Class Notes

CLASSNOTES

COMPILED BY MIKE KENNEDY ’99

IT’S BEEN 60 YEARS for Charlie Tusa ’62 since his days as a Bruin — and nearly 30 for his son, Steve ’93. But both share the same sentiments when thinking about their alma mater.

Brunswick feels like home. And the culture remains unchanged — forever rooted in Courage,

Honor, and Truth.

No matter that when Charlie graduated, the school consisted of about half of the current Upper

School campus on Maher Avenue; games were played on fields where seniors and faculty now park their cars; actors took to the stage at a small theater, not a performing arts center; and the gymnasium was a converted World War I airplane hangar.

Much was the same for Steve, who never ventured out to the sprawling Lower and Middle

School campuses on King Street for classes or practices — and had to lug his hockey gear back and forth from Dorothy Hamill Rink all winter. (He was the team captain during his senior season.)

State-of-the-art facilities or total acreage didn’t define Brunswick.

“Brunswick was a place where they let you figure out the boundaries of high school in a safe environment, while providing leadership roles across a number of disciplines both on and off the field and ice,” said Steve, who matriculated at Dickinson College and is currently a managing director at JP Morgan.

“We learned how to win, but also to lose — and that competing hard, at anything, is fun,” he said. “But competition never took over, and there was always an underlying sense of humor and brotherhood at its core.”

Charlie harks back to the memories made and the relationships formed during his Brunswick tenure — starting with Headmaster Alfred Everett, an “immaculately attired gentleman with a slight British accent who was kind, understanding, and treated [us] like gentlemen.”

Or his “hero” and lifelong friend, Joe Koszalka, the late woodshop teacher and coach who was enshrined in the Brunswick Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.

“I will never forget him telling me every time I made a boneheaded play in football or baseball that if I had another brain, it would be lonesome,” mused Charlie, who graduated from Colgate University in 1966 and has gone on to a successful career in law as an attorney and partner at Gilbride, Tusa, Last & Spellane.

He and his wife, Margo, live in Greenwich.

It’s no small wonder that the latest in the line of Tusa men — Charlie ’30 — is a fifth grader at Brunswick and already bleeding Brown & Gold.

“He’s all in,” said Steve, amazed at the fact that father and son share in common their secondgrade teacher, Mrs. Pat Meloni, and gym teacher, Mr. Tim Ostrye.

“It’s special to see Brunswick’s culture passed on from generation to generation — often by faculty members who have been at the school for decades,” Steve said.

Grandpa Tusa agrees.

“Having Charlie at Brunswick is very meaningful to our family,” he said. “So far, everything seems right on track for him to have a transformative experience.”

For Family’s Three Generations, ’Wick ‘Feels Like Home’

01 02

1958

Tony Way reports he just gets older — faster and faster! In July, he ruptured his ACL at the beginning of a two-week canoe trip in the Yukon, and hobbled through a one-mile portage with two paddles for canes. His wife, Barbara, told him it was to be his last trip — and she was right! “Now, all I have to do is to keep flying gliders and taking bird photography trips — Baja, California, is next,” he says. See photo 01.

1964

Fred Ballou lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, with his wife, Maria, but he has kept a home in Stamford and visits every eight weeks or so. He entered the “hallowed halls” of Brunswick when he turned 12 in 1958, ultimately graduating in 1964. He has spent his career in the editing and research worlds, writing reports for public companies engaged in mergers and acquisitions. See photo 02.

1969

Mark Rice and Tom Lopiano, co-captains of the 1968 football team, enjoyed Brunswick’s big win at Choate Rosemary Hall on November 19. Both conceded that this year’s squad has the edge over the 1968 version! See photo 03.

04

Robert Selkowitz reports: “While I ran four major car rallies in 2022, I also kept painting — this photo shows me outdoors with pastels at Wilson State Park in Woodstock, N.Y. I have a website at robertselkowitz.com, and my work with car rallies can be found at 1903autorun. com. The rallies are open to all cars, and we have great tours through the Catskill Mountain Region. Our 6th Catskill Conquest Rally took place on September 24.” See photo 04.

1973

James Utterback has finally settled down in the Low Country in Bluffton, S.C., after 24 moves within the United States, Europe, Africa, and India. He founded his own healthcare executive-search firm. He and his wife, Betsy, are celebrating 43 years of marriage, with three adult children and four grandchildren between five and nine. “Go ’Wick Hockey!” he says.

1978

Dan O’Brasky lives in Los Angeles, Calif., and is the sales manager for the western U.S. and Canada at Show Sage, LLC. See photo 05.

05 03

01 Tony Way ’58 slows down only to have his picture taken!

02 Fred Ballou ’64 and his wife, Maria

03 Mark Rice ’69 and Tom Lopiano ’69 were impressed by Brunswick’s recent bowl victory at Choate.

04 Check out Robert Selkowitz’s ’69 paintings on his website (robertselkowitz.com)!

05 Dan O’Brasky ’78 works in sales on the West Coast.

06 Thilo Agthe ’80 skied on the slopes of Austria last winter, as he does every Christmas!

07 Brunswick was well represented at the wedding of Bill Ryckman ’87, as classmates (left to right) Brian Mason, Joe Nemec, Stein Soelberg, Miguel Santo Domingo, the groom, Jim Lewis, Steve Robinson, and Bill’s younger brother, Jonathan Ryckman ’88, were in attendance.

08 Greg Hartch ’88, Clarke Rogers ’88, and Jonathan Ryckman ’88 enjoyed a mini reunion on a lake in North Carolina.

09 Tommy Mulvoy ’96 and his nephew, Mark ’26, hiked in the Swiss Alps this past summer.

08 06 07

09

1980

Thilo Agthe checked in by sending in a fantastic shot while skiing last winter during his annual Christmas vacation in Austria, where his family owns a vacation condo. See photo 06.

1987

Bill Ryckman and Antonia Ness were married in New York City on June 11. Brunswick alumni in attendance included Brian Mason ’87, Joe Nemec ’87, Stein Soelberg ’87, Miguel Santo Domingo ’87, Jim Lewis ’87, Steve Robinson ’87, and Jonathan Ryckman ’88. See photo 07.

1988

Clarke Rogers very much enjoyed having two fellow Class of 1988 alumni — Jonathan Ryckman and Greg Hartch — out to visit him at his house in North Carolina for his retirement celebration. He was also blessed to be able to have his daughters, Jan and Libby, sing an amazing rendition of the national anthem at his official retirement ceremony on Fort Bragg. “Retirement has been a blast so far, with lots of travel to visit friends and family in Utah, Washington, West Virginia, and Las Vegas!” Clarke said. See photo 08.

1991

Alex Holstein’s book, Warfighter: The Story of an American Fighting Man, was awarded the Gold Star by the Military Writers Society of America for the 2022 season in the nonfiction genre for memoir/biography. It is the story of Colonel Jesse L. Johnson, one of the most decorated living American veterans, and recounts the action-packed, true-life tale of a man who stood and fought at the crossroads of history.

1996

Tommy Mulvoy, who lives in Switzerland with his wife, Vicky, and son, Aksel, hiked in the Swiss Alps with his nephew, Mark ’26, this summer. See photo 09.

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10 Ned Adams ’97 had company at his wedding from the Class of 1997 (left to right): Morgan Gestal Cleveland, Tony Calabrese, Katie Iorio, Jim Heekin, Lee Massey Heekin, Andrew Rosato, Ned’s son, Ricardo; Ned and his wife, Carolina; Brian Shepard, Joanna Galvin Sisser, Jeff Condon, Alex Bashian, Cathy Ritman Holligan, Abi Rankin Fitzgerald, and Jake Brooks. 11 Class of 1999 members from ’Wick and Greenwich Academy enjoyed the Greenwich Polo Match in September: Deakin Bell, Brett Harriss, Kip Graham, George Hubbard, Tim Riemer, Geoff Lazlo ’96, Greg Shenkman, Graci Lockhart Djuranovic, Hagar Hajjar Chemali, Matt Lorig, and Sam Lalanne.

12 The Rauh family: Britt Olsen-Ecker, Elliott ’01, Jackson, and baby Bradley. 13 Eric Clauson ’07 (standing, first from left), Oivind Lorenzen ’09, Ron Ongaro ’07, and John Eric Oberbeck ’08 (standing, fourth, fifth, and sixth from left) play soccer together in New York City.

14 Joe ’30 and Abby Riemer — the children of Andy

Riemer ’96

1997

Ned Adams and his wife, Carolina, celebrated their wedding in front of a large ’Wick/Greenwich Academy contingent at Saybrook Point Resort and Marina in Old Saybrook, Conn., on July 9. See photo 10.

1999

Members of the Class of 1999 gathered at Greenwich Polo on September 4. See photo 11.

2001

Elliott Rauh and his wife, Britt, welcomed their second son, Bradley Ecker, on July 12. See photo 12.

2007

For 10 years, Ron Ongaro and John Eric Oberbeck ’08 have co-captained a soccer team in New York City. Throughout the years, they have recruited other fellow Brunswick soccer players and have found success winning their eighth championship this past summer. Former Brunswick soccer players who have joined them on the pitch include Eric Clauson ’07, Karl Hantho ’08, Oivind Lorenzen ’09, Zach Prager ’08, Taggie Martin ’09, Dan Morrisroe ’08, Andrew Laird ’08, Christian Oberbeck ’07, and Erik Spangenberg ’07. Any New York-based Brunswick soccer alumni interested in joining should reach out to Ron or John Eric. They’re always looking for players. See photo 13.

2012

Ben Young graduated from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University on May 6. He will begin his residency in Internal Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia in June. Ben hopes to pursue a fellowship in gastroenterology.

2018

Nick Mosher won a Fulbright Scholarship and is teaching English in Kazah, Kazakhstan.

FACULTY AND STAFF NOTES

Upper School history teacher Andy Riemer ’96 and his wife, Jessie, welcomed Abigail Louise on May 27. See photo 14.

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15 Wesley Stamey — the new son of

Logan Stamey

16 Madison Martell — the new daughter of Brett Martell

Middle School English teacher Logan Stamey and his wife, Lindsey, welcomed Wesley Mitchell on July 9. See photo 15.

Lower School science teacher Brett Martell and his wife, Sara, welcomed a baby girl, Madison Skye, on July 29. See photo 16.

IN MEMORIAM

Retired Episcopal Minister Robert

“Bob” Bracewell Appleyard Jr. ’65

died on July 3 in Acton, Maine, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2021. He was the rector of St. Barnabas Church in Falmouth and St. Michael’s Church in Milton, Mass. Bob began his career at Fox Chapel Episcopal Church in Pennsylvania after graduating from Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa., and the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria in 1972.

Bob was born in New York on Oct. 4, 1947, the son of Bishop Robert Bracewell Appleyard and Katharine Gelbach Appleyard. He graduated from Brunswick in 1965.

Bob was a loving man whose ever-present kindness had an immeasurable impact on those who crossed his path, whether they were his family, his parishioners, or a stranger on the street who needed help. He was a champion for the equal rights of women in the clergy and one of the first in the Episcopal Church to endorse gay marriage.

His love was most evident in his relationship with his wife, Deborah (“Debby”), whom he met at Allegheny College and married in 1970, and their son, Benjamin (“Ben”).

Bob and Debby loved to spend time at their vacation home in Acton, where they retired in 2007. Some of their happiest moments were spent working on that farmhouse, including countless hours renovating the old barn in their backyard.

In addition to his wife and son, Bob is survived by his four grandchildren, his daughter-in-law, Deborah Van Allen Appleyard; Ben’s partner, Alexandra Pastor; and Bob’s siblings: the Rev. Jonathan A. Appleyard, Jane Appleyard Roel, and the Rev. Daniel S. Appleyard.

In the months leading up to his death, Bob and Debby appreciated outreach from friends with whom they had lost contact over the years.

Constance Morse Burke died peacefully at her home in Greenwich on August 28. She was 99 years old. Connie was predeceased by her beloved husband, Walter Burke ’40. They were married for 76 years. Connie was the mother of five children, Bonnie Burke Himmelman of Chevy Chase, Md., Walter Burke ’67 of Glenview, Ill., Diane Burke of Naples, Fla., Douglas Burke ’74 (deceased), and Nancy Burke Tunney (P ’08) of Greenwich. Connie had nine grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, all of whom fondly called her CeeCee.

Connie was an enthusiastic volunteer for various nonprofits and charities throughout her life. She served on the leadership council for the Greenwich YWCA and leaves a legacy of the Constance Morse Burke gymnasium in Greenwich. Connie was an accomplished typist. Using her skills, she converted many volumes of books into braille for the benefit of the blind.

Connie was a wonderful chef, an avid golfer at Winged Foot and Greenwich Country Club, and an accomplished bridge player.

Longtime Brunswick faculty member Eugene J. Cummiskey died on April 30 in Guilford, Conn., at the age of 91.

Cummiskey joined Brunswick’s faculty in 1966 and retired in 1997, after 31 years of service. During his long and distinguished tenure, he taught Upper School English, chaired the English department, and also served as director of college placement.

“Gene was a longstanding and truly legendary member of our faculty,” Head of School Thomas W. Philip recalled. “He will be remembered fondly by generations of graduates and former Brunswick colleagues.”

After graduating from Harvard in 1952, and attending The Wharton School, he began his career in the insurance industry, working in New York City and subsequently for the family business in Portland, Maine. Prior to joining Brunswick’s faculty, he taught at Dublin School in New Hampshire.

Upon the occasion of his retirement from Brunswick, the Class of 1997 yearbook was dedicated in his honor. The citation noted that he was a “voice of reason, advocate, and friend through thick and thin — a scholar, gentleman, and consummate teacher who imparts his wisdom with self-effacing humor.”

He moved to Guilford in 1997, becoming involved in town politics, serving on the Democratic Town Committee, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Town Charter Revision Commissions. He was a member of the Harvard Club of New York City, Sachem’s Head Yacht Club, and the Clinton Country Club.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth “Bet” Cummiskey, of Guilford, Conn.; son, Christopher; and grandchildren, Olivia, Christopher Michael, and Vanessa Cummiskey, of Washington, D.C.

Alfie Smith ’94, 46, died suddenly at his home in Pacific Palisades, Calif., on August 7.

While he faced struggles in his life, he did so with courage and conviction. And despite any challenges in his life, Alfie lived with enthusiasm, joy, and hope.

The single most important and beautiful thing in his life always were his three children, Emilie, Spencer, and Clara. That he will not live to see them grow, mature, and flourish in their lives is the greatest sadness of his untimely death.

Alfie was predeceased by his father, Alfred E. Smith IV (Al). And his family takes comfort in believing they are together again. Also preceding him in death were his grandparents: Walter Smith, Helen (Oma) Smith and her second husband, Joseph (Papa Joe) McManus; and Eileen (Mimi) and Bobby Moore.

In addition to his children, Alfie is survived by his mother, Nan (Moore) Smith; his sister, Catherine Totero, her husband, Matt, and their three children, Charlie, Ellie, and Grace. He leaves 18 aunts and uncles, 26 first cousins, a large extended family, and truly an uncountable number of friends.