vo lu me 2 i ss u e 2
1794 t h e m a g a z in e o f cheshire academy
the political issue 1
ON THE COVER On the cover, we celebrate our historic past with a simple flag that
1794
THE MAGAZINE OF CHESHIRE ACADEMY
represents both our school and our country. The Flag Act of 1794, signed into law on the year of the Academy’s founding by President George Washington, resulted in 15 stars and 15 stripes in honor of Vermont and
volume 2 | issue 2
Kentucky joining the Union. Two years later, Bowden Hall, the oldest schoolhouse in continuous use in Connecticut, was built. Its regal eight pillars have come to represent the values system by which our student community lives. The flag on the cover depicts fifteen stars in honor of our
EDITOR
Stacy Jagodowski
nation in 1794 and eight pillars as stripes in honor of the Academy’s legacy.
DESIGNER
Alyssa Dillon ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Board of Trustees CHAIRMAN Richard Cerrone ’67
VICE CHAIR Howard Greenstone P’12
TREASURER Michael Mauro P’11
SECRETARY Richard A. Katz, Esq. ’64
Ted Dziuba ’02
Patrick K. McCaskey ’68
Simon Fenner
Andy Moss P’14 P’15
Ronald Feinstein ’64
Brian Otis ’89
Suzanne Fields P’12
Katie Purdy P’19 P’21 P’21
Lori Gailey P’14 P’17
Donald Rosenberg ’67
David G. Jepson ’59
Armando Simosa P’08
Graeme M. Keith, Jr. P’11
Lendward Simpson, Jr. ’68
Drew Kevorkian ’93
Mark F. Testa, PhD ’68
Stamford, Connecticut
Monterey, Massachusetts
San Mateo, California Westport, Connecticut Weston, Massachusetts Westport, Connecticut
Simsbury, Connecticut
Glastonbury, Connecticut Charlotte, North Carolina Brooklyn, New York
OVERSEERS Michael A. Belfonti ’76 Hamden, Connecticut Dan Gabel, Jr. ’56 New York, New York EX-OFFICIO John D. Nozell, Head of School Cheshire, Connecticut 2
San Rafael, California
Harrison, New York
Cody Barbierri Caitlin Garzi EDITORIAL BOARD
John D. Nozell Barbara Davis P’17 P’18 P’20 Christian Malerba ’04 CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS
Leslie Hutchison Barb Vestergaard P’96 P’02 Theresa West
Lake Forest, Illinois
Westport, Connecticut Tolland, Connecticut
Southington, Connecticut
Snowmass Village, Colorado Miami, Florida
Wilmington, North Carolina Carrboro, North Carolina
Retraction: In Volume 2.1 of 1794, The Arts Issue, the article, "Renowned Artist Rockwell Kent is Related to Former Principal" contained the incorrect date of Rockwell Kent's appearance before the House Un-American Activities Committee. The event occurred in 1953, not 1939.
COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? SUGGESTIONS? NEWS?
Frank Motter ’61 P’97
If you have feedback on 1794, contact Stacy Jagodowski at 1794@cheshireacademy.org.
Brett Stuart ’68 P’09 P’09 P’10
If you have alumni news or updates for 1794, send them to 1794@cheshireacademy.org. Photos should be submitted in high resolution (300 dpi) for publication.
Stowe, Vermont
East Hampton, Connecticut
Admission inquiries may be directed to the Admission Office at admission@cheshireacademy.org or 203-439-7250. © 2017 Cheshire Academy
IN THIS ISSUE ACADEMY ARCHIVES 6 Gideon Welles 10 The Governor 14 Sojourn for the U.N.
ON CAMPUS 20 Presidential Promises 26 The Making of a Mock Election 30 A Model Student 34 Athletics 38 Arts This year's class officers detail the changes their administrations might enact along with the challenges that come with governing on page 20.
ALUMNI 42 Running the Races
10
44 The Man Behind the Money
The Governor
A portrait of Robert A. Hurley '15, Governor of Connecticut from 1941-1943, with excerpts of letters from his school days.
20
48 Detective of the House 50 The Policy Doctor 52 Winter Reception 54 Events
Presidential Promises
Newly inducted class officers at Cheshire Academy work to fulfill campaign promises and enact change on campus.
56 Class Notes 70 Cat Scratch Mind Game 72 Last Look
44 The Man Behind the Money
What started out as a dream to become a sports agent, quickly turned into becoming one of the top political fundraisers in South Florida for Brian Goldmeier '02.
Check out more on the digital magazine at http://magazine.cheshireacademy.org/
17 94 3
STRAIGHT from Bowden Hall a message from head of school john d . nozell
It is hard to believe that the holidays are over and we have begun the second semester. The excitement, and work, of the college selection and application process is nearly complete for our seniors. Some of our Early Decision
applicants have already received acceptances from schools including Yale
University and Fordham University. We look forward to seeing even more stellar acceptances throughout the winter and spring.
During the first semester, we completed a major renovation project for our six “back” tennis courts. They were in dire need of attention, and the result has
been beyond our expectations. I know our tennis players are already enjoying the improved facilities. On other athletics-related matters, our fall season
resulted in several teams making it to tournaments, and the football team
winning the Wayne Sanborn Bowl game, rounding out an 8-2 season in a highly competitive league.
In October, the video produced by Public Television’s “Voices in America”
series, which profiled Cheshire Academy, aired nationally. To date, the video aired nationally reaching 85 million homes and was seen by thousands of
viewers on social media. If you haven’t yet seen the program, I encourage you to view it on YouTube. You will be amazed at how well our students represented their school; they were the real stars of the show!
Sadly, I must share that one of our most revered Overseers, Mr. Doug
Morton, passed away in July of this year. Doug possessed a deep love for the Academy, and was active in supporting and governing the school for many years. Doug will be sorely missed, and our thoughts and prayers go out to
his family. A tribute to Doug can be found on page 68. During September, we lost another dear member of our community, Ms. Linda Decormier.
Throughout her career with the Academy, which spanned more than two
decades, Linda worked with hundreds of students in College Counseling
and the Roxbury Program. We all miss her spark and enthusiasm around the
campus. The community shared condolences and stories online, which can be
L-R: HEAD OF SCHOOL JOHN D. NOZELL, JENNIFER GUNSBERGER P'17, AND KEN GUNSBERGER P'17 AT FAMILY WEEKEND 2016
found at cheshireacademy.org/linda. As we remember those who have left us, we also look to the future and
welcome new members to our community. It’s my honor to report that we have elected six new members to our Board of Trustees: Ted Dziuba ’02,
Simon Fenner, Lori Gailey P’14 P’17, Drew Kevorkian ’93, Brian Otis ’89,
and Katie Purdy P’19 P’21 P’21. These talented individuals were present for
their first meeting just this month at the Academy. They bring a tremendous wealth of knowledge and passion to our Board, and I am very much looking forward to working with them to make Cheshire Academy even stronger in the years ahead. Their biographies follow on the next page.
This magazine continues to be a tribute to the Academy’s past, present, and future, and I hope you will join me in celebrating our storied legacy. Sincerely,
John D. Nozell, Head of School
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New Trustees Cheshire Academy is proud to welcome six new members to the Board of Trustees. The selection committee carefully assessed candidates based on their
experience with independent schools and personal educational backgrounds, as well as their motivation for serving at Cheshire Academy and how their skills will benefit the school. Chosen for a combination of their knowledge, passion for education, and their expertise, these new trustees will bring a wealth of knowledge to the Academy. ted dziuba '02
drew kevorkian '93
As a student at the Academy, Ted’s expertise actually landed him a job as
Drew came to the Academy in the fall of 1989 as the recipient of the
authored an open source Electronic Medical Records (EMR) program known
College with a degree in classical studies. Drew’s career began at Northeast
the Assistant Systems Administrator at school. During that time, he coas OpenEMR, one of the most popular free EMR systems today. After
graduating, Ted worked for a number of top technology companies, including Google and eBay, the latter of which acquired a startup he co-founded.
Currently, Ted serves as the Vice President of Engineering at Oak Labs,
Inc., where he manages teams responsible for processing retailer product
catalog data and producing retail business telemetry dashboards for retailer customers. He lives in San Mateo, California with his wife, Julie, and their two daughters, Ann and Rose.
prestigious Town Scholar Award. He went on to graduate from Dartmouth Scientific, where he started as an account executive and moved up to serve
as the director of sales and marketing. Currently, he is the president of Ares Scientific, whose mission is to identify and deliver the most innovative,
sustainable, and value-based technology solutions to the scientific research community and patient care facilities. Drew founded the company to
provide some of the largest biotech companies with a complete suite of
products to advance science and healthcare. Drew and his family live in Brooklyn, New York.
simon fenner
brian otis '89
Simon serves as the managing director of Lukoil Pan Americas, a role in
Both Brian and his wife, Gail, are graduates of Cheshire Academy, just one
Morgan Stanley where he led the commodities division as the firm’s head
year at the Academy, but his passion for the school brought him back after
which he leads the company’s American efforts. He came to Lukoil from of strategic transactions. Simon’s passion for education has led him to
become involved at other institutions, including Fairfield Country Day
School, where he is a member of the Board of Trustees. He has served on
numerous committees, including his current involvement with the investment and executive committees. Simon, a British national, lives in Westport, Connecticut with his wife and children.
year apart (Gail graduated in 1990). A postgraduate, Brian only spent one
college, where he served in the development office for five years. Brian left the Academy in 1998 and went on to the University of Connecticut to
work in their development office. In 2010, he became the Vice President for Development & Campaign Management for the University of Connecticut
Foundation, Inc. Brian and Gail have two children, Colin and Kiley, and live in Tolland, Connecticut.
lori gailey, parent of emma ’14 and hannah ’17
katie purdy, parent of jack '19, reese '21, ryan '21
Academy in 2015, and helped overhaul the group, now referred to as PRIDE.
and child counseling. She served as an elementary school teacher in
Lori assumed the role of co-president of the Parents Association at Cheshire Not only was Lori successful in bolstering the parents association, she also
worked with the development office to increase parent giving. Lori’s resume speaks to her expertise in retail buying and product development, having
worked with major brands ranging from fashion to food industries. Both
Lori and her husband, Peter, who live in Simsbury, are highly involved in Academy life.
Katie joins the board, bringing with her decades of experience in education Southington beginning in 1993, and five years later transitioned into the role
of School Guidance Counselor, addressing both behavioral and psychological issues, as part of empowering students towards academic success. Once
Katie and her husband, Jeff, had children, she became a stay at home mom.
As her children got older, Katie started volunteering at their schools. Today, she remains active as a member of Cheshire Academy’s PRIDE Parents
Association, and looks forward to being even more involved in advancing the mission of the Academy. The family lives in Southington, Connecticut. See photos and learn more about the new trustees online at magazine.cheshireacademy.org
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I think most of us would agree that this Presidential election was one for the books. By the time you read this magazine, our nation will have sworn in the 45th President of the United States. Americans, all 322 million of us, have embarked on a four-year journey under new leadership and we are curious about the future.
LETTER from the editor
In honor of the election year, it may come as no surprise that we wanted to explore the Academy’s own impact on leadership, governance, and politics in this latest issue of 1794. The Political Issue isn't about Parties, policies, or what is right or wrong. Instead, this issue is about the intricacies that go into leading a community, whether that community is a school or a nation. We wanted to explore the impact that the Academy has had on the world around us. Here at Cheshire Academy, we are embracing leadership advancements of our own. As we look to ensure that the Academy continues to thrive for centuries to come, strong leadership from the Board of Trustees is vital. Just this month, six new Trustees attended their first board meeting, and we look forward to their influences in the years to come. Similarly, we charge our students with choosing the best leaders for their classes and encourage them to affect positive change on campus and in the world around them. This leads to intelligent and prepared alumni, some of whom choose to continue their leadership at the national level. From campaign managers and fundraisers to policy makers and interns, many of our graduates are working to ensure our country is the best it can be at all times. As you read the pages of this latest issue of 1794, I encourage you to reflect on not only how others have influenced our nation’s politics and leadership, but also on your own time at the Academy. Perhaps there were leaders here who directly impacted your life, such as teachers and coaches who may have pushed you to excel and step outside of your comfort zone. Maybe there were peers who encouraged you to step into leadership roles yourself and helped you along the way, or lessons learned from classes and life here at the Academy that drove you to succeed and become who you are today. In our own way, we are all leaders, affecting change in the world around us. Tell me your story. Sincerely,
Stacy Jagodowski, Editor Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications 1794@cheshireacademy.org
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’76 7
academy archives
g GIDEON WELLES
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g
ideon Welles arrived by horseback at the Episcopal Academy of Connecticut in 1819. His rise to prominence as the
secretary of the Navy for President Abraham Lincoln is
fairly well known among historians.
Welles graduated from the Academy in 1821 after attending for two years. He received a college diploma in 1826 from what is
now Norwich University in Vermont. Welles returned to his home state after graduation and soon began writing for the now defunct “Hartford Times” newspaper.
In 1827, he became the editor and part owner of the “Times.” That
same year, Welles was elected to the Connecticut General Assembly, becoming the youngest to serve in the legislature. He held the
office until 1835 when he was elected as comptroller for the state of Connecticut. Welles also continued to write opinion pieces for the paper until 1854.
Newspapers of the era were often aligned with a specific political
party. The “Times” followed the trend and Welles wrote editorials in support of Democrats. In 1836, his loyalty was acknowledged when Welles was appointed as Hartford’s postmaster. He held the job
PORTR AIT OF GIDEON WELLES, CL ASS OF 1824
for five years. Then in 1846, Pres. James Polk appointed Welles as
By this time, Welles was firmly established as a politician and
held for three years.
figures. He campaigned for Abraham Lincoln after the Illinois
chairman of the Navy’s Bureau of Provisions and Clothing, a post he
By the middle of the next decade, according to the Connecticut
Historical Society, Welles was no longer allowed to write for the “Times” because in 1855, he organized and formed the state’s
policymaker and was gaining the attention of powerful national politician won the Republican presidential primary in 1860. The
two briefly met in Hartford later that year while Lincoln was on a campaign swing through the state.
Republican Party.
As president-elect, Lincoln began to consider who he would
With his switch of ideals, Welles looked for a new vehicle to
Yankee in Lincoln’s Cabinet - Navy Secretary Gideon Welles
publicize his stance. His solution was to open a new publishing
avenue by launching “The Hartford Evening News.” Welles backed anti-slavery; the Democrats of the era were the pro-slavery party.
appoint to his cabinet. J. Ronald Spencer, editor of “A Connecticut Chronicles the Civil War,” wrote that Lincoln was determined to give one seat on his cabinet to a prominent New Englander. That Yankee was to be Welles.
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Secretary of the Navy He didn’t learn of his appointment to the cabinet until just four days
before the inauguration in March 1861. It was another month before
Welles found out he had been chosen to be Secretary of the Navy (he thought he may have been appointed postmaster general).
In the introduction to the “Diary of Gideon Welles,” editor John T.
Morse wrote humorously about the appointment. “Mr. Lincoln may have thought that any New Englander was amphibious,” because
residents lived near the ocean. Lincoln was fond of Welles, and keeping with the ocean theme, called him “Father Neptune.”
While his appointment was a surprise to many, an editorial in the
“Washington Star” newspaper stated that “Welles administered the department in such a satisfactory manner during the war that he served through two [presidential] administrations … and served
the longest continuous secretaryship since the days of [Pres. James] Madison.”
Welles at the time was one of only four Connecticut residents to have been appointed to a cabinet post by a president. Newspapers reported that some members of Lincoln’s administration were disappointed at the selection of Welles. They believed that “someone with more real sea-salt experience than Mr. Welles would fill the place better.” When excerpts of Welles’ diaries were first made public in the
“Atlantic Magazine” in 1909, they showed that the Connecticut native responded to the “sea-salt” comment by writing that the detractors
were “officious blockheads,” and “factious fools.” A book review from
1943 in the “New York Times” notes that Welles “was a strange man, this Yankee who, like John Quincy Adams, found release for his publicly controlled feelings only in his diary.”
State records show Welles was described “as a man of no decorations; there was no noise in the streets when he went along; he understood duty and he did it efficiently, continually, and unwaveringly.” The
passage was written by Charles Dana, Lincoln’s Assistant Secretary of War. Welles served in the cabinet from 1861-1869.
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Gideon's Legacy A biography on Welles written by the New York Public Library notes
book from StrategyPage.com, an online magazine about the military,
family. In fact, Welles was in the room (in the Peterson House) when
“We get a vivid look at how confusing and frightening the opening
that “Welles and his wife, Mary, became quite close to the Lincoln President Lincoln died from his gunshot wound,” in 1865.
Welles died in 1878 at the age of 76, about a decade after leaving
describes Welles as an insider whose diary provides a rare perspective. weeks of the Lincoln administration seemed to those experiencing them,” the review states.
office. The state historical society credits him with the “development
A marble statue of Welles was installed circa 1933 at the Connecticut
southern ports. [It] was a key factor in the North’s Civil War victory.
commemorates his achievements both within the state and in Lincoln’s
of the Navy into a force that could successfully execute blockades of Also, he was instrumental in the construction of the ironclad USS Monitor and establishment of the Navy’s Medal of Honor.”
Welles’ diligent and nearly daily entries in his diary while serving in
the cabinet have been released in a variety of forms. One of the most
recently published, with the original manuscript restored, is the 2014
edition by the University of Illinois Press called “The Civil War Diary
State Capitol building. Connecticuthistory.org notes the statue
cabinet. In 1969, Cheshire Academy named its renovated dining hall
after their famed alumnus. His portrait and a biography are displayed in the brick building originally constructed in 1926. A middle school in his hometown of Glastonbury is also named for Welles. See scans of Welles' diary entries and links to original sources online at magazine.cheshireacademy.org/archives
of Gideon Welles, Lincoln’s Secretary of the Navy.” A review of the
17 94
In Welles' Words A little known fact about Welles, which was only recently
Welles was 17 years old when his father, Samuel Welles,
first few days at the Academy. Welles’ words, contained in one
“Cheshirepedia” by alumnus John Fournier ’84, the father decided
discovered in the Academy’s archives, is a written account of his of his school books, reveal a longing to return to his home in Glastonbury.
october
21, 1819
“This day to my surprise I was coming from school [and] I
unexpectedly met my brother Thaddeus - my joy was great.” october
22, 1819
enrolled him in the Academy. According to an article written for it was time for his son to learn “the duties of life.”
Patriarch Samuel Welles supported his wife and four sons by
working in a variety of business-oriented professions: merchant, crops exporter, and money lender. Based on entries in Gideon
Welles’ schoolbook, headlined “Debtors,” it’s possible he watched his father offering loans and decided to try it for himself.
“My brother this morning started for home. I yearned to go
Several pages in his small paper-covered book contain names of
of fathers’ and was silent. The tears (of thoughts of the happy
instance, that fellow student Amasa Jackson (who went on to
with him but thought of the duty to my purpose and the bent hours I have spent with my brother) rolled down my cheeks - the cutting thoughts of abusing that brother came... and filled me
classmates who owed Welles money. His arithmetic shows, for Westpoint) steadily borrowed funds from Welles.
with anger. Goodbye to you all remember me when I am where you are not.”
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ROBERT A. HURLEY, CLASS OF 1915
T H E G OV E R N O R
J
ust months after taking office as the Governor of Connecticut in 1941,
alumnus Robert A. Hurley began raising funds to replace Horton Hall,
Cheshire Academy’s largest building at the time. The building was destroyed by
fire in January of that year. With the substantial weight of his political and personal
reputation behind him, Hurley announced the goal of raising nearly a million dollars within two years.
The donation campaign was organized through the Cheshire Academy
Sesquicentennial Committee, chaired by Hurley with support from members of the Academy’s Board of Trustees. The committee included two former governors and
James R. Angell, former president of Yale University; William Lyon Phelps, professor
emeritus of Yale; Dr. Albert N. Jorgenson, president of the University of Connecticut; and Horace Taft, the headmaster emeritus of the Taft School. Hurley told the
Hartford Times his chairmanship of the committee was “influenced not only by his loyalty to the Academy … but even more because of his conviction that Cheshire Academy is an outstanding asset of the state and of the nation.”
Headmaster Arthur N. Sheriff announced in 1942 that the new two-story edifice being built behind Bowden Hall would be named Gov. Hurley Hall. A $60,000
donation paid for the building which would offer a dormitory and cafeteria. The
governor attended the hall’s dedication as well as the commencement exercises held the same day in May 8, 1942.
A color guard platoon from the historical First Company of the Governor’s Foot Guard accompanied Hurley to the event attired in their colonial-era uniforms.
Seabury Hall, now a part of the Watch Factory Shoppes, was also dedicated that day.
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A
native of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Hurley was a
A biography written in 2012 by Ji Woo Lee ’17 and former
attended the Academy for just one year, but in that
attended Lehigh University in Pennsylvania for a short time
senior when he arrived on campus in 1914. He
time he achieved academic and athletic success and quickly
took a leadership role. He was elected to the student council and chosen as the orator for commencement.
Academy History Teacher Ann Marie Svogun states Hurley before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1917. As World War I entered its third year, he was assigned to radio operations aboard submarines which patrolled international waters.
Hurley was also a crew member on the warships the U.S.S.
On the athletic fields, Hurley was a stand-out three-sport
Pennsylvania and the U.S.S. Chicago.
player. He was the halfback on the winning 1914 football
team. Athletic records in the early 1900s were kept by total
By the time World War II was underway, Hurley had
each game, and his team had a total score for the season of 76
Administration program to a commissioner for the
points received for the season, rather than wins and losses for compared to 70 for the opponents.
In basketball, Hurley played guard and helped his team again
have a winning season with a combined score of 311 with the
risen from an administrator of the state’s Works Progress Connecticut Department of Public Works. His inauguration
as governor came just weeks after the United States declared war on Japan.
opposing 12 teams scoring just 202 total points. Opponents
A year later, as a 47th birthday present, a 122-page book
and New Haven. Hurley’s pitching prowess in baseball also
addresses was published. The preface states the project was
included the public high schools in Meriden, Waterbury,
brought accolades. He helped notch a victory against The
Choate School, now Choate Rosemary Hall, the first time the Academy had bested their rival in the sport.
containing a collection of Hurley’s selected papers and
“made possible by the cooperation of a group of the governor’s friends... [to honor] this record of his leadership to the people of Connecticut.” The foreword was written by Sheriff.
1915 BASKETBALL TEAM; HURLEY PICTURED FRONT ROW FAR LEFT
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S
heriff wrote, “In days of cataclysmic change, people turn toward
the man on the platform and ask: What can we do? ... They seek a voice, unequivocal and forthright, an understanding keen and
broad. They crave the comfort and inspiration of social vision that is at once practical and prophetic. Gov. Hurley has given Connecticut that kind of leadership.”
As head of the state government during World War II, Hurley was (L-R) HEADMASTER ARTHUR SHERIFF AND GOVERNOR ROBERT HURLEY
considered a “War Governor,” and as such, he ramped up manufacturing to help supply the military effort. One of his projects, according to the Connecticut State Library, was “Connecticut’s Compact for Victory.”
“
“
I N D AY S O F C ATA C LY S M I C CHANGE, PEOPLE T U R N TO WA R D THE MAN ON THE P L AT F O R M A N D A S K : W H AT C A N
The document called for full production of manufacturing plants with
“all of the industrial might and resources of Connecticut … the skills and energies of our workers.”
Hurley sought to be re-elected for a second term, but he lost by less than 200 votes. He ran again in 1944, but lost by a large margin. Hurley then retired from politics. In 1946 he became the executive director of the
Council of Lingerie Associations and Manufacturers Inc., at a salary of
$42,000, which is estimated to be equivalent to more than $500,000 today. In his position, according to the “New York Times,” Hurley oversaw “a group of unaffiliated manufacturers in a trade-wide program of selfregulation to prevent abuses and unethical practices.”
Approaching semi-retirement, Hurley returned to his background in
engineering, which he had begun to study at Lehigh University before
enlisting to serve in WWI. He operated an engineering consulting firm in West Hartford.
The New York Times carried Hurley’s obituary in 1968. He died at the age of 72 in West Hartford, where he had lived for 30 years.
WE DO? - ARTHUR SHERIFF
See more photos online at magazine.cheshireacademy.org/archives
17 94 15
SOJOURN FOR THE U.N. After escaping Kenya at the age of 14, Dr. Josphat Mugo Gadhuhi '63 would become an expert in sociology and his planning would help governments and non-government organizations implement aging and population programs.
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A
years-long collaboration between then
proposed that a “Trust Fund for Aging” be
politician Tom Mboya helped alumnus
needs of the aging” in developing countries. The
Sen. John F. Kennedy and Kenyan
implemented to “meet the rapidly increasing
Dr. Josphat Mugo Gachuhi ’63 escape a violent
proposal stemmed from a report delivered to
civil war in East Africa when he was only 14 years
the United Nations World Assembly on Aging
old. Gachuhi was one of nearly 800 Kenyans who
held in Vienna in 1982. Gachuhi’s knowledge
were part of a humanitarian airlift program which
and advice as the regional population adviser for
transported students to the United States and
Africa would certainly have been considered as
Canada between 1959 and 1963.
part of the larger proposal.
By adding summer school to his schedule at
Gachuhi’s path from African schoolboy to a
just three years after arriving on campus. Upon
mentor, Mboya, that an “excellent school” had been
Cheshire Academy, Gachuhi graduated in 1963,
population expert began when he learned from his
receiving a PhD in sociology in 1969 from State
found for him. According to his biography “Thirst
University of New York, Buffalo, his professional
for Education: A Kenyan’s Sojourn to America in
career centered on public service and social justice
Search of Education,” published in 2014, Gachuhi
reform in both the United States and Kenya.
was told he would attend a school in Connecticut called Cheshire Academy. Never mind that he
Gachuhi returned to Kenya in 1970 with his
wife and young daughter. Soon after, he joined the Institute for Developmental Studies at the University of Nairobi. Then, in 1975, he was
hired as a consultant for the United Nations
Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). During a decade-long tenure, he shared his expertise in sociology as the
international organization’s regional population adviser for Africa.
In that position, Gachuhi helped regional
governments and non-governmental organizations
didn’t know where in America the state was implement family planning and population
programs, according to his colleague Charles Njanga of Kenya. Gachuhi developed a draft
document, Njanga said, that became the basis for their country’s National Council for Population
and Development. He also began developing an
expertise on support programs for the continent’s aging population.
At the 122nd session of the executive board of UNESCO in 1985 in Paris, a resolution was
located. Gachuhi noted that the Academy offered him a scholarship with room, board, and tuition. “There were no conditions attached other
than maintaining good grades and performing light duties,” Gachuhi wrote. “I had no other
information about the school other than it had
been founded by Christians,” he noted. His book reveals that the author did not underestimate
the challenges he would face when he arrived on campus in the fall of 1960.
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RIGHT: MUGO GACHUHI AND THE STAFF OF THE ACADEMY REVIEW, THE SCHOOL NEWSPAPER
One of Gachuhi’s best friends at the Academy was Ric Haynes ’64. “I sat next to him at the first school assembly,” Haynes said. “I asked
world, Langston-Chase said. By his senior year, Gachuhi was president of the club.
The conclusion was to establish the African Research on Aging Network which was
Gachuhi ‘where are you from, Philadelphia?’ He
“He was reserved. Mugo had to tolerate a lot
Haynes continued. “I asked him ‘are you
Chase said. “Images from African movies left
During a number of years that Gachuhi was
presumed everyone in Africa carried spears and
he also had to contend with a serious disease:
told me no, Nairobi. I was aware of the culture,” Maasai or Kukuli?’ That started the friendship.” (Gachuhi was Kukuli.) Haynes went on to
learn key phrases in Swahili from his friend.
of misconceptions about Africa,” Langston-
an impression. Tarzan for instance. Students lived in huts.”
endorsed by the United Nations.
involved in national committees and task forces, diabetes. In 1997, he had a kidney transplant and was hospitalized several times in the
Haynes also learned what it was like to be
Gachuhi ignored or overlooked the taunts
the Academy. It was a rough place in the 1960s.
Following his work with UNESCO, he
Gachuhi returned to the Academy in 2008 for
work in its Bureau of Educational Research.
his autobiography that he hoped to find more
around Gachuhi. “People were prejudiced at
When you’re friends with a black person, other students say horrible things to you as well,”
Haynes noted. Their bond endured, however.
“Friendships are more valuable than shaming. [Gachuhi] was very strong,” in his ability to ignore the taunts, Haynes said.
“I did not experience extreme racism while at
and went on to a lifetime of achievement.
joined Kenyatta University College in 1985 to
“MUGO WAS A MAN OF IMMENSE
the Academy,” Gachuhi wrote in his book.
INTELLECTUAL
cordial; others were even good to me … The
CAPACITY.”
[Most of ] the people I met were at least
family of the late Michael Kita [ Junior School Head] used to invite me to [their] home
- ANONYMOUS
for weekends, Thanksgiving, and Christmas during my years in Cheshire,” he wrote.
The only other black boarding student at the time was Ted Langston-Chase ’63, who was
from Washington, D.C. “Mugo and I became
following years for complications.
the first time since graduation. He wrote in
information about how he was chosen to attend school in Connecticut. Despite reviewing
his student records, Gachuhi was not able
to answer the long-carried question. Former archivist Ann Moriarty was, however, able
to provide a trove of photos and information about his student years, some of which is published in the autobiography.
The same year as his visit to the Academy, Gachuhi was appointed as a visiting
professor at the Georgia State University
dinners. I felt very welcome in their home
Gerontology Institute in Atlanta. In an Gachuhi remained at the college for about 15 years as a teacher, researcher, and community development specialist.
email sent to Moriarty, he writes “I am quite involved in research on older persons after
doing development research” [for HelpAge International]. He added that Kenyatta
University planned to offer undergraduate and
close friends in our senior year. Most of his
In 2000, Gachuhi was asked to join a taskforce
the students who were more inclined to engage
Persons and Aging.” The paper was reviewed
At the age of 75, Mugo Gachuhi passed away
Unity and HelpAge International.
on a memorial page said “Mugo was a man of
friends were musical and artistic. Those were with him,” he said.
Through his parents, Langston-Chase had
in Kenya to write a “National Policy on Older the next year by the Organization of National
met a number of adults from Sierra Leone and
Oxford University came calling in 2004
of the International Club and talked about
university’s institute on aging. He wrote in his
Liberia. The two classmates were members countries in Africa and other parts of the
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Africa and the world attended the conference.
the magazine of cheshire academy
asking Gachuhi to present a paper to the
autobiography that scholars from other parts of
graduate classes based on his curriculum.
in Atlanta on March 8, 2016. A message posted immense intellectual capacity. He had a good sense of humor and he used it to great effect,
making those around him very comfortable and
willing to listen as he ably articulated his ideas.” Access Gachuhi's autobiography at magazine.cheshireacademy.org/archives
17 94
“MUGO HAD TO TOLERATE A LOT OF MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT AFRICA, IMAGES FROM AFRICAN MOVIES LEFT AN IMPRESSION.” - Ted Langston-Chase '63
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ON CAMPUS
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PRESIDENTIAL PROMISES ELECTED BY THEIR PEERS, CLASS OFFICERS DREAM BIG TO SHAPE CAMPUS EVENTS
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JOHN JIANG '17
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on campus
L-R: CL ASS PRESIDENTS JULIA R AFFERT Y '18, JOHN JIANG '17, AND PETER DENG '19.
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the magazine of cheshire academy
TO MANY U.S. VOTERS, nothing could be more important
newly elected junior class officers Vice President Lexi Williamson and
their values, and campaign for enough votes to earn a four-year seat in
philanthropy. In addition to working with local food banks to arrange
than election season: Presidential candidates make promises, explain the White House.
At Cheshire Academy, we have our own elections each year: class officers. Of course, there are key differences; at the Academy, the popular vote
Secretary Jemimah Frempong. Together, they have a special focus on
student participation in service events, they are spearheading service
opportunities with the local St. Francis Hospital using Williamson’s familial connections.
prevails, unhindered by messy checks on democracy like electoral colleges; terms last
only one year; and this year's winning senior
class president reigns from Von der Porten Hall (sans secret service).
Despite these differences—and perhaps one or two others—many students and faculty see the race to class officership as one that
teaches both elected officials and their classmates a valuable lesson in democracy.
“The kids learn what it’s like to get up, speak, apply for a position, and then try and fulfill their promises. And it’s not an easy thing to do in an institution even the size of
Cheshire Academy. Now imagine working
to change an entire country! It’s a great learning experience,” said Senior Class
advisor and Science Department Co-Chair Ray Cirmo.
Julia Rafferty ’18, president of her class for
the second year running, has the carriage of a career politician. In her mind, elected
However, before a student can wield the
“WE STILL HAVE TWO YEARS, SO I’M NOT CROSSING IT OFF THE LIST JUST YET.” - JULIA RAFFERTY
class officers hold positions of service, and
power of class officership to enact change, he
or she must first get elected. To do so requires the popular vote of their class, gained through
rigorous campaigning, a speech, and, of course, campaign promises.
“My favorite campaign promise has to be a promise to change the dress code,” chuckled
Cirmo. “However, I always encourage students to try to enact that promise. I urge them to do more than say they’re unhappy with the dress
code. Instead, propose a new dress code policy!
Create change in a way that is organized and orderly.”
This year’s Senior Class President John Jiang
had a more modest proposal: to increase attendance in campus activities. “John’s
enthusiasm is amazing. His campaign was, ‘I’m going to get more kids involved in
everything,’ and that was really poignant, I
thought,” said
International
Coordinator Cori Dykeman.
Student
Jiang, with the help of his fellow senior officers
enact the will of their constituents. “We really did put an emphasis in our
Secretary Miranda Chen and Treasurer Abby Kandel, has been a force
really […] be representatives of our class and represent the things they
raised $2,735, in part due to the strategic selection of popular teachers to
speeches that we wanted to not just hold the positions as titles [...], but find important.”
“Last year we had the same ideas in place and this year we’re continuing
our goals,” said Kate Davis ’18, who is in her second year as treasurer of her class. Incumbents Rafferty and Davis were joined this year by
to be reckoned with this year. Their annual senior Halloween Auction
auction off. Jiang even had a new idea to list bigger ticket items: “Faculty families,” like the Dykeman family, could be bid on for a higher cost. The
senior class donated $1,400 of the funds to the Lights of Hope, making their grade the largest donor to the local Cheshire charity.
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on campus
Some of Jiang’s other initiatives include creating a set time for inter-class
He sees his role as providing a link both between students and from
to write class officer job descriptions to guide future leaders. He also
think about different perspectives.
officer meetings once a month and working with campus administrators aims to create a council with Deng and Rafferty that will allow students
students to teachers. “When I communicate with someone, I have to
to provide more say in activities run by the school for students, such as
The junior class officers have a secret weapon when it comes to staying
that all students feel welcome and included, and can have a voice in the
[Davis] does a lot of the organization, and the emailing and saying we
Spirit Week or the Winter Olympics. Jiang’s overall goal is to ensure planning process.
“They really set the bar on campus,” said Cirmo. “The school looks up to them. They always need to be in dress code and they always need to be setting the example. That’s what it means to be a leader.”
The class officers are leaders in more ways than one. Those who, like Rafferty and
Davis, are in their second-term, have a lot to pass on to their successors. “I work with
the junior president,” said Sophomore Class President Peter Deng, “asking for advice
on the dances because basically Julia did the homecoming dance [last year] so I was trying to learn from her.” Deng and fellow
officers Vice President Jameson Hardy, Secretary David Licki, Treasurer Linda
Lin, and Representative Grace Sun are
responsible for planning the Homecoming
organized: Davis. “She won’t give herself credit for it,” said Rafferty, “but have to have this in at this time, or we have a meeting, and we rely on her a lot for that.”
Despite Davis’ organizational prowess, sometimes even the best ideas
“THEY REALLY SET THE BAR ON CAMPUS.” - RAY CIRMO
Dance—an annual sophomore class officer
are thwarted by lack of funds or bureaucratic
hurdles. “I had this grand idea of a music
festival,” said Rafferty. “I wanted to have local musicians from the town of Cheshire and artists from campus.” She envisioned a
big tent on the lawn with all-day concerts, food trucks, and fun—almost like a unity
concert. “With time and with money, maybe
I could draw up plans and pass the idea on,” she said, “but we still have time, so I’m not crossing it off the list just yet.”
While the older class officers are seeing
the light at the end of their term tunnels, those in the freshman class just elected
their representatives this fall: President
William Song, Vice President Jerry Dong,
tradition.
Treasurer Victoria Ye, and Secretary Julia Gillotti, with the eighth grade
If planning a dance for the entire school sounds like a logistical
to enact policy, but ample time for future planning.
challenge for a high school student, it certainly is. Staying organized,
represented by Jonathan Velazquez. The shortened terms gives little time
communicating effectively, and following up to make things happen
As all politicians know, coming up with the ideas isn’t the problem.
heard from his constituents that they would prefer a different date for
that’s another story. Ever the optimists though, each officer expressed
are key skills that class officers gain during their tenure. Deng recently
the homecoming dance; however, he learned that vendor contracts had already been signed—a valuable lesson in event planning and vendor
management. “The biggest challenge that I’m facing is communication,” said Deng.
Finding the money and getting the green light to make it happen? Well
hope for future events, emboldened by their gained experience, and ready to create something great both for their classes and the Academy as a whole. Certainly, that leaves a lot to look forward to. See more photos of the class officers online at magazine.cheshireacademy.org/campus
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the magazine of cheshire academy
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SECOND TERM JUNIOR CL ASS OFFICERS JULIA R AFFERT Y AND K ATE DAVIS REPLICATE THE POSES OF THEIR POLITICAL INSPIR ATION: LESLIE KNOPE, OF THE TELEVISION SHOW "PARKS AND REC."
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on campus
THE MAKING OF A
MOCK ELECTION 28
the magazine of cheshire academy
In an election year, it was no surprise that History Teacher
to plan in advance. We wanted them to have the sense of being left out if
experience to Cheshire Academy. “We’re an international
to vote. "We want this to be authentic and real," said Fischer. "People vote
Christine Monahan wanted to bring the American voting
school, and what a great opportunity for us to have students
from all over the world participate in a model of the American electoral process,” she said. Thanks to Monahan’s inspiration, an effort to plan a
they didn’t take the time to register early.” There were also no incentives
because they care and want their voices heard, not because they get a bonus on their grade.”
Mock Election at Cheshire Academy was started.
An authentic ballot experience was also on the agenda. “Ideally we
A true teacher, Monahan didn’t want to be the driving force behind the
of assessment isn’t used at Cheshire Academy. They began to research
entire effort though; it needed to have a student’s touch. Carly Fischer ’17 was that student. “When you have the political bug, you tend to gravitate toward others with it,” noted Monahan. “Carly seemed like a natural
choice. She had the skill set and interest that would make her successful at managing a project like a Mock Election.”
As expected, Fischer rose to the challenge. “I’ve always been involved in
politics with my family growing up, but I never had the opportunity to do
something like this,” she said, noting that she might want to study political science in college.
With Fischer on board, the two got to work. The plan was to make the
actual voting process as official as possible. Part of that included having
students and faculty register to vote in advance. “If you don’t register, you
can’t vote,” said Monahan. “It’s about responsibility. In most states you have
would use a Scantron type device,” noted Monahan, but that method
alternatives for tabulating the results of the election and found Zipgrade.
Fischer agreed that this product, which turns any smartphone or tablet into a Scantron-like grading machine, could be the solution they needed. “It looked really efficient,” she said.
Knowing that Fischer and Monahan alone couldn’t coordinate this effort,
Monahan’s two AP Government classes were added to the task force. Since understanding the election was already a key component of those classes, it made sense. However, Monahan noted that it was important to not
influence her students with her own political opinions. “I had to be careful in how I taught, as I need to stay unbiased.” They spent time assessing
the candidates’ strengths and concerns that voters might have about each of them. “You could really see some of our students grapple with their
thoughts and allegiances to the different parties, and if they could continue to support their party’s candidate or not,” Monahan observed.
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Monahan noted that while many teachers around the nation shied away from the election, especially with the challenges of
this year's controversial campaigns, others still
wanted to really bring it
to the classroom and share
“
WHEN YOU HAVE THE POLITICAL BUG, YOU TEND TO GRAVITATE TOWARD OTHERS WITH IT.
information. “The nature of
”
- CHRISTINE MONAHAN
this particular election has been
challenging though,” she said. “But as the
students get older, it becomes more appropriate for them to really delve into the details of the campaigns.”
For a while, they anticipated holding mock debates, with students taking
on the roles of the candidates and hashing out the issues in front of other
students. However, the idea had to be nixed. “Once the election became so
polarizing and personally aggressive, it was hard to push students to endorse either side publicly,” said Fischer.
ELECTION DAY The importance of election day is why Monahan
and Fischer worked to create this event. “This whole Mock Election effort is especially important for
upperclassmen like me,” Fischer said, pointing out
TOP L-R: BROOKE DEHAIS '17, VICTORIA GIACOBBE '17 BOT TOM L-R: MAT THEW TACOPINA '17 AND OLEG LYUBIMOV '17
that some Academy students are of age to vote in the actual election. “This
experience is helping us understand how campaigns progress over time, how
we assess candidates and what the results of an election mean to us. I’m really excited to see what the results are, since we have such a diverse community. Early in the morning, before the mock polls officially opened at Cheshire Academy, Monahan, Fischer, and the AP Government students were
busy preparing. They had already decorated the event room and set up
registration tables, voting booths, and exit interview stations, plus, the bake sale station was filling up with freshly made sweets from faculty. The two
AP Government classes took part in an on campus field trip, manning the
polling station for the entire day. “It is pretty cool to see all the students come together, from all over the world,” said Monahan, as she looked around the
fully staffed room. There were students at each station, welcoming voters and
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directing them through the process. “We switched up roles so students
to their “register in advance or you can’t vote” policy. By mid-day, just over
which was part of ensuring everyone got the full experience of what it takes
of the day, 82 percent of the registered Cheshire Academy voters had cast
worked all the stations and rotated throughout the room,” added Monahan, to organize an election.
60 percent of those who registered to vote had visited the polls. By the end their ballots.
“It really takes a village,” acknowledged Fischer. “From the outside, it might
Once the votes were counted, Clinton took the presidency with 57
making sure everything goes smoothly. At the end of the day, if things don’t
Academy election results differed from those the nation saw on November
seem not complicated, but there are really so many variables that go into go well, it falls on us.”
Monahan noted that they were a little disappointed with the voter
registration from the community, but acknowledged that they still held true
percent of the vote at the Academy’s Mock Election. While the Cheshire 8, 2016—Clinton received only 48 percent of the vote nationally—the
voting experience that our students had was similar, giving all students the opportunity for their voices to be heard. See more photos online at magazine.cheshireacademy.org/campus
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BELOW: K ARLY FISCHER '17
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A MODEL STUDENT 32
EVERY YEAR, high school students
Conferences are where students get to put what
focused on diplomacy, international relations, and
brought 16 students to Yale for the annual Model
around the world gather to participate in a club the United Nations. For almost 100 years, Model United Nations, also known as Model UN, has
given students the opportunity to learn how to research, debate, write, critically think, and work
together. For many Academy students, the Model UN experience isn’t just a way to appease their
academic requirements; rather, it has unlocked passions they barely knew existed, built skills that will last a lifetime. And for some it has pushed them towards careers in politics, government, and more.
The Model UN club’s main goal is to give members a simulation of the United Nations through which
delegates debate, collaborate, and attempt to solve wide-ranging international issues. The club's Lead
advisor is English Teacher Theresa West, with the
they’ve learned to good use. In January 2013, West UN conference, which the club has attended each
year since. In addition to Yale, Choate Rosemary Hall also holds a mini conference, which the
Academy has attended for the last two years. Cheshire Academy itself has held conferences on
topics like gun control and drone use. In November, the club held a mini conference with Cheshire High
School on the topic of the Syrian Refugee Crisis. In
addition to domestic conferences, in 2015 a small group from the Academy traveled to Haileybury and Imperial Service College in England, which hosts
the largest Model UN conference in their country. Students were given the opportunity to attend the
conference and participate, and several even came home with a few awards for best delegates.
help of Director of the Writing Center Wendy
“In the Model UN club, students learn through
reminisced, “When I first started, we held sessions
students teach new club members the skills and
Swift and History Teacher Jennifer Dillon. West
in the evenings right before study hall. That spring, Patrick Brown, who was an eighth grader at the time and now a senior, attended the Kingswood Oxford Model United Nations Middle School conference and won best delegate. It was a good start.”
their active participation in conferences. Returning knowledge they need in order to participate
effectively at conferences,” said West. “A student might address an audience of over 300 students in
a committee at Yale. Our practice conferences help students gain confidence in their ability to think on
their feet and to express their ideas clearly. Students
work together to develop written resolutions that address global crises.”
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Working together and meeting new students are
The impact the club is having on students is
join the club. “My favorite aspect would have to be
thinking about continuing their education in similar
just a few of the major reasons students decide to the students in the club and the other delegates at
the conferences,” said Regina McCoy ’17. “Most kids our age are more worried about clothes, social media, and gossip, whereas in Model UN you’re
surrounded by young people who care about global
issues and want to make the world a better place.” Zoe Genden ’19, a second year club member, added
by saying, “I get to develop a lot of new skills, like public speaking, debate, and research, while meeting
many different people. I also enjoy listening and
talking to such a diverse group of people, and eventually you create a network of friends from all different backgrounds and schools.”
With all the reasons students have joined the club, it’s Brown, the current Club President, who summed it up best. “I remember a time during
my first conference at Yale when, after two days of debate, the room had finally drafted a resolution that seemed to solve everything we’d been working on. The vote passed unanimously and a palpable
wave of relief washed over the room. That, to me, is Model UN at its best," he explained. "Even though
areas of study. Even though Genden is only in her
second year of Model UN, she is currently the club’s
secretary and thinking about a future related to it. “As of now, I can see myself going into government
or politics as I think those topics are really
fascinating,” she said. “I’m currently a sophomore
and interested in majoring in political science.” Brown, who will be heading to Yale University in
the fall, is also thinking about a related major saying, “Examining international relations through the lens of Model UN has piqued my interest; I’m looking into a global affairs major as a result.”
Even more intriguing are students like Julia Rafferty
’18, whose interests aren't usually associated with governments. “I have a very strong passion for
musical theater and government, which may seem
very different, but they really aren’t.” said Rafferty. She goes on to describe how both subject areas
“
MOST KIDS OUR AGE ARE MORE WORRIED ABOUT CLOTHES, SOCIAL MEDIA, GOSSIP, WHEREAS
we had been debating fiercely for hours on end, we
IN MODEL UN YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY YOUNG
it was immensely satisfying to see our work pay off,
PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT GLOBAL ISSUES AND
even if only in simulation.”
WANT TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.
For many students, returning to the club after
- ZOE GENDEN ’19
their first year is not uncommon. “I have been
participating in the club for three years,” said
require her to be able to hold herself in front of a
who has served as president for three years, has been
how passion plays a large role in both foreign
McCoy, who started her sophomore year. Brown, in the program now for five years, having joined
when he was in the eighth grade. Brown said, “The reason I’ve stayed as involved in Model UN as I have
for as long is the dedication of the community. I’ve
never met a group of young people as dedicated to engaging in their ideas at such a high level as I have
large crowd and perform. In addition, she describes affairs, which she can see herself studying in college along with musical theater. Rafferty joined her
freshman year and is interested in foreign affairs, international relations, fighting for social justice, and public speaking.
throughout Model UN conferences. The energy and
While current students continue to figure out if
makes the process so worthwhile.”
alumni who were in Model UN have utilized
commitment that each of us bring to debate is what
the magazine of cheshire academy
politics and government are the right fit for them, what they learned and are taking those passions
“
were all there to cooperate, and at the end of the day,
34
evidenced by the fact that many of them are
to the next level. “The Academy’s Model UN provided a healthy appreciation for the mechanics
and procedural processes of both governmental
and international organizations, like the United Nations,” said Thomas Cavaliere ’15. “Without the
“
I’VE NEVER MET A GROUP OF YOUNG
hard work—and fun, of course—at our conferences,
PEOPLE AS DEDICATED
internships in the European Parliament and the
TO ENGAGING IN THEIR
I would be without the skills needed to tackle my Unites States Senate, where I am now.” Cavaliere is
currently studying international affairs at American
IDEAS AT SUCH A
of 2016 on behalf of Amnesty.” Lewis was also a Rizzolo-Larson Venture Grant winner during her
time at the Academy and took the “International
Human Rights & Politics” course at Yale during the summer between her junior and senior years.
The impact of Model UN has also helped some students to unlock new passions they might not
have discovered. Demi Vitkute ’13 from Lithuania
remembers, “I was in the Press Corps committee at
University and has interned with the European
HIGH LEVEL AS I HAVE
the Yale conference and it was the first time I felt
who is a Member of the Progressive Alliance of
THROUGHOUT MODEL
even though it was simulated. And here I am today,
Socialists and Democrats. He is currently interning in Senator Richard Blumenthal’s Office (D-CT)
in the U.S. Senate. Read more about Cavaliere's experiences on page 64.
Recent graduate and salutatorian Paola Fortes
Fernandez ’16, who is studying international studies
UN CONFERENCES.
“
Parliament with Czech MEP Miroslav Poche,
- PATRICK BROWN ’17
and focusing on Latin America at the University
Guillermo Garcia Montenegro ’13 remembers
role in continuing her education. “My dream is to
nuanced perspective as to how governments
Development Programme, Children’s Fund;, or
arena,” he stated. “Second, it also proved to me the
she said. “Being a leader and delegate of Model
UN, play in sustaining world peace and overseeing
procedures of the United Nations, but it has also
Montenegro is attending Kenyon College for
speaking and how to develop a successful argument.”
with his studies, he’s realized the many complexities
that was presented to her while at the Academy:
politics. However, this has motivated Montenegro
other extracurricular activities, I was actually invited
but also with real-world experiences.
General Assembly. Unfortunately, I couldn’t go as it
In addition to studying related fields in college,
of school, but I owe part of this achievement to the
passions. “In college, I am taking courses in public
of Michigan, clearly remembers the Model UN’s
his time in Model UN. “First, it gave me a more
someday work at the United Nations, primarily the
interact with one another in the international
Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization,”
pivotal role that multilateral organizations, like the
UN has not only taught me the parliamentary
the actions of sovereign states within their borders.”
taught me important life skills such as public
international studies and sociology. As he continues
Fortes even recalls a very special opportunity
and obstacles that are present in international
“Because of my involvement in Model UN and
to immerse himself further not only in his studies,
to be a part of the Mexican delegation at the UN would have required me to miss more than a month
students are also finding new clubs that extend their
Academy’s Model UN club.”
policy, and I am heavily involved in my school’s
While the necessary skills to work in international
world’s largest human rights organization,” said
UN experience opened up a yearning to make the
Model UN to Washington, D.C. this November,
Amnesty International club, which is part of the
affairs are important, for some students the Model
Shannon Lewis ’16. “I took the skills I learned from
world a better place through diplomatic means.
where I lobbied for The Refugee Protection Act
the intensity of a press room during breaking news, still pursuing journalism.” Vitkute is currently
working towards her master’s degree in journalism at Columbia University and is co-founder of an
online publication dubbed “The Urban Watch
Magazine.” According to the Vitkute, the magazine looks at “the culture, fashion, business, and people of New York and London.”
Another example of finding new passions includes Gabriel Bradley ’14, who’s studying at State
University of New York, Purchase. “Model UN was
a vital opportunity for me during high school … because it exposed me to and inspired me toward social activism,” he said. “As a person of color living
today in this country, it is essential to be aware, informed, and prepared to take action.”
While high schools across the country continue to offer a variety of clubs for students, none might be
as successful in ushering students into the world of
politics, government, and international relations as
the Model UN. For Cheshire Academy students, it appears the club is well on its way to producing
some of the world’s greatest politicians, leaders, writers, and humanitarians.
Share your Model UN memories at magazine.cheshireacademy.org/campus
17 94
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ATHLETICS CAMPAIGNS
VARSITY FOOTBALL CAPTURES NEPSAC WAYNE SANBORN BOWL On a picture perfect day, the Varsity Football team beat Brunswick School 45-20 to capture the Wayne Sanborn Bowl on Saturday,
November 19. Head Coach David Dykeman’s Cats did it in fine fashion unleashing an explosive offense coupled with a suffocating defense. Coby Tippett ’17 scored three times racking up 220 yards rushing. Tarik Black ’17 had two electrifying passes and catch
touchdowns in his final game for the Academy. CJ Holmes ’17 carried the ball 20 times for 120 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback CJ Lewis ’17 was 11-13 passing for 220 yards and three touchdowns. Griffin Burke ’17, Jeremy Imperati ’17, Ryan Whittelsey ’17,
Zach Verdi ’17, Rob Hart ’17, Nick Cardello ’17, and Hunter Verdi ’17 shut down the explosive Brunswick offense. Joe Tacopina ’17 was outstanding all day with six extra points and a 30-yard field goal. The Academy closed the season with eight straight wins.
36
the magazine of cheshire academy
ELITE HOCKEY STUDENT-ATHLETE CHOSEN FOR ITALIAN NATIONAL TEAM Stefano Del Piccolo ’17 represented his home country of Italy in the 18U Four Nations
Hockey Tournament in St. Polten, Austria, November 3-5. During the three-day event, the Italian team competed against Hungary on November 3, followed by Slovenia on November 4, and finally Austria on November 5.
“This is a tremendous honor that I know he is extremely proud of, and everyone
associated with the Cheshire Academy program shares in this pride with him,” said Head 18U Hockey Coach & Hockey Operations Manager Kevin Cunningham. “Stefano is a very talented player who combines high end offensive skills with a selflessness and
determination to succeed, making him an impact player every time he laces up his skates.” In addition, the 18U & 16U Elite Hockey Program at Cheshire Academy received a once in a lifetime experience on Wednesday, September 28, when its players had the opportunity to go up against the Chinese National Team in Stamford, Connecticut.
VARSITY VOLLEYBALL SECURES CLASS B PLAYOFF TRIP In the quarterfinal round of the NEPSGVA Class B tournament, the Varsity Volleyball team fell to
Suffield Academy by a score of 3-1 (25-14, 25-12,
20-25, and 25-15) on Wednesday, November 16. The Cats were led by co-captain Lexe Holmes ’18, who had 15 kills and one block, and Des
Parker ’18, who had three aces, five kills, and seven blocks. Postgraduate Molly Fusarelli contributed
four aces and 23 assists.
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NATIONAL SIGNING DAY On Wednesday, November 9, the Academy had five studentathletes commit on National Signing Day to Division I universities to play baseball next spring.
“These five athletes are exemplar students and citizens at the Academy,” said Head Varsity Baseball Coach John Toffey. ELITE HOCKEY ALL-STAR GAME PARTICIPANTS
“A day like today is a result of countless hours of hard work,
Join us in congratulating members of the Elite Hockey
students receive at Cheshire Academy is unmatched. I’m very
Program who participated in the All-Star Game at
Harvard College. A league record of 16 players from
Cheshire Academy were selected for the game, including
discipline, focus, and determination. The institutional support proud of these boys and know they will be well prepared for the challenges ahead.”
Cam Ellis ’18, Josh Waters ’19, Roope Partanen ’19, Tim
Commitments include: Jake Randolph (University of
Yasuda ’19, Austin Withycombe ’18, Stefano Del Piccolo
University), Andrew Gorham (Tulane University), James
Heinke ’20, Chris Adam ’18, Jerrett Overland ’19, Kei
’17, Henry Denne ’17, Danny Crossen ’17, Tyler English
’17, Grant Rodgers ’19, Kyle Anderson ’18, Guy Jung ’18, and Brayden Pawluk ’17.
North Carolina - Chapel Hill), Matt Mancino (Clemson Judenis (University of Hartford), and Chris Galland (Boston College).
This is the first of multiple signings that will happen
throughout the winter and will be featured in the next issue.
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STUDENT-ATHLETES RECEIVE LEAGUE HONORS The following student-athletes received New England Prep School Athletics Council honors for the fall athletic season:
VARSITY FOOTBALL
VARSITY GIRLS SOCCER
Coby Tippett ’17 - Class A All New England Selections
Carly Fischer ’17 - Western New England Preparatory School Soccer
CJ Holmes ’17 - Class A All New England Selections
Association All-Star, Senior Bowl
Tarik Black ’17 - Class A All New England Selections
Miura Wiley ’17 - Western New England Preparatory School Soccer
Jeremy Imperati ’17 - Class A All New England Selections
VARSITY BOYS SOCCER Ali Cindik ’17 - First player to earn Western New England Prep
Association All-Star, Senior Bowl Olivia Betancourt ’18 - New England Prep School Soccer Association Junior All-Star Team (could not play due to concussion)
Large School First Team, New England Prep School Soccer
VARSITY FIELD HOCKEY
Association First Team, and New England Prep School Soccer
Feize Turkmen ’18 - Western New England Girls Preparatory School
Senior Large School All-Star Game, and MVP in his senior year
Field Hockey Association All-Star Game
Luca Mazzella ’19 - Western New England Prep Large School
Lucey Savino ’19 - Western New England Girls Preparatory School
Honorable Mention
Field Hockey Association All-Star Game
Osa Frederick '18 - New England Top 44 Junior All-Star Game
Find out more about the athletics season at magazine.cheshireacademy.org/campus
17 94 39
PRIMARY COLORS
FALL PLAY GIVES AUDIENCE DINNER PARTY TO REMEMBER A three-decade tradition, the annual Christmas party
hosted by the Misses Morkan in her apartment shared with her niece, Mary Jane, in Ushers Island, Dublin, is an event to look forward to. Songs were sung, drinks were drunk, and dances were danced. It’s a play by
Richard Nelson and Shaun Davey based on the short story “The Dead” by James Joyce in his collection,
“Dubliners” and was this year’s choice for the Fall Play, performed by the Academy’s Varsity Players.
In total, more than 20 students, faculty, and staff
participated in this year’s production which had three
performances that ran Thursday, November 10 through Saturday, November 12.
L-R: 40 GR ACE GREEN '17 AND ABIGAIL ZUCKERT '17
STUDENTS SELECTED FOR SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC FESTIVAL On Saturday, November 5, a total of 21 Cheshire Academy students auditioned for the Southern Connecticut Regional High School
Music Festival. Competing against all other high schools in southern
Connecticut, 13 of Academy students were accepted and performed in
the festival on January 13 and 14, 2017 at the Middletown High School. Evan Bajohr ’18 and Olivia Williamson ’20 were accepted for percussion, Jameson Hardy ’19 and Daniel Li ’18 were accepted for saxophone,
Maggie Guarino-Trier ’18 and Julie Lee ’17 were accepted for flute,
and Alicia Kim ’18 was accepted for violin. For vocalists, James Kim
’17 and Aaron Luo ’19 were accepted for bass; Emma Zheng ’18, Julia Rafferty ’18, and Samantha Weed ’18 were accepted for alto; and Lexi Williamson ’18 was accepted for soprano.
SCULPTURES FROM DEPARTMENT CHAIR FRAN POISSON ON DISPLAY For the better part of September, Fine & Performing Arts Department Chair Fran Poisson had a series of his sculptures put on display in a show entitled “3X4” at Pascal Hall in Rockport,
Maine. Poisson’s collection highlighted different types of cars, which he has been working on for the last 20 years. With 17 pieces in total, the series is made out of wood with cast iron wheels
and uses a technique called trompe l’oeil, which means fool the eye, and actually entails painting the wood to look like wood grains and textures.
The majority of the cars are in Poisson’s Bunny Car series, which is inspired by Richard Scarry’s children’s books and characters like Lowly Worm and the Apple Car. There is also a Refugee Car, which is derived from a trip Poisson took to Serbia before the war broke out in the 90s.
“My car series are often times inspired by what I see and the political trends of the time,” said
Poisson. “Most recently, I finished a 1960s Italian super-car that includes a cast iron baby head. I’m a bit of a car buff.”
See more photos and arts events online at magazine.cheshireacademy.org/campus
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St u d e n t I n s t ag r a m Ph oto # o s c a r t a o
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ALUMNI E V EN T S A N D A LU M N I S H A PI N G O U R W O R L D
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alumni
DAVID O'CONNELL '02
RUNNING THE
R CES David O’Connell ’02 is no stranger to the challenges of running a political campaign; he spent the first five years of his career on the losing side of elections. Back in 2008, he was managing small congressional races and consistently losing. But, things changed in 2013 when O’Connell managed a competitive special congressional election in Charleston, South Carolina. “There were 16 candidates, and we had to get into
O’Connell didn’t know this was an interview.
outspent by two million dollars, but we were able
relaxed in my conversations. I didn’t realize that
the top two spots of the run-off election. We were to advance despite the discrepancy. That changed my career, really.” People started to take notice
of O’Connell more than ever, as he was able to
hold his own even without the large budget that
others had at their disposal. “After that, my career took off. I went to work for the chairman of the
National Republican Congressional committee,”
“I was just shooting the breeze, very casual and he wanted me to manage his race, and I wasn’t
prepared for that to be an interview. I just spoke to him as someone I wanted to get to know.”
Fortunately, O’Connell is someone who can easily speak about his field without any preparation. He
was still surprised he was offered a job on the spot.
he said.
As a political campaign manager, mostly in the
“I wasn’t expecting the job offer that I got three
different congressional campaigns. His name is on
years ago.” O’Connell explained that after the South Carolina race, he got a call to come to
the Party headquarters in Washington, D.C. “I met the chairman, who wanted to know how I
designed the campaign because it was so unusual.
I mobilized a large portion of the community that normally didn’t vote and got them involved.”
west, O’Connell has been in charge of running 10 a short list of people that Republican candidates
who run for congress can call. They can review his resume, interview him, and decide if they want to work with him.
One of his secrets to success? Maintaining
consistent relationships with vendors across the
country. “I try to make sure that the landscape and the candidates are the only things that change.”
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He stays with the same firms to conduct
up of students who were very liberal, and
survey research and polling, television
O’Connell was the only true conservative in
advertising production, and digital media,
the room. But it didn’t bother him one bit. “I
including Facebook and websites. These
really enjoyed that competition. My experiences
ongoing relationships help O’Connell keep costs
at Cheshire Academy shaped me more for my
the potential for faster turnaround on projects.
where I went to college, but I knew I wanted to
low, maintain consistency of work, and increase
O’Connell’s accomplishments as a campaign
manager helped him launch a new chapter in his career at the time of the interview. Working for
the National Republican Senatorial Committee as a project manager, he is in charge of running the
ground operation in Pennsylvania on behalf of the senatorial committee, campaigning for one of the
five seats that will decide which party controls the Senate Chamber next year. “I like the action and the challenge of it, it’s sport to me. ”
“This is something so different from what I
normally do,” he commented. One of the biggest challenges for O’Connell today is managing
people, something that wasn’t as prevalent in his previous roles. “I have a staff of 200 under me,
and I even had to hire local people to go out and do door-to-door research. I’ve never been given a
task that wasn’t possible, but many of them are daunting. Knocking on doors in an unfamiliar and heavily democratic community to survey
them was one of those challenges.” O’Connell’s
solution? Find local people passionate about the cause who could connect with voters on both sides of the aisle.
“I have to put together a budget that fits with the amount of financial resources that the candidate
has … the budget is the biggest challenge in most campaigns.” O’Connell is no stranger to another obstacle when it comes to running campaigns,
finances, as he proved with his achievements in
general direction than even my college did. I loved get a political science degree and work in political 2013. He laughed, “I don’t have an accounting
degree or background in human resources, but
in this role, I’m both an accountant and an HR manager.” From balancing budgets to hiring
new personnel, a project manager’s job on any
campaign is to make sure everything gets done. O’Connell has a vast network, and it has been influencing him for years, even as a student at
Cheshire Academy. “David was a student with
a seriousness of purpose few of his peers could match. He knew far more about American
political culture than most adults,” said History Teacher James “Butch” Rogers, who had O’Connell as a student.
O’Connell pointed out that he didn’t come from a political family, but his father encouraged
him to pursue his passion. “I was in Mr. Rogers’ government class at the time, and he had this
poster for a high school lecture series down in DC. My dad went up and took one of those
tear offs for more information and brought it
to me. I threw it away.” Not one to give up, his father, Gregory O’Connell ’66, went back and
got another one and forced him to go. “I ended up loving it. I was very into history and the government at the time,” he said.
“Perhaps it was in AP Government class where
he really learned to articulate his political beliefs,” Rogers said. That particular class was made
campaign management before I went to college,” he said.
Since graduating, O’Connell has even come back to campus to share his experiences and insight
of running a campaign with students, both as a speaker on the Cheshire Conversations career
panel and in Rogers’ government class. His passion and leadership have lead him down a challenging
but rewarding career path. “I was reading an article about how a lot of Americans have anxiety over the election. I’ve always been competitive and enjoy that aspect of this work.”
Now that this current race is over, O’Connell
isn’t sure what the future will hold for him. He
explained, “The new president will appoint a new cabinet, and inevitably will choose new congress members, which can spur special elections ...
There’s a chance that I could be grabbed to manage one of those. Another option is that I could go
after a position to become a recruiter to get people to run for congress themselves. I’d be responsible for 30-40 seats. I also have some connections to
the senate committee too, and that could affect my direction. My network will greatly influence the
career path I take after this.” Whatever happens,
O’Connell is confident that, “only good things will happen for me in the future.”
See more photos of David O'Connell at magazine.cheshireacademy.org/alumni
17 94
alumni
BRIAN GOLDMEIER ’02
THE MAN BEHIND
THE MONE Y ANY GOOD POLITICAL RACE
requires a few basic necessities: a
candidate, running platform, and money. When it comes to the money, Cheshire Academy alumnus Brian Goldmeier ’02 has quickly made a name
for himself by raising millions of dollars for political candidates. His company, BYG Strategies Inc., is now the go-to resource for fundraising in South Florida. However, that wasn’t his original plan.
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GOLDMEIER WITH PRESIDENT BAR ACK OBAMA AT MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 2016 (DGA EVENT ), COURTESY PHOTO
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alumni
L
ooking back at his time at the
While not terribly excited about the opportunity,
your career is about seeing that moment,” he
lacked structure. “My parents sent me
role of politics in the world. “I really wasn’t very
Time to sink or swim.”
Academy, Goldmeier admits that he
to boarding school at the age of 12,”
Goldmeier stated. “When I landed at Cheshire
Academy, I was very independent.” It wasn’t until he started playing tennis with Coach Chip Boyd that Goldmeier truly found a passion. “I really
liked the teamwork and camaraderie of the team. It made me want to go into a profession that
Goldmeier did get a first-hand glimpse at the
interested in politics, but in 2006 Deval Patrick was running for Governor of Massachusetts
While the campaign continued to look for
“Normally, I’d pick up a paper and read the
didn’t sleep,” he said. Goldmeier read business
and it kind of caught my attention,” he noted. sports section and now all of a sudden I was reading the political section.”
dealt with sports,” he reminisced.
Once the Clinton campaign ended in 2008,
When it was time for college, Goldmeier chose a
in New Hampshire that interested him. He
small independent college just north of Boston, Massachusetts. Endicott College was home to
just 3,000 undergraduates but gave Goldmeier a
major he was interested in exploring called sports management. “I wanted to be a sports agent,” said Goldmeier.
said. “I said to myself this is my opportunity.
Goldmeier spotted another political opportunity ultimately decided to defer from law school and joined the Paul Hodes congressional campaign. However, he felt something was missing. “New Hampshire just wasn’t my cup of tea,” he said. “I’m more of an urban and city guy.”
a replacement, Goldmeier went to work. “I
publications, conducted research, and built as
many relationships as he could in the area. He constantly attended networking events and
arranged meetings for Sink. At the end of the
campaign, Goldmeier alone had raised about $7
million of Sink’s $30 million total amount. “Even though Sink ended up losing by nearly a 1%
margin,” he said, “I had begun to make a name
for myself and on the election night of Sink’s loss a friend came to me with another opportunity.”
“I SAID TO MYSELF THIS IS MY OPPORTUNITY. TIME TO SINK OR SWIM.” - BRIAN GOLDMEIER ’02
After graduating Endicott, Goldmeier looked
After the Hodes campaign, Goldmeier
Within the next couple days, Goldmeier began
team. However, none of the teams he approached
where he was originally from. “I saw that Alex
Finance Director on a new campaign for the
to start an internship with a professional sports were hiring at the time. While being a sports
agent was still on his mind, he decided start the
process of applying to law school. In the midst of taking the LSAT, Goldmeier’s father—who has
experience in the political world through his real estate, housing, and development firm and by
having a business partner close to the Clintons— suggested he try something in politics.
In 2007, Goldmeier was given the chance to intern with Hillary’s presidential campaign
against Barack Obama. Positioned on the New
England Finance Team, Goldmeier got his first
taste of fundraising by helping to contact people in the area about giving to the campaign.
discovered an interesting opening in Florida,
Sink, the current CFO for the state of Florida, was running for re-election,” he remembered. After moving to Florida, Goldmeier began
working on the campaign finance team. “You learn quickly that in politics finance means
fundraising. I think it makes us sound more professional to people,” he laughed.
During the re-election campaign, after some political musical chairs, Sink would end
up running as the democratic nominee for
Governor of Florida. During the campaign,
the South Florida Finance Director decided to leave, which put Goldmeier in an interesting situation as the next in charge of the region.
While the campaign looked for replacements,
Goldmeier saw this as his opportunity. “Building
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having conversations about working as the
current County Commissioner Carlos Giménez, who was considering a 2012 run for Miami-
Dade County Mayor. In one of the biggest voter recalls in U.S. history, the current Mayor Carlos Alvarez was ousted in March 2011. Giménez decided to run in the special election for the
mayoral position against some steep competition. “We started polling at six points, while our main
competitor was in the thirties.” Polling wasn’t the only numbers Goldmeier had to be concerned about. The opponent had the backing of the
establishment, which came with more financial backing. However, Goldmeier had managed,
against all odds, to raise more than $2 million
in the special election and it did the trick. “We won by two points, fifty-one to forty-nine.” Goldmeier smiled.
L: GOLDMEIER AND HILL ARY CLINTON IN NEW YORK CIT Y, NEW YORK, 2015 (HRC NATIONAL FINANCE COMMIT TEE EVENT ), COURTESY PHOTO R: R AHM EMANUAL, GOLDMEIER, AND MAYOR CARLOS A GIMENEZ IN MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 2014 (R AHM EMANUEL EVENT ), COURTESY PHOTO
When asked about what makes him successful at his job, it wasn’t the
total amount of money raised that Goldmeier touted. In fact, it was the invaluable contacts he’s created. “My goal is to create relationships,” he said. “The more people and relationships I create, the more I can help others when it comes to fundraising.”
The approach is a bit unconventional for the field and is another
reason he can fundraise for both democrat and republican candidates. Goldmeier thinks first about creating relationships and then later
player Alonzo Mourning, who created the Mourning Family Foundation that supports after school programs for inner city youth.”
Goldmeier is also helping with a project called “The Underline.” The goal is to create a 10-mile linear park below Miami’s Metrorail, which will
create an open space that will run from the Miami River to Dadeland
South Station. The park will give residents a place to support a healthy lifestyle, art, and more.
decides what may be the best giving plan for that individual, if any at all.
Goldmeier isn’t just living in the present either when it comes to the
you have to be very strategic. Not everyone is the right person to ask
and connecting with the young professionals in the area as well. These
“I’m extremely targeted,” he noted. “When it comes to political giving
for money for a given campaign.” Depending on the politician’s views,
relationships, and office they are running for, Goldmeier will decide who is best to ask for donations. He used an example of not asking someone
to support a new athletics stadium if you know the person is into the arts. “Again, you have to be very smart and strategic,” he reiterated. “I may not reach out to you for months, but when I do, I believe it's because this is the right cause or campaign for you to get involved in.”
Another reason Goldmeier is focused on creating these strong
relationships he’s creating. He’s actively attending networking events
individuals, in time, will become the political and societal front-runners in the years to come. “Life is about equity, not just retainers,” he said. “I
believe that 15 years down the road all of these relationships will lead to amazing opportunities.” In short, Goldmeier is putting in the time with all of the residents of South Florida as he continues to focus on being a
top fundraiser. Whether fundraising for a political campaign, commercial opportunity, or charity organization, he is there to help and has the connections to make it all happen.
partnerships first is because his fundraising doesn’t end at political
At the end of the day, Goldmeier may have raised millions of dollars,
Miami, which I truly love,” he mentioned. “I have a number of charities
evident that he’s so much more than just the man behind the money.
candidates. “The relationships I’ve created has allowed me to really help I help fundraise for using my relationships.” Some of those charity
organizations include his local United Way as well as celebrity basketball
but as he continues to support his community and grow relationships it’s
See more photos of Goldmeier online at magazine.cheshireacademy.org/alumni
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alumni
NATALIE MADDOX ’02
DETECTIVE OF THE HOUSE “Are you interested in lowering your interest rates by an average of 33 percent?” On the other end of the line could be a consumer with high credit card debt, or it could be someone like Natalie Maddox ’02, investigating debt collection companies and gathering data that could drive government policy.
A
s part of her job as Senior Public Policy Analyst
While affecting public policy and creating reform is
(GAO), Maddox, twin sister of Nicole Maddox '02
each report. “In grad school, we do everything on the
with the Government Accountability Office
featured on page 50, has reviewed issues such as the
Immigrant Investor Program, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) performance, and financial products specifically
focused on debt settlement agencies. According to
computer, but for my job, the real information is in the hard copy and the follow up meetings where I can ask about every detail in the report,” she explained.
the agency’s website, the GAO is the “investigative
It’s not all reading reports and conducting interview
objective reports and recommendations related to the
agencies rely on GAO analysts like Maddox to uncover
arm of Congress,” focused on producing non-partisan, payment of public funds, recommendations that could end up as laws.
“We push for recommendations at the agency level. So every time I can push for recommendations that an
agency implements, I count that as a win,” said Maddox. For debt settlement agencies, that meant banning
deceptive marketing practices and putting a cap on the fees the companies could charge. “Consumers
though—detective work is involved, as well. Federal the truth about how money is being spent and where
fraud might be happening. “[Looking] into debt
collecting companies who prey on individuals in debt, we actually went undercover and did a lot of covert phone
calls pretending to be customers to see how they would communicate with a customer. The companies provided false information and gave a deceptive understanding of who they were.”
had to pay $500-$800 just to sign up, then they had
Looking back, Maddox knows that her work, which was
wouldn’t see any results from the companies. Now, these
States’ most vulnerable consumers. In fact, non-partisan,
to go delinquent on their cards, and often times they companies can’t charge consumers until a service has been rendered.”
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the end goal, hundreds of hours of research go into
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used to create new policies, helped plenty of the United
independent government review agencies play a key part in our legislative system of checks and balances.
However, while the GAO is non-partisan, they do
sometimes investigate issues with political undertones. Maddox most recently reviewed The Immigrant Investor
Program (EB-5, which is set to expire this winter), a 1990 program that grants Visas and Green Cards to
immigrants who invest in American companies and create jobs in the country.
“Both sides have different views about reauthorizing the program. The Democrats want to see more transparency
and tighter controls, but they want the program to stay around, while Republicans push for complete reform
and advocate for certain aspects of the program to expire,” said Maddox.
In addition to her work at the GAO, the 32 year-old
attorney has her juris doctor degree from the University of Maryland School of Law. While earning her master
of science degree in public policy from Carnegie Mellon University, Maddox said that, “about halfway through
my first year I knew I still wanted to be an attorney. In 2008, I accepted the GAO position in Washington, D.C. and went to law school at night in Baltimore.”
Never one to pass up on a challenge, Maddox is also a
partner in her Maryland law firm where she represents
clients in family court, many of which are pro bono cases. At our time of speaking, Maddox had just accepted a
special detail opportunity to work on Capitol Hill for
one year in an Investigative Counsel position with the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, a standing
committee which conducts hearings on potential federal judges, among other things.
Find more photos of Maddox online at magazine.cheshireacademy.org/alumni
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alumni
NICOLE MADDOX ’02
THE POLICY DOCTOR For those living in the United States, the last few years have been something of a crashcourse in healthcare policy. Even with the Affordable Healthcare Act fully in effect, Americans are hardly well-versed in phrases like “single-payer,” “universal,” and “federal mandate.”
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F
or international healthcare policy experts
government worker’s desk covered in files comes
Natalie Maddox ’02, featured on page 48 however,
through over 100 patient files, each with their own
like Nicole Maddox ’02, twin sister of
making sure citizens get quality care is more than a
from?” she joked, speaking to her own time going
quality of life in the United States and to examine its financial benefits.”
manila folder.
It’s for this reason that Maddox has decided to go
Arkansas, and now Milan, Maddox has an in-depth
To Maddox, policy changes that would mandate
in public policy and administration at Università
real health of individual citizens.
research, but also the quality of care a patient
partisan debate. Having worked in Zambia, Kenya, understanding of how national policies affect the
“Healthcare policies are grounded by the healthcare
issues in the country,” said Maddox. “In Africa, key
concerns are HIV testing, malaria interventions, and access to medication. In the U.S. we’re interested in making sure everyone has health insurance and
health coverage, and ensuring no one is exposed to secondhand smoke, as examples. The issues are
digitizing patient files would make not only her receives, happen more efficiently. According to Maddox, in Kenya, “every time you go into
the hospital they give you a new ID number so tracking specific patients is very hard.” This is why it took a special healthcare policy analyst to notice
that patients who were arriving at stage three had previously visited the hospital at stage one.
back to school. She’s currently a PhD candidate
Commerciale 'Luigi Bocconi' in Milan. Previously, she earned her master’s degree in public service from the Clinton School of Public Service after
her time at Wellesley College where she earned her
bachelor’s degree in Africana studies and biology. She believes her PhD will give her the skills necessary to further analyze healthcare policy from an economic perspective.
different in Zambia.”
In Zambia, the majority of health services in the country are free to patients. Whether or not
patients can access timely and quality services is another question, and one that policy analysts like
"HOW MUCH WILL THIS COST, AND WHO WILL PAY FOR IT?"
Maddox are tasked with answering.
- NICOLE MADDOX '02
Maddox recalls one project in Kenya where she
examined patient mortalities related to cervical cancer. “I was there for seven months, and I did a
While digitizing records is key to helping healthcare
Maddox’s interest in healthcare was heavily
medical records of women who came for cancer
care, Maddox warns that governments (and
been passionate about working on issues involving
retrospective analysis looking back two years at the services and a lot of them had died. The women
were coming in the late stages of the disease, at the
terminal stages, so there wasn’t much doctors could do.” Maddox said that her research showed that a
number of the terminal patients had come to the
clinic at stage one, but not returned until stage four. According to Maddox, “At the time there was only
policy analysts conduct research to improve patient consumers) also need to focus on the money. “One of the things you need to look at when you think
about improving care is how much will this cost, and who will pay for it? Is it going to fall to the patient? Is it going to fall to the government? Is it going to fall to someone else?”
influenced by the death of her grandmother. “I’ve cancer since I lost my grandmother at 13,” she said, continuing with the caveat, “If you asked me what I
wanted to be at 13, well, I would have said a doctor.” Though not at the operating table, Maddox is still
influencing the lives of patients through research; her work ensures governments develop better, more
one public facility that could perform radiation
As a country, the United States is dealing with
generally six to eight months.” Using that data, the
healthcare policy that will cover more citizens, cost
“I would say this has been a path of discovery.
“We are just entering the era of having [federally
we were required to do an international service
on women with cervical cancer. The wait time was
clinic Maddox worked with proposed opening new radiation centers to provide care more quickly and at more affordable rates.
Much of Maddox’s work involves stacks of patient files. “You wonder where that cartoon image of a
this issue first-hand. In implementing a new is a factor—along with who will provide the funds. mandated] healthcare in all 50 states and we don't quite understand what the cost will be on the
government. It will be interesting to look at the data in five years to see how this has impacted the
comprehensive policies when it comes to health.
When I went to do my master’s in public service, project. I chose Kenya and I really fell in love with
the country and the work I was able to do, and I
knew this is where I needed to be,” said Maddox. “It’s been an amazing journey thus far.” Find more photos of Maddox at magazine.cheshireacademy.org/alumni
17 94
Winter Reception
54
A NIGHT FOR THE AGES This December, parents, friends, faculty, and alumni of the Academy gathered in the Gideon Welles Dining Commons to celebrate the holiday season at the 28th Annual Winter Reception. This year’s reception was attended by over 200 guests.
Strung with festive lights and garlands, the dining hall was transformed into a winter wonderland complimented by
performances from Cheshire Academy student musicians, including traditional holiday songs sung by Julia Rafferty ’18. Director of
Development & Alumni Relations Barbara Davis P’17 P’18 P’20 spoke about the importance of the event to the history of the
school. “This is one of those traditions that brings people back to
campus to reminisce with former classmates and teachers,” she said. One of the newer traditions at the Winter Reception is the Giving Tree, which made its third annual appearance at the event. The
Giving Tree supports the Classroom Enrichment Fund, which goes to purchase items for classrooms and departments that will enrich the learning experience for students. This year the Giving Tree
raised $26,948.25; items purchased included bean bag chairs for the English department, a camera for the arts department, and an iPad charging station.
“We had a great time at the Holiday Reception,” said Bob Davis ’74, who was accompanied by his wife Cheryl Davis also of the Class of 1974. “It was nice to meet with all the old and new friends of CA.” All are looking forward to next year, and a chance to make new memories with old friends.
See more photos and browse the Giving Tree online at magazine.cheshireacademy.org/alumni
17 94 TOP L-R: BOB DAVIS '74, CHRIS CASAVINA '79, AND BOB GARDINER BOT TOM L-R: PHIL RICCIUTI '87, STEPHANIE CHARNEY, STEVE DEFR ANCESCO '78, PAT ROCCO '78, AND VINNIE ESPOSITO'74
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alumni
EVENTS J O I N H E A D O F SC H O O L J O H N D. N OZ E L L A N D S PE C I A L C H E S H I R E AC A D E M Y G U E S T S AT O N E O F O U R U P CO M I N G R E C E P T I O N S C H E S H I R E AC A D E M Y IN CALIFORNIA February 13-24, 2017 Los Angeles & San Francisco PR I D E PA R E N T S A SSO C I AT I O N R E C E P T I O N & AU C T I O N Saturday, April 22, 2017 Cheshire Academy 7:00-11:00pm
C H E S H I R E AC A D E M Y I N PU E R TO R I CO March 16-19, 2017 R E U N I O N 2 017 May 12-13, 2017 Cheshire Academy c h e s h i re a c a d e my.o rg /re u n i o n C H E S H I R E AC A D E M Y G O L F C L A SS I C Wednesday, July 19, 2017 The Farms Country Club
Please contact Christian Malerba ’04 with any questions at christian.malerba@cheshireacademy.org.
HOMECOMING 2016 L-R: Michelle Marchand P’20, Dawn Brown P’20, Suzanne Brooder P’20, Michael Brooder P’20, Eric Brown P’20, and Patrick Marchand P’20
Visit us online to register for these events at magazine.cheshireacademy.org/classnotes
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the magazine of cheshire academy
17 94
1
2
3
4 W H E R E W E’ V E B E E N 1 ESSEX, CONNECTICUT Overseer Michael Belfonti ’76 and Bevan Dupre ’69 2 WINTER RECEPTION Trustee Katie Purdy P’19 P’21, Taffy Holiday, Trustee Richard Katz ’64, and Trustee Lori Gailey P’14 P’17 3 WINTER RECEPTION Bob Davis ’74 and Joseph Calabro ’71
5
6
4 WINTER RECEPTION Patricia Nozell, Head of School John D. Nozell, James Van Der Beek P’95, Melinda Van Der Beek P’95, Director of Development and Alumni Relations Barb Davis P’17 P’18 P’20, Karen Betancourt P’18, Mark Betancourt P'18, and Colonel Paul Ingram ’44 5 HOMECOMING Tommy Scheer ’61 and Director of Development and Alumni Relations Barb Davis P’17 P’18 P’20 6 WINTER RECEPTION Lisa Arciero P’18, Joann Brown P’17, and Christopher Brown P’17
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class notes
’87 58
from the archives
1940s
’4 2 H e n r y D. Pa t t e r s o n reached out the Academy in response to an invitation from Direc tor of Alumni Relations Christian Malerba ‘04 to attend reunion, which would be his 75th! He wrote, “Just want to thank you ver y much for the ver y special invitation to this year’s reunion. I was in the Class of 1942 and am 92 years old, and am unable to make the drive from Denville, New Jersey to Cheshire, Connec ticut. I am ver y proud of the Academy and what it contributed to my life. I had outstanding professors and benefited greatly from their knowledge, patience, and good humor. My life cer tainly was enriched by these people and all are well remembered.”
’59
1960s ’62
R o l f K a t ze n s t e i n Rolf Katzenstein graduated
from Cheshire Academy and earned his bachelor’s degree from Beloit College and his juris doc torate from the University of Wisconsin. However, his time at Beloit was interrupted when he lef t to enroll in the United States Marine Corps. He ser ved for 30 months and saw heav y combat in Vietnam for which he was awarded a National Defense Ser vice medal, a Vietnam Ser vice medal, and a Republic of Vietnam Campaign medal. Upon his honorable discharge, he returned to Beloit to complete his studies. He went on to become the President of Farmington Risk Managers, Inc., and a security contrac tor. Rolf is married to Maureen O’Shea.
BRUCE BLOM GR E N retired af ter 30 years as an engineer for IBM. He writes, “I thought I would have time for a little more sailing, tennis, and skiing. It didn’t quite work out that way. To keep myself of f the streets, I bought a restaurant: The Rocky Hill Inn in Rocky Hill, NJ (near Princeton). To make a long stor y shor t, the Rocky Hill Inn has become quite successful. The Rocky Hill Inn was featured on the Food Network ’s hit show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” in Oc tober.”
CAPTION THIS G e t u p a n d d a n c e! We k n o w t h i s p h o t o i s D a v i d D i a n a ' 87 a n d h i s p r o m d a t e, b u t w e w a n t t o k n o w m o r e! H a v e a f a v o r i t e p r o m s t o r y? C a m p u s m e m o r y? Wr i t e t o l e t u s k n o w. I f n o t , we would love to hear a fun c a p t i o n f o r t h i s p h o t o. 1794 @ c h e s h i r e a c a d e m y.o rg
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alumni
’64 1970s PH O TO CR E D IT: US PTO .G O V
’ 73
R I CH A R D C . LE V Y
recently published the third edition of “The Toy and Game Inventor’s Handbook: Ever y thing You Need to Know to Pitch, License, and Cash-in on Your Ideas,” co-authored with former Hasbro VP of Inventor Relations Ronald Weingar tner. In August 2016, the book was listed as the #2 entr y on Forbes’ 2016 list of the 33 Best Books Recommended by Shark Tank Entrepreneurs.
D a v i d W h i t t e n has been employed as a Contrac ts Manager by Bechtel Corporation for the past 36 years, working on assignments all over the world. He writes, “Within the past several years, I completed an assignment in Ukraine, Libya, and am currently assigned to the Muscat International Airpor t Projec t, located in Muscat, Oman. Upon completing this projec t, I am scheduled for a projec t in Kenya. Interesting enough, having worked in so many international locations, when vacation time arrives, I am content to return to Indian Wells, California to relax and play golf. I am also looking for ward to returning to the Cheshire Academy campus sometime soon.”
’ 74 Ro s e a n n e Fe r r a r o recently star ted a new job. Af ter 20 years of public school teaching, she has returned to Cheshire Academy as an English teacher.
1980s
’74
ROSE A N N E FE R R A RO
pict ur ed with Language Tea che r Jesus He r nande z-Cobo at an Cheshir e Ac a demy eighth g ra de apple picking e vent.
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the magazine of cheshire academy
’ 8 7 S e r g i o M a r i a c a and his wife Andrea welcomed twin babies, Joaquin and Sofia, born September 26, 2016.
1990s ’92
W E WA N T TO H E A R FR O M YO U! SU B M I T YO U R C L A SS N OT E S I N T H R E E WAYS:
WRITE IT ON THE E N C LO S E D B R E
J e s s i c a N o c e r i n o Tr o i a n e l l o and
her husband moved to Silicon Valley in the San Francisco area of California last year to take a new job with Accenture as a Business & Technology Deliver y Manager. During her recent visit home, she visited with Amie Melillo ‘93 and Kerr y (Carmody) Mattie ‘93.
’96
C h r i s t o p h e r M u l l i n s and K a t hy ( T i m b r o) M u l l i n s have moved from West
Har tford, Connec ticut to Jupiter, Florida with their children Jack and Bria.
E M A I L 1794 @ C H E S H I R E AC A D E M Y.O R G
17 94
V I S I T U S O N L I N E AT M AG A Z I N E .C H E S H I R E AC A D E M Y.O R G
’ 9 7 Re b e c c a St a c k O’ B r ay and her husband James welcomed a new baby boy, James Preston, on Oc tober 14, 2016. ’99
’99
K a t hy E w e n , pic tured right, has been working at Chapel Haven for 12 years. In Oc tober of 2016 she par ticipated in a "Ride for the Cure" event through the Susan G. Komen Foundation, along with the Blackhorse Equestrian Team. The event was held at Twisted Tree Farm in Hampton, Connec ticut. She said it was an amazing experience.
K ATH Y E W E N
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TO DD SAVAGE
’98
Since 20 05, Todd Savage ’98 has been a program manager with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Weapons of Mass Destruc tion Direc torate ( WMDD). According to Savage, the WMDD was established in 20 05 in response to recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Repor t and the Weapons of Mass Destruc tion ( WMD) Commission Repor t. It is the lead federal agency for the prevention, investigation, intelligence, and overall law enforcement response to a WMD event in the United States (US), US interests abroad, and against US citizens, both domestically and internationally. In his latest update to the Academy, he shared the following: “Currently I am assigned to the Biological Countermeasures Unit (BCU). Our mission is to deter, detec t, and disrupt the produc tion, acquisition, and intentional misuse of biological agents by developing and executing outreach, tripwire, and countermeasure initiatives. BCU is charged with preventing biological terrorism attacks as well as preparing our par tners both internationally and domestically to respond such
industr y, and militar y agencies. If you are interested in learning more about IBPF or becoming a member please visit our website w w w. ibpforum.org. Membership is free. “I was able to draw on my experience at CA to help me this past June. I had to provide a presentation on the IBPF program to the Australia Group at their annual meeting. The plenar y meeting is an annual Ambassador level meeting of 42 countries to discuss dual use of items of concern (items that can be used in a biological or chemical weapons program). The meeting is held in a large conference center in Paris
“As I took the seat of the U.S. Ambassador to begin my presentation, I was
immediately reminded of formal lunches at the Gideon Welles Dining Hall. - todd savage '98
attacks. In order to accomplish this mission, we par tner with private industr y, academia, all par ts of the US Government, and international par tners. “In addition to waiting to respond to a WMD incident any where in the world, I am currently the Chief Operating Of ficer for the International Biosecurity and Prevention Forum (IBPF). The program launched in 2011. Secretar y of State Hillar y Clinton announced the creation of IBPF at a UN Conference on Bio Terrorism. IBPF is a US Government funded, member driven program dedicated to international collaboration on preventing the misuse of biological materials. The internationally focused program is designed to increase collaboration, sharing of information, and best prac tices amongst academia, the health community, first responders, policy makers, private
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”
with all 42 Ambassadors at a large square table. Needless to say I was bit ner vous for my 30 minute briefing; it was my first presentation to such a high level international audience. “As I took the seat of the U.S. Ambassador to begin my presentation, I was immediately reminded of formal lunches at the Gideon Welles Dining Hall. An sense of calm came over me; I knew I had been in a similar situation three days a week for five years (I went to CA’s Middle School). I was able to give a ver y successful presentation. Af ter I spoke and returned the seat to the US Ambassador, he told me I looked ver y comfor table and confident. My successful presentation has led to some significant international engagements for my program. It’s impossible to quantif y the impac t CA had in preparing me for that moment.”
ELEVATE YOUR READING EXPERIENCE
1794
In the online version of 1794, we bring you exclusive content, photos, and videos that add more to every feature. Plus, participate in the story of the Academy by leaving comments on articles and class notes. Be a part of the conversation. Go online to our interactive magazine today at magazine.cheshireacademy.org.
MAGAZINE.CHESHIREACADEMY.ORG
alumni
2000s
’ 0 3 J a r e d Ko e p p e l has been working in the medical device world for a little over a year as the distric t manager for Long Island, selling dental implants for Dentsply Sirona. Jared’s daughter, Myla, just turned three. He and his wife, Marisa, are expec ting another baby in March 2017. ’04
K a l e a E . E d w a r d s purchased her first home! Kalea is a Licensed Independent Social Worker - Clinical Prac tice (LISW-CP) and lives in the Charleston, South Carolina area.
’05
C h r i s t i n e M c M e e k i n is currently working on her PhD in math at Cornell University. She expec ts to graduate in spring 2018.
J O N ATH A N MA R K S
’00
Jonathon Marks returned to campus in fall 2016 to hit around with the varsity boys tennis team. He is pic tured here with Coach Chip Boyd, who was Jonathon’s coach back when he was a member of the team. He writes, “Coming back to Cheshire Academy was truly special. Seventeen years later it still feels like home. It was a great day of prac tice with an aspiring young tennis team with eyes on the championship, where many stories were told and good times had near the exciting new tennis cour ts! The fun continued in the Ar thur Sherif f Field House where we beat many New England Basketball team foes and where the new Cats were preparing to storm their way to the top. The excitement can be felt all over a campus that has grown in leaps and bounds since I lef t. It truly was a great two years of my life and the time spent with Christian Malerba ‘04 and Coach Boyd brought back what it was like to be a Cat with enthusiasm and school pride, excited for what it can truly be in the future.
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the magazine of cheshire academy
PH OTO C R E DI T: FI NA L S .S TA R S A IL O R S .CO M
’09
J OSH UA A . R E V K I N par ticipated in a sailing event this fall. Twenty-two teams competed at the Star Nor th American Championship, held September 28 to Oc tober 1 in Chicago, Illinois. Storms allowed only one race to take place during the first two days, but two races a day were able to be completed on the final two days of the event. Af ter using their discard in the first race, Eivind Melleby and Joshua (NOR) posted all top two scores to take the title.
GET YOUR GEAR
EXCLUSIVE CHESHIRE ACADEMY GEAR AVAILABLE ONLINE AT CHESHIREACADEMY.ORG/BOOKSTORE
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alumni
’07
O t i s Po i s s o n spent some time on campus this fall filming students and faculty to make a video in suppor t of the Cheshire Academy Annual Fund. Watch it online at w w w.cheshireacademy.org/otis.
’06
’ 0 8 A s h l ey D i b b l e and her husband Ryan welcomed their son Max this past summer. ’09
S o Yo u n g L e e married Tae Heung Lim
on Oc tober 2, 2016.
’ 14
D a n Fo r d was recently named president of his fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, at Elon University. He also accepted an internship at Credit Suisse in New York City for summer 2017.
’ 16
C h e l s e a R . D ow was named Rookie of
the Week for the Colby-Saw yer College women’s basketball team on December 12, 2016.
CO R E Y BL A N K married Jessica Ficara on August 19, 2016 in Moodus, Connec ticut. Alumni pic tured include Corey Blank ’06, Matthew Allen ’06, Michael Carabetta ’06, Anthony Laudano ’04 & Brittany (Jennings) Laudano ‘06, Amanda (Abbagnaro) Gratton ’06, and Chelsea Cianciolo ‘06.
’12
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the magazine of cheshire academy
MA LI K GO LDE N
and the Penn State football team headed to the Big 10 Football Championship Game in Indianapolis on December 3, 2016. This was the team’s first appearance in this game, going up against the Wisconsin Badgers, which had won the title three times in the past. The game, which resulted in Penn State capturing the Big Ten Championship, was one for the books, with the Lions coming out on top af ter the largest comeback in the six-year histor y of the game.
recipe for
success
ingredients for college placement
how it all comes together
Programs for College Fair Hospitality for College Admission Visitors Bus for ACT Hosting SAT Exams Facility rentals for College Fair Professional Development for College Counselors Naviance Software for Students and Parents
$250
What goes into a future leader's college application? For juniors, seniors,
$500 $1,000 $1,000 $3,500
coaching with trained college counselors, mock interviewing with real college
$5,000
generous donors like you, who help to bridge the gap between tuition dollars
and postgraduates at Cheshire Academy, the ingredients include one-on-one admission officers, and attending the college fair. However, tuition only covers a portion of the cost of operating Cheshire Academy. The rest of the ingredients for these students' successes come from and the Academy's operating budget with gifts to the Annual Fund.
$5,000
give today
cheshireacademy.org/leaders 67
68
TH OM A S C AVA LI E R E
’15
When Thomas Cavaliere ’15 was chosen out of about 10 0 applicants to ser ve as one of eight interns for Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT ) and work on the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Af fairs, he knew it was going to be an interesting experience, especially in an elec tion year. “Our job is basically managing constituent relations. So, when people write into the of fice, we draf t responses and direc t people to the appropriate of fices they are looking for,” he said. He also attends Congressional committee hearings which allows him to draf t briefs and memos for the Legislative Correspondents. But that’s not the exciting par t for Cavaliere. “It’s the fac t that I’m ac tually here and able to obser ve and par ticipate in what is happening in our government. When I’m watching the news, I’m right there, 10 0 feet down the hall. Normally, we just read about this in
Editor in Chief of the magazine,” he said. He is also ser ving as the Direc tor of Academic Programming and chairman of the council’s annual International Dinner. “It’s one of the biggest events of the year.” Cavaliere has declared a thematic concentration in National Security and Foreign Policy and a regional focus in East Asia and the Pacific. He is also minoring in Chinese, a language he began studying during his freshman year at the Academy. He credits Cheshire Academy for helping develop his love for international relations. “I came from such a mono-cultured community ... but then walking down the sidewalk at Cheshire Academy and hearing people speaking 10 dif ferent languages, it showed me that there was so much more to the world,” he said. “I’m a political nerd, and being able to hear about something on the news that is happening in
“ Seeing all the students from different cultures at Cheshire Academy
interact with each other really gave me an optimistic impression that there could be a positive outcome in international affairs.” - thomas cavaliere '15
textbooks at school and watch it on the news, but to ac tually be a par t of it is exceptional and a great experience.” Cavaliere’s experience in the Senate comes on the heels of an internship in Brussels at the European Parliament this past summer. “To see the contrast between the two legislative bodies has been enlightening. When I was in Brussels, I was for tunate enough to be there during Brexit and other momentous occasions that only happen once ever y so of ten. So to go from that environment to my internship with Senator Blumenthal during the presidential elec tions has been exciting.” Cavaliere attends the American University School of International Ser vice (SIS) where he is, naturally, involved in the student government. “I’m on the SIS Undergraduate Council, and I’m currently the
Russia and then being able to talk to someone from Russia in my classes, it only fur thered my interest. Model UN helped a lot, too.” Read more about Cavaliere’s experiences in Model UN on page 30. “Seeing all the students from dif ferent cultures at Cheshire Academy interac t with each other really gave me an optimistic impression that there could be a positive outcome in international af fairs,” he said. “Ever y time I think about the Academy, the international students and global influence, all of it helped the entire school really transcend the typical American and high school culture. “I’m ver y thank ful that I have the skills—from my family, Cheshire Academy, and my universit y—to allow me to trust that I can make the right decisions no mat ter what challenges or oppor tunities come my way.”
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in memorium
MOURNING OVERSEER DOUGLAS MORTON '58 In July, Cheshire Academy lost a
Mor ton and his wife established the
beloved benefac tor and friend, former
Mor ton Grant in 1992, which awards
Trustee and Overseer Douglas Mor ton
funds to faculty for summer enrichment
’58. Mor ton attended the Academy
projec ts. For 25 years, Cheshire
for only one year as a postgraduate. In
Academy’s Mor ton Grant has allowed
a 1957 letter to then Head of School
faculty to expand their horizons through
Ar thur Sherif f, Mor ton’s neighbor J.S.
travel and research. “Doug felt that
Hurley wrote, “his folks would like to
rewarding teachers was his way of
have him have the benefit of a year’s
thanking them for the education he
preparator y work before he enters
received at Cheshire Academy,” said
college.” Hurley continued, “Douglas
Brown.
is a fine youngster and I have watched him grow for the past half dozen years.”
In 20 02, Mor ton recalled his time in English class under Mr. Leahy for the
A PHOTO OF THE L ATE DOUGL AS MORTON '58 AND WIFE MARILYN BROWN
Unfor tunately, Mor ton received an
Cheshire Academy magazine. Leahy
eye injur y in the fall of 1957, just a few
told Mor ton, “Don’t ever say you can’t
months into his time at the Academy,
do something,” advice which Mor ton
and had an extended absence to
took to hear t. Mor ton said, “I can’t pay
“ He was the kind of person who liked to give back.” - B A R B A R A V E S T E R G A A R D P ' 96 P ' 0 2
recover. Despite spending less than
Mr. Leahy back for what he gave me, but
nine months at Cheshire Academy,
I can say thank you to the teachers who
the experience had a profound impac t
spent their lives developing the youth
on Mor ton. Said his wife, Marilyn
of this countr y.”
Brown, “I would hope that educational institutions, like Cheshire, would
In recent years, faculty recipients of
understand that he always felt he would
the Mor ton Grant have researched the
not have been so successful in his life if
religious histor y of Spain, taken photos
he didn't have a good education.”
of unique imager y in New York City, and studied theater in Edinburgh. In a
70
IN MEMORIAM
20 03 thank you note, former faculty
He founded Mor ton Publishing
member Renny Kunhardt Swan said
in 1977 af ter many years working
“With your help, I traveled again
for Wadswor th Publishers and WC
to Mexico this past June to begin
Brown (par t of McGraw-Hill). While
the planning of a trip that could
the company star ted as a custom
shape some of our students the
publishing company, it went on to
way my students travel experiences
publish textbooks that specialize
shaped me [...] Thanks to your
in the sciences. Heather Brown ’94,
generosity, we will have a trip that is
who worked for Mor ton Publishing,
full of developmentally appropriate
writes, “As a business owner, he was
learning ac tivities, exciting
dedicated to his customers and his
cultural experiences, and Mexican
employees and was always friendly
adventures.”
and approachable.”
Mor ton and Brown, who both
While he was a business owner and
traveled extensively, believe in
entrepreneur, those who knew Mor ton
the transformational power of
do not describe him as a typical
experiencing something new. “[Doug
business man. “Once a year, Doug
had] jet fuel in his veins, because he
and Marilyn would book a week long
loved to travel so much,” said Brown.
trip each year for all their employees
Perhaps this love of travel Mor ton
and their spouses. He was the kind of
inherited from his father, a war time
person who liked to give back,” said
hero and nav y man.
Vestergaard.
His father, Dudley W. Mor ton, was
Though Mor ton will be deeply
commander of the USS Wahoo during
missed, his mark has been made
World War II, a submarine which sunk
on the Academy and his generosity
the most enemy ships of its time.
and respec t for education will be
Dudley Mor ton was repor ted missing
remembered for years to come. He
in ac tion when his son was only four
is sur vived by his wife, his three
years old. The destroyer USS Mor ton
children, six grandchildren, his sister,
(DD-948) was named in his honor in
and numerous cousins and friends,
1958, the same year Doug Mor ton
and remembered with grateful hear ts
Ms. Linda Decormier
graduated from Cheshire Academy.
by the many faculty members who are
cheshireacademy.org/linda
or will be recipients of the Mor ton Doug Mor ton took a dif ferent
1930s
Mr. Felix E. Demar tini ’39
1940s Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr.
Anthony Sessa ‘40 August E. Ranaudo ’48 Russell Benedic t ’48 Joseph Stephanak, Jr. ’48
1950s Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr.
Charles Dietlin ‘50 Louis John Schuster III ‘55 David Perrotti ‘54 Ernest J. Bleau ’56 Stephen Weiss ‘55
1960s
Mr. Thomas G. Ela ‘68 Mr. Willis H. (Bill) Mitchell ’60
1980s
Mr. Matthew Barba ‘86
Faculty & Staff
Grant.
path than his father, however, and spent his career in publishing. Notes of remembrance may be left online at magazine.cheshireacademy.org/inmemoriam
17 94
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CAT SCRATCH
FIND THE 10 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE PHOTOS Find out the answers online at magazine.cheshireacademy.org/catscratch
SOPHOMORE CL ASS OFFICERS (L-R): LINDA LIN, GR ACE SUN, PETER DENG, JAMESON HARDY, AND DAVID LICKI
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The Harwood Society for Planned Giving
Referred to affectionately as The Colonel, Paul Ingram and his wife Joan remain appreciative to the Academy. Without Mr. Sheriff 's wise counsel and Cheshire's challenging environment, Paul's dream of attending West Point and having a successful military career in the Air Force may never have been fulfilled. They have made the commitment to support Cheshire Academy through the Harwood Society's planned giving process. Learn more about how you can join this coveted Society. Contact Director of Development & Alumni Relations Barb Davis P’17 P’18 P’20, at barbara.davis@cheshireacademy.org or 203-439-7228.
CHESHIREACADEMY.ORG/GIVINGPROGRAMS 73
last look
Alexis “Lexe” Holmes ‘18 took this photo of a door knocker during a photography field trip to the Met Cloisters this past fall. Students had the opportunity to photograph new subject matter and explore the creative side of photography.
74
REUNION
’92
’67
’02
Whether you come back ever y year or haven’t made it back to c ampus since Commencement, we invite you to come home. We would love to see you honor the memories of Cheshire Ac ademy at this year ’s reunion celebration .
m ay 12 & 13 , 2017
w w w . c h e s h i r e ac a d e m y . o r g / r e u n i o n 75
10 MAIN STREET, CHESHIRE, CT 06410 203-439-7328
The members of the 1966-1967 Senior Council, taken from the 1967 "Rolling Stone" yearbook. Seated (l-r): John Santucci, Michael Kita, Murlin Braly. Standing (l-r): John Brady, Joseph Missett, Alberto Caldera, Edward King, Paul DeVylder, Michael Harris, Gregory Foppiani, Gustavo Fanjul, Joseph Minskoff, Roger Young.
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