BANCROFT BULLETIN | SPRING 2016
THE
Arinella Sisters:
Changing the World One Minute at a Time
ALUMNI SHARE THEIR
Passions WITH STUDENTS... ALEXIS KELLEHER ’08 MANAGER OF CRUST ARTISANAL BAKESHOP
Alexis delighted the Table de Français club with hands-on lessons in croissant-making
STEPHEN URSPRUNG ’06 CO-FOUNDER OF REJECT DANCE THEATRE
Stephen’s dance troupe enchanted students PreK–12 with interactive performances
BONNIE JOHNSON ’82
VOICE OF WICN RADIO’S “COLORS OF JAZZ” Bonnie thrilled student-musicians by inviting them to jam with a jazz ensemble
Contents Bancroft Bulletin | Spring 2016 110 Shore Drive Worcester, MA 01605 508-853-2640 www.bancroftschool.org Bancroft Bulletin is published twice a year and mailed to alumni, parents, and friends of Bancroft School. It is also viewable online at bancroftschool.org/bulletin Head of School James P. “Trey” Cassidy III Advancement Team Tobey Fossey Chief Advancement Officer Lynn St. Germain Director of Alumni Relations Debra Page Mooney Director of Annual Giving Julie O’Malley Associate Director of Marketing & Communications Karla Cinquanta Marketing & Creative Content Manager Lydia Barter Advancement Assistant Jaime L’Heureux Advancement Associate Writing/Editing Tobey Fossey Julie O’Malley Lynn St. Germain
Head of School’s Message...................................4
Bancroft News.........................................................5 Highlights of faculty and student activities on and off campus.
Speechies In The Real World...............................8 Four Speech Team alumni reflect on the personal and professional rewards of belonging to this collegial group of verbal competitors.
Four Generations & A Legacy of Giving........12 A major gift from one of the School’s oldest and most dedicated families helped open the door to a new phase of capital projects on campus.
What’s Behind the Steps Ahead?....................14 The time is right for a substantial leap forward and Bancroft has bold plans to keep our School in the vanguard of independent education.
Design Greg Gilman Photography Karla Cinquanta Erratum: The following Bancroft Fund donors were inadvertently omitted from The Headmaster’s Circle leadership group in the 2014-2015 Annual Report: Mr. Hsiao-Lung Chang and Ms. Chin Huei Yeh; Mr. and Mrs. James P. Condon ’83; and Drs. Carl and Carolyn Selavka. We regret the omission. On The Cover: Sisters Alicia ’96 and Jessica ’94 Arinella have earned respect both behind and in front of the camera and will be honored at Reunion 2016, along with Pat Condon and Roberta Prada ’56. Read their stories on page 18.
Reunion: Award Recipients...............................18 Alumni Class Notes.............................................19
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A Message From The Head of School
Dear Bancroft Friends, I stood on the mountaintop I felt a I went skiing in Canada over spring break, and as and think before you plunge headlong split-second of hesitation. It’s only natural to stop ious fear fell away. I was moving, over a precipice. But as soon as I pushed off, all consc a great ride. reacting, doing. It was exhilarating. It was fun. It was time is right for our School to make a Bancroft is also poised for an exciting ride — the substantial leap forward. of the people in our community to face This School is what it is because of the willingness Bancroft Bulletin is full of examples challenges and lean into their work. This issue of the the support of this community, took of scholars, athletes, artists, and innovators who, with the tone for our future at Bancroft. risks and achieved excellence. They have helped set . Vision 2016 is in place. And we We’ve done our homework. We’ve engaged our team i-faceted campaign to enhance our are moving full-speed ahead toward a multi-year, mult had such astounding early support programs, facilities, and finances. In fact, we have dy updated our heating and cooling from our philanthropic community that we have alrea field house adjacent to the east end of systems and exterior lighting, and are renovating the campus at 100 Shore Drive. promise to its students. We invite your But much remains to be done to uphold Bancroft’s coming months. The world is changing participation as we vet ideas and next steps in the ture must be flexible enough to meet rapidly and our educational methods and infrastruc future needs we cannot yet see. part way toward our goal, and then Thoreau once said, “We must walk consciously only leap of faith together, and I trust that we leap in the dark to our success.” We will take that will love the ride.
Sincerely,
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Robodogs teams made it to the VEX Robotics World Championships
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middle schoolers sorted 3,525 lbs. of donations at a local food bank
Speech Team members won first place in Multiple Reading at the State Tournament
Trey Cassidy Head of School
students’ projects qualified for the State Science & Engineering Fair 4
Points of Pride
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Our students deserve nothing less.
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BANCROFT
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students won Gold Keys at the Boston Globe Scholastic Art Awards
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varsity mathletes scored in the Top 100 across all divisions
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swimmers qualified for the NEPSAC Swim Championships
BANCROFTNEWS EXPLORERS STUDENTS EXPERIENCE LIFE IN COSTA RICA When Bancroft alumna Bettina Salfeld ’10 saw pictures of the 2016 spring break Middle School Costa Rica trip on Facebook, she was reminded of her own Costa Rica trip in 2005. “One of the best memories I have of Bancroft,” she called it. The 17 students in this year’s group undoubtedly concur. Accompanied by Spanish teacher Jody Stephenson and MS Head Trevor O’Driscoll, these global explorers spent the week living with local families in St. Elena, Monteverde, and attending CPI Spanish Immersion School for four hours a day. In their spare time, the group hiked in a cloud forest, milled sugarcane, played with children at a humanitarian childcare center, took a Latin cooking lesson, and even painted houses in a camp for Nicaraguan refugees. “These makeshift homes, on the steep edge of the riverbank, presented us a window into some sobering living conditions,” said O’Driscoll. “Our small bit of work connected us to some wonderful people and helped to brighten some exteriors on Easter Sunday.” Eye-opening experiences, deep connections, and lifelong memories are the lasting souvenirs these young travelers brought home.
Want to know more about Bancroft’s Global Studies Initiatives?
Global Studies in Action: A Blog Discover the many ways that Bancroft students are engaging with the world and developing their awareness of cultures both near and far. Visit:
www.bancroftschool.org/GSblog 5
BANCROFTNEWS LEADERS NEPSAC NAMES PLAYER AND COACH OF THE YEAR An action-packed season of hard work and huge wins sent the Bulldogs to the NEPSAC varsity basketball Class D Finals for the second year in a row. The close game ended in a tough 60–57 loss to Storm King, but that didn’t stop the league from recognizing the extraordinary talents of Bancroft junior Emmanuel Bangandozou (Player of the Year), and Mark O’Brien (Coach of the Year — for the eighth time in his career). “Working with these talented, respectful young men made my job easy,” said O’Brien. Reflecting on the experience, Emmanuel said, “I’m happy I got to enjoy the season with my friends. It was disappointing to lose in the Finals, but I’m really proud of my team. We’ll have another opportunity next year.”
INNOVATORS MAKER FAIRE DRIVES CURIOSITY & CREATIVITY
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With bold ideas and innovative technologies such as microprocessors and 3D printers, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students took part in a Video Game and Maker Faire this spring. Using skills learned in LS computer classes and Maker Club, our budding programmers, engineers, and entrepreneurs developed projects ranging from a robot that collected votes on whether 4th graders should be taxed (a Revolutionary War lesson from their classrooms), to an interactive city map, complete with sounds. When MS teacher Carrie Whitney walked past these young programmers, she said, “they were so excited to have me try out making a siren wail. It made my heart swell!”
BANCROFTNEWS ARTISTS BANCROFT HOSTS JURIED SHOW OF STUDENT ART This winter, Bancroft played host to the 2016 Small Independent Schools Art League (SISAL) juried art show and awards ceremony for MS and US students. The SISAL show featured artwork from 17 independent schools throughout the region, in categories ranging from drawing and painting to printmaking, digital art, fiber art, mixed media, and sculpture. Bancroft student-artists had more than 30 pieces selected for the SISAL competition and six students earned seven awards.
MENTORS SIXTH GRADERS DON TEACHER HATS As part of a learning unit on the use of prepositions, the sixth grade Hope Graham Program class wrote digital children’s books — and found an appreciative audience for their work in the Kindergarten class. Smiles were abundant among both groups as the “big kids” became the teachers and shared their original stories with the younger students. Book titles included Fishton the Incredible, The Journey of Two Zebras and One Lion, and Zeus Put at Risk.
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SPEECHIES IN THE
By Lori L. Ferguson
REAL WORLD “Through Speech, I learned to walk into a room filled with strangers and convince them to feel or think in a particular way.”
Baird Bream ’06 in his office at Bronner in Chicago.
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Saturday mornings spent on a bus. Uncomfortable business attire. Speaking publicly before an audience of judges. What would be a nightmare scenario for many of us is business-as-usual for Bancroft’s Speech Team. So, why do they do it and what’s the payoff? Ask any former member of Bancroft’s Speech Team if the experience was beneficial and you’re likely to get a response akin to that of Keely Sullivan ’12: “100 percent! Speech prepares you for any job—it increases your confidence and dramatically improves your communication skills. You become better at reading people, better at engaging people, better at interviewing, better at communicating in every way.” Other team members concur. Some joined for love of the stage, others to hone their public speaking skills, and still others to satisfy friends who insisted they experience the joys of Speech. Regardless of motive, students agree: the benefits are incontrovertible. Not to be confused with competitive debate, the Speech Team’s focus is public speaking and competitive acting. “Through Speech, students perfect their speaking skills by competing in 16 different events ranging from Original Oratory to Extemporaneous Speaking, with the goal of exploring characters, motivations, and dramatic justification,” explains team coach Chris Sheldon. Sheldon, who teaches US history and performing arts, founded Bancroft’s Speech Team in 2003 and has witnessed incredible growth in the program over the past decade. Together with Pam Sheldon, fellow teacher and spouse, they have nurtured the team from a roster of eight to nearly 40 students, 35 of whom have competed in a tournament so far this year.
“I’m comfortable speaking to people of any age now, which is incredibly helpful in my work.”
- Jordan Ball ’09
Jordan Ball ’09 works in marketing in New York City. Over the past 13 years, team members — who often refer to themselves as Speechies — have realized impressive achievements, winning over 773 individual trophies and fielding 11 state champions, 13 state runners-up, 5 national finalists, and 1 national champion, Marcelo Ferrari ’14, who won in the category of Oral Interpretation of Literature at the 2014 National Catholic Forensic League Tournament. Yet it is not the trophies and titles that Sheldon treasures, but rather the joy and camaraderie that students experience. “The enthusiasm and collective good will within the team, and within the Massachusetts league as well, is truly inspiring.” The unique bond and spirit among the Speechies is apparent in their tournament traditions, which include always taking a serious and a goofy team photo, and always having their mascot, Spanky the Flying Hamster, close at hand. “Spanky’s origins are sort of a long, esoteric story,” says Sheldon. “Suffice it to say he’s been with us for the better part of a decade, and he’s the team’s good luck charm.” College-age Speech Team alumni, not just from Bancroft but from other schools as well, often return to serve as judges at the speech tournaments. Once a Speechie always a Speechie, it seems. For Baird Bream ’06, who helped to establish Bancroft’s inaugural team, the collegiality of the experience stands out. “The sense of community was very special; even in college, when I’d discover someone was a former Speech Team member, I’d immediately know, ‘We’re going to have a great time.’” Bream says the self-confidence gained during four years on the team has proved invaluable as well. “Through 9
storytelling process,” she notes, “which is a skill you hone in Speech. You not only learn to construct a narrative, but also to write well, which is incredibly important.” In fact, Sullivan says, she feels that students who don’t have a chance to compete in Speech miss out. “One of my most important takeaways from Speech Team is that when you put in the work, you get results. I discovered that you can take active steps towards accomplishing a goal, and that’s a lesson that helps me every day.”
Keely Sullivan ’12 interned at the Talk Radio News Service in Washington, DC Speech, I learned to walk into a room filled with strangers and convince them to feel or think in a particular way, a skill that not only helped me when I interviewed for jobs, but also aids me in my work today.” A public policy and English major at Brown University, Bream went on to earn a master’s in public policy at Duke University and now works as a government services consultant at Bronner in Chicago, helping agencies in the public transit sector with operations, performance management, and long-term planning. “As a consultant, I’m constantly asking myself, ‘How can I communicate something meaningful both quickly and effectively?’ Prepping for Speech competitions taught me how to do that.” Boston College graduate Jordan Ball ’09 originally joined the Bancroft Speech Team on a lark, but now recognizes the benefits of the experience almost daily. A graphic designer and marketer for the New York City-based architectural and interiors firm MKDA, Ball regularly finds herself tasked with pitching clients. “My participation in Speech taught me at an early age to interact with people professionally, to speak slowly, and maintain good posture and eye contact,” she says. “It was a big confidence builder—I’m comfortable speaking to people of any age now, which is incredibly helpful in my work.” Syracuse University senior Keely Sullivan ’12 says that she, too, realizes the benefits of her Speech experience. Currently completing a double major in broadcast journalism and French, with a minor in political science, Sullivan plans to pursue a career in political journalism after graduation. “As a broadcast journalist, it’s critical to be able to visualize the 10
“I viewed Speech Team as a form of competitive public speaking and believe it’s something everyone should attempt at least once,” says Guillermo Creamer ’12. “Participating in Speech gives you a leg up at every level—in networking, interviewing, and working.” A senior in international relations at American University, Creamer has served as class president and interned with the mayor’s office in Washington, DC, experiences that required him to draw heavily on the public speaking skills he gained on the Bancroft Speech Team. “The trophies that I earned as a Speechie were nice, but at the end of the day, they weren’t the reward,” he says. “The reward is how I present myself now—the confidence I feel, the comfort I have with public speaking… the person I am today.” Coach Sheldon is gratified by his students’ experiences, but not surprised. He competed in Speech in middle school and high school and also started a team at his previous school in New Jersey. “I knew how much it did for me and how much I enjoyed it, and it seemed like it would be a fun thing to do at Bancroft.”
“One of my most important takeaways from Speech Team is that when you put in the work, you get results.”
- Keely Sullivan ’12
Guillermo Creamer ’12 on the campaign trail in Lima, Peru working to help elect Peru’s first female president Keiko Fujimori.
“My team members became very close friends, as did many of the people we competed against,” says Creamer. “There was always a great deal of support and respect among competitors; in fact, I still network with other Speech participants. We implicitly know one another’s skills and expectations, even if we aren’t familiar with someone’s background or academic credentials.” Bream agrees. “Getting up at 5:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning to spend all day at a Speech competition and returning home with aching feet and so many experiences behind us was incredible. The collegiality and sense of belonging to such a special group was really thrilling—I can’t imagine anything I could have done in high school that would have offered a richer experience.”
Winning Traditions With team mascot Spanky the Flying Hamster front and center, the 2015-16 Speech Team celebrates their phenomenal success at the recent State Speech Tournament Finals: 1st Place in Multiple Reading 3rd Place in Poetry 5th in Children’s Literature 6th in Original Oratory Honorable Mention in Duo Interpretation Double Entry Award
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FOUR
GENERATIONS & a legacy of giving at Bancroft
A major gift from the Stoddards, one of the School’s oldest and most dedicated families, has opened the door to a new phase of capital projects on campus. The $2 million donation comes from the Stoddard Charitable Trust, whose stewarding family includes four generations of Bancroft alumni across almost a hundred years. by Mally Anderson ’06
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Members of the Stoddard Trust: Back row, (l to r): Robert Loring ’82, Justin Fletcher ’89, and Allen Fletcher ’65 Front row, (l to r): Valerie Stoddard Loring ’55, Jennifer King Paradee ’79, Judy Stoddard King ’52, and Warner Fletcher ’63
Established in 1939 by Harry Stoddard, President of the Wyman-Gordon Company, the Stoddard Charitable Trust is one of Worcester’s oldest and most prominent philanthropic groups. Harry’s son Robert W. Stoddard ’23— for whom the Outstanding Community Service award is named—went to Bancroft, as did his wife, Helen Estabrook Stoddard ’22. Their daughters, Judy Stoddard King ’52 and Valerie Stoddard Loring ’55, currently serve on the board of the Trust, and their cousin, Warner Fletcher ’63, is its Chairman. All of their children went to Bancroft, as have several grandchildren; members of the family have also served on Bancroft’s Board of Trustees. The Stoddards’ recent generous donation honors a shared excitement for Bancroft’s current leadership and its plans to improve several aspects of Bancroft’s facilities. Valerie nodded to Head of School Trey Cassidy: “There’s a renewed enthusiasm with our new headmaster and we’re all excited to support Trey. We’re excited about his vision and initiative, and everybody seems to be pleased with the way he’s taking hold,” she said. “We want Bancroft to be the best that it can be.” Valerie’s son Robert Loring ’82, also a current Trustee, agreed, adding that he hopes the gift will “support the vision of the Board and support Trey’s efforts. His energy and leadership are a great gift to the School, and we hope this gift is an inspiration to others to do what they can,” he said. Rob’s own daughters and son have attended Bancroft: Heather ’11, Greg ’13, and current senior Jackie ’16. Rob noted that while his parents and grandparents always led by example in their own philanthropic efforts, he has also noticed that it is a core aspect of his children’s experience at Bancroft. “I think it’s a part of the Bancroft education, to instill the drive and the passion to give back. It was true four generations ago and it’s only strengthened since
then, the way Bancroft teaches students the importance of being good citizens and doing for others,” he said. “At a place like Bancroft, there’s a personal connection between parents, children, faculty, and the administration that is not found as easily in larger institutions,” Warner Fletcher added. Though of course Bancroft has grown and changed since his grandparents’ day, each generation of Stoddards has been keen to give back to the School. “Everybody on the Trust had good experiences at Bancroft, and that certainly factored into the decision to give this grant. That’s the way giving works—if your heart is in the organization that is asking for help, it’s easier to dig a little deeper,” he said. The Stoddard Charitable Trust has a long history of philanthropy across the Worcester community, where many members of the family continue to live. “The focus, by agreement of the Trustees, is very much on the city of Worcester and its surrounding towns. We support cultural and educational organizations and social service agencies,” Warner noted, including the Worcester Art Museum, WPI, Quinsigamond Community College, ArtsWorcester, and the Boys & Girls Club, among many others. Warner estimates that in its 75-year history, the Stoddard Charitable Trust has donated over $5 million to Bancroft; this recent gift is by far the largest. An earlier gift in 1994 was an integral part of the Second Century Campaign, which included major renovations to what is now the Stoddard Center. The building was dedicated in 1995 in recognition of the family’s loyalty to the School. That loyalty, each family member was quick to note, stems from their own fond memories of their time at Bancroft and the ties they formed here. As Valerie said, “I’m always saying to my kids, I sometimes wish I could start over because I just love school! And that started at Bancroft.”
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Photo by Karla Cinquanta
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What’s behind the
steps ahead? The time is right for a substantial leap forward and Bancroft has bold plans to keep our School in the vanguard of independent education. The mechanisms, methods, and pedagogy that define an excellent education have evolved throughout Bancroft School’s history, but never as dramatically or as quickly as in recent years. All excellent schools must work to keep pace with change...
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“The steps we’re taking today to restructure the school’s program, facilities, and finances will prepare our students to adapt and flourish in a world of complex, global challenges.” — Roy Gillette Head of Upper School
For Bancroft, keeping pace is not enough. We have always
Facilities, and Finance). The response from these corner-
been in the forefront of educational advancement. Our
stones of Worcester’s philanthropic world was tremendous.
goals and mission remain steadfast, but the world is changing and certain facts are inarguable: Students will need to be critical thinkers, innovators, problem-solvers, negotiators, and collaborators to
A magnificent boost came in the form of a $2 million pledge from Worcester’s Stoddard Charitable Trust, giving School leaders reason to rejoice and reflect. “An early gift of this magnitude is a tremendous vote of confidence in the
adapt and flourish in our global economy.
School’s vision. It was a game-changer,” said Trey Cas-
Meaningful, inquiry-based and project-based learning
The Alden Trust, The Ellsworth Foundation, and The Fuller
provides genuine value and relevance to keep today’s
Foundation gave us the momentum to move forward with
students fully engaged in their learning.
greater certainty that our initial goals were sound and the
sidy. Additional generosity from The Fletcher Foundation,
support would be there. With confidence and excitement Classrooms and schedules must offer the flexibility
for the steps ahead, the School took the prudent step of
to support new methods of interdisciplinary teaching
seeking outside expertise in each of the three areas:
and learning. Our buildings and campus must reflect the high
Program — A scheduling consultant to help us determine how to best structure our days to meet
standards of Bancroft School and its connection to
educational goals.
the Worcester community.
Facilities — A master planning firm to assess the
Empowering these broad advances will require significant attention to three interconnected aspects of Bancroft School: Program, Facilities, and Finance. We find ourselves in a unique moment of opportunity. The strategic initiatives of Vision 2016 are in place, the economy is rebounding, we’re seeing positive trends in enroll-
need for new construction and optimize the use of existing spaces.
Finance — A campaign consulting firm to conduct a preparedness study to determine which projects will resonate with our community and gain traction for philanthropic support.
ment, and we have a stable, dedicated School leadership
The scheduling consultant completed a comprehensive
team. It is time to make some bold and necessary moves.
analysis that included interviews with dozens of Bancroft faculty, administrators, and parents to develop a deep
Laying the Groundwork
knowledge of our mission, goals, and priorities. Grounded
This fall, we turned to some of Worcester’s major charitable
experience, he tailored concrete recommendations for
organizations, seeking advice on a potential capital 16
campaign to advance the three critical areas (Program,
in research-based best practices and extensive real-world Bancroft that we are evaluating and expect to enact in the coming school year.
Architectural renderings of the planned renovation of the 100 Shore Drive athletic building, the first of several facilities enhancements to come.
We have narrowed the field of master planning candidates to determine the best fit for our needs, and hired a campaign consulting firm to work with Chief Advancement Officer Tobey Fossey to evaluate and define the scope of our capital campaign.
Getting a Head Start The School has already addressed some of the immediate physical needs and opportunities that didn’t require an in-depth study to determine their value. The 1950sera heating system and boilers have been replaced with modern, energy-efficient systems. We have installed new, brighter, more efficient outdoor lighting, as well. And we
With an expected completion date of Fall 2016, the field house project is the first piece of a long-term plan that will help us create a nimble, adaptable campus. This early capital project will reflect the quality of the work we plan to have happen across campus.
are renovating the 100 Shore Drive athletic building into a
As Bancroft prepares to launch its first capital campaign
modern field house and flexible-use space at the eastern
in more than 15 years, we are grateful to the many people
edge of our campus.
who help guide our decisions and make opportunities
Purchased from the YMCA in 2008 because of its future expansion potential, the building at 100 Shore Drive has since been used mainly as a rental space for community sports leagues. Renovation of this building provided such a clear value proposition for our students and the
possible. We cannot predict the future, but through an informed, judicious, and inclusive process, we can work together to build and fund forward-thinking programs and flexible spaces that will support student-centered, mission-aligned learning for years to come.
community that the Board of Trustees unanimously
If you’d like to get involved or learn more contact
approved the project.
Tobey Fossey (tfossey@bancroftschool.org). 17
MAY 13 & 14, 2016 Join us in congratulating four distinguished members of the Bancroft community on their selection as the Bancroft School Alumni Award Recipients for 2016. Learn more about Bancroft’s Reunion 2016 at: bancroftschool.org/reunion
PATRICIA R. CONDON
ROBERTA JOSEPHS PRADA ’56
ALICIA C. ARINELLA ’96
JESSICA C. ARINELLA ’94
Looking back at the sequence of events that led Pat Condon to over five decades of service to Bancroft, it seems that she was destined to be an integral part of the fabric of the School. A graduate of a private school, Pat learned early on the value of independent school education. She was drawn to Worcester by Clark University, where she received her undergraduate degree, and was hired by Headmaster Wye Garfield, thus beginning her 32-year teaching tenure at Bancroft.
Throughout her career, Roberta Prada has devoted herself to the furtherance of excellence in the performing arts, especially classical singing. As a contralto, Roberta has sung in Europe, the UK, South America, and North America in leading roles in operas, concerts, and recitals. She has been a co-author or translator on several books, including the English adaptation of The Ear and The Voice by Alfred A. Tomatis, J. Faure’s The Voice and Singing, and the first volume of Opera and its Characters.
During her 16 years in film, TV, theater and new media production, Alicia Arinella has worked for companies including New Line Cinema, Playhouse Disney, Nickelodeon, and NBC. After filming her documentary, Interval, during her senior year at Bancroft, Alicia founded On the Leesh Productions in 1999. With On the Leesh, Alicia produced the first works of many notable talents including Justin Spitzer (NBC’s The Office), Jenna Bans (ABC’s Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy), and Sex and the City writer, Liz Tuccillo.
Jessica Arinella studied theater at Northwestern University where she was directed by industry heavyweights such as John Logan and Rosemary Harris, and graduated with an Excellence in Theatre Award. Since then, she has worked steadily on the New York stage including Off Broadway with indie legend Mark Margolis and Tony Award winners Frank Wood and Geoffrey Nauffts.
Throughout those years, Pat ensured that all of her students (500 plus fifth-graders) were armed with the skills they needed to face the rigors of Middle School. Her time at Bancroft was full and rewarding—she created project-based Central Subject curricula; received a Fargo-Gauthier Grant; chaired the United Way Campaign and more. It’s no surprise that she was awarded the Isa Bayon Bowl for “sowing the seeds of a lifetime” from her Bancroft colleagues.
Roberta is also trained in Neurolinguistic Programming and Tomatis Audio-Psycho-Phonology, and has developed audio/visual training programs for speakers, actors, and singers.
Retiring in 2000, Pat has remained an involved member of Bancroft and is considered one of our most valuable ambassadors. She is a familiar face at school events, and a dedicated volunteer. As Chair of the Bancroft Fund for grandparents since 2011, she engages fellow grandparents and has significantly increased their support. She extends her time beyond Bancroft as well, to the greater Worcester community utilizing her energies to support several area organizations.
Roberta’s activities as a Bancroft student foreshadowed the career path she would later follow so successfully — she was a member of Madrigals, performed as Edith in Pirates of Penzance, and served as President of the Glee Club. She later went on to graduate from Wellesley College, and studied in Buenos Aires at Teatro Colon’s Instituto Superior de Arte, where she began her singing career.
The Milton P. Higgins (1918) Award for Distinguished Service to Bancroft School
Pat and her husband Gerry are grandparents to current students Ben ’24, and Chris ’19, and parents of alumni Rebecca ’86 and Jim ’83.
The Esther Forbes (1907) Award for Distinguished Professional Achievement
In 2012 Roberta collaborated with Grammy-winning composer J. Ralph’s studio, Rumor Mill, performing her first voiceover in a TV commercial featuring The Drinking Song from La Traviata — a project she deemed “great fun.”
Today, Roberta lives in New York City. Retired from Vocal Images Inc., a non-profit dedicated to preserving the wisdom of master teachers and scholars, she continues to work on a program that combines foreign language learning with classical music.
The Young Alumni Achievement Award
Alicia has produced 11 short films and two features that have screened at over 30 film festivals worldwide, including Cannes. Alicia has also produced theater projects with artists including Casey Affleck, Bobby Cannavale, and Kerry Washington, and is producer, director, and editor of three acclaimed comedy web series including The Sexually, winner of an Outstanding Achievement Award for Comedy. The alwaysbusy Alicia helps out with props at NBC’s Today Show and Late Night With Seth Meyers and guest lectures at The New School. Alicia received a Humanitarian of the Year award for her work on the What You Can Do video series (see below).
The Young Alumni Achievement Award
Jessica’s numerous film and TV credits include Law and Order, Rescue Me, and The Pink House. She is currently starring as Dr. Catherine Santoro on ABC’s The Family with Joan Allen. Working with her sister at On the Leesh, Jessica has starred in over 15 productions including What are the Odds?, which was selected for the 2006 Cannes Short Film Market. Jessica plays the title character in the On the Leesh web series The In-Betweens of Holly Malone, and stars in The Sexually and In the Can. Jessica was nominated for a Heart of Green Award for her work on the What You Can Do series, and was chosen to share her work at Vidcon, one of the web video industry’s premier events.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
A Humanitarian Video Series by Jessica and Alicia Arinella After her mother’s death, Jessica was inspired to create the On the Leesh video series titled What You Can Do, spotlighting easy ways to help change the world in as little as one minute. Since the series premiered in 2009, Jessica, Alicia, and their team have produced nearly 500 What You Can Do videos, working with leading non-profits from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, to the Worcester County Food Bank. What You Can Do has millions of fans on social media who have rallied to help fund 500 free mammograms, raise $57,000 for shelter pets, protect the rainforest, and provide hot meals for 1,000 hungry New Yorkers. What You Can Do videos have won awards, been nominated for Best Educational Series and Webby Awards, and been screened worldwide. Find out more about the series at: www.whatyoucando.com.
Class Notes 1937
This woodcut by artist and educator, Barbara Petter Putnam ’72, is displayed in the Upper School in anticipation of her presentation of “Art, Science, and The Arctic” on Earth Day in April.
Alumni Connections Scattered throughout this edition of the Bulletin are examples of Bancroft’s alumni engaged with the School and its students. Whether inviting students to the bakery to learn the art of the croissant (Alexis Kelleher ’08), to giving a private tour of the exhibits at the MFA to fellow alumni (Tom Michie ’74), to becoming a Class Secretary (Michael Chang ’96), or offering advice about career choices (Alex Heinricher ’09), giving back to the School can happen in many ways. We hope you remember that being a member of Bancroft’s community extends beyond your time on campus, and continues throughout your lifetime. Stop by for a visit, participate in Reunion, share your expertise with students, share our posts on Facebook, join the Alumni Council—the list is endless.
Katharine Hobson Sturtevant: “I attended Bancroft from sub-primary through 5th grade. We left Worcester in 1930 and moved to Cincinnati, OH, where I attended Miriam Titcomb’s school Hillsdale for grades 6 through 9. Then, I attended boarding school at Chatham Hall, Chatham, VA for grades 10 through 12. After graduating in the class of 1937, I attended Smith College, class of 1941. In my house at Smith was Elizabeth Forbes (Davis) from my class at Bancroft. I have lived in Amherst, MA, Brunswick, ME, Philadelphia, PA, Haddon Heights, NJ, Buffalo, NY, and Kansas City, MO with my clergyman husband and 4 children (2 boys and 2 girls). I am now living at The Village at Duxbury, a widow. Two of my children live in New York City, one in Pennsylvania, and one in Lansing, MI.”
1942 Martha Lowell Densmore: “Greetings from an
‘oldy’ who can’t report anything newsworthy except that I am still living near the handsome campus that we never occupied as students. Being in one’s 90’s does limit one’s ability to be useful. My husband Bill slipped away in 2013 after nearly 60 great years together but I have 3 supportive kids and 4 grandkids. I admire this generation’s work ethic, care and concerns for our world’s needs. Bancroft School has done admirably! Myself, Harry Dewey and Peter Morgan continue to warm the memories of Class of ’42 in Worcester.”
1946 70th May 13 & 14, 2016 Nancy Holmstrom Oakes: “Hard to believe that it will be 70 years this June since I graduated from Bancroft! I have been living in Holden for many years,
and during some of that time I taught school—mainly in the first grade. Great fun! My wonderful daughter also went into a teaching career. Very happy to see Bancroft such a vital part of the Worcester area and beyond.” Phoebe Ann Davis Freeman: “I feel old! I’m
87 now and still drive and bowl. I was Class of 1946, and it seems so long ago. I’m in touch with Sally Gooch Paynter ’51 in New York City. Best to all.”
1947
Joy Anderson Nicholson PO Box 128, Grafton, MA 01519 Nancy Seder Parritz: “I have sad news to report.
My beloved husband Harold of 61 years passed away on June 2, 2015. We miss him terribly, but have 3 wonderful sons and their families and their presence helps so much. Hope all is well with all of you!”
1949
Alison Alton Robb nature@cape.com
1951 65th May 13 & 14, 2016
1954
Brad Gooch bradgooch1@gmail.com
Notes from Class Secretary Brad: Little news from you ‘54’s, so it must be that most of you are terrifically busy and enjoying life to its fullest. Bravo for you all and do let us know what filled your time so wonderfully for the next issue of the Bulletin. In January, Jan Bjork and Karl ’52 reported they were heading to Florida... “After stopping at the Atlanta
Giving Participation in the Bancroft Fund is another way to be connected to the School— every gift truly makes a difference. Consider honoring your Reunion Class, a teacher, or our students and help us reach our $500,000 goal by June 30, 2016: bancroftschool.org/giving
Keep in Touch Submit Class Notes: Class Notes and
photos may be sent to your Class Secretary or directly to Bancroft at: alumni@bancroftschool.org
In our attempts to limit mail, we will request Class Notes by email for the classes of 1950 to present. Please be sure we have your email address!
ABOVE: 70th reunion for the Class of 1946, shown here in their freshman year. RIGHT: 1949 classmates, Alison Alton Robb, Ann Brown O’Connell, and Nina Heald Webber met last fall on Cape Cod for lunch and “catching up on our long lives. We were the Class of ’49 at Bancroft and we are amazed at our longevity. Still having fun, hope you all are, too.”
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Class Notes Gift Show...and going on a cruise out of Tampa with some friends who live in Sun City Center. We’re looking forward to great entertainment, nice food, and warm weather!” Hope you enjoyed your trip. Meredith Fernald Richardson: “Ted
Richardson ’57 and I are still happily living in our ancient home in Westborough. Both still active, he does total maintenance of our two homes, and I am still puttering as a semi-retired Mary Kay Cosmetics Sales Director. Imagine! We love our life and think of old friends, like Derry Taylor and [the late] Gordon Heald very often!” Ginger Rice Carothers: “Our family spent a
delightful Christmas on Anna Maria Island on Florida’s west coast [popular state for ’54’s]. Lots of sun and beach time. It was blissfully uncrowded. Back on the Cape in January, four maladies decided to attack me during a three-week period, so I was confined. Definitely restored to good health now. In April I will be travelling for a month to a part of the world I have never been. More when I return.” [So suspense on that destination until the next time!!] And from me, Brad: “Mary and I must be nuts. After vowing Not to go on any more trips after that exhausting one to Croatia, we have just signed on to another W&L-sponsored one to Iceland for a week’ s cruise and excursions. All we can say in our defense is that the ‘land of fire and ice’ has been on our Bucket List forever, so off we go before it is too late. I am also working on a Bucket List project involving a professional singing group, some BCG compositions, a Master Class and a church service. If I can pull this off, you will hear about it wayyy down the road. And that’s it from your classmates and from your Humble Secretary. I look forward to hearing from lots more folks for the next edition!
1955 Patricia Ramsdell Austen writes, “Our 60th
reunion at the Worcester Art Museum was a small but enthusiastic group. We enjoyed a very pleasant luncheon and a wonderful tour of the museum with Val Stoddard Loring. I strongly recommend that more of our classmates sign up for the next reunion. Liz Buckley Kubik and I drove to Worcester together, reminiscing about our days at Bancroft and getting caught up with each other’s lives. On the home front, my husband Jerry is still working full-time at MGH, at age 86; I volunteer at MGH, chairing the Art and Archives Committee and am also involved with the MGH Museum of Medical History and Innovation. Our 10 grandchildren range from age 5 to 15 and are a huge joy in our lives. Eight of them are in the Boston area and two are in Los Angeles. Our oldest son, Karl, is an entertainment lawyer in LA. Jay is Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive surgery and the Surgical Burn Unit at MGH. Christopher is managing director of a private equity firm and Elizabeth is a physician at MGH, specializing in neuroendocrinology. They all keep us on our toes!”
1956
Sally for her years of volunteering and dedication to the Class. Anyone interested in taking over the position, please contact Lynn at alumni@bancroftschool.org.
1957
Betsy Glass Engvall appleby1939@gmail.com
1958
Martha Coes Thayer marthav260@aol.com Judy Jacobs Hall: “I’m doing well, enjoying the Northwest, gardening, reading, taking care of 7 cats! My husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s but still keeps active with ham radio, making contacts around the world. We take care of each other and appreciate every day.”
1959
Judith Phillips Jarmer jejarmer@yahoo.com
Philip Kinnicutt leafishing@aol.com
1960
60th May 13 & 14, 2016 Exciting news for the Class of 1956 as Bobbie Josephs Prada has been named the recipient of the 2016 Esther Forbes Award for Distinguished Professional Achievement. She will be presented the award at the 60th Reunion celebration on May 14! We hope you’ll be able to attend to cheer on Bobbie. In other news, Sally Poor McHenry is working on writing her next novel and has graciously resigned from the position of Class Secretary. We would like to thank
Rev. Christina Gummere Laurie preacherpoet@comcast.net Katrine Tyler Biddle and Christina Gummere Laurie shared two days of skiing in late
January at Okemo Mountain in Vermont through the Cape Cod Ski Club.
Barbara Hahn Roberts: “My husband Arthur
and I continue to sail our 27 ft. Vancouver sailboat during the summer. So far in the course of 10 years we have been to Turkey, Greece, France, Italy, Spain, England, Belgium and The Netherlands. This coming Class of 1956 in 2006
ABOVE: Many of the Class of 1956 at their 50th Reunion in 2006 now celebrate their 60th in 2016. TOP LEFT: Pat Ramsdell Austen ’55, husband Jerry and their 10 grandchildren. BOTTOM LEFT: Ginger Rice Carothers ’54 enjoying a ride with the top down in her 1965 Mustang. Her late husband Andy bought the car new and received a letter from Lee Iacocca congratulating him on his purchase.
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Class of 1961 in 2011
ABOVE LEFT: Congratulations to Zelda Jacobson Schwartz ’57 and husband Paul for medaling at the New Balance Road Race in Palm Desert, CA. TOP RIGHT: Class of 1961 at the 50th Reunion. Let’s see if we can get a group together for the 55th Reunion in May. BOTTOM RIGHT: Dick Piper ’60 continues to travel, and remembers fondly a British Columbia camping trip with buddies in the 60s.
summer we plan to sail from The Netherlands to the Kiel Canal and make it to the Baltic. In November we celebrated my father’s 99th birthday in Oakham. He is still living independently, taking care of his house, a vegetable garden and two rescue horses. He is a widower but has many, many friends. Our two children and our six grandchildren are well; one is already in college majoring in music. The others are following suit...everyone is playing instruments except for the 7-year old but he wants to play the drums...almost all of them are big into competitive sports. I am trying to improve my musical playing as well. I am volunteering in Worcester in the arts curating art shows and doing some art myself. Ten years of art classes at the Worcester Art Museum may be beginning to pay off...LOL...well not really if you think in terms of money. I love the artist community. We also work with the unemployment action group, work the telephones for a national candidate, stand peace vigil in Lincoln Square, support the Center for Nonviolent Solutions and occasionally attend the Pleasant Street Quaker meeting.” Richard Piper: “My wife Ann and I continue to travel abroad twice a year. Last year we went to Finland and Stockholm. It was the first time I had been back to Stockholm since the mid-60’s when, fresh out of college, I lived there for two years—many memories. In the fall, we spent two very enjoyable and interesting weeks in Morocco.”
1961 55th May 13 & 14, 2016
1962
Pamela Kinnicutt Motley pamelamotley@msn.com
Notes from Class Secretary Pam: Steve Kressler is in the process of moving to Arizona to be closer to his daughter and grandchildren, but still commutes back and forth to Worcester. He is still teaching at UMass Isenberg Graduate Business School. He also continues to run his operations consulting business, so is not quite ready to quit yet. He sends his regards to “Pierpont.” Sue Goldthwaite Graham loves her life in
Tennessee. She still works at National Health Care as a Compliance Specialist, responsible for background checks on all their employees throughout the country. She has the most beautiful group of lady friends, who get together for day trips, games days and just plain having fun. She also plays in a Bocce Ball league, and is captain of her “Fab Four” team.
Dick Pierpont retired at the end of 2015, and was
SO looking forward to not going to work. His wife Leslie expects he will be playing golf 24/7. He still rows his scull on early, calm mornings with a swim afterwards. Leslie sold her 15-year-old business, Native and Uncommon Plants, to a young couple who are taking it to the next level. Dick and Leslie are enjoying their twin grandsons, born last May.
Jane Goldthwaite MacIntosh is enjoying her free time on Cape Cod, working out at the gym 4-5 days per week, playing golf, traveling, and of course enjoying their two daughters and families. Babysitting 5 grandchildren keeps them active and young at heart. In late August she and husband David took an Alaskan land/sea cruise that was a dream come true. They hope to meet up with Sandy Bicknell and his family in Juneau, but he was in Grafton when they were in Juneau. Lisa Johnson and I have long telephone
conversations every few months, and have much enjoyed reminiscing about growing up in Worcester, including many memorable events with friends and family. We each have quite a collection of old newspaper clippings that we have kept over the years and shared with one another. I [Pam] spent a wonderful week on Nantucket last September, staying with Ted Bent and Rebecca, who were most hospitable. It is a truly unique spot, and I had spent little time there since my Heywood grandparents had their summer house on the island. I moved into my new apartment on November 1st, with my house sale closing in December. In November I had what was supposed to be routine cataract surgery, where something went very wrong, leaving me in limbo (and great discomfort) about my vision for a few days, until they performed extensive retina surgery to rectify the problem. I am happy to say I finally have my new glasses, the vision in that eye is better than ever, and the surgeons do not want to see me for one year. Luckily, the other eye is not in need of attention yet, although they assure me that there is no reason to fear the same problem. Now as the snow falls and the
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Class Notes wind blows, I do not have to worry about plowing my driveway or snow on the roof. My apartment is warm and snug, and someone else worries about shoveling out my front door. I am enjoying being a tenant at this stage of my life.
1963
Charlotte Millard Harrington cwharrington4@comcast.net Charlotte Millard Harrington: “As I reflect
back on ‘Foundations Laid’ as it says in our Alma Mater, I realize a Bancroft education offers so much to its students in theater, arts and sports, both educationally and psychologically. As graduates, we can share what we learned/did/experienced at Bancroft, with our work, family and maybe even future students. My Bancroft education has helped me in many terrific ways, including leadership jobs I held with non-profit organizations. Here is a bit of BRAG from me. As Captain of the Greys at Bancroft, I played lots of basketball, which has even helped me as grandmother to one of my granddaughters, Cailin. I encouraged her to play, and even played basketball with her a bit. Recently, as a senior at Westwood High School, her team won the Junior National Championships and was recruited by six colleges, as she is not only a great team player, but also a great student. Cailin plans to attend Tufts University in the fall. Knowing the success of my classmates of 1963 lets us all know that Bancroft School started our lives so well.”
1966 50th May 13 & 14, 2016 Cynthia O. Kaltsas cynthiaolympia@yahoo.com
“Last entry before our much anticipated 50th class reunion! I couldn’t be more excited. Most of us have made our arrangements, secured our lodgings and are
ready for the Worcester Club dinner. Is the Worcester Club ready for us? One thing I am sure of... We are about to ‘ bring it’ Worcester will never be the same. Since many of us will be leaving sometime on Saturday afternoon and miss the dinner dance festivities, Lynn has suggested that we all take advantage of an intimate private breakfast at Bancroft on Saturday morning where we can all gather together on Shore Drive for what may be the last time and say our ‘adieus’ to each other and to our wonderful alma mater, Bancroft School.” Addendum note from Bancroft: If you haven’t already planned to attend, it’s not too late. And although many are leaving town on Saturday, those in the 50th Class who are in town are invited to join us for the Reunion Awards Dinner as well. And, remember you will always be welcome to visit Bancroft for years to come.
1967
M. Valentine Callahan Valentine.callahan@gmail.com
Elizabeth Young fdlcamp@aol.com
1969
Hester Kinnicutt Jacobs djacobs@midrivers.com
Notes from Class Secretary Hester: Sarah Garfield Berry continues to have a busy life. She still works full time at Wells Fargo Advisors in Worcester, with a great team she developed; work feels like play and she loves what she does. There are 8 grandchildren in their lives that descend on Cuttyhunk which they love, along with their parents. It is like seeing what the experience was for us in our youth! She thoroughly enjoys being a Selectman on Cuttyhunk, and her mother and siblings all are there for the summer. Allen is ever productive working the land, woodworking, consulting and enjoying the little ones. We have been lucky in our families. Martha Johnson Hertzberg dances now two hours a night to be in a real show in March and her
older daughter Anne is due with a baby boy on June 4th. First boy in her family in decades! Also, she is still working in Wayland, MA teaching art, music and all foreign languages! Sending her best to everyone from class of 69! Joan Wandrei Gong writes: “My father passed
away in January, just 5 short months after my mother. They were married for 66 years. I’m busy with volunteer Medicare counseling and volunteer income tax preparation - as well as lots of Jazzercise.”
Lisa Piehler just retired after 23 years as executive
director of the American Red Cross of Central MA. She is visiting her son, his wife and her 2.5 year old grandson in Taiwan. She is planning to walk the El Camino de Santiago/the Way of Saint James pilgrimage in Spain in September and also plans to clear trails for the local land trust, volunteer for New England Public Radio and Worcester Chamber Music Society. She has a part time job as a “standardized patient” for the UMASS Medical School students. She also plans to do all the activities she hasn’t had time to do during her career in Red Cross. She truly is looking forward to a fun retirement.
Elizabeth Knowlton is still in Maine, still the
innkeeper at the Inn at Bath. She reports, “Bath is a great town in a beautiful part of the world. Come visit, I’m not going to be here forever, people!” And if you want to run a B&B when you retire, have a mid-life crisis, or just feel you are ready for a change, let her know! Meanwhile, she just returned from a visit with Susan White McChesney in Ashville, NC, and is going to spend a week in Southern Arizona with Betsy Hall Nordell in March. Old friends who know us, our families, and our stories are the best! And from me, (Hester): Joan, our deepest sympathy for your loss. I remain busy with my position on the Musselshell County Council on Aging Board. This is my 3rd term and I will stay until we get a new senior center. The good news is we should be moving into a new facility next year. I have been working on this project
LEFT: Basketball is in the family: Captain of the Greys, Charlotte Harrington ’63, and granddaughter Cailin whose high school team won the Junior National Championship. MIDDLE: Let’s see how many of the Class of 1966 will return to Shore Drive to recreate this photo for the 50th Reunion! RIGHT: Lisa Piehler ’69 visited with Susan White McChesney ’69 in North Carolina. Says Sue, “Lisa caught the magic of these mountains too!” (This photo was originally printed in the last Bulletin and incorrectly captioned ~our apologies.)
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for 9 years. I remain the secretary/treasurer of our local volunteer fire department. Plans for the future include getting together with Betsy Hall Nordell in Helena, MT in March, and a road trip with my daughter and her 2 children to Frankenmuth, Michigan for a wedding in May. Sarah’s note about Cuttyhunk brings back memories of my visit there when I was a lot younger and summering on Cape Cod. I also noticed on Facebook that Martha is enjoying her granddaughter Maddy. I think Lisa and I may have children and grandchildren the farthest away, hers in Taiwan and mine in New Zealand.
1970
Debra Jones D’Alessandro djdmen@yahoo.com Elizabeth Densmore: “Inspired by my mother’s
example, here’s an update from me: I have launched yet another career—as a college professor, teaching social entrepreneurship at Pepperdine University in Los Angeles. I try to get back to Worcester for visits with my Mom, Martha Lowell Densmore ’42, pretty regularly. Having rolled past my 36th wedding anniversary while my brother and sister celebrated their 34th and 30th respectively, I am very grateful that we are all in good health, do work that we love and have lots of fun together. We do not look forward to losing ‘Algonquin Hotel’ but dream of finding a family that will carry its ‘karma’ forward when my Mom leaves. Any takers?”
Maggie Richardson McGirr: “I was sorry to
miss the Bancroft Reunion last year. I was in the same graduating class as the honored alumna, Dr. Tia Higano, a specialist in prostate cancer at a Seattle hospital. David and I have a daughter who lives and works in Seattle and it would have been fun to share notes on that delightful city. I think there were only 25 of us in the class of 1970 but I’m not sure because, sadly, I have lost my copy of the Blue Moon! Betsy Densmore and I arrived together in 10th grade
from a great three years at Forest Grove Jr. High. My cousin, Gay Peterson, was with us for 10th grade and then went off to Northfield. We are still in touch at Christmastime. Steve White was our wonderful English teacher. We were in very good hands, although many of the others who guided us, Mr. Gauthier, Mr. Garfield, Mrs. Norwood, and Pikie, have now died The upper school was all girls and we wore a uniform; a white blouse and a plain gray pleated skirt that wasn’t awful but wasn’t great either. The blazer was pretty grim but we didn’t have to wear it too often. I loved all things musical and theatrical. Jean Davis directed the Glee Club. In preparation for the Spring Choral Festival in Hartford every year, we had fall and spring mixers with Pomfret (a rehearsal followed by dinner and a dance) so that we could hear how the choral work we were to perform sounded with tenors and basses before we showed up for the final performance at the festival. Mrs. Marsters and Bill (can’t remember his last name) put together the spring musicals. What fun they were. I was in Pajama Game (sang a song with my geometry teacher, Mr. Mottram) and Oklahoma. David and I lived in London and Toronto and have been in Greenwich, CT for the last 25 years. We have four children, all now out of college. They went to day school here. Our son was at Brunswick School, class of 2001 and our daughters, were at Greenwich Academy, classes of 2003, 2005 and 2007.”
1971 45th May 13 & 14, 2016 Sarah Callahan Lenis sclenis@aol.com
Wendy Jane Rickles wendyrickles@gmail.com
Seniors in the Class of 1971 will be celebrating their 45th Reunion in May!
1972
Jo Herron Truesdell thehats@aol.com
David Nicholson davidnicholson@endeavorproducts.com
Notes from Class Secretary Jo: Yaniyah Pearson wrote in to say that she is still enjoying living in New York’s Hudson Valley where she trains educators and performs as well. Yaniyah noted that Bancroft played a great hand in shaping the person she is today and the way she approaches community, noting that the Class of ‘72 worked hard to establish a sense of community, both at school and beyond. Yaniyah and her partner Aleah Long produced a CD, En Full Circle a Shamanic Journey. Yaniyah is featured on “Icaro”, and notes that, inspired by Mrs. Davis and Hillary Bath, her Bancroft experiences in Glee Club and The Misfits planted solid seeds. Check out her blog, Yaniyah’s Banners and Rants, at yaniyahpearson. wordpress.com. Lynn Hutchins was in Virginia Beach and New
York City between Thanksgiving and Christmas, highlights being taking in Michael Flatley’s “Lord Of The Dance: Dangerous Games” and seeing The Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall.
Barbara Petter Putman brought a group of
St. Marks students to the mountain village of LaTournelle, Haiti for a week in January. As she put it, it was “an interesting reversal of ‘service learning’ to be ‘learning service’. … A beautiful country with a rich and troubled colonial history, the people there were so kind to us. It was amazing to see such happiness with so little by way of things we take for granted such as wifi, running water, electricity, and a postal service.” In addition to her work at St. Marks School, Barbara continues with her art work as well, this past summer using the town dump as inspiration for huge prints about what we discard, divided into metals, plastic and ceramic – “such fun,” she notes, “to treat such a jumbled
Return to campus and see how much is still the same, and how much has changed. Celebrate the Class of 1976 40th Reunion on May 13 & 14th.
1976
1971
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Class Notes mess with reverence for their forms and light, in hopes that they will make a good comparison with the landscapes they might hang next to.” When not teaching, Sue Barnard Lamdin is enjoying a relatively mild Maine winter, taking advantage of any snow that does fall to get in some snowshoeing. On the other coast, after celebrating their son Dave Jr.’s wedding to Laura Monroe Will on Cape Cod at the end of August, Suzie and Dave Nicholson scooted across the country to visit Marguerite and Will Graham at Midland School in Los Olivos, California where Will is Headmaster. Dave noted that the students were most impressive – “just like at Bancroft!” Their visit was just in the knick of time as Will is preparing to retire at the end of this year. Maybe Bill Stebbins has some pointers to share with him, as he wrote in to say that, after more than 30 years in the investment and insurance industries, he retired this year. Doing a bit of flyfishing seems to be on his agenda. Sounds good! And, a small note from Adrian Perschak in Switzerland: “Ruth and I are now grandparents for the second time and we’re going to celebrate our Ruby Wedding Anniversary with a big party in June.” Thanks to all who wrote in…and do remember that it’s not too early to start keeping 2017 in mind for reunion! We don’t want to leave anyone out, so be sure to send any updated addresses – both e-mail and snail mail – to me at thehats@aol.com.
1974
Louisa Gebelein Jones ljones@pomfretschool.org Walter Baker “Since July 2015, I relocated to Phoenix, and have been working as Special Advisor at Thunderbird School of Global Management. Just recently, I transitioned into the role of Client Relationship Director where I will be responsible for developing relationships with leading multinational organizations in the Western United States. I am excited to now be able to work with clients in developing internal leadership talent to achieve success in an increasingly global business environment.”
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1976 40th
(didn’t I just get my braces off ?). Hello to the rest of our motley, far flung crew.”
May 13 & 14, 2016
1981
Rodney Ferris
35th
rodneyjferris@gmail.com
May 13 & 14, 2016
John Howe
Don’t let your 35th Reunion pass you by.
jfhowe1@netzero.net
1977
Lauren Shuster abeautifulview.lauren@gmail.com Lauren Shuster: “Much action in my life. We have
moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. My husband, Glen, had been commuting every month for the past 5 years. A one-year contract involving twice a month visits started 5 years ago, and has continued steadily. After his surgeries last winter, I tagged along to help him, every month. His contract has been extended indefinitely, and we decided it makes much more sense to live out here, and travel in to the east coast when friends and family have events. I am also involved in an intensive yoga teacher training program at Kripalu, which I am very excited about, and it takes up a lot of my time, when I’m not packing. I did, however, run into another Bancroft alumnus at the training, Richard Thomas ’81. We had a blast reminiscing about our childhood. There wasn’t much time at the training for socializing, so I’m still amazed that we found out where we both attended school!” Trish Lyell: “I’m still teaching in the Art Department
at Skidmore and still really enjoying it though college students do get younger every year, curiously. My husband, Bob, and I live 20 min. east of Saratoga Springs where we have room for 4-6 chickens (depending on the local fox population) and a large, unruly dog. Bob owns Saratoga Small Craft, a shell repair/small boat building business (if you want a sailing canoe, he’s your guy!). Saratoga has become a major rowing center which works out nicely for him. My sister Wendy will be heading to Worcester in May for her 50TH! Reunion; I am astonished I could have a sibling in that situation but 39 seems unbelievable too
1983
Jim Condon jimcondon@charter.net
Thank you to Steve Gallo for his many years of serving as the Class of 1983 secretary. He created an ’83 Facebook page, and has kept up with contact information, so he leaves the next secretary in good shape to step right into the job. How about you? Email Lynn at alumni@bancroftschool.org.
1984
David Bennett dtbconsulting@metrocast.net
1985
Jessie Boardman Glockner lpjglockner@msn.com
Notes from Class Secretary Jessie: I had a nice e-mail chat with Joshua Alemany in December and was surprised to hear he wasn’t in NY. He writes, “We are living in Barcelona this year. I left my job of 22 years and we decided to take a sabbatical year before jumping into the next thing. So Anabel is in kindergarten here and my wife and I are spending our days exploring Barcelona and learning to live like locals, i.e., moving slowly, eating well and not sweating the small stuff. It’s very decadent and I’m sure re-entry into real life next summer will be tough. But I think it’s been worth the risk.” Amy Groves Heller has returned to school
ministry, serving in her second year as Senior Chaplain at The Episcopal School of Dallas. She and her family still find as much time as possible in Maine each summer because even after 16 years, Amy still can’t handle the summers in Texas.
Wendy Rasnick Sternberg writes, “Sending my first kid to college and wondering where all the time went.”
1986 30th May 13 & 14, 2016 Becca Condon Zieminski rmzieminski@gmail.com
Rob Gray gray@graymediagroup.com
Khurston Ellia-Epple Kellia-epple@unum.com
Another opportunity for the Class of 1986 to get together. Hope you’ll all celebrate your 30th Reunion with us in May. Sadly, we report that Laura Flye Arrendondo passed away on October 9, 2015.
TOP: During Bill Bjork’s ’86 visit to Worcester last fall, he enlisted cousin Sue Hardy Tretter ’82 to show him Bancroft’s campus. Sue’s daughter, Lindsay, graduated from Bancroft last year and her son, Spencer, is a junior, while Bill and his family live in Chicago.
1987 Sandy Steen Bartholomew: “My daughter, Lilah, is in third grade this year—her specialties seem to be math and poking things with sharp sticks (fencing). My son, Alex, has started at Vassar this fall studying music, languages, and science. I’m really proud of both my kids, but I won’t brag about them right now. They are both incredibly proud of me too - I got accepted into a Masters program at the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, Vermont, the best cartooning school in the country! I’d been threatening to go back to school for years. Alex was supportive of the idea as long as I waited till he was out of high school. Lilah was disappointed not to be able to come with me, but she is an excellent art director and we often hold FaceTime conferences where she roughs out sketches for me and warns me what will happen if I ignore her advice. After using up all my tuition money for legal expenses (a rather painful, pointless story I won’t share) I put together a Kickstarter project right before
school started. Phew! I’m doing a blog—kind of like reality TV—about going to cartoon school. Amazing thing is not only are people reading it but they send me money so they can feel like they are doing something risky. You can take a peek here: http://glyphsglitches.blogspot.com Seriously, I love this school, although I am twice as old as anyone else in my class. If you have kids who like to draw comics (or you do?) CCS has fantastic week- long summer camps. And it doesn’t hurt to have Northern Stage theatre right across the street... (I may never go home!)”
ABOVE: A family portrait by cartoonist Sandy Steen Bartholomew ’87. MIDDLE: Joan Moynagh Sholley ’77 and the permanent unofficial 1977 Class Mother, Bargo Fargo in a selfie, taken in Grafton in late February. BOTTOM: 1989 classmates Suzy Klump Guinan and Marie O’Toole Notcheva this past fall at a women’s bible retreat.
MIDDLE: Joshua Alemany ’85 and family experience a year in Barcelona. BOTTOM: Tom Michie ’74 led Bancroft alumni, including classmates Louisa Gebelein Jones and Dick Johnson (right) on a private tour of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in November. Tom, Curator of European Decorative Arts and Sculpture, treated the group to behind-the-scenes stories and a glimpse of his work in the recently reinstalled European galleries and period rooms.
25
Class Notes 1988
Marc Starzyk marc.starzyk@marick.group.com
James Morel james@jamesmorel.com
1989
Liz O’Hearn Galvin lizohearngalvin@gmail.com
Last October, Suzy Klump Guinan and Marie O’Toole Notcheva had the pleasure of speaking together at the Heritage Bible Chapel Women’s Fall Retreat. Suzy has served as a missionary with husband Allan for many years in Africa, and Marie is the author of two books for the biblical counseling market: “Redeemed From the Pit: Biblical Repentance and Restoration from the Bondage of Eating Disorders” (Calvary Press, 2011) and “Plugged In: Proclaiming Christ in the Internet Age” (Pure Water Press, 2015). Greg MacGilpin and Melissa Macomber: Greg and Melissa having been living with their three daughters (Abby age 12, Mallory age 9, and Sydney age 6) just outside of San Jose, Costa Rica for the last five years. Melissa is working as a bilingual yoga teacher (Thank you Señora Bayon!) and Greg is the Director of the Country Day School. In August, the family will move to Beirut, Lebanon for their next adventure, where Greg will be the Director of the American Community School, and Melissa will switch to French to continue her bilingual teaching (Thank you, Madame Puccio!).”
1990
1994
andreab264@gmail.com
abbygilligan524@gmail.com
Andrea Pantos Berger Kerri Aleksiewicz Melley kamelley@hotmail.com
1991 25th May 13 & 14, 2016 Jessica Macomber jessmacomber@hotmail.com
Heather Peret Briere heatherbriere@aol.com Jessica Macomber: I am still up in Maine working
at a residential treatment program for adolescents. Long term plans include a trip back to the greater Worcester area in May for our 25th Reunion—I am looking forward to seeing you all there!”
1992
Eleni Gage eleni_gage@yahoo.com
1993
Alicia Davis Downs awdd@targetpointconsulting.com
Erica Driscoll Ribeiro eldr@hotmail.com
Abby Driscoll Gilligan Chip Sbrogna csbrogna@gmail.com
Congratulations to Jessica Arinella who was selected to receive the 2016 Young Alumni Achievement Award for her work with On the Leesh, and the web series, What You Can Do (if you had one minute to change the world). Jess and sister Alicia ’96 will be presented the award on May 14, 2016 at the Annual Reunion and Award dinner. You’re all invited!
1995
Jennifer Harter Alves jharteralves@gmail.com
Bancroft’s first exchange students from Meaux, France, Virginie Pijoulat Maronnier and Bénédicte Renard remain in touch with Monsieur Gary Mathieu. Writes Virginie, “I went to Bancroft School in 1995 and discovered the beautiful people. I spent six months in Huppert House and six months with the Ball family. I’m still in touch with them. I learned a lot in terms of language, culture and USA life. I have shared special moments with Gary Mathieu who was my tutor. He became godfather to my son, Mathieu. After Bancroft, I finished my studies and for 19 years have been with the police. I have 3 children, Mathieu, Mathis and Robin. I will never forget the wonderful year and I will keep it in my heart forever.” Bénédicte Renard writes, “We are becoming well
ABOVE: Virginie Pijoulat Maronnier ’95 and children. BELOW: Trey Cassidy meets two newly transplanted San Francisco alums, Morgan Holzer ’98 and Sylvia Parol ’10 at a recent alumni gathering in San Francisco.
1991 - Don’t miss your milestone 25th Reunion.
BOTTOM LEFT: Amol Sharma ’96 with wife Sumathi and daughter Naina. BOTTOM RIGHT: Stephen Pokoly ’96 welcomes visitors passing through Dubai where he is now living.
26
LEFT: Dr. Borko Kereshi ’00 and wife Katie with son Leo. TOP: Class of 2001 - Can you believe this was taken 15 years ago? Come to reunion May 13 & 14! MIDDLE: Hanna Kaufman ’03 and Laura Honig ’06. RIGHT: Kiran Patwardhan ’03 and fiancé Gopal prepare for their summer 2016 wedding.
accustomed to our new life in Bavaria. Anne Louise is in the class equivalent to 2nd grade, Arthur is in his last year of Kindergarten, and Mary Lou goes to a nanny a few mornings each week.”
Bancroft tradition in the family.”
1996
2000
20th May 13 & 14, 2016 Michael Chang: “I am still living on the Upper
West Side of Manhattan with my wife, Amy, son Dylan (6) and daughter Natalie (3). Dylan started kindergarten this fall and Natalie is in 3s program. I am staying busy with work and fun weekends full of activities and play dates. I hope to see many of you at our 20th reunion this spring. Contact me at mdjchang@gmail.com”
Stephen Pokoly: “Unfortunately I won’t be able to
attend the alumni event this May, but I just wanted to send a short update to let everyone know that I moved from Cairo, Egypt about two years ago and I’m living in Dubai and still working for Henkel. The relocation was due to our regional office opening in Dubai to be under one umbrella with the rest of our company. I’m in charge of the Sales Operations for our Laundry and Home Care business unit in the Middle East and Africa region. Essentially I’m the guy behind all of our back office systems, processes and tools. I’d be happy to connect with anyone passing through Dubai.” Amol Sharma lives in downtown New York City
and is the media and marketing editor at The Wall Street Journal, where he has worked for a decade. In 2011 he married Sumathi Subbiah, a TV industry lawyer, and they have an 18-month-old daughter, Naina, who is being indoctrinated as a Patriots/ Celtics/Sox fan. He is incredibly proud that his nephews, the Cotten brothers, are carrying on the great
Erica Percival Bliss is living in London and
hoping her relocation back to the states happens in time to make it back for Reunion.
Win Ruml winthrop.ruml@gmail.com
Samantha Welch Zappia welch.sam@gmail.com
Congratulations to Borko Kereshi and wife Katie who welcomed Leo Marin Kereshi on September 26, 2015.
2001 15th May 13 & 14, 2016 Kelly McKallagat Rogers kellyrogers615@gmail.com
Liza Michie Laurent eliza.m.laurent@gmail.com
Notes from Class Secretary Kelly: Well hello again! Just three quick updates this time around, I’m hoping to have more to share after reunion in May. But for now here are the notes: First Sarah Burke who had been living in the greater DC area writes: “Exciting/surprising news! Tom, Alice, Paul, and I have relocated to Ohio, so I can be Director of the Marian Library at the University of Dayton. It’s a chance to step up to a new level professionally. Also important, the kids will live much closer to the in-laws, so lots of grandma and grandpa time. Look me up if you find yourself in Ohio...” I’m hopeful this also means a better commute than is common in the DC area! Next in an effort to make this column seem longer
I’m providing a bit of an update on me (Kelly). In 2013-2014 I worked on issues associated with the conversion of M/V CAPE RAY to destroy Syrian chemical weapon precursors at sea. As you may recall no country wanted to take the precursors and no one wanted to destroy them in country, so the plan became doing it at sea. (It was a complicated issue involving lots of moving parts. I’m happy to discuss the intricacies of it with anyone who cares to know.) For this work I received the Office of the Secretary of Defense Group Achievement award and was also individually awarded the Department of Navy Meritorious Civilian Service award. It was an awesome moment of American ingenuity to be a small part of and it certainly wasn’t a “typical” day in the office for an acquisition attorney, but it was interesting. If there are any aspiring Government lawyers out there, I’m happy to discuss my experiences! Finally, Dave Wright reports: “I started a new job in November at a nonprofit called Groundswell, which helps build local community power by expanding access to clean energy, and am leading their energy efficiency initiatives. I’m living with my girlfriend Gabby in downtown DC and am loving my two-block commute. On the side I’ve been taking Spanish classes and also joined a chorus that performs at the Kennedy Center. Would love to get together with any alums in the area.” Hope to hear lots of great stories coming from reunion! Until then, have a great weekend and stay out of jail. -FH
2002
Rebecca Holden McCullough rebeccahmccullough@gmail.com
Alexis Tumolo Alexis.tumolo@gmail.com
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Class Notes 2003
Ariane Lenis Salmon ariane.lenis@gmail.com
Benjamin Yood jamieyood@gmail.com Kiran Patwardhan reports: “In August I got engaged to an amazing guy. His name is Gopal. He’s from London but has been working here doing MRI research at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston for the past 5 years. We’re getting married this summer at The International in Boston, so pretty much just wedding planning now like crazy. Other than that, I’m coming up on 2 years working at athenahealth on the Product Engagement team.” Diana Desai reports: “Since leaving Bancroft,
I obtained my MD Degree from University of Massachusetts Medical School. I did my first year of residency at the George Washington University in Washington, DC in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology. I then switched to a Clinical Pathology Only Track and finished my Residency at the University of Utah and ARUP Laboratories in Salt Lake City. Finally, I returned to Yale New Haven Hospital where I completed my fellowship in Blood Banking/ Coagulation Medicine in 2015. At last, I am finally an Attending. What’s great is that I was able to reconnect with Bancroft, as Mr. Kondek and I are involved in
planning an Introduction to Medicine Course for the extremely talented Bancroft high school students this summer! Can’t wait to see how it all comes together. I am excited to potentially return to Bancroft as a teacher! In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and traveling. I love visiting Worcester, MA. Hope you all are doing well!”
2004
Jennifer Deprez jennifer.l.deprez@gmail.com
David Slatkin dslatkin@gmail.com
2005
Sarah Allen sarahelliottallen@gmail.com
Hannah Holdstein Hannah.holdstein@gmail.com Dave Gerhardt: “This year, I got married to the best wife I’ve ever had, Lya, and started a new job at Drift, a new startup in Cambridge from two former HubSpot executives. Looking forward to seeing how 2016 can top 2015.” Daniel Greenberg moved from Boston to
Colorado in the fall.
Hannah Holdstein spent a week in December/
January biking, hiking, and rafting across New Zealand (200 km coast to coast!) with 12 of her Wharton
classmates. Hannah will graduate in May and will subsequently be joining an investment bank in NYC with a focus in Healthcare.
2006 10th May 13 & 14, 2016 Mally Anderson mallyanderson@gmail.com
Curtis Reid Curtis27@gmail.com
Vanessa Theoharis vtheoharis@gmail.com Curtis Reid: “Hello everyone! I hope you are all enjoying 2016 so far. I can’t believe it’s been ten years since our class graduated. We are quickly approaching our 10 year reunion (May 13th and 14th!), and as I type this while getting a drink in downtown Boston, I find myself reminiscing about all the great times we had during high school, and at Bancroft in general: Our senior prank “gone wrong”, reading to our book buddies, mandatory assemblies, mountain days, our historical graduation in the blue gym - which is now referred to as something else - and so much more. It almost seems like that was a different world back then, and to be honest, I really miss it. At least a significant portion of it - Hah! But wait, these Bulletin updates are supposed to be about what we are doing now, right? Hm… Well
LEFT: An August 2016 wedding is planned for Meredith Crawford ’06 and fiancé Andrew Scaplen. MIDDLE BOTTOM: Stephanie Ganias and Curtis Reid visited with 2006 classmate Anastasia Exarchos (standing) after her move to San Francisco last year. MIDDLE TOP: Rachael Honig Schnell ’03 and sister Laura Honig ’06 enjoy a break between sets at the US Open in NY. RIGHT: Kym Giacoppe ’05 and Patrick Parker married in New York on June 20, 2015.
28
honestly, I wouldn’t know where to begin. Along with Producing and Acting in independent films, pursuing photography, and continuing my work as a Life Skills coach for people with intellectual disabilities, I have been regularly on the move. I’ve also been fortunate enough to see so many of my friends and Bancroft alumni recently, whether at weddings, out for drinks, or at impromptu reunions, and I am always excited to catch up with my fellow Shoreliners. So instead of boring you all with the useless details about my daily life, I will use this update as a way to encourage our class members from 2006 to attend the 10-year reunion on May 13th and 14th. I am confident that we can garner some great support for our class, and I truly hope for the chance to catch up with as many of you as I can. Find me, reach out, and know that I am very eager to connect with those of you who want to reconnect or catch up. And for those of you who I continue to see regularly, I am so proud to witness first-hand what you guys have accomplished already! It makes me very happy to see my friends and classmates moving successfully on to things that they enjoy and are passionate about. So finally, I wish everyone huge success during 2016, beyond, and look forward to seeing any and all of you who can make the reunion this year. Best of luck to you all and I hope to see you in May for the reunion!” Meredith Crawford: “This past June 2015 I
got engaged to Andrew Scaplen. Although we both attended Union College, in Schenectady, NY, we did not really meet until life after Union, and after several years of dating he snuck me away to Newburyport, MA to enjoy a romantic dinner for two in June. We dined inside the actual light of the Rear Range Lighthouse! We ate overlooking the Merrimack River and entrance to Newburyport harbor during sunset, until he asked me outside onto the catwalk of the lighthouse and proposed! We’re both very excited and looking forward to our August 2016 wedding in Portland, ME.”
2007
Kate Anderson kate.anderson004@gmail.com
2008
Gabe Drapos gdrapos@gmail.com
Alexis Kelleher lexikelleher@gmail.com
From Class Secretary Alexis: I just saw Aidan Payne and he is living in Worcester and working in film. He is headed to New York next week for about a month to work on a film. He is spending the month staying with Tom Killeen, Gabe Drapos, Ellen Vancelette, Al Deliallisi, and Faraan Khan. Talin Avakian sends this update: “Graduated with a BFA in Film/Video from Massachusetts College of Art & Design. I am currently a filmmaker and artist, working on fictional narrative and documentary works, as well as producing commercial videos for the b2b technology industry. I produced a short film Demi Pointe that played in a number of film festivals and won some awards (BIFF ’13 Best Short). I am also the Production Director at a startup video production company in Worcester called Skyscope. I launched a blog The Half Full Mug centered around the idea of living a cozy life, seeing things as “half full” (as opposed to half empty). Follow my journey at: thehalffullmug.com.”
2010
Russell Oliver Sportsfanatic44@yahoo.com
Ali Luthman aluthman@grad.bryant.edu Meg Anderson: “I’m halfway through my second and final year as an Admissions Counselor for Middlebury College, and I have loved traveling around the U.S., meeting prospective students, and helping build Middlebury’s incoming first-year classes. I have yet to determine what I will be doing next, but I’m excited to see where I end up after living in Vermont for the majority of the last six years. On a different note, several members of the Class of 2010 were back in central Massachusetts over the holidays, which allowed for a mini-reunion. with Olivia Angood-Hardy, Alex Buslov, Matt Caron, Nicole Manning, Russell Oliver, and Adam Rosenberg.”
Sylvia Parol: “After spending my entire life living
in the glorious state of Massachusetts, I decided it was time for me to explore a new part of the country. I started working as a Sales Rep for a tech startup called InVision, which allowed me to make the move to San Francisco. I had never been to California before I purchased my one-way ticket, but after only two months here, I know I made the right decision. I’ve been keeping up with DJing in the city as well as continuing to publish my monthly podcast called Silly Syl Radio. I love showcasing new, independent talent—specifically in the genres of hip-hop and electronic music. I hope everyone’s been doing well figuring out their careers and post-grad life!”
Tiffany Soobitsky: “I’m really excited to be starting
a new job within Pratt & Whitney mid-February. I’m moving out of the System Design and Component Integration organization to the Supplier Quality organization, working with suppliers to certify their critical parts through the Production Part Approval Process. I’ll be shifting gears from working with nacelles to working with compressor airfoils (super cool!!!) and hopefully be travelling all over the country and world to visit and certify these suppliers’ parts. I’m amped to be getting closer to the parts and manufacturing floor, and working with suppliers from all around the globe. I’ll be doing this for Pratt’s New Generation Product Family of engines (~50% noise & ~15% fuel reduction) as well as military. Lufthansa is flying around with one model of these incredible NGPF engines and Swiss Air is up next! Exciting times for Pratt and everyone working here. Still living in West Hartford, CT with friends and enjoying every minute of it. Also starting to develop my mom’s green thumb, and have a corner of plants in my apartment that make me smile—2015 was a rollercoaster year, but 2016 is off to a great start! Wishing everyone a wonderful wisdom-filled 2016!”
2011 5th May 13 & 14, 2016 Courtney Ordway courtney.ordway@assumption.edu
Solon Kelleher solon.kelleher@gmail.com
LEFT: Alex Heinricher ’09 visited campus to speak with the US students in the Algorithms and Data Structure class. Alex talked with the students about majoring in computer science, and what the realities of that entail in college and beyond. RIGHT: Talin Avakian ’08 behind the camera at Skyscope.
29
Class Notes
ABOVE: This throwback photo, courtesy of Ayssa Mattei ’13 “in honor of the first Fuller advisory Christmas hound, who passed away on September 17th.”
2012
LEFT: Hannah Lippincott ’13 heads to Hogwarts from the Kings Cross Station in London.
guillermo.creamer@outlook.com
TOP RIGHT: Friends from Class of 2010 had a mini-reunion over the holidays: From top of Pyramid, Meg Anderson, Nicole Manning, Matt Caron, Adam Rosenberg, Olivia Angood-Hardy, Alex Buslov, and Russell Oliver.
Guillermo Creamer
2013
Adrienne Chodnosky
Adrienne.chodnowsky@gmail.com
Eura Myrta Eura.myrta@tufts.edu Amanda Kondek: “I’m currently a junior at Holy Cross and I’m majoring in history and possibly creating my own minor in classical archaeology! Although a lot of juniors study abroad a full year, I spent four jampacked (but absolutely amazing) weeks in London last May while taking a class on British theatre! But back here on the hill I’ve been working just as hard and hoping that this snow will stop eventually!” Hannah Lippincott: “I’m currently a junior at
Hobart and William Smith colleges in Geneva, New York. I’m double majoring in dance and television and new media studies. This spring semester I have started the process of applying for a visa for my second semester of study abroad. I will be studying in Auckland, New Zealand fall of 2016. Before that I studied at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England fall of 2014.”
Alyssa Mattei: “As we all enter our third year at college, I am starting my fall term at my third college. Each September I’ve packed up my bags and moved somewhere new: from Mount Holyoke after high school, transferring to UConn for sophomore year, and now studying abroad at the University of the Arts: London. Although I am looking forward to returning to UConn in the spring, I am currently enjoying all the sights London has to offer. “
2014
Kat Landry klandry@andrew.cmu.edu
Akanksh Chaudhary Akankshc96@gmail.com
2015 30
Interested in becoming the Class Secretary? Please contact Lynn at alumni@bancroftschool.org
BOTTOM RIGHT: Amanda Kondek ’13’s view from the top of Saint Paul’s Cathedral in London.
It’s a Small World When French teacher Flavien Collet went home to France last year he enjoyed a dinner with his family. His cousin brought girlfriend, Cécilia. Near the end of dinner, Flavien mentioned that he started a new position, teaching at a school outside Boston, in a place called Worcester. Cécilia remarked that she attended and graduated from a school in Worcester— Bancroft School! Small world? Oui! Flavien shared this photo when they met again for dinner over the holidays. Left to right: Cécilia Vuillermoz ’02, Natalie and Flavien Collet and cousin François-Xavier Gabelle.
ABOVE: College alumni returned to Bancroft in January to answer questions and give some advice to the Senior class. Participating in the panel: l to r: Karlie Fitzgerald ’12 (Boston University), Katie Oliver ’12 (recent grad of Johnson & Wales), David Kapaon ’12 (Brandeis University), Emory Payne ’14 (Trinity College), and Ivana Lamptey ’15 (Connecticut College).
ABOVE: Class of 2011 celebrating the moment before graduating from Bancroft. Now it’s time to celebrate their 5th Reunion in May. Todd Wetzel ’86 and son Robbie ’13 enjoy a round of golf to support the Partnership.
31
In Memoriam Alumni Susannah Mirick Swihart ’35 March 8, 2015, Falmouth, ME at 97
Susannah was a graduate of Bancroft and Mount Holyoke College. Her career of public service began in the Roosevelt administration’s management intern program, and she went on to work in the first civil planning office in the federal government,and later worked on a project that planned the first interstate highway into Alaska. As WWII unfolded, she went to London on a troop ship, where she staffed the US Mission to the Governments in Exile, living in London during the nightly bombings. At the end of the war, she became one of the very few female US diplomats or foreign service officers. Her first post-war post was Prague. She remembered that it was still unstable, with snipers about, and all too many Russian troops knocking on her door at night. She was later posted to Belgrade, Rome, and Brussels, and over the course of this period and the rest of her travels learned eight languages and always embraced the land and the culture she lived in. She later married Jim Swihart and raised five children. They moved as a family throughout the world and she took to each new adventure as an opportunity. In 1968, the family retired to Casco Village. There, as always, she put her full energies into her family, her garden, her birds, her singing, her closest friends, and the town of Casco. She served on the town’s planning board for many years and led its Comprehensive Planning effort through three cycles. She also put over 40 years in as a lead volunteer and trustee of the Casco Public Library, orchestrating its main fundraiser, the book sale, for many years. She was predeceased by her husband and leaves her 2 sons, 3 daughters and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Judith Crane Miller ’51
August, 2014, Portland, OR at 81 Judith attended Bancroft until grade 10 before leaving for Walnut Hill School. She was a graduate of Oberlin College, and taught piano for 50 years. Judith was an early childhood and special 32
education specialist and was a revered member of her community in Seal Beach, CA. She was an avid traveler, having brought her 3 children up in Southern CA, Rabat, Morocco and Tokyo, Japan.
James G. Bowden III ’51
April 19, 2015, Vero Beach, FL at 81 Jim attended Bancroft until grade 8 and then graduated from Deerfield Academy. He attended Babson Graduate School and served in the U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant. His long career as a business executive led to the purchase of a small business, Miller and Seddon Company, which he owned and operated for over a decade. After retiring to Florida he began a career in real estate. Jim enjoyed sailing and summering on Capitol Island in the Boothbay Harbor Region and served the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club as its Commodore. He also spent time throughout his life teaching youth sailing programs and little league. He leaves his wife of 58 years, Mary, his brother Bob Bowden ’54 and sister-in-law Eleanor Davies Bowden ’56, and 2 children, many grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.
Norris R. Peirce ’53
January 21, 2016, Marlborough, NH at 80 Norris graduated from Bancroft’s 8th grade and then from Governor Dummer Academy and Middlebury College. He worked for more than 30 years with the Charles T. Main engineering firm in Boston. There he oversaw numerous projects throughout the country involving the design, construction and installation of printing facilities for several major publications. Following his retirement, Mr. Peirce summered in New Hampshire at his family’s antique farmhouse, while wintering in Texas where he enjoyed boating, gardening and golf. He is survived by his wife, Linda, sister Priscilla Peirce deVeer ’46, four daughters and their families.
David J. Molloy ’56
December 26, 201 Sun Lakes, AZ at 77 David graduated from Bancroft’s 8th grade and then Worcester Academy and Princeton University. He received his Medical Degree from Yale University in 1964. Dr. Molloy practiced as an OB-GYN in St. Thomas and loved the U.S. Virgin Islands. He is remembered as the surgeon who performed the very first vaginal hysterectomy in the US Virgin Islands.
John M. Buckley ’57
December 13, 2015, Marion, MA at 76 John attended Bancroft until grade 8 then graduated from Worcester Academy, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He earned an M.B.A. from Thunderbird School of Global Management. His career began at High Voltage Engineering followed by Braincon, Black and Webster, MKS Instruments and Buckley Consultants. John’s commitments to the community included serving on Marion’s School, Finance and Conservation Committees. A former commodore and race chairman of the Beverly Yacht Club, he was instrumental in founding the Women’s Racing Program. John was recognized nationally for his race management of major regattas and championships as well as for his own sailing accomplishments. John leaves his wife, Nanna, his children, siblings including Elizabeth Buckley Kubik ’55, and 4 grandchildren.
Virginia Lytle Tilton Sembinelli ’57 December 31, 2015, Plymouth, MA at 76
Ginger graduated from Bancroft and attended Centenary College in NJ before marrying and raising a family with her first husband, Tony Tilton. She took pride in being a full-time mother and dedicated her free time to volunteering for several organizations. When not in central Massachusetts, Ginger enjoyed the Cape where she enjoyed skillfully crafting and later patiently teaching the art of weaving Nantucket Lightship baskets. It was on the Cape that she married her second husband Peter Sembinelli. Together they enjoyed many happy days before Peter’s death in 1997. She is survived by her four daughters, Pamela Tilton Scheffer ’81, Linda Tilton Gibson ’83, Deborah Tilton Thrun ’86, Kathryn Tilton Ashworth ’87 and their families including grandchildren, Kayli, Sara, Abby, Gray Gibson ’12, Reese Gibson ’14, Will and Henry.
Judith Russell Gammel ’58
Samuel B. Johnson ’59
Rosslyn Lyell
Judy attended Bancroft until 1956, graduated from Green Mountain College, and later, returned to Westfield State University in MA where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education. Throughout her career, she held several positions, including working as a flight attendant for American Airlines, and also Air Force One, where she proudly served First Lady Jackie Kennedy. She enjoyed water skiing and tennis. She is survived by her 3 children, 6 grandchildren, and many extended family.
Samuel graduated from Bancroft’s 8th grade, and went on to earn his BA at Middlebury College and MA from Indiana University. He served in the Peace Corps and worked for the State of Vermont before working abroad with Plan International in Bolivia, El Salvador, Guatemala and Ecuador. He also worked as a certified court interpreter in the Glenwood Springs and Aspen, CO courts. He loved family, nature, Latin America and serving others. He is survived by his wife, Ann, and 2 children.
Mr. Lyell was a Harvard College graduate before he served in WWII where he earned a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars. He had a lengthy career as a businessman in Worcester and served on several Boards, including Bancroft School from 1964-1976. He was predeceased by his former wife Anne Morse ’37, and is survived by their four daughters, Wendy Lyell Stokes ’66, Elizabeth Lyell ’68, Chandler Lyell ’70, and Patricia Lyell ’77 and their families.
August 27, 2015, Lady Lake, FL at 74
Caroline Herron ’59
January 5, 2016, Brooklyn, NY at 74
Caroline graduated from Bancroft one year early before attending Radcliffe College where she graduated in 1962. She continued her graduate study as a Florence May Smith Fellow at Cornell University. As an editor, writer and affordable housing advocate, she lived in Truro, MA, and New York City. Caroline was staff editor of the New York Times Book Review (1993-2005), following editorial and writing positions with the newspaper, including as an editor/writer at the Week In Review and an Assistant Editor in the Washington bureau. She served as contributing editor, executive editor, and in other capacities including editorial board to The Partisan Review for over 15 years. Her lengthy work with New York’s Poets and Writers concluded as Executive Consultant (1972-1986). During the early 1970s she was a founding director and treasurer of the Corporation of The Print Center Inc. and a lecturer at Rutgers University Livingston College, while holding a range of consultant and executive director roles at the Coordinating Council of Literary Magazines (NY). Caroline was named New York Times Media Fellow (DeWitt Wallace Center for Communication and Journalism, 1997) and continued to serve on a number of professional and community boards. She was predeceased by her long-time companion David Martin and is survived by her brother, Rand Herron ’61, and his family.
September 3, 2015, Carbondale, CO at 74
Antoinette Carter Emery ’62
December 13, 2015, Annapolis, MD at 71 Toni attended Bancroft from 1956 to 1960, graduated from Connecticut College and earned her Juris Doctorate degree from George Washington University in 1980. She worked as a Chinese linguist for the Defense Department from 1966-1972 and served in Taiwan for two years with her husband. She raised her two sons before going to law school. After earning her JD she practiced law in the Washington, DC area. She is survived by her brother Joseph Carter ’68, sister Sally Carter LaPlant ’64, and their families, two sons and many grandchildren.
Extended Community William Bernstein
January 8, 2016, Worcester, MA at 85 Mr. Bernstein was a graduate of Clark University and Boston University School of Law. He was a partner in the law firm of Bernstein and Stern where he practiced for over 60 years and received numerous awards and recognitions from the legal profession. He was active in the community and served as a Bancroft Trustee from 1977 to 1982. He leaves behind his wife, Marjorie, and children, Robert ’79, Richard ’82, David, and Laurie Bernstein Kimmelstiel ’76, and their families.
November 30, 2015, Tiverton, RI at 95
James Mottram January 5, 2016, Florida at 83
Mr. Mottram taught both Middle and Upper School math at Bancroft from 1966 to 1987, and was co-head of Middle School. Previously, he served in the United States Marine Corps. and was a teacher at Shepherd Knapp School. He is remembered as a dedicated teacher, a consummate entertainer, and a world traveler. He passed away in Hobe Sound, Florida where he had lived for several years enjoying life on his boat.
Lucy B. Wood
November 21, 2015, West Falmouth, MA at 83
Mrs. Wood was a beloved librarian to many at Bancroft from 1970 to 1984. Books and reading continued to be a big part of her life after she moved to Cape Cod in 1996. There she worked at the Falmouth Academy library, and the West Falmouth Library. Lucy touched everyone who met her with her joy, compassion, generosity, love, and laughter. She cherished life and was passionate about so many things: books, gardening, music, theatre, games, puzzles, bees, whales, knitting, travel, and most importantly, people. She was predeceased by her husband Norman Wood ’45, past president of the Bancroft Board of Trustees, and son, Randy Wood ’78. She is survived by her daughters Lisa Wood ’71, Pamela Wood ’73, and Alison Wood ’83, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
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SPOTLIGHT ON GIVING: Lisa Kunhardt Bancroft 5th grade teacher and parent of three graduates: Renny Swan ’96, Priscilla Swan ’00, and Bancroft Academic Support Specialist Meg Swan ’00
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Learn More or Donate Visit www.bancroftschool.org/giving Email giving@bancroftschool.org Call 508-853-2640 ext. 283 34
2016 Upper School Musical
Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella To the delight of young and old alike, Bancroft’s Harrington Theatre was transformed into the magical world of Cinderella from March 10 to 12. A PFA Royal Banquet in the regally festooned dining hall added to the enchantment prior to Friday night’s sold-out performance. Photos by Karla Cinquanta
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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID N. Reading, MA Permit No.8
110 Shore Drive Worcester, MA 01605-3117
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CITY SCHOLARS The Worcester City Scholars Program at Bancroft School has been providing full Upper School scholarships to exceptional students from the City of Worcester since 1996.
HOMECOMING
Watch for details as we plan a celebration of this milestone anniversary.
GO BULLDOGS! September 24, 2016
www.bancroftschool.org