The Lawrentian, Fall/Winter 2022

The Real Top Gun

The high-flying true story of Capt. Dale "Snort" Snodgrass ’68 is so much more than any Hollywood imitation.

Y LEAP OF IMAGINATION Z

The fine and performing arts have the power to transform creators and participants, according to Student Council arts representative Stephanie Xu ’23, whose reflection you’ll read on page 34. This image from the November Dance Series shows Oleksandr Mykhantso ’23 flying through the air, temporarily transported from the troubles in his homeland, Ukraine.

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

ON FAITH

LEADING OFF P

art of what makes us all human are the various ways in which we bring faith into our lives, ways in which we trust in things we can’t fully explain or fathom. And this faith takes many forms. There is of course religious faith. Seventeenth-century French philosopher and theologian Blaise Pascal wrote extensively on the nature of faith and belief. In his major work, Pensées, or Thoughts, he echoes this notion that faith nurtures in us a sense of awe and wonder.

“Faith tells us what our senses cannot,” Pascal writes, meaning that faith is not limited by what we can see and perceive; quite the contrary: Faith begins where perception ends.

He goes on to say, “It is incumbent upon our power of reason – our rational faculties – to recognize that there are infinite aspects of our existence that go above and beyond our understanding.” In other words, if everything must pass the test of rational scrutiny in order for us to believe, we lose our sense of mystery in the world.

There are other, less abstract forms of faith that have a more human dimension. A number of years ago I was traveling through South Africa, and I visited the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, an extraordinarily powerful exposition of the human capacity for cruelty and injustice.

Later that day, I was back at my hotel sitting in the locker room of the fitness center, still absorbed in thought from my visit to the museum. Two burly, blond men speaking Afrikaans were also changing, chatting quietly. Then a Black man entered the room to change for a workout – and nothing happened. Nothing at all. I thought to myself, just twelve years earlier, the law of that land institutionalized racism, enforced segregation, and subjected this Black African to humiliating degradation. And here he is, walking casually into a fully integrated locker room, and no one bats an eye.

In spite of his suffering during twenty-seven years of imprisonment for daring to fight for the end of Apartheid, he maintained his fundamental optimism that people could come together, his faith that people could change. “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, his background, or his religion,” he wrote. “People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”

When he emerged from prison and rose to power, he asked his fellow South Africans to forgive each other: “You will achieve more in this world through acts of mercy than you will through acts of retribution.” Mandela’s faith saved lives and preserved his country.

As for me, I maintain a faith that has many dimensions, but what I rely on most is even more promising and hopeful for me.

I have faith in you. All of you.

As we kick off a new year, your arrival has breathed life back into this campus; you are at the heart of this rejuvenating cycle that we all have the privilege of being a part of. But it is not simply youthful joy and energy. What inspires my awe and respect is your ability to emerge out of the challenges of recent years, to have faced sacrifice and disappointment, as you all have, and still muster the kind of hopeful, forwardlooking passion I have seen and sensed so clearly these past few days. I saw it at preseason; I saw it in the warm welcome given to our new students; I saw it in that first School Meeting; and I saw it at House Olympics.

As I look out at all of you here today, you give me tremendous faith, not simply that a great year lies ahead, but that you will take with you out into the world your resilience, your hard-earned wisdom, your belief in yourselves, and put it all to work in wonderful ways. And this is the faith that sustains me most.

So find the faith that sustains you – it is truly a gift –and hold it close.

On the Cover:

How had this country moved so far in such a short period of time? In our own country, the United States of America, twelve years after the Emancipation Proclamation, the Ku Klux Klan was on the rise, Jim Crow laws were proliferating, and it would take one hundred years to pass the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, and only then after bitter struggles.

In part, I believe it was the faith of Nelson Mandela.

— Adapted from the Convocation address, Fall 2022

Sincerely,

Stephen S. Murray H’54 ’55 ’65 ’16 P’16 ’21

The Shelby Cullom Davis ’26 Head of School

High Flyer:

As a U.S. Navy fighter pilot, Capt. Dale “Snort” Snodgrass ’68 might have been the greatest ever.

(AP Photo/Oscar Sosa)

On the lamb

FEATURES

26 Home for Hill

More than 300 alumni of all ages returned to campus for Hill Day to celebrate the 135th anniversary of the Lawrenceville-Hill rivalry in November.

28 The Real Top Gun

The high-flying true story of Capt. Dale “Snort” Snodgrass ’68 is much bigger than any Hollywood imitation.

34 ‘Indulge in the Magic’

Stephanie Xu ’23 says that art enables us, whether as creators or participants, to immerse ourselves in another dimension.

DEPARTMENTS

Caroline Reese Nelson ’09 runs her sheep ranch in Townsend, Montana. (Photo by Paige Southwood)

FROM THE BASEMENT OF POP HALL

Sometimes after I’ve decided to pursue a particular story for The Lawrentian, it turns out that there was so much more to it than I initially understood.

I first reached out to retired U.S. Navy Capt. Dale Snodgrass ’68 via email back in 2017 about featuring him in our recurring “Take This Job and Love It” section. I don’t ever assume the Lawrenceville alum I’m asking to appear in this section is familiar with it, so I added, as I always do, that it’s a space where “we profile alums who are working in unique, emerging, or even sometimes quirky fields in a way that brings particular attention to their role.” I added that we would typically work with a freelance photographer near his home to get a nice image to accompany the story. If he was interested, I said, please let me know.

And then I never heard from him.

That’s not unprecedented, but I was disappointed. But it was only after Capt. Snodgrass died in a 2021 airshow crash that I began to understand why I never heard back. Under the impression that the retired Navy flyer was best known for his exploits on the airshow circuit, I framed my proposed story on that premise – something I considered unusual and perhaps even quirky

I had no idea who I was talking to.

Dale “Snort” Snodgrass was one of history's greatest fighter pilots. He flew more hours in the F-14 Tomcat than any person ever will, and he is roundly considered to be the inspiration for Tom Cruise’s “Maverick” character in the wildly popular Top Gun films.

And here I was, asking him to tell me about his quirky job. It’s mortifying.

Only after Capt. Snodgrass’s passing, and a prompt from classmate Ron Mangravite ’68 P’18, who had first put him on my radar, did I learn the full story. You’ll read it in the pages of this magazine.

I’m not what you’d call an aviation buff. I step on an airliner only with great anxiety. I’ve never even seen the Top Gun movies – either one – although I did have the same third-grade teacher as Tom Cruise. So Capt. Snodgrass’s story just wasn’t one I came to know through any general awareness of his world. But I did have one good instinct about my initial interview request to him. “Unique” is another characteristic of the people and roles we feature in “Take This Job and Love It” and Dale Snodgrass was indeed that. Even among his peers in aviation, he flew at a level above the rest.

All the best,

Sean Ramsden Editor sramsden@lawrenceville.org

Editor Sean Ramsden

Design

Bruce Hanson

News Editor

Lisa M. Gillard H’17

Staff Photographer

Paloma Torres

Contributors

Andrea Fereshteh

Jacqueline Haun

William Huang ’24

Robert Reinalda ’76

Photography by Victoria Arocho

Keith Barraclough

Dorothy Cochrane

Sean E. Dunn

Oscar Sosa

Paige Southwood

Illustration by Tiago Galo – Folio Art

Joel Kimmel Vectorvexelart

Class Notes Design

Lerner Design Group

Proofreader

Rob Reinalda ’76

Head of School

Stephen S. Murray H’54 ’55 ’65 ’16 P’16 ’21

Assistant Head of School, DIrector of Advancement

Mary Kate Barnes H’59 ’77 P’11 ’13 ’19

Director of Communications and External Relations

Jessica Welsh

The Lawrentian (USPS #306-700) is published quarterly (winter, spring, summer, and fall) by The Lawrenceville School, P.O. Box 6008, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, for alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends.

Periodical postage paid at Trenton, NJ, and additional mailing offices.

The Lawrentian welcomes letters from readers. Please send all correspondence to sramsden@lawrenceville.org or to the above address, care of The Lawrentian Editor. Letters may be edited for publication.

POSTMASTER

Please send address corrections to:

The Lawrentian

The Lawrenceville School P.O. Box 6008 Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

©The Lawrenceville School Lawrenceville, New Jersey All rights reserved.

A New Level of Dining

Late in September, students began the transition from The Jane W. Irwin Dining Center to the new Tsai Commons, inside the completed Phase One of Tsai Field House. After allowing Fifth Formers to sample the new dining area on the first day, the rest of the Lawrentians began migrating to the new facility in the following days, with Second Formers occupying the top level. The dismantling of Irwin began in October.

STUDENTS HAVE A ‘WATERSHED’

WHILE MANY TEENAGERS WERE spending the summer in swimming pools or enjoying the waves of the ocean, Lawrenceville’s Leopold Scholars in Ecology and Ethics pulled on their waders and grabbed their nets for an up-close-and-personal water quality and water justice study in local rivers.

Collaborating with staff from the Watershed Institute in nearby Pennington, N.J., through the nonprofit’s Community Watershed Advocate Program, students in the research program spent two weeks in June learning about issues related to water quality and environmental justice.

Aarushi Attray ’23, Julia Chiang ’23, and Asprey Walters ’24 examined the restoration work done by The Watershed Institute and Mercer County to preserve the environmental health of Rosedale Lake in Pennington.

SUMMER

Even closer to home, Kevin Chiang ’23 and Tanmay Sammeta ’24 looked at the correlation between impervious surfaces and the health of Shipetaukin Creek –which runs through Lawrenceville’s campus and connects with the Delaware River Watershed – compared with Stony Brook Creek. Their work confirmed Lawrenceville’s decision to protect the creek by creating a 15-foot-wide buffer zone between Shipetaukin Creek and the Tsai Field House, convert the parking lot from solid asphalt to include portions with permeable pavers, and to increase plantings in both the buffer zone and lot.

Ashley Lee ’23, Kate Mirkovic ’23, and Alex Mykhantso ’23 discussed the eco-historical revitalization efforts of local activists and governmental officials of nearby Assunpink Creek in Lawrence Township and Trenton. They performed chemical and biological tests to

determine the health of the creek, now in recovery after decades of abuse and neglect. Their scientific research also led to discoveries about Black history in the area, including Locust Hill African Cemetery and Museum in Trenton, and their efforts to restore an ancestral burial place along the creek.

In addition to the serious research, there was plenty of fun. A campout, complete with hikes, cooking meals, and sharing stories around a campfire was a universal – if not immediate –favorite experience.

“Before the trip itself, I was nervous about it, and quite frankly, I didn’t really feel up to sleeping in a tent,” said Lee, whose attitude softened once her fellow Leopold Scholars arrived. “After exchanging conversations with everyone and getting to know them better, I felt a sudden feeling of gratitude that I was there, and I was able to make a connection and thought about Leopold’s land ethic. I did appreciate nature, and I loved the peace and calm it made me feel.”

Kevin Chiang said one of his key takeaways was the interconnectedness of nature.

“With one change in an ecosystem, a new change occurs, creating a rippling effect that will ultimately bring down an entire ecosystem if we are not careful enough,” he explained. “I also learned that there are many small and easy ways to make a change in the environment, such as something as simple as biking to places or planting a small garden. Lastly, I learned about the Land Ethic, and that humans must accept the land as an equal and as a being within our own community if we truly want to save the well-being of our land.”

Named in honor of prominent ecologist and Lawrenceville alumnus Aldo Leopold, Class of 1905, the Leopold Scholars Program recognizes eight scholars who show commitment to environmental ethics, sustainability efforts, and service through learning, living, and leading.

BIG HONOR FOR BROWN

After a year that saw her do everything from unveiling an enrollment campaign to essentially becoming a parent to two students displaced by the tumult in Afghanistan, Director of Admission Dana Brown was honored with the Everett E. Gourley Award at the Enrollment Management Association’s annual conference in Orlando, Fla., in September. The Gourley Award is presented each year to a leader and educator whose concern for students and colleagues is an inspiration for those who serve in admission.

“Two phrases in the criteria immediately jumped out at me: ‘devotion to service,’ and ‘models commitment,’” Greg Buckles, dean of enrollment management, said of his reaction to the announcement. “Dana embodies those two standards, perhaps more than anyone I’ve known in my 38 years in the profession.

“Over the past year, I’ve watched firsthand as Dana essentially became a parent overnight when we were in the fortunate position to be able to enroll two young women from Afghanistan mid-year,” Buckles continued. “Dentist appointments, Halal meals, formal dresses, transportation and hosting over breaks, cultural adjustments – never have I witnessed such devotion to service and commitment. And those relationships aren’t the exception for Dana; that’s her norm for any and every one in her orbit.”

Stephen Laubach, Lawrenceville’s director of sustainability, guided the Leopold Scholars during their summer river research.

Award winner Dana Brown, director of admission, was joined by Greg Buckles, dean of enrollment management, at the Enrollment Management Association conference in Orlando, Fla.

For the third year, Head of School Steve Murray H’54 ’55 ’65 ’16 P’16 ’21 (right) inflated his tires, zipped up his jersey, and hit the road for the annual Pan-Mass Challenge, a bike-a-thon that raises money for DanaFarber Cancer Institute in Boston. Riding more than 200 miles on August 6 and 7, Murray’s team of friends and former colleagues from Deerfield Academy raised over $80,000 this year alone to support cancer research at Dana-Farber. It is the largest single athletic fundraiser in the United States, and 100 percent of every dollar raised goes to the Institute. On the last day of the ride, the group proudly sported custom jerseys with Lawrenceville’s Big Red “L” on the front and “Deerfield” on the back. n

MURRAY’S ‘MASS’ MOVEMENT

Rian Julka ’25 earned plaudits for his COVID-19 community service from the Manhattan borough president.

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rian Julka ’25 needed to pick up items from the store, but with an immunocompromised family member to consider, it was no longer a simple errand. Surely, he thought, someone else among his 8.38 million New York City neighbors was having the same dilemma. Knowing New Yorkers, Julka was also confident that there were others willing to help – but how could they connect?

The solution was surprisingly modest: an Excel spreadsheet where people could post email contact information along with what they needed from the store, or what they could offer.

Julka started small, securing permission from his apartment building’s management to post a signup sheet in the building and on social media. Word spread quickly and, within 48 hours, participants from 70-plus blocks on Manhattan’s Upper West Side were signing on to a shared spreadsheet. Local news outlets noticed the story, and subsequently even

THERE ...’

more New Yorkers jumped in, either with a need to be met or with help to offer. The modest spreadsheet had evolved into an invaluable resource for “an incredibly large number of people from different parts of Manhattan,” Julka explained.

People were enthusiastic, he said, volunteering to walk pets, pick up prescriptions and groceries, even to teach Spanish, French, or guitar. Julka was most surprised to see homework help available from a “certified and experienced grades seven-12 humanities teacher and speech pathologist.”

“This was a New York crowdsource project,” Julka said. “The best thing about it is it shows not only just how many people are willing to help, but also to demonstrate that crowdsourcing can be applied to so many other needs.”

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine celebrated Julka’s work at a ceremony this past summer, presenting him with a certificate thanking him for his “commitment and dedication to [his] community during the pandemic.”

“I told Mr. Levine that it wasn’t really me; it was New Yorkers all banding together,” Julka said. “New Yorkers are open to helping everyone and doing what needs to be done.” n

‘IF I CAN MAKE IT

Rian Julka ’25 received a certificate of commendation from Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine for a crowdsourced community aid project Julka organized during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

DOUBLE TAKE

Fifth Former publishes a pair of papers

Lawrenceville classes are both challenging and rewarding – and often the recognition goes far beyond campus. A paper written by Ely Hahami ’23 for his Calculus-Based Statistics class was accepted for publication in the International Journal of High School Research, and a second from his History of American Democracy class is under peer review with the Journal of Student Research.

“I’m very appreciative of my teachers for introducing me to new information, and I like taking learning outside the classroom,” Hahami said.

Hahami worked closely with mathematics teacher Doug Piper to prepare “Evaluating Stock Profitability and Technical Indicator Correlation: An Exploratory Data Analysis in R.” He used the R programming language to create a statistical analysis of which stock sectors are the most profitable. Piper said he paper is helpful for investors looking for the sweet spot between risk and reward.

“I really enjoyed teaching Ely last year, because he was so interested in so many different things,” Piper said. “In our class, students had some freedom to choose a dataset that interested them. I think because he was so interested in financial markets, it only made sense for him to continue his work and publish this paper.”

Hahami said Calculus-Based Statistics has been one of his favorite Lawrenceville classes and that he especially enjoyed the collaborative atmosphere Piper fostered. Every day, the teacher divided the class into four groups – making sure they sat with someone new each day – and sent them to the whiteboard to work out homework problems.

“In statistics, you would often find that there are multiple ways to approach a problem, and something that I thought of, a classmate would approach differently,” Hahami explained. “I thought it was really cool to learn from so many awesome, smart students.”

His second paper, “Forging Democracy: The Connection between the Current Mortgage Industry and Postbellum Virginia,” examines the historic roots of today’s discriminatory lending practices in the United States.

“I thought it was really, really important to gain more understanding of historical and contemporary inequities and spread that research,” said Hahami, who also enjoyed his American Democracy class with history teacher Clare Grieve, particularly the Harkness discussions that embraced multi-perspective arguments in each case.

The publication process – especially the critiques from college professors and doctoral scholars in statistics – has been “awesome.” The peer review process “was very helpful, and I think I learned a lot about how to convey information in an official research paper,” Hahami said. “Overall, it’s been a great experience.” n

Some of Lawrenceville’s top athletes signed letters of intent on National Signing Day in November, committing to compete next year for NCAA-sponsored programs at some of the nation’s finest colleges and universities. This is not a comprehensive listing of all of the members of the Class of 2023 who will compete at the collegiate level, but those who have been accepted to their college or university of choice, signed NCAA National Letters of Intent, and notified that school's athletic department of their decision. Others will sign in February and May.

BIG RED IS COLLEGE BOUND

Front row, from left:

Abby Hehl, ice hockey, St. Lawrence University

Jaelyn Bennett, lacrosse, Johns Hopkins University

Brooke Ross, lacrosse, Davidson College

Anna Gill, field hockey, Georgetown University

Back row, from left:

John Okupski, lacrosse, Fairfield University

Quintan Kilrain, lacrosse, Johns Hopkins University

Daniel Clark, lacrosse, University of Denver

Chuck Rawson, lacrosse, Johns Hopkins University

Liam O’Hearen, baseball, Lehigh University

Ely Hahami ’23 recently had two papers selected for publication in scholarly journals – one related to statistics and one with a history focus.

With Phase Two of the Tsai Field House in progress, the girls’ volleyball team played its fall season on a wooden court in the former Loucks Ice Center. The hardwood floor is the surface used in the 2018 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship game between Notre Dame and Mississippi State in Columbus, Ohio.

TSAI FIELD

HOUSE OPENS WITH A WIN

History will record a resounding 22-8 victory against Malvern Prep by the boys’ water polo team on September 8 as the inaugural athletic event in Tsai Field House. Phase One of the project – including the pool, hockey arena, and Tsai Dining Commons – was completed and opened for use this fall. Phase Two is scheduled for completion next winter. Girls’ volleyball also used a hardwood surface inside the former Loucks Ice Center, the same one that will be used by the

School’s basketball and wrestling teams in the winter.

“Our team has really made the Field House our home,” said water polo’s Toby Richmond ’24, who has been playing the sport for 12 years, “I was anxious because this was the first time playing another school in the new pool, but as the match went on, I got more comfortable. […] All in all, this game was the best start to the year anyone could ask for!”

—William Huang ’24

The boys’ water polo match against Malvern Prep on September 8 marked the debut for competition in Tsai Field House.

REMEMBERING DR. PHILIP H. JORDAN JR. ’50 H’61 ’96 P’85 ’90 GP’24

Lawrenceville's tenth head master died at 91 in July.

When Dr. Philip H. Jordan Jr. ’50 H’61 ’96 P’85 ’90 GP’24 was appointed Lawrenceville’s tenth head master in 1995, he also became the first graduate of the School to occupy the fabled corner office inside the Mackenzie Administration Building. The valedictorian of his class in 1950, Dr. Jordan returned to serve for a year following two decades as president of Kenyon College, and his steady hand and sense of enduring Lawrenceville values navigated an easy transition between Head Masters Si Bunting H’37 ’59 ’88 ’91 ’95 P’88 ’97 and Michael Cary H’47 ’01 ’03 P’01

Dr. Jordan, whose leadership had altered the trajectory of one of the nation’s finest liberal arts colleges, died July 22, 2022, at age 91.

After earning his bachelor’s degree in philosophy summa cum laude from Princeton University in 1954, Dr. Jordan received his master’s degree and doctorate in history from Yale University. After leaving Yale, he accepted a position in the history department at Connecticut College, where he taught American and Modern European history. Dr. Jordan was awarded the Salgo-Noren prize for excellence in teaching in 1965, and he entered the administration of the college in 1968 as associate dean of academic affairs. After holding this position for a year, Dr. Jordan was appointed dean of the faculty at Connecticut College, remaining until 1974, when he was chosen to become president of Kenyon College.

Dr. Jordan’s tenure at Kenyon was one of great accomplishments. Early in his presidency, he worked to expand the college fully to integrate women. In an article he wrote for The New York Times in 1977, he explained how “the leaders in the education of women must be the coeducational colleges, where women can play an active part in working out new roles, aspire to previously closed careers and assert themselves properly in the company of men.”

Dr. Jordan’s administration also saw the increase of diversity in Kenyon’s faculty and students, as well as the doubling of applicants, raising Kenyon’s standards and giving it its high academic reputation. He retired in 1995, after 20 years as Kenyon’s president.

When Bunting resigned from Lawrenceville in 1995, the Board of Trustees asked Dr. Jordan to become the tenth head master of the School while they conducted a search for the next leader. He served as head for one year, continuing to refine and improve upon the growing coeducational and residential life at Lawrenceville. He returned to live at Kenyon and in the summer of 2000, he and his wife, Sheila Jordan H’66 P’85 ’90 GP’24, moved to Chebeague Island, Maine. Dr. Jordan also served as interim president at ColbySawyer College, where he had served on the Board of Trustees in 2005-06.

As a Lawrenceville alumnus, Dr. Jordan served as a trustee from

1979-92 and from 1996 to 2002; he was elected trustee emeritus in 1992. He received the Aldo Leopold Award, also known as the Lawrenceville Medal, in 1996.

In addition to Sheila Jordan, Dr. Jordan is survived by sons Philip H. Jordan III ’85 P’24, a religion and philosophy teacher and the Diana C. Bunting and Josiah Bunting III Distinguished Teaching Chair at Lawrenceville, and John G. Jordan II ’90; and a grandchild, Adrian Jordan ’24 n

Dr. Philip H. Jordan Jr. ’50 H’61 ’96 P’85 ’90 GP’24, the first Lawrenceville graduate to return to the School as head master, died in July.

DISCUSSING THE LEGACY OF THOMAS JEFFERSON

The Weeden Lecture welcomed preeminent Jeffersonian scholars

Annette Gordon-Reed and Peter Onuf in December.

With less than four years to go before the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence, two renowned historians took the Kirby Arts Center stage in December to explain why understanding the life of founding father Thomas Jefferson is important for people today.

The 2022 Weeden Lecture welcomed authors and historians

Annette Gordon-Reed, the Carl M. Loeb University Professor at Harvard University; and Peter S. Onuf, Thomas Jefferson Foundation Professor Emeritus in the Corcoran Department of History at the University of Virginia, for a conversation about the life and legacy of America’s third president. Two of the world’s preeminent Jeffersonian scholars, Gordon-Reed and Onuf collaborated on the 2016 book Most Blessed of the Patriarchs: Thomas Jefferson and the Empire of the Imagination. Onuf began the discussion by noting that as historians, he and Gordon-Reed aim to “explore the significance of the beginnings of our history to understand this moment.”

Gordon-Reed said she first became intrigued by Jefferson after reading a biography of him when she was in third grade.

“I was interested in a person who enslaved people but wrote the American Declaration of Independence. That combination struck me as weird, strange: What’s this about? How could someone do this?” she recalled.

Gordon-Reed, who won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 2009 for her work on the Hemings family, said learning about Sally Hemings, an enslaved person owned by Jefferson and who bore six of his children, “put a twist” on her understanding of the country’s origins.

“It showed this has never been a country just of whites,” she explained. “This country started out as a place with people of African descent, Europeans, Indigenous people, and his story brings that to the fore.”

Despite Jefferson’s role in developing the nation's ideal of

Historians and Jeffersonian scholars

Annette Gordon-Reed and Peter S. Onuf have collaborated frequently, partnering to write Most Blessed of the Patriarchs: Thomas Jefferson and the Empire of the Imagination in 2016. (Sipa via AP Images)

liberty, Onuf said he also recognized that America was a “nation in chains” due to its practice of enslavement. “Why do we bother with Jefferson?” he queried Gordon-Reed.

“He presents the issue very clearly, and he makes you think about the state of a country of European settlers who are impinging on a country of Indigenous slavery, who have started a system of chattel slavery,” Gordon-Reed said.

“The problem has been put there very starkly: A lot of the things going on grow out of the fact that we’ve never resolved this question of who are the people,” she continued. “We think we have, but there are still a number of Americans who think we should be a nation for whites, who don’t like the idea of a melting pot in a way that we romanticize all of it.”

Studying Jefferson, Onuf said, presents an opportunity for historians to connect the past with the present. Jefferson had great aspiration for the nascent America but understood the mobilization necessary to achieve that aspiration, and Onuf believes that being able to understand and contextualize that history allows a democracy to more forward based on good data.

“One of our messages is that inspiration doesn’t mean anything if it’s not based on real knowledge about where we’ve been and what we’ve done, and what we’re responsible for,” Onuf said. “We need to know all the things we’ve discovered and we need to get past it – not to ignore it, but to incorporate it.”

Established by Walter Buckley Jr. ’56 P’96 ’99 GP’09 to honor the memory of history teacher and coach Charles F. “Chuck” Weeden III H’65 P’77 ’79 ’87, the Weeden Lecture Series brings noted American historians to campus to speak with students, faculty and members of the Lawrenceville community. n

EMERGE TRANSFORMED: THE CAMPAIGN FOR LAWRENCEVILLE COMES TO A CLOSE ON JUNE 30, 2023

Did you know? Most gifts to Emerge Transformed come through The Lawrenceville Fund. We’ve made great progress thanks to more than 6,000 generous alumni and parent donors, and Lawrenceville’s future is brighter than ever. Still, we continue to have important unmet needs.

Your support is more critical than ever in this final year of the Campaign.

With over 11,000 gifts of $100 or less, gifts of all sizes are having a great collective impact.

INSIDE THE GATES

5Q4

What song can you listen to on repeat?

The two songs I have on repeat right now are “Knee Socks” by Arctic Monkeys and “In Bloom” by Nirvana, but most of my playlists consist of basically anything by the neighborhood of Arctic Monkeys, Nirvana, or Metallica.

What is your favorite time of the day?

Any time I have coffee.

Which fictional character from a book or movie would you most like to meet?

Definitely either Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice or Minny Jackson of The Help because they defied the stereotypes set for them and women in general in their respective societies.

If you could have a Harkness discussion with any three people, past or present, whom would you choose?

Rupi Kaur, Gregory Pardlo, and Sarah Kay.

If you could have an all-expenses-paid trip anywhere, where would you go?

Probably Tuscany, Italy. I would so love to see the Costiera di Calafuria.

ONE TO WATCH

A Speaker on the Rise: Witt Phillips ’22

 Witt was elected by his classmates as 2022’s Aurelian Speaker, an honor conferred annually to a student who best demonstrates “sterling character, high scholarship, and forceful leadership.”

 A top student, Witt demonstrated his exemplary leadership and character through his high level of involvement on campus, both academically and in co-curricular activities.

 He was selected as a Hutchins Scholar in Science Research and collaborated with the Seung Kim Laboratory in the Stanford University School of Medicine’s Department of Developmental Biology in an effort to find better treatment and possible cures for pancreatic diseases.

 Outside the classroom, Witt worked with L10 News, the Gender Sexuality Alliance, and Spectrum magazine, as well as serving on the Honor Council.

“One way to directly integrate civics education into the academic curriculum would be to add civics as a core educational obligation alongside community services, the humanities, and the Personal Development Seminar series that students must fulfill during their time at Lawrenceville. … Alongside initiatives such as Democracy Day, creating this civics requirement could be an additional framework to ensure that students have the time, space, and motivation to prioritize civic participation and understand their role in continuing our democratic republic. Our democracy is too important for us not to prioritize it in the upcoming years, in our actions as well as our learning ethos.”

THEY SAID IT

questions for Harini Venkatesh ’25, ready to tell us what she’s listening to, whom she’d like to meet around a Harkness table, and where she wants to go.

– An editorial representing the majority view of the 142nd board of The Lawrence that appeared in its November 11, 2022, issue.

OFTEN OVERLOOKED

Those approaching Kinnan House toward the front door may have noticed the stonework overhead in which “1913” and “This building was given by the Alumni Association” are etched. Such dedications are common, but in this case, the inscriptions – in fact, the House’s entire purpose – were intended to be different. “Society Hall” was erected as a headquarters for Lawrenceville’s two debating societies, the Calliopean and the Philomathean, with debate such a vital part of student life that the Alumni Association raised money for a building dedicated to it. Plans even had the societies’ names engraved on columns and doorways, but by 1930, the societies had fallen out of fashion and the stone edifice was converted to Fifth Form housing and renamed for Alexander P. W. Kinnan, Class of 1873, who led its initial fundraising efforts.

CLUB HOPPING

The First Amendment

Founded: 2010

Purpose: A twice-per-term publication that promotes awareness of international and domestic politics, revealing the many facets of the issue.

At a time when political coverage so often sends people to their own comfortable corners, The First Amendment draws readers of all stripes because of its fact-driven, analytical approach that gives a platform to liberal and conservative voices alike. When planning each issue, “we make sure that the questions for the available topics are nuanced enough to resonate with students of all sides of the political spectrum,” says co-editor-in-chief Yewon Chang ’23, who, along with Yan Tsenter ’23, aims to ensure “our writers never feel the pressure of having to choose the ‘correct’ side of a debate." The First Amendment examines current events, building each issue around a theme. Last spring, the staff explored the debate on the morality of neutrality in the war in Ukraine, and opinions were diverse. “It also helps that Lawrenceville students already exist on a wide spectrum of political beliefs,” Chang says, “which makes for a magazine that accurately reflects this distribution.”

1. The late Dale “Snort” Snodgrass ’68, considered the inspiration for Tom Cruise’s “Maverick” character in the Top Gun films, logged more hours at the controls of the F-14 Tomcat than any other pilot in the world.

2. After a family vacation at a ranch as a 10-year-old, Caroline Reese Nelson ’09 decided that was her career objective and, in 2018, co-founded Little Creek Lamb & Beef in Montana.

3. Rob Reinalda ’76, whose masterful command of English and keen proofreader’s eye have provided a safety net for each issue of The Lawrentian for more than 25 years, also teaches English as a second language.

3

ON THE ARTS

THE TWENTIES COME ROARING BACK

STOP ME IF YOU'VE HEARD THIS!

You know the old joke: “How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice!” But it takes a good deal of talent, too. Just ask trumpet player Ian Lee ’24, who made it to the famed venue in 2017, when he won silver in the Golden Key Music Festival, and more recently for an audition at the Hall for the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America.

Lee, the lead trumpeter with Lawrenceville Collegium, began playing trumpet at age 11. Although he is highly motivated to perfect his musicianship, carving out time to practice can be challenging.

“It becomes really hard when you don’t know anyone else that plays your instrument or is at the same level as you,” he said. “That was something I struggled with a lot until recently. But once I was exposed to a nationwide community of similarly passionate musicians and were in the same competitions that I was doing, that made me so much more motivated.”

Lee also says that his relationship to the instrument changed when he began to think of the trumpet as an extension of himself.

“I recently realized that when I imagine [that the trumpet] is my own voice, it’s actually helpful,” explained Lee, whose résumé includes local, regional, and national honors.

Ian Lee ’24 has a list of musical honors worth trumpeting.

The Twenties came to life on the Kirby Arts Center stage – the Roaring Twenties, that is. The Periwig Club presented its fall musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, in October, with Naa Kwama Ankrah ’23 (center) starring as Janet van de Graaff, part of a talented cast directed by Matt Campbell, show director and chair of Lawrenceville’s Performing Arts Department.

JULY 10 - JULY 28, 2023

+ Rising 6th-9th grades

+ Residential, Day, and Virtual Programs

+ Creative Classes and Enriching Activities

+ Harkess Pedagogy and Experiential Education

By LISA M. GILLARD H’17

A Wilder Workout

Once a week in season, the Big Red football and boys' lacrosse teams cast aside their helmets and sticks to improve their flexibility and core strength through dance

LAWRENCEVILLE

IS ALL ABOUT CONNECTIONS:

Affinities and unions developed around the Harkness table, in Houses and clubs, on stages and playing fields are all part of the student experience.

But what to make of the linkage between the football and boys’ lacrosse teams and Derrick Wilder? At the request of their respective head coaches, Wilder, the School’s director of dance, now works with both teams to help enhance his players’ flexibility, reduce injuries, and increase focus.

Jon Posner, who is readying for his third season leading the boys’ lacrosse program, got the ball rolling last spring. After seeing the injury-prevention benefits a similar class had achieved for his players at Culver Military Academy, where Posner previously coached, he wanted to bring the same benefits to his Big Red squad.

“I met Derrick and instantly saw his passion in his field,” Posner said. “I asked him if it would be possible to partner, because I know my small group of athletes would benefit from having the opportunity to train with him, and he ran with the idea.”

Posner’s laxers worked with Wilder twice a week during the spring 2022 season, and the “Wilder Workouts,” emphasizing stretching and flexibility, have become a key complement to the injury-prevention work guided by Lawrenceville’s strength and conditioning coaches.

“In any sport, you are bound to have problems if you aren’t flexible,” he said, “and those tend to be injuries that are nagging and can sometimes be worse than breaking your leg.”

“Derrick is as passionate about dance as I am about lacrosse, and it just radiates when he talks to boys and girls on campus. Our guys aspire to play at the Division I level, and to become great, they have to work outside of our practice schedule,” Posner said. “Derrick’s willingness to open his doors up to us outside all of his other responsibilities just shows

“Safe to say there were some doubts in the minds of many on the team when we were told we’d be partaking in weekly dance classes, but our concerns were quickly taken care of,” admitted Harry Lynch ’23, a standout, 6-foot-3, 260-pound defensive lineman.

you how much he cares about all of the students at Lawrenceville.”

Hunter Chauvette ’23, a top-25 national lacrosse recruit headed for Yale, said that “for athletes who play sports like football and lacrosse, which involve constant cutting and contact, flexibility and strength are immensely important in keeping players safe from muscle and other injuries.”

Wilder, Posner said, “is our secret weapon, because taking care of your body is the secret weapon to being an elite athlete.”

That need for muscular flexibility isn’t unique to lacrosse. Intrigued by the holistic approach to fitness and the opportunity to expand partnerships across campus, head football coach Napoleon Sykes also connected with Wilder. Sykes explained that the non-traditional football workouts, which also emphasize core strength, are a huge help in preventing injuries.

“We’re always trying to be proactive about keeping kids safe,” said Sykes, who just wrapped up his second year leading Big Red. “Almost every single position on the field, you have to flip your hips, you have to be flexible. The more flexible and limber you are, the better you’ll be.”

How did the football players react?

“Safe to say there were some doubts in the minds of many on the team when we were told we’d be partaking in weekly dance classes, but our concerns were quickly taken care of,” admitted Harry Lynch ’23, a standout, 6-foot-3, 260-pound defensive lineman. “Many had thought that there was little crossover between football and dance and viewed the activity as a more relaxed, non-physically demanding part of our typical practice week. We were very wrong.”

Sturdy two-way lineman Endin Duraku ’24 said he changed his mind about what he thought would be “funny yoga workouts,” too.

“I personally find the yoga aspect of our workouts to be the most useful, because I know that some of our players do not have the time to stretch beyond practice,” Duraku said. “[Mr. Wilder] quickly accepted us into his space with respect as we respected what he had to teach us.”

Lynch recalled the first few sessions as “grueling,” as none of the players were in what he called “dancing shape.”

Above: Big Red football players limber up for dance class.

Below: Director of Dance Derrick Wilder dips head football coach Napoleon Sykes.

“It was a big shock to a lot of us that dance could be so physically taxing,” he said, “but as the weeks have gone on the training has certainly yielded results.”

The dance-football-lacrosse connection has also been a learning experience for Wilder, who looked in on football practices this fall.

“I started tailoring [workouts] around what was going on or what just had happened,” he explained. For example, after a hard loss, Wilder scheduled a class heavy on stretching and meditation.

“I could see that they were being very hard on themselves,” he said. “I want them to realize that, as a team, we always have to make sure we’re supporting each other during the highs and the lows.”

The players, Wilder said, know how to watch game videos to evaluate and improve upon their performances. They know who to use the weight room and train; these are things in their wheelhouse.

“It’s this last bit about injury prevention –about fully stretching out before, after, and even during a game that they are learning,” he explained.

Sykes “loves” that Wilder ends each session with a short meditation. “I think all of our kids can use that – some time to calm their minds and bodies and just re-center,” he said.

“It’s all about mind, body, and spirit,” Wilder affirmed. “You can’t just do ‘body.’”

“I find the end of our workouts the most fun,” Duraku said, "because we all cool down in the presence of each other; quickly I have bonded with this team more than I have with other teams I’ve been on. Where on previous teams I had a few friends or a group that I was close with, on his team I have been able to work with everyone, especially on Wednesdays, and form a relationship with every player.”

Witnessing that bonding firsthand has delighted Wilder. “It’s been wonderful being in the space with them because dance is not necessarily a competitive sport,” he said. “It is great to see the camaraderie and the support that the players offer each other.”

Lynch said the benefits of the workouts were evident on the gridiron, too.

“We moved better; we were more durable,” he insisted, “and, might I say, more graceful on the field in light of our work with Coach Wilder.” n

FALL SPORTS ROUNDUP

Boys’ Cross Country

Record: 3-0

First Team All-M.A.P.L.: Taksh Gutpa ’25

Girls’ Cross Country

Record: 3-0

M.A.P.L. Champions

First Team All-M.A.P.L.: Keira Lehmann ’24, Essie Chafin ’26, Nishka Malik ’24, Elizabeth Parnell ’23

Field Hockey

Record: 12-7

Mercer County Champions

First Team All-M.A.P.L.: Caitlin Hoover ’23, Anna Hoover ’24

First Team N.J.I.S.A.A.: Caitlin Hoover ’23, Anna Hoover ’24, Anna Gill ‘23

Football

Record: 7-2

Boys’ Soccer

Record: 8-12-2

First Team All-M.A.P.L.: Liam Flynn ’23, George McCain ’23, Rayce Welborne ’24

First Team N.J.I.S.A.A.: Rayce Welborne ’24

Girls’ Soccer

Record: 6-7-2

First Team All-M.A.P.L.: Julia Chiang ’23, Kingsley Hughes ’23, Cameron Gabrielson ’24

First Team N.J.I.S.A.A.: Maddie Brogan ’24

Girls’ Tennis

Record: 9-2

M.A.P.L. Champions

First Team All-M.A.P.L. Singles: Sophie Bilanin ’26, Katelyn Ni ’26

First Team All-M.A.P.L. Doubles: Maple Kusolphatna ’23, Sienna Kulynych ’26

Girls’ Volleyball

Record: 11-8

Boys’ Water Polo

Record: 14-5

Garden State Tournament Champions

Girls’ Water Polo

Record: 11-5

For the most current athletics news, visit lawrenceville.org/athletics.

Leave a Lawrenceville Legacy

“My gift deliberately recognizes teamwork, sportsmanship, and cultural enrichment – Lawrenceville hallmarks. When you’ve been blessed with success, you have an obligation to give something back. I’m proud to be able to support the School, and a planned gift is the perfect family legacy.”

Out of gratitude for the Lawrenceville education of his three older children, Morgan ’14, Jake ’16, and Taylor ’17, Grant Pothast P14 ’16 ’17 established a life insurance policy with the School as the beneficiary and with proceeds split equally between endowments for Big Red Athletics and scholarship aid. The siblings benefited from Lawrenceville’s rigorous academics, excellent athletic and co-curricular programs, and the diverse voices of classmates, teammates, and friends, and their experiences continue to inspire them as adults.

For more information on leaving a bequest to Lawrenceville or for other planned giving opportunities, or if you have included Lawrenceville in your will but have not yet informed the School, please contact Jerry Muntz at the Lawrenceville Office of Planned Giving at 609-620-6064 or jmuntz@lawrenceville.org, or go to lawrenceville.giftplans.org.

— Grant Pothast P’14 ’16 ’17

TAKE THIS JOB AND LOVE IT

By ADAM GRYBOWSKI

Where the Green Grass Grows

On

N TOWNSEND, MONTANA, WHERE the average low temperature registers below freezing for eight months of the year, Caroline Reese Nelson '09 wants her flock of sheep to spend more time on pasture.

On a conventional sheep ranch, it’s not unusual for animals to spend half of the year outdoors on pasture and the other, colder half in a pen, where hay provides their sustenance, heaters keep their water tanks from freezing and bedding of deeply layered straw keeps them warm.

Nelson, a rancher who founded Little Creek Lamb & Beef in 2018 with her husband, Justin Nelson, rotates her sheep among small pastures, giving them enough time to eat tall grasses and weeds without overgrazing. As the sheep clear overgrowth, more beneficial grasses, fertilized by the animal’s manure, begin to emerge.

The process is key to rebuilding the rich topsoil that was once plentiful across

the farmland of the United States. (A 2020 analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists estimated that U.S. croplands are on pace to lose 28 billion tons of topsoil by 2035, posing a threat to the country’s food supply.) Richer, more abundant topsoil makes growing food easier and less expensive and helps lock carbon in the ground, mitigating effects of climate change.

While the upsides to Little Creek’s approach are enormous, the process requires more time and labor than conventional methods, which also makes it more expensive. In one breath, Nelson described that tension as “deeply inconvenient and logistically annoying” and, in the next, as “fun and worth it.”

Such tradeoffs may be inherent to the regenerative agriculture practiced by Little Creek. The relatively small ranch sells its grass-fed lamb and dry-aged beef, all raised on pasture, directly to consumers, and the Nelsons supplement their income by also offering ranch goods such as hand-tanned sheep pelts and soap made from sheep’s milk, as well as retreats for women.

After several seasons, Nelson continues to approach the work with joy and reverence.

In describing the day her animals are sent to slaughter, the word she prefers is “somber.” She doesn’t hesitate to add: “It’s also when I feel the most plugged into being alive. It’s changed how I consume in every way. I’m much less wasteful and more grateful.”

That heightened sense of connection –to food, to landscape, to community – is something Nelson has been chasing for a long time. Her upbringing in suburban Pennsylvania bears slight relation to the rural lifestyle she found herself drawn to before she was even a teenager.

Beginning at age 10, she and her family vacationed at Battle Creek Ranch in Montana for three straight years. During that time, she became steadily enthralled with ranching life, and when it came time to depart and return home, she usually protested. One year, to quiet her, Nelson’s mother assured her that when she was older she could phone the ranch and ask to work there.

Her daughter took the words to heart. “I thought that was a real plan,” Nelson said. Upon turning 15, she earnestly followed her mother’s advice and called the ranch and began spending summers there,

a Montana ranch, Caroline Reese Nelson ’09 approaches agriculture with joy and reverance.

making herself as useful as possible despite, in her own estimation, having little to offer except being able to ride a horse. She cooked, cleaned, and did dishes. Eventually she was able to pick up some basic ranching skills. Through that work, Nelson began to develop a newfound sense of satisfaction.

“I felt like a zoo animal that finally got released into its natural habitat,” she said. “Before that, I had felt like I was only using my mind, and I loved the idea of using my body.”

Meanwhile, her formal education continued on the East Coast. After Lawrenceville, Nelson enrolled at Princeton University, where she majored in anthropology and wrote her thesis on cowboy culture. Following graduation, she traveled the United States as a singer and guitarist in a band. Unable to discover the same gratification she found in ranching, she eventually wound up back on the same ranch that had captured her imagination as a girl.

Having moved to Townsend permanently, she and Justin, a Montana native who continues to work on his family’s farm, began dreaming of raising cattle on their own. Those plans changed one night when Nelson saw an ad on Facebook offering four free Icelandic sheep. Intrigued by the idea of bringing an unusual breed of sheep (it has only been introduced to the U.S. over the past couple of decades, Nelson said) to what is typically known as cattle country, the couple jumped at the opportunity. They were shocked when this ancient breed, prized for its fleece, milk and mild but flavorful meat, gave birth to lambs within a few weeks of acquiring them.

Even though the learning curve has been steep, Nelson’s ambition for Little Creek continues to grow. More and more, she prioritizes how the stewardship of livestock can undergird a sustainable food web that ultimately creates healthier soil and healthier people.

“I’ve come to feel that Little Creek’s meat is not the product,” she says. “The soil and the land are the product. The meat is what pays me to do the regeneration.” n

Adam Grybowski is a freelance writer based in Lawrence Township.

“I felt like a zoo animal that finally got released into its natural habitat,” she said. “Before that, I had felt like I was only using my mind, and I loved the idea of using my body.”

Photo: Paige Southwood

By JACQUELINE HAUN

ASK THE ARCHIVIST A Grand, Central Station

WITH THE TURN OF THE CALENDAR THIS WINTER, the Jane W. Irwin Dining Center was no more, having served for fifty years as the primary source for many Lawrentians’ meals as well as the location for many other student activities over the years.

Before Irwin Dining Center opened in 1972, eating at Lawrenceville was organized within the individual Houses. When the House System was instituted in the 1880s, each housemaster was given a lump sum per student in the house, out of which they paid not only for the actual food supplies for the students and their own families, but also but for heat and light, the salaries of household servants who cooked, cleaned and waited on tables, and kitchen and pantry equipment. Each housemaster was allowed – if they could manage – to save $1,000 per year as their recompense for running the house. As a result, food quality was inconsistent from House to House, and often housemasters ran short on funds. Usually the heads of house would hire a matron to run the House but sometimes the wives of the heads of house were hired. Meals were initially cooked in the House kitchens and eaten, family style, in the House dining rooms for all three meals. This allowed a student to perhaps eat breakfast in his pajamas before getting

ready for his first class of the day, and it enabled the housemaster to make announcements to all the students in the House daily.

As early as 1898, a more centralized way of serving food was considered, both as an equity and a cost-saving issue, but already there was concern that such centralization would “seriously destroy the fundamental character of the House System,” as former School treasurer A.R. Evans H’24 wrote in 1963. Compromise came by 1920 in the form of a shared commissary, from which housemasters would requisition food for meals. By 1923, following a reorganization of the school housekeeping system, the housemasters were finally relieved of the duty of creating a weekly menu for their individual Houses, and for the first time, the campus had a standardized menu.

The

Jane W. Irwin

Dining Center, a hub of Lawrentians’ daily meals for fifty years, came down this winter to make way for the new Tsai Field House.

Left: This spacious student lounge inside the front doors of Irwin Dining Center gave way to a series of uses, most recently the Jigger Shop on the far end and the Sustainability and Outdoor Programs office in the foreground.

Below: This swanky faculty lounge, seen in 1972, most recently was the site of the campus mailroom.

Nonetheless, concerns continued over the expense of such a costly approach to feeding students. There were eleven campus kitchens, each with its own support staff, and by the time the Great Depression began in the 1930s, the School decided that Houses would share kitchens, if not dining rooms. Among the six Circle Houses, there were three active kitchens from which food was transported in thermocarts to those whose kitchens were not in use. By World War II, staff shortages and the need to further reduce expenses saw only two active kitchens on the Circle, a system that remained in place for several years. Students were also asked for the first time to make their own beds and to wait on the tables of their Houses in a rotating schedule.

By the end of the 1960s, these inefficiencies finally prompted the School to create a single dining hall for the Lower School and Circle Houses, despite ongoing concerns about the impact on intra-House bonding. Funded by a then-anonymous donor, the new dining facility was state of the art for the day, and large enough to accommodate the First through the Fourth Forms comfortably. Designed by Walter O. Cain, who had previously drawn plans for Princeton University’s Jadwin Gym and Art Museum as well as Vassar’s dining facility, the new building cost $3.5 million, or nearly $25 million in 2022 dollars. It was located on the site of the “Old Gym,” which succumbed to fire in December 1959, and built in such a way as to seemingly rise from the downward slope leading to Lavino Field House, allowing for a twostory structure without overpowering the landscape with its height.

On the first floor, one entered into a student lounge that was 30 feet deep by 107 feet wide, with a faculty lounge (known as the Thirteenth Chair) around the corner on the left end of the building. On the right, a snack bar referred to as The Jigger East, which was open from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. daily, served hamburgers and hot dogs to hungry students. Upstairs, the eleven individual dining room pods were meant to mimic dining in the Houses: The three pods centered at the top of the staircase were designated for the Lower School, with six

Although breakfast and lunch were served as in a cafeteria, dinner continued to be served family-style, with a limited menu and all House members eating together with their housemaster several times a week. Otherwise, students were allowed to eat wherever and with whomever they pleased. In theory, this was the best of both worlds: Students could maintain the closeness of meals in the Houses and yet still develop friendships with those from others.

In fall 1987, just as girls arrived on campus, the building was rededicated in the name of Jane W. Irwin P’72 GP’07 ’11, the wife of Trustee John N. Irwin II ’33 P’72 GP’07 ’11 and mother of John N. Irwin III ’72, finally acknowledging the previously anonymous gift given by Mrs. Irwin, who died in 2001. Coeducation also effected Irwin’s practicality, and by the late 1980s, the addition of four new Crescent Houses required dining pods to be reallocated. The Lower School was relocated to the former Jigger East location, much to the dismay of students who appreciated the snack bar’s

dinner service became cafeteria-style.

The building continued adapting as the needs of the School evolved. The faculty lounge became the campus mailroom, and the Jigger Shop came and went multiple times, as did attempts to maintain a student lounge space. In Irwin’s final years, the most significant changes to the former student lounge were its conversion to the Sustainability and Outdoor Programs office and, most recently, as a weight-training room while the new Tsai Field House is under construction.

Whatever an alum’s memories of the building, be it 1970s intercampus “mixers” with girls from other schools, or the contemporary pleasures of stations enabling students to cook custom dishes for themselves, Irwin Dining Center has been a shared experience for what are now multiple generations of Lawrentians. n

Jacqueline Haun is the senior archives librarian of the Stephan Archives in Bunn Library.

The Office of Alumni Engagement celebrated the 135th anniversary of the Lawrenceville-Hill rivalry on November 5, with more than 300 alumni of all ages returning to campus for Hill Day and an afternoon filled with food, fun, and friendly competition. The Big Red Tasting Tent gave attendees the chance to sample beer, wine, and cocktails from several alumni-owned breweries, wineries, and distilleries. Then it was off to the fields of play, where Lawrenceville kept the Meigs-Green Cup where it belongs, posting a 13-3-2 record over Hill on the day.

The Real Top Gun

The high-flying true story of Capt. Dale ‘Snort’ Snodgrass ’68 is so much more than any Hollywood imitation.

By Sean Ramsden

Though he is synonymous with the F-14 Tomcat, U.S. Navy Capt. Dale Snodgrass’68 also owned this F-86 Sabre, seen here in 2007 at St. Augustine Regional Airport in St. Augustine, Fla. (AP Photo/Oscar Sosa)

Y NOW, YOU’VE SEEN it just about everywhere, the acronym wantonly applied to anyone who has ever earned a little fame at some endeavor. Calling a star athlete or a famous guitarist the “G.O.A.T.” – the “greatest of all time” – has lost much of the significance it ever carried as a way to pay homage to greatness.

In the world of flight, however, they know that Capt. Dale Snodgrass ’68 might have actually been the greatest ever. For nearly fifty years, the legendary Navy fighter pilot and breathtaking airshow wonder known by his call sign, “Snort,” soared through a life of aerial daring that had a thrilling movielike quality.

Snodgrass logged a greater number of hours at the controls of the Grumman F-14 Tomcat than anyone who has ever lived – more than 4,800, a record sure to stand forever. Even non-aviators will recognize the supersonic, variable-sweepwing F-14 fighter as the same one piloted by Tom Cruise’s “Maverick” character in the 1986 film Top Gun, and that’s not a coincidence. Snodgrass is widely regarded as the inspiration for Maverick, and that is even him you see in some of the film’s spectacular aerial sequences.

In fact, not long before Top Gun’s theatrical release, Snodgrass was selected by the United States Fleet Forces Command as its 1985 Fighter Pilot of the Year, a reallife version of the distinction for which Maverick competed in the movie. Though the film’s plot was purely fictional, the same fearless, daredevil spirit that elevated the film into a franchise – a sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, became the highest-grossing film of 2022 – also fueled Snodgrass’s career in the cockpit, making it the stuff of aviation legend.

“It’s obviously a very thrilling profession,” Snodgrass told CBS’s Forrest Sawyer during a 1986 appearance on the CBS Morning News that aligned with the release of Top Gun. “It’s a job that I can’t think of anything that I’d rather do, and it’s a very competitive profession; it allows you to do a lot of things

that a lot of people – the rest of the world, basically – isn’t capable of doing.”

Before retiring from the Navy in 1999, Snodgrass commanded Flight Squadron 33 during Operation Desert Storm, leading thirty-four missions and earning the Bronze Star for leadership and valor. A decade earlier, he flew in what he called “freedom of navigation operations” over the Gulf of Sidra, near Libya, when two of his fellow Tomcat fighter pilots were shot down by Libyan jets. With the Cold War breathing its final-yet-ferocious breaths in the 1980s, the coinciding surge in American patriotism was reflected by Hollywood with a wave of action films showcasing the United States’ military might. Top Gun and another 1986 film, Iron Eagle, which was heavily inspired by the 1981 Gulf of Sidra incident, throttled the lore and allure of fighter pilots into theaters everywhere.

In that way, it’s not surprising that the reckless, bad-boy image of Maverick is often

confused with the real-life aerial capers for which Snodgrass was known, but the line is as distinct as that between fact and fiction. Snort knew how to shock, but he rarely crossed any line of conduct.

IN AVIATION CIRCLES, THE PHOTO IS legendary. The well-circulated shot, taken from the flight deck of the U.S.S. America in 1988 by the Navy’s Sean E. Dunn, depicts Snodgrass making an impossibly daring maneuver known as a “banana pass” in his F-14 Tomcat during an airshow for families of the ship’s personnel. Dunn captured the move, in which a pilot turns the aircraft almost 90 degrees to the right, accelerating as he positions the wings in a straight northsouth orientation, at the precise moment as to create the illusion that the Tomcat is balanced on its starboard wing at the very edge of the America. The jet almost seems to be skating perilously on a knife’s edge along the side of the supercarrier at what

Snodgrass recalled to be some 325 knots –or about 375 miles per hour.

“As I approached the ship, I rolled into an 85-degree angle of bank and did a 2- to 3-g turn, finishing about 10 to 20 degrees off of the ship’s axis,” Snodgrass told aviation blogger John Sponauer in 2000. “It was a very dramatic and, in my opinion, a very cool way to start a carrier demo.”

Owing to the tendency of flight buffs to conflate the on-screen “Maverick” legend and the real-life daring of “Snort,” rumors have raged for years that the close shave got Snodgrass grounded. Not true at all, Snodgrass told the Sierra Hotel Aeronautics blog in 1998. He explained how the maneuver was actually approved ahead of time by the airwing commander, an admiral who can be seen in the photo with his hands held casually behind his back.

However, when Snodgrass first saw the image, his reaction was somewhat less sanguine.

“Holy cow! Make me 50 copies and burn the negative,” he said, according to Debbie Gary in Smithsonian Air & Space magazine. “I don’t want that to follow me.” But it became part of Snodgrass’s storybook, what Gary calls one of the most circulated photographs in airshow history.

“And it is classic Snodgrass,” she wrote in 2010. “Low and close, in the right place at the right time with the talent for making an airplane pop out of the sky and into the mind’s eye.”

Snodgrass’s deft touch at the controls

made him an airshow hero to spectators and fellow aviators alike. In 1996, he performed in the Flight of the Twin Engine Cats, a unique performance in which Snodgrass, in his familiar Tomcat, flew in tandem with retired Navy pilot John Ellis, who was at the controls of a Grumman F7F Tigercat, a 1940s-era twin-engine fighter. The disparities between the two aircraft was stark, and Gary says most pilots could scarcely imagine them flying together in formation aerobatics.

“During the nose and wing attitude changes of a looping or rolling maneuver, the speed and flying characteristics of each airplane change in dramatically different ways,” she said. “One airplane can accelerate while the other slows up. One airplane might need massive amounts of power, while the other’s throttle is nearly at idle.”

For that reason, Gary added, trust between the two pilots was essential. Snodgrass was sure about it. Ellis was less so, but he was swayed by his faith in Snort.

“There are some pilots who seem to have a special sense of awareness of where they are at all times,” Ellis told Air & Space “Dale has that particular ability. His flying is smooth and aggressive at the same time. His senses are a little sharper than other people’s. He knows when he is an inch from the ground, when he has wingtip clearance and can roll the plane into knife edge right on takeoff.”

Snodgrass’ father, Reuben Snodgrass, flew Vought FY4 Corsairs in World War

II for the Marines. Growing up on Long Island, young Dale absorbed his father’s affinity for flight before enrolling at Lawrenceville for a postgrad year. In fact, Dale was with Reuben the first time he saw an F-14 as a high school student in Lake Ronkonkoma. The attraction was instant and lifelong.

“I first met it when my father was a test pilot at Grumman,” Snodgrass told

Snodgrass died when the single-engine propeller plane he was piloting crashed during an airshow in Lewiston, Idaho, on July 24, 2021. (Photo: Dorothy Cochrane/Smithsonian Institution)

One of the most circulated photographs in air show history shows Snodgrass buzzing the U.S.S. America in his F-14 Tomcat in 1988. “Holy cow! Make me fifty copies and burn the negative,” he said upon first seeing the shot.

(Photo: Sean E. Dunn)

Speed and Angels Productions about the day when he accompanied his father to the Bethpage Air Show to see the fighter he would eventually fly more than any other human. “They had a full mockup of the F-14, and I saw it in this special lighting in the hangar – they were trying to sell this airplane – and I said, ‘Holy. Sh-t. Wow, what a great airplane!’”

Though Snodgrass flew many different aircraft, he is synonymous with the Tomcat. It remained an extension of him for almost thirty years after he glimpsed it at that Long Island airfield, and sometimes that love could see him rise to its defense. Snodgrass told the tale of a boastful Marine who flew an F/A-18 Hornet, a sleek fighter that debuted a dozen years after Snodgrass’ cherished F-14. It’s the jet most closely identified with the Navy’s famous Blue Angels demonstration squadron. Inside the Officers Club at Oceana, the naval air station at Virginia Beach, Snodgrass listened to the Marine – himself another Top Gun pilot –“talk big about how they would spank the Tomcat” the next day in a scheduled twoversus-two aerial combat drill.

Snort proposed an alternative plan.

“I said ‘I’ll tell you what … we’ll just make it a 1-v-1,’” he said, challenging the Marine to make the drill a one-on-one battle. “One engagement, and whoever wins, the other squadron – the loser’s squadron – has to buy all the cocktails and all the shrimp we can eat on Friday at the Oceana O-Club.”

After a short-but-furious round of loops and dives that reached 300 knots in a thrilling scene painted much like one from the Tom Cruise film, Snodgrass locked onto the F/A-18 on his tracking radar and dispatched the marine in just 42 seconds. His vanquished opponent challenged him to another round but even the intrepid Snodgrass declined. He had dumped all of his excess fuel to become more nimble and had just enough to return safely to the base.

After winning a Major L as a varsity swimmer at Lawrenceville in 1968,

Snodgrass earned All-America status at the University of Minnesota, which he attended on a Navy ROTC scholarship.

Two years after college, in 1974, Snodgrass graduated first in his flight-school class and became the first student to get behind the controls of the F-14 Tomcat directly out of flight school. By 1978, he was in the United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program, commonly known as Top Gun –which is, really, what he was. It’s not a reach to call Dale Snodgrass the greatest of all time. It’s his due, really.

THE MYRIAD ACCOUNTS OF Snodgrass’ skills and bravery, his daring and showmanship, and his deep-seated technical knowledge of aviation could fill the pages of this magazine twice over. He was an idol of the airshow circuit but also a Navy man held in the highest esteem, the recipient of more than 25 military decorations in addition to his Bronze Star. This is what makes it all so hard to reconcile what happened just after noon on

July 24, 2021, at an airshow at Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport in western Idaho. Within four seconds of takeoff, Snodgrass’s single-engine SIAI-Marchetti

SM.1019 propeller plane stalled its rapid ascent about 80 feet above ground level. Immediately, the plane leaned left at 90 degrees and plunged straight back down toward the runway’s edge, hitting a patch of dirt nose-first. Snodgrass, who was the sole occupant of the Marchetti, was killed on impact. In a total of seven seconds, he was gone. He was 72 years old.

The incident sent shockwaves through the flight community. On Twitter, famed NASA astronaut Scott Kelly mentioned the news of the tragedy, saying, “I had the pleasure of knowing him and even flying with him in an F-14 with a new flight control system with me in the backseat, which felt oddly appropriate. A true legend.” Flying magazine retweeted the celebrated banana-pass photograph from the U.S.S. America, wishing “Blue skies and tailwinds to a legend. #RIPSnort”.

Snodgrass (bottom) flew his Skyblazer F-86 Sabre in formation below Dan McCue (top, front seat) and his L-39 Albatross over Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. (AP Photo/Victoria Arocho)

A July 2022 report conducted by the National Travel Safety Board revealed that Snodgrass had failed to disengage the flightcontrol-lock mechanism prior to takeoff. This prevented him from lowering the nose after the plane climbed aggressively after takeoff, sending it into the “stall-spin situation” from which he was unable to recover.

“The disconnect here is painful,” said Paul Bertorelli of AVWeb, perhaps the general aviation industry’s most respected news site. “How could such a thing happen to such an experienced pilot? This is the most mundane of accident causes.”

Bertorelli says that the aviation safety culture around the U.S. Navy is unique “because it has to be.”

“Operating aircraft off carriers is among the most hazardous flying imaginable,” he said, “and the Navy is good at it because it instills pilots with a disciplined approach to procedures.”

Compared with his record total hours in the F-14, Snodgrass was relatively inexperienced with the Marchetti. He had logged about twenty hours in the plane, one of about ninety built for the Italian Air Force in the late 1960s. The plane’s

spartan simplicity was in stark contrast to the sophisticated Tomcat, though Bertorelli says that doesn’t necessarily reduce the risk of error. Still, Snodgrass “didn’t survive that many years of high-risk flying by being consistently careless, which is why the accident was such an attention-getter,” he said.

Though the NTSB pointed to Snodgrass’s oversight in not disengaging the control lock, NTSB vice chair Bruce Landsberg said the design of the lock and its view to a pilot conducting his pre-flight inspection also lends itself to being overlooked. The flight control lock is a red, U-shaped metal bar about two feet long, with the short, curved handle of the “U” at the top. When in the locked position, it leans toward the pilot at about a 45-degree angle, somewhat obscured from view by the control stick, which the pilot used to direct the craft.

“From an engineering perspective, I would say it would be nice if we made those control locks a little more visible,” he told Bertorelli for AVWeb. “It’s a poor design.”

Bertorelli takes an even harsher view.

“It is almost a setup for this kind of accident,” he said. “You can’t see it unless

One of the most celebrated airshow pilots ever, Snodgrass flew this post-World War II era F-86F Sabre Skyblazers jet at the 2007 MacDill Air Fest in Tampa, Fla. (JHP Attractions/Alamy Stock Photo)

you’re really looking for it.”

Landsberg noted that even a pilot of Snodgrass’s experience and capability isn’t immune to the “human factor.”

And Snodgrass was about as skilled and knowledgeable as they come.

“I like to say we should design aircraft for the bottom half of the bell-shaped curve [of pilots’ ability],” Landsberg said. “But we can’t say this about this pilot. He was at the absolute tippy-top of the curve.”

Snodgrass soared to those heights in a way only a few ever will. The “tippy-top” of Landsberg’s curve was also the very top of Snort’s world, the tier reserved for the greatest of all time. He wasn’t “the Top Gun guy” many recognize from the Dunn’s photograph, as if life is what necessarily imitates art.

He was the real Top Gun. n

Art enables us, whether as creators or as participants, to immerse ourselves in another dimension.

By Stephanie Xu ’23

‘Indulge in the

AS A FIFTH FORMER, I CAN’T HELP BUT FEEL

like this is the end of my journey as an artist. As I continue to grow up, I will lose opportunities to perform and create art. When I watched the main curtain fly down on the closing night of The Drowsy Chaperone, this year’s fall musical, it felt like I was watching a monumental door shut in my life. I had anticipated my senior show since the day I sat in on the technical interest meeting for King Lear my Second Form year, but nothing could’ve prepared me for how quickly the four years passed by. In the blink of an eye, I had essentially reached the end of my performing arts career.

Of course, I can continue to pursue my passions of art and theater and dance, but realistically? As soon as I step outside the Lawrenceville gates, I will adopt the full role of an audience member. I will watch the people who dared not to give up on their dreams dance and sing and act, and I will sit and wonder, Could this have been me?

It’s never too late, of course, but oftentimes it is. I don’t mean to write this in hopes that someone will come up to me, grab me by the shoulder, and yell in my face not to give up. Don’t give up on art, they’ll say. Do what makes you happy. Truthfully? I just want people to understand how emotional and cathartic art can be. For the artist, yes, but also for audience members. The visitors at the gallery. The family at the cinema. The everyday person with earbuds in. Art is a form of expression for the artist, but it’s also a pathway of

expression for the audience.

Art is the cultivation of our influence on one another. It is the collection of our individual outlooks on life, our worldviews, and art is necessary because it builds community. To me, art is the glue to everything we cannot say and everything we wish we could. Art builds connection and community, and together we are brought into a world so captivating because we know it does not exist. We embrace the inadequacy and the insufficiency, because there are no limits or standards to art. There is no rubric to the perfect painting just as there is no limit to the combinations of notes you can make with eighty-eight keys on a piano.

Art extends beyond a tangible restriction: When we erase the boundaries of the possible, we are able to immerse ourselves in an alternative dimension. When we put

MAGIC’

on a movie or walk around art galleries, we enter other worlds. I love art because I am in charge of exactly who I am and who I want to be. In every form of art, be it through film, music, dance, theater, or visual, we are transported out of our bodies; for the time we indulge in the role of the audience, we willingly let go of all our other qualms, worries, fears, and grief. We embody the emotions we are influenced to feel. We hand control over.

Art holds nostalgia in its own hands. Any particular song can take you back to road trips with your family, summers during middle school, or maybe falling in love for the first time. Artwork depicts all the dreams we are unable to describe. Actors speak for us when we cannot. We escape to movies and TV shows when our worlds feel too overwhelming, but we rush to produce art when we become overwhelmed by our worlds.

And still, perhaps the most incredible revelation is realizing we each are artists in our own right. As Lawrenceville’s [Student Council] Arts Representative, I hope I will help every person in my life learn that everything we do, every breath we take, is art in itself.

Take the opportunity to go support the arts. Every one of your peers who is involved with any form of art here at Lawrenceville does it because they love it. For all of us, art holds such safety and comfort and this is our home away from home. You don’t have to understand something to be able to appreciate it. That’s how I feel about Shakespeare’s plays, abstract art, or the long hours of orchestra performances. When the curtain rises, we know we are temporarily suspending our real identities. Let go of everything as you engage art as the audience. Indulge in the magic. n

Adapted from Lawrenceville’s VILLEage Voices web series, in which community members are invited to share their thoughts each month on a variety of topics relevant to life at Lawrenceville and beyond. Stephanie Xu ’23 is co-president of the Periwig Council, graphics editor of the 141st and 142nd boards of The Lawrence, head of the All Arts Council, and the current arts representative to the Student Council.

MY FAVORITE TEACHER

BY ROB REINALDA ’76

A TEACHER AND A FRIEND ANDY SCHWARTZBURG H’76

Five years on campus, including a rich extracurricular schedule, afforded me access to an abundance of Lawrenceville mentors: five primary and assistant housemasters, a half-dozen school team coaches, and twentyplus phenomenal classroom instructors, such as T.J. Johnston H’65 P’74 and Graham Cole H’77 ’78 ’80 ’83 ’85 ’86 ’87 P’91 ’95.

Singling out one to highlight is beyond challenging. I could write reams about John Brendler in Perry Ross and Al Philpet H’74 ’75 ’77 ’78 in Woodhull, who helped me navigate tough personal stretches. I owe a profound debt to Jack Devlin H’66 and Peter Candler H’63 ’67 ’76, who gave me my first onstage roles, igniting my lifelong passion for theater. I also had remarkably dedicated coaches on Lawrenceville teams in three sports.

One teacher stands out, though, for numerous reasons: J. Anderton “Andy” Schwartzburg H’76, with whom I studied German for three years.

In the classroom and beyond, Andy had a whimsical, yet not frivolous, approach. His love for the language, and for teaching, came through. He more than tolerated the adolescent-male humor that pervaded Lawrenceville in the mid-1970s. Campus culture was newly liberated from the dailychapel, jacket-and-tie regimen of prior decades. Students in Andy’s classroom would shout out bilingual puns and deliberately unseemly mistakes to crack up their classmates. Right along with us, Andy would grin and shake his head, and on we would go with the lesson.

Andy knew that as dry as learning a language can be – and mastering German grammar is particularly arid – it could be fun. He had a goofy rhyme about when to use dative or accusative case with particular prepositions. I mean, that rhyme was gooooofy. And I remember it to this day.

He also introduced us to literary classics, including Berthold Brecht’s Der Kaukasische Kreidekreis (“The Caucasian Chalk Circle”) and Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha, about Buddha’s burgeoning enlightenment. Reading them in the original German was marvelous, yet these were only part of the legacy he offered.

As I entered my Fifth Form year, Andy

asked me whether I'd like to spend a term as an exchange student at a boarding school in Bavaria. He had a working relationship with Landerziehungsheim Schondorf, west of Munich, and there was a German student who would be my counterpart, if I agreed. My father had been born in The Netherlands, and both my parents thought immersion in Europe would be great. I would spend spring 1976 at Schondorf am Ammersee.

For the winter term, my counterpart arrived: Olf Olschewsky ’76. He and I became close friends, and that bond has endured to this day. Olf and I have, in recent months, traded emails and conversed on Zoom and WhatsApp – mostly in German – and I remember far more than I'd have imagined.

My spring term at Schondorf was wonderful, unforgettable, life-changing. Thanks to Olf and Andy, I made many friends and learned abundant life lessons.

In 1984 I visited Olf in Munich, and Andy happened to be there, too, so we went to Oktoberfest together. Andy shared his knowledge of the city, as well, with minitours and recommendations – still blending education with fun.

A couple of years later, I was pursuing an editing position with a German magazine, and Andy sat with me for several hours to help me with relevant nomenclature, even coaching me on interview protocols. Always teaching, always generous, always with his wry humor.

In 2022 I began teaching English as a second language, and Andy’s lighthearted way of “landing” grammar and vocabulary with students has stuck with me.

My love of travel, enduring friendships, my fondness for languages, my approach to teaching, all stem in large part from the many hours in the Pop Hall classroom where Andy held court each day.

Vielen Dank, Herr Schwartzburg. n

Rob Reinalda ’76 is the author of Why Editors Drink: A Snarky Look at Common, Often Hilarious, Writing Blunders, and he was awarded the prestigious Robinson Prize for excellence in editing by ACES, the Society for Editing, in 2019. Andy Schwartzburg died in 2016.

WHO WAS YOUR FAVORITE TEACHER?

It seems that for every Lawrenceville alum, there is a Lawrenceville story. So many tales of transformation began on our campus, whether around the Harkness table, on the playing field, in the lab, or maybe with an inspiring chat in your House.

The teachers, coaches, and heads of house play such vital roles in the development of our students at Lawrenceville, and it’s been that way for longer than any of us remember. It’s simple enough for this magazine to report what’s happening at Lawrenceville today, but there is a world of Lawrentians who were transformed in some way by those who taught you, coached you, and looked after you during your days on the Bowl, the Circle, or the Crescent. And very often, those experiences have affected so many other lives in wonderful ways. Maybe you’ve witnessed this. Maybe it’s been you.

Maybe you should tell that story.

Reach out to us at The Lawrentian by emailing editor Sean Ramsden at sramsden@lawrenceville.org.

Don’t be shy!

SHARE WHAT’S HAPPENING IN YOUR LIFE

—

CLASS NOTES

(Page

FALL/WINTER 2022

“Our class attendees, including Joe Tsai, held a vote, which passed unanimously, to heretofore refer to the new Tsai Field House as “The Joe.”

Jim Gidicsin ’82 P’17 reporting the consensus among his 1982 classmates, including the Tsai Field House’s namesake and lead donor, about its shorthand name. (Page 63)

“It’s incredible to be a published writer, and now totally surreal to be a bestselling author! English classes […] were always my favorite at Lawrenceville, but it wasn’t until I interviewed with Gus Hedberg H’03 P’96 ’00 to be Haskell’s prefect that I considered seriously writing.”

— Kaethe Walther ’14 , whose young adult novel, The Summer of Broken Rules, made USA Today’s bestseller list over the summer. (Page 72)

“I wore my clown outfit once to the Iowa Legislature on its last night of work one year. A lobbyist said to me, ‘Hi, Senator!’”

Jon Krieg ’81 , who, along with his spouse, occasionally wears such colorful couture to entertain their nieces and nephews at their annual family gathering.

61)

1942

To submit news for the Class of 1942 column, please send them to classnotes@ lawrenceville.org.

In June, George Ross Fisher and his family celebrated the publication of his latest book, Philadelphia Revelations: Twenty Tours of the Delaware Valley (available on Amazon!), by taking a bus tour of one of the tours in the book: Germantown Avenue from the Delaware River to Lafayette Hill.

George is living in Lafayette Hill, Pa., and just welcomed his third greatgrandchild, born April 14, 2022.

1943

To submit news for the Class of 1943 column, please send to classnotes@ lawrenceville.org.

1944

To submit news for the Class of 1944 column, please send to classnotes@ lawrenceville.org.

Jim Neely P’99 ’02 and wife Patti got together with sons Robert Neely ’99 and Jim’s namesake, Jaime Neely ’02. Jim and Patti also have two sons and a daughter who attended local high schools in San Francisco. Jim played high-level tennis until 92 and just published his fifth book of poetry, In the Zone, on Amazon. They retired to “hot-but-gorgeous” Palm Desert, Calif.

1945

George A. Vaughn III

George1058@aol.com

1946

To submit news for the Class of 1946 column, please send them to classnotes@ lawrenceville.org.

Arthur Thomas recalls an incident that made a lasting impression on him in the spring of 1947—his freshman year of college. Arthur rowed for Columbia University on the 150-lb. lightweight crew team. He rowed as No. 7, putting him just behind the coxswain in rank.

In the spring of 1947, Arthur was at a regatta at Lake Carnegie in Princeton. His crew team crossed the finish line ahead of Princeton’s crew, seemingly winning the race. Arthur looked to the side upon crossing the finish line, and recognized a Lawrenceville classmate, Norman T. Rogers, in Princeton’s boat pulling in next to him.

To the surprise of many at the regatta, Princeton was declared the winner of

the race, although Columbia was the clear winner. Arthur recalls that his father watched the race from the top of Kingston Street in Princeton, and was shocked by the declared results as well.

Norman and Arthur attended many Lawrenceville reunions together, and at each one, they would bring up that infamous regatta on Lake Carnegie. Norman was steadfast that Princeton won, while Arthur insisted Columbia was the true winner.

This little slice of Lawrenceville memory stuck with Arthur all of these years because it shook his core value of morality at the ripe age of 18, and exposed him to those who thought differently about morality. As a member of Columbia’s team, Arthur recalled that he would travel far to crew practice, so to have the Lake Carnegie race taken from them was deeply troubling. Arthur has taken measures to research the procedures needed to overturn the calls on crew races, but discovered it is a tedious task, so the record remains that Princeton was undefeated that spring of 1947.

1947

George C. Gaines gcg@sonic.net

The Lawrentian is sorry to report the passing of longtime class secretary and former Director of Alumni Relations

Paul B. Mott Jr. P’76 ’85 GP’18 ’20 on October 10. Seventy-five years after graduating from Lawrenceville, Paul remained a friendly neighbor, frequently making the short trip from his nearby home to campus. More recently, visits became phone calls, but his good nature endured. He will be missed.

George C. Gaines has been kind enough to step into the role. You can reach him at the email address listed atop the column.

1948

Warren Schneider

wasnyc@aol.com

2727 W. Bluff Ave, Unit 133 Fresno, CA 93711

Next June, we will celebrate the 75 th anniversary of our graduation. For the final time, 1948 will march in (and likely lead) the alumni parade following the Chapel service. Be there!

The Chapel Bell Will Toll during the Service of Remembrance on Alumni Weekend next June for the following classmates who have left us:

O. Grant Bruton (Kennedy) died

July 7, 2022 in Louisville, Ky., where his family has lived since his days with us. At School Grant graduated cum laude, was a member of Herodotus, Debating Society and The Lawrence and won second prize in Fourth Form history. Upon graduation, Grant received a scholarship from the English-Speaking Union to attend Christ’s Hospital, a preparatory school in the U.K., followed by graduation from Princeton and Harvard Law School. Thereafter, Grant was drafted into the Army and ended up serving in Newfoundland. He was an outstanding and successful lawyer, well-known in Louisville. He is survived by his wife, Sylvia Cardwell Bruton, two sons and two stepdaughters, his sister and grandchildren.

We lost T. Warren Thompson Jr. (Hamill) May 19, 2022, at Omaha, Neb., where he was born. Warren went on to graduate from Williams College and thereafter enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he became an aeronautics instructor. He then married Mary McFayden and they settled in Omaha, purchasing a bottled-water company, which he ran for 30 years. Warren and Mary had two daughters. After Mary’s death in 1971, Warren married Patricia Brophy, thereby adding to his family with three stepchildren. They moved to Arizona upon his retirement, and Warren returned to Omaha in 2004 following Patricia’s passing. He is survived by five children and stepchildren, 14 grandchildren, and 23 greatgrandchildren (which he claimed to be a “L’ville record”) and by his friend and companion Leila Johnson.

Thomas Joseph Mangan III of Chatham, N.J., passed away on May 3, 2022. Tom joined us for only our Fifth Form year, but his outstanding personality and his prowess on the football field

Jim Neely ’44 P’99 ’02 gathered with family, including sons Robert Neely ’99 and Jim’s namesake, Jaime Neely ’02.

George Ross Fisher ’42 and his family celebrated the publication of his latest book, Philadelphia Revelations: Twenty Tours of the Delaware Valley in June. Philadelphia Revelations is available on Amazon.

LAWRENTIAN LAURELS: KENTARO IKEDA ’40

A Posthumous Honor

The name of Kentaro Ikeda ’40, who was the sole Japanese student at Princeton University during World War II, now graces a prominent campus archway in the dormitory where he lived. The Gothic arch in Lockhart Hall was dubbed Ikeda Arch effective October 4. A 1944 Princeton graduate, Ikeda died in November 2011 at 92.

The naming of Ikeda Arch memorializes Ikeda’s experience at Princeton and recognize his inspiring persistence during extremely challenging circumstances. Ikeda was born in Kanazawa, Japan, and moved to New Jersey in 1938 to attend Lawrenceville, where he lived in Cleve and Upper Houses. During his sophomore year at Princeton, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and the United States entered World War II. In February 1942, the U.S. issued an executive order authorizing the government to incarcerate people of Japanese descent, including U.S. citizens, in internment camps.

Ikeda reached out to University administration for help, working with Assistant Dean Burnham Dell, the FBI, and the U.S. Department of Justice to find a way to avoid deportation. The government agreed to let Ikeda stay in the United States as an “alien enemy parolee,” and the University was required to closely monitor him.

To this end, Ikeda met weekly with Dell, who would then write reports detailing Ikeda’s activities to the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Ikeda was barred from leaving the University

campus without gaining permission from the U.S. District Attorney, according to the Mudd Manuscript Library Blog. His bank account was also frozen, and he could not communicate with anyone in Japan, including his family.

Moreover, after the United States entered the war, the FBI searched Ikeda’s dorm room on campus, according to an account his widow, Young Yang Chung, gave to the Princeton Alumni Weekly (PAW)

“He was very unhappy and scared. People were coming in almost everywhere, searching through every drawer, every book, even looking in between the pages,” she said in the interview.

However, Chung said that Ikeda found friends who would help comfort him and University administrators who would invite him to dinners during the holidays.

“Until he died, he was so grateful to Princeton University because he was protected by the University, so he avoided going to the camps,” Chung told the PAW

“Naming a space in Kentaro Ikeda’s honor is an important step forward as the University continues its efforts to develop a more complete narrative of Princeton’s history and to help the campus community understand more fully the institution’s past and present,” Princeton President Christopher L. Eisgruber said.

Ikeda was one of about 4,000 college-age people of Japanese descent approved by the

government to live on parole and continue his education, according to a 2019 PAW profile of Ikeda. He completed his Princeton studies in 1943 under an accelerated program offered during World War II, and left campus to teach Japanese to American soldiers at the Yale Language School before graduating as part of the Class of 1944. He lived under the same wartime restrictions in New Haven as he did in Princeton. After the war ended, Ikeda stayed in the United States with support from American friends and from Princeton administrators and others who helped him gain a visa extension. Later, Ikeda was able to legally immigrate to the U.S. and remained in the country for the rest of his life. He entered his family’s business, importing tea for the U.S. market and supplying major packers including Lipton Tea, Tetley Tea, and Nestlé tea companies, and was a longtime resident of Larchmont, N.Y. The decision to name the arch for Ikeda followed the recommendation of the Council of the Princeton University Community (CPUC) Committee on Naming, which is made up of faculty, staff, graduate student, undergraduate, and alumni representatives, and provides advice to the Board of Trustees with regard to the naming of programs, positions and spaces at the University.

— Condensed from reports by Emily Aronson, Princeton Office of Communications; and Sandeep Mangat of The Daily Princetonian

This arch at Lockhart Hall, located along University Place, now bears the name of Kentaro Ikeda ’40, who lived there as a Princeton undergrad. Kentaro Ikeda, as pictured in the 1940 Olla Podrida.

made a lasting impression. He earned a Major L in football and in addition served as a cheerleader for other sports, moving on to play football at Princeton after our graduation, where an injury ended his athletic career. Tom saw Army service after college and thereafter joined the world’s largest “hops” firm in the brewing industry, later becoming a specialist on the New York Stock Exchange, where he spent the balance of his business career. He was predeceased by his wife, Nancy, and is survived by his five children and their spouses as well as his sister, brother and numerous nephews and nieces.

We lost Wilson Walker Leake (Woodhull) on April 24, 2022. At L’ville Wil was business manager of The Lawrence, House Championship swimming team, All-House Football Team, House Championship debating team, president of Woodhull House, varsity football team, manager of varsity wrestling, School church, director of Upper and co-secretary of 1948. He graduated from Stanford and then received his M.D. from the University of Texas at Galveston, his hometown. Wil moved to Seattle after his marriage to his first wife, Jackie, and joined a large and successful anesthesiology practice. In 1987, he married Jewel MacDonald and after retirement, they moved to Kennewick, Wash. He is survived by Jewel, two sons and two daughters and his stepson.

Warren Schneider adds: A few years ago I wrote a column for 1948 Class Notes describing my view of the Lawrenceville of our day: “We learned from our masters as well as from older students that Lawrentians should be loyal, truthful, honest, and honorable, and that character was as important as grades. We were taught that it was improper to boast or brag...” I might well have had Wil Leake in mind, for he personified all those qualities. Wil is best described as kind, thoughtful and good friend to many. He had a way with people and, above all, was a true gentleman, uncomplaining, always praising others but never himself. Due to his illness, Wil was unable to do as much as usual for this column for the past year, and pestered me frequently to remove his name as co-secretary from the column masthead because he was reluctant to take credit for work he had not done. Of course, I refused. Today, with heavy heart, I have acceded to his wishes. Farewell, Wil. -30-

The Class offers its sincere condolences to the families of the dear friends we have lost.

1949

Robert Sobel robertsobel@me.com

1950

Peter A. Dow dowpa@aol.com

Sorry to report that this will be my last Class Notes as your secretary. I have one good eye and every six weeks I get shots for macular degeneration. I am also stepping down as class agent.

The great Class of 1950 not only gave Lawrenceville a head master in the personage of Phil Jordan P’85 ’90 GP’24 but also the head of the Board of Trustees, our Art Joukowsky P’80. Our class also produced many major benefactors to Lawrenceville, including Art, Slam Shutt, and John Hotchkis GP’12 ’17, to name a few. This past year our class had an annual giving goal of $15,000 and a class participation goal of 50 percent. We surpassed the dollar goal but fell short on participation, 12 donors out of 37. I am going to continue supporting Lawrenceville financially. I was a six-year scholarship student and Lawrenceville enabled me to attend Rugby School in England on an English-Speaking Union Fellowship. I urge each of you to support the Annual Fund as you can.

This past year Dave Oestreich and I and our wives planned to get together at our 72nd reunion. At the last moment, neither of us was able to make it. Dave and I go back together to Old Lower where he was a formidable tackle on the Thomas House football team. [ Ed. Note: Sadly, David Oestreich passed away in late August, a few weeks after Pete submitted these notes. – S.R. ] This coming May my younger brother, Stuart Dow ’58, is planning to drive from Michigan to Lawrenceville for his 65 th reunion. Jane and I are planning to tag along. Among other things, I’m eager to visit the Gruss Center for Art and Design and the new Tsai Field House and dining center. Hopefully a few others of you can be there for our 73rd

It’s been my privilege to serve as your class secretary and agent. Thank you. Without there concurrence I nominate Bill Day and Carl Shedd as candidates for class secretary and Bill Bernhard as candidate for class agent.

Cheers to each of you across the years.

– Pete

[ Ed. Note, Part Two: Pete Dow modestly omitted his own name from his list of Lawrenceville luminaries to come from the Class of 1950, a status that was recognized when he was named the recipient of the School’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2016. His contributions to Lawrenceville are too many to list here, but The Lawrentian tips its Big Red cap to Pete for his many years of faithful service to this Class Notes column. – S.R.]

1951

Edward D. Rossmann edlou@rochester.rr.com

Word has come of the death of Dave Summers on April 2. At Lawrenceville, Dave lived in Davidson, Griswold, and Upper. Among his many activities, he was probably best known as a high jumper, and there is a photo of Dave making a jump with Mr. Francis, the Latin teacher, in the background, raising his foot to help Dave over the bar.

Dave went on to Princeton, where he and Doug Carpenter were both high jumpers on the track team. They roomed with Bob Shoemaker, and Dave and Doug were members of the Ivy eating club. Among Dave’s memories of Princeton was the day when Albert Einstein sat next to him at a math class. That was fun, Dave thought, except that Einstein kept blowing pipe smoke in Dave’s face.

1952

George “Bud” Prince Georgebprince1@gmail.com

1953

Steve Ackermann execbenefits@gmail.com

1954

To submit news for the Class of 1954 column, please send to classnotes@ lawrenceville.org.

Scott Hellar ’87 wrote to say that his father, longtime class secretary Grant Hellar P’87 , was injured in a fall a

few months ago and subsequently, is relinquishing his role as class scribe. Grant would love to hear from classmates as he rests, and you can reach him at ghellar@comcast.net, or by mail at 352 G Street, San Rafael, CA, 94901-1706. Scott also promised to pass along your best wishes; he can be reached at scott. hellar@gmail.com. The Lawrentian thanks Grant for being one of our finest class secretaries, ever since he “temporarily” accepted the role back in 1997.

1955

John P. Keyser johnpkeyser@gmail.com

Chico Ferro is still going strong, which will be no surprise to all ’55ers. And his patriotism and love of our country is an example to us all. Our country would be better if we had more Chicos! I don’t know, though, that he can still make the long throw from deep short to first?

Larry McGivney is camped out in Point Lookout, on Long Island, with his childhood buddies … definitely not raising hell as he used to.

Bert Getz H’56 P’85 GP’18 ’20 remains my hero, as he should be for us all. Great family, dedication to Lawrenceville, and if you remember, he headed our Board of Trustees and against much resistance we became co-ed. It surely was the right thing to do as we were slipping in our reputation as one of the very top schools. Then, under Bert’s influence young women – with superior SATs – joined our student body and back up we went and remain as a very top school.

T. Leslie “Bucky” Shear died in late September. He had quite a distinguished career. Bill Grossman roomed with him

Steppin’ Out: Lachlan Getz ’20, Bert Getz III ’18, Bert Getz ’55 P’85 GP’18 ’20, and Bert Getz Jr. ’85 P’18 ’20 are ready for anything.

all four years at Princeton. They roomed with Terry Roche their first year, and later with Woody Woodhouse ’54, who we also lost earlier in 2022. Bill gave a short remembrance at Bucky’s funeral, which was well attended and nicely dignified.

I, John Keyser , live happily up in Charlevoix, Mich., a most beautiful area. I write two articles in our weekly county newspaper, one about general leadership principles and practices and one about an outstanding community leader. I feel it is my way of contributing, even in a small way, to this community.

1956

James M. Beardsley P’88 jbeardsley63@gmail.com

1957

Don Mills don.mills@icloud.com

Bill Haddad billchaddad@yahoo.com

Twenty-five — 14 classmates and 11 spouses — attended our 65 th reunion. The Friday night party was hosted by Carol Wojciechowicz W’57 P’78 GP’06 ’10 ’12 at her home in Princeton. The evening was all the more memorable as the electricity went out (after Carol and Don demonstrated that they knew nothing about electricity and couldn’t find the circuit breaker that flipped). We wined and dined by candlelight. A truly memorable evening that we hope to repeat in 2027.

Classmates in attendance were Bill Bardel P’93, Paul Brickman, Rich Davis P’84 ’88, Bob Gimbel, Ted Kurz, Steve Leone, Don Mills, Dave Ottaway P’96 ’91 GP’24, Chris Perry, Charlie Rippin, Bill Semmes P’88, Austie Sullivan P’96, Alby Weinstein , and Carol Wojciechowicz Four classmates had planned to attend but could not make it.

Saturday was a rainy day that enabled all of us to spend time together indoors. We were able to get a tour through the amazing new field house and dining area. The School continues to strive for improvements philosophically, educationally and socially.

1958

William S. Ballenger III P’92

Bill@TheBallengerReport.com

At our age, it’s sometimes tough to keep the correct number of our various reunions straight, right? For instance, our Great Fifty-Eight class has already had its

60th reunion, in 2018. Next year will be our 65th. But most of us graduated from college four years later, so 1962 college grads had their 60th reunion this year, in 2022. 60? 65? Who’s counting? What’s the difference?

Still, it’s interesting to consider how many of our classmates made it back to their university campuses for their 60 th reunions in May or June. Take Princeton, where 27 of us matriculated after Lawrenceville — how many showed up from May 19-22 to celebrate six decades since they attended Old Nassau? The answer, apparently, is six. Four had their photos taken outside the University Chapel – Robert Burkhardt

P’07 ’09 , Sandy Ackley , Rich Smith , and Pat Bernuth , along with Robert’s twin brother, Ross, who graduated from Dartmouth. Their pics are displayed elsewhere in in this issue, but two others were also present although they dodged the camera – Ed Thurber and Dan Rifkin Did we overlook anybody? As for Yale, I’m uncertain how many of our fellow alumni went to New Haven; I thought it was the same number as Princeton, 27, but Larry Prince tells me it was less than that, maybe 17 or so. In any event, the only evidence we have of Sons of Eli in Bulldog Country are Larry himself and Bill Gross, who are also depicted nearby.

As for Harvard, I think 10 or perhaps a dozen went there, but I can’t find any evidence that any of them made it back to Cambridge for their 60th. Dartmouth? Half a dozen went to Hanover from Lawrenceville, but Brewster Jackson and Greg Hargrett have passed away, Wick Warrick P’90 ’92 and John Hubbard didn’t make it, and it appears Ross Burkhardt is the only one who appeared at his 60th although he heard reports that Tom Sturgill P’85 was there but he never saw him. What about it, Tom? In any event, Ross Burkhardt becomes the only known member of our class to attend two college 60th reunions – one at his alma mater and one as a visitor on another campus.

Our classmate Warren Pullman Miller passed away peacefully this past May 24 at home in Santa Barbara, Calif., surrounded by his family. He died after a losing battle with lung cancer one day short of his 82nd birthday. Warren was a four-year Cromwell/Kennedy/Upper man whom we will not forget. He was born in Chicago to Florence Lowden Miller and Dr. C. Phillip Miller. Many of us may not have known that his grandfather, Frank O. Lowden, was the Illinois governor from 1917-21 and a major contender for the Democratic nomination for President in 1920. His great-grandfather, George Mortimer Pullman, developed the Pullman sleeper car and founded the company town of Pullman, now part of Chicago’s South Side.

Rob McClellan H’65 ’78 P’10 was the guest of Charlie Rippin ’57 for lunch at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton over the summer.

A power outage at the Princeton home of Carol Wojciechowicz W’57 P’78 GP’06 ’10 ’12 did nothing to dim the fun at the Class of 1957 reunion dinner in May.

Luke Reese ’79 and uncle David Reese ’58 enjoyed a round of golf in October.

After Lawrenceville, Warren was Harvard ’62. Throughout his life, Warren had a passion for the environment, conservation, travel, and flying. After some years in Michigan, he took over management of Sinnissippi Farm, established by his great-grandparents 100 miles west of the Windy City in Oregon, Ill. He expanded the farm, and for several years, it was the largest grower of Christmas trees in Illinois. He was also active in the George M. Pullman Foundation, as we might expect. In 1989, he and his wife, Nancy moved to Santa Barbara, Calif., for her health, but she died in 1997. Two years later, he married Marlene Schulz, a native of Austria and an art gallery owner. She survives him. Warren had no children, but lots of nieces, grandnieces, grand nephews, and cousins as well as dog and cats. They all miss a one-of-a kind guy.

The final report has been issued on giving to The Lawrenceville Fund for the 2021-22 fiscal year, ending this past June 30. As a class, we didn’t do as well as we have in the past, although it was still a respectable 48 of us donating a total of $42,119. Since the School considers that we have 88 Great Fifty-Eighters who are considered “solicitable alums,” that means 55 percent of us contributed. The total amount we gave was about 53 percent of the “donor goal” of $75,000 set for us by the School. Maybe we can “bust through” our yet-to-beestablished goals for next year – our 65th reunion – as we did for our 60th in 2018. Go, Big Red!

Finally, it was good to hear from Thomas Neviaser, who checked in from Powhatan, Va. He writes: “It’s been quite a while since I wrote notes for my year. I retired in 2000 and again in 2005. I moved three years ago from Rixeyville, Va., to Powhatan, outside Richmond. In retirement, I have been busy writing books. My novels, The Mystery of Flight 2222, and You Dear Sweet Man, and my non-fiction work, Bones & Me, The Way I See It: A Head-to-Toe Guide to Common Orthpaedic Conditions , can be found on Amazon.

Retirement is a blast, but this old-age thing is getting in the way of what my brain wants to do. I still hunt ducks with my faithful lab, Rixey, but certainly miss my buddy, Sammy, who I lost earlier this year. At 82, it’s a bit harder moving through the brush to get ready for a flush for quail and pheasant, but I’m not giving up yet. Now that COVID has subsided, I’m back giving lectures on low back pain, shoulder conditions, and knee injuries to any group that wants to learn about their aches and pains in those areas.

“I have one grandson graduating from Liberty University this year and one grandson and two granddaughters

graduating high school. It sure is going to be a busy graduation time for Lynn and me for sure. I was hoping to be at our 65th next year, and I hope it doesn’t coincide with my own graduating schedule. Here’s to seeing everyone then.”

1959

William C. Howland billchowland@gmail.com

1960

Mort Fuller P’89 ’01 mfuller@gwrr.com

1961

William F. Hofmann III b.hofmanniii@gmail.com

Frank Williams says, “The 60+1 reunion was a success because we had a chance to see guys from the classes of 1960 and 1962, along with the dozen or so of our class. The weather was amazing: wet the whole time! Green Field was a mosh pit; several of the tents were out of service with standing water. The staff was unfailingly cheerful and helpful, the classes were jammed, and Champ Atlee’s ’62 H’74 ’75 ’79 ’80 ’83 ’84 ’87 ’89 ’06 P’92 class on Literature and the Law was enlightened, so he’s not entirely retired.

“Our gathering in Princeton at the venerable Nassau Club, courtesy of Steve Paneyko, was a happy conclusion to our weekend, and as usual, there wasn’t enough time to talk with everyone. I didn’t get a chance to tour the new field house construction, so someone else can describe what was shown.

“Our interaction with current students was almost nonexistent, probably on purpose to avoid viral complications. [Ed. Note: That was a factor, but the distance was also out of consideration for the students following the sudden passing of their schoolmate, Jack Reid ’23, less than a week prior. – S.R.]

The School may rethink the reunions at five-year intervals if the response to this one is an example, to see guys that were friends and teammates that would otherwise never happen.

1962

J. Gregg Miller Millerj@pepperlaw.com

Ted Lyons P’86 tlyons3644@aol.com

At the beginning of May, 16 classmates braved the foul weather that prevailed

during Alumni Weekend to attend our 60th reunion, some from as far away as Sweden, California, Alabama, and Florida: Googan Bunn P’93 ’01 ’03 ’07 GP’23 ’25, Ted Corey, Patrik Engellau, Howell Ferguson P’88 ’90, Buzz Hannum, Bill Harrison, Sandy Lenhart, Henry Lynn, Ted Lyons P’86 , Gregg Miller , Tom Niederer, John Tassie, Keith Jennings P’94 , Morris Evans , Gene Rosen , and Champ Atlee H’74 ’75 ’79 ’80 ’83 ’84 ’87 ’89 ’06 P’92.

Although Eric Kampmann , Don Freidman, Bo Hitchcock P’96 ’99, and Ley Breuel, Brian ’s widow, registered, they did not make it due to the terrible weather. It was cold and damp all weekend. However, catching up with everyone and seeing them in good health was inspiring and heartwarming.

Several meals and other gatherings

took place in the new Fifth Form dining hall, Abbott Dining Hall, whose construction was sponsored in large part by John Stephan ’59. The dining hall is wood-paneled, hung with School and House flags and as handsome as the finest collegiate dining hall. We all enjoyed our time there during the rainy weekend.

Many of us attended the Memorial Service held Saturday morning in Edith Memorial Chapel, where the names of our seven classmates who had died since our last reunion were read aloud.

A major highlight of the weekend was a “Back to Class” taught by Champ Atlee on the subject “The Law as Literature.” This was of particular interest to the lawyers in attendance. Champ has done a lot to introduce his students to the law during his 50-plus years teaching English at the School, and many of his students

Tom Slemmer ’61, Ted Collins ’61, and Dick Woodbridge ’61 P’93 got together at the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco. Behind them is Ted’s beautifully restored yacht, formerly owned by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.

Longtime angler Howell Ferguson ’62 P’88 ’90 visited Boca Grande, Fla., in June to do something he’d always wanted to try: fishing for tarpon on a fly rod. It was a success, as you can see from the 40-pounder Howell landed.

have later distinguished themselves as lawyers and judges.

Another highlight was a history class taught by Ms. Clare Grieve that focused on a voting rights issue that arose in California in the early years of that state. She uses the Harvard Business School Case Method of teaching in which discussion and debate are of paramount importance. Mrs. Grieve does not impose “right answers” on the students. [ Ed. Note: Clare’s class was also featured in the spring/summer 2022 Lawrentian, “History in the Present Tense.” – S.R.]

As if to prove the point, two of the alumni in attendance engaged in a spontaneous and extremely vigorous debate regarding voting rights in our country today. Fortunately, they were seated at opposite ends of the Harkness table in her classroom. After class, Ms. Grieve said that she believed teaching throughout Lawrenceville encouraged debate, and students were not asked by any of the faculty to “drink the Kool-Aid” regarding any political or social issue.

Julian Thompson ’45 H’52 ’57 , Graham Down H’60 ’63 ’64 ’67 , and Larry Hlavacek H’55 ’61 GP’06 ’08 were elected honorary members of our Class of 1962.

Our statistics regarding financial contributions to the School were very impressive. Our goal for gifts to The Lawrenceville Fund (TLF) was $125,000 and 50 donors, which we exceeded with TLF gifts of $188,947 given by 53 classmates. Other gifts, such as Art Clark’s and others’ gifts to the John Cleve Green Foundation, totaled $2,461,250. The grand total of the two sets of gifts amounted to a combined 60th reunion gift of $2,651,197 from the Class of 1962. The Lawrenceville School is extremely thankful to all the 1962 classmates who gave.

Jock Hannum P’88 ’94 could not attend the reunion and, of course, we missed him. His daughter recently made a film about the fox hunt in Unionville, Pa., of which Jock is honorary chair.

Bill Harrison attended the reunion and in August headed to the Thai/Burma border to work on the trauma project of his Education Burma Thailand Myanmar (EBTM) organization. Bill expressed gratitude to his Lawrenceville classmates for their financial support of EBTM over the years.

Art Clark was not able to make the trip for the reunion, but he made a big contribution to the John Cleve Green Foundation that helped lift our Class Reunion Gift over $2.6 million. In the past couple years, Art has avoided softball competition due to COVID concerns, but he is looking forward to playing for a local North Carolina 80-plus team in a couple years. Art is very proud of his grandson,

Mason, who won a full merit scholarship to Dickinson College.

Home from the reunion, Howell Ferguson visited Boca Grande, Fla., (near Naples) to fish for tarpon on a fly rod. Boca Grande has been called “The Tarpon Capitol of the World” and is home to the famous Gasparilla Inn. As a teenager, Howell had caught tarpon there “the traditional way – on a heavy rod using crab or squirrel fish or other minnows for bait.” He always wanted to try for tarpon with a fly, and in June he succeeded in catching a 40-pounder that “put up a vigorous fight of six or seven jumps.” Photos of Howell fighting the tarpon and his guide holding it are attached.

1963

John K. Hager 305-586-0272

johnkhager@gmail.com

I am sad to report the passing of Nat Bissell who died on April 22 of this year in Nashville. Nat was born in Dubuque, Iowa, and attended Phillips Exeter Academy and Lawrenceville, where he made many friends and developed a love of jazz while learning the trombone. He later graduated from Harvard University with a degree in economics and earned a master’s degree in business administration at New York University as well as an advanced certificate in computer applications and information systems.

Nat met his wife, Carmen, while working together in New York City and they were happily married for over 35 years. Nat loved his wife’s Puerto Rican culture and enjoyed many trips to her homeland. Nat and his family arrived in Nashville in 1988 and called it home for over 30 years. He had a long and successful career in project management, ranging across transportation, finance, and health care sectors.

His interests were refined and diverse. Nat was a lover of rock and Latin music, and in Nashville came to love bluegrass as well. He was a dedicated patron of the arts, enjoying performances at TPAC and the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, as well as visits to the Frist Art Museum, the Belcourt, and Cheekwood. Nat was preceded in death by his loving wife, Carmen, and is survived by his children and their spouses – Amarantha and Shane Martin, Alexander and Hope Bissell, and his grandson, Jude Bissell.

Chuck Tiernan reported that he and his wife, Carol, spend most of the winter at the Village by the Sea in Delray Beach, Fla. Chuck said when he first went there,

staying with his grandparents at age 4 to get “fattened up,” there were 6,500 residents. Today there are 65,000. Chuck writes that, “this past winter of 2022, our head of school, Stephen Murray H’54 ’55 ’65 ’16 P’16 ’21, came to my cousin, Michael Tiernan’s ’68 P’01 ’05 ’09, house for coffee with me, Smokey Swenson ’64, and a few other people with Lawrenceville connections who lived nearby. Head of School Murray gave us a nice report on the state of the School. After looking around the room and seeing quite a few Tiernans and their relatives, he realized that it would be more appropriate to talk about the School’s athletics than about its academics. One of the Tiernan clan who was at Lawrenceville in the mid-’90s figured out that the Tiernan family’s four generations had more Major L Captains than any other family in the School’s history coupled with less academic honors. It was a delightful hour. Head of School Murray was very interesting, and Lawrenceville is certainly lucky to have him as a head.”

Morgan Grace wrote in reply to earlier questions I had posed to the class via email about his Lawrenceville experience: “First, I am very happy with my experience at Lawrenceville and especially recommend the regimen of starting one’s day with prayer and meditation. The School enabled me to grow to respect the Christian approach to helping others in their time of need. In addition, I did learn about respecting other world religions as well. We are very fortunate to have bonds of friendship that stretch across different world views, something that is needed in today’s overly political environment.

“Second: Had I realized at that time that Lawrenceville was exceptional in the above-noted categories, I would not have taken it as a given that I would find the same strengths at the colleges I would attend. Although I did attend (an Ivy League college), I found the college culture there not as open as was Lawrenceville. I saw no reason to become a member of one of its (covert social clubs). As history has shown, I believe, a (covert social club) places the needs of its own interests above the interests of the greater community of which it is a part, almost by definition. I would have been more productive had I attended a place like (another Ivy League college) in my opinion where students enjoy (dining institutions) as opposed to (covert social clubs).

“Lastly: Had I been able to avoid (the college I attended), I would also have avoided the rather inordinate amount of time I spent helping other students at (that college) with their respective psychological issues. While I may not get into any of those issues, I would like

to say that starting with the correct view of making a choice to help people, and not hold oneself apart from people in a (covert social club) is a most rewarding experience. Such a commitment is useful in building a family, business or even a country, such as the U.S., which is the first country that has based itself on the principles of human freedom.”

Dave Mullens called to let me know that he had made a donation to Lawrenceville to express his thanks for keeping our classmates in touch with one another via class notes in The Lawrentian, and in recognition of the value of his experience as a student at the School. My pleasure, Dave, and thank you for the donation on behalf of Lawrenceville!

John Loud P’93 and his wife, Phyllis, moved from Charleston, S.C., back up to Essex Junction, Vt., just outside of Burlington, in May of this year. They made the move to be near his son, Jack, and his family as well as the many friends there from when they had lived in the area previously. John said that he was “ecstatic” from the move and that they had had more social activity in the past two months than the five years that they lived in Charleston. He did say, however, that on the day we spoke the temperature of 90 degrees (same as in Miami that day) was not something he was enjoying, and they’ll be spending time in Lake Champlain this summer to cool off!

I caught up with Soph Dadakis who lives in Southbury, Ct., along with his wife, Marylu, to whom he’s been married for 40 years. Soph got his law degree from UVa. after undergraduate studies at Cornell and worked in corporate law positions until his retirement in 2004 while living in Utah. He then relocated to Connecticut and he and Marylu have since been spending their time with family. They also volunteered tutoring first-third graders in reading and math at a charter school in Waterbury for lower-income families until COVID interrupted this activity in 2019. Their daughter, Maria, and husband, Eric, live nearby in Richfield along with grandson, Owen, with whom Soph spends a lot of time. Their son, Jason, lives in California along with his wife, Katey, and granddaughters Maia and Ainsley. He said that their time spent tutoring at the charter school is the best job that he and Marylu had ever had.

Soph and Marylu also enjoy travelling internationally and go every 3-5 years to Chile, where Marylu’s sister lives. On their latest trip in January, they hired a wooden vessel to sail around the island of Chiloe in the south of that country for five days after spending time in Santiago and also on the coast where Marylu’s sister has a beach house. They are planning a trip in September to Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.

Bud Bensel and his wife of 54 years, Anne, are still living in New Jersey and are enjoying their son, daughter, and respective grandkids who live nearby and whom they see on a regular basis. He also has a couple of old pilot friends from 30 or so years ago that he keeps in touch with as well. We reminisced about Lawrenceville, which Bud said was “the greatest learning experience in his life.” He recalled my getting him interested in playing the guitar, and how he eventually sold his Gibson ES-330 TC (very classy axe) to get enough money to buy a ring for Anne so they could get married. We also remembered his good friend and our Raymond Housemate Jeff Van Doren , who died very young in 2002 of prostate cancer.

Bud also recalled that he had a locker next to Steven Bittel and that he had been classmates with Joe File at St. Paul’s School in Princeton. While he is currently limited in his mobility due to some health issues, “Big Bud” (who kept growing after Lawrenceville to reach 6-foot-8 when he played basketball at St. Joseph’s) will try to make it to our

60th class reunion in 2023. He told me that when he was born, he was so large that the doctor said he was a turkey, not a baby!

Unfortunately, at the time of this writing in July, Bruce Forrest was recovering from COVID along with his wife, Leslie, and they were isolating in their home in Washington, D.C. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, Bruce got his law degree at Michigan and then had a 30-plus year career at the Department of Justice before retiring about 20 years ago. They also have a winter home in Boca Raton, Fla., and spend their time taking classes, reading and entertaining which Bruce describes as “deep retirement.” They also enjoy traveling and spent five weeks in Italy earlier this year. Bruce and Leslie have three daughters and seven grandchildren.

Bob McGrath and wife, Jean, had just returned from a trip to the northeast where they visited kids in NYC and Boston before returning via Chattanooga where another son has a home. Bob says if you’re ever in Chattanooga, don’t miss

we are grateful for gifts of any size, leadership gifts are critical to the success of The Lawrenceville Fund and The Parents Fund each year, typically accounting for over 80% of gift totals.

Through their gifts to The Lawrenceville Fund, Red & Black donors provide the foundation for the exceptional teaching, innovative programs, and unique traditions that make our School a place like no other.

A leadership gift to The Lawrenceville Fund is one of the most significant declarations you can make of your commitment to Lawrenceville’s mission—and a powerful way to ensure that young people emerge courageously as the individuals they were always meant to be.

the aquarium that is one of the best they’ve ever seen. At the end of August, they will take a 14-day cruise out of London to Tromsø, Norway, to see the Northern Lights.

John Reynolds is still recovering from an auto accident in 2019 but continues to improve each day under the care of his wife of 54 years, Fay. John talked about the noticeable changes in the weather that has affected the metropolitan San Antonio, Tex., area where they live and the past two winters and summers have been unlike anything he had never seen before. Having previously been an avid golfer, he said that there used to be dozens of golf courses around San Antonio, but the lack of water plus the heat have caused all but a few to close down. John and Fay have a married daughter, Shannyn, with grandkids Aidan and Katherine, who also live in San Antonio, and he has a sister living in Houston, whom they visit as well.

Chuck Smith called to report that he and his wife, Sandy, are happily retired and living in Willow Valley Communities just south of Lancaster, Pa. That’s about 35 miles east across the Susquehanna

River of York, Pa., where Chuck was born and grew up. They moved to Willow Valley about six and a half years ago from NYC where Chuck had been selling real estate for a living. They are glad to have made it through the pandemic, which he described as “a difficult two and a half years.”

In his retirement, Chuck said that they have made great friends with a group 8-10 couples who moved into their building together and with whom they socialize on a regular basis. They also get together on occasion with some his childhood friends in nearby York. Chuck is active, going to the gym five days a week. He was also involved in a computer club, and more recently has been on the board of a foundation at Willow Valley that has set up a Memory Care Center for residents with early Alzheimer’s disease. Their daughter, Sarah, who had been working at the Metropolitan Museum in NYC, relocated a short time ago to Lancaster where she works at a bank. Chuck keeps regular contact with Bob McGrath, especially during football season due to the rivalry between their

While

almae matres for football supremacy and the famous 1988 Notre Dame vs. U. of Miami (“Catholics vs. Convicts”) game that went a long way toward determining the national championship that season. ND beat Miami, 31-30.

1964

John Benson ByallBenson1010@comcast.net

Wilting classmates in this steamy summer of 2022 find time to write!

My reading this summer, in Maine, includes Escape from Ukraine by classmate Ward Anderson and In Scoring Position: 40 Years of a Baseball Love Affair by classmate Bob Ryan with co-author Bill Chuck.

Smokey Swenson also posted his reading recommendations to our Class listserv. In addition to seeing them both in August, Lynne and I plan to see Phoebe and Dee Megna GP’25 in Spruce Head, Maine.

Jeff Bell , though, made a pictorial contribution there, capturing his visit to the races in July at Saratoga, N.Y. (“a great day at the races.”) He and his lady friend looked like a million bucks. This prompted memories from Tad Piper P’90 of he, and wife Cindy, visiting there in an earlier year and spending a wonderful day with Mary Weeden Winants H’61 ’65 P’77 ’79 ’87 and Chuck Weeden H’65 ’87 ’92 P’77 ’79 ’87.

Scott King reports that, on a February cruise through the Panama Canal, he ran into John Kelsey ’65 GP’25 and wound up having dinner, shipboard, with him.

Wallace Murfit rowed in the Henley Masters Regatta in England in July. “Historic course — they’ve been rowing there since 1839 — plus an enthusiastic crowd of 1,200 rowers, gorgeous Thames Valley, charming town, perfect weather,” he says. “Only problem was that I faced the eventual second-place finisher in my heat, and he dispatched me. No matter … I’ve rowed at Henley … bucket list.

“I’m working on two interesting projects in my real estate consulting practice. Made the mistake of allowing myself to be elected president of my rowing club. I had a delightful ski trip to Vail last winter with Tad Piper and his family. And all the recent car-guy emails inspired me to go visit Joe Hurwich across the Bay to see his exceptional car collection.”

Wallace followed the Henley up by rowing in the Head of the Charles Regatta in October. He says: “I went to Boston last weekend and raced my single rowing shell in the Head of the Charles. It’s the largest regatta in the world, with approximately 11,000 rowers over a three-day weekend, and 150,000

spectators lining the banks of the Charles and hanging off the six bridges of the 3.5 mile course.

“The night before the race, I had dinner with John Benson and Bob Ryan, mostly enjoying Bob’s endless insidestories of his sports-writing career.”

1965

Leigh Lockwood P’97 ’02 leigh@leighlockwood.com

Dear Class of 1965, let’s forego introductory blather and dive right into it. After a spectacular career, Bob Fishman reports, “So after 52 years with CBS, 47 in sports, I have stepped away. My last show was my 40 th Final Four, which aired on Turner in April. My crew ran a wonderful tribute at halftime of the championship game. I had no idea about this, thinking I was running another promotion, for – I kid you not – the TBS classic Rats in the Kitchen

“The thrilling three-point win by Kansas over North Carolina was a great way to go out. Needless to say, it was a very emotional night, especially since Margaret and our twins, Andy and Matt, celebrated with me. I will be very happy not to get on a plane every weekend, but I will be directing some freelance shows, not necessarily in sports. A possible rock ‘n’ roll concert is on the horizon. Now I’ll have more time to play guitar and travel to a few faraway places.”

Bob submitted to my arm-twisting and committed to attend our 60th to regale us with anecdotes. Can’t wait!

The McClellan clan gathered in Washington, D.C., to witness Ann McClellan receiving the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, from Japan’s Ambassador Koji Tomita on May 10, 2022, at his official residence. The distinguished award, an Imperial Decoration originally issued in spring 2021, was accompanied by a certificate signed by Japan’s prime minister. It honors Ann’s written work, presentations, and appearances that have contributed to introducing Japanese culture and promoting friendly relations between Japan and the United States.

Ann, ’65 sends congratulations on receiving this incredible honor. Very glad that so many Lawrenceville connections were present to witness the ceremony.

On February 6, 1886, Frederick Law Olmsted wrote to Lawrenceville Head Master Mackenzie, “…. It appears feasible to have upon the property a complete collection of all the species of trees that can be successfully cultivated in Central New Jersey. The idea we have is that aside from any value such a collection would have with reference to

Wallace Murfit ’64 rowed in the Henley Masters Regatta in England in July.

Woody Webb ’64 and his law partner, Rufus Edmisten, former deputy counsel, Senate Select Watergate Committee and North Carolina attorney general from 1974-84. The Committee also included former Connecticut Governor and Senator Lowell Weicker Jr. ’49.

Wallace Murfit ’64 knocked one item off his bucket list by powering his single rowing shell in the Head of the Charles Regatta in October.

direct scholastic instruction, as to which it would serve as a combined Library and Museum of Boatan and Dendrology if each tree should be conspicuously labeled with common and scientific names, native ancestry, etc. boys would gradually… absorb … a good deal of information… . ” About 130 years later Fiona P’95 and Randy Woods P’95 donated a catalpa tree. Randy writes, “Leigh and Team Semper Viridis, the excellent Trees of Lawrenceville has arrived in St. Louis. I greatly appreciate receiving a copy, knowing that one Catalpa is part of a great New Jersey arboretum.”

Your Secretary confirms it is very healthy in its great location behind Griswold. A few years ago, Carol Ann P’97 ’02 and I, without knowledge of Randy and Fiona’s gift, placed two beech trees: One in the Circle front of the Edith Memorial Chapel, and one behind the Chapel on flagpole green.

John Kelsey GP’25, upon his return from Bermuda where he celebrated his 50th anniversary with Pam GP’25 and their extended family (delayed for two years thanks to COVID-19), spent time catching up with his cousin Howard Kelsey ’64 and George Paschal . John further reports, “There is a lot going on in the Lawrenceville alumni world!”

The Class of ’65’s attendance for our 55th, twice delayed, was small but spirited. Stanhope , Dominy , Myers , Lockwoods, Gore, and Colonel & Mrs. Schorr attended, “Come Back to Class” with John Gore for an engaging session about Former Head Master Bruce McClellan H’57 ’58 ’60 GP’10 and his 8th Air Force service as a bomber pilot during 30 World War II missions. Dan Noyes ’67 coordinated with Bruce’s son, Rob McClellan H’78 P’10 , on the session. John emceed the class.

This very well-prepared and delivered class was truly a high point of the weekend, learning about pilot McClellan and the dangers bravely faced.

Steve Mathews checks in: “Thanks for the wonderful pictures and updates from the reunion. So glad that a solid core of our class showed up. I was juggling a weekend golf trip to Florida with my son and grandsons one weekend and a graduation celebration for my granddaughter in Tucson the next weekend, so I was locked out. Sure missed the camaraderie and catch-ups. But your pictorial tour and commentary were a great elixir in capturing the continuing magic and impact of our Class of ’65!

“Congratulations too on receiving the Distinguished Alumnus Award. You have been tireless (forever!) in your work on behalf of the school and wonderfully generous to the school, in the leadership,

time, and resources you have committed over many years. I cannot imagine anyone more worthy of this recognition. I raise a toast to you! It is great to be able to keep up with classmates on our Lawrenceville ’65 network, a group that I have always felt proud to be part of. ‘On down the field!’”

Your Humble Secretary reports I received the Distinguished Alumnus Award and joined the likes of Jay Noyes and John Kelsey’s dad, John F. Kelsey Jr. ’42 P’65 ’73. I’m in good company! Not sure they would agree… Pam and John Kelsey made the trek to the ceremony along with granddaughter Kelsey Pisano ’25 (“…high honors and an athlete.”). I begged John not to come as he is going through some serious medical challenges and his immune system suffers. But they did come, and I mean it, I was very touched to see them waving to me from the balcony.

Your Secretary became president of the Board of The County Theater in Doylestown, Pa., and vice president of the parent, which runs the Garden Theater in Princeton, among others.

Tore Hoglund reports some medical challenges, but as always, his report is upbeat and incredibly welcome. For multiple reasons they did not attend our 55th-ish, but it seems they will renew the unequalled string of reunion attendance with our 60th as he reports, “But do not worry, I am in good shape and will attend next major reunion.” Looking at this picture, Tore and Stina have found the fountain of youth.

Cindy and John Burrell report on a three-week, seven-city tour of India as an amazing country but challenging for Americans.

Cindy and John Burrell ’65 enjoyed a three-week, seven-city tour of India.

Tore Hoglund ’65 and wife Stina are doing well in Härnösand, Sweden.

During a three-day tour of Gettysburg Battlefield, John Gore H’61 ’64 ’65 inspected the artillery just as Leigh Lockwood ’65 P’97 ’02 shouted “Fire!” John insisted he could catch the 8-pounder with his teeth.

Jim Alampi ’65 published his latest book, Accelerating Strategic Execution, in September.

Chip Stewart remits his longest note ever: “Just got back from a fun trip to Salem, Mass. Saw one ghost and one witch amidst high-brow inspiration at the Peabody Essex Museum.”

Every May L’ville holds Springfest, a day for inner city children to visit Lawrenceville. Springfest was launched almost 30 years ago by then-Community Service head Joanne Adams Rafferty H’81 ’03 W’65 P’93. Carol Ann and I have helped out since its inception when it was brought to our attention by our daughter Lisa ’97. Speaking of kids, big shout to our very own Col. Schorr H’88 ’97 ’00 ’02 P’80 ’82 ’88 GP’97 ’09 ’12 ’17 and his ongoing work for School Camp.

Because Carol Ann and I can’t get enough of Pam and John, we invited ourselves to their house for lunch. We had a wonderful, long, and safe time with them, as we always do.

Rob McClellan talks about me behind my back: “Hope all is well. I had a great lunch with your No. 3 fan, John E. Gore Jr. H’61 ’64, a few weeks ago. Also hope your ears were burning!”

Your Secretary rode on John Gore’s coattails to a three-day tour of the Gettysburg Battlefield. We had wonderful guides and tours, and Gore brought his customary in-depth knowledge of history and battlefield tactics.

George Paschal dispenses some medical advice: “The reality of our really hot summer is altering almost all outdoor activities. Just about every day starts earlier to beat the heat. This is true whether taking a walk, working in the yard or playing golf. A tee time after 8:30 leads to dealing with 90-plus degree heat on the back nine. If it gets to 95 degrees, things can get rough. My view is that if you are feeling the heat, it is probably too late to undo its effect on you. I have had a few friends end up in the emergency room. So, stay safe everyone.  And don’t forget to start your day with the Wordle. Let me know if you are ever near Raleigh. We do have A/C.”

Michael Fahey reminisces: “Leigh, I do read the notes. Having been a PG, I feel somewhat like the one child brought into a second marriage where the other parent (my new stepmom?) has five kids. It is a little awkward. That said, my one year at Lawrenceville was a profound experience and I would not counsel anyone to not do what I did on any account. I wasn’t rejected. I simply did not have those shared experiences as a foundation that most of the Class of ’65 had.

“That said: Sitting at those classroom tables with 12 students and a master made me dig deep down and work at a level that my Chattanooga, Tenn., high school had not. It was a gut check in the truest sense and after coming through

the initial shock … it gave me a selfconfidence going forward in my life that I give my Lawrenceville experience major credit for.”

SHOUTING to Michael: You are full member of the ’65. You earned it. No one differentiates between those who started in First Form from PGs.

Terry Blood : “End of May we spent a day in the Paso Robles area with Jeff Preefer ’66 and his wife. That has been our only significant trip since the pandemic started.”

Buzz Saner and I attended the Washington Map Society annual dinner. Always great to see Buzz and chat with another map lover.

Jim Alampi published his latest book, Accelerating Strategic Execution , in September. It’s available on Amazon for business leaders, advisors, and consultants who wish to improve their business performance dramatically. According to the press release announcing the book, Accelerating Strategic Execution “provides ongoing comprehensive support for analyzing, strategizing, mapping, and most importantly, executing mission goals.”

Don’t wait until I ask. Send notes at will! – Leigh

1966

Doug Hirsh

Doug.hirsh@gmail.com

For all those who were not at the reunion and are asking, as Jefferson did in the play Hamilton, “So, what’d I miss?,” here it goes.

The elements (cold, wet, windy, felt like snow, felt like February) made the weather at our 50 th reunion look like summer in southern California. Some events were canceled (the Grand March, the Legends Lacrosse Game) but it gave us all time to sit, talk, bond anew, swap stories, opine on world events … so was actually not so bad.

Some planned attendees could not make it for mostly good reasons: Doug Hirsh (supporting W&L in the NCAA Division III lacrosse tournament); Ralph Harder (COVID); Pablo Gomery (canceled when Dave Pollak canceled); Dave Pollak (tired of sitting on airplanes, see note on Jeff Preefer P’06 below), Paul Tomar P’10 (recovering from back surgery and unable to fly), Bill Sinnott P’94 (recovering from knee-replacement surgery), and Dick Dougherty (COVID concerns). All were missed, as were all our other classmates who did not attend. We spoke of our coming 60th reunion and the hope that many of you who missed the 56th/55th reunion will join us in the spring of 2026.

Ann McClellan H’65 received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, from Japan’s Ambassador Koji Tomita in May 10 in Washington, D.C. In attendance were Linda McClellan P’10, Rob McClellan H’65 P’10, William McClellan, H’65 P’10, Kate McClellan ’10, Nelda McClellan, P’10, and Brook Miller.

John Kelsey ’65 GP’25, Pam Kelsey GP’25, and Leigh Lockwood ’65 P’97 ’02 enjoyed the splendid sunshine at Springfest on the Circle in May.

Bill Hamill ’65 P’96 ’99 showed off this attic find, confessing it no longer fits. Asks classmate Leigh Lockwood ’65 P’97 ’02: “The sweater shrunk, right?”

Those who did make it: Julie and Norm Mitchell , Bob Ridolfi and Noel Long , John Preefer P’07 , Jeff Preefer P’06 , Karen and Rand Spencer , Diane and Jay Meriwether P’07 , Bob White , Jim Rowan , Loyal Wilson P’05 ’12 , Jared Wickware, Grant Ritter, Betsy and John Bakhaus, Bryan Oliphant, Barbara and John Petito GP’25, Mike O’Neill, Karin Crooks W’66 P’04 ’05 , Bob McEwan P’97, John Metzger, Bill Priester, and Liz Casey H’92 P’21 ’24 and Betsy Kelly ’21.

Bob Ridolfi and Noel Long again hosted the Friday night dinner under a tent at their farm not far from the school. It was a tremendous success –in fact maybe more so than in the past because the menu was adjusted, and Bob’s dog didn’t get violently ill in the middle of the night from eating what our classmates dropped. Everyone looked terrific, because either we are, or our expectations have been brought into line with reality. The Ridolfi Friday night dinner was, as has been for years, the highlight of the reunion.

Jared Wickware received the “farthest traveled” award (Hawaii) although the award was briefly contested by Norm Mitchell, who claimed three days in a car from Minnesota was more appropriate because longest trumped farthest. This in turn was briefly challenged by Jeff Preefer, who managed to take about 36 hours (by plane) to get to L’ville from San Francisco, including an amazing 24-hour leg (S.F. – L.A. – S.F.) to pick up Dave Pollak, who had just flown 15 hours into L.A. from Israel. Apparently, Dave bailed at 4 a.m. at LAX saying, understandably, “enough is enough.”

John Preefer inducted Liz Casey as an honorary member of the Class of ’66. Liz brought her daughter Betsy ’21, probably as moral support. In lieu of a gold chain with a gold number 66 encrusted in diamonds (which the reunion budget did not account for), John Preefer presented Liz with a red Class of ’66 cap from our 50th reunion. Liz generously accepted the hat and put on (but she probably preferred the gold 66 encrusted in diamonds). In the process, Brian Oliphant bestowed the tag “Catnip Liz” on her (apparently everyone must have an Olla Pod tagline, and Brandon Tartikoff unfortunately is no longer with us to do the honors), and Loyal Wilson explained why we should all hope to be the last man standing in our class (call Loyal for details).

Many took a tour of the new Tsai Field House, which is really a mega sports and dining facility, being overlaid on the footprint of the Lavino Field House and Irwin Dining Center. The pictures don’t do it justice. An amazing facility.

The memorial service at the Chapel

was as moving as ever.

Jim Rowan , Loyal Wilson , John Preefer , and Bob White made a tour of the campus and held an impromptu Q&A session with five Fifth Formers they ran into in the Irwin Dining Center, asking them about life at the school including academics, athletics, DEI, challenges of college admissions, and so forth. While maybe not statistically significant ( Grant Ritter can opine on this), this small sample suggests that the School continues to do a good job at turning out thoughtful, articulate, mature students. Our classmates were especially impressed by how enthusiastic all the Fifth Formers were about their four years at Lawrenceville. Moreover, when asked by John Preefer how DEI impacted their school experience, none of the students had anything negative to say; they felt it did not impact their Lawrenceville experience and noted that every student could become involved in DEI as they individually felt appropriate. For those classmates who have been troubled by the attention of DEI on the Lawrenceville student experience, this should be heartening. These students could not have been more enthusiastic about their school experience.

Lawrenceville played Hill in lacrosse Saturday afternoon in very cold, rainy, and windy conditions. The L’ville team was ranked sixth in the nation going into the game (yes, sixth in the entire United States!). At halftime it was tied 4-4 and Hill’s goalie had scored on L’ville, leaving the sparse crowd a little aghast. But L’ville outscored Hill 8-0 in the second half and won 12-4. The following week they were move up in rankings to No. 4. And importantly, Jared Wickware, who may have never been to a lacrosse game, is now an avid fan.

Potpourri: Many touching tributes were made Friday night for classmates who are no longer with us: John Bakhaus for Brandon Tartikoff and Bill Crooks P’04 ’05 ; Jeff Preefer for Tucker Childs; John Petito for Eric Nadel, Mack Woodfin, and David Butterfield

Jared Wickware has now restarted his drawing classes in Honolulu, shut down until recently by COVID.

Norm Mitchell has written two books (both in the Bunn Library) with a third on the way.

Brian Oliphant Friday night regaled all present with story after story of our class life at Lawrenceville and continues to take storytelling to a new level as an art form.

Jeff Preefer swore a blood oath he would have Dave Pollak back to the 60th, and John Petito confirmed it.

Rand Spencer , an ophthalmologist, happily remarried last November (and he even brought his wife from Dallas to reunion), and like many in the class, will

be making the transition to retirement at the end of this year and will be spending more time at his second home in Whitefish, Mont.

It was good to see Bob McEwan, his usual upbeat self even though his wife recently passed.

Grant Ritter, anchored by a lifetime in statistics and academia, brought a sense of balance to multiple conversations when they veered off into emotion over fact.

Bill Priester happily continues to practice medicine while having one daughter in high school and another a sophomore at Tufts University.

Jared Wickware continues to run an art history program at the Honolulu Downtown Art Center with regular emails of programs about artists well known and less well known. His emails about the program meetings are interesting and informative. If you wish to be added to his list, email Jared at jwickware@icloud.com.

Jay Meriwether is retired and finds a lot of time to ski. Jay’s daughter and John Preefer’s son are ’07 graduates of Lawrenceville.

Nine members of Kennedy House ( John Metzger , Mike O’Neill , Bob McEwan, Grant Ritter, Norm Mitchell, John Preefer , Rand Spencer , Jay Meriwether , and Jared Wickware ) returned for reunion. Kennedy House also invited Punky Brewster but unfortunately, she and Grant’s Ritter’s wife, Betsy Ritter, answered to a higher calling to attend as delegates to the Connecticut State Democratic Convention that weekend.

While Maurice Hakim was unable to attend because of calendar conflicts, he sent his regrets to the Kennedy House alumni.

John Metzger keeps busy working on educational matters and remains very interested in the changes in The Lawrenceville School and the current curriculum.

Everyone at the reunion said they would definitely be back for the 60th and strongly encouraged every member of our class to return.

Remember the 60th! Join us in the spring of 2026!

Finally, in September, we got late word from Chris Houser , who reports that he is “retired now for 10 years after 25 years with the city of Fort Worth mapping department. Mapped water and sewer lines, etc. I sat down in 1986 at my first computer, a UNIX, and it took 30 minutes to save my work. Imagine that.”

1967

Spencer Tandy isleridge@aol.com

Rolf Reinalda rolfreinalda@icloud.com

Bill Ehret P’94 ’98 William.Ehret@gmail.com

Rolf Reinalda leads off the column with some post-Alumni Weekend reflections: “The reunion was rainy, windswept, cold, muddy, logistically challenged, punctured by cancelations … and wonderful. The spirit of the Great Class of 1967 prevailed, recharging friendships, embellishing stories, and keeping us all looking ahead for many good times in our fourth quarter.

“When Barbara asked what to expect, all I needed to advise was that the people

Members of the Class of 1966 Jim Rowan, John Petito GP’25, and Jared Wickware, seated in front of John Preefer P’07, John Bakhaus, Bob White, John Metzger, Norm Mitchell, Jeff Preefer, and Grant Ritter, enjoyed being back on campus for their 56th reunion in May.

are all very amicable and the reunion would be as comfortable as a favorite chair. After the weekend, she agreed, having enjoyed every person and every event. Events? We got off to a fast start with a lively crowd at Conte’s Pizza on Thursday night. Registering in the Kirby Arts Center on Friday was enjoyable, receiving the vaunted L’67 cap and meeting our very helpful alumni office den mother, Dominique Marcial-Clark, who is even nicer in person. In the lounge were Jeff Parsons, Mike Stein, the eversmiling reunion regular Ken Seaman, and a profusion of prosciutto.

“I met music man Jeff, attending his first reunion, the night before at Conte’s. Mike caught us up on his career, coaching weight events, and impressed us with his dedication and Cosell-like memory. (He remembered the members of my college track team as well as the journalist who

covered us. Yikes.)

Despite Mother Nature crashing Friday night’s buffet dinner in a giant tent on a saturated Green Field, we all had a good time. As Betsy Fitzgerald P’99 ’03 could not make it to the formal presentation at our class dinner the following night, she was welcomed as an honorary classmate then and there, surrounded by a complement of ’67 guys applauding her and brother-in-law Paul’s remarks.

“Barbara and I opted to come a bit later on Saturday due to the weather, so our day began at an evening reception hosted by Head of School Steve Murray H’54 ’55 ’65 ’16 P’16 ’21 for those of us who have made contributions in various ways to the School. Through Barbara’s eyes, I saw Foundation House in a new, warmer light, enhanced by three fireplaces ablaze. The venue cast

the feeling of being in an old prep school, oddly enough.

“Our class dinner was originally scheduled to be combined with the less-cool classes of ’65 and ’66, as their reunions had been postponed due to rather flimsy excuses having to do with a pandemic or something. Objecting to such a horrible affront, our reunion committee designated Bill Ehret P’94 ’98 to right that potential wrong. Consequently, we enjoyed our own dinner space, which was relocated from a tent to a room in Abbott Dining Hall because of the pouring rain. As we had a substantial turnout for our dinner, it was necessary to move in an extra table, so we wound up with a big table and a smaller one, dubbed “the children’s table.” Contrary to the rumor Spencer Tandy cranked up, it was not just for the vertically challenged.

“Alex Swistel P’12 brought a recently discovered video tape of the 1967 graduation that injected a dose of bygone youth. Larry Jones and Will Wauters H’03 P’01 read the names of our deceased classmates and honorees, striking a perfectly respectful tone without diminishing the joy of our gathering. Paul Fitzgerald P’03 , who graciously and humorously guided the evening, read a thoughtful toast to the late Jim Waugh H’68 ’72 ’74 ’81 ’85 ’88 P’68 ’70 ’72 ’74 ’76 GP’12 ’14 ’16 from Hugh Cregg, who could not attend. Following were plenty of stories, remembrances, and laughter. That night, to great applause, Ed Robbins H’68 ’69 ’71 ’72 ’11, Sam Back , Ted Graham H’65 ’66 ’68 ’72 P’85, and Barbara Graham H’72 P’85 officially joined The Great Class of 1967 as honorary classmates.

“It is a kick to be with the masters who have become esteemed friends; a bit of an adjustment, for sure, but a welcome evolution. The evening wound down with handshakes, hugs, more laughs, and promises to stay in touch … promises that must be kept. On the way home, Barbara spoke of how much she enjoyed meeting everyone and how fortunate I am to have such terrific friends. Amen.

“A non-reunion piece of news comes from Larry Jones, who informs us that he has ‘come out of retirement to be the interim pastor at a small Presbyterian Church in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. If you plan to visit Circus Smirkus next summer, or visit the Craftsbury Outdoor Center for some cross-country skiing this winter, let [him] know!’”

Paul also recalled Alumni Weekend in a more personal way.

“This was our first reunion without brother Joe at the point, and I want to start with sincere thanks for the support that the Class of ’67 has given the Fitzgerald family since we lost

Joe. Most recently the matching gift program in memory of Joe that  Dick Barrett  and  Hugh Cregg  provided was most appreciated.  Ned Weihman  has also been generous, both at L’ville and at Williams College (where he roomed with Joe for all four years). It was great to have Joe’s wife, Betsy, added as a class member I sat with Betsy and daughter Sophie Fitzgerald Burke ’03 at the Service of Remembrance on Saturday of Alumni Weekend, and I must admit hearing Joe’s name called out hit me pretty hard. Thanks again to all of you.

“At our 55th reunion the Class of 1967 officially became Lawrenceville Legends. For those of you who could not make it back I want to repeat some of my remarks I made at Saturday night’s dinner (which thankfully was moved indoors to escape the monsoon). If you look at the connection our class has had to the School, in my mind we were Lawrenceville Legends long before this. We have had two trustees of the School,  Dick Barrett  and [my] brother  Joe ; two members of the Selectors Committee,  Ned Weihman  and  Tom Gallagher P’07 ’12; a winner of the Aldo Leopold Award in Hugh Cregg ; a director of facilities in Bill Ehret P’94 ’98 (also head soccer coach for my daughter Kelly ’03); a School chaplain, Rev. Will Wauters H’03 P’01 (who also coached Kelly in soccer and officiated at both Kelly’s wedding and Joe’s memorial in the chapel); a chairman of the Math Department and Harkness Award winner, Charlie Williams H’85 ’98 P’94 ’97 (who also rattled the rafters of the chapel every December with his performance of  O Holy Night); a drama teacher, Spencer Tandy (who also directed the Faculty Players and wrote innumerable articles for The Lawrentian); and a head of the Alumni Office, Fred Ball P’05 ’07. I would match our connection to the School with any other class. Hope I didn’t leave out anyone.

“In trying to leave you with some final words of wisdom, I have to defer to Hugh Cregg who says it best – Just Keep Breathing! See you at our 60th.”

After his long-awaited return, Jeff Parsons writes: “Because the recent 55th reunion of the Class of ’67 was my first, I’ve been graciously asked by Rolf to write up the experience. Since I’ve neither set foot on campus nor seen any of my classmates for 55 years, I think a little detour through the time between will help set it up.

“A small-town boy from Pennsylvania went to Lawrenceville to ‘get into a good college.’ It worked. I got such a great education at Lawrenceville that I was accepted at Harvard and entered with three AP credits. For reasons lost to antiquity, Harvard said, ‘Let’s call it four

It’s unclear whether Arturo Ottolenghi ’67 actually divulged his secret truffles recipe to Paul Fitzgerald ’67 P’03 during their weekend get-together with classmates, hosted by Alex Swistel ’67 P’12.

Let’s Get Cracking!: Alex Swistel ’67 P’12 prepared a small snack for his classmates during the weekend he hosts each summer at his Spring Lake, N.J., home.

credits and you’ll enter as a sophomore.’ Monumental mistake. I started struggling academically immediately, and in addition had no idea of what it meant to pursue a career, other than my boyhood notion of being ‘a scientist.’ So I started tuning school out and my grades suffered even more, causing me to tune school out further, and so on. I was playing in a band composed of Harvard students, and the huge number of fraternities and sororities in the Boston area kept us busy. There are three nouns commonly used to characterize the behavior of young people in the late ’60s, and I pursued them all with equal vigor, though without equal success. Let’s just say that two out of three ain’t bad.

“So I agreed to take what Harvard euphemistically called a ‘leave of absence,’ and for 25 years I played music and made what the world might euphemistically call ‘a living.’ This adventure took me to Chicago (twice), Hollywood, Macon, Tuscaloosa, and St. Louis. Then my nerdy genes reactivated and I got hooked on computer programming. This addiction led to a return to school and an actual career –working for computer science research groups, first at Washington University in St. Louis, then at Vanderbilt. Having been a well-paid servant of the complex that Eisenhower coined a term for, I was able to retire after 20 years – financially OK but also prompted by both a thankfully gentle reminder that good health doesn’t last forever and a desire to play more music while still able.

“Through social media, I had reconnected with fellow pole vaulter Larry Jones and my Fifth Form roommate, Steve Raab , both of whom urged me to come to the 50th reunion. It was bad timing – I was retiring, getting married (my first at age 68), getting my house remodeled, and working hard at knocking the rust off my instrumental and vocal chops for an upcoming band audition (as you might expect, in Nashville, the bar for musicians is higher).

“Which brings me to this year and the 55th reunion. I had another do-itbefore-it’s-too-late moment and decided to take the plunge. And a plunge was exactly what I thought it would be. A scholarship student from Pennsylvania farm country spends two years at one of the most prestigious boarding schools in the country, then drops out of a similarly prestigious college and has an unconventional life, to say the least. Would I even be on the same planet as my classmates? Would anyone besides Larry even remember me? I certainly didn’t expect anybody to kill the fatted calf.

“Well, I couldn’t have been more pleasantly surprised. The night before registration, I was treated to pizza,

beer, conversation, and camaraderie with a dozen classmates and a few of their wives. I felt both comfortable and pumped right away, and that feeling continued through the entire weekend.

Since I’m the one who’s been away so long, I feel like I’ve barely made a start at catching up, from a long conversation with Mike Stein , where we talked of cabbages and kings, to Alex ’s moving story of how a Lawrenceville science master changed his life. (I could relate – I attended the college I did because my physics instructor was aghast that I intended to pick MIT over Harvard.) And it was a shame that nobody could get Spencer to come out of his shell.

“The school showed its own hospitality as well. There was great praise for the Alumni Weekend staff at our class dinner, and it was well-deserved. For health reasons, I became a vegan in 2019, and they bent over backward to accommodate my diet. Not to mention the rides in a covered golf cart in the rain. Maybe the prodigal son reference isn’t such a bad fit after all.

“My life at this moment is good in many ways, and now I have one more reason to live right and prolong it – the opportunity to make it to the next reunion, hang once again with the Class of ’67, and get to know them even better.”

Alumni Weekend wasn’t the only chance members of the Class of ’67 had to reconvene.  Rolf Reinalda relates news of two other such gatherings: “If you find yourself near Wilmington, Del., plan on lunch or dinner at Buckley’s Tavern in Centerville. Barbara and I had a wonderful dinner there with Mary and Coley du Pont P’03. Not only was the food truly delicious but we were provided a prime table, probably because Coley is one of the owners, actively involved in its management. We all had a terrific time savoring food and remembrances. Attempting to describe the indescribable Lower School to Mary and Barbara was part of our chatter. Yes, ladies, it really was like that. Coley, hale and hearty, sends his best to our classmates.

“Pat and Alex Swistel’s P’12 gathering in Spring Lake, N .J., has become a highlight of my summer, and certainly others feel the same. Once again, the Dynamic Doctor Duo (a.k.a. Fantastic Physicians), opened their summer house to our ’67 classmates for a weekend of beach, relaxation, food, drink and, most important, our robust fellowship. In attendance were Barbara and I, Holly and Ernesto Mejer P’04 ’10, Frank Berger, Diane and Lyals Battle , Oraine and George Dittmar , Alane and Bill Ehret , Hannah and Arturo Ottolenghi, Spencer, Paul Fitz, and Tom Carroll

“One of the extraordinary characteristics of The Great Class of

1967 is that we get along as family, evident as everyone helped to bring or prepare food, fix drinks, and clean up as necessary, scurrying in and out of the kitchen in harmonious chaos. Friday night featured hordes of hors d’oeuvres followed by a dinner of shrimp fra diavolo and jambalaya, all beautifully healthiedup by Diane Battle’s super-deluxe salad. The conversations were as lively as the sea breezes were soothing.

“Late Saturday afternoon found us comfortable on the porch, joined by honorary classmates Ed Robbins and Edith Baird Eglin H’52 ’65 ’66 ’70 GP’19, as well as the one and only John Gore H’61 ’64 ’65 of alumni office fame who had scooped up Ed and Edith and driven down the shore. Not surprisingly, the conversations took on extra interest with such adult talent in the mix. Edith acknowledged that she knew many boys fell in love with her during her Periwig career.

“After raising the Lawrenceville flag and a photo op, we moved to the lawn overlooking the ocean where the Swistels served up a feast of beef tenderloin and lobster along with sweet corn imported from Pennsylvania by Hannah and Arturo Tom commissioned chocolate covered pretzel sticks with red and black sprinkles. Paul Fitzgerald voiced the appreciation we all felt.

“Back on the porch after dinner, Alex read from “Not the Lit,” which the late Fred Reed wrote when he knew he was dying. Despite his then circumstances, the lighthearted piece read well and brought the intended chuckles along with a bit of head scratching. During the course of the weekend, names of classmates and teachers bubbled up. Where is so and so? Do you remember this or that guy? Did you have Mr. X in class? What about this housemaster, that coach? Many names, many fractured memories. What is remarkable is that there were no nasty comments about any individual. Not one.

“We are a rare and special bunch.”

Arturo recalled the Spring Lake gathering with equal fondness: “The weekend of August 19-21, 2022 provided the perfect highway for members of the Lawrenceville Class of 1967 to travel in time.

“In 1895 H.G. Wells, the father of science fiction, wrote The Time Machine About fifteen years later, in 1910, Washington Roebling, chief engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge, built the Spring Lake beach house where we all convened. Wells stated that we all possess time machines. Those that take us into the past are memories. Time machines that take us into the future are called dreams.

“On this weekend, some time travelers chose to travel forward into the future,

planning to revisit old friends.

“Some time travelers chose to just park their machines and enjoy the present: camaraderie, beach walks, Rolf’s succulent shrimp marinara, Alex’s filets and lobsters, and Spencer’s stingers.

“Most traveled to the past recalling memories of youthful times at Lawrenceville, when we were 55 years younger and still molding our future lives. Many failures and many successes were yet to come.

“The last piano concert: ‘Cast Your Fate to the Wind,’ played by Alex on Sunday morning, took me back 58 years to Raymond House, visiting both beautiful and dark moments in my memory. It is good to know that our time machines are still well tuned and ready to be driven again in the future.”

Paul Fitz adds: “Another spectacular mini-reunion at the Swistels’ resort at the Jersey shore. We traded some old war stories but also shared some new stories about our life on campus. Hard to believe after all these years we are still updating our history. Spencer’s late-night stingers may have played a role. Breakfast with truffles provided by Arturo was a treat. Tom Carroll set a good example by biking to Sunday brunch from his house 20 miles away. While we are still awaiting the final inspection, former Director of Facilities Bill Ehret believes there was no structural damage to the property.

“A wave cheer to Alex and Pat for their hospitality.”

Lyals was one of the earlier arrivals at the Swistels’, and had some additional recollections:

“The ’67 weekend at the Swistel summer home was a great time. In an effort to spare us from a rumored evening of pizza and beer, Rolf prepared two dishes for Friday night (the aforementioned shrimp fra diavolo and jambalaya). Both were excellent. Who knew he had those kinds of skills? Of course, we heard a number of stories from the ‘revisionist’ history of Lawrenceville. Whether they were true or not is in serious doubt.

“The next day we awoke to a gourmet breakfast that included scrambled eggs with cheese and truffles, assorted pastries and sausages. Saturday started off on the cloudy side but by 9:30 a.m. it was a glorious, sunshiny day. I had a chance to jog on the boardwalk. Not half as fast as I used to be, but I finished 2.75 miles without stopping. Not bad for an old man.

“Went back to the house, showered, changed and joined everyone outside by the flagpole for pictures. Yes, Alex had hung an American and a Lawrenceville flag on it.

“More fun was planned for Saturday

evening. However, Diane and I left around noon on Saturday to return to the D.C. area. A good friend from church was having a 70 th birthday at Maggiano’s in Bethesda. “Like I say, a good time was had by all. Looking forward to next year’s edition.”

Spencer reports that “Alex and Pat hope even more classmates can join the mini-reunion next August at the Swistel Ocean Bar and Grill. Note your calendars. Sometime next August. Spring Lake, N.J. We’ll nail down the date well before the Weekend of Wonders arrives. Watch this space!”

By now, many of you know that our esteemed classmate, teammate, and friend Ruffy Loblein died on October 15. Immediate comments came from several classmates, including Spencer , who remembered Ruffy as, “so full of energy and radiating a big smile. I remember him revving us up at the football games with the straw boater and megaphone.” Along the same lines, Paul Fitz , who roomed with Ruffy at Princeton, noted, “He served as the Tiger mascot his junior year” in addition to being an All-America swimmer.

Miguel Núñez-Lawton, who roomed across the hall from Ruffy in Raymond House, remembered, “He was always in a good mood and loved playing his guitar.”  Eddie Hidalgo wrote simply that it was “an honor” to have known him, and  Bill Ehret wrote, “A real loss to our class. What a great guy.”

Rolf, a fellow swimmer, recalls many “enlightening” phone conversations with Ruffy over the years since School, and adds that Ruffy was highly regarded as a “rare gentleman” by those who knew him from competitive swimming leagues on the New Jersey Shore.

Tom Gallagher believes that Ruffy, “a gentleman, scholar and athlete … may be best remembered for his efforts to scale down the size of homes, which his firm would construct using sustainable and environmentally friendly material. Miss him.”

Chris Stifel described Ruffy as “admirable,” which speaks volumes.

Amid “a rush of wonderful memories,” Arturo shared his appreciation. “It was especially exhilarating for me, a non-athletic, reserved student at Lawrenceville, to be accepted as a personal friend by Ruffy later in life. He was a popular, handsome, champion athlete, who represented many of the things I admired, but was not.”

In an email to Rolf, Ruffy’s wife, Kathy, mentioned, “Ruffy was one of a kind. I am so lucky to have had so many years with him.”

Indeed, we were all very lucky to have known Ruffy Loblein

1968

Tom Borgia tborgia@gmail.com

68classnotes@gmail.com

As one of my friends likes to say, “The calendar is catching up to us,” meaning that we are noticeably aging and now in that phase of our lives where we are losing more and more of our friends. Unfortunately, this is one of the times that must include some sad news.

I received word from Gary Confer that our classmate Billy Wallace (William Claude Wallace) passed away on July 7, 2022, in Lake Worth, Fla. Gary’s note: “I learned this afternoon that Billy Wallace passed away recently. It seems a very sudden and surprising passing. Very sad.”

I have also been in contact with  John Heron and  John Meiners, both of whom had been in contact with Billy, along with  Michael Tiernan P’01 ’05 ’09.  The photograph included is courtesy of John Meiners and is of him, Billy, and Michael on the occasion of Billy’s 70th birthday two years ago. Billy had not been in direct contact with our class, but most of us remember him for his abilities as a swimmer (captain of the team Fifth Form year) and athlete, and as a genuinely nice individual. He and I were in Cleve together, where he was elected president in our Fourth Form year. I knew him as a soft-spoken, friendly person with a quiet sense of leadership. In the four years that I knew him at the School, I don’t believe I ever heard him utter a critical word about anyone or anything. A truly fine person and I know we will all miss him. I also received words of sympathy for Bill’s passing from  Leon White,  Nick Whitcraft, Gary Gilpin, and Bob Owen

On a much brighter note,  John Heron  wrote, “ In March, Mary and I were guests of Lisa and Michael Tiernan at their beautiful Delray Beach, Fla., home. I played as Michael’s guest in the Gulfstream member-guest golf tournament. Despite Michael’s great play – he is a fabulous golfer – we didn’t win. The highlight of the visit was our watching the Tar Heels beat Duke in Coach K’s final game despite the fact we should have been with our wives eating the banquet dinner the club had prepared.

“Another highlight of that Fla. trip was a visit with Alice and John Meiners for cocktails and dinner at the Tiernans’. Michael, John, and I reconnected in April in Chapel Hill where we relived past glories as UNC lacrosse players and members of UNC’s first-ever championship lacrosse team. We again watched Carolina beat the hated Duke team in the semis of the NCAA Tournament and ran with the students

as the town erupted – not bad for guys in their 70s! It is especially fun to relive past lax glory with John because as he tells it to anybody who will listen, Mike, John, and I were All-American in lacrosse. In truth, only Michael was an All-America and captain of the UNC team. It just all sounds better when John tells it.

“I can’t sign off without again mentioning my life is made happier with semi-regular jokes and quips from Armand Cerami , another of the really great L’ville/UNC types. Last but not least, we live in beautiful Bluffton, S.C., and our door is always open, hoping any and all of ’68 will visit.”

A very busy Ernie Norris wrote, “Life is a whirlwind for me and mine these days. I won’t even go into detail because there are too many moving parts! Among other things, we’re getting quite a bit of pressure from our daughter to rent a place in Cincinnati so we’ll be closer to our grandchildren (Jane spent April and May in Cinci babysitting – that’s why she wasn’t along on the World War II trip).”

More on that trip below.

From  Ed Vine: “I just returned from a three-week trip back east. I had many highlights, including my 50th Middlebury College reunion. I had a wonderful time, including hearing Tom Rush sing (he had performed at Middlebury 50 years ago!). But prior to that, I had lunch with Ginny and Roger Formidoni at their home in New Hampshire. It was great seeing them. The last time that I saw them was at our 50th Lawrenceville reunion. And the last time that I saw Roger before that was 50 years prior! So, my 50th Lawrenceville reunion continues to affect me! Still no COVID – crossing my fingers and toes.”

Ed and Roger must have had a great visit since I received this note from Roger

shortly after I received the one from Ed: “We had a brief visit with  Ed Vine and his wife, Ellen, in June. They stopped in for lunch on their way to Middlebury for Ed’s 50th reunion. They were making a swing through the northeast from their California home. As always, the time went too quickly.

“We did our usual North Carolina beach vacation, then headed west to Nashville, Tenn., where we just met Estelle Marie Formidoni, our eighth grandchild.”

I can always count on Bob Owen to write and send me what he’s been up to of late. Always poetic and a bit sentimental, his note this time is, “I start by calling this ‘aging’ an evolution of later life. Betty and I are at the Scott House cottage in the Laurentians after a visit from our grandchildren in July. The days were beautiful – kayaks down Rive-Nord, cable car to Mont-Tremblant, visits to village markets, and just swimming at our Lake Manitou. My goal to break up this pandemic is to pick up pickleball. A 2-3 step court is better on the knees. And back to the gym and to the saunas are welcome, too. Keep well and we head south by early October.”

I also received a great note and fabulous picture from Biff Cahill P’09. As Biff tells it, “On our way south to Oakland, Calif., to visit our daughter, Caroline ’09 and her husband, Andrew, Kate and l spent three terrific days in mid-July visiting Rich Busse and his partner, Lynn Ravazzini, at their house on Lake Tahoe, Calif. The weather was great, and our time with Rich and Lynn was even better.

“Rich and I reminisced about our days together in the Perry Ross and Kennedy Houses. Both Rich and I played on the junior basketball team, and Rich was a much better member of the spring

Lynn Ravazzini, Kate Cahill P’09, Rich Busse ’68, and Biff Cahill P’09 enjoyed a brief respite from hiking in Lake Tahoe, Calif., in July.

track team than I was. We talked about all the guys in Perry Ross and Kennedy that we could remember and the good times we had. Martin Millichap’s name was dropped numerous times. We will miss Bill Wallace tremendously. Rich left Lawrenceville after Third Form and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His story about his very low number in the draft lottery is one that I will leave to him to retell. I cannot do it justice.”

I was absolutely delighted to receive a note of appreciation from a long unheard from classmate, Alex Landesco. After a career working as a Ph.D. psychologist, Alex is now retired and living in Edmond, Okla., where he can be near his son. He tells us that, “I also occasionally do some light management consulting as a training psychologist.”

Way back when, Alex had the room immediately next to mine on the first floor of Upper House. This reconnecting with classmates is great stuff! He and I learned that we have many, many things in common, one of which is that we both have a passion for the shooting sports. We have already exchanged a number of emails in only a very few days.

Amazing what happens when old friends reconnect. Many of us were never close friends during our Lawrenceville years, but most of us were at least acquaintances, maybe sharing a class or two, playing on a sports team together, or possibly participating in one of the many activities most of us were involved with. That never meant, nor does it mean now, that we cannot find new commonalities at this later stage of our lives. That fact was never more clear to me than when I recently experienced one of the most monumental and meaningful experiences of my life. I had the opportunity to join a group traveling to Europe, sponsored by the nonprofit group, Friends of The National World War II Memorial, something I learned about through the good offices of  John Heron The trip was almost a year in the planning, and during that time, I had been in touch with Ernie Norris, telling him of what was planned for us. Apparently, the stars were in the proper alignment, and, with Ernie’s interest, all three of us were able to join the group for an indescribable trip of history, culture, food, and incredible friendship. Read below and you’ll get John and Ernie’s take on the trip, with mine in summary.

Says John: “Mary and I had a special treat in June when Tom Borgia and Ernie Norris went with us on a trip to London, Normandy, and Paris with Friends of the National World War II Memorial, accompanied by New York Times bestselling author, Alex Kershaw. The trip was fantastic in and of itself given the

history brought to life by Alex himself, but for me made so very special reconnecting with Tom and Ernie. My time at Lawrenceville was life-changing because of my classmates and teachers – friends close and not so close. To be able to relive shared experiences with Tom and Ernie of a period of time so important to me is something I will always treasure. And to relive these experiences as part of this trip when boys not much older than us at Lawrenceville were fighting and dying for freedom had a powerful emotional aspect that I can’t explain but found truly moving.

“Friends of the National World War II Memorial will be repeating this trip with Alex Kershaw next June. If you haven’t been to Normandy with an historian like Alex, you owe it to yourself to go. And Friends of the National World War II Memorial will also be doing a trip to Italy revisiting the Italy campaign with Alex in late September 2023. Tom and I are definitely on the trip and hopefully Ernie as well. I hope others will join us. It will be truly fun and special.”

As he mentioned above, fellow traveler Ernie Norris is a bit occupied and short on time at the moment to write one of his always eloquent notes, but he wanted me to say to everyone, “Please feel free to add any thoughts attributable to me in Class Notes about our fantastic Normandy tour. For me, it was the trip of a lifetime – made all the more special because it was shared with classmates whose friendship I value even more now than I did when we were in school.”

I have always been a history buff and in particular, a World War II history buff. Sometimes, I even like to think of myself as an amateur military historian (my Fifth Form history thesis was on the role of aircraft carriers in the Pacific battles of WWII). My dad served in the army during the war in England, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany, yet I had never visited a single one of those places. What had been a lifelong dream became a reality when  John Heron told me about the tour being sponsored by Friends of the World War II Memorial that would be visiting places like Churchill’s War Room and the Royal Military museum in London, the town of St.-Mere-Eglise, where 82nd Airborne troops landed the night before the invasion, and the D-Day landing beaches of Utah and Omaha in Normandy, I simply couldn’t resist, saying I’d be on the trip no matter what.

Coincidentally, I had been emailing Ernie Norris at the time and happened to mention it to him, and he immediately expressed an interest as well. As my two classmates have mentioned, we were distantly friendly in school, each with different interests at that time. But spending time together in “the here

and now” presented the opportunity to become close friends, something that never would have happened had it not been for our 50 th class reunion (thanks Ed Vine for noting as such). As Ernie mentioned, a fabulous trip was made incredibly special by having two extraordinary friends along that I didn’t realize I had.

For me, the trip was informative, historical and above all, emotional. The experience of visiting the graves of 10,000 young Americans that gave their lives so long ago is beyond description, almost life changing. If you’ve been there

and walked the seemingly endless rows of the white marble headstones, you know what I mean. Having Ernie and John there to share thoughts with was a matchless moment that can never be or will ever be repeated. I am truly grateful they were there. In one photo, you’ll see the three of us in the cemetery above Omaha Beach and as the saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words.”

The second picture is of the three of us, as can be seen, at Utah Beach. In this picture we are accompanied by fellow travelers with very strong Lawrenceville connections. John has provided the

John Heron ’68, Ernie Norris ’68, Jane Irwin Droppa P’07 ’11, Larry Droppa P’07 ’11, and Tom Borgia ’68 at Utah Beach in Normandy, part of a trip sponsored by Friends of the National World War II Memorial, of which Jane serves as board chair.

Tom Borgia ’68, John Heron ’68, and Ernie Norris ’68, pictured here in the cemetery above Omaha Beach, toured London, Normandy, and Paris with the nonprofit Friends of the National World War II Memorial.

information about the couple with us: “The other couple in the picture are Jane Irwin Droppa P’07 ’11 and Larry Droppa P’07 ’11. Jane’s father and brother were Lawrenceville grads as were their son and daughter. Jane is even a deeper red-and-black L’ville type than either Ernie, you or me. As an aside, her father was ambassador to France and Jane spent many years as Stevie Wonder’s sound engineer only to be replaced by Larry when Jane retired. They also own the largest ranch in Arizona, which Jane personally works as a wrangler. They have no phone, no internet coverage, and have a two-and-a-half drive one way for groceries. I only mention all this as she is the most humble and eclectic person of consequence I know – truly fascinating individual. And for one more Lawrenceville connection, the trip was sponsored by Friends of the National World War II Memorial, whose recently retired board chair was Si Bunting H’37 ’59 ’88 ’91 ’95 P’88 ’97, with Jane being his replacement.”

So fellow classmates, reconnect! Otherwise, one of the best friends you never had is out there and you have already known him for 54 years.

1969

Walter H. Hoppe LaserLynne@aol.com

I have been living in San Diego for two years now. The winters here are much nicer than in Shaker Heights, Ohio! The cost of living is high, but I do not have to worry about my activities being ruined by rain or snow. I continue to enter amateur radio contests weekly using Morse Code and experiment with new amateur radio antennas.

From Spencer Compton: “Hi, Walt. I still haven’t retired but I did just publish my first novel, The Thresher Ghost, to great reviews. It’s an historical thriller and is available on Amazon. I will start my term as chairman of the Real Property Law Section of the New York State Bar Association in June. My wife and kids are thriving. We’re all vaxxed and I’ve had my booster. Hope everyone’s well and stays safe and healthy.”

From Brent Hyder : “Please update my email to brenthyder11@gmail.com. I don’t want to miss your notes!

“Main news from me is a year ago I married the girl I brought to our reunion in 2019, Elisabeth Bishop. Later this month we will drive to Camden, Maine, to escape the heat in Texas and, of course, play golf. We will make a detour to visit Barbara H’67 ’72 P’85 and Ted Graham H’65 ’66 ’67 ’68 ’72 P’85 in Hardwick, Vt.”

From Rocky Barber P’08: “Wish there were some other classmates in Jackson Hole. It is beautiful here starting in June and going into September. Warm sun (80-85 degrees usually), and occasional thunderstorms. Turns cool after that and by October it can snow, but melts right away. Snow will stay in November and the ski areas open at Thanksgiving. Last year there was not enough snow in November, so opening got pushed to the first week of December.

“We are on a golf course and have a magnificent view of the Teton Mountain range. It feels great just to sit in a nice comfy chair and enjoy Mother Nature. We have lots of visitors, both the human and animal kinds.

“My wife, Nancy, is enjoying being a grandmother. Her daughter and granddaughter will arrive before Labor Day. I am still FaceTiming weekly with my son’s family including his daughter Elizabeth (Lizzy). She will be 2 next

month. Unfortunately, I have only seen her in person once at her first birthday. COVID has taken a lot away from us.

“If anyone is visiting Yellowstone, we are just 40 mile south, so stop by.”

From Christopher Hill : “I am living Groundhog Day in paradise on a small farm on the Big Island of Hawaii. I play golf five days a week and accept that my golf may not be what I wish it to be, but the fun is in the challenge to change that. Mahalo. – Christopher.”

From Henry West: “Walter, I’m about to drive to Naples, Fla. I am moving there to stay. My phone number will not change.”

From Michael Chase-Levenson : “I have a play opening in London this January at the Jermyn Street Theatre. Come see! In The Net is a play by Misha Levkov that is having a London run next year and then transferring to New York. Now you know my pen name. And I’d love to have all on my mailing list for the next one, heading quickly down the pike. With warmest greetings to all!”

From Maynard Holcombe : “Hello fellow classmates of ’69, the greatest class of all! I am now retired from my several careers (lawyer for 20-plus years and then restaurant manager for 10 years, with a few detours along the way). Wife Karly, daughter Elizabeth, and I now live outside Cincinnati in a nice ranch home we had built eight years ago. Liz is a rising senior in high school and planning to start at University of Cincinnati next fall. Karly is a mental health therapist with a great practice in an office-sharing group. We are both involved in Kiwanis Club and enjoying the many perks of living close to great parks, restaurants, sports teams (go, Bengals!) and social friends. We try hard to get to a beach (South Jersey, Hilton Head, or Naples, Fla.) at least once a year and are headed to HH shortly. Gatlinburg, Asheville, and Las Vegas are also on our traveling radar.

For those of you with older L’ville sibs or long memories, I can report the passing of my older brother Bob ’60. My younger brother Andy ’71, is thriving in Chico, Calif., and is a frequent contributor to his Class Notes in these pages. My grown children, Rebecca, Emily, and Sarah, are all married, live far from Cincinnati and collectively have produced seven grandchildren to date. On the other hand, stepdaughter Kristina lives very near us and has two sons, who we see frequently.

“My life is good and fulfilling as I begin navigating my retirement years. I have great memories of my two years at Lawrenceville, and I would welcome catching up with any of you who might wander this way.”

From Dick Neville : “Currently on vacation in New Hampshire. Trying to

retire like all my friends but I built my own ASC and need to keep practicing for a while longer. Does anyone have an interest in buying a surgical center in Phoenix? Any ’69ers are welcome to stop by and see me in Phoenix!”

From Christopher Lawrence : “Only a few of you might remember this oneyear student in Belknap House. No momentous news to report, but life is good, comfortable and I am contented! I invite any of you to contact me when you are in Seattle. I will happily be your local tour guide if possible. Best wishes to all!”

From Hugh A.S. Shields : “Just a quick note to advise that I sold my career consulting business in December and am now working through a two-year workout in my contract. I’ll see what happens after that but possibly a move to warmer climates and family. The strategic buyer, Felix Global, has worked closely with us to ensure a smooth integration, which is going well. So now, my wife and I are planning out the big ‘what’s next?’ question and we’re making some headway – stay tuned.

My wife and I hosted our two children, their spouses, and my five grandchildren for a week after July 4. We had a blast, but it reminded me that keeping up with those munchkins who are between 4 and 8 years old kept me on my toes!

“All my best to the rest of the Class of ’69 – hope life is well.”

From Bob Froeber: “Hi Walt! Thanks again for doing this! I enjoy the notes! I bet most of our class reads them. I just wish more people would contribute.

“I am, indeed, loving my life here in Pawleys Island, S.C. Not playing as much golf right now as we are experiencing heat index temps around 105 degrees every day. Dog days are here. I’m very involved in my church. I’m drinking copious amounts of wine, reading, and still trying to get my online diabetic sock business going. I’ve heard from Jeff Kerr and Alec Wiggin P’04 ’05 about getting together for golf. Steve Skinner is planning a move to Hickory, N.C. It will be fun to have him close by. Love to all!”

1970

Robert C. Paschal robert.paschal2808@gmail.com

Following a wet and chilly Alumni Weekend, Steve Kuni says: “Needless to say, despite the weather, it was great to see everyone and you as usual. I got to the point early on Saturday that I couldn’t stand to be outside. It really chapped me that a casual stroll between buildings was a life threatening exercise. Gergs and I had to get a cart ride to the Jigger Shop to obtain emergency clothing add-

John Meiners ’68, the late Bill Wallace ’68, and Mike Tiernan ’68 P’01 ’05 ’09, celebrated Bill’s 70th birthday in Florida two years ago. He passed away in July.

ons. Thanks that Philip Ulanowsky and Burdick et al. set up camp at Abbott and the word got around.

“In addition the group at Friday dinner (including Charley Ryan, Ben Whitten P’01 , Kirk Broaddus [ Ed. Note: Sadly, Kirk Broaddus passed away less than three months after Alumni Weekend. –S.R. ], Baker , and others) was a great start. I had no clue that Baker and Bill Thompson are lifelong (childhood) family friends. Also there were the Rev. Woody Bowman , Duncan Bethune , Owen McManus, and Jim Wilson Doug Ezzell, Bruce Dole, Walter Fair, and Jeff Hailand all checked in via email. Alastair Gordon also reported on Tex Spear from Hawaii via email.

“At Kirby Arts on Saturday, I had a great chat with Bruce McClellan’s son, Rob H’65 ’78 P’10, Jim Wilson, and some retired faculty. Saturday night dinner at Abbott was a true cattle call – ’72-’58 mostly. Gergs and I had a blast sharing a table with ’58ers and spouses. Stephan Leone’s ’57 wife and Gergs really hit it off. She called us ‘her babies.’ We had a great chat with Gray Akers H’71 ’72 ’74 ’75 P’94 (now 90-plus?). We also saw Sam Waugh ’72 (Benny’s brother) and he was representing the Waugh family in light of Jim’s recent passing at 95.

“We discussed our mutual connection with Bradley ‘Boonie’ Weeden ’77 (son of Chuck and Ann from Dawes House), who now lives in Lowell/Andover, Mass. Also updated on Tom Megna (son of Ed, who taught Latin/French) and Lee Morgan Megna (daughter of Case, Periwig/Theater Arts), who did not make the reunion. Both ‘Boonie’ and Lee were on the memorial Zoom call for Mary Elizabeth McClellan H’50 ’52 ’57 ’58 ’59 ’65 ’79 GP’10. Rob McClellan H’65 ’78 P’10 passed our best wishes along to his sister, Ann McClellan H’65.

“Sunday brunch was quality time with Kip Krusen and wife. Top notch spread/buffet. Following, the weather let up enough to do a modified walkabout. Gergs and I are suitably impressed by the improvements and expansion of The Gruss Center for Art and Design.

Full lab equipped for everything from woodworking to pottery to CAD and multiple 3D printing stations. An L’ville building service person opened doors for us and we had a full on site tour including canoes in mid-construction (Wow!).

“I’m only sad that Phil and I didn’t have that chance to ‘invade’ the music house. My hands were so cold I probably could have managed only a sloppy blues riff at that.”

“In August, CBS Saturday did a piece on Charley Ryan’s partner, Peter Shapiro and a great profile of Brooklyn Bowl. Charley R. had a name mention and grab shot, as principal partner in the various Shapiro ventures. They reported that Shapiro is planning a Dead Revival upcoming in Chicago at the War Memorial Coliseum. Apparently, the Shapiro-Ryan team has already blocked out some dates TBD. Great PR, very impressive!

“Be well, y’all.”

Philip Ulanowsky also wrote following Alumni Weekend: “Having jotted, at Alumni Weekend, almost nothing for Chris Burdick, who was dutifully snagging everyone possible to write Class Notes, I offer the following:

“I walked around the campus Saturday morning, no one I could reach having appeared early. I was astonished to come upon four Rembrandt, three Goya, and one Dürer original (!) in the old Dixon Library [now the Hutchins Galleries] while in the Bunn Library I found in the Reynolds Room for the Fine Arts a better collection of books on photography than graces the online catalogue of all of

Loudoun County, where I live – a county of roughly 300,000, nationally noted as the wealthiest county in America a few years back. (And yes, I would be on the other side of those particular tracks, except that there is no longer a train here.)

“I was further delighted to find, in the art studios of the relevant building, clear evidence that the students are being taught actual, representational drawing skills, a fact that may astonish only those of us who passed through art college and were hard-pressed to find a competent draftsman or -woman on the faculty.

“I enjoyed some extended discussion with my childhood pal Kirk Broaddus about international affairs, and with Chris (Kip) Krusen , whose career as a film director opens the door for some substantive conversation to come on that medium, art, and life. Would love to hear from classmates.”

1971

Kristopher D. Krug kris.krug@verizon.net

Andy Holcombe writes, “Finally back to more or less the new normal, which means wife Ann and I finally got back from Australia. We just returned from six weeks there. We are pondering an east coast Maine/Vermont/Quebec trip in October.”

1972

Bruce Hager 15 Broad Street

Apartment 2410

New York, NY 10005

bhager@kpmg.com

The wine’s been drunk, the coffee poured, classmates have said their goodbyes and returned home. Our 50 th  is history. It was celeb ratory, melancholy, and wet. A nor’easter rolled in on Friday night, May 6, as festivities were kicking off and, like a drunken uncle at a family event, overstayed its welcome until Sunday afternoon. In between, we sloshed through puddles, wore rain slickers, cowered under umbrellas, walked gingerly across muddy greenswards, and dressed for the kind of late spring weather we endured 50 years ago, when Lawrenceville transformed into Mudville.

The festivities began on Thursday night when several early celebrants gathered at Mediterra Restaurant and Taverna restaurant in Princeton for dinner with their spouses, including Hank Clifford, Dan Nunn, Tucker Boynton and

partner Juliana Gross, Bruce Cole, Mike Kasperzak , Doug Watkins , Anita and Chris Joy, Sandy and Jim Walburg, Tim Warren, and John Mann

Friday night began, for me at least, by parking in the former House football playing field that now accommodates overflow parking near the old music building. A brief stop at Kirby Arts Center to pick up nametags and assorted swag, and then over to Abbott Dining Hall to check out the Class of 1972 meeting spot. Dan Nunn was there, as he was everywhere during the weekend, playing our unofficial emcee for all things ’72. Dan proudly pointed out the collage of old photos of our 1972 classmates arranged by Doug Watkins. Then it was over to the main tent behind Kirby for dinner and dancing. Or at least dinner for those of us with arthritic limps. Here we saw Lee Dinstman, Rick Zullo P’02 ’03, Charlie Andersen , Roland Jones , Ted Curtis , Jens Fog, Elton Hyder, Dave Jaffin, Steve Gropp, Dave Goldberg, Chris Joy, Bob Leavitt, Robert Kraft, Tom Whitten, Hank Clifford, John Mann, Tucker Boynton, and a host of others. At one point, the live band struck up a tune and, not hearing very well, I knelt down to catch up with Charlie Anderson and found the ground soaking wet from water that had seeped beneath the tent flaps. I left shortly afterwards and caught up with Chris Joy, Dave Goldberg, and Hank for a nightcap at the Princeton Hyatt.

The next day, it was off to see the new Tsai Field House under construction next to the Lavino Field House. The head of the project led a tour at 8:30 to show us the new pool, the indoor hockey rink, and dining center that will feed the whole school besides Fifth Formers. The total cost of the project was announced as $179 million, much of it funded by L’ville alum Joe Tsai ’82. Thanks, Joe!

Next, a shuttle bus took us to Edith Memorial Chapel for the reading of the names of Lawrentians who’d died within the last year, a list from 1936 through to 2009, including seven from our class: Dave Becker , Mike Biller , Dave Katzin, Bill Long, Mitch Gearhart, Mark Stebbins, and Lew Thompson (We also recently received word that Kevin Moats died earlier this year). Inside the program was a red flyer that read “The Lawrenceville School mourns the loss of Jack D. Reid, Class of 2023.” As many of you may know by an email from Head of School Stephen Murray H’54 ’55 ’65 ’16 P’16 ’21, Jack Reid was a Fourth Former and president of Dickinson House who’d taken his life one week earlier. His death cast a pall over the campus the entire weekend, prompting one person to say, “the sky is crying” to explain the lachrymose atmosphere.

There was a little time for walking

Bruce Dole ’70 and Jeff Hailand ’70 enjoyed an Ozarks road rally in April.

around the campus before lunch, so I wandered across the circle over to Dickinson, my old House. It looked closed and forlorn in the rain, with dozens of flowers laid at the entrance in homage to Jack Reid. The house appeared empty; so did the campus. As I learned later, scores of students had ridden busses to New York City along with Head of School Murray to a Manhattan memorial on Saturday in the young man’s honor.

I walked back in the rain (did I mention it was raining?) to the parking lot behind Kirby for lunch, which was served from multiple food trucks, each one with a long line snaking up to the side windows. Several Fifth Formers wearing suits and tight dresses walked about, appearing oblivious to the rain that inundated everyone in the parking lot. I was told they’d just been pinned at a ceremony. I stood in line next to a man named Charlie whose son was graduating with the Class of 2022. Charlie had gone to Ewing High School in New Jersey and now lived in Bucks County. He’d wanted to give his son a better education than he’d had, and we both agreed his son was getting just that.

For those who haven’t returned to the School since graduation, or for years, much has changed. The main campus comprising Circle Houses, Upper, Haskell, Belknap, Mem, and Pop Halls still exist, but there is so much more. The physical plant has expanded to include a new Math and Science Center overlooking the football and track fields, where, no doubt, aspiring mathematicians and physicists can study the parabolic trajectory of well-thrown footballs and the majestic arc of polevaulters. There is also the Bunn Library, a multi-story structure that stands where Lower School used to be. Davidson, Cromwell, Perry Ross, and Thomas were razed (and rolled into Raymond and Dawes) to make way for Bunn as well as the Crescent Houses housing the young coeds who diversified the campus back in the 1990s and abruptly raised academic standards. Playing fields have expanded to include upscale lacrosse and soccer fields as well as the Waugh Baseball Field. Put simply, our peers’ Lawrenceville has morphed into an institution akin to a small liberal arts college with an endowment close to $650 million.

I stole into a tent to enjoy lunch and conversed with Charlie Anderson, George Varn , and Brian Smyth . We agreed the weather sucked but there wasn’t anything we could do about it. The topic turned to Jack Reid and mental health, and one classmate allowed that he’d felt so blue during his L’ville years that he’d almost visited a psychiatrist. Almost. More on that later.

After lunch, I walked over to the Noyes

History Center to attend a lecture by our own Dr. Bruce K. Cole . He discussed Propaganda 101, or how propaganda and disinformation are used as tools to sway popular opinion. See: Nazi Germany and Josef Goebbels. The standing room only crowd was greatly enhanced by Bruce’s classmates, including Mike Kasperzak, Mark Mahoney, George Steers, Lindsay Gillies, Hank Clifford, Robert Kraft, and Dan Nunn (told you he was everywhere).

After determining that propaganda influences us all, one way or another, I walked across the green past the news Math and Science Building to the old Irwin Dining Center, which also houses the Jigger Shop (a Starbucks has supplanted the old Jigger Shop on Route 206). When I emerged, I heard music, or more appropriately rap music. I followed it past Lavino and into the woods where I emerged at the Getz Sports Complex, which included twin lacrosse fields. Lawrenceville and Hill were about to cross sticks, and the weather was entirely appropriate for a sport in which players laugh at the elements to the chagrin of shivering spectators. The rain had become a drizzle, but the wind had picked up, and temperatures in the 40s felt more like the high 30s. It was Senior Day, which meant seven L’ville lacrosse players were lauded by the crowd as they were chaperoned by their parents through twin rows of players dressed in home white while the Hill players did their last warmups. Then the L’ville athletic director asked everyone to bow their heads for one minute of silence in memory of Jack Reid. The Hill players did, too. It was very sobering. I watched the beginning of the game and noticed how good L’ville was, how quickly players darted in and out around the Hill goalie, with pinpoint passes that a fast attackman buried into the back of the net a few minutes into the game. I left shortly afterwards due to the chill but heard later that L’ville cruised, 13-4.

Next, I attended a reception for all class volunteers at Foundation House, sponsored by Head of School Murray. The bar was under a tent on an outdoor patio, and I stood next to Dinstman and  Dan Kottke, two guys who went on to do well in California. I’ve written about Kottke in other class notes, how he befriended a guy named Steve Jobs at Reed College and how both went on to start a company called Apple along with Steve Wozniak. Dinstman told me a story about how he’d migrated from his hometown New York City to Los Angeles to write screen plays. When that didn’t work out, he managed to wangle a job in the mailroom at a talent agency. He was offered a starting salary of $100 a week – this was in the 1980s – and when he politely inquired why so low, the guy who hired him said that was

what he was paid in the 1950s and didn’t think the position warranted a cost-ofliving adjustment. Happy to be on the inside, but straining under a tight budget, Dinstman rose and rose and rose and now is a partner with APA, short for Agency for the Performing Arts, where he packages and sells television series to broadcast and cable networks, including Grimm , 24, Sanctuary, Commander in Chief, The Gates, and Awakening. You never know who our classmates are unless you ask.

Dinstman, Kottke, and I were getting cold on the open terrace, so we moved into Foundation House where we ran into  Chuck Forer , who was wearing a mask because he’d just seen  Steve Tobolsky, who’d intended to come before he tested positive for COVID (as did Dean Harden, who was forced to quarantine in Thailand). Steve Murray stood on the indoor steps and told a 100-person group that the week had been the hardest he’d ever experienced as an educator, especially since he’d just returned from the Jack Reid memorial in NYC. I’ve met Steve several times and know him to be extremely personable and highly skilled at what he does, but he was visibly subdued by the previous week’s events. Despite a hearth fire and the assembled bonhomie of alumni, the normally boisterous mood was restrained. We then wandered over to Abbott Dining Hall for our class dinner. Unlike the old Upper Dining Hall, with its tall windows and high ceilings, Abbott’s been transformed into the dining hall from Harry Potter’s Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, or so it appears, complete with a lattice-beamed cathedral ceiling and multi-colored house flags poking from the walls. It was white owls delivering entrees to our place settings. The tone of the evening turned celebratory. We welcomed two of our newest honorary classmates – Wes Brooks ’71 H’59 ’09 P’03 ’09 , former Lville CFO who held multiple on-campus class dinners at his home, and retired English professor Max Maxwell H’74 ’79 ’80 ’81 ’91 ’00 ’01, who taught me in Second Form English and speaks in a lyrical accent reflecting his Caribbean heritage. Our third honorary classmate, Jim Waugh H’67 ’68 ’74 ’81 ’85 ’88 P’68 ’70 ’72 ’74 ’76 GP’12 ’14 ’16, died at age 95 within weeks of our reunion. He was introduced by his son and ’72 class president Sam Waugh, who spoke emotionally about a father and teacher who’d inspired multiple generations of Lawrentians as both a baseball coach and English teacher. I was one of his inspired pupils who recalled his pronounced New England accent and his passing resemblance to Captain Ahab in the film Moby Dick. Like Ahab, Waugh was skilled at harpooning any superficial

prose we dared submit. “Much B.S. here” was a common Waugh critique.

Adding to our Friday night soiree were  Armond Hill , the former L’ville basketball legend who went on to Princeton and NBA fame; Tom Patten, our former football captain; Dave Clarendon; David Hauslohner; Derrick Tseng; Craig Thompson ; Tom Stanley ; Bill Spencer ; Jon Teall , Eddie Wilson P’94 GP’18 ; Doug Watkins ; Justin Salerno ; Rich Bayersdorfer ; Jim Walburg; John Murphy; Don Lucas; Rich Loosli ; honorary classmates Maureen Ehret S’76 P’06 ’12 (who worked tirelessly on behalf of our recalcitrant class during previous reunions), and  Bill Polk H’68 ’75 , my goalie coach and religion teacher (I admittedly fared better at keeping pucks out of the net than God in my mind).

The evening’s tone was set by Dan Nunn (did I mention he was there?), resplendent in a bright red blazer, who had to literally shout to be heard above the din of our celebrating classmates as he played emcee (we were sharing space with the Class of ’62). I was honored as class secretary by Hank Clifford, who handed me a contract to be scribe for life (my lawyers are meeting with his lawyers to discuss amendments). I was also given six tulip-shaped Riedel wine glasses and a decanter, suggesting that my secret oenophilia is no longer a secret. We missed mightily those who intended to come but were struck down by COVID or other factors. Dr. Norman McGowin begged off due to impending hip surgery, while Pete Bretschger stayed home to be with his wife. Mark Larsen P’01 ’04 ’06 offered a lame excuse about presiding over his son’s wedding weekend in Naples, Fla. (sorry Mark, couldn’t resist…)

As the evening wore down, I gave Dan Kottke a lift in the rain (did I already mention the rain?) back to the Princeton Hyatt for a nightcap. We sat with our Friday night group at an upstairs table, and when I went to the downstairs bar, I ran into Walburg, Salerno, and Bayersdorfer. Dr. Salerno told a hilarious story about being a young emergency room intern in a Stamford, Ct., hospital, when in walked former Davidson housemaster and history teacher Dan Hudson, who was suffering from a superficial head wound. When Justin introduced himself to “Mr. Hudson,” Dan didn’t immediately recall who he was. “That’s OK, Mr. Hudson,” Justin replied. “I didn’t do well in history but have fared better at medicine.”

The farewell brunch in Abbott Dining Hall was our final rendezvous. I sat with Dan Nunn (did I tell you …?), Lee Dinstman, Steele Chadwell P’09 and his wife, Roy Bannister ’71, Elton Hyder,

and Bill Spencer, who both escorted Elton from JFK when Elton flew in from Rome and then returned him that Sunday so Elton could resume his vacation. Steele spoke about being worried about the draft in 1972, when the Vietnam War was going full tilt and the Senate had acceded to President Nixon’s wishes to pass legislation allowing young people like us to be drafted into the Army. Steele said English teacher T.J. Johnston H’65 P’74  counseled students on what to do, which amounted to either enlisting, becoming a conscientious objector, or moving to Canada.

And then, one by one, we hugged and said our goodbyes, but not before I thanked our reunion coordinator Maria Bolis, who tenaciously kept us focused throughout the reunion run-up, just as Liz Casey H’66 ’92 P’21 ’24 kept us focused on the Class Gift. When I saw Maria in the rain (did I tell you it rained?) during lunch on Saturday afternoon, I smiled and told her it was a beautiful day. She laughed. And when I thanked her at brunch on Sunday for being steadfast despite the elements and keeping the event from becoming one big soggy mess, she laughed and said, “It will be a beautiful week,” knowing the forecast called for clear skies.

Some final notes: A warm thank you to all spouses and partners who attended our reunion weekend. You made a difference by being stoically supportive of the now-grown men who love to recall their teenaged antics, chortling about youthful hijinks. Hopefully, we did our best to keep you laughing and feed you. Kudos to Beth Kraft, Adrienne Curtis, Juliana Gross (Tucker Boynton’s partner), Anita Joy, Sandy Walburg, Kathy Patten, Laura Zullo, and others.

Finally, the death of Fourth Former Jack Reid, a varsity athlete with an abundance of promise and potential, shocked many. Why would someone so gifted and on top of his game at an elite prep school take his life? We will never know, but those who’ve been touched by suicide (my mother took her life in 1968, and most sadly, my 27-yearold son Eric last June) know the ripple effects are enormous, and that teenage suicides have skyrocketed during the pandemic. Sometimes reaching out to someone you know just to check in can make a difference. If the weekend taught us anything it was the value of communication with those we studied next to, played sports with, and kept in touch with over the years. So I end by challenging all of us to make the effort to pick up the phone and call one or two of our classmates every now and then. We had fun and I want us to continue doing so in the years to come.

P.S.: Jim Walburg, please give us the

lyrics of your rugby song.

P.P.S.: Immediately after our Reunion Weekend, Hank Clifford and his wife departed for French Polynesia, where they stayed at two properties developed and owned by Dick Bailey P’98 ’00: the Intercontinental Resort & Thalasso Spa on Bora Bora, and The Brando resort on the island of Tetiaroa. As Hank writes, “It was our third visit to the Intercontinental Bora Bora, a gorgeous five-star resort (comprised almost entirely of overwater villas) on the outer ring of the atoll facing the lagoon and iconic Mount Otemanu. The highlight of our trip, however, was our first visit to the awe-inspiring Brando resort (named after the actor and former owner of the property, Marlon Brando) – picture a six-star resort with LEED Platinum environmental certification residing exclusively on an unimaginably beautiful private island covered with palm trees inside the atoll of Tetiaroa. I challenge anyone to find a more beautiful place on the planet. Access to the property is via a 20-minute flight from the international airport of Tahiti on the resort’s private airline, Air Tetiaroa.

“During our stay at The Brando we were very fortunate to be joined by Dick Bailey, who had just returned from the Blue Climate Initiatives Summit, which Dick was instrumental in organizing. He gave us an in-depth tour of the physical plant and infrastructure of the resort, which was designed to optimize conservation and environmental sustainability while preserving the ecological integrity of the island. The resort was also developed to maximize privacy for the guests − there are 35 stunning beachfront villas (no overwater bungalows, a legacy vision from Marlon which Dick has honored, so as to not spoil the aesthetic beauty of the lagoon), and despite high occupancy during our stay, we were never in the company of more than a handful of guests at any one time. Former President Obama’s first stop after finally departing the White House was to The Brando, where he remained for nearly a month working on his memoirs.

“During my visit with Dick, I was able to share with him some pictures of his Lawrenceville classmates taken at our Reunion Weekend, which he regretted having to miss.”

P.P.P.S.: Dan Nunn reports: “In July, Elton Hyder, Bill Spencer, and I rendezvoused at Bill’s Charlotte, N.C., estate to resume our inspiring 50 th reunion. And very gracious of Bill’s bride to agree to hostess during major home renovations. I was and am amazed by the quantity and quality of L’ville memories those two possess … Worthy raconteurs! Now that Elton and other classmates have a place or live in the N.C. mountains, in/near Charlotte, and in S.C., we should

arrange regional gatherings on occasion. Having been in Elton’s company twice recently, it’s clear he likes to work the crowd and would be delighted to host such events! Our 50th was a blast and I look forward to keeping up with any & all classmates.”

Amen.

1973

To submit news for the Class of 1973 column, please send to classnotes@ lawrenceville.org.

John Gore H’61 ’64 ’65, now Lawrenceville’s senior philanthropic advisor, attended the funeral service for Nat Queen on May 31, 2022, at the Chapel of Saint James in The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in New York. He reports that about 300 people attended, including several of his Lawrenceville and Harvard friends. Lawrentians included Alan Sussna ’75 P’04 ’12, Peter Wilsey, Debbie and Glenn Hutchins, Ed Gibson ’78, Blake Hornick, Sandy Stein, Nick Park, and Don Missey, though John noted his belief there were others, too. “I had a chance to express the School’s sympathy to his mother, and also to Nat’s partner, Nigel Cox,” John added.

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Dave Donahue writes: “In my 12th year with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). Completed two deployments of five months each to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, in 2020 and 2021.

“In October 2021 I began a threeyear assignment at the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka, Japan. Our off-base quarters find us 100 meters from Tokyo Bay with a terrific view. Only a mile from the shipping

channel we see merchant vessels and surface combatants making the transit to/from the open ocean each day. Son Nick is a U.S. Marine captain at Camp Pendleton, daughter Molly ’10 is in NYC at a start-up, and son Willy is in Camphill Village in Copake, N.Y. Wife Lizzie is busy visiting all and keeping all connected. Hope to return for 50th reunion.”

1974

George Chen geochen1@yahoo.com

Tom Scardino tom@scardinodoors.com

Glenn Laub P’11 ’14 writes: “Up until the summer of 2019, I was an active cardiac surgeon and professor and chairman of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Drexel University School of Medicine. That summer the hospital system went bankrupt and the medical center closed. Although I really loved operating, I thought it was the perfect time for me to ‘transition’ to other things. Those other things included travel, catching up with friends, and advancing and cofounding medical technology companies.

“As you know, one of my interests has been developing medical devices. After Defibtech was acquired, I stayed on as CEO for two years and then focused on other projects including developing a new drug delivery system to treat malignancies in the chest and other areas. The company was funded by the NIH and has had positive results in animal studies leading to several publications and patents. We are working

Now in his 12th year with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Dave Donahue ’73 (center) completed two deployments of five months each to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, in 2020, when this image was taken, and 2021.

towards clinical trials.

“Additionally, one area that I have been working on for most of my career has been devices to improve outcomes for critical cardiac and pulmonary situations. At Defibtech we developed AEDs and CPR devices. My goal had also been to make a ventilator that was easy to use – in essence, do to ventilators what AEDs did to defibrillators. Even before COVID, I had thought that there were numerous situations where a simple to use, but fully featured, ventilator would be important (including cardiac arrest, mass casualty, bioterrorism, pandemics, etc.). I started working on the concept in 2017.

“In March 2020 Karen founded Ventis Medical in Princeton with me, Taylor ’11, David ’14, and one other engineer to

develop a new class of ventilators. The office is close to home, which is a real treat for me as my commute to Philly was frequently over an hour and now its 10 minutes.  We were able to recruit four of the lead engineers who I worked with at Defibtech to join the team (and have recruited several others). The product is currently in the FDA submission phase.

“Taylor graduated from Wharton with an M.B.A. in 2020 and is our COO and in addition works for Google as a product manager and lives in NYC. David received a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and computer science from Duke and is full time at Ventis. He shares time between being on site in our Princeton office and remote from California at his girlfriend’s.

“I have filed numerous patents over the last few years and several have been granted. I have stayed in touch with several including David Ballard. Karen and I recently visited him at his incredible villa in Italy. He is the consummate host!”

Down in New Orleans, Lou Lauricella is building a huge riverfront development project adjacent to the city’s Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The vision, according to NOLA.com, is “to build an entertainment-focused neighborhood that would create another destination for visitors besides the French Quarter.”

Phil Glaize says, “Along the lines of England and heritage apples, our company started a juice company that makes its own branded hard cider and sells bulk juice to fermenters for the purpose of making hard cider. Eight years ago, we experimented growing 15 different cider specific apples. That list is now narrowed down to about eight that we will be able to produce well. So far, distribution is in the Mid-Atlantic. This diversification has been a bit of a bumpy ride, but it has taught two sons a lot about running a labor-intensive business. Hopefully, we’ll still be at it in 10 years!”

Mikey Kraynick is keeping busy, writing back in June: “Well, besides Snyds, I have one of my best friends living in Red Lodge and that town was really hit bad by the flood. Beartooth Pass is closed for now making both Cooke City and Red Lodge pretty much dead ends. Sun Valley and the Sawtooth Front and really most of Southern and Central Idaho on the other hand have had a fabulous spring the likes I have not seen since I was a kid. Late snows and rain extending the backcountry skiing into early June. Really terrific and the high country is still snowcapped. Everything is green and lush and the mountain bike trails are tacky and the wildflowers are in full bloom. Truly incredible.

“As far as my life, spring skiing was amazing in the backcountry. But I have been super busy with work as there has been a significant attrition of attorneys in the Wood River Valley and some more are retiring as we speak. I became a socialist last October, turning 65 and now have Medicare. And who does not love Medicare? Truth be told I have been driving on public roads for decades, drink water out of a municipal water system, use the air traffic control system, and even went to public school for a few years.

“No planned river trip this year as I scored zero in the Forest Service lottery, but we’ll be floating a few rivers when we can. Day trips mostly. Trying to slow the practice down and my goal is to avoid any further felonies, litigation, contested family laws cases, and focus on business consults, startups, wills and estates, and trusts, and stuff it all down in maybe

five years to focus purely on skiing and chasing women. If the snow flies in South America I’ll head down there in August to wherever the storms are hitting, either Baraloche or possibly Nevado de Chillan.

“My daughter turned 16 on June 13 and the challenges of teenage life continue to impose havoc on mine. I do not remember having the same issues, drama, problems, and constant conflict with my parents and the juvenile justice system as my daughter is experiencing and I with her. I suppose that keeps me from getting senile as I navigate new slang, boyfriends, and a constant flow of kids through my house, drinking and smoking pot and reminding myself that we did all those things when we were her age and trying not to be too critical.”

1975

Gary R. Bedford g_bedford@msn.com

David G. Christoffersen, Esq. P’14 ’18 75lville@gmail.com

Miguel Balanya indicates, “I am starting a new project as financial adviser, specialized in ESG and impact investing. Hope to have it ready for next September. By the way, I had my second heart surgery last November, and everything went perfectly well.”

Jim Bryan says, “It is great to see others doing so well. As I approach retirement working with the North Carolina Judicial Branch, I am honored to be the guide for the youngsters there to help them to better serve others in our organization. Beyond that I have been traveling when possible.”

Dave Christoffersen P’14 ’18 alleges, “Neither wife Miranda (L’ville English Dept.) nor I has had COVID yet, the former maybe thanks in part to L’ville school doc Dr. Bruce Kraut P’20. I have gone to my law office every day since COVID started (whether Gov. Murphy wanted me to or not) and frequently was in Trenton having to deal with stupid tenant B.S. My theory: I walk through a COVID cloud booster every time I go to the Dollar General across the street from my office.

“In April, May, and June ’22 I unloaded all our Trenton properties at what’s looking like maybe the top of the market [yay!] and then handed the money to George Gagliardi to invest. (He often deserves to be punched out – if only on general principal – but I trust him implicitly and ‘I know where he lives.’) Miranda and I still have a cabin in the Adirondacks (for a laugh ‘Google’ VR5012) bought in ’98 when the real estate market was still artificially depressed after the 1980 Winter

Classmates Buff Burchfield ’74 P’07 ’08 ’10 and Hy Bunn ’74 P’04 ’06 ’08 love sharing their beautiful granddaughter, Bea, the daughter of Hillary Bunn ’06 and her husband, Will Burchfield ’07. Asks Hy: “Who would have thought back in the day?”

While visiting classmate David Ballard ’74 in Italy, Glenn Laub ’74 P’11 ’14 walked through this tunnel on David’s property that was carved by Etruscans 3,000 years ago.

David Ballard ’74 hosted Glenn Laub ’74 P’11 ’14 and Karen Laub P’11 ’14 at his villa in Italy.

Olympics. My love of the Adirondacks goes back to my first BSA trip there in 1969.

“Sons William ’14 and Charlie ’18 are healthy, handsome, funny, tall, thin, talented, and I am confident will take over the world while I am still alive. I write this from my office chair, which is where my corpse will someday be found.”

Chris Farland wants you to believe, “I now drive Miss Daisy. All the best to my L’ville brothers!”

Bill Heffern indicates, “Just returned from my first Asia trip since February 2020. Great to be back in the factories and face to face with my colleagues. Our furniture industry boomed during early COVID, then got hammered by cost increases, factory closings, slow reopenings and container rate increases from 45K to even $16K and higher! Living the life of transitory inflation! Viva la vida loca! Best wishes … Good health!”

Robert McKenry reports, “I graduated from Texas A&M maritime college, tested and received my steam and motor engineer license. I sailed as an engineering officer on U.S. merchant ships for five years, after which I went shoreside to work for Dole Fresh Fruit in their Los Angeles Terminal, then in 1994 to Dole’s Wilmington, Del., termination operation. Married in 1983 and our daughter was born in 2002.”

Paul Moravec’s (and Mark Campbell’s) oratorio “Sanctuary Road” was featured on PBS’s “Choral Showcase” on June 19 as part of WETA’s Juneteenth programming.

From the desk of John V. Trubee : “When walking around my neighborhood recently, I noticed a penny embedded in the tar in the parking lot of a nearby apartment building. I couldn’t pry it out with my fingernails or house keys. I’m heading back over there right now with a hammer and a flat-edge screwdriver to bang it out that way. When I get the penny out, I will deposit it along with other money into my brokerage account to purchase more S&P 500 index funds. I perform this ridiculous stunt to prove my gumption, moxie, serious work ethic, diligence, and noble intentions to get the job done to impress future prospective employers in case I need to go back to work. I forgot to mention passion. (I notice that as a word overused in résumés and on job applications. OK – passion too.)

“I am also playing solo electric guitar at BBQ joints, brew pubs, senior homes, and house parties for pay. Sometimes for tip-jar small change, sometimes for a nice check for playing an hour or two. Doesn’t matter. It’s lotsa fun to play guitar! Have guitar, will travel. PENNY UPDATE: I successfully pried out the penny. It will join other pennies in a paper roll destined for deposit at Charles Schwab.

“P.S.: I am preparing release of a CD from Trubee Records licensed to Cordelia Records in the U.K. featuring two hitherto-stillborn albums of my music, The Deserts of Eternity and Satan Killed Me Today. For more info or free spiritual advice please contact me at johntrb09@gmail.com.”

From Rudi von Meister: “Yen-Ling and I are back after decades overseas. Son Hans ’05 lives in Shanghai with wife Zoe and our two granddaughters, whom we really hope to see soon (after 2.5 years of no travel). Daughter Gaia ’08 lives in Paris and is engaged to a great Frenchman. Let us know if you’re passing through Ann Arbor.”

1976

L. T. Hill lt.hill@comcast.net

George Spencer gmspencer777@gmail.com

Storm Russell says that he recently left his home in Moss Beach, Calif., and “took a trip to Wisconsin to help raise money for Ukrainians facing challenges with the war – it made our local newspaper (front page) and even ended up on the ABC World News Tonight!” Here is an excerpt from the April article in the Half Moon Bay Review about Storm and his trip:

“Many of us watch the news and wish we could help. Storm Russell did something about the horrors he sees around the globe. Inspired by a television report on the war in Ukraine, the Moss Beach resident jumped onto a plane, flew halfway across the country and spent two weeks pitching in on a volunteer effort to raise funds for the Ukrainian people.

“‘They ran a story about a woman who wanted to raise money for Ukrainians. She had a candle store in Sturgeon Bay, Wisc., and decided to create a special candle,’ said Russell. The woman listed the blue-and-yellow candle – the colors of the Ukrainian flag – on her company’s website. She hoped to sell 300 candles. She had 1,000 orders overnight, and 20,000 by the following day. It was clear to Russell that she needed help.

“‘I said to my wife, ‘I have this crazy idea.’” Russell said. He booked a flight to Madison, Wisc., drove three hours north to Sturgeon Bay and arrived as the candle factory was closing for the day. He volunteered his services and by the next day – two days after he had heard the news report – he was polishing and packing candles to help the company fulfill its orders. Russell, a former high school social studies teacher, doesn’t customarily act on whims, but he’s retired, and says at this stage that ‘I want

Betsey Harding P’87 ’98, Don Ross ’82 P’11, Sam Harding H’85 ’86 P’87 ’89, and Ed Rowland ’76 enjoyed dinner at the Eagle Mountain House in New Hampshire.

Dale Critz ’76 P’10 – along with his 1911 EMF and 1911 Interstate – ran into Tom Hernquist ’76 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during Vintage Indy weekend in June.

Storm Russell ’76 pitched in to help the Ukrainian relief efforts at Door County Candle Company in Wisconsin. See the Class of 1976 column for the story.

life to have concrete meaning. I want to make a difference.’

“He also believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s campaign is ‘wrong and dangerous,’ and that ‘the Ukrainian people are doing a brave and hard thing, at a high cost.’ That was enough to send him to the assistance of Christiana Gorchynsky Trapani, the Ukrainian-American owner of the Door County Candle Company. Her small company went overnight from producing 20,000 handmade candles in a year to 55,000 in a few weeks. It’s shipped the vanilla-scented candles to all 50 states, and currently has a 12week waiting period. The company has been overwhelmed with calls, emails, and orders; the company website entreats customers to be patient as they learn

to scale up their operations. Russell joined dozens of other volunteers, 1015 workers a shift, to make and ship the candles.”

Storm adds that, “As the newspaper story says, I saw a national news story about people raising money to help Ukrainians, and hopped a plane to Wisconsin to help. My adventures with Christiana and Door County Candles has been a great experience all the way around. From the first day I got there, I found that my inspiration spread more inspiration. When I arrived, I didn’t have a place to stay, but Christiana, the woman who started this all, had had offers of help from a couple of places, included the White Lace Inn in Sturgeon Bay, Wisc. They gave me a beautiful room (Jacuzzi and 150-year-old oak bed) for free for the first three days (a contribution of hundreds of dollars).

“The only other news is that I’m now learning to surf (never did as a kid), and I’m trying to understand options trading, so if anyone can help me understand that, get in touch!”

Bill Dougherty (a.k.a. Danks) is “still in Southold, Long Island, working with the Cornell Oyster and Scallop project’s efforts to help with the Peconic ecosystems. Lots of people flocking out here from NYC, etc. Real estate is at a peak.

“I also ventured into the art world. It runs in the family. I’ve been in some shows and galleries in East Hampton and Sag Harbor with positive responses. Many galleries have moved to the east end from NYC, so it is an interesting time. I hope we don’t have to Zoom our next reunion and if anybody is in the area feel free to drop me a line: mathblog22@gmail.com.”

“In mid-June I travelled to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Vintage Indy weekend, writes Dale Critz P’10. “I took

two of my pre-WWI racecars (a 1911 EMF and a 1911 Interstate) to join up with a group of enthusiasts from California and Michigan that call themselves the Rag Time Racers. Guess who I run into in the paddock – Tom Hernquist, who was there driving a 1980s Indy car that had been owned by A.J. Foyt Enterprises and driven by George Snider in the 1983 Indy 500. We both got to drive the road course and get out on the Oval, I’m not sure how Tom felt out on the Oval but I can say that driving a 1911 car 75 mph down the front straight at Indy was a blast!

“It was great catching up with Tom who has been in Seattle for the last seven years and we made plans to meet at Vintage Indy again next year. Tom has been looking at another ’80s-era Indy car and I plan to bring our 1951 Roadster that attempted to qualify for Indy in 1951. It was owned and campaigned by Chicago mobster George ‘Babe’ Tuffanelli. We’ll report back with pictures next year.”

Mike Caron offers a “quick update on 2022 to date. We had another granddaughter join the family, Harper. That makes three granddaughters and one grandson so far. Dominique has continued to keep us traveling. In March we went to Egypt and the history there is amazing. Traveled from Cairo down to Aswan. Hard to believe that some of the paintings on those tombs are 3,500 years old or more. Then hit Jordan on the way back as Petra has always been on her list of top places to visit. Now that was a quite a hike for this body that is not designed for long hikes.

“Every year we take our 15-year-old grandson, Lucas, somewhere for a trip. He loves science, history, engineering, etc. So, in this year in July we took him to Rome (the usual – Colosseum, Forum, Vatican, Da Vinci museum, lots of pizza, etc.) and then to Naples for Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Capri. The heat was overwhelming but we pulled through. Keeping up with a 15-year-old boy was not easy.

“Finally ended in London with sunrise at Stonehenge and the usual sites from National Lampoon European Vacation … Big Ben, Parliament, Tower of London, Greenwich observatory, etc. The highlight of London was getting together with Candace and Peter Valiunas for a great dinner. Peter and I roomed together at Lawrenceville for three years so there was a lot to get caught up on. We were already talking about our next class reunion.”

Ed Rowland reports that “On Saturday August 6, on the summit of a windy but not rainy Mt. Washington, I completed the Eastern 115, the mountains over 4 ,000 feet in elevation in New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. This was a quest that was renewed in 2005 when I visited with Betsey P’87

’98 and Sam Harding H’85 ’86 P’87 ’89 in Jackson, N.H., before my 25th Dartmouth reunion.

“Over the years, I have been joined by a few Lawrentians, notably fellow daystudent (and friend from kindergarten) Tom Armington, Werner Haag ’73, Don Ross ’82 P’11, his son Will Ross ’11, and the Hardings. Tom Armington and Werner Haag were there in 1970 when I climbed my first 4,000-footer in the Adirondacks as a member of Boy Scout Troop 28 of Lawrence Township, N.J. We had a wonderful kickoff dinner before tackling New Hampshire’s northern Presidential Range at the Eagle Mountain House just down the road from where Sam and Betsey had initially retired. They made their way from their new home in Maine for the dinner. It was the conclusion of a 52-year effort filled with adventure, great companionship, stunning natural beauty and physical challenge. It’s not as easy to slog to the summits as it used to be, but we are still out there, usually amazing the younger hikers.”

1977

Kip

Hunter

khunter@hallestill.com bmassie@hallestill.com

1978

Gregory A. Williamson P’09 gwilliamson78@gmail.com

John Watkin says: “Nine friends from the Class of ’78 gathered in Delaware for a beach weekend reunion on September 29. Just to make things more interesting, Hurricane Ian joined us!” John sent photos of the group’s get-together and a tile of portraits from “back in the day.” The roster of revelers included Wayne Meisel P’13 , Kirk Baird , Tom Grimes , Guy Dorgan , Steb Chandor , Gregg Rosner , Dave Stephens P’06 , Charlie Clark, and John.

1979

Jeff Hirsch jbhirsch15@aol.com

Tres Arnett P’16 reports he and his wife, Nina, are up in Deer Isle, Maine, for the summer and fall 2022. Members of the Class of ’79 are welcome to come by.

Don “Rozz” McDowell and his wife, Danette, are visiting at some point. They are in Boothbay Harbor. While there, Rozz also learned of an interesting Lawrenceville connection: He says: “I recently learned that the father of our neighbor also attended Lawrenceville and

Don Ross ’82 P’11, Ed Rowland ’76, and Tom Armington ’76 made it to the top of Mount Washington.

Peter Sharpe ’76 P’10 and Jeff Lyle ’76 enjoyed some time off the grid in Maine.

was the very first captain of the very first boys’ lacrosse team! His name is Chris Betts, Class of ’59. Chris also has a home in Boothbay. What a small world. He was coached by the legendary Marshall Chambers H’58 ’62 P’77, who was also my coach. Chris and I have shared some really entertaining and interesting stories

of our years at Lawrenceville and of course our lacrosse memories. What an honor to meet the first captain of the firstever boys varsity lacrosse team.

“We got together recently for dinner and commemorated the evening with a photo.” You’ll see the photo adjacent to this column.

1980

Paul Dewey pablodewey@me.com

Terry Cryan terencecryan@netscape.net

1981

Mark Goodman MGoodmanhome@gmail.com

Jeff Levy P’20 jclevy@me.com

Kinsey Dyckman P’17 ’20 has joined the ranks of the formerly employed – though sounds like he will consider offers from classmates: “I am retired. A lot of years on Wall Street at Credit Suisse and riding

the train to NYC for 22 of them … so I am done for now at least. I don’t anticipate putting the boots back on but you never know. I am looking forward to a lot less stress and doing things on my terms for a change.

“Carrie and I have loads of travel lined up as a start…’ Kinsey was also in attendance for an epic 60th birthday dinner for Greg Evans , where “we either emptied a Jeroboam (six bottles) or an Imperial (eight bottles, a.k.a. Methuselah).”

The always-reliable Jon Krieg sent in a “serious” photo with the following explanation: “Patti and me preparing to entertain our nieces and nephews at our annual family summer gathering. I wore my clown outfit once to the Iowa Legislature on its last night of work one year. A lobbyist said to me, ‘Hi, Senator!’ Mark Goodman writes, “Abby, Lily (our

Yesterday and Today: Nine friends from the Class of ’78 gathered in Delaware in September for a beach weekend reunion. They were joined by an uninvited Hurricane Ian. In the back are Wayne Meisel ’78 P’13, Kirk Baird ’78, Tom Grimes ’78, Guy Dorgan ’78, Steb Chandor ’78, and Gregg Rosner ’78. Up front are Dave Stephens ’78 P’06, Charlie Clark ’78, and John Watkin ’78.

Former Big Red lacrosse captain Don “Rozz” McDowell ’79, who has a home in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, recently learned that his neighbor’s father, Chris Betts ’59, was not only a former Lawrenceville lax captain, but the very first one!

Tres Arnett ’79 P’16 is restoring a Triumph Spitfire he hopes to be driving around Deer Isle, Maine, soon.

LAWRENTIAN LAURELS: ANDREW MEIER ’81

Chronicling a Dynasty

Published by Random House in October, Morgenthau: Power, Privilege, and the Rise of an American Dynasty is the third book by

If you grew up within the New York City media market and paid any attention to local news, the name Robert Morgenthau no doubt rings familiar. Morgenthau, who served as the Manhattan district attorney from 1975 until 2009, prosecuted a string of notable offenders that included “subway vigilante” Bernhard Goetz and Mark David Chapman, assassin of Beatles guitarist John Lennon.

But Robert Morgenthau was just the latest in a line of prominent public servants that began its ascent with his grandfather, Henry Morgenthau Sr., who rose to fame as the U.S. ambassador to the Ottoman Empire during World War II. The rise of the Morgenthau family is lavishly chronicled by award-winning journalist Andrew Meier ’81 in his new book, Morgenthau: Power, Privilege, and the Rise of an American Dynasty, published in October by Random House.

After arriving in America from Germany in 1866, the Morgenthaus made history in international diplomacy, in domestic politics, and in America’s criminal justice system. Meier, a former Moscow correspondent for Time and contributor to The New York Times Magazine, used unprecedented, exclusive access to family archives to account for “how the Morgenthaus amassed a fortune in Manhattan real estate, advised presidents, advanced the New Deal, exposed the Armenian genocide, rescued victims of the Holocaust, waged war in the Mediterranean and Pacific, and, from a foundation of private wealth, built a dynasty of public service.” The family was, “the closest we’ve got to royalty in New York City,” said former Mayor Ed Koch. Henry Morgenthau Sr. used his platform to decry the Armenian genocide during the war, becoming one of the nation’s leading voices against the atrocities, which he called “the greatest crime of the ages.” His son, Henry Jr., served as secretary of the treasury under Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, during which time he masterminded the United States’ financing of World War II and authored the “Morgenthau Plan,” which crippled Nazi Germany’s manufacturing and industrialization capabilities. Their story is expertly detailed by Meier, whose previous two books, Black Earth: A Journey Through Russia After the Fall, and The Lost Spy: An American in Stalin’s Secret Service, were award winners.

youngest), and I visited Portugal earlier this summer. We visited beach towns in the north and Lisbon for a few days. I played tennis with Scott Chace at his tennis club in Lisbon, which has awesome red clay and beautiful landscaping. Scott treated us to a cocktail at his condo, which has a nice view and is in a cool neighborhood with lots of embassies.

“We are about to send Lily off to Connecticut College for freshman year – and join those of you who are empty nesters. Starting to make non-holiday week travel plans.”

Jeff Levy P’20 had a great catch-up lunch with Bob Schwartz P’17 in Atlanta in August. Bob was in town for a major laundry convention. He remains the king of suds. Jeff and wife Liz are also empty nesters, with oldest son Charlie working in Seattle, middle son Eli surfing his way through Central and South America for another 10 months, and Cate ’20 in Santiago, Chile, for her junior fall semester.

1982

Jim Gidicsin P’17 jmgidicsin@yahoo.com 203-232-1862

Due to a change in the publishing schedule of The Lawrentian , I had a few notes “in waiting” from before the reunion.

Jeff Mulholland shared this note in April: “I’m afraid I will not be able to attend our long-awaited reunion as I have a son graduating from Michigan Law that weekend and am still lacking the funds to swing a private plane. I see the list of folks who are coming and will miss seeing what looks like a strong cast. As far as Lawrenceville news – I recently spoke to Thorp Davis P’23 who tells me he’s

excited to have a son at Lawrenceville. My youngest son Ben is currently dating an alum as well, Emily Engebretson ’18. I send my regrets but am sure you guys will represent us well. Thanks for all you do for our class.” [Gid note: We missed you, Jeff – as well as everybody else who was unable to join us. Congratulations to your new law school grad!]

This comes in from the “small world” department. In April, I drove to Boston to watch my son, Greg ’17, play his final games with the Northeastern club baseball team. I recognized the umpiring duo from past games, and in between games, Greg told me that one of them was a Lawrentian from the Class of ’77. After the game, we met in the parking lot. “Hmm …’82? You might have been in a class with my Dad,” he said. “Really? Who was your dad?” I asked. “Chuck Weeden.” The ump took off his mirrored sunglasses, and I swore I was talking with his dad. He introduced himself as Brad Weeden [’77], and he was right; I was in class with Chuck Weeden. The classroom was the baseball field, and he taught lessons to the catchers at that time. I still remember some of the old school drills he ran with us, especially blocking balls in the dirt without the benefit of a mitt.

On the ride home that afternoon, I reflected on my chat with Brad and was reminded of all the people who impacted us at Lawrenceville; some small, some overly large, and all of them important in one way or another. Chuck Weeden was certainly one of those guys for me, and I was very happy to spend a little time talking with Brad about his dad and his own Lawrenceville experience. Small world, indeed.

With those deposited, I asked classmates who attended our 40 th reunion to share their experiences of the weekend. Here’s what arrived in my inbox:

award-winning journalist Andrew Meier ’81.

A very somber Jon Krieg ’81 and spouse Patti McKee spent some time clowning around.

John Self: “Best time was walking into the Jigger Shop and randomly running into five other ’82 alums. Then spending the day touring and talking with everyone. Just a great couple of days – not to mention sampling some of the wonderful beers that Gid and others shared with our class!” [Gid note: I was one of those five in the Jigger Shop, and we easily spent an hour in there clogging up aisles and catching up. Best unplanned activity of the weekend!]

Trey Kraus : “It was an awesome weekend seeing so many old friends, especially those showing for their first time, like Earl Robbins, Joe Kearse, Barry Gonzalez , and Duncan Mackenzie ! If you haven’t been to a reunion for any reason, come to the 45th to connect with some old friends. We had a blast, even in a Nor’easter! Also meeting our honorary class member, Charise Hall P’12, was an honor and inspiring to know that today’s students are being taught by leaders like her.”

Earl Robbins P’24: “Our Class of ’82 reunion was electric for me especially since it was my first. This reunion was not just a cordial reacquaintance but a deeper warmth and sincerity shared among all. I cherish all of our reconnections and thank those who were able to attend. It is really hard to conceive of the great diversity and forged life pathways that our class endeavor. It really made me proud to be a member of this special class. I have deep gratitude for everyone’s success, accomplishments, and found happiness. Man, it would be hard to say what was best about this weekend. Despite all the mud and slop, we were on hallowed ground and we found a way to make it a very special weekend. I hope we do it again soon.”

Barry Gonzalez: “The 40th reunion was great! Not only did I enjoy bringing the Zoom calls to life, but it was especially great to see David Schorr and Eric Lapp I was totally blown away seeing all of the ’82 gang that made it back despite the weather! And meeting our new classmate Charise Hall was a bonus!”

Bob Zochowski P’13: “There were two highlights of the reunion for me. Touring the Tsai Field House was incredible, especially seeing the pool with a movable floor! I still have my souvenir hardhat! Also, meeting Earl Robbins and his wonderful wife was great. I had not known him, it was great talking to him and the mint juleps and Kentucky Derby party he sponsored were a great surprise! I ended up with one of the bourbon bottles that just didn’t make sense for him to ship home! [Gid Note: Our class attendees, including Joe Tsai , held a vote, which passed unanimously, to heretofore refer to the new Tsai Field House as “The Joe.”]

Even our newest classmate, Charise

Hall P’12, shared her take on the reunion: “It was very exciting and an honor to become a part of the class! Meeting everyone, interacting, and laughing with you all made that rain bearable. It truly was a weekend to remember, and I’m looking forward to catching up with more of you!”

Andrew Weinberg P’22: “It was terrific to see everyone at the reunion! Despite the rain, we all had such a great time reconnecting and catching up with each other. Big thank you to Jim for keeping us connected and organizing the weekend, as well as all the Zoom calls and outings during the past couple of years. Earl, well done on the mint juleps and thank you for sharing all the delicious bourbons from the Bluegrass State.

“I was back on campus a few weeks later for my son’s graduation and will miss the regular visits to campus, but am looking forward to visiting him in one of my favorite places, Maine, over the next four years. To any members of the Great Class of ’82 who find themselves in the New York City area, please reach out and we can grab a bite or a cocktail.”

I owe a big thanks to Trey Kraus , who provided me with an email address for Marc Plante, and Marc responded to the first email I sent to him with this update: “It’s been quite a while since I’ve checked in. I moved to Mt Pleasant, S.C., from Vienna, Va., last year after moving from Marriott International to a virtual job with a telecom company that let me relocate. Working out of my house with my dog at my side is a nice change from brutal commutes on the D.C. Beltway.

“I have two kids in high school, so my 529 and my 401(k)/IRAs will all mature at the same time. Daughter is loving the Charleston music scene, playing with the Charleston Symphony youth orchestra, and my wife and I are loving having convenient access to the Charleston dining scene. [ Gid note to Marc: You’ve established a precedent. I expect Class Notes updates with each successive request!]

Kevin “Fuzzy” Fitzpatrick checked in with this update: “Big shout out to Jim Gidicsin for his reunion efforts. The drive up from Virginia sucked, the drive back to Virginia sucked, but it was great to see so many familiar faces at the 40th reunion. How did we all get so old so fast? I didn’t win the Mega Millions lottery in April so I’ll probably be working for a few more years.

“Two daughters, one an ICU nurse and one finishing up her Ph.D. studies (which means both got their brains from mom). One hobby, bike riding (with a 100-mile, one-day ride each October for the past 29 years). Continuing my career as a defense contractor in the Washington, D.C., area working with computers and defense systems. Far less glamorous than

Kevin Conover, Kevin Greener, and Eric Lapp enjoyed the Class of ’82 tour of Tsai Field House, or as they have dubbed it with the consent of their classmate whose name graces the edifice, “The Joe.”

Jim Gidicsin ’82 P’17 was in Boston to see son Greg Gidicsin ’17 play his last few club baseball game at Northeastern when he realized one of the games was umpired by Brad Weeden ’77.

Marc Plante ’82 and his family enjoyed a night out in Charleston, S.C.

it sounds. Married for 31 years to Beth, an instructional assistant at the nearby elementary school (and who works way harder than I do).”

Bret Berlinger offered his take on the reunion: “Sorry for the late reply –it’s summer and I’m easily distracted. Anyway, the reunion was great. Caught up with guys I have not seen in almost 40 years. Man, it has gone quickly. Most memorable? I was inside listening to stories from a tall guy who said he was a basketball player. When I said I did not remember him, he said he was from Class of ’81, Sam Washington H’04 P’14 ’17. He was asked to run an event in track, did not practice at all, won the race always, and then would throw up. Quite the fascinating gentlemen. He should write a book. I could listen for hours. I wish I had more time to talk with him but we were heading to ‘The Joe’ field house.

“I am still the lead helicopter pilot for an Air Methods Corporation program parked at Doylestown Hospital – Temple Medflight. Been 20 years at this job. Poconos and the Joisey Shore for my weekend during the summer.”

Justin Burke: “It was great seeing so many classmates at the reunion. It was especially nice for me to catch up with John Self, David Lee P’16, Jim Maneri, Joe Platzner, and Tom Firestone. It was good, of course, to see you [Jim] too and I greatly appreciate all that you are doing/ have done to bring the class together. Since the reunion, I’ve been writing a book, a fresh take on the Cold War. I hope it’ll be a timely history, given Russia’s behavior. I’m also hoping to run a marathon in the fall, but training has been a problem because the heat has cramped my mileage. A couple of Sundays ago, I hung out with Barry Gonzalez and Trey Kraus in New York.”

And I’ll cap it off with my own recollections from the reunion. I couldn’t have been happier with the turnout and with who turned out. Seeing and spending time with Joe Kearse was definitely a highlight. Neighbors in Cromwell, we talked about things I was amazed Joe remembered. I very much enjoyed catching up with Bill Hartman and his wife, Barbara; we don’t see each other nearly as much as we’d like. I feel like Earl Robbins and I could be brothers from different mothers. Thanks for sharing so much of Kentucky with us, Earl.

Hanging again with guys like Paul Sweeney, Larry Ostema, Pete Maruca, Justin Burke, John Self, Bob Zochowski, Andrew Weinberg , Joe Platzner , Jim Maneri , Don Ross P’11 and his wife Suzanne P’11, having coffee with David Lee , and spending time with so many more of you, including my son, Greg ’17, just felt so right.

I also want to thank Noah Kauff

and Barry Gonzalez for introducing our newest honorary class members, Catherine Boczkowski H’80 ’89 ’92 ’93 ’11 P’89 ’91 and Charise Hall P’12, respectively. Both introductions were spot on!

The biggest surprise for me, though, was the weather and how we adapted. It wasn’t just raining. Water poured from the sky, turning puddles into ponds and fields into soupy, muddy messes that sucked shoes off feet. The class tents – which seem like a brilliant idea for all future reunions – afforded us enough protection to eat and host our honorary class ceremony, but our friends in the Alumni office took pity on us and allowed us to use their conference room as a dry gathering spot. We set up shop with a big screen to watch the Kentucky Derby, while Earl poured mint juleps, and I dished out beers from various New England breweries.

At 10:45 p.m., we were told to vacate the premises by 11. I never saw so many guys clean at one time outside of pledge week in college. In the end, we returned the room to a passable state, though I imagine they needed a few days of open windows to tamp down the smell of bourbon and beer. My sincere thanks for their support of our reunion goes out to: Maureen Ehret H’72 P’06 ’12, Maria Bolis, Skylar Beaver, Liz Casey H’66 ’92 P’21 ’24, Amanda Heitzman, and Greg Carter. They truly enabled us to enjoy the weekend as so many of us did. Not that I’m in a rush, but I’m already looking forward to our 45th!

1983

P.J. Schwarz P’19 ’20 patrick.schwarz@ms.com

1984

Peter Bratti peter@userlogic.com

R.J. Lavallee Rj@rjlavallee.com

1985

James Strader jstrader@quattromedia.com

Sean Kisner KIZNAR67@gmail.com

1986

Mike Glen mglen6@yahoo.com

1987

John R.P. Moore-Jones jmoorejones@hotmail.com

Len Accardi lvilleclassof87notes@gmail.com

Dave Marin “headed up to Vermont with a couple friends for three days of golf and laughter with Chris McCabe . McCabe was an exceptional host and tour guide and Vermont is pretty spectacular this time of year. Already planning our next outing!”

1988

Cat Bramhall cat@bramhall.com

Flip Romanelli philip.romanelli@cantabgold.net

Dan Rose drbroadway@gmail.com

Cat Bramhall says, “I had a great meet up with Alexandra MacDowell Djerassi, who was in Dana Point, Calif., for work in early June. I was so glad to hear from her, and we grabbed a coffee and watched the waves while catching up. She is still with AMC’s History Channel, and living in New York, where her daughter is in school. Her husband and his family have an artist retreat in Northern California, though, so she has a bi-coastal marriage and a place to escape from NYC when needed. It’s one of my favorite delights of the Lawrenceville experience that we all can pick up with each other right where we left off, laughing and talking, sharing about families, jobs, and life challenges, and feeling at home. A million thanks to Alex for reaching out. I hope any of you finding yourself in Southern California will do the same.”

Dan Rose writes: “Yet again, I’ve missed the deadline for the Class Notes. Hopefully this makes it, and forgive me for any errors or omissions.

“For the past two years, time seems to live in a vacuum. I often have the sense that the pandemic lockdown occurred years ago, only to remind myself that it was only two years ago, and that we’re not done talking about COVID. Nevertheless, life has returned to a (new) normal. Still, I miss one of the lockdown rituals: the weekly calls organized by Jennifer Rose Savino . I’m glad that everyone has returned to their busy lives, but I do miss seeing so many of our great classmates.

“In any case, in class news, I finally got to witness the incredible musical talents of Simon Wasserberger . Most

of you have always known Simon to have many talents (including being a published author), but how did I miss this one? This past spring, Simon and his band The Water of Love, held a fundraiser for the Samburu Project, whose mission “is to provide access to clean water and continue to support well communities with initiatives that promote health, education, women’s empowerment and general well-being” in Kenya. We couldn’t turn down the offer of seeing my longtime friend play for a great cause. For the next hour or so, Simon and his band covered some of the best classic rock songs, and it was awesome. It’s my hope that they have a follow up concert soon, as my wife and I are now groupies for life.

“This summer started off well as I got to see Will Semmes. Will moved out of Los Angeles last year and is renting an

Chris McCabe ’87 and Dave Marin ’87 enjoyed a few days of golf and laughter in Vermont in August.

Alexandra MacDowell Djerassi ’88 visited Cat Bramhall ’88 in Southern California in early June.

apartment in D.C.. Yet, he seemingly has not acquired legal status in D.C. or any other state as he’s rarely anywhere for more than a few days. I tried to coax him into spending more money and moving to New York. After all, New York is more of a hub, so he may at least have an easier time finding his way back here on the weekends.

“In other news, Flip Romanelli is now the chief of mobilization, assistant secretary of the Army. I’m not sure if that means he doesn’t have the time to send in some updates, but great job, Flip, I feel better knowing we have someone great in the Pentagon.

“On another military tangent, we traveled back to Europe this summer and ended our trip with a visit to the Dolomites in Italy. We spent an amazing three days with Dave Jones and his lovely wife, Donna. They’ve settled into their stunning house in Vicenza, where Dave is the deputy chief of staff of the Southern European Task Force. Despite being recently retired from the Army, Dave is still tirelessly continuing to work to protect our way of life. So, it was a well-deserved break, and we spent the time enjoying the break from the warm weather at lower altitudes, and even took in an afternoon at a beautiful glacier lake.

“At the lake we rented a small motor boat and the four of us got to enjoy the beautiful scenery. At one point we came up to a secluded beach at the base of a thick forest. The beach was empty except for two young ladies sitting near the water. Dave, always friendly, waved a big ‘hello,’ and as we passed the ladies, he said ‘I’m not sure those ladies are wearing any clothes.’ Sure enough, they were not. Did I mention that Dave hopes to spend many more years in Italy? Honestly, I’m not sure why I haven’t moved yet? For the moment, I’ll keep enjoying what New York City has to offer.”

1989

“Everything we do is art. It’s everywhere, like the velvet fog. Help us help you. The secret to life is rotate our vices. I just had a conversation with a guy who said we were all going to live to over 200, barring accident. Fifty is the new 5. To infinity and beyond. Netflix teaches us to only speak in cliché … The best things in life are free.”

Rich Lin wrote in with some personal news. His wife, Ashleigh, gave birth to a baby boy, Julien Verrier Lin on June 28. Rich is heading back to sleepless nights and diapers. His 7-year-old daughter, Coco, is slowly getting used to her new brother!

Nicole Walter Conniff met up with George Brooks and Julia Chou in Santa Monica and had a great night filled with laughter and reminiscing about the old days.

Casey Bauer wrote in “It is a hot summer, but not in our awesome new house, where it is always comfortable. Hooray! I’ve had half the summer I expected, and the other half dumped on its head, but I’m making the best of it. Everyone is doing well under the circumstances, and I feel fortunate. We sold our old house, which was poignant after all the work and almost 20 years there, and we’ve just acquired a ‘new’ sailboat, which my husband is very excited about. He’s just sailing it down from Marblehead, Mass., to Bristol, R.I., this weekend. And we now have a trampoline, which is very exciting news around here. Suburban bliss, I guess.” Thanks all! If you want to hear more, then please send me some material!

1991

Ellen Halleran Morey ellen.morey@gmail.com

Katy Dubbs Radice katyradice@gmail.com

J.P.

Kyrillos jkyrillos@mac.com

O.J. Wharton wharton.oliver@gmail.com

1990

Wendy Prior Fentress wendyfentress@mac.com

Everyone is really playing hard to get! Here are my notes; you’ll notice they are a bit scant!

Will Hayes works at Hayes Law, LLC, as the ambassador for goodwill. When I asked him to elaborate, he gave me this:

Molly Hover McCooey mollymccooey@gmail.com

Victor Hsu Vicwhsu@gmail.com

Daniel Valen writes: “After more than 27 years, I am still with New Holland and still involved in farm equipment. I recently took a bit of a step backwards in terms of job title to move into our alternative fuels product management group and have been working with the creation of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) for the agricultural segment with a Californiabased startup called Monarch, in which New Holland took an equity stake in back in 2021.

Dan Rose ’88 enjoyed a few days in Vicenza, Italy, where Dave Jones ’88 is the deputy chief of staff of the Southern European Task Force.

Si Anthony ’93 hosted a party at his house in Quogue, Long Island, where the guest list naturally included Wendy Prior Fentress ’90.

Singer Kelly Clarkson, Daniel Valen ’91, and Jay Leno on the set of Jay Leno’s Garage, in which Dan made an appearance to discuss his company’s environmentally friendly bio-methane fuel.

Simon Wasserberger ’88 and his band, The Water of Love, played a fundraiser for the Samburu Project, which provides clean water and other support in Kenya.

Summertime was concert season for Frank Spina ’92, Bob Casey ’92, and Mason New ’92, who saw Dead & Company in Philadelphia.

Ash Shah ’93 enjoyed the sun and sand in Boca Grande, Fla., with his son, Keys.

Anderson Pryor and dad Chris Pryor ’96 squared off against Mark Willis ’96 and son Parker Willis in a friendly father-son golf tournament in Franktown, Colo.

Erhan Bedestani ’98 hosted third-year Air Force Academy Cadet Daniel Joseph ’18 at the State Department, where Erhan was working as a military advisor.

Anne Bunn ’93, Katrine Lofberg ’93 and her son Viggo, Farley Taylor Lansing ’93, Nicole Orr ’93, Liz MacAlpine ’93, Hilary Couch Donnelly ’93, Kathryn Nance Roark ’93, Amy Rosenfeld Berry ’93, Kate Webb Dayton ’93, and Candice Bruder ’93 got together in Lake Tahoe, Calif.

Shannon Halleran McIntosh ’93, Carrie Loud Pulsifer ’93, Emilie MacLean Delehanty ’94, and Anne Bunn ’93 were at St. George’s School in Newport, R.I., during family weekend against St. Mark’s School.

“In addition to BEVs the alternative fuels group also has developed and now commercialized a tractor that runs on bio-methane – effectively customers can trap methane gas that would normally be released into the atmosphere from farms, landfills, etc., and clean the fuel and use it as a substitute to petroleum products making it a free, carbon-neutral solution. This solution caught the eye of a couple of people in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles and back in May we recorded a segment on the CNBC program Jay Leno’s Garage in which Jay and his guest, singer Kelly Clarkson, raced each other in a challenge. Originally, I was only supposed to be there a technical advisor, but one thing led to another and I was put on camera.”

Dan adds that the episode aired in October.

1992

Hugh Campbell hughcam1@gmail.com

Katie McMahon kwmcmahon007@gmail.com

William Warrick Will.Warrick@gmail.com

1993

Ashish Shah ashah@pennsportmedia.com

1994

Francois Morin francoismorin35@gmail.com

1995

Liz Anathan ebanathan@gmail.com

Carli Starr carlistarr@hotmail.com

1996

Paige Kollock paigekollock@gmail.com

Christopher C. Loutit Loutit@aol.com

Chris Pryor writes: “Lauren and I spent five weeks working remotely outside of Denver this summer. Our son, Anderson, attended a day camp in Colorado while our daughter, Emma, attended a sleep away camp outside of Asheville, N.C. It

was great reconnecting with Mark Willis The first annual Pryor/Willis father-son golf tournament occurred in Franktown, Colo. The Pryors edged out the Willises on their home course. The next outing will be in five years in Virginia!

Caroyln Levine Lanzetta P’26 is delighted to share the news that her daughter, Lily ’26, started L’ville this year as a Second Former.

Anne Gendaszek is loving life in D.C., aside from the heat, which she was able to escape from with some time in Avalon and Aspen this summer. While in Aspen, she didn’t get the chance to connect with Aidan Wynn , as she normally does, but reports that he is doing well. Anne is looking forward to going to Istanbul, her partner’s home city, in the coming months.

Fletcher Smith-McNaboe was recently featured in the July 2022 issue of Maine. magazine. The glossy spread details Fletcher and her husband’s unique warehouse-turned-home in Rockland, Maine. Fletcher is the coowner of City and Harbor Real Estate Group, a brokerage firm offering real estate and four-season vacation rentals in Midcoast Maine.

1997

Christina Del Vecchio Tuller cmdelvecchio@gmail.com

1998

Erhan Bedestani bedestanie@comcast.net

703-927-0216

Team ’98, summer has been off to a great start! In June, I had a wonderful opportunity to host third-year Air Force Academy Cadet Daniel Joseph ’18 at the State Department, where I was working as a military advisor. It was a wonderful event made possible by our involvement in LVets, which is Lawrenceville’s veteran affinity group. Daniel and I had met during the LVets Veterans Day event held earlier in November and made it a point to meet in D.C. during the summer.

As a class, I am proud to report we had a wonderful year in our collective support to the Lawrenceville Fund. Thank you and congrats to us! Looking forward to our 25th reunion set for June 2-4, 2023. Looking for support to our reunion committee. If you are interested in joining the Reunion Committee, please contact Dominique Marcial-Clark in the Alumni and Development office at dmarcial@ lawrenceville.org. Also please do go to the Lawrenceville Class of 1998 Facebook page for information.

1999

Perry Kalmus perrykalmus@gmail.com

We are officially on the 1.5-year countdown to our mega-reunion. Gulp. The 25th. Start planning now, peeps. No excuses. “ Reunion wasn’t an amazing time,” said no one, ever! So do what you need to do to be there!

Debon Lewis will be there with not one, not two, but three family members! His incomparable wife, Tiffany, is due to have their second child any day now. Congrats to the two of them!

In the meantime, mini-reunions are happening everywhere. Courtney Andrews Jackowitz came into Los Angeles for Simone Sobel’s birthday on a yacht off the coast of Marina Del Rey. I joined for what can only be described as

an epic boat day.

Next, I connected with Goreleigh Willis, who is killing the game at Cowen and who will one day run America’s premier youth soccer academy. I fully intend to fund the academy and pay off Goreleigh to get my son in there.

Then it was off to Buena Vista, Colo., for Stu Lord ’s belated bachelor party. COVID messed up everything. Including the timing of events. So a year after Stu got married, he, Reed Simonds , Evan Gilbert, my brother Ori, and I descended upon one of the whitewater rafting capitals of the world. “What are we doing?” became the theme of the full-day affair and Reed almost ran over a kayaker who was under water. But we all survived the epic weekend. Mike Lord ’05, who couldn’t make the trip from his home in Hawaii, and his brothers, Alex and John ’06, surprised us all by covering drinks for our night out in Aspen.

John Walsh ’99 and wife Lindsey Walsh, along with young Clark Walsh, met up with Laura Kornhauser ’99, husband Dane Almassy ’98, and their son, Axel, near Lawrenceville.

Jon Hyett ’99 successfully chased Bluefin tuna from Boston Harbor to Cape Cod to Nantucket.

Stu, Ori, Evan and I then met up with Audrey Robertson Kinsman at her ranch outside of Denver. Stu and Audrey talked architecture while Audrey’s husband, Ori, and I sampled quite the number of bourbons from his epic collection. Long live the corn whiskey! Devin Farrell was supposed to join our Colorado reunion, but he made up some excuse about being out of town. Devon and his kids have been tending to a massive garden all summer. “We got peppers, eggplant, Japanese eggplant, flat-leaf kale, curly kale, carrots, rainbow radishes, avocados, tubers, and goose berries. If you want the farm-totable salad of your life, stop on by!”

David Pryor was also supposed to be in Denver, but literally just didn’t show up. He also didn’t respond to any of our texts. Has anyone heard from David? Because we haven’t. Stephanie, David’s wife, has been leading a unique charge in the Chicagoland area. She was one of the early signers of a document to have Novak Djokovic be allowed to play in the U.S. Open. “I think as long as he is testing daily and quarantines when he arrives, then he should be allowed,” she said. “And I’m a Croatian saying that about a Serb. Tennis history is on the line here, people!”

Hugh Lippincott met up with Rudy Lewis in L.A. and somehow both of them forgot to invite me. I’m pretty sure it got lost in the mail, but it sounds like the two of them had a great time catching up!

Meanwhile, it’s been a very fishy summer for Jon Hyett. He writes, “From Boston Harbor to Cape Cod to Nantucket, I’ve been chasing the Bluefin tuna migration. Some I tag and some I keep. It’s a wonderful pastime and a healthy summer activity when I’m not at my desk following the capital markets.”

Alice (Engel) Vartan writes, “ Hovig Vartan brought a picnic to Central Park where we partied with the littles. His birthday was a few days earlier; we were at the beach in Connecticut and did it up right.” Happy birthday, Hovig!

Rob Neely writes, “Hi Mom, do your still read these notes hoping I’ll write something about myself? Love you.” Well, Mama Neely, I can tell you that Rob is doing great and thriving in Austin, Tex. According to his LinkedIn, he “specializes in adult cardiac surgery, including minimally invasive aortic and mitral valve repair, transcatheter therapies such as TAVR as well as complex aortic aneurysms. He works closely with cardiologists and other health care providers to find the best treatment option for each patient.” Rob and Hugh still use their Princeton.edu emails to communicate with each other and wax nostalgic over days gone by.

Phil Trout met up with Crawford Jones in Washington, D.C., a few weeks ago. “I

can report that I had a good time catching up with Crawford over drinks when he was in D.C. He’s still crushing life with his impressive red mane.”

Kara Lyons Lawson is in Lana’i, Hawaii, guiding horse expeditions for the Four Seasons. If anyone finds themselves in our westernmost state, look her up!

Matt Kasper just accepted a position as a project manager for Gateway Construction, and relocated to Cheyenne, Wyo.

Ilene Buck Magee has settled in Rhode Island with her husband, Drew, and three children. After reconnecting with Ilene, I’ve inspired her to launch a new chapter of her career as a clinical psychologist, supervisor, and career and wellness coach. She loves to reconnect with L’villers so feel free to drop her an email anytime (ilenemagee@gmail.com)!

Annie Whittaker and I reconnected over the phone. I tried to complain about parenthood, to which she shot every complaint down with, “Try that with twins.” And after 10 months with one child and I can confidently say that Annie is an angel and a super woman.

Naseem Salamah is excited for me to visit his homeland of the Middle East this winter for the World Cup in Qatar. I am still holding out that Naseem will join me. In the meantime, Naseem is trying to merge summer and winter. He is building a snowmobile that can go on water!

While I haven’t heard from David Pryor , I have been in constant communication with better brother Chris Pryor ’96. True story: I saw a post by Chris Pryor at Red Rocks in Denver. We were there a couple hours after him where Stu Lord attempted to run the stairs (Hint: He didn’t make it halfway up), and so did my brother Ori (Hint: he made it all the way up). Anyway, afterwards, we met up with Chris for drinks and night volleyball!

Adam Fein is also a doctor focusing on the heart. While some call him a cardiologist, I just call him … my friend.

John Walsh continues to thrive with his business, Walsh Senior Solutions. He helps families downsize and declutter and at this point, it feels like there are no families left who have not used WSS. They are the most popular brand in New Jersey and Southeastern Pennsylvania and everyone says it is because the attention to detail that John puts into his customer service.

But… but! It’s time for John Walsh to start sharing the entrepreneurship stage. In fact, he is lucky this newcomer is a team player, because she is ready to downright takeover the stage. Who is this newcomer? John’s amazing wife, Lindsey! Lindsey is launching her interior design firm, 8 QUEENS LANE. Get on her calendar fast, she is already booked through February of 2023 (it’s only July

Rapid Progress: Perry Kalmus ’99, Evan Gilbert ’99, Reed Simonds ’99, Stu Lord ’99, and Perry’s brother, Ori Kalmus, took on the Arkansas River in Buena Vista, Colo.

Perry Kalmus ’99 and Stu Lord ’99 visited Audrey Robertson Kinsman ’99 and her husband, Nate, at their ranch in Colorado. Their impressive whiskey collection was sampled, Perry reports.

2022 at time of this writing. Impressive!)

Ryan Hunter is a proud papa to Izzy Hunter. She is a total stunner and behind his back, Ryan’s incredible wife Stephanie dresses Izzy up in Yankees gear and Eli Manning jerseys and sends me photos. Izzy was about as beautiful as a baby could be. But then you see her in anti-Boston gear and … well … it just brings tears of joy to your eyes.

I reconnected recently with Michelle Miller Mikol . She is doing great in Washington, D.C., and we found out that she lives down the road from the oneand-only Adam Fein. Michelle is doing an truly wonderful thing for an underserved student in D.C. and providing him college guidance through our AKALA platform.

Justin Massimo held his annual crawfish boil. I sadly couldn’t make it, but it sounds like it was a blast. Caleb Oberst broke the record for most crawfish consumed at 515.

Laura Kornhauser and Dane Almassy ’98 took their future Lawrentian, Axel, to his first Mets game! Joining them was Mike Kornhauser ’96. Despite the inexplicable, and frankly inexcusable reason they chose the mediocre Mets over the beautiful Bronx Bombers (are they trying to teach their son how to win or how to lose?), the pictures are indeed awesome.

Courtney Thompson Friel and I are excited to return to Gillian Hearst ’s ranch in Northern California at the end of August. The pandemic has kept us away from that small slice of heaven for two years now!

Reed Simonds has moved from Washington, D.C., to the suburbs of Bethesda.

Adam Fein writes, “I went all the way down to Kiawah, S.C., to read a book!” Adam was referring to his family trip

to Kiawah this summer. Adam was so consumed with the 1,200-page thriller he was reading that he literally never left the balcony. “Honestly, the view from the balcony was stunning. You didn’t really need to do anything else.” His family disagreed. They went canoeing, fishing, golfing, paint balling, and swimming. “You know there is an old saying in this family which is that ‘nobody tells Adam how to drive,’” said wife Jordana. “And so I didn’t. I let him get lost in his thriller, but I have to say, the rest of us had an absolute blast!”

2000

Gena Ciccone Reisig gena.reisig@gmail.com

Lucinda Halpern lucindabarr@gmail.com

2001

Arusha Ghosh Niyogi arushaghosh@gmail.com

Julie Gravener Davis julie.gravener@gmail.com

Shamafa Ali Khan Shamafa@gmail.com

2002

Lacey Gray lacey.e.gray@gmail.com

Elizabeth Greenberg Wilkinson elizabeth.g.wilkinson@gmail.com

J.P. Hazenberg jphazenberg@gmail.com

Nina Kumar ninamkumar@gmail.com

Neil Mehta neil.mehta@post.harvard.edu

2003

Kristen Aland kristen.aland@gmail.com

Sophie Fitzgerald Burke sophiefburke@gmail.com

Morgan and Lindsay Sword were thrilled to welcome their third son, Finn Jackson Sword, on June 25, 2022. Hudson and Wyatt love being big brothers!

Brett Moody Bodnar writes: “Our family welcomed our second child, Eloise

John Walsh ’99 and son Clark took in an ice hockey practice at the new Tsai Field House.

John Walsh ’99 and wife Lindsey attended a gala to celebrate her successful new interior design firm, Lindsey Walsh Interior Design.

Young Hayes Zullo, son of Rick Zullo ’03 and wife Lauren, is already a company man for dad’s firm, Equal Ventures.

Whitney Tiernan Ranson ’01, Moriah Kenyon Rosenblum ’01, and Lynn Fitch Furgurson ’01 got together in Palm Beach for spring break.

Moody Bodnar, on May 29. She arrived fashionably late, but has settled in great. Our first daughter, Charlotte, has been loving her role as big sister.”

Rick Zullo is living in New York with his wife of 10 years, Lauren, and two kids, Sutton and Hayes. Rick launched an early stage venture firm called Equal Ventures in 2019 and recently announced the firm’s second fund ($100 million) and first opportunity fund ($75 million). While the team is small, it has two Big Red alumni with Simran Suri ’16 operating as their star associate.

Rick is hard at work rehearsing for the DBG comeback tour with the headline show at our 20-year reunion. Bring your earplugs.

2004

Brad Gulick brad.gulick@gmail.com

Sarah Sakson sarah.sakson@gmail.com

It’s been a memorable year for Dwight Draughon . He celebrated 10 years of marriage to his best friend, Alima. The couple also welcomed their fourth child, Jorden, who joined his sisters, Soleil, Kamaria, and Zurah. To top it off, Dwight rejoined Steptoe & Johnson LLP as a partner in the Investigations and White Collar Group.

2005

Bayless Sword bayless.sword@gmail.com

Sybil Bunn Pool just got back from a great family trip to Greece to the house her dad, George Bunn ’59 P’97 ’99 ’05, built on Ios in the 1970s where many ’05ers have visited over the years! Now they are back in Southampton for the summer where they saw Charlie Bakke and are thrilled to celebrate John Walker’s wedding later this summer!

Hans von Meister is still in Shanghai, surviving the lockdown!

Tom McElwee moved to Chicago in August to fulfill his lifelong dream of being an M.B.A. boyfriend, working remotely while his girlfriend, Andrea, studies at Booth. In March, he went to P ete Shaheen ’s bachelor party with fellow Lawrentians Ryan Arcadia ’04, John Walker, and Nick Bunn. He loved reconnecting with his Duke friends exactly one week before they lost to UNC in the Final Four.

Grant Morrow and Sarah Harwood Morrow recently moved to Prague with their two daughters for Grant’s job at the U.S. Embassy. Sarah is working remotely, taking advantage of Euro café culture and plans never to return to an office. Please let them know if you’re ever in the area!

Matty Atwater is loving life in Ireland. She had her husband bought a house in 2021 in West Cork where they live with their two Golden Retrievers and a cat.

Dwight Draughon ’04 and his wife, Alima, welcomed their fourth child, Jorden, who joined sisters Soleil, Kamaria, and Zurah.

Molly Mihalcik ’06 married Conor O’Malley on April 2, 2022, at the Bay Head Yacht Club in New Jersey. Annie Rogove Stone ’06, Sally Hennemuth ’06, Caroline Friedman ’06, Andrew Gough ’06, and Liz Gough ’03 were on hand to celebrate.

Willough Bain Laycock ’06, Jenate Brown ’06, Kirby Culbertson ’06, and Elizabeth Bidart ’07 all came together toast the upcoming wedding of Gabby Martinez ’06 at her bridal shower.

She’d love to buy you a Guinness if you’re ever in Ireland!

Lauren Deal recently started a position as a senior user experience researcher at Bank of America in Hopewell.

Charlie Kline is currently deployed with the Washington Army National Guard to Poland in support of NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence – Battle Group Poland mission. Their mission is to contribute to and strengthen the NATO Alliance’s deterrence and defensive posture in Poland. Charlie is the engineer specialty platoon leader and task force engineer. His rotation has been within a few hours of the Suwalki Gap since February. They will be heading back to the states by late autumn. While they have not dealt directly with the refugees from the war in Ukraine, the war has increased both their operational tempo and the importance of their mission.

Overall, Charlie reports it has been a very fulfilling training with Allies from Poland, the U.K., Romania, and Croatia to improve interoperability and act as a deterrence to Russia and Belarus. He and his soldiers have even managed to enjoy some limited travel across Poland and other NATO countries. Personally, he has been able to visit Warsaw a few times, enjoy the Masurian Lake District of Poland, and participate in the 4 Days March in Nijmegen, Netherlands.

2006

Sarah Hennemuth sally.hennemuth@gmail.com

Molly Mihalcik married Conor O’Malley on April 2, 2022, at the Bay Head Yacht Club in Bay Head, N.J. She celebrated with classmates Annie Rogove Stone, Sally Hennemuth , Caroline Friedman , and Andrew Gough, as well as Liz Gough ’03.

Zach Colander met up with Imanibom Etukeren and Ataefeok Etukeren ’05 in Houston to catch up. He also reconnected with Sally Hennemuth in Boston with his family.

Tom Scocozza just celebrated 1 year since moving to Fort Collins, Colo. He has been working remote as a tech consultant but still finding time for hikes and bowling, and he continues to play beer league hockey!

Grace Erdmann and Joe Silver were married in Baltimore on July 23, 2022. Natalie Gossett and Amanda Huey joined in the celebration.

There was a Kirby House reunion at Gabby Martinez’s bridal shower in New York! Willough Bain Laycock , Jenate Brown, Kirby Culbertson, and Elizabeth Bidart ’07 all came together to have a glass of champagne and toast Gabbys fall nuptials.

2007

To submit news for the Class of 2007 column, please send them to classnotes@ lawrenceville.org.

For years, Scott Aland’s class column has been one of the most enjoyable reads in all of Class Notes, but alas, Scott has decided to step back from the role. The Lawrentian thanks him for all his efforts. Anyone interested in becoming the next class secretary should contact Molly Edwards in the Office of Alumni Engagement at medwards@ lawrenceville.org.

2008

Mythili Iyer mythili.iyer@gmail.com

Francesca Sagripanti Zelachowski , her husband, two kids, and pup moved to Annapolis this summer. They are so excited to live the Chesapeake Bay life and have been busy renovating their coastal home since all real estate was sold as-is this year. Francesca is hoping Lisa Gabrielson McCurdy will trek back to her college turf to visit soon! The WhatsApp group text among Sarah Herr Hicks , Kendra Sweet Green , Lisa, and Francesca still remains strong as the group continues to lose the game.

Congratulations to Payson Sword Houfek , who welcomed baby Helen Pitcher Houfek into the world in March 2022! I believe that’s Class of 2040, if you’d like to feel like time has lost all meaning.

Mythili Iyer has been on a mission to not work as long as feasible while living in London and gallivanting across the continent. She traveled to Vienna with Maria Zheng and has caught up with Juliette Hall and Aileen Yeung ’10 in town, and perhaps one day will see Kevin Yeh if he deigns to show up.

In other fabulous European news, Karinna Diaz , Juliette Hall , Sarah Magagna, and Melissa Yap reunited for the first time in nearly a decade for a weeklong trip to Greece, where they ate incredible food, visited the Acropolis, and swam in the Ionian Sea.

2009

Gavin Leung gav.leung89@gmail.com

Yuliya Mykhaylovska ymykhaylovska@gmail.com

Katharine Sharpstone married Patrick Izzo on April 30 in Sea Island, Ga. Lawrentians in attendance included

Mary Katherine McNeill, Katie Delaney, bridesmaid Marla Jalbut , Carter Ashforth , bridesmaid Alison Wessner , Chloe Gogo, and Emily Doll

Masis Parseghian married Olivia Carrino in a beautiful ceremony in Florence, Italy, on June 11. The couple celebrated with a weekend of amazing food, plenty of spritzes, and their closest friends and family to start their life as husband and wife. They tied the knot almost five years after meeting, both having grown up in Franklin Lakes, N.J., but not having met until after college.

Helen Pitcher Houfek was born in March 2022 to Payson Sword Houfek ’08 and Nick Houfek.

Katharine Sharpstone ’09 married Patrick Izzo on April 30, 2022, in Sea Island, Ga. Classmates Mary Katherine McNeill ’09, Katie Delaney ’09, bridesmaid Marla Jalbut ’09, Carter Ashforth ’09, bridesmaid Alison Wessner ’09, Chloe Gogo ’09, and Emily Doll ’09 were there for the big day.

Masis Parseghian ’09 married Olivia Carrino in Florence, Italy, on June 11, 2022. The couple grew up in the same town but never met until after college.

2010

Lucinda Mejer Lucinda.mejer@gmail.com

Christine Natoli cmnatoli@gmail.com

Bianca Okolie bokolie10@gmail.com

2011

Brendan Byrne bbyrne476@gmail.com

Heather Hoffman heathhoff@gmail.com

2012

Madeleine Matsui madeleine.matsui@gmail.com

Emma Waugh emma.w.waugh.16@gmail.com

Kathryn Colina and Owen Rosenberg are engaged after meeting at Lawrenceville 10 years ago!

2013

Celia Aidinoff caidinoff@gmail.com

Kelley Barnes Kelleybarnes27@gmail.com

2014

Carter Cikovic cikocc15@gmail.com

Megan Norris Megan.norris0421@gmail.com

Mary Larkin maryhlarkin@gmail.com

Many updates from the Class of 2014 over the spring and summer months! Megan Norris was appointed to lead the University of Miami Business Law Review. For the first time, five women lead the school’s publication. Megan’s recent piece, Now Steaming: How Streaming Services are Following in the Footsteps of Hollywood’s Golden Age, was recently published in Volume 31.

Warm congratulations to Claire Crowley on her engagement to Matthew Mastrogiorgio in New York in late July. Claire and Matt met on Bumble in 2019, and he proposed on the balcony

of their Brooklyn apartment after an afternoon walk for coffee around their neighborhood. The couple celebrated with friends and family at a brewery afterwards. Claire and Matt are celebrating their engagement with an August trip to France.

Congrats to Nolan DeMarco on his marriage to Haley Allen in Greece in early July, followed by a second party in Asbury Park, N.J., where Nolan was joined in celebration by Randall West , Tom O’Connell , Matt Apuzzi , Alec Waugh , Joe Stancato, Brian Crowe, Grant Keller ’15, Matt Tola ’15, Sean Cuskley ’15, Reilly Hupfeldt, Charlotte Doran, Carrie Shaw, Catherine Zhu, Ali Whitehouse, Allie Gaston, and Aiko Chamby. Nolan’s brothers, Jameson ’15 and Dylan ’18, were his best men.

On the literary front, congrats to Kaethe Walther, whose new novel, The Summer of Broken Rules, hit the USA Today ’s bestseller list this summer. Kaethe writes, “It’s incredible to be a published writer, and now totally surreal to be a bestselling author! English classes with PK were always my favorite at Lawrenceville, but it wasn’t until I interviewed with Gus Hedberg H’03 P’96 ’00 to be Haskell’s prefect that I considered seriously writing. One of his questions was, ‘What is one of your lifetime goals?’ The process always begins with a place. I like my setting to be so atmospheric that it feels like its own character, not simply a stage for the book’s characters to perform. If We Were Us, my debut young adult novel, is set at a boarding school (I wonder why) and my second book, The Summer of Broken Rules, unfolds on Martha’s Vineyard. My family has vacationed there for over two decades, so this book is my love letter to them and our time on the island. Once I have a setting, I exchange fast and furious texts with my literary agent about characters and plot. A Spotify playlist is of course created and listened to on a loop while I draft.

“I’m thrilled about all the attention TSOBR has gotten over the past several months, and without a doubt my favorite thing about its success is how passionate readers are about the book. I have received such lovely Instagram DMs, marveled at TikTok aesthetics, listened to playlists dedicated to the book, and even received handwritten fan mail. It’s a far cry from telling Mr. Hedberg that I someday wanted to write a book!”

Great to catch up with Kate Gulbrandsen, Carla Tuan, Jess Castelo, Megan Norris , Mary Larkin , Christian Belardi, and Joe Slawek in Newport, R.I., over Labor Day Weekend. All enjoyed a weekend taking in Newport’s scenic coastline, sailing, and BBQs.

Erin Volpe, Annam Iyer, Kyle D’Souza,

Despite the chilly rain, the Class of 2012 had a ball at their reunion, including Owen Rosenberg, Julia Peters, Kathryn Colina, Liza Keller, Bri Ehret, Spencer Baldwin, Brian Kellogg, Evan Gatti, Charlie Kerr, Eliza Becker, and Susanna Tuan.

2012 Classmates Eliza Becker, Liza Keller, Bri Ehret, Susanna Tuan, and Emma Waugh enjoyed their 10-year reunion at Alumni Weekend.

Ten years after graduating from Lawrenceville together, Kathryn Colina ’12 and Owen Rosenberg ’12 are now engaged to be married.

Courtnie Baek , Ali Whitehouse , Matt Apuzzi , Kate Gulbrandsen, and Carla Tuan had a blast catching up at Rosemary’s in the West Village during the Young Alumni Council’s Summer Reception in New York City.

Kyle Rosenberg , Christian Belardi, and I ( Carter ) had some fun grilling burgers on the roof in New York this summer. Kyle is enjoying his new role with Disney, and Christian is working in research for Cornell and The New York Botanical Garden during summer break from his studies in computer science in Ithaca. Nice to see Colin Mummert during his visit to New York from London in mid-May. Colin’s enjoying his time at AWS, and hopes to visit the U.S. (and Lawrenceville) again soon.

2015

Cameron Rangecroft cmr3fe@virginia.edu

Katie Dishner kadishner@gmail.com

Allison Kazalski allison.kazalski@me.com

2016

James Stevenson jstonestevenson@gmail.com

Jake Pothast jakepothast@gmail.com

[Ed Note: Elsa Mahle has stepped down from her post, and The Lawrentian thanks her for being the first member of the class to claim the role. You can now send updates to James Stevenson and Jake Pothast at the emails listed above. - S.R.]

Carter Cikovic ’14, Jess Castelo ’14, Kate Gulbrandsen ’14, Megan Norris ’14, Mary Larkin ’14, Carla Tuan ’14, and Joe Slawek ’14 enjoyed an evening in Newport over Labor Day weekend.

Carter Cikovic ’14, Christian Belardi ’14, and Kyle Rosenberg ’14 caught up over dinner on the Upper West Side in June.

Claire Crowley ’14 was engaged to Matt Mastrogiorgio this past summer.

Nolan DeMarco ’14 and Haley Allen were married in Santorini early July, and then celebrated with friends and family later that month in Asbury Park, N.J.

Author Kaethe Walther ’14 was enjoying her new novel, The Summer of Broken Rules, in Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard.

Caroline Allen ’16 and Woods Wiser ’16 were married in June at Trinity Church in Princeton, just up the road from where they met at Lawrenceville.

LAWRENTIAN LAURELS: JESSE BREWER ’18

A Prize Paper

While she was still a student at Lawrenceville, Jesse Brewer ’18 earned a spot among the Hutchins Scholars in Science Research, a program that recognizes the School’s most outstanding science students and provides them with substantive research experiences so that they qualify for leading university science programs and are inspired ultimately to pursue science-related careers.

So it should come as little surprise for the talented researcher that she won a Princeton University Thesis Prize in Molecular Biology for her work, “The Molecular Biology of SARS-CoV-2 and its Evolution within the Princeton Community” as a senior at the university. Brewer, graduated with honors from the Princeton Molecular Biology department in May 2022, said her time as a Hutchins Scholar prepared her to succeed in her collegiate labs.

“Lawrenceville prepared me for Princeton by providing me with a solid foundation in the sciences and mentors that took the time to explain difficult concepts in accessible ways. Specifically, the Hutchins Scholars program enabled me to learn modern lab techniques, design and execute my own experiment, and participate in a summer internship at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Research Center,” she explained. “I could not have made it [at Princeton] without it.”

The molecular biology (pre-med) major worked in the laboratory of Dr. Daniel A. Notterman, a professor of the practice, molecular biology/senior advisor to the provost for biomedical affairs, studying the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak at Princeton University.

“I developed a CRISPR-based fluorescence detection assay for strains of the B.1.1.7 Lineage,” she explained. Brewer next went to work on a research project for The Atlantic while applying to medical schools.

2017

Sophia Cai sophiacai99@gmail.com

2018

Benjamin Chow benjamin.chow@me.com

Matthew Haumann matthewhaumann@gmail.com

Serena He he.serena@gmail.com

Drew Korn dkorn111@gmail.com

Caroline Allen and Woods Wiser had their fairytale wedding on June 11, 2022, in Princeton, N.J., at Trinity Church, right up the street from where they met at Lawrenceville. Many Lawrentians were in attendance, including their siblings who were their maid of honor and best men!

— Lisa M. Gillard H’17

Jesse Brewer ’18 holds the bound version of her published research, “The Molecular Biology of SARS-CoV-2 and its Evolution within the Princeton Community.”

Mackenzie Bunnell ’21 enjoyed a two-month trip to Cape Town, South Africa, during her gap year, interning for Cape Town TV but also finding an interesting place to take a break.

Greg Foster ’22 was selected to the 2022 All-USA Today High School Sports Awards Boys’ Track & Field Team in July and was one of 24 nominees for its national Athlete of the Year.

2019

Brittany Sun britsun1010@gmail.com

2020

Jasmine Zhang jasminezhang398@gmail.com

Ciara Hoover ciaradhoover@gmail.com

2021

Brian Ruan briantruan@gmail.com

Mackenzie Bunnell , while on her gap year, has been traveling! She writes: “My coolest and most recent endeavor was a two-month trip to Cape Town, South Africa, where I interned for Cape Town TV, the local news station.”

Mackenzie has also had the chance to see the sights beyond the television studio, too, as her photo shows.

2022

To submit news for the Class of 2022 column, please send them to classnotes@ lawrenceville.org.

Greg Foster was selected to the 2022 All-USA Today High School Sports Awards Boys’ Track & Field Team in July and was one of 24 nominees for its national Athlete of the Year. In June, Greg was selected as the 2021-22 Gatorade New Jersey Boys’ Track & Field Player of the Year after winning two national titles at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor this past spring

Marriages and Commitment Ceremonies

2006

Grace Erdmann to Joe Silver, Baltimore, July 23, 2022

Molly Mihalcik to Conor O’Malley, Bay Head Yacht Club, Bay Head, N.J., April 2, 2022

2009

Masis Parseghian to Olivia Carrino, Florence, Italy, June 11, 2022

Katharine Sharpstone to Patrick Izzo, Sea Island, Ga., April 30, 2022

2014

Nolan DeMarco to Haley Allen, Santorini, Greece and Asbury Park, N.J., July 2022

2016

Caroline Allen to Woods Wiser, Princeton, N.J., June 11, 2022

Births

1990

Richard Lin and his wife, Ashleigh, a son, Julien Verrier Lin, June 28, 2022

2008

Payson Sword Houfek and her husband, Nick Houfek, a daughter, Helen Pitcher Houfek, March 2022

2003

Brett Moody Bodnar and her husband, Christopher Bodnar, a daughter, Eloise Moody Bodnar, May 29, 2022

Lindsay Sword and her husband, Morgan Sword, a son, Finn Jackson Sword, June 25, 2022

Rick Zullo and his wife, Lauren Zullo, a son, Hayes Zullo, February 2022

2004

Dwight Draughon and his wife, Alina, a son, Jorden Draughon

Deaths

Frederick M. Swope Jr. ’47

Thomas J. Mangan III ’48

David S. Summers ’51

Adrian V. Woodhouse ’54

William W. Crowell ’58

Richard R. Sills ’64

David Beaty ’65

William B. Wickwire ’65

Jay D. Miller ’68

William Claude Wallace ’68

Kirk B. Broaddus ’70

Kevin R. Moats ’72 P’06

Robert A. Lester Jr. H’75 ’89 P’87 ’89

GP’21

Ivanna D. Tavarez ’20

Memorials

John P. Young ’42

John P. “J.P.” Young passed away August 16, 2022. Born in Schenectady, N.Y., he was 97 years old.

J.P. came to Lawrenceville after attending Episcopal Academy. Afterward, he enrolled at Harvard University, but his studies were interrupted by World War II. He served as a medic and sergeant, earning three Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. He was captured in the Battle of the Bulge and survived an extended stint in prison camp through the end of the war. Following the war, J.P. returned to Harvard to complete a double major in international relations and economics.

After graduating, J.P. returned to Paris for two years, becoming fluent in French. He married Barbara Smit in 1951 and they raised four children together. They lived in Philadelphia until moving to Oakland, Calif., in 1994 to be near their adult children. They also maintained a country home in Van Hornesville, N.Y., prior to Barbara’s passing in 1997.

Late in life, J.P. married Carolee Young, his brother’s widow, who predeceased him in 2005. J.P. had a distinguished career with Smith, Kline & French, now known as GlaxoSmithKline. The important work that he did in helping to bring new medications to market in the United States involved extensive international travel throughout Europe and Japan.

Of his many hobbies, J.P. was most engaged by his music. He loved playing his violin, both with amateur orchestras and chamber music ensembles.

J.P. is survived by his four children, Peter Young, Rebecca Young, Eliza Young and Constance Young; five stepchildren; three grandsons; and two great-grandchildren.

C. Frederick Buechner ’43

The Rev. C. Frederick “Fred” Buechner passed away August 15, 2022. Born in New York City, he was 96 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Fred lived in Dickinson House and was a member of The Lit, choir, Periwig, and the fencing team. A strong supporter of Lawrenceville throughout his life, in which he became a prolific and celebrated author and theologian, Fred was presented the Aldo Leopold Award, also known as the Lawrenceville Medal, in 1993. Following a stint in the U.S. Army, he earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Princeton University in 1948. His first novel, A Long Day’s Dying was published in 1950 to wide acclaim.

A master of many genres, Fred was the author of nearly 40 books translated into more than two dozen languages. His 1980 novel Godric, a retelling of the life of the 12th-century English hermit Godric of Finchale, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in fiction. Lion Country (1971), the first installment in his tetralogy of novels centered on the fictional clergyman Leo Bebb, a seamy Southern preacher who ministers to the Church of Holy Love, Inc., was a finalist for the National Book Award.

Fred taught English at Lawrenceville before becoming a lecturer at New York University in 1952. He later enrolled at Union Theological Seminary in New York, where he studied under theologians including Reinhold Niebuhr and Paul Tillich. He graduated in 1958 and was ordained as a Presbyterian minister the same year. Fred also taught religion at Phillips Exeter Academy, where his students included John Irving, who years later, in the acknowledgments of his novel A Prayer for Owen Meany , would note Fred’s great influence on his life.

Fred is survived by his wife of 66 years, Judith Merck; daughters Katherine B. Arthaud, Dinah BuechnerVischer, and Sharman B. Altshuler; and 10 grandchildren.

C. Brate Bryant ’44

Charles Brate Bryant passed away May 12, 2022. Born in Biloxi, Miss., he was 96 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Brate lived in Cleve House. He served two years in the U.S. Navy before attending Cornell University, where he was a member of Sigma Phi fraternity, sang tenor in the Cornell Glee Club, and earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1950.

Brate married his hometown sweetheart, Betsy Callow, and in 1959 they moved to North Lake in Hartland, Wisc., where they raised four children. After developing several patents, he traveled internationally to promote his

aquatic weed harvesters, particularly in Egypt and Sudan, where it was used to clear the Nile.

Closer to home, Brate was a devoted environmentalist and recognized early on the importance of harvesting weeds rather than using chemicals, which disrupt the fragile ecosystem of our lakes.

Brate is survived by his children, Nathaniel Bryant, Timothy Bryant ’71, Holly Rathkamp, and Heidi Bryant von Hagke; 11 grandchildren; nine greatgrandchildren; his brother, Anthony W. Bryant ’48; and niece Heather A. Bryant ’91.

Richard Hollerith Jr. ’44

Richard “Dick” Hollerith Jr. passed away May 23, 2022. Born in Philadelphia, he was 95 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Dick lived in Kennedy House and was a member of the Olla Podrida and the orchestra. He was in the Navy V-12 program while attending Dartmouth College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in geology and naval science in 1947, and received a commission as ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve.

Following Dartmouth, Dick went to the University of the Arts in Philaelphia and graduated in 1951 as an industrial designer, shortly before marrying Joan Moore, who predeceased him.

He worked in New York with Raymond Spilman, a well-known industrial designer, then worked as director of design for 10 years at the Monroe Calculating Machine Company, which became part of Litton Industries. He then worked for Henry Dreyfuss Associates, all the while becoming active in the professional Industrial Design Society.

Dick went out on his own as an industrial design consultant and got involved in a startup computer printer company, became a contributing editor to the Industrial Design Magazine, with a press pass, and spent four years on the board of the International Council of the Societies of Industrial Design in Brussels. For many years, he was involved with concern for individuals with disabilities as a member of the President’s Committee on Employment of the Handicapped. In 1976, Dick received the Bronze Apple Award for his commitment to Design for the Handicapped, and was elected a fellow of the Industrial Designers Society of America. During a trip to Germany, he met Rosemarie “Romy” Wittel, whom he married in 1983.

Dick is survived by his wife, Romy; children Rich, John, Nanci, and Susan; ten grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren.

Stephen K. Zimmerman ’46

Stephen K. “Steve” Zimmerman passed away February 12, 2022. Born in New York City, he was 92 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Steve in Kinnan House and was a member of the Olla Podrida and The Lawrence. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Princeton University in 1950.

Steve retired at age 53 from Grey Advertising, New York’s largest advertising and marketing agency. At Grey, he rose from account supervisor in 1966 to executive vice president for all account management and administration in the early 1970s. He was also the founding member of Grey’s Agency Policy Council and led the agency’s highly successful new business group.

One week after retiring from Grey in early 1983, Steve and his wife, the former Betty Jean Coats, moved to Scottsdale, Ariz. Steve and Betty were enthusiastic world travelers and visited more than 85 countries. Between 1985 and 2001, they lived in London during the hot Arizona summers and, as tennis enthusiasts, attended the Wimbledon Championships more than225 times. Over the years, they attended 14 Super Bowls together, and went on six African wildlife photo safaris. They also traveled extensively throughout the western U.S. and owned a casa at the Enchantment Resort in Sedona, Ariz., since 1986.

During the last years of Steve’s life, he and Betty enjoyed independent living at the Vi at Silverstone retirement community in North Scottsdale, where both were active in a wide variety of activities including Steve’s chairmanship of the initial Finance Committee in 2013-14.

Steve is survived by his wife, Betty; children Andy, Jean, and Peter; and two grandchildren.

Paul B. Mott Jr. ’47 P’76 ’85 GP’18 ’20

Paul B. Mott Jr. passed away October 10, 2022. Born in Trenton, N.J., he was 92 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Paul lived in Davidson, Kennedy, and Upper Houses and was a member of Periwig, The Lawrence , and the Open Door Society. He played baseball and soccer and was a counselor at the School Camp. He e earned a bachelor’s degree at Yale University in 1951.

After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Paul attended the University of Vienna in Austria. After service in West Berlin with the Department of the Army, Paul joined the Foreign Service, serving in Bonn, Germany, and twice at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.

In 1973 Paul turned to foundations, managing the foundations of the Belnecke family, the Altman Foundation, and, for more than 20 years as executive director of the the F.M. Kirby Foundation.

Paul’s extensive involvement with Lawrenceville lasted 80 years, beginning with his enrollment in 1942. A retired director of alumni relations, he also served as an alumni trustee, a an alumni selector, trustee of the Fathers Association, a member of the Alumni Association Executive Committee, chair of parents’ annual giving, an officer of the Parents Association, and president of the Alumni Association. He has been at various times president, class agent, and secretary of his class, and chaired the Class of 1947’s 45 th and 50th Reunions, and served on the 75th Reunion Committee. A trustee emeritus, Paul was honored with Lawrenceville’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1999 and was also the recipient of the Meritorious Service Award.

Outside of Lawrenceville, Paul’s avocation was soccer. He served as instructor, assessor, administrator and referee, resulting in his election to the New Jersey Youth Soccer Hall of Fame. He has been a trustee of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, the Pinelands Preservation Alliance, and the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers, and was a Red Cross Disaster Team Volunteer.

Paul is survived by his wife, Susan; children Stephanie Mott Simons, Paul B. Mott III ’76, and Andrew Mott ’85; grandchildren Jefferson Mott ’18 and Tait Mott ’20; and a brother, Peter R. Mott ’50.

O. Grant Bruton ’48

Oliver Grant Bruton passed away July 7, 2022. Born in Mexico City, he was 91 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Grant lived in Kennedy House. Afterward, he was the first person in Kentucky to receive a scholarship from the English-Speaking Union to attend school at Christ’s Hospital in Horsham, Sussex, U.K., before earning his bachelor’s degree from Princeton University in 1953.

After receiving his L.L.B. from Harvard Law School in 1958, Grant served in the U.S. Army. He was hired by the Louisville law firm of Middleton, Seelbach, Wolford, Willis & Cochran, where he spent his entire career in law. He was made a partner in 1962 and became “Of Counsel” in 2009.

At first, Grant’s legal practice mostly consisted of the defense of personal injury claims made against individuals and businesses. Later, he provided services to a variety of corporate clients, including railroads, public utilities, tobacco companies, and warehouse companies.

Grant’s most famous appellate victory came when he led a team that persuaded the Supreme Court of Kentucky to strike down the law permitting the dairy industry to fix minimum prices for milk and milk products.

Over the years, Grant was involved with various civic and nonprofit organizations, including service with the Central State Hospital board, as president of the Jefferson County Council for Developmental Disabilities, as vice president of the Kentucky Association for Retarded Children, the Governor’s Council on Special Education, and as president of The Falls Region Health Council.

Grant is survived by his wife of 39 years, Sylvia Cardwell Bruton; sons G. Macaulay Bruton and Ian C. Bruton; and three grandchildren.

T. Warren Thompson Jr. ’48

Thomas Warren “Tommy” Thompson Jr. passed away May 19, 2022. Born in Omaha, Neb., he was 92 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Tommy lived in Hamill House. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in geology from Williams College in 1952 before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force, where he was trained as an aeronautics instructor and was stationed at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Miss. After his discharge in 1956, Tom and his wife, Mary McFayden, with whom he had two daughters, settled in Omaha, where Tom began a career as a credit advisor before purchasing a bottled water company, Fontenelle Springs, Inc., which he ran for over 30 years.

After Mary’s passing, Tom married Patricia Brophy in 1972. Tom loved Omaha, and was involved in a number of civic organizations in Omaha and sat on several community boards. He also was a longtime and active member of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. They retired to Scottsdale, Ariz., in 1998, but after Patty’s passing in 2002, he returned to his family in Omaha. There, he met Leila Johnson, who was his companion for the last 15-plus years.

Tommy loved watching Nebraska Cornhusker football games, playing golf, and boating on Lake Okoboji, as well as sharing good conversation and a meal with close friends and family over a gin martini, a bottle of craft beer, or a glass of wine.

Tommy is survived by daughters

Katharyn Wyckoff Karen Burkley; stepson David Brophy, stepdaughter Debra Andrews; 14 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.

Bryden M. Dow ’49

Bryden M. Dow passed away September 28, 2022. Born in Detroit, he was 90 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Bryden lived in Dawes House and was a member of the swim team. He earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Michigan, Doctor of Jurisprudence at Detroit College of Law, and Master of Laws in taxation at New York University.

Bryden moved to Croton-on-Hudson in 1963 with his wife, Sally, and their one-month-old son, Gregory, from their garden apartment on New York City’s Upper East Side. He raised his family and remained in their family home in Croton until his passing. Bryden commuted to Manhattan for many years, where he worked in international corporate tax law. He traveled extensively for work, and continued to enjoy travel throughout the world for many years after his retirement.

The Dow family was active in the American Field Service club in Croton, and Bryden served as host father to two international students who each lived with the family for a year, Marius Guirard from Switzerland and Gurkan Koseoglu from Turkey.

Bryden is survived by his children Gregory R. Dow, Elizabeth Dow, and William H. Dow; nine grandchildren; brothers Peter A. Dow ’50 and Stuart G. Dow ’58; and nephew Jay D. Dykhouse ’88.

Hale H. Carey ’49

Hale Husted Carey passed away July 12, 2022. Born in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y., he was 92 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Hale lived in Cromwell and Woodhull Houses. He briefly attended the University of Virginia before entering the U.S. Army, where he achieved the rank of 1st lieutenant and served in the Tank Corps, Third Division.

While stationed in Kentucky at Fort Knox during the Korean War, Hale fought as a semipro featherweight boxer. Ultimately, he followed in his father’s footsteps in advertising sales, working territories across the Midwest and later the Northeast. His advertising career took him from Manhattan to Evanston, Ill., and back to the New York area, where he and his wife raised their four children in Montclair, N.J. Hale retired to a lake house in Lenox, Mass., in the Berkshire Hills for nearly 20 years before moving back to Montclair to be near family.

A man of many passions who enjoyed learning to the end, Hale was an artist, a watercolor painter, a poet, a musician and a natural-born entertainer. He had a bass singing voice and enjoyed singing barbershop harmonies, as well as participating in many choirs and choral performances. He also had a lifelong love of world history and read and wrote passionately about history and religion, mostly in the form of poetry.

Hale is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Penelope Bryant Carey; children Matthew Emmons Carey, Katharine Stilwell Carey, and Elizabeth Carey Ceccio; seven grandchildren; and brother James Husted Carey ’51.

John E. Backenstoe ’50

John E. Backenstoe passed away June 2, 2022. Born in Allentown, Pa., he was 89 years old.

At Lawrenceville, John lived in Kennedy House and was a member of Periwig and the Press Club. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Trinity College in 1954 and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law in 1957.

In 1958, John enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Reserve receiving his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Tex. He remained on active duty at New Castile County Air Force Base for a period of six months before receiving a commission in the Judge Advocate Generals Corps of the U.S. Army as a captain.

Admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1958, John practiced law in Lehigh County for some 13 years. He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from Allentown in 1960; at 28, he was the youngest member of the house.

In 1965, Gov. William Scranton appointed John a special assistant attorney general and in 1967, the Pennsylvania Senate confirmed his appointment as a referee in Workmen Compensation cases. John was elected a judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County in 1971 and he was named president judge of the Lehigh Court of Common Pleas in 1983. He retired in 1990 but continued as a senior judge being assigned by the Supreme Court to hear cases in seven Pennsylvania counties.

John is survived by sons David M. Backenstoe, Gerald J. Backenstoe, and Thomas E. Backenstoe; and six grandchildren.

Earle P. Groper ’50

Earle P. “Pat” Groper passed away September 4, 2022. Born in Montreal, he was 90 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Pat lived in Dawes House and played baseball, football, and basketball, earning a Major L. he earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University in 1954 and a law degree from Boston University in 1958.

Pat went directly into the family wine and spirits wholesale business, Branded Liquors, which he built and ran for 31 years. Over his career, and

with many philanthropic actions, Pat sat on the board of overseers for Brandeis University, the board of the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center, Board of Directors for U.S. Trust Bank, and he was elected president, then chair, of the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers Association of America. He was involved in many other businesses and charity organizations as well.

An avid golfer and skier, Pat’s passion for baseball took him from pitching at Harvard to a minor-league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, where he pitched to his idol, Ted Williams. His unwavering love for his family was without question.

Pat is survived by his wife, Eleanor; children Scott, Jeff, Brad, and Tracy; nine grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; and cousins Roger S. Marcus ’63 and Richard G. Marcus ’65.

David A. Oestreich ’50

David A. Oestreich passed away August 25, 2022. Born in Great Neck, N.Y., he was 89 years old.

At Lawrenceville, David lived in Hamill House and was a member of the Olla Podrida, Periwig, and the Orchestra. His service to the School continued throughout his life, with David serving as an admission interviewer and a class agent. In 1954, he earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Yale University, where he also trained in the Naval ROTC. After graduating from Yale, David served in the U.S. Navy as a gunnery officer aboard the U.S.S. Randolph following the Korean War.

After concluding his military service, David joined the Lander cosmetics company as marketing director before being appointed associate director of the Job Corps within the Office of Economic Opportunity in Washington, D.C., during the Johnson Administration. In 1969, he joined the investment firm founded by his late father, Charles H. Oestreich, which David managed for more than 50 years.

An avid sailor, skier, photographer, military historian, traveler, and philanthropist, David taught military history in the Collegium program at Westchester Community College. He also served as president of Temple Israel Center of White Plains, and generously supported White Plains Hospital, numerous Jewish philanthropies, his family’s almae matres, and organizations benefiting Navy personnel, including the Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, Md., and the Naval War College in Newport, R.I.

David is survived by his wife of 65 years, Brenda Mintz Oestreich; children Deborah Rubin, Elizabeth Oestreich, and Curbie Cohen; and eight grandchildren.

Benjamin V. Smith Jr. ’50

Benjamin Vergon “Ben” Smith Jr. passed away July 30, 2022. Born in Angola, Ind., he was 89 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Ben lived in Dawes House and was a member of the Glee Club, and the basketball and crosscountry teams. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and also served as a captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corp in Korea.

Ben was a board-certified surgeon practicing general and thoracic surgery in Spartanburg, S.C., for three years before moved to Sewickley, Pa., where he practiced surgery for 25 years and raised his family. Ben was on the medical staff at Sewickley Valley Hospital and was a member of the Board of Trustees. After retiring, Ben and his wife, Karen, moved to Hilton Head, S.C. Ben loved to travel with his family and he also enjoyed tennis, golf, bridge, poker and watching his favorite football team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. He will be remembered for his strong faith and service to God. His greatest joy was his family and beloved grandchildren.

Ben is survived by his wife of 57 years, Karen Hoffman Smith; daughter Elizabeth Hope Squire; son Benjamin V. Smith III; and seven grandchildren.

William Clayton Jr. ’51

William “Bill” Clayton Jr. passed away June 10, 2022. Born in Pasadena, Calif., he was 88 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Bill lived in Griswold House and played baseball and football. In 1956, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, where he was a member of Alpha Delta Phi.

An avid and skilled fisherman, bird hunter, and outdoor enthusiast, Bill spent as much time as possible at Walker Lake, Wagas Ranch, and on rivers in Idaho and Montana. However, he was the happiest while spending time with his family, his true pride and joy.

Bill’s entire professional career was spent at Clayton Industries where he was chair at the time of his death. He served on the boards of Merchants and Manufacturers Association, Caltech Associates, Don Bosco Institute, Microdata, the Clayton Medical Research Foundation, Hinshaws, and the Advisory Board of Liberty Mutual Insurance Company.

Bill is survived by his wife of 62 years, Georgina “Jan” Kelly; children John and Jill; and five grandchildren.

Sabin Robbins IV ’52

Sabin Robbins IV passed away June 1, 2022. Born in Cincinnati, he was 88 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Sabin lived in Griswold House and was a member of the swim team. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Yale University, where he was an All-America swimmer, and was also an Oxford scholar.

Over the course of his professional career, Sabin worked as an intelligence research specialist at the State Department, a writer and editor at National Geographic , and as a director at the National Zoo and American Association of Zoos & Aquariums. He led safaris around the world, tracking tigers by elephant-back, photographing gorillas making love, tickling the tongues of whales, charming cobras, and swimming with sharks and piranhas.

In retirement, Sabin was a popular ship lecturer on more than 100 cruises from Australia to Zanzibar and 70 countries in between. He authored numerous articles and books, his biography, A Life of Fun, Romance and Wild Adventures

Sabin said he would be famous for two things: being the first boyfriend of Jane Fonda, with whom he remained good friends, and being the “father-in-law” of NBC newscaster David Brinkley when he was the stand-in for the father of the bride, Susan Banter Adolph, at Brinkley’s 1972 wedding.

Sabin is survived by sons Rob and Will; and three grandchildren.

G. Cullom Davis ’53

G. Cullom Davis passed away September 9, 2022. Born in Aurora, Ill., he was 87 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Cullom lived in Kennedy House and was a member of the House Council, Student Council, Open Door Society, and Periwig. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 1957 from Princeton University, where he was a member of the Tiger Inn. Later, Cullom received his Ph.D. in American history from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

In 1969, he was recruited to be among the founding faculty of Sangamon State University, now part of the U of I system as University of Illinois Springfield (UIS), where he held several administrative leadership roles during his 39 years of service.

Cullom brought the discipline of oral history to the university and created and led its Oral History Office. He authored several seminal oral history texts, including “Oral History: From Tape to Type” in 1977. Cullom also designed and promoted the Public History concentration of the master’s degree in history.

In 1981, Cullom became the director of the Lincoln Legal Papers, the most comprehensive chronicling of Lincoln’s

legal career, serving until his retirement in 2008. Cullom’s many years in Springfield were marked by civic interests including support of Planned Parenthood, desegregation of the Springfield Public Schools, expanding the Lincoln Memorial Gardens, and educating the public on the Springfield Race Riot of 1908. A trustee of the Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund, Cullom also was active in politics, serving as an Illinois alternate delegate in the 1972 Democratic Party Presidential Convention in Miami.

Cullom is survived by his wife, Ann Chapman Davis; children Cathy Davis Lunday, Lesa Davis, Cully Davis, and John Giordano; eight grandchildren; cousin Shelby M.C. Davis ’54 GP ’06 ’07 ’15 ’18; and niece Casey E. Martinez ’09.

John J. B. Stoetzer Jr. ’53

John James Brown Stoetzer Jr. passed away September 26, 2022. Born in Fairmont, W.Va., he was 88 years old.

At Lawrenceville, John lived in Raymond House and was a member of House Council, The Lawrence, Periwig, the Press Club, and the soccer team. He earned his bachelor’s degree in management from West Virginia University in 1957.

John served in the U.S. Army Reserve, finishing his service as a captain. He began a long career in sales and management with Owens-Illinois Glass, Inc., and was transferred in the early 1960s to New Orleans, where he met and married Nancy Jones in 1963. John’s career took them to Miami, Atlanta, Rochester and Darien, Conn., where they lived from 1971-74 and from 1975 to 2014 when they relocated to Eagle, Colo.

After his retirement from OwensIllinois in 1990, John remained active with Noroton Presbyterian Church and as a volunteer for Stamford Hospital. He enjoyed membership at the Country Club of Darien.

A businessman and an active volunteer in his community, John loved spending time with family and friends. He was first and foremost a wonderful husband, father and family man. He enjoyed golf, tennis and skiing as well as daily walks with his wife. Well known for his warmth, kindness and good humor, John was a true “people person” who was genuinely interested in all he met.

John is survived by his children, Joan Stoetzer Deck, John James Brown Stoetzer III, and Helen Van Law Stoetzer Habiger; and four grandchildren.

Anthony W. Haley ’55

Anthony Wayne “Tony” Haley passed away February 13, 2022. Born in South Orange, N.J., he was 86 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Tony lived in Thomas, Woodhull, and Upper Houses.

Tony was a fierce yet low-key competitor in business as in all things, finding a way to get what he wanted mostly with street smarts and charm, and largely without conflict. His partners will remember him as tough, fair, and diligent. Tony, who spent much of his last 22 years in Mexico, made friends easily. Some of his best early pals were Fiji’s at Bucknell, with whom he caroused and celebrated for more than 60 years. His golfing buddies on both sides of the border were always willing co-conspirators, knowing he was the glue that kept the whole crew together.

Tony was, as his beloved Nancy recalls, “authentic” – hugely generous, rarely uncertain, independent of convention, never self-important and always comfortable with who he was. He had so many loyal friends from a wide spectrum of backgrounds and personality. They all loved him dearly and none among them ever knew a man so full of good nature and absolute unrivaled good humor.

Tony is survived by Nancy; sons Mike, Jack, Curtis, and Kyle, and several grandchildren.

Charles D. Marx ’55

Charles David “Charlie” Marx passed away April 1, 2022. Born near Shrewsbury, N.J., he was 86 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Charles lived in Woodhull House. He attended Rutgers University prior to joining the Louis Marx & Company, the world’s largest toy manufacturer founded by his father and uncle, David and Louis Marx, in 1919.

Charles was passionate about his job and his buyer relationships from Sears Roebuck, F.W Woolworth, and J.C. Penney. Many of these relationships turned into longstanding personal friendships. Later, he became director of marketing and was responsible for creating the “Magic Marxie” logo, which appeared in television advertising for bestselling Marx items such as the “Big Wheel.”

Charles lived in Monmouth County for 58 years before retiring to Hilton Head Island, S.C., in 2015. He was a longtime member at Rumson Country Club, Sea Bright Lawn Tennis and Cricket Club, and Sea Bright Beach Club, all in New Jersey. Whether it was sailing his Rhodes 19 sailboat at Rumson Country Club or attending the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School in Maine, Charles loved the outdoors and the waterways of the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers. Most of all, he loved spending time with family and many friends.

Charlie is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Doree; children Margaret

McGarty, C. David Marx Jr., Christopher Marx, Andrew Marx, and Alexander Marx; and 10 grandchildren.

T. Leslie Shear Jr. ’55

T. Leslie “Bucky” Shear Jr. passed away September 28, 2022. Born in Athens, Greece, he was 84 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Bucky lived in Woodhull House and The Lodge, and was a member of The Lawrence. Later, he served the School as an admission interviewer. He received his bachelor’s degree in classics, summa cum laude , from Princeton in 1959 and his Ph.D. in art and archaeology, also from Princeton, in 1966.

Bucky began his academic career as an instructor and then assistant professor of Greek and Latin at Bryn Mawr College, returning to Princeton in 1967, where he taught for more than four decades. He transferred to emeritus status in 2009. An esteemed archaeologist and scholar who taught and mentored generations of Princeton students, he served as the director of the Program in Classical Archaeology at Princeton and as field director of the American excavations at the Athenian Agora under the aegis of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. His book Trophies of Victory: Public Building in Periklean Athens is considered essential reading in the field.

Bucky’s scholarly contributions also include the book Kallias of Sphettos and the Revolt of Athens in 286 B.C., a major study that continues to be cited regularly, as well as many articles.

Although much of Bucky’s career was spent on the excavation and the publication of the monuments of Athens, he regularly taught both undergraduate and graduate courses on classical archaeology, Greek and Roman architecture, the Athenian Acropolis, topography and monuments of the Agora, various aspects of the Greek Bronze Age, among others.

Bucky is survived by daughters Julia Shear and Alexandra Shear; and a grandchild.

Paul C. Richardson Jr. ’56 P’80

Paul Charles “Chuck” Richardson Jr. passed away September 22, 2022. Born in Philadelphia, he was 84 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Chuck lived in Raymond House and was a member of The Lawrence, the Press Club, the Orchestra, and of the baseball, tennis, track, and cross-country teams. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College in 1960. On September 3 of that year, Chuck married Mary Bloom, shortly before entering the U.S. Marine Corps.

Chuck spent time as an intelligence officer with a Marine Attack Squadron, including a year in Iwakuni, Japan, before returning to civilian life with his family. Chuck started his career in sales in 1963 at Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp. in Denver before moving back to Darien, Conn., in 1965 to transition into advertising in New York City as an account executive.

Later, Chuck began what would be an extensive career in the executive search business as an executive recruiter, eventually joining Korn Ferry International as a senior partner and managing director in the legal practice, where he later retired. It was during his time at Korn Ferry that Chuck became especially devoted to God and his church. After retiring, he served Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien in various ministries.

A lifelong Phillies fan and sports enthusiast, Chuck was a ranked tennis player in New England as a junior. He became an avid skier, and a competitive platform tennis and squash player. He also ran over 25 marathons, once logging a 2:59:30 finish.

Chuck is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mary; son Paul C. Richardson III ’80; daughter Amy Richardson Shay; and four grandchildren.

Thomas H. Bennett ’57

Thomas Hunt “Tom” Bennett passed away May 12, 2022. Born in Minneapolis, he was 83 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Tom lived in Upper House and was a member of the Glee Club. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and later received a degree from The Garvin School of International Management at Thunderbird.

After beginning his career in the U.S. Army at the National Security Agency, Tom also worked for Avon and UNICEF while remaining active in mining, cultural preservation, and Italian wine throughout his career. He served on the board of his family office and in volunteer positions at Trickle Up and the Lotos Club.

Tom was happiest with friends and family around a table in Tuscany or on a boat on Rainy Lake in northern Minnesota. He cheered for the New York Rangers and Yankees until his last moments.

Tom is survived by children Christina Bennett Davies and David H. Bennett; two grandchildren; and brother Joseph C. Bennett ’50.

Richard K. Fadem ’57

Richard K. Fadem passed away May 17, 2022. Born in Newark, N.J., he was 82 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Richard lived in Davidson, Woodhull, and Haskell Houses and was a member of the wrestling, fencing, and debating teams, and was editor-in-chief of The Lit . He earned his bachelor’s degree from Columbia College and his Ph.D. from Columbia University, after which he joined the faculty at Scripps College, later becoming the dean of faculty and the college’s acting president.

After a distinguished career as a 19th-century English literature professor at Scripps College and the Claremont Graduate School in California, Richard retired to Orcas Island, Wash., only to resume teaching literature seminars that enriched and inspired the lives of many Orcas, San Juan, and Shaw Islanders over the next decade-plus. Each class ran for six or seven weeks, about four hours one day each week, and ran the gamut of literature. While his specialty was Romantic and Victorian English literature, his classes also ranged to Russian, French, German, American and South African novelists and poets.

As time passed, Richard discontinued his seminars on San Juan and then Orcas, but continued on Shaw for 17 years, until 2017. The classes at the Shaw community center always had 12 to 16 participants and were free of charge, with an age range in one class running from 15 to 90.

Richard is survived by his children, Luke Fadem, Anna Fadem, and Clara Merrill.

James F. O’Brien II ’57

James Francis O’Brien II passed away October 6, 2022. Born in Princeton, N.J., he was 82 years old.

At Lawrenceville, James lived in Kennedy House and was a member of The Lawrence , the Debating Society, the Math Club, and The Lit. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College in 1962 and also completed graduate studies at Oxford and Princeton Universities.

James lived for a time in Putney, Vt., but resided in Europe most of his life, including in Zagreb, Croatia, where he lived at the end of his life. James’ career spanned journalism, teaching linguistics, and collecting and trading rare books. He was a championship bridge player.

James is survived by a brother, Charles C. O’Brien ’60; and nephews Alexander Kenney ’93 and Christopher O’Brien ’02

Warren P. Miller ’58

Warren Pullman Miller passed away May 24, 2022. Born in Chicago, he was 82 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Warren liked in

Cromwell, Kennedy, and Upper Houses. He earned his received his bachelor’s degree in political science from Harvard University in 1962 before joining the Marine Corps Reserve.

Warren’s early career was in governmental management, natural resources administration, and the forest products industry. He served on several advisory panels for state and local governments and as an officer, director, and trustee of several nonprofits in the Midwest. Throughout the years, he remained close to the family property and businesses at Sinnissippi Farm, the family’s farm and forestland established by his grandparents, located 100 miles west of Chicago, in Oregon, Ill.

In 1978, Warren and his first wife, Nancy, moved to Oregon to help run the family business. They built a new lumber mill, expanded the logging operations, and increased the size of the Christmas tree farm to become the second largest such grower in the state. He became involved with the Pullman Historic Foundation and the Pullman Historic District in Chicago. Warren also continued as a board member of the George M. Pullman Educational Foundation, established in 1949 by his great-grandfather, George Mortimer Pullman, who developed the Pullman sleeper car. The Foundation is ongoing, awarding scholarships to outstanding high school seniors throughout Illinois.

Nancy passed away unexpectedly in 1997, but Warren continued to be active in a number of community organizations in Santa Barbara, Calif., where they had moved. He married gallery owner Marlene Schulz in 1999 and they collaborated on numerous art exhibitions and publications.

Warren is survived by his wife, Marlene R. Miller.

A. John Peck Jr. ’58

Arthur John Peck Jr. passed away October 3, 2022. Born in Trenton, N.J., he was 82 years old.

At Lawrenceville, John lived in Perry Ross, Raymond, and Upper Houses and was a member of the Student Council, Open Door Society, Campus Guides, Olla Podrida, Periwig, and the soccer team. John captained the soccer team at Yale University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1962.

John worked at Lawrenceville for a short time before entering Washington and Lee University School of Law, where he earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1968. He began his law career at Sherman and Sterling in New York City. Moving to Corning, N.Y., in 1972, John joined the Corning Glass Works legal department as assistant counsel. He

spent 32 years with Corning Inc., serving as senior vice president and corporate secretary at the time of his retirement.

John was a loving husband, devoted father, and man of deep faith. For 50 years, he was an active member of Christ Episcopal Church, serving as a lay reader, warden, and vestry person. He understood the importance of community and service, volunteering countless hours with social and cultural organizations. After Hurricane Agnes in 1972, John was instrumental in setting up the Market Street Restoration Agency, the Elmira Corning Community Foundation, and the Stewart Park Housing Development Fund, which provides safe and affordable housing for families.

He also played an important role in establishing The Rockwell Museum, the Corning Classic LPGA, Corning Enterprises, and reviving Watkins Glen International Racetrack.

John is survived by his wife of 52 years, Susan Lodge Peck; children David Peck and Emily Peck; and two grandchildren.

Russell I. Fries ’59

Russell I. Fries passed away August 20, 2022. Born in Paterson, N.J., he was 81 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Russell lived in Griswold House and was a member of the House Council and track team. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Yale University in 1963, followed by his Master of Arts and then a Ph.D. in economic history from Johns Hopkins University in 1972.

Throughout his varied career, Russell showed a great love for the stories and histories behind people and objects, recording and remembering them faithfully. He taught at Southern Methodist University, then as an associate professor at the University of Maine at Orono until 1984. Beginning in 1972, he also worked summers at the Historic American Engineering Record on the Paterson Great Falls Historic District, helping to win its 1976 designation by President Ford as a National Historic Landmark.

After his time at Maine, Russell worked at the Institute for Defense Analyses in Arlington, Va., until 2001. Later in life, he focused intensely on the history of surveying, building an important historical collection of surveying equipment and surveying the land around his homes in Nova Scotia and Savannah, Ga.

Russell loved animals, and his beautiful photographs of butterflies, bobcats, woodpeckers, grouse, and more inspired others to look more closely and affectionately at the creatures around them.

After marrying his second wife, Ann, in 1992, Russell and she traveled often, building countless loving relationships with friends and family throughout Europe and America before her passing.

Russell is survived by children Gwyneth Marcelo Fries and Thomas Fries; stepdaughter Lea Marshall; and three grandchildren.

Alexander Morris ’59

Alexander Edwards “Alex” Morris passed away July 25, 2022. Born in Princeton, N.J., he was 81 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Alex lived in Dickinson House before he ultimately graduated from Princeton High School in 1959. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business from Rider University before embarking on a successful career, working in multiple industries and roles, including pharmaceuticals, office supplies, and business-process consulting.

A bright and creative man with many interests, Alex loved history, politics, the traditional Catholic liturgy, and most of all, spending time with family. He enjoyed good food, investing in real estate, reading, and tending to his recent collection of bonsai trees. Dogs were always special to Alex and his bulldog, Alistair, was by his side at the end.

Alex strove to live his life in accordance with strong personal values. He taught his family the value of hard work, the importance of honesty and of personal responsibility. He also taught them to love and to appreciate the beauty of our physical world.

Alex is survived by children Robert V. Morris and Garret E. Morris; and three grandchildren.

Robert F. Bedford ’60 GP’25

Robert Forrest “Bob” Bedford passed away September 2, 2022. He was 79 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Bob lived in Hamill House and was a member of the Campus Guides, the Open Door Society, Press Club, and the cross-country team, and captained the track team. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Princeton University in 1964 and his Doctor of Medicine from Cornell University Medical College in 1968. Bob completed both his residency and fellowship in Anesthesiology at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital and served as a major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during the Vietnam War.

Bob’s career was spent as a clinical professor of anesthesiology, mainly at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, which he referred to as his “academic home.” During his career, Bob served as

the chair of anesthesiology and critical care medicine at Memorial SloanKettering Cancer Center and as director of the Division of Anesthesia at the Food and Drug Administration. He also taught anesthesiology at the University of South Florida and was the chief of anesthesia at the James A. Haley Veterans Administration Hospital in Tampa, Fla.

An avid golfer and sailor, Bob’s love of sunny days led to many happy hours sailing on Tampa Bay with friends from St. Petersburg Yacht Club. In later years, he volunteered at Recording for the Blind/Learning Ally, Habitat for Humanity, and sang in church choirs in both Charlottesville, Va., and St. Petersburg, Fla.

Bob is survived by his wife of 58 years, Faith Andrews Bedford; children Drew Bedford, Eleanor Bedford, and Sarah Bedford; six grandchildren, including Benson J. Maughan ’25; a stepgranddaughter; and nephew Michael G. Marsden ’97.

J. Robb Mayo ’61

John Robb Mayo passed away May 22, 2022. Born in Lancaster, Pa., he was 79 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Robb lived in Raymond House. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and his M.B.A. from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Robb spent his entire career at IBM where he managed the corporation’s real estate portfolio. It was also at IBM where he met his wife of 50 years, Susan Kapp Mayo. Until the end, he proclaimed they “were still on the honeymoon.” Robb and Susan settled in New Canaan, Conn., where they raised three children. Being a husband, father, and grandfather was Robb’s true passion and something he excelled at like no other. He loved coaching his children’s sports teams, cheering them on from the sidelines, teaching his grandchildren to play golf and taking them on golf cart rides.

Passionate about his hobbies, Robb enjoyed playing golf, flying airplanes, riding his motorcycle, listening to country music and fervently supporting the Northwestern University football team. He also had a deep and unwavering faith in God and was an active parishioner at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in New Canaan.

Robb is survived by his wife, Susan Kapp Mayo; children Julie Bradbury, Christy Hahn, and Scott Mayo; and nine grandchildren.

Arthur L. Adamson III ’62

Arthur Learoyd “Lee” Adamson III passed away August 17, 2022. Born

in Palm Beach, Fla., he was 79 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Lee lived in Griswold House and was a member of the House Council, Campus Guides, Open Door Society, and the lacrosse team before he ultimately graduated from Rumson-Fair Haven (N.J.) High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and also attended Harvard Law School.

Lee worked for a while in the marketing department at IBM in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., but during that time he never missed a New England adventure, including the weekend he spent at Woodstock.

After earning a master’s degree in city and regional planning at the University of California, Berkeley, where he helped to design and establish a very successful commune in the heart of San Francisco, Lee decided it was time to travel the world on a sailboat. He circumnavigated the globe one-and-a-half times, and then spent ten years in Australia working at Prime Computer. Returning to the United States, Lee worked for 14 years at Intel in Oregon.

Growing up on the Shrewsbury River in New Jersey, Lee was an avid sailor. He got the bug again for adventure, and bought a 47-foot Catana Catamaran, aptly named World Wide Traveller. From 2005-11 he set out to share many sailing experiences with friends and family. He sailed up and down the Atlantic Coast, three years in the Mediterranean, all the way to Istanbul, back to the states, down through the Caribbean and to Honduras.

Lee is survived by his son, Arthur Terence Adamson; three grandchildren; and brother James C. Adamson ’66.

Eldon L. Loblein ’67

Eldon L. “Ruffy” Loblein passed away October 15, 2022. Born in New York City, he was 74 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Ruffy lived in Raymond House. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Princeton University, where he was an All-America swimmer.

Ruffy spent his youth in North Jersey and South Florida, where he formed fond memories of fishing in his boat and off the pier with his father. Ruffy moved to Maine with his cousin, Ken Schweikert, in the early 1970s, and began a series of custom-designed homes. Restless and industrious, Ruffy would go on to design and build over 50 houses over the course of his life.

He married Kathy Miller in 1980 and in 1989, they set roots in Long Bay, Jamaica, rebuilding a home in the quiet village of Rose Garden, and developing close relationships retained to this day.

Ruffy is survived by his wife, Kathy; and children Katherine, Jason, and Jennifer.

Nathaniel F. Queen Jr. ’73

Nathaniel Francis “Nat” Queen Jr. passed away May 15, 2022. Born in New York City, he was 67 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Nat lived in Dawes House and was a member of the House Council, The Lawrence, and the Calliopean Society. He remained a staunch affiliate of the School for the rest of his life as a member of several reunion committees, including his 40 th, the Lawrenceville Black Alumni Association, the Alumni Association Executive Committee, and as the only class secretary the Class of 1973 has ever had. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University in 1977.

Nat was a devout Christian and loyal to the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York, where he participated as head of the Acolytes. He was also faithful to his local church, Christ Church and St. Stevens in Battersea, London, and he was the serving officer of The Order of St. John, also in London.

Nat worked for such organizations as C.A.R.E., but it was his early experience at Chemical Bank, where he started working under the tutelage of Tom Barile at the age of 16, that began a career that would shape his life and lifestyle and eventually saw him become the head of Europe for T. Barile & Associates. This important work took him to London, where he lived and worked for 33 years and where he met his partner, Nigel Cox. Nat’s work in the U.K. took him throughout Europe and expanded his travel to include just about every continent during his lifetime.

Nat is survived by his mother, River Lee Queen; and his partner, Nigel Cox.

W. Pepper Walker ’73

Wade Pepper Walker passed away July 9, 2022. Born in Tazewell, Va., he was 68 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Pepper lived in Dawes House. He earned his bachelor’s degree in English literature with a minor in anthropology from the University of Denver.

An avid and award-winning outdoorsman, Pepper divided his time between the Golden Isles and Ketchum, Idaho, in order to enjoy skiing, fishing and bird hunting throughout the year. He was an ardent conservationist who donated to numerous organizations, such as the Wood River Land Trust and Ducks Unlimited, to help preserve nature for future generations.

Pepper loved music, particularly the blues and the Grateful Dead. He followed them in his younger years on several tours and would replay concerts that moved him. In 2005, Pepper married Alice Barnhill of St. Simons Island, Ga., and gained three stepsons in the process,

with whom he created numerous lifelong memories.

Married life suited Pepper and he spent his later years filling his time with gourmet cooking, trips to Harris Teeter, and his nightly ritual of watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!, during which he was not to be disturbed under penalty of a stern look and an elevated television volume. He was an avid reader and wordsmith who enjoyed completing the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle.

Pepper is survived by his wife, Alice; stepsons Benjamin Friedman, Samuel Friedman, and Stephen Friedman; and cousins Charles M. Scott ’67 P’07 and Charles M. Scott III ’07.

Walter F. Bloes II ’78

Walter F. “Wally” Bloes II passed away September 8, 2022. Born in WilkesBarre, Pa., he was 62 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Wally lives in Hamill House and was a member of the Campus Guides, Open Door Society, and the swim team. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Tufts University in 1982. He was a research assistant at Harvard Medical School, Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, and graduated from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in 1987.

Wally did his dental surgical residency at Albert Einstein and Montefiore hospitals in New York City. He opened a private practice in oral surgery in Greenwich, Conn., where he practiced for more than 25 years, and was on surgical staff at both Greenwich and Stamford hospitals.

An avid sailor, Wally spent his free time at Old Greenwich Yacht Club on his sailboat, Ericor , with his daughters and wife sailing the waters of Long Island Sound with Christopher Cross’ “Sailing” playing in the background. He traveled extensively with his wife around the globe and especially enjoyed their days on Cape Cod and Nantucket. Wally was most proud of his two daughters and his favorite times were vacationing with them at the beach, attending their many activities or just watching movies at home.

As a member of Doctors without Borders, Wally traveled to Honduras to serve citizens, especially children, in need of oral surgical needs. He was a member of the First Congregational Church in Old Greenwich, Conn., and participated in the choir there.

Wally is survived by his beloved wife, Charesa Brittain; daughters Corey Bloes and Erika Bloes.

J. Kerney Kuser ’78

J. Kerney Kuser passed away July 31, 2022. Born in Troy, Ohio, he was 62 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Kerney lived in Griswold House. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Kenyon College in 1982 before studying law at Seton Hall University School of Law.

Kerney was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1985 and was active in many civic and professional organizations while working for Drinker, Biddle & Reath of Philadelphia and after establishing his own legal practice. He used his lawyering skills with a light touch and a sure hand, and was always available to help friends and family.

Kerney is survived by his partner, Jeremiah Edwin Obert; brother Michael M. Kuser ’76; step-sister Gülçin Karadeniz Kuser ’92; and cousins James K. Kuser ’81 and Richard J.S. Barlow III ’77.

Peter R. Kamm ’83

Peter Roberts “Pete” Kamm passed away July 10, 2022. Born in Lima, Peru, he was 56 years old.

At Lawrenceville, Pete lived in Cleve and Upper Houses and was a member of the lacrosse and ski teams. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the Colorado School of Mines.

After college, Pete made his way to California and worked for McDonnell Douglas, where his ingenuity resulted in his being named on several aircraftrelated patents. He entered the U.S. Navy Reserve, and, after serving, he met his wife, Barbara Ann Kamm, in Hollister, Calif. Together, they traversed the country, working in Denver and Albuquerque before eventually settling on the family farm in Strong, Maine.

Pete and Barb were married on August 8, 1999, and both worked for E.L. Vining & Co. and Mountain Mechanical for several years before starting their own business, Pete’s Plumbing & Heating, which specialized in designing and installing plumbing for many of the fine, new houses in the area. Pete took great pride in his work and was highly sought after by owners and builders. He was quick to help his neighbors and served on the volunteer fire department in Strong for a number of years.

Pete is survived by his wife of 23 years, Barbara Kamm; children Jack Hancock and Les Hancock of Oregon; a grandchild; brothers Walker R. Kamm ’70 and C. Michael Kamm ’75; cousins Barry B. Lockwood ’64, David K. Rawlings ’64, N. Douglas Baldwin ’65, and Barry Baldwin ’67, and nephew Michael F. Mahaffey ’05.

60 years ago in The Lawrentian AUTUMN 1962

AN ORDER TO GO?

The ghost of Hungry Smeed and the pancake record flitted through Lower School this fall. One enterprising youngster, having talked long and loud about the durability of the pancakes served in the dining room, took one of them back to his House after breakfast one day. He dried it on a radiator, and then affixed a mailing label to with the address of a friend in another Lower School House. Then he took it to the village and dropped it in the mailbox. He and several of his friends swear that it arrived the next day, with canceled stamp, intact, in the friend’s mailbox in Lower.

— From an “Echoes of the Campus” news item. It’s impossible to know whether this syrupy sweet story was true or a tall tale stacked high.

45 years ago in The Lawrentian DECEMBER 1977

“TO YOUR HEALTH, SIR…”

Last Spring, the Trustees voted to allow faculty members to serve beer and wine to students of legal age under certain conditions. The occasion must be purely social and the privilege does not apply to masters responsible for the running of a dormitory. One master’s comment on the new regulation: “Reasonable, and not terribly exciting…”

Lawrenceville cautiously waited four years before amending its school policy, which was ultimately short-lived. (New York Times, Jan. 2, 1973)

— From an “Echoes of the Campus” news item. The legal drinking age in New Jersey was lowered from 21 to 18 years old in 1973. The age was raised back to 19 in 1980 before the current legal age of 21 was adopted in 1983, rendering this 1977 School policy moot.

Hungry Smeed, the ravenous flapjack enthusiast from Owen Johnson’s The Lawrenceville Stories, graced the cover of the spring 2010 Lawrentian. (Illustration by Bill Garland/AA Reps, Inc.)

Y SIT AND CHILL

Second Form boys welcomed winter’s arrival in December using remnants from a festive fall season.

usps no. 306-700

the Lawrenceville School

Lawrenceville, New Jersey 08648

Parents of alumni:

If this magazine is addressed to a son or daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please email us at cdorsett@lawrenceville.org with his or her new address. Thank you!

We welcome all alumni

return to campus as we highlight milestone reunions for the classes of 2018, 2013, 2008, 2003, 1998, 1993, 1988, 1983, 1978, 1973, 1968, 1963, 1958, 1953, and 1948.