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Alumni Event Calendar 2019-2020 October 10-11
Grandparents Days
October 19
Hewett Day
November 27
Young Alumni Reception West Hartford
December 7
Celebrate KO Gala
December 13-15 KIT March 26
NYC Reception
April 19
KO Power of Women
April 30
Boston Reception
May 9
Joe Alissi Spring Sports Day
June 12-14
REUNION 2020
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Questions? Contact alumni@kingswoodoxford.org or 860-727-5014
KO Magazine • Fall 2019
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KO MAGAZINE • FALL 2019
A DOUBLE CELEBRATION! A DOUBLE CELEBRATION! Oxford’s 110th & KO’s 50th Anniversary of Coeducation
In this issue: A Classic American Love Story: The Merger A KO Timeline Jog Your Memory Hope Jackson
Editor: Jackie Pisani, Director of Marketing & Communications Contributors: Elizabeth Fahy Bellingrath ’78, Katherine Gianni ’14, Meghan Kurtich, Rob Kyff, Lynne Levine, John Nestor, Jackie Pisani, Frances van Huystee Morris ’90, Kristen Weldon Graphic Design: James Baker Design Printing: Allied Printing Services, Inc. Photo Credits: Billy ’00 and David ’04 Baker, Highpoint Pictures, Samuel Stuart Hollenshead Photography, Jog Your Memory, Marinelli Photography, David B. Newman ’80, Jackie Pisani, Greg Scranton ’94, Brenda Semmelrock Please direct inquiries or general comments to Jackie Pisani at pisani.j@kingswoodoxford.org Class Notes or obituary information to Meghan Kurtich, Director of Annual Giving kurtich.m@kingswoodoxford.org Address changes to Hope Cameron cameron.h@kingswoodoxford.org Mission Statement: Kingswood Oxford inspires students to excel and to lead lives of integrity and involvement by nourishing their talents in a community of teachers, friends, and family. Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students Kingswood Oxford School admits students of any race, color, or national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and other school administered programs. KO Magazine is published by Kingswood Oxford School. © 2019 Kingswood Oxford School. All rights reserved.
2019-2020 Board of Trustees Meg Cahill Becker ’97 Mark D. Conrad ’96 Thomas Dillow P ’21, ’22, ’26 Head of School Bonnie L. Dobkin P ’19 Helen Eatherton P ’11, ’14 Joseph R. Gianni ’78, P ’14, ’14 Jeffrey S. Gitlin ’85, P ’11, ’13, ’17 Derek P. Green ’81 J. Douglas Harris ’77 I. Bradley Hoffman ’78, Chair Gilbert E. Keegan III ’88, P ’22, Ex-Officio, Head’s Advisory Council Chair Fred J. Krieble ’91, P ’21, ’25 Jean C. LaTorre P ’12, ’14, ’19, Treasurer Paul A. Lewis P ’05 Patrick J. Maloney P ’11, ’14, ’16 Bruce A. Mandell ’82, Vice Chair Mary S. Martin ’77, P ’17, ’20 Megan Ouellette P ’18, ’20 David R. Quick ’92 Ann Coolidge Randall ’73, P ’13, Secretary Marc T. Shafer ’75, P ’08, ’15, ’17 Garfield & Melissa Vaughn P ’20, ’21, ’23, Ex-Officio, Co-Presidents, Parent Association Lori Satell Wetsman ’85, P ’12, ’15 Lewis K. Wise ’65, P ’94, ’00 Keith J. Wolff ’91, P ’20, ’23 Mark M. Wolman P ’14, ’16, ’19 Trustee Emeriti
Sherry Banks-Cohn ’54, P ’78, ’82 Thomas J. Collamore ’77 Allen V. Collins P ’75, ’79, ’82, ’88 Richard S. Cuda P ’79, ’80 George L. Estes III ’67, P ’98 Laura R. Estes P ’98 Frederick S. Farquhar ’59, P ’83, ’86 Robert M. Furek P ’96, ’99 Karen Koury Gifford ’62 Marilyn Glover P ’05, ’07, ’11 William H. Goldfarb ’64 Cheryl W. Grisé P ’99, ’02 J. Gregory Hickey Sr. ’47, P ’73, ’75, GP ’04 Alyce F. Hild P ’80, ’82, ’91, GP ’07, ’11, ’14, ’19 Timothy A. Holt P ’99, ’02, ’07 Lance L. Knox ’62 Thomas D. Lips P ’93 James B. Lyon, Esq. ’48 Baxter H. Maffett ’68, P ’02, ’06 Agnes S. Peelle P ’01, ’03 Michael J. Reilly P ’04, ’08 Avery Rockefeller III P ’00, ’02 Anne H. Rudder P ’68 G. William Seawright ’59 Karin A. Stahl P ’95 Les R. Tager P ’00, ’03 John A.T. Wilson ’56, P ’84, ’86 Martin Wolman P ’80, ’82, ’84, ’88 Joan Safford Wright ’53
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Table
of
Contents
2 From the Head of School 3 Around the Green 26 Alumni Receptions 32 Reunion 36 Athletic Hall of Fame 41 Distinguished Alumni Awards 44 Athletics 52 Commencement 56 In a Quiet Race 62 O xford Remembers 64 Classic American Love Story 74 Jog Your Memory 78 Common Ground 81 The Essence of Hope 84 Class Notes 99 In Memoriam
170 Kingswood Road West Hartford, CT 06119 860-233-9631 www.kingswoodoxford.org
Letter from the Head of School
As I turn the corner into my second year as Head of School at KO, I have the good fortune to celebrate not one but two milestones at this exceptional institution: the 110th anniversary of the founding of Oxford School and the 50th anniversary of coeducation at Kingswood Oxford. Although times have changed over the ensuing years, the most important things have not and that is our unwavering commitment to support and challenge our students to dig a little deeper to find the best part of themselves. In this issue of the KO Magazine, you’ll meet some of these remarkable, accomplished graduates, a doctor, ultra-marathoners, and non-profit organizers to name a few. They are powerful examples of how their KO foundation made a lasting difference in their lives. And, just as our former school leadership met the challenges for the school in their time, so too, will we take a thoughtful look ahead this year and develop a new strategic plan that carves out a distinctive path for KO to best meet the needs of our students as they enter an ever-changing world with unimaginable opportunities. At the heart of this strategic plan is a vision to be a school that deeply engages students in learning through both tried and time-tested pedagogical methods and innovative approaches to teaching that allow students to learn in interdisciplinary and
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authentic ways. At its core, we aspire to build academic and co-curricular programs that tap into that which intrinsically motivate students: curiosity, autonomy, mastery, and purpose. In the coming year, the leadership of the school will be working with the Board of Trustees and the faculty and staff to identify strategic priorities that help us realize this vision to create additional and deeply relevant programs that will help our students flourish and lead in mind, service, and spirit. Likewise, we will be reaching out to alums, parents, and current students for feedback about their hopes and dreams for KO. As an environment that cherishes the past and innovates for the future, KO will continue to put our students at the center of everything we do. It’s a thrilling time at KO full of possibilities just like our students and we look forward to your input on this strategic process! This December we invite you to join us for an unforgettable evening, Celebrate KO, where we will share in the camaraderie of fellow Wyverns. I hope to see you there! All the best,
Around the Green
All That Jazz Chicago: The High School Edition Sizzle. Shots. Smoky. Stabbings. Sultry. And all that jazz. No one at Kingswood Oxford has ever seen a production quite like this on the boards of the Roberts Theater. Wyvern actors brought red-hot intensity and heat to deliver a heart-stopping rendition of the musical Chicago: The High School Edition, directed by Kyle Reynolds, KO’s director of theater. The story tells the true and tawdry tale of gin-soaked Chicago in the 1920s. Chorus girl Roxie Hart (Remy McCoy ’20) murders her faithless lover and convinces her hapless husband Amos (Elan Stadelmann ’20) to take the rap
. . . until he finds out he’s been duped and turns on Roxie. Convicted and sent to death row, Roxie and another “Merry Murderess” Velma Kelly (Kate Brough ’19) vie for the spotlight and tabloid headlines, ultimately joining forces in search of fame, fortune and acquittal. Smarmy lawyer Billy Flynn (Dan Carroll ’19) is happy (for a price) to help them achieve their dreams by playing to the sympathies (and naiveté) of the jury to get the vixens acquitted. The show’s amazing set converted the lower portion of the Roberts stage into a moody, smoky prison cellblock, and
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Around the Gree n the upper level into a nightclub where jazz musicians played behind a scrim. Led by Music Director Steve Mitchell, the instrumental ensemble provided the ’20s-style music that accompanied the singers and set the emotional tone. Theatrical devices, including the ingenious use of hydraulic risers to allow the chorus line dancers to enter the stage or ascend to the upper level, added to the visual drama. The dancers, whose skills had been polished during a master class by Broadway star and Chicago alumna Deidre Goodwin, were superb. Each hand motion, shoulder shrug, hip shake and high kick of the iconic choreography was precise. Somewhere, in the smoky hereafter, Bob Fosse was tapping his toes with delight. The opening number, “All That Jazz,” set a high bar as Velma led her alluring dancers through the crowd favorite, and the actors sustained this energy and intensity throughout the show. In the “arresting” number “Cell Block Tango,” the six murderesses rose from beneath the stage, explaining, in quite reasonable and persuasive terms, how their male victims had met their fates, e.g., “accidentally” running into a knife 11 times or not being able to “handle” an arsenic cocktail. Emma Kate Johansen ’19 as Mama, the prison go-to fixer, performed a show-stopping tune “When You’re Good to Mama” with the pipes of Ethel Merman, initiating the novice Roxy into the inner workings of the prison system involving corruption and money used to curry favor. The star-struck Velma and Roxy, who both heed the adage that there’s no such thing as bad publicity, are eager for
the limelight and pay Mama for their chance at stardom. Enter the opportunistic lawyer, Billy Flynn, whose cynical number “All I Care About Is Love” reveals that he defends young women accused of crimes out of love – not for them but for cold, hard cash. As he crooned this tune, the comely chorus circled around him in an ostrich-feather fan dance à la a Busby Berkeley production. Flynn literally proved to be the man who pulls the strings, serving as the ventriloquist to Roxy who sits on his knee like a puppet as he manipulates the backstory of her crime in “The Press Conference Rag.” This dark tale offers no illusions about what drives the American psyche. The song “The Razzle Dazzle” reveals that newspapers are continuously in search of the next headline, the next sensational story. Inevitably, the tales of Velma and Roxy are no longer top billing in the scandal sheets because they’ve been bumped from the news by another illicit story. But there’s always a second act, as Roxy and Velma, billed as the “Scintillating Sinners,” move on to fame and fortune and perform the final act amidst red tinsel streamers and blinking lights. Both lead actresses gave blistering performances and sang with a professionalism belying their ages. Surprise cameos by Head of School Tom Dillow, as the presiding judge, and Dean of Students Will Gilyard, who lent his bald pate as a prop, added to the fun. As Reynolds wrote in his Playbill liner notes, “With the advent of court and crime television, the media circuses surrounding the trials of O.J. Simpson,
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Gianni Versace, Steven Avery, Andrew Bagby and more today, you need a three-season Netflix deal to prove your innocence. With the right lawyer, enough money, the right clothes and a modicum of acting ability, can anyone be acquitted? Is this the truth getting trampled by spin, buzz, and misdirection? At what point have we simply become a razzle-dazzle nation?” There’s nothing more American than that. Veteran KO Creative Arts teacher Rich Chiarappa said of the show, “It’s all on display: Kyle’s (Reynolds) detailed production and caring direction, Steve’s (Mitchell) terrificsounding pit orchestra, and Mark’s (Kravetz) carefully focused lighting. This production has taken KO’s theater productions to new heights.” In addition to McCoy, Stadelmann, Carroll, Brough and Johansen, the featured actors were Kate Beck ’21 (Hunyak), Molly Carroll ’21 ( Juror One), Charlie Coxon ’19 (Fogarty/ Harrison), Olivia Coxon ’19 (Mona), Joey Fago ’20 (Harry), Elise Gendrich ’19 (Kitty), Linda Hu ’19 (Liz), Sadie Margolis ’21 (Annie), Olivia Pear ’21 ( June), Spencer Schaller ’20 (Fred Casely), Morgan Siegel ’22 (Clerk), and Zachary Waskowicz ’19 (Mary Sunshine). Ensemble players included: Elsa June Ciscel ’22, Maggie Eberle ’20, Kyleace Hunter ’22, Eli Johansen ’22, Chaitanya Karanam ’21, Samhita Kashyap ’22, Emily Lemkuil ’20, Ali Meizels ’19, Jackie Ouellette ’20, Madeline Pelletier ’20, Snehaa Ram ‘21, Justin Rios ’22, Braeden Rose ’21, Janvi Sikand ’19, Tommy Vitarelli ’22, and Cecelia Wang ’20.
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Around the Gree n
Cum Laude Society Members Inducted
Front row from left: Olivia Coxon, Ananya Alleyne, Amy Mistri, Mia Seymour, Charles Coxon, Elise Gendrich; back row from left: Yaxin “Casey” Qi, Hailin “Helen” Lu, Joshua Leshem, Alison Meizels, Benjamin Small, Emma Kate Johansen, Yiqian “Rita” Zhao, Jason Meizels, Ruize “Jack” Gao, Shuze “Kevin” Wan
On Monday evening, Feb. 25, 16 Kingswood Oxford seniors were inducted into the Cum Laude Society in the Upper School library, followed by a dinner in the school dining hall. Head of School Tom Dillow began the ceremony by noting that these students exemplify KO’s core values of intellectual curiosity, hard work and perseverance.
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Next, Spanish teacher Brenda Semmelrock, the president of the school’s Cum Laude chapter, provided a brief summary of the organization’s history and purpose. She explained that the society was established in 1906 to promote learning so that scholars could use their minds for noble purposes. Currently, there are 382 chapters of Cum Laude
nationwide, and the society inducts approximately 4,000 new members each year. The society’s motto is the three Greek words “Areté, Diké, Timé,” which translate into “Excellence, Justice, Honor.” The following students were inducted: Ananya Alleyne, daughter of Julie and Richard L. Alleyne ’87; Charles Coxon and Olivia Coxon, son and daughter of Karen and Christopher Coxon; Ruize “Jack” Gao, son of Xue Mei and Dongsheng Gao; Elise Gendrich, daughter of Jodi and Charles Gendrich; Emma Kate Johansen, daughter of Jane and Eric Johansen; Joshua Leshem, son of Elaine and Jerry Leshem; Hailin “Helen” Lu, daughter of Ping Li and Daoru Lu; Alison Meizels and Jason Meizels, daughter and son of Jennifer and David Meizels; Amy Mistri, daughter of Rachna and Kamlesh Mistri; Yaxin “Casey” Qi, daughter of Ying Qu and Huaijin Qi; Mia Seymour, daughter of Anna and David W. Seymour ’84; Benjamin Small, son of Ronald Small and the late Janet Wong; Shuze “Kevin” Wan, son of Ying Yo and Hui Wan; and Yiqian “Rita” Zhao, daughter of Caiyang Gan. Ryan Cronin ’98 served as the evening’s keynote speaker. After graduating from KO, Cronin attended Amherst College, where he fell in love with teaching and playing rugby. He graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in English and a teacher’s certification obtained through a partnership with Mount
Holyoke College. Upon graduation, he traveled around the Pacific Rim, which sparked a passion for people of diverse backgrounds. Subsequently, he earned his master’s degree in ESOL (teaching English as a second language). A passionate advocate for equity for students and their families, Cronin now teaches at Whiting Lane Elementary School in West Hartford, the school he attended as a young boy. He is an avid meditator and a student of Buddhism, and he has served as director of a Buddhist center in East Hartford for the past 10 years. He is currently enrolled in a six-year program at the University of Connecticut in school administration in hopes of becoming a school principal one day. Cronin said speaking to the inductees provided a precious opportunity to reflect upon the blessings in his life. Cronin said he believes that gratitude is a deeply sacred act, infused with healing powers. “As you reflect, your heart becomes filled with appreciation, humility, and joy,” he said. “Through this [reflection], I’m left with a deeper sense of gratitude for this place, KO. I am thankful for the gifts learned here that I use every day in public education: to think critically, ask great questions, find answers in data and research, and communicate my thinking clearly and powerfully.” He said he believes these skills will serve the students as they make their marks in both their personal and professional communities.
“ My teachers saw things in me that I didn’t see in myself.” Ryan Cronin ’98
Cronin credited KO for teaching him the concept of faith, to believe in the unseen. “My teachers saw things in me that I didn’t see in myself,” he said. “Faith allows the unseen to become manifest.” He said that the students alone can create the reality of the path they choose, and they must have the courage to choose the best version of themselves. Cronin shared a sage piece of advice: “Always mix humility with success.” Providing several examples of his misguided pride during his younger years, he said that life soon disabused him of his self-importance and taught him the deep lesson that everyone can be our teacher. He challenged the students to question society’s definition of success and instead seek out a place that makes them fulfilled. “Don’t let the pursuit of success distract you from the joy of living your life,” he said. “If your life is full of love, joy, and work that is meaningful to you, success will be a natural byproduct.”
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Around the Gree n
Busman's Holiday to Bath
George R.H. Nicholson, seated, second from the right
Over spring break, KO archivist Brenda Semmelrock took a busman’s holiday to Bath, England to visit part of our school’s roots. Kingswood School was founded in 1746 in Kingswood and later moved to Bath in 1852 as the school grew in size. Rummaging around musty and cramped archives may not seem like much of a vacation, but for Semmelrock it was a “great opportunity to see where it all happened and see how their history impacted our history and learn some more about Mr. Nicholson,” she said. According to Melancthon Jacobus’ ’24 account in Kingswood: Fifty Years 19161966, local parents in the Hartford area in 1916 engaged the services of thirtyyear-old George R.H. Nicholson, an Englishman, to organize a fine country
day school for young men. “A graduate of Kingswood School in Bath, England, he had returned there to teach after taking an honors degree in history at Manchester University and freelancing a little in journalism on the side. At Kingswood as a student he had been Senior Prefect and the captain of cricket; later on the faculty, he was housemaster and taught history and classics.” Nicholson requested from the namesake school that the Hartford version adopt the name, crest, colors, and mascot, and the Head of School in England granted him permission. In the summer of 2018, Kingswood School’s Director of Development and Fundraising Graham Papenfuss visited KO and invited Semmelrock to tour Bath and the school. For two days this
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spring, Semmelrock sat in on Form 4 and Form 6 English classes where she was impressed by the students’ quality conversation and in-depth analysis of the works they were studying. She explained that in the English school system, senior students are required to take a college entrance exam (A levels). For the English A level, students must thoroughly comprehend three novels, in which they are tested on critical thinking and writing skills. She shared lunches of (unsurprisingly) bangers and mash in the Potteresque dining hall, met with the Headmaster Simon Morris and spoke with the wellmannered students who wore uniforms (blazers and plaid skirts for girls, blazers and striped ties for boys).
George R.H. Nicholson, seated, second from the left
Kingswood’s archives are located in the upper level of an older building littered with materials stored on wooden bookshelves, including original letters from John Wesley, the great figure in religious history who founded the school to tame the “course, brutal, and blasphemous colliers” in the area. The archivist Zoe Parson showed pictures of the young scholar-athlete George Nicholson who won several awards while attending the school. One touching tradition that the Kingswood School observes is honoring their alumni men and women veterans. In the school’s chapel, there
are several plaques and remembrances of those who served. On Armed Forces Day, students read the names of those who died in action. “You could hear it in his voice how much it meant,” Semmelrock said, referring to the headmaster’s account of the special day. “Everyone was so nice and accommodating and wanted to make our stay a special one and they certainly did,” Semmelrock said. “ I hope to keep the connection between the schools alive. Perhaps we could consider an exchange program. There are lots of possibilities.”
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Around the Gree n
Rabbit Hole Before a capacity crowd in the Black Box Theater on the evening of Friday, Nov. 16, a talented group of Kingswood Oxford students presented a compelling performance of David Lindsay-Abaire’s play Rabbit Hole. Upon entering the small theater, each audience member walked through a free-standing black front door and entered a new world marked by family dynamics, time and change.
Becca and Howie Corbett live in the suburbs of New York City, and the audience learns early in the first scene that the couple’s four-year-old son, Danny, recently died when he chased the family dog into the street and was struck by a car. The couple’s lives have been turned upside down; 10 months later, when this story begins, they are still struggling to navigate the unfamiliar and searingly painful new-normal life without him. Becca, played by Maggie Eberle ’20, is a former executive turned housewife who tries to maintain an immaculate routine of housework and cooking,
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as well as tending to her concerned husband, notoriously unpredictable younger sister, and loving but eccentric mother. Haunted by the death of her son, Becca busies herself with these daily obligations as a way of dealing with her grief. Becca’s younger sister Izzy, played by Kate Brough ’19, is known for her wild behavior, including occasional bar fights. Out of the blue, she suddenly announces her pregnancy, which takes the family, especially her elder sister, by complete surprise. Even more stunning is the suddenness with which she
curtails her irresponsible behaviors and embraces the idea of being a mother. Howie, played by Walter Kraus ’21, futilely tries to find ways to bring his wife, and his life, to a place where they can find a way to cherish Danny’s memory and move on from the stalled grief that grips them. Becca and Izzy’s mom, Nat, played by Brieanna Toedt ’21, adds her comedic and oddball personality to the mix as she discusses offbeat topics like the curse that supposedly haunted the Kennedy family. Adding a sobering element is the fact that, 11 years earlier, Nat herself lost a son to a drug overdose. She frequently resurrects this tragedy to Becca, who doesn’t want the deaths of her son and her brother compared. An unexpected twist arises as Jason, the teenager who was driving the car that killed Danny, played by Charlie Coxon ’19, suddenly appears on the scene to talk to Becca and Howie. The plot twists and turns over the
course of the next few months as the characters illuminate the different ways in which people grieve and mourn as they’re forced to continue living lives that have been forever changed by tragedy. As Director of Theater Kyle Reynolds so beautifully muses in his notes, “I am so grateful that David Lindsay-Abaire created such a sober piece of writing with the utmost real and familiar characters for my students to explore. These characters steer clear of the typical theatrical ‘caricature’ and dive deeply into some of the most whole yet crumbling human beings.” Eberle and Brough vividly portray the intimate bond between sisters who know each other well. The pair find a perfect balance of humor mixed with pointed banter in a fraught environment. Izzy hopes her sister will approve of her pregnancy, while
also realizing that the arrival of a new baby forces Becca to relive painful memories. Eberle and Kraus effectively portray the palpable distance that develops between a devoted husband and wife as they try to find sound footing amidst tragedy that’s still raw. This production movingly conveys the heaviness that comes with loss, and shows that family, even in the craziest of forms, sustains and heals us. The intimacy of the Black Box Theater allows the audience to absorb the anguish of the characters more intensely. “The success of this production lies firmly in the place of the audience,” Reynolds said. Other performances featured another cast, including Olivia Coxon ’19, Spencer Schaller ’20, Molly Carroll ’21, Charlie Coxon ’19, Elsa June Ciscel ’22 and Vance Perkins.
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Around the Gree n Dr. Dan Gleason, who began serving as Head of the Upper School at Kingswood Oxford School in July, brings a diverse array of both teaching and administrative experience in schools. A highly collaborative leader, he specializes in curricular improvement and professional development and is a passionate advocate of experiential education and project-based learning.
Dr. Dan Gleason, New Head of Upper School
Gleason comes to KO from Maine East High School in Park Ridge, Ill., where he served as the English department chair, establishing and implementing the department’s curricular, instruction and assessment vision. While chair, he initiated cooperative learning, blended learning, and competency-based education. Prior to that position, Gleason was the director of academic programs at Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, a magnet school in Aurora, Ill., for gifted students. Head of School Tom Dillow said, “I am thrilled to have Dan’s thoughtful and innovative approach to education as we develop our strategic plan. He values authentic learning for our students and understands that students learn best when they develop meaningful connections to their teachers and have greater ownership over what they are learning.” At KO, Gleason will help explore curricular, pedagogical and programmatic initiatives that will create new opportunities for students’ learning. In this role, Gleason will lead the faculty through these new initiatives while continuing to honor KO’s tradition of academic excellence so that students can reach their fullest potential.
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Gleason said, “When I visited KO, I was, of course, impressed by the beautiful, well-resourced campus, but I was even more impressed by the thoughtfulness, energy, and commitment of the faculty, staff, and students. I had many engaging conversations with staff members, teachers, and administrators who think deeply about their work and are committed to designing and supporting incredible experiences for students. Common themes I heard were the importance of collaboration and the value of thoughtful innovation, two principles that I care deeply about. “As I made classroom visits, I talked with students and was taken by their focus and ability to articulate their intellectual goals and achievements. I heard quite a bit about the senior thesis paper, which is such a great challenge, and I got the chance to see students using mathematical modeling to predict the end of oil reserves around the globe. It was wonderful to talk with such bright, motivated students! “As I move into this leadership position at KO, I am excited to honor the traditions of the institution and also build on the culture of innovation that keeps the institution fresh.” Gleason holds a Ph.D. in 20th-century English literature from Northwestern University and a master’s degree in educational administration and leadership from the University of Illinois. He attended Pomona College as an undergraduate where he majored in English.
student organizers responded to the interests of the attendees by selecting subject matter that the attendees themselves said they wanted to hear. Topics for the hour-long breakout groups, run by the student organizers, included cultural appropriation, (adoption of cultural elements from a minority culture by members of a dominant culture); colorism, (the preferential treatment and/or discrimination based on skin color); racial tension in a predominantly white institution; and racist jokes. Ananya Alleyne ’19, one of the cofounders of the Girls of Color group with Pinero, said that despite some setbacks on the day of the event, the assembled group had very meaningful discussions.
First Students of Color Summit Kingswood Oxford held its first Students of Color Summit on Mar. 3. The student-led program organized by the Girls of Color group examined pressing topics of diversity and inclusion. Schools in attendance included Avon Old Farms, Grace Academy and Miss Porter’s School. After attending a similar program at Loomis Chaffee School in the fall of 2018, several KO students decided to initiate an event at KO as an opportunity to meet different students of color in the local area. Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Cultural Competency Joan Edwards, believing in the power of student ownership said, “I wanted it to be their event. My goal for them was to be successful and support them, not to step in and solve problems for them. There were so many things they needed to consider and some things they couldn’t anticipate.”
The students impressed Edwards with their ability to pivot and find solutions on the spot in hosting this special event. The event began with icebreakers to loosen the students up for the emotional heavy lifting that was required later on in the day. Organized into three themes, “Breaking the Status Quo,” “Busting the Narrative,” and “Showing Strength Where Weakness is Expected,” the panel included a speaker for each topic including former KO faculty member David Herrera, Josie Pinero ’20 and Winston Ware ’20. Lunch followed, catered by Lilly’s Soul Food in Windsor, owned by Kimberly and Andre, parents of Kyle Lilly ’09, who attended the summit. Students broke out into affinity groups based upon how they selfidentified as people of color. The KO
“We had some very nice interactive discussions that we don’t have every day with people with similar interests,” Alleyne said. Next year she hopes the summit will continue, grow stronger and build off the solid foundation they established this year. Running a special event requires a strong team with a varied skill set that coordinates various responsibilities. “I learned that when things don’t go as planned, you shouldn’t focus on what’s going wrong, but on finding solutions,” Alleyne said. In addition to their inspiring work, the students learned to execute with grace under pressure and to think on their feet. “I’m so happy for them that they had this meaningful experience for their community, created a plan and executed it,” Edwards said. “And when unexpected things occurred, they kicked the ball back into play,”
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Around the Gree n Since then, Naik has taken lessons, performed with his local church, the West Hartford Symphony Orchestra (WHSO), and the Hartt School orchestra. Chiarappa, who also conducts the WHSO, said, “I’m very happy that Rohan followed through on applying for this terrific opportunity. He met fellow talented and serious-minded orchestra students of his own age and then rehearsed under the baton of a professional conductor to perform wonderful music in the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City. What an experience!”
Practice! So the old joke goes like this: Two tourists walking in Manhattan approach a man with a violin. “Could you tell us how to get to Carnegie Hall?” they ask. The man responds, “Practice!” Well, for one KO student, violinist Rohan Naik ’20, that story rings very true. For three days in February, Naik was part of a student orchestra that played in the Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall as part of the High School Honors Performance program. The conductor of the Kingswood Oxford orchestra, Richard Chiarappa, nominated Naik to audition for the coveted series. In June 2018, Naik played a Vivaldi violin concerto for his online audition, submitted a digital file of his performance, and crossed his fingers. At the end of October, Naik heard the good news. “I loved the opportunity to play at this prestigious venue,” he said. “I never thought that I’d be able to do it. As I
auditioned I thought, ‘Well, let’s see how this goes.’ When I found out, I was speechless.” More than 10,000 young musicians around the world applied for the opportunity. Only 300 were selected, and, of that number, only 100 musicians were chosen to play in the orchestra. Initially, Naik was unaware of the storied reputation of Carnegie Hall. When he arrived in the space, however, he soon understood the significance of his accomplishment. “When I saw the venue, I realized, this is a big deal, this is tremendous,” he said. “It’s the best room I ever played in.” For now. Naik will soon get to compare Carnegie Hall’s acoustics with another grand hall because he’s been selected to a second prestigious program at the Sydney Opera House in Australia. When Naik was five, his parents took him to an instrument shop in India. At the time Naik was interested in drums and percussion, but when he picked up the violin and started playing, he thought it had a beautiful sound. “It just rang with me,” he said of the instrument.
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Conducted by Steven Davis of the University of Missouri–Kansas City, the young orchestra played Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 4 Finale,” Buxtehude’s “Chaconne,” and Dvorak’s “Slavonic Dancers.” Naik said he appreciated being able to play with musicians from Hong Kong, Germany, Russia, Ireland, and Australia whose musicianship equaled or surpassed his. Of the Carnegie Hall performance he said, “I had the mindset, ‘think of this as a typical concert. It’s still a concert; just do what you always do.’ It felt natural, and it was even better than the rehearsal.” When the young musicians weren’t rehearsing in the mornings and afternoons, they spent their time shopping and eating in local bistros and delis. Naik said he loved the energy of the city and New Yorkers’ attitude of “I’m me.” Although lights out were 11:00 p.m., Naik said shuteye didn’t occur until the wee hours of the morning because the group listened to rap and Chinese pop music, and sang Ed Sheeran tunes. Kids will be kids after all, even if they play at Carnegie Hall.
Chips Off the Block
In one of our favorite traditions, KO alums assemble on the steps of Alumni Hall and pose with their children who are newly enrolled in the school after a breakfast hosted by the Alumni Office this past fall.
Back Row: Gil Keegan ’88, Teddy Keegan ’22 and Frances van Huystee Morris ’90 Middle Row: Kim Karp Krieble ’90, Fred Krieble ’91, Henry Krieble ’21, Jack Krieble ’25 and Els Morris ’25 Front Row: Ted Bromley ’91, Nico Bromley ’25, Greg Scranton ’94, Miya Scranton ’25, Ysabel Albert ’25 and Benjamin Albert ’89
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Not the Facts, but theTruth Colson Whitehead, Kingswood Oxford’s 36th Baird Symposium Writer
“I usually spend Friday mornings in my apartment weeping over my regrets, so this is a nice change of pace for me,” Pulitzer-Prize winning novelist Colson Whitehead told an Upper School assembly on Friday, Dec. 7. And just like that, he had the audience. Students immediately knew that Whitehead, who was visiting KO as the school’s 36th Baird Symposium author, would be something special. Slim, tall and unconventionally elegant, Whitehead called to mind a hipster President Obama – that is if the former president sported shoulderlength dreadlocks, a Vandyke beard, and high-end biker boots. Deadpan and sardonic, Whitehead shared a trope about his early life as a poor black child, “‘sittin’ on the porch in Mississippi with his family, singin’ and a-dancin’.” In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. He was raised in Manhattan and attended the prestigious private Trinity School and then Harvard University. He described himself as a voluntary shut-in as a child and evoked the romanticized notion of a sickly young James Joyce “forced to retreat into a world of imagination.” Rather than viewing illness as a burden, Whitehead said, he envied it, and he escaped to his living room couch and watched endless loops of the Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits and read countless comic books and Stephen King novels. As an eighth grader, he said he regarded the career of a writer as compelling because “You could work from home. You don’t have to wear clothes. You don’t have to talk to people, and you just make up stuff all day.”
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Not until Whitehead attended college, where he was introduced to the canon of highbrow writing, such as the magic realism of Márquez, the fantastical landscapes of Borges, and the absurdity of Beckett, did he recognize the overlap between these literary authors and the beloved genre writers of his youth. While in college, he considered himself a writer, adopting an all-black uniform and the affectation of smoking cigarettes, but admitted that he never wrote. Finally, by his junior year, he wrote two fivepage stories to gain entry into creative writing classes but was rejected. “It was good training for being a writer,” he said. “Everyone ignores you. No one wants to read your crap, and if you internalize it early, you can be prepared for when you’re out in the world.” His first job upon graduation was at the now-shuttered Village Voice, a progressive newspaper that, over the decades, boasted an editorial staff that included Norman Mailer, Robert Christgau and Jules Feiffer. After working at the paper for a few months, Whitehead approached the editor of the television section, which at the time was considered the most degrading and pedestrian department of the newspaper, where, he said, “I thought I’d fit right in.” He penned a “think piece” on the finales of the TV sitcoms Growing Pains and Who’s the Boss, a magnum opus, Whitehead mordantly suggested, that’s still considered the most definitive piece of writing on those shows. His first attempt at writing a novel was based on a Gary Coleman-esque child star, and the rejection slips from the publishing houses soon
crowded his mailbox. At this low point in his career, he considered various alternative vocations based on his slender, feminine wrists and fingers: a pianist (but realized that his back would hurt from lack of lumbar support), a hand model, to obtain free watches and hand cream (but recognized that the international jetset life might be too overwhelming), and, lastly, a surgeon (but the thought of standing on his feet for 10 hours at a clip to perform an operation was too daunting). While nursing his rejection, he derived deep insight from a bizarre line in the song “McArthur Park”: “someone left the cake out in the rain.” He initially posited that a childhood birthday party must have gone awry, but then recognized that the song was a profound “investigation into the artist’s journey” and served as a metaphor for his stalled career. At that point in the assembly, Whitehead played an audio clip of the song, staring deeply and intensely into the distance of the auditorium as if the song were a divine oracle. He then chastised by name all the publishing houses that rejected his work: “Knopf, why did you leave my cake out in the rain? Houghton Mifflin, why did you leave my cake out in the rain?” Through Whitehead’s teasing recollection of his rejections, the students absorbed an important lesson about intrepid perseverance: Nothing comes easily, and you have to work through your failures to achieve something great. Whitehead’s brilliantly entertaining and digressive talk, as virtuosic as any
of John Coltrane’s improvisations, proceeded as he offered a series of random speculations: that life on other planets might include a haikuloving civilization centered on a 5-7-5 syllable-based structure, that Google might offer a superego app to keep you in line, and that the DNA of existential Neanderthals might have found a pathway into his own temperament. He also mused on why the robot R2D2 didn’t have a proper voice box despite the extraordinary technological advances on display in the Star Wars universe. Whitehead’s presentation took an abrupt and sober turn as he read a disturbing passage from his 2016 novel, The Underground Railroad, in which a slave celebration on a plantation is interrupted by the arrival of the slave owners. He told the audience that the germ of the idea for The Underground Railroad came to him 19 years ago, but that he hadn’t been a mature and wise enough writer at the time to make the story live on the page. Inspired by a motherdaughter relationship in the slave narrative Incident in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Ann Jacobs, he decided to make the protagonist of his novel a woman, Cora. He said he found that developing any character “is always hard, and, if it comes too easily, you’re not putting in the work.” An alternative history, The Underground Railroad plays with time and location to create a profound narrative of dark places in American history. Whitehead said he gave himself permission as an artist to take these liberties and chose “not to stick
to the facts but to stick to the truth.” We still must all confront this vital truth, he said, and quoted the words of his character Landers, who said we can “pick each other up when we fall and we will arrive together” to a better, more hopeful future. During Whitehead’s stay at KO, he also addressed a Middle School assembly, lunched with a group of freshmen, sophomores and juniors, and taught a class with the Senior Symposium students who had read all his works, even playing a hand of poker with the Seminar students as a nod to the poker games depicted in his book The Noble Hustle. In the evening, he dined and talked with KO faculty members and English teachers from other Hartford-area schools. Founded in 1983 by Warren Baird, then chair of the KO English department, the Baird English Symposium has welcomed some of the nation’s most renowned writers, poets, and playwrights, including Arthur Miller, John Updike, Jane Smiley, William Styron, Tony Kushner, Joyce Carol Oates, Edward Albee, and E. L. Doctorow. The selected author visits campus for a reading and several student-centered events. To prepare for the author’s visit, students in all grade levels read at least one work by the writer, and students in a Senior Seminar class study the author’s work exclusively. Prior to the Symposium, these students visit all the school’s English classes to teach students about the author’s life and work.
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A Tale of Human Spirit Holocaust survivor Rabbi Lazowski comes to KO To hear a firsthand account of one of the last remaining Holocaust survivors is a deeply profound experience. In January, Rabbi Philip Lazowski spoke to Stacey Savin’s International Human Rights class about his survival during the Holocaust in Russia and the incredible strength of the human spirit. Lazowski was born in 1930 in the small town of Bielica (present-day Belarus). When the Germans invaded Russia in June of 1941, German forces marched into his hometown and began their mass extermination of the Jewish population. The quick-witted 11-year-old helped hide his family in a cave he had built under their home. However, Lazowski was caught by a German soldier who then forced him to the marketplace where a selection was taking place. Separated from his family, he asked several women if he could pretend to be their son. One woman with two young daughters took him as
her son, and he was able to return to his family’s hideout.
eventually making their way to the United States.
In Ms. Savin’s class, students learned about the Holocaust as well as other genocides, human rights, and current events. As part of an assignment, students read one of the Rabbi’s 14 books, Faith and Destiny, and his visit was a chance to both hear his story and ask questions. Many of their questions centered around understanding how he was able to continue on and find the will to live, despite what seemed like an inevitably bleak future. The Rabbi was poignant and thoughtful in his answers, his voiced tinged with a Slavic accent, pausing almost as if to pick the exact words to describe the heavy burden he felt was his calling and responsibility to explain. He ultimately boiled it down to one thing. “The most important thing is your upbringing,” Lazowski said. “I had a great love for my mother. Even though I only had her for a short time.”
“My mother told me three things that day,” said Lazowski. “And I never forgot those three things because they are what kept me alive. Try to survive. Be somebody...be educated. And tell the world what went on during your lifetime.”
After being discovered in their underground cave, Lazowski and his family were forced into a theater in their town where they heard the soldiers coming. Lazowski said, “Hearing the trucks meant there would be another massacre.” Knowing they would likely be killed, his mother told him to jump out a second story window to give him a chance at survival. He somberly recounts telling her “no” and pleading with her to jump as well. At the time she was holding his younger siblings and therefore could not jump herself. Taking a chair, she broke a window and pushed him out where he fell, next to another young boy, and together they escaped. She and three of his younger siblings would not survive the Holocaust but Lazowski, a younger brother and father would, hiding out in the woods for two years before
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Approximately 85% of those who lived in the woods would perish from tremendously cold temperatures, sickness and the ever-present danger of being caught by Nazis. A fisherman by trade, Lazowski’s father had a handful of Christian friends who would give the family bread and potatoes to help keep them alive. “No matter how dangerous it was for them, they would help us in many ways,” said Lazowski. “Otherwise, we would have not have been able to survive.” Honoring his mother’s last wishes for him, Lazowski made it his life’s mission to tell his story to as many as he could. He has done this in countless powerful ways, including being ordained as a rabbi in 1962 and earning his doctorate in Jewish studies eight years later. Lazowski has also been a key figure in ensuring that history education includes learning about the Holocaust, as well as genocide on a global scale. “Let me tell you something,” said Lazowski. “If you don’t learn history, history will repeat itself. If you are ignorant of history, someone else will write your history.” Lazowski has worked tirelessly with Congress to create legislation that calls for schools to teach the atrocity of the Holocaust, as well as other massacres that have taken place over the course of history. His efforts have finally paid off. This year schools across the country will teach genocide in their lessons.
Rabbi Philip Lazowski and students in Stacey Savin’s International Human Rights class
The question arose of what students, as dutiful and compassionate Americans, can do in their lives to prevent such atrocities, as well as those prejudices they see and hear about every day. The Rabbi urged students to speak up and to take action. “By standing by and not doing anything, you are not innocent. You are responsible for what people do to other people. We can’t stand idly by when injustices are being done to other people. It is important when antiSemitism has again started to flourish after so many generations. If you are not united, you are divided. If you are divided you can do nothing.”
A student asked Lazowski how he maintained his faith in the face of abject desperation. “You can’t blame God for your problems. Any of them. He is separate from all of this so take Him out of it completely. People are the ones that do bad things, not God.” After escaping the Nazis and fleeing to the United States in 1947, he continued his education at Brooklyn College. While attending a friend’s wedding, he met a young woman who told him about a family in Hartford, Conn., that had once saved a boy from Bielica. Lazowski knew he was that boy.
In a true Hollywood exquisite twist of fate, Lazowski was able to find out where they lived and was reunited with the woman, Miriam, who had saved his life in the marketplace that day so many years ago. They met for coffee, and he began dating her daughter, Ruth. As he concluded, Lazowski slyly cupped his hands to his mouth and smiled. “That’s right,” he said. “I married her daughter.” The Rabbi’s comments should remind us of who we are and who we can be collectively - that justice and righteousness need to form our moral center.
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Mock Trial Team Builds on Successes By Lynne Levine
KO’s mock trial team has had a great run so far. It first began at the Middle School as an after-school club 11 years ago. Originally coached by former English teacher Nancy Horowitz and lawyer Ryan Costantini, it filled a void in the Middle School program. “I had been thinking about the need for a non-athletic extracurricular
activity that included learning and fun,” Horowitz said, “and when Ryan proposed starting a mock trial team, I agreed enthusiastically.” The early years were about building a curriculum to teach elements of the law in doses that Middle School kids could absorb, such as learning how to shape the case for both the prosecution and the defense sides, and practicing the skills and knowledge needed for both direct and cross examinations during trials. By the time I came on board as a coach seven years ago, this process had evolved into a very effective system that prepared students well to compete against other schools.
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Indeed, over the past five years, the KO Middle School team has placed either second or third in the state tournament each year—a remarkable achievement. “KO Middle School has become one of the named teams, one to beat,” said Aidan O’Loughlin ’20, who has been part of the team since he was an Upper Prep student. As team members entered the Upper School, Costantini expanded the club at the request of students who wanted to continue competing in mock trials at the high-school level. Because students play lawyers and witnesses, the club appeals to both analytical thinkers who want to learn the law as
“ Changing one word (in public speaking) can make a huge difference.” Kyle Frankel ’21
well as to actors who portray witnesses. It has become apparent how important good witnesses are to a successful trial. Two-year member Caroline Boardman ’22, who has been a witness at both levels, said, “When you watch someone play a witness well, it makes the case much more believable.” Boardman said she enjoys taking on a role and playing a witness that is very different from her. Witness Kyle Frankel ’21, who joined the team as an Upper Prepper, believes that the way he gives testimony is crucial. “Mock Trial has helped me with public speaking skills, especially in phrasing things correctly with the right tone,” he said. “Changing one word can make a huge difference,” he said. However, as in real life, the lawyers are the stars of the trial. They must take given facts and build a case, some for the prosecution or plaintiff and others for the defense, in preparation to argue either side of a case. Thomas Betts ’19, a member of the team since seventh grade, reflected on this process. “One of the challenges is that the same set of facts can be interpreted in different ways,” he said. Learning to object and to defend against an opponent’s objection is another important aspect of competition.
“I have realized that objections aren’t hard to defend if you know the reason you are asking a question,” said Michael Autorino ’19, also a member since seventh grade. Autorino credits mock trial for teaching him to think critically. “I have learned to build an argument and find common ground in a civil way. My courtroom experience has helped with this,” he said. Studying the facts so closely has sharpened other academic skills as well, said Patrick Schwab ’22. “Reading the case materials has enhanced my reading comprehension, my ability to sift through material to find the relevant details and to find motifs and themes,” he said. This year the Upper School team made it to the semi-final round for the first time, which was a major achievement given how many other commitments the students have. Betts was a threesport varsity athlete, for example, while others on the team have athletic, music or other club activities as well. Homework is also a main obligation. Through it all, students learn time management and how to prioritize. “I had to give up Boy Scouts, but mock trial was such a big part of KO for me that I didn’t want to miss any of it,” Betts said.
All the students praised Costantini as their leader, and credit him with motivating them to excel. “I was interested, but he was the guy I needed to help me understand economics, politics and the law. He is the best overall mentor I could have asked for,” said Autorino. Schwab, who had competed in mock trial at a previous school, said, “I came with experience, but he helped me become more polished in the courtroom and follow perfect decorum, even at the middle school level.” Betts said he enjoyed all the extra opportunities, such as helping Costantini with his Camp KO mock trial class, as well as the team’s weekend at Harvard College to learn more about mock trial, which has been an annual trip for the eighthgrade students. O’Loughlin said what was on students’ minds, as Costantini and his wife, Middle School Spanish teacher Erika, prepare to move to Indiana. “He has had a galvanizing effect on the team,” O’Loughlin said. “He is the reason we have done so well. I would like to thank Mr. C for what he has done for me personally and for the team. He will be deeply missed by all of us.” Costantini has clearly laid a strong foundation for both teams, and each will work to continue the tradition.
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Power of Women: Igniting Tomorrow’s Leaders A panel of five women leaders, representing a cross-section of various careers, spoke to female students and their mothers at the inaugural “Power of Women: Igniting Tomorrow’s Leaders” event in March. The panel consisted of Kellie Burke ’90, P ’24, owner of her eponymous interior design firm; Hope Jackson ’99, assistant professor of surgery, division of minimally invasive surgery at The George Washington University School of Medicine; Jean LaTorre P ’12, ’14, ’19, chief investment officer and senior vice president Aetna, Inc.; Wendy Mazo ’85, director of development for individual giving, 92nd Street Y; and Maureen Murphy ’89, director of marketing, head of community management and customer insights, Liberty Mutual Insurance. The energizing and intellectually stimulating conversation offered students advice on navigating career choices, finding a work-life balance, supporting the fellowship of women in business, and perhaps most importantly, taking a risk, being willing to fail and learning from mistakes. Each panelist discussed the importance of finding and cultivating a career that one was passionate about. Burke said one of her inspirations came from her beloved KO art teacher, Pat Rosoff, who pushed her to create better and better work.
“She found in me a passion that I didn’t know I had, to look into myself and to explore what I love. You can never be afraid to fail. Be who you are and own it,” she said while gesturing to her stylish ensemble featuring a leopard print blazer, red leather pants, and glittering platform heels. Regarding her start-up interior design business and walking away from a steady paycheck she acknowledged, “It was the scariest but most empowering thing I’ve ever done.” Many students asked penetrating questions of the panelists about their career paths. LaTorre said over the course of her career she has seen tremendous changes in the once maledominated field. “I used to be the only woman in the room. But, you should never be insecure about it. As a woman, you carry a lot of power.” Jackson shared that today over 50% of the medical student applicants are women. She had a wonderful female mentor who helped in her own growth and development and dispelled the myth that she was too nice to be a surgeon. Admittedly, she said the field still needs to make inroads in pay equity and that organizations need to make a conscious effort to have women in the healthcare field, especially for funding.
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Opposite page in descending order: Karen Diaz and Kaylee Diaz ’19 Ngozzi and Ashley Taffe ’22 Sandy and Mia Brown ’22 Ainsley Vaughn ’20, Annelise Vaughn ’21 This page in descending order: KO Power of Women featured panelists and student committee. L to R: Dr. Hope Jackson ’99, Kellie Burke ’90, P ’24, Jean LaTorre P ’12, ’14, ’19, Wendy Mazo ’85, Maureen Murphy ’89
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SENIORS IN THEIR CO L L EG E S WAG
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Alumni receptions • Washington, D.C. The KO alums in the D.C. area gathered at Rosa Mexicana in Penn Quarter in March. The 20 people in attendance had the opportunity to meet new Head of School Tom Dillow, and his wife, Deirdre, for the first time, hear his impressions of the school from his first nine months and learn a bit about his vision for the future. There was a wonderful cross section of alums, with representatives from each of the past five decades, giving Tom and Deirdre a broad range of KO’s history. This page, in descending order: Doreen Patron ’89, Todd Sherbacow ’90, Elizabeth Fahy Bellingrath ’78, Tom Dillow, Deirdre Dillow Deirdre Dillow, Molly Papermaster ’14, Tom Dillow Jack Newman ’06, Emily Lowit ’15, Mike Lanza ’03 Opposite page, in descending order: Colby Carlone ’12, Talia Zimmerman ’15, Emily Lowit ’15, Frances van Huystee Morris ’90, Tom Dillow, Jack Newman ’06, Deirdre Dillow Elizabeth Fahy Bellingrath ’78, Sharon Brown ’79, Deirdre Dillow
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5.
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Alumni receptions • Boston In May, City Tap in Boston served as the backdrop for alumni to enjoy each other’s company and meet Tom and Deidre Dillow. Zaira Santiago, Brenda Semmelrock and Meg Kasprak joined the group of more than 30 alumni as they reminisced about shared experiences on campus and got caught up on life after KO. Clockwise from top: Garrett Meccariello ’13, Meg Kasprak, Ryan Marinelli ’11 Bennett Hires ’06, Meredith Maffett ’06 Meg Kasprak, Julia O’Connor ’12, Siobhan Mcllhoney ’12, Lexy Vecchio ’11 Carolyn Mitchell ’12, Ben Isenberg ’13
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Alumni receptions • NY & Florida Alumni gathered at the offices of Spencer Stuart in April to network with fellow Wyverns and hear Tom Dillow speak about his first year at KO. Clockwise from top: Alumni are all smiles in New York City Matthew Semmelrock ’05, Eamon Dworkin ’08 Peter Fisher ’14, Griffin Maloney ’14, John Stepensky ’14, Alayna Putterman ’14, Shravya Rao ’14 Alumni and guests gathered in Vero Beach on March 3 for brunch. Seated: Wayne Wall ’44, Joanne and Don Barlow ’63, Marie and Tom Hine ’63, Elizabeth Fahy Bellingrath ’78. Standing: Mary and Doug Wright ’59, Bill Roberts ’67, Anne and Bill Seawright ’59, Susan and Ken Walker ’74, Margaret Wall ’74, Andrew Russell ’72 John Stepensky ’14 and Hilary Bailey ’04
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Alumni receptions • Oxford's 110th Oxford Alumnae from four decades gathered to celebrate the school’s 110th Anniversary in May at the Town & County Club in Hartford. Archivist Brenda Semmelrock provided context and conversation starters by displaying a collection of Oxford memorabilia for all to enjoy. This page, clockwise from top: Mary Pallotti Russell ’73, Diane RisCassi McAndrews ’72, Carlene Dahill Bush ’73, Diane Adinolfi Gent ’72, Katie Newell ’72 The Oxford tea set in front of the school sign. Ann Faude Newbury ’60 Norma Scafarello Hattings ’52, Mary Jeanne Anderson Jones ’52 Opposite page, clockwise from top left: The Oxford uniform has been preserved in the archives. Jane Brandon Pfaff ’56 and the Octopipers A collection of Oxford yearbooks Tom Dillow, Susan Lowe Redfield ’60 Brad Hoffman ’78, Betsy Stedman Russell ’50 Tom Dillow welcomes guests and thanks them for their continued service.
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Reunion • 2019 This page, in descending order: hil Hartigan ’72, Brian Ferguson P ’00, Barbara Hartigan, Chip Hartigan ’01, Molly Dworkin ’02, Phil Hartigan ’99 Patrick Downes ’79, Bill Dimmitt ’79 and Chris Richardson ’83 Janet Kraus ’84 leads a discussion on Women and Leadership. Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Jennifer Juros Googins ’79, Mary Thompson ’79, Laura LeBlanc ’79 David Baker ’04 , Graham Miles ’09 Back row: Tom Dillow, Brenda Semmelrock, Ellen Jones Wood ’59, Front row: Marjorie Bingham ’49, Patricia Newsom ’59, and Hazel Vail ’44 enjoy the Oxford Chat. Front left in photo: Jeff Azia ’89, Rich Nemarich ’90, Curt Nemarich ’89, Chad LaBonte ’90, Coach Todd Marble, Jim Slavin ’89, Brendan McDonald ’89, John Rusconi ’89, Matt Levy ’89, Coach Roland LaBonte. Scott Evoy ’83, John Burke ’84, Greg White ’84, Kit Bliss Rogers ’84, Rob Sarkisian ’84, James Maynard ’84 and Tom Noniewicz ’84 Tucker Charette ’14, Molly Papermaster ’14, Alayna Putterman ’14, Peter Fisher ’14, Caroline Kaufman ’14
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Reunion • 2019 This page, in descending order: Tyler Polk ’99, Jarvis Loga ’99, Meg Cahill Becker ’97 & families Matt Levy ’89, Jeff Azia ’89, John Rusconi ’89 Doug Harris ’77, Gib Brady ’79 Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Sandy Sturman Harris ’54, Sherry BanksCohn ’54, Sheila Hirschfeld Jacobs ’54 Rachael Alexander ’09, Maya Frazier ’09, Graham Miles ’09 Ali Rosenthal ’94, Meg Cahill Becker ’97, Kathleen Brennan Thomsen ’74, Kim Fernandez Conrad ’96 Head of School, Tom Dillow, shares a thumbs up with KOKO. Jonathan Kuhe ’89 and family
6.
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Athletic Hall of Fame • 2019
From left: Jim Ulcickas ’79, Ken Walker ’74, Alison Rosenthal ’94, Brad Van Winkle ’74, James Maynard ’84 and Holly Howard ’79
Kingswood Oxford inducted the following alumni into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame on June 7 in the Roberts Theater. The purpose of the KO Athletic Hall of Fame is to honor those who have brought distinction to themselves and KO through their achievement, commitment to sportsmanship and leadership in athletics. Inductees meet several criteria including: awards received, number of sports played, number of varsity letters earned, captainships, individual and team accomplishments and collegiate or postgraduate accomplishments.
Holly T. Howard ’79 Inducted by Richard “Dick” Caley ’62, P ’91, ’94, Faculty Emeritus and Coach Holly Howard actively participated in athletics in her six years at KO, earning a total of 14 varsity letters: six in lacrosse, four in basketball, and four in field hockey. As a senior, she was co-
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captain of the field hockey, basketball and lacrosse teams. She was also a co-sports editor for the KO News and a prefect. As a junior, Howard was awarded the Williams College Book Award, which recognizes a sincere scholarly interest while at the same time participating significantly in athletics. After KO, Howard went on to Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., where she majored in economics. She started all four years on the field hockey and lacrosse teams, and in lacrosse she was
leading scorer all four years and MVP as a freshman. She won an ECAC medal for an outstanding junior season and the President’s Commission for the Status of Women at Union, Senior Athletic award in 1983. In 2008, Howard was inducted into the Union College Athletic Hall of Fame for both field hockey and lacrosse. Howard currently lives in Walla Walla, Wash., and has four children and a five-year-old chocolate lab. She is very active in the community, serving on many boards with a focus on youth and the environment. In 2008, she co-founded the first school-based health center west of the Cascade Mountains in the state and became the executive director. She is a member of the Washington State School-Based Health Alliance Board. In support of her children, who are swimmers, Howard serves as a Meet Referee for USA Swimming and enjoys staying active: running, erging (rowing on a machine), hiking, and swimming.
James C. Maynard ’84 Inducted by Greg White ’84 James Maynard played football, ice hockey, and baseball during his six years at KO. He was a co-captain of the football team for the 1983 season and helped lead the team to a solid record of 6-3 including big wins over Loomis, Avon, and Trinity Pawling. Maynard was awarded the 1984 Joseph Gargan award for football. He also captained the 1984 baseball team and was awarded the baseball award that year. A great memory from that season was a tight game and win against future MLB Hall of Famer Mo Vaughn and Trinity Pawling, where Maynard connected on a grand slam home run against Mo when he came in to pitch late in the game. Upon his graduation from KO, Maynard headed to Wesleyan University where he continued playing football and baseball. He finished his four years of Cardinal football with 15 touchdown catches, a Wesleyan record, a 1985 Pizza Hut D-III All American honorable mention designation for his 19 yards per catch average, a 1987 All NESCAC, and All New England tight end honor. In baseball, Maynard recorded 154 hits in
103 career games as a four-year starter in centerfield, the most in Wesleyan history, and had a .355 career batting average. In 1988, he posted a .403 average, hit seven home runs, and 43 RBIs. Maynard served as captain of the team and was named All NESCAC for the second consecutive year, All New England, and Third Team D-III All American. He was awarded the McNaughten Award at Wesleyan for being the team MVP and was invited to a tryout by the Cincinnati Reds. In 2018, Maynard was placed onto the Wesleyan Baseball Wall of Fame on campus in Middletown, Conn. After college, Maynard stayed active in baseball and has run numerous road races, including the Boston Half Marathon. He moved on to play golf and tennis and continues to be active in both sports. Maynard lives in Westerly, R.I., with his wife Caroline and his two sons, Will and Steve. His career in financial services has spanned 30 years, including 25 years at Silicon Valley Bank where he was a founding team member of the east coast (Boston) franchise.
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Athletic Hall of Fame • 2019 Alison H. Rosenthal ’94 Inducted by Judy Lindsay Bailey ’82, P ’18, ’22, Current Faculty Alison Rosenthal was a three-sport athlete at KO. She earned three varsity letters in soccer and basketball and four in lacrosse. She served as a cocaptain of both the soccer and lacrosse teams in her senior year.
Upon her graduation from KO, Rosenthal attended Brown University where she was a four-year letter winner in lacrosse. After a short break from school, Rosenthal attended the Stanford Graduate School of Business, graduating in 2005. It was during her time at Stanford that she was bitten by the cycling bug, which led her to become a professional cyclist from 2009-2010 for TIBCO Women’s Professional Cycling racing
in criteriums, road, and stage races across the country. She also completed four marathons, running the 2002 NYC Marathon in under three hours (02:59:53). Rosenthal’s career has so far spanned operating, investing, teaching and governance roles in finance, consumer technology, and retail automotive. In 2018, she founded Leadout Capital, an early stage venture firm focusing on founding teams serving overlooked markets. Teamwork and competition continue to inspire Rosenthal in all facets of her life. She is also currently teaching a course in entrepreneurship and startups at the Stanford GSB. Rosenthal has done service work as a President’s Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship under President Obama and served eight years on the board of AutoNation and three years on the board of KQED, the Bay Area’s NPR affiliate. She lives in the Bay Area with her wife Kat, “a far more accomplished athlete” and their two children Bea (3.5) and Leo (almost 2). Jim M. Ulcickas ’79 Inducted by Stewart “Stew” Lindsay Jr., P ’80, ’82, GP ’18, ’22, Faculty Emeritus and Coach Jim “U” Ulcickas was a three sport athlete at KO. He lettered in lacrosse and hockey all four years and in football three years. He was co-captain of both the hockey and lacrosse teams his senior year. Ulcickas was a standout goalie for the lacrosse team. He was recognized as an All Conference, AllState and All-American player in both his junior and senior seasons and was named team MVP his senior year. As Ulcickas said about his lacrosse teams in his junior and senior years “All the moons aligned. We had a great coaching staff and a crop of fantastic
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athletes who all peaked in ’78-’79. I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time.” Upon his graduation from KO, Ulcickas went on to Dartmouth College where he played varsity lacrosse all four years. He was the starting goalie for the varsity team from ’81-’83. During his senior year his save percentage was an impressive .690. He was awarded All-Ivy Honors, Ivy Player of the Week, and was named an All-American. He also won the Dud Hendrick Award which is given to the player whose hard work, competitive spirit, and dedication to his teammates and to lacrosse has led to the most improvement during his career. Ulcickas currently resides in Santa Ana, Calif. with his wife Julie Ann and their two children, Frank and
Ella. He is self-employed as the owner of The Bluewater Grill Restaurants. Jimmy’s sister, Anne, was a KO graduate from the Class of 1976, and his mother, Patricia Blake, served on the KO Board of Trustees. Along with her husband, Curtis Blake, she was extremely proud of the quality of the complete educational experience that KO offered.
Brad H. Van Winkle ’74 Inducted by Charles “Chuck” Glassmire Jr. P ’91, ’92, Former Faculty and Coach Brad Van Winkle was a three sport athlete at KO playing soccer, hockey and tennis. A four-year letterman and 1974 team co-captain for the KO men’s tennis team, Van Winkle
helped to lead the team to three Top Ten USTA National Interscholastic Rankings. In New England Prep League play, Van Winkle was undefeated in doubles in both 1973 and 1974, and undefeated in singles in 1974. He and Ken Walker ’74 twice played for the National Interscholastic Doubles Championship, finishing as the nation’s number two ranked high school doubles team in both 1973 and 1974. Van Winkle finished as the 13th-ranked singles player in the 1974 USTA National Interscholastic Tennis Rankings. While at KO, Van Winkle was ranked number one in New England in boys’ doubles and as high as number four in singles in multiple age divisions, and number 16 in New England Men’s Open Division singles. Van Winkle competed nationally in several prestigious tournaments and finished in the top 125 at the World Junior Championships. Upon his graduation from KO, Van Winkle headed to Duke University where he was a four-year letterman and starter on the men’s tennis team, which was ranked among the top 20 teams in the nation. Van Winkle won an ACC Tournament Doubles Championship, earned All ACC recognition as a doubles selection, and compiled one of Duke’s strongest ever career doubles won/lost records. After graduating from Duke, Van Winkle competed professionally and achieved a World Ranking in doubles. He had the opportunity to compete (paired with Doug Ebenstein ’71) against John McEnroe, and on one occasion served as Bjorn Borg’s practice partner. After retiring from competitive tennis, he was a teacher and tennis, football, and basketball coach at the Blue Ridge School in Virginia. His career then took him to the insurance industry,
where he currently serves as senior vice president and benefits practice leader for Marsh & McLennan Agency. He continues to work as a coach for competitive junior tennis players in Texas. Van Winkle currently resides in Austin, Tx., with his wife, Susan, and two golden retrievers, and is the father of two boys, Greg and Brett, who are “employed and off the payroll.”
Ken B. Walker ’74 Inducted by Charles “Chuck” Glassmire Jr. P ’91, ’92, Former Faculty and Coach Ken Walker was a three-sport athlete at KO playing football, basketball and tennis. He played varsity tennis for six years and played in the number one spot for four of those years. Walker’s accomplishments on the tennis courts in his time at KO were many. He was co-captain his senior year leading his team to an undefeated season and a national ranking. That same year he was ranked second in New England in the 18s in singles and doubles with
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Athletic Hall of Fame • 2019 his partner Brad Van Winkle ’74 with whom he won the New England Prep School Championships. Upon his graduation from KO, Walker continued his tennis career at Ohio Wesleyan. While at Ohio Wesleyan he amassed a record of 72-1 over his four years in the number one position. He won the Ohio Athletic conference title in both singles and doubles all four years. Additionally, he was named
Ohio Wesleyan’s Athlete of the Year in his freshman year making him the youngest recipient in school history. He also served as a captain in both his junior and senior years of college and was named an All American in his final year. Five years after he graduated from college, Walker was inducted into the Ohio Wesleyan Athletic Hall of Fame. Upon his graduation from
college, Walker became a competitive platform tennis player where he was ranked in the top 10 in the nation reaching a high of #4. These days he plays tennis, platform tennis, and golf. Walker lives full time in Vero Beach, Fla., where he works for PNC Bank as a senior portfolio manager in their Trust Department. He and his wife are the proud parents of two young adults, Ashley and Collin.
Left to right: Todd Marble (coach), Jonathan Kuhe ’89, John Rusconi ’89, Curt Nemarich ’89, Jim Slavin ’89, Brendan McDonald ’89, Matt Levy ’89, Jeff Azia ’89, Chad LaBonte ’90, Rich Nemarich ’90, Roland LaBonte (coach), and Ron Monroe (coach)
The 1988 Football Team Inducted by Todd Marble, Former Faculty Member and Coach In the fall of 1988 a rare confluence of talent, hard work and unity brought an Erickson League Championship and undefeated football season to the Kingswood Oxford campus. From the first pre-season practice through the final whistle of the Avon
game, a tremendously dedicated group of young men, committed to excellence, proved that champions are indeed the product of preparation, perseverance, and passion. While the individual components of this team were remarkably skilled, the whole was even greater than the sum of the parts as week in and week out this Wyvern football squad methodically took
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down each Founders League and nonleague opponent in its path. On a late fall afternoon in 1988 on KO’s home field this all culminated in a sound defeat of nemesis Avon Old Farms that cemented this team in School and Erickson League history.
Distinguished Awards • 2019 The Oxford 110th Anniversary Award Ellen Jones Wood ’59 Juliana Peck ’59 Awarded by Tom Dillow, Head of School This award is given to individuals who embody the Oxford School motto, Vincit Qui Se Vincit, by challenging the accepted limits for what young ladies were expected to achieve, ultimately clearing the path for the opportunities and successes that are embraced by girls at Kingswood Oxford. Ellen Jones Wood ’59 and Juliana Peck ’59 are just two of the many Oxford women who have helped to redefine the roles women are expected to play in our communities. While the ladies of Oxford were not offered many opportunities to be athletes, they were encouraged to be leaders. Wood and Peck used their skills to open doors and create their own opportunities. Wood and Peck were known as fierce competitors and valuable teammates. As leaders on the Athletic Council and Orange and Gray teams, they loved and played all sports - softball, basketball, field hockey, tennis - but since there were no organized athletic teams, all of their competitions were done intra-class or between the Orange and Gray Teams. In 1959, those competitions were organized by Wood and Peck. Hungry for more, they pushed to be allowed to play against other girls’ schools, and though there were a few field hockey matches, they were
Head of School Tom Dillow and Ellen Jones Wood ’59
considered exhibition scrimmages in absence of a competitive league. After Oxford, the women continued to seek out opportunities to play competitive sports. For Peck, Smith College introduced her to the sport of crew. Though there still was no team for women, she kept rowing and gained a true love for the sport. “There is nothing more of a team sport than rowing,” she says. “If anyone stands out - something has gone wrong.” Still a competitor, Peck has continued to row, winning a competition as a member of a team of eight last year, and she still plays tennis at least twice a week. Not content to sit idle after her retirement from work as a foreign service officer living in the Middle East, Peck volunteers as a sea turtle nesting monitor, gives her time to a local animal shelter, and travels as much as possible.
Recently, she traveled to Patagonia, the Falkland Islands, Cuba, Costa Rica, and spent last summer cross country skiing in Antarctica. Peck was unable to attend the induction ceremony because she was skiing and snowshoeing across the fjords of Norway and the Arctic. Wood continued to play tennis after leaving Oxford. She moved to Gloversville, N.Y., and began sharing her love for the sport with the community by leading tennis clinics for the Gloversville YMCA and Recreation Commission. Her dedication to and talent in teaching tennis drew the attention of Gloversville High School, and she became the first woman to coach a boys’ varsity team when she became head coach for the Gloversville tennis team in 1983. She was embraced by the community for her reputation as a
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Distinguished Awards • 2019 strong leader and her knowledge of the game. During her time as head coach, the team never had a losing season. These days, Wood has been playing and competing near her new home in South Carolina. In November 2018, she and her partner co-captained and won the South Carolina 75 and over League State Championships. Aside from playing tennis, Wood spends her time getting her hands dirty by maintaining several gardens in upstate New York and South Carolina. In 1959, the opportunities for girls who wanted to actively compete in sports were more or less nonexistent. It was only with the grit and perseverance that Wood and Peck pursued their common love for athletics, a bond that has helped them form a friendship that has lasted more than 60 years. Both women visit each other a few times during the year, and when they do, the tennis racquets come out and they renew their competitive kinship.
Distinguished Alumni Award G. William “Bill” Seawright ’59 Awarded by Tom Dillow, Head of School G. William “Bill” Seawright ’59 has been a standout since his days at Kingswood School–where he was a member of the soccer, skiiing (rumor has it he knocked over a few trees, per his yearbook), riflery, and soccer teams.
Kingswood Oxford since 2007. He has been a class agent for many years for the great class of 1959, and has been a generous supporter of the School, indeed being the first trustee emeritus to make a gift to KO’s 2020 Capital Campaign drive.
Seawright went on to graduate from Yale University, complete graduate work at Harvard, and to raise a daughter Vicky and son Bill with his wife Anne.
His commitment to service was memorialized early, reading from his Kingswood Yearbook: “Bill’s many activities, his cheerfulness and his willingness to help have placed him foremost in the ranks of the Class of ’59.” Notably, each correspondence between Seawright and KO ends with Seawright’s customary sign off, “Please let me know if there is anything at all that I can do.”
His career has been exemplary - leading major corporations including Heublein International, Paddington and Stanhome to great business success and serving on numerous corporate boards. Seawright served as a trustee and has been an engaged trustee emeritus at 42 • KO MAGA ZINE • SEP T EMBER 2019
Patricia Rosoff Distinguished Alumni Creative Arts Award Sherry Banks-Cohn ’54, P ’78,’82 Awarded by Tom Dillow, Head of School Sherry Banks-Cohn graduated from Oxford School in 1954, and in the words of her yearbook: “Everything Sherry enters into is done wholeheartedly with spirit and industry.” At Oxford, Banks-Cohn’s accomplishments were many: class secretary-treasurer, Dance Club president, Oxfordian photography editor, and Dance Workshop - an early beginning to her love of the arts and ability to get things done. After Oxford School, Banks-Cohn went on to graduate from Sarah Lawrence College, returning to serve as one of Hartford’s most passionate community leaders. Her service has not only honored Oxford with her dedication to preserving that school’s great legacy, but to also playing an integral role in supporting and leading KO, where she sent her two children Wendy ’78 and Brad ’82. She has served as a KO trustee, chair of the KO Board, and a trustee emeritus. In her spare time she is also a wonderful grandmother to eight beloved grandchildren. Banks-Cohn is a passionate supporter of the arts who established the Goodman-Banks Fund for the
Arts here at KO. Through this fund, our students experience the creative process firsthand - working with visual and performing artists from around the world. Through performances and master classes, resident artists share their techniques, processes, and creations with Middle and Upper School students - a unique opportunity and a deeply valued one. A few recent examples include: Upper Preppers learned traditional Chinese dance with the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, students worked with renown sculpture Anne Cubberly, and the Classic Repertory Company performed one of
William Shakespeare’s most delightful comedies, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, here at School. The Goodman Banks Series also sponsors trips to local arts venues — including The Bushnell, Hartford Stage Company, and the Wadsworth Atheneum — and has deeply enriched the arts experience of so many KO students. The School regularly relies on BanksCohn’s great judgement, insight, and love for Kingswood Oxford.
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KO AT HL E T IC S
2018-20 1 9
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Varsity Athletics 2018-19
FALL FOOTBALL Coaches: (Head) Jason Martinez (Assistants) Brandon Batory ’10, Will Gilyard, Matt Kocay, Noah Lynd, Jack Murphy Record: 6-2-1 Captains: Sam Capodice ’20, Ethan Miner ’19, Winston Ware ’20 Seniors: Broox Bolden, Steven Howard, Coltrane Joseph, Joshua Leshem, Ethan Miner, Kyren Petteway VOLLEYBALL Coaches: (Head) Scott McDonald (Assistant) Cameron Biondi Record: 11-6-0 Captains: Madison Henry ’19, Isabelle Raymond ’19 Seniors: Madison Henry, Sydni Jett, Katherine Mikaelson, Isabelle Raymond, Ayla Schumann M.V.P. Award: Sydney Smith ’21 M.I.P. Award: Trinity Hudson ’20 Coaches Award: Isabelle Raymond Four Year Award: Madison Henry FIELD HOCKEY Coaches: (Head) Nicole Blake (Assistants) David Herrera, Ainsley Parrish Record: 7-12-1 Captain: Mia Seymour ’19 Senior: Mia Seymour M.V.P. Award: Alyssa Pavano ’22 M.I.P. Award: Alexandra D’Addabbo ’20 Coaches Award: Mia Seymour Four Year Award: Mia Seymour GIRLS’ SOCCER Coaches: (Head) Tracy Deeter (Assistant) Kathryn McCarthy Record: 7-9-0 Captains: Camilla Berckemeyer ’19, Charlotte Cyr ’19, Nicole Genga ’19 Seniors: Camilla Berckemeyer, Charlotte Cyr, Nicole Genga, Claudia Petrie, Andrew Holland, Adam Sonntag M.V.P. Award: Charlotte Cyr
M.I.P. Award: Annelise Vaughn ’21 Four Year Award: Camilla Berckemeyer, Charlotte Cyr, Nicole Genga BOYS’ SOCCER Coaches: (Head) Hikmet Aslan (Assistant) Carmelo Lombardo Record: 7-6-2 Captain: Aidan Shea ’19 Seniors: Aidan Shea, James Amenta M.V.P. Award: Nicholas Hamzavi ’20 M.I.P. Award: Nicholas Traver ’20 Coaches Award: Aidan Shea GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY Coaches: (Head) Tricia Watson (Assistant) Natalie Lynd Captain: Taline Norsigian ’19 Seniors: Amanda Bucknam, Elise Gendrich, Alison Meizels, Taline Norsigian, Janvi Sikand M.V.P. Award: Olivia Reynolds ’22 M.I.P. Award: Stella Risinger ’22 Coaches Award: Taline Norsigian BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY Coaches: (Head) Fritz Goodman (Assistant) Alexander Hoerman Captain: Thomas Betts ’19 Seniors: Thomas Betts, Harris Jacobson, Sam Mazo M.V.P. Award: Kevin Graziosi ’22 Coaches Award: Samuel Mazo WINTER BOYS’ BASKETBALL Coaches: (Head) Brad Seaman (Assistants) Mark Beloin, Derrick Birdsong, Jon Blaudin, Matt Mazzochi Record: 12-11 Captains: Nicholas Bray ’19, Sean James ’19 Seniors: Nicholas Bray, Sean James, Michael Aronson, Coltrane Joseph, Kyren Petteway M.V.P. Award: Sean James M.I.P. Award: Michael Aronson Coaches Award: Nicholas Bray Five Year Award: Nicholas Bray
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GIRLS’ BASKETBALL Coaches: (Head) Quinn O’Brien (Assistant) Terese Cerins Record: 1-22 Captains: Jane Dunbar ’19, Angelina Maselli ’20 Seniors: Amanda Bucknam, Charlotte Cyr, Jane Dunbar, Desiree Davis, Madison Henry M.V.P. Award: Angelina Maselli M.I.P. Award: Jane Dunbar Coaches Award: Madison Henry Four Year Award: Charlotte Cyr, Jane Dunbar, Madison Henry ICE HOCKEY Coaches: (Head) John Hissick (Assistant) Michael Wolf Record: 7-6-1 Seniors: Michael Autorino, Calvin Beck, Ruize ( Jack) Gao, Garth Swanson M.V.P. Award: Garth Swanson M.I.P. Award: Cohl D’Addabbo ’21 Coaches Award: Michael Autorino Four Year Award: Michael Autorino, Calvin Beck, Garth Swanson BOYS’ SWIMMING Coaches: (Head) Alexander Kraus (Assistant) Bill Martino Record: 6-5 Captain: Ellis Winfree ’19 Seniors: Thomas Betts, Nicholas Spina, Ellis Winfree M.V.P. Award: Ellis Winfree M.I.P. Award: Walter Kraus ’21 Coaches Award: Thomas Betts Four Year Award: Thomas Betts, Ellis Winfree GIRLS’ SWIMMING Coaches: (Head) Kata Baker (Assistant) Megan Farrell Record: 1-11 Senior: Hailin (Helen) Lu M.V.P. Award: Alison Wildstein ’22 M.I.P. Award: Lily Kuivila ’20 Coaches Award: Risha Ranjan ’21
BOYS’ SQUASH Coaches: (Head) Robby Lingashi Record: 1-11 Captains: Nicholas Choo, Aidan Shea Seniors: Aidan Shea, Eryk Jones, Samuel Mazo M.V.P. Award: Henry Krieble ’21 M.I.P. Award: Jaden Weinstein ’21 Coaches Award: Aidan Shea Five Year Award: Aidan Shea GIRLS’ SQUASH Coaches: (Head) Cameron Biondi Record: 12-7 Captain: Ananya Alleyne ’19, Camilla Berckemeyer ’19, Seniors: Ananya Alleyne, Camilla Berckemeyer, Katherine Mikaelson, Claudia Petrie M.V.P. Award: Camilla Berckemeyer M.I.P. Award: Sloan Duvall ’21 Coaches Award: Ananya Alleyne Four Year Award: Camilla Berckemeyer Five Year Award: Ananya Alleyne SPRING BASEBALL Coaches: (Head)Steve Cannata (Assistant) Ryan Radmanovich Record: 4-6-2 Captain: Evan Moore ’19 Seniors: Sean James, Jack Johnson, Eryk Jones, Josh Leshem, Evan Moore, Connor Patenaude, Aidan Shea M.V.P. Award: Evan Moore M.I.P. Award: Connor Patenaude, Christopher Hudson ’22 Coaches Award: Samuel Smith ’21, John Kinney ’21 Four Year Award: Evan Moore SOFTBALL Coaches: (Head) Jason Bradley (Assistant) Cameron Biondi Record: 4-10 Seniors: Brigid Bernier, Kaylee Diaz, Melissa Luari M.V.P. Award: Ava Radmanovich ’21
M.I.P. Award: Caroline Boardman ’22 Coaches Award: Caitlin Budzik ’21 Four Year Award: Brigid Bernier, Kaylee Diaz BOYS’ LACROSSE Coaches: (Head) Brett Garber (Assistant) David Hild ’80 Record: 2-8 Captains: Michael Aronson ’19, Jack Cavo ’19 Seniors: Michael Aronson, Jack Cavo, Matthew Safalow M.V.P. Award: Jack Cavo M.I.P. Award: Justin Edwards ’21 Coaches Award: Michael Aronson Four Year Award: Michael Aronson GIRLS’ LACROSSE Coaches: (Head) Tim Allerton (Assistants) Terese Cerins, John Hissick Record: 3-9 Captains: Jane Dunbar ’19, Nicole Genga ’19, Mia Seymour ’19 Seniors: Jane Dunbar, Nicole Genga, Mia Seymour M.V.P. Award: Amelia Levine ’20 M.I.P. Award: Molly Jones ’20 Coaches Award: Jane Dunbar Four Year Award: Nicole Genga, Mia Seymour BOYS’ TRACK AND FIELD Coaches: (Head) Alexander Kraus (Assistants) David Baker ’04, Frederick Goodman, Alexander Hoerman, Natalie Lynd, Amanda Pasko, Tricia Watson Record: 2-1 Seniors: Thomas Betts, Broox Bolden, Coltrane Joseph, Ellis Winfree M.V.P. Award: Broox Bolden M.I.P. Award: Ethan Pinkes ’20 Coaches Award: Coltrane Joseph Four Year Award: Thomas Betts, Coltrane Joseph Five Year Award: Broox Bolden
GIRLS’ TRACK AND FIELD Coaches: (Head) Tricia Watson (Assistants) David Baker ’04, Frederick Goodman, Alexander Hoerman, Alexander Kraus, Natalie Lynd, Amanda Pasko Record: 3-0 Captains: Erin Bowen ’19, Sydni Jett ’19, Ainsley Vaughn ’20 Seniors: Erin Bowen, Sydni Jett M.V.P. Award: Sydni Jett M.I.P. Award: Annelise Vaughn ’21 Coaches Award: Erin Bowen Four Year Award: Erin Bowen, Sydni Jett GOLF Coaches: (Head) Scott Dunbar (Assistant) Danielle Hoff Record: 12-10 Captains: James Amenta ’19, Garth Swanson ’19 Seniors: James Amenta, Ryan Peterson, Garth Swanson M.V.P. Award: Garth Swanson Coaches Award: James Amenta Four Year Award: Garth Swanson BOYS’ TENNIS Coaches: (Head) Andrew Krugman ’86 Record: 8-5 Captain: Luke Riemann ’19 Seniors: Michael Autorino, Jack Gao, Andrew Holland, Luke Riemann, Adam Sonntag M.V.P. Award: Luke Riemann M.I.P. Award: Jacob Schwartz ’21 Coaches Award: Max-William Kanz ’22 Four Year Award: Luke Riemann, Adam Sonntag GIRLS’ TENNIS Coaches: (Head) Ron Garcia Record: 8-1 Captains: Molly Baron ’19, Isabelle Raymond ’19 Seniors: Molly Baron, Isabelle Raymond M.V.P. Award: Kristin Chin ’24 M.I.P. Award: Molly Baron Coaches Award: Isabelle Raymond Four Year Award: Isabelle Raymond Five Year Award: Molly Baron
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Boys’ Squash Wins Class C Title The Kingswood Oxford varsity boys’ squash team captured the New England Class C championship in late February. Four Wyverns reached the finals and three came home with individual titles, helping the team capture the
overall title. Henry Krieble ’21 won at No. 3 singles, James Ravalese ’20 was victorious at No. 4 singles and Teddy Keegan ’22 won at No. 6 singles. Matt Marottolo ’20 was second in the No. 5 singles bracket to help pick up valuable points for the Wyverns. “The boys worked so hard during the season,” Kingswood Oxford coach Robby Lingashi said. “As a coach I felt
Judy Lindsay Bailey ’82 Wins Woman in Sports Award When Kingswood Oxford celebrated its second annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day on Feb. 16, it also celebrated one of its own. Judy Lindsay Bailey ’82, a standout player, educator, and coach was honored with the inaugural KO Woman in Sport Award. The award will be given annually, in conjunction with KO celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports 50 • KO MAGA ZINE • SEP T EMBER 2019
they deserved to win the tournament even though it wasn’t easy. They were prepared mentally and physically.” Kingswood Oxford also got strong performances from Sam Mazo ’19, Nick Choo ’20 and Aidan Shea ’19. Mazo finished third in No. 7 singles, Choo was fourth at No. 2 and Shea was sixth at No. 1 singles.
Day, to a past KO student-athlete who has continued to be a role model for young girls and women through sport. “Judy is perfect to be the inaugural recipient,” Kingswood Oxford Athletic Director Debbie Fiske said. “Judy is deserving of this award for not only being a KO alum, current teacher, and coach at KO, but because she is a constant display of integrity and sportsmanship. She is a terrific role model through her dedication and hard work as a teacher, coach, and mentor for young girls and women.”
Ananya Alleyne ’19, Cami Berckemeyer ’19, Isabel Berckemeyer ’21, and Amelia Levine ’20 all went 3-0 for the tournament. In the final, Kingswood Oxford faced Buffalo Seminary and posted a 5-2 victory. “The championship match is always a lot for a player’s nerves, but our players pulled through the pressure to carry their team to the Division V title,” coach Biondi said.
Girls’ Squash Wins National Title The Kingswood Oxford varsity girls’ squash team captured the Division V title at the 2019 U.S. High School Team Squash Championships in early February. The Wyverns defeated Nardin Academy, Squash Smarts Varsity, Moses Brown School and Buffalo Seminary to win the title at the prestigious event. Bailey earned nine varsity letters during her time at Kingswood Oxford (three each in field hockey, basketball and lacrosse). After graduation, Bailey attended Wheaton College where she played basketball and lacrosse. Before she graduated from Wheaton in 1986, Bailey played basketball for four seasons and served as captain twice. She played lacrosse for two seasons, helping Wheaton advance to the NCAA quarterfinals in 1985 and semifinals in 1986. Both of those teams lost to the eventual national champion.
Kingswood Oxford entered the tournament looking to make a run and posted three impressive victories after a Round of 16 forfeit. “We were ranked in the top four of the division, so we knew we had a really good chance coming in,” Kingswood Oxford coach Cameron Biondi said. “With that said, I think we were happy to play so well and have convincing wins for each team match.”
Bailey’s next stop after Wheaton was Rocky Hill School in East Greenwich, R.I. from 1986-87 where she taught and coached, serving as the assistant coach for varsity field hockey and lacrosse and head coach for varsity basketball. In 1987 Bailey returned to Kingswood Oxford where she has taught and coached ever since. An integral part of Wyvern athletics, Bailey served as Athletic Director from 1997-2000 and was the recipient of the Joe and Jo-anne Alissi Coaches Award in 2012.
Ananya Alleyne, Isabel Berckemeyer, Amelia Levine, and Elyana Alleyne ’23 dispelled all doubts by dominating the center of the court and pulling off 3-0 wins for the team. Camilla Berckemeyer showcased her adaptability and fluid strategy with a 3-1 win in the number three spot. “I think our team’s key to success was staying consistently focused so the quality of their shots could also stay consistent,” coach Biondi said. “While the other teams had their good games and their bad games, we had streaks of solid games that forced our opponents to really pull off something spectacular to get a win off us.”
She has coached field hockey – junior varsity and Middle School (one season each), basketball - Middle School A head coach for 20 years, head junior varsity coach for one year, assistant varsity coach for 14 years, lacrosseMiddle School A coach for 15 years (seven undefeated seasons) head junior varsity coach for two years (undefeated 1989), and head varsity coach for 15 years.
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107th COMMENCEMENT
“ Align your choices and good things will happen.”
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This year’s graduating class Chips Off the Block include Sam Mazo and aunt Wendy Mazo ’85, Adam Schwartz ’85 and his daughter Nell, Emily Holcombe ’70 and her daughter Tally, Rich Alleyne ’87 and daughter Ananya, Charlie Cavo ’89 and son Jack, Allison Hild ’82 and daughter Claudia Petrie, David Seymour ’84 and daughter Mia, Andy Bucknam ’82 and daughter Amanda, Craig Aronson ’88 and son Michael.
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“ Slow down. Breathe, and make sure that your endeavors are grounded in things you genuinely care about.” Tom Dillow, Head of School
107th COMMENCEMENT As a methodical, to-do list maker, Kingswood Oxford’s keynote speaker and physics teacher Kathleen DiSanto ’03 compiled her five-step plan for her adult life upon graduating from high school only to find an accuracy rate of 38%. Although she happily married her “super cute” high school sweetheart in step number two, her other plans were overturned as she sought to find fulfillment in her career and in her life. DiSanto gave the 83 seniors permission to navigate the messiness of growing up and to reconsider their options in terms of what makes them happy during her address at the school’s 107th Commencement on Fri., May 24. Matt Safalow ’19 introduced DiSanto. “You find happiness by aligning with your core values and being true to who you are in each moment,” she said. Her words resonated with the students and attendees alike with many adults in the crowd nodding in agreement with Disanto’s message. As a college student at Washington University in St. Louis, DiSanto was on course to be a pre-med major (step 1) but then later enrolled in the engineering program because pre-med didn’t “feel right.” After receiving her master’s degree in
mechanical engineering at Harvard University, Disanto held increasingly senior positions as a structural analyst in defense systems and commercial aircraft but found little satisfaction. Fortunately for KO students, teaching filled DiSanto’s void. “Teaching is my happy. The whiteboard is my happy. Watching you grow and learn makes me happy... Align your choices and good things will happen. Check in with yourself.” She reminded the graduates to be kind to themselves and to others and to take some detours from their carefully wrought plans. “I can’t wait to see how you’ll turn your life upside down.”
others. As you find your way in this world, do not lose sight of how you get there. Slow down. Breathe, and make sure that your endeavors are grounded in things you genuinely care about,” Dillow said.
This was Head of School Tom Dillow’s first time presiding over the commencement exercises at the school. He echoed DiSanto’s comments by quoting from the Talking Heads’ existential song “Once In Lifetime,” in which an adult reflects upon his auto-pilot life governed by societal expectations “with a beautiful house and a beautiful wife and a large automobile.” Dillow charged the students to find more meaning in their lives. “Remember that real happiness comes from healthy relationships, meaningful work, and in service to
History teacher Rob Kyff acknowledged the 50th anniversary of the school’s coeducation and quoted the two visionary educators Ruth Guernsey and George Nicholson of Oxford School and Kingswood School, respectively. Kyff hoped that the graduates’ Kingswood Oxford education would lead each to the high places inspired by Miss Guernsey and that they would cherish the many treasures of life that Mr. Nicholson so loved: Walt Whitman’s “beings, groups, love, deeds, words, books.”
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Of the graduating class, 45 students graduated with honors. Benjamin Small of West Hartford received the Dux Prize for the senior with the highest grade point average. A total of 11 student-athletes will play at the collegiate level. Nine members of the Class of 2019 had parents, grandparents or relatives who also graduated from KO.
“ I can’t wait to see how you’ll turn your life upside down.” Kathleen DiSanto ’03
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In a Quiet Race
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Some do yoga, some do art, for the Baker brothers, it's running.
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By Katherine Gianni ’14
Imagine running from Hartford to Boston. Then think about turning around to jog back again. In that stretch, a runner would log more than 200 miles, a seemingly unfathomable number to take on by foot, at least for an average runner. But Billy Baker ’00 and David Baker ’04 are not average runners. The thought of racking up miles in the double-digits doesn’t unnerve them; in fact, they see it as an exhilarating challenge. The brothers compete in ultra-marathons, a breed of race where 26.2 miles is merely a warmup. In fact, the Bakers have run so many miles over the past several years that they’ve both stopped keeping track. “It’s too many to count, especially with him,” David said, gesturing to Billy. The pair sat beside each other in David’s Kingswood Oxford classroom on the second floor of House 1. In addition to teaching freshman and sophomore history classes at KO, David directs two choral groups and serves as the dean of the freshman and sophomore classes. His personal life is just as full; he and his wife, Kata, also a KO teacher, welcomed their son, Callan, in 2016. Billy’s professional and personal plate is also chock-full. As a senior account executive for SAP SE, a multinational software corporation, he travels 100 nights out of the year for his team, Success Factors. He is also a devoted father, taking care of his three young children with his wife, Kim. With demanding full-time jobs and plenty of responsibilities at home, the Baker brothers couldn’t be blamed for kicking up their feet during moments of free time, relishing in the pleasures of doing absolutely nothing at all. 58 • KO MAGA ZINE • SEP T EMBER 2019
But that’s just not how the Bakers like to roll. Billy participated in his first ultra-marathon, the JFK 50 Miler in 2008 – a race that David also completed in 2012 and 2018. Both brothers have also competed in the Ironman Lake Placid, the Frigus Snowshoe 60K, and the Peak Snowshoe Marathon (a race that both have done four times from 2012 to 2015). David has also competed in 10 Hartford Marathons from 2008 to 2018, with only one year off in 2010. And that’s just listing a few of their races. The brothers describe running as a family affair, noting that it was their older sister, Courtney, who first encouraged them to do a marathon. “She convinced me to run longer distances,” David said, who began running for health reasons during his junior year at Skidmore College. “I signed up for the 2007 Chicago Marathon my senior year of college.” He paused, smiling. “After that I was hooked.” Upon learning that his younger brother had signed up for Chicago, Billy wasted no time signing up for his own marathon. An avid cross-country runner at KO, he had stopped running during his college years. “But, once I heard my sister and brother decided to run a marathon, I knew I couldn’t let that happen,” he explained. “I said, ‘OK, I gotta get off my butt,’ and I just followed the leaders.”
or New York City. The 26.2-mile bigcity marathons take place on smooth asphalt. The courses themselves are certified by the USA Track and Field organization (or USATF), with clear boundaries designated by barriers, traffic cones, or other signage. Hordes of spectators gather on the sidelines to watch the runners, offering highfives and boisterous cheers to boost excitement levels during the race. The participants are timed to the millisecond. Many aim to achieve first in their age group, or be first across the finish line. When it comes to an ultra-marathon, however, runners log anywhere from 50 to 200 miles over the span of many hours, and in some cases, many days. The longest certified ultra-marathon in the world is the Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race, where runners have 52 days to reach 3,100 miles. The race takes place over one long block in Jamaica, Queens, N.Y., an unusual setting because most ultra-marathons are not run on a level surface or at a level elevation. Typically, ultra-marathoners test their endurance on rocky mountainsides or through wooded trails. Fans do not line the long courses, and aid tents are usually provided only every 10 to 20 miles. These runners are not running for lightning fast times. They are running simply to run, and run, and run some more. So why do they do it?
David and Billy’s other sister, Lauren, and their father, Bob, were also inspired to lace up their running shoes. “And our dad’s now planning on doing a 125-mile walk in Ireland this summer,” Billy said.
“I think any time you set a challenge for yourself, and then go out and achieve that challenge, there’s an innate reward,” Billy said. “You set the goal, and it’s you alone who’s going to get you there.”
By nature, ultra-marathons differ in almost every respect compared to the famed marathons in Boston, Chicago,
He described feeling a powerful sense of mental clarity when running or
“ You set a goal. It’s you alone who’s going to get you there.” Billy Baker ’00
training for an ultra-marathon, as well as an inner peacefulness that allows him to succeed in all areas of his life. “It’s having that ‘me time’ where you can be meditative and think about your life and things that are going on,” he added. “And different people get it through different ways. Some people do yoga, some people do art. For us, it’s running.” David concurred, adding that he not only runs for himself, but for the closeknit group of friends that both he and Billy train with. “It brings us all together,” David explained. “Even if we’re not running the same race, it brings us together when we train, and it brings us to a place where there are no distractions.” When it comes to training, the brothers don’t follow as rigid a schedule as you might expect. They both agreed that training hours have to be flexible in order to fit into their calendars – a 6 a.m. weight lift or six-mile run during a lunch break often suffices for weekday training. Weekends and summer vacations also furnish longer stretches of free time for training. David turned to his brother and asked, “This summer, counting training runs, how many marathons did you run that weren’t official marathons?” Billy shrugged. “I would just say it’s upwards of 20 for both of us,” he said. “I’ll bet you could probably tell me your miles for this year, though.”
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David hastened to the computer in the back corner of his classroom to pull up his fall training plan. After a few clicks, he had an answer. “From August 19 to November 17, 2018 I ran 550 miles in training,” he said. “That was up until the JFK 50.” The oldest certified ultra-marathon in the country, the JFK 50 Mile was first held in the spring of 1963 when President John F. Kennedy presented it as a fitness challenge to the American public. David first ran the JFK 50 in 2012 – concurrently his first time ever taking part in an ultra-marathon. Starting in Boonsboro, Md., runners experience a 1,172-foot gain in elevation as they begin their climb up the Appalachian Trail. Participants run approximately 13 miles on the Trail, all while navigating spots of rocky terrain and dips in elevation levels. The route then crosses under U.S. Route 340 and connects with the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C&O) towpath. This portion of the race takes place on an uneven dirt/gravel surface. Upon completing this 26.3-mile stretch, runners are reunited with a smooth asphalt road, which carries them the final 8.4 miles to the finish line in Williamsport, Md. David returned to this course for a second time in November 2018, completing the marathon in seven hours and 57 minutes. His time earned him 63rd place out of the over 900 participants. “When you have a really successful race, it makes you want to do it more,” David said. “Now I really just want to keep doing fifties.” Billy reached his own personal milestone by completing the Tahoe 200 Endurance Run in September 2018 –
the longest race he has completed to date. The race is a graduate-level event, with 250 runners looping around the entirety of Lake Tahoe. Participants have 100 hours to complete the event, which averages out to approximately four days on the single-track trail. Billy finished the race in 87 hours, sleeping for only five hours over the four-day period. “You can sleep wherever you want; there really are no rules,” Billy explained. Some runners choose to rest on the side of the trail, while others sleep on cots located at various aid tents, each spaced 40 to 50 miles apart along the route. Billy said that lack of sleep was not his biggest obstacle in Tahoe, but rather the broad range of temperatures he endured throughout the race. “During the day it can be 80s on the California side, 90s on the Nevada side because you’re more in a desert climate,” he said. “But then at night it gets down into the 30s and 40s, and when you’re on the peak, it can be below freezing with wind chill.” To combat the elements, Billy carried a pack filled with winter-weather layers. Runners were equipped with GPS tracking devices on their shoulders so organizers could keep tabs on their progress and real-time locations. “Tahoe is more of an adventure than a race,” Billy said, adding that he is already preparing to return to Tahoe for his second 200-miler in September 2019. “It’s coming up with a strategy and a plan. How am I going to sleep? How am I going to eat? Where am I going to get these types of resources? What am I going to pack?” “I’d say the longer the races are, the more planning there is,” David added.
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“With a 5K, you throw on your shoes and run. With a marathon, typically, you pack some food you might eat, and then the longer you go, the more you have to think ahead.” When it comes to prepping snacks and stopping for meals at aid tents, the Bakers aren’t just noshing on nuts and protein bars. “You eat normal food,” Billy said. “At the aid stations in Tahoe you could get a burger or a bacon, egg and cheese.” “At the JFK I had peanut-butter-andjelly and chicken noodle soup at several aid stations,” David said. And even though he’s not sponsored by Fairlife brand chocolate milk, he attests it’s the best drink after a training run. After a full race, beer is his beverage of choice. Both Bakers maintained that they’re not crazy about pre-race rituals. No four-leaf clovers or rabbits’ feet in sight – another testament to their impressively, shockingly laid-back approach to running longer than the average person’s work day. But, when asked, “Who’s crazier?” the brothers looked at each other and laughed. “It depends on what kind of crazy you’re looking at,” David said. “Who’s willing to take more risks? He is. One hundred percent.” Billy shrugged. “In fact that poster up there that says ‘risk’ was a gift from Billy as a joke to me,” David said, gesturing to the wall adjacent to the classroom door. “I put it up there, one, so I can laugh every day and, two, so I am reminded to take risks. Because in many ways, he’s the older brother who makes me do things that I don’t really want to do, but end up being glad I did.”
“ He’s the older brother who makes me do things I don’t want to do, but end up being glad I did.” David Baker ’04
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Oxford Remembers As Oxford School celebrates its 110th Anniversary, we asked a few of the ladies to share memories of the school. We learned that while they attended Oxford at different times, the same themes emerged among them and continue to resonate as the most meaningful experiences that KO students enjoy today: memorable teachers, lasting friendships, and measurable personal growth.
I loved geometry and French with Miss LaBrecque. And I’m grateful to Miss Hall, who gave me my introduction to volunteerism, which has stayed with me since then. Jane Brandon Pfaff ’56
We mattered then and we still matter, so we put the book Oxford Remembers together. I wanted my daughter to have the feeling of both schools when she got to KO. Porcula, porculum, porculi. If you got the ending of those words wrong, you had to put money in the pot for the party at the end of the year. Miss Wuori was a holy terror, but thanks to her, when I go to Italy I can read the inscriptions on the buildings 40 years later.
My favorite teachers were Miss Wuori, who taught Latin, and Miss Evans, the English teacher. Mary Jeanne Anderson Jones ’52
Anybody who went through Oxford, or indeed KO today, is wellprepared for college.
When a teacher walked into a room, we all had to stand. Ann Coolidge Randall ’73
During senior year we had a water fight in the senior lounge. We made those little paper cootie catchers that you fold up. We filled them with water and lobbed them at one another. One went out the window and landed on Miss Graff’s head. We were convinced we’d all be expelled. She never found out who did it. Joan Safford Wright ’53
Sherry Banks-Cohn ’54
The small classes helped cultivate good friends. You were surrounded by a warmth that was nurturing. I loved the atmosphere. Elizabeth Stedman Russell ’50
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I was inspired by Mrs. Montano, who ran the Dance Club and Mrs. Hamilton, the biology teacher. Mary Pallotti Russell ’73
The Greek Games were a big event every year. We had chariots with horses - actually four girls in tunics with funny little shoes. Our steps had to be synchronized so we would practice and practice. We wanted to win the competition because, if you won, you’d go on bended knee before the presiding priestess, I guess you’d call her, and she would present you with a frond. It sounds very silly... it was silly. But it meant a lot in those days. Elizabeth Stedman Russell ’50
There was a small group of us in 1968 and unless you wanted to be on the outside you made friends. We're still friends today, through all the weddings, divorces, and children. Ann Coolidge Randall ’73
Everybody got along. It was a competitive but comfortable atmosphere. I was not a scholar, but I always felt valued. Susan Lowe Redfield ’60
I can depend on my friends. We get together. You always know whom you can count on. Jane Brandon Pfaff ’56
Joan Safford Wright ’53
Vivian Hathaway Crouse ’51
Susan Lowe Redfield ’60
An Oxford classmate was and still is my best friend. I am sure many of us in the Class of ’68 share that experience. We were very lucky to be educated at Oxford, but it wasn’t just the academics. We learned important life lessons there. I remember Mrs. Swett and chapel choir as though it were yesterday. Oxford will never be forgotten! Jean Shinabarger Hull ’68
Ann Coolidge Randall ’73
Lynne Lumsden ’65
Oxford instilled core values by word, action and expectation. Accountability, honesty, integrity, pride, responsibility: they were all part of our everyday fabric.
Susan Lowe Redfield ’60 Sherry BanksCohn ’54
Ann Coolidge Randall ’73
Jean Shinabarger Hull ’68
I wouldn’t change my time here for all the world... Well, maybe I’d change the uniforms.
Mary Jean Anderson Jones ’52
Mary Pallotti Russell ’73
Elizabeth Stedman Russell ’50
Jane Brandon Pfaff ’56
Diane Adinolfi Gent ’72
It’s all about tradition here. And there is a lot of it.
Miss Carlisle kept a pet flying squirrel in the library!
Diane Adinolfi Gent ’72
Vivian Hathaway Crouse ’51
Going to an allgirls school gave us the opportunity to develop our voices. We could develop our own thoughts and feelings. Sherry BanksCohn ’54
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A Classic American Love Story By Rob Kyff
It’s a classic American love story. Boy meets girl next door. They grow up together, fall in love, become engaged and marry. The long-term romance of Kingswood and Oxford may have lacked the passionate fireworks of lovers like Romeo and Juliet or Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw, but it was built on the solid foundation of compatibility, friendship and trust. Think of hometown couples like Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher, or George Bailey and Mary Hatch. Like many long-term courtships, the evolving relationship between Kingswood and Oxford experienced occasional challenges. Some alumni, students and teachers at both schools harbored reservations about the merger, some recalcitrant eighth graders proved restive, and, just before the engagement of the two schools, a mysterious suitor suddenly appeared, eager to claim the hand of Oxford. Ultimately, the marriage of the schools in 1969 was a practical partnership, motivated, not only by sentimental bonds, but by educational, financial and societal factors as well.
Rewind: a KO timeline Oxford builds Oxford Hall, a classroom building
Kingswood and Oxford officially merge and are legally incorporated as Kingswood-Oxford School
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• Highlights from Kingswood Oxford's history Roberts Science and Arts Center opens, providing classrooms, science laboratories and a 590-seat theater
1972
GETTING TO KNOW YOU In 1916, just seven years after Oxford had been founded on Oxford Street in Hartford’s West End, a new kid, Kingswood, moved into the neighborhood, just a few blocks to the east on Farmington Avenue. As the two fledgling schools grew up, each inched slowly westward until, by the mid-1920s, both had landed just a mile-and-a-half apart in West Hartford – Oxford at 695 Prospect Avenue, and Kingswood at 170 Kingswood Road. Given the proximity of the campuses, and the fact that so many students had sisters, brothers and friends at the other school, informal interactions among students at Oxford and Kingswood were frequent. Teachers and parents at both schools sometimes assumed the roles of nudgy matchmakers, slyly devising opportunities for students to meet and intermingle. (These matchmaking attempts proved effective. By 1971, 88 Oxford alumnae were married to Kingswood alumni.) The first hard evidence of shared activities among Kingswood and Oxford students surfaces during the 1930s. In 1934 the Kingswood News published several letters about what Kingswood and Oxford had in
common, including two by Oxford girls. In 1939, Oxford’s Paint and Putty Club and the Kingswood Dramatic Society collaborated on a theatrical production, and throughout the next three decades Oxford girls and Kingswood boys joined one another for plays, choral concerts, clubs, volunteer service projects, lectures, receptions and dances. THE TIMES, THEY WERE A-CHANGIN’ During the late 1960s, an era of change for the Hartford area as well as the nation, both Kingswood and Oxford were facing increased competition from Hartford-area boarding schools. Not only were these residential schools dramatically upgrading their physical facilities, but they were also beginning to accept more day students, thus making them direct rivals for enrollees. According to the minutes of a meeting of the Kingswood board on October 28, 1968, Headmaster Robert A. Lazear told the trustees that Kingswood’s facilities were “inadequate” compared to those of other area independent schools and that the school “faced a critical juncture in its existence.” Kingswood would have to decide, Lazear said, whether it wished to “live
competitively and provide the very best educational opportunity, or to be satisfied with its present facilities and program.” Lazear told the board that increasing the student body from 350 to 425 would “provide momentum, increase morale and enable the school to meet the challenge of the times.” Four months later, Lazear reported to the board that Loomis School was planning to expand its day population by 150 boys and asked, “If the present trend away from boarding schools and toward day schools continues, won’t other schools, such as Westminster, Suffield, and Avon Old Farms, look to day student tuitions to support the kind of educational program that will attract the most students?” Across town, Oxford was facing a similar predicament. Though the school was celebrating its 60th anniversary and had just completed Oxford Hall, a large academic building that included classrooms, science facilities, and an auditorium, the school’s board and Headmaster Edward M. Stevenson were especially concerned about marshalling the financial resources to pay teachers competitive salaries and provide up-todate academic facilities.
Goodman Banks Visiting Artist series established KO News begins publication
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“The period of inflation which we are now experiencing makes it increasingly difficult to attract and keep the strong faculty which is essential to a firstrate education,” Stevenson told the Oxford board in early 1969. “There are continuous pressures on schools to provide modern teaching devices and equipment, such as audio-visual aids, including television, computers and laboratory facilities, in order to keep students abreast of advances which take place at ever-increasing speed.” But the challenges for both schools weren’t only local. Young people across the country were questioning authority, institutions and established values, expressing their defiance through music, dress, drug use, sexuality and lifestyle choices. Oxford girls were wearing their skirts shorter and Kingswood boys were wearing their hair longer. A spirit of revolution was in the air. American students and educators were also beginning to challenge the traditional notion that males and females learned best when they attended single-sex schools and colleges. By the end of the 1960s, women’s colleges, such as Vassar, Sarah Lawrence, Bennington and Connecticut, and men’s colleges, such
as Yale, Princeton, Kenyon and Trinity, had already gone coed, and this trend was spreading to independent schools as well. Many pairs of singlesex schools, such as Loomis and Chaffee, and Choate and Rosemary Hall, were in the process of merging with one another, while others, such as Suffield and Westminster, would soon be admitting girls to create coed institutions. “More and more students feel that segregated education was originally designed to protect children from the opposite sex,” Stevenson told the Oxford board in early 1969. “Today’s young people feel that they do not need to be and do not want to be protected in this way. Many of them realize that coeducation adds one more complicating factor, a social one, to their education, but they feel that they need to learn to cope with this factor rather than be shielded from it. To them, learning with students of the opposite sex is, or should be, a natural part of their lives as it will almost surely be at college and necessarily be in later life.” By 1969, several board members at both Oxford and Kingswood had begun to think that these daunting fiscal, educational and cultural
Full coeducation is implemented
challenges could be best met by merging the schools. They believed joining forces would generate a larger overall enrollment, enable the construction of better facilities, encourage a wider array of academic, athletic and extracurricular programs, and provide a more natural and felicitous environment for students. As Stevenson said at the time, “I believe that a merger of Oxford with a boys school to form a larger, more efficient school that can offer a greater breadth of courses and can attract and keep an able faculty to teach them, is a positive, educationally sound response to the needs of young people.” And so the courtship began. FLY ME TO THE MOON The first flirtations between the two schools had actually begun in 1966 when Sterling Tooker and John Brandt, then presidents of the boards of Kingswood and Oxford, respectively, asked the administrations of their schools to explore opportunities for cooperation. During the next two years, board members of both schools held informal discussions about an eventual merger. This possibility first took tangible form at a Kingswood trustee meeting on Nov.
Kingswood campus becomes the Upper School (grades 9 through 12)
School graduates its first coeducational class
McGuinn and Fuller Halls are renovated to provide an enlarged Brayton Athletic Center opens, library and providing improved athletic new dining hall facilities
1973
1974
1979
Oxford campus becomes the Middle School (grades 7 and 8),
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7, 1968, when board Chairman David Hewitt posed two questions: “Should Kingswood, for the foreseeable future, remain an all-boy school? Should coeducation, or coordinate education, be seriously considered at this time?” After a lengthy discussion, the board asked its planning committee “to consider the desirability and feasibility of coeducation or coordinate education.” Three months later the Kingswood and Oxford boards created a joint ad hoc committee to discuss future cooperation and a possible merger. Then came a surprise. In February of 1969, Watkinson, an all-boys day school located on Bloomfield Avenue in Hartford, expressed an interest in joining the discussions between Kingswood and Oxford. Representatives of the three schools met at Kingswood later than month, but Watkinson, after expressing uncertainty about its plans, soon dropped out of the process. The rival suitor dispatched, Kingswood was ready to pop the question. At a meeting of the executive committee of the Kingswood board on April 1, 1969, the ad hoc committee
recommended that Kingswood and Oxford merge. As the committee’s report put it, “The merger would provide many advantages to both schools, including economies and efficiencies not possible in their current separate states, and, most importantly, would set the stage of experimentation with coordinate programs . . . In short, in the opinion of the ad hoc committee, the merger would better enable both institutions to fulfill their exclusively educational purposes.” The committee further recommended that one board of trustees be created from the boards of the two institutions, that the schools operate under the corporate entity “Kingswood Academy,” and that Oxford and Kingswood would retain their separate campuses, with “Kingswood remaining a boys’ school and Oxford a girls’ school for the foreseeable future.” Lazear would serve as both the headmaster of Kingswood and of the new institution, and Stevenson would continue as headmaster of Oxford. Though this meeting occurred on April Fools’ Day, its decision was clearly no joke. In mid-July, the
merger committees of both schools unanimously recommended the corporate merger of Oxford and Kingswood under the terms of the April meeting, and on July 23, 1969, just three days after the landing of U.S. astronauts on the moon, the boards of Oxford and Kingswood held separate but simultaneous meetings to officially approve the union, creating Kingswood-Oxford School. The merger was legally certified and announced to the public on August 6. COORDINATED OUTFITS The school’s newly formed board of trustees, which met for the first time on August 13, decided that the blending of the people, programs and cultures of the two schools should proceed gradually. As stipulated by the merger agreement, each school would retain a separate campus, while simultaneously pursuing what the board called “coordinate education.” So when the schools opened that fall, a bus began chugging regularly between the two campuses, shuttling Oxford and Kingswood students back and forth for classes. During that first year of coordinate education, girls and boys took coed classes in Spanish, journalism,
75 School celebrates its 75th anniversary
Warren Baird English Symposium Series begins
School adds a sixth grade (“Upper Prep”)
Seaverns Hall is expanded and renovated to provide classrooms and Tomasso Hall
1983
1985
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philosophy, photography, physics and English, two faculty members taught at both campuses, and the Oxford and Kingswood science departments joined forces under one chairman. The entire senior classes of both schools met together weekly to study urban problems facing the greater Hartford area. Moreover, joint extracurricular activities proliferated, as Oxford and Kingswood students collaborated in clubs, plays, musical performances, coffee houses and assemblies. Boys even participated in the traditional Oxford School Fair. One of the first boys to take courses at Oxford during the fall of 1969 was Colin McEnroe ’72, then a Kingswood sophomore and now a newspaper columnist and host of a daily radio show on Connecticut Public Radio. The only way he could squeeze French and American history into his schedule was to take these courses at Oxford. “After four years at a boys school, I knew more about certain microorganisms than I knew about girls,” he recalled in a piece written for Kingswood Oxford Magazine in 1990. “My plan was to be smart, and possibly also funny. I was afraid of women.” He described the strange sensation of
entering a classroom and encountering “a dense smell of perfume inexpertly applied and experimental hair products and something else, something pent up and hormonal.” As the coordinate phase of the merger moved into its second year, both schools, perhaps with experiences like McEnroe’s in mind, were cautious about moving too quickly. The logistics of transportation and scheduling were daunting, and some teachers and students who had never taught or taken classes with boys or girls before, had trouble adjusting to coed classes. Moreover, many Oxford students, teachers and alumnae were worried that the traditions and values of Oxford would be absorbed by the male culture of Kingswood. In the fall of 1970, Stevenson reassured a meeting of the Oxford Alumnae Association that “Oxford is going slowly into this in order not to make the mistake that some men’s colleges have made whereby they have gone coed with little thought of how to reduce the ‘male aspect’ of the college in the integration of females.” To ensure this didn’t happen with Kingswood and Oxford, Stevenson
Community service requirement for graduation is implemented
Baird English Symposium brings playwright Arthur Miller to campus
1988
1995
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established both student and alumnae committees to share their concerns and make recommendations. Martha Spaunburg Church ’70, then an Oxford senior and now the executive director of the West Hartford Public Library, was a member of the student committee. “We were asked to decide which Oxford traditions were most valuable,” she recalled. “We said, everything! We must keep it all! So we dug in our heels for a bit. For a long time we had two sets of school colors side by side, even four colors of ribbons holding down the corners of diplomas.” Stevenson and Lazear were handsome, congenial men – Stevenson, tall and professorial, Lazear, ruddy, hearty and down-to-earth – and both proved highly effective at reassuring the Oxford community that the unique attributes of Oxford wouldn’t disappear and that the advantages of coeducation would far outweigh its disadvantages. Stevenson “was charming and able,” said James Lyon ’48, who served on the Kingswood board during the merger, “and Lazear was intelligent and understanding. He didn’t try to use the fact that Kingswood was better off financially
than Oxford to his advantage. He had two daughters himself and understood the female perspective.” Prior to the news conference announcing the merger, Lazear spoke to Oxford seniors to reassure them. “He did one of the most fantastic sell jobs I ever heard,” Church said. “He talked around the economics, facilities, made a very common sense argument. After, I couldn’t say it wasn’t a good idea.” By the fall of 1971, 150 Oxford girls and more than 50 Kingswood boys were taking classes on the other campus. Stevenson told the Oxford Alumnae Association that the Oxford girls were starting out the fall semester with “a noticeable sense of enthusiasm and excitement. The shuttle bus . . . runs every period with almost always a full load of students.” That fall, the English department, under co-department chairs Warren Baird of Kingswood and Muriel Forbes of Oxford, offered students 34 new coeducational electives, ranging from courses on single authors, such as William Faulkner and John Steinbeck, to genre offerings on poetry, film and science fiction, and thematic classes such as “War in Literature,” “Initiation into Adulthood,” “The American
Dream,” “Men and Women” and “Black Literature.” At the same time, the history department introduced coeducational classes in Japanese history and Russian history, and the science department offered the first coed courses in biology and ecology. “Despite the necessity of travel back and forth,” Forbes wrote in the Oxford Alumnae Bulletin that fall, “students seem to have no difficulty in adjusting to coeducational class and to teachers not faculty to them from earlier years. In fact, the wider range of experience is an enjoyable one for us all.” But some Oxford girls were experiencing reservations about the merger. Many cherished the intimacy and camaraderie of Oxford, and worried about the erosion of Oxford’s identity. “I felt the loss of a small, cohesive community where leaders and role models were girls,” wrote Kim Peaslee ’74 in a 1990 reminiscence for Kingswood Oxford Magazine. “Oxford was a close community in which girls could be themselves fully without deference to male competition.” And some girls found the prospect of learning alongside boys daunting. “I was pretty nervous being in class for the first time with all those boys,” Kathy Sherts Civitillo ’73 said. During
the period of coordinate education, about half of Civitillo’s Oxford Class of 1973 chose to stay on the Oxford campus for all of their classes. But many Oxford girls welcomed coeducation. “Some of us really wanted coeducation to be with boys,” Darby Swan Weigel ’71 said. Peaslee, despite her concerns about the loss of Oxford’s culture, wrote in 1990, “Through coeducation, I believe we also shed many of the more limiting traditions of female education. Educational opportunities increased a great deal through the merger.” A descriptive article in the March 1972 issue of Kingswood-Oxford Today, the school’s alumni magazine, vividly captured the whirl of excitement on the Kingswood campus during this phase of coordinate education: “The period ends, classroom doors begin to open and coming down the stairs of Goodwin House, girls in very short skirts mingle among the boys. The narrow stairway squirms as they squeeze by the others coming up for the next class. They laugh and talk together as they go out the door on to the Senior Green that is now covered with snow. “Some of the kids have to keep moving because they have a class immediately following. Others will stop into
School begins annual student service trips to village of Tobatí, Paraguay
Stroud Science Symposium begins
Middle and Upper School campuses are consolidated on Upper School campus and Estes Family Middle School opens
1999
2000
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Seaverns Hall for a cup of coffee; some head for the library, some will board the shuttle bus to meet their new responsibility on the Oxford campus. “A teacher remembers, ‘My classes in the fall were divided down the middle; the girls sat here,’ he motions, ‘and the boys sat over there. No more. We’re all oblivious now to those distinctions’ . . . “The bus returns through Russell gate and the door opens as it stops in front of Seaverns. As students come down the steps, they swing their backs to the winter wind and fan out as they push their separate ways. A paperback Plato is retrieved from the snow and shaken off. And a boy hands over his New York Times to a girl who wants to borrow it before she heads for class. “A Kingswood senior is asked the obvious question: ‘Whata ya think about coeducation here?’ Steam swirls over his coffee as he answers unphilosophically. ‘It’s, it’s good. It’s great! But really it’s not coeducation that matters. We’ve got lots of things to do. Kids feel more excited than cramped. We’ve got something good going.’”
WEDDING PLANNERS By the autumn of 1972, the stage was set for the complete merger of the two schools. Literally. That September the school opened the new Roberts Science and Arts Center, which included one of the largest and most technically sophisticated school or college theaters in Connecticut. The renowned cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead delivered the keynote address at its dedication ceremony on Sept. 21. Funded in large part by the donations of Henry C. and Ann T. Roberts, the $2.5 million building also provided science labs, art studios, math classrooms, music rehearsal rooms, computer labs and a student common area. The Roberts Center not only dramatically expanded and enriched the academic and artistic resources of the school, but also became a tangible symbol of the union of Kingswood and Oxford. That fall, Stevenson left Oxford to head The American School in Belgium, and Lazear became headmaster of Kingswood-Oxford. Spurred by the new resources provided by the Roberts Center, the school accelerated its curricular innovations. The studio arts program expanded to include sculpture, ceramics,
Composer Colloquy Visiting Artist Series begins
School expands dining hall and installs Hoffman turf field
Harry E. Goldfarb Speaker Series brings science, math, and technology leaders to campus
2005
2007
2008
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photography, woodworking, silver and print-making, and new courses that fall included “Investigations in Culture,” “Body Control and Mime,” “Cultural Anthropology,” and “Dilemmas,” a multi-disciplinary course on problem solving co-taught by math teacher Joel Lorden and English teacher Warren Baird. On Oct. 30, Lazear told the board that more than 150 classes were now coeducational and “we now have a program of elective courses that compare very favorably with the best independent school programs in the country.” He added that girls and boys were now working together in many extracurricular activities. “Two of the happiest girls I have seen,” he said, “were those who, having participated in Jim Goodwin’s cycling and rockclimbing program, were eligible to participate in one of his weekends in the Adirondacks.” But after three years of coordinate education, Lazear noted, the school was still plagued by scheduling and logistical difficulties. Because of the time needed for travel between campuses, a girl who wanted to take a course at Kingswood needed two free periods to make it work, and many students had to take courses during their lunch periods, forcing
2009
School opens Chase •Tallwood Science, Math and Technology Center.
many to eat bag lunches on the bus between campuses. Moreover, because 100 Oxford students were on the Kingswood campus three mornings a week, homeroom meetings and assemblies at Oxford were depleted, creating what Lazear called “a loss of identity with classmates and friends.” With these concerns in mind, two planning committees, one composed of trustees and parents, the other of teachers and students, began working closely together to identify problems with the current system and to consider the possibility of transitioning to full coeducation. Over the course of six months, the facultystudent committee met 19 times, including five joint meetings with the trustee-parent committee, and evaluated hundreds of questionnaires distributed to students, teachers and staff members. The report of the student-faculty committee, which was fully endorsed by its trustee-parent partner, was delivered to the board of trustees on March 14, 1973. In addition to confirming the logistical difficulties reported by Lazear, the report noted that the coordinate system had led to duplications of administrative functions, lack of clear-cut lines of
School celebrates its 100th anniversary
“ I believe that a merger of Oxford with a boys school to form a larger, more efficient school that can offer a greater breadth of courses and can attract and keep an able faculty to teach them, is a positive, educationally sound response to the needs of young people.”
and 8 would share a Middle School on the former Oxford campus, though, for the time being, Middle School students would attend all-boys and all-girls classes. Sports practices and games for Middle School boys would be held on the Upper School campus, and Upper School girls would travel to the Middle School for sports.
Edward M. Stevenson Headmaster (1969) authority, poor communication among students, teachers and administrators, and confusion, loss of morale and fears about job security among the faculty. The report cited several advantages, both practical and philosophical, to full coeducation. “Co-educational schools have broader curriculums than separate schools can offer at equal cost,” it concluded. “As roles of men and women become less differentiated, differentiated education loses its validity.” The faculty-student committee unanimously recommended the school become fully coeducational. Girls and boys in grades 9 through 12 would attend classes together at an Upper School on the former Kingswood campus, and girls and boys in grades 7
Wyvern Invitational A Cappella Festival (WIAF) begins
The report noted that the Oxford campus, which consisted of a compact cluster of interconnected buildings, was well suited to providing the structured environment appropriate for seventh and eighth graders. Being on a separate campus, the report said, would insulate Middle Schoolers from the teenage culture and drama of the Upper Schoolers, and give them a sense of having their own space and identity. “The ambiance of the Oxford campus,” the report stated, “is a friendly and encouraging one, and less dominated by the high school spirit than the Kingswood campus.” The report estimated that it would cost $20,615 to make the physical improvements necessary to implement coeducation, including the expansion of the Seaverns Hall dining areas, additional lockers in the Roberts Center, and the purchase of desks and chairs.
School hosts first Leadership Institute for Educators of Color
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The trumpet summoning full coeducation had clearly sounded. On April 23, 1973, the board of trustees unanimously adopted the recommendations of the facultystudent committee and voted to implement full coeducation in September 1973. To facilitate this plan, the board also authorized a new administrative structure: Frank Beatty would serve as dean of faculty, Dorothy Gettier as dean of girls, Tyler Tingley as dean of boys, Alan Flynn as head of the middle school, and Joseph Alissi as director of athletics. PERIOD OF ADJUSTMENT As with any married couple moving into their first home, the first year of coeducation generated several bumps, anomalies and surprises. A few girls weren’t happy about being required to participate in competitive sports and after-school practices. “Some girls find the longer day tiring,” Lazear reported to the board in October, 1973. He also expressed concern about the lack of athletic facilities for girls, but added that “the vast number who are involved in dance, gymnastics, soccer or field hockey are enjoying their experience.”
A few girls had difficulty adjusting to the sprawling Kingswood campus, which required students to move from one building to another for classes. Several Oxford and Kingswood teachers were reluctant to move to a new campus, teach coed classes, or coach sports. The separation of boys and girls in Middle School classes soon proved needless and artificial, and this policy would soon be dropped the following year. One particular area of concern was the restiveness and dissatisfaction of the eighth-grade class at the Middle School. “They as a class are experiencing the most fundamental changes,” Lazear told the board. “The boys were moved from the Kingswood classrooms to what was a girls’ school. The girls lost their traditional relationship with their big sisters . . . We feel we need to pay more attention to the girls to help them feel a stronger part of the whole. Consequently, Mrs. Gettier brings groups of eight or 10 to the Upper School campus for lunch and larger numbers to our house for cider and donuts.” With the help of the Lazears’ refreshments and hospitality, Middle School girls began to feel more
Camp KO offers programs in sports, athletics and arts
Kingswood Oxford Model U.N. (KOMUN) for Middle Schoolers is founded
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Admissions applications that spring rose by eight percent for girls and 16 percent for boys over the previous year, and the school predicted total enrollment would rise from 664 to 675 for the coming school year. Varsity and junior varsity teams for girls were formed, and new coeducational teams were launched in swimming and track. Gymnastics and dance were added to the Hewett Day athletic activities, and the Father-Daughter dinner, an annual tradition at Oxford, now featured athletic awards. Teachers were also gradually adjusting to the new environment. “After so many years at Oxford as an undergraduate and a member of the faculty,” wrote veteran Oxford math teacher Shirley Storrs ’44 in the
Roberts Center enhancements include renovated ground floor, student lounge area and college advising offices
School joins Global Online Academy, a consortium of worldwide independent schools
2013
connected to the Upper School girls, and, by spring, many of the other challenges began to smooth out. The school was now offering a total of 276 courses, and enrollment in arts and music classes had risen more than 50 percent over the previous year. Dean of Faculty Beatty reported to the board on June 10, 1974, that “the flexibility of the curriculum keeps the students interested and active, and the present seniors are head and shoulders above those who graduated four or five years ago in breadth.”
2015
Oxford Alumnae Bulletin, “I was a bit sad when I was packing to move to Kingswood last June. However, I was looking forward to my new environment and to being part of this new school, Kingswood-Oxford. It has proved to be an exciting and challenging experience.”
“Coeducation for the Oxford Class of 1974 was an evolution,” Peaslee wrote. “Our class had the unique distinction of experiencing both ends of an educational spectrum. The dynamics of the merger also meant that each year was a different experience in the gradual joining of the two cultures.”
The commencement exercises for the first Kingswood-Oxford class on Wednesday, June 5, 1974, represented the culmination of the five-year merger process. The instructions for the ceremony reflected the careful choreography of symbols: “The senior class will march in by boy-girl couples arranged according to height. The girls will alternate from right to left in each succeeding couple so that the seating will result in a mingling of boys and girls.” After decades of flirtation, four years of courtship, and a year of living together, the marriage of Kingswood and Oxford was complete.
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES The process of implementing and nourishing coeducation didn’t end in 1974 of course. During the next half century, Kingswood Oxford would continually revise its programs, policies and procedures to ensure that both boys and girls enjoyed equal opportunities to fulfill their potential. More female teachers, coaches and administrators would be hired, more girls sports teams would be created, and more girls would assume leadership positions in student organizations. Girls would advocate for equal athletic facilities and uniforms, a more liberal dress code, and an equal voice in classrooms and clubs. During the early 2010s, girls would form their own club, called “Orange Is the New Gray” for the school colors of Oxford, to discuss issues of concern to girls and women.
For the girls and boys in that first Kingswood-Oxford class, the moment was especially meaningful. Many of them had arrived at Oxford or Kingswood as seventh graders in 1968, a year before the merger process began, so they’d experienced the dramatic transition from a completely single-gender environment to full coeducation.
Still, many Oxford students, parents and alumnae were deeply saddened
by the loss of their school’s identity, traditions and culture. Some felt that Oxford had been completely absorbed and obliterated by the male culture of Kingswood. With these concerns in mind, during the early 1990s a group of Oxford alumnae formed The Oxford School Preservation Society to commemorate and celebrate the legacy of their alma mater. Their efforts included the publication, in 1996, of May We Remember Oxford – A History of Oxford School, a book of narrative text, reminiscences, photographs and tributes to the school’s leaders, teachers and students. In that book, Sherry Banks-Cohn ’54, an Oxford trustee who had initially expressed reservations about the merger but later served on the trusteeparent committee that recommended full coeducation, assessed the ultimate outcome: “Today’s Kingswood-Oxford reflects the pulse of society. Young men and women work side by side. . . The diversity of the student body, the less elitist school, the more nurturing society created by the presence of women all make Kingswood-Oxford’s existence a cause for celebration.” And so the romance of Kingswood and Oxford continues. Boy meets girl next door. And now they open doors together.
Brayton Athletic Center is renovated to create Hoffman Field House
School celebrates its 50th anniversary School celebrates 50th anniversary of of coeducation anditsthe 110th anniversary coeducation ioni of Oxford School’s founding
2017
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Jog Your Memory
By Jackie Pisani
This is a love story, and, as with all beautiful things, words fail to capture its transcendence and truth. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to express the joy, gratitude and soft sadness that has emerged from the communion of two people, their lives and their family. The entire Caley clan – Dick ’62 Carol, Josh ’91 and Jess ’94 – are connected to KO in deep and meaningful ways. KO Sports Hall of Famer Dick Caley and his wife Carol taught science at Kingswood Oxford for 37 and 24 years, respectively, with Dick serving as head of the science department for 12 years. “We taught the same sciences together, side by side, so, on top of KO being a wonderful place to work, it put Carol and me together 24/7, 365,” Dick said. “We had a very unusual life path. I don’t think many people can claim that type of personal history.” Dick coached Josh on the varsity baseball team, and Jess ran cross country, earning accolades as a Connecticut and New England champion while at KO and, running for Williams College, as the 1995 NCAA Div. III national champion. While at a party in Boston, Jess met another Wyvern, Bobby Rice ’93, and they married in 2005. “KO was very central to our lives,” Dick said. “And we’re very proud of that history. We had remarkable times, and I would do it all again.” About 12 years ago, Carol began to have difficulty controlling information in the classroom due to 74 • KO MAGA ZINE • SEP T EMBER 2019
early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), and the Caleys retired from their lifetime of teaching in 2007. For a few years, they were able to live fully, traveling through the Canadian Rockies, Alaska, and Costa Rica. As the disease progressed, however, Dick had to make the soul-wrenching decision five years ago to place Carol in a memorycare facility, McLean in Simsbury, where she would be provided with round-the-clock care. “She is in a good place, and she’s stable,” Dick said. “She has
no unmet needs. We don’t concern ourselves about her safety. Friends visit routinely. She is cared for in all possible ways.” Dick visits Carol every day, holding her hand and talking to her about his day. “She gives me more than I could ever give her,” he said. “I’m not depressed. I’m heartbroken.” In the initial stages of Carol’s illness, Dick urged his children to continue to lead their lives as he tended to Carol. With the Rices’ young brood of three – Colby, 11, Caley, 8, and Michael, 6 – the family was busy with sporting events, homework and the usual day-today balancing act. However, the entire family still found time to savor quality time with Carol at a favorite vacation spot in St. John as a Christmas present one year, just before her illness no longer permitted her to travel.
“There were many years of sadness and frustration,” Jess said, “and we were focused on trying to integrate my mom’s mental state along the way. Bob said to me one day, ‘We can’t change what’s going on with your mom. You love running, and we both love helping people. What if we can do something?’ And that is when it started. We’re not ones to sit idly by. We can hopefully help our daughter’s and sons’ generation by being proactive and educating people about the disease.”
“ The most amazing human being I ever met.” J ess Caley ’94 on her mother, Carol
Determined that AD not rob any more families of their loved ones and their memories, Jess and Bob decided to raise money for Alzheimer’s research by founding the non-profit Jog Your Memory annual 5K and two-mile walk in their hometown of Needham, Mass., in 2014. “We want to fight back
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and make a change,” Bob said. “There’s nothing we’re more passionate about. One thing that the Caleys have taught me is that giving is more important than receiving.” Bob remembered that the Caley family would work at a soup kitchen on many Thanksgivings. In the “Caley world” giving back is as natural as breathing. Despite the daunting logistics of managing a race and the accompanying headaches of securing permits and insurance and working with the local police, Jess and Bob embraced the challenge head-on, relying on a solid team of supporters, each contributing unique expertise and strengths. The Jog Your Memory board is composed of eight members, each of whom has been personally touched by this devastating illness. “Our board, which includes Dick, is our glue,” Bob said. “We would have zero chance of existing without our board as well as the 50 or so volunteers that help us. This group has become a huge extension of our family.” What started as an event with 284 runners in 2014 has now grown to more than 600 runners in 2018. To date, the organization has raised over $650,000 through race and sponsorships, exceeding their goals year after year, a measurement of the organization’s zeal and their devoted base of followers who want to make a measurable difference in AD research. “Race day is very emotional,” Bob said. “We bring together so many people who have been affected by Alzheimer’s. It’s like giving a wedding every year. The joy, emotion and sorrow that’s expressed that day is a beautiful but an overwhelming experience. Jog Your Memory supports Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (CureAlz Fund), a
consortium of talented researchers that received the distinction of being named the Top 10 Best Medical Research Organizations by the watchdog group Charity Navigator. Every dollar raised for CureAlz goes directly to research. CureAlz carefully reviews research proposals seeking to find a breakthrough in curing AD. Dick said that the research paradigm has been shifting away from the original approach, which attempted to halt the production of the beta-amyloid protein fragments (plaques) that clog the pathways between cells, ultimately causing their decay. Instead, researchers are now trying to find out why the amyloid protein becomes overactive and how to stop that process. The second prong of the organization’s approach, and one that Jess and Bob are most proud of, started in 2017. Seeing the toll that caregiving was taking on Dick, Jog Your Memory began to provide annual grants for caregivers coping with the stress and uncertainty of having a loved one afflicted. These grants fund resources such as in-home consultations, in-facility respite care, and tracking bracelets for patients. “Seeing the parts of my dad losing himself over the years as a caregiver was heartbreaking,” Jess said. “I so value the years my dad spent caring for my mom, and I admire his strength to do so. He takes his marriage vow very seriously, and he’s so dedicated and devoted to my mom. For him to relinquish his care of her to others was very difficult.” The Jog Your Memory board reviews any realistic requests to benefit the caregiver aiding someone with Alzheimer’s. “Our main goal is to give families a game plan for the future and caregivers a break from the daily assistance of their loved ones, “Bob said. “In addition to those basic needs,
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we’ve funded things such as helping facilities purchase gardens and flowers that residents can tend to and establish music programs – the gamut is pretty wide.” One of the happier surprises emerging from this process is that Jess has discovered her passion for helping families in need. This past spring, Jess began the pursuit of her master’s in social work. “One of the benefits is that Jess can personally impact those families directly with the money we raise,” Bob said. As a college undergraduate, Jess worked in a clinical setting with Alzheimer’s patients. “This goes way back, and it’s reinforcing what I already had experience in,” she said. “The grant interaction has pushed me and motivated me to step back into what I always wanted to do.” Even the Rice children have absorbed the Caley ethos of giving back; they donate their allowances to the cause, a beautiful tribute to Carol’s legacy. “Carol is the nicest, kindest, most generous person I know,” Bob said. “Jess’ parenting revolves around sharing Carol’s legacy with our children and that’s hard because we don’t have Carol to do it directly. She brought a cheerful, happy, and loving approach to everything she did. Her spirit is unbelievable.” Jess added, “My mom is the salt of the earth. She’s the most caring, nurturing, wonderful person I know and the epitome of what I wish I could be. I wish she could experience my kids and my kids could experience her and the way I was raised. She always had time to pause and to listen. She is one of a kind – the most amazing human being I ever met.”
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Common Ground Brian Lee ’00 has an idea about coliving and it could change the way you think about roommates. By Jackie Pisani
Tucked off the scruffy main arteries of Atlantic Avenue and Fulton Street in Brooklyn, spattered with car repair shops and deals to fix flats, live glorious side streets that provide a glimpse into yesteryear. One such street, Grand Avenue in Bedford Stuyvesant, offers a charming hodgepodge of stately brownstones and wood-frame houses with crooked windows and front porches. Spring is having a hard time of it - doing its best to shake off winter - as tulips
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make a valiant effort to burst open during a dreary April. A handsome classic brick and limestone four-story apartment building with ornamental lintels sits near the end of the street, where elderly men with metal canes, a group of young girls with linked arms, middle-aged women with grocery bags, and the occasional hipster with a beard like that of Rutherford B. Hayes walks by. In case you’ve been in a cryogenic freeze these past 10 years, Brooklyn is having a moment as it revitalizes to produce a hot real estate market.
Despite the old-world feel of Grand Avenue, there’s something of a modern revolution happening at number 417. It’s called “coliving,” and it’s about to change the way you think about roommates. Brian Lee ’00 is the senior director of real estate for Common, a four-year-old startup that provides private rooms and shared living spaces for young adults in major cities. “In America,” Lee says, “70 million people live with non-family member roommates today, and there is no real estate product that serves that demographic, even though it’s a huge and growing population. That’s where Common fits in. We’re trying to capture the people in the market who move to new cities, and have to find a roommate on Craigslist to live in a decent part of the city. This type of arrangement is always ad hoc and unpredictable, so we’re trying to create a branded, professional product that elevates the roommate experience.” If that sounds like a lofty goal, consider that, since Common opened its doors in 2015, the company now has 800 bedrooms across the United States and boasts a 99 percent occupancy rate. At any given moment, Common has only 10 to 20 beds open, but receives over 154,000 leads per month. The average age of a Common “member” or renter is 29, with a median income of $73,000; 60 percent are new to the city they’re moving to. These young adults favor convenience over “owning things,” community over solitary living. Lee explains that Common partners with real estate developers to build, either new or existing shared living spaces, providing a quasi WeWork for residential living. The apartment at 417 Grand Avenue has a 13 bedroom unit– four people on one floor in separate bedrooms–who share a state-of-the-art kitchen and a spectacular common
area with cool architectural nods to its history. “This building was a full-gut renovation,” Lee says.
of fun. It’s satisfying to watch a brand and a business and an asset class grow before your very eyes.”
“I spend a lot of my time with real estate developers along the East Coast – New York, Boston, Atlanta, Miami – explaining what exactly coliving is and why it’s not as crazy as it might sound on the surface,” Lee says. “Real estate is a pretty conservative industry which makes my job challenging but also a lot
Move over Ikea and particle board furniture. No more carting a monstrous second-hand stained couch up and down four flights of steps. Common homes, designed by Sophie Wilkinson, vice president of design + construction and a former Apple Store designer, are fully furnished with luxe trappings. There are the honey-colored soft leather
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Mies van der Rohe inspired chairs, deep-seated off-white sectional, the artfully-arranged chunky throw draped over the arm of a chair that truly must have been crafted with the knitting needles of a giant. Nothing has been spared to create a space that is at once timelessly elegant and yet warm and inviting. If you’re not wowed by the interior design aesthetics, perhaps the 20-foot-high ceilings will catch your eye. Practical folks might be attracted to the unending supply of paper towels, soaps, and olive oil. Dishes included? Check. Free Wi-Fi? Check. Utilities? Check. Once-a-week house cleaning services? Check. Is this a renter’s heaven? It comes pretty close. But all this comes at a price, of course. A small one-bedroom unit with the included amenities starts at $1,650 in this space per month – a relative bargain in Brooklyn – and less than what it would cost in the open market. After graduating from Yale in 2004, Lee took his first job as an equity trader at UBS in Tokyo where he traded Japanese stocks and portfolios for two years. Following that stint, he moved to another branch in Hong Kong for two more years where he worked in the company’s Fundamental Investment Group, where he analyzed proprietary investments in the Chinese real estate sector. “Living in Asia after college was amazing. I love crazy, hectic cities and had opportunities to travel to places like India, Laos, and Myanmar. But ultimately, I wanted to emphasize the ‘real estate’ part of my job, rather than the ‘finance’ part.” So he moved back to the U.S., enrolled in business school at Wharton and afterwards worked at Tishman Speyer, a global real estate developer, where he repositioned and redeveloped office buildings like the Chrysler Building and the MetLife Building in Manhattan.
Now at Common, Lee has been at the ground level since 2018, helping to build this disruptor brand. Lee likens Common to a hotel flat operator, which doesn’t exist in residential real estate. “With hotels, think of brands like Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott,” he says. “In residential real estate, you don’t find that. So Common’s aspiration is to build an international residential brand. Today consumers think about Uber with ridesharing or Airbnb with short-term rentals. We want people to think of Common when looking for an apartment.” “Coliving is a nascent concept,” he continues. “There are only a handful of players, but competition is good. It gives credibility to the idea. Everyone is taking different approaches. WeLive does shorter-term stays. Common typically does 12-month leases. We’re trying to make it as close to the standard residential experience as possible. Real estate is conservative. Owners and lenders want to see if the concept works before committing to it.” So far, it appears to be working well. As future job market trends indicate more contract work and frequent relocations, Common is poised to grow exponentially. Currently, Common projects are under development in the top 15 U.S. metro areas and are already operating in six: New York, including 14 properties, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Seattle, and San Francisco. The company just signed its first international deal in Ottawa, Canada. As the person responsible for expanding properties on the East Coast and building partnerships with real estate developers, Lee says, “Our belief is that this a big and deep market, and Common can be successful wherever people live with roommates and affordability is an issue.”
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Common removes the headaches of roommate living by conducting credit checks and criminal background checks down to the county level, exposing any past evictions. There are no more sketchy roommates; no more waiting for the cable guy. A 24/7 oncall membership services team acts like a concierge, fixing a broken toilet or finessing a roommate problem. By branding a similar aesthetic and experience across different markets, Common offers comforting predictability. They’ve minimized the unfortunate surprises that often accompany apartment living. Lee describes Common as a “magical product,” part technology, part real estate and part consumer product, especially for someone moving from Minneapolis to Atlanta who doesn’t know the real estate market or how to find an apartment. Consumers visit the Common website, tour a home, fill out some basic information and receive a phone call within five to 10 minutes from a Common salesperson. A consumer can move from an initial inquiry to a bedroom within 48 hours. The next step for Lee is to help Common build a portfolio of brands. He was instrumental in partnering with his former firm, Tishman Speyer, to build Kin, a residential product geared for families with young children who want to live in cities. These two- and three-bedroom units are equipped with nanny-sharing services, daycare, stroller parking, babysitting, and planned activities. So far, Lee is thinking big. “We are in the second or third inning of this whole business,” he says, “and we’re going to scale more and more in each city so we have tens of thousands of beds across the U.S.”
The Essence of Hope By Katherine Gianni ’14
“There was never a night or a problem that could defeat sunrise or hope,” wrote nineteenth-century philosopher Bernard Williams. While it’s safe to say he was referring to “hope” in the usual sense of the word, after spending an afternoon with Dr. Hope Jackson ’99, I couldn’t help wonder whether he had her in mind.
True to her first name, Jackson embodies confidence and optimism in a way not always found in someone so young. Currently practicing as a bariatric surgeon (surgery performed on the stomach or intestines to induce weight loss) at the University of Maryland Medical Center, in 2017 she
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University prior to settling into her practice, Jackson hasn’t often found time to return to her home state of Connecticut.
was awarded the prestigious 40 Under 40 Leaders in Health Award given by the National Minority Quality Forum to medical professionals striving to make a difference as leaders in the world of healthcare. Jackson’s visit to KO in late October 2018 marked the first time she’d returned to campus since her five-year reunion in 2004. With four years of undergrad study at Emory University in Atlanta, two years of work in the medical field, four years of medical school, and seven years of surgery residency at The George Washington
But on a crisp autumn afternoon, she walked in a leisurely way through the campus of her alma mater, flooded by memories – of teachers past and present, of performing on-stage in musicals and a cappella competitions, and of rigorous basketball practices. Catching a glimpse of her from across campus, many of Jackson’s former teachers ran over to greet her with a warm embrace and questions about her impressive career in medicine. Jackson met each inquiry with a smile and a candid response, chatting comfortably with faculty members who, over the years, have turned into friends. Jackson said that, while she was always interested in pursuing work in the medical field, it took the guidance of many caring individuals to help her make a definitive decision about a career as a physician. Many of those teachers and mentors walked the halls of Kingswood Oxford with her when she was a high school student in the late ’90s.
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“I think KO fostered a lot of different things, not necessarily solely focused on science, but certainly, that’s where my love of science came from,” she explained. “Mrs. Caley was my biology teacher, and it was just great to see a woman who was so passionate about what she did and really made learning fun.” As a KO senior, Jackson applied early decision to Emory, where she majored in psychology with a minor in sociology. Upon completing her degree, she decided to take some time to work with patients before applying to medical school. “At the time I was interested in pediatrics, but thought I needed a little bit more exposure before I really made the commitment,” Jackson said. Knowing of Jackson’s curiosity about pediatrics, Dr. Eileen Storey, mother of KO alumnae Emily Record ’99 and Katherine Record ’02, connected Jackson with a physician at Emory. “She actually arranged for me to work with a physician at Emory’s School of Public Health and shadow a pediatric pulmonologist,” Jackson explained. “So I worked there for two years, and
then I worked at Emory’s hospital seeing little kids who had asthma and whatnot. That was a really great experience.” Inspired and excited about the next step in her journey, Jackson applied to medical school and was accepted to The George Washington University, her top choice. She spoke openly about the challenges of her time in D.C., reflecting on the tremendous workload, exposure to different medical specialties, and the friends and family members who cheered her on along the way. “Learning information in medical school is akin to trying to drink from a fire hydrant,” Jackson said, laughing. “You really have to have such a strong support – a friend network… family support, which I had. So you just kind of put your head down and get through it.” During that four-year tenure, Jackson grappled with work in pediatrics, pulmonology, and obstetrics and gynecology before realizing her true passion for surgery. Concurrently, she began fostering a deeper curiosity about the point at which media and medicine intersect and how messages about health are portrayed to the public. This interest prompted Jackson to participate in a number of internships during her time at GW, including working at the Center on Media and Child Health in Boston, and at the medical unit of ABC News in New York City. During one of her research years in residency, she worked as a medical consultant for the popular medical drama series Grey’s Anatomy, filmed in California. “I worked on set, I worked in the writer’s room… it was a great
experience,” Jackson said. “I actually think I came back a better doctor in a way. It really is a skill to take something very complex, like the body, and explain it to someone who is not in medicine in a way that is empowering and in a way that they can do something with it.” Jackson worked closely with the cast, writers, and producers from the end of the show’s season nine through the duration of season 10. And while she said it was remarkable to be on-set alongside the likes of Shonda Rhimes and “Dr. McDreamy,” when asked about the proudest moment of her career, Jackson thought back to her residency graduation ceremony from GW in 2016. She expressed her joy at that fact that her mother, Paulette Morris-Jackson, who passed away just two weeks after her graduation, was able to see her complete the milestone. “I think I’m most proud of that because it was a really hard journey and she was there for all of it,” she said. “She sacrificed so much to help me achieve my goals and sometimes we don’t say thank you in the moment, so I was very grateful that she witnessed the accomplishment and that I was able to thank and acknowledge her.” Joan Edwards, KO’s director of diversity, inclusion, and cultural competency, remembered that Paulette accompanied Jackson to KO the day Edwards interviewed her for admission. The two were always a team, Edwards recalled, working in tandem to be the best versions of themselves. “She was a great example,” Jackson said of her mother as she and Edwards shared stories in Edwards’ office, which also serves as a student gathering area
Hope Jackson was one of the featured panelists in our Power of Women event. See page 22.
dubbed, “The Brave Space.” “My work ethic was founded in watching her.” Jackson spent the latter half of her time in The Brave Space chatting with juniors and seniors about their budding interests in medicine. They asked her about her journey through medical school, wanted to see her photos with the Grey’s Anatomy cast, and asked her to explain what a typical day in the hospital looks like. Jackson happily obliged, detailing her schedule on OR (operating room) days, waking up well before dawn to arrive at the hospital by 6:15 am. She explained that on a busy day she might perform up to five surgeries, each lasting approximately two to three hours. She also offered the students some words of advice. “Believe in yourself,” she said. “Take the time to learn about any of your interests, whether it’s photography or art or whatever. You can be a doctor and have time for something outside of medicine.” As the students collected their jackets and backpacks and headed out for their afternoon sports practices, Jackson walked over to speak with the posse of teachers, coaches, and administrators who had also come to see her. She embraced everyone before offering her gratitude. “I just want to thank you all for having me today,” she said. “This experience has really fed my soul.”
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Class Notes september
2019
OXFORD 1951 Sara Barr Palmer Class Correspondent Another sad loss for our class. Marcia Keeney Froh died in October. She and her husband Phil were married for 64 years and had two children, Richard and Gwen, and two grandchildren. Marcia and Phil shared their enthusiasm for golf, and she also volunteered for church activities, among them teaching English to adult refugees from Southeast Asia. When she was no longer able to be physically active, she developed her talents as an artist. Anne Carter Mahaffey moved to her son Dexter’s house last year. She says her daughter-in-law has a horse and there are plenty of horses, dogs, cats and chickens about – we all remember Carter’s love of cats! She stays busy volunteering at the local food shelf, going to two stitching groups, exercise classes and yoga, plus a lot of church volunteering. Where does she get the energy??? New address: Anne Carter Mahaffey, 490 Lime Kiln Road, Charlotte, VT 05445, phone: 203671-9959. Pem Donegan Schultz writes that she is already a great-grandmother, with another on the way, courtesy of her daughter’s clan in New Zealand. Meanwhile, her New Zealand grandson is now a British citizen and engaged to marry a British girl. Pemmie had a visit from the happy couple. Vivian Hathaway Crouse and husband Craig have also moved, this time from Florida back to Connecticut, close to several of their children. They have an apartment in Farmington at The Gables, also called Brookdale
Farmington, which combines independent and assisted living options. Viv says it is in a beautiful location, near the historic main street, but private, surrounded by a lake and oaks. “I am so glad to be back in New England,” she writes. New address: 20 Devonwood Drive, No. 371, Farmington, CT 06032. Vivian joined Frannie Steane Baldwin to attend the celebration in May of Oxford’s 110th anniversary. Frannie says it was nice to see some familiar faces, including Gracie Stephenson Martin’s daughter Mary Martin ’77. Frannie also recently attended the wedding of her second grandchild to be married. Dinney Duffield Whiting has also made a move. She is still at Williamsburg Landing, but has moved from her house into an apartment in the main building, convenient to all the amenities. She had bronchitis earlier in the year which turned into pneumonia. Now recovered, but still suffering from the after-effects – tired and not able to walk very far. We talked for about 20 minutes, and I have to say, she sounds pretty energetic on the phone. She says her children all pitched in to help with the move. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them,” she said. New address: Mrs. Isabel Whiting, 5700 Williamsburg Landing Drive, Apt. 125, Williamsburg, VA 23185. And yet another move. Pam Kingan Lillquist and husband Rich have moved to a retirement community that has a good Parkinson’s program – sadly, Rich is battling the disease. “Hawaii and travel are now a thing of the past,” writes Pam. “However, we enjoy wonderful memories.” New address: Rappahannock Westminster-Canter-
bury Retirement Community, 132 Lancaster Dr., Irvington, VA 22480. The Palmers seem to be among the few who haven’t moved!! Still traveling a lot – our usual spring visit to the UK in April-May. Saw Peter’s children and lots of old friends. Tower of London with the British Korean Veterans on Easter Sunday – a tradition of about 20 years. The numbers are way down. Used to be around 100, this year only six! Saw a couple of plays, which was fun. Then to Wales for a week – more family and friends. And a week in Cyprus to visit an old friend. Hotter than Florida!! Off again in September to the UK again for Navy reunions, plus youngest son’s wedding. Coming home by ship. My arthritis has gone into my back – sorry, no spine replacement surgery available. Bought myself an adjustable bed – the back goes up and down and also the foot, to raise your knees. Plus a massage feature. Best purchase I ever made! OXFORD 1952 Ann Tillinghast Herbruck is just back from her annual trip with family to Captiva Island, Fla. She is glad to still be active – taking classes with ACE, Case Western’s continued learning association, three days a week throughout the school year. Gardening at St. Paul’s Episcopal church, her own property and friends’ keeps her limber. She has one of her grandsons, Josh, living with her since May 18 last year. He’s finishing his education at Cleveland State. She’s grateful that she is able to manage and live in her own home. She sends her love to all classmates.
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OXFORD 1956 Sandy Martin McDonough Class Secretary On May 8, 2019, Oxford held a wonderful celebration of Oxford’s 110th year. Jane Brandon Pfaff and Susan Lowe Redfield ’60 went and had a wonderful time. I didn’t make the reunion as my Lightning was beginning to whelp a litter of puppies. We are meeting with the KO staff in July to plan another gathering for the fall – to repeat the good times had by all.
Heidi Woods Huddleston ’56’s granddaughter, Penny
Heidi Woods Huddleston ’56 & Lucy Read ’56’s son, Patxi Pastore
Edie Wilcock Patrick and Sandy Darrach have a new address: 114 West Fairview Ave, Apt. 417, Johnson City, TN 37604. Tel 423-328-9011. Email now is ediewpatrick@gmail.com. She and Sandy will be in Mystic during the summer. Sandy has a boat along the shore in eastern Connecticut and they celebrate our waters and their life together. Alice Butler Mendell and husband Seth come north in the summer to their old town, Mattapoisett. We plan to get together – maybe along the shore. She works in a dementia unit, singing along and dancing with residents. Seth will be giving lectures this summer on Mattapoisett’s history, something he loves. Alice and Seth celebrated 50 years of marriage a couple of years ago! Alice spoke with Boots (Nancy Boots Edwards-Cogswell) and was delighted to hear Boots’ voice. Bobbie Deeds Schaus and husband Nick will be at Essex Meadows this summer. She celebrated granddaughter Margot Painter’s graduation from the University of Denver in June. Patty Hanson Rodgers spends a lot of time on Martha’s Vineyard. She is a watercolor painter and creates cyano-
types with son Todd. In her spare time she fundraises for Smith College as the 60th reunion approaches. She and husband John go to NYC frequently to visit sons Scott and Todd, their wives and four grandchildren, ages infant through 12. Cynnie Kohn Hobart continues as Clerk of the Session in her Presbyterian church and sings in the choir. She gets together with her sister near NYC, going to theater and visiting museums. She no longer travels outside the U.S. Each Saturday afternoon, Cynnie spends time with her granddaughter, Kathryn, now 7. Susie Taylor Smith missed the celebration, too, as she attended a family wedding. Heidi Woods Huddleston has a great granddaughter, Penny, pictured here. She spent time with Lucy Read’s son, Patxi Pastore, in 2018. Their picture is here, too. Heidi spent her 80th birthday with her three daughters. Nancy Austin Reed couldn’t make the party, either. She was in a play at Seabury! Debby McBride Pritchard wrote that it’s too far and that she would not be able to join the group in spite of her many happy years at Oxford. She comments, “Seems the older I get, the more has to be done every day . . . or am I just slower?” Words for the whole class. Nancy Boots Edwards-Cogswell lives in an assisted-living facility with husband Dick in the same complex. She has lost much of her memory and has difficulty with mobility. Dick says it’s a great facility and Boots seems to thrive there.
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Phyllis Chapman Fenander ’57’s grandchildren, Verna & Thor, collecting eggs on Easter.
KO CONNECT OUR NEW ALUMNI NETWORK IS ALMOST HERE!
We’re excited to launch our new platform which will give you access to the KO Connect community. Reconnect with fellow alumni, search for job opportunities, and learn about upcoming events. More to come soon. We know you’ll love it!
After breeding my dog, I took off for Ecuador to a conference on retiring there. It’s a beautiful country, lovely greenery, Andes, fresh rushing waters, wonderful, welcoming people, markets that sell everything and are immense, food that is so good. Cuenca has cab rides for $3 – in U.S. dollars, the currency of Ecuador. Ecuadorian conservation of land, plants and animals is a world standard. One can live comfortably on Social Security. Temps in Cuenca are between 50° F at night and 75° F during the day. No need for heat or air conditioning. Amazing place and seniors never have to wait in line – they go to the head of any queue! KINGSWOOD 1957 Andrew Twaddle writes, “Last December, I had my lower eyelid amputated because of a carcinoma, and a new one constructed in an amazing bit of surgery (search: Holmes Procedure). Recovery has gone well, and I have a fully functioning new eyelid. Otherwise, I am kept busy, along with many other people, with anti-racism work focused on creating a bail fund and advocating for community policing. We spend long summers at our place in Maine, where I will make my debut this summer as a poet reading at the Harlow Gallery in Hallowell.” OXFORD 1957 Phyllis Chapman Fenander Class Secretary We are all saddened by the death of Dede Stearns Hoffman in Austin. Dede was a quiet, behind-the-scenes helper, and determined to succeed in her own way, which explains the many gold trophies she earned. When I visited my daughter, Sara-Mai, we visited Dede and her friend Nancy Butcher, and their perky dog.
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Nancy Middlebrook Baay is thankful for health, a life happily painting, and especially 13 grands and four greatgrands! John, at 87, continues with bridge and walking the dog, and both she and John are happy for modern medicine’s benefits in hearing, dental, eyesight, knees and so on! Jill Williams is painting also, pet portraits: texturedpetportraits.org. She’s enjoying her magical life in Del Mar, Calif. And here is one of her portraits of Bug, one of my daughter’s dogs.
A pet portrait by Jill Williams ’57.
Deborah Bland Albert has moved to The Greens in Hanover, just down the street from me! We met in a Dartmouth Symphony evening, seated next to each other, so we hope to see each other often. My granddaughter, Verna, is sporting the dress my Mom smocked and embroidered with “I love you Hilary” 41 years ago; Verna and her brother Thor collected eggs at Easter, and then went back to simpler clothes . . . Hanover, N.H. is a long way from Yakima, Wash. and Austin. Cheers, Phyllis
George Stewart-Dodge, the youngest grandchild of Sharon Campbell Benton ’58.
OXFORD 1958 Sue Mather Dabanian Class Correspondent A BIG thank you to those of you who took the time to drop me a line. It is much appreciated, as without you there would be no column. How embarrassing!! Again, unfortunately, I have to report with sadness the passing of another classmate. Barbara Ellis-Cassio had an interesting career, having worked
with Dr. Martin Luther King, Planned Parenthood, and later as a licensed tour guide for the Washington, D.C., area. Our sympathy goes out to Peter and the rest of her family. As our friends leave us or are afflicted with horrible diseases, we realize that every day is a precious gift. We need to live each day at its fullest. Blair Smyth Lang has sold her home in Connecticut and moved to her condo in Florida year round. She had basically lived just about all her life in Connecticut, so this was a huge step. It was nice to hear from Sherri Campbell Benton. She said she often reflects on our relatively untroubled and happy times at Oxford, such as slumber parties at Lisa’s and riotous giggles in the Senior Lounge. After living for 56 years in Manhattan, she had thought about leaving some day. However, her friends, family and activities are nearby, so she has decided to stay. Here is her youngest grandchild, George Stewart-Dodge, at 19 months. Penny Hoffman McConnel reports that all is well. She is one year older than the rest of us and has already become an “octogeranium” (read it carefully), as her dad used to say. Everyone in Sarah Duffield’s neck of the woods is doing well. Emily just passed an EMT course, is working, and may further her training as a paramedic. The grandkids are 16 and 14 now, and then there’s Caitlin’s little girl, Aine. Sarah loves having a little one around again. Anne Van Winkle-Denne says that she spends too much time in her
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Class of 1959: Bill Seawright, Rick Berry, Don Burness, Mike Roberts, Richard Morgan, Fritz Farquhar, Tom Galvin, Henry Lyman, Dick Butler, Don Donegan, and Pope Hoffman
bucolic Oakland hills home worrying about the threat of wildfires and coyotes potentially threatening her two cats. She feels lucky to be enjoying miraculously good health, playing tennis and jogging.
KINGSWOOD 1959 Pope Hoffman writes, “My wife and I live in Dover, Mass., and I have four granddaughters, the oldest of whom just graduated from Miss Porter’s School in Farmington.”
As for your secretary, I underwent a successful hip replacement in February. My knee will be next, but it’s hard to fit it into my schedule. Granddaughter Rachel will be married in July with the whole family in attendance, including Bruce and Lily from Florida. We look forward to having them with us for two weeks. Other granddaughter, Nicole, bought her first house in Sacramento at age 24. Prices are still reasonable in that area, unlike the San Francisco Bay Area!! Greg and I have started taking mini trips two-three hours away. Our last one was in Carmel, which we enjoyed, and the next one will be up in “The Gold Country” (where gold was first discovered in California).
OXFORD 1959 Zélie Calvocoressi Tourais Class Correspondent Juliana Peck and Ellen Jones Wood were the recipients of the Oxford 110th Anniversary Award. Check out the article on page 41! Proud mother Gail Appell Nickowitz reports, “My son Peter Nickowitz’s first film to be produced (he is the screenwriter) finally made it to theaters and is also available online at Amazon. com and Netflix, among others. The title of the movie is Jonathan. His next film is about to start production. Meanwhile, he keeps his day job as an adjunct professor of English at NYU.”
Until next time! Smather
Debbie Mahoney Swenson writes, “I am starting a new phase of my life as a single woman, having lost my husband of 48 years, Jack, last year. I am living full time in Chatham, where I continue to love the sea, beaches, birds and Cape Cod life, biking, walking, playing paddle, tennis and bridge, and serving on several boards. Weekly trips to Boston to continue experiencing the culture and friends there. Recent travels to the Scottish Isles and Norwegian fjords, Northern Portugal and Spain, and much of southeastern U.S. I’m with Susan McClure Harris often as we treasure our friendship since we were 10 years old. My special companion is a four-year-old Havanese dog named Gunnar. So grateful for a full and healthy life.” OXFORD 1960 60th Reunion June 12-14, 2020! Jane Anderson Innerd Class Secretary From Washington State Jennifer Ripple Akridge says that she doesn’t have much to report. She had tried quilting this past winter and actually finished making a table runner but learned that quilting is not her passion. However, she enjoys adult coloring books. She is a keen gardener and has enjoyed planting all her flowers for this summer. She likes to see the yard come to life. Her peonies are in full bloom and her rose buds showing color (this was in May). Jennifer was thrilled to report that their granddaughter, Macy Collins, graduated from Washington State University magna cum laude after being on the honor roll since the beginning of her studies, even with some serious health challenges that are now thankfully behind her. As usual, in October Jennifer and Ed will return to Yuma, Ariz., for the winter.
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Barbara Ruud Chatfield & Jane Keller Herzig, both Oxford 1960, celebrated their 55th Smith College Reunion.
As most of you know, Sabra Dwyer Benson’s husband, Daniel, died in November after a pedestrian/car accident. Scotty feels very blessed because she has a very strong support group of friends locally and from afar who have been beside her from the beginning. Because of those friends, Scotty is doing very well. She is still working full time at Dermatology Associates. This is her 19th year with them and she is not sure when or if she will retire. Scotty has been advised not to make any major decisions for at least a year, and so she is deferring the decision to retire. Besides, she says, she enjoys her job and, since she is the oldest one in the office, she figures that the “youngsters” will help keep her going! Scotty will be taking a mini-vacation with a very dear friend in June. They are going to West Hartford so that she can show her friend where she grew up and went to school. Her friend has never been to Connecticut, so it will be fun to share “the memories of her youth.” They will spend time with Ann Faude Newbury, who is going to be their guide for the Mark Twain House. Scotty and Dan moved to Virginia in June of 1979, so she has lived there longer than she lived in Connecticut. Scotty truly appreciates and thanks everyone who sent her notes and cards or who put something on the funeral home site when her husband died. Prilla Smith Brackett writes that her husband, George, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in the fall and has longterm depression. He has declined a lot since. Prilla no longer feels comfortable leaving him alone and uses caregivers about 30 hours a week. She says it is a game changer. Prilla has family close by who support her lovingly and
boost her morale. Nevertheless, Prilla and George continue to enjoy family gatherings. Their grandkids, ages seven to 12, are great. Last fall her sons and sister, Leigh, made it possible for her to take a fabulous trip to Bhutan, which she had been planning for 18 months. They spent time with George every day, which, she says, was a blessing. He was more independent then. Prilla empathizes with classmates who are facing challenges similar to hers. Nancy Sunderland Brown was at Lake Louise in the beautiful Canadian Rockies when she sent in her news. This summer she and Peter will have their usual two weeks on Cape Cod with their three children and spouses and eight grandchildren, and then they are off to England to study for their eighth consecutive year at Oxford University for two weeks in September. Nan says that she keeps appreciating our Oxford School experience because she is able to translate Latin mottos, and she finds that she can read the signage in Canada just as fast in French as in English, due to the discipline of Madame LeFevre. After returning from her 55th Smith College reunion, where she spent time with Jane Keller Herzig, Barbara Ruud Chatfield sent her news. She reports that she is still just down the block from Oxford on Cone Street, where she has lived for over 42 years. Barbara’s husband died in 2014, and she retired from her career in education in 2015. Her oldest grandchild graduated from Smith two years ago and has been living with her and working in Hartford. She is very fortunate to have her children and grandchildren nearby. Barbara is very much enjoying retirement. She loves frequent trips
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to Vermont and Block Island, and she reads more, visits with friends more, and has time for gardening and walking in the woods with her dogs. Barbara says that she hopes our classmates are well and that she looks forward to our next get-together. Still healthy and moving around, no new hips or knees, or on any medication, reports Carolyn Goodrich. She feels very lucky. Carolyn took a wonderful trip to South Africa for the wedding of a friend from the Netherlands, and then she traveled for two weeks with the parents of the groom. She reports that it is a beautiful country. Carolyn’s kids are all well and successful. Her oldest grandchild lives and works as an officer on the ferry between Tasmania and Melbourne. His sister works in Antigua for the government after graduating from UVM. Her son’s oldest daughter is off to UVM next fall, and her twin sister is going to Houston to continue her studies as a ballerina. The youngest daughter has two more years of high school. Carolyn’s youngest lives in West Palm Beach and has two children, the older starting high school and the younger in seventh grade. Carolyn and her cousin are taking his boat up the Hudson River to Lake Champlain this year instead of a trip to Maine. She is raising money for MS with a bike ride in Nova Scotia in the fall and will circumnavigate Cape Breton Island. Jane Keller Herzig says that she is lucky to have two comfortable homes. Winter in Sarasota is a gift, particularly since she and Ed are blessed there with strong friendships. It is also good to be in New Jersey in the summer near their son and daughter-in-law and their three lively, super sweet grandkids. Jane and Ed’s daughter, Carolyn, is
finishing up her two-year fellowship as a public health officer with EIS (Epidemic Intelligence Service) in Raleigh, N.C., and is waiting to hear where her next assignment will be. Carolyn’s daughter, Jane’s eldest grandchild, will be a senior at Kenyon College in the fall. Jane remembers Sandy Lee Luxton fondly. Jane says that Sandy wrote in her Oxford yearbook “to think that we have gone to school together practically all our school years.” As fellow Bloomfield residents, they knew each other starting in kindergarten. Jane reports that Sandy was lively and fun, and they were “buddy-buddy” growing up in then-rural Bloomfield. Jane says that, during the years they were together at Oxford and from the time she first knew her, Sandy “always stood out as the tall, sensitive, sunny, athletic, endearing, lovely, long-haired, blue-eyed beauty who graced us with her smile and enthusiasm. She was indeed a gem.” Very busy with the activities of her grandchildren, Mary-Lew Sterns Kelly says that her fractured neck is not much better but that she thanks God every day that she can get up and walk! She still gardens and walks their dog daily, although not the previous distance of four miles. Bill has pretty severe back issues and can’t walk very well. The dog, Kai, likes to have his “Bompa” walking with them. When he realizes that Bill isn’t around, he just stops and flatly refuses to go on. Bill is being treated in Boston because MaryLew had issues in Hartford. They are praying that the injections will work for a good long time. Last August their incredible daughter, Bridget was diagnosed with stages 3
and 4 breast cancer. She has had a mastectomy and many months of chemo and just finished radiation. Despite all of this, she never complains, has great faith in God, and continues to do all and more for her five children. She also has a Leonberger dog, Tasha, whom she trained and got certified as a therapy dog. Every Tuesday and Thursday, she and Tasha go to elementary schools for remedial reading classes. The kids and teachers are in love with Tasha. Even more exciting is the news that her daughter, Ailis, has been accepted to Trinity College in Ireland. Bridget got her master’s in Wales, so she has contacted her European friends, who are all flying into Dublin for a really fun reunion when Bridget takes Ailis over in late August. Her other kids have had an incredible ice hockey season. A couple were state champs and her daughter Keelan, who has had three open-heart surgeries, was team captain and was on national TV during one of the Bruins’ intermissions. She was their guest during Heart Month and didn’t know she would be interviewed at halftime. She was awesome! More grandchildren news is that Mary-Lew and Bill were just in Tennessee for another granddaughter’s graduation from Sewanee. Even though the outdoor graduation was in the pouring rain, Mary-Lew says that Tennessee is absolutely beautiful. Her other grands are doing well and living within a couple of hours away and are busy with jobs and school. Sue Matorin writes that, with her high energy, she has no interest in retiring and works full time in psychiatry. Music and family sustain them. Their screenwriter son in L.A. keeps them very connected to his family, which now includes a spunky three-year-old named Tess Vivienne, who belts out
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items that take less time! We are going to a lodge on the Bruce Peninsula for a week again this year and then on to our usual week in Stratford, Ont., for a week at the Shakespeare Festival. We will be seeing eight plays. We no longer have the stamina to see two a day. Happily, all in our family are well, and our two grandsons are 10 and 12; the 12-year-old shows signs of adolescence, which amuses us greatly (grandparents’ revenge) and can enjoy long distance. They live in St. Louis, Mo.
Kingswood 1963 celebrating their 55th Reunion on Lake Memphremagog.
show tunes and is excited to welcome a little brother in October. Sue’s 99-year-old mother lives in Maine, so Sue travels coast to coast and dips into both ends of the life cycle. She chaired an alumni conference at the Columbia School of Social Work on the separation of immigrant children from their families, expressing her alarm about our current government. Sue sends everyone fond memories and love. Ann Faude Newbury writes that in May she and Susan Lowe Redfield attended a lovely celebration of Oxford’s 110th anniversary. There was a lot of memorabilia displayed, and it was a very festive time. Ann looks forward to a visit from Scotty Dwyer Benson in June when they will “catch up.” For our 60th reunion next year, Ann says she will be happy to open her home for an informal dinner so that we can all chat and be together. Thank you, Ann! Roger and Gay Willcox Squire are “chugging along.” Roger turns 80 this summer, a psychological landmark to be sure, but he doesn’t look or feel it. They are still running their B&B, although their business, along with may
others, has been hurt by the hundreds of AirBnB accommodations springing up all over. They have their regular and loyal guests who are friends by now and return every year. It’s good when they have guests, but perfectly OK when they don’t. Gay and Roger play bridge regularly and go to a wonderful yoga class twice a week. Summer is always busy for them because of a local music festival and the Dorset Theatre. They enjoy traveling and last year went to Sicily and the Amalfi Coast with another couple, and this spring they extended their usual Florida visit by going back to Cumberland Island and then to Beaufort, S.C., for several days. This summer they are staying in Dorset and will organize a Squire family reunion in August. Next January they are going to Tanzania and Lamu for three weeks with Gay’s sister and her husband. Wilf and I are also “chugging along.” Wilf has now recovered from his fall a year ago in May. I have resumed playing pickleball, which I enjoy, and I quilt with a group in nearby Amherstburg. After making several large quilts, I have decided to make smaller
We were all surprised to learn of Sandy Lee Luxton’s death last November. I have been corresponding with her daughter, Samantha Julia Gowan, known as Sam. Sadly, Sam’s father, Tom, passed away in May 2017 and her brother, also named Tom, was killed in a motorbike accident in 1983. Besides Sam, Sandy leaves her grandchildren Amy, James and Ashleigh. Sandy, or Ginny as she was known in Australia, enjoyed painting in watercolors and had become a fine artist. She always answered my calls for news, and so I was surprised when I did not hear from her last year. Sam would love to hear from any of her mother’s friends and classmates, and, if any of you travel to Australia, she asks that you look her up. I can supply her email address. KINGSWOOD 1963 Brewster Boyd Class Correspondent It has been a year since our 55th and, thanks to Vicki and Ted Butler, the celebration was even more special. They hosted a festive Friday night dinner at their West Hartford home for a dozen classmates and their spouses. This was followed by a very memorable few days at their Lake Memphremagog home in Quebec Province. Seven classmates and spouses had a great time
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C l a ss No t e s
Ellen and Bart Rapaport cruised for month up to the Maine Coast. Always the sailor, Bart has sailed to Bermuda 11 times! Sarah and Bill Wilde stopped in Denver for a visit while on a camping trip to some National Parks. They continue to host their lobster fest for over a 100 people every July 4th at their place in Boothbay. Oxford Class of 1966 gathered in St. Augustine, Fla. in March.
One of Kathy and Jon Batterson’s trips two years ago took them to Ireland along with 50 of Kathy’s U.S. family! Just before that, Jon had had a new shoulder and hopefully was not hauling any luggage. Speaking of new shoulders, Peter Smith joined that club. I wonder how many new parts we have in total for the Class of ’63? Peter and Airen spend part of the year in the Philippines. Just had coffee with Dale Dionne in Hilton Head. He and Sally have lived in Bluffton, S.C., for a couple of decades and enjoy the Low Country.
Class of 1969: Howard Kunik, Rick Mott, Steve Harris, Steve Treat, Clark Peaslee, Jay Johnson (rear), Dave Johannas (front), Andy Richards-Peelle, Dave Rosow, Steve Parsons, Peter Rockwell, Greg Vouros, Peter Viering, Steve Luther, Andy Pond, Stephen Holtz, Tom Spalding, Carter McAdams, Peter Goodwin, Jack Alexander, Andy Cannon, Jay Wyper, John Thomas • At reunion but missing from photo: Bob Screen, Hunt Bergen, Bernie Fisher, Mark Brodsky, Charlie Bush, Vin Turco
boating, dining and reminiscing while perched on Abenaki Point overlooking the magnificent lake and islands. In the last year we have lost three classmates (Kink Terry, John Garvin and Tom Cutler) along with Connie Mason. Our thoughts go out to all of their families.
Kingswood 1972: Steve Mitchell, Rob Groundwater, Ken Coco & David Bradley
Some news on those who were not able to get to reunion . . .
Lastly Chuck Randall put us all to shame after hiking over 700 kilometers for five weeks on the Camino Frances Trail from the border with France over the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela! Best of summer to all. Brewster KINGSWOOD 1968 Dave Watters writes, “I was elected to my fourth term in the New Hampshire State Senate. I will serve as chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, chair of the Capital Budget Committee, and as a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.”
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Cla ss No t e s
selected for numerous magazine covers during the past several years. ’72 classmates Steve Mitchell, Rob Groundwater, Ken Coco and David Bradley met up to watch their 20th KO reunion video from 1992. David Fechtor, now of Arlington, Mass., retired from his position as director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Tufts University on May 1. In celebration of his retirement, he and his wife Kendra Dowd (who retired from her job on the same day) enjoyed an incredibly relaxing week at a lake house in the Berkshires that had no Wi-Fi or cellphone service, then bopped down to Virginia to spend a week babysitting their two granddaughters (ages 18 months and 4).
Kingswood & Oxford Classes of 1973
Class of 1974
OXFORD 1971 Marlene Brownstein Gavens writes, “We became Florida residents about seven years ago but still have a condo in Vermont, where we spend our summers. When we first moved to Florida, I met several people who had connections to Oxford. Small world! This year we took an amazing threemonth cruise (mid-January through mid-April). It was one incredible experience after another and ticked a lot of places off our bucket list.” KINGSWOOD 1972 Beth and Bob Dimmitt have recently moved south to the Tampa area from New York. Nearing 35 years at Scott-Macon, Ltd, Bob is senior managing director and will be spending most of his time working out of their Houston office. When not working, Bob is a published photographer and author whose images have been
KINGSWOOD AND OXFORD 1973 After the unfortunate passing of Bill Civitillo in January, friends and family of Bill’s and longtime friend and KO lacrosse enthusiast Charlie Hartigan ’71 planned a memorial lacrosse game and reception during Reunion weekend in June. Kathy Sherts Civitillo sent the following photo and writes, It was so nice to see everyone. We missed those who couldn’t make it. Fun memories and a good celebration of life. I loved the lacrosse shirts that Allen made with “BC” and “CH,” keeping both close to our hearts. Cheers to our next reunion …2023… 50th! (yikes!) Wishing you all good health and grateful hearts for every precious day.”
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C l a ss No t e s
Class of 1979
KO 1984 • At his daughter’s graduation, Henry Powell ran into former KO faculty member Don Austin.
KO 1978 James T. Healey, Jr. is the new president of the Connecticut State Golf Association.
Class of 1984 at Hall of Fame
KO 1981 Jane Anderson Price writes, “I retired June 30th from a career in fundraising at my alma mater, Franklin & Marshall College. Our twins, Emma and Gwyn, graduated from college on the same day (one in San Francisco and one in New York), and our son, Morgan, recently took a sales position in Seattle. Two of our three children will be located on the West Coast, and the third child and I look forward to driving cross country this summer to visit them. In retirement, I look forward to doing more volunteer work and I took up windsurfing two summers ago and am totally addicted! I have windsurfed in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Cape Cod and Hatteras and am always looking for new spots! Feel free to pass any favorite spots along to me at jane.price@fandm.edu.”
Class of 1984
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Cla ss No t e s
Sean Zielenbach ’86, Chuck Glassmire & Todd Sherbacow ’90
Amy Kraczkowsky Hull ’85
oversees UAS training, procedures development and standards, and operations at sites all over the world. KO 1990 30th Reunion June 12-14, 2020! Todd Sherbacow, his wife Diana and son Jack hosted Sean Zielenbach ’86 and Chuck Glassmire on Chuck’s trip south. “We had good food, shared memories and solved the world’s problems. It was a terrific evening for all,” said Chuck.
Class of 1989
KO 1985 35th Reunion June 12-14, 2020! Amy Kraczkowsky Hull writes, “We’ve had a busy year so far in the Hull family. Our older daughter Katie was married on April 20 in Atlanta to John Kiernan of Pelham, N.Y. Katie is a graduate of NYU and the Goizueta School of Business at Emory University. John is a graduate of Harvard University and the UVA Darden School of Business. Two weeks later, our younger daughter Mandy graduated from the University of Alabama with a business major and a concentration in health-
care analytics. She has accepted a fulltime position back home in Tampa in administration with The Florida Orthopaedic Group. Kurt and I are very proud parents! We are getting ready to attend my 30th college reunion (gulp) at Skidmore College this weekend.” KO 1989 Alison Salerno Faddis recently started a new position as vice president of flight operations at Insitu, Inc., a Boeing-owned company that is a pioneer in the design, development, production and operation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). In her role she
Justin Smith and Matt Richter met up in Boston on March 5 to see the Bruins play their arch rival, the Hartford Whalers . . . yes, the Hartford Whalers. The Carolina Hurricanes came up to Bean Town and decided to do a throwback night wearing the original Whalers regalia. They even played “Brass Bonanza” as the team took the ice! Matt writes, “We have remained close friends since our days at KO, and have taken many trips together with several of our mutual friends. Destinations have included Oktoberfest in Germany, Prague, Amsterdam, Las Vegas, New York City and numerous motorcycle rides
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throughout New England and Florida. We also used to race together at New Hampshire International Speedway. Although we live more than 1,000 miles apart, we still try to connect a few times every year. Hello to all of our former classmates!”
Carolyn Cohen Stockwell ’93
Class of 1994
Frances van Huystee Morris is thrilled to be back at KO! In September 2018 she accepted a position in the Advancement Office working in Alumni and Parent Relations, which is quite perfect since she is both an alum and now a parent as well. Els ’25 and Jane ’26 are fully embracing being Wyverns and Jack (age nine) is looking forward to joining them in a couple years. “Since a good portion of my position involves organizing events for parents and alumni, I’m looking forward to planning our 30th Reunion in June. It’s not too early to put it in your calendars now - plan to spend the weekend of June 12th here on campus!!” KO 1993 Lance Lee married Julia Price of Firth, Neb., were married in a small wedding in Avon, Ct., followed by a bigger event in Omaha, Neb., and they currently reside in Sioux Falls, S.D. Carolyn Cohen Stockwell, her husband, Ben, and her two-year-old son, James, recently welcomed a baby girl to the family. Hannah Cathryn was born on May 10, 2019, measuring 21 inches and weighing 7 lbs., 10.5 oz. Everyone is doing well!
Class of 1999
KO 1998 Rachel Abrahamson Wollner writes, “I am living in Sudbury, Mass., with my husband, Dave, and our daughters Nora and Lily. Loving my new job covering parenting for TODAY.com.
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Can’t wait to watch Kate Bradley marry the love of her life in August. (He is really handsome.)” KO 2000 20th Reunion June 12-14, 2020!
Class of 2004
Laura Spinella Lovett and her husband Corey had a baby girl, Lillian Frances, on January 29, 2019. Lillian joined her three-year-old brother, Vincent. Laura works for Pivotal Ventures, the executive office of Melinda Gates, in Seattle, Wash. KO 2004 On April 8, 2019, Erik Johnson and his wife, Burgundy, celebrated the birth of their first child, son Archer Fox Johnson. Joe Schneiderman shares, “This past October, I was published again in the Boston Bar Journal on my win in the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts in Goodwin v. Lee Public Schools, 475 Mass. 280 – which I dedicated to Rob Kyff.”
Class of 2009
KO 2011 Jenn Townsend took the Nichols College field hockey team to Ireland last August! It was an amazing experience and she hopes to continue this international experience with her athletes for years to come.
Jenn Townsend ’11 and the Nichols College field hockey team
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KO 2015 5th Reunion June 12-14, 2020!
Catherine Harger ’12 had a baby girl in August 2018 named Dangana Harger Djinadji. Boston Alums, left to right: Emily Gutermann ’11, Taryn Braz ’14, Jenn Townsend ’11 and Emily Howard ’11
Evan Sliker will be a senior at the College of Charleston in Charleston, S.C., this fall. A mathematics-actuarial science major, he added a computer focus during his junior year, with a specialization in cyber security. He has been active in his fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) as a founding father, recruiting chair and most recently as president. He has held a service internship at Assured Partners Insurance, and has worked closely with a College of Charleston professor on an algorithm and data structures research grant. This past summer, he served as a cyber security and system administrator intern at Life Cycle Engineering, a 10-week program that exposed him to the latest technologies used in the defense industry. Evan and several top executives of Life Cycle Engineering discussed the efforts of defense contractors to provide internships for college students during a FOX 24 News interview on June 3, 2019.
Class of 2014
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In Memo r i a m
KO expresses condolences to the families of those who passed away between July 15, 2018 and July 11, 2019 or whose deaths we learned of during that time.
Henning W. Prentis III ’45 October 16, 2018
ALUMNI
Edward S. Dana ’46 June 17, 2019 Father of W. Benson Dana ’73 and Susan H. Dana ’75; and brother of James D. Dana ’50
1930s Constance Hall Jones ’35 April 15, 2019 Sister of William H. Hall ’32 Louis F. Oldershaw ’35 October 19, 2018 John M. Deming ’38 January 16, 2019 Brother of Edward H. Deming III ’43 Margaret Peard Miller ’39 December 9, 2018 1940s Charles W. Merrels ’40 February 13, 2019 Brother of Leonice Merrels Knox ’34 and F. Price Merrels ’37; and uncle of Leonice L. Knox ’56, Robert C. Knox III ’59 and Lance L. Knox ’62 W. Wyatt Walker Jr. ’41 February 1, 2019 Anne Beach Jackson ’42 January 22, 2019 David B. Kitfield Sr. ’42 January 18, 2018 Julianne Cunningham Steffens ’42 April 27, 2019 Sister of Raymond Cunningham Jr. ’39 Gordon A. Titcomb ’43 October 24, 2018
Sally Thompson Bissell ’46 June 17, 2018 Sister of Rachael Thompson de Rham ’50; and aunt of John M.M. de Rham ’83
E. Merritt McDonough ’51 December 31, 2018 Father of E. Merritt McDonough ’79 and Guy M. McDonough ’81; grandfather of Elizabeth F. McDonough ’07, Natalie M. McDonough ’16 and Ryan G. Albanesi ’17; and brother of Joseph M. McDonough ’49 D. Bruce Hanson ’53 May 16, 2019 Brother of Carol Hanson Ericson ’49 and Jean Hanson Stolzenberg ’51
Robert A. Witbeck ’46 January 16, 2017
Vitaline O’Connell O’Toole ’53 April 19, 2019
John E. Ives ’47 November 29, 2018 Husband of Ann Poindexter Ives ’47; and parent of Linda Ives ’73 and Ralph E. Ives ’77
Pamela Connolly Bartlett ’54 May 12, 2019 Mother of Sarah Bartlett Neighbours ’81; sister of James P. Connolly ’58; aunt of Peter S. Connolly ’84; and partner of Edward H. Little ’45
Joseph C. Mayo ’47 December 31, 2018 Father of Joseph C. Mayo Jr. ’78
Kate Van Winkle Keller ’55 December 11, 2018 Sister of Anne Van Winkle-Denne ’58
Richard C. Miller ’47 August 7, 2018
Elizabeth “Nancy” Page Gilbert ’56 June 18, 2019 Sister of Dewitt Page ’59
Mary Anne Sloate Everett ’48 July 14, 2018 David S. Rowley ’48 December 18, 2018 Brother of Graham T. Rowley ’50; and step brother of Phyllis Chapman Fenander ’57
Clifford L. Symington Jr. ’56 July 27, 2018
1950s Elsie Heyman Swirsky ’50 April 13, 2019 Sister of Rosalie Heyman Dana ’47
Dorothy Stearn Hoffman ’57 March 29, 2019
Marcia Keeney Froh ’51 October 13, 2018 Mother of Richard T. Froh ’73; and aunt of Arthur H. Keeney III ’62
John N. Gosselin ’45 February 6, 2018
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Richard P. Carney ’57 December 18, 2018 Brother of Frank T. Carney ’61
Barbara Ellis-Cascio ’58 March 26, 2019 Sister of Katherine W. Ellis ’65 Charles G. Morris ’58 June 30, 2019 1960s Virginia Lee Luxton ’60 November 26, 2018
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James W. Dixon ’61 July 16, 2018 Brother of George “Shorty” A. Dixon ’66 Andrew I. Cowper ’62 June 4, 2018 Brother of G. Clive Cowper ’56 Robert W. Sullivan ’62 September 26, 2017 Kirk K. Von Salzen ’62 December 13, 2018 Brother of Eric A. Von Salzen ’61 Thomas P. Cutler ’63 October 23, 2018 Son of Ralph D. Cutler ’31 and Prudence P. Cutler ’35 Margaret Kearns ’63 August 19, 2018 Sister of Elizabeth Kearns Lewis ’62 and Deborah Kearns Pirie ’66 Benjamin “Kink” C. Terry ’64 April 2, 2019 Father of Benjamin A. Terry ’95 and Elida Terry Mullarkey ’98; brother of David Y. Terry ’62 and Christopher B. Terry ’70; and son of Dorothy Yeomans Graulty ’36 Nancy S. Watters ’64 January 2, 2019 Sister of F. Benjamin Watters ’62, Stephen H. Watters ’66 and David H. Watters ’68 David V. Weigel ’65 May 3, 2019 Brother of Russell H. Weigel ’61 and Gary V. Weigel ’68 1970s John E. Fisher ’70 December 13, 2018 Brother of Peter G. Fisher ’67; son of Richmond G. Fisher ’36; nephew of John H. Fisher ’35 and William W. Fisher ’42; and brother-in-law of Charles B. Shepard ’60
Timothy S. Slater ’70 April 30, 2019 Charles A. Hartigan Sr. ’71 January 21, 2019 Husband of former faculty member Barbara F. Hartigan; father of John M. Holloway ’91, Philip B. Hartigan ’99 and Charles A. Hartigan Jr. ’01; and brother of Philip M. Hartigan ’72 Jere A. Carangelo ’72 April 23, 2019 William J. Civitillo Sr. ’73 January 21, 2019 Husband of Katherine Sherts Civitillo ’73; father of Martha L. Civitillo ’07; and brother of John M. Civitillo ’69 and Nicholas A. Civitillo ’70 Leonard B. Rosow ’75 August 28, 2018 Brother of David A. Rosow ’69, Mindy Rosow McKinstry ’72 and Eric J. Rosow ’74 Peter E. Auchincloss ’78 October 17, 2018 1980s Dennis “Denny” C. Redden III ’82 September 9, 2018 Father of Michael D. Redden ’06 and son of Dennis C. Redden Jr. ’42 1990s Melissa J. Morse ’93 June 4, 2019 Sister of James Morse ’89 Stephen D. Norman ’95 June 23, 2018 Brother of Lawrence Norman ’91 2000s Connor S. Zieky ’09 November 4, 2018 Grandson of Nancy Shepard Nation ’63; great-grandson of Jean E. Shepard ’37 and Mary Beach Shepard ’39; and nephew of Edward N. Zieky ’69
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FACULTY & STAFF William I. Atwood October 17, 2018 Father of Jeffrey T. Atwood ’70 and Jillian Atwood Martin ’71 Kathleen M. Gorski June 19, 2018 Judith A. Gurganus October 9, 2018 Mother of faculty member Jeff Gurganus Jean Little November 20, 2018 Mother of Ross Little ’75
CURRENT & ALUMNI FAMILIES Jason K. Albert September 24, 2018 Husband of Deborah Bland Albert ’57 Anthony D. Autorino January 25, 2019 Grandfather of Michael A. Autorino ’19 and Mitchell D. Autorino ’21 Stanley A. Bartus June 21, 2019 Father of Matthew S. Bartus ’88 and Christine M. Bartus ’90; and father-inlaw of George C. Finley III ’89 Daniel L. Benson November 13, 2018 Husband of Sabra Dwyer Benson ’60 Harold E. Bigler Jr. August 25, 2018 Father of William C. Bigler ’80 and grandfather of Christopher R. Bigler ’05, Harrison C. Bigler ’09 and Owen Bigler ’13 Bruce F. Bower July 6, 2018 Father of Bruce D. Bower ’80, George G. Bower ’82, Elizabeth Bower Foley ’85 and Sarah Bower Bua ’87
Janet P. Buckley January 23, 2019 Wife of Richard C. Buckley ’47; mother of Mary Susan Buckley Muirhead ’78, Richard C. Buckley ’80, Marc S. Buckley ’85 and Kathleen Buckley ’88; and sister-in-law Eileen Buckley Newell ’49 Gerald Gelles July 2, 2019 Father of David B. Gelles ’72, Steven H. Gelles ’75, Stuart R. Gelles ’75 and Richard M. Gelles ’79 Joan M. Goldman March 13, 2019 Mother of Mark A. Goldman ’84 Thomas J. Groark Jr. November 16, 2018 Husband of Eunice Strong Groark ’56; and father of Marie L. Groark ’85 and Virginia S. Groark ’87
Barbara J. Lavallee November 22, 2018 Grandmother of Christopher R. Carangelo ’16, Haley L. Carangelo ’18 and Grace Carangelo ’20 Malcolm MacKinnon III June 24, 2019 Husband of Rosamond Miner MacKinnon ’53 Sharon A. Malofsky January 25, 2019 Mother of Adam G. Malofsky ’83 and Brett L. Malofsky ’85 Cornelia G. Mason January 22, 2019 Wife of Nicholas B. Mason ’63 Harriet H. Mauck May 16, 2019 Mother of F. Taylor Mauck ’75 and A. Ridgely Mauck ’78
Francis M. Guerrera Sr. June 17, 2019 Grandfather of Elizabeth R. Guerrera ’10 and Matthew A. Guerrera ’15
Michael J. McAndrews March 20, 2019 Husband of Diane RisCassi McAndrews ’72
Patricia Hardcastle April 6, 2019 Mother of Evan Tetreault ’10
Christina M. Morant September 17, 2018 Daughter of Raymond F. Morant ’82
Keith Jaffee January 15, 2019 Father of Keithe H. Jaffee ’21
Beverly L. Newell March 24, 2019 Mother of Jan Newell Spears ’78 and Randall S. Newell ’79
Barbara A. Jakacky August 30, 2018 Mother of Owen M. Jakacky ’20 Frederick O. Kask June 15, 2019 Father of Frederick T. Kask ’79 Joan J. Kohn October 4, 2018 Mother of Kathryn Kohn Rieger ’64 and Bernhard L. Kohn Jr. ’66
Catherine Reid-Murphey May 24, 2019 Mother of John H. Reid ’62, Leslie Reid Price ’65 and Sarah Reid Chisholm ’69
Doris E. Silk April 10, 2019 Mother of Stacy Silk Rome ’79, Courtney Silk ’85 and Kelly Silk ’86; and grandmother of Isabelle M. Rome ’21 Aaron P. Silver July 8, 2018 Father of Stacey L. Silver ’91 and Jami B. Silver ’96 Elaine M. Sodel June 12, 2018 Mother of Jennifer Sodel Rosenthal ’86 and Matthew B. Sodel ’92 Julianne Sullivan January 20, 2019 Mother of James F. Sullivan ’82; and grandmother of William A. Coscarelli Jr. ’00, Kevin Coscarelli ’06 and Michael C. Coscarelli ’11 Deroy “Pete” C. Thomas Mary 19, 2019 Father of Peter C. Thomas ’72 and grandfather of Clinton R. Thomas ’07 Virginia H. Tryon June 12, 2019 Mother of Elizabeth Tryon Levering ’73 and Jill H. Tryon ’78 Jean B. Vogel September 13, 2018 Mother of Philip J. Vogel ’72; and grandmother of Jessica Vogel ’05 and Stephanie M. Vogel ’09 Monique Williams April 11, 2019 Mother of Winston Ware ’20
John H. Riege July 11, 2019 Husband of Sali Godard Riege ’43 Cheryl J. Seide January 26, 2019 Wife of Robert G. Seide ’76
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Tribute participating in soccer and holding the offices of treasurer of the Lancaster Club, president of his class, board member of the school paper and Dramatic Club and a contributor to the Foreign Policy club. His yearbook notes his exceptional wit and joie de vivre: “His humor kept many of the class occupied during their spare time after lunch and between classes. He was one of the few that could be humorous during the times of exams.” As Merritt often remarked, he was “both brave enough and dumb enough to cross the Senior Green as a freshman!”
E. Merritt McDonough ’51 Trustee Emeritus A Generous and Positive Role Model Kingswood Oxford mourns the passing of trustee emeritus and Kingswood School Class of 1951 member E. Merritt McDonough, 85, of West Hartford and Bay Harbor Islands, Fla. Merritt lived by the adage that one should treat every person with the same respect and kindness, no matter their position in life. Merritt embraced everyone he met with his positivity and his loving outlook on life, and was happiest when putting the needs of others before his own. Merritt was often called “the most gracious host ever.” As a student at Kingswood, he was an engaged community member,
Following Kingswood, he attended Georgetown University and graduated in 1955. After college, Merritt served at Fort Dix and Governor’s Island, N.Y. In 1958, he joined his father’s insurance business and throughout his successful career, he was admired by his peers and colleagues as a friend and adviser. He continued to work faithfully until his passing as an insurance executive at People’s United Insurance Agency. Just as Merritt was active as a student at Kingswood, he brought enthusiasm and intellectual acuity to his role as a trustee at Kingswood Oxford. He served on the Board from 1978-1987 and was elected as a Trustee Emeriti in 1989. He guided the school while serving on a multitude of boards including Executive, Nominating, Buildings & Grounds, Compensation & Benefits, Campaign, and as Chair of Development. In addition to his activism at KO, Merritt was a trustee of The Connecticut Opera, The Hartford Stage, Saint Francis Hospital, Renbrook School and Chairman of The Mount Sinai Hospital and the Saint Francis Foundation.
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His five children, twelve grandchildren (two children and three grandchildren graduated from KO), and one greatgrandchild were near and dear to his heart. From the time they were all young, Merritt spearheaded many fun-filled activities, gatherings, and excursions for his family. He enjoyed spending family time at Fishers Island and always appreciated the gift of being together. As a parent and a grandparent, Merritt never missed sporting events, concerts, or plays, and one of his favorite days of the year, “grandparent’s day,” at his grandchildren’s schools. Although mastery of technology proved somewhat elusive to Merritt, he insisted on learning how to “Gmail” his grandchildren (his term for simply sending an email) when they moved to college, to ensure he could stay in touch. He ended up loving his iPad, and was fascinated by how instantaneously stats were recorded for his beloved Red Sox team. Merritt had the blessing to watch the graduation ceremony of his grandson, Ryan Albanesi ’17, from the stage and as a trustee emeritus he proudly presented his grandson with his diploma and a big embrace. Albanesi commented he will never forget that special moment, or all the stories his grandfather enjoyed recounting about his own times at Kingswood. Merritt often remarked on the outstanding improvements to the School over the years. Kingswood Oxford is grateful to Merritt for his dedication and many years of service.
Editor: Jackie Pisani, Director of Marketing & Communications Contributors: Elizabeth Fahy Bellingrath ’78, Katherine Gianni ’14, Meghan Kurtich, Rob Kyff, Lynne Levine, John Nestor, Jackie Pisani, Frances van Huystee Morris ’90, Kristen Weldon Graphic Design: James Baker Design Printing: Allied Printing Services, Inc. Photo Credits: Billy ’00 and David ’04 Baker, Highpoint Pictures, Samuel Stuart Hollenshead Photography, Jog Your Memory, Marinelli Photography, David B. Newman ’80, Jackie Pisani, Greg Scranton ’94, Brenda Semmelrock Please direct inquiries or general comments to Jackie Pisani at pisani.j@kingswoodoxford.org Class Notes or obituary information to Meghan Kurtich, Director of Annual Giving kurtich.m@kingswoodoxford.org Address changes to Hope Cameron cameron.h@kingswoodoxford.org Mission Statement: Kingswood Oxford inspires students to excel and to lead lives of integrity and involvement by nourishing their talents in a community of teachers, friends, and family. Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students Kingswood Oxford School admits students of any race, color, or national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and other school administered programs. KO Magazine is published by Kingswood Oxford School. © 2019 Kingswood Oxford School. All rights reserved.
2019-2020 Board of Trustees Meg Cahill Becker ’97 Mark D. Conrad ’96 Thomas Dillow P ’21, ’22, ’26 Head of School Bonnie L. Dobkin P ’19 Helen Eatherton P ’11, ’14 Joseph R. Gianni ’78, P ’14, ’14 Jeffrey S. Gitlin ’85, P ’11, ’13, ’17 Derek P. Green ’81 J. Douglas Harris ’77 I. Bradley Hoffman ’78, Chair Gilbert E. Keegan III ’88, P ’22, Ex-Officio, Head’s Advisory Council Chair Fred J. Krieble ’91, P ’21, ’25 Jean C. LaTorre P ’12, ’14, ’19, Treasurer Paul A. Lewis P ’05 Patrick J. Maloney P ’11, ’14, ’16 Bruce A. Mandell ’82, Vice Chair Mary S. Martin ’77, P ’17, ’20 Megan Ouellette P ’18, ’20 David R. Quick ’92 Ann Coolidge Randall ’73, P ’13, Secretary Marc T. Shafer ’75, P ’08, ’15, ’17 Garfield & Melissa Vaughn P ’20, ’21, ’23, Ex-Officio, Co-Presidents, Parent Association Lori Satell Wetsman ’85, P ’12, ’15 Lewis K. Wise ’65, P ’94, ’00 Keith J. Wolff ’91, P ’20, ’23 Mark M. Wolman P ’14, ’16, ’19 Trustee Emeriti
Sherry Banks-Cohn ’54, P ’78, ’82 Thomas J. Collamore ’77 Allen V. Collins P ’75, ’79, ’82, ’88 Richard S. Cuda P ’79, ’80 George L. Estes III ’67, P ’98 Laura R. Estes P ’98 Frederick S. Farquhar ’59, P ’83, ’86 Robert M. Furek P ’96, ’99 Karen Koury Gifford ’62 Marilyn Glover P ’05, ’07, ’11 William H. Goldfarb ’64 Cheryl W. Grisé P ’99, ’02 J. Gregory Hickey Sr. ’47, P ’73, ’75, GP ’04 Alyce F. Hild P ’80, ’82, ’91, GP ’07, ’11, ’14, ’19 Timothy A. Holt P ’99, ’02, ’07 Lance L. Knox ’62 Thomas D. Lips P ’93 James B. Lyon, Esq. ’48 Baxter H. Maffett ’68, P ’02, ’06 Agnes S. Peelle P ’01, ’03 Michael J. Reilly P ’04, ’08 Avery Rockefeller III P ’00, ’02 Anne H. Rudder P ’68 G. William Seawright ’59 Karin A. Stahl P ’95 Les R. Tager P ’00, ’03 John A.T. Wilson ’56, P ’84, ’86 Martin Wolman P ’80, ’82, ’84, ’88 Joan Safford Wright ’53
SEP T EMBER 2019 • KO MAGA ZINE • 2
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Alumni Event Calendar 2019-2020 October 10-11
Grandparents Days
October 19
Hewett Day
November 27
Young Alumni Reception West Hartford
December 7
Celebrate KO Gala
December 13-15 KIT March 26
NYC Reception
April 19
KO Power of Women
April 30
Boston Reception
May 9
Joe Alissi Spring Sports Day
June 12-14
REUNION 2020
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KO Magazine • Fall 2019
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KO MAGAZINE • FALL 2019
A DOUBLE CELEBRATION! A DOUBLE CELEBRATION! Oxford’s 110th & KO’s 50th Anniversary of Coeducation
In this issue: A Classic American Love Story: The Merger A KO Timeline Jog Your Memory Hope Jackson