SUMMER 2016
Commencement 2016 R THE BLUE BLAZER BALL
AVON IN THE COMMUNIT Y REUNION 2016
AVON OLD FARMS SCHOOL ESTABLISHED 1927 HEADMASTER
Kenneth H. LaRocque EDITOR
Morgan C. Cugell DESIGNER
2k Design www.2kDesign.com PHOTOGRAPHERS
Seshu Photography Will Cook Nan Flanagan Tom Honan John LaPerch Tyler Varsell Rebecca Wilhite Photography
Village Green The
PRINTER
Benchemark Printing, Inc., Schenectady, NY CONTRIBUTORS
Thanks to everyone who contributed to this magazine. Special thanks to Jim Detora, Bob Dully, Kristen Kerwin, and Ken LaRocque.
contents
The Village Green is published for the alumni, parents, and friends of Avon Old Farms School. It is distributed to approximately 8,000 readers. All rights reserved. AVON OLD FARMS SCHOOL
1
Headmaster
2 Features
12 Commencement
2
News and Notes
10
Athletics
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18 from the editor
Reunion
22
The Last Word
500 Old Farms Road Avon, CT 06001 www.avonoldfarms.com (860) 404-4100 ADMISSIONS
(800) 464-2866 admissions@avonoldfarms.com ALUMNI
We enjoy hearing from you! Please send us your latest news and notes: Email: abramsonl@avonoldfarms.com Phone: (800) 336-8195 Fax: (860) 404-4631 EMAIL
Members of the administration and faculty can be emailed by using the following formula: last name + first initial @avonoldfarms.com. The directory on the school website also includes email links. Avon Old Farms School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, disabilities, or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
Distinguished Alumni Awards
Dear Readers,
The Avonian Online
I hope you enjoyed your summer and that you are looking forward as much as we are to the start of the school year. This is one of my favorite times of the year: boys streaming through campus, excited to see their new rooms and old friends! Leaves are changing, the campus is beautiful, and everyone is encouraged by the opportunity that comes with a new school year. Though I do enjoy the thrill of a new beginning, I invite you to take a peek back at the end of the 2015–2016 academic year. Reunion and Commencement are just two of the many spring highlights we cover in this issue. Be sure to remember the good times—or catch up on what you missed! Be on the lookout for the Avonian in mailboxes late November. Until then, I welcome your feedback! Morgan C. Cugell cugellm@avonoldfarms.com
•
860-404-4239
Find past issues of the Avonian online at
www.avonoldfarms. com/avonian
Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com /avonoldfarms
Follow us on Twitter @avonoldfarms
from the
Headmaster
by Kenneth H. LaRocque
Greetings. I hope this issue of the Village Green helps bring to life some of the exciting events we enjoyed on campus over the course of the last few months of the school year. From our Pushups for Patriots program and the Blue Blazer Ball, to the Relay for Life, Grandparents Day, Alumni Weekend, and Commencement, this spring was filled with the spirit of tradition that makes Avon Old Farms such a unique and special community. Our students, faculty, administration, parents, and staff joined together numerous times to successfully host hundreds of visitors to campus. Highlights of the spring term included three inductions into our hall of distinguished alumni: Dr. John Spence ’71, an altruistic doctor who works passionately to eradicate leprosy; Joseph Giannamore ’84, an international entrepreneur and humanitarian; and U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Assad Khan ’78, a naturalized U.S. citizen who honored himself and his country with leadership and courage on the field of battle. Beginning on Saturday afternoon, April 2, and continuing for 24 hours, faculty members Maj. John Bourgault ’80, Rob Whitty ’87, Graham Callaghan ’95, Jim Detora, and Trevor Stern led a host of students and other faculty and staff in our annual Pushups for Patriots initiative. We raised close to $30,000 for the Semper Fi Fund to support wounded Marines and their families. On April 22, our seniors and juniors enjoyed gathering for the prom at the Riverview. On April 30, the Parents of Avon hosted the annual Blue Blazer Ball, which raised a record amount of money to benefit our Student Enrichment Fund. On May 4, we welcomed hundreds of grandparents to campus to visit classes with their grandsons, watch them perform in a concert, and compete in athletic contests. On May 7, our school community joined with the
Ethel Walker School and Miss Porter’s School to host a Relay for Life event, and raised thousands of dollars to help in the fight against cancer. In the sporting arena, our athletes excelled again this spring. The varsity baseball team once again won its league championship, and our 4x400 relay team set a New England preparatory school record while competing in the national high school tournament. The team also won this event at the New England tournament. In the arts, we were proud of the actors who put on an impressive production of Twelve Angry Jurors early in May. On Commencement Weekend, we were equally proud of the creative talent on display at the art show in the Tiernan Room. Our students’ work in pottery, photography, architecture, woodworking, painting, and drawing greatly impressed all who stopped by the exhibit. The Saturday afternoon Commencement Concert was memorable from every perspective and moved the audience to more than one standing ovation. On the picture-perfect Sunday morning of May 29, on our Village Green, Martin I. Cole, chairman of our Board of Directors and a former top executive at Accenture, delivered the Commencement address to the members of the Class of 2016 and their guests. The festive graduation ceremonies were an appropriate ending to an extremely successful year at Avon Old Farms. The 2015–2016 school year will read as a rich chapter in Avon’s history, one in which we never wavered from our mission of building men of character. Thank you for your continuing interest in and support of Avon Old Farms!
Was Your Best Man an Avonian? The summer is wedding season, and Avon Old Farms hosts a number of ceremonies and receptions for alumni in the Chapel and the Riddle Refectory. At the end of each summer, the headmaster welcomes new students at their orientation with the prediction that the best man at their wedding years down the road is very likely to be sitting in the room with them at that moment. We’re wondering about the accuracy of that prediction. Whether you were married here at the Farm or not, we’re interested in hearing from you if someone in your wedding party was a fellow Avonian. Please send replies to Liz Abramson in the Alumni and Development Office: abramsonl@avonoldfarms.com. The Village Green Summer 2016
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News and Notes
Blue Blazer Ball The
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Summer 2016 The Village Green
Grandparents
H
Day
undreds of grandparents and their grandsons celebrated Grandparents Day this spring, attending classes together, going to a concert and a poetry reading, and enjoying a delicious luncheon. Following a tour of campus, many cheered on the athletes participating in that afternoon’s games.
E
ach spring during the annual gathering of the Board of Directors, Parents of Avon hosts the annual Blue Blazer Ball, a spectacular farm to table feast and live auction, with proceeds benefiting the Student Enrichment Fund. With a delectable meal, melodies from the Riddlers, and community building among parents, friends, faculty, alumni, and many members of the Board of Directors, the event was a festive success!
News and Notes
AVON IN THE COMMUNIT Y
Relay for Life
E
ach spring, students from Avon Old Farms School join students from Miss Porter’s School and the Ethel Walker School in one of the biggest fundraising efforts of the year: the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, hosted this year on Avon’s campus May 2 and 3. Student (and faculty!) teams spend months in advance planning events to raise money for the event, proceeds from which are donated to the American Cancer Society to raise awareness of and funds for cancer research. The event was fun-filled, featuring food, music, activities, and even the chance to throw a pie at a faculty member, and poignant in its moments of somber remembrance, with the moving luminaria ceremony, the survivors lap, and an address from Art Custer, whose father lost his battle with cancer decades ago.
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Summer 2016 The Village Green
Pushups for Patriots One of Avon’s most inspiring events took place over the course of 24 hours on April 2 and 3 as faculty member and retired Marine Maj. John Bourgault ’80 led the community through its eighth annual Pushups for Patriots event. Participants do ten pushups every minute for as long as their bodies will allow—those who complete the entire 24 hours do a total of 15,000!—and help raise money for the Semper Fi Fund. Maj. Bourgault explains, “The purpose of it is to raise money and awareness for the soldiers and service men and women coming back from overseas. The government does a pretty good job taking care of them, but not enough, so we’re volunteering our time and our sweat and our money to help make the difference.” All proceeds from the event go to the Semper Fi Fund and Maj. Bourgault was proud to announce, “We had a record year; we raised over $30,000 for 24 hours worth of work and by all accounts it was very successful.” In addition to record-breaking fundraising, participation in
the event was very strong once again. The major notes, “I’m really, really proud of the community. Once again, everybody came together; a lot of people participated, and a lot of people donated.” No event brings Avon together in such a spirit of unity and sacrifice as Pushups for Patriots, and this year there were even some unexpected guests. On the morning of April 3, the Naval Academy Preparatory School lacrosse team played a scrimmage against Avon’s varsity; when they heard what was going on, they immediately came to participate in the pushups. After a grueling and spirited contest, both teams joined the event in a moving display of sacrifice and camaraderie in the name of a good cause. Moments such as this show the power of Pushups for Patriots as an event and Avon as a community, and Maj. Bourgault assures everyone, “We’ve got something really, really exciting lined up for next year.” We can’t wait to see how this incredible event can get even better.
Spring Play
Twelve Angry Jurors The Village Green Summer 2016
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News and Notes
The
Sights of Spring
T
hough there are no slow seasons at Avon, there can be no denying that spring is special. Rising temperatures, budding plant life, and emerging birdsong give campus an infectious vitality. It is a time of high stakes and high emotion—as students drill down to finish their classes strongly, and the seniors prepare to bid farewell to the community they’ve dedicated so much to throughout their time here. This may also be the busiest time of year—the weather affords new opportunities, and special events that bring the school together before we break apart for the summer. One such opportunity is the stickball league. Led by Associate Headmaster (and umpire) John Gardner, the stickball league has become an icon of 21st-century student life at Avon. Each spring, students are invited to form teams, coming up with creative names—and sometimes equally creative uniforms—and hold stickball games after dinner on Smalley Field, the green between Jamerson House and Elephant Dormitory. With a full regular season and
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Summer 2016 2010 The Village Green
playoffs, teams compete hard to win the championship while providing hilarious entertainment for crowds, often large, of their peers. Stickball is always fun, but a trip down to Beaver Pond in springtime is a true “must-do” for every Avonian. Students walk to the pond where they can hang out, relax, swim (when a lifeguard is on duty), play Frisbee, and generally decompress from the rigors of campus life. In addition, the school keeps Beaver Pond stocked with fish; roughly 200 rainbow trout were added at the start of the season. Beaver Pond is open to the entire school community, including alumni. If you’d like to fish, AOF asks only that you buy a $10 license from Jonathan Crocker to help maintain the stocking program. Equally important to the springtime tradition are senior privileges: once granted, seniors can be spotted each night enjoying the sunset alongside grills they’ve purchased (or borrowed from some generous teachers!) and a pile of hamburgers, hot dogs, and hungry friends.
Community service also plays a large role in springtime life at Avon. On the evening of Friday, April 15, a group of faculty members led by Jim Kirschner, director of Dining Services, took ten students to serve food to homeless people at the Immaculate Conception shelter in Hartford. The boys served a variety of food donated by members of the school community and the Riddle Refectory itself, including lasagnas, salads, and homemade desserts. Workers at the shelter were impressed by the students’ humility as each Avonian took the time to personally thank all those working at the shelter and shake their hands before departing. And what spring season would be complete without a prom? On April 22, juniors and seniors congregated with their dates, families, and friends for pictures on the Village Green before departing for an elegant evening at the Riverview in Simsbury.
The Village Green Summer 2016 7 The Village Green Summer 2010
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News and Notes
The
Introspective Boy Avon students explore male adolescent identity through the visual arts
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Summer 2016 The Village Green
T
he arts are a cornerstone of education at Avon Old Farms School. “The boys are required to complete one year in the arts in order to graduate, but what we find over and over again is that, once a student takes a class, he realizes he loves it and participates in the arts much more deeply and broadly than the graduation requirements mandate,” explains Cristina Pinton, Art Department chair. “The boys make art that is a direct reflection of how they interpret the world, themselves, what they believe in,” continues Pinton. “It’s a natural way for them to explore topics they find interesting and challenging in life. Their work is telling and, at
times, very deep and introspective. It allows them to be honest about life in a way that is fragile yet powerful. Art is a place where they can express themselves and question life in myriad ways.” “Art has helped me mature as a person because it showed me that even as a young man in an all-boys school, you can show your emotions,” explains Vince Caputo ’16. “Art has gotten me through tough times in my life by letting me express myself.” “In class, I am not the most talkative or the most outgoing person, so for me the arts at Avon has been a way to get everything out of my system that is otherwise hard to put into words,” remarks Andrew Jung ’17. One example of this is Max Rieser ’16, who came to Avon as a star athlete but emerged as an extraordinarily
“Art has helped me mature as a person because it showed me that even as a young man in an all-boys school, you can show your emotions.” Vince Caputo ’16
gifted art student. Rieser was recently was awarded a national Scholastic Art Award for his work, in which he explores masculinity through art, a theme he has consistently found himself pursuing. Rieser’s work—along with artwork from 15 other Avon Old Farms students— was on display at the Farmington Valley Arts Center this spring. The Introspective Boy exhibit featured students whose work was chosen by a panel of four arts professors from local colleges, an author, and an internationally known photographer. Students from Avon arts courses were treated to
many exciting opportunities this spring, including several hands-on visiting artist workshops, multiple local showcases featuring Avon artists, and the annual day trip for art students to New York City. A featured artist in NEXT: Emerging Artists High School Exhibition, an exhibit for outstanding regional juniors and seniors, held each spring at the Gallery on the Green in Canton, Donghee Kim ’16 was awarded an artistic merit scholarship. Congratulations to all our talented student artists and their dedicated, skillful teachers.
The Village Green Summer 2016
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Athletics
Winged Beavers Fly the Banner Track Stars Set NEPSTA, School Records
T
his spring’s athletic season was exceptional on many accounts and highlighted by the fleet feet of several members of the varsity track-and-field team, who spent the season smashing their own school records and going on to compete with the best track athletes in the nation. Avon’s 4x400 relay team lowered the school record an astonishing five times during the season, with a final time of 3:19.33 at the nationals. Undefeated in New England Prep School Track Association competition, the relay team won the Founders League and NEPTSA championships with the fastest 4x400 relay time in NEPSTA’s 77-year history. In June, the team traveled to Greensboro, N.C. for the New Balance Outdoor Nationals, placing fourth in the Emerging Elite division and 14th overall of 67 entries. The record-setting group of Kurt Linke, Arden Coleman, Jordan Abate, and Ian Reilly brought home the Founders League and NEPSTA championships as well as the tremendous finish at the national level. They were supported by alternate Jack Carroll, who competed during the regular season dual meets in place of an injured Abate. “The team dropped 16 seconds over the course of the season. It was unbelievable hard work by these boys,” comments Matt Biggart ’02, the head coach and a former standout track athlete himself. “More importantly, Kurt, Arden, Jordan, Ian, and Jack were willing to do anything for each other. They are talented athletes, but that bond of brotherhood made the team special. It made them one of the best relay teams in the nation.” 10
Summer 2016 2010 The Village Green
Keeper of the Cup:
Nick Bonino ’07 Avon Old Farms School was busier than usual on August 11—thanks to a visit from a very special guest: Lord Stanley’s Cup. Nick Bonino ’07 returned to campus bearing the coveted NHL trophy as he took his turn with the cup. Nick, a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins, won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in June when they defeated the San Jose Sharks in six games. More than 5,000 visitors swarmed campus and the Brown Student Center to take their picture with Nick and the Cup this August. Nick played for revered coach John Gardner, captaining the team as a senior and capturing a New England Championship.
The TheVillage VillageGreen GreenSummer Summer2016 2010
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83rd
Commencement Exercises 2016
Make a
Di2erence commencement 2016
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Summer 2016 The Village Green
A blue sky presided over Avon’s 83rd Commencement ceremony as faculty, family, and friends came together to honor this year’s graduating class. As always, the morning began with the sound of bagpipes echoing off red sandstone while faculty, students, and soon-to-be graduates marched to their seats. The Chorale sang a moving Memorial Day Weekend tribute to the nation’s armed services, with a medley of songs from each branch, to kick off the ceremony in celebratory fashion. Chairman of the Board of Directors, Marty Cole P’04, gave this year’s Commencement address, urging the graduating class to “make a difference” by defining the sort of men they want to be and to be remembered as and to work passionately to become those men. After Chairman Cole’s speech, Headmaster LaRocque handed out some of Avon’s most prestigious awards, including Founder’s Medals and the Order of Old Farms. This year’s Cashion Faculty Award went to Robert Whitty ’87 P’16, a student favorite who excels at building powerful relationships with students in and out of the classroom. Finally, Provost John Gardner took the podium and presented diplomas to the graduating class. Afterward, the Class of 2016 recessed through Alumni Gate, joining the
bigger brotherhood of alumni and meeting up with friends and family for congratulations, photographs, a few tears, and a wonderful reception in the Riddle as they bid a fond farewell to Avon Old Farms. Commencement Weekend also featured the Senior Awards Ceremony on Saturday night, when book prizes, academic excellence prizes, and athletic prizes were awarded. In addition, ten students were inducted into the Cum Laude Society, and Jaewook “Joey” Kwak ’16, the Scholar of Distinction with the highest cumulative grade point average over his Avon career, spoke to his classmates. Other highlights of the weekend were the Commencement concert and the annual Senior Art Show, featuring a compilation of works from many graduating students. Congratulations to the Class of 2016!
The Village Green Summer 2016
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83rd
Commencement Exercises 2016
This year’s commencement speaker was Martin I. Cole P’04, chairman of the Board of Directors. Marty delivered a powerful speech encouraging this year’s graduates to make a difference in the world and not be afraid to work hard and overcome failure on the way to the great successes they are sure to enjoy as a result of the foundation built at Avon. Marty was then awarded an honorary diploma as a member of the Class of 2016, as well as the Adams Medal, presented to parents who have made extraordinary contributions to Avon Old Farms School.
“I ask you to remember three words: Make a difference.”
“W
e’re focused on making Avon the best secondary school for boys in the nation. It is our mission. We don’t just want to be a good prep school; we want to be the best. That’s a big target, but in achieving this goal, we will certainly make a difference in the lives of many young men and their families. “As you go forward today, think about your mission statement. Focus on the things you are going to do to get to where you want to be. How do you want to be remembered? How are you going to make a difference? If your goal in life is to be a professional athlete, successful businessman, medical professional, accomplished educator, winning coach, a leader in the government sector, or whatever it is, think about all the work that it is going to take. How do you want to be remembered? To be successful, you’ll need to get in the trenches to make a difference. Success does not come without effort. You’ll need to get dirty to make a difference. “With the foundation you have received here at Avon, each of you can be that man in the arena. You are likely to experience some failures, as all successful people have experienced, but pick yourself up, wipe off the dirt, aspire, persevere, and you can make a difference. “Class of 2016, go forward today and make a difference.” Martin I. Cole P’04, Chairman of the Board of Directors Commencement Speaker
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Summer 2016 The Village Green
college matriculation
“T
here is such a diversity of talent and passion in our class, and that collection of talent has made this experience at Avon truly inspiring. I have tried to do my best because I have seen my classmates do the same. …Though our individual differences are obvious and impressive, we are also united by the experiences we have enjoyed here at Avon. …As I reflect on my experience here and speculate on yours, the one thing I can genuinely say is that Avon has positioned us to explore the world, develop our talents, and work to become our best selves.
The reality is that we have all grown here in significant ways.” Jaewook Kwak ’16 Scholar of Distinction
Jordan C. Abate, Tufts University Abel Aganbegyan Jr., American University Thomas M. Aldrich, Hobart and William Smith Colleges Miles N. Allen IV, Southern Methodist University James M. Armstrong, Northeastern University Jason T. Barnes, Providence College James R. Barnet, University of Denver Blake D. Bartkiewicz, Northeastern University Kelvin K. Boateng, Vanderbilt University Maxwell M. Boland, The George Washington University Jesse Bonner, Endicott College Kellen R. Bouvier, Marist College Jack S. Brighenti, Providence College Darren J. Campise, University of San Francisco Vincent A. Caputo, Connecticut College Tyler A. Carangelo, Alternate Year Thomas J. Carroll, Lehigh University Ethan Case, Hobart and William Smith Colleges Thomas C. Chandler, United States Naval Academy Prep School Arden D. Coleman, Middlebury College Eamon M. Collins, Sarah Lawrence College Graham T. Conklin, Texas Christian University Jonathan Creed, Connecticut College Owen Davis, United States Naval Academy Jacques P. De Saint Phalle, University of Notre Dame Ross M. Dean, The Catholic University of America Christian L. Durando, Clemson University Juan A. Escudero Garcia-Quiros, The College for International Studies Trevor Feagles, Loyola University Maryland Julian Fedorciw, Loyola University Maryland Colby J. Fortin, Trinity College Charles R. Gabriel, Merrimack College John P. Gaffney, American University Michael J. Giamalis, University of Richmond Matthew L. Gill, Boston College Gerald F. Gladstone, Hobart and William Smith Colleges Eric P. Glover, Bates College Jake N. Gray, Pennsylvania State University Jacob T. Gresh, Clarkson University Benjamin C. Griffith, University of Waterloo Patrick C. Harper, Boston University Thomas K. Healy III, Bentley University Marley H. Heimert, University of Vermont Rodney S. Henderson Jr., Loyola Marymount University John B. Hoehl, Saint Joseph’s University Andrew M. Horn, University of Vermont Matthew T. Horton, Wesleyan University Jose M. Jauregui Jr., Instituto de Empresa Business School Peter J. Jelenek, Westchester Community College Austin M. Kammler, Ohio Wesleyan University Sung Ku Kang, Wake Forest University Adam J. Karashik, University of Connecticut Brendan J. Killoy, Trinity College Ji Hyung Kim, University of Pennsylvania Jae Hyun Kim, New York University Donghee Kim, Boston College Casey T. Kindel, University of San Diego
Terence R. Knight, University of Wisconsin Michael J. Knowles, University of Southampton Jonathan W. Kronowitz, Indiana University at Bloomington Jaewook Kwak, University of Pennsylvania Matthew N. Ladd, Alternate Year Kurt B. Linke, University of Richmond Tyler J. MacMillian, Saint Michael’s College Orion H. Marco, Loyola University Maryland Alessio R. Marcogliese, McGill University Liam J. McCarthy, United States Military Academy Ryan J. Messinger, Skidmore College Mark Michaud, Georgia Southern University Samuel W. Miller, The University of Arizona Peter J. Moeckel, University of Notre Dame Derek M. Mullane, College of the Holy Cross Sean C. Napoli, United States Military Academy Belal W. Nawar, St. Lawrence University Isaiah Nichols, San Jose State University Luke W. O’Connor, Loyola Marymount University Nicholas O. Orekoya, University of Massachusetts, Amherst Joonseok Park, Carnegie Mellon University Daniel J. Paul, Stonehill College Collin R. Porter, Clark University Gibson L. Preston, Northwestern University Chude Qian, Case Western Reserve University Surya E. Ramasamy, Bates College Ian C. Reilly, Rochester Institute of Technology Clarke T. Rettaliata, Trinity College Maxwell T. Rieser, Denison University Fabrizio A. Rodriguez, Brandeis University Tucker G. Roy, University of Vermont Christopher E. Ruspini, Hobart and William Smith Colleges Nathaniel M. Shemo, Mercyhurst University Peter A. Sigward, Bucknell University Ethan E. Silva Thompson, Hampton University Sahil K. Sinha, Quinnipiac University Jun Yong Song, New York University Young Jun Song, Johns Hopkins University Tucker D. Spears, Dartmouth College Stephen G. Stonehouse III, Elon University Zachary R. Sweedler, Chapman University Chase E. Swerdlick, University of California, Berkeley Tucker J. Symes, United States Military Academy Ran Tao, Carleton College Stephen Thibault, Sacred Heart University Zachary A. Thurlow, Northeastern University Arthur M. Torres, University of Massachusetts, Boston Dean A. Trahan, Roger Williams University Andrew J. Waltzer, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Philip Z. Wertheim, Elon University Jacob J. Whitty, Clark University Brady M. Williamson, Boston College Daniel J. Winslow, Quinnipiac University Patrick Witkowski, United States Coast Guard Academy Jacob Witkowski, Alternate Year Holden J. Worth, Gordon College Ryan T. Worthington, University of Maine Sinthorn Xie, University of California, Davis Travis J. Yoguez, Chapman University
The Village Green Summer 2016
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83rd
Commencement Exercises 2016
A
honors, awards, and prizes
von Old Farms School wishes Bryan Zaros, director of choral activities, all the best as he bids farewell to our community after seven years of extraordinary work with our young musicians. He has been appointed associate choirmaster at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York City, the largest gothic cathedral in the world. He plans to begin studies for a doctor of musical arts degree in conducting at the Manhattan School of Music. Bravo, Bryan!
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THE ORDER OF OLD FARMS
Kelvin K. Boateng Vincent A. Caputo Jacques P. De Saint Phalle Michael J. Giamalis Matthew T. Horton Alessio R. Marcogliese Luke W. O’Connor Joonseok Park Gibson L. Preston Ian C. Reilly Tucker J. Symes Stephen Thibault Andrew J. Waltzer Jacob J. Whitty Brady M. Williamson CUM LAUDE SOCIETY
Jordan C. Abate Maxwell M. Boland Jacques P. De Saint Phalle Michael J. Giamalis Sung Ku Kang Donghee Kim Jaewook Kwak
Summer 2016 The Village Green
Peter J. Moeckel Gibson L. Preston Chude Qian Young Jun Song Chase E. Swerdlick Ran Tao Andrew J. Waltzer Yuanchu Xie THE FOUNDER’S MEDAL
Jordan C. Abate Academic Excellence Blake D. Bartkiewicz Community Service Maxwell M. Boland Academic Excellence Arden D. Coleman Community Service, Town Government Benjamin C. Griffith Community Service Sung Ku Kang Academic Excellence Donghee Kim Academic Excellence
Jaewook Kwak Academic Excellence Kurt B. Linke Community Service, Town Government Peter J. Moeckel Academic Excellence Sean C. Napoli Community Service, Town Government Chude Qian Academic Excellence, Community Service Nathaniel M. Shemo Community Service, Town Government Young Jun Song Academic Excellence Stephen G. Stonehouse Town Government Chase E. Swerdlick Academic Excellence Ran Tao Academic Excellence, Community Service, Town Government Philip Z. Wertheim Community Service, Town Government Patrick Witkowski Community Service, Town Government
THE F. REED ESTABROOK JR. ’36 AWARD
Matthew T. Horton THE LOUISE B. ADAMS AWARD
Kevin A. Sieber THE PETER A. ARON ’65 AWARD FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE
Nathaniel M. Shemo THE GEORGE A. MURRAY CUP
Stephen Thibault THE JENNINGS CUP
Max R. Gonzalez CHRISTOPHER R. HETHERINGTON ’91 CUP FOR EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETICS-GRADE NINE
Parker J. Haskin CHRISTOPHER R. HIGGINS ’02 CUP FOR EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETICS-GRADE TEN
John T. Madden
B
rendon Welker ’91, former dean for enrollment and external affairs, was awarded a diploma as an honorary member of the Class of 2016. He departed this summer from Avon Old Farms School, after 19 years of service, to become an educational consultant. We wish him the best in his next adventure and thank him for his unwavering dedication to the Office of Admission and his fierce passion for Avon Old Farms.
RECOGNITION AWARD FOR THREESEASON VARSITY ATHLETES
AWARD FOR EARNEST AND PERSISTENT EFFORT IN THE ACADEMIC AREA
Jordan C. Abate, Blake D. Bartkiewicz, Kelvin K. Boateng, Maxwell M. Boland, Vincent A. Caputo, Thomas C. Chandler, John P. Gaffney, Eric P. Glover, Thomas K. Healy III, Sawyer P. Kindel, Orion H. Marco, Mark Michaud, Ian C. Reilly, Peter A. Sigward, Raheem E. Spence, Zachary R. Sweedler, Chase E. Swerdlick, Tucker J. Symes, Ran Tao.
9th Grade Christopher C. Frutuoso 10th Grade Quentin G. Danielson 11th Grade Edward J. Brennan III 12th Grade Matthew L. Gill
SCHOLAR OF DISTINCTION
AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING IMPROVEMENT IN THE ACADEMIC AREA
Jaewook Kwak GRADE PRIZES FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
9th Grade Haotian Shen 10th Grade Seongwoon Cho, Tristan Z. DeBerardino 11th Grade Yuanchu Xie 12th Grade Peter J. Moeckel
HAMILTON BOOK AWARD Wyatt W. Reller HARVARD BOOK AWARD
Kevin A. Sieber TRINITY BOOK AWARD
Yuanchu Xie BOWDOIN BOOK AWARD
Xavier M. Vega YALE BOOK AWARD
Nathan J. Bergin
Tyler A. Carangelo
THE KENNETH A. FANNING FACULTY AWARD
CORNELL BOOK AWARD
Brian Malchoff
C. Parker Jensen TRINITY BOOK AWARD
Jiuhua Chen
THE CASHION FACULTY AWARD
Robert J. Whitty
DARTMOUTH BOOK AWARD
THE STUDENT COUNCIL SPIRIT AWARD
Carson B. Drew
Sean C. Napoli
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA BOOK AWARD
THE STUDENT COUNCIL AWARD
You Hu
David Palmer
THE ADAM ’93 AND LUKE ’95 CLINE AWARD
Ryan G. Lanchbury, Maxwell T. Rieser THE TIM STRAUS ’75 AWARD
Ian C. Reilly THE RICHARD WOODWELL ’75 AWARD
Hunter J. Marshall EDWARD SOMERVILLE VOSS AWARD
Tucker Symes, Jacob Witkowski GREGG RICHARD LINBURG ’87 AWARD
Jordan C. Abate PAUL KARL SCHILLER ’78 AWARD
Peter J. Moeckel SIDNEY C. CLARK POSTGRADUATE AWARD
Owen Davis THE NATIONAL COUNCIL AWARD
Clarke T. Rettaliata
The Village Green Summer 2016
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Alumni
Reun16ion 20
Avonians Reunite for a Wonderful Weekend
On
Friday, May 13 Avon welcomed back roughly 200 alumni for a beautiful Reunion Weekend. Festivities began at midday with the traditional alumni golf outing under a blue Farmington Valley sky. As the afternoon progressed, Avonians old and young streamed back to campus from all over the world, reuniting with handshakes, hugs, and recollections of times past. As evening fell, the Old Guard (the Classes of ’34–’66) enjoyed dinner with the headmaster while the Class of ’71 assembled in the Dean’s Lounge, the Class of ’91 enjoyed a cookout at the
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Nimrod Pavilion, and classes from every fifth year between ’76 and ’11 held gatherings off campus to catch up with longmissed friends. Saturday morning dawned with fishing and flapjacks at Beaver Pond for early risers and Nimrod enthusiasts. Later in the morning, alumni assembled in the Chapel for a touching memorial service, followed by the rousing Alumni Parade. Students lined the walk as alums marched from Diogenes Dormitory to the Beatson Performing Arts Center. The school then honored some of its proudest sons with the Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony.
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Alumni
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In the afternoon, the Winged Beavers took to the lacrosse and baseball fields, first to play and then to watch. Avon’s varsity baseball team claimed a resounding 15-1 victory over Hotchkiss, and the varsity lacrosse team fought hard but could not quite secure victory against a talented Deerfield team. With these athletic triumphs concluded, alumni strolled up the hill for a reception in the Student Center and class pictures in front of the iconic Village Green. The weekend culminated in the Reunion banquet, as Avonians poured into Riddle Refectory, remembering
the meals of years ago while enjoying a delicious dinner provided by Jim Kirschner and his team. After a few words from Headmaster LaRocque and the recognition of outstanding contributions to the school by a few of the attendees, the night was complete. On Sunday morning, the Refectory filled once more for the perennial favorite Reunion brunch before alumni bid farewells. It was an inspiring weekend, full of rekindled friendships that prove brotherhood withstands the tests of time and distance for the men of Avon.
Welcome back! Returning alumni gathered for a group picture on the vista overlooking the Village Green.
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Alumni
John Spencer ’71 Asad Khan ’78 Joseph Giannamore ’84 On May 14, as part of Reunion Weekend, Avon Old Farms School welcomed three new inductees into the ranks of distinguished alumni.
Distinguished Alumnus Awards John Stewart Spencer ’71
J
ohn Spencer graduated from Avon Old Farms in 1971 and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a doctorate in microbiology from the University of Hawaii. For the last 20 years he has focused on tuberculosis and leprosy research at Colorado State University, where he is currently an associate professor. In 2008, he co-discovered a new species of mycobacterium that causes a frequently fatal form of leprosy, which occurs mainly in Mexico, the Caribbean, and parts of South America. In 2010, he began a collaboration with the Federal University of Pará in the Amazon region in northern Brazil where leprosy is still a major health problem. John began spending up to half his time working with a team of leprosy clinicians and researchers assisting in the laboratory and the field to help
diagnose hundreds of new cases of leprosy in more than 6,000 people screened in 13 different cities in Pará. In 2014, he appeared in a video, produced by the team in the city of Breves on Marajó Island, about a leprosy survey. Leprosy:
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Hidden Endemic in the Amazon Forest was produced with support from the Brazil Ministry of Health and screened at the opening ceremony of the Brazil Leprosy Congress in Curitiba, Parana, Brazil that year. Because of his continued efforts working to help eliminate leprosy in Brazil, John received a Fulbright Scholar award for 2015–2016 to Brazil, one of only 50 U.S. teachers or researchers to receive this type of award. He is very proud to be able to continue his research and work in the fight to eliminate leprosy in Brazil.
Joe Giannamore ’84 Following graduation from Avon Old Farms School in 1984, Joe received a bachelor’s degree from American University in Washington, D.C., and an MBA from the
London Business School. He immediately began his career at Citicorp in New York City, Goldman Sachs in London, and Salomon Brothers, where he served as vice president. In 1995, Joe began his entrepreneurial career and established On:line Finance, an auto finance company and the first European investment grade rated startup and the first Internet lender in Europe. Quickly gaining market share, On:line was listed as one of the top ten fastest growing companies in the UK during the late 1990s. It was subsequently purchased by GMAC UK, and in 2000 GMAC asked Joe to become CEO. After he completed a restructuring in 2003, Joe’s next career choice, driven by his passion for sports and horses, led to
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three years of competing in three-day horse trials on the leading European circuit. In 2005, Joe founded AnaCap Financial Partners, a European private equity and special opportunity asset management business, of which he is now CEO and CIO. Since its inception in 2005, the partnership has grown from $400 million to $4 billion in assets under management. The firm is the leading financial services investor in Europe, owning three insurance businesses and banks in six jurisdictions. Joe continues to be deeply involved with horses as an owner, which he shares with his disabled son, Alex. He and his wife, Karine, are active in a number of philanthropic endeavors, particularly St. Mary’s Pediatric Intensive Care, which is a leading center of infectious disease research and care. He and Karine also support a Bangladeshi orphanage, For the Kids’ Sake, which provides full pastoral and physical care for more than 400 girls. Finally, their latest commitment is to the establishment of the Good Hope Farm, a project to educate and develop the vocational skills of disabled adults within the farming industry. Joe lives in London with his wife, Karine, to whom he has been married for 21 years, and his two boys, Louis and Alex.
Asad Khan ’78 Lt. Col. Asad Khan USMC (Ret.) graduated from Avon Old Farms School in 1978 and attended Babson College, earning a degree in business. Subsequently, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, completed officer training, and became an infantry platoon commander and a company executive officer with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. In 1988, he served as a company commander with the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, training more than 5,000 recruits. In 1992, Asad graduated with honors from the Amphibious Warfare School and served as an advisor to the Saudi Marines. Following this, he served with the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines as a company commander, operations, and an executive officer. In 1997, Asad graduated with distinction from the Naval War College and was one of 16 officers selected to attend the
School of Advanced Warfighting. He coauthored two publications widely used in the Marine Corps: Marine Corps Operations and Marine Corps Planning Process. He also served on the board of the Marine Corps Gazette, the professional journal of Marines. Immediately following September 11, 2001, Asad conducted special missions in Pakistan and Afghanistan and subsequently commanded the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines. In 2004, he once again deployed to Afghanistan with his battalion. This special operations unit of more than 1,700 Marines and Afghan Militia became renowned for fighting in the remote high mountains of Afghanistan.
The most telling description of the battalion’s success came from the commanding general, Maj. Gen. Eric Olson: “You Marines went places that have never seen an American—proving to the world that the United States is going to take this fight to the most dangerous parts of Afghanistan unafraid and absolutely determined. You went to find him on his turf, on his terms. …” After serving as a Marine for more than 20 years, Asad retired in 2004 and now works with various government agencies and industry leaders on creating employment opportunities for the less fortunate in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Asad and his wife, Cheryl, were married at the Avon Old Farms School Chapel in 1983. They have three children, one of whom graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and is also an infantry officer in the Marine Corps.
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The
Last Word
Avon says farewell to two beloved members of the school community who celebrated their retirements this spring.
Kathy Leis Kathy Leis departs from Avon Old Farms School after spending more than two decades as a foreign language teacher, serving for many of those years as chair of the Foreign Language Department. Her passion and expertise in the Spanish language and culture began as a college student, when she attended Annhurst College, now the Hyde School, in Woodstock, Conn., where she majored in Spanish with minors in education and philosophy. After graduating with honors, she studied in Mexico, through the Fulbright Program. In Mexico, she was a cultural guide during the Olympics for a Navajo Indian exhibition. Kathy also witnessed the student uprising in the city, which shut down university classes for a period of time. Kathy took six classes at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and had a grand time visiting Acapulco, Guadalajara, Cuernavaca, and other wonderful places. Upon returning to the United States, she earned her master’s degree from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. She married Don Leis, and they welcomed children Meghan and Andrew. Kathy worked part-time as a religious education coordinator while raising her children, and taught at Asnuntuck Community College, teaching English to inmates in the local prisons. Kathy then went to work at Legal Aid in Hartford as a paralegal in the family unit. Her third child, Sarah, arrived, and Kathy continued to teach part-time and do volunteer work with the Sesame Street Program at Somers Correctional Institution. Kathy next worked as a teacher in the prison system, helping inmates receive their GEDs. Kathy next took a job with Families in Crisis. Finally, Kathy returned to teaching full time, when she was hired by George Trautman. During her years at Avon Old Farms, she taught every level of Spanish and was the department chair for many years, bringing a wealth of knowledge, passion, and experience to the position and connecting with her students in and out of the classroom. She served as the faculty advisor to the International Club, which sponsored and supported an international student for nearly a decade, most notably with proceeds from the
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popular international food festival each year. Students and colleagues alike will miss Kathy’s trademark sense of humor, her willingness to go above and beyond to help her students learn, and the special place she held in her heart for the campus’s host of faculty pets. We wish her many good times ahead in her retirement as she spends more time with her family—including several new grandchildren!
Jim Kirschner Director of Dining Services since 1995, Jim Kirschner will be remembered as much for his good-natured, chatty personality as for his superb cuisine and passion for bringing healthful, nutritious food to the Avon community. Before finding his way to Avon, Jim attended the Culinary Institute of America, graduating in 1980. He completed his internship at the Polynesian Resort at Walt Disney World, gaining experience and, eventually, another job position: after four years as food and beverage manager at a country club management firm, Jim returned to Orlando, as food and beverage manager of the Buena Vista Palace Hotel in the Downtown Disney area of the Walt Disney World Resort. After spending 13 years in various cities, he was introduced to Avon Old Farms, where he spent the rest of his career. Jim has been an integral part of the student experience at Avon, as many of the more meaningful moments among students and faculty members happen over weeknight, family style dinners; sumptuous Sunday brunches; or internationally themed, Wednesday night buffets. His role in Dining Services isn’t the only way Jim has immersed himself in the community; his son, Nick, graduated in 2004, and Jim has become entrenched in student life as a past parent, as well. He spearheads community service walks for juvenile diabetes each year, a cause close to his heart, and also frequently donates his services as one of the coveted prizes in the Toys for Tots raffle. Jim’s dedication to his craft—and to the students and faculty members living and eating on campus—will surely be missed by all, but we wish him a happy retirement and all the best in the years to come.
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Reunion 2016