BUCCANEER SPRING 2021
THE
The Magazine Of The Benjamin School
Volume XIX
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T H E B E N JA M I N S C H O O L T H RO U G H O U T S I X D ECA D ES
DAVE FAUS, HEAD OF SCHOOL
THE BUCCANEER Marti Lotman ’06 — Managing Editor Dr. John Peruggia — Copy Editor
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Christine Magee Photography Tracey Benson Photography Erica Sousa
PHOTO SUBMISSIONS Nick Crisafi Christine Magee Photography Jessy Fulford Padon ’01
ADVANCEMENT OFFICE STAFF Jessy Fulford Padon ’01 — Director of Marketing Marti Lotman ’06 — Publications & Communications Manager Rhonda Thomas — Web Manager Juan Carlos Fanjul ’93 — Chief Development Officer Pamela Ha-Stevenson — Development Database and Donor Services Manager BUCCANEER SPRING 2021
Sheena Wilber — Director of Annual Giving and Special Events Jenna Wittbold ’07 — Alumni Relations and Special Events Manager
THE
The Magazine Of The Benjamin School
Volume XIX
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On the Cover:
CELEBRATING 60 YEARS T H E B E N JA M I N S C H O O L T H RO U G H O U T S I X D ECA D ES
Contents THE BUCCANEER
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VOLUME XIX
Letter From The Head Of School.....................2 60th Anniversary........................................................3 Dreamers Of Dreams: Marshall And Nancy Benjamin.....................4
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‘Welcome To The Jungle’: An Origin Story...................................................18 Campus Features...................................................... 20
Titles Of Note........................................................ 21
ead Of School Welcomed During Live H 60th Anniversary Broadcast...................... 22
Faculty Spotlight: Jason Peck, Upper School Drama Teacher................... 24
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Fall Sports Teams............................................... 26
Winter Sports Teams....................................... 28
Varsity Football Player Weisz To Play At Yale University Next Fall................ 30
Varsity Soccer Player Shirzad: ‘Collegiate Atletics Was Always The Dream’........................................................... 32
lumni Spotlight: Sarah Cohen ’01, A Attorney, Legal Aid............................................34
Hollywood Screenwriter Swift ’88: From ‘The Hill’ To Hollywood...................... 35 Alumni Class Notes.................................................36
THE BUCCANEER
LETTER FROM THE
HEAD OF SCHOOL Dear Benjamin Community, I find myself humbled as I write to you from the Head’s office during the School’s 60th anniversary year. My office, converted from a cottage, was Mr. Benjamin’s classroom where he taught eager young kindergarten students how to read. The original architecture, including a fireplace and a small reading bench where you could once hear the soft voices of emergent readers, remains unchanged. I am enveloped in history. Each architectural detail — from the dark oak beams to the squeaky floorboards — is laden with the memories, hopes, and stories of those who came before me. It is with tremendous pride that I carry the history of the School with me during our 60th anniversary and in years to come. While we honor such an important milestone for the School, it is evident that we do so amidst the turbulent history of the recent past. Our community has suffered collective tragedies, like the passing of former Head of School, Mr. Goldberg, as well as personal struggles and losses. A tumultuous political landscape and candid observations about culture, history, and race have been at the center of our conversations this year. As a nation, we have been gripped by a pandemic most of us never imagined we would witness in our lifetimes, and we are all struggling to create a “new normal” that resembles anything actually normal. But this changed educational landscape and historically significant cultural moment have afforded us opportunities that a “normal” year would not have provided. Crises often hold up a mirror and force us to take a hard look at who we are. They have shown me what the Benjamin family is: resilient, innovative, and, above all else — kind. This is not the first time that the School has found itself navigating a fraught path. If the walls of my office could talk, I can imagine the conversations they would reveal about founding a school on a pineapple farm in the south in the 1960s. Our community has navigated the loss of our founders, foreign wars, September 11, the 2007-2008 financial crisis, and, each time, we have risen to the occasion and come together stronger, united by a common purpose. Most importantly, each time we have faced a challenge, we still observed Mrs. Benjamin’s most enduring plea, paraphrasing writer Henry James: Be kind, be kind, be kind. As you explore the magazine and reflect on the School’s 60-year history, I hope it elicits your own fond memories of Benjamin and personal experiences of kindness, triumph, and gratitude. In community,
Dave Faus
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60th ANNIVERSARY
THE BUCCANEER | 60TH ANNIVERSARY
DREAMERS OF DREAMS:
MARSHALL AND NANCY BENJAMIN “ The work of today is the history of tomorrow, and we are its makers.” – Juliette Gordon Low, Founder, Girl Scouts
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60TH ANNIVERSARY | THE BUCCANEER
Marshall and Nancy Benjamin were history’s makers. Their life’s work — to educate young people and endow them with the skills to be confident learners, global citizens, and thoughtful leaders, continues to be realized at The Benjamin School of today. They were the “dreamers of dreams,” visualizing a small tract of land along the U.S. 1 corridor that was once euphemistically called a “jungle-like setting,” as a premiere independent day school. They were true pioneers, charting a new frontier in private school education. In many ways, they were convention breakers of their time. The indomitable pair were ardent believers in the importance of education, character development, and the potential of all young people. By all historical accounts, the Benjamins wanted a school that did not exclude anyone for any reason other than merit, including because of a lack of funds. North Palm Beach Private School began as a modest, two-room schoolhouse, opening in 1960 to two classes of eager kindergarteners. Former student LaVonne Stiffler, in an archived letter, recalled enjoying punch and graham crackers as a kindergarten student, the reading corner, the smell of ditto machine handouts, games of tetherball with Mr. B., raising pond polliwogs, and playing with rabbits.
Mrs. Benjamin’s assistant in 1971. She received the offer the day before her husband died. “I have always felt it was a providential gift,” Hogan said. “I was left with 4 and 5-year-old sons who adored their dad. At this crucial time in their lives, Marshall Benjamin met me at the circle drive before school every morning for several weeks and taught my son, Tom, how to ride a bicycle. This gesture and the support from people at the school have always been incredible. The Benjamin School is more like a family than a schooI . . . I know of no other school where response to those in need is so prevalent,” she said. Hogan’s is one of a multitude of reverent memories of the Benjamins’ kindness. These memories are woven together in a tapestry of letters — some you will read here — that have, in some cases, long outlived the individuals to whom they were addressed. The Benjamins’ quiet, good work and humanitarianism are evident throughout these letters, and the quality of their character is distilled. It’s in these correspondences that you will see the breadth and depth of those whose lives have been — and continue to be — touched by the Benjamin experience.
“In the early days, there were several parents who worked for the school or drove a van, so that their children might be taught by Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin. Tuition came to about $25/month for kindergarten and $45 for grade 1,” she wrote. Hers is one of many fond memories of the School’s early days. Longstanding Lower School teacher Joanna Hogan remembers being offered her original job as
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’60s through the decade
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PICTURES OF THE BENJAMIN SCHOOL THROUGHOUT THE DECADE
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’70s through the decade
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PICTURES OF THE BENJAMIN SCHOOL THROUGHOUT THE DECADE
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’80s through the decade
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PICTURES OF THE BENJAMIN SCHOOL THROUGHOUT THE DECADE
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’90s through the decade
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PICTURES OF THE BENJAMIN SCHOOL THROUGHOUT THE DECADE
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20002010 through the decade 14
PICTURES OF THE BENJAMIN SCHOOL THROUGHOUT THE DECADE
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20102020 through the decade
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PICTURES OF THE BENJAMIN SCHOOL THROUGHOUT THE DECADE
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THE BUCCANEER | 60TH ANNIVERSARY
‘WELCOME TO
THE JUNGLE’: AN ORIGIN STORY Congressman Tom Rooney ’89 recently helped The Buccaneer establish the origin story of the football team’s use of the song, “Welcome To The Jungle,” when players take to the gridiron. “It’s funny, when we moved back to Florida and my son Tommy started playing for the Bucs and they came out to that song, I laughed that we were still playing it,” said Rooney, who served as a U.S. Representative from Florida from 2009-2019, representing the 16th congressional district from 2009-2013 and Florida’s 17th congressional district from 2013-2019. Rooney remembers the Guns N’ Roses song playing under the lights his senior year at Benjamin. He couldn’t initially remember how the ’80s riff became the official entrance song for the team, but after some further investigation among old high school friends, he discovered the true origins of the song’s use. Classmate and teammate Paul Dean ’89 thought the song, which was a “big hit” in the weight room with Rooney, Dean, Howard Ernst ’89, and Ritchie Sudder ’89, would be a good song to take the field to.
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“Evidently he was correct,” said Rooney. When asked if I could share this story in the magazine, Rooney said, “absolutely.” “Those guys don’t mind either. Paul would love the credit.”
ROONEY REMEMBERS THE GUNS N’ ROSES SONG PLAYING UNDER THE LIGHTS HIS SENIOR YEAR AT BENJAMIN. Pictured on the right: Richie Sudder #32, Paul Dean #75, Howard Ernst #67, Tom Rooney #86, and Chip Poncy #83.
60TH ANNIVERSARY | THE BUCCANEER
Photo courtesy of Tom Rooney
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CAMPUS FEATURES
CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER
TITLES OF NOTE
Lisa (Kerste) Arline’s (’68) 5th Grade Class — 1967
When asked about some of my favorite books for an article in The Buccaneer magazine’s 60th anniversary edition issue, I wanted to mention books related to my years here at Benjamin. I thought back to my elementary school days when I attended the North Palm Beach Private School (now Benjamin), where I discovered the love of reading and the magic of books. I am deeply grateful I had the opportunity to have Mr. Benjamin as a kindergarten teacher who taught me how to read as a young child. His classroom (Room 1), converted from a cottage, was warm and inviting with a fireplace in the back of the room and a small reading bench in the corner. It has since been relocated from its original position next to the Lower School circle driveway, renovated, and now serves as the Head of School’s office on the Lower/ Middle School Campus overlooking the football field.
“. . . I wanted to mention books related to my years here at Benjamin.”
By Lisa (Kerste) Arline ’68
Reading was the subject of utmost importance to Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin and, today, students are still learning how to read and spell using the Carden Method. Mrs. Benjamin could make a story come to life as she shared with us her love of books and enthusiasm for reading. I can remember her reading Rikki-Tikki-Tavi by Rudyard Kipling aloud to our elementary class, where we, as students, were utterly entranced hanging on every word. I can also remember reading Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in French class. It contains a quote by the fox and, to this day, it remains one of my favorites. “And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” “What is essential is invisible to the eye,” the little prince repeated, so that he would be sure to remember. The final book I would like to mention is The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff. It was a gift at the end of the year from a parent of a fifth-grade French student. It is the story of female spies during World War II, and was one I could not readily put down and thoroughly enjoyed reading over the summer.
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THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES
HEAD OF SCHOOL WELCOMED DURING LIVE 60TH ANNIVERSARY BROADCAST The Benjamin School community welcomed new Head of School David Faus during a 60th anniversary celebration the morning of September 24. The live event, produced by upper school students and broadcast from the BTV News studio, included a retrospective of the School’s history featuring Susy Benjamin and Jack and Barbara Nicklaus, followed by remarks by Faus and Board of Trustees Chairman Darren Lowe. Faus joined Lowe and upper school BTV News anchor Sydney Steinger on set in the upper school TV production studio for the livestreamed event, which included a mix of prerecorded videos and live remarks. Faus was presented with welcome gifts from the Benjamin community, including an engraved Tiffany clock presented by Lowe on behalf of the Board of Trustees.
“It took very little convincing for me . . . What attracted me to Benjamin the most was the emphasis on the whole student.” 22
CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER
“It’s an honor to join the Benjamin community, especially now as we celebrate 60 years of tradition and innovation,” said Faus. “It took very little convincing for me to take this opportunity to come to Benjamin . . . What attracted me to Benjamin the most was the emphasis on the whole student. I truly believe we provide the opportunities for our students to become the best versions of themselves. Thank you for allowing me to carry on the torch as the 11th Head of School at TBS.” Lowe, when interviewed at the conclusion of the event, said he and the Board of Trustees speak unanimously when they say that Faus is an “invaluable addition to The Benjamin School.” “He understands the fabric of our community and is mission aligned,” said Lowe. “We are thrilled to have him join the Benjamin family.”
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THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT:
JASON PECK, UPPER SCHOOL DRAMA TEACHER that move people, ask them to look inward, and examine the way they think and act.
Q: Most memorable Hollywood moment?
A: I have so many, but the one that
Q: Tell me about your acting/directing background. When did you first become passionate about film?
A: I have been acting since I was 9 years old. My fondest memories growing up are of my dad taking me to the movie theater on the weekends. No matter how busy he got, he always had time for that. I grew up in Los Angeles and, from a young age, took acting classes that revolved around film/TV scripts. My parents were bent on
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it being a hobby and not wanting to carpool me from audition to audition. Acting classes for young actors were usually filled with working young actors, so I was fortunate to act in classes with the likes of Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal, Fred Savage, Leonardo DiCaprio, and others. I caught the “acting bug,” and a love of film soon became a love of the stage. I love both mediums so much and, in the end, I am drawn to stories
I think I learned the most from was when I was shooting a small role in an episode of the sitcom The King of Queens. One of my scenes was with Kevin James and the late Jerry Stiller. Jerry Stiller, who played George Constanza’s father on Seinfeld, was positively hilarious but had tremendous stage fright. The King of Queens was a three-camera sitcom that was shot in front of a live studio audience. Jerry had the entire audience cleared, and we shot the scene without an audience, and a laugh track was added later. It was an eye-opening experience that showed that even the biggest of stars could still be challenged by the work. It was a great learning experience to remember to be protective of your work, and to not be afraid to ask for something when you feel like a situation might not allow you to be the best you can be. Jerry ended the shoot by saying to me as he left, “Keep it up. You’re funny, kid.”
CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER
Q: You’ve worked on some shows and with some people who are household names. Can you brag for a minute?
A: I have been incredibly lucky to work with some very talented people. I did a small short film with John C. Reilly, worked a lot with Jack Black in Tim Robbins’ theatre company before either was hugely famous, and have acted with Tony, Emmy, and Academy Award-nominated actors like Toni Collette, Cameron Diaz, Harry Hamlin, Bill Sadler, Bruce Davison, Kathleen Quinlan, Christina Applegate, Kevin James, and the late, great Jerry Stiller.
Q: Of what career achievements are you the most proud?
A: In my career as a theatrical artist, I think I am most proud of my theatre company. I serve as co-artistic director of a professional summer theatre company in Connecticut (Thrown Stone Theatre Company), which is dedicated to “new work.” As a high school theatre educator, three of my plays were named “Best Play” in the state of Connecticut during the past four years. As far as my screen work, I had the chance to be a recurring guest star on a show called Roswell, where I played bumbling Deputy Hanson. When you book a guest spot on television, you often feel like you are an actor crashing a party because there is usually a tightknit group of actors like
a family. Serving as a recurring character let me develop that character over three seasons, and the writers began writing for me and what I brought to the role, which was fun.
Q: Who are your favorite writers/actors?
A: Favorite actors include Daniel Day-Lewis, Ryan Gosling, Denzel Washington, Christian Bale, Robert De Niro, and Sam Rockwell. My favorite writers include Will Eno, Bruce Norris, Lucas Hnath, Josh Harmon, Molly Smith Metzler, and Anna Moench.
Q: What drew you to Benjamin and South Florida? In what ways do you hope to grow Benjamin’s arts program?
A: I was drawn to The Benjamin School because of the beautiful space, talented faculty, and open students. When I came out for my interview, there was a brief 15 minutes allotted for talking with the Drama Club, and that 15 minutes turned into nearly an hour. Our students’ openness, passion, and talent were so clearly evident. I knew that I’d be working with young artists who would be engaging collaborators with a hunger to make art. Beyond that, my in-laws live in Boca Raton, Florida, and my wife never had the chance to live near her parents as an adult. We are so grateful that our children will now have some quality years with their
grandparents. I received my MFA in acting from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory in Sarasota, Florida, so I am very enchanted by the Floridian way of life. Flip-flops and T-shirts are my uniform.
Q: What advice would you give to TBS students interested in pursuing TV and film careers — both on-screen and behind the scenes?
A: It is the cliche thing that was said to me, but it always bears repeating. Life as an artist is still not easy. It is a roller coaster ride of elusive employment, emotions, and always looking for the next job. I tell my students that you should not do it if you can see yourself doing something else. That said, it is an extraordinary gift to share your soul with another human being, and if you have the disposition for it, it can be a riveting and inspiring path.
Q: What else should I be asking you that I’m missing?
A: I have two kids who are attending the Lower School at Benjamin: Ilia, grade 5, and Holden, grade 3. As my wife and I love to say, they are our best production to date. Go Bucs!
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THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES
FALL SPORTS TEAMS
Varsity Boys Cross Country
Varsity Girls Cross Country
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CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER
Varsity Football
Varsity Girls Golf
Varsity Volleyball
Varsity Boys Golf
Varsity Boys and Girls Swimming
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THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES
WINTER SPORTS TEAMS
Varsity Boys Basketball
Varsity Girls Basketball
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CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER
Not Pictured: Varsity Wrestling
Varsity Girls Golf
Varsity Girls Soccer
Varsity Boys Soccer
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THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES
VARSITY FOOTBALL PLAYER
WEISZ TO PLAY AT YALE UNIVERSITY NEXT FALL Andrew Weisz’s love for football began the moment he donned pads for the first time as a middle school student at The Benjamin School. That devotion to the sport has grown over the past seven years, and the Benjamin senior is now committed to play Division 1 football at Yale University next fall.
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“I really didn’t know I was going to play football in college . . .”
CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER
“I really didn’t know I was going to play football in college until my older brother, Martin, began to get recruited when he was a junior. I was in the eighth grade at the time and this was the first time I had ever heard about offers or a Division 1 scholarship, but that is when my recruiting journey began,” said Weisz. His brother, Martin Weisz, currently plays football at the University of Virginia. Weisz said the recruiting process, amidst a global pandemic, was certainly a unique one. “All visits were canceled ever since we began quarantine. Coaches were forced to use their technology skills to the best of their ability to recruit kids to their schools,” said Weisz. “It was a process no one had ever experienced before, but we got through it. I was calling and using FaceTime with coaches during the entire process.” Weisz is one of many Benjamin student-athletes who have navigated the recruiting process throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past five years, an average of 25 percent of the senior class has gone on to play athletics at the collegiate level. Weisz said his journey as a student-athlete has included early risings, late practices, and “grinding for hours at the sport.” He credits Coach Keller, his middle school football coach, with inspiring his love for the game and building the foundation for his football career. “He made me into the player I am today. I love checking in on him, and seeing him brightens my day every time. He’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever had.” 31
THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES
VARSITY SOCCER PLAYER SHIRZAD:
‘COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS WAS ALWAYS THE DREAM’ Emma Shirzad and I first intersected more than three years ago. She and her classmate, Madeline Hart, were playing on the boys’ middle school football team and I was thrilled to profile both pioneering young women for our School’s magazine, The Buccaneer. I knew then that it wouldn’t be my last time writing — and bragging — about Shirzad. Emma Shirzad’s first memories are framed by soccer. The youngest of four siblings, she remembers afternoons spent kicking around a ball on the sidelines of their games. Shirzad’s first official foray into the sport was in third grade when her mom signed her up for travel soccer. “Collegiate athletics was always the dream. For these travel teams, playing collegiate athletics was the expectation,” Shirzad said. That dream will become reality for Shirzad in the fall when she steps two cleated feet onto the turf at Carnegie Mellon University as a student-athlete.
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CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER
Shirzad credits Benjamin and its coaches with fostering her love of the sport. “My favorite memory from Benjamin was playing in the District finals when I was a freshman. As the game came to a close, we were tied with Oxbridge. We went into penalty kicks, and Coach Chaplan chose me as one of the five PK (penalty kick) takers. Being only a freshman, I was overtaken with nerves. Although we lost, I still made my shot and to know Coach Chaplan had that much faith in me at such a young age really boosted my confidence,” said Shirzad. Shirzad said she is grateful to Chaplan who served as her mentor at Benjamin. “He not only brought me up from middle school, but also started me both those years. Being so young, I was nervous and was always scared to fail. He always
encouraged me and had so much faith I could execute my job on the field. His believing in me allowed me to realize I should believe in myself too,” Shirzad said. Although she’s looking forward to her future plans, Shirzad said that being a student-athlete during the COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult, especially missing the love of the game and the opportunity to play with her teammates. Despite the current climate, Shirzad encourages fellow student-athletes to work hard on and off the field. “Athletically, you will only become a better athlete if you push yourself. Off the field, put as much effort into your academics as you do on the field. You never want your academics to hold you back from athletic opportunities in college,” Shirzad said.
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THE BUCCANEER | CAMPUS FEATURES
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT:
SARAH COHEN ’01, ATTORNEY, LEGAL AID CO-FOUNDER OF FLORIDA ADVOCATES FOR SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING Q: When did you know you wanted to practice law? What has your journey been like from law school to where you are today?
A: Growing up, I thought I would
Q: What is your favorite or some of your favorite memories from your time as a student at Benjamin?
A: My favorite memories at Benjamin include launching rockets in Mr. Sanders’ science class, playing varsity volleyball, and Mrs. Salivar’s Spanish class. Benjamin was a great place for me. I made lifelong friends and received an excellent education. I can confidently say my time at TBS set me up for success in college and beyond.
Q: Did you have a teacher, coach, or mentor who inspired you?
A: Benjamin has a lot of great educators and Barbara Murphy stands out as an exceptional teacher. She engaged and challenged kids in her classes and she truly cared about her students. I am thankful we are still in touch today.
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be a doctor. Then I sat in college chemistry classes and knew that wasn’t the path for me! I wanted to help people and tried to get as much relevant experience in law school to help me decide on a practice area. I enjoyed both international law and juvenile law, so I interned at the Supreme Court of Uganda and Unified Family Court in St. Petersburg, Florida. I quickly realized how much I enjoy working with and on behalf of children, and saw the need for representation of children in Florida. Upon graduating law school, I first volunteered at Legal Aid locally, then started working there when an opportunity arose with the Foster Children’s Project.
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring lawyers?
A: Find your balance. Be prepared to work hard, but also make time for other things in your life — family, friends, self-care, etc. Your career is a marathon, and you will not finish it if you burn out halfway through. Find what brings you joy and make time for that! For me, it’s spending time with family and friends, traveling, and collecting vintage cookbooks.
Q: Can you tell me more about your work with Legal Aid? How long have you been with them and what type of work do you typically undertake?
A: We are very lucky to have Legal Aid here in Palm Beach County; with more than 20 projects, we help people with a variety of legal issues ranging from domestic violence to fair housing to elder abuse. My work with the Foster Children’s Project is both challenging and rewarding as I represent foster children in our community. For six years, I have worked in both Belle Glade and West Palm Beach advocating for children.
Q: You recently moderated a debate. What was that like?
A: Civic engagement is critical, and one way to be a responsible citizen is to become an informed voter. I was honored that When We All Vote Palm Beach County Voting Squad asked me to moderate a debate focusing on five South County races. Opportunities like these allow voters to hear directly from the candidates on local issues.
Q: What else am I missing? A: In March 2020, I started a small business called Sarah’s Slow Jam, selling seasonal jams and jellies. It has been a lot of fun so far!
CAMPUS FEATURES | THE BUCCANEER
HOLLYWOOD SCREENWRITER SWIFT ’88: FROM ‘THE HILL’ TO HOLLYWOOD Hollywood screenwriter Mark Swift ’88, whose résumé includes box office hits Friday the 13th, Baywatch, and Freddy vs. Jason, spoke with Benjamin alumni via Zoom the afternoon of October 22. Swift, whose career has taken him from Capitol Hill to Hollywood, spoke to dozens of former Benjamin students, current students, and past teachers. He recalled his time as a student at USC, where he took “all the film classes I could” before transferring to Johns Hopkins where he graduated with a major in international relations and a minor in philosophy. “I was going to work in government. I applied to the CIA and the State Department, and I worked on The Hill, but then Bill Clinton was elected and there was a hiring freeze,” said Swift. Around that time, his old roommate at USC reached out, urging him to give Hollywood one more shot. When Swift first moved to Los Angeles, he recalled having no money, no car, and walking to work at his Universal Studios job. “I was an assistant, I wrote screenplays at night,” he said. Swift’s first “big break” happened when a producer invited him to the set of the film American Pie in 1998. “I have been lucky to work ever since,” he said. That work, although transmogrified by the coronavirus pandemic, has continued along with the ups and downs of Hollywood. Swift acknowledged that it’s a difficult time right now with theaters closed amid a transition to streaming services. “The way people are consuming media is brand new. The good news is -– if you’re a writer or a director, people want content and entertainment, and there is a place if you can create it. There are more ways to get your ideas out than ever before. It’s a fun job; it beats having a real job. Besides, I have no actual skills left,” Swift self-deprecatingly chuckled. “The only thing I understand now is movies.”
ADDITIONAL ALUMNI SPEAKERS INCLUDED: •C olin Hickey ’07, CAIA, Partner & Director of Client Investment Advisory at Forbes Family Trust •T albot Sutter ’07, President & Broker at Sutter & Nugent Real Estate • Honorable Chelsea Reed ’88, Palm Beach Gardens City Councilmember
•T ony Owen ’93, Global Business Development Leader
•R ebecca Seelig ’93, President at Palm Beach Public Relations
•E llen Regnery, Esq. ’83, Haile Shaw & Pfaffenberger, P.A.
• Darren Craft ’04, CLCS, Founder & President at Worth Insurance Services, LLC
• Nikasha Wells ’98, Senior Manager of Governmental Affairs & Equal Employment Officer for Palm Tran
• Kyle Sheehan ’96, Senior Associate at The Sheehan Agency – Real Estate
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THE BUCCANEER | ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES Stuart Pavlik ’69 currently resides in North Palm Beach, Florida. He is pictured here enjoying a fly-fishing trip in the North Georgia mountains near the Appalachian Trail. Ellen Laird Regnery ’83 is a shareholder in the law firm of Haile Shaw & Pfaffenberger, P.A., located in North Palm Beach, Florida. She is board certified by the Florida Bar as a specialist in Wills, Trusts, and Estates, and is now in her 30th year of practicing law. Ellen and her husband Dennis have two children, Maggie, a 2018 graduate of TBS who currently attends UVA, and Jack, an 11th grader at TBS. Ellen has been serving on the Alumni Council for the last three years and currently acts as Vice-President. Brad Chamness ’83 and his wife Tove, originally from Sweden, reside in North Palm Beach, Florida, with their two daughters (pictured right), Ruby, third grade at Benjamin, and Ella, in kindergarten. Brad is currently serving on the Benjamin School Alumni Council and owns a financial advisory business in North Palm Beach. Marci Ernst High ’87 — “Looking for the joy and peace in 2020 has been harder than normal — but it was there. My oldest, Emma, graduated from Virginia Tech with two degrees: biochemistry and biology. Next step will be med school. My youngest, 36
Caroline, has started her senior year at UGA as an accounting major. I have started a new step in my career as an Intensive Family Intervention Therapist, while enjoying island life on the coast of Georgia.”
disorders such as Peyronie’s disease, chronic pelvic pain syndrome, and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Amanda (Warner) Pierman ’97 completed her Masters of Education (M.Ed.) in Teacher Leadership and Chemistry in September, and is beginning a doctoral program (Ed.D.) in Instructional Technology in November.
Dan Allen ‘92 and his wife Laura are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter Brooke Allen on August 1, weighing 6 pounds, 3 ounces. Kristen Desmond LeFevre ’93 has been named to the 2020 class of Top Women in Media by Folio/AdMonsters, and was recognized as a finalist for Yale University Publishing Course’s 2020 Innovative Leader Scholarship Award. In August 2020, she was hired as a senior editor at Palm Beach Media Group, where she is a key member of the editorial team for several South Florida magazines of record, including Palm Beach Illustrated, Fort Lauderdale Illustrated, Aventura, Orlando Illustrated, The Palm Beach 100, and The Palm Beach Charity Register. Edward Skrod ’96 recently opened True Freedom Therapy, a medical clinic across the street from Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center. The clinic provides scientifically proven treatment for erectile dysfunction, frequent urination, neuropathy, chronic pain, and other urogenital
Nikasha Wells ’98 (pictured above) is one of the newest members of the TBS Alumni Council and is the mother of 9-year-old Saige. She is a Government Relations Senior Manager for Palm Beach County, and most recently served as the Florida Coalitions Director for the Biden for President Campaign. Jon Allen ’02 and his wife Krystan recently welcomed their second daughter, Lilah Paige Allen, into the world on June 6, 2020. Ivy Allen turned 3 years old on October 15 and is extremely excited to be a big sister. Paul Lawler ’03 resides in Jupiter, Florida, with his wife Danielle. They have a 5-year-old son, Jack, who is in kindergarten at Benjamin, and a 1-year-old daughter, Margaret. Paul works as Corporate Counsel to Wealth Partners Capital Group in Palm Beach. Paul began serving as President of the Alumni Council this fall after joining the Council in 2017.
ALUMNI CLASS NOTES | THE BUCCANEER
Darren Craft ’04 is a proud member of the School’s “14 Year Club.” He later attended Georgetown University where he played football and majored in finance and business management. Darren began his career on Wall Street and subsequently spent seven years at a credit-focused hedge fund in South Florida. More recently, he has combined his passion for financial services and technology through several insurance company start-ups. Today, Darren is the founder and president of Worth Insurance, a property and casualty insurance agency based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Worth Insurance focuses on the insurance needs of high net worth households and private client insurance programs. He is happy to be back home and engaged to fellow TBS alum Melanie Davis ’07. Darren looks forward to being an active member of the Alumni Council and Benjamin community.
Elizabeth Hope ’05 (pictured above) is dedicating her time to childhood cancer research and education after her son was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Elizabeth resides in Alabaster, Alabama, with her husband Joseph and children Ryanne, age 5, and Ruddy, age 2. Kirsten (Schooley) McElhinney ’07 and TJ McElhinney are delighted to announce that the McElhinney family is growing by two feet this January.
Maggie (Regan) Jensen ’07 opened her Jacksonville real estate sales business (@yourmindfulrealtor) with Keller Williams in October 2020. Her daughter Juliet (pictured left) is nearly a 1-year-old and loves being a “Baby Buc”!
Francis O’Brien ’07 married Elisabeth Leonard in Santiago, Chile, this October. Fran moved to Chile seven years ago and currently works as the head of Marketing and Business Development for a boutique pharmaceutical company. The couple has lived in Santiago together for the last five years. They are expecting their first child (a baby boy) in February 2021! Samantha Levy ’08 is excited to begin a career in real estate with the Sutter & Nugent team. A graduate of Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, Samantha spends her free time playing golf, tennis, or running with her two dogs.
David Glickman ‘80 was recently named partner at The Markarian Group. Selected as a Super Lawyer and Rising Star in 2020, David’s practice focuses on assisting businesses and individuals in all aspects of corporate strategy. In addition to his involvement in the Young Lawyers Division of The Florida Bar Association, David is a dedicated member of his local community and an active member of the Palm Beach County Bar Association. Hali Sammis ’10 married Brayden Holt on Summer Solstice, June 20, 2020. The ceremony took place on the beach in Kenai, Alaska. Hali works for Twin Cities Veterinary Clinic. Brayden, a crane operator at Cruz Construction and a native Alaskan, met Hali when they were both living in Colorado. Together they now call Kenai, Alaska, home. Codi Mimun ’10 became engaged to Ryan Parsons in June. The couple is planning their wedding for May 2021 in Palm Beach, Florida. Nano Anderson ’10 (pictured right) “We didn’t social distance. Baby Swetman coming March 2021!”
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