1794 Magazine, Cheshire Academy, Spring 2021

SPRING 2021

1794 t h e m a ga z i n e o f cheshire academy

RETURNING STRONGER THAN EVER

1794 SPRING 2021

ON THE COVER Students have been able to use the socially distanced Adirondack chairs on Slaughter Field as a place to socialize, eat their meals, and enjoy the outdoors.

STRATEGIC MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Chris Hunn Ken Mason Michael Torelli ADVANCEMENT

Board of Trustees CHAIR Jennifer Freedman P’15

SECRETARY Richard A. Katz, Esq. ’64

VICE CHAIR Murali Venkatramen P’18

TREASURER Catherine Bonneau P’04, P’16

Westport, Connecticut

Chennai, India

Harrison, New York

Naples, Florida

Amy Brough Nicole Caputo Barbara Davis P’17, ’18, ’20, ’24 Leonardo Hiertz Kathleen Houlihan Barbara Vestergaard P’96, ’02 Peter White ’07 CONTRIBUTORS

Jennifer Dillon Matthew Fonts Claudette Hovasse P’06 Cindi Ruggieri

TRUSTEES William Ampofo ’92

Jared Pinsker ’97

Greg Keith P’11

Katie Purdy P’19, P’21, P’21

Drew Kevorkian ’93

Armando Simosa P’08

Andy Moss P’14, P’15

Mark F. Testa, PhD ’68

Flower Mound, Texas

Charlotte, North Carolina

Miami, Florida

New York, New York

Orange, Connecticut

Southington, Connecticut

Miami, Florida

Chicago, Illinois

Brian Otis ’89

Tolland, Connecticut

TRUSTEE EMERITI Michael A. Belfonti ’76

Michael Mauro P’11

Dan Gabel, Jr. ’56

Donald Rosenberg ’67

Hamden, Connecticut

New York, New York

David G. Jepson ’59

Glastonbury, Connecticut

Monterey, Massachusetts

Snowmass Village, Colorado

Brett Stuart ’68, P’09, P’09, P’10 East Hampton, Connecticut

COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? SUGGESTIONS? NEWS? If you have feedback on 1794, contact Ken Mason, Chief Marketing Officer at ken.mason@cheshireacademy.org.

If you have alumni news and photos for 1794, send them to alumni@cheshireacademy.org.

Photos should be submitted in high resolution (300 dpi) for publication.

Admission inquiries may be directed to the Admission Office at admission@cheshireacademy.org or 203-439-7250. © 2021 Cheshire Academy

IN THIS ISSUE

ON CAMPUS 18 Ashley Wang ’21

and The Paw Print

19 Expanding Diversity, Equity,

and Inclusion

ALUMNI 26 International Alumni

and Families Week

31 Alumni Athletics 34 Angelina Casanova ’00 46 Harwood Society 47 Class Notes

4 Flexibility, Opportunity, and Adaptability Applying lessons of the past and present to forward the future of academics at CA.

12 Hidden History Beneath Bowden Hall Routine organizing leads to a tremendous archival discovery.

16 American Government in the 21st Century The birth of democracy and modern-day politics.

32 Athletics 36 Cheshire Academy’s Young Alumni Trailblazers the magazine of cheshire academy

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STRAIGHT FROM BOWDEN HALL

A MESSAGE FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL JULIE ANDERSON

Just over one year ago, we made the difficult decision to shift to remote schooling for the entirety of the spring semester. Making that decision was simple when taking into account the health and safety of our community.

However, we were confronted by the fact that our vibrant, active campus would sit empty and, instead, our community would rely solely on personal connections made by reading facial expressions and listening to tone of voice on the relatively new Zoom online platform.

At Cheshire Academy, we have done more than survive a global pandemic. We have thrived. With more than 90% of our faculty and staff now fully vaccinated and appointments opening across the state for students 16 years of age and older, we are taking the steps to further protect ourselves and others. We started this year looking forward, and as we head toward the end of the school year, we can only look back with pride and in awe.

Our community took their commitment to one another seriously to each do their part to keep others safe.

Looking back, I can say we persevered thanks to both our thorough, comprehensive, intentional, detailed plan of action, and the right, dedicated people—and community at large—who followed through with that plan. We imagined this new version of school would steal the joys and traditions normally associated with spring activities on campus, but persevered with the expectation that September would bring a return to normal.

Yet, we quickly learned that COVID-19 would forever change our definition and expectation of what school is, should be, and can be.

This year, perhaps more than any other in recent times, we have shown strength, resilience, and compassion. We have taken the phrase “internationally minded” from our mission to keep our hearts and minds open to the commonality of all humans, acknowledging and supporting one another through the losses suffered as a result of the pandemic and the increasing discrimination and violence targeting members of the Black and AAPI communities. Our students are internationally minded: they collaborate with one another and with faculty to inspire, educate,

At Cheshire Academy, we have done more than survive a global pandemic. We have thrived. With more than 90% of our faculty and staff now fully vaccinated and appointments opening across the state for students 16 years of age and older, we are taking the steps to further protect ourselves and others.

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and lead, whether it be through typical daily interactions and activities, or listening circles, presentations, and affinity groups in support of BLM, anti-AAPI hate, women’s history month, and the Day of Silence to do their part to create a more peaceful world. I could not be more proud.

In the midst of engaging in the world around them, our students continued to participate in visual and performing arts, athletics, and clubs and activities. Earth Day was celebrated through an in-person and remote format, bringing together our full community to inspire all to protect the environment and to address the need for conservation.

The keynote speaker actually joined us live, via Zoom, from India! Our faculty and staff and Board of Trustees continue to move forward strategic plans around innovation and sustainability in enrollment, programming, and finance.

We have not skipped a beat—not even in the midst of a pandemic.

At Cheshire Academy, we encourage students to look forward to where they want to go. Ten students have shared their personal stories about how CA's individualized education has helped them to transform their lives and become the best version of themselves. At CA, Ethan Okwuosa ’21 was able to try new hobbies and find new interests, and Caroline Fishbein ’21 was able to become more confident in herself through the encouragement of CA's faculty and her peers.

As you are reading this issue of 1794, delight in the history as well as in the recent achievements of alumni, current students, and faculty and staff. Reach out and express your gratitude to our retiring faculty members who have dedicated themselves to our students and families. And as alumni, parents, and friends of Cheshire Academy be proud of yourselves for your support of this historic institution, take satisfaction in the accomplishments of your children, and please continue to support our good work as we advance boldly and optimistically in our third century. Do not expect to see a “return to normal” or a “new normal” in the months and years ahead: expect to see creative, strategic thinking and forward-thinking planning that will honor Cheshire Academy’s history and mission. We didn’t just survive; we have thrived. It’s our time.

With gratitude,

Julie M. Anderson P’19, ’23 Head of School

VISIT WWW.CHESHIREACADEMY.ORG/IN-THEIR-OWN-WORDS FOR MORE UNIQUE STORIES.

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Flexibility, Opportunity, and Adaptability

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Applying lessons of the past and present to forward the future of academics at CA

T

he world of education is ever evolving. The way students were taught 10, 20, or 30 years ago is not the same as the way education is provided now. Uniformly spaced rows of seats, chalkboards, and textbooks have been replaced with modular seating, individual laptops, and digital whiteboards.

In fact, today’s classroom even looks different to that of six years ago—the same year that 1794 Magazine’s reimagined design debuted. In the winter of 2015, the Education Issue of 1794 Magazine highlighted what was then present-day CA and the history of CA’s academic program, looking back at former Headmaster Arthur Sheriff ’s influence on the school, and reflecting on Cheshire’s founding father, Samuel Seabury.

What remains steadfast in Cheshire Academy’s mission, no matter the generation, decade, or year, is its focus on being a studentcentered school. Endorsed by Sheriff, student-centered education is grounded in five essential components, according to the Education Issue: “flexibility of organization, opportunity for selfexpression, healthful activity, persistent discipline, and friendship between teacher and student.”

“The student-centered education model introduced by former Headmaster Arthur N. Sheriff in the 1920s is not only practiced at Cheshire Academy, it is woven deeply into the culture of the school and remains its foundation for teaching,” the issue reads. “...The depth of the commitment to student-centered education at the Academy is illustrated by this statement from Arthur Sheriff, who said, ‘We are willing to make use of any educational method, whatever its novelty, which has shown its capacity for improving the quality of our work’ with students.”

Students both in person and remote were learning about coding, taught by Mathematics & Computer Science Department Chair Nicholas Joaquin.

Today, Cheshire Academy has navigated the world of modernday education through a year in which a pandemic has ravaged communities across the globe. With vaccines being rolled out, it is hoped that a return to normalcy is soon for schools in the United States. CA, too, is looking forward to that future, where all students will have the opportunity to once again sit together in the classroom, in the Gideon Welles Dining Commons, Harwood Student Center, in the Arthur Sheriff Field House, on the fields outside, and in their dorms.

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History and Social Science teacher Butch Rogers guided a discussion during his 9th-grade Honors U.S. History course.

With that optimistic view on the horizon, faculty and staff have been hard at work researching and planning the future of academics at Cheshire Academy. Driven by the need for a creative hybrid schedule during the pandemic, the focus has been to operate under a collegelike model, with students seeing longer blocks of free time and longer blocks of class time, while still providing a personalized, supportive environment that lets students build up their readiness for college-like independence, according to Assistant Head of School for Academic Affairs Rachel Wright.

“The more we are able to lean into the strengths, flexibility, adaptability, and the pacing of a college schedule, the more we can actually live up to being college preparatory, while still remembering that we are a high school,” added Marc Aronson, dean of curriculum.

Feedback from students about this academic year included genuine expressions of gratitude for teachers letting them be themselves and express themselves in the classroom. Faculty have commented that students have appreciated a more flexible schedule during the day that allows them to focus deeply on their work. “The students have been able to apply their creativity to the work that they’re being asked to do,

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particularly our younger students, so that was good to hear from quite a few of them,” Aronson said. (Read more about what four students, two who attended in person and two who learned remotely, had to say about their experience during the pandemic on the following pages.)

During the 2021-2022 academic year, the school will pilot new initiatives that will open opportunities within the existing program, according to Wright. More individual pathways will be made available to explore the curriculum, which is being enhanced with many new offerings and unique assessments. Time spent with students in the classroom will be even more meaningful than in years past. It’s something the school’s academic leadership has learned from educating during a pandemic. “With the precious time that we have with the students, we need to make sure every moment we spend teaching them can be maximized by having it be something they need to learn, want to learn, and can open up opportunities for the future.”

There will also be a shift away from homework in the traditional sense, Aronson added. Homework instead will be viewed as opportunities for students to meaningfully further their learning. In the classroom, there will continue to be multiple opportunities for success on

assessments, including retakes and revisions, as well as different modes for assessments, including collaborative and individual projects, lots of writing, and a hefty dose of presentation and public speaking. Teachers and students will be able to choose how to assess using multiple formats, including essays, development of portfolios, videos, animation, or even having the students develop their own lesson plans.

Phase one of the school’s future program commences in the fall, with major changes that include a new schedule; an increase in student choice, number and variety of offered courses, and deeper integration of curricula within courses; an increased emphasis on reflection, collaboration, social-emotional learning, intrinsic motivation, and the relevance of courses to students’ lives; a set of new interdisciplinary, team-taught seminars in the 9th grade; and philosophical changes to assessments and homework. Cheshire Academy, in a sense, is breaking away from the old world into the new and, with it, bringing the most sacred elements of a CA experience with it. College preparation, relationship building, personalized support, utilizing campus spaces, and building character and confidence through the arts, athletics, and dorm life—all of this will continue, while other things, such as homework, overscheduling, and a one-size-fits-all assessment will be changed. With these plans in the school’s sight, this is truly an exciting time to be teaching and learning at Cheshire Academy.

Visual arts teacher Karleen Kubat demonstrated a drawing technique to both in-person and remote students using Zoom.

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The 2020-2021 academic year presented a unique experience for the entire Cheshire Academy community and, most important, the students.

Classrooms once filled with their peers were replaced with webcams, Zoom sessions, and hybrid courses with students in person and logging in remotely from their homes across the United States and world.

Highlighted on these pages are four of the students who have called CA their second home. Here, they have recounted the time they’ve had as in-person and remote students during the COVID-19 pandemic, including new opportunities that have arisen, and things that they’ve missed from years past.

You can meet more CA students on our website to read firsthand about

their experiences, in their own words. Learn about how Ethan maximized his potential, how Caroline became more confident in herself, and the positive influence CA’s faculty and staff had on them and others, ultimately bringing out their best through the school’s uniquely individualized program.

www.CheshireAcademy.org/in-their-own-words

Name: Aydin Calsetta Grade: Senior Boarding, Remote or Day: Remote Hometown: Waterbury, Connecticut

As a student working remotely from home, what is your study space like? How do you maintain focus?

As a remote student, I spend most of my time at the desk in my bedroom. There are numerous distractions around me: a TV, gaming consoles, my bed, and the overall feeling that I could very easily not pay attention to class and be able to get away with it.

However, these distractions have not been a problem for me since I became a remote student in late October of 2020. In many cases, I find myself just as involved in class as I would have been if I was there in person; in some classes, I find myself participating even more. I maintain concentration by focusing on my education overall rather than my experience as a student sitting at home in front of my laptop. If I was an in-person student, I would be doing the same thing except at a desk in a classroom. Either way, I am still advancing my education towards my greater goals.

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How is it attending classes remotely while some of your classmates are on campus, attending in person?

I do not mind attending remote classes while a majority of my peers are in person. I have always been one to attend school more for the education than the social aspect, not to say that I shut everyone out, but I believe that the social aspect of high school holds a risk of creating distractions that take one away from being productive. Not only that, whenever I want to talk with my friends, all I have to do is text them. I don’t have many classes with them so texting them from my bedroom is no different than if I was on the opposite side of campus as them.

What are one or two unique classes or activities you’ve participated in this semester (or last semester) that might otherwise have been different if not for the hybrid learning schedule?

I am currently in IB Biology SL, a class which would have had many hands-on labs had the pandemic not created a need for both social distancing and reduced exposure to the spread of germs. Even during the time that I spent as an in-person student, we could only perform labs using simulators on our computers rather than with test tubes and microscopes. While a “real” lab will always be more fun to me, I feel that I have grown to enjoy simulated biology labs this year because they provide opportunities to our class to explore topics in ways that we would not have had time for if this had been a regular school year.

How has CA continued to provide you with the same level of education that you’ve come to appreciate during your time here?

I am in a unique situation at Cheshire Academy this year; I transferred here as an incoming senior at the end of the summer before the school year began.

My transfer was caused by the closing of my old private school in my hometown. This closing left me quite upset, as I had been attending that institution since the age of three. However, I have learned to appreciate this closing, because it provided a push to transfer to Cheshire Academy; by attending this school, I have been able to

advance myself both educationally and practically speaking. I have finely polished my skills in adapting to new situations and have been able to experience a set of new teachers who have welcomed me with open arms and continue to create memories and teach me knowledge that I will never forget.

What is something you learned about yourself through this time that you will take with you as you continue your academic career in college?

I have learned how to adapt to situations in times where everything is flipped upside down and is entirely different and new. This is due to both my changing of schools as a senior as well as the effects the pandemic have had on education in the United States as a whole. I will take this newly advanced skill of adaptation with me to college, when my life will once again be entirely different, as well as to whatever life brings after I complete my education at the collegiate level.

Aydin Calsetta

Name: Qianwei “Joyce” Tao Grade: Senior Boarding, Remote or Day: Remote Hometown: Shenzhen, China

As a boarding student working remotely from home, what is your study space like? How do you maintain focus?

Generally speaking, I think remote classes work pretty well when all the students are remote because it is easier to hear them speaking through their independent microphones. It was more difficult for me to hear in-person students speaking, especially when some of the students sit far from the shared microphone. For classes like theater, remote learning presented new opportunities to explore new ways of performing. For example, we could play with space using the Zoom frame for the class’s most recent project. That cannot be easy to achieve during in-person classes.

I usually study in my room because I have the strongest internet there. There is a bed, a huge drawer, and a table around me. To maintain my focus on classes, I will have a cup of tea beside me to stay awake since my classes are in the middle of the night. Also, I usually turn on my camera and microphone, so that keeps me from distractions.

How is it attending classes remotely while some of your classmates are on campus, attending in person?

Even though remote classes have gone pretty well, I still missed the atmosphere we have in the classroom where everyone could see each other. For debate, it was easier for me to feel the tense atmosphere with in-person classes.

Joyce's study space.

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What are one or two unique classes or activities you’ve participated in this semester (or last semester) that might otherwise have been different if not for the hybrid learning schedule?

For my French class, I noticed that we have more online activities during the class. Instead of using traditional vocabulary cards, we used Quizlet to practice spelling and ENPuzzle to learn grammar and phrases from music. I found that this way of learning enhanced my efficiency because the applications are so interesting.

Another activity was in theater. I needed to perform as a “crazy woman.” I had more flexibility setting up the lighting and camera angles in my room to achieve my intended effects. For the group work with my classmates, we had a lot more fun. For example, for a theater project to show the difference between the rich and the poor, my teammate threw an apple out of the Zoom frame; then I pretended to catch the leftovers on my side. In this way, the audience’s attention focused on the actors instead of the stage and the setting, which can be hard to do on stage during the in-person class.

How has CA continued to provide you with the same level of education that you’ve come to appreciate during your time here?

I think CA does an excellent job of providing support for students.

Being a senior, I was really anxious about my college application process in writing essays and submitting all of the required files.

The college counselors are supportive, and they always replied to my emails right after I sent them. Their outstanding efficiency gave me a sense of security, knowing that I always had somebody watching out for me. The college application process went pretty well with their help. Also, I am amazed by all resources CA has, like the library’s unique virtual online desk. It helped me a lot when I wrote my internal assessments, and the librarians were really supportive when helping me with the resources and formatting the bibliography.

What is something you learned about yourself through this time that you will take with you as you continue your academic career in college?

I have learned to be flexible, and how to turn disadvantages into advantages. To be honest, this is an important skill no matter where I go. Opportunities come along with changes, and I think this ability could help me to seize opportunities and to have an optimistic attitude when facing problems.

1971 softball

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James Cheng

Name: Zhicheng “James” Cheng Grade: Senior Boarding, Remote or Day: Boarding Hometown: Guangzhou, China

As a boarding student attending in-person classes, what is your study space like? How do you maintain focus?

I spend most of my time in Markin, and the learning space is great.

I live in a single and have designed the layout in the way I like. I have a keyboard to practice piano, a yoga mat for workouts, a desk for studying, and a desk for video games. Living alone really helps me maintain focus on classes and work, because there are fewer distractions. I can just dive into what I’m doing, without being affected by anyone else.

How is it attending in-person classes while some of your classmates are on Zoom, miles away from the CA campus?

I really think the impact of this hybrid schedule on in-person students is minimal. Remote students sometimes have bad internet connections and are unable to join class discussions at times. But for us, we are doing pretty great. There’s no big difference (except the mask) compared to classes before the pandemic.

What are one or two unique classes or activities you’ve participated in this semester (or last semester) that might otherwise have been different if not for the hybrid learning schedule?

Well, I never thought about having the chance to play soccer under such circumstances. I feel great for not choosing to go back to China because of this. I couldn’t thank our Varsity Boys’ Soccer Head Coach

Mr. Joaquin and Athletic Director Mr. Banach more for scheduling so many games and practices for us. I really enjoy the time I spend with my teammates, and they are like my family.

How has CA continued to provide you with the same level of education that you’ve come to appreciate during your time here?

Honestly, remote classes can never be as good as in-person ones, as I’ve experienced both. CA really does a lot; for example, all the COVID-19 tests to make sure the majority of students can go back to school—that’s the best thing to continue to provide me with the same level of education.

Name: Sarah Greenberg Grade: Senior Boarding, Remote or Day: Day Hometown: Cheshire, Connecticut

As a day student attending in-person classes, what is your study space like? How do you maintain focus?

At home it can get a bit hectic at times, but during this crazy time I have been able to turn my room into a new learning environment. It can be difficult to stay engaged during remote lessons, so to help, I surround myself with things that make me happy, like candles, plants, and pictures; things that make me feel like I am in a comfortable environment.

How is it attending in-person classes while some of your classmates are on Zoom, miles away from the CA campus?

It’s definitely a change I never thought I would experience, nor knew was even possible.

The school has done an amazing job of integrating remote and in-person students.

It’s so great during class to be interacting with students on Zoom, seamlessly connecting as if we were all in the same physical room.

What is something you learned about yourself through this time that you will take with you as you continue your academic career in college?

Self-discipline and self-study. For the past 15 years, I’ve been pushed by others, either my teachers or parents, to study hard. But as the class time gets compressed and some of the classes go online, self-study and self-discipline became extraordinarily important. For example, for the online reading assignments, I could just click the mouse a couple of times and not actually do the homework, but I choose to keep up the hard work. Similarly, I could just turn off the camera in classes or pretend there is a bad connection, but I don’t because I need to be responsible for my future.

What are one or two unique classes or activities you’ve participated in this semester (or last semester) that might otherwise have been different if not for the hybrid-learning schedule?

One unique thing COVID-19 allowed me to do was tour colleges virtually and join virtual discussion panels for schools I was interested in. Applying to college during the pandemic was hard, with no in-person tours, weird new guidelines, and the inability to connect directly with students. Virtual offerings really helped me narrow down which colleges matched what I was looking for, both campuswise and major-wise.

How has CA continued to provide you with the same level of education that you’ve come to appreciate during your time here?

Through asynchronous and synchronous work, I have been able to obtain the same level of education that CA has provided to me for the previous three years. It has been a learning curve, to get used to new schedules and class structure but, overall, I have really engaged in all my classes and absorbed all the new material.

What is something you learned about yourself through this time that you would take with you as you continue your academic career in college?

Sarah Greenberg

Learning during the pandemic has taught me to use the resources and support systems I have, not only at school, but also at home.

My parents’ support has been a huge part of my success. In college, I know I will implement the time management skills and new study habits I’ve learned during this time.

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Hidden History

Beneath Bowden Hall ROUTINE ORGANIZING

LEADS TO A TREMENDOUS ARCHIVAL DISCOVERY

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Before the start of the spring 2021 semester, historic documents and other items were strewn across the desks and tables in the library. Old photographs, records, yearbooks, telegrams, and paperwork were organized by year and decade.

These documents, some of which were thought to be lost in the 1941 fire of Horton Hall, were located by College Counseling Associate Cindi Ruggieri, who was tasked with going through and reviewing, reorganizing, and cleaning up the basement of Bowden Hall. What she did not expect to find, however, were missing pieces of Cheshire Academy history, and the rights to some long-lost pieces of art.

“I just started putting stuff together, not knowing what any of this meant,” Ruggieri said. “Then I went through it all. There was a lot of stuff, including from when James Crosby was head of school (1972-1975), then there was stuff when Ernest Beaulac was head of school (1975-1986).”

Following her discovery, Ruggieri contacted Claudette Hovasse, director of library services, to see how to best proceed with her findings. Since then, Ruggieri has been delivering significant pieces of CA history almost weekly to Hovasse for review and proper archiving. Board reports and meeting minutes from the 1960s and 1970s, correspondence from former headmasters and heads of school, and the sealed copy of the incorporation of Cheshire Academy as a nonprofit were just some of the pieces found.

“It’s so cool that so much was saved, that was just hiding away,” reflected Hovasse.

“Much of it we knew existed, but we didn’t have the originals, like the original incorporation into Cheshire Academy in 1937. I have tons of copies of it, but I didn’t have the sealed original. Now it’s all safe.”

Letters from close friends to former Head of School Arthur Sheriff often started with “Sherry”; similarly, to former Headmaster Morris Sweetkind, salutations can be found starting as “Sweety.” Beyond the unique greetings and brief documents lie a wealth of knowledge that can now be imparted to future generations of Cheshire Academy students, faculty, and staff. “Everyone can enjoy the benefit of having this history saved,” reflected Hovasse. “It’s so exciting. I know I’m not going to be able to get through it all; I’m going to be able to categorize it and organize it so that someone else can finish the history part.”

On the following pages are just a few excerpts and topics discovered by Ruggieri found in files, documents, and boxes that are now kept safe in a climate-controlled, organized space.

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ROCKWELL KENT LITHOGRAPH What might be the most significant discovery is a series of correspondence between famed American painter, writer, and printmaker Rockwell Kent (1882-1971) and Cheshire Academy administrators. These important communications solidify the school’s ownership to one of Kent’s lithographs.

Visitors to the library are likely familiar with the drawing of Bowden Hall near the front desk. The rendering, signed by Kent and gifted to the school after completing the work in 1947, exudes the sense of pride that alumnus Kent had for his alma mater.

The original lithograph created by Kent was long assumed to have been lost over time, according to Hovasse. However, a series of letters between Kent and former Headmaster Arthur Sheriff about acquiring additional prints of Kent’s Cheshire Academy work, one of which is dated March 25, 1967, show that the lithograph may actually have been kept safe and, in fact, owned by the school.

“I have some of the letters that were sent to Rockwell, but I didn’t have anything from him. This is a signed letter from Rockwell Kent to ‘Sherry,’ which I love,” Hovasse said.

The letter reads, in part, “The stone is recognized as the property of the Cheshire Academy absolutely. More prints of the stone can be obtained at any time” from the printer, George C. Miller. Kent continued by telling Sheriff to order additional prints directly through him, and to order enough to tide the school “over many years to come.” Kent later goes on to explain to Sheriff his plans for the upcoming months, including sailing overseas and visiting Russia. He had hoped to share his experiences with Sheriff that summer.

What remains to be determined is where the original lithograph is now.

Hovasse speculated that it may be with the printer, in a museum, or somewhere else. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.

MARION MOORE COLEMAN From 1975 to 1977, Marion Moore Coleman, school historian and wife of alumnus and history teacher Arthur Coleman (Class of 1914) published a series of articles in the local newspaper, The Cheshire Herald, on the happenings and history of Cheshire Academy.

In her texts, Coleman covered everything from historic and memorable people of CA to the quiet, sometimes mischievous, happenings of students at the time.

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One of Coleman’s earlier submissions focused deeply on “Professor” Eri Woodbury (1837-1928), former headmaster of Cheshire Academy (1896-1903) and Medal of Honor recipient. She recounted entries in his diary, which documented his passion for his role at the Academy and the lasting impact he had on his students. During the Civil War, Woodbury encountered four Confederate infantrymen retreating. With only his saber on hand, he ordered them to surrender. The men did, together, with rifles and the flag of the 12th North Carolina Regiment.

Despite his victory, in early April 1865, Woodbury was struck by an artillery shell fragment, suffering significant damage to his right hand and the loss of two fingers. “Living history this was, and to the boys of the Academy the more appreciated as it came from the lips of one from whom, in their classes, they were obliged to learn the languages and deeds of history long past, of people long dead. For the Professor was a teacher of Latin and Greek.”

Woodbury, whose one-year appointment transitioned to 38 years of employment, was praised as a respected disciplinarian and for his imperturbability. But Woodbury was not only well received by those at the Academy, but also by the Cheshire community at large. In the early 1930s, Coleman was introduced to Mrs. Martin Bemis, who resided on

a farm down the road from the school.

Bemis worked for the Woodburys, and “looked back on those Woodbury years with gratitude. For the Professor gave this newcomer the most precious means in the world for making a good life in our country: he insisted that she learn to read, not only her native language, which was Polish, but English, and to speak it properly.”

Coleman continued by reflecting on his growing up on his father’s farm in Seymour, Connecticut, overlooking the Naugatuck River. It was on that farm where Coleman met international workers and discovered his passion for the Slavic world. He began inquiring how they said “bread” and “water,” and quickly took to the local library to learn more about the Cyrillic alphabet. He wanted to learn more, wanted to travel to Siberia, but had no way of getting there besides joining the U.S. Navy. After he enlisted, he traveled no farther than the Bronx.

“SOME CAUSE LARGER THAN THE LOCAL OR NATIONAL” Continuing with the Coleman family, another discovery was the 1959 Commencement Address, titled “Some Cause Larger than the Local or National,” by Arthur Coleman himself.

Coleman, who was a specialist in Slavic languages, passed away in July 1974.

“…This is the highest honor that can be conferred upon a man: to speak at his own ‘old school’ graduation ceremonies.”

In his speech, Coleman begins by recognizing the honor in which he felt speaking to the graduating class. “…This is the highest honor that can be conferred upon a man: to speak at his own ‘old school’ graduation ceremonies. Honors may be piled upon a man abroad, in Europe, Asia, and in that hardest of all places in the world to conquer, in New York. But this is as nothing to being asked to address a graduating class of his own preparatory school. To say that I appreciate this honor is but to give voice to something that one can not really give voice to at all, as the emotion engendered by the occasion is so deep as to be beyond expression.”

Coleman recalled a radio interview with Clement Atlee, the late prime minister of the United Kingdom, a recording that he heard a few nights prior to commencement.

In it, Atlee was asked to provide some advice for young people entering the work force, to which he responded to get themselves “a cause larger than the local or national.”

Some of the address’s text is unreadable due to the age and condition of the document. However, Coleman recounted his pursuit of education, and him earning a degree of Slavic languages from Columbia University in June 1925. “At the time, I was looked upon as crazy—now, as they write the history of Slavic studies in this country and are obliged to record me as a statistic, they pause to call me a prophet!” Before receiving his degree, Coleman spent one year at Charles University, in Praha, Czechoslovakia. He was one of the first five Americans to attend the school.

Coleman’s message demonstrated how he helped pave the path for Slavic studies in the United States. His message, and lesson, to the graduating class stressed the importance of them knowing what they wanted to do with their lives, and to then simply do it, despite any challenges or blockades they must overcome. “Don’t settle for second best. Don’t let yourself be diverted. Follow your own inner and guiding light, if by the grace of God you are given one.”

Historic documents and memories continue to be discovered in the Bowden Hall basement. This project will require an extended period of time to unfold, organize, and ensure proper care so that generations to come may learn from and enjoy these significant records.

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American Government in the 21st Century The Birth of Democracy and Modern-Day Politics

“An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.”

– Thomas Jefferson These words by President Thomas Jefferson ring as true today as they did in the early days of the new United States as schools were established to confer upon young Americans a sense of the common good, and as a place of training for leaders in the republic.

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At a time when the political divides of this country become more apparent and seemingly grow deeper each day, the importance of an understanding of the function of government at all levels, and the roots of American governance, is of utmost importance. It is into this landscape that the History and Social Science Department launched its newest course, American Government and the Constitution, this past fall. This year-long course is designed to engage students on a variety of topics from the roots of democracy in Ancient Greece and Rome to the founding ideals and interpretations of the Constitution over the last 234 years.

Reaching beyond the textbook and historical documents, this first cohort of students received a real-time education via the 2020 election cycle and the contested presidential electoral count. Throughout the fall, students were able to see the ideals of the Founding Fathers come alive in news reports and Twitter messages, and brought opinions, questions, and sometimes confusion into classroom conversations.

Some students were even able to put the 26th Amendment to

use themselves and registered to vote. These individuals were able to help set record turnout for the under-30 voting bloc; over 50% in the 2020 election.

According to Government teacher Matthew Fonts, students exhibited both curiosity and uneasiness as they were bombarded 24 hours a day by legal, government, and healthcare related topics across all their social media platforms.

“They brought these topics into the classroom, allowing us to connect more concretely with questions of civic virtue, democratic ideals, and active participation in government,” Fonts said.

The mission statement of Cheshire Academy is in part dedicated to recognizing the importance of empowering students to be active global citizens.

The offering of American Government and the Constitution speaks directly to this mission as students, regardless of national citizenship, obtain an inside look into the functions and realities of a powerful, and ever-changing government system. Department Chair Jennifer Dillon could not be more enthusiastic about the addition of this course to the curriculum. “Since the end of World War II, the United States has been a leading global power and has fought to preserve and promote democracy abroad, but as a still young nation in global terms, Americans are

As educators in an increasingly interconnected and interdependent world, I see it as imperative that we offer students from across the globe an opportunity to better understand the historical roots and modern workings of our political system.

continuously working on our democratic system and striving to live up to the notion of a more perfect union. As educators in an increasingly interconnected and interdependent world, I see it as imperative that we offer students from across the globe an opportunity to better understand the historical roots and modern workings of our political system.”

As the course continued through the second semester, students took a close look at all constitutional amendments with discussions rooted in how and why these changes were made, and what their impact has been on American society.

Looking ahead to the next school year, while there will not be the excitement of a presidential election to stir conversation, teachers will work to bring attention and interest to a municipal election cycle.

While the average person—domestic and abroad— tunes into American politics every four years, the students of 2021-2022 will come to learn the importance of City Council and Board of Education races. Those who hold these offices have incredible day-to-day impact on the lives of people across the United States and will thus get the spotlight they deserve as part of the larger system of governance.

Just as the American government changes with each election cycle, this class will continue to evolve and incorporate issues of the day, in service, as Jefferson said, of the survival of a free people.

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EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT! Since elementary school, Zhiqin “Ashley” Wang ’21 has been a writer. She began by keeping a journal as a young girl to document her life experiences; however, that tradition quickly transformed into her writing down all her thoughts, ideas, and reflections.

Wang, revitalizer and editor of Cheshire Academy’s student-run newspaper The Paw Print, is a graduating member of the Class of 2021. She has plans to major in journalism or media at the collegiate level, with the goal of becoming a newspaper editor or working in another form of media.

According to Wang, the plan to bring The Paw Print back into production was prompted by her interest in joining a school newspaper. Her peers attending other schools had all talked about their student-run newspapers, so Wang began to investigate Cheshire Academy’s. “I started to wonder if CA had one too and, if so, maybe I could join so that I could have some hands-on experience with journalism … I found out that there used to be one, but nobody was taking charge of it now.”

Rather than give up, Wang stepped up and brought the publication back. The first issue of the new The Paw Print was released in September 2019. “I thought CA students deserved a platform to showcase their ideas and writings.”

Reflecting on her two years of work, Wang has enjoyed writing her art and movie reviews. Her favorite piece, “Why is There Always a Why?” ran on Nov. 6, 2020.

In it, Wang writes about how the question “Why?” tends to lead to the greatest achievements in human history, such as the discovery of gravity and development of the motor-operated airplane. However, someone who asks “Why?” may not always find the answer, Wang continued.

“I think it is ‘why’ that drives human civilization forward,” Wang wrote. “In the quest of all the whys, humans are pushed to explore and to think constantly, thus promote the progress of the world. It is hard to imagine a world without a why.”

To Wang, journalism plays a critical role in today’s society. “I think journalism is important to everyone as it serves as a bridge between information and human minds. The rapidly changing world brings new things to people every second. With journalism, new information and ideas can be spread to more people in the world.”

But the deadline-driven profession is not always easy. Working with her peers, Wang quickly discovered that she had to modify deadline schedules to ensure her writers would submit their work early enough so they could publish each issue on time. Despite that, she always found their work to demonstrate enthusiasm and creativity.

“Communication is really important in group work,” Wang said. “Without communicating with assistant editors and faculty advisor for suggestions, The Paw Print could never achieve what it has accomplished.”

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DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CELEBRATION, AFFINITY GROUPS, AND LISTENING CIRCLES

How Cheshire Academy is expanding upon diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives The Cheshire Academy community is continuing efforts to ensure all voices are heard, respected, and appreciated through a variety of programs relative to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). It’s an initiative that increased tenfold in 2020 with the expansion of the DEI director position and the tumultuous year that resulted in a nationwide outcry for social justice and equality.

to Black History Month in February, according to Grier-Rogers, which was anchored by two discussions to raise awareness and to have open conversations, led by students Kunda Nampasa ’21 and Temilade Onile ’22. The month’s activities truly brought the entire campus together, with Flik Independent School Dining even serving special meals with menu items in honor of Black History Month.

Leading the charge is DEI Director Dr. Aleesha Grier-Rogers ’90. She, with support of faculty, staff, and students, rolled out a variety of unique and exciting programs to break down barriers, open discussion, and unify the CA community.

As part of CA’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration on Jan. 18, Dr. Keith Hinderlee, licensed psychologist and educator, was invited to serve as keynote speaker. This year’s celebration theme was titled “Updates on the Dream,” with virtual programming focused on the status of the ideals proposed by King in his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. Following Hinderlee’s online address, students, faculty, and staff remotely attended smaller workshops, discussion groups, and a film screening focused on gaining a deeper understanding of King’s words and overall message. Leading the workshops was Katurah A. Bryant, a published author, and creator and facilitator of The ZOLA Experience: A Journey of Recovery from Loss. Among the programs were two student-led discussions, as well as a writer’s workshop hosted by Student Support Coordinator and Language Teacher Laura Longacre.

Dr. Keith Hinderlee

Listening circles were also held throughout the year as a way for groups to come together and discuss, in a safe format, whatever was on their minds, including current events. Some listening circles were organized strictly for faculty and staff, while others were solely for students. Grier-Rogers was inspired by a similar concept talked about during the 2020 NAIS People of Color Conference. “Listening circles are a non-threatening way for members of our community to talk about their perspectives and experiences and just have others listen,” Grier-Rogers said of the circles. Speakers do not receive feedback from others and there is no debate among attendees.

Grier-Rogers is also working with the Office of Advancement to establish unique alumni affinity groups. An Alumni of Color mentoring network started in February to serve as an affinity space for alumni of color who wish to reconnect and, in some cases, connect current students and recent graduates with access to mentoring opportunities. This and other networks will give students opportunities to access the greater CA alumni network, connect with alumni who are in careers that they may be pursuing, and meet CA graduates who can share their life experiences and knowledge with this next generation of leaders.

A poetry competition was also sponsored by CA’s Black Student Union as part of the MLK Day celebration. Several students and faculty submitted their own works, all reflective of their own opinions and hopes for a better future. It was a great segue Katurah A. Bryant

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VIRTUAL WINTER CONCERT SERIES In lieu of an in-person winter concert, students from their hometowns around the world and those on the CA campus joined together online to provide a series of musical performances for the school community to enjoy over winter recess. Performing covers to hit songs were the Chamber Orchestra, Rock Band, Percussion Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, and Jazz Band.

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“Be an Original” with Abraham Attah ’21 and Jonathan Velasquez ’21.

“Waiting on Change” with Jackson Rafferty ’23 and Luke Parkerson ’22.

BEHIND THE INVISIBLE WALL: INJUSTICE, RESISTANCE, AND HOPE This Theater for Social Justice project is a collection of original and collaborative theater pieces developed by students with guidance and support and mentorship from student leaders and faculty facilitators. Students brainstormed what areas of social justice they wanted to give voice to, and then developed works comprised of both in-person and remote students.

Student leaders, clockwise from top left: Ruth Berganross ’21, Qinru “Pacifica” Yang ’21, Amelia Williams ’22, Audra Foti ’22.

GOOD DAY CA! Students participating in Cheshire Academy’s journalism and media program released the first episode of Good Day CA!, an online broadcast providing viewers updates on school, local, state, and national happenings.

Pictured are anchors Molly Golden ’24 and Danica Furst ’24, with Nicholas Carpenter ’22 and Feyza Horuz ’24 serving as analysts and Quinnipiac University interns Will Fowler and Jared Penna serving as producers.

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WEEKENDS AT CA The academic week is only part of life at Cheshire Academy; weekend activities provide an opportunity for students to become even more involved in the school and local community. There are myriad events from which to choose, and this year has been no different. Students took full advantage of the weekend offerings made available during the second semester, including shopping trips, fast food stops, tubing down mountains, watching Super Bowl LV, playing laser tag, and experimenting with virtual reality. These programs strengthen bonds between students, establish new friendships, and build everlasting memories to look back upon.

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RETIRING FACULTY AND STAFF Cheshire Academy celebrates and honors four longtime faculty members who are retiring this year: Jodee Heritage, Janet Rosenbaum, Karen Smith, and Wendy Swift. Each will forever leave indelible marks on the students, parents, and colleagues alongside whom they’ve worked. They have all served in integral roles at Cheshire Academy throughout their years of service, and their contributions will always be valued and remembered.

Retirement festivities are being planned for the end of the year. Keep an eye out for ways that you can share your appreciation for these esteemed faculty members; until then, join us in congratulating them and wishing them the best of luck, health, and happiness in their future endeavors!

Jodee Heritage

Wendy Swift

Janet Rosenbaum

Karen Smith

YVONNE HEWU PRESENTS AT REGIONAL CONVENTION Mandarin teacher Yvonne Hewu presented alongside Shannon Jin from the Groton School as part of the Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages annual convention, held virtually from March 11-13. Their presentation, titled “Chinese Instructor’s Toolbox for Thematic/CI Lesson Design,” taught participants how to evaluate themes, create stories, and identify and use several resources to develop Mandarin proficiency in the classroom.

SOFIA DELLA PORTA NAMED 2021 TOWN SCHOLAR Friends, family, and neighbors gathered at the Della Porta’s Cheshire home on March 9 to congratulate eighth-grade student Sofia Della Porta on receiving the 2021 Town Scholarship. Sofia Della Porta is the second person in her family to receive the scholarship, as her mother, Dr. Gina (Cappola) Della Porta ’97, was the recipient of the 1993 Town Scholarship.

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FACULTY AND STAFF ART SHOW For the months of February and March, the Kohn-Joseloff Gallery was home to a variety of faculty and staff-created pieces of artwork, including quilts, ornaments, and selfportraits. Organized by Fine and Performing Arts Department Chair Fran Poisson, works were submitted by Poisson, as well as Antonio Alfaiate, Karleen Kubat, Cara Jordan, Laura Longacre, Thomas Mauther, Gail Mauthe, Sally Pollard, and Karen Smith.

EARTH DAY On April 21, students, faculty, staff, alumni, families, and friends participated in the annual Earth Day Celebration. Kicking off this year’s program was award-winning author and editor Bijal Vachharajani (inset), who spoke to students live from Bangalore, India. Following Vachharajani’s discussion, students attended a variety of workshops, including volunteering at a local farm, cleaning up a beach in New Haven, Connecticut, and hearing from alumni how they are supporting sustainability initiatives.

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ALUMNI

Students and families gathered in Shanghai in March 2021 for an event hosted by Yali Zeng P’23, Xiping Chi, and Zengyi (Tyler) Lin ’23.

Beijing gathering hosted by Guoqian Chen and Wuyan Zhong P’23 and Kaung (David) Chen ’23.

Hong Fan and Jing Shen P'19, Head of School Julie Anderson and Tom Marshall, and Hua Fan, family of Sicheng Fan ’19, met in Beijing in August 2019.

HEAD OF SCHOOL JULIE ANDERSON VIRTUALLY VISITS CHINA Each year, Head of School Julie Anderson travels throughout the country and around the globe to visit with alumni and families in their home communities, sharing in their culture and bringing news of CA. More than 80 students studied remotely during the 2020-2021 school year, making engagement with faculty, classmates (on campus and in their home countries), and school leadership more important than ever.

While the opportunity to gather in person cannot be replaced, ingenuity and technology assured that these important and informative meetings happened this past winter. Over the course of one week in December, Anderson and Chief Advancement Officer Amy Brough virtually visited with 18 families in China via Zoom to personally check in on their student, discuss Anderson’s priorities for the school, and express appreciation for each family’s support and generosity.

To further bolster a sense of community, as soon as it was permissible, students and families in the cities of Shanghai and Beijing gathered together to celebrate their common bond as members of the CA family.

Young alumni from all over the world Joined Head of School Julie Anderson and members of the Advancement Team for a special International Alumni Town Hall as a highlight of the International and Alumni and Families Week.

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IN TE RN AT I O N A L A L U M N I A N D FA M I L I E S W E E K The Office of Advancement hosted its inaugural International Alumni and Families Week at Cheshire Academy from March 8-13, kicking off a new tradition to come together, honor, and celebrate CA’s long history of multiculturalism.

Here are just a few of the international alumni who have attended CA over the years who were highlighted as part of the week. They shared their fondest CA memories and offered advice for current students, as well as shared where they are today.

Maryolga Nieto ’83 Venezuela International artist, published writer, teacher, and coach.

Fondest CA Memory: International Day at Cheshire when we wore our native clothes and presented our cultures.

Sarah Thomis ’95 Belgium Vascular surgeon.

Dohyun “Daisy” Lee ’94 South Korea Manhattan School of Music.

Piano instructor.

Fondest CA memory: Going to Cheshire Pizza with friends after study hall, Bicentennial graduation ceremony, and many more!

Advice for current students: Play hard, study hard, cherish your school life with your friends and teachers at Cheshire. As you get older, you will miss them the most.

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Fondest CA memory: Anatomy class with Ms. White, the super nice atmosphere, the uniform, graduation, sport activities. I received the Most Improved Player award twice and was manager of the basketball team. In my country, we don’t play sports much in school and there especially is no competition.

Advice for current students: Enjoy!

Cheshire Academy can give you a good preparation for college and is such a nice school to go to.

Christian O’Farrill Welter ’98 Mexico BS in business management, and a specialist in high business management from IPADE University.

Entrepreneur in the hotel and development industry.

Fondest CA memory: Boarding life, great times, great friends, great moments.

Advice for current students: Consistency on whatever you decide to do in life. Try to be happy.

Chihiro Muroi ’05 Japan MA The Ohio State University.

Fixed income sales of SMBC Nikko Capital Markets London.

Fondest CA memory: Daily life on campus with friends, teachers, and coaches.

Advice for current students: Stay safe, and always look at the bright side!

Jun Seong Ahn ’09 Republic of Korea MSAUD '17 at Columbia University.

Urban Designer at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; remotely working both in Seoul and New York.

Fondest CA memory: Heading to the Dining Commons for an omelet on Saturday morning, scoring the first goals in boys’ JV/thirds soccer team.

Advice for current students: Expect the unexpected.

Life doesn't always flow as planned, but you'll be in a good position if you open up your ears and start to accept different perspectives, always prepare for the best and worst scenarios! Follow the best of yourself, at least you will get closer to what you dream of.

Craig Bodden ’08 Cayman Islands BS in Computer Science. CompTIA Security+ Certification. Certified Information Systems Security Professional Certification (CISSP) in progress. Senior IT Consultant at Deloitte in the Cayman Islands.

Fondest CA memory: Being awarded the Boys Varsity Soccer MVP and Male Board of Trustees award. I felt honored to be recognized by my peers and faculty for my hard work and dedication.

Advice for current students: Be kind; everyone has their own story. Be teachable; every experience is a learning opportunity. Be versatile; learn to adapt and grow in all aspects of life.

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ALUMNI

Konstantin Lyubimov ’13 Russia BA in Film & TV from NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

Director of Photography in New York City.

Jin Yoo ’12 South Korea University of Exeter, UK. Management Consultant at EY. Fondest CA memory: Stop & Shop trips with classmates.

Fondest CA memory: A month before graduation I got caught in a heavy rain with a few friends and had to run back to our dorms. By the time we reached the campus, we were soaked, so instead of hiding inside we enjoyed running around in the rain, slipping and falling in the mud. We all felt like being on the verge of a new chapter of our lives; it felt liberating and wild. The last month at CA in many ways felt like a dream. We were finally starting our individual paths in this new exhilarating reality of adulthood.

Advice for current students: Don't constantly compare yourself to your peers. Forge your path slowly, with long-term goals in mind. The brightest stars fade away the quickest. Don't let your high school years become the highlight of your life.

Advice for current students: Cheshire Academy has such nice facilities and offers so many valuable resources you can make good use of if you intend to (such as good courses and a variety of sports).

Hannah Leser ’14 Germany Stage School Hamburg Working as a performer on a cruise ship — my first performance job in 10 months since the beginning of the pandemic.

Fondest CA Memory: All the theater experience I got in the Black Box Theatre with the Varsity Players.

Advice for current students: Stay true to yourself and watch out for your friends.

Prioritize people over everything! And don't lose hope, the coronavirus will pass!

Calvin Chen ’14 China BS in Chemistry with a minor in models and data, cum laude, Trinity College. Abroad year at University College London; master of computer & IT: University of Pennsylvania.

Software Engineer, Amazon Alexa.

Fondest CA memory: All my best friends right now were from CA. I miss running cross country and competing in track & field, specifically pole vaulting.

Advice for current students: You have only one chance at life, so enjoy it, have fun, go visit places you’ve never visited, stay curious, work hard, do not care about what people think of you, and remember it is a marathon and the journey matters.

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Zoe Su ’15 China BA in studio arts from Wesleyan University.

Pursuing her master’s degree in architecture and master’s degree in real estate development at Columbia University.

Fondest CA memory: Sophomore year during snow days, I made an igloo with friends on the lawn in front of J.J. White.

Advice for current students: You will get what you put into your education. Don't just look around you with content, look beyond.

Really get to know your teachers and take full advantage of what CA can offer. Don't be afraid to ask for resources and guidance to support any endeavor you decide to embark on.

Lingquan “Sophie” Zhang ’15 China BA in applied mathematics from University of California, Berkeley. Project Manager at Roland Berger.

Fondest CA memory: Orchestra practices, Anime Club, lacrosse games on Wednesday afternoons.

Advice for current students: Seize the moment.

Ishaan Nimkar ’16 Australia BA in recording arts and music production.

Assistant engineer at a Brooklyn recording studio and freelance mix engineer and producer Fondest CA memory: One of my favorites would have to be the time a few teachers got together to have a macaroni and cheese contest. We as the students got to taste and judge. After that day, I was done with macaroni and cheese for a few months but it was definitely worth it.

Advice for current students: Take a moment, observe and appreciate the community around you. The teachers, dining hall staff, custodians and especially your peers. I can guarantee you will never find a community quite like the one at CA.

Evan Langford '17 Jamaica Senior at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, majoring in environmental studies with a minor in coastal management and sustainability.

Fondest CA memory: Spending time in the student center with classmates, and eating at the snack bar.

Advice for current students: Take advantage of the college counseling team at CA. I am so grateful for finding a college that I absolutely love, and I couldn’t have done it without their support.

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ALUMNI

PUB TRIVI A More than 20 young alumni gathered online for the second annual Pub Trivia program hosted by the Office of Advancement..

Questions pertained to Cheshire Academy’s history, when famous buildings were constructed, and which educator at CA was a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient.

Here’s a question for you: Cheshire Academy had a different name when it was first chartered in 1794. What was it? If you think you know, email communications@cheshireacademy.org.

ALUMNI OF COLOR MENTORING NETWORK Aligned with the important work of the Board of Trustees Task Force on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Cheshire Academy launched its first alumni affinity group: The Alumni of Color Mentoring Network. The group aims to foster a sense of community among BIPOC alumni, and to create a bridge for current students and recent graduates to access mentoring opportunities. Monthly meetings are facilitated by Aleesha Grier-Rogers ’90, CA’s director of diversity, equity, and inclusion. If you are interested in joining, please contact Peter White ’07, director of alumni relations, at peter.white@cheshireacademy.org.

Current members: Angela Robison ’82

Angelina Casanova ’00

Asia Skyers ’12

Jason Curry ’91

Moshood Olatokunbo ’07

Natashia Eveleyn ’15

William Ampofo ’92

Tanasia Hoffler ’09

Giselle Olaguez ’15

Deron Rippey ’93

Michelle Hughes ’11

COLEMAN GROUP ALUMNI GATHERING Alumnae Cassidy Vidal ’19, Krystal Charter ’20, Akilah Goldson ’20, and Riley Norwood ’20 met with students at CA as part of a virtual The Coleman Group event. Before fielding questions from those in attendance, the young women reflected on their time at CA, their colleges and universities of choice, and their majors and areas of study.

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ALUMNI ATHLETICS UPDATE Josh Ajayi ’15 has played 15 games and averaged 9.3 points per game with Hermine Nantes Atlantique, a French professional basketball team.

On the University of Maine’s baseball team, Cody Pasic ’16 secured two hits on March 6 against Missouri State, one of which was a double.

Elijah Pemberton ’16 had his NBA G League debut in the 2020-2021 season as a guard on the Santa Cruz Warriors.

Tarik Black ’17, wide receiver for the Texas Longhorns, has garnered attention after an impressive Texas Pro Day, where he recorded a 42-inch vertical jump, a 4.53 40-yard dash, and an 11-foot long jump.

Joe Bramanti ’17 had a strong start to the 2020-2021 baseball season at the University of Maine, landing three hits on March 7 versus Merrimack College, and a double on March 13 against Wagner.

In the summer of 2020, Gavin Sullivan ’18, right-handed pitcher at Stetson University, made five appearances on the mound, all starts, for the North Shore Navigators in the Futures Collegiate League. He secured 18 strikeouts in 19.1 innings and posted a 3-2 record with a 5.12 earned run average (ERA).

Aliya Catanzarita ’19, a sophomore at Hofstra University, appeared in seven games for the softball team, making six starts at first base. She recorded her first career hit against East Carolina on March 1, and earned CAA Commissioner’s Honor Roll, Hofstra Athletic Director Scholar, and Dean’s List distinction for the fall 2019 and spring 2020 semesters.

At Vassar College, Ethan Benjamin ’20 is playing midfield on the men’s lacrosse team.

Ryan Stefanik ’20 began his Division I lacrosse debut at Monmouth University.

At Sacred Heart University, both Nicholas Cardello ’17 and Travis Ecke ’17 have received some playtime during the 2020-2021 season.

A freshman at the University of Albany, Jackson Parker received play time for the Great Danes football team as a wide receiver.

Chris Galland ’17 has had a successful career playing baseball at Boston College, securing his first home run in the 2021 season, and a career average of .369 on base percentage (OBP).

Jaden Shirden has committed to playing as a running back for the Monmouth University football team. He joins 12 other student-athletes who signed National Letters of Intent during an early signing period.

Rich Kelly ’17 has been making a name for himself as part of the Boston College men’s basketball team, connecting on seven three-pointers, tying him for the third-most in a single game in BC history.

Nick Mango ’17 has had some playtime on the University of Saint Joseph’s men’s lacrosse team.

At the University of Rhode Island, Coby Tippett ’17 and Malachi Burby ’19 both made their debuts during the 2020-2021 season, with each landing two tackles against Villanova. Tippett was also named CAA Football defensive player of the week (March 22) for URI’s game against the University of Albany, where he recorded two tackles, a tackle for loss, two interceptions— one of which stopped a potential game-winning drive in the fourth quarter.

John Fox ’18 is currently playing Division I lacrosse at St. Bonaventure University, where he has played a career total of 21 games and has a shotson-goal average of 60.9%. John will be joined by his brother, Thomas ’21, in the fall.

Alexis Holmes ’18 (University of Kentucky) placed first at the McCravy Green Invitational ( Jan. 15-16) in the 400-meter dash with a time of 53.21, and the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 3:35.52.

Aliya Catanzarita ’19

K E E P US U PDAT E D! Submit your athletic accomplishments to alumni@cheshireacademy.org.

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ATHLETICS

The boys’ varsity and girls’ varsity basketball, coed fencing, and coed skiing teams had an excellent winter season at Cheshire Academy.

Modifications were made to ensure all athletes were given time to play, and proper protocols were followed to provide the highest level of safety for athletes, as well as coaches and trainers, resulting in the teams being able to play a cumulative 20 games.

According to Associate Head of School David Dykeman, the success of Cheshire Academy’s winter athletic program was due to commitments from the school community, working with peer schools to formalize a schedule, and from coaches, trainers, and athletes who underwent COVID-19 testing weekly prior to games. “For us to play 44 games in the fall and 20 in the winter, and be prepared with a full slate for spring athletics … we’re really proud of that.”

The seasons did not come without sacrifices, however, all of which were made to keep the students as safe as possible. For example, spectators were not allowed to attend games in the winter due to them being held indoors. While parents were unable to watch in person, games were streamed online for remote viewing.

Roughly 16 games were held for the boys' and girls' varsity lacrosse, varsity baseball, and varsity softball teams for the spring season. Track meets were held in both in-person and virtual formats, varsity girls' tennis had approximately five matches, and coed varsity golf took to the Fairview Farms Golf Course for a match. To accommodate the schedules of other schools and to allow for COVID-19 testing, the academic schedule was modified for the spring season (April 8-May 15) that included shortened days on Fridays instead of Wednesdays, allowing for games to be played on Fridays and Saturdays.

KIM BOGEN NAMED NEW HEAD SOFTBALL COACH Cheshire Academy has hired Kim Bogen as its new head softball coach. Bogen previously served as an assistant coach at Nonnewaug High School in Woodbury, Connecticut, and is also a private pitching coach for approximately 40 softball pitchers across the state. She was also a three-time all-state selection when she played at Seymour High School.

Bogen is taking over for Sam Cieri, who accepted an assistant coaching position at Bryant University. “I’m excited about this opportunity,” Bogen said. “There’s a great foundation here. I hope to continue to build on that and make it stronger.”

Cheshire Academy has solidified itself as a perennial New England power in recent years. The Cats have reached a Western New England Prep Softball Association title game in the last seven years and won the last three Class B championships.

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WINTER SPORTS AWARDS AND SIGNING DAYS Student-athletes continued to commit to playing their sport of choice at the collegiate level through a series of on-campus and virtual signing day events, including commitments to Bentley University, Manhattan College, Monmouth University, Swarthmore College, University of Pennsylvania, Villanova University, and Williams College.

During CA’s annual Winter Sports Awards ceremony highlighting the achievements of the school’s student-athletes, an additional recognition was given to Thomas Craley ’21, highlighting his accomplishments as a member of the USA High School All-American Fencing Team. During his time at CA, Craley placed first in the Connecticut State Fencing Championship in foil, among other feats.

Thomas Craley '21 and coed fencing Head Coach Matthew Socia.

Abraham Attah ’21.

William Soren ’21 and Karen Soren.

Associate Head of School David Dykeman with Board of Trustee Award recipients Megan Olmstead '21 and Ethan Okwuosa '21.

Cole Baker '21, Jack Brandon '21, and Thomas Fox '21.

Girls' varsity lacrosse Head Coach Molly Purcell, Lauren Davis ’21, and girls' varsity lacrosse Assistant Coach Sarah Lasoff-Hodge.

From left: Megan Olmstead ’21, Lauren Davis ’21, Abraham Attah ’21, William Soren ’21, Emmett Parkerson ’21, Thomas Craley ’21, Mia Ferry ’21, Cassie Parmelee ’21, Liliena Storer ’21, and Zach Hrubiec ’21.

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ALUMNI

Angelina Casanova ’00

A purpose-driven leader focused on future generations

When faced with any decision, Angelina Casanova ’00 doesn’t worry only about the effect it may have on her or her children Leonard II, age 7, and Nylah Morningstar, age 5, she also considers the changes it will have seven generations in the future. It’s an ancient Native American philosophy, and one that she holds dear as a member of the Mashantucket (Western) Pequot Tribal Nation.

Casanova’s second principle is to be a purpose-driven leader, which she demonstrates as the national legislative affairs manager for the tribe.

She currently lives in Baltimore, Maryland, where she serves as a liaison between the tribe and the federal government, spearheading advocacy programs and strategic communications.

Getting to this point in her life was not always easy. She was raised by teenage parents and grew up in poverty in the Bronx, New York.

It wasn’t until her family relocated to the Mashantucket Pequot reservation in southeast Connecticut in the early 1990s when her life changed—that was when the tribe grew its bingo hall venture into Foxwoods Resort Casino and pioneered what is now a $30 billion tribal gaming industry. She received a scholarship from the tribe to attend Cheshire Academy and began as an eighth-grade boarding student.

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At CA, Casanova thrived as a captain on the basketball, softball, and volleyball teams, as an individual involved in many clubs and community service projects, and as a peer counselor and student ambassador. “Being a part of those teams really helped foster my leadership skills and helped me define and understand the values that drive me now in my professional and personal life. I learned a lot of invaluable lessons during my formative years at Cheshire, and many came from being a very active community member and a leader among my sports teams.”

From CA, Casanova attended Towson University and graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Women’s Studies. She later earned a graduate certificate in business communications from Harvard Extension School.

As she describes it, Casanova now serves as a voice for a marginalized population. At the legislative level, she pushes for bills that work to drive away systemic racism in all facets of life, including in schools. One such focus—especially at the local and state levels—has been to push boards of education to remove racist native mascots. The Watertown, Connecticut school district, for example, became the seventh to retire their mascot (the Indians), but there is still work to be done with other districts, according to Casanova.

There are just over a dozen Connecticut schools that continue to use native mascots.

She and the Mashantucket Pequot’s Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice team are working with state legislators and organizations to further prohibit the use and end the practice, viewed by many as demoralizing, insensitive, and racist.

Another professional mission of hers is a push for the adoption of an Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which Casanova believes will help to correct the historical record, especially surrounding Christopher Columbus. “People are realizing that the history they were taught was whitewashed, and has a negative impact on communities of color, especially indigenous communities, to this day.” This mission falls in line with Casanova’s seventh-generation principle, and places upon her a heavy responsibility as she imagines a future that assures members of her tribe and her children can safely attend school.

“I don’t want them to go to school feeling uncomfortable, feeling that they’re being lied to, or have to do extra research because their own history is not reflected accurately in textbooks,” Casanova said.

“People are realizing that the history they were taught was whitewashed, and has a negative impact on communities of color, especially indigenous communities, to this day.”

Daniel Menihan, Lisa Aquino, Jonathan Shockley, Judy Bell, Jean Swift, Angelina Casanova, and Rodney Butler.

Beyond her political role, Casanova serves as chairwoman of the tribe’s economic development company, Command Holdings. She is currently the youngest and only female member of the board. Under her leadership, one of the board’s focuses has been to provide greater business and job opportunities for tribal members, as well as women of color and other underrepresented populations. “We’re providing them with opportunities they can be proud of, and we’re also training future tribal business owners and leaders,” she said. “That’s important to me, especially as a woman and being provided so much opportunity in my life from my tribe and from Cheshire.”

Casanova's business ventures do not end with her roles with the tribe.

She is also co-owner of Native Way Blend, LLC, an official Dunkin’ Donuts franchise with a location in Foxwoods. Since opening in 2010, the business has been extremely successful as a service to the community, and at hiring family and community members. “I’m proud to be able to provide jobs and meaningful employment to family and community members.”

Richard Sebastian, Angelina Casanova, Nia Perry, and Cheryl Allen.

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ALUMNI

Cheshire Academy’s Young Alumni Trailblazers

Passion, persistence, commitment—these young alumni have it. Meet 12 of so many of

Cheshire Academy’s recent graduates who are blazing trails in education, service, and industry,

and hear in their own words how CA set them on their paths toward achievement and success.

A Cheshire Academy Original Christy Bosley ’07 My experience at Cheshire Academy played a very large role in shaping me into the individual that I am today. I started being a regular on campus as an infant when my older sister, Jessica Kerr ’93, was a student. I then became a student myself at 5 years old, when I started kindergarten at Cheshire Academy. I remember the faculty being a large part of my childhood as well. The Boyds would frequently look after me and warmly welcomed me into their home. I grew up with their son, Lucian Boyd ’10, and we quickly became family. I will always be appreciative of Chip and Shelly’s kindness, as well as the kindness of all the CA faculty and staff. Throughout my time attending Cheshire Academy, I have created friendships that have lasted well beyond my graduation date.

CA influenced my career by being the place where I fell in love with science. I remember taking Mrs. Smith’s anatomy class and feeling excited for class to start. This was one of the first times where I felt such a strong drive and passion to learn, and it was so fun for me. This newfound passion then led me to get my bachelor’s degree in exercise science and health promotion and master’s degree in exercise physiology. My next goal is to get my PhD in exercise physiology. I plan to be a professor at a university teaching future medical professionals of all disciplines about working with special populations and individuals of all abilities.

The impact that I want to have on the world is to lead by example by actively supporting and serving individuals and communities that need help in a multitude of ways. I also want to teach anyone who is willing to listen about consciously removing any unconscious biases concerning people with disabilities. I stay connected to CA because I never want to forget where I came from, and I will always support the school because I want to ensure that it continues to have the same impact on its current students as it did on us during my time.

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I plan to be a professor at a university teaching future medical professionals of all disciplines about working with special populations and individuals of all abilities.”

A Foundation for Entrepreneurship Jaimie Fry ’11 My experience at CA was great. I have many favorite memories from the sports fields and the classroom. I thought Discovery Week was the best thing ever! It gave me the opportunity to learn about new things, like rugby and filmmaking. I learned a lot of valuable lessons and skills while at CA. I learned to be independent, as well as how to work and live well with others.

I also loved being able to learn from—and experience—other cultures. The structure provided by teachers and coaches who genuinely cared about my success helped me grow tremendously, even beyond my four years at Cheshire. I was encouraged in and out of the classroom to be my best as a student, athlete, and person. For many kids, college is a huge jump but, because of my time at CA, I had already learned time management, social skills (especially living with a roommate!), money management, and so much more.

The independence I learned at CA started me down a path of entrepreneurship. I have owned and operated businesses for the last five years, and, in 2022, I am looking to partner with Amazon. My goal is simple: try to make a positive impact on the world for all of our children. As cliché as it might sound, becoming a father changed my perspective on things. I think back about my experiences and all that I learned at Cheshire and want my son to have the same opportunities that I had.

I follow CA closely, and I am happy to see how much it has continued to grow since I graduated; I am committed to do my part to see it go even further!

As cliché as it might sound, becoming a father changed my perspective on things. I think back about my experiences and all that I learned at Cheshire and want my son to have the same opportunities that I had.”

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Evan Harville ’11 My experience at Cheshire was nothing short of phenomenal. From late night conversations in Markin with those who are now my lifelong friends, to slushing through freshly shoveled walkways, to an early morning class—both English and philosophy—I remember it all so well.

The highlight of my time spent at Cheshire was the atmosphere in which we were living. Life at CA had a way of cocooning you in positive ways. You bonded with classmates mostly over the fact that it was aggressively too cold outside, and classes were never canceled! You were far away from home and your simple luxuries. Yet, you found yourself not wanting to trade a single moment when it came time to move forward. I loved Cheshire not as one loves New York, or Cape Cod during summer, but rather as one’s true home—there was a synonymous connection with that of family. If in the dictionary there was a second or third definition of “home,” I was closest to it there. Being from Charlotte, North Carolina, and stumbling my way through being a teenager and young adult at a school where academics and morality were championed, experiences at CA naturally gave me a preparedness for college like none other.

My time spent at Cheshire was more than enough; upon leaving, I still had a lot to learn, but I had been given the liberating tools with which I could now teach myself. My goal is to continue to be as positively influential as possible on the immediate circle I encounter on a day-to-day basis.

I currently work as an assistant coach for the Greensboro Swarm. The NBA is an extremely visible platform—is there a better way to lead than by example, be it in the community, workspace, or on social? Is there a better way to champion a pure heart and intention than to act as if ? And if only our days were spent towards just that, a sense of self-accountability and good heartedness, where might we be able to go? I stay engaged with CA for no other reason than the simple fact that life is about connectivity. There is a blueprint to be shared, stories to tell, and friends to meet. The degree of separation from your next best step in life is one CA alumnus away.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GREENSBORO SWARM/NBAE.

ALUMNI

Your Next Best Step

My time spent at Cheshire was more than enough; upon leaving, I still had a lot to learn, but I had been given the liberating tools with which I could now teach myself.”

Game Time Adam Squinto ’11 Cheshire Academy was a phenomenal experience, one that has shaped who I am today both personally and professionally. There are many memories that I will never forget, both in the classroom and on the fields. One memory that sticks out is having the privilege of playing on the boys’ varsity tennis team and making it to the state tournament during my junior year. The intensity of that season, the camaraderie, and the way the team came together as one will be a memory I will never forget. CA was very influential in helping me prepare for college and my professional career.

My teachers challenged me in areas where I needed improvement, but were very much accessible when I needed assistance. Not only did the teachers help me in the classroom, many also offered me opportunities to think about the bigger picture and what I wanted to get out of my education.

The next-level thinking instilled in me has helped me get to the biggest stage in sports at Madison Square Garden, and will help me for years to come.”

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The next-level thinking instilled in me has helped me get to the biggest stage in sports at Madison Square Garden, and will help me for years to come. I have always had a passion for learning, building relationships, and sports, and I have found a role at The Garden that allows me to incorporate all three. I want to continue to learn and push myself out of my comfort zone, surround myself with individuals who have a positive attitude and provide me with different ways of thinking, and continue to be passionate about the work I do daily. It is important for me to stay connected and support Cheshire Academy as an alumnus because I would not be who or where I am today without the experiences and opportunities the school provided me.

Raising the Bar Tanner Cook ’12 My time at Cheshire Academy was overwhelmingly positive. I made lifelong friends, benefited from devoted mentors, and developed a lasting appreciation for education. One example that stands out in my mind as illustrative of CA’s unique community is the connection I still have with a number of CA faculty members. CA prepared me for college by teaching me to value learning for learning’s sake.

Inspired by the courses I took at CA, I decided to major in philosophy. I poured my energy into deciphering complex, often obscure texts, which, incidentally, is the exact skill required in my current profession—law.

Professionally, my goal is simply to be the best attorney I can be at Husch Blackwell. I’ve been fortunate to work alongside a number of talented, intelligent lawyers, and I strive to model my legal practice after theirs. Personally, my goal is to be the best husband I can be for my wife, Brontë Escobar ’13.

Cheshire Academy played a transformative role in my life, and it set me on a path I wouldn’t have otherwise taken.

Supporting CA is the least I can do to help others have access to the same opportunities that I had.

I’ve been fortunate to work alongside a number of talented, intelligent lawyers, and I strive to model my legal practice after theirs.”

My goal is to harness data science and math to tackle some of the biggest global problems, such as climate change and ecosystem protection.”

A Passion for Global Problems Erik Saberski ’12 At Cheshire Academy, I learned that learning can be fun. Mr. McBreen showed me that math is interesting, and Mr. Aronson taught me how to write something worth reading. I also learned the importance of teamwork and collaboration at CA—I can’t tell you how many great memories I have to this day of cross country races and swim meets with some of my closest friends. After graduating from Bates College and earning my master’s degree in marine biology from UC San Diego, I am currently the lead data scientist for a tech startup, and I am working on my PhD researching chaotic systems. I am extremely proud of where I am today, but also extremely humbled by the fact that I know I would not be here if it weren’t for Cheshire Academy.

I plan to keep following my passions for learning and collaboration— passions I first developed at CA—to continue my career in academia.

My goal is to harness data science and math to tackle some of the biggest global problems, such as climate change and ecosystem protection. I am very grateful for my time at CA and look forward to staying connected to the school community so I can, in some way, help future students find their passion.

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ALUMNI

Paying It Forward Demi Vitkute ’13 I was lucky to come to Cheshire Academy in the second semester of my junior year when I transferred from another boarding school where I had a poor experience. Immediately, I felt welcomed on campus. I was a shy girl, but CA’s faculty and staff encouraged me every day to step outside of my comfort zone and achieve my wildest dreams. In a short time, I was regularly making announcements in front of the entire school and was elected to leadership positions.

I became a proctor, served on a citizenship committee, was part of Model UN, and even received a Rizzolo-Larson Venture Grant to write a novel over the summer. The highlight of my CA experience definitely was reviving the school’s newspaper with my classmate Jon Bergamo ’13, The New Review, after 20 years of inactivity. We spent months working hard to make that happen, and eventually it became a reality. I remember the late nights at the library editing the paper and interviewing so many amazing students on campus. I come from Lithuania, and since I was a child I always aspired to be a writer and write in English for a bigger audience. CA supported me in my dream to become a writer and a journalist every step of the way.

After CA, I majored in journalism at Emerson College and later got my MS degree in journalism at Columbia Journalism School. As an international student, CA inspired me to achieve my dreams and never give up—for that, I will be forever grateful. After I graduated, there was never a place where I felt more welcome or at home than at Cheshire.

When I graduated from Emerson a year early in 2016, I co-founded The Urban Watch Magazine that I still run. I am currently working on a media project, Fashion Watch, investigating sexual assault and harassment in the fashion industry, funded by Columbia Journalism’s Brown Institute for Media Innovation. One of my proudest achievements has been publishing in and receiving a contract from The Washington Post and joining their exclusive Talent Network.

If I can contribute anything to humanity with writing while using 1% talent and 99% work, then I will do exactly that for the rest of my life.”

One of my favorite quotes is from Maya Angelou: “At the end of the day people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.” I feel responsible for the world and if I can contribute anything to humanity with writing while using 1% talent and 99% work, then I will do exactly that for the rest of my life. It’s important to me to stay connected with the Academy because I feel I am a part of the family. I also strongly believe in the power of mentorship. I habitually mentor young writers and international students, and I look forward to doing so with CA students and alumni.

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A Fashionable Ambition Ashley Baylor ‘14 Cheshire Academy offered me the opportunity to grow both professionally and personally. My experience laid the foundation for me to excel over the course of my undergraduate and graduate years at LIM College of Fashion. It also allowed me to hone my interpersonal skills, which I will carry with me for a lifetime. I learned to balance multiple responsibilities, which influenced my professional career in fashion, as well as the desire to step out of my comfort zone, which led to significant growth.

As an alumna, it is important for me to stay connected with and support Cheshire Academy because of the opportunities it continues to provide me with to this day, as so many of the people I have met along the way are like family to me now. My experience at CA introduced me to real-world problems that I continue to utilize, such as finding my place and voice as a minority, and navigating tough conversations while helping to educate others.

I am working in the fashion industry in New York City, where I dream of launching my own brand.

As an individual with various talents and diverse interests, my professional goal is to continue to grow and move forward whenever I outgrow any position.

I always strive to be at my best in my professional life, and I take every new opportunity that comes my way. My personal goal is simple: to help and empower others. I have always been passionate about helping others, and I truly feel that is what my positive impact on the world will always be.

I have always been passionate about helping others, and I truly feel that is what my positive impact on the world will always be.”

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ALUMNI

As I enter the professional world, I am hungry to make an impact where traditional business meets the environment.”

The Path to Success Drew Peterson ’15 As I reflect on my time at Cheshire Academy, I am grateful for my estimable peers and mentors who made a lasting influence.

From allowing me to develop on the basketball court and get recruited by McGill University, to volunteering in the community and picking up new sports like golf, Cheshire Academy was a great personal stepping stone. CA helped me learn how to balance the freedom and personal responsibility of living on my own for the first time, which is something that has served me well in college and now, as a young adult.

As I enter the professional world, I am hungry to make an impact where traditional business meets the environment. I currently work at Loop, a startup working with large consumer packaged goods brands like Nestle and Procter & Gamble, to develop reusable packaging for everyday products. After earning my undergraduate degree, I have continued my studies at Columbia University’s master’s of sustainability management program. I am excited to make my mark in the emerging circular economy field. As an alumnus, I am grateful for the foundation that Cheshire Academy has helped lay as part of my formational past. Just as Cheshire Academy played an important role in my development, I am proud to know that it will continue to do the same for the Cats for years to come.

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Setting Sail Toward a Better Future Davi Hertz ’16 My experience at Cheshire Academy was a very transformative one.

I started as a timid freshman, and became a confident, sure-of-myself senior. Some of my fondest memories from my time at CA were spending free periods in Mrs. Kelly’s classroom, as well as all the experiences I had through the various leadership positions I earned, such as team captain, class president, and dorm proctor.

Cheshire Academy prepared me well for college by giving me the tools to effectively manage my time while taking a rigorous course load and by being part of several extracurricular activities. CA supported my interests, which I continued to explore at Rhodes College, ultimately influencing my professional career. In other words, CA allowed me to realize that I could do anything I set my mind to, no matter how unusual the idea!

I am currently a deckhand and educator aboard the historic schooner Roseway, where I am helping maintain the safety and integrity of the ship, and educating students from St. Croix, USVI, and Boston, on various environmental and seamanship lessons. As was the case during my time as a student, I hope to have a positive impact on the world by doing my part to help make CA an even more open and inclusive institution that continues to welcome all individuals regardless of their background or circumstances.

CA allowed me to realize that I could do anything I set my mind to, no matter how unusual the idea!”

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ALUMNI

Pursuing Passions in Art and Food Through a Sustainable Lens Paola Fortes ’16 The first time I visited Cheshire Academy, I was immediately impressed by the sense of community. At CA, I reached my academic goals with the support of all my incredible teachers, joined many clubs and activities, experimented with different artistic mediums and techniques, and was given the opportunity to have my own studio space through the Art Major program. I still think of Mr. Rogers’ IB History and AP Government classes, how fascinating it was to hear him talk about history, and those few minutes before class when he would recommend all kinds of stuff to us, like Eric Clapton’s music or Ken Burns’ documentaries.

I also recall fondly Mr. Poisson’s Art Major class because while he allowed us to work independently, the intentional and careful advice he gave us was always spot on. And Mrs. Wright, who turned math from a subject I avoided into something I actually enjoyed. Above all, my absolute favorite thing was sharing all my meals with my closest friends: Andrea, Paula, Omari, Ray, Alicia, Karon, Ishaan, Jade, Lauren, Elina—it still feels strange to eat alone sometimes! Had I not studied at CA, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to pursue my true passions: art and food.

After I left CA, I moved to Italy, out of my desire to immerse myself in artistic tradition. I briefly studied traditional renaissance painting and printmaking techniques, and found my passion for printmaking. I began studying at the Il Bisonte Foundation School in Florence, a historic print shop, where I experimented with ancient and experimental printmaking techniques and found my artistic voice, and it was all because of the foundation I had developed at CA. If it hadn’t been for Mr. Poisson, who pushed me to try new mediums like oil painting and sculpture, and the studio space I had at CA, which gave me the freedom to develop my ideas freely, I wouldn’t have arrived in Italy with that level of self-confidence.

Crucially, CA taught me that it was okay to be myself and that, as an artist, being yourself is the most valuable tool you have.

After completing my printmaking specialization, I began working at the school as a studio assistant, teaching printmaking courses and printing editions for guest artists. Later on, I worked at the Atelier L’Armadillo in Florence as a studio assistant and at the same time began experimenting with food, especially handmade pasta and desserts. The latter led me to study at ALMA, the Italian School of Culinary Arts, in Colorno, Italy. I’m currently doing internships in pastry shops and restaurants

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Crucially, CA taught me that it was okay to be myself and that, as an artist, being yourself is the most valuable tool you have.”

while continuing my artistic works. Later in the spring I will return to ALMA to complete my professional pastry chef diploma. As an aspiring pastry chef and pastaia (pasta maker), I dream of one day opening my own pasta shop and bakery in Italy, working with ingredients that are sustainable, seasonal and locally sourced, and creating zero waste.

Despite everything that is going on in the world, I believe we are going through a period of transition into a more eco-friendly era, and each and every single one of us—including chefs and artists—has to do our part.

Above all, what I love the most about art and food is that they reconnect you with what is most valuable in life: beauty, simplicity, sensibility, and artisanship. What makes CA special is that the only person that you’re compared to is yourself. CA gave me the tools and the strength to be myself and pursue my dreams. I want to continue to support CA because I know it is a place that supports and embraces people for who they are.

The Next Big Thing Tara Lynch ’18 Cheshire Academy allowed me to explore my curiosity for learning. Every day, I entered the campus with a desire to discover and pursue excellence in my studies. I am truly grateful for the faculty and staff who always pushed me and believed in me, even when I did not believe in myself. As a student-athlete, I will always cherish my time on Simosa Field, representing our school on the girls’ varsity soccer team. Thanks to the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, I felt prepared and ready for my journey at Ithaca College, and my IB Diploma has allowed me to graduate college a full year early! In addition to being a finalsemester senior, I am a professional journalist for WETM in Elmira, New York.

CA also taught me to always pursue my passion, even during the most difficult of times. As a senior at Cheshire Academy, I launched my own Facebook Live series, interviewing Mrs. Anderson, Coach Dykeman, and campus guests to begin practicing my broadcast skills. Three years later, during the COVID-19 pandemic, I returned to social media and launched an Instagram TV show called “The Next Big Thing,” where I continued to hone my skills and passion for broadcast news while targeting a younger audience. As a journalist, I hope I can share people’s stories and inform others through accurate and thoughtful reporting. I am grateful for the foundation Cheshire Academy gave me, which propelled me onto the right path in college, and now, as a professional. I will always cherish my time at CA, from the eighth grade through to my senior year.

As I prepare to finish my final semester at Ithaca College and move fully into the professional world, I want to thank Cheshire Academy for their support and guidance along this journey. I remain connected to CA, and plan to do so for life!

As a journalist, I hope I can share people's stories and inform others through accurate and thoughtful reporting.”

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The Harwood Society for Planned Giving

Parents of Bart DePetrillo ’87 Make Estate Gift to Thank Cheshire for Helping Their Son Bart A. DePetrillo ’87 attended two other high schools before his late parents, Dr. Bart DePetrillo and Paola C. DePetrillo—both immigrants from Italy—enrolled him in Cheshire Academy for his junior and senior years. Because of their son’s success at CA, Dr. and Mrs. Bart DePetrillo’s estate has left a gift to Cheshire Academy, of which a portion will establish the DePetrillo Scholarship Fund.

“My dad was a doctor who delivered more than 9,000 babies at Waterbury Hospital. Education was of the utmost importance to them,” stated Bart. “They said your knowledge is the one thing no one can ever take from you. They always said it did not matter what I did in life as long as I was happy, but a college degree came first.”

Dr. Bart DePetrillo, Paola DePetrillo, and Bart DePetrillo ’87.

Bart praised the teachers at CA, who he described as tough but kind.

He graduated from CA and earned his undergraduate degree in English Literature from Boston University. He continued his education at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University where he earned a Master of Science in Computer Science.

His mother died in 2015; his dad passed in 2019. Bart is a skiing enthusiast who now lives in Park City, Utah. He is a successful entrepreneur and investor, which are skills he learned from his mother.

He remains close friends with many of his CA classmates.

“The school accepted many students who needed a new opportunity to realize their full potential,” Bart said. “My parents remained grateful, and I will always appreciate my time spent at CA.”

Anyone at least 70½ years old can follow the DePetrillo family’s lead, taking advantage of a simple way to benefit Cheshire Academy and receive tax benefits in return. You can give up to $100,000 annually to charity from an IRA, serving as part or all of a qualified distribution, and avoid income taxes on the money contributed.

Advantages of an IRA Rollover Charitable Gift:

For more information, please contact:

• Your gift will be put to use today.

Barbara Davis P’17, ’18, ’20, ’24 Senior Director of Leadership and Planned Giving Cheshire Academy 10 Main Street Cheshire, Connecticut 06410

• The amount transferred directly from your IRA is not included in your total income, so you don’t have to itemize the IRA transfer on your tax return.

Thus, even non-itemizers can benefit from this gift arrangement.

• An IRA Charitable Rollover Gift can satisfy all or part of your minimum distribution requirement for the year.

• Best of all, you will see the impact of your philanthropy during your lifetime.

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Barbara.davis@cheshireacademy.org 203-439-7228

class notes ’48

N E W S? U PDAT E S? M A R R I AG E? B I R T H?

Submit your news and photos to: alumni@cheshireacadamy.org

1950s

Herb Erdheim ’51 is enjoying retirement despite some aches and pains of old age, and is surprised at how quickly time is flying by. His baby grandchild graduated from college this year.

Andrew Franks ’56 writes, “Since I graduated

1940s

Harry Gordon Jr. ’48 reflected on his time at CA and wrote this,

“I look back on my Cheshire experience with both appreciation and admiration—appreciation for all the personal guidance received from a dedicated faculty; and admiration for the level of course work to which we were exposed to prepare us for college, in my case Yale. Everyone had a full course load, meaning, for me, four years of English, four of math, four of science (chemistry in junior year, physics in senior), three years of Latin and four of French, and required courses in history. I was a day student and I believe the boarders outnumbered us. Everyone, all males, appeared each day in coat and tie.

We were quite strong in sports, particularly football and baseball.

Our exposure to popular music and to the performing arts was well below the level experienced by today’s Cheshire students. We did, however, have a wonderful Glee Club to which I belonged for four years.

I entered Yale with the intent to be a history major, but completed my four years as a chemical engineer and a Naval Ensign. I served three years in the Navy, after which I began my career of 35 years with Hercules Incorporated, mostly in Delaware. After many technical assignments, my career consisted of positions in human resources, mostly top management selection and development.

In 1954, another life event—marriage to Jeanne DuBois, graduate of the late sister school, Saint Margaret’s, and Wellesley College. Jeanne shares my opinion of the value of our prep school educations.

Retirement has been balanced between travel and public service.

Among other things, I was 15 years a volunteer with Delaware Family Court, advocating for neglected children. Many trips to Europe and to the Cayman Islands has filled the time.

Cheshire played a major role in my life, more than just providing a quality education. Discipline, character, personal interest, and high standards are only some of the memorable elements which I experienced and which I am confident exist today for the current generation.”

school, I have been in the fine arts both as a producer and a performer for 60 some odd years. Cheshire taught me how to do the work and not worry about all the glory. I am a cancer survivor, a cardiology patient, and I am still at it because I believe that you live life right up until the end, whenever that is. I will be 84 years old in September. I have always remembered my faculty and Headmaster Sheriff, the Nadeau brothers, Coach Shultz, certainly Philip Angeles, and Geometry Master Palmer. And who can forget Mr. Linehan, whom I had the misfortune to visit with in detention I think twice in two years, or my roommates, Jim Schuster ’56 and Arturo Barreto-Ramirez ’56. The experience for me was invaluable. I'm very grateful for all the Masters' patience and compassion, Arthur Sheriff's hand at the till. And if I had married, the children would have gone to Cheshire. I'm amazed at the coeducational aspect, and the Academy seems to have had or is having a lot of construction. I'm especially interested in fine arts for obvious reasons, so I hope that department is doing well. Very best wishes to all.”

Dr. Joseph Geraci ’59 says, “After spending

most of my life on the Connecticut shore, I recently moved to the country in Marlborough; literally out to pasture. Ironically I am living in a home circa 1750. It has brought me full circle to my days at Cheshire. My living room brings back one of my fondest memories of the Academy. It is that of the dimly lit library with the sun's rays filtered through the louvered windows as I sat in an overstuffed chair with my friends Chaucer and Shakespeare. My dining room table is a replica of the large round tables in the dining hall. As I approach 80, I am fortunate to share those memories with my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. My only regret is not giving our fencing coach a winning season; or any win for that matter.”

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ALUMNI

1960s

Peter Miller ’61

retired from his 40-year career as a personal injury/trail lawyer with a practice in Little Rock, Arkansas. His wife, Karen, has retired from her profession as a psychotherapist. They have since moved to Columbia, South Carolina, to help their daughter and son-in-law take care of their kids. For the past year, they have been running a virtual Montessori school for the children.

His daughter, Georgia Miartan, is director of First Steps, a state agency, and his son-in-law, Domnink Miartan, is president and CEO of Optus, a historic bank founded 100 years ago by a group of Black men and women business owners.

’61

Art Cirkus ’62

and his wife have moved to Rancho Santa Fe, California, a small town in San Diego County. He reports they are very happy living there with their horses, dogs, chickens, and Walter, their pig.

Harold “Bill” Oppenheimer ’62

writes, “I can't believe I am 77. I like to keep busy. I was just named chairman of the Board for Marion Senior Services (Meals on Wheels, transporting seniors to appointments, and making sure they may stay in their own homes as long as possible.) I teach 3and 4-year-olds in Sunday School each week. Cheshire did so much for me and I am so grateful. I would not have earned my MA degree without Cheshire putting me on the right path. I try to stay in contact with my 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. They are all over the country. I was the worst basketball player ever at Cheshire, but did learn from sitting on the bench, because I coached varsity high school basketball for several years thanks to Cheshire. Please support Cheshire Academy!”

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Richard Kiley ’63

retired to Las Cruces, New Mexico, with his wife, Patti, where they enjoy nature, the outdoors, and their dog very much. Previously, they lived and worked in New Jersey, New Mexico, and Houston, Texas.

They have two married sons who live on the east coast; a teenage grandson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and boy/girl twins living in Brooklyn, New York.

’63

Bob Svensk ’64 has this news to report, “The good news is that we are

now all fully vaccinated and resuming a semblance of normal life. We have been fortunate to have one son and his family move from New York City to Fairfield, Connecticut; that would be Andrew Svensk, former CA math teacher and lacrosse coach. My other two sons and families live in California and are long overdue for a visit. Andrew works with me in our insurance company, which provides export credit and political risk underwriting services for two captive insurance companies in Bermuda. The less good news is the recent passing of our classmate Ron Gurtler ’64, one of the first mates I met in 1961. We lived on the third floor of Phillips House next door to Alex Duffy and Lindsey Ridgeway. Bob Gardiner and Boris Miller were our house masters along with a collection of other notables including Bob Fink, Bill Woodward, Ron Gurtler, Stretch Crane, and John Anderson. Roger went off to LA and became a wellknown writer of children's books and a film producer. As fate would have it, I lived on the same, somewhat cramped floor my senior year as proctor of the house. Prior to the world shutting down in 2020, we were fortunate enough to have taken a fantastic trip to Egypt. My wife's sister was working at the international school in Cairo, so we had a great guide for much of the adventure.

’64

’65

Chuck Copley ’65 has retired to Hilton

Head, South Carolina, after living in Rye, New York, and Clark Summit, Pennsylvania. He lost his wife of 47 years to melanoma, and has remarried at the age of 74. He has shared his hobby of flying by teaching others, and was recently named Best Flight Instructor in South Carolina by the Federal Aviation Administration for 2020. He notes that, at the time of graduation from CA, he was the school’s longest attending student, having started in eighth grade. He thanks CA for those years, which prepared him for the life ahead.

“The Unreasonable Virtue of Fly Fishing,” the 34th book written by Mark Kurlanksy ’66, was published in March and is being named on various best seller lists.

’66

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ALUMNI

Gary Rosenbluth '67 had this to say about his life, "I grew up in Teaneck,

John Holt ’66 has retired after

’66

a fulfilling 50-year marketing career.

He is now living in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with his wife Carol. They look forward to traveling again soon.

’66

New Jersey. As a child, I was a stutterer and I became the class clown in order to be liked. As a result, education was secondary to me, and I was left back in fifth grade.

My grades were atrocious and, to save me from my inevitable fate, my mother convinced my father to send me to Cheshire Academy. One Sunday morning we went up there and I was interviewed by Dr. Sheriff. I told him I did not want to go, so he told my parents that they would not accept me as I was undisciplined, and that it would be a waste of my time and their money. My mother asked if he could bring me in one more time and Sibley asked me if I wanted to go, saying it would be in my best interest. I was brought back in and, again, I told Dr. Sheriff that I didn’t want to go. When I got up to leave, I had an epiphany and I said on the other hand, with the way I’m going, I have no chance of getting into a college. Therefore, I reluctantly said I would attend. That decision changed my life.

I am currently 72 years old, I’m a successful psychologist, dealing with children who are addicted and irresponsible. I repeat my story about Cheshire Academy to a number of patients that I have and many of them turn their lives around and become viable members of our society. In conclusion, Cheshire Academy saved my life and more than shaped me into the person I am today. I’ve been married for 49 years, have two wonderful children who married responsible people, and I have four grandchildren."

Gilbert Garcia Jr. ’69 is in Mexico waiting for the pandemic to conclude.

“Life is a beach,” he writes.

1970s

Gary Anderson ’70

is currently serving his second term on the board of directors for the Mercy Learning Center, a women’s literacy organization based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. In addition, he just completed his sixth year as a volunteer tutor at the center, teaching English language skills and mathematics.

After a job change due to COVID-19, Bill Bishop ’73 joined the outbound sales team at Castello di Amorosa winery in Napa Valley, California, in December 2020.

Richard Morris ’73 submits, “As I write this, I am on location in the Florida

Ken Schlecter ’66

and his wife, Marcia, received their COVID-19 shots, quipping that they are “free at last!” As he writes his note, his grandchildren are visiting him in Naples, Florida. Two are from Denver, Colorado, and two more were planning to visit from Weston, Connecticut, in the following weeks. He and Marcia have been retired since October 2012, and they still summer in Bedford, New York.

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Keys on Islamorada filming my next project, "Hero to Hero," restoring the reefs of the Florida Keys, and preparing my magazine article on the same subject for Scuba Diving Magazine. Using cell phones underwater and above, as well as my normal high-end camera gear, I am documenting how me and Dive Operator Mike Goldberg—two Scuba Diving Magazine Sea Heroes—are working to restore the coral reefs by teaching volunteers and staff how to re-plant corals on the depleted reefs. The work is supported by the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium that provides the new corals to be out-planted. Classes are held to teach divers how to transplant the specimens and then dives are conducted to do so through several dive shops and non-profits like Goldberg's I.CARE and the CRF—a truly monumental task with huge rewards. The first magazine article will appear in

’73

the June issue of Scuba Diving Magazine and on their website, www.scubadiving.com as well as on my site, www.rem-films.com. The feature articles will follow in the fall. Hope you can all tune in and experience saving the corals for future generations!”

Timothy Connerton ’75 gave a TED talk called “The Language of Leadership.” https://www.bsllausanne.ch/blog/bsl-professor-tim-connerton-talksabout-the-language-of-leadership-at-tedx

Bob Wuchert ’75

wrote, “Since graduation in 1974, I have had a very interesting career and life path.

I spent 22 years in the banking industry, ending that career as a senior officer of a local bank. I then went on to be a project manager for CIGNA for six years and finally moving in 2006 to my current employer The Valley Railroad Company (The Essex Steam Train & Riverboat), one of Connecticut's premier tourist attractions. I am currently vice president, treasurer and CFO, as well as a director of the company. My time at the Valley has been extremely interesting, as I have met so many people from around the world and appeared in numerous commercials, shows and movies. The highlight of my career was being in the Steven Spielberg movie “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” (Indy #4). There have been many other TV and movie gigs as well. In my position, I am able to fulfill my passion for railroading, especially steam railroading and utilize my extensive management skills while greatly enjoying my current career. While the current COVID-19 crisis has greatly impacted our operations, I look forward to a return to normalcy soon. I have also published three books on the New Haven Railroad. To say the least, my yearbook experiences at the Academy with John Corpaci (my mentor and biggest cheerleader) very well prepared me to produce these books. My wife and I just celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary in October —seems just like yesterday. Anyhow, just wanted to say ‘Hello’ and wish all the current Academy faculty and staff the best during this very difficult time. Interestingly, one of my riverboat captains is also an Academy graduate— Joe Missett ’67. He was recently featured on the back cover of 1794 Magazine as a class officer. Small world!”

1980s

Aimee Sheeber ’84

has been enjoying life in Aspen, Colorado, since 1989, and has owned SUGAR, a successful clothing boutique in Aspen, for 23 years. Her daughter, Gia Knight, is a member of the Class of 2021, and is enjoying CA as much as she did.

Amy Clark-Frederick ’82 recently hosted Dr. Jill Biden and Dr. Miguel

Cardona, newly appointed U.S. Secretary of Education, at her school. Biden and Cardona wanted to see how the school was so successful, having operated in person five days per week since August 2020.

’82

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ALUMNI

1990s

Ralph Manginello ’90

and Kelly Hunsicker were married on

Nov. 17, 2020.

Adam Smith ’91

writes, “Not much has changed here. I hope to open another small restaurant like I had years ago. My wife has had both vaccines; I got the first one April 1. We got pretty lucky, no one in our families have been seriously affected by the pandemic. I'm hoping there's a 30-year reunion this year and looking forward to that!”

Aaron McGoldrick ’92

is a senior customer experience specialist at Novartis. Aaron lives in Monroe, Connecticut.

2000s

Angelina Casanova ’00

works for the Pequot Tribe as the national legislative affairs manager, a position she has held for 12 years. She acts as a liaison between the Tribe and the federal government and manages the advocacy program and strategic communications.

Jenny Duke Klein ’02 and Chris Klein welcomed a daughter, Marlena Elise, on Feb. 17, 2021. She joins a sister Hadley.

Congratulations to Thea and Louis Pietig ’04 on the birth of their son, Turner Grant Pietig, on Feb. 4, 2021.

Kate Daley ’05 is a library graduate intern at Cheshire Academy.

Elisa Palmieri Laudati ’05

has been named director of the Roxbury Academic Support Program at Cheshire Academy.

’91 Yukon Salon, a board game developed by David Fooden ’91, is being released by Atlas Games this summer. https://www.atlas-games.com/product_tables/AG1440.

2010s

Somia Farid Silber ’11,

vice president of ecommerce at Edible Brands, was recently named to the list of 100 most influential women in franchising by Business Woman magazine.

Robert Ryan ’14

is currently living in downtown Boston, working as an account manager for RxSense, a pharmacy technology company specializing in pharmacy benefit management technology. He leads a BikeMS team, Team Zrike, that fundraises and rides in honor of his uncle. This year will be the team’s second year. Last year, Team Zrike raised over $20,000 and rode 200 miles in two days for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Jon Bergamo ’13 is also a member of the team. Ryan is also training for the Boston Marathon, running for the MS Society team again this year. He is also a member of the ALA and is a class agent for the Class of 2014.

Gil Schpero ’07,

senior director of sales at all-in-one gifting platform Snappy, is part of the team that helped the company be named the No. 1 fastest growing company in the New York Metro area in the annual Inc. 5000 Regional Series: New York Metro 2021 list.

Craig Bodden ’08

has been named a senior information technology consultant at Deloitte.

Michael Feinstein ’08

is the technical recruiter for Flex, based in

New York City.

Cara and Cal Smith ’09 have a new member of their family, Layla Cherrymae Smith, born on Oct. 6, 2020.

“Do Not Split,” a documentary mixed by Eric Stern ’09, has been nominated for Best Documentary Short Subject Academy Award.

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’14

’17

Stephanie Trusty ’14

writes, “I graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in piano performance and a Bachelor of Science in neuroscience and behavior. At UNH, I helped the advancement of research in drug addiction and its impact on the brain while maturing as a pianist. After graduating summa cum laude, I became a first responder and obtained my advanced EMT license in 2019. I now work at Concord Hospital in the ER, preparing for my future as a physician assistant in critical care. I will be starting a master of physician assistant studies at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in 2022. Thank you Cheshire Academy for your role in preparing me for this journey.”

Elijah Pemberton ’16

has started his professional career in basketball with the development team for the Golden State Warriors.

Jeremy Imperati ’17

graduated from Fordham University in May with a double major in psychology and sociology. He will be attending the University of Connecticut in the fall to begin on the school counseling master’s program.

Joshua Jobe ’18,

defensive back for the University of Alabama’s football team, played a critical role in securing the Crimson Tide’s win against the University of Florida in the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game on Dec. 19.

Coby Tippett ’17

is currently a senior transfer football player and communications major at the University of Rhode Island. He enjoyed his spring football season with his new teammates and is looking forward to playing a full season this coming fall. His family is forever grateful to David Dykeman and the entire CA community, as the school will always hold a special place in their hearts. Tippett completed a postgraduate year at CA, which his parents say was “a wonderful opportunity to mature, and give him one more year ‘under his belt.’ Cheshire Academy is a warm and nurturing environment where Coby made lifelong friends and connections in the short time he was there.”

2020s

Dante Strollo ’20 moved to Hyde Park in Chicago,

’18

Tara Lynch ’18

is a full time multimedia journalist with WETM 18 News in Elmira, New York. She is finishing her journalism degree at Ithaca College in the Roy H. Park School of Communications while working and graduating with the Class of 2021 in May. She is excited to share the stories of the Twin Tiers and represent Cheshire Academy on her journey.

Illinois. He is currently studying at the University of Chicago with an interest in analytic philosophy.

Faculty

Congratulations to faculty member Lauren Kelly and her husband Ryan on the birth of their son, Orson Tuttle Kelly, on Oct. 31, 2020. He joins brothers Everett and Theodore.

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IN MEMORIAM

Patricia Monahan 1932-2020

When our mother joined the English Department at Cheshire Academy in 1973, in many ways the rest of the family joined as well. One "perk" was that we children enjoyed quite a few dinners with our parents in the Academy dining hall, where we saw firsthand the camaraderie between students, students and faculty, and faculty and faculty. During those dinners and in after-dinner conversations, we benefited from different perspectives on the world, from everyday topics to sports to politics; for example, what it was like to have to leave Cuba in the early years of Castro's takeover. Our mother's tenure at the Academy lasted more than two decades, and she and our father developed close friendships with many of her colleagues.

Patricia Monahan

“My favorite teacher at Cheshire! She took Chauncey and I home for Thanksgiving—two young African children—and made sure we weren’t homesick. Rest in peace, Mrs. Monahan.”

Andrea Morris ’83

“Such sad news. My very favorite. She and I would devour books so we could discuss our views on them! And she had the skinniest little chicken legs and would laugh and joke about them right along with you. Such a fantastic lady, may she rest in peace.”

Regina LeFrancois Ali ’86

“She taught me to read Shakespeare.”

Bill Moriarty ’82

“She was a passionate teacher.

I still remember her awesome public speaking class!”

Susan English Gowing ’77

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My mother realized early on that each holiday there would be Academy students who would not have a place to go since their homes were far away, so she started a tradition of inviting students to join our Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. We welcomed students from Mexico, Thailand, Iran, and other countries over the years, and our holidays were more lively and interesting because of them.

When she shifted from teaching English to working in the Admission Office, she enjoyed her travels as a representative of the school, meeting new people and extolling the benefits of the education and experience.

At some point in her career, she was delighted to put her passion for literature and theater to use directing plays for the Academy. She had excelled at theater in college, and it was a joy for her to share her love of language and drama with the Academy students, instilling them with confidence and humor. Some of us had the pleasure of watching these productions and we especially recall one of the last ones, Oliver Twist, where she permitted herself a small cameo.

Submitted by Jean Monahan

IN MEMORIAM

Alumni

1960s

Yuri Thomas Hanja ’60

1940s

David Croop ’62

William Klingbeil ’40 passed away in Mount Dora on

March 31, 2021. Bill graduated from the University of Michigan, was a World War II U.S. Army officer, and worked for Prudential. With his wife Susan, they raised their four children in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. He will be remembered for his constant smile and positive attitude.

We are saddened to learn that both Paul Freedman ’49 and his wife, Carol, succumbed to COVID-19 in April 2020.

1950s

Vincent Moreno ’51

passed away on December 25, 2020.

He was the proprietor of Tom's Cafe, a Plainville community restaurant that was the backdrop of decades of stories to be told. In later years, Vincent worked for the State of Connecticut's Department of Children and Family Services.

Louis Ricciuti ’52

passed in his Cheshire home on December 10, 2020. Lou owned and operated English Furniture of Hamden for over 30 years with his wife, Mary Ann. Lou also served faithfully as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Bridget Church. Lou was on the Board of Trustees for Cheshire Academy as well as a loyal member of the Alumni Association. He is survived by three of his children who are all alumni, Louis Ricciuti Jr. ’85, Phillip Ricciuti ’87, and Lauren (Ricciuti) Wegerbauer ’88.

Jeremy Dodd ’57

died on December 6, 2020 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. His greatest passion in life was photography. After studying in Vermont under famed photographer John W. Doscher, he later took portraits of renowned painter and bird expert Roger Tory Peterson. "Jerry's innate photographic talent focused on families, portraiture, and legal photography, where he excelled and was in high demand across the state,'' his family said.

David R. Young ’57 February 17, 2021.

died on January 27, 2021.

of Prospect, Connecticut, died on

passed away on April 6, 2020. David retired from Blue Cross and Blue Shield after 27 years. He then started his own consulting company, Croop-LaFrance, and retired again four years ago. David was a true gentleman with a generous, kind heart, and a love of animals. Most days you could find him outside on his Kubota. Above all else, he cherished his family and many friends.

To know David was to love him. His legacy will live on in all of us. He died from COVID-19 and pneumonia.

Ron Gurtler ’64

passed away December 26, 2020 in Asheville, North Carolina. He was born in Goose Creek, Texas, in 1946, and went on to live in seven states and two foreign countries.

Fresh out of law school, where he was a member of ROTC, he served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force. Once back in civilian life, he practiced real estate law for a brief period then went into business primarily in the oil service industry, where he had the opportunity to travel to and live in places such as Norway, Indonesia, Morocco, Singapore, and Australia. His seven years living in England and many travels throughout Europe introduced him to the culture of the local pub, a place where he was able to indulge his love for both storytelling and hearing the stories of others. In 2011, he purchased Dugan's Pub in Brevard, Florida, where he spent most of his time in the pub, chatting with customers and friends, and could easily be spotted as the guy who always wore a sport coat. He was a staunch supporter of many nonprofits in his community as well as Cheshire Academy.

Thomas Ritter ’64

passed away December 25, 2020.

Tom was a longtime member and supporter of the Reading, Pennsylvania area community and was active in community theater.

He was proud to be a part of the family business, Sellers & Co., the men's custom clothing store that his father Jack owned on N. 5th Street. Over his life, Tom embraced a diversified career that included his roles as an amateur actor, investment broker at Dean Witter Reynolds, and entrepreneur as founder of the Outback Juice Factory in Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania. He served in the United States Army Reserve, stationed in Carmel, California. Tom embraced life and encouraged others to do so, whether traveling abroad, reuniting with old friends, or sampling an exotic dish. A passionate traveler, Tom loved hunting, fishing, and a really good steak or lobster. His favorite place to visit was Majorca, Spain, and his sense of humor will be missed.

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ALUMNI

The Cheshire Academy mascot, the Cat, Anthony "Skippy" Dmuchowski ’65

passed away on December 7, 2020. He was a longtime resident of Naugatuck, and retired from the Naugatuck Police Department after serving as patrolman for many years.

Brien McMurray ’69

died peacefully on October 31, 2020 at Hospice of the Chesapeake in Maryland. Brien worked for 31 years with Anne Arundel County Public Schools as a physical education teacher, lacrosse coach, and football coach. He later went on to become a trainer at Park Fitness in Severna Park. Brien taught Rock Steady Boxing to clients with Parkinson's disease. Brien was known for his passion, loyalty, friendship, and his love of Maryland lacrosse and football.

1980s

Elizabeth “Beth” Benham ’81

passed away on February 3, 2021, at home with her family by her side. Beth graduated from Boston College and she went on to earn her master's degree from Bentley College and furthered her education in financial planning.

She loved music, art, travelling, and the shore.

2000s

John Melius ’07

passed away at his home in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on January 16, 2021. John became an avid sports fan at a young age with a lifelong allegiance to New England teams.

Friends and family knew him for his easy smile, gentle soul, and pure generosity. He was a good listener who was equally ready to share in others’ joy and lend a helping hand.

Former Faculty

Dolores (Dee) Davidsson,

wife of longtime faculty member Jeff Davidsson, died on December 31, 2020 after complications from COVID-19. Dee was known for her considerable cooking skills and will always be remembered for the fantastic desserts she made for the football dinners.

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has had many iterations over the past 100 years.

Below are just a few of them, which included informal drawings (some in black and white and others colorized), cartoonish characters and, most recent, a feline paw print. Take a look and see which ones you remember from your time at CA, and share your photos and recollections of "the old cats" of CA in an email to communications@cheshireacademy.org.

Always looking forward.

Introducing a whole new look and attitude for Cheshire Academy athletics and activities!

For decades, Cheshire Academy has been known as the home of “the Cats.”

Over the years, informal, passive, and inconsistent cat images have come and gone. Most recent, an animal paw print has been used to make our mark, but the image was never indicative in any way of CA and its character.

Introducing the Cat’s Eye—the eye of a predator. Cats’ vertical pupils give them a competitive edge, being able to keenly approximate the distance to their prey, deftly honing their depth perception, and focusing on the target.

That same prowess is displayed in our Cats who seek and meet their goals in all their endeavors, whether on the court or playing field, on the stage, or in the studio or classroom. Our Cats face any and all challenges with a vengeance, prowess, and competitive edge unlike any other, and they always land on their feet.

Be on the lookout for the new logo, initials, and wordmark as they appear around campus, on signs, banners, merchandise, uniforms, gift items, apparel, and in print and online communications. We’re not moving away from our formal and traditional school logos, just adding an active visual sub-brand that coordinates well with our institutional brand and reputation.

Tech Tattoos just for you! Enjoy the enclosed sheet of complimentary

removable stickers to show your Cheshire Academy pride. They can adorn your laptop, phone, fridge, tablet, etc. There are even letters—C, A, and an “eye”/i— to go on your computer keyboard. Enjoy, and if you need more, let us know.

CATch the launch video at CheshireAcademy.org/Pounce Shop online at the new

CheshireAcademy.org/Store

10 MAIN STREET, CHESHIRE, CT 06410

NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID HARTFORD, CT PERMIT #1382

In Karleen Kubat’s Drawing and Painting class, students were asked to create a collage providing spectators a look into their lives.

Emma Dransfield ’22 received inspiration for her collage from the Seattle, Washington skyline, her years practicing ballet, enjoyment of Sudoku and numbers, and other areas of her life. The hand in the bottom left corner serves as a reminder that she is in control of her own life, and the butterflies remind her that she has the freedom to change it at any time.