Belmont Hill
the bulletin for belmont hill school summer | fall 2022
2022
October 13 - Kenneth M. Martin III ’65 Retirement Celebration
October 14 - MAP Award Event
October 15 - Homecoming
October 23 - Head of the Charles Regatta
October 29 - Terry Iandiorio Memorial Alumni Soccer Game vs. Roxbury Latin
November 15 - KWA Event Featuring Tony Maws ’88
November 23 - Alumni Basketball Game
November 23 - Alumni Hockey Game
November 23 - Recent Alumni Gathering in Boston
December 8 - Alumni Award Holiday Dinner: John M. Connors, Jr. P ’85, ’97, Honorary Trustee
2023
January 11 - San Francisco, California Reception
January 12 - Los Angeles, California Reception
January 26 - 100 Years of Arts Celebration
February 2 - New York City Reception
February 14 - Peggy Corbett KWA Valentine’s Day Brunch for Mothers of Alumni
March TBD - Florida Reception
April TBD - KWA Event
April TBD - Grandparents and Honored Guests Day
April TBD - 100 Years of Academics Celebration
April 27 - Annual Corporation Meeting and Reception
May 19 - 100 Years of Faculty: Celebration and the Retirement of Dr. Jeff Fast
May 20 - Alumni Reunion
May 31 - 100 Years of Athletics Celebration
June 4 - Alumni Lacrosse Game
EVENTS CALENDAR
COMMUNITY
2022–2023
Belmont Hill’s first closing exercises, 1924.
our mission statement
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.
On front cover: Belmont Hill’s Centennial Campaign kickoff celebration, May 13, 2022.
1 S ummer– Fall 2022
working together 25 contents 14 5 features B elmont H ill’s c entennial c ampaign c H apel talk 5 2 9 F rom t H e a rc H ives arts on t H e H ill c ommunity & D iversity 13 11 coac H es ’ corner n ew Faculty B iograp H ies c orporation n ews alumni & Family events 25 departments visiting speakers 32 49 52 57 class notes 71 88 in memoriam c ommencement 2022 14 85 Faculty & sta FF news
CHAPEL TALK
J. Schneider, Ronald M. Druker ’62 Head of School,
things: Reunions will be back in May, Commencement is now just two months away, and we are making ready for a Centennial celebration year in 2022–2023. Logos have been crafted, banners are being printed, and rather large parties are being planned. The Centennial is going to be a chance for all of us to reflect on the amazing Belmont Hill people—particularly alumni and faculty members–who have made the Belmont Hill story possible. My hope is that all of you, as current students, will feel connected to this effort and will remember it fondly as alumni yourselves one day.
Good morning, gentlemen, and welcome back from what I hope felt like a long and restful break. While we all love a good vacation, I will confess that I missed seeing all of you, and it feels great to be back together once again for spring. Congratulations to all of you on weathering a winter tainted by Omicron with such great cheer and amazing results. Whether it was hosting New England playoff games, our Form II trip to Washington, D.C., or the continued strong work in the classrooms—we surely finished winter on a high note. Now we turn our attention to an equally spectacular spring. It certainly feels like we have hit our stride fully as a community, and I know there are more amazing achievements to come.
Part of my break was spent reconnecting with Belmont Hill supporters in Florida, and I can report that spirit is building in the broader school community around many
One particular effort that I am excited about will be the launching of a new Centennial website in just a few weeks. On that site, you will be able to read about Belmont Hill traditions that have remained unchanged throughout the generations. There is an interactive historical timeline that connects you to videos, speeches, traditions, and other primary sources. This is a chance for me to thank our communications office as well as our archivist Caroline Kenney for all that she has done to make our history come alive over the course of the next few months. I suspect that we will be connecting to our archives with great regularity in the year ahead.
As we begin to look to 2023, we are working toward a yearlong celebration of our history with monthly themes like 100 years of Arts, Athletics, Academics, and Chapel. A lot of this programming will spill into our school chapels and gatherings next year, and I hope it will inspire all of us. A committee has been formed that includes representation from alumni, trustees, faculty, administration—even students. We hope it will culminate with a celebration on October 13 in 2023 where we may have over 1,000 people on campus; I learned recently that this will be Doc Fast’s birthday as well. Ultimately, it is going to be a moment where we have a chance to celebrate our past as we begin to navigate the next 100 years at Belmont Hill.
2 S ummer– Fall 2022
c H apel talk
Remarks delivered by Gregory
on March 28, 2022
Note that it never takes long for my first nautical reference in a Belmont Hill speech—in this case, my choice of the verb to navigate. It is amazing how frequently I drift into metaphors about navigating choppy waters or suggesting that our long-term course will be true. One might argue that this is the fundamental metaphor of Belmont Hill when we consider our school symbol, the sextant. When I was offered the job at Belmont Hill, my aunt was the first one to present me with this miniature sextant, as her two sons were proud Belmont Hill graduates. Dr. Melvoin left a few sextants in his office in the spring of 2018 as well. Since then, I have thought about the symbol rather a lot—seeing it on sports jerseys, websites, and banners everywhere. I suspect we will see many more sextants on banners as we approach our Centennial.
Sometimes we get frustrated when the newspaper tries to refer to our teams as “The Belmont Hill Sextants”— second only to when they refer to us as the Belmont Hill “Hillies.” It is worth pausing on the reality that for a school that enjoys as much pride in athletic competition as we do, we have no mascot—just a navigational symbol, centrally located in our School Seal of red and blue. Likewise, we have no team name—just our sextant. Whether you are in Form I or Form VI, it struck me that it is worth our time and energy to think about this phenomenon a bit more deeply together today.
Perhaps it makes sense to start back at the beginning— how did this come to be Belmont Hill’s symbol anyway? Our best source of information on this topic is our founding Head of School, R. Heber Howe, who offered an explanation at the closing exercises of Belmont Hill’s first year on June 6, 1924:
About a year ago, when the organizers of Belmont Hill School were discussing various plans and projects for launching the new institution successfully, they were confronted by the problem of finding a satisfactory emblem. To be appropriate, the device would have to symbolize some fine ideal in education. It would have to express, in one way or another, the spirit we wished to propagate—namely: that of service through scholarship.
And so, in the course of many weeks, quite a number of emblems were suggested. Curiously enough, perhaps several of us loved the sea and everything connected
with it, nautical devices seemed to be the favorites. Some of these, like the compass and the capstan, were apparently suitable; but one by one, either through too great intricacy or because of lack of originality, they were rejected.
Finally, however, it occurred to someone that the sextant might be used. The sextant was a symbol of orientation, and the chief purpose of education was, of course, to orientate. For it is only by “finding ourselves,” by discovering our capacities and aptitudes, that we can be of service to the community. Thus, after some discussion, the sextant was adopted, and was made into the present School Seal, enameled red and blue, with the legend “Providentia, Studium, Fidelitas” around the border.
But let’s go back a bit further than 1924. The principles upon which the sextant operated were discovered by Sir Isaac Newton, who built a first prototype in 1700, but most seem to credit the actual invention of the sextant to astronomer John Bird in 1757, while English inventor John Hadley and American optician Thomas Godfrey created preliminary models around 1730. To be honest, there seemed to be some varying opinions about who deserves credit for the invention. Either way, the sextant attempts to plot one’s longitude and latitude, thus quite literally orientating the operator as to where they are in the world.
As I had no idea of how to use a sextant personally, I spent some quality time geeking out on sextant YouTube videos over my spring vacation—I am quite sure that many of you were doing the same. Suffice it to say, there are plenty of strange videos out there produced by eccentric and lonely mariners seeking an audience.
I picked one for this morning to give you the most basic understanding of how a sextant works. Let’s just say what it lacks in special effects is balanced by its outstanding sense of brevity. Can we roll the video please?
I should mention that your geometry teachers would love to tell you that there is some pretty cool math involved here as well. It has the makings of a great independent study combined with some work in our new makerspace, in my mind. Perhaps one of you will take me up on the idea of a sextant-based project or independent study in the future.
3 S ummer– Fall 2022
One personal insight of this research has been the reminder that the sextant actually reveals where you are as opposed to where you are going. I have often found myself referring to it as something like a moral compass, guiding us through those stormy seas of school life. While not exactly untrue, it might be more accurate to connect the sextant to a concept of self-awareness. By knowing exactly who and where we are in the world, we are able to then plot a course of where we would like to go.
You may or may not be aware that members of our faculty and our board have been working on a history and symbols task force for the past year and a half. One of the formal actions of this task force was to affirm the sextant as a wonderful school symbol for Belmont Hill moving forward. While the symbol was never really in question, it is nice to know that it is here to stay. All of this begs the question as to why it’s such a powerful symbol that you wear on your jerseys or other gear in support of our school. First, if Howe’s original goal for Belmont Hill graduates was to utilize scholarship for service, when we wear a sextant on
our clothing, we send a message that we know who we are at this school, and we know what matters to us. By knowing ourselves fully, both our strengths and our flaws, we are able to dedicate ourselves in service of others.
We don’t require a mascot, nor do we yell or scream about a sextant when we come to play. When our teams compete, we arrive with a sense of purpose and generally leave with a sense of accomplishment. We arrive as a group of developing young men of character, bound together by this clarion symbol. We commit to being at our personal best, and we lock arm in arm as brothers to achieve our goals. And when we are done, we recalibrate and move forward to the next challenge, wherever that may be.
As we turn our attention to spring, the culmination of our time together with a growing focus upon celebrating Form VI, let us not forget where we are. When we display sextants around campus or on a jersey during competition, let’s remember the detailed sense of clarity it provides our community. I can tell you that, in recent years, this symbol has become a more powerful metaphor for me in my own life.
My hope is that the same might be true for all of you during your own Belmont Hill journey as well as your lifetime beyond as members of our alumni body. As we all know, that day is suddenly rapidly approaching for those sitting in the first few rows of this chapel. As we begin the spring term, we also begin the important process of thanking them and honoring their legacy at Belmont Hill. Let’s have a truly great spring this year, gentlemen—all of us together. Let’s enjoy each other fully and completely, bound in our shared sense of purpose in both knowing where we are and in knowing our respective roles in the good and important work of this perpetually improving school.
Sixth Form.
4 S ummer– Fall 2022
c H apel talk
A video shows students how sextants work.
Belmont Hill Kicks Off Centennial Campaign with Grand Celebration
BY BILL MAHONEY
On a beautiful Friday evening this past May, the community gathered to celebrate the launch of the School’s Centennial Campaign. After a lovely reception under the tent on the chapel lawn, guests proceeded into Hamilton Chapel to hear from a number of speakers and one special performer. The evening began with introductions from trustees Emmett Lyne ’77 and Greg Paul ’09. Mr. Lyne stated that it was his honor to officially announce for the first time the goal for The Centennial Campaign for Belmont Hill: $125 million. “This is an ambitious target—a high watermark for the School,” he said. “To put it into context, the last drive’s goal was $75 million. It is a goal that even approaches our endowment total.” Mr. Paul then accentuated the importance of this historic campaign. “Attending Belmont Hill was a transformational experience for me,” he explained. “I am beyond thrilled that this campaign will invest in the next generation of Belmont Hill students, students who will then become part of the best alumni community around.”
Next, the audience was treated to the first of three videos featuring alumni and current and past faculty. Following the video, the very gifted Will Kelly ’23 wowed the audience with a remarkable performance of the Billy Joel classic “Vienna.” Will received a rousing standing ovation from the crowd for his tremendous singing and piano playing.
5 s ummer– Fall 2022
Seated: Emmett Lyne ’77, Jill Shah, Amy Madden, and Greg Paul ’09. Standing: Donnell Patterson, Will Kelly ’23, Greg Schneider, and Jon Biotti ’87.
Centennial Campaign kickoff celebration, May 13, 2022.
CENTENNIAL CAMPAIGN LEADERSHIP
HONORARY CHAIRS
Eileen & Jack Connors
Julie & Ron Druker ’62
CAMPAIGN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Leslie Jeng & Jon Biotti ’87 Campaign Co-Chairs
Copey Coppedge Campaign Co-Chair
Patti & Jonathan Kraft ’82 Campaign Co-Chairs
Margaret & Emmett Lyne ’77 Campaign Co-Chairs
Carl Martignetti ’77 Campaign Co-Chair
Jill & Niraj Shah Campaign Co-Chairs
Charlotte & Herb Wagner Campaign Co-Chairs
Jennifer & Jeffrey Drucker ’90
Jean & Chris Egan
Faculty Endowment Co-Chairs
Warren Fields ’81 Alumni Co-Chair
Connie & Chris Hadley
Ann & Tony Ryan
Faculty Endowment Co-Chairs
Margaret & Jim Wade Parent Co-Chairs
President of the Board of Trustees Jon Biotti ’87, P ’23, next provided an introduction to Greg Schneider, Ronald M. Druker ’62 Head of School. “Greg leads the School with a steady hand,” Mr. Biotti said, “always striving to make Belmont Hill a better version of itself…while at the same time, holding onto the timeless values and culture at its core.”
Mr. Schneider then addressed the audience, stating that, “those of you who have heard me speak about the campaign before know that this will be a truly comprehensive effort that will be focused upon the people, the programs, and the projects that will ultimately support the boys of Belmont Hill.” He closed by explaining that his hope is that many in the Belmont Hill community will choose to continue supporting the dreams we have for Belmont Hill and especially for the future generations of boys on campus. “When we consider a school that was founded less than 100 years ago, the story of this institution’s success is virtually unheard of in our industry.”
Mr. Lyne and fellow trustee Jill Shah P ’23 then framed the specifics of the campaign. Mrs. Shah emphasized that Belmont Hill is guided by a mission of character and Working Together. “Belmont Hill’s leaders understand that our world will change, and that it needs to always be evolving to ensure that our students have what’s necessary to be leaders and productive participants in our collective future.”
Amy Madden P ’20, ’22 delivered the closing remarks, reflecting on her long history with the School, growing up in the dorms as the daughter of former faculty member Dan Bridges and his wife, Sally, and as the mother of two Belmont Hill graduates and wife of Ted Madden ’88. She noted that Belmont Hill is a place that takes relationships and community very seriously. “It is not often a speaker can say to a whole room, ‘You get that,’ but tonight I can because each of you has your role in this extraordinary community, so you do indeed get that.”
It was indeed a glorious evening for the School. A poignant celebration of the bright future awaiting Belmont Hill.
6 S ummer– Fall 2022
centennial campaign kicko FF
2
3
1. Will Kelly ’23 performs.
2. Varun Shah ’17, Zach Shpilner ’17, Bill Cleary ’52, Will Ryan ’17, and Marshall Knight ’17.
3. Rick Ganong ’82, Kris Ganong, Ann Ryan, and Tony Ryan. 4. Margaret and Emmett Lyne ’77.
5. Bunny Melvoin and Harold Prenatt.
7 S ummer– Fall 2022
6 5
6. Kenny Martin ’65, Tagg Romney ’88, Janet Dewar, and Chip Dewar. 4
1
1. Nikhil Sahni ’01 and Ishani Ganguli.
2. Ted Madden ’88 and Jason Hurd ’90.
3. Mary Chen, Liz Kelly, and Elizabeth Wood.
4. John Welch ’60, Alexandra Norton, Marylou Welch, and Art Norton ’60.
8 S ummer– Fall 2022
3 4
1 2
centennial campaign kicko FF
FROM THE
ARCHIVES
By Caroline Kenney, School Archivist
As we kick off our next capital campaign, let’s take a look back at the previous campaigns and how they’ve made an impact on our community.
PROGRESS FUND
Alumni Bulletin, Vol. 33, No. 1, Fall 1968
Headmaster Charles F. Hamilton announced the Progress Fund, the School’s first capital drive. It included two phases: one in the spring of 1969, and the second going until the 50th Anniversary.
PROGRESS FUND FOR THE 50 th ANNIVERSARY
Alumni Bulletin, Vol. 38, No. 1, Fall 1973
The second phase of the Progress Fund took the School all the way to its 50th Anniversary, where the goal was set for $2 million. Scott Parrot ’41, director of development, recognized their tremendous feat in this letter.
EXCELLENCE IN THE ’80s –A CAMPAIGN FOR BELMONT HILL
The goal of the campaign was to raise $6 million in capital funds for the improvement of facilities and the endowment for faculty salaries. The final campaign achievement was $6,114,000. The School had reached $5 million in gifts and pledges by May 1984 and concluded in 1985. The campaign began in 1981.
Faculty, 1984–1985.
B elmont H ill arc H ives 9 summer– Fall 2022
75 th ANNIVERSARY CAMPAIGN
The School celebrated its 75th Anniversary with the goal of raising $25 million. The campaign aimed to enable Belmont Hill to revitalize our campus and physical plant for the benefit of current and future students and faculty. In a tremendous achievement, a total of $42.2 million was raised.
The campaign began in 1997 and closed in the fall of 2000 with the dedication of the Jordan Athletic Center. More than 800 guests were in attendance.
Scan this code to watch a video from the 75th Anniversary Campaign Kickoff Dinner.
THE CAMPAIGN FOR BELMONT HILL
The Campaign for Belmont Hill was a capital drive that began in 2007, with a goal of $75 million, that focused on raising the endowment for financial aid and faculty salaries. The community drove past its goals with a total of $77.8 million raised. The campaign closed in June of 2010 and was celebrated on September 23, 2010. Campaign committee members joined on stage to close the evening: John Pike ’49, Carl Martignetti ’77, Martie Fritz, Copey Coppedge, Ruthanne Fuller, Jonathan Kraft ’82, Steve Karp ’57, Rick Ganong ’82, Rick Melvoin, and Chris Clifford.
B elmont H ill arc H ives
Carl Martignetti ’77 and Copey Coppedge stand at the podium during the 75th Anniversary event in 1998.
10 s ummer– Fall 2022
VISITING SPEAKERS
dr. noubar afeyan | February 10, 2022
Top row: Greg Schneider and Dr. Harry Goldberg.
Bottom row: Sarah Pelmas and Dr. Noubar Afeyan.
Dr. Noubar Afeyan spoke to the Belmont Hill and Winsor communities in a webinar format during which he also answered questions submitted by students. Dr. Afeyan is founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering, a company that conceives, creates, resources, and develops first-in-category bioplatform companies to transform human health and sustainability. An entrepreneur and biochemical engineer, Dr. Afeyan holds more than 100 patents and has co-founded and helped build more than 70 life science and technology startups during his 33-year career. He is co-founder and chairman of the board of Moderna, the pioneering messenger RNA vaccine company addressing the global COVID-19 pandemic, and serves on the boards of several private and public companies. He is the father of a Belmont Hill graduate (Alex ’16) and three Winsor graduates (’08, ’10, and ’13). This virtual evening program was held in collaboration with Winsor and was open to members of both school communities. More than 700 people registered for the event.
After introductions by Sarah Pelmas, Head of School at Winsor, and Greg Schneider, Ronald M. Druker ’62 Head of School at Belmont Hill, Dr. Harry Goldberg, chair of the Belmont Hill science department introduced Dr. Afeyan and moderated the conversation. Dr. Goldberg noted that questions submitted by students would deal with the biological basis of viral infection, future goals and expectations, and entrepreneurship.
Dr. Afeyan set the stage by talking about setbacks in his career and how they ultimately led to growth. “The only failure is the failure to try,” he stated. “We need to make peace with the fact that disappointment usually is what precedes success.”
stephen kinzer | March 11, 2022
Stephen Kinzer spoke to the boys in Hamilton Chapel, sharing some of his stories and perceptions garnered during his many years in journalism. Mr. Kinzer is an award-winning foreign correspondent who has covered more than 50 countries on five continents. His articles and books have led the Washington Post to place him “among the best in popular foreign policy storytelling.” He spent more than 20 years working for the New York Times, most of it as a foreign correspondent. After leaving the Times in 2005, he taught journalism, political science, and international relations at Northwestern University and Boston University. He is now a Senior Fellow at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University, and writes a world affairs column for The Boston Globe.
Mr. Kinzer was introduced by Glenn Harvey, history department chair, and by Sam Atalla ’23. Sam had enjoyed Mr. Kinzer’s book, Overthrow, which was a summer reading book for AP history students, and contacted him, starting a dialogue that eventually led to Mr. Kinzer’s speech at Belmont Hill. “Mr. Kinzer’s work provides a valuable and critical analysis of American history and foreign policy,” Sam told the audience.
11 S ummer– Fall 2022
speakers
visiting
Sam Atalla ’23, Stephen Kinzer, and Glenn Harvey.
The talk spanned several decades of Mr. Kinzer’s career and included lessons learned along the way. He discussed how American foreign policy is formed, and its propensity for short-term solutions that often lead to longer-term problems.
He closed by urging the boys to look beyond the news stories they read about conflicts and to ask critical questions. “Hold yourself apart from mainstream views,” he said. “Try to understand the world as it must look to others. When you’re reading news about what happened today, ask yourself: ‘How did we get here? What happened yesterday? What did this mean? What’s going to happen tomorrow?’” After his talk, Mr. Kinzer led a student discussion in MacPherson.
shinya yamanaka, md, p h d | March 31, 2022 Belmont Hill welcomed a most esteemed speaker when Nobel Prize-winning scientist Shinya Yamanaka, MD, PhD, spoke remotely in Hamilton Chapel. This special morning was kicked off by one of Belmont Hill’s most distinguished alumni, Jonathan Kraft ’82, P ’15, who introduced the moderator, George Q. Daley, MD, PhD, P ’17, ’19, and the speaker, Dr. Yamanaka.
Dr. Daley is Dean of Harvard Medical School and the Caroline Shields Walker Professor of Medicine. He is also a Professor of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at Harvard Medical School. Previously, he was the Robert A. Stranahan Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Stem Cell Transplantation Program at Dana-Farber/ Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. Shinya Yamanaka, MD, PhD, is a senior investigator and the L.K. Whittier Foundation Investigator in Stem Cell Biology at Gladstone Institutes. He is also a professor of anatomy at UC San Francisco, as well as a director and professor of the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) at Kyoto University in Japan. In 2012, Dr. Yamanaka was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery that adult somatic cells can be reprogrammed into pluripotent cells. In addition, he has received many awards and honors, including the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, the Wolf Prize in Medicine, the Millennium Technology Award, the Shaw Prize, the Kyoto Prize for Advanced Technology, the Gairdner International Award, the Robert Koch Award, and the March of Dimes Prize.
The Kageyama-Hunt Lecture Series, established in 2012 by Belmont Hill parents Bill and Yuko Kageyama-Hunt P ’11, ’17, brings speakers to campus who model global citizenship and can inspire generations of Belmont Hill boys to embrace the challenges and opportunities of an interconnected world.
Following the school-wide talk, Dr. Yamanaka spoke with a group of science classes in the Kraft Theater for a more in-depth questionand-answer session.
12 S ummer– Fall 2022
visiting speakers
Mr. Grant at the podium. On Zoom, featured speaker Dr. Shinya Yamanaka, top left, with moderator Dr. George Daley, P ’17, ’19, right, and Jonathan Kraft ’82, P ’15, bottom.
BELMONT HILL DEDICATES NEW BENCH DURING OUTDOOR SCHOOL MEETING
By Bill Mahoney
Belmont Hill students and faculty have noticed that a new bench for reflection has been installed on campus, in the place where a bell once stood for nearly a century. In the spring of 2018, a number of Belmont Hill students did extensive research on the history of this bell and ultimately presented to the Board of Trustees about its origin, which was in fact from a sugar plantation in Cuba. While it is impossible to know precisely where it came from, the School now knows with confidence that before landing at Belmont Hill, this bell was used to call enslaved people to work.
“My hope is that when this ceremony has passed, and this space becomes a permanent part of our campus, you will remember its significance,” Greg Schneider, Ronald M. Druker ’62 Head of School, said in his opening remarks. “And, that you might help me remind the new boys who will join us next year, and the year after, that this is a space that calls upon all of us to make Belmont Hill the best possible version of itself. The challenge that is implicit in this bench is shared by all of us just as this school belongs to all of you.”
During the summer of 2020, a vocal group of Belmont Hill alumni came together with petitions and social media accounts to remind the School of this history and to express how the bell’s presence impacted their experience on our campus. Shortly thereafter, our Board of Trustees unanimously agreed that it was time for it to be removed and a task force was formed to consider a new home for the bell along with a deeper consideration of our school’s history.
The bell now resides at the Robbins House in Concord, where it will serve as part of the larger educational story about African American history and the connections of slave labor to New England. The School’s hope was to find a partner who could capture the bell’s educational power and could allow Belmont Hill boys to interact with it in the future.
After his opening remarks, Mr. Schneider then introduced the first speaker, Maria Madison, Executive Director of the Robbins House. She shared a few thoughts about the mission of the Robbins House and the possibilities of the new partnership. The next speaker was Greg Paul, from Belmont Hill’s Class of 2009. Mr. Paul is a member of the task force and was elected to our Board of Trustees at the School’s most recent corporation meeting.
He offered some reflections on the significance of this moment as well as the bench and its inscription. Finally, the vice president of our Board of Trustees and Centennial Chair Bill Achtmeyer from the Class of ’73 closed with some words about our Centennial celebration next year.
13 S ummer– Fall 2022 community & D iversity
The new bench includes an engraving stating the School’s intent of inclusivity and belonging for all Belmont Hill boys.
Greg Schneider, Greg Paul ’09, Gretchen Cook-Anderson, Maria Madison, Bill Achtmeyer ’73, and Emmett Lyne ’77 on May 10, 2022 at the Bench dedication.
Commencement 2022
PRIZE DAY FOR FORMS I-V
June 2, 2022
prize day
1. Forms IV and V prize winners.
2. Middle School prize winners.
3. Form II students Daniel Chen (kneeling), Nicky Jones, John Coughlin, Brody LindstromChalpin, Boston Ezedi, Jayden Chen, Will Achtmeyer, and Davis Barrett, with faculty member Paul DiResta.
4. Steven Kaplan ’83 presents the Thomas Photography Prize to Rafael Rodriguez Montgomery ’24.
5. Mrs. David presenting a Community Service Award to Daniel Moran ’23.
6. Juan-Pablo Fernández-del Castillo ’25.
7. Donnell Patterson leads the B-Flats in the singing of the National Anthem.
8. Jordan Summers ’25 receives a Form III Middle School Merit Award from Mrs. Hamilton.
15 S ummer– Fall 2022 commencement 2022
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Prize Day
1
faculty & staff recognition
50 Years
Kenneth Martin ’65 Michael Sherman
35 Years Donald Bradley Robert Brownell
30 Years Christopher Sweeney ’83
25 Years Daniel Butler Nancy Montanaro
20 Years
Caleb Collins ’93 Jay Fritz ’91 Linda Rudzinski
15 Years Vincent D’Amico David Hegarty
10 Years
Paul DiResta Suzanne Kaplan Nancy O’Connor Eric Smith Juliette Zener
5 Years
Nina Del Vecchio Daniel Duarte Tania Glinski
Caroline Kenney James Peck ’77
1. Ken Martin ’65 and Greg Schneider.
2. Faculty rose to honor their colleagues Ken Martin ’65 and Michael Sherman for 50 years of service, respectively, to the School.
3. David Hegarty.
4. Caleb Collins ’93 and Bob Brownell.
5. Nancy Montanaro.
6. Chris Sweeney ’83.
7. Dan Duarte, Nina Del Vecchio, and Jim Peck ’77.
8. Paul DiResta, Suzanne Kaplan, Juliette Zener, Nancy O’Connor, and Eric Smith.
16 S ummer– Fall 2022 Faculty & Staff Recognition
7 8
2 1 3 4 5 6
commencement 2022
BACCALAUREATE ADDRESS
Remarks delivered by Casey Bobo on June 3, 2022
Good afternoon, guys. I appreciate the opportunity to speak to you on the eve of your Commencement. What I find particularly interesting about having this moment with you is that we are standing on this precipice together as we look ahead and imagine leaving this place. I understand some of the feelings you are feeling right now. Excitement, sadness, maybe a little fear. After tomorrow, so much will be very different for all of us. But what I want to focus on tonight is everything that is good and fortifying and positive. As we go into the celebrations of tomorrow, I wanted to share two recurring thoughts with you. One is about someone who is very special to me—my dad— and one is about your class. I know they probably seem disparate to you, but I hope to show you how these two topics that I care a lot about are inherently connected.
As some of you know, my dad passed away a year ago this past February. I miss him every day. I miss his hugs. I miss his pep talks. I miss being able to tell him that I love him.
In my childhood, my dad was sort of larger than life. For most of those early years, he was the athletic director at Deerfield Academy where he taught biology and coached varsity hockey and lacrosse. He was also an alumnus of Deerfield, and he loved that school so much. When I was growing up, it was all-boys and there was something about that dynamic that he thought was so incredibly powerful. I couldn’t agree more and being at Belmont Hill over these past ten years has drawn me back so often to the example he set for me. To love your school and believe in its mission and its culture meant everything to my dad and now to me. I so often think back to those years and how proud he was of his school; how so much of his life was about making the school and its constituents love the institution the way he did. I vividly remember the way he interacted with his students and his players and his col-
leagues who were his best friends. I remember that when he wasn’t coaching his own hockey or lacrosse teams, he was all over campus cheering for teams and performances. He brought his four daughters everywhere with him, and we were always in the front row of every game, every play, and every acapella performance. I remember the joy he took helping the maintenance guys move benches or clear tables. He would have absolutely loved Willis Negron —Willis would have been his favorite guy. I remember how often my sisters and I would give my dad a really hard time for coming home with trash jammed into his pockets. We called him the trash man. It seemed gross, but if you ever walked with him around campus, he always seemed to be almost hunting for every last piece of trash that hadn’t found its way into a trash can. It took me a long time to understand how picking up trash was a reflection of his deep love and commitment to the place. Everything he did seemed inspired by making the people and the place just a little brighter not for himself—he was too busy picking up trash—but for anyone who was part of that school community to enjoy. He was my hero, and the thing that feels most heroic about him is that he was always all about everyone else. You guys have caused me to think about my dad a lot lately. There’s so much I see in your class that reminds me of him. More than anything else it is the way you love your school and celebrate each other. And the younger kids at this school have witnessed all of it. They have felt your energy, they have absorbed it, and it has had an amazing effect. There’s a really smart guy whose podcast I listen to—and no it’s not Bert Greene, but I am a huge fan of the TechnoFeudal Lizards. The guy I’m referring to is Adam Grant and he’s an organizational psychologist who is a professor at the Wharton School of Management at Penn. Some of the stuff he writes reminds me of my dad, and it also reminds me of you, as a class. In his book Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success he writes, “This is what I find most magnetic about successful leaders: They
17 S ummer– Fall 2022 Baccalaureate Address
Casey Bobo, former director of college counseling.
commencement 2022
engage in teaching, setting an example, and empowering others. If you seek to lead, your ability will ultimately be measured in the successes of those around you. These leaders find ways of expanding the pie that benefits themselves and the people around them. With good leadership, it may be true that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.”
Here’s why I think about you when I listen to Adam Grant. I want you to remember two years ago—the fall of 2020. You were juniors. We were in school, which many kids were not, and so it was a huge blessing for us just to be out of the house, right? But we were cordoned off into only our classes and advisories. COVID took your opportunities to be mentored by your coaches who were your teachers, to connect with the sponsors of your clubs and the directors of your performances—it took away your performing arts completely. There were so few opportunities to strengthen and build new friendships, and, in some cases, all of this took a tremendous toll on your mental health. COVID damaged our ability to connect, which is the thing that this school does better than I have ever seen it done. Did we teach? Yes, of course. But was it everything it could be? No, not even close.
It almost felt like we were huddled in this weird hibernation. There was such desperation to get out of that huddle—but the question was there—would the threat of pandemic smother us in this paradigm forever? Would we ever enjoy the traditions and expectations of what Belmont Hill had once been?
With you as our leaders, there was no slow building back. You guys showed up as seniors last fall and absolutely lit this place on fire. I don’t even think you realize what you’ve done for this school. You brought back the leadership of a strong and connected senior class, you brought back the energy to senior commons, the Loop, Coffee House, the Woodbury Speaking Contest—among other things. Belmont Hill is better and stronger than ever and I give you guys credit. You probably did this by instinct or because you just truly enjoy each other so much but it worked—it worked better than any of us ever could’ve imagined. And you did it by supporting, praising, and caring about each other. You are the ones who brought us back. Think about that Adam Grant quote again, successful leaders engage in setting an example, and empowering others. If you seek to lead, your ability will ultimately be measured in the successes of those around you.
I have watched you in just about every square foot of this place. I’ve watched you as an administrator, I’ve watched you as a parent, a teacher, and an advisor, but more than anything else I’ve been watching as a fan. Here’s what your extraordinary leadership and lifting the community looked like to me.
Well, it looked exactly like Mike Ahonen and Sebastian Costantini rallying their Loop into such a unified and overwhelming voice that the boys of winter rose up and put on quite a show. I watched Mike, Sebastian, and that group of seniors lead an army of crazed fans courtside–and storm that court after that magical team did away with Sebs to advance to the New England Finals. Now, remember—Mike Ahonen and Sebastian Costantini are superstars and captains of their respective sports in their own right, but senior leaders like these guys are NOT saying pay attention to me—but saying pay attention to THEM to US to Belmont Hill. What we saw was pure joy, pure excitement, pure pride. So many of you decided to lift up others and in the process, you lifted your class and you lifted the entire community. Remember the second part of that Adam Grant quote, “These leaders find ways of expanding the pie that benefits themselves and the people around them. With good leadership, it may be true that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.”
This leadership also looked like Daniel Rashes—electrifying an audience with his Woodbury love letter to his school and 3B soccer. I mean, who has ever won a Woodbury Zoomed into this chapel from his home? Daniel Rashes did and he made us all feel so good about our school and the experiences of all our students.
This leadership also looked like Luke Carroll—who amidst lots of donut and coffee treats for the class, and countless schoolwide projects, not to mention an epic assassin game, also decided to honor the women on the Belmont Hill faculty and staff on International Women’s Day. Did he need to do that? No—we’re just doing our jobs like everyone else on the faculty and staff, but it made us feel so appreciated and empowered. Again, Luke and you guys decided to empower others; you cannot overstate the impact of that kind of leadership.
Now, recognize, I didn’t talk about individual accomplishments…I didn’t talk about James Donahue breaking the course record at every school where he ran, but I AM talking about the seniors leading a standing ovation when Mr. Schneider announced one of James’s many accolades.
18 S ummer– Fall 2022
Baccalaureate Address commencement 2022
I didn’t talk about 10,000 people streaming the hockey game against Salisbury—although that was super cool. I didn’t talk about Jaden shutting down Trevor Mullen though that too was so cool. I’m talking about publicly acknowledging your love of this place. I’m talking about deciding to put up a poster of all the female faculty and staff that still hangs in the dining hall. I’m talking about all of you who decided to cheer so loudly for the 7th grade glee club. How did that make everyone in the chapel feel? How did it make the little guys who sit up there feel?
I imagine it might be a little hard for you to see this impact objectively—but you created a tidal wave of great feelings about Belmont Hill and we all got caught up in it. And let me tell you how you will see the enormous impact and legacy you leave. Come back for your fifth reunion in 2027, and it will be our current 7th graders—the little fresh faces in your Loop and those who sat up there and watched Nolan Parchesky share his joy for life in the Napoleon Dynamite epic display of talent. Those little guys will be seniors in 2027 and your influence will show in the way they lead. I know they will be leading like this (picture). They will be leading like the way I saw my dad celebrating his school and supporting the people around him. Remember Adam Grant said that “if you seek to
lead, your ability will be measured in the successes of those around you.” Look at this success around you! It’s amazing. You revived us when we’d lost a little bit of our punch. Finding our way back to the Belmont Hill we all love meant following you as you showed us ways to celebrate and empower the people and institution you love.
Here’s the bottom line: For Luke, and Mike and Sebastian and Daniel and Noland and your entire class—it was celebrating others by cheering your hearts out—because it made you feel good—and it made the entire school stand up a little taller, a little braver, and with such collective love and pride. You have been our sextant. You were everything that our school symbol stands for. You guided us through some stormy seas in a way I’m not sure any other class could have done so impressively. So, as we take this next step and walk out of here together tomorrow, I just want to say one last time, thank you. You helped make this school and your experience here—as well as the experience for the younger guys who watched you this year—what we hope is the most meaningful educational experience of your lives. I’m so proud of you guys. I love you and I will miss you, and I hope we will meet back here really soon.
19 S ummer– Fall 2022
Student support at the varsity lacrosse game under the lights vs. St. Seb’s, April 29, 2022.
COLLEGES ACCEPTING MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2022
Amherst College (4)
Babson College (7) Bates College (3)
Bentley University (4) Boston College (9) Boston University (2)
Bowdoin College (4) Brandeis University (3)
Brigham Young University (2) Brown University (2) Bryant University Bucknell University (5)
University of California, Berkeley University of California, San Diego University of Chicago (2) Colby College
Colgate University (5) College of the Holy Cross (2) College of William & Mary (2)
Columbia University Connecticut College (7)
Cornell University (3)
Dartmouth College (6) Davidson College (4) University College Dublin
Duke University Elon University (5)
Emerson College
Emmanuel College
Emory University (2)
Endicott College
Fairfield University (2) Fordham University Georgetown University (4) Grinnell College
Hamilton College Harvard College (7) Haverford College
Hobart & William Smith (3) Indiana University (4) Johns Hopkins University Lafayette College Le Moyne College MIT (2)
University of Massachusetts Amherst (7)
University of Massachusetts Lowell (3) University of Miami (2) Miami University (Ohio) Middlebury College (3) University of New Hampshire New York University
Nichols College
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Northeastern University (3)
Northwestern University
The Ohio State University University of Oregon
Penn State University (2) University of Pennsylvania (3)
Princeton University (2) Providence College (9) University of Rhode Island University of Richmond (3) Santa Clara University
Skidmore College
University of Southern California Southern Methodist University University of St. Andrews St. Lawrence University (2) Stanford University
Stonehill College
Swarthmore College
Trinity College (5) Tufts University (6) Union College (2) Vanderbilt University University of Vermont (6) Villanova University (2) University of Virginia (4)
Wake Forest University (3) Washington University in St. Louis (2) University of Washington Wesleyan University (2) Williams College (4) University of Wisconsin–Madison (3) WPI (2)
Yale University
20 S ummer– Fall 2022
College Choices commencement 2022
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
Address delivered by Mortimer
J. “Tim” Buckley ’87
on June 4, 2022
You are the future leaders of business, science, academia, and more. You will write our future. So, what can I give such a class? Five lessons. The five lessons I wish I heard on June 13, 1987.
Now, if you don’t remember me in 35 years, I won’t be offended. But, if you remember one or two of these lessons, I will be thrilled. I will have played some small role in your future success.
First, focus on being interested, not interesting. Our society is obsessed with being interesting. People cultivate their personal brands and constantly try to stand out in a sea of posts and likes. We are so busy trying to impress that we miss great opportunities to learn.
At school, you will be surrounded by PhDs, professors, and even Nobel Laureates. Don’t try to impress them; learn from them. Take advantage of office hours, not to improve your grades, but to learn. Ask questions. Lots of them.
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Commencement Address commencement 2022
Tim Buckley ’87 is the Chairman and CEO of The Vanguard Group.
This relates to my second lesson. Be selfish, but just for the next four years. Find those engaging professors. Take those courses that most interest you. Make new friends. Invest in yourself, your education, and your friendships. You’re going to have four decades to figure out how to pay it back.
Third, focus on the why, not the what. We are obsessed with the “what.” What school are you going to? What’s your major? What’s your job? The “what” describes us, but it does not define us. The “why” defines us. I was lost coming out of college (don’t be surprised if you are too). I was second guessing everything. Maybe I didn’t want to go into business. Maybe I should have been pre-med or ROTC. At that point, my father, an accomplished heart surgeon, gave me the best advice. He told me to stop thinking about what I wanted to do and start thinking about why. He said quite simply, “Save lives or help people live better lives; anything else and you’re wasting your time.” That advice has been my compass for 30 years. It has defined my path.
I didn’t follow my father into medicine—a noble career full of purpose. I was lucky to find a company down in Valley Forge, PA, called Vanguard. One that’s different. It’s actually owned by its clients. It has a sole purpose to help people retire better, give them a fair shake as they try to put their kids through university or afford that dream home. Outside of Vanguard I volunteered to be on the board of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. You want to talk about purpose? Those people show up every day to give kids back their health, back their future, to give families hope. When you are part of something that’s bigger than you, it never feels like work. When you have a strong “why,” getting out of bed in the morning is never difficult.
Fourth, stay humble. Even if you are the smartest in the room, you are never smarter than the whole room. Great leaders don’t set strategy or a vision alone; rather, they bring it out of their teams. In fact, looking out on this audience, meeting you
ahead of time, I would bet on the combined knowledge of this graduating class over the wisdom up here on this stage any day of the week.
Finally, don’t conflate success with fulfillment. The measures of success are all around us. I have a president and a head of school behind me. Their titles scream success. Eleven of you are D1 recruits—more success. The trappings are everywhere—title, compensation, flying on private jets, sitting courtside, getting invited to the most exclusive parties. As cool as those sound, they are somewhat empty goals—exciting, but short-lived. Fulfillment brings the lasting joy. Having a positive impact on another person, touching their life and making it better—that is what matters. It sounds like an elusive concept, but I have a tangible example. Behind me are your diplomas—marks of incredible success. As you come up here, you’ll get your diploma and shake hands with Jon and with Greg. Do me a favor. As you are walking off stage, slow down and find your parents or guardians in the audience. That look in their eyes, that face—that’s fulfillment. I have no idea where my Belmont Hill diploma is, but my son graduates from the Shipley School in Pennsylvania next week. I will never forget that moment.
I wish you all fulfilling lives. Congratulations and good luck!
The preceding text was excerpted from Mr. Buckley’s address. To see the Commencement program and all of the speeches in their entirety, please scan this link with your phone.
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Commencement Address commencement 2022
Kailen Richards ’22 is congratulated by Mr. Buckley in the receiving line following Commencement.
1. Sean Horkan ’24 and Declan Reilly ’24.
2. Greg Schneider at the podium. 3. School President Luke Carroll ’22. 4. Daniel Bittner ’22 and Josh Baldwin ’22. 5. David Carter ’22 performs “A Trumpeter’s Lullaby.” 6. Igaju Agba ’22’s family and friends celebrate the awarding of his diploma.
7. Jon Biotti ’87 and Jaden Hill ’22.
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6 7
4 5 Commencement Photos commencement 2022
1 2
3
9 24 S ummer– Fall 2022 8 12 13 14 10 11 Commencement Photos commencement 2022 8. Chris
’22, Jack Albers ’22, and Mike
’22. 9. Tommy
’22. 10. Family members celebrate awarding of diplomas. 11. Albert
12. Dylan
his
guests. 13. Faculty receiving line. 14. Howard
and
Aufiero
Ahonen
Madden
McField Zapata ’22.
Rosen ’22 with
Commencement
Huang ’22, Kevin Jiang ’22, Lawrence Tang ’22,
Chris Aufiero ’22.
Arts on the Hill
Jeremy Eaton ’24 and Daniel Rashes ’23.
1. Winter Concert – Orchestra: Meghan Carye, assistant conductor. Inner ring: Howard Huang ’22, violin; Wesley Zhu ’25, violin; Jayden Lotin ’26, violin; David Cho ’23, cello; Daniel Cho ’23, cello; Jaiden Lee ’26, cello; and Brian Lee ’24, cello. Outer ring: Arec Keomurjian ’22, piano; Ryan Chang-Wu ’27, violin; Davin Roy ’24, violin; Timothy Snail ’26, violin; Cotter Healey ’26, violin; Aleksander Vasu ’22, guitar; Thomas Danahy ’26, cello; and Timothée Simonin ’22, cello. Back row: Kevin Jiang ’22, clarinet; Ernest Lai ’25, clarinet; CJ Collins ’25, clarinet; and Yareh Constant ’25, double bass. Percussion: Patrick Gaulin.
2. Upper School Jazz Ensemble: David Carter ’22, trumpet; Andrew Bittner ’24, trumpet; Daniel Bittner ’22, trumpet; David Luo ’25, trumpet; and Alexander Behn ’24, trombone.
3. Thomas Danahy ’26, cello.
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1 arts on t H e H ill
2
4. Spring Concert – Upper School Jazz Ensemble: Daniel Bittner ’22, trumpet; David Carter ’22, trumpet; Andrew Bittner ’24, trumpet; David Luo ’25, trumpet; Alexander Behn ’24, trombone; and Charles Geddes ’22, guitar (background).
5. Cameron Connell ’23, guitar; and Leonardo Montoya ’23, voice.
6. Zack Dines ’22, advanced woodworking.
7. Spring Concert – Middle School Jazz Ensemble: Henry Amenhauser ’26, drums.
8. Coffee House – Middle School Jazz Ensemble: Babikir Saeed ’26, trumpet.
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5 6 7 8
4
9. Spring Concert – B-Flats: Gabriel Klug ’22; Alexandre White ’24; Jacob Czarnecki ’22; Leonardo Montoya ’23; William Kelly ’23; and Donnell Patterson, director. 10. Spring Concert – Middle School Jazz Ensemble: David Robinson ’27, piano.
Alex Sousa ’22, photography.
Stephen Agular ’25.
Davis Barrett ’26. 14. Spring Concert – Upper School Jazz Ensemble: Derrick Huang ’25, alto saxophone; and Davi Souza Ribeiro ’23, alto saxophone.
28 S ummer– Fall 2022
14 13
arts on t H e H ill
11.
12.
13.
9 10
11 12
15. Boston Ezedi ’26, Tommy Folan ’25, Griffin Vail ’26, Will Days ’27, Alex Savoulides ’27, Joe Zellner ’27, and Jayden Chen ’26.
16. Spring Concert – Orchestra: Daniel Fiori, director. Inner ring: Howard Huang ’22, violin; Wesley Zhu ’25, violin; Jayden Lotin ’26, violin; Cotter Healey ’26, violin; David Cho ’23, cello; Daniel Cho ’23, cello; Jaiden Lee ’26, cello; and Brian Lee ’24, cello. Outer ring: Davin Roy ’24, violin; Ryan Chang-Wu ’27, violin; and Timothy Snail ’26, violin. Back row: Arec Keomurjian ’22, piano.
17. Albert McField Zapata ’22, advanced woodworking.
18. Sam Dean ’24, acrylic on canvas.
19. Alex Sousa ’22, photography.
29 S ummer– Fall 2022
15 16 17 18 19
20. Jeremy Eaton ’23.
21. Rafael Rodriguez Montgomery ’24, photography.
22. Adam Shaff ’25, ceramics.
20 21 arts on t H e H ill
23. TJ Cannistraro ’25 (left) and Jerry Austen ’24 (right).
24. Tommy Folan ’25 and Boston Ezedi ’26 led the cast as Shrek and Donkey. In background, left to right, Will Achtmeyer ’26, Eli Ackerman ’26, Nicky Jones ’26, Polo Brice ’26, and Stephen Agular ’25.
30 S ummer– Fall 2022
25. Sammy Flood ’26 (front), Stephen Agular ’25, Will Trautz ’27, and Eli Ackerman ’26 (in back left to right). 22 23 24 25
26. Maxwell Ramanathan ’25, woodworking. 27. Whole cast of It’s a Wonderful Life, with Boston Ezedi ’26 in front. 28. Rafael Rodriguez Montgomery ’24, photography. 29. Jack Kastner ’25, ceramics. 30. Will Achtmeyer ’26, Stephen Agular ’25, Tommy Folan ’25, Polo Brice ’26, Sammy Flood ’26, as well as their talented Winsor castmates. 31. Middle School Jazz Ensemble: Jake Ma ’27, trumpet; Henry Amenhauser ’26, drums; Brandon Li ’26, alto saxophone; and John Pena ’26, bass guitar.
31 S ummer– Fall 2022
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26 27 29 28 30
Coaches’ Corner
Alpine Skiing
STEPHEN FELDMAN, Head Coach
Beginning with intense dryland training prior to snowfall, the Alpine ski team prepared for the season here on campus from late November through mid December. The boys returned from winter break on January 3 for training and competed in an ISL scrimmage giant slalom race at Nashoba Valley two days later. Coming away with a win on January 5, the boys, led by team captains Danny Crowley ’22 and Anton Schmitt ’22, went on to win the first two official giant slalom races of the season and took second in the third.
As the varsity transitioned to slalom training, the competition heated up. Dropping the next three races to Nobles, and battling the late-season weather, the team was hungry to make one final push for a share of the league title. Weather was not in our favor as the hill was covered in barely an inch of snow, making the race an impossibility.
Prior to the final league race of the season, eight boys traveled out to Shawnee Peak to compete in the Class A NEPSAC Championships. Danny Crowley, Anton Schmitt, Luca Mezzanotte ’23, Charlie Crowley ’25, Luke Guleserian’24, Nate Pappas ’24, Vince Mezzanotte ’25, and Drew Gannon ’25 represented the team in both a giant slalom and slalom competition. Each of these boys contributed meaningfully to an extraordinary third-place finish in New England.
All-ISL honors were awarded to Anton Schmitt, Danny Crowley, and Charlie Crowley and All-ISL Honorable Mention to Nate Pappas. Charlie Crowley was also recognized as the ISL Globe All-Scholastic Alpine Skier. New captain Luca Mezzanotte is ready to lead this young and proven team to another successful season in 2022–2023.
33 S ummer– Fall 2022
coac H es’ corner
Basketball
COREY COFIELD, Head Coach
After a year with so much uncertainty and restrictions around playing, the 2021–2022 season provided an opportunity for the boys to finally get back in the gym and compete at a high level. Although we did not know how the pandemic would affect this year, we agreed that we would welcome any chance to play and get better. Right from the beginning, led by our two senior captains, Joshua Baldwin and Martin Wilson, the team bought into the ideals and goals set before them. While we were still masked in the gym, November gave the athletes a chance to gel and bond through many tough and rigorous practices. It was then that the coaching staff realized how special this group of young men were going to be.
Our first game against St. Paul’s set the stage for the rest of the year. The boys came out flying and performed very well, both offensively and defensively. Wins against Rivers, Nobles, and Choate had the team in first place in the ISL heading into the winter break with a 4-1 record. Over winter break we faced some adversity. The challenges that were placed in front of us had nothing to do with wins or losses, but the ability to play games and practice as a full team. Some boys were injured or sick during the break, and we also had a few games canceled due to a brief COVID surge. Coming out of break, after practicing for nearly a month without a game, we were finally able to get back to our season and our ISL and Class A schedule.
After tough losses against Suffield Academy in OT and Governor’s Academy, we had some ground to make up in order to return to the top of the league. The seniors, Joshua Baldwin, Jaden Hill, Jack Kendall, Harry Lodge, Trent Mosquera, and Martin Wilson, propelled this team to massive wins against Loomis Chaffee, Exeter, and Milton in the month of January. These wins not only had Class A tournament implications, but the energy and confidence gained from these strong performances carried us through the rest of the season. It was also the first time, in a very long time, that Belmont Hill had knocked off that many of the perennial powerhouses in New England in the same season; not to mention the boys also did this in the span of one and a half weeks, which makes this feat even more incredible.
Losing a few games over the winter break forced us to have many three-game or even four-game weeks in a row to end the season. Wins at Middlesex, Thayer, Lawrence, BB&N, and St. Mark’s had this team buzzing going into our final Class A game against Phillips Andover. Despite having already played in two double-OT games, against St. Sebs and Milton, as well as a close, hard-fought game
34 S ummer– Fall 2022
coac H es’ corner
against Exeter, this game, too, went into OT and was decided by a game-winning jump shot by Trent Mosquera as time expired. In that game, as well as others, we received some strong support from our bench and young men like Giacomo Kaplan ’25, Isaiah Langham ’25, and Jamari Robinson ’25.
And just when we thought that the season could not be any more interesting or exciting, the team earned an invitation to the Class A tournament. As the #3 seed, the boys were to face Loomis Chaffee, once again, at home. The boys understood the task before them and welcomed the opportunity to play in front of their peers. The Fritz Gym had never been more packed! With both the hockey and basketball teams playing on the same day, at the same time, the energy in Jordan was palpable. The boys came out of the gates flying and fought tooth-and-nail against a talented Loomis squad. In the end, after a few clutch free throws by John Milewski ’23 as well as Joshua Baldwin and Trent Mosquera, the team was victorious and moved on to play our rivals, St. Seb’s. After a 2-point double-OT loss earlier in the year, the team was excited, to say the least, to play them again. Once again, the stage was set for an incredible game but an even better atmosphere. The environment that Saturday was electric. The support from faculty, alums, parents, and students gave us the energy that we needed to compete and ultimately defeat St. Seb’s by 20 points. Our starting five, Joshua Baldwin, Jaden Hill, Harry Lodge, Trent Mosquera, and Martin Wilson, all played phenomenally on both sides of the ball. The team played freely with excitement and confidence throughout the entire game. After leaving the gym, having been granted the opportunity to play one more game with this group of young men was a very special moment, not only for the coaching staff, but also for the School.
It had been a very long time, if ever, since the varsity basketball program earned a right to play in the Class A Championship game. That Sunday, we traveled to play at Hotchkiss for the Class A Championship. It was a back-and-forth game which had us down slightly at the half. After a few minor halftime adjustments, the boys battled hard to the end but unfortunately lost by three. Even though the season seemed to end rather abruptly and definitely not the way we had anticipated, the boys should feel very pleased and proud of their performance all year long. Having faced so much adversity and tough losses here and there, the fact that this team placed second in ISL and second in Class A speaks volumes about the leadership from our captains, support from our student body, as well as commitment from the entire team to do something special. All year we spoke about being a family. Every day in practice we worked hard and challenged each other as a family. I will forever be grateful for this experience and chance to coach such a fine group of athletes. Thank you, boys, for all that you did!
35 S ummer– Fall 2022
Hockey
BRIAN PHINNEY, Head Coach
With a more normal season on the horizon, the 2021–2022 varsity hockey team anxiously awaited getting back to ISL action. The season started with a bang, as we faced a very talented Nobles team at home. Down 1-0, the team came back to tie the game, and we used that momentum to push through the first few weeks of ISL competition.
One of the team’s strengths was our depth of talent, and that depth was put to the test early in the year. With a number of players lost due to injury and illness, our first practice with all players healthy did not come until January. Still, a number of players stepped up, especially our seniors. Jack Houser ’22, Charlie Cave ’22, Aaron Matthews ’22, Brendan Monahan ’22, Shane Kelly ’22, Jack Bosco ’22, Drew Blackwell ’22, Will Killoran ’22, Braden Reilly ’22, and Tom Goguen ’22 all took the team on their backs and led us to the championship at the Lawrenceville Tournament. Due to the pandemic, we canceled the Belmont Hill/Nichols Tournament, and the boys shifted their focus to more ISL play in January. After a come-from-behind tie against St. Sebastian’s, the team knocked off seven opponents by the end of the month. Some younger players (James Fisher ’23, Ronan O’Donnell ’23, Matthew Biotti ’23, Teddy Stiga ’25, Josh Doolan ’23, Danny Markham ’23, Mason Daignault, and Jake McManus ’24) began to assert themselves as formidable opponents in the league, and their hard work helped to carry the team into the final stretch of the season. The momentum from January carried over into February and was highlighted in a thrilling overtime win at St. Sebastian’s. Newcomers Brock Cummings ’23, Dane Carter ’23, Wyatt Schmidek ’23, Stephen Kilcoyne ’24, and Lindan Verville ’25 found their stride through this stretch and raised the level of play of the entire team. Though the team encountered their first losses of the season late in February, the resilience of the group came through, and the team locked up the ISL championship and qualified for the Elite 8 Tournament. A home playoff game against St. Sebastian’s lived up to its billing: a closely
contested game played out in front of a packed Jordan Athletic Center. Belmont Hill won the day behind the solid goaltending of Sam Scopa ’24. The New England/ Elite 8 semifinals sent Belmont Hill to perennial prep powerhouse Avon Old Farms. The team, and many fans, showed up ready to go, and Belmont Hill came out victorious. All of the boys’ hard work throughout the season brought the unique chance to host the New England/Elite 8 Championship Game at Belmont Hill. Belmont Hill lined up against 7-time New England champion Salisbury School. Though the rink was filled to the brim with Belmont Hill and Salisbury supporters, Salisbury was able to gain the victory, ending Belmont Hill’s bid for a New England Championship. Despite the loss, the team took pride in continuing to develop a team culture built on work ethic, competitiveness, and a team-first mentality.
Many thanks go out to coaches Robert Wright, John Halverson, Dave Cunningham ’12, and Jerry Pawloski. Extra special thanks to everyone who supported the team, including faculty and staff, family and friends, Athletic Director George Tahan, Assistant AD Bryson Rosser, Willis Negron, Dennis Chin, Jennifer Ruys, Keith Carey, Shawn Anderson, and the staff at the Jordan Athletic Center. Thank you to the sub-varsity coaches Andy Davis ’07, Mike Cherpek, Eric Smith, Dan Duarte, Jack Najjar, Pete O’Connell ’17, George Tahan, Mark Hamilton, and Jim Peck ’77. Best of luck to next year’s team.
36 S ummer– Fall 2022
coac H es’ corner
Nordic Skiing
JAKE DEC APRIO ’16, Head Coach
The 2021–2022 Nordic Ski season was very much defined by the team’s response and resilience to the adverse conditions of the winter as the team returned to a full season of competition in the Lakes Region League. With both a strong nucleus of returning skiers and some promising young skiers, the team hit the pavement of the Minuteman Bikeway and even the School’s campus for some early-season roller skiing. This dry-land training acted to reinforce good ski technique—both freestyle and classic—and teach better form. The top skiers traveled north each week for Lakes Region races, while newer skiers raced other ISL schools at the Weston Ski track under the lights on some Friday nights.
The team’s season began in earnest during its annual winter break training trip to Craftsbury, VT, in midDecember. New skiers Connor Emmert ’25, Ezra Lee ’25,
and Ethan Xie ’26 donned their skis for the first time on the Craftsbury trails, and skiers new and old were challenged with three daily practices and a culminating time trial before heading back to Belmont. The early-season training produced improved performances in all areas of the team. Seniors James Donahue, Arec Keomurjian, and captain Howard Huang rounded out the team’s top-4 alongside Will Walton ’25, setting the pace for the team in each race. Also, gaining momentum and speed through the season were Brian Lee ’24, Jack Leuhrman ’24, Lev Tolkoff ’24, Ezra Lee ’25, and Davis Woolbert ’25.
Entering the two-part championship season in late February, the team was poised for its best performances. At the Lakes Region Championship held at Holderness, the team finished in fourth place with five boys finishing in the top 25: Will Walton (7th), James Donahue (16th), Howard Huang (17th), Arec Keomurjian (19th), and Ezra Lee (20th).
The next week, at the NEPSAC Championship held at Gould Academy, Walton finished sixth and Huang 22nd out of the top 66 skiers in New England, securing a fifthplace finish for the team. To be sure, the team will miss seniors James Donahue, Howard Huang, and Arec Keomurjian. At the same time, the future is bright: congratulations to captains-elect Brian Lee and Lev Tolkoff!
37 S ummer– Fall 2022
Squash
BOB BROWNELL, Head Coach
This year’s team had to scratch and claw all season long. We asked a great deal from our new players, and they consistently delivered. Our résumé speaks for itself: Undefeated ISL Champions for the 12th time in the last 13 years
(12-1) Regular season record
15th Place Team High School Nationals
8th Place Team New England Interscholastics
Senior co-captain William Okurowski finishes his brilliant career as our #1 player. He was sensational all season, and his several victories at both New England’s and Nationals were inspirational. He earned the Coaches’ Award for the greatest contribution to the team. William, and co-captain Dietrich Jacobs ’22, our #2, were outstanding leaders during the difficult circumstances of COVID, and I shall always be grateful for their positivity and good humor throughout their careers. Dietrich won the Henry B. Sawyer Sportsmanship Award, and he has always represented the very best of Belmont Hill squash. We shall miss both William and Dietrich dearly. Hayden Okurowski ’25 and Leighton Calhoun ’25 were our #3 and #4 players, respectively, extraordinary achievements given that they are both ninth graders. They were critical to our collective success, and we are counting on them
next year to be pillars for our team. Our most improved player, Aaron Green ’23, was our #5. He enjoyed a pulsating fifth set victory vs. Tabor that clinched both the match and subsequently the ISL title for us. Aaron should remember that match for a long time to come. Seniors Chris Egan and Luke Wagner represented us at #6 and #7, respectively, and they went undefeated in ISL play. They provided a wonderful atmosphere for practice every day, and they will leave huge voids for us as they venture off to college.
Losing so many players to graduation leaves the door wide open for next year’s ladder, and we are counting on Luke Clifford (Form I!!), Jai Karande ’25, and Angus Harrison ’24 to contend for varsity positions, but they will have to battle Jack Abbrecht ’23, Will Nolan ’23, Sam Davis ’24, Carver Porter ’24, and Ethan Sidman ’24 for the spots.
I can’t thank my co-coach Alex Grayson enough for his help and support every day. He made a huge positive impact on the kids, and his coaching tips between games essentially won us the ISL title. Our athletic director, George Tahan, has tirelessly supported our program behind the scenes for years, and I am forever indebted to him and his staff. Most importantly, I thank the boys and their parents. It was a memorable season, and I am very proud of our collective and individual accomplishments.
38 S ummer– Fall 2022
coac H es’ corner
Wrestling
DON BRADLEY, Head Coach
The 2021–2022 wrestling season was at risk from the start and several times in doubt as virus trepidations waxed and waned. But, in the end, the team prevailed—wrestled 20 matches and won them all en route to the ISL Dual Meet Championship and first place in the Graves Kelsey Tournament. Such an outcome is not one I would have envisioned had I known that All-Americans Cord Vallis ’24 and Jimmy Harrington ’22 would miss the entire season recovering from surgery and that two of our undefeated wrestlers in New England—Bennett Carroll ’23 at 195 lbs. and Alex White ’24 at 220 lbs.—would be lost due to injury for the final month and tournaments.
That the team enjoyed such a successful comeback season from last year’s shutdown was due to the leadership of our captains and seniors; our finest coaching staff ever; and a big, super-positive, and dedicated team.
Four seniors in particular set the tone all season. Every one of them was undefeated in New England heading into the New England Tournament. Adam Figler, Kailen Richards, Jimmy Harrington, and Danny Bittner were outstanding leaders all season on and off the mat. Despite only being able to compete in the Graves Kelsey, Jimmy Harrington was recognized by the ISL coaches with the Globe All-Scholastic Award, which is presented annually to the ISL’s finest wrestler. His fellow captains, Adam Figler and Kailen Richards, were honored at the team banquet with the Gilbert S. Jordan Trophy for “Outstanding Contribution” and Danny Bittner was recognized with the William “Bingo” Emerson Trophy for “Greatest Improvement.”
As team leaders, they presided over a lineup that began with newcomer Max Glick ’24 at 106, Graves Kelsey and New England champion Andrew Pimental ’25 at 113, and Aaron Stanger ’24, who captured second place at the Graves and sixth place in New England at 120. Derek Potamis ’24 took fourth place at the Graves at 126 and was followed by Graves Kelsey and New England champion Freddy Pimental ’23 at 132. Adam Figler took first place at the Graves and second place in NE at 138 and fellow captain Kailen Richards pinned his way to victory in both tournaments. Then, underclassmen took over with Alex Gavronsky ’23 and Will Stewart ’24 who both won first
place at the Graves and fourth place in New England at 152 and 160 lbs., respectively, Josh Houston Davis ’23 placed first at the Graves at 170, and at 182 Danny Bittner won the Graves and placed third in New England. In the upper weights, Bennett Carroll ’23 and Alex White ’24 dominated at 195 and 220 lbs., respectively, and heavyweight Dave LoGrasso ’23 just kept getting better and better in his rookie season to take fourth place at the Graves and seventh place in New England.
That all these guys and others enjoyed so much success had a lot to do with the finest wrestling coaching staff I have ever worked with: Dave Leonardis, Todd Davis, George Sullivan ’07, Will Ryan ’17, Marty Williams, and Steve Kaplan ’83 all played different but such valuable roles with all the boys and all with the same dedication and passion. And then there was the overall team itself—close to 40 strong on our great big mat each day. We often say that “there are no JVs on this team” and this year we put it to the test. While the “first” varsity was securing the league title with wins over Exeter, Brooks, and Milton, the “second” varsity traveled with Coaches Davis and Sullivan to western Massachusetts to wrestle Eagle Hill and Forman. Two hard-fought victories later, the Belmont Hill varsity wrestling team finished off an undefeated season. The 2022 campaign culminated with a third-place team finish in New England and a long but satisfying trip to Maryland for the National Prep Tournament. Eight of our wrestlers traveled, five made it to the “blood round” of 12, and both Andrew Pimental and Kailen Richards placed eighth to finish the season as All-Americans.
Finally, at the season-ending banquet, Aaron Stanger, Turner Rayment, and Freddy Pimental were honored for their sportsmanship with the Henry B. Sawyer Sportsmanship Award. Turner, Freddie, and Alex Gavronsky were also announced as next year’s captains elect.
Congratulations to all on the team and with great thanks to our wrestling parents and our entire Athletic Department.
Season Results: ISL 1st GK 1st NE 3rd Nationals 19th
39 S ummer– Fall 2022
Baseball
MICHAEL GRANT, Head Coach
With an 11-4 ISL regular season record, an overall record of 14-9, and a second-place ISL finish, the varsity baseball team concluded a wonderfully successful season out on the diamond. While few predicted a run toward an ISL title when the season began, the team entered the final day of the season still alive in the championship hunt, a credit to one of the most competitive and close-knit group of players in recent memory. The coaching staff was enormously proud of the team’s resiliency, oldfashioned hard work, and great pride in wearing the Belmont Hill uniform. This squad truly recreated the distinct Belmont Hill baseball culture and identity that has found so much success in both the ISL and across New England.
A young squad by Belmont Hill standards, the boys were challenged by some of the top programs in New England in the early season, as seven of their first nine games featured an opposing pitcher headed to a Division I program. Undeterred, the boys rebounded from a 2-2 league start by running off eight consecutive league victories. That stretch was punctuated by comeback wins over archrivals Milton Academy 11-6 and St. Sebastian’s 8-7. This set the stage for a monumental midseason win over eventual league champion and then-undefeated Lawrence Academy, 4-1. The win vaulted the team into championship contention, a place they retained with yet another comeback win against a talented Noble and Greenough squad 6-3, and a gutsy, close win over the ISL’s pitcher of the year from Groton, 4-1. While a league-clinching victory proved elusive in the final game of the season, a 4-2 loss to BBN, the boys should be commended for a grinding lineup that wore down opponents with long at-bats, aggressive and opportunistic baserunning—stealing 40 bases in 45 attempts—excellent team defense, and a deep pitching staff sharing the baseball in a variety of high-leverage situations.
With such a successful squad filled with talented players, Belmont Hill garnered much deserved recognition from the ISL coaches. Two players were named to the ISL
All-Conference team, right-handed pitcher Will Seward ’22 and third baseman Jack Winnay ’22. Coming back from an early-season injury, Will Seward rejoined the squad a third of the way through the season, and threw 16 innings without surrendering an earned run, while Jack Winnay led the team in every offensive category. His heroics earned him ISL Co-Offensive Player of the Year honors. Four players earned All-Conference honorable mention, catcher Drew Blackwell ’22, pitcher Brady Miller ’24, first baseman Anthony Pellagrini ’23, and center fielder Reuben Siegel ’23. The team also honored several players at our year-end Athletics Award Chapel. Reuben Siegel won the Langdon Prouty Jr. Baserunning Trophy, Drew Blackwell and Jimmy Kennedy ’22 shared the honor of the Henry B. Sawyer Sportsmanship Award, Anthony Pellagrini and Chris Aufiero ’22 won the Most Improved Player Award, and Jack Winnay was named the Team MVP.
This talented and deep senior class will surely be missed by the baseball program next year. This was a team defined by its work ethic, competitive nature, and steadfast support for one another, and it was truly the baseball Class of 2022 that recreated that special Belmont Hill baseball culture that so many former players can recall. Captains Drew Blackwell, Jack Winnay, and Anthony Pellagrini were amongst the strongest leaders this program has seen. We undoubtedly thank these three captains, as well as our graduating seniors Chris Aufiero, Zack Dines, Jack Houser, Jimmy Kennedy, Lawrence Tang, Matt Martines, and Will Seward for all of their contributions to baseball at Belmont Hill.
42 S ummer– Fall 2022
coac H es’ corner
Crew CHRIS RICHARDS, Head Coach
After losing the entirety of the 2020 season to the pandemic and having 2021 impacted heavily by it, 2022 was a welcome return to a “normal” spring on the river. Things in a sense began in January with the Olympians’ chapel presentation, which we attributed to a larger-than-usual roster when our season kicked off. The sense of energy and enthusiasm was high!
We had a productive month of March, first training on campus and then at Stetson University in Florida over spring break. Once back on the Charles, early-April 8+ scrimmages against Exeter and Andover indicated that we had some good speed, while pieces against three big, strong, and fast Deerfield crews indicated we were going to need to find even more. Our racing season formally began with a sweep of Pomfret, which set the tone for the weeks to come: the 1V4-4V4 crews all went through the regular season undefeated, racking up wins against BBN, Middlesex, Nobles, Brooks, Groton, and Choate. Right after the Middlesex race, our 1V4 and 2V4 hopped into an 8+, rowed back down to the Powerhouse, and defeated the BC High and St. Paul’s 1V8s. Our 3V8, 4V8, and 9V4, under the respective coaching leadership of Tobias McDougal, Rich Sampson, and Mac Manion ’14, had similar successes in April and May against their opponents.
Matching the record of our unbeaten varsity fours were those of our archrival Deerfield, and they headed into NEIRAs with three first-seeds versus our one. The seedings proved prophetic: On Quinsigamond, we finished second behind them in the 1V4, 2V4, and 4V4, while our 3V4—a young crew with a freshman (bow-seat Jack Kastner), three sophomores (cox Max Glick, two-seat Alex White, and stroke Nate Pappas), and one senior (three-seat Paris Liston)—found a magical rhythm and won Gold in an absolutely fantastic race.
By virtue of our NEIRA result, our 1V4 of cox Aaron Stanger ’24, Stephen Warming ’22, Charles Geddes ’22, Andrew Bittner ’24, and Howard Huang ’22 qualified for the Youth National Championship. Coach Steve George and I headed to Sarasota with the crew in early June. After a solid time-trial and a great race in the semifinal, the top of the field in the A-final simply proved a bit too fast for us. We finished fifth and out of the medals. While it was not the result we had been looking for, there was some consolation in the fact that we were a relatively small crew physically and there were only four 4+’s in the country faster than us.
Next year’s captains are Mac Bobo ’23, Sean Egan ’23, and Luca Mezzanotte ’23. With 11 of our top 16 rowers and all of our excellent coxswains returning, we are very excited about the prospects for the spring of 2023 and beyond!
43 S ummer– Fall 2022
Golf
CHARLIE DOAR, Head Coach
Belmont Hill’s golf program had a banner year, thanks to a group of six outstanding seniors and a few very talented underclassmen. With an overall record of 21-0 and an undefeated ISL campaign (18-0), this group won the Walworth-Sullivan Trophy as ISL regular season champions. No matter the opponent or the course, Belmont Hill golf brought its best each day of the season and, in the process, represented the School impeccably.
Five players traveled to Renaissance Golf Club on May 16 to compete against 13 other ISL schools in the Kingman Tournament, an 18-hole stroke-play contest. For the second year in a row, despite having what we thought was the strongest team in the field, we didn’t play our best and finished a disappointing second. That day served as a reminder that golf is a fickle, humbling game; however, it was only one day in a much larger season and also helped to motivate these players for future competitive rounds.
Since our first practice in March to our season-ending intersquad “Battle of the Stone,” our seniors established a competitive, fun-loving, collegial tone. Captain John Broderick continued to prove why he’s one of the best amateur golfers in New England and capped off a remarkable four-year run as a Belmont Hill golfer. Sebastian Costantini, Jack Mackey, Tommy Madden, Brendan Monahan, and Will Sullivan compiled overwhelmingly impressive match-play records, helping to make our team the deepest in the league.
We say every year that we’ll miss our seniors for their leadership, yet it rings even truer for this group. John, Sebastian, Jack, Tommy, Brendan, and Will helped to make this a standout season, not just because of their accomplishments on the course, but also for the chemistry they helped to build for the entire program. We wish them all the best and thank them for the legacy they leave behind, a legacy we are excited to build upon with a talented group returning next year.
44 S ummer– Fall 2022
coac H es’ corner
Lacrosse
TIM SULLIVAN, Head Coach
Finishing the season with an overall record of 13-3 and a 12-1 league record, the 2022 varsity lacrosse team battled its way through an especially intense and challenging schedule to finish in second place in the ISL. Captains and four-year letter winners Charlie Cave and Tom Goguen and fellow seniors Drew Dummer, Adam Figler, Bert Greene, Jack Henderson, Liam Horkan, Will Killoran, Ethan O’Neill, and Braden Reilly all worked together to provide outstanding leadership, character, and dedication to the team throughout the season. This remarkable senior class not only graduates with a two-year league record of 23-1 to go along with an undefeated ISL season in 2021, but more importantly an enduring and lasting legacy of working to sustain the culture of the team after the lost season in 2020.
The 2022 varsity lacrosse team was eternally grateful for the opportunity to compete this season and kicked off its preseason to the joyous and much anticipated return of our full March Break preseason schedule. An animated and effortful week of practice left the team prepared to take on a particularly challenging out-of-league slate of games against three of the top programs in the country in Deerfield, Hill School, and Avon Old Farms. This slate was punctuated by a 9-8 victory over the Hill School highlighted by outstanding offensive production from Liam Horkan ’22 (4g, 1a), Ben DiBattista ’24 (2g), and Preston Evans ’25 (2a). Matthew Torrey ’23 (16 saves), Tom Goguen ’22, Drew Dummer ’22, and Bert Greene ’22 worked to stifle the high-powered Hill offense. The team opened its ISL schedule with an 11-7 victory over Thayer highlighted by outstanding midfield play by Ethan O’Neill ’23 (3g, 2a), Charlie Cave ’22 (1g, 2a), and Luke Theberge ’23 (1g, 1a). In a back-and-forth first home ISL game against a talented Nobles squad game, Belmont Hill emerged victorious. Adam Figler ’22 (2g, 4a), Charlie Cave (2g, 1a), Ethan O’Neill (2g), and Eli Goldstein ’23 (1g, 1a) paced the team offensively. Charlie Hazard ’23 (2g), Christian Brunner ’23, Henry Hasselbeck ’23, and Finn Fox ’23 led the team defensively while Eli Friedman ’25 won 18 faceoffs. In a memorable season filled with great memories, a Friday night lights showdown against
St. Sebastian’s at Regis College shown the brightest. After falling behind 7-2, Belmont Hill, in front of a large and loud crowd led by the Loop, mounted its comeback behind assertive play by Ronan O’Donnell ’23, Will Killoran ’22, Lindan Verville ’25, and Matthew Torrey (17 saves) in net. On the offensive end of the field, seniors Cave (1g, 2a), O’Neill (3g, 1a), Figler (3g, 3a), and Horkan (3g) led the charge. Down by one with under a minute to go, an exceptional effort by Figler would tie the game before O’Neill netted the game winner in overtime. The team closed out its season in the first annual Panel Game versus longtime rival Middlesex School. A full team effort all over the field was led by the senior class of Liam Horkan (4g), Adam Figler (1g, 5a), Charlie Cave (2a), and Ethan O’Neill (5g, 2a) on the offensive end. Tom Goguen, Bert Green, and Drew Dummer worked to lead the defensive end as the team won 13-10.
Tom Goguen and Charlie Cave were awarded the Team MVP. Bert Greene earned Team MIP, and Liam Horkan and Drew Dummer earned the Henry B. Sawyer Sportsmanship Award. Tom Goguen, Charlie Cave, Ethan O’Neill, Adam Figler, and Charlie Hazard were named All-League and Liam Horkan, Eli Goldstein, and Matthew Torrey received All-League Honorable Mention Honors. Additionally, Tom Goguen was recognized as All-American and Adam Figler as an Academic All-American by U.S. Lacrosse and Independent School League. Next year’s captains, Eli Goldstein, Charlie Hazard, and Matthew Torrey, as well as a strong and experienced nucleus of 24 returning letter winners, will lead the team in 2023.
45 S ummer– Fall 2022
Sailing
PETER CREEDON, Head Coach
The varsity sailing team completed an excellent season, finishing with a 6-3 record. Belmont Hill started the season with a double-header against Tabor and Milton Academy, two of the best teams we would race all year. After the tough losses, it was amazing how the team came together and really buckled down in the practice sessions. The next weeks were filled with major improvements to boat speed, starting strategy, and team racing; the results began to reflect this shift with huge back-to-back wins against local competition: Lincoln-Sudbury and Winchester High Schools.
With the team’s confidence and performance on the rise, Belmont Hill began its Fleet Racing season at the O’Day Qualifiers in Hyannis, MA. Belmont Hill was one of 13 schools vying for four qualifying berths to the O’Day Regatta, New England’s Fleet Racing Championship. Conditions were challenging, but Quinn Healey ’23 (skipper) and Michael Salvatore ’22 (crew) had an awesome day in a competitive A division; Wilton Lawton ’22 (skipper) and Trey Penna ’23 (crew) had a dominant performance in B division, guaranteeing us a berth to the championship. It was a fantastic day for the team, and one for all the sailors to be proud of.
The following week, the team reported to the MIT Sailing Pavilion for the O’Day Regatta. Conditions were incredibly challenging with winds gusting over 30 knots and up to ten boats capsizing each race. The team stuck it out through 11 races and sailed over a nonstop eight-hour day of competition to finish the season ranked 15th out of 65 New England schools, a major accomplishment.
With our fleet racing season concluded, the focus was back on team racing. The boys were hungry for more success and operating at an all-time high. They suffered a tough-fought 3-2 loss to St. John’s Prep before finishing the season on an absolute tear. While BC High proved a challenging win, the boys followed it up with three shutout victories over Barnstable High School, St. John Paul Academy, and Marblehead High School. For the seniors moving on to college sailing, it was a great way to finish their high school sailing careers. For the rest of the team, this season was only the beginning!
I’m so proud of the boys and everything they accomplished this year. They were an incredible group, and one that I had fun coaching and competing with every single day. They’re comfortable being challenged, hungry for improvement, and ready to take the next step in their sailing development. I’m excited to see what the future holds!
Congratulations to the award winners this year. You earned them ten times over:
The Sailing Trophy: Captains, Wilton Lawton and Michael Salvatore
Most Improved: Trey Penna
Henry B. Sawyer Sportsmanship Award: Quinn Healey
46 S ummer– Fall 2022
coac H es’ corner
Tennis
KATIE MCNAMARA, Head Coach
This spring, the varsity tennis team completed an outstanding season with an overall record of 17 wins and 3 losses. The team qualified for the NEPSAC Tennis Championship for the 17th consecutive year. At the tournament, they traveled to Choate, where they defeated Suffield Academy in the quarterfinals. They then hosted and defeated Hoosac School in the semifinals before losing to Roxbury Latin in the finals held at St. Sebastian’s.
The team was led by senior captains Jarrett Chen and Chris Egan. Bobby Cooper ’23 , along with Jarrett, provided a strong one-two punch for the team throughout the season with ISL All-League performances. Another season highlight was the team’s early-season victory over Roxbury Latin during the regular season. This was the first win over Roxbury Latin in the last five years. At the Roxbury Latin match, Jackson Rich ’24 and his brother
Morgan Rich ’27 won an important point in doubles that contributed greatly to the victory. Jackson Rich was awarded the Most Improved Player Award for the season and Jarrett Chen and Bobby Cooper were co-winners of the Most Valuable Player Award. Chris Eagan received the Henry B. Sawyer Sportsmanship Award. Good luck to the seniors next year—Chris Egan at SMU, Will Okurowski at Amherst, Luke Wagner at Harvard, and Jarrett Chen as he takes a gap year. Next year’s captain will be Bobby Cooper.
47 S ummer– Fall 2022
ADAM HARDER, Head Coach
For several decades now, Belmont Hill Track and Field has set a standard of excellence; thus, the expectations are always high heading into the season. The last two years have been excruciatingly difficult ones to navigate for the athletes and for us as coaches. This spring it was FANTASTIC to resume the normalcy of a full slate of league meets leading up to the two championship weekends!
Our overarching goal was to win the 2022 ISL Championship Meet, and we did so with some stiff competition coming from Roxbury Latin and Middlesex. Technically, this year’s league win counts as a four-peat, going back to pre-COVID times. A secondary goal was to be competitive at the Division 1 New England Championships, and we certainly did that by tying for fourth place with Loomis Chaffee; only perennial powerhouses Deerfield, Exeter, and Andover outpointed us. A key to our success this year, as it always has been, was having a few standout performers complemented by a large number of boys who earned points for the team by finishing in the top-six places at the championship meets. We knew that senior James Donahue would be crucial to the team’s success, and he didn’t disappoint. Highlights for Donahue included winning three races at the ISL meet (and setting meet records in the 1500m and 800m in the process!) and setting a new mark for the 800m at the NE D1 meet. He shattered his own school records set last spring in the 800m and 1500m, and his indoor time in a 3000m race this year was more than 30 seconds faster than his school record mark from 2021. Donahue was a performer on the national stage this year, posting two top-three finishes in the New Balance National Indoor meet in the mile and the two mile, and flirting all year with breaking the 4-minute barrier in the mile. We also knew that senior David Carter would be a major force in the two hurdle races, and he earned critical points for us in both championship meets. In the throws, seniors Nolan Parchesky and Michael Ahonen were standouts in the discus and shot put, respectively, with Parchesky also qualifying in the discus for the Nike Nationals in Oregon.
Middle distance specialist Miles Sandoski ’24 followed up his third-place finish at the ISL’s with a sixth-place performance at NE’s in the 800m; he also ran a leg on the 4 x 400m relay team that finished third place at both ISL’s and NE’s. Will Lloyd ’23 posted two top-3 finishes in the high jump at the championships, as well as contributing a leg to the 4 x 400m squad. Senior Igaju Agba, horizontal jumps specialist, battled through an injury to place in both the long and triple at ISL’s. Jackson Pagan ’24, a novice hurdler at the end of the season this year, amazingly placed in both hurdles races at ISL’s. Two new pole vaulters, Rafael Rodriguez-Montgomery ’24 and Garrett Theberge ’24, contributed important points in the championship meets as well. Finally, Tommy Rupley ’25 and Josiah Gomes ’24 earned points in the discus and shot put, with Gomes placing in both events at ISL’s, and Rupley placing in the discus in the two championship meets.
Our senior leadership was stellar this year. Mike Ahonen, David Carter, James Donahue, and Albert McField provided inspiration, counsel, motivation, and support to their teammates. They were superb role models in terms of their competitiveness and daily discipline during practices. Additionally, I want to formally express thanks and appreciation to the coaching staff. Coaches Jake DeCaprio, Warren Fowler, Maya Gorman, Fran Kirby, Sadie Otley, and Bryson Rosser have done remarkable work over the past few years recognizing, cultivating, and developing the skills and talents that led to this year’s championship outcome. Onward to defend our ISL title in 2023!
48 S ummer– Fall 2022
Track
coac H es’ corner
NEW FACULTY BIOGRAPHIES
SARAH BRADLEY
Ms. Bradley joins Belmont Hill as a oneyear teaching fellow for the 2022–2023 school year. In this role, she will teach four sections of art, oversee the School’s Art Club, and support other afternoon programming. A 2020 graduate of the Pratt Institute with a BFA in painting, Ms. Bradley comes to Belmont Hill from New York, where she worked as a studio assistant to the artist Justine Hill, assisting with the production and commission of the artist’s work. She also has experience in ceramics, drawing, and painting and has taught in various summer school programs, including at Belmont Hill’s Summer School.
KARLYN FOLAN
We welcome Mrs. Folan back to Belmont Hill where she will be working in the Office of Academic Support. She and her husband, Peter Folan ’93, spent many years as dorm parents in the Underwood House, where she built great relationships with the boarding students. She has spent many years in elementary schools as a teacher and a reading specialist, most notably at the Jackson School in Newton. Mrs. Folan also substitute taught in the Belmont Public Schools and was heavily involved leading PTO activities. She earned her undergraduate degree in elementary education and a Master’s in education with a focus on reading from Boston College. She is currently completing an advanced certification from MGH Institute of Health in Language and Literacy.
DANIEL FULHAM
Mr. Fulham comes to Belmont Hill as a one-year teaching fellow for the 2022–2023 school year. In this role, he will teach both in the English and Science departments and will coach and work in our Theater department. A 2018 graduate of Middlebury College with a BA in environmental studies with a minor in English and American literature, Mr. Fulham was a member of the varsity football team and a founding member of Middlebury’s sketch comedy group. He also participated in 12 plays at Middlebury and wrote and directed an original play as part of his senior thesis.
DIXON T. HARGROVE
Mr. Hargrove has joined our Mathematics department to teach four sections of math and to coach two seasons of sports (most likely hockey and lacrosse). He was previously at Salisbury School, where he taught precalculus, honors precalculus, AP statistics, and economics and strived to foster a love of mathematics and critical thinking and build resilience in problem-solving. At Salisbury, he served as the head coach of JV lacrosse and assistant coach of both varsity soccer and third hockey; worked as a resident dorm parent and faculty advisor; and supervised student activities on campus. Prior to Salisbury School, Mr. Hargrove worked at Bain & Company, where he led a team of Williams College alumni and recruited coordinators to help teach students about the consulting field. He holds an MBA from Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and a BA in economics from Williams College. In 2017, he served as a Belmont Hill varsity lacrosse volunteer assistant coach.
49 S ummer– Fall 2022 new Faculty B iograp H ies
OVIE OJENI
Mr. Ojeni arrives at Belmont Hill as a member of our Modern Languages department where he will teach Spanish, work with students in our Theater department, and coach either tennis or squash. As a part of our Residential Life Team, he will reside on campus. Mr. Ojeni comes to the School from Stanford University, where he was a resident director, led English as an Additional Language (EAL), and ran programs on computer literacy and Spanish for the workplace through Stanford’s Stepping Stones to Success Program. He is a Fulbright Scholar and holds an MS in education from UPenn. Mr. Ojeni also is a voice actor, with a diploma in acting from Central de Cine y Metrópolis in Madrid, Spain. He holds a Master of Arts in teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language from the Universidad de Alcalá (also in Madrid) and a BA in Spanish and Hispanic studies and theater with a minor in English from Lehigh University.
DONAVAN PAYNE ’18
Graduating in May of 2022 with a BA in sociology with a minor in African studies from Tufts University, Mr. Payne returns to Belmont Hill as a one-year teaching fellow for the 2022–2023 school year. His primary responsibilities will be to teach up to two sections of English and to coach and work in our Theater department. At Tufts, he was co-captain of the Tufts cheerleading team and has served as an alumni mentor for Belmont Hill’s Multicultural Alumni Partnership Mentoring program. His teaching experience includes designing and teaching a course in the Experimental College at Tufts to a class of fellow undergraduate students and as a teaching assistant at Phillips Andover Summer Session, where he co-taught an English course for rising 7th and 9th graders.
JAMIE H. PHINNEY
Belmont Hill welcomes Mrs. Phinney as an associate director of college counseling. She has extensive independent school experience spanning two decades, which includes serving as associate director of college counseling at Phillips Academy, Andover and as an assistant director of college counseling at Salisbury School. She is a graduate of Deerfield, Harvard University, and Harvard School of Education. Mrs. Phinney has taught neuroscience and was a bronze medal winner in women’s ice hockey in the Olympics. She was a member of the U.S. Women’s National Ice Hockey team for nearly a decade, and has been head coach of a number of independent school varsity programs in various sports as well as serving as an assistant ice hockey coach at Harvard University. Mrs. Phinney knows our school culture well as the spouse of faculty member Brian Phinney.
50 S ummer– Fall 2022 new Faculty B iograp H ies
WILLIAM SPEER
Mr. Speer comes to Belmont Hill School via the Cranbrook School in suburban Detroit. At Belmont Hill, he will teach four sections of math and will serve as the head coach of our varsity tennis team. At Cranbrook, Mr. Speer taught the full range of math levels, including algebra 1, precalculus, honors precalculus and AP calculus AB, and designed and taught an inaugural offering of “Advanced Topics: Analysis,” an accelerated course covering both honors-level precalculus and AP calculus AB in one academic year. In addition, he served on the admission committee, was an academic advisor, assistant head of the Math Club, and won the 2020 Edyth May Sliffe Awards for Distinguished Mathematics Teaching from the Mathematical Association of America. He also coached tennis. Prior to that, he was a math teacher at Deerfield Academy for four years and was a math teaching fellow at Phillips Academy Andover. He holds an MS for Teachers in Mathematics from the University of New Hampshire and a BA in mathematics and music from Williams College.
PAIGE WALLACE
We welcome Ms. Wallace to the Belmont Hill faculty, where she will teach four sections of English along with coaching and co-curricular duties. She joins the School from the Community Charter School of Cambridge where she taught 11th and 12th grade English and was responsible for redesigning the AP English Language curriculum to provide increased rigor. While at the Community Charter School, Ms. Wallace also served as a new staff mentor, working with new teachers in developing relationships with students and navigating the beginning of their teaching careers. Prior to that, she held positions at the Charles Sposato Graduate School of Education, where she served as a summer practicum instructional coach, and at the Urban Assembly School for Law and Justice, where she taught 12th grade English. She holds an EdM from Harvard Graduate School of Education and an AB Honors in history and literature with a secondary in the classics from Harvard College.
EMI WHITE
Mrs. White joins Belmont Hill School as director of Health Services after serving in a similar role at Shady Hill School since 2015, where she was responsible for first aid and medical management for 543 students ages Pre-K to grade 8. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, she was an administrative member of the Health and Safety team responding to all aspects of the pandemic, including the creation and implementation of comprehensive testing plans and protocols and thoughtful and transparent communication with families and community members. Prior to her role at Shady Hill, she worked as an RN at Tufts Medical Center, where she cared for patients in a pediatric intensive care unit. She received an associate degree in nursing from Bunker Hill Community College and holds a BA in nursing from UMASS Boston and a BA in sociology from Wheaton College.
51 S ummer– Fall 2022
CORPORATION NEWS
COMMITTEE ON TRUSTEES
TAGGART M. ROMNEY ’88, CHAIR
JON M. BIOTTI ’87
JOHN T. GRADY ’66
DANIELLE A. HEARD
JASON H. HURD ’90
EMMETT E. LYNE ’77
AMY B. MADDEN
CARL J. MARTIGNETTI ’77
GREGORY J. SCHNEIDER
MARGARET M. WADE
NEW TRUSTEES
SAMUEL P. BARTLETT P ’26
Sam Bartlett is a managing director of Charlesbank Capital Partners. A graduate of Amherst College, where he earned a BA in history, Sam lives in Winchester with his wife, Annie, and their sons Ben (Concord Academy ’24) and Jack, a member of the Belmont Hill Class of 2026. Sam is a member of YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization) and the GreenLight Fund Portfolio Advisory Council, and has been a trustee and chair of the investment committee at Choate Rosemary Hall. At Belmont Hill, Sam was elected to the Corporation in 2021, and is a member of the Parents Fund Committee. He enjoys skiing, biking, hiking, fishing, and history.
GREGORY C. PAUL ’09
After Belmont Hill, Greg Paul graduated from Columbia University, where he majored in financial economics. He lives in Astoria, NY, and is a vice president and private wealth advisor at Bernstein Private Wealth Management in their New York office, where he focuses on advising mission-driven nonprofits, foundations, and entrepreneurs. At Belmont Hill, Greg is the alumni vice president, a co-director of the Multicultural Alumni Partnership (MAP), a MAP mentor, and a member of the Centennial Celebration Committee. Greg was elected to the Corporation in 2019. His passions include supporting Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, where he serves as a steering committee member for the Young Patrons Circle. In his free time, Greg enjoys golfing, supporting the arts, and spending time with friends and family.
52 S ummer– Fall 2022
corporation news
NEW CORPORATION MEMBERS
FLORENCE T. BOURGEOIS P ’24, ’26 — Florence Bourgeois is an associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and physician-scientist at Boston Children’s Hospital. She is a graduate of Yale University, where she earned her BS focused on molecular biophysics and biochemistry. Florence earned an MD from Washington University School of Medicine and a master’s degree in public health from Harvard School of Public Health. Florence lives in Boston with her husband, Andrew Davis, and sons Samuel Davis ’24, Lucien Davis ’26 and Finn Davis, and daughter Eloise Davis. She is a member of the Parents Fund Committee at Belmont Hill and board chair of the International School of Boston. In her free time, she enjoys skiing, hiking, and other Alpine sports.
DANIEL J. CURTIN ’87, P ’20, ’27 — Dan Curtin is managing director/market manager for J.P. Morgan Private Bank. After Belmont Hill, he earned a BS in economics at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA at Columbia Business School. He lives in Wellesley with his wife, Kristen, and sons Jack ’20 (Princeton ’24) and Declan ’27, and daughter Cammie (Dana Hall ’22). His involvement at Belmont Hill includes serving as a class agent, a Reunion Committee member, on the Parents Fund Committee, and in the alumni networking program.
KRISTIN J. FORBES P ’25, ’26 — Kristin Forbes is a professor of global economics at MIT Sloan School of Management. She earned a BA in economics at Williams College and a PhD from MIT. She lives in Brookline with her husband, Steve Calhoun, and sons Leighton Calhoun ’25, Griffin Calhoun ’26, and daughter Rowan Calhoun (Winsor ’27). Kristin is on the advisory board for several economic institutions and is Honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE), given by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for services to British economic policy. She enjoys travel, hiking, squash, and international history and culture.
JULIETTE M. GOMES P ’20, ’24 — Julie Gomes is an assistant rights manager at GBH/WGBH Educational Foundation. She is a graduate of Fitchburg State with a BS in business administration. Julie lives in Dorchester with her husband, Frederick, and her sons Isaiah ’20 (Cornell ’24) and Josiah ’24, and is stepmother to Deaniece and Frederick, Jr. She is treasurer of the Evan A. Gilmer Scholarship. At Belmont Hill, Julie is a co-chair of Parents Fostering Diversity and a member of the Centennial Celebration Committee. In her free time, she enjoys creative writing and yoga.
53 S ummer– Fall 2022
DONALD J. KILBRIDE P ’24, ’26 — Don Kilbride is senior managing director and partner at the Wellington Management Company. He earned an AB in economics from the College of the Holy Cross and an MBA from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Don lives in Wellesley with his wife, Sue, and his sons Duncan ’24, Finn ’26, and Sawyer, who attends Tenacre Country Day School. He is a trustee for the Ouimet Scholarship Fund and serves on the board of advisors at the Kenan-Flagler Business School at UNC. At Belmont Hill, he is a member of the Parents Fund Committee. In his free time, Don enjoys history, art, golf, and exercise.
PETER R. MUELLER ’65, P ’02 — Peter Mueller is a physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and a professor of radiology at Harvard Medical School. After Belmont Hill, he earned a BA at Harvard and went on to the University of Cincinnati Medical School, from which he earned an MD degree. He has received numerous honors and awards for his work. Peter is a resident of Lexington, where he lives with his wife, Susan Wendel. His son Zachary is a member of the Belmont Hill Class of 2002. Peter is a class agent and a Reunion Committee member at Belmont Hill. He enjoys sports in his free time.
KARTHIK RAMANATHAN P ’25, ’26, ’26 — Karthik Ramanathan is a senior vice president at State Street Corporation. A 1996 graduate of Columbia University, Karthik lives in Lexington with his wife, Innessa Manning, and their three boys Maxwell ’25, Henry ’26, and Jack ’26. Both he and his wife have had the opportunity to serve in various finance and government positions in Washington, D.C., New York, and London. Karthik is a member of Belmont Hill’s Parents Fund Committee. When not on the Belmont Hill campus cheering on the School’s athletic and academic teams, he enjoys swimming, playing bridge, and spending late nights stargazing as an amateur astronomer.
MEGHAN R. WELDON P ’18, ’20, ’24 — Meghan Weldon is a graduate of St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana. From there, she went on to attend Boston College where she earned a master’s degree in English literature. She then earned a master’s degree in teaching from Columbia University Teachers College. Meghan lives in Weston with her husband, Kent, their daughter Caitlin (Notre Dame ’20), and sons William ’18 (Notre Dame ’22), John ’20 (Harvard ’24), and Kevin ’24. At Belmont Hill, she has served as a form representative, Holiday Hillshop co-chair, and vice president of the Parents’ Council, and is a member of the Parents Fund Committee and the Centennial Celebration Committee, and is co-president of the Parents’ Council. Meghan enjoys hiking, golf, and other outdoor activities.
54 S ummer– Fall 2022
corporation news
1. Greg Paul ’09 and Tagg Romney ’88. 2. Jinane Abounadi, David Walker ’82, Shelle Santana, and John Vander Vort.
3. Bill Cleary ’52, Kurt Simon ’83, and Jo Cleary.
4. Steve Agular ’92, Carl Dawson ’72, Paul DiResta, and Caleb Collins ’93.
5. Florence Bourgeois and Margaret Wade.
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CORPORATION RECEPTION – APRIL 28, 2022
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7. Groom Dinkneh ’09, Rick Melvoin, and Aman Shah ’10.
8. Ann Ryan, Danielle Heard, and Meghan Weldon.
9. Chris Richards, Jamie Hintlian ’78, and Bill Cleary ’81.
10. Greg Schneider, Amy Schneider, and John Grady ’66.
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Meghan Weldon, Karthik Ramanathan, Kristin Forbes, Greg Paul ’09, Julie Gomes, Don Kilbride, Florence Bourgeois, Sam Bartlett, and Dan Curtin ’87.
corporation news
Alumni & Family Events
gulf Stream, Florida Reception
March 13, 2022
1. Jack Reno, Suzi Reno, Copey Coppedge, Charlie Kenney, Greg Schneider, and Brad Kopp ’69.
2. Margaret and Jim Wade.
3. Steve Dunn ’70 and Kevin McCafferty.
4. David Edlin ’79, Jim Kalustian ’78, and Greg Schneider.
March 14, 2022
Hosted
1. Sean and Daphne Rayment.
2. Bill Glavin, Billy Glavin ’04, Lynda Glavin, Greg Schneider, Kathy Martien Sullivan, and Greg Sullivan. 3. John Brooks ’60 and Christie Brooks. 4. Norine Nobuto, Ray Cummings, and Margaret Cummings.
Hosted by Margaret and Jim Wade
Vero beach, florida reception
58 S ummer– Fall 2022
by Daphne and Sean Rayment
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June 1, 2022 1. Donna David with her family. 2. Health Clinic colleagues Candy Bolte and Carol Blazar.
Eileen and Ted Burt with Phyllis Gleason (right).
Veronica and Donn Heath.
Sue and George Seeley.
Evi Tejada and Joan Flynn.
Jeremy David ’91 and John MacLean.
Peter Folan ’93, James White, and Caleb Collins ’93.
E vent Program
Remarks
Remarks – Donna S. David P ’91, ’94, Director of Health Services
To see the video tribute, please scan this link with your phone.
59 S ummer– Fall 2022
donna david retirement celebration
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Welcome – Gregory J. Schneider, Ronald M. Druker ’62 Head of School
Musical Performance – The B-Flats led by Donnell L. Patterson, Director of Music
Remarks – Peter F. Folan ’93, P ’25, President, Catholic Memorial High School
– Gregory J. Schneider, Ronald M. Druker ’62 Head of School
Dr. Wachtmeister remarked during the program, “Donna, we feel so strongly about you and all that you have given and done for the students, faculty, staff, and their families, that Anne and I intend to establish the Donna David Health and Wellness Chair. We will work to make this dream become a reality over the next few years and even though you have retired, you will be the first recipient of this chair which will continue your incredible legacy.”
Matthew Savage ’19, Hans Wachtmeister, Luca Pontone ’19, and Colin Vallis ’19.
Kit Hughes ’97, Jay Civetti ’97, Betsy Goodband, and Cliff Goodband ’97.
Rick Melvoin, former Ronald M. Druker ’62 Head of School.
Donna David and Greg Schneider.
Carl Dawson ’72 and Groom Dinkneh ’09.
Hans Wachtmeister, Donna David, and Anne Wachtmeister.
The B-Flats led by Donnell Patterson.
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Donna David and Ann Ryan.
alumni & Family events
1. Class of 2022 with George Lynch ’88, Emmett Lyne ’77, and Matt Ryan ’14.
Emmett Lyne ’77, George Lynch ’88, and Matt Ryan ’14.
61 S ummer– Fall 2022
VI Participation
Form
1 2 FORM VI TYSK (THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW) PROGRAM April 5, 2022
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Celebration
VI celebrate reaching 100% participation in the alumni fund. May 16, 2022
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Parker Mundt ’12, Teddy Mitropoulos ’11, Matt Ryan ’14, and Greg Paul ’09 shared their college experiences and career paths with students.
1. Greg Schneider, Luke Carroll ’22, and Shawna Slack. 2. Nina Dunn and Martin Wilson ’22. 3. Jen and Tagg Romney ’88 and family. 4. The boys enjoyed a range of outdoor activities. 5. Don Bradley.
62 S ummer– Fall 2022 1 2 5 4 3
May
alumni & Family events
Form VI Family Picnic
26, 2022
1. Wilton Lawton ’22, Will Seward ’22, and Chris Bracken ’15.
2. Tim Sullivan, Robert Griffin ’16, Marshall Knight ’17, Max Rudzinsky ’16, Will Ryan ’17, Matt Ryan ’14, and George Tahan.
3. 2012 classmates Nick Von Turkovich, Joe Farrell, Noah Roberts, and Nick Cary.
4. Colin Trueman ’20 , JP Miller ’13, Patrick Burpee ’13, and Timmy Seibel ’16.
5. Front row: Jack Daley’17, Will Ryan ’17, Nick Von Turkovich ’12, Joe Farrell ’12, JP Miller ’13, Noah Roberts ’12, Chip Daley ’16, and Nick Cary ’12. Middle row: George Tahan, Kevin O’Neil ’19, Tommy Smith ’19, Will Seward ’22, Wilton Lawton ’22, Colin Trueman ’20, Matt Smith ’19, Danny Griffin ’17, Max Rudzinsky ’16, Robert Griffin ’17, Jake DeCaprio ’16, Timmy Seibel ’16, and Patrick Burpee ’13. Back row: Kevin O’Boy ’19, John Gaudian ’19, Marshall Knight ’17, Matt Ryan ’14, Tim Sullivan, Chris Bracken ’15, Johnny Hincks ’16, Alex Afeyan ’16, and Greg Katz ’16.
63 S ummer– Fall 2022
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Young and Recent Alumni Gathering at Fenway Park
August 9, 2022 1
REUNION 2022
May 14, 2022
GRAND REUNION
1947, 1950, 1952, 1958: Anne Collins and Jim Tillotson ’47, Jo Cleary, Bill Cleary ’52, Mary Clarke, David Clarke ’50, Dee Shane, John Shane ’50, and Reg Howe ’58.
1955: Dave Canfield, Ruth Axelrod, Betsy Davis, Ted Davis, Jeff Eaton, Suzanne Federer, Tony Federer, Hugh Nazor, and Bob Repetto.
1957: Sandy and Greg Downes, Laurie Hawkins, Iryna and John Simon, and Ted Welch.
1960: Christie and John Brooks, Larry Feinberg, Barbara and Mal Mahlowitz, Mike Morgan, Alex and Art Norton, Bob Russo, and Marylouise and John Welch.
1961: Hank Amon, Steve Carr, Jeff Dorsey, Jane Welch, and Wade Welch.
1962: Dan Barnard, Debbie Bradlee, Eric Bradlee, Louise Furcolo, Foster Furcolo, Alden Harrington, Connie Smith, Jon Smith, and Larry Wilwerth.
1965, 1966: Peter Gilpatric ’65, Ken Martin ’65, Carl Forziati, Ann Grady, and John Grady ’66.
1967: Tina Browne, Charlie Browne, Peggy St. Clair, John Fitzgerald, and Elise and Alan Woodward.
64 S ummer– Fall 2022
alumni & Family events
Stephen P. Parson ’42 came to campus to celebrate his 80th Reunion.
1970, 1971, 1972
1970: Christine and Brian Bixby, David Cancian, Steve Dunn, Rich Giles, Rob Gogan, Frann Gogan, Don “J.P.” Ouellette, Susan and Bill Samuelson, Tom Siebert, Craig Stockwell, Tom Ulfelder, and Lynne and Arthur Zervas.
1971: Lewis Athanas, Doug Amsbary, Dan Dorian, Lisa Dorian, Mark Fuller and Jo Froman, Jody and Gray Holmes, Ted Lane, Nancy and Phil Magnuson, Zeeann and Max Mason, Charlie Moore, Charlie Pettit, John Samuelson, Gordy Scannell, Kim Moody and Michael Schelzi, Scott St. Clair, Glenn Stewart, Rog Stokey, Julia and Sinclair Weeks, Hunt Willard, Ned Wood, Tim Wood, and Dave Wright.
1972: Kim and Jim Aiken, René Blanco, John Burke, Fred Chicos, Karen and Carl Dawson, Lucinda and Bob Harrison, Tanya and Randy Holton, Gary Joyal, Rich O’Connell, Rick Oliver, Carolyn and Bob Rowley, Sandy Starr and Raine Figueroa, and Scott Thorne.
1975, 1976, 1977
1975: Gary Barrett, Christina and John Coughlin, Don Smith, and Peter Sullivan.
1976: Bob Puopolo.
1977: J.P. Botindari, John Ehrman, Andy Gosnell, Michelle Gosnell, Tom Green, Dick Kermond, Steve Lubrano, Charlene and George McLaughlin, Hal Melcher and Carol Wolf, Margaret and Emmett Lyne, Brian Mullaney, Sue and Chris O’Connell, Jim Peck, Curtis Whitney, and Kathie Longo.
65 S ummer– Fall 2022
1980, 1981, 1982
1980: David Wanger and Cy Wilde. (See page 77.)
1981: Katie and Steve Healey.
1982: Mike Barry and Julie Pruitt-Barry, Nicola and Greg Dempsey, Kris and Rick Ganong, Dan Green and Jamie Scarborough, Dan MacDonald and Gregg Kaminsky, Peter Monaco and Nancy Pallota, MaryLee and David Riester, Steve Sughrue, Ted Tutun, Meg and Jim Umlas, David Walker, Catherine and Scott Webster, and Bill Willer.
1990, 1991, 1992
1990: Jason Hurd, Jenny and Mike Reis, Steve Senna, and Sanford Whitehouse.
1991: Jay Fritz.
1992: Jackie and Steve Agular, Matt Bonica, Amanda and Todd Crowley, Mark Dalaklis, Paola and Patrick McDonough, and Mike Segalini.
1985, 1986, 1987
1985: John Authers, Chris Biotti, Alex and John Danahy, Liz and Brad Feldman, Jerry Jordan and Jamie Resker, Annette and Christian Liles, Sean Rockett, Cheryl and Andy Shepard, Cheryl and Paul Tutun, and Steve Valenti.
1986: Mark Driscoll, Jon Skinner, and CJ Young.
1987: Ali and Will Averill, Leslie Jeng, Jon Biotti, and Darren Sullivan.
1996, 1997
1996: Tim Gallagher.
1997: Kayvon Bina, Allison and Mike Callahan, Jay Carberry, Kate and Jay Civetti, Jamie and Kevin Connors, Jared Courtney, Vicki and MJ Curry, Scott Feuer, Andy Freedman, Scott Frieshtat, Zach Friedland, Betsy and Cliff Goodband, Sam Gorstein, Evan Meagher, Katie and Pete Kelley, Pete Kohanloo, Eva and Endri Misho, Tim O’Halloran and Rachel Hall, Anna and Matt Shields, Kit Hughes, Liz and Andrew Mingle, John Oppenheimer, Pascal Rettig, Ernie Sabine, Krupa and Sri Ravi, Todd Paratore, David Silverman, Marcia and Alex Tatum, Norb Unger, and Mark Vernazza.
66 S ummer– Fall 2022
alumni & Family events
2000, 2001, 2002
2000: Brendon Parry, Heejean Parry, Jason Tse, and Doug Tierney.
2001: Robert Basile, Chris Babayan, Andrew Cleary, Emily Cleary, Chris Cotter, Steve Gogolak, Lauren Gogolak, David Hyde, Dawn Rogers-Hyde, DJ Hynes, Jason Kass, and Beth Kass.
2002: Anthony Carbone, Olivier Jacque, Ed Wellington, and Katie Wellington.
2005, 2006, 2007
2005: Will Baldwin, AT Desta, Jonathan Ferrick, Will Forde, Garrett Hatton, Miles McAlpin, Marshall Nevins, and Peter Shields.
2006: Dave Antonelli, Greg Boeing, Chris Brown, Matt Dillon, Jay Donovan, Teddy Doyle, Matt Gordon, Christian Harrington, and Wes Stephanian.
2007: Sam Baker, Tyler Brace, Andy Davis, Liza and Ron Hsin, Will Moran, Sam Robinson, Katie Leighton, Anush Elbakyan, Krysta Banfield, Ryan Morrissey, Mihran Deirmendjian, Peter Lauria, Kyle Gordon, Josh Gates, Alannah O’Neil and Brian Alexander, Ryan Dowd, Zack Heath, Rich and Lucy Newton, Mark Dube, Mickey Wiswall, Mike Belkin, Vanessa O’Connor, Kevin McNamara, Sam Klemmer, Brendan Laehn, Luke Sawitsky, Molly and Chris Simard, Margaux Bolte and George Sullivan, and Nick Whitehead.
2010, 2011, 2012
2010: Bobby Alexander, PJ Lee, Bobby Avakian, Andrew Reed, Alec Finigan, Ryan Manning, Andrew Greenough, Nick Ogonowsky, Ian Connor, Jeff Schimmel, Charles Butte, and Adrian van Seventer.
2011: Sean McPhee and Eddie Harvey.
2012: Brian Bowser, Alex Swan, Jeremy Connor, Albert Kiladjian, Chris Bean, Otto Fisher, Noah Roberts, Danny Anderson, Nick Carey, Joe McNamara, George McLaughlin, Nick von Turkovich, Dan Csaplar, Rob Perdoni, Greg Loukas, Adam Maleh, Pranay Bose, Jack Hayes, and Kyle Wheeler.
2015, 2016, 2017
2015: Ian Arthur, Chris Bracken, Evan Chaletzy, Cam Chiarelli, Carla Concha, Chris Duckworth, Justin Grady, John Lazor, Christian Little, Connor Metz, Charley Michalowski, James Russo, Charlie Schwartz, Myles Walsh, Colin Ward, and Tommy Wynn.
2016: Alex Awad, Griffin Gustafsson, Johnny Hincks, George Hu, Callen Morris, David Perdoni, Jack Richards, Harrison Rohrer, Max Rudzinsky, Greg Katz, Ricky Cronin, Robert Griffin, Jay O’Brien, Ben Lebowitz, Timmy Brownell, Matt Armstrong, Sean Rayment, Brian Melly, Matt Reppucci, Timmy Seibel, Ethan McIlhenny, Vishnu Nair, Christian Faggas, and Will Weiter.
2017: Warren Cross, James Feinberg, Danny Griffin, Ray Hunt, Marshall Knight, Ben London, Nate Miller, Cole Nagahama, Peter O’Connell, Evan Ricci, Will Ryan, Varun Shah, Zach Shpilner, John Sommers, William Stonestreet, Armin Thomas, and Robbie Warming.
67 S ummer– Fall 2022
1. DJ Hynes ’01 with his sons Michael and Christopher.
2. Members of the Class of 1982: Rick Wolf, George Harper, Jim Umlas, Bill Willer, and Mitch Roberts.
3. Katie Leighton, Sam Baker ’07, Ryan Dowd ’07, and Zach Heath ’07.
4. Charlie Butte ’10, Eric Butte ’16, Parker Hall ’16, Greg Katz ’16, Griffin Gustafsson ’16, Alex Santangelo ’15, Timmy Seibel ’16, John Hincks ’16, and David Perdoni ’16.
5. Emmett Lyne ’77, Tom Green ’77, Kathie Longo, Curtis Whitney ’77, and Steve Lubrano ’77.
68 S ummer– Fall 2022
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alumni & Family events save the date Alumni Reunion Weekend May 19–20, 2023 belmonthill.org/reunion alumni@belmonthill.org
6. Brian Alexander ’07, Alannah O’Neil, Chris Simard ’07, Molly Simard, and Sam Robinson ’07. 7. Hendricks Delva ’16 and Will Ryan ’16. 8. Art Norton ’60, Bob Repetto ’55, and Bill Cleary ’52. 9. Members of the Class of 2015: Cam Chiarelli, James Russo, Charley Mickalowski, Tommy Wynn, Ian Arthur, and Evan Chaletzky. 10. Alan Woodward ’67, Elise Woodward, Charlie Browne ’67, Tina Browne, John Fitzgerald ’67, and Peggy St. Clair.
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11. Jonathan Smith ’62, John Grady ’66, Ann Grady, and Ken Martin ’65.
12. Gary Barret ’74, Peter Sullivan ’75, John Coughlin ’75, and Christina Coughlin.
13. Josh Gates ’07 and Will Moran ’07.
14. Erica Casey, Tim Casey ’82, Ted Guthrie ’82, Nicole Dempsey, and Greg Dempsey ’82.
15. Reunion golf outing: 1972 Classmates Sandy Starr, Bob Rowley, Carl Dawson, Rick Oliver, Rich O’Connell, and Gary Joyal.
16. Reunion golf outing: Scott Webster ’82, Ken Martin ’65, John Cresap ’12, and Eric Butte ’16.
17. Reunion golf outing: Class of 2012 classmates Brian Bowser, Greg Loukas, Alex Swan, and Jeremy Connor.
70 S ummer– Fall 2022
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alumni & Family events
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 Winter/Spring Bulletin is December 1, 2022.
tant for one year after graduation. I hold numerous club tennis championships and am a life member of the USTA and International Tennis Hall of Fame.”
1957
From GERRY MALONEY ’50: “I am now retired from both the military and business. I was a fighter pilot.”
the Belmont Hill School Military Register, please complete the online form found under at 617.993.5203.
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 “Alumni” on the website. If you have any questions, please call the Alumni Office at 617.993.5203.
GRAND REUNION: MAY 19 AND 20, 2023. CLASSES OF 1943 • 1948 • 1953 • 1958 • 1963 • 1968 AND ALL ALUMNI WHO HAVE CELEBRATED THEIR 50TH REUNION.
1942
STEPHEN PARSON ’42 writes, “I am getting a bit older at 99 and one half.” See photo, page 64, of Mr. Parson celebrating his 80th Reunion.
1950
JOHN SHANE ’50 writes, “I was in the U.S. Naval Reserves for more than 20 years as a rank commander. I have served as a board member of 30 private and public companies, including two New York Stock Exchange-listed ones. Also, I was chairman of Abt Associates, a Social Science Company. I served several non-profit organizations including as treasurer of Belmont Hill; advisor, American Repertory Theater, New England Conservatory of Music, and the Museum of Science; board member of Boston Ballet and the New England Aquarium; member of the President’s advisory committee, Oberlin College; vice chairman, Japan Society of Boston; vice president of the Friends of Switzerland, Inc.; president of the Mill Reef Club, Antigua W.I.; and president of The Indoor Court, Beverly, Massachusetts. I am a graduate of Princeton University (AB in economics) and Harvard University (MBA) where I worked as a research assis-
1952
The book Reflections on an Amateur Life by BILL CLEARY ’52 is now available. Belief in and love for the amateur ideal is the common thread throughout Bill Cleary’s career as an exceptionally successful hockey player and coach and former director of the country’s largest Division 1 athletics program. This is the story of how Bill put those values into practice in all three roles and how he continues to champion them in an era of increasing professionalism. Bill’s memoir, an anecdotal tale written in his distinctive voice, covers his days at Belmont Hill and Harvard, his years with the U.S. hockey team and the Olympic gold and silver medals, his experiences as a referee, and his two decades behind the Harvard bench, highlighted by the 1989 national title and another decade as athletic director.
Since graduating from Belmont Hill, D’ARCY MACMAHON ’57, graduated from Penn in 1961. He went on to become a senior planning consultant at John Hancock Financial Services. He became co-founder, director, and CEO of the Head of the Charles Regatta, executive director and CEO of the Brain Tumor Society, executive director and CEO of the Lloyd Center for the Environment, and director of the New Bedford Education Foundation.
WILL MACK ’57, writes, “I turned out to have great success in the retail field. At one time I owned two stores on Newbury Street, Boston: The Artisans and Kitchen Arts. For a time, we had an Innuit art gallery, which led to trips to the Arctic and a couple of Innuit visits to openings. I’ve been retired since 2001. I spend time in New Hampshire on Squam Lake during the summer and Sudbury during the winter. I had too many fond memories at Belmont Hill to only pick one. Belmont Hill was a good fit for me.”
1961
Bill Cleary ’52.
1956
WALT WELCH ’56: “I am now retired. I worked for the Department of Defense for 60 years, 30 years in the United States Army and 30 years in the Defense Contract Management Agency.”
This from JEFF DORSEY ’61: “Belmont Hill School provided me with a good foundation for pursuing my goals: learning languages, traveling, and helping people. Mr. Jenney taught me Latin: I first thought these had been six wasted years but later discovered that knowing Latin facilitated learning other Romance languages. John Henry Funk taught me French, and I also developed an interest in Spanish while at Belmont Hill. Over the years I came to speak both these languages fluently. Spanish is particularly useful here in Miami, now my base of operations, and stands me in good stead in my travels around Latin America.
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class notes
I have often thought that all high school curricula should include both typing and car mechanics. The Hill curriculum back then didn’t teach us budding professionals typing, but my father gave me an old typewriter he had used in medical school and taught me which fingers go on what keys; with that as my only guide, I typed all my papers at school and then in college and grad school, later making an easy transition to computers. I’m sure Belmont Hill has remedied this gap in the curriculum for the generations of students who have followed. After three years majoring in history and studying French at Hamilton College, Larry Birns, then an instructor in Latin American studies, convinced me to take a year in Latin America on my own. That year of travel by land throughout the Andean countries set my course for the future. After returning to finish my AB at Hamilton, I joined the Peace Corps and spent four turbulent years in Chile, including the first year of the Allende administration. Work involved establishing and managing a rural electrification program. My fluency in Spanish improved markedly. I learned to fly Cessnas and Pipers, getting my private pilot’s license and instrument rating. I also bought horses and did a lot of riding, including one jaunt over the Andes to Argentina. Larry died a few years ago, but I am still on the board of directors for the think tank on Latin American affairs, the Council for Hemispheric Affairs. The Peace Corps charted me on a path toward international development work and to the study of agricultural economics at the University of Wisconsin Madison. I specialized in rural development and land tenure issues with a minor in Latin America studies, and I started learning Portuguese. Cycling, which from Belmont Hill days had just been a means of transport, became a lifelong hobby. I became active in Madison’s largest bicycling club. After getting my PhD in 1984, I spent the next 13 years living in Italy, learning Italian, and seeing a good part of the country in the process,
part of it on bike tours with the FAO and AGIP Petroleum cycling clubs. Living in Rome in between assignments, I worked around the world as a consultant for FAO and other UN agencies and for the U.S. government (USAID) and other agencies and non-governmental organizations. I’ve worked in 30 countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Near East and in Kyrgyzstan. For the past 20 years, I have made Miami my base of operations. The climate and languages (Spanish, Creole/French, some Portuguese, and occasional English) suit me. I continue working as a consultant to international agencies and private sector clients focusing on agribusiness, fisheries, and aquaculture finance and on finance for microenterprises and non-agricultural small businesses. Most assignments vary from one to three months; thus, in a single year (such as last year) I may work in seven or eight countries on a variety of different projects. Amazingly, I still enjoy traveling (most of the time) and have a modest and diminishing list of countries I would still like to see. I find I learn more about the countries and their cultures through my work than I ever could as a tourist. I continue biking with local cycling clubs and on solitary rides from my home south of the Tamiami Airport out into the Everglades, taking in the birds and wildlife along the way. For the past dozen years, I’ve been based in Bamako, Mali, where I continue consulting work and represent U.S. companies engaged in radio, TV, and telecommunications. I got back into amateur radio, which I started when I was in the Sixth Form, and have one of the most powerful radio stations in the country. I’m also trying to help the country to reduce corruption, with Mali being 136th on the list of 180 countries in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index. The country has recently had two military coups and chased out the former colonial power, France, which has dominated the economy both before and after independence 60 years ago.”
Congratulations to PETER
ROWAN ’61 on being inducted into the Blue Grass Hall of Fame in Owensboro, Kentucky.
Peter recently premiered his music video for “The Song That Made Hank Williams Dance,” a unique combination of music, history, and spirituality from his new bluegrass album, Calling You From My Mountain 1962
LARRY WILLWERTH ’62 graduated from Norwich University in 1966 (BSME) and the U.S. Army Commission (Corps of Engineers). He spent three years in the Army, including 20 months of combat service in Vietnam. He continued his military service in the Army Reserves for 31 years, and upon his retirement served until age 65 in the Massachusetts State Guard, under the MANG. After eight years as a consulting engineer, high school teacher, and general contractor, he joined the family transportation (limousine) business, and was honored as Operator of the Year in 1998. He is a founding member and first president of the New England Livery Association and Limousine Trade Association. He actively supported the Boy Scouts program for 20 years as Scoutmaster and in council training and Wood Badge. He is a 25-year member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts, serving as quartermaster since 2010. He is the region commander, Military Order of World Wars, and trustee, secretary, and head of security of the Somerville Historical Society. He is a recreational sailor.
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1963
60 TH REUNION | MAY 19-20, 2023
RICK VIETOR ’63 writes, “I’ve been a professor since getting a PhD in 1975. Been a professor at Harvard since 1978. I teach international political economics and regulation—having written 10 books and 176 cases. Cindy and I have three children and six grandchildren in California, Oregon, and Newton, Massachusetts. We are active in the Needham Methodist Church.”
1965
BOB GOLDKAMP ’65 writes, “I am happy to report that I am busy being a grandfather to my seven grandchildren, aged from 1 to 15 years old. I’m also still working as a financial consultant to developers of affordable housing and historic rehabilitation properties, though I can see retirement in the near future. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion.”
1967
From ALAN WOODWARD ’67 comes: “55 years ago, as a senior at Belmont Hill, I remember viewing with some skepticism the ‘old grads’ who returned to celebrate anniversaries of their distant departure from the ‘hallowed halls.’ At age 18, 55 years was an eternity, longer than life, and yet in retrospect, these years have passed in a flash. The following is a snapshot of my post-Belmont Hill life. In 1971, I graduated from Lafayette College with a BS in electrical engineering and went on to Columbia University to earn my MS in bioengineering. In the summer of 1973 I married Elise Frazier, the girl of my dreams, and we moved to New Orleans, where Elise began her architecture
career and I attended Tulane University School of Medicine. As a newly minted physician, I completed my internship at Newton-Wellesley Hospital before moving to North Carolina for a residency in emergency medicine at Bowman Gray. In 1981, I returned to Newton-Wellesley to practice with the first all-residency-trained group of emergency medicine specialists in Massachusetts. Over the next 30+ years I not only practiced emergency medicine but also became an educator, author, administrator, and leader as this newest specialty evolved and the house of medicine was reinvented in many ways. Fortunately, in change lies opportunities, and several came my way. In 1989, I became the director of emergency services at Emerson Hospital in Concord, where I spent nearly two decades. In that period, I also held numerous leadership roles, including as president of the Emerson medical staff, president of the district medical society, president of the Massachusetts College of Emergency Physicians, and ultimately president of the Massachusetts Medical Society. The MMS boasts more than 25,000 members, publishes the New England Journal of Medicine, and is a potent advocacy organization for physicians and patients in Massachusetts. After retiring from clinical medicine, I pursued my interests in public health and health policy, including medical liability
reform, and sat on multiple healthcarerelated boards and committees, including the Massachusetts Public Health Council, Tobacco Free Mass, and the Massachusetts Alliance for Communication and Resolution following Medical Injury. Now 55 years out, I am blessed to live in Concord in a house designed by my wife of 49 years, a former partner at Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott, the oldest architecture firm in the United States. Our daughter, Lauren, who graduated from Davidson College and received her master’s in landscape architecture from the University of Georgia, now lives with her husband, Jeff Cronin, and their children, Dylan, 3, and Norah, 1, on Cape Cod. And our son, ANDREW ’02, who graduated from Babson College in 2006, is a successful entrepreneur and lives in Bermuda with his wife, Kristen, a pediatrician, and their sons, Hughes, 6, and Parker, 3. So we are blessed with four wonderful grandchildren to challenge and entertain us in retirement. Reflecting back on the past 55 years and looking forward to our reunion, I recognize the value Belmont Hill provides both as an anchor, a sextant, and a keel for its students and graduates as we navigate our ways through life.”
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55
REUNION | MAY
1968
TH
19–20, 2023
Members of the Class of 1967 met at Alan Woodward’s home on May 13, 2022: Bill Darling, Chris Alt, Alan Woodward, Charlie Browne, and John Fitzgerald.
1971This from GRAY HOLMES ’71: “50 years? Looking back, all in all, I have had a good ride so far and feel very fortunate. No small part of that good fortune has been thanks to my wife, Jody. From the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (a ‘Yooper’), Jody has managed over time to broaden my Yankee upbringing. Thanks to GORDY SCANNELL ’71, who introduced us over a winter weekend cross country skiing. We have been blessed with two wonderful children, daughter Jordan, 32, and son Lucas, 30. With them in tow through their high school years, we have spent summers on Jody’s family ‘farm’ in northern Wisconsin (trails, walking, running, biking, horseback riding, and a lake for swimming) and visited Steamboat Springs regularly where Jody’s mother and father live. And now, with Jordan working in France as a ‘pâtissier’ we have enjoyed a number of trips to visit her and hike in the Vosges Mountains, where she lives, as well as in the Alps and the Pyrenees. Son Lucas inherited his parents’ orientation for ‘doing good’ (Jody having been a psychiatric social worker) and has been involved with a program called Soccer without Borders that supports underserved immigrant youth in the U.S. and around the world. Happily, he has stayed local and is a frequent visitor to our Wayland digs. On the work side of things, I began with a great
adventure coaching ice hockey in Spain, and then I embarked on a somewhat more familiar path teaching and coaching at the Nichols School in Buffalo. I then returned ‘home’ where I spent four years working in administration at Harvard that led to an MBA in public management from Boston University. All this culminated with what turned into a career working in finance and administration for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It put dinner on the table and allowed me the time to become part of the rising tide of youth soccer, coaching my kids’ youth teams and running the Wayland soccer program for most of these years. Our program motto was ‘Wag More, Bark Less,’ striving for emphasis on fun rather than Division One! These days piano has become a part of my daily experience. We get to spend much more time north during the winter pursuing our passion for sliding on snow, more time out in Wisconsin on the family ‘farm,’ and almost annual month-long pilgrimages to France but for this past year’s pandemic interruption. Now with the pandemic hopefully in the rearview mirror, I am feeling a growing interest in reconnection with old classmates, friends, and colleagues made along the way. Friendships and family—I have no complaints!”
From TED LANE ’71 comes: “I’ve been married for over 42 years to my wonderful and lovely wife, Meg. We have enjoyed a
great family life in Darien, CT, where we have lived since 1977. All best wishes to the members of the Class of 1971.”
CHRIS PYE ’71 writes, “After 36 years of teaching, I am as of January now retired, working on scholarship and aimless puttering. My wife, Renna, and I live in Northampton, and we have three far-flung children between us and one 19-month-old grandchild who is, as you might guess, an adorable tyrant.”
GORDY SCANNELL ’71 writes, “As of September 2021 I have taken a position with PCW Management Center, LLC as timber counsel and representative, which involves doing the legal work as well as general on-the-ground representation with respect to the Peter Buck family ownership of approximately 1.4 million acres of timberland in the north Maine woods.”
1972
From STORER ROWLEY ’72, comes: “I am a former foreign correspondent whose career has taken me to Mexico, Canada, Israel, Europe, Africa, and beyond. I have reported for the Chicago Tribune for 30 years, covering foreign affairs, national stories, and conflict; writing editorials; and managing national correspondents. In 1996, I was on a team of Tribune staff reporters selected as a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize for the paper’s series on why people around the world have children they can’t afford. I write commentary for the Washington Monthly and The Tribune, and my work has also appeared in the Boston Globe, the Baltimore Sun, and the Huffington Post. I now teach journalism at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, and I’m a member of the boards of the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents, USA, the Chicago Headline Club Foundation, and the Master of Science in Communication Alumni Association at Northwestern.”
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Members of the Class of 1971 at Reunion Weekend in May: Michael Schelzi, Scott St. Clair, Glenn Stewart, Roger Stokey, and Charlie Moore.
SANDY STARR ’72 writes, “It is hard to believe that it has been 50 years since we graduated! I live in Cambridge, MA, with my wife, Raine Figueroa. We have been married for 35 years. We have two daughters, Sierra (Dr. Starr) who is an obstetrician at UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester, and Emma, who is a data scientist at Everyday Labs, an educational consulting firm. I have been a real estate lawyer for over 40 years and am now with the law firm of Schlesinger and Buchbinder, LLP in Newton, MA. In my free time I love to ski and skate in the winter and fish, hike, bike ride, and play golf and tennis in the summer. I ski mostly at Waterville Valley in New Hampshire, and we have a house nearby. Prior to COVID, I used to go to Alaska and British Columbia to go heli and snow cat powder skiing, resort skiing in the Rockies and fly fishing out west, but I haven’t gone recently though I hope to go again soon. I am river tester for the
Charles River Watershed Association and a trustee at my temple. I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion.”
1973
50 TH REUNION | MAY 19–20, 2023
BURRY GOWEN ’73 has retired from the Town of Lexington school system where he had been a middle school teacher.
1975
MITCHELL REISS ’75 writes, “Since Belmont Hill, my life has been an unplanned series of different adventures and challenges. I have traveled widely, lived overseas, married a wonderful English woman, and have two great children. I wrote articles and books on U.S. foreign policy and served in senior positions in our government at the National Security Council and State Department with the rank of Ambassador, negotiated for four years with North Korea to end its nuclear weapons programs (sadly, unsuccess-
fully) and helped negotiate an end to the “Troubles” in Northern Ireland (far more successfully). I became president of a college, and then CEO of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, where I restructured the organization to make it financially viable, culturally healthy, and socially relevant in the 21st century. I now advise firms on a variety of geopolitical risks. I am indebted to Belmont Hill for the excellent educational foundation it gave me, even (maybe especially) the three years of Latin classes!”
1977
STEVE LEAHY ’77 writes, “Besides having kids and grandkids and still heading north and west skiing, I live on the seacoast of New Hampshire, so I’m in the water on a board quite a bit. Just back from eight days in Utah with CURTIS, TWEETS, HAL, and TOM DARLING Looking forward to the reunion.”
1978
45 TH REUNION | MAY 19–20, 2023
After graduating from Belmont Hill, BRUCE GREER ’78 went on to UPenn, flew F14s for Navy VF-154, Topgun, USS Constellation, was an assistant professor at Northwestern University, a Kellogg MBA, management consultant, VP for Monsanto, Solutia, Olin, and ran a chemical advisory business on Cape Cod. He is president of GBG, Jr. Advisors.
1. Tom Darling ’77, Curtis Whitney ’77, Kathie Longo, Carol Gannet, Hal Melcher ’77, Dave Tweedy ’77, and Steve Leahy ’77 skiing in Utah.
2. A fun day on May 25 at Curtis Whitney ’77’s Ocean Row and Clambake in Bourne, MA. Curtis’s mom Edith, Carol Wolf, and Charlie Feuer ’77 celebrating their birthdays.
3. Hal Melcher ’77, Tom Darling ’77, Charlie Feuer ’77, Tom Green ’77, Emmett Lyne ’77, Curtis Whitey ’77, and Brad Smith ’76.
4. Fred Hagedorn ’78 with former faculty and sailing coach Ted Burt on the Quissett Yacht Club committee boat during the running of the H-Class National Championship Regatta. Hagedorn was a charter member of the Belmont Hill Sailing team when it was granted its varsity status.
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4 2 3 1 class notes
ERIC SCHORR ’78 released New York Pretending to be Paris a recording of 13 poems by six contemporary poets performed by opera singers. The music veers from Neo-Romantic to jazz to chanson to bossa nova, and the singers are accompanied by a first-class ensemble of acoustic instruments. The CD can be purchased directly from the label, Albany Records, or Amazon. A digital version can be found on iTunes and Spotify.
kids are still quite active in our lives (only some have moved out of the house) and all have remained local…for now. Over the past two years I have been involved in two private equity sales while working with some really cool online product teams domestically and abroad. Thinking about reenacting a cross country road trip I took the summer after graduating from Belmont Hill. Let’s see. Hope my friends are well.”
1982
1980
GREG SULLIVAN ’80 writes, “I was co-founder of Dover Microsystem, a cybersecurity hardware startup in 2017. Sadly, Dover didn’t make it and I am deciding on something else between now and the reunion; likely doing DARPS-funded computer science and research. In October 2020, my wife, Ann, and I moved from Newton, where we had lived for 28 years, to Rockport, MA. That was a big change. Our youngest is allergic to dogs, but we now have a pet-free guest house, so we now also have a dog, Demi, who is a 4-year-old pitt bull mix rescued from Georgia (and is the sweetest dog ever). Our youngest, Jess, is living in Ithaca, NY, involved in the ‘Ithaca Generator’ makerspace. Our oldest, Melissa, is wandering the world. Ann does pottery (annwoodbury.com), and I do a fair amount of Iyengar Yoga (and I maintain iyane.org). I have a blood condition that puts me in the immunocompromised category, so I have been hesitant about attending the reunion, but at this moment I am planning to attend and look forward to seeing you all.”
This from PAUL UDRIS ’82: “I have been living in Minneapolis since 1996 and started my architectural firm in 2003. I have been back on the East Coast quite a bit the last year working on homes in New York, Connecticut, and Cape Cod and visiting with my family, including my son at college. I haven’t seen much of my Belmont Hill classmates in recent years, so I am looking forward to catching up with everyone!” 1983 40 TH REUNION | MAY 19–20, 2023
1.
1981
From CURT RAFFI ’81 comes: “Back in 2013 I moved to Andover, MA. Our five
2. Ann and Greg Sullivan ’80. 3. Tad Guleserian ’84 and Chris Sweeney ’83 at the Alumni House. 4. Class of 1980 Reunion, May 14, 2022, on campus.
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1 2 3 4
Members of the Class of 1980 gather at their reunion in May 2022. Front row: Bud Young, Rick Patrick, Greg Sullivan, and Steve Kasarjian. Back row: David Wanger and George Seward.
1985DOUG BARNARD ’85 is managing partner of Financial Services Daltra Capital, LLC.
DOMINIC DIMARE ’85 writes, “I attended the American University in Washington, D.C. After university I moved to Europe. I lived in Rotterdam, where I worked in the Port for an import company. When I wasn’t living and working in the Netherlands I traveled and worked odd jobs including bartending in Chamonix, France, where I took turns pouring drinks and manning the turn tables. When the first Gulf War began, I returned to the United States to find a job in advertising and/or public relations. The economy had gone soft, so I took a ‘temporary’ job in the State Assembly as a policy committee consultant, which led me to a job as a lobbyist then back to the Capitol as a legislative director, a chief of staff, and then the head lobbyist for the California Chamber of Commerce. In 2007, I joined my good friend to form our own lobbying and communications firm, Arc Strategies. We represent a variety of clients ranging from corporations to associations, coalitions to local governments and gaming tribes. I have many memorable experiences as a lobbyist. I have been chewed out by several governors, including Arnold Schwarzenegger. We have represented victims of childhood sexual assault against the Catholic Church and the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). We have stared down the Governor, Assembly Speaker, and Senate Pro Tem to win water rights protections and money for water storage. We are taking on major record companies to gain greater protections for musical artists. When we battled the Catholic Church and BSA on behalf of victims that recalled suppressed memories of abuse later in life, I was teaching catechism and my son was a Boy Scout, which made for awkward conversations at church and the scout cabin. Staring down the three most powerful people in California politics gets you chewed out a lot and threatened with personal and political ruin. The upside of
our work is that you meet and talk with a lot of diverse and interesting people, like Rosa Parks, Dolores Huerta, George Takei, and Cheech Marin, to name a few. I also met my wife in the State Capitol. My two greatest accomplishments are my 25-year marriage to Rina and our 17-year-old son Dominic. We enjoy skiing, hunting, and going to concerts together. He is a junior in high school, and (I am not going to lie) the thought of him leaving home makes us sad. We are going to miss him. Rina still seems to like me, and we still laugh a lot, which is a good sign. However, when he leaves home, I am condemned to more endless hours of listening to yacht rock. Fortunately, we own a winery and nothing pairs with the smooth sadism of yacht rock like a nice Bordeaux-style wine. Rina and I are partners in the Elevation Ten Winery located in Clarksburg, CA. We are a very small production winery of about 2,000 cases a year, and we ship to Massachusetts. Perhaps my strangest post-graduate experience is dying. I suffered cardiac arrest at the gym after a 5,000 meter pull on the ergometer. I finished, stood up, and fell down dead. My heart stopped and I was revived. I have made a full recovery. I am still close to ERIK BROOKS ’85 and John Pappas both of whom I see at least once or twice a year and I ‘follow’ many of you on social media. We won’t be at the reunion. Dominic is awarded his Eagle Scout rank the same weekend. I will miss seeing y’all but wish all good health and good fortune.”
STEVE VALENTI ’85 reports, “I’m busy working, fathering kids, following their sports, and am now excited to get two of the three off my payroll.”
1986
LAURENCE TOSI ’86 was CFO/COO at Merrill Lynch from 1999–2008. He then was managing partner at Blackstone from 2008–2015, COO/CFO of Airbnb from 2014–2018, and is presently the founder/ managing partner of WestCap Group.
From GEOFF STEWART ’86 comes: “I’m still at Kent School after 19 years, now heading up the performing arts while continuing to teach drama and English and direct plays. I also continue to engage in a side career no one from Belmont Hill would have predicted, including me— that of hockey referee. I am now a Level 3 tenured official for USA Hockey and have worked my way up to some pretty high-level games lately, including Tier 1 18U contests as both referee and linesman. My wife is a fellow in the OrtonGillingham Academy, training teachers to teach dyslexic kids how to read while also heading up the Kildonan Teacher Training Institute at Marvelwood School. My daughter graduated from NYU’s Tisch School for the Arts in musical theater and is in New York City auditioning; my older boy is about to graduate from Kenyon College, and my youngest is a freshman at Hamilton College. Summers are split between NW CT and Peaks Island, ME. I hope all is well with the rest of the class. I won’t be at our reunion due to the fact that it coincides with my spring musical.”
1987
After ten years as assistant head of school for Academic and Strategic Initiatives, RICHARD KASSISSIEH ’87 will be leaving the University Prep School in Seattle to become head of school at Stratford Hall in Vancouver, BC.
1988
35 TH REUNION | MAY 19–20, 2023
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class notes
Steve Valenti ’85.
1. Matt Romney ’90 and family.
2. Giorgio Balboni, the 3-year-old son of Jeremy Balboni ’01, enjoying the beach on a family trip to Costa Rica.
3. Katherine and Joe Schipani ’01 and daughters; on the left Eloise, turning 5 this spring and starting kindergarten in September. She loves ballet and jazz. On the right is Aria who is 6, goes into first grade this coming school year, and loves acrobatics and cheer. 1
1990
From MATT ROMNEY ’90: “I got married in 1996 and we have four kids—two are in college now. We moved to San Diego in 2005. After some jobs in marketing tech (Polaroid, Microsoft) I began working in real estate. I helped our REIT go public, then after we sold it to Blackstone, I co-founded a real estate private equity company called Sundance Bay in 2012. We have acquired 10,000 apartment units and launched several debt and equity funds. I hope to get to our reunion, but it’s a long distance so I will read up on what everyone is doing or not.”
BEPI RAVIOLA ’90 was one of six recipients of APA’s 2021 Bruno Lima Award for Disaster Psychiatry. He is associate director of the Chester M. Pierce MD Division of Global Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, an assistant professor of global health and social medicine at Harvard Medical School, and co-director of mental health of Partners in Health. Raviola was recognized for his role in developing and implementing the mental health component of Massachusetts’ contact-tracing program in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The mental health component was designed to
complement a comprehensive approach to the disease that would, ideally, combine physical distancing, fast and accurate testing, isolation of active or suspected cases, and possible treatments.
1996
STEVE RANERE ’96 is a partner with Latham & Watkins in Boston.
1997
1991
JAKE DWINELL ’91 is the director of federal sales at IT Value Added Resale and Consulting Services to the US National.
ARI KATZ ’91 writes, “It was great seeing so many of my classmates on the Zoom meeting JAY FRITZ ’91 organized last year. It’s amazing how everyone looks the same, but older. We won’t be able to make it for the ‘in person’ reunion but we send our best from Atlanta. If you are ever traveling down South let me know, and it would be good to catch up. Best wishes for continued success to the Class of 1991.”
PAUL HATZIILLIADES ’97 writes, “I won’t make it to the reunion, fellas. I’m in Ukraine at the moment, trying to help overcome tyranny.”
1998
25 TH REUNION | MAY 19–20, 2023
2000
1992
PATRICK MCDONOUGH ’92 is working as chief technology officer at STARLIMS. 1993
30 TH REUNION | MAY 19 -20, 2023
DAVE MITCHELL ’00 writes, “I went to law school at the University of Florida, graduating in 2009. I’m now practicing law in Port St. Lucia, FL, as a personal injury attorney. I am a partner and trial lawyer with the law firm of Steinger, Greene & Feiner.”
2001
From SAM HERBERT ’01 comes: “I’m still based in London if anyone comes through for work or travels. We just welcomed identical twin boys to our family, and we
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are now enjoying the chaotic poetry in motion of having three kids under the age of two.”
2002
KARIM NAHABET ’02, shared a memory: “Senior spring, a week before graduation, X block, sitting on the chapel lawn (in shorts and sunglasses) in a fill-up pool that RYAN HIGGINS ’03 brought and filled somehow. Then out of nowhere (hearing BOB BURNS ’02 laughing from a distance) water balloons rain down, causing some of us to react and run and others just to look and guess if a balloon would actually hit us. FYI, we never got hit, but had some close calls. Then, an intense game of ultimate Frisbee ensued with multiple friendly crashes that left a few of us on the sideline sore with something. I remember our dear Mr. Goodband finally coming and asking us to disperse, so as not to encourage the underclassmen to pursue such lofty leisure activities on campus. We agreed, with a smile. We had pursued our goal of having our own fun on campus, knowing that the memories of our time at Belmont Hill would stay with us forever, and if we could add a little something of our own, it would make them all that much sweeter. Twenty years later, let’s keep it going.” 2003
20 TH REUNION | MAY 19–20, 2023
JOEY BUTLER ’03 writes, “I wanted to share with the community that I finally was married to my beautiful wife, Valerie, last October in Sunapee, NH. It was a small COVID wedding with immediate friends and family. My brother ROBBIE BUTLER ’06 was the best man and gave a great speech. I’m looking forward to catching up with everyone at the next reunion. I work in Somerville and if anyone is in the area and wants to catch up over lunch, don’t hesitate to reach out.”
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1. Kristen and Andrew Woodward ’02 with sons Hughes, Parker, and newborn baby Charles.
2. Moses Landrum IV ’03 visited campus and the Alumni House in August.
3. Valerie and Joey Butler ’03, October 2021.
4. Caitlin McLaughlin and Sam Gaynor ’04 were married on October 23, 2021, in San Francisco with a number of Belmont Hill alumni in attendance, including Sam’s dad Bob ’59, co-best men Danny Gaynor ’06 and Mike McGuire ’04, Scott Dunn ’04, Toby Banta ’04, Denys Levin ’04, John Meyer ’04, Zander Farkas ’04, and Bobby Campbell ’04.
80 S ummer– Fall 2022
class notes
1. Zander Farkas ’04, his wife Christen Paras, and big brother, James, welcomed Petra Etoile Farkas on April 26, 2022.
2. Rowan Pine Bayard McAlpin, son of Alyssa and Miles McAlpin ’05 – Birth and 4 months.
3. Sofia Iman Jafri, daughter of Siddiqui and Ali Jafri ’05. Sofia was born on April 30, 2022.
4. Charlotte Lu Quinn, born on April 15, 2022. Proud parents are Olivia Lu and Andrew Quinn ’07.
5. Brian Alexander ’07 and fiancée Alannah O’Neil.
6. Rachael and Mike Kinnealey ’08 with their children, Mary, 5, Mick, 4, and David, four months, at Long Pond in Wellfleet.
2005
PAUL BOGONIS ’05 writes, “I’m really looking forward to reconnecting with great friends at our reunion in May.”
2007
For the past nine years, BRIAN ALEXANDER ’07 has been working as a journalist, writer, and producer in New York City. At the beginning of the pandemic, he and his fiancée, Alannah O’Neil, moved back to Boston. They will be married at Lion Rock Farm in Sharon, CT, in September.
KEVIN MCNAMARA ’07 is a commercial real estate broker at Cushman & Wakefield.
Amanda Gaynor and BRADLEY STARR ’07 were married on July 31, 2022 in Wiscasset, ME.
2008
15 TH REUNION | MAY 19–20, 2023
2009
JOHN LEDDY ’09 writes, “My wife, Chelsea, and I welcomed our daughter Quinn in February 2022—sadly she can’t attend Belmont Hill. I also recently started a new position as a litigation associate at Nutter, McClennan & Fish LLP, helping to open the firm’s New York City office.”
2011
BRANDON MCNALLY ’11 is a professional hockey player in Europe.
SEAN MACPHEE ’11 is a field account executive at Oracle.
2012
SEAN GUSTIN ’12 is working at Columbia Threadneedle Investments as an internal advisor consultant.
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SOREN HANSON ’12 writes, “After graduating from Belmont Hill in 2012, I went to Colby College, where I studied math and Mandarin Chinese. From there I lived and taught English in China, have played professional baseball in Europe and Australia, taught English and math at Salisbury School, Salisbury, CT, and taught math at St. George’s, Middletown, RI, and at the Charter School on Martha’s Vineyard, among many other adventures. At this time I have stepped outside the walls of traditional schools and am living in a beach town in Costa Rica. Here, I am getting good surfing, learning Spanish, and providing a range of academic support to the growing local community. I am even faced with the possibility of becoming involved in the creation of a new school here. Beyond local academic opportunities, I offer a significant range of support via Zoom to students in the prep school community in New England.”
2013
10 TH REUNION | MAY 19–20, 2023
2015
After graduating from Belmont Hill, JAMES RUSSO ’15 went on to Trinity College, where he graduated in 2019. James is pursuing a career in software sales and is currently working for Dynatrace.
MYLES WALSH ’15 is a science teacher at KIPP Massachusetts.
2016
ROBERT CELADO ’16 is working as a relationship manager with Congress Wealth Management, located in Boston. He gives a shout-out to Mr. Collins, Coach Wade, and the great 2014 JV squad.
2017
This from WILL HINTLIAN ’17: “Since graduation I have completed my bachelor’s
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1. Quinn Leddy, daughter of Chelsea and John Leddy ’09.
2. The 2010 National Championship Belmont Hill 1V reunited at reunion on Saturday, May 14: Pranay Bose ’12, Ian Connor ’10 (just finished 6 1/2 years as a Navy Seal), Andrew Reed ’10, Mark Dillon ’10, Jeff Schimmel ’10, and Coach Chris Richards.
3. Alexandra and Petros Davos ’13 were married on July 9, 2022, in Corfu, Greece.
4. Abdurezak Shemsu ’13 returned to campus to chat with the Brother 2 Brother student affinity group in April 2022.
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class notes
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degree in mechanical engineering and will complete my masters in mechanical engineering in May 2022. At school, I focused my academic program on space studies and taught rock climbing classes. In July 2022, I look forward to starting my career at Astra Space, a launch provider startup in the Bay Area.”
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2. Robert Celado ’16.
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4. Nicholas Gallo ’18 at his June 11, 2022, graduation from Santa Clara University with his parents Mimi and Jay Gallo ’78.
5. Congratulations to Jack Murphy ’18, Brown University, who was named to the Skippers First Team and in addition was named the NEISA Sportsperson of the Year.
6. Rick Melvoin, Ishaan Prasad ’18, Massimo Aufiero ’18, and Patrick Connor ’18 at Harvard’s 2022 Commencement.
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2018
5 TH REUNION | MAY 19–20, 2023
Belmont Hill alumni at the Eastern Sprints on May 15, 2022. Standing: Jack Weldon ’20, Charlie Mullaney ’20, Bobby Pare ’19, Teddy Danziger ’19, Jackson Stone ’19, Eric Whitehead ’18, Ryan Williams ’17, Andrew Berg ’18, Sean Mannion ’18, Jack Richards ’16, and Coach Chris Richards. Kneeling: Streetej Digumarthi ’21, Tyler Forg ’21, Nick Hebard ’21, and John High ’19. Not pictured: Luca Foschi Walko ’20, Adam Alto ’21, and Christiaan Eikeboom ’21, who were there racing.
Lt. pilots Colton Bradley and Joe Melanson, both graduates in the Class of 2015, deployed to a field training exercise from Camp Humphreys, South Korea, where they provided medical evacuation coverage and air mission requests to the installation and surrounding area.
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1. Front row: Coach Tim Sullivan, Tom Goguen ’22, Charlie Cave ’22, Wyatt Schmidek ’23, Brogan Chitkara ’23, Drew Dummer ’22, Ethan O’Neill ’22, Trey Brown ’21, Archie Perry ’20, Zach Travaglini ’21, Chris O’Connell ’21, Brodie Rayment ’19, Andrew Holland ’19, Cade Nagahama ’19, Cam Rubin ’20, and Brady Chitkara ’20.
Back row: Coach Matt Fritz ’93, Matthew Torrey ’23, Charlie Crowley ’25, Miles Fritz ’25, Bert Greene ’22, Eli Friedman ’25, Liam Horkan ’22, Ronan O’Donnell ’23, Josh Doolan ’24, Declan Reilly ’24, Sascha Gannon ’20, Christian O’Neill ’17, Zach Geddes ’17, Matt Savage ’19, Mack Perry ’17, Luke Curtin ’21, Brooks Rayment ’21, Rishi Banerjee ’19, and Head Athletic Trainer Dennis Chin.
2. The ISL All-Americans recorded a 16-10 victory over the MIAA in the Boston Lax All-American Game at Babson College. With four goals, Liam Horkan ’22 was named the game’s MVP. Congratulations to the Belmont Hill lacrosse players who participated: Liam Horkan ’22, Ethan O’Neil ’22, Charlie Cave ’22, Charlie Hazard ’23, Adam Figler ’22, Tom Goguen ’22, and Drew Dummer ’22.
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ALUMNI LACROSSE GAME, JUNE 5, 2022
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LACROSSE ALL-AMERICAN GAME (MIAA VS. ISL) –JULY 13, 2022
BOSTON
FACULTY & STAFF NEWS
Longtime Belmont Hill science faculty member John McAlpin recently wrote a poignant song in tribute to Buck O’Neil, who played for and managed the Kansas City Monarchs in baseball’s Negro League. Buck later became a scout for the Chicago Cubs organization in Major League Baseball and eventually MLB’s first Black coach. He mentored “Mr. Cub” Ernie Banks and signed Lou Brock, both Hall of Fame players.
“I was listening to ‘Morning Edition’ on NPR in late December and a story came on that revealed Buck O’Neil was going to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame this July,” Mr. McAlpin recalls. “I knew Buck’s story and I have always admired this humble, gracious, and dignified man and was actually feeling quite overjoyed about his inclusion. About an hour later, the lyrics were written and the melody and chorus were clearly defined for me, too.”
Mr. McAlpin says that Buck’s story resonated with him because Buck is likely one of the last people MLB will be able to celebrate to connect the modern game with the racial realities of baseball at the start of Buck’s career in 1937. “Buck’s exclusion from the Hall of Fame in 2006, by a single vote, and the remarkable dignity and generosity he extended to others in the face of that great disappointment stuck with me,” Mr. McAlpin states. “His exclusion was not a matter of race. Seventeen other Negro League players and executives were inducted in 2006, and Buck is quoted as saying he would have felt awful if any of them had been excluded if he had been included. He was an incredibly gracious man who chose kindness, compassion, and love of the game over personal achievements. There is no one quite like Buck and, unfortunately, he passed away two months later.” Now, 16 years later, Buck will be a member of the Hall of Fame in 2022. “There is something so heartening about that for me. The word ‘justice’ comes to mind.”
Although he wrote the song, Mr. McAlpin states that he is not a musician. “My friend Jim Wooster, who is the executive director of Club Passim in Harvard Square, is an exceptional musician who was in a band back in the day called The Courage Brothers with frontman and ‘local hero’ Todd Thibaud.” He explains that Jim is a baseball fan and Todd already had a number of baseball-themed songs in his extensive catalog, including the theme to the College World Series,“Back Home in Omaha,” written for ESPN. “Todd and Jim took on ‘Dear Buck’ with passion and professionalism which we hope feels understated, respectful, dignified, and demonstrates our affection and admiration for the life and legacy of the man it honors.”
Mr. McAlpin hopes that the song will provide an important American history civics lesson and will help illuminate the inspirational depth of Buck O’Neil’s character, decency, and kindness. “I was not inspired to write a song about a baseball player,” he explains, “but Buck was a one-of-a-kind human being who also played baseball.” Before listening to the song, he recommends watching an MLB Network program featuring Bob Kendrick discussing Buck O’Neil with Harold Reynolds. Former MLB player Harold Reynolds interviews Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, and provides the sense of the depth of admiration and affection Buck O’Neil engenders in the lives of people who know his unique story and journey. He hopes the song inspires in ways that Buck inspired. “I think this is a moment in baseball that is unlikely to ever come this way again, and I think our song ‘Dear Buck’ can be part of that moment. Buck represents the best in all of us!”
You can listen to the song by scanning this QR code.
85 S ummer– Fall 2022 Faculty & sta FF news
Walker Coppedge ’94 will serve as the School’s new director of college counseling beginning this fall. Mr. Coppedge has worked as the School’s senior associate director for the past six years. Prior to that, he served for a decade at Tufts University in a senior management role in the undergraduate admissions office. Before his time at Tufts, he coordinated the application process at The Epiphany School for a diverse population of students and families. “Beyond his
impressive professional background, Mr. Coppedge’s interpersonal skills and emotional attunement are so well suited to meeting the needs of our boys and parents alike,” Mr. Schneider says. “He is an outstanding advocate for our boys given his deep understanding of the college landscape and the culture of Belmont Hill.”
Mr. Coppedge states that he was thrilled to receive the news of his new appointment. “I have so enjoyed my time in the office over the last number of years working with Casey Bobo, Sharon Patton, and Charlie Doar, and I can’t wait to continue to build on the good work we have done in the years to come.”
This spring, Belmont Hill varsity hockey coach Brian Phinney was named 2022 Prep Hockey Coach of the Year by New England Hockey Journal. The hockey team had a remarkable season and qualified for the New England Elite 8 Tournament. They went on to defeat St. Sebastian’s in the quarterfinals at Belmont Hill, then traveled to Avon Old Farms where they scored a semifinal victory. In the finals, they hosted Salisbury School and fell short with a hard-fought loss. The team’s final record was 17-3-3.
Coach Phinney admits to being pleasantly surprised with this honor from New England Hockey Journal. He believes that much of the team’s success was due to the hard work of the players and, more specifically, the leadership of the senior class. “They helped to build and solidify a strong team culture, and that culture was what drove our team,” he states. “We, as coaches, just gave the boys space to find their way. It is obviously an honor to be
recognized, but it’s the full group of players and coaches that deserve the recognition.”
At Belmont Hill, Coach Phinney is an associate director of admission, a history teacher, and a Form I head advisor. He coaches lacrosse as well. He began his tenure as varsity hockey coach in 2021. Prior to Belmont Hill, he served as an assistant coach at Middlebury College, as well as at the Salisbury School. He also spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at UMass-Amherst. A native of Vermont, Coach Phinney played hockey at Middlebury College where they won two NCAA titles, including during his senior year when he was captain and All-American. He also played lacrosse at Middlebury, capturing an NCAA title during his freshman year. After graduation, he played four seasons of professional hockey in Sweden.
He says that the most rewarding part of coaching at Belmont Hill is getting to be a part of each player’s journey and helping them along the way. “I am just getting to the point where I have been at Belmont Hill long enough to have my former Middle School history students on the varsity hockey team,” he notes. “Seeing them grow and develop as student-athletes over that time span is pretty special.”
86 S ummer– Fall 2022
Faculty & sta FF news
1. Congratulations to Brooke and Matt Ziff on the birth of their daughter, Violet Zoe Ziff, on June 24, 2022.
2. Congratulations to Lindsey Taylor and her husband, Jack, on the birth of their daughter, Casey Coen Taylor, on July 23, 2022.
3. Tay and Cameron Chittock welcomed their second daughter, Taren Taylor Chittock, born on March 14, 2022. She joins twoyear-old big sister Rowe.
4. Julia and Chuck Gorman welcomed their third daughter, Anna Abigail Gorman, on June 2, 2022.
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published
Staff member CAMERON CHITTOCK published a graphic novel, Mapmakers and the Lost Magic, beautifully illustrated by Amanda Castillo. The story is the first in a trilogy of middle-grade graphic novels published by Random House Graphic. Katherine Fast (spouse of faculty member DOC FAST) released her debut novel in April, The Drinking Gourd, a mystery set in the 1970s. The story is intended as part of a series, entitled A Casey Cavendish Mystery, with the second book due in 2023.
In June, Lucy Keating (spouse of faculty member TOBIAS MCDOUGAL) released her third novel, Ride With Me, published by Clarion Books. Ms. Keating is also the author of two other young adult novels, Dreamology and Literally
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In Memoriam
TRUMAN S. CASNER ’51
Truman Snell Casner, of Vero Beach, FL and South Dartmouth, MA, died on March 15, 2022. He was 88.
Born in Baltimore, MD, in 1933, Mr. Casner was the son of the late A. James and Margaret (Snell) Casner. He was raised in Belmont, MA, and went on to Princeton University and to Harvard Law School, which provided the foundation for his lifelong career in law.
After a one-year judicial clerkship with Chief Justice Raymond Wilkins of the Massachusetts Supreme Court, he joined the firm of Ropes & Gray in Boston. Mr. Casner rose from an associate in 1959 to managing partner in 1994 until his retirement in 2001. He was a devoted and esteemed advisor to his clients and colleagues alike, and he represented Ropes & Gray as a place where integrity and high-quality legal work were of paramount importance.
Mr. Casner served as a trustee of Belmont Hill School for over 30 years, including his chairmanship of the board in 1985–89. He later became president of the Corporation and was the recipient of the School’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2001. He also was a trustee of Buckingham School during the multiyear phased merger with Browne & Nichols School. He was a trustee of the Boston Museum of Science and the New Bedford Whaling Museum and served on the boards of State Street Corporation, State Street Bank and Trust Company, and the Massachusetts Business Roundtable.
Mr. Casner was an accomplished athlete in hockey, golf, and tennis and spent his free time chasing the tennis ball on the lawn at Longwood Cricket Club or enjoying a round of golf at the Kittansett Club and Riomar Country Club. He was an avid sailor and yachtsman, finding his true passion on the ocean aboard his Block Island 40 yawl, Astral. Sailing was a true escape from the rigors of law practice and provided him the opportunity to connect with family and friends passionate about adventure and travel. There was an unmistakable, carefree joy that came across his face when he was at the helm of his boat.
Beginning in 1972, he sailed with his late wife, Betsy, out of the New Bedford Yacht Club and spent weekends racing and exploring harbors and islands from Buzzards Bay to Nova Scotia, always as captain. Mr. Casner was a superb navigator and participated in several Newport to Bermuda Races as crew. In his retirement, Astral was sailed by a crew of five trusted friends and accomplished sailors across the Atlantic to Europe, where he moored the boat for nearly 12 years. He also enjoyed times with his children, grandchildren, and friends aboard Astral with the Cruising Club of America, of which he served as Commodore for three years. He explored several countries while cruising on Astral, including Ireland, Scotland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
In retirement, Mr. Casner continued to enjoy his summers on Buzzards Bay in South Dartmouth yet made his primary residence in Vero Beach, where he was a member of the Quail Valley Club and active in the golf community at the Riomar Country Club.
He leaves a legacy as an accomplished leader, lawyer, and advisor, and those who knew him well had the pleasure of his gift of storytelling and dry humor. Mr. Casner often told his golf friends, “I sail better than I play golf. Otherwise, I would have drowned years ago.”
His first wife, Elizabeth (Betsy) Lyons Casner, died in 1997, and his brother, Andrew James Casner ’49, in 1999.
He is survived by his wife, Gaynor Davol Casner, and his children, Richard D. Casner ’76, of New Canaan, CT; Elizabeth Anne Casner, of Wellesley Hills, MA; and Abigail Ackerman, of San Diego, CA. He is also survived by ten grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and three nephews, including A. James Casner III ’73
DAVID A. PERRY, JR. ’52
David Allen Perry, Jr. of Vero Beach, FL, died on April 24, 2022. He was 89.
Born in Cambridge, MA, in 1933, Mr. Perry was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. David A. Perry. He spent most of his youth in Weston, MA, where he loved to play pick-up football and ice hockey. He went on to Dartmouth College and after graduating entered naval flight training school in Pensacola, FL, in 1955 and received his wings as a U.S. Marine fighter pilot in 1956. He would serve in the Marines for over 20 years, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel. After receiving his wings, Mr. Perry married Pamela Wicks. They were soulmates and best friends in life for over 65 years and built a beautiful and colorful life together.
In 1964, he joined TWA, where he enjoyed a long and distinguished career, going on to become captain of both the L1011 and 747 as well as other aircraft, and eventually enjoying his role as an instructor pilot. This path allowed him and his family to travel extensively and live around the world. It eventually took him to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he and his family lived for over six years. Upon returning to the
89 S ummer– Fall 2022
in memoriam
States, he fulfilled contracts with various other airlines such as Nippon Cargo and Tower Air. He rounded out his career in Vero Beach as an instructor pilot for Piper Air, where he cultivated many lifelong friendships with his students and staff.
Mr. Perry is survived by his beloved wife Pamela; his daughters, Cindy Perry, of Vero Beach, and Susie von Rosenvinge, of Groton, MA; his brother, John Perry ’62, and his wife Jenny, of Lee, MA; his cousin, Eloise Kenney; his grandchildren, Katie and her husband Roccou (Rocky) Knowles; Emily and her husband Ross and their daughter Madison Borelli; Sarah Wicks; Peter von Rosenvinge and his wife Maeve; and Perry von Rosenvinge and his partner Anne King. He also leaves his nephews and niece Darren Perry and his wife Kendra of Sudbury, MA, and David and Stephen Krushwitz and Lisa Rea of Anchorage, AK. He was also the father of the late Peter Perry.
General’s office at Maxwell Air Force Base, AL, and as a weapons control officer at Tyndall AFB, FL, and Keesler AFB, MS. He continued in the Massachusetts Air National Guard through 1973, leaving for medical reasons.
Mr. Forziati’s comrades will remember his brilliant mind, gentle sarcasm, smile, laughter, and, most importantly, his love and respect for family and country.
He is survived by his brother, Carl Forziati ’66, of Cataumet, MA, nieces and nephews throughout Massachusetts, and other relatives and friends in New England and the U.S. Mr. Forziati was also the brother of the late Arthur Forziati ’56.
boards of various other companies, including Station Casinos.
He was a son of Boston and a Red Sox fanatic throughout his life, as well as an avid skier, sailor, gourmet, and world traveler.
Mr. Isgur was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Barbara, and is survived by his son, Michael
TED C. FORZIATI ’54
Ted Conrad Forziati died on May 23, 2022, in West Palm Beach, FL. He was 85.
Mr. Forziati was born in 1936 in Arlington, MA, the son of the late Dr. Alphonse L. Forziati and Wanda C. Forziati. He grew up in Belmont, MA, and went on to Colby College, Boston College Law School, and numerous professional military schools while on active duty in the U.S. Air Force.
He enlisted in the Air Force in 1960 and received his officer’s commission in 1962. He served on active duty until 1966, attaining the rank of captain. His assignments were with the Judge Advocate
Lee Stuart Isgur died on August 3, 2022 in Mountain View, CA. He was 84.
Born in 1937, he was the son of the late Evelyn and Gilbert I. Isgur. He went on to graduate from Reed College and the Tuck Business School at Dartmouth.
Mr. Isgur had a long career in finance, working as a financial analyst at Gruntal & Co., Paine Webber, and UBS. He was a pioneer in the analysis of firms in the leisure and entertainment industries. A frequent guest on the television program Wall Street Week, he won numerous awards within his industry and was widely considered to be one of the top analysts in the country.
In later years Mr. Isgur worked as an investment banker at Volpe, Welty & Co. and Jefferies & Co. and served on the
THOMAS T.G. CABOT ’57
Thomas T.G. Cabot, of Holden and South Yarmouth, MA, died on July 29, 2022. He was 83.
Born in Boston, Mr. Cabot was the son of the late Anne Randolph (Gray) and Oliver Hazard Perry Cabot and grew up in Hingham, Cohasset, and Norwell, MA. He went on to Williams College, with a junior year abroad at the Universidad de Madrid, Spain, and graduated in 1961. A lifelong scholar, he earned masters’ degrees in Spanish, literature, and library sciences. In addition, he received certifications in sailing, carpentry, contracting, as well as a captain’s license, and was an avid collector of books. During his studies in Spain, he was a driver and personal assistant to John Wayne on movie sets and a Spanish tutor to his daughter. He enjoyed his conversations and chess matches with “The Duke.”
A teacher, both professionally and personally, Mr. Cabot reveled in sharing his knowledge, especially of languages and history. In the classroom at the high school and college levels, he taught languages and library and media sciences. He could speak for hours about history,
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LEE S. ISGUR ’56
in memoriam
especially Roman history, to anyone who would listen. He loved all languages and cultures and speaking with people about their heritage, travels, and experiences. His great-great-great-grandfather was the American naval Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, a prominent figure in the War of 1812 and called the Hero of the Battle of Lake Erie (1813). The SSV Oliver Hazard Perry is a tall ship ship in Newport, RI, named after the Commodore, commemorating Rhode Island’s most distinguished naval hero.
A self-proclaimed feminist, Mr. Cabot made certain his five daughters were all expertly taught how to be self-sufficient and handy. He taught them to change a tire, drive a stick shift, do basic carpentry, and so much more.
On June 25, 2022, he and his wife Antonia were blessed to celebrate their 40th anniversary. Their life together was like a storybook filled with adventures, traveling the world, sailing, creating lasting memories with grandchildren, and enjoying an enduring love for each other. They had many enjoyments, including a 20th anniversary trip to the South Pacific. They loved life in common, lived it to the fullest, and built a thriving real estate business together, for which he was the property manager. Toward the end of his life, it was important for his wife to care for him at home, keeping him comfortable and happy. Mr. Cabot’s beautiful smile was contagious, and his eyes were so kind. He loved people, life, nature, building, and learning. Those who knew him are better for having had him in their lives.
He is survived by his wife, Antonia (DiCicco) Cabot; his daughters, Celeste Cabot, Corrine Cabot, Michele-Elena Cabot, Nicole (Bard) Lian and her husband John, and Rochelle Bard; his brothers, Cmdr. (USA Ret.) Perry Cabot Jr., Robin Cabot, and Timothy Pratt; and seven grandchildren, Sarah, Justin, Hannah, Zoe, River, Audrey, and Max. He was preceded in death by his stepfather, Lyndon Ephraim Pratt, and his sister, Christine Pratt.
At the time of publication, the Bulletin learned of the death, on August 27, 2022, of William Henry Miller Beckett ’58 He was 82. His obituary will appear in the next edition.
John Randolph (Randy) Nott, of Hanover, MA, died on February 12, 2022. He was 78.
Mr. Nott was born in 1943 in Medford, MA, the son of the late John Cornish and Genevieve Margaret Cronin Nott. He grew up in Boston’s Back Bay in family homes on Fairfield and Beacon Streets and had made his home in Hanover for almost 50 years. He attended The Park School in Brookline and went on to Princeton University (Class of 1965). In school, he was active in sports and played at Belmont Hill on New England Championship basketball teams that won 55 straight games.
He worked in Boston in insurance underwriting, as a vice president with Frank B. Hall and earlier for many years with New England Life. Mr. Nott was very active with the Boston Jaycees, serving as their president and state and national representative. At New England Life he met the love of his life, Norwegian native Bjørg Lygren. They married in 1966 and she worked for many years as a flight attendant, allowing them and their daughters frequently to visit her family in Norway and explore the world together using her work travel benefits. She died in 2001 after a long illness.
Mr. Nott loved music and sang for four years in Boston’s Trinity Church Boys’ Choir under Dr. Francis W. Snow. He became an accomplished guitarist and amateur folk, rock, and jazz performer. He remained an avid sports fan and in his later years seldom missed a televised Patriots, Red Sox, or Celtics game. He loved and excelled at fishing and for many years edited fly-tying magazines. He was a voracious reader and book collector and loved activities with his family. Till the end of his life, Mr. Nott remained very active and intellectually vigorous in pursuit of the many progressive and environmental causes about which he deeply cared. He stayed in regular contact with many family members and friends, including almost 5,000 Facebook friends all over the world who shared his interests and enjoyed his humor and wisdom. On his last day of life, he initiated and shared 28 posts and provided for a birthday fundraising campaign on his Facebook page.
He is survived by his daughters and their husbands, Kristin and Craig Riley, of Belchertown, MA; Lisa and Daniel French, of Hull, MA; and Sarah Nott and Christopher Joyce, of Plymouth, MA; his grandchildren, James and Jason French, Brian Riley and Krista Joyce; his brother, Roger Eliphalet Nott and his wife Mary Elizabeth, of Gainesville, GA; his brother-in-law, John Lygren and his wife, Joanne, of Milton Mills, NH; his nephew, John Nott, of Peachtree Corners, GA; his nieces, Kari Lygren, of Milton Mills, NH, and Kirsten Lygren, of Alexandria, NH; and his first cousins, Beverly Harloff, of Gloucester, MA, and Harry Gilbert, of Sun City West, AZ.
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JOHN R. NOTT ’61
WILLIAM C. ROSS, JR. ’62
William Cummings (Bill) Ross, Jr., of Lawrenceville, GA, died on April 4, 2022. He was 77.
Born in 1944, he was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. William C. Ross. He went on to the Georgia Institute of Technology, from which he graduated in 1967 with a degree in industrial engineering. He then enrolled at Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI, and later was stationed with ESTPAC in the Philippines and Vietnam, where he served for three years.
Returning to the U.S. in November 1970 as a civilian, Mr. Ross began a long career as a hands-on computer engineer, with numerous assignments in both the public and private sectors.
He is survived by his wife, Fe Despabiladeras Ross, and his two daughters, Pamela D. Abbott and Cristina Ross Skelley.
Mr. Dorsey went on from Belmont Hill to the University of Vermont and became the owner of Northern Wood Products.
He is survived by his daughter, Meagan, his brother, Jeff Dorsey ’61, and three granddaughters.
of an engineer at the other end of an emergency phone call.
From there he went into the insurance business in American Samoa’s capital, Pago Pago, first as a sales manager in 1984 and then as general manager two years later. Thereafter, he oversaw the local office of an American importer whose base of operations was Portland, OR, before working for a shipping company for several years.
PAUL M. DORSEY ’63
Paul Michael Dorsey, of Barnet, VT, died on July 12, 2022. He was 76.
FREDERICK G. PETRI ’64
Frederick (Rick) Grinnell Petri died on March 31, 2021, at his home in Uxbridge, MA. He was 75.
Born in Boston in 1946, the son of the late Camillo F. ’36 and Barbara Grinnell Petri, he was raised in Weston, MA, and went on to Hamilton College, where he majored in art and earned his AB in 1968. He was a member of Sigma Phi fraternity and the college’s entertainment committee.
Upon graduation, Mr. Petri joined the Peace Corps and was sent to Western Samoa for three years, where he worked as a teacher. Following that assignment, he volunteered for a six-month special project in Fiji before returning to Western Samoa, where, still with the Peace Corps, he was a training-staff administrator.
By 1974, he had moved 60 miles east to American Samoa to work as a teacher trainer and materials developer for the U.S. Department of Education.
Three years later, Mr. Petri left government service, having been hired as the general manager of radio station WVUVAM (“No. 1 in the South Pacific”), located in the American Samoan town of Leone. As he would later recall, he did “just about everything,” including repairing the station’s transmitter under the guidance
During his residence in American Samoa, Mr. Petri became a member of the Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Navy League, as well as the Board of Higher Education. He served as an officer in several of these organizations and took the lead in organizing a foundation to fund a scholarship in memory of a Samoan professional baseball player.
Mr. Petri returned to Massachusetts, specifically to the town of Uxbridge, in 2006. Continuing his commitment to community service, he became active in the Uxbridge Rotary Club and served as president of the organization for a term, among other volunteer activities. The Uxbridge Rotary devoted itself to a variety of community projects, from financing air conditioning units for the community center to providing the local fire department with thermal (heat-seeking) cameras to use to search for people trapped inside burning structures, to funding scholarships for college-bound graduates of area high schools. He took a hand in all these service initiatives, among numerous others.
He loved curling and gardening, and he made it a tradition to write odes on special occasions for his loved ones—a writing gift passed down to his children. Most of all, he loved time spent with his grandsons, Tuiafetoa and La’auli Kruse, because time with his family was his greatest enjoyment of all.
In addition to his wife, Leuila (Misionare), Mr. Petri is survived by his children, Jeffrey Petri and his wife Veronica, of Samoa, Neta Kruse and her husband
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in memoriam
Lucien, Hector Petri and Valasi Petri, all of Uxbridge, MA; his siblings, Mark Petri, of Fairhaven, MA, Daphne Petri and her husband Paul Schwartz, of Newton, MA, and Matthew Petri and his wife Eleanor, of California; and his grandsons, Tuiafetoa Kruse and La’auli Kruse.
ERRATUM
Due to an editing error, the In Memoriam notice for Edward “Teddy” Counihan IV ’65 that appeared on Page 65 of the Winter/Spring 2022 Bulletin did not include the names of his surviving brother and sister-in-law, Stephen and Maureen Counihan, of Reading, MA. The Bulletin regrets this error.
He is survived by his sister, Bonnie Campbell Billings and her husband, Joe Wauters, of Stowe, VT, and Vero Beach, FL; his niece, Eliza McMurray, of Guilford, CT, and nephew, Ben Billings, of Telluride, CO, as well as three grandnephews, Chase Campbell McMurray, Ryder McMurray, and West Billings, and a grandniece, Ivy Billings.
death in 2019. They lived in Portland and Harpswell, ME, for many years before retiring to Lynchburg nine years ago. In later years they also spent time in Southwest Harbor. During the past 20 years, the Lockes have been generous donors to Maine Sea Coast Mission and its ship Sunbeam, Rivermont Evangelical Presbyterian Church, and the Elijah Kellogg Church. They also provided many education scholarships for children to achieve their dreams. John and Stephanie had a love for God and for people that influenced their generous giving.
Mr. Locke is survived by his brother William N. Locke Jr., of Pittsburgh, PA, and his sister Elizabeth Locke Dodge, of Harpswell, as well as many nieces and nephews.
JOHN F. LOCKE ’66
John Fortin Locke, of Lynchburg, VA, died in Brunswick, ME, on July 20, 2022. He was 74.
PETER R. CAMPBELL
’66
Peter Ryder Campbell, of Sterling, MA, died on March 27, 2022. He was 74.
The son of the late Cortlandt and Sylvia Hatch Campbell, Mr. Campbell grew up in Winchester, MA, and went on to Colgate University and Boston College Law School.
Though trained professionally as a lawyer, his love was tennis. He was a ranked New England junior player. Through a long coaching career, he taught at Wayland Swim and Tennis Club, at Weston Golf Club as head pro, and at Longfellow Tennis Club, where he was director of tennis.
Born in 1948, in Boston, Mr. Locke was the son of the late William N. and Antoinette Locke. He went on to Bowdoin College, where he earned his AB in 1970. After college, he attended Southern Maine Vocational Technical College to become an automotive mechanic. The mechanics of cars still fascinated him.
Mr. Locke was founder and chairman of Group Dynamic Inc., an employee benefits management company based in Maine and doing business in multiple states.
A lifelong yachtsman, he knew and loved Casco Bay and Frenchmans Bay. His mastery of piloting was superb. As a young man, he traveled the rivers of Maine in canoes with Medomak Camp: the Kennebec, the Sheepscot, and the Allagash Waterway from Lake Chesuncook to Fort Kent, Mud Pond Carry, and all. He could start a fire in any weather. He climbed Mount Katahdin many times.
Mr. Locke married Stephanie Gowan in 1969, their life together lasting until her
G. CORNISH ’68
William Gregory (Bill) Cornish, of Delray Beach, FL, and formerly of Carlisle, MA, died on May 22, 2022. He was 72.
The son of the late John G. and Alice S. Cornish, he grew up in Chestnut Hill, MA, graduating from Dexter School. He went on to Union College before following in his father’s footsteps by working in the business insurance industry at Alexander & Alexander, AON, and Marsh McLennan. An avid golfer, he was a lifelong member of The Country Club in Brookline, MA.
In retirement, he became a Florida resident and built a community of great friends in Delray Beach and Gulfstream. Although he faced severe health challenges in retirement, Mr. Cornish continued to
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WILLIAM
enjoy playing a weekly game of bridge with friends and volunteering for an after-school program for Haitian children through the Episcopal Church. A trustee of his beloved Belmont Hill School for 25 years, where he served as chairman of the nominating committee, he was also a long-time member of the boards of Wayside House Treatment Center for Women and Wediko Children’s Services.
Mr. Cornish was fortunate to be able to take joy in the births of his first two grandchildren and in walking his daughter down the aisle at her wedding in August 2021. He will be dearly missed for his kindness, thoughtfulness, and generosity. Those who knew him well will remember his genial smile, his wonderfully lighhearted sense of humor, his cheerful, gracious manner, and his effortless charm. He loved nothing better than a loud action movie, an off-color joke, eating chicken Caesar salads and chocolate chip cookies, or simply falling asleep in a beach chair with a book in front of him.
Mr. Cornish is survived by his wife of 36 years, Lucile F. Cornish; his son Charles F. Cornish, son-in-law John M. Crisafulli, and grandchildren Parker G. and Olivia R. of Sudbury, MA; his daughter Christina C. Metzmaker and son-in-law Michael N. Metzmaker, of Cambridge, MA, who expected their first child this summer; his brothers John M. Cornish and his wife Cecily, of Delray Beach, FL, and David F. Cornish and his wife Caroline, of Milton, MA, as well as several nieces and nephews. He was also the brother of the late Charles S. Cornish.
JOHN D. SHAW, JR. ’69
John D. Shaw, Jr., of Gardiner, ME, died on July 22, 2022. He was 71.
Born in 1951, Mr. Shaw was the son of the late Mabel (Ritchie) and John Shaw, Sr. He grew up in Concord, MA, and attended the Fenn School, and he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Denver and a master’s degree in social work from Boston University.
At 17, Mr. Shaw began his social work career at an Educational Enrichment Program summer camp in Boston, where he found he easily connected with the underprivileged inner-city children. After college, he moved back to Massachusetts and started working the night shift at McLean Hospital, where he became drawn to helping patients and decided to pursue a master’s in social work. Upon graduation, he held leadership roles for a number of social work programs in Massachusetts, including Wayside Community Programs, the Chelmsford House, a juvenile detention center, and Mentor, a foster care provider.
In 1989, Mr. Shaw moved to Gardiner, ME, to live in his great-grandmother Laura E. Richards’ Yellow House. Here, he raised his children and resided for the remainder of his life. His first job in Maine was as the director of licensing for the Maine Department of Health. Under the direction of Chris Bliersbach, he implemented a new licensing system that educated prospective agencies with the requirements for licensure, which resulted in a higher rate of successful licensure. He was then recruited to work
at JBI, a private psychiatric hospital in Portland, to develop and grow a new foster care program.
In 1993, he started his most challenging role as the CEO of the Kennebec Valley Mental Health Center. Over seven years, he overcame many obstacles, developed new services, and led the agency into a new era. In 2001, Mr. Shaw started his own private therapy practice and spent 20 years helping people in the Kennebec Valley navigate the difficulties of their lives. As his career was driven by a commitment to make the world a better place, so, too, was his work as a citizen of Gardiner. He served many organizations including Rotary International (1991–2020), Gardiner Public Library (1992–2022), and Johnson Hall Performing Arts Center. There, he served as president and was involved for over 11 years in efforts to fundraise for the restoration of the historic theater, a project which today has been fully funded and the construction of which is underway.
Mr. Shaw lived a joyful life filled with many interests. He loved to ski all over the world, particularly at Sunday River in Bethel, ME. An avid golfer, he played several times a week and loved that all three of his children also enjoy the sport. In his final months, he even published a book about golf, Every Shot Makes Somebody Happy and Other Things My Father Said About Golf. Mr. Shaw was also a passionate musician and played in many bands—The Pumps, Pat Colwell & the Soul Sensations, The Four Old Fat Guys, and The Zulu Leprechauns. He wrote, recorded, and performed countless songs either on the bass, guitar, piano, or vocals.
He is survived by his wife, Kimberly Bailey Shaw DC; his son, Samuel Shaw and his wife, Elena Shaw; his daughter, Julia Binder and her husband, Nick Binder; his granddaughter, Maggie Binder; and his youngest son, Alexander Shaw and his fiancée, Evyn Whiteley. He is also survived by his sisters, Betsy Shaw Bell, Louise Shaw, and Janet Shaw. His dog, Louie, will also miss him greatly. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Peg Campbell Shaw.
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in memoriam
Thomas Bruce St. Clair, of Wellesley and South Chatham, MA, died on June 2, 2022. He was 65.
Son of the late James D. and Billie N. St. Clair, he went on to graduate from Tufts University. He became the owner of Bergeron Box Company and ended his career as a highly regarded grantmaking program director of the Amelia Peabody Foundation. As such, he worked throughout Massachusetts to develop, expand, and enrich youth service programming in non-profits. He helped leaders of organizations to find ways to better understand their constituents by developing data sources. He was sought after as a reliable source of information about how other programs were handling specific issues, and he inspired leaders to offer everwider ranges of services to their youth.
Mr. St. Clair grew up in a golfing family and maintained a love for the sport throughout his life. He enjoyed many rounds at Brae Burn Country Club and Eastward Ho! and played in Scotland and Ireland. He was especially happy with a glass of single malt scotch in his hand sharing stories, and his friends should feel free to raise a glass in his memory.
He is survived by his daughters, Kate, of Herrin, IL, and Julia, her husband, Steve, and their daughter Jupiter, of Fulton, NY. He was their active anchor, advocate, and advisor, always on their teams ready to listen and help. He also is survived by his sister, Peggy St. Clair, her husband John Fitzgerald ’67, and their daughters, and his brother, Scott St. Clair ’71 and his sons.
Elliott W. Hawkes III, of Dallas, TX, and formerly of Westford, MA, died on March 18, 2022. He was 51.
Mr. Hawkes was born in Methuen, MA, in 1970, the son of Judith (Frazier) Hawkes and Elliott W. Hawkes, Jr., and was raised in Westford. He attended schools in Westford and Winchester before coming to Belmont Hill. After graduation, he studied abroad for a year in Provence, France, and fell in love with the country and people. He then attended Southern Methodist University where he graduated with a bachelor of arts and business administration degrees.
During his professional career, Mr. Hawkes was a showroom consultant for Apple Computer and was the former owner of Icon Interactive. He and his business partner owned and operated Luminant Corporation, which they brought public. Since 2003, he and his wife, Michelle, had owned and operated At Location, LLC, a location scouting and production agency.
Mr. Hawkes loved hiking and photography, which he pursued while traveling extensively throughout Europe. He enjoyed spending summers with his parents at Rondeau Park, Ontario. He considered himself a true patriot as he was a proud member of the Mayflower Society and the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.
In addition to his wife and parents, he is survived by many friends throughout Texas and France. He was the grandson of the late Elliott and Edith (Showler) Hawkes and the late Guy and Mina Frazier.
PAUL L. PALMER
Paul Louis Palmer, of Pawcatuck, CT, died on July 9, 2022, in Westerly, RI. He was 65.
Born in Westerly in 1956, Mr. Palmer was the son of the late Thomas W. and C. Virginia (Murray) Palmer. He was a graduate of Westerly High School and Springfield College.
From 1981 to 1997, he served as the athletic trainer at Belmont Hill and later was employed at Foxwoods and Holdridge’s Home Center. Mr. Palmer was also a very talented woodworker and an avid sports fan.
With his wife, Ginger, he loved caring for their pets, Katy, Mysti, and JJ, going whale watching, and visiting friends in New Hampshire and the Candle Factory in Massachusetts. He was a kind and loving person and will be missed.
He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Ginger Gibbons Palmer; his sisters, Irene Kritzer of Kensington, CT, and Mary Shorette (Louie) of Montville, CT; his brother, William (Roberta) of Westerly, RI; his sisters-in-law, Wendy (Wright) of North Stonington, CT, and Brenda (Mosena) of Iowa; and Ginger’s children, Vicki Hall (Ed), Michele Swanson (John), Michael Conley, and Shannon Conley. Mr. Palmer was preceded in death by his brothers, Earl Palmer, of North Stonington, CT, Thomas Palmer, of Iowa, a sister, Maybelle, a nephew, Scott Shorette, and his brother-in-law, John Kritzer.
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STAFF
THOMAS B. ST. CLAIR ’76
ELLIOTT W. HAWKES III ’89
Board of Trustees
Jon M. Biotti ’87, President
William F. Achtmeyer ’73, Vice President
Gregory J. Schneider, Secretary
Anthony W. Ryan, Treasurer
Dewey J. Awad
Samuel P. Bartlett
Mark D. Chandler ’74
Gretchen R. Cook-Anderson
Warren Cross, Jr. ’83
Carl D. Dawson ’72
Groom Dinkneh ’09
Jeffrey D. Drucker ’90
Ronald M. Druker ’62
Jean C. Egan
Daniel S. Farb
William A. Forde ’05
Kelly Garvey Pellagrini ex officio
John T. Grady, Jr. ’66
Christopher J. Hadley
Danielle A. Heard
Jason H. Hurd ’90
Stephen R. Karp ’57
Jonathan A. Kraft ’82
George W. Lynch II ’88 ex officio
Emmett E. Lyne ’77
Amy B. Madden
Carl J. Martignetti ’77
Gregory C. Paul ’09
Sarah H. Pelmas
Taggart M. Romney ’88 Jill M. Shah
Brian J. Shortsleeve ’91 Margaret M. Wade Herbert S. Wagner III
honorary trustees
John M. Connors, Jr. John A. Pike ’49
Belmont Hill School
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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 Lindsey Taylor
class notes & in memoriam Eileen Foley Harold Prenatt
photography
John Gillooly, John Gillooly IV, Kristie Gillooly Dean, Neal Hamberg, Amy Hirsch, Bill Mahoney, Adam Richins, Matt Risley, and the Belmont Hill School Archives
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Below: Belmont Hill Faculty, 1973. The Class of 1973 will celebrate its 50th Reunion next spring.
On back cover: Mr. Densmore teaches in the Lower School building, later the First Form building, ca. 1940s.
2022–2023
2008 2013 2003 1943 1948 1953 1958 1963 1968 1973 1978 1983 1988 1993 1998 2018 reunion weekend may 19–20, 2023 belmonthill.org/ reunion
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