Bancroft Bulletin Summer 2022

SNAPSHOTS

The 2021-22 school year on Shore Drive had a bit more normalcy and a return to traditional Bancroft active learning and fun! Take a look back at some of the best photos of this past year!

A Message From The Head of School

Dear Bancroft School Community,

I am delighted to be writing to you as we send out this edition of The Bulletin. I have had the distinct honor and privilege of serving as Interim Head of School since July 1. In that time, I have been able to gain a deeper understanding of the strong sense of community that is Bancroft School. From the youngest Pre-K students to the eldest alum that I have met (Class of 1949), that powerful sense of belonging or “home” is palpable. People genuinely love this school because of…its people…and that means…all of you!

In this edition of The Bulletin, you will hear about Neelu Mohaghegh ’14 and her fascinating work and business in Worcester which she shared with us when she came “home” to Bancroft. You will also read about our Robodogs’ great feats, hosting our first ever VEX Robotics tournament right here at “home” in the Fletcher Athletic Center. In each story, one will read of taking an intelligent risk, preparing to take a chance and, then, executing that solution. This is how all people learn and grow and we are fortunate to be part of a community that has always encouraged young people to try something new, move out of one’s comfort zone and make a difference in themselves and in others both at home and elsewhere. It is core to our work.

In fact, in our strategic plan, BluePrint 125, we state as one of our “core principles” that: We promise to encourage and to know each student as an individual with a unique history and trajectory.

One’s “unique history” speaks volumes about validation of the individual child as well as who they are currently. One’s “trajectory” envisions future achievement and growth as well as who the child will become. Good schools acknowledge both; great schools achieve both. It is clear to me that we are the latter.

I know that you will enjoy these articles as well as our thank you and good luck to Head of School Trey Cassidy after 8 years of devoted service to our school. Finally, you will be able to catch up on classmates and news around campus of our Bancroft community and, hopefully, feel even better when you, “return home.”

Go Bulldogs, Timothy J. Saburn Interim Head of School

“The magic thing about home is that it feels good to leave, and it feels even better to come back.”

– Wendy Wunder

A FOND FAREWELL!

The Bancroft community said goodbye to three legendary figures in 2021-22 with a combined 67 years of service on Shore Drive. Two of these Bulldogs will head into well deserved retirement time with family and friends and another is off to another adventure.

Beth Beckmann led both the Lower and Middle Schools since 2014. After 49 years working in independent schools supporting and inspiring students, faculty, and school leaders, Beth will get some well deserved time with family as she moves back to New York. Her distinguished career in education includes time as a math teacher, a technology director, division head, admission director, dean of faculty, and Head of School in Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, and New York. Beth also chaired Bancroft’s New England Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation process. Congratulations, Beth!

After 17 years at Bancroft, long-time Dean of Students and Middle & Upper School teacher Robin Silverman is off to the farm, literally! Robin and her family have started an organic family farm in Freeport, Maine called Tripping Gnome Farm specializing in field and forest grown produce. Robin, her husband Harry, and the entire family are excited for this next endeavor. Even her three kids Emma ’14, Noah ’16, and recently graduated Jonah ’22, are all taking on roles at the farm. We wish Robin the best of luck. She has been helping students grow for years so organic produce should be a walk in the park!

Concluding a monumental run as a Physical Education teacher, Director of Bancroft Summer Camps, and Coach of multiple Bulldog (and Shoreliner) sports teams, Jane Gerhardt is hanging up her clipboard. Coach Gerhardt was instrumental in helping

to strengthen the Bancroft community over her 42 years on Shore Drive. She was fresh out of college in 1979 when she started as a physical education teacher and coach. Later, she served as Assistant Athletic Director under Steve Kelley helping to elevate Shoreliner and Bulldog athletics as we entered the Eastern Independent League and achieved greater success within the NEPSAC. Her school spirit and tenacity as a coach have been powerful over the years, including helping a long list of studentathletes go on to play collegiately (Gerhardtcoached athletes are currently playing at 4 NCAA schools). We wish Jane the best of luck and hope she isn’t a stranger on the sidelines! Thanks for everything Coach, and enjoy retirement!

A

LETTER FROM POTUS

Can you imagine being 11 years old and getting a letter addressed to you, from The President of the United States? Well, that is exactly what happened to Fifth Grader, Anny J.

“Each year, our Fourth Grade writers participate in a persuasive essay writing unit. The students learn to express their opinions, including evidence, examples, surveys, and research to convince their readers of their point of view,” says fourth grade teacher Ali Chappell.

“Last year's students chose issues that were meaningful to them and directed their letters to an appropriate audience, including Ms. Beckmann, the Leadership Council, and Governor Baker. Anny J. chose to send her letter, detailing her concerns about plas tics in the ocean, all the way to the White House...and recently received a long awaited response!

When Anny shared her letter from the President with the fourth grade class, they cheered with excitement. It illustrated for them firsthand the power of words and that you are never too young to voice your ideas and take action,” shared Chappell.

MODEL UN

After weeks of intensive research and fine-tuning their writing, critical thinking, and oratory skills, 8th grade students took to the Bancroft Field House to represent a selected country in the school’s first ever two-day Model United Nations exercise. Each student took on the role of a delegate and spent the entire month of April researching their country and the inner workings of the United Nations as they prepared resolutions to be presented in front of their peers. 8th grade teacher and Model United Nations Moderator Michael Urban called the inaugural simulation “a great practical experience for the students and a perfect example of hands on learning that was lots of fun!”

BUSINESS AS USUAL

For the last 19 years, the Bancroft School Speech Team has earned a bid to Nationals and this past year was no exception. Led by captains Darren B., newly minted State Champion in Original Oratory, and Anna H., the group had an outstanding year. The team sent 12 mem bers to Nationals, the most since 2010, wrapping up another great year for the Speechies. “We were very proud of the Team's accomplishments this year and so happy to have such a large group qualify for the State tournament (and do so well.) In Team Sweepstakes Awards, at States, Bancroft placed higher than any year since 2012. It was also a real high point to see Darren named State Champion in Original Oratory. It is a deserving culmination to his 4 years of hard work and devotion to the Team,” says Pam and Chris Sheldon, Speech Team Coaches.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE FOR THE ROBODOGS

BY ERIN SOLL

Bancroft robotics has been a VEX partner for nearly a decade without hosting an event, so the pressure was on for the re nowned Robodogs to hold a tournament on their home court. “Being an event partner and running your own event solidifies your commitment to VEX and VEX competitions,” says Elisa Heinricher, Robotics Team Coach. “We’ve had the opportu nity to visit and use other area events ourselves so it was time to give back and fortunately we had the space to do it.”

From her experience, Heinricher knew that many logistical holes would need to be filled when hosting an event of this size and scope. The need for four VEX game fields with all of the competitors, referees, judges, volunteers, spectators, and equipment meant calls to our area event partners for help and guidance. “People were very generous. They all jumped in there and said, we want you to hold an event and when you do, we will be ready to help you, and they did. It was really phenomenal,” said Heinricher.

Even with the assistance of area partners, there was still a need for nearly 50 volunteers to run the event smoothly. Heinricher enlisted the help of the Bancroft community. “I think it comes down to the Bancroft philosophy of, you take care of people.” Bancroft’s community of students and parents stepped up in a

big way. Any teams that weren’t competing were on-site vol unteering and helping out wherever they could. Volunteers extended to many Robodog alumni, current parents, students, and faculty. Many had heard about the tournament being held at Bancroft and made themselves available. “The volunteers were so wonderful, they didn't want anyone to walk in the door and not know where to go. Our people were at the door all day long saying, okay, the competition is there, the pit areas are there and that makes all the difference in the world,” said Heinricher. “It is the community and people's willingness to help that makes Bancroft so special and what makes events like our robotics tournament possible,” she added.

Not only was it an amazing opportunity to host this tourna ment on Shore Drive and have a group of fantastic volunteers, but the Bancroft Robodogs Team 2442D ended up tourna ment champions!

When asked if plans were in place to host again in the future, Heinricher was quick to say, “Yes, we already have the date on the calendar.” She went on to say, “ I would continue to encourage the community to get involved and volunteer. That was the secret of our success was having enough hands that whatever needed to be done that day got done.”

AFTER MONTHS OF PLANNING AND WEEKS OF PREPARATION, THE STAGE WAS FINALLY SET FOR BANCROFT TO HOST ITS FIRST EVER VEX ROBOTICS TOURNAMENT. ON THE SECOND SATURDAY OF THIS PAST FEBRUARY, A SEASONABLY WARM DAY, 36 TEAMS DESCENDED ON SHORE DRIVE WITH THEIR ROBOTS FOR ONE OF THEIR LAST CHANCES TO VIE FOR A SPOT AT REGIONALS.

On a picturesque 65-degree Wednesday morning, there isn’t a cloud in the sky. The crisp spring air has officially arrived in downtown Worcester and despite it being mid-week, Grove Street has an early buzz of foot traffic for 10 a.m. A subtle turn through a large stone archway halfway down the street and you find yourself on a quaint stone path leading to a bright red sign above a tinted glass door. Worcester’s brand new New Yorkstyle coffee shop, Fuel America, is already half full and you can still see the red and white balloons taped to the trendy painted walls from the grand opening. The modest line quickly diminishes as the sound of coffee brewing gives way to a friendly ‘Hi! How can I help you?’ from the counter.

The co-owner, Neelu Mohaghegh, isn’t always serving as a barista, but with the business still new and hir ing staff, she steps in when needed. She leads the way to a back func tion room to talk about her many adventures since graduating from Bancroft in 2014. As a proud sand boxer (students who attend Bancroft from Kindergarten to grade 12) you’d never know that this confident and accom

plished entrepreneur was once a quiet and shy student.

“I was definitely much more of an introvert coming into Ban croft and I got more comfortable as time went on because of the amazing environment that the teachers provided us. I think Bancroft encouraged us to get outside our comfort zones to get involved. I still remember run ning for student council in Middle School and how much confidence and fun I had with trying things.”

Neelu credits her entrepreneurial spirit to the variety of offerings at Bancroft. “The Upper School really helped me change my view of what was possible. I was able to be and wanted to be involved in so much. I was in Jazz Band. I ran track and played tennis. I was in the musical one year. Another year I worked on the set design. I was in the French Club. It was so nice to have the op portunity to try so many different things. It really made college less overwhelming. I also felt so pre pared for college with how much I was pushed in the classroom.”

Neelu would continue her academic career at Boston Univer

I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT HOW GREAT AND IMPORTANT THE TEACHERS AT BANCROFT WERE FOR ME. THEY REALLY CARED ABOUT ME AND MY CLASSMATES AND MAKING SURE WE HAD THE TOOLS TO PURSUE OUR DREAMS.”

sity’s Questrom School of Business where she co-founded a music business club that still exists today. That club helped propel her into her first job moving her out to Los Angeles where she worked in brand partnerships for RCA Records. Her love of music was something she says was born at Bancroft and nurtured by her teachers. “They could tell how much I loved music and many of them helped me pursue that. Even when I first got there, Mrs. Truesdell (longtime Bancroft kindergarten teacher, current trustee, and alum from the class of '72) really helped me find a love for music and encouraged me to come out of my shell. I adore her and she really left a great impres sion on me.” During her 13 years on Shore Drive, Neelu says she felt that support through each grade, culminating in a great experience in high school. “In the Upper School, I had my advisor, Mrs. Fortier (longtime Upper School English teacher) who really was such a great support system on top of giving me critically important writing skills. I could go on and on about how great and important the teachers at Bancroft were for me. I certainly wouldn’t be where I am today without them. They really cared about me and my classmates and making sure we had the tools to pursue our dreams.”

While she never says never when talking about the future, Nee lu is happy to be home in Worcester. “I had a blast in Boston and in L.A. and I am glad I got to experience those places and I learned a lot. But I am happy to be back home.” She opened Fuel America with her co-owner, her father, in April of 2022. “It’s really funny, my Dad would joke that most of my time in high school and college was spent in coffee shops so it's fit ting that we’re giving back to the coffee community now. My parents both immigrated from Iran so it’s really special to me to be able to use the skills I learned at Bancroft and since then to help build their legacy with this business.”

Despite only being away from Worcester for the better part of 6 years, Neelu is excited to see the innovation and growth in her home city and for her family to be a part of that evolution.

“Growing up in Worcester, I think it's different when you ex perience a city as a kid as opposed to an adult. I was perfectly comfortable exploring Bancroft and being home so to be back after college and being in L.A. and to really see the changes and be able to make sense of the growth and then be a part of it starting this business really feels full circle. There is so much energy right now. It is really exciting.”

DONORDONORSPOTLIGHTS SPOTLIGHTS

Martha Duggan ’74

Martha Duggan is a proud member of the class of 1974 who spent three years ac tively involved in the theater and music programs at Bancroft. Reflecting on her time on Shore Drive, Martha expressed her love for the school including memories of the Glee Club and being a part of the Madrigals singing group. She also enjoyed studying French with Mr. Gauthier so much that she went on to major in French in college. When asked about what makes Bancroft so special to her 48 years later, Martha says that she “loved the community outreach along with the Worcester Partnership…and how much the school has evolved to become a part ner with underserved communities in Worcester''. This is one of the many rea sons she continues to support Bancroft. She also credits her parents who instilled a strong belief of supporting institutions that supported her throughout her edu cational endeavors.

Martha has been supporting Bancroft for 35 years and for that, we thank her!

Caroline Brown ’11

Caroline Brown graduated in 2011 after thirteen years at Bancroft. She constant ly felt seen and valued which she said “as a shy child, made all the difference”. Caroline was involved with technical the ater during her time in the Upper School and even explored stage management for the musical in her junior and senior years. Bancroft became special to Caroline when she noticed how the faculty held a “passion for their subject and love of teaching”. She credits Joan Carlson’s biology class in helping her build a solid foundation in biology and for teaching her how to study effectively. This, she added, “was so important in my prepara tion for my board exam in genetic coun seling.” What motivates her to give back to her alma mater is the inclusiveness that Bancroft demonstrated, especially when it came to her LGTBQ+ identity. She felt that she never had to hide who she was, so she continues to donate “so that more students can feel safe to be who they are at Bancroft''.

We thank Caroline for continued support as a young alumnus and giving back to a community that helped mold her into the person she is today.

1963

Charlotte Millard Harrington cwharrington4@comcast.net

Stephen Josephs lives in Santa Barbara.

Dick Pierpont writes that he and wife Leslie are busy and happy in their new lifestyle; a retirement community in Florida and their great cottage in Nova Scotia. “Hard to beat,” he says.

Joan (Millar) Lincoln and her husband have been back in the United States for 8 years, following 43 years overseas. She admits that her learning curve about America continues to be quite steep. Issues such as race, materialism, partisanship, COVID and others continue to plague daily life as the world seems to slip into greater disarray. They have traveled a bit—to Switzerland to visit children and grandchildren and to the Baha’I World Center in Israel in November, where 600 gathered from every corner of the world. The four Kinnicutt siblings gathered in Falmouth, MA last September to spend some time together. Phil Kinnicutt ’59 and partner Marcia drove from Florida, visiting friends along the way. Val (Kinnicutt) Powell ’66 and husband David flew in from San Francisco. Hester (Kinnicutt) Jacobs ’69 and husband David drove across the country from Montana, with many stops along the way. We all enjoyed spending time together not involving a big life event, just hanging out. How can it possibly be 60 years since we were all at Bancroft?

1969

Hester Kinnicutt Jacobs djacobs@midrivers.com

In memory of Wendy Warner, a lifelong friend to many.

Sarah (Garfield) Berry: In the last year my investment company, The Berry Group, joined as partners in Moneta Group out of St Louis, a very happy affiliation. We remain in downtown

Worcester which continues to grow and change with new activities. The two years of Covid related shutdowns has made the usual markers of event and time passing all one blur for many. Our various families remain well and happy, and my mom just turned 92 in excellent form. Salvation has been getting outdoors, particularly in summer. The Cuttyhunk Selectman hat I wear has kept me busy and I hope others have benefitted. Allen and I still live in Boylston, love his garden and land, and visit with various kids and grandchildren. I think we will all be glad to get off the hamster wheel of our confined social lives!

Deborah Patterson: Paul and I are doing well and have been working remotely the last few weeks. I manage a small staff at the Land Court and strive to keep them and the public safe with the help of many others in the court system. I expect to be doing much less remote work soon and will be happy to see people other than on Zoom. I miss Worcester and every once in a while, drive in to shop at Ed Hyder’s Mediterranean Market on Pleasant Street because he’s got the best hummus anywhere!

Lisa Piehler: Retired life keeps me busy. Half the year Dave and I enjoy my life on Browning Pond in Spencer, sharing it with the Boy Scouts at Treasure Valley and the monks at St. Joseph’s Abbey. Very peaceful and beautiful. The winter months we live in Key West which seems to easily transform me back to the hippie I was during our high school years! Both environments allow for the fun of walking, biking, swimming, hiking, etc. which I love. I feel blessed to have many wonderful and interesting friends and activities in both communities. My volunteer activities include

1960 Christina Gummere Laurie

In loving memory of Christina Laurie.

Christina Laurie celebrating her 80th Birthday.

1962

Pam Kinnicutt Motley pamelamotley@msn.com

Kinnicutt siblings: September 2021 Photo Left to Right: Valerie '66 & David Powell, Pam Motley '62, David & Hester Jacobs '69, Marcia Schoeller, Phil Kinnicutt '59

working in a Worcester women’s shelter and thrift store and picking up trash with the city of Key West volunteer clean-up crew. My part time work is taking medical cases and acting as a patient and providing feedback for the UMass medical school students. Dave and I travel extensively (we took a Covid hiatus) and already have a safari and Italian cruise on the calendar. My son and his family still live in Taiwan so as soon as restrictions are lifted, we’ll visit them. I have a granddaughter I have yet to hold. Skype is not even a second best. I, too, am mourning the unexpected death of Wendy Warner, who I considered a sister. Wendy’s passing has reminded me how fragile life is.

Candace Harris Singer: Biggest news is I became a grandparent to a lively girl named Maia. My daughter and son-in-law left NYC early in the pandemic and have been living nearby, so we’ve kept a tiny bubble, first prevaccine with a pregnant daughter and then because of an unvaccinated baby. Amazing how much time has gone by without travel, eating out, and any socializing outside our bubble. We are fortunate to live on a bay (on Long Island, NY) facing glorious sunsets that bring daily joy. Our son is in Boston, soon to move to Seattle for a medical fellowship, so there will be plenty of cross-country travel in our future. With my father’s death a few years ago, the big 1840s house in Grafton was sold, fortunately to an enterprising young couple who have given it an amazing new life.

Joan Wandrei Gong: My younger brother Steve Wandrei ’73 (Bancroft and Worcester Academy) passed away in December from cancer so the past 16 months involved too many trips in/out of the hospital and cancer center. Now we’re selling his property in Oxford (formerly my parent’s property) once we work through the Land Court (Hi Deb!). My husband and I are doing a lot of volunteer work—especially with the Tax-Aide program doing taxes for low- to moderate-income taxpayers. I also do some Medicare counseling. We too have a new grandson (my husband’s older son). Hopefully, we’ll have a chance to visit this spring/summer.

Sue Stafford: Just before the shutdown in 2020, I had a chance reunion with classmates Lisa Piehler and Wendy Warner. We were attending a concert at Mechanics Hall by the men’s A capella group Chanticleer. I was so touched when Wendy told me she vividly remembered a story I wrote during a sophomore English class. It was a story I remembered too, one that wrote itself easily and that I enjoyed crafting it. Since Lisa told me that Wendy had died, her memory of that story became a remarkable gift from her, which I will treasure. This year has been an especially

sad one as I marked the one-year anniversary of my mother’s death from Covid. And last June, my husband Jim Demetry passed away after a long illness. I’m very fortunate to have three wonderful stepdaughters and very supportive friends around me. I continue to sing in two choirs, raise and judge African Violets, garden in warm weather and shovel in the snow, and serve as a Precinct Warden in the town of Holden. I look forward to getting back to traveling in future months.

Melinda (Dahart) Ladyzinski: John and I are enjoying life in NJ where we have lived for 25 years. John teaches business at NYU and I continue to run a bridal boutique named Elizabeth Johns, formed from the middle names of my three kids. We have two grandchildren that visit often and bring happiness and laughter. Two of our children live nearby in NJ and Manhattan and our youngest lives in Charlotte. We look forward to our annual family vacation each summer and we haven’t missed a year yet. During covid summers they were more like staycations but enjoyed, nevertheless. Life is good.

Susan (White) McChesney: 2021 was quite the year: it started badly for me, with first the Insurrection at the Capitol shaking my faith in our Democracy, then a day later the shocking death of Wendy Warner, one of my two pandemic check-ins (every couple days), and a very dear friend since Bancroft days. Writing in zoom groups once or twice a week with the Amherst Writers and Artists method was one way I survived. I was seen and heard, in my pandemic isolation, and it made all the difference to this introverted solitary creative

woman. I continue with that practice, while also studying Writing Fiction with the Great Smokies Writing Program and working on a novel. I write, I am a writer. We all are, in one form or another. I am still pressing flowers and creating art with them, using petals like strokes of paint. I am building a biz pressing and preserving “Special Occasion Bouquets”, 99% Bridal Bouquets. (I wish I’d been doing this when I had a bridal bouquet) Visit mcchesneyart.com/petalpassages. I made some significant changes last year. I moved from 20 years of rural living in single family dwellings to a small apartment in a renovated mill in town and began working part time at the gallery where I show my artwork. I am thrilled to be again in the company of my sons and grandchildren: grandsons are in Cincinnati 9 and 4 years old, and a granddaughter is here in Marshall NC, 9 months old. Life is good, though my missing of Wendy’s friendship and artistry is a big heart hurt, our loss is immense. Life. Count me in. Carry on. mcchesneyart. com@mcchesneyart Finalist, Our State Made in NC Awards 2021

Lorraine (Lind) Byrne: Covid has affected so much these last two years. It feels like spring after a long winter. We are re-booking our travel plans for the third time and hope to start exploring again soon. I was appointed to the local Zoning Board. The next meeting should be the last one by Zoom. I’m also on the Board for my college fraternity, and we’re making plans for three years’worth of Reunions to be held this May. Unbelievable that it will be our 50th next year! My husband and I are healthy and happy. My (middle-aged) kids are too far away to see much, in Kansas City and Florida, but we

Members of the Bancroft class of 1969 Left to Right: Lisa Piehler ’69, Sue Stafford ’69, and Wendy Warner ’69

manage a couple of times a year. Meanwhile, we walk and garden and I do family trees for friends and relatives. Life goes on.

Frances Kumin: I have been in New York City for most of the pandemic. It was difficult when NYC was at the epicenter with very high infection rates, but even then, I managed to see friends for walks in Central Park or meals outside, sometimes in freezing temperatures. We New Yorkers are strong when we need to be. I am winding down a fulfilling career in nonprofit theater management and arts philanthropy by running a grant program designed to help nonprofit regional theaters to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive. I also volunteer as a mentor and a fundraiser for Students for Justice, an organization that involves mostly low-income students of color in a paid internship program to get out and vote and learn about aspects of political engagement. I am studying French, as preparation for a planned trip to France this summer. While some of what I learned in Monsieur Gautier’s class is coming back, it takes me much longer to relearn grammar and vocabulary at age 70 than it did to learn it for the first time decades ago. Just before Christmas, I met Carolyne Berkeley for an outing to the Hudson River Museum, where she is a docent. Not only was it great fun to catch up with Carolyne, but I enjoyed her perspective on the art we were viewing and the architectural features of the historic house owned by the museum.

Joe Meigs: I’ve been happily retired and continue to live in Denver, Colorado with my wife, Susan Wood. Another year of COVID-19 has hampered our ability to do any traveling abroad. However, we did manage to get in a couple of trips here in the U.S. For one such trip, I was fortunate to be able to help a Vermont Academy classmate ferry his 28-foot Cape Dory trawler from the Florida Keys to Islesboro Island in Maine. I joined him in Annapolis, on the Chesapeake Bay and for the next 10 days we made our way north along the Eastern Seaboard. When we reached Massachusetts, we spent a night at the Cuttyhunk Island Marina, where I ran into Seth Garfield ’75 at his Raw Bar shop. We purchased two dozen oysters from Seth, along with a couple of 2-pound lobsters from the vendor next door, and we cooked up a memorable seafood dinner later that night. The next day, we made our way to Woods Hole, where I disembarked after meeting up with my sister, Sarah Meigs ’77, who lives in nearby Falmouth. My classmate then continued his trip up the New England coast to Islesboro, Maine where he planned to spend the summer. It was quite an adventure to say the least and something that I’d always wanted to do.

Hester Kinnicutt Jacobs: David and I live a very quiet life outside our tiny rural town in Montana. The only travel since the last bulletin is to my daughter on the other side of the state

near Missoula (7 ½ hour drive). I continue my volunteer work running our senior meal Tuesday night and doing class notes for my college class also. I am hoping travel opens up soon so we can go see my son and family in New Zealand. 2023 looks like a busy travel year with a niece’s wedding in Cancun, my college 50th in New London CT, and a sibling reunion (destination unknown currently). My memory of Wendy Warner is riding horses with her. Continue staying healthy and maybe we shall see you in 2024 for our 55th.

1972

Josephine Herron Truesdell thehats@aol.com

Adrian P Perschak: Ruth and I have sold our house and bought a condo instead. Since the new condo is still under construction, we will live at my brother Henry Perschak’s ’74 home for a few months until we can move in. We are very excited about and hope the Covid Situation will allow us to attend the 2022 reunion.

1973

Marcy Peterson Merzigian mmerzigian@gmail.com

Hello-hope all is well! It’s been quite a while since I submitted an update so I will attempt to condense this! Shortly after leaving my Kindergarten teaching role at Bancroft, I entered the HR field. I held multiple roles at several large retailers, the last being Home Depot. My husband and I moved from MA to NC then to Southern California where my oldest son was living with his young family. My youngest son moved to Northern CA with his family several years after. Between both of their families, we have 5 grandchildren - 2 girls and 3 boys ranging in age from 6 years to 9 months. During the pandemic, we had limited in-person visits however we were grateful for FaceTime! Last July, my husband and I retired and moved to Palm Desert CA to be closer to some of the grandchildren. We are having fun exploring the new aspects of retired life!

1984

David Bennett dtbconsulting@metrocast.net

Jim Condon: I am finishing my 3rd term on the Bancroft Board of Trustees and my time on the Executive Committee and as Chair of the Governance Committee. These last 2 years especially have been very crazy for all of us. But one bright light has been serving with Mary Halpin Carter ’83 on the Board. It has been great to work with Mary both in person and via Zoom. Her knowledge in and around independent schools has been an invaluable resource to the school and the Board.

Our family life, like I am sure many of you, has started to venture back out a bit, be it with

facemasks either on our faces or in our pockets. We spent Christmas this year in Puerto Rico, for the first time in 3 years. Our youngest son, Ben, is a sophomore at Bancroft and just finished working on the sets and stage crew for the Spring Production, Lucky Stiff. A chip off the old block... except he did not swallow a nail, as I was reminded by fellow Board member, Khurston Ellia-Epple ’86. Our oldest son, Chris Condon ’19, is a junior at Bryant University and is working on landing a summer internship in the project management field. Isa is using her degrees in education and Spanish language skills as an interpreter for the Milford Public Schools. She finds it quite fulfilling, helping students and their families navigate the school system. As for me when I am not at school, I can be found working with Mark Wagner at Wagner Motors. It is hard to believe that it was 19 years ago I stopped by to help him with a 6-week project that has just kept growing. As they say, time flies when you are having fun. Or tending my bee hives.

My sister Becca (Condon) Zieminski ’86 and I started raising bees in our respective yards just as the pandemic began. It has been a lot of fun and caused us to learn an awful lot about these marvelous creatures. We have also learned how many others we know are raising bees, too. Mark Lundstrom ’86 has 9 hives and former Bancroft science teacher Jim Kamosky and his wife Rebecca Knapp have 8 hives and each has shared their knowledge and love of the hobby.

I hope everyone’s lives are starting to get back to “normal” and by next year, 2023, our 40th reunion, we will be able to get together for one heck of a celebration. Is there anyone who is interested in beginning to plan our 40th soiree? Best wishes for a healthy year and I look forward to reading your notes in the next Bulletin.

1989

Elizabeth O’Hearn Galvin lizoheargalvin@gmail.com

Chris Sharpe: I started a new gig as VP AMER GTM Operations for this neat company called UiPath. Very exciting. Ally (Goff) Sharpe ’90 is doing well and settled into private practice and working remotely from a new home office. Ally continues to serve on the board of directors for AFSP, in memory of her brother Douglas. My son Parker is doing well as a freshman at Montana State U in Bozeman, busy with classes and rock climbing. Ally and I had a chance to meet up with Erica Richards for lunch during parents’weekend in Bozeman in the fall, which was a treat. My daughter Ava is a freshman at Elon in NC, where she just joined a sorority and is enjoying her classes (and nice weather). Once again, we had a mini Bancroft reunion during Elon parents’ weekend where we met up with Libby (Nealon) Ridgley ’90 and her family! Her two boys are upperclassmen at Elon…small world for Bancroft alum!

1998

Samuel Kressler sam@kressler.org

Submitted by Halley Allen and Abby Birdsall Jim Deprez is the 2021 and 2022 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail! He didn’t get to run the race last year and is going this year. The third grade has been learning about the Iditarod and Jim is going to Zoom with the class!

2003

Benjamin Yood jamie.yood@gmail.com

Ariane Lenis Salmon ariane.lenis@gmail.com

Ariane Lenis Salmon: Bill and I welcomed our second daughter into our family this past November, Rose Charlotte Salmon. She is the sweetest baby we could have ever hoped for, and Maddy is the best big sister!

2005

Hannah F. Holdstein hannah.holdstein@gmail.com

Sarah E. Allen sarahelliottallen@gmail.com

Dave Gerhardt: We now live in Burlington, Vermont after living in Boston for a decade with our kids Annie (5) and Sam (3). This summer we will celebrate my Mom’s retirement after 42 years at Bancroft—you might know her as Coach but my kids know her as Gaga!

2011

Solon Kelleher solon.kelleher@gmail.com

Courtney Ordway courtney.ordway@outlook.com

Courtney Ordway: By December 2022, I will have completed my master’s degree in education from Southern New Hampshire University. I just recently adopted a puppy named Ace (Corgi). Over the summer I was able to go to Polar Park a few times between the Bancroft event and with Eryl MacConnell ’12

Ariane Lenis Salmon ’03 with husband Bill and daughters Rose Charlotte and Maddy.

2021 and 2022

Iditarod Teacher on the Trail Jim Deprez ’98.

Eryl MacConnell ’12 and Courtney Ordway ’11 at Polar Park

Guillermo Creamer Jr. guillermocreamer@gmail.com

Dana (Spencer) Larsen dana.w.spencer@gmail.com

Dana (Spencer) Larsen: Aidan Larsen and I were legally married in a tiny backyard ceremony in May 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic threw a major wrench in our wedding planning. However, we were thrilled to be able to celebrate our wedding/one-year anniversary with several Bancroft friends in May 2021!

2014

Isabella Tropeano isabellamtropeano@gmail.com

Neelu Mohaghegh moved back home in the Worcester area during COVID. Since then she has opened up a cafe called Fuel America located at 100 Grove Street. It is the perfect place to meet with friends, have a work meeting, or host a small event. Come on down to check it out!

2018

Philip Onffroy pronffroy@gmail.com

Megha Shashidhar megha_shashidhar@yahoo.com

Philip Onffroy: I was recently accepted to Stanford University’s Chemical Engineering PhD program, which I will be starting in fall 2022 after graduating from Bucknell University in May. My research to date has focused on plastic processing, recycling, and sustainable material development, most recently developing bio-based foam alternatives to styrofoam. At Stanford, I plan to continue my research into sustainable biopolymer innovations and to get involved in Palo Alto’s startup culture.

2019-20

Maxwell Onffroy maxwellonffroy@gmail.com

Submitted by Elisa Heinricher

Patrick (Aodhagan) Leach ’19 and Max Onffroy ’20 are two former Robodogs who are now the President and Vice President respectively of the Society of Mechanical Engineers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

From Left to Right: Keely Sullivan ’12, David Kapaon ’12, Dana (Spencer) Larsen ’12, Molly Shea ’12, Peter Baker ’12, and Karlie Fitzgerald ’12.

Patrick (Aodhagan) Leach ’19 and Max Onffroy ’20 (top) both received the Upper School’s Computer Science Award in their respective junior years. - Shown with Computer Science Teach and Vex Robotics Coach Elisa Heinricher.

REUNION 2022

This year’s Bancroft reunion was the first in-person event in nearly three years which was a welcome reprieve from two straight virtual gatherings! Bancroft recognized classes ending in 2 and 7 with a spotlight on the Class of 1972 who celebrated their 50th Reunion with guests from all around the world, including Argentina and Switzerland. We were thrilled to see a great turnout from the classes of 1997 and 2012! Here are some highlights.

Reunion kicked off with current students providing a walking tour of campus. Even the class of 2012 was impressed with the major renovations and upgrades many buildings had seen since they roamed the halls. A Welcome Reception followed in the dining hall where alumni were able to catch up with their former teachers and friends as Trey Cassidy was recognized for his 8 years of service as Head of School.

teams began with a ceremonial first pitch from alumni Elana Goldberg MacGilpin ’92 and Julie Veneziano Percival ’92 who were part of the field hockey and softball teams. After the game, Trey Cassidy, Head of Upper School Mark Taylor, Ali Luthman ’10, and Courtney McKallagat ’99 all shared words and stories about Coach Gerhardt and the personal connection each one of them shared with her.

photo booth, and most importantly catching up with old friends.

5

Reunion weekend wrapped up with a trip to the beautiful new staple of downtown Worcester, Polar Park! Faculty, alumni, trustees, and current students joined us as we cheered on the WooSox to victory. Thank you again to all of our amazing alumni for taking the time to venture back to campus.

To the classes ending in 3 and 8, get ready! We can’t wait for Reunion 2023!

1

Later that night, the Class of ’72 shared stories and memories of their time together over dinner at the Worcester Club.

2 Day 2 began by celebrating beloved Coach Jane Gerhardt’s retirement as well as recognizing the 30th anniversary of 1991-1992 EIL Championship teams. 30 years ago, all 5 Bancroft girls teams (softball, cross country, field hockey, soccer, and basketball) won EIL Championships. The celebration of Jane’s 42 year tenure and our championship

3Later that evening, we welcomed the Reunion classes back to campus for a cocktail hour and dinner at the Bancroft Field House.

4

Barbara Petter Putnam ’72 was presented with the Esther Forbes (1907) Award for Distinguished Professional Achievement and Caitlin McDonough Mackenzie ’12 with her Young Alumni Achievement award. Attendees enjoyed delicious food, our signature cocktail, the

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2022!

For the first time in 3 years, Commencement returned to the Bancroft Field House where faculty, staff, family and friends came together to celebrate the class of 2022!

Thank you,Trey!

This year’s commencement festivities marked the end of Trey Cassidy’s 8 year tenure as the 13th Head of School in Bancroft’s 122 year history. During his time on Shore Drive, Trey was instrumental in leading major campus enhancements and renovations including the restoration of the Bancroft Field House building and upgrades to the Upper School facilities including technology and arts spaces. Under Trey’s guidance, Bancroft added extensive community service initiatives and partnerships in Worcester and also launched a broad range of global study trips for students to experience the cultures, diversity, and complexities of different parts of the world. He also played a major role in the school’s first major capital campaign in 17 years entitled Out In Front which raised over 8 million dollars to help improve the student experience. Trey had a major part in executing Vision 2016, Bancroft’s strategic plan that had been launched prior to his arrival. In 2019, he worked closely with the entire Bancroft community to help develop and launch BluePrint 125, Bancroft’s 5-year strategic plan and an extensive self-reflective process that produced major initiatives for the school to focus on in the coming years.

Trey wasn’t the only member of the Cassidy family to make major contributions to our campus com munity. His wife Bonnie was a regular volunteer at countless events and his daughters Bridgette ‘23 and Page ‘20 have been stand out student leaders, philanthropists, and multi-sport athletes. Please join us in thanking Trey and the Cassidy family for everything they have done for Bancroft School!

This summer, the Worcester Partnership celebrated its 20th year by welcoming 150 Elm Park Community School students to Shore Drive for a four-week camp.

The partnership was designed to eliminate summer learning loss for low-income families in the Worcester community by combining the challenge and excitement of academics in the morning, with the spirit of vigorous camp activities in the afternoon. In addition to the summer camp, there are 10 to 12 weeks of Saturday classes during the school year.

Congratulations to program founder Charlie Aleksiewicz and his team on reaching the 20-year mark!

ALUMNI

Katharine H. ‘Kittie’ Sturtevant ’37 March 29, 2021

Braintree, Massachusetts at age 101 Katharine was the daughter of the Rt. Rev. Henry W. Hobson and Edmonia B. Hobson and grew up in Worcester, MA and Cincinnati, OH. She attended Chatham Hall in Virginia and graduated from Smith College. She married the Rev. Peter Mann Sturtevant, an Episcopal priest, who died in 1998.

She is survived by and dearly missed by her children the Rev. Henry H. Sturtevant, Katharine M. Sturtevant (Johnson), Mary S. Sturtevant (Rains). Katharine was predeceased by her son, Peter Mann Sturtevant, Jr.

Mariane (van Valkenburg) Carey ’42 October 17, 2021

Mariane grew up in Worcester, MA, graduating from Bancroft and Westbrook Jr. College (Portland, ME) and later worked at the law firm Mirick, O’Connell, DeMallie and Lougee as a receptionist to support her five children. Even in her final days, Mariane had a very special talent; she could spell any word backwards as quickly as most people could spell the same word forwards. She loved clothes, flirting, Christmas, butterflies, a good snowstorm, “painting the sky”, and her morning coffee. But most of all, she loved her family.

Elisabeth (Caswell) Frye ’46 January 1, 2022 | Essex, MA at 93

Born in Worcester, Elisabeth was the daughter of Chester F. and Elisabeth (Blanchard) Caswell. She attended Northfield School for Girls, Bancroft, Smith College, and Katherine Gibbs School.

Mrs. Frye was a member of the Essex Planning Board. Elisabeth, known to many as Betty Jane or BJ, will be remembered for her quick wit, an affinity for flowers and gardening, and her love and commitment to the town of Essex.

Mary Tonna Cocaine ’46

October 6, 2021

Worcester, MA at 94

Mary was born in 1927 in Worcester, MA to Veronica (Dima) and Theodore Tonna, one of the founders of Table Talk Pies. Mary would later become the head of the company, becoming instrumental in keeping the headquarters in Worcester. She was the oldest of seven children. After graduating from Bancroft, Mary attended Wheaton College. Mary became active in her church, including serving as a member of the parish council and the church choir.

As her children grew older, Mary’s appreciation

for learning and determination of spirit led her to continue her education. She returned to college to finish her degree, and graduated from Anna Maria College with a BA at the age of 50. Mary then went on to receive a Master’s of Education from Assumption College.

Mary leaves behind two children, five grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.

June Ramsey Atwood ’48

February 7, 2022 | West Falmouth at 91 A descendant of the Henry Swift family, June was born in Worcester, MA in 1930, daughter of the late Webster Kimball Ramsey and Chrystella Swift Ramsey.

June attended the Northampton School for Girls, Bancroft, Colby-Sawyer College, and the Katharine Gibbs School. June spent almost every summer of her life in West Falmouth with her extended family and many dear friends.

June was a classy, well-dressed lady who enjoyed skiing and tennis and loved the arts. She also loved meeting people and socializing. In her late years, she would often be seen cruising around the village in her Highlander, stopping to chat with people. She loved talking with everyone, from the oldest residents to the youngest of children. June is survived by two children, three grandchildren, and one great grandchild.

Barbara A. (Park) Wickham ’48 June 15, 2022

Westwood, MA at 91

Born in Toledo, Ohio, Barbara was raised in Worcester and graduated from Bancroft where she was elected senior class president. Known as “Parkie”, Barbara lived her entire life true to her creed: “I shall go softly all my years.” She attended Smith College, graduating in 1951 with a major in history. When newly married, Barbara lived for two years in Hawaii, where she taught English at The Punahou School. She settled in Hollin Hills, a suburb of Alexandria, VA, to raise her family. She was an active member of the community, for many years spearheading the annual July 4th picnic and editing the community bulletin, among other activities. She lived there for 52 years before moving to Westwood. Barbara was known for her ready, warm smile, quiet intellect and wide-ranging curiosity. She was a patron of the arts, an avid bridge player, and a voracious reader. She was a Master Gardener, and upon retirement, returned to school to become a massage therapist, volunteering her services for patients in hospice care.

Alison (Alton) Robb ’49

June 14, 2022 | Easton, MA at 90

Alison Robb passed away on June 14th, 2022 at Falmouth Hospital. Thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time.

Janet (Ayres) Coles ’51 January 11, 2022 Bend, Oregon at 88 Janet Ayres Coles was born December 1, 1933, in Worcester, Massachusetts. She enjoyed 88 adventurous years before passing on January 11 in Bend, Oregon.

Jan’s formative years were spent in Worcester and on Cape Cod with her parents, her two brothers, and her sister. The Ayres family held to traditions, so Jan followed the path of her mother and sister from Bancroft School in Worcester to Wellesley College. She graduated from Bancroft in 1951 and from Wellesley in 1955 and married Douglas Terry Coles the following year. Jan was a woman of progressive values whose goal was to raise self-sufficient and resourceful kids. She could also be quite unconventional, allowing our house to be a social center for high school gatherings. All her children’s friends thought she was cool as she loved talking to her kids’ friends. Jan is survived by three children, eight grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and all of her extended family.

Martha Woods Briggs ’51 June 14, 2022 Portland, Maine at 88 Martha was born in Newton, Mass. on June 25, 1933 late moving to Brookfield, Mass. when her father bought the wire mill there. Martha graduated from Bancroft where she was the tallest girl at 5 foot 10 inches, and therefore the captain of all the sports teams. She attended Wheaton College for two years before marrying her husband, Frank Lincoln Briggs who was studying to be an electrical engineer at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. In 1977, she returned to college to finish her bachelor’s degree at the University of Maine at Farmington.

Her lifelong profession and love was teaching. She taught and directed the Bethany Preschool (Connecticut) and the Kennebec Valley YMCA Preschool in Augusta. An accomplished swimmer, she was the director of many waterfront programs including Peck Pond in Bethany, Conn. and Damariscotta Lake State Park in Jefferson. She was also an accomplished sailor and taught sailing at Camp Asquam in New Hampshire and enjoyed many boating expeditions on salt and freshwater.

Together with her husband Frank, they enjoyed a lifetime of adventures, including designing and building the family cottage on Damariscotta Lake, going on many boat camping trips on Moosehead Lake and on Warren Island in Penobscot Bay, and ski trips to Jay Peak, Saddleback and Sugarloaf. She is survived by three children, four grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Cynthia Riley Fehsenfeld Parsons ’52

October 3, 2021 | Cockeysville, MD at 87

Born July 24, 1934, in Worcester, Massachusetts, Cynthia maintained a New England grit — and fearlessness in the face of snowstorms — after relocating to Baltimore. Her parents were Mary Alexander and Chapin Riley. She graduated from the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York, then an all-girls boarding school, before going on to attend Smith College.

In 1956, she married David T. Fehsenfeld of Baltimore, who later became a vice president at T. Rowe Price. The couple lived on a farm, where they raised three children — Kate, Tom and Alex — and a range of animals that included chickens, horses, and at one point, baby raccoons. An avid gardener, Mrs. Parsons cultivated white violets, climbing roses and daffodils at home.

Her first husband died in a 1984 car accident and nearly a decade later, Mrs. Parsons married I. Manning Parsons.

Cynthia was an active person who loved tennis, skiing, sailing and playing bridge. Her warm personality endeared her to friends.

In addition to her husband and daughter, Mrs. Parsons is survived by her brother, children, and many grandchildren and step grandchildren.

Ruth M. (Gustafson) Flynn ’52

December 26, 2021 | Shrewsbury, MA at 88 A longtime Shrewsbury resident, Ruth passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 26, 2021, with her loving family at her side, at Whitney Place of Westborough. She lost her beloved husband, Lawrence J. “Larry” Flynn, Sr., in March of 2021.

Ruth leaves four children, nine grandchildren, two sisters, and several nieces and nephews. Born, raised, and educated in Worcester, Ruth was a graduate of Bancroft. She attended Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, and graduated from Framingham State College in Framingham, where she received her Bachelor’s degree. Ruth enjoyed working for the Worcester County Courthouse, Shawmut Bank, but most of all, enjoyed her time as a teacher in the Shrewsbury School System. In the 1960’s, she had her own yarn shop in the barn of her home on Green Street in Shrewsbury, called the Yarn Barn.

Ruth was a former member of the First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury for many years, and was also a member of their choir. Later in life, she was a faithful member of the First Grafton Baptist Church of Grafton, where she loved attending the Sunday Services.

Mary Lou Seto ’53

October 8, 2021 | San Jose, CA at 86 Mary remembered fondly her youth in Worcester, where she was active in a variety of sports, most notably tennis. She ranked 2nd in New England as a youth and was one of Hazel Wightman’s girls until an injury curtailed the more competitive ranks. Given her love of basketball as well as the Celtics, she loved to tell how she once got to play tennis with Bob Cousy while at the Worcester Tennis Club.

After attending Bancroft, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Vassar College (Poughkeepsie NY) where she was a member of the G-Stringers, a group of women guitar musicians who sang pop-folk songs in the area. After graduation, she joined IBM as part of the new computer science group as a programmer, a breakthrough career for a female in the 50’s. It is through IBM connections she met and married David Seto, and settled into the greater Poughkeepsie area. She had a big heart and was always one of the first to be there for friends in need and asked for little in return. In her later years, she moved from the Hudson Valley to live near family in the San Jose CA area where she passed.

Mary Lou is survived by her five children, her twelve grandchildren, her sister, and many nieces and nephews, as well as her old tennis ladies.

Calvin Carr ’55 June 5, 2022 | Boothbay, Maine at 85 Calvin Carr was born in Boston, Massachusetts on March 25, 1937 to F. Benjamin Carr, MD and Dorothea (Cashman) Carr of Worcester, Massachusetts. He spent the World War II years in San Francisco, California while his father, who was a Captain in the U.S. Naval Medical Corps, served as Chief of Medicine at Base Hospital 18 on Guam. Following the war, the family returned to Worcester. Calvin attended Bancroft, Worcester Academy, Cornell University, and received his bachelor of arts degree from Tufts University. He earned a doctor of jurisprudence, as well as a Master of Law in taxation from Boston University School of Law. He worked for many years in the Law Department of John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company, retiring as Tax Counsel to John Hancock and to its various subsidiaries in March of 1996.

On July 30, 1966, Calvin became, in his own words,“the luckiest person” when he married Mary Virginia “Ginger” Logie. Together, Calvin and Ginger had a very productive and enjoyable nearly 56 years of marriage. They had two daughters, Stephanie Carr Angelone and Kimberly Carr. They lived for thirty years in Framingham, Massachusetts.

In retirement, Calvin enjoyed volunteering at the Boothbay Region Land Trust where he served on the board of directors and as secretary, acting treasurer, and vice president. He served as chair and member of the Lands Committee for 25 years. He and Ginger were charter members of the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, where he served as a volunteer for years. He was chair of the Nominating Committee during the formative years of the Gardens. Additionally, he was a member of the Down East Yacht Club. Calvin most enjoyed family, sailing, cruising on their power boat Salty and gardening.

He is survived by his wife Ginger, his two daughters, and seven grandchildren.

Hugh Alexander Riley ’58

September 14, 2021 | South Dartmouth, MA at 81

Hugh passed away peacefully at his home in Salter’s Point.

Hugh was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on September 28, 1939, the son of Chapin Riley and Mary Alexander Riley. He attended Bancroft School and Worcester Academy in Worcester.

Hugh is survived by his brother and his wife, his sister and her husband, a niece, two nephews, three great-nieces, and five great-nephews. Hugh had a long, special friendship with Jane Martin and the Sykes family who included him in all their family events, as he was the Easter Bunny and Santa annually.

An artist of watercolor and oil paintings beginning in his teenage years, Hugh expressed his passion for boats, nature, and especially seascapes. Most recently he explored glass fusion translating the same subjects. Besides his interest in art, Hugh was an avid sailor and had an interest in wooden sailboats. Hugh had a love of adventure and frequently visited his friend, Henry Tiffany, in Juneau, Alaska. Friends remember Hugh as warm, kind, and caring.

Rufus Smith Frost III ’58 June 7, 2022 Marlborough, MA & Keene, NH at 82 Rufus S. Frost, III, 82, formerly of Worcester, MA and currently of Marlborough and Keene, NH, died on the morning of June 7, 2022. He leaves his wife of 58 years, Mary (Brereton), his two children Rufus, IV and Nancy F. Bland, six grandchildren, and his oldest sister Helen (Henny) F. Hale.

Mr. Frost, son of Rufus II and Helen (Houston) Frost was born in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1940 and lived and worked there until his retirement in 2001 at which time he and his wife moved to Marlborough. He attended Bancroft and is a graduate of Middlesex School (Concord, MA). He served proudly in the United States Marine Corps Reserve during the early years of the Vietnam War and went on to graduate from Nichols College.

His memberships included Bohemians and Yellow Label in Worcester, and Mayflower Society, S.A.R, and MOLLUS on a national level. He was proud to continue his family’s commitment to the Frost Free Library in Marlborough and pleased to serve on its Board for many years.

Among his greatest pleasures were his grandchildren. He loved talking and kidding with them, following their interests, and attending their graduations. His time with his family was a highlight of his life. Affectionately known as Papa by his family and Rufe by his friends, he was loved and admired by many. He and his sense of humor will be missed.

Christina Gummere Laurie ’60

August 24, 2022 | Falmouth, MA at 80 Daughter of James E.T. Gummere and Elizabeth Wood Gummere Baker, step-daughter of Spencer H. Baker, and sister to Ann Cranshaw and Becky Hall. Christina is survived by her three children Bradley Laurie, Kit Angland, John Laurie, and their spouses: Kimberly, Greg and Alyssa. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, which she adored and loved to spend as much time as possible with.

Christina was born February 8, 1942, in Worcester and grew up in Grafton. After attending Bancroft School and Hartwick College, she worked as a newspaper reporter for various papers in Worcester, Boston, Quincy and Waltham. She married David W. Laurie in 1967, they were married for 26 years and had three children. At the age of 46, she attended Boston University School of Theology, receiving her Master of Divinity in 1998, and being ordained a Deacon in the United Methodist Church in 1999. She served the church for a decade as assistant pastor in Hartford, Stafford Springs and Meriden, CT., before being appointed to her own church in Glastonbury, CT. She also served in Rhode Island two years before becoming a Hospice chaplain in Pawtucket, which she loved.

Her life was dedicated to volunteerism, including visiting nursing homes, working in church missions, and as a chaplain at Falmouth Hospital. She was involved in church work all her life, singing, leading, volunteering, teaching, preaching and running workshops for church and women’s groups.

She was an avid sports enthusiast and swam daily since 1981. In that year, she began to play team tennis for six years, the last four being on an undefeated doubles team. She skied from the age of seven and enjoyed the Cape Cod Ski trips since 2000. At age 73, she learned to drive a motorcycle and enjoyed the open air on her bike. She loved to sail, bicycle, walk, watch sunsets, care for her twin cats, and spend time with her family and many friends.

Carol A. (Guptill) Bafaro ’62

June 21, 2021 | Worcester, MA at 77 Carol was born in Worcester, one of three daughters of Dr. Clifford R. and Thelma L. (Davis) Guptill. Raised and educated in Worcester, she graduated from The Bancroft School, studied at Cazenovia Junior College, and received her Bachelor’s degree in education from Boston University. In 1967, Carol married Carl A. “Tony” Bafaro and began a 39-year marriage full of love and devotion until Tony passed away on March 4th, 2006. Together they raised three children.

Carol is survived by her children Laura Marchand, Frank Bafaro II, and Amanda Speed and their spouses, 5 grandchildren that she loved with all her heart, two sisters, one brother in law, one brother, two sisters in law, and many nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.

Carol had a rewarding career as a primary school teacher before choosing to stay home with her children. Later in life, she found satisfaction working with special needs children in Worcester public schools, eventually retiring from Sullivan Middle School.

Carol was a gentle warrior. Her inner strength and positivity got her through tough times in life, including her husband’s illnesses and death, a life-saving organ transplant, and successful battles with cancer.

In Carol’s life, her family came first. She was happiest surrounded by her kids and grandchildren. She never missed opportunities to reach out and celebrate special occasions or holidays. She had a great sense of humor and room in her heart for everyone she met. Carol was kind, thoughtful, social, funny, and always generous with her love, time, and attention.

Steven H. Wandrei ’73 December 4, 2021 | Oxford, MA

A lifelong resident of Oxford, Steve was the son of the late Alfred and Ruth (Dimock) Wandrei. Steve is survived by his loving family and dear friends.

Steve will be most fondly remembered as the Captain of the Hurling Chunks World Championship Punkin’ Chunkin’ team. As Captain, Steve led his team into competition for many years in the trebuchet category in regional and national pumpkin hurling competitions. Regularly finishing not quite last, the team embraced the philosophy of being ’not the best, but good enough.’ Frigid camping trips and cowboy coffee will never be the same without the Captain.

Steve was an enthusiastic lover of polka music, a gardener, and a beekeeper for French River Apiaries. He retired in 2021 from the Raytheon Corporation following a career of more than forty years as an engineer.

Elizabeth Petter Thompson ’74 March 24, 2021| London, England

Betsy was a Bancroft sandboxer and cherished the friendships she made there.

Betsy completed her senior year of high school at Northfield Mount Herman. She attended St. Lawrence University, and spent her junior year in London at the Royal Academy of Art. After receiving her B.A. in Fine Arts in 1979, she moved to London permanently. There she held a number of positions in the art field, most notably serving as the Head of Art at Ibstock Place School from 2001-2007. She had a genuine gift for recognizing and drawing out the creative spark in young people and encouraging them to develop their artistic skills.

In 2008, she opened her own art studio where she privately tutored students of all ages. For many years she maintained a 100-percent success rate with the students seeking university art scholarships, a record that was finally broken

when she tutored two sisters who were competing for the same scholarship.

Betsy leaves behind her husband Brian Thompson, mother Elizabeth (Betty) Petter, sisters Barbara Putnam, Ann Petter, and Carolyn Workman, and Carolyn’s children Jack and Ella.

Matthew Shaw ’02 March 29, 2022 | Westborough, MA at 38 Matthew was the loving husband of Meagan M. (McAleavey) Shaw and a devoted father of three children: Torin A. McAleavey, Mason K. McAleavey, and Avery J. Shaw all of Westborough. Born in Concord, MA he is the son of Peter B. Shaw of Sutton and the late Mary Lee (Colgan) Shaw. In addition to his wife, kids and father he is survived by his sister and her husband, his brother his girlfriend, and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was raised in Westborough and was a 2002 graduate of St. John’s High School. He also attended Northeastern University.

When he passed Matthew was employed with PUMA. He began his time there in the digital marketing team in 2017. In his time, he worked his way up to Senior Strategist in Esports Brand Management. He took his love for e-gaming and video games and pioneered PUMA’s entry into the esports world.

Outside of work, Matt would always be spending time with his family. It was his driving force in all he did in life. His other life passions were writing, reading, playing and listening to music and playing video games.

Even when faced with the awfulness that is AML, Matthew won the hearts of all those who treated him and cared for him at Dana Farber on Yawkey 8. Never once did he show up to an appointment without a smile and drive to fight this terrible disease.

EXTENDED COMMUNITY

Elizabeth Brune (Folkers) Crawford September 17, 2021 | Upton, MA at 76

Elizabeth Brune (Folkers) Crawford, 76, of Upton and formerly of Winchester, MA passed away peacefully on September 17, 2021 at her home. She was the beloved wife of 37 years to Christopher C. Crawford, and mother of Meredith L. (Crawford) Scaplen.

Born in Boston and raised in Winchester, MA she was the daughter of Kern E. and Margaret V.(Lambert) Folkers of Winchester, MA (both, predeceased). She attended The Emma Willard School, Troy, New York, and was a 1967 graduate of Denison University, Granville, Ohio.

Elizabeth enjoyed spending time with family and friends, traveling to Europe and across the United States, as well as vacationing with her family on Cape Cod and northern New England. Yet, what

Elizabeth valued the most was being a Mom to her only daughter, guiding her to becoming an accomplished student of classical ballet.

Barbara Elliott Fargo

October 29, 2021 | Grafton, MA at 91

Following an extraordinary and well lived life, Barbara Elliott Fargo, aka ’Bargo’ and ’Basi,’ passed peacefully in her sleep. Bargo was a woman of action and in all the very best ways, she was old school: family was primary and she was committed to their wellbeing, friends were essential, and service to one’s community and environment was one’s duty.

The daughter of a science teacher and coach at St. George’s School in Middletown, RI, she grew up loving all sports, especially team sports. She loved the camaraderie, competition, and the joy of collectively working towards a greater goal. For Bargo it was the effort not the result that inspired her. Bargo exemplified the model of thinking globally and acting locally and was dedicated to supporting organizations that proved most impacting to her community. She received the ’Distinguished Friend of Education Award’ from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. Mass Audubon’s Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary in Worcester named their new facility the ’Barbara Elliott Fargo Education Center’ as a dedication to her vision and philanthropic efforts which helped to facilitate the creation of her cherished inner-city sanctuary.

Basi believed that realizing the joys of life required initiative, especially when outside of our comfort zones. A stranger is simply a friend you haven’t met yet,’ was an ideal she shared with every child and a choice she demonstrated to every adult she met. It would be her wish that we continue her mission and vision to support through dedication and hard work organizations that educate our youth, embrace the potential of hope, and protect the precious natural world around us.

Basi was preceded by her husband Bronson Fargo; and sons Bronson, Jr. and Rob. She is survived by her son Matt; her daughters-in-law, Lisa and Melinda; six grandchildren; a greatgrandson, and llama from Nepal.

Jean Trayer McDonough

August 22, 2021 | Worcester, MA at 93

Jean was both pragmatic and chic, thoughtful and to-thepoint. She paid attention to details. She appreciated excellence. She loved dogs (cocker spaniels and Shetland sheepdogs), chocolate (dark, very rich), and well-made jackets that never went out of style. She dressed as a witch every Halloween and never broke character when her grandchildren came trick-or-treating. She is perhaps best known in central Massachusetts for decades of generous support for Worcester-area cultural institutions.

Jean was born November 24, 1927 and refused to celebrate her birthday ’on

Thanksgiving’, insisting that her family gather for a birthday dinner separate from the turkey feast. She graduated from Adelphi University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1949, and married handsome Irish chemist and entrepreneur Myles McDonough in 1952. They settled in central Massachusetts and had two sons, Mark and Neil.

Jean was a Board member and Treasurer of Flexcon Co, Inc starting in 1960. She managed the company investments from 1976 to 2005 as Flexcon expanded from a single manufacturing site in Spencer to an international company.

For over five decades Jean served as a volunteer, a board member, and a financial supporter of local cultural institutions including the Worcester Art Museum, the Hanover Theater, Tower Hill Botanic Garden, the American Antiquarian Society, the Worcester Historical Museum, and Music Worcester. She was on the Board of Trustees for the Worcester Art Museum after serving as docent for 16 years. She spent a decade on the Board of Trustees at the EcoTarium. She was on the council for the American Antiquarian Society and chaired the Education Committee. She was a corporator for the Worcester Community Foundation, and vice president of the board at the Worcester History Museum. Later, she was a member of the UMass Memorial Development Foundation. Throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s Jean could often be found leading her grandchildren, one or two at a time, through the galleries at Worcester Art Museum, down a trail at Tower Hill, or to a seat at a theater for a show. She curated outings for each grandchild’s interest, though all almost invariably included a stop for chocolate.

Myles and Jean created the Myles and Jean Charitable Foundation in 1988 to continue giving to the community and institutions they loved. In 2011, Jean and Myles were honored with the Harvey Ball Smile Award, which recognizes individuals that have ’made a difference in the city of Worcester and helped people throughout the community smile.’ The outpouring of love and gratitude from the community following Myles’ death in 2012 inspired Jean to gift major contributions to her beloved local non-profits while she was still alive, so she could enjoy the experience. In 2015, Jean put this plan into action and donated $15 million to seven cultural institutions. At the announcement of this gift, she was given the key to the city of Worcester at a formal ceremony where she was surrounded by friends, colleagues, and her family. She loved the fanfare, and she looked fabulous in her outfit designed by her dear friend James Hogan.

Jean is survived by her beloved dog, her two sons, Mark and Neil, her daughter-in-law Lisa, seven grandchildren and eight greatgrandchildren.

Elizabeth K. Blute

January 5, 2022 | Shrewsbury, MA at 72 Elizabeth Kennedy Blute - extraordinary wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend, teacher, and businesswoman passed away peacefully at her home in Shrewsbury, MA on January 5, 2022. She was 72.

Liz was born in Worcester, MA on September 16, 1949, daughter of the late William H. Kennedy, Jr., and Sally M. (McCann) Kennedy. She grew up in Worcester and lived more than 24 years in Northborough, MA before recently moving to Shrewsbury, MA. The second of four daughters, she was raised on Monadnock Road in Worcester and graduated from Notre Dame Academy in 1967, and in 1971 from Cardinal Cushing College in Brookline where she studied education.

She met the love of her life, Dr. Robert D. Blute, Jr., at a Forest Grove dance in 1964. Bob was besotted by her sparkling personality and megawatt smile, and at the sight of her dark hair and brown eyes a 57-year love affair began. Bob and Liz were married at Immaculate Conception Church on June 26, 1971. Soon thereafter, Liz began her career as an elementary school teacher. Liz loved children and had a special gift for communicating with them and knew how to make them feel special.

Her husband, Bob, remembers, "Liz was extremely busy managing a life with three growing children while I was usually at the hospital. I was in awe of her skill in caring for our children and filling our lives with fun and love - always with a smiledespite my long hours away. It was a joy to watch... she was magic."

Liz leaves her husband of 50 years, Dr. Robert D. Blute Jr in addition to their three children Robert D. Blute III, Matthew W. Blute, Courtney K. Blute Perna, and their spouses, seven grandchildren, two sisters, and many nieces and nephews.

Laura K. Dully

April 21, 2022 |

Northborough, MA at 61

Laura “Laurie” Kay (Underhill) Dully passed away peacefully on April 21, 2022. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kevin Dully, and her parents, Robert and Marilyn (Knight) Underhill.

She is survived by her son Andrew James Dully, twin sisters Diane MacLennan and Linda Mosley, brother-in-law Brian Dully, beloved aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins. She is also survived by her two cherished golden retrievers, Molly and Bella, and her two cats Sophie and Simba.

Laura was born in Hillsdale, Michigan on August 9, 1960. She graduated from Western Michigan University in 1982 with a BA in Sociology. During her time there, she met Kevin on spring break and later married him on August 6, 1983. Laura and Kevin were blessed with their miracle baby Andrew on February 15, 2002. Laura was an active member of Pilgrim Congregational Church of Southborough. She also was a Boston Marathon finisher, an active member of the US Figure Skating Association, and a member of the Skating Club of Boston. Laura often affectionately referred to her numerous friends and family who supported her as her “Village”, which continues to support her family today. Written with love by her son, Andrew Dully.