. Wunderl

Founders’ Day Many people checked their calendars upon receiving an invitation to this year’s Founders’ Day. Had a year really passed since the last celebration? The community gathered in the fall this year to honor the founders of Derryfield and to induct ten seniors into the National Honor Society (see sidebar). The Founders’ Address was given by Mya Mangawang ’91, 1990 Founders’ Scholar, National Honor Society member and recip‑ ient of the William B. Pfeifer Award. Maya received her A.B. in Classics with Art History from Dartmouth in 1995, has spent several years working in academics, and is currently working on her Ph.D. for History of Art at Bryn Mawr College. After thank‑ ing those present for their commitment to providing a Derryfield education, Maya spoke about a letter from a middle school advisor that she has held onto for the past twenty years. This advisor addressed the fact that the young Maya had a tendency to “take things personally... sometimes her sensitivity gets her hurt...” While some might view this as a weakness, she takes it as an example of how Derryfield allows students to open up and take risks in a safe environment. “If I have anything to thank Derryfield for, it is for its warm embrace of me and my acute sensitivity to the world. If I have anything to commend Derryfield

for, it is for encouraging me not only to feel my emotions but bravely to explore them, and boldly to express them.” Cam Brensinger ’94 was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award. An avid outdoorsman, Cam majored in English at Middlebury College, where he started a mountain climbing group. A post‑gradua‑ tion trip to climb Denali inspired the idea to start an outdoor equipment company. Cam began NEMO Equipment as his senior project at RISD. His design for a “self‑inflating” tent has met with great suc‑ cess. NEMO won many awards and hon‑ ors. Cam’s tents are now being sold at retail stores across the United States and through his website, www.nemoequipment .com. He spoke to the Derryfield communi‑ ty about how he found himself in college and how his experiences in the wilderness have shaped his path in life. The 2006 Founders’ Scholar Carl Crafts spoke about how watching his father lose a

Cam Brensinger ’94, Mya Mangawang ’91, and Carl Crafts ’07 at Founders’ Day.

Derryfield Today – Fall 2006

AROUND CAMPUS

Seussical

Representatives from New Horizons pose with members of Key Club at the Thanksgiving Breakfast.

battle with cancer caused him to view his surroundings from a new perspec‑ tive. He sees the experience as a defin‑ ing moment in his life, “not only as a personal tragedy, but as key to my development as a person as well.” He spoke about how members of the Derryfield community “reached out to me and gave me their hands to balance myself, regain my footing and give me a chance to go back to being a normal, carefree sixth grader.” Carl went on to explain, “Everyone in this room has had or will have a different catalyst in a different time period to help shape them into an individual... Although Derryfield was that catalyst for me, I am clearly not a complete individual, and as I move on to college I will also have to establish a new section of this support community to make up for those parts that I lose when I leave this institution. However, there will be cer‑ tain people that I am sure will be inte‑ gral parts of my life for decades to come, and for those who may not be talking to me in ten or twenty years, there is still no doubt in my mind that my model for the people I want to sur‑ round myself with throughout my life will stem from my time spent here at Derryfield.”

www.derryfield.org

New Horizons’ Top School Tuesday, November 21 was a suc‑ cessful day for the Derryfield commu‑ nity service program. In the morning, several members of Key Club gathered for New Horizons’ 13th annual Thanksgiving Breakfast, where Derryfield was honored as the food pantry’s ‘Top School’ for 2006. The Key Club and Builders’ Club have worked closely with the food pantry for several years, sorting food, organizing projects and distributing items. After the breakfast, 37 Derryfield students and parents gathered on cam‑ pus to deliver baskets full of Thanks‑ giving food to 42 families affiliated with Child Health Services, as well as 10 Summerbridge families. Each advi‑ sory group in the upper school donat‑ ed a basket full of holiday food items to the cause and, in many cases, personalized their baskets with cards for the families, toys for chil‑ dren, and food for those with special dietary needs. According to Key Club advisor Susan Grodman, “This process really helped the students relate to the project and feel like they were actually making a difference to someone.”

Middle school thespians started off their year with a fall term production of Seussical, a fast‑paced, fantastical musical inspired by the stories of famed children’s author Dr. Seuss. Based on Horton Hears a Who, Jojo, played by Ryan Stevenson ‘12, narrates the story of how everyone can make a difference against a technicolor back‑ drop of scenery painted by alumni parent Marcie Roberts. Director Jim Speigel was glad to see the musical move to the fall. “One of the most important changes is that the bonds and friendships will be estab‑ lished early on, which will be impor‑ tant as we move through the school year.” The upper school performances will return to the winter term. To gain a full appreciation for the color and magic of the middle school production, visit the online photo gallery in the Exploring Derryfield section of www.derryfield.org.

Hunter Manson ’11 as the Cat in the Hat in Seussical. 5

AROUND CAMPUS

Andres Institute This spring I was invited to a residency at the Andres Institute in Brookline, NH. This international event is an opportunity for four artists to work individually in a large studio produc‑ ing work with the support of a skilled technician. The goal is to produce (and leave on site) a new work in a media that is unfamiliar to the artist, and expands his or her technical experi‑ ence. It was a great honor to be selected. It was a very selfish undertaking, especially considering the dates: September 16 – October 8. I thought a long time before I decided to even con‑ sider the opportunity. Surprisingly (or not), Jennifer Melkonian, Mary Halpin‑ Carter and Mark Blaisdell were quick to urge me to accept the invita‑ tion.

Andy Moerlein working on his sculpture.

Andy Moerlein’s final sculpture at the Andres Institute.

I arranged for Marcie Roberts (saint‑ ed mother of Gill ’99 and Shay ’04 and veteran art educator) to step into my shoes for those weeks, so my students hardly missed me. She was my real lifesaver. An experienced teacher, Mrs. Roberts provided a complete and rig‑ orous curriculum while I was gone. I was on site at the Andres Institute for three weeks. I considered commut‑ ing the hour to and from my home, but Institute Director John Weidman per‑ suaded me that the experience would be best if I were fully present. He was so right! George and Sally Razaboni, a Brookline, NH, family who lived two miles from the Institute, hosted me. We ate breakfast and lunch at the studio most days, and often we had dinners brought to the studio so we could work late. We were usually working by 7:00 a.m. and we put our tools away at dark. It was intensive, compulsive and very exciting to work beside a group of such proficient sculptors. Also attending were Chanthou Oeur, a Cambodian; Chris Peterson from the Netherlands and Korean Yeon Tak Chan. I was the token American, and I was quickly challenged by the sophistication of their portfolios. They were all master stone carvers who

treated the local granite like butter. I am a fabricator and accumulator by nature. My work is usually constructed rather than carved from the whole. Observing these guys work, and absorbing the setting – an old granite quarry – made me eager to push rock around. I carved seven granite pieces that were sheltered within a cement‑coated steel structure. The final work was 25 feet long and 7 feet high. I was thrilled to get it finished. The pace was such that there was very little opportunity for reflection and reconsideration. The works all occurred with a passionate focus that was instinctual. Two remarkable aspects of this experience linger with me. The community of Brookline, NH, has completely embraced the annual sym‑ posium. The host families, volunteers and businesses that provide so many different vital supports to the artists were completely invested in making sure that we artists had every needed resource provided as smoothly and as quickly as possible. I had volunteers digging holes, clearing trees, mixing cement, hauling big rocks, feeding me great meals, and sharing their homes, music, and families. It allowed me to

Derryfield Today – Fall 2006

AROUND CAMPUS

be ambitious beyond my dreams. It was a beautiful thing. Upon my return I found my stu‑ dents as precious as ever to me. The time away quickly melded into where the class was going, and what had transpired with Mrs. Roberts at the wheel. Midterm comments were a gen‑ erous mix of each of our perspectives. The rest of the term flew by, with Thanksgiving and Cross Country run‑ ning becoming Cross Country Skiing with Christmas around the corner. As I closed out my fall term, I watched a few seniors stroll from my room with their work safely wrapped up. For all the fun I had at the Andres Institute, I could not restrain the gentle regret that I felt as they left the room. I knew I would never have some of these kids in class again, and I had missed a full three weeks of my time with them, off playing “artist” on a mountain. But ambiguity aside, the Andres Institute is a marvelous place to visit. My work will be protected and main‑ tained for… eternity(?) on Big Bear Mountain in Brookline, NH. The site is open 365 days a year from sunup to sunset. Just park and hike on in. The art and trails are well marked, main‑ tained and mapped. Bring a lunch. It is a great place for a family adventure. In an easy one‑hour hike, one can see over 50 monumental pieces of art. For more information, visit www.andresinstitute.org or check out the August 2006 issue of New Hampshire Magazine for an article on the institute and its founders. –Andy Moerlein

www.derryfield.org

Remembering Scozzafava Rarely does the flag at The Derryfield School fly at half mast unless it is in honor of the passing of a government official. An exception was made when Ralph J. Scozzafava, Jr. died at the age of 81 in Greece on September 14, 2006. Ralph Scozzafava was the second Headmaster of Derryfield, holding the position from 1969 until 1978. Prior to the death of the first Headmaster, Phillip Hugny, Mr. Scozzafava served as Assistant Headmaster and taught history and humanities. He continued teaching and coaching softball during his headship and remained a visible force throughout. A gifted professional musician, his favorite instrument was the clarinet. Students, friends and fam‑ ily never tired of his participation in school and benefit programs. The Derryfield School was only five years old when Mr. Scozzafava became Headmaster, and he was instrumental in the development of the School in all areas. During his tenure, Derryfield continued to expand its enrollment and academic and extracurricular programs. He established the position of Director of Development and initiat‑ ed systematic long‑range planning. A major fund‑raising effort enabled the construction of a gymnasium in 1974. Up until that time, all games were away games, and girls’ athletics were limited to field hockey in the fall and softball in the spring. Mathematics teacher Dennis Holland recalls, “The expansion of The Derryfield School happened in bits and pieces. Construc‑ tion of the gymnasium was the first

step to what is now a well‑constructed ‘campus.’” Derryfield faculty member Sandy Townsend was hired by Mr. Scozzafava and remembers him as always being open to the initiatives and new ideas of his faculty members. “I remember going to the school musi‑ cal my first year at Derryfield; after welcoming the audience, he walked down into the orchestra pit and began to play. He always supported people in their creative efforts.” Mr. Scozzafava’s creative thinking helped to shape a young Derryfield into the school it is today. His friendship and love brought joy to all who knew him. An award is given to a graduating senior each spring in honor of Ralph Scozzafava’s contributions to the School. Mr. Scozzafava received his degree from Boston University. Born in 1925, he retired at age 62, and he and his wife, Evelyn Meklatos, spent their retirement in Athens, Greece, where they could more easily travel in Europe and enjoy their love of musical cultures and theater of other countries. Their only child, Dianne Whitmore ’74, predeceased Mr. Scozzafava. He is sur‑ vived by his wife of 57 years.

KEEPING UP-TO-DATE

classroom

news

Want to know more about what’s happening in the classrooms at Derryfield every day? Check out the Classroom News page in the Academics section of www.derryfield.org.

AROUND CAMPUS

Thoughts from Switzerland A tenth grader at Collège du Léman in Switzerland where she lives with her parents, Maya Grodman recently joined the Derryfield student body for the fall 2006 trimester. She was eager to experi‑ ence American high school life up close and personal. Maya is the first cousin of current student, Jesse Grodman ’08 and alumnus Adam Grodman ’06, and she made a lasting impact on Derryfield through her contributions in the class‑ room, on the field and on the stage. Here are some of her reflections on her visit after she returned to Switzerland.

What inspired your decision to try an American school? I haven’t lived in the States since I was nine years old, and I started to miss the U.S. when I was about thirteen. I would annoy my parents with talk of moving back, but eventually I got set‑ tled and was OK about staying here until graduation. But I still missed the States, so my parents talked with my aunt and uncle (Susan Grodman and Brian Grodman) about a possible short stay that would hopefully “eliminate” this absence of the U.S. in my life, and the plan all fell into place.

Can you describe your school in Switzerland and what the students are like there? Well, that’s difficult because it’s so dif‑ ferent! My school, Collège du Léman (CDL), has been expanding over the past few years, so it seems there is always some sort of renovation taking place. Teachers are rarely American, so my teachers often have accents that I don’t completely understand. The stu‑

dents... well, to put it lightly, the differ‑ ence between the well‑off and the bare‑ ly‑scraping‑by is fairly evident. Designer clothes are all over the place. Also, if you’re not particularly liked by a certain group of kids, they may ignore you if you’re lucky, but there is a lot of drama at our school.

Do other students from your school spend time in educational exchange programs or arrange opportunities as you did?

Maya Grodman ’09 and Arthur Chen ’08 belt out a tune at the Talent Show.

Not that I know of. People are still a bit confused about this whole thing. I think I’m the only one in a while who’s spent time away from CDL knowing that I would return after just a semester.

Coombes is just cool; I had so much fun in geometry, advisory and the music play‑and‑tell activity. We even talked during our free periods some‑ times. She is a really great person.

What was the biggest difference between Derryfield and CDL?

As I mentioned before, there are a vari‑ ety of nationalities of teachers at CDL, but I do see a difference in teaching style as well. I feel that teachers at CDL are less into their jobs. I get the feeling that some teachers are just doing a job, without a passion. Of course, there are some really dedicated and amazing teachers as well, but I felt that at Derryfield, most (if not all) teachers really loved what they did.

Definitely the types of diversity. At Derryfield, I found a huge variety of personalities and interests, and it was refreshing to be with so many different “types” of people. Here, there tends to be a “typical” CDL kid, but there is huge diversity in nationalities – we have over 112 countries represented at our school with a population of 2,000 (grades pre‑school to 13th grade).

Who was your favorite teacher at Derryfield? Wow, that’s a very difficult question. I had so much fun in every class, and even with teachers I didn’t have in class! I guess I can name two winners: Mr. Anthony and Mrs. Coombes. Mr. Anthony is a very interesting man and I had a great time discussing things with him, and it was funny when he would always pick on me. Mrs.

How do the teachers differ at CDL?

What course at Derryfield was the toughest? Definitely chemistry. But it’s science – what do you expect? It’s never easy, and I think Mr. Bradley did a great job at making it easier for us. It was really hard for me anyway!

Do you have a favorite Derryfield memory? Wow. There are so many... I think I’ll have to say the soccer team. From August 15, my first day of preseason, until the day I left Derryfield, the team

Derryfield Today – Fall 2006

AROUND CAMPUS

was amazing to me. I felt really close with everyone on the team, and we had an incredible time together, even if we didn’t win the state championship. I will never forget the most amazing soccer season I ever had. Thank you so much to all the girls and of course, both coaches!

Was playing soccer different here? Athletically, it was very challenging for me. At CDL, the soccer team has very few games and only a few one‑day tournaments. We only have practice once a week, so it’s not very demand‑ ing. I think GVSO really got me into shape and improved my soccer a lot!

What was your biggest disappointment at Derryfield? I had very few disappointments at Derryfield. It was a great experience. Maybe the biggest disappointment for me was that I didn’t get to take the drawing class that I wanted to because it conflicted with my schedule. It didn’t matter much though – I still had fun!

You shared your amazing voice and songwriting talents with the community at assemblies and talent shows – how long have you been writing and performing your own songs? Are there similar performance opportunities at CDL? Thank you so much for saying that! I only started writing my own songs about a year‑and‑a‑half ago, so I’ve been performing them for a year or so. Last year at CDL I didn’t have very many opportunities to perform, but this year, I have plenty of perfor‑ mances lined up! We’re hosting a Famine Fest (a concert where the profit goes to famine charities) where I plan

www.derryfield.org

to perform with my friend John. Also, a teacher is arranging a folk concert and he’s asked me to play, and finally, there’s a Rock Fest in May that I will play in with a band I’m in with three of my friends. The band is called Paradox. So, there’s plenty coming up!

Do you feel as though you got a good and accurate “dose” of the States? Too much? Not enough? What do you miss? What do you not miss? I think I’m OK with not living in the States until college now, but without Derryfield I think it would have been too long an absence. It was just the right amount of time spent there. I do still miss the people though – everyone was so friendly, even strangers! You don’t get that here as often.

Typically, how do the students at CDL view the United States?

Will you return to the States for college or university? Indeed I will. I’m looking to go to school on the east coast, but perhaps a bit farther south than New England (too cold!), somewhere around Pennsylvania.

What’s the nicest thing about being home? Seeing people again. I didn’t see my parents, friends or boyfriend for four or five months! It was really hard being away, and it was so amazing to see everyone again.

In response to our unique “If you could be any kind of fruit, what fruit would you be?” admission interview question last year, you said you were a raspberry. Are you still a raspberry, or has this whole experience changed your fruit personality?

That’s a dangerous question. Some people love it, some have no opinion. Some don’t particularly like the gov‑ ernment, but are fine with normal American citizens. Others, I’ll just say, were brought up with their parents’ “negative” views towards the U.S.

Ha! Yes, I remember that question! I think I am still a raspberry, because I like how all the small, different seg‑ ments of a raspberry join together to make a whole... that’s the way I am too.

Did DS match your expectations of a typical American high school? How? How not?

I MISS YOU!!! It was hard being away from my friends and family here in Switzerland, but it’s also hard being away from all of you. I hope you’re all doing well, and I hope seniors aren’t too stressed about college. Life can be beautiful if you want it to be, and I wish you all tons of happiness. Come visit me – Switzerland and I need you! – Kathleen Rutty‑Fey ’87

Actually, it did not. When it comes to typical U.S. high schools, it’s always the big public ones with thousands of students that are portrayed. I knew Derryfield wouldn’t be like that, but for some reason I still had that type of school in my head when I arrived. I think Derryfield was a much better place for me than a huge school though, because I felt very comfortable.

Is there anything you want to say to your fans back at Derryfield?

athletics

Cougar

ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE Kate Davison ’03 is in her senior year at

Fall wrap-up

Dartmouth and rowed in the women’s eight on the U.S. Under-23 National

Girls’ Varsity Cross Country

Girls’ Varsity Field Hockey

Team this summer. The U.S. women’s

2nd at Granite State Championships Lydia MacKenzie ’09, All-Conference, Class of 1970 Award

Season Record: 15-2 NH Championship Finalists Natalie Coviello ’07, Co-Captain, All State (1st team), Senior All-Star, All-Conference, Class of 1970 Award Katherine DiPastina ’09, All-Conference Julia Maldonado ’08, All-State (1st team), All-Conference Kelly Schwarz ’08, All-Conference Alice Townsend ’07, Co-Captain, All-State (2nd Team), Senior All-Star, All-Conference, Class of 1970 Award

eight won the gold medal to highlight the final day of competition at the 2006

Boys’ Varsity Cross Country

World Rowing Under-23 Championships

1st at Granite State Championships Kyle Keyes ’07, Co-Captain, Class of 1970 Award Will Keller ’10, Meet of Champions, All-Conference

in Hazewinkel, Belgium. The women’s eight, including Davison, clocked a 6:06.68 to cruise to a 2.3-second victo-

Girls’ Varsity Soccer

ry. According to the USRowing report of

Season Record: 16-1-2 NH Championship Finalists Kayla Delahanty ’07, Co-Captain, All-State (1st team), All-Conference, Class S Player of the Year, Class of 1970 Award Maddie Cole ’09, All-State (2nd team) Andrea Green ’10, All-State (2nd team) Annie Jenney ’07, Co-Captain, All-State (1st team), Lion’s Cup Senior All-Star, All-Conference, Class of 1970 Award Tulia LaCroix ’09, All-State (honorable mention), All-Conference Camille Smith ’09, All-State (1st team), All-Conference

the race, the crew established its lead during the first 500 meters and continued to walk away from the field during the middle half of the race, building an open-water advantage with 600 meters to go. Belarus made a late push during the final quarter of the race but could not mount a serious challenge. Belarus finished second in a 6:08.98, while Germany claimed the bronze medal in a 6:09.97.”

Boys’ Varsity Soccer Season Record: 11-5 NH Championship Quarter-Finalists Carl Crafts ’07, Co-Captain, All-State (2nd team), All-Scholastic Clint Davis ’07, Co-Captain, All-State (2nd team), All-Conference, Class of 1970 Award

Boys’ Varsity Golf Season Record: 15-4 4th at State Championships Ralph Wunderl ’07, Class of 1970 Award

Girls’ Varsity Crew New Hampshire Championships: 3rd & 6th, Youth 4+ Head of the Fish: 9th, Youth 4+; 1st, Novice Youth 4+ Hannah Will ’08, Class of 1970 Award

Boys’ Varsity Crew New Hampshire Championships: 1st & 3rd, Youth 4+ Head of the Charles: 25th, Youth 4+ Head of the Fish: 5th, Youth 4+ Parker Mitchell ’07, Class of 1970 Award

OPPOSITE (clockwise from top left): Camille Smith ’09 takes the ball. n Hannah Will ’08, Paige Houlihan ’07, Kathleen Reynolds ’08, and Kirsten Laaspere ’07 prepare for the Head of the Fish. n Lydia MacKenzie ’09 on her way to 3rd place at the Derryfield Invitational. n Parker Mitchell ’07 strokes the boys’ first boat in practice. n Hillary Fink ’07 in a game against Hinsdale. n Will Keller ’10 leads the pack. n Jake Davis ’09 defends the ball from a Pittsfield player. ABOVE: Ryan Petit ’09 hits his drive at Candia Woods.

Derryfield Today – Fall 2006

C O U G A R AT H L E T I C S

www.derryfield.org

spotlight Summerbridge

A BREAKTHROUGH

SUMMERBRIDGE MISSION Summerbridge Manchester is a year-round, tuition-free academic program whose mission is to help promising middle school students, particularly those with limited opportunities, build the skills and confidence to enter and succeed in college preparatory high school programs while inspiring talented high school and college students to pursue careers in education.

MORE SUMMERBRIDGE NEWS AT HTTP://SUMMERBRIDGE.DERRYFIELD.ORG

Inspiring Learning & Teaching The power of “students teaching students” at Summerbridge extends its reach far beyond the classrooms on the Derryfield campus, exempli‑ fied by the following excerpts of a letter from Christine Ranney ’01 to the Summerbridge community last May. When I first applied to teach at Summer‑ bridge in 1998, I am not sure that I was motivated by the program’s mission. I simply wanted to give back to the program that had offered me such success as a student. As a shy middle schooler, Summerbridge gave me the confidence to ques‑ tion, the academic and organizational skills to ensure achievement and the perspective to get energized about college at the age of eleven. With the skills Summerbridge provided, I began to achieve milestones that my parents were unable to attain: graduating from a private high school, attending a private university, traveling abroad for study and eventually graduating from college with honors. I realized that Summerbridge was more than the culture created by running after the school bus, singing cheers and constantly praising hard work. It was all of this that created something exceptionally powerful

PROGRAM

for me – it gave me opportunities to break the cycle of poverty in my family and in the families of my students. Last summer I embarked on my second teaching career. I was shipped away from my home in New Hampshire and thrown into an eerie secret, a third world of sorts, in Watts, California, to begin my summer of Teach For America training. As I sat in my classroom on my first day at Markham Middle School, I tried to envision what I wanted my classroom to look like when my students arrived. The barbed wire marking the entrance of our school and the pale, windowless walls of my classroom spoke volumes about the state of education in America. As I considered what it meant to be a good teacher, instantly, memories of Summerbridge flooded my mind. The infu‑ sion of enthusiasm and the aura of achieve‑ ment and hard work are forever embedded in my memory. I am now nearing the end of my first full year teaching in Las Vegas, Nevada. Summerbridge may not exist where I teach, but as I learned last summer, the culture of Summerbridge can supersede any other learning environment. The beauty of sup‑ porting and investing in this program is that Summerbridge is reinventing educa‑ tion, by creating empowered teachers and curious, ambitious students.

Derryfield Today – Fall 2006

SUMMERBRIDGE SPOTLIGHT

Inspiring Today’s Students and Tomorrow’s Teachers

Derryfield’s), the Summerbridge Manchester Endowment, the Elkin Teaching Fellowship and/or the Joel Vargas Achievement Fund. The pro‑ gram also welcomes any in‑kind gifts that could support an academic pro‑ gram (school supplies, art supplies, film, etc.). Please contact Kate Erskine at kerskine@derryfield.org or 603.641.9426 if you would like more information about giving to Summerbridge Manchester. Gifts may be made online at http://summerbridge .derryfield.org.

Each year we appeal to the community to help Summerbridge Manchester continue its mission of equipping youth with the skills to succeed in aca‑ demics and leadership. The program relies on individual gifts for approxi‑ mately 20% of the annual fund, allow‑ ing Summerbridge to offer its services to students tuition‑free. While we do not solicit the entire Derryfield com‑ munity, many families choose to participate in the separate, yet comple‑ mentary, mission of Summerbridge Manchester. Our appeal offers donors the oppor‑ tunity to give to the Summerbridge Annual Fund (separate from

Recruiting Teachers Summerbridge Manchester is seeking a dynamic group of high school and col‑ lege students to teach and mentor our 85 motivated students this summer. No experience is necessary – just a passion for learning and a high standard of excellence. Ranked as one of Princeton Review’s Top Ten Internships in America, teaching at a Summerbridge/ Breakthrough program provides a challenging and rewarding experience for all of its participants. We encourage Derryfield students and alumni to con‑ sider participating in this unique work‑ shop in education. To learn more about teaching and to apply online, visit http://summerbridge.derryfield.org.

SUMMERBRIDGE HONORED

Hinckley, Allen & Snyder

centennial grant

Courtesy Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP

Summerbridge was one of four NH charities to receive a $5,000 centennial grant from Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP. The law firm awarded centennial grants to twelve charities at a series of receptions at their offices in Providence, RI, Boston, MA, and Concord, NH. “These centennial grants are our way of giving back to the communities we serve and showing how grateful we are to have reached such a significant milestone in our firm’s history,” said Michael P. DeFanti, Managing Partner of Hinckley, Allen & Snyder. “For 100 years, we’ve had the privilege of serving clients from throughout New England, and we felt that donating to charity was the most appropriate way to celebrate.” Hinckley, Allen & Snyder chose to focus their donations on community‑based organizations that are committed to addressing critical issues related to children. Because all of the charities the firm chose are small organizations with big goals, they felt that their grants were likely to make a significant impact for the children these charities serve. It’s an honor for Summerbridge to be a recipient of this centennial grant that The Concord celebration included (L-R) Chris will support younger students on their paths to college and older students on Carter, Trevor Munhall, Kate Erskine, Neil Castaldo, Lena Opgah and Julia Maldonado. their paths to teaching.

http://summerbridge.derryfield.org

Letters from

college

A BUSY SEMESTER... lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliConsequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla

A BUSY SEMESTER...

Reports on the College Transition

lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh

by Annie Branch euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna

C AT E G O R Y

he thing that makes Derryfield alumni stay connected with their high school teachers is not so much those faculty members’ knowledge of the subject matter or ability to create a comprehensive lesson plan, but the time and caring they put into developing meaningful relationships with their students. Derryfield teachers love to hear back from their former students about what challenges they are currently conquering. And these alumni keep coming back to reconnect with their former mentors, as can be seen each December when an onslaught of young alumni home from college appear on cam‑ pus. So we decided to collect some of those stories from recent Derryfield graduates. What happens when these students get their diplomas and scatter to all corners of the world? Were they ready for the next step? What was their greatest challenge? We asked a few recent graduates to talk about their experiences moving from Derryfield to college. Their voices are as differ‑ ent as the paths they chose. Whether it was a different social setting, new academic challenges, or finding the right fit, it is clear from these stories that our most recent graduates were up for the challenge. We would love to hear your story, too. – Annie Branch

Jenna Bee ’05 College is going well for me – the second time around. Leaving Derryfield, I thought I should test my limits a lit‑ tle bit. I tried to pursue a BFA in theatre at Elon University in North Carolina. Though music and theatre will always remain important parts of my life, I decided that this course of study and career path were not the best choice for me. Neither was this small school in the middle of nowhere in North Carolina. So, around Christmas break of last year, I decided to fill out some more applications. The process was even

www.derryfield.org

more annoying the second time, but eventually it was over and I started this fall at Boston College. Transferring was much different than the beginning of freshman year. I knew more of what to expect and I had more specific goals. I got a little bit overcommitted at first, but I’ve cut back now and things are going well. I’m getting ready to start my second semester as an International Studies major and, even with compli‑ cations of credit transferring, I’m going to be able to study abroad next spring. Overall, things look good. I’m look‑ ing forward to my second semester at BC and I don’t regret anything about the year that I spent singing, acting and tap dancing in North Carolina. If I were to provide any piece of advice, it would be to try everything. If some‑

thing seems interesting, different, chal‑ lenging or even just weird, try it. And get used to writing application essays. They will never go away. Jenna is a sophomore at Boston College.

Eric Spierer ’06 Greetings from Middletown, Connecticut! It seems that college is just one big con‑ tinuation of high school: work a ton, row for miles, eat semi‑edible food and sleep... maybe. In all honesty, the adjustment to the new work load was a bigger step than I thought it would be. I wish I had spent more time perfect‑ ing my time management skills before

LETTERS FROM COLLEGE

this fall. Facebook.com is the biggest trap: imagine not only having the Derryfield network, but now an entire college campus worth of pictures, events and friends. And there is a pos‑ sibility that the crew team will be rac‑ ing at the Henley Regatta in England if our fantastic fall season is a prediction of our success this spring. So my time has also been spent sitting on an ergometer, even though with this weather we could still take boats out. The advice given to me by many of my teachers still rings true. When I am writing my papers I have Mr. Anthony and Mr. Powell on my shoulders shouting “Vague!” and “Weak topic sentence!” Mr. Cole insists I not be so verbose. And I can only imagine seeing Mr. Holland’s face as he looks at one of the silly math errors I made on my eco‑ nomics test. The next semester looks to be a blast. I hope all is well at Derryfield, and nothing is getting too out of hand with the departure of the wonderful seniors of 2006. Eric is a freshman at Wesleyan University.

Emma LeBlanc ’05 I was not excited to go to college. I expected it to be just like high school (without the curfew). I wanted to experience the world that I had studied for the last twelve years – I wanted to hear the fla‑ menco music of Lorca’s Grenada and eat the yams of Chinua Achebe’s village.

In the course of my subsequent “Gap Year” I was lucky enough to watch elephants silhouetted against the Tanzanian sunrise; rent a car and drive through Andalucia, sleep on beaches with homeless people and in the homes of kind strangers; experience the Picassos, Monets, Kandinskys and Pollocks I had only seen in pictures; join Basque separatist protesters as they faced off against masked, armed Spanish police; dance traditional dances at a Bulgarian wedding. What I discovered at Brown though was that my escapades were not as unrelated to schoolwork as I had imag‑ ined. In my “Intensive Survey of Spanish Literature” class I read about gypsies hiding in the very caves I had walked through. When I studied Socrates I did so through the context of the bars of his prison cell in Athens through which I’d peered. Most surprisingly, I discovered that although the excitement of college is different than that of travel (it’s less about not knowing where you are sleeping the next day and more about not knowing where these new ideas will lead), college is an adventure in itself. The wisdom of students, profes‑ sors and the speakers that come to campus offers new ways of under‑ standing the world, and every day the adventure is exploring these new perspectives. Emma is a freshman at Brown University.

James Jorgensen ’06 So far this year, school has been treating me pretty well. Initially, there was a little bit of shell shock because of the schedule, as I have to be up and in uniform by 6:10 a.m. and often have military training from 7 to 8 a.m. After that I have regu‑ lar classes until 12 p.m., then an accountability formation and lunch, followed by more classes until 4 p.m. Sports run 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. (two required credits a year) and then we have another military training period from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. After that is study hour, and lights out no later than midnight. Academically, the school work is on par with Derryfield, both in terms of load and difficulty, so no surprises there. In my six months here I’ve already gone through boot camp, one full semester, and a week at sea on board USCGC Eagle, a 295 foot tall ship. This coming summer I get to spend 11 weeks deployed on cutters, so I have a lot to look forward to get‑ ting some active duty afloat. I think for the most part I was pretty well pre‑ pared for this from Derryfield, at least in terms of time management and aca‑ demics. The military aspect has pre‑ sented a whole new challenge, but it’s working out pretty well in the end. James is a cadet at the United States Coast Guard Academy.

Derryfield Today – Fall 2006

LETTERS FROM COLLEGE

Tim Kramer ’06

Jaclyn Leeds ’06

Rob Lemire ’06

Going to college has been a very dif‑ ferent experience. Everything that I had taken for granted, and gotten security from, was suddenly ripped away. Slowly, I’ve been trying to find my niche in a new place. Academically, I haven’t been challenged too much yet. In that sense, I was somewhat spoiled by Derryfield. My statics class was simple enough, as most of it was stuff that I had seen in physics last year. I can’t say that I had any real difficulty with any of the material in any of my other classes, but I did struggle with 400+ students. Because of the huge class sizes, every‑ thing is graded by TAs, which makes for occasionally inconsistent grading, which I also find hard to get used to. Socially, it is a completely different atmosphere from Derryfield, and it’s taking me a while to get used to. The environment is much colder and less friendly than at Derryfield, and it requires a lot of effort to meet new people, but I’m gradually doing it. Overall, my first semester has been a great experience, and I’m slowly begin‑ ning to get used to my new school. Tim is a freshman at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

“A girl’s school? No way!”... That’s what I said until I applied a binding early decision to Wellesley College, a prominent women’s college. First let me dispel the myth that Mona Lisa Smile created: Wellesley girls do not go to college to find a husband. In fact, one of the downsides of attending Wellesley is that the all‑girls aspect makes it partic‑ ularly difficult to find a husband. Wellesley girls are diverse, motivated, down‑to‑earth gals who form a com‑ munity with an incredible feeling of sisterhood. If you are a young woman looking for a close‑knit school with a strong support network amongst your peers, do not rule out women’s col‑ leges. Derryfield prepared me well for the rigor of Wellesley’s academia; how‑ ever, I think my transition from high school to college has been so graceful due mostly to the all‑girls factor of my college. Dorm life is kind of like a giant slumber party all the time, class atmo‑ sphere is always relaxed and venturing off campus is always an option to meet guys. So while you might not go to a school like Wellesley to find a hus‑ band, there are a multitude of other reasons to genuinely consider a women’s college. Jaclyn is a freshman at Wellesley College.

The transition from Derryfield to col‑ lege was fairly sim‑ ple. Derryfield pre‑ pared me to get involved with many different activities, which allowed me to quickly get involved with groups on campus and thus expand my social network. Also, through its academic rigor, Derryfield made this first semester of my freshman year seem unchallenging. I was prepared with methods of study‑ ing and learning, which made the only new part the actual information, which was easy to digest using the skills that Derryfield taught me. One of the other benefits of Derryfield is the liberal amount of independence which the faculty allots to their students. While this may not seem the case while at Derryfield, in reality they trust the stu‑ dent body immensely. This made the transition to college life easier because in college you are independent. You make up your own schedule academi‑ cally and socially and you hold all the responsibility. Derryfield, by placing this responsibility on its students in small portions, made this seem less drastic. Overall, after Derryfield, becoming a college student was simple. Rob is a freshman at Saint Anselm College.

www.derryfield.org

alumni

Update on Peter Bielagus ’95

ALUMNUS CREATES FINANCIAL EDUCATION COURSE THAT IS GOOD FOR LIFE... LITERALLY After spending the last three years trav-

The news contained in this section covers the period of June 10, 2006 – December 1, 2006. For more recent news, or to post a note, please log into the Derryfield Portal at www.derryfield.org.

eling the country speaking to high school and college students about jumpstarting their financial lives, Peter Bielagus ’95 realized what was missing. He was missing. Once his speech was over, that was it. Realizing that students could benefit from a continuous financial update, Peter created The Complete

Financial Life Kit For Young America. This three-CD financial education course offers one very unique bonus. Students receive annual financial email updates for life. Every year on March 15, Peter writes a five page synopsis highlighting the most important finan-

1975 Susan Devine writes, “This is my sixth year as library media specialist at Andover School of Montessori and I plan on com‑ pleting my MS in Library Science at Simmons in 2007. I have one son, Davis, at Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA, and a daughter who is a sophomore at Andover High playing field hockey like her mom.”

1976

Reunion Recap

On Saturday, November 4, nine members of the Class of 1976 gathered at Papa Razzi’s Restaurant in Burlington, MA, to celebrate their 30th Reunion. Diane Allen, Alumni Coordinator, got people reminisc‑ ing with their yearbook. She also brought some recent photos from a more current Derryfield to share some of the changes that have taken place. Attending the Reunion were: Buddy Pope and his wife, Marcelle, Larry Starke, Brad Warren and his wife, Pam, Jeannie Devine, Anne Havinga, Pat (Joy) Stewart and her “spe‑ cial man,” Herb, Gina Chaplain, Gayle McGinnis and Bess Carey. Many thanks to Gayle and Bess for organizing the event. After 30 years without a reunion, many

cial changes of the year. Curious to read more? Visit www.financiallifekit.com.

The course retails for $97 plus $8 S&H. Peter has graciously agreed to donate 30% of the profits back to The Derryfield School. If you are interested in purchasing the course please be sure to write: “The Derryfield School” in the subject line of your check. Make your check out to Financial Life Kit LLC and send to 170 South River Rd, Bedford, NH 03110. For more information on Peter please visit www.peterbspeaks.com.

The Class of 1976 at their reunion dinner (Front row L to R): Bess Carey, Buddy Pope, Brad Warren, Gayle McGinnis, Larry Starke. (Back row L to R): Anne Havinga, Gina Chaplain, Pat (Joy) Stewart, Pat's friend, Herb, Jeannie Devine, Pam Starke, and Marcelle Pope.

Derryfield Today – Fall 2006

U P DAT E O N A L U M N I

people would have given it up as a lost cause, but they jumped right in and successfully gathered a wonderful group of alumni, all of whom had a great time revisiting the past and catching up on the present.

1986

Reunion Recap

The class of 1986 made a weekend of it for their 20th Reunion this year. The partying began at the alumni reception on campus Friday evening, September 29. A brigade of ’86ers returned to their alma mater to see the alumni art show and to reunite with old friends. Gathering at the Class of 1986 table, alumni laughed over photos in their yearbook. After a brief overnight respite, our 1986 alumni gathered for a family outing at Livingston Park on Saturday afternoon, and then gathered at the home of Jennifer Yanco Harrises, all before the main event of the weekend, a lovely reception at The Highlander Inn. With food, a private bar and music from the ’80s, the class couldn’t have asked for a better time. In attendance for all or part of the weekend were: Heather Koerber Nunes, Karen Callahan, Laney Brown, Gail Allman Cole, Jeff Dailey, Moses Daly, John Baron, Steph Wolff Ferguson, Jennifer Yanco Harrises, Beth Monson, Jenny Carlson Mullins, Davis Richmond, Sarah Brown Jones, John Robinson, Sara Ross, Jeff Rupert, Nick Sapankevych, Miriam Terninko, Karl Treen and Eileen Haletky Cavallaro. Also present and

www.derryfield.org

enjoying the evening were faculty members Bruce Berk, Ed Lemire, Rick Harding and Diane Allen. Many kudos and thanks to Heather Koerber Nunes, Jenny Carlson Mullins and John Robinson for their work in organizing a reunion which was not only a lot of fun, but also spawned a renewed inter‑ est within the class to stay connected.

1988 Scott Barger and his wife, Julie, wel‑ comed their second son, Miles McClave, on July 19. He joins big brother, Graham, terrier Griffin and Siamese Guinness in their expanding family. Scott coached middle school lacrosse in Edina, MN, last spring and is currently developing branding and marketing strategy for a publisher of assessment‑based learning and devel‑ opment programs. Keeping in touch with classmates, Scott and Julie had dinner with Sarah Silverman a while back in Los Angeles. n Roger Shattuck writes, “I’m currently stationed as a bass guitar player at the 113th Army Band, Ft. Knox, KY. I have been deploy‑ ed to Afghanistan twice and spent a few days entertaining our soldiers in Iraq. I am a recipient of the Army’s Combat Action Badge. And surprise of all surprises, I am a grandfather!”

1989 Neil Cremin and his wife, Nicole, wel‑ comed their first child, Lucy Suzan

(L to R): Jon S. Richardson, Jr. ’87, Oliver Stone, ’90, James Richardson, ’90, and Jon S. Richardson, Sr. (Former Derryfield Treasurer) at James’ November wedding.

Cremin, who arrived on August 18, 2006 at 11:01 p.m., weighing 8 lbs., 11 oz. and measuring 20.5 inches. Everyone is doing well. n Alexander Sturke and his wife, Laurie Ciardi, are the parents of Ruby Lucia Sturke, born on the solstice, June 21, 2006, weighing 7 lbs., 4 oz. Laurie teaches first grade in Boston and Alex is a consultant with Creative Realities, a strategic innova‑ tion company on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston. They live in Dorchester and regularly visit with Erik Noyes and his family, Garrett and Leigh Gillespie, and Neil and Nikki Cremin.

1990 James Richardson was married to Michelle Reesh on November 12, 2006 at Ray’s Boathouse in Seattle, WA. The bride is a medical‑surgical nurse at the University of Washington’s magnet teaching hospital. James is a senior consultant and applied anthropologist at the Hartman Group and met Michelle through their mutual love of outdoor recreation in the Pacific

U P DAT E O N A L U M N I

1993 The Class of 1991 at their 15th reunion party (L to R): Rob Bradley, former faculty Rick Harding, Jessica Englund, Bruce Berk, Amanda MacMillian Mead, Karin Loscocco Witt, James Galluzzo, Karin HarveyOlsen and Chris Perry.

Northwest. Oliver Stone and Jon Richardson ’97 were both in atten‑ dance, as was former treasurer Jon Richardson, Esq.

1991

Reunion Recap

Derryfield alumni from the Class of 1991 were treated to a little luck o’ the Irish on Saturday, September 30, when they walked into The Shaskeen Irish Pub to celebrate their 15th Reunion. Few in number but strong in spirit, the Class of 1991 enjoyed the perfect evening with Irish brews, great hors d’oeuvres, and a live band. Enjoying each other’s company were Jessica Englund, Amanda MacMillian Mead, Karin Loscocco Witt, James Galluzzo, Karin Harvey‑Olsen and Chris Perry. Enjoying the festivities with their for‑ mer students were Bruce Burke, Rob Bradley and Rick Harding. Thank you to James Galluzzo for the work he put into getting the class together this year! Fifteen years seems to have gone by in a flash, and we are so happy to be able to say that friendships made at Derryfield have withstood the test of

time. We hope that in 2011 we will welcome even more class members for the 20th Reunion! n Nestor Angel Pinillos has recently received his Ph.D. in Philosophy from Rutgers University and is now a professor at Arizona State University. He is just getting settled in Phoenix, but loves it so far.

1992 On September 7, 2006, Rebecca Haight Gibson and her husband, John, wel‑ comed their second daughter, Elizabeth Skye Gibson, to their family. Elizabeth weighed in at 8 lbs., 7 oz. and joins her older sister, Lila. n Keith Linhart, his wife, Kate, and their two children, Abby (almost 4) and Ian (1 year old), recently moved back to New England from Northern Virginia, where they had lived for ten years. They are enjoying living on the water in Cohasset, MA, and taking the ferry to Boston where Keith works at State Street Corporation.

Stacy Denham was married to Greg Willenbucher on May 6, 2006 at Migis Lodge on Sebago Lake in South Casco, ME. Other Derryfield alumni in atten‑ dance were Margaux D’Auteuil Peabody and Amily Dunlap Moore. The couple honeymooned in Mexico before returning to Baltimore, MD, where Stacy is an RN in the Neonatal ICU at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

1995 Peter Bielagus has published Mastering Your Personal Finances: Earn More, Save More, and Invest More In 7 Days, an interactive financial planning and edu‑ cational program on CD‑ROM. While attending the Young Alumni Summer Send Off in August, he donated two copies of the CD, along with two copies of his book, Getting Loaded: Make A Million…While You’re Still Young Enough To Enjoy It, which were raffled off to two lucky young alumni. Peter owns Millennium Thinking in Bedford, and gives financial, motiva‑ tional and leadership presentations. He was recently honored by NH Business Review as the most recent winner of the Emerging Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) Award from Centrix Bank and New Hampshire Business Review. The award is a monthly recognition of busi‑ ness owners under 30 who are build‑ ing and leading dynamic businesses. He can be reached at his website, www.peterbspeaks.com (see page 18).

Derryfield Today – Fall 2006

CONGRATULATIONS

alumni

Ben Glahn has assumed the posi‑ tion of Adjunct Program Director at Salzburg Seminar in Salzburg, Austria.

1996

Reunion Recap

Walking into UnWined on Friday evening, September 30th, you couldn’t quite be sure if you were at a class reunion or at a Jack and Jill wedding shower! Gathering from all over the country were alumni from the Class of 1996, their guests, and various faculty members from The Derryfield School. Mixed into the crowd were Kristen Pearson and her soon‑to‑be husband, Marc Wydom. Hours later, they would become husband and wife, but for Friday night, they were Kristen and her guest, Marc. The class gathered to celebrate their 10th Reunion, with guests arriving from as far as Canada, California, Colorado and Florida. Alumni in attendance were Jesse Davis, Julie Davis, Joseph Gartner, Dana Gomez, Ian Hamel, Lindsay Hurd, Dave Kane, Chris Killinger,

Michelle Lauer, Brenna McCandliss Thomas, Matt Melkonian, Don Monson, Eric Muldowney, Brett O’Brien, Kristen Pearson Wydom, Timm Rehnborg, Dan Richards, Katie Shaka, Jared Silverstein, John Wallin, Tom Wilder and Carver Woodbury Scott. Gracing the class with their pres‑ ence from the faculty were Bruce Berk, Candy Chaplain, Jennifer Melkonian, Chuck Sanborn and Sandy Townsend. Also in attendance were Mrs. Nunes Rogers and Diane Allen, Alumni Coordinator. Thank you to Michelle Lauer for her incredible efforts in mak‑ ing this reunion so memorable for the class. All her hard work added up to a wonderful reunion and a rekindling of friendships which can now pick up steam again. We understand that there is talk about a future class gathering in Colorado and a website entitled, “Class of ’96 and Friends!” n On Saturday, September 30, Kristen Pearson mar‑ ried Marc Wydom, a national sales manager at BuyerZone.com in Watertown, MA. Kristen and Marc took time after their rehearsal dinner on Friday night to attend the ten‑year reunion held at UnWined in Manchester. Twelve Derryfield alumni attended the wedding. n Brenna McCandliss married Shane Thomas on May 6, 2006. Now living in Denver, CO, Brenna is working at a small money management firm.

parents To Scott Barger ’88 and his wife, Julie, a son, Miles McClave, on July 19, 2006. To Neil Cremin ’89 and his wife, Nicole, a daughter, Lucy Suzan, on August 18, 2006. To Alexander Sturke ’89 and his wife, Laurie Ciardi, a daughter, Ruby Lucia, on June 21, 2006. To Rebecca Haight Gibson ’92 and her husband, John, a daughter, Elizabeth Skye, on September 7, 2006. To Ashley Stearns Burr ’94 and her husband, Andrew, a daughter, Miller Grace, on July 12, 2006. To Derek Gelinas ’98 and his fiancée, Vanessa Potvin, a daughter, Kaylee Noel, on July 2, 2006. To Jessie Reid Wester ’98 and her husband, Jeffrey, a son, Sparrow Theodore, on April 30, 2006. To faculty member Jeff Hastings and his wife, Wendy, a son, Jayden Jeffrey, on November 18, 2006. To faculty member Derek Lautieri and his wife, Erin, a daughter, Megan Grace, on September 10, 2006.

CELEBRATING

alumni

weddings James Richardson ’90 to Michelle Reesh on November 12, 2006, in Seattle, WA. Stacy Denham ’93 to Greg Willenbucher on May 6, 2006, in South Casco, ME. Kate Lally ’93 to Antony Chu on July 22, 2006. Matt Emmet ’95 to Emily Coyne on August 26, 2006, in Meredith, NH. Kristen Pearson ’96 to Marc Wydom on September 30, 2006, in Manchester, NH. Jessica Reid ’98 to Jeffrey Wester on June 4, 2005, in

Derryfield alumni at the wedding of Stacy Denham ’93 and Greg Willenbucher (L to R): Mark and Margaux D’Auteuil Peabody ’93, Stacy and Greg, Amily Dunlap Moore ’93 and her husband, Tyler.

Sanbornton, NH.

continued on page 24...

www.derryfield.org

LIFE AFTER DERRYFIELD

Keeping Things Fresh by Eileen Haletky Cavallaro ’86

Customers line up at a tent at the Amherst Farmers’ Market

needed to find an outlet to market them. I joined all of the local farmers’ markets and became a member of The NH Farmers’ Market Association, The North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association and The Farmers’ Market Coalition and traveled to California for a farmers’ market con‑ ference. Farmers’ Markets were on the rise throughout the country and were gaining popularity in our state as well. When I first started with the NH Farmers’ Market Association there were 42 markets in the state; there are now over 50 and the number is increasing yearly.

“It has become important to many communities to know

Eileen Haletky Cavallaro '86 left the halls of Capitol Hill to live her dream. The owner of The Garden Party, a cut flower farm in Wilton, NH, Eileen spends her days doing what she enjoys most – playing in the dirt. She is married to James Cavallaro, with whom she makes her home in Wilton, NH, and is the proud mother of 7‑year old Anthony James, a.k.a. AJ. When Eileen is not working at The Garden Party, you can often find her volunteering her time running the Farmers’ Markets in Salzburg Square and on the Village Green in Amherst.

here are not many people fortu‑ nate enough to be able to turn a passion into a career. I can hap‑ pily say that I am one of the lucky few. Somewhere along the line, I left the clean, crisp hallways of Capitol Hill to play in the dirt at my cut flower farm, The Garden Party, in Wilton, NH. After discovering my passion for gardening, I found a way to turn that passion into a career. My goal is to bring the beauty and bounty of the earth to as many homes as possible and to keep my hands dirty. Nothing is quite as satisfying as planting a seed and watching it grow into a beautiful flower and then putting those flowers together into a breathtaking bouquet. After my husband, James, and I started growing flowers on our eight‑acre farm six years ago, we decided we

where their food is coming from. Keeping it local has become one of the most impor‑ tant nationwide trends over the past few years.” I was meeting a prospective wed‑ ding client in Amherst a few years ago and arrived a bit early to discover the most attractive village square I had ever seen. Colonial New England at its best. I decided that day to start my own farmers’ market on Amherst’s Historic Village Green. I had partici‑ pated in markets in parking lots, on hot pavement and in dusty fields – having a market on a beautiful lawn enclosed by lush trees and a white picket fence seemed much more invit‑

Derryfield Today – Fall 2006

LIFE AFTER DERRYFIELD

ABOVE: Leaving the halls of Capitol Hill to play in the dirt of her cut flower farm, Eileen Cavallaro ’87 has realized her dream. BELOW: Photos from Eileen’s garden.

ing and offered a much more pleasant experience for the farmers and the shoppers alike. I gathered a group of local agricul‑ tural producers and artisans who offer the highest quality New Hampshire‑ made products. We opened the market in 2003 to a community that quickly embraced us. For the past three sea‑ sons, we have been popping up our tents and setting out our wares – fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers, fish, chicken, lamb, eggs, milk, cheese, wine, artisan breads, baked goods, wool, soaps, plants, trees, maple syrup and honey. By 2:30 the green is full of families shopping for their weekly gro‑ ceries and a few extra specialty items

www.derryfield.org

like the flowers I have in abundance at my stand. The market has become a community event – a place for friends and families to get together while they enjoy a vibrant shopping experience. It has become important to many communities to know where their food is coming from. Keeping it local has become one of the most important nationwide trends over the past few years. Supporting local agriculture has become a passion of mine. As we grew to become one of the most successful and most diverse farm‑ ers’ markets in the state, we were left with the question of what to do in the off season when our farms were blan‑ keted with snow and selling our goods outside was no longer an option. After feasibility studies, researching demo‑ graphics and writing grant proposals, I opened the doors to the first indoor year‑round farmers’ market in the state at Salzburg Square in Amherst on October 12, 2006. Funding came in from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, The NH Dept. of Agriculture and The New England Grassroots Environmental Fund.

I have been interviewed by NHPR and have received an abundance of press from the local newspapers as well as The Boston Globe. One of our greatest moments was having our mar‑ ket highlighted on WMUR’s NH Chronicle as part of NH Farmers’ Market Week. Snug between Wilton and Amherst lies Milford, home to the Garden Party Floral Boutique. The Boutique is a retail flower and gift shop which I opened in February of 2004. Beyond the flowers I offer at this venue, I also represent local artists, jewelers and crafters. I continually look for ways to keep it local and educate as many as I can on the value of supporting local agricultural businesses and artists.

U P DAT E O N A L U M N I

...continued from page 21

slideshows, please visit her website at www.amandafiedler.com.

1997 Amanda Fiedler began teaching English in Probolinggo, Indonesia, this year. She says she has learned enough of the Bahasa language to communi‑ cate on a “very basic, child‑like level.” She speaks of the beauty of the land with farms and fields, mountains and rice paddies in different sizes and shades of green, “like a patchwork quilt” with gray, hazy mountains sur‑ rounding them with the ocean beyond. She is staying with a wonderful family whose property has all kinds of trees and plants, including orchids, mango trees, coconuts and some bonsai trees. For Amanda’s journal entries and

1998 Sharon Pozner Moulis has been study‑ ing at Yale University the last four years as a graduate student in the field of cellular, molecular and developmen‑ tal biology. On September 22, 2006, she presented her final thesis to the com‑ mittee, who subsequently approved her dissertation, granting her a Ph.D. in her field. She is the first to graduate in her class (she will walk at Yale’s graduation in May). She has been con‑ centrating her work in Cancer Research and, most specifically, in breast cancer research. She was pub‑

lished in the August 2006 issue of Cancer Research. She will continue to work the remainder of the year as a “post doc” in the same research lab where she has been doing her research. n Derek Gelinas writes, “My fiancée Vanessa Potvin and I are happy to announce the birth of our beautiful daughter, Kaylee Noel. She was born on July 2 at 4:31 p.m., weighed 7lbs., 7oz., and was 20 inches long. She’s absolutely gorgeous and has been a joy to us both. We are very excited to have her and are anxious to watch her grow. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have started a family together. Vanessa and I met shortly after graduating college in Worcester, MA. We quickly decided that we needed to spend the rest of our lives together and became engaged in

LORI EVANS ’00

returning

to Derryfield

The Advancement Office at Derryfield is very happy to announce that Lori Evans ’00 has accepted the position of Associate Director of Advancement. After graduating from Derryfield in 2000, Lori attended Trinity College in Hartford, CT, where she received her BA in Anthropology. She took advantage of opportunities to study abroad by attending Trinity College‑in‑Rome in Italy and the University of Cape Town in South Africa. She is a member of Pi Gamma Mu, an honor society for social science. Following graduation, Lori moved to New York City, where she worked as a development aide for the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at New York Weill Cornell Medical Center. In June 2005, Lori accepted the position of Assistant Manager in the Foundation and Government Grants Department of the New York Public Library. She most recently worked at the Library as Associate Manager in the Foundation Relations Department, cultivating donors, providing stewardship and soliciting a portfolio of over 180 foundation donors and prospects. She developed and wrote foundation grant proposals for general operating support of the Research Libraries in addition to working on restricted projects. Besides her work since graduation, Lori has been a member of Women in Development (New York), an alumni annual fund caller (Trinity), served on the Class of 2000 Reunion Committee (Derryfield), has been a Class Agent (Williams‑Mystic) and has served as Co‑Chair of the Young Alumni Committee (Trinity Club of New York). As we cross into the second half of our annual fund year, we are pleased to have Lori bringing her fund‑raising experience to the Advancement Office.

Derryfield Today – Fall 2006

U P DAT E O N A L U M N I

2004. We are currently planning our wedding for December of 2007 and are looking forward to celebrating with friends and family and especially our daughter, Kaylee. Could this be the first baby of the class of ’98?” n Hilari Bellerive writes, “Hi everyone. I know many of you have not heard from me in a long time but I want to share some exciting news with you. This may come as a surprise to some of you and not so much of a surprise to others... I recently became engaged to Tim Sidore. We are planning a spring wed‑ ding in Arizona. We have a beautiful home in the town of Gold Canyon, AZ, which we have filled with two dogs and four cats. I hope all of you are well and look forward to seeing some of you at our upcoming wedding. n Dana Green writes, “After some globe trotting to Asia and Latin America this summer, I’m officially starting classes on September 5 (my birthday, no less – what a present!) at Columbia Law School on a Hamilton Fellowship. The Hamilton Fellowship is a full merit scholarship covering all tuition for the three years of the J.D. program and is the highest award the law school gives (yikes! No pressure or anything). I have also been named a finalist for the Tony Patino Fellowship, a three year public interest fellowship, and have my final interview for that on September 16. Fingers crossed... It feels like I’m back at Derryfield – lots of reading, great teachers, and we even have hallway lockers again! Best wish‑ es to everyone at Derryfield.” n Jessie Reid Wester reports that she and her

www.derryfield.org

Derryfield alumni at the wedding of Brenna McCandliss ’96 to Shane Thomas (Back row L to R): Kristen Pearson Wydom ’96, Carver Woodbury Scott ’96, Brenna, Dana Gomez ’96, Trevett McCandliss ’94, and Michelle Lauer ’96. (Front row L to R): Byron Scott and Shane.

husband, Jeffrey, welcomed a son on April 30, 2006. Sparrow Theodore Wester arrived at 7:36 a.m. at 22 inches long and weighing 7 lbs., 11 oz. Now, at 6‑1/2 months, Sparrow is crawling and standing up. Jessie and Jeffrey are still living in Akron, OH. Jeffrey is working as a substitute teacher while applying for permanent jobs as an art teacher. Jessie is combining the duties of a Creative Memories consultant with those of a stay‑at‑home mom. Check out her website at www. mycmsite.com/jessicawester.

1999 Benjamin Kinder and Julie Aguiar have been living outside Washington, DC, for almost a year‑and‑a‑half. Benjamin writes, “I am working for Google in one of their datacenters and Julie is a case manager for abused and neglected children with For Children’s

Sake. We like it here but are planning to move to Oregon soon.” n Amy Loveless writes, “I just finished my first year at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology where I’m working on my doctorate in clinical psychology. I love living in Boston and am enjoying being in school again. If you’d like to say hello, my email is amy_loveless@students.mspp.edu. Greetings to everyone!”

2000 Zach Learner is in his second year of law school at the University of Miami in Coral Gables. He wanted a warm cli‑ mate and has acquired a real respect for hurricanes. He is busy, to say the least. n Maggie Tomaswick has joined the product engineering department of Beswick Engineering Co., Inc. in Greenland, NH. n John Butler was married to Dr. Isolde Krummrich on

U P DAT E O N A L U M N I

Seth Pitman, Krista Keeler, and Matt D'Alessio (all ’01) at their reunion gathering.

April 15, 2006 in New Orleans, LA. They currently reside in that city. n Sabrina Dunlap writes, “I’m starting my second year of law school at American University in Washington, DC, this fall!”

2001

Reunion Recap

On Saturday evening, September 30, the Class of 2001 got a glimpse of how fast time flies. Gathering at Jillian’s Restaurant just off Commercial Street, the Class of 2001 picked up just where they left off in June 2001. A dozen stu‑ dents gathered at the popular Manchester watering hole, including Andrew Cochran, Becca Connolly, Matt D’Alessio, Jeremy Freeman, Krista Keeler, Greg Morin, Seth Pitman, Pat Santoso, Andrea Schwartz, Pat Secor, Stephanie Wallace and Andy West. Guest appearances were made by faculty members Bruce Berk, Rob Bradley and Jeff Cousineau. Diane Allen, Alumni Coordinator, joined in the fun, happy to have a chance to meet alumni she had not met before. Thanks to Andrew Cochran and Becca Connolly for their

help in organizing the event. They got a late start, but the party was a great success! We look forward to seeing what the next five years bring to you all. n Emily Learner spent part of September in Alaska, taking a break from her research lab in Boston. She is doing well and thoroughly enjoyed her stay in Alaska.

2002 Kristen Geiger’s mother reports that Kristen earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Trinity College in Hartford, CT. While at Trinity, she was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society, the Pi Gamma Mu social science honor society, and the Psi Chi psychology honor society. She also was a member of the women’s varsity soc‑ cer team and was selected for the New England Small College Athletic Association All‑Academic Team twice. n Daniel Chen began work in July at Dresdner Kleinwort, the investment bank of Dresdner Bank AG, in New York City. He is an analyst in the merg‑ ers and acquisitions group, focusing on cross‑border transactions between the U.S. and Europe. n Lindsay Armstrong is beginning the last year of a five‑year industrial design program at Syracuse. She spent the 2005 fall semester in London at the SU design program and ran the Loch Ness Marathon in Scotland. She spent this past summer serving in an internship as props arti‑ san with the Contemporary American Theater Festival in Shepardstown, WV.

2003 Kate Davison is in her senior year at Dartmouth and rowed in the women’s eight on the U.S. Under‑23 National Team this summer. The U.S. women’s eight won the gold medal at the 2006 World Rowing Under‑23 Champion‑ ships in Hazewinkel, Belgium. For more information, see the sidebar on page 10. n Marc Morgan has complet‑ ed the first three years of his five‑year engineering program at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL. He has now begun his last two years of study at Columbia University in New York City, where he is majoring in Mechanical Engineering. His graduation will be in May 2008.

2004 Jeff Lyford was awoken from a sound sleep at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 15, on Oahu where he is attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa. A pow‑ erful earthquake had hit the “Big Island,” and was strong enough to knock items from the top of the refrig‑

Andy West ’01 with his girlfriend, Ashley Smith, at the 5th reunion.

Derryfield Today – Fall 2006

U P DAT E O N A L U M N I

erator and cut off power to his apart‑ ment. Unhurt, Jeff was glad when power was restored at about 11 p.m. that same evening. With little damage and no injuries, Jeff thought it was an “exciting experience.” n Ashley Westbrook writes, “I’m leaving for Cape Town today. I had a blast in Oslo, and I’m even more excited for Cape Town than I was for Oslo. I have a two‑ and‑a‑half hour flight to London, then an eleven‑and‑a‑half hour flight to Cape Town, so I will have plenty of time to rest my legs from all the walk‑ ing I’ve done. I will be one of five Americans attending the University at Cape Town.”

Summer Send Off On August 9, members of the past four graduating classes returned to Derryfield for a Summer SendOff BBQ before heading off to college. College care packages were raffled off, and incoming freshmen had the chance to get some pointers from those more experienced alumni.

Joelle Emery ’04, Liza Townsend ’04, Beth Frieden ’04 and Ariana Hodes ’04.

2005 Kate Dewey is playing lacrosse at Cornell University.

2006 Adam Grodman spent a month in a Hebrew immersion program at the University of Haifa ub Usrael. He was there during the two major rocket attacks which occurred in July. He was rushed into a bomb shelter, hearing and feeling the explosions above. A rocket that killed eight people was in an area that he had been in just a few days before... After the second day of rocket attacks, they started evacuating the campus. Adam took a taxi to Tel Aviv to spend some time with his great aunt and great uncle and completed

www.derryfield.org

Dusty Burgess ’06, Dylan Evans ’06, Jessica Friedenberg ’06 and Tim Kramer ’06.

Paige Herlihy ’06, Chiara Arcidy ’06, Jenny Cox ’06 and Alix Reilley ’06.

U P DAT E O N A L U M N I

In Memoriam June Bray Reilly

Lejla Kadic, Isaac Wheeler, Tim Jundanian and Emily Monty (all ’06) returned to cheer for Derryfield at New Hampshire Championships.

his Hebrew immersion program at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Home safe and sound, Adam is attend‑ ing the University of Vermont. n Jenny Cox’s mom tells us that Jenny has been very busy this semester as assistant arts and entertainment editor to her college newspaper, the Colby Echo. She should be even busier next semester when she loses the “assistant” in her title and becomes arts and enter‑ tainment editor.

Former Faculty On August 9, 2006, Bryan Duff and his wife, Kerin, welcomed their new addi‑ tion – baby Liam Patrick Duff. Bryan and family will be living at the Berkshire School in Sheffield, MA, where he has taken a new position. He promises to bring the baby by one of these days and that he’ll be a great little cougar!

Derryfield Founder and parent of five alumni, June Bray Reilly died on June 5, 2006, following a car accident. Born in Lowell, MA, Mrs. Reilly resided in Bedford, NH, and dedicated her life to being a mother, grandmother and phi‑ lanthropist. She was a founding parish‑ ioner of Saint Elizabeth Seton Church and a founder of Bedford Bluffs. She served on the boards of Child Health Services and Child and Family Services. She was a supporter of Moore Child Development Center, a child advocate through CASA, a counselor at Hillsboro State Prison for Women and hosted children from the Fresh Air Program. Mrs. Reilly was a co‑owner of Paper World and a member of sever‑ al community organizations. Of her seven children, alumni include Robin Reilly Wagner ’70, Cynthia Reilly Hauger ’71, Jennifer Reilly ’76, Allison Reilly ’84 and Kimberly Reilly ’85.

Michael D. Bailey, Sr. ’74 Derryfield Alumnus Michael “Mick” D. Bailey, Sr. ’74 of Salisbury, NH died on September 13, 2006 after a sudden illness. He worked as a plant supervi‑ sor for Aggregate Industries in Boscawen for 20 years and for an addi‑ tional 10 years for the State Department of Transportation in Andover. He also served as a part‑time police officer in Salisbury. An avid sports enthusiast, he enjoyed basket‑ ball, baseball, darts and soccer and was

a Little League coach. The father of four sons and one daughter, Mr. Bailey was the grandfather of two, the brother of alumnus James D. Bailey ’72, and son of Marion and the late Edward Bailey.

Joseph A. Millimet Derryfield Founder and parent of an alumna, Joseph A. Millimet died on November 3, 2006 at the age of 92 after suffering from Parkinson’s disease for several years. Mr. Millimet was a co‑ founder of Devine and Millimet, and grew it from a two‑man law firm to the 8‑lawyer firm of Divine Millimet, one of the largest law offices in the State of New Hampshire at the time and one that has spawned a number of judges and political leaders. Mr. Millimet headed the New Hampshire Bar in 1962‑63, chaired State constitutional commissions in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, and was a fellow of the exclusive American College of Trial Lawyers. An avid Democrat, he worked behind the scenes on several State and local elec‑ tions. Predeceased by his wife, Elizabeth, Mr. Millimet leaves three children, including Derryfield alumna Rebecca Millimet ’68.

Derryfield Today – Fall 2006

AWA K E N I N G A S E N S E O F H I S T O R Y

profile

Faculty

Rick Zeller – Perhaps It’s the Glasses? t might be something about the way he peers over his glasses at you. It may be the glasses themselves. (Q: How many colors can you get into one pair of glasses? A: Almost as many as you can get into one shirt!) Whatever it is, Rick Zeller has that knack of getting the youngest students of our on‑cam‑ pus community to notice him listen to him, and gain a healthy introduction to history through his geography and civics classes. A product of Nichols School, an independent day school in Buffalo, NY, Mr. Zeller earned his degree at Williams College. Following two years teaching in Texas, he returned to Nichols to teach alongside his former teachers. Six years later, Mr. Zeller worked a variety of jobs while earning his Master’s Degree in Psychology at Landmark College. He met his wife, Lucyann, at White Mountain School in Littleton, NH, where he served as dean of students. It wasn’t until 1993 that Mr. Zeller found his niche at The Derryfield School. Beginning as Head of the Middle School, he came to real‑ ize that he missed the classroom and returned to teaching geography and civics, where he continues to make a

www.derryfield.org

lasting impression on every student who goes through the Middle School. Mr. Zeller notes that most sixth grade students enter his class in September with no concept of geography or cul‑ ture. By the time they leave in June, not only can they read maps, but they have created maps. They have even created their own countries, complete with boundaries, topography and culture. The highlight of the year is their partic‑ ipation in the Cultural Café, a program in partnership with St. Anselm College through which students are paired with new adult immigrants to Manchester from all over the world. Seventh grade civics brings the focus back to the United States and its gover‑ nance. Students are introduced to debating with topics such as who should be the next face added to Mt. Rushmore or, more recently, who would replace Chief Justice Rehnquist on the Supreme Court. Points of view are backed by facts and opinions gained through individual research and class discussion. One thing is guar‑ anteed: students emerge from Mr. Zeller’s classes fully prepared for the complexities of U.S. History in eighth grade.

Rick Zeller

Mr. Zeller lives with his wife, Lucyann, and their children, Tuckerman (13) and Zoe (10), in Canterbury, NH. His son, Robby ’04, is a sophomore at Middlebury College where he will major in French and hopes to follow the Zeller tradition of teaching. When asked what he hopes his students will walk away with, Mr. Zeller answers the question as a team member, saying “I hope that the Middle School history program will create an understanding in our students of their roles in creating history. We begin with the concrete and end with the abstract. They all need to realize how our government operates and the significant role they must play in it.” – Diane Allen

Seussical Jake Smiley ’12, Ryan Stevenson ’12, and Kaitlyn Fink ’11 in a scene from the middle school musical Seussical.

Parents of alumni: If your son or daughter no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Advancement Office at 603.669.4524 of the correct mailing address. Thank you.

2108 River Road Manchester, NH 03104-1396 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID MANCHESTER, NH PERMIT NO. 290