Buzzer Summer 2014

Summer 2014

ALUMNI

& ART

The Best of Browning!

Summer 2014

A

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a rt i n f o c u s

UNTITLED Findlay Edwards ’14 19” x 11” x 9” Stoneware Clay

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contents

Summer 2014

FEATURES

4

The Heart of Art at Browning

20

Browning Goes Green

36

2014 Graduation and Matriculation

44

Did You Know?

48

Summer Stipends

52

2014 Spring Benefit

DEPARTMENTS

3 From the Headmaster

23 From the Archives 24 The Local Buzz 56 Fine and Performing Arts 60 In the News 62 Athletics 68 Alumni Events 78 Class Notes

Art in Focus (facing page): Art teacher Zack Davis explains, “This piece is constructed of stoneware clay and finished with high fire glazes. It is handbuilt with extruded coils and assembled in steps occurring over a series of sessions. The boys

are encouraged to pick a technique that they are most comfortable with and attempt to execute a sophisticated form which is later featured in the annual art exhibition.�

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ON THE COVER This colorful double-decker bus was created for a second grade play (see p. 56) under the guidance of art teacher Zack Davis by boys in all three divisions of the School.

Alumni had fun posing with it during Alumni Reunion.

(L to R): Andy Sandberg ’01, Stuart Orenstein ’00, Alexander Bank ’05, Michael Beys ’89.

MISSION STATEMENT Founded in 1888 as a college preparatory school for boys, The Browning School continues its commitment to the goals of John A. Browning: the pursuit of academic excellence and a lifelong love of learning,

BUZZER STAFF Stephen M. Clement, III, Headmaster Melanie S. McMahon, Director of Publications, Buzzer Editor Laura N. Lanigan, Director of Alumni Affairs SPRING BUZZER CONTRIBUTORS Dominique Bernard, French Teacher Zack Davis, Art Teacher Betty Noel, Science Teacher Melodie Ting, Science Teacher Nik Vlahos, Chair, Art Department Andrew H. West ’92, Athletic Director

the belief in the dignity of the individual, and the development of personal integrity and responsibility to the broader community.

The Browning boy develops amid these values.

The Browning alumnus is a good citizen, sensitive to the needs of others, and respectful of divergent yet informed opinions.

He is, in the best sense of the word, a gentleman.

Contributing photographers: Christine Bramble, Rossa Cole Photography, GKNY Photo, Marty Hyman Photography, Jeremy Katz ’04, Melanie McMahon, Laura Lanigan and Sandy Pelz ’71.

Design by Misty Wilt Graphic Design LLC BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2013–14 James S. Chanos, President William L. Jacob, III, Vice President William S. Kingson†, Vice President Thomas S. Hexner, Treasurer Richard L.N. Weaver ’75, Assistant Treasurer R. Thomas Herman ’64, Secretary Celeste A. Guth, Assistant Secretary Stephen M. Clement, III, Headmaster Michael P. Beys ’89, President, Alumni Association Alka K. Singh, President, Parents Association H. Kenneth Metz, First Vice President, Parents Association Laura Z. Barket Paul A. Burke Stuart J. Ellman Elizabeth Granville-Smith Philip A. Hofmann Ling S. Kwok Jeffrey M. Landes David J. Liptak Jeffrey S. Olson

Raul Pineda Ellen Stafford-Sigg David N. Steck Sanjay Swani Lou Switzer Deborah C. van Eck Valda M. Witt Robert Ziff

Mildred J. Berendsen, Honorary Trustee Allan L. Gropper, Honorary Trustee †

Deceased

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DIVERSITY STATEMENT The Browning School strives to create a diverse community in which all members are safe, respected and valued.

We believe that in actively promoting a diverse learning environment, we are fostering intellectual, social and emotional growth for all.

Recognizing and pursuing diversity, however, are not enough; we seek to transcend mere tolerance of differences and aspire to a celebration of the varied appearances, abilities, perspectives and values that characterize our community.

The Buzzer is published three times a year by The Browning School. The School may be reached at 212 838 6280. Website: www.browning.edu.

The Browning School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, religion, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and other school-directed programs, or employment practices.

from the headmaster

Remarks from Lower School Assembly JUNE 6, 2014

Thank you, boys, for this

grades, I asked the boys another question: What languages

Ms. Warner, once again you

somebody in your own family? We included brothers and

superb music assembly.

have outdone yourself! I also want to thank all of the special instrumental

teachers for the excellent

work you have done with the Lower School boys

throughout the year, and

especially for this concert.

Also, thank you, faculty. This has been an exciting but

hard year for all of us with all of the construction which is transforming Browning before our very eyes. Stay tuned for the fall!

Speaking of construction, just before they moved I said

farewell to the third graders in their old room and thanked

them for doing so much of their own packing. When I went

to visit the fourth graders in their new digs earlier this week, I also asked them to help me get ready for this talk with a survey on different languages they hear spoken at home.

Knowing that, under the leadership of Ms. Gruhn,

Browning has introduced Spanish and French at earlier

other than English do you hear at home, spoken by

sisters, mothers and fathers, grandmas and grandpas.

Although they can sometimes feel like family, we did not include nannies or babysitters.

And here is a list in alphabetical order of languages the

Browning fourth graders hear: Arabic

Australian!

When I went to visit

French

the fourth graders,

German

I asked them to

Hebrew

help me get ready

Italian

for this talk with a

Korean

survey on different

Polish

languages they hear

Russian

spoken at home.

Chinese/Mandarin Gaelic Greek Hindi

Japanese Latin

Portuguese Vietnamese

Wow! What a long list of languages! This breadth and

diversity is one of the greatest reasons why I love working at Browning. Thank you, Ms. Warner, for adding Spanish and French to the English language we share in common. Who knows what you will slip in next year?!

Headmaster Clement was interviewed by the boys in Megan Ryan’s French class earlier this spring. He and the boys conversed in French, with no English necessary for a most enjoyable learning session!

Stephen M. Clement, III Headmaster

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f e at u r e

Heart O F Art AT Browning THE

THE BROWNING ART DEPARTMENT TAKES GREAT PRIDE IN ITS HANDS-ON, WORKING STUDIO ENVIRONMENT WHICH EMPHASIZES MATERIALS, PROCESS AND CONTENT. Nik Vlahos

Zack Davis

Beginning in Pre-Primary and continuing its evolution

through our Form VI electives, our program offers exposure to a full spectrum of media, guided project-based learning and the opportunity for the boys to show their work in school-wide exhibitions and rotating installations throughout the School facility. Every year brings a new level of challenges creating a cohesive, cross-divisional curriculum.

Every grade level is the best at handling materials a certain way, and the key is to develop lessons that draw on their particular strengths. Our goal in writing this article is to highlight some projects and to show what goes into making them while, at the same time, demonstrate how the curriculum progresses through the grade levels. –Nik Vlahos and Zack Davis

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eginning in the fall, we embark on a school-wide study of an artist, a group of artists, a region, or a

movement of historical significance.

Images of well known works by the chosen artists are used as sources of inspiration for cross-divisional lessons.

This year’s theme was “New Wave, New York� and we looked at the artists Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Kenny Scharf and JeanMichel Basquiat. We chose these artists not only because their work is

ideal for inspiring student work at all levels but also because these artists all knew each other and inspired one another in much the same way that students of all grade levels inspire each other here at Browning.

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The paintings are projected onto canvas, traced and recreated with acrylic paint by the Middle and Upper School boys, both as course content and voluntary exercises for interested students. While making these

paintings, students learn to mix color along with many different brush

techniques in order to get the look

to complete the paintings in time

Students collaborate on a daily basis

holiday party.

of the artist they are working from.

for exhibition as part of the annual

hroughout the course of the year, we strive to create projects that are inspired by activities and lessons

we notice happening in the other subject area classrooms. For example, the Pre-Primary boys worked on a unit which focuses on penguins and used imagery to enhance their knowledge pertaining to the animal and its habitat.

In the art studio, the boys used the penguin as a source

of inspiration and subject to create ceramic sculptures of penguins. This project was a perfect introduction to both

the material and the process of modeling a specific form using their hands and basic modeling tools. The boys were then given the opportunity to glaze their sculpture, which allowed them to experience the difference between applying a surface treatment to a 2-D versus a 3-D piece.

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eramics is a big part

Primary and continues throughout

of our curriculum

every grade level. Every year,

and crucial in an all

projects review and build on the

boys school, from the

previous year’s skills. Here we have

physical aspect of working with clay to literally walking around to the over-40 glazes they have to choose from. Ceramics begins with Pre-

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a first grade animal plate project.

The boys are asked to sculpt an animal and place it in its natural habitat. This is also a

aking the transition from 2-D to 3-D work is an important step and

a strong component in every grade level. These examples from the second grade boys show how students use drawings as guides for both form and surface treatment, allowing them to grasp the visual elements of the form and also hone in their understanding of

spatial depth on a 2-D surface. When it

comes time to execute the forms in clay, the boys have a much clearer idea of what direction to proceed.

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perfect example of how the art department collaborates with other departments. Science teacher Stephanie Seto teaches first graders

about animals in their environments, so the boys often incorporate details in their sculpture based on what they learned in her class.

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ower School boys work from the same paintings that the large canvases are based on.

Often they add their own creative changes to the original works.

Boys from all three divisions collaborate to create large collages based on the work of

the theme artist, which are also included in the exhibition.

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hird grade boys spend

the boys begin with a marker that

much of the year

is never ending and lead up to a

learning how to paint,

watercolor drawing. While making

culminating with

the watercolor, they must make a

a ceramic food sculpture. They

begin by looking at the artist Brice Marden and discuss the difference between a random squiggle and a considered line.

For the first part of the project,

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mark, stop and reload, and then continue their thought. This exercise teaches them to consider their marks. After that, we look at Vasily Kandinsky and use tempera paint to make an abstract painting.

This painting is developed through a complex process that involves different brush sizes and independent color mixing.

The boys begin with the largest

brushes and are each given random colors, plus black and white. As the painting progresses, they are given

smaller and smaller brushes, always encouraged to mix specific color.

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aking the skills they learned while making the abstract painting, third grade students went on to make a self-portrait.

They were encouraged to not worry about whether or not the painting looks like them but to get down the main characteristics, mixing all their own colors for skin, hair, eyes, and lips.

Some chose to make their background abstract, others opted for realistic.

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very year, Bill Cantwell teaches the fourth grade about ancient Egypt and arranges for a trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to tour the Egyptian wing. I [Nik Vlahos] go with them and ask the boys to

make a pencil sketch of the sarcophagi. Back at Browning, they make a color drawing.

The unit culminates with a free-standing ceramic sarcophagus

sculpture. With this project they are not only making a sculpture

based on their history studies but creating a free-standing sculpture.

They must learn to make a sufficient base and balance the distribution of the clay

throughout the

sculpture so that it stands properly.

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n the fifth grade, the boys revisit representational sculpture using the shoe as the subject. Rather than

moving directly on to the final piece

from the drawing, they create miniature moquette of the form. This allows them

to see the form in 3-D, which provides an important reference as they move on to the finished product.

Here are examples of the final shoe sculpture, which is significantly more detailed and shows the full evolution from

By sixth grade, more emphasis is placed on observational drawing. Prior to executing functional vessels in clay, the boys learn to observe and render form by using value and volume with a variety of wet and dry drawing media.

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drawing to model to final work.

Students began by making a slab

and tracing their own shoe onto it to get their actual footprint. With the addition of some other slabs, they

constructed the top. They then went on to roll out coils for shoelaces.

During this project, the miniature/mock-up phase allows them not only to explore the form but to test high-fire glaze combinations prior to treating the finishes on their final piece. The phase allows them to experience the unpredictable nature of stoneware glazes. The larger forms employ the extruder, which produces uniform coils for construction of the vessel.

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s with many of our other grade levels, the Form I boys engaged in cross-

disciplinary experiments of their own involving digging and processing clay from the Black Rock Forest Consortium, a new program that we hope will continue to evolve.

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orm I spends a significant amount of time studying abstract imagery. The project begins with a variety

of thumbnail sketches which allow the boys to create a series of images designed to inform a composition. The second step is to fuse the ideas and execute a full-color rendition which is finished with water color. The students are expected to use both their preliminary designs in graphite and watercolor as sources of inspiration for their composition in acrylic on canvas.

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orm II fine arts focuses on 3-D design and sources both historically significant and contemporary recourses.

The main subject for the core unit is the

chair. Using the Eames chair as well

as Droog design as inspiration, the boys are taken through a series of design challenges in both 2-D and 3-D approaches. The final project

requires students to source cardboard from the recycling collection and create a scale model chair. Rather than paint the chair, the boys are encouraged to use printed and colored cardboard for surface enrichment.

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orm IV takes a semester-long art survey class that is divided into

2-D and 3-D units. For the 2-D unit, students learn how to draw in two-point perspective.

They begin arranging cubes in relation to the horizon line and then move on to more complex shapes. Eventually they gain

the skills needed to draw a city from their imagination. To complete the city, it is outlined with ink using drafting pens; ink is also applied with a brush in the larger areas. The 3-D

unit is based on a common motif in art history, the human skull.

We discuss the historical significance of the skull, and the boys make

drawings from observing a plastic skull in class. After the drawings are complete, they are given a block of wax and carving tools. They carve out a skull, and it is later sent to a foundry in Astoria, Queens, where it is bronzed. Students have a range of options for the patina; this example is an oxidized one.

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n spring 2012, Form I boys combined their

with science teachers Melodie Ting and Sam Keany

knowledge of the natural world with their

on a project based on the 2012 Common Book

creative vision, visiting Black Rock Forest

reading of “Radioactive” (see photo below.) Second

where they made sculptures from material

graders made drawings in art class, while Upper

in the natural surroundings under the guidance of

School science students created cyanotype prints

art teacher Zack Davis. Mr. Davis later collaborated

with the younger boys’ images.

“There is an aesthetic component in design that cannot be ignored. We enjoy working with the art department whenever possible, and over the years we have had very productive collaborations surrounding mobile creation, bridge design, and the presentation of finished work.”

– Science Department Chair Sam Keany explains the relationship between the School’s science and art departments

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tudio drawing is offered as an elective for Form V and Form VI students. During this class, the boys gain control of their material and learn how to use a pencil

with specific intention. They start by drawing gray-scales and then move on to observational drawing.

This includes a still-life that uses organic and rigid forms along with objects of different textures. Using those skills they go on to draw a self-portrait. At the end of the year, their

assignment is to draw an illustration based on a scene from their life. This can be done in any style using any 2-D material.

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tudio painting is offered as an elective to Form V and Form VI students. For their first project, the boys paint

color scales, moving colors from light to dark in five stages. After they have understood basic color theory and how to mix color, they are ready to make paintings. Over the course of the year, they will paint from observation, using photo reference to make abstract and realistic paintings along with painting from their imagination. This class is taught at the college level and leaves students well-prepared to take intro classes in college.

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he ceramics elective

guidelines requiring them to display

focuses on teaching an

relative mastery of the techniques.

deal of extra time to manage the completion of the work.

the boys are then expected to

foster a strong work ethic through

a series of original works for the

historically significant material.

advanced approach to standard hand building

techniques and is an introduction to throwing on the potter’s wheel.

Students spend the first semester creating pieces under strict

As the student show approaches,

generate original ideas and create student exhibition. With the many

state changes of clay, there is a need for them to put in a great

Ultimately the course is meant to

the use of a very approachable and Access to a sophisticated palette

of high fire glazes aids in creating highly desirable results.

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ften when the boys are given time to free draw, they collaborate on a single piece. They

are very inventive and creative when making these and assemble as many pieces of paper as needed using tape.

This year we were motivated to take what they do on their own a step further.

We were inspired by a show by the artist Urs Fischer at the Gagosian Gallery — Park & 75 (see photo at top left). Mr. Fischer had a show at MoCA involving 1,500 volunteers who used 300 tons of clay to make sculptures together. He selected a few of them to be bronzed; his “Last Supper” was one of them.

We gave our boys clay and

had them collaborate on a

single piece. These images show the

finished products which came out of collaborations in the fifth grade as well as Upper School ceramics.

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he biggest art event of the year is our school-wide annual exhibition.

Each boy shows at least two pieces selected from projects done over the

course of the year. The exhibition showcases the respective talent of each grade level and creates a cohesive display of the various outcomes.

The show is open for an entire week, and daily viewings allow the parent community to engage the students about their work.

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FROM T HE

West Coast…

ZACK DAVIS, Art Teacher CLASSROOM GOALS

Zack stresses good craftsmanship, and

EARLY YEARS Born in San Diego and raised in south-

is important in every subject they take.

influenced Zack’s early love of both car-

other teachers to eventually help the

ern California; living near Disneyland

To that end, he collaborates with their

toon art and constructing things.

boys make that connection.

EDUCATION AND TEACHING EXPERIENCE

MOST PROUD OF year’s Art Show was held mainly in

dio arts and concentration in ceramics;

nectivity of the boys’ work through

Claremont McKenna College.

more apparent. While he was im-

PROFESSIONAL WORK

am always amazed by the sixth grade

University at Chico with a B.A. in stu-

the Lower Gym, as it allowed the con-

he earned his M.F.A. in sculpture from

their years at Browning to be much

pressed with all of the art, he said, “I

coil vessels, which continue to evolve

allowed Zack to teach part-time at a

from year to year.”

his art. After moving to New York in

OTHER INTERESTS

at the Museum of Art and Design.

him at times, Zack thoroughly enjoys

ment workshop in the Browning art

learning process. No one gets it right

been a full-time teacher for all three

During the summer, thanks to sti-

community college and also continue 2008, he accepted a yearlong residency

Though sculpting can be trying for

Zack taught a professional develop-

this artistic medium. “Sculpting is a

department in 2009; since 2010 he has

on the first try, and no one should.”

divisions of the School.

pends from the Parents Association,

“One of the most interesting challenges for me is discovering the different teaching methods that work best with different age groups. Upper School electives are similar to those in a college environment, and the boys’ work is critically reviewed.

I find a coaching approach works best for Middle School boys, so I draw on my own sports experience to teach them.

In teaching Lower School boys, I focus on materials and the process, engaging their creativity.”

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Zack appreciated the fact that this

Zack is a graduate of California State

A fellowship in museum education

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he hopes to instill in the boys that art

Zack enjoys traveling abroad where

he pursues ceramics (his first love) by studying with skilled ceramics masters in Spain and South America.

TO THE

East Coast NIK VLAHOS, Art Department Chair EARLY YEARS

“In art, there are no mistakes; from each result, the boys learn

and catalogue their results as tools for future work.

Born and raised in Astoria, Queens; close

MOST PROUD OF

museums and galleries inspired Nik’s

curriculum “in action;” in other words,

proximity to many of the world’s finest

I am most proud when I see the

love of art.

when I see a student in the fourth grade

EDUCATION AND TEACHING EXPERIENCE

clay, mix color, handle a brush, and

who knows how to properly work with

contribute to the creative environment of

Nik is a graduate of the School of

the class. I’m also proud when students

he studied painting and education and

in art class, they are a part of a team. Being

year teaching at P.S. 165 before joining

and clean-up – is essential to making

boys in all three divisions.

instilled in their work habits, it’s clear to

PROFESSIONAL WORK

been successfully learned; this allows us to

Visual Arts at Yale University where

show they have learned the concept that

later earned his M.F.A. He spent one

a good team player – helping with set-up

Browning’s faculty in 2007. Nik teaches

great work. When I see all these concepts me that the past four years of lessons have

Nik produces his own work in a studio

work on more complex projects. Though

drawing, photography and digital

is true throughout the grade levels.

2008 at 33Bond Gallery, while his most

OTHER INTERESTS

2012 at the Repetti Gallery in Brooklyn.

especially the chance to sit down to a

CLASSROOM GOALS

pany he enjoys. Sometime he makes the

where he is involved with painting,

to do something new,

drawing. He staged his first solo show in

and that is the creative

recent group show took place in April

process at work.”

grade level to experiment with materials

I’ve used fourth grade as an example, this

Nik appreciates “the art of fine dining,” relaxing dinner with people whose com-

Nik’s goal is that the boys “be able to do

meal himself, but sometimes it’s fun to

started.” He encourages boys in every

Of course, dining out is always great, too.

something they could not do before they

BROWNING’S ART TEACHERS MAY HAIL FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE COUNTRY, BUT TOGETHER THEY HAVE MADE NEW YORK CITY THEIR CAREER

create a delicious meal with other cooks.

DESTINATION, TEACHING BROWNING BOYS THE FINE ART OF, WELL…ART! READ ABOUT THIS DYNAMIC DUO AND WHAT MAKES THEM “TICK.”

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green

BROWNING GOES

After a long and “white” winter, the city’s landscape finally turned green again this spring. And thanks to Browning’s newly formed Green Team, the School turned green as well! The boys celebrated Earth Day on April 22 with Melanie McMahon

a dress-down fundraiser for a most worthy cause. According

to science teacher Emilie Wolf who advises the Green Team, the School community rose to the occasion, successfully showing its support for the protection of our planet. Ms. Wolf and the boys orchestrated this event, collecting $3 from each student who “dressed down.”

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ll funds raised were used for the implementation of “green actions” around the School. Participants received a Browning Green Team Reusable Bag and the chance to sign the Students Take On Plastic (S.T.O.P.) Pledge

initiated by The Town School. This pledge aims to reduce the use of plastic bags and, instead, promote the use of more environmentallyfriendly bags. In advance of Earth Day, teachers showed a video documentary focused on this subject.

By selling homemade baked goods, the Green Team raised $1,000 for the Wild Bird Fund, the only New York Citybased bird center.

Other “earth-saving”

initiatives at Browning

include the implementation of reusable mug lids to

reduce trash in the school

cafeteria, as well as promoting Instagram’s #bagitnyc effort to decrease plastic pollution

on city streets, as endorsed by The Hewitt School, The Town School and others.

The Green Team has

also paired up with the art

department and Crayola to

properly recycle markers by

placing Crayola ColorCycle boxes near the art rooms and in the Middle School Science Lab for drop-off. The markers will be shipped cost-

free to Crayola where they will be recycled and transformed into fuel.

Believe it or not, every year Crayola makes about half a billion markers (enough markers to wrap around the earth more than three times!) and sells them all around the world. More information is available on the company’s website (crayola.com/colorcycle).

A month after Earth Day, the Green Team kept up the momentum by

sponsoring Biodiversity Day on May 22 to promote the importance of

biodiversity, especially in New York City. By selling homemade baked goods, the team raised $1,000 for the Wild Bird Fund, the only New

York City-based bird center. This non-profit organization has paired

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BROWNING ALUMNUS COINS TERM “BIODIVERSITY”

Dr. Thomas E. Lovejoy ’59, founder of the TV series “Nature” on PBS,

was the first to use the term “biodiversity” in 1980. He currently serves as a senior fellow at the United Nations Foundation. Up until 2014, he was

the biodiversity chair at the Heinz Center for Science, Economics, and the Environment in Washington, D.C. Dr. Lovejoy is also an environmental

science and policy professor at George Mason University and has served as

director of the World Wildlife Fund-U.S. As noted in the Spring 2014 Buzzer

(page 12), he has said, “Browning gave me a fine education across the board.”

Read more about Dr. Lovejoy in his Class Notes section.

up with the vets at Animal General to provide free care for injured

birds and other wild animals. In fact, they receive and care for well over 2,500 birds a year! The boys’ decision to choose this particular

“cause” is most appropriate, as the Middle Schoolers often go birding in Central Park; this past November alone, they spied 17 species! (See article in The Local Buzz section.) Through the donation of their bake

sale proceeds, Browning will become a “Blue Jay Partner,” earning the School a visit from one of the fund’s bird care specialists, access to its

newsletter, and much more. (For more information, visit their website at wildbirdfund.org.)

The boys hope all of their “green” efforts will motivate family

and friends to follow suit, preserving and protecting our wonderful, irreplaceable “Mother Earth” and its inhabitants.

The Green Team has also paired up with the Art Department and Crayola to properly recycle markers and transform them into fuel.

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from the archives

Browsing through Browning’s archives is a wonderful way to while away an

afternoon. Full of photos and ephemera, the collection includes gems like the black

and white photograph of John H. Straus ’64 as a young boy opening the doors of the School back in the 1950s.

Mr. Straus reenacted the moment on the occasion of his 50th reunion on

May 2. After enjoying the True Grytte Society & Consecutive-Year Donor

Luncheon at the Knickerbocker Club where the Class of 1964 was honored, he headed back to Browning, borrowed Headmaster Clement’s briefcase and smiled for the camera! (See more luncheon photos on page 68.)

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the local buzz

FORM II BOYS TAKE ON RUBE GOLDBERG PROJECT Middle and Upper School science teacher Melodie

Ms. Ting added, “This was a two-week-long project

Ting reports exciting news: “The Form II boys in

that the boys started on an individual white board

presented with the task of designing and building

to be inventive in the materials they used, as they were

physical science class exploded with ideas when

their own Rube Goldberg project. Having just covered simple and complex machines and beginning the topic of energy, the Rube Goldberg project is the

perfect combination of these two chapters as the boys examine energy transfers in the machines they built.”

drawing out their designs with one restriction. They had not allowed to spend money buying parts but to use

what they had in the classroom or at home. They did

not disappoint; they were innovative and creative with their designs, collaborating with each other along the

way. They met obstacles and failures head on, constantly rethinking the design

right up until the final product was built.

Tasks included stapling three pieces of paper,

shooting a ping pong ball into a cup three

feet away, shooting a

paper ball into a trash can, pouring water

into a cup, sharpening a pencil, opening a

textbook, lifting an

object up by one foot, and calling a phone.”

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EDUCATION DIRECTOR OF BLACK ROCK FOREST CONSORTIUM VISITS BROWNING Dr. Jeff Kidder, education director of the Black Rock Forest Consortium, spent

the day at Browning on May 29. Science Department Chair Sam Keany reports:

“Dr. Kidder introduced the boys in grades two and three to water invertebrates

and led discussions about a host of their fascinating

adaptations. Later in the day, he met with members

of the science, art and math

departments to discuss future

Third grade boys are pictured (top) during a June outing to the forest.

Mr. Keany is vice president of the Black Rock

collaborative classes and

Forest Consortium now entering its 25th year; the

organisms and products.�

and scientific institutions.

projects centered on forest

organization constitutes 27 member schools, colleges

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FORM I BOYS SPEND TWO DAYS IN HUDSON HIGHLANDS Head of Middle School Chris Dunham reports on an overnight trip taken with Form I boys in April. “The Form I boys, along with Mr. Davis, Mr. Klein and me, spent two days up in the

Hudson Highlands. Black Rock Forest was our first stop. The

boys seined for macro-invertebrates in the local streams, hiked Mt. Misery, studied local animal skulls to make connections to

adaptations and usage, and had a fun campfire (with S’mores!)

and a night hike. Mr. Davis and a small crew of students discovered a local cache of Black Rock Forest clay and brought back 10

pounds of it for sculpting use here at school. On Friday, the boys traveled to Storm King Art Center to see its monumental pieces.

It was a terrific trip for all!”

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FAMOUS SPANISH-SPEAKING PEOPLE PAY A VISIT Spanish teacher Giurissa A. F. Grace reports

artist Fernando Botero, Uruguayan writer

ter project, the fifth grade Spanish class

Castro, Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, Spanish

that for the first part of their second semes-

researched a famous Spanish-speaking male figure, wrote biographical reports incorporating the grammar and vocabulary they

have learned, and presented their reports in Spanish dressed as their historical figures.

Browning was visited by the following

people: Argentinian writer Julio Cortázar, Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, Argentinian dictator Augusto Pinochet, Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, Colombian

Horacio Quiroga, Cuban dictator Fidel

artist Salvador Dalí, Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés, Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo, Castilian nobelman and military

leader El Cid, Guatemalan writer Miguel

Ángel Asturias, Mexican artist Diego Rivera, Nicaraguan writer Rubén Darío, Puerto

Rican educator and philosopher Eugenio María de Hostos, Peruvian writer Mario

Vargas Llosa, and Dominican visionary and founding father Juan Pablo Duarte. ¡Bravo!

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FIFTH & SIXTH GRADE BOYS WIN INAUGURAL “CITIZENCHIP” INITIATIVE This spring, teachers Dan Ragsdale and Megan Ryan

group of boys “caught” displaying exceptional citizenship.

“CitizenChip” Initiative promoting the ideals of the

most attentive during a morning meeting in April.

and Middle School Council members inaugurated the Citizenship Awards presented at the end of each school year. The objective of the CitizenChip Initiative, which ran from April 7 through May 16, was to acknowledge and reward

students for displaying the qualities of a good Browning citizen, including promptness,

neatness, respect, scholarship, sportsmanship,

integrity and cooperation. Every Middle School

faculty member received a few CitizenChips, each of which they could choose to distribute to a Middle School boy or

An entire class, for example, received a chip for being the Mr. Ragsdale noted, “The final day of the

CitizenChip competition was closer than the Preakness! Five lead changes throughout the deciding day resulted in a 43-43 tie

between Grades 5 and 6. Form II mounted a

spirited charge, but fell short with 36 chips.

Congratulations to Grades 5 and 6, and many

thanks to everyone who supported the inaugural

CitizenChip Initiative!” The winners enjoyed an outing to Central Park, where they dined on their favorite food.

LOWER SCHOOL SCIENCE EXHIBITION: A TOTAL TEAM EFFORT! Science Department Chair Sam Keany and Stephanie Seto,

science teacher, are pleased to

report that a “team effort” helped make the May Lower School

Science Exhibition a success for

all involved. The boys were eager to show what they had achieved;

likewise, their parents, older boys

and other classroom teachers were pleased to view the culmination

of the boys’ work. The event was held in the cafeteria during the first period of the day.

Mr. Keany and Ms. Seto said,

“Many thanks to all of those who helped the boys and us make

this a successful forum to present the work done in science class. We received help and support from

led by Mr. Keany and Ms. Seto who guided the boys

well as Elizabeth Cooper-Mullin, Jeremy Katz ’04

the process of the scientific method. They taught those

the library staff and technology department, as

and Melanie McMahon. Christine Bramble welcomed parents in the Lobby, while the cafeteria and

maintenance staffs helped in so many ways. Head

of Lower School Laurie Gruhn, the second and third grade homeroom teachers and the science teachers made it possible for the older boys to visit the exhibition and support the Lower Schoolers.”

THE

Ms. Gruhn added, “This enormous effort was

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through careful and thoughtful problem-solving and

valuable lessons of following through from hypothesis to conclusion, overseeing more than 60 individual

projects, iPad management, and in some cases, live

critters! As I told the parents, this exhibition, in many ways, is 21st century learning at its best. The boys

learned to plan creatively, think logically, articulate clearly and accept responsibility for their work.”

BROWNING BROTHERS Each year, the brothers enrolled here at Browning gather for a group photo; this year they assembled in the Lower Gym.

ANNUAL D.C. TRIP IS A TREAT FOR FORM II BOYS Head of Middle School Chris Dunham reports on the trip taken by Form II boys to Washington, D.C. for three

days in April: “The boys had a superb

time. The weather was as good as D.C. can offer, and that allowed for many

excellent frisbee tosses on the National Mall in between more cultural

experiences. The boys, along with

Ms. Suárez, Mr. Young and me, saw

many significant memorials, including the Vietnam Veterans, World War II and Lincoln Memorials. They also had profound experiences at the

Holocaust Museum and Newseum.

Another major highlight was meeting with lobbyists from the Nuclear

Energy Institute and getting a behind-

aides. On the lighter side of things, the

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney’s

baseball game and tested their James

the-scenes tour of the Capitol from

boys took in a Washington Nationals

Bond knowledge at the Spy Museum.

All in all, a terrific trip!”

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THIRD GRADERS VISIT NY PUBLIC LIBRARY There’s nothing quite as exciting as acquiring your first library

card, especially when it’s from

the main branch of the New York Public Library and can be used

at any of the system’s branches.

Third grade boys enjoyed their

June outing to the main library, especially the special exhibit,

“The ABC of It: Why Children’s Books Matter.”

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BIRDING AT BROWNING It’s a sure sign of spring at Browning when Middle School

BROWNING POETS PERFORM AND COMPETE

Head of Middle School Chris Dunham, along with science

ing’s finest poets performed their work at the Indepen-

boys become birders, and this year was no exception.

In observance of April as Poetry Month, five of Brown-

teacher Betty Noel, accompanied fifth grade boys to Cen-

dent Voices reading and publication launch at Barnes

tral Park to study many of the birds they had discussed in

class. Roger Pasquier, a native New Yorker, former Director of Foundations for the National Audubon Society, Inc., and famed birder, had spoken to the boys earlier during a visit to Browning. He returned to the School (as he has done in prior years) and kindly accompanied each class on a tour

and Noble. Carrying on a long tradition of leadership

at the event, Christopher Haack ’14 and Jacob King ’14

served as amiable hosts for the evening of poetry, reading their own works along with fellow poets Tyler Fraser, Isaac Barrezueta and Philippe Laffont.

An attentive crowd of students, parents and proud

of the park where he pointed out numerous species, from

English teachers from all over Manhattan were thrilled

city’s famous red-tailed hawk, Pale Male, who was twice

presenting strong art.”

robins, to various types of woodpeckers, to grackles, to the spotted scanning the park for pigeons and squirrels.

Browning boys study birds and their migration in the

spring, as it is the best time of year to do so. Central Park

attracts numerous migrating birds drawn to this scenic area even in the midst of so many buildings. A number of the

boys expressed their pleasure at spying so many species, as well as their enjoyment at being in the park and the “great outdoors.” The bright yellow forsythia and budding trees in Central Park were a picturesque backdrop to the nests and birds they soon discovered.

by what they heard and saw; that is, “strong students English teacher Kevin Dearinger also reports that

Jacob King and Christopher Haack were honored by the New York Browning Society at a luncheon at the Na-

tional Arts Club in May. Jacob was one of six winners

chosen from competitors representing 110 schools. He

read his poem, “Red,” to great acclaim. Chris was shortlisted and honored at the luncheon, which included an

address by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon.

Both boys were outstanding representatives of The Browning School.

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ANNUAL SPEAKING CONTEST BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN BROWNING BOYS Humorous, tear-jerking, stirring and heart-warming describe the

readings by 16 Lower School boys

Ms. Gruhn and were recognized at the

Lower School Awards Assembly in May. Lower School contest judges

chosen to represent grades three and

included Teri Lawrence, head of school

Public Speaking Contest on April

School; Gina Malin, director of school

four at the annual Lyman B. Tobin 24. Preliminary rounds judged by

Middle and Upper School teachers

had taken place beforehand, resulting in four finalists chosen from each

at The Resurrection Episcopal Day

advisor services at Parents League of New York; and Frank Patti, head of lower school at The Hewitt School.

Upper School boys took their turn

of the homerooms. Headmaster

at public speaking the next day, with

for their powerful recitations and

separate categories, oral interpretation

Clement commended all the boys cited Browning alumni, including

governors and other statesmen, who may credit the School for cultivating their own public speaking skills.

Head of Lower School Laurie Gruhn

introduced each finalist, who then

re-stated his name and the title of his

reading to an audience of proud family and faculty. The winners of the contest were announced later in the day by

THE

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nine boys choosing to participate. Two and original oratory, allowed them to

either interpret the work of another or

of the boys for their courage to stand in front of their peers and faculty to present their speeches. The judges

were tremendously complimentary of Browning in general, noting that everyone in these boys’ lives must be doing something right!” Upper

School contest judges included Sarah

Lederman, former history department

chair and teacher at The Dalton School; Alex Ragone, head of middle and

upper schools at City and Country School; and Amani Reed, head of

school at The School at Columbia.

Middle School boys concluded the

to write and present an original piece.

series of three Lyman B. Tobin Public

remarked, “The judges found the entire

one of the 16 participants showed

Head of Upper School Jim Reynolds

field of presenters outstanding. Their

deliberation was challenging because of the strength of the presentations.

Please congratulate not only the first and second place presenters, but all

Speaking Contests in May. Every

amazing skill at memorizing and

delivering his recitation in front of the entire community, a daunting task at any age! In preparing for this annual event, boys in Grade Five through

Form II are required to memorize a significant piece of poetry or prose

containing at least 14 lines, with four students from each grade chosen for the finals.

Head of Middle School Chris

Dunham commended all the

participants and thanked their

teachers and judges, including Matthew Stewart, head of The Caedmon School; Pat Ranar,

consultant in the faculty diversity search, Interschool; and Bill

McCartney, upper school head at The Town School.

Lyman B. Tobin, a Browning

teacher for 34 years, became

Headmaster in 1948 and under his leadership, public speaking was

established as an important part of

Objectives are to develop effective

effectively, and to develop poise and

is perpetuated today with this contest

a significant piece of poetry or prose,

an audience.

student life at the School. The tradition which takes place at all division levels.

public speaking skills, to memorize to learn how to deliver the piece

self-confidence speaking in front of

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GRYTTE STAFF TOURS WALL STREET JOURNAL WITH ALUM COLUMNIST In May, the Grytte student newspaper staff took

about deadlines, how the paper is laid out and where

offices of The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s and other

years, how long it may take to write certain stories, the

an afternoon walk to 1211 Avenue of the Americas,

products of Dow Jones and Company. Accompanied

by Grytte Advisor Jeremy Katz ’04, who took many of the photographs for this story, the boys were greeted

by Browning alumnus and WSJ columnist Ralph

Gardner, Jr. ’71, who arranged for a special tour of the newsroom with WSJ’s night editor, Wade Lambert.

Director of Alumni Affairs Laura Lanigan and Director

fact that news is delivered in print as well as in digital

format, etc. He noted that today’s WSJ covers much more than financial topics; in fact, the paper has expanded its coverage in arts, culture, sports, lifestyle and politics.

“Mr. Gardner’s column, Urban Gardner, is an excellent example of what I’m referring to,” said Mr. Lambert.

Carolyn Buck then took over as tour guide, offering

of Publications and Buzzer Editor Melanie McMahon

a wealth of information on WSJ’s history and awards,

and Mr. Katz helped arrange and guide this terrific field

She pointed out that through the years, the font of the

(yours truly) were pleased to join the group. Ms. Lanigan trip, while Ms. McMahon offers the following report: Mr. Lambert, who has been with the paper since

1984, explained how the pages and sections of the

newspaper are created, adding some behind-the-scenes humor by admitting that when deadlines are missed,

lots of shouting and yelling replace the usual quiet. A

triathlete, he also revealed that he starts his day with a

run or swim before heading to the office. He answered

the boys’ numerous questions in detail, including queries

THE

it is printed, how it has changed in content over the

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including 35 Pulitzer Prizes that are proudly displayed.

WSJ mast has not changed. Ms. Buck explained that WSJ, founded in 1889 (one year after the founding

of Browning!) is the largest daily newspaper in the

U.S., measured by paid circulation, for both weekday and weekend. Features are supplemented with blogs and digital content via WSJ.com, launched in 1996

(provided by 12 locally edited sites in six languages with 36 million global digital visitors per month),

and its online video initiative, WSJ Live. The boys

also learned that Dow Jones Newswires publishes

more than 19,000 daily news items and that Barron’s

magazine, while covering the financial markets, differs

from the WSJ in that it is entirely dedicated to investing and forecasting. Fifty of the most recent covers of Barron’s grace another wall of the building.

While the newsroom and the action that takes place

there is obviously crucial, advertisers and subscribers

are just as important. To that end, the boys heard from Director of Circulation Roberta Meo and Manager of Circulation Josephine Yu who addressed circulation,

retention, ad sales, and pricing of their products. They described the typical WSJ print subscriber as older,

affluent and highly educated. The challenge, they said,

is to focus on winning younger subscribers through the

tour occurred when Ms. Buck showed the group the

With the newsroom in the background, Wall Street columnist Ralph Gardner, Jr. ’71 introduced Wade Lambert, WSJ’s night editor, to the staff of the Grytte and their advisor Jeremy Katz ’04, along with Director of Alumni Affairs Laura Lanigan and Director of Publications/ Buzzer Editor Melanie McMahon; WSJ tour guide Carolyn Buck looks on. Later Mr. Gardner, Mr. Katz and the Grytte staff, with that day’s WSJ edition in hand, posed for a photo (facing page).

foreign correspondent who was slain at the hands

with a copy of the paper. The issue featured a cover story

tragedy “also sparked efforts to build on Danny’s

Kimball-Stanley ’05, three alumni who spoke to the

digital version of the paper and retain print subscribers with engaging content.

One of the more somber moments of the entire

memorial for reporter Daniel “Danny” Pearl, a WSJ

of militants in Pakistan. The WSJ has noted that this ideals of tolerance and understanding across cultures.”

The Grytte staff extends a huge thanks to everyone

involved in making this tour such an informative and enjoyable one! Ms. Lanigan notes that both

Mr. Gardner and Mr. Lambert had fun, too, and were impressed with the Browning boys: “I was happy to

focused on Alex Vadukul ’07, Wes Vernon ’49 and David Upper School students that morning about their careers

in journalism and communications. Following the panel,

the editors of the Grytte sat down with these alums in the Cook Room for a more in-depth discussion. (See Alumni Reunion coverage in this issue for further details.)

Earlier in May, the co-editors-in-chief of The Hewitt

see how engaged the boys were,” said Mr. Gardner.

Times from The Hewitt School gathered student

bright students and future alums.” Mr. Lambert echoed

to discuss their publications and hear from two

“Browning should have a bright future with such

those sentiments and added, “It was a pleasure to meet you and the students from The Browning School today.

I hope they enjoyed the tour, and please send them my

best wishes for their academic pursuits. They seem like

newspaper staffs from various New York City schools distinguished speakers, Taylor Trudon, deputy editor at Huffington Post Teen, and Erica Futterman, managing editor of Buzzfeed.

The meeting proved quite productive, as the editors

a wonderful group of students, all with bright futures

from Browning, Hewitt and Riverdale took inspiration

such a treat to give a tour to all of the boys. What a

of The New York Times (see page 60) regarding the

ahead of them.” Ms. Buck was also impressed: “It was kind group! It really meant so much to me to see the

excitement and enthusiasm in all of their questions.”

In other Grytte news (pardon the pun), the staff

released their third issue of the school year on May 2,

Alumni Reunion, allowing for the 150-plus alumni and guests who returned to the School that day to leave

from Headmaster Clement’s recent letter to the editor

ways that boys learn; they plan to write a collaborative article on the topic of single-sex as compared to co-ed

education. Another exciting development as a result of

the meeting was that Chris Russo ’15, one of the Grytte’s deputy editors, was invited by Taylor Trudon to be a blogger for The Huffington Post Teen!

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f e at u r e

C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S T O T H E

T

Class of

2014!

he Class of 2014 graduated on June 11 at Christ Church with Headmaster Clement, President of the Board of Trustees Jim Chanos and

Upper School Head Jim Reynolds (pictured far

right) presenting diplomas to each proud Browning boy.

As is customary, Headmaster Clement asks the boys to

stand individually front and center before receiving their

diplomas so that he may recount their personal successes and particular activities.

Guest speaker at the ceremonies was Vishaan Chakrabarti

Class of 2014 President Conor Dietzgen (top row, center)

(pictured far left with Headmaster Clement), a partner at

also spoke: “It seems like just yesterday that I stepped

University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning &

then I’ve spent nine years at Browning and have formed

SHoP Architects and an associate professor at Columbia

Preservation. Mr. Chakrabarti was a Browning parent from 2007 to 2010. He earned a master’s degree in architecture from the University of California at Berkeley, as well as a

master’s in city planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; he holds dual bachelor’s degrees in art history

and engineering from Cornell University. From 2002 to 2005, while serving as the director of the Manhattan Office for the New York Department of City Planning, Mr. Chakrabarti

successfully gained approvals for major rezonings and also directed the city’s design response to the reconstruction of Lower Manhattan in the wake of 9/11, the expansion of

Columbia University into Manhattanville and the makeover of Lincoln Center.

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into Mr. C’s class and began my career at Browning. Since friendships that I believe will last a lifetime. When I think of a word that best describes the Class of 2014, the word fraternity comes to mind. We all act as a single unit and always find peace of mind knowing that we all have

each other’s back when push comes to shove. This can

be exemplified in the 100% participation rate in donating money to the Class of 2014 Class Gift Fund. No matter

how far away we travel for college, whether it be to Santa Clara, California, or right here at Fordham in the Bronx, it’s important that we remain a band of brothers that

sticks together for a lifetime. Thank you, guys, for all the memories, and good luck.”

Summer 2014

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COLLEGES OFFERING ADMISSION TO THE CLASS OF 2014 Allegheny College

Drexel University

University of North

American University

Duke University

American University in Paris

Elon University

Northwestern University

Bard College

Emory University

Ohio Wesleyan University

Baruch College

Fordham University (2)

University of Pennsylvania (2)

Bates College

Franklin & Marshall College (2)

University of Pittsburgh

Bentley University (2)

Furman University

University of Richmond

Boston College

Georgetown University (2)

Roanoke College

Boston University (3)

Harvard University

Rochester Institute of Technology

Bryant University

Hobart College (2)

University of Rochester

California Institute of Technology

Universidad Iberoamericana

University of St. Andrews (5)

Carnegie Mellon University

Ithaca College (2)

St. John’s University

Chapman University

Lehigh University (2)

Santa Clara University (2)

College of Charleston (2)

Loyola University (2)

Seton Hall University

Clarkson University

Loyola University of

University of Southern California

Clemson University

New Orleans (2)

Southern Methodist University (2)

Carolina – Chapel Hill

Colgate University

McGill University

Susquehanna University (2)

Connecticut College

University of Miami

Syracuse University (4)

University of Connecticut

Middlebury College

Trinity College (4)

Cornell University (3)

University of New Hampshire

Tufts University

University of Dayton

SUNY – Binghamton University

Union College (2)

University of Denver

SUNY – New Paltz

University of Vermont (2)

Dickinson College (2)

SUNY – Stony Brook University

Villanova University (2)

DigiPen Institute of Technology

New York University (2)

Wake Forest University (3) Yale University

As of May 2014

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2014 matriculation

COLLEGE CHOICES – CLASS OF 2014 Congratulations to the graduates of the Class of 2014 and the fine institutions that will welcome them this fall.

Michael A. Adeleye – University of Rochester (NY) Janak N. Advani – Elon University (NC) Aniekeme I. Akpan – Franklin & Marshall College (PA) Kevin A. Barbosa – Bard College (NY) Isaac F. Barrezueta – Allegheny College (PA) Griffin A. Bassman – University of Pennsylvania (PA) Caspar C. Boele – Wake Forest University (NC) Lamberto A. De Boni – Santa Clara University (CA) David J. Dent, Jr. – Northwestern University (IL) Montgomery M. Denton – American University in Paris (France) Conor F. Dietzgen – Georgetown University (DC) J. Findlay Edwards – Trinity College (CT) Jonathan P. Flinchum – Rochester Institute of Technology (NY) Michael E. Florentino – Bates College (ME) Christopher M. Haack – California Institute of Technology (CA) Ralph O. Harvard IV – Furman University (SC) Jacob N. King – Colgate University (NY) Juan Pablo Llamas – Universidad Iberoamericana (Mexico) Peter L.V. Maguire – Fordham University (NY) Thomas L. McCormack – Southern Methodist University (TX) Aidan L. Page – Cornell University (NY) Aaron Z. Parisier – University of Richmond (VA) Jack F. Reiss – Trinity College (CT) Spencer A. Reuben – Boston College (MA) Christopher M. Stephens – Baruch College (NY) Philip N. A. van Scheltinga – Harvard University (MA) Alexander K. R. Wisowaty – Yale University (CT) W. Thomas York III – University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill (NC)

Summer 2013 2014

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40

2014

prizes

A C A D E M I C AWA R D S

H EADM AST ER’S LIST

Given to those boys whose grade point average for the year is at least 3.75.

Form VI Lamberto A. De Boni Michael E. Florentino Christopher M. Haack Philip N. A. van Scheltinga Alexander K. R. Wisowaty Form V William S. Abelt Douglas M. Belgorod Lodovico H. De Boni Alexander M. Gottdiener Aadir A. Khan Diego A. Lopez-Liranzo Armaan Rawat Brendan D. Walsh Form IV Liam S. Kerwin Michael L. Zuppone, Jr. Form III Luke E. Barba J. Alexander Barnard Alexander I. Kattan Form II Andrew J. Ceonzo David J. Eisman Benjamin I. Ellman Jaime Gomez-SotomayorRoel George P. Grimbilas Luke M. Hexner Daniel S. Kravitz Connor P. Medland Philip A. Raftopoulos Jackson S. Richter Adrian F. Rodriguez Brogan A. Smith Jack R. Twaronite

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Form I Christopher T. Elwell Maxmillian A. Motz Grade 6 Ryan K. Aotani Maxwell A. Beem Hugh T. Chapin Ryan T. Eagan Logan T. Flynn Jack E. Freiser William J. Hatfield Alexander F. Kwok Reinhardt N. Landsberg Alexander J. Liptak Oliver Obeid Michael Westman Jonathan M. Ziff Grade 5 Alexander J. Barr William C. Bousquette, III Griffin C. Davis Fazeel A. Khan Christian E. Kim Jacob N. Lassner Kyle T. Liptak Harrison M. McGlashan Alexander Raftopoulos Eric D. Sigg Dylan C. Steck Akshay D. Swani

HONOR ROLL

Given to those boys whose grade point average for the year is 3.5-3.74.

Form VI Conor F. Dietzgen Form V Basil T. Chalabi Andrew E. Davis Peter V. Florescu Arthur F. Mensah Christopher W. Russo Benjamin C. Weiner Form IV Andrew J. Bendo Andrew B. Medland Karsten G. Monteverde Julian J. Orillac Alejandro Oyarzun Form III George D. Allen Micah Bowey Jake E. Germano Pablo Ysart

Form II Henry P. Choy Takayuki M. Ishikawa Robert H. Nielsen Charles W. F. Pink Rohan A. Singh Caleb H. Sussman Form I Joseph S. Delgado William P. Endres Jacob Kibel Patrick W. McAllister Alexander S. Motz Grade 6 Wesley H. Baugher Robert A. Michaelson Alexander F. Naber Keaton A. Ramey Austin D. Stapleton Grade 5 Robert D. Magnus William D. Mazzaro Gavin J. Mora Christopher J. Preziotti Aaron T. Seibert

SC HOL A R S AWA RD

Form VI Christopher M. Haack Form II Jackson S. Richter C I T I Z ENSH I P AWA RDS

Form VI Aniekeme I. Akpan Jonathan P. Flinchum Michael E. Florentino Christopher M. Haack Aaron Z. Parisier Jack F. Reiss Spencer A. Reuben Christopher M. Stephens Philip N. A. van Scheltinga Form V William S. Abelt Douglas M. Belgorod Brian W. Bermeo Kevin A. Centeno Basil T. Chalabi Michael J. Cleary Andrew E. Davis Lodovico H. De Boni Norman Delgado Peter V. Florescu Alexander M. Gottdiener Christopher D. Keyko Aadir A. Khan Diego A. Lopez-Liranzo Alexander Makkos Arthur F. Mensah Lorenzo N. Mezzatesta Alec V. Morea John H. Morris Armaan Rawat Christopher W. Russo Slater D. Stark David Y. Valentin Brendan D. Walsh Benjamin C. Weiner

Form IV Andrew J. Bendo Anthony K. Carrasco Tyler A. Fraser Liam S. Kerwin Andrew B. Medland Karsten G. Monteverde Julian J. Orillac Alejandro Oyarzun Dylan A. Springer Michael L. Zuppone, Jr. Form III George D. Allen Luke E. Barba J. Alexander Barnard Micah Bowey Declan J. Casey Felix A. Castillo August van D. Chapin Gianni P. Chiovetta Terrell G. Edwards Jake E. Germano Jamil Guzman Joshua D. Jordan Alexander I. Kattan Alex Lรณpez Velasco Patrick C. Lopez Luigi G. Napolitano Pablo Ysart Form II Julien D. Anavian Andrew J. Ceonzo David J. Eisman Benjamin I. Ellman Theodore I. Florescu Jaime Gomez-SotomayorRoel George P. Grimbilas Takayuki M. Ishikawa Connor P. Medland Marwan S. Nsouli Charles W. F. Pink Jackson S. Richter Brogan A. Smith George P. Stavropoulos Caleb H. Sussman

Form I Lucas A. Coffey Christopher T. Elwell Michael J. Kassis Patrick W. McAllister Alexander S. Motz Maxmillian A. Motz Sebastian P. Rodriguez Calvin D. Sherman Grade 6 Maxwell A. Beem Patrick A. Centeno Hugh T. Chapin Ryan T. Eagan Logan T. Flynn Jack E. Freiser William J. Hatfield Alexander F. Kwok Reinhardt N. Landsberg Alexander J. Liptak Alexander F. Naber Oliver Obeid Grade 5 John F. Harrison Fazeel A. Khan Christian E. Kim Jacob N. Lassner Dylan C. Laub Robert D. Magnus Harrison M. McGlashan David M. Monasebian Gavin J. Mora Alexander Raftopoulos Eric D. Sigg Dylan C. Steck Grade 4 Jonathan J. Davidoff Jose E. Garcia Andrew R. Hatfield Kabir J. Kurani Colin A. Mandl-Ciolek Liam J. Messinger Teymour S. Nsouli Christian M. Odenius Jamie M. Sussman Liam Westman

Grade 3 Malek S. Assef Quentin T. Bader Ethan C. Fitzpatrick Ross G. Gramley Eli B. Greenberg Henry T. Gussman Tomas Infantino David M. Lilien Joshua E. Metz-King Jakob G. Oliva

F O R M V I AWA R D S D. AL A N DI LLEN BERG SC HOL A R AT H LET E AWA RD

Spencer A. Reuben EDWA RD G. COR N ET AWA RD FOR COOPER AT ION A N D PER SEV ER A NC E

Christopher M. Haack T H E ELE A NOR A N D H A ROLD P. K U R ZM A N M EMOR I AL AWA RD FOR I M PROV EM EN T

Jonathan P. Flinchum SALEH M . AL M ADH A H EK A H AWA RD

For open-mindedness, dedication and good citizenship.

Michael E. Florentino K EN N ET H KOMI TO AWA RD FOR C I T I Z ENSH I P

Philip N. A. van Scheltinga

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2014

prizes

AT H L E T I C AWA R D S

FA L L AWA R D S (2013) VA R SI T Y SOCC ER

Most Valuable Player Karsten G. Monteverde Most Improved Player Andrew B. Medland Arthur F. Mensah Sportsmanship Philip N. A. van Scheltinga Panther Award Christopher M. Haack J U NIOR VA R SI T Y SOCC ER

Most Valuable Player Christopher J. Childs Alexander J. Young Most Improved Player Jake E. Germano Ryan T. Olson Luke X. Spellman Grytte Award Norman Delgado Coach’s Award Declan J. Casey

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SEV EN T H -EIGH T H GR ADE SOCC ER

Most Valuable Player Andrew J. Ceonzo Coaches Award Charles W. F. Pink Grytte Award Connor P. Medland VA R SI T Y C ROSS COU N T RY

Most Valuable Player Christopher D. Keyko Most Improved Player Brandon J. Keno Yvan Maslennikov Sportsmanship Julian J. Orillac SEV EN T H -EIGH T H GR ADE C ROSS COU N T RY

Most Valuable Player Jaime Gomez-SotomayorRoel Most Improved Player Grant A. Thompson Most Dedicated Award Julien D. Anavian

WINTER AWA R D S (2014) VA R SI T Y BASK ET BALL

SEV EN T H -EIGH T H GR ADE R ED BASK ET BALL

Most Valuable Player Andrew J. Ceonzo

Most Valuable Player Christopher M. Stephens

Most Improved Player Jack R. Twaronite

Most Improved Player: Offense Christopher J. Childs

Coach’s Award George P. Grimbilas

Most Improved Player: Defense Peter L. V. Maguire Sportsmanship August van D. Chapin Coach’s Grytte Award Philip N. A. van Scheltinga J U N IOR VA R SI T Y BASK ET BALL

Most Valuable Player Conor P. D. Harkins Andrew B. Medland Most Improved Player Quintin A. L. Blumka Joshua D. Jordan Patrick C. Lopez Sportsmanship Declan J. Casey Aaron Z. Parisier

SEV EN T H -EIGH T H GR ADE BL AC K BASK ET BALL

Most Valuable Player Stone W. Abramson Patrick W. McAllister Most Valuable Player: Defense Justin A. James Amedeo Lorenzotti Most Improved Player Eric R. Pena Philip A. Raftopoulos Sportsmanship Julien D. Anavian Jackson S. Richter

SI X T H GR ADE BASK ET BALL

Most Valuable Player: Offense Jesse B. Starr Most Valuable Player: Defense William J. Hatfield

SPRING AWA R D S (2014) VA R SI T Y BASEBALL

Most Valuable Player Spencer A. Reuben

Most Improved Player Alexander P. Dwyer

Most Improved Player Anthony K. Carrasco W. Thomas York III

Sportsmanship Liam Lis

Coach’s Award Alec V. Morea

Coach’s Award Alexander J. Liptak

Panther “Grytte” Award Gianni P. Chiovetta

F I F T H GR ADE BASK ET BALL

Sportsmanship Luke E. Barba

Most Valuable Player Skyler C. Bell

SEV EN T H -EIGH T H GR ADE BASEBALL

Most Valuable Player Andrew J. Ceonzo Takayuki M. Ishikawa Most Improved Player Eric P. Pena Jack R. Twaronite Sportsmanship Connor T. Buettner George P. Grimbilas VA R SI T Y T R AC K

Most Valuable Player: Short Distance Ralph O. Harvard, IV

VA R SI T Y T EN N IS

Most Valuable Player George D. Allen Del T. Schunk Panther Award Peter V. Florescu Michael J. Kassis VA R SI T Y GOLF

Most Valuable Player Alejandro Oyarzun Most Improved Player Conor F. Dietzgen Thomas McCormack

Most Valuable Player: Long Distance Christopher D. Keyko

Most Improved Player Christian E. Kim

Most Improved Player Norman Delgado Diego A. Lopez-Liranzo

Coach’s Award William C. Bousquette III

Sportsmanship Jamil Guzman

Grytte Award David M. Monasebian

Summer 2014

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f e at u r e

THE

BUZZER

The weekly e-newsletter issued by the Parents Association serves as an ideal venue for showcasing Browning faculty and their many academic pursuits outside the School’s red doors this past spring. To allow Buzzer readers the opportunity to know our teachers even better, we present a round-up of these “Did You Know?” spotlights below, as compiled by Director of Middle and Upper School Admission Janet Lien.

H

ead of Upper School Jim Reynolds attended an

International Boys’ Schools Coalition (IBSC) conference in Dallas, Texas, titled, “Why We Play: Examining the Changing Face of Sports at

Jim Reynolds

Boys Schools in the 21st Century.”

Character building, responsibility

toward teammates, building relationships of trust with

coaches, and sports as an extension of a school’s mission were among the chief topics discussed at the conference.

At a school such as Browning, athletics (whether at the varsity level or within P.E. classes) play a vital role in

the full development of each young man. It is important that the lessons sports expose to each student are

fostered through Browning’s athletic programs, from Pre-Primary to Form VI.

Janet Lien

F

Dan Ragsdale

Kelly West

aculty members Janet Lien, Dan Ragsdale and Kelly West attended a conference jointly sponsored by

the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) and International Boys’ School Coalition

(IBSC). The speaker for the day, Michael Reichert, is the author of “I Can Learn From You: Boys as Relational Learners.” He presented his findings on successful

teaching practices and identified distinctive traits of

successful teacher-student relationships, particularly those related to teaching boys. Mr. Reichert found

that when a boy experienced relational success with a teacher, he was more likely to have a rewarding experience engaging with the course material.

Headmaster Clement and his wife Sally hosted a

reception at their home later in the evening, attended by 11 other heads of school.

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46

D

irector of Communications Design Jeremy Katz ’04

attended the South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive conference in Austin, Texas, which focused on

emerging technology and digital Jeremy Katz ’04

creativity. Participants heard from the brightest minds in the field,

Laurie Gruhn

Janet Lien

Sarah Murphy

I

attended hands-on workshops and participated in

networking opportunities. Mr. Katz is responsible for

n late May, several

members of

Browning’s social media postings and communications via other web tools. He teaches a course on graphic

the Browning

forward to employing some new ideas he gained from

a talk given

faculty attended

design as part of the STEM curriculum and looks

the conference to help Browning stay abreast of the latest technologies.

L Kristen Sheppard

earning Specialist Kristen

Sheppard attended an annual

by Dr. Angela

Duckworth at

Education Program, Dr. Duckworth, a psychologist,

spoke about her findings on how grit predicts success.

three-day conference, “Learning

At Browning, with “Grytte” being the school’s motto,

latest data on brain development in

thought, including how we can better help our students

focused on how intelligence is being

in attendance were Laurie Gruhn, Janet Lien, Sarah

and the Brain,” which presented the

Dr. Duckworth’s presentation provided food for

adolescents. This year’s conference

develop this intangible trait. The Browning faculty

redefined (now including traits

Murphy, Megan Ryan and Stephanie Seto.

Further, individual sessions were geared toward helping educators apply the results of current research in their teaching methods. Ms. Sheppard noted that one of the

more fascinating discussions was on future technology

and how it might change the role of classroom teachers.

BUZZER

Stephanie Seto

Lincoln Center. Sponsored in part by the Lincoln Center

such as innovation and creativity) in the new economy.

THE

Megan Ryan

F

supplementing the math curriculum

D

learning modules. The online

Educators,” led by Michael Brosnan,

ifth grade teacher Jeff

Lisciandrello has been

Schools’ workshop, “Writing for

program enables him to tailor Jeff Lisciandrello

provides immediate feedback on

McMahon attended a New York

State Association of Independent

with the use of Khan Academy

assignments to each student. It also

irector of Publications Melanie

editor of Independent School Melanie McMahon

magazine, and Peter Gow, writerteacher in independent schools

students who are ready to move on to more challenging

for nearly 40 years. Ms. McMahon, writer-editor of

support. “I am getting more data and feedback than you

edits articles and academic publications written by

material, as well as those who might need additional can get by pencil and paper,” says Mr. Lisciandrello.

Each boy is in the driver’s seat of his own learning

experience, which allows for a healthy combination

of personal pride and appropriate competition with his peers. Since he began using Khan Academy,

Mr. Lisciandrello has noted that the boys’ excitement for math has been building steadily.

W

Browning’s Buzzer magazine and website, writes and the Headmaster and individual faculty. In part, this

workshop helped her identify further opportunities and venues for Browning teachers eager to write and share their expertise and opinions, influence curricula, and

connect with a broader community of educators and the world at large.

hen Librarian Leigh Hurwitz isn’t at Browning, she is

busy working at the Brooklyn

Public Library. As an assistant in

the outreach services department,

Ms. Hurwitz brings library services Leigh Hurwitz

to underserved populations in

Brooklyn, including the inmates at

Rikers Island and The Brooklyn House of Detention Complex. In addition, Ms. Hurwitz is coordinating

a new service involving the Uni, a portable, pop-up library bringing books and programs to homeless shelters. She is also staffing a Uni structure at Governor’s Island this summer.

Summer 2014

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summer stipends

EACH YEAR, THE PARENTS ASSOCIATION AWARDS stipends to faculty members who apply for specific projects, such as summer travel, research or study. Each recipient writes an article for the Buzzer about his or her project; three faculty are featured in this issue.

Morocco, The Land of Charm Marrakech, Fez, Meknes, Agadir,

the direction of the north to my first stop, Tangier, via

back as I can remember, Morocco,

Moroccan Atlantic Coast.

Casablanca, Essaouira… As far

with its imperial cities, rich culture,

While modern standard Arabic language and Berber

history, and, yes, I have to confess,

are the two official languages, French is spoken widely

have always fascinated and attracted

primary language used in commerce, economics, education

delicious cuisine and gastronomy Dominique Bernard

gorgeous seacoast and peaceful small villages on the

me. More importantly, I have always

been interested in the deep link between France and the Maghreb, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. The long and,

at times, tempestuous relationship between those three countries and France that forged over nearly 150 years

of colonial order did not terminate with the sovereignty

and remains Morocco’s third unofficial language. It is the

and government. The use of colloquial French is filled with Arabic words: baraka (luck), baroud (last stand) caid (boss, big shot), barouf (racket), bled (village), flouze (money),

nouba (mega party) and toubib (doc, medic), to name but a few. Morocco is a dynamic member of Francophonie.

I was struck by the omnipresence of religion in

of those territories after the second World War. This long

Moroccan daily life. A neophyte on this subject, I began

social fabric of French and North African communities;

behind words that I hear almost every day. The doctrine

epoch of colonization left an ineffaceable imprint on the

despite the years, this common past has never ceased to influence their cultures, uniqueness and politics.

All year, through class discussions and oral reports,

Browning boys develop cultural awareness by examining their way of life with that of other persons from Frenchspeaking regions of the world. The generous stipend

granted by the Parents Association gave me a fabulous opportunity to discover a new facet of a Francophone country. I am always eager to meet people from new horizons, speak with them, listen to them and better comprehend their culture and history.

I could write endlessly about such a rich topic; I will

simply share with you a few remarks about what I felt,

learned, saw and liked in Morocco. At dawn of a scorching July 1, 2013, I was on the road leaving Casablanca in

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BUZZER

to understand a little better the real sense and weight preached by Mahomet is “Islam,” which means the

resignation to the will of God. This resignation is registered in the Koran. While the Muslims believe in the divine nature of the Psalms, of the Torah and of the Gospels,

they also think that mankind has altered some texts. The

mission of Mahomet is to reestablish the divine revelation in its wholeness. Morocco observes the Malekite rite

characterized by a relative flexibility and an open vision to the world. That makes Moroccan society more open-

minded to other cultures to the contrary of the dogmatic and uncompromising hanbalite rite occurring in the Arabian Peninsula.

Weakened after the second World War, France lost its

prestige and its reputation among the Moroccan people, and the Independence of Morocco was proclaimed on

Finally, th e magnificen t Atlas Moun tains a r e bu t a few of th e ma n y jew els th at mak e Morocco a fascinating a nd ca ptivating coun try to v isit.

March 2, 1956. Hassan II, who came to power after the

deaths (including eight French) and about 20 wounded.

was an absolute monarch who aggressively attempted to

and Moroccan tourism, the Moroccan leadership continues

death of his father, a victim of an anesthesia accident, eradicate any opposition to his agenda.

Hassan II died suddenly on July 23, 1999, after 38

years of reign. His older son, Mohammed, took over his

Despite this terrorist attack to destabilize the government its reforms and does not allow itself to be intimidated by force or violence.

I much enjoyed the Jemaa-El-Fna square in Marrakech.

post under the name of Mohammed VI. Thanks to his

It is a confluence point for Marrakchis and tourists as

his genuine concern for the poor and disadvantaged,

rather quiet. At night, it becomes an enormous outdoor

dynamism, the simplicity of his public demeanor and Mohammed VI is well liked by the people who strive for change. Thus, ever since his ascension to power,

Mohammed VI has released 46,000 prisoners, most of them for political reasons. It is indeed a fresh breeze

blowing then. Unlike his father, who lived secluded in his palace, Mohammed VI crisscrosses Morocco, participates in prayer here and there, and visits remote regions. Yet

conservative forces issued from the old guard of Hassan II

well. During the day the place, crushed by the sun, is

theater with snake charmers, henna tattoo artists, actors and musicians and artists of every kind: water-sellers, musicians and actors. Juan Goytisolo, a Spanish poet

living in Marrakech, wrote about the site: “The spectacle of Jamaa el Fna is repeated daily, and each day it is

different….The Square, as a physical space, shelters a rich oral and intangible tradition.”

Finally, the magnificent Atlas Mountains, the historic and

are still influential, and much remains to be done. People

quaint charm of Tangier, the old medina of Fez, the beach of

services (constructions of schools, hospitals and roads),

of Essaouira are but a few of the many jewels that make

approve Mohammed VI’s proximity policy of public

which has allowed for the opening up of isolated areas and reduced poverty.

Yet, the Arab revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt inspired

the Moroccans. In February 2011, tens of thousands of malcontents went into the streets of the main cities to

claim more democracy and freedom of expression, an

impartial and truthful justice, less corruption and less

power for the king. At the end of May, security forces were suppressed all over the country. The authorities justified their interventions by the fact that the Islamists and the

leftists would manipulate the February 20 movement. On April 28, 2011, in this tumultuous context, a bomb attack

destroyed the café Argana situated on the Place Jemaa-ElFna, a mecca for tourists in Marrakech. The result was 17

Agadir, the picturesque city of Imsouane and the fortifications Morocco a fascinating and captivating country to visit.

I am deeply grateful to the Parents Association for

having given me the opportunity to discover those pretty Moroccans villages and towns. In addition to the biggest cities cited above, the colorful and picturesque images of places such as Chefchaouen, Larache, Tetouan and

Ouarzazate will stay with me for years to come. Above

all, the endless discussions with “les marocains” and their

natural warmth and sense of hospitality will remain etched

in my memory forever. Thanks to this stipend, I have many pictures, anecdotes and warm stories to share with my

students at Browning over discussions about the Frenchspeaking world. Merci infiniment.

–By Dominique Bernard, French Teacher

Summer 2013 2014

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50

From Paddy Fields to Jungle Treetops “As a biologist, I have always been interested in nature,” said Middle and Upper School science teacher Dr. Betty Noel. “I spent my dissertation work focusing on

lab work and the bacterium Yersinia pestis, causative agent of the bubonic and Dr. Betty Noel

pneumonic plague. In thinking about

professional development, I considered

looking outside of lab work at opportu-

was ama zing to be so close to th ese a nimals a nd to observ e th em in th eir natu r al h abitats.

The tropical rainforest of Sabah, a member state of Ma-

port my existing knowledge base. My

geology. Sabah has expansive flora and fauna, Rafflesia (the

sity, sustainable development and ethnobotany (traditional medicine). Really the first place that came to mind to explore

was the rainforest. It’s a biologist’s dream and directly applicable to what I teach.”

“As a chemist, I have always been interested in molecules

and their structures,” said Middle and Upper School science teacher Melodie Ting. “These structures could stem from

small crystals to biomolecules in ethnobotany. Ethnobotany

has always been a fascinating subject of study from the perspective of a chemist because most of the compounds that

exist in nature have similar properties to some of the most

complex syntheses I have seen in the lab. The idea that most of these plants contain chemicals that can be extracted to re-

place several steps in a reaction mechanism is fascinating. As a theoretical physical chemist, my field of specialization has

been focused on quantum calculations and studying the complex reactions of small molecules. Therefore, when presented the opportunity to expand my knowledge of chemistry, I

wanted to look at biomolecules, big, interesting molecules with complex reactions not in my field of specialization.”

Together, Dr. Noel and Ms. Ting embarked on a sum-

mer 2013 adventure that expanded their knowledge of biology and chemisty, respectively; their story follows:

BUZZER

a nd th e r a r e pygmy eleph a n t. It

laysia located on the north of the island of Borneo, is known

goal was to learn more about biodiver-

THE

va r ious macaqu es a nd hor nbills,

nities that would not only strengthen my knowledge of field biology but also sup-

Melodie Ting

We spotted proboscis monk eys,

for its biodiversity, especially plant diversity, and its unique largest flower in the world that rarely blooms), endangered sea turtles, rare mammals and unique caves. It was clear

that a trip to Malaysia that would pair both chemistry and

biology was the way to proceed. The location and itinerary presented a wonderful opportunity for collaboration.

We arrived in Malaysia at a place called Kota Kinabalu

on July 16, 2013, after long flights from the United States. We checked in and had a light tour of the city, which was the

perfect excursion after such a long flight. We woke up bright and early the next day and started our rainforest adventure.

Undeterred by jetlag, our first stop was Pulau Gaya (trans-

lated as “big island”) for a two kilometer jungle trail trek to learn about some of the unique medicinal plants, tropical hardwood trees, coastal vegetation, tropical Dipterocarp

rainforest and the ecology of the mangrove forest. One of the highlights from this segment of the trip was planting some mangrove trees. After building up an appetite, we headed

for lunch to Pulau Manukan (translated as “wild chicken is-

land”) which apparently used to have an abundance of wild chickens, hence, the name Manukan. There we had a chance to snorkel and see some of the local sea life.

The next day, we began a two-hour drive through paddy

fields and Dusun villages over the ridges of the Crocker

Range to the foothills of Mt. Kinabalu at 5,000 feet. We had a

short stop at Nabalu market to savor local fruits in season as

well as buy some souvenirs. At Kinabalu Park World Heri-

the 10 primate species that reside there. Sukau is home to

Garden, home to various species of the flowering Rhodo-

and all eight species of hornbill birds in Borneo. We spotted

tage Site, we visited the Education Center and Mountain

dendrons, carnivorous pitcher plants, orchids, ferns, medicinal plants, oak trees and birds. After lunch, we continued

the journey overland to Poring. There we finally found the

Rafflesia flower and explored the tropical rainforest among

Borneo pygmy elephants, orangutans, proboscis monkeys

proboscis monkeys, various macaques and hornbills, and the rare pygmy elephant. It was amazing to be so close to these animals and to observe them in their natural habitats.

We started with an early morning river cruise up the

the jungle trail leading to the treetop canopy walkways

Kinabatangan River to Kelenanap Oxbow Lake to view

Mengaris trees. After the high adrenaline rush from the fear

educational tour on the Hornbill Boardwalk where we saw

suspended 41 meters above the forest floor across giant

of heights, we soaked in sulfur hot pools to relax before we returned to Kota Kinabalu.

We left Kota Kinabalu and flew to Sandakan. Our first

stop was Selingan Island which is also called Turtle Island

for one reason: green sea turtles come nightly to lay eggs on this island. We spent the afternoon on the beach snorkeling and saw some interesting, although not completely intact,

corals. In the evening, as the winds picked up signaling the beginning of thunderstorms, we waited for a signal from

the park ranger before proceeding in small groups to watch

green turtles lay eggs on the beach. We saw the process from the transplanting of eggs to the hatchery and release of baby

turtles to the sea. We felt so privileged to participate in the ef-

more birds and wildlife. After breakfast, we proceeded to an evidence of pygmy elephants and plenty of hornbill species.

After lunch, we proceeded overland to the vicinity of Go-

mantong Cave. The cave is surrounded by primary rainforest which makes it an ideal place to spot orangutans in the

wild. We traversed deep into the forest along selected trails in search of the “man of the jungle” (the orangutan). While we heard them, we were unable to see orangutans in this

setting. However, we did come across many of the famous

land leeches that reside in this forest. The Gomantong Cave was not prime for crystal formation, but we witnessed the exodus of over two million bats as well as raptors such as the rare bat hawk swooping down to catch bats.

On our last day, we returned to Sandakan by boat. We

fort to save this species.

visited the Sandakan War Memorial which was quite mov-

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center. We walked through

were forced to march from Sandakan to Ranau resulting in

Next we returned to Sandakan by boat and traveled to

the rainforest to witness the feeding of the orangutans. The orangutans were marvelous, and seeing the interactions of

the adults and juveniles seemed familiar. Here we also saw a

beautifully camouflaged and highly poisonous viper. We then went on a two-and-a-half-hour boat journey to the Sukau

Rainforest Lodge along Sabah’s longest river, Kinabatangan, with the opportunity to view birds and wildlife in virgin

mangrove, wetland and rainforest habitats. The Rainforest Lodge was amazing: incredibly beautiful, comfortably ap-

pointed and almost seamlessly integrated with nature. After a brief rest, we went on a river cruise in search of some of

ing and pays tribute to the Allied prisoners of war who

massive loss of life. It was an amazing memorial, and we learned so much. Following the War Memorial, we went to the Rainforest Discovery Center. We enjoyed a birds-

eye view of the center from the canopy walk and hanging

bridge before exploring the botanical garden, home to various species of flora. This was a wonderful way to conclude our busy and adventurous trip. We are so thankful to the

Parents Association for providing us with summer stipends so that we could have this amazing experience.

–Dr. Betty Noel and Melodie Ting, Middle and Upper School Science Teachers

Summer 2014

51

parents association benefit 2014

rockin’

52

THE

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at the mandarin

2014 spring benefit committee Benefit Chairs Lisa Elson Kathleen Glaymon Dina Hofmann Karen Naber

Over 400 guests attended “Browning Rocks Rio,” the 2014 Spring Benefit at the Mandarin Oriental on May 16. Cocktails, dinner and dancing, as well as live and silent auctions, were all part of the festivities in the colorful ballroom that evening.

This annual benefit, sponsored by Browning parents, was a tremendous success, and the monies raised will impact the School in many ways. This event, for example, provides funding for faculty summer stipends, allowing so many of Browning’s teachers to travel, study and perform research.

Donation Chairs Saira Malhotra Naomi Moriyama Jessica Oliver Deanna Passarelli

Donations Committee Andrew Chait Nancy ChernoffWhite Valerie Feigen Barbara Fisher Samuel L. Jacob Martin Levenglick Sibel Mesta Sharmila Tandon Carmen Taton Gail Weiner Ayse Wilson Elizabeth Zuppone Design and Festivity Chair Marisa Brown

Auctioneer Leigh Keno CBK Cookies Cynthia Barba Goody Bags Matthew and Fay Jozoff June Young Decor James and Stephanie Loeffler Video Production Ken Metz Solicitations Carmen Taton

Finance Chair Nazmi Oztanir

Many thanks to the committee for such a memorable party!

Summer 2014

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fine and p e r f o r m i n g a rt s

LOWER SCHOOL PLAY TAKES TOUR OF CITY SIGHTS Second grade boys brightened the first day of May with

to name but a few, with The Browning School its final

gleefully provided their audience of family and faculty with

choral interjections, acted as tour guides and explained the

their musical production of “Welcome to NYC – A-Z.” They

a tour of New York City on the Browning bus created under the guidance of art teacher Zack Davis. Boys in all three

destination. The boys, through humorous rhymes and significance of each stop on the tour.

Head of Lower School Laurie Gruhn congratulated

divisions of the School (Lower, Middle and Upper) banded

the boys on their terrific production and thanked all those

decker bus (complete with tourists and their cameras!)

their lines and the teachers, including Hallie Fischberg,

together to help paint the colorful, flower-strewn double-

which stopped at such popular venues as Madison Avenue, the Bronx Zoo, the Brooklyn Bridge and Yankee Stadium,

THE

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involved, including the parents who helped the boys learn Rachel Gerber, Jackie Pellenberg and Lucy Warner, who were such a large part of this successful presentation.

APPLAUSE FOR “SPACE JUNK” PREMIERE Seven boys from the third and fourth grades per-

Ms. Murphy added, “The show was followed by a

formed the world premiere of the short play, “Space

Q&A with the cast, and the actors revealed that learning

Junk” was written and directed by Head Librarian

words, listening to the other actors on stage, and staying

Junk,” at a Lower School assembly in May. “Space

Sarah Murphy, who provides this report: “The play

is a science fiction tale of four astronauts discovering

intelligent life on a planet populated by aliens who lis-

ten to vinyl, watch VHS, and dress like Victorian street urchins. With the help of their new friends, the astronauts learn a little about their own planet’s past.”

their lines is the easy part. Finding actions to match their in character are all much more difficult. With scenery by

art teacher Zack Davis and a Form VI student, technical assistance from Glenn Walker, and an assistant director from

Grade Five, ‘Space Junk’ was a true community endeavor.”

Ms. Murphy explained that she used many of her own

favorite possessions as props, including old computers, a record player and a VHS player.

A STORY OF SHARING: “STONE SOUP” “Stone Soup,” a folk tale told in many

countries and a 1947 classic by Marcia Brown, emphasizes cooperation

and resourcefulness, two “basics”

that first grade Browning boys have come to respect. In fact, the boys’

production in April is an excellent

example of applying their knowledge

and knack for showmanship on stage.

The boys presented “Stone

Soup” for an audience of parents and community members. Their

of all those who helped make the

of Lower School) for her support;

were impressive, as was their

“The first grade would like to thank

and support!”

Song” adapted by Lucy Warner,

song; the Browning maintenance

their terrific teachers and assistant

assisted with choreography. The

the technology department for help

Ms. Epstein, Ms. Rossman,

enunciation and projection skills

boys’ production such a success:

spirited singing of “The Sharing

Ms. Warner for such a beautiful

Lower School music specialist, who

department for setting up today;

program notes included recognition

with projection; Ms. Gruhn (Head

and finally, our parents for their love Of course, the boys also have

teachers to thank as well, including Ms. Harwood and Ms. Rowland.

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STORY PIRATES PERFORMANCES BRING BOYS’ STORIES “ALIVE” ON STAGE Story Pirates, a well-known group of performers who

screens served to disguise the lively performers during

productions, visited Browning in February. Head of Lower

from over-stuffed suitcases.

turn students’ writing submissions into musical theatrical School Laurie Gruhn proudly notes, “When this group

costume changes, as they literally pulled hats and props According to the group’s website, it is “a nationally

performed at our Lower School Assembly, four of our own

respected education and media organization founded in

the ‘stage’ of the Lower Gym.”

The site adds, “We offer a variety of tools to make learning

Browning boys saw their creative writing come to life on As the name of each boy was announced prior to the

staging of his work, wild applause broke out for these “playwrights in the making!” All but one of the shiest

authors later posed for a photo with the performers. The

music and antics of the actors certainly charmed the boys

and teachers in the audience that morning. Colorful quilted

2003 to celebrate the words and ideas of young people.” more engaging and effective. Dually based in New York and Los Angeles, we are best known for the Idea Storm Program, a master-class writing workshop that brings

teaching concepts to life, followed by a musical sketch

comedy show featuring stories by students and performed by professional artists.”

MS. WARNER’S MUSICAL ENJOYS SUCCESSFUL RUN Outside of Browning, Lucy Warner, Lower School music

specialist, is known in the music business as Luce Amen.

She recently completed writing her first musical, called “I WILL,” which won a spot in the Thespis Theater Festival

at Cabrini Repertory Theater in Manhattan and enjoyed a

three-night run in June, complete with a cast of 12 singersactors-musicians. “This musical production is inspired by an old, beautiful Mexican story that I grew up with – a

riveting drama of struggle, faith and perseverance that

is well-known in Mexico, the Southwest and California,”

says Ms. Warner, who spent much of her childhood in San Antonio, Texas.

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A “DELOVELY” EVENING OF SONG AND DANCE Congratulations to the entire cast and especially our

Head of Upper School Jim Reynolds: “What a show!

Browning boys on their roles in the April production

Browning and Nightingale created another terrific evening of

production, the Cole Porter musical opened to rave

music by Cole Porter. It was nothing short of delovely.”

of “Anything Goes!” A joint Browning/Nightingale

reviews from Browning faculty/“critics” as follows:

Headmaster Clement: “The show was spectacular

tonight! Our boys were great, and the production was

both sophisticated and very engaging. The actors were all having fun…wonderful singing and dancing.”

enthusiastic performers having a great time with wonderful

Director of Special Events/Parents Association Liaison

Christine Bramble: “The Browning cast members were

amazing, as were the Nightingale siblings of four of our other boys.”

School Nurse Maureen Linehan: “What a delight! I am

still smiling!”

IRISH WIT AT WORK IN FOURTH GRADE PLAY The fourth grade boys charmed their lucky audience in May when they presented a play, “The Ring of Truth,” under the direction of teacher Bill Cantwell. Based

largely on the wry witticisms and astute observations

of Irish writers and poets, including the incomparable Oscar Wilde, the boys garnered giggles and applause from one and all. They thanked Lucy Warner, music

specialist, as well as the maintenance staff and teacher

Lindsay Burrus for their help in making the production such a success.

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browning in

David Leonhard’s article, “A Link Between Fidgety Boys and a Sputtering Economy,” in the April 29 edition of The New York Times sparked a response from many, including Headmaster Clement. As some Buzzer readers may already know, the Times accepted his letter for publishing, much to the delight of the Browning community who showered him with emails and written correspondence. Mr. Clement’s letter to the editor and the responses he received appear here on this page.

TO THE NEW YORK TIMES EDITOR: AS HEADMASTER FOR 26 YEARS at The Browning School,

let me add that “grit” was one of our founder’s favorite

believe that David Leonhardt may well take heart in the fact

overbearing “macho” masculinity.

an all-boys school founded in 1888 here in New York City, I

that some schools do acknowledge the profound differences

words and became our motto (“Grytte”). Grit is distinct from Rather than emphasizing the need to be gruffly assertive,

between boys and girls.

we have chosen instead to stress that failing is part of the

and learning styles and are dedicated to educating boys in

working hard for.

At Browning, we are aware of the obvious distractions

such a way that they enjoy learning; in fact, they thrive.

As for the toughness Mr. Leonhardt believes is all too

desirable a trait in the minds of boys who aspire to success,

Congratulations! With great satisfaction and pride I have read your letter to the NYT editor and found it truthful and surely the most profound.

Stressing that “failing is part of the learning process” and that “anything worth having is worth working hard for” not only forms part of the fundamental basis of what makes Browning the unique school it is, but also the sum of the qualities that have helped many students become the good human beings they are today.

I especially enjoyed the grit reference and the attitudes Browning attempts to instill.

Congrats on your superb letter in Sunday’s NYT!

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learning process and that anything worth having is worth Stephen M. Clement, III

New York, April 29, 2014

Enjoyed your letter in the Times yesterday. As a visitor to Browning over the years, I can attest to its character formation in boys.

A fine letter in today’s Times.

Congrats. Just the other day I was talking with a former Vassar student of mine (Latin) who went to Browning. Now a critic and independent scholar, he loves both his school and his college.

In the NYT and artfully put!!!!

You continue to be a visionary for so many!

This is so fantastic. I applaud your efforts to share Browning principles and take action on education items in the public eye.

Nice letter in the Times today!

We are so proud to be a Browning family.

What a great letter; if I had a boy in NYC, I would want him to go to Browning!

Good reply to the NY Times article.

Great letter in today’s Times…I think your distinction between grit and machismo is spot on.

Bravo!

What a great letter!! Anybody with any attachment to Browning should be proud of that note.

Here’s to grit/Grytte! Great letter!

A LINK BETWEEN FIDGETY BOYS AND A SPUTTERING ECONOMY

By David Leonhard

BY KINDERGARTEN, girls are

Median inflation-adjusted female

than boys. At college graduation

over the same span, census data

spring, women in caps and gowns

earnings are up almost 35 percent show – while male earnings, incredibly, haven’t risen at all.

“We know we’ve got a crisis, and

substantially more attentive, better

the crisis is with boys,” said Elaine

tent, more flexible and more indepen-

Way and a former Clinton adminis-

behaved, more sensitive, more persisdent than boys, according to a new

paper from Third Way, a Washington research group. The gap grows over

the course of elementary school and

feeds into academic gaps between the sexes. By eighth grade, 48 percent of

girls receive a mix of As and Bs or better. Only 31 percent of boys do.

By kindergarten, boys already fare

much worse on social and behavioral measures than girls. The gender gap is even larger than the class gap and some racial gaps.

And in an economy that rewards

knowledge, the academic struggles

of boys turn into economic struggles.

Men’s wages are stagnating. Men are much more likely to be idle – neither working, looking for work nor car-

ing for family – than they once were

and much more likely to be idle than

women…If the United States is going

Kamarck, a resident scholar at Third

more than 75 percent over the last quarter-century, in line with what

has happened in other rich countries.

adults) raise their boys and girls...

The experts who study the subject

out that boys still do quite well in the

families and schools…But the trends seem too broad for family structure to be the only cause. That’s where schools come in.

Girls enter school with a lead on

boys, and schools then fail to close

the gaps. Instead, they increase. The

behavioral advantage that girls have over boys in kindergarten, based on

Ms. Buchmann and Mr. DiPrete, point best-performing schools…Others, like Christina Hoff Sommers, argue that

today’s education system fails to ac-

knowledge the profound differences

between boys and girls. It asks boys to sit still for hours every day and provides them with few role models in front of the classroom.

My own sense is that both sides

teachers’ assessments of their students,

have a point – and that their ideas

the average girl is at the 60th percentile

ing with all kinds of solutions will

are even larger in fifth grade. By then, of an index of social and behavioral skills, while the average boy is at

only the 40th percentile, according

aren’t mutually exclusive. Experimentoffer better answers than we now have.

But men have their own chal-

to Claudia Buchmann of Ohio State

lenges. As the economy continues to

authors of the new paper.

brains, many men have struggled

and Thomas DiPrete of Columbia, the These behavior measures are

country in very different classrooms.

four-year college degree has jumped

way mothers and fathers (and other

ing theories involve single-parent

why it’s happening.” Two of the lead-

15 years, we’re going to have to solve The portion of women earning a

Traditional ideas about gender,

especially masculinity, influence the

disagree on the solutions. Some, like

subjective, of course, based on

our boy problems.

will easily outnumber men.

tration official. “We’re not quite sure

to build a better-functioning economy than the one we’ve had over the last

ceremonies around the country this

shift away from brawn and toward with the transition.

“Boys are getting the wrong

the views of teachers across the

message about what you need to do

Yet it’s clear that the measures

says. “Traditional gender roles are

reflect something real, because the

behavior differences later translate into academic differences. By high school, even advanced math and

to be successful,” Ms. Buchmann

misguiding boys. In today’s economy, being tough and being strong are not what lead to success.”

science classes now have more girls

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at h l e t i c s

2014 Spring Wrap-up

Andrew H. West ’92

This spring was a very successful

potentially great team. Not only could we pitch and hit,

one starting with an amazing trip

but we were playing some stellar defense as well. The

to Port St. Lucie, Fla., taken by the

teams all did very well, especially the varsity tennis team

varsity baseball, tennis and golf

members who, for the fourth consecutive year, raised a

teams. It was the first time that the golf

banner. Varsity track continued their success by qualifying

team joined the trip, and I think we

many boys for the championships and NYSAIS track meet.

would all agree it was great for them.

Speaking of NYSAIS, Browning was represented in golf at

The baseball team was able to practice and play under the

the state tournament! All and all, it has been a very special

beautiful Florida sun. From the first practice at Florida

year and one that I, as athletic director, am very proud to

Coast Baseball Camp, we knew we had the makings of a

have been a part of. Here’s to the Class of 2014!

VARSITY TENNIS Losing our first match of the season against league rival Trevor Day was not the start the team was

looking for, given we had been

undefeated in league play for the three previous seasons.

Anchored by two strong players,

Del Schunk and George Allen at first and second singles, our doubles

teams had aspects to work on and hone. William Abelt and Michael

Jozoff played up to the third singles position, as the team awaited Jaime

Gomez’s return from his term abroad to play at that position.

The team proceeded to go

undefeated in our non-league

matches, finishing with an overall win-loss record of 8-3.

Disappointed by losing to Lycee

Francais twice in one week, the team

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refocused for its last several practices leading up to the

league tournament. Our season culminated in winning

the tournament for the fourth year in a row, beating LFNY

and Michael Kassis) played in a match during the season, gaining valuable match experience.

Team captain Peter Maguire (Form VI) and co-captain

by one point with everyone contributing to the win. Our

Alex Wisowaty (Form VI) led by example with a good

medals as well as the team medal), and each of our doubles

season, the players announced, “It’s a good day to be a

singles players went undefeated (and won individual

teams (Peter Maguire/Michael Jozoff and William Abelt/ Aaron Parisier) won one key match.

Perhaps best of all is that each one of the 12 players

balance of humor and focus. After our first win of the

Panther.” Appropriately, we adopted this as our motto for the rest of another successful season for tennis.

–Coach Michael Klein

(including Caspar Boele, Peter Florescu, Grant Thompson,

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SEVENTH-EIGHTH GRADE BASEBALL Even before the spring baseball season started, the

the eighth grade leadership provided mostly from

motivation carried throughout the season from start

keep them focused for every game. The boys kept

showcase their baseball talents. That excitement and to finish. Coach Andrew Wolf was a terrific asset to

the growth and development of the team. He used his extensive baseball experience to get the boys ready for Game One. As the season aged, each game created new challenges for us. We were able to adjust

and manufacture skills from the boys. Whether it was pitching, hitting or fielding, someone was always ready to step up and fill the void as needed.

THE

A large part of the team’s success was based on

boys were excited to start practicing so they could

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Andrew Ceonzo. He prepared the boys and helped working in practice and improving each game, pitch by pitch. We finished the season strong with a 500

record. Most importantly, each boy learned a bit more about the value of hard work, and they will take

memories from this season with them throughout

their lives. An excellent season, and a job well done! –Coaches Paul Mastroianni and Andrew Wolf

VARSITY BASEBALL The varsity baseball team finished with a record of 6-6. From the very begin-

ning of the season, we knew that if we were going to win, we were going to

have to do it as a team and not rely too heavily on individual players. For the

most part, we played solid defense all

season and pitched the ball pretty well.

Our hitting was very sporadic; in some games we seemed to get every timely hit, while in other games, we just

couldn’t get the bats going. The team was very young this year, consisting

of nearly 10 freshmen, so the future is

bright. I think the best thing that came out of this season was the realization

that it takes a lot of hard work to get to

the level we want to get to. The departing seniors will be missed dearly, but they gave the younger guys a vote of

confidence for next year. In the end, the team and coaches had lots of fun and

will look back on this season with nothing but fond memories. –Coach Andrew West

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VARSITY TRACK The 2014 NYCAL season experienced an amazing con-

However, the best was yet to come as we started

clusion and delivered its verdict on Tuesday, May 13, at

the three relays: 4 x 800, 4 x 100 and 4 x 400. The

tion, just edging out The Browning School. When we

Keyko, Norman Delgado, Yvan Maslennikov and

Riverbanks Stadium. Columbia Prep won the competistarted the season at the end of the winter, only eight

boys joined the team. After placing second in 2013 and first in 2012, Form V co-captains Christopher Keyko

and Diego Lopez-Liranzo and I were rather concerned about what to expect this year. The competition in our league is increasingly difficult, and the qualifications times are very challenging. However, the boys made an excellent appearance and, for the first time in the

season, piled up awards and medals. Impeded by a toe injury, Christopher Keyko dug deep and won the 1600

and placed fourth in the 3200. Senior Rafe Harvard was also impressive and played a major role in this successful meet, finishing second in the long jump (thanks to Coach Wallace for her excellent long jump coaching!) and third in the 200 and the 100.

Browning boys 4 x 800 relay team of Christopher

Conor Harkins grabbed a more than honorable second place. With Rafe Harvard, Diego Lopez-Liranzo, Jamil

Guzman and Brandon Keno, we took home third place in the 4 x 100 relay, a race in which we had struggled

at the beginning of the season. Finally, the high point of this beautiful afternoon was the 4 x 400 with Jamil Guzman, Diego Lopez-Liranzo, Yvan Maslennikov

and Conor Harkins. A nervous and relatively inexpe-

rienced Jamil (Form III) ran the first leg and did an ex-

ceptional job, finishing a few meters before the leaders.

Thanks to the lead established by Jamil, our last three runners, all of whom are strong, were able to shine

and bring home the top honor in the 4 x 400. This win secured a second overall place finish for the Panthers.

A great season indeed!

–Coach Dominique Bernard

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FENCING The fencing team, which operates out of Chapin, is an

interschool team, drawing its members from Chapin, Browning, Brearley, Spence, Dalton, Collegiate, and Hewitt.

Five weeks of

training is built in to the beginning of the season.

After the training,

you can leave it at

learning the basics,

or go on to compete to extend your knowledge.

We compete

against Horace

Mann, Riverdale, Masters, St. Ann’s, Rye, Hackley; we fence

each twice in the regular season. Then we participate in a one-

day championship, a round-robin blizzard, in which every team fences every other team.

A few years ago, four Browning lads came over together

to learn and, by their senior year, lost the championships only

narrowly to a team with national and international competitors.

Oh, yes, it can be done!

Browning students, especially David Valentin and David

Eisman, have done well in fencing, and there’s room for more.

The fencing team starts in late September.

–Joel Glucksman

VARSITY GOLF The challenge for this year’s golf team was to

lower their scores throughout the season and, in

doing so, become more competitive with the other schools. They achieved both objectives, with the

whole squad improving their scores by two strokes to 11 strokes.

Personal bests were recorded in every match,

and although not every match went in their favor, the boys felt an improvement had been made in their play this spring. Alejandro Oyarzun

SQUASH The Browning Panthers put together a

successful 2013-14 squash season finish-

ing with a 3-2 winning match record. Led by seasoned co-captains Michael Florentino and Alex Gottdiener, the Panthers

showed much improvement both tactically and technically through the year.

Fueled by an energetic influx of Middle

School boys, Colt Waller, Brogan Smith,

Luke Hexner and Ben Ellman, the Brown-

ing squad enters next season primed for even more success.

The Panthers practice three days a week after school, with

practices generally comprising of condition games, supervised match-play and squash conditioning/flexibility. This season’s

roster of opponents included CitySquash, Dalton, Birch Wathen Lennox and Poly Prep.

performed particularly well in a tournament at

Hampshire Golf Club in Mamaroneck, finishing

in the top 20 with a score of 82, (par is

71) and tying with

two Columbia Prep students for the

lowest score from

the NYCAL league.

With three seniors leaving, the boys

will be looking for some new blood

next year to con-

tinue the tradition of “Panther Golf!”

–Coach David Watson

–Coach Kapur, Sports Club LA

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alumni events

The True Grytte Society and Consecutive-Year Donors Luncheon is always a highlight of Browning’s annual Alumni Reunion. The above photo shows many of our distinguished guests in attendance at this invitation-only event.

O

ALUMNI REUNION n Friday, May 2, more than 150 alumni and guests returned to Browning for the 2014 Alumni Reunion. Guests included alumni spanning across seven decades,

from the Classes of 1949 through 2009, along with their guests and a number of current and former faculty.

The Alumni Association’s highest honor, the Class of 1938 Alumnus Achievement Award, was presented at the evening reception to Wes Vernon ’49. Mr. Vernon, a veteran broadcast journalist, was accompanied by his wife, four children and their respective spouses. Also during the reception, the Stephen S. Perry ’76 Memorial Class Representative Awards were presented to four outstanding class representatives, followed by the Class of 2004’s presentation of its 10th Reunion Gift to Headmaster Clement. Earlier in the day, the entire Upper School had the opportunity to hear from an Alumni Career Panel focused on journalism and media. This year’s panelists were Wes Vernon ’49, David Kimball-Stanley ’05 and Alex Vadukul ’07. At noon, the annual invitation-only True

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Headmaster Clement raises a giant check from members of the Class of 2004 who celebrated their 10th Reunion at Browning on May 2 during Alumni Reunion.

Grytte Society & Consecutive-Year Donors Luncheon was held for the eighth year in a row at the Knickerbocker Club, where five new members were inducted into the True Grytte Society, and consecutive-year donors were recognized for giving for more than 20 (and in some cases 30) consecutive years to Browning’s Annual Fund. Tours of the School and Browning’s new facilities were also highlights of the day. Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Alumni Reunion a success!

Members of the Class of 1989 had a record turnout at this year’s Alumni Reunion when they celebrated their 25th Reunion, organized in large part by Reunion Chair and Alumni Association President Michael Beys ’89.

Jonathan D’Agostino ‘99 (left) and Etienne Pourtout ’99.

L to R: Paul Boisi ’97, Carol Goulian Stewart and Chris Coffey ’98.

Mr. Prestigiacomo led the Upper School Chorus in a wonderful choral performance for guests at this year’s True Grytte Luncheon.

Guests enjoyed drinks and heavy hors d’oeuvres in the Lower Gym during the Alumni Reunion cocktail reception.

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Albie Bramble ’04 (left) and Headmaster Clement posed with a Browning student art installation outside the School on May 2.​

Wes Vernon ’49 and his wife, Alida, have four children, and all of them came to Browning on May 2 to see Wes receive the Alumnus Achievement Award. All Vernon family members and spouses in attendance are pictured here, with Alida and Wes the third and fourth from the right.

Tom Herman ’64 (left) and Tom Oliphant ’63 have both had long-time journalism careers, and both are also recipients of Browning’s Alumnus Achievement Award.

Key Society students posed with Senator John McCain​when he happened to be passing by Browning during the Alumni Reunion cocktail reception (L to R): Tom McCormack ’14, Senator McCain, Philip van Scheltinga ’14 and Juan Pablo Llamas ’14.

Members of the Class of 1979 celebrated their 35th Reunion at Browning on May 2.

L to R: Doug Salomon, Laura Muhlfeld, Chris Goulian, Maureen Linehan and Headmaster Clement.

Members of the 50th Reunion class — the Class of 1964 — were the guests of honor at this year’s True Grytte Luncheon.

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L to R: Doug Salomon, Bill Reed ’85 and Hal Lehr ’85.

L to R: Headmaster Clement, Wes Vernon ’49, Alumni Association President Michael Beys ’89 and Tom Oliphant ’63 are shown here on stage in the Lower Gym following the Alumnus Achievement Award ceremony honoring Wes.

Members of the Class of 2009 enjoyed celebrating their 5th Reunion during the evening reception in the Lower Gym.

L to R: James Chow ’89, Andrew Monachelli ’89, Jonathan Mason ’89, Kevin Polakoff ’89, Karim El Tanamli ’89, Michael Beys ’89, Peter Orphanos ’89, Michael Wayne ’89 and Lex Haris ’88 (originally ’89).

On the occasion of their 10th Reunion, members of the Class of 2004 enjoyed opening a time capsule​from 2004.

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Remarks from Browning’s Class of 1938 Alumnus Achievement Award Recipient Weston Vernon III ’49 Friday, May 2, 2014, The Lower Gym

“I

am honored by this Award…not only honored, but deeply humbled by it. I see

my life parading before me here. I have had the good fortune of either knowing, working with, or being taught (or even when necessary ‘encouraged to do better in’ my studies) by four of the five scholars who have guided this institution [Arthur Jones, Lyman B. Tobin, Charles W. Cook ’38 and Stephen M. Clement, III]; all except the founding father [John A. Browning] himself.

There are also vivid memories of

professors who taught me. They all had their little personality quirks, which made their teaching all the

more interesting. What they had in

common was: they were all brilliant.

There was William P. Smith, a

math teacher and former Army officer

Wes Vernon ’49 reminisced about his many influential Browning teachers during his Alumnus Achievement Award acceptance speech in the Lower Gym.

Tom Oliphant ’63 (left) received Browning’s Alumnus Achievement Award in 1999, and he returned to Browning in May to present this year’s Alumnus Achievement Award to Wes Vernon ’49.

than that, but there was no doubt

would have to write your apologies

class. I started out at the bottom in one

maybe you would have to write in

about who was the general in that

of his classes and ended up at the top in the final exam. This is not to brag

on my part, but rather to credit ‘The Man,’ as he was proudly known.

Then there was Dr. John Roberts,

who enforced a slightly moderated

the language professor of French,

He handed out military rank to us

one other. He was not tall in stature,

sense of military discipline in school. in his Algebra classes based on our exam grades. When he opened his

class calling out ‘Major Vernon, front and center,’ I would then march to the front of the room, we would

exchange salutes, and he would hand

was no mention of a higher grade

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interest in public affairs. Probably

how I ended up in the news business.

Finally, my most profound

English teacher, before he went on to

appeared to possess the strength

of an ox, including such occasional

demonstrations as walking down a long aisle on his hands.

I also remember Dr. P.J. Downing.

was known to be strict. But that’s how

and 100 percent: a full colonel. There

that he helped spark my own adult

but you could not forget that he

between 85 and 90 percent. If you

were a lieutenant colonel. Between 95

American history. He was so skillful

experience at Browning was with

He was a Latin professor, and I took

scored between 90 and 95 percent, you

20 pages. In addition, he also taught

German, Spanish…and perhaps

me a piece of paper saying that I was a ‘major,’ which meant I’d scored

in 10 pages. If you really stumbled,

some of his Latin classes. Dr. Downing you learn. As a matter of fact, when

he was out of patience you could hear

him hollering all over the fourth floor.

If you messed up in your conduct, you

Lyman B. Tobin when he was my

become Browning’s third Headmaster.

Every Friday in Mr. Tobin’s class was composition day…which could have been anything. Sometimes he would select a topic to write; more often,

he cut us loose to choose our own

topic. Let’s just say I had a bad case of premature writer’s cramp…

Mr. Tobin rarely lost his cool, but he

had a flare for the dramatic, probably a result of his background on Broadway.

If you handed in a substandard piece

The 2014 Alumni Career Panel featured Wes Vernon ‘49 (center), along with David Kimball-Stanley ‘05 and Alex Vadukul ‘07.

L to R: Headmaster Clement, Head of Upper School Jim Reynolds, David Kimball-Stanley ‘05, Wes Vernon ‘49, Alex Vadukul ‘07, Director of College Guidance Sandy Pelz ‘71 and Director of Alumni Affairs Laura Lanigan.

L to R: 2014 Alumni Career Panelists Alex Vadukul ‘07, Wes Vernon ‘49 and David Kimball-Stanley enjoyed returning to Browning to speak to the Upper School on May 2, as part of Alumni Reunion. Profiles on these three alumni can be found on pages 74-75.

of work, you would soon learn of his

Suddenly, I was writing so much I

disapproval; he would sit there at his

couldn’t stop. I would write on a huge

and repeatedly mutter ‘Oh m’gosh!...

Mr. Tobin pleased, but I kept on

desk as he hovered over your paper Oh, m’gosh!’

Mr. Tobin never got tough with

me, but he had the patience to nudge me out of my creative paralysis. His efforts paid off, aided and abetted

by some serious reading on my part, which he encouraged. Finally he ‘lit the fuse,’ you might say.

variety of topics. Not only was

writing during the summer vacation.

I would write, and the only people I

Browning and its faculty was that the classroom was a place for hard work,

always a new challenge. Not only that but discipline, good study habits, and focus on the task at hand.

I think I was very lucky to have

shared with were family members.

received such a large part of my

movie reviews. And I have never

thank you very much.”

Fiction, public affairs, book reviews, lacked for a desire to write since then.

education here. Viva Browning! And

I graduated 65 years ago this month

right here in this room. What I found in

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Alumni Career Panel Features Wes Vernon ’49, David Kimball-Stanley ’05 and Alex Vadukul ’07 Friday, May 2, 2014, as part of Alumni Reunion

Wes Vernon ’49 Veteran broadcast journalist Wes

company, Bonneville International,

Browning’s Class of 1938 Alumnus

in 1968 to set up a news bureau to

Vernon is the 2014 recipient of

Achievement Award. He was born in New York City in August 1931. After spending his early years in Jackson

Heights, Queens, he enrolled at The Browning School after his family moved to Manhattan in 1942. He

graduated from Browning in 1949.

He majored in journalism at Utah

State University, where he honed his

stations throughout the country.

He served in that capacity until

1972, when he accepted an offer to

become a Washington correspondent for the CBS Radio Stations News

Service where he remained until his “retirement” in 1997.

While he retired from his 25 years

at CBS, he did not retire from writing.

was a charter staff announcer for the

writing, including two columns –

campus radio station when it first

went on the air in 1950. He would

later launch his career by combining his writing and broadcast skills

working for radio stations in the Mountain West.

He became the assistant news

Currently he spends his time freelance one for a monthly magazine on the railroad industry titled, “Capital

Lines: Rail News from Washington,” and the other on current events for

RenewAmerica.com. He is also a book reviewer for The Washington Times.

Mr. Vernon and his wife, Alida,

director at KSL, one of America’s

observed their 63rd wedding

In 1964, he was promoted to news

in the Washington, D.C., area where

most powerful radio stations, in 1963. director for the radio division, and in

1965, he was named political specialist for radio and television. KSL’s parent

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serve the company’s radio and TV

writing skills as a reporter for the

campus newspaper, Student Life. He

THE

Inc., sent him to the nation’s capital

anniversary in October 2013. They live they raised their four children, and

now have seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

David Kimball-Stanley ’05 David Kimball-Stanley is the district

Council’s Budget Negotiating Team,

New York City Council Member

David has worked in Mr. Garodnick’s

director and press secretary for

Dan Garodnick, who represents the Council’s 4th District. This District stretches along the east side of

Manhattan from Stuyvesant Town

and Peter Cooper Village, through

Midtown, and along the Upper East

Side (including The Browning School).

In his current role, David oversees

the Council Member’s media

operations and constituent services, and he advises on policy with a

and is a Deputy Majority Leader. office for four years, in which

time the Council Member has also

chaired committees on technology and consumer affairs. During his

time at the Council Member’s office,

David has worked on over-leveraged housing, campaign spending

disclosure, the rezoning of East

Midtown, and Mr. Garodnick’s bid for Council Speaker.

David spent seven years at

particular focus on housing issues.

Browning, graduating in 2005.

Council’s Committee on Economic

Trinity College, graduating in 2009

Council Member Garodnick chairs the Development, is a member of the

Following Browning, he attended

with honors in public policy and law.

Alex Vadukul ’07 Alex Vadukul is a regular contributor to

retired lawyer who lives on the Upper

for the Metro and Sunday Metropolitan

of collecting miniature books. The

The New York Times, where he writes sections of the paper. He also reports

on breaking news, which has taken him to every nook and cranny of the five

boroughs. He has written for T: The New York Times Style Magazine. In January,

he was named the U.S. Editor (a writing position) of the British men’s quarterly

magazine, Port. The magazine, currently on its 12th issue, focuses on literature,

culture and style, and has featured writers such as Jonathan Franzen, Jonathan

Lethem, Martin Amis, Nathaniel Rich, William T. Vollmann and Rick Moody.

Most of Alex’s writings are about

East Side and has a peculiar hobby

man owns some books the size of a

matchbox and some smaller than a tab of chewing gum. He owns one –

declared by some the smallest book

in the world – that is about as big as

a grain of sand. Another story Alex is

fond of is about a series of illegal secret speakeasy parties – complete with

whiskey cocktails and a live ragtime

band – that were held in an abandoned Chelsea water tower last summer,

under the nose of thousands of passing pedestrians below.

Alex says his litmus test for a good

New York City. Specifically, he enjoys

story is when he can Google the story

colorful New Yorkers – the people

nothing about it on the Internet. He was

writing about curious, interesting and that make New York New York – and

about obscure and lesser-seen aspects of city life. One of his favorite pieces,

for example, was one he wrote about a

he has in mind, and then find little to

born in Milan, grew up in Paris, and has lived in Manhattan since he was eight

years old. He graduated from the New School University in 2011.

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Congratulations to the Class of 2014, and welcome to the Alumni Association!

L to R: Allanby Singleton-Green ’83, Sandy Pelz ’71, Jeffrey Landes ’83, Michael Beys ’89, Laura Lanigan, Jeremy Katz ’04 and Andrew West ’92.

L to R: Laura Lanigan, Steve Clement and Michael Beys ’89 applauding Form VI as the newest members of Browning’s Alumni Association.

FORM VI BREAKFAST On Wednesday, April 23, Headmaster Clement and

Alumni Association President Michael Beys ’89 hosted

Browning’s Class of 2014 at the annual Form VI Breakfast.

Each year at this event, the senior class is formally

inducted into Browning’s Alumni Association and

presented with engraved money clips to commemorate their upcoming graduation. Speakers at this breakfast

included Alumni Association President Michael Beys ’89, Alumni Association Vice President Allanby SingletonGreen ’83, Trustee and Former Alumni Association

President Jeffrey Landes ’83, Headmaster Clement and

Director of Alumni Affairs Laura Lanigan. It was a proud day for the Alumni Association!

THE

BUZZER

A beautiful view of Central Park could be seen from the terrace at the Form VI Breakfast.

John Moran (left) and Chris Jennings ’99.

L to R: Joe Metzger ’02, John Moran ’97 and Edward Kent ’02.

Juan Reyes ’86.

Michael Beys ’89.

ALUMNI NOTE-A-THON Browning’s Alumni Council hosted the 6th Annual Alumni Note-a-thon in the

Wilson Room on Monday, February 27.

Thirty-five volunteers helped sign,

personalize, stuff and stamp more than 500 letters to classmates and fellow L to R: John Kenney, Director of Annual Giving Soo Mi Thompson and Chris Brandt ’09.

L to R: Michael Beys ’89, Richard Helgason ’82 and Bill Reed ’85.

alumni. The purpose of the Note-a-

thon is to promote Alumni Reunion as

well as encourage alumni to contribute to Browning’s Annual Fund. A brief Alumni Council meeting was also

held at the Note-a-thon, with special guest Soo Mi Thompson, director of

annual giving. Huge thanks to all of the

dedicated alumni who volunteered time John Kenney ’74.

Andy Madden ’96.

and energy to this important effort!

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION The Alumni Association hosted its annual meeting this year on Monday, May 19, in the Wilson Room at Browning. The highlight of this meeting was to

celebrate the end of the school year and look ahead to

the closing of the Annual Fund on June 30. In addition, discussion of the recent Alumni Reunion event was a major focus as well as the vote on the treasurer

position (congratulations to Richard Helgason ’82,

who was re-elected for his second two-year term as

treasurer!). Thank you to all of our alumni volunteers who have made this year both a memorable and successful one for the Alumni Association!

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class notes

TO SHARE NEWS WITH THE Browning community, please contact Laura N. Lanigan, director of alumni affairs, at 212-838-6280 Ext. 192 or Laura N. Lanigan Director of Alumni Affairs

llanigan@browning.edu.

’40s

’50s

recently sent in the

has written a book titled, “The

Michael Mittelmann ’49 following update:

“Suzanne and I greatly

regretted that at the last

moment we were unable to attend my 65th Browning Reunion. But most

importantly, we missed honoring and offering

personal congratulations to classmate Wes Vernon ’49 and his wife, Alida.

Looking forward to next

year when we hope to join

with fellow alumni, faculty and friends. It is such a

pleasure to read each issue of this outstanding and informative Browning publication.”

George W. Liebmann ’57 Last American Diplomat: John D. Negroponte and

the Changing Face of US

Diplomacy,” published in

May 2014. Mr. Liebmann is a lawyer in Baltimore with the firm Liebmann and

Shively, P.A. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the University of Chicago

Law School. He has served as executive assistant to

Maryland’s governor; law

clerk to the chief judge of its highest court; counsel to its

department of social services and economic development

corporation; and chairman of or reporter for various study

commissions. He

has been a Simon Industrial and

Professional Fellow at the University of Manchester and a Visiting Fellow at Wolfson College, Cambridge. He is the author of

four volumes on

L to R: Charles Plohn ’62, Dorothy Plohn, Enne Randolph and Haughton Randolph ’62 in March at the Metropolitan Club.

Maryland legal

practice as well as

a number of other books in addition to this latest.

In February,

Thomas E.

Lovejoy ’59 went on an overnight

Frederick Lazar ’66 owns the MV Kalliope, a retired Mississippi barge-pusher tugboat.

dog sledding trip near

Fairbanks, Alaska. Also in

February, Dr. Lovejoy was

Académiques, an Order

conclusion of my Seattle

rank of L’Ordre des Palmes

and figures in the world of culture and education.

’60s

Dorothy and Charles

Plohn ’62 and Enne and

Haughton Randolph ’62

enjoyed a St. Patrick’s Day celebration together at the

BUZZER

Frederick D. Lazar ’66

recently submitted the

distinguished academics

THE

in March.

appointed to the highest

of Chivalry of France for

Tom Lovejoy ’59 is pictured here during a dog sledding trip to Alaska.

Metropolitan Club

following news: “At

tunnel project last April, we decided to leave the

moist beauty of Seattle for

warmer, sunnier climes. So, we bought MV Kalliope, a retired Mississippi bargepusher tugboat near Ft.

Myers, Fla.; sold our house, and drove cross-country in

August 2013. 85’ LOA, 28.5’ beam, 179 tons – plenty of

room for the furniture. Took possession in September

Wilcox Snellings ’77

and started to refit – moved

on-board and ran her down

recently sent in the following

to a berth in Ft. Myers on

son has finally come through.

the Okeechobee Waterway

news: “The adoption of my

the Caloosahatchee River

Juan Carlos Snellings is

just before Thanksgiving.

getting his business degree by

No backyard gardening –

December. Meanwhile, he has

manatees, dolphins,

pelicans, terns, laughing

gulls and other sea critters.

Lots of lizards. Very

been accepted by All Hands Jaime Carey ’72 (second from left) and his family visited Browning in March.

different lifestyle – but great

’80s

LA project, but worth it.

Never thought I’d live in

Florida but Ft. Myers is an

Members of the Class of

active small city. Best to all.”

1982 recently had dinner L to R: Sandy Pelz ’71, Ralph Gardner ’71 and Mr. Ingrisani at Browning in April.

Sanford M. Pelz ’71 invited Gardner ’71 back to

Browning in April to speak to Mr. Pelz’s Form VI

students. Mr. Gardner shared his thoughts

on college and several

anecdotes from his long-

time journalism career in New York City. In May,

Mr. Gardner hosted the

Grytte newspaper staff for a tour of the Dow Jones

offices at 1211 Avenue of the

Americas. Please see page 34

Island in the Philippines,

typhoon cleanup efforts.”

Long commute to current

classmate Ralph D.

month summer stint on Leyte helping with ongoing

fun, including work projects.

’70s

Volunteers to do a three-

for the in-depth story and

photos of this wonderful visit.

Jaime Carey ’72

Clockwise from top left: Jeremy Galton ’72, Howard Rasmussen ’72, Richard Fisher ’72 and George Judd ’72 in Myrtle Beach in February.

at Mr. Galton’s new home in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Shawn R. Cherry ’75

visited Browning in March

is finishing his dissertation

sons. They live in Chile,

University of Connecticut

with his wife and three

and Mr. Carey was in New York on business.

In February, classmates

Jeremy Galton ’72,

Howard Rasmussen ’72, Richard Fisher ’72 and George Judd ’72 had a

“mini Browning reunion”

Ralph Gardner ’71, The Wall Street Journal’s “Urban Gardner” columnist, visited Browning in April to speak to Form VI.

for a Ph.D. from the

in educational psychology

with a dual concentration in gifted education and school counseling. He teaches

elementary grades for the School District of Palm Beach County.

together in May in NYC. Those in attendance

included Ned Hurley ’82,

John Zaccaro ’82, Lorenzo Lorenzotti ’82, David

Callaway ’82, Reja Sabet ’82

and Anthony Addison ’82.

David Callaway ’82 is

editor-in-chief of USA Today.

In March, Mr. Callaway

hosted Browning students,

brothers Andrew Medland ’16 and Connor Medland ’18, at USA Today’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Andrew and Connor had the opportunity to tour the

Reja Sabet ’82 submitted the following caption for this photo taken in May (L to R): “Ned Hurley ’82, John Zaccaro ’82, Lorenzo Lorenzotti ’82, David Callaway ’82, Reja Sabet ’82, Anthony Addison ’82 and (drum roll please) Adam Robinson (founder of Princeton Review and SAT tutor to all!).”

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CNNMoney since 2001, and has been the site’s managing editor since

2007. Mr. Haris is an active member of Browning’s

Alumni Association, and

L to R: Connor Medland ’18, David Callaway ’82 and Andrew Medland ’16 at USA Today in March.

Todd Rosenhaus ’86 tells us his daughter, Julia, pictured with him here, “is definitely my greatest achievement.”

entire newsroom, meet a

number of journalists and

staffers, and even film their

own mock news segment. In a recent Grytte newspaper

article, Connor wrote about the trip saying, “It was

a truly illuminating and fascinating experience.”

Mark A. Hulak ’83

was appointed to Vadium Technology Inc.’s senior

executive team as a senior

vice president in corporate development. Mr. Hulak has over 20 years of

international experience

in corporate development, M&A banking and private equity at such firms as

Microsoft, BEA Systems,

Hewlett Packard, JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs &

Co. Vadium provides next

generation digital security

When Todd Rosenhaus ’86 visited us in May, he ran into Stuart Hutzler ’19, son of Todd’s classmate John Hutzler ’86. Todd and Stuart had never met and coincidentally were in the halls at the same time, while Todd was on a tour of the School.

in 2012, he participated on

the Alumni Career Panel as part of Alumni Reunion.

The paintings of artist

One of the latest art installations

by Dave Eppley ’94.

in Bushwick, Brooklyn,

Craig Mooney ’88 were

as part of a group show

at Galerie Sono in

“Inhabiting Ten Eyck.” The

’90s

place during Bushwick

featured in a spring show

of 14 installation artists,

Norwalk, Conn.

opening reception took

Gregory C. Hewett ’93

is finishing his first year

teaching humanities at the

American Cooperative School of Tunis. He was recently appointed representative

Open Studios, a free

three-day arts and culture

festival, which Dave tells us is “the largest open studios event here in New York,”

where hundreds of artists and galleries open their

doors and share their work.

Alexander M. Bacher ’97

terbury Button Company.

in the Mediterranean

visited Browning in May.

Palm City, Fla., with their

Schools. Next year, he will be

therapist at Promises, an

at Browning, he spent time

Humanities Department.

Clement, Sandy Pelz ’71

two children.

dentally, he also ran into

wrote to tell us about a new

Hutzler ’86, Stuart ’19, who

working on for exhibition

He and his wife live in

Association of International

17-year-old daughter. While

the head of the Middle School

with Laura Lanigan, Steve

He and his wife, Katie, have

and David Watson. Coinci-

In May, Dave Eppley ’94

the son of classmate John

site-specific piece he was

is in Form I at Browning.

from May 30 through June 29

Dr. Bacher is a primary

addiction rehabilitation

center located in Malibu,

Calif. After his Browning graduation, he attended Georgetown University

followed by a brief career

on Wall Street in which he witnessed the horrors of

9/11 from his office, across

and privacy solutions.

L. Fredrik Cederqvist ’86

recently relocated to

Dallas, Tex., after being

appointed chief counsel for big data at AT&T.

Todd N. Rosenhaus ’86

visited Browning in May

while he was in New York

for business. Mr. Rosenhaus is a sales manager for Wa-

THE

BUZZER

Lex Haris ’88.

In May, Lex Haris ’88

was promoted to executive editor of CNNMoney.

Mr. Haris has worked at

Sandy Pelz ’71 (left) and Alexander Bacher ’97 spent time together in May.

’00s

Alumni Council Member Stuart A. Orenstein ’00 recently visited Ireland

with his mother, Dr. Jeanne Bresciani. The purpose of Alexander Bacher ’97 (center) visited Browning in May and spent time with his former teacher, Mr. Ingrisani, and Mr. Ingrisani’s English class.

Irish heritage through

Stuart Orenstein ’00 traveled to London in April; he is pictured here in front of Harrod’s.

the street from the World

Mrs. Straus refused to go into

Purcell in Dublin and the

Michael C. Hall, Tracy Letts,

leave finance and apply to

helped her maid in. She put

He visited many intriguing

limited engagement played

the trip was to chart their

Trade Center. He decided to the CIA; halfway through

that process, he also applied to Pepperdine University to pursue his interest in

psychology. His offer letter

from Pepperdine arrived the

the [life]boat after having

her arms around the neck of

her husband, telling him: ‘We have been married 50 years,

we have never left each other, I want to die with you.’”

The late former Browning

week before an offer from

trustee John Straus ’38, his

to earn a doctoral degree in

William Straus ’71, and

the CIA. He ultimately chose psychology and become a

licensed clinical psychologist.

In March, a fascinating

news story was brought

to our attention by Justin

Kingson ’98. It concerned a Titanic survivor and some

interesting Browning School

sons John Straus ’64 and

cousins Brett Gladstone ’75 and Gerald Levy ’41 are

some of the Browning alumni descendants of the couple

mentioned above, Isador and Ida Straus, who perished in the Titanic disaster in 1912.

John C. Dearie ’99

links. The survivor, Rose

recently submitted the

in 1955 about her experience

promoted to assistant

Amélie Icard, wrote a letter on the Titanic, describing

how she survived and the tragic events surrounding

her along that journey. The letter has since resurfaced and one paragraph from

her handwritten account

in French is excerpted and

translated into English below: “Near me were two

handsome elderly [people], Mr. and Mrs. Straus,

proprietors of the great store Macy’s of New York.

following news: “I was director of development last summer and am enjoying my 11th year working at

Saint David’s School. My wife and I currently live

on the Upper West Side.

I had a great time at my

15-year Reunion catching up with friends and

walking through the newly

revamped Browning School.

If you haven’t been back, I encourage you to visit!”

family relatives Quigley & surrounding countryside. historical Irish sites,

including the Hill of Tara and Newgrange.

Michael D. Alpert ’01

recently sent us a description about his start-up company, Immunathon: “Efforts to

redirect the immune system to kill cancer cells have

generated extraordinary

hope and interest, but face the fundamental problem

of how to avoid also killing healthy cells. To overcome

this obstacle, we invented a new targeting mechanism, activated by abnormal

patterns of gene expression

that are hallmarks of cancer.

We will partner with

biotech and pharmaceutical

companies, and generate for

them cancer immunotherapy drugs with dramatically

and Marisa Tomei. The

its final performance on

July 6. The play he directed in Boston last season, “Operation Epsilon,”

recently received four

IRNE Awards, including

Best Play, Best Director and Best Ensemble. “Operation Epsilon” is aiming for a Broadway bow in 2015.

Andy has also written a new comedy about

kindergarten admissions, “Application Pending,”

which he will be directing in its world premiere

Off-Broadway this fall.

For more information

about Andy’s upcoming projects, you can check

out AndySandberg.com

or email Andy directly at

Andy@AndySandberg.com.

Evan B. Sachs ’02 was

improved safety and efficacy.”

married in May.

happy to see STEM featured

is spending time in

Dr. Alpert also tells us he was in the last Buzzer issue.

Andy Sandberg ’01

recently produced the critically acclaimed

Broadway run of Will Eno’s “The Realistic Joneses,” starring Toni Collette,

Gabe Ulla ’07

Copenhagen as a writer-in-

residence for Noma, recently named the best restaurant in

the world for the fourth time

by Restaurant Magazine. He is also one of the curators of the MAD Symposium, an

Summer 2014

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82

L to R: Andrew Warner ’06, Andrew Gropper ’93 and Headmaster Clement at an engagement party for Andrew Gropper ’93 in March.

annual gathering on food

Wilf Wallis ’13 (left) and Michele Gama Sosa ’10 (right) attended the NYSAIS track meet in May and are pictured here with current Browning track star Chris Keyko ’15 (center).

Leland C. Stillman ’06

culture and policy founded

graduated from the School of

chef and owner.

Virginia this year.

by René Redzepi, Noma’s Luc M. Vareilles ’04

Medicine at the University of

recently sent in the following

to represent fellow Browning alumni, parents or faculty.”

Benjamin P.

D’Innocenzo ’06 recently submitted the following

update: “I have spent the last year working within

economic development for a

small farming community in Cameroon with the United States Peace Corps. It has

been a fantastic, challenging and productive first year,

and I know the second will

be even better! I am grateful every day for the education I received at Browning, as it prepared me so well for

the work I do here in West

Africa. It takes True Grytte.”

is a grave disappointment,

James Weinhoff ‘10 graduated from UVa in May.

Association supported

a seller and buyer’s broker,

2996. It would be a pleasure

because of my religion. That

House Correspondents’

estate agent in NYC. I am

spiregroupny.com or 917-518-

of my media affiliation or

the Kingdom.” The White

a licensed residential real

can be contacted at Luc@

was denied either because

and a lost opportunity for

update: “I am working as

as well as a rental agent. I

little doubt that my access

Mr. Wilner’s position.

Michael Wilner ’07, as featured on FoxNews.com in March.

Michael A. Wilner ’07

is Washington bureau chief

In May, Andrew Scott ’08

appeared in an episode of

“Blood Relatives,” a crime TV show on Investigative Discovery Channel.

after having been denied a

’10s

Obama’s visit to Saudi

Browning in May following

Mr. Wilner wrote, “I am an

University of Virginia. James

at The Jerusalem Post, based in New York City. In March, Mr. Wilner was in the news

Saudi visa to cover President

James R. Weinhoff ’10 visited

Arabia. FoxNews reports that

his graduation from the

L to R: Janet Lien, Kevin Dearinger, James Weinhoff ’10 and Maureen Linehan at Browning in May, when James dropped in for a visit to his alma mater.

American journalist covering the travel of an American president. We consider

it unfortunate that Saudi Arabia would deny any

legitimate reporter the ability to complete that work –

much less one properly

credentialed, in the White

House press corps, expressly invited on the trip. We have

Peter Shapiro ’10 graduated from Dickinson College in May.

THE

BUZZER

Former Faculty News In May, former fifth grade Efrain Morales ’13 (left) and Freddie Edwards ’13 visited Browning in May, following completion of their freshman years in college.

teacher John Carroll

visited Browning and

enjoyed lunch with his former co-workers as

well as time catching up

with several of his former students in the cafeteria.

L to R: Harrison Fisher ’20, John Carroll and Sharif Nsouli ’20.

IN MEMORIAM Andrew Amarosa ’12 (left) and Andrew West ’92 at Browning in May.

James Brisotti ’12 (left) and Head of Upper School Jim Reynolds at Browning in March.

will be moving to Atlanta

the opportunity to run on

AIG in the Shared Services

teams there. Andrew was

over the summer to work for Program, where he will

spend eight weeks at a time in various groups to learn

about the company from the

the cross-country and track a student at Browning for nine years, leaving after

Matthew Cowles ’63

Pauline M. Egan P ’87 Peter R. Ehrlich ’46

Radu Florescu GP ’15 ’18 Steven Green ’62

William S. Kingson

Form II.

REMEMBERING WILLIAM S. KINGSON

ground up.

The Browning School community

Andrew M. Amarosa ’12

visited Browning in May,

was deeply saddened by the loss

of his freshman year at the

William S. Kingson who passed

James R. Brisotti ’12

been a member of our Board of

following the completion

of alumnus, parent and Trustee

University of Pennsylvania.

away on April 28, 2014. Bill had

visited Browning in March

Trustees since 1988 and chaired the

from the U.S. Naval

loyal, generous and beloved member of our community

midshipman.

for many years. He was an international businessman

will be attending Carleton

adventure, sharp wit and “joie de vivre,” as well as his

while on his Spring Break

Committee on Trustees. He was a

Academy, where he is a

and an extraordinary leader of The Browning School

and world-record-setting pilot known for his sense of

Andrew H. Ruvkun ’14

College, where he will have

Andrew Ruvkun ’14.

service and devotion to Browning and our boys. Our

thoughts are with his wife, Carina, his daughter, Celena Knox, and his son, Justin ’98.

Summer 2014

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84

IT TAK ES GRYTTE: WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE CAN DO IT!

With its reputation for academic excellence, camaraderie and a caring, dedicated faculty, The Browning School is set to stand the test of time through your continued confidence. Please join us in our commitment to the present and future generations of Browning boys.

THE

BUZZER

Welcome to The Browning School, strong and true Sharing and giving, we give to you A school blessed with peace, with love, without fear This is the place where we learn and grow through the years.

Stout hearts and true, hold fast what is ours Friends give us courage through darkest hours God, give us strength and guide with thy hand The Browning School, our loyalty we give to you.

—The Browning School Song Adapted from “America: Our Heritage” by Helen Steele

LEADERSHIP GIVING TO DATE: $5 million gifts

1

$3 million gifts

1

$2 million gifts

2

$1 million gifts

1

$500,000 8 $250,000

12

$100,000

34

And remember, every gift counts!

STRONG & TRUE: The Campaign for Browning is nearing its goal of $30 million. We continue to receive campaign gifts of all sizes and are excited to share an update of our donors’ generosity as we move toward the conclusion of this exciting initiative.

Summer 2014

C

T H E BROW N I NG SC HO OL 52 East 62nd Street New York, New York 10065

NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE

PAID AUGUSTA, ME PERMIT NO. 121

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

TO PARENTS OF ALUMNI If this magazine is addressed to your son who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Alumni Office at 212 838 6280 x192 with the correct mailing address. Thank you.

D

T HE GREEN T E A M SU PPORTS

Wild Bird Fund

Browning’s Green Team and advisor Emilie Wolf presented a $1,000 check to Rita McMahon (center), co-founder and director the Bird Fund, in June. The money, T H E B of UZ Z EWild R

raised partly through their bake sale, was donated to this particular “cause” because the Middle Schoolers often go birding in Central Park as part of their classroom learning.