A Fond Farewell Five longtime faculty members will be leaving Cheshire Academy at the end of the 2024-25 year: (L-R) Fran Poisson, Tom Marshall, Head of School Julie Anderson, Robert “Chip” Boyd, and James “Butch” Rogers.
MAGAZINE STAFF
Editor | Sarah LeBlond Fabrizi
Writer | Meredith Guinness
Contributing Photographers | Sarah Fabrizi, Meredith Guinness, Alissa Hoffman, Tom Marshall, Michael Torelli, Cheshire Academy Archive
Designer | John Johnson Art Direction & Design
ADVANCEMENT TEAM
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Fred Kuo
Henry “Joe” Long Jr.
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As the autumn leaves change color on our campus and we embark on our 231st year, I find myself reflecting on the journey we’ve shared and the promising future that awaits our school.
In June, we will bid a fond farewell to some of our longtime faculty and staff who have been instrumental in shaping not only my own journey but the lives of countless students, faculty, and staff at Cheshire Academy. Fran and Patty Poisson, Butch Rogers, and Chip Boyd have been more than just colleagues; they’ve been neighbors, mentors, and friends. Their care and guidance have extended beyond the classroom, touching the lives of my own children during their formative years at CA. Their dedication and passion for education have left an indelible mark on our community, and we are forever grateful for their service.
This is a year of celebrations, and we could not have been more excited or proud as we celebrated the remarkable achievement of our alumna, Alexis Holmes ’18, who became an Olympic champion in Paris this summer. I fondly remember Alexis as a bright-eyed student in my Spanish class, and now I watch with pride as she stands atop the world stage. Her journey is a testament to the potential that lies within each of our students, and I’m certain her success has only just begun. I’m also bursting with pride for alumni Riley Norwood ’20 and Kyle Brett ’05. Watching these two grow from curious students into changemakers is one of the most meaningful aspects of being head of school. Their accomplishments remind us all of the far-reaching impact of a CA education.
This year also marks the 25th anniversary of our Roxbury program. Having worked closely with all of the program’s directors and witnessing firsthand how it supported my own children, I’m filled with pride at how far we’ve come.
I am forever grateful to the program’s inaugural director, Leah Stancil, whose vision for academic support set the path for the program to become what it is today, as it continues to be a shining example of our commitment to nurturing the whole student.
As I reflect on my time as head of school, I am humbled by the privilege it has been to serve this extraordinary community. While my tenure is coming to a close, my excitement for CA’s future knows no bounds. I look forward to continuing my travels to visit alumni throughout the year, hearing your stories and seeing the myriad ways you’re making your mark on the world.
I hope you’ll save the date for our Reunion Weekend on May 30-31. It will be a wonderful opportunity for us to come together and celebrate our CA legends, past and present. Your presence would make the occasion all the more special.
Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. The spirit of Cheshire Academy lives in each of you, and I can’t wait to see how our community continues to grow and thrive in the years to come.
Warmest regards,
Julie M. Anderson P’19,’23
Mariotti, Triplett Join Cheshire Academy Board of Trustees
The two new members bring a wealth of knowledge from the enrollment and legal fields, respectively.
Two new members of the Cheshire Academy Board of Trustees — Martha S. Triplett and Kristen A. Mariotti — bring professional experience and enthusiasm for independent, global education to their new posts. Elected at the board’s May meeting, they may serve two terms of four years each.
Kristen A. Mariotti is a familiar face to many on campus: she was CA’s director of international recruitment from 2012 to 2015.
“The students at Cheshire were among some of the most remarkable I have met, and I have stayed deeply interested in CA’s continued success over the last 10 years,” the Cohoes, NY, resident said. “When asked to join the board, I immediately said yes!”
Now head of enrollment management at Emma Willard School in Troy, NY, she has honed her skills in admissions and enrollment at Stoneleigh-Burnham School in Massachusetts and Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy in California, among others. With a deep interest in diversity, equity, and inclusion; global mindedness; and elevating the voices of young women; she thrives on building community and developing relationships.
“To me, to serve on a board of an institution that means so much to me is an honor and a privilege,” said Mariotti, who earned her MA at Arizona’s Prescott College. “I am eager to begin this good work and grateful to come ‘home’ to Cheshire Academy.”
Martha S. Triplett is a distinguished attorney with more than 30 years advocating for clients with imagination,
strength, and compassion. Designated a Connecticut Super Lawyer since 2018, she was also named among the Top 25 Women Lawyers in Connecticut for 20222024 and was selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America.
“I was thrilled to be considered for the board. I’ve witnessed the outstanding, transformative education and exceptional culture provided by Cheshire Academy,” Triplett said. “I look forward to supporting this wonderful school where students are inspired to realize their full potential in an environment that is both encouraging and challenging at the same time.”
Triplett, who holds her BA and JD from Vanderbilt University, serves as a member of the Connecticut Bar Examining Committee and was a 15-year member of the CT State Board of Accountancy.
A longtime Cheshire resident, Triplett’s connection to the Academy goes deeper, as she is parent to Cheshire alum Dante Strollo ’20. She and her family hosted international boarding students over school breaks during Strollo’s time as a student and provided a family environment off campus for those who were far away from home. Triplett was active in the Cheshire Academy Parents & Families Association (CAPFA) and she continued to support their efforts after her son went on to college.
Cheshire Academy welcomes both Mariotti and Triplett back to the community in their new roles as board members and looks forward to the insight and expertise they will bring to the group.
Kristen A. Mariotti
Martha S. Triplett, Esq., P’20
230 Years!
Cheshire Academy celebrated the conclusion of its 230th year during its Commencement exercises on Saturday, June 1.
Emphasizing community, connection, and potential, 87 students received their diplomas — with many also taking home end-of-the-year awards under picture-perfect blue skies on Slaughter Field.
“Find the good, find the good, find the good. It’s everywhere,” said Commencement Speaker Jack Tarca ’18, founder of the aptly named Find the Good, an apparel brand that promotes healthy habits and positive well-being and donates 10 percent of profits to Mental Health America. A BetterHelp partner, Find the Good grew out of Tarca’s response to the negativity he saw around him in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.
“From someone who knows a thing or two about the pursuit of it, and every now and then finding it, if I can be certain of one thing, it’s that good is out there,” Tarca said. “If you’ve already found it, find more, and lead others to it. If you haven’t found it yet, you will. Just remember to look, every day and wherever you go.”
Other speakers echoed Tarca’s theme, including Valedictorian Joonghan Kim, of Seongnam-si, South Korea, a member of the National Honor Society, golf team, and International Student Union. Kim, who received his full International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma, challenged his classmates to give their all to their pursuits after high school.
“Think about how much collective potential and talent we have as a class under this tent. Think about how much good we could do after graduating from this school,” he said. “Our futures and our career paths as the Class of 2024 will be promising and bright.”
Kim was one of many international students celebrated at Commencement. The Class of 2024 included students
Valedictorian Joonghan Kim addresses the audience at Commencement.
from Turkey, China, Mexico, Philippines, Bahamas, Ukraine, and Nigeria, among other countries.
The class also heard from Student Body President Shreeya Gomathinayagam of Cheshire, CT, a dancer and basketball player who earned her full IB Diploma. “Embraced by the unwavering support and unconditional love surrounding us today, let us set sail into our boundless futures as we
“Think about how much collective potential and talent we have as a class under this tent. Think about how much good we could do after graduating from this school.”
— Valedictorian Joonghan Kim
celebrate our hard work and determination,” she told her classmates.
Salutatorian Yanyi “Amy” Zhang, of Shanghai, China, a DEI intern and Writing Fellow who earned her IB Diploma, gave a moving speech. “I hope that with our very kind hearts, we never lose the ability to appreciate the accomplishments of others no matter how accomplished we become,” said Zhang, who was bound for Cornell University. “I hope when we meet new people in the future, we move our sight from where people end up to where people come from and from how far they have come.”
At the ceremony’s conclusion, Head of School Julie Anderson harkened back to Tarca’s message, challenging students to “fight for the good, find the good, and be the good.
“You are strong, bright, courageous, open-minded, and bold,” she told the new graduates. “Stand for yourself, for others, for the environment, for peace and for justice. Make a difference through words, gestures, and actions — big and small.”
“Find the good, find the good, find the good. It’s everywhere.”
— Commencement Speaker Jack Tarca ’18
Photos of Commencement are available on the Cheshire Academy Flickr gallery (scan the QR code).
Cheshire Academy bestowed several honors on members of the Class of 2024. They were:
• Jennifer Hawke-Petit Recognition Award: Danaejah Bell, of Plantsville, CT
• Cheshire Academy Alumni Association Cup Award: Leo Ehrenfels, of Cheshire, CT
• Michael A. Vanacore Award: De’Naya Rippey, of Brooklyn, NY
• Jeffrey Thomas Marshall Scholarship Award: Oleksandra Nikanova, of Kyiv, Ukraine
• Karen J. Smith Scholarship Award for Scholastic Improvement: Lidia Generali, of Cheshire, CT
• Costin Cup Award: Danaejah Bell, of Plantsville, CT
• Nicholas J. Susla ’48 Book Prize: Leo Ehrenfels, of Cheshire, CT
• Ralph Morgan Griffiths Award: Bryce Hrubiec, of Berlin, CT
• Frederick Vollrath Richmond Award: Philip Warren, of Old Saybrook, CT
• Bevan Loree Dupré Award: Eliana Orlinsky, of Cheshire, CT
• John J. White ’38 Leadership Award: Shreeya Gomathinayagam, of Cheshire, CT
• Sheridan Plaque: Elise Lurix, of Burlington, CT
COLLEGE MATRICULATION:
Class of 2024
Student Body President Shreeya Gomathinayagam with Head of School Julie Anderson
Amsterdam University College
Anna Maria College
Bentley University
Boston College
Boston University
Carleton College
Case Western Reserve University
Central Connecticut
State University*
Centre College
Clemson University*
College of Charleston
Cornell University
Eastern Connecticut
State University
Elon University
Fairfield University
Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University
Fordham University
Grenoble School of Management
Hofstra University
Ithaca College*
James Madison University
Johnson & Wales University
Lehigh University
Lesley University
Long Island University
–Post
Lynn University
Marist College
Merrimack College
Monmouth University
Montana State University
Northeastern University*
Northern Arizona University
Nova Southeastern University
Pace University
Pennsylvania State University*
Providence College
Quinnipiac University*
Rollins College
Roosevelt University
Rutgers University
Saint Peter’s University
Salem State University
Salve Regina University
San Diego State University
Savannah College of Art & Design
Skidmore College*
St. John Fisher University
St. John’s University
Stevens Institute of Technology
Syracuse University
The George Washington
University
The New School
The University of Tampa*
Tufts University*
Tulane University
University of California–Davis
University of California–San Diego
University of California–Santa Barbara*
University of Connecticut*
University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
University of Massachusetts–Amherst
University of Massachusetts–Lowell
University of Montana
University of New England*
University of New Haven
University of Scranton
University of South Carolina
University of Southern California*
University of Vermont*
Villanova University*
Wagner College
Washington University in St. Louis
Wesleyan University
Western New England University
Wheaton College
Xavier University
Yale University
*Indicates more than one student
Alexis Holmes ’18 is Solid
GOLD!
With students gone and classes over, summer can be a relatively quiet time at Cheshire Academy.
To say things were a little more exciting this August is an understatement, as the entire Cheshire community turned its focus to the City of Lights to watch Alexis Holmes ’18 race for the gold at the Paris Olympics.
“We are incredibly proud of her,” Head of School Julie Anderson told NBC Connecticut. “She had a goal. She worked hard. She got to the Olympics and we couldn’t be prouder of all that she has accomplished.”
Staff, students, and her former teachers on campus and around the world set their alarm clocks to see each of Holmes’ heats and semifinals in both the women’s 400m and the 4x400m relay. Dozens gathered around College Counseling’s television in Hurley Hall for watch parties, cheering and waving signs and pom poms as she placed sixth in the 400 on Friday, Aug. 9, and, the very next day, sprinted for the finish line as the anchor on the gold medal-winning 4x400m relay team.
CA’s Olympic fever caught the attention of news and social media with NBC CT and ABC News Channel 8 reporting from campus and many other outlets chronicling her progress. The Academy’s social posts logged thousands of likes and hundreds of shares, with excited alumni and friends checking in to confirm her latest standings.
Holmes is well known to the CA community. She was a consummate student-athlete, serving as captain of the volleyball, basketball, and track teams. Coached on the track by Devin Worthington, she was chosen as MVP of all three teams and some of the former Hamden resident’s school records still stand today.
Campus was abuzz with all things Alexis beginning in May, when the University of Kentucky runner and her relay team won their bid for an Olympic berth.
“Your CA fam is beyond proud and we can’t wait to watch you live out your dreams this summer in Paris!” Cheshire Athletics posted on Instagram after the qualifying run.
Holmes was the sole American in the 400m final, and the U.S. relay squad came into the Paris Games as serious contenders. Holmes was part of the U.S. 4x400 relay team that set a World U20 record at the Pan-Am Games of 2019. She also won the gold medal for Team USA at the 2023 World Athletics Championships.
Holmes broke the 400m USA championship record in 50.34 at the USATF Indoor Championship at the Albuquerque Convention Center in New Mexico in February 2024.
Known as Lexe to friends, coaches, and teachers, Holmes distinguished herself at the Academy. She was a 2016 USATF National Junior Olympic Champion
All-American and three-time champion, first team selection and the record holder in 100m, 200m, and 400m for the 2017 and 2018 New England Preparatory School Athletics Council. In 2018, she was a standout at the Ocean Breeze Invitational, the Outdoor New Balance National 400m champion, an All-American in the Indoor New Balance Nationals, and the Gatorade Connecticut Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year.
Holmes was a standout in the classroom as well. She took on the rigorous International
Baccalaureate® Diploma Programme and was a member of the National Honor Society. The CA Women’s Association named her its 2018 Outstanding Athletics Award recipient. Her mom, Dawn Stanton, said she associates Holmes’ early confidence and her willingness to build new skills, such as writing and photography, with her years at the Academy.
“Being challenged academically really helped define who she is today and she is a smart, confident young woman and I really attribute much of that to her experience at Cheshire Academy and the ways she was developed before she went off to college,” Stanton said, noting Holmes’ continued use of writing as part of self-care and well-being.
“Those are the types of skills that you hope that your kid acquires because they last for a lifetime.”
Stanton and Alexis’ dad, Craig Holmes, were cheering from the stands in Paris for both of Holmes’ finals. After the 400m race, Holmes, who logged a personal best time of 49.77, said the support from Connecticut — her brother, CJ Holmes ’17, was home and
in contact with everyone cheering at CA — was key for her during her time in Paris.
"Oh my gosh,” she told NBC. “It's meant everything to me. It's really carried me the last two weeks — just keeping me grounded. Knowing that I have that love and support, it really means a lot."
Her Cheshire community shouldn’t be surprised. Holmes was recently asked in a CA alumni highlight the advice she would have given her younger self. She didn’t skip a beat with her answer: “Never let anyone tell you that you aren’t good enough, or that your dreams are too big. You can achieve anything you dream with hard work, discipline, and dedication!”
Holmes' mom, Dawn Stanton, Holmes, dad, Craig Holmes, and family friend Dr. Clydette Messiah, at Cheshire Academy
Holmes (second row, third from left) at the 2018 Track & Field Senior Day
Cheshire Academy prom
Point of Pride
Fencing stars lunge their way to the state championships
“This is a great accomplishment for CA’s women’s foil squad.”
— Coach Matthew Socia
It was a stellar year for Cheshire Academy’s fencing program:
the women’s foil team won the Connecticut State Championship in March and two undefeated fencers — a senior veteran and a promising newcomer — earned top accolades, including individual state champion.
Three-year Foil Captain Elise Lurix ’24 of Burlington, CT, and novice Ka Yuet “Jenny” Zheng ’27 of Shanghai, China, each finished the season 24-0, qualifying for the individual Connecticut State Championships on March 2. Zheng took home the gold in Women’s Foil and Lurix, who placed seventh out of 52 in that event, earned MVP and the Female Trustees Award at CA’s winter sports awards six days later.
And March 9, the Cats won the Connecticut women’s foil team competition, rounding out a week for the record books.
“This is a great accomplishment for CA’s women’s foil squad,” said Coach Matthew Socia. “Because Elise and Jenny both went undefeated in the regular season, that means that our women’s foil squad went undefeated in the regular season as well.” Socia went on to note that the women’s foil squad is the school’s largest fencing squad, “with the deepest bench of talent.”
CA’s coed fencing programs offer all three of the sport’s disciplines: épée, foil, and sabre. Practicing in their dedicated fencing room in Hurley Hall, they compete in the Connecticut High School Fencing Association and the state tournament. Cheshire Academy fencers have gone on to the Junior Olympics.
Many team members are involved in other sports and activities on campus. Lurix graduated in May with a full IB diploma and won the Sheridan Plaque, named for West
Point Cadet Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Jr., for academic superiority, strong character, and athletic or extracurricular drive. She was a peer tutor, president of the Model United Nations, and member of the National Honor Society and debate club. Zheng, who is sharpening her impressive skills at Hurley Hall this fall, is a member of the debate and math clubs.
Socia has high hopes to continue building the talented team “generationally” in the coming 2024-25 season. While Lurix and Saber Captain Lily Huang ’24 have graduated, Veronica Moon ’25 has returned as épée captain and there are good prospects for other leadership roles.
“The experienced fencers help boost the new fencers and build strong competitors out of them, who, in turn, help next year’s new recruits,” he said. “It’s a cycle we are working to achieve in all our squads.”
Cheshire Academy’s Women’s Foil Team poses with their Connecticut State Championship trophy. (L-R): Coach Matthew Socia, Jenny Zheng ’27, Yaxin “Dorothy” Zhang ’26, Elise Lurix ’24, and Feyza Horuz ’24.
Sports Spotlight
Several Cheshire studentathletes enjoyed seasons for the record books
There were plenty of reasons to cheer during the winter and spring sports seasons in 2023-2024. The Varsity Softball team (above) took the WNEPSGSBA Division B title with their home win over The Winchendon School, and Varsity Girls’ Tennis earned the seventh seed in NEPSAC Class B (the second-best Class B team in CT) and traveled to Newport, RI, to play St. George’s School.
Varsity Baseball finished 14-4, with Garret Snyder ’25 pitching an exciting no-hitter against Williston Northampton during the regular season. He committed to play for the University of Notre Dame, one of the dozens of studentathletes — 17 from baseball alone — who celebrated college commitments this year.
In Track and Field, Ava Delgado-Bozeman ’27 set school records in two events: the 1500m with a time of 5:04 and the 800m with a time of 2:33. And De’Naya Rippey ’24, scored her 1,000th point for the Cheshire Cats basketball team, an achievement her dad, Deron Rippey ’93, reached during his time at CA 31 years before her.
Go Cats!
Ava Delgado-Bozeman ’27
De'Naya Rippey ’24
Garret Snyder ’25
FOOTBALL SHOWCASE
In May, CA’s football players got back on the gridiron to give more than 100 college coaches and scouts a look at what made Cheshire Academy the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council Drew Gamere Bowl champs. Several players had a chance to chat with coaches and better envision themselves as part of a collegiate team.
WINTER/SPRING SPORTS AWARDS
The school community gathered in Gideon Welles Dining Commons this winter and spring to recognize student-athletes who stepped up to the plate — or the court, field, track, fencing piste, or robotics arena — demonstrating determination and drive.
Around Campus
AAPI HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION May’s Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration kicked off with a visit from Connecticut Attorney General William Tong (above left, center) and dancers from Asian Performing Arts CT. Students participated in 20 workshops, including Chinese tea tasting, Muay Thai (martial arts), a K-pop music jam, haiku writing, and mango lassi making.
ALL-SCHOOL READ CA welcomed New York Times bestselling author Aimee Nezhukumatathil, author of World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments, for the annual All-School Read.
COLOR RUN
The campus community kicked off the final days of school with the 2024 Color Run.
CELEBRATE THE YES! Seniors and PGs gathered outside J.J. White in May to celebrate their college acceptances. Members of the Class of 2024 headed all around the world, with seniors choosing to study at the universities of Southern California, Scranton, Amsterdam, and more.
COMMUNITY WEEKENDS A beach clean-up. An international buffet. Heart-shaped jewelry forged from gun pieces.
What do they have in common?
They were all part of the interactive activities presented during Community Weekends, events that transcend traditional academics and create strong, inclusive school bonds. During the winter and spring, students, faculty, and staff participated in three weekends focused on international awareness and celebration; diversity, equity, and justice; and sustainability, respectively.
DEJ Weekend included CA’s 34th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration focused on King’s vision of the Beloved Community.
International Awareness and Celebration Weekend
34th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration
SPRING FLING A bouncy obstacle course, a chilly dunk tank, and beautiful henna art were highlights of the annual
CHANGE-UP
CA girls took to the gridiron during Women’s History Month (March) for the first Juniors vs. Seniors PowderPuff football game. The second annual match-up, celebrating outstanding girls and women of Cheshire, is planned for Tuesday, Nov. 20, on Simosa Field. Join us!
Spring Fling on Sevigny Field.
CHESHIRE TOWN SCHOLAR On March 7, Cheshire’s own Hope Ostrowsky ’28 stepped outside her home to find the CA “party bus” in her driveway. And that could only mean one thing: she was the 2024 Cheshire Academy Town Scholar! Dating back to 1938, the prestigious honor comes with a full, four-year scholarship for one Cheshire eighth grader.
10TH GRADE SEMINAR & IB SCIENCE POSTER EXPO
Dozens of students shared their conclusions on a variety of research topics during this May’s Expo in the Humanities building. One project created a donation program for used sports equipment, another studied the evocative music of film composer John Williams, and another considered the effect of acidic drinks on teeth.
We’ve Got Game!
AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES ARE ANYTHING BUT TRIVIAL PURSUITS
Students put their hearts into their afternoon activities — and it shows in the skills, talent, and imagination on display in competition and performances. This winter and spring, students presented their passions in the Art Major exhibition and spring concert, as well as the winter production of the musical RENT and the many collegiate commitments for our sports standouts.
Becca Yimlamai ’25 has a lot on her plate.
Part of both the Asian Student Union and the Jewish Student Union, she is a member of Eco Leaders and a student leader of The Coleman Group, a campus mentorship club that aims to empower young women. She was elected as treasurer of the National Honor Society last spring, she’s looking forward to performing in the fall play, and her courseload includes both Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL) International Baccalaureate® classes.
“Mostly, I just like to learn and try things,” the personable North Haven resident said, smiling.
Yimlamai's also enrolled in Roxbury Academic Support Program, a decision she credits with helping her juggle it all.
Celebrating its 25th year, Roxbury is Cheshire Academy’s signature approach to bolstering academics by teaching
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF ROXBURY ACADEMIC SUPPORT
students the skills they need to develop as proactive, independent learners who take responsibility for their academic success. With a dedicated director and staff of master’s-level instructors, the research-based program offers personalized support for a range of students — from those with diagnosed learning differences to those stretching their intellect with challenging upper-level coursework to busy athletes, artists, and everyone in between.
“It really is a broad umbrella,” said Program Director Julie Kile. “We’re helping them get the tools they need so they can thrive.”
Unlike traditional tutoring focused on one subject area or preparing for specific tests, Roxbury provides students with academic coaching that helps them become more efficient learners across the board. The idea is to teach strategies and executive functioning skills that allow students to organize, integrate, and manage their behaviors to reach their goals — whether that means writing an involved term paper or mastering a mathematics concept.
While Cheshire’s Roxbury program officially started in 1999, its roots extend deep into the Academy’s 230-year history, said Marc Aronson, dean of academics. Early in the 20th century, Cheshire, which was called The Roxbury School at the time, was a feeder school for nearby Yale University and patterned its tutoring after the Oxford model students would later see at the New Haven university.
In 1937, former Headmaster Arthur Sheriff penned an essay for The Academy Review detailing the importance of meeting students ‘where they are’ and helping them reach their full potential. Adolescents must be seen first and foremost as individuals, he wrote, guided to a state of “self-activity, selfreliance and self-respect.
“We may assume...that the general aim of education is not merely formal knowledge but an inward state of trained mental vigor, or...mental resourcefulness,” he wrote.
By the 1990s, CA educators hoped to bring a one-on-one model to their learning center and decided to honor the Roxbury name, Aronson said. Over the years, the program evolved into a five-pronged coaching method based on the most current research. Students with or without accommodations receive assistance with time management and learning strategies like mind maps and ‘chunking’ to break down long-term assignments into smaller tasks. The program, which involves about 10 percent of the student body, caters to individual needs with students meeting with their mentors for about an hour from one to three times a week. Students often meet with the same mentor over several semesters or throughout their whole time at Cheshire.
Roxbury staff are prepared to work with students with ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and other learning challenges, fluency issues, anxiety, and busy schedules. “We are working with each individual student and helping them learn what’s best for them,” Kile said.
It also includes collaborative goal setting and assessment and weekly feedback and communication with the student’s whole “team,” including teachers, coaches, and family.
Leah Stancil, who directed the program in its early years, likened the approach to “scaffolding with a huge net.”
All children want to be successful, she has said of Roxbury. “We help them understand that success is not a destination, it’s a journey, and we’re here to help them prepare for it.”
Self-advocacy — the ability to seek extra help or work with teachers to get the most out of classes — is a big part of the program that benefits students well into the future, Kile said. Roxbury can also be tailored to short-term initiatives, such as helping new students entering Cheshire at mid-year or assisting students who are returning from medical leave. The program can be customized and titrated down as the student gains proficiency.
“I would love to do this for all students,” said Aronson, who emphasized that it’s a proven booster for confidence,
“This is not something you intrinsically know. You have to learn it. Some families seek out Cheshire because we have this program.”
— Roxbury Program Director Julie Kile
independence, and success. “There’s no additional homework. It’s more a focus on growth toward goals.”
Kile, who has designed a guided study program during her 20 years in public schools, agreed, noting Roxbury teaches methods that are universally helpful.
“This is not something you intrinsically know,” she said. “You have to learn it. Some families seek out Cheshire because we have this program.”
Roxbury is a welcome complement to Cheshire Academy’s other student success components, including structured study hall, advising, peer tutoring, the writing center, and math lab. It’s often what helps a busy student get centered, push aside any self-doubt, and reach the goals they set for themselves.
The program is intentionally based in the busy center of campus, John J. White ’38 Science & Technology Center, showing all students they are welcome to augment their academics with Roxbury.
“That’s what I love about it,” Kile said. “It’s so varied and it’s exciting when the student sees how it really works for them. They can undo the tape they play in their heads, try new things, and see how capable they are. It’s very gratifying.”
Yimlamai welcomes the support with organization and writing, as well as general cognitive skills that help her in all her courses.
“I think if I came here and wasn’t part of this program, I wouldn’t be able to succeed as well as I do,” she said. “Now, I’m more aware of the issues I have with homework and how to face them. I take HL history, and I was hesitant to take it because there’s a lot of reading and writing. The prospect of it was scary. Now, I’m more willing to take more risks.”
Ready...Set...Go!
The entire Cheshire Academy community — students, faculty, families, and staff — enjoyed a jam-packed 2024 Welcome Week, including pre-season training, an international tea, move-in, field day, and the annual Convocation to start the school’s 231st academic year.
Practices and conditioning for soccer, volleyball, and football started in late August, and, by Convocation on Sept. 1, the campus was alive with activity. The opening of school ceremonies featured songs and speeches from students, a top 10 list from Head of School Julie Anderson, and wise words from three teachers marking their final year at CA after decades of service.
Welcome Week, Convocation kicked off the 2024-25 school year
Cheshire welcomed 371 students, including a diverse group of newcomers, and the highest number of returning students, 218, in at least five years. This year’s students hail from 15 states and 27 countries, including Brazil, Czech Republic, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, France, and Jamaica.
During Convocation, Anderson looked back at her years at Cheshire as formative for her and her family. She
listed 10 pieces of advice she’s taken to heart in her 22 years on campus — from “Be the person you expect others to be” to “Don’t rush this experience.”
Looking out to those gathered on Simosa Field, she said, “This place is beautiful and genuine. The people you will meet here at Cheshire Academy will change your life. Be open to new relationships and you will find people who will challenge you while supporting and embracing you.”
Sofia Della Porta ’25, of Cheshire, sang an inspiring version of Sia’s “Unstoppable” and Ethan Dong ’25, a Music Major from Shanghai, China, entertained the crowd with a guitar instrumental. The three retiring faculty speakers, Robert “Chip” Boyd, James “Butch” Rogers, and François “Fran” Poisson, each addressed the students on one of CA’s core values.
Student Body President Andy Chen ’25 asked his fellow students to see
themselves as “ingredients in a culinary masterpiece.
“Each of us brings something to the table, whether it’s a splash of spice, a hint of sweetness, or a touch of zest,” he said. “But what makes this recipe extraordinary isn’t just the individual ingredients; it’s how they come together, complementing, and enhancing one another to create something truly remarkable.”
A Studio of One’s Own
The Art and Music Majors offer promising artists space to experiment, learn, and prepare for a creative life
A pristine gallery to display paintings, sculptures, and imaginative installations. Ample opportunities to play and sing for a live audience. Dedicated studio and practice space.
These are just a few of the benefits Cheshire Academy’s Art and Music Majors enjoy as part of innovative programs for talented, motivated students who want to make the arts a career or lifelong endeavor.
“Our Art and Music Major programs give our students the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in their craft — more time in the studio, in the practice room, on the stage, partnering with experts in the field to hone their talents,” said Madeleine Bergstrom, director of college counseling. “They build their portfolios and résumé with the support of the expertise of our faculty, ultimately creating a robust and professional-grade portfolio to include in their college applications.”
Now in its second year, CA’s Music Major is an arts-intensive program not usually offered at the high school level. With four students enrolled in its inaugural year, it now has eight musicians working with faculty to hone their skills and prepare for college-level courses and performance, said program director Eunyoung DiGiacomo, chair of the Fine and Performing Arts Department. Each major also selects a final program, prepares, and performs a solo recital. DiGiacomo plans to have majors perform in pop-up concerts throughout the school year, outside if weather permits.
Music Majors have gone on to Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University, Berklee College of Music, Hartt School of Music, and Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University, to name a few.
“It’s not only for college,” DiGiacomo said. “Some of them pursue it because they just want music to continue to be a big part of their lives.”
Stella Liebler ’23 proudly displaying her award-winning artwork
The Fine and Performing Arts Department employs a cadre of adjunct music instructors to work one-on-one with musicians. Many Music Majors and students in music courses take advantage of individual lessons available weekly on campus.
This year’s roster of instructors includes Doug Perry, a percussionist who has performed across America and in Ghana and Germany. A graduate of the Peabody Institute and Yale School of Music, Perry has performed with musicians Christian McBride and Dave Samuels and has recorded for films and popular video games, including Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris and Fossil Hunters.
Piano instructor Vitaly Starikov has won honors at the 2021 Queen Elisabeth Competition in Belgium and the 2023 Sydney International Competition and was the Grand Prix and Audience
CA Music Majors have gone on to Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University, Berklee College of Music, Hartt School of Music, and Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University, to name a few.
Prize winner at the 2017 Épinal Piano Competition in France. Starikov has taught and led students for seven years in Moscow and spent two years as a professor’s assistant at the Moscow Conservatory.
“As a teacher, my distinctive feature is to find a unique approach to every person,” he says.
Visiting artist Pierre Sylvain discusses his work with Cheshire Academy students.
Natalia Moro ’24 sings at the Spring Concert.
Cheshire Academy musicians become familiar faces around campus because they have so many opportunities to perform. From weekly all-school morning meetings, which always include a group or individual performance, to campus concerts and talent shows to Convocation and Commencement, vocalists and instrumentalists are an integral part of the community. This fall’s Convocation featured Sofia Della Porta ’25 singing Sia’s “Unstoppable” and a guitar instrumental by Ethan Dong ’25.
Cheshire musicians also shine in competition. Last year, about 10 CA students earned spots in the regional music festival of the Connecticut Music Educators Association and three were chosen for All-State performance.
The Art Major is a yearlong course designed for juniors or seniors who are advanced art students with a keen interest in attending art school or majoring in art or design at the university level. Art Majors are provided with a personal workspace and materials deemed necessary to complete their vision, including access to the digital lab, ceramics room, and printmaking equipment.
This year, four talented young artists are working independently and with Cheshire faculty, said longtime art teacher Fran Poisson. Some students choose to extend the program for two years, gaining even more encouragement and constructive criticism.
“They work on portfolio development, and representatives from a number of colleges come here and look at them and give them feedback,” said Poisson, himself a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). “We’ve had RISD, Art Institute of Chicago, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Monserrat (College of Art), Ringling (College of Art and Design).”
Students also exhibit and discuss their work at an annual Spring Art Major Show in the Kohn-Joseloff Gallery Space.
Art Majors often learn more about technique and practice from working artists who visit CA throughout the year.
In 2023-24, Middletown mosaic artist and curator Pierre Sylvain and New Haven painter Christian Curiel spoke to classes and met with student artists. Professional artists Eoin Patrick Burke, Tracie Cheng, Jasmine Nikole, and Tiara McKnight ’12 all exhibited in the campus gallery during the past academic year.
Their hard work has paid off. In past years, Cheshire Academy Art Majors have been accepted to, or have attended, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), RISD, New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Art Institute of Chicago, Parsons School of Design, and many others.
Ethan Dong ’25 performs at Cheshire Academy.
Scary Good: Kyle Alex Brett ’05
A thrilling ride from a corporate lawyer to a creative executive for the team behind the hit chiller “Speak No Evil”
Kyle Alex Brett ’05 instantly related to director Jordan Peele’s Oscar-winning film “Get Out.”
First, the film reminded him of a short story he wrote in college. Second, he was a corporate lawyer for a law firm in New York when he saw the movie and it seemed to be literally speaking to him through the screen, screaming at him to leave a professional career that (like LaKeith Stanfield’s character) had turned him into a shell of his former self.
“I needed to stop being a lawyer,” Brett said recently, with a laugh. “I thought, ‘God, this is so interesting. Maybe there’s a way I can help make movies like this.’”
Seven years after the film’s release, Brett has made that dream come true for the very same company that produced “Get Out” and some of the top horror movies of the past decades, including “Paranormal Activity,” “The Purge,” “Invisible Man,” and “Five Nights at Freddy’s.” In a conversation over the summer, he was excited but tightlipped about some of the company’s upcoming projects.
“There’s good stuff cooking,” Brett promised.
When the idea is in development, Brett is there to help the senior executives bring it to reality through discussions on financing, casting, marketing, even the creative nuts and bolts of making the film as eerie as possible.
“You look at something in the script and say, ‘this seems odd’ or ‘this doesn’t seem odd enough,’” he said. “Here’s a married couple who meet another married couple on vacation and things go awry. How can we make sure things keep going awry?”
From there, his job is to support the director and solve problems as they come up.
Brett’s interest in horror started in childhood, when he lingered in the spooky sections at the Scholastic Book Fair. Not interested in “bloody horror with a capital H,” he gravitated towards book series like Goosebumps and The Bailey School Kids, as well as movies like “The Halloween Tree” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and television series such as “Are You Afraid of the Dark?”
As an adult, he’s simliarly intrigued by the sort of horror that has become Peele’s staple: scares with a dollop of social commentary.
Brett’s new role is a far cry from his trajectory when he left Cheshire Academy in 2005.
Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Madison, CT, Brett graduated from Connecticut College in 2009 and Howard University School of Law in 2014. He moved to New York City, where he worked first as a corporate lawyer and then as an entertainment lawyer for two firms before moving to Los Angeles in 2019 and serving as counsel on Netflix’s independent film team.
“Since leaving corporate law, I was trying to get over to the creative side,” he said. “I slowly snuck my way over.”
His stealthy prowess was probably a benefit for the type of production company that interested him. Founded in 2000, Blumhouse is known for producing horror films, as well as top-flight dramas, such as Oscar winners “Whiplash” and “BlacKkKlansman.”
As a creative executive, Brett’s job is three-fold. First, he reads scripts — lots of them — looking for ideas that are worth developing. He estimates the team considers about 200 ideas before choosing the eight films it produces a year.
“He makes movies about alienation, right?” Brett said. “In ‘Get Out,’ it was alienation racially. In ‘Us,’ you’re alienated from yourself and in ‘Nope,’ it’s literally aliens.”
Brett also appreciates a director’s ability to surprise audiences with an unexpected change of tone. “Sometimes the difference between comedy and horror is the music,” said Brett, who lists “Under the Skin,” “Hereditary,” “The Babadook,” and the ominous Holocaust film “Zone of Interest” among recent favorites.
Brett credits Cheshire Academy mentors such as his former college counselor and track coach Tyrone Black with encouraging his sense of independence. He also remembers a pivotal moment sitting outside J.J. White Science & Technology Center reading former President Bill Clinton’s autobiography, “My Life.”
“I was reading it and the clouds kind of opened and a beam of light came down on the bricks,” he said. “I was thinking, ‘How did a kid from rural Arkansas grow up to be president of the United States?’ It’s cliché, but I really did realize if you just think about it, plan it, and try hard at it, you can probably do anything.”
GRADUATING CLASS
Three retiring teachers reflect on their time and legacy at Cheshire Academy
The 102nd episode of “The Twilight Zone,” “The Changing of the Guard,” focuses on Professor Ellis Fowler, a gentle teacher facing retirement after 51 years at a boys’ prep school in Vermont. Thumbing through the pages of old yearbooks, he’s convinced his lessons have been disregarded, that he has given his students “nothing, nothing at all.”
Discouraged, he stands at the base of a statue of legendary educator Horace Mann, considering the inscription: “Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity."
Last spring, a student in the graduating class at Cheshire Academy asked Philosophy and Literature Teacher Robert “Chip” Boyd P’98,’10 to watch the episode. He wanted to explain how much being a student of Boyd’s — one of thousands in his 37 years on campus — had meant to him.
In June, three of the school’s longest-serving educators — Boyd, Art Teacher François “Fran” Poisson, and History Teacher James “Butch” Rogers — will teach their last classes at CA. Upon retirement, they will have served a combined 93 years at Cheshire Academy. The trio, who have been colleagues and campus neighbors for decades, sat down in August to consider how they’ve changed the Academy and how it’s shaped their careers and their lives.
“When I started teaching here, I defined myself as an artist first and a teacher second,” said Poisson. “Over the years, it’s flipped to where now I say I’m a teacher...and I say it proudly.”
Poisson studied art at Rhode Island School of Design and holds an MFA from the University of Michigan. He worked for an industrial design company and then as an adjunct art professor at four colleges to make ends meet before switching gears to teach teenagers at Cheshire Academy.
“I needed a job,” Poisson joked of his initial reason for applying to the school. “But I love it. It's about working with students and their ideas and their creative ideas and
impulses and kind of growing with them as they develop. It’s very rewarding.”
Joining him on campus is his wife of 38 years, Patty Poisson, a fellow artist who will also be leaving her post as a trusted school nurse. The pair will retire to their summer home in Maine, where both will focus some of their time on their creative endeavors.
Rogers, who holds degrees from Connecticut College and Wesleyan University, came to Cheshire 32 years ago, after working in business and then in a public school setting. “I had five classes, 30 kids in a class. You were just handed the curriculum. There was no chance for creativity,” he said. “Here, it was much different. I could actually create my own classes. I was allowed to follow the path that I wanted, and that was important to me.”
He welcomed the idea of teaching history through sources that resonated with students — the art, music, and literature of the time. “It had nothing to do with names and dates and battles, but this idea that it had to do with understanding the past to understand the present,” he said.
After working in the mental health field for several years, Boyd decided to shift to the field of education. While completing a master’s program aimed at public school certification at the University of Bridgeport, he had a conversation with his sister, whose wise counsel he respects. She mentioned an open teaching job at Cheshire that included a coaching gig. “I thought I would like to have a job teaching and coaching tennis,” he said with a smile. “And here I am.”
keeps things interesting and fresh.
“We don’t have a cookie-cutter population,” said Rogers, who will be moving to Stonington after Commencement. “We have to create multiple lesson plans to make sure all of our students succeed.”
The three teachers enjoy the variety of the curriculum. Ultimately though, each is using his own discipline to teach a universal subject — the importance and beauty of knowledge and comprehension itself.
“I want my students to be curious, but I want them to understand the value of knowledge — that dedicating yourself to the study of any of the arts or history or sciences, literature, philosophy — all of it is of great value and it can be a way of enhancing your experience of the world,” said Boyd, who earned his bachelor’s degree at Tufts University. “It’s a compensation for how frustrating and difficult the world can be that you can experience something really fascinating and exciting about the world at any time.”
While students might not share the same strengths, challenges, and passions when they come to Cheshire, Poisson said, “when they leave, there’s a spirit that the school has that travels with them.”
“Teaching is one of the few jobs where, you know, the kids are there, you close the door and it’s the little world that you all create.”
— History Teacher James “Butch” Rogers
Boyd, whose wife is former theater teacher Shelley Taylor Boyd, said the life of working and living on a boarding school campus is sometimes difficult and downright exhausting, but ultimately very satisfying.
“In recent years, I’ve had a couple of philosophy classes that were great in that sense; the kids were really interested in exploring profound ideas about life and were into sharing something about themselves with everyone in the class,” Boyd said. “And that’s exciting. At such moments, I would teach for free because I enjoy it that much.”
Asked about their classes, the trio was hard pressed to characterize the typical CA student. It’s their differences and the challenge of connecting with them, they said, that
All three teachers said their decision to spend the bulk of their careers at Cheshire has changed them. For
Rogers, who began teaching in 1993, some of the changes are quite stark.
“In grad school, I did my thesis on a typewriter,” he joked. “Some of it is finding new ways to relate the material. You’ve got to find new ways to reach (students) and make sure they’re relevant.”
All three have lived through many changes in CA leadership and appreciated the school’s enduring focus on studentcentered learning, on finding and honoring the spark in the individual. In his Identity Project, Poisson has each student create a self-portrait, the first takes of which often include collage images of Taylor Swift or Disney World.
“I say, ‘how many people like Taylor Swift in this world? Millions. How many people like Disney? Millions. So how are you an individual? You just said you’re one of a million people,’” he said. “So they have to go back and do another one and that’s when it gets more interesting. They start revealing things about themselves and it becomes much more personal. The final step is to do this without any words in it, just with colors. So what colors, put together, represent you?
“The reason we require students to take art is to develop their creative side. Knowing you’re capable of being creative. It’s not necessarily about talent. It’s curiosity and imagination.”
Imparting a love of learning and exploring creativity is a shared love of the retiring teachers. Each found it hard to pinpoint a particular novel, historical event, or artist he enjoys teaching most. As with everything, the students come first.
Rogers uses contemporary rock music to tap into the realities of the Vietnam era and Charles Dickens to teach the power shifts of the Industrial Revolution. “Dickens is someone who kids in high school can grasp,” he said. “We look at literature as much as we do the history book itself.”
Boyd recently added Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” to his reading list because he thinks the 200+-year-old novel still sparks spirited debate on many contemporary issues.
“I might love a book, but the kids don’t, and it’s just not happening. I’m careful about assuming something I love would be great for the kids,” he said. “I’m more deliberate with my interactions with kids. I’m much more intentional. I’ve grown, certainly, in my profession.”
“When I started teaching here, I defined myself as an artist first and a teacher second. Over the years, it’s flipped to where now I say I’m a teacher...and I say it proudly.”
— Art Teacher François “Fran” Poisson
It’s those kinds of moments — students excitedly engaging in discussion or the creative process — that all three teachers said they will miss deeply as they move beyond Cheshire’s campus. Poisson plans to focus on his own art, while both Boyd and Rogers said they might seek out less intense opportunities to continue teaching.
“That’s going to be a huge issue for me,” said Rogers. “I’m going to miss this far more than I actually know. Because teaching is one of the few jobs where, you know, the kids are there, you close the door and it’s the little world that you all create, and you try to stimulate the minds, whatever you need to do. And...you have to work at it, but it’s a great life to teach.”
Boyd said he might teach adults or join a book group or two, but he will miss the community he’s found at Cheshire. “You can walk into the dining hall on any day and there’s groups of people I could sit down and start having an interesting conversation with about students or a book or an idea, politics or something. It’s a ready-made community of really interesting, communicative people, including the kids.
“And that’s not something that...,” he paused. “Life’s not like that for most people. It’s a privilege and it’s constantly stimulating and I’m going to miss it for sure and I’m going to try to replace it in some ways...with something.”
At the end of “The Changing of the Guard,” the teacher’s former students appear to him in ghost form. One by one, they explain how they remembered his words, poetry they studied together, and the ethics and morality that molded them into brave, honest, and honorable young people.
Rogers said he hopes he has left a legacy at Cheshire and in the lives of his own former students. “I would like to think that I was always honest with them. This idea of authenticity comes up a lot, but admitting when I’m wrong, making the class enjoyable, stimulating.”
Rogers’ wife Jeanne died after a long illness while they were living on campus. He and his two sons know firsthand how Cheshire cares for its community. “No matter how dark things ever got, the school was always there,” he said. “And I’ll never forget that.”
“I would love to think that other people felt that I communicate that spirit of contribution. Of contributing some small victories in the world.”
— Philosophy and Literature Teacher Robert “Chip” Boyd P’98,’10
Poisson wants to be remembered as “a good guy,” and Cheshire as a solid place to grow up. “We evolve,” he said of the school. “We serve these kids well. We always do our best to do right by them. I think what’s kept me here is we do good work.”
Boyd, whose former student asked him to watch the bittersweet Twilight Zone episode, said he was touched to think back upon all the lives of which he’s been a part.
“‘Be ashamed to die before you have won some victory for humanity,’” Boyd said, quoting Mann a second time. “I would be honored to think people see me that way. That my student did. And I would love to think that other people felt that I communicate that spirit of contribution. Of contributing some small victories in the world.”
Three more longtime members of the Cheshire Academy family are leaving campus at the end of the 2024-25 year.
Head of School Julie Anderson will say goodbye after 22 years of service as both a teacher and administrator, as will her husband, Tom Marshall, who has been a mathematics teacher for 10 years. Campus Nurse Patty Poisson will also leave after serving 16 years in the Richardson Health Center.
AN UNSUNG HERO
Cheshire Academy’s CFO wins international business award
Matt Piechota had a lot of items on his to-do list for spring 2024, but accepting an international award was not one of them. CA’s hardworking-but-humble chief financial officer had quite the surprise when he was presented with the National Business Officers Association (NBOA) Will Hancock Unsung Hero Award in April.
“Matt’s impact at Cheshire Academy goes beyond numbers and systems,” said Head of School Julie Anderson P’19,’23, who nominated Piechota.
“He has become a driving force for progress, securing the school’s financial footing while fostering a vibrant and growing student body. He’s not there for applause, but for the students, faculty, and the institution he cares deeply about.”
“He’s not there for applause, but for the students, faculty, and the institution he cares deeply about.”
— Head of School
Julie Anderson P’19,’23
Recognizing chief business officers who have made extraordinary contributions to their schools, the Will Hancock Unsung Hero Award is named for a founder of NBOA, an association of more than 1,600 member schools. Piechota was one of just nine winners this year.
Piechota has been Cheshire Academy’s CFO for six years. He spearheaded a comprehensive modernization of the business office and secured crucial funding
for athletics and arts spaces. He collaborated to design and execute a tuition reset strategy, attracting a surge of day students and the largest ninthgrade class in over two decades.
“It is an honor to receive this award, and I am grateful to be part of such a special community,” Piechota said. “Our team at Cheshire Academy works hard to make the experience unforgettable for all our students and families.”
Piechota enhances that experience, Anderson said. “He’s a familiar face at concerts, games, and across campus, quietly supporting every facet of Cheshire Academy,” she said. “His collaborative spirit and leadership have earned him the respect of his peers and positioned Cheshire Academy for a bright future.”
The Long Approach
Joe Long knows a little something about opportunity.
The child of a father who left school in sixth grade and a mother married two weeks after her high school graduation, he quit high school twice before finally getting his diploma. Realizing a little late that his professional dreams required a college degree, he applied to Springfield College — at 25.
They took a chance on him through admission and financial support, and the late bloomer — now Cheshire Academy’s chief advancement officer — has spent his career making good on that opportunity. Quite simply, it changed his life.
He sees parallels with the work he and his Advancement team are doing at Cheshire Academy.
“For me, it’s an opportunity to repay that debt and, two, to provide that same opportunity for someone else,” he said.
“If we can make (education) as affordable and accessible as we can for individuals to have that experience of a quality education that’s eye-opening and teaches people to think independently, and, on top of that, gives students a safe place to learn, make mistakes and grow, I think we’re doing great work.”
— CA’s Chief Advancement Officer Joe Long
“And three, as far as I’m concerned, this is the great differentiator. Education simply is that, the great differentiator. And if we can make it as affordable and accessible as we can for individuals to have that experience of a quality education that’s eye-opening and teaches people to think independently, and, on top of that, gives students a safe place to learn, make mistakes and grow, I think we’re doing great work.”
The building blocks are in place at Cheshire Academy, an institution that has stood the test of time, he said. Welcoming the students of the world from its inception, CA is perfectly placed to transform the lives of the responsible global leaders of tomorrow.
The secret to success, Long believes, is connecting past and present through the Academy’s deep roster of alumni, family, and friends. In the years ahead, the Advancement team will work to secure the sustaining gifts and scholarships, volunteer and leadership opportunities, and networking and mentoring connections that will build a bright future for generations of students.
“Everything else happens when we create meaningful, long-lasting, engaging opportunities for our alumni to stay connected to our school. That’s the key,” Long said. “There are very few things you can do in life where you can go home every night and say, ‘I made a difference in someone’s life today.’ We can honestly say that.”
TEAM PLAYER: Riley Norwood ’20
A Commencement honor fuels a life of character and commitment to others
Riley Norwood ’20 (left) came back to watch her cousin, Kaleigh Durkin ’25, help the Cats win the Division B title.
Each year at Commencement, Cheshire Academy bestows the Jennifer Hawke-Petit Recognition Award on a deserving senior who emulates the late nurse’s wisdom, expertise, caring, and kindness. The 2020 recipient, Riley Norwood ’20, was no exception.
“Riley accepted that award and made it her driving force to make Jennifer proud,” said Norwood’s mom Trisha.
And she’s well on her way: this year, Riley earned her nursing degree at Mount Saint Mary College and has embarked on her own career as a registered nurse in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Yale New Haven Hospital. She’s also a member of Yale’s Critical Care Nursing Residency Program.
As if that weren’t enough, the CA softball standout started all four years on her college team, a rarity for students who take on the demanding schedule of a nursing degree. She’s eying opportunities to coach a youth or travel team in the future.
Decisions, Decisions
You might think Norwood was one of those students who was sure of her future career, laser focused from an early age. You’d be wrong.
“No, I was not one of those,” said Norwood, laughing. In fact, she considered careers in athletic training and physical therapy before settling on a nursing career at the very end of her sophomore year of college.
Once she decided, however, Norwood threw herself into the degree program and all the ways she could grow as both a nurse and a leader. She served as a nursing peer tutor and a peer mentor for Mount St. Mary’s Nursing Workforce Diversity Program and was president of the Student Nurses’ Association (SNA). She organized community blood drives
and workshops, most notably teaching fellow students how to administer naloxone, the anti-opioid overdose medication.
“I was very thrilled and ready for the challenge [of being SNA president],” Norwood told her college magazine. “I think it really helped me to become a great leader.”
Norwood was inducted into nursing’s Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society and Alpha Chi Honor Society for general academics and served as president of the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society for student athletes. She was also named an Aquinas Scholar, one of the most prestigious academic awards at “the Mount.”
Norwood enjoys the challenge inherent in nursing, something she first experienced as a Cheshire Academy student while shadowing a family friend who was a nurse. She found the idea of helping others in stressful situations exhilarating.
“I walked into the OR and thought, ‘This is where I want to be,’” she said.
Finding Her Focus
As a new nurse, Norwood is considering a career in flight nursing, which would allow her to practice in different locales, and going back to school to become a certified nurse anesthetist. Yale has a CNA program, she said.
“I like nursing because it’s varied,” the East Haven resident said. “If you get bored in one area, you can switch and do something else.”
Norwood also appreciates her many opportunities to help others in the healthcare field. While at CA, she gained her EMT license and — in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy — helped her dad, a former firefighter, lead Stop the Bleed education for schoolteachers, including at Cheshire Academy. In recent years, the duo has taught at her college where the School of Nursing and athletics offices now have kits to help people save lives in an emergency.
“It left a lasting mark,” she said of the effort.
Covering Her Bases
When it comes to sports, Norwood excelled at Mount Saint Mary. She won the Female Knight of the Year Award from the Athletics Department for both 2022 and 2023 and All-Conference honors for 2023. She was thrilled to be back on the CA campus to cheer on the 2024 softball team as it won the Western New England Prep Schools Association Division B Final. Her cousin, Kaleigh Durkin ’25, plays on the team, making victory even sweeter.
Playing a sport through high school and college gave her two things that might seem diametrically opposed — discipline and freedom. As with her chosen profession, it was a chance for her to show how perseverance and hard work for others pays off.
“Softball was my out. I couldn’t procrastinate because I didn’t have time to procrastinate,” she said. “But it was also an opportunity to let go and be free.”
“I was very thrilled and ready for the challenge [of being SNA president]. I think it really helped me to become a great leader.”
— Riley Norwood ’20
Evan T. Solomon with Julie Anderson, head of school, and Danielle Landry ’15, president of the Cheshire Academy Alumni Leadership Association
Honoring Excellence
Cheshire Academy inducts three Hall of Fame members and announces nominations for two new categories
Since 1987, Cheshire Academy has been recognizing alumni success both on campus and beyond commencement through induction into our athletic and academic hall of fame. On Reunion Weekend 2024, about 100 alumni, family, faculty, and friends gathered outside Bowden Hall to celebrate the achievements of three deserving Cats.
The Academy also announced two new categories for the 2025 ceremony — the Alumni Achievement Award and the Distinguished Alumni Service Award.
“We honor the exceptional achievements of these individuals,” Chief Advancement Officer Joe Long told those gathered on the lawn. “Their achievement serves as a symbol of Cheshire Academy’s connection from the past to the present.”
This year’s honorees are: Emma L. Gawronski ’14, Kevin Slaughter Memorial Athletic Hall of Fame; Scott Ruderman ’09, D. Robert Gardiner Arts & Letters Hall of Fame; and Evan T. Solomon ’13, The Outstanding Young Alumni Award.
A member of the Varsity Girls’ Cross Country and Swimming teams, Gawronski was recognized with ALL-NEPSAC honors, breaking CA records and winning and placing in events at the NEPSSA DIII Championships in swimming and the New England Championships in track and field. Now a senior paralegal, she continues to train for events such as the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge in Central Park, a race named after the legendary financier who was also a CA alum.
Ruderman won the coveted Senior Visual Arts Prize while at Cheshire Academy and his work as a cinematographer and award-winning director has been featured on Netflix, PBS,
The Academy also announced two new categories for the 2025 ceremony — the Alumni Achievement Award and the Distinguished Alumni Service Award.
BBC, and at international film festivals. His documentary “Pay or Die,” which explores the crushing financial reality for insulin-dependent Americans living with diabetes, won the Cinema for Peace Dove Award on Global Health in Berlin.
A former captain of the baseball team and MVP of the 2013 cross country team, Solomon won the prestigious Trustees Award while at CA. In addition to being an active community volunteer, he is an associate director at Fresh Youth Initiatives, which empowers youth who have the fewest resources to achieve their greatest potential by addressing food insecurity, mental health, and more.
Emma Gawronski ’14 and Director of Athletics Jim McCarthy
Nominations are open for all five awards slated to be presented at the 2025 Hall of Fame induction ceremony. To recognize a deserving Cat, scan the QR code at right or visit www.cheshireacademy.org/hall-of-fame.
Scott Ruderman ’09, the 2024 inductee to the D. Robert Gardiner Arts & Letters Hall of Fame, right, and his fiancée, Rachel Dye, chat with D. Robert Gardiner, left.
Class Notes
Submit your news and photos to: alumni@cheshireacademy.org
1970s
John Baumgarten ’71 has “amazing memories” of spending his senior year living with four other students in Larry Kelly’s campus home. The New Jersey native now lives in Highlands Ranch, CO, with his wife of 42 years, Robyn. They have: three sons, Cory, Dylan, and Hunter; a granddaughter, Remi, four; and a one-year-old grandson, Eli. John is CEO at Corbyn Group LLC, which provides business consulting and technical expertise to organizations, healthcare corporations, global hedge funds, private equity firms, and more. He is also a senior partner with OTG Consulting, an international technology brokerage firm.
“At the moment, my whole family is cheering hard for Alexis Holmes ’18 at the Paris Olympic Games! Go Cats!”
Gary J. Graham ’72 and his wife, Joann, visited Antarctica, where Gary took the official Antarctica plunge. The water was 33 degrees and the air was 37 degrees.
1980s
Christine Schott Ledes ’82 is the Palm Beach editor and special projects director at PALMER Palm Beach, a publication that delivers the “Palm Beach State of Mind” through both print and digital platforms
Han-Leong Goh ’86 has been in Wilmington, NC, since 2009 and with his partner since 2014. He is director of research with Cross River Therapy, a private agency providing Applied Behavior
Analysis to children diagnosed with autism. He also reports that his 21-year-old son is starting his senior year studying music and trombone performance at Columbia State University and his 19-year-old son is starting his second year with the U.S. Air Force as Airman First Class. His stepdaughter is starting her senior year in high school.
1990s
Shari Liu Fellows ’92 debuted the Shari Liu Agency, a premier luxury consulting agency dedicated to redefining elegance and sophistication in the realm of high-end lifestyle brands, events, and business.
Deron Rippey ’93 celebrated his daughter, De’Naya Rippey ’24, scoring her 1,000th point for the Cheshire Cats basketball team, an achievement he reached during his time at CA 31 years before her.
Alex Case ’99 is the director of team services for the Canadiens de Montreal hockey team.
Kathy Ewen ’99 and her horse Ranger compete with Connecticut Dressage Association. At the end of June, they were the High Point for Adult Amateur rider and horse, a big honor in dressage.
2000s
Congratulations to Zach Boroson ’07 and his wife, Ali, who welcomed Marlie Rose Boroson on July 17, 2024. She joins Emilia, almost four, and Callum, two.
Julie Robles Montero ’07 and her husband, Tim, announce the birth of their son, Charles Alexander Montero, on May 29, 2024
Shakir Saunders ’07 was selected to play for the Jamaican Men’s National Box Lacrosse Team for the World Box Lacrosse Championships in Utica, NY, in September.
Craig Bodden ’08 reports he has earned a new certification, Certified Cloud Security Professional, from ISC2
Congratulations to Adam Gabbard ’09 and his wife, Jasmine Ashe-Dias, on the birth of their daughter, Teagan, on January 25, 2024. She joins a big brother, Jace. Adam was recently appointed the head soccer coach for Framingham State University.
Tyler Hundley ’09 has been named head men’s basketball coach at Nichols College.
2010s
Congratulations to Kayla B. Lipsitz ’10 and her husband, Harrison, who welcomed their daughter, Charlotte Grace-Miriam Lipsitz, on June 17, 2024.
Luoying Yang ’12 is working as a biostatistician at the pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb in Princeton, NJ.
Christian D. Calistro ’15 (right) began the second year of medical school at New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine in July 2023 after being elected first-year representative for the medical school’s American Osteopathic College of Radiology interest group. “I’m still a dog person, but go Cats!”
Matthew Cohen ’16 writes: “Hello everyone! A quick update about myself. For work, I have a wealth management practice at Merrill Lynch. For fun, I like to stay active and play sports like basketball whenever I can and love to travel. I have the fondest memories of Cheshire Academy and would love to connect with some former classmates and alumni.”
Limburg United added basketball player Elijah Pemberton ’16 to their roster for the new 2024-25 season. Pemberton played last season at Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the Israeli Winner League and helped them reach the Israeli Cup Semifinals. Prior to that, he spent the preseason at Samsun in the Turkish league. Elijah has been a regular member of the USA Senior National Team since 2022 and has played professionally in Canada and with the Santa Cruz Warriors. A 2020 Hofstra University graduate, he was named to the CAA All-Tournament team that same year.
Simonas Burzidikas ’17 is now living in Lithuania.
Coby J. Tippett ’17 was named special teams coaching assistant/ quality control for the New England Patriots.
Tara Lynch ’18 (above) has been making a splash in media: she has started a new position as reporter at WJZ and CBS News in Baltimore and was recently nominated for three New York Emmys for her work at News 4 (WIVB) in Buffalo. She was nominated for a retrospective on the Tops mass shooting, the remembrance of a deadly blizzard, and as a member of the News 4 team that covered a fouralarm fire that killed a firefighter. In her short time in Charm City, she has reported on several topics, including the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. She graduated from Ithaca College in 2021.
Alexis Shanok ’18 (right) got married August 22, 2024, in Aberfeldy, Scotland.
2020s
Isabella M. Brooder ’20 graduated from Springfield College in May. She has been accepted to the University of Bridgeport School of Chiropractic.
Taylor M. Castelot ’20 (below) graduated from Coastal Carolina University with a degree in English and digital media. She was chosen as a commencement speaker and is the recipient of the annual Edwards College poetry contest award. She also earned third place among more than 100 students for her research on banned literature and was the only humanities major to receive this award. Taylor plans to attend Clemson University in the fall, where she will be a graduate teaching assistant within the Master of Arts in English program.
Emma Paradis ’21 had an internship as a data engineer with The Hartford’s Tech Catalyst Program. She’s gained invaluable knowledge in her field during eight weeks of technical growth and professional development.
Monmouth University running back Jaden Shirden ’21 signed a free agent deal with the Carolina Panthers. Named the Walter Camp Football
Foundation’s FCS Player of the Year, he finished the 2023 regular season as the nation’s leading rusher for the second consecutive season and was the two-time CAA Offensive Player of the Year. Jaden finished third in the Walter Payton Award voting and participated in the 99th annual EastWest Shrine Bowl in Frisco, TX.
Mercer County Community College outfielder Tyler Gonzalez ’22 had 20 hits with 17 RBIs and 6 doubles in 24 games while batting .225 in the 2023 season. As of this note in the 2024 season, Gonzalez had 15 hits, 12 RBIs and 7 doubles in 12 games. Tyler was batting .224 this spring and had a .963 fielding percentage. A criminal justice/law enforcement major, he earned All-Region and All-Conference All-Academic honors in the fall 2022 and fall 2023 semesters.
Skidmore College announced its incoming class of soccer players, including goalkeeper Marcus Murphy ’24. The 6'4" athlete “has the ability to dominate his box in crossing situation and his distribution can catch teams on the counterattack,” the team announced.
NORTH PALM BEACH
Barry Davis ’74 hosted a luncheon in March for fellow CA community members in North Palm Beach, FL. Back row (L-R): Mark Moore, Barry Davis ’74, Ibrahim Gonzalez ’82, Joe Long. Front row (L-R): Jose Caldera ’69, Pete Consigli ’69, Elena Caldera, Tully Rogers ’61, Judy Rogers, Dean Di Bella ’83, Julie Anderson P’19,’23, Claudia Moore ’94.
BOSTON
We love you, Boston! The CA advancement team had a blast in April reconnecting with our fantastic alumni at Trillium Brewing Company. (L-R): Joe Long, Jeff Biestek ’13, Sean Sylvia ’10, Matt Torrey ’14, Jon Bergamo ’13, Dariusz Domanski ’98.
REUNION
Brandon Wheeler ’14, assistant to the general manager of the Phoenix Suns; Danielle Landry ’15, personal finance teacher and president of the Cheshire Academy Alumni Leadership Association; and Tom Cavaliere ’15, director of community engagement at Tweed-New Haven Airport, fielded questions from current students and alumni at the Reunion 2024 Alumni Career Table Talk.
BLUE & WHITE AUCTION
Gina Della Porta ’97 poses with her daughter, Sofia Della Porta ’25, who provided musical entertainment at the Blue & White Auction in May at Cheshire Academy.
Several alums kicked off Reunion 2024 with a Welcome Home Cats gathering at Kinsmen Brewery in Milldale, CT.
EventsAlumni
Bob Gardiner (front row, third from left) hosted the lively 50th & Legends Luncheon at Elm Street Tavern during Reunion 2024 weekend in June.
In Memoriam
DR. GERALD LARSON
The campus community fondly remembered a beloved former head of school
It was with great sadness that the campus community learned of the death of former Cheshire Academy Head of School Dr. Gerald (Jerry) Larson, of Bristol, RI, who passed away Aug. 27 after battling cancer. He was 65.
Larson was head of school from 19992004 and returned as interim head for two more years from 2012-2014. His tenure was marked by increased enrollment, strong student academic achievement, and a student-centered approach.
Larson’s legacy lives on in Cheshire Academy’s curriculum and programming. “Under Jerry’s leadership, the campus saw numerous construction projects come to life, and we continue to stress the importance of student-centered teaching, which was formalized under the CASCLE program,” said Head of School Julie M. Anderson P’19,’23.
On behalf of the whole Cheshire Academy family, she offered deep condolences to Larson’s wife, Cheryl, and son, Nicholas.
CASCLE, or Cheshire Academy Student Centered Learning Environment — which was made possible by a major gift from E. Hadley Stuart ’37 and Brett Stuart ’68 and the Stuart Family Foundation in 2001 — was an innovative educational program enhancing the “student-centered learning environment” that has long been a unique strength of the school. Larson’s CASCLE initiative provided a range of faculty training, curriculum development programs, strategic planning processes, and effectiveness-measurement efforts to support the “whole student” in their intellectual, physical, social, and moral development.
Upon its formation, Larson stated, “At the core of Cheshire Academy’s mission is the belief that the true measure of a school lies in the quality of character of the people within the school.” He emphasized that “teachable moments” to help students grow guided by “caring and knowledgeable adults” happen in a variety of contexts, from the dormitory to the playing field, to the dining hall, and beyond.
When he returned as interim head of school in 2012, Larson said he was looking forward to “leading Cheshire Academy forward as a community that focuses on character, education, and realizing the untapped potential in each student.”
Condolences and remembrances have poured in from the many students and colleagues impacted by Larson’s leadership, with many noting his care, advocacy, mentorship, and humor. Some mentioned learning the importance of the Eight Pillars of Bowden Hall — respect, responsibility, civility, citizenship, caring, morality, trustworthiness, and fairness; while others reminisced fondly about the morning rallying cry of “I’m alive, I’m alert, I – feel – great!” to set the tone for each day; or “the fish” — a stuffed animal that doubled as an impromptu “microphone” to engage students at morning meeting. This fun activity was borne out of the “FISH! Philosophy” based on the book “Fish: A Proven Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results” by Stephen C. Lundin, which had been assigned as faculty reading. Grounded in the culture of Pike Place Fish Co. in Seattle, Larson took on the philosophy that is said to strengthen trust, teamwork, and engagement.
In addition to CASCLE’s longstanding community benefits, Cheshire Academy’s students continue to grow under Larson’s legacy through the Rizzolo-Larson Venture Grant.
Established by Ruth Cook and the Rizzolo family in honor of Dr. Jerry Larson, the fund supports opportunities for student enrichment through experiential learning. Each year, grant recipients carry out innovative summer projects of high merit that are unique, exciting, and demonstrate “outside the box” classroom learning. In Larson’s own words in the Spring/Summer 2013 issue of the Magazine of Cheshire Academy: “The ‘Cheshire experience’ is...a rich array of experiences and opportunities to expand the horizons of our students and expose them to new ways of being responsible members of a community.
“To me, Cheshire Academy is all about making a difference in the lives of our students, their families, our teachers, and our community,” he reflected. Dr. Larson did just that.
To read more about Dr. Larson's legacy, go to www.cheshireacademy.org/news.
SCOTT F. WING
Former CA sociology teacher and administrator Scott Wing of Boca Raton, FL, passed away on July 3, 2024, after a long battle with cancer. Wing worked at Cheshire Academy for 15 years, later becoming head of the middle school at Line Crest Boca. He remained an administrator in various capacities until his retirement in 2014. Survived by his wife of 52 years, Joan, two daughters and four granddaughters, he was a philatelist, collector of books and model trains, gardener, and swimmer, but he most enjoyed mentoring faculty and educating students.
Fond memories and condolences poured in when CA announced Wing’s passing on our social media platforms. Many alums mentioned that they had reconnected with the former teacher, administrator, and friend, on Facebook. “He was, is, and always will be a genuine class act who made a difference for so many of us,” said one former student.
1940s
Irving D. Baer ’41, of Hamden, CT, and Miami Beach, FL, passed away at Whitney Center in Hamden on March 19, 2024.
Henry D. Patterson ’42 died on August 26, 2023.
Justin “Jud” Latona ’45 died on January 11, 2024.
A. Kenneth Pincourt, Jr. ’49 died in March 2024.
1950s
Joseph A. Toppa ’50 of West Hyannisport, MA, died peacefully at home on November 19, 2023 at the age of 92.
Alfred S. Herold ’51, 90, died February 27, 2024, at Hospice of Northwest Ohio.
David Klau ’52 died on August 1, 2024.
Ira Brous ’55 died on March 23, 2024.
Robert L. Perless ’55 died on September 8, 2023.
Allan Jacobson ’58 died on July 14, 2023
1960s
Robert M. Cooper ’62, affectionately known as Coop, died on February 3, 2024, at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital.
Frederick C. Roozen ’62 died on August 15, 2022.
Richard Panciera ’65 of Westerly, RI died on July 4, 2023.
David R. Macharelli, Sr. ’67 passed away at his home on August 2, 2024.
Dr. John Rana ’67 died on September 10, 2023.
Henry L. Peabody ’69 of Essex, MA, passed away on April 29, 2023
1970s
Rev. John E. Cockayne ’70, of Southington and Highland Beach, FL, died August 1, 2024.
Dominic “Nick” Vincent Balogh, Jr. ’77 of Meriden, CT, died unexpectedly on March 5, 2024.
1990s
Andrew P. Bernstein ’92, of Cheshire, CT, died at Central Connecticut Hospital on March 1, 2024.
2000s
Ian W. Margolin ’07, 35, died unexpectedly at his Massachusetts home on July 24, 2024.
2010s
Macaulay H. Wank ’12 died in June 2024.
2020s
Jordan Robinson ’20 died on December 17, 2023.
Faculty and Staff
Former Dean of Students Mark Kolman died on January 26, 2024.
Former teacher Donna M. O’Neill, 63, died on August 5, 2024.
The Harwood Society
Charles Harwood, Jr. ’40 believed in the power of an excellent education.
He came to Cheshire Academy in the late 1930s, during the tenure of esteemed Headmaster Arthur Sheriff. Seeing something special in the intelligent, compassionate boy, Sheriff provided him with warmth, understanding, and the firm academic foundation for which the Academy had a reputation. He encouraged in Harwood, who had cerebral palsy and a speech impediment, the characteristics of motivation and self-discipline, traits that would carry him through his undergraduate education at The City College of New York and then to his graduate studies at Columbia and Boston universities and Suffolk University School of Law.
Planned giving with the power to change young lives
Harwood distinguished himself as a research economist, authoring thought-provoking papers and devoting his life to several charitable causes, including Cheshire Academy, where he was a trustee until his passing in 1987. Harwood believed in the Academy, leaving a $3 million trust that provides income annually to enhance the “Cheshire experience” for all our students.
Honoring that spirit, The Harwood Society for Planned Giving offers alumni, parents, and friends a chance to make provisions for Cheshire Academy in their estate plans through a bequest, trust or life-income gift, or as beneficiary of a life insurance plan. Planned gifts are a sound way to achieve an individual’s financial and philanthropic priorities while ensuring the Academy has the necessary means to consistently deliver an exceptional, world-class educational experience.
To learn more about how you can build Cheshire Academy’s endowment, contact Fred Kuo, senior director of development, at fred.kuo@cheshireacademy.org.
Annual Report of Giving
JULY 1, 2023 – JUNE 30, 2024
Your generosity helped raise $1,409,908 in total support for Cheshire Academy in the 2023-2024 academy year. In FY24, 99% of CA employees and trustees demonstrated their support by making a gift to Cheshire Academy and were met with an outpouring of support from our parents, families, parents of alumni, and friends. Gifts to Cheshire Academy make it possible for our students to receive the transformative education experience that CA offers.
Your gift enabled us to award 18 scholarships, including three new scholarship funds. Gifts from you support a number of initiatives on campus — from athletics, to arts, academics, and technology. On behalf of the entire school community, thank you.
FOUNDER’S CIRCLE
($50,000+)
Ahi Limited
Anonymous
Mr. Bruce M. Barber ’54 (D) 35+
The Clarence Manger & Audrey Cordero Plitt Trust 10+
Col. Paul M. Ingram ’44 40
Ms. Mary Anne Kirgin, Primary Trustee, & Mr. Robert Kirgin, Trustee 10+
BOWDEN LEAGUE
($25,000+)
Anonymous
Mr. Michael Bozzuto ’75 35+ Cheshire Academy Parents & Families Association 30+
Mr. Pengzhi Fan & Mrs. Fenbo Yu P’27
Mr. & Mrs. David G. Jepson ’59, Trustee Emeriti 40+
Louis F. & Mary A. Tagliatela Foundation, Inc. 25+
Mr. & Mrs. Armando Simosa P’08, Trustee Emeriti 15+
Mr. George J. Stavnitski ’53 (D)30+
Mr. Stephen P. Tagliatela ’76 30+
The Hometown Foundation, Inc.
BRONSON FELLOWS
($10,000 +)
Anonymous (2)
Ms. Julie M. Anderson P’19,’23, Head of School, & Mr. Thomas Marshall 20+
Mr. Demosthenes Argys P’18 5+
Mr. & Mrs. Ron Bergamo P’13, Trustee 10+
Mrs. Catherine Bonneau, Trustee, & Mr. Robert Bonneau P’04,’16 10+
Mr. & Mrs. Xiongwei Chen P’25
Mr. Michael J. Cohen ’54 15+
Mr. John F. Dichello, Jr. ’59 40+
Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund
Ms. Suparna P. Mody ’00, Trustee 5+
Gerald Oppenheimer Family Foundation 20+
Mr. H. William Oppenheimer ’62 25+
Dr. William A. Petit, Jr., Trustee 25+
Pyramid Foundation, Inc 5+
Raytheon Company
Mr. Praveen R. Savalgi ’06, Trustee 10+
Mr. Murali Venkatraman P’18, Trustee 5+
ARTHUR SHERIFF GUILD
($5,000+)
Mr. William A. Ampofo II ’92, Trustee 5+
The Boeing Company
Ms. Angelina Casanova ’00, Trustee 5+
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph T. Church II ’71 30+
Mr. Walter I. Davison, DDS ’59 20+
Mr. Bart A. DePetrillo ’87, Trustee 20+
Mr. & Mrs. Dan Gabel ’56, Trustee Emeriti 30+
Mr. Jianyong Lang & Mrs. Fuling Zhang P’27
Mr. Thomas A. LoRicco ’74 25+
Mr. Christopher S. Motter ’97 15+
Mr. Ronald J. Nail ’63 25+
Petit Family Foundation
Mr. & Mrs. Jared Pinsker ’97, Trustee 10+
Ms. Courtney A. Sacchetti ’93, Trustee 10+
Mr. Todd J. Savage ’98, Trustee 15+
Shaftel Family Foundation, Inc.
Mr. Mel A. Shaftel ’61 30+
Mr. Lewis R. Shomer ’55 15+
Mr. Yong Song & Mrs. Jing Zhang P’16,’26
Mr. Robert E. Svensk ’64 40+
5+ 5-9 years of giving
10+ 10-14 years of giving
15+ 15-19 years of giving
20+ 20-24 years of giving
25+ 25-29 years of giving
Mr. Yiheng M. Tao ’24
Mr. Yongqi Tao & Mrs. Mixiang Xiao P’21,’24
Mr. James N. Travers ’65 20+
Mrs. Susan Vinal & Mr. Edgar Vinal ’86, P’16,’19, Trustee 10+
Mr. & Mrs. Xiangen Zhang P’24,’26
Mr. Qingping Zhou P’25
Mr. Tao Zhu & Mrs. Ping Liu P’27
ROXBURY ASSOCIATES
($2,500+)
Mr. Marc Aronson & Mr. Matthew Socia 15+
Mr. Antonio J. Bechara ’97 10+
Ms. Jacqueline L. Bonneau ’04 5+
Ms. Rebecca Brooks
Mr. Rong Gen Cao & Mrs. San Yu Li P’26
Mr. & Mrs. Tomas R. Chadwick P’24
Mr. Dolph Clinton
Mr. Lee M. Cohen ’78 25+
Mr. Barry M. Davis ’74 15+
Mr. Michael E. Gering ’80 5+
Goodman Family Charitable Trusts 15+
Mrs. Teri Goodman WA’64 20+
Mr. Edward T. Griffin ’63 30+
Mrs. Jodee Heritage 15+
Mr. Alfred S. Herold ’51 (D) 35+
Dr. James Kempton, Trustee, & Dr. Jennifer Myer P’20 5+
Ms. Danielle C. Landry ’15 5+
Mr. Matthew Levy
Mr. Chuanwu Li & Mrs. Yuxia Yuan P’27
Mr. Chengyi Liu ’26
Mr. Ping Liu & Mrs. Fang Xie P’26
Mr. John A. LoRicco ’77 25+
Ms. Nina A. LoRicco ’73 10+
Mr. Robert K. LoRicco ’78 15+
30+ 30-34 years of giving
35+ 35-39 years of giving
40+ 40-44 years of giving
45+ 45-49 years of giving
50+ 50 years or more of giving
Mr. Andrew Newhouse ’05 5
Mr. Richard M. Page ’50 25+
Mr. Cary A. Palulis ’64 25+
Dr. Jeffrey A. Rosenblatt, MD ’73 35+
Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth D. Schlechter ’66 20+
Mr. David B. Sherman ’91 5+
Mrs. Karen B. Soren P’21 5+
Mr. William Soren ’21 5+
The Andrew J. Newhouse Fund of Ayco Charitable Foundation
Mr. Hongyi Wang & Mrs. Chunyan Chen P’27
Mr. Liang Wang & Ms. Jing Wan P’27
Ms. Zidan Wang ’27
Dr. & Mrs. Craig Wotherspoon P’24,’26
Mr. Yikun Zheng & Mrs. Shenyan Dong P’27
ICH DIEN SOCIETY
($1,794)
Mr. Richard D. Amerling ’66 30+
Mr. Gary R. Anderson ’70 20+
Dr. Ed Braly ’67 25+
Community Foundation of Greater New Haven
Mr. Jiahua Deng & Mrs. Ying Long P’27
Mrs. Jennifer Freedman P’15, Trustee 10+
Mr. Michael A. Freedman P’15 10+
Mrs. Lori Gailey & Mr. Peter Gailey P’14,’17 15+
Helen & Herman Gimbel Charity Fund Inc.
Mr. Richard A. Katz, Esq. ’64 30+
Mr. Kenneth W. Killer ’93
Mr. Peter C. Lanni & Dr. Cornelia L. Gallo P’17,’23 10+
Mrs. Jie Liu P’25
Mr. & Mrs. Peng Liu P’24
(D) = Deceased
(P) = Parent
(GP) = Grandparent
(WA) = Widow of Alum
Mr. Jonathan D. Marks ’00 5+
Mr. Richard D. McGowan, Jr. ’64 35+
Dr. Kathir Muthusamy & Dr. Leena Philominathan P’22 5+
National Philanthropic Trust
Mr. Howard W. Newkirk ’60 35+
Mr. & Mrs. Harold Orlinsky P’24
Mr. Adam H. Prince ’92 15+
Mrs. Stephanie Prince P’92 15+
Mr. & Mrs. Martin A. Putnam P’16 10+
Mr. & Mrs. Damon Richardson P’25
Mr. Joel Rothman ’52 15+
Mr. & Mrs. Sengal Selassie P’24
Mr. Jingchang Song ’16
Mr. Jiefu Wang P’26
Mr. Zhengnan Wang ’26
Ms. Yuxuan Yang ’27
Mr. Zhijun Yang & Ms. Jinling Ding P’27
Mr. Jianping Zhang & Ms. Danhua Wu P’26
CHESHIRE CATS
(up to $1,793)
Anonymous
Ms. Yeani J. M. Abdulai ’24
Ms. Rebecca Ackerman
Mr. William Ackerman
Mr. & Mrs. George J. Aiello P’26
Mr. Ken Aiken
Mr. Antonio A. Alfaiate P’20,’21
Mr. Ronald J. Aliciene ’68 20+
Ms. Colleen Altenburger
Atty. Peter F. Ambrose ’63 30+
Mr. Robert R. Anderson ’7210+
Ms. Nanouse Antoine P’27
Mr. Myron Arakaki 15+
Mr. & Mrs. Antonio L. Argiz P’02 5+
Dr. Kylah B. Arias
Mr. Visarut Asvaraksh ’84 15+
Mr. Michael R. Augenblick ’81 20+
Austin Community Foundation
Mr. & Mrs. Anthony J. Avitable, Jr. P’26
Mr. Jose R. Bacardi Gonzalez ’58 20+
Mr. Evan P. Bajohr ’18
Mr. Eugene W. Balinski, Jr. ’73 10+
Mrs. Anne Balogh WA’52, P’74,’77,’80 20+
Mrs. Virginia F. Balser P’98,’01 & Mr. Stephen L. Balser (D) 25+
Mr. & Mrs. Edward Banach 10+
Ms. Brittany Barberino ’05
Mr. Gerry Barker
Mr. Eyal J. Bar-On Blugerman & Mrs. Batia Cymet Wulfov P’25
Dr. Raymond Barrow ’65 15+
Dr. Jerome Barton, M.D. ’50 30+
Ms. Allison Bass-Riccio & Mr. Douglas Riccio 5+
Mr. Paul A. Baudner ’71 5+
Mr. Michael & Mrs. Nicole L. Beaudwin P’24 5+
Mr. & Mrs. Scott Beck P’28
Mr. & Ms. Alexander L. Bell ’76, P’14 25+
Benevity Fund 5+
Mr. Dana A. Benson ’75 25+
Mr. Jonathan T. Bergamo ’13 5+
Ms. Elise Bergstrom
Mrs. Madeleine Bergstrom & Mr. Nathan Bergstrom 5+
Mr. & Mrs. Yves Berliet P’24
Beyond Camps
Mr. Robert E. Biega ’64
Mr. Jeffrey Biestek ’13 5+
Mr. Jonathan Bimpong
Mr. Andrew W. Black ’03 15+
Mr. & Mrs. Merle Black 5+
Mrs. Patricia L. Black P’03 20+
Blossom on Orange LLC
Mr. Jeffrey A. Blum, Esq. ’64 25+
Ms. Katherine Bobsein
Mr. & Mrs. Gaetano Bonanni P’13 5+
Mr. & Mrs. Robert P. Booska P’24
Ms. Meghan E. Bouwman ’20
Mr. George E. Bowman ’72 5+
Mr. & Mrs. Michael P. Bowman P’24
Mr. Lucian Boyd ’10 10+
Mr. Chip Boyd & Mrs. Shelley Taylor Boyd P’98,’10 30+
Dr. Lawrence A. Boyle 10+
Mr. & Mrs. David Bradbury P’24
Ms. Ally C. Breen’19
Mr. & Mrs. John O. Breton, Jr. P’24
Mr. & Mrs. Omari Bright
Mr. Peter S. Brock ’76 20+
Mr. & Mrs. Alan Brooks
Mrs. Ann Brous WA’55 5+
Mr. & Mrs. John F. Burlenski P’01 15+
Mr. Joseph R. Calabro, Jr. ’71 15+
Ms. Karen Caldwell P’14 10+
Mr. & Mrs. Richard D. Cappola, Sr. 15+
“I support Cheshire Academy because it made a transformational difference in my life. The beautiful campus, the exceptional classroom experience, and the personal guidance from faculty led me on a path to success in college and my career.”
— Kimberly Cotton Hoyt ’85
Ms. Rebekah M. Cardwell ’26
Mr. Sean Cardwell & Ms. Tandet Mazo P’26
Mr. Richard R. Caron ’49 5+
Ms. Arlene Carrillo P’26
Mr. Leonard Carroll P’24
Mr. & Mrs. Eric Carson P’23
Mr. Richard T. Cassello ’65 5+
Mr. Daniel Cassely
Mr. & Mrs. William E. Casson 10+
Ms. Aliya K. Catanzarita ’19
Mr. Thomas J. Cavaliere, Jr. ’15 5+
Mr. Marcos A. Chadwick ’24
Mr. & Ms. John Chakan P’24
Charities Aid Foundation America
Mr. Jianhang Chen ’25
Mr. Mark Cheong
Chesapeake Technology, Inc.
Mr. Samuel H. Chorches ’60 35+
Ms. Danielle Church P’25
Mr. Arthur A. Cirkus ’62 35+
Mr. Donald Clancey GP’14
Mr. Noah Clarke
Mr. & Mrs. Steven Clarkson P’17 5+
Mr. Timothy T. Claypoole ’86 30+
Cloud 9 Transportation, Inc.
Mr. & Mrs. Ronald R. Coburn, Jr. P’27
Dr. Allison & Dr. David Cohen P’25
Ms. Emma A. Cohen ’25
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Colantuoni P’05 15+
Mr. Mark R. Coley & Mrs. Marga Llompart-Coley P’06 10+
Ms. Luz S. Colon Collazo ’89 5+
Mr. Alex Conaway
Dr. Michael J. Conlon ’55 5+
Mrs. Michael A. Connor, Jr. WA’41 20+
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Connor P’26
Mr. Pete Consigli ’69 10+
Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Cook P’12 10+
Mr. & Mrs. Alan Cooper P’26
Mr. Calvin Cooper 5+
Ms. Katie Cooper 5+
Mrs. Kimberly Cotton Hoyt ’85 35+
Mr. Peter Coviello
Mr. & Mrs. Clinton Cox P’03 15+
Ms. Breanna Craft
Mr. Peter L. Crew ’69
Mr. Jason C. Curry ’91 5+
Mr. Louis S. Cutillo ’55
Mr. William S. Daley ’63 20+
Ms. Kathleen E. Daly ’05
Mrs. Ecaterina Damian P’25
Mr. Alfred E. D’Ancona III ’60 40+
Ms. Kelsey Darcy ’19
Mr. George H. Davidson III ’81 25+
Ms. Olga Davila
Ms. Barbara Davis P’17,’18,’20,’24 10+
Mr. Robert E. Dawson, Jr. ’73 10+
Ms. Ellie DeLeon
Ms. Evelyn Delgado-Gitchell P’27,’27
Dr. Gina Della Porta ’97 P’25 & Mr. Alfonso Della Porta P’25 5+
Ms. Sofia N. Della Porta ’25
Mrs. Beatrice Deloge & Mr. Don Deloge GP’19,’23 5+
Ms. Janet E. Dember ’77 25+
Mrs. Laura J. Dempsey P’07 15+
Ms. Jenna K. Denomme ’19 5+
Kamden Denomme ’23 5+
Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Desir P’25
Ms. Kathleen DiBenedetto P’26
Mrs. Eunyoung Digiacomo P’19 5+
Ms. Jenny Doak ’91 30
Mr. Dariusz Z. Domanski ’98 10+
Mr. Andrew A. Donarumo, Sr. 15+
Mr. & Ms. Zeqiu Dong P’25
Mr. & Mrs. Jason Dorion 15+
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Dougherty P’01’04 25+
Mr. Eddie W. Dresch III ’24
Mr. Edward W. Dresch P’24
Ms. Victoria B. Dresselaers Underhill ’02
Mrs. Elizabeth R. Driebeek’7710+
Ms. Deborah Driver P’07
Mr. Maurice Driver ’07
Mr. Bevan L. Dupre ’69, P’96,’02 40+
Mrs. Kristin I. Dupre Flores ’96, P’26 20+
Ms. Jenny E. Dupre ’02 20+
Mr. & Mrs. Samuel T. Ebai P’27
Mr. & Mrs. Mark Ecke P’18
Mr. Travis L. Ecke ’18
Dr. William C. Eddy II ’61 35+
Mr. Peter M. Eden ’65 30+
Mr. & Mrs. Roney Eford P’27
Mr. & Mrs. Karl H. Ehrenfels P’24,’25
Mr. & Ms. Geoffrey Einhorn P’20,’24
Mr. & Mrs. James F. Elliman P’85 30+
Mr. James F. Elliman ’85 & Ms. Adrienne Denker Elliman 25+
Ms. Makaila English
Mr. & Mrs. Luis Espinosa P’16 5+
Ms. Kathryn M. Ewen ’99 25+
Mr. & Mrs. William L. Ewen P’03 30+
Mrs. Sarah LeBlond Fabrizi & Mr. Steven Fabrizi
Mr. David Fairbanks
Mr. Bill Fallon P’24,’26
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher D. Fasano P’26
Mr. Jacob D. Fasano ’26
Mr. Gene A. Faubel ’60 25+
Mr. Fred D. Felder ’83 35+
Mr. Mickey-Miles J. Felton ’63 15+
Mr. Richard Ferraro ’71 & Mrs. Roseanne Ferraro ’74 20+
Dr. Charles F. Ferris Ph.D. ’65 10+
Mrs. Julie Fields Hundley ’11 5+
Ms. Carly R. Fischer ’17
Mr. Patrick Fitzgerald
Mr. Otto Fleischmann ’21
Mr. Ricardo C. Flores ’26
Mr. Matthew Fonts 5+
Mrs. Melinda S. Formica 5+
Foundation for The Charlotte Jewish Community
Mr. Paul A. Fournier ’77 30+
Ms. Avery G. Fowler ’27
Mr. & Ms. Gregory Fowler P’25
Mr. Samuel S. Fowler
Ms. Terri J. Fowlkes
Ms. Shannon Frazier P’25,’26
Mrs. Amy E. Frederick ’82 P’16 20+
Mr. Osasumwen FredrickIlekhuoba ’18
Ms. Abigail N. Frempong ’26
Mr. John K. French ’62 15+
Cheshire Academy was and is a second home. Having received many life lessons, amazing memories and incredible longlasting friendships from all over the world, it is hard not to give back!”
— Jonathan Marks ’00
Mr. & Mrs. Darryl Friedricks P’25
Mr. Russell B. Fritz, Jr. ’67 20+
Ms. Danica T. Furst ’24
Ms. Danielle Furst P’24 5+
Mr. & Mrs. Jacob Galloza P’24
Mr. D. Robert Gardiner P’81 15+
Mr. Edward D. Gardner, Jr. ’65 10+
Mr. Karl D. Garvy ’13 5+
Mrs. Daron Gawronski P’14 15+
Ms. Emma L. Gawronski ’14 5+
Mr. Peter H. Gelpke ’74 15+
Ms. Lidia M. Generali ’24
Ms. Tricia A. Generali P’24
Mr. & Mrs. Gregory S. Gibson P’21
Mr. Mark W. Goldberg ’58
Ms. Dana Z. Golden P’24
Mr. David R. Goldkrand ’58 5+
Mr. Harvey A. Goldsmith ’72 5+
Mrs. Barbara V. Goodman WA’67 30+
Mrs. Sandra Goodman & Mr. Jim Goodman
Mr. Adam Gootnick P’27
Mr. Harry E. Gordon, Jr. ’48 35+
Mr. Mark A. Gordon ’99 10+
Mr. Lester A. Gore ’58 25
Mr. Frank T. Gorton ’69 35+
Mr. Gary J. Graham ’72 15+
Mrs. Heather Gray Brown ’94 15+
Mr. Norm Gray & Ms. Vira Boatright P’22,’24
Mr. Brendan C. Grayeb ’02
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Greco P’24
Mr. & Mrs. Joshua D. Greene P’24
Mr. Ricardo Greer ’97
Dr. Aleesha D. Grier ’90 5+
Ms. Molly E. Griffin ’03 5+
Mrs. Jennifer Guarino P’18 10+
Ms. Maggie J. Guarino-Trier ’18 5+
Ms. Meredith Guinness
Ms. Mary Haber P’26
Mr. Hamilton Hackney, Jr. ’49 35+
Mr. Frederic I. Halperin ’59 15+
Mr. & Mrs. James Hamilton P’25
Ms. Ella Hampson ’18 5+
Mrs. Diane F. Hassell 20+
Mr. James J. Hastie ’18 5+
Ms. Kathleen Hastie
Mr. Scott Hastie & Mrs. Marie Hastie P’18,’18 10+
Mr. Edward P. Hatch ’56 5+
Mr. Lee Hawkins ’63 10+
Mr. Robert S. Hebert III ’72 15+
Ms. Kimberly Height 5+
Ms. Ana Henriques
The Henston Family
Mrs. Yvonne Hewu 10+
Mr. & Mrs. Leo Hiertz 15+
Mr. & Mrs. Duane L. Hinkson P’26
Ms. Alissa Hoffman
Lisa Tomasetti Holmes & Will Holmes 30+
Ms. Sarah Horrax
Mr. Hideo Hosoya ’61 10+
Ms. Kathleen Houlihan & Mr. Paul Gaeta 5+
Mr. & Mrs. Edward Hrubiec P’21,24
Mr. & Mrs. Bin Hu P’24
Mr. & Ms. Gregory Huber P’27
Mr. Samuel Hundley ’11
Mr. Chris Hunn P’21 & Mrs. Gina Demico Hunn 5+
Mr. Mark Iadarola & Mrs. Sharyn Iadarola P’16 15+
Mr. Brian P. Ibsen P’96 20+
Dr. & Mrs. Nkemakonam H. Ikekpeazu P’24
Mr. Osajie N. Imevbore ’23
Mr. Xavier Intriago ’98
Chief & Mrs. Robert
Irving P’00 15+
Cheshire Academy was more than a school to me. As a faculty kid, it was “home” — a place where I could rely on the people around me for guidance and support. When I first began donating to the school more than 20 years ago, it was to honor those experiences and people who helped shape who I am now. Today, I have the unique opportunity to see CA through a different lens — watching how it is shaping the life of my nephew Ricardo ’26. I am so thankful that he has the support and guidance of faculty, staff, and fellow students to help him navigate high school and explore new interests. Now, I donate to ensure all students continue to have the incredible support and opportunities that I have seen Cheshire Academy provide to generation after generation of kids.”
— Jenny Dupre ’02
J.P. Morgan & Co. Inc.
Mrs. Carolyn Jackson
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas A. Jackson P’26
Ms. Lisa Jacques 5+
Mr. & Mrs. Tobias M. Janka P’25
Mr. Oliver B. Jennings ’10
Mr. Stephen J. Jeselson & Ms. Jillian E. Perry P’22
Jewish Foundation of Greater New Haven, Inc.
Mr. Nicholas Joaquin 10+
Mr. John R. Johnson, Jr.
Ms. Dorothy L. Johnson-Linner ’79 10+
Ms. Lori J. Johnston Pitts ’80 15+
Ms. Joyce Jones P’21
Mr. Henry K. Jordan ’59 40+
Mr. Michael Joyce ’90 15+
Mr. Robert Joyce 10+
Mr. Kavin Kathir ’22
Ms. Amy S. Kaufman ’07 10+
Mr. Peter L. Keady ’52 25+
Mr. Dell E. Keehn ’63 15+
Ms. Sara Kelleher
Mr. Christian Kells ’25
Mr. Glen D. Kelly ’69 5+
Mr. Owen B. Kempton ’20
Dr. Audrey E. Kerr P’27
Key Trust
Ms. Julie Kile
Dr. Joseph King & Dr. Amy Justice P’18 5+
Mr. & Mrs. Levent Kiranlioglu P’27
Mr. Miles J. Kirschner ’86 30+
Mr. Christopher W. Kita ’68 20+
Mr. Ronald F. Klimas ’67
Mr. John Knepple
Ms. Kathryn Kopcak
Ms. Anne V. Korin ’04
Ms. Erin Koukopoulos
Mr. Samuel I. Kranish ’11 10+
Mr. Steven Kranish P’11,’13 15+
Mr. Kenneth S. Krans ’87 20+
Dr. & Mrs. Peter Kraus P’24
Mr. Andrew P. Kreshik ’82 25+
Mr. Charles M. Krokus ’16 5+
Ms. Morgan Kruzan
Mr. Frederick J. Kuo
Dr. Renee L. Kurtz P’26
Mr. Young Kwon
Mr. Patrick Laffin
Mr. Sriharan Lakshmanaprasath ’24
Ms. Nicolina R. Lamberti ’14 5+
Mr. & Mrs. Bryan Langford P’13,’17 10+
Ms. Madeline C. Lanni ’17
Ms. Sarah Lasoff-Hodge 5+
Mr. Spencer Latran
Mr. & Mrs. H. Taylor Layne P’03 5+
Ms. Tanasia Lea ’09
Mr. David H. Leach ’63 30+
Ms. Katherine LeDuc
Mr. Theodore J. Lee ’68 20+
Ms. Margaret Leeming P’21 5+
Ms. Mia M. Leko ’18
Ms. Lisa Lesinsky
Mrs. Judith Levey 20+
Mr. Joseph R. Levin ’16 5+
Mr. Mark I. Levine ’66 10+
Dr. Jay I. Levinson ’67 10+
Mr. James J. Levy ’71 5+
Mrs. Joan Levy WA’44 5+
Mrs. Rachelle Lewis P’10
Mr. Jakob Licht & Ms. Gisella
Weissbach-Licht P’11 25+
Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Liebler P’23,’27
Mr. Stewart Lindsay, Jr. 25+
Ms. Kayla B. Lipsitz ’10
Mr. Baojun Liu & Ms. Jing Hu P’27
Mr. Donald Liu & Mrs. Jie Pan P’25
Prof. Hongxu Liu & Mrs. Liqiu Zhao P’27
Mr. Joe Long
Mr. Jeffrey B. Long ’62 15+
Mr. Joseph Lorenzatti 5+
Mr. Martin J. Loughlin ’57 10+
Ms. Carrie Lurix P’24
Mr. & Mrs. Brian Lynch P’18 10+
Mrs. Jaimeson Lynch P’20,’21 5+
Ms. Tara S. Lynch ’18 5+
Mr. Robert J. Macchio ’81 10+
Mr. Bruce MacCullagh
Mr. Stephen MacDonald
Dr. Mary Grey Maher P’18,’27 5+
Mr. Christian J. Malerba ’04 10+
Mr. Paul T. Malone ’64 30
Mr. Rodrigo Maltarollo
Mr. Gani F. Manelli
Ms. Kristen Mariotti 5+
Mr. & Ms. Gary S. Markowski P’25
Mr. Dennis J. Marron ’65 10+
Mrs. Joan R. Marshall P’87 30+
Mr. Kenneth Mason 5+
Ms. Reyne L. Maturo ’78 10+
Ms. Meghan McAuliffe
Mr. James McCarthy 5+
Ms. Julia F. McCarthy P’27
Mr. Michael B. McCarthy ’65 10+
Mr. Bryan S. McClellan ’04
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph M. McCluskey P’23,’25
Mr. & Mrs. Timothy J. McCormack P’26,’26
Mr. Matthew J. McGuire ’83 25+
Mr. Edward J. McMahon ’65 10+
Dr. Christine E. McMeekin ’05
Mr. Frederick G. B. McNulty 5+
Ms. Isabela D. S. Medeiros ’25
Mr. Paul Medeiros & Mrs. Susie
Da Silva P’23,’25
Mr. & Mrs. Patrice Medor P’26
Mr. & Ms. William Mella P’26
Mr. & Mrs. Wallace A. Mendela Jr. P’25
Merrill Lynch & Co. Foundation, Inc.
Mr. & Mrs. William L. Meyers P’04 5+
Dr. Esteban Mezey ’54
Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan P. Michael P’26
Mrs. Kristen J. Mielert ’00 5+
Mr. & Mrs. Marc Mikulski P’21 5+
Ms. Meghan Mikulski ’21
Mr. & Mrs. Brian Miles P’11 15+
Mr. & Ms. David Miller P’26
Mr. John Milone & Ms. Sheila Fiordelisi P’18 5+
Ms. Kathleen Minahan 10+
Ms. Amanda R. Minnocci ’04 5+
Mr. Jason Mis 5+
Mr. & Mrs. David C. Mitchell 30+
Mr. James W. Mitchell, Jr. ’54 20+
Mr. Ronald Moore ’60 25+
Mr. Thomas A. Moran, Jr. ’64 35+
Morgan Stanley
Mr. Thomas S. Morgillo ’73 10+
Mr. & Mrs. Brian Moriarty P’25
Mr. Donald R. Morin, Esq. ’70 25+
Mr. Andrew Moss P’14,’15 10+
Dr. Sabooh S. Mubbashar & Mrs. Kiran Zaman P’22,’26
Mr. Nicholas B. Munhofen II ’69 10+
Mr. & Mrs. Brian H. Murphy P’24
Mr. & Mrs. Terrance
Murphy P’25
Mr. Bruce A. Murray ’60 15+
Mr. Stephen Murray
Mr. Chip Namias ’73 30+
Ms. Caitlin Nee
Mr. Marc S. Nemeth ’69 10+
Mr. & Mrs. David Neu P’24
Dr. Fabien Nicaise ’95 15
Mr. David A. Nielsen ’65 35+
Mr. & Ms. Robert Nieminen P’24
Mr. & Mrs. Maksym Nikanov P’24
Mrs. Veneta S. Nikolova ’01 5+
Mrs. Jessica M. Nocerino Troianello ’92 5+
Northcutt & Son Home For Funerals, Inc.
Mr. John D. Northcutt ’59 30+
Ms. Riley M. Norwood ’20
VJ Oben
Mr. & Mrs. Gregory L. O’Connell ’66 P’02 30+
Mr. Terry L. Ojure ’66
Mr. William F. O’Keefe ’03 5+
Mr. Malcom B. Olins ’47
The Rev. Sandra Olsen & Dr. Donald Oliver P’99 20+
Mr. Ashley Oliver-Olsen ’99
Ms. Madison L. Olmstead ’23
Mr. Richard J. Olson ’63 (D)30+
Ms. Raina C. O’Neil P’27
Dr. Leticia Otchere-Darko P’26
Mr. Jaden Otero ’22
Mr. Franklin R. Otto, Jr. ’64 5+
Pacific Gas & Electric
Ms. Kayla R. Padroff ’14 5+
Mr. & Mrs. Justin Paglino P’24
Mr. Richard F. Palleria ’53 25+
Mr. James F. Palumbo ’69 35+
Mr. Gregory J. Pandajis ’70 35+
Mr. & Mrs. Ashwini K. Pandey P’27
Ms. Susan Pardus & Charles Pardus P’17 5+
Ms. Shilpa P. Patel ’89
Ms. Rhonda T. Pattberg 10+
Mr. Kyle R. Pavlick ’00 5+
Mr. Jon W. Peterson, Esq.’64 30+
Mrs. Cristina Petropoulos P’21
Ms. Amanda E. F. Petty ’89
Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Piechota P’26 5+
Dr. Francisco J. Pimentel ’59 30+
Mr. Aaron Pine P’18,’27
Pitney Bowes Matching Gifts Program
Mr. Francois Poisson P’07 20+
Ms. Patricia Poisson P’07 20+
Mr. Jeffrey Possick & Dr. Jennifer Possick P’27
Mr. Marc N. Potenza P’17 10+
Ms. Vikki Pryor P’08
Mrs. Miriam
Przyblyla-Baum P’25
Mrs. Carmen Puglisi
Ms. Reese M. Purdy ’21
Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Purslow P’21
Ms. Caron Quantick 5+
Mr. & Mrs. Angel Ranal P’24
Ms. Kristin Raucci
Prof. Kathleen Ray & Mr. Richard Ray P’22
Ms. Eve H. Raymond ’27
Mr. Philip C. Reed, Esq. ’64 25+
Mr. & Mrs. Shaun Regan P’25
Ms. Heather Reinhard P’25
Mrs. Lauren D. Ricciuti Wegerbauer ’88 5+
Mr. John R. Rice ’79 5+
Mr. Edward J. Richardson, Sr. ’60, P’85 20+
Dr. Brian Riley & Dr. Ann R. Sousa P’27
The Hon. Antonio C. Robaina ’72 10+
Mrs. Allissa Robinson
Mr. Douglas W. Rockwood’73 5+
Mr. James C. Rogers P’12 25+
Mr. Zachary Rogers
Mr. Bruno Rosa
Mrs. Monica Rosado Reygadas P’27
Jeffrey D. Rosow, DMD ’69 35+
Mr. Joel Rudikoff & Dr. Robin M. Masheb P’27
Ms. Cindi A. Ruggeri 15+
Mr. Thomas J. Rush ’60 30+
Mrs. Sasha Russell
Mr. Louis Safian GP’19
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Safian P’19 5+
Mr. Richard A. Saltzman ’65
Mr. Sebastian R. Sampieri ’24
Mr. Dave Samuels
Mr. Averell W. Satloff ’65 15+
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Savino P’17,’19 5+
Ms. Colleen Scaife
Ms. Sophia Scampolino ’23
Mr. Peter K. Schmitt ’74
Mr. Samuel Schnur 5+
Mr. Husam Shabazz
Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Shavers P’27
Mr. & Mrs. Patrick J. Sheehan P’92 35+
Mr. Matthew H. Short ’97 5+
Mr. Jack M. Silano ’24
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Silano P’21,’24
Mr. Linfield Simon GP’27
Dr. Anthony Simpasa & Mrs. Beatrice Kapindula-Simpasa P’18,’21,’24 5+
Mr. Wanzya M. Simpasa ’24
Ms. Pamela Singh Kahn ’05
Mrs. Jaimie M. Skultety ’86 20+
Mr. Bill Slocum ’84 15+
Mr. Thomas B. Slocum III ’91 5+
Dr. & Dr. Alan J. Smally P’04 15+
Ms. Danielle Smith
Mrs. Karen J. Smith & Mr. Curtis P. Smith 25+
Mr. Michael E. Smith ’65
Mr. Thomas C. Smith ’71 5+
Dr. & Mrs. Jeffrey F. Solan P’27
Mr. Evan T. Solomon ’13 5+
Ms. Jennifer R. Spinola P’27
Mr. James H. Spruance III ’59 25+
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Stanco P’25
Mr. Kyle L. Stark ’80
Atty. David L. Steinberg ’66 5+
Mr. & Ms. George Stewart P’24
Mr. David Strollo & Mrs. Martha Triplett P’20 5+
Mr. Craig Sullo 5
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Sutera P’27
Mr. & Mrs. Jon P. Svendsen P’13,’15 5+
Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Swan, Jr. P’24
Dr. A. Terry Sweeney ’61 10+
Dr. & Mrs. Lawrence Tannenbaum P’02 20+
Mr. Randy M. Taylor ’64 15+
Mr. Christopher J. Tennyson ’69 25+
Ms. Lucy M. Terzis ’98
Mr. & Mrs. Mark F. Testa ’68, Trustee 15+
The Glenmede Trust Co.
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Theroux P’25
Mr. Jerome Thompson
Mr. John P. Thornton ’02 5+
TisBest Philanthropy
Mr. Steven A. Tobin ’61 10+
Mr. Michael Torelli
Mr. & Mrs. Jose C. Torres P’26
Mr. & Mrs. Brett J. Torrey P’14 20+
Mr. & Mrs. Aaron Torrison P’26
Mr. William B. Trainer III ’67 10+
Mr. Scott A. Tripp ’68 25
Mr. John T. Turton ’88 5+
UBS Warburg
Mr. John C. Uhlar ’63 10+
UK Online Giving
Mr. & Mrs. Brian W. Van Ness P’26
Mr. Thomas Veno
Mrs. Barbara Vestergaard P’96,’02, GP’26 40+
Mr. Kenneth M. Vestergaard ’77, GP’26 15+
Ms. Jessica Vicente ’92 5+
Dr. Shubai Wang & Ms. Xiaohong Chen P’25
Ms. Xuanren Wang ’25
Mr. Mark L. Warren & Ms. Lissa W. Loucks P’24
Mr. Philip L. Warren ’24
Ms. Karen Weech & Mr. Mark Vernon
Mr. & Mrs. David L. Weiss P’26
Mr. Dene Welage P’19,’21
Mr. Jack Welage ’19 5+
Ms. Katelyn Welage ’21 5+
Ms. Kristin Welage P’19,’21 5+
Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign 20+
Ms. Cicely White P’24
Mr. Peter White ’07 10+
Mr. Alan Whittemore P’12 15+
Mr. Filip Wiacek ’13
Ms. Elizabeth Wilber ’00 10+
Mr. Scott F. Wing
The Hon. & Mrs.
Glenn A. Woods P’14 5+
Mr. William C. Woods ’14 5+
Mr. & Mrs. Nathan Wright 10+
Ms. Barbara Wrzosek 20+
Ms. Deborah Wynn P’24
Mr. Bulang Xu ’25
Mr. & Mrs. Licheng Xue P’24
Mr. Franklin S. Yudkin ’62 10+
Mr. John J. Yudkin ’75 25+
Mrs. Kiran Zaman P22,’26
Mr. Michael J. Zambero ’61 5+
Mr. Arthur D. Zayat ’66 20+
Ms. Roxanne Zazzaro 25+
Mrs. Brianna Zegzdryn
Mr. & Mrs. Marc R. Zeitz
Ms. Jill Zenker P’23
Mr. Matthew Zenker ’23
Mr. Shenxin Zhang & Mrs. Jun Gao P’25
Mr. Huailin Zhu P’26
Ms. Barbara Zulkeski
Mr. Daniel Zurolo
We give to Cheshire Academy because we believe in the school’s mission. We have seen the ways in which students thrive here who might not have thrived to the same degree or in the same way elsewhere. Beyond this, Cheshire Academy is home for us. So, we are grateful for the opportunities it allows us to provide our students and the opportunities it has provided us.”
— Marc Aronson, Dean of Academics,
and Matthew Socia, Varsity Fencing
Coach
HONOR AND MEMORIAL TRIBUTE GIFTS
IN HONOR OF
IN HONOR OF MS. DEB BOND
Ms. Julie Anderson P’19,’23
IN HONOR OF MR. RICHARD CERRONE ’67
Ms. Julie Anderson P’19,’23
IN HONOR OF MR. MARCOS ALEX CHADWICK ’24
Mr. & Mrs. Tomas R. Chadwick P’24
IN HONOR OF ANDY CHEN ’25 AND FAMILY
Ms. Julie Anderson P’19,’23
IN HONOR OF IN HONOR OF CHESHIRE ACADEMY CLASS OF 2024
Mrs. Madeleine Bergstrom
IN HONOR OF MS. SOFIA DELLA PORTA ’25
Mr. Mickey-Miles Felton ’63
IN MEMORY OF
IN MEMORY OF MR. DOMINIC V. BALOGH ’52
Mrs. Anne Balogh WA’52, P’74,’77,’80
IN MEMORY OF MR. MICHAEL A. CONNOR, JR. ’41
Mrs. Michael Connor, Jr. WA’41
IN MEMORY OF MR. JOHN J. CORPACI
Mr. Andrew P. Kreshik ’82
IN MEMORY OF JOHN & MARTHA KIRSCHNER
Mr. Miles J. Kirschner ’86
IN MEMORY OF MR. MARK KOLMAN
Ms. Barbara Wrzosek
IN MEMORY OF MR. IRVIN LEVINSON ’67
Dr. Jay Levinson ’67
IN HONOR OF JENNA ’19 & KAMDEN DENOMME ’23
Ms. Julie Anderson P’19,’23
IN HONOR OF MRS. SUE EIDENT
Ms. Julie Anderson P’19,’23
IN HONOR OF MS. KATHRYN M. EWEN ’99
Mr. & Mrs. William L. Ewen P’03
IN HONOR OF MR. RICARDO C. FLORES ’26
Mr. Ken Vestergaard ’77, GP’26 & Mrs. Barbara Vestergaard P’96’02, GP’26
IN HONOR OF MR. ZONGHAO LI ’27
Mr. Chuanwu Li & Mrs. Yuxia Yuan P’27
IN HONOR OF MR. JUNCHEN LIU ’25
Mrs. Jie Liu P’25
IN MEMORY OF DR. MAURICE N. LEVY, JR. ’44
Mrs. Joan Levy WA’44
IN MEMORY OF MS. ANDREA C. MORRIS ’83
Mr. Matthew J. McGuire ’83
IN MEMORY OF MR. ROBERT MUELLO
Mr. James F. Palumbo ’69
IN MEMORY OF MRS. KATHERINE NICHOLSON
Dr. & Dr. Alan J. Smally P’04
IN MEMORY OF MRS. JENNIFER PETIT
Dr. William A. Petit, Jr., Trustee
IN MEMORY OF MS. CATHERINE ROSE REED ’13
Ms. Julie Anderson P’19,’23
IN HONOR OF MR. TOM LIU ’24
Mr. & Mrs. Peng Liu P’24
IN HONOR OF MR. JOE LONG
Mr. Bruce MacCullagh
IN HONOR OF MR. BILL MELLA
Mr. Eddie W. Dresch III ’24
IN HONOR OF MR. LOUIS RICCIUTI ’52
Mrs. Lauren Ricciuti Wegerbauer ’88
IN HONOR OF MS. KAREN SMITH
Ms. Julie Anderson P’19,’23
IN HONOR OF MS. WENDY SWIFT
Ms. Julie Anderson P’19,’23
IN HONOR OF MR. JACK WELAGE ’19
Mr. Evan T. Solomon ’13
Ms. Kristin Welage P’19,’21
IN HONOR OF MS. KATELYN WELAGE ’21
Ms. Kristin Welage P’19,’21
IN HONOR OF MR. XINGJIAN XUE ’24
Mr. & Mrs. Licheng Xu P’24
IN HONOR OF MS. SUNNY ZHANG ’26 & MS. AMY ZHANG ’24
Mr. & Mrs. Xiangen Zhang P’24,’26
IN HONOR OF MS. FANNIE ZHU ’26
Mr. Huailin Zhu P’26
IN HONOR OF MR. JACK ZHU ’27
Mr. Tao Zhu & Mrs. Ping Liu P’27
IN MEMORY OF MR. RICHARD G. REID ’50
Mr. Richard M. Page ’50
IN MEMORY OF MRS. JEANNE ROGERS
Mr. James Rogers P’12
IN MEMORY OF MR. GEORGE STAVNITSKI’53
The Stavnitski Estate
IN MEMORY OF DR. MORRIS SWEETKIND
Mrs. Judith Levey
Last Look
Students enjoy the beautiful weather on Slaughter Field in May.
BELONGING • ENGAGEMENT • COLLABORATION • GROWTH
(L-R): Laura Longacre, Fran Poisson, Butch Rogers, and Chip Boyd lead the procession with graduating seniors at Commencement on June 1, 2024.
