Winter Winter2007 2007
Architect Jim Branch ’84 Takes Root in Philadelphia to Make His Mark on the Cityscape Guest Speaker Lech Walesa Addresses Rights, Dignity and Change Q&A with Pete Bevacqua ’89 Lacrosse Coach Jeff Harris Ends a Run of Championship Seasons Sportswriter Mike Lupica Visits ’Wick
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6 Brunswick School 100 Maher Avenue Greenwich, CT 06830 Tel: 203.625.5800 www.BrunswickSchool.org
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Headmaster Thomas W. Philip Director of Development Terry M. Gumz Editor Bonni Brodnick bbrodnick@brunswickschool.org
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Cover Photo ChiChi Ubiña Contributors Anne Adler, Monica Berisso, Phaethon Bolton ’06, Bonni Brodnick, Diane Briggs, Keith Cipollaro, Betty Condon, Libby Edwards, Valerie Fenton, Terry Gumz, Preston Han ’09, Rita Horan, Corey Juan ’13, Barbara Kolesar, Dixon Mallory ’08, Elizabeth Fernandez, Catherine Scott, Ed Trenkmann, Jr. ’45
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Class Notes Editor Catherine Scott cscott@brunswickschool.org Contributing Photographers Monica Berisso, Drew Blake ’10, Bonni Brodnick, Dan Burns, Tim Coffey, Fran Collin, Tom Crane, Kathleen Di Giovanni, Preston Han, DPK&A Architects LLP, fiba.com, Dimitrios Kambouris/ WireImage.com Photo, Barbara Kolesar, Robert Norman Photography, Frances Page, Thomas Rosenkranz ’13, Joaquin Chaparro Sanz, Michael Thomas, TReC Sports PhotoGraphics, USGA/ John Mummert, Simon Williams Designer Good Design LLC www.gooddesignsusa.com Printing Success Printing Norwalk, Connecticut
Brunswick School, founded in 1902, is an
independent college-preparatory day school for boys in grades pre-kindergarten through 12. Grades 9-12 have a coordinate program with Greenwich Academy, a neighboring girls’ school. In a community of challenging academics, diverse artistic pursuits and highly competitive athletics, time for Brunswick School students is also reserved for both reflection and service to others. We believe in the potential of boys and have successfully developed an educational experience that emphasizes rigorous traditional learning, selfdiscipline and character development. The School’s motto, “Courage, Honor, Truth,” is a phrase familiar to students who have graced our halls and one that is followed in both word and deed.
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Board of Trustees 2006-2007 Garrett M. Moran, Chairman Richard A. Baker ’84 W. Preston Baldwin III Cynthia G. Biondi Michael P. Castine J. Michael Cline Leslie A. Dahl B. Cort Delany ’73 Matthew S. DeSalvo William A. Durkin III ’72 Anne B. Farrell
Richard M. Fuscone Joseph D. Gatto Colvin W. Grannum Alain Lebec James B. Lee David B. MacFarlane Lisa G. Matthews Ian A. Murray ’93 Shepard P. Murray ’89 Thomas D. O’Malley, Jr. ’85 Charles Paternina Peer T. Pedersen, Jr.
Clifton S. Robbins Henry F. Skelsey Mark J. Vallely ’75 J. Edward Virtue Peter A. Weinberg Simon J. Williams Tracy R. Wolstencroft Brunswick Parents Association Lisa R. Skinner, President
Features 4
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Graduation Day 2006 is Lauded with Sunshine and Applause; Commencement Awards
Librarians Hit Bourbon Street and Plaquemines Parish in New Orleans by Bonni Brodnick
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Architect Jim Branch ’84 Takes Root in Philadelphia to Make his Mark on the Cityscape by Bonni Brodnick
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The Second Annual Robert L. Cosby Society Breakfast: Scholarships and the Doors They Open by Bonni Brodnick
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Brunswick Goes “Way Out West” for Annual Auction Benefit by Julie Johnson
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Brunswick Teacher Barbara Kolesar Retires After Two Decades by Anne Adler
Contents
It’s All About the Story and the Character: Behind the Camera with Mike Kristoff ’04 by Bonni Brodnick
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The Brunswick Route to China by Preston Han ’09 and Dixon Mallory ’08
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Q&A with Pete Bevacqua ’89 by Cat Scott and Bonni Brodnick
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Guest Speaker Lech Walesa Addresses Rights, Dignity and Change by Bonni Brodnick
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Division I Squash in College Starts With Jim Stephens at Brunswick by Bonni Brodnick
Departments 2 Message from the Headmaster: Always Loved, Never Entitled 3 Letters to the Editor 22 On the Front
50 Sports Wrap-Up
64 Alumni: 64 Senior Breakfast 2006 65 We’ll Come to You! 66 Golf Outing 2006 69 Distinguished Alumni Award 2006 70 Homecoming 2006 80 Reunion 2006 82 Class Notes & In Memoriam
Compiled by Cat Scott
92 Viewpoint: Student Perspective
by Phaethon Bolton ’06
Inside Back Cover Class of 2006 Matriculation ERRATUM Please note that in the Brunswick School Calendar & Annual Report 2005-2006, we inadvertently left off Ian MacTaggart ’85, who generously contributed to the Betty Altman Fund. We regret this omission.
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Winter 2007
41 ’Wick Snippits 42 Murray Brothers Tie a Knot with Brunswick 43 Winnie Curry Paints a Teddy Bear’s Picnic for Pre-K 44 Larry Urbon Serves up a Hot Cup of Café Musette 45 Akin Akingbala ’02 Shoots for the Moon 46 Alpha, Bravo, Charlie . . . Take Off! 47 Look What’s Cooking at ‘Wick 48 Forty Years of LAX 49 Lacrosse Coach Jeff Harris Ends a Run of Championship Seasons
60 Beyond the Classroom
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Message from the Headmaster “Always Loved, Never Entitled” Not too long ago, as a quick read, I took up Big Russ and Me by NBC news analyst and host of Meet The Press, Tim Russert.
As a friend of mine pointed out, overall the book turned out to be much more about “Me” (i.e. the author) than about “Big Russ.” Nevertheless, I decided to read it because Tim Russert had been interviewed on the Imus In The Morning Show (having been raised in New York City, I am a life-long Imus fan) and in talking about his book, Russert had said that while growing up he had “ . . . always felt loved, but never felt entitled.” Because of such a compelling phrase, I read the book and, although I never actually came across the exact phrase the author offered up to Imus, in general terms, “Always Loved, Never Entitled” does seem to be a sound synopsis of Russert’s upbringing at the hands of his father. Ironically, I was recently reminded about the phrase, “Always Loved, Never Entitled” when someone mentioned to me that another phrase: “Not for You, Not for Me, but for The Boys” (which can be found on a bronze plaque we have mounted on a wall at our Edwards Campus) begs the question…. exactly WHAT is it that is not for you, or me, but for them? The answer at Brunswick School is simple . . . it may be many things, but it is not entitlement. On the boys’ behalf, we fight and teach against the ravages of entitlement each and every day. That way, Brunswick
School students learn to earn what they manage to achieve and thereby benefit from the growth and learning that derives from that experience. Rather, and again on their behalf, it is the care, the guidance, and the instruction that comes out of our love for our boys, and what they can and will become. You could say then that our daily goal during their time with us is for Brunswick boys to always be loved . . . but never, ever to feel entitled.
Times of Brunswick
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Thomas W. Philip Headmaster
Letters Letters Letters Letters Letters Letters Letters
To the editor… esome! ick was aw sw n ru B of Times The latest t and good articles. see the a Great form rticularly pleased to e military, pa in th I was bout alums ond’s brother a le ic rt a l te Raym wonderfu d that Na C when he goes off e c ti o n d an OT t e joining R in ROTC a Colin will b lready at college and eston ’03 W A to college. University are Scott ey ’04 is in st lo re a n Wake Fo Also, Dan M at this time. . 4 ’0 s ie K Korea and Sam e, serving in the BPA (Brunswick rc o F ir A e th to mond, and felt thanks My heart ociation), Susan Ray on Bruins ti Parents Ass for starting up Opera oncerned. c in ll e a r Sue Epst at thing fo ularly popular re g a t a h Care. W a partic oment, and ry is not The milita r community at the m oring their u n subject in o l that the boys are ho port. u p rf e su d ir e it is won ers with th th ro b k ic fellow ’W , e good work th p u p e e s K Stefanie Kie
We recently received a no te (’06), who is adjusting we from our son Michael ll to his first semester at Columbia University and to life in New York City. He’s had terrific au ditions for the Columbia Orchestra and Chamber Mu carrying an insane load of sic Program, and is credits, but that’s what Br unswick prepared him for. When asked how he likes his Columbia profes sors, he told us that they are very good. Then he tho added that though he alw ught a moment, and ays knew his Br unswick school teachers were am azing, he never realized just how amazing they we re until he got to college. Michael misses their warm , caring manner, and the nurturing environment tha t is Br unswick. We are grateful to the School for honoring ou r son with the prestigiou s Headmaster’s Trophy , for Mr. Philip’s acknow ledgment of Michael in last year’s convocation speech, and for all of the encourag ement our son received during his precious years at Br unsw ick .
Winter 2007
We welcome your comments and letters to the editor. Please contact bbrodnick@brunswickschool.org.
Sincerely, Valerie Szeto
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Commencement 2006
Graduation Day 2006 is Lauded with Sunshine and Applause It was a red-tie, red carnation day as the Class of 2006 grads marched into Burke Gymnasium for the one hundred and fourth commencement on a seasonal May afternoon. Unlike last year’s cold blast, this graduation was marked with blue skies, temperatures in the 70s, and a festive big white tent on the Upper School backfield for post-ceremony celebration. As the graduates marched in, family, friends, and faculty stood at attention for this prestigious class. Combined with seniors at Greenwich Academy, the Class of 2006 earned the highest Advanced Placement scores in the nation for a school of our size, according to John Macfarlane III, chairman of
Brunswick’s Board of Trustees. We won fourteen merit scholarships, presented seven theatrical productions, and won four Fairchester Athletic Association championships and three New England Preparatory Schools Athletic Association championships. “Live with a sense of honor that permeates all aspects of your lives,” said Mr. Macfarlane, who addressed the class. “Unflinchingly seek the truth so that you are models for your families and peers. Be men of large hearts and fertile minds. We celebrate this wonderful moment in the lives of our sons.” “Today’s ceremony has been founded on great tradition,” said Headmaster Thomas W. Philip. “Thank you for all of the credit you’ve brought to yourselves and to our School. Greenwich Academy is a great part of what makes Brunswick so special. We are grateful to Head of School Molly King,
Awards & Recognition Ivy Speaker Times of Brunswick
Peter A. R. Spyrou
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Robert L. Cosby Award Liam A. Fayed
John F. Otto Faculty Award
James R. Stephens
Faculty Citation David M. Manners-Weber
Valedictorian
James D. Thorman
2006 Brunswick School Graduates
and retiring Head of GA’s Upper School Sharon Dietzel, whom we wish much luck and great success.” The class voted for senior Peter Spyrou to address the class as “Ivy” speaker. Valedictorian James Thorman introduced him, noting that Spryou had been at Brunswick since Kindergarten, and thanks to his academic, athletic and class leadership accomplishments, “Peter represents the breadth of experience that defines the Brunswick student.” “Today marks the end of something great, and the beginning of something new,” Peter said. “Our years at Brunswick have shaped us into men. Here we are continually challenged and guided. Never again will we have teachers care so much about us, push us, and expect so much of us. Our Brunswick experience has set the bar high. Dream big. Find the stars. Push us to the future with hope, direction, and love.” The graduates filed on stage to receive their diplomas and a handshake from the Headmaster. In what has become a School tradition, he then congratulated the Class of 2006 by simply saying, “Thank you gentlemen, well done.” j
Headmaster’s Trophy
Michael C. Szeto
Thomas A. Altman Prize
James P. Millard
Kulukundis Cup
James D. Thorman
Louis Joseph Aronne Andrew Jeffries Atwell Christopher Connor Baker Timothy Stuart Belden Michael James Biondi, Jr. Phaethon Blackburn Bolton Charles William Brodsky Charles David Brosens Matthew Louis Cohen Maximilian Roderick de Castro Robert Duane Dickson III Zachary Stephen Dobbs Eric Aborn Duffy Morgan Scott Dunnan Ian Bradstreet Durkin William Bainbridge Dyke Eric Thomas Epstein James Walker Epstein Brady William Farrell Liam A. Fayed James Tollan Francis Douglas Jeremy Friedman Christopher Thomas Gattinella Nicholas Alexander Georgitseas Charles William Gumz John Alexander Harvey Zachary Harry Hascoe Christian Robbins Henze Vaughn J. Hodges Thomas John Hopkins Fabio Ignacio Hoyos John Skilling Jeffrey Charles Paul Kirchen John Henry Klopp Robert Alan Knox, Jr. Sims Suydam Lansing Xavier Armand Lebec
Thomas A. Shields Award
Colin C. VanLang
Charles Davis Lodge Christopher Madison Malone David Matthew Manners-Weber Christopher Joseph Mayfield Justin Hawley McAuliffe James Patrick Millard Mark Patrick Moran Spencer Wight Moscati James Henry O’Brien III Frank William Osborn Scott John Oudheusden Luis Paternina David Allen Platter Kyle Day Purcell Benjamin James Ismay Robson Jack Morton Rosencrans Will Pendleton Roush Zachary M. Ruchman Matthew Downing Sargent Abraham David Schwartz Henry Fulton Skelsey, Jr. Edward Noble Smith John Francis Sorbella Peter Andrew Rankin Spyrou Andrew Hamilton Steers Sean Fennell Stewart Michael Carbognin Szeto Louis John Taylor James Davis Thorman Christopher Michael Tierney James Michael Tormey Colin Chi-Duc VanLang Francis Louis Verhaegen Matthew Shaw Virtue David Farley Whelan Nicholas Joseph Charles Williams
Classics Award Sean F. Stewart
Historical Society Zachary M. Ruchman
Winter 2007
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Times of Brunswick
Architect J
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Jim Branch ’84 Takes Root in Philadelphia to Make his F
rom his earliest memories as a child, seeing drawings and watching his parents design an addition on their Lake Avenue home in Greenwich, Jim Branch ’84 knew he wanted to be an architect. “While at Brunswick, I was the only student who took Carol Dixon’s architecture class,” Jim said. “She was going By Bonni Brodnick to cancel it for lack of students, but changed her mind when she realized how enthusiastic I was. To get more experience, I would spend summer months ’in the field.’ One summer, John Altman ’85 and I worked for a construction company building new residences.” Jim went on to Kenyon College, where he majored in studio art as a sculptor working in steel, with a concentration in physics, art, and architectural history. “After correspondence with a few graduate programs, I was steered away from physics as a major. Rather, it was suggested that sculpture as a three-dimensional design process would be a better prelude to architecture.” During those summers and the two years between college and graduate school, Jim completed a summer architecture program at Harvard, and worked for different architectural firms in Greenwich, including William Milo Barnum Associates (father of Nat Barnum ’82), which helped Jim build his portfolio. Both MIT and the University of Pennsylvania, accepted him into their
Mark on the Cityscape
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Philadelphia International Airport Terminal B/C, Philadelphia, PA Exterior, truss, right exterior P h o to C r e d i t : T o m C r a n e P h o to g r a p h y
Winter 2007
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Exterior of Erie Federal Courthouse at dusk Interior view of stained glass connector Entrance to restored library at Erie Federal Courthouse P h o to
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M ic h a el T h o m a s
Times of Brunswick
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Architect Jim Branch ’84
Master of Architecture programs. For Jim, Philadelphia was the place to be. “Philadelphia is a city full of architects,” Branch said. “Many have been drawn here initially for a degree from Penn. Others have settled here because of the nature of the city itself. Philadelphia has one of the broadest crosscultural sections in a localized area in the country. It has amazing music, food, art, and a heritage and history that are second to none. The city has proven to be affordable relative to its neighbors, attracting developers, and providing fertile ground for architects and designers as it is growing quickly to accommodate the influx of new residents. Philadelphia could also be considered the first city of architects, starting with the Carpenters’ Company in 1724, and continuing with a history of great architects that include Frank Furness, Paul Philippe Cret, and Louis Kahn, just to name a few.” Along with receiving a Master of Architecture degree from Penn, Jim was his class recipient for the Alpha Rho Chi Medal in Architecture. He soon joined the staff of DPK&A Architects, LLP, headquartered in Philadelphia. “Dan Peter Kopple, DPK&A’s founding partner, interviewed me and was especially interested in my Penn thesis:
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Central Synagogue, New York, NY P h o to C r e d i t : DPK&A A r c h ite c t s , LLP
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Interior restored
Winter 2007
‘A transportation nexus as a gateway and threshold to the ancient city of Monemvasia in Greece.’ The firm has always been involved in transportation architecture, whether in the restoration of a historic station, or the creation of a new multimillion-dollar airport facility. “I was impressed with Dan’s history as a Philadelphia architect: he was partner at Kling, the largest architectural firm in Philadelphia in the 1960s, and was the youngest of his peers to head the largest studio of seventy architects. Dan’s projects, certainly influenced by Kahn, are some of those that shape the skyline of Philadelphia today. When Dan teamed with Carl Doebley, renowned architectural preservationist, to restore one of Philadelphia’s most significant structures – 30th Street Station – a partnership was formed, and so began the office of DPK&A. The firm is steeped in the Philadelphia style by maintaining design sensibilities of the major influences of the city, along with an understanding of the qualities, materials, and methods used to create the historical structures of Philadelphia.” As a new project architect at DPK&A, Jim immediately began work on two distinctly different projects: the Statuary Restoration at the Pennsylvania State Capitol and the $130 million Terminal B/C project at the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). “At PHL, I helped design a structure with a geometry that enabled a series of truss-bays to create a multi-story ticketing lobby by spanning between a new departures roadway and the existing terminal,” Jim stated. Through careful planning, it would still allow the airport to operate and maintain a high level of security during construction,” Jim stated. In addition to new design projects, DPK&A has restored many religious and sacred buildings, including the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Savannah, Georgia; Old St. Joseph’s Church in Philadelphia, and Central Synagogue in New York City. Tracing its roots to 1839, Central Synagogue is the oldest Jewish house of worship in continuous use in New York City and is a magnificent example of late-19th century American
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Times of Brunswick
Central Synagogue, exterior restored
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Disassembled Statuary at the Main Capitol Building, Harrisburg, PA
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Restored Statuary at the Main Capitol Building P h o to : DPK&A A r c h ite c ts , LLP
Architect Jim Branch ’84
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synagogue architecture. DPK&A had been retained to do a full exterior restoration of the synagogue, which is listed as a National Historic Landmark. In 1996, Central Synagogue was awarded a Citation of Merit from the Victorian Society of America for the exterior restoration. “Around four years after the exterior restoration was completed, I remember coming back from vacation on Nantucket to see on the news that the synagogue had caught fire from a worker using a blow torch while installing some mechanical equipment on the roof. It was terrible,” Jim recounted. “So this began a new phase of work for us, as DPK&A was retained by Central Synagogue to oversee the post-fire stabilization of the synagogue and salvage operations. We served as consulting restoration architects for the interior and exterior restoration, including masonry repairs to fire-damaged stone, reconstruction of the ornamental metalwork, restoration slate roofing, and after careful analysis, the restoration of polychromatic wall patterns that had long since been painted over. Three years and $40 million later, Central Synagogue was restored to its original grandeur, and reopened on September 9, 2001. It was quite a project.” Another assignment that represents the culmination of new design work, along with restoration, and adaptive reuse, is one that partner Carl Doebley had been following for a long time, one which Jim had spent many sleepless nights working toward, and finally winning the competition for: the renovation and expansion of the Erie Federal Courthouse. “The goal for the project was to design a facility that would enhance the positive image of the Federal Courts in Erie,” Jim said. “Our strategy was to join the historic buildings of different styles with a sympathetically composed expansion that creates a well-functioning, visually unified whole. We also created a highly visible entry, as an amenity and civic symbol.” To achieve this goal, an Annex was built for the Federal Building, and the Library Building was adaptively rehabilitated for court use. A new sky-lit, glass-walled connector building and forecourt creates a dignified, welcoming symbol of the Federal Courts, and provides a central entry for all services. The transparency of the new connector allows the existing historic buildings to retain their identity. “The design embodies certain principles of sustainable architecture,” Jim described. “The fundamental concept is recycling, and extending the life of the existing buildings,
both by renovation and by adaptive reuse. In doing this, a huge investment in building materials and labor is retained for productive use by future generations.” Jim has been using the same consideration in the restoration of his own home. “In 1997, I bought an 1820s townhouse in downtown Philadelphia. I spend weekends rehabilitating the place, entirely gutting the spaces, making structural repairs, and saving original materials. The salvaged brick, larger than today’s standard size, was used to rebuild a collapsed fireplace that had been walled over in the 1970s. The yellow pine floorboards will go on the ceiling in my office. All of these efforts are to maintain elements of the original 1820s house so that the character and history of the house are not lost in the renovation. With such a small house, I have tried to work through the spaces considering in my design which compromises to make, what features to augment, and how to make all of the spaces dynamic. I try to give a sense of the surrounding spaces in order to make the rooms feel more open, bring in more light, and break from the standard row house feeling of compression.” (Philadelphia Style magazine published an article on Jim’s weekend restoration project in their summer 2005 issue.) “My girlfriend Ellen has been great putting up with the construction, having morning coffee while sitting on sacks of lime and sand. She shares a personal interest, though, since she’s attending Penn to get a Master of Science degree in Historic Preservation,” Jim said. “Ellen and I went up to Brunswick for my 20th reunion. It was great to see everyone again, and the new campus is really quite wonderful. The site is beautiful – open, with large trees. The Lower School reminds me of architect H.H. Richardson’s academic buildings, but with a playful spin, and less imposing. I also liked the large shed design of the field house in contrast to the other buildings. It felt very much like a mini-college campus. It is a very fortunate group of students, indeed, who get to attend such a great school in such an inspiring setting.” j
First floor dining room during demolition of 1820s townhouse
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Office fireplace rebuilt
If you, too, are thinking of making some big (architectural) changes in your life, Jim is a senior associate at DPK&A Architects, LLP (www.dpka.com) and can be reached at jbranch@dpka.com.
floor bedroom during construction
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floor bedroom completed
Winter 2007
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The Second Annual Robert “Scholarships and the Even
the morning after a major snowstorm didn’t keep folks from attending the Second Annual Robert L. Cosby Society Breakfast. Their trek through snowy roads led them to Durkin Auditorium, pancakes and scrambled eggs, pastries and most of all, a moment to honor Robert L. Cosby, a beloved teacher, friend, and mentor whose presence graced Brunswick for decades.
Times of Brunswick
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Headmaster Tom Philip welcomed special guest Bob Cosby Jr. ’73; as well as speakers John P. Booth, chair of Brunswick’s history and social science department; and Reverend Dr. Thomas L. Nins of First Baptist Church of Greenwich, and father of Lower School student Isaiah. Mr. Philip was appreciative to all members of the Robert L. Cosby Society, especially several of our new members who were able to join us: Sloane Given (on behalf of the Felt family), Susan and Joe Gatto, Lineene and Stan Krasnow, Peer Pedersen, and Lisa Vallely. Renata Cosby, Bob’s sister (and Mr. Cosby’s daughter), had recently expressed in a letter to Mr. Philip her appreciation for the goals of the Society. She believes that the earlier a child attends Brunswick, the sooner the experience becomes a smoothly assumed way of life, rather than a jolting chapter. “That jolting chapter is not limited to the child – it can extend to his wider home environment,” Renata wrote. “On so many levels, the Brunswick experience is much more than the education. It includes the education of the child’s family as well. In order for the child to succeed, the family must understand its role in and responsibility to their child’s success.” Brunswick faculty speaker John Booth reflected upon his friendship with Mr. Cosby and personal experience with scholarship opportunities. “A private education at a school like Brunswick might be an unrealistic dream for many,” said John. “I was one of those kids in Long Island in 1981. I’m the son of an immigrant mother
who escaped the evils of the Iron Curtain in 1951, and of a dad who went to a union trade school and became a plumber in New York City. They were working class, living from paycheck to paycheck. There were times when money wasn’t an issue, and yet there were times in ’75 and ’76 when things were bad. My dad had been out of work for over a year. If not for the government-issued cheese, powdered milk, food stamps, and unemployment checks, my parents might not have been able to feed their four kids, and keep the house. My dad eventually found work on a pipeline in Alaska, which I find ironic because ‘Cos’ was there as well. “Things finally got better,” John continued. “I was fortunate to have been asked to attend The Williston-Northampton School, a boarding prep school in Massachusetts. Prep schools were an unknown in my family. Neither of my parents had graduated high school. But with the help of scholarship money, I was able to attend Williston for two years. “It should be of no surprise that it was a hard adjustment at first,” he said. “The work was harder than public school, but even more difficult was the fact that I was going through a complete culture shock. There were all of these kids with nice clothes, huge stereos, big allowances, and stories about fancy vacations. I’m sure some of my initial experiences and perceptions were not unlike those of our scholarship students at Brunswick School today. But I came to find out that most of those kids were not spoiled, and that the teachers really cared about who I was as a person. They were omnipresent, just like Cos. They were available to help with school, sports, and even girl troubles. “Williston was the springboard to Williams College, for here again, with the grace of scholarship money, I graduated and became what I always wanted to be: a teacher. Nineteen years later, I stand here before you; thankful for every penny some unknown donors gave to me through the years. If not for scholarships, like the one you fund in honor of Mr. Cosby, guys like me do not get to improve their lot in life. They don’t get the chance to make their parents supremely proud.
L. Cosby Society Breakfast Doors They Open” By Bonni Brodnick
“My sincere gratitude to each of you for this wonderful legacy to my father. The integration of opportunity, the same principals of Courage, Honor, Truth, and the same standards of responsibility and accountability towards the students is what bridges the gap to make them all Brunswick boys. When you contribute to the Robert L. Cosby Society, you are creating a community in which everyone can prosper.” j
Become a member of the Robert L. Cosby Society Induction into the Robert L. Cosby Society is awarded to those who have given a cumulative total of $5,000 to the Robert L. Cosby Scholarship Fund over any period of time. Members are honored at our annual breakfast, where they learn more about how their donations benefit the Brunswick community and enrich it with diversity. To join the Robert L. Cosby Society, please call the Brunswick Development Office at 203.625.5864.
Winter 2007
“We understand that scholarship kids have to deal with the academic and culture shocks that are inevitable when one transitions to a private school,” John continued. “Yet, through selfless giving from alums, families and friends, I’ve had the good fortune to see Brunswick increase its diversity population over the past fifteen years. Thanks to the passion and the commitment of Mr. Philip, our Board and faculty, including the diversity committee led by Marianne Ho Barnum, the School is determined to recruit and retain students from diverse economic and cultural backgrounds. There was a time when schools feared those who were thought of as different. Fortunately, today, we live in a country where more people believe we are enriched by diversity, rather than made poorer. Through your help with the Robert L. Cosby Fund, Brunswick will continue to bridge disadvantaged kids to better futures, while also making our community wealthy in a way that would make Bob Cosby proud.” Guest speaker Reverend Nins discussed how Mr. Cosby became a symbol that Brunswick and this community deems as excellent, outstanding, and warm. “Going to Brunswick comes with a social identification in the broader community. For some who have never walked on campus, or shared what we have, you can imagine the perspectives they have of you,” said Reverend Nins. “One of my colleagues once asked, ’What is the big deal about Brunswick?’ “I invited him to come with me to drop off Isaiah at School. As we pulled up the driveway, there was Mr. Cosby greeting the boys. He not only recognized, but also knew something essential about every single boy. As Isaiah got out of the car, Mr. Cosby firmly shook my son’s hand and said, ‘Good morning! I’ve been expecting you.’ “Every time you contribute your time and energy to the Robert L. Cosby Fund, every time a scholarship is given, you as a society, community, and culture are saying to a little boy like Isaiah and John, ‘Good morning! I’ve been expecting you.’ Mr. Cosby’s son Bob, Jr. took the podium and expressed his gratitude to Mr. Philip, the Board, faculty, and families for their leadership with the Society that honors his father and gives young boys the opportunity to get and give back. “When I received a scholarship and came to Brunswick, it was challenging,” he said. “My academic history was far from the Kulukundis Cup and I had weak SAT scores. But this opportunity opened doors and I was able to go on to a good college and graduate school.
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Brunswick School Goes By Julie Johnson
Times of Brunswick
Brunswick School went “Way Out West” for this year’s spring auction as Burke Field House, on the King Street campus, was transformed into a high-kickin’ hoedown. Benefit co-chairs Julie Johnson and Sharon Platter worked with their dedicated committees to wrangle up a splendido event. The barn-like field house was the perfect hacienda as decorating committee co-chairs Joanne Stavrou and Elizabeth Darling revamped the space into a veritable western town, complete with a starry prairie sky.
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More than sixty volunteers lent a hand the day before to prep the set for the first-ever Benefit Preview Party. Instead of the usual Saturday at six o’clock deadline for Benefit show time, this year every auction item and bale of hay had to be in place twenty-four hours before for “Friday Round-Up.” Two hundred or so ’Wick parents and their buckaroos perused the silent auction, with most of the attention going to the live auction puppy, what else but a Westie who charmed the entire crowd. Guests visited the Rusty Spur Saloon for their cactus sparklers and were serenaded by the foot stompin’ and fiddlin’ “Mountain Men of Maher,” featuring Brunswick’s own John Harvey, Charlie Kirchen, Michael Szeto, Grey Wyman, and Brent Yarnell. On Saturday evening, nearly five hundred parents – fancied up in jeans, cowboy and cowgirl boots, boleros, and general western garb – came to hang out with their compadres, sidle up to the chuck wagon, and do-si-do with their partners. A silent auction of over three hundred items was merchandised in eleven customized western storefronts, including the “B-Wick Mercantile,” which featured hand-stitched needlepoint items. Cowhands were “deputized” with a sheriff’s badge when they donated at the Giving Cactus, an eight-foot “succulent” pinned with cards containing direct giving opportunities ranging from $40 for a Lower School sweater to a full-year of paid tuition.
When the silent auction and cocktail hour concluded, the curtain to the dining area was raised and the “Stony Creek” band welcomed all to the dance floor with a swing yer partner version of “Rawhide.” Thanks to Abigail Kirsch Catering, who served up the fixins’, no ranch hand ever dined so well. Brunswick’s gringos wet ther whistles with lobster corn pudding in gazpacho broth, followed by a duo of beef, grilled cowboy tenderloin and braised short ribs, chipotle whipped potatoes, and a chocolate concoction that left the crowd on a sweet note. Head Honcho Thomas W. Philip gratefully acknowledged co-chairs Julie Johnson and Sharon Platter, and reminded guests that the evening’s proceeds would
“Way Out West” in Style
benefit Brunswick’s financial aid program. Then duck! as tomahawks waved when the live auction bidding began. The third grade was the lucky winner of a camp-out in the Lower School with their teachers, and the seventh grade won the opportunity to dodge bullets (the paint-filled variety) during an afternoon party before final exams. Live auction co-chair Kathy Markby’s charm attracted bidders for a spectacular citrine necklace donated by Adria de Haume. Kathy’s live auction co-chair, Anne Miller, paraded the wee little Westie, who needed no cajoling to attract bidders. Cowboys, cowgirls, and their muster of friends headed off into the eastern night by the eleventh hour. Their high-flying tomahawks at auction-time netted mucho dinero to support Brunswick’s goal of building scholarship opportunities. “Primarily, this spring’s benefit demonstrates the talent and dedication of so many,” said Headmaster Tom Philip. “It also provides an important fundraising enterprise for Brunswick’s scholarship programs. Thanks to all the members of our community who came ‘Way Out West.’ You have tapped into the goodness of spirit which serves to make our School so unique.” Winter 2007
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Brunswick Teacher Barbara Kolesar Retires After Two Decades by Anne Adler
Times of Brunswick
June always marks the end of school.
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For Brunswick teacher Barbara Kolesar, this June definitely marked the end of school. After twenty-two years of teaching middle schoolers (what some might think of as a nightmarish quest), Mrs. K. retired from what she considered an opportunity to mold a “work in progress.” “A middle school teacher is not meant to turn out the finished product,” said Mrs. Kolesar. “Every year that a young man is exposed to a topic, he gains another layer of insight. I have taken just as much pleasure at Brunswick Upper School graduation awards ceremonies as the seniors’ teachers because we have all played a small part in the bigger picture of the finished product.”
Barbara Kolesar Retires During her time at Brunswick, Mrs. Kolesar has worked under Heads of Middle School Drew Dubuque, Jody Visage, John Lathrop, Tom Philip and John Pendergast. Her tenure included the move from Maher Avenue to Edwards Campus on King Street, the beginning of the Big Brother/Little Brother Program in the Middle School, homeroom competitions, and the famous Assembly Club. She was here for the introduction of computers and the laptop program, along with the start of her popular Middle School spring vacation trips abroad. While many of us think, “Wow! How cool to get a free spring vacation trip to Greece, China or Spain!” Mrs. Kolesar emphasizes that chaperoning Middle School students is not exactly like lounging poolside. Her first trip followed Odysseus’ steps through Greece to Ithaca, Delphi, and the Delphic Oracle. When Upper School Mandarin Chinese teacher Michelle Liu was seeking to organize a spring trip to China, she was told to consult with “The Expert in Enticing Boys Abroad: Barbara Kolesar.” In 2004, they had a successful trip to China with both Middle and Upper Schoolers. Last year’s spring trip, co-chaperoned with Monica Berisso,
Middle School Spanish teacher, was to Spain and France. As always, the trip was curriculum-based and included visits to indigenous schools. Other trips chaperoned by Mrs. Kolesar include the popular eighth grade three-night field trips to Gettysburg, Washington, D.C. and Williamsburg. Busch Gardens, a mandatory stop along the route for many years, is where a Brunswick tradition began. The boys compete fiercely at the game booths to win giant stuffed animals for Mrs. K’s classroom. She recently commented that her classroom was squeezed for space and couldn’t fit one more animal ... a good signal that it’s time to retire! Mrs. Kolesar taught many multiple siblings who have strolled the halls of the Middle School. Amongst many other families, there were five Adlers, four sets of Bashams and Bakers, three sets in the Boensch, Gasiorowski, Neff, Virtue, and Wahba families, and three of the four children in both the Biondi and Paternina families. Many people have taken a moment to thank Mrs. Kolesar since she announced her plans to retire, and many wonderful stories have come to light, especially with her daughters having
“Barbara Kolesar has been a staple of the Brunswick community for as long as I can remember. She is a fun and engaging teacher, and was both my advisor and English teacher when I was in 8th grade. But it was Barbara’s role as a mentor that I remember most. I made my fair share of mistakes. Barbara not only let me know that I was wrong when I got into trouble, but she also made me work to better myself. She commanded respect in a loving manner, always inspiring me to continue down the right path. Barbara is exactly the kind of teacher/mentor I hope to be. I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to be her colleague for my first year as a Brunswick teacher. “ – Brian Shepard ’97 Brunswick School Art Department Barbara Kolesar in the Smith Garden with former students who are now teaching at Brunswick. Back row (left to right): Ted Ogden ’95, John Mclane ’98, Barbara Kolesar, Jarrett Shine ’92 and Tommy Mulvoy ’96. Front row (left to right): Brian Shepard ’97, Brian Coughlin ’94, and Michael Kennedy ’99. m
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attended Greenwich Academy. Not only did daughter Jen attend GA, but she is the first “faculty child” to have married another “faculty child.” Jen and David Kashatus, son of Peter, long-time computer/technolog y teacher and football coach, dated through high school and married several years after graduating college. They have one daughter, Audrey, and are expecting Mrs. Kolesar’s second grandchild. Her other daughter, Beth Kolesar Connelly (GA’95) is married and teaches seventh grade math at Blind Brook Middle School in Rye, New York. It is these connections with Brunswick families, along with those through her daughters and the Kashatuses, which make Brunswick feel like home and family. Upon learning of her retirement, several former students and m Barbara Kolesar and Monica teachers sent emails: Berisso outside the Segovia “Thank you for Alcázar, a model for the choosing to be a teacher! Disney castles. … You have made more of an impact in shaping minds than you will ever know; perhaps as much with your memorable smile and kindness.” “Any career that has had a positive impact on so many lives is certainly something worthy of pride…” wrote another former student. “Lessons you taught us in those crucial teen years have stood us well ever since. It’s easy to think that some of the (occasional) monsters in your class don’t realize it. It just takes some of us longer to recognize what a great teacher you are… You should be proud of the outstanding job you have done making us into men.” “What sets Barbara apart from other teachers is her complete dedication to her students and her job,” said former student and colleague Ted Ogden ’95, who was a Middle School English teacher and class dean of grade six before
leaving in spring 2006 for graduate school. “Week to week throughout the years, she approached each class with admirable professionalism and care. Every weekend, Barbara devoted almost the entirety of her Sundays to grading student papers, helping Brunswick boys learn how to formulate persuasive arguments, and communicate their ideas clearly. From the countless talent shows, faculty spoofs, and spelling bees she has orchestrated, to the fast-paced and engaging English classes she led, to her involvement in the lives of her advisees (even her insistence on following her students out to the fields to watch them play sports), Barbara’s influence and care is felt by every boy at our School. “It is this example, one of unflagging discipline and drive to give selflessly to others that has inspired me first as a student and now as a teacher,” continued Ted Ogden. “It has been a rare privilege to study under and work with Barbara, and my years with her have, and always will, guide me as I follow her in a career of teaching.” Mrs. Kolesar is firm in her commitment to retire, yet begin a new career. She and her husband Michael, who retired last year, are moving south to be closer to Jen, David, and the grandchildren. Mrs. K’s dream is to work part-time as an adjunct professor at a teachers college. In fact, one of the areas in which she takes great pride is the mentoring of young teachers. As an eighth grade dean and English department Middle School coordinator, she has had less experienced teachers under her tutelage for many years. Working at a teachers college would combine her passions to both mentor and teach. “Leaving ’Wick is difficult because I love this School, the boys and you, the wonderful people I work with,” wrote Barbara in a farewell email to faculty and staff. “You have made this a very special place because you care so much about the subjects you teach, your colleagues, and of course, our boys. I wish all of you the best of luck in the years ahead,” she continued, “and would love to hear from you. (Email address: mbkolesar@roadrunner.com) The truth of the matter is, that you are courageous people who are molding honorable young men. There is no greater calling in life, and it has been a privilege to be a part of Brunswick for twentytwo years.” j
Librarians Hit Bourbon Street & Plaquemines Parish By Bonni Brodnick
When The American Library Association (ALA) booked their annual national conference in New Orleans long before Katrina, not even a hurricane would stop them. “The ALA convention was the first large symposium to return to the repaired Conference Center in New Orleans,” said Valerie Fenton, Upper School library director and freshman class dean, who, along with Elizabeth Fernandez, Middle School librarian, attended the conference as part of the Brunswick summer faculty enrichment program. “There were more than 18,000 librarians from across the United States descending upon the city. Winter 2007
Waitresses, bus drivers, bellhops and people on the streets kept coming up to thank us. The sad part, though, was that our conference was ten months after Hurricane Katrina and there was still so much devastation.” Mrs. Fenton and Ms. Fernandez, who have a combined total of thirty-five years of library and teaching experience, had another reason for attending the confer-
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Librarians Hit Bourbon Street & Plaquemines Parish
“Every time a carton arrived from Brunswick, teachers crowded around her desk as she opened them, and were incredibly grateful to have both books for their students and something for themselves to read.”
Times of Brunswick
– Elizabeth Fernandez
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ence this particular year. Last fall, Brunswick School began a relationship with the Plaquemines Parish school district, one of the hardest hit areas decimated by the hurricane. Pre-Katrina, there were nine schools in the district. Last year, they were only able to open three schools. This year, three more have opened, although two of them are modular. “One of our schools in the district is a modular unit right in front of the old school,” Susan Ratteree wrote to Times of Brunswick in September 2006. “They just got electricity and phone service this month. They had been running on generator power, and were letting out at one o’clock because of the cost of fuel. They are now electrified and have phone service, although it’s not reliable. One of the other schools, which was elevated, has opened, but they had to throw out all of their materials and furniture because of the mold.” Mrs. Fenton and Ms. Fernandez were motivated to continue Brunswick School Hurricane Relief Plan, which was announced at an all-school assembly just days after the storm, on the first day of the 2005-2006 school year, by Headmaster Tom Philip. For our initial effort, we sent a check in the amount of $5,924.00 to the local Greenwich American Red Cross chapter. In addition, more than one hundred boxes of donated items – men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, toys, personal hygiene items, flashlights and batteries – were
sorted, packed and loaded by Brunswick ninth graders into a large trailer truck headed south. Later in the school year, the BPA graciously allowed Elizabeth to set up a booth at the Book Fair on Edwards Campus for library donation books to Plaquemines Parish. The book wish list continued throughout the school year. “We sold more than $5,000 worth of books that we sent to Plaquemines Parish schools,” said Ms. Fernandez. “We also sent three cases of books to the faculty and staff, including classics, mysteries, cookbooks, and bestsellers, since most of the faculty/staff had lost everything from their own homes. Susan Ratteree, our New Orleans contact and the Plaquemines Parish school district psychologist, said that every time a carton arrived from Brunswick, teachers crowded around her desk as she opened them, and were incredibly grateful to have both books for their students and something for themselves to read.” At the Upper School, Mrs. Fenton organized boys from Bruins Read to help with a bake sale and a Bruins Sandwich sale in the spring. “We collected close to $900 and delivered the funds directly to the Plaquemines Parish superintendent, who earmarked the donation for library books,” Mrs. Fenton continued. Mrs. Ratterree gave our Brunswick librarians a tour of
“It was especially moving to spend time helping the school district that Brunswick befriended after the hurricane. I feel blessed to work in a School that encourages us to grow and learn through faculty enrichment programs.” – Valerie Fenton
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New Orleans and showed them schools that still showed no signs of repair nearly a year after the hurricane. Books were still stuck in ceiling rafters fifteen-feet high. There were desks, computers, supplies and sporting equipment in the street. The force of the water was so strong that fixtures were ripped from the walls, and a secretary’s chair was still in a tree. “When you look at our photos from the trip, some of the buildings look relatively clean, but that isn’t because someone cleaned up the debris. Katrina took everything in its wake: decorations, walls, furniture, and even bathroom fixtures,” Mrs. Fenton said. “What were once classrooms now look like empty hallways.” “It was heartwarming to be in New Orleans, especially since the ALA was the first major group to have a national meeting at the Convention Center,” said Elizabeth. “The city wants to get back to normal, and we were thrilled to be able to support them by having the national librarian convention in such a wonderful city.” “It was especially moving to spend time helping the school district that Brunswick befriended after the hurricane,” said Valerie. “I feel blessed to work in a School that encourages us to grow and learn through faculty enrichment programs. Not only did I spend time in seminars learning new skills, which will benefit our boys, but we also had the opportunity to show other people how caring Brunswick boys are when it comes to helping those less fortunate.” j
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m Caleb
Weiss ’94 and his Iraqi counterpart Lt. Quoosi
Brunswick School honors our alumni in the military service
Air Force
Airman 1st Class Daniel J. Maloney ’04
Times of Brunswick
Army
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Major Allen Haight ’88 Major David Haight ’90 Sam Kies ’04 – ROTC at Wake Forest 1 LT Nathan E. Raymond ’99 Scott Weston ’03 – ROTC at Wake Forest
Marines
Major Kevin Cortes ’90 2nd Lt. Edward J. Hubbard ’02 Captain Forrest Jones ‘97 1st Lt. Caleb Weiss ’94
Merchant Marines
John Williamson ’01 – U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Graduate
Navy
Carter Harris ’05 – U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis Shane Heller ’03 – U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis Andrew Hotchkiss ’05 – U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis
m The
Iraqi Army division to which Caleb’s company was partnered is shown here in Baghdadi. In the foreground is the U.S. Marines Embedded Training Team, lead by Caleb from August 1st – September 23rd. His team’s mission was to train and operate with the Iraqi Army.
Brunswick School is proud of our soldiers serving our great country. Please continue to write and tell us where you are stationed and what you are doing. Contact Cat Scott in the Alumni Office, cscott@brunswickschool.org. August ’06 Email from 1st Lt. Caleb Weiss ’94
“We are finishing our fifth month in Al Anbar Province, where the battalion is spread out amongst four cities: Haditha, Barwana, Haqlaniyah and Baghdadi, where my company is stationed. The bulk of our time is spent patrolling the main routes preventing the emplacement of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). In addition to being the platoon commander for 2nd Mobile Assault Platoon, I’ve been assigned as Weapons Company’s Embedded Training Team (ETT) leader. ETT is responsible for advising and training the Iraqi Army Company that is partnered with Weapons Company in Baghdadi. So far it’s been a good experience working alongside our Iraqi counterparts, building their company into a self-sufficient and combat-effective force. I look forward to the time when they can assume the majority of operations here in Baghdadi.” Take care, Caleb
Note: Just after Homecoming, Caleb presented to the Upper School boys aslide show and lecture about his service in Baghdadi.
June ’06 Email from Major Kevin Cortes ’90
m Here I am in Japan during my first week on duty.
“Hello everyone! For those of you who don’t know, I’m in Okinawa, Japan for my fourth deployment with the Marine Corps. It’s a great deployment. Some things here are different for sure . . . they drive on the left side of the road and in the right seat! I also feel like I am in Jurassic Park… some of the creatures are huge. I saw
Winter 2007
October 2006 Update: “My Battalion is now back in Hawaii. I will remain with Weapons Company as the 2nd Mobile Assault Platoon Commander until I get orders to a new duty station sometime around February or March 2007. In the meantime, the Battalion will begin its training cycle again in order to prepare for next fall’s deployment back to Iraq.”
m Kevin posing in downtown Naha on Kokusai Street with Shisas, which supposedly keep away “evil spirits.”
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Cont’d
May ’06 Email from Airman 1st Class Danny Maloney ’04
A shot of Kerama Island taken from the cockpit of my aircraft.
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a snail the other day that was the size of a baseball! Oh, and I saw a bat that looked like a prehistoric bird! So, things are different, but it’s fun to learn. “We were on the USS Essex for a six-week exercise in the Philippine Islands, which included a short trip to China, and then back to Okinawa. I’m looking to move duty stations out of California next summer, but nothing is confirmed. I’ll keep you posted. Hope all is well with everyone! Stay in touch!” – Kevin omalleykc@yahoo.com
“I’m not surprised that many aren’t aware of what I’m doing in the military. When I graduated from Brunswick, I was set to head off to Rollins College. Instead I decided to do something different and here I am in Korea. I love it here, mainly because of the people I work with, and also because of the new and interesting culture and language (which amazingly, I can now speak). This great experience has vastly influenced my views on the world and life, and my appreciation of what we have in the U.S. “Students getting ready for ’the college process’ should know that the U.S. military provides great opportunities to see the world and help people in the process. Thank you for your support. Go ’Wick!”
m Here I am (left to right) with Senior Airman Travis Benne, Staff Sargent Frank Poyner and Senior Airman Jonathan Jordan (top of the truck), after a structural exercise designed to practice firefighting techniques during structural fires.
Times of Brunswick
c This is a picture of (left to right) me, Senior Airmen Chris Court, Jonathan Jordan and Arthur Leyva after training on vehicle extrication procedures
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m This is a picture of me during an “exercise,” which we do frequently to prepare in case of a war with North Korea.
October 2006 Update: Danny is back in the States and based at Tyndall Air Force Base in Pensacola, Florida with the 325th Civil Engineer Squadron. Before leaving Korea he was awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal.
August ’06 Update on 2nd Lt. Ted Hubbard ’02
Ted is now a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps, reporting for duty at The Basic School where he is continuing the final leg of officer training at the Marine base at Quantico, Virginia. He’ll be there until February 2007.
August ’06 Email from Scott Weston ’03 – ROTC at Wake Forest
“In August, I returned from Warrior Forge, in Ft. Lewis, Washington, where each cadet’s overall leadership abilities are assessed through a variety of different dimensional areas, and is the final training event for cadets in ROTC. During this time we receive instruction in weapon systems, including getting the opportunity to ride in Stryker vehicles and Blackhawk helicopters. We’re then thrust into a 100% tactical environment for ten days that simulates being in a terrorist zone, and are given a variety of missions to execute using only the training and knowledge we have been taught over the last few years. Everyone gets several opportunities to lead the squads or platoons and is evaluated by sergeants or officers on the leadership abilities they exhibit. It was quite an experience living in the woods and sleeping in bushes to cover our tracks from enemy, as we were susceptible to attack at all times. Getting to shower after the eleventh day was one of the better things I’ve had in awhile. “All in all, it was an awesome training experience, and I ended up getting an overall E (Excellent) rating, which is the highest achievement. My performance at this camp, coupled with my GPA, will determine my national order
of merit that ranks my standing with other cadets my age who will receive their commission as a 2nd Lt. this coming year. The order of merit also helps determine the likelihood of getting the branch you want. I hope to be an Infantry officer, and go to Ranger School shortly after my commissioning this May 2007.” “I’ll be entering the Army as an officer and will owe them eight years, which will likely be broken down into four years of active duty and four years of reserve, but I may opt to extend active duty beyond the first four years. I’m also hoping to get a chance to switch into the Signal Corps after a few years in the Infantry. This branch of the Army deals with all information systems, communications, and media technology – basically all of the most cutting-edge communication equipment. It also offers soldiers opportunities to attend advanced professional schools (on the Army’s bill) to learn the newest technologies, an expertise that’s attractive to big corporations like IBM and Cisco Systems. If all goes according to plan, I hope to get the chance to switch into the Signal Corps after a few years in the Infantry, and then return to the civilian world to get an MBA.”
August ’06 Update on John Williamson ’01 – U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY
After the graduation ceremony from U.S. Merchant Marines Academy, where president Bush spoke, John’s mom sent the following email: “No matter what one’s political beliefs, it’s interesting to watch the American government and secret service at work. At John’s graduation, we all passed through a metal detector before entering the field and bleachers. Traffic was halted for two blocks around the Academy, and the waterfront was under protection. Three large Huey helicopters landed within five minutes of each other to create a diversion, and President Bush arrived with four blacked-out SUVs and police protection. His speech began with regards and respect to the Academy (during 9/11, the midshipmen were called upon to man boats to ferry firefighters to the scene, John being among them. All the midshipmen watched the towers burn from the campus.) After the graduates were handed their diplomas by Rear Admiral Stewart, President Bush shook each one’s hand, hugged them, high-fived them, or waved to the parents. There was a very warm feeling of respect on
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John Williamson ’01, cont’d
the stage. After the President left the field, the three helicopters flew off in different directions, and three Navy jets flew over. Everyone who attended the graduation ceremony will remember the day.”
August ’06 update from Shane Heller ’03 to Headmaster Tom Philip
“I’m back in Annapolis, serving as executive officer of my Plebe Summer Company, Papa Company. Each Plebe Summer Company is made up of two platoons of plebes, and each platoon will join their numbered companies during the academic year. For instance, in Papa Company, we have 29th and 30th platoons, which will be the Plebes for the 29th and 30th companies. Last summer I got my first taste of flying in a small Cessnatype plane. I got to solo a few times, which was one of the coolest experiences of my life. There was nothing better than being totally in control of an airplane and landing it smoothly on the runway. Completing this program has pretty much guaranteed me a flight school slot after graduation. I figure if I can have a job that a five-year old would want, then I’m probably doing pretty well on that front. I found out at the end of the year that, as of this fall, I will be commander for my company, and will have approximately one hundred and forty people directly under me. It should be a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. I get my name and hometown announced during all of our parades and football games, so hopefully I’ll get some good airtime during the Army-Navy game in December. Brunswick seems to be doing fantastically well on every front imaginable. Thank you again for all of your help in getting me to where I am. I’m going to try to get home for a ’Wick football game this fall.” Sincerely, Shane Heller
Times of Brunswick
Note: Shane, currently a senior at the U.S. Naval Academy, has the high honor of being a battalion commander. He will enter Navy flight school in May. While on a recent visit to Brunswick School, Shane presented a terrific slide show and talk to the Upper School boys.
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Shane Heller (Class of 2003) with brother Jake (Class of 2000) at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. The three stripes on Shane’s shoulder boards represent the rank of Midshipman Lieutenant.
August ’06 Update from Major Allen Haight ’88
“Last May, I returned from my second tour in Baghdad (Mosul first time). I was working as a civil affairs officer where most of my projects involved economic development. I had to defer med school for the deployment and am scheduled to start University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in fall 2007. I’ll be attending on a military scholarship and returning to active duty when I graduate.”
August ’06 Update from Major David Haight ’90 – Special Forces Medicine
“For two years, I’ve been the Battalion Surgeon for 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), and have spent sixteen of the last twenty-four months away from home. Twoand-a-half months were spent in Panama City, Florida learning to become a Navy diver and Navy Dive Medical Officer. Thirteen months were spent on two separate deployments to Mosul and Baghdad, Iraq. I was recently in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on a one-month training exercise. I miss my home and my family, but I wouldn’t trade what I do for anything. “After returning from my last deployment to Iraq in January 2006, I realized that I had spent most of my time downrange but had never really had an opportunity to work directly with any of our Special Forces teams in training. In hopes that I could learn more about what they’re all about, I volunteered to come to UAE with one of our twelve-man Special Forces Operational Detachment Alphas (ODAs), the basic unit of Special Forces.
“The Special Forces ODA is comprised of a team leader, team sergeant, two weapons specialists, two demolitions experts, two medics, and two communications specialists. Occasionally they will also have an intelligence expert. Because the ODA is so small, it’s crucial for each member to be somewhat versed in the tradecraft of the other members of the team. Each member of the team trains the others in the basics of their specialty. This type of training exercise develops our soldiers’ capabilities and builds a foundation for cooperation between our militaries. “When the main body came into town via Jordan, they brought with them a twelve-man Jordanian Special Forces unit to participate in our training. We traveled to a training location in the desert and commenced teaching the two countries basic skills, such as combat marksmanship, door breaching tactics, and checkpoint procedures. I participated in some of the training and gained a great appreciation for how skilled our Special Forces soldiers are in their assigned duties. “I especially liked learning to use a breaching shotgun. I practiced shooting targets and then learned how to breach a door. I’ve spent five years in Special Operations units and being a doctor, but have never had the opportunity to learn the finer points of Close Quarters Battle (CQB). This is the whole process of assaulting a target, breaching the door, and clearing the target.” “We practiced flowing into targets, then progressed to shooting emplaced targets with ’lipstick rounds’ as we flowed in. These rounds would really hurt if they hit you, but they don’t penetrate walls. I won’t go into the intricacies of how the soldiers make an entry, but there are all sorts of nonverbal communications. Our soldiers practice this assault over and over to achieve a level of outstanding performance. They make the training as realistic as possible so that they will perform based on muscle memory when they assault real targets with men with real weapons.” “Special Forces is not for everyone, but I’m proud to have had the privilege to support our Special Forces soldiers. I volunteered to return to Iraq for a third tour with one of our companies and will likely miss Christmas and my 35th birthday in February, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I look forward to continuing to serve in the Special Operations community. I hope more students from Brunswick will follow in my footsteps to one of the military academies and on to service in Special Operations, or anywhere else in the military. I don’t know many folks who really enjoy work as much as I do, other than those I work with, and that says a lot about our profession. Our Special Forces motto is De Oppresso Liber! Free the oppressed!” j
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If you would like to send a free printed postcard to our U.S. military personnel stationed overseas, show your support and appreciation by going to www.letssaythanks.com.
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Major David Haight ’90 participating in Special Forces ODA training exercises teaching basic skills, such as combat marksmanship, door breaching tactics, and checkpoint procedures.
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It’s All About The Story and The Character: Behind the Camera with Mike Kristoff ’04 By Bonni Brodnick Mike Kristoff ’04, who is majoring in film production at University of Southern California (USC), spent his first year-and-a-half studying liberal arts subjects like science, history, writing, and literature. Herein, it’s all film classes, with perhaps a minor in business. He only has two years left, and it’s going by very, very fast. “I’ve always been interested in film. The one that made the biggest impression on me was ‘Jaws,’ when I was six years old. I kept wondering, ‘How did they do that?’ ‘Did they use a real shark?’ As I got older, I kept going back to this movie and increasingly appreciated the brilliance of Steven Spielberg. This translated into watching as many movies as I could, which developed into a real love for cinema. Times of Brunswick
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“When I was ten, I started playing around with a video camera and making short films at the beach and at home. Each year my films got more elaborate in production. In seventh and eighth grade English classes at Brunswick, a group of us made movies based on books we were reading by Shakespeare. Our first movie, ’Good Guys Wear Togas,’ was based on Julius Caesar. Our next movie was based on As You Like It. We kept the title. “When I was in seventh grade, I met Adam Gibbs, who also graduated in 2004, and is at USC with me. We shared a mutual interest in film. Our great friendship later developed into a great business relationship. Adam produces all of the films that I write and direct, and I produce all of the films that he writes and directs. Along with being best friends, we’re a great team. We launched a production company, In the Can Films, which we just changed to Faraway Films. Ever since Brunswick, we’ve been producing under our umbrella company and entering a number of things in local festivals, like Stamford Film Festival and Greenwich Film Festival. Our screenplay, ‘A Couple of Joe Rooks,’ featured four Brunswick teachers: Dan Moraski, former head of the theater department and one of the supporting characters, played a German loan shark; Doug Burdett, Upper School English teacher and director of college guidance, along with Frank Loverro, Upper School science teacher, were police officers with an exciting chase scene down Greenwich Avenue. Marc Strileckis, head athletic trainer, played a bodyguard. “I was in Dan Moraski’s acting class for four years. Besides being a phenomenal teacher, he gave incredible structure to my acting and writing, which instilled the rules of the craft for writing, directing, and acting. He was definitely my biggest influence and mentor. At USC, I’m still learning the essentials that Mr. Moraski taught me at Brunswick. “Every story begins with a character and there are really only about six stories: boy meets girl and falls in love (or the other way around); overcoming obstacles; finding redemption; defending one’s home; boy rescues girl (or the other way around); and character must prove himself/herself. The point is that every story has already been told. It’s about how you tell it and how the character experiences it. That’s what makes your story different. “My biggest film undertaking thus far is ‘Blame it on my Youth.’ We shot it on Nantucket in ten days with a crew of twenty. Evan Bailey ’04, another great friend, gave us the location. His parents, Dorothy and David Bailey, were so generous to let us do most of the filming in their house. They were incredibly gracious to let the whole film crew come in and basically take over. We tried not to mark up too many walls! “We were a little jinxed during filming though. The weather was so-so and the cinematographer broke his collarbone the first night we were there, and we hadn’t shot a thing yet. As the week went on, the weather hadn’t improved much, so at the first ray of sunshine, we ran to the beach, where a big wave crashed over the camera and destroyed it. We had to call all over the east coast to replace it. Finally, we found the same camera in Boston and had it flown over. “Both of my parents (Nancy and Chris Kristoff) are executive producers of ‘Blame it on my Youth.’ and have been real troopers during production. I’m out there filming, and they’re out there holding an umbrella over the camera. They’re so supportive. I’m really blessed. “As much of an art form as film is, it can be incredibly technical. But this is only secondary. It’s the story and the characters experiencing emotion that really carry the film. From there, you can determine whether to use special effects, but often the high-tech elements are just eye candy. It’s great for a three-minute music video, but for a feature film, you need something to care about. That’s where character and story development come in. The reason we relate to characters in a film is often not because we like that character, or have experienced the same story; it’s because we feel the emotion. Characters represent feelings that we can relate to and that’s what hooks us. “With film, there’s no such thing as ’no.’ You’re told ’no’ to a lot of things, but in movies, literally anything can happen. And there’s nothing like getting an audience to let go and get sucked into a world they’re watching on the big screen in a dark theater. There’s something powerful and mystical about it. Ultimately, I can explore any world or any character through the film medium and literally, anything can happen. I can’t think of anything more fun.” j
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Times of Brunswick
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b China chaperones Andrew hall, Brunswick art department head; Rachel Powers, GA US History teacher; and Michele Liu, Brunswick Upper School Chinese teacher and program coordinator
Photo Credit: Preston Han ’09
The Brunswick Route to China Summer 2006
“Our trip to China last summer was one of intellectual challenge and exploration. My classmates and I stayed in apartments with complete strangers who spoke no English. Everyone on the exchange program had been studying Chinese for one or two years at Brunswick, so our ability to communicate with our host Chinese parents was initially limited to basic commands. At first I was intimidated, fearing they would not understand what I was trying to say. In Chinese, one word can have five different meanings, so it’s crucial to put great emphasis on how you pronounce your words. As the trip went on, I realized that their English was not going to improve so I figured I would have to give what Chinese I knew a chance. To my surprise, my Chinese family and friends began to understand me. It is an incredibly rewarding experience to speak with someone who lives on the other side of the world and to actually communicate in their language.” —Dixon Mallory ’08
Winter 2007
“Students from Brunswick Upper School Chinese language program all had apprehensions about traveling to a faraway country, about meeting new families, studying in a school where one’s academic performance determines the outcome of the rest of your life, and most of all, living in a society based on the ethics and traditions of eastern culture. My Brunswick and GA friends and I were in a way deaf and dumb. We being unable to speak the local language with the fluidity of everyday conversation in English, and everyone had a culture clash at some point during the trip. But to the surprise of many, including ourselves, we slowly adapted by learning local customs and polishing up on our Chinese dialogue skills. Our acculturation, however, would not have been possible without the seamless coordination between Brunswick and Leshan No. 1 High School in the Sichuan Province. The school organized a well-planned schedule, ranging from language classes to playing basketball against the Leshan team. Our hosts and their families graciously took us in as one of their own, gave us a truly generous gift: A home away from home. Without their selfless hospitality, our experience in China would not have been the same. It will be a monumental task to equal them when our hosts arrive here in the States. It is our best hope that the Brunswick School Chinese program will continue to be successful in its goal of bringing mutual understanding and respect between our schools and cultures.” —Preston Han ’09
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Route to China Summer 2006
Our Chinese exchange delegation of eleven students (seven from Brunswick and four from GA) was celebrated at a Welcome Day ceremony at Leshan No. 1 High School in the Sichuan Province. Chaperones for the five-week summer trip included Michelle Liu, pioneer of Brunswick’s Chinese language program endowed by the Ray Dalio family in 2002; Jean Delcourt, GA language department head, teacher and foreign affairs coordinator; Andrew Hall, Brunswick art department head; and Rachel Powers, GA US history teacher. The BWK/GA students had a true-immersion cultural experience while living with Chinese families and attending classes at the high school. This winter, our China Exchange Program looks forward to returning the hospitality when the Leshan students visit Greenwich.
Times of Brunswick
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Brunswick boys and friends, Wu bo, Dixon Mallory ’08, Zhang Mei yu, Bryan Coleman ’08, Ryan Potocki ’08, Xu Yi Xing, made the Leshan Daily front page news during their trip last summer. Headline translation: “Delighted about their stay in Leshan, American kids did not want to return to their home”.
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m Peter
Bevacqua, managing director, U.S. Open Championship Photo Credit: USGA/John Mummert
Q & A with Pete Bevacqua ’89 By Cat Scott and Bonni Brodnick
Peter Bevacqua ’89 has a job most people dream of … having to go to the golf course. As managing director of the U.S. Open Championship, Pete has to spend a lot of time at the links. This year’s tournament took place right near home at one of the most renowned courses in the United States, Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York. Keeping in front on the fairway is what gives Pete his majors competitive edge
BWK: Any mentors from Brunswick who influenced your career direction? PETE: Absolutely! The two folks from ’Wick who had the
most influence on my career were former headmaster Duncan Edwards and Coach Sam. I’ve remained in contact with Coach over the years, and my best memory from last June’s U.S. Open at Winged Foot was spending time with him the week before and giving a behind-the-scenes tour. Power Fraser ’74, my former basketball coach, was a big influence too.
BWK: What are your responsibilities as managing director of the U.S. Open?
Times of Brunswick
PETE: General oversight of the Open each year – everything
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BWK: How did you get to the U.S. Open? PETE: I was previously at Davis Polk & Wardwell and started
out as in-house council for the United States Golf Association (USGA). I gravitated towards the championship department and, in particular, the U.S. Open. The managing director position opened up and, as they say, I was there at the right time.
from working with the TV crews, to coordinating with our host club, host city, host government, and law enforcement. We discuss their involvement with the U.S. Open and develop plans related to security at the championship, as well as the involvement of government officials and their various agencies. We have meetings with these groups a year-and-a-half to two years in advance of the championship. I also work hand-in-hand with our director of U.S. Open merchandise, corporate hospitality, volunteers . . . pretty much everything outside the ropes.
Andrew Svoboda hits the first ball at the 2006 U.S. Open Championship held at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York Photo Credit: USGA/John Mummert
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BWK: How far in advance do you plan? PETE: We have tournament sites currently signed through
2013, and preliminary sites beyond that. Right now we are working on 2007 at the Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania.
BWK: What would be a typical day for you at the U.S. Open Championship?
PETE: I arrive at 4:45 a.m., tour the grounds, and deal
with the first wave of ticket holders and players to make sure everything is running smoothly and on time. I’m available if incidents arise, and make adjustments and improvements throughout the day. I also have a lot of meetings, and host representatives from future sites. If everything is as it should be, I leave the club at about 11:00 p.m.
BWK: Do you get to brush with the biggies? PETE: I do. As part of my position, I’m involved with all
memorable anecdote was being with Colin Montgomery and Phil Mickelson after they both let the Championship slip away, finishing one shot behind the winner Geoff Ogilvy, and witnessing their profound disappointment.
BWK: What’s your best personal golf score? PETE: 68 BWK: And your best round at Winged Foot? PETE: 77 BWK: Okay, be honest. How often do you get to play? PETE: I don’t play much prior to the U.S. Open, but I do play
once it has ended. I usually keep my clubs out through the end of the northeast golf season at the end of October. Quality makes up for quantity though. Winter 2007
of the major players, including Tiger, Phil, Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, etc. We have 156 competitors each year, which includes the preeminent players in the world.
BWK: What’s your favorite anecdote? PETE: Favorite might not be the right word, but my most
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Guest Speaker Lech Walesa Addresses Rights, Dignity and Change By Bonni Brodnick The Class of 2005 Lecture Series was inaugurated by the appearance of former Polish President Lech Walesa — a highly-personable, self-effacing and engaging individual who espouses the same mission as that shared by Brunswick School: Courage, Honor, Truth. With conviction and fortitude, this humble man of humanity was instrumental in Poland’s transition into a democracy and a free-market economy. The peaceful evolution, which precipitated the fall of the Iron Curtain, proved to the world that even the most complex situations can be solved by dialogue, and not by force. Was this a quirk of history, or could the Polish model be applied elsewhere?
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In a prior assembly for the students, Class of ’80 alumnus and Upper School history teacher Rick Beattie made the connection between Mao Tse-tung, Ho Chi Minh, Fidel Castro, Ayatollah Khomeini, the Dalai Lama, Gandhi, and Lech Walesa. “A little guy can make a lot of change.” Lech Walesa, born in Nazi-occupied Poland in 1943, was the son of a carpenter, worked as an electrician, served in the army, and later worked in a shipyard. During an industrial dispute in 1970, he became chairman of the shipyard’s strike committee. In 1976, he lost his job as a result of his trade union activities, and for the next few years had to earn his living by taking temporary jobs. With undaunted passion, conviction, courage and leadership, he became chairman and chief spokesperson of “Solidarity,” the labor movement against Communists that brought democracy to Poland and the downfall of communism in Eastern Europe, including Russia. The result was the Gdansk Agreement of August 31, 1980 that gave more than ten million workers the right to strike and to organize their own independent union. Lech Walesa became an international hero and was elected first democratic president of the Republic of Poland. He was bestowed a Nobel Peace Prize, met Pope John Paul II, and was named Time magazine “Man of the Year.” Esteemed for his endurance and great talent to simplify big issues down to human dignity, Lech Walesa’s route pays homage to the power of victory and one man’s courage to follow his calling. A little guy certainly can make a big difference. “You are all so young, and yet have attempted to attend a meeting with a politician. I promise that I will not go on for as long as Fidel Castro does,” Lech Walesa jested to Brunswick students through his translator. “My country and I have lived an abundant life, and even if I focused only on history, I promise, you wouldn’t fall asleep. I will be joyful and playful, not like a politician at all.” “The Communist Party fit Poland like a horse saddle fits a pig,” he continued. “We opposed the Communist system with marches and strikes. People said there was no chance to win. They said that more than two thousand Soviet soldiers were watching us, and a million more were at the Russian border. The Poles were intimidated and threatened. They thought any chance for success was impossible. But I still managed to rally people around me. By the end of the 1970s, there were only five or so dissi-
dents against the Polish government. We, the leaders of the opposition, asked prime ministers and kings whether they would support us in our struggles. Not a single world leader stood up to say we had a chance.” Pope John Paul II, the first Polish pontiff, visited his native country in 1981 and spoke forcefully about religious freedom. “While the Pope didn’t encourage us to revolt, he was so powerful that he inspired us,” said Mr. Walesa. “We realized that Polish communists were like radishes – red on the outside, white on the inside. The people eventually became confident and followed my lead. We had overlooked the possibility that values and faith were so powerful.” “We have left the era of divisions, wars, and struggles and entered the era of intellect,” President Walesa continued. “No other generation has been given such an opportunity for peace, prosperity, and well-being. Technology and the Internet have advanced us to the possibility of a globalized parliament. We need to enlarge the structures, organize
“one voice can truly change the world.”
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ourselves, and adopt global approaches in order to survive. We need freedom of every individual, freedom of every association, free economy. The higher the progress, the higher the dangers, the more we need values.” The esteemed guest speaker urged Brunswick students to participate in government, to vote, and to get involved so that “… your grandchildren will not ask, ’Where were you?’ “The major threats confronting the 21st century are racism, anti-Semitism, ethnic cleansing, and terrorism. Our road ahead is to defend our rights and our dignity, as well as to never let ourselves be overcome by the feeling of hatred. The U.S. and its democracy give hope to the rest of the world. In a globalized world, we need to search for solutions together.” “We see Lech Walesa as someone who persevered, despite incredible odds, and clearly made the world a better place,” said Headmaster Thomas W. Philip. “It is our hope that by having him speak at Brunswick, we have given the boys a perspective on the importance of participation and endurance, and the inspiration to believe that one voice can truly change the world.” j
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Division I Squash in College Starts with Jim Stephens at Brunswick By Bonni Brodnick
What’s in the water fountain at
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Photo Credit: TReC Sports PhotoGraphics
Times of Brunswick
Sampson Athletic Center? Actually, it’s not what’s in the water; it’s who’s on the court coaching? Brunswick squash players have what it takes, here and thereafter, thanks to the talented coaching of Jim Stephens, who has inspired players at Brunswick for more than twenty-one years. His players don’t just play at Brunswick and quit. Almost every Ivy League squash team in the country has a star Brunswick player on the court. In fact, fourteen Brunswick grads are currently playing Division I squash.
Check out these alumni stats: Breck Bailey ’02 – from Greenwich and a recent Brown graduate, won the National Sportsmanship Award given by the NCAA for the Inter-Collegiate Squash Association. When Breck was at Brunswick, he was #3 player and captain of the team. Last year he was playing #1 and was captain of the team at Brown.
William Broadbent ’02 – from Greenwich and a recent Harvard grad, was the #1 singles player for four years, and played #2 during the short time that he was injured. Last year, he won the “NCAA Doubles Championship” for Harvard, and made First Team All-American and First Team All-Ivy for all 4 years at Harvard. While at ‘Wick, Will was #1 player, and captain of the team for 6 straight years.
Three Brunswick squash coaches (left to right): Jim Stephens, David Bruce, and George Boynton.
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“It’s unusual to have this many boys from one school, not only to be at these great colleges, but to be playing as well as they are,” gleamed Coach Stephens. “Once you graduate from high school and go to college, it’s difficult to make the team because you’re now competing with players from all over the U.S. and the world. The competition is a lot tougher, so it’s difficult to just walk onto the teams and play. “Since we built the new squash facility on King Street, we’ve been playing well,” Jim continued. “Before that, we had no courts, and played at either the Field Club, Round Hill, or Sportsplex in Stamford. Because of this, participation was limited. Now we can encourage more and more kids to play squash, and today we have about sixty-five playing competitively. In 2005-2006, we won our 6th New England Championship against all thirty-six boarding schools in New England. We finished third in the nation overall amongst everyone in the U.S. at the National Tournament. (The year before, we finished second.) For this reason, many of our boys are highly recruited by colleges to play squash. “We practice harder than most teams,” he continued. “Squash has been a love of mine for a long time. For fortyfour years, I’ve been a tennis and squash professional, along with teaching algebra. But I think our Brunswick squash team may excel because:
Jamie McAvity ’03 – from Greenwich, was #2 player and captain of the team at St. Lawrence in 2005-2006. In 2004, he was Conference Rookie of the Year. Billy Nix ’03 – from Port Chester, New York, and a Dartmouth grad played #8 on the team.
Parker Sutton ’03 and Townie Wells ’04 – both from
Greenwich, are our two Princeton boys. Parker is a senior; Townie is a junior. Parker was the #1 at Brunswick and a New England champion when he graduated. Townie, who was #5 when he was at Brunswick, was also a New England champion in his division.
Andrew Small ’04 – from Greenwich and a junior at Hamilton College was their #7 guy last year.
Dillon Aldrich ’05 – from Harrison, New York and a sophomore at Cornell, is their #7 man on the team. While at Brunswick, he was a New England champ. Dillon was responsible for Cornell winning The Hoehn Cup at the National Championships. Cameron Henry ’05 – from Rye, New York and a sopho-
more at Williams College played #9 on the team last year. Cam was captain of the Brunswick team and was an individual New England champion.
Ben Mandel ’05 – from Rye, New York is now a sophomore and also playing on the Dartmouth team.
Ned Marks ’05 – from Greenwich and a sophomore at
Denison College finished the season last year as #5. His team won the Summers Cup at the National Championships in February 2006.
Charlie Tashjian ’05 – from Greenwich and a sophomore at Trinity College, was #1 player at Brunswick when he graduated in 2005. Charlie was also #1 player in New England.
Patrick Whelan ’05 – from Rye, New York and a sopho-
more at University of Virginia played #3 on the team during his freshman year.
Winter 2007
1. We have three coaches: David Bruce, George Boynton, and myself. 2. We also have the best pros from clubs in Greenwich helping. Off-season, the kids are working with professional players like Peter Briggs from Appawamis in Rye, Rob Kriezek from The Field Club, Steve Scharff from Round Hill, and Hugh Underhill from Greenwich Country Club. 3. When you put all of that together, Brunswick students may be receiving the best coaching in the country. To give our squash players more competition, we schedule teams from Philadelphia to Boston, and also play college teams and local men’s teams.
Trevor Rees ’02 – from Rye, New York and a recent Yale grad, has been playing anywhere from #5 to #9 on the Yale team. His junior year, Trevor won the “National Doubles.” Coincidentally, this past year he competed in the same game against fellow ’Wickian Will Broadbent.
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Jim Stephens, who grew up in Greenwich, went to University of Virginia, and was captain of the soccer and tennis teams. The school had no squash, but he was #1 on the tennis team, and started at center halfback in soccer. He was drafted, but due to injuries, was unable to play professional soccer. The good part, though, was that he was elected by his university as “The Best All-Around Athlete.” After graduating from UVA, Jim moved to Australia for two years, where he competed in tournaments. When he returned to the U.S., he became head varsity tennis, varsity golf, and varsity soccer coach at UVA from 1969 – 1975. He later became the head squash and tennis pro at the Field Club for fifteen years. It is here that he developed his expertise in teaching and coaching. “I had the privilege to work with Lester Cummings, world professional squash champion, and one of the finest pros in the country,” Jim said. “As head pro at the Field Club, he taught me everything I know about coaching racquet sports.” When Jim was forty years old, he retired from the Field Club, and became a math teacher at Brunswick. He later took over squash and tennis, and has been doing that for the last twenty-one years. As with our squash players, the buck doesn’t stop here. Beyond Brunswick’s school session, Jim dons the honor as head pro at Northeast Harbor Tennis Club in Northeast Harbor, Maine, where he coaches several hundred kids every summer. So is it the whoosh of the racket that keeps him connected to the court? “Basically, I like competition,” Jim continued. “I enjoy being with the kids and watching them play a sport they’ll have for the rest of their lives. I like watching them achieve excellence. I’m proud of our boys; that’s why I’m here.”
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Travis Judson ’07
Photo credit: TReC Sports PhotoGraphics
Times of Brunswick
Alumnus Breck Bailey ’02
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Before Breck Bailey graduated Brunswick in 2002 and went to Brown University, he had a career high junior ranking of #7 nationally. He was a National Junior Doubles Champion, National Team Champion, and captained Brunswick Squash Team, which was ranked #1 nationally among prep schools. Last spring, the Brown University Athletic Department held its 16th annual All-Sports Banquet. The Dave Zucconi Award is given to the male varsity athlete who most consistently displays the ideals of sportsmanship and fair play. This year’s recipient was senior squash captain
Breck Bailey. According to Brown Athletics Department, “The first-ever Brown squash player to receive the Skillman Sportsmanship Award at the National Team Championships, Bailey has been a leader, mentor, and role model during his four years with the men’s squash team. He is a superb individual who respects partners, opponents, himself, and the game of squash. Though hampered by injury for the past two years, Bailey played with the same demeanor for every single point played, whether winning or losing.” Breck makes Brunswick proud.
‘Wick Snippets The following news briefs are from Bruins past and present who are sharing what they’re doing, where they’ve been, how they’ve done it. What’s your story? We’d love to hear! Contact: Bonni Brodnick, Editor bbrodnick@BrunswickSchool.org Tel: 203.625.5864
Winter 2007
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the murray brothers tie a kn ot with brunswick & launch a new endowment fund The new vineyard vines® shop, on the longitude chart at 145 Greenwich Avenue, cast off with fanfare as the Murray Brothers – Graham ’86, Shep ’89, & Ian ’93 – turned on the running lights and opened the doors for a special Brunswick School Night.
Times of Brunswick
The store, which is in partnership with the legendary ’Richards’ in Greenwich, is in ship-shape with teak and holly cabinets, copper light fixtures, and white bead board walls. But hang on to the rails when you hit check out! It’s a 16foot half-hull, custom-built sailboat section that will make you want to completely outfit yourself in vineyard vines® wear and sail right out of the shop looking naut-y and chic. The Murray Brothers and Richards donated a generous portion of sales from the evening to the “Murray Family Fund,” newly established in memory of their parents, Nancy and Stanley Murray. The fund will provide scholarship money for children of alumni in need of tuition assistance to attend Brunswick.
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Brunswick grad and vineyard vines employee Geordie Van Nostrand ’95, loyal supporter and longtime ’Wick faculty member Mike Harris, and Ian Murray ’93 celebrate the launch of vineyard vines on Greenwich Avenue m
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The Murray brothers with Headmaster Tom Philip
The Murray brothers with beloved former faculty member Rita Henderson
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Winnie Curry Paints a Teddy Bear’s Picnic for Pre-K: Welcome to the ’Wick Woods By Bonni Brodnick If you walk into the Pre-K cafeteria, you’ll notice a big change. Brunswick mom Winnie Curry has transformed the previous plain white walls into a cozy woodland panorama for every bear that ever there is, and every bear that ever will be.
‘Wick Snippets Winter 2007
“Pre-K is such a fun time for the little ones,” said Winnie, whose big ones, John and William, are now in eleventh and eighth grades. “My husband John graduated in 1974, so Brunswick is sort of a family tradition.” Mrs. Curry is one of our tireless volunteers who, over the years, has served on the Brunswick Parent Association (BPA) Board in many capacities (Lower School representative, Book Fair chair, hospitality chair), and class mother on numerous occasions. What she is best known for is quietly (and on her own initiative) taking on jobs that require a great deal of time and energy, but are not high profile. Over the years, Winnie has used her artistic talents to produce several unique auction items for Brunswick benefits: a beautiful hand-painted bookcase, an incredible dollhouse, and a whimsical computer desk with drawings from all of the boys in a particular class. She also painted canvases that are used each year for the Brunswick Book Fair, and if you happen to stop by Pre-K, you’ll notice the mailboxes she painted that are still used for the annual Kindergarten post office. As if last summer’s Pre-K lunchroom mural wasn’t enough on her plate, Winnie also transformed a few basic barrels into umbrella stands for both the Pre- and Lower Schools. The BPA gave several umbrellas to the schools so that the students won’t get rained upon when the teachers take them to their cars at afternoon pick-up. Now the umbrellas have a proud place in which to stand. Winnie began painting murals in her boys’ nurseries and her laundry room. The teddy bear’s picnic at Brunswick is the first time she’s painted a mural outside her home. “Welcome to the ’Wick Woods,” the new hinterland-view in the lunchroom, features turtles, birds, raccoons, beavers, chipmunks, flowers, butterflies, beehives, thistle, and ferns. “I wanted to have lots of details for the boys to pick out while they’re having lunch,” said Winnie. “The theme is basically from the nursery rhyme, ’The Teddy Bear’s Picnic,’ by Bruce Whately,” she continued. “I started relating it to the boys and what they like to do. The other inspiration, though, is Brunswick School itself. It’s such a great, great place that you just want to give back.” j
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Larry Urbon serves UP a hot cup of Café Musette By Bonni Brodnick
Did you know that Larry Urbon, science coordi-
Times of Brunswick
nator at the Middle School, is a pretty jazzy guy?
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Larry is lead guitarist of Café Musette, a group that plays a genre of acoustic jazz known as jazz manouche, or gypsy jazz, a synonym for European jazz first brought to prominence by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli in the 1930s and 40s. Larry brings firepower to Café Musette as lead guitarist on his “gypsy guitar,” also known as Maccaferri-styled guitars, which are inspired by the mandolin. The instrument is small, light, loud, and strung with steel strings. The best gypsy jazz players in Europe play them, and they’re the same that Django played throughout most of his career. Good enough for Django, good enough for Larry. Other instruments bringing potency to the group are the bass, and occasionally, the violin. In an evening with Café Musette, you’ll hear French musettes (the rage of Parisian dance halls in the early-1900s), popular French standards, songs from Edith Piaf, and traditional gypsy melodies from Russia, Romania, and Hungary. You’ll also hear the standards like “Swing Gitan,” “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows,” “Sheik of Araby,” “Gypsy Campfire,” and “I’ll See You in My Dreams.” “I do all of the Django Reinhart songs, but a lot more of the manouche musettes, like ’La Gitana,’ ’Minch Waltz,’ ’Waltz of the Hedgehogs’, ’La Roulotte,’ and a million more,” said Mr. Urbon. “I also play jazz adaptations of classical music, like Bach, and opera themes, like Carmen, but gypsy jazz manouche, the music of the Hot Club of France is my specialty. Gypsy swing is the happiest and most infectious style of guitar playing there is. It’s fast, loud and swings.” Genuine Djangophiles can check out www.cafe-music. com for Café Musette gypsy swing gigs in New York and Connecticut, and Larry’s new CD, “Melodie et Swing,” a collection of romantic instrumentals and melodies with female voices, swinging violin, and, bien sûr, the hot gypsy jazz guitar of Larry Urbon. j
Photo credit: Chris Mahaney ’07
Akin Akingbala ’02 Shoots for the Moon By Bonni Brodnick
College basketball increasingly seems like a factory for NBA prospects. Akin Akingbala ’02 is making a refreshing change. As a former player at a school in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) – considered the best league in the NCAA – Akingbala has always put an emphasis on his education and used basketball as a way to get it.
Winter 2007
them with my footwork, and score,” said Akingbala, who, post-graduation last spring, played with the Boston Celtics summer league in Las Vegas. “It was pretty hard work, but it was a great experience getting to know what a real NBA game is like.” While he now has an opportunity to sign with the Celtics, Akingbala is a free agent and open for any professional team possibilities that might come his way. “Playing Brunswick’s non-league schedule prepared me for college and professional basketball,” Akingbala added. “New England has one of the best basketball schedules in the country so the rigorous playing was great. In probasketball, we’re against top teams, like Redemption, McDuffie, and St. Andrews, who recruit top high school players all over the U.S., and even those who jump right into the NBA. Brunswick was great preparation for the big league games.” j
‘Wick Snippets
As a young boy in Lagos, Akingbala played soccer and basketball, but it wasn’t until he arrived in the United States and attended Brunswick that he played competitive hoops. He later began to see opportunities that basketball could provide as he pursued his education. Although he got a late start, Akingbala, who tops the height chart at 6 feet 10 inches, and weighs in at 240 pounds, quickly became a leading player at Brunswick. During his final year here, Brunswick had a 19-6 record as they finished runner-up in the New England Prep School Championships. Akingbala led the team with averages of 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 blocked shots per game. His mighty playing at the National Prep School Invitational piqued the interest of the top college basketball powers, and he was courted by Villanova, George Washington, Georgia Tech, and Wake Forest. Akingbala went for Clemson University in South Carolina, which not only has a strong academic reputation, but is in the ACC. During his senior year, he came into his own averaging 11.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. “I trained a lot with my coach who encouraged me to work on my quickness so that I can drive by defenders, even though they are as big as me. I’m able to get by
45
Alpha, Bravo, Charlie …Take Off! Last summer, Chiquita Battle, Lower School science
Times of Brunswick
teacher, watched her boys take off on an exciting one-week mini-science clinic, “The Sky is The Limit.” Thirty-four Lower School aviation-aficionados in grades one to four learned about rockets, fliers, and other types of flying machines. The boys constructed various types of Estes rockets made from balsa, cardboard, and plastic, and experimented with different engines for different rockets. They learned about the magic of flight and explored the concepts of thrust, drag, lift, gravity, and other forces. As a bonus, the boys came home with the knowledge of the aviation alphabet. Know it? It can be sung to the same tune as “Mary Had a Little Lamb”:
46
Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel (take a breath) India, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, (one more breath, you’re almost there) Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu. A field trip to Westchester Airport included an inside tour of the fire trucks, learning about emergencies on the runway, viewing planes on radar screens in the operation room, and getting a bird’s-eye view from the observation deck. Big helpers keeping the session aloft included teaching assistants Amy Ostrye, Jeff Uhas, two parent volunteers, Martha Sud and Beverly Floersheimer, along with Shanti Smith-Mensah (Chiqita’s daughter / GA, 9th grade) and William Floersheimer (Brunswick 6th grade). Fifth graders Parker Stitzer, who is taking flying lessons, was a terrific co-pilot to the course, and Sivan Sud turned out to be an avid rocketeer. On the last day, the Brunswick flight team had an air fair and launched nearly forty homemade paper airplanes.
Ribbons were awarded for stunts, distance, time aloft, and accuracy. “The boys were so excited to see all of their hard work manifest into something that took flight,” said Ms. Battle. “One of them exclaimed, ‘My rocket went as high as the clouds!’ Another rocket flew off-course. We’re sure it’s still on the roof of Burke Field House. Through trial and error, though, we all learned that the sky is the limit and anything is possible.” j
Look What’s Cooking at ’Wick By Bonni Brodnick
In
2004, Phil Piro ’07 started The Brunswick Culinary Society, which has been brewing ever since. There are nearly thirty-five in the club, and ten to twelve regular attendees.
Omelettes extraordinaire being prepared by the Brunswick Culinary Society. Chefs (left to right) include Greg Wyman ’07, Michael Levy ’08, Phil Piro ’07, and James O’Brien ’06.
‘Wick Snippets Winter 2007
The common bond? Everyone loves to cook, eat, and give back. “The Culinary Society gets together once every two months to decide what we want to cook,” said Phil. “Usually Chuck Brodsky ’06 goes out and buys the food, gets the recipes online, and that Sunday afternoon we get together at my house to cook. We’ll make five to seven dishes of a certain cuisine, and we’ve cooked anything from Mexican to Caribbean. It’s always good to have a wide view when it comes to food because that’s what keeps it interesting. Some people in the club don’t like to cook as much as to eat, and that’s fine. It’s a nice balance.” “When we make omelettes or desserts in the School dining room, it’s neat to see kids our age behind the tables cooking and serving, and definitely nice to see everyone enjoying what we make,” he continued. “Last spring after AP’s we did a Mongolian BBQ on the Upper School back lawn. Although we don’t ask for funding for the club, the School covers expenses if it’s for them. The Upper School kitchen staff gives us everything we need, including fully-outfitting us with chef hats, aprons, and white chef pants. Herberth Melgar (food service director), Patrick Sullivan (former executive chef), and their staff are really great supporters.” Along with cooking for themselves and friends, Brunswick Culinary Society thought it would be a great idea to combine cooking and a charitable cause. Meals are often donated to St. Luke’s, a homeless shelter in Stamford.
Phil’s culinary inspiration? “My mom is a versatile cook, but her true love is baking and pastries,” he continued. “My dad sticks with Italian entreés and appetizers, and is the person who inspired me the most to love cooking. Mom does it during the week, but dad cooks on weekends. Actually, he is the weekend chef and enjoys cooking for small parties as well. He loves to make pesto, and is big on this pasta dish with sausage, escarole and pine nuts. I think what brought him to the kitchen was the necessity of learning to cook when he was in grad school, and he was forced to forage for himself. My grandparents are good cooks, too. Mostly Italian and German cuisine. So the culinary inspiration definitely comes from my family. “Cooking can relate to all aspects of life. If something goes wrong, do it again. Don’t get frustrated. Consider what you did and see how you can do it better the next time. Be openminded to and respectful of other cultures and cuisines because they are always changing, and always discover new recipes. It will keep people (and yourself!) coming back for more.”
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Forty
Years of
LA
By Cat Scott
m From
the beginning to now: first head coach Paul Brunell and his wife Sandy, first captain Randy Bryan’68, and retiring head coach Jeff Harris and his wife Leslie.
m 2005-2006 Brunswick LAX Captains Gumz ’06, and Matt Virtue ’06.
Mark Moran ’06, Charlie
Times of Brunswick
m Faculty member and alumnus Power Fraser ’74 with young alumni lacrosse players Chris Hynes ’05 and Jason Rehlaender ’05, and Peter Finan ’05.
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Coach Brunell with some of his old players: T ad P age ’72, Randy Bryan ’68, and John Fisher ’74. Photo credit: Frances Page c
m One of the first Brunswick Lacrosse teams in spring of 1968. First Row: Bruce Engebretson ’71, Bryce Blynn ’68, Jonathan Cohn ’68, Randy Laird ’68, Michael Sandifer ’69, Reggie Pierce ’68, Randy Bryan ’68, Robert Burgess ’68, Logan Kock ’69, Jay Sheers ’69, Bernhard Johnson ’69, and Charles Kock ’71 Second Row: Assistant Coach John Edwards, McGregor Pierce ’71, Bruce Luria ’71, David Jenkins ’71, Cory Parker ’69, Jay Cunningham ’69, Kevin McCauley ’69, Geoff Marshall ’69, Tim Etchells ’69, Mark Rice ’69, Gene Salvatore ’71, Tom Dill ’71, and Coach Paul Brunell
In 1967, Randy Bryan ’69 and Reggie Pierce ’69 decided that a lacrosse team was exactly what Brunswick needed. To their delight, the School agreed and the new assistant football coach, Paul Brunell, offered to be their coach. “The whole thing got started with the impetus set by Reggie’s father, Reg Pierce, a Board member who had three boys at Brunswick at the time,” said Coach Brunell. “I got the okay from Headmaster Alfred Everett to purchase the necessary equipment, so during spring vacation in March, on the way to Florida, I stopped at the Bacharach warehouse in Towson, Maryland. I ordered three dozen lacrosse sticks (the old all-wood sticks made on a Native American reservation on an island in the St. Lawrence River), three dozen helmets, three dozen pairs of gloves, along with balls, and a pair of goal nets. I contracted a local plumber to fashion the goals, and we opened practice the end of March when vacation was over. “Our first-ever game loss was to Rye Neck High School,” Coach continued. “With a lot of hard practice though, our newly-formed team went on the following year to have a winning 3-1-1 season.” Dennis Vollmer ’69 recently sent us an email and talked about the impact that Coach Brunell and Brunswick lacrosse had on him and his family. His ending sentiments not only speak to the lasting impacts of Paul Brunell, but to all coaches who give their time, skills, encouragement and guidance each and every day to their Brunswick teams. “It may seem like a stretch, but both my brother Dave and I believe it with conviction: That all of these great experiences (and many more that I have neither the time nor the space to mention) occurred in large part as the result of Paul Brunell and Brunswick lacrosse back in 1967. Obviously we have a tremendous amount of respect and gratitude for what we have been given. Now, just multiply our experiences by the number of young men that have played for Coach Brunell and at Brunswick for the past forty years, and you have some idea of the true impact of these efforts.” j
Lacrosse Coach Jeff Harris Ends a Run of Championship Seasons By Bonni Brodnick
Photo Credit: Dan Burns
season send-off that commemorated Brunswick’s lacrosse team’s fortieth season. His players also had a surprise when senior tri-captains Mark Moran, Charlie Gumz, and Matt Virtue did the celebratory soak during the last seconds of a winning game. “It has been a fantastic season in so many ways. I feel fortunate to have been able to coach this squad as my last varsity team at Brunswick,” said Coach Harris, who said the time was right to retire and give the younger guys a chance. “My son Carter just graduated from Brunswick and retirement will give me more time to attend his games at the Naval Academy next year.” “For twenty-three years, Jeff has shown great leadership on the lacrosse field,” said Headmaster Tom Philip, an assistant lacrosse coach with Harris for seven years. “He has always been committed to good, clean sport, good sportsmanship, and camaraderie.” j
Winter 2007
“It’s one thing to play a tough schedule, but it’s another to be competitive while you do it,” wrote Coach Harris in an end-of-year letter to his team of thirty-one players and four coaches. “This year’s Bruins fought hard every time they took the field and almost always left the other team knowing they had been in a battle. Whether in victory or defeat, our team always tried its hardest and represented Brunswick with pride and sportsmanship.” Coach Harris, who had a triple mission at Brunswick as varsity lacrosse coach, director of admission, and Upper School history teacher, started as an assistant coach in 1983. He took over as head coach the following season. While on the field, Jeff coached more than three hundred games, had a stunning winning percentage of over seventy-four percent, along with fifteen Fairchester Athletic Association titles. About midway through the season, the team knew about Coach Harris’ pending retirement. They kept it mum and wound up honoring him appropriately with a winning
‘Wick Snippets
After twenty-three years of ace leadership on the LAX field, Coach Jeff Harris is hanging up his whistle and retiring from coaching. In his final season where ’Wick took an undefeated team an unprecedented eight times, this year’s players saw victories, upsets, heartbreakers, and triumphs. The Brunswick squad was one of the strongest in America, as LAX power ranked the strength of our schedule as the 15th most challenging of more than 2,400 high school lacrosse teams nationwide. Jeff, don’t go!
49
BRUINS Times of Brunswick
BRUNSWICK
50
Photos Credit: Dan Burns
Football
The Brunswick football team entered the 2006 season riding a 29 game winning streak, dating back to September 2003. After a 3-0 start against FAA teams, Brunswick hosted perennially strong Brooklyn Poly Prep in a Friday night game that brought MSG Network to the game. The match-up surpassed all expectations with a 13-13 tie at the end of regulation and a 27-26 double overtime victory! That win propelled the Bruins to five more regular season wins against FAA opponents, earning a fifth straight FAA League Championship, and a spot in the NEPSAC Football Championship game in the Sampson-Lorden Bowl. The rematch of last year’s 46-36 victory over Belmont Hill School was equally exciting as Brunswick came back from a 26-7 deficit in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to 26-20 with two minutes to go. Unfortunately, it was too little too late as Belmont Hill snapped Brunswick’s winning streak at 38 games. While there are 16 strong seniors graduating in 2007, there are 40 sophomores and juniors who are eager to get the next streak under way next fall!
Head Coach: Sean Brennan Assistant Coaches: Frank Loverro, Steve Garnett, Marcus Chioffi, Rashad Randolph Win: 9 Loss: 1 Tie: 0 FAA Standing: Champions Other Championship/Records: NEPSAC Runner-Up Captains: Tyler McFarlane & Kevin Decker MVP Winner: Kevin Decker & Tyler McFarlane
All-League Selections:
First Team: Kevin Decker, Tyler McFarlane, Nick Simmons, Mark Figgie, Chris Harris, Tommy Hoyos
Honorable Mention: Phil Cutler, Christian Blake, Mackenzie
Winter 2007
Judson, Tommy Barnett, Tom Connor, Greg Wyman Seniors: Christian Blake, Mackenzie Judson , Tommy Barnett, Tom Connor, Greg Wyman, Kevin Decker, Tyler McFarlane, Nick Simmons, Chris Harris, Casey Archer, Chris Mahaney, Nick Steube, Tucker Virtue, Harry Sherman, Will Ingraham, Simon Barnes
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BRUINS
Soccer
52
BRUNSWICK
Times of Brunswick
Power Fraser and Tucker Hastings coached their varsity soccer squad of 21 to a much-improved record of 6 Wins, 6 Losses, and 3 Ties. Captains Eric Clauson and Erik Spangenberg were ably assisted by fellow seniors Ron Ongaro, Christian Oberbeck, Michael Blumenthal, Jose Fabre, and Wilson Withiam in bringing their team to a ranking of 14 out of 51 WNEPSSA teams. This year’s team played a few more games at home, including two on Cosby Memorial Field and played hard for ties against the powerhouse teams of Taft and Loomis. The 2006 season came to a close on a perfect Saturday out at the Edwards Campus on King Street with at 2-0 win over Westminster. Next year’s squad, captained by Karl Hantho, John Eric Oberbeck, and Zach Prager will add a game versus Deerfield to the regular season schedule.
FAA All-League & Special Recognition Cross Country
All-League Selection ���������� Honorable Mention ����������� All New England ����������� MVP Winner ������������ Most Improved ������������ Sportsmanship Award ���������� Rookie of the Year ����������� Senior Citizen ������������� JV FAA Champion ����������
Ryan Hopkins Jack Seaver, Alex Jamar, Brian DeAngelo Ryan Hopkins Ryan Hopkins Greg Berger and Timmy O’Leary Alex Jamar Brian DeAngelo Jack Seaver Corey DeSalvo
Football
All-League �������������� Kevin Decker, Tyler McFarlane, Nick Simmons, Mark Figgie, Chris Harris, Tommy Hoyos Honorable Mention ����������� Tommy Barnett, Christian Blake, Tom Connor, Phil Cutler, Mackenzie Judson, Greg Wyman All New England ����������� Kevin Decker, Tyler McFarlane, Nick Simmons Class C Player of the Year �������� Kevin Decker Pedersen Award ������������ Kevin Decker, Tyler McFarlane Joe Reimer Award ����������� Chris Harris, Greg Wyman Rookie of the Year ����������� Milo Ceci Bruin of the Year ����������� Tom Connor Most Improved Senior ���������� Mackenzie Judson Comeback Player of the Year �������� Christian Blake Lineman of the Year ���������� Nick Simmons
Soccer
Eric Clauson Erik Spangenberg Eric Clauson Eric Clauson John Eric Oberbeck, Ron Ongaro, Erik Spangenberg
The real story of any Cross Country season is read between the lines, which in 2006 revealed a team as deep in characters as in character. The Brunswick XC Team began this year with a new look after saying goodbye to thirteen graduating seniors and a plethora of talent from last year’s undefeated squad that placed second in New England. A determined core of returning harriers, led by Captains Alistair Ballantine and Andrew Zarilli, paced the Bruins’ daily effort through a season whose real success was only overshadowed by its own high expectations. Our team enjoyed record turnout as the roster mushroomed to forty runners. However, the unfortunate number of days lost to injury, which derailed our quest for a 12th consecutive league title, ended the consecutive league race winning streak at 75, and produced a slightly distasteful 8th place finish in New England. The regular season ended with a 20-2 record and 2nd place in the FAA, as ’Wick dropped two out of three to Hopkins School, the perennial powerhouse which joined the league in 2006. The 2nd place finish was replicated at the post-season tournament. The first steps of any race are not to be taken lightly, so we look ahead to 2007 when Captains Chris Antonacci, Ryan Hopkins, and Alexandre Jamar set the pace for Brunswick.
Winter 2007
WNEPSSA Select Team ��������� WNEPSSA Select Team Honorable Mention �� CSCA All-State Team ��������� James Brown Award ���������� Coach’s Award ������������
Cross-Country
53
BRUINS
Baseball
54
BRUNSWICK
Times of Brunswick
With a very difficult schedule last spring, including several strong New England teams added this year, the Brunswick Varsity Baseball team played often and tirelessly on Koszalka Field and on the road. Captains Jamie Millard and David Platter with fellow seniors Mike Biondi, Eric Epstein, Chris Gattinella, T.J. Hopkins, Bobby Knox, Frank Osborn, and Jack Taylor worked hard the entire season to finish with a fine record of 11 wins and 12 losses. The tally of wins and losses does not accurately reflect the superb ball playing that their many fans enjoyed watching. Exciting wins versus St. Luke’s, Hopkins, Hamden Hall, and RCDS were but a few of the games for the record book. Coach Pax Haslem was more than ably assisted by Pat Piro, Tim Daly, and Jarret Shine. The returning squad will be trained by new head coach Pat Piro, and once again assisted by Tim Daly. Captains Chris Harris and Greg Wyman will set the leadership tone for the 2007 team.
Crew
Following a banner fall racing season, which saw the Varsity Eight win three Head races (Harlem, Riverfront, and Connecticut) and take bronze at the Head of the Charles, the crew had great success launching from its new rowing facility further up the Mianus River. The squad swept its opening dual races with Tabor and then Salisbury, capturing the newly carved Richard Curtis Trophy (featuring the Schools’ blades on a mahogany base). Mid-season highlights included the Varsity Eight’s win at the New Jersey Scholastic Championships and Connecticut State Titles for the Third and Fourth Eights. Captained by Spencer Moscati and Peter Spyrou with strong seniors Andrew Atwell, Tim Belden, Eric Duffy, Luis Paternina, Scott Oudheusden, Zach Ruchman, Henry Skelsey, Jim Tormey, Colin VanLang, and Nick Williams the New England Championships in Worcester saw all three varsity boats qualify for the finals, a first in Brunswick rowing history. Along with veteran Head Coach Joseph Falco and Coach John Martin, the Brunswick team will also be assisted by Pat Spellane, member of the ’Wick Class of 2002 and former captain of the crew team. Captains George Moran and Nick O’Neill are leading the Brunswick Oarsmen this year.
Lacrosse
Brunswick Lacrosse began its first-ever all Western New England Division I schedule with a larger than usual challenge. LAX power ranked the strength of our schedule as the 15th most challenging of over 2,400 high school lacrosse teams nationwide. The team was more than up for the challenge as Captains Charlie Gumz, Mark Moran, and Matt Virtue called on the assistance of fellow seniors Rob Dickson, Christian Henze, Zach Dobbs, Ian Durkin, Doug Friedman, Vaughn Hodges, and Matt Sargent to suit up and play to win. According to Head Coach Jeff Harris, Brunswick took the field against an undefeated team 8 times during the season. The exciting come-from-behind win at Avon Old Farms, and the titanic upset of a nationally ranked Salisbury squad were but two of the great moments during the season. At the end-of-season team dinner, the athletes, parents, and fellow Coaches Tom Philip, Brendan Gilsenan, and David Bruce all paid tribute to Coach Jeff Harris and his many years of dedicated leadership. David Bruce takes the helm as Head Coach and will call on the assistance of Captains Tom Barnett, Christian Blake, and Christian Oberbeck to rally the 2007 Varsity Lacrosse Team.
WINTER & SPRING FAA ALL-LEAGUE Basketball
Kevin Decker, Zach Dobbs, Jimmy Tormey Honorable Mention: Doug Friedman
Wrestling
Charles Brodsky, Sims Lansing, Colin VanLang, Nick Simmons, Walter Luse, Chasen VanLang
Baseball
Eric Epstein, Jamie Millard, David Platter Honorable Mention: Chris Harris
Golf
Terence Einhorn, Jack Killea, JF Sorbella
Tennis
Chris Antonacci, Charles Brosens, James Francis, Zach Hascoe, Brendan Seaver, Robby Sorrel
SPECIAL RECOGNITION Squash
New England Winners – Will Browne, Clay Blackiston, James Thorman
Wrestling
All Americans – Sims Lansing, Nick Simmons All New England – Chasen VanLang All State – Sims Lansing, Walter Luse, Chasen VanLang Western NE Division I 1st Team – Mark Moran Western NE Division 1 2nd Team – Rob Dickson, Christian Henze, Matt Virtue
Winter 2007
Lacrosse
55
BRUINS
Basketball
The 2005-06 Brunswick basketball team finished the season with a record of 21 wins, 9 losses and tied for first place in the FAA Regular Season with St. Luke’s. Coaches Greg Dobbs and Anthony Fischetti had a great year with a team led by senior Tri-Captains Zach Dobbs, Doug Friedman, and Jim Tormey, and assisted by fellow seniors Phaethon Bolton and Rob Dickson. They went on to win the FAA tournament, culminating in an exciting come-frombehind victory over St. Lukes, 54-52. Along with reaching the milestone of 300 victories at Brunswick for Coach Greg Dobbs, the Bruins finished second in the Boys Club of New York Holiday Tournament and competed in the first round of the New England Class C Tournament. Of notable accomplishment, the squad and their coaches received the Fairfield County IAABO Board 9 Sportsmanship Award. 2007 will be exciting with Kevin Decker and Tyler McFarlane serving as captains.
Hockey
56
BRUNSWICK
Times of Brunswick
The Varsity Hockey team entered the season with two main goals: a .500 or better record and a berth in the New England playoffs. Coached by Ron VanBelle and Mike Kennedy, the team exceeded all pre-season expectations and put together a very successful campaign, going 14-3 in Division II games and 17-7-1 overall. Captains Louis Aronne and Charlie Kirchen, were ably assisted by Assistant Captain Kit Tierney and seniors Andrew Atwell, Tim Belden, John Harvey, and Jack Rosencrans as they entered the New England playoffs as the 5th seed. While they were disappointed in the loss to Proctor, they came away from the season proud, knowing they worked hard, met and exceeded the team’s goals, and had a lot of fun in the process. This season should be just as great under the leadership of Captains Christian Oberbeck and Justin Letizia.
Fencing
This winter season could be considered a turning point for Brunswick Fencing. With the arrival of many new freshmen and juniors, the team consisted mainly of new fencers. With the support and never-tiring leadership of Captains Xavier Lebec and Sean Stewart, they were able to develop their skills in this complicated sport with remarkable proficiency. While there is still more work to be done in the years ahead, the team’s overall skill has been steadily advancing since its foundation. Thank you to Coach Orest Stetsiv, and good luck to this year’s Captains Ben Cortes and Pablo Ceballos.
Squash
What can you say about a team that has a 22-2 record and finishes 1st in New England and 3rd in the nation? You can say congratulations to the Brunswick Varsity A Squash Team and to their coaches, Jim Stephens, David Bruce, and George Boynton. The two varsity squads were ably captained by Christian Henze and Travis Judson, and were further led by seniors James Francis, Matt Sargent, James Thorman, and David Whelan. The team went undefeated in New England and was awarded the Brandes Cup for the 6th time. The largest crowd in the history of the School attended the ’Wick vs. Lawrenceville match. On a Philadelphia weekend road trip, the Brunswick team defeated Haverford, Episcopal, Penn Charter, and Chestnut Hill. Captains Will Browne and Travis Judson are working to repeat the successes this year. .
Brunswick Squash Team 2006
Photo Credit: TReC Sports PhotoGraphics
Sailing
Coach Byron LaMotte and the Brunswick sailors got an early start to last year’s season by venturing out onto the warm waters off of the Florida coast. The end of spring break found the sailors ready to launch their boats at Indian Harbor once again. The young squad benefited from the leadership of Captain Casey Kinney and the general great spirit and camaraderie of Greenwich sailing. With a number of joint regattas with Greenwich Academy and Greenwich High School, the boys improved tremendously. Highlights of the season included regattas at many of Fairfield County’s beautiful yacht clubs, some very high winds, and great adventure. The team is looking forward to another winning spring with Casey Kinney returning as captain and the additional leadership of senior Chris O’Reilly.
Wrestling
This year’s team compiled an impressive 19-5 record while placing 2nd in the Canterbury Tournament, 2nd in the Guilford Tournament, 2nd in the BIT, and 2nd in the States. Coached by Tim Ostrye, Bob Benjamin, and Frank Loverro, the team also placed 6th out of 41 teams at the New Englands. Led by Captains Sims Lansing and Colin VanLang, with the aid of seniors Charles Brodsky, Jamie O’Brien, Justin McAuliffe, Fabio Hoyos, Eric Duffy, and JF Sorbella, Brunswick wrestlers hosted the 49th Annual WNEISWA tournament in Burke Field House last February. The team is understandably proud of their coach, Tim Ostrye, who was awarded both the Neil Buckley Service Award and the New England Coaches Award. This year’s Captains Colin Raymond and Nick Simmons stand ready for the challenge of another long strenuous season on the mats.
Golf
Captains Charles Brosens, James Francis, and Zach Hascoe led the Brunswick tennis team to the School’s first-ever New England Championship. Fellow seniors David Manners-Weber and Jack Rosencrans kept the younger players motivated and moving forward as they ended the regular season as co-champions of the FAA. The New England Championship was achieved with wins over Belmont Hill School, Thayer Academy, and Roxbury Latin School. Coach George Boynton stepped in this season following the long-time reign of veteran coach Jim Stephens. He was ably assisted by Steve Polikoff and was greatly excited by the success in both of our racquets squads – 1st in New England for both squash and tennis in one academic year. Congratulations to all 13 members of Brunswick Varsity Tennis.
Winter 2007
Coach Anthony Fischetti and former coach Jim Israel credit Captains Louis Aronne and JF Sorbella with outstanding leadership during the season. Senior Abe Schwartz contributed throughout the season, which saw the Brunswick golfers finish 12-6-1. We hosted four very strong teams at the Brunswick Invitational — Bergen Catholic, Fordham Prep, Iona Prep, and Kingswood — and the Bruins managed a solid win over all four opponents. Their FAA record was 6-2 and they finished 2nd this year, behind a very talented St. Luke’s team. A 3rd place at the New England Tournament, competing with 25 teams, was another of their many accomplishments as one of the best teams in New England. This spring will find Anthony Fischetti taking over the helm as Head Coach with Jim Stephens as his assistant. With Captains Jack Killea and Rand Potter they should have another outstanding season on the links.
Tennis
57
BRUINS
Scholar-Athlete Awards 2005-2006 Presented to Varsity Athletes who have achieved High Honors for the year Baseball
Michael Biondi, TJ Hopkins, Frank Osborn, David Platter, Jack Taylor, Jack Barrett, James Biondi
Basketball
Doug Friedman
Crew
Scott Oudheusden, Zach Ruchman, Colin VanLang, Eric Clauson, Clay Macfarlane, Geroge Moran, Nick O’Neill, Austin Stack, Jonathan Bubar
Cross Country
Chris Baker, Morgan Dunnan, James Francis, TJ Hopkins, Xavier Lebec, Jack Rosencrans, Sean Stewart, James Thorman, David Whelan, Kevin Mallen, Jack Seaver, Chris Bayliss, Greg Berger, Jonathan Bubar, Alex Jamar, Sam Haig
Fencing
Xavier Lebec, Sean Stewart, Pablo Ceballos, Ben Cortes, James Baker, Rob Cortes
Football
Charles Brodsky, Doug Friedman, Frank Osborn, Jack Taylor, Christian Blake, Greg Hillman, Colin Raymond, Jack Barrett, Bobby Benjamin, Alex Dickson, Chris Ghaffari, Oscar Loynaz, Kent Northrop
Golf
Craig Matthews, Robbie Cortes
Hockey
John Harvey, Jack Rosencrans, Christian Oberbeck, Bryce Fitzpatrick
Lacrosse
Doug Friedman, Robbie Berner, Christian Blake, Christian Oberbeck, Alex Dickson, Bryce Fitzpatrick, Oscar Loynaz
Soccer
David Platter, Michael Blumenthal, Eric Clauson, Bryce Fitzpatrick, Peter Weinberg
Squash
58
Tennis
James Francis, David Manners-Weber, Jack Rosencrans, Alex Jamar
Wrestling
Charles Brodsky, Colin VanLang, Colin Raymond
BRUNSWICK
Times of Brunswick
James Francis, James Thorman, David Whelan, Robbie Berner, Craig Matthews, Clay Blackiston, Sam Haig
Thanksgiving Weekend – Alumni Sports Event
Alumni hockey players of all ages took to the ice Thanksgiving weekend under the wise tutelage of former Varsity coach Mark Finnegan and retired hockey player Peter Carlson ’76. The “odd grad year team” brought home the win! m
Adam Fisher ’02, Chris Jones ’02, Dave Maloney ’01, Garret Overlock ’02, T.J. Opladen ’01, former varsity coach Mark Finnegan, Tripp Donelan ’98, and Mark’s son Johnny all hung out after the game for sandwiches, drinks and a few laughs. b
m John Hopley ’79 with his daughters Anjali GA ’16 and Shanthi GA ’14 after a
round or two on the squash courts!
Winter and Spring Major Athletic Awards
Three Sport Varsity Athlete Awards
Basketball
Seniors
Joe Koszalka Award—Jimmy Tormey
Hockey
Hal Rogers Award—Charlie Kirchen
Squash
Jim Stephens Racquets Award—Christian Henze
Wrestling
Peter deLisser Award—Sims Lansing
Baseball
Dutch King Award—David Platter
Golf
Doc Bevacqua Award—JF Sorbella
Lacrosse Tennis
Hartch Family Tennis Award—James Francis
Juniors
Greg Wyman—Football, Wrestling, Baseball Wilson Withiam—Soccer, Basketball, Baseball Andrew Zarilli—Cross Country, Squash, Crew
Sophomores
Tommy Hoyos—Football, Wrestling, Lacrosse Chris Antonacci—Cross Country, Squash, Tennis Bryce Fitzpatrick—Soccer, Hockey, Lacrosse John Eric Oberbeck—Soccer, Hockey, Lacrosse Tommy Piscina—Soccer, Basketball, Baseball
Winter 2007
Durkin Family Award—Mark Moran
Louis Aronne—Soccer, Hockey, Golf Rob Dickson—Soccer, Basketball, Lacrosse Eric Epstein—Football, Basketball, Baseball Doug Friedman—Football, Basketball, Lacrosse James Francis—Cross Country, Squash, Tennis Jack Rosencrans—Cross Country, Hockey, Tennis
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The
Beyond Classr Third Grade & Fourth Grade Masters of the Word Pronounce a Big Win
Community Service Day Really Cleans Up You think you have lots to do today? Check out this partial Community Service Day to-do list coordinated last April 2006 by Sasha Lyapin, director of Upper School community service and mathematics teacher. Requirements to participate are elbow grease, eagerness, and a smile.
Times of Brunswick
United Way of Greenwich: Paint fence, wash windows, and do landscaping. Hall Neighborhood House (Bridgeport): Activities with the kids. Shelter for the Homeless (Stamford): Paint outside wall. Port Chester Headstart (Port Chester, NY): Help in the classrooms at Port Chester Children’s Place and Weber Drive Child Center. Waterside School (Stamford): Assist the phys-ed class. Greenwich Green & Clean (Tod’s Point): Physical work. Bring gloves, trash bags, waterproof shoes, work clothes, clippers, and small loppers. St. Luke’s Lifeworks (Stamford): Clean the grounds. Prepare six bathrooms for painting (taping, papering).
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And this is just the beginning of a long list that includes 22 other assignments in neighboring communities. “The boys did a terrific job at many organizations,” said Mr. Lyapin. “They accomplished a great deal, and also enjoyed doing it.” The Upper School advisors worked just as hard overseeing the groups and helping to supervise throughout the day. Brunswick’s annual Community Service Day was, once again, a truly collective effort.
What exciting news! In the 2006 WordMasters Challenge, Brunswick third graders tied for third place in the nation, among 541 school teams competing at this grade level. Twelve of our third and fourth grade boys received perfect scores throughout the year; Clay Berger, Harry Brant, Teddy Cassoli, Peter Ciporin, William Darling, Duane Ervin, Kevin Griffith, Grant MacFaddin, Connor McGillicuddy, Tom Morrisroe, Will Parsons, and Chase Stitzer. We proudly note that third grader Tucker Brown received a perfect (spelled P-E-R-F-E-C-T) score on all three challenges, whilst only ten third graders in the nation achieved this. “Congratulations also go to the third and fourth grade teachers who helped the boys prepare for the difficult competitions,” said Jean Westhoff, Brunswick speech and language specialist.
Third grade teacher Brian Coughlin with his student Tucker Brown, who achieved three (that’s t-h-r-e-e!) perfect scores in 2006 WordMasters Challenge.
o m Standing with Archbishop Tutu are Brunswick students (back row, left to right) Sam Vallely, Harrison Waddill, Mack Abbot, Bud Vallely, and Tyler Davis. In front is John Waddill.
The Boys Meet “The Arch” During the long years that Nelson Mandela was in prison, Archbishop Desmond Tutu spoke out against South Africa’s struggle with apartheid. His vision was to create “a democratic and just society without racial divisions.” In 1984, Archbishop Tutu received the Nobel Peace Prize for his brave efforts. Last summer, Brunswick mom Lisa
Vallely organized a trip to South Africa with a number of students and families. A highlight of their journey was the honor of meeting “The Arch,” as he is known. The excursion also included five days in the slums of Alexandra, a township close to the center of Johannesburg; visiting HIV centers and orphanages, a high school, and primary school, and impover-
Sam Vallely and his grandmother Marnie Vallely present Archbishop Tutu with a gift, a glass plaque featuring an american flag and eagle, and engraved “Journey of a life time. with thanks. 2006”
ished community and cultural centers on Roben Island and in Cape Town. “Our trip to South Africa was a transformative and inspirational experience,” said Bud Vallely ’08. “I learned that, in life, it’s really up to me to make a difference in myself and, more importantly, in the lives of others. Our trip was really the journey of a lifetime.”
Brunswick Seeks the Academic WorldQuest 2006 Title Zach Ruchman, and Henry Skelsey. To prepare for this difficult current events quiz, they said they spend “a couple hours” reviewing, but otherwise, just kept their eyes and ears open to the world around them. “A lot of it is paying attention to the news,” Zach said. For Henry, “reading a lot and being aware of what’s going on” was his strategy for being up-to-the minute on current events. If you haven’t been reading The New York Times daily, or Time Magazine weekly, we’ll fess up to the answers to the three questions above: the lost Whippet was 20 named Bohem C’est La Vie; the International Committee of the Red Cross won two Nobel Peace prizes; and Scott Wescott was the American gold medal winner for his fancy racing on the snowboard.
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What was the name of the canine contender from the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show that went missing last year after escaping from its travel cage at JFK? What international organization has won the Nobel Prize twice? Which Olympic athlete used a sweet slide move to nudge into first place and become the very first Olympic champion in the wild sport of snowboard cross? These are just a sampling of the questions thrown to our Brunswick/Greenwich Academy team at the Academic WorldQuest 2006, a competition among sixteen high school teams for a chance to attend the national championship in Washington, D.C. Sponsored by The World Affairs Forum, Brunswick students, with John Booth as faculty advisor, were challenged to share their in–the-know-ness about their knowledge of geography, current events, and international affairs. Bringing Brunswick into second place by one point against Daniel Hand High School in Madison, CT were seniors David Manners-Weber, Emma Cobishley from GA,
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Visiting Utopia The Chautauqua Institution is an amazing education and arts institution founded in 1874, and referred to by some as “An American Utopia.” In 1925, George Gershwin composed his Concerto in F in a Chautauqua practice shack, and in 1936, Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his “I Hate War” speech from the Amphitheater m Joan Michie, Pre- and Lower School platform. The institute has established librarian, with son Jonathan who itself as a national forum for open appeared in “Marriage of Figaro.” discussion of public issues, international relations, literature, and science. It’s an exciting spot for art, dance, music and theater, and was the perfect summer vacation destination for Joan Michie, Pre- and Lower School librarian. “My husband and I were there for week-long forums on ’Applied Ethics: The Obligations of Citizenship’ and ’Five Giants.’ The selection of events ranges from vespers to lectures, often with such heavy hitters as disparate as E.O. Wilson, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning scientist, author, and father of modern environmental movement; or Taylor Branch, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, author of trilogy on civil rights movement and Martin Luther King Jr.; to The Beach Boys, and Gary Puckett. “Chautauqua also has wonderful opera, symphony and ballet, which are ’training camps’ for major companies. This year, after we signed up to go, we learned that our son Jonathan, who is in the masters voice performance degree program at Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, was accepted into the Chautauqua Opera Company to perform Mozart’s whimsical comedy, ’Marriage of Figaro.’ This, of course, was an extra perk to our Chautauqua visit.”
Michael Allwood Takes Table Leader Position For the past five years, Michael Allwood, chairman of the Upper School mathematics department, has attended the reading of the AP Statistics examination in Nebraska. This June, he was promoted to “table leader.” Approximately twenty-five high school teachers in the nation are table leaders for AP Statistics. In this prestigious seat, Michael is part of a team that works on the rubrics (or the instructions for grading the questions), and supervises six readers in their work during the week of the conference. “I know that grading isn’t usually regarded as fun,” said Mr. Allwood, “but it’s great to spend a week with teachers who share similar interests. As a development opportunity, it’s irreplaceable. When I heard that I’d been promoted to a table leader this year, I was delighted.“
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The Lower School playground was awash with funky-rhythm colors after the fourth graders presented their little brother-first graders with handmade tie-dye shirts. According to fourth grader Daniel Hughes, “In real life I have a little brother named John, but my Brunswick little brother is (first grader) Nick Blum. It was really fun to make this shirt for him.” Does anyone remember how to make tie-dye shirts? It was a trip to hear Keshav Raghavan explain: “Take a regular white shirt, but you can even do it on socks. To make triangle or swirl designs, pinch the shirt really small with rubber bands. Fill squirt containers, like the kind you get ketchup in, with different colors, like purple, yellow, turquoise, and red. Squirt it on the shirt. Let it dry. Wash the shirt in cold, rinse hot. Take off the rubber bands. You can dry it in a dryer or let it dry naturally.” “I like seeing how tie-dye turns out, but when you wash the shirt, don’t mix it with other colors because it can get kind of messy,” said Tyler Spaulding. “I’ll probably wear my t-shirt as p.j.’s and to birthday parties because tie-dye is like a celebration,” said Ryan Becker. “The spirit of the Big Brother/Little Brother Program is a long-standing tradition at Brunswick School,” said Suzanne Plunkett, Lower School fourth grade teacher. “The program pertains to all facets of the boys’ school day: being a leader and part of their community, as well as fostering a true sense of sharing and bonding with the other grades. The fourth graders had a ball making tie-dye shirts as a surprise gift for their little brothers.”
Sportswriter Mike Lupica Visits ’Wick to Discuss His New Book, Heat By Corey Juan ’13 You know how assemblies are usually exciting? Well, this one was phenomenal, and just the ticket to make an afternoon fly by. Mike Lupica, one of the most well-known sports writers in the country, was a guest speaker at Brunswick Middle School to talk about his new young adult novel, Heat. I have always wanted to become a writer. This assembly really changed my views about where to find inspiration and write a book. I was just blown away listening to such a detailed and enthusiastic talk about how everyone has a story to tell. Mr. Lupica began his appearance with a short description of his book, Travel Team. He told us that he was inspired to write it by an everyday experience that one of his sons had: the defeat of not getting onto a team. Travel Team is a great story about achieving your goals, regardless of obstacles that may be in your way. I never really liked sports books, but this one is definitely an exception. He then talked about Heat, his new novel about a boy named Michael Arroyo who dreams of leading his South Bronx All-Stars to the Little League World Series. A bitter rival spreads rumors
that the character is older than he appears, and the league demands that he be benched until he can present a birth certificate. His parents forgot it though when they rushed on the boat from Cuba to the United States. Heat is a lively book with true-to-life characters, and one that any sports lover will enjoy reading. Mr. Lupica said there’s nothing cooler than writing books kids want to read. “When I write for young adults, I’m trying to write up, not down. You guys are cooler, funnier, smarter, and hipper than I ever was.” “Every one of you has a story worth writing,” he continued. “If you want to write, write. Keep reading. My world was always reading and wanting to be a writer. You have to chase your dreams yourselves. Learn by doing. ” We really enjoyed Mike Lupica’s visit and want to thank Mr. (Jocko) McKean, former assistant head of Middle School and Grade 5 class dean, Mrs. (Suzanne) Peisch, and the Brunswick Parents Association for organizing the assembly, which included a signed copy of Heat. It all inspired me beyond words.
Photo credit: Thomas Rosenkranz ’13
Armchair Thoughts from Jack O’Connell, Former Middle School Teacher
The New York Times crossword puzzle, and trying to put off the actual start of class.
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Jack O’Connell, former Middle School teacher and dean of Grade 6, who came to Brunswick in 2000 and retired in 2005, wrote us the following remembrances, while sitting in a chair under the arms of a huge shade tree on the island of Bequia, the gem of the Grenadines. Jealous? Read on. Some random thoughts on retirement: I miss the madness of indoor recess with thousands of balls in the air, aimed at I miss the goofiness at Brunswick Middle who knows who or what. Well, maybe, I School. That delightful, indeterminable 12- don’t miss it all that much. year-old way of thinking that the fantastical tale of why he didn’t do his homework will I don’t miss circling that spelling demon, actually work this time. (I imagine that it did “alot,” after having passed on to the class the day before the sad news that the word from time to time.) simply doesn’t exist. I miss the lunches, watching a boy roll the doughy, white insides of bread into a lethal I really do miss watching a boy “get it” weapon, and pop it into his mouth. When after telling me he’d never be any good at asked why he didn’t have “something else,” the grammar. answer was always, “There wasn’t anything.” I miss those moments when the boys (My plate notwithstanding, apparently. I and I were all just being ourselves, and would always find something delicious.) shooting the breeze about anything and I miss the slouching. I don’t miss my everything. having to suggest a different posture, Most of all, I miss that wonderful however. goofiness that always made me smile, and I miss the “help” I’d receive doing proud to be a part of Brunswick School.
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Senior Breakfast 2006
Alumni
Pete Bevacqua ’89, Ian Murray ’93, Shep Murray ’89, and Jarrett Shine ’93 joined the Senior Class Breakfast last May to celebrate the boys’ last days as “students” before they transitioned to “alumni.” Though each speaker has followed his own distinct path, one unified message came through loud and clear: tenaciously hold onto your dreams and do what you love to do. These encouraging words of mentorship certainly resound for young men just starting out in the world. After breakfast and the speaker presentations, the guys enjoyed a surprise slideshow of memories, courtesy of their parents (and some covert Greenwich Academy classmates). vineyard vines® polo shirts and visors from the Murray brothers, and U.S. Open Championship hats from Pete Bevacqua were well received by the 2006 grads. Many thanks to Pete, Ian, Shep and Jarrett for their generous time, spirit, and mutual words of wisdom: If you don’t have dreams, they might never come true.
m Nick
m One of their last meals as Brunswick students! Morgan Dunnan, Rob Dickson, Ben Robson, T.J. Hopkins, and Charlie Lodge.
Williams and Peter Spyrou
m Congratulations to the new Class Agents for the Class of 2006! David Manners-Weber, Peter Spyrou, Liam Fayed, Charlie Gumz, and Louis Aronne.
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Tierney and David Whelan
m Christian Henze with Mark Moran
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and classmates, John Harvey and Ian Durkin
m Jack
Taylor and Brady Farrell
m T.J.
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Gatherings
All ages joined us at the famous Old Ebbitt Grill in downtown Washington, D.C. Attendees included Jeff Long ’01, Heidjer Staecker ’89, Bill Bertles ’85, Bob Cosby, Jr. ’73, J.D. Allman ’05, Fernando Gentil ’05, Ross Ogden ’91 and former alumni director Keith Cipollaro ’86.
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We’ll Come to You!
Whether you’re north, south, east, or west, the Brunswick Alumni Office is always happy to plan a reunion in other parts of the country. This 2006-2007 school year we are headed to Philadelphia, Palm Beach, and San Francisco. Please let us know if you live or vacation in any of these locations and whether you might be interested in hosting a gathering. Many thanks to the list of past regional event hosts. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Boston: Brian McKenna ’75 Chicago: The Schwalm Brothers
(Mat ’90, Dugan ’93, and Brad ’98)
Martha’s Vineyard: The Murray Brothers (Graham ’86,
m Dugan Schwalm ’93 and fellow Chicagoan Elissa Raether Kovas GA’89
Shep ’89, and Ian ’93)
Nantucket: The Otto Family (John ’66 and
Jay ’05), The Evans Family, and The Toombs Family (GA)
. Windy city transplants enjoyed a chance to get together at the home of Mat Schwalm ’90 and his fiancé Samantha (who was also the caterer!). Attendees at the Chicago gathering included Scott Caputo ’01, Chris King ’01, Luis Martinez ’01, James Bragg ’87, Stephen Noon ’95, and Pete Kearney ’01. Agreed on by all: the Schwalm brothers know how to throw a great party!
host.
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m James Bragg ’87 with Mat Schwalm ’90, our gracious
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Homecoming 2006 By Bonni Brodnick
Times of Brunswick
An impressive 92 alumni (15 more than last year) teed up for this year’s 6th Annual Alumni Golf Outing at Griffith Harris Golf Course. Both golfers and “golfers,” some from as far away as Monaco (Barend van der Vorm ’81) and Moscow (Greg Oztemel ’71) had a great time on the links. The weather was brilliant and cool, with n’er a storm cloud in the distance. (Come back the next day for a change on that front!) No one won the coveted Mustang convertible at the 11th hole, courtesy of Jim Kingery ’83 at Rye Subaru, but lots of other great raffle prizes – from Coach, vineyard vines, MacDuff ’s Pub in Greenwich, Dragonfly Restaurant in Stamford, Callaway Driver, and cool gear from Brunswick bookshop – delighted the players at the Homecoming 2006 Championship. Congrats to the swinging 1st place foursome: faculty member Jim Stephens, Pieter Hartong ’90, Winston Bragg ’92, and Brett Stephens ’94.
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The
2006
Distinguished Alumni Award By Cat Scott
The Distinguished Alumni Award is given annually to that alumnus who has displayed commitment and dedication to his profession and to community service. Recipients must have a continued allegiance to Brunswick School and must embody the traditions of “Courage, Honor, Truth.”
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Brunswick School is proud to present The 2006 Distinguished Alumni Award to Norman A. Pedersen. As Brunswick’s fifth headmaster, and today an honorary alumnus, we pay tribute to Norm for his loyalty and commitment to the School and for the vision he had for the Brunswick we all enjoy today. Norm Pedersen was born on May 27, 1927 in Harvey, Illinois, near Chicago. The first in his high school, in Elkhart, Indiana, to take the college boards, Norm attended Princeton University, where he was a history major. He began a career in business, but after coaching basketball and becoming a Sunday school instructor, the field of education beckoned. He took his first job as a teacher at the prestigious Nichols School in Buffalo, New York, where Norm remained for fifteen years. In 1969, the Pedersen family -- Norm, his wife Isabel (Ish); their two daughters, Selina and Laura; and son Pete ’76 -- moved to Greenwich, Connecticut so that Norm could take on his new role as Brunswick School’s fifth headmaster. Upper School history teacher Johh Van Atta (author of A Place for Boys: Brunswick School and the Building of Young Men) said, “When Pedersen arrived as headmaster, he found a relic of yesteryear in need of complete overhauling. The School’s programs were stale and unimaginative; the buildings insufficient; the endowment, tuition, and annual giving revenue too low; the faculty and students non-diverse; and the record-keeping, business, and maintenance practices were ridiculously outdated.” Mr. Pedersen utilized many of his skills acquired from Nichols School as a model for the advancements he implemented at Brunswick. Included among these accomplishments were increasing diversity among students and faculty, revising the curriculum to be “current and meaningful,” hiring new faculty and staff (including Mr. Cosby, Mr. Bouffier and many others who are still at Brunswick today), and pushing for a coordinate Upper School program with Greenwich Academy. Norm increased faculty compensation and recognized the dire need for faculty housing. During his tenure, at least thirteen neighboring homes were acquired, along with the construction of a new Lower School, new library, Burke Gymnasium, and the Hajim Science Center. While leading by example as a football coach at Brunswick for many years, Norm also required that faculty not only interact with students as teachers but also as coaches and advisors – a Brunswick tradition that still stands today. We honor Norman A. Pedersen with a Brunswick diploma and the 2006 Distinguished Alumni Award for the triumphs he worked so hard to achieve, and for his sincere and continued devotion to all of his Brunswick boys. j
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Homecoming 2006 Due to threatening weather reports that forecasted more (much more!) than just a drizzle for Homecoming Day 2006, Norm Pedersen was regaled with The Distinguished Alumni Award on Thursday evening at a cozy dinner at Brunswick with former Board of Trustee chairs.
Times of Brunswick
Come Saturday, it was a dark and stormy morning. The ominous weather put a halt to this year’s ’Wick Walk Run. Because of blustery winds and wet paths, the family-fun race was called off, but that certainly didn’t dampen the Brunswick spirit for the rest of Homecoming at Edwards Campus. The anticipated titanic storm was now in full brew, and varsity and junior varsity soccer, cross country, and alumni flag football had to be cancelled. Students and parents, grandparents and alumni were hale and hearty though for the rousing alumni soccer game on the Middle School field, and roared for the home team, even after a mighty rainstorm presented an 18-minute delay to the start of the football game between the Bruins and Kingswood-Oxford School. Everyone in the grandstands was drenched as they waited for the storm clouds to pass, but none of this prevented the Bruins from lighting the Cosby Field scoreboard with a winning score over the Wyverns 45-13 in a Fairchester Athletic Association match up. The resounding victory helped everyone celebrate another Brunswick Homecoming with usual ardor, bringing Brunswick one step closer to recording its third consecutive undefeated regular season. Brunswick (7-0, 6-0 FAA) has outscored its foes 253-64 and has posted an astounding 38 straight wins dating back to the 2003 season. Go ’Wick! Due to gale winds, we had to ditch the party tent on the Great Lawn, and Burke Field House proved the perfect venue for southern fare that included pulled pork, BBQ chicken, foot-long hot dogs, chili, beans and corn bread. Much gratitude to our Flik chefs and staff. Alumni later gathered at the Lower School dining hall to meet old friends and classmates. Tom Zimmerman ’71 proudly sported his Brunswick baseball cap donned with buttons from each and every Homecoming reunion attended in the past 35 years. Mark your calendars for Homecoming 2007 next October. We’ve put in the order before, but this time we really mean it: We’ll take one beautiful, late-fall day next year, please. No raincoats or galoshes permitted.
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Reunion
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Alumni
The Alumni Office extends our many thanks to the reunion agents who tirelessly planned and hosted gatherings for their classmates during the Homecoming 2006 weekend. Through their enthusiasm and dedication, they galvanized their classmates to return to Brunswick and what a joy it was to see everyone together, reminiscing about the old days and catching up on the new.
Reunion Agents: 5th Reunion – Class of 2001 Scott Caputo Paul Gojkovich Rana Kashyap Jeff Long Bunker West
25th Reunion – Class of 1981 Phil McDonough Joe Tranfo
30th Reunion – Class of 1976
Nick Federici Tommy Mulvoy Tim O’Malley
Peter Carlson John Cole Jim Jenkins Pete Pedersen Walter Peek
15th Reunion – Class of 1991
35th Reunion – Class of 1971
Rob Berkley Bret Eagan Ross Ogden
Tom Dill Greg Oztemel Charlie Seller
20th Reunion – Class of 1986
50th Reunion – Class of 1956
10th Reunion – Class of 1996
Morris Barocas John Jibilian Craig Jung Graham Murray Bart Osman
Peter Ness Rhett duPont
60th Reunion – Class of 1946 Bill Davies
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Class Notes
1940 Ed Sage sends warm regards and writes, “My classmates and I are all in our mid-eighties now. I’d like to wish them all well and good health.”
1950 Emmet Showalter is selling his home in Pagosa Springs, Colorado and moving to Cold Springs, Colorado.
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Bill Krauter writes that he and his wife spent January at the beach in the Philippines and three weeks in March in southeast Africa. In late-April, they attended a Yale ’59 mini-reunion in Santa Fe, and in June, took a one-week cruise down the Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles. In July, Bill taught English in rural China. This September, they went to Tahiti; in October, to Brazil; and finally, back to the Philippines before Christmas (Whew!). Bill, president of Columbia University Club, often sees Ralph Risley at the meetings.
Compiled by Cat Scott
Hayward Alker dropped this note: “As for recent activities, consistent with my half-time teaching arrangement at USC, I have been working on Block Island, Rhode Island on various research projects: especially a book on 20th century great debates about world order and disorder, and a series of related lectures that I have been invited to give in Pakistan next fall. What a challenging time to serve as a representative of western civilization! I am also supporting my wife Ann Tickner, the current president of the International Studies Association, in her ambitious plans for our upcoming annual meeting. We both participated in a recent Nuffield College, Oxford-Watson Institute, Brown University workshop on my world order book project. Besides the intellectual exchanges, the ‘cream teas’ were seductive.” Hayward had to miss the class get-together in October as he was lecturing that weekend at MIT, his old alma mater. Henry Alker sent this: “Just a note to update the class about the other Alker twin. I am winding down my day-to-day management of our family-controlled real estate corporation, founded in 1861, but continuing my activity in Rocky Mountain oil and gas exploration. So far, my biggest success has been in coal bed methane, but future prospects involve a CO2 discovery (useful in stimulating production of older oil fields) and several oil plays. I have sponsored both peace and ambassadorial scholarships through my local Rotary Club and will apply for the Sonoma County grand jury, where I maintain a voting residency in addition to my home in San Francisco.”
Are you missing your class yearbook? Please let us know and we’ll send it to you. Contact Cat Scott in the Alumni Office at cscott@brunswickschool.org or 800.546.9425.
Class Notes Mike Roberts had joined the USS Massey (a destroyer) Association last summer after finding an old fellow destroyer Navy officer in an Internet directory. Soon after, he received an invitation to join the American Legion in Virginia, where he and his wife have retired. Mike became a member of Post 117 in Reedville, Virginia. They needed him to be their adjutant. “Through the local church and being active as a docent in the Reedville Fisherman’s Museum, and now an American Legion adjutant, we’ve met a lot of sociable and active people. Our friends and our youngest daughter, who moved up from Florida with her husband, were there for us during recovery from surgeries and personal tragedies. It’s important to find new friends in new places.” Yours truly, Bill Putman, doesn’t have much new going on. “The summer season at the inn (Simmons Homestead Inn) started off so-so, but improved in August and September. “Wish the economy was better, that we were out of all the messes in the Middle East, and had lower gas prices. The only thing that improved was the local SPCA. An animal control officer brought me four new orange kittens. Count now is up to twenty-eight!”
1956 Peter Day and his wife Kathy now spend September-May in Clearwater, Florida, and JuneAugust in Springfield Center, New York (near Cooperstown). Their son I. M. “Chip” Day IV received his master’s degree in environmental science from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, this past May. Peter serves on the board of the Columbia University alumni club of Tampa Bay. He manages their Web activity, newsletter, and other club communications. He also heads his own part-time marketing and editorial services business, and plays tennis at least every other day in Florida or New York. After many years, classmates and friends Tony Way ’58 and John Tsou ’58 reunited for dinner, accompanied by their wives. From left to right: Barbara and Tony Way, and John and Pat Tsou. .
m The Dunn Family Photo! Pete Dunn’62 with his wife Kris, their daughter Katie, and sons Andrew and Caleb.
1958 A note from Tony Way, “Finally, John Tsou and I shared noodles in Dallas this past April. Neither of us looked too old. Maybe we shouldn’t wait another forty-eight years. Our respective families watched and nodded.”
1959 Orville “Gerry” Chase was sworn in as Summary Court Judge for Beaufort County, Beaufort, South Carolina on May 26, 2006. Gerry and his wife Suzan have lived in Beaufort for the past sixteen years. They have three grown children and two grandchildren.
1962 Pete Dunn and his wife Kris continue ministering to service men and women at Buckley AFB through a chaplain-sponsored Bible study in the dorm. Pete continues to serve with The Navigators military ministry, Officer’s Christian Fellowship, Civil Air Patrol and Naval Reserve Association, and Christian Military Fellowship, who recently named him chairman of the board. Their daughter Katie is 19 and a sophomore at Master’s College in Santa Clarita, California, majoring in business. Their son Andrew is 17 and enjoys driving to a community college where he is finishing his high school senior year. He is a chief master sergeant in Civil Air Patrol and may pursue a
pilot’s license this summer. Caleb is 15 and has his driver’s permit! He is eager to drive with Mom to the local high school where he is taking a technology lab, Spanish I, and Algebra II. Ward Heaviside reports that together with his sisters, Jan and Lynn, he has been active in raising money for research into scleroderma, a debilitating disease that claimed his brother Lee’s ’71 life three years ago. Ward himself has had lung problems in recent years (“I guess that sneaking over to my parent’s garage/barn for a smoke wasn’t such a bright idea.”), but is hopeful that with help from the VA he can fully recover. In the meantime, he would be happy to hear from classmates (WardH@aol.com) and would welcome visitors passing through Charlotte, North Carolina. Despite the continuing revolution taking Venezuela down the path of socialism, Bob Sonderman is trying to revive his safari flying business that has suffered from the reports of civil unrest during the last few years. His wife Linda has a travel agency that has taken on several government accounts and is doing very well. With the high oil prices, the country is awash with cash and corruption. Caracas has just earned the title as the “most dangerous city in Latin America.” “Linda and I are continuing to build a retreat in the Turks and Caicos Islands for the years when we no longer feel comfortable in Venezuela. Jody Dobson was here on a diving vacation recently and we shared some good times together. We’ll try to be in Greenwich for the 45th reunion and look forward to catching up with you all.”
Winter 2007
Reunion 2007 Alert! Celebrate the years since graduation at Homecoming Weekend! Please send your most up-to-date information to Cat Scott (cscott@brunswickschool.org/800.546.9425) to stay informed of all the events.
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Class Notes b Brock Downward ’64 was recently honored for his thirty years of service to the White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, North Carolina.
1964 Brock W. Downward, D.M.A., retired on June 11 from his position as director of music at White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, following thirty years of service to one of the largest PC (USA) congregations. He was honored at a June 4 dinner, where he was named Director of Music Emeritus, and was presented with a cash gift and the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest award given by the governor of North Carolina to a civilian. Tom Troeger, professor of Christian communication at Yale Divinity School, was commissioned to write a hymn text, For Remembered Music Sounding, in honor of the occasion. His text was set to music commissioned by Walter Pelz and by K. Lee Scott, both of whom participated in the festivities. Dr. Downward holds degrees from Oberlin College and from the Eastman School of Music. He studied with Claude Means, Garth Peacock, and David Craighead, and his compositions have been published by Alliance and MorningStar. He is a past dean of the Central North Carolina Chapter of the America Guild of Organists and a past president of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians. He directed the Montréal Conferences on Worship and Music in 1998. He and his wife Polly plan to remain in Raleigh, North Carolina.
1967 Paul Schmidt writes, “Brooke and I recently celebrated our 35th anniversary at the Belagio in Las Vegas. We have lived in Portland, Oregon since 1975, and have a business, The Innovative NW Teacher, which has been teaching graduate degree classes for Oregon elementary teachers for twenty years. I am also a residential real estate broker. Our daughter Ashley, a fifth grade teacher, and her husband Nate live nearby. Our son Blake is doing his MA internship in Johannesburg, South Africa while working for a non-profit that educates companies about HIV/AIDS prevention. We also recently attended our 35th reunion at Principia College in Elsah, Illinois.”
1969 Bill Coleman is doing his part to meet America’s energy needs by drilling for oil and gas throughout the west. His three grown children are, respectively, engaged as a river guide, an architectural graphic artist, and a Peace Corp volunteer in Africa. Wife Susan holds two important jobs: one in business and the other massaging Bill’s ego after beating him at golf. Tom Lopiano is an owner of Hansen and Hansen, dealers in antique and unique firearms (on the web at www.hansenguns.com.) He is annoyingly lean and fit for fifty-five or twenty-five, see Dorian Grey. His two sons are his pleasure (most of the time), he reports. Tom’s great affection and pride is his spouse Cindy and in talking about her accomplishments as corporate exec, mother, and partner.
Chris Schultz is up to great things as he practices corporate law and manages the New York office of his law firm, even by Blackberry from the shallow end of a Palm Beach pool. With one daughter at Colgate, and another beginning her college tours, Chris and his wife Liza, a college professor, pursue the “quidditch ball” of life from their Brooklyn, New York brownstone. James a.k.a. Jim Pinto remains unchanged as the same “force” who represented his ’Wick classmates and student body, except his jurisdiction now is larger: “The World”. He is a man who does serious things without taking himself too seriously. Hosting the Palm Beach ’Wick gathering, Jim showed his ability to lap the pool and business competitors with his Australian crawl and cell phone. The three Pinto teenagers embrace life with the energy and élan that reflects the best of Jim and Dale’s parenting. Son Nick became a Brunswick student this fall. Tim Johnson, the “decider” of these notes, remains happily ensconced in Seattle. Tim has performed the not-so-unique anatomical trick of transferring all of his hair from the top of his head to his chins. Tim continues to fight for truth and justice as a litigator, and for a table at the best restaurants. “Stepson Will is in grad school, paying his own way,” says Tim thankfully and with pride. Having married his college sweetie Ann, a paralegal, their lives focus on work and the pleasure of each other’s company. A note from Andrew Grunow, “Our younger son Paul is looking forward to his junior year at The Harvey School in Katonah, New York. He spent ten days exploring Spain with his friends and teachers from Harvey (in June) then ten days in Gulfport, Mississippi with the youth group from First Presbyterian Church helping with the Katrina Disaster Relief and AmeriCorps. Last
Times of Brunswick
Five from the Class of 1969 gathered in Palm Beach in late-April, at the invitation of class agent James Pinto, to celebrate forty years of friendship that began as ninth grade Brunswick Boys. Bill Coleman, Tim Johnson, James Pinto, Chris Schultz and Tom Lopiano (from left to right) laughed, ate, golfed, reminisced, and brought each other current on the tribulations and challenges that have marked their respective lives. They wouldn’t change a thing. .
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m A new book of Robert Selkowitz’ Cape Breton art is being published this summer. A Painter’s Path on Cape Breton Island: Scenes along the Ceilidh and Cabot Trails in Oil and Pastel features eleven maps and ninety-two color plates, including an oil and a pastel from the collection of Bill Elias. See Robert’s work at www.artfolks.com.
1971 Lee Heaviside’s sister Jan keeps us up-to-date on their family’s fight to cure scleroderma, which claimed Lee’s life in 2003. In 2005 “Team Lee” raised $8,000 for the National Walk, “Stepping Out to Cure Scleroderma.” With much gratitude to many of Lee’s Brunswick classmates, the early 2006 totals were over $12,000. If you would like to visit the “Team Lee” website, go to http:// firstgiving.com/teamleeyear2. Tom Carlson is doing well down in Miami, Florida. His oldest son recently graduated from Tufts. In 2005, George Thompson appeared in the 60th Diamond Edition of Who’s Who in America. He also received a communications award for Lifetime Achievement for his book publishing efforts from the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture. m “Curved Veranda II,” original oil painting
by Robert Selkowitz ’69 commissioned by classmate Bill Colman’69.
August, Paul spent a week in the Ohio area visiting with a friend before beginning varsity football pre-season. Paul is involved in a variety of video production and theater tech projects and has been meeting many interesting people. A. J. ’05 joined the Grunow Construction team this summer and is working on projects around Greenwich. He enjoyed visiting friends from Franklin & Marshall in Pennsylvania and Delaware, and having some up to visit in Connecticut. A.J. also enjoyed spending time with many good Brunswick and GA friends. His current focus is on business/marketing and the music video/film production industry.” For more than ten years, Bill Coleman has wanted an original Robert Selkowitz oil painting. High oil prices have a silver lining for Selkowitz, because Bill Coleman, who drills for oil and gas, has finally commissioned a painting for his office at Coleman Petroleum in Denver, Colorado. He wanted a classic Selkowitz porch with wicker rockers overlooking water, and liked the idea of a sailboat moored by the shore. Perhaps that’s reminiscent of an Etchells from his Greenwich days. “Curved Veranda II” is his newly aquired painting. Congratulations Bill! Bill Coleman joined Tim Johnson, who also purchased a Robert Selkowitz oil in 1989 after their 20th Reunion, and Bill Elias, who has a substantial collection of Selkowitz oils and pastels amassed over thirty years of devoted acquisition.
1972 It’s a full house for Bill Schneider and his wife Colleen as they welcomed their fourth child into the world on July 28th. Nina Grace Schneider joins Brunswick siblings Jack (Grade 7), Peter (Grade 3), and Leila.
1975 Rick Ford writes, “I am in my second year at the professional theater training program at the University of Delaware, and just completed roles in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Heartbreak House, and Major Barbara.” Brian McKenna joined the Chicago-based William Blair & Company as managing director in January 2006. He will be opening the Boston office for the firm.
1976 “Carlson & Carlson softball team has, among its ranks, former Brunswick athletes Nat Barnum ’82, Chris Pavelic ’78, Gary Oztemel ’75, myself and Brunswick parents David Barrett, John Rogan, Allan Murphy, and Will Barnum,” writes Peter Carlson, “We are always looking for talented softball players to join us!”
Class Notes Gordon Hall is living in Wilton, Connecticut. and working for Showtime Networks, Inc. in New York City. His daughter Caroline (age 18) graduated from Taft School and is a freshman at Hamilton College this fall. Daughter Hillary (age 14) will be a freshman at Taft School this fall. In June, Gary Rogers and his partners launched their new business, CareerDNA (www. careerdna.net). Gary tells us, “CareerDNA is the first digital mentoring and career-coaching center that will help you get the job you love based on your individual passions, skills, and personality. Think of it as a matchmaking service for your career.” CareerDNA also offers digital tools to facilitate your ability to effectively market yourself based on targeted job selections. Gary was not only instrumental in getting CareerDNA launched, but he also tied the knot on April 29th to Linda Switzer at the Guilford Yacht Club. The newlyweds honeymooned in Santa Fe, New Mexico and live in Madison, Connecticut.
1978 Chris Pavelic married Eugenie Marache and has two boys (ages 8 and 11), who both attend Greenwich Country Day School. “We live in Riverside and I enjoy the winter alumni ice hockey with old friends on the Hartong Rink.” In a note from David Zrike, “I live in Ridgewood, New Jersey with my wife Kathy and three children Caroline (age 14), Abigail (age 11), and Beth (age 8). I am still working at The Zrike Company, which is twenty-four years old this year!”
1979 John Stratton’s son Walter (Kindergarten) is enjoying Brunswick and his younger brother Wyatt is waiting for his turn (he’s only 8 months!) “With four kids, things are busy on King Street, as is the oil business these days!” Heading up “Team Lee” in memory of their dad and husband Lee Heaviside ’71, are daughters Caroline and Holli, and wife Faith. .
Winter 2007
Reunion 2007 Alert! Celebrate the years since graduation at Homecoming Weekend! Please send your most up-to-date information to Cat Scott (cscott@brunswickschool.org/800.546.9425) to stay informed of all the events.
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Class Notes 1980
1985
Mace Perlman just returned from Italy, where he played Creon in an Italian-language production of Sophocles’ Antigone, directed by the New York-based Karin Coonrod. He is working to create a world-class Shakespearean theatre and center for Renaissance arts and culture in Greenwich, and would love to hear from anyone in the Brunswick community who shares in these passions. He also has a private practice in coaching business executives and lawyers to refine their body language and speaking skills.
Filming has wrapped on “5,” the international espionage feature length film, written, produced and directed by Teja McDaniel and four other directors. The script was divided between five production teams, shot on three continents, in such cities as Melbourne, Australia and Jerusalem, Israel. Pictures from the filming can be seen at: www.photobucket. com/albums/f80/Capturedthemovie/.”
1981 Brunswick competitors did well in the Bermuda Race this year, including three classmates Jamie Cummiskey, Phil McDonough and Gregg Delany who sailed on Westray, a 52-year-old, classic 38’ Concordia yawl which finished 3rd overall (St. David’s Lighthouse Division +/-176 boats). They beat out modern racers and owners that spend lots of money each year buying the latest equipment and maintaining full-time crew. The guys are all members of Indian Harbor Yacht Club, which also did exceptionally well this year, and won the prestigious Onion Patch series, and team awards. Several IHYC boats, including Westray, finished in the top three in each of their respective classes. Race results are detailed on www. Bermudarace.com. Screenwriter and director Neil Burger ’81 at the New York Premiere of his new film, The Illusionist, with his costars Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel and Edward Norton. The film opened to rave reviews at the Sundance Film Festival and then nationwide on August 18, 2006. The general plot line is about a magician in turnof-the-century Vienna who falls in love with a woman well above his social standing. When she becomes engaged to a prince, the magician uses his powers to win her back and undermine the stability of the royal house of Vienna. In 2002, Neil was named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Indie Film for his screenwriting and directing debut, Interview with the Assassin.
Times of Brunswick
1983
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Backbeat Books published Karl Coryat’s new book The Frustrated Songwriter’s Handbook, co-authored with Nicholas Dobson, in May. His previous book, last year’s Guerrilla Home Recording, is rapidly becoming a must-have for recording musicians.
1986 Morris Barocas is practicing real estate and corporate law in New Canaan, Connecticut. Daughter Carly just finished kindergarten and son Joseph is turning 3 this summer. “I have been seeing a lot of high school classmates who live in the area.” Brad Hajim married Marthe Baltis at Washington Park United Methodist Church in Denver. Marthe is the senior compliance analyst at Gambro and Brad is president of Digs Design. The happy couple resides in Denver, Colorado. Peter Hermann and his wife Mariska welcomed their first child, a baby boy named “August” on June 28, 2006. All good wishes to the new parents! Craig Jones now lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife Koritha. “I am the middle/upper school counselor for The Wellington School, a pre-K through 12 independent school. I also coach junior varsity boys’ basketball and varsity boys’ baseball.” John Mastoloni is still in the Hartford area with Tanya, his wife of five years. His company M2 Systems has been going strong for seven years. They are proud to announce that they helped Shep ’89 and Ian ’93 Murray at vineyard vines® in the design and manufacture of their new cufflinks. Tony Reulbach writes, “Just playing golf in Florida with sons, T (age 6), Joey (age 5), and my wife Monica, if we allow her to play.” Roger Walker and his wife Katie moved to Boulder, Colorado in 2001. He works with his father in-law selling residential real estate and investment properties. (Check out their website at www.TuckerWalkerGroup.com). Roger and Katie have three boys, Dylan (age 3) and twins, Kyle and Charlie (age 1) and are loving the Colorado lifestyle – skiing, riding, golfing, fishing, and hiking. “Come on out and visit!”
m Son Matthew Andreas, first child for Tom Odelfelt ’88 and his wife Raha.
After leaving J. Walter Thompson, Kevin Wassong has spent the past year building a company called Minyanville Publishing and Multimedia. Minyanville provides insights and idea generation to sophisticated Wall Street investors through the eyes of more than thirty professionals. Their core product, the Buzz and Banter, is subscription-based and is currently offered through Thomson Financial. “Our content is featured on MarketWatch, Bloomberg, and a host of other channels. Check out our website at www.minyanville.com. Kevin and his wife Tami reside in Larchmont with their two sons, Matt and Luke.
1987 Class agent Bill Ryckman sent in his own update and updates from classmates. “Pam and I have two children now, Will (age 2 ½) and George (age 4 months). I’m still working in Stamford at GarMark Advisors, and reverse commuting from New York City every day. We looked forward to embarking on our annual pilgrimage to Southwest Harbor in Maine last August. I played golf with James Bragg over the July 4th weekend. We had a great time catching up (when I wasn’t in the woods finding my ball). I spoke to Brian Mason recently, who was in Boca Raton with two of his daughters at the Judo Nationals (don’t mess with Brian’s daughters). He is currently living in Rhode Island with his wife and five children. I also heard from Will Hanson who was checking in from Germany ’watching our butts get kicked’ at the World Cup.” “In anticipation of our 20th reunion, we are attempting to rekindle some school spirit, camaraderie, and a sense of community among our classmates. I’ve established a website for our class, which everyone can visit at www.Wick87.com (the password is “RITA”). Hopefully, it will serve as a way to reconnect with old friends and find lost classmates. We’ve been collecting a number of good ideas for events surrounding our 20th Reunion. Please forward any additional thoughts to me or Stuart Feldman. We will be figuring out details throughout next year.”
Class Notes Joe Nemec writes, “No wife, no kids (that I know about), still working in consulting for the federal government doing national security stuff. I’m in D.C. five days a week and New York City on the weekend, which is hectic but still fun.”
1988 Tom Odelfelt and his wife Raha had a baby boy, Matthew Andreas, on July 22, 2006 at 3:48 p.m. Congratulations to the growing Odelfelt family!
1989 m Reggie Claus ’89 with wife Tricia and their new little bundle, Elizabeth Hunter Claus.
Justin Strousse writes, “I worked my way to the Midwest: Cincinnati to be exact. I’m one of those rare people that has been with the same company since I graduated. I’ve been married for 10 years to Stacy and have 19-month old Amelia, and another on the way in December. I plan on coming to the 20th reunion. It would really be neat to see everyone.” Matt Mascotte recently started Tent Content, an arts project and management company in New York City. Gil Walker moved to metro-Atlanta in 2000, where he met and married his wife Sabrena in March of 2003. “We have a daughter Kelsei. I spent eighteen months in Iraq, returned to work with BellSouth, and now work with Oldcastle Architectural Products Group (APG).” Shawn Orr married wife Michelle in 1997. They have three boys: Liam (age 4 ½), Caleb (age 2 ½), Sumner (age 3 months). I see Bill Ryckman and Jim Lewis often at our Steak and Martini Night dinners.” “I’m living and working in Atlanta for a telecommunications start-up specializing in business-grade VoIP,” writes Stein Soelberg, who is married to Emily Lyons Soelberg, whom he met at Vanderbilt Business School. They have two children, Susanna Lee (age 3) and Stein-Erik, Jr. (age 1). “I am actively involved in community affairs and Williams College Alumni Association. My folks are still in Old Greenwich, though I don’t get back to Connecticut very often. I can still bench 300+ pounds (but sadly that’s now approaching my body weight).”
Reggie Claus and his wife Tricia just had a little girl, Elizabeth Hunter Claus, on May 31. “We are having fun learning the ropes of parenting.” The AAPD Foundation Grants and Fellowship Committee recently announced Tyrone Rodriguez as the recipient of the second Samuel D. Harris Policy and Management Fellowship upon his completion of dental school. He has made his home in Houston, Texas and is a father of four.
1990 David Haight is doing his third year as a Battalion Surgeon with 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). David writes, “I am staying with 5th Special Forces Group who is currently stationed in Iraq.” Justin Lowe is currently living in Bedford, Texas and married Susan McGuire of Lewisville, Texas on September 24, 2006. They reside in Bedford, Texas.
1992 Winston Bragg gives us the scoop on some of his classmates… On May 20, 2006, Larry Codraro married Alexandra Meade. The wedding was at the Lyford Cay Club in the Bahamas with several ’92ers in attendance. The happy couple resides in New York City.
There were many Brunswick and Greenwich Academy grads in attendance at Larry Codraro’s ’92 wedding including, (from left to right) Alexa Raether GA ’92, Morgan Flatley GA ’92, Greg Martinez ’92, groomsman Walker Stapleton ’92, groomsman Andrew Watts, the groom and his bride, Alexandra Meade Codraro, best man Corny Shields ’92, Morgan Gregory ’92, Jennifer Kolesar Kashatus GA ’92, and groomsman David Kashatus ’92. m
In October 2005, Bill Hartong married Sarah Jaycox (who along with Bill is also a Colgate alum). The wedding was in Sanibel Island, Florida and several classmates from ’92 attended. Bill and Sarah reside in Brooklyn, New York. His band “Breaking Laces” continues to rock the charts all over the globe. In between tour stops, Bill and Sarah enjoy watching Bill’s beloved New York Mets. Most importantly, sitting alongside as they watch every game is their loyal French bulldog, “Gogo” in full New York Mets gear! In the fall of 2005, Brad Schenkel moved to Belgium where he continues to work for Johnson & Johnson. He, his wife Kristin, and their new baby daughter Sophie enjoy touring the landscapes of Europe. Apparently Brad’s skiing skills have vastly improved due to several, ahhhem, “corporate outings” in the French Alps. As for Winston Bragg: “Nothing really new to report for myself (last year was THE big year!). I recently became the northeast regional sales director for CitationShares. Jen and I continue to split time between New York City and Connecticut. Jen is in her fourth and final year at NYU Med School!”
In June 2006, Morgan Gregory married Joy Rich. The wedding was in the Adirondacks and several ’92ers were in attendance.
Winter 2007
Reunion 2007 Alert! Celebrate the years since graduation at Homecoming Weekend! Please send your most up-to-date information to Cat Scott (cscott@brunswickschool.org/800.546.9425) to stay informed of all the events.
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Class Notes
1994 “I’ve been in Kazakhstan for two years and am working for the Bolashak Scholarship which sends top Kazakhstani students to study in universities all over the world,” wrote Walton Burns. “I handle partnerships with U.S. universities. Last February, I married Assel Nussupova (of the Medeu Nussupovas), whom I met when she was studying under the same Bolashak Scholarship in the U.S. She is currently working in the office of the Prime Minister. We spent all of the gift money on decorating our new apartment in the cool part of town. I am always happy to hear from ’Wickians in this part of the world, or working in development.”
m Michael Grace ’93, Corny Shields ’92, Morgan Gregory ’92 and Winston Bragg ’92 were inspired to “strike a squash pose” after the three ’92ers, who were in New York City to attend the bachelor party of Larry Codraro ’92, ran into Michael and Todd Pollack ’93. There was lots of reminiscing about their squash days and adventurous van rides spearheaded by leader and coach Jim Stephens!
Brian Coughlin and his wife Paola welcomed their first son, Thomas Duque, in May. He was six-pounds zero-ounces and nineteen inches. All are doing well and enjoyed spending lots of time together over the summer!
Atif Chaudhry is continuing his PhD research in collaboration with NASA Langley. “Last May I received an award, based on student reviews, for teaching the laboratories of the intro Feedback Controls class. I now appreciate the patience Mr. Forbes, Mrs. Gace, and Mr. Fowler must have had to allow us anywhere near the scalpels, lasers, chemicals, and other equipment of the AP science labs!”
Eric Ferraris and Mary Demarest Wasilko (a.k.a. Demi) and sister of Max Wasilko ’91 will say “I do!” in May of 2007. Best wishes on your engagement!!
Chris Hegedus and his wife Heather had their second child, Mathew Alexander, last January ’06. They are doing great, living in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. Christopher Kelley and his wife Stefanie just had their first baby, Phoebe Syman Kelley, on June 21. Presently, they live in Brooklyn, New York. Christopher is completing work on a doctorate in Buddhist studies at Columbia University.
Times of Brunswick
Meet Phoebe Syman Kelley, first-born of Christopher Kelley ’92 and his wife Stefanie. Adorable! .
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Ken Ebbitt was married July 23, 2005 in San Diego, California to Jennifer Tsai. He trained for a Half Ironman Triathlon last summer in Oregon. He and Jennifer happily reside in San Francisco.
Ronnie Kelley and his wife Shauna welcomed into the world their first-born daughter, Anna Marie Kelley, on April 24, 2006. David Neff married Abigail Brown last August at the Hudson Hotel in New York City. Abigail is in her third year of a Master’s Degree program at Yale Master’s Degree in nursing midwifery, and David is an architect at Trumbull Architects in New York.
It’s all smiles for Thomas Duque Coughlin and his parents Brian Coughlin ’94 and wife Paola. Could Thomas be part of the ’Wick Class of 2024?
m
Alex Richardson continued and completed his education in the U.K., graduating in classics and English from Corpus Christi College, Oxford in 1998. “I spent two years working with Christian students in Irkutsk, Siberia, returned to Britain in 2000, and did a year’s teacher training at Queens’ College, Cambridge. I have been teaching Latin and English at my old secondary school, Bradfield College (www.BradfieldCollege.org.uk) since 2001.”
Brunswick and Greenwich Academy classmates enjoyed one another’s company at the wedding of Farley Towse ’95. Pictured are Camilla McGraw GA ’95, Peter McCormick ’95, Jimmy Seaborg ’95, Carina Towse GA ’97, John McCormick ’95, the groom Farley Towse ’95, Gavin Fleischman ’95, Lindsay Sheehy ’95, Whit McGraw ’95. Farley joked that, “Oliver Beckmann ’95 and Tim Baker ’95 also attended the wedding, but when we took this picture they were nowhere to be found!” .
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Class Notes Christopher Wirth is engaged and getting married to Melissa Mahoney on December 16, 2006. Chris would love to get back in touch with Brunswick classmates and can be reached at Jumpman42@aol.com.
1998 Brunswick said goodbye to faculty member John McLane last spring as he left to pursue his art career in Manhattan. Check out his portfolio of portraits, and abstract paintings at www.johnmclane.net. You can also find information regarding a project he is involved in called Jumpkicks, which supports the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI).
m Ronnie Kelley and Alfie Smith, both Class of ’94, have spent the Fourth of July together for twenty years. Last summer, they were joined by their daughters, Emily Smith and Anna Kelley.
Vir Kashyap is traveling for the rest of the year (mostly in South America) after two-andhalf fantastic years as a madrileño working for a hedge fund in Spain.
1995
1997
1999
Ted Ogden is in the windy city to obtain his Masters Degree from University of Chicago. Everyone at Brunswick, especially his colleagues and students in the Middle School, will miss him tremendously. We wish him the very best!
Denise and Nick Kahm were married in Annapolis, Maryland in the winter of 2006. Nick teaches Latin at an independent school in Washington, D.C. and is working towards his PhD in classics. Denise, whom he met in graduate school, is originally from Louisiana.
John Kelly is working as an analyst in the private wealth management division of Morgan Stanley in New York City.
Congratulations are in order for Farley Towse ’95 and his new wife Kristin. The happy couple tied the knot on September 16, 2006 in Jackson, New Hampshire.
1996 On June 4th, 2006, James Weinberg married Erin Cox in Sayville, New York. Groomsmen included fellow alumni Scott Sherman and Andrew Dudley. Also in attendance were Greenwich Academy alumnae Jocelyn Sherman ’96 and Kristy Finlay-Wagner ’96. James and Erin met in college at Tufts and are currently living in Boston, where Erin works as the northeast executive director of Jumpstart for Young Children. James recently founded Commongood Careers, a national executive search firm for entrepreneurial nonprofits.
Guy Smith married Elisabeth Pollaert in May at the Rhett House Inn in Beaufort, South Carolina. Congrats to the happy couple!
2000 Phil Geiger is working at Jones Lang LaSalle, a commercial real estate firm in downtown Boston.
Zander Ross ’99 and Sam Lalanne ’99 joined Greenwich Academy classmates, Johanna Fleischman ’99, Gracie Lockhart ’99, Danielle Burke ’99, and Yasmina Jacobs ’99 at GA’s young alumnae social in New York City at Turtle Bay Grill last July. .
Winter 2007
Reunion 2007 Alert! Celebrate the years since graduation at Homecoming Weekend! Please send your most up-to-date information to Cat Scott (cscott@brunswickschool.org/800.546.9425) to stay informed of all the events.
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Class Notes
2003
This past summer, Jay Helmer was director of “Let’s Get Ready,” a non-profit SAT prep and college access program in Stamford. The organization provides free SAT prep and helps underprivileged students through the daunting college process.
J.P. Shand spent last summer doing research for the Union College psychology department.
2001 Matt Wheeler graduated from Wesleyan University in ’05, where he was captain of the men’s lacrosse team. For the first time in Wesleyan men’s LAX history, it competed in the NCAA’s and made it to the quarter-finals. Matt is now living in New York City and doing reinsurance at Guy Carpenter. He is still playing some “old men” lacrosse.
2002 The Boston Celtics picked up Akin Akingbala for the 2006 Vegas Summer League, which took place last July in Las Vegas. Akin played in three out of five games and helped lead the team to a 3-2 season. (See “Akin Akingbala ’02 Shoots for the Moon” feature story in this issue of Times of Brunswick.) John Barry, who majored in electrical engineering at Princeton University, received the J. Rich Steers Award from the New York City Post of the Society of American Military Engineers. The reward is for scholastic performance that demonstrates potential for further engineering study and practice. Barry completed a senior thesis in which he developed computer models of spin-polarized alkali metal atoms. He will pursue his PhD in physics at Yale.
Sam Payton, Bart Whitmer and Charlie Tashjian ’05
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Jory Caulkins writes, “Congrats to all the fellow graduates!” In April 2006, Freddy Sykes and his college roommate ran in the 2006 Boston Marathon as part of the first annual Harvard College Marathon Challenge that was created to raise money for charitable organizations on campus. The proceeds were donated to the Philips Brooks House Association, which helps a multitude of social programs on campus, and to Project HEALTH, a volunteer organization dedicated to helping lower-income families.
Freddy Sykes ’02 finishing the Boston Marathon in 4-hours and 39-minutes. Way to go! .
Sean Wheeler filled last summer with lacrosse-lacrosse-lacrosse by working at David Bruce’s lacrosse camp at Brunswick School’s King Street campus, teaching at some LAX camps at Brown University, Pittsburg and MetroLacrosse in Boston, which teaches inner city kids the sport. In his junior year at Kenyon, Sean led the North Coast Athletic Conference with 27 assists. He also had 13 goals for a total of 40 points. He was named to the second team all-league. For the second time in school history, the lacrosse team made it to the NCAA’s.
2004 It was another win for Larry Haertel at the Ivy League Golf Championships this past spring, earning the individual title with a final 3 round score of 212.
2005 A.J. Grunow joined the Grunow Construction team last summer and worked on a variety of projects around town. He enjoyed visiting friends from Franklin & Marshall in Pennsylvania and Delaware, and had a few up to visit in Connecticut. It was great to spend time with many good Brunswick and Greenwich Academy friends. His current focus is on business/marketing and the music video/film production industry.
Former Faculty Notes
Times of Brunswick
Dwight Clasby ’71 was recently named vice president of external affairs for Communities Foundation of Texas, a public charity that represents philanthropists and offers a unique program of responsible investments. Dwight will be responsible for donor development and relationships, along with communication strategies for the foundation.
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m Jamie Lee ’02, seen here making the play for Williams as they went up against Tufts, was awarded The Bowler Award last spring for his senior leadership and scoring as a member of the Williams lacrosse team. Jamie tripled his scoring from his junior year. A Williams grad, he is now working in New York City.
Sydney Uhry and her husband made a trip to Japan in April to visit their daughter, son-in-law and their 6-month-old granddaughter, and to travel central Japan. Syd says, “There has been lots of email and Skype (internet telephone/ video) flying between the U.S. and Japan. I am trying to learn some Japanese, too. Not easy!”
Class Notes In Memoriam Dr. Fred J. Epstein, MD, father of Brunswick alumni, Jason ’96, Joey ’04, and current student, Ben (grade 12), passed away on July 9, 2006 of metastic malignant melanoma. He was 68 years old. Dr. Epstein was a world-renowned pediatric neurosurgeon whose unconventional and holistic approach to health made him a medical icon. He was the subject of three full-length ABC-TV “20/20” segments, a Reader’s Digest cover story, a New York Magazine cover story, a Discovery Channel special, and hundreds of newspaper articles and television news stories around the world. Dr. Epstein was the founding director of the Hyman-Newman Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery at Beth Israel Medical Center that opened in 1996. He was the author of two books, Gifts of Time (published 1993) and If I Get To Five: What Children Can Teach Us About Courage and Character (published 2003). During his career, Dr. Epstein has served as president of the International Society of Pediatric Neurosurgery, president of the American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgery, and as editor-in-chief of Journal of Pediatric Neurosurgery. He has received fellowships from the American College of Surgeons; the New York Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Pediatrics; and had published more than 175 scholarly papers. In 2001, Dr. Epstein received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Adrian M. Farley, Jr. ’32 passed away on April 6 in Stamford at the age of 93. After spending his formative years at Brunswick, he went on to Taft and eventually graduated from Berkshire School. During World War II, Adrian served four years in the Navy in the Pacific and later spent forty years working in New York City in advertising. After his retirement, he spent many years doing volunteer work with Greenwich Hospital, Greenwich Hospital Auxiliary, Christ Church of Greenwich, and the Field Club of Greenwich. He loved his Brunswick School years and the life-long friends he met here. Every fall Adrian looked forward to returning for homecoming and seeing those familiar faces. He will truly be missed. Mr. Farley is survived by his son, Scott Farley; daughter, Marjorie Butler; five grandchildren; three cousins, and several nieces and nephews. Helen Frances Garvey, mother of Henry Johnson ’66 and longtime Brunswick librarian, speech, and theater teacher died in January 2006 at the age 93 in Tucson, Arizona. John E. D. Grunow, Sr., who served as a Brunswick Trustee from 1965 through 1968, passed away on October 18, 2006. He was the father of alumni John, Jr. ’65, Steven ’65, Andrew
’69 and Tom ’70 and grandfather of alumni Ben ’93, Mike ’95, A. J. ’05 and Paul ’08. His daughter, Patty Anne Robertson GA’73, and his daughter-in-law, Diana Duvall Grunow GA’73 were graduated from Greenwich Academy. His grandson, Ben, is married to Greenwich Academy alumna, Dana Wolcott Grunow GA’95. Overall, he is survived by 6 children, 15 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and another expected in January. For many, many years, John Grunow was an enthusiastic fan at Bruins football games and Homecoming Weekends at Everett Field. Jeff Hadley ’72 passed away on May 25, 2006 due to complications from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Jeff spent most of his adult life as a golf professional, beginning his career at Stowe Golf Course and ending it as the head golf professional at Green Mountain National Golf Course. After being diagnosed with ALS, he continued to show his love and dedication to the sport by teaching golf and helping to introduce the First Swing Program to Vermont for the physically challenged. First Swing helps teach golf professionals, physical therapists, recreation professionals, and others in the health care field the basics of teaching golf to those with disabilities. In 2005, Jeff was named Vermont chapter and New England section PGA Golf Professional of the Year, the highest honor bestowed upon a PGA professional. Jeff is survived by his loving wife, Alice, and family members, including his mother, three siblings, and friends. Jeff will be missed by all who knew him. On September 28, 2006 Brunswick School lost one of its most beloved staff members, Sheila Pultz, at the age of 105. Sheila spent twentyfour years as a cook and dietician for Brunswick and was adored by all of “her boys,” as she liked to call them. Many still recount Sheila’s spaghetti sauce and the extra pies she used to sneak the boys when they returned to campus. Over the years, she continued to hold a special place in alumni’s memories, including the Class of 1954 who, in honor of their 50th reunion, renamed the Service to Brunswick Award to the Sheila Pultz Award. Mrs. Pultz is survived by her son Neil, daughter-in-law Chris, five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and hundreds of Brunswick boys for whom she cared for so many years.
Digital Photos We love pictures, and we like you to look good.
Here are some tips for sending us digital photographs that will look fantastic in print.: • Set the photo size to 4 x 6 inches or greater, and 300 dpi • Set your digital camera to the best photo setting • Save files as TIFF or JPEG • Please identify everyone left to right in the photo and provide a caption • Email photos as attachments to Catherine Scott cscott@brunswickschool.org If you’d rather send a traditional print (made from a negative), we love them, too, but please send them on GLOSSY paper whenever possible. Matte prints and prints from digital photos do NOT scan well. We cannot reproduce photos from photocopies or magazines or newsprint. Mail prints to: Catherine Scott Brunswick School Alumni Office 100 Maher Avenue Greenwich, CT 06830
Charles B. Stauffacher, father of Charley Stauffacher ’61, died on February 11, 2006 at his home in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Lucille Scollard Wheeler, mother of Michael ’67 and grandmother of Matt ’01 and Sean ’03, passed away on February 4, 2006 at the age of 89 at her home in Ponte Vedra, Florida. Winter 2007
Reunion 2007 Alert! Celebrate the years since graduation at Homecoming Weekend! Please send your most up-to-date information to Cat Scott (cscott@brunswickschool.org/800.546.9425) to stay informed of all the events.
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Class Notes Viewpoint: Student Perspective By Phaethon Bolton Class of 2006 Graduate and Winner of the Brunswick Parent Association Prize for his improvement in scholarship and development of fine character, making him worthy of citation.
Times of Brunswick
For the first ten years of my academic life, I attended public school. I moved to Greenwich, Connecticut when I was eight years old, and although the schools I attended were never evenly divided in terms of race, they were diverse enough for me to feel comfortable. After graduating from middle school, I decided to apply to Brunswick School. I knew that if I graduated from this prestigious boys school, I would be giving myself a head start for the rest of my academic future. However, Brunswick is far from diversely populated. In fact, the number of African-Americans in my grade can be counted on one hand.
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When I began Brunswick as a freshman, I could not have felt more alone and out of place. It was difficult to interact with the other students because they were so different from me. I felt like an outsider whenever I was passing through the hallways, sitting in assembly, or going to the dining hall. In the classroom it was even worse. At my previous middle school, I was on the honor roll every year. Once I entered Brunswick, I struggled just to avoid failing. The workload was so much greater than anything that I had experienced in any of my previous schools that I was overwhelmed. All of my classmates, for the most part, were able to obtain good grades, while I would hope to receive C’s. One day after basketball practice, I ran into Mr. Cosby, who was the spirit of Brunswick School. In 1970, he became the School’s first African-American teacher. This incredible man was never seen without a smile, and he went out of his way to make each and every student feel important. When Mr. Cosby approached me that day, he greeted me with his usual enthusiasm. After some small talk, he asked how I was doing in school, and I told him that I was struggling. He asked me why, and I replied, “Well, I came from public school.” For a few seconds, Mr. Cosby stared at me, and then said “What does that have to do with anything?” His question taught me something about myself that no one had been able to teach me, and one that I had never before considered.
For months, I had been using my prior educational experiences as a crutch. It was my excuse for mediocrity. When I first began struggling at Brunswick, instead of looking within to see what was causing my difficulties and working to improve them, I sought excuses. I convinced myself that if I had had the opportunity to attend private school for the majority of my life, I too would be excelling in the classroom. Since I had not previously attended a private school, I told myself, I was at a disadvantage and would justifiably struggle through my entire Brunswick career. Mr. Cosby showed me that my past should have no effect on my current or future endeavors. Through long hours of studying, and meeting with teachers before and after school, I was able to turn around my grades. Once academics fell into place, so did interaction with my schoolmates. I was able to let down my guard and become more comfortable with them. It was not an overnight process, but by the beginning of my sophomore year, my grades had improved greatly, and I was on par with the rest of my class. Now, in my senior year at Brunswick, I have come further than I could have ever imagined. I am on the Headmaster’s List, am a member of the School’s discipline committee, the varsity basketball team, and am president of the School’s Diversity Club. Mr. Cosby taught me that nothing comes easy. He taught me a lesson that I will value for the rest of my life: Never allow my past to hinder my future.
College Matriculation Class of 2006
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Brunswick “Lifers”: Michael Biondi, Charles Brodsky, Jamie O’Brien, Liam Fayed, Zach Dobbs, and Charlie Kirchen.
Georgetown University Cornell University Stanford University Hamilton College Dartmouth College Wake Forest University Davidson College Princeton University Bucknell University Syracuse University Hamilton College Hobart & William Smith Colleges Washington University, St. Louis Davidson College Middlebury College Hobart & William Smith Colleges Georgetown University Dickinson College University of Richmond Syracuse University Dartmouth College Washington and Lee University Southern Methodist University Hobart and William Smith Colleges Gap year – Colgate University Washington University, St. Louis Bucknell University Williams College Columbia University University of Pennsylvania Middlebury College University of Michigan Northwestern University Trinity College Boston University Princeton University University of Notre Dame
Lodge, Charles……………… Malone, Christopher … …… Manners-Weber, David … … Mayfield, Christopher… …… McAuliffe, Justin …………… Millard, James ……………… Moran, Mark… …………… Moscati, Spencer …………… O’Brien, James……………… Osborn, Frank … ………… Oudheusden, Scott… ……… Paternina, Luis……………… Platter, David… …………… Purcell, Kyle … …………… Robson, Ben… …………… Rosencrans, Jack… ………… Roush, Will… ……………… Ruchman, Zachary… ……… Sargent, Matthew…………… Schwartz, Abraham… ……… Skelsey, Henry… …………… Smith, Jay…………………… Sorbella, J.F.………………… Spyrou, Peter… …………… Steers, Andrew……………… Stewart, Sean… …………… Szeto, Michael… …………… Taylor, Jack… ……………… Thorman, James… ………… Tierney, Kit… ……………… Tormey, James……………… Van Lang, Colin… ………… Verhaegen, Frank…………… Whelan, David……………… Virtue, Matthew… ………… Williams, Nicholas… ………
Trinity College Gettysburg College Yale University Washington University, St. Louis Cornell University Middlebury College Connecticut College University of California, Berkeley Georgetown University Georgetown University Colgate University University of Navarra (Spain) University of Virginia Elon University University of Nottingham Washington University, St. Louis Babson College Princeton University Kenyon College University of Michigan Wake Forest University Brown University Rutgers University Middlebury College Georgetown University Harvard College Columbia University Duke University Princeton University Middlebury College Yale University Stanford University University of Notre Dame University of Virginia Middlebury College Georgetown University
Winter 2007
Aronne, Louis… …………… Atwell, Andrew… ………… Baker, Christopher… ……… Belden, Timothy… ………… Biondi, Michael… ………… Bolton, Phaethon…………… Brodsky, Charles… ………… Brosens, Charles… ………… Cohen, Matthew… ………… deCastro, Maximilian… …… Dickson, Robert… ………… Dobbs, Zachary… ………… Duffy, Eric… ……………… Dunnan, Morgan…………… Durkin, Ian… ……………… Dyke, William… …………… Epstein, Eric… …………… Epstein, James……………… Farrell, Brady… …………… Fayed, Liam………………… Francis, James… …………… Friedman, Douglas… ……… Gattinella, Christopher……… Georgitseas, Nicholas… …… Gumz, Charles … ………… Harvey, John… …………… Hascoe, Zachary …………… Henze, Christian… ………… Hodges, Vaughn… ………… Hopkins, T.J.… …………… Hoyos, Fabio … …………… Jeffrey, John………………… Kirchen, Charles… ………… Klopp, John ……………… Knox, Robert… …………… Lansing, Sims… …………… Lebec, Xavier… ……………
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