Choate Rosemary Hall Bulletin | Spring 2024

DEPARTMENTS

Inspire the Next A Nimble Financial Resource: The Annual Fund The Power of Representation Tech Entrepreneur Natalie J. Egan ’96 3 4 24 30 44 48 52 56 6 8 14 18

Remarks from the Head of School Letter from Alex D. Curtis

On Christian & Elm News About the School Alumni Association News Alumni Awards

Classnotes

Profiles of John Frizzell ’84, Award-Winning Film and Television Composer; and Jess Morten ’04, Marine Resource Protection Program Director, California Marine Sanctuary Foundation

In Memoriam Remembering Those We Have Lost

Scoreboard

Recap of Winter ’24 Sports Bookshelf

Reviews of works by David A. Dorsey ’90; Taína Caragol and Kate Clarke Lemay ’97; and John T. Downey C ’47, Thomas J. Christensen, and Jack Lee Downey ’98

End Note To My Beautiful Country FEATURES

Serving Up Dining Hill House Improvements

Prompting the Thoughtful Use of AI A Prompt and Response with ChatGPT 4.0 and Jenny Karlen Elliott, Head of Student and Academic Life

Teacher Chris Hogue’s Engineering class uses the Larry Hart Pool to test the buoyancy and stability of simulated offshore oil platforms.

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

Editor

Susanne Davis

T: (203) 697-2475

Email: sdavis@choate.edu

Lead Design and Production

Beth Ann Strong

Design

Ann Marie Nolan

Classnotes Editor

Henry McNulty ’65

Contributors

Christine Bennett

Alison Cady P ’23, ’26

John Connelly P ’03, ’05

Roney Eford

Jenny Karlen Elliott

Don Firke P ’08, ’10

Kim Hastings P ’15, ’18, ’18

Nolan Silbernagel

Thandiwe G. Taylor ’26

KeriAnne Tisdale

Leslie Virostek P ’15, ’17, ’20

Photography

Joey Avena

Michael Branscom

Tom Kates

Stay Connected

Choate Rosemary Hall

Board of Trustees 2023-2024

Danya Alsaady P ’17, ’19, ’23

Kenneth G. Bartels ’69, P ’04

Caroline T. Brown ’86, P ’19

Marc E. Brown ’82

Seth J. Brufsky ’84

Yahonnes S. Cleary ’96

George F. Colony ’72

Alex D. Curtis P ’17, ’20

Elizabeth M. Ferreira ’92

Katherine B. Forrest ’82

David A. Fraze ’84

Kristen M. Garlinghouse ’85

Gunther S. Hamm ’98

Elizabeth A. Hogan ’82

Jungwook ”Ryan” Hong ’89, P ’19, ’22, ’25

Kelly Green Kahn ’86

Daniel G. Kelly Jr. ’69, P ’03

Christian B. McGrath ’84, P ’18, ’21

Takashi Murata ’93, P ’25

George F. Pyne IV ’84

M. Anne Sa’adah

Life Trustees

Bruce S. Gelb ’45, P ’72, ’74, ’76, ’78

Edwin A. Goodman ’58

Cary L. Neiman ’64

Stephen J. Schulte ’56, P ’86

William G. Spears ’56, P ’81, ’90

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New Beginnings

This spring, a pair of bald eagles, often seen soaring over buildings and trees, nested on campus. This photo was taken before the eaglets hatched.

Dear Alumni and Friends of Choate Rosemary Hall,

As I read this issue of the Bulletin, I am struck by how many of its pages showcase our School’s aspirational spirit. Technology innovations, building projects, and events around the globe — Choate is approaching it all with a growth mindset and genuine excitement.

Jenny Karlen Elliott, Head of Student and Academic Life, offers a thoughtful prompt and response with ChatGPT about our stance toward using AI tools in the classroom. As you might imagine, schools are taking a wide variety of approaches: some have banned its use entirely; others are in a wait-and-see mode; and a few, including Choate, have embraced the opportunity to explore and assess what AI can offer. As educators, we feel we have a responsibility to grapple with it so that, in turn, we can prepare our students. That said, as always, our approach is grounded in our core values; we ask, for example, how might AI tools build on our School’s long tradition, but also help us be an institution ready to change and grow.

The best way to be able to respond to the many questions and concerns that come with AI is to be as educated about it as possible. I was recently invited to join other leaders in government, education, and technology from around the world for a summit hosted by the Ditchley Foundation entitled “The Impact of AI on Work and Education.” Throughout our conversations, it was clear that, in fact, there is no consensus about exactly when and how AI is going to develop. Everyone understands that this is transformative technology, and we must be adaptable — but in what ways, and how quickly? The theories and speculation are endless. We are (and I find this very exciting!) literally living in the moment.

On campus, we are also, of course, living in many other moments. Projects moving us toward our strategic vision include updating the Hill House Dining Hall servery and, as was covered in the last issue, the construction of Carr Hall. As we navigate the short-term inconveniences of construction, we are all doing our best to remember that the transformative impact of these projects on our School and our mission will be worth any temporary disturbances and disruptions.

Whether I see you at upcoming Reunions, Spring Celebrations, or at a Choate event somewhere away from campus, I look forward to sharing more our progress and efforts to move our School forward.

With all best wishes from campus,

Alex D. Curtis Head of School

Witness Stones Project Featured on Connecticut Public Radio

Choate’s Witness Stones Project captured the attention of CT Public Radio and brought a reporter and film crew to campus to interview siblings John Reach ’24 and Evelyn Reach ’26 regarding their involvement in the project. The segment was included in CPR’s program Unforgotten: Connecticut’s Hidden History of Slavery and went live on March 18, 2024, with one radio story from the series airing live each week on CT Public’s Morning Edition. The station is also working on a podcast with additional audio and conversation and hopes to compile the videos into a television special for CT Public. Scan the QR code to be taken to the site.

23rd Annual Pratt Packard Declamation Contest

Honoring a School tradition, the Choate community heard speeches delivered by students in the final round competition of the 23rd annual Pratt Packard Declamation Contest.

Competition organizer and English teacher John Cobb thanked the members of the community who served as judges in all the rounds of the competition and set the ambiance during the February School Meeting with a quote from Homer’s “Odyssey,” where Odysseus speaks to the art of public oratory.

The student orators spoke of selling vacuums, attending summer camp, keeping and revealing secrets, and visiting South Africa — with humor, gravitas, lyricism, and poise. Winners were:

• First Place & the 2024 Charles Krause Junior Fellow: Thandiwe G. Taylor ’26, “The Cape of Good Hope”

• Second Place: Harper Marsden Uren ’26, “A Camp on Mallet’s Bay”

• Third Place: Selam Olson ’24, “Secrets”

• Fourth Place: Ximena Castillo Nunez ’24, “The Best Vacuum in the Game: Clean Air, Dirty Secrets”

The Pratt Packard Declamation Contest honors two Choate teachers who were at the center of the School’s public speaking tradition: E. Stanley Pratt, a dean and public speaking and drama teacher, who taught at Choate for 39 years, from 1921 to 1960; and H. Jeremy Packard, former head of the History Department and a 1955 graduate of Choate. Mr. Packard, one of Mr. Pratt’s students, revived the tradition of declamation at Choate when he initiated public speaking as a requirement for all third formers in the late 1970s. This, and all Choate public speaking and debate programs, are underwritten by Charles Krause III ’51.

All finalists receive monetary awards, and the first-prize winner is named the Charles Krause Junior Fellow in Public Speaking for 2024.

Diversity Day 2024: “For the Culture”

Choate honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s impact and celebrated the School’s 33rd Diversity Day with a program themed “For the Culture” on January 15. Dean of Equity and Inclusion Dr. Rachel Myers welcomed students, faculty, and staff, noting the date would have been King’s 95th birthday. The School community gathered in Ann and George Colony Hall for the keynote session, and a musical introduction by “Maestro J” (James Racine).

Dr. Todd Boyd, aka “Notorious Ph.D.,” delivered the keynote about the role of pop culture in America, especially the role of hip-hop, and how it affects us both in personal ways and across society. Boyd is the Katherine and Frank Price Endowed Chair for the Study of Race & Popular Culture and Professor of Cinema and Media Studies in the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. He is also a media commentator, author, producer, consultant, and scholar.

Boyd said that knowing hip-hop’s history helps to understand what it means for hip-hop to be “for the culture.” He traced the rise of hip-hop from a 1970s party in the Bronx, N.Y., through the following decades. Boyd referenced musicians Kendrick Lamar, Said Lagame, Rick Ross, and 21 Savage (specifically Savage’s album “The American Dream”), among others. Boyd said, “Rappers have used the metaphor of (King’s) dream to move through what can feel like a hostile culture. Hip-hop has given many individuals the chance to find and express themselves in the culture.” He shared how the influence of hip-hop expanded with each decade, exploding in the 1990s, and becoming pervasive by the 2000s. Boyd gave examples, including Kendrick Lamar’s winning the Pulitzer Prize in 2018, the 2022 Superbowl LVI halftime show featuring hip-hop artists, and words and phrases from hip-hop entering the lexicon, such as “for the culture, shout out, and dis.”

Alum Natalie J. Egan ’96 shared her cultural story at an afternoon workshop. (See associated feature, p. 18.) Other afternoon workshop topics focused on music, dance, food, and games celebrating the unique contributions to and for the culture.

Ethics Bowl Team Competes at National Championship

On April 12 to 14, Choate’s Ethics Bowl team competed in the 2024 National High School Ethics Bowl Championship at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. The team — Ava McClatchie ’24, Racquel Welcome ’24, Mira Gilchrist ’25, Annie Coady ’26, and Isa Marvin ’26 — won the Connecticut state championship over Hotchkiss, and the Northeast Divisional Playoff round over a team from Moses Brown School in Providence.

For the Northeast Divisional win, students explored a case involving images produced by generative artificial intelligence, answering questions such as: Do artworks produced by an AI deserve copyright protection? Who, if anyone, should have control over the artwork once it is produced: the creator of the AI, the artists whose work the AI “learned” from, or the individual whose verbal prompt generated the piece? If control is to be shared between multiple parties, how would that function?

Adviser to the Ethics Bowl club, faculty member Katie Jewett said, “What sets Choate’s team apart from the vast majority of Ethics Bowl teams we encounter is that they are self-coached. Whereas other teams receive regular guidance and feedback from their faculty coaches, my role is simply to sit back and watch these students collaboratively develop each other’s skills of reasoning and effective oral expression. I have always marveled at how much our students learn from each other, and this group is a marvelous example of that dynamic.”

World Expert, Author Speaks on Regulating Emotional Chatter

When one of the world’s leading experts on emotion regulation, Ethan Kross, Ph.D., spoke at Choate this past winter, he told the community, “A big part of how we handle emotion is the voice in our head.” Referring to that inner voice as “chatter,” Kross said, “It is a universal tenant of being human.”

Kross is an award-winning professor at the University of Michigan and its Ross School of Business. He studies how the conversations people have with themselves impact their health, performance, decision-making, and relationships. The talk he gave at School Meeting (also the title of his book), “Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters and How to Harness It,” outlined why we talk to ourselves, how we might talk to ourselves more effectively, and how we might help others do the same.

The inner voice, said Kross, “is a remarkable tool of the mind,” but there is a catch, because sometimes “we get stuck in useless thoughts and worry that can sink us into pain points.” He gave examples of how to address this “dark side of chatter” through three types of tools: personal, relationship, and environmental.

Kross spoke as part of the Ambassador S. Davis Phillips ’61 Family Lecture Series. His visit is part of the School’s continuing commitment to the health and well-being of the entire community. He joined classes and shared lunch with students.

The Phillips Family Lecture Series brings to Choate Rosemary Hall distinguished decision-makers from business, government, public life, education, and the arts.

Serving Up Improved Dining at Hill House

by Alison cAdy P ’23, ’26

Centered at the hub of campus life, a newly renovated Hill House dining servery, scheduled to open in Spring 2025, will meet the needs of today’s campus community. The expanded servery will offer more space and flexibility to offer regional, international, and cultural cuisine as well as a wide variety of vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergyaware offerings. Facility improvements will also address student wellness concerns, as the improved circulation will allow students to be served quickly and efficiently, providing more time for healthy and enjoyable dining amid busy schedules. Recognizing the importance of community dining, the expansion will improve food service while keeping the traditional Hill House dining experience intact.

New and updated features of the servery include:

Expansion from 1,500 square feet to more than 4,500 square feet

200 additional linear feet of serving counter

Improved circulation and flow based on dining patterns

Design for rapid and consistent replenishment of daily offerings

Addition of more “live-cook” stations

Dedicated serving space for plant-based and allergy-aware dishes

All-electric cooking, including new induction cooking capabilities

New pizza oven

New dish return and washing area

New lighting and windows to make the space open and inviting

Dining hall character and capacity maintained

Throughout the town approval and permitting process, Choate student leaders voiced their support and shared their excitement about the project:

What we eat affects our learning and focus in the classroom. Two thirds of Choate students are boarders — separated from their home and families. The Dining Hall’s warm wooden walls and round tables are meant to foster a sense of comfort and community. Mealtime should relieve stress and anxiety by means of friendship and connection. Instead, it has become a time where students merely eat to survive and rush off to their next class. The new servery will solve the issues of time and long lines, and improve overall physical and mental health. We will be eternally grateful.”

– Thandiwe G. Taylor ’26, Member of the Dining Committee

SERVERY FLOOR PLAN

*NEW SERVERY WILL BE 3X LARGER THAN ORIGINAL SPACE*

A larger servery will optimize efficacy during meal times, as well as emphasize student wellness and health, especially regarding nutrition and food access. The expansion will provide the potential for a better layout of food stations, areas for preparation, and more designated options for those with cultural, dietary, and allergy restrictions.”

– Amanda Benneh ’24, Student Body President

Site work for the project has already begun. A temporary dining facility is currently under construction in the old student activities center.

PROMPTING THE THOUGHTFUL USE OF AI

A Prompt and Response with ChatGPT 4.0

by Jenny Karlen elliott, Head of student and academic life

Over the past year, the swift introduction, evolution, and broad application of Generative AI has prompted and inspired dialogue at Choate Rosemary Hall, as we grapple with how best to employ this powerful tool and resource in the service of learning. Choate’s fundamental core values promote the integration of innovation with our traditional strengths. Therefore, we are approaching Generative AI as you might expect, discerning how and where we can embrace this set of technological possibilities in alignment with our values and as a complement to our strengths. The Generative AI conversation has created opportunity and will invite us to further define the learning goals we have for each assignment, course, and curricular strand and examine the essential skills our students need to thrive at and beyond Choate. Generative AI has prompted more conversation about what we do and why we do it than any other disruption we have experienced in recent history. It’s exciting, and a bit daunting.

Using one of the most popular Generative AI tools, ChatGPT 4.0, we demonstrate a basic question & answer exercise with narrative response from Head of Student and Academic Life Jenny Karlen Elliott to offer a window into our work thus far.

Welcome to ChatGPT Log in with your OpenAI account to continue

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Prompt — What is Generative AI? Please provide a brief and general description of Generative AI technology and examples of how Generative AI tools might be used in schools.

ChatGPT 4.0

Generative AI refers to artificial intelligence that can generate new content after learning from existing data. It is designed to create outputs such as text, images, and sounds that can mimic the style and characteristics of the input data it was trained on. In schools, AI tools could be used for creating customized learning materials, generating practice questions, helping students with creative writing projects, or providing simulations in science classes.

Jenny Elliott

While this basic definition serves, we have seen an explosion of tools, apps, and innovations boasting Generative AI capabilities in the education space over the past year. From the outset, we recognized the importance and potential of this technology and have sought to center student learning and examine the ways in which Generative AI may enhance our teaching. We are seeking to understand how Generative AI may complement, not replace, the invaluable student-teacher dynamic and perhaps even grant more time, capacity, and creativity for both students and teachers to foster and engage in this essential dynamic. More specifically, we have been exploring capabilities and practices that could offer:

• a more personalized approach to learning;

• real-time feedback and centering of critical thinking skills;

• a more equitable approach to teaching and learning;

• tools for addressing learning and preparation gaps;

• strategies that better address needs of our diverse learners;

• found time for meaningful teacher-student interaction.

This year, many of our teachers have been experimenting with tools that support lesson planning, assessment creation, skill sharpening, idea generation, and content reinforcement. Faculty have been learning from outside experts and thinking about how these tools might be used to enhance the classroom experience and reinforce student skill development.

Prompt — Recently, we’ve heard concerns about the use of Generative AI in schools and by students. What are these concerns? Please summarize.

ChatGPT 4.0

The primary concerns about AI in educational settings include academic dishonesty, as students may use AI to complete their work; a potential decrease in critical thinking and problem-solving skills; issues of data privacy and consent; and the digital divide that could widen if access to such technologies is unequal. There’s also worry about the replacement of human interaction, which is crucial to the educational experience.

Jenny Elliott

Indeed, Generative AI has invited a range of reactions and concerns. Our colleagues have noted how learning about Generative AI fills them with dread, fear, curiosity, and optimism — often at the same time! As we are gaining a sharper understanding of the range of concerns, including ethical, environmental, ecological, privacy, equity, bias, and access, we are committed to constructing a robust ethical framework for Generative AI use, rooted in our core school values of compassion, integrity, and respect. In short, Choate Rosemary Hall endorses the discerning, informed, and ethical use of Generative AI by students, faculty, and staff.

Initially, our primary concerns were about the academic integrity of our students’ work, and our students expressed unease about developing a reliance on a tool that would shortcut or short-change their skill development. In the ensuing months, work has focused on clarifying the essential learning goals of an assignment or curricular unit to determine if, how, where, and why to employ AI tools. This clarification process enables teachers to communicate clearly with their students about why a particular assignment or assessment is Generative AI-friendly or Generative AI-resistant to minimize incidents of academic integrity violations and allay student concerns about skill development. Together, teachers and students test Generative AI technology, evaluate Generative AI content to check for accuracy, critique its specificity and depth, and check for bias. In addition, the Andrew Mellon Library team has developed a citation and library guide, a new and evolving resource, to support our students beyond the classroom in their evaluation and use of these tools. This approach ensures that we are teaching students how to use this powerful tool through assignments thoughtfully designed to develop their skills. At the start of the year, we charged two working groups with the broad tasks of “thinking” and “doing.” The Generative AI Steering Committee has guided our institutional orientation, crafted policy on use and misuse, and drafted guidelines, guardrails, and resources. This committee in partnership with the Department Heads has worked to outline clear expectations about what is required (consistency) and what is invited (opportunity) for adults and students (guide for the use of Generative AI at Choate). They will share their work with our faculty this spring to inform summer professional development and preparation for next year. The Instructional Technology Committee (ITC) has continued its ongoing efforts to curate resources, test new tools, and create opportunities for faculty learning.

The diagram that educator and consultant Eric Hudson shared with us during a 2-day faculty and student professional development visit accurately captures the ongoing process that we have embraced.

Prompt — How can Generative AI tools enhance teaching and learning? Provide examples. Enumerate the answer.

ChatGPT 4.0

1. Customized Learning Paths: AI can analyze a student’s performance and recommend personalized learning resources.

2. Creative Assistance: In subjects like creative writing or art, AI can provide prompts or continue a piece of work to inspire students.

3. Efficiency in Assessment: AI can grade assignments and provide feedback, allowing teachers more time to focus on one-on-one student interaction.

4. Language Support: AI language programs can aid in teaching new languages, offering students interactive and immersive practice opportunities.

Jenny Elliott

Guided by the encouragement and coaching of the ITC and guidance of Generative AI experts and educational consultants, many teachers at Choate have been exploring, experimenting with, and piloting Generative AI tools to enhance their work with students. In these opening months of deliberate work, Choate teachers are employing Generative AI tools for curriculum development and lesson planning, “pressure testing” of an assignment, formative and summative assessment creation, feedback on assessments (to provide swifter and personalized feedback), generation of rubrics, support for research processes, and customization of learning experiences to meet a diverse range of student learning needs. According to Director of Academic Technology Morgan Harris, “Teachers are seeing the immediate utility of Generative AI tools such as Magic School to handle some of their routine tasks so they can focus on the most uniquely human aspects of their teaching practice. This is especially important in a boarding school setting where we have a myriad of opportunities for direct authentic human connection — yet are being pulled in many directions.”

With their teacher’s permission, students are using Generative AI for idea generation, content clarification, and immediate feedback on writing. If students are ever unsure, they know that they need to communicate proactively with their teachers. Successful integration of Generative AI tools into our classrooms is dependent upon open dialogue and constant evaluation by both parties — faculty and students. In my own classroom, I have used Generative AI tools to reinforce a grammar lesson, offer immediate feedback on verb choice in student writing, write a quick reading quiz, brainstorm creative approaches for forging classroom connections, and improve essay prompt options. Generative AI has made my preparation and feedback processes more efficient, which then frees up more time for connecting directly with my students.

Prompt — It sounds like Generative AI tools are here to stay. How might this impact the future of education and the human interactions we value in the classroom? What is the forecast?

ChatGPT 4.0

AI is likely to transform education by enabling more personalized and efficient learning experiences, but it could also challenge the traditional educational model that values direct human interaction. The forecast includes a blended approach, where AI supplements but does not replace teachers, preserving the human aspect of education by freeing up teachers to engage more deeply with students on complex problem-solving, socio-emotional development, and mentorship.

Jenny Elliott

Once we make the mental shift from “replacing,” “skipping,” or “cheating,” to “augmenting our teaching” and “enhancing our learning,” we begin to see even more possibilities for knowledge creation, more timely and personalized feedback, and “gap bridging” to ensure that our students and adult colleagues have access and opportunity to thrive at Choate. We have and will continue to adopt practices that enable us to center human connections and relationships.

We understand that we will be in an intense learning, experimenting, and implementing mode for the foreseeable future. This stretch will require extra resources and deliberate attention. We have found the framework below, shared with us by Dr. Andy Van Schaak, Professor at Vanderbilt University, to be a helpful tool in guiding our thinking and our work. We will continue to learn for and alongside our students and iterate as we determine that new technologies serve our goals and align with our values. This journey is just beginning, and while we don’t know the exact outlook ahead, we see this shared endeavor as an opportunity to build on our strength — offering transformational experiences to our students. We look forward to sharing and showing how Generative AI is enhancing the campus experience in upcoming issues of the Bulletin

Minds ALWAYS Open

LEARNING DOESN’T STOP WHEN SUMMER BEGINS

Choate Rosemary Hall’s unique summer programs provide engaging and innovative curriculum for learners to widen their worlds as they pursue their creativity, curiosity, and passion for discovery.

Students of all ages explore new concepts and advance their skills through programs at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.

Are you ready to widen your world this summer? Begin the process by scanning the QR code.

us at (203) 697-2365 or at choatesummer@choate.edu

Our Most Nimble Financial Resource

The Annual Fund

by KeriAnne TisdAle

Ajata “AJ” Mediratta ’83 tells a story to illustrate Choate’s impact upon his life, an impact others may recognize. “Choate was a game changer for me in so many ways,” he says. “During my fifth form year, my eight-man crew ‘shell’ crashed shortly after finishing the Head of Connecticut regatta. The boat would have sunk in the cold October water if we hadn’t been able to limp over to a nearby crane barge. As the varsity coxswain managing the shell, it was completely my fault.”

Mediratta’s story doesn’t end there, though. “Pulling the recovered, crippled boat out of the water, back at the dock in front of hundreds, was humiliating. But Coach Ben Sylvester had my back, and with his help, I regained the trust of my crew, and we went on to excel at the Head of the Charles regatta in Boston. When I graduated, I told Ben I would find a way to make good on the cost of the damaged boat. He just laughed and counseled me to give to the Annual Fund — and to trust in the school to spend it wisely. And so, I did, and I have never regretted it.”

Next month, when Choate’s Inspire the Next campaign concludes, thousands of generous alumni, parents, and friends — most of our donors — will have participated in the campaign through loyal support of the Annual Fund. Currently, 8,200 alumni, parents, and friends have contributed to the campaign.

As many know, the Annual Fund is a critical component of our budget each year, providing 11 percent of the School’s annual revenue with nimble financial resources to do all that we strive to do. Much more than a line item on the budget, our Annual Fund allows us to address emerging needs and take advantage of opportunities while continuing to grow the academic program. It is a perfect time and opportunity for alumni to give and be part of what comes next at Choate.”

— Alex D. Curtis, Head of School

Ali Jennison ’79 has been a loyal supporter of the Annual Fund for years because “Choate changed my life, exposing me to a huge world I didn’t know existed — people, ideas, variety. The friendships made during those years have sustained me and inspired me to be open-minded to the unexpected.” She has designated her Annual Fund gifts to faculty support or the arts because “I believe a student’s mind needs one small spark to be ignited into curiosity and discovery. Learning to be a better writer, have an opinion, make a decision, all happen during these years. I chose a creative path, pursuing a career in graphic design. The Arts Center with its angular stone façade, sleek windows, curved exhibition walls, and large studios were the daily visuals that energized my imagination.”

Paco Martinez-Alvarez ’78 also makes his Annual Fund gifts to the arts:

Choate challenged me to explore new areas of study not previously available to me, to stretch my thinking into new horizons, and to learn to fend for myself away from home. The arts played an integral part in my education and experiences at Choate. They are often the first line item that gets cut from a budget. Designating my support to the arts ensures they stay alive!”

In many ways, support via the Annual Fund allows Choate to live its values. For more than a decade Choate has been committed to keeping tuition increases low and stable — averaging 2.9 percent. A Choate education is a substantial investment for families and predictable increases are important as our families plan for their children’s education.

Raz Surdulescu ’94 often designates his Annual Fund gift to Financial Aid, because, he says, “I arrived at Choate from a vastly different economic reality and was only able to study and ultimately graduate from Choate thanks to its very generous Financial Aid program.” Surdulescu came to Choate shortly after the Iron Curtain fell in the early 1990s in Eastern Europe. He was extremely impressed with the Choate campus, faculty, and students, many of whom have remained lifelong friends. “Studying at Choate, among passionate teachers, like-minded classmates, and cutting-edge facilities, was a dream come true. I am grateful for the amazing opportunity Choate offered me, and I wish to pay it forward and enable other students to enjoy and benefit from the incredible gift of a Choate education regardless of their own economic reality.”

Ashley Holt ’99 and Khari Stephenson ’00 both talk about the role Choate played in their lives as part of their reason for supporting the Annual Fund, with gifts to athletics. Stephenson says, “Athletics has been a big part of my life. I went on to play soccer professionally for 12 years and a big part of that was my experience at Choate. Had that not happened, my soccer career may have never been. That being said, my support of the Athletics program may help to develop the next professional athlete.” Holt believes:

All qualified students should have the opportunity to attend Choate, experiencing everything it has to offer. Unfortunately, tuition is a huge gating factor for most. By designating an Annual Fund gift to Financial Aid, you are able to have a direct impact on the amount of aid that is given to qualified, talented, and deserving students.”

Curtis adds, “One important aspect of the Annual Fund is that gifts are put to immediate use. Unlike the endowment, which is meant to sustain the school over time, the Annual Fund fuels life on campus today, which is why we ask our community to contribute every year.”

Testimonials from alumni across decades share their many reasons to give back. Some wish to honor their Choate experience; others hope to create an even stronger school for future generations. But one thing all donors have in common is that they believe in the power of a Choate education, and they choose to be part of its continued success, in part, by contributing to the Annual Fund. It’s not too late to make a gift to the Annual Fund and be part of inspiring the next!

Ways to Direct Your Sup�ort

Academic Programs

Fund innovation and excellence across all academic disciplines.

Arts

Maintain and enhance the outstanding visual and performing arts programs.

Athletics

Provide critical resources for all 81 of Choate’s interscholastic teams.

Equity & Inclusion

Faculty

Support initiatives that celebrate our diverse community and promote equity, justice, and fairness for all.

Provide funding to help our faculty remain at the forefront of their fields through professional and curricular development.

Financial Aid

Help change the lives of students who could not otherwise afford to attend Choate.

Health & Wellness

Help students create habits that will ensure their intellectual, physical, and mental well-being throughout their lives.

Technology

Fund advanced technology to enhance the student experience in classrooms and beyond.

The Power of Representation

by sus Anne dAvis

Photo

This academic year, the Bulletin has offered a series looking at how teaching happens here at Choate Rosemary Hall, peering through the lens and stories of inspiring alumni who made recent visits back to campus. In the fall ’23 story, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Hedrick Smith ’51 implored students to really learn history to inform and guide our present moment to make our country and politics better in the future. Cybersecurity Rockstar Window Snyder ’93 balanced a present, real-world perspective of the digital landscape with the kind of visionary thinking that has always been at the core of a Choate education in the winter ’24 issue. In this third and final feature, we offer a story highlighting tech entrepreneur Natalie J. Egan ’96, whose visits to campus illustrate that teaching excellence extends beyond the classroom and includes our support for the whole person as part of the educational journey.

NATALIE J. EGAN

TECH ENTREPRENEUR

Recently, Choate alum Egan shared a simple message to a packed room of students, faculty, and staff on campus: “We can’t understand each other until we understand ourselves.”

Photo credit: Joey Avena

Egan presenting “Cultivating Connection & Belonging” on Diversity Day

For Egan, a serial technology entrepreneur and CEO of a training software company called Translator, Inc., that understanding took many years. She remembers a time when she was five years old walking into her mother’s closet, trying on some of her clothes, looking into the mirror and feeling pretty for the first time. When her mother walked in, Egan remembers, “I thought, ‘I can never do this again, I’m supposed to be a boy!’ But more than that, I was supposed to be a bro!”

“To my big brothers,” says Egan, “I was Lil’ Bro; to my younger sister, I was one of three ‘Big Bros.’ And of course, I didn’t want to let anyone down,” says Egan. That was part of her family legacy, as was Choate. Her grandfather, William C. Egan C 1932, was an alum, along with her father, Raymond ’62, brother Stouffer ’87, and sister Erin (Egan) Eastland ’97.

“ The message and the pressure were implicit: don’t mess this up. I wanted to be a successful business‘man’ like my brothers and my father and my grandfather, but it never felt right.”

Natalie, age 4, center

Natalie at Choate

Natalie with her children

Photo credit: Trillium (Sellers) Rose ’96

Photo credit: Fran Spangler

Photo credit: Lynn Lynn

COINCIDENCE LEADS TO CONNECTION

Director of Alumni Relations Andrea Solomon recounts the story of Egan’s calling in 2016 in advance of Reunion Weekend so “we could have her name tag right.” Coincidentally, fellow alum Alison FitzSimmons ’91, who had also recently transitioned, was coming back too. The two women had not known each other beforehand. “That’s when we started to think that this might be a cool opportunity to do a program, if they were willing,” Solomon says. The program was originally scheduled to be held in the Science Center lounge, but so many people showed up that the program was moved to Getz Auditorium and still overflowed, with about 150 guests.

Then-Director of Student Activities Jim Yanelli moderated the panel as the two trans women talked about their adventures through time and across genders, sharing honest stories about the joys and challenges of their lives in various roles, including child, student, spouse, parent, and employee, coworker, or colleague. Solomon says it was one of the most moving alumni programs to that point.

Egan says after that, she looked up to FitzSimmons as a big sister and a mentor. When FitzSimmons, a lawyer, passed away suddenly, it was a wakeup call for Egan.

“There are so few of us ‘out’ as transgender alums. How can I help destigmatize the trans identity and create representation for current and former Choate students, so they don’t feel they are alone?”

FOR THE CULTURE

As one of this year’s Diversity Day workshops, Egan shared her story, accompanied by photos, through her different “Bro” phases to cultivate the kind of connection and belonging she has been working for since her transition. She named her first phase the “Lil’ Bro” phase, followed by the “Lego Bro” phase. “I built worlds I could be in,” she says. “I imagined myself the Princess in the castle, but no one knew that.” Egan says her “Choate Bro” phase formed “some of my best friendships. Even though I couldn’t be myself, Choate helped me start to see the world differently beyond what I thought was possible, especially for the time.” Her “Frat Bro” phase at Cornell marked her employing toxic masculinity. “This was where I learned weaponization of humor, and I used drugs and alcohol to get away from myself.” Egan’s “Dad Bro” phase she calls “one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and also one of the most confusing because I truly wanted to be a mom.” Today, she has three children: Van, age 18; Brook, age 16; and Teddy, age 11. In her “CEO Bro” phase, she started her first software company, PeopleLinx, and raised $7 million in venture capital. Egan says being a CEO was also part of her family legacy (her father and brothers were business owners or CEOs). She felt she was born to “be a CEO, like it was a rite of passage or something I was supposed to do.”

Photo credit: James Emmerman

Natalie featured in Elle Magazine

“But, in 2016 everything crumbled, including my marriage,” Egan explains. “I came out as a transgender woman, and my business fell apart. Suddenly, at age 39, I faced bias, discrimination, and hatred for the first time. As a white cis male, no one had questioned me. I didn’t know what privilege was until it was taken away from me.” The journey to empathy started then, with her coming to terms with who she really was.

Dean of Equity and Inclusion Rachel Myers said she knew Egan’s Diversity Day presentation would be powerful and well received.

“Natalie is a living representation about how one’s mindset and experiences around culture and diversity is not fixed. We do change and grow over time, and the people and places we encounter impact us in powerful ways. Sure, Natalie is not the same person that she was when she attended Choate — but what is most powerful are the ways in which she reflects on her cultural journey during Choate and afterward: how she experiences a cultural shift and how others treat her because of it. And she has used her incredible talent and intellect to create a software product to help organizations be better at creating inclusive, positive workplace culture among diverse employees.”

— Rachel Myers

To illustrate the power of the Translator software, Egan guided students, faculty, and staff through a real training workshop using the technology platform. During the session, the software provided an automated curriculum focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion while participants anonymously entered stereotypes and labels they had experienced into the app. Egan showed some of those words on a screen, making the point that often these words revealed stereotypes, full of critical judgment. She then asked participants to enter into the software program words they felt identified their authentic selves, words that were much more positive. “Where are we cultivating community, and connections?” Egan asked the audience. “And where are we stereotyping, gaslighting, and/or disregarding?”

When one student asked, “how do we cultivate connection?” Egan responded, “Empathy and humility. These qualities are displayed through curiosity, not judgment.”

Photo credit: Michael Branscom

CONNECTING WITH STUDENTS

In 2023, Egan visited Kyra Jenney’s Queer Studies and Gender Studies classes. “Profound gratefulness exists at Choate for Natalie,” says Jenney, History, Philosophy, Religion, and Sciences Department head. “Her continued involvement at Choate, even as she’s in a high-pressure business environment, and what she has done with Translator shows her genuine interest in sharing for the benefit of others. She has a strong affinity for and love for this place. It is so helpful for our students to see people successful in business as entrepreneurs, and also to see her as a full person,” Jenney says. “For multiple trans and nonbinary students, Natalie’s visit to our classroom was their first time seeing an out trans person visiting Choate.”

Mikayla DaSilva ’24 said Egan’s visit to Queer Studies showed “real-life aspects of what our class covered from queer praxis to just living her life as a queer person and what that means to her. In a class environment, you’re studying from a third-person perspective. Sure, you can use primary sources, but to speak to someone who went to Choate and therefore had similar formative experiences to you and to learn about their life puts the theories into a relatable context. That way we’re not just studying ideas, but the implementation of ideas into the daily lives of queer people in our community.”

During her campus visit in 2023, Egan also spent time with the Counseling Center staff, and Director Raynetta Gibbs said, “Embracing one’s true self is a journey of courage and resilience. Natalie visited us in the counseling office to share her story and insights on navigating the complexities of identity during those formative years. We were happy to hear her ideas about facilitating programming that fosters understanding and acceptance for students who struggle with identity in independent boarding schools and will continue to have open dialogue on ways to help students in our community.”

DEVELOPING AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT

Jenney says that when she arrived at Choate in 2012, there was a gender studies course called Women’s Studies that offered a global focus. As increased interest began to develop, the courses got revamped with a focus on gender studies and gender theory. As more trans and gender-nonconforming students enrolled, the School responded not only with courses, but also with schoolwide programming, affinity groups, and all-gender housing options.

“With the increased rate of suicide ideation among teens, let alone among LGBTQ+ students, we need to support representation in this area,” says Jenney. “We have an opportunity to address some of our societal problems by creating more representation and more empathy.”

When asked what it meant to her to see the changes at Choate since her time as a student, Egan says,

“ The world has changed. If I were a student at Choate today, one of the things I would see is more representation. The power of representation is everything. Sometimes we can move the needle just a little, so someone, somewhere, somehow, might feel so not alone.”

ALUMNI VISITS TO THE CLASSROOM

Kristen Andonie ’17 visited — as part of the i.d.Lab Alumni Series — and hosted a robotics and software engineering workshop focused on the scrum design process.

Dipti Bramhandkar ’96, a guest artist for two days, visited Postcolonial Literature, Acting II, Screenwriting/Playwriting, Improvisation, and Acting III, Honors. She also performed her monologue American Rookie in the William T. Little ’49 and Frances A. Little Theater.

Natalie Egan ’96 offered a Diversity Day workshop “Alumni for the Culture,” demonstrating Translator training platform.

David Mills ’84 visited a Reading and Writing Poetry class and gave a poetry reading from his book Bone Yarn

Wake Smith ’75 met with KEC students to discuss his book on climate change, Pandora’s Toolbox: The Hopes and Hazards of Climate Intervention

Tom Viertel ’59, P ’89 spoke to the student body during School Meeting after receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award. While on campus, he visited Acting II class, met with Arts Concentration students, and watched the rehearsal for the spring musical Into the Woods

From the most formal, to the more casual, we appreciate the time and experience alumni share with our students each year. They enhance the classroom experience for every student and connect students to the lives of leaders in the service of others.

SHANTELL D. RICHARDSON ’99

On May 11, Alex D. Curtis, on behalf of the Alumni Association, presented Shantell D. Richardson ’99 with the Distinguished Service Award. This award recognizes alumni who have demonstrated outstanding service to the School.

Shantell has been an active participant in her class reunions, serving on the Class of 1999 Reunion Committee consistently, including this year for her 25th Reunion. From 2013 to 2019, she made significant contributions to the Alumni Association Executive Committee. Notably, Shantell enhanced young alumni involvement through various committees such as the Young Alumni, Regional Club, and Communications Committees. Additionally, she played a pivotal role as Vice Chair of the Student Relations Committee, pioneering initiatives like career mentoring. One of her notable contributions was organizing an annual Alumni-Student Career Networking Brunch, facilitating the exchange of early career insights between young professionals and students. Shantell also dedicated her efforts to the Alumni Club of New York’s Young Alumni Committee and presently serves on the Equity and Inclusion Committee, an ad hoc committee established by the Alumni Association in 2020. Moreover, she extends her support as an alumni mentor for Pathways, an on-campus program aiding the academic and social integration of new students of color.

Shantell lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., and is a senior data analyst at alice + olivia, a contemporary fashion and lifestyle brand.

2024 ALUMNI AWARD

THOMAS M. VIERTEL ’59

At School Meeting on April 9, Thomas M. Viertel ’59 received the 2024 Choate Rosemary Hall Alumni Award. This is the highest recognition the School bestows upon a graduate. The Award recognizes alumni whose outstanding professional achievements have brought prestige to the School.

Tom is a gifted and prolific theatrical producer who has produced more than 70 plays and musicals on and off Broadway, in London, and on tour. He and his partners have had a hand in some of the most iconic shows over the past 35 years, including the original Broadway productions of The Producers, Hairspray, Young Frankenstein, Smokey Joe’s Café, Angels in America, Penn & Teller; revivals of Gypsy, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Damn Yankees; and the first-ever Broadway revivals of The Sound of Music and Little Shop of Horrors — just to name a few. Tom’s shows have received numerous awards, including two

Pulitzer Prizes, four Grammy Awards, and two Olivier Awards for Best Musical. Tom’s eight Tony Awards include wins in all four “Best” categories — play, musical, revival of a play, and revival of a musical.

From 2012 to 2021, Tom served as Executive Director of the Commercial Theater Institute, the nation’s only formal program that professionally trains commercial theater producers. In this role, he has helped to inspire and prepare the next generation of producers.

A graduate of Harvard, Tom served as a member of the Choate Rosemary Hall Board of Trustees from 2004 to 2014. He is a member of the Executive Committee and the Board of Governors of the Broadway League and Chairman of the Board of the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, the preeminent development center for new theatrical work, located in Waterford, Conn. He and his producing partners also own and operate Feinstein’s/54 Below.

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

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, and support for the School and for one another, and to build pride, spirit, and community.

OFFICERS

President

Elizabeth Alford Hogan ’82

Vice Presidents

Jaques Clariond ’01

Justin Graham ’98

Lena Sullesta Jessen ’92

Dewey Kang ’03

John Smyth ’83, P ’20

Members

Sam Chao ’04

Marisa Ferraro ’92

Chris Herzog ’99

Ashley Holt ’11

David Javdan ’86

David Kestnbaum ’00

Jack Kingsley ’87

Lambert Lau ’97

Brad Mak ’96

Duby McDowell ’78

George Ramirez ’11

Will Gilyard ’98, Faculty Representative

Additional Executive Committee Members

Chief Development Officer

Anne Bergen

Director of Alumni Relations

Andrea Solomon

Alumni Association

Past Presidents

Susan Barclay ’85

David Hang ’94, P ’25

Chris Hodgson ’78, P ’12, ’14, ’17

Parisa Jaffer ’89

Woody Laikind ’53

Patrick McCurdy ’98

REGIONAL CLUB

LEADERSHIP

Boston

Gabby Rundle Robinette ’06

Chicago

Maria Del Favero ’83

Jacqueline Salamack Lanphier ’06

Connecticut

David Aversa ’91

Katie Vitali Childs ’95, P ’24, ’26

Los Angeles

Wesley Hansen ’98

Alexa Platt ’95

New York

Conrad Gomez ’98

Leah Lettieri ’07

Rosemary Hall

Anne Marshall Henry ’62

San Francisco

Albert Lee ’02

Washington, DC

Olivia Bee ’10

Dan Carucci ’76

Tillie Fowler ’92

Beijing

Matthew Cheng ’10

Gunther Hamm ’98

Hong Kong

Jennifer Yu Cheng ’99

Lambert Lau ’97

Sandy Wan ’90

London

Tatiana Donaldson ’13

Elitsa Nacheva ’08

Seoul

Rae-Eun Sung ’97

Shanghai T.C. Chau ’97

Thailand

Uracha Chaiyapinunt ’13

Isa Chirathivat ’96

Pat Sethbhakdi ’85, P ’18, ’18, ’20

Tokyo

Kirk Shimizuishi ’96

Miki Ito Yoshida ’07

Hall of Fame

ATH L E T ICS

HA L L O F FAME

Annually, the Alumni Association honors exceptional athletes whose accomplishments have elevated the School’s athletic legacy. On May 11, the Choate Rosemary Hall Athletics Hall of Fame welcomed three new inductees. Orthwein Family Director of Athletics Roney Eford led the ceremony taking place during Reunion Weekend in the presence of fellow alumni, teachers, coaches, and families.

CHOATE ROSEMARY HALL

2024

KRISTIN HANLEY RICHMAN ’99 was a basketball and lacrosse standout at Choate. A two-time captain, Kristin scored 1,446 points in her Choate basketball career. Her coach Jim Davidson said, “She was a great shooter from anywhere on the floor.” She won the Edith Wallis Award for the greatest contribution to athletics in the third form and received an honorable mention for the Hester C. Macquire Award for greatest contribution to athletics in the fourth form. In her sixth form year, both the basketball and lacrosse teams were Founders League Champions. She went on to play both sports at Middlebury, where she was the 2nd highest in career points with 1,434 and the 2nd highest in 3-point goals with 170. She was first team All-NESCAC for two years and second team for one. She was a two-year captain of Middlebury lacrosse and the 3rd highest all-time scorer with 238 points. Her team were back-to-back NCAA Champions.

Kristin lives in Hingham, Mass., with her husband and is Director of Brand Management for USAA insurance.

JOSHUA BARROW ’94 was a tri-varsity athlete in football, hockey, and tennis, earning six varsity letters in his two years at Choate. The football team won New England Championships both years he played. He was the top defender in hockey his fifth form year and the team played in the prestigious Hockey Night in Boston. At the University of Toledo, he went on to be a Division 1 athlete in football, squash, lacrosse, and was a top 25 ranked squash player.

A colonel in the Army National Guard, Josh has represented Team USA in the CIOR Military Pentathon competition, where he competed against 40 other NATO teams and has participated in the National Guard Biathlon.

Josh lives in the Seattle area with his wife and three children and works for Oracle Corporation as a chief of staff in his civilian job.

JOHN FORD served as a Choate Rosemary Hall faculty member for 43 years, from 1980 until his retirement in June 2023. In addition to being a beloved science teacher, adviser, and dean, he is known as a supportive coach with high expectations for his athletes. He coached Boys Varsity lacrosse from 1980 to 1984, Boys Varsity soccer from 2001 to 2011, and Girls Varsity soccer from 2013 to 2015. Additionally, he coached Boys J.V. lacrosse from 1984 to 1991 and Boys J.V. soccer from 1984 to 2001 and again from 2015 to 2023.

Whether it was at the J.V. or Varsity level, John coached with equal passion and enthusiasm. His expectations went beyond developing athletic skills. In his athletes, he instilled the values of teamwork, sportsmanship, and integrity — both on and off the field. As such, he taught students how to succeed, not just in sports, but in life.

John lives in Chester, Conn., and enjoys spending time in Rhode Island, along the Long Island Sound.

The Winter Blues don’t get us down! In Denver, alumni convened for a festive holiday gathering, while in Greenwich, they gathered for a lively happy hour. In January, Head of School receptions were hosted in Tokyo and Hong Kong, drawing students and alumni together for engaging conversations. Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., the annual student trip brought together current students and alumni for a dinner at the Army and Navy Club. February saw enthusiastic support for the Tampa Bay Lightning, and in March, alumni gathered in New York for a discussion on AI in the workplace, and 24 golfers joined in a tournament in Palm Beach.

CLASSNOTES

1950s

’53 C Arne Carlson writes, “Susan and I are in Punta Gorda, Fla., and quite active. Susan is serving as Chair of FASD United, a national organization helping families deal with problems of fetal alcohol syndrome, and I am involved in the battle against foreign mining conglomerates that are seeking to mine copper, zinc, cadmium in the dense lake areas of northern Minnesota. Their type of sulfide mining will clearly poison the waters of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Lake Superior, and the Mississippi. So far, we are winning in court and steadily gaining broad public support. But going against ‘Big Money’ is always a challenge. A day does not go by when I do not think about Choate and the wonderful opportunity it gave to me.”

Woody Laikind is having some health issues that prevented him from coming to Florida this winter. But his wife, Donna, is taking care of him and he is making progress. He has enjoyed a most successful business career handling investments, putting together deals, and serving on boards.

Bob Leinbach and his wife, Sarah, reluctantly sold their house in Brookline, Mass., and are now in an assisted living facility in Boston. Bob is slowly adjusting to this new lifestyle. He had a remarkable career in medicine, with a long stint at Massachusetts General and teaching at Harvard Med. Overall, he is doing well.

Bob Lindeman and his wife, Nancy, moved into a beautiful senior community right on the water in Sarasota, Fla., and they thoroughly enjoy it. Bob is in good health and takes in all the cultural activities in Sarasota. He enjoyed a most satisfying and successful career in medicine and, following his retirement, joined his wife in the real estate business and, again, did well.

’54 C Peter Lowenstein writes, “Looking forward to attending the 70th Reunion in May. Had lunch recently in Delray Beach, Fla., with classmate Bob Schoenberger. Hadn’t seen him in 70 years, but we did recognize each other.”

Stephan Mack writes, “My wife of 61 years, Ruth, and I are both well, as are our four children. My eldest son, Kristoffer B. Mack, and his son, Kristoffer Y. Mack, are both Choate alumni in the classes of 1982 and 2012, respectively. We have nine grandchildren, ages 16 to 32. In July 2023, Kristoffer ’82’s daughter, Mai, was married in upstate New York, and I was incredibly honored to have been asked to perform their vows. Stanley Pratt (my speech teacher in 1953) would have been extremely proud. I retired at age 70 after spending my last 25 years as CEO and President of a multi-plant US and international plastic extrusion company supplying the appliance industry. Hard work and worldwide traveling were enjoyable. At 87, I no longer play squash or tennis, BUT play pickleball every day! I would love to reconnect with any classmates.”

’54 RH Patricia Bisbee Sweet writes, “I live with my fiancé, Bill Marsh, in Doylestown, Pa. (our summer home) and Naples, Fla. (our winter home). Although I finally did retire from a wonderful career at age 81, I am fortunate to be on the boards of two incredibly impactful organizations. One is Amistad Academy in New Haven, the flagship school for Achievement First, which manages 41 high performing charter schools in Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island, serving more than 15,000 minority children from primarily low-income families. There have been wonderful connections between Choate and Amistad over the past 20 years. Not only has Head of School Alex Curtis visited the school, but Choate has accepted students from Amistad, helped Achievement First develop some of its curriculum, and board members from Choate have also served on Amistad’s board.

My other board is the Gulfshore Playhouse in Naples, where we are just finishing construction of a world class $72 million regional theater and education center. Bill (at age 91) and I (at age 87) thrive on visits from our kids (Bill has three and I have two) and our nine grandchildren (Bill has three and I have six).”

’55 C Randy Ney writes, “I lived in Arkansas during my Choate years, have lived in Texas since the ’80s. My wife, Lea, and I live in Houston, have five children and 11 grandchildren between us, and at 86 I remain active and wholly committed to our bespoke travel business. We have been to all continents and lead three group trips annually. Our treat is a full month in Nantucket every year!”

’56 C Lee Gaillard writes, “I loved soccer at Choate, but after it wrecked my knee, I switched to crew the year I spent in London on an English Speaking Union fellowship. At Yale, I ended up in Varsity Lightweight Crew’s first boat. Then it was the Marine Corps (Reserves), three years at Time-Life International followed by a master’s degree and 30-plus years in private secondary education — teacher (English; European history), department chair, academic dean, dean of faculty, head of upper school — in Greece and five states in this country. A continuing interest in Keats and Hemingway (and other authors) led to essays published in various professional journals and newspapers. But a longstanding interest in aviation and defense matters got me involved in air safety issues — a published critique of the NTSB’s analysis of American Airlines Flight 587 disaster led to my consulting with the producer of ITV-West (Bristol, UK) and serving on their panel of analysts for the telecast of ‘Airline Cracks,’ a look at the 587 disaster and the safety of load-bearing carbon fiber composite structures in modern jetliners; then a monograph for the Center for Defense Information

On January 19, 2024, Miguel Suarez ’52 celebrated his 90th birthday with family and friends in Cutler Bay, Fla. Son-in-law Carlos roasted a pig — a la Cubana. Miguel says now on to 100.

Dick (Lobster) Newberg (left) and Skip Villerot (right), Class of 1955 and best friends since 1954, met in Vero Beach, Fla., over the Christmas holidays. Both are looking forward to their 70th Class Reunion in 2025.

Ivan Light ’59 at Drakes Bay, Pt. Reyes National Seashore

in Washington on design flaws in the MV-22 Osprey. While some long-term projects sit stacked near my desk, I keep getting distracted by current issues, demanding time I don’t have. And as we all hit 85(!), it’s disconcerting to see one of my former students retire after 18 years as head of a New England boarding school ... and my son semi-retired after 20 years handling IT issues at a major state university. Does time warp as we get older?!”

Dudley Smith writes, “Julie and I have been retired and living in the Hanover, N.H., area since 1996. We have enjoyed numerous nonprofit responsibilities, have three sons: Clay (NYC), Brad (Edina, Minn.), and Greg (Groton, Mass.) who are enjoying fulfilling and productive lives, and have six grandchildren. We are very lucky to have been married for 61 years and have enjoyed generally good health so far. We are considering moving to Kendal-Hanover, a Life Care community. We hope to visit Choate at the next opportunity.”

’58 C Ian Bennett writes, “I received an extraordinary gift from my son and daughter in-law for my 83rd birthday: box seats at the men’s singles finals at Wimbledon for me and my wife. My father was born and raised in England, so I grew up watching those matches on TV. To be able to watch tennis played at level of excellence firsthand was certainly a privilege.”

’58 RH Sally Barnes Sonne was married on August 9, 2023 to Donald Roberts at a small family ceremony in the Adirondacks. They are living in Tuxedo Park, N.Y.

’59 C Ivan Light writes, “I am writing a weekly climate blog called Climate Defenders. It intends to reach people in the center and center right who are not persuaded by techno threats, critiques of capitalism, back-to-nature romanticism, or other popular climate arguments. It’s free, and I’d welcome your subscription. Please visit: ivanlight.substack.com.”

Nelson Neiman writes, “I’m still living in Carson City after 35 years, and consulting with longtime clients. Kim and I just celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. In attendance were Ian Robertson and his new bride, Bonnie. Heading to Puerto Vallarta to celebrate Kim’s 70th birthday with all four children and respective relationships in tow. Still no aches or pains, and I walk the four miles round trip to the bakery every morning: Healthy living through decadence.”

Frank Pagliaro writes, “I continue to practice law, though at a much reduced rate, so that I can spend more time with family and traveling. In July we took my son’s family (two grandsons) to a dude ranch on the eastern side of the Sierras for horseback riding and fly fishing. Then in August we took my daughter’s family (two granddaughters) to Utah for horseback riding in Bryce Canyon, hiking in Zion, and a Cirque de Soleil performance in Las Vegas. Finally,

my wife and I flew to Japan in September, where we spent three weeks including some of the smaller islands along the Inland Sea of the south coast. I am greatly looking forward to our Reunion.”

Tom Viertel writes, “I stay active in theater, and remain terrified of retirement. Currently producing Back to the Future, the Musical on Broadway and in London with a North American tour starting in June. Developing a new musical based on the movie Silver Linings Playbook and a musical revue based on largely unknown songs by Jonathan Larson of Rent fame. Still Chair of the Board at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, America’s foremost developmental theater and the place where Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bobby and Kristen Lopez, and August Wilson got their starts, among many others. Also, Board Chair at 54 Below, winner of the 2022 Tony Honor, a cabaret celebrating all things Broadway. I’ve done a bit of retiring in the last couple of years, leaving the board of the Actors’ Equity Pension and Health Plan and the executive directorship of the Commercial Theater Institute, which teaches commercial theater producing. My kids seem to be thriving. Jessica ’89 (Brooklyn) has a daughter in college and another heading there next fall, and Joel (West Hollywood) has two daughters in elementary schools. Pat Daily, the love of my life, and I have been together for 34 years and had the pleasure of a weeklong visit in Hawaii with Choate roomie Nelson Neiman and Kim at the home of Choate buddy Ian Robertson and Bonnie. You could do worse. Unfortunately, who did worse was my lifelong friend H. Miles Jaffe ’59. His passing was a grievous loss for everyone who knew him. There was no more spirited person than Miles at his best. We’ll certainly miss him.”

1960s

’61 C Morrie Adams writes, “Two days prior to her 80th birthday, my wife, Nancy, passed away due to dementia.”

Dave Cook wrapped up his 20 years of voiceover narrations by recording the 47 stopping commentaries of Boston HarborWalk.

’62 C Deaver Brown writes, “Working with Choate roommate, Alex Goodwin, and business partner at Umbroller, later sold to Rubbermaid, who was a futurist before it was cool, pushed me in my audiobook and eBook company simplymedia.com to use chatboxes to guide customers through available books, descriptions, series and more. We are presently using Perplexity, which seems like a miracle, founded and run by millennials with several Choaties working there. As an old person, I recommend to others to involve yourselves in these amazing technologies to stay in touch with younger people and positive thinking.”

TOP Choate 1955 classmates getting ice cream at Kilwin’s in Venice, Fla. Left to right – Kiki McConnel, Bill McConnel ’55, Bonnie Poole, and Bill Poole ’55

MIDDLE Randy Ney ’55 and wife Lea in India

BOTTOM Alex Goodwin ‘62 (left) at his desk and Deaver Brown ’62 (right) coaching him along.

1 Steve Mack ’54 and wife Ruth with their grandchildren in July 2023

2 Dinner with Choate 1959 classmates. Left to right – seated, Pat Daily (wife of Tom Viertel), Tom Viertel, Nelson Neiman ’59. Standing, Kim (Nelson’s wife), Ian Robertson ’59, Bonnie (Ian’s wife)

3 Walter “Preston” Tyree ’62 remembers the Winter Weekend Sock Hop in the Winter Ex in 1962. Pictured here with his date Anne Snyder of Lynchburg, Va., who traveled by train to get to the event.

4 John Wilkes ’62 wearing his 1961 Choate football shirt in Cape Town, South Africa.

5 3 Rosemarians get together. Left to right – Anne Marshall Henry ’62, Susie Mountrey ’61, and Jessica Loring ’61

6 Steve Beste ’64 continues as president-for-life of Flying Club 1, an ultralight flying club in Northern Virginia. Pictured here with his trike at Franklin Int’l, a hayfield near Purcellville, Va.

F. John Wilkes Jr. writes, “Gini and I spent four wonderful weeks in November aboard the Regent Voyager, starting in Barcelona and ending in Cape Town. My favorite stop was taking Gini to L’Hotel Ivoire in Abidjan for lunch. In 1966, I spent two years upcountry in Ivory Coast with the Peace Corps, teaching English as a Second Language to Frenchspeaking Ivorian eighth graders. Monsieur Cosnard would have been proud! Currently we are celebrating the birth of a new granddaughter, Penny, in Colorado! That’s three, and one more on the way in New York! We are also looking forward to our vacation plans this July with a trip to Prague, and a cruise down the west coast of Italy, and then through several islands in the Mediterranean. We will also enjoy stops in Barcelona, Antibes, and Monaco, where we will visit with French friends from my Ivorian Peace Corps days (1966 - 1968). Skiing in Vermont this winter at Okemo and Stratton has helped keep me fit, and I am eager to resume my bike riding this spring. Sales of the second edition of my fictional memoir, The Star Gazer, are doing well. Chapter 3 is all about Choate. Thankfully, Gini and I continue to enjoy good health and great friends both stateside and abroad. Should you ever be passing by Port Liberté in Jersey City, N.J., please stop by.”

’63 RH Donna Dickenson writes, “I hear from a number of the young female academics whom I informally mentor, including the newest one, in Sri Lanka, and a Dutch colleague with whom I’ve collaborated extensively. This is one of the most satisfying aspects of this stage of my life. Although some psychoanalysts seem fixated on boundaries, I think life is all about connection, sometimes across unlikely boundaries. I am delighted to see, from our Winter ’24 class notes, how many RH classmates are involved with ‘altruistic projects of one kind or another.’”

Jean McBee Knox writes, “Winter was quiet here in New Hampshire. Given the chaos in the rest of the world, I’m grateful for that. We often go to Bedford, Mass., to visit our two grandchildren. Library and conservation work continue to keep me busy. I still sing, rehearsing Haydn’s The Creation each week with a chorus in North Conway. I manage to keep up with an energetic weekly walking/snowshoeing group, and zoom with a poetry group. A visit to my sister Hetty ’61 in England is planned for August.”

Chris Murray McKee writes, “We had Christmas here in New London, N.H., with son Ethan and his girls who were in the U.S. for school break. It was great seeing them, and it looks like they may be coming back for another visit from Thailand in the summer. Daughter Rachel and her gang were with their in-law side of the family for the holidays. I am keeping very busy with volunteering at the food pantry. That has become a lot of work with a growing group of clients. Food insecurity is ongoing and growing. Also, I am on the town’s Waste Reduction

Committee. We research ways to reduce what goes into the landfill. We have initiated a program of composting food waste as well as the longstanding garden composting. Another volunteer activity is my participation in a knitting group at the local assisted living facility. I love working with the residents. It gives them a feeling of purpose as they make hats for people experiencing homelessness.”

Margo Melton Nutt writes, “This winter, I took an Osher course through Dartmouth on the Transcendentalists. It’s fascinating, but I’m finding reading Ralph Waldo Emerson just as difficult now as I did at RH. Osher is non-credit, volunteer-run continuing education program for adults. Lots of colleges have them. At Dartmouth, between 50 and 60 courses are offered each term, some in person, some on Zoom. No papers, no tests. Taught by retired profs or experts in their field. Keeps the little gray cells active. I’m also continuing volunteer work for the church and the library.”

’64 C David Gens writes, “I have two grandchildren: Evan Gens, born July 29, 2021, and Wesley Gens, born November 24, 2022 (Thanksgiving Day) to Ryan (son) and Luci Gens. I am still living in Annapolis, Md., and I am still full-time employed at the Shock Trauma center in Baltimore.”

Jeff Gould writes, “I have been fortunate to have spent time with Curt Tobey, Danny Rugg, Jimmy Baldassari ’66, Tony Smith ’65, and Rob Simpson ’65, reminiscing about our days and teams at Choate. Enjoyed the Tampa Bay Lightning game and seeing Alex Curtis and others at a pregame event. My very best to all at Choate and looking forward to attending our 60th Reunion in May.”

’65 C Tom Courage writes, “The Class of ’65 continues to welcome new old friends at its weekly Zoom calls. These calls have been interspersed with TED-type talks by classmates on topics of current interest. On January 25, Peter Kastner educated us on Artificial Intelligence. On February 29, Britt McJunkin, Rob Simpson, George Handzo, and Steve Lamb led a discussion on the US Health Care System.”

Jim Smith writes, “Even though I’m still broker/owner of Golden Real Estate in Golden, Colo., Rita and I have gone on a 122-day world cruise on the Viking Sky. We don’t return home until May 6, but meanwhile, I’m continuing to write my real estate column which appears weekly in the Denver Post and 23 local weeklies! Call it a ‘working vacation.’ I also enjoy posting a daily blog at WhereAreJimandRita. substack.com. For us, it’s ‘bucket list time,’ and we’re enjoying every day of it! I’m writing this near the Great Barrier Reef on Day 45.”

’65 RH Wesley Cullen Davidson and her husband, Sandy Davidson, will rent a home at 41 Leeward Lane, Groton (Noank, Conn.) for August. If there are any Rosemarians in the area, they would love to connect.

Ann Mason Sears has been working on her bucket list for travels with Herb. They had a great trip down the coast of Chile and Patagonia in fall 2023 and followed up with Antarctica and Buenos Aires in February ’24. They still enjoy their reverse snowbird habits of combining Florida and boat cruising, then skiing in Vermont and out West. Summer 2024 they will be in Maine and hopefully can restart the gathering of Rosemary Hall alumnae in August.

’66 C Lawrence DeVan The Standardbred industry — and in particular the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame — has benefited significantly from Lawrence DeVan’s business acumen and leadership abilities. As a former President of the Museum and current Chairman of its Executive Committee, he has been instrumental in furthering the institution’s mission of chronicling the sport of harness racing.

Tim Garson writes, “I’m writing a world history book for high school following the ‘family’ over 3,000 years. My wife tells me I have to explain what a med school dean is doing writing a history book. So I knew nothing about history, and have read 127 books — which qualifies me as a novice — hopefully enough to teach other novices!”

Jamie Kirkpatrick writes, “The sequel to my debut novel, This Salted Soil, is scheduled for release in the spring. The Tales of Bismuth (Palestine, 19451948) explores the roots of the Arab-Israeli conflict. It is available on Amazon.”

’66 RH Leigh Johnson Yarbrough writes, “My sister, Lucina ‘Tina’ Johnson Lewis ’64, died suddenly at her home in Durham, N.C., on September 29, 2023. Tina moved to Durham last October from Newport, R.I., to be closer to me and my family. We miss her terribly. She is survived by her three sons, four grandsons, and stepmother, Terry Johnson.”

’67 C Jim Armstrong writes, “Walt Tomford’s death was announced to the class by email in August 2023, and then his obituary appeared in the winter Bulletin. Such sad news. Walt was one of the good guys — kind, decent, good-hearted, generous, upbeat. He and I had adjoining singles in the ’62 House our fifth form year, then roomed together on Mem 3 our sixth form year. He was a diligent student, and when he wasn’t studying, he was always busy doing something: Gold Key, the Brief board, Glee Club, 6th Form Tutoring Committee, Spanish National Honor Society, and more. In the Brief spring ’67 supplement he’s listed as the recipient of the Headmaster’s Prize. I don’t remember what that prize was given for, but Seymour St. John made the right choice when he gave it to Walt, a truly wonderful guy.”

Douglas Eisenhart caught up with two members of the Class of ’68 in Vermont; they live near Middlebury in the Champlain Valley: Rory Cartwright and Dan Morris. All three were also members of the Princeton Class of 1972, as Doug took a gap year studying at St. Lawrence College in Ramsgate, Kent, on an English-Speaking Union scholarship.

’68 C Vernon Glenn writes that he finished and released his bad boy lawyer, Eddie Terrell, trilogy, and is now working on his next book. He also became a grandfather, invested in two dressage horses, and traveled to Quebec City and Montreal.

’69 C Greg Hooker writes, “I’m staying busy hanging out with grandsons Hudson, 2, and Harlow, 4 months. Also still hosting The Getaway music show on Vermont’s WDEV radio, volunteering as treasurer for my local school district, and serving as public address announcer for the Vermont Mountaineers of the New England Collegiate Baseball League.”

George Read writes, “I continue to paint and am pleased with my first international sale, four paintings that are now hanging in a villa near Palermo. Memories of the days at Choate are always among my strongest, and fondest, thoughts. It is late to do so, but I send most sincere thanks to the place, the halls, rooms, and fields and the people who were part of it. I am most grateful. And a warm greeting to any who were there with me. Hallo!”

William Woolverton writes, “My daughter, Alice, had a girl, Mara Genevieve, on November 28, 2023. She is our first grandchild.”

’69 RH Wink Thenebe Clute writes, “My husband, Larry Kinney, and I are moving after 25 years in our beautiful home above Boulder, Colo. It is both heartbreaking and relieving to leave, but there is just a bit too much snow and it’s too dark at night for my aging eyes. On the uplifting side, all five of our not-mutual offspring are healthy and happily spread across the country from Kansas City to San Francisco.”

Becky Maddox Narva writes, “I’m now in Philadelphia, teaching/studying movement, involved with Buddhist activist community, and enjoying my growing family: my three are married and we have five grands at the moment. Grateful every day for this life and looking back at RH days, I feel so lucky to have gotten those foundations in learning at that beautiful campus in Greenwich. I’m loving the freedom and hard earned wisdom of these years. Love to our RH community.”

Vickie Spang writes, “Still trying to adjust to retirement, but am taking classes in art history and am a patron of the Getty Museums in LA. Starting to travel more, e.g., recently went to Cabo. I often see classmate Helen Halpin in the SF Bay area.”

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1 Jim Smith ’65 and Rita head to dinner during their Viking Sky world cruise.

2 Jeff Gould ’64 and his wife Laurie, after 56 years of marriage, welcome their great granddaughter Clark Carolyn Meadows. What a milestone!

3 Pictured left to right - Doug Eisenhart ’67, Rory Cartwright ’68, Dan Morris ’68

Lawrence DeVan ’66 being recognized with the Monticello-Goshen U.S. Harness Writers Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award in December 2023.

Kito Peters ’68 with his record, Elixir, named Best Pop Album at the 2023 New Mexico Music Awards banquet last May.

1970s

’70 C John Burditt writes, “I retired from Choate, and am living in central New Haven with my wife of 48 years, Terri, and a new puppy. Working closely with a local not-for-profit that supports homeless youth in southern Connecticut called Youth Continuum. For those living in the vicinity, donations are our lifeblood. Best to all my classmates!”

’71 C Frank Gerold writes, “Living in Houston, but engaged in an international law practice representing people from the Balkans and Uganda for psychological injuries caused by exposure to war hazards in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is gratifying to help these wonderful people. Occasionally correspond with Fred Fisher. Time most certainly flies.”

’72 C Fred Clowney writes, “I’m feeling pretty good after completing three months of chemotherapy for bladder cancer. It’s not the adventure I would have chosen, but an adventure nonetheless. I have really enjoyed my 60s and am still disappointed about missing reunion last year due to a cancelled plane flight. Still working and have no real plans to retire. Married for almost 50 years with four happy daughters and four grandchildren. It’s a wonderful life, and I wouldn’t change anything.”

Chip Underhill reunited with Carl Beck in Cambridge, Mass., following Carl’s retirement from the National Bureau of Economic Research. Chip retired a few years ago, but is still working part-time because it’s fun. After COVID cancelled a 40th wedding anniversary trip, Chip and Lisa got to “idyllic” Virgin Gorda to celebrate No. 43. Son Ethan ’11 married and moved to Portsmouth, N.H., 40 minutes from the folks. Daughters Stephanie and Andrea in Greater Boston respectively have two daughters (5 and 2) and one son (still under 1).

’73 C Stephen Davis writes, “I was proud to receive a lifetime achievement award this year from the association representing my field, the International Corporate Governance Network. But on the same day I heard about that, I also learned of Putin’s murder of my friend Alexei Navalny, who rose to fatal influence in Russia by advocating against corruption. I am dedicating my award to Alexei and hope justice for him will arrive sooner or later.”

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Chip Forrester writes, “After almost 40 years in the Democratic political arena, at the end of this 2024 election cycle, I will retire. By serving on the Biden/Harris National Finance Committee and as National Finance Chair for St. Rep Gloria Johnson’s (one of the Tennessee Three) U.S. Senate race here in Tennessee, these will be my last campaigns, and I will spend time with my two granddaughters as I watch them grow. It has been quite a run, but it is

1 Grandchildren of Tim Garson ’66

2 Peter Hovey ’66 with his wife, Pat, sitting on the Class of ’66 fireplace bench he made located in the Andrew Mellon Library.

Vernon Glenn ’68 at work

Left to right - Helen Halpin ’69 and Vickie Spang ’69 on Helen’s porch in Feb. 2024.

Left to right - Chip Underhill ’72 and Carl Beck ’72

time to turn the reins over to the next generation. It has been my honor to have known three Presidents personally — Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden — and been a part of their winning campaigns. It is my fervent hope that democracy survives this year.”

Peter Koenig writes, “I am, at last, retiring from my position as counsel at the firm of O’Toole Scrivo LLC. The firm has grown to 70 attorneys at last count, so I think they’ll get by without me. My wife and I will decamp from New Jersey to a home in the Indianapolis suburbs, a short stroll from our grandchildren’s house.”

’73 RH Claudia Ream Fisher writes, “I was sorry to have missed our 50th Reunion at Choate last year. I was right in the midst of starting a new business and was unable to leave. But I saw the photos, and you all looked gorgeous! My husband and I now live permanently in England. We arrived just at the beginning of COVID in 2020 and were living inside, along with all other Brits, for two years. During that time, for some godforsaken reason, I thought it would be fun to design a new kind of luxury jacket for women based on 18th and 19th century design profiles and developed with the tailoring expertise of Savile Row tailors. We just launched the business, Belle Brummell (yes, with a nod to Beau Brummell — the sartorial expert on men’s fashion in the 19th century) and are starting up the marketing. We have a partnership showroom on Savile Row, London, a website, and our first client. But it’s going to be a big effort. Please feel free to check out our website: bellebrummell.co.uk and give me any feedback. We will be working this year on getting marketing started in the U.S., so if any of you have any marketing epiphanies, don’t hold back! If you find yourself in the London or the South England area, call me and I’ll take us out for high tea. I would love to catch up and see what you are doing.”

Roberta Kirn has been able to start up her travels again, post-pandemic, with her Song Exchange Project, traveling to Brazil in January and South Africa in March, learning about the rich music, traditions, and cultures of those countries in order to share them, continuing in her mission to promote singing in community to open hearts, build bridges across differences, and lift spirits. For stories, photos, and more information, visit her website.

’74 C John de Jong will become President of the World Veterinary Association for a two-year term at the conclusion of the annual Congress in Cape Town, South Africa, this spring. He, along with the class committee, has been reaching lots of classmates in preparation for the 50th Reunion in May.

Harold Green writes, “Since leaving Choate, my life has been a series of great adventures. I attended GWU and Georgetown for one year but found college uninspiring. Instead, I worked at the Atlantic Council in 1975, writing a policy paper on nuclear nonproliferation and waste control management. I started my first business in 1975 (Chamberlain Contractors, Inc.), an asphalt and concrete contractor, and grew the business substantially over 48 years. Expanded that enterprise to include recycling of asphalt and concrete rubble, real estate development of commercial office and warehouse space, and started a general contracting business. I created the first industrial base, Transportation Specific Global Carbon Emissions Methodology, which documents, validates, verifies, obtains issuance of VCU’s, and then sells those carbon emission credits on the voluntary carbon marketplace. Over the past 50 years I have also had the pleasure of traveling to 120 countries. I have two grown children, one divorce, and one new marriage. See you in May.”

John Steinbreder writes, “I am still writing, mostly about golf, for a range of publications that

include Golfweek, Golf Digest, Global Golf Post, Forbes Life, and Masters.com. I have also been writing books at a pretty good clip, and expect my 26th and 27th to be published this year. My work continues to take me all over the world, and I enjoy the travel and the experiences that come with that almost as much as the writing itself. I have been married the past 17 1/2 years to Cynthia Crolius, the younger sister of my old roommate at Choate, Tucker. Cynthia and I live in Redding, Conn., and have two daughters, Exa and Lydia.”

’75 C George Bradt writes, “Having previously lived in New York, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Orlando, London, Tokyo, Taipei, Hong Kong, and Santa Monica, I now live in Stamford, Conn., and Amagansett, N.Y. Married to Meg since 1981. Three children. Four grandsons. Own all or part of three businesses: PrimeGenesis, CEO Connection, and Glass Heart Productions. Have written 11 books on executive onboarding, mergers & acquisitions, and leadership, 2 ‘Back to School Chats’ books on parenting, 875-plus articles for Forbes, and 22 musicals and plays (book, lyrics, and music).”

’76 C Chris Carrozzella writes, “After more than 30 years practicing law in Wallingford, I have moved on. Currently I am flying a King Air 350 (I call it a ‘rocketship’ with its modifications) for a charter company based in Danbury, Conn. I fly amazing passengers and get to see a lot of this great country. Looking forward to our reunion in a few years.”

’77 C David Fried writes, “Doug Chang ’99 and I serve at the American Dental Association on the Council of Dental Practice where we set policies regarding dental health care to the ADA. Our work centers on workforce, health and wellness, sustainability, healthcare access, and insurance issues to support dentists and our patients. We made our Choate connection at our first meeting when Doug

White House State dinner October 25, 2023. Chip Forrester ’73 pictured with Vice President Kamala Harris in honor of the Prime Minister of Australia

Roberta Kirn ’73 hopes to sing with you soon!

Brian Jacks ’74 enjoying retirement. Photo from New Years Eve 2022

mentioned that he went to prep school in Wallingford. We continue to work together to ensure optimal dental care throughout the U.S.”

Richard Michael Gachot, his wife, Vera, and 5-year-old daughter, Sasha, have moved to Strasbourg, France. After 17 years in teaching, he has retired but continues to do research on Russian émigré architects and is working on his third book.

’78 Mari Ponce Bauman writes, “New Mexico is still the place I call home. Continuing to work in the public school system with a few years left. The rest of my time is shared with my husband and daughters in the outdoors skiing, camping, hiking, fly fishing, and enjoying the amazing open spaces the high desert offers."

Phil Squattrito writes, “At the end of the current academic year, I will complete 35 years as a member of the chemistry faculty at Central Michigan University. Although many contemporaries are retiring, I have no plans in that direction, as I still enjoy what I’m doing. Life on campus has largely returned to a post-pandemic normal, but the landscape in higher education — especially in the vast middle of regional state universities — is certainly in a state of flux. I enjoy interacting with friends from school on social media and still hope to get back to Wallingford at some point.”

’79 Caroline Arlen won first place in the 2023 national LAURA Short Story Contest. Her work can be viewed on her website.

1980s

’80 Leda Natkin Nelis writes, “Still living in London — have been here for 25 years now. Our daughter lives in NYC and works for JP Morgan in private wealth management. Our son is doing a Ph.D. in military history at Oxford here in the UK. Still very happily married to Harry! I am involved with charities related to both autism and the arts, am an honorary fellow at Christ’s College, Cambridge, and help manage my father’s art estate and my mother’s painting career.”

’81 Tom Colt writes, “I am in my seventh year working at Shanghai American School as a college counselor. COVID-related restrictions were finally lifted a year ago, which has allowed my wife, Megan, and me to travel throughout Asia again during our breaks from school. We’ve recently visited Kyrgyzstan (for an amazing ski trip!), Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. I attended a fun dinner for Choate alumni and current parents held in Shanghai in December. Jeff Beaton, the Chief Enrollment Manager, was there along with a crowd of about 30 parents and alums.”

C.B. Stevens writes, “Just had my fifth anniversary as Program Manager in an AI R&D project for the Department of Defense, and celebrated by finally knuckling under to bureaucratic realities and getting a PMP certification. I also took up competitive endurance sports this past year, and in my first race I took second place among men in the Virginia state championship for Aquabike (think triathlon without the run) in Williamsburg. Making plans to do a race this year with John Milliman ’82 so we can both wear our Choate hats on the podium! Had dinner recently with Sandy Botond ’81, who reports that ranching in Texas most definitely involves a lot of scorpion wrangling. Also this past summer, my fifth book on wargaming, Fighting the Phoenix — about the Iran-Iraq War in the air — was published by SkirmishCampaigns.”

’84 Marina Talley Chatterton writes, “I’m living and working in the Silver Lake area of LA, and am licensed as a psychotherapist in both California and New York, so I see adult clients in both states via Telehealth. I designed and oversee my therapy office building where I see in-person clients and train new therapists. I’m also raising my lovely, creative, 14-yearold son, and looking forward to seeing many alums at the reunion!”

Tom Kline, lead consultant and founder of Better Vantage Point, launched a new risk mitigation service called “Tuck The Octopus.” Tom says, “‘ Tuck The Octopus’ is so named because managing and owning a business can feel like trying to tuck an octopus into bed at night and the tentacles keep popping out!”

Emile Westergaard writes, “I am writing from the deep, deep south (aka Lima, Peru) where I live happily with my partner Gala and our 6-month-old daughter, Galita. I founded an edtech platform called IVoT (https://ivot.academy/) providing an accessible engaging applied financial skills training to members of any age and background. We launched in the fall and are currently offered for credit at universities including CUNY and LIU, and through grant funding to students in Ghana, Africa. Busy times for sure.”

’85 Lynn Grant Beck writes, “My husband and I have moved to Ashton in Southeast Idaho. We are nestled between Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. If there are any Choaties in the area, please give me a shout-out.”

Brett Chappell writes, “This past summer, my wife, Linda, and I had the good fortune to welcome our dear friend from Hong Kong, Ronna Chao ’85, to Copenhagen. What made it even more special was the fact that her daughter and our daughter became friends over a traditional Danish smørrebrød lunch.”

Eric Costello writes, “I retired from the practice of law some years ago, and have been pottering about, doing this and that. In the last six

months or so, I’ve been contributing to the venerable ‘Dick Tracy’ comic strip, with two short story arcs and one long one. The villain in the long story arc was a murderous collector of rare manuscripts, one Xaviera Libris, aka X. Libris. Who was Choate ’85. The (fictional) Choate Club in Tracy’s city plays a role in the story, as does Libris’ past at Choate — including her photograph in the Brief, the cover of which was accurately rendered by the artist [on October 6, 2023], as well as her roles on the (fictional) Choate fencing team and the (non-fictional) Lit.”

’88 Amy Talkington writes, “After reconnecting on a Choate reunion email chain, I signed up to take Katie Mountner Grieco’s Vedic meditation class when she was teaching a course in Los Angeles. I’ve now been practicing daily for four months and it’s been transformative — I highly recommend tracking down Katie through her company Simply Meditate and learning to meditate!”

Michael Teske is a diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service, working in operations management for USAID overseas. He is currently wrapping up his four-year assignment as a Regional Supervisory Executive Officer with USAID/Central Asia based in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Previously, he served four years as a Regional Executive Officer with USAID/Southern Africa based in Pretoria, South Africa; for 3.5 years with USAID/Honduras in Tegucigalpa; and for two years with USAID/Philippines in Manila. His next three-year assignment will be with USAID/Nigeria in Abuja.

’89 Allison Weiss Brady has been named a Trustee at the University of Pennsylvania. At Penn, she also is Co-Vice Chair of the Football Board, and Fundraising Chair of the School of Social Policy and Practice.

Dakin Hart writes, “After 10 years as Senior Curator, I left the Noguchi Museum last spring. This winter, I joined Fundación Casa Wabi to oversee its artist residency programs and exhibitions in Mexico City, Puerto Escondido, and Tokyo. My wife, Nancy, whom I met in a Choate summer writing program more than 30 years ago, is a partner at Gibson Dunn and Crutcher. We live in Red Hook, Brooklyn, with our children Eme (13) and Ben (9).”

Keith Sauer Wilding and Heather ’89 are NEARLY empty nesters, with daughter Abigail now working as a RN for the Pediatric ED at Johns Hopkins and son Cameron a sophomore studying electrical engineering at WPI. Keith is the Department Chair for the Paramedic Emergency Medicine program at NHTI - Concord’s Community College, and part-time paramedic in the Boston area. Heather is a Lead Business Process Consultant at UKG. “Not sure if we’ll make it to the reunion, but hope our classmates are all well.”

CLASSNOTES |

John Frizzell

’84 Hollywood Composer, Autism Advocate

An award-winning composer for film and television, John Frizzell ’84 believes the job of a score is to “evoke and convey emotion nonverbally.” For one of his first films, 1997’s Alien Resurrection, John’s creepily erotic themes play to the movie’s plot involving human-alien interbreeding, while the music in the action sequences heightens dramatic intensity: When the protagonists are frantically swimming underwater, running out of air as a murderous alien closes in, John’s thumping and discordant score makes you feel their panic and terror.

John’s dozens of credits span the genres. They include the disaster movie Dante’s Peak, the cult classic comedy Office Space, installments in both the Texas Chainsaw Massacre and I Know What You Did Last Summer franchises, and the animated TV sitcom King of the Hill. While he loves composing stirring music for 80-piece traditional orchestras, he also enjoys inventing novel sounds for a particular effect. “I’ve been known to dismantle pianos and make weird things for horror movies and all sorts of really bizarre sounds,” he says.

John won a Hollywood Music in Media Award in 2022 for his score of the animated adventure movie Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe. Like a deadpan joke, the film’s epic orchestral score plays against the silliness of the plot. He says, “If you listen to the score on Spotify, the whole point is it doesn’t sound like it’s from the Beavis and Butt-Head movie.” John also scored the original smash-hit Beavis and Butt-Head Do America.

John’s writing process often begins with considering the film’s scenes through the lens of American psychologist Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which stated our actions are motivated by certain physiological and psychological needs that progress from basic to complex. Does the character have a life-or-death need for air? Or are they seeking self-actualization?

John says, “In every scene of a movie, somebody needs something. So, the first thing I try to identify is who needs what and use that as a launching point for the emotional basis of the music.”

John also considers the narrative from the perspective of archetypes and mythologies, particularly Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey.

“Once I have that mapped out vaguely in my head, I try to turn off any sense of language and I just start listening to what comes out musically,” he says.

John loves sitting down to compose.

“When I go to actually write music, I lose my sense of self, I lose my sense of time and space, and I just get so completely lost in it,” he says. “Deep, intense focus is my gift.”

John believes this gift is conferred by his autism. Recently diagnosed with ASD Level I — formerly characterized as Asperger’s — John says autism explains a great deal about his own life’s journey, including his time at Choate. At School, inconsistent academic performance threatened his chances of graduating. But Dean Tom Yankus realized John’s passion for music was a way for him to be successful and allowed him to focus primarily on that.

“My Choate experience was a great foundation for my musical career,” says John. “What I love about what happened was that I was not in a great spot. It was a difficult, very challenging time in my life, and [Yankus] made a decision which was not conventional, which changed my life. Looking back on it, this is exactly the right idea for an autistic student. You focus on their strengths.”

Today John seeks to be an advocate for autistic people, particularly in the area of employment — and he urges other Choate alums with autism to connect with him and join his efforts. People with ASD Level I often have the capacity to be successfully employed, John notes, but they have a very low chance of obtaining good, sustainable work. One reason is that the interview process is almost designed to filter them out: “It is based on social conformity. Atypical eye contact, body posture, and use of language in personal interviews eliminates many autistic people from the running.”

John sees Mr. Spock from Star Trek as an instructive analogue. No one expects the Vulcan to conform, and his different way of thinking is not only valued, it is often essential to the crew’s survival and success.

“Every organization needs diversity in the types of thinking they value,” says John, noting employers would especially benefit from the autistic predisposition for innovative problem-solving. Says John, “It can be easier to think outside of ‘the box’ when you don’t experience it in the first place.”

by leslie virosteK P ’15, ’17, ’20

Leslie Virostek is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to the Bulletin

1 Doug Chang ’99 and David Fried ’77 at American Dental Association headquarters in Chicago.

2 In December 2023, Class of 1980 close friends and their spouses traveled to the home of John and Gigi Baay in New Orleans. Left to right - Rob Shaw, Jeff Kahle, Mike Furgueson, Liz Kahle, Chris Craig, John Baay, Rob Harteveldt

3 C.B. Stevens ’81 near victory at the Culpeper, Va. Triathlon Festival, where he took another second place in Aquabike.

4 Richard Gachot ’77, wife Vera, and 5-year-old daughter Sasha — Halloween in Strasbourg, France!

5 Marina Talley Chatterton ’84 in her psychotherapy office.

6 Catherine Felty ’79 opened an Etsy shop to sell her art designs (seen in photo).

7 Paul Croke ’78 became a grandfather recently to Scarlett Rose McCann, a fiery little redhead. Fortunately his wife of 30 years was able to enjoy her company before she passed away September 30.

8 Mari Ponce Bauman ’78 horseback rides along the not so mighty Rio Grande.

9 Tom Kline ’84 being interviewed for a webcast.

1 Left to right - Jennifer Blake Davis, Melissa Burtt Smith ’85, and Hilary Hodgkins met on Sanibel Island, Fla., marking 40 years of friendship!

2 Michael Teske ’88 sends his greetings and best wishes from Bermuda in 2023 with his wife, Sevda, and three children: Isabella, Adib, and Kian.

3 Brett Chappell ’85 with classmate Ronna Chao at Cirkelbroen in the Christianshavn district of the Danish capital. The royal Danish library is in the background.

4 Penny Bach Evins ’90 (left), Head of School at Holton-Arms, Bethesda, Md., and Trude Reich Bate ’90 (right), Board chair at Cary Academy, N.C., reunited and reflected on their years at Choate.

5 Mike Opdenaker ’93 got the chance to attend Choate signing day with his son Ethan ’24. Ethan will be playing lacrosse at Trinity next year.

6 Fellow Choate alumni Scott Parker ’91 (left) and Rich Tencza ’85 (right) bumped into each other at the Cleveland Masters paddle tournament in November.

7 Philanthropist and model Allison Weiss Brady ’89 was featured on the cover of an international edition of Glamour magazine.

8 Keith Sauer Wilding ’89 with wife Heather ’89 and son Cameron, in Nafplio, Greece, this past January.

1990s

’90 Penny Bach Evins writes, “It was such a pleasure and moment of sheer joy for two former roommates from Archbold to catch up at the National Association of Independent Schools conference this past winter in St. Louis.” (see photo, p. 40)

’91 Dan Kamensky writes, “I’ll get to return the favor and privilege received at Choate through teaching NYU Stern students in the fall. In addition to teaching, I have also been appointed Co-director of the Altman-Paulson Initiative on Bankruptcy, Restructuring and Financial Distress at NYU Stern, and will be Executive Director of a new Fall Executive Education Workshop there on distressed investing.”

’96 Kerri Kusza Cahoy was recently promoted to Associate Department Head in Aeronautics and Astronautics in the School of Engineering at MIT. She’s the co-founder of a new space startup company, SpaceRake, with Patrick Kage ’16. Ric Haeussler published his first novel in January. The Last Flight Home is a sci-fi/fantasy/ romance hybrid. It chronicles the adventures of a future Marine battling aliens bent on destroying his way of life. Meanwhile, he falls for his part-alien fleet doctor. Learn more at rickyhausler.com. The book draws upon Ric’s experience as a retired Army officer, teacher of middle school ELA and special ed, and as the founder of a management company, FDH Properties.

’97 Lambert Lau writes, “Members of our class Aileen Loh, Maria Wu, Patricia Yeung, and me shared some great laughs with Boat Chirathivat ’98 when he was visiting Hong Kong in December 2023. Although they had not sat at the same table in 20plus years, it felt just like the good old days in Hill House Dining Hall.”

’98 Lesley Rabach, MD and Morgan Rabach, MD ’98 are excited to announce the opening of their second location of LM Medical NYC, at 940 Park Avenue. They have two accredited operating rooms as well as a full state-of-the-art clinic for all dermatology and facial plastic surgery needs. Susheila Khachane Starr joined Sotheby’s International Real Estate in Greenwich, where she lives with her husband and two children.

2000s

’03 Barrie Kreinik will make her debut as an author this year with her original audio drama The Queen of Fourteenth Street, to be released by Hachette Audio on June 4. Barrie is the awardwinning narrator of more than 175 audiobooks, including many national bestsellers and one of the NY Times Best Audiobooks of 2022.

’04 Andrew Brady was appointed Vice PresidentExternal Relations at Union Pacific Railroad, where he leads the company’s legislative and regulatory work in Washington, D.C.

’05 Clay Wiske and his wife, Bay Hudner, moved from New York City to California with children Freeman (3) and Hope (1) last August. Clay is on the faculty at Stanford University School of Medicine. The family is living in Oakland and would love to get together with Choate friends in the San Francisco area.

’07 Dan Groberg writes, “I began work in June as Executive Director of the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier, Vt., a nonprofit public library serving six towns in central Vermont. The library suffered significant flood damage just two weeks after I began work. (To contribute to the recovery, visit kellogghubbard.org.) I live in Montpelier with my wife and two kids, ages six and two. I’d love to hear from anyone in Vermont.”

’09 Noel Titus writes, “I completed my MBA studies at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business last August. This was a big professional moment, for which I feel an enormous amount of gratitude and pride. It has been a long road, but I have learned to truly cherish and appreciate the journey ... And whether you think you can or think you can’t — you’re right! I’ll be walking across another stage this May, as a Hoya, but I’ll always be a Wild Boar to my core.”

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2010s

’14 Zachary Berzolla writes, “I successfully defended my Ph.D. in Building Technology at MIT. I’m now working for the State of Maryland leading the building decarbonization program for their Department of the Environment.”

Owen Powers and Amelia “Leigh” Schneider ’14 finally completed the journey from Choate sweethearts to tying the knot! Owen writes: “Leigh and I met our fifth form year at Choate during Spanish class in Steele Hall. After many weeks of asking her for an extra pencil or pretending I forgot what the homework was, I asked her out on a date. Ten years later, Leigh and I were able to finally tie the knot surrounded by friends and family. We were awarded the senior superlative ‘Couple for Life’ at Choate and wanted to thank the faculty and entire Class of 2014 who knew somehow this day would eventually come!”

1 Michael Lai ’09 with his wife and son, Dexter.

Choate alums gathered on January 31, 2024 for a Fairfield County Winter Happy Hour hosted by Carolyn Kim Allwin ’96 and Susheila Khachane Starr ’98. Class of 1998 attendees included, left to right – Candace Tischer Willcocks, Jennifer Pupa Schwartz, Susheila, Alyce Perry Englund, Will Gilyard, Jennie Ripps, and Rob Scaramella (not pictured).

Boat Chirathivat with Class of 1997 members Patricia Yeung, Maria Wu, Aileen Loh, and Lambert Lau

David Barrutia ’94, a teacher at Salisbury School, recently hung out with Ray Diffley at the Knights’ home game against Deerfield boys varsity hockey. David looks forward to welcoming Kent School coaches Tim Booth and Jeremy Sokolnicki next.

Jess Morten

’04

representatives. If companies have a good track record in a given season, Jess’s organization promotes their good work in local and industry press outlets. It is a rare environmental solution that is based on cooperation among stakeholders, rather than fines and regulations.

Jess says, “It’s amazingly powerful to simply give industry positive recognition when they do the right thing.”

While she enjoys crunching data and writing reports to inform conservation policy decisions, Jess relishes the fieldwork component of her position. A trained marine mammal observer, she typically climbs into a small plane every month to circle areas of the ocean at low altitudes to count whales and identify the species.

She says, “It helps a lot to get back in the field and remember why you’re doing these things.”

Passionate about whales since childhood, Jess never imagined they would be part of her career. At Choate, where she made her “best friends in the world” and met her longtime partner, Charlie Dube, she was glad for the opportunity to take marine biology but did not really see herself as a scientist. However, after earning an environmental studies degree from Skidmore College, she took a field research position with a whale conservation nonprofit called the Whale Center of New England.

“That’s what really got me started thinking maybe this was something I could do for a career,” she says.

A Passion for Protecting Whales

An estimated 80 endangered whales are killed each year by vessel strikes off the West Coast, due to a lethal overlap of their migratory patterns and the major shipping lanes.

Jess Morten ’04 is keen to change that statistic. As a program director at the Monterey-based California Marine Sanctuary Foundation and an affiliate with NOAA, she works to protect the West Coast’s most critically endangered species, including blue, humpback, fin, and sperm whales.

Often collaborating with marine resource protection agencies such as the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the National Park Service, Jess uses data analysis to understand where whales are likely to be hit by ships or entangled in fishing gear due to fishery violations in protected areas.

Slower vessels are less of a danger to whales, and one of the programs Jess oversees encourages container ships to voluntarily limit their speed in designated areas. Jess, who has a master’s degree in international environmental policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, monitors compliance and communicates directly with industry

One of her subsequent jobs had her conducting aerial surveys of right whales off the coast of Georgia. But the gig she really loved was a nine-month stint “scooping killer whale poop out of the ocean.” Conducting field research for the University of Washington, Jess spent her days chasing orcas in a small boat, along with a Labrador retriever named Tucker, a former shelter dog who had been trained to sniff out whale excrement. The samples they collected would be analyzed in the lab for data relating to the animals’ diet and other health indicators.

Today, Jess has her dream job. “Being able to be paid to save whales and work on policies that create positive change is incredibly rewarding,” she says.

What is frustrating, though, is that she can only do so much. Habitat degradation caused by pollution and climate change is an existential threat that will require collective action on the part of society.

Jess says, “What I’m doing is pointless and fruitless if the world decides it’s OK that our seas are filled with plastic and our ocean temperatures become so warm that they can’t sustain life.”

What she wants people to know is that whales benefit the planet, particularly regarding climate change. In life, whales store a significant amount of carbon in their bodies, and in death their carcasses typically sink to the sea bottom, effectively sequestering that carbon. What is more, their excrement is a key fertilizer for phytoplankton blooms on the surface of the ocean, a crucial part of the Earth’s oxygen cycle.

“Most people think about trees providing oxygen to our planet,” says Jess. “But half of the oxygen on our planet is the result of incredible phytoplankton blooms.”

Thus, saving whales and creating the conditions for their populations to increase makes for a healthier world.

“Whales are not just charismatic and cool to look at,” says Jess, “they are also really important in protecting and sustaining ocean ecosystems.”

by leslie virosteK P ’15, ’17, ’20

Leslie Virostek is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to the Bulletin

1 Emile Westergaard ’84 introduces his daughter Galita Tenzin Westergaard Nunez, otherwise known as Vitamin G.

2 Kelly Ryan Rizzo ’05 and John Rizzo welcomed another boy to their family. Cameron Scott Rizzo was born on October 1, 2023. Ryan Martin Rizzo (2.5) is a proud big brother.

3 Maximilian Sinsteden ’05 and his husband, Jordan Rundell, welcomed Everett Charles Rundell-Sinsteden on October 20, 2023. He was born in Spokane, Wash., and came home to New York shortly thereafter. Many visits from Choate friends have already taken place.

4 Owen Powers ’14 and Amelia “Leigh” Schneider ’14 were married in Durham, N.H., on September 9, 2023.

5 Maeve Ryan ’95 reunited with classmates at her wedding to Nick Zammuto on September 2. Left to right - Alexandra Scebold, Maeve, Nick, Mary Hueston Collie, Sarah O’Neill Fernandez.

IN MEMORIAM | Remembering

Those We Have Lost

Alumni and Alumnae

’43 C Franklin R. Schade, 98, a retired commercial artist, died January 13, 2024 in Voorhees, N.J. Born in Toronto, Frank was at Choate for one year. He won a School prize in art, and designed a panel depicting physical geography in what was then the Science Building (now Humanities). After serving in the Marine Corps in the South Pacific, he graduated from Temple University’s School of Art. His working life was spent at many art studios and advertising agencies in New York City. A gifted musician, Frank enjoyed playing stride piano and jazz. He leaves two children and four grandchildren.

’44 RH Laura Young Frey, 97, active in church work, died October 17, 2023. Born in Yonkers, N.Y., Laura came to Rosemary Hall in 1942; she was Mistress of the Choir, Manager of the Tea House, and on the Library Committee. After graduating from Elmira College, she was associated for more than 20 years with the First Presbyterian Church of Lewiston, N.Y. At times, Laura was a Deacon, an Elder, a Director of Christian Education, and Administrative Assistant to the pastor. She was also a community volunteer, and a Director of a local children’s clinic. She enjoyed gardening, walking, and reading. She leaves five children, 13 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and a sister, Sarah Penney ’47.

’45 RH Jean McGrew Brown, 94, active in the community, died October 21, 2023. Born in Wilkinsburg, Pa., Jean came to Rosemary Hall in 1942; she was in the Choir. She later graduated from Lake Forest College. She devoted much time to the Junior League, Planned Parenthood, the Field Museum, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, the League of Women Voters, and the Lake Forest College Women’s Board. Jean enjoyed traveling to challenging places, including Papua New Guinea, Iran, Ethiopia, and Antarctica. She leaves four daughters, two stepchildren, nine grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

’46 C Clifford M. Cowles III, 95, a metal firm executive, died October 24, 2023 in Peoria, Ariz. Born in New Haven, Cliff came to Choate in 1943; he lettered in baseball, was Vice President of the sixth form, Vice President of the Glee Club, and was on the Student Council. After graduating from Yale, he served in the Navy, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He then worked for International Silver Co. of Meriden and Revere Copper and Brass Co. in Illinois. Cliff enjoyed music, playing piano in several theater and musical groups. He leaves four children, 10 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, a great-great grandson, and a sister.

Roger K. Graham, 94, a retired research chemist, died December 20, 2023 in Moorestown, N.J. Born in New York City, Roger came to Choate in 1943; he was in the Cum Laude Society and won a School prize in science. After earning degrees from MIT and the University of Chicago, Roger worked for Rohm and Haas in Bristol, Pa. for 43 years. Roger enjoyed singing, and supported the West Jersey Chamber Music Society. He leaves his wife, Polly Graham, and two children.

Frederick “Ted” Remsen, 96, a retired investment counselor, died February 21, 2024 in Hobe Sound, Fla. Born in New York City, Ted came to Choate in 1943. He lettered in golf and hockey; was President of his sixth form class and President of The Choate News; was on the Student Council; and won the School Seal Prize. After graduating from Dartmouth, Ted worked for several New York private investment companies, including Fowler and Rosenau, a New York Stock Exchange specialist firm. Ted served on the boards of several nonprofits, including the Madison Square Boys and Girls Club. He enjoyed golf, fishing, and skiing. He leaves his wife, Laura Van Ness Remsen; four daughters; and 10 grandchildren. Family members who also attended Choate or Choate Rosemary Hall include the late William Remsen ’39 (for whom the School’s Remsen hockey arena is named); the late Richard Remsen Jr. ’38; William Remsen ’71; Richard Remsen ’74; Martin “Jay” Remsen ’75; Zachary Remsen ’07; Margaret Sachvie ’09; and William Remsen ’14.

’46 RH Helen Parr May, 95, an executive search manager, died November 22, 2023 in East Windsor, N.J. Born in Newark, N.J., Helen came to Rosemary Hall in 1943. After graduating from Wheaton College, she worked in pharmaceutical research. She later was a researcher with Management Advisors of Princeton, N.J., retiring in 1995. She enjoyed golfing, bowling, and work with Special Olympics. She leaves two children and a grandchild.

’47 C Frank H. Wood, 94, a retired professor, died in December 2023. Born in Cherryvale, Kan., Frank came to Choate in 1945; he lettered in track and was Editor of the Literary Magazine, Advertising Manager of The Brief, and on the Student Council. After earning degrees from Harvard and Haverford Quaker College, he taught on the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation in Florida. He and his family then moved to Minneapolis, where he taught students with behavioral problems. After earning a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, he taught special education there. Frank was active in Quaker life and was a self-taught musician and photographer. He leaves his wife, Raquel Wood; two children; three grandchildren; and a brother.

’48 C Franklin Tirrill Birdsall Jr., 93, a retired insurance executive, died October 14, 2023 in Kilmarnock, Va. Born in New York City, Frank came to Choate in 1945; he lettered in hockey. After graduating from Hamilton College, he served in the Navy, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He then joined Northwestern Mutual Life, rising to Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Frank enjoyed sailing, winning several races; dancing; tennis; and writing. He leaves five children, 11 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

’50 C Richard C. Gregory, a retired teacher, died May 31, 2023 in Amherst. Mass. Born in Providence, R.I., Dick came to Choate in 1947; he played violin in the Orchestra and was in several School plays. He then went to Yale, where he was in the Whiffenpoofs; attended the

Yale School of Drama; and served in the Navy, attaining the rank of First Lieutenant. Dick then taught fine arts, English, humanities, and music at Williston Academy (now Williston Northampton School) until his retirement in 2004. He directed plays for the Williston Theater, the Valley Light Opera, and the Commonwealth Opera. He leaves a brother.

’51 RH Jeanne Turner Sleeper, 90, active in the community, died August 7, 2023. Born in Perth, Australia, Jeanne came to Rosemary Hall in 1949; she was in the Kindly Club, Philomel, and the Current Events Discussion Group. In 1956, she moved to New Haven, where her first husband, Herbert Sleeper, was Chair of the Department of Oral Surgery at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Jeanne was President of the New Haven Garden Club, and spearheaded the replanting of dogwoods on the New Haven Green. They moved to Naples, Fla., in 1993; after Herb’s death in 2008, Jeanne married Thomas J. Tyrell, who died in February 2023. She leaves four children, eight grandchildren, and two sisters.

’52 RH Louise Govett Thayer, 89, who ran a sailing camp on Cape Cod, died December 3, 2023. Born in New York City, Louise came to Rosemary Hall in 1946. She was President of her II, III, IV, and VA classes; was Boarder Marshal and Prize Day Marshal; and acted in several plays. After marrying, she moved to Orleans, Mass., where she and her husband, Brooks Thayer, ran the Camp Namequoit sailing camp for 30 years. Later, she owned and managed the Cape Cod Candle and Gift shops. Louise enjoyed playing bridge, writing food articles for the local newspaper, traveling, and owning Golden Retrievers. She leaves four sons, including Brooks Thayer ’77, Todd Thayer ’80, and Grant Thayer ’84.

’53 C Edward L. Spetnagel III, 88, a retired manager with Continental Can Co., died October 26, 2023. Born in Toledo, Ohio, Ted came to Choate in 1951; he lettered in football, basketball, and baseball, and was on the Associate Board of The Choate News. After graduating

from Dartmouth and serving in the Army, he was a sales manager with Continental Can in the Midwest. Ted enjoyed sports, travel, investing, and philanthropy. He leaves his wife, Judy Spetnagel, and three sons.

’54 C Jackson K. Haberman, 87, an attorney, died July 5, 2023. Jack came to Choate in 1950. He was on the Debate Council, President of The Choate News, and in the Cum Laude Society. While he was earning two degrees from Yale, Jack was a housemaster at Choate. He was a member of the New York State Office of Court Administration. He leaves a sister.

Jenkin L. Jones Jr., 87, a retired newspaper publisher, died August 23, 2023. Jenk came to Choate in 1952; he lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. After graduating from the University of Colorado, he worked for The Tulsa Tribune, founded by his grandfather, for over 30 years, succeeding his father as publisher; he was the last publisher of the newspaper, which folded in 1992. Jenk was active in the community, serving with the Nature Conservancy, Goodwill Industries, the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission, and elsewhere. He was in the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame and twice was a Pulitzer Prize juror. He leaves two children, two grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and a sister. A brother, the late David Jones ’57, also attended Choate.

’55 C George W. Fisher, 86, a geologist, died November 27, 2023. Born in New Haven, George came to Choate in 1951. He was President of the Astronomy Club, in the Cum Laude Society, and Editor of the Literary Magazine, winning a School writing award. After earning degrees from Dartmouth and Johns Hopkins, he served in the Army Signal Corps for two years, then joined the faculty at Johns Hopkins. George was Chair of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences from 1978 to 1983, Dean of Arts and Sciences from 1983 to 1987, and Director of the Institute for Global Studies in Culture, Power, and History from 2002 to 2005, when he retired. He was a fellow of the American Association for the

Advancement of Sciences. He leaves his wife, the Rev. Gretchen van Utt, and three daughters.

’57 C John Brent Girdler Jr., 85, a retired technology executive, died January 27, 2024. Born in Montclair, N.J., John came to Choate in 1953; he was in the Altar Guild and St. Andrew’s Cabinet, and was on the board of The Brief. After graduating from the University of Vermont, he served in the Air Force. John was an executive with Textron, Marine & Land Systems, and Gryphon Technologies. He enjoyed travel and classical music, especially symphonies. He leaves his wife, Olivia Girdler; six children; and 11 grandchildren. His brother, the late R. Bryant Girdler ’59, also attended Choate.

’58 C Donald Lee Flexner, 81, an attorney specializing in antitrust law, died March 12, 2023. Born in White Plains, N.Y., Don came to Choate in 1955; he lettered in football. After earning degrees from New York University, he worked for the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, then joined Crowell & Moring in Washington, D.C., eventually becoming managing partner. Don represented many notable clients, including AT&T, DuPont, Delta Airlines, Honeywell, and American Express, before joining Boies Schiller Flexner of New York. He leaves his wife, Lynne Flexner; a daughter; three granddaughters; and a sister.

John Holmes Morrison, 82, a retired banker, died December 4, 2023. Born in New York City, Holmes came to Choate in 1955; he was Managing Editor of The Brief, President of the Southern Club, and in the Altar Guild and St. Andrew’s Cabinet. After earning degrees from Washington and Lee, he briefly practiced law before a long career in banking, including Chairman and CEO of Branch Banking & Trust Co. He was Chairman of Trustees of the University of Charleston and a founder of the West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute. Holmes enjoyed playing competitive tennis. He leaves his wife, Antoinette Morrison; two children; two grandchildren; and two brothers.

Dean Speir, 83, an entrepreneur, died October 26, 2023. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Dean came to Choate in 1953; he was in the Weather Bureau, the Press

Club, and The Choate News. After graduating from Adelphi University, he pursued several careers, including writer, graphic arts designer, firearms dealer, kitchen knife salesperson, movie reviewer, and cook. He leaves his wife, Jeanne Speir; two children, including Colin Speir ’88; three stepchildren; a grandchild; and a sister.

’60 C George Johnston III, 82, a retired broadcaster, died November 11, 2023. Born in Birmingham, Ala., George came to Choate in 1956; he lettered in golf and was in the Southern Club. After graduating from Wake Forest, he served in the Army as a First Lieutenant, then worked in broadcasting and the printing business. George enjoyed swimming, playing tennis, and watching Alabama football. He leaves his wife, Annette Johnston; three daughters; and eight grandchildren.

’60 RH Sandra Mallory Constabile, 81, a retired real estate agent, died November 22, 2023. Born in Indianapolis, Sandy came to Rosemary Hall in 1958; she was Treasurer of Dramu and Assistant Day Head Boarder. After graduating from Lake Forest College, she worked at Columbia Records and as an employment interviewer for the State of New York before starting a real estate career. Active in the community, Sandy volunteered for the Fresh Air Fund and the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Council on Family and Youth, helped start the Mamaroneck Food Pantry, and led troops of Girl and Boy Scouts. She enjoyed travel, sailing, and tennis. She leaves her husband, Tom Constabile, five children, six grandchildren, and two sisters.

’61 RH Louise Bradley Cox, 80, an equestrian, died November 15, 2023 in Bennington, Vt. Born in South Amboy, N.J., Louise came to Rosemary Hall in 1956; she was Prize Day Marshal and in the Riding Club. After graduating from Bennett College in Millbrook, N.Y., she ran Antinore Farm in Old Chatham, N.Y., breeding championship horses. A lifelong member of the United States Equestrian Federation, Louise was longlisted for an Olympic event team and a judge for the United States Dressage Federation. She leaves a

daughter, a grandson, and a sister, Anne Bradley Mulville ’63.

’64 C Henry Alexander Wise III, 77, a retired banker, died December 19, 2023 in Wilmington, Del. Born in Wilmington, Alex came to Choate in 1961; he lettered in squash and lacrosse, and was in the Glee Club and the Maiyeros. After graduating from the University of Delaware, he served in the Army in Vietnam, attaining the rank of Captain and earning two medals. He then worked for Wilmington Trust Company; Bank of Delaware; and Columbia Gas System. Active in the community, Alex was on the boards of Tower Hill School, Planned Parenthood of Delaware, and Habitat for Humanity, among others. He enjoyed tennis, squash, and golf. He leaves his wife, Wendy Wise; three daughters; nine grandchildren; and three sisters. His father, the late Henry Wise Jr. 1927, also attended Choate.

’64 RH Suzanne de Lima Knowles, 77, a hotelier, died October 25, 2023 in North Stamford, Conn. Born in New York City, Suzanne, known as “Sue Two,” came to Rosemary Hall in 1961. She was Head Day Marshal. After earning degrees from Wheaton College and Middlebury College (in Madrid), she and her husband, James Knowles, operated the family-run Roger Sherman Hotel in midtown Manhattan. Sue Two was described as “the essential innkeeper, a welcoming presence.” Besides her husband, she leaves four children, 12 grandchildren, and two sisters, Lisa de Lima ’65 and Virginia de Lima ’67.

’65 C Charles T. McQueeney Jr., 77, a real estate developer, died October 11, 2023. Born in New Haven, Charlie attended Notre Dame High School, where he was Captain of the football team, before coming to Choate for one year; he played varsity football. After graduating magna cum laude from Harvard, Charlie enjoyed a long career in commercial real estate development in New York City, New York state, and New England. He leaves two daughters, three grandchildren, and a sister.

Peter G. Perakos II, 77, an attorney, died February 10, 2024. Born in New Rochelle, N.Y., Peter came

to Choate in 1961; he lettered in wrestling, was head cheerleader, and was on the board of The Choate News. After earning degrees from Boston University and its law school, he worked for his father’s law firm before founding his own in New Britain, Conn. Peter enjoyed golf, skiing, fishing, and spending time on Martha’s Vineyard. He leaves his wife, Deborah Perakos; two children; and two grandchildren.

’66 C James P. S. Griffith Jr., 75, a retired teacher, died November 23, 2023. Born in Galveston, Texas, Jamie came to Choate in 1963; he was Vice President of the German Club and in the Gold Key Society. After graduating from the University of Virginia, he traveled for two years, then taught at the Chinquapin Preparatory School in Highlands, Texas; he was later President of that school’s board of trustees. Jamie graduated from the South Texas School of Law and worked for his family’s real estate interests. He enjoyed shooting, food, and world travel. He leaves his wife, Margaret Griffith; two daughters; two grandchildren; a sister; and a brother, Wilson Griffith ’69. His father, the late James Griffith 1935, also attended Choate.

’68 C John W. Markham, 74, an attorney, died January 29, 2024. Born in Louisville, Ky., John came to Choate in 1966; he was on the staff of The Political Forum and in the Automobile and Electronics clubs. After earning degrees from Tulane and the University of Florida, he was a member of several Louisville law firms, including Meidinger & Associates. John and his wife were instrumental in founding Kentucky Harvest, a food reclamation distribution nonprofit. An early fan of computer technology, he was President of a PC users’ group and co-hosted radio and TV shows about computers. He enjoyed Cajun food and Star Wars. He leaves his wife, Lisette Markham; two daughters; and a sister. A brother, the late Thomas Markham ’53, also attended Choate.

’75 RH Virginia Perry Worcester, 65, a retired teacher and coach, died October 21, 2023 of pancreatic cancer. Born in Norwalk, Conn., Ginny came to Rosemary Hall in 1972; she

was a goalie in both lacrosse and ice hockey, was on the Ski Team, and played softball. After earning degrees from Ohio Wesleyan University and Fairfield University, she was a second grade teacher and coach at Greens Farms Academy in Westport, Conn. She was also a varsity sailing coach at Fairfield University, Sacred Heart University, Staples High School, and Fairfield Warde High School. She was a competitive sailboat racer, earning medals in the Women’s Singlehanded World Championships in the 1980s. Following her teaching career, Ginny earned her Certified Nursing Care license and practiced elder care. She leaves two children, two grandchildren, and four siblings. An aunt, the late Charlotte Perry Barringer ’43, also attended Rosemary Hall.

’77 C John D. McCarthy, 65, a real estate appraiser, died November 30, 2023 of a heart attack. Born in Atlanta, John was at Choate one year; he lettered in basketball. After graduating from Saint Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., he was an appraiser for a firm in Atlanta before, with a partner, forming his own appraisal company. John enjoyed racing sailboats, world travel, and cooking. He leaves his wife, Trena McCarthy; two daughters; a sister; a stepsister and stepbrother; and his mother.

’79 Sarah Fishkin Delson, 61, an artist, died May 4, 2023 of ovarian cancer. Born in New York City, Sarah was at Choate Rosemary Hall for one year; she was in the International Students Association. After graduating from Sarah Lawrence College, she began a career as a stage and TV actor, but her primary artistic endeavor was in the visual arts. She designed several award-winning book jackets for St. Martin’s Press. Her artworks — painting, drawing, and sculpture — hang in many private galleries and public spaces. Sarah was also a certified yoga instructor. She leaves her husband, Larry Kramer; a daughter; and a sister.

’87 Cory S. McCloud, 54, in the publishing industry, died February 1, 2024. Born in Philadelphia, Cory came to Choate Rosemary Hall in

1983; he was President of the Press Club and in the Gold Key Society. After studying at Reed College and the American University of Paris, he lived in France, working for the Shakespeare & Company, the English-language bookstore in Paris. He then founded Green Chair, a company that helps book publishers use digital publishing.

Faculty, Staff, Trustees

Lindsay Leigh Amenta, who worked in the School’s Human Resources department for 10 years, died October 16, 2023 in Wallingford. She was 45. Born in Meriden, Lindsay worked in Human Resources from 2011 to 2021. She leaves her husband, John Amenta; her parents; and a sister.

Gloria Hardman (formerly Gloria Nel), who oversaw the School’s technology for five years, died August 25, 2023. She was 81. Born in Pretoria, South Africa, she graduated from the University of Natal with a degree in math and English. She taught math for two years in Natal before moving with her husband to London, where she worked for IBM. In 1968, they moved to the United States. Starting in 1979, Gloria offered computer workshops in her home, then ran the computer department at Shore Country Day School in Beverly, Mass. She joined the Choate faculty in 1984. As she prepared to leave School in 1989, President and Principal Charles F. Dey wrote, “in large part thanks to you, computers have become … an established part of our School.” After Choate, she worked at IBM in Milford for a few years, and then in Yale University’s Instructional Technology Group for 20 years, retiring in 2014. She enjoyed golf, travel, walking, and chocolate. She leaves two children, Philip Nel ’88 and Linda Nel ’88; two stepdaughters; and four grandchildren.

Robert C. Lanphier III C ’50, a former School Trustee, died December 30, 2023 in Springfield, Ill. He was 91. Born in London, he attended Highgate School for Boys until his family returned to the United States. He came to Choate in 1947, where he was in the French, Mineral, and Western clubs. After spending a year at the Harrow

School (England), he graduated from Yale. Bob then worked for General Electric Co. and Sangamo Electric Co. (founded by his grandfather), before joining DICKEY-john Corp as CEO. When he retired, the former tiny firm was one of the largest employers in Illinois. Bob was a Choate Rosemary Hall Trustee from 1984 to 1987. He served on a number of business-related organizations, including the American Society for Agriculture Engineers and Future Farmers of America. He leaves his partner, Shelley Walter; four children, including Robert Lanphier IV ’74 and Edward Lanphier ’74; 13 grandchildren, including Edward Lanphier ’04, Carl Lanphier ’06, and Thomas Lanphier ’16; 11 great-grandchildren; a sister; and several nephews, including Robert Smith ’67. His father, the late Robert Lanphier Jr. 1923, attended Choate, as did a cousin, the late Robert Patton 1927.

Louise K. Lee, former Music Department head at Rosemary Hall, died December 7, 2023. She was 85. Born in Quincy, Mass., Louise graduated cum laude from Smith and taught second grade before coming to Rosemary Hall in 1960. She was the School’s organist, taught classes in piano and organ, and was Music Department head from 1965 to 1966. She then earned a master’s degree in organ from Indiana University. Moving to Washington, D.C., Louise was organist at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on Capitol Hill and worked in the music copyright department of the Library of Congress. Besides music, she enjoyed travel, birdwatching, and reading. “Her lightness of spirit and warm humanity towards her students and colleagues brightened many lives,” remembers former headmistress Joanne Sullivan. She leaves a sister and several cousins, nephews, and nieces.

Gail Marie Morse, who worked in the School Library for 33 years, died February 3, 2024 in Hartford. She was 80. Born in New Haven, Gail attended North Haven High School, worked in her parents’ restaurant, and managed her husband’s plumbing business. She came to Choate Rosemary Hall in 1984, working in the Andrew Mellon Library and playing a major role in the adaptation of new technology

Ben Sylvester, who taught history and coached crew at Choate Rosemary Hall for 40 years, died February 15, 2024 in Guilford, Conn. He was 99.

Even though for decades Ben was the man who defined Choate rowing, he came to crew almost by accident, when he was doing postgraduate work in England at Saint Catherine’s College, Oxford. Born in 1924 in Omaha, Neb., Benjamin F.

Sylvester Jr. graduated from the local high school, then went to Harvard to study history. World War II intervened, and he was drafted into the Army’s Medical Corps; near the war’s end, he was sent to the Philippines and New Guinea, where he handled medical supplies and did not see combat. He graduated from Harvard in 1948.

After the war, Ben returned to Nebraska and became a reporter for the Lincoln Journal

Eventually he turned to teaching, at Rumsey Hall School in Washington, Conn. Six years later, he applied for a job at Choate, choosing the School primarily because it had a crew program. When he was hired in the fall of 1954 to teach French and history, he loved Choate but was dismayed to find that Community Lake, which was used by the crew, “was only two-fifths of a mile long, actually a dammed-up section of the Quinnipiac River; weeds choked the lake, and we had to scythe our way down the channel to make a rowing course.”

Still, he stuck it out, living in Memorial House, teaching history, current events, British history, geography, and journalism as well as coaching crew. He held the J. J. Maher Chair in history from 1970 until he retired.

From 1963 to his retirement in 1994, Ben was director of crew at School. He oversaw the move from Community Lake to Lake Quonnipaug in the neighboring town of Guilford, and he took crews to the Head of the Connecticut, Head of the Charles, and Henley Royal regattas. A boat and the Quonnipaug boathouse are named in his honor. A Sylvester Sculling Trophy is presented to the fastest girl or boy sculler in the New England Championships. The Ben Sylvester Crew Endowment funds equipment and Choate boathouse upkeep.

In the summer of 1961, Ben married the former LeMoyne Dodge. Lee, who later headed the School’s Archives, survives him. They have two children, Benjamin Sylvester III ’87 and Nina S. Healy, and six grandchildren.

According to Ben, his Choate career almost ended quickly.

“At the end of my first year,” he said in 2013, “I considered leaving to join the State Department. I thought I would have liked foreign service. I had been in England; I could work for the English-Speaking Union. But then I thought about the people I was working with, and I thought, ‘I’ll never be among such talent as this anywhere else.’”

“For me, it was Camelot.”

there. “She’s a treasure,” library Director Diane Langlois said in 2008, “and a really talented lady in ways people don’t even realize. The library wouldn’t work well without her.” She leaves two sons, five grandchildren, and a great-grandson.

Laraine Sammler, former Director of the Paul Mellon Arts Center, died January 24, 2024 in North Branford, Conn. She was 79. Born in Washington, D.C., Laraine earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Syracuse. She and her husband worked at the State University of New York at Brockport, where they helped establish the college’s Music Department. From 1972 to 1975, she was Director of the then-new PMAC. Afterward, she worked for many years at the Yale School of Drama. Laraine enjoyed travel, cooking, and taking care of animals on the family farm. She leaves her husband, Bronislaw Sammler, and daughter.

John B. “Jake” Severance, who taught art at School for 15 years, died November 28, 2023 in Savannah, Ga. He was 88. Born in New York City, Jake attended South Kent School and earned degrees from Harvard and Wesleyan. He taught at South Kent for eight years before coming to Choate in 1969. In 1984, it was noted that he was “a cultured and thoughtful artist … who wants students to discover what they like and can do.” He was also a member of the Curriculum Review Committee. After Choate, he taught at Andover, the Little Red School House in New York, and Kent Place School in New Jersey. In retirement, Jake wrote books for young readers. He also built two homes, one in Nova Scotia and one in Rhode Island, and built a Chesapeake Bay Skipjack by hand, which he sailed for many years. His first marriage, to Choate faculty member Gwenith Heuss-Severance, ended in divorce. He leaves his wife, Sylvia Severance; two daughters, Rebecca S. Cushing ’86

and Abigail Severance ’87; three grandchildren; two greatgrandchildren; and a brother.

Patricia Ann Tarasiewicz, who worked for a quarter-century as Supervisor of the School’s Copy Center, died December 3, 2023 in Wallingford. She was 79. Born in Boston, Pat held several positions before coming to Choate; she worked at Rustcraft Printing in Dedham, Mass., the VA Hospital in Boston, and Pond Hill School in Wallingford. Pat supervised the Copy Center from 1990 to 2014. Her volunteer activities included the Wallingford Youth Soccer League, Cub and Boy Scouts, and the Church of the Resurrection. She leaves her husband, Tom Tarasiewicz; two sons; six grandchildren; and three siblings.

Elizabeth Jones “Libby” Thorne RH ’51, who was a Trustee from 1981 to 1984, died December 11, 2023 in Bedford, Mass. She was 90. Born in New York City, Libby came to Rosemary Hall

in 1949; she was Editor-in-Chief of The Answer Book, on the board of The Question Mark, head of the Current Events Discussion Group, in the Dramatic and Music clubs, and Secretary of the Monotone Club. After graduating from Smith, she was a docent at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. She also was a gardener, honored by the Garden Club of America. In New Canaan, she was a real estate broker for 20 years. Libby enjoyed travel and public service. She leaves her husband, Samuel Thorne; two sons; two stepsons; six grandchildren; and a brother. Her first husband, the late Alva See ’52, attended Choate.

Our sympathy to the friends and family of the following, whose death is reported with sorrow:

Thomas E. Boschen ’59

December 12, 2020

Ben Sylvester REMEMBERED

The Girls Varsity Ice Hockey Team established itself as one of the top programs in New England this season by earning the #1 seed in the Large School Playoffs.

Choate Varsity Athletics forged an unforgettable winter season, highlighted by individual and team accomplishments, records broken, and playoff-qualifying teams. The Boys Basketball Team captured the Founders League title after going 18-7 during the regular season. Also claiming the Founders League title for the third year in a row (first time in program history) was the Boys Swimming and Diving Team. The Girls Swimming and Diving Team finished in a closely contested third place. Individually, seven total records were broken by boys swimmers, while captain Chris Childs ’24 and girls captain Victoria Layden ’24 received the prestigious Andy Lowe Award at the NEPSAC Division I Championships. Calli Gilchrist ’25 became the first Choate wrestler since 1939, and first-ever girl wrestler, to capture the national prep title, while teammate Sara McLaughlin ’26 finished as National Runner-Up in the 120-pound weight class. The Wild Boars finished fourth overall at Nationals and the Boys Squash Team qualified for the Division I bracket (second time ever) and won their first-ever matches at Nationals. Multiple teams qualified for the New England playoffs, including Boys Basketball in the Class A tournament, Girls Basketball in the Class A tournament, and Girls Ice Hockey as the number-one seed in the Large School tournament.

CO-ED ARCHERY

Varsity Record: 3-0-1

Captains: Andrew Zhong ’24, Lindsay Hong ’25

Highlights: Competed against Meriden Archery Boys & Girls Club four times throughout the season, emerging victorious in three matches along with one tie.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Varsity Record: 18-8

Captains: Christian McClease ’24, Jake Paluzzi ’25

Highlights: Cruised to a 12-game win streak during the season, with key wins over Loomis Chaffee, Taft, Suffield Academy, and Avon Old Farms. Won the Founders League title and qualified for the New England Class A Playoffs.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Varsity Record: 11-14

Captain: Paika Van Der Maas ’24

Highlights: Qualified for the New England Class A Playoffs as the #7 seed. Big wins over Greenwich Academy, Andover, Exeter, and Lawrenceville during the regular season.

BOYS ICE HOCKEY

Varsity Record: 3-22

Captains: Ben Darche ’24, Ryder Holloway ’24, William Underwood ’24

Highlights: Defeated Andover, Canterbury, and Deerfield on the road during the regular season.

GIRLS ICE HOCKEY

Varsity Record: 18-6

Captains: Norah Morris ’24, Alison Giebler ’24

Highlights: Hauled in six more wins than the previous year. The top seed in the Large School Hockey Playoffs. Notable wins over Andover, Hotchkiss, Westminster, and Loomis Chaffee.

BOYS SQUASH

Varsity Record: 12-4

Captain: Zack Starr ’24

Highlights: Qualified for the Division I bracket of the National Championships, which is reserved for the Top 16 teams in the country. Won its first-ever matches at this level against Millburn High School and Gilman School.

GIRLS SQUASH

Varsity Record: 12-3

Captains: Sophia Britton ’24, Elena Zhang ’24 Highlights: Qualified for the New England Championship “A” Division after a strong regular season. Impressive victories over Germantown Friends and Winsor School at the National Championships.

BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING

Varsity Record: 6-3

Captains: Chris Childs ’24, James Chen ’24, Henry Ding ’24, Jackson Haught ’24

Highlights: Won the Founders League Championship for third year in a row. Daneel Polakoff ’25 set the team record in the 200-yard IM, 100-yard breaststroke, and 100-meter breaststroke. Ryan Liu ’26 set the Larry Hart Pool and Team record in the 100-meter butterfly. Michael Xu ’25 set a new Founders League record and received All-American consideration in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles.

The 200-yard medley relay team set a new Founders League record while the 200-yard freestyle relay earned All-American consideration as well.

GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING

Varsity Record: 3-6

Captains: Victoria Layden ’24, Alexa Scarlett ’24, Kaya Tray ’24, Yuki Zhang ’24

Highlights: Finished third overall at Founders League Championships. Victoria Layden ’24 won Founders League title in 100-yard backstroke and placed third overall at the New England Championships in 200yard freestyle, while Kaya Tray won both the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard breaststroke at the Founders League Championships. The 200-yard freestyle team relay was also crowned Founders League Champions.

CO-ED WRESTLING

Varsity Record: 8-8

Captains: Christian Madon ’24, Elsa Holmes ’25, Ethan Rothman ’25, Paxton Zerega ’25

Highlights: Calli Gilchrist ’25 named Outstanding Wrestler of the National Tournament, where she won the title in the 114-pound class. Girls team finished fourth overall at both Easterns Championships and National Prep Championships. During the regular season, the Wild Boars defeated Deerfield, Hotchkiss, and Hamden Hall.

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The Wild Boars celebrate the Boys Swimming and Diving Team’s third-straight Founders League title.

Christian McClease ’24 pulls up for a jump shot.

Farrah McQueen ’25 takes aim at the target during a warm-up session.

Calli Gilchrist ’25, National Prep Champion in the 114-pound class.

Rodrigo Chon Him ’25 during a varsity match.

#9 Rowan Aggarwal ’25 unleashes a stop shot on the opposing team’s goalie.

Sky Burke ’27 (#4) dribbles to score a basket.

Girls Squash teammates: Annelie Hang ’25, co-captains Elena Zhang ’24 and Sophia Britton ’24, and Leah McConnell ’25

In this issue, a book about the City of Palms Classic Basketball Tournament chronicles every era of what is widely considered high school basketball’s best tournament; an illustrated volume serves as catalogue to a Smithsonian National Gallery exhibit on U.S. imperialism in the Caribbean and the Pacific; and a biography about America’s longest-held prisoner of war interweaves memoir with historical perspectives.

Dunks, Threes and Palm Trees

By David A. Dorsey ’90 | Reviewed by Roney Eford

Author David Dorsey has done a fantastic job of chronicling every era of the City of Palms Classic Basketball Tournament. He interviewed 102 players for his book, many of whom went on to be collegiate basketball stars and NBA players. At least 199 former players in the tournament have gone on to play in the NBA, which is incredible.

The tournament is nationally televised and has had the likes of the famous Dick Vitale as a commentator for the tournament while broadcasting on ESPN. The tournament also gives future collegiate basketball players the opportunity to showcase their talent while gaining exposure to many of the top collegiate basketball programs in the country. Additionally there are many NBA scouts that are in attendance due to the high level caliber of high school players who participate in this tournament.

The City of Palms Classic takes place in Fort Myers, Fla. The tournament is held at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena, located in Fort Myers. The event is part of the city’s basketball culture, which top teams attend from all over the country.

Many high school basketball student-athletes have gained great exposure by playing in this tournament. This tournament is viewed by collegiate and NBA scouts and the talent level is high which brings teams from all over the country to the area. This well-attended tournament generates revenue through ticket sales, concessions, merchandise, hotel stays, and restaurant dining. This assists the host city tremendously. Many in the Fort Myers area look forward to this tournament annually.

Dorsey also highlights two of the main events of the tournament which are the dunk contest and the three point contest. The dunk contest is a highly anticipated event that always has the crowd to their feet cheering. The three point contest displays the perfection of the high school basketball players’ accuracy.

Dorsey has written several books that display his diverse interests. The book is an excellent read that highlights this prestigious tournament which continues to be one of the most respected high school basketball tournaments in the country. Dorsey did a fantastic job capturing the highlights of this prestigious tournament for readers.

Author:

Publisher:

DUNKS, THREES AND PALM TREES

David A. Dorsey ’90

Dorsey Books

1898: VISUAL CULTURE AND U.S. IMPERIALISM IN THE CARIBBEAN AND THE PACIFIC

Authors: Taína Caragol and Kate Clarke Lemay ’97

Publisher: Princeton University Press

1898: Visual Culture and U.S. Imperialism in the Caribbean and the Pacific

Taína

Caragol and Kate Clarke Lemay ’97 | Reviewed by Don Firke P

Taína Caragol and Kate Clarke Lemay recently curated an exhibition titled 1898: Visual Culture and U.S. Imperialism in the Caribbean and the Pacific at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. This very informative and wonderfully illustrated volume serves as the catalogue to that exhibition. Drawing upon portraiture and visual culture (e.g., photographs, cartoons, maps), the authors provide fresh perspectives on this crucial yet underappreciated period in America’s past. The history that we remember from our school days frequently boils down to important events and their dates, but this book helps the reader focus on the people, both those who have shaped those events and those who have been affected by them.

Three separate, but fundamentally related, incidents brought about America’s rapid global growth at that time: the War of 1898 (commonly known in the United States as the SpanishAmerican War) that brought Cuba and Puerto Rico under American control, the Congressional Joint Resolutions that annexed Hawai’i, and the Philippine-American War that led to the acquisition of Guam and the Philippines. This overseas territorial expansion of the United States presents a paradox: the values of freedom, equality, and justice were central to the country’s founding, but they have not been consistently applied to our territories and possessions.

In explaining the events of 1898, Lemay and Caragol do an outstanding job of depicting Queen Lili’uokalani of Hawai’i and her efforts to regain her lands. Similarly, we see Emilio Aguinaldo unsuccessfully attempting to preserve the independence that the Philippines had only recently won from Spain. We learn that Guam passed from Spanish to American control without a battle being fought, simply because the Spanish garrison on the island did not know that Spain and the United States were at war and had literally no gunpowder to defend themselves with. Spain defended their interests in Cuba and Puerto Rico a little more forcefully, but America’s military might quickly prevailed.

Spain and the United States signed a formal peace treaty in December 1898. Cuba, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico had commissioners in Washington, D.C., who asked to meet with President McKinley. Their requests fell on deaf ears, and they played no role in treaty negotiations. The photograph of these disappointed commissioners is one of the most poignant images in the book.

Lemay and Caragol address the history and repercussions of the U.S. overseas expansion through the lens of inclusivity. Writing on the 125th anniversary of these events, the authors bring this period back into public consciousness and encourage reflections on the legacy of the U.S. empire. By bringing to light individual stories as well as the richness of the cultures involved, the authors lead the reader to remember why history matters.

The authors also help us see the present-day effects of these events from more than a century ago. The United States currently holds five overseas colonies: Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. Few Americans realize that the population of these five territories — 3.6 million people, 98 percent of whom are people of color — equals that of the five smallest states combined. Yet the residents of these territories are denied the right to vote for president. They have no voting representation in Congress and are denied equal access to a broad range of benefits while paying billions of dollars each year in taxes. “In short, America has a colonies problem” (p. 159). The authors hope that we, by thinking critically about how the events of 1898 have been framed, can come to a more empathetic understanding of the past and, more importantly, of one another. Or, as Queen Lili’uokalani once put it, we all need to seek unity by applying the principles of “forbearance, forgiveness, and peace.”

LOST IN THE COLD WAR: THE STORY OF JACK

POW

Authors: By John T. Downey C ’47, Thomas J. Christensen, and Jack Lee Downey ’98

Publisher: Columbia University Press

Lost in the Cold War: The Story of Jack Downey, America’s Longest-Held POW

By John T. Downey C ’47, Thomas J. Christensen, and Jack Lee Downey ’98 | Reviewed by John Connelly P ’03, ’05

This reviewer watched, on television, Richard Nixon’s purposeful handshake with Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai when he arrived in Beijing for his historic diplomatic visit in February 1972. This gesture helped ameliorate decades of hostile Sino-U.S. relations, begun, symbolically, when U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles snubbed Zhou by refusing to shake his hand at the Geneva Conference of 1954. Nixon’s visit was not only a significant pivot in the Cold War relationship between the United States and China, but it changed the fate of John T. (Jack) Downey C ’47, the longest-held prisoner of war in U.S. history. In 1952, Downey, a freshly minted Yale graduate and CIA agent, had his plane shot down during a botched attempt to recover Chinese informants from northern China. Fellow CIA agent Richard (Dick) Fecteau was captured and imprisoned with Downey; both were initially presumed dead.

In Lost in the Cold War, Downey’s captivity experience is related against the backdrop of a Sino-U.S. rapprochement — strategized by Nixon and National Security adviser Henry Kissinger — and juxtaposed to the intransigent, hard-lined anticommunism of previous administrations. Nixon initiated a process of normalization between the two countries, and helped free Downey, who, by that time, had endured nearly 20 years of imprisonment in the People’s Republic of China.

Downey died in 2014. His own account, written in 1983, memorializes his experiences as a PRC prisoner, with the final volume providing additional emendations and perspectives offered by his wife, Audrey Lee Downey, and son, Jack Lee Downey. Political scientist Thomas J. Christiansen supplements this triptych work, offering necessary historical perspectives in several interspersed chapters. Jack Downey’s family had firm roots in Wallingford. After Choate, where he was President of his class, he went to Yale, to continue a sterling career as a scholar-athlete (football and wrestling).

Apropos of the book’s title, Downey’s prospects for freedom were rendered moot by the CIA’s refusal to admit that it sponsored spying missions in China. There was no worse time to be held as U.S. spies in China: The Korean War was concluding, and numerous Maoist anti-America campaigns were being deployed — just as McCarthyism was loosed in America.

After nearly two years of relentless interrogation and depravation, Downey and Fecteau went to trial. Fecteau received a 20-year sentence; while Downey’s

Yale credentials, which pegged him, incorrectly, as the spy mission’s leader, brought him a life sentence. Thereafter, news of their capture spread broadly. Between trips to China, Downey’s mother and brother marshaled efforts to highlight the plight of the two (even penning letters to China’s then-leader, Mao Zedong). Schoolchildren and adults regularly prayed for their release.

Downey undertook a strict regimen of exercise and reading: the Bible, Sports Illustrated, the Yale Alumni Magazine, Dickens, Tolstoy, Turgenev (the latter were permitted because of their social-realist leitmotif). Toward the end of their imprisonment, the two were sharing cells with several American fighter pilots shot down after entering Chinese air space during the Vietnam War.

When Henry Kissinger forthrightly admitted that the U.S. government deployed Downey and Fecteau to spy, illegally, on China — a sovereign nation — it constituted sufficient goodwill for the two nations to begin normalizing relations for the first time since the 1949 revolution.

Jack Downey’s March 9, 1973 repatriation to the U.S. brought him tremendous fame, admiration, and civic awards. He went directly to Harvard, graduating with a law degree in 1976. Drawn to public service, Downey’s stints as Connecticut’s Secretary of Business Regulation and Chairman of the Public Utilities Control Authority were a prelude to his appointment as a judge in the Superior Court of Connecticut, where his exemplary judicial temperament and progressive methods were lauded as he arbitrated juvenile and family matters.

The renaming of the New Haven Juvenile Matters Courthouse to The John T. Downey Courthouse in 2002 was, for Downey, a signal professional honor; yet, personally, his family and his reunification with the constituencies of his beloved Yale were dear to him.

There are two principal strengths of Lost in the Cold War: First, Downey’s memoirs and Christensen’s historical records provide insight into the traumas of protracted incarceration, while pulling back the curtain on the Cold War dogmas that obscured, exacerbated, and even elongated such experiences. Furthermore, the book’s final synthesis illuminates a critical lesson: how to derive meaning and purpose amid the harshest vicissitudes, and how to move forward from them, and not be impaired by them. This is Jack Downey’s enduring legacy.

DOWNEY, AMERICA’S LONGEST-HELD

THE STAR GAZER, second edition

Author: John Wilkes Jr. C ’62

Publisher: Independently Published

Author: Patrick D. Joyce ’85

Publisher: Spy Pond Press

REFORESTING THE EARTH

Author: Thomas K. Rudel C ’64

Publisher: Columbia University Press

Author: Charles Kenney C ’69

Publisher: Arcade

Author: Ricky Hausler ’96

Publisher: Federal Service Books

NIGHTWATCHING

Author: Tracy Sierra ’99

Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books

AMERICAN SYCAMORE

THE LAST FLIGHT HOME

STRAWBERRY FIELDS

To My Beautiful Country

It was Christmas in Cape Town. After dinner, I escaped with my cousins Micah and Gabriel to their room, and they erupted with a million questions: How’s it in the States? Have you met celebrities? Next time, please bring me an iPhone 14? A PlayStation? A pair of Jordans?

But I was distracted by the view from their top bunk. The sun set on the brilliantly painted stucco flats of Eersterivier, making the metal safety gates glimmer. In the distance, the glittering waves became an ocean of tin hokkies that climbed the base of the Helderberg mountains — densely populated informal settlements that house about a quarter of the South African population. You could see this million-dollar view from the tin, un-air-conditioned, rectangular structures — if they had windows. When I expressed my awe to my family, they laughed and reminded me that we were in the ghetto.

Maybe, just as my cousins adore the U.S., I have a romanticized idea of South Africa. I grew up in Connecticut and attended a primarily white school. I remember watching movies like The Lion King, where Africa was portrayed as a human-less paradise. As an Afrolatina in the U.S., I have struggled, along with my people, with a sense of uprootedness, and a continual search for belonging. Subsequently, I have been indoctrinated with glorified ideas of “mother Africa” — where all Black people are kings and queens; we get along; we wear dashikis and sing in Swahili to the beat of drums. But it’s not like that. It’s hard for me to reconcile my worlds. There’s a disconnect between the exotic Africa on TV, the powerless Africa in school, the magical Africa I write poetry about, and my own experience in South Africa. I get to see Cape Town through rose-tinted glasses because I have only heard about nighttime under the mango tree.

In the impoverished township, Delft, under the mango tree’s leafy arms, are street kids with full bellies, and sweet sticky juice covering their smiles. Every evening, mango blossoms tremble in the chilling moonlight; bad elements congregate under the tree and put empty promises of euphoria, safety, money, and cars into children’s hands, luring the youth to drugs, alcohol, and gang life. Their gutted ghosts haunt their heartbroken mothers. The mango tree cannot protect her children anymore. She lifts up her arms to the sky, praying God will break generational curses that prey on the children’s futures. While Apartheid and its evils have been safely exiled to the his-tory books, it is still evident in the warp and weft of the South African fabric.

When we said goodbye, the girls promised to visit me in the States. And I believed them. Hope is my beautiful country’s heartbeat. The belief in a better tomorrow is intrinsic in the South African people.

Where others see poverty, pain, suffering, and shame, I get to see beauty in their simple life. I admire their resolve to live in dignity despite their condition. I have experienced true love in homes of those who had little. To me, life in South Africa is a worthy life, a significant life, a beautiful life. There is satisfaction and happiness to be found in Delft, the Cape Flats, and Gordon’s Bay. Hope makes the sun beat brighter on Cape Town — it makes my beautiful country sparkle in my eyes. I hope, one day, everyone gets to see beautiful Cape just as I do.

by tHandiwe G. taylor ’26

Thandiwe G. Taylor ’26 is the Charles Krause Junior Fellow in Public Speaking for 2024.

This End Note was excerpted from Thandiwe’s winning Pratt Packard Declamation Speech.

The Environmental Immersion Program at the Kohler Environmental Center is the most inspiring and challenging opportunity I have had at Choate. My teachers and my peers encourage me to deepen my own opinions, strengthen my sense of wonder, and further my research and education in this area.”

– Chris ’24

Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders. Choate alumni make a tangible and lasting difference in their communities, in their professions, and in our global society. Your Annual Fund gift has an immediate impact on campus life and the educational experience of our students.

Together we will Inspire the Next .

To learn more about how you can help Scan QR code or visit choate.edu/donate

As part of Term End Experiences, visual arts teacher Jessica Cuni’s Honors Figure Drawing class visited the Wallingford Senior Center. Two senior center groups spent time with Choate students while they had their portraits drawn.

333 Christian Street PO BOX 5043

Wallingford, CT 06492-3800

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