contents
features
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43
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our mission statement
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chapel talk
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rick melvoin special feature: 25 years on the hill
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steve armstrong: “belmont hill has been an important place in my life”
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letter from the board of trustees
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community & diversity
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chapel speakers
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kenney legacy trip
departments 43
arts on the hill
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coaches’ corner
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new faculty biographies
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faculty & staff news
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alumni & family events
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class notes
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in memoriam
Belmont Hill School educates boys in mind, body, and spirit to develop men of good character. Our community encourages and challenges students to discover and pursue passions, seek excellence, and face adversity with resilience. We cultivate critical thinking and creativity, teamwork and competition, hard work and reflection, tradition and innovation. Valuing our differences and working together, we embrace camaraderie, compassion, and service to others. Our school strives to instill in each boy ethical judgment, a sense of common humanity, and a lifelong love of learning.
Front cover: Rick Melvoin, Head of School. “Ave Atque Vale” (“Hail And Farewell”) are the final words of Gaius Valerius Catullus’ poem 101.”
Correction: On page 12 of the Summer–Fall 2017 issue, caption 6 should read:
“Henry Vettel ’18 receives an award.” Alex Czarnecki ’17, who was cited in the caption, also won multiple awards on Prize Day.
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TO BE A GOOD MAN Remarks delivered by Head of School Rick Melvoin on January 2, 2018
Last October 5th, The New York Times broke a story that detailed allegations of sexual harassment against Harvey Weinstein, a highly successful and powerful Hollywood movie producer. On October 23rd, New Yorker reporter Ronan Farrow wrote a lengthy piece that detailed more allegations against Weinstein. Farrow reported that 13 women had told him that Weinstein had “sexually harassed or assaulted them.” Further, he wrote, “16 former and current executives and assistants at Weinstein’s companies told me that they witnessed or had knowledge of unwanted sexual advances and touching at events associated with Weinstein’s films and in the workplace. They and others described a pattern of professional meetings that were little more than thin pretexts for sexual advances on young actresses and models.” Farrow continues, “Virtually all of the people I spoke with told me that they were frightened of retaliation.” But, he added, “it’s likely that the women who spoke to me have recently felt increasingly emboldened to talk about their experiences because of the way the world has changed regarding issues of sex and power. Their disclosures follow in the wake of stories alleging sexual misconduct by public figures, including Donald Trump, Bill O’Reilly, Roger Ailes, and Bill Cosby.” In the weeks that have followed these articles, a dam has broken. As I expect most of you know, revelation has followed revelation. A distinguished senior black Democratic congressman from Detroit, a Democratic senator from Minnesota who was once a star on Saturday Night Live, a Republican congressman from
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Texas, a Republican senatorial candidate from Alabama – their political careers have ended. Sportscasters, athletes, celebrities—comedian Louis C.K., longtime Today Show anchor Matt Lauer—all have faced new levels of scrutiny or outright accusations. Over the last three weeks, some companies canceled or toned down dramatically their holiday parties, fearing bad behavior. Allegations against former President Bill Clinton have again come to the fore, as have allegations against President Trump. How far will the waters spread from this broken dam? They are not receding yet – and that is a good thing. As a nation we need to take seriously issues of sexual assault and sexual harassment. And we need to talk about these issues at Belmont Hill as well. These issues affect all of us: men and women, students and adults, rich and poor, black and white, straight and gay. (Let’s remember that one of the recent revelations here in Massachusetts came when a gay man with important political ties assaulted other gay men, apparently trying to trade influence for sexual favors.) As adults here at school, those of us on the faculty and staff need to have this conversation, for we need to make sure that every member of the community feels comfortable and safe and supported while working at this school. Fortunately, I think we have a healthy work environment here, but we need to ask the question, and the men here need to listen carefully to our women colleagues to ensure that we are the place we want to be.
But even as adults in the world are thinking about these issues, so do I want to focus on you students and your actions and values, now and through Belmont Hill and when you go off to college and when you head out into the world of work. In thinking about you and how you behave with girls and women, it is our responsibility as faculty to discuss these issues with you; indeed, at a boys’ school, our responsibility is all the greater. I know that none of you boys would ever want to be accused of going to a boys’ school because it was a place that allowed or welcomed sexism or misogyny. Instead, we want and need to be a school that makes a special effort to address these issues in a forthright way. Still, I want to be careful here. I don’t want to put you on the defensive; I am not accusing any of you boys here at school of any particular attitudes or actions. As you know, I have great faith in every one of you. Part of that faith comes in the goal that I and this faculty have for
you: that we want you to become good men. To me, the definition of a good man begins with respect for others. Yet part of what is toxic, at least in some parts of American culture, is a cult of masculinity that objectifies women: that degrades women by making them simply objects of men’s desires, and if we are going to think about what it means to be a good man, we need to understand more deeply what women often face in society. In that regard, I read a recent story from a writer named Tyler Zimmer that portrays the attitude that some men have in dealing with women. Here are Zimmer’s words: “While bent over locking up my bike in Chicago a few years ago, I heard the all too familiar sound of a wolf whistle. I turned around to get a look at the jerks accosting some woman on the street, only to realize I was the one who was being catcalled. A man passing by from behind had seen my long curly hair and
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tight jeans and had mistaken me for a woman. When I turned around to face him, he was shocked and started apologizing profusely. In so many words, he was saying, “This is an unacceptable way to behave toward a man,” and we both knew, if I were a woman, there would be no apology. This is the double standard at the heart of masculinity: [Some] men are taught to regularly say and do things to women that they would never say or do to other men.” What some women face in the business or professional world is shocking. Here’s a story from a business executive named Sallie Krawcheck that appeared in the December 3rd New York Times: “My first job out of college in the late 1980s was at Salomon Brothers, a trading house of cigar smoking, expletive-spewing strivers. One day, I leaned over a colleague’s desk to work on a spreadsheet and heard loud laughter from behind me; one of the guys was pretending to perform a sex act on me. Almost every day, I found a xerox copy of male genitalia on my desk. In the 1990s, I changed firms and was now a mid-level professional. The harassment shifted: Instead I had to rebuff a client, a chief executive, who asked me to join him – ‘just you, no need to bring the rest of the team’ – in his hotel room at 11:00 p.m. to go over some numbers. One company rescinded a job offer upon learning I had a baby at home.” When we hear stories like this, I trust that all of us are horrified. One does not treat other people this way. Part of what I worry about for you boys is the culture in which you live. You know which actions are right and which are wrong; you know the actions that you would never engage in here at this school. But what happens in a different setting? What happens when guys start making sexist comments, or start catcalling girls – is it funny? Sometimes it seems to be. But is it really?
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Hearing some of these horror stories about how women have been treated in the workplace makes it clear that this national conversation is needed. Surely we need as a society to put an end to women facing sexual assault. We also need to recognize, as in the Harvey Weinstein case, that some actions that are about sex are also about power. But either way, let’s remember that sexual assault is a criminal action, something that I hope none of you would ever imagine doing. And yet there is a big difference between sexual assault and boorish or piggish or sexist behavior – let’s call it sexual misconduct. This too is part of the debate that has emerged in recent weeks. Matt Damon wrote, as cited in a recent editorial by Boston Globe reporter Joan Vennochi, that “there is a big difference between patting someone on the rear and rape or child molestation.” Damon followed that by stating that “both of those behaviors need to be confronted and eradicated without question, but they shouldn’t be conflated.” Damon was challenged on this by several women, including some who argued that men should simply be silent at this stage of the conversation: that men do not understand how women feel. Yet Vennochi suggests that “the ongoing conversations between men and women are among the most positive outcomes of this cultural reckoning.” I agree. Again, as boys and men in this boys’ school, we need to talk – with women on the faculty, with girls we know, with mothers and sisters. And we need to keep our minds open. This national conversation needs to be not simply about sexual assault but should include all issues of how men treat women, how boys treat girls. Part of why this is difficult is that as men, especially if we are trying to be good and thoughtful men, we sometimes simply don’t know what the right thing is to do. Should I hold the door for a girl or a woman? Is that polite,
“To be a good man, the best man you can be, means that you strive to be a good partner, friend, coworker, and teammate with all.” gentlemanly, even chivalrous? Or am I impugning a woman’s strength and independence? If you go out with a girl, or as adults if one goes out with a woman, is it appropriate to pay for dinner? Is it okay for you to tell a girl she looks pretty? That she has on a lovely dress? Would you tell a guy if he is looking good? You might very well, and this would be fine for many guys and girls. But if you compliment a girl, are you saying that her value comes from her appearance? I am not trying to take away our opportunities to compliment or be nice to one another, including people of the opposite sex. But this can be a bit trickier than at first glance. Even getting down to daily social interaction, is it okay to flirt with a girl? I think it is – I think that is part of a healthy social life – but one needs to be sensitive to the issues at hand. Figuring out the right thing to say or do gets even more challenging as you go off to college. I will comfortably offer a large wager with all you Sixth Form boys that by the end of your first week in college next fall, you will have heard from your proctor or dorm resident or freshman dean or some authority at college a stern warning about sexual assault. And with good reason: Date rape is a serious, potentially criminal issue, especially if individuals who are engaging in sex do not have a clear idea of what is acceptable to the other person. I recognize that for you younger students, this issue may sound distant; yet for at least some of you older boys, the issue is real now. And if you engage in sexual activity, you cannot tell a girl how to feel after the fact; you need to be careful and respectful before you ever get to that point. Sometimes, when issues like this get too complicated for me, I try to simplify them so that I can find a good path forward. In some ways, the issues of sexual assault and harassment are immensely complicated, yet in other ways they are simple. One of the things I wish for you in your life is that you have a fulfilling, meaningful relationship with a partner who wants to share her, or his, life with you. In my experience, that relationship will be strong and meaningful if it is based on friendship and
partnership and respect. Is love part of that? I surely hope so. Is a healthy sexual relationship part of that? For most people it is. But what endures in a strong relationship is not the sex; it is the respectful partnership – a life, if you will, of working together. Thus, this becomes as good a time as any to remind you about what I and my faculty colleagues care about most for you. At a time when many seniors have recently heard college news, I remind you that what matters to us is not where you go to college. Instead, it centers on the kind of life you are going to lead, the way you treat others, the good you do in the world, what kind of husband or partner or father you will be. Much of that has to do with the world you will live in – that is, a world of women and men. In a school that rightly celebrates boys, we need always to remember that. Again, I hope you are hearing loud and clear that I and my colleagues have great faith in you and great hopes for every one of you. To be a good man, the best man you can be, means that you strive to be a good partner, friend, coworker, and teammate with all. And this is really not so hard. What is essential is simple. You already treat other people with respect based on their race, or their religion, or their sexual orientation. So do you need to treat them with respect based on gender. These issues are endlessly complicated with their ties to dating, work relationships, marriage, family, simple physical attraction. Too often our society makes it harder with the media images and advertising and objectification of women. Thus I will try one final way to simplify this and hope it might work. If you think about a girl you are meeting, or when you watch others interacting with a girl, how would you feel about the treatment of that girl if she were your sister? If you hear about mistreatment of women in the workplace, how would you react if that woman could be your mother? Our society has some work to do, and both men and women need to lead the way. I hope you will be among those good men who not only act well but also lead well.
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“ I THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME” Rick Melvoin Steps Down after 25 Years on the Hill
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Bulletin: Was becoming a Head of School at an independent school a goal of yours, your dream job so to speak, or were you considering other options as well? Dr. Melvoin: I am not sure exactly when I started to focus on the idea of becoming the head of an independent school. When I was at Harvard, I started as a government major but shifted to create my own field of study based in education. After my fourth year of teaching at Deerfield Academy – a boys’ school at the time – I went on a leave of absence to pursue graduate work. I remember talking with the headmaster David Pynchon, and he caught my attention when he asked me if I would ever think about being a head someday. I was certainly flattered by the question and said that I could be interested. When I finished my PhD and completed a book, I thought about being a college professor. But I loved working with students of high school age, and though I had some good years doing college administrative work, Belmont Hill and secondary school always felt like the right level of engagement. As you interviewed for the position, at what point and in what manner did it dawn on you that this was a place you really wanted to become a part of?
As he prepares to depart from Belmont Hill after 25 years of remarkable leadership, the Bulletin sat down with Dr. Melvoin to reminisce about his illustrious tenure.
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The further I went in the search, the more excited I got about Belmont Hill. I had had some chances to look at other school head positions, but Belmont Hill felt like a particularly good fit. I had worked in a boys’ school for 14 years and believed in it. I liked the balance of academics and athletics and other activities, yet also saw opportunities to move some of that forward. Most importantly, I was drawn to the culture and spirit of the place, the loyalty and pride of alumni, the positive energy. The people on the search committee were also quite wonderful to Bunny and me, and that made a big difference. Did you envision yourself possibly being here long term – 25 years? I cannot say that I ever imagined I would be here for 25 years. I do remember that at one point near the end of the search process, Paul Wright, a revered member of the faculty and the Board, asked me whether I would be ready to make a long-term commitment. I really appreciated the question, for it said something about vision for the School. As I went further into my career, and especially as I looked at the tenure of other heads, I came to admire what one can do with a long-term commitment. Tony Jarvis served 30 years as Head of Roxbury Latin, and Bill Polk served 25 years at Groton – and they were both mentors and role models as well as friends. Admiring the work they had done, I did start to think about a longer tenure, though I never presumed it could be 25 years.
You had a young family then. How did they adjust to this new environment? Moving to Belmont Hill, and taking on the demands of this job, did require adjustments for our family. Some of them were purely logistical, for we were going to four different schools: Sarah started as a tenth grader at Winsor, Becca started in the eighth grade at BB&N, and Bunny continued at Roxbury Latin for another few years. I tried to maintain some balance between work and family, and I surely tried to get to Sarah and Becca’s games and to parent activities and concerts and plays. Then again, the girls faced some challenges as the daughters of the Head of Belmont Hill and the Director of College Counseling at Roxbury Latin, and I was endlessly grateful to them that they understood and appreciated what both their dad and mom were doing professionally. We were also blessed to have John Pike as the Board chair through those first years, and he made it clear that family should be the priority.
What were those early years as head like? To be 41 years old and a first-time Head of School was a bit like drinking from a fire hose. Everyone here was wonderfully helpful and friendly and supportive, yet there was a lot to do and a lot to learn. I think there were plenty of times where I did not even know what I didn’t know. But the Board had given me helpful direction about priorities, and thus I was able to focus on some of those from the beginning. A year before Chris Wadsworth left, the Board completed some long-range planning which had included a discussion of co-education. The Board decision to remain a boys’ school took that challenging issue off the table. At the same time, the Board had committed to greater sensitivity to issues of gender, and I welcomed the opportunity to bring in more women to the faculty, to take a fresh look at the curriculum, to think about ways we could move forward.
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The Board said we needed to look hard at issues of diversity, and while we have not gotten as far as I wish in certain respects, it was good to have that mandate. The School had a long and proud history in athletics, and I was glad to embrace that. At the same time, the Board wanted to see if we could build the Arts program and create more balance in the School, and that was an opportunity I relished. What were your biggest challenges as you adjusted to this new role? The biggest surprise to me initially, but one that I came to embrace, was that I did not recognize how much the role of the Head of School is – or can be – pastoral. Putting it differently, I had not thought about the head position as ministry. While I know that not all heads of school take this on, I have believed in it and embraced it, and I hope it has served our school community well. Be it faculty, trustees, alumni, who were some folks you leaned on, or were particularly helpful to you in your early years as head? Part of why I have loved this job is that there are endless faculty, trustees, and alumni, as well as some peers at other schools, on whom I have leaned constantly over the years. Starting from Board chairs, I have been incredibly lucky to work with four wonderful men. Certainly John Pike in my first years was instrumental in helping me think about my job and how I could best do it. But Chris Clifford, Rick Ganong, and Jon Biotti have all done this as well. In truth, many trustees have helped in ways large and small, public and private. But a remarkable aspect of my tenure at Belmont Hill is
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that there are several trustees who have been leaders, mentors, colleagues, and friends since the day I started. Carl Martignetti, Jonathan Kraft, John Grady, Copey Coppedge, Ron Druker, Bill Byrnes, Jack Connors – the levels of consistent leadership are astonishing for any school, and I have been the fortunate beneficiary. I got that help from the beginning from faculty as well. A firstyear head could not be more blessed than to have Cliff Goodband and Bob Cressey running the Upper School and Middle School to help him get his feet on the ground. As you settled in to those early years, how did it become clear to you what key issues the School had to address? In what direction would you lead? I often cite the work of business guru Jim Collins, for he captured for me how I wanted to work at Belmont Hill. He wrote, “Enduring great organizations are characterized by a fundamental duality. On the one hand, they have a set of timeless core values and core reasons for being that remain constant over long periods of time. On the other hand, they have a relentless drive for change and progress. Great organizations keep clear the difference between their core values (which never change) and operating strategies…which endlessly adapt to a changing world.” I deeply believe in Belmont Hill’s core values, and I hope that we have protected what is so special about this school over these last 25 years. At the same time, to be the best school we can, I felt we needed to keep moving forward – responsibly, but forward. I hope we have found a good balance.
As the years went on, what were some of the most challenging aspects of the job? Some of the most challenging elements of this job have also been the most rewarding, for serving as a Head of School stretched me in ways that I had never imagined. Part of that challenge comes because the Head of School is responsible for both “internal” and “external” aspects of the School. Internally, while we have an extraordinary good and talented faculty and administration, I still have oversight for matters of curriculum and program development. When there are issues regarding athletics, or the future of the arts, I have ultimate responsibility for where we go as a school, and as someone who came up through the ranks as teacher, coach, theater director, advisor, dorm resident, that was a relatively comfortable part of the evolution into the job of Head of School. External affairs—building and maintaining buildings, fundraising, community relations, finances, and investments—were largely new to me. In the best of ways, these different elements have stretched me, and it has been exciting to think in different ways about all the different pieces that are part of Belmont Hill. Yes, we are first and foremost a school of 440 boys, which suggests a reasonably small organization. Yet we are also a “business” that runs a $30 million budget and needs to be run well so that the core mission can be fulfilled.
As with any school, we have experienced sorrows and tragedy. As Head of School, how did you approach such situations? When I was in my tenth year as Head of School, we faced the terrible, almost unimaginable tragedy of the death of a student. I remember talking at that time with Bill Polk, then Headmaster of Groton School. Bill said that if one serves in the position of Head of School long enough, “one has to take one’s turn.” The terrible time of the death of a student, or a faculty colleague or parent, is one of those times, and, as Bill said, that was my turn. It was a time to realize more deeply than ever that part of the role as Head of School, at least as I came to believe it, is pastoral. In truth, I was grieving, too, but that was a luxury I did not have at a time when the School and the family needed help. We have not had too many moments like that, but we have had some. I hope I have been able to serve as a source of support for families and also provide leadership, direction, and support for the School community.
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There are so many expectations for the Head of School. Does it feel like a 24/7 job at times? Is this a 24/7 job? Yes, it really is. That is easy to say; sometimes it is a little harder to live. But a long time ago I came to accept that as part of the job – and if I was not ready to live with it, without rancor or resentment, then I was not going to last. Some of it is relatively minor – helping a student on the weekend get into a building where he has left his book bag. Some of it is fun for me: spending a Saturday watching games or going to plays and concerts. Some of the pace is simply demanding, for if I do not get work done every night and on both Saturday and Sunday most weeks, I fall dangerously far behind. But this is the work and the life that I willingly, happily chose. I have also been blessed by having a spouse and partner who is herself a superb school person and who understands fully what the job is all about. Her 12 years as a senior administrator at Roxbury Latin, working closely with Headmaster Tony Jarvis, gave her further insight and perspective. And the fact that she embraced the Belmont Hill community and became such an important part of it has made it easier for me to do a job that, to be honest, is 24/7.
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The toughest part of “24/7” comes when we hit a crisis. Whether a death in our community or a discipline case, a neighborhood issue or some program or activity gone awry, when that happens I know that my hours will be consumed for a while. You don’t know quite what is going to happen, but you know it is going to require your full attention. “Chapel Talks” are a Rick Melvoin trademark. How did this tradition come about, and why is it so important to you and the boys? While Dean of Studies at Deerfield, I remember being struck by the newsletter I read from Roxbury Latin, which would always begin with a talk from their headmaster, Tony Jarvis. I admired his willingness to speak to his school regularly. When I started at Belmont Hill, I wanted to make sure we embraced a spirit of community: the spirit of a school coming together. That is why we created the Forums that we hold on Fridays. I did not have a particular model when we started; I did not know how often I might speak to the boys. But students and faculty alike were receptive to the idea, and I liked the chance to talk to the boys about Things That Matter. As a faculty we remind ourselves that we are sometimes “more the sower of seeds than the reapers of harvests.” I don’t know what or how much each boy takes in when I give a Chapel Talk. But I like the chance to try to have
an impact in that way, and I hope that over time these do serve our boys well. You have also taught a Third Form Ethics class. What were the origins of the class and the format? I inherited the Ethics class from my immediate predecessor Chris Wadsworth who had a number of cases or themes that he would explore with the boys. I have shifted over the years to create my own set of case studies, exploring a broad range of topics from medical ethics to racism, from homophobia to the “boy code.” I like to use cases, often stories drawn directly from the newspaper: I find that this provides an effective way of connecting with Third Form boys. There is no need for them to hear a lecture about whether racism is wrong. But if they hear the story, the true story, of a student at Harvard flying a Confederate flag out her window and can explore whether that is a racist act, and further whether her right to free speech protects her to fly that flag, then we have the basis for a good discussion. I also need to confess that selfishly it is a treat to teach Ethics. Over the course of the year I have the chance to work with every boy in the Third Form for seven or eight class sessions. That means that as the boys move on to the Upper School, I have worked with all of them, and that is a gift in itself. Over 25 years, it would be impossible to summarize all of the “special” moments you recall. Maybe we could break it down: academic, athletics, arts, facilities, development?
I can’t even begin to sort out the special moments. I feel so lucky, and there have been so many. I could not have been more proud of our school than when we welcomed back General Mark Milley and he received our Distinguished Alumni Award. His talk to the entire school the following morning was as inspiring as any moment I can remember. Blessedly, we have had many such special moments as a school with remarkable speakers: former death row inmate Anthony Ray Hinton, former NBA player and recovering addict Chris Herren, former Supreme Commander of NATO James Stavridis, news commentator Anderson Cooper. We have had remarkable moments in sports, of course: winning the New England Championship in football against Hotchkiss on the field at UMass/Boston, the unbelievable overtime comeback against St. Sebastian’s at Frozen Fenway, championships and thrilling victories in so many sports. I remember the excitement of hearing for the first time our Upper School jazz ensemble, a group that came directly out of the creation of the Prenatt Music Center. I have never been more thrilled in the arts than when we first heard our own Belmont Hill Trio: three incredibly gifted student musicians bringing classical music to this school at an astonishing level. We have been lucky to improve or build new facilities that have moved the School forward. And yet there are so many small and private moments – with students, or parents, or faculty colleagues. If it were
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not clear before, this job has brought so much joy and so many special moments: that is part of why I have loved this job, with all its ups and downs, for so many years. What made you think this was the right time to step down? I have long felt it was important, especially given the public nature of this job, to make sure that I leave “a year early” instead of “a year late.” Put differently, my mom always told me that I should leave the party before people ask me to. On a different but still personal level, Bunny and I – and this was clearly a team decision – have more travel we want to do while we still can. We have four grandchildren to chase, and it is remarkable how fast they are growing up. There is a little more fishing to do: There are some beautiful rivers and places to explore in September and October, and I have never had that chance. On a school level I also think this is the right time to step down. As I discussed with trustee leaders, we have now completed a strategic vision and strategic plan that point the School ahead for the next several years. Much of the plan hovers between 10,000 and 30,000 feet, and we need now to bring it down to the ground and make it real. This is a time when new leadership can do that effectively. Related to that, as Belmont Hill approaches its Centennial in 2023 there is an important capital campaign to undertake. I thought it was important to have continuity over the next five or six years so that that campaign can be successful. Thus, I think this is the right time. What will you miss the most? What will be the most difficult adjustments? What will I miss? Everything – or almost everything. I will miss the energy of this place, the spirit and rhythm of working in this school. I will miss seeing students every day and the chance to draw from their energy. Part of what is so wonderful about working in a school, of course, is that while I might grow older, the students never do – and I love who and what they are. I will miss deeply the chance to work with colleagues on the faculty who are so dedicated and bring so much to this place
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every day. I will miss working closely with a remarkable Board of Trustees, who have taught me and supported me and have been extraordinary partners in this work. I will miss seeing parents and alumni at games and concerts and activities, as we all watch these boys grow. The most difficult adjustment ahead? For 25 years Belmont Hill has given me purpose and focus every day. Not having that will be hard – but after 25 years, it is time to find a new rhythm. Finally, we know you are not retiring. Any ideas on what lies ahead for Rick Melvoin? No, I am not “retiring” – I refuse to use the “R” word. Instead, I look forward to figuring out what the next adventures will be. I expect they will be somewhere in the education space. But whether that means teaching or consulting, maybe working at a different type of school: Those remain questions for the future. I still feel completely energized and engaged in this job, but it will be good to slow down, reflect, and then explore what happens next. But I am excited to look ahead. Thoughts on our next Head of School, Greg Schneider? Part of why I feel comfortable stepping down is that I think the Board did a spectacularly good job in its search process and in finding Greg Schneider to serve as the next Head of School. I think Belmont Hill is lucky to have Greg and Amy coming here, and I know they will get the support that has been so important to Bunny and me. Greg and I have had several chances to meet and to begin to work on the transition, and every time I meet with him I get more excited about our school’s future. He is smart, thoughtful, multitalented, engaging, and perceptive. Importantly, he clearly understands already much of what Belmont Hill is about, and he is coming here not simply because it is a good school but because of what we are. I look forward to supporting him in any way I can, even as I stay out of the way and let him create his own good, right path.
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BUNNY MELVOIN: UNCOMMON MIND, SPIRIT, AND GRACE By Ann Tift
Former College Counseling colleague Ann Tift offers this reflection on Rick Melvoin’s “collaborator and confidante,” his wife, Bunny. As Belmont Hill bids farewell to Rick Melvoin, we are also losing his collaborator and confidante, the Clemmie to our Winnie: Barbara “Bunny” Melvoin. Though they never had to face storms of war – no Dardanelles or Dunkirk – Rick and Bunny together weathered the tempests and victories of our own time and place, and all of us in the School community knew how lucky we were to have not one but two exceptional minds and hearts in Howe House. Rick knew from the beginning that he was getting an educator’s ideal helpmeet in marrying Bunny. They grew up in the same Highland Park suburb of Chicago and attended the same high school, where she won the Yale Book Award and served with her future husband on the Student Council Executive Board. In college at the University of Michigan, she continued her success, not only graduating Phi Beta Kappa but giving the address at the initiates’ dinner.
Rick Melvoin Timeline 16
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By the time Rick and Bunny reconnected after college and married, she had a premier educator’s curriculum vitae to complement his, and she promptly accepted a teaching job at Brattleboro Union High School, up the road from Deerfield Academy, where Rick was teaching. The next few years were a mix of teaching high school English, welcoming babies Sarah and Becca, and living in Ann Arbor while Rick pursued graduate study. Back at Deerfield, she began her 25-year career in college counseling: six years at Deerfield, 12 as Director of College Counseling at Roxbury Latin, and two stints at Belmont Hill when needs arose. Somehow she also managed to fit a master’s degree in religion and psychology at Andover Newton Theological Seminary into this busy life. It was my good luck to work with Bunny during her second tour in the Belmont Hill College Counseling Office. With over 40 years of college counseling experi-
FALL 1992
JULY 1, 1993
Appointed Head of School at Belmont Hill
First day of work at Belmont Hill School
www.belmonthill.org
ence between us, we teamed up quickly and happily as colleagues and friends. Smart and discerning, perceptive and empathetic, she was a precise communicator and creative collaborator. As we strategized for the boys, read each other’s counselor recommendations, and pondered our students’ histories and futures, she was astute, kind, and the most generous-spirited person I’ve ever known. In those years, I also saw up close the Rick-Bunny collaboration. The role of a head’s wife is complex, and Bunny carried it off with sensitivity and a perfect balance of clear-sighted support and occasional discreet demurral; Rick previewed his speeches to her and valued her thoughts about problems and projects. Bunny also managed to be a force in her own right at Belmont Hill: Students respected her counsel, confided in her, and often enjoyed her famous home-baked cookies and
FALL 1994 Launch of 75th Anniversary Campaign
coffee cakes. On three different occasions, her students lovingly dedicated a yearbook to her. Through their 43 years of excellent educating, loving marriage, and radical hiking around the world (Mount Kilimanjaro for their 60th birthdays), Rick and Bunny set an example for their students and enriched their schools in immeasurable ways. With gratitude and affection, Belmont Hill wishes Godspeed to our remarkable head and his life companion of uncommon mind, spirit, and grace.
1996 First building project: renovation of the Hamilton Chapel — added seats by pushing balcony forward, plus rear addition/second-floor exits, plus fire safety www.belmonthill.org winter–spring 2018
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rick melvoin special feature
A STRONG MORAL LEADER By Carolyn McClintock Peter
Carolyn McClintock Peter has the unique perspective of having worked with Rick Melvoin both as a trustee at Belmont Hill and as a fellow Head of School at Winsor. I could never have guessed in the fall of 1986, when Rick Melvoin and I were both assigned to a Visiting Committee to evaluate a boarding school in Connecticut, that a few years later we would be the heads of Belmont Hill School and Winsor School, respectively. I certainly had no idea that could happen, but when Rick was appointed at Belmont Hill School, I was as delighted as the search committee. He was already a good friend and important colleague, someone whom I could trust with my tentative ideas, my leadership challenges, and frequent worries. Twenty-five years later, he has led Belmont Hill School masterfully—and he is still a wonderful friend. In the more than 30 years that I have known Rick, I have admired him from my perspectives as a fellow Head of School and as a Belmont Hill trustee. When I was at Winsor, I observed Rick’s careful process of getting to know his school, his efforts gradually to shift the School environment to include greater focus on the arts, to create a more diverse and inclusive community, and to set high expectations for all in teaching, learning, and
personal responsibility. Among other Heads of School, Rick is known for his integrity, his calm yet energetic demeanor, his clear principles yet openness to the ideas of others. He is recognized as a strong moral leader, a person who teaches that ethical, respectful relationships are a basic value of Belmont Hill. An unusually fine speaker, Rick frequently illustrates his ideas with references to writers he admires, like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Ta-Nehisi Coates. In his writing too, Rick models lifelong learning. Not only is Rick known for his leadership of his school, he is also sought by other schools, including Winsor, to serve on boards of trustees, and by national organizations, such as The Headmasters’ Association and the International Boys’ School Coalition, to serve in leadership roles. But Rick is not just a serious and purposeful school leader; he is also a man who loves and enjoys his work; he responds unflappably to the sometimes unpredictable life in a community of adolescents busily navigating the choppy waters of growing up.
1997
NOVEMBER 2000
Expansion and renovation of the Science Building — new, more traditional front entrance and façade “link” to the2018 Morse Building www.belmonthill.org 18plus thewinter–spring
Opening of the Jordan Athletic Center (and celebration of the 75th Anniversary Campaign — raised $41 million versus a goal of $25 million)
In my 15 years as trustee at Belmont Hill, at every Board meeting I saw evidence of Rick’s commitment to collaborative work with the trustees, a deeply committed group of alumni, parents, and friends of the School. As one said to me, “Rick and the trustees have a strong, mutually supportive relationship; they inspire one another to do their best work.” At Belmont Hill, the trustees and the Head of School are all clear about their roles, sometimes having to perform the delicate dance between leading and following, guiding and promoting, listening and speaking, but there it all seems to happen naturally. In Board and committee meetings, Rick is an attentive and engaged listener, quietly taking in everyone’s ideas, missing nothing, but sharing his own thoughts slowly, careful not to limit open discussion. He skillfully asks a provocative question or offers a wise reflection, deepening the discussion and helping the Board to reach clarity and unity on issues of school governance. Rick has earned the trust of the Board of Trustees each year, never taking it for granted, always ready to work with others for the common purpose of creating a good and healthy school. A school head plays many roles: leader, teacher, trustee, colleague, friend, counselor, advocate, standardbearer. Rick Melvoin seems to shift effortlessly between and among the roles, thoughtfully looking ahead to what can be imagined of the future, responding to the immediate challenges with intelligence and compassion, and always unflinching in his belief in the goodness of Belmont Hill School and the people with whom he has shared the past 25 years.
2001
2002
2003
John A. Pike ’49 completes Board Chair tenure (1989–2001)
Renovation of the Kraft Theater
Dean of Faculty position created www.belmonthill.org
winter–spring 2018
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rick melvoin special feature
CORE VALUES By Michael Sherman
Michael Sherman has taught mathematics at Belmont Hill for more than 45 years, including Rick’s entire tenure. He warmly reflects on his colleague and friend. The first time I met Rick Melvoin was over lunch in Harvard Square. He had invited faculty members at the time to meet with him on a “listening tour,” and I got the immediate sense he truly cared about what I had to say. Rick is an exceptional listener, which aligns well with his desire to lead by collaboration. He is very careful to make decisions with the support of the faculty, and he thus exemplifies so well the unofficial motto of the School, “working together.” I have rarely felt that he was pushing his own agenda, but rather that he was working to encompass all points of view on any particular issue which affects the whole school, while still leading us through changes related especially to 21st-century education. The first words that come to mind when I think about Rick Melvoin’s tenure at Belmont Hill are “core values.” We have seen great growth in areas like a curriculum which is constantly evolving and modernizing; a physical plant which is a 21st-century facility while retaining the charms of its 1923 beginnings; a community which has exhibited increasing diversity; and a financial strength built on constituent loyalty and devotion to our mission, which has allowed an especially large and meaningful increase in our financial aid budget.
2003 Rededication after gut renovation and expansion of Building 2018 winter–spring 20the Morse
But I come back to core values. Rick has brought the important lessons of the world to the chapel podium, to parent and alumni meetings, and to his everyday encounters with us. He has helped us express and share our happiness and our grief, our triumphs and our sorrows, with equal poise and feeling. I once talked to two parents who had simply come to Admission Open House one year and had heard Rick speak, though they did not end up applying. Nevertheless, in that short speech they were instantly struck by the core values that were communicated by Rick in those 15 short minutes. They felt that they had listened to a man of character and that that theme was their predominant takeaway. And this is what Rick is about: His core values get transmitted and reflected in everything we do from competing on the field to working together in the classroom to upholding the honor code. After so many years here, I have also had the pleasure of seeing how these values play out with hundreds of alumni of all ages who carry on the traditions and qualities we instill in them, and this brings the idea of core values full circle. We are indebted to Rick for so many of the gifts and talents he has brought to Belmont Hill, but for me it starts with core values.
2004
2006
Opening of the Prenatt Music Center
Director of Communications position created
www.belmonthill.org
2007
2007
JUNE 2010
J. Christopher Clifford completes Board Chair tenure (2001–2007)
Director of Community & Diversity position created
Closing of The Campaign for Belmont Hill — Raised $78 million a goal of2018 $75 million21 www.belmonthill.org toward winter–spring
rick melvoin special feature
THE COMPASSIONATE HEART OF RICK MELVOIN By Dr. Michael Thompson
Many people note Rick Melvoin’s compassion as one of his most compelling attributes. Through their work together on the Hill, perhaps no one has witnessed this compassion more closely than Dr. Michael Thompson.
Over the past 24 years, I have met with Rick in his office many, many times, perhaps as many as 500 meetings. Never, not once, have I left thinking, “Gee, I wish Rick had more patience…I wish Rick would take another person’s feelings into account…It would be good if Rick knew that person better.” On the contrary, I have often left feeling touched by the depth of Rick’s compassion for the personal struggles of everyone in his community: boys, teachers, parents, staff, alumni…everyone.
person—I can testify that Rick is rare among heads for the depth of his patience and compassion. Haven’t we all experienced his loving heart? Furthermore, he knows a lot about all of our lives. I have never discussed a member of the Belmont Hill community with Rick when he didn’t come up with some surprising fact about a boy’s history or that of his parents, a testament to his prodigious memory and his intense drive to minister to this community.
Rick is unable to make a decision without considering the circumstances and vulnerabilities of the people involved. If that seems like an obvious statement—after all, shouldn’t an educational leader be a very empathic
It is sometimes the unhappy job of a head to separate a boy or a teacher from the Belmont Hill community. Rick has lost a lot of sleep over these dismissals. He would never compromise his ethical principles, but he has been
2011 Dean of Studies position created 22
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2012 Richard J. Ganong, Jr. ’82 completes Board Chair tenure (2007–2012) www.belmonthill.org
2012 Jon M. Biotti ’87 begins Board Chair tenure
willing to meet with the parents of a boy again and again to sadly explain his decision. Rick once hesitatingly revealed to me that when he was terminating an ineffective teacher, he was so torn up himself that the meeting ended with the teacher reassuring him that he was going to be all right.
A Head of School plays many roles: visionary, intellectual leader, master builder, actor, cheerleader, writer, and pastor. Rick has been particularly strong as a pastoral leader. In another life he might well have been a beloved rabbi. We were all lucky to have been part of his “congregation” these past 25 years.
During his years, our community has suffered loss, and two particularly tragic losses. In those dark hours, we all looked to him. He picked us up, put us on his shoulders, and carried us through those times of terrible grief.
NOVEMBER 2015 Opening of the Melvoin Academic Center
SPRING 2018 Ongoing Faculty Initiative—$14 million raised in support for faculty, including the establishment of three new $1.5 million faculty chairs winter–spring 2018 www.belmonthill.org
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rick melvoin special feature
REFLECTIONS ON RICK MELVOIN As he prepares to depart from Belmont Hill, various members of the Belmont Hill community share their thoughts and remembrances of how this special man touched their lives.
“Rick Melvoin has been my boss for 23 years. I am fortunate to have such a strong role model in my professional life. He is also a dear colleague and friend. The word ‘commitment’ comes to mind when I think of Rick. He makes a commitment each and every day to our school and our mission and to each and every member of the community: a family of students, faculty, staff,
“Rick is one of the most skilled writers and public speakers that I
parents, and alumni. He cares about each individual. Rick has
have read or heard in person. No
been a wonderful teacher and leader. He has helped me explore
matter the situation he always
the profession of education, take on new challenges, celebrate
seems to find the perfect tone or
achievements, and learn from setbacks. I am honored and
exact phrase to fit that particular
inspired to continue the important work he has guided us in at
moment, leaving his readers
Belmont Hill. Rick and I both enjoy musical theater. To quote
or audience with something to
a famous Gilbert and Sullivan tune, “‘He is the very model of a
think about long after he has
modern Major-General.’”
finished. While we only see the finished product in the Hamilton
Lauren Hamilton Middle School Director, English Teacher, P ’20
Chapel or in notes to faculty, it is clear he takes enormous time and care to create pieces of
writing at that level. It speaks to
“I love Rick’s Chapel Talks. You can tell that
not only his talent, but also to his
he never wanted to give up being a teacher
work ethic.”
entirely, and so he sometimes turns the chapel into his classroom, delivering really important
Michael Grant Dean of Studies
and informed lessons.”
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winter–spring 2018
www.belmonthill.org
David Leonardis Chair, English Department
“As the quintessential scholar-headmaster, Rick models total academic engagement. Meeting with Rick is like meeting
“Rick has been a tireless supporter of athletics
with your dissertation advisor (with the added benefit of a
at Belmont Hill. He has been a fixture at
bowl of navy and maroon M&Ms). Well read and profoundly
home and away athletic events throughout
interested, Rick can discuss scholarship and pedagogy in
his tenure. Beyond just Belmont Hill, Rick
any discipline, and he leans into the challenging questions
has been a steady and guiding hand in leading
across fields, from history and politics to science and applied
the Independent School League through
math. Rick is also a master at the lost art of listening; his
many complex issues through the years,
pen and pad are always at the ready to jot down points and
including his work as chairman of the ISL
meaningful feedback, and his intent gaze and folded hands
Steering Committee. I will miss the incredible
signal that he is completely focused on what you have to say.
attention he gave toward helping me, and the
With a passion for knowledge and an ability to connect with
School, to maintain a strong, healthy, and
each individual in our community, Rick inspires faculty
successful athletic program.”
and students alike to follow his lead in the shared, lifelong
George Tahan Director of Athletics, P ’20, ’23
journey of learning. We will miss our deeply respected leader, colleague, friend, and fellow angler.”
Kara Buckley Chair, History Department
“I feel fortunate to have spent the majority of my teaching career working at a school led by Rick Melvoin. Teaching ethics, speaking in Chapel, getting to know our
“I was coaching a seventh-grade football
families, heading a lunch table like all the
game this fall and turned around to
other faculty members, coming out to the
sneak a look at my wife and 18-month-
games, concerts, and shows – Rick has been
old son. I instead found Rick talking
ever-present: a Head of School in word and
with my wife and playing with my
in deed – an amazing boss. His Chapel Talks
son. Not only was Rick supporting
are particularly noteworthy and never
the youngest (and sloppiest!) football
disappoint. He takes on the issues that need
team on campus, he was also getting
to be tackled, always guiding our students
his pants dirty playing catch with
and us, as faculty, to think about, discuss,
someone who was too small to throw it
and act upon our passions and issues that are
back. By welcoming my family so fully
– or should be – of importance to us. For his
at Belmont Hill, Rick has shown his
inspiring public speaking, and so many other
characteristic humility.”
Charlie Doar English Teacher, Associate Director of College Counseling
reasons, Rick will be missed.”
Nancy Montanaro Chair, Modern Languages Department, P ’19
www.belmonthill.org
winter–spring 2018
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rick melvoin special feature
REFLECTIONS ON RICK MELVOIN
“Perhaps Rick’s most striking characteristic is his unrelenting care for the adults in this
“Quite possibly a Puritan minister in a former life, Rick
community. With all of his responsibilities, he
Melvoin returned in a not altogether different guise
never fails to make time to care for the adults
in the 20th century. Coming to a school – 25 years
here. Rick is there if and when we need him.
ago – that absolutely prides itself on working hard and
He cares about us, about our families, about
working together for the good of our boys, Rick has set
our happiness and health, about our successes and failures. At the end of the day, the adults within this community know that Rick values us as people, first and foremost. Yes, we need
the bar high and always leads from the front.”
Don Bradley Upper School Director, History Teacher, P ’15
to teach and coach and manage and maintain, but the personal element to all this remains his top priority. I try to live by this example, but Rick’s leadership provides a constant reminder of the importance of care. That is a remarkable quality.”
Steve Armstrong Dean of Faculty, Assistant Head of School, P ’16, ’17
“We are so fortunate that Rick Melvoin agreed to join our Board of Directors back in 2002. His wisdom and compassion have guided us, and we wouldn’t
“He is such a wonderful man. So kind, and
be the organization we are today if not for his vision
always with a big smile on his face. He treats
and his dedication to increasing Boston students’
everyone on campus the same, and makes
access to educational opportunities. On behalf of all
everyone feel special. I will miss him so
the Steppingstone Scholars, but in particular the 37
much and wish him much happiness.”
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Evi Tejada Housekeeping
winter–spring 2018
Steppingstone Scholars who have attended Belmont Hill, thank you!”
Kelly D. Glew President of The Steppingstone Foundation
www.belmonthill.org
“I reflect upon the opportunity to have attended
“Even with his busy schedule,
Belmont Hill under Dr. Melvoin’s leadership with
Dr. Melvoin always found
feelings of tremendous gratitude and privilege. Dr.
the time to connect with
Melvoin’s commitment to enhancing the curriculum
me on a personal level. His
at Belmont Hill was perhaps surpassed only by his
commitment to supporting and
conviction to instilling within his students a superior
understanding me as a student,
code of integrity and morality to guide them in their
athlete, and person played a
lives after high school. His direct impact on my
major role in my confidence
personal sense of ethics, decency, and responsibility
while navigating my four years
were nothing short of transformative. I am deeply indebted to Dr. Melvoin for his lessons and teachings, and will continue to reflect on them often with the
on the Hill.”
Abdi Shemsu ’13
admiration and warm appreciation rightfully owed to a truly masterful educator. ”
Louis Hunt ’11
“Under Dr. Melvoin’s support and direction, we gained pivotal lifelong skills of reflection, inquisition, and the confidence to think beyond our own perspective. We never questioned his belief in the power of our potential, and this security served as the pillars we needed to take healthy risks both in and out of the classroom. Through his words and actions, Dr. Melvoin served to strengthen the character of every Belmont Hill student who graduated under his watch.”
Gregg DiNardo ’97
“What I admire most about Dr. Melvoin is his love of family and friends, fly fishing, and especially his wife, Bunny. I also admire his ability to memorize the names of all Belmont Hill students, including and especially the newbies so they feel welcomed on day one. I will always appreciate his unwavering support and belief in our special community and, specifically for me, his support through a tough six-month stretch in 2014 where I almost lost my son and did lose my father. The lessons I learned from his lectures and his leadership I will forever cherish, and for his belief in me through good times and bad I will always be grateful. Thank you, Dr. Melvoin, for giving so much to so many. Tight lines in your next chapter. ”
Zack Toth ’03
www.belmonthill.org
winter–spring 2018
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rick melvoin special feature
REFLECTIONS ON RICK MELVOIN
“A highlight of the International Boys’ School Coalition (IBSC) conference
“Rick has always shown great
last summer was seeing Rick involved in a group presentation with three
respect for the work done on
legendary Heads of School. Tony Jarvis, Richard Hawley, and Rick conducted
campus by the maintenance
a panel discussion with the topic ‘25 Years Advocating for Boys and Their
crew. He appreciates how hard
Schools.’ Listening to these three men talk through the creation of the IBSC
they work to keep our campus
was both impressive and humbling. Later, I found that as soon as I mentioned
beautiful, and often points
I was from Belmont Hill, people from all over the world, quite literally,
that out to the boys as well. He
would perk up and take interest. Many remarked on Rick’s incredible skills
has always been direct, clear,
as a head as well as his vision in moving the ISBC forward over the past few
and straightforward with me,
decades. Though it seems clear that the Belmont Hill community values
and I have greatly appreciated
Rick’s work and sees his contributions to the School as remarkable, he has
his support.”
absolutely gained a much wider group of educators who admire and respect his contributions to boys’ schools everywhere.”
Casey Young Director of Facilities
Chris Sweeney ’83 Math Teacher
“I have always considered Dr. Melvoin a pseudo member of the class of 1999. We began our Belmont Hill journeys together in the fall of 1993. We ‘grew up’ together at Belmont Hill. During my time there, Dr. Melvoin became so much more though. He was a teacher, a coach, a leader, a mentor, an advisor, and, most importantly, a friend. I am forever grateful for the impact that Dr. Melvoin had, and continues to have, on my life. Each generation of Belmont Hill students has a few teachers/coaches that embody ‘Belmont Hill.’ One can’t imagine the School without them. Dr. Melvoin is that to me.”
Will MacColl ’99
“I admire Rick for his collegial nature and for his commitment to and caring for everything that is Belmont Hill. He told me early on that things go well at Belmont Hill because we always ‘sweat the small stuff.’ Watch Rick agonize over calling a snow day and you will understand his compassion and devotion for this place. I admire Rick for his vocabulary, which is second to none. Oftentimes, he would use a word and I would nod my head, only to google it later on and find out what he really meant. But most of all I admire Rick for working together with everyone and for being the archetypal Belmont Hill teacher, coach, advisor, mentor – and friend!”
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Jay Bounty CFO, Director of Operations
winter–spring 2018
www.belmonthill.org
“I am grateful to Rick for leading
“My mom often tells a story of when she first became a Belmont Hill
Belmont Hill as an environment
parent. She attended a parent social and found herself standing alone,
that is all about developing
unsure as to how to blend with the parents who all seemed to know
wonderful young men—and also
each other. However, Dr. Melvoin spotted her in that crowded room and
for understanding that female
deliberately made his way over to her and struck up a conversation. To
teachers, administrators, and
me, Dr. Melvoin represents inclusivity. He’s an educator who promotes
coaches can play an essential
inclusion and acceptance to his students. In his speeches, he actively
part. Greatly expanding the
persuades the boys to embrace the differences in our community.”
numbers of women at the School, he also has shaped and steered
Donavan Payne ’18
an atmosphere where we can thrive and contribute. I recall once mentioning to him that I was teaching Kate Chopin’s novel
“During Form III Ethics, I remember Dr. Melvoin arriving to teach
The Awakening; I discovered
with handfuls of newspaper clippings. He drew stories and case
that Rick had not only taught
studies from this stack, and the examples stimulated discussion
the novel before, but also had
around the Harkness Table. He never imposed his own opinion
brought in a colleague to talk
on the ethical question at hand, whether it was a Derek Jeter
with the students from her
hit-by-pitch call or the display of a Confederate flag from a college
female perspective.”
dorm: Instead, Dr. Melvoin listened intently, adding an informed perspective. The wisdom Dr. Melvoin imparts with thoughtful
Jeanne Tift English Teacher, P ’19
Chapel Talks reflects this same ability to transport issues of global and national concern to classroom and campus discussions, a talent I have long admired.”
“When I reflect on Rick’s leadership
Will McCormack ’18 Form VI Class President
of Belmont Hill, two words come to mind: thoughtful and deliberate. His care for our school community drives “In one of his Chapel Talks, Rick once said, ‘I want us to be a good
every decision he makes. Whether considering an opportunity for our
school in the full sense of moral goodness.’ This speaks directly to
students or faculty, or reaching out
Rick’s style of leadership. As he has moved the School forward in
to a family or colleague in a time of
remarkable ways, he has never compromised the integrity and moral
need, Rick is clear on our priorities
goodness of Belmont Hill. In fact, he has been a living example of it.”
and values as a community. He consistently expresses a deep concern
Bill Mahoney Director of Communications
for each individual as well as a keen focus on our mission and what is best for the School. Rick truly leads with his head and his heart.”
Lora Farkas P ’04, ’13 Director of Parent Engagement
www.belmonthill.org
winter–spring 2018
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rick melvoin special feature
REFLECTIONS ON RICK MELVOIN
“Rick has not only been a mentor, but also
“I have always been struck by Rick’s devotion to this
has played a big part in our family. He
place and its people, something I think all of us
does take credit for Chris (math teacher
have seen in every season of every year he has been
Chris Sweeney) and me getting together.
here. The New England Championships for crew
His daughter babysat for Katharine. I
are always the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend,
see him not only as a wise leader, but also
and I’m guessing that Rick – like anyone in his or her
a kind and thoughtful person. He has
right mind – would far prefer to go to Maine than to
always cared about me and our family.
Worcester that day. And yet annually he has made
He sets the bar high, which makes me
the trek to Quinsigamond and has spent the entire
want to reach it. He is an incredibly hard
afternoon watching and cheering on the Belmont
worker and pushes me to be my very best.
Hill crews. His presence was never unnoticed or
He says the faculty is the School, and he
unappreciated, and years ago I began to see him not
means it. We are supported and treated
as a spectator but as a good luck talisman for our
with respect. I will miss Rick and Bunny.
crew program!”
They have truly made Belmont Hill a
home for us.”
Chris Richards Chair, Classics Department, P ’14, ’16, ’20
Ruth Sweeney Science Teacher
“I was a member of Dr. Melvoin’s first graduating class in 1994, and I was among the 10 percent of Belmont Hill students receiving financial aid at that time. Since
“Rick’s speeches over the years reflect his intellectual interests
then, Dr. Melvoin has tripled the financial
and vision: He is prone to ask about symbols and images; about
aid capability of this institution so that
moments of self-awareness; about themes of dignity, self-respect,
today nearly 30 percent of the student
and independence; about adolescent perspectives of the adult
body receives aid. Attending Belmont
world; about flaws in human nature and ways to confront them;
Hill changed my life, and financial aid
about modern man’s failure to establish a harmony between the
gave me the opportunity to enroll. I
inner world of the spirit and the perceived needs of the material
am eternally grateful to have received
world – timeless issues that lead us to consider what it is that
that aid, and I, along with generations
gives our lives meaning. He challenges us to think at varying
of other alumni, remain indebted to Dr.
levels of abstraction, always clinching the abstract with concrete
Melvoin for leading such an extraordinary
illustrations. He also demands increasing sophistication in
expansion of financial aid resources to
terms of critical questioning, self-analysis, problem-solving, and
make Belmont Hill a reality for so many deserving young men.”
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Jeremiah McCarthy ’94 Math Teacher
winter–spring 2018
www.belmonthill.org
synthesis of ideas.”
Jeff Fast English Teacher
“I feel blessed to have had the chance to work with, and learn from, Rick Melvoin. Rick taught me the patience and poise of a leader who trusted his people and believed in the power of process. He has a passion for examining education through the lens of understanding how we seek meaning and purpose in our lives, and he has used this perspective to enhance the lives of the Belmont Hill community for many years. I can’t thank him enough for being an example of what it means to love a school, for showing me how a school leader makes decisions based on what is in the best interest of the students, and for his mentorship, his wisdom, and his friendship. He will be missed, but I’m sure I’ll be able to find him fly fishing on a river in southern Idaho.”
Kai Bynum Head of School, Hopkins School; former English teacher and Director of Community and Diversity at Belmont Hill
“I have always admired Rick’s unwavering support
“I met Rick Melvoin in 2006 at Belmont Hill
of what he refers to as the ‘heart of the enterprise’ –
School, and we got to know each other pretty
excellent teaching of young men. When I pitched the
quickly with all the events that happen at
idea of the Conceptual Physics – Applied Physics and
the School. There are several weeks that we
Design Project to Rick, I explained I wanted to team
will see each other for breakfast, lunch, and
teach a course and to incorporate physics with the
dinner. We have a running joke: What do
building and designing of a toboggan and ultimately
you want to do today? A few food facts that
take students to Camden, ME, to race them down
I learned about Rick that others might not
a toboggan chute. Rick simply leaned back in his
know is that carrots are his least favorite and
office chair and smiled and said, ‘That sounds
bacon is his favorite. On a serious note, Rick is
like fun – you should try it. Let me know if there
genuine. He always says thank you and listens
is any way I can help to make this happen.’ Rick is
when there are concerns from the dining
constantly encouraging and challenging faculty to
team. He will be missed and we wish him the
not be complacent. His support of these endeavors has allowed faculty to grow, explore new teaching methods, and ultimately become better teachers.”
best of luck.”
Brenda De Lucia Catering Manager
Tyson Trautz Chair, Science Department
“I will forever remember Rick (Dr. Melvoin, as I still call him) for his wonderful ability to connect with audiences of all kinds and all ages. My lasting image of him will be standing, noteless, in front of a room full of prospective students and parents, looking like the dictionary picture of the brilliant, approachable, self-deprecating headmaster. In a 10-minute talk he could distill the mission of the School to a core truth, celebrate the dedication of the faculty, wax philosophically about shifting pedagogies and curriculum innovation, and still seem like a guy you’d like to watch the Sox game with on a Sunday afternoon. Dr. Melvoin’s ability to connect, to fundamentally relate will, for me, be his greatest legacy and his greatest gift.”
Steve Carr ’93 Director of Admission
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steve armstrong
“BELMONT HILL HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT PLACE IN MY LIFE” STEVE ARMSTRONG DEPARTS TO BECOME FESSENDEN’S HEAD OF SCHOOL By Bill Mahoney Long before he ever worked at Belmont Hill, Steve Armstrong felt a strong connection with the School. “I began to learn about Belmont Hill in college, at Harvard,” Mr. Armstrong recalls. “My hockey coach was Bill Cleary ’52, and I knew a number of teammates and classmates from Belmont Hill. I saw them championing the virtues of this place, but, more importantly, displaying these virtues in their everyday lives.” Mr. Armstrong has served Belmont Hill with dedication and distinction for 18 years, spanning four major leadership roles. Coming to Belmont Hill from Rivers School to serve as Director of Admissions, he then became Middle School Director for eight years (during which he was named Assistant Head of School), and finally served these last seven years as Dean of Faculty. During his tenure he has taught Form I Greek and Roman History, Form II Government, and Form III World Issues, in addition to Modern European History in Form IV, and U.S. and AP U.S. History. He has coached Fifth football, Third hockey, and more recently, Third B soccer. “We owe Steve a huge debt for his service as an administrator and also for his outstanding work as a history teacher, a dedicated advisor, and for many years of excellent coaching,” Dr. Melvoin notes. “Steve is a man of unimpeachable integrity, with great loyalty to this school.”
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While Mr. Armstrong says that he has enjoyed each of his roles here, for varying reasons, there is one period of his Belmont Hill tenure that stands out. “Being Middle School Director was definitely the most fun I’ve had at any job,” he states. “You’re in the throes of the boys’ lives every day, and you’re singularly focused on helping them find their way. If you can’t enjoy the life of an eighthgrade boy, you are missing something. You can make such a big impact on their lives.” Current Middle School Director Lauren Hamilton states that, “Steve Armstrong cares deeply about the students and their whole school experience. The students are drawn to him for his genuine interest in each and every boy.” Dr. Melvoin adds, “Steve gets boys. Watching him work with our students, one sees a blend of clear direction about right and wrong, while also finding a way to give boys a voice and to connect with them in a meaningful way.”
Mr. Armstrong also had the privilege, and at times the challenge, of having his two sons attend Belmont Hill. He looks back on that as an especially rewarding time. “My wife, Jane, and I were very fortunate that the experiences of both boys were positive,” he reflects. “I think they earned that positive experience, and were good matches for the School, and also enjoyed engaging in sports and music. It’s just special going to work with your sons. To have them being in the hands of people you know and trust was a blessing.” With work as Director of Admission and Middle School Director behind him, Mr. Armstrong moved on to become Dean of Faculty in 2011. He found the work different than that of Middle School Director, but not without similarities. “Just as with working with the boys, you have to remember that every adult, every faculty member, is different: different circumstances in their lives, different perspectives and experience,” he explains. He says that it’s important to remember what it’s like being new to Belmont Hill, where many people have been here for a very long time. Math teacher Chris Sweeney ’83 says, “Having worked with Steve for almost 20 years at Belmont Hill, his care for all members of the community has been both impressive and consistent. In whatever role he has held, Steve has been a determined and hard-working leader within our school community.”
Dr. Melvoin also sheds some light on Mr. Armstrong’s good work as Assistant Head of School. He explains that part of serving effectively as a Head of School depends on having colleagues who will provide thoughtful opinions, and disagree if need be, yet also be respectful of the fact that once a decision is made it needs full support. “I have never seen anyone better at that than Steve,” he notes. “We had some tough issues to deal with over the years, and we didn’t always agree. When we didn’t, I knew that he had honed my thinking and also that I could count on him to support me. As a Head of School, that is no small gift.” And now, Mr. Armstrong moves on from Belmont Hill to become Head of School at Fessenden School. “Belmont Hill has been an important place in my life,” he states. “My kids grew up here. My daughter was born my second year here, and went to summer camps here for years.” He emphatically states that he couldn’t be more excited about his next step. “Professionally, to become a Head of School is daunting, but exciting as can be, especially because it is Fessenden. For Jane and me, Belmont Hill has been a special place, a family place. But I am ready to move on.”
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letter from the board of trustees
ANNOUNCEMENT TO MEMBERS OF THE BELMONT HILL COMMUNITY FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Jon M. Biotti ’87
Dear Friends: I bring exciting news to you from the Board. As many alumni and friends know, Belmont Hill has been blessed with extraordinary trustee leadership over its 94 years. Now I want to announce a shift in some of that great leadership. Alumnus Carl Martignetti ’77 and past parent Copey Coppedge have served for an extraordinary 25 years as co-chairs of the Board’s Development Committee. Their leadership has transformed this school: an Annual Fund that has moved from $300,000 annually to a Fund that now provides over $4 million to the School each year; the 75th Anniversary Campaign during the 1990s that brought $41 million to the School; The Campaign for Belmont Hill that closed in 2010 and raised $78 million; the focused fundraising for the Melvoin Academic Center and now the Faculty Initiative that have each brought in $14 million. Now comes a shift – though emphatically not a departure. After their quarter-century of service as Development co-chairs, Carl and Copey are going to take on the role of co-chairs of the School’s upcoming Centennial Campaign, where their expertise and experience will serve us particularly well. We all know that these two men have been remarkable in their dedication to the School, and we are thrilled that they will now focus their efforts on this most important capital initiative for the School’s future. We are further excited that Carl and Copey will be succeeded as Development co-chairs by Emmett Lyne of the Class of 1977, who has served with great skill and enthusiasm as Alumni President.
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Emmett is the ultimate ambassador for the School, a passionate advocate who well represents the traits of integrity, character, and honor that we hold so dear at Belmont Hill. Through his tireless efforts, Belmont Hill stands at the top of the ISL with nationally renowned alumni participation rates. As an inspiring and distinguished fundraiser, he will no doubt have a smooth transition to this role. We expect to name a co-chair to join Emmett in the near future. With such strong leadership in place for both our upcoming capital campaign and our Development Committee, we are confident the School will raise the resources necessary to fund its ambitious plans for the future. And of course they are partnered with our outstanding Alumni and Development team at the School, led by our remarkable Director Bev Coughlin. As we look to the future, the Board and I are convinced that this exciting transition will sustain our core leadership strength. I know we all join in thanking Carl and Copey for their extraordinary work over these years and look forward to working with them in this new capacity, even as we offer gratitude and welcome to Emmett as he takes on his new role as well.
Respectfully, Jon M. Biotti ’87 President, Board of Trustees
community & diversity
COMMUNITY & DIVERSITY AT BELMONT HILL: EMPOWERED BY THE SYNERGY OF OUR COMMUNITY By Caleb Collins ’93
Participation in NAIS People of Color Conference As noted on its website, the People of Color Conference (PoCC) is “the flagship of the National Association of Independent Schools’ (NAIS) commitment to equity and justice in teaching and learning.” Below are some of the key takeaways of some of the Belmont Hill attendees:
Diversity lives within our community; it demonstrates the mantra of “working together” that anchors our mission statement and invigorates the spirit that makes Belmont Hill an exceptional place for the mind to grow. Through various ongoing initiatives, students, parents, faculty, staff, and alumni are encouraged to share their voices, experiences, and ideas as openly and authentically as possible. Our Middle School Diversity Workshops, for example, offer an interactive experience for the boys to discuss complex issues of race, gender, class, sexual assault, and violence. Ultimately, I want students comfortable having challenging conversations covering a wide range of sometimes difficult topics. In the article below, we’d like to share with you the perspectives of members of our community who are also actively participating in this process.
Donna David, Director of Community Service: “I learned the term ‘intersectionality’ – a theory first coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw who was a keynote speaker – which describes ‘the interconnected nature of social categorizations.’ We need to keep talking and finding creative ways to address important topics here at Belmont Hill. There is a whole world of awareness out there.” Caleb Collins, Director of Community and Diversity: “Reconnecting with administrators and educators of color is key. The affirmation I receive from my mentors while at PoCC is always among the highlights. I always come back with new ideas for my Middle School workshops.” Terence Mooney: Teacher, English 1&3, American Literature, and Literature of Social Reflection “Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw presented intersectionality as a theoretical framework to intentionally center often marginalized voices of women of color. At Belmont Hill, dynamics inherent to a boys’ school should not preclude but rather should propel efforts to deliberately make our community reflective of the world in which we live. By ‘working together,’ so too can Belmont Hill.”
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community & diversity
Arianna Vailas: Teacher, English and Biology “It was humbling to hear the powerful testimonies of so many knowledgeable and inspiring speakers, educators, and colleagues, many of whom spoke from the perspective of faculty of color and as former students of color at independent schools. Conferences like PoCC serve as invaluable opportunities to both become better informed as educators and to provide us with additional perspectives and resources to improve our own school communities. Building a better and more compassionate community starts with better educating ourselves in understanding the viewpoints of others.” Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) Club Nearly 10 years old, the current mission of the club – under the direction of leaders Donavan Payne ’18 and Coleman Walsh ’18 – is to welcome the entire Belmont Hill community to join in discussions that help to recognize the LGBT experience on campus and in the world. “We welcome everyone to our meetings with the goal to hear all voices and perspectives on topics related to the LGBT experience,” said Coleman Walsh. “We believe that by entering into these types of discussions, students will have a better awareness and recognition of the experiences of the LGBT community in the greater world as they move on to college.”
“Yes, race and related topics, such as police brutality, kneeling for the national anthem, and mass incarceration, are central to our discussions,” said Macdony Charles. “We believe that other forms of diversity, including gender, sex, age, religion, color, and socioeconomic status, are equally as important.” The group explored topics such as the use of the ‘n-word’ and who can use it and the idea of identity and what it means to be a Belmont Hill boy/man. One of the group’s most successful meetings was a discussion on micro-aggressions and cultural appropriation. “As an all-boys school, it is important to hold joint meetings with girls’ schools, as no matter the variety of students that join us for our weekly discussions, we are always missing an important voice—that of women,” said Jacob Carter. “In discussions around masculinity and gender roles, women add an invaluable perspective.” People Respecting Individual Differences Everywhere (PRIDE) PRIDE gives Middle School students the opportunity to discuss issues of diversity at and beyond the School. Under the direction of faculty members John McAlpin, Stephen George, and Terence Mooney, the group explores diversity experiences and culture including food, customs, art, theater, and other traditions.
“We’ve reached out to other clubs on campus on ways to ensure that LGBT issues are integrated in their areas of focus as well,” said Donavan Payne.
“Principles that dictate our approach are simply those of mutual respect, a willingness to listen, and the freedom to share opinions without ridicule,” said John McAlpin.
Future topics planned for GSA include non-aggression vs. exclusion of gay students on campus and the ideas around masculine culture and its relation to sports.
This year, topics have included Islamophobia, racism, gender issues, wealth-education-opportunity disparity, police profiling, anti-immigration rhetoric and policy, historical injustices, and how to change the dynamics among people of different races.
Students Actively Fostering Equality (SAFE) SAFE functions on the core idea that all people deserve to be treated equally and all ideas deserve to be heard. The group aspires that every student and teacher both understand and care about the issues of diversity facing our community and nation, from sexism and racism to homophobia and Islamophobia. This year, under the direction of student leaders Jacob Carter ’18, Macdony Charles ’18, Quentin Harris ’18, and Justin O’Neil-Riley ’19, SAFE has delved into diversity-related issues such as NFL players kneeling during the National Anthem to Islamophobia following the Las Vegas shooting.
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The group engages with the Belmont Hill community through presentations in chapel, on-campus awareness campaigns, and programming during the School’s Diversity Day. PRIDE provides students with a Middle School entry for diversity issues engagement that can continue throughout the students’ time on campus and beyond.
chapel speakers
CHAPEL SPEAKERS Belmont Hill has the great fortune to welcome many distinguished speakers to campus each year. For additional information about each of the speakers and to hear their speeches, please visit our website.
michael disanto ’08 December 8, 2017
Michael DiSanto ’08 delivered an inspiring talk detailing his road from Belmont Hill to the Rio Olympics, offering a powerful and inspirational messages for the boys.
andrew mccall: the opioid epidemic November 11, 2017
Recovering addict Andrew McCall (second from left) delivered a powerful first-person account of the growing national crisis of opioid abuse.
bruce greer ’78: veterans day chapel November 10, 2017
Bruce Greer, a member of Belmont Hill’s Class of 1978 and former Cum Laude member, spoke at a special Veterans Day Chapel about his experiences in service to the U.S. Navy.
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chapel speakers
gregory j. schneider: new head of school October 6, 2017
In a highly anticipated Friday Forum, the man who will become Belmont Hill’s ninth Head of School in July 2018, Gregory J. Schneider, spoke to the boys in chapel.
temba maqubela, groton head of school September 18, 2017
Temba Maqubela, Head of School at Groton, spoke to the boys in chapel about his extraordinary life journey.
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kenney legacy trip
CHARLES F. KENNEY ’06 LEGACY TRIP: AN INSPIRATIONAL JOURNEY By Bill Mahoney
Charlie Kenney ’06 arrived at Belmont Hill in the fall of 1999. A talented and hardworking student, Charlie was a three-sport athlete, actively involved in the Belmont Hill community, and had the respect of his peers and faculty. Dean of Faculty and Assistant Head of School Steve Armstrong notes, “I’m not sure any member of the graduating class of 2006 loved this school more.” Charlie felt a strong calling of service to his country, and felt the boys who were fortunate enough to attend Belmont Hill should feel that drive to serve others in some way. Charlie understood the importance of service and felt that Belmont Hill, through its strong core values, reinforced this. After Belmont Hill, Charlie went on to Brown University where he worked and studied hard, serving as captain of the lacrosse team his senior year. Feeling the call to service as strong as ever, Charlie enrolled in the United States Marine Corps Officer Candidate School. By all reports, he was an exceptional officer and leader of men. In the summer of 2012, tragedy struck as a virus went to Charlie’s heart and he died at the age of 25, just weeks before his deployment to Afghanistan as a Ground Intelligence officer. Charlie’s spirit remains very much alive at Belmont Hill. One such example is the Charles F. Kenney ’06 Prize, given annually at Prize Day to the Sixth Former who has lifted his teammates and coaches by his spirit, encour-
agement, leadership, and inspiration. Another example is the Charles F. Kenney Scholarship, which supports a Belmont Hill boy each year. More recently, Charlie’s parents, Anne Detmer and Charles Kenney, proposed a school trip to World War II sites in England, Belgium, and France, with particular emphasis on Normandy, supporting three students and two faculty members to gain a greater appreciation for the service and sacrifice made by our country’s uniformed men and women. Thus was born the Charles F. Kenney ’06 Legacy Trip, and this past summer, faculty members Steve Armstrong and Eric Smith accompanied Gavin Colbert ’18, Danny Tsyvin ’18, and Colin Vallis ’19 on what would prove to be a journey both inspirational and educational. In a moving chapel this fall, the three students shared photos from the trip as well as their reflections on the lessons they learned. “You can read all of the numbers in the textbooks and be shocked,” Colin Vallis told his classmates as photos were projected on a screen behind him, “but I never truly understood the expansiveness of
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kenney legacy trip
the war until we were standing in the American cemetery in Normandy and could not see the end of the white tombstones that the guide said is only one-third of the deaths in the war.” Danny Tsyvin also was touched by several of the sights, and the knowledge that many represented sacrifices by young men who were his age at the time. “In Bastogne, Belgium, we visited the 101st Airborne Division Museum,” he explains. “As we walked through the exhibits, we were met with the displays of the soldiers’ cigarettes, baseballs, mitts, jerseys that represented their hometowns, and other everyday items that they had brought overseas. “All of the items reminded me that these were just normal, innocent, everyday American kids. They did not know that they would one day save the world. But it was these normal, innocent, everyday American kids who played a vital role in defeating the Nazis and became the heroes of the war. Understanding this provided me with
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the realization that no matter how we currently view ourselves, we each have the ability to enact change in this world.” Gavin Colbert was moved by the presentation of his tour guide on Omaha Beach, which gave the boys a stark picture of the terror, hardship, and bravery of our soldiers. “To be on this very same beach, to look at that very same green hill, to walk where soldiers walked, pray where soldiers prayed, and pay respect where soldiers died was truly an incredible experience,” he told his classmates. “Hearing these stories of courage and sacrifice were so powerful; we owe so much to these men and to our Armed Forces today. We should all be inspired by these great stories of heroism. But most importantly, we all should incorporate the values of the Armed Forces into our lives, values, as Charlie Kenney wrote of ‘honor, courage, sacrifice, and commitment.”’
Arts on the Hill
Charles Geddes ’22 and Trey Penna ’23 perform at the Fall Coffee House.
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arts on the hill
In so many ways, the arts at Belmont Hill are an important part of the life of the School. In this new section of the Bulletin, we bring you a collage of pictures demonstrating the array of artistic talents displayed by our students.
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The Middle School production of “15 Reasons Not to Be in a Play.”
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Hand-carved box by Grant Litchfield ’21.
3.
Theo Why ’18 performs at Fall Coffee House.
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Hand-crafted table by Bennett Teceno ’20.
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Henry Vettel ’18, Donavan Payne ’18, and Owen Pickette ’18 in a scene from “Guys and Dolls.”
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Henry Vettel ’18, Zachary Cannata ’18, David Paine ’18, perform at the Fall Coffee House.
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Ceramics, entitled “Paper Games,” by Mohammed Dahleh ’21.Ridiculus Egestas Tellus Malesuada Pharetra
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Ceramic vase, “Kaleidoscope,” by Jack Tahan ’20
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Students in the Jazz Band performing at the Fall Recital.
10. Photography by Wyatt Barlage ’21
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arts on the hill
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1.
Ceramics piece entitled, “Pod,” by Ben Morales ’20.
2.
Donavan Payne ’18 and Justin Santana ’21 in a scene from “A Raisin in the Sun.”Purus Cursus Egestas Quam Commodo
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Donavan Payne '18 and Kiara Patterson from The Winsor School in a scene from “A Raisin in the Sun.”
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The B-Flats perform at the Winter Concert.
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Ben Blaustein ’18 and J. Patrick Connor ’18 perform with the Upper School Jazz Band at the Winter Concert.
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Austin Kwoun ’18, Renny Gong ’20, Howard Huang ’22, Henry Thomas ’18, Nicholas Gallo ’18, and Aleksander Vasu ’22 (hidden) of the Belmont Hill School Orchestra perform at the Fall Recital.
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Members of the B-Flats perform at the Winter Concert. Back row: Michael Glauninger ’19 and Luca Pontone ’19. Front row: John Curtin ’20, Vincent Costantini ’18, and Spenser Nuzzo ’18.
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Drawing by Brahm Agnihotri ’20.
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Trey Penna ’23 and Conner Willett ’21 perform at the Winter Coffee House.
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Coaches’ Corner
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coaches’ corner
Cross Country TYSON TRAUTZ, Head Coach
As the Belmont Hill distance runners filed out of their final exam last spring, this year’s cross country season began. The boys trained with pride over the summer, logging miles with the confidence of the title “ISL Champions.” Coaches Trautz and Vailas instructed the team to envision the 2017 season throughout their summer, imagining holding the championship trophy again. Following team tradition, a group of varsity runners capped their preseason training with a trip to Gold Medal Running camp at Dartmouth. With the early captains’ practices in the books, the team looked good, with captains John Pappo and Quin McGaugh leading the traditional time-mile trial in 4:47 and 5:01. Going into the first race, the squad was running strong and was excited to compete. After the first few races, the team was in stride for contention for the title, with seniors Andrew Berg and Eric Whitehead; juniors Matthew Smith, Matthew Goguen, and Colin Braun; and eighth-grade phenom James Donahue rounding out the varsity squad behind the senior captains. Aided by their new uniforms, not to mention the metronomic whistle of Mr. Harder, the team quickly fell into their groove. The boys in blue got their first taste of the stiff ISL competition when they traveled down to the seaside of Rhode Island to take on St. George’s, Governors, and a really tough Tabor team. The race was quick, led by Tabor’s sensation Aly Hussein, who shattered the course record in a blistering 16:04. However, the Belmont Hill team was able to pack it up and capture the team win, boding well for the
championship season. After St. George’s, the Belmont Hill boys took on their rival: Roxbury Latin. Unfortunately, the team suffered some season-ending injuries, including a severe concussion for All-ISL and All-New England returner Charlie Donahue, and stress fractures for Andrew Berg and Colin Braun. Despite the injuries, the team persevered in their training, powering through some grueling track workouts, a copious amount of 1k repeats, and their fair share of hills. In the culminating race of the season, James Donahue led the team to a 4th place finish at the ISL championship. Both James and Quin earned All-ISL honors, and James also earned the incredibly impressive All-New England honors, the first time in League history an eighth-grader performed with such distinction. Ultimately, the team finished the season as an incredibly close group of boys, sharing laughs and tunes (thanks to Mr. Sean Mannion for always carrying the speaker). In a sport defined by pain and suffering–a lot of suffering–practices were filled with smiles and laughter amongst a group of genuine friends. Each member of the team performed with extraordinary guts, determination, and ferocity throughout the journey. With so much returning talent, the team will set its sights on returning the cup and all of its glory back to the Hill next season, under the leadership of captains Goguen and Smith. Thank you to the coaches for a great season!
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coaches’ corner
Football CHRIS BUTLER, Head Coach
The varsity football team faced one of the most challenging schedules in the program’s history and finished the 2017 season with a 4-4 record. Having finished the
Over the course of the season, the team consistently displayed character and strove to compete not only in each game but also throughout each practice. While the
2016 season with a 7-2 record, the returning seniors dedicated themselves in the off-season to prepare a talented group of younger players to fill the vacancies left by the previous year’s graduating class. The team was led by captains Jake Bobo ’18, Jake Haase ’18, and Justin O’Neil-Riley ’19. Several seniors served as key starters on the team, and a large number of juniors and sophomores earned the opportunity to start in key roles on the defense, offense, and special teams.
grit and determination of the team’s senior class were impressive, the combined efforts, positive attitude, and resilience of all those on the team, day in and day out, served as a model for what makes Belmont Hill football such an important part of the School’s community.
The team opened the season on Homecoming against Roxbury Latin and scored an impressive 35-0 victory. After the opening win, Belmont Hill faced BB&N, which resulted in a close, hard-fought loss. The following week the team rallied with an impressive road victory over a new member of the ISL, Tabor Academy. The team traveled to Milton Academy where they fell short losing a close game 18-13. The next week, the team continued to play well with a convincing 41-7 victory over Nobles. The team faced off against an impressive Lawrence Academy squad, and despite Belmont Hill’s best efforts, suffered a 28-7 loss. For the seniors’ final home game, they earned a 21-20 victory over rival St. Sebastian’s, in a game that came down to the final seconds of play. In the final game of the season, the team traveled to Byfield to face off against a strong Governor’s Academy team. Despite a late surge by Belmont Hill’s offense, Governor’s kicked a field goal on the final play of the game to hand Belmont Hill a tough, 23-21 defeat.
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The 2017 winner of the team’s MVP award was Jackson Bobo. Anthony Marinello ’18 and Myron Duarte ’18 received the Most Improved Player Award. The recipients of the Henry B. Sawyer Sportsmanship Award were Isaiah Collins ’18 and Luke Jordan ’18. Jake Haase (defensive back), Justin O’Neil-Reily (defensive back), Michael Piazza ’19 (quarterback), Shane Rockett ’19 (defensive end), and Myron Duarte (defensive line) were named to the All-Independent School League second team. Jackson Bobo (wide receiver), Jaylen Bailey ’19 (linebacker), and Michael Glauninger ’19 (defensive end) were named to the All-Independent School League first team. Jackson Bobo (wide receiver) and Jaylen Bailey (linebacker) were elected to the First Team Class B All-New England Team. The captains-elect for the 2017 season are Jaylen Bailey, Justin O’Neil-Riley, and Shane Rockett. The team is grateful for the consistent hard work and leadership of the graduating players. Their contributions to the Belmont Hill football program throughout their careers make them part of the football tradition at Belmont Hill and pave the way for continued success.
Soccer JORGE MONTOYA, Head Coach
The varsity soccer team logged another successful campaign this fall, ending the season with an overall record of 12-3-3 (10-2-3 ISL, 3rd place), good enough
reliability and experience of this unit will be missed next year. Matthew Savage ’19, Ben Pradko ’18, and Adil Kassim ’20 also saw action on the back line this season
to qualify for the New England Class A Tournament for the third year in a row. Led by a remarkable group of seniors, the boys from Belmont Hill tallied seven wins from their first eight games before drawing 0-0 with 2nd place Middlesex and dropping a hard-fought 0-2 decision to league champions Brooks in back-to-back matches. With little room for error, the team grabbed four wins and two draws over its last six games to earn the #6 seed in the New England Tournament and a matchup with #3 Taft.
and were terrific additions.
The final match of the season against Taft was a microcosm of this year’s team identity. After battling through a tough first half that ended 0-0, Belmont Hill fell behind 0-2 midway through the second half. The team refused to give in and managed to knot the game at 2-2 with 10 minutes to play thanks to two goals from Matthew Goncalves ’20. However, it was not meant to be as a deflected shot from the top of the Belmont Hill penalty area looped over the Belmont Hill keeper with eight minutes to go, giving Taft the 3-2 lead that would not be relinquished. Much of the team’s success this year can be attributed to the stingy back line, which conceded only 15 goals over 18 games. James Cahill ’20 and Rowan Bradlee ’20 were excellent in their roles as goalkeepers, and starter Cahill finished 3rd in the league with an 0.470 GAA. Captains Brian Antonelli ’18 (Team MVP, All-League First Team, Senior NE All-Star) and Jack Bell ’18 (All-League First Team), along with Duncan Grant ’18 (Team Sportsmanship Award) and Michael Montanaro ’19 (Junior NE All-Star), comprised a defensive unit that was responsible for nine clean sheets this year. The
The midfield was full of talent, depth, and youth this year. Cole Matthews ’20 (All-League First Team) moved out of his starting role as outside back last season to emerge as a stalwart central midfielder. Ben Ward ’19 (Junior New England All-Star) also emerged as a key central midfield workhorse this year, moving into the starting lineup. Hamza Shemsu ’20 and Diego Pereira ’19 rounded out the starting midfield, both contributing key goals and assists at various points throughout the season from the outside midfield position. First-year players Mateen Nickpour-Reyes ’21 and Will Dean ’21 also logged valuable minutes in the midfield this year. The forward position produced 26 of the team’s 40 goals this season with Matthew Goncalves (All-League First Team) leading the way with 16 goals in 17 games, including seven game-winners. Leighton Dolan ’19 (Most-Improved Award) fought his way to second on the team scoring list with six goals in 14 games while Oisin Treanor ’18 tallied four in 15, two of which were game-winners. Massimo Aufiero ’18 and Nick Gallo ’18 also contributed up top this year. Charlie Richards ’20 also emerged as a promising young forward. This group of seniors leaves an impressive legacy on the program. Since they joined the team in 2015, Antonelli, Bell, and Grant have been a part of 38 team wins. Since 2002, no other class can claim that many wins over a three-year period. In addition, the team earned a spot in the New England Class A tournament for a thirdconsecutive season, a feat which has not been achieved at any point over the previous 15 years. Next year’s captains will be Dolan and Montanaro. www.belmonthill.org
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new faculty biographies
NEW FACULTY BIOGRAPHIES
liz gray
daniel duarte
Mr. Duarte teaches Photography, Digital Video, and Form I Art. He is also the director of technical theater. In addition, Mr. Duarte coaches Middle School hockey. A graduate of Bowdoin College with a B.A. in studio art and a minor in economics, Mr. Duarte also holds an M.F.A. in photography from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. He has held teaching assistant positions and has been an adjunct faculty member at Massachusetts College of Art and Design and Mount Ida College. Mr. Duarte’s work has been shown in numerous group exhibitions across the country, and his work has been included in both printed and online publications.
Ms. Gray joined Belmont Hill School in January 2018 as interim library director to cover Mr. Hegarty’s sabbatical through the spring semester. She comes to the School with vast experience in the field of library science, including 22 years as the library director at the Dana Hall School and 10 years as the library director at Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School. In addition, Ms. Gray has extensive consulting experience working with independent schools on new library or renovation planning and library program and staffing evaluation. She holds an M.L.S. from Simmons College, an M.A. in English from Tufts University, and a B.A. in English from Reed College.
spencer tiberi
Mr. Tiberi teaches computer science and heads up the School’s Robotics program. In addition, Mr. Tiberi works with students in the iLab. He joined the faculty after completing an A.L.M. in mathematics for teaching from Harvard University Extension School, where his coursework included computer science, algebraic connections, game theory, and group theory. Mr. Tiberi also holds a B.S. in secondary education-mathematics with a minor in psychology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Previously, Mr. Tiberi taught Algebra II Honors and AP Computer Science Principles in the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, NV. His computer programming skills include C, C++, PHP, JavaScript, Python, SQL, and HTML/CSS.
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faculty & staff news
Faculty member ELIZABETH DAVIS and her husband, Matt, welcome their daughter Zoe Claire Davis, born on February 12, 2018. Zoe joins big sister Hannah.
FACULTY & STAFF NEWS
MICHAEL SHERMAN and ROSS ROBERTS. In February, current and former faculty and staff attended a luncheon in honor of Ross Roberts’ 90th birthday. From left to right, seated: Bob Cressey, Ross Roberts, and Eileen Burt. Standing: Harold Prenatt, Patty Whitney, Kevin Fleming, Sue Seeley, George Seeley, Chris Richards, Dave Greer, John Petrie (back), Whitey Morange, Peter Britton, Bob Arnold, Ann Cote, Lena Morange (back), Don Stewart, Jan Stewart, Michael Sherman, and Ted Burt. Natalie Hannah Beltz, daughter of staff member REBECCA BELTZ and her husband, Andrew, was born on October 23, 2017. Natalie joins big brother Henry who is thrilled to hold his baby sister.
Faculty member COREY COFIELD and his wife, Krystal, welcome their daughter Aubrey Lenora Cofield, born on December 27, 2017. Aubrey joins Corey, Jr. who has embraced his role as big brother.
Congratulations to Alumni House staff member ALEXANDRA VAN SICLEN and her husband, Jeff, on the March 25 birth of their son, Thomas William. A photo will appear in the next edition.
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alumni & family events
belmont hill summer reception August 24, 2017 Taj Boston
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Chris Egan and Bill Achtmeyer ’73.
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David Bright ’83, A.T. Desta ’05, and Matt Tosto ’04.
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David Antonelli, Mitali Prasad, Lisa Antonelli, and Alok Prasad.
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Trent Jones ’13 and Lynette Jones.
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John Grady ’66 and Bob Crowley ’90.
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Rebecca and Bill Stevenson.
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Dan Kreytak ’13, Danny Fischer ’13, and Mudit Tandon ’13.
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Rick Melvoin with Vicki and Barry Gallup.
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Don Saunders ’53 with Jane and David Otte.
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10. Karen Peterkin and Annie Newton.
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homecoming Family activities, a luncheon, and our sports teams are the highlights of the afternoon at Homecoming. Join us in the fall on Saturday, October 27, 2018.
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10th annual multicultural alumni partnership (map) dinner and program MAP Achievement Award presented to Richard I. Melvoin Keynote Speaker, Randall Kennedy September 22, 2017
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Rick Melvoin with Will Forde ’05 (left) and Yonas Dinkneh ’09 (right) being presented with the MAP Achievement Award.
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Randall Kennedy, David Wilkins, and Emmett Lyne ’77.
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Gretchen Cook Anderson, Thomas Anderson, and Warren Fields ’81.
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Sharif Campbell ’14, Stephen George, and Frank McField Zapata ’14.
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Vasu Digumarthi, Hari Digumarthi, and Jinane Abounadi.
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Diane Levine, Shelle Santana, Jason Hurd ’90, and James Hurd ’23.
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Sarah and Eric Meyers with Diane Carson.
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Ralph Constant and Brigithe Coq.
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Vanessa Ogenah, Kelly Brown, and Mary Onwuama-Ugbaja.
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10. Greg Paul ’09 and Doug Arnold ’09. 11. From left to right, seated: Jalen Walker ’21, Hunter Anderson ’19, Kai Ogenah ’21, James Hurd ’23, and Yazeed Dahleh ’21. Standing: Brian Wilkins ’20, Justin Santana ’21, Ikenna Ugbaja ’21, and Bryce Anderson ’19. 12. Greg Paul ’08, Doreen Palmer, Matt Weinstein, and Blake Sundel.
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grandparents and special friends day October 2, 2017 Mary Schmidek, Chair Form I and II students invited guests to join them for a class as well as campus tour in the fall. The event concluded with a luncheon in the Jordan Athletic Center.
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form vi parents reception Hosted by Beth Kressley Goldstein and Dennis Goldstein October 4, 2017 1.
Brian Connor, Michele O’Connor, Connaught Colbert, and Mitali Prasad.
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Lisa Antonelli, Martha Hincks, Sue Simon, Meghan Weldon, Amy Berg, and Diane Carson.
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Dennis Goldstein and Beth Kressley Goldstein with Rick Melvoin.
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Annamarie and Geoffrey Why.
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Thurgood Jones, Shelanda Irish, Marty Mannion, and Tristin Mannion.
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Tyson Trautz, Dave Leonardis, and Steve Feldman.
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Mario and Maria Aufiero.
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Martha and Ben Hincks with Donna and Jack Markis ’87.
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parents fund letter writing October 26, 2017 1.
Katie and Don Bramley.
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Polly Pike.
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Chris Egan and Alison Albers.
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Ann and Tony Ryan.
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Amy and Ted Madden ’88.
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Lisa Antonelli and Nancy Aldrich.
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head of the charles regatta October 22, 2017 Guests are invited to the Belmont Hill/ Winsor Boat House for the races on the Sunday of regatta weekend. Shuttles are available from the Jordan Athletic Center. Join us in the fall on Sunday, October 21, 2018.
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kwa women’s series outing to the junior league designer show house Belmont Woman’s Club October 10, 2017
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Just after opening weekend of the designer show house, Belmont Hill’s group of more than 90 women were able to visit the home during a private showing. After the self-guided house tour, guests returned to Belmont Hill for dinner and a program with designers Robin Gannon P ’20, Laurie Gorelick P ’10, and Mally Skok. Mally presented photographic slides on her inspiration and point of view as a designer. The committee wishes to thank Kris Ganong and Jayne Mundt for their assistance with this special event. 1.
Jane McGuirk, Betsy LeBlanc, and Jill Butler.
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Kathleen Walsh, Jill Smith, Cindy Kuechle, Julie Glauninger, and Eileen Strong O’Boy.
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1853 William Flagg Homer House in Belmont Center, currently preserved by the Belmont Woman’s Club.
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Virginia Heath, show house designer Laurie Gorelick, Lynne Gaynor, and Beverly Conklin.
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Nancy Repucci, Barbara Bailey, and Paula Giallongo.
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Anne Foley with show house designer Robin Gannon.
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Dorothy Williams, Jayne Mundt, and show house designer Mally Skok.
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KATHARINE WRISLEY ATKINS COMMITTEE
Anne Foley P ’99, ’01
Jayne Mundt P ’07, ’09, ’12
Thuy Ha-Ngoc P ’00, ’06
Ann Neczypor P ’04
In Formation
Meredith Hall P ’16
Karen Pagliarulo P ’05
Jill Hatton P ’05, ’14
Kathleen Rush P ’15, ’17
Betsy LeBlanc P ’03, ’08
Kathy Whelan P ’99, ’05
Elena Loukas P ’07, ’12
Simone Winston P ’10, ’16, ’20
Margy Dunn P ’10 Co-chair Lynne Gaynor P ’04, ’06 Co-chair Susan Cohen P ’05 Julie Durbin P ’15 Lora Farkas P ’04, ’13
Leslie McCafferty P ’98, ’00, ’05 Bunny Melvoin
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Mary Lou Monaco P ’82, ’83, ’86 Jennifer Mugar Flaherty P ’17
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alumni award dinner in honor of carl d. dawson ’72
Belmont Hill School Distinguished Alumni Award presented to Carl D. Dawson ’72
December 7, 2017 “Belmont Hill was one of those fortunate circumstances and happy opportunities for me, and I will continue to endeavor to give back to this school in a wise and vigorous manner in the hope that many more boys and young men can realize the same benefits as I have.” – Carl D. Dawson ’72
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Carl D. Dawson ’72 is a gentle pioneer. But make no mistake: He is a pioneer, and a leader. If he were simply the first African American graduate of Belmont Hill, he would deserve recognition. Yet this Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes exceptional service, and it is for that that we honor Carl. An alumnus, a parent, a trustee, an active member of the community: Carl is all that and more. Here’s an alumnus who brought his young son to school events – and who still comes to games and activities today with his alumnus son now in college. Still, his leadership transcends all. As a parent, Carl co-chaired the Parents’ Council group Parents Fostering Diversity. A Founding Director of the Multicultural Alumni Partnership (MAP), he has helped make that organization a model for independent schools nationwide. A class agent, he has been active with his classmates and their reunions. A member of the Board of Trustees, he brings wisdom, commitment, and sound reasoning to the work of the Board. Indeed, it is hard to imagine much more that Carl could do on behalf of his alma mater. For all that, Carl’s very manner and presence make this award even more apt. He is modest and selfeffacing, deflecting praise, and focusing on others and the work. He does not ask for recognition – which makes it all the sweeter to give it. For all he has done, but also by who he is, he exemplifies the best in what we envision for our alumni – men of integrity, good values, and dedication to making the world better. Put simply, Carl has been a role model for us all. Richard I. Melvoin Head of School Jon M. Biotti ’87 President, Board of Trustees
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There is no doubt of Carl’s commitment and love for the School. Tonight he is trailblazing again by accepting this award as he continues to exude the wonderful quality of a humble leader. His actions inspire me and, in my opinion, he is the epitome of a good man as well as a leader of this community. We need more Carl D. Dawson(s) to help us continue the path we are on as a school. Carl has done a lot for the School, and it is only fitting we recognize him this evening. Forty-nine years after Belmont Hill was founded, Carl Dawson became the first African American to graduate from the School. It is safe to say that I, my son, and all the other African American boys to have set foot on this campus would not be here if it were not for Carl!
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Carl Dawson ’72 and Rick Melvoin.
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Dan Bridges.
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Karen Dawson.
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Jon Biotti ’87, Margaret Wade, and Warren Fields ’81.
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Carl Dawson ’72, Eric Dawson ’15, and Drew Dawson ’75.
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Tony Ryan, Bunny Melvoin, Nancy Montanaro, and Ann Ryan.
Quite frankly, the reason I volunteered for this was to publicly say thank you to Carl. Carl, THANK YOU very much! Warren Fields ’81, P ’18 Trustee
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Jason Hurd ’90, A.T. Desta ’05, and Grayson Holland ’05.
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Mark Martines ’84, Caleb Collins ’93, and Randy Catlin ’84.
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George Ogenah, Rick Melvoin, and Vanessa Ogenah.
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A.T. Desta ’05, Patty Whitney, Emmett Lyne ’77, and Will Forde ’05.
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Bob Cleary ’83, Chris Sweeney ’83, and George Seeley.
california receptions Santa Monica, January 24, 2018 1.
Andy Cadiff ’73, Rick Melvoin, and Scott Landau ’80.
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Rachel Hall and Tim O’Halloran ’97.
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Jack Keating ’14 and Ron Horsley ’93.
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Joseph Pearlman ’95 and Kevin Clough ’10.
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George Wyner ’64 and Andy Cadiff ’73.
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Kevin Clough ’10, Rick Melvoin, and Geoff Sullivan ’11.
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Bobby Whelan ’05, Rick Melvoin, John Giannuzzi ’06, and John Clifford ’00.
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Ryan Manning ’10, Mike Nahill ’10, and Marco Martellini ’10.
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Stephenie Patrick, Philip Bailey ’17, and Vic Kazanjian ’77.
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legends pre-game On Saturday, January 27, the Belmont Hill varsity basketball team played St. Sebastian’s at the TD North Garden. Prior to the game, guests gathered for a reception at Legends. Final score was 56-42 Belmont Hill.
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Class Notes
Linemates again, 2017 classmates Zach Shpilner and Dan Griffin at Georgetown. www.belmonthill.org
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We would love to hear from you and share your latest news with the Belmont Hill community. Please email your notes and photos to alumni@ belmonthill.org. Length and content are subject to editorial approval; some submissions will appear as excerpts. The deadline for the Fall Bulletin is June 1, 2018.
GRAND REUNION–MAY 11 AND 12, 2018
CLASSES OF 1948 · 1953 · 1958 · 1963 AND ALL ALUMNI WHO HAVE CELEBRATED THEIR 50TH REUNION
1957 Erratum: In the 2017 Winter/Spring edition of the Bulletin, it was incorrectly published that TED WELCH recently retired from teaching after 25 years. In fact, Professor Welch retired from the University of Buffalo after 52 years!
1965 BILL KARELIS has authored his second book, Like a Snow Lion in Its Prime: The Path of Basic Goodness, available on Amazon and other outlets. It describes the application of the insights of the sitting practice of meditation to everyday life.
1968
50 TH REUNION
MAY 11–12, 2018
1973
45 TH REUNION
1977
MAY 11–12, 2018
R. CLEMENT DARLING was elected president of the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) at the 2017 Vascular Annual Meeting in June for a term of one year. Dr.
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Darling has been active in the leadership of the 5,800-member society for more than 26 years, serving on numerous SVS committees, on the board of directors, and on the executive committee. Dr. Darling graduated from Trinity College, Hartford, CT, in 1978 and received his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati Medical College in 1984. He completed his residency training at Boston’s Harvard/Deaconess in 1989 and his vascular surgery fellowship at Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY, in 1991.
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Congratulations to TOM DARLING for being named a prestigious Letter Winner of Distinction by the Syracuse University Varsity Club on November 9, 2017, and for receiving a lifetime achievement award from Power Ten at a dinner on January 18, 2018.
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Sandy and Greg Downes ’57 and Sallie and Dave Brainard ’58 at the Head of the Charles, October 22, 2017.
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Among attendees at the Alumni Award Dinner were Dave Brainard ’58, Dan Lynch ’58, Ellie Grant, Chris Egan ’58, Pat Egan, and Reg Howe ’58.
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Tom Dimare ’60 and Vic Kazanjian ’77 at the Belmont Hill reception in San Francisco in January.
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Class of 1960 Reunion at Lake Winnipesaukee, NH, July 2016. Front row: Art Norton, John Welch, Gerry Patrick, and Tom Warren. Back row: Chris Wadsworth, Jim MacMahon, and John Brooks.
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Class of 1965 members Tom Amon, Randy Byrnes, and Bob Goldkamp met for lunch in February in Naples, FL.
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On January 26, 2018, the Belmont Hill Varsity Basketball team played a game at the TD Garden. Fans attended a pregame reception at Legends, including Ron Druker ’62, Rick Melvoin, Ben Kimball (son of the late basketball star Toby Kimball ’61), and Bill Lynch ’62.
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Tom Warren ’60, Alex Norton ’60, and Barbara Bailey at the Alumni Award Dinner in December.
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Ken Martin ’65, Peter Gilpatric ’64, and Jon Smith ’62 at the Alumni Award Dinner in December.
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George Wyner ’64 (center) and John Grady ’66 (right) enjoying a laugh from Andy Cadiff ’73 (left) at the Belmont Hill reception in Santa Monica, CA, on January 24, 2018.
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Like a Snow Lion in Its Prime: The Path of Basic Goodness, by Bill Karelis ’65.
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Members of the Class of 1968 gathered for lunch in September to talk about the upcoming 50th Reunion. From left to right, Chip Edgarton, Len Edgerly, Bill Cornish, Henry Ogilby, Don Hague, George Mahlowitz, and Stef Mattlage.
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Five members of the Class of 1971 (and spouses) gathered in Brooksville, ME, in late August spending a few days at Rick Littlefield’s summer camp, Robin Hood, after the campers and staff had gone home for the season. Seated from left to right: Peter Fox, Bob Samuelson, Blair Brooks, and Gordy Scannell; standing, Rick Littlefield.
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Congratulations to Kelly and Andy Cadiff ’73 on the birth of their second daughter, Sophie Brianne Cadiff, on November 10, 2017.
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Drew Dawson ’75 and Alec Macmillan ’70 at the Alumni Award Dinner in December honoring Drew’s brother Carl ’72.
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Congratulations to Big Little Lies writer and creator David E. Kelley ’75 for his Golden Globe win for Best Television Limited Series. Fortunately for fans, HBO has renewed the series for a second season. David E. Kelley with his wife Michelle Pfeiffer on the red carpet, January 7, 2018.
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In November, Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Mark A. Milley ’76 presented Senator John McCain with the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal for his lifetime in service to America, both as a representative for the people of Arizona in the U.S. Congress and as a retired U.S. Navy captain.
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10. Chris Richards with Tom Darling ’77 on the occasion of the Power Ten lifetime achievement award dinner in New York City in January. 10
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1978
40 TH REUNION
MAY 11–12, 2018
1983
35 TH REUNION
only his quest for a sixth Super Bowl ring, unfortunately forestalled by the Eagles on February 7, but also highlight some of the off-field challenges that come with his commitment to football. “I’ve thought for many years how cool it would be to show fans other aspects of my life and be seen by them in a different way than is shown in the other features we’ve done,” said Brady.
MAY 11–12, 2018
1985 BENJAMIN HORNE recently received the “Pursing Justice Award” – a lifetime achievement award presented by the Legal Aid Society of Columbus, OH, for his commitment and work in the legal services.
1986 of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall African Grand Lodge #459 at its 226th Annual Communication in Dorchester, MA. As an engineering manager at SUEZ Water Technologies, ROBERT DE MARS has traveled extensively to promote desalination plants. He returned recently from a trip to the Emirates and spoke with Dr. Buckley’s students in the Energy and Its Impact on the Economy, Environment, and National Security class about his experience there and his goals for the future.
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30 TH REUNION
MAY 11–12, 2018
1993
25 TH REUNION MAY 11–12, 2018
Filmmaker GOTHAM CHOPRA has earned much favorable commentary on the release this fall of his six-episode video documentary on the life of star Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady. The six segments track not
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MAY 11–12, 2018
2003
15 TH REUNION
On December 8, 2017, PHILIP PRIVITERA was named an honorary Lifetime brother
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“This whole summer and September have been amazing. As a team, we seem to be in a great place, and I can’t wait to see where we go from here,” reflected Reed. “To be honored as the Male Athlete of the Year, that means so much to me.” Reed visited campus recently and spoke with students.
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MAY 11–12, 2018
2004 C. CHESSIN GERTLER recently founded Infinitum, a squash academy at Bosse Sports in Sudbury.
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2010 ANDREW REED was seven-seat in the U.S. men’s eight that won silver at the 2017 World Rowing Championships. After Belmont Hill, Reed rowed at Harvard where he graduated in 2014 with a degree in human evolutionary biology. Reed began his career at the USRowing Training Center in the fall of 2016, following a win in the men’s pair with teammate Jordan Vanderstoep at the USRowing Fall Speed Order. Reed and Vanderstoep won the event at the 2017 National Selection Regatta in May before joining the men’s eight selection group.
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Allyson Bosch and David Landau ’80 at the Belmont Hill reception in Santa Monica, CA, on January 24, 2018.
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Warren Fields ’81, David Bright ’83, and A.T. Desta ’05 at the Multicultural Alumni Partnership Dinner in September.
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Andy Donahue ’85, Gardner Bradlee ’83, and Sean Coughlin ’83 at the Alumni Award Dinner in December.
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Rick and Bunny Melvoin with Jerry Jordan ’85 at the January varsity basketball game at the TD Garden.
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Robert de Mars ’86 and John Markis ’18 at Belmont Hill on March 2, 2018.
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Rick Melvoin with David Parrot ’86 at the Belmont Hill reception in San Francisco in January.
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1986 classmates Phil Privitera and Jon Skinner at the Head of the Charles, October 22, 2017. Jon is the head of Technology Investment Banking at William Blaire and lives outside of Chicago. Jon’s oldest son was rowing for New Trier High School in Illinois.
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Phil Privitera ’86 and Yves R. Maignan, the 71st Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Master for Massachusetts.
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Alex Otte ’88, Morgan Magionos, and Dan O’Connell ’87 in Washington, DC, October 2017.
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Jason Hurd ’90 (right) with his sons Jackson and James ’23 at the varsity basketball game at the TD Garden in January.
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Gotham Chopra ’93 during a recent interview regarding his Tom vs. Time Facebook series.
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William Diercks ’94 at the Belmont Hill reception in Santa Monica, CA, on January 24, 2018.
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Jason Cherella ’94, Ted Zevitas ’94, and Ron Horsley ’93 at the Belmont Hill reception in Santa Monica, CA, on January 24, 2018.
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Congratulations to Lauren and Matt Murphy on the August 2, 2017 birth of their daughter. Maeve Marie joins big sister Clare.
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Geoff Homer ’03 and Lilli Cullen at the Belmont Hill summer reception at the Taj in Boston.
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Congratulations to Steph and Jim Balben ’03 on the birth of their daughter, Cecelia Catherine Balben, born March 1, 2018.
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Nick Mahalec ’03 attended the Belmont Hill reception in Santa Monica in January.
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Will Forde ’05 was a co-presenter of the Multicultural Alumni Partnership Award to Dr. Melvoin in September.
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Nick Baker ’03, Charlie DeWitt ’07, and Michael Wang ’07 at the Santa Monica reception.
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Congratulations to Ali and Matt Trachy ’08 on their October 29, 2016 wedding. Belmont Hill attendees included Dan Mahoney ’08, Brendan Laehn ’07, Peter Favaloro ’08, Tim Toomey ’08, Matt, Ali, David Cancian ’08, Mike Trachy ’10, Conor Gilligan ’08, David Crowley ’08, and Dylan Griffin ’08.
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Charlie Antonelli was born on November 26, 2017. Congratulations to Katey and David Antonelli and big sister Ryan.
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Skylar and Liam McAlpin ’07 with dad, John, at the varsity basketball game in January at the TD Garden.
10. Groom Dinkneh ’09 was a co-presenter of the Multicultural Alumni Partnership Award to Dr. Melvoin in September.
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2010 classmates Brendan Fadden, Nick Ogonowsky, Peter Kaloostian, Bobby Alexander, and Colby Dunn at the Belmont Hill summer reception at the Taj in Boston.
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Andrew Reed ’10, who was named U.S. Rowing Male Athlete of the Year, is seen wearing his Belmont Hill crew hat.
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Sharif Campbell ’14, Yonas Dinkneh ’13, Varun Shah ’17, and Matt Weinstein ’11 at the 10th Annual MAP evening in September.
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Nick von Turkovich ’12, Nick Curtin ’13, Keelan Smithers ’13, Sam Arthur ’12, Nick Gill ’13, and Dan Kreytak ’13 at the Belmont Hill summer reception at the Taj in Boston.
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Mudit Tandon ’13 and Kevin Chen ’13 at the Boston summer reception at the Taj.
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From the Class of 2016, William Weiter and William Galligan at the Belmont Hill summer reception at the Taj in Boston.
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Yonas Dinkneh ’13, former faculty member Patty Whitney, and Trent Jones ’13 at the annual fall Multicultural Alumni Partnership dinner.
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A Belmont Hill contingent was on the sidelines to cheer on Ann Ryan as she ran the NYC Marathon last fall. From left to right, Matt Ryan ’14, Tony Ryan, Charlie Richards ’20, Mac Manion ’14, Mihir Gulati ’14, Alexander Richards ’14, Thomas Ryan ’19, Teddy Danziger ’19, William Ryan ’17, Betsy Danziger, Elisabeth Richards, and Chris Richards.
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2017-2018 young and recent alumni events 2017–2018 1.
Recent alumni holiday gathering in Boston at Bell in Hand, December 28, 2017.
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Dartmouth lunch in Hanover, NH, October 19, 2017.
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Middlebury lunch in Middlebury, VT, October 20, 2017.
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Harvard dinner in Cambridge, October 24, 2017.
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Yale lunch in New Haven, CT, November 9, 2017.
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Post-Thanksgiving recent alumni gathering at the Boston Sail Loft, November 24, 2017.
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Brown University lunch in Providence, December 8, 2017.
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Red Sox outing, July 2017.
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Alumni vs. varsity basketball game, November 24, 2017.
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belmont hill memorabilia
Cufflinks Sterling silver, hand-engraved. $350
L.L.Bean Everyday Lightweight Medium Tote Belmont Hill School Captain’s Chair Solid hard rock maple captain’s chair with cherry arms and back with laser-engraved Belmont Hill logo makes a meaningful gift anytime. Shipped directly to your home or office. $475 plus $29 for basic shipping. $19 for one line of personalization. Please allow 4–6 weeks for delivery.
Golf Balls
Belmont Hill sextant embroidery. Durable, lightweight nylon fabric, medium-length reinforced handles, ziptop closure, exterior open slot pocket, and interior zip pocket with key clip. Dimensions: 12"H x 13"W x 6"D. Available in fiery red/navy and navy/arctic blue. $40
Titleist ProVI Golf Balls with Belmont Hill Sextant. Package of three. $20
Ladies’ Wallet Cross Pen
Ladies’ Leather Zippered Credit Card Wallet. $30
All-chrome ballpoint pen with Belmont Hill Sextant. $45
Vineyard Vines Silk Belmont Hill Neckties Yellow and blue striped tie. $85 Lavender, pink, or blue solid tie with small Belmont Hill sextants. $85
Mariposa Wine Coaster
Mariposa Wine Stopper
Mariposa wine coaster with Belmont Hill sextant engraving. Classic beaded border. 5.25" diameter. $45
Mariposa wine stopper with Belmont Hill sextant engraving. $32
Smathers & Branson Visor Needlepoint golf visor. $35
For your convenience, credit card orders are accepted by phone. Contact Eileen Foley at 617.993.5202 or stop by the Alumni House at 19 Marsh Street.
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in memoriam
At the time of publication, the Bulletin learned of the death, on March 25, 2018, of Robert L.V. French ’45 of Earlysville, VA and Hopkinton, NH. He was 91. His obituary will appear in the next edition.
FRANK N. DICKINSON
’49
Frank Norris Dickinson died on February 1, 2018, in Blacksburg, VA. He was 87. Mr. Dickinson was born in 1930 in Belmont, MA, the son of the late Francis and Grace Dickinson. His parents aspired for a career for him in medicine or law but he decided young that he wanted to become a farmer. With determination tempered with pragmatism, qualities that he would display in all he did, he went on to the University of Massachusetts to major in animal husbandry, receiving his B.S. in 1953. Tending to livestock on the University farm taught him that farming was difficult and often unrewarding work. He decided to remain in the agricultural industry and to focus on the science and management side. But first, Mr. Dickinson followed up his undergraduate ROTC service by accepting a commission in the U.S. Army. He completed armor school at Fort Knox, KY, as a lieutenant and tank platoon leader in the famed 2nd Armored Division. At that time, the Korean War was raging, and every graduating armor school officer went directly into combat. However, two weeks after he reported to Fort Knox, the war ended, and he found himself sent instead to Germany for relatively peaceful duty in the Cold War. After his discharge in 1955, he was accepted for graduate study at the University of Illinois in animal genetics, with a focus on dairy cattle. At this time, the sciences were undergoing a computer revolution, and Mr. Dickinson took an interest in this developing field. His work involved use of the ILLIAC (Illinois Automatic Computer), the first computer built and owned entirely by a U.S. educational institution. At this time in 1957 he and his wife Diane, another Massachusetts native, who met at the University, would be married in her hometown of Taunton, MA. The couple returned to Illinois so Mr. Dickinson could complete work toward his M.S. and Ph.D. After the birth of their three children, the Dickinsons moved back East and eventually settled in Maryland in 1968, to be near Frank Dickinson’s job at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, a facility of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
In 1972 he took over as research leader and lab chief of the Animal Improvement Program Laboratory (AIPL), a position he held for 16 years. He and his colleagues had a profound effect on the American dairy industry, proving that by using genetic evaluations and rapidly evolving computer technology, dairy farmers could dramatically improve the health and profitability of their cattle. The United States became a world leader in dairy production, and Mr. Dickinson was asked to speak in many other countries about the methods he helped develop. He co-authored a textbook on dairy cattle that was mandatory for university dairy courses for many years. Camping in Florida, Minnesota, and North Carolina and increasingly adventuresome boating on the Chesapeake Bay became the center of Mr. Dickinson’s recreational and family activities, and he, his wife, and children remained active in sports and the programs of Holy Rosary Church in Upper Marlboro, MD, throughout these years. He retired from government service in 1988 and moved with his wife to Pataskala, OH, to take over as chief executive officer of the National Dairy Herd Improvement Association. This organization works with American farmers to improve their herd-management practices, using the continuously developing technologies that Mr. Dickinson helped to pioneer. Retiring again in 1993, he and his wife moved to Sun City West, AZ. They continued to enjoy RV camping and stayed active and fit, going on many ski trips. In Arizona, Mr. Dickinson revealed a talent for stained glass and made many pieces, including custom windows, wall hangings, and free-standing works. Eventually leaving Arizona to be closer to family, they chose Blacksburg, VA, settled at Warm Hearth Village in 2014, and quickly made many friends. In addition to his wife of 60 years, Diane (Blackwell) Dickinson, Mr. Dickinson is survived by their son David and his wife Teresa and their children Sarah and Emma; son Glenn and his wife Cammi and their children Claire, Paul, and Caroline; and daughter Jan and her husband Jack and their children, Kevin and daughter-in-law Jessie, and Brian.
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in memoriam
DAVID R. HARVEY
’49
David Rivers Harvey, of Sudbury, MA, and formerly of Sarasota, FL, died on December 4, 2017. He was 86.
attend countless youth baseball and hockey games. Mr. Harvey was an avid golfer and devoted Boston sports fan.
The son of the late James W. and Ethel Rivers Gordon, he was born in 1931 and grew up in Belmont. At Belmont Hill he made many lifelong friends and was a proud captain of the school hockey team.
His wife Mary Jane died in 2016 at the age of 82. They are survived by their sons David Jr. (Peggy) of Concord, MA; William (Susan) of Matthews, NC; Christopher (Eileen) of Medway, MA; and Eric of Waltham, MA. Mr. Harvey was a cherished grandfather to Sarah, Elizabeth, James, Thomas, Benjamin, Andrew, and the late Ryan Harvey. He also was the brother of Joan Burns of Stow, MA; Peter Harvey ’54 (Carol) of Littleton, MA; and the late James W. Harvey Jr. ’48 (late Ann DeWitt) of Sudbury, MA. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
After graduating from Harvard, Mr. Harvey married Mary Jane Connolly, a union that would last for 59 years until her death. They settled in Sudbury, MA, and raised four sons. He managed his own firm, Harvey Associates, specializing in office furniture, while also finding time to coach and
PETER G. GRAGG
’53
His creativity and range of output extended beyond videography to poetry, photography, and traditional artistry and craftsmanship. As a writer and artist, he worked under the names Peter Gordon and Green Griffin.
Mr. Gragg, born in 1935, was the son of the late Charles Insco Gragg and Mabel Taylor Gragg. Growing up in Lexington, he went on to Swarthmore and Harvard Colleges and the deCordova Museum art program. He served in the U.S. National Guard and taught mathematics in Sharon, MA, and at Milton Academy. Later, he worked for many years at the Boston Public Library for the Boston Library Consortium and was active at the Arlington Center for the Arts. His “Roots of Arlington” video series and others can be viewed on YouTube under “Videos by Peter Gordon.”
JACK M. REICHSON
’53
Peter Gordon Gragg, of Rye, NY, and formerly of Arlington, MA, died on October 22, 2017. He was 82.
Jack Maynard Reichson, of Somerville MA, died on December 11, 2015. He was 81. Born in 1935 in Cambridge, MA, he was the son of the late Jeannette and Irving Reichson. Mr. Reichson went on to Brandeis University and became a teacher and tutor of mathematics for students of all ages with learning disabilities in Concord, Lexington, Belmont, and Newton. He also worked as a graphic design consultant. Mr. Reichson was a resident of the Somerville Home since 2007 and leaves no immediate survivors.
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Mr. Gragg is survived by his niece, Ann Gragg; his nephews, Charles I. Gragg III, Douglas Gragg, and Edwin Gragg; several grand-nieces and grandnephews; his dear friends Phyllis deFano, David Byer, Ellen Bennett, and Bridget Rawding; and a niece-and nephew-by-choice, Liz Byer and Dan Byer. He was also the nephew of the late Charles I. Gragg Jr.
DOUGLAS H. THAYER
’56
Douglas H. Thayer died on August 12, 2017. He was 81. Born in 1938 in Yonkers, NY, Mr. Thayer eventually joined the Class of 1961 at Boston University and graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in economics. His early career focused on assisting in the locating and development of clubs and entertainment venues for more established investors in New Orleans and New York and then privately back in Boston, where he opened a number of singles clubs. As he noted later in life, successes and failures encouraged him to retrench, and his next phase of business led Mr. Thayer and his wife Jean to offer term charters—two
THEODORE B. EYRICK
’57
Theodore Banks Eyrick died on October 28, 2017, in San Antonio, TX. He was 78. Born in Boston in 1939, Mr. Eyrick went to Tufts University in 1958 and graduated three years later with a B.S. cum laude in mechanical engineering and a B.A. in economics. He went on to the University of Michigan in 1963 for an M.S. in engineering then returned to Tufts, where he completed his Ph.D. in biomedical engineering in 1970. He received fellowships from N.A.S.A., Olin Corporation, and the Lufkin Company. Mr. Eyrick was awarded seven U.S. and 10 foreign electromechanical equipment patents and published three technical papers in the field of bioengineering. In addition to working at Chemetron in St. Louis and Alcor, Inc., he was employed at Pratt & Whitney, where he developed the fuel for the cell power systems for the Apollo and Lunar excursion modules, and while at E.G.&G., Inc.,
couples for a week—on their commissioned Gulfstar 50 sloop Paradise sailing through the Virgin Islands. Jean had taken many continuing education courses at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, and her galley creations became a special feature of cruising on board Paradise. The final years of the couple’s adventures saw them as crew on privately owned motor yachts, 68’ to 106’. In addition to being survived by his wife Jean, Mr. Thayer was the brother of the late Thomas B. Thayer ’60 and nephew of Belmont Hill Headmaster Charles F. Hamilton.
he was director of biomedical technology in testing and evaluating an artificial heart device. From 1981 until his death, he was principal of Eytek Consulting Company in San Antonio, TX, where one of his client services was the design and safety reviews of medical devices. Among his many activities, Mr. Eyrick enjoyed sailing his 40-foot sailboat the most. He and his wife Pamela lived aboard Narnia for almost seven years before returning to San Antonio in June of this year. Mr. Eyrick’s first marriage, to Gwen Thistle, lasted for 24 years until her death in 1988. He is survived by his second wife, Pamela Buffington; two sons, Dwight, of Manhattan, NY, and Todd, of St. Louis, MO; a stepdaughter, Carole Gibbins, of Austin, TX; and his three grandchildren, Ashley, Aiden, and Baron.
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PETER T. WORTHEN
’62
Peter Thacher Worthen, of Birmingham, AL, died on March 16, 2017. He was 72. Mr. Worthen, son of the late Frederic Paine and Helen Thompson Worthen, was born in Boston in 1944 and grew up in Andover, MA, where he attended the Pike School before coming to Belmont Hill. After a post-graduate year at Lawrenceville in New Jersey, he moved on to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity and awarded All-American status in swimming. It was at Chapel Hill that Mr. Worthen met Sally Bingham Vann, who would become his wife of 50 years. After his graduation at Chapel Hill, he attended Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania in 1971. He went on to become president of Worthen Industries in Nashua, NH, until 1985. In December of that year, he acquired Schreiber LLC, a manufacturer of water resource recovery equipment, in Trussville, AL. At that time, he moved his family to Birmingham to be with his wife, Sally’s family, and they have resided there ever since.
STEPHEN N. DALE
’66
Stephen Newton Dale died on November 7, 2016, in Buffalo, NY. He was 68. Born in Duxbury, MA, in 1947, Mr. Dale was fortunate that his family home had enough land and a barn so that he could raise horses, which he thoroughly enjoyed in his youth. He entered Belmont Hill from Thayer Academy in 1964 and after graduation went on to Trinity College, Hartford, CT, where he earned his B.A. in history in 1966. At Trinity he was active with the theater guild and served as president of his fraternity.
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Mr. Worthen attended St Mary’s Church on the Highlands for 32 years. He was a member of Mountain Brook Club, the Rotary Club of Birmingham, and the Redstone Club. He served on the board of the Pike School in Andover, Highland Day School in Birmingham, Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, and the Birmingham Museum of Art. Most recently he served as chair of the board of the Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham. He spent his weekends at Inland Lake and at the Mulberry Fork of the Warrior River with his family, to which he was devoted, and anyone who would drive out with him. Mr. Worthen is survived by his wife, Sally Vann Worthen; his sons, Peter Thacher Worthen Jr. (Ila), and James Vann Worthen (Bevelle); his daughter, Mary Worthen White (Robby); and grandchildren Thacher Kade Worthen, Ila Danielle Worthen, Virginia Olivia Worthen, Eva Jane Worthen, Gabriella Oliver Worthen, James Vann Worthen Jr., Sally Comer Worthen, Lucile Bingham White, and Peter Wellborn White. He was the brother of Helen Worthen Berns, David Sargent Worthen, and the late Frederic Paine Worthen Jr. and Robert Farnsworth Worthen.
After service in the National Guard, Mr. Dale enrolled in Boston College Law School, later earning his J.D. in 1974 and becoming a member of both the New York and Massachusetts Bar Associations. Mr. Dale became associated with the large New York City firm of Whitman and Ransom, developing an interest in the theater industry off Broadway while living in New York. He leaves no immediate survivors.
in memoriam
JOHN M. WILLETT
’68
John M. Willett, of Newton, MA, died on August 25, 2017. He was 67. Born in Hartford, CT, in 1950, he was the son of the late William Ward and Martha Paine Willett. He grew up in Concord, MA, and went on to earn his B.A. degree from Colorado College and a Master’s in natural resources management from the University of Michigan.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Judy G. Willett; their three children and spouses, Nick J. Willett and Amber E. Willett, Ben T. Willett and Molly B. Willett, and Jessica W. Harris and Paul R. Harris, and two grandchildren, Owen and Miles.
Mr. Willett became a developer and builder and was president of Altair Associates in Concord.
ERNEST F. HENDERSON IV
’74
Ernest Flagg (Spike) Henderson IV, of Wellesley Hills, MA, died on October 31, 2017. He was 62. Born in Boston in 1954, Mr. Henderson was the son of the late Mary Louise Campbell Henderson and Ernest F. Henderson III ’42. He attended Dexter School before coming to Belmont Hill, then received his B.A. degree in economics from Bard College in 1981. His academic interests later turned to law, and he received his J.D. in 1996 from Northeastern University, where his father, a university trustee, proudly awarded him his diploma. He would go on to specialize in disability law. While growing up, Spike Henderson spent summers and holidays in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, with his beloved grandparents Florence and Kenneth Campbell. Later, the family spent many years on Cape Cod in a summer home in Centerville, MA. His love of performance, music, and electronics led him to start a few businesses, and he tried his hand at acting before founding Pink Noise Productions, which provided video and sound equipment for national and regional clients, from the “Rat Pack” (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey
Bishop) to the J. Geils Band. He was also well known as a DJ, VJ, and karaoke entertainer to college campuses and special events throughout the Northeast. He continued his involvement in music and sound production, even as he practiced law, including developing an extensive collection of audio, video, and lighting systems. Mr. Henderson’s interests encompassed music, particularly jazz and dance, and cruising Route 117 on his cherished Harley. His pop culture passions included all things related to Star Trek, The Simpsons, Monty Python as well as anything on the Discovery and History channels, especially Myth Busters, and seeing Adam Savage perform live this past year. His love of performance, TV, and movies culminated in a few television appearances as well as working as a bouncer in the movie Crazy Eyes. His community involvement included the Wellesley Club and support of the Wellesley Community Center. Mr. Henderson is survived by his sister Roberta Henderson of Bolton and Centerville, MA; aunts Victoria Osborne of Limerick, ME; Augusta Petrone of Dublin, NH; Mary ‘Mitzi’ Perdue of Ocean City, MD; and uncle Barclay S. Henderson ’58 of Cambridge, MA; as well as wonderful cousins and dear friends.
At the time of publication, the Bulletin learned of the death of Robert L. Cusolito ex ’74 on April 1, 2018 at age 61. His obituary will appear in the next edition.
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At the time of publication, the Bulletin learned of the death, on March 27, 2018, of John R. Henley ’83 of Avon, NC. He was 53. His obituary will appear in the next edition.
ANDREW G. MILLER
Andrew Gibson Miller, of Osterville MA, died on December 26, 2017, in Florida. He was 32.
’03
Born January 29, 1985, the son of Philip Miller and Jennifer Gibson, he went on to the College of the Holy Cross, where he earned his B.A. degree in Spanish and Latin American studies. After graduating from college in 2007, Mr. Miller accepted a job offer in Singapore, where he spent two years working for an Asian financial research company, traveled the world, and eventually met his wife, Celine. Together, they moved to New York City and were married in the summer of 2012 on Cape Cod. They had two daughters, Rose, 4, and Lily, 2.
PATRICK J. CORRIGAN
’04
Mr. Miller was truly a citizen of the world. Fluent in Spanish and deeply curious, he easily made connections wherever he lived and traveled. He will be remembered for his generous hospitality, his kindness, and his loyalty to his friends. His warmth and sense of humor put everyone around him at their ease.
After spending time working for Morgan Stanley, Mr. Miller left to join J.P. Morgan in their lending division
In addition to his parents, wife, and daughters, Mr. Miller is survived by his brother, Edward Gibson Miller ’09, his sister Grace, his nephew James, and his grandmother Rita Gibson.
Patrick James Corrigan, of Philadelphia, PA, died on December 11, 2017. He was 32.
addition, he participated in projects in Boston, Chicago, and Detroit.
The son of Patricia Noyes Corrigan and Ernest James Corrigan, he was born in 1985 and grew up in Wellesley, MA, where he was a communicant of St. John the Evangelist parish and a graduate of its elementary school.
Outside of the office, he was a music aficionado, an avid Boston sports fan, and a talented painter.
He later went on to earn his B.A. at Tufts University and a Master’s in architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Corrigan was a passionate young architect as he began his career in Philadelphia. He lived and worked in the Northern Liberties section of the city, where his practice centered on redesigning and revitalizing the neighborhoods of Northern Liberties and Fishtown. In
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in Manhattan. In 2015, he accepted a promotion and relocated his young family to the company’s Miami office, where he helped the firm grow their lending business in Latin America.
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He is survived by his beloved family; his wife, Devon Elizabeth Corrigan, M.D., of Philadelphia, PA; his parents, Patricia Noyes Corrigan, of Boston, MA, and Ernest James Corrigan, of Boston, MA; his sister, Alyssa Virginia Corrigan, of Cambridge, MA; and his two brothers, Devin Ernest Corrigan ’06 and Michael Douglas Corrigan ’13, both of San Francisco, CA. He is also survived by his maternal grandmother, Virginia Noyes, of East Dennis, MA, many aunts and uncles, 28 first cousins, and his devoted dog, Calvin.
in memoriam
E. BLAIR HAWLEY faculty
Edmund Blair Hawley, a teacher and coach at Belmont Hill from 1974 to 1989, died on September 12, 2017, in Winchester, MA, his residence for many years. Always known as Blair, he was 93. Born in New York City in 1924 to the late Edmund S. Hawley and Dagmar Perkins Hawley, Mr. Hawley was a championship-level tennis player as a young person and graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy and Yale University. His studies at Yale were interrupted, as for so many others, by World War II, and he was deployed to the Philippines as a 1st lieutenant in the Army field artillery, later serving as an intelligence officer as the war progressed. After his discharge, Mr. Hawley resumed his studies, attending Harvard Business School and receiving an M.B.A. In the post-war boom, he became a management consultant and venture capital executive, but his most perceptive investment decision, as he often pointed out, was to marry Greta Crocker in 1949. They moved to Winchester and started a family in 1952. Mr. Hawley was very engaged with his children, and frequent travel, learning, and sporting activities marked these years. He was active in civic and government affairs, serving in senior capacities in state government as well as the Civil Defense effort.
fundamental business practices based on the case study approach of Harvard Business School. Later, he taught Middle School English with an emphasis on vocabulary building, and enjoyed coaching and refereeing younger boys. In 1981, Mr. Hawley founded the Belmont Hill Summer School and served as its director for several years until it was firmly established. He enjoyed his volunteer work at the Winchester Hospital, as well as special projects such as helping the U.S. Census Bureau. Mr. Hawley was a prolific writer and student of the English language and was an early participant in AOL’s online learning program. To his grandchildren, he was always a source of words, wisdom, wit, and practical lessons. Always a favorite caregiver, Mr. Hawley offered a clever observation and often a seashell from his collection to those with whom he interacted. A proud service member and patriot, he delighted in sharing stories, especially those related to his service in World War II. Mr. Hawley is survived by his wife of 67 years, Greta Crocker Hawley; their six children, sons Don (Pam), Kip (Janet), Blair (Roberta), Charles (Lee) ’76 (Nandini), Cameron (Suzanne), daughter Victoria Rome (Larry); 12 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. With appreciation to Lee Hawley
At Phillips Exeter and then later at Belmont Hill, he introduced a popular elective course for seniors in
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2017–2018
Belmont Hill School
Board of Trustees Jon M. Biotti ’87, President William F. Achtmeyer ’73, Vice President Richard I. Melvoin, Secretary Anthony W. Ryan, Treasurer Abigail C. Ackerman ex officio Dewey J. Awad Mark D. Chandler ’74 Frederick H. Chicos ’72 Gretchen R. Cook-Anderson Roy F. Coppedge III Carl D. Dawson ’72 Jeffrey D. Drucker ’90 Ronald M. Druker ’62 Warren Q. Fields ’81 Ruthanne Fuller Scott A. Gieselman ’81 Michael S. Gordon John T. Grady, Jr. ’66 Christopher J. Hadley
Danielle A. Heard Jason H. Hurd ’90 Gerald R. Jordan ’85 Stephen R. Karp ’57 Jonathan A. Kraft ’82 Emmett E. Lyne ’77 ex officio Martin J. Mannion Carl J. Martignetti ’77 Kirk D. McKeown ’95 Sarah H. Pelmas Mitali Prasad Taggart M. Romney ’88 Brian J. Shortsleeve ’91 Margaret M. Wade Herbert S. Wagner III David B. Wilkins Sarah K. Williamson honorary trustees William L. Byrnes ’40 John M. Connors, Jr. John A. Pike ’49
Belmont, MA 02478 617.484.4410 www.belmonthill.org We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please address all correspondence to the Bulletin Editor at the above address, or email us at communications@belmonthill.org. managing editor Bill Mahoney editors Elizabeth Girioni Leslie Ouellette alumni content manager Amy Hirsch editorial advisor/ class notes & in memoriam Harold Prenatt class notes & in memoriam Eileen Foley photography John Gillooly, John Gillooly IV, Kristy Gillooly Dean, Neal Hamberg, Tom Kates, Vaughn Winchell, Adam Richins, Scott Matthews, Bill Mahoney, Matt Risley, Paul Rutherford and the Belmont Hill School Archives ©2018 Belmont Hill School. All rights reserved. Design by: amn brand + design