Choate Rosemary Hall Bulletin | Spring '21 by Choate Rosemary Hall

Choate Remote

Creatively Adapting to COVID-19

COVER Melissa Koomson, Director of Community Service, shares a photo of a recent Community Service project – woven hats hand-made by students to be donated to those in need.

d e p a r t m e n t s

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Letters

Remarks from the Head of School

On Christian & Elm News about the School Alumni Association News

Classnotes Profiles of Daniel McCrimons ’71, Pediatrician and Author; Jennifer Perez ’96, Outreach Coordinator, USDA Farm Service Agency, Montana; Peter Clarke ’96, Lead Mechanical Designer and Puppeteer, Legacy Effects; Brian (Kyuhoon) No ’06, Head of Public Policy, Spin e-scooters

In Memoriam Remembering Those We Have Lost

Bookshelf Reviews of works by Alex Levitch ’62, Noel Hynd ’66, G. Jeffrey MacDonald ’87, Ian Lendler ’92 and Katie Yamasaki

End Note Mr. Ames and the Gift of Confinement by Chip Lamb ’75 f e a t u r e s

Choate Remote: Creatively Adapting to COVID-19 How Choate has used creativity and technology to unite the community during the pandemic Going Against the Grain: Class of ‘76 Brewers and Distillers Three alumni explore the industry of craft brewing and craft distilling

WINTER ’21

Choate Rosemary Hall Bulletin is published fall, winter, and spring for alumni, students and their parents, and friends of the School. Please send change of address to Alumni Records and all other correspondence to the Communications Office, 333 Christian Street, Wallingford, CT 06492-3800. Choate Rosemary Hall does not discriminate in the administration of its educational policies, athletics, other school-administered programs, or in the administration of its hiring and employment practices on the basis of age, gender, race, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, genetic predisposition, ancestry, or other categories protected by Connecticut and federal law. Printed in U.S.A. CRH201201/17.75M

Editorial Offices T: (203) 697-2252 F: (203) 697-2380 Email: alumline@choate.edu Website: www.choate.edu Director of Strategic Planning & Communications Alison J. Cady Design and Production David C. Nesdale Features Editor Brianna St. John Classnotes Editor Henry McNulty ’65 Contributors Cheryl Bardoe Jamie Bruce James P. Davidson Jackson Holahan ’05 Zachary Kafoglis Chip Lamb ‘75 James P. Lenfestey ‘62 Henry McNulty ‘65 Laura Scaviola Brianna St. John Jack Vaughan ‘10 Leslie Virostek Photography Lindsay Amenta Danielle Capri Julia Discenza Maddeleine Dubrinsky ’22 Al Ferreira Melissa Koomson Emily Osterhout Unsplash/Timothy Dykes Ashley Sinclair Nicole Thomas

Choate Rosemary Hall Board of Trustees 2020-2021 Alexandra B. Airth P ’18 Danya Alsaady P ’17, ’19, ’23 Kenneth G. Bartels ’69, P ’04 Caroline T. Brown ’86, P ’19 Marc E. Brown ’82 George F. Colony ’72 Alex D. Curtis P ’17, ’20 Katherine B. Forrest ’82 David A. Fraze ’84 Gunther S. Hamm ’98 David R. Hang ’94 Jungwook ”Ryan” Hong ’89, P ’19, ’22 Daniel G. Kelly, Jr. ’69, P ’03 Vanessa Kong Kerzner P ’16, ’19 Cecelia M. Kurzman ’87 James A. Lebovitz ’75, P ’06, ’10 Christian B. McGrath ’84, P ’18, P ’21 Takashi Murata ’93 M. Anne Sa’adah Life Trustees Bruce S. Gelb ’45, P ’72, ’74, ’76, ’78 Edwin A. Goodman ’58 Herbert V. Kohler, Jr. ’57, P ’84 Cary L. Neiman ’64 Stephen J. Schulte ’56, P ’86 William G. Spears ’56, P ’81, ’90 Editorial Advisory Board Judy Donald ’66 Dorothy Heyl ’71, P ’08 Seth Hoyt ’61 Henry McNulty ’65 Michelle Judd Rittler ’98 John Steinbreder ’74 Francesca Vietor ’82 Heather Zavod P ’88, ’90

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Letter

BRAVO! My copy of the Fall issue of the Choate Rosemary Hall Bulletin just arrived and I am over the moon with the presentation of “Portraits of the Good and the Great.” My wife, who is an editor and former editor-in-chief of a handful of monthly magazines, was likewise deeply impressed with your masterful design and layout. Warm best wishes, D. Dodge Thompson ’66

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Remarks from the Head of School

Dear Alumni and Friends of Choate Rosemary Hall, Though we are still in the colder days of March, there is a decidedly springlike atmosphere around campus. On February 8, students resumed in-person learning after beginning the term remotely, bringing with them a new wave of energy and enthusiasm. Building upon the success of last term, we have ensured that students are able to work and learn together, maintaining the spirit of Choate while still prioritizing the health and safety of our community. As a school, we have adjusted well to the new normal of the pandemic. COVID-19 infection rates continue to fall in Connecticut as more individuals are immunized. Our employees began immunizations in March, bringing us one step closer to reuniting fully. I am grateful for the continued diligence and dedication of our students, parents, faculty, and staff, and for the incredible work of those in our Health Center – your efforts have helped keep the campus safe. As the true onset of spring draws closer, we eagerly anticipate bringing the rest of our community together as COVID restrictions allow. This will include a five-week interscholastic sports season after spring break, and hopefully the return of our remote students and employees in the nottoo-distant future. In this issue, we also look back at how Choate has maintained its spirit – woven by the principles of cohesion, togetherness, and support – through both the use of technology and a celebration of creativity. During times of distancing, it has been particularly meaningful to see creativity used as a bridge helping to keep our community together. That so many students, faculty, and staff are able to express themselves through art, and can communicate those expressions with technology, is a perfect example of how academics and imagination intertwine. Creative expression is a common thread with our alumni in this issue, as well. We meet, among others, one of the lead designers of The Mandalorian’s Baby Yoda; discover the minds, voices, and music behind a new audiobook reimagining classic fairytales; learn of creative solutions for more sustainable farming practices from a USDA farm representative; and catch up with brewers and distillers who have impacted the landscape of the brewery business. We have seen time and again that there is no singular path through Choate, and our alumni in this issue are a celebration of that fact. I remain grateful to our entire community, including our parents and alumni, for your continued support as we navigate the changes brought about by the pandemic. I look forward to the day, hopefully soon, when we will be together once more. With all best wishes from campus,

Alex D. Curtis Head of School

ON CHRISTIAN & ELM | NEWSWORTHY

Tara Westover greets students at a book signing after her talk.

Photo credit: Madeleine Dubrinsky ’22 / The Choate News.

Community Conversations Work to Unite Campus This year, Choate Rosemary Hall implemented Community Conversations, informal discussions intended to provide an open space for members of Choate to get to know one another and discuss perspectives, especially those of personal purpose or issues of concern. Dr. Rachel Myers, Director of Equity & Inclusion, and Filipe Camarotti, Associate Director of Equity & Inclusion, introduced the programming this fall term and opened the discussion series to all members of the community in November. The Community Conversation series has so far explored Black voices, LGBTQ+ perspectives, Pan-Asian identity, and political identity. The goal of this initiative is to create an intentional space for members of the community to listen, learn, and educate about a different social identity topic, each meeting in a space grounded in mutual respect.

All members of the school community are given the opportunity to send questions in advance of a discussion on the designated topic. Questions are shared at random during the program before students, faculty, and staff participate in meaningful conversation. The synchronous virtual format allows participants to share a space where all voices can be heard in real time. Further, a moderated chat promises anonymous contributions allowing for various perspectives to be shared in a space of respect, curiosity, and acceptance. More programming in this series will continue throughout the school year, instilling trust and courage of expression within the community.

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Diversity Day: A Place of Many Voices

On January 18, Choate students and adults participated virtually in the annual school-wide Diversity Day. The program theme, Choate Rosemary Hall: A Place of Many Voices, explored and amplified identities, perspectives, and experiences as the community attended group workshops designed to examine and advance equity and inclusion across campus. This year’s Diversity Day Program welcomed Dr. Kyle Mays as keynote speaker, presenting his lecture titled “The King We Love to Hate: Reflections on Martin Luther King Jr.’s Radical Dreams.” Mays is Assistant Professor of African American Studies, American Indian Studies, and History at UCLA and the author of Hip Hop Beats, Indigenous Rhymes: Modernity and Hip Hop in Indigenous North America, and is currently finishing two manuscripts.

Mays spoke to participants about Dr. King’s legacy, detailing King’s quest for justice focusing on supporting the most vulnerable in society; the realities of his work in dismantling racism, militarism, and materialism; and investigating ways to enact King’s legacy today. Participants had the opportunity to discuss these topics and ask questions, addressing the need for respectful listening, the use and effectiveness of social media as a platform for change, and the importance of the process of unlearning. The topics explored on Diversity Day continued throughout the week, with workshops, film viewings, and recommended readings shared by the Andrew Mellon Library. These spaces encouraged the sharing and understanding of various stories, inviting the campus community to come together and embrace individual identities.

A selection of readings shared by the Andrew Mellon Library.

CHOATE WINS GOLD AND BRONZE Congratulations to Choate Rosemary Hall’s Communications and Development teams for taking home two top InspirEd design awards – a gold for the 2019 Annual Fund appeal and a bronze for the Signature Program Spotlight social media campaign. Judges commented, “I think year after year it is hard to come up with new annual fund appeals. This was super creative, I love the alliterations used in the piece and even the recipe from one of their own. Great job, Choate!” Judges also praised the Signature Programs Spotlight social media campaign, which introduces Choate students from all eight Signature Programs, highlighting their current projects and successes while offering a sneak peek at what each program has to offer. InspirEd is an online professional development resource and community for PK–12 private school marketing and communications administrators in the U.S. and abroad.

SAMSUNG HUMANTECH COMPETITION PRIZE On February 9, Ryan Kim ’23 was awarded a Samsung HumanTech Competition prize. Ryan’s paper, titled “Development of Autonomous Driving Robot Capable of Scanning Body Temperature for COVID-19,” won a Silver Prize in the competition. His work included research, design, and construction of a contactless robot that takes a human temperature reading to assist with virus screening. After seeing many distressing videos of the pandemic’s effects on our world, Ryan was inspired to take action. “I wanted to help and do something that could alleviate some of the stress and pain,”

he shares. The year-long project commanded significant effort and determination. Ryan notes, “throughout development, I often encountered challenges but each time, through perseverance and a bit of luck, I was able to overcome them.” “I want to thank my dean, Dr. Jewett, and my advisor, Mr. Di Tieri, for all the help they provided me throughout the process and my parents for believing in me and always being so supportive.”

ON CHRISTIAN & ELM | The Arts

STUDENT CHORE OGRAPHERS SHOWCASE ON JANUARY 15, the Choate community

had the opportunity to watch this winter’s Student Choreographers Showcase (SCS). The SCS is an opportunity for students to initiate a dance creation process and pursue their choreographic interests where experimentation and risk-taking are encouraged. This year, viewers experienced a mixed program of works by students in the Dance Composition class as well as dances by students who worked independently throughout the fall term.

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View the full Showcase at: vimeo.com/choaterosemaryhall/videos

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A colorful close-up of a quilt made by Nicole Thomas from the Print and Document Service Center.

“Serving as a bridge to the world, the arts offer a way to make sense of what is going on, a way to peek back in time, and a way to anticipate what is yet to come.”

Cover Story

–Kalya Yannatos, Director of the Arts

Choate Remote Creatively Adapting to COVID-19 B y b r i a n n a S t. J o h n

The past year has truly been an exercise in creativity for Choate Rosemary Hall, both on and off campus. Faced with the physical limitations of COVID-19, faculty, staff, and students had to rethink every element of their daily experiences: how to learn and work, how to navigate physical spaces, and how to share and express joy when daily routines changed so significantly. Though the pivot to online learning in March 2020 was unexpected, it became the foundation through which the Choate community would continue to unite. By integrating technology and creativity, the community has continued to come together to make sense of this new normal, celebrating endeavors while we are not yet completely reunited.

Noah Baerman stays connected with his students, teaching jazz piano lessons virtually.

Leaning Into Remote Creativity Dominic Thomas ’21, Wylie Doak ’22, Skye Figueroa ’22, Gregory Stone ’23, and Ryan Kim ’23 (above) star in the student production Take-Away, streamed to the Choate community this winter.

There is both a solitary and social quality in creativity. While artistic expression can be a deeply personal and therapeutic one, coming together to share in the creative process allows us to communicate beyond borders and screens: it reminds us that we are a community. The act of sharing creative endeavors allows us to craft a common language around our joys and sorrows, our successes and setbacks – something crucial through a pandemic that has isolated so many. It is through this communal creativity that Choate has allowed the spirit of the campus to thrive beyond the borders of Wallingford, allowing students, faculty, and staff alike to reunite around a culture of cohesion and shared experiences. This connection wouldn’t be possible without a robust array of technological offerings. Choate’s pivot to online learning in March 2020 saw students and adults alike embracing iPads, Zoom rooms, and Virtual Student devices while swapping desktops for laptops to make way for remote and synchronous access to classes and office responsibilities. This integration of technological and creative resources is perhaps best seen in the programming offered by the Arts Department, particularly during the winter months.

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Take, for example, the most recent student production, Take-Away. The play (written collaboratively by English teacher Kate Doak, Ethan Bardoe ’21, Maxwell Brown ’21, Audrey Lim ’23, Eliza Marovitz ’21, Sabrina Carlier ’21, and Yasemin Cobanoglu ’21) centers on high school senior Charlie, who disappears the night before graduation. The culprits? None other than fast-food-loving aliens. Beyond a fun story, students leaned into the limitations set by COVID restrictions and physical distancing, building the use of Zoom into the fabric of the play itself, even telling the story through recorded Zoom calls. Students made clever use of custom backgrounds, video edits, and the now well-known phenomena of Zoom-bombs and call-drops to reflect the New Normal of 2020 in the performance. They took the technology of their academics and applied it to their creative endeavor, bringing the play to life in a way that respects COVID limitations without losing the communal sense of creativity. LEFT Ashley Sinclair from

ABOVE Lindsay Amenta

Global Programs just finished this vibrant blanket in February 2021. “When we went into lockdown, I decided to learn stranded knitting so I could make a blanket I’d admired for years. The pattern is called Persian Dreams and consists of 24 unique hexagons.”

from Human Resources shares her painting with choate_arts Instagram.

But the desire to reunite through creativity extends beyond the scope of extracurricular activities. Once more, the Arts Department utilized the merger of technology and artistic expression to allow this reunion to take place. When Choate first moved to remote learning, Arts Department staff put out a call for members of the community to share their artistic creations on the choate_arts Instagram, a virtual gallery of projects from staff, faculty, and students. Crafters, singers, painters; poets and sculptors; beginners and seasoned creators alike submitted their songs, stories, paintings, quilts, sculptures, and other crafts. The gallery became a celebration of the creativity found by those still at home, taking the solitary act of creating and allowing it to become a shared experience bringing friends together. The result was an influx of color, texture, song, and rhythm, all of which invited students and adults to engage outside of a strictly academic or workplace setting. In moments where there were no walks between classes or quick catch-ups while getting coffee, the community could still find joy in creating, and could share that joy together in a new way.

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Creatively Adapting

Tenzin Bista ’23 sews masks as part of a Community Service project. Along with fabric masks, woven hats and gloves were hand-made by students and donated to Loaves and Fishes, a nonprofit in New Haven.

While the Arts Department provided ample space for artistic expression and sharing, the spirit of creativity didn’t end with art alone. Other departments embraced this opportunity for change, adapting to the realities of COVID restrictions in engaging new ways. Community service is a perfect example. Giving back and connecting to the community is a large part of a Choate experience, one that was limited by physical distancing requirements and the potential for contamination in off-campus spaces. It was through the continued integration of technology and creativity that students were able to continue their community service endeavors. Melissa Koomson, Director of Community Service, worked with students to sew masks and donate knit hats and gloves to Loaves and Fishes, a New Haven–based nonprofit that provides food and clothing to those in need. Students made use of reconfigured spaces to allow for physical distancing while they worked to cut fabric, sew masks, and knit and weave products for donation. Student volunteers from Choate’s Interact Club also hosted storytime on Zoom for youth in grades K–12 as part of Reading Buddies, a virtual program sponsored by the Wallingford Public Library. These activities allowed students to still give back while utilizing technology in a way that fostered connection beyond campus. In the Admission Department, creativity came in the form of new methods of communication. In having to rethink Spring Visits, where prospective students traditionally come to explore the campus as part of their application process, the Admission team turned to creative uses of technology. With the help of the Communications Department, visits to campus went digital: videos giving detailed walk-through tours of buildings and favorite outdoor spaces were paired with behind-the-scenes photos to give new students an insider’s view at what life at Choate would look like. The Admission team also recorded exclusive Choate Chat videos, giving students in-depth information about topics ranging from what the typical day student experience is like, to interviews with upperclassmen, to talks with international students. This year will also find faculty and staff members participating in panels discussing their areas of expertise, once again giving incoming students a unique connection to campus while they are still remote.

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Choate awaits! Destination Choate was the unifying theme of this year’s Spring Visits programming with the Admission team.

In using videos and digital applications this way, the Admission team was able to take the heart of the Choate experience – the idea of community and cohesion – and share it with all prospective students, introducing them to the most Choate-like experience possible while still prioritizing the safety of the campus community. This approach also had the unanticipated benefit of granting all applicants equitable access to Admission programming, regardless of their ability to get to campus.

Keeping Choate Whole In a year when so much emphasis has been placed on limitations – physical distancing, increased caution, the need to stay apart – Choate focused on togetherness. The move to remote learning necessitated the need for huge technological advances in a short amount of time, but it’s what the community did with those tools that remains the most impressive. It was the creativity of the campus that has truly kept the community together. The Choate experience is not limited to academic success, and this year has shown that technology is but one avenue for connectivity through the pandemic. It is through shared experiences, a supportive and collaborative culture, and a willingness to learn that the true heart of Choate reveals itself. It is seen in the School’s ability to adapt to change; in students who embrace a new academic landscape; in faculty who learn and try new methods of teaching; in staff and facilities crews who ensure that the campus has the resources and information it needs to thrive. And most important, it is seen in the desire to share ideas. Through art and technology alike, the School embraces the notion of communal creativity, allowing Choate to grow beyond the borders of campus and Wallingford. In looking at how the community adapted, one can’t help but ask: what exciting changes will Choate make next?

Feature

CLASS OF ’76 BREWERS & DISTILLERS Three members of the Class of 1976 are pathfinders in the trendy field of craft brewing and craft distilling. Their journeys have been different – but each involves risk-taking and trend-spotting. B Y H E N R Y M c N U LT Y ’ 6 5

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Erica Disch ’76, co-founder of New Jersey’s Sourland Mountain Spirits.

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“THE SOURLAND MOUNTAINS HAVE A RICH HISTORY OF FARMERS, BOOTLEGGERS, REBELS AND PATRIOTS, FINE CRAFTSMEN AND ARTISANS. IT WAS THE PERFECT SETTING FOR OUR DISTILLERY. THIS, COMBINED WITH FINDING A LOCATION ON A FARM DOWN THE ROAD THAT HAD A FARM-TO-FORK RESTAURANT ALONG WITH A MICROBREWERY, PROVIDED THE INCENTIVE TO MOVE FORWARD.”– E RI CA DI S CH ’76

rewery to Distillery Erica Disch ’76, co-founder of New Jersey’s Sourland Mountain Spirits, says her time in Wallingford “provided me with lifelong friends and a love for the pursuit of learning, instilled by memorable teachers.” After Choate Rosemary Hall, Erica graduated from Georgetown with a degree in Spanish, her love of language ignited by her classes with Mr. Lopez. She taught Spanish for 15 years, then went into product marketing and advertising in New York City before moving to New Jersey. She and her husband, Ray, were co-founders and ground-floor investors in Triumph Brewing Company, a brewpub in Princeton, with a few hurdles to overcome: “We had no money, no restaurant experience, and brewpubs were illegal,” she says. “Ray came home one day and said he was listening to a story from NPR on his drive to work,” Erica remembers. “It was about a husband and wife who opened a successful microbrewery in Chicago; he said, ‘E, we can do this.’ But first, the law had to be changed in New Jersey to legalize craft brewing, which had been illegal since Prohibition.” After that, the couple soon turned Triumph into a local institution. But it wasn’t enough. “After Triumph, and the founding of numerous other businesses, Ray was always looking to get back to making something,” she says. “In 2013, when craft distilleries were first legalized in the state, Ray felt that the craft distilling market was in a similar place as craft brewing had been when we started Triumph, and that it was the right time to get into the booze business again.” Sourland Mountain Spirits was born. New Jersey’s Sourland Mountains “have a rich history of farmers, bootleggers, rebels and patriots, fine craftsmen and artisans,” Erica says. “It was the perfect setting for our distillery. This, combined with finding a location on a farm down the road that had a farm-to-fork restaurant along with a microbrewery, provided the incentive to move forward.”

Sourland Mountain Spirits tucked away in the Sourland hills of Hopewell, New Jersey.

Since then, the awards have, so to speak, flowed in. “We were able to sell our first bottle of gin in 2017,” she says. “In 2018, we were selected as the farm distillery of the year by the America Distilling Institute. Our proudest moment came in 2020, when our gin received a double Gold Medal from the American Distilling Institute.” Sourland’s Vodka, a silver medal winner, is another popular seller. Their Pride Vodka, sold in a rainbow-decorated bottle, celebrates the accomplishments of the LGBTQ+ community, with portions of the proceeds going to a local LGBTQ+ support center. They also distill a two-year straight bourbon whiskey, spiced rum, coffee liqueur, and a “reserve gin,” aged for nine months in white oak new American barrels, lightly charred. “Customers describe it as if whiskey and gin had a baby,” Erica says. Never ones to miss a trend, Erica and Ray, who live and work in Hopewell, N.J., were able to pivot last year with the arrival of the coronavirus. “With the advent of COVID-19 our son, Sage, joined the team,” she says, “and we changed to producing hand sanitizer, which we provided to essential workers and consumers.”

Steins to Stout Mention the name Tod Mott ’76 to beer enthusiasts, and one brew is likely to be mentioned first: Russian Imperial Stout. It’s the ale Tod is probably known best for, but his decades-long brewing career doesn’t involve just one brew; it has taken many twists and turns. At Choate, he says, “what I learned helped me integrate into college-level life: being able to interact with women and have spontaneous discourse with my teachers.” After earning degrees in ceramics from Denison, the Kansas City Art Institute, and Boston University, Tod looked for a college-level job teaching ceramics, only to find that such opportunities were rare. There was, however, beer. “I started making beer in graduate school in order to help while firing kilns,” he explains. “It takes a long time to fire off a kiln in very warm temperatures, hydration is key, and beer goes well with the rhythm of firing a kiln!” Using a homebrew kit his wife gave him, Tod brewed on the weekends while working in a ceramics studio. “I joined a homebrew club called the Boston Wort Processors,” he says, “wort being the extract of water and malted barley that starts the brewing process. I found many similarities between making pots or clay vessels and beer: recipe formulation, time and temperature, chemistry, microbiology, patience, and a certain amount of magic.” He had found his calling. “While winning most of the local homebrew competitions, I thought I should try more regionals,” he says. “I was up against some very talented brewers, including Phil Markowski at Two Roads Brewing Co.,” who later partnered with Whitney George, Tod’s Choate ’76 classmate. Tod’s journey for the past 30 years reads like a who’s who of New England craft brewing: Catamount in White Junction, Vt.; Harpoon Brewery in Windsor, Vt., where he formulated Harpoon’s India Pale Ale; Commonwealth Brewing in Boston and New York; Back Bay Brewing in Boston; Quincy Ships Brewing; Portsmouth Brewery; and, in 2014, his own business, Tributary Brewing Co. in Kittery, Maine.

LEFT Tributary’s products

are made in small batches, conserving water and demonstrating the company’s commitment to sustainability.

RIGHT Tod Mott, co-founder,

and brewmaster of Tributary Brewing Company, Kittery, Maine.

“The name Tributary came to my wife of 37 years, Galen, when we ran the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon after leaving Portsmouth Brewery in October 2012,” Tod explains. “We were working on our business plan to open a small brewery utilizing the knowledge I’d accrued over the past 24 years working in other breweries. As we were flying into Flagstaff to run the Colorado, Galen nudged me and said she had the perfect name: Tributary. Southern Maine has many rivers and their tributaries, so it fit.” Then came the hard part: “finding a space, negotiating the lease, finding funding, hiring a good general contractor, buying brewery equipment, setting up brewing operations, along with all aspects of retail in a tasting room from furniture, bathroom fittings, color schemes, billing and invoicing – and worrying about if we made the right decision about opening a brewery!” About the famous Russian Imperial Stout: When he was at the Portsmouth Brewery, Tod named his creation “Kate the Great” – a reference to the empress Catherine the Great. On leaving the company, he was allowed to take his formula, but not the name, so these days it’s called “Mott the Lesser.” The Motts’ son, Woody, is now head brewer. “No nepotism here!” Tod laughs. “He proved his prowess working in two other breweries for about four years before joining Tributary as the assistant. He graduated from the American Brewers Guild program while working full time at Tributary. He is a very competent brewer with a great work ethic, an amazing sense of smell and taste, and just the right amount of knowledge.”

”I FOUND MANY SIMILARITIES BETWEEN MAKING POTS OR CLAY VESSELS AND BEER: RECIPE FORMULATION, TIME AND TEMPERATURE, CHEMISTRY, MICROBIOLOGY, PATIENCE, AND A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MAGIC.” – TO D MOTT ’ 76

Two Roads is named for the Robert Frost poem “The Road Not Taken” – lines from which are stenciled on a wall in the brewery’s large tap room, as inspiration for creating different brews.

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Whitney George, center, poses at a charity bicycle event at Two Roads Brewery in 2015. Photo credit: Jup Brown.

”A LOT OF MY SUCCESS COMES FROM INDEPENDENT THINKING, WHICH GOES BACK TO CHOATE: BEING A CONTRARIAN, GOING AGAINST THE GRAIN, LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES WHEN OTHER PEOPLE WERE RUNNING AWAY FROM THEM.”–WHI T NE Y GEORGE ’76

The Business of Beer Whitney George ’76 is chairman of Two Roads Brewing Co. in Stratford, Conn. – but it was the business of beer, not necessarily its sudsy, hoppy qualities,that led him to take the job. After graduating from Trinity College, Whitney headed for Wall Street. “My father was an institutional stock salesman,” he says, “and there was kind of a family history. I thought I could sell things, and stocks would be interesting things to sell. So I became a retail stock broker at Oppenheimer in the fall of 1980. I wasn’t good at it for a while, but managed to survive it. I left Oppenheimer in ’87, landed with my best client in 1991 to become a portfolio manager, and eventually became the co-chief investment officer of Royce & Associates and spent 23 years there.” Then, in 2011, “a friend of mine, Brad Hittle, came to me with this idea of buying an old factory in Stratford that had made battery casings and was shutting down – and turning it into a brewery. Brad had been in the beer industry his whole life, and was then the chief marketing officer of the Pabst Trust and had brought back Pabst Blue Ribbon, but it was time for him to move on, and he thought the 100,000-square-foot factory would be a perfect place to build a modern brewery.”

Whitney admits that especially after being a member of a fraternity at Trinity in the late 1970s, he had developed an appreciation for beer. But it was the investment opportunity that really attracted him. “Brad came to me with this business plan,” says Whitney, “and he had investors ready and had banks lined up, and I thought it was an interesting plan – I’m very interested in business; it’s what I do. I’ve been a portfolio manager for many years and I thought it was a way to diversify my own investments. When I said yes, I’d invest money to kind of get them up and going, the other investors started to get cold feet and demand more, so I said I’ll do all the equity. I’ll make it happen, I’ll backstop the deal, let’s go find a whole bunch of family and friends that might want to invest in this. That was my most important role – getting it off the ground on the financing, because I have no history or background in beer.” Two Roads, honored as one of the 10 best breweries in America by Paste Magazine, is named for the Robert Frost poem “The Road Not Taken” – lines from which are stenciled on a wall in the brewery’s large tap room, and which serves as an inspiration for creating different brews. The brewmaster is Phil Markowski, one of the people Tod Mott ’76 had competed against in regional competitions. “Phil is a rock star,” Whitney says. The 1910-era factory had lots of environmental issues, Whitney notes, but by the summer of 2012 new German brewing equipment was brought in and the beermaking began. “At first, he explains, 90 percent of the business was brewing for other people, such as Sean Lawson, whose Sip Of Sunshine IPA is the flagship brew of Lawson’s Vermont company. (Sean’s website tips its hat to Two Roads, citing “the soft, low-mineral profile of the water in Stratford, Connecticut.”) These days, making beer for others is about half of Two Roads’ business. Although he wears the chairman’s hat at Two Roads, “my main job is being a senior executive at a publicly traded asset manager, Sprott Inc.,” Whitney says. “I’ve been doing that since 2015, and I’m its president and chief investment officer. A lot of my success comes from independent thinking, which goes back to Choate: being a contrarian, going against the grain, looking for opportunities when other people were running away from them.” Henry McNulty ’65 is a frequent contributor to the Bulletin.

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION |

A New Spin on Classic Stories

The Choate Rosemary Hall Alumni Association’s mission is to create, perpetuate, and enhance relationships among Choate Rosemary Hall alumni, current and prospective students, faculty, staff, and friends in order to foster loyalty, interest,

Class of ’85 Audiobook Collaboration

and support for the School and for one another,

Vice Presidents Elizabeth Alford Hogan ’82 John Smyth ’83, P ’20

Los Angeles Wesley Hansen ’98 Alexa Platt ’95

Executive Director of Development and Alumni Relations Dan Courcey ’86

New York Sheila Adams James ’01 Julie Kang ’12

Washington, D.C. Olivia Bee ’10 Dan Carucci ’76 Tillie Fowler ’92 Beijing Matthew Cheng ’10 Gunther Hamm ’98

London Ed Harney ’82, P ’15, ’17 Elitsa Nacheva ’08 Seoul Ryan Hong ’89, P ’19, ’22

REGIONAL CLUB LEADERSHIP

Shanghai T.C. Chau ’97 Michael ’88 and Peggy Moh P ’18, ’23

Boston Lovey Oliff ’97 Sarah Strang ’07 Kristine Yamartino ’10

Thailand Isa Chirathivat ’96 Pat Sethbhakdi ’85, P ’18, ’18, ’20

Chicago Samantha Carney ’00 Maria Del Favero ’83

Tokyo Robert Morimoto ’89 Miki Yoshida ’07

Hong Kong Lambert Lau ’97 Sandy Wan ’90 Jennifer Yu ’99 AE

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Susan St. John Amorello ’84, P ’15, ’15 Melissa Barrett ’88, P ’21, ’23 T.C. Chau ’97 Jaques Clariond ’01 John Glanville ’73 Dewey Kang ’03 Jack Kingsley ’87 Lambert Lau ’97 Shanti Mathew ’05 Alexandra G. Smith ’09 Jessy Trejo ’02

PA U

San Francisco Ian Chan ’10 Emma Cook ’14

’85

Past Presidents Susan Barclay ’85 Chris Hodgson ’78, P ’12, ’14, ’17 Parisa Jaffer ’89 Woody Laikind ’53 Patrick McCurdy ’98

’8 5

T TI MA

Director of Alumni Relations Andrea Solomon

LIN

Rosemary Hall Anne Marshall Henry ’62

M IC H

Director of Development and Alumni Relations Mari Jones

Connecticut David Aversa ’91 Katie Vitali Childs ’95, P ’24

M IC H A

OFFICERS President David Hang ’94

and to build pride, spirit, and community.

’85

One of the many things that has seen an uptick in our pandemic universe is the consumption of audiobooks and podcasts, as people look for entertainment, companionship, guidance, and even fresh voices outside their homes. A new audio collaboration by three Choate classmates will do just that – take the listener away from realities of the moment with a touch of laughter and a hearty dose of imagination. Paul Giamatti ’85, Michael Kotch ’85, and Michael Mullin ’85 joined forces over the past year to bring the audio world a listening experience that calls on the expertise of these three alumni – that of actor, musician, and author, respectively. In 2013, Mullin first published a trilogy of alternative fairytales and retellings, called TaleSpins. Imagine the 8th dwarf (by the name of Creepy) in the classic Snow White fairytale, or Princess Penny as a Goth teenager in an adaptation of the Frog Prince, or Jack’d, which presents a darker version of Jack from the beloved beanstalk. The stories seemed ripe for a passionate and energetic voice, and perhaps some accompanying music – quite fitting for the Giamatti and Kotch duo. The early days of house-bound pandemic living proved the moment for these three forces to coalesce. As Mullin commented, “The quarantine dynamic of voluminous free time undoubtedly factored into this thing coming together as quickly as it did. Paul recorded segments in New York and sent me the files. I then selected takes (which was easy, because they were all pretty awesome) and pieced the book’s three stories together.” The third piece to the puzzle was Kotch, who spruced up the audio and layered it all with original theme music. The project was a win for all parties, a way to bring audiences everywhere a bit of light and laughter in a hard year, and, an added perk: the opportunity for these artists to connect and create with their fellow Choate classmates. As Kotch recounted, “I always love new kinds of projects and this was a double bonus to be able to work with Michael and also to listen to Paul’s entertaining read of these great stories.” This sentiment was echoed by Giamatti: ”It was a beautiful thing reconnecting with Michael for this recording. His stuff is really funny and really fun to read aloud.”

TaleSpins is available on most audio streaming platforms. Listen in for Choate collaboration in full effect!

BULLETIN | WINTER 2021 23

NEWS

Alumni Association Executive Committee Forms Two Ad Hoc Committees

In an effort to expedite two critical initiatives of the Alumni Association, the Executive Committee is forming two ad hoc committees: Choate Nexus Career Networking and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. These committees, which will formally launch in July, reflect the Alumni Association’s mission to provide appropriate programs, platforms, and communication channels for alumni to feel connected and engaged, to perpetuate close relationships among alumni, and to enhance our alumni’s continuing relationship with the School today.

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee will be led by Justin Graham ’98. Based in Seattle, Justin has been highly involved in connecting alumni in the greater Seattle area and helping to build interest among prospective families. He now brings his leadership to this committee, whose mission is to foster focused discussion and action on issues important to our community and to help ensure that all alumni have a forum through which to share their experiences and help the School reflect and continually grow.

CHOATE REMOTE! 1 Kate Oliver Challenger ’94 had a brief run-in (literally)

3 The Class of ’87 has been Zooming throughout COVID

with classmate Celeste Peterson ’94 at the end of 2020 in Stowe, Vt. The two met up for a 3-mile socially distanced run and enjoyed catching up even though they couldn’t hang out or hug!

as a way to remain connected and also to support each other through these difficult times.

2 A reunion 39+ years in the making, Tim Davis ’82 and

Nigel Wrangham ’82 connected with Ed Maddox via Zoom. As Ed put it so eloquently, “This was one of those extraordinary moments for an ancient, retired teacher to reconnect with two former students and to recognize the role they played in your life and, possibly, you theirs.”

Dewey Kang ’03, who is an active member of the Volunteer Admission Network and the AAEC, will lead the Choate Nexus Career Networking Committee. A longtime goal of the Executive Committee has been to establish a sustainable and effective career networking program for alumni. This committee will help to strategize the best way to engage alumni – both job seekers and advisors and to create a framework for long-term success. Full committees will be formed by the end of this fiscal year, and updates from both of these committees will be available on the Alumni Association page of the Choate website.

CLASSNOTES | News from our Alumni

Send Us Your Notes! Do you have news to share with your classmates? We’d love to hear from you. Submit your news and photos online at www.choate.edu/classnotes. When submitting photos, please make sure the resolution is high enough for print publication – 300 dpi preferred. To update your alumni records contact Christine Bennett at alumnirelations@choate.edu or (203) 697-2228.

BULLETIN | WINTER 2021 25

1940s ’48 C

Eric Javits writes, “My wife and I got back from spending eight years in Europe, where I was an arms control ambassador from 2001 to 2009. We then settled in Palm Beach, where my family had a home for winter months to which we could retire from our place in Westport, Conn., when needed. I immediately started writing a memoir of selected episodes of interest that included some experiences at Choate just after WWII, at Columbia college and law school. My wife, Margaretha, is soon to release her historical novel The Folkungs on Amazon, about a royal family in Sweden in the 13th century. I’m still playing tennis, but with aches and errors aplenty.”

26 CLASSNOTES

1950s ’52 C

Miguel Suarez writes, “Yolanda, my wife, and I celebrated 63 years of marriage on April 5, 2020. We met seven years before in La Playa de Tarara in La Habana, Cuba. On December 1, 2020, I had robotic surgery to remove a tumor on my right kidney. Fortunately, I am cancer free. We have moved from Pinecrest to a smaller home in Cutler Bay.”

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Arne Carlson writes, “My time tends to be absorbed by some form of politics. This past summer and fall, I did a number of Zoom campaign events for candidates in Minnesota and Florida and special forums for Joe Biden. Now, I write commentaries and am focused on issues involving mining companies and their gross misuse of vital public waters both here in Florida and in Minnesota.” Don Christ has had a varied career including a stint as a partner of Sullivan and Cromwell. He lives in upstate New York. Bill Crosby is settled in Vancouver, B.C., and was the Peruvian representative for Western Canada. Bill Dean is in Connecticut and keeps in touch with his classmates. Ben Heckscher has retired from squash after twice winning the U.S. National singles championships. Bruce Hilton lives in Charlotte and spends half of the year in Barcelona. He and Carmen have been married for over 40 years. Jeffrey “Woody” Laikind remains remarkably active in business activites and charitable causes, particularly Street Squash, which has given college opportunities to a significant number of young people in need of assistance. He writes that the Class of ’53 held a Zoom meeting with nine participants. Robert Leinbach just retired at the end of last year from his responsibilities at Massachusetts General. He enjoyed a remarkable career in medicine with a specialty focused on the heart. He keeps in touch with Thor Solberg, who was an exchange student from Norway. He is retired in Elverum, Norway. Bob Lindeman lives in Sarasota, Fla., retired from his medical practice and now is in real estate. He has been married to Nancy for over 60 years. Art Richardson moved from Hawaii to Charlottesville and gives lectures on Chinese art.

descendants in 1862, dedicated principally to growing and exporting coffee and cocoa). After Kodak, we continued to distribute many other brands of photo products in a growing field with strong demand, until 1970, when we were named exclusive distributors of the then unknown brand Fujifilm. I have become a proficient photographer, having organized about 40 photo exhibits in Japan, Colombia, USA, and Venezuela. I continue to supervise family investments in Venezuela and abroad.” Rob McKinnon writes, “After 57 years in the car business, I finally sold my Chevrolet dealership on March 18, 2020 to my general manager. He proceeded to have the best year in our history – does that tell you something?” Joe Tonetti writes, “My wife, Ann, and I moved from New York to West Palm Beach four years ago. Although I have maintained my architectural license here, I am particularly enjoying the Florida sun, surf and golf. I am in touch with Don Williamson and Bill Woolverton.” Roger Vaughan writes, “All’s well with Kippy and me in our 40th year in Oxford, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Hens are laying, cats are comfortable. Still hard at work, with a new book out in December, Learning to Fly, about the 2010 America’s Cup, the first time in history two semi-foiling multihulls ever raced for the Cup.”

’56 C

Geoffrey Bullard writes, “Perhaps, under current circumstances, it is hoped that we will be able to return to the campus in our octogenarian garb in May 2021 to celebrate our 65th gathering. It may be one of our last at which we can share the stories of our personal journeys and to celebrate the fact that we are still upright after all the slings and arrows of a long and fruitful life.” Jon Dickinson writes, “My post-law-practice time has been focused on professional-level filmmaking directed to the rendering of several original narrative stories. Recognizing that the time will probably soon re-allow a return to direct filming work, and that I have had since last March a good, extended period for learning-curve study, this isolating COVID time has not felt to be much of a negative.”

1 Before the COVID-19

3 Carlos Hellmund ’55 and

shutdown, classmates Henry Blodget (L) and Bill Plauth ’49 had a reunion lunch in Stanford, Calif., in December 2019.

family.

2 Miguel Suarez ’52 and his

wife, Yolanda, celebrated 63 years of marriage on April 5, 2020.

4 Ivan Light ’59 at Estero

Overlook, Point Reyes National Seashore. He recently published Entrepreneurs and Capitalism Since Luther: Rediscovering the Moral Economy (Lexington, 2020).

’55 C

Carlos Hellmund writes: “I got accepted at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, from which I graduated in 1959. Later on I was sent to Eastman Kodak headquarters in Rochester for an extensive training executive program, as my family’s business was principally being Kodak’s distributor for Venezuela. My father and I, with the support of the family, decided to re-establish Casa Hellmund (the company incorporated by my German and Dutch

BULLETIN | WINTER 2021 27

’56 RH Susan Rohrer Breig writes, “Living in Wallingford, I very often walk past campus as one of my many ventures, as I walk about three to five times a week. I have pretty much stayed quarantined and have been able to stay healthy. Hope everyone else has been healthy too.”

’57 C

Barry Feinberg writes, “Enjoying seven months of the year in SE Florida. Still playing singles tennis. Looking forward to the end of the ‘plague’ so my wife and I can continue traveling the world (Poland scheduled for October). Sold our summer home of 20 years in North Carolina and hoping to buy in coastal New Hampshire. Celebrated 33 years of marriage to Minerva.” Robert Leaver writes, “Bobby Morin always left us smiling. This post is to honor his beautiful spirit. I’m collaborating on a social justice project with dear Trots (Art Trotman). You realize, of course, that he became Vice President of our class by one vote (when Ox left) because I voted for him instead of myself – and he did, too! I also stay in touch with Hymie Delgato (Herb Hartman). If slightly more grumpy, he’s still fly fishing, carving elegant canoe paddles, and demeaning sloppy thinkers. I continue to win prizes for my Dada assemblies, but Edith, named after my wonderful mother and now 16, is my magnum opus.” Luis Armando Roche writes, “I have been eagerly working on a series of novels, of which I have published, at this time, 34. They mostly are in Spanish, but I have written two in English. They can be purchased on Amazon. My website is www.luisroche.com.”

’58 C

Peter Goldmark writes, “Since the age of 40 I’ve written – completely privately – poems. It’s been a way of helping to make sense of the world around me, what I was feeling and experiencing. Three or four years ago I wrote a few haikus about New York City, and showed them to a couple of friends. They said, ‘you’ve got to publish them.’ In March, my first book, entitled Haikus for New York City, illustrated by Sandra Goldmark, my daughter, will appear. It’s been a wild adventure, and a lot of fun.” William Shipley writes, “Jensie and I have sold our home of 40 years in Chestnut Hill and are now at Fox Hill Village, a retirement home in Westwood just off 128. Before COVID-19 I was still going into Massachusetts General Hospital two days a week to cheerlead the group of young researchers evaluating and designing bladder and prostate cancer NIH clinical trials. My role now is mostly limited to cheerleading and fundraising for these projects and for advancing diversity at Harvard Medical School. Daughter Karen, 53, and Gary are still in New Orleans where he is head of the Trinity Episcopal School and she is actively helping many good causes. Fortunately, even with COVID-19 and social distancing, almost all our family came to Chatham for the summer.”

Don Yates recently had a book published: Good Business Sense for Doing Good Business (Xlibris) and can be found on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble.

’59 C

Morris Everett Jr. writes, “The Everett Collection in Newark, N. J., is now the third largest photo leasing in the United States, mainly leasing entertainment images for magazines, newspapers, books, television, Internet, etc.”

1960s ’61 RH Lucy Cookson writes, “I am coming up for air – an Aloha breath – whilst I complete my painting prep on the Garden Isle of Kauai’i. We spent this Christmas in Amagansett, N.Y., after an entire year in quarantine and five COVID tests in this safe place. Here in Kauai’i I taught painting every day for the last year and kept all of us fairly sane and focused. We had a big tutorial with 23 students and nine virtual participants – a day paint. I can be reached at lucycookson.com and lc@lucycookson.com or 303-803-6084.” Susan Bristoll Sayles writes, “Four years ago, I left Connecticut and moved to Martha’s Vineyard. I’ve been coming here all my life and have many friends and family here. I have a great job with the school system working with special ed kids. Bob Sayles died at 89 on December 8, 2019. While it was very hard on me and our kids, we are grateful it wasn’t during the pandemic, as it would have been difficult not being able to visit him. So glad to still have contact with so many of my Rosemary Hall friends after nearly 60 years!!!”

’62 C

Deaver Brown writes, “Public domain for 1925, one of the best publication years in history, came due on January 1, 2021, with books so well taught by Choate masters such as David Rice, Gordon Stillman, Robert Butler, and Burr Johnson. In their honor, my publishing company released many of them at $0.77 to $2.99 in audiobook form to accompany Amazon, iBookstore, Google eBooks, and others. We were so fortunate to have these great teachers!” F. John Wilkes writes, “Despite a poll showing the majority of administrators, teachers, and students at Lacordaire Academy wanted to wait to re-open the campus no sooner than January 18 because of COVID-19, the administration caved in to the tuition paying parents who want their children out of their houses. So, while half the student body still remains at home in their pjs, for me, it’s back to getting up at 4:00 a.m. and driving through the night to Upper Montclair, N.J. as of January 11 to pass on to those little whippersnappers what I learned from my hero and mentor at Choate, the late M. Jean Pierre Cosnard.”

’58 “In March, my first book, entitled Haikus for New York City, illustrated by Sandra Goldmark, my daughter, will appear. It’s been a wild adventure, and a lot of fun.” –PETER GOLDMARK

28 CLASSNOTES

’62 RH Gail Greenleaf Hencken writes, “There are several silver linings in this crazy COVID year, not the least of which is teaching this old dog new tricks. Zoom has allowed me to catch up with classmates, many of whom I have not seen in over 50 years. For that I am very grateful.”

’63 C

Don Elliman writes, “For the past seven years I have been Chancellor of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, the region’s largest academic medical center. Needless to say, the last year has been challenging. That said, it has also been incredibly exciting to be a part of the research and clinical development efforts that we’ve all mounted to face COVID-19. I am fortunate to come to work every day.” Bob Hynson writes, “Sadly, my wife, Lessley Oliver Hynson, passed away on December 1, 2020. She was an instructor at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Day School in Jackson, Miss., from 1970 to 1978. She served on the boards of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi and the Crosby Arboretum. As a 14-year survivor of pancreatic cancer, she served on the Advisory Board of the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of Alabama Birmingham. In 2011, she was the recipient of the inaugural Lessley Oliver Hynson Award from the Robert E. Reed Foundation.” Geoffrey Peterson writes, “Like most folks, I think 2020 has been the worst year of my life. On February 1 of 2020 I walked into my garage, slipped, fell, and ripped both quadriceps out of my knees. I was operated on the next day and stayed in the hospital until February 20. Then came rehab. Six weeks of immobilizer braces so my knees wouldn’t bend and my wounds would heal, six weeks on braces that would allow me to start bending my knees again. Then many weeks on a walker, and then many weeks on a cane. And most of that time I went to physical therapy three times a week. You could say I was ahead of the COVID curve. I was socially distancing and sheltering in place way before it became fashionable.”

’63 RH Vicki Brooks’ Christmas card revealed that she and David welcomed a new grandchild, Riley Lawrence Levy, last summer. Early in 2020 they were able to visit family in Hawaii, San Francisco, and Colorado, before everything shut down. Rozzie Chubb Davis writes, “In Thomasville, Ga., we had the luxury of living with plenty of land on which to shelter. Even at our house, we were able to be outdoors anytime we wished. For us, the only major change came when we decided not to go to Montana for the summer, nor to Bermuda in late December. We did go to Oklahoma City in November for the AQHA World 2020 Horse Shows.”

Donna Dickenson writes, “The past 10 months have actually been quite calming and productive, despite some sadness (not being to see daughter Pip, son Anders, and all our friends in the flesh, for example). One huge benefit for us has been the time Chris now has to practice his second instrument, the piano, so that I enjoy nightly recitals of Bach, Schubert and Chopin. We’ve also worked together really productively in the garden, enjoying bumper crops of raspberries and apples (with the latter still filling most of the produce drawers in the fridge).” Penny Griffith Dix writes, “In January 2020 we decided to move to Florida. We loved New England for 52 years but our kids and grands were not in New England anymore. We moved to Boynton Beach, where we once had a second home, and where my husband’s brother and cousin live. My sister is just two hours away in Vero, as well. We have a nice villa on a ‘lake’ where water birds abound. Our life here allows us to be outside walking, golfing, and eating on our terrace.” Alice Chaffee Freeman writes, “The liberal use of Zoom has been my saving grace during the pandemic, especially this winter when I’m not eager to brave the icy luge run that is our driveway here in Vermont. I’ve been concentrating on marketing some cartoons I drew years ago and producing more, as well as finishing up constructions in fabric that I had started long ago. I have heard from Miffy (Mary Ford Schadt), who lives near Asheville, N.C., near at least one daughter and grandchildren.” Doreen McClennan Gardner writes, “It’s amazing how much information is out there and how many interesting webinars there are, including several offered by Choate Rosemary Hall. Add in daily walks and Zoom exercise sessions and maybe it hasn’t been so bad! I keep in touch with Sandy Hawxhurst Conklin and Mike Sherry Roy. Mike moved to Florida a few years ago, but she and her husband, Gerry, have moved back to Arlington, Texas.” Mary McGee Graf writes, “We are completely settled in at our farm in Amenia, N.Y., and love it here, especially after the last two snowstorms. Mayzee, our 9-year-old golden, didn’t know what to think of that 18” of white stuff we had before Christmas! No cabin fever here.” Angela Lyon writes, “I have filled the time with a bunch of new paintings, as well as close to 30 new pastel originals (so far), and a couple of new books. I feel good that my time hasn’t been wasted. I even created a new website because people kept asking me where they could buy my new stuff. So I built www.LyonPaintings.com. Just keeping the focus on doing what we love, FOR the ones we love, and doing it WITH love, is enough to inspire and to keep going. I was lucky enough a few months ago to reconnect with Polly Ashman Goodyear.”

Margo Melton Nutt is continuing to do Zoom church, Zoom yoga, and Zoom adult ed classes through Dartmouth, as well as tapping into virtual lectures, author readings, concerts, library board meetings, and webinars. ”No cabin fever yet! Glad to live in a sparsely populated state (Vermont) that takes COVID-19 seriously.”

’64 C

Jeff Gould writes, “My first office in China back in the late 90s was in Wuhan! Our company had to deal with SARS years ago in China as well. I send my very best to all for 2021.” Curt Tobey writes, “After 40-plus years in the international investment business, including 18 years as Head of International Investing for The Commonfund for Endowments and Foundations in Connecticut and NYC, and 12 years as a senior investment and client officer for Bessemer Trust Company in NYC, I am now semi-retired, run a family office, and live in Boston. Also, I have been involved with Save the Children, the international humanitarian organization, and have had the privilege to travel to see SAVE programs in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Za’Atari (the big refugee camp on the Syria/Jordan border), Bolivia, Nicaragua, and the Central Valley in California. In addition, I am on the Board of the Goddard House in Brookline, Mass., where we are involved with supporting nursing programs with a specialty in elder care at UMass Boston, and also provide music and art programs for elders in underserved areas of Boston. I have four loving kids, and five grandchildren. Three live in Boston and one in San Francisco.”

’65 C

Richard Bott writes, “The Class of 1965 was deep into planning for our 55th Reunion when COVID brought our efforts to a halt, followed quickly by last summer’s national social unrest. As we tried to think about what small contribution we could make to healing our nation’s wounds, we realized that the answer lay in our hands: The William Ireland ’65 Memorial Scholarship, established in 1971 to honor our classmate, Will, who perished in a car accident shortly after graduation. Since its creation in partnership with the Ireland family, the Will Ireland Memorial Scholarship has provided financial aid to 21 students who have gone on to established careers including as teachers, lawyers, journalists, and physicians. Through this scholarship and a significant level of additional endowed and annual giving, the Class of 1965 has had an enormous impact on many young lives. This year we have initiated a two-pronged program to try to establish a dialogue and sense of community and continuity among the Ireland Scholars and also to raise scholarship funds to permit additional qualified students to benefit from it. To date we have raised over $200,000 in cash and legacy gifts from members of the Class of 1965.

BULLETIN | WINTER 2021 29

If you are interested in learning more about this wonderful effort, please contact Richard Bott ’65 at (917) 856-3307 (or richard.bott@verizon.net) or Dan Courcey, Head of Development and Alumni Relations at Choate (203) 697-2649 (or dcourcey@choate.edu).” Jim Carmichael writes that he “is retired. Reading. Staying safe with my Cleocatra. ‘No desire, no ambition leads me.’ Thank God!”

’65 RH Elizabeth Edgerton writes, “I never really thought I could write thanks to Mrs. Loomis, who failed me on every paper I wrote due to too many spelling mistakes. I always had my parents check my spelling. To my surprise I wrote a book, Saying What Needs to Be Said: Explorations in Trauma and Recovery. I was the victim of a violent crime which left me totally dysfunctional and traumatized and began a long journey of healing. I mainly wrote the book to help others, having a number of friends with PTSD. The book presents a holistic approach. This is my newest website. It is pretty much self-explanatory: www.elizabethedgertondancingwiththespiritofthebrush.com.” Leslie Blake Kotiza writes, “Greetings from Saint Louis! All is well here. As I reflect over the past 10 months during the pandemic, I can say I am still married. After 47 years of marriage, I don’t think I have ever spent this much togetherness with my husband. A fun result is that I finally got him on my spinning bike. As many of you know or you may not know, I am a spinning instructor and have been for the past 12 years.” Julie Newhall writes, “This has been a year of losses and also of opportunities for service to others. My two Unitarian congregations and I have learned the language of Zoom. Doing so has allowed our Sunday services to keep us spiritually together even as we have been physically apart.” Polly MacDougall Oliver has been quarantining in Palm Desert, Calif. “Better than Pennsylvania. My golf shows no improvement, but still gamely trying! Aloha.” Ann Mason Sears writes, “This year involved some big changes for the Sears family. Happy news – another grandchild, Henry, born this summer amid the COVID isolation. Herb retired from his area of work in the legal department of an international engineering company and the later role as liquidating trustee for the company after 45 years. After 36 years, we sold our rambling Victorian house in New Hampshire and moved to a two bedroom condo, also in Exeter.”

’67 C

Jorge Pedroso writes, “Lourdes and I will celebrate our 43rd wedding anniversary on March 11. We are very happy to have three of our four children and their families in Miami, close to us. We are both active, Lourdes decorating for all the snowbirds migrating to Florida, and I continue with my art advisory services to friends and clients.” TOP A frame from the thriller film The Boy Behind the Door by Rick

BOTTOM Three amigos from the Class of ’67 – Jeff Von Kohorn, Lloyd

Rosenthal ‘67, which premiered at Fantastic Film Festival and AFI FEST this past fall and was acquired for distribution by Shudder to be released this coming summer.

Matheson, and Bob Herrick, circa 1974 or ’75.

30 CLASSNOTES

’68 C

David Row writes, “This is my first contribution to Choate Rosemary Hall Classnotes. I learned that our classmate Fred Giandomenico had passed away. Fred and I were close at Choate mostly due to our mutual love of ice hockey, as well as other interests and ideas. He stopped by to see me in the late ’70s in NYC. We had a spirited conversation and a fun studio visit. We vowed to stay in touch but as Fred delved into working and advocating in his local community and I into the art world here in NYC, we did lose touch. My wife Kathleen and I live in SoHo and we remained in our loft here through the first surge of COVID-19. Locks Gallery featured my work, Heat Wave, at the Armory Fair NYC in March and it was the last large social contact we had before the first surge and lockdown.”

’69 C Parrish Dobson ’67 showing at New Era Gallery on Vinalhaven Island in Maine in August 2020.

’67 RH Louise Freeman Bulkeley writes, “I have a book of Christian poems; the title is For You My Child. Email: ouisiebulk@gmail.com.” Parrish Dobson writes, “I retired from years of teaching two years ago: in the 1970s I taught women’s studies; in the early ’80s I taught English; then I turned to art and taught photography for many years at BB&N School in Cambridge. I have a lovely studio in Somerville; I have shows from time to time. I live near Boston: come visit! Or let’s plan a spontaneous gathering somewhere, somehow.” Mary Lou Lange writes, “Many people this year have been so valiant and have had to face the challenges and cherished memories of many proportions. I have continued much of my work by telecommuting as a psychologist from home and spent close times with my sister. I have been in touch with Penny and Jeremy and send warm hellos to all my classmates!” Penny Heald Whitehouse-Vaux writes, “I am lucky that all my three children live in London so I can see them a bit (outside for a walk, but only one at a time). Any socialising has been extremely minimal since March 2020. I keep busy with my choir via Zoom, my art class via Zoom, and music lessons via Zoom – I thought all these lockdowns were a good time to learn to play the bagpipes. I also spend time working on my miniatures, and last year I electrified, decorated and furnished a two and a half foot high, 12-room Palladian mansion.”

Julian Lines writes, “George Hazen missed our 50th because he was starting chemo but assured me that his prognosis was good and we would be visiting one another in the fall. He hit another bump in the process, but still was looking good for a complete recovery. I called him up to start post-COVID plans and George called me back to say he was in hospice. We spent a good 45 minutes of life review and affirmation of our deep friendship. He assured me he was not in pain and apologized for not visiting and wished he had made it to the reunion. And then we talked about the music we loved. He passed away in December.”

’69 RH Catherine Lee Davis was just boarding a Norwegian mail boat to see the northern lights on March 12, 2020 when Norway decided to expel or quarantine all foreigners. She writes: “I chose expulsion, so I returned to JFK 36 hours after leaving it. If I had caught COVID, it would have been in the maelstrom of JFK that famous Saturday afternoon. My finest achievement this year has probably been learning how to negotiate the Teams software so that I can monitor and help with my foster children’s school work. I have actually had to resort to YouTube for help with 9th grade Algebra! However, I loved re-reading Romeo and Juliet with a 9th grade boy who, two weeks after asking me, ‘Is this English?’ commented that if you read it out loud and heard the beat, it could be ’good, weird rap’. Definite progress!” Carol Hart retired at the end of 2017 from a career as a pediatrician and pediatric endocrinologist. She writes, “Even with COVID, and an inability to travel, I have no problem filling my days with fun. In January 2020, before the pandemic shut things down, I traveled to Sri Lanka for a couple weeks with my husband. Sri Lanka has been on my list of places to explore for quite a while, and it is a beautiful country. During COVID, I have been staying at home, but will travel again as soon as it is safe, probably starting with visiting friends and family around the United States.”

Virginia Bartholomew Keyser writes, “I lost my husband Mac (W. McHenry Keyser) on December 15 from acute pneumonia and a lifelong battle with diabetes since age 10. We were just undertaking the renovation of our new home in Lake Wales, Fla., having left Vermont earlier in the year. I’m carrying on with the remodeling of our house and will have room for any and all to come visit – when we can finally travel once again. Email and cellphone are the same.”

1970s ’70 C

Charles Weeden writes, “Not to take anything away from the terrible impact of COVID, last spring and early summer was a chance for my children and grandchildren to gather in Millbrook, N.Y. We took the occasion to write a children’s book, The Claustrophobic Gopher. A fun story with a message (on Amazon and with all alum purchases going to Choate Rosemary Hall). Otherwise, still working for Inclusive Ventures trying to value in the market insanity.”

’70 RH Kitty Glass Hayes writes, “Ariane duBois and I look forward to getting together, in person, one day soon. My daughter and her family continue to live in Arlington. After six years as co-leader in our church Flower Guild, I have stepped down to allow for a ’reboot’ in the ministry. Now I really have no excuse for not finishing the book about my mother’s family escape from the German occupation.”’70

’71 RH Joanne Salley Jambor is mostly retired, after starting, growing, then selling an oyster business in Washington state. She is a new grandmother to identical twin girls, born in November, to her son and his wife.

’72 RH Barbara Laney returned to live in New York City in 2016 and divorced in 2020. As a licensed clinical social worker, she is now in her fifth year of working for the NYU Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Family Support Program, providing support to family caregivers of persons with dementia. Since March of 2020, all of the program’s services have been provided virtually. Taylor Neff is thankful for re-election to the Altoona School Board. Her daughter, Jasper, is attending 8th grade in this school district. She writes: “Considering moving back to New England in near future.” Clare Swanger visited the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado, in September. Her business, The Comfortable Canine, expanded in 2020 to include virtual education, training and coaching for dogs and people who love them.

BULLETIN | WINTER 2021 31

CLASSNOTES | Profile

’71

Daniel McCrimons

A Journey that Began with Choate Throughout his life, Daniel McCrimons M.D. ’71 has been guided by a framework of deep thought and introspection. This framework helped shape his journey from Choate Rosemary Hall, leading him into two incredibly significant but different realms – pediatrics and fiction writing. In his words, “What do you have to go through to be a good human being? The pain, the struggle, the hardships – these are the things that help you learn what you are made of. I was fortunate at Choate, and later throughout my life, to be guided to probe a little deeper – to analyze my experiences and address what was deep inside me.”

Daniel grew up attending New York City public schools, with attentive parents, neither of whom attended college. A family friend suggested that he apply to Choate. At his interview with Bill St. John in the Admission Office, he was asked, “Do you think you will be able to keep up with the other students?” Without hesitation, Daniel replied, “I will not disappoint you. I will make it work. I will do whatever is necessary to succeed.” This steadfast determination defined what would become Daniel’s entire Choate experience – from summer school that would secure his acceptance, to extra study that would ensure his improved reading and writing skills, to perseverance in becoming a concert pianist. Yet, as Daniel recalls, it was not his determination alone that fostered his success at Choate. It was the community of people who became his family – the peers who helped him find his niche, his space, his home, and the mentors who saw his potential and pushed him to be his best self. It was his elite athlete classmate who brought the entire varsity baseball team to hear Daniel’s spring piano concert and who taught him how to ice skate. It was his sixth form English teacher who encouraged Daniel to submit his first entry to The Atlantic, which sparked his interest in writing. Daniel reflects, “I have a certain attachment to Choate because of what was given to me there, all of which was a conduit for what I have become today. It truly transformed me.” Daniel went on to pursue undergraduate studies in biochemistry at Harvard, medical school at Columbia, and residency at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital (formerly Children’s Memorial) in Chicago. Pediatrics became a natural extension of Daniel’s way of viewing the world – of keeping childhood curiosity and inward reflection at the center of his own being as well as his medical practice. During his early days practicing medicine, Daniel returned to his interest in writing. Inspired by a sermon at his church, Daniel undertook a writing project based on the life experiences of a classmate of his from medical school. The project grew into a historical fiction trilogy, Diamonds in the Water, covering decades of the principal character’s life story from a medical, historical, and spiritual perspective. A true convergence of Daniel’s own life’s influences. The books also narratively reinforce his steadfast belief that only in hardship and reflection can one find growth and well-being. Daniel credits Choate as the very place where he reflected within himself, where he found his potential and began to nurture his personal and professional growth. His journey – a true intersection of his medical, spiritual, philosophical, and personal identities – has shaped and continues to shape the contributions he makes to his distinct but interconnected communities. “So many people helped me tremendously at Choate. They believed in me and guided me toward higher learning and a fulfilling life experience.” By jamie bruce Jamie is Assistant Director of Donor Relations in the Office of Development & Alumni Relations.

32 CLASSNOTES

“My wife, Nancy, and I are proud to announce that on August 4, 2020, our son Tyler and his wife, Chrissy, welcomed Adelyn Grace Kempner into the world. Addie is the first grandchild on both sides of the family.”–BOB KEMPNER ’79

’73 C

Gordon Anderson writes, “It was great to catch up with my former squash and tennis teammates Brad Westerfield and Mike Ward on one of this summer’s CRH COVID Zoom calls. I retired as CFO of The Clarke Group, Inc. on December 31, 2020, and will be retiring as President of the Wilmette, Ill., Park District Board in May 2021. I plan to stay productive by continuing as a board member of Schnadig Corporation, and finding another private company board opportunity.” John Kirby’s sabbatical leave is over, so in spring 2021 he’ll be back to teaching full-time. While on leave he was able to focus on his latest research project, which involved comparing ancient philosophical treatises in Greek, Sanskrit, and Chinese.

’74 C

Dr. John de Jong and Bruce Herzfelder ’77 are the founder and co-founder of BetterVet, a new entity aimed at a different and optimized delivery of veterinary care. Utilizing housecall veterinary practices, better use of veterinary technician/nurses, and telemedicine, BetterVet has been started in the Boston area and plans to grow as far as it can go.

’76 RH Cicely Hall writes, “I was not furloughed

owned manufacturer, which managed to stay open throughout the pandemic. My daughter worked from home in my house in Massachusetts rather than her studio apartment in NYC and was a great help with both the dogs. My older son was one of few who didn’t lose his job in the tourism industry, and his wife, who launched online art Collective 131 in 2019, opened a gallery under the same name in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. My youngest son, who is pursuing a career in LA, spent two weeks over the holidays with me and his siblings. I saw fellow classmate Susan Winship in December for a beautiful walk in the Middlesex Fells.”

’77 RH Jean Hayden Tabin writes, “Working fulltime in our emergent ‘triage’ clinic at the Moran Eye Hospital – University of Utah. Missing my now five grandchildren. Getting out skiing – both downhill and cross country, whenever possible.”

’78

M. Connie Gelb writes, “I started teaching online English to quarantined students. In addition, I design interactive STEM lessons as well as digital versions of favorite childhood board games. What better way to spend a global pandemic than to engage students stuck inside on lockdown?”

from my employment as a kitchen designer at Metropolitan Cabinets and Countertops, a local family

James Campbell ’71 has a book on the Madoff story with a publish date of April 27 from McGraw Hill: Madoff Talks: Uncovering the Untold Story Behind the Most Notorious Ponzi Scheme in History.

Classmates Wool Henry (L) and Doug Buck ’75 in Palm Beach.

Nancy O’Neill Kelly retired from Johnson & Johnson as the Director of Health Care Quality. She and her husband Douglas live in Moreland Hills, Ohio. Their son Daniel is a naval aviator and stationed in Jacksonville, Fla., and their son Matthew lives with his wife, Samantha, and their grandson in Charlottesville, Va., and is a consultant.

’79

Heather Roulston Ettinger writes, “A lifelong dream was realized with the 2020 publication of my book, Lumination: Shining a Light on a Woman’s Journey to Financial Wellness. I have dedicated my life to empowering and advocating for women and girls; it is my hope that this book will serve as a guidebook to help lead women towards a brighter financial future.”

1980s ’80

Michael Lewyn writes, “In addition to publishing several law review articles over the past year or two, I have published op-eds in Newsday, The American Conservative, and AM New York. I continue to blog at planetizen.com and marketurbanism.com. Most of my writing can be found at http://works. bepress.com/lewyn.”

Heather Roulston Ettinger ‘79 with her book, Lumination: Shining a Light on a Woman’s Journey to Financial Wellness.

BULLETIN | WINTER 2021 33

’81

Katherine Klein Burdge writes, “My husband of 34 years helped me emerge healthier from a bout of cancer; we can’t find enough fun outside activities to do. Biking, boating, swimming, tennis and hiking – especially in Colorado, where my oldest lives. I am working remotely on the Connecticut shoreline for a real estate investment firm.” Tara Knapp writes, “I’m celebrating 18 years at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare in Wallingford. As of October 1, I assumed the newly-created position of Vice President for External Affairs, where I oversee public relations, marketing, strategic communications, and legislative advocacy. I will be working to raise the profile of Gaylord to a national level as we expand our services, grow our research initiatives through the recently launched Milne Institute for Healthcare Innovation, and promote a new residency program.” Gwen Strauss writes, “My newest project, a work of creative non-fiction, The Nine, the true story of a band of women who survived the worst of Nazi Germany, will be released in May, by St. Martin’s Press. The book follows the story of my great-aunt, Hélène Podliasky, a 24-year-old engineer who leads a band of nine female resistance fighters as they escape a German concentration camp and make the 10-day journey across the front lines of WWII. The rights have been sold to eight countries and the story is in development for a TV series. In 2020, my job expanded, and I am now the Executive Director of the Nancy B. Negley Artists Residency Program, running an international residency and cultural program out of two historic buildings in Ménerbes, France.”

’82

Will Aufderheide Just published a book, The Human Test. It is a self-reflection journal with photos, questions, and contemplative ideas to ponder. Enrique Posner is happy to have been alongside fellow classmates Liz Hogan and Marc Brown at the Choate Venture Capital and Angel Investing Program seminar. They, together with Gillian Munson ’88 and Beth Ferreira ’92, imparted lots of great and wise insights.

The work of Denler Hobart Gardens (established in 1998 by Janell Denler Hobart ’84) is featured in the book More Beautiful by designer Mark D. Sikes.

’83

Tag Mendillo had a happy Thanksgiving with his family that included his sixth form roommate, Fritz Stein, in West Palm Beach last year.

’84

John Frizzell writes, “I have produced my first film (I also scored it). Zappa is a remarkable film, in my opinion, largely thanks to director Alex Winter’s amazing touch. It is a film that is very dear to me in terms of the philosophy it presents through the life of Frank Zappa, a great genius.” Janell Denler Hobart writes that the work of Denler Hobart Gardens (established in 1998 by Janell) is featured in the book More Beautiful by designer Mark D. Sikes. This California edible garden was also featured in Private Gardens of the Bay Area by Susan Lowry and Nancy Berner. Tom Kline writes, “Dealer Marketing Magazine has named me to their Expert Panel of Automotive Industry Professionals. These professionals are topnotch, and I am gratified to write for such a well-read publication.” Bonnie Noble writes, “I am living in Charlotte, N.C., where I am Associate Professor of Art History at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Even though I’ve been living in the South since I finished my Ph.D. in 1999, I still feel very much like a Yankee. Charlotte is not my favorite place, but I do have opportunities to travel far and wide for work, at least when there is no pandemic. My husband, Jeff McNeil, and I have twins who are about to turn 16.”

’85

Lynn Grant Beck just moved to Westlake Village, Calif. She is writing, as well as teaching at Pepperdine University in their MFA program of Writing for Screen and Television. She’d love to connect with any fellow alumns in the area. Josh Futterman is still living in New York City. He is currently working on raising an early stage venture fund focused on the NYC metro area and relaunching his startup, ParkYou!, post-pandemic. He sees Mark McNeill ‘85 fairly regularly and keeps in touch with many classmates.

Tag Mendillo ‘83 and Fritz Stein ‘83 in West Palm Beach.

’86

Peter Finfrock writes, “I am in the 11th year of my quirky life of adapting to being disabled and circulating between a home that is in Palm Beach and a borrowed house in Cleveland, Ohio, whichever is cooler temperature-wise. I’ve decided to make art my raison d’être, and exploring interesting little nooks around the country. I’ve made it my mission to go to all the still-extant Chautauquas in the U.S., from the original Jamestown, N.Y.-area one to De Funiak Springs in Florida, Monteagle, Tenn., and Chagrin Falls and Lakeside, Ohio to Boulder, where I used to work, when I was more able-bodied. My husband-to-be, James, likes these off-the-beatenpath places, too. And it’s close to where he’s from, so he can see his brothers when we’re there. Last year we went to Bishopsville, S.C., to see the man behind the movie A Man Called Pearl, about the guy who created a wonderful topiary garden from the refuse of a nursery’s cast off plants, lovingly nurtured back to health. I saw Emily Whitmore ´86 and Helen O’Rourke (née McLaughlin) ’86 on returning from a Canadian Maritimes cruise to Boston, where Helen so sweetly picked up the tab for our lunch.” Witold Henisz recently won the Aspen Institute Ideas Worth Teaching Award for his course at the Wharton School on Corporate Diplomacy: Aligning Stakeholder Analytics & Strategy, where he is the Deloitte & Touche Professor of Management, Director of the Political Risk Lab, and Founder of the ESG Analytics Lab. Amedee Butt Maggard writes, “The lockdown in March allowed me the time to document the pandemic through watercolor sketches. Inspired by the Comfort gearing up to set sail for NYC, I attempted to convey the beauty, fragility, and strength of this unusual time period. I have made 150 paintings so far; the challenge and fun part was to try to anticipate and sketch ‘tomorrow’s news’ before it rolled out. Please visit my Instagram @sketching_corona.”

In March, Amedee Butt Maggard ’86 began documenting the pandemic through watercolor sketches. This image, inspired by the Comfort gearing up to set sail for NYC, attempts to convey the beauty, fragility, and strength of this unusual time period.

34 CLASSNOTES

1 Bruce Romney ’87

4 Keith Sauer Wilding ’89

married Tamara Rodden on November 25, 2020, at the Woolverton Inn in Stockton, N.J.

and his son Cameron at the northern terminus of the Vermont Long Trail (aka the Canadian border).

2 The Walsh family (L to R):

5 Rima Dael ’91 is the General

Theo, Lindsay McNamar Walsh ’88, Richard, Bayard, and Duncan Walsh.

Manager of WSHU Public Radio at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn. She is pictured here during an on-air fund drive.

3 Season’s greetings from

D. Victor Maneilly ’87, who has been teaching in China.

’87

Jessica Goldberg Carr writes, “It’s never too late for more school! In June 2020, I earned my M.S. from the University of Washington in Human Centered Design and Engineering. I am now working as a UX researcher under contract with Microsoft. After two years of working with Angela Miksovsky on parent education events at our kids’ school, we finally made the connection that she is married to Jan ’86 and sister-in-law of Chris ’87. Small world!” Bruce Romney married Tamara Rodden at the Woolverton Inn in Stockton, N.J., last November 25.

’88

Lindsay McNamar Walsh writes, “My family has spent most of the pandemic at our home in San Francisco with college sons coming and going. I’ve enjoyed being reconnected with Allison Page Lurton ‘88 and Katie Mautner Grieco ‘88, who is an awesome meditation teacher!” Jason Ward writes, “I moved to Australia eight years ago. My partner, Andrea, and my daughters, Natasha (16) and Amanda (12), are now all Australian citizens. We enjoy life in the beachside Sydney suburb of Maroubra. Three years ago, building on previous work, I created the Centre for International Corporate Tax Accountability & Research (CICTAR). CICTAR does forensic corporate research and campaigns to expose corporate tax dodging, change national and global tax rules, and generate revenue to fund essential public services.”

’89

Andrea Miralia writes, “My father, Lauren Miralia, who graduated from Choate in 1957, died October 7 from natural causes. He lived in his same home in Larchmont, N.Y., that his classmates and mine might remember. We hope to have a memorial service after the pandemic ends in Larchmont on Long Island Sound, one of the loves of his life. He retired as a Captain in the Navy reserves and had had a long career in municipal bonds insurance.” Keith Sauer Wilding and son Cameron hiked the 273-mile Long Trail in Vermont this past July. Keith is the Department Chair for the Paramedic Emergency Medicine program at NHTI – Concord’s Community College in New Hampshire. Socially distanced shout-out to Choatie-peeps, especially classmates Sarah Nechasek, Wendy (Sells) Taylor, Tricia (Parziale) Fusilero, Colleen (Kotyk) Vossler, and Jess Allen.

1990s ’90

Kathleen McGee was recently named a Notable Woman in Law by Crain’s Business New York for 2021. After almost 20 years as a government prosecutor and regulator, and now as a partner at the law firm of Lowenstein Sandler LLP in New York, she feels real gratitude and appreciation for her career.

’91

Sally Gindel Brink writes, “We moved back to Vermont to enroll our son into the Mountain River School in Stowe in 2018. After battling some health issues for four years, I am back working at a startup in Stowe called Kit Lender. Maybe you saw us on Shark Tank in December 2019. We rent premium winter apparel for skiing/riding/apres ski and ship all over the U.S.” Rima Dael moved to West Hartford, Conn., last summer with her husband and teen daughter. She is the new General Manager of WSHU Public Radio at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn. She would love to hear from other “NPR nerds.”

’92

Adam Orman writes, “Shortly after hosting a dinner in February with cookbook author Elana Horwich ‘93 at the Austin restaurant I co-own, L’Oca d’Oro, we had to close our dining room. Since then, we have worked with Good Work Austin, the progressive small business association we helped found in 2019, to find work for restaurants to prepare meals for the Austin food-insecure. GWA restaurants have prepared more than 600,000 meals for homebound seniors, at-risk homeless, unemployed hospitality workers, and the school district. These programs have saved over a dozen locally owned businesses and over 200 full-time jobs. We hope to continue this work as restaurants re-open in 2021 and revolutionize the way Austin feeds its hungriest neighbors.”

BULLETIN | WINTER 2021 35

“My kids and I enjoyed building papier-mâché sculptures for Halloween. We gave thanks to all healthcare workers on the front lines by building a Pac-Man chasing a blue COVID ghost across our front lawn. We also built a frilled lizard with a skeleton riding on its neck, in memory of my father, who passed in June due to cancer. He loved these creatures, too.” –CONSTANTIN VON WENTZEL

’90

36 CLASSNOTES

’93

Mike Opdenaker writes, “Got a chance to visit campus again when I dropped off my son (Ethan ’24) at Memorial House. Due to COVID, it was a little different than my first day, but was still able to catch up with Ned Gallagher after a few years.” Hannah Sears lives, works, and volunteers in Washington, DC.

’94

David Rockwell writes, “Despite a variety of COVID-related delays and changes, Laura and I were married in August. The ‘micro-wedding’ was our highlight of 2020, and we are hoping to see many more of our friends in 2021.”

’95

Nicholas Cipolla writes, “While driving back east to Connecticut for the holidays I surprised Kelly DeGostin Marchand on her front porch in Little Rock, Ark. It may have taken 25 years, but I finally did make good on my promise to visit Kelly in her hometown.”

’97

Kate Lemay’s book, Votes for Women! A Portrait of Persistence (Princeton University Press, 2019), was named to the 2020 Rise Book List. Each year, Rise: A Feminist Book Project recommends wellwritten, well-illustrated books for young readers with significant feminist content. Votes for Women! was published in conjunction with the exhibition Lemay curated at the National Portrait Gallery to mark the centennial anniversary of women’s suffrage.

’98

Will Gilyard writes, “I started working at Choate in the summer of 2020. I am a class dean for the Class of 2023 and an Associate for Alumni Engagement. Super excited to be back at a place that I love and call home. Everyone has been wonderful and I look forward to reconnecting with folks sometime soon.”

’99

Alexandra Roman Vaughan writes, “I have been working as a Medical-Surgical and Emergency Room RN for the past seven years in a small mountain town in Sun Valley, Idaho. Back in March we had the highest per capita infection rates. It was an experience like no other – I’m sure many of you felt the same.”

1 Nick Cipolla ‘95 surprised

2 Mike Opdenaker ’93 and son

Kelly DeGostin Marchand ‘95 on her front porch in Little Rock, Ark.

Ethan ’24. 3 David Rockwell ’94 and wife

Laura were married in August 2020. L to R: Chris Dell Isola ‘94,

Denise Dell Isola, Brooks Rockwell ‘98, Laura Rockwell, David Rockwell ‘94, Ingrid Hang, David Hang ‘94, Chase Rowbotham ‘94, Eric Wilson ‘98.

BULLETIN | WINTER 2021 37

CLASSNOTES | Profile

Agriculture as a Way of Life

’96

In the summer and fall of 2020, when many Americans were availing themselves of “drive-thru” coronavirus testing, Jennifer Perez and her USDA Farm Service Agency colleagues in Montana were orchestrating a socially distanced initiative of their own: drive-thru signup events to connect tribal farmers and ranchers with relief benefits available through the federal Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. Eight events on four Montana Indian reservations resulted in the submission of over 100 applications for the program designed to assist agricultural producers directly impacted by the pandemic. Far-flung and crucial to the livelihood of underserved communities, those events are characteristic of Perez’s overlapping responsibilities at FSA. A public affairs specialist, she is also the state outreach coordinator, state civil rights coordinator, FOIA compliance officer, and tribal liaison. In other words, she is a one-person major resource to producers in a state where agriculture is the primary industry and cattle outnumber people 2:1. “Agriculture is a way of life,” says Perez. “It’s not just a job. It’s the lifeblood of our communities.” Montana’s four dozen USDA service offices administer some $1 billion in programs, benefits, and loans, providing conservation and disaster assistance and critical credit for agricultural producers who can’t get commercial loans. Perez says, “The work we do can literally make a farm or ranch viable for another year.” Perez devotes much of her time to communications, including publicizing program signups and managing the state’s FSA website. In nonpandemic times, her outreach efforts take her from one end of the state to the other. Montana is home to eight federally recognized tribal governments with reservations that comprise 6 percent of the state population and 10 percent of the land base. “I regularly travel to every reservation in Montana to meet with tribal leaders and farmer/rancher groups on agricultural issues,” she says. In addition to hosting information booths at agricultural conventions state-wide, she encourages participation and diverse representation on FSA’s county committees, locally elected bodies that enable producers to make local agricultural decisions. Perez’s outreach efforts garnered in 2020 a USDA Farm Service Agency Administrator’s Award for Service to Agriculture, FSA’s highest employee recognition. She’s also been honored by the USDA with collective awards in 2018 and 2019 for helping to improve the farmers.gov website. Perez can talk the talk, whether it’s wheat variants, tribal land classifications, or the provisions of the most recent Farm Bill. She can also walk the walk. A member of the Nakoda Tribe, Perez was “raised in cattle and horse country” in an upbringing that reflected both Western and Native ways of life. She says her family instilled the value of education, hard work, and integrity, noting her maternal grandfather was a survivor of the Bataan Death March and her 85-year-old maternal grandmother is a cattle rancher to this day. In 2017 Perez herself started raising cattle on her paternal grandmother’s original allotment on the Fort Belknap reservation. She also founded a 4-H club to engage tribal youth – including her two children – in agriculture and nurture life skills.

PHOTO CREDIT: KIM JEW PHOTOGRAPHY

Jennifer Perez

It was at an inter-tribal summer program for middle schoolers where Perez first learned about opportunities to apply to boarding schools. Of Choate she says, “Little did I know it was one of the top schools in the country.” As a student, she relished both the challenging academic work and the diversity of the international student body. “I will always cherish my Choate education,” says Perez, who attended her 20th reunion in 2016. “It really opened my eyes to the world.” In college a summer job with a tribal newspaper sparked a passion. Perez went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in print journalism from the University of Montana in 2001, graduating from the Freedom Forum’s AP Managing Editors/ American Society of Newspaper Editors Fellowship Program in 2003. After stints at two Montana newspapers, Perez was appointed in 2007 by then-Gov. Brian Schweitzer to be the state’s Director of Indian Affairs. As a member of his cabinet, she served as a bridge between state government and tribal nations. In taking a career position as a federal employee a few years later, Perez never saw herself as a bureaucrat. Instead, she’d found another way to continue strengthening relationships and enhancing economic opportunities, while bringing to bear the principles of journalism – including transparency and serving the public good – to agency work. Ten years later, Perez still considers her position at FSA to be a dream job. She says, “My heart is in everything I do.” BY Leslie Virostek Leslie Virostek is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to the Bulletin.

Peter Clarke

PHOTO CREDIT: MATT ALAVI / LEGACY EFFECTS

’96

BRINGING BABY YODA TO LIFE CLASSNOTES | Q & A

Grogu, The Child, Baby Yoda ... by one name or another, you have probably heard about the animatronic superstar of Disney+’s hit show, The Mandalorian. This wide-eyed, 16-inch-tall Jedi of undisclosed origins has captured the hearts of millions and counting. But where exactly did this overnight cultural icon come from? Cut to Peter Clarke ’96, Lead Mechanical Designer and Puppeteer at Legacy Effects, who played a crucial role in transforming Grogu from 2D concept art to Pedro Pascal’s show-stealing co-star. Weighing in on Grogu’s design, Peter says, “It’s not really the mechanical complexity that makes this character so effective, it’s more about the simplicity, the subtle movements.” Taking a step back from his 15-plus years of animatronics experience, Peter muses, “I was always the kind of kid that would see an old piece of equipment and take it apart just to see if I could remember what screw went where, and not because it would work necessarily, but because I was fascinated by the parts.” The key word here is fascinated—a lifelong modus operandi that propelled Peter from teenage tinkerer to getting a bachelor’s in fine art, followed by a master’s degree in interactive sculpture, and eventually a top position in the animatronics industry. In this interview, Peter reflects on his formative experiences at Choate, his cutting-edge work at Legacy Effects, and the efficacy of exploration as a means to self-discovery.

BULLETIN | WINTER 2021 39

JACK VAUGHAN ’10: What was your experience

like going from the Foote School in New Haven to Choate Rosemary Hall? PETER CLARKE: I remember it being pretty daunting because I was a shy kid and spent a lot of my time drawing. I also wasn’t that prepared for the kind of academic standards I found at Choate, so it was a pretty eye-opening experience for me. JV: What kind of an impact did Choate make on you? PC: Spending a semester in Spain was really

important to me. It led to my first art history class. The whole experience really boosted my academic confidence. Also, on campus, I eventually became known as the t-shirt design guy and drew shirts for just about every sports club. I also spent a fair amount of time at the SAC with Mr. Yanelli, who somehow convinced me to DJ the school dances. All in all, Choate really helped me get out of my shell socially and academically.

”I’ve been able to figure out processes that get me

came from Lucasfilm.

say one of my biggest achievements has been pushing the spirit of cross-department collaboration. At the shop, we have a bunch of different departments: mechanical design, digital design, art, mold making, costume design, and I have really taken it upon myself to learn the different techniques used by each department. I’ve been able to figure out processes that get me involved in almost every stage of developing these characters. For instance, Baby Yoda started as 2D character sketches that came from Lucasfilm. So, I got in on the digital design process as early as possible to help streamline the 3D printing and modeling stage.

So, I got in on the digital

JV: What was the greatest challenge you faced in

involved in almost every stage of developing these characters. For instance, Baby Yoda started as 2D character sketches that

design process as early as possible to help streamline the 3D printing and

LEFT Legacy Effects puppeteer-

BELOW Peter Clarke programs

ing team (L to R): Peter Clarke, Alan Scott (co-owner), The Child (aka Baby Yoda aka Grogu), Hiroshi Ikeuchi, Trevor Hensley, John Rosengrant (co-owner).

the remote controls for the animatronic insides of the Baby Yoda puppet.

JV: How have you made an impact at Legacy Effects? PC: I’ve been at Legacy for eight years now, and I’d

modeling stage.”

making Grogu? PC: The most difficult task was the size. From an animatronics perspective, it often makes more sense to have five or six iterations of the same puppets that do different things really well, but in this case, we made one puppet that can do virtually everything. I really tried to put as much into this one puppet as possible—a full range of emotion and expressions. When I was designing the mechanisms in its head, I would always try and squeeze in another move to give it just a little more expression. That’s really the fun part though, the puzzling. It’s like making a puzzle that doesn’t have a solution, other than being better, and I always try to make it better. JV: Do you have any advice for Choate students

today? PC: I think if you really know what you want to do in life then focus and go for it, but if not, treat exploration with that same kind of determination. When I was at Choate, I really didn’t know where I would end up, but I kept my options open and kept exploring. It may take more time, but it can be really rewarding.

PHOTO CREDIT: MATT ALAVI / LEGACY EFFECTS

Although some stories may take place a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, one thing is certain: the next wave of iconic Star Wars characters are in excellent, earthbound hands. by jack vaughan ’10 Jack Vaughan ‘10 is a freelance writer based in Santa Monica.

40 CLASSNOTES

2000s ’01

Candice Lewis Dormon writes, “Like many, I had to pivot my career this year. I focused on dormant skills and launched a business coaching and video production company. After several years running my own business and podcast, I realized I could help others do the same! Emlin Group (emlingroupLLC.com) provides launch coaching and digital marketing for creative entrepreneurs. Fun fact: Emlin Group is a fun combination of my son’s names (Lincoln and Emory)! I’m still in New Haven, with my husband, James, and our boys keep us very busy! I miss so many of you who I see surprisingly often and I can’t wait until we can get together again. You can find me most places @candicedormon.”

’02

Candice (Lewis) Dormon ’01 recently expanded her skin care line, Ekow Body Natural Skin Care (ekowbody.com), to include organic hemp oil products. Thank you so much to all the Choaties who were some of my very first clients!

’01

Robert Grajewski writes that after successfully launching and leading the Innovation Center at Vanderbilt University, he is now back to entrepreneurial roots helping lead Enexor BioEnergy (www.Enexor. com), an innovative renewable energy solution to the world’s organic, biomass, and plastic waste problems. He urges any alums to reach out to learn more about Enexor BioEnergy and/or why Nashville is the best place to live in the USA. Trish (Patricia) Harris writes, “Living and working in DC is treating me well – even in 2020. As a graphic designer in Democratic politics, I scored big with a career that is both creative and impactful. In October 2019 I married my husband, Bryan Buchanan, in a whimsical and colorful ceremony in DC. This past October our band Bound released our second album, Haunts, to warm reception – including a small nod from NPR Music. We wistfully look forward to the day we can play live shows again to promote it properly.” Anthea Jay Kamalnath joined the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies – Center for International Dispute Settlement MIDS Program in Geneva, Switzerland to specialize in international commercial arbitration, international investment law, and international trade law with a focus on WTO, ICC, ICJ, The Hague’s Permanent Court of Arbitration, UNCITRAL and ICSID dispute settlement mechanisms. Alexander Kharaz writes, “I married the love of my life, Dr. Helen Mikhaylova, on September 20, 2020. In doing our part during the pandemic, my company, Quality Laboratory Services, has now performed more than 300,000 COVID-19 PCR tests in the NYC area, including testing more than 50,000 schoolchildren.”

’03

Kate Biddiscombe McKillop writes, “On June 15, 2020, I welcomed my third child, Virginia McKillop. She joins big brother Trace (3) and big sister Phoebe (2). We are still living at Loomis Chaffee, which has been a great place to be during the pandemic. We are looking forward to getting to travel again so we can introduce Virginia to her new cousin, Bodin, who was born to my sister Molly Biddiscombe ’06 in December.” Allison Kessler Vear writes, “We welcomed our second child, AJ (Alex Jonathan) Vear, on November 20, 2020; we are all home safe and doing well. I continue to work as a spinal cord injury physician at the Shirley Ryan Abilitylab in Chicago and hope to reconnect with fellow Choate alumni once we can all safely gather again.”

’04

Amy Mascunana was married last November 22 to David Mateo in Elmsford, N.Y. She writes, “We opted for a small, virtual ceremony because of the pandemic. In virtual attendance were Amara Omeokwe, LeAnne Armstead, Oana Serban, Anna Park, Dana Norwood ‘03, and faculty member Eera Sharma.”

’05

Ian Grajewski writes, “My wife, Leslie, and I welcomed Mary Jane Elizabeth Grajewski on September 10. She is already a favorite of her big sister, Daisy. We look forward to returning to Choate for our next reunion!” Alice Muglia Russo married Bill Russo last July 26 at the Muglia family home in Chilmark, Mass. Alice’s brother, Sam Muglia ‘01, officiated after the pandemic changed the wedding to a seven-person outdoor family gathering. In attendance (thanks to Zoom!) were Matron of Honor Vanessa (Dube) Le, Emily Reid-McNally, Hans Wetzel ‘00, Emma (Anderson) McMahon ‘01, and Alexander McMahon ‘01. The wedding took place 100 days before Election Day while Alice and Bill were both working on the Biden for President campaign. Alexander Zbrozek has joined Google as inhouse litigation counsel.

’07

Brian Borden married Margot Annmarie Sikorski on October 9 in Jersey City, N.J., at St. Aedan’s Catholic Church; it was an intimate wedding with their immediate family. They plan to have a proper celebration in 2021 with their friends and family.

BULLETIN | WINTER 2021 41

CLASSNOTES | Profile

Brian No

A Spin on Public Policy

’06

Asking tough questions to authority figures piqued Brian No ’06’s interest in journalism early on in his time at Choate. As news editor at The Choate News, his quest to discover the why and how helped to feed his passion, not just for writing, but for identifying areas of improvement in the projects he took on. Now the global head of public policy at Spin, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford that partners with cities and campuses worldwide to deliver dockless, electric scooter-share services, Brian gives great credit to Choate, and longtime Choate News faculty advisor Zach Goodyear, for their impact on shaping the person he is today and starting him on his path toward his current career. Brian left Choate with the journalism bug and while attending Princeton he became president of the University Press Club (UPC), known for being one of the most prestigious and longest-standing collegiate organizations of freelance writers. Members of the UPC have written stories in national publications like The New York Times and The New Yorker as well as regional newspapers such as The Star-Ledger. Goodyear later introduced Brian to his cousin Evan Thomas, a Princeton professor and former editor and Washington bureau chief at Newsweek. Mr. Thomas became Brian’s mentor, and after two summer internships at Newsweek in New York City where he covered Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination to the Supreme Court and did background reporting on Michelle Obama’s undergraduate years, he embarked upon a fellowship with Princeton in Asia where he worked for the Korean affiliate of the International Herald Tribune. After being promoted from copy editor to national editor in a little over a year, Brian felt compelled to determine if he was going to make a long-term career in journalism. He remained committed to impactful work and felt a pull to serve in government, confident that his journalistic experience and skills honed at Choate, Princeton, and beyond would be applicable. After camping out in Choate classmates David Lighton’s and Claire Noble’s Washington, DC apartments for a blitz of interviews on Capitol Hill, Brian accepted a staff position with the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The diversity, depth, and substance of the committee’s work motivated him. He negotiated and drafted legislation and supported enforcement and investigative hearings on many critical topics. In his five years on Capitol Hill, Brian worked on the General Motors’ ignition switch defects, the national Takata airbag recall, and various consumer protection statutes concerning data security and privacy, to name only a few. During his time working in the Senate, Brian consistently witnessed how successful businesses worked equitably and reasonably with the government. Conversely, he also saw the pitfalls associated with subverting or otherwise avoiding government regulations. It was a lesson that would remain with him as he embarked upon his next adventure, in Silicon Valley. Eager to apply his government experience in the commercial world, Brian looked westward for his next adventure. He recalls meeting the founding team at Spin in 2017 in what was then their office, a small loft apartment in down-

town San Francisco. He was excited about the mission and energy of the team, as well as the complexity of the public policy and government relations challenges associated with their task: launching and growing commercial micro-mobility offerings for colleges and municipal governments. Still invested in the why and the how, he jumped at the chance to join the fast-growing startup as the head of public policy. Remembering his experience working in Washington, Brian led Spin’s efforts to partner directly with municipal governments, and brokered a landmark micro-mobility partnership with Seattle, the first city-sanctioned effort in the country at the time. Spin took a decidedly different approach to growth than many of its competitors, who were notorious for blitzing cities with scooter and bike fleets that were often in direct violation of local laws. This disciplined, deliberate approach caught the eye of Ford, which acquired Spin in November 2018. Operating as a subsidiary of the legendary automaker, Spin is now 400+ employees strong and expanding globally to Spain and Canada in addition to its existing partnerships in the U.S., Germany, and United Kingdom. Brian remains involved in these complex commercial and public policy operations and is thankful for his experiences at Choate, which catalyzed so much of the journey that led him to where he is today. BY Jackson Holahan ’05 Jackson Holahan heads Operations and Business Development at Anduril Industries in Irvine, Calif.

42 CLASSNOTES

1 3

WEDDINGS

1 Dr. Danielle (L’Heureux)

4 Amy Mascunana ’04 married

DiCostanzo ‘10 married Jeff DiCostanzo on September 24, 2020 in Farmington, Conn. Kristine Yamartino ‘10, Sarah Kornacki ‘10, and Olivia Bee ‘10 were able to attend the celebration.

David Mateo on November 22, 2020 in Elmsford, N.Y. Not pictured: their toddler son causing havoc.

2 Alice (Muglia) Russo ’05 mar-

ried Bill Russo on July 26, 2020 at the Muglia family home in Chilmark, Mass. 3 Kyra Lammers ’10 married

5 Brian Tiberius Borden ’07

married Margot Annmarie Sikorski on October 9, 2020 at St. Aedan’s Catholic Church in Jersey City, N.J. 6 Trish Harris ‘02 married Bryan

Buchanan in Washington, DC in October 2019.

Ben Nickolay in a backyard ceremony at their home in Saint Paul, Minn., on September 5, 2020.

BULLETIN | WINTER 2021 43

Viraj Gandhi’s debut animated short When Planets Mate competed in two Oscar-qualifying festivals last year, Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival and the American Documentary and Animation Festival (AMDOCS). He wrote the music and story for this film and collaborated with an animation team to bring it to life.

’10 2010s ’10

After three years of teaching primary school science at the Lowell School in Washington, DC, Maxwell Firke is now pursuing his M.Ed at the University of Maryland. He is teaching biology in Montgomery County Public Schools alongside his studies. He also worked with the nonprofit Open Source Medical Supplies to coordinate individuals and maker collectives creating masks, PPE, and other medical supplies to help bridge the gap in medical supplies at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic. Viraj Gandhi’s debut animated short When Planets Mate competed in two Oscar-qualifying festivals last year, Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival and the American Documentary and Animation Festival (AMDOCS). He wrote the music and story for this film and collaborated with an animation team to bring it to life. Viraj earned his master’s in music from Berklee College of Music in 2020 and an MFA from Brown University in 2019. He’s currently seeking investors for his next film, which involves the craft of around 25 POC international artists. Hannah Schneider is spearheading The Chrysalis Project, a major pandemic-related arts project comprising a series of five videos across five countries featuring world-class dancers and musicians. The videos explore the idea that “a particular kind of metamorphosis, transformation, and hope is only possible in a place of darkness.” The first video premiered on January 30. Find out more information at www.oxfordalternativeorchestra.com.

’11

Cason Crane writes, “I was inspired by classmate Helen Guo to start my own small business last year! I founded Explorer Cold Brew, and we cold brew coffee ‘super concentrate’ in four caffeine levels, all sold nationwide via our website, explorercoldbrew.com.” Raven Gaddy writes, “After being evacuated from service in the Peace Corps (Madagascar) due to the pandemic, I have recently begun a job with the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, within the office of International Affairs.” Olivia Lapeyrolerie writes, “After nearly four years working for the Mayor of New York City as his First Deputy Press Secretary, I started a new job as a Vice President at SKDKnickerbocker – a public affairs firm based in New York City – last August.”

’14

Ashley Sojin Kim is a Pushcart Prize nominee for her poem “Chestnuts.” Her poem “Sea Women” was published in Gulf Stream Magazine’s 27th issue. Four of her poems – “Swan Song,” “Cleaning House,” “Last Frost,” and “Chestnuts” – are published or forthcoming in Spoon River Poetry Review, RHINO Poetry, and Napkin Poetry Review.

’17

Lily James is a senior at Mount Holyoke College who serves as co-national director of the nonprofit Every Voice Coalition, a student-led nonprofit working to end campus sexual violence by empowering students to write their own state-level legislation and advocate for the passage of their bills.

Founded in 2016 in Massachusetts, they’ve expanded their work into 9 states across the country (including Conn.) and got their first student-written bill passed in New Hampshire this summer. Lily supervises more than 100 student leaders all across the country and directs the organization’s policy and advocacy strategy.

’19

Kobe Tray had a great first year at Williams (Class of 2023), especially with the Men’s Swim and Dive team, before it was cut short due to the pandemic. He was 1 of 14 teammates to earn College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) All-America Honors in April 2020. Kobe was also 1 of 20 teammates to be named CSCAA Scholar AllAmericans for spring of 2020.

44 CLASSNOTES

BABIES! 1 Kate Biddiscombe McKillop

6 Allison Kessler Vear ’03

welcomed her third child, Virginia McKillop, on June 15, 2020. She joins big brother Trace (3) and big sister Phoebe (2).

welcomed her second child, AJ (Alex Jonathan), on November 20, 2020. Pictured here: Brooke and AJ.

2 Natalie Pentz Ellwanger

7 Ashley Walls Kabakci ’05 and

’05 welcomed Wesley John Ellwanger on September 25, 2020 (Choate Class of 2038!). His middle name was chosen to honor her late brother, Luc-John Pentz ’04.

husband Mustafa welcomed daughter Caroline Grace Kabakci, in July 2020. Caroline has been a shining light for the family in the midst of the pandemic.

3 Jennifer Barry Jomier ’03 and

8 Regina Heyl DePietro ’07,

husband Julien welcomed their second set of twins, Charlotte and Luca, on October 16, 2020. Pictured here, Charlotte and Luca with their big siblings, Emma and Robin.

M.D., husband Benjamin CastErline, and son Henry Hudson happily welcomed identical twins Sarah “Sadie” Jean and Elizabeth “Elsie” Ann into their family on May 23, 2020 in Chicago, Ill.

4 Coco LeFave White ’03 and

husband Christopher welcomed their baby girl, Madison Lynn White, to the world on August 22, 2020. 5 Ian Grajewski ’05 and wife

Leslie welcomed Mary Jane Elizabeth Grajewski on September 10, 2020 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

9 Amanda Esten Brown ’03

and husband Mackey Brown welcomed their first child, a daughter named Isabel Marian Brown, on November 6, 2020 in Roseville, Calif. The family is healthy and happy at home.

JUNE 28 – AUGUST 6

EXP LOR E FR E S H I DE A S . AC HI E VE N E W G OA L S. Summer Programs 2021 will have something for everyone! Pre-K through elementary school, middle school, high school, college, and beyond; offerings include 1–, 2–, 3–, and 6–week sessions. HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL ACADEMIC PROGRAM 135 courses,

TEACHER TRAINING INSTITUTE

workshops, and programs.

Professional development for aspiring and experienced teachers.

YOUNG ARTISTS PROGRAM Theater, dance,

EXPERIENCE CHOATE: COURSES FOR ADULTS

music, and visual arts for grades K–8.

Adult learners can achieve new academic goals from experienced faculty.

SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL A one-week

experience for musicians of all ages and ability levels who play the violin, viola, and cello (Pre-K–Adult).

A P P L Y

N O W !

W W W . C H O A T E . E D U / S U M M E R

IN MEMORIAM | Remembering Those We Have Lost Alumni and Alumnae

’38 C

Douglas C. Plate, 100, a retired Navy Vice Admiral, died December 28, 2020 in Charleston S.C. Born in New York City, Douglas came to Choate in 1936. He lettered in fencing, winning a School prize in that sport, and was in the Cum Laude Society; he also won a School mathematics prize. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, he joined the Navy, serving for 35 years. He was aboard the USS Missouri during the Japanese surrender in 1945. In 1972, he was named Commander of the Second (Atlantic) Fleet in Norfolk, Va. He was awarded the Legion of Merit and the Distinguished Service Medal, each with a gold star. Retiring in 1975, Douglas became Special Assistant to the President of The Citadel in Charleston; he retired a second time in 2005. He belonged to the Military Officers Association of America and other Naval and service organizations. He leaves two children; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a sister.

’38 RH Jane Butler Taylor, 100, active in the community, died December 16, 2020 in Williamsburg, Va. Born in St. Louis, Mo., Jane came to Rosemary Hall in 1936. She was in the Kindly Club, Scouts, the Library Committee, the Music Club, Equites and Hospites; she lettered in track, was an Assistant Marshal, and earned four bars on the Committee. After attending Miss Child’s School in Florence, Italy, Jane lived in Washington, DC, where she devoted much of her time to charity work. She enjoyed knitting and sports. She leaves three children; four grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

’42 C

Bruce M. Hall, 95, a retired attorney, died October 1, 2020 in Portland, Ore. Born in Hollywood, Calif., Bruce came to Choate in 1937. He lettered in soccer and wrestling, was Editor of the Literary Magazine and Assistant Managing Editor of the Choate News; and was in St. Andrew’s Cabinet and the Cum Laude Society. He went to Princeton but left to join the Army. After World War II, he graduated from Princeton and earned

a degree from the UC Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law. He practiced law in Portland for 50 years, frequently helping small businesses fight unlawful trade practices, arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1998. Bruce was on the boards of many civic organizations, and enjoyed farming on the weekends, producing apples, filberts, Christmas trees, and wine grapes. He leaves his wife, Janice Hall, 8000 NE Parrish Rd., Newberg, OR 97132; five children; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

’43 RH Nancy Bush Ellis, 94, active in the community, died January 10, 2021 in Concord, Mass. Nancy, a sister of former President George H.W. Bush, was born in Milton, Mass., and came to Rosemary Hall in 1938; she was fourth form President and played on the tennis team. For decades she promoted environmental and antipoverty causes and was head of the New England section of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Nancy was also a board member of the Massachusetts Audubon Society and raised funds to establish the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area in Belize. She leaves four children; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and a brother.

’45 C John H. Staub II, 93, a retired executive of packaging firms, died November 29, 2020 in Litchfield, Conn., of COVID-19. Born in New Haven, Jack came to Choate in 1943; he lettered in football and hockey. He enlisted in the Navy and, after his discharge, graduated from Georgetown. Jack had a long career in specialty packaging, working for Palmer Associates, Carlin Container, and Schiffenhaus Packaging. He enjoyed golf and cooking. He leaves five children, including Charles “Todd” Staub ’70, 445 South St., Litchfield, CT 06759; 15 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. A son, the late John Staub III ’69, and a brother, the late James Staub ’51, also attended Choate.

’45 RH Sandra Strotz Keiser, 93, active in the community, died January 9, 2021. Born in Chicago, Sandra came to Rosemary Hall in 1941. She was in the Kindly Club and the Choir; was a Fire Captain and the School’s representative on a Greenwich warwork committee during World War II; and was on 1st team basketball. After graduating from Connecticut College for Women, she and her husband lived in Dallas, where she was active in adult literacy. In 2011, the town of Richmond, Texas honored her as a Richardson Real Hero for her literacy work. She leaves three children, five grandchildren, two greatgranddaughters, and two step-siblings. Her sister, the late Shirley Strotz Mullen ’43, also attended Rosemary Hall.

’46 RH Mary Harris Cooper, 92, active in the community, died November 26, 2020 in Galveston, Texas. Born in Galveston, Mary came to Rosemary Hall in 1944; she was in the Kindly Club, the Chapel Committee, and the Fire Squad. She then graduated from Smith. A lifelong supporter of Galveston, Mary volunteered with the local Junior League, Trinity Episcopal Church, St. Vincent’s House and the William Temple Foundation. She leaves three children and four grandchildren. Her mother, the late Laura Hutchings Harris ’20, attended Rosemary Hall.

’47 C

William B. MacColl Jr., 92, a retired banker, died October 18, 2020 in San Francisco. Born in Providence, Bill came to Choate in 1944; he lettered in crew and was in the Press, Choral, and Glee clubs. He entered Brown University but left in 1949 to join the Navy and become a fighter pilot. After the Korean War he finished his studies at Brown and joined Wells Fargo Bank in San Francisco, retiring as a Vice President. Besides flying, Bill enjoyed motorcycles and collecting model trains and model boats. For 40 years he was Treasurer of the Laguna Beach Hospital Volunteers. He leaves two children and four grandchildren. Cousin Hugh MacColl ’56 attended Choate, and cousins Catherine MacColl ’80, and Scott MacColl ’82 attended Choate Rosemary Hall.

’49 C

Peter Hallock, 89, the founder of a metal-fastening firm, died September 25, 2020. Born in Bronxville, N.Y., Pete came to Choate in 1946; he lettered in cross-country, wrestling, and track, and was in the Ski Club and Glee Club. He earned two degrees from Cornell, served in the Air Force, and then was an advertising executive. In 1965, Pete started Gripnail Corp. in Providence, R.I., which made and marketed metal fasteners and equipment. He retired in 2000, turning the company over to its employees. He enjoyed sailboat racing, winning many awards. He leaves his wife, Peggy Hallock, 234 Seaview Ave., Swansea, MA 02777; a daughter; and two grandchildren. His brother, the late Robert L. Hallock Jr. ’43, also attended Choate. Samuel Spencer Merz, 89, a retired engineer, died December 19, 2020. Born in Hartford, Spencer came to Choate in 1945; he was Secretary of the Automobile Club. He served in the Navy in the Mediterranean, then graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Spencer was first employed by Raytheon Co. in the Boston area, but soon started his own company, Questek, which built excimer lasers; he was later an engineering consultant. He enjoyed sailing, particularly racing catamarans, and for years edited the newsletter of the New England Multihull Association. He was active in Choate circles in the Boston area, particularly the Head of the Charles regatta. Spencer also enjoyed tinkering and owned seven patents. He leaves his wife, Mary Nickerson, 20 Coolidge St., Apt. 1, Brookline, MA 02446; three children; four stepchildren; nine grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

’51 C

David C. Hawley, 87, an executive with a steel company, died December 20, 2020. Born in Evanston, Ill., Dave came to Choate in 1949; he was in the Cum Laude Society, the Glee Club, and the Maiyeros. After graduating from Princeton, he served in the Navy, then earned a master’s degree from Northwestern. Dave spent 35 years with Inland Steel Company,

BULLETIN | WINTER 2021 47

retiring in 1995 as Director of Public Affairs. For many years he was a board member of Laidlaw Corp. and a treasurer of the local Boy Scouts troop. He leaves his wife, Dorothy Hawley, 653 Hill Rd., Winnetka, IL 60093; three children; six grandchildren; a brother, Jonathan Hawley ’56; and a sister. Another brother, the late F. William Hawley ’49, and a cousin, the late Garrett Alton ’49, also attended Choate. Charlton M. Wilder, 88, a retired real estate executive, died September 10, 2020. Born in Cincinnati, Charlie came to Choate in 1948; he lettered in football, was Vice President of the Western Club, and was in the Press Club. After graduating from Washington & Lee and serving in the Army, Charlie worked in industrial and commercial real estate in California and Colorado. He leaves a daughter. His father, the late Charlton Wilder ’12, also attended Choate.

’52 C

Peter R. Decker, 86, a professor, journalist, and rancher, died December 12, 2020. Born in New York City, Peter came to Choate in 1947; he was in the Choral Club, the Glee Club, and the Choir, and was Circulation Manager of the Choate News. He earned degrees from Middlebury, Syracuse, and Columbia, served in the Army, and was an Assistant Professor of History and Public Policy at Duke. At various times he was a senior writer at Congressional Quarterly; a correspondent for the Associated Press; and a speechwriter for then-Sen. Robert Kennedy. Peter was the owner of the Double D Ranch in Ridgeway, Colo., and for a time was Colorado’s Commissioner of Agriculture. He served on several boards, including those of Middlebury College, Fort Lewis College, and a branch of the Federal Reserve Bank. He leaves his wife, Deedee Decker, 2500 East Cherry Creek South, Apt. 106, Denver, CO 80209; three children; and six grandchildren. A stepbrother, the late Clark Thompson ’48, attended Choate, as did several cousins, including the late John Wyckoff ’52, the late John Gibson ’53, and Ferdinand Wyckoff ’50. A sonin-law, Ben Sinnamon ’90, attended Choate Rosemary Hall, and another cousin, Connie Ferguson ’69, attended Rosemary Hall.

Theodore B. Smith Jr., 87, the retired chairman of an aerospace firm, died September 18, 2020. Born in New York City, Ted came to Choate in 1947. He lettered in soccer, squash, and track; was Vice President of St. Andrew’s Cabinet; Chairman of the Dance Committee; and in the French and Southern clubs. After graduating from Colgate, he served in the Marines and the Army. He then joined the family business, John Hassall Inc., which made commercial and aerospace fasteners, rising to be its Chairman. Ted was also Chairman of a Long Island real estate development company and of HITCO, Ltd., a global sourcing company. He was on the boards of several organizations, including the Salisbury School and Davis Mutual Funds, and was also, for a time, Mayor of Mill Neck, N.Y. A study room in the Andrew Mellon Library is named for him. He leaves a son and two grandchildren. A sister, the late Barbara S. Brewer ’46, attended Rosemary Hall.

’53 C

Alfred B. Pittman IV, 85, a retired sales executive, died December 19, 2020 in Jacksonville, Fla. Born in Memphis, Tenn., Alfred came to Choate in 1949; he was in the Altar Guild and the Southern Club, and was a Campus Cop. After graduating from the University of Virginia, he was in the Army Reserves Medical Corps for six years. He then worked in sales for Hanes Hosiery and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and later in agriculture and commercial real estate. Alfred was an avid golfer who loved the outdoors. He leaves two children; five grandchildren; and a sister. John J. Post, 84, a retired business executive, died September 12, 2020. Born in New York City, John came to Choate in 1949; he lettered in golf and was on the board of the Choate News and was a Campus Cop. After Choate, he attended Cornell and Boston University, was a Navy pilot, and graduated from Harvard Business School. He worked in management for Hewlett Packard and Phillips Corp. When he retired, John joined the business-support organization SCORE, later chairing its Manchester, N.H. chapter. He enjoyed golf, sailing, travel, and gardening. He leaves his wife, Judie Post, 40 Springwood Way,

Manchester, NH 03102; six children; 13 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. A brother, the late George Post ’50, and an uncle, the late Richard Post ’22, also attended Choate.

’54 C

David F. Taber Jr., 84, an entrepreneur, died September 24, 2020 in Winfield, Ill. Born in Evanston, Ill., David came to Choate in 1952. He lettered in track and was in the Western and Automobile clubs. After graduating from Kenyon College, he owned several businesses in Naperville, Ill., including an auto body shop and a restaurant. David enjoyed golf, boating, and skiing. He leaves his wife, Jennifer Taber, 1-S-069 Normandy Woods Dr., Winfield IL 60190; and a daughter.

’56 C

Peter S. Booth, 84, the retired owner of an electric supply firm, died November 8, 2020, in Elmira, N.Y. Born in New York City, Peter came to Choate in 1950. He was twice President of the Ski Club, lettered in football and hockey, was twice hockey captain, and won a School trophy in that sport. He was also President of the Athletic Association and won a School award in art. His classmates voted him “Best Athlete” and “Best Build.” After graduating from St. Lawrence University, he joined the family business in Elmira, I. D. Booth Inc., and rose to be its fourth-generation owner. Peter coached youth ice hockey and was a founder of the Twin Tier Amateur Hockey Association. He also was an accomplished amateur artist, using sales from his works to support local nonprofits. He leaves two children, including Betsy Booth Scalco ’83, 306 Alumni Ave., Durham, NC 27713; a brother, Seeley Booth ’59; nephews, including Timothy Booth ’94; and cousins, including Irving Booth ’71 and Donna Booth Quinlan ’76. His father, the late John Booth ’29, attended Choate, as did an uncle, the late Irving Booth ’41, and a nephew, the late Christopher Booth ’91. Harry C. Lane, 82, an executive of a quarrying firm, died September 19, 2020. Born in Springfield, Mass., Harry was at Choate for one year; he was a tenor in the Glee Club. He attended Williams, served in the Army, and graduated from American International College. In 1969, he joined the family

business, John S. Lane & Son, a quarry in Westfield, Mass., where he worked for 59 years. He was a past Chairman of the National Stone Association and served on the boards of Noble Hospital and Westfield Savings Bank. Harry was an avid golfer. He leaves his wife, Nancy Lane, 131 Granville Rd., Southwick, MA 01077; two sons; and four grandchildren. His father, the late F. Curtis Lane ’32, also attended Choate. George D. Tidd, 82, an executive of an oil company, died August 29, 2020. Born in Philadelphia, George came to Choate in 1952. He lettered in crew, was Captain of the rifle team, President of the Rifle Club, and won a School award for marksmanship. After graduating from Brown, he served in the Air Force, attaining the rank of Captain, then worked for Mobil Oil Corp. for many years, both domestically and abroad. He leaves his wife, Vera Tidd, 51657 Rolling Green Court, Indio, CA 92201.

’57 C

Lauren M. Miralia, 80, an investment banker, died October 7, 2020. Born in New Rochelle, N.Y., Larry came to Choate in 1954; he lettered in squash and was in the French, Current History, and Rod and Gun clubs. After graduating from Duke, he spent three years in the Navy as a personnel officer in the sailing program. He then was an investment banker with the Municipal Bonds Insurance Association in New York. Larry enjoyed dogs, particularly collies, and sailing. He leaves two daughters, including Andrea Miralia ’89, 46 Holly Rd., Severna Park, MD 21146; and a granddaughter.

’58 C

Richard Blackinton, 81, a metals manufacturer, died December 4, 2020. Born in Providence, R.I., Richard came to Choate in 1954; he was in the Skeet Club. After graduating from the University of Virginia, he served in the Marines. Richard founded New England Sterling of Attleboro, Mass., which made metal goods for Tiffany & Co. and other jewelers; his firm makes the Kentucky Derby trophy. He leaves his wife, Joanne Blackinton, P.O. Box 3602, Edgartown, MA 02539; five children; five grandchildren; and a sister.

48 IN MEMORIAM

Ian R. MacKenzie, 80, head of a financial services firm, died September 8, 2020 in New York City. Born in New York, Ian came to Choate in 1953; he was in the Rod and Gun Club, the Skeet Club, and the Automobile Club. After graduating from Washington and Lee, he joined Goldman Sachs and later, with two friends, started American and Overseas Asset Services, now called Intermarket Corp. For almost 30 years Ian lived part-time on Nantucket; he was a trustee of the Nantucket Conservation Foundation and several nonprofit committees on the island. He leaves his wife, Carolyn MacKenzie, 580 Park Ave., Apt. 3-C, New York, NY 10065; a daughter; two stepdaughters; and two grandchildren.

’59 C

Luis G. de Mendoza, 78, a retired commodities broker, died September 3, 2020 in Santa Fe, N.M. Born in Havana, Cuba, Luis came to Choate in 1955; he was in the Cum Laude Society, the Art Club, and the Projectionists Association. After a year at Harvard, he graduated from Louisiana State University. He worked for many years at Merrill Lynch in New York, moving to Key Biscayne, Fla., in 1990 and then to Santa Fe. He leaves his husband, Robert Oldakowski, 11 Hondo Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87508.

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Arthur P. Dodge, 78, a retired stockbroker, died September 11, 2020 from complications of COVID-19. Born in New York City, Arthur came to Choate in 1956; he was Secretary-Treasurer of the Chess Club and on the boards of the Brief and the Choate News. After

earning degrees from Yale and the University of California at Berkeley, he was a broker with various firms, including Paine Webber; Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette; and UBS. Arthur enjoyed sailing, and racing his 1961 Mini-Cooper S. He was a trustee of the Eleanor Whitman Early Childhood Center in East Hampton, N.Y., and treasurer of that town’s Republican Committee. He leaves his wife, Maria Dolecka, 190 Treescape Dr., Unit C-12, East Hampton, NY 11937; a daughter; and two grandsons. Two half-brothers, the late Jonathan Dodge ’51 and the late Kent Dodge ’53, also attended Choate, as did his father, the late Washington Dodge ’25, who was a survivor of the Titanic sinking. Stewart G. Flory, 79, a retired Classics professor, died November 27, 2020 in Minneapolis. Born in New York City, Stew came to Choate in 1956; he was co-Managing Editor of the Choate News and was on the Board of the Literary Magazine. After earning B.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Yale, he taught Classics, first at Amherst and then, for 30 years, at Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, Minn. He authored many reviews, conference papers, journal articles, and a book on Herodotus, winning several professional awards, which enabled him to travel often to Greece and Italy. Besides travel, Stew enjoyed gourmet cooking. He leaves his wife, Ellie Flory, 5505 12th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55417; three children; and a sister. Stuart M. Lamb Jr., 77, the retired President of a manufacturing firm, died August 5, 2019. Born in New York City, Stuart came to Choate

in 1956; he was on the board of the Choate News. After graduating from Dickinson, he was in the Air Force, serving in Vietnam. He then was a real estate broker in Milford, Conn., and later was president of Trimount Bituminous Products Co. of Everett, Mass. His father, the late Stuart Lamb ’31, and an uncle, the late William Lamb ’32, also attended Choate.

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Lawrence H. “Barge” Levy Jr., 78, a retired educator, died January 19, 2021 in Louisville, Colo. Born in Washington, DC, Barge came to Choate in 1957; he lettered in track and was President of the Ski Club. After earning degrees from Columbia and Harvard, he moved to Idaho and founded the Silver Creek Alternative School for at-risk learners. He later helped start the Sage School in Hailey, Idaho. A fan of aviation, Barge earned his pilot’s license and co-piloted missions with the Quebec Labrador Foundation, headed by former Choate Chaplain Robert Bryan. He leaves two children, three grandchildren, a greatgranddaughter, and two siblings.

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Alexandre Goodwin (Levitch), 76, an entrepreneur, died September 19, 2020 of Parkinson’s disease. Born in New York City, Alex came to Choate in 1959, where he was known by his stepfather’s name, Goodwin; he later took the surname of his birth father, Levitch. He was President of the Chess Club and in the Debate Senate, on the Sixth Form Tutoring Committee, and on the board of the Literary Magazine. He then graduated from the University of Michigan and earned a law degree from

Columbia. Alex’s career was varied. He worked for Robert Kennedy, patented and distributed the “Umbroller” baby stroller, helped lead the buyout of Northwest Airlines, and built a Moscow-based investment house. He later bought and ran a children’s summer camp in the Adirondack Mountains. He enjoyed art, writing, gourmet food, and travel. He leaves his wife, Linda Goodwin, P. O. Box 97, Putnam Station, NY 12861; a daughter; two grandchildren; and a sister. A stepbrother, Charles Goodwin ’57, also attended Choate. A review of his book of poetry, Imponderables Propel the Dance: The Russian Collection, released before his passing, can be found on page 53.

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Alfred C. Doering, 75, the owner of a multimedia training and communication firm, died November 16, 2020 in Malibu, Calif. Born in Chicago, Fred came to Choate in 1959. A noted musician, he was President of the Maiyeros, Vice President of the Glee Club, and in the band the Intruders; he also lettered in lacrosse. After earning degrees from Harvard and Northwestern, he was in the family business, Castle Metals, until starting his own firm, Fred Doering Associates. Fred enjoyed world travel, golf, and music; he was President and Treasurer of St. Matthew’s Music Guild. He leaves his wife, Sarah Doering, 18453 Clifftop Way, Malibu, CA 90265; two children; three stepdaughters; and eight grandchildren. His father, the late Edmund Doering II ’36, and a brother, the late Edmund Doering III ’60, also attended Choate.

’61 A fan of aviation, “Barge” Levy Jr. earned his pilot’s license and co-piloted missions with the Quebec Labrador Foundation, headed by former Choate Chaplain Robert Bryan.

BULLETIN | WINTER 2021 49

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Eugene Judson Curtis, 73, died November 26, 2020 in Tallahassee, Fla. Born in Wausau, Wis., Jud came to Choate in 1961; he was in the Automobile and Current History clubs. After Choate, Jud graduated from Florida State University. He was one of the founders of the Southern Trailriders Association. He leaves his wife, Jennette Curtis, 8288 Yashuntafun Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32311; and a sister.

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Steven P. Elliott, 72, a judge, died January 5, 2021 in Reno, Nev. Born in Hawthorne, Calif., Steve came to Choate in 1964; he was in the Art, Automobile, German, and Spanish clubs. After earning degrees from Stanford and the University of Denver, he moved to Reno, where he was in private practice and then an attorney for the city of Sparks. In 1996, he was elected a Judge of the Second Judicial District Court of Washoe County. Active in the community, Steve was a director of the Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows and a member of several community organizations. He was an avid skier, golfer, and traveler. He leaves his wife, Mendy Elliott, 5520 Rue St. Tropez, Reno, NV 89511; three sons; and four grandchildren.

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William Joseph Ferguson Jr., 71, a retired urologist, died January 17, 2021 in Halifax, Va. Born in Sikeston, Mo., Joe came to Choate in 1964; he was on the board of the Brief and in the Gold Key Society and the Current History, Automobile, and Ski clubs. After earning degrees from Dartmouth and the University of Cincinnati, he served in the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander. In 1984, he joined the Danville (Va.) Urologic Clinic, retiring in 2014. Joe was a member of several medical societies and a chairman of the Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital board. He also volunteered for literacy programs and enjoyed backpacking, fishing, and skiing. He leaves his wife, Debbie Ferguson, 1086 Lakeshore Dr., Halifax, VA 24558; two children; five grandchildren; and two sisters. Frederick C. Giandomenico, 70, a lawyer, died November 1, 2020 in Walpole, Mass. Born in Norwood, Mass., Fred came to Choate in 1964; he lettered in hockey, was Sports Editor

of the Choate News, and was in the Automobile Club. After graduating from Dartmouth, he hitchhiked around the world, then earned a degree from Vermont Law School and was in private practice with his brother Ed. In the 1980s, he and his brother Albie operated restaurants in Walpole. Fred enjoyed world travel and sports (at age 9, he had won a contest to name the newly formed Boston Patriots football team). He leaves three brothers, including Albert Giandomenico ’71, 79 Common St., Walpole, MA 02081; and a sister. David N. Norton, 70, a carpenter, died May 24, 2020 in South Strafford, Vt. Born in Meriden, Dave came to Choate in 1964, and was a sports standout; he lettered in soccer, hockey, and baseball (Captain); was Vice President of the Athletic Association; and won School awards in hockey, baseball (twice), and general athletics. He then attended Middlebury, where he was captain of the hockey team. As a carpenter, he specialized in restoration of historic buildings. Dave, or “Nort” as he was later called, coached many youth hockey squads. He leaves his wife, Dorian Yates, P.O. Box 221, South Strafford, VT 05070; a son; a stepdaughter; a brother, Henry Norton ’66; and a sister. His father, the late Austin Norton ’40, and an uncle, the late John Norton ’35, also attended Choate.

’70 RH Constance Devereux Parrish, 68, a retired executive of a knitting company, died October 14, 2020 of heart disease in Stamford, Conn. Born in Utica, N.Y., Connie came to Rosemary Hall in 1967; she was a Marshal; on the Dance and Assembly Committees; a cheerleader; and in Dramu, the Athletic Association, and Gold Key. After graduating from Bradford College in Haverhill, Mass., she was director of infant wear sales in the family business, Oneita Knitting Mills, in New York City. She later worked in a Stamford law office. Connie leaves a sister and her stepmother. Her husband, Alexander Parrish, died three days after she did.

’71 RH Virginia Crain Hogan, 67, an artist, died August 28, 2020 in Houston, Texas. Born in Houston, Giny came to Rosemary Hall in 1967; she later

studied at the Rhode Island School of Design and the California College of the Arts. For many years, Giny was an artist. She leaves her husband, Walter Hogan, 214 49th St., Galveston, TX 77551; two children; two grandchildren; and four siblings, including Katharine Crain ’65 and Mark Crain ’74. Her grandmother, Katharine Dawson ’15, and her mother, Virginia Crain ’41, also attended Rosemary Hall.

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George R. Eleazer Jr., 63, a school psychologist, died August 31, 2020. Born in East Patchogue, N.Y., George came to Choate in 1970; he was in the Gold Key Society. After earning degrees from Tufts and Hofstra, he was a school psychologist in Suffolk County, N.Y. George was a President of the Bellport, N.Y., Rotary Club and was on the board of the Brookhaven Memorial Hospital. He frequently took part in Black history programs at schools. He leaves two children, three grandsons, and his mother. Bradley A. Mott, 64, an actor, died of pancreatic cancer October 10, 2020 in Chicago. Born in New York City, Brad came to Choate in 1971; he was on the board of the News, was President of the Film Society, and acted in several plays, twice winning School awards in dramatics. After graduating from Northwestern, he acted in many stage productions. Brad also taught theater at the Latin School of Chicago and the Columbia College of Chicago. He leaves his wife, Susan OsborneMott, 4630 N. Beacon St., Chicago, IL 60640; two children; two brothers, Theodore “Tod” Mott ’76 and Alex Mott ’79; and his mother.

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Michael A. Dean III, 62, died October 18, 2020 in Honaunau, Hawaii. Born in Bridgeport, Conn., Mike came to Choate in 1972; he was in the Pre-Law Club and the Spanish Club, and tutored mentally challenged children as part of the Stonegate Tutors program. He then graduated from Tulane. Mike was an avid reader and conversationalist. He leaves four sisters.

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Mark L. von Kreuter, 58, an institutional equity salesman, died September 7, 2020. Born in Darien, Conn., Mark was at Choate Rosemary

Hall for one year; he lettered in football and baseball. He then earned degrees from Princeton and the Stern School of Business at New York University. He started his career in New York at Smith Barney, and more recently was a partner at Capture Capital LLC. Mark enjoyed world travel, skiing, golfing, and fishing. He leaves his mother and three siblings.

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Karin Parker Kaplan, 55, a high school English teacher, died December 23, 2020. Born in Charlottesville, Va., Karin came to Choate Rosemary Hall in 1981; she was in the Gold Key Society and was a math lab tutor. After earning degrees from Vanderbilt and George Mason University, she became a high school English teacher; she and her family lived in Charlottesville, Dallas, and Tampa before returning to northern Virginia in 2000. Karin enjoyed theater, art, film, and travel. She leaves her husband, Charles Kaplan, 1004 Union Church Rd., McLean, VA 22102; four children; her mother; her father and stepmother; and a sister.

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Natalia Maria Roquette, 43, an executive of a packing supply company, died October 5, 2020 in Miami, Fla. Born in San Juan, P.R., Natalia came to Choate Rosemary Hall in 1990; she lettered in volleyball and was in the Gold Key Society, the Spanish Club, and Christian Fellowship. She attended Boston University and American University, where she studied law. While Natalia originally pursued a career in law, she recently was on the management team of the family firm, Norman Roquette Inc., in Catano, P.R. She leaves her mother and two siblings.

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Maxwell B. Allyn, 37, an executive with energy companies, died December 30, 2020 in Bakersfield, Calif. Born in San Francisco, Max came to Choate Rosemary Hall in 1999; he was on the hockey team. He was an operations manager for several energy companies in the West. He leaves his wife, Jamie Allyn, 8013 Cold Springs Court, Bakersfield, CA 93301; four children; his parents; and three sisters.

Faculty, Trustees, Staff Barbara A. Blanchard, who worked at Choate Rosemary Hall for 28 years, died September 17, 2019 in Wallingford. Born in Meriden, Barbara started at Choate in the School laundry, then was a housekeeper in the Paul Mellon Arts Center. She then worked for Gaylord Hospital in Wallingford as a dietary aide. Barbara enjoyed quilting and gardening. She leaves two sons and six grandchildren. MaryAnn Devine, who worked in the School’s Development office for nearly 20 years, died January 19, 2021. She was 55. Born in Meriden, MaryAnn graduated from Mercy High School and attended Middlesex Community College. At Choate she was a Biographic Data Specialist. She leaves her husband, Michael Devine, 7 Dinatale Dr., Wallingford, CT 06492; two children; two siblings; and her parents. Former faculty members Ben Foster and his wife, Zay Foster, died within two weeks of each other this past fall.

Benjamin G. Foster taught English at Choate Rosemary Hall for 27 years.

Benjamin G. Foster, who taught English and coached tennis and squash at Choate Rosemary Hall for 27 years, died October 29, 2020 in Hartford. He was 84. Born in Morristown, N.J., Ben grew up in northwestern Connecticut and graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School, where he was Editor of the school newspaper and co-Editor of the yearbook. After graduating from Williams, he worked at Macmillan Publishing Co.’s college text division in New York. He then earned an M.A. and a Ph.D from the University of Connecticut. Before coming to Choate in 1969, he taught at Pace University in New York and American University in Beirut, Lebanon. When Ben retired in 1996, Headmaster Ed Shanahan said, “the School has benefited from his lively and intellectually rigorous teaching, his equally inspired and successful coaching career, and his five-year tour of duty as English department head.” After Choate, he was an adjunct professor of English at Quinnipiac

University in Hamden, Conn., and a tennis professional in Connecticut and Maine. He played competitive tennis on the senior circuit. Ben also painted, exhibiting his work in galleries in Georgia. He leaves three sons: Jeremiah Foster ’83, 17 Dresden Circle, Goshen, CT 06756; Caleb Foster ’86; and Nathaniel Foster ’94; a stepson; and eight grandchildren.

Zay McColl Foster, director of the School’s Office of Publications and Public Information for 13 years, died November 10, 2020 in Goshen, Conn. She was 82. Born in Champaign, Ill., Zay graduated from Kemper Hall in Kenosha, Wis., where she was President of the student body, Editor of the newspaper, and was awarded St. Mary’s Cross, the school’s highest student honor. After graduating from the University of Illinois, she worked in publishing in New York for Macmillan; Holt Rinehart and Winston; and William Morrow. When she married Choate teacher Ben Foster in 1975, she became the School’s alumni publications editor. In 1988, President and Principal Charles F. Dey praised her “skillful editing and steady hand on the publications tiller,” thanking her for her “many positive contributions to the evolution of our School.” She later was managing editor at Cheney & Co. of New Haven and alumni magazine editor at Quinnipiac University. In retirement she was a member of Aid of the Connecticut Junior Republic and the Women’s Forum in Litchfield, Conn. In Georgia, she was on the board of the Jekyll Island Arts Association and co-director of exhibits for the Goodyear Cottage Arts Gallery. She leaves two sons, including Nathaniel Foster ’94; two stepsons, Jeremiah Foster ’83 and Caleb Foster ’86; and eight grandchildren. Robert M. Shaw, who was a driver at School for 25 years, died May 31, 2020 in Wallingford. He was 87. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Bob came to the United States in 1963. After working briefly at Yale, he came to Choate in

1965, where he was in charge of all school vehicles and was a driver until he retired in 1990. “There is no one I would rather have meeting Senators, the Soviets, or corporate executives to provide their first impression of Choate Rosemary Hall,” said President and Principal Charles F. Dey at Bob’s retirement. He and his wife Betty coached performers in a School production of Brigadoon in 1998, to make sure their Scottish accents were authentic. He leaves his wife, Elizabeth Shaw, 47 Putter Dr., No. 602, Wallingford, CT 06492; three daughters; five grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.

Our sympathy to the friends and families of the following alumni, whose deaths are reported with sorrow: Daniel Grimberg ’81 November 25, 2020 Thomas E. Johnson ’83 April 4, 2019

BULLETIN | WINTER 2021 51

“Always what springs to mind when we think of Raman is his lightning wit, his humor, his vocabulary, and his eternal youth. His students pay him tribute not merely for what they have learned from him, but for the joy knowledge has brought him.”

R a m a n M e n o n Remembered At Raman Menon’s retirement in 2008, English teacher Elizabeth Lowery had this to say: “Always what springs to mind when we think of Raman is his lightning wit, his humor, his vocabulary, and his eternal youth. His students pay him tribute not merely for what they have learned from him, but for the joy knowledge has brought him.” Raman, who taught English at Choate Rosemary Hall for 44 years, died on January 18, 2021 at age 89. Konthath Kunhirama “Raman” Menon was born in Rangoon, Burma (now Yangon, Myanmar). He earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Travancore (India), and after earning a master’s degree from Madras (India) University he taught English at college and high school levels in India, Ethiopia, and Ghana. It was in Ghana that he first met French teacher Meryl Blau, a Peace Corps volunteer. After Raman moved to the United States to earn a second master’s degree from New York University, they were married in 1963. They came to Choate in 1964. Raman quickly dazzled not only students but also faculty with his extensive knowledge of English. Said teacher Chas Twitchell, “What impressed me was that Raman not only knew his stuff, but he seemed to know virtually everything there was to know. As teachers, we all like to think we know our material, but Raman has mastery. There wasn’t a single word I raised in class that Raman couldn’t break down and explain etymologically.” Says Jim Lebovitz ’75, who established a fund at School in Raman’s name, “Mr. Menon was a constant positive presence during my time at Choate and also when my daughter and son, Sarah and Chip, were there. I can still see Mr. Menon and his dog, both with perfect posture, walking in unison in the distance. When Mr. Menon spoke, it was as if every word that came out of his mouth had been carefully considered and determined to be the perfect one.”

In his many years at School, Raman was Chairman of the Behavior and Ethics and English departments, an etymology teacher, a crew coach, the coordinator of the Community Service program, and a longtime advisor in Nichols House. He was also Chair of the Faculty Committee and received the Charles Rice Chair in English, the Johannes van Straalen Award for Teaching, and the Joseph B. Whitehead Educator of Distinction Award. He was extremely physically fit. “In the Fitness Center a few years ago,” Elizabeth Lowery remembered, “I watched a group of football players nudge each other as Raman hung upside down on a board and did 200 sit-ups in two minutes.” Raman enjoyed travel. He and Meryl visited Cambodia, Costa Rica, Turkey, Greece, China, Malaysia, India, and Canada, among other places. After retirement, Raman and Meryl moved to the Whitney Center community in Hamden, where he organized presentations and moderated discussions on current events. He leaves his wife, Meryl Blau Menon, 200 Leeder Hill Dr., Apt. 538, Hamden, CT 06517, and a brother in India.

BOOKSHELF

In this issue, we see a practical investigation of how churches can support their communities while embracing part-time clergy; a former classmate pays a moving, lyrical tribute to a poet who has passed; we investigate the glory, pain, and unifying nature of baseball; and the nature of change and loss, and the importance of honoring our memories, are explored through the eyes of a child.

Part-Time Is Plenty By G. Jeffrey MacDonald ’87 | Reviewed by James P. Davidson

PART-TIME IS PLENTY: THRIVING WITHOUT FULL-TIME CLERGY Author: G. Jeffrey MacDonald ’87 Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press About the Reviewer: James P. Davidson teaches in the HPRSS Department and is a member of Choate’s Spiritual Life team.

Religion in the United States is moving in two seemingly opposite directions at the same time. On the one hand, according to Pew Research Center, 83 percent of Americans are certain or absolutely certain about the importance of God, 74 percent see their religion as an important factor in their life, and 53 percent pray daily. On the other hand, the same survey reported that 66 percent of Americans seldom or never attend formal religious services and do not maintain a formal connection to a church or religious organization. Given this landscape, I think G. Jeffrey MacDonald ’87’s new book offers a useful and insightful guide for churches and people of faith. MacDonald’s first-hand involvement as a pastor in a United Church of Christ in Newbury, Mass., and with a research project he undertook to look at the experience of mainline Protestant churches in ten states both inform the observations and suggestions he makes in Part-Time Is Plenty. He starts by laying out the realities – congregational needs and financial constraints – that traditional churches are facing. His research project unearthed the fact that thousands of churches are already functioning very successfully with part-time staff. He describes in a very positive way how churches can thrive in this emerging new model of part-time clergy and notes that they should not apologize for working in this way – in fact, they should celebrate how well they are meeting their needs! He sees a new vitality in the churches he surveyed, and he describes an important resource that churches have rediscovered: the laypeople of the congregation. He makes it clear that this is really not new, as Christianity has a long and rich history of church members being the core and strength of the religion – right from the beginning of the faith. He does feel that ministers still have a critical role to play but helping to empower congregations is a necessary new aspect to ministry in the United States today.

MacDonald gives many practical examples for how churches can function with leadership shared between the laity and the ordained professionals. He describes the training that is needed to help a congregation meet its needs, as well as offering suggestions for the revamped roles for the clergy (he sets out three suggested models: the minister who will train and equip a congregation, the minister who will be a public advocate and representative for the church, and the minister who is part of a multi-staff team of specialists available as needed). He also explores the role that governing bodies and denominations need to play – to be more flexible and supportive of the changes that are taking place and yet still oversee the safety of their member churches. He advocates for individual churches to unite to work together for mutual support and to be more outward-looking; for churches to do more shared community service projects in this time of need and to work to meet the spiritual and practical needs of their congregations and their communities. As MacDonald states: “The lay members will become the hands and feet of Christ in a new way … call it a ‘priesthood-of-all-believers.’ Folks can be themselves more authentically, and maybe know God more honestly … with people equipped to do evangelism, increase hospitality, or otherwise make the outside world feel welcome.” MacDonald has crafted a timely book in a systematic format that both laypeople and church leaders will find helpful.

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Imponderables Propel the Dance: The Russian Collection By Alex Levitch ’62 | Reviewed by James P. Lenfestey ’62 After a spectacular career in invention, innovation, finance, and deal-making in the U.S. and Russia, Alex Levitch ’62 became a writer. First a coffee table book, Yetty, celebrating the art of his immigrant mother. Next a novel. And finally, a collection of poems beautifully printed in the spring of 2020 only a few months before his death from a decade-long battle with Parkinson’s. Self-published is the right way to go for any literary artist in a hurry, as was Alex, with giant accomplishments in other fields behind him, Parkinson’s ahead. Think of it, founding an “integrated Moscow-based investment house,” and returning to tell the tale with a smile, not a KGB poison dart in his back. A remarkable testament. And so, he published a collection of poems, the strangely titled Imponderables Propel the Dance: The Russian Collection, a beautiful hardbound volume with haunting illustrations reminiscent of a romanticized Blake. In an afterward he calls the poems narrative, but they aren’t. They include precisely observed vignettes of the world around his life and travels and learning, in all its creepy reality, in Moscow, Atlantic City, Mumbai, LA, Stalin’s Gulag. Yet somehow “two lovers dance the reel/while fiddler taps his feet/and they escape it all.” He wrote the poems mostly during nights in a Moscow apartment after days attempting to create a new Russian economy out the collapsed Communist one, days “of big, generous hopes and dreams, coupled in irony with a clear, Gogol-like sense of the ridiculousness of it all.” Some of the poems are hallucinatory. A mysterious harmonica man leads us along, never knowing where we’ll end up, perhaps inside a philosopher’s mountain: “No soul seeks comfort here, Wise men seek no absolutes in search of nothing. Gods deal in relativity…” Or suddenly this: “I am like that starving cat hearing a sudden noise.” The chaotic history of his surroundings permeates some sections, Alex channeling an unpredictable darkness of artists and oligarchs. His history lessons are phantasmagoric, a meal shared by Jesus, Descartes, Niels Bohr, all struggling with the observation: “we reign higher than the eagle and the lion, but lower than the stars.”

The section titled “Faith” includes monks and croupiers, and the risky poem “Prayer” in the voice of an old blind woman before a baobab tree, where “The gods wrap whirlwinds/around her feet.” As with many unpracticed poets, infelicitous phrases creep in, extra articles, adverbs, Latinate abstractions, a line’s rhythm lost, a simile wandering out of control, the reader lost. But overall, we find amazement and hard-won wisdom amid a starscape of experience, learning, observation, and longing. And sometimes a line or poem is simply beautiful. The final section, “Wonder,” opens with a poem of Robert Frost–like clarity and near perfection, trusting figurative language: BIRCHES The birches standing on the bank indulge the snow to settle in their shade. As the moon, hanging on a thread obliges lovers to couple in its glow. Your tears fall upon my heart like drops of stinging rain, boring holes Deep into the forest where the snow leopard hides among the birches. I wish I had read this haunting book when Alex was alive, to tell him he accomplished yet another breathtaking feat. And I could ask him some lingering questions about his obsessions: “Plunder—liberation: /Life’s twin effigies.” But he earned the right to make this beautiful book and let readers dance with the mysterious immortals. Because, in the end, “The master spider’s handiwork plays no favorites. It spins justice only in our dreams.” Still, it was a relief to see Alex locate a key to this “handiwork” in the timeless timekeeping of “My Father’s Watch,” his concluding poem: “In the end, answers are buried like eggs in the sand. They do not matter. Imponderables propel the dance. Innocence remains a lonely mystery.”

IMPONDERABLES PROPEL THE DANCE: THE RUSSIAN COLLECTION Author: Alex Levitch ’62 Publisher: Self-published About the Reviewer: James P. Lenfestey ’62, a retired journalist, is the author or editor of 16 volumes of poetry, essays, and anthologies, and a memoir, Seeking the Cave: A Pilgrimage to Cold Mountain.

54 BOOKSHELF

The Final Game at Ebbets Field By Noel Hynd ’66 | Reviewed by Zachary Kafoglis

THE FINAL GAME AT EBBETS FIELD Author: Noel Hynd ’66 Publisher: Self-published About the Reviewer: Zachary Kafoglis teaches Mathematics & Computer Science and is an assistant head coach for Boys Varsity Baseball.

The history of baseball is full of glory, pain, oddities and quirks, in both the individuals who played the game and the rules that govern it. It is no great surprise, then, that the list of anthologies cataloguing the tales of America’s pastime is a lengthy one, dotted with epic tales known by even the most casual of fans. In joining that canon, The Final Game at Ebbets Field by Noel Hynd ‘66 feels familiar; Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, and other household names all make cameos. Yet Hynd’s approach is decidedly different. Alongside the Hall of Famers, Hynd details the stories of other characters in the story of baseball: the family of groundskeepers who moved into Polo Grounds, the pilot who played a role in a pregame stunt before going on to join the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots in WWII, announcers whose voices were synonymous with the team, and the fans who became such fixtures at games that they might as well have been a part of the stadiums. Perhaps most of all, The Final Game at Ebbets Field pays homage to the sacred ground that housed memories for so many players and fans alike. These vignettes weave together the fabric of baseball’s golden era. In doing so, Hynd reminds us of something that has become all too clear in the past year. Sports are about so much more than just the athletes who play them. Professional athletes playing in empty stadiums just isn’t the same. Even this approximation of past competition wouldn’t have been possible without the efforts of team doctors, groundskeepers, equipment managers, and other personnel, many of whom were required to quarantine from their families or risk their own health. The Final Game at Ebbets Field celebrates these individuals and also underscores why they made such sacrifices. Sports tie us together, through good times and bad.

That fact has remained unchanged throughout the hundred or so years of baseball documented in The Final Game at Ebbets Field. Hynd also notes some of the darker sides of the game – racist jeers from fans, athletes’ complicated relationships with politics, and financially-minded wealthy owners abandoning fanbases for new cities where they demand taxpayerfunded stadiums. Far more salient are the fond recollections of rivalries and memories formed at parks across the country. In some instances, one could swap out the names and the years and the heart of the matter would still hold true. The reader can easily make these connections, although Hynd is careful to tell stories with minimal comparisons to the modern-day game. The result is a time capsule of sorts, telling stories in a contemporary style that the book’s subjects would have appreciated, reminiscent of an uncle or grandmother recalling games they attended or watched in their youth. It is a comforting narrative and one that invited me to consider the great moments of baseball that I have had the fortune to witness in my own life, knowing that one day I, too, will get to pass on stories of my childhood heroes, the cathedrals of the game, and the people who made it all possible.

BULLETIN | WINTER 2021 55

Everything Naomi Loved By Katie Yamasaki & Ian Lendler ’92 | Reviewed by Cheryl Bardoe

EVERYTHING NAOMI LOVED Authors: Katie Yamasaki & Ian Lendler ’92 Publisher: Norton Young Readers About the Reviewer: Cheryl Bardoe is a children’s book author who teaches in Choate Summer Programs.

RACE IN SPORTS Author: Rachel Laws Myers, Director of Equity & Inclusion Publisher: ABC-CLIO

When Naomi looks out her window, she sees “the world,” and it has “everything.” Naomi lives on a vibrant city street that bustles with daily life. Neighborhood residents can get haircuts, cars fixed, pizza by the slice, and lottery tickets all without leaving this busy block. Naomi and her best friend Ada spend their afternoons climbing the tree in front of Naomi’s apartment, riding scooters, and drawing on the sidewalk with chalk. Then, one day the neighborhood starts to change. First, Naomi’s cherished tree is cut down. Then Ada moves away because the building where her family lives is being razed. Gradually, more longtime residents and businesses are displaced to make room for high-rise, luxury living. As Naomi grieves saying goodbye, a neighbor helps her paint memories of the community she loves in a mural on the side of her building: “Naomi took Mister Ray’s brush and everything that 11th Street lost, everything she loved, she remembered on the wall.” Eventually, the demolition ball turns Naomi’s own home into rubble and she carries a fragment to her new neighborhood, where she begins to build new memories. With heartfelt language and uplifting illustrations, this book perfectly captures the sense of loss children feel when their lives are buffeted about by forces beyond their control. At the same time, it offers art as a source of solace and renewal. Coping with change is a fundamental part of growing up. Naomi and her neighbors demonstrate resilience and the joy that comes from being enmeshed in a strong community, even in times of hardship.

The idea for this story came when co-author and illustrator Katie Yamasaki received word that a mural she had painted years before would be lost due to gentrification. Since 2003 Yamasaki, who lives in Brooklyn, has painted more than 80 murals in diverse communities around the world. Believing that the world of art should be intertwined with daily life, Yamasaki collaborates closely with area residents so that each mural reflects unique lived experiences. Yamasaki’s mural style translates seamlessly into the picture book genre, with energetic colors and a graceful sense of symbolism. Ribbons of music and rainbows thread their way through the illustrations to represent hope and Naomi’s rich inner life as she navigates change. Everything Naomi Loves was the second book of co-author Ian Lendler that was released in 2020. The Fabled Life of Aesop: The Extraordinary Journey and Collected Tales of the World’s Greatest Storyteller, written by Lendler and illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski, adds layers of meaning to the classic tales by putting them in the context of Aesop’s life. While historical records from ancient Greece are limited, Aesop is thought to be a slave who was such a persuasive storyteller that he earned his freedom and became advisor to a king. Presenting the well-known parables not just as morality tales for children but as a strategic way to speak truth to power elevates their resonance. This book recently received the American Folklore Society’s Aesop Award for excellence in children’s literature – an honor that is not exclusive to books about Aesop – adding another award-winner to Lendler’s bibliography.

THE HUMAN TEST Author: Will Aufderheide ’82 Publisher: Self-published

LUMINATION: SHINING A LIGHT ON A WOMAN’S JOURNEY TO FINANCIAL WELLNESS Author: Heather Ettinger ’79 Publisher: Pyp Academy

END NOTE |

Chip Lamb ’75 on stage at Pomfret School.

Mr. Ames and the Gift of Confinement Confinement in our houses last spring brought new, unexpected turns of the imagination. I dabbled in wood carving and Cajun cooking, while my partner Susan set up a small recording studio at her desk. My theater students found ways to speak honestly – sometimes profoundly – from their computer screens and phones. Forced by the confines of distance learning, they utilized objects around the house and, suddenly, we had props, costumes, sets. Virtual theaters popped up in homes across the country and in China, Moscow, and Israel. Confinement wasn’t the hurdle I thought it was. When former Choate teacher Allen Ames died in June, I recalled another time of confinement. For a few brief years in the mid 1970s, I made my way to the experimental theater at Choate, buried under the courtyard of the PMAC. There I found an infinitely positive teacher, eager and smart fellow students, and time on our hands. Confined to the four walls of a black box, Mr. Ames guided us as we applied our imaginations to dramatic work. We threw ourselves headlong into plays by Eugene O’Neill, Tennessee Williams, Arthur Kopit, Leonard Melfi, and Harold Pinter. We studied scenes by the Greeks and Shakespeare. We were given room to, in the words of Samuel Beckett, “try again, fail again, fail better.” And we forged lasting friendships.

Fast forward 44 years. I am sitting in front of Allen Ames and a paper plate full of fried clams. We meet once in a while for lunch at Lenny and Joe’s, Allen’s favorite restaurant, and confine ourselves to a back table. There we laugh, trade stories about teaching, criticize the government, and dream of sunny days on the lower reaches of the Connecticut Rver. Allen is an accomplished sailor who plied the beautiful waters around Essex, where he grew up messing around in boats. He is now tied to a portable oxygen tank that keeps him on shore. Cantankerous but gracious, his imagination continues to soar. In his last email to me, Allen described giving up his condo in Connecticut and moving to Texas to be with family. Although no longer able to live on his own, he quickly found ways to make himself useful, taking over driving and shopping duties while negotiating eight-lane highways at high speeds. Confined to a bedroom with a small desk, Allen was in close proximity to his grandchildren. They needed his secret sauce of curiosity and wit. As theater teachers, Allen and I shared the study of finite spaces. Whether in a rooming house somewhere in England, a submarine in enemy waters, a bit of abandoned railroad track, or a filthy city apartment, we found something in the confinement of the stage – a way to unlock the imagination; a way to travel in time; a way to see the world through the eyes of others. I had no idea those hours of rehearsal in Wallingford would lead to a career, or that this pipe-smoking, moustached teacher would be a lifelong influence. Such are the limits of our experience; our understanding is imperfect and confined. But, perhaps, this is also our greatest gift. Seeing my students this fall for the first time in many months was remarkable. Though we are confined by social distance and masks, we are all relieved to be here in the theater together. Along with an innate desire to learn and create, these students also bring with them an abundance of gratitude to simply be in the room. So before we get to the business at hand – the learning of lines, the character development, the necessary connection between thought and action – I take a moment to tell them something I am feeling. Something I have felt ever since I sat in class with Mr. Ames all those years ago. I am so very grateful to be here too.

Chip Lamb ’75 Chip Lamb ’75 is Arts Chair and Theater Director at Pomfret School in Pomfret, Connecticut. He is currently writing a new musical with author Ridley Pearson called The Academy, based on Pearson’s 2010 young adult novel.

“I give because I made my best friends at Choate and they add so much to my life to this day.” –DIANE GREMILLION ’12

COLOR THEN FOR CHOATE!: Go to www.choate.edu/giving/annual-giving to download a blank illustration, add a bit of color, and share your creation with us @choatealumni or use #forevertruegoldandblue on Instagram.

Lifelong friendships have helped to sustain us over the past year. And this is just one example of how Choate Rosemary Hall continues to enhance the lives of our alumni. Whether you give back to express gratitude for your own educational experience, to honor your friends and classmates, or to support today’s students and faculty, your contribution reinforces Choate’s continuing presence in your life.

Please visit www.choate.edu/donate to make your gift today!

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CHOATE HOME REUNION W EEK END ’21

REUNION IS GOING VIRTUAL! Just like Reunion, except from the comfort of your own home! We look forward to announcing our full slate of events and opening registration in mid-April. The most important part of Reunion Weekend is being together to catch up with friends and classmates. Encourage your friends to sign up - the more alumni who attend, the more fun we’ll all have. Visit www.choate.edu/reunion to learn more. PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: Thursday, May 13 ▶ Keynote Address ▶ Alumni Awards Ceremony

Friday, May 14 ▶ Choate 2021: Experience a class in the digital age ▶ Virtual Cocktails with Classmates

Saturday, May 15 ▶ The Magic Mentalist - an interactive, family friendly show. ▶ Affinity-based programs

The Choate Rosemary Hall Bulletin is printed using vegetable-based The Choate Rosemary Hall Bulletin is printed using vegetable-based inks 100% post consumer recycled paper. This issue saved 101 inks onon 100% post consumer recycled paper. This issue saved 101 trees, 42,000 gallons wastewater, 291 waterborne waste, trees, 42,000 gallons ofof wastewater, 291 lbslbs of of waterborne waste, andand 9,300 greenhouse gases from being emitted. 9,300 lbslbs ofof greenhouse gases from being emitted.

Choate Rosemary Hall Bulletin | Spring '21

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