Bancroft Bulletin Summer 2023

SNAPSHOTS

A Message From The Interim Head of School

Dear Bancroft School Community,

My message is short and simple: thank you! Thank you for welcoming me into the Bancroft community this school year. It has been a fascinating year filled with opportunities and challenges for me and the school. As I prepare to depart, I know that I will leave a school that cares deeply about children and adults as collaborative members of a community of learning. This is a school with a long and proud history which has educated many accomplished alumni through the years. I know that Bancroft School has many years ahead of it to continue to change lives and impact society on a daily basis.

I also know that I am leaving the school in the very capable hands of an experienced professional, Stephanie Luebbers. Her commitment to children, her intellect, her energy and her breadth of experiences as a teacher, coach, advisor and leader bring her to Bancroft as the perfect person at the perfect time. I know that she and you working together will result in even more exciting chapters in Bancroft’s 124-year history. This issue of the Bulletin allows all of you to learn more about Stephanie and Mark Luebbers as they join this special community.

I wish you all a wonderful, healthy and restful summer and I wish everyone the very best on your journeys ahead.

Go Bulldogs, Timothy J. Saburn Interim Head of School

1,000 POINTS FOR BAGLIO

Girls basketball senior forward and co-captain Keeley Baglio scored her 1,000th career point in a home game in December to become just the 12th student-athlete to accomplish the feat in school history! A two-year captain and five-year member of the Varsity team, Keeley averaged 18 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks per game in her senior campaign leading the Bulldogs to an impressive 13 win season helping the team qualify for the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council playoffs for the second consecutive year as the #4 seed. The team also recorded their first playoff win in over 30 years as Keeley led the team with 18 points in front of the home fans in a 56-33 win over Rocky Hill School. Keeley was selected as an Eastern Independent League all-star, NEPSAC all-star, and Boston Globe all-scholastic selection. She was formally recognized for her achievement at an Upper School Assembly in March. Keeley will continue her basketball career next year at Middlebury College. Congratulations, Keeley!

ROBODOGS HOST 2ND ANNUAL VEX COMPETITION

On Saturday, February 11th, Bancroft hosted its 2nd annual VEX Robotics Tournament in the Fletcher Athletic Center complete with 3 full competition fields, live scoreboards, judges, and teams from all over Massachusetts and New England! Our Robodog teams had a strong showing throughout the day, with team ‘E’ missing the tournament championship by just 9 points and team ‘A’ winning the Judges Award! Congratulations to Robodogs Coach and event organizer Elisa Heinricher and the members of the Robodogs teams and thanks to all of the amazing volunteers including alumni, parents, and faculty who made the day a huge success!

SPEECH TEAM TAKES HOME STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Speech Team members Rusty Agyemang ’23, Abby Epple ’23, Kaileigh Strong ’23, Jada Boadu ’25 and Andrew Byron ’25 took home first place in the Massachusetts Speech State Championship for their performance of a selection from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" in the category of ‘Multiple Reading’. This event requires the use of a manuscript and students may only speak or sing lines of text if they are holding a manuscript. A group of students present a scene or scenes from published material. Students use vocal skills, facial expressions, and/or hand gestures to develop a narrator and character/s; however, the focus of the performers should be off-stage. The students may only make eye contact during their own written introduction. Similarly, except during the introduction, students may not touch each other nor may they touch the binders of other students. The state title is the first for the speech team in the category of 'Multiple Reading' since 2016-17. Congratulations, Speechies!

MIDDLE SCHOOL GIVES BACK: WOO FRIDGE WRAP-UP

The Middle School Community Fridge Empower Hour group spent the first half of the school year gaining an understanding of how food insecurity impacts the greater Worcester community. Throughout Worcester, there are four ‘Woo Fridges’ that provide accessibility to free, fresh, and healthy food for those in the community that need it. The group visited each fridge twice and had the opportunity to speak with people who were donating as well as some who were looking to access the food available. “They were surprised at how little food was in the fridge at times and gained an understanding of the items that were most in demand, perishable dairy products and vegetables. They realized there are hungry people in their backyard—one fridge is right up in the Greendale area, less than 2 miles from school, or while visiting another, right behind the Hanover Theater—a place many have been to see a show,” said Abby Church, MS Teacher.

Multiple canned food drives brought in 200+ items for donation and a student-led bake sale raised $200 which was used to purchase food to help stock the fridges. “The whole experience offered another view of life, allowed them to build empathy and understanding, and exposed them to different people in the community through their trip to the fridges themselves,” said Church.

TROUT IN THE CLASSROOM

Students in 5th grade returned from winter break to find 250 new classmates. The brook trout eggs, which Mass Fisheries and Wildlife delivered on December 21, remained in a 46-degree tank in Ms. Morgan’s room for five months. "Trout in the Classroom provides a rich opportunity for students to connect directly with a native species critical to the biodiversity and health of New England streams and forests. By caring for and raising these fish from egg to fingerling, students learn firsthand about brook trout's habitat, life cycle, behavior, and environmental requirements,” says Abby Morgan, 5th Grade teacher and class of 1998.

“Since receiving the eyed eggs in December, the students have observed them hatch into alevin, or sac fry. For almost three weeks, students have waited patiently while they 'disappeared' into the gravel at the bottom of the tank. This week, several have begun to emerge from their gravelly shelter as fry and are starting to swim up and try out the food we are adding to their tank. The next challenge will be to regulate their food and conduct weekly water changes as the metabolic waste in the tank increases,” says Morgan.

THE MARK O’BRIEN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

William “Will” A. Lewis IV ’26 becomes the first recipient of the Mark O’Brien Memorial Scholarship

William “Will” A. Lewis IV ’26 was the inaugural recipient of the Mark O’Brien Memorial Scholarship. As a new family to Bancroft, they did not personally know Mark O’Brien but Meredith Lewis, mother to Will, said that after meeting the O’Brien family last summer and hearing stories from those who felt a personal connection to Mark, she learned about the adoration and respect the community held for Mark. Knowing the value of Mark’s place in the Bancroft community makes receiving this award an even greater honor. While Will was honored to receive the scholarship, he also recognized the importance of achieving success throughout his four years with Bancroft. Will stated that because he is the first recipient of this award it is important for him to set a precedent for the level of success that the award recipient should maintain and setting the standards high for future scholarship winners.

In order to be eligible for the scholarship, the recipient must demonstrate athleticism and generosity of spirit to which both Meredith and father William Lewis III think sums up their son perfectly. Meredith stated that she feels the description 'is Will to a tee. He is a very kind, young man who is driven and who has taught us to be kinder and more patient with ourselves and others. Will has taught us to understand that you may never know what other people are truly going through and it is important you take that unknown into consideration.” His dad echoed similar thoughts by adding 'Will makes me stop and think in tough situations to give those the benefit of the doubt.” Will was asked if he thought he displayed any of the scholarship eligibility qualities and his hesitation to answer showed the humbleness he portrays. Eventually after a minute of thought Will said that

his goal to be kind, honest, and respectful to all helps shine a positive light on himself, however feels that these three values should be something everyone strives to do.

Will has described his first year at Bancroft as a “blessing.” He has made many friends with all different kinds of personalities which allowed him to see different perspectives, broadening how he himself views a situation. The smaller class sizes allowed him to grow more comfortable around others, giving him the confidence to talk to someone new, or to participate in his favorite class; history. Receiving this scholarship has also helped him gain confidence in his basketball skills because people know he has the talent and the ability to exceed; he just has to work hard to prove them right. Varsity boys basketball coach Garth Adams stated, “Will Lewis is such a positive force at Bancroft, both in the community at large and as a member of the varsity basketball team. Will is a great friend to those he is close to, serving as a constant source of support. He is kind, caring, and a compassionate person. On the basketball team, Will brings his best self everyday. As a freshman, he demonstrated positivity and outstanding work ethics in practice and competitions. Will is also a wonderful teammate who always puts the needs of the group above any personal goals. I am honored to have had the opportunity to get to know Will and his family.”

It is clear that after talking with Will and his family, that he was a deserving and determined candidate for the first Mark O’Brien Memorial Scholarship recipient. Good luck to Will and his family throughout his academic and athletic career over the next 3 years.

The purpose of the Mark O’Brien Memorial Scholarship is to provide support of need-based financial assistance towards a Bancroft education to students for whom athletics, wellness and generosity of spirit are core to who they are.

Mark believed in the mission of Bancroft School and the scholarship will ensure Bancroft continues to be a place where competitiveness, kindness, and the pursuit of high standards are recognized and rewarded.

A Letter From Our New Head of School

On July 1, 2023, Stephanie Luebbers began her tenure as the 15th Head of School in Bancroft’s 124 year history. Bancroft’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the search committee’s recommendation to appoint Stephanie as Head of School, following an extensive and thorough search process that began in November of 2021. Stephanie’s career has been spent in a variety of roles at independent schools. She is currently in her fifth year as the Head of School at StoneleighBurnham School (SBS), an independent boarding and day school for girls, grades 7–12, in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Under Stephanie’s leadership, Stoneleigh-Burnham has focused on strategic enrollment initiatives and pioneered new, missionappropriate revenue streams. Stephanie also guided Stoneleigh-Burnham to hire its first dedicated DEI Director and worked with the Board of Trustees to institute a board DEI committee.

Before arriving at SBS, Stephanie spent 11 years as the Head of Upper School at Cincinnati Country Day School in Ohio, an Early Childhood to grade 12 co-ed school, where she oversaw an Upper School division of 300 students. At Cincinnati Country Day, Stephanie’s work included curriculum development and attention to student wellness. Both employees and families at Cincinnati Country Day and Stoneleigh-Burnham expressed high confidence in her leadership. Stephanie began her administrative career at Albany Academy for Girls, a Pre-K to 12 day school in New York, where her responsibilities grew from serving as a member of the English faculty to five years as the Academic Dean and two as the Associate Head of School. Stephanie has taught English, coached multiple sports, and served as a dorm parent at Burke Mountain Academy (VT), Kimball Union Academy (NH), and Pingry School (NJ).

Stephanie penned the following introductory letter to her new community.

Above: Head of School Stephanie Luebbers reads to a group of lower school students during her visit to campus.

Dear Bancroft Friends:

With great excitement, I write to you for the first time. Though there are months before I begin my tenure as Bancroft School’s 15th Head of School on July 1, I have already begun to consider our work together. For its part, the School is busy building a transition plan that will afford us all the strongest foundation for our partnership. We will all be guided by the School’s dynamic vision for its future, BluePrint 125, as we anticipate the School’s 125th anniversary in a few short years.

My professional principles and philosophy as an educator have drawn me to schools that are dedicated to helping students find their passions and connect to the world, foster a broad view of personal responsibility to their community, and support the development of student voice and identity. I believe in the great power of a multidivisional school, where students at every stage of their growth benefit deeply and meaningfully

from connecting with each other through curricular opportunities, school-wide events, and shared traditions. These principles are everywhere at Bancroft.

When I visited the beautiful campus for two busy days in September, I quickly learned that the School’s values of excellence, inquiry, equity, community, and ethical leadership were closely aligned with my own. I felt the warm and purposeful energy everywhere I went. Teachers, staff, parents, alumni, trustees, and students all spoke passionately about their love for the School and eloquently shared their hopes for the future. My formal meetings with all constituencies were filled with thoughtful questions and observations, but so were many chance meetings and conversations along the way.

The classroom work I saw across the divisions was deeply student-centered. Just weeks into the school year, the youngest students had filled the Lower School halls with delightful and thoughtful self portraits. 5th graders told me how they were working on their own leadership skills. A Middle School class I visited was happily engaged in researching the best place on the planet to build a community. I joined the Upper School assembly where students and faculty shared fun and seriousness in an engaged and inclusive way. Later, I wished members of the soccer and volleyball teams good luck as they headed out for competition, visited the playground, listened to an older student quietly play guitar on the hill, and checked out the magnificent bean bags in the library.

Throughout my visit, students greeted me with genuine warmth. I noted that spaces and opportunities for gathering together were plentiful, and enjoying and learning in the outdoors was a part of everyone’s day. Students of all ages had the time and places to connect with each other and with nurturing adults. I left campus feeling that I had truly seen and heard the community, and I was inspired. Those feelings continue today as I eagerly anticipate leading this wonderful school.

I am grateful to the Board and search committee, and all whom I met in the process; the care and commitment that community members have for the school is palpable. The future for Bancroft School is, indeed, bright! I look forward to working with the creative and dedicated professionals of the faculty and staff, partnering with caring and engaged families and alumni, and growing with our students.

My husband Mark and I have already been exploring Worcester from afar and are quite excited about our move to the area. I’ll see you soon on Shore Drive!

Best,

Stephanie Luebbers

I quickly learned that the School’s values of excellence, inquiry, equity, community, and ethical leadership were closely aligned with my own. I felt the warm and purposeful energy everywhere I went.”

Planting seeds

Being an educator comes with great responsibility. How do we ensure that our classrooms and our curriculum feel safe and accessible to all of our students? Who is represented in our books and on our walls…and who is missing? What larger systems are impacting equity and belonging at our school? What personal biases do we bring to our classrooms each day? How can we plant the seeds of change for a more just and fair Bancroft School?

As part of the school’s commitment to the ‘Equity in Action’ pillar laid out in the 5-year strategic plan BluePrint 125, Bancroft began a partnership with ‘The SEED Project’ (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity). SEED collaborates with communities, organizations, and schools to train leaders who facilitate their peers in conversational communities to drive personal, organizational, and

societal change toward social justice. An initial invitation for members of our faculty and staff to become SEED leaders led both of us to participate in New Leaders Training, a week-long intensive training held last summer in St. Paul, Minnesota.

SEED New Leaders Training is an intensive workshop in which 50 educators, parents, community leaders, and professionals from different fields are immersed in multicultural SEED materials and methods. SEED New Leaders Training prepares participants for leading their own SEED seminars in communities, schools, and workplaces where they are located, in order to create momentum towards social justice.

“Those who can bring fruit to seed and plant seeds for tomorrow”

– Gavin Kayner, poet

by Ali Chappell and Flavien Collet

For both of us, the trip offered transformative moments and opportunities for growth and learning. Because we were in an environment where we did not know anyone (except for each other) actually made it feel very safe. It was unique to be in a situation where we could talk about all these complex and difficult topics with complete strangers and yet feel comfortable and open at the same time. We knew we were also in a space with fellow educators and people who were there for the betterment of this world and our school communities. With participants coming from such different places and perspectives, the SEED staff intentionally prepared us through shared readings, videos, and vocabulary so that we all arrived onsite with a general framework from which we could share and discuss.

The training allowed us to engage in a range of challenging, interactive exercises and conversations to connect our own personal experiences of culture, diversity, oppression, and privilege with an understanding of the systemic nature of privilege and oppression. We knew it was going to be a great space to just put anything on the table. Talking about these very deeply personal issues was really intense and in some ways very exhausting. There were definitely ups and downs. Saying goodbye to the people with whom we had connected made us realize how incredible and transformative the whole experience had been. Then, in turn, we went back to our respective places of employment to help share and grow the work within our communities. We continue to this day to benefit from these connections and the support of our SEED partners across the nation. By the end of our training, we felt that we had collected enough tools and resources to replicate the experience at Bancroft.

Since returning from our trip, we have been leading an inaugural cohort of 16 participants made up of Bancroft faculty and staff members. The goal is to share experiences and brainstorm enactable possibilities to create better versions of ourselves and therefore of the school community at large. The cohort, which includes educators from all divisions as well as staff and administrators from admissions, advancement, and other departments, has engaged in a wide range of topics including race, gender, sexual identity, and class. Pam Sheldon, Upper School Science and Health teacher was eager to join the inaugural cohort. “I had been a part of the faculty anti-racism group and was very excited to finally have the school embrace a system for training all the faculty and staff in DEIB best practices.”

A typical session may involve mindfulness, reflection, journaling, small and whole group sharing, and art activities, with the ultimate goal of identifying future steps to enact change in the larger Bancroft community. Each participant brings their unique perspective to the group. “There is so much wisdom, experience, and diversity of backgrounds already within our community. Engaging in the SEED work allows us to see these gifts in each other.” Chris Sheldon, Upper School History teacher adds. Readings, videos, and even guest speakers (most recently from the LGBT Asylum Task Force) help support the discussions and learning. Each session ends with a community dinner, catered by a local small business in Worcester. Often the chefs and restaurant owners will come speak to the group about the origin of the cuisine they have prepared and the history of their business in Worcester.

For the cohort members, SEED is a safe place to explore identity and to be open to others' experiences. The structure of the meetings and the investment of the other participants allows for deep and meaningful conversations and connections. Many members identify this time to collaborate with colleagues to be one of the most powerful and productive parts of the SEED experience. As Drama teacher Rachel Wagner says, “I find my cup gets filled at these meetings in ways that I didn't know I needed. It allows me to be more present for my students, colleagues, and family. I leave feeling more at peace, more connected to the community, and have more energy and drive to do the deep work in my classroom that goes beyond the curriculum.” Cohort members have found SEED to be reenergizing. As Ms. Sheldon says, “Even though it takes time and energy when we are already very busy, the authentic connection and ability to learn with a close-knit group of people is an experience that should not be missed. We don’t have opportunities like this very often.”

Moving forward, the SEED program will continue to spread throughout the community. This summer, Rachel Wagner and Kim Rogers, Middle School HGP Educator, will attend the New Leaders Training in Marin County, CA. Next year, they will team up to facilitate an additional cohort. The four of us will be collaborating to ensure that the program continues to grow and flourish. We are excited to welcome more members of the Bancroft community to join us in this critical work. History teacher Michelle Mann would encourage others to participate, “SEED makes learning about DEI feel easy and accessible for those who are nervous or feel overwhelmed. It's a fun way to connect with colleagues and get positive support and affirmation.”

There is so much wisdom, experience, and diversity of backgrounds already within our community . ”

Reunion 2023

This year’s Bancroft Reunion had an increase in attendance from both alumni and former faculty and staff members. We celebrated classes ending in 3 and 8 with a spotlight on the Class of 1973 who celebrated their 50th Reunion and the Class of 1998 who celebrated their 25th Reunion! We were thrilled to see a great turnout from all classes, especially 2013 and 1993. The Class of 1993 had 5 sandboxers in attendance! Look for their photo with beloved retired kindergarten teacher Mrs. T. Thank you to all who returned to Shore Drive and helped to make the weekend so special.

Reunion kicked off strong with a packed Friday evening starting with tours led by current upper school students. Many were amazed by all the changes that happened since they last were on campus. A Welcome Reception followed where Head of School Stephanie Luebbers was introduced to the alumni community. The members of the Class of 1973 were honored at the Worcester Club where they enjoyed delicious food and great company. Back on campus there was a celebration of the 20th anniversary of Speech at Bancroft. It was an event filled with a shared love of the team from alumni all the way down to current students. Alumni were treated to the winning performance of ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ from the State Tournament Multiple Reading Champions. Speech team coaches, Pam and Chris

Sheldon, spoke on the event stating that "this was definitely one of the highlights of our teaching careers. It was fabulous to see so many Speechies back for Reunion. We loved seeing the connections across generations of Speechies spanning 20 years."

Day 2 of Reunion began with the Alumni Food Festival. Lunch was available from alumni-owned Worcester eateries Fuel America, Crust Bakeshop, BirchTree Bread Company, George’s Coney Island, Table Talk Pies, and Polar Beverages. Later that evening we welcomed the Reunion classes and former faculty and staff members back to campus for the Blue Moon Cocktail Reception followed by Dinner and Alumni Awards at the Bancroft Field House. Mary Halpin Carter ’83 was presented with the Esther Forbes (1907) Award for Distinguished Professional Achievement and Mackenzie Melemed ’13 was presented with the Young Alumni Achievement award. Attendees enjoyed great food, our signature Blue Moon cocktail, the photo booth and most importantly catching up with old friends.

The alumni classes to celebrate Reunion 2024 will be those ending in 4 and 9. We cannot wait to welcome all back to campus!

ALUMNI AWARDS ALUMNI AWARDS

ESTHER FORBES (1907) AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT

Dr. Mary Halpin Carter ’83 Head of School, St. Luke’s School - New Canaan, CT

On July 1, 2022, Dr. Mary Halpin Carter, Ph.D. became the new Head of School at St. Luke’s School in New Canaan, Connecticut. Prior to that she had served for 10 years as a beloved and transformative Head at The Derryfield School. She led the largest capital campaign in Derryfield history, funding several new spaces including a science and innovation center.

Mary received her Bachelor of Arts in History from Dartmouth College, Masters from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Doctorate in Education from the University of New Hampshire. Mary relishes working with young people to help them develop their gifts and use them for purposeful lives. She has taught history and coached at Pingree School, Newton North High School and Newton South High School.

Mary was awarded a Columbia University Klingenstein Fellowship for excellence in independent school teaching. Before becoming Head of School at Derryfield, Mary served as Director of Admission, Academic Dean, Chair of the English Department, Head of the Upper School, Dean of Faculty and Academic Programs, Assistant Head of School for Faculty and Academic Programs, and Interim Head. She is a board member of the Association of Independent Schools of New England (AISNE), and a member of the Headmistresses of the East, the Country School Headmasters Association, and the Headmasters Association. Mary has served as a Trustee of the Bancroft School since 2019.

ALUMNI AWARDS ALUMNI

YOUNG ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Mackenzie Melemed ‘13

Pianist - Finland

Recipient of the 2022 Avery Fisher Career Grant, pianist Mackenzie Melemed’s international career continues to flourish. In the press, Melemed is consistently lauded as a consummate solo artist, a remarkably sensitive chamber musician and first-class soloist with orchestra. Melemed was also a winner of Juilliard’s 2019 Leo B. Ruiz Carnegie Hall Recital Prize and 2018 Arthur Rubinstein Prize, as well as the Jade Medal at the 2019 China International Music Competition and the first prize and chamber music prize at Finland's 2017 Maj Lind International Piano Competition.

Melemed, a Steinway Artist, has performed in venues such as The White House, Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Warsaw Philharmonic Hall, and the Helsinki Music Centre. He has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and KBS Symphony. Melemed was a laureate of the 2021 American Pianists Awards.

Mackenzie is a graduate of the Artist Diploma program at The Juilliard School. He also holds a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School, where he graduated from the accelerated five-year-dual-degree program. Since 2020, he has lived in Finland.

ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHTS

Colleen Hunter & The Butterfly Project

Colleen Hunter, Bancroft School’s 8th grade English and History HGP teacher gave students an in-depth look at the Holocaust by introducing The Butterfly Project and Holocaust survivor Janet Applefield. Colleen and former 8th grade teacher Rebecca Gay began this unit after reading “Night” by Ellie Wiesel back in 2021. Reading the book with her students sparked the idea of bringing Janet Applefield to the students (via Zoom due to Covid) as well as starting The Butterfly Project. After reading the book with the students Colleen thought it would be appropriate to then begin The Butterfly Project at Bancroft.

The Butterfly Project began in Houston at the Holocaust Museum and is tied tightly to the famous poem “The Butterfly” by Pavel Friedmann written in June 1942. Pavel Friedmann was a child who died in a concentration camp and wrote this poem about the last butterfly he had seen before he died. To him the butterfly meant hope and freedom. The Holocaust Museum began The Butterfly Project by asking children around the country to draw butterflies and send them to the museum, each butterfly representing a

child who was killed in concentration camps. Colleen decided that her students were going to do the same project, just on a much smaller scale. Each student created butterflies that now hang in the middle school hallway and are kept up year round. Mrs. Hunter said that the hope is to eventually have the entire hallway filled with butterflies, reminding each student to stand up for what is right, to not be silent when things are wrong, and to treat each other with respect and kindness. She hopes that is the main takeaway from doing this project. After completing The Butterfly Project, students then (virtually) met Janet Applefield.

Janet Applefield is a Holocaust survivor who was hidden at the age of 7. Before the beginning of the Holocaust, her and her family lived in the Nowy Targ ghetto and when the Holocaust began she was sent to live with a nanny. She was shuffled around between different family members but spent most of her time on a family farm where she was able to stay hidden because she had blonde hair and blue eyes. Colleen said that her students asked Janet about her time being hidden and what the reunification with her father was like (her

father was the only one who survived). Janet said that she does not really remember a lot about her time during the Holocaust because she was so young and also partially due to trauma. The reunification process was a scary and slow process because her father looked so different from what she remembered him looking like so it felt like she was reuniting with a stranger.

By bringing a survivor to the classroom, students experienced the emotion of life during the Holocaust for a Jewish man or woman. Colleen hopes to continue this project to encourage students to stand up for themselves and others. Many thanks to Colleen as she continues to inspire our middle school students.

School has always been a grounded place for Genevieve. Her family moved around a lot when she was a child and school was always a positive place where she knew what to expect. When it came time to decide what her career was going to be, teaching was a no brainer. During her undergraduate coursework at Florida International University in Miami, Genevieve had the opportunity to student teach three semesters in three different school communities, each with different student demographics; a school with a predominantly black population, a predominantly white school, and a predominantly latinx school. Very early on in her education courses she came to understand what equity did and did not look like in a classroom and it became her passion to make sure that inequalities were not perpetuated in her class.

For three years before coming to Bancroft, Genevieve worked at New City School in St. Louis, Missouri which is an independent school dedicated to celebrating all types of human diversity; she gained experience teaching a progressive and social justice focused curriculum and is looking forward to sharing it with others here at Bancroft. Genevieve grew up bilingual with immigrant parents. Having an international and diverse student population at Bancroft was important to

her when she interviewed for her current role. For Genevieve, it is important to teach in a way that does not encourage othering and to make sure her students feel comfortable bringing their heritage to the classroom. Othering is the concept in which individuals or groups are labeled as not fitting in within the normalities of society. Genevieve has found that celebrating all identities is extremely important for meaningful teaching, for all students to access learning, and will be key at Bancroft as she supports students to grow, learn, and develop as global citizens.

In third grade, there is a focus on analyzing primary resources and developing research skills to organize new information as well as be able to effectively communicate information to an audience. These skills are critical as the class begins to learn about indigenous people. Genevieve feels that is important that third grade students know that there were nations of people living on the continent before it was colonized. She wants students to know that not only were there civilizations on that land, but they are still here and are a part of today’s society. Genevieve’s class reads a series of four books that tell the stories of children whose families are from different tribal regions and what their life looks like today. Third graders spend time reading and researching where the tribes live today, utilizing their

developing analytical skills. She finds this teaching of multiple lived experiences to be very important because it helps to build respect for one another’s culture and a sense of activism at a young age. Learning about how indigenous people fought for their land and sovereignty demonstrate various forms of advocacy. Genevieve wants her students to know that there are many ways that people keep culture alive, such as art, celebrations, storytelling, artifacts, etc. Throughout this inquiry based learning there is also an additional focus on indigenous activism and power. While it is important to learn about the injustices committed against indigenous people, Genevieve feels it is important to expand awareness of indigenous culture and history beyond struggle to include resilience.

Genevieve’s knowledge and experience with teaching and learning practices that center humanity has challenged third graders to think beyond what they know, better preparing them for future classes.

Genevieve D’Arcy began her Bancroft career during the 22-23 school year with a focus of introducing multicultural curriculum to third grade students.

ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHTS

Highlighting Dr. Neal Melley’s love for music in and out of the classroom

Neal Melley has been playing the trombone for over 30 years, and dabbles in other instruments such as bass, drums, and ukulele (though he wouldn’t consider himself a professional in the latter three). At Bancroft, Neal teaches musicians from fourth through twelfth grade and is the band specialist teaching different electives in Lower and Upper school. Those electives include Music Theory, Ukulele, and Music Lab. One of his favorite parts about working with students is being able to introduce music to young musicians and then watching the progress they make throughout the years they practice together. He appreciates the opportunity to watch a student grow from knowing how to barely play a note to flawlessly playing the work of Stevie Wonder.

Dr. Melley is a disciplined musician, practicing almost every single day ensuring that he will feel comfortable when agreeing to perform, especially when it is with other musicians. Neal is a regular member of Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra where he plays the

trombone. When he is not performing with the orchestra, he works with various contractors who hire him for broadway shows or other concerts. Performing with others helps to keep Neal’s standards high for himself and his students. Keeping his standards high helps him to encourage his students to become the best musicians they can be. When asked what his favorite genre is to play, a straight answer was not given which demonstrates the range of talent Neal holds. He loves to play jazz but claims that he is not all that good and it is more of an aspirational form of music. He appreciates that he has had the opportunity to be able to perform many different genres of music from playing in the rock band at Bancroft to playing salsa music. Even when listening to music, the variety can range from anywhere from classical to reggae. In terms of his favorite place he has played, he said that it would either be the Wang Theatre in Boston or Carnegie Hall in New York City.

One of the most challenging parts about the musical craft is being able to hold oneself to a certain standard and maintaining that professionalism and versatility. Neal’s standard is making sure he feels comfortable playing at the same level that other professionals he plays with are on. That standard can prove itself to be rewarding though. When Neal pushes himself to be on the same level as other professionals, he often finds he has achieved a new skill, which to him is the most rewarding part of playing music. That new skill is then translated into his classroom. Neal once had his former teacher say that you owe it to your students to have the best performing opportunities as possible because you are going to pass that experience to your students. Neal reflected on his experience by saying “I have done a lot of different performances and I like to think on higher levels, and I can give that to my students.”

Thank you to Neal for passing on his knowledge of music to Bancroft students.

DONORDONORSPOTLIGHTS SPOTLIGHTS

Nathaniel Erskine ’06

Dr. Nathaniel “Nate” Erskine is a third-generation Bancroft alumnus who was active in musicals, band, and debate. During his time at Bancroft, Nate valued support from faculty and staff as he advanced from first to twelfth grade. He appreciated the growth mindset of his teachers who saw the potential for their students to do more and be more. Examples of this include music teacher Mr. Paul Kelly inviting him to play a challenging clarinet duo with him or Coach Jane Gerhardt’s support when Nate worked on improving his fitness at the school gym. Nate looked forward to coming to school to have fun, vibrant academic discussions on different literary pieces such as the poem “Aeneid” by Virgil in AP Latin with Ms. Karen Fuller or on the novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë with Mr. John Deal. The growth mindset held at Bancroft allowed for Nate to excel in college, entering with the same mindset and preparing to work hard. A testament to his strong Bancroft connections were his many former classmates who came to North Carolina this past October for his wedding.

Nate donates annually to Bancroft out of respect and appreciation for many great teachers, a list too long for this article. He specifically likes to make his gifts in memory of Mr. Chris Boone who tragically passed away while serving as the Head of Middle School. Nate remembers Mr. Boone’s passion and his constant enthusiasm for supporting his students.

A particular highlight for Nate was his participation in the production of “Fiddler on the Roof” as an eighth grade student. It was a rare and special privilege to be asked to be in an Upper School production. Former faculty and musical director Lea Hench re-

cruited him and four classmates for the high school production due to a need for male cast members. Nate loved the camaraderie that came from the Upper School students, welcoming the few eighth graders with open arms. Nate fondly remembers acting and singing with english teacher Drew Cummings and math teacher Ken Considine which sparked a passion for participating in every subsequent musical until graduation.

Nate received a B.A. from Swarthmore College, an M.D. and Ph.D. from UMass Chan Medical School, and received medical training from Duke University. While at UMass, Nate collaborated with former Bancroft science teacher Brian Kondek to arrange biomedical research internships for Bancroft Upper School students. He now lives in Durham, N.C. with his wife Hedrick and works in biotech business development.

We thank Nate for his fourteen years of gracious support towards Bancroft.

 Nate from the 2006 Bancroft production of On the Twentieth Century

DONORDONORSPOTLIGHTS

The Class of 1997

Every reunion, the class celebrating their 25th and 50th reunion organize a class fundraiser. In honor of Reunion 2022 the class of 1997 came together and raised over $6,000 for the Bancroft Fund. When asked what the motivation was for the class of 1997 donors, both Padgett Berthiaume and Anthony Selvitella mentioned it was honoring the memories of two classmates, Chase Myers and Thomas Mutti. Sarah WolfmanRobichaud recalled her greatest memories of Bancroft as the connections she made with classmates, hence organizing their fundraiser around two beloved classmates and friends. Padgett felt that it provided an extra special touch to have a fundraiser in honor of Chase and Tom, which then activated a class pack mentality that brought them together to fundraise. Anthony added that while hearing of the passing of Chase and Tom was shocking, having a fundraiser in their memory was a great way to keep their collective memories. He also mentioned

how he found that it was important to give back to the school that brought their class together; without Bancroft, they would never have known Chase and Tom. Anthony thinks of Bancroft as the place where he built relationships which still stand to the test of time. Mayo Morgan Amos agreed with Padgett and Anthony, and reminded her why Bancroft was such an influential part of her journey, even as someone who did not graduate from Bancroft.

Each class member who was involved in the organization of this fundraiser saw different aspects that helped make the campaign successful. Padgett felt the success of their fundraising was indicative of Bancroft’s invested community, a pillar of Bancroft’s strategic plan, Blueprint 125. Twenty-five years later, their class was still investing in a community where each one of them felt a strong connection. Underneath that “invested community” pillar is the action

DONORDONORSPOTLIGHTS

that focuses on strengthening, supporting, and activating alumni as engaged Bancroft ambassadors. Both Padgett and Anthony remarked that the purposeful way that giving was structured, the Class of 1997 did just that. Sarah noted that it was also one big group effort with several Zoom calls, collaboration with the Alumni Office, as well as offline planning for several months. The amount of enthusiasm and funds raised would not have been possible if it were not for the generosity of Katie Krock Parvin who opened her home and provided food for a class party which brought classmates together and encouraged participation socially and philanthropically. It allowed for the class of 1997 to come together, to reminisce and to recount fond memories, which in turn contributed to the classmates’ desire to donate. Mayo added that their fundraising tactics varied from previous class fundraisers which should be what happens when you are celebrating a milestone Reunion.

Padgett, Anthony, Mayo, Katie, and Sarah offered advice for their neighboring class as well as all future classes. When celebrating your 25th Reunion, have a fundraiser that is centered on something meaningful. While it does not always have be centered on a specific memory or event, focus on something that will bring your class together. Padgett added that at the very least, your Bancroft Reunion classes should see this fundraising opportunity as a class competition 25 or 50 years removed from your last Mountain Day, to try and beat the class that came before you!

Thank you to all those who donated to the Class of 1997 fundraiser in honor of Chase Myers and Thomas Mutti!

DONORDONORSPOTLIGHTS SPOTLIGHTS

Moriah Mensah ’09

Moriah Mensah ‘09 is currently serving as Vice President and Counsel with Freedom Technologies in Washington, DC where she provides policy and regulatory advice on issues involving radio spectrum, telecommunications, and the Internet. She also conducts research and analysis of international and domestic communications and technology policy. When asked how she got to where she is now, Moriah credits Bancroft for her success. This is the reason Moriah continues to give back to the school.

According to Moriah, Bancroft helped mold her into the person she is today. Teachers, faculty, and staff presented Moriah with seemingly limitless opportunities to learn and grow and taught her it was okay to not always be the best at everything. Moriah said she was never told she could not do something and was allowed to discover any avenue she wanted to take, whether that be in academics or extracurricular activities. Moriah carried those lessons forward, first at College of William & Mary where she studied both Biology and Government and at Howard University School of Law where Moriah earned her doctorate of law (J.D,). Bancroft pushed Moriah to be the best version of herself. The resilient message to not give up when things become difficult and to learn how to push through adversity gave Moriah the confidence she needed to study science. It also provided her with practical self-awareness to pursue a career in law which she was “considerably better at” putting her on a path to a career which merged both her love of science and her practical legal skill set.

Moriah continues to support Bancroft financially because she feels that so much of what she does in her everyday life is closely related to what she learned on Shore Drive. One of her most valued skills stems from her time on the Speech Team where she was part of an event called Group Discussion. Moriah

described her everyday work in support of her client priorities at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as “more like Group Discussion than any class or course I’ve taken anywhere in my entire academic career.” This close connection to the Speech team resulted in one of her favorite memories from her time at Bancroft. Moriah was the 2009 Massachusetts State Champion in Group Discussion. Winning this event is a memory that still sticks with her to this day. As a member of the Speech Team, three different athletic teams, and a scholar, Moriah was able to experience Bancroft at its full potential. Realizing the impact the school had on her crucial developmental years made her grateful and Moriah continues to give back to the school that she feels put her on a path to success.

Moriah made a gift this year in memory of her mother who recently passed away. We remember Georgianna Sgariglia and all the contributions she gave throughout her lifetime. Thank you Moriah for your generous commitment to Bancroft.

NOW & THEN

1962

Submitted by Class

Secretary

Pam Kinnicutt Motley pamelamotley@msn.com

Joan Millar Lincoln: I would say it’s been a bit of a rough year with the ups and downs of Covid and the general disarray of our world, as evident on all continents. However, we plow ahead and are grateful for family, for our friends across the globe, for quite good health, and lots of projects. I finally, after retirement, have more time for music and writing, and travel continues—albeit in a reduced manner. We had an outstanding trip to the Baha’i World Centre in Israel last November, joining six hundred people from across the globe, and are hopeful for a trip to Kinshasa, The Democratic Republic of Congo will materialize in late Spring. If anyone makes it to Portsmouth, NH, we would be delighted to welcome you to our home for a meal or coffee and tea.

Following News for Class of 1962 Submitted by

Pam Kinnicutt Motley

Steve Kressler retired from his teaching post at UMass Amherst and moved to Scottsdale, Arizona with his wife Joyce, who was on the board at Bancroft. He has successfully avoided full time retirement by lecturing at ASU, volunteering at the Musical Instrument Museum, and working as a ranger at the local golf course. His daughter and three children live nearby, so carpooling and babysitting have also crept into his daily routine. His son Sam lives in Boulder, Colorado, so Steve gets to see him and his two sons fairly often. If there are any Bancroft alums in the area, he would love to hear from you.

Richard “Dick” Pierpont and Leslie Pierpont split their year between Florida and Nova Scotia. Leslie is still very involved in Garden Club projects, including judging duties. Dick has been able to shoot his age on the golf course. They have many visitors, including family and friends, in both places.

Richard “Dick” Knight, his wife Lee and their family spent a wonderful summer sailing off the shores of Marblehead. He also played lots of tennis. In one mixed doubles tennis tournament he was paired with Jennifer Borggaard, who happens to be Pam Kinnicutt Motley’s daughter.

Pam Kinnicutt Motley: My daughter

Jennifer and husband Andy now have all three children in college…two at Tulane and one at Northeastern. Cate, Kendra’s eldest, is a high school senior, with George Washington as her first choice for college. I am still working in accounting, with a few billable clients that I can take care of from home.I also am a volunteer Treasurer of three area nonprofits. I still play platform tennis in the winter, but my new sport is Pickleball. We are lucky to have many free local outdoor courts, and access to some indoor ones as well.

1967

Submitted by Class Secretary Elizabeth Young fdlcamp@aol.com

Clarinda “Rindy” Higgins: I am wonderfully busy, as a substitute teacher for grades Kindergarten through 8th grade in my town as well as being involved with Afghan refugee resettlement in my area. The latter includes helping an 11 member family, especially tutoring the cutest 7 yr old who didn’t know the letter A etc last January and is now reading and writing! It is very rewarding and I am so full of gratitude for my life! That includes my having been at Bancroft and all the lifelong friends with whom I’m still in touch!

1969

Submitted by Class Secretary Hester Kinnicutt Jacobs djacobs@midrivers.com

Lorraine “Lorri” Lind Byrne: We have had an eventful 2022. We were involved in preparations for my husband’s 50th college reunion, which was a great time, but we caught Covid there. In June we went to Ireland for 16 days, and we were having a great time there, until we caught Covid again. We had to rent

an apartment to quarantine for a week, but we got to experience life in Ireland in a way we hadn’t expected. In September we finally got to take a trip to Italy that was put off 3 times from Covid. It was a beautiful trip with no disasters. I’ve had NE Patriots season tickets for 28 years, but on Dec 1 I fell after the game and broke my ankle, ending the year with a bang. I am intending to attend my 50th college reunion in May. The 24 girls who were the first on campus at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are planning to have some sort of celebration of our own, apart from the school. It’s been fun just finding each other again and having Zoom meetings.

Eric Jeppson: Yes, I do plan to go to my 50th college reunion at Stanford and I remember back at my 5th thinking the 10-year guys and gals looked king of old! OMG! I have, in the past year, traveled a lot, about 20 times out of state (all to NH to play golf!). I’m still in Worcester, though my wife Nancy and I now have a lakehouse in Sterling, MA and are spending half the year there. We have been reasonably healthy, though before my double hernia operation a little while ago, my young surgeon said: “Due to your advanced age, we have to have an EKG done to make sure you’ll be right for the surgery!”.

Joe V. Meigs: We did well for class notes the last go around with around 12 respondents. I think that was the most for any class. Here in Denver, Colorado, life has been great without any significant news. I’m looking forward to a great snow year skiing at Winter Park Resort. This year I bought just a WP ski pass good only Monday through Friday with no other restrictions. I feel fortunate to be able to ski at a major resort only 1 hour and 10 minutes away. A good day of skiing always generates a lot of smiles. Here’s to everyone having a great winter too.

Hester Kinnicutt Jacobs: As for me, other than a trip to Canada, riding the Rocky Mountaineer train from Vancouver to Calgary, it has been a quiet year. After 3 years of physical therapy and medication, my back went horribly bad. I did get my vegetable garden planted before it did, but my husband had to take care of it all summer. The deer came in and got most of it. After talking to a neurosurgeon, I was told to lose some significant weight before they would consider surgery. Something I needed to do anyway. The good news, with the weight loss, exercise, and physical therapy; I have lost all pain. Only residual symptoms are a lopsided walk and a weak right leg. I will be back to the neurosurgeon after the first of the year. I am involved in planning my 50th reunion from Connecticut College in June. As I write this, it is minus 10 degrees with a windchill of minus 20 and snowing. I am still loving living here in Montana even with this weather.

Dick Knight ’62 and his tennis partner Jennifer Borggaard

1971

Class Secretary

Sarah Callahan Lenis sclenis@aol.com

Submitted by Class Secretary

Wendy Rickles wendyrickles@gmail.com

Roger Clarkson lives in Hanover, NH, home of Dartmouth College, where he never left after graduation. He rarely gets down to Worcester, though he does own a property there. Roger spends summers on Drakes Island in Wells, Maine in a cottage that his dad built back in the 1940’s. He will occasionally go there in the winter to experience the high winds that can blow out a candle or threaten to take the roof off. And yet Roger loves the views and solitude the most at that time of year, especially with the beach all to themselves. Roger is a small time real estate agent and one of his sons works with him. He is blessed with his wife, 3 children and their spouses, 2 grandchildren, and one due any minute…all whom he is proud of…though one of them turns 70 in a couple weeks…yikes!!!! He has found memories of Bancroft, his teachers, and classmates there. Roger hopes all are healthy, loving life, and still young at heart.

Susan Garrison Liming makes several trips a year back to Massachusetts, especially now that she is a first-time grandma. Son Tim and wife Siobhan had a baby girl on April 12, 2023. They live Westford, MA. Daughter Katie lives in Worcester with her boyfriend Justin. Katie received her Master’s degree in Environmental Science and Policy form Clark University in December 2022. Besides traveling, Susan spends creative time doing calligraphy and quilting. She and Steve have lived in Scottsdale, AZ for 30 years and love Arizona.

Sara Arthur: Originally I came to Tucson, AZ 40 years ago to study photography at the University of Arizona. Following graduation, with a BFA, I worked in a coffeehouse. My then husband encouraged me to go to graduate school for Social Work. I graduated with an

MSW in 1990 and it set me on a path for a very gratifying and humbling profession in Hospice work. Now retired for 5 years, I continue to enjoy the southwest, with most frequent trips to northern Arizona , Colorado, Utah and New Mexico. Exploring the varied natural beauty and diverse cultures, with the rich ancient history to current day, is a deep passion. I am fortunate to enjoy good health for hiking, which Jim, partner of 10 years, and I enjoy. I always look forward to time in New England, where all my siblings and family reside. Would love an update on Bancroft gals from our class. Wishing everyone good health and well-being.

1972

Submitted by Class Secretary

Josephine “Jo” Herron Truesdell

thehats@aol.com

We had a fabulous 50th reunion a year ago, with Adrian Perschak and Lauren Levenson getting the awards for the longest distance traveled – Switzerland and Argentina respectively. Me? At 1.7 miles, I guess I get the shortest distance traveled. Whether we came from near or afar, though, it was a terrific weekend, with tours of the school, celebratory dinners Friday and Saturday nights, and a WooSox game on Sunday. We missed those who were not able to join us, but there’s always next time!

We have just a few updates this go-round. Lynn Hutchins made another move this year, but this time it was a short one, from the third floor to the first in her same building. As she noted, wheelchairs and an elevator malfunction aren’t a very good mix!

Now retired, Sue Barnard Lamdin was asked to join the Brunswick (Maine) Community Education Foundation Board which provides grants to classroom teachers with innovative project ideas. She had, herself, been a recipient of several of these grants throughout her years of teaching, so she knows first-hand the difference they can make, for the teachers as well as for their students.

As for me, I am sort of amazed to find that our bookstore, TidePool Bookshop, has been open for close to three years. Fortunately Huck and I are enjoying ourselves, because that is where we spend most of our waking hours. We did, however, take time off last August when our son, Sam Truesdell ’02, married Samantha Piro in New Gloucester, Maine. They are now living in a 1690 house in Danvers, not too far from Sam’s office in Salem where he works with the MA Division of Marine Science, while Samantha works remotely for Maine Medical in Portland. You will be glad to know she does not do surgery.

Be sure to stop by Bancroft when you are in town. There is lots of excitement on Shore Drive, and I know the new Head, Stephanie Luebbers, is very much looking forward to connecting up with alums when she comes on board this summer. Best to all, and do stay in touch!

At the wedding of Sam Truesdell ’02. From Left to Right: Jim and Helen Wright, Margaret McCandless, Nancy Dewey ’70, Molly Herron ’83, Caitlin McDonough Mackenzie ’02, Winslow Dresser ’07, Caleb Dresser ’05, Bram Geller ’02, Rebecca Kowaloff ’02, Samantha Piro, Sam Truesdell ’02, Paul Wright ’03, Jonathan Ursprung ’02 , David Wright ’01, John Tumolo ’01, Sean Murtha ’02, Amy Pearson, Alfred Pearson, Josephine Herron Truesdell ’72, Huck Truesdell, Nancy Tumolo, John Tumolo.

The Perschak Clan

1974

Submitted by Class Secretary

Louisa Gebelein Jones ljones@pomfret.org

Henry Perschak: Kathrin and I are spending our Christmas holidays in the mountains and have all 5 children with us as well as 2 of their partners – full house in other words. Andreas is in risk management at a bank in Zurich, Regula is looking for her first job as a graphic designer after finishing her second bachelor’s in Gent, Belgium, and Isabel just finished her MSc in Psychology at Zurich University. The twins are also busy with Daniel in his last year of facility management and Philipp in his 5th year at medical school Zurich University. After being officially retired from Clinic Hirslanden in 2020, I continued with my private practice with Kathrin as my office manager, but now found a successor to take over my patients by the end of March. This will let me spend more time on my latest passion, the development of AI-driven apps in prevention, especially dementia. Finally, the Perschak Clan with my brothers Adrian “AJ” Perschak ’72, and Chris Perschak ’75, met with all spouses, children, partners, and grandchildren for a Christmas gathering in a local farmhouse, 29 in all. All the best to you all for 2023 and hope to see you at our 50th in 2024, still some time to go, but I’m already planning for it.

Blake Anderson: We sold our old Salem house last summer and moved to our cottage in Dublin, NH full time; our cars now proclaim,” Live Free or Die” … Semi-retirement has proved to be busier than full-time employment. How did that happen? So, after writing ONE MORE capital markets year-end strategy report, out go the Bloombergs and I move to full retirement with no regrets; my view of the lake is no longer blocked by data screens. Our family Christmas took place early this year: Frazer and his wife Emma exchanged their vows in snowy Montreal this December, with all the beautiful Canadian-Anglican winter trimmings. They live in Cambridge, MA. There was a strong Anderson-Nicholson Bancroft turnout. Our daughter Tasha and her husband Oliver flew in for the wedding from their home base in Cambridge, England, to make the party complete. Both kids managed to engineer two weddings each to their respective spouses, given international families and covid exigencies. This was much to Nina’s great delight as an inveterate party planner. Health, Peace, and Joy to all.

Robert Casper: Jessie, a neuro-surgical physician’s assistant in Boston, married George Dorfman in March. George is a business developer in the cell and gene therapy research diagnostics space. Ben graduated from medical

school in May. We are eager to know where to next, having applied for residency throughout the east and west coasts. In the meantime, wherever he goes, he is gearing up for his integrated activities, scuba diving photography, and when visiting us lobster harvesting, plus, and most importantly, time with Emma! Charlie is with a smart medical data firm having cut his teeth in academia. Since he can deliver from anywhere, he just spent three months in the Fall of 2022 all over Europe and is talking about moving to Oregon next, where he can quench his thirst for boarding (kite and snow). By the way, he is an eligible bachelor! Sue and I are bouncing between Leominster and North Truro, trying to find time when we can get everyone together.

Richard “Dick” Johnson: An eventful year as our daughter Lizzy was married in August and our son Rob started graduate studies at Maryland. He and his wife Brenna are expecting our first grandchild (a sweet baby girl) in April. I just started my 41st year as curator at The Sports Museum and am also writing the Boston Bruins centennial history for the team which has a publication date of next October.

1978

Jeffrey Gratton: I am living in Jalisco, Mexico. When I am not advising landowners on restoring biodiversity to their lands I oversee hospitality at a ranch/meditation center called Finca el Péndulo which is becoming increasingly known beyond Mexico for hosting Ayahuasca retreats. All of my work since leaving New York in summer 2019 is on a pro-bono, unpaid volunteer basis. Last year while I was in Germany handling pre-production for a documentary on ancestral plant wisdom I taught a two month course titled, “Being An Actor.”

1988

Submitted by Class Secretary Marc Starzyk marc.starzyk@gmail.com

It certainly has been a while, so much so that it was our 35th Reunion this past May. I enjoyed seeing everybody! As for me, I have been a Floridian for three plus years now, and the kids have all left the nest. My daughter graduated from Wake Forest and lives/ works in Charlotte. One son graduated from Northeastern and lives/works in Boston, and my other son graduated from Xavier and lives in Philadelphia, but works in NYC. We have the East Coast covered!

1993

Submitted by Class Secretary

Alicia Davis Downs awdd@targetpointconsulting.com

Erik Hastings: Hi All! We are still in Boston and splitting time between the city and Stowe, Vermont. I travel to DC often for work and started the college tour process for our oldest, Parker. What memories that brings back! Great seeing everyone this past May for our 30th Reunion.

1983

Submitted by Class Secretary Jim Condon jcondon181@gmail.com

Kevin Ramos-Glew: Kevin, Vicki, and their teenage boys continue to love life in the Upper Valley of NH/VT. “We’ve been having to search a bit for snow this Nordic ski season, but we are grateful to be living here in Camelot. It’s maple sugaring time on our property if you find yourself passing by and would like some syrup. After over two rewarding decades in secondary schools, I’m now in higher ed–in admissions at Dartmouth (right up the CT River from our home!). It’s been lovely keeping in touch with Bancroft alumni as well as faculty. Bancroft changed my life and I'll always be grateful for the education, experience, and community.”

Jeffrey Gratton ’78 in Jalisco, Mexico

Steven Gallo ’83 pictured with Carleigh O’Connell ’16, Marlana Gallo ’18, and Jon Zujewski ’18 at Marlana’s 2023 graduation from Northeastern University.

1997

Submitted by Class Secretary

Anthony Selvitella aselvitella@gmail.com

1997 had a fantastic 25th Reunion Weekend in May. In total, 20 1997ers returned PLUS 2 class members “Zoomed in” to say “hello!” Katie Krock Parvin threw a fabulous party for us with no detail missed, right down to a spectacular cake and every photo of us, ever…on coasters! Here’s the full list of attendees: Ethan Fletcher, Mayo Morgan Amos, Rachel Josephson Friedman, Katie Krock Parvin, Courtney Blute Perna, Matt Shwachman Wade, Sarah WolfmanRobichaud, Lisa D’Andrea Buttenschon, Neeti Acharya Mehta, Lisa Wright, Yuri Brightly, Kelly Kervick McCarthy, Joe Rosales, Liza Beth, Kirsten Wright-Cirit, Alison Riggieri, Jessye Ball, Carin Litani, Padgett Berthiaume, and of course, me. Elizabeth Radin and Christina Whitten Thomas joined via Zoom. Great turnout. (A special thanks to the “Reunion Committee” Sarah, Padgett, Mayo, and Katie—NICE job.) Most importantly, 1997 raised $6,000 in memory of Tom Mutti and Chase Myers. (A massive “thank you" to all who contributed.) They both are sorely missed, especially at times like these. For those who couldn’t make it, we felt your absences. There’s nothing like all of us being together in the same space. BUT, there’s always next time. Keep in touch and let’s start thinking about our next get together.

The Class of 1997 25th Reunion Party

2002

Submitted by Class Secretary

Rebecca Holden McCullough rebeccamccullough@gmail.com

Rebecca Kowaloff: I started working with the inpatient Palliative Medicine consult team at UMass hospital in Worcester in July. I love the work and the people and it feels like a homecoming to be back in Worcester. In addition, I was honored to be the guest editor of the Worcester District Medical Society’s May/June issue of "Worcester Medicine" on Palliative Care. It’s wonderful doing the work that I love full time.

Left to right (back row): Varun Navani ’13, Aditya Dharampuriya ’14, Solon Kelleher ’11, Josh Erban ’11. (Middle and front row): Divya Navani ’17, Robin Hopkinson ’11, Ben Erban ’09, Jaclyn Danko ’11, Priyanka Dharampuriya ’11, Shubh Agrawal ’11, Alan Gill, Udway Agrawal ’11, Jasmine Torrey ’11, Azi Azizi ’11, Brad Dustin ’11, Prith Roychowdhury ’11, and Sriteja Gulukota ’10

Karlie Fitzgerald ’12 and her fiancé Matthew Messier

The Wedding of Guillermo Creamer Jr. ’12 at Bancroft Tower

The wedding of Sam Truesdell ’02 & Samantha Piro

Class Notes

Stephanie Cohen Helmrich: I just started my 8th year at Resy, a restaurant technology start-up that was acquired by American Express in 2019. I was lucky enough to receive 6.5 months of maternity leave after welcoming baby girl #2 in June. Eden (2), Summer (7 months), my husband Josh, and I live in New York City where we are lucky to have lots of help from Auntie Abby Cohen ’93

2011

Class Secretary

Solon Kelleher

solon.kelleher@gmail.com

Class Secretary

Courtney Ordway courtney.ordway@outlook.com

Picture Submitted by Solon Kelleher and note submitted by Shubh Agrawal

"We felt so lucky to be able to celebrate our wedding with so many beloved Bancroft alumni and friends! Thank you to all who joined us and have sent their well wishes as we begin this adventure!" – Shubh Agrawal ’15 and Alan Gill

2012

Submitted by Class Secretary

Guillermo Creamer Jr. guillermocreamer@gmail.com

On Sept. 24, 2022 I married my best friend in front of Bancroft Tower. The wedding was small but had a large Bancroft presence with over a dozen of my former peers in attendance. Hannah Reisinger ’12 performed the

ceremony on that beautiful fall day. We live in Worcester with our gorgeous cat Shakira. Karlie Fitzgerald had one heck of a 2022! After kicking things off by getting a Boston Terrier puppy in March, her longtime boyfriend Matthew Messier proposed in the Boston Public Garden with the help of said puppy who bore the ring box himself! Karlie capped off the year with a new position as a PR and Communications Manager at Fetch, a unicorn startup and leading rewards app.

Jennifer Wallace Haney was married to KiJana Haney at Zuka’s Hilltop Barn in Spencer, MA on May 29, 2022. The couple honeymooned in Argentina.

2013

Class Secretary

Eura Myrta eura.myrta@gmail.com

Class Secretary

Adrienne Chodnowsky adrienne.chodnowsky@gmail.com

Nimisha Patil: I recently started a new job at Netflix on their Studio Strategy team. Really excited to be in a role that combines my various interests. I had studied Film Production as well as Engineering at USC, and I recently completed my MBA at Harvard Business School. Thrilled to be doing work that lets me apply my analytical skills to help make movies. Crazy to think that my Bancroft graduation was 10 years ago—Happy 10th to the Class of 2013!

2014

Submitted by Class Secretary

Isabella Tropeano isabellamtopeano@gmail.com

Amanda Scudder: The past year brought a whirlwind of adventures and milestones! I finished medical school and spent a few months traveling prior to moving back to Boston, where I continued my training at the BIDMC Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency.

Danya Li: Since graduating Syracuse University’s School of Architecture, I’ve been pursuing freelance design and photography in Brooklyn, NY. In 2022, I was able to see four retail projects build-out across the country with another store opening in February 2023. Freelance architectural design is fairly uncommon, but I’m extremely lucky to be able to design in multiple mediums and see builtwork in this challenging environment. Bancroft provided me with such a strong foundation to be able to handle freelance work at this scale and I hope to inspire young designers to pursue multi-disciplinary design work beyond their college degree. The sky’s the limit and I’m excited to be venturing into more freelance work this upcoming year!

Stephanie Cohen Helmrich ’02 with husband Josh, and daughters Eden, and Summer

The Wedding of Jennifer Wallace Haney ’12 and KiJana Haney at Zuka’s Hilltop Barn in Spencer, MA on May 29, 2022

2020

Submitted by Class Secretary

Maxwell Onffroy maxwellonffroy@gmail.com

Maxwell Onffroy: I am currently enjoying WPI. I am majoring in mechanical engineering and minoring in Computer science and currently plan on getting my masters in material science by at least the end of 2024 at WPI. I worked at Pratt and Whitney on life-ing business class jets over the summer and lived in Connecticut. I am currently living in Worcester and active on WPI’s campus in different Societies, the Sigma Pi Fraternity, and until recently the men’s rowing team.

Chloe Selavka: I’m still a student at Marymount Manhattan college double majoring in playwriting and directing. Over the summer I had an internship in Dublin, IE, with Irish Modern Dance Theatre where I stage managed a dance festival! Additionally, this past fall a one act play I wrote and directed “Peonies (Don’t Leave)” debuted off Broadway at Teatro Latea in NYC. I was also associate director and choreographer for Marymount’s homecoming musical. In the spring I’ll be assistant directing Marymount’s MainStage Head over Heels! I have also been hanging out with my cat, Franklin and putting out music.

2021

Submitted by Class Secretary

Matthew Baker-Grunza mbakergrunza@gmail.com

Since leaving Bancroft Blake Brote has continued to pursue theater whenever possible. In the spring of 2022 he played the role of Danny Zuko in Babson College’s Production of “Grease,” and more recently played the role of Rudolpho in Sterling Community Theater’s production of “Matilda,” where he got to perform alongside his sister, Tiana Brote ’17 for the first time since the Bancroft stage over 5 years ago! Blake wishes everyone a Happy New Year and hopes to return for Bancroft’s Spring musical.

2022

Class Secretary

Brent Stefani stefanibrent@gmail.com

Class Secretary

Arieta Nasto arietanasto@gmail.com

Anne Conners: It was a surreal experience to be able to perform at Radio City music hall as part of the Rockettes Holiday Spectacular. My college singing group, the Iona Singers, sang several Christmas songs to open the show.

Blake Brote ’21 as Danny Zuko in Babson College's Production of “Grease”

Anne Connors ’22 performed at Radio City music hall as part of the Rockettes Holiday Spectacular

Freelance architect Danya Li ’14

Jesse Chang and their partner, David, have adopted a kitten named Kelp Finn.

Jesse Chang ’14 & Kelp Finn

In Memoriam

ALUMNI

Margery “Marge” Williams

Adams ’38

July 18, 2022 at 101

Charlotte, North Carolina

Margery Ann Williams was born on February 20, 1921, delivered by her father at home in the middle of a snowstorm in Worcester, MA to Elizabeth Taft and Dr. Frederick Williams. She died peacefully at her home in Charlotte on July 18, 2022 at the age of 101. She was predeceased by her brother Gurdon Taft Williams, her sister Amy Bess Williams Miller ’29 and her husband Dr. George Carlisle Adams.

She grew up in Worcester, MA, was educated at the Bancroft School, and spent her summers at her family’s beloved ‘camp’ on Nubanusit Lake in New Hampshire. She earned her BA from Smith College in 1942, and her MA and Ph.D. in Art History at Harvard University. In her senior year of college, she was recruited and trained to serve in the WAVES wartime intelligence effort as a code-breaker during World War II, unraveling the Japanese code, a task to which she was sworn to secrecy under penalty of death. After the war she was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study Art History at the Sorbonne in Paris, she met her future husband Carlisle, who was teaching the newly conceived specialty of pediatrics at the University of Paris. They were married in 1952 and raised three sons in Charlotte. Carlisle never learned of her wartime assignment.

Margery taught Art History at Queens College (now Queens University). Along with her husband, she was active in many cultural institutions in Charlotte including the Charlotte Opera, and she was an avid world traveler, occasionally stealing away from her traveling companions to don a pair of white gloves and turn the pages of ancient texts at the Bibliotheque Nationale de France. Crossword puzzles were her passion; she allowed herself only 12 minutes to solve them, a holdover from her code-breaker training days. She filled her own gardens with rare specimens of daffodils, camellias and other treasures.

Her humor and infectious laugh will be greatly missed by her survivors.

Marjorie Crickard Almy ’55

December 29, 2022 at 85

Scotia, NY

Marjorie "Marge" Nathalie Almy, 85, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on December 29, 2022.

Born on July 14, 1937 in Scranton, Pennsylvania to her late parents George E. And Claire R. (Fournier) Crickard. Marge graduated from Bancroft School in 1955 and continued her higher

education at Simmons College, graduating in 1959 with a BS degree in Business.

At an early age her love for life, the outdoors, and new experiences began. Her first job out of college was working on a political campaign in Florida. Shortly after, Marge lived on the Caribbean island of Antigua for six months, where she worked for the Red Cross.

In 1966, Marjorie met the love of her life, Christopher Robert Almy. They met at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and married within the year in Shrewsbury, MA, where they began their family. She was a woman who could adapt to any environment, she was a supportive military wife during the Vietnam era when the family moved from Massachusetts to Georgia, then on to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. In 1972, the Almy family planted their roots in Scotia, NY when Chris started working for Knolls Atomic Power Lab.

The most important element of Marge’s life was her family. She was a caring mother, who made sure the meals were healthy, the children were happy, and if they ever needed motivation, inspiration, a friend, or someone with whom to practice sports, she was there with open arms and encouraging words. A talented piano player, she will be remembered for playing Kenny Rogers on the piano and always brightening another person’s day.

Elizabeth “Betsy” Campbell Heide ’56

December 19, 2022 at 84 Marblehead, MA Art patron and volunteer, Elizabeth "Betsy" Campbell Heide, who for decades served Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts in a variety of volunteer capacities, died December 19th at her home in Marblehead.

Mrs. Heide’s lifelong passion for literature and the arts began during her time as a student at the Bancroft School and at Radcliffe where she majored in English as a member of the class of 1960. Upon graduation from Radcliffe, Mrs. Heide took a management course at Filene’s with the goal of a career in marketing. She soon discovered, however, that her real passion was the world of arts and letters.

In 1957, Mrs. Heide met her future husband, Ulf Backer Heide, when she was at Radcliffe and he was at MIT. They were married in 1961 and eventually settled in Marblehead during the period when Mr. Heide, an inventor and businessman, was establishing his manufacturing company. Their daughter Elizabeth was born in 1967.

Mrs. Heide began volunteering at Boston’s MFA during the early 1980s. She became a member of the Ladies Committee, and later a docent guiding visitors. Among her favorite activities at the museum was presenting slide shows to Boston school children to introduce them to the world of art and history. “Education was always important for her,” said her husband.

“Besides her work with Boston school kids, she volunteered for the Junior League. She also conducted alumnae interviews for Radcliffe for over 30 years. She was very good at reporting on the students she interviewed, and was honored by Harvard for her efforts.”

Married to a sailor, Betsy enjoyed many cruises with the Eastern Yacht Club and Caribbean charters. “What she really liked,” said her daughter Elizabeth, “was the beauty of the places they sailed, swimming in the warm waters of the Caribbean, and dining in fine restaurants. She herself was an accomplished cook.”

Milton P. Higgins III ’56

April 2023 at age 85, Hawaii

Born in Worcester, MA, to the late Alice Coonley Higgins and Milton P Higgins II, he was the oldest of five children, and known as Mitty. He lived in many places throughout his life including Australia; Dedham, Mattapoisett, and Hardwick, MA; Colorado Springs, CO; Ojo Caliente, NM; Olney, MD; and Kamuela, HI. He attended Bancroft School, and graduated from Milton Academy, Colorado College, and Harvard Business School. He had been married and divorced.

Mitty began his career working for the Norton Company and then for Arthur D. Little, but he found his calling when he combined his love of horses and athletics, forming a partnership with veterinarian Tom Bowman to breed and race thoroughbreds. Their successful partnership included breeding Love the Chase, the dam of Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome. To this day, their horse Richie The Coach holds the record for 1 1/4 miles at Laurel Park set in 1996.

Mitty is survived by his four younger siblings and their spouses: Prentiss ’57 and Polly Higgins, Genie Higgins ’60 and Don Rice, Trish Higgins ’62 and Chris Arnold, and David ’64 and Lonny Higgins.

Mitty loved spending time with family and friends and relished hearing about their exploits and accomplishments. He seemed most happy with a comfortable perch in a sociable space where he could listen intently or share his own thoughts. He was a friend who could know a person fully and without judgment.

In the words of one remembrance, Mitty had a way of "romanticizing the smallest detail" in the world around him. He recognized the significance and meaning of small moments with those he loved and who loved him: walking through a pasture, laughing at a clever nickname, enjoying dinner with friends. His kindness, wisdom, and joy enriched the lives of the many who loved him. He is and will be deeply missed.

Kathie A. Jewell ’58

September 25, 2022 at 82 Marlborough, MA

Kathie Ann Jewell, 82, died peacefully in Marlborough on Sunday, September 25, 2022. Born in Worcester, Kathie grew up in Northborough, graduated Bancroft School in Worcester and attended Syracuse University. Beautiful and full of drama, a prolific poet, during and after high school she played summer stock in New England with several notable New York actors and was chosen in a national search in 1956 to audition with Otto Preminger for the film Joan of Arc.

Suffering from schizophrenia since childhood, in an era in which this brain disease was poorly recognized or understood, Kathie prevailed over the difficulties of her mental illness and went on to lead a life with many long-term friends and a long-term partner. Her life was one with meaning and value. She is survived by her sister, Susan Jewell MacLean ’60 and her brother-inlaw Shian MacLean of Santa Rosa, California, nephews Michael and Sean MacLean, and her partner, Robert Ready.

Karen Sadowsky Kaufman ’70

October 28, 2022 at 70

Karen (Sadowsky) Kaufman, 70, born on July 9, 1952 and passed away on October 28, 2022. She was the daughter of Lester and Joan (Ziegler) Sadowsky.

She leaves her husband, Richard Kaufman; her mother, Joan Sadowsky; three siblings, John, Laura Sadowsky and Ken; an uncle, Harold and his wife, Myrna Sadowsky; three nephews, Yuri, Numa and Mica Sadowsky; many cousins and beloved friends.

Karen was born in Worcester and attended the Bancroft School. She went on to Skidmore College where she flourished, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1974. She later became a nutritionist with an MS and CCN. She loved to give out healthy eating tips to all who would listen. She was an avid Boston sports fan. She was a voracious reader of many, diverse topics and was happy to opine on them, too. While she battled auto-immune diseases for much of her adult life, she did so with little (mostly) complaints & much grace and dignity. She cherished family and time with family – traditional values were among her guiding principles.

Larri A. Tonelli Parker ’78 January 7, 2022 at 60 Middletown, RI

Larri Allison Tonelli Parker, 60, of 357 Paradise Ave. Middletown passed away January 7, 2022. She leaves her husband George Parker, her daughter Madeleine Parker and her son George Parker IV. Larri was an attorney who practiced collaborative law, family law and mediation. She loved sports, particularly sailing, scuba diving, soccer and skiing. She was a herbalist and loved the earth. She will be greatly missed by family and friends.

To know Larri was to love Larri.

EXTENDED COMMUNITY

Joseph Lovejoy Jr

Wenham, Massachusetts

It is with sorrow that we announce the passing of Joseph Ensign Lovejoy, Jr. A lifelong learner, an esteemed educator and an astute businessman. Joe was a graduate of Shore Country Day School, Tabor Academy and St. Lawrence and Dartmouth Universities. Believing that the purpose of education was not merely to instill facts but to ignite the spark of curiosity in young minds, he became a highly respected educator at the Bancroft School in Worcester, Massachusetts and the Charles Wright Academy in Tacoma, Washington. Not only masterful at American and World History, Joe coached football, lacrosse and soccer. His passion for understanding the needs of his students and his empathetic approach to adolescence made him a favorite teacher. It did not hurt that he had a robust sense of humor. Sailing round-trip from Victoria, British Columbia to Hawaii, hiking the Himalayas of Nepal, sea-kayaking off the coast of Maine, fly- fishing throughout the Rockies and Cascades and descending the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon numerous times are how Joe chose to embody a full, and action packed life of learning.

In 2008, Joe moved from teaching into the business world when he became Chairman of his family’s privately held business, Ensign-Bickford Industries (EBI), a global science and technology company headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Joe will be remembered as a modest, principled and authentic leader who cared deeply about EBI’s people and the greater good that EBI could provide society. Building on his love for education, friends and colleagues, they noted that his superpower was understanding human emotion. His profound impact on the lives of countless individuals will not be forgotten.

Patricia Albrecht

Patricia Mary Elizabeth (Conlon) Albrecht, age 84, died on December 16, 2022 in the Jewish Health Care Center after a lengthy illness. Her husband, Roger C.E. Albrecht predeceased her on December 28, 2020. She leaves a daughter, Leah Albrecht ’93 of Oakland, California. Her parents, Charles E. and Anna (Smolen) Conlon of Webster and brothers Charles E. Conlon, Jr., of Worcester and John A. Conlon, all predeceased her.

Patricia was a product of the public schools in Webster and obtained her undergraduate degree from the then Worcester State Teachers College, now Worcester State University. She was one of the rare talented students who was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study English Literature at the University of London in Great Britain. There she met and married Roger, her devoted husband, who was at the Inns of Court studying to become a barrister. A decision was made for the young couple to return to the United States and eventually to settle in Worcester where Patricia began her teaching career at the Bancroft School, where she taught Middle School English. She was an expert on the life and times of Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare. An avid gardener and collector of historical data of Worcester County and her hometown of Webster, she was often seen at the research desk of the Worcester Historical Society. She was very active on the Board of Abby’s House and the Goddard Memorial Association.