KO Magazine, Fall/Winter 2014-14

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KO MAGAZINE

Pat Rosoff Remembered Class of 2014 Graduates Sports Wraps: Winter ‘14 and Spring ‘14

FA L L ‘ 14 /WI NT E R ‘ 1 5 S PE C I A L E DI T I ON

KO's 2020 VISION

presenting

KO's 2020 VISION

a transformative five-year campus plan

KingswoodOxford


1 Letter from the head of school

18 Varsity sports spring '14

2 KO's 2020 Vision

20 Special sports news

3 Randy Stabile joins KO staff

22 Alumni athletes – where are they now?

6 Pat Rosoff remembered

24 Advancement

7 Class of '14 graduation

27 Why do I give?

10 School news

28 Class notes

12 Reunion classes by the 4s and 9s

42 Weddings/bib babies

16 Varsity sports winter '14

44 In memoriam

TABLE OF CONTENTS about the cover

There are a number of key dates in Kingswood Oxford’s history – 1909 (founding of Oxford School); 1916 (founding of Kingswood School); 1969 (merger of the schools); 1972 (dedication of Roberts); 2003 (relocation of the Middle School to Kingswood Road); and 2009 (dedication of Chase • Tallwood building). Now, there is a new one to add to that list: 2020, when the components of the new five-year campus plan should all be complete, or nearly so. In his letter on page 1, Head of School Dennis Bisgaard says it will transform the campus into an incredible learning community eminently ready for the challenges of the 21st century.

contact information

Kingswood Oxford School, 170 Kingswood Road, West Hartford, CT 06119; 860-233-9631 www.kingswoodoxford.org Please direct inquiries or general comments to Michelle M. Murphy, Director of Communications & Marketing (murphy.m@k-o.org); Class Notes or obituary information to Meghan Kurtich, Assistant Director of Annual Giving (kurtich.m@k-o.org); and address changes to Rebecca Kilpatrick, Database Support Specialist (kilpatrick.r@k-o.org). Editor: Michelle M. Murphy, Director of Communications & Marketing Contributors: Peter Fairbairn ’49, Burnham Gould ’50, Nicole Kimball, Rob Kyff Graphic Design: Ford Folios Inc. Printing: Allied Printing Services Photo Credits Rudy DeBerry ’13, Defining Studios, Chris Kasprak ’08, Meg Kasprak, Garrett Meccariello ’13, Michelle M. Murphy, David B. Newman ‘80/ photobynewman.com, Justin O’Brien, Samuel Stuart, Elizabeth Taylor

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, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. KO Magazine is published by Kingswood Oxford School. © 2015 by Kingswood Oxford School Inc. All rights reserved.


letter from the head of school

KingswoodO xford H o n o ri n g

th e pa st . Sh ap in g th e fu tu re .

Have you ev er seen KO’s Centennial v our web site ideo, made fo (www.kingsw r our 2009 ce o o d o lebration? If x fo rd.org/history Dick Caley ’6 not, visit ), and listen 2 eloquently as n lo arrates the h n gt im e and dozens o fa culty member istory of our f times, yet I fine School. never cease to I’ v e w footage that at ch m ed it dozens arvel at the b take us throu lack and whit gh Oxford’s, e remarkable jo images, musi then Kingsw c, and urney – from ood’s, and fin humble begin al ly K in West Hartfo gswood Oxfo nings to a ver rd institution rd’s y well-establi 100 years late shed and succ r. essful Along the w ay, the Scho ol responded yet always st to changing ayed true to times with co it self. No mat urageous and was a comm te r h bold moves, o w the campus ev itment to ex ce o ll lv en ed ce – excellen , the thing th ethical citize ce in teachin at endured nry. This is w g, athletics, th hat has allow after decade. e arts, advisin ed our Schoo g, and l to flourish ye ar after year, decade Now we are on the thresh old of anoth In these pages er major mil , and on our estone: the K web site, you ingswood Ox outlines the will read abo ford of 2020. reinvention u t a fi v e-year campu of physical sp programs an s ac p e la – n that but at its hea d the transfo rt is actually rmation of o about people that is eminen ur campus in and tly ready for to an incredib the newest ch le learning co allenges of th m m u n ity e 21st century . Few instituti ons last for a hundred year around the b s; the ones th end, shift ge at do are tho ar s, an se that look d ad values. This apt, yet alway ahead and is Kingswood s hold fast to Oxford Scho th ei r fo u n d ations and co ol – the KO of yesterday, re today, and to morrow. Dennis Bisga ard Head of Sch ool

KO FALL 2014 / WINTER 2015

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Kingswood Oxford’s 2020 Vision A Transformative Campus Plan

You don’t need perfect eyesight to see that Kingswood Oxford is at the midpoint of one of the most remarkable decades in its history. Five years ago, the ribbon was cut on the Chase • Tallwood Science Math Technology Center, a state-of-the-art, LEED Goldcertified building – KO’s most recent major capital improvement. Five years from now, if all goes according to plan, the School will celebrate the completion of another significant campus upgrade that will involve three buildings and an altogether fresher look – just in time for the 50th anniversary of the Kingswood and Oxford merger. “This moment feels as big and as significant to me as when we decided to consolidate our two campuses and bring the Estes Middle School to its current location,” said Head of School Dennis Bisgaard, who will mark his 10th year as Head during the 2015-16 school year. “At first glance, our five-year campus plan may seem to be about physical space, but at its heart it’s really about people and programs,” he added. “The new facilities will allow KO to prepare our students even better for the challenges and rewards of the 21st century.” Pending municipal approvals, work may begin as early as Summer 2015 on “Kingswood Oxford’s 2020 Vision,” the comprehensive renovation plan encompassing Roberts, the Conklin Library, and the Brayton Ice Rink, as well as the topography of the entire 29-acre campus. The Board of Trustees approved the plan on Oct. 30, 2014. “The plan captures our vision of the way KO will look, feel, and operate by the end of this decade,” said Avery Rockefeller, Chair of KO’s Board of Trustees. “It will transform our campus and position KO for continued excellence in the next phase of its history.”

Background and Context Created by James G. Rogers Architects of South Norwalk, CT, the plan resulted from many months of research and discussion among administrators, Trustees, and faculty and staff, including an Athletic Task Force that focused on KO’s athletic program. The goal was to examine every corner of the School to ensure that it is right-sized for 500 students – an enrollment that Trustees and administrators agree is KO’s “sweet spot” – and to make adjustments where necessary. 2

“At this point in our history, 500 students feels right to us,” said Bisgaard. “Therefore, we must make sure we have the proper mix of people, programs, and facilities to serve that number with excellence. In some areas, that means consolidation; in others, it means expansion.”

A Fresher Look for Roberts and the Trout Brook Entrance Based on a tentative schedule, the first phase of the plan will involve some interior and exterior changes to the 42-year-old Edward C. and Ann T. Roberts Center, the iconic red-brick structure in the heart of campus that is home to classrooms, media labs, offices, the College Advising and Student Life departments, and Roberts Theater. Inside the building, the plan calls for College Advising to move to the ground floor and for the surrounding area near the front doors facing Trout Brook Drive to be reinvented as a deliberate welcoming area to the entire school. “The new College Advising office space will be a physical manifestation of the importance KO places on this critical function,” said Zaira Santiago, Director of College Advising. “It will allow us to continue honing, enhancing and adapting our program to meet students’ needs in the ever-changing landscape of higher education.” The exterior of Roberts and the surrounding area is meant to get a facelift, as well. The plan calls for the addition of a canopy over the entrance of the building, plus adjustments to the flow of pedestrian and vehicle traffic from Trout Brook Drive, which is the School’s official main entrance, and throughout the parking lot. New signs, seating areas, and spruced-up hardscape and landscaping will soften the overall look and feel of the entire campus. “First impressions are so important, and after the beautification phase is complete, we’ll project a warm and polished welcome to newcomers – and strengthen a sense of pride among those who are on our campus all the time,” said Bisgaard. “And, the connection with our good friends and neighbors in Blue Back Square and West Hartford Center will be much more seamless.”


The Brayton Ice Rink will be reinvented as a multi-purpose field house with a fitness center that’s twice the size of KO’s current weight room.

Library to Become Research Center The plan also calls for the reinvention of the Conklin Library as a technology-infused, 21st-century research and innovation center with space for quiet study, group collaboration, small classes, and an impressive open space for meetings, conferences, and special events. “This will model in bricks and mortar the flexibility of the lifelong learning that takes place at KO every day,” said Natalie Demers, Assistant Head of School for Academic Life.

“This will model in bricks and mortar the flexibility of the lifelong learning that takes place at KO every day . . .” Natalie Demers, Assistant Head of School for Academic Life

KO FALL 2014 / WINTER 2015

Ice Rink to Be Reinvented as Field House and Fitness Center The third building involved in the “2020 Vision” is the Brayton Ice Rink, which will be closed in the Spring of 2016 and transformed into a multi-purpose field house and fitness center. Converting the 35-year-old rink, the current home of KO’s ice hockey and tennis teams, will “breathe life and vitality into this campus, because it will become a space used by hundreds of athletes in many different sports,” said Athletic Director Sue Cabot. The careful placement of lines, nets, a retractable batting cage and basketball hoops, and other equipment will allow some students to play a pickup game, while others practice swings or jumps, and still others run laps. The renovated rink will also include a state-of-the-art fitness center that will be twice the size of KO’s current weight room – a linchpin in KO’s strategy to develop competitive athletes and teams and to underscore the importance of lifetime fitness for all. “The Brayton Field House will be a place for the whole KO community to interact, work out and compete,” said Bruce Mandell ’82, Co-Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees. “The Board believes that this facility is critical to maintaining KO’s leadership position as the best day school in the Greater Hartford area.”

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“I am particularly excited that the project will transform an area used by a small number of students to something that can be used by the entire student body,” agreed Brad Hoffman ’78, Co-Vice Chair of the Board. In addition to approving the campus plan, the Board also voted in October to phase out ice hockey at KO over the next two years. “That was a very difficult decision for us,” said Cabot. “Hockey has a proud tradition at KO, and we value that history very highly.” Some parents and alumni, disappointed by this decision, asked the school to reconsider, and in December 2014, Bisgaard appointed an Offsite Hockey Exploratory Committee to investigate options for continuing the sport after 2016.

On Feb. 12, 2015, the Board approved the committee’s proposal to keep hockey in the KO athletics program, but in an offsite arena and with a “pay-to-play” structure (see sidebar). Meanwhile, work continues on the details of the “2020 Vision,” which Bisgaard believes will be truly transformative for KO. “The decision to move the Middle School from Prospect Avenue to Kingswood Road was a bold move by the thenBoard and Administration that helped rearticulate, reframe, and reposition KO,” he said. “This has the possibility of being equally significant. When it’s complete, we will enjoy a renewed perception of KO as a leader, a difference-maker, and a school with a unique learning environment that offers significant valueadded to prospective families.”

After Rink Closes, Ice Hockey Will Become Offsite Sport After the Board approved the new campus plan in October 2014, many parents and alumni expressed disappointment about the related decision to phase out ice hockey from the athletic program. As outlined in “Kingswood Oxford’s 2020 Vision,” the Trustees based their vote on the recommendation of consultants and an Athletic Task Force that concluded, after a year of extensive research, that KO was spread too thin, athletically speaking, with too many sports for a school of 500 students. With relatively low participation (38 players this year, including boys and girls), a high cost per athlete, and an aging facility in need of significant investment, hockey emerged as the sport that should be phased out. In mid-November, Head of School Dennis Bisgaard appointed an Offsite Hockey Exploratory Committee to investigate the feasibility of continuing the sport after 2016. He said the School would continue to hire and pay coaches’ salaries, but that other costs would have to be covered from other sources. Co-chaired by Trustee Bruce Mandell ’82 and Karen Jarmoc P ’14, ’14, ’17, the committee – comprising parents, alums, and faculty – met frequently in January and early February, studying possible competitors, available ice time, and costs. The group also hosted an info session for current parents and distributed a survey outlining various possible options. Of the 33 parents who completed the survey, 32 supported a pay-to-play structure with an estimated contribution of $1,000-$2,500 per student, based on the number of current hockey players. They also overwhelmingly agreed with the idea of playing schools outside the Founders’ League and supporting additional fundraising efforts to defray the program’s expense. The result? On Feb. 12, the Board accepted the committee’s proposal to keep ice hockey in the KO athletics program after 2016, with practices and games held in an offsite arena and with participating families bearing some of the cost. The precise amount will be determined just before each hockey season, as will the location of the rink and the schools KO will play. The new arrangement will take effect in the 2016-17 school year; in 2015-16, KO will continue to pay for 100% of the hockey program, and the teams will continue to skate on KO ice. “I’m really excited that the KO community rallied to find a creative solution to continue hockey,” said Mandell, Co-Vice Chair of the Board. “Being able to offer student-athletes a varsity hockey experience in the best day school environment in Greater Hartford is a winning combination that no other school can match.” Athletic Director Sue Cabot said she was especially pleased for this year’s hockey players. “There is something unparalleled about putting on a school jersey, focusing on a common goal, and working toward it with your teammates and your friends,” she said. “I am happy that these students will have the opportunity to carry on the tradition of ice hockey at KO with a great sense of pride.” “I am grateful to the committee members for investing their time and energy in this effort,” added Bisgaard. “KO is fortunate to have a community filled with people who care enough to express their passion and voice, who want to be involved, and who understand that KO listens.”

For details about KO’s new campus plan, go to www.kingswoodoxford.org/2020vision. 4


BOARD OF TRUSTEES

KO’s New Fundraising Chief: Randy Stabile People say timing is everything – and Randy Stabile, KO’s new Director of Institutional Advancement, couldn’t agree more. Stabile joined KO in mid-November, just two weeks after the Board of Trustees voted to move ahead with a comprehensive, five-year campus improvement plan. Although some of the cost of “KO’s 2020 Vision” will be covered by existing funds, Stabile will offer donors the chance to help make up the rest. “I am excited to be joining KO at this pivotal point in its history,” said Stabile. “I already feel so welcomed here, and I look forward to talking with many Wyverns about this visionary plan.” Stabile comes to KO from Lesley University in Boston, where he was Vice President of Advancement with responsibility for major gifts, the annual fund, corporation and foundation initiatives, and alumni relations. Among his achievements: a $46-million capital campaign for a new Art Institute of Boston building on Lesley’s Porter Square Campus. Previously, he held fundraising positions at Babson College and Boston College, where he managed the $125-million “Campaign for Boston College” as well as two subsequent mini-campaigns that added another $125 million. A graduate of Fairfield Prep, Stabile holds a BA and an MBA from Boston College and a JD from the New England School of Law. He will lead KO’s seven-person Advancement staff, which includes Debra Coleman Hyde ’68, who now serves as KO’s Senior Philanthropic Adviser. “The addition of Randy Stabile brings significant capacity, experience, depth, and breadth to our already-strong team,” said Head of School Dennis Bisgaard. “We are thrilled that he’s here.”

KO FALL 2014 / WINTER 2015

Dennis Bisgaard P ’16 Head of School Laura Estes P ’98 Christopher G. Gent P ’03, ’08 Jeffrey S. Gitlin ’85, P ’11, ’13, ’17 Laurie Goldsmith P ’11, ’13, 17 Parent Association President Cheryl Grisé P ’99, ’02 I. Bradley Hoffman ’78 Vice Chair Gilbert Keegan ’88 Head’s Advisory Council President Jean LaTorre P ’12, ’14 ’19 Paul Lewis P ’05 Baxter H. Maffett ’68, P ’02, ’06 Bruce A. Mandell ’82 Vice Chair Meron A. Makonnen ’93 Alexander T. Nguyen ’95 Ann Coolidge Randall ’73, P ’13 Michael J. Reilly P ’04, ’08 Avery Rockefeller III P ’00, ’02 Chair Marc T. Shafer ’75, P ’08, ’15, ’17 Alden Y. Warner III ’76 Treasurer R. Ashley Washburn P ’08, ’10, ’12, ’15 Secretary Paula Whitney P ’02, ’04, ’06, ’07 Keith J. Wolff ’91, P ’20 Mark Wolman P ’14, ’16, ’19 TRUSTEES 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 Frederick S. Farquhar ’59, P ’83, ’86 Robert M. Furek P ’96, ’99 Karen K. Gifford ’62 William H. Goldfarb ’64 J. Gregory Hickey Sr. ’47, P ’73, ’75, GP ’04 Alyce F. Hild P ’80, ’82, ’91 GP ’07, ’11, ’14 Lance L. Knox ’62 Eileen S. Kraus P ’84, ’95 Thomas D. Lips P ’93 James B. Lyon ’48

E. Merritt McDonough ’51, P ’79, ’81 Agnes S. Peelle P ’01, ’03 Anne Rudder P ’68 G. William Seawright ’59 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 HEAD’S ADVISORY COUNCIL Gilbert E. Keegan III ’88 President John J. Alissi ’89 Jeffrey Azia ’89 Eric D. Batchelder ’89 William C. Bigler ’80, P ’05, ’09, ’13 Sarah Whitney Blanchard ’87, P ’19 Jay M. Botwick ’76, P ’04 Brewster B. Boyd ’63 John M. Budds ’56 Andrew M. Chapman ’73 Lynn Mather Charette ’82, P ’14, ’18 Jessica Hild Collins ’91 James W. Eatherton ’79, P ’11, ’14 Robert M. Elliott II ’91 Scott C. Farrell ’91 Lee A. Gold ’90 James Goldberg ’76 Gregory A. Hayes ’80 Charna Bortman Kaufman ’85, P ’14, ’17, ’20 Meredith Maffett ’06 Laurie Maulucci P ’03, ’05 Tyler B. Polk ’99 Ann Coolidge Randall ’73, P ’13 Alison Rosenthal ’94 Mary Pallotti Russell ’73, P ’06, ’09 Robert S. Sarkasian ’84 Andrew G. Satell ’79 Glenn M. Shafer ’85, P ’20 Stacey L. Silver ’91 Saeed O. Singletary ’92 William J. Stack Jr. ’72, P ’07, ’11, ’12 Faith McGauley Whitman ’86 F. Scott Wilson P ’06, ’09 Keith J. Wolff ’91, P ’20 Carla Do Nascimento Zahner ’97

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Hundreds Remember Pat Rosoff in Bittersweet Memorial on May 4

SCHOOL NEWS

Laura Hansen, former Director of KO’s Upper School and now the Upper School Head at Collegiate School in NYC, was one of the speakers at the memorial service.

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Pat Rosoff’s husband, Neil, greeted hundreds of wellwishers after the service.

In an emotional afternoon filled with art, eloquence, and music, Academic Dean of Humanities Patricia Rosoff was remembered on Sunday, May 4, as a talented, passionate, and funloving teacher and artist whose colorful personality filled a room – and whose absence has left holes in many hearts. Students, parents, artists, educators, and alumni from across the world packed Roberts Theater for the 90-minute memorial service that honored the 39year KO veteran who died on March 25 from injuries sustained in a car accident on her way to school. “Pat Rosoff was a born educator, a person who couldn’t help but teach others,” Head of School Dennis Bisgaard said in his opening remarks. “By dint of her personality and charisma, she inspired others to love what she loved: art, words, ideas, people.” The service was also telecast live on local cable and live-streamed on the internet by West Hartford Community Television. (Visit www.whctv.org to see the recorded version.) Together with Bisgaard, Neil Rosoff put together the Celebration of Life in honor of his wife, whom he met when they were students at the Rhode Island School of Design. The service included eight speakers, four musical performances

by KO students, and two slideshows: “Patricia Caine Rosoff: From There to Here” (photos from babyhood through adulthood) and “Patricia Rosoff: The Paintings” (images of her abstract art). Mrs. Rosoff’s self-portrait, “Four Tanked Ladies,” graced the cover of the program for the service, and additional pieces of her art were on display in the Juros Gallery off Roberts Lobby, where remained until May 16. The speakers were her niece Stacy Cristo ’92; current and former KO teachers Lud Baldwin, Mariah Klaneski Reisner ’00 (who stepped in to teach Mrs. Rosoff’s AP Art History class), David Hild ’80, Laura Hansen, Ann Serow, Ph.D., and Rob Kyff; and Andrea Miller-Keller (formerly of the Wadsworth Atheneum). The musical selections included pieces from Sir Edward Elgar, Johann Sebastian Bach, Laura Farnell, and the finale from “The Drowsy Chaperone,” which was KO’s winter musical in 2014 – and in which Mrs. Rosoff had a cameo appearance. “The memorial service was beautiful – each person who spoke captured a different facet of Pat,” said Parent Association President Beverly Ravalese Yirigian ’80. “It was both a joyous celebration of her life and enthusiasm as well as a much-needed time to remember and grieve.” During a reception following the service, hundreds of people offered condolences to Neil Rosoff, Jared Rosoff ’96 and his wife, Elizabeth Hart Rosoff ’95 and their son Arlo, and many other family members. Among the tears and smiles, many guests remarked that the entire event had been a perfect tribute to an unforgettable woman – and a sterling example of KO at its best.


Class of ’14 Gift Honors Pat Rosoff “Dings and Shadows,” a photogram created in 2013 by Ellen Carey, an artist and dear friend of Pat Rosoff, now hangs in the lobby of Roberts Theater, a gift from the Class of ’14 in memory of Rosoff. Photograms are pictures produced with photographic materials (such as light-sensitive paper) but without a camera; it is sometimes called “cameraless photography.” Carey, who met Rosoff in 1992, said this artwork symbolizes their friendship as painter and photographer by expressing the primary colors used in each medium.

Class of ’14 Joins the Ranks of Alumni Wearing the traditional white dresses and navy blazers accented with red roses, the Class of ’14 graduated from Kingswood Oxford on May 23 in a heartwarming ceremony filled with smiles and snippets of nostalgic music that, for the third year in a row, was held inside the Brayton Ice Hockey Rink because of rain. Among the 93 graduates, 16 had parents or grandparents who also graduated from KO (see photo on p. 24). The students came from 32 different towns in the Greater Hartford area; the biggest feeder towns were West Hartford (33), Glastonbury/South Glastonbury (11), and Farmington (4). The class included a National Merit Scholar, Alexandra Stanton of West Hartford, and nine other students who were recognized for outstanding performances on standardized exams (see p. 14). Nearly half the class (41 students) graduated with honors, and Stanton received the “Dux Prize” for having the highest GPA for the year. She now attends MIT.

KO FALL 2014 / WINTER 2015

The Class of ’14 also had an unusually large number of students – 21 – who plan to play sports in college, including four who are headed to Div. 1 programs (see p. 20). Retiring Math Department Chair Jonathan Clapp, chosen by the class to deliver the commencement address, said he found it daunting to try to impart new or unusual words of wisdom to the graduates. Instead, he turned to music – snippets from a wide range of songs that were broadcast throughout his talk – to convey everyday wisdom. “Songs are full of profound thoughts, accessible to all, and simply packaged,” he said. “Songs offer us metaphors and mirrors to our joys, our sorrows, our aspirations, our anxieties. “Class of ’14, keep a song in your head, a song in your heart, and you will survive,” he added, as the first notes of Gloria Gaynor’s signature tune began to fill the air. In his charge to the graduates, Head of School Dennis Bisgaard spoke of the safety blankets, second chances, and soft landing spots

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SCHOOL NEWS

that KO had tried to provide during their years at the School: “We have done our utmost to provide you with a rich environment and a culture of opportunity in which you could explore, grow, make mistakes, and get back up,” he said. “We have attempted to bring your versatility, self-confidence and talents – things that were always within you – to the surface, and I believe we, together with your parents and families, have been successful beyond measure. “But your continued success in life, in big part, will depend on your ability to adapt to new circumstances, to deal and grapple with complexities, uncertainties, ambiguity; to learn, unlearn, and relearn; to incorporate and adapt to new technologies; to collaborate with people from many walks of life and many parts of the world; to think outside the box, to problem solve, to break through walls and barriers; to approach things critically,” he continued. “Most importantly, I believe, you must do your best to overcome your own fears of failure, any self-doubt that might creep into your mind. Don’t hold back. Never hold back. Be your full self, and life will be richer for it.”

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For a complete list of the graduates and the colleges and universities to which they were accepted, visit www.kingswoodoxford.org/classof14.

KO FALL 2014 / WINTER 2015

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Prom Candy Sweetens Soldiers’ Lives The “sweetness” of the Senior Prom extended all the way to Afghanistan this year, after extras from the “candy bar” at the dance were shipped to American soldiers stationed in Kabul. Twizzlers, Tootsie Rolls, lollipops, and Hershey’s Kisses were among the treats decoratively displayed in apothecary jars at the Class of ’14 prom on May 18. The kids loved the candy, but there was a fair amount left over, according to Maureen Sanders P ’13, ’14, ’16, co-chair of the Prom Decorating Committee. Through a family friend serving in the military, Sanders knew that candy and toilet paper are some of the treats most cherished by soldiers far from home. So she packed up 32 pounds of the leftover sweets (along with some toilet paper) and, for $26.50, sent it off to the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team stationed at Camp Phoenix in Kabul, Afghanistan. “I thought that was fairly inexpensive for shipping,” she said. “And the troops were very grateful!”

SCHOOL NEWS

Camp KO Doubles in Size in Year Two

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Enrollment in Camp KO more than doubled from the first year to the second, with 327 campers participating in 17 different programs in the Summer of 2014. And the fun didn’t end when the Summer did; Camp KO has spawned Fall and Winter programs that keep the Camp KO brand top of mind among local families, while also increasing revenue and introducing prospective families to the KO community. In fact, nearly 400 kids enrolled in this year’s Fall Futsal and Winter Baseball programs in KO’s satellite gym on Highland Street. Camp KO 2015 will be even bigger and better, with 27 programs across five weeks beginning June 15 (visit www.campko.com for the complete lineup). New this year: non-contact football, run by KO’s championship-winning Head Football Coach Jason Martinez, as well as chess, cooking, and coding, to name just a few. Weekly tuition ranges from $475 for sports camps to $495 for arts and academic programs, with a $50 per week early bird discount until April 1, 2015. Register online, or contact Camp KO Director Sheri Shea with questions (shea.s@k-o.org or 860-727-5032).


Tyler Polk ’99 Helps Kick Off 105th School Year The 2014-15 school year began with exactly 500 students in the Middle and Upper School – which administrators believe is the ideal size for KO – plus a dozen new faculty and staff members. The students come from 55 different towns, as well as China and South Korea – the homes of KO’s first two international students, Dana Kim ’16 and Ophelia Deng ’17, who live with a host family in West Hartford. (Details about KO’s new International Students program will be available in the Spring/Summer ’15 issue of KO Magazine.) The group also includes the first Tallwood Warriors Scholar, Riley Gravel ’21 of Cheshire (see below). Senior Prefect Katie Smith ’15, Student Government Speaker Jack Beckerman ’15, and Head of School Dennis Bisgaard – beginning his ninth year at KO – officially welcomed the community back to school at the opening assembly on Sept. 5. Investment advisor Tyler Polk ’99 was the keynote speaker. During the assembly, Bisgaard and “Doc” Ann Serow introduced the new teachers and staff members, and then presented class flags to the Class of ’15 and the Class of ’21. Last year’s Dux Prize winners – the students who finished the 2013-14 year with the highest grade point averages in their Forms – were also honored.

Riley Gravel ’21 is KO’s First Tallwood Warrior Scholar

Riley Gravel ’21, KO’s first Tallwood Warriors Scholar, poses with his father, CT National Guard Maj. Mark Gravel, as well as Head of School Dennis Bisgaard and Senior Philanthropic Adviser Debra Coleman Hyde ’68, who helped to launch the unique scholarship on Veterans Day Weekend 2012. For more info, visit www.kingswoodoxford.org/tallwoodwarriors.

KO FALL 2014 / WINTER 2015

Soon after learning that he was the recipient of the first Tallwood Warriors Scholarship, Riley Gravel of Cheshire sent a handwritten thank you note to the anonymous benefactor who created the full, seven-year KO scholarship for military children, which is believed to be the only one of its kind in the nation. Riley is the son of Laura and Maj. Mark Gravel, a 23-year veteran of the Connecticut National Guard who has been deployed several times, including to Iraq in 2006-07. Riley agreed to share the note’s contents with the KO community: “I truly thank you for this amazing opportunity … and I will work very hard and do everything I can to meet the responsibility of such a scholarship,” wrote the baseball-loving Upper Prepper. “This means a lot to my mom and dad that people truly do care about those who serve our country. I intend to take full advantage of this opportunity. For one last time, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

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Reunion Classes by the 4s and 9s

’59 ’44

Kingswood 1944

Can you help? Archivist Brenda Semmelrock is looking for copies of the 1934

REUNION ’14

Kingswood yearbook and the 1960

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Kingswood 1959

’64

Oxford and Kingswood Classes of 1964

and 1965 Oxford yearbooks to make her collections complete. If you can help, please contact Brenda at semmelrock.b@k-o.org. Thank you!

’79

KO Class of 1979


’84

’89

’94 KO FALL 2014 / WINTER 2015

KO Class of 1984

KO Class of 1989

KO Class of 1994

’99

’04

’09

KO Class of 1999

KO Class of 2004

KO Class of 2009 13


“Best Private School” – Sixth Year in a Row For an unprecedented sixth year in a row, KO was named Best Private School in Hartford Magazine’s “Best of” Readers’ Poll in May 2014. KO finished ahead of Loomis Chaffee and Avon Old Farms in the popular online voting competition. “No other school has won six times in a row,” said Anthony Long of Hartford Magazine. “We are indebted to our loyal alumni, families, and friends who took the time to vote,” said Head of School Dennis Bisgaard. “Their votes represent trust and confidence in us, which we so appreciate. We strive every day to keep earning that trust.”

KUDOS

Leadership Institute Gets National Attention

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Three dozen people from independent schools across the country came to KO in June 2014 for the third annual Kingswood Oxford Leadership Institute for Educators of Color, founded by Head of School Dennis Bisgaard. He created the Leadership Institute in response to a stark reality: Out of 1,700 schools that belong to the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), less than 4% – 60 schools – are led by a person of color. To change that, Bisgaard believes, educators of color who aspire to leadership roles in independent schools need encouragement,

resources, education, and networking opportunities – all of which the Institute provides. Past speakers have included the president of NAIS; several Heads of color from prominent independent schools across the country; college presidents; and a number of business executives, to name just a few. The fourth annual Leadership Institute will be held at KO on June 15-18, 2015; for more information or to apply, visit www. kingswoodoxford.org/leadershipinstitute. Space is limited.


Ten Seniors Honored in National Merit Scholarship Program

Ten seniors – just over 10% of the Class of ’15 – were recognized for their outstanding performance on the PSATs/NMSQTs they took in October 2013, when they were juniors. Julianne DeAngelo (above left) was named a National Merit Semifinalist in September 2014 after scoring in the top 1% of the 1.4 million students nationwide who took the standardized exam. (At presstime, she learned she had advanced in the competition

to become a National Merit Finalist.) Nine other students were named National Merit Commended students for scoring among the top 5% of the test-takers. Seated from left are Cole Adams, Avantika Tankala, and Lina Volin. Standing, left to right: Ryan Wetsman, Daniel Melody, Katherine Smith, Jacob Tvaronaitis, Robert Scappaticci, and Benjamin Burke.

Bisgaard Honored at 100 Men of Color Gala Recognized as someone who is “powerfully and thoughtfully changing our communities for the better,” Head of School Dennis Bisgaard was honored at the “One Hundred Men of Color” Gala at The Bushnell on Oct. 3. Hosted by the Eleven28 Entertainment Company, the Gala recognized men of color from Springfield to Stamford who have achieved distinction in their profession or industry. Governor Dannel Malloy and Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra offered remarks, and Segarra presented the award to Bisgaard. “It was an honor to be recognized among this group of distinguished businesspeople, community leaders, educators, and other leaders,” said Bisgaard. At KO since 2006, Bisgaard is a lifelong educator who has previously been a teacher, coach, advisor, and administrator at Collegiate School in New York City, The Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore, and Shady Hill School in Cambridge, MA. He is very active in the Greater Hartford community, serving as a leader or Board member in groups such as the CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence; the CT Association of Independent Schools; Covenant Preparatory School, a tuition-free boys’ middle school in Hartford; and SATO (Student Achievement Through Opportunity), to name just a few. He also serves on the Board of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and MiddleOak Insurance Company. And, Bisgaard is the founder of the Kingswood Oxford Leadership Institute for Educators of Color, which attracts dozens of administrators of color from across the country for professional development and networking on the KO campus each June (see p. 14).

KO FALL 2014 / WINTER 2015

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VARSITY WINTER SPORTS ’14

Sue Cabot (cabot.s@k-o.org)

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ALPINE SKIING Coach: Jonathan David Captains: Emily Lowit ’15, Ben Burke ’15 MVP: Nina Pennoyer ’18 Coaches Award: Emily Lowit GIRLS’ SQUASH Coach: Andy Carr Record: 5-6 Captains: Claudia Udolf ’14, Sophia Harrison ’15 Seniors: Claudia Udolf, Sarah Gianni, Allie Kyff, Molly Papermaster, Keenan Line MVP: Claudia Udolf Most Improved: Cassie T-Pederson ’17, Molly Papermaster Postseason Awards: New England Champion – Claudia Udolf, Sophia Harrison New England Runner-Up – Corinne Florian ’15, Sarah Gianni, Molly Papermaster New England 3rd Place Finish – Allie Kyff, Keenan Line

BOYS’ ICE HOCKEY Coaches: Ben Adams, Alex Holmes ’04, Greg Scranton ’94 Record: 3-16 Captains: Connor Keenan ’14, Tyler DiFrancesco’14 Seniors: Connor Keenan, Tyler DiFrancesco, Greg Boyes, Matt Gutterman, Matt Trevethan MVP: Tristan Morin ’15 Most Improved: Matt Trevethan GIRLS’ ICE HOCKEY Coaches: John Hissick, CJ Kenney Record: 0-16-1 Captains: Sarah Neary ’14, Naomi Letourneau ’14, Megan Geier ’14 Seniors: Amber Greene, Sarah Neary, Naomi Letourneau, Mehan Geier MVP: Amber Greene Most Improved: Becca Powers ’16, Ellie Kraus ’16


BOYS’ BASKETBALL Coaches: Durelle Brown ’97, Jim Weeks Record: 1-18 Captain: Dante Cioffi ’14 Seniors: Dante Cioffi, Reid Collins, Griffin Maloney, Kevin Ruffee, John Stepensky MVPs: Dante Cioffi, TJ Nesbit ’15 Most Improved: Reid Collins

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL Coaches: Kim Iacovazzi, Judith Bailey ’82, Nikki Blake Record: 9-10 Captain: Helena Roland ’14 Senior: Helena Roland MVP: Helena Roland Most Improved: Kelly Carucci ’17

KO FALL 2014 / WINTER 2015

BOYS’ SQUASH Coach: Robby Lingashi Record: 1-13 Captain: Joe Ravalese ’15 Most Improved: Josh Pugliese ’16 GIRLS’ SWIMMING & DIVING Coaches: Alex Kraus, Clay Miles, Kata Baker, Jonathan Briggs Record: 7-4 Captains: Callie Miles ’14, Sam Pinkes ’14 Seniors: Mary Colliton, Mary Lessard, Taylor Lynn, Callie Miles, Sam Pinkes MVP: Callie Miles Most Improved: Manisha Satheesh Postseason Awards: Division II New England Runner-Up *1st: 100 Backstroke (Callie Miles); 200 Medley Relay (Callie Miles, Olivia Shea ’16, Amanda Civitello ’17, Sam Pinkes) *2nd: 50 Freestyle (Sam Pinkes); 100 Freestyle (Callie Miles); 400 Freestyle Relay (Lauren Cooper ’15, Olivia Shea, Sam Pinkes, Callie Miles)

BOYS’ SWIMMING & DIVING Coaches: Alex Kraus, Clay Miles, Kata Baker, Jonathan Briggs Record: 10-2 Captains: Mike Barry ’14, Matt Luther ’14, Will Martin ’14 Seniors: Mike Barry, Warren Hadley, Matt Luther, Will Martin, Andrew Peterson, Peter Rusconi MVP: Matt Luther Most Improved: Kyle McLaughlin ’16 Postseason Awards: Division II New England Runner-Up; MVP of Division II New England Championships (Matt Luther) *1st: 100 Butterfly (Matt Luther), 100 Backstroke (Matt Luther) *2nd: 500 Freestyle (Jack Barry ’17); 400 Freestyle Relay (Andrew Zimmerman ’16, Jack Barry, Jack Wolf ’16, Matt Luther)

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VARSITY SPRING SPORTS ‘14 18

BOYS’ VARSITY LACROSSE Coaches: John Gormley, Glen Damboise, David Hild ’80 Record: 2-11-1 Captains: Spencer Martin ’14, Matt Gutterman ’14, Campbell Taylor ’14, Tyler DiFrancesco ’14, Gage Sanders ’14 Seniors: Spencer Martin, Matt Gutterman, Campbell Taylor, Tyler DiFrancesco, Gage Sanders, Connor Keenan, Nick Lange MVP: Spencer Martin Most Improved: Connor Keenan All League (FAA): Brendan Lantieri ’16, Campbell Taylor GIRLS’ VARSITY LACROSSE Coaches: Tim Allerton, Cierra Warde Record: 5-12 Captains: Kennelly Allerton ’15, Meg Geier ’14, Sophie Pennoyer ’14 Seniors: Meg Geier, Sophie Pennoyer, Mary Colliton, Caroline Kaufman, Alayna Putterman, Shiza Abbas, Grace Jarmoc MVP: Corinne Florian ’15 Most Improved: Julia McGowan ’15 New England All-Stars: Caroline Kaufman, Corinne Florian Western New England All-Stars: Kennelly Allerton, Caroline Kaufman, Corinne Florian

GIRLS’ TENNIS Coaches: Ronald Garcia, Chris Grace Record: 14-1 Captain: Melissa Lord ’15 Senior: Mahati Kumar MVPs: Melissa Lord, Morgan Risinger ’16, Allie Perron ’16, Olivia Shea ’16 Most Improved: Nicole Galik ’17 Postseason Awards: Founders League Champions, De Villafranca Champions, NEPSAC New England Class B Champions BOYS’ TENNIS Coach: Andrew Krugman ’86 Record: 8-6 Captains: Matt Trevethan ’14, Jacob Appleton ’16 Senior: Matt Trevethan MVP: Matt Lord ’17 Most Improved: Manuel Sainz de Baranda, Ryan Albanesi ’17 Postseason Awards: 2nd place in KITT


BASEBALL Coaches: Steve Cannata, Ryan Radmanovich Record: 10-5 Captains: Collin Brantner ’14, Reid Collins ’14 Seniors: Collin Brantner, Reid Collins, Tucker Charette, Dan Dunham, Jake Lesham, Matt Luther, Jack McGuire, Max Petrie MVPs: Collin Brantner, Reid Collins Most Improved: Andrew Lemkuil ’16 SOFTBALL Coaches: Cathy Schieffelin, Danielle Hoff Record: 14-1 Captain: Taryn Braz ’14 Seniors: Taryn Braz, Jackie Dufour, Catherine Eatherton, Rachel Paley, Allie Stanton MVP: Taryn Braz Most Improved: Jeanna Willis ’16 Postseason Awards: Western New England Class B Champions

GIRLS’ TRACK & FIELD Coaches: Alex Kraus, David Baker ’04, Will Gilyard, Fritz Goodman, Jeff Perlis, Scott Rodilitz Record: 11-5 Captains: Mary Lessard ’14, Sam Pinkes ’14 Seniors: Mary Lessard, Sam Pinkes MVP: Sam Pinkes Postseason Awards: Division III New Englands 3rd place team finish *1st: 4 x 100 Meter Relay (Sam March ’17, Emily Kirton ’16, Kaleigh Sanders ’16, Sam Pinkes ’14) *2nd: 1500 Meters (Chloe Ezzo ’17), 3000 Meters (Chloe Ezzo) *3rd: 800 Meters (Chloe Ezzo); 100 Meter Hurdles (Emily Kirton) ; 4 x 400 Meter Relay (Laura Polley ’17, Emily Tran ’17, Claire Halloran ’15, Sam Pinkes)

BOYS’ TRACK & FIELD Coaches: Alex Kraus, David Baker ’04, Will Gilyard, Fritz Goodman, Jeff Perlis, Scott Rodilitz Record: 9-5 Captains: Andrew Peterson ’14, Peter Rusconi ’14 Seniors: Pedro Sainz de Baranda, Andrew Peterson, Peter Rusconi, Neil Sonalkar ’14 MVP: Andrew Peterson *2nd: Long Jump (Koby Quansah ’16), Discus (Andre Jett ’16), 400 Meters (Andrew Peterson), 800 Meters (Mick Hains ’16) *3rd: 4 x 400 Meter Relay (Nick Bridges ’15, Andrew Peterson, Dan Melody ’15, Mick Hains)

GOLF Coaches: Scott Dunbar, Peter Jones Record: 15-7 Captains: Patrick Hallisey ’14, John Stepensky ’14 Seniors: Patrick Hallisey, John Stepensky MVPs: Patrick Hallisey, John Stepensky Postseason Awards: Kingswood Invitational Tournament Champions

KO FALL 2014 / WINTER 2015

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Nearly Two Dozen from Class of ’14 Intend to Play College Sports Twenty-one students, 16 schools, 14 sports. Flying completely in the face of national averages, a total of 22.5% of the Class of ’14 said they intend to continue playing sports in college – and KO celebrated those plans at a series of special ceremonies last Spring. “Only about 4% of seniors nationwide will move on to play collegiate athletics,” Athletic Director Sue Cabot said at the events. “Your dedication, hard work, and sacrifice – as well as the sacrifices of your parents – have afforded you this opportunity, and on behalf of our entire athletic department, I congratulate all of you.” The schools included four D1 programs – Boston College (golf), Penn State (girls’ ice hockey), Providence College (softball), and Fordham University (swimming) – and a host of D2 and D3 schools, such as Macalester, Tufts, Union, and Amherst, to name just a few. (The complete list is available at www.kingswoodoxford.org/alumniathletes.) Head of School Dennis Bisgaard said he was particularly struck by how much these student-athletes had achieved off the playing fields, as well:

“You are also musicians, artists, class leaders, Cum Laude honor society members – this is a very impressive group!”

Softball Wins First New Englands Title Since 2009 With a score of 14-4, the Softball team resoundingly won the Western New England Class B championship on May 18 – the Wyverns’ first title since 2009. Powered by outstanding performance on the mound and at the plate, including a grand slam home run from Jackie Dufour ’14 in the first inning, the #1-seeded Softball team took an early lead from the #2 seed, Wilbraham & Monson, and never looked back. It was the second grand slam of the season for Dufour, who planned to play softball at St. Lawrence. The Providence College-bound Taryn Braz ’14 pitched a strong final game of her KO career, allowing only one earned run, striking out six, walking one, and giving up nine hits. 20


Golf Team Wins Kingswood Invitational The Varsity Golf team won the 41st annual Kingswood Invitational Tournament on May 21, beating 22 other schools with a score of 378 – second lowest in KO history for this event. KO’s score was actually the exact same as Deerfield’s, but the Wyverns were declared the winners because Pat Hallisey ’14 had the lowest score among the 115 golfers. He medaled with a 2-under-par 68. “This was a fitting culmination of this team’s efforts all year,” said Head Coach Scott Dunbar. “These players genuinely like each other, and they pushed, cajoled and encouraged one another and developed a sense of responsibility to one another. The entire season was one of extraordinary team unity.”

Swim Team Excels at New Englands; Matt Luther ’14 Is MVP The Girls’ and Boys’ teams each placed second in the 2014 New England Prep School Swimming and Diving Championship (Div. 2), bringing home four golds, five silvers, and five bronze medals. In addition, Matt Luther ’14 was named MVP of the boys’ meet – the first time a male swimmer from KO has been named MVP. In 2013, Callie Miles ’14 was named co-MVP of the girls’ meet. Luther won two of the four golds, setting school, pool, and Div. 2 records in the process: He swam the 100 Backstroke in 53.33 and the 100 Butterfly in 51.51. Miles also broke a school and Div. 2 record with a time of 59.23 in the 100 Backstroke. The other first-place finish came from the girls’ 200 medley relay – Olivia Shea ’16, Amanda Civitello ’17, Sam Pinkes ’14, and Miles – with a time of 1:55.64.

Girls’ Tennis Wins Three Titles in Eight Days in May The Varsity Girls’ Tennis team won three different titles – Founders League, Coe de Villafranca, and the NEPSAC B division – during a remarkable eight-day run in May 2014, putting an exclamation point on an outstanding season in which it went 12-1. The Wyverns won New Englands on a picture-perfect May 18, beating Berkshire, 6-3, a day after prevailing over Brooks, 5-0, in the semifinals. “It was a great team win over a talented Berkshire squad,” said KO Head Coach Ron Garcia. Just four days earlier, KO clinched the Founders League title with a 6-3 victory over Hotchkiss. The Wyverns were 7-1 in the league for the season, with Taft, Hotchkiss, and Westminster tying for second place with 5-2 records. And on May 10, KO won the 10-team Coe de Villafranca Tournament for the fifth time in six years and by the largest margin in school history – 25 points ahead of Andover and Hotchkiss, who finished second and third, respectively. KO FALL 2014 / WINTER 2015

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ALUMNI ATHLETES 22

As soon as Jared Jordan ’03 played his first varsity game in Hewett Gym, KO basketball fans could see they were in for some dazzling wizardry – and they were not disappointed. After a strong KO varsity career, Jared went on to Marist College, where he became one of the premier Division 1 playmakers in the country, leading the nation in assists for two years. Drafted by the NBA in 2007, Jared continued his basketball magic in Lithuania, Greece, and Germany, where he established himself as one of the finest point guards in Europe while playing for Bonn Telekom for three years. This year Jared signed with San Sebastián Gipuzkoa of the Liga ACB, a top-tier Spanish league. It’s great to see the flashy passer from the West End make his mark on the international scene.

After an impressive amateur career, Cody Paladino ’07 turned pro and now competes on the PGA Tour LatinoAmerica and the PGA Tour Canada. In May 2014, The Hartford Courant followed Cody each day during the week he attempted to qualify for the U.S. Open, chronicling it on the paper’s web site and on Twitter at #CodyOpen. He was one of 10,127 entrants, each with a maximum handicap of 1.4, competing for about 80 spots in the U.S. Open field. He made it as far as one of the sectional qualifiers, but did not qualify for the U.S. Open – and the Courant coverage illuminated what it takes, mentally and physically, to compete at this level.

David Hild ’80 (left), a KO English teacher, Form dean, and Coach since 1993, is congratulated by Web Harrison, his former football and lacrosse coach at Bates College, after Hild was inducted into the Bates Scholar-Athlete Society on May 24, 2014. He was one of four alums honored during the school’s commencement weekend. At Bates, Hild earned a degree in English and a total of eight varsity letters. The 1982 football team – on which he was a linebacker – finished 6-2 and ranked among the top three teams in New England. He also earned the school’s prestigious Alan C. Goddard Award. And on the lacrosse team, Hild was a four-year starting defenseman, and led the 1984 team to the only undefeated regular season in Bates history. The Bobcats were 11-0 before falling to Bowdoin in the ECAC semifinals.


Zach Punt ’11, captain of Connecticut College’s men’s soccer team, has a flair for the dramatic: His first goal of the Fall campaign came against Framingham State with just four seconds left in the first half – and it proved to be the game winner. The drama continued in the Camels’ game against Hamilton, when Zach scored the winning goal in the 88th minute of the game. Zach has been a starter for Conn College all four years.

Conner Beakey ’13 logged nine rounds in three tournaments for Fairfield University’s golf team during his freshman year, averaging rounds of 76. He made his collegiate debut at the Rutgers Invitational, carding a three-round score of 228. Conner also shot a 228 at the MacDonald Cup. He finished the season with a 235 at the Connecticut Cup, which included a season-best 73 round.

Brooke Hayes ’13 had a terrific first year on the William Smith College squash team, closing the season with a winning record at #2 and helping her team – which includes Erin Casey ’12 – get convincing victories against Colgate and Rochester. The Herons made it to the second round of the season championship Epps Cup CSA tournament. KO Girls’ Squash Coach Andy Carr said it is rare for a freshman to play at such a high seed and contribute to a competitive program. This is a testimony to how girls’ squash has grown at KO; in recent years, ten players have gone on to play in college.

Where Are They Now? by Ted Levine

We love to hear how Wyvern athletes are doing on their college teams! Please send info about KO alumni athletes to Ted Levine at Levine.t@k-o.org.

As a freshman at Siena College, Jordan Barlow ’12 started all 17 lacrosse games for the Saints, and he finished the year with 25 goals and 7 assists. Thanks to his offensive mastery, he was named MAAC Rookie of the Week three times. In a particularly strong game against Robert Morris, Jordan netted his third hat trick of the season. Ranking high nationally in shooting percentage, he scored a hat trick in Siena’s MAAC Championship win over Marist College – which earned the Saints a berth in the Division 3 NCAA championships.

KO FALL 2014 / WINTER 2015

As a freshman on Quinnipiac University’s soccer team, Kelly Caruso ’13 started 10 games and appeared in 15 overall, scoring her first goal in a 3-0 win against St. Peter’s. She was named to 2013 NEWISA All-New England Third Team. As a sophomore, she started in every game for the Bobcats.

During her first year on the women’s tennis team at Brown University, Dayna Lord ’13 was named the Ivy League’s Rookie of the Year, First Team All-Ivy in Singles, and Second Team All-Ivy in Doubles. Playing at No. 1 singles, Dayna went 29-7 – the most wins in a season by a Brown player since 1997, and second on the singleseason wins list. In doubles, Dayna and teammate Hannah Camhi were 24-9.

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Legacy Families Celebrate the Joy of Tradition

ADVANCEMENT

Hundreds of Wyverns know the unique joy of watching their children or grandchildren enroll in “their” school, learning and living many of the same traditions they did, while also benefiting from changes and refinements to the educational program that could not even have been imagined a generation earlier. One of those traditions is the way legacy families are celebrated during the very first and the very last days of students’ journeys. In September 2014, seven new students posed with their alumni parents on the steps of Alumni Hall just after the annual Chips off the Block breakfast – and in May 2014, 16 new graduates returned to those same steps for the traditional Commencement Day photo with their alumni parents and other alumni relatives.

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From left, Isabelle Rome ’21 with her mother Stacy Silk Rome ’79, P ’21, Head of School Dennis Bisgaard P ’16, Allison Hild ’82, P ’14, ’19 and daughter Claudia Petrie ’19, Keith Wolff ’91, P ’20 and son Jackson Wolff ’20, Natalie McDonough ’16 (father, Guy McDonough ’81, P ’16 missing), Melinda Collins Eberle ’91, P ’18, ’20 and daughters Abigail Eberle ’18 and Magdalen Eberle ’20, Josh Shafer ’18 and father Glenn Shafer ’85, P ’18.

Front, from left, John Line ’79, P ’14 and Keenan Line ’14, Robert Udolf ’79, P ’12, ’14, ’16 and Claudia Udolf ’14, Katherine Gianni ’14, Mary Ann Pearson Gianni ’81, P ’14, ’14, Joseph R. Gianni ’78, P ’14, ’14, Sarah Gianni ’14 and Walter Pearson ’79, 2nd row, from left, Robert Roth ’78, P ’12, ’14 and Nicole Roth ’14, Joseph Ravalese ’51, P ’79, ’80, GP ’14, ’15, ’16, ’17, ’20, Rachel Yirigian ’14 and Beverly Ravalese Yirigian ’80, P ’14, ’16, Lynn Mather Charette ’82, P ’14, ’18 and Tucker Charette ’14, Naomi Letourneau ’14 and Steve Letourneau ’93, P ’14, ’16, Catherine Eatherton and James Eatherton ’79, P ’11, ’14, Keith Waldman ’75, P ’12, ’14, ’17 and Emma Waldman ’14, Allison Hild ’82, P ’14, ’19 and Maxwell Petrie ’14, Caroline Kaufman ’14, Charna Bortman Kaufman ’85, P ’14, ’17, ’20 and John Kaufman ’85, P ’14, ’17, ’20, 3rd row from left Arthur Wasserman ’47, GP ’14, ’18 and Samuel Goddard ’14, Sophie Pennoyer ’14 and Jennifer White Pennoyer ’85, P ’14, ’17, 4th row from left Catherine Flaherty ’14 and Patrick Flaherty ’51, P ’82, ’86, ’14, Daniel Dunham ’14 and John Dunham ’82, P ’07, ’14.


A Gala Wyvern Evening! On April 12, 2014, over 250 Wyverns gathered for the Parent Association’s biannual Black & Crimson Gala, held at the Hartford Hilton. Keynote speakers Lisa Zaccheo ’81, Laree Salmon ’99, and Jared Carroll ’02 shared thoughts on what their KO education has meant to them, personally and professionally, and ESPN personality Colin Cowherd was the emcee for the live auction. Gala Committee Chair Rise Roth P’12, ’14 and her committee worked tirelessly for months to pull off an elegant yet fun-loving and profitable affair.

Mark McCoy P’20, KOKO, Alison McCoy P’20

Head of School Dennis Bisgaard P ’16 and his wife, Monica, share a moment with KOKO.

Associate Middle School Director Kathy Dunn (left) and Joan Edwards, Diversity, Inclusion and Cultural Competency Advisor, flank keynote speaker Laree Salmon ’99

Robert Carangelo P’16, ’18, ’20, Paula Whitney P’02, ’04, ’06, ’07, and Brian Whitney P’02, ’04, ’06, ’07

KO FALL 2014 / WINTER 2015

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Please Support the 2014-15 KO Fund! Join thousands of fellow Wyverns by making a gift to the KO Fund for 2014-15. To make a secure, online gift, go to www.kingswoodoxford.org/giving; you may also access the Giving page via KO’s two new apps (see back cover for details). You may wish to support KO in monthly installments via a recurring gift, which can be made via credit card. Questions? Please contact Randy Stabile, Director of Institutional Advancement, at 860-233-9631, x5015 or stabile.r@k-o.org. Gifts of stock are most welcome and may be made directly to KO by following the School’s transfer instructions: Merrill Lynch, DTC No. 5198, Acct. No. 6JA-02096, 29 S. Main St., Suite 221, West Hartford, CT 06107. For more information, please contact Nicole Baldovi of Merrill Lynch toll free at 877-541-7788.

Challenge(s) Met!

Gifts to KO Fund Hit All-Time High in 2013-14 Under soaring ceilings and surrounded by beautiful artwork in the Wadsworth Atheneum, the KO community celebrated another record-breaking fundraising year during the Leadership Reception on Oct. 1, 2014.

Keynote speaker Emily Kim ’09 reunited with her advisor and English teacher Meg Kasprak P ’04, ’04, ’08 and Head of School Dennis Bisgaard P ’16.

ADVANCEMENT

After welcoming remarks from James Lyon ’48, Debby Coleman Hyde ’68, P ’99, ’02, ’04, and Head of School Dennis Bisgaard P ’16, keynote speaker Emily Kim ’09, a consultant at Alvarez & Marsal’s Private Equity Services Group, reflected on how well KO prepared her for life after graduation – and how important it is to give back.

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A historic $1,256,591 was raised for the KO Fund in 2013-14, bolstered by a number of special efforts: • A “40 for 40 Challenge” on May 15, honoring “Doc” Ann Serow’s 40 years of teaching, more than tripled its goal with a total of 150 gifts on that one day • The “Million-Dollar Wyvern Challenge” in June 2014, through which an anonymous donor gave $1 million toward KO’s top strategic initiatives after 1,000 people made gifts during the last month of the fiscal year • Current parents increased their participation in the KO Fund by 15 percentage points, hitting 78% – a testament to the dedicated work of the KO Fund Parent Volunteers.

For the complete report of the record-breaking 2013-14 fundraising year, go to www.kingswoodoxford.org/annualreport.

(Left to right) Orlando Kirton P ’16, ’16, ’18, Teresa and Robert Casale P ’16

(Left to right) Fred Cuda ’79 and Eileen Cuda, Beth Cuda Baker ’80, and Dick Cuda P ’79, ’80


WHY DO I GIVE? Burton L. How, Jr. ’47 Mendham, NJ

Lisa Bower Foley ’85 Wellesley, MA

Retired; formerly President, Allied Chemical International (now Honeywell Corp).

Founder, Lisa’s Photography

I decided to include KO in my estate plans as I received a sound educational background at Kingswood, which was good preparation for college. I chose the Charitable Remainder Trust as the vehicle for my bequest because favorable tax rules allow more pretax dollars to go to KO than is the case with other vehicles. I hope my bequest will assist other KO students to get the sound, formative educational background that I received, which should be very helpful to them in college and later life.

When I was younger, my parents used to say, “there is no greater gift than the gift of a good education.” Now I find myself saying the same thing to my own two young children. I loved my years at KO. I learned how to be a good student, teammate, and citizen. I feel like my teachers and coaches prepared me well for college, career, and life. A gift to KO was an obvious choice for me and my family, and I decided to leave a bequest in my will because it is simple and gives the most flexibility to the School. I hope that my gift will allow the school to expand its involvement with STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math), provide financial assistance to a student in need, and/or invest in the professional development of the faculty.

Make the Gift of a Lifetime and Join the Nicholson-Martin Circle Education is a legacy – and your Kingswood Oxford education is a vital part of that legacy. Since 1909, thousands of committed alumni, parents, Trustees, and friends have supported KO and have provided for its future. Some have made gifts during their lifetime; others have chosen to provide for the School through a planned gift. With a planned gift, you can leave a lasting legacy of support for scholarships, teaching, and research while also accommodating your own personal, financial, and philanthropic goals. For more information about the Nicholson-Martin Circle, please contact Stephanie McQueen (mcqueen.s@k-o.org) or the Office of Institutional Advancement (860-233-9631).

KO FALL 2014 / WINTER 2015

Martin Wolman P ’80, ’82, ’84, ’88 Deep River, CT

Alyce Hild P ’80, ’82, ’91, GP ’07, ’11, ’14, ’19 Hartford, CT

Of Counsel, Day Pitney LLP There are four obvious reasons why I have included KO in my estate plan: Koren ’80, Bart ’82, Brett ’84, and Brandon ’88. My children all received a superb education at KO as well as excellent preparation for college and life thereafter. Our family is grateful, and a gift to KO acknowledges that gratitude. My gift is from my retirement plan to the scholarship fund I have already established, which is a very tax-effective way to make such a gift. There are, of course, other reasons. The importance of education – and a KO education, in particular – is clear. To ensure the availability of a KO education to future generations and a broad spectrum of students it is essential that the School be financially sound. A planned gift at death allows me to help continue the availability of that education after I am gone. Also, I believe it is incumbent upon each of us who has benefitted in one way or another from the KO education to support the School financially and otherwise. Participation in the Nicholson-Martin Society gives me the pleasure of knowing that in some small way I am doing my part.

Executive Director, Loaves and Fishes Ministries My husband, David, and I support Kingswood Oxford and think you should, too. We have chosen to leave a bequest in our will. All three of our children graduated from KO. Our son, David, is an English teacher there. We have so enjoyed having three grandsons graduate, and now a granddaughter is a Form 2 student there. Throughout my 35 years of association with KO, I have been a parent, a Trustee, a grandparent, and now a Trustee Emerita. As our children have assumed their adult roles in life, I am keenly aware of what a KO education has provided them. Now, as a grandparent, I have the luxury of perspective, and I see how my grandchildren are benefiting from the outstanding faculty and programs at KO. When Dave and I evaluate where we will place financial support, we want to know that place has a strategy. KO clearly has a strategy, and it enables the School to make key decisions, articulate what this place is about, and communicate those commitments to our students in a way we can understand. That kind of leadership requires courage …. vision and values. That kind of leadership changes the way people think and can help people find the passion in the work they love doing. How do we help people find their passion, whatever issue they care deeply about, and how do we support that process? Our future gift will help to secure the future of KO. We must support the change we wish to see. We are the model and the mentors for our children who have the potential to be tomorrow’s leaders 27


The Magna Carta in Houston: A Wyvern’s Firsthand Account The Magna Carta – the foundation of English common law and one of the models for the U.S. Constitution – was on display at the Houston Museum of Natural Science from February through August 2014, loaned from Hereford Cathedral in Gloucester, England. Peter Fairbairn ’49 of Houston attended a private viewing of the document, which will celebrate its 800th anniversary in June 2015 in Runnymede. He shares these observations: “The viewing room of the Magna Carta was secured by 24-hour security. The document was encased in glass with a constant temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit and 40% humidity. Prior to the viewing, Dr. Margaret Todd, Professor of Medieval English History at the University of Pennsylvania, presented a paragraph-byparagraph analysis and interpretation of the terms, conditions, and rights contained in the document. Needless to say, the majority of peasants did not receive any new rights. The principal benefits accrued to a relatively small number of individuals belonging to the nobility. Subsequent addendums

CLASS NOTES

Kingswood 1941

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Sam Haviland and his wife, Frances Beekley Haviland ’46, live at Stoneridge in Mystic, CT, where Jim Burbank ’40 also resides. Sam also keeps in contact with Cy Seymour and Bob Danaher, who are doing well. Sam is enjoying the slower retired life.

Kingswood 1946 Research chemist William Wadsworth, who holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from Trinity College and a doctorate from Pennsylvania State University, is now a professor emeritus at South Dakota State University and lives in Brookings, SD.

to the original document granted increasing rights to a larger number of ordinary men. What began as a peace treaty brokered by King John and a number of barons is now celebrated throughout the world as a symbol of individual rights and freedom. The principles of the Magna Carta were carried to the New World and included in the charters of a number of colonies. The principles were considered fundamental by the founders of the U.S. Constitution and were an influence in the drafting of the first ten amendments of the new Constitution (i.e., the Bill of Rights).”

Oxford 1951 Sara Barr Palmer Class Correspondent Lots of news from Vivian Hathaway Crouse. On August 23, she welcomed great-granddaughter Emory Monroe Baskett. Meanwhile, she and husband Craig sold their Chapel Hill townhouse in March on the first day they listed it.They are now in an independent-living residence in Naples, FL. Their new contact info: 4160 Crafton Road, Apt. A-8, Naples, FL 34103; land line 239-431-7783; mobile: 919-810-8323; e-mail: vivianhcrouse@gmail.com. Where does Frannie Steane Baldwin get her energy? For her

80th birthday, her three kids treated her to a river-rafting trip on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon! It included sleeping under the stars and spending a night at a remote ranch on the North Rim. Frannie also attended the graduation ceremonies last spring of her two youngest grandchildren. Condolences to Ann Fisher Putnam, whose husband, Doug Putnam ’49 died at the end of August. He served in the U.S. Army for two years and in the Connecticut State Senate from 1977-1979, and was active in civic and charitable organizations. Our heartfelt sympathy goes to Ann and her family.


A Glimpse of our History: Kingswood School in Bath, England In April 2014, Burnham Gould ’50 and his wife Vivian visited the “original” Kingswood School in Bath, England – the alma mater of KO’s very first headmaster, George Nicholson. Burnham shared photos and these observations of his visit: “As you know, our alma mater was founded by George Nicholson, a graduate of this school in Bath. He began tutoring boys in Hartford in 1914, formed a new Kingswood School, moved it into Mark Twain’s former home in 1918, and to its present location in 1922.

Dormitory

Pem Donegan Schultz hosted lots of family at her home on Cape Cod over the summer, including her brother Hal from Washington State and her daughter Lucy from New Zealand. “What a joy,” said Pemmie. Lucy is a hospital chaplain in Auckland. Her children are now in their mid-20s. Pemmie greeted her 81st birthday with amazement that she could have reached that age. However, she has a cousin who is 101, so there is some long-lived DNA there! Pem also reports that she recently read some beautiful poetry by Pat Mooney Sutton, who also lives on the Cape and has become a published poet. Congratulations, Pat!

KO FALL 2014 / WINTER 2015

“The Kingswood School in Bath is a Methodist independent school housed in a very impressive stone-and-brick building complex on a beautiful 218-acre campus overlooking the ancient city famous for its Roman baths. It includes a preparatory school for students up to age 11 and a senior school for older children. It became coeducational in 1973. In 1998, when an affiliated preparatory school 50 miles away in Newbery closed, the preparatory school joined the senior school in taking boarders as well as day students.

Entrance to Administrative Area

Pam Snow has sold her house! It sold much faster than expected, so she’s temporarily living with her daughter Wendy until her new duplex apartment is ready. The Palmers were headed to the U.K. in October, for the usual Navy reunions and visits with family and friends, and then on to India for a couple of weeks, where we will visit some places we missed on our last trip.

Oxford 1952 Mary Jeanne Anderson Jones Class Correspondent This summer I have seen Helen, Joanie, Norma, Gail and Gilda

“John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, founded Kingswood as the world’s first Methodist school. In 1739 he built Kingswood House in a coal-mining neighborhood of Bristol, England, called ‘Kingswood,’ noted for its poverty, squalor, violence and crime. Kingswood House was used as both a chapel and a school, called ‘Collier’s School.’ Then Wesley added a larger building on the same property. It formally opened on Midsummer Day 1748 as ‘Kingswood School,’ for boarding as well as day students. His brother, Charles Wesley, composed a hymn for the

Women’s Dormitory

occasion. The school was relocated 15 miles to its present location in Bath in 1852. “Kingswood School is a fantastic place. The one in Bath is very impressive. The one in West Hartford made a tremendous positive difference in my life. Special thanks go to George Nicholson, who made it possible for me to attend; ‘Doc’ Crawford, who greatly helped me cope with the English language; and ‘Chick’ Jacobus, my math teacher and soccer coach, who ensured that I went to Princeton.”

New Arts Building

briefly, and all seems to be well with them, but I have little to pass on in the way of details.

Oxford 1953

I have some news: I bought a condo at Sailfish Point, near Stuart, FL, on the East Coast about an hour north of Palm Beach. It is on the ocean and a truly glorious spot – except that it needed a total restoration inside. The place was dreadful – good bones but horrible decorating. So now, order has been restored and the place is becoming home. Moving was a bigger jolt than I had anticipated, but I am beginning to feel that it was worthwhile and that life in the sunshine with new friends will be unbelievable.

Page Phelps Coulter: My daughter Emilie and I are going back to Devon, England, to redo the hike we couldn’t do last year because I got sick the day we arrived. Three weeks later, I am hiking in the Azores off Portugal with AMC. My sixth book of published poetry, “Squam Fever,” is making a splash around Squam Lake (no pun intended). Sarah and Wally Morrison came for a fun visit this June. New Hampshire living is still great – cold but great.

Vitty O’Connell O’Toole Class Correspondent

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Oxford 1955

CLASS NOTES

Betsy Fried Parsons celebrated her 77th birthday this year; she and Class Correspondent Helene Liberson Keers think fondly about the class house party that Betsy’s parents hosted at their beach house in Madison, CT.

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Loulie Hyde Sutro: In July we had a beautiful three weeks at Glenbrook, Lake Tahoe. We rent the same big lakeside house every year, and all 16 of the family are there with us the second week. We were LOUD, but it was great: three kids and spouses, eight grands, four boys, four girls, ages 4-15. I played terrible golf with each of the boys. Marin Villages, my non-profit that helps seniors stay in their own homes if they wish, is growing. We now have over 500 members and volunteers, with six Villages and a seventh in the hopper. The Marin Senior Fair Committee voted us the most excellent senior non-profit in the county. Hooray! I must say I enjoy doing this work (volunteer), although retirement is probably not too far in the offing. But what will I DO? Jack and I took a six-week cruise on Seabourn Lines to the Middle East with friends in late September. We started in Athens and ended up in Singapore, going through the Suez Canal, down the Red Sea, across to southern India, then Thailand, Malaysia and finally Singapore. Never did I EVER think I would be visiting the likes of Oman and Myanmar, not to mention Israel, Jordan, etc.! Barbara McBride Christie: I dearly long to see my Oxford friends. Faith and I get together often, and I did stay for a fun two nights with Vitty in NY in April. My six kids, their spouses and their 14 children are all thriving, and we even had two grandchildren weddings recently, in Tahoe and Dallas. My brother John and I stay close, and I am very blessed to have such a large, loving family. A really good read is “Under the Wide and Starry Sky” by Nancy Horan, a novel of the amazing life of Robert Louis Stevenson. Please come visit; Vermont and I would love it. Faith Learned Pepe: I was married to Ken (Kendall) Smith on May 6. Some of you may remember him.

He went to Loomis and then Yale and Yale School of Architecture. We plan to spend half our time in Putney, VT, where I have lived for many years, and the rest at his house in San Francisco (when we’re not traveling). It will be wonderful to get away from cold New England winters. Flowers bloom in SF all year round! My email address is Faithlpepe@gmail.com. I’d love to hear from any classmates from ’53. Amazing, isn’t it, that we’re now approaching 80! June Heard Wadsworth: Fortunately we are doing well. Frank (Kingswood ’47) recovered well from last August’s surgery for a ruptured quad tendon and went fishing in Canada with our three sons while I “held down the fort” at home. Our summer started out with four graduations and a wedding. First, our grandson Andy graduated from UVA with an engineering degree in May. Next, grandson Drew graduated from middle school and granddaughter Christina graduated from high school in California. She now attends Stanford University. Finally, grandson Joseph graduated from Collegiate School in Richmond, VA, and now attends James Madison University. A week later, our granddaughter Katie had a “destination wedding in Charlottesville, VA; she and her husband met as freshmen at UVA. Not an easy event to plan when you live in Wellesley, MA, but they did it – and it was amazing. Everything went like clockwork. We enjoyed the spectacular weather as we went back and forth to Block Island all Summer. Two of our three sons and their families visited over July 4th, and in August our middle son and his son came for a visit. His wife Lora and daughter Christina were unable to make it because of Christina’s Summer job at Stanford. As we get older, we find it less and less appealing to live in Connecticut in the Winter. Then, of course,

there is always the question of downsizing and what to do next … Molly Davis DePatie: I’m active with my favorite volunteer job with “Staying Put in New Canaan.” Our goal is to keep seniors in their own homes as long as possible. I do other things with church and Meals on Wheels and a sewing group. I’m also active in two bridge groups, and I play tennis two or three times a week. I’m also learning how to play the ukulele, which is fun. My mother used to play and taught me the four basic chords, which I always remember – but that was a LONG time ago, and I’m branching out. “Hi” to all. Bland Dew Maloney: Ed and I spent two weeks in Truro with Libet, Sarah, Charlie, Jack, Nanny Co and Letty with their four children and many grands, with at least one baby on the way. We see Sarah and Wally every day, with merriment all around. We are off to see Ed’s children and grands in Vinalhaven, ME, for his daughter’s 60th birthday. Hard to believe in between trips I continue to work at my wonderful job, play bridge and see friends. Ed is beginning to slow down a bit because of hearing and stroke, but that does not stop him from reading, bridge and an active social life. He is 88 but otherwise healthy as can be. Sarah Morrison and I hopefully will be going to Africa again this year to visit Libet. She now lives in Swaziland, which is beautiful and safe. Aside from our beautiful, idyllic life, the world is a scary, sad place. We should all get together as much as we can because, “who knows?” We saw Kay and Don recently and had a grand time; she looks as beautiful as ever, and Don is recovering well from an operation and is sweet as a peach. Vitty O’Connell O’Toole: I spent the summer in Madison, with welcome visits from Tom (age 54,


from San Diego, whose children were on a trip with mom); Peter and Eve (age 48, from D.C.), Owen and Pamela (age 53, from Monrovia, CA), and Evan, 7. Evan – a wonderful boy and great reader – has done commercials and worked on three movies this year: “Wild” with Reese Witherspoon, “Cake” with Jennifer Aniston, and a Warren Beatty movie about Howard Hughes’ secret life. We had an interesting day at Mystic Seaport visiting the refurbished whaling ship, Charles W. Morgan. Ellen (age 52) lives in Norfolk, CT, and visits frequently. Her older daughter, Emily, has just started at College of Charleston; she wants to escape New England weather. (Her mother went to Duke, so this New Englander is told to stop whining.) I still head to NYC for college friends and attended Atlantic Theater productions (where Neil Pepe is artistic director) with Faith Pepe (Smith!) and Barbie.

traveling, especially to Italy, much cooking (she loves it and wrote a cookbook of her family’s favorite recipes), a summer house on a lake in New Hampshire where her family gathers, and none of her children are more than 35 minutes away. She has been an at-home mom, but has had time to do much volunteering in the community and elsewhere abroad. She is looking forward to our 60th reunion.

them for two weeks and went to a sailing camp. Seth has stayed busy with the historical society and is giving lots of talks, particularly on the 100th anniversary of the Cape Cod Canal. In October, they will return to Florida, where Alice has joined the

Helen Brown Kleiner earned her Master’s degree in Indo-European languages and plans to go on for her Ph.D. This includes not only European languages but also Near Eastern languages. She’s a true scholar.

Lucy Read and Dick return each winter to Fort Myers Beach, where they have rented the same place for years. They sometimes see Lucy’s son, Patxi, who lives in Miami Beach and has a busy musical schedule. Last winter, they enjoyed visits from vacationing grandkids, and in the Spring, Lucy attended high school graduations in Arizona, Colorado, and New Hampshire. She and Dick then visited his family in Maine before Lucy went to Spain with her son Ralph’s daughter, Cali. They had a wonderful time, and Cali really took to the Spanish language and spent time with a number of cousins. Lucy spent time with Bea and Antonio, who reside in Madrid. In September, Lucy and Dick took their first river cruise up the Rhine, after which they met Boots EdwardsCogswell and Dick and other classmates for lunch at Bricco in West Hartford.

Betsy Fried Parsons and I reminisced about our class house party at her parents’ house at the beach in Madison, CT. Wonderful memories.

Oxford 1956 Oxford 1954 Marjorie Harvey Purves writes, just returned from a weekend on the Vineyard. This included a wonderful film festival and a visit with my daughter Molly and her family – including my grandson Rodeo! Caroline C. January reports from New York City, “Everything is the same, gratefully.” Sandra Solly Utz writes from Longmont, CO, “I have downsized my home – no more steps! In a great community with lots of activities, but still in Longmont!”

Oxford 1955 Helene Liberson Keers Class Correspondent I received a long, newsy email from Corrinne Volpe Spinale. She has had a full life with lots of children, grandchildren, much KO FALL 2014 / WINTER 2015

Heidi Wood Huddleston Class Correspondent Alice Butler Mendell and Seth have moved to Fort Myers, FL, from Mattapoisett, their home for many years. Although it was difficult, Alice says they know they made the right decision. From their apartment located where the Caloosahatchee River empties into the Gulf, they can see dolphins, manatees, pelicans, ibis, and the occasional bald eagle. Not long after they settled in there, they were on the road again. In April, they went back to Cocoa Beach to celebrate their daughter Margaret’s 50th birthday (Heidi’s niece, her sister Betsy’s daughter, was also there). In May, they made a trip back to Avon Old Farms. In July, they returned to Mattapoisett, where they rented an apartment in a grand old 1802 home across from the harbor and gazebo. Their granddaughter Kelsea stayed with

Shell Point singers and where Lucy Read and Dick also spend the winter.

Boots Edwards-Cogswell writes that life in Medford, OR, is much different from New Hampshire, but Dick’s middle daughter, Lisa, and her beloved boyfriend, David, are helpful in every way. Boots’ son, Alex, lives in Asheville, NC, with his family. Boots has dropped many of her civic activities but still enjoys lots of music in various venues, and she goes to church regularly. Dick has joined the choir and is the parish treasurer. I had a nice phone conversation with her recently, and she sounded very upbeat.

Sandy Martin McDonough is thriving and practicing law. She continues to breed and show her wonderful dogs. Her granddaughter Caroline Couture, a musician, married her music partner, Danny Golub. The wedding was held at an Adirondack lodge on a pristine lake; family and friends took over cabins and the entire site for several days. Among the guests were several of Caroline’s friends from New Zealand, where she spent her junior year in high school. The ring bearer was Caroline and Danny’s beagle! Nancy Austin Reed shared the sad news that her brother, John Austin, passed away in early March from Alzheimer’s. We express our sympathies to her at this difficult time. Nancy wrote that an apartment has become available at Seabury in Bloomfield, giving her only three months to clean out, pack, sell her house, and move. She says she is almost in panic mode, as she has to downsize drastically. I know several of us can relate to that. She is excited about the many activities available there and says now her kids will not have to worry about her. Pat Hanson Rodgers escaped the harsh winter by visiting friends from the Vineyard in Scottsdale, AZ. In addition to the spectacular weather, she enjoyed a terrific exhibit of Georgia O’Keeffe paintings at the Heard Museum as well as many Chihuly glass sculptures in a local desert garden. Pat’s current interest is papermaking, and she loves working on this with family members, including her 5- and 7-year-old granddaughters. Edie Wilcock Patrick visited her son Martin and three granddaughters in Wellington, New Zealand, last November. He co-parents amicably with her 31


daughter-in-law, now split, and they have “returning resident” status in NZ. Edie will visit again for Christmas. One thing that is wonderful about this job as class secretary is that I hear from classmates both in writing and on the phone. I recently spoke with Trina Shaffer Beaghan; she sounds happy and well, still living in Chatham, MA.

Oxford 1957

CLASS NOTES

Jill Williams, who divides her time between Tucson and Southern California, has shifted from writer to painter – of furry friends, including Sport, the dog belonging to Phyllis Chapman Fenander’s daughter. The portraits make a great gift ($50 for 7x9 inches, $75 for 10x13 inches)! Contact her at jill.williams123 @yahoo.com.

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I also had a nice talk with Jane Brandon Pfaff, who sadly lost her beloved John after a long illness. She is now wrestling with the financial and legal tasks related to his death. We send our sincerest sympathies to her. I hope Jane has as many happy memories from their years together as I had with Joe. Nancy Hirshberg Wilensky wrote that her granddaughter Melissa earned a Master’s degree in health administration, and her other granddaughter, Ariel, just started at the Boston University School of Medicine. They are all thrilled! Her sister’s son is running for California state senator from District 26. Nancy and I spent Labor Day weekend together, and we had a great time reminiscing about our days at Oxford. Sally David Ardrey writes, “I was in France in April and early May, a trip mostly to Normandy, the D-Day beaches and the Loire Valley. It was such beautiful country and an amazing experience. I was in Nantucket for a few days this Summer and had fun with my daughter, her husband and two of my grandchildren. We went swimming, kayaking, and paddle boarding, but most dangerous of all was my falling over backward in a rocking chair. I was fine, but the chair did not survive the crash. I met Clive Cowper (Kingswood ’56) this Summer – the first time I’ve seen him since Jan. 16, 1953, when we co-starred in the

Kingswood and Oxford production of ‘You Can’t Take It With You.’ He had the program with him. I’m happy to report that I am still dancing flamenco and Argentine tango.” Jane Cady Fitchen writes, “I’ve been moving my brother to our hospice facility, and my daughter is moving here from Minnesota, so I’ve been getting her new digs painted and carpets cleaned. My sister is also in a nursing home with advanced COPD and diabetes, so my life is pretty much caretaking and paying the bills. I still play tennis four or five times a week. I have just shipped a grandson off to college in Boston. His family lives in Oman, but he summered here for a couple of months. Two other grandkids are seniors at the University of Wisconsin and Carleton College in Minnesota. Another grandchild is a freshman at Ripon College in Wisconsin. The eldest grand graduated in May from the University of Wisconsin and is a registered nurse in cardiac and thoracic surgery at University of Wisconsin Hospital. It’s fun to have two of them in town. I haven’t been in Connecticut since our reunion in ’06, but I did spend a night in Lynn, MA, with Elizabeth Gordon McKim last September. I hope some day to have more freedom for travel.”

it seems hard to believe that Joe passed away three years ago. I sold our home in Kentucky, but divide my time between a lovely townhouse in Bowling Green and my beautiful place in Hilton Head. I visited Joe’s mother, who now resides in Cary, NC, for Mother’s Day and to celebrate her 98th birthday. She is a delight: still chipper and relatively healthy. In June, our two oldest daughters traveled with me to Austria to visit Kristina, who has been living in Vienna for almost six years. We had a wonderful time exploring this magnificent country with our “native” tour guides, Kristina and Sophia, my 10-year-old granddaughter. They then spent a few weeks with me in Hilton Head, and from there, we drove to Colorado for a family reunion of my father’s side of the family. My brother, who lives in Nebraska, and my sister from Concord, MA, were there, which was great fun. After the reunion, a longtime friend flew in from Charlotte and, along with Kristina and Sophia, we took off on the adventure of a lifetime – four gals seeing the vast and absolutely beautiful country we are so lucky to live in. We drove throughout the Wild West, staying in B&Bs and ranches, often in very remote areas, and covered some 5,000 miles. It was the best trip.

Oxford 1957 Cynthia Kohn Hobart continues to enjoy playing with her 2 ½-year-old granddaughter. She remains active in her church and volunteers at the local elementary school. She walks regularly, takes Pilates classes, and stretches and does yoga every morning. She even spent five days canoeing and hiking in the North Woods of Wisconsin. Nine years ago she started doing exercises from Peter Egoscue’s book, Pain Free, which enabled her to walk after severe pain had immobilized her. As for me, my life has settled, but

Phyllis Chapman Fenander Class Correspondent Hilda Brown Daley and her husband, Dan, are grateful for their three adult children and four grandchildren. Dan is still a broker in Boston, and Hilda is still in the arts; she donated her viola to a worthy cause in May. She has studied art at AIB, Radcliffe Ceramic Studios, Montserrat College for printmaking, and the Art Institute of Boston, and she holds a degree in painting from the Museum of Fine Arts School. She also studied music at The New


be closer to her family. She was a vibrant member of our class, and our hearts go out to her daughters and other family members.

Oxford 1957

England Conservatory, where they gave her special student status. She sends her best regards to all. Martha Keirstead Dubois and her husband, Tew, and family returned to Ocean Point in Maine for a week in September, as they have for many years, including a large family reunion for a recent wedding. Elizabeth Abel Lane, our new class agent for fundraising, and I are both trying to find your correct emails and addresses. Bonnie? Dottie? Jane G.? Anyone to whom we are still sending snail mail: Do you have an email address? Debby Bland Albert and I met for a “power lunch” (we rock) at the Canoe Club in Hanover. What a lot of energy Debby has, and I found her … reading a book! We discovered multiple overlaps of friends and ideas. It’s always great to see her, and now we live just across the river from each other. Martha Yost Newcomer writes, “Not much to report here,” and then describes serving as a judge for a skating competition with 600 kids; then 60 hours without power; a week in northern Michigan with her whole family of seven adults and three little ones; and off to New Britain, CT, to see her sister. Tough winter with 97” of snow and KO FALL 2014 / WINTER 2015

record cold meant working most of the summer shaping up the yard – and herself. This Fall, she returns to her two choral groups. Not much to report?! Dede Stearns Hoffman writes from Austin that her son Scott is expecting his second child in September, and she is looking forward to a trip she has planned for next April. We (Phyllis Chapman Fenander and my husband, Elliot) have “settled in but not down” at Kendal at Hanover, NH, a continuing-care retirement community. My younger daughter, Hilary, and her husband have moved to Yakima, WA, where she will work for four years in an underserved area to pay back her medical school scholarship. My older daughter keeps opening fitness studios offering cycling and yoga, called Resolute Fitness in Austin, TX. We are still trying to sell our house. Want a ski lodge? Hope you are all dry, safe from fires, out of any war zone, and living well.

Oxford 1958 Sue Mather Dabanian Class Correspondent Our class suffered a tragic loss with Carol McCrann Proom’s unexpected death in May. She had recently moved to Maine to

It was nice to hear from Elise Hooker Sirman. She and David divide their summer between Simsbury and their place in Sandgate, VT, where they usually have a house full of kids and grandkids – hectic and fun. Elise took her grandsons (ages 7 and 11) to hot and humid Washington, DC, in July. They had a great time, and grandma managed to keep up pretty well. Blair Smyth Lang reported that her garden was beautiful this year and wondered what happened to those class members who rarely or never respond – SO DO I!!! (You know who you are!) Penny Hoffman McConnel had a fantastic surprise 75th birthday this year. She came home from work to find Peter and grandson Luke (age 5) from France, John from Mill Valley, CA, and Michael from Phoenix; hubby Jim and her sons worked on the surprise for six months! As usual, Penny and Jim spent two months in Carpinteria, CA, this past Winter to escape the cold. Betsy Swinehart Riel was recently the chief cook and chauffeur for her three grandkids – two teens and a 21 year old – while their parents (daughter Katie and hubby) were in Hawaii. Bets had forgotten how late teens stay up and how much driving she did to activities! Sarah Duffield’s house had the usual revolving door this Summer, with kids and grandkids visiting. While they were there, her grandkids went to camp – which took Sarah back in time, as she was up early making lunches, etc. Everyone

enjoyed the lovely beach and the enormous “swimming pool” called the Atlantic Ocean. Daughter Caitlin still travels all over the world – ports of call include the Congo and Bangladesh – for her job with a women’s health organization. Henrietta’s private practice is doing well. Anne Van Winkle is thrilled that her daughter and three adorable grandchildren are finally back in California, so she gets to see them all the time. Katherine will teach at the St. John’s Church Academy in San Francisco and hopes to live in the city (SF) eventually. Lisa Shaffer Anderson spent some time on the Cape this Summer with sister Trina, then this Fall planned to go on a Mount Holyoke trip by ship from Lisbon to Barcelona, following the old trade routes. Dudley will meet them in Sorrento for a Chrysler Museum exploration of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Lisa and Dudley are gradually giving pieces from their collection to museums, and she is involved with the Vollis Simpsons Whirligig Park. Their health is relatively good, but one thing is missing – grandchildren! Lisa wants to remind everyone that Wilson, NC, is just off I-95, for those passing by. Liz Sexton Sgro just made my deadline after a month in her house in Calabria, Italy. Anthony and Gio (John) were there most of the time, along with lots of friends. She may even look into retiring, which would enable her to spend a whole summer there. Sherri Campbell Benton is thrilled to report the birth of her first grandchild, Nicholas StewartDodge. As far as yours truly, life has been eventful. In March we went on a 33


Oxford 1959 Zélie Calvocoressi Tourais Class Correspondent

Oxford 1959

CLASS NOTES

Janice Cianci Castillo, left, with a friend on an elephant in Africa.

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Caribbean cruise. We took the red eye to Ft. Lauderdale (never again), so I was tired, hungry and stressed out trying to get to the ship. I couldn’t find the elevator, so we got on the escalator with our luggage – and I promptly passed out going up the escalator! When I came to, I was seated on a bench with my arm bandaged and three EMTs with a gurney asking if I wanted to go to the hospital. Did I mention that I fell on Greg, so he was banged up and bloody. So I cruised with a broken rib and other bruises, which physical therapy has since corrected … Oh, and you know what they say about getting right back on when you fall off a horse? We just signed up for another cruise! This one begins and ends in San Francisco, so no escalators or flying. We spent three weeks in Venice, FL, again in May and had a wonderful time relaxing and swimming in the 84-degree Gulf. Till next time! Smather

Here is a beautiful tribute to Polly Merritt O’Leary from her close friend Lynn Wilkie Murray: “Polly Merritt O’Leary was a good friend. I knew her in elementary school and became close to her and her family in junior high and high school. When our good friend Marianne Dunn (Jepson) applied to Oxford for sophomore year, Polly and I decided to apply for junior year. The three of us became a “triumvirate” the last two years at Oxford and were inseparable most of the time. I recall rides to and from school in my 1949 Studebaker convertible, fun trips to Friendly’s after school, and wonderful dinners at Polly’s house with her parents and three siblings. There were weekend trips to the beautiful family summer home in Martha’s Vineyard as well. Although the three of us were separated during college days and after graduation, we always managed to keep in touch and see each other when we were back in Connecticut. Marianne’s premature death at age 42 brought the two of us together once again. We drifted apart somewhat, then were reunited once again at our Oxford 50th reunion five years ago. Polly came to Glastonbury numerous times, often with her best friend, Reilly, the adorable Havanese, and we spent the time talking and walking with our dogs – her one, and my three. Family – children and grandchildren – were all important in her life. Her personality changed very little over the years, and I still loved her marvelous wit and sarcastic sense of humor. She was looking forward to coming down from Framingham to attend one of my big weekend dog agility trials in August or September, and it saddens me that we never got to do that. She was such a great dog lover and would have enjoyed watching me perform with my vizsla.

Polly will always be a bright spot in my memory, and I will miss her.” I think that I can speak for our class in saying that we will all miss her. Beth Wiesel Rougas writes, “I join the rest of my classmates in mourning the loss of Polly. She fought the good fight. On a happier note, most of us in Hawaii escaped the effects of Hurricane Iselle. However, many on the Big Island of Hawaii continue to suffer the consequences, as of this writing. Big news, as always, was a visit from both sons and all the grandchildren … at the same time. Everyone is flourishing, for which we are all grateful. And I was lucky enough to have several old friends from the Mainland ‘come by’ as well. With good books, good friends, beautiful weather … mostly, I feel ‘Lucky Live Hawaii,’ as we say here.” Xanny Learned Preston reports: “Anne, my sister-in-law, and I spent almost two months in Keene Valley, where we had a wonderful time seeing family and friends and lots of wildlife. Anne is an excellent spotter and saw many deer, a few chipmunks, wild turkeys, a porcupine, and even a moose near the Northway just south of Plattsburgh. Washington is pleasant and quite cool, so a good summer all around.” World Traveler Janice Cianci Castillo writes, “Alas, I am back safe and sound, having survived my adventures in the wilds of the African bush. My trip was a dream come true and more! Fourteen of us went with OAT (Overseas Adventure Travel) to explore the bush in Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, looking for wild animals, etc., with our trip leader James, guides and drivers, who were so knowledgeable and such amazing trackers.We camped in four different parks and


Oxford 1960

Oxford 1960

Cynthia Baird Roberts and Michael Roberts ’59 enjoyed having grandchildren Eliza, 12, and Porter, 15, with them on Nantucket this Summer. Cynthia says that both are well grounded and are the light of her life.

Nan Sunderland Brown and her husband, Pete, celebrate the 47th birthday of their son Doug (second from right), along with their son Jeff and daughter Lori on Cape Cod last Summer. Nan and Pete also have eight grandchildren. They studied in Oxford, England this Fall – for the fourth time!

preserves for three nights each in Zambia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. We were so well taken care by all the staffs. The chefs put out incredible meals from primitive kitchens, and we would even stop in the bush for high tea every afternoon! I’ll never forget the hours of ‘African massages’ as our Land Rover safari jeeps forged the bush and traveled over the rough roads; learning to spot animals hidden in the bush; hearing the animals throughout the night in the distance and even having some elephants and hippos wandering through our camps, bumping into our tents as they ate their way through; enjoying the serenity of a boat ride down one river and a canoe ride down another; and always being greeted with the songs of numerous birds in the mornings. We were awakened every morning at 6am to temps in the high 30s (brrrr!) that warmed up by afternoon to the high 70s! Our beds were always heated with hot water bottles before we turned in. We would dress in layers, peeling them off as the day went and then putting them back on after KO FALL 2014 / WINTER 2015

sundown. Needless to say, we never left on our safaris without our cameras and binoculars. It was so exciting to track down lions in the bush with their kill day and night and to back up with respect when crossing paths with an elephant or more. We always had to be escorted to our tents after dark, and in one camp the guides always carried .458 rifles day and night. Seeing the herds of so many different animals at the rivers and watering holes was so impressive! In Zimbabwe, we visited a primary school and a primitive village whose leader and families had never entertained outsiders before and wanted to know all about us. Our trip ended with a visit to one of the Seven Wonders of the World: Victoria Falls in South Africa, seen from the park and, for some of us, from a helicopter. At the Elephant-Back Safari, my friend and I rode an elephant around the bush there. The Africans whom we met were so welcoming and enthusiastic. I highly recommend this trip, which turned out to be a top favorite among our group of experienced travelers.”

Kingswood 1959 Richard Morgan writes, “Sorry I did not make the reunion. The last six months have brought increased church responsibilities, both on weekends and weekdays – unusual workload for a retiree.”

Oxford 1960 Jane Anderson Innerd Class Correspondent Jennifer Ripple Akridge was excited about a special family wedding in September in Canada: Her sister’s son, Matt, is a police constable in Victoria, British Columbia, and married a “darling Canadian girl.” Family members came from all over, including Jennifer’s son and his wife from Colorado, her brother and his wife from Connecticut, and her nephew and family from San Francisco. After that, she planned to fly to Rome to spend three glorious weeks with three of her girlfriends. They will tour Tuscany and the Italian coast, including Rome, Florence, Pisa, Santa Margarita, Bolzano, and Venice. This trip was on Jennifer’s bucket list; a dream come true!

Oxford 1960 Ginnie Lee Luxton reports that she loves watching the growth of her grandchildren Amy, 16, James, 11, and Ashleigh, 9. Her husband, Tom, is still setting up a consultancy business. From Down Under, she writes: “Australia is quite an awesome country. Coming from New England, it was quite a change from what I was used to. There still is a feeling of antiquity, and the colors are so different, though many European plants are being imported. There are some forests, for instance, in Victoria where the trees are thousands of years old and are jealously guarded from those trying to cut them down. The terrain has changed over the millennium, but still smacks of ancient. We do have the tropics in the North, but, other than the coastline, the country is very dry. Australia could do with a Mississippi River running through the middle.”

Prilla Smith Brackett shares news from Pitircik Acan Uler and her husband, Yildirim. Last Summer Pitircik and Yildirim traveled to France to be with family, but this year they remained at their home in Girne, Northern Cyprus. Yildirim fell in their bathroom and cracked his foot. He couldn’t handle the many flights of stairs in their flat, so Pitircik thought that they should 35


Oxford 1967

Oxford 1963

CLASS NOTES

Kate Cheney Chappell spent her Summer on Monhegan Island, 10 miles off the coast of Maine, where she and her husband, Tom, have a home. Her art studio is adjacent to the house where tourists visit. Her work is also displayed in the art galleries in town.

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Jenny (Janet) Goldberg decided to mark her 65th birthday with several of her Oxford classmates at a house she rented in Taos, NM, with views of white-capped mountains and prairie dogs and a coyote cavorting nearby. During a fun-filled weekend in April, Jenny and Anne Holcombe, Terry Cavalier Trapani, Deni (Bettyann) Denton Garabedian, and Lory Hervey Pearson, hiked with Jenny’s dog Santo, soaked in healing pools under the stars, toured Taos and Santa Fe, listened to Jenny read her published poems, and talked and talked and talked. Jenny wrote: “[We] were deeply moved and awed by our visit together.”

Oxford 1967 In November 2013, Anne Holcombe, Lory Hervey Pearson, Allyson Holtz, Kate Trafford Smith, Deni (Bettyann) Denton Garabedian, Terry Cavalier Trapani, Lyn Patton Simmer, Saige (Sally) Stearns Behart, and Bela (Nancy) Breslau met for lunch at The Pond House in Elizabeth Park. We were saddened by the deaths of Deni’s and Allyson’s husbands not long afterwards.

Oxford 1967 Bela Breslau hosted her classmates in the first sleepover in the Dojo of her Shintaido Farm and B&B in Deerfield, MA, in April 2013. Lyn Patton Simmer and Anne Holcombe (both professional gardeners) put in a garden along the front porch of the B&B. Lory Hervey Pearson, Anne Holcombe, Terry Cavalier Trapani, Deni (Bettyann) Denton Garabedian, Kate Trafford Smith, and Lyn Patton Simmer were all guests at Bela’s PJ party!


Kingswood 1973 Chuck Sheketoff, who runs the Oregon Center for Public Policy, a seven-person think tank that advocates on behalf of poor and working-class Oregonians, was featured in the award-winning documentary American Winter (americanwinterfilm.com). Filmed in Oregon for a national audience, American Winter tells powerful stories about what happened to the middle class during the Great Recession. It was nominated for a news and documentary Emmy in the Outstanding Business and Economics Reporting category.

Kingswood 1973

Oxford 1970 Betsy, Nancy, Kate, Priscilla, Wendy, Nan, Dorie, and Martha Spaunburg Church got together in Salem, MA, in April 2014 for museum visits and lunch. Martha writes: “What I loved especially was the chance to visit with each person individually and get caught up as we walked the streets of Salem. It was fun to see how the pairs kept shifting around as we all made sure to hear one another’s news and have some one-on-one time. In late June, John and I had a visit from Sue Thompson and her husband, Brad, who stopped in West Hartford during a New England tour so Brad could see where Sue had grown up! Both occasions underscored for me the uniqueness of our Oxford days and the relationships we formed. Next Spring marks 45 years since graduation, so I hope everyone will make a special effort to join the fun when the call goes out for our gathering!” Betsy Rockwell Booth, Class Correspondent, adds: I heartily agree with Martha! Please join us for one of our mini-reunions if you can. Feel free to contact me at ebooth01@snet.net.

KO 1980 Bobbie Bush’s photography company, based in Salem, MA, won first place in “Best Children’s Photographer” category in the 2014 Boston CityVoter A-List competition, presented by WGBH. Established in 1996, Bobbie Bush Photography specializes in photographing newborns, children and families at all stages of life. To learn more, visit www.bobbiebush.com.

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KO 1978

Ed Alton received the 2014 Alumni Award at The Hartt School’s commencement in May. The award honors an alumnus who has achieved professional and critical recognition of distinguished professional accomplishments as an artist, scholar, or performing arts educator. A 1981 Hartt grad with degrees in music and composition, Ed has worked for 30 years in the TV, film and recording industries. In addition to composing scores for hundreds of episodes of prime-time network TV series – including “Head of the Class,” “Suddenly Susan,” “The Single Guy,” “My Boys” on TBS and “Whitney” on NBC – he’s won gold and platinum records for arranging and conducting on the Britney Spears CD “In the Zone;” for his performances on “Flying Cowboys” by Rikki Lee Jones; and for the soundtrack of “The Breakfast Club.” He’s also written three musical scores, including “A Night at the Nutcracker,” and has performed as bassist on scores of film soundtracks including “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Beverly Hills Cop 2,” “Ghost Busters 2” and “City Slickers.” He lives in LA with his wife and daughter.

Hartford Golf Club President Jim Healey, left center, hosted an HGC event celebrating UConn’s national basketball championships. Club members (from left) UConn Athletic Director Warde Manuel, Head Men’s Basketball Coach Kevin Ollie, and Head Women’s Basketball Coach Geno Auriemma joined the festivities.

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KO 1982 In September 2014, Anthony Banbury was named the Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of the United Nations Mission for Emergency Ebola Response, a position he held until January 2015. Banbury, who holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Tufts University, has spent most of his career with the UN, though he also worked for short periods for the U.S. Defense Secretary and the National Security Council in the White House.

KO 1985 Sophie Pennoyer ’14 celebrates her graduation on the Senior Green with her mom, Jennifer White Pennoyer, MD (left) and her godmothers, Jennifer Large Wyman and Becky Battiston King (far right).

KO 1989 Nancy Lublin, CEO of dosomething.org, was named to the Forbes list of the 50 “World’s Greatest Leaders” in April 2014. The other 49 leaders included Pope Francis, Bill Clinton, the Dalai Lama, Jeff Bezos, Derek Jeter, and Angelina Jolie.

KO 1989

CLASS NOTES

The just-published Home in Harmony: Designing an Inspired Life is the latest book from Christa Tyrol O’Leary, an interior designer, marriage and family therapist, and green-living expert. Featured on CBS, NBC and “Dr. Laura,” Christa teaches people to create inspired, healthy, vibrant homes that enliven, nourish, and soothe body, mind, and spirit. The book is available at www.christaoleary.com/HomeinHarmonyBook.

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KO 1989 This steel-and-wood sculpture, made from illegal firearms purchased in gun buyback programs, was unveiled in Hartford’s Bushnell Park in September 2014. The sculpture was created by Michael Kadish and sponsored by Raise the Caliber, a national advocacy campaign to end gun violence founded by Jessica Pollack Mindich after the Sandy Hook shootings. Jessica saw this as a natural outgrowth of her first business, Jewelry for a Cause, which turns reclaimed guns into jewelry, with a portion of the proceeds going to gunbuyback programs. For more information, visit http://www.jewelryforacause.net/raise-the-caliber. After Hartford, the sculpture traveled to Detroit and other U.S. cities.


KO 1992

KO 1991 Brett Rubin writes, “Our son Zachary Cooper Rubin turned 1 June 19, and we welcome any alums in Atlanta to drop us a line as we assimilate to life after NYC!”

Nicole Shea, co-creator and executive producer of the YouTube series “Takei’s Take,” and series host George Takei (a.k.a., Sulu in the original “Star Trek” series) won a Webby People’s Voice Award for their series, which is sponsored by the AARP and offers an irreverent look at the digital experience. The Webby Awards are the leading international awards honoring excellence on the Internet. Mr. Takei is a civil rights activist with 8.5 million Facebook fans and more than 1 million Twitter followers.

KO 1992 Brendon DeSimone, the top blogger for Zillow, has just released Next Generation Real Estate: New Rules for Smarter Home Buying and Faster Selling, which the publisher says is “the go-to guide for navigating and better understanding the complex and ever-evolving world of buying and selling a home.”

KO 1993 Ryan D’Agostino is the new editor-in-chief of Popular Mechanics. Previously, he had worked at Esquire since 2006, most recently as articles editor, where he won two National Magazine Awards and a James Beard Award. His credits also include a book, Rich Like Them, and articles in The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.

KO 1996 Anthony Montenieri (left) has worked for 11 years with Tony-Awardwinning playwright Eve Ensler (pictured also with David Stone, producer of “Wicked”). He is vice president of Lotus Productions (Ms. Ensler’s production company) and director of operations of V-Day, which is a global movement to end violence against women and girls that grew out of Ms. Ensler’s play “The Vagina Monologues.” Most recently, Tony produced her critically acclaimed play “Emotional Creature, The Secret Life of Girls Around the World.” Their latest project is “O.P.C.,” which began performances at the American Repertory Theater last Fall.

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KO 1995 Bridie Clark Loverro (front row second from left) and two other Greenwich, CT, women have created QuadJobs, a new online job board that links employmenthungry college students with local businesses and families who need hired help. “We feel it … is the way for college kids to break the cycle of ‘You need experience to get jobs, and you need jobs to get experience.’” A novelist, Bridie is also the co-founder of Blue State Coffee in New Haven.

stay in a hotel. She hired a helper to be there with them. They swam in the ocean and hotel’s pool, relaxed and had visits from friends. Pitircik’s daughter Asli works in Geneva, where she lives with her husband. Both Asli’s sons, Renan and Sinon, were in Geneva for the summer, but in the Fall Renan will return to study architecture at the university in Northern Cyprus. Sinon studies cognitive science in Lyons, France. Pitircik will give up teaching law this year. She retired once in Turkey, and so teaching in Northern Cyprus was “extra.” Although they are not far from Syria and other trouble spots, all is normal in Northern Cyprus. Prilla attended her 50th reunion at Sarah Lawrence College in June, which she really enjoyed. In July, she and George spent a week on Martha’s Vineyard with one of her sons and his family. They recently attended a play in the Berkshires with two Sarah Lawrence friends and their spouses. When she wrote, she said “We are about to have our week of theater, good food, and stimulating conversation with Jane and Wilf at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario.” Somewhere in the midst of all these activities and time with her four grandchildren, Prilla continues to work in her studio. It seems that Carolyn Goodrich is always busy. She spent a week cruising off Maine with her cousin Kage and his wife, Brenda, and she says Kage is still zooming around and working hard, just as he did when they were kids. Carolyn still lives in Jamestown, RI, and works with Tina Wilcox McIntyre. Carolyn’s two oldest grandchildren spent the summer with her. Tyler, 23, has finished maritime school in Australia and is looking for work on a commercial ship. Her granddaughter attends the University of VT and loves it. Her son and his family (three girls) 39


live in the Boston area, and her youngest lives with her family in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Carolyn enjoys great health and plays tennis, skis, swims, and travels as much as possible. She plans to attend our 55th reunion next June.

KO 2000 Jonathan Blitzer published a witty and playful “Talk of the Town” piece about French economist Thomas Piketty in the May 5, 2014, issue of The New Yorker. Jonathan also contributes regularly to the International New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, the Nation and The New Yorker.com.

Jane Keller Herzig wrote in haste just before leaving for Bangkok. At her Smith reunion, she sat with Barbara Ruud Chatfield during the memorial service for over 70 of their classmates, including Joan Solomkin Hoberman. On June 23, Jane and Ed welcomed Nathan Edward Herzig, their fourth grandchild, whom Jane says is “beautiful.” He joins his big sister Becca and big brother Jakey. Jane’s fourth grandchild, Viola Herzig, is a senior in high school in New York City. Jane also plans to attend our reunion.

CLASS NOTES

Mary-Lew Stearns Kelly reports that she and Bill had a busy Spring and Summer. Bill had a total knee replacement on April 24; he is recovering slowly but has managed to keep up with his beloved vegetable gardening and Christmas tree “plantation.” Mary-Lew has also been gardening (flowers).

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Several grandkids visited MaryLew at different points over the Summer, participating in horseback riding lessons, arts and crafts, and the Ben Smith Hockey Camp at the International Skating Center in Simsbury. Her oldest grandchild will graduate from Emory University next May. He studied Italian for three years and will study in Milan, Italy, this Fall. Another grandson is now a freshman at Hamilton College. “Kai,” a Mini Aussie puppy, has joined the Kelly household. MaryLew’s daughter Bridget had her Mini Aussie bred and gave Mary-Lew and

her husband one of the four pups as a gift for all of their babysitting. Grateful for her good health and the good health of her family, Gay Wilcox Squire wrote from Vermont. Her grandchildren are Elisabeth and Roger W. Squire IV. Elisabeth is a tall and beautiful 12-and-a-half-year-old (going on 18), and Rog will be 10 in October. She says they are very busy with sports and other activities, and she does not remember being that busy as a child. “They are both wonderful, of course, and Rog is showing signs of becoming a VERY good baseball player. Unfortunately, our son and his wife are divorcing. On the plus side, if you can call it that, many of their friends’ parents are divorced, so it is a commonplace situation and something they have been aware of for a long time. They live in Westchester County, NY (three hours away), and I wish at times we were closer.” News from Barbara Hartman Tucker comes not from Paris this time, but from Connecticut. She says the move back to the States was a bit of a culture shock, and she desperately misses Paris, though she enjoys being closer to family and friends. Barbara plans to spend three or four months in Paris each year. She is still politically active and expects Connecticut to stay “blue.” Her children and family are well; her daughter Lisa Tucker Coleman has just been appointed a deputy director at the National Institute of Health-National Cancer Institute in Washington, DC. My grandsons are in kindergarten and first grade in St. Louis, MO. They are a joy, and we visit with them on Skype (but planned a real visit in September). We are just back from our fifth annual trip to Stratford, Ontario, with a couple from Chicago and a couple from

Boston. Wilf and the Chicago husband were undergraduate roommates about 100 years ago at Durham University in England; the Boston couple was, of course, Prilla and George Brackett! Each couple makes their own play schedule, but every day we meet for a picnic lunch and a lovely dinner before the evening performance. We pledged to return again next August. My best wishes to everyone for a beautiful Autumn and a mild Winter.

Kingswood 1960 Tim Curtis writes “Leslie and I are loving retirement – still running, skiing, golfing, hiking, kayaking, and traveling. Spending quality time with kids and grandkids.”

Oxford 1967 Perhaps because we graduated into the Summer of Love, our class has always been a little “out there.” Since our 45th reunion in 2012, when many of us began reconnecting, quite a few have taken “out there” literally. After Reunion 2012, Lyn Patton Simmer visited Allyson Holtz in Pittsburgh, Terry Cavalier Trapani and Allyson visited Alison Burnham Arrouet at the Cape, and Bela Breslau hosted the first sleepover in the Dojo of her fabulous Shintaido Farm and B&B in Deerfield, MA, in April 2013. Reunions continued: Lyn and her husband visited Terry in Newport, RI; Bela hosted two more sleepovers; Terry and Allyson have spent time together in West Hartford, Pittsburgh, and Newport; Terry and Lory visited the Canadian Maritimes; Terry, Kate, and Anne have met for hiking; and Terry has spent time with Saige and Deni. We have been surprised and delighted to find new friendships to build on the foundations of our shared past, and look forward to continuing to talk and laugh together in the years ahead.


Kingswood 1971 Michael Kaprove writes, “Life after Kingswood has been good to me. My wife Debbie and I raised two sons who are both doing great, and we have grandchildren too! I just moved to Florida after being named vice president and state sales manager for Stewart Title Insurance Company. This follows a full career as a sales manager in the real estate and mortgage lending businesses, and also as a vice president, regional manager for several national title insurance companies.”

Oxford 1972 Katie Newell Chiodo writes, “Just completed my first year of retirement from the probate court system. I highly recommend it!”

Oxford 1973 Melinda Walsh writes, “We live in Westerly, RI, three miles from Weekapaug, which you guys may remember from our senior party

there! My mom lives there and is doing well. She helps us more than we help her, especially with our kids: Sam (11, fourth grade) and Sophie (15, 10th grade). Mark is the resident naturalist for the Weekapaug Inn, which means he takes guests on cool outings like bird-watching, kayaking, beach-walking, hiking through the marsh in the dark to find mating horseshoe crabs (really!), as well as all boat maintenance and whatever else needs doing. I am a social worker at a middle school, a new change, and I love it! Both Mark and I feel really blessed to be among the 30% of Americans who reportedly enjoy their work. Retirement is obviously not any time soon given the ages of our children. We also have two labs, one cat, and, until the recent predation of a local fox, four chickens. We love living close to the ocean (we can see it from our bathroom window in the winter!), and we welcome visitors any time.”

Kingswood 1973 George Wyper writes, “Next year Susan and I become empty nesters. Our two older boys headed to Wall Street after graduating from Yale. Our third son, Silas, heads off to Middlebury in Vermont.”

business, Allied Printing Services, Inc., in Manchester, CT.”

KO 2006 Josh Nealon is in his second year as a sixth-grade history teacher at The Academy of the Pacific Rim, a charter school in Boston, MA.

KO 1998 Erin Dufresne Giguiere is a full-time, stay-at-home mom and realtor for Hart Real Estate in West Hartford Center. Her daughters are Dalena, 4, and Lilah, 1.

KO 2002 Eloise Rarey teaches English as a second language at the elementary-school level in Meriden, CT, and lives in Watertown, CT.

Deirdre Smith earned her Master’s degree in art history from George Washington University in May 2014. Her thesis focused on the wall drawings of Sol LeWitt. She is now pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Texas at Austin, continuing her focus on modern and contemporary art. Deirdre said she thinks often of her time at KO and particularly of the late Patricia Rosoff, with whom she first studied art history.

KO 2004 John Sommers writes, “In September 2013, I became engaged to Talia Wheeler, and in December 2013, I was promoted to president and CEO of my family

KO 2000 Chris Marchand (right), the challenge co-producer for the CBS-TV reality show “Survivor,” spent his Summer in Nicaragua with program host Jeff Probst and supervising producer John Kirhoffer. This will be Chris’s eighth season with the show.

KO 2008 James T. Dowling-Healey worked in 2014 as a summer associate for Chuck Shimkus ’78 at his law firm Shimkus, Murphy and Rosenberger, P.C. He is in his final year at the University of Maine School of Law and spent the Fall 2014 semester at the National University of Ireland, Galway’s School of Law.

KO 2013 After a year at Loyola University in Maryland, Andrew Sikora transferred to the U.S. Naval Academy, where he is a member of the Class of 2018.

Share Your News! KO 2001 Nicole A. Falconer ’01 was named principal of Pine Forge Academy, a boarding school in Boyertown, PA, in July 2014. A Yale graduate, she earned Master’s degrees at Columbia University and Pace University and is a candidate for a Ph.D. at Columbia University’s Teacher College.

KO FALL 2014 / WINTER 2015

We’d love to receive your wedding photos, new baby pics, and any other news you’d like to share with your fellow Wyverns. Please write to Meghan Kurtich (kurtich.m@k-o.org). We would love to send a bib to every future Wyvern we hear about! 41


Weddings Correction

An item in the Spring ’14 issue of KO Magazine on the marriage of Amanda Shlien ’00 omitted the names of her sisters Melissa Shlien Moritz ’96 and Danielle Shlien Dungan, who were honor attendants at the wedding.

KO 1981

KO 1989

Steven Falk and his bride, Reisha, were married on June 8, 2014. “We had a wonderful wedding,” he said. “My son Alex was my best man.”

Leigh-Ann Zavalick married Andre Perreault on Aug. 24, 2013, in Chestnut Hill, MA, followed by a reception in Wellesley, MA. Celebrating with Leigh-Ann were classmates Kirsten Lundeberg, left, and Krystn Elliott Forcina, right.

KO 2002

CLASS NOTES

Sarah Quish and Rob Gross were married on Aug. 16, 2014 at Rosedale Farms and Vineyards in Simsbury. Wyverns attending the wedding included Brian Ferguson ’00, left, Molly Dworkin ’02, Kevin Thorson ’06, Tom Quish ’08, Sarah, Chester Way ’78, Steve Quish ’06, Amanda Quish ’04 and Jeff Smullen ’10.

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Bib Babies! Had a baby? Get a bib!

We’d love to share your exciting news with the KO community, so please send birth announcements to Nicole Kimball in the Advancement Office (Kimball.n@k-o.org). We’ll send you a bib – and we hope you’ll email us a pic and some info for the next issue of KO Magazine.

Dan Haight and his wife, Angela, welcomed Vivian Kali Haight on May 22, 2014.

Kristina Wolff Singh and her husband, Gurjeet, welcomed Jusveer Thomas Singh on June 2, 2014.


KO 2005

KO 2006

Casey Elizabeth Rieger and Adam James Duncan were married on Apr. 26, 2014, at Immaculate Conception Church in New Hartford, CT, with the reception at the Simsbury Inn. The bridal party included Aheli Purkaystha (far right) and Lindsay Brayton (right center). Casey and Adam reside in Edinburgh, Scotland, where she works as an occupational therapist and Adam works as a mechanical engineer.

Meredith Evans Maffett married Seth Martin Taylor on Aug. 30, 2014, at Wychmere Beach Club in Harwichport, MA. Wyverns in attendance included (front row, from left) Julie Doyle, Kate Donnarummo, Liza Nulsen, Meredith and Seth, and Nina Musumeci ’04. Middle row: Whitney Clark, Bret Maffett ’02, Bennett Hires, Allie Lowe, Kevin Coscarelli, Whitney Wall Sweeney ’01, Liz Reni, Mary Kate Sullivan Cox ’68. (Back row): Addison Rosenbluth, Matt Ohlheiser ’07, Conor Whitney, Tom Obando, Robert Toppin ’68, Bret Maffett ’68 (father of the bride), and Jimmy Leva ’04. “It was absolutely amazing, beyond what I ever could have imagined,” Meredith said. “I just wish it weren’t over yet! There were 20 Wyverns in attendance and we sang ‘Hail Kingswood Oxford’ several times. To say ‘a good time was had by all’ is a vast understatement. I am a very lucky girl!”

KO 2005 Matthew Semmelrock wed Kathryn Caseres from New City, New York, on June 14, 2014. The wedding was at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in West Nyack, NY, followed by a reception at The Estate at Florentine Gardens, Riverdale, NJ. Groomsmen included Dan Gerber and Todd Goldman. Other Wyverns in attendance included Chris Bigler, Glenn Shafer ’85, KO Librarian Nancy Solomon, and the mother of the groom, KO Spanish teacher Brenda Semmelrock. Matthew and Kathryn are graduates of Seton Hall University; Matthew is a derivative specialist at Bloomberg, and Kathryn is an operating room nurse at White Plains Hospital.

KO Spanish teacher (and mother of the groom) Brenda Semmelrock and Glenn Shafer ’85.

KO FALL 2014 / WINTER 2015

Chris Bigler, Todd Goldman, Dan Gerber

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IN MEMORIAM

Kingswood Oxford extends condolences to the families of those who passed away between March 22, 2014 and January 10, 2015, or whose death we learned of during that period. To ensure accuracy, we require that In Memoriam notices be accompanied by a newspaper obituary. Please notify Michelle Murphy, Director of Communications & Marketing, of any errors or omissions (murphy.m@k-o.org).

Alumni 1930s Grace Walker White Ellsworth ’32 June 23, 2014 Mother of Elinor W. Ellsworth ’58 and Starr Ellsworth Sayres ’60 Beverly Beach Eaton ’38 July 4, 2014 Mother of Elizabeth Beach Roe ’65 and Suzanne Beach MacKenzie ’68 Nancy Lane Cutter ’39 March 5, 2014 1940s Mary Lou Eyanson ReidRobinson ’40 June 7, 2014 Grace Spillane ’40 October 6, 2014 Payson B. Langley ’41 December 31, 2013 John J. Godfrey ’43 May 21, 2014 Joan Tilton Kenney ’45 December 13, 2013 James M. Strong Jr. ’45 December 23, 2013 Brother of Susan Strong Wayne ’38 Marion Phillips Campbell ’46 August 28, 2014 Patricia Townsend Hoyt ’46 May 23, 2014 Benedict B. Landry Jr. ’46 August 17, 2014 Brother of Marie Landry St. John ’44, Margaret Landry ’49, Marcia Landry Hagen ’50, and Anne Landry Jones ’57 Joan Erdman St. John ’46 May 15, 2014 Mother of Ellen Williams ’78; stepmother of Morgan St. John ’74; sister of Sally Erdman Belding ’43 and Anthony Erdman ’47 William Joseph Luby ’48 June 14, 2014

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Ann Withe Holmgren ’49 December 24, 2012 Mother of John Holmgren ’83

Current Families Timothy C. Bridges July 8, 2014 Father of Nicholas Bridges ’15

Douglas Tyler Putnam ’49 August 23, 2014 Husband of Ann Fisher Putnam John Doar ’51; father of Andrew Putnam ’75, Jennifer Putnam ’77, Susan Putnam November 11, 2014 Grandfather of John C. Doar ’20 ’79, and Timothy Putnam ’81 Mary Carey “Dusty” Smith ’49 April 19, 2014 1950s Linda Middlebrook Allen ’50 October 28, 2013 Wife of Richard T. Allen ’49 Storrs Talcott Brigham ’51 June 30, 2014 Brother of Hugh Brigham ’56 Paul C. Faxon ’55 August 2, 2014 Penelope Rockwell Meek ’56 January 10, 2015 John Newell Butler ’57 May 6, 2014 Brother of Richard Butler ’59 Polly Merritt O’Leary ’59 July 12, 2014 Mother of Peter Thalheimer ’85; sister of Michael Merritt ’61, R. Tucker Merritt ’65, and Susan Merritt Robertson ’64 Carol McCrann Proom ’58 May 21, 2014 Sister of Donald McCrann ’59 Peter von Haan Carey ’59 September 9, 2013 1960s Frederic W. Constant ’60 March 26, 2014 1980s Ellen J. Berlin ’80 June 8, 2014 Sister of Andrew Berlin ’83

Carmen A. Luna Grano November 4, 2014 Grandmother of Joan Grano-Burzymowska ’15 Janice F. Kisiel November 4, 2014 Grandmother of Eryk W. Jones ’19 and Molly K. Jones ’20 Mother-in-Law of faculty member Peter Jones Elizabeth A. Whitney September 19, 2014 Grandmother of Larned Blanchard ’19 Mother of Sandra Whitney ’84, Madison P. Whitney ’87 and Sarah Whitney Blanchard ’87; mother-in-law of Jeffrey R. Blanchard ’88

Alumni Families Rosalie Sellar Brainard September 6, 2014 Wife of Peter Brainard ’58 Dennis P. Daly November 12, 2014 Father of Karen Daly Correa ’89 and the late Christine Daly ’86 Anne McLean Dorr January 7, 2015 Mother of Glenn B. Dorr III ’84, Marshall M. Dorr ’86, Douglas M. Dorr ’87 and Caroline Dorr Reinke ’90 Wife of Glenn B. Dorr, Jr. (Former Trustee) Garrett M. Gagné January 1, 2015 Son of Susan Mather Gagné ’79; nephew of Lynn Mather Charette ’82 and Todd Mather ’88; cousin of Tucker Charette ’14 and Elizabeth Charette ’18

James Thomas “Tim” Gallagher III May 22, 2014 Father of Michael Gallagher ’91 Miriam E. Glickstein April 29, 2014 Grandmother of Sam Glickstein ’08 and Emma Glickstein ’11 Cynthia Burbank Godfrey June 25, 2014 Mother of Helen Godfrey ’82 James T. Healey April 27, 2014 Father of James Healey ’78; father-in-law of Pamela Dowling ’78; grandfather of James Dowling-Healey ’08 Mary P. How June 27, 2014 Wife of Burton How ’47 Larry S. Landsberg November 3, 2014 Father of Jonathan A. Landsberg ’02 Faith Wagner Mastriforte July 25, 2014 Mother of Gregg Mastriforte ’71 Mary Katherine Moses November 28, 2013 Mother of John W. Moses ’63; grandmother of Katharine Moses ’88 and Margot Moses ’91 Agnes Villano Nastri September 16, 2014 Mother of Joseph J. Nastri ’75 Janet Parkinson Owens December 25, 2014 Mother of Guy P. Owens ’75 John Edward Pfaff December 7, 2013 Husband of Jane Brandon Pfaff ’56 Deborah Ladin Roberts January 15, 2014 Wife of William Roberts ’67; mother of Brian Roberts (former faculty); sister-in-law of Michael Roberts ’59 and Cynthia Baird Roberts ’60 Fred Robson May 10, 2014 Father of Christopher Robson ’83 and Mark Robson ’86

Blanche Levy Rosoff August 20, 2014 Mother-in-law of the late Patricia Rosoff; grandmother of Stacy Cristo ’92 and Jared Rosoff ’96 William M. Rubin November 17, 2014 Father of Brett H. Rubin ’91 Stuart O. Scott January 4, 2015 Father of Taelor Scott ’13 and Sydni Scott, a member of the Class of ’18 Thomas B. Streett May 22, 2014 Father of Jeffrey Streett ’80 and Tobin Streett ’81 Amy Friedman Vogel June 27, 2014 Wife of Philip Vogel ’72; mother of Jessica Vogel ’05 and Stephanie Vogel ’09 Melvin S. Wertheim September 30, 2014 Father of Mark E. Wertheim ’67; Grandfather of Paul J. Wertheim ’94 Donald E. Whitty August 1, 2014 Grandfather of Kathleen DiSanto ’03 and Drohan DiSanto ’09

Administration, Faculty and Staff David Clark Brooks April 2, 2014 Laura Miller Chen July 23, 2014 Wife of former faculty member Ted Chen Dorothy Rector Lazear July 31, 2014 T. Richardson Miner May 21, 2014 Leonard Schork October 11, 2014 Father of faculty member Lynn Schork Robert J. White July 22, 2014


Reunion ’14 Another Smash Hit The fun began on Friday night, June 13, when Wyverns of all kinds – alums, alumni parents, faculty, and staff – braved torrential rain and flocked to The Russian Lady to reconnect and reminisce. The next morning brought clear skies, bright sun, and the 4s and 9s returning to campus for tours, the alumni boys’ lacrosse game, and lots of dining and dancing. For Reunion Class photos, go to p. 12-13.

Another great turnout for the Alumni Lax game!

Lesli Schwartz P ’16, Amy Williams P ’13, ’16 and Marcia Winn P ’13 Alums enjoy memorabilia lovingly collected, preserved, and displayed by KO archivist Brenda Semmelrock.

Stew Lindsay, Fritz Farquhar ’59, Tyler Tingley ’64, and Dennis Bisgaard

English teacher Alex Kraus P ’16, ’19, ’21, Yuri Min ’08 and Jill Grey ’06

SAVE THE DATE FOR REUNION ’15! June 12-13, 2015 – Celebrating the 0s and 5s

Join us at The Russian Lady on Fri., June 12, and on campus on Sat., June 13, 2015, and reconnect with old friends and former teachers. Saturday’s highlights: • “Honoring Excellence” ceremony -- Distinguished Alumni Awards and Athletic Hall of Fame induction • Wyverns Go Back to School – mini-classes about Forensic Union, diversity, Global Online Academy, and more • Dinner and dancing in various campus venues

• Alumni lacrosse game • Luncheon under the tent

Watch www.kingswoodoxford.org/reunion for details and registration info. And, send your email address to Nicole Kimball (kimball.n@k-o.org) to be sure you get the very latest updates.


If this magazine is being delivered to a child who no longer lives in your home, please send an updated address to Beckah Kilpatrick, Database Support Specialist, at kilpatrick.r@k-o.org. Thank you!

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We’re“"Appy" to tell you about two new ways to stay in touch with KO: The Evertrue Alumni App – free for iPhone and Android users– is the best and easiest way to stay connected to your fellow Wyverns, update your contact info and network through LinkedIn! Simply download the Evertrue app, search for Kingswood Oxford School, and log on using your preferred email or LinkedIn credentials.

With the Evertrue app, you will find: • Alumni Directory with easy search and filter options • “Alumni Nearby” to connect with classmates/alums in a given area • Integration with LinkedIn for networking • Connection to KO web site and social media channels • Easy access to online giving page

Scan here to get started

Your information is secure and available only to KO alumni. Go to www.kingswoodoxford.org/evertrue to learn more, or contact Meghan Kurtich in the Advancement Office (860.727.5013 or kurtich.m@k-o.org).

The general KO app, free to iOs users, is a great way to keep up with day-to-day life at KO. Download it from the App Store.

With the KO app, you will find:

• Slideshows of campus life, updated every two weeks • Headlines from the KO web site • Sports and school calendars • Quick access to password-protected portals for students, parents, and faculty and staff • Links to KO Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram


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