Belmont Hill the bulletin for belmont hill school
winter | spring 2019
contents
6
features
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chapel talk
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hamilton chapel project update
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ronald m. druker ’62
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retiring faculty
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advanced science research: learning in and outside the classroom
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community & diversity
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30
our mission statement
departments
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chapel speakers
19
arts on the hill
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coaches’ corner
30
alumni & family events
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class notes
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faculty & staff news
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in memoriam
Belmont Hill School educates boys in mind, body, and spirit to develop men of good character. Our community encourages and challenges students to discover and pursue passions, seek excellence, and face adversity with resilience. We cultivate critical thinking and creativity, teamwork and competition, hard work and reflection, tradition and innovation. Valuing our differences and working together, we embrace camaraderie, compassion, and service to others. Our school strives to instill in each boy ethical judgment, a sense of common humanity, and a lifelong love of learning.
Front cover: Ronald M. Druker ’62. Inside front cover: Greg Desrosiers ’20 during the Dave Coratti Bowl in November 2018.
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chapel talk
ALUMNI STORIES AND HAMILTON CHAPEL
Remarks delivered by Gregory J. Schneider, Ronald M. Druker ’62 Head of School, on March 25, 2019
for these community gatherings. I suppose I will finally have some adult assistance in keeping all of you in line.
Good morning—and welcome back from break as we head into the home stretch of our 2018–2019 academic year. I trust that you return to us well-rested and ready to commit to another period of working together towards our common goals. For seniors, you now begin to experience the “first of the lasts” as you enter an exciting but reflective period in considering what your time at Belmont Hill has meant to you. For me, this morning represents a unique moment, as it is actually the last formal Chapel Talk I will offer in this space for a full calendar year. Let me explain. Hopefully, many of you are aware that we received an incredible gift this past fall to expand the Hamilton Chapel in an exciting way. While you will begin to see activity near the building in the weeks ahead, construction for expansion begins in earnest right after graduation, with a targeted completion date in late February of 2020. When the work is done, our goal is that the entrance, these pews, and the existing front view of the chapel will remain unchanged. We also hope the addition in the rear appears as if it was always here. Inside, however, we will all benefit from an expanded stage, air conditioning (yes), new and improved spaces in the basement, and seating that will grow from approximately 450 to 650. This increase will allow faculty and staff to move out of the confines of the vestibule and truly join us
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I suspect many of you know that this building was relocated here in the early 1960s from Connecticut. Mr. Martin actually provided me with a group of documents narrating this amazing story during my first weeks on campus. We should remember that while this gathering place may feel like a part of Belmont Hill’s soul, it has only been here for a bit more than half of our school’s history. What vision it must have taken to bring this structure from afar to be planted once again, growing roots here in a far more permanent way. While admittedly not original to this school, I still know that many alumni remember Hamilton Chapel as being central to, or at least symbolic of, their overall student experience at Belmont Hill School. Speaking of alumni, one of the things I decided to do early in my tenure this year was to invite all alumni to write to me with their most important Belmont Hill stories. Suffice it to say I was offered dozens of reflections about how this school impacted them—particularly through the power of relationships in this community. A few of these alumni stories sadly did not quite pass the “Chapel Talk PG-13 test,” so those offerings will be intentionally omitted this morning. But as we begin to ponder next school year without our treasured gathering space, I thought it might be a nice opportunity today to share with you some threads of memory from alumni who sat in these very same chapel seats ten, 25, or even 50 years before you did so this morning. Now, I won’t claim that every response I received was positive, but the vast majority of those who wrote to me looked back on their time here as formative, if not transformative. There were themes that quickly emerged: teamwork, relationships, character, adversity, and caring all were quite present in these passionate narratives.
For starters, a member of the Class of 1962 wrote to me specifically about teamwork and Belmont Hill with this reflection: “I learned about teamwork every spring by rowing crew, although my diminutive size never saw me breaking oars like the best on the team, it was wonderful to set a stroke and feel the boat working together. The look and sound of a well-trained crew still fills me with the utmost pleasure. My senior year we had a terrific first boat when we took on Exeter on our home course. Exeter was always the crew to beat, although we rarely did. That year, we got off to a good start and rowed the entire half-mile like our lives depended on it. At the finish line we were a decklength ahead and we all came home with Exeter crew shirts. I treasured that shirt for years, long past when it fit me, until my wife concluded that it was best used as a dust cloth and threw it away. I almost cried.” While not all of you can say that you have enjoyed the unique sense of teamwork experienced in crew, I imagine it is hard to leave Belmont Hill without knowing something meaningful about being a part of a team. The further you go with your life and career, the more you will come to see that one can accomplish very little that matters without the help and talent of others. When one combines teamwork with the competitive drive that I see in so many of you, it is undoubtedly a central part of Belmont Hill’s recipe for future success. I hope you leave us with a deep appreciation for the power of the teams you have experienced here. I would note that the most common thread of all of my alumni stories has been about the power of faculty to change lives. Many alumni speak of having been in and out of various spots of trouble, now appreciating what these lessons meant to them. There were certainly stories of Belmont Hill teachers holding students accountable in tough ways, but there were also tales of adults knowing when to show a bit more compassion. A member of the Class of 1984 reports: “The next six years progressed pretty smoothly in terms of disciplinary issues until one day in the spring of my senior year. I had a little quarrel with a girlfriend on Cape Cod and absolutely had to drive down there to sort things out, so I skipped school and headed down to Falmouth. I walked into Mr. Goodband’s office the next morning to confess my sin and take my medicine. When I told him the story….all I remember was that famous chuckle of his as he told me to keep my nose clean for the last few months of the term and let me slide.”
This same alumnus went on to suggest that the School administrators knew just when to hold boys accountable and when to show leniency—he had seen both during his Belmont Hill days. That being said, I hope this little road trip romance reminiscence doesn’t give any of our seniors grand new ideas for this spring. I suspect getting such a pass from Mr. Bradley might be an entirely different sort of challenge—personally I wouldn’t risk it. But there were other, slightly more serious, stories of Belmont Hill faculty knowing exactly what a particular student needed. This, from an alumnus in the Class of 2004: “At Belmont Hill School, I found solace and comfort, and a place where I was supported and respected by peers and teachers. Sure, I was picked on by classmates. And, yes, I did some picking-on of others, myself. But the School offered a brotherhood and camaraderie that just couldn’t be replicated anywhere else, and offered a holistic and deep remedy for the pain I felt elsewhere. My Mom knows that, which is why this place is so special and meaningful to her, as well. It’s why she cried when she hugged Mr. Martellini and Mr. Greer at my graduation, thanking them for what they did for me as teachers. If my partner and I have boys, she and I hope they find their way to Belmont Hill for the same reasons.”
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chapel talk
One other thing I have certainly come to understand about the brotherhood and culture of Belmont Hill is the appreciation of humor. It seems as if humor—both from students and faculty—has long held a place in the education and the formation of character at Belmont Hill. A member of the Class of 1969 stated: “Every teacher at Belmont Hill School had a nickname, generally a caricature of their appearance, dress, or behavior; and, of course, we all assumed that those names were our secret. One of my French teachers was Edward Densmore; we felt that his face had a somewhat mole-like configuration, so naturally he was ‘The Mole.’ One day he gave us a pop quiz, asking us to translate several French sentences into English. At the end of the page, he offered an extra-credit question: [I will say this next line as Mrs. Montanaro shudders in the back] ‘J’ai tué la taupe, j’en suis sur.’ We all knew that it meant ‘I’ve killed the something, I’m sure of it,’ but none of us knew the missing word. After we handed in our papers, he revealed the translation: ‘I killed the mole, I’m sure of it. Gotcha!’” A good reminder to all of you that your teachers generally know a lot more about what you are saying behind their backs than you think they do. Finally, perhaps most powerfully of all, these alumni stories express a deep theme of gratitude and appreciation. As I enter the spring of my first year, I feel a similar feeling of gratefulness to all of the faculty and staff and to all of you in this chapel today. One alumnus described it the following way: “I have lived in a lot of places and done a lot of things since my time at Belmont Hill, but I cannot sincerely convey enough how fondly I think of my time there, or how much gratitude and pride I have for being a graduate. When anyone asks me about Belmont Hill I always say the School does a great job of raising men. My wife would take it a step further; she would add the School does a great job of raising gentlemen. There are lots of programs in the Northeast which have rigorous academic standards or accomplished sports teams, but Belmont Hill ( fully biased opinion) stands out in my mind as an institution that prepares everyone to handle life.” Now all of you are having, and have had, different experiences at this school, and I am not here to suggest that every memory will be a positive one. By definition, our adolescent years are filled with a certain amount of
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challenge and uncertainty. But for my part, I have already seen these themes as being so present in my first year: the teamwork I observe in so many of your group projects and extracurricular activities. The depth of the relationships you experience with your teachers, and the way they care so deeply about each of you. The Belmont Hill humor that I have come to appreciate in all of its forms. And a shared sense of gratitude for a brotherhood and a place to call home while we are all lucky enough to be here. For my part, the message that may stick with me the most came from a handwritten note from a recent alumnus this past summer: “Belmont Hill is not the right school for every boy, but it is also not only the right school for just one type of boy.” As we continue to work on celebrating the range of diversity, personality, and talent in our student body—this is a critical reminder for us all. All of you might pause and think about what story you might send to me or my successor, when he or she reaches out to you to express what mattered most to you about your time here. For seniors, in particular, you find yourself on the precipice of launching from our campus. Quite appropriately, I deduce a healthy mixture of those for whom it can’t come soon enough and those for whom the prospect of leaving is quite sad. If nothing else, we can all take heart from these stories today in knowing that our connection to this place need not end when we leave it on graduation day. Certainly, I am grateful for all the ways in which these Belmont Hill alumni have shared their stories with me in their attempt to make it come alive. I can say with far more conviction than I did last August that it feels good to know that this place is now my home, a home that I have had the privilege of sharing with all of you this year. It should also be said that memories like these alumni stories are always shaped by time and hewn through nostalgia and perspective. As I said in an earlier Chapel Talk this year, one challenging goal of mine is to be as present as possible in all that I do. I would ask all of us in this room, seniors particularly, to remain present for Belmont Hill this spring as we go about our business here. One of the most compelling books I had the pleasure of reading on the topic of remembering was Vladimir Nabokov’s Speak, Memory during my freshman year of college. It is a volume that explores the fleeting and powerful essence of memory for all of us. The author concludes eloquently that it is always in our conscious, present state that one has the most confidence and assurance that our course is true. Nabokov says:
“It is certainly not then—not in dreams—but when one is wide awake, in moments of robust joy and achievement, on the highest terrace of consciousness, that mortality has a chance to peer beyond its own limits, from the mast, from the past and its castle tower. And although nothing much can be seen through the mist, there is somehow the blissful feeling that one is looking in the right direction.” I feel extremely confident that we will be working together and looking in the right direction as a school this spring. And I hope that a decade from now, or perhaps two decades from now, some of the people in this room might consider sharing their own Belmont Hill stories with an aging Head of School. Assuming I am lucky enough to still have an audience similar to this one in our expanded Hamilton Chapel, rest assured that it would mean a great deal to me.
“
Certainly, I am grateful for all the ways in which these Belmont Hill alumni have shared their stories with me in their attempt to make it come alive. I can say with far more conviction than I did last August that it feels good to know that this place is now my home, a home that I have had the privilege of sharing with all of you this year.
”
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hamilton chapel project update
HAMILTON CHAPEL PROJECT UPDATE
By Gregory J. Schneider, Ronald M. Druker ’62 Head of School From my earliest conversations with members of the Belmont Hill community, it was clear to me that many people had been dreaming of a Hamilton Chapel expansion for quite some time. Now that I have been on campus for almost a year, I can certainly appreciate why this is the case. Beyond its significance as the architectural centerpiece of Belmont Hill, the Hamilton Chapel is truly the soul of our community. Coming together as one school is a powerful tool in our timeless mission of developing young men of character while honoring our motto of “working together” in all that we do. The need for expansion is real for many reasons. First and foremost, I have witnessed our faculty huddled in the vestibule outside the Hamilton Chapel, literally pressing an ear to the wall to try to connect with a speech or program. Boys are indeed cozy in the current arrangement, and the stage is not nearly large enough to accommodate our performing groups. At the Winter Concert, I saw a creative platform emerge for both our bass player and drummer on a piece of plywood placed over a group of pews. It is so exciting to think of a new home for our community that will more fully meet our program needs. While the opportunity of the physical renovation was thrilling, so was the story of a generous anonymous family who decided to make it feasible to start this project immediately. By committing $5 million towards this
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Looking ahead, preliminary construction will start in the spring of 2019 with work beginning in earnest after Commencement. If all goes according to plan, our boys should be back in the remodeled Hamilton Chapel before Spring Break in 2020. Beyond the remarkable new facility, this project will also send a message of welcome and inclusion. We will vastly improve handicap accessibility with a new elevator, modernized bathrooms, and a wonderful basement floor which will include a Green Room as well as a multi-purpose gathering space. The plans also include a secondary entrance to assist with entry and exit while also setting the stage for any future development plans in that area of campus. Suffice it to say that the Hamilton Chapel project has been an eye-opening moment for me as the new Head of School. I have come to understand the generosity of our donors, the wisdom of our governance, and the shared passion for our mission. I look forward to delivering the first Chapel Talk from our new and improved gathering space a year from now.
New Side Entrance
Historic Entrance
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effort, we suddenly found ourselves able to put a shovel in the ground far earlier than anticipated. This was my first humbling moment at Belmont Hill to appreciate the dedication of a supportive community coming together ready to help our school thrive. We are all connected through our desire to see Belmont Hill fulfill its mission as an exceptional boys school.
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View from Fields
Chapel Interior www.belmonthill.org
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RONALD M. DRUKER ’62
RONALD M. DRUKER ’62 Gives Historic $10 Million Gift to Endow Head of School Chair By Bill Mahoney
For Ronald M. Druker ’62, the importance of giving back was instilled in him by his parents. “Their demonstrated values were 100 percent of the influencing factor on my philanthropy over the years,” Mr. Druker notes. “By their activity and generosity, they set an example that left no question in my mind that that’s the way one approaches one’s life if one is fortunate enough to have the time and ability to make a difference in institutions.” With an historic $10 million gift to Belmont Hill to endow the Head of School Chair, Mr. Druker has indeed followed the example of his parents and made an extraordinary difference as the School embarks on its vital Centennial Campaign. Mr. Druker is president of The Druker Company, Ltd., one of Boston’s oldest and most successful real estate firms, developing projects such as The Heritage on The Garden and the South End’s Atelier|505, as well as regional malls, urban and suburban office buildings, shopping centers, residential developments, and hotels. The Druker Company has received awards from Boston’s Preservation Alliance, and is the only Boston company to have twice received the Urban Land Institute’s Award for Excellence, the “Oscar” of the industry. He is recognized as a leader in all facets of the real estate profession. Mr. Druker has also served on the boards of the Museum of Fine Arts, Institute of Contemporary Arts, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Beth Israel Hospital, as well as others. He was a faculty member at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, where he was a Loeb Fellow, and has lectured at Harvard Business School, Columbia Graduate School of Architecture and Planning, the Harvard Real Estate Forum, and the MIT Center for Real Estate Development. Rick Melvoin, former Ronald M. Druker ’62 Head of School, says it is not a coincidence that just a few years ago Belmont Hill honored Mr. Druker with the Distinguished Alumni Award for all he had done for the School even before this remarkable gift. “Not only a leader in his profession of real estate development, Ron has been a true leader at Belmont Hill,” Dr. Melvoin says. “He has overseen and guided much of the transformation of the School’s campus over the last quarter century, and he personally led the design team that created the beautiful Prenatt Music Center. Even as the School moves forward with renovation of the Hamilton Chapel, Ron remains front and center in envisioning the campus of today and tomorrow.”
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“...I learned all the basic skills and received a fine education here, but the most important value I learned was loyalty. Loyalty to your classmates, loyalty to the faculty, and belief in the lessons they taught. ” The impetus for the gift came during a series of conversations with Dr. Melvoin and Development Committee co-chair Carl Martignetti ’77. The idea of a legacy gift was floated and Mr. Druker said the idea appealed to him. Eventually, he saw endowing a Head of School Chair as a way to make a transformational gift. “What truly constitutes a school is its leadership,” Mr. Druker explains. “I saw this gift as a way to honor the extraordinary leadership Rick gave the School for 25 years. He is simply one of the finest people I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. He’s done great things for the School and has exceptional values. So, the gift really came about as a way to honor the School and Rick, and to give back to a place I love.”
belief in the lessons they taught. The overall integrity of the School influences the students, to this day. The values here have always been appropriately high and continue to be.”
Without a doubt, when one listens to Mr. Druker speak of Belmont Hill, the love he references is clear. He came to the School as a fifth grader at a time in which Belmont Hill was a 5–12 school. The School was smaller then, just 13 boys in his fifth-grade class and 42 in his graduating class. “The teacher-coach model was never stronger,” he reflects. “The faculty really cared about you and got to know you in every way. I learned so much both in the classroom and on the athletic fields. I made important friendships which are still very strong and an important part of my life today.”
Greg Schneider, current Ronald M. Druker ’62 Head of School, says he is both humbled and inspired by the opportunity. “Having the chance to adopt this title on the heels of Rick Melvoin’s great legacy is an honor and a challenge,” Mr. Schneider says. “I look forward to doing everything I can as a leader to live up to the incredible gift that the Druker family has bestowed upon all future Heads of School at Belmont Hill.”
Mr. Druker states that the most important value he learned on the Hill was loyalty, which may explain why he has remained so devoted to Belmont Hill. “Of course, I learned all the basic skills and received a fine education here,” he says. “But the most important value I learned was loyalty. Loyalty to your classmates, loyalty to the faculty, and
The warmth that he feels for Belmont Hill’s past is equaled by his optimism for its future. “Belmont Hill needs only to continue being the fine institution that it is,” he states. “Greg Schneider, whom I first met as a member of the search committee, will take the School in directions that are appropriate for the time, just as Rick Melvoin did. I have high expectations for Greg, and I’m certain he’ll meet them. The values of decency and integrity here will never be compromised, and that’s how Belmont Hill will continue to thrive.”
It is Mr. Druker’s hope that his gift might inspire the generosity of others to support the campaign honoring Belmont Hill’s Centennial. “I would say to those who can, ‘Why not?’ I would encourage all to give within their means. I hope my statement will act as a catalyst and others will follow. It would be wonderful to have my gift inspire others.”
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retiring faculty
RETIRING FACULTY By Bill Mahoney
David Greer Retires after 41 Years: “I’ve Certainly Never Looked Back.” opportunity to teach English while coaching varsity baseball and JV basketball,” he says, and then laughs. “I thought I’d died and gone to heaven!” For Mr. Greer, a move to Belmont Hill represented a chance for his wife, Dee, and him to be closer to their hometown of Dedham. From his Roxbury Latin days, he knew about Belmont Hill and felt it was a good fit. “I knew the School valued academics and athletics, which are important to me,” he notes. “I knew the people, and knew they were good people.”
David Greer had taught for eight rewarding years at Woodstock Academy in Connecticut when he received an offer to teach at Belmont Hill. It was a difficult decision with many variables, and he recalls taking a long walk to think things through. Now, after 40-plus years of teaching on the Hill, Mr. Greer can rest assured that the walk was a productive one and that he made the right decision. “I’ve certainly never looked back,” he says emphatically. Mr. Greer spent most of his childhood in Dedham and attended Roxbury Latin, where he played three sports and survived what he describes as an especially rigorous academic environment. He went on to attend the University of Virginia, which included four years of pitching on the baseball team. “I majored in English and had begun to develop a real passion for literature and writing,” he recalls. “It became clear to me that I was destined for a career in teaching.” Shortly after graduation, he accepted the position at Woodstock Academy. “As a 23-year-old, I had the
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In his time at Belmont Hill, Mr. Greer has primarily taught English 4, American Literature, and a number of different electives. He was honored to hold the Byrnes Chair in the Humanities from 2013–2018. His coaching duties have included JV basketball, Middle School basketball, JV and varsity baseball, intramural squash, and 40 years of eighth-grade football. “Dave is a perfect example of a career teacher and coach,” says English department chair David Leonardis. “He has been a pillar for our department, teaching four classes throughout his entire career and coaching two and often three sports. His love of working with kids in the classroom is a reminder to me that this gig never gets old.” Mr. Greer notes that he has always appreciated the classroom autonomy afforded to him at Belmont Hill. “In particular, the Harkness Table really changed my teaching. Classes that were more teacher centered became more student centered. Getting kids engaged in thinking and talking about books is so important.” He also is a staunch believer in the teacher-coach model. “It truly distinguishes us from other schools. It best demonstrates the ‘working together’ mantra. The opportunity to work with these boys in the classroom and on the athletic fields is particularly gratifying.”
Longtime colleague Dr. Jeffrey Fast has always been impressed with the relationships Mr. Greer develops with his students. “Dave’s relationship with his students has been based on a bedrock of trust, fairness, and respect,” Dr. Fast states. “Students know that he cares about them, and they reciprocate.” Dr. Fast believes that Mr. Greer’s perspective has been richly informed by his long tenure here. “His experience and well-earned confidence have provided the School with continuity and stability. His combination of high-quality, consistent, and dependable performance; insight into subject matter; and focus upon the unique needs of adolescent boys has made him an invaluable member of both the School and the English department. He has served as a valued faculty member, coach, and student advisor, a man who has been respected and appreciated by faculty, staff, and students.” Certainly, the respect for Mr. Greer by his colleagues is reciprocated. “The work ethic of the faculty here never ceases to amaze me,” he says. “They bring such care to their work. I don’t think any school can match it. It is very special. We have good people who work hard. I treasure the many valued friendships I’ve developed here through the years. I will certainly miss working with them each day.” He will also miss the boys and the energy they bring to the classroom on a daily basis. “We ask a lot of them,
we really do. They are so bright, well motivated, and engaged. I say to their parents all the time: ‘You’d love to be a fly on the wall for the classroom discussions we have. They are remarkable.’” Matt Czarnecki ’14 speaks fondly of his days in Mr. Greer’s classroom. “Mr. Greer brought a charisma and unique teaching style to the classroom that made me excited for every one of his classes,” he notes. “The novels he chose (and our ensuing discussions) sparked in me a love for reading novels that continues to this day. I’ll never forget reading Lonesome Dove, the 920-page western he gave to me to read during a school recess; even though the book was great, I remember especially wanting to love it because Mr. Greer had given it to me.” Mr. Greer said that while he is uncertain about all of the specifics of his retirement, he looks forward to spending more time with Dee, his children and their spouses, and, especially, his grandchildren Casey, Callie, Madison, James, and Kayleigh. Longtime friend and colleague Ken Martin ’65 greatly admires Mr. Greer as a teacher and coach, but also as a family man. “Dave is a good man, a family man who truly loves his children and grandchildren. He is revered here and rightfully so. I will miss him.” It’s safe to say that all who have known Mr. Greer for the 41 years he has graced this campus will greatly miss him as well.
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retiring faculty
Tim Wood ’71 Retires after 36 Years: “...a Joy to Come to Work Each Day.” Although many members of Tim Wood’s family attended Noble and Greenough School, Tim and his twin brother, Ned, mostly for logistical reasons, headed off to Belmont Hill in seventh grade. Mr. Wood smiles as he considers that. “I never had any regrets,” he says. “Belmont Hill was a very special place for me as a student and continues to be today.”
Angeles at Chadwick School for the next six years. “For a time I thought I’d probably be in L.A. permanently, and I started considering buying a house or condo. But then I decided to give one more look at teaching in New England and I sent out résumés and got an offer from Belmont Hill,” he recalls. “It felt good to be back home at Belmont Hill.”
Upon coming to Belmont Hill as a student, he initially played football, hockey, and baseball…with mixed results. Kim Bassett, then crew coach, noted his struggles with baseball and encouraged him to try rowing in the spring. It would become a lifelong passion. “I fell in love with it,” he notes. “Being in the classroom all day, it was always so rejuvenating to get out on the water.”
His initial impression of the School upon his return was that not much had changed. “I thought that was a good thing,” he states. “Belmont Hill was such an important part of my life growing up, and I was encouraged to see that the School had stayed true to its values as the years went on.”
He became an accomplished rower and was recruited to row at Yale. His love of the sport only grew. Midway through his time at Yale, he took a year off from school and returned to Belmont Hill to coach in the Middle School. It was at this time that he knew teaching would be his future. “I got to thinking it was a really nice life to teach in the classroom in the mornings, and then coach in the afternoon.” After college, he coached rowing at the University of Southern California for a year, then taught near Los
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Hired to teach English and history and coach rowing, he also taught history and Latin for a number of years before eventually teaching Latin full time. Most of his teaching and coaching were in the Middle School, as he coached fifth and third football and eighth-grade hockey. For 16 years he coached the varsity crew, highlighted by two trips to the Henley Regatta in England. Both crews made it to the finals and the 1987 crew returned with the Princess Elizabeth Cup. “Tim has that great mix of qualities that both resonate so well with boys and inspire them: talent and modesty, high
standards and empathy, a good sense of humor,” says Classics teacher and varsity crew coach Chris Richards. “Always reliable and unflappable, he has simply been a fantastic guy to work with, both in the Classics department and at the river.” Adds fellow Middle School crew coach Ruth Sweeney, “Tim is very patient—with his team and with his coaches. Even when things are a little crazy, he is calm. No matter what happens, he is kind and encouraging. He has a great way with the novice rowers and can see a boy’s potential even before the boy—or the other coaches—can.” John Carroll ’89, who rowed for Mr. Wood, recalls he always stressed that the boys focus on what they could accomplish rather than compare themselves to others. “He confidently encouraged us to push ourselves, so we could reach our own potential. Having someone foster that belief in us at a young age helped us to become our best selves,” Mr. Carroll recalls. “As a coach, sportsmanship was first and foremost, but he also taught us to think about one stroke at a time. When you think you're ready to give up, just focus on the next stroke because that is the stroke that will make the difference. That’s a wonderful philosophy for crew and for life." Mr. Wood says it took him a while to realize that he might finish his career here, and then with a laugh adds, “I always felt fortunate to be offered a contract for the next year! But eventually, after 10 years or so, I knew
this was where I wanted to be. I love the Boston area and was married by then, and it was very easy for us to stay here.” Like many of his colleagues, he is continually impressed by the students of Belmont Hill. “They are very capable, ambitious, and want to do well,” he states. “With the teacher-coach model, you have the opportunity to work with boys in the classroom. And sometimes if they are struggling, you are able to break through outside the classroom while coaching. It’s a very special dynamic that really separates us from other schools.” What has kept Mr. Wood at Belmont Hill for these many years? “A mentor long ago gave me a very valuable piece of advice,” he recalls. “He said, ‘Like the people you work with.’ That’s simple but very true. It makes it such a joy to come to work each day. This is a very easy place to work because everyone is so capable but also so friendly. The boys and my colleagues alike.” The feeling, without a doubt, is mutual. “Tim is kind, compassionate, and wonderful to work with,” Mrs. Sweeney notes. “He is a true gentleman, colleague, and friend.” As Mr. Wood approaches retirement, he says that he will always cherish his time at Belmont Hill, which has shaped so much of his life. “I’ve really made great friends here, lifelong friends,” he reflects. “When I come back to reunions, I always feel like I’m coming back to a family reunion. This is home to me.”
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advanced science research
ADVANCED SCIENCE RESEARCH: LEARNING IN AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM By Bill Mahoney
In the 1990s, when Belmont Hill science teacher Jared Courtney ’97 was a student at Belmont Hill and eventually the University of Pennsylvania, he learned that actually doing medical research brought the science he learned in the classroom to life. Mr. Courtney was fortunate to spend many summers volunteer researching as a student, and worked as a research assistant at various levels until he chose to become a teacher. “While working at Berkshire School from 2006–2010, our math department chair and I decided to create a one-year program that placed students with professional mentors in science and math disciplines,” Mr. Courtney explains. This was the beginning of the Advanced Math/Science Research program at Berkshire. Over just three years, the program grew from two students to approximately 30. He witnessed firsthand how much this experience could mean to outstanding, motivated students.
SEEING AN OPPORTUNITY Upon returning to Belmont Hill as a member of the science faculty in 2010, Mr. Courtney was immediately excited by how many research opportunities he could see that were within a few miles of the School. Noting what he describes as the remarkable academic drive of the Belmont Hill student body, he believed that a research class could work quite well with our students. He had a series of conversations with then Ronald M. Druker ’62 Head of School Rick Melvoin, then science-chair Hans Wachtmeister, and Upper School Director Don Bradley. “Each of them was extremely helpful in bringing the idea of yearlong scientific research to reality at Belmont Hill.”
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From its inception, the goal of the Advanced Science Research (ASR) program was to give the top Belmont Hill science students the opportunity to pursue an open-ended research question. “Advanced Science Research aims to bridge the significant knowledge gap between the high school classroom and the professional research world with the active support of a Belmont Hill faculty member, who coordinates the student-mentor relationship and meets frequently with the student to discuss his work,” Mr. Courtney notes.
STARTING THE PROGRAM It made sense to have the program start small. In 2011, the first year, there were only four students in the class, each placed with a research mentor in the Boston area. The research mentors were in close touch with Mr. Courtney, both to provide feedback on the students’ work and on the program. After a successful first year, the mentors suggested that the student work would be more meaningful if it happened over two years, including a summertime. As the program evolved to a two-year science elective, the enrollment blossomed to about 15–25 students total: Half of the class are new Form V students, and half are returning Form VI students. Mr. Courtney states, “ASR simply could not function in its current form without the overwhelming support of local research mentors, my faculty colleagues who have been extremely flexible with their class and practice time, parents who have helped with transportation, and the diligent effort of past and current ASR students.”
THE PROGRAM IN DETAIL Students apply to ASR as sophomores, and must be enrolled in AP Biology, which assures mentors that they are getting the top science students in the School. Based on their grades in science and math, the recommendation of their advisor, and their completion of an application and interview, students are accepted into ASR by April of sophomore year. After determining which broad areas of science interest them, they are placed with a scientific mentor sometime over the summer. They begin visiting the lab weekly in September of their junior year for six hours each Thursday. After spending a few months gaining skills specific to the lab’s work, the student selects a research project to take on for the remaining 18 months of his lab time. The student also has check-in meetings with Mr. Courtney and the research mentor during the year. On campus, ASR students meet twice weekly as a class: once with Mr. Courtney directly to discuss the week’s reading and once as an entire class to share experiences. The student completes two major assignments during junior year: an eight-page review of the literature he has read thus far, and an introduction section to a paper he will continue during senior fall. In the summertime before senior year, students spend a minimum of six weeks working full-time in their labs. Brahm Agnihotri ’20 doing genetic research of zebrafish at Simches Research Center in Boston.
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY “While many other high schools offer on-campus research classes, very few offer off-site research mentorships,” Mr. Courtney explains. “Fewer still offer personal support of students in the class, in the same way that Belmont Hill does.” He states that in addition to the unique opportunity to work directly with a professional scientist who excels in his or her field, ASR allows students to refine their writing, presentation, and critical-analysis skills. By way of entry into local and national competitions, presenting to audiences of various sizes and degrees of familiarity with science, and even being honored with co-authorships on research articles in professionally published scientific journals, he hopes that ASR will help students develop a passion for science and a set of skills they can apply in future academic and professional work.
During senior fall, students resume weekly lab visits on Thursdays. They also begin to pivot their on-campus work to a few major assignments/assessments: • Entry to the Regeneron Science Talent Search in November, renowned as the most prestigious national high school science competition. The entry includes a 20-page research report, a series of essays about the student’s scientific potential and academic record, and the recommendation of their research mentor and Mr. Courtney. • Participation in a High School Research Symposium, where students will both present and listen to peer high school students conducting research at other independent schools. Students design and print research posters, then explain their work. • Participation in a Poster Defense, modeled after a doctorate defense. Students design and print a research poster, then answer questions about their work from a panel of experts composed of their research mentors and Belmont Hill faculty. • Completion of a mock NIH Grant Proposal, mimicking the process of requesting federal funding for continued research in their field. www.belmonthill.org
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Jack Weldon ’20 in a marine biology lab at Boston University.
LIFELONG SKILLS More than just an amazing opportunity to conduct professional science, ASR aims to instill important lifelong skills in the students. As they speak and write about their work, students develop organizational and presentation skills that can serve them well in their future academic or professional work. Students in ASR have been recognized for their success in these arenas. In entry to the Regeneron Science Talent Search, which nationally honors the top high school scientific scholars in the United States, Belmont Hill’s ASR students have been recognized five times over the past seven years.
Recent alumni have built upon their work in Belmont Hill’s ASR to secure summer internships, paid research positions, acceptance into graduate schools, or continued professional publication. While many secondary schools consider ways to weave “21st-century skills” into the daily classroom, programs at Belmont Hill—such as ASR—actively involve students in experiential learning that will directly inform their future as scholars and citizens. The School is currently considering ways to broaden ASR’s success beyond scientific research. With opportunities on the horizon in software development, mathematical modeling, statistical analysis, and humanities research, Belmont Hill hopes to provide many more research mentorship opportunities in the years to come.
Liam Durbin ’19 doing design and imaging work in a lab at the Center for Life Sciences in Boston.
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community & diversity
COMMUNITY & DIVERSITY
Belmont Hill students who attended the Student Diversity Leadership Conference: Justin O’Neil-Riley ’19, Julian Wambach ’19, Charlie Booth ’20, Ruphael Getahun ’20, Hamza Shemsu ’20, and Adil Kassim ’20.
Six students accompanied by seven faculty members had the opportunity to travel to Nashville, TN, on November 29 to attend a three-day Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC), which is part of the annual People of Color Conference (PoCC) sponsored by NAIS. The conference attendees include multiracial and multicultural Upper School student leaders from across the United States and abroad. The theme of the conference was “Listening for the Grace Note: Finding Harmony Amid Cacophony.” SDLC focuses on self-reflecting, forming allies, and building community. Several students reflected on one of the speakers, Christian Picciolini, a former violent extremist. Mr. Picciolini spoke about his struggle to leave the hate movement he helped create during his youth, and how he turned his life around. He is now dedicated to helping others around the world exit hate movements and other violent ideologies. The students felt fortunate and grateful to attend the conference and created bonds with people from various backgrounds. Below are a few reflections from Belmont Hill conference attendees: “SDLC has motivated me to be a more productive leader among my friends and also within school. I hope I can use my experiences at SDLC to make a positive impact on the Belmont Hill community in regard to inclusion and social justice.” —Hamza Shemsu ’20 “One thing that really surprised me was how open and vulnerable everyone was throughout the conference, especially in the beginning.” —Adil Kassim ’20
“There was time carved out in the form of workshops where we conversed about issues surrounding age, family structure, socioeconomic status, gender, race and ethnicity, ability, and sexual orientation. Over the course of two days, at different times, we were asked to go to one of these identifiers, at which a small group would form, and we would share our personal experiences with these identifiers. This exercise allowed us to fully understand each other. To do this, we had to be open-minded and vulnerable. Being open-minded and vulnerable with one another allowed us to be able to love each other.” —Justin O’Neil-Riley ’19 “By gathering many people with different backgrounds, different opinions, and different experiences, there is so much learning to be done because of the diversity of perspectives.” —Ruphael Getahun ’20 “The stories of these boys and girls—from a young black boy from southern California who had never met his father to an adopted Asian girl from Maine who represented the only racial diversity in her entire county to a transgender girl from South Carolina whose parents refused to recognize her gender identity and whose school forbade her the use of the female locker rooms and bathrooms—impacted me on a scale unlike anything I had experienced.” —Julian Wambach ’19 “Being placed in a national environment exposes just how fortunate Belmont Hill students really are, but nonetheless brings into focus the need as a community to make minorities on campus feel comfortable.” —Charlie Booth ’20
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chapel speakers
CHAPEL SPEAKERS Belmont Hill has the great fortune to welcome many distinguished speakers to campus each year. For additional information about each of the speakers, please visit our website. dr . lester hartman
October 19, 2018
Dr. Lester Hartman, pictured with Donna David, a passionate advocate of preventing the use of dangerous nicotine products in “juuling” and “vaping,” delivered a timely speech to the boys in a powerful chapel. Dr. Hartman focuses on preventing the return of the tobacco epidemic.
emma brown
November 6, 2018 To increase the awareness of sustainability, Emma Brown, director of operations at Bootstrap Compost, pictured with Colin Braun ’19, spoke about the basic process of composting and its vital importance. The composting program at Belmont Hill is one of its most notable improvements in campus sustainability.
mark dube
’07
November 12, 2018 Mark Dube ’07 spoke of his journey from Belmont Hill to West Point and beyond, while touching upon the themes of service and leadership. The morning closed with a poignant video highlighting the Kenney Legacy WWII Trip, given in memory of Charlie Kenney ’06, and an announcement of the students selected for the 2019 trip. Pictured in the photo are Charles Kenney, Anne Detmer, Mark Dube ’07, and Greg Schneider.
sam kennedy p
’22
December 3, 2018
Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy P ’22 surprised students with the four World Series trophies the Red Sox have captured in this century. Mr. Kennedy then reflected on the Red Sox’s magical run to the World Series, entertaining the boys with stories about the team.
kevin powell
January 22, 2019 Belmont Hill’s Diversity Day curriculum began in chapel with speaker, author, and activist Kevin Powell, pictured left with Greg Schneider and Caleb Collins. Mr. Powell talked about his memoir, The Education of Kevin Powell: A Boy’s Journey into Manhood, and his survival of racism and poverty.
regie gibson
February 11, 2019 Poet, songwriter, author, workshop facilitator, and educator Regie Gibson was invited by English teacher Dr. Jeanne Tift to a special chapel. Mr. Gibson delivered a riveting performance that encompassed poetry, music, and narrative with the hope that his audience would learn to see the world poetically.
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Arts on the Hill (l-r) Kevin O’Neill ’19, Joseph Romney ’20, and Aidan McGaugh ’20 singing with winter–spring the B-Flats at Winter www.belmonthill.org 2019 Concert.
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Ryan Cannistraro playing Ponyboy Curtis in The Outsiders.
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In Advanced Photo, Abe Tolkoff ’19 worked digitally to produce an archival inkjet print focused on a personal narrative.
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Ceramic bowl by Jack Tahan ’20.
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Performing with the Orchestra at the Winter Concert: Renny Gong ’20, violin; Kerby-Louis Roberson ’19, violin; and Howard Huang ’22, violin.
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Jeremy Eaton ’23 as Mysteriously Omniscient Inspector, Keilana Godhwani as Wealthy Dowager, Daniel Bittner ’22 as Boy Band Reject, Dietrich Jacobs ’22 as Decrepit Invalid, and Julian Boutin ’24 as Brainless Model in Murder in the Knife Room.
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Sean Egan ’23 on guitar and Mr. Fiori on drums performing with the Middle School Rock Band at Coffee House.
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Alex Sousa ’22 shot this photograph, “Ascend”, on 35mm black and white film.
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Sebastian Costantini ’22 created handmade silver gelatin prints.
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Middle School Jazz Ensemble members David Carter ’22, trumpet; Daniel Bittner ’22, trumpet; Andrew Bittner ’24, trumpet; Alexander Lo ’23, trumpet; Benjamin Gliklich ’23, clarinet; and (seated) John Luehrman ’24, French horn, at the Fall Recital.
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Timothy Hebard ’23 playing Struggling Standup Comic in Murder in the Knife Room.
12. Andrew Herrera ’19, baritone saxophone; Artemy Ivanov ’20, alto saxophone; and Timothy Brown ’20, tenor saxophone performing with the Upper School Jazz Ensemble at the Winter Concert. 13. Tommy Madden ’22, Ceramics, “Honest Abe.” 14. Grant Litchfield ’21, Advanced Woodworking, scoop. 15. Jake McOsker ’19, Advanced Woodworking, table.
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Coaches’ Corner
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coaches’ corner
the varsity team at the same time as then-freshman Matthew Smith. The regular season opened with resounding victories over BB&N, Brooks, and St. Sebastian’s at Fresh Pond in Cambridge, in which James Donahue broke the course record, set recently by John Pappo, with a time of 16:30 and Smith and Goguen both broke the 18-minute mark. Belmont Hill continued its dominance in its next race at Milton, bringing them to 7–0. The next week, however, with James Donahue battling shin and hip injuries and consistent top performer John High on college crew recruitment visits, they would suffer their first two losses against Middlesex and St. Mark’s. Even with the injured James Donahue sitting out, the team successfully rebounded the next week with hard-fought wins over Groton and Thayer. The day marked PRs for a number of Belmont Hill runners, including Smith (17:28), Goguen (17:41), High (17:44), and James Eysenbach ’19 (18:06). The team finished the four remaining races in the regular season without top runner James Donahue, picking up six more wins and two more losses (to ISL championship contenders Roxbury Latin and Tabor) for a record of 13–4.
Cross Country TYSON TRAUTZ, Head Coach
After the loss of a number of valuable senior runners, including former co-captains Quin McGaugh ’18 and John Pappo ’18, who now run at Middlebury and Tufts, respectively, as well as the persistent injuries of younger runners, including 2016 All-New England finisher Charles Donahue ’20, expectations were low for Belmont Hill heading into the 2018 Cross Country season. Nevertheless, the Belmont Hill Cross Country team completed an outstanding season. The team reconvened in late August to begin the official season. Despite record heat, which forced Mr. Trautz to cancel or shorten a number of practices, including the annual timed mile, the team eagerly entered the season and even picked up an unexpected new member, Ben Awtrey ’19, a star varsity lacrosse player who would prove a valuable runner in the coming months, and a new coach, Jake DeCaprio ’16, who was a senior on
After a season of hard work and fast times, the Belmont Hill Cross Country team underperformed in the ISL Championship race, coming in 6th in the league. The early November Friday was marked by poor weather, nagging injuries, as was the case with James Donahue, and disappointing finishes. Amidst collective failure, some found individual success; Goguen led the varsity team with a 24th place finish, and Aidan McGaugh ’20 and Tor Hillström ’20, a Swedish foreign-exchange student, both earned medals for their 9th and 13th place finishes, respectively, in the JV race. Belmont Hill closed out the season at the Division I New England Championships hosted by Avon Old Farms in Connecticut. Despite a low team finish of 11th, it was still a day worth remembering, with fast times on the flat course capping off years of hard work for the seniors. The team celebrated its season with the rest of the School at the Fall Athletic Chapel, where Smith was named team MVP, Eysenbach most improved, Smith All-ISL, Goguen, Daley, and James Donahue All-ISL Honorable Mentions, and Charles Donahue and McGaugh next year’s captains. Daley and Goguen also received the Henry B. Sawyer Sportsmanship Award.
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coaches’ corner
Football CHRIS BUTLER, Head Coach
The varsity football team finished the 2018 season with a record of 8–1 and as both co-ISL Champions and NEPSAC Dave Coratti Bowl Champions. The team was led by senior captains, Jaylen Bailey, Justin O’Neil-Riley, and Shane Rockett. Several other seniors also served as key starters on the team, and a large number of juniors and sophomores earned the opportunity to start in key roles on the defense, offense, and special teams units. Before the season began, the senior class dedicated themselves to returning the team to the top of the league by investing themselves in off-season workouts and captains’ practices. From the first day of practice, the coaching staff could tell how committed, enthusiastic, and selfless this group of young men were. After a quickpaced preseason with scrimmages against Middlesex, St. Sebastian’s, and Milton, the team opened the season on the road against Roxbury Latin with a resounding 49–14 victory. After the opening win, Belmont Hill, unfortunately, was unable to earn the victory over BB&N away in Cambridge in a close, hard-fought loss. The following week the team rallied with a strong victory over visiting Tabor Academy, 37–0. Now at the mid-season point, the team hosted Milton Academy and earned an impressive 33–8 Homecoming victory. The team continued to play well with a convincing 33–7 victory over undefeated Noble and Greenough. In an impressive fourth quarter comeback, Belmont Hill beat an undefeated St. Sebastian’s team by the score of 21–17. For the senior’s final home game, they earned a 45–14 victory against a strong Governor’s Academy team. In the Dave Coratti Bowl, the team traveled to Connecticut to take on a talented Suffield Academy team. In an exciting, high-scoring game, the team won the School’s
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fourth NEPSAC championship by the score of 34–20. The senior class captured its second ISL and NEPSAC Bowl championships in three years. Over the course of the season, the team consistently displayed great character both on and off the field, and they strove to compete not only in each game but also throughout each practice. While the grit and determination of the team’s senior class was impressive, the combined efforts, positive attitude, and resilience of all of those on the team, day in and day out, served as a model for what makes Belmont Hill football such an important part of the School’s community. The 2018 winners of the team’s MVP Award were Jaylen Bailey, Michael Piazza, and Justin O’Neil-Riley. John Hadley, Cade Nagahama, and Brodie Rayment received the Most Improved Player Award. The recipient of the Henry B. Sawyer Sportsmanship Award was Shane Rockett. Shane Rockett (defensive end), Patrick Walsh (kicker), Max Peterson (offensive line), and Aaron Sousa (offensive line) were named to the All Independent School League second team. Jaylen Bailey (linebacker), Michael Glauninger (defensive end), Justin O’Neil-Riley (wide receiver), Michael Piazza (quarterback), Brodie Rayment (full back), Joshua Wax (defensive back), and Greg Desrosiers (wide receiver) were named to the All Independent School League first team. Patrick Walsh (kicker) was elected to the Second Team Class B AllNew England Team. Jaylen Bailey (linebacker), Justin O’Neil-Riley (wide receiver), Michael Piazza (quarterback), and Greg Desrosiers (wide receiver) were elected to the First Team Class B All-New England Team. The captains-elect for the 2019 season are Isaiah Gomes, Jack McHugh, and Max Peterson.
Soccer JORGE MONTOYA, Head Coach
For the fourth year in a row, the varsity soccer team finished with double-digit wins and a top-three finish in a particularly deep and competitive ISL with an overall record of 11–3–4 (9–2–4 ISL, 3rd place), behind only Middlesex and Milton Academy, narrowly missing out on the New England Class A Tournament. The boys from Belmont Hill picked up two early non-conference wins against Bridgton Academy and Andover before dropping a close 1–0 contest at Exeter. The ISL slate began on positive terms with the team notching a 3–1 win against rival BB&N. After dropping an uncharacteristic 5–1 decision to Groton, the team went on an eight-game unbeaten streak which included wins against Tabor, St. George’s, St. Sebastian’s, and Thayer to go along with an exciting 2–2 draw at home against league champions Middlesex as well as 1–1 results against Nobles, Brooks, and Rivers. After dropping a tough contest to Milton 3–1, the team once again rallied to win four straight against Roxbury Latin, Lawrence Academy, St. Mark’s, and Governor’s outscoring their opponents 16–0 during this stretch. As the tournament seedings were announced, Belmont Hill was left out of the top eight and was left wondering “what if” about a few of the earlier draws.
Due to the success of the team, several individuals were honored with all-league selections. Ben Ward ’19, Matthew Britt-Webb ’21, and Matthew Gonçalves ’20 were selected to the All-ISL First Team while Cole Matthews ’20 was named as an Honorable Mention. In house, Britt-Webb and Ward shared the Coach’s Award (MVP of the team), Leighton Dolan ’19 earned the Sportsmanship Award, and Matthew Savage ’19 garnered the Most Improved Player Award. In addition, Ward and Diego Pereira ’19 were nominated to play in the New England Senior All-Star game while Matthews and Gonçalves were nominated to play in the Junior All-Star game. Next year’s captains will be Hamza Shemsu ’20 and Cole Matthews ’20. The senior group carried on an important winning tradition, and their leadership will be missed. Diego Pereira, Ben Ward, Leighton Dolan, Matthew Savage, Alex Manioudakis, and Keven Querido have represented the program admirably, and we wish them well in their careers ahead. Pereira wraps up an impressive career in which he played in 73 games across four seasons, tallying 16 goals and 17 assists to move into the top five in scoring since 2002 with 49 career points. Dolan also finishes his career with an impressive stat line that include 12 goals and 12 assists in three years. While the individual accomplishments are noteworthy, the group has shouldered an important legacy of commitment and fortitude that next year’s group would be wise to follow. The returning players and coaches would like to thank the seniors for their tireless commitment to the program as well as manager Kevin Michael O’Boy, Athletic Director George Tahan and Assistant Athletic Director Al Murphy ’98, trainers Dennis Chin and Ansel Garvey, equipment managers Willis Negron and Charles Wade, and Casey Young and the entire maintenance department for all the hard work they do. Finally, the team would like to thank parents, students, and supporters of the team for an incredibly exciting season.
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Alumni & Family Events
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alumni & family events
belmont hill summer reception
August 23, 2018 Chapel Lawn
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Amy and Greg Schneider with Jon Biotti ’87 and Leslie Jeng.
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Sandra Nelson, Brian Doherty, Suzanne Doherty, and Caleb Nelson.
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Xiaohua Cheng, Ying Xue, Jonathan Chen, and Mary Chen.
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Michael Sherman, Jon Biotti ’87, Ruthanne Fuller, and Mark Fuller ’06.
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Janet Smith, Ted Martellini, and Elisabeth Wilder Richards.
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Imad Attalla, Jill Smith, Matthew Smith, and Chris Richards.
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John Shane ’50, Alan Stanzler, Bill Cornish ’68, and Peter Gilpatric ’65.
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Eric Bradlee ’62, Tiffany Bradlee, and Gardner Bradlee ’83.
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Vinita and Mihir Shah.
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henry b . sawyer , jr .
’32
golf tournament
September 17, 2018 Concord Country Club
Belmont Hill’s 27th Annual Henry B. Sawyer, Jr. ’32 Golf Tournament, dinner, and auction in support of financial aid drew a capacity group of more than 100 golfers. This year, sponsorships and gifts through the auction totaled more than $170,000. In addition to the alumni, fathers, and grandfathers who support and attend the event, a special thank you goes out to the Golf committee, especially Ken Martin ’65 and Co-chairs John Carroll ’89 and Jim Kalustian ’78 for their hard work and dedication to Belmont Hill.
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Save the date for the next tournament: September 23, 2019. 1.
Todd Crowley ’92 and Bob Crowley ’90.
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Cy Wilde ’80, John Grady ’66, and Mark Dunn ’66.
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Bill Cleary ’81 and Chris Biotti ’85.
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Ken Martin ’65, Bruce Jacobs, and Bob Brownell.
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Debbie Sawyer.
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Marc Baliotti, Bob Jay, Pierre McGuire, and Alan Litchfield.
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Ben Finnegan ’01, Eric Oberg ’12, Matt Brogan ’01, and Steve Gogolak ’01.
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Scott McGrath, Chris Simon ’80, Ken Martin ’65, and Kurt Simon ’83.
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grandparents and special friends day
October 1, 2018
Form I and II students invited guests for a speaking program, class visit, and a luncheon on campus. Guests heard from Shane Rockett ’19, Lauren Hamilton, Ken Martin ’65, and Greg Schneider. 1.
Greg Schneider, Lauren Hamilton, and Ken Martin ’65.
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Student Body President Shane Rockett ’19.
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form vi parent reception
Hosted by Margaret and Jim Wade October 3, 2018
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Jim Wade, Margaret Wade, Greg Schneider, Ann Ryan, and Tony Ryan.
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Jeff Fast, Matthew Glauninger, and Bhaskar Banerjee.
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Julie Glauninger, Lynn Wambach, Lisa Dutile, and Nancy Braun.
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Michael Grant.
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Anne and Ed Whelan with Bob Wambach.
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Kerby Roberson and Chris Durbin.
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Juliette Zener and Betsy Danziger.
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parents fund kickoff
October 24, 2018
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Doug Wolf ’84 and Sherri Wolf.
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Leigh Hebard.
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Paul Bergantino.
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Tony Ryan, Ann Ryan, and Greg Schneider.
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Dan Curtin ’87.
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Kristen Curtin.
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multicultural alumni partnership evening
October 12, 2018 Award Recipient: Gretchen Cook-Anderson Keynote Speaker: Samuel Gebru
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Caleb Collins ’93, Carl Dawson ’72, and Gretchen Cook-Anderson.
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Samuel Gebru.
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Kerby-Louis Roberson ’19.
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Chris Butler, Nancy O’Connor, and Juliette Gomes.
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Steve Carr ’93 and George Ogenah.
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Vinita Shah, Varun Shah ’17, and Adam Harder.
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Brad Rosse ’81, Andrea Manter, and Steve Carr ’61.
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Samuel Gebru and Greg Schneider.
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Jacob Czarnecki ’22, Jalen Walker ’21, Kai Ogenah ’21, Julian Targets ’23, Ikenna Ugbaja ’21, Hamza Shemsu ’20, and Varun Shah ’17.
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homecoming
Family activities, a luncheon, and our sports teams are the highlights of the afternoon at Homecoming. Join us in the fall for our annual event. Register online or contact alumni@belmonthill.org for more information.
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head of the charles regatta
October 21, 2018 Guests are invited to the Belmont Hill/ Winsor Boat House for the races on the Sunday of regatta weekend. Shuttles are available from the Jordan Athletic Center. Join us for the next regatta open house on Sunday, October 20, 2019.
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endowed faculty chair dinner
October 30, 2018
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The four newly named faculty chair recipients: Chris Richards, Ken Martin ’65, Bob Brownell, and Chris Butler.
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Todd Davis, Chris Richards, and Ruth Sweeney.
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John McAlpin, Buddy Bates, and Tim Wood ’71.
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Lauren Hamilton and George Seeley.
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Greg Schneider, Tony Ryan, and Don Bradley.
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Ken Martin ’65, back left, with his wife, Linda, and their son, Kenny ’91, and daughter, Kate.
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Bob Brownell and Rick Noone ’76.
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Christina and Bob Brownell with Chris Richards and Elisabeth Wilder Richards.
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Jennifer and Chris Butler.
Current and former faculty and invited guests celebrated the appointments of four of Belmont Hill’s eight endowed faculty chairs. The Byrnes Family Chair in the Humanities, established in 2000 by Bill Byrnes ’40 and Randy Byrnes ’65 to honor a faculty member for excellence in the teaching of language, literature, philosophy, history, or the arts, was granted to Christopher C. Richards. The Darling Family Chair in the Humanities, established in 2012 by Nelson Darling ’37 to honor a faculty member for excellence in the teaching of language, literature, philosophy, history, or the arts, was awarded to Kenneth M. Martin III ’65. Trustees’ Chair in Mathematics, established in 2001 by Chris Clifford, Copey Coppedge, and Ken Richardson ’67 to honor a faculty member for excellence in the teaching of mathematics, was presented to Robert F. Brownell III. The Thomas R. Fuss Chair in Science, established in 2007 in memory of Tom Fuss ’07 by his parents, RoseMary and Dan Fuss, to honor a faculty member for excellence in the teaching of science, was given to Christopher M. Butler. All appointments recognize a broad commitment to students and school life and carry a term of five years.
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alumni & family events
katharine wrisley atkins women ’ s series
Featured Speaker Tony Maws ’88 Chef/Owner, Craigie on Main and Kirkland Tap & Trotter November 15, 2018 Visit www.belmonthill.org/kwa for information and to register for upcoming events.
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Tony Maws ’88 with KWA Committee Co-Chair Margy Dunn.
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Seasonal ingredients were key to the Thanksgiving menu ideas.
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The demonstration was paired with a delicious dinner.
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Alison Vander Vort, Amy Schneider, and Christian Paré.
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Betsy Danziger and Bunny Melvoin.
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Melissa McGaughey, Mona Jomaa, Lori Stanger, and Laurel Britt-Webb.
7.
Reva Fischman, Laura Olton, and Wendy Czarnecki.
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alumni award dinner in honor of
Belmont Hill School Distinguished Alumni Award
andrew d . cadiff
’73
December 6, 2018
Presented to Andrew D. Cadiff ’73
1.
Greg Schneider, Andy Cadiff ’73, and Kelly Cadiff.
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Andy Cadiff ’73 (center) with his sons, Joe (left) and Alex (right).
3.
Dana Burnham, Jim Burnham ’73, Louise Sennott, and Frank Sennott ’73. Standing: Lori and Tom Magno ’73, Ann Chiacchieri, Jim McGrath ’73, Clint Furnald ’73, and Kim Furnald.
What a journey you have had from your days at Belmont Hill on to the hills of Hollywood. We got a glimpse of what was to come when you wrote, directed, and produced the play Poison Ivy and directed the Charity Show. You demonstrated the diversity of your skills as captain of the baseball team—where you won the Babe Ruth Foundation Sportsmanship Award—and as a member of the varsity wrestling and football teams. In addition, you were the Panel feature editor and a student council vice president. Truly, you made the most of your time at Belmont Hill and gave as much as you got from it. In life beyond the Hill, you have flourished. Beginning your career on Broadway as an assistant to Harold Prince, you collaborated on three memorable shows before going on to direct award-winning Broadway musicals. Not stopping there, it was on to television, where you directed and produced over 650 episodes, including several award-winning shows. You also ventured into feature-length films, most recent of which was a British film selected for the Royal Film Performance of 2008.
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Yet, through all these accolades, your heart never strayed from Belmont Hill. You served as a Class Agent every year, have been on every Reunion committee, spoke at the 1996 and 2005 Commencements, and returned in 2013 to speak at “Hollywood on the Hill.” You hosted many Belmont Hill gatherings in Los Angeles and returned to campus countless times in your work as a Corporator of the School. You have always demonstrated a particular fondness for your beloved Class of 1973. This involvement speaks directly to your love and dedication to Belmont Hill and for that we are truly grateful.
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But certainly, none of these accomplishments would mean anything to you without the extraordinary support of your loving family. Your devoted wife, Kelly; sons, Joseph and Alexander; and daughters, Isabella and Sophie, are your foundation, and all of your exceptional work no doubt stems from the love and strength they provide for you each and every day. Through your distinguished career and your steadfast loyalty to this school, you have earned the respect and gratitude of so many of your classmates and teachers. You have inspired others to follow in your footsteps. For all that you have given to this good school, Belmont Hill is honored to give you its Distinguished Alumni Award. Gregory J. Schneider, Ronald M. Druker ’62 Head of School Jon M. Biotti ’87, President, Board of Trustees
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alumni & family events
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Dan Schley ’73, Andy Schley, Joe Knowles ’73, Kathy Starr, and Tony Starr ’73. Standing: Dave Farrell ’73, Austy Lyne ’73, Deb White, Jon White ’73, Patty Lyne, and Jim Stratton ’73.
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Burry Gowen ’73, John Taylor ’73, Don Rober ’73, Wendy Powell, and Roger Hayden ’73. Standing: Joe Guarnaccia ’73, Clem Darling ’73, Mike Kitsis ’73, Ken Gould ’73, Alan Glickman ’73, and Robert Cesari ’73.
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Andy Boger, Olivia Boger, Bill Achtmeyer, Joe Cadiff, Andy Cadiff ’73, Kelly Cadiff, Alex Cadiff, Beth Sackstein, and Robert Sackstein.
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Mark Alfano ’75, Ann Cote, Michael Sherman, and Don Stewart. Standing: Andy Cadiff ’73, Ted Burt, Eileen Burt, Sue Seeley, Jan Stewart, and George Seeley.
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Tad Guleserian ’84, Sean Coughlin ’83, Josiah Wilde ’80, and David Walker ’82. Standing: Doug Wolf ’84, Mark Martines ’84, Gardner Bradlee ’83, and Randy Catlin ’84.
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Linda and Ken Martin ’95, and Jim Peck ’77. Standing: Tom Pounds ’78, Jay Gallo ’78, Ethan Goldings ’78, and Catherine Platt.
10. Ellie Grant and Pat and Chris Egan ’58. Standing: Dave Brainard ’58, Dan Lynch ’58, Eric Bradlee ’62, Jeff Eaton ’55, and Reg Howe ’58. 11. Henry Magno ’70, Marcia Herrera, and Peter Gilpatric ’64. Standing: Peter Sullivan ’75, Tony Green ’74, Tim Wood ’71, Gary Joyal ’72, and Leigh Hogan ’71. 12. Karen and Carl Dawson ’72, and Lori Wadsworth. Standing: Greg Schneider, Chris Wadsworth, Jerry Jordan ’85, and Emmett Lyne ’77. 13. Bill Achtmeyer ’73.
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recipients of the distinguished alumni award
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The purpose of Belmont Hill School’s Distinguished Alumni Award is to honor men who have exemplified in life those qualities that the School seeks to instill: honesty, excellence, integrity, respect, and caring for others. These qualities may be reflected in outstanding service, sacrifice, courage, hard work, or other ways by which the recipient has made a significant contribution to society. Contact the Alumni House to submit a nomination. 1962 Kingman Brewster, Jr. ’36 and Francis B. Sayre, Jr. ’32 1963 Thomas H. Hunter ’31 1964 William von E. Doering ’34 1966 William H. Claflin III ’37 and John H. Knowles ’44 1967 Edmund V. Keville ’29 1968 George Wilbor Finch Keller (honorary) 1969 Henry Hixon Meyer (honorary) 1970 Richard W. Day ’34 1973 Thomas Winship ’38
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1976 Edmund S. Morgan ’33 1977 Charles A. Meyer ’35 1978 Charles F. Hamilton (honorary) 1979 Thomas R. Morse, Jr. ’44 1980 H. Gardner Bradlee ’36 1981 John G. Brooks ’29 1982 John B. Breed ’36 and Robert L. Moore ’44 1983 Henry B. Sawyer, Jr. ’32 1984 Louis B. Carr ’33 1985 William J. Cleary, Jr. ’52 1986 William L. Byrnes ’40 1987 Nelson J. Darling, Jr. ’37 1988 George B. Baldwin ’38 1989 Robert W. MacPherson ’42 1990 Robert L. Woodbury ’56 1991 Dunbar Holmes ’31 1992 Alexander H. Bill ’31 1993 John C.M. Pringle ’32
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1994 M. Greely Summers ’37 1995 Hans W. Wanders ’43 1997 Robert Baldwin, Jr. ’42 1999 Thomas H. Lee ’61 2000 Richard O. Howe ’33 2001 Truman S. Casner ’51 2002 John A. Pike ’49 2004 C. Fessenden Morse III ’40 2006 David E. Kelley ’75 2007 Stephen R. Karp ’57 2009 Robert C. Repetto ’55 2010 J. Christopher Clifford (honorary) 2012 Thomas W.L. Cameron ’44 2014 Ronald M. Druker ’62 2015 Mark A. Milley ’76 2016 John G. Brooks III ’60
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2017 Carl D. Dawson ’72 2018 Andrew D. Cadiff ’73
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map / safe breakfast
January 3, 2019
In an event held annually, students, alumni, faculty, and staff are invited to a conversation -style event where questions are posed and then the group of attendees rotates to share their experiences and perspectives. 1.
Caleb Collins ’93, Andrew Herrera ’19, Justin O’Neil-Riley ’19, Ruphael Getahun ’20, Hamza Shemsu ’20, Griffin Hamilton ’20, Julian Wambach ’19, Gabriel Peterkin ’19, Macdony Charles ’18, and Isaiah Collins ’18. Standing: Greg Schneider, Mudit Tandon ’13, Evelyn Martial, Aylin Flanagan, Steve Carr ’93, Donna David, George Lynch ’88, David Alexander ’12, Emmett Lyne ’77, Adil Kassim ’20, Jacob Czarnecki ’22, Carl Dawson ’72, Jalen Walker ’21, Eric Dawson ’15, Joshua Houston-Davis ’22, Chris Zellner, Charles Booth ’20, Jeanne Tift, Ruth Sweeney, Charlie Doar, Nancy O’Connor, Chris Sweeney ’83, Ann Iandiorio, Stephen George, Lauren Hamilton, Elizabeth Davis, Frederick Choi, June Schmunk, Walker Coppedge ’94, and Arlette Doherty.
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recent alumni events
fenway outing
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Tyson Trautz, Mark Dillon ’10, Terry Goguen ’12, and Adam Maleh ’12.
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Jake DeCaprio ’16, Tim Sullivan, Varun Shah ’17, and Mike Armstrong ’17.
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Faculty members Tim Sullivan and Tyson Trautz joined young alumni for a reception prior to the Red Sox vs. Yankees game on August 2, 2018.
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summer gathering at tia ’ s
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Charlie Hill ’14, Danny Seibel ’14, Max Gustafson ’14, and Jimmy Hatton ’14. Standing: Mike Leary ’13, Ryan Bathon ’14, Harry Roberson ’14, Greg Plumb ’14, Jack O’Hara ’13, Matt O’Neal ’15, and Drew Morrissey ’14.
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Jack Wilhoite ’15, Hilal Dahleh ’15, and Mack Rush ’15.
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Danny Anderson ’12 and Alex Potter ’12.
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college dinners / lunches
7.
Belmont Hill Williams lunch, February 28, 2019. Mike Armstrong ’17, Peter Knowlton ’17, Sam Rohrer ’18, Ben Lebowitz ’16, John Hincks ’16, Mack Rush ’15, Jake Haase ’18, and Peter Tamasi ’17.
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Harvard Belmont Hill alumni dinner at John Harvard’s on September 20, 2018.
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Tufts Belmont Hill alumni dinner at Painted Burro in Somerville, October 17, 2018.
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10. Dartmouth Belmont Hill alumni lunch at Molly’s Tavern on November 14, 2018. 11.
Middlebury Belmont Hill alumni lunch at Two Brothers Tavern in Middlebury, Vermont.
12. University of Pennsylvania Belmont Hill alumni lunch with Hartman Russell ’16, Alex Hall ’15, and Nate Miller ’17 on January 27, 2019.
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post - thanksgiving flag football game
13. Alumni and their families during the annual flag football game the day after Thanksgiving. 14. Members from the Class of 2013 fuel up on hot chocolate and Munchkins before their team hits the field for the annual flag football game.
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alumni vs . varsity basketball game
15. The annual Alumni vs. Varsity Basketball Game was held on November 23, 2018.
15 fall recent alumni boston gathering
16. Class of 2015 members Colin Ward, Justin Grady, Robert Caputo, Chris Bracken, Benny Wanger, Evan Chaletzky, and Mack Rush.
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17. Chris Richards and Tyler Brace ’07. 18. Recent Alumni Gathering at Alibi in the Liberty Hotel on November 23, 2018. 19. Jack St. Claire ’11, Geoff Sullivan ’11, Ben Jacobson ’11, Dylan Johnson ’11, and Teddy Mitropoulos ’11.
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19 young alumni gathering at king ’ s
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20. Young Alumni (Classes of 2014–2018) were invited to King’s for a night filled with food, games, and school memories on January 3, 2019. 21. Ben Pradko ’18. 22. Arnav Prasad ’18, David Paine ’18, Jeff Price ’18, Nick Carroll ’18, Will McCormack ’18, Eric Taitano ’18, Ishaan Prasad ’18, and Ben Pradko ’18.
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Class Notes
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class notes
ALUMNI, FACULTY, AND STAFF: We would love to hear from you and share your latest news with the Belmont Hill School community. Please email your notes and photos to alumni@belmonthill.org. Length and content are subject to editorial approval; some submissions may appear as excerpts. The deadline for the fall Bulletin is June 7, 2019. VETERAN’S PROFILE: Have you served in the military? To be publicly recognized in the Belmont Hill School Military Register, please complete the online form found under “School History” on the website. If you have any questions, please call the Alumni Office at 617-993-5203.
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GRAND REUNION– MAY 17 AND 18, 2019. CLASSES OF 1944 ∙ 1949 ∙ 1954 ∙ 1959 ∙ 1964 AND ALL ALUMNI WHO HAVE CELEBRATED THEIR 50 TH REUNION.
1940
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In October, Belmont Hill’s a cappella group, the B-Flats, visited Newbury Court in Concord, MA, and performed for Jeannie and FEZ MORSE ’40 and other residents. Also in attendance were LEN EDGERLY ’68 and Priscilla Hundley P ’88. During the visit, the students and the Morses were able to share stories about Belmont Hill. “The hockey rink you guys skate on now was not even a dream,” said Fez. “We had four outdoor hockey rinks. We used to go down every day that it snowed and scrape and shovel it off. If you didn’t go, you got a detention! But it was well kept, and we really had a lot of fun
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doing it.”
1950 This from Major General GERRY S. MALONEY, JR. ’50: “Been busy. While Belmont Hill was entertaining the new head of the Army, we were entertaining General Raymond T. Odierno, the newly retired head of the Army. Had dinner for 87 people to honor him. Recently, we entertained Mexican politician Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas, the son of the former president of Mexico, and learned much about the ‘wall’ from the other side.
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Jeannie and Fez Morse ’40 and the B-Flats at Newbury Court in Concord, MA.
2.
John Pike ’49 and Polly Pike visited campus in February to meet Greg Schneider.
3.
Jane and Ben Draper ’51 on his birthday, October 30.
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4.
Burt Faulkner ’51 visited the Alumni House in October.
5.
Burt Perlmutter ’54 visited the Alumni House in October.
6.
Jan and Paul Repetto ’54, December 2018.
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Two friends from the Class of 1955 who met in Form II in the fall of 1950: Sam Parkhill and Bob Repetto at halftime at the Williams vs. Amherst game on November 10, 2018.
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Peter Keville ’57, Jackie Roberts, guests of Phyllis Lerman and Steve Lerman ’57, at Treasure Beach, Jamaica, February 2019.
9.
Will Mack ’57, December 2018.
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10. Alexander Behn ’24 (center) with his grandmother, Judith Behn, and great uncle, Reg Howe ’58, at Belmont Hill’s Grandparents and Special Friends Day in the fall.
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11. Bill Hogan ’59 attended Belmont Hill’s Grandparents and Special Friends Day in the fall with his grandson, Nick, who is in Form I.
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12. John Welch ’60 writes: “Mary Lou and I went on a ‘trip of a lifetime’ around the world this year. I was amazed at the growth going on in China and in many developing countries. No matter how poor, children everywhere are welcoming. The picture was taken in New Zealand.” 13. Bill Hofmann ’61, July 2018. 14. Chris Egan ’58 attended Belmont Hill’s Grandparents and Special Friends Day in the fall with his grandson, Sean, who is in Form II. 15. Three generations of Bradlee men, happy to be together on campus at Belmont Hill Homecoming on October 13, 2018: Eric Bradlee ’62, Quillen Bradlee ’15, Rowan Bradlee ’20, and Gardner Bradlee ’83.
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In other news, sold my boat and turned in a new direction and bought a 1955 MG TF, last of the British rakish roadsters. Now I’m onto car clubs, car shows, and lots of new friendships. There is lots of life after age 80. Recently retired from being chairman of all student activities at University of North Florida (UNF), now chair of the Veterans Department at UNF and chairman emeritus of St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum (the oldest in the United States). Several boards and World Affairs Council keep me busy and young.”
16. Len Edgerly with Dr. Jeanne Tift. In February, Len spoke to Dr. Tift’s creative writing students about his experience with podcasting.
1957
17. In November, Chip Edgarton ’68 paid a visit to the Alumni House. 13
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Learned about present and future Africa last month. We had dinner for 78 people to meet Ambassador Bruce Wharton, the retired ambassador to Zimbabwe. Marilyn had mentored him when he was new in the State Department.
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CLAUDE “TED” WELCH ’57 writes from Buffalo: “My wife, Jeannette Ludwig, died on July 29. She was an exceptional woman. We had been married for 37 years. We were fortunate to have traveled from Berlin to Prague a few months before her death. In addition, Jeannette enjoyed most of the Chautauqua Institution summer session, teaching four courses there. I look forward to visiting Belmont Hill in the coming months. With a daughter in Cambridge, stopping by the campus would be an easy pleasure.”
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class notes
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Class of 1969 Reunion Committee members Randy Greene, Chris Woodcock, Ted Shasta, Greely Summers, Jeff Hill, Brad Kopp, Bob Porteous, Ken Meister, and Chet Homer met for lunch in the fall at the Alumni House.
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George Tahan, Andrew Small, Teddy Small, Kristin Homer Small, Chet Homer ’69, Shirley Homer, Geoff Homer ’03, Lilli Homer, and Greg Schneider with the School’s newly named Zamboni, on November 28, 2018, at the Belmont Hill School Jordan Athletic Center rink.
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Chet on Belmont Hill’s new Zamboni.
1959
BOB GAYNOR ’59 writes: “I was honored to have my 15 minutes of fame, as the Sox– Dodgers World Series has generated media interest in my Sandy Koufax sculpture. Videos and articles have appeared in media outlets such as the Los Angeles Times, the Boston Globe, Boston.com, Fox 25, NBC 10, the Newton Tab, the Cincinnati Enquirer, and Tabletmag.com.”
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1969
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50 TH REUNION
MAY 17–18, 2019
Belmont Hill recently announced that CHET HOMER ’69 funded the new Zamboni in honor of his 50th Reunion. Prior to the first varsity hockey game of the season, Chet hit the ice wearing his number 11 jersey to take the School’s brand-new Zamboni for a ride. Whenever Mr. Homer is on the ice at Belmont Hill, it’s a good thing. Entering Belmont Hill in 1965, Mr. Homer was a standout varsity hockey player, scoring 43 goals his senior year. The team record that season was 19–3. His love for hockey is also etched into his mahogany panel with a depiction of Snoopy in the penalty box holding a hockey stick. After Belmont Hill, Mr. Homer also played hockey at Dartmouth. Continued on page 52
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Jim Stratton ’73, Leigh Hogan ’71, Tim Wood ’71, Andy Cadiff ’73, and Robert Sackstein at the Alumni Award Holiday Dinner in December.
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Andy Cadiff ’73 with his wife, Kelly. Andy was honored on December 6, 2018, with Belmont Hill’s Distinguished Alumni Award.
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Dan Schley ’73, Andy Schley, and Joe Knowles ’73 at the Alumni Award Holiday Dinner in December.
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Dave Foster ’74 and former faculty member Ted Burt at the Alumni Award Holiday Dinner in December.
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Beverly Peirce, Dan Peirce ’74, Roger Hayden ’73, and Steve Sheehan ’74 at the Alumni Award Holiday Dinner in December.
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Ethan Goldings ’78 attended the Alumni Award Holiday Dinner in December.
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10. The Pinkham and Jones family during the holidays. Back Row: Lydia, Lawrie ’79, Clara, Sara, Orrin (4), and Nick. Front Row: Ezra (7) and Chris. 11. Philmore Anderson ’82 (right), pictured with Caleb Collins ’93, visited campus in January. 7
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12. Gardner Bradlee ’83, Sean Coughlin ’83, and former faculty member Don Stewart at the Alumni Award Holiday Dinner in December. 13. Belmont Hill President of the Board of Trustees Jon Biotti ’87 announced in January that George W. Lynch II ’88 will serve as the School’s 36th Alumni President. George brings not only his passion for the School but also a long and storied family history with Belmont Hill. His grandmother, Margaret Lynch, served on the Board from 1975 to 1998. Mrs. Lynch made a transformational impact on the School and supported David Aloian, Roger Duncan, Chris Wadsworth, and Rick Melvoin. George’s father, Bill Lynch ’62, was himself the Alumni President in the 1980s. George serves as a member of the School’s corporation, as a class agent, and as a reunion chair for his class. George, pictured right, attended the MAP/SAFE Breakfast on January 3, 2019. To his right, is Elizabeth Davis, a member of the science faculty. They are speaking with Eric Dawson ’15. 14. Tony Maws ’88 and his wife, Karolyn Feeks. Tony was the featured speaker at Belmont Hill’s KWA event in the fall.
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class notes
Continued from page 50 With his family on hand—wife, Shirley, son GEOFF ’03 and his wife, Lilli; daughter, Kristin, and her husband, Andrew, and their son, Teddy—Mr. Homer took a few laps around the rink prior to the Belmont Hill vs. Berwick game. “His care and dedication to Belmont Hill are unmatched, and we can’t thank him enough,” said Athletic Director George Tahan. The School’s previous Zamboni was 20 years old.
1974
45 TH REUNION
1979
40 TH REUNION
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MAY 17–18, 2019
1981 Congratulations to SCOTT FUSCO ’81 on being inducted into the Beanpot Hall of Fame. He is the fifth Belmont Hill alumnus to join the 59-member Beanpot Hall of Fame. Scott won the Hobey Baker Award in 1986 after being named a finalist for the award in 1985. He was chosen to the first-team All-American in both 1985 and 1986, and is the only Harvard player to be named ECAC Hockey Player of the Year twice (in 1985 and 1986) and the third in ECAC Hockey history. Fusco is a four-time first-team All-Ivy and three-time first-team All-ECAC Hockey selection. He captured the Ivy League scoring title during his freshman, junior, and senior seasons and led ECAC Hockey in scoring both as a junior and a senior. He is the Crimson’s all-time leading scorer with 240 points (107 goals, 133 assists) and his 81 points (34 goals, 47 assists) in 1984–85 is second all-time in school history for points in a season. Scott was a member of Team USA during both the 1984 and 1988 Winter Olympics. After graduating from Harvard with a degree in economics, he joined his brother MARK FUSCO ’79 (Harvard ’83), also a Hobey Baker Award winner, as a founder and senior vice president of Software Quality Partners, an IT consulting company.
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Jim McCarthy ’90, who lives in Ashland, OR, paid a visit to the Alumni House in October.
2.
Mark Nary ’99, in town from Salt Lake City, UT, visited the Alumni House in October.
3.
Katrina and John Clifford ’00 welcomed their son, Charles Jack Clifford, on November 9, 2018. He joins big brother, James.
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Kristen and Brian Aldrich ’03 welcomed their son, Theodore James, on May 7, 2018.
5.
Congratulations to Katherine and Sam Page ’03 on the birth of their son, Freddie Page, on January 12, 2019.
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Alby Coombs ’03 and Caleb Collins ’93. Dr. Coombs was on campus in February to speak to students about his experience at Belmont Hill, Kenyon College, and Tufts. He co-founded a dental practice in the Washington, D.C. area and has enjoyed also offering public outreach to underserved populations, including free dental exams and educational programs.
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Congratulations to Erin and Toby Banta ’04 on the birth of their son, Jack.
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Congratulations to Sarah and Garrett Hatton ’05 on the birth of their daughter, Avery, on June 18, 2018.
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Greg Boeing ’06 and Haley Goodwill were married on July 28, 2018. Belmont Hill guests included: Robert Butler ’06, Wes Stephanian ’06, Matt O’Connell ’06, John McCusker ’07, Tim Aldrich ’05, Jay Donovan ’06, David Antonelli ’06, David Bowser ’06, and Robert Glor ’06.
10. Charlie Kenney and Annie Detmer, parents of Charlie Kenney ’06, with Mark Dube ’07 and Greg Schneider. In a Veterans Day School Meeting on November 12, 2018, Belmont Hill students and faculty watched the Kenney Legacy travel video. Two years ago, the Kenneys proposed a trip to World War II sites in England, Belgium, and France, with a particular emphasis on Normandy. Created in memory of Charlie Kenney ’06, this educational travel opportunity supports two faculty members and four students. The goal is for students to learn more about World War II and gain a greater appreciation of the tremendous sacrifices made. At the conclusion of the program, Mr. Schneider announced the names of the boys who have been selected for the summer 2019 trip.
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Scott was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2007, he founded the Edge Sports Center and the East Coast Wizards junior hockey organization, based in Bedford, MA. His daughter Bradley Fusco is a senior on the 2018–19 Harvard women's ice hockey team. Fusco joins Belmont Hill alumni BILL CLEARY ’52, BILL HOGAN ’59, GEORGE MCMANAMA ’69, and his brother MARK ’79 as a member of the Beanpot Hall of Fame.
1984
35 TH REUNION
1989
30 TH REUNION
1994
25 TH REUNION
MAY 17–18, 2019
MAY 17–18, 2019
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MAY 17–18, 2019
1996 Film director DAN GABRIEL ’96 writes: “I am pleased to announce that Gravitas Ventures has acquired worldwide rights to my recent feature-length documentary film, Mosul, available on May 14. www.mosul-film.com
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11. Nick Boghos ’07 (third from left) with faculty members Adam Harder, Steve George, and Tyson Trautz on November 18, 2018, dropping off a donation of 500 loaves of bread from his family’s bakery, Jessica’s Brick Oven, for the annual Belmont Hill Turkey Drive. 12. Alumni in attendance at the Veterans Day School Meeting on November 12, 2018: Matt Gordon ’06, Tim Aldrich ’05, Brian Alexander ’07, Mark Dube ’07, Wes Stephanian ’06, Matthew O’Connell ’06, Chris Brown ’06, and Dave Antonelli ’06.
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class notes
1.
Congratulations to Josie Jones and Sam Choate ’08 on their September 22, 2018 wedding. First Row: Jimmy Ramsey ’08, Pete Bourneuf ’08, Mike O’Donnell ’08, Matt Kaminsky ’08, Josie Jones, Sam Choate ’08, Mike Smith ’08, Al Minahan ’08, Jeff Goodman ’08, and Matt Egan ’08. Back Row: Stanley Twarog ’08, Eric Hailer ’09, and Sam Peabody ’08.
2.
In September, Belmont Hill’s Landau Gallery hosted a multimedia art exhibition by Emeka Ekwelum ’08 called Love Aboundz. The opening reception also featured a musical performance by the Transformations Suite in the Hamilton Chapel.
3.
Ted Ho ’08 was recently named to Forbes 30 Under 30 for his work in biology as a post-doctorate at Stanford University. Ted’s research is focused on the biology of aging and whether it’s possible to slow it down. His research has uncovered previously unknown mechanisms for aging in stem cells. During his undergraduate years, Ted developed a nanoparticle drug delivery system.
4.
2014 classmates Jimmy Troderman, George Apostle, and Jacob Pagano sent us this photo from a Pats Super Bowl party they attended in Los Angeles.
5.
George Holderness ’14 and Alex Haigh ’14 at the Phi Beta Kappa ceremony at Stanford University on June 15, 2018. George completed the honors program in economics and was awarded the Anna Laura Myers Prize for Outstanding Honors Thesis at commencement. Alex majored in computer science and was recognized with a Terman Award. The Frederick Emmons Terman Engineering Scholastic Award is presented to the top 5 percent of each year’s undergraduate senior engineering class. Both were also awarded the President’s Award for Academic Excellence at the end of their freshman year. This is awarded to approximately 3 percent of the freshman class for the rigor of their classes and their grades.
6.
Chris Bracken ’15 and Will Galligan ’16 met up with faculty member Stewart Steffey and the Third Squash team at the Team Nationals held at Yale University on January 26–27, 2019.
7.
Will Hintlian ’17 stopped by the Alumni House in January on break from Cornell. He is currently a sophomore.
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1999
20 TH REUNION
MAY 17–18, 2019
2004
15 TH REUNION
MAY 17–18, 2019
2007 MARK DUBE ’07 was the featured speaker at the Belmont Hill Veterans Day School Meeting on November 12, 2018. Mr. Dube is a 2012 West Point graduate, where he also played hockey. A member of the U.S. Army, he served in Afghanistan in support of Operation Resolute Support and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. He is currently a Pilot-in-Command and Air Mission Commander for United States Army Special Operations Command as the G3 Air Officer. In his address to students, he spoke of his journey from Belmont Hill to West Point and beyond, while touching upon the themes of service and leadership. A video of his remarks appears in the News section of the Belmont Hill website. The morning program included a poignant video highlighting the Kenney Legacy World War II Trip.
2008
San Francisco and Station Park Green in
NATHAN BELKIN ’08 is doing a vascular surgery residency at the University of Pennsylvania. After Amherst, he went on to attend Harvard Medical School and graduated in 2016. On September 15, 2018, he married Dr. Katherine Savage in Philadelphia. Kate and Nate met while attending Amherst. She is currently doing a family medicine residency at Drexel University. MIKE DISANTO ’08, ANDREW REED ’10, and ALEXANDER RICHARDS ’14 were named to the 2018 U.S. Senior National Rowing Team, which competed at the World Championships in Bulgaria in September 2018. In the 8+, the U.S. Team placed fourth (Mike and Andrew). Alex participated in the 4-, with the U.S. Team placing 13th.
2009
10 TH REUNION
MAY 17–18, 2019 The San Francisco Business Times named DREW CANNIFF ’09 to its 40 Under 40 Class of 2019. Canniff is the director of business development for Northern California at Suffolk, a large general contractor with projects that include One Henry Adams in
San Mateo, CA.
2013 Michael Sherman shared this note he received from JIMMY LENOX ’13: “Still working in Washington, D.C. at Deloitte and will be here a while. If you want to tell the guys that you’re teaching, even accounting firms are recruiting math and computer science majors now, so learning programming languages and knowing statistics would be a great major if they are unsure of what they want to study in college.”
2014
5 TH REUNION
MAY 17–18, 2019 Mr. Sherman shared an update he received from JOEY LALIBERTE ’14 who is teaching at the Delbarton School in Morristown, NJ. In addition to teaching seventh-grade algebra and seventh- and eighth-grade Spanish, he is taking over the ski club and coaching spring track. “Otherwise, I’m happy! Life is great and while I can see myself coming home to teach in Massachusetts soon, I’m very happy here for the time being.”
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belmont hill memorabilia
Cufflinks Sterling silver, hand-engraved. $350
L.L.Bean Everyday Lightweight Medium Tote Belmont Hill sextant embroidery. Durable, lightweight nylon fabric, medium-length reinforced handles, ziptop closure, exterior open slot pocket, and interior zip pocket with key clip. Dimensions: 12"H x 13"W x 6"D. Available in navy/arctic blue and fiery red/navy. $40
Belmont Hill School Captain’s Chair Solid hard rock maple captain’s chair with cherry arms and back with laserengraved Belmont Hill logo makes a meaningful gift anytime. Shipped directly to your home or office. $475 plus $29 for basic shipping. $19 for one line of personalization. Please allow 4–6 weeks for delivery.
Golf Balls Titleist ProVI Golf Balls with Belmont Hill Sextant. Package of three. $20
For your convenience, credit card orders are accepted by phone. Contact Eileen Foley at 617.993.5202 or stop by the Alumni House at 19 Marsh Street.
Cross Pen Vineyard Vines Silk Belmont Hill Neckties
All-chrome ballpoint pen with Belmont Hill Sextant. $45
$85
Mariposa Wine Stopper
Call for available colors and patterns.
Mariposa wine stopper with Belmont Hill sextant engraving. $32
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Ladies’ Wallet Ladies’ Leather Zippered Credit Card Wallet. $30
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faculty & staff news
FACULTY & STAFF NEWS
Faculty member and alumnus GRAYSON HOLLAND ’05 and his wife, Margaret, welcome their son, Miles Zeidan Holland, born on October 7, 2018.
Faculty member STEPHEN FELDMAN and his wife, Sarah Bagley, welcome their son, Henry Bagley Feldman, born on September 17, 2018. Henry joins his older siblings, Lucy and Teddy.
Staff member ANSEL GARVEY and his wife, Amanda, welcome their son, Grayson Edward Harvey, born on March 13, 2019.
Former Ronald M. Druker ’62 Head of School RICK MELVOIN and his wife, BUNNY, enjoyed a trip to Patagonia in December 2018. This landscape photo was taken in Torres del Paine National Park. From Rick: “We flew from Miami to Santiago and then three hours further south to Punta Arenas, which is the launching point to the Falkland Islands and to Antarctica. We stayed at a place called Remota Lodge (and it was remote!), near Puerto Natales and about 100 km from the park (Torres del Paine). The name means towers of blue—and you can see the three towers in the landscape.”
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In Memoriam 58
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in memoriam
MARTIN EDWARDS ’42
Martin Edwards, of Alhambra, CA, died on August 31, 2018. He was 94. After graduating from Belmont Hill, he earned a BA from Amherst College and an MBA from Stanford. Mr. Edwards was predeceased by his wife, Barbara, in 2007.
EDWARD S. READ JR. ’45
Edward “Ted” Sears Read Jr., of Falmouth, MA, died on February 2, 2019. He was 91. He was born in Boston on September 7, 1927, the son of Edward Sears and Virginia Carr Read. Mr. Read graduated from Belmont Hill School in 1945 and Harvard University in 1949. He was a Technical Publications Manager for CTI Helix Cryogenics Technology Corporation. He was an avid tennis player and had a keen interest in photography as well as classical music. He is survived by his wife, Norma Webster Read, formerly of Carlisle; his daughter, Priscilla A. Romeiser, and her husband, David, of Sandwich; his two sons, David Sears Read of Mansfield and Edward Sears Read III and his wife, Amy Roeder, of Lowell; his grandsons, Trevor R. and Kohl W. Romeiser, both of Sandwich; and his sister, Carolyn Fraser, and her husband, Thomas, of Cranston, RI.
JOHN F. SULLIVAN ’46
John F. (Jack) Sullivan, of Wellesley, MA, and Center Harbor, NH, died on September 18, 2018. He was 90. Born on March 24, 1928, to Daniel and Marion Sullivan, he was the oldest of five children. Mr. Sullivan grew up in Belmont, and graduated from Belmont Hill School and Lowell Textile Institute and studied at Boston University. He married Isabelle Lafayette Beausoleil, and they had five children before Isabelle died in 1963. Mr. Sullivan married Anne Elcock and together they raised seven children. Mr. Sullivan founded and was president and chairman of Accurate Fasteners, Inc., leading the business until his retirement at age 85 in 2013. He was a founding member of and president of the New England Fastener Distributors Association and a member of the board of the National Fastener Distributors Association. In the late 1990s, Mr. Sullivan represented the fastener distributor industry in testimony before the U.S. Congress. Family and faith were the cornerstones of Mr. Sullivan’s life; he was a devout member of St. Paul’s Church, Wellesley, and St. Charles Borromeo, Meredith, NH, and a member of The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre. A resident of Wellesley, MA, and Center Harbor, NH, Mr. Sullivan was happiest on the porch of the “Main B” surrounded by his family and looking out onto Squam Lake. In addition to his wife, Anne, he is survived by his seven children: Dan Sullivan ’74 (Jacqui) of Hingham; Jack Sullivan ’74 (Sue) of Hingham; Peter Sullivan ’75 (Kerry) of Sudbury; Debbie Stone (Roger) of Greenville, SC; Martha Sullivan of Southborough; Tom Sullivan ’86 (Meredith) of New Canaan, CT; and Mark Sullivan (Andrea) of Medfield. Survivors also include 18 grandchildren: Randy, Caroline, Roger, and Michael Stone of Greenville, SC; Jack, Brian, and Bobby
Sullivan of Hingham; Kate and Annie Sullivan of Southborough; Jackie and Emily Sullivan of Sudbury; Christopher and Ryan Sullivan of Hingham; Will, Charlie, and Thomas Sullivan of New Canaan, CT; Luke and John Sullivan of Medfield; dozens of nieces and nephews; and his sisters, Brenda Sullivan Downey, Marion Sullivan Lucy, and Ellen Sullivan McNamara. He was predeceased by his sister, Jean Sullivan Reynolds.
RICHARD M. NEMROW ’47
Richard M. Nemrow, of Topsham, ME, died on February 2 at Mid-Coast Hospital in Brunswick, ME. He was 89. Mr. Nemrow leaves behind his wife of 41 years, Ann Dins Nemrow, six children, three of whom are step-children, three granddaughters, and five step grand-children. Son of the late Barnet and Ethel Nemrow, he was born in Boston on August 27, 1929, and was raised in Brookline, MA. While at Belmont Hill, he lettered in basketball and baseball and matriculated at Colby College, Waterville, ME. He went on to serve in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. Upon his return, he worked in his family’s wholesale merchandise business, Nemrow Brothers Inc., and later became an independent real estate restorer, specializing in older, historic buildings in the Boston and Mid-Coast Maine areas. He was also a former member of the University Club of Boston and the Corinthian Yacht Club of Marblehead. He became active in civic and neighborhood affairs in Boston during the 1970s and served as President of the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay and Citizens For a Better New England Life, a group which successfully scaled down an office project planned for Boston’s Back Bay area. He was active in local politics, most notably assisting former Congressman Barney Frank during his first
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in memoriam
political campaign for the Massachusetts Legislature. He became a summer resident of Harpswell, ME, in 1978 and later relocated permanently there. He was most recently a resident of Topsham, ME. Mr. Nemrow was an enthusiastic athlete, who threw the first no-hit baseball game for Belmont Hill, and enjoyed skiing, boating, and squash. He was a devoted fan of the Boston Celtics and New England Patriots. He was a long-standing advocate of responsibly scaled urban planning, and he also took a later interest in helping children with learning disadvantages. He served on the Board of Boston’s Learning Project for many years as its treasurer. He and his wife, Ann, contributed generously to the school’s endowment fund, and he was awarded an honorary diploma from the school in 2001. He took great pleasure in following and assisting the lives of his six children, Spence, Christopher (Dinsmore ’83), Anthony, Kimberly, Clayton, and Gregory (Nemrow ’80), and his grandchildren. He is pre-deceased by his sister, Lora Esty Nemrow, and was previously married to Carolyn Placak Nemrow. A celebration of the life of Richard Nemrow is planned in Maine for early summer.
FRANCIS V. SCANLAN ’51
Francis (Frank) Vincent Scanlan, of Shelburne, VT, died on November 7, 2018. He was 86. Born in Cambridge, MA, on October 22, 1932, to James and Mary Scanlan (White), he was the youngest of five children. He grew up in Belmont, graduating from Belmont Hill School, Harvard College, and Harvard Business School in 1961. After serving in the Marines for three years, stateside and in Japan, Mr. Scanlan spent two enjoyable years as a beat reporter at the Hartford Courant. After earning an MBA, he became a stockbroker, initially in New York City and then in Greenwich, CT, with Janney Montgomery Scott and A.G. Edwards. In 1963, he married Brigid Chick. Though the marriage didn’t last, it produced his two beloved daughters, Amanda and Wendy. However successful he was in business, his true joy came from his family. Rarely missing a field hockey game, horse event, musical concert, or school play, he always put his family first, and Brigid has remained a lifetime friend and confidant. Mr. Scanlan was a passionate tennis player, with a wicked south-paw serve that led to many an amateur tournament win, a highlight being his victories at the annual Greenwich Town Tournament, winning titles in both singles and doubles. He enjoyed running in various races, from 5Ks to half marathons. He was a dedicated peace activist; a proud, lifelong liberal; a knowledgeable opera buff; and a supporter and patron of local public libraries, most notably, the Greenwich Town Library and the South Burlington Public Library, where he served as a trustee from 2011 to 2013. In 2008, he moved to his third New England state when he relocated to Vermont to be nearer to his family. He had the good fortune
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to meet a special friend, Janet Sisson of Shelburne, VT. They shared many wonderful adventures together, fulfilling a lifelong dream to cruise the Danube. He also enjoyed spending time with her family, especially Sunday meals with her daughter and son-inlaw, Anne Linton Elston and David Elston, of Winooski, VT. Mr. Scanlan is predeceased by his parents; his sisters, Mary Alice Connolly and Nancy Batal; and his brothers-in-law, Jack Connolly, Jack Batal, and Charles Boyle. Survivors include his two daughters, Amanda Goodison (Max) of Exeter, England, and Wendy Lachapelle (Marc) of Burlington, VT, and his granddaughter, Emily Goodison. He is also survived by his brother, James Scanlan (Alice) of Winchester, and his sister, Priscilla Boyle of Westport, CT.
THOMAS D. NICKERSON ’52
Thomas D. Nickerson of Meadville, PA, died on June 29, 2018. He was 84. Mr. Nickerson was born in Boston, MA, on March 11, 1934, son of the late Prof. Clarence and Louise (Thomas) Nickerson. On June 16, 1956, he married Jane Cushman; she survives. Following his 1956 graduation from Amherst College, he earned an MBA in 1958 from Harvard Business School. After a successful business career, he retired to Meadville and took a keen interest in following his four grandsons play for the Meadville Bulldog Hockey Team. In addition to his wife, Jane, of 62 years, he is survived by two sons, Thomas Nickerson, Jr. (Susan) of Rhinebeck, NY, and Douglas Nickerson (Robin) of E. Amherst, NY; four grandsons, Christian Nickerson, Esq. (Jessica) of Los Angeles, CA; Morgan Nickerson of Erie, PA; Taylor Nickerson of Studio City, CA; and Cade Nickerson of Rochester, NY.
KENNETH P. MINER JR. ’56
Kenneth P. Miner Jr., of Weston, VT, died on October 16, 2018. He was 82. Mr. Miner was born July 14, 1936, in Boston, MA, and grew up in Belmont, MA. After graduating from Belmont Hill School, he received a B.A. from Hamilton College, Clinton, NY, in 1960, and, thanks to the Ford Foundation, an M.Ed. from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, in 1962. He taught at Edgemont Junior/Senior High School in Scarsdale, NY, for 36 years. He and Carol, his wife of 46 years, lived in Old Greenwich, CT. During his lifetime, he was involved in many civic and club activities. He was the head of the Pleasantville, NY, ambulance corps, a driver for the Greenwich Red Cross, an elected member of Greenwich Representative Town Meeting, and rear, vice, and commodore of the Old Greenwich Yacht Club. At Edgemont, he was chair of the history department, president of the Edgemont Teachers Association, and contract negotiator. He was also selected to serve on the Grand Jury in White Plains, NY. While living in Weston, he served on the Flood Brook School Board and was a town lister. He was also a member of the Real Estate Appraisal Board as a public advocate. Mr. and Mrs. Miner both retired from teaching at Edgemont, sold their sailboat, on which they spent many summers cruising, and moved to the home they built in Weston, VT. They enjoyed many glorious years in retirement, traveling, skiing, golfing, and enjoying everything about their small farm, their animals, and life in Weston.
TYRONE R. BOURGUIGNON ’67
STEPHEN B. HOOD ’60
Stephen Boutwell Hood, of Canton, GA, died on March 21, 2018. He was 75. Dr. Hood was born on March 23, 1942, the son of Katherine and Harry Hood. His siblings include Jane, William, and Nancy. He married Nancy Lippitt on March 18, 1972, and they had two children, Chris and Elizabeth. Highlights of his childhood included being in the Boy Scouts, where he rose to the rank of Eagle Scout and was the Troop Bugler. Summers were spent in New Hampshire at Camp Wyanoke, where early on he was a camper and later a counselor. During most of these years, he was the camp bugler. After graduating from Denison University in Ohio, he went on to the University of Wisconsin where he earned his Ph.D. in speech pathology. As a university professor and speech pathologist for 30 years, he taught thousands of students in undergraduate, masters, and doctoral classes, and in professional workshops. At the time of retirement, he had been department chairperson and director of the Speech and Hearing Clinic at two different universities. His major area of clinical work was in the area of stuttering, where he was privileged and honored to help hundreds of children, teens, and adults to speak more fluently and more effectively. He also practiced skills at home by teaching his children to be effective communicators. He took great pride in following their accomplishments through high school, college, and their successful careers. In 2003, he welcomed his wonderful daughter-in-law, Heather Graham, into his family and rejoiced at the birth of his two grandsons, Graham and Marshall.
Tyrone R. (Ty) Bourguignon, of Needham, MA, and Long Island, ME, died on December 3, 2018. He was 69. After Belmont Hill, Mr. Bourguignon graduated from the University of Denver and Babson College. He was retired as controller of Arthur Blank & Co. and was a member of the Institute of Management Accountants. Mr. Bourguignon is survived by his wife of 46 years, Elizabeth (Beth) (Holloran); his daughter, Amy E. Marsh, and her husband, Michael D. of Woburn, MA; and his son, Gregory R. Bourguignon of Needham. Survivors also include his grandson, Andrew M. Marsh; brother, Teddy Bourguignon of Las Vegas, NV; sister, Cheryl L. Colvin, and her husband, Denny, of Yakima, WA; and brother, George E. Bourguignon, and his wife, Dawn, of Whitinsville, MA, in addition to many nieces and nephews.
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in memoriam
DOUGLAS K. FULLER ’76
THEODORE L. STEBBINS JR. ’87
Douglas K. Fuller, of Belmont, MA, died on December 26, 2018. He was 61. He was the son of Virgnia Angevine Fuller and the late Kent Mason Fuller ’45, and nephew of Jay Angevine ’45 and James Angevine ’48. He attended Belmont Day School and then graduated from Belmont Hill School in 1976. After graduating from Belmont Hill School, he spent a number of years driving a cab in Belmont, Arlington, Boston, and ultimately in Tucson, AZ, where he made a large circle of devoted friends. After returning to the Boston area, on a trip to New York, he found his calling: working with dogs. Although Mr. Fuller worked briefly at the Buddy Dog Humane Society in Sudbury, his work truly began when he became a volunteer at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) at a branch in Harlem, NY. The dogs that were surrendered or rounded up in the area were challenging and often aggressive. After working at the ASPCA, Mr. Fuller moved back to the Boston area and began volunteering at the MSPCA and subsequently at PARL (Providence Animal Rescue League). Mr. Fuller had the unique ability to calm the surrendered and abandoned dogs that were brought in to the shelter. Many of these abused and neglected dogs were aggressive or frightened, and it took a special understanding to reach them. This was his favorite occupation, and he gave his heart and soul to it.
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Theodore L. (Ted) Stebbins Jr., of Deering, NH, passed away on January 12, 2019, due to complications related to a traumatic brain injury (TBI), sustained at age 16. He was 49. Mr. Stebbins attended Belmont Hill School, and after his accident, Massachusetts Hospital School in Canton. He lived at Robin Hill Farm, a residential brain injury home in Deering, NH, for the past 27 years. He will be remembered for his infectious sense of humor, his courage in facing disability, and his deep desire to help others. He was featured in a full-page article in the Boston Globe in 2005, as a courageous survivor of TBI, and also on the 2017 Facebook page of the Hillsboro District Food Pantry, as a weekly helper and donor. He had an ownership share and enjoyed a role helping with marketing for Amazing Grace Private Home Care, in Weymouth, a family business operated by his brother Harrison. He is survived by his parents, TL and Lucinda Stebbins of Naples, FL, Chestnut Hill, MA, and Melvin Village, NH; his two brothers, Harrison (Rusty) of West Roxbury, MA, and Tom and his wife, Johanna, of Delmar, NY. He was a loving uncle to Lyla and Grayson Stebbins, and a loving partner to Cathy Panniello, who lived with him at Robin Hill Farm.
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DAVID B. RILEY ’93
David B. Riley, of Nahant, MA, died September 7, 2018. He was 43. Born in Boston, he was the son of Sara F. (Tahaney) Riley of Nahant and the late Charles H. Riley Jr. Esq. He was raised in Nahant and graduated from Belmont Hill School in 1993. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in 1997 from Providence College. Family and friends were everything to David. He loved boating, fishing, golfing, and laughing with his friends. David was a caring and compassionate person and was loved by everyone who knew him. He was a great son, a great brother, a great uncle, and a great friend to so many. In addition to his mother, Sara, David is survived by his brother, Charles H. (Chad) Riley III, and his wife, Eileen of Winchester, and their children, Jack and Katie; his beloved dog, Lou; and other close family and friends.
FACULTY & STAFF
DANIEL F. BRIDGES
Daniel F. Bridges, of Wells Beach, ME, and also a longtime resident of Belmont and Winchester, MA, who served on the faculty for
his beach home in Maine, sharing his steady
Church and choir and was also active in the
support and dry wit and sense of humor.
Arlington Friends of the Drama.
Mr. Bridges was the beloved husband of the
She is survived by her husband, Daniel A.
late Sally (Bridger) Bridges. He is survived
MacGillivray; her children, Colin R. MacKillop
by their daughter Amy, her husband, Ted
(Riki) of North Chelmsford, MA; Kerry S.
Madden ’88, and grandchildren, Emery, Molly,
MacKillop of New York City; Courtney E.
Daniel Madden ’20, and Tommy Madden ’22.
Darrough (Dustin) of Ventura, CA; and Devon
He was the brother of the late William Bridges
A. MacGillivray (Neil) of Drumshanbo,
and “Uncle Dan” to his nieces, their children,
Ireland; her grandchildren, Rebecca MacK-
and many special cousins.
illop, Jillian MacKillop, Forrest Darrough, Colton Darrough, Skye Dawson, Luka Dawson,
33 years, died March 7, 2019. He was 80.
Sam Dawson, and Elliot Dawson; her sister,
Born in 1938, he was the son of the late Ronald
Nancy G. Morrison of Acton; and her nieces,
and Helen (Emery) Bridges. Mr. Bridges grew up in Sanford, ME, and was a graduate of
Robin Morrison of Nashville, TN; Stephanie
Governor Dummer Academy. He went on to
CONSTANCE M.
earn his B.A. at Washington and Lee University
MACGILLIVRAY
Morrison of South Boston; and Brittany Morrison of Acton, MA.
and later earned a Master’s degree from the University of New Hampshire. He began his teaching career with five years at the Applewild School in Fitchburg, MA before his appointment to Belmont Hill’s English department in 1968. In addition to his classes
Constance M. (Morrison) MacGillivray, of Arlington, MA, died on September 28, 2018, in
in English 1 and 2, Mr. Bridges coached Middle
Lincoln, MA, after a long illness. She was 78.
School soccer and basketball and assisted Ted
Mrs. MacGillivray was the assistant to
Densmore with admissions work. In 1972, he was named director of admissions, a role in which he would serve with integrity and wisdom for the next 25 years. At the same time, he and his family moved into Speare House, joining the late Charles (Kim) Bassett in two decades of oversight of five-day boarding for older boys. He offered wise counsel, mentorship, friendship—and with his wife, Sally—generous hospitality to generations of faculty and students. Mr. Bridges was a former trustee of Belmont Day School, and after his retirement from Belmont Hill in 2001, he devoted hundreds of volunteer hours to VNA Hospice Care, the Immigrant Learning Center in Malden, MA, and MGH’s Chaplain program. He had a gift of offering friendship and conversation to people at a time in their lives when they were most needed. He loved nothing more than proudly attending his grandchildren’s sporting events and spending time with his family and friends at
two heads of school at Belmont Hill, Chris Wadsworth and Rick Melvoin, retiring in March of 2006, ending a 23-year tenure. In that capacity, she ended up being an able assistant to just about everybody at one time or another on the faculty and the staff who had business in the main office. Certainly one of the great social highlights was the School’s annual holiday party at the head’s house just before winter vacation. Mrs. MacGillivray was an exceptionally talented and wonderful piano player, and pretty soon she was sitting at the spinet, and faculty and staff would be singing rousing holiday songs together as she made the instrument just come alive with not a note of music in front of her. Mrs. MacGillivray was an accomplished piano accompanist in the traditional music style of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, playing and recording with many of the established recording artists in that genre and indeed loved to spend time in the summer in Cape Breton. She was a member of the Park Avenue Congregational
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2018–2019
Belmont Hill School
Board of Trustees Jon M. Biotti ’87, President William F. Achtmeyer ’73, Vice President Gregory J. Schneider, Secretary Anthony W. Ryan, Treasurer Jinane Abounadi Dewey J. Awad Sloane S. Awtrey ex officio Mark D. Chandler ’74 Frederick H. Chicos ’72 Gretchen R. Cook-Anderson Roy F. Coppedge III Carl D. Dawson ’72 Jeffrey D. Drucker ’90 Ronald M. Druker ’62 Jean C. Egan William A. Forde ’05 Scott A. Gieselman ’81 John T. Grady, Jr. ’66 Christopher J. Hadley Danielle A. Heard
Jason H. Hurd ’90 Gerald R. Jordan ’85 Stephen R. Karp ’57 Jonathan A. Kraft ’82 George W. Lynch II ’88 ex officio Emmett E. Lyne ’77 Carl J. Martignetti ’77 Kirk D. McKeown ’95 Sarah H. Pelmas Mitali Prasad Taggart M. Romney ’88 Jill M. Shah Brian J. Shortsleeve ’91 Margaret M. Wade Herbert S. Wagner III David B. Wilkins honorary trustees John M. Connors, Jr. John A. Pike ’49
350 Prospect Street Belmont, MA 02478 617.484.4410 www.belmonthill.org We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please address all correspondence to the Bulletin Editor at the above address, or email us at communications@belmonthill.org. managing editor Bill Mahoney editors Amy Hirsch Leslie Ouellette class notes & in memoriam Eileen Foley Harold Prenatt photography John Gillooly, John Gillooly IV, Kristie Gillooly Dean, Neal Hamberg, Tom Kates, Bill Mahoney, Scott Matthews, Adam Richins, Matt Risley, Paul Rutherford, and the Belmont Hill School Archives ©2019 Belmont Hill School. All rights reserved. Design by: amn brand + design
alumni reunion weekend may 17–18 ¡ 2019 Whether this is a reunion year for your class or you just want to catch up with friends, we welcome all alumni and their families back to campus every spring for a weekend of special events.
For more information or to RSVP contact the Alumni House at alumni@belmonthill.org | 617-993-5208 Visit us online to register www.belmonthill.org/reunionweekend
350 Prospect Street Belmont, Massachusetts 02478-2662
NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE
617.484.4410 www.belmonthill.org
BOSTON MA PERMIT NO. 58555
belmont hill school alumni events calendar
2019
PAID
& community
please check the school website for additional information
spring/summer
fall
Alumni Reunion Weekend May 17 and 18, 2019
Alumni vs. Varsity Soccer Saturday, September 7, 2019
Prize Day Thursday, May 30, 2019
Henry B. Sawyer, Jr. ’32 Golf Tournament Monday, September 23, 2019
Alumni vs. Varsity Lacrosse Saturday, June 1, 2019
Multicultural Alumni Partnership Dinner Friday, September 27, 2019
Baccalaureate Sunday, June 2, 2019
Homecoming Saturday, September 28, 2019
Commencement Monday, June 3, 2019
Admission Open House Saturday, October 5, 2019 Head of the Charles Regatta Sunday, October 20, 2019 Holiday Hill Shop Thursday, December 5, 2019 Alumni Holiday Dinner Thursday, December 12, 2019
please visit us online for more information or to register for events
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