EHS: The Magazine of Episcopal High School Fall 2024
HOW EPISCOPAL LEVERAGES THE GREATER WASHINGTON AREA TO CREATE AN UNPARALLELED EDUCATION FOR OUR STUDENTS
FALL 2024
THE SCHOOL IS THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE FALL 2023 ISSUE OF EHS: THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL WON TWO PRESTIGIOUS COUNCIL FOR ADVANCEMENT AND SUPPORT OF EDUCATION AWARDS! THE ISSUE WAS RECOGNIZED IN THE BEST OF DISTRICT III AWARDS AND ALSO WON A BRONZE IN THE CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE AWARDS.
THE COVER
36 INSIDE THE M c CAIN-RAVENEL CENTER FOR INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL COURAGE
Learn more about the place-based learning that makes Episcopal so unique. Pictured on the cover are five MRC liaisons in D.C.: Tristan Duong ’25, Selah McCray ’25, Carson Cowburn ’26, Logan Dearing ’25, and Burnam DuBose ’26.
FEATURES
32 COURAGE: THE CAMPAIGN FOR EPISCOPAL
With $8 million to go in our historic $150 million Courage Campaign, now is the time to finish strong!
42 ALWAYS LEARNING
From conferences to redesigned courses and international travel, Episcopal’s faculty and staff are always striving to be the best they can be. In their own words, they share recent professional development opportunities that have changed the way they teach and give back to the community.
96 “SOMETHING LIT UP IN MY HEART…”
Senior and accomplished arts student Huston Sgro reflects on the impact photography has had on her life — and how important it is to rediscover your inner child.
DEPARTMENTS
2 FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
4 EPISCOPAL UP CLOSE
54 CLASS NOTES
After Episcopal: Laurance VanMeter ’76, Crystal Taylor-Simon ’96, William Stallworth ’98 and Hannah Huffines Amick ’99, and Julie Barraza Boggs ’06
89 IN MEMORIAM
Head of School: Charley Stillwell
Assistant Head for Advancement: Christina Holt
Director of Communications: Irfan Latimer
Associate Director of Communications and Magazine Editor: Ann deSaussure Biondi ’08
Assistant Director of Communications and School Photographer: Harrison Griffin
Assistant Director of Communications and Class Notes Editor: Marissa Murdock
Photographers: Natalie Davies, Rebecca Drobis, Harrison Griffin, Sam Levitan, Cory Royster
Please send address corrections to: Advancement Office, Episcopal High School, 1200 North Quaker Lane, Alexandria, VA 22302. Or by email to communications@episcopalhighschool.org.
Episcopal High School does not discriminate in its admissions, or in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, or in access to or treatment in any other School-administered program on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, ancestry, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, or any other protected category in accordance with applicable Federal, State, and local laws.
HEAD OF SCHOOL LETTER
We have enjoyed an especially exciting and action-packed fall here on campus. We are so incredibly fortunate to have an amazing group of students and adults living and learning together each day. This has been a year when internal and external events have added a burst of creativity to our programming and enhanced the experience of the students significantly. The School, with the help of our McCain-Ravenel Center for Intellectual and Moral Courage, has taken advantage of this important political moment to engage our students in the Presidential election and to inspire them to examine a number of important and complex topics and issues from multiple perspectives so that they can mature in their views. The faculty has also continued our work to take our use of the remarkable resources of Washington to new heights to elevate the excellence of our academic program and to open our students’ eyes to various pathways for leadership and impact.
I am glad that our magazine will give you a more in-depth appreciation for the ways that the School has focused on the Presidential election and the importance of civil dialogue about the complicated and complex issues swirling around us. From the differences in the party platforms this year to the benefits and challenges of certain environmental policies to the discussions surrounding proposed reforms for the Supreme Court, our students have encountered interesting experts who look at these kinds of issues from multiple perspectives and discuss them in a respectful and open-minded manner. I have been proud of the Senior Monitors and the leaders of our large Young Republicans and Young Democrats Clubs, who have encouraged student curiosity and engagement with the Presidential election all while encouraging the student body to remain united and supportive of all no matter what their political leanings.
The spirit and positive energy among the students and faculty are so impressive.
It is also important that this has been a year when the faculty have focused a great deal of attention on enhancing significantly our engagement with the incredible resources of Greater Washington in ways that strengthen our academic program dramatically. One secret to academic excellence is for teachers to find the most engaging and compelling ways to excite the students about their learning. Our new schedule, which allows teachers regularly to take their classes for two and a half hour blocks of time to Washington without pulling students from any other responsibilities, has opened the door to fascinating learning moments. One of my advisees, for instance, was beaming with enthusiasm after her senior Advanced Government class spent the day in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing Room playing the role of senators in the senators’ chairs and grilling an Episcopal-connected staffer who, as an imaginary Assistant Secretary of State, had to defend the Administration’s decision not to allow Ukraine to aim long range missiles at targets in Russia. This student now has leaned into her study of Ukraine and the roles that Congress and the President play in foreign affairs at a level that few traditional classes could ever inspire.
I do hope that those of you who have not visited Alexandria recently will come to see the School in action. The spirit and positive energy among the students and faculty are so impressive. Our most experienced faculty leaders continue to set a remarkable example with their passion for teaching excellence and their ability to build powerful relationships with the students. We also continue to attract terrific new educators to the faculty who bring creativity and comfort with innovative technologies that are also enhancing our academic program. It can be hard to appreciate all that occurs here from continuing our emphasis on our key core values of honor and integrity, respect and kindness, personal responsibility, and rigor to our ongoing enhancements in our programs and learning experiences. We would love to have you come to see it all in person. Episcopal is such a special place, and we all feel very fortunate to play our small parts in this impressive community.
Sincerely,
Charles M. Stillwell Head of School
Episcopal Up Close
GEOFF
BENNETT
Chief Financial Officer
B.A., Kenyon College; MBA, Arizona State University
Welcome, New Faculty & Staff
Hometown: New York, N.Y.
What’s the best part of your day at EHS?
Starting the day walking our dogs around campus early in the morning. What surprised you the most about Episcopal? The great food!
ELI BLAIR-MAY ’16
Assistant Dean of Students; Hummel
Dorm Head; 9th Grade Class Dean
B.A., Wesleyan University
Hometown: Alexandria, Va.
What’s the best part of your day at EHS? Talking with the students. What surprised you the most about Episcopal? How much things haven’t changed, but how much they have.
ANNA BODNAR
French & Spanish Teacher
B.A., Westminster College (Penn.); M.A., Middlebury College Hometown: Pittsburgh, Penn.
What’s the best part of your day at EHS? Mealtimes! I have enjoyed spending time with my colleagues and advisory at lunch and dinner.
What surprised you the most about Episcopal? My students ask such meaningful, awesome, and sometimes unexpected questions. They truly want to learn how the language they’re studying works, and they keep me on my toes in the best way!
JOHN CABALLERO
Director of Technology
B.S., University of Notre Dame; M.A.T., University of Portland; M.S., North Carolina State University; M.Ed., University of South Carolina Hometown: Tampa, Fla.
What’s the best part of your day at EHS? Helping students and faculty solve their tech-related needs and helping with their tech-related ideas.
What surprised you the most about Episcopal? The spirit and energy of all the students, faculty, and staff for all aspects of community and school life at Episcopal.
HARRISON GRIFFIN
Assistant Director of Communications
B.S., American University
Hometown: Orange County, Calif.
What’s the best part of your day at EHS? Interacting with all facets of the EHS community.
What surprised you the most about Episcopal? How kind and welcoming everyone is!
EVAN HOWARD
Chemistry & Physics Teacher
B.S., University of South Florida; ACS Certified Chemist
Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla.
What’s the best part of your day at EHS? Getting to come home and see my family for lunch most days — it’s the best midday pick-me-up.
What surprised you the most about Episcopal? The community.
STEVEN KEITH
Math Teacher
B.A., Harvard University
Hometown: Shoreham, N.Y.
What’s the best part of your day at EHS? Passing time between classes and activity blocks. Students, faculty, and staff are incredibly friendly (always saying hi or stopping for a conversation), which always adds some positivity to the day.
What surprised you the most about Episcopal? How welcoming the community is. My wife and I are very grateful to have joined this community.
DR. BECKY KELLER
Latin Teacher; World Religions Teacher
B.A., George Mason University; M.A., Yale University; Ph.D., The Catholic University of America
Hometown: Alexandria, Va.
What’s the best part of your day at EHS? Teaching students who are engaged and interested.
What surprised you the most about Episcopal? The warmth of the community!
WENDY KRIDEL
Dean of Students
B.S., University of Delaware; M.S., Towson University Hometown: Livingston, N.J.
What’s the best part of your day at EHS? Community Meeting!
What surprised you the most about Episcopal? The support and care of all the faculty and students.
SEAN
MILLER
Physics & Chemistry Teacher
B.A., University of Virginia Hometown: Virginia Beach, Va.
What’s the best part of your day at EHS? I love watching a topic “click” for a student! When I see their eyes light up with new understanding, especially if they initially struggled with the idea, I can’t help but smile.
What surprised you the most about Episcopal? The energy at our athletics events! I had never seen a high school volleyball game as packed as the Seminary Hill Cup game.
DAN O’NEIL
Director of Auxiliary Programs
B.A., James Madison University Hometown: Arlington, Va.
What’s the best part of your day at EHS? Connecting with the outgoing and friendly students when moving around campus. What surprised you the most about Episcopal? How busy the mail room is!
ELLIE SYKES ’17
Stewardship and Donor
Research Assistant
B.A., University of Richmond Hometown: Norfolk, Va.
What’s the best part of your day at EHS? I love being on campus and enjoying the beauty of it, as well as getting to work alongside my amazing colleagues. What surprised you the most about Episcopal? Having been a student at EHS only 7 years ago, I don’t think much surprises me, but I’m always impressed by how friendly everyone is on campus — faculty, staff, and students!
Episcopal Up Close
New Faces on the Board
IN THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, EPISCOPAL WELCOMED THREE NEW MEMBERS TO OUR ESTEEMED BOARD. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THEIR IMPACT ON THE SCHOOL IN THE YEARS TO COME!
“It’s a pleasure to be back at Episcopal and to get to work with such interesting and talented Trustees. I look back so fondly on my time at EHS, and I’m excited to pay it forward and help strengthen the institution I love.”
— MARGUERITE KLEINHEINZ STONER ’08
“As a new Board member at Episcopal, I’m honored to support the School’s growth, create an inclusive environment, and advocate for students of all backgrounds, especially Asian students. I look forward to helping EHS thrive as a strong educational community.”
—
DANNY
CHEN P’19 ’27
“Joining the Board, I’m excited to give back to a place that had such a positive impact on my life, to help carry on Episcopal’s traditions that meant so much to me as a student, and to help steward the School for future generations.”
— WRAY BARBER WHITTICOM ’98
Episcopal’s 2024-25 Board of Trustees
Less Technology, More Connection
IF YOU WALK INTO LAIRD DINING HALL DURING A WEEKDAY LUNCH, YOU WILL NOT SEE ANY PHONES — A RARITY IN TODAY’S INCREASINGLY ONLINE WORLD.
Helmed by Assistant Head for Student Life Phil Spears, the School’s new technology initiative is designed to limit phone use during the academic day so that students can feel more unplugged from their devices and thus more connected to each other.
Classrooms now feature boxes that students store their phones in at the start of class, and phones are prohibited in the dining hall during lunch and all-School gatherings like Chapel, Community Meeting,
and seated meals so students can focus on being together rather than being on their devices. Faculty and staff also support this endeavor by refraining from technology use during lunch. According to Spears, the goal is to help students ensure they are effectively “using technology in ways that help them be happy and healthy,” especially when there is significant, emerging research to indicate technology can do the opposite for a young, developing brain.
Episcopal Up Close
M c CAIN-RAVENEL DAY
Collaborating with Empathy and Respect
HOMER A. JACOBS ’83 M c CAIN-RAVENEL DAY
THE HOMER A. JACOBS ’83 FUND WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE CLASSMATES AND FRIENDS OF HOMER JACOBS ’83 (1965-2014) TO HONOR HIS MEMORY. IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS, BEGINNING IN 2024-25 ONE M c CAIN-RAVENEL DAY EACH YEAR WILL BE DESIGNATED IN HIS NAME WITH PROGRAMMING FOCUSED ON CIVIL DIALOGUE AND JOURNALISM — BOTH PASSIONS OF HIS.
Designed to help students develop the communication skills to further meaningful and healthy civic discourse, this year’s focus of McCainRavenel Center programming is collaborating with empathy and respect. Throughout this year, students will hear from noted practitioners, and reflect on their personal goals, strengths, and growth opportunities. As school-wide efforts aim to leverage the 2024 election season through inauguration as an opportunity for learning and excitement, students will identify, practice, and hone these critical life skills.
As part of September’s Homer A. Jacobs ’83 McCain-Ravenel Day, EHS welcomed Denise Grace Gitsham, current affairs analyst and author of “Politics for People Who Hate Politics” and Lara Schwartz, Director of American University’s Project on Civil Dialogue.
Both addressed the importance of civil dialogue, with Gitsham emphasizing that respect for one’s individual values and beliefs is more important than any singular policy one may be discussing, and with Schwartz encouraging all to move from binary thinking to expansive thinking that embraces curiosity. Schwartz also emphasized the importance of leaning on established norms to understand the essential underpinnings of healthy dialogue. After discussion, students and faculty identified the specific norms for healthy interactions at Episcopal, which included:
• hearing people out (including criticism);
• working hard;
• lifting each other up;
• following the Honor Code;
• getting to know each other;
• being respectful;
• expressing truth;
• being patient and courageous; and
• promoting change.
Dr. Ryan Pemberton, Jennifer Wheless Campbell, Denise Grace Gitsham, Pearce Campell ’27, Charley Stillwell
LEARNING TO MODEL CIVIL DISCOURSE
Disagreement does not have to be disrespectful, and modeling this for students in concert with McCain-Ravenel Day programming has been the focus of Episcopal’s Civil Dialogue Series, established in 2022. Learning why civil exchange is important, knowing how to effectively do it, watching others model the behavior, and then practicing it for oneself was the focus for our community this fall, ahead of the election.
In September, the School hosted a series of conversations with a wide range of speakers, paired by their varied perspectives on foreign policy, electoral politics, sustainability, and local government/finance. October afforded students the opportunity to hear differing viewpoints on whether President Biden’s proposed Supreme Court reforms should be enacted. And just before Election Day, students heard from Ambassador Hugo Rodriguez, a career senior foreign service officer. “Seeing people from both sides of the aisle come together and share what they have in common, as well as their differences, in a respectful way cut through the political polarization students like me are used to seeing in the media,” said MRC liaison Abby Slap ’25.
Our speakers really helped learning come to life by showing students real-world applications for the skills we are helping them develop. As we move through this election season, we will honor the norms and goals the students developed collaboratively, which are deeply rooted in the ethos of Episcopal.”
DR. RYAN PEMBERTON, THE WILLIAM STAMPS FARISH FUND DIRECTOR OF THE M c CAIN-RAVENEL CENTER FOR INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL COURAGE
CIVIL DIALOGUE SPEAKERS THIS FALL
AMBASSADOR HUGO RODRIGUEZ
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Bureau of Consular Affairs
WILLIAM COGSWELL P’25
Mayor of Charleston
HANNAH HURLEY
Former Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications for U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema (AZ)
SCOTTOW KING ’75
Partner at Gaille PLLC
RACHEL M ac KNIGHT P’20
Founder of Sycamore Strategies
GREG MICHAELS ’75
International Development Professional
ISRAEL ORTEGA
Deputy Communications Director for The LIBRE Initiative
HENRIK RASMUSSEN
Executive Director of the Institute for Science and International Security
JOHN RICHERT P’25
Managing Director at J.P. Morgan
DAVID C. SIMMONS, ESQ.
Chief Administrative Law Judge (Ret.), D.C. Commission on Human Rights; Adjunct Professor of Law, Georgetown Law
TRENTON VAN OSS
Litigation Associate in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
Episcopal Up Close
A Busy Election Fall on the Hill
At Episcopal, a mere seven miles from our nation’s capital, guiding our community through an election cycle requires all to be engaged in the conversations and planning. In the classroom and on dorm, faculty have been instrumental in providing thoughtful opportunities for students to delve into timely issues in constructive ways. Throughout this fall, the Senior Monitors and the leaders of the Young Republicans, Young Democrats, and Government Clubs have worked together to set a positive and supportive tone on campus and provided us with a remarkable example of collaborating with empathy and respect. The group co-sponsored an election night watch party for students and spent the evening tracking and analyzing the results in real time.
Looking ahead to January 20, we are planning several educational approaches for our students to experience the inauguration, our democratic process in action, and the peaceful transfer of power.
EHS has a long history of participation in inaugural festivities, and we share this From the Archives article published in EHS: The Magazine of Episcopal High School in Spring 2013, which offers an interesting historical retrospective.
Members of the Young Democrats and Young Republicans with social studies teacher Joe Eldred encourage fellow students to vote in the campus election.
Providing Perspective
POLLSTER JIM HOBART
Fresh off election night polling in November, Jim Hobart came to speak with students about his role as a Partner with nationally recognized Public Opinion Strategies, the largest political and public affairs polling firm in the U.S. and one of the 50 largest research firms in the nation. During the visit, he provided students with objective statistical data analysis and added context about the 2024 election cycle. Hobart outlined longitudinal data examining voter trends and compared election results in the U.S. to other elections that occurred around the world in 2024. Students asked outstanding questions, and Hobart did a wonderful job connecting concepts and ideas to voter perception and decision-making.
54th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Paul Ryan P’20 visited with students less than a week after the 2024 election, providing his insight on the current political climate and the recent election. Introduced by his nephew Zach Jackson ’26, Ryan fielded questions from the audience about foreign relations, the federal budget, and the polarization between parties. He spoke of his first internship on Capitol Hill — and how that opportunity paved the way for his own journey to Congress and a long career in politics. Ryan encouraged Episcopal students to take advantage of internships, especially while still in high school, and reminded them how lucky they are to go to high school right in the nation’s capital: “You have all these opportunities right in front of you,” the former Speaker of the House said. “You just have to walk through the doors.”
PAUL RYAN P’20
Episcopal Up Close
f amily
Forty-two alumni currently have children attending EHS! The families gathered on the steps of Ainslie Arts Center for a legacy photo.
f eatured showcases
Undeterred by the chilly weather, the EHS community proudly sported pink attire for Breast Cancer Awareness Month to cheer on the girls’ varsity soccer team and the varsity football team during Friday Night Lights. Under the bright lights of Hummel Bowl, Sally Taylor McNorrill ’25 weaved through defenders from A School Without Walls in the final minutes to score a gametying goal, bringing the score to 2-2. Earlier in the match, McNorrill assisted Anna McMillan ’25 in netting the first goal of the night. The intense match ultimately ended in a well-fought draw.
Despite a tough loss to league rival Bullis, the football team had a standout moment when Jackson Gravlee ’26 connected with Harvard commit Reed Phillips ’25 for a thrilling 69-yard touchdown pass. To cap off an incredible first day of Fall Family Weekend, the community rallied in full support, creating an unforgettable atmosphere as both teams battled hard under the bright lights.
Episcopal Up Close
COMMUNITY AUTHORS
Leaders in Literature
CATCH UP WITH THE EHS COMMUNITY’S MOST RECENT AUTHORS.
Stayton Bonner III ’98
A journalist, author, and entrepreneur, Stayton Bonner ’98 recently published “Bare Knuckle,” a deep dive into the underground world of bare-knuckle boxing. His passion for storytelling began at Episcopal thanks to formative teachers like Whit Morgan, Bill Hannum, Peter Gillin, and Perry Epes ’65. “Beyond the writing classes at Episcopal, there was such a focus on research and striving to get to the heart of the matter,” Bonner said.“Those basic principles stuck with me.”
“Bare Knuckle” focuses on the true story of a father’s efforts to secure a better life for his daughter by competing in illegal fights. The book, based on Bonner’s original “Men’s Journal” article in 2016, made USA TODAY’s Best-selling Booklist. “Readers don’t have to be interested in boxing to enjoy the book,” he said. “I pursue stories I’m passionate about, and this was one I knew needed to be shared with a broader audience beyond the original article”
Bonner is now preparing for the May 2025 release of his next book, “The Million Dollar Car Detective,” based on another
article of Bonner’s published in “Esquire” in 2019. The book is already in the pipeline for film and TV adaptations.
After leaving “Rolling Stone” in 2017, Bonner founded Flatbed Creative, a content creation company that blends journalism with marketing for major brands like the New York Mets, Citibank, and Cisco. “My team brings our journalism skills to our clients,” he explained. “That gives me the freedom in my own life to pursue any book project or magazine article story that I want. I’m grateful to do what I love every day alongside this dynamite team of people.”
Dr. Charlotte Taylor Fryar
After relocating to Washington, D.C., for her husband’s job in 2017, EHS social studies and English teacher Dr. Charlotte Taylor Fryar admitted she felt disconnected from the nation’s capital. But as she spent more time in D.C., she developed a passion for the local ecology — a topic she spent five years studying and writing about before culminating the work into her first book, “Potomac Fever: Reflections on the Nation’s River.” “I started writing about the river because it was right outside my window,” Fryar said. “But as I walked the banks of the Potomac and took in the nature around me, I realized there was a bigger story to tell.”
Set for release in March 2025, the book is a collection of essays that weave together the city’s natural history with its deeply rooted racial divisions, adding depth to its natural beauty and historical struggles. “I want people to understand what makes D.C. so culturally and geographically unique,” Fryar explained. “D.C.’s sense of place is not just Washington, the
political city, but D.C., which has a deeply intertwined history of race and democracy.”
As a social studies and English teacher, Fryar uses the district as a classroom, which allows students to dive deeper into its geography, ecology, and racial dynamics. “My love for the city and its unique blend of cultures is mirrored on campus,” she said of Episcopal’s commitment to place-based learning. “The students here make me excited to watch them learn and grasp a concept, whether in the classroom or walking the banks of the Potomac on a flex block.”
David White Jr. ’80
As the author of five published books, David White Jr. ’80 explores the intersection of sports and integrity through his writing. His most recent work of fiction, “An Exceptional Coach,” dives into the life of a high school football coach in Alabama. The novel draws heavily from White’s experience covering high school and college football and offers an authentic perspective on coaching and leadership.
“An Exceptional Coach” is not solely for football fans; it is a story for anyone interested in the unforgettable journey of an outstanding leader. “Even with four other books under my belt,” White said, “‘An Exceptional Coach’ is my favorite. It captures two themes that I aim to highlight through my writing — integrity and entertainment.”
White’s dedication to writing is evident in his detailed approach to character development. “I want my characters to have values I relate to,” he shared, “characteristics I learned during my time at EHS.” The son of an Episcopal alumnus, White was surrounded by EHS values from an early age, and the School played a pivotal role in shaping his approach to life and writing. “My advisor Allen Phillips and my track coach Buzzy Male ’64 taught me academic and personal discipline,” he added. “They gave me tools I’ve used throughout my life, and those same lessons have translated into my writing.”
VISUAL ARTS
ERIK OLSEN ’25
ELIZA HICKS ’26
AMAYA KIM-SENIOR ’26
TILFORD GRIGGS ’25, ERIC SHIN ’25, WHITNEY ANTTILA ’26, LUCINDA CAHAN ’26, PAIGE GOGOLAK ’26, COUSTEAU ROUNTREE ’26, TINA VU ’26
THU HUY ’28
TILFORD GRIGGS ’25 AND RYAN CHEN ’27
OLIVIA VAUGHAN ’26
ANNABELLE CLARK ’25
JOSHUA KOO ’28
DEVON DEBES ’25
Episcopal Up Close
PERFORMING ARTS
The Seven Deadly Sins
THIS FALL, THE EHS THEATER DEPARTMENT TURNED AINSLIE ARTS CENTER INTO “HAUNTED AINSLIE: A SEVEN DEADLY SINS EXPERIENCE.”
As audience members walked through Ainslie and into the Breeden Black Box Theater, student performers acted out famed horror stories by Edgar Allan Poe (“The Cask of Amontillado”) and W.W. Jacobs (“The Monkey’s Paw”). Designed by the talented tech team, each room delved into themes of revenge, greed, uncertainty versus certainty, and the dangers of tempting fate, leaving attendees with frights and chills.
We, the “techies,” put a lot of effort into creating a cohesive and immersive theater experience — learning
Episcopal Up Close
Athletics Highlights
AS CRISP AUTUMN AIR AND VIBRANT LEAVES SET THE SCENE, EPISCOPAL’S FALL SPORTS TEAMS COMPETED IN THRILLING PERFORMANCES THAT KEPT FANS ON THE EDGE OF THEIR SEATS.
Boys’ soccer crowned the season by clinching the state championship, besting number one seed Cape Henry Collegiate 2-0 in a final filled with Maroon spirit. Girls’ tennis had a standout season, reaching the ISL and state semifinals and finishing with an impressive top-five state ranking. Volleyball and field hockey also made it to the ISL and state quarterfinals, closing with number six and number seven state rankings. Cross-country rounded out the season as both the boys and girls were in the top ten in their respective leagues. Way to go, High School!
The boys’ varsity soccer team celebrates winning the VISAA Division 1 State Championship! Head Coach Rick Wilcox was also named VISAA Boys’ Soccer Coach of the Year. Congrats, all!
Episcopal Up Close
Schuyler Williams ’00 Inspires Athletes at SHC Dinner
ON THE EVE OF THE 16TH ANNUAL SEMINARY HILL CUP (SHC), SCHUYLER WILLIAMS ’00, A FORMER FIELD HOCKEY, BASKETBALL, TRACK, AND LACROSSE ATHLETE, DELIVERED AN INSPIRATIONAL SPEECH TO FEMALE FALL ATHLETICS TEAMS ON THE POWER OF BEING A WOMAN IN SPORTS TODAY.
Buoyed by the excitement around female Olympic athletes this summer, Williams touched on the journey of women’s sports. From Simone Biles to Ilona Maher, female athletes are entering a new era, and Williams emphasized that it is a remarkable time to be a woman in sports. “I am both jealous and elated that you all get to compete and be highlighted as female athletes,” she said of the SHC tradition.
As she addressed the girls’ teams, Williams’ message was clear: “Seminary Hill Cup is about more than just a competition — it’s a chance to showcase teamwork, growth, and unity.” She reminded them that “playing your best as an individual or as a team is the most important aspect, and representing Episcopal High School as a female athlete is both a privilege and an honor.”
Williams’ motivational words set the tone for the competition, as Episcopal’s girls’ JV and varsity teams delivered a dominant performance, securing their 7th Seminary Hill Cup victory. The Maroon outshined the Saints with a final score of 6.5 - 2.5 after two days of intense action, marking back-to-back wins for EHS. Episcopal took control early, only losing two out of nine matchups, with varsity soccer ending in a hard-fought tie. This latest win narrows the overall Cup standings to 8-7-1, bringing Episcopal just one win away from tying the all-time series.
SPIRIT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL KICK-OFF CELEBRATION
CLASS OF 1976 GOLF CENTER DEDICATION
MAROON AND BLACK SEMIFORMAL
BURRESS HOUSE DEDICATION
Mary Louise and John Burress ’54 with their family and Charley and Sallie Stillwell at the celebration of the naming of Burress House, the Head of School’s house where the Stillwells reside.
Trustee Alex Liu ’76 (left) and Boota deButts ’76 (right) celebrate the opening of the Class of 1976 Golf Center.
Episcopal Up Close
The 123 rd Game
HUMMEL BOWL BUZZED WITH EXCITEMENT AS A SPIRITED CROWD GATHERED FOR THE 123 rd GAME BETWEEN EPISCOPAL AND WOODBERRY FOREST.
Episcopal struck first with a 1-yard touchdown run from Levi Babin ’27, establishing an early 7-0 lead. Woodberry quickly answered, tying the score at 7-7. Episcopal responded with another 48-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Gravlee ’26 to Judah Ofori-Ansah ’25 closing the half with a 14-10 lead. Throughout The Game, both teams showcased fierce defensive strategies and skillful offensive drives, but Woodberry’s persistence ultimately secured their victory. The Tigers managed to edge ahead in the final minutes, ending The Game with a score of 18-14.
Episcopal Up Close
SPIRIT WEEKEND
THE 2024 ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY CELEBRATED THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF EXTRAORDINARY ALUMNI, COACHES, AND TEAMS WHO LEFT A LASTING LEGACY ON THE EHS SPORTS COMMUNITY. THIS YEAR EPISCOPAL CELEBRATED FORMER STATE CHAMPIONS, STANDOUT TEAMS, UNDEFEATED SEASONS, EXCELLENCE ACROSS MULTIPLE SPORTS, AND ALL-STATE HONOREES. WITH STORIES OF DEDICATION, TEAMWORK, AND IMPACT, THE EVENING REFLECTED THE TRUE SPIRIT OF EPISCOPAL ATHLETICS.
PETER D. HOWELL ’67
Peter Howell played varsity tennis, captaining the team and earning the George Edmond Bradfield Award for Tennis.
“Tennis Captain Peter Howell was able to do something that has not been done in at least fifteen years. Playing at number one singles, he was undefeated for the entire season. The team finished the 1967 season with an 11-2 record, including a victory over defending national champion, Landon School,” according to The Chronicle.
Howell’s enduring impact on the tennis community is reflected in his awards and recognitions, including the Ruth Lay Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2016, multiple GTA Tournament of the Year awards, and his induction into several halls of fame. His legacy continues to inspire and shape the future of tennis, underscoring a lifetime of dedication, excellence, and service to the sport.
SCHUYLER JORDAN WILLIAMS ’00
Schuyler Jordan Williams played varsity lacrosse all four years, serving as co-captain her senior year. Her exceptional performance on the field earned her several awards, including All-ISL, Honorable Mention All-Met, Honorable Mention All-America, and team MVP.
In addition to lacrosse, Williams demonstrated her versatility and commitment to athletics by participating in several other sports. She earned an impressive 10 varsity letters: four in lacrosse, three in field hockey, one in basketball, and two in winter track. In recognition of her athletic prowess and leadership, Schuyler received the prestigious James H. Fannon Jr. Family Award for Athletic Worth following her senior year.
JONATHAN E. LEE ’01
Jonathan Lee’s leadership and performance earned him twelve varsity letters and the prestigious Rinehart Medal for Athletic Worth. He was the captain of the cross country team during his junior and senior years, earning All-IAC, All-City, and All-State honors both years, having previously achieved All-State recognition as a sophomore.
Lee’s basketball career was equally impressive. He played on State Championship teams during his freshman and sophomore years and was captain of the team during his senior year.
In track & field, Lee continued to demonstrate his athletic prowess. He captained the team his senior year and was the IAC 800m champion for three consecutive seasons. His contributions to the sport were acknowledged with the James A. Cathcart III ’55 Scholarship in Memory of C.V. Tompkins for Track & Field his junior year.
LINDSEY SPRAGUE de BUTTS ’08
Lindsey Sprague deButts completed her three-year athletic career at Episcopal with nine varsity letters, earning the James H. Fannon Jr. Family Award for Athletic Worth. In field hockey, she achieved All-ISL honors during both her junior and senior seasons and was named Second-Team All-State. As a sophomore, she was a top defensive player on the state championship lacrosse team, leading the team to a number five state ranking during her junior year. deButts received Honorable Mention All-ISL following her junior season and All-ISL as a senior. During her senior year, she garnered Second-Team All-State, Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention, U.S. Lacrosse All-America, and Academic All-America honors, and was awarded the Tyler Most Valuable Player Award. As stated by the nomination committee, “deButts’ athletic journey is marked by her dedication, skill, and leadership, both on and off the field. Her achievements at The High School and Princeton reflect her commitment to excellence and her ability to inspire and lead her teams to success.”
WILLIAM “HUNTER” de BUTTS IV ’10
During his time at EHS, William “Hunter” deButts IV earned twelve varsity letters and the 2010 Rinehart Medal for Athletic Worth. In football, he played various positions including wide receiver, running back, quarterback, defensive back, punt returner, kickoff returner, and punter. As the captain of the 2008 and 2009 varsity football teams, Hunter earned All-IAC and All-State honors each season from his sophomore to senior years. Hunter rushed for 874 yards, with a standout performance of 284 rushing yards and three touchdowns in a single game. Coach Mark Gowin praised him as one of the best football players he had the privilege of coaching in his 24 years on the Hill. deButts was a four-year letterman in basketball and served as co-captain of the team during his senior year. In lacrosse, he earned All-IAC honors in 2009, was a two-time All-State player, and served as a two-time team captain. Hunter’s lacrosse career included 156 career points, placing him seventh all-time, and 247 ground balls, ranking him third all-time.
SHANTELL
NORISSA MORI BINGHAM ’11
Shantell Norissa Mori Bingham ’11 had a stellar high school track career, showcasing her exceptional talent and dedication and earning her the James H. Fannon Jr. Family Award for Athletic Worth. During her sophomore year, she was first place in the 55-meter and 55-meter hurdles at the VISAA Indoor Championships. During the outdoor season, she continued her dominance by winning the 100-meter hurdles at the ISL Championships.
During her junior season, Bingham won the 55-meter hurdles, took second place in the 55 meter, and third place in the 4x200m relay at the VISAA Indoor Championships. She also placed first in the 100-meter and 100-meter hurdles at the ISL Championships. During her senior year, Bingham secured first place in eight out of nine 55-meter dash indoor races. Her accolades included being named Alexandria Sportsman’s Club Track & Field Athlete of the Year and receiving All-MET honors. As of 2024, Bingham still holds multiple EHS school records and VISAA State meet records, cementing her legacy as a track & field standout.
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RUTH RAINEY SHRUM
Ruth Rainey was one of the first female faculty members at EHS to help prepare the institution for coeducation. In 1991, she coached the School’s inaugural varsity field hockey team. Shrum had an exceptional eye for identifying natural athletic talent, which proved instrumental in shaping the team. The team continued to move up the ranks in the ISL AA, and within just three years, they emerged as ISL champions in both the regular season and postseason in 1993.
“Coach Rainey was steadfast, dedicated, serious, inspiring, powerful, mixed hard work with lots of laughter, and always believed in her players,” former player Amy Fannon Cupic ’94 said. Shrum’s legacy continues through the Ruth K. Rainey Most Valuable Player Field Hockey Award, a testament to her enduring influence and contributions to the sport at Episcopal.
1968 CROSS COUNTRY TEAM
The 1968 cross country team went undefeated in their inaugural season as a varsity team. Throughout the season, the team dominated eight consecutive dual meets, securing the Virginia Private Schools Championship and being named Prep League Champions.
Team captain Tom Herrington ’69 and assistant captain Oliver Marshall ’70, formed a formidable duo throughout the season, winning first place in all but one of the dual meets. The other top five runners, Jack Matthews, Stephen Hyde, and Chris Shepherd, contributed their best, showcasing the team’s unity and strength.
Team member Jack Matthews ’69 reflected on the experience: “As a new varsity sport competing during football season, we felt a little out of the sports mainstream, which created camaraderie that I quite enjoyed. I came to appreciate Mr. Speights’ leadership style: supportive and motivating, but also expecting our best performance. He deserves a huge amount of credit for our success.”
COACHING STAFF
David Speights, coach MEMBERS
Lloyd Guyton Bowers III ’71
David Briggs Buchanan ’69
John Ross Clark ’71
E. Burke Haywood ’71
Thomas Williford Herrington ’69
Stephen Bordley Hyde ’69*
Oliver Shepler Marshall ’70
Jack Beverly Matthews ’69
Joseph Dixon Mayo III ’71
Edward Leavell McDonald ’69
Robert McLean Potter ’72
Peter Van R. Rhein ’70
Christopher Hart Shepherd ’71
Richard Granville Starr Jr. ’71
1977 FOOTBALL TEAM
The 1977 varsity football team had a standout season, finishing with an impressive 9-1 record and outscoring their opponents 203-82. The team’s notable victory came against Woodberry Forest in a snowy Hummel Bowl, breaking the Tigers 24-game, three-year winning streak with a score of 14-9.
“Led by Hall of Fame inductee Lee Shaffer ’78 and several other outstanding players, the ’77 team embraced the intensity and ferocity described by observers,” assistant coach Jim Farrar Jr. ’70 said. “This identity, combined with the athleticism and skills of the team members, made the ’77 team a very formidable opponent and helped fuel its 9-1 record.”
Under Head Coach Ed Rice’s leadership, the team dominated throughout the season, with their only loss being a close 14-18 game against St. Stephen’s. Over 10 players continued their football careers in colleges across the country.
COACHING STAFF
William Ruffin Cox III ’71, assistant coach
James DuBois Farrar Jr. ’70, assistant coach
Edward Adams Rice, head coach MEMBERS
Jon Beard Ammons ’79
Harry J. Archer III ’78
Milton A. Barber IV ’78
Hugh Brooks Barwick III ’79
W. David Broadwell ’78
Edward Laurance Brown ’79
James Felix Clardy Jr. ’78
William Owen Cooper ’79
Martin Shaw Cornelson ’79
Charles Stillwell Craighill ’79
John Stewart Lucas Fleming ’80
Hargrave A. Garrison Jr. ’78
Frank Bradley Gray Jr. ’78*
Samuel Archer Green Jr. ’78*
Frank Brown Holding Jr. ’79
David Jervey Ingle ’80
Alexander Jennette Johnston ’78*
James Devereux Joslin ’80
John Frederick Langhammer ’78
David Poole Largey Jr. ’78
Richard Garland Latture ’77
George Welch Liles Jr. ’78
Marshall Brent Lister ’79
Gordon DuBose Lowman ’79
John Bohannon Mason ’79
Oscar Nelson III ’79
Bailey W. Patrick ’79
Richard J. Perry Jr. ’79
Jeffrey Bryan Pierce ’78
Robert Archer Pierce II ’78
Isaac Mayo Read III ’80
Harry Smith Redmon III ’79
James M. Rice III ’80
Eric Cooper Rowland ’79
Jack Benton Salt Jr. ’78
B. Daniel Sapp Jr. ’79*
John Milton Sayler Jr. ’79
Lee Philip Shaffer III ’78
George William King Smith ’80
Isaac Noyes Smith V ’79
Presley A. L. Smith ’80
C. J. Steuart Thomas III ’79
James Edward Walsh III ’78
James Barrett Wellford ’80
William Murray Wilshire III ’80
Charles McKimmon Winston Jr. ’78
Joseph Redmond Woodside ’78
William Morgan Wright Jr. ’78
CAMPAIGN LEADERSHIP
CHAIR, BOARD OF TRUSTEES Sarah Akridge Knutson ’96 P’26
ASSISTANT HEAD FOR ADVANCEMENT Christina M. Holt P’12 ’15 ’17
Always advancing our mission to prepare young people with the intellectual and moral courage to pursue lives of leadership and service, Episcopal High School is evolving with the world around us and within an educational landscape that demands distinction. Positioned to deliver an education journey that no other school can, Episcopal is in the final phase of COURAGE: THE CAMPAIGN FOR EPISCOPAL .
PERSPECTIVES ON COURAGE
JEFF CLARKE ’89
CHAIR, ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE EHS BOARD OF TRUSTEES
As I drove up the Front Drive almost 40 years ago as a prospective student, I knew Episcopal was where I wanted to spend my secondary school years — some close to me would say my formative years. I learned so much about myself and life in my four years on The Holy Hill. The teachers, the coaches, my friends, and the community all added pieces to make me the man that I am today. I loved Episcopal so much that I came back after college and was a member of the faculty for seven years. I remember accepting the job from Mr. Helfenstein to work for Mr. Walker on the Admissions team. I thought to myself, now it was my turn to give something back to the school that had given me so much.
It has been an honor to serve the last three years on the Episcopal Board of Trustees. I begin my fourth year on the Board and my first year as Chair of the Advancement Committee at this pivotal milestone in the Courage Campaign. I am thrilled to announce that Courage is 95% of the way to our historic $150 million goal. This is an extraordinary time to be a part of The High School.
As a Trustee, I have a front-row seat to see how ambitious developments for our students are being built on the base of our enduring traditions and values.
With Courage, we are building a legacy that will enrich the lives of students for years to come, preparing them to face the challenges of tomorrow with confidence and courage.
I want to take a moment to acknowledge the incredible alumni and families who have stepped forward to support the robust delivery of our mission through a commitment to Courage. Your contributions, large or small, have collectively made a profound impact. Each gift represents a belief in our shared vision that Episcopal students leave The Holy Hill prepared to be positive forces in the world. This community never ceases to amaze me, and the dedication and generosity of our alumni and families always inspire me.
In the final stretch of the Courage Campaign, now is the time for all alumni and families to take part. Every dollar counts. Your involvement is crucial, and I invite you to join me. Now is the time to ask yourself, what role will I play in Courage? Now is the time to invest in the future of Episcopal and ensure that our core beliefs carry on and thrive. Now is the best time to give back. Now is the time to be bold. Our strong finish, their strong future!
Supporting priorities set forth in the 2018 Strategic Plan, COURAGE is a $150 million campaign — the most ambitious in Episcopal’s 185-year history.
This is a defining moment for The High School. Our bold plans are only possible with equally bold support from our community. Our thanks to all the donors who have joined this historic effort to date!
DONORS: 889
ALUMNI: 496
PARENT (CURRENT & PAST): 268
FOUNDATIONS: 22
$120 MILLION RAISED
$142 MILLION RAISED
$150 MILLION GOAL as of November 2024
TIME TO FINISH STRONG
WE’RE 95% THERE.
The historic generosity of the Episcopal community has already had an immense impact.
WITH COURAGE...
WE HAVE LAUNCHED the McCain-Ravenel Center for Intellectual and Moral Courage.
WE HAVE ADDED $23 million to the endowment restricted to financial aid.
WE HAVE BUILT
• two new 36-bed dormitories
• state-of-the-art deButts Health & Wellness Center
• 12 new faculty residences
• Freshmen Village
• high-performance Track & Field facility
• Class of 1976 Golf Center
Your gift now will support generations of students. In this final phase of the Courage Campaign, gifts will help secure:
• dramatically increased access to financial aid;
• competitive compensation and professional development for faculty and staff;
• experiential learning, schoolwide programming, and externships through the McCain-Ravenel Center for Intellectual and Moral Courage; and
• ongoing care and maintenance of campus facilities.
1
ROLL CALL
First and foremost, commit to supporting Episcopal’s annual fund.
2
CAMPAIGN PRIORITIES
Make a pledge to support the strategic priorities.
WHAT WILL YOUR ROLE BE?
Hear from Leah Kannensohn Tennille ’01 about the role she and her husband Dre chose and why they give to the school that gave her so much.
3
LEGACY Include Episcopal in your estate plans.
Would you like more information on how to give? Contact Director of Leadership and Campaign Giving Winnie Robinson at 703-933-4192 or wrobinson@episcopalhighschool.org.
THE McCAINRAVENEL CENTER
WHERE WE BEGAN
IN 1970, DAVID KELSO ’70, PRESIDENT OF THE STUDENT CURRICULUM COMMITTEE, CONCEIVED OF THE IDEA FOR THE MAY PROGRAM, WHERE SENIORS SPEND THEIR LAST MONTH ON THE HOLY HILL IMMERSED IN EXTERNSHIPS RATHER THAN IN THE CLASSROOM.
In Kelso’s words, “Getting out in the ‘real world’ before a relatively unfettered college experience seemed like a good idea.”
Twelve seniors, including Kelso, were the inaugural class of externs. Their work included an array of experiences from Capitol Hill to Children’s Hospital to a social services organization helping underserved children and more.
Kelso, his classmates, and the administration knew then the importance of leveraging the vast resources
of Washington, D.C. What Kelso and his classmates could not have known at the time is what they had started. The May Program, still going strong more than 50 years later with the entire senior class participating, was the origin of the Washington Program, which engages the entire student body and is an integral piece of the McCain-Ravenel Center for Intellectual and Moral Courage.
WHERE WE ARE NOW
ESTABLISHED IN 2018, THE M c CAIN-RAVENEL CENTER FOR INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL COURAGE COORDINATES AND SUPPORTS SIGNATURE INITIATIVES AT EPISCOPAL, WHICH FOCUS ON EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, EXTERNSHIPS, GLOBAL PROGRAMS, ETHICAL LEADERSHIP, OUTDOOR EDUCATION, SERVICE LEARNING, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
The Center helps faculty and staff connect students with the resources of Washington and design programs that advance the mission of the School: to prepare young adults with intellectual and moral courage. The Center’s goal is to ready students for life outside Episcopal and to help them embody the Portrait of a Graduate. It is named for the late Sen. John McCain ’54 and his EHS mentor, teacher William B. Ravenel, a World War II veteran who inspired McCain to pursue a life of honor and service. The senator once said: “Mr. Ravenel changed my life. He gave me some moorings and a compass. He used his classroom as not only a way to teach English but also to teach values and standards and morals.”
David Kelso ’70
THE CENTER’S MISSION REVOLVES AROUND:
` Programming focused on critical issues facing society today, including state and national elections, AI, civil discourse, national security, and ethical leadership. The academic schedule sets aside five days each year for schoolwide McCain-Ravenel events that tap the resources of greater Washington, D.C.
` Deepening connections with the real world of work. To explore a career passion or life interest, students can complete an afternoon externship in their junior year with a professional or expert at a company, organization, or public agency. The final leg of the EHS journey is the Senior Externship, a month-long, daily immersion to prepare students to thrive in college and beyond.
` Inspiring conversations The School has brought more than 200 experts and professionals to campus since 2018 — scientists, scholars, artists, political leaders, and entrepreneurs.
` Build interaction with alumni. All the EHS signature programs tap Episcopal’s network of more than 5,000 alumni to talk about leadership, career fields, and ethics.
SITTING DOWN WITH DR. RYAN PEMBERTON
The William Stamps Farish Fund Director of the McCain-Ravenel Center for Intellectual and Moral Courage
Q:
HOW IS EPISCOPAL’S M c CAIN-RAVENEL CENTER UNIQUE FROM OTHER SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES WITH SIMILAR PROGRAMS?
A:
What makes the MRC so unique is how it is built into every fiber of School life. Programming is designed for every student at EHS, not simply those who opt in. The schedule is designed to allow all students to engage in MRC Day and Civil Dialogue programming throughout the year and provides every class opportunities to engage in experiential learning, known as flex blocks, multiple times a semester. Our faculty identify academic opportunities and EHS makes space for all students to engage in activities that connect the classroom to the world beyond campus. Through incredible externship opportunities we are able to connect students to experiences that ignite new hopes and interests and develop them as intellectually and morally courageous leaders aligned with our Portrait of a Graduate qualities.
Q:
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GOALS THE MRC FACULTY PURSUE IN BRINGING SPEAKERS TO CAMPUS?
A:
We look for a number of things. Most importantly, we hope that speakers are deeply engaging and are excited to connect with high school students. We hope that they model the best aspects of civil discourse. We also hope that speakers bring a wide range of ideas for our students to consider. We never ask our students to agree with what they hear; we want to provide them with an opportunity to hear things that make them consider ideas or perspectives they may not have previously considered. This process allows students to become more self reflective as they examine their beliefs and experiences while also considering the experiences of others. That examination allows students to mature and grow as they learn to relate to people in new and different ways.
Q:
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THE M c CAIN-RAVENEL CENTER?
A:
Our hope for the future of the MRC is to become even more integrated and engaged in all aspects of campus life. We plan to develop grade-level classes that are structured to take special advantage of our location and ensure that all students have shared experiences, creating opportunities for bonding and class camaraderie. The grade-level classes would be deeply connected to both MRC programming and departmental class offerings. We also plan to build a leadership program, organizing the opportunities provided to students both in and out of the classroom. The focus of the program will be to help students become more self reflective and intentional as they connect classroom work to extracurricular activities to opportunities for engagement with think tanks, NGOs, policy makers, and non-profit organizations that make D.C. such a rich and vibrant area.
Student liaisons to the McCain-Ravenel Center explain what the MRC means to them.
ALTERING REALITY AT THE MUSEUM OF ILLUSIONS
Science department chair Luke Peterson’s Neuroscience class visited the Museum of Illusions to study how the brain creates illusions. According to Peterson, “the museum allowed us to dynamically explore how our brain interacts with stimuli. By experiencing how illusions manipulate their neural pathways firsthand, my students can better understand discussions on sensory neurons, stimuli processing, the visual cortex, and even the role of top-down processing in perception. This experience enriched our class studies, allowing students to observe their brain at work, while highlighting both the complexity and limitations of human perception. Beyond this flex block, our time at the museum allowed us to ground the theoretical neuroscience concepts in interactive and memorable ways that deepen comprehension and appreciation of the human brain.”
MOUNT VERNON
Dr. Charlotte Taylor Fryar’s Advanced American Studies visited Mount Vernon to contemplate how well the place tells the story of the many lives of George Washington: a revered founding father, a military hero, a land surveyor, a politician, a husband, and a man who owned enslaved people. The trip organically coincided with their summer reading book: “Never Caught: The Washingtons’ Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge” by Erica Armstrong Dunbar. Advanced American Studies covers two separate class blocks, meaning the class had more time to explore and consider their assignment — something Fryar does not take for granted when lesson planning. “Having the double block has been revolutionary,” she said. Read more about the recently revamped course on page 43.
always learning
THEIR OWN WORDS
It is no secret that the Episcopal faculty and staff go above and beyond. From motivating students in the classrooms to coaching them through the highs and lows on dorm, on the athletics fields, and on stage, these adults spend their days consistently
working to enhance the lives of students. With support from the Dean of Faculty Lucy Whittle Goldstein ’97, they also make sure to make time for their own professional development — working to continuously evolve both for themselves and for their students.
This past summer alone, faculty have thoughtfully redesigned courses, presented at national conferences, traveled internationally to represent Episcopal, and invested in selfdevelopment. Hear more about their impressive work, in their own words.
REDESIGNED COURSES
“Our work to redesign the ninth-grade English course (titled Fundamentals of Literature & Composition, or FLC for short) came out of a few different impulses. First, we wanted an opportunity to consider why we teach what we do, and to make our own choices about what ties the course together — the last redesign of the course had been long before any of us worked at Episcopal. Second, we wanted to help students deepen their connection to Washington, D.C. Going to a boarding school is making an intentional choice to develop a connection to a new place at a crucial time in a young person’s life, and going to this boarding school in particular is about connecting to the Washington region. So, with generous funding from the School (and building on work fellow English teacher Jamie Biondi had done a few years ago to codify the course’s skills), we spent the summer reading every book set in D.C. we could, scouting flex blocks, and putting together units focused on different texts and aspects of the city. In August, we stitched it all together to make our new D.C.-focused FLC, which we hope will ensure a more uniform ninth-grade experience and help students connect to their new home.”
— HUGH KOEZE, INTERIM CHAIR OF THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
“American Studies at EHS has previously been co-taught by one social studies teacher and one English teacher across two class periods — with each teacher taking one period. This summer, I created a new version of Advanced and Non-Advanced American Studies and turned it into a truly interdisciplinary course. I wove a more traditional American Studies curriculum with readings, lectures, and flex blocks designed to teach students not only American Studies but also what I refer to as ‘Washington, D.C. Studies.’ Because we study a landscape and place that is intimate and known to them (D.C.), students are better able to understand macro-scale American history, politics, and culture. It is one thing to say Frederick Douglass is an incredibly important figure in the history of American chattel slavery; it is another thing to read his own words on the subject; and it is a whole other thing to visit his home in Washington, D.C., walk the streets he walked, listen to the music he listened to, et cetera.
Because of the dual-block nature of our class, American Studies allows students to go not only broad but deep into their examination of American history and culture. We have the opportunity to go on longer and more regular flex blocks, which translates not just to more time out of the classroom but to deeper and more meaningful experiences while we are outside Episcopal’s gates. The guiding question of American Studies is how the study of the American past can help us understand the present day, so everything we do in this class ties back to current-day issues. This is what differentiates American Studies from an American History class. In this way, our class aims to empower students to confront and solve the most pressing problems in American society.”
— DR. CHARLOTTE TAYLOR FRYAR, ENGLISH AND SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER
From left to right: Jamie Biondi, Monika Viola, and Hugh Koeze.
Dr. Charlotte Taylor Fryar (right) with Lucinda Cahan ’26 (left)
“At the end of last year, Pierce Brennan, chair of the math department, approached me with the opportunity to teach an introductory statistics class — which was a change from my usual science course load. This class, along with AP statistics, was on offer several years ago, but more recently, only advanced statistics was made available to seniors. As chair, Pierce wanted a wider array of senior-elective math classes for seniors of differing mathematical backgrounds, and I was more than happy to help. With the upcoming election, we both thought that statistics would be especially relevant to seniors who are getting ready to vote for the very first time. Therefore, we tailored our curriculum this fall to focus on topics germane to the election: different survey types, data interpretation, and a discernment for statistical significance. We even conducted our own political survey on the National Mall as part of our fall flex block. In the spring semester, the content of the course will change from a focus on statistics to a focus on financial literacy. Before they leave for college, our seniors should know how a credit card works, the purpose of the Federal Reserve, and the power of compounding interest. Our hope, in short, is that the second half of the course will equip them with the tools to become both financially literate and financially independent.”
— CHARLIE MOORE, MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHER
CONFERENCES
“Irecently represented Episcopal High School as a panelist in a national planned giving webinar titled ‘Legacy Challenges: Success Stories and Lessons Learned.’ Throughout our presentations, my fellow panelists from the Smithsonian Institution and Washington National Cathedral and I highlighted best practices and lessons learned from our respective institutions’ efforts to build legacy support, with my focus on Episcopal’s Bell Society Legacy Challenge. I shared literature on the EHS challenge and photographs of promotional materials. Moderated by EHS planned giving consultant John Kendrick, the goal was to demonstrate the power of Legacy Challenges for nonprofits, showing how donors can benefit institutions both now — by “unlocking” an immediate matching gift — and in the future, through their planned gift.
Additionally, these initiatives can transform planned giving from an individual or family-focused endeavor into a collective effort in support of a nonprofit organization. Too often, nonprofits face limited resources, and a Legacy Challenge, such as the Bell Society Legacy Challenge that is currently underway, is a low-cost option that can encourage constituents to create legacy gifts that are meaningful to the donor and impactful for the organization’s future.”
— KENT ALLEY P’22, DIRECTOR OF PLANNED GIVING
John Kendrick (left) and Kent Alley (right)
“Earlier this year, I attended the Sports Field Management Association’s annual conference. SFMA helps sports field managers prepare and maintain beautiful and safe field sources by fostering connections and offering continued education. I have previously run seminars related to the careful maintenance of Bermuda grass, which we have on Bryant Field, Dawson Baseball Diamond, and the new track & field. It’s amazing to attend and get to know fellow grounds superintendents across the United States at this conference, but particularly in our Northern Virginia area. Over the years, I have gotten to know my counterparts at peer institutions through SFMA, learning best practices from rejuvenating the fields to setting unique agronomic calendars to ensure our fields thrive year-round. The connections I’ve made at this conference to other sports field managers, from the Washington Commanders to the Baltimore Ravens, have proved invaluable in ensuring our fields are some of the best in the game. So much so that in the past few years, we’ve had professional athletes from the U.S. women’s national soccer team to the Colombia men’s national soccer team train on our fields while in D.C.”
— JESS EVANS, GROUNDS MAINTENANCE SUPERINTENDENT
“This summer, Kiamani Wilson and I were awarded the opportunity to travel to Princeton, New Jersey, and partake in the Klingenstein Summer Institute, a professional development program hosted by Columbia University, Teachers College. Over the 10 days, we and ~75 other early career independent school educators attended lectures, participated in discussion regarding pedagogy and practice, and explored who we are as teachers. Supported by current research in mind-brain education; equity, inclusion, and belonging; and social-emotional learning, the content gave us the opportunity to develop how we interact with education in the ‘now’ and begin to think about education in the ‘future.’ In addition to the wonderful conversations, discussions, and dialogues, we had the opportunity to revise our teaching philosophy and reflect on our current practices, all designed to better ourselves as teachers. Moving forward, we are excited to implement the lessons we learned and continue to grow as individuals and professionals.”
— LUKE PETERSON, SCIENCE DEPARTMENT CHAIR, AND KIAMANI WILSON ’14, MATH TEACHER
Luke Peterson (right) and Kiamani Wilson ’14 (center).
“For the past several years, Episcopal has participated in a unique network of schools around the world known as the World’s Leading Schools Association (WLSA). This collection of 55 impressive schools spans five continents and offers opportunities for faculty and students to participate in programs that enhance cross-cultural understanding, promote academic excellence in multiple cultural settings, and support the development of our students into global leaders. WLSA also has a partnership initiative with leading universities around the world and supports initiatives by higher education admissions deans to build relationships with underrepresented schools and students who do not typically have opportunities to attend these prestigious programs.
In my current role as Chair of the WLSA Board, I was offered two exciting opportunities this past summer. First, at the end of my planned visit with alumni and parents in South Korea and China, I was asked to help kick off a fascinating conference in Shanghai co-hosted by WLSA and New York University’s Shanghai campus on AI innovations and their impact on education. Over 300 educators, educational reformers, and corporate leaders from around the world attended the event. Following the conference I was then asked to accompany WLSA’s Executive Director for a seven-day trip to Nepal and Bhutan to visit prospective new member schools in the two countries. We met with inspirational educators whose schools have set an impressive standard for academic excellence and achievement in these two beautiful, mountainous countries. I was also joined on this trip by the admissions deans from NYU, the University of Pennsylvania, and Carnegie Mellon and key number two leaders in admissions from Michigan and the University of Chicago who were also excited to build relationships with these schools. Moments like this help Episcopal build wonderful relationships with intriguing schools and, I hope, set the stage for ongoing future global partnerships that can enhance our students’ experiences.”
— CHARLEY STILLWELL, HEAD OF SCHOOL
“As a college counselor, I often emphasize the importance of continuous learning to my students. This summer, I embraced that principle firsthand at the Brown Sugar Writers Retreat, an innovative professional development opportunity designed for college counselors of color working in independent schools. The retreat allowed us to explore the nuanced aspects of our work, from supporting diverse students within independent school communities to navigating our own roles as counselors of color in these institutions.
The retreat reinforced the vital role that college counselors play in shaping students’ futures, particularly within independent school communities. Every strategy learned, every connection made, and every insight gained will contribute to my ability to guide students toward their post-secondary goals. The experience has energized me with new programming, outreach, and support ideas that I’m excited to implement at our school. After all, when we invest in educator development, we invest in student success.”
— WARREN QUIRETT, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING
Charley Stillwell visited with Pempem Dorji ’22 and her aunt Lyonpo Dechen Wangmo, who served as the Minister of Health for Bhutan and President of the World Health Assembly.
OXBRIDGE ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
“Ispent a month in Paris serving as a program dean with Oxbridge Academic Programs this past summer. The primary roles of the program deans were to field questions from parents, ensure that students followed program rules, and oversee younger members of the administrative team. Being familiar with the boarding school environment helped me to jump right into life in Oxbridge and help the program run smoothly. Although the deans were not in charge of student activities, I would occasionally have the opportunity to help chaperone activities, and I had time to enjoy Paris on my off-duty days. One of my most memorable experiences was an all-program trip to Vaux-le-Vicomte, a château about 30 miles outside of Paris. My summer with Oxbridge was my first time working in an administrative role and it allowed me to gain invaluable experience and perspective that I look forward to implementing into my work at EHS.”
— ANNA BODNAR, FRENCH AND SPANISH TEACHER
“In 2016, I attended the Oxbridge Teacher Seminar in Oxford, England, and I loved my experience studying Shakespeare. I still use some of those resources in my classroom today! When looking for a summer experience in 2022, working for Oxbridge Academic Programs was a no brainer. For our program at the University of Cambridge, England, we welcomed over 400 students from 41 countries across the globe and offered them over 20 courses, from aerospace engineering to medical science and global business. With a wonderful balance of activities and academics, students are able to explore their passions in a new city. Returning for the past two summers, I worked as a program dean, assisting students with everyday problems, communicating with parents, and supporting our teaching faculty. Stepping out of the classroom and into an administrative role has been an exciting opportunity to experience another side of school life, but in the end, I’m still a teacher at heart.”
— LAUREN ECHKO, ENGLISH TEACHER
Anna Bodnar (right)
stepping out
hile Episcopal’s Burch Outdoor Program dates back to 1998, the spirit of challenging oneself and bonding with classmates and faculty goes back to the founding of The High School. Given a lack of other transportation options during the earliest years of Episcopal’s history, students thought nothing of trekking out for long walks. They often traveled to Pohick Church, 12 miles away, known to Episcopalians as the “Mother Church of Northern Virginia,” and Mount Vernon, 10 miles away, which was still occupied by the Washington family. Even a trip into the District might start with walking from campus to the ferry dock on the Potomac. The unofficial jaunts would attract anywhere between several individuals to dozens of students. In the spring of 1842, Episcopal’s students decided to pursue a bigger challenge. Coming off a mild winter, but one deeply affected by illness, some students decided to organize a trek to Great Falls, Virginia. Being a nearly 20-mile walk, this endeavor required more extensive
Walking was the rule, alike for boys, tutors, and Principal.”
planning than the usual day hikes from campus. Anticipating a long day, an early breakfast was arranged for a Friday in May, so the party, which included half the student body, two faculty members, and Headmaster William Nelson Pendleton, could start their adventure at sunrise. The agreement among the participants was to complete the journey on foot, but with an accompanying wagon stocked with provisions that could accommodate any of the younger boys should they find themselves exhausted by the undertaking. Apparently, one of the older, bigger students had other plans and had hired a buggy to carry him the distance while his schoolmates and instructors walked. In a case of positive peer pressure, the buggy was sent away and the student was well able to keep up with his companions.
With the group now unanimously in agreement on traveling by foot, they set off, walking on Braddock Road to Leesburg Pike to the falls. Given the size of the group, smaller groups naturally formed according to pace with some of the faster individuals dropping back to accompany and give encouragement to the younger walkers. Since it was a beautiful spring day, no one felt the need to rush. After several hours of progress, the group reached their destination and were rewarded with lunch and a spectacular view. Despite the length of the trek, most of the group explored the area, even scrambling to access the best views, until the sun set. After dinner, the group settled into sleep on beds, benches, and floors at a rented house to rest up for the return trip. Their return started shortly after midnight to take advantage of the moonlight to see. With the faster pace of the return trip, the group was back in time for a well-earned breakfast. While one might assume everyone spent the day resting, some of the students organized an off-campus fishing trip, bringing back a half a bushel of mullets for an evening fish fry, over which they relished their accomplishment and the comradery of pursuing this challenge with their classmates and faculty.
One could say this early group of EHS students was ahead of its time given the success and longevity of the Burch Outdoor Program, now entering its 27th year. We can assume Burch would have been as popular then as it is now.
— JUNE 1892 EDITION OF THE CHRONICLE
View of Great Falls Circa 1800 by George Beck and Commissioned by George Washington. Courtesy of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association
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Class Notes
’47
Class Correspondents Needed
If you would like to share an update or volunteer to be the Class Correspondent, please contact Marissa Murdock at mmurdock@episcopalhighschool.org or 703-933-4125.
’48
Class Correspondents Needed
If you would like to share an update or volunteer to be the Class Correspondent, please contact Marissa Murdock at mmurdock@episcopalhighschool.org or 703-933-4125.
’49
Herbert A. Donovan (C) 914-645-6561 hdonovan@gmail.com
’50
Class Correspondents Needed
If you would like to share an update or volunteer to be the Class Correspondent, please contact Marissa Murdock at mmurdock@episcopalhighschool.org or 703-933-4125.
’51
M. Lee Marston (C) 443-994-1216 sizzle34@verizon.net
’52
Class Correspondents Needed
If you would like to share an update or volunteer to be the Class Correspondent, please contact Marissa Murdock at mmurdock@episcopalhighschool.org or 703-933-4125.
’53
Edward W. Mullins Jr. (C) 803-463-1440 ewmullinsjr@gmail.com
There are several ways to submit Class Notes:
1 Submit news online through the alumni portal at episcopalhighschool.org;
2. Contact your Class Correspondent by phone, mail, or email; or
3 Write your news in the space provided on the Roll Call reply card and mail it with your annual gift. 1 2 3
Bailey Patrick reports: “My last Old Girl to attend EHS was married in the mountains last week. A number of Old Boys and Girls were in attendance. We were informed at that time that three more great-grands (8, 9, and 10) are on the way with the mother of one of them being a past Head Monitor at EHS and the daughter of a Woodberry grad. Hope all is well with the remaining members of the class.”
Ed Mullins reports: “I am still at my son’s law firm, Bruner, Powell, Wall & Mullins, a small boutique litigation firm in Columbia, S.C. When I retired from Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, I gave up my license to practice after 58 and a half years. I’m not a member of the firm but attend to several matters for them that do not require a licensed attorney. I’ve been a widower for five years. I still live in the same house by myself that I bought 42 years ago. I recently reserved a spot at Still Hopes, a local assisted living place and will probably be going there in the not-too-distant future. Many of my friends already live a very active and happy life there, including my friends Nelson Weston ’54 and his wife Dot. Nelson Mullins recently opened an office in Houston. I’m very proud of my old firm. It was its 34th office in 17 states and D.C. In 1959, I was the fifth attorney in its sole office in Columbia. It now has over a thousand lawyers. In 2023, it was recognized by the AM Law 100 magazine as 65th in the nation in gross annual revenues. Unfortunately, I was born just a little too soon.”
Peter Page reports: “Donna and I have spent the summer tending a not so productive summer garden. Too much rain in the spring and not enough later on, and us not too good farmers.
Donna and I attended the last reunion of old F-100 pilots in Las Vegas in April. Lots of stars and eagles on old shoulders. An honor to be among them. I dropped out of UVA in the middle of my third year to
enter the Air Force Aviation Cadet program. I joined to fly the F-86.
After the required fifteen months of flying training, I was shocked to find out at our graduation that I was at the top of my class. There was only one F-86 /F-100 slot. I got first choice and I took it. In the latter years I flew the F-100 across the pond three times. Big puddle of water! Our squadron sat alert in Turkey with big nukes strapped between our gears with targets in the Soviet Union, hoping no idiot on either side would push the wrong button. My flight commander had been a cadet with Francis Gary Powers who was then flying the U-2 out of our base in Turkey. I was introduced to him and his wife, Barbara, with the stern admonishment not to mention the U-2 .
When he was shot down, I was in the air and flew a search grid looking for his wreckage. When I landed the ground crew was loading all of our aircraft with live ordinance. My crew chief told me to draw my weapon and report to ops. Kruschev had threatened to rocket the bases from which the U-2 flew. It was tense for a while and, I thank God that World War III did not occur. Best to whomever is left of us.”
’54
Charles V. Covell Jr. (C) 502-639-2691 covell@louisville.edu
Morton Boyd responded but had nothing to report.
John Burress wrote: “Mary Louise and I spent a wonderful hour yesterday with our buddy, BeBop Bob Baker. I do not know anyone who has a better spirit and a more positive outlook on life. Every story he told or comment he made was totally upbeat. Both Mary Louise and I are so fortunate in every way, but we can’t top him in attitude. Bill ’77, your dad is something so very special. His world is about others. I did
tell him we needed one more Duke/UNC basketball game in Chapel Hill and he just smiled. And then he named some friends and a former Carolina player who came over to speak to him (I think it was Lee Shaffer). Your dad thinks the world of you. We may be getting old but friendship is so very special.”
Leigh Hunt wrote: “I remarried in April — a lovely lady named Susan from Alabama — and we recently took a honeymoon cruise starting in Lisbon, Portugal. From there to Porto, the mouth of the Douro River, up the river by boat, stopping at many vineyards and sampling all varieties of port wines. Off the boat at the Spanish border and concluded the trip in Madrid for three days. Beautiful and educational journey. Next we are off to Colorado Springs the first Saturday in October to watch my other alma mater beat Navy in football once again! My best to all and stay healthy.”
This from Darrell Jervey: “Nothing much here. I still do two free clinics a month. All ten grandchildren are out of college and my two daughters are in nursing (one pediatric and the other in cancer research). Our eldest gran is a physician in Gastonia (one daughter and Ob-gyn wife). Will have birthday #88 on August 23! Wish it were 38! Stay well.”
John Mason wrote: “Me and the wife are both well and enjoying the northern neck’s many charms. A favorite eatery is the Car Wash Café in Kilmarnock. Specials there could be eggs benedict on crab cakes
or fried oysters, and at lunch gazpacho, to start. No news apart from the divers funerals, so inevitable at our age. Nothing else of note to report.”
Bill Pender’s response: “Enjoying the summer at our mountain retreat “Dogpatch” on the south side of Big Yellow Mountain in Avery County, N.C. Being blessed with visits from children and grandchildren. I have been relieved by good news from one of my grandsons who is surviving his indoctrination among the incoming class at the Citadel. Approximately 30% have dropped out.”
From your Class Correspondent : Betty and I are now living in The Village in Gainesville, Fla.
My Parkinson’s Disease has progressed to the point where I cannot type well now; so I must resign as your class correspondent. It has been a privilege doing this for some years now. Thanks for this opportunity to get to know some of you better than my two years at EHS permitted. Warm wishes for your good health in the future.
Cheers, Charlie.
’55
Sandy A. Wise (C) 614-638-5190
hawppmd@gmail.com
’56Class Correspondents Needed
If you would like to share an update or volunteer to be the Class Correspondent, please contact Marissa Murdock at mmurdock@episcopalhighschool.org or 703-933-4125
’57
Tim deGavre (C) 321-543-4661
tim.degavre@gmail.com
With the sad death of our dear Class Correspondent, Shep Ansley, I shall try to follow in his wake and hoist the occasional signal flag begging for news from my classmates. So far, a few have already responded, beginning with my nautical friend, Ken Ringle, who recounts in the following tale some of his adventures, tales that immediately evoked John McEnroe’s famous quote, “You can’t be serious!” In Ken’s words…
“My four decades of writing for AP, Washington Post, National Geographic, European Affairs and other publications are pretty well documented and mostly still online, so I shall address my extra
Walter Rogers ’43, his daughter Julia Rogers, and his wife Sue Rogers at Walter’s 100th birthday celebration.
John Roberts ’57 and Walter Rogers ’43 on the occasion of Walt’s 100th birthday
Bucky Buxton ’59 and Bob Montague ’52 enjoying a meal together.
Class Notes
professional activities. These amount to a fairly transparent — not to say pathetic — lifelong effort to compensate for the short, fat, uncoordinated nonathlete I was at The High School.
My first parachute jump was in 1964. In 1965, I briefly raced sports cars until I ran out of money. In 1969, I went down the Colorado River on a raft. Throughout the 1970s I drove a BMW motorcycle and skied the Alps and Rockies. From the 1970s through the 1990s I was a serious runner (up from asthma at EHS) and ran a marathon in my 40th year. I also scuba dived seriously and widely during that time throughout the Caribbean and from Brazil and the Azores to French Polynesia where I wrote for Oceans Magazine about diving with hundreds of sharks. This included appearing as a scuba diving extra in a Farrah Fawcett movie filmed in Cozumel, Mexico.
During the 1990s I appeared onstage in non-singing roles in two operas at the Kennedy Center, including being burned as a heretic in Don Carlo.
My major passion for the past 50 years however has been sailing. I have voyaged more than 10,000 ocean miles under sail in that time, much of it as a crewman on tall ships, including setting square sails as a topman on a 900-mile voyage to Quebec. In 1983, I weathered a Force 10 storm with 40-foot waves while delivering a 46-foot ocean racer to the West Indies. In 2007, I sailed the Atlantic with three friends in a 40-foot sloop from Lisbon to West Palm Beach and though I sold my beloved Tancook Whaler schooner, after 20 years, at 85 I am still cruising the Chesapeake in a 40-foot sloop.”
Didn’t I say — what one helluva an adventure-filled life! Oh, by the way, if you want a few hours of hilarious reading, pick up a copy of Ken’s “Squeeze Play” — a darkly comic novel of swampy secrets and Burmese pythons in the Greater Everglades. He has truly perfected the art of humorous writing, honed from his days of entertaining us with his “mouse’s corner” in the EHS Catfish Wrapper, or whatever it was called.
I received a note from Peter Houston who remembered the time he visited my parents’ home on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. He and I paddled up Deep Creek in a canoe with Peter in the bow, brandishing a
12 ga. shotgun should anything try to attack us. In his words:
“Don’t I have warm and lasting memories of Deep Creek Plantation and the seemingly endless platoons of heavily armored ducks, geese, and shore birds who were immune to our accurately timed bombardments!” My dad, a lover of all wildlife, was not impressed.
Tom Lawford submitted the following which clearly shows the diversity of paths some of us have traveled over the past six decades. “My parents noticed my intense interest in ham radio which led me to building a kilowatt transmitter by age 10. I still recall my call sign — WRWMX. I always hated sports and loved science so Mom sent me to EHS to develop good study habits, which it certainly did, and to make good contacts for future life. Headmaster Richard P. Thomsen told my parents, ‘I love opinionated young men; they are even more interesting’ Mom used to tell me with a smile, ‘It’s not what you know; it’s a matter of who you know’ I responded, ‘I don’t want to have to kiss ass to get ahead in life’ Mom said, ‘You are young yet, but eventually you will understand it.’
My parents mortgaged their house to send me off to college at MIT. I graduated there and my grade scores got me into Mensa. That got me into the University of Virginia medical school where I graduated with a MD. I then worked for NASA and designed the Space Station toilet for them. I retired four years later. I never married, but I live with an adopted son who took on my name and is now Duane Thomas Lawford. I introduce him as the most charming bullshitter I have ever known. Cheers, classmates.”
To tell you about your new Class Correspondent, I shall begin by working backwards. Caroline and I now live near Cape Canaveral, Fla., when we aren’t traveling. We just returned from six weeks in England, driving along the south coast from London to Cornwall, culminating at Christchurch Castle where we renewed the wedding vows made there exactly 20 years ago.
I met Caroline, a former stewardess on British Airways, in Antigua where I had retired after being the station manager of the Air Force’s missile and satellite tracking station on Antigua for a decade (a not
an entirely unpleasant assignment). For the prior twenty years, I served in the U.S. Air Force before retiring as a Colonel. After receiving my commission from the U.S. Naval Academy, I spent most of my career with missiles, beginning with the Atlas ICBM and culminating with the Apollo/ Saturn moon-landing program.
I have a son and a step-son and two daughters; the women are strong, the men are good looking, and their children are above average.
Travel plans? In the mill: Antarctica and China. Booked: a cruise in February from Miami to Barcelona, two weeks in Spain, then fly to Antigua for six weeks for race committee work on sailing regattas, then fly to granddaughter’s wedding in Florida. But first, we took a grand road trip (Florida-Maine-Florida) in September to visit the camp where I worked as counselor, bugle player, and canoe instructor during my EHS summers.
At the kind invitation of Robbie and Lindy Harrison, my wife Caroline and I drove from Florida to visit them at their beautiful home in Savannah and to spend a day on a pheasant shoot at Robbie’s Fife Plantation in South Carolina. Robbie and I had some grand chats, with whisky in hand, recalling our many fond times and escapades on the Hill, talking about classmates who were not there to refute our memories of them, and lamenting things that needed lamenting. Lindy and Caroline had no idea what we were talking about — so they went shopping.
’58Surry P. Roberts (C) (919) 828-2245
surryroberts@adventure777.com
Pope Shuford and Peggy recently ventured to New Zealand to celebrate their 62nd wedding anniversary. Two of his three children went to Episcopal, and the last granddaughter is considering EHS — Pope’s hopeful! Of 24 in our DKE Pledge Class at UNC, Pope stays in touch with the four still living, and there were eleven from EHS and Woodberry in the fraternity and all have remained remarkably in touch — Alexander, Burnett, Gilchrist, Holderness, McCoy, O’Bannon, Phillips, Roberts, Ragsdale, Simpson, and Shuford.
Rick Pietsch says he plays with top group, Wyndjazz, in Naples each winter, and they even appeared at the Ritz. Dee is involved with golf, the Junior League, and the garden club. Rick just returned from camping in Idaho with his two sons, Scott and Miles. A little golf, music, beer, and laughter. Dee’s son, Towns Middleton from Durham, just finished a house at the Homestead, and they have been visiting and playing golf over there. One granddaughter is a senior at UVA, and the other is a sophomore in San Diego. A new computer is in the offing!
Frank Middleton states that he will grace the Old Boys with silence, surely okay for a true southern gentleman!
Saunders Midyette writes that in April, he and Shirley, with two friends, returned to Newport, R.I., to tour the beautifully furnished mansions and eat at many of its great seafood restaurants. In May, Saunders had a total right hip replacement to continue playing competitive tennis. Now, in August, Saunders is back up playing single tennis matches and with two weekly doubles groups. Grandson, Aidan, is a serious student at Georgetown preparing for a Wall Street career. Aidan interned with Odyssey Investment Partners in NYC this summer, and next summer, he will return to Manhattan for an internship with the Royal Bank of Canada Capital Markets. The other grandson, Zach, continues to pursue his PhD in Switzerland under Dr. Benny Sudokov. This summer, Zach was invited to split his
time between Oxford and Cambridge where he collaborated with mathematicians. He also traveled to Cal Tech this past May to present his improvement on Szemerédi’s theorem, where he was invited to be a luncheon guest of Dr. Terence Tao, professor of mathematics at UCLA, (thought by many to be the top mathematician in the world). Zach is excited to collaborate with Dr. Tao on a paper they plan to publish soon.
Sandy Sierck relays that he retired from private law practice in D.C. in March of 2022. But he continues to do some teaching at Georgetown Law and some regular volunteer work at D.C.’s Family Court. Susan and Sandy spend July and August at their place in Brooklin, Maine. For a few days this past summer all seven of their grandchildren were with them. Sandy states that Mr. Callaway and Mr. Whittle were kind and principled teachers, but Mr. Ravenel had the greatest positive impact on him, both fostering a love of British literature and breaking through the School’s regrettable silence on civil rights issues. “Prejudice is ignorance,” he deftly and memorably said in our senior English class.
Carl Ragsdale stated that “Mr. Phillips was very influential on me!” Coming from Richlands, N.C., he was blown away by a book he read in his class, “An Economic Interpretation of the US Constitution,” a very different look at our founding fathers. Carl also said, “I loved playing on Mr. Murray’s soccer team my senior year when I finally got a varsity E. No doubt inspired
by his pep talks such as, ‘Gentlemen fight valiantly.’ And of course, Mr. Callaway who tutored me constantly so I could barely pass algebra and geometry.” Carl is very proud that six of his grandchildren graduated from EHS, two were valedictorians, and that he served on the Board for 12 years and one daughter also served on the Board. “Then comes UNC and the DKE house, home of great friends and way too much partying. After dropping out, I wised up and joined the Army for three years, a much-needed maturing episode and mostly enjoyable. One of the interesting episodes was my top-secret cryptographic security clearance which, after 15 months in Korea, put me at the National Security Agency (NSA) during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. I had two phones on my desk — one direct line to the State Department and one to the White House. Thank goodness they never rang while I was there.” After graduating from UNC, Carl spent 31 years in the auto business in Jacksonville, N.C., and 10 years with the National Automobile Dealers Association in the D.C. area. He retired to Atlantic Beach and then Beaufort, N.C. Alicia, Carl’s competent, loving, and very giving wife, died in March of 2024 in Wilmington, N.C. John Ramey, alias John Rambeau, the “unchallenged oldest surviving member of our class (85 years, three months),” as he calls himself stated, “I often think of the line from the Willie Nelson song — ‘I woke up not dead again this morning.’” John feels
Caroline and Tim deGavre ’57 and Lindy and Robbie Harrison ’57 spent some time together at the Harrison’s Fife Plantation in South Carolina.
Caroline and Tim deGavre ’57 on the steps of Christchurch Castle.
Class Notes
truly blessed to be in fairly good health and have the ability to mow his grass, weed-eat, clean gutters (two story house and barn), do routine chores, and shoot varmints. John said, “While Mr. Callaway, Phillips, and Ravenel were good teachers and fine gentlemen, it is a building that made a lasting impression on me. It is Stewart Gym. Over the door is a Latin saying that translates “a sound mind in a sound body.” As a rat living on Blackford, I had to ‘run relay’ to Stewart where there were four rooms (with doors) occupied by seniors. From time to time there were rat sessions in Stewart. It was the home of the wrestling mat and locker room where I spent many hours (John followed EHS with 4 years of wrestling at the University of Virginia). It was also the home of Egypt which welcomed me for three years. I don’t know what its current use is but it holds many memories for me.”
Surry Roberts has completed about a dozen years of work on the genealogy of the Roberts family of Gates County, N.C., and is still working on the Cowpers of Nansemond County, Va. The Cowpers and their large overseas trading company of Suffolk and Norfolk, Va., were very active in the American Revolution. Surry will have repeat cochlear implant surgery on September 4 — very excited! Stem cell therapy for the right eye may come sooner rather than later — also exciting! A repeat trip to his “hunting camp” at Portsmouth Island along the Outer Banks was superb!
Richard Somerville stated: “Although I became a scientist and have been a professor for 45 years, it is not the math and science I learned at Episcopal that I treasure most today. It is the English. True, Mr. Callaway was a superb math teacher, and Mr. Latham was capable in physics. I might have liked chemistry more if Mr. Tompkins had not spent so much class time throwing chalk at us to make sure we were paying attention. But I did read widely, and I did learn English grammar, perhaps by Mr. Ravenel’s brutal technique of forcing us to memorize large chunks of the English Reference Book he had written, the famous Grey Gospel. Mr. Karlson certainly taught us to appreciate good writing and to recognize great literature.
Why is that so important to a scientist? It is because the product of scientific research is reports and articles and books
and lectures. Michael Faraday (17911867) was self-educated and knew very little math. Yet he was one of the greatest chemists and physicists of all time, and his advice to young scientists was not complicated: ‘Work. Finish. Publish.’ Research requires lots of communication. J. Robert Oppenheimer explained how theoretical physicists collaborate in research: ‘What we don’t understand, we explain to each other.’ I have advised countless science students, ‘Instead of taking one more course in science or math, take an English course that will improve your ability to speak and write well. You will be glad you did.’ Thank you, EHS, and thank you, Mr. Karlson and Mr. Ravenel.”
’59
Page Dame III (C) 802-624-0071
wpdame3@gmail.com
Your Class Correspondent writes: “Beverly and I attended my 65th Reunion at The High School from June 7-9 and it was a wonderful occasion, although we had only four members present: Bucky Buxton, Sam Clark, Don Haddock, and yours truly. The most striking feature of the weekend was the number of female graduates and their obvious enthusiasm. I think they were a majority of those in attendance at the memorial chapel service. Long may it continue. Stopping in Charlottesville on the way back, we saw Judy and Tom Boyd ’57 — we were fellow rats all those years ago.
Beverly and I are well, the usual aches and pains excepted. We continue our quiet, tropical life in Sarasota. It is truly the land of the Lotus Eaters — one warm (hot) day flows seamlessly into the next and suddenly I am aware that months have passed. We are active in St. Boniface Episcopal Church on Siesta Key, where we have made a number of good friends. Living 5-6 miles inland from the Gulf, we were spared any flooding from Debby. We leave next week to visit North Hatley, Quebec, where we were living before moving to Florida, followed by reunions for Beverly in Kansas City and a weekend with a grandson at Missouri Valley College. We won’t return home until mid-October. Whew!
I am in regular contact with John Thompson and we maintain an ongoing
dialogue on the sorry state of political life in the USA. And so it goes.”
Warner Bass says: “Madge and I get the second longest married award, I expect, having celebrated our 60th last September, only a few months after Mike. We videoed the momentous event, complete with a little dog and pony show reviewing the somewhat episodic story of our relationship, which began the summer after my graduation from EHS.
Madge and I and our four children all live in Music City (sometimes called ‘Nashville’) which has now become a huge tourist town — too much so. We are the country’s #1 destination for bachelorette parties, and you can perhaps imagine the additional crowd that attracts. I’m guessing that there’s more beer drunk on Lower Broad in a weekend than some small countries consume in a year. Nashville has been discovered!
We have nine grandchildren, but the oldest four are straying from the fold. I have grandsons working in Denver and Washington, and another to go to D.C. when he graduates next spring. My oldest granddaughter started NYU this fall, if you can imagine such heresy.
I see Shade Murray, Rob Cheek, and Lucius Burch, all of whom live in Nashville, regularly. I’m happy to report that Lucius is doing better and getting out of the house these days. Hayes Noel is a dyed in the wool Californian, but makes an annual appearance in Nashville to relive the golden days of his youth. He has changed less than any of our Nashville group.
While our Nashville gang are all plagued with the usual maladies of greater or lesser importance, we are all glad to be here! To paraphrase Lou Gehrig, ‘We’re the luckiest.’ Best to all of you!”
George Brewer writes: “We have been active members of an Anglican Church in Mt. Pleasant. Our bishop/rector was just elected archbishop of the whole denomination. Big fish, little pool. Certainly a very active and growing church community. And of all surprises, a product of Virginia Seminary. There may be hope for us after all.”
Fred Dashiell says: “All good here but I spend too much time in medical offices. No serious issues and trying to dodge Covid. Paula and I get to see our three grandsons often: Toby (6) in Los Angeles, Jasper (8), and Cedar (3) in Joshua Tree. This summer
we took a road trip to Columbia River Gorge (White Salmon, WA/Hood River, Ore.) for an annual outrigger canoe race, then Shakespeare festival in Ashland, Ore., and Mendocino Coast, Calif.”
Mac Dick writes: “Greetings, Page and Classmates. Thanks for your updates about the Reunion and your vertical status and activities. I too remain vertical, enjoying this summer, especially the week of August 12 when the heat partially turned down to a very pleasant 70s. I also am active in my local church — St. Clare’s Episcopal Church in Ann Arbor. I also have been active in Kiwanis for the last two years. And I still review research applications for human investigation at the medical school. The most enjoyable time this summer was a week at Camp Michigania on Lake Walloon. The camp is sponsored by the University of Michigan Alumni Association. My wife Carolin, my daughter Eliza, her husband Kevin and our two grandchildren, Lexi and Leighton, went for a week. It was perfect — both the little kids and adult kids disappeared all day long except for meals, running all over, doing all the activities — sailing, swimming, archery, riflery, horses, etc. I read, sunned (in the shade), and did a little swimming and sailing (not easy at this age). Carolin walked four miles a day. As an interesting factoid, Lake Walloon is the site where the family summer cottage of Ernest Hemingway was when he was young; it is still there, privately owned. The Nick Adams stories arise from Hemingway’s experience in northern Michigan. The story goes that there’s a stool in a bar in Petoskey, Mich., near Lake Walloon, that is called the Ernest Hemingway stool as he allegedly sat on it regularly when he was up north as an adult. I guess it is preserved as some sort of memorial. I sat on it. Just an ordinary bar stool. Cheers, Mac.”
John Thompson says: “Let’s keep being vertical! My bucket list includes playing golf in Northern Michigan, but it’s not likely to happen now. It’s just a game; but a remarkable one! I continue my position as treasurer of the Seafarer’s Center in Baltimore, which was much involved with those affected by the recent bridge collapse in Baltimore Harbor.”
Mike Pleninger writes: “ Marcia and I celebrated our 61st anniversary in June. Not so shocking when you consider in West
Virginia the marriage age was 18, but you could get married at 12 if you weren’t family. We enjoy spending winters in Naples and the rest of the time in Williamsburg, Va. I still work one day a week, which is a delight ! I’ll continue to do that until they stop getting notices of meetings. Sorry we missed the 65th. Look us up when you are in Williamsburg or Naples!”
Bill Gibbs reports that he and Anne are enjoying their life in Jacksonville, Fla. Your correspondent will arrange a rendezvous within this year.
Bucky Buxton has had some serious mobility issues and is undergoing targeted physical therapy to prepare for knee replacement surgery. Living in Urbanna, Va., Beverly and I have seen him with some frequency in our travels to and from Florida. He attended our 65th Reunion in June, as part of our alumni quartet.
’60
Bill M. Drennen (C) 304-283-5011
wmdrennen1@me.com
Joint 65th Reunion with 1961: June 2026
’61
Elliott Randolph Jr. elliott.randolph@comcast.net
Joint 65th Reunion with 1960: June 2026
’62
Al R. Berkeley III (C) 443-310-0588
AlfredBerkeley@gmail.com
Joint 65th Reunion with 1963: June 2028
Robin Hayes writes: “I founded and currently operate a non-profit 501c3 ‘Bridge to 100.’ Goals are to secure government and private opioid settlement funds for low or no cost, faith-based, addiction recovery centers. Name signifies the desire to build bridges to all 100 North Carolina counties for these services. Website is: bridgeto100. org. I don’t charge or raise money.”
George Morison writes: “I am still working at Patient First, the company I have been with since 1985 when Al Berkeley recruited me on behalf of a mutual friend from our days at the University of Virginia. My oldest son, South ’90, also works for the company and coaches soccer in local youth leagues in his spare time. My youngest son, Dulany ’01, is a community leader in preservation and he and his wife run the family horse farm. Our roots and home are still in Middleburg, Va., and a number of other Old Boys live nearby. We all retain fond memories of our days at The High School and never miss seeing the Woodberry game even if it means watching it on television. (Who could have imagined the latter happening in our day?)”
Tom Waring writes: “Janice and I continue to enjoy retirement and the blessing
The Class of 1959 gathered on the steps of Hoxton House during their Reunion. From left to right: Page Dame, Don Haddock, Sam Clark, Russell Buxton.
Class Notes
of having all five of our grandchildren living here in Charleston.”
John “Randy” Williams says: “The older we get the more I value a remembrance, even though my class is a shared memory. I spent four months on Martha’s Vineyard. Tom Coates and Heyward Coleman came to visit last summer. If you get close let me know.”
Kemble White writes: “After W&L law school, I spent seven years with IRS Chief Counsel in Dallas and lived there till 2000 when the western migration continued. At 80, I continue to practice tax law in the mornings. It is mostly cleaning up people who have not filed returns and who owe large amounts to the IRS. I tell people that living in Santa Barbara is hard, but someone needs to do it. I have not been east since our 50th Reunion. I think about coming back to see how Episcopal and the Virginians have changed, but that will probably not happen. My travels are mostly to see two children and five grandchildren in Austin and Houston.”
Bev Eggleston writes: “Lots more doctors appointments than I used to have, but still trying to stay active by walking nine holes five days a week. Enjoy being outside, the camaraderie, but the golf is subpar and not improving. My other favorite pastime is sitting in a rocker on the porch and studying the waves at Wrightsville Beach. Therapy for me.”
Tom Coates reports that he and his new bride are celebrating their first anniversary with a trip to Mexico. He hopes to retire soon, but not so far.
Rick Funkhouser writes: “Hi Al, I’m back in Baltimore, living at the Rotunda in Hampden.”
Your humble scribe writes: “I guess we are all pretty much lucky to be alive. I never thought I’d make it to 80, as my father (’36) died at 52. I had a great time going to NYC to celebrate George Morison’s 80th birthday. People flew in from the West Coast and all around the country. George has done a great job as president of Patient First, a large urgent care chain with about 80 centers in the mid-Atlantic.
You might be interested in the EHS scholarship fund (formally called the 50th Reunion Legacy Fund) our class set up at our 50th Reunion. It is designed to give scholarships to alumni children who need
a scholarship. It is a response to the fact that so many EHS alumni have gone into public service as soldiers, teachers, spies, diplomats, and the like, while tuition has gone up and up. The idea is to solicit endowment for the scholarships from each year’s 50th Reunion class. The fund is up to over a quarter of a million dollars and growing. My best to you all!”
’63
Class Correspondents Needed
If you would like to share an update or volunteer to be the Class Correspondent, please contact Marissa Murdock at mmurdock@episcopalhighschool.org or 703-933-4125.
Joint 65th Reunion with 1962: June 2028
’64
Alex S. Jones (C) 617-549-8203 alexsjones2@gmail.com
Joint 65th Reunion with 1963: June 2028
For some reason, the class of ’64 seems to be very unusual in its reunions. An unusual number of us show up. The most recent Reunion in June paired us with the Class of ’63, which produced three guys. We had at least quadruple that number, and several who wanted to be there had to cancel for various reasons.
The greatest credit for this level of attendance goes to our Reunion chairman for life, David Dougherty, and to the group that he has enlisted to encourage, exhort, beseech, and otherwise arm-twist our classmates into coming. But it is all worth it because those who come really do seem to be glad they did. Rick Smythe, among others, offered the opinion that we ought to do it more often than every five years, given our…ahem… maturity. That was a popular view.
And we are all well aware that time is moving fast. Since the Reunion we lost Hugh Wachter, who was a mainstay of the Reunion committee and created yearbooks for us. He was at the Reunion, looking rather frail, but enjoying it. Jimmy Black said he had the best conversation with Hugh that he had ever had. Hugh was on the point of death a couple of years ago, but rallied and seemed to regard the extra years as a bonus to be thoroughly enjoyed.
Hugh managed to entice his Princeton classmate David Smith into coming, and David was there, smiling as ever. You may remember that David was such a Beatles fan that he refused to cut his hair and was restricted to campus. We certainly were at EHS during interesting times.
One who was not there, but had planned to be, was Tigger Alexander whose wife Poo succumbed to Parkinson’s disease just before Reunion. She had been suffering from it for many years, and it had gotten steadily worse. She regarded her passing as an escape from her body’s bad luck. Literally, escape! She told Tigger and her kids that she wanted the beach music classic “Cool Me Out” to be played at her funeral. It begins “Jump all over me / Set my body free / Use me up / … Cool me out!” The priest officiating regrettably declined because it wasn’t in the Episcopal hymn book, but Tigger said it was playing in the background at the reception.
It was Poo, not Pooh, despite being married to Tigger. Her name was Harper, and in nursery school her best friend’s version was Harpoo, which became her lifelong nickname, Poo.
One of the highlights of the Reunion was Jim Seidule came all the way from Florida and attended our class dinner. He is spry in his 90s, with a girlfriend who accompanied him, and with an astonishing memory, especially, it seemed, for every athletic event at EHS when he was coaching.
In the last Class Notes, I had a tribute to the late Mayo Gravatt, and Jim had his own vivid memories of Mayo’s athletic triumphs. He sent me an email after the Reunion, and — with his gracious permission — I include here what he wrote:
“Mayo was one of my top all-time student/athletes in my 19 years on the Hill. In the ’62 football game at WFS, Mayo kicked the winning extra point to win the game 14-13. It allowed the team to be first in the Metro area for the second consecutive year. Mayo was the most natural pole vaulter I coached. The event came easy to him. But he was never a one-event track performer. He was also an excellent sprinter in the 220 and 440 dashes. In his last two years, I think he lost only once — a 440 match against The Hill School. But he was outstanding at the state meet his last year. He won the 220 and 440 sprints — trials and finals. In
one hour he sprinted three-quarters of a mile. Then he went to pole vault, having not vaulted until after the sprints.
The bar was at 13 feet. All other vaulters were out, waiting for the last vaulter — Mayo. He had never entered the vault at that height. I am sure the other vaulters thought there would be three misses, but Mayo was at his greatest. He cleared the bar on his first attempt.
And he said, ‘That’s it for the day!’ In my 19 years in EHS track & field, only one other athlete won three events at state a few years later.”
Also, a huge Congratulations to John Keith who was recently appointed Vice Chancellor of the Diocese of Virginia!
’65Richard H. Lee
(C) 617-512-2034
dlee60@verizon.net
Joint 60th Reunion with 1966: June 2026
A request for “age appropriate” material in our semi-annual solicitation for news elicited an amusing litany of health complaints — generally, in violation of the 1996 HIPAA Act, if published herein. But in this age of social media (Facebook, et al.), it was gratifying for us, in the ever-flagging “Class Notes” business, to see a modest flurry of responses. No doubt, such are reflective of the soulful preoccupations attending our demographic. We thank, among others, Saint Pinckney, Richard Gwathmey, Jack Bowman, and Ian Williams for their contributions, nay, their civic-minded participation!
And in noting the remarkable array of prizes chronicled in the latest Four Columns magazine, Jamie Totten suggests a few belated awards for those of us not privy to such largess in the Paleozoic Era. [e.g. Most Mondays in a Row of Demerits Walked, Most Amount of Time Spent in the “Zebra Room” on Wisconsin Ave. — this sort of thing…] We could form a committee for such, and accept solicitations. Bear in mind, the Honor Code remains in force.
Two of us, blessed with the most hallowed of prizes, the “Fifth Year Opportunity Award,” elected to attend the ’63-’64 60th Reunion — this, cobbled together with David Dougherty’s usual efficiency. Richard Lee (aka … oh, never mind) and Sandy von Stackelberg joined about 25 others for a fine day and two nights. Humphrey Tyler, now living in exile outside of LA, considered it, but reasonably deemed the distance for two nights problematic. Best we defer to ’63 -’64 Class Recorders, respectively, Cotten Alston ’63 and Alex Jones ’64, for a full account of the always-exotic festivities.
Of note, however, was the presence of the indomitable Jim Siedule who, with encyclopedic memory, recounted his musings about selected members of our classes whom he coached. That said, and under the circumstances, it was a very good turnout.
And in the “news-from-the-still-vertical” category, thanks to Will Haltiwanger and Mason Sexton: Will and wife, Anna, have yet to give up extended bicycle touring for bowling. (And none of this wussy electric bike stuff, either!) He notes lunch from time to time with Ben Martin. Mason and Jane continue to revel in large family gatherings worthy of the former Hyannis Kennedy Compound. Their’s, however, would seem a moveable feast up and down the East Coast.
Clint Laird writes: “ Bill Preston Jr. ’66 and I connected after 59 years on the links at the St. Andrews Club in Florida, where Bill was visiting his mother and I’m a member. His game is pretty good. Mine, not so much.”
Al Berkeley ’62, George Morison ’62, and Richard Gwathmey ’65 enjoy a moment at The Brook Club in New York during George’s 80th birthday celebration hosted by his sons South ’90 and Dulany ’01.
John Robinson ’65 with Skip Dulin over the Danang area in 1972.
John Robinson ’65 with Skip Dulin in Alaska in 2024.
Class Notes
Last, John Robinson, recounts a fine week spent fishing in Alaska with his former helicopter gunner, Skip Dulin, whom he had not seen in 51 years. John describes Skip as “the most reliable and fearless teammate that flew with me in my two tours.” He goes on to observe that “life was mighty simple.”
Our reply to such could only be, “in a manner of speaking…”
’66
Jack N. Sibley Sr. (C) 404-290-6427
jack@sibleyfarm.net
Phil G. Terrie Jr. (C) 810-300-5311
pterrie@bgsu.edu
Howell Hollis III Howell.hollis@outlook.com
Joint 60th Reunion with 1965: June 2026
Sam Dawson writes, “Bonnie and I are not at Camp Alleghany this summer. First time since 1983! So last month we took a weeklong trip through southern England. This month we visited family in Buffalo then went to New Haven, Vt., to visit more family. We had planned to stop in Cooperstown on the way back, but that was the weekend they installed the new members of the Baseball Hall of Fame. We passed on that.”
Wick Williams reports on memorable hiking trip: “The Wicklow Way south of Dublin, Ireland, offered the perfect antidote for Jack Sibley and me in this hot political summer.
For a week we walked through the cool mountains, finishing each day with a malt whiskey in a different local pub. The trees and hilly terrain offered extraordinary long views, but required careful attention for taking each step up or down. Whenever we got into conversations, we invariably wandered off the path and paid dearly with extra miles. We were just young enough to make the best of everything. It was a great way to catch up after 50 some years.”
’67
Charles D. Coppage (C) 252-202-1323 charles@nccoppagelaw.com
Joint 60th Reunion with 1968: June 2028
’68
George W. St. Clair Moore Jr. (C) 864-941-0666 moorew327@aol.com
Joint 55th Reunion with 1969: June 2030
The news of Rex Wilson Jr.’s demise was a setback to several Classes of EHS. Originally slated to spend four years at EHS, Rex worked hard enough to get through in five, spanning the Classes of ’67 and ’68. Rex was the classic storyteller, but do not fear because his son Reg has easily donned that same cloak as we witnessed in his eulogy to his father. It was a chance for several of us to meet unexpectedly. Harry Sullivan ’67, Carrington Herbert, Rob Sanders, and Walker Moore made it to Columbia for Rex’s funeral service. Rex was very proud of his EHS heritage and Reg did specifically and emphatically mention that in his comments. Rex, ever faithful to his memories of EHS, included the hymn “On Our Way
Rejoicing” as part of the Prelude to the service. The Church was full, and I understand we missed seeing Verdery Kerr ’67, Joe Jarrett ’67, and Mark Skoggard.
’69
Marty Martin (C) 919-272-2106
marty_martin@martinlegalhelp.com
Kinloch Nelson Jr. (C) 585-733-3132
kinloch@rochester.rr.com
Joint 60th Reunion with 1970: June 2030
While attending a client’s board meeting and national convention in Dayton this summer, Marty Martin visited with Sheila and Verne Morland. They enjoyed several dinners on the patio at their lakeside home. Verne is president of the HOA responsible for the lake and enjoys a lakeside view from his office.
Harvey Moseley ’69 explaining the universe to Kinloch Nelson ’69 and Marty Martin ’69.
Class of ’69 friends and classmates Marty Martin and Verne Morland enjoying dinner lakeside.
Wick Williams ’66 and Jack Sibley ’66 hiking The Wicklow Way south of Dublin, Ireland.
Pictured from left to right: Billy Sullivan ’69, Carrington Herbert ’68, Robert Sanders ’68, and Walker Moore ’68.
Marty spoke on nonprofit board governance at this year’s America’s Credit Union national convention in Newport, R.I. After touring The Breakers and viewing similar homes on Bellevue Avenue while there, he is reconsidering what constitutes a summer beach home. Marty was named to his local credit union branch’s advisory board.
As part of UNC’s Life Long Learning series, Joe Simpson gave a talk on Abraham Lincoln titled “Character is Destiny — The Lincoln Factor in American History” at the George Watts Hill Alumni Center on November 14, 2024. Joe’s talk examined Lincoln’s “early life and the frontier forces that molded his character; his moral evolution toward human equality and opportunity; and Lincoln’s resolve as President to ensure freedom, citizenship and political rights for every American.” Joe has spoken at numerous other universities on topics related to Lincoln. During the summer, Joe visited Harper’s Ferry, Antietam,
and Gettysburg with a group that tours American Revolution and Civil War sites and includes current EHS faculty member Mike Reynolds, former faculty member Bobby Watts, and Collegiate’s former interim head of school Billy Peebles ’73 TLad Webb had fun family summer adventures. He writes: “We took our two eldest granddaughters to France in early June, visiting Paris and dodging countless construction sites racing to be ready for the Olympics; then to Lyon-learning about the history of silk trade; onward to Cannes for some Cote d’Azur sunbathing, and finally, to Grasse for personal perfume creation. We wrapped up with a few days of relaxing in Monte Carlo, with a lovely harbor view of oligarch yachts lined up right outside our bay windows, and great food at a Russianowned Michelin restaurant, for my favorite: Sole Meunière, escargot, and champagne.
We flew home from Nice, and I must encourage all classmates headed to Milan,
Nice or Paris, to look into La Compagnie airline — all business class with RT starting at under $2,500. I discovered them about six years ago, and they are small but great. It was fun seeing the Olympic Opening Ceremony with sights so familiar. Son, Michael ’04, and I Amtrak-ed to Boston then drove to Lake WInnipesaukee for a salmon fishing visit, and treasured time just to chat as we rode up to New Hampshire and back to Pennsylvania.
Lastly, spent time in mid August at Monticello Motor Club in New York, racing BMWs. Kristin and I continue as ambassadors for the BMW Car Club of America foundation. I still enjoy instructing at Tire Rack Street Survival courses across the region, getting practical hands on plus classroom physics into the youth to help them confidently and thoughtfully avoid accidents. Stats show that within the first three years of driving, 78% of young drivers have an accident. Hence, street survival training.
T.Lad Webb ’69 and his son Michael Webb ’04 fishing.
Lewis Fitts ’71 inducts Verne Morland ’69 into the Waiters’ Guild as fellow inductee Woody Coley ’73 watches.
Verne Morland ’69, Bayly Buck ’69, Kinloch Nelson ’69, and Marty Martin ’69 at a planning session for our 60th Reunion.
Kinloch Nelson ’69
Sheila and Verne Morland ’69 dancing Friday evening at Reunion.
I was elected as a director of a regional credit union, where I’d been volunteering since early 2021, keeping my finance and advisory skills lubricated. I can truthfully report that retirement is most excellent.”
’70James E. Newman Jr. (C) 253-677-4697
Newman_jim@comcast.net
Joint 55th Reunion with 1971: June 2026 The Class of 1970 has been reconnecting!
Craig Stewart writes, “Cricket and I had a wonderful visit with Chris Harris here in Mt. Pleasant (across the Ravenel Bridge from Charleston). Chris sold his travel business several years ago, sort of retired, and now is in the custom home building business. His daughter, Hallie, and her husband live here and she’s expecting Chris’ first grandchild any day now, a girl. Chris came from California to help them get ready for their new arrival.”
My old fellow JV defensive lineman Clay Jacob has been busy for the last couple of years! He writes: “Five years into retirement and I’m finally figuring it out. Time spent swimming, golfing, and with grandchildren have comfortably filled space that had been focused on work. I do visit Episcopal when I’m in the area seeing family. All of our children live in the DMV (District, Maryland, and Virginia), and I enjoy taking the dogs to walk The High School grounds. We did add two grandchildren this year, Anne Tait Jacob in February (Reade ’06 and Claire) and Philip George Jacob (Chris and Katie) in September. These two go along with Jack, 10, and Shep, 7, (Brandon and Dan Moss) to bring our total to four. Did see Jamie Mason ’73 and Greg Robertson ’69 and talked with Gordon Graham. My older brother Clyde ’67 and I got together for UVA football when he and his wife Dabney came to Virginia from New Orleans to visit family.” In the fall of last year Clay and his son, Reade ’06, took a trip to St Andrews to play golf.
More recently this February, Clay and his wife Lynn visited her brother in Bali. They also visited Singapore where Lynn attended high school. In July, he visited Gordon Graham and his wife, Elaine, in New Bern, N.C. Both are enjoying New Bern very much. Gordon and Elaine were
gracious to keep Clay’s daughter and sonin-law when they came to pick up their two sons from Camp Sea Gull.
Vic Grainger writes: “Recently Jennifer and I attended a party to celebrate Edward and Belinda Rutledge’s 50th wedding anniversary. Hard to believe. I guess Ed must have been the first in our class to get married. I was there as one of his groomsmen in 1974. I recall another was David Luther’s brother. Jennifer and I are back from a stunning trip through Northern Arizona and Eastern Utah. My first chance to see the Grand Canyon from eye level. It exceeded expectations.”
Bob Coffin writes “My daughter Chloe Roberts Coffin is entering into her sophomore year at Mount Holyoke College. I am now a PE teacher at a middle school in King George, Va.”
Congratulations to Jim Farrar on winning the Washington and Lee University Distinguished Alumnus Award! Farrar, a 1974 graduate of W&L, returned to
Lexington in 1986 as the university’s assistant alumni director. He became director of alumni programs and executive secretary of the W&L Alumni Association in 1990. He served in that position until being named secretary of the university and associate director of development in 1999, managing the operations of the Board of Trustees and serving as a member of the university’s major gift fundraising team.
In 2002, Farrar relinquished his fundraising responsibilities to become senior assistant to acting president Laurent C. Boetsch ’69 while continuing his duties as secretary of the university. He has since served under four rectors and five presidents and was named senior adviser to President William Dudley in 2018. A member of the football and lacrosse teams as a student at W&L, Farrar was co-captain of the 1974 lacrosse team and was named to the AllAmerica Lacrosse team that same year. He was inducted into the W&L Athletics Hall of Fame as an individual in 2006, in 2019
Bob Coffin ’70 with his daughter Chloe at Mount Holyoke College.
Belinda and Ed Rutledge ’70 celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.
Clay Jacob ’70 with son Reade ’06 at St. Andrews Golf Course.
as part of the 1973 Men’s Lacrosse Team and in 2023 as part of the 1974 Men’s Lacrosse Team. While employed at W&L, he served as a member of the Athletics Hall of Fame Selection Committee and chair of W&L’s Community Grants Committee, and represented W&L on the Lexington Police Department Foundation Advisory Board. Way to go, Jim!
’71
Geoffrey P. Snodgrass (C) 504-914-4470
geoff@snodgrassplc.com
Joint 55th Reunion with 1970: June 2026
Billy Bell ’72 hosted a group of his classmates for a weekend getaway in June at his Garden District home in New Orleans. Billy and his wife Leigh, who is from New Orleans, bought the home as an eventual retirement spot from their main domicile
in New Bern, N.C. In addition to his classmates, Billy invited New Orleans locals, David Kelso ’70 and Geoff Snodgrass, to join in the festivities. Beloved former teacher and Billy’s New Bern neighbor, Nelson McDaniel, was an honored guest.
’72
Beau A. Wilson Jr. (C) 828-390-9802
beauatciti@aol.com
Joint 55th Reunion with 1973: June 2028
Your Class Correspondent says: “As we get older, we need to protect our bodies! On July 27, when I was on a date with my girlfriend, getting some wine, I missed a step down and took a severe fall against a table. I was transported by EMS to UNC Appalachian Hospital in Boone, N.C.
I was examined in the ER, and a CT scan revealed a compression fracture of the
number six lumbar spine which required cement glue to repair. A UNC interventional radiologist performed the surgery. It was extremely painful! I was discharged after 12 days in the hospital and transferred to a long rehabilitation facility for about 20 days. Great hospital, great UNC doctors, great nurses in Boone, N.C., and a very supportive girlfriend, Belinda Patterson of Edenton, N.C.
By the way, Gene Hooff could use some communication (404-550-2147) from his Classmates while he is dealing with a medical issue.
Pinkney Herbert continues to paint at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts in Amherst, Va. Last summer I visited his studio and witnessed his bold paintings and prints. I and many of our classmates have added to our abstract art collections.”
Pat Stewart writes: “It’s been quite a year. I was elected as the Director General
Dr. Billy Bell ’72 hosted a group of his classmates for a weekend at his home in New Orleans, La. From left to right: Bell, Geoff Snodgrass ’71, Bruce Faurot ’72, Nelson McDaniel, Jamie Coleman ’72, Vince Dobbs Jr. ’72, and Bill Swinford ’72. Not pictured: David Kelso ’70 and Howell Morrison ’72.
Pinkney Herbert ’72 continues to paint at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts in Amherst, Va.
Chris Harris ’70 (left) with Craig Stewart ’70 (right) at Chris’s daughter’s home in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
Jim Farrar ’70
Skip Fox ’71 and Dabney Carr ’68.
of the Laymen for my Madonna House Community last November and began my five-year term of office in February. I moved back to Ontario from Missouri in February. This position includes a fair amount of travel, visiting our different missions. Since February, I along with the other two directors have been to Belgium, Rome, Washington, D.C., Toronto, Whitehorse, and Yukon. Lots going on here at our training center in Ontario with major structural renovations on our buildings and we are just finishing up a young adult summer program and family camp.”
Charlie Bagley writes: “I am semi-retired from my law firm, Bagley & Rhody. Donna and I have homes on Gibson Island, Md., and Southport, Maine. We spend November through May on Gibson Island and June through October on Southport. Also, finding time to travel. I was at Yeamans Hall this September to compete in the 25th annual Alumni Cup between EHS and WFS. Finally, Donna and I have five grandchildren: Isabelle (16), Everett (9), Camden (5), Walter (3) and Rhys (1).
Louis Prichard and I have enjoyed a proverbial friendship for over 56 years! Panda is still working, after his bank merged with a larger bank, Stock Yards Bank & Trust, based in Louisville, Kentucky two years ago. The bank is the largest Kentucky bank and headquartered at $8 billion in assets. Panda has three grandsons with a fourth due in September. Panda splits time in Nashville between two of the three there and my one grandson here his one grandson in Lexington. And visited with Charlie Bagley and his lovely wife Donna in Maine last year.
Dr. Billy and Leigh Bell hosted a reunion in New Orleans, La., in June to exhibit the new WWII Museum. Those in attendance were Bill and Anne Swinford, Master Nelson McDaniel, Vince Dobbs, Bruce Faurot, Howell Morrison, Jamie Coleman, and David Kelso ’70. Jamie Coleman was recently invited to join the Society of Cincinnati along with Howell Morrison, Bill Swinford, and Cheshire Rhett ’71. The society honors the values of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
Joe Mason writes: “I’m in relatively good health and though I haven’t been able to play tennis nor golf for several years
due to a funky neck, I am able to walk, hike, and ride my bicycles and motorcycle, so I’m grateful for that and realize how fortunate I am. I retired from psychiatric practice four years ago, but still serve on a couple of boards. I think I have my wits about me and have become addicted to duplicate bridge. I hope to become a life master but that’s going to require a decade of good cognitive health and traveling for tournaments. I have devoted some time to playing more guitar and trying to learn to sing. I play with a small group and have been taking voice lessons. Not yet fit for public exposure, but I’m enjoying it. I’m inspired by Bo B. Abbot and Paul Mengel ’73, but don’t get to see them often enough. I’ve been in Charlottesville for most of my life now and don’t want to be anywhere else. I occasionally run into Rob Rinehart ’68, David Carr ’73, and brother Jamie Mason ’73 and am about to celebrate my 48th anniversary with Nancy.
One daughter lives here in Charlottesville and the other is in Brooklyn with her husband and my seven-year-old grandson. That’s about it, cheers everyone!”
’73
Palmer Holt
(C) (704) 662-8764
pholt@inchristcommunications.com
Joint 55th Reunion with 1972: June 2028
Greetings, Class of 1973!
Great to be with so many of you at our 50th Reunion this summer. Missed those who were unable to make it. Also wondering about those MIA. Next time.
As you know, at our dinner I agreed to be the scribe for our class. I succumbed to one of those “Give it to Mikey. He’ll eat it.” moments, but I’m happy to step up and put my journalism degree to good use.
From left to right: Bruce Faurot ’72, Nelson McDaniel, Leigh Bell, Dr. Billy Bell ’72, Anne Swinford, Bill Swinford ’72, and Jamie Coleman ’72.
Henry and Sarah Dewing and Bill Swinford ’72 enjoy The Polar Plunge in Alaska.
Fr. David Linder, Elizabeth Bassarear, and Pat Stewart ’72 in Rome. Stewart is currently the Director of Laymen for the Madonna House Community.
Reunion had a big turnout and was a great time to catch up with old friends. But also good to get to know some guys I didn’t know that well when I was a student, as we had different circles of friends and were never thrown together in sports teams, extracurriculars, etc. Probably missed out on some good friendships.
One major revelation for me, as most likely is for you, is the bewildering fact that we’re all pushing 70 years old. 70! Honestly, I never thought much about this stage of life, and really don’t have a grid for it. But a good wakeup call and incentive to enjoy life and “finish well.”
Must admit, currently battling early-onset “Grumpy Old Man’s Disease.” Now I know why Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau were so frustrated. Haven’t cussed this much since hanging out in Egypt, albeit usually under my breath. (“Pharaoh” my senior year.)
Next time, I hope to send along some real news. In the meantime, keep the faith. Go High School!
’74
John Hughes Chandler Jr.
jhchandlerjr@yahoo.com (C) 901-326-2422
Joint 55th Reunion with 1975: June 2030
’75
Stuart M. Grainger (C) 910-352-7474
stuartgrainger@msn.com
Joint 50th Reunion with 1976: June 2026
Greetings from Stuart Grainger in Wilmington, N.C. I just returned from a week-long trip to Scotland with my two daughters and my son-in-law. We capped the end of the week off by attending the Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle. I have booked a flight to attend The Game on November 9. It will mark 50 years since playing my last game in Orange, Va., in 1974. Mason Hawfield and Jennifer are now grandparents of Lilian Moore Hawfield, daughter of Mason III and his wife Allison who live here in Wilmington.
John Wetzel and Lauren still live in Eden, Utah where they spend their winter days skiing at Powder Mountain. They recently got back home to Alexander Valley Vineyards for a family reunion. Their daughter Blair lives in Bellingham, Wash., and their son Kirk lives in Santa Rosa, Calif. Although John is semi-retired, he will be pouring AVV wine at the Park City Wine Festival in October. Kudos to John who consistently comes so far to our class reunions. Remember our 50th will be in the spring of 2026 with the class of ’76.
Scott King writes: “Both daughters are married and employed! I have three grandchildren ages one, five, and seven!”
’76
Boota H. deButts III (C) 703-774-5717
whd@episcopalhighschool.org
Joint 50th Reunion with 1975: June 2026
’77
Class Correspondents Needed If you would like to share an update or volunteer to be the Class Correspondent, please contact Marissa Murdock at mmurdock@episcopalhighschool.org or 703-933-4125.
Joint 50th Reunion with 1978: June 2028
’78
James F. Clardy Jr. (C) 704-609-5570
jim.clardy@wellsfargo.com
Joint 50th Reunion with 1977: June 2028
’79
Bill L. Hughes (C) 203-252-1153
william.hughes@pb.com
Joint 50th Reunion with 1980: June 2030
“Sweet fancy Moses,” Marsh Pierce mumbled as Jay Spruill began to dance prostyle in the younger alum’s section at this year’s 45th Reunion. Jay was playing the dance-card numbers game, and I am told his moves were beautifully reminiscent of those tragic and awkward Flippin Field House mixers back in the day with the young women from Foxcroft, Madeira, and St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes. Jay is living his best life in Richmond, Va., practicing law and doing good things for the community he serves. Marsh is the same as he ever was — same look, hair, clothes, mannerisms, and big personality, and continues to live and work in Middlebury, Va. It was good to hear
Emmett Bell, future Class of 2041, celebrates his first birthday with his grandfather Dr. Billy Bell ’72 and his father William Bell ’03.
Gilliam Kittrell ’74 after his induction into the waiters’ guild.
The Honorable Laurance B. VanMeter ’76
In the fall of 1972, Larry VanMeter ’76 followed his older brothers George ’73 and Tom ’75 to The Holy Hill from Winchester, Ky. His parents believed their children would “get a great education and be exposed to things that perhaps they wouldn’t be exposed to by staying at home,” which proved to be the case for VanMeter. He was a member of the football, wrestling, and baseball teams, and he still appreciates how Episcopal was structured to help students form lifelong friendships through sports teams, seated meals, and residential life. He also recalled the importance of the Honor Code, which he holds as a lifelong value.
“It was gone in a snap, but it really was a fun time,” VanMeter said.
After Episcopal, VanMeter attended Vanderbilt University and the University of Kentucky College of Law. At his general practice law firm, VanMeter specialized in equine law, a type of transactional law touching all aspects of the ownership of horses, which, naturally, is significant in the home state of the Kentucky Derby. He
credited the trust his mentor had in him to handle a significant caseload as a young lawyer as part of what allowed him to excel in transactional law.
As a lawyer, VanMeter came to believe that sitting judges in the Kentucky court system perhaps did not have the same understanding of transactional law that he did. To change this, he made it his goal to serve on the commonwealth’s appellate court. He first served as a district and circuit court judge for Fayette County before being elected to the Kentucky Court of Appeals in 2003.
With the perseverance and conviction he developed as an Episcopal student, VanMeter decided to run for the Supreme Court of Kentucky when an incumbent justice retired in 2016. He won by a landslide — 74% to 26%.
“That the people of Lexington, Fayette County, and also central Kentucky have elected me to judicial office over the last thirty years is a big accomplishment,” he said. In 2022, he was unanimously elected by his fellow justices to
serve as Chief Justice. “It is a great responsibility and can be almost an overwhelming challenge, but my colleagues had the confidence that I had the ability to do it.”
Off the judicial bench, VanMeter has been involved in many local causes, including Little League Baseball, first as a coach and then as league president. Through this experience, VanMeter observed that, done the right way, youth sports build community. “Those kids all go to different schools, and they wouldn’t meet each other except in those leagues, but because of Little League, they grow up together.”
He has coached players who have found success in various professions, including doctors, lawyers, veterinarians, fighter pilots, and professional baseball players.
VanMeter leaves a legacy not only as a fair justice and a dedicated community member but also as a devoted father. He had a happy marriage with his late wife and has four children, including John Thomas ’10. “I love to observe my children being parents because they seem to be really good,” he said of being a grandfather. “I am proud of that because I think I must have had a role in showing them how to do that.”
that Marsh and Terrell Bowers are working together on a venture that will ultimately pay off handsomely. Afraid to ask further questions, I have no other details.
Sadly, I missed the second and best night of the Reunion, but was there Friday joined by a small but most faithful and stalwart group from the Classes of ’78 and ’79, including Marsh and Jay, Jim Chesson, Chip Craighill, Mac Faulkner ’78, Steve Vogel ’78, and Scott Williams. The mighty impressive , accomplished, and incredibly-talented Armistead Wellford (“Love Tractor,” “Lincoln,” “Midnight Frights,” and “The Gilded Age”) joined the elite group Saturday night ahead of a big event he was headlining the following week in Athens, Ga. The much taller than I remember, Cook Edens made a herculean effort by showing up Saturday night. Coincidently, I saw Cook the following weekend at a golf event in Watch Hill, R.I. Cook played well; I did not.
I also spent some time with Nelson McDaniel, who was up from New Bern, and David Dougherty ’64, who spearheaded the Class of 1964 Reunion efforts With a full head of hair, Mr. Nelson was holding court with the legends from all the classes during his time at EHS. Both Mr. McDaniel and Mr. Dougherty were incredibly generous and kind in their words and it was good catching up with these two influential and important human beings. I also had the privilege of sitting next to David at the EHS trustee meetings and having dinner with him and his wife in Vero Beach this spring.
Back in June, Gus Barber ’78 and Bailey Patrick carved out some time for me when they were in Greenwich and Rye for the USGA Seniors golf event. Gus is still the same person I knew growing up in Durham, at Episcopal, at Chapel Hill, and years after. Always a class act, Gus and his wife Lloyd are doing very well in Martinsville, Va., while their children, Parham and Milt are married and thriving in the mountains of North Carolina and Austin, Texas, respectively. Bailey and Mimi Patrick, who are now grandparents, hosted a wedding in August in Linville for their daughter Carter. That means that all three of their children are well on their way.
Out of context and situation, I recently ran into Scott Goodman ’78 in Telluride, Colo. Scott was eating brunch at the Butcher Block, when he tapped me on the shoulder
and introduced himself. I had not seen Scott for years and was totally flummoxed and embarrassed by not immediately recognizing my former roommate. Time. Old age. Gold-fish memory. Out of context. Regardless, it was worthwhile catching up with Scott for a brief period of time. Scott has a beautiful home in the town of Telluride and has been splitting his time between Telluride and Atlanta.
Recently, Edwin Rasberry purchased a beautiful condo in West Palm Beach, Fla. I spent the weekend with Edwin in the spring and like his early days in NYC, he is quickly establishing himself as the presumptive mayor with hooks and connections to all the cool bars, restaurants, dry cleaners, and designer warehouses. Edwin is still working in Charlotte, N.C.
Jack Sayler is doing just fine. He and his wife Linda are living in Savannah and have successfully produced, developed, and launched three much more mature and responsible children, who reside in Boca Raton, Nashville and Birmingham.
After 20+ years, Boota deButts ’76 (from the legendary Class of ’76) is retiring from Episcopal. He and his wife Shelly have served our great community so well, giving back every day to so many, without asking anything in return. He will be missed.
Finally, I would be remiss if I did not recognize my other bunkmate, Chip Craighill, for his incredible work on this year’s Roll Call. Thanks to his leadership, the Class of ’79 delivered an impressive dollar amount and participation percentage towards the Roll Call, worthy of bourbon shots at the Reunion. Thanks, Chip, and runner up, Jim Clardy ’78, for all that you do to support the School.
I look forward to hearing from each of you for the next Class Notes. Please make this job easier by sending your updates to wlhcomms@gmail.com. And I hope to see you at The Game in November in Alexandria. The 1977 football team, which includes many of our classmates from ’78 and ’79, will be inducted into the EHS Athletics Hall of Fame.
’80
Staige D. Hoffman Sr. (C) 813-597-5059
staigehoffman1@aol.com
Bill J. Watt Jr. (C) 804-320-6525
chezwatt@gmail.com
Joint 45th Reunion with 1981: June 2026
James Joslin has been working in land conservation in the Triangle region of North Carolina. He works with the Triangle Land Conservancy, the North Carolina Botanical Garden Foundation, and the Gardeners of Wake County to see that some land and non-human species will be available for the benefit of future generations.
Jeffrey Flynn spent this past summer at his house in Cape Cod. He has remained in touch with Staige Hoffman and Tom Garland throughout the year. He is headed to Spain for a bike trip during the last week of September.
’81
Seward Totty (C) 859-361-1568
seward.totty@gmail.com
Joint 45th Reunion with 1980: June 2026
’82
Arthur Smith IV (C) 205-222-3054
wilchester@msn.com
Joint 45th Reunion with 1983: June 2028
Hello, Class of ’82 and hope this finds everyone safe, in good health and having had a great summer.
Thanks to Ed Lilly’s gracious hospitality for sharing such a wonderful place, Rendezvous’82 Bright’s Creek Style was a great success. Except for the slight mishap with our neighbor who happened to be one of the stars of the Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show in Myrtle Beach, a great time was had by all.
Social media megastar and fashionista influencer Caulley Deringer modeled his new line of outdoor sportswear — Caulley designed a piece, Le Bag d’Garbage, for inclement weather as a tribute to the summer Olympics in Paris. You can hit up Caulley on his Slack channel
Class Notes
or Etsy homepage for this and more of his designer products.
I was channeling my inner David Attenborough when I was able to capture an extraordinary image of the rare warm water Greensboro catfish (Jimmy Rags) and cool water rainbow trout in the same photo.
David Coombs writes: “Like many of my EHS brothers, I turned 60 this year. To celebrate I brought the family down to an all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic for half of April. Each day we celebrated, ate too much, drank, played sports, and enjoyed the beaches until we had to return to the real world to celebrate some more! I still can’t believe that I’m 60 years old, but I plan to keep celebrating the milestone for the rest of this year. In June, I announced my candidacy for President of the United States. But that plan was temporarily shelved due to lack of funding and support. Work has me traveling a fair amount again, and I’ve managed to find time for plenty of boating, golf, and woodworking.”
BTW, it was great to see Tony Landi in North Carolina where he shared some of his famous Hypersonic Pickled Relish with everyone. As promised, Tony is also sharing some of his go-to saving hacks with his AARP membership. Tony reports that his favorite is Tuesday Senior Savings night at the local Shoney’s: all you can eat for 20% off starting at 4:30. Tony’s pro-tip is to save room for the Puddin’ Bar, where his usual is tapioca but will splurge some time and construct a chocolate and strawberry mix, that he says is to die for. Open invitation to anyone who wants to meet him there — Dutch, of course.
Mills Fleming reports: “ Carl Failmezger was in Savannah last June and we had a nice lunch — enjoyed catching up with him. He gave me an autographed copy of his book “Origin of Galaxies: White Hole Theory.” It’s a page turner! On the professional front, I was recently appointed by Chief Judge William H. Pryor Jr. of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to the Court’s Committee on Lawyer Qualifications and Conduct. The committee is charged with investigating alleged misconduct by any member of the bar of the Court.”
James Ragsdale writes: “Ed Lilly hosted our annual Rendezvous at Bright’s Creek in Mill Springs, N.C. Had 10 of us
Caulley Deringer ’82 modeling his new line of outdoor sportswear, Le Bag d’Garbage, for inclement weather as a tribute to the summer Olympics in Paris.
there! It was so much fun! We golfed, fly fished, reminisced, and laughed a ton!” Cheers!
’83
John R. Sloan (C) 910-616-6375
jsloan14@ec.rr.com
Frank Vasquez (C) 804-873-2212
rfvasquez1965@gmail.com
Joint 45th Reunion with 1982: June 2028
with a cool water rainbow trout.
’84
Samuel B. Froelich (C) 336-402-3772
froelich@me.com
Joint 45th Reunion with 1985: June 2030
David Hatcher writes: “My husband, Herbert, and I couldn’t be more proud of our son Jaylen who is now 14-years-old. We adopted him when he was five! Time sure does fly!”
’85
Thorne Gregory Jr (C) 917-922-6250
thornegregoryjr@me.com
Joint 40th Reunion with 1986: June 2026
Class of ’82 friends and classmates: Ed Lilly, Caulley Deringer, Lee Ainslie, James Ragsdale, Jack Bocock, Thomas Roth, Arthur Smith, Tony Landi, and John Kelly. Not pictured: Frank Liddell.
Jimmy Rags ’82
Louis Gump gave some remarks and moderated a panel discussion on innovation in NYC in October.
’86
Art Taylor III
(C) 703-774-5079
art@arttaylorwriter.com
Joint 40th Reunion with 1985: June 2026
A bit back, Steve Cook wrote in with news about some jazz articles he’d been writing — and now he’s stepping further into the music world — and learning a new trade in the process. He writes: “I have been training to become a DJ for a low-power community radio station in Louisville, Ky. While the signal doesn’t travel far, WXOX 97.1 FM has an app and it’s online at artxfm.com. The show is “Six Degrees of Jazz.” Born from a love of jazz and liner notes, it spotlights a different artist each show through their many associations with other musicians. I am currently taking substitute shifts until I get enough
and Alex
experience under my belt, and I can find a slot on the permanent schedule. Stay tuned!”
I’ve been fortunate to have a couple of new stories come out. “The Gained Ground” appears in the anthology Midsummer Mysteries, published in conjunction with the Crime Writers’ Association in Great Britain. A second story, “After Their Convictions, Six Murderers Reflect on How Killing Mr. Boddy Changed Their Lives” — a little bit of fan fiction that I co-wrote with my wife, Tara Laskowski — appeared in August in Black Cat Mystery Magazine. If you’ve ever played Clue, you might be a fan too.
’87
David S. Haddock II (C) 301-575-6750
davidhaddock@yahoo.com
Joint 40th Reunion with 1988: June 2028 Howard Holley writes: “I have a few things to share: I moved to Tampa on July 1, 2023. Son got married on July 22, 2023. Signed a contract in March 2024 to build a house
with my girlfriend in Wesley Chapel. March 2024, Traveled to Frankfurt, Germany, and France; August 2024 celebrated my father and girlfriend’s birthdays (same birthday) in Abaco Island, Bahamas. A lot more could be shared; I will stop there and wish all of my classmates the best of success, happiness, and good health for each of you and your families, including those individuals special to you.”
Andy Reynolds writes: “My wife, Danna, and I celebrated our 25th anniversary this summer by following our 16-year-old son Drew and his orchestra to concerts they played in Munich, Vienna, and Prague. I’m enjoying working at my healthcare communications desk job four days a week and as a personal trainer one day per week. Since he and I share a birthday and recently turned 55, I’d like to alert David Haddock that we are now closer to our 70th birthday than to our 40th. Yikes!”
Andy, congratulations on the anniversary and thanks for the heads up on how old we are getting (BTW, we also share our
Howard Holley ’87 and girlfriend Erica.
Class of ’82 friends golfing: Thomas Roth, Jack Bocock, Arthur Smith, Caulley Deringer, Lee Ainslie, Ed Lilly, Macon Baird, and Tony Landi. Not pictured: Key Grip and James Ragsdale.
Adam
Haddock ’28, sons of David Haddock ’87, in front of Hoxton House on Alex’s first day of school.
Howard Holley ’87, with his son Marcellus and granddaughter Capri.
birthday with Chris Scarborough who was with us for one year at EHS as a freshman — I am sure some of you remember Chris).
I am feeling the years for sure, particularly today after throwing batting practice and hitting grounders to my younger son Adam. My older son Alex ’28 just started school as a freshman at EHS. If you haven’t been back to campus recently, you have to go. The place is amazing.
’88Ned N. Durden (C) 704-576-5039
neddurden@gmail.com
Joint 40th Reunion with 1987: June 2028
The Class of ’88 represented well at our 35th Reunion in June with a great cast of characters showing up. Festivities included a round of golf, a night on The Holy Hill, a Nats/Braves baseball game, and a big dinner to round things out. I am happy to report that our class is doing great. As you might expect, we had lots of good updates on kids, families, and careers, but the main topic of conversation was a somewhat age-distorted trip down memory lane that led to a lot of laughs throughout the weekend. Here are some updates on individuals who attended. I’ll definitely miss some or a lot of details but directionally, this should be accurate.
I’ll start with John Allen who rolled in from West Virginia, and who, out of all us, probably had the most to share about life on the Hill in the late 80s. To summarize, Johnny spent a lot of time wandering campus his senior year and was able to bring back a lot of memories, some of which may have been better forgotten! But all of which were extremely amusing.
The Rev. Zachary Drennen was in attendance. After spending years in Africa doing the Lord’s work, he is now the rector at St. James Church in Lewisburg, W.Va., happily married with three young(ish) children. While Zach didn’t conduct a formal confessional, I do feel like any sins we might have committed at The High School were forgiven after the weekend.
Thad Wilson made a quick trip up from Charleston. Despite being a life-long native of the low country and an advocate of Charleston, his enthusiasm for Old Town Alexandria’s charm and history was unmatched by anyone in our group.
Thaddeus, we got to get you back up to Alexandria and EHS more often!
I made the trip from Charlotte with my old roommates, Chris Avery and William Grasty. The big news from those guys is that each has a new boy sophomore hitting the Hill this fall. Unlike Thad, I am pretty sure that Avery and Grasty will be fixtures at 1200 N. Quaker Lane for the next three years.
Arlington resident Chuck Leppert proved to be a great tour guide for our group. He hosted us for golf at the Army Navy Country Club, where the scores were high, but the trash talk was flowing. Perhaps the most impressive performance on the links came from Mark Wolfington, who came down from Philly and played with a newly constructed shoulder against his doctor’s orders. Wolf’s continued willingness to sacrifice his body for The High School was commendable and impressive!
Roger Shaffer came in from Atlanta and was in great form. He applied the leadership skills that he learned on the basketball court from J.B.S. Blanton to keep our group organized and active. Shaff definitely wins the Dorian Gray award for our class, looking the same as he did when walked off the stage 36 years ago with his diploma. Perhaps his ability to always ensure that his cocktails are mixed to his very specific standards are the key to his fit and healthy appearance?
Jamie Karrick won the long-trek award, flying in all the way from Oregon for the weekend. The left coast lifestyle seems to be treating Jamie well. He is married with children and builds and repairs motorcycles for a living. Next time you are in Oregon, definitely give Karrick a call, especially if your chopper needs a tune up.
Last but not least, Robert Morton ’89 took a break from his healthy lifestyle to spend some time with us. Mad Man Morte is doing well and has turned into a go-to life/ corporate coach in the business world. He definitely should be a go to resource for all of us, especially after a long weekend like we had in June!
All in all, it was a great weekend. Next time, I highly encourage everyone to make the trip!
’89
Croom M. Lawrence (C) 540-878-6754
croomlawrence@gmail.com
Joint 40th Reunion with 1990: June 2030
Scott Fortney writes: “We moved to Southport, N.C., in September 2023!”
’90
Jason L. Acosta (C) 301-933-4690
JAcosta_JAh311@hotmail.com
Joint 35th Reunion with 1991: June 2026
’91
William M. Coxe Jr. (C) 864-313-9803
williecoxe@gmail.com
Joint 35th Reunion with 1990: June 2026
’92
Fred C. Alexander (C) 704-641-4858
fcaiii@yahoo.com
Joint 35th Reunion with 1993: June 2028
’93
Walker Lamond (C) 301-580-0761
walkerlamond@mac.com
Joint 35th Reunion with 1992: June 2028
Jon Ylvisaker, now living in Montecito, Calif., shipped his son Alistair off to boarding school this fall…in Deerfield, Mass. I know Alvo’s talents will be missed at Episcopal, but I suppose after attending three different boarding schools himself, Jon is letting his boy play the field. There’s still plenty of time to transfer. I actually saw Jon briefly this summer in London when we met up for a pint at Claridges. (Natch.) I was excited to show off the silk top hat I wore the day before in the Royal Enclosure at Ascot, but he reminded me that Murdoch Matheson ’92 probably wears one everyday in his role as Master of Hounds, and I shouldn’t get too excited.
In other news, John Wrenn took his family on a tour of Spain this summer and presumably learned a few new recipes for
a killer paella that he’ll soon be adding to Chick-fil-A menus nationwide. Leigh Webber’s beautiful underwater portrait photography is in high demand, and it looks like she spent time everywhere from Sea Island to Martha’s Vineyard this summer snapping commissions. I can’t think of a better way to support the arts and a classmate than to give her a ring and capture those kiddos before they turn into teenagers and give you that look.
After 15 years on Wall Street as an executive director at JP Morgan Chase, Rahmaan Streater is on to new adventures in investing while still enjoying the quiet life with his wife and two daughters in Princeton, N.J. Back in the fall of 1991, Rahmaan and I were assigned to be roommates on Berk during early football practice, and I remember when my dad saw the size 16 cleats on the floor he thought he had mistakenly dropped me off at Redskins training camp. Needless to say, I gave Rahmaan a few pointers, and he went to play for the Richmond Spiders alongside Cary Goodwin and then in the NFL. So credit where credit is due. Speaking of Cary, he dropped his daughter Kincaid ’28 off at EHS this fall, so I’m happy to report that one of the greatest legacies in our School’s history will continue for another generation. Your move, John Hooff ’95
As national elections near and you find yourself in need of some influence in the Capital, look no further than King Mueller who is a partner at Mindset, a powerhouse lobbying firm in D.C. The King and I were both on Dal as first years, and he charmed
us all with his Duckhead khakis, tortoise shell specs, and syrupy smooth Pawleys Island accent. And when I met my new roommate, Gary Graham of Myrtle Beach, it was King who helped translate. King, when you decide to finally run for Governor, let me know. I’ll be your driver.
And finally, friends of John Strubing gathered behind Hummel Bowl in June to dedicate a memorial bench in John’s honor. Mark Masterson ’92, who shared a suite on Old Hummel with John and me in 1990, spearheaded the campaign to have the bench installed. The original concept was to locate it much further into Vietnam, but the administration worried that it might attract too much canoodling and late night ‘stompie’ breaks, which of course was precisely the point. Nevertheless, it is a fitting spot in the sun to honor a guy who was such an inspiration (and instigator) to so many of us, and I was happy to see so many of his old friends in attendance including Luke David, Chris Jacobs, Victor Maddux, Murdoch Matheson ’92 , Griff Gideon, Ande Jenkins ’92, Elizabeth Jacobs Tuff, Heather Collins, David Stallings, Elizabeth Litchfield Sydnor, Kathryn Retzer Freeman ’94, Beverly Logan McCaskill ’94, and Amy Fannon Cupic ’94.
And so with our 30th Reunion in the rearview, I’m even more convinced how important this community is to all of us, and I encourage you to pick up the phone and call a classmate to catch up. And if you find yourself across the pond, ring me up and we’ll go stompin’ at the Savoy. I’ll be the one in the top hat.
’94
Emily Fletcher Breinig (C) 480-330-8017
fletchee@hotmail.com
Joint 35th Reunion with 1995: June 2030
’95
Class Correspondents Needed
If you would like to share an update or volunteer to be the Class Correspondent, please contact Marissa Murdock at mmurdock@episcopalhighschool.org or 703-933-4125.
Joint 30th Reunion with 1996: June 2026
’96
Temple Forsyth Basham (C) 804-332-1517
templefbasham@gmail.com
Randy Shelley Jr. (C) 843-452-2244
randallshelley78@gmail.com
Luke J. Zehner (C) 571-338-1389
zehnerlj@gmail.com
Joint 30th Reunion with 1995: June 2026
’97
Class Correspondents Needed
If you would like to share an update or volunteer to be the Class Correspondent, please contact Marissa Murdock at mmurdock@episcopalhighschool.org or 703-933-4125.
Joint 30th Reunion with 1998: June 2028
Mary Cunningham wrote in to let us know that she’s back in Northern Virginia. She moved to Vienna last spring with her husband and new baby, Lois (born 1/31/23), and has been back to The Holy Hill a few times since then (and yes, she already has her “issue” onesie). Lois has already gotten chummy with Lucy Whittle Goldstein, Nick Carosi’s wife Nicole, and Steve and Susan Castle. In Vienna, Mary and family ran into Caldwell Clarke at their local coffee shop and had a nice catch up. (She also met up with Caroline Clarke Skelton ’98 at that same coffee shop a few months later.) Way over in McLean, they had a great visit with Kristen Edwards Marquardt and family, where Lois found her new favorite
Lane Eastland McCluer ’94, Allison Priebe ’94, Kathryn Retzer Freeman ’94, and Beverly Logan McCaskill ’94 celebrating their Reunion at The High School.
Crystal Taylor-Simon ’96
Crystal Taylor-Simon ’96 illuminates the corridors of Middle College High School (MCHS) at Durham Technical Community College in Durham, N.C., with an effervescent smile. As the principal of MCHS, Taylor-Simon leads nearly 170 students who balance rigorous honors-level high school classes with community college courses. With a 100% graduation rate, her mission to show students that she cares remains constant — a philosophy she says she learned during her time at Episcopal.
Growing up in Pilot Mountain, N.C., Taylor-Simon and her family faced significant racial challenges. Her cousins, Dr. Jürgen Taylor ’81 and Martiez Taylor ’91, inspired her to leave her small town in pursuit of a better education and a more diverse student body. “Episcopal was incredible to me because my classmates were from all over the world, and I would have never had that experience in my hometown. The School changed my life.”
Taylor-Simon credits former teacher Bobby Watts for his influential guidance during those formative years. “Bobby and his wife Elizabeth took me under their wing and told me I deserved to experience Episcopal,” she said, recalling her frequent bouts of homesickness that made her want to return to North Carolina. “I give them all the credit for teaching me what an educator looks like in and out of the classroom.”
After graduating from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill with a major in Spanish, Taylor-Simon initially pursued a career in banking.
“I always say public school found me because I truly had no idea I was going to go into education,” she said. After a brief stint with National Bank of Commerce, Taylor-Simon was handed the keys to a Spanish classroom in Jones County, N.C., one week before school started. “That year was a period of tremendous growth for me.
Seeing the needs of my students, I knew I had found my calling.”
Now a leader in public education, Taylor-Simon strives to emulate Watts and his family, creating an environment where students feel cared for and supported. “I never want my students to walk away and think Principal TaylorSimon did not care about them,” she emphasized. She will continue to demonstrate this commitment in her new role as Executive Director of High School Curriculum and Instruction for Durham Public Schools. This promotion reflects her dedication to shaping a nurturing and impactful educational environment.
As Taylor-Simon continues to navigate public education, she encourages the next generation of students to consider a career in teaching. “The children need us,” she urged. “There is no greater reward than being a positive and monumental piece of someone’s story.”
after the Seminary Hill Cup dinner last fall. Yes, she made the unfortunate wardrobe choice to wear an orange and white Halloween onesie to campus ahead of The 122nd Game. Rookie mistake!
friends in Kristen’s doting daughters. And even though she can’t walk, Lois is not one to stand still for long; she’s already gone on a girls’ trip to Nashville with her honorary aunt Lindsay Wolfington Collins and had a great time visiting with her godmother, Julie Erwin Kurka over the 4th of July. Mary looks forward to catching up with more Old Girls and Boys. Give her a shout if you’re in town.
Patricia Kinser was appointed interim Dean of the VCU School of Nursing as of April 15, 2024!
Tad McLeod writes: “I have been a circuit judge now for six years. Whenever new judges are elected they usually sit with current judges to observe court for a few weeks. Marvin Dukes ’80 was recently elected as a South Carolina Circuit Court
Judge, although he previously worked as a Master in Equity for Beaufort County for 17 years. As we were discussing the job we figured out we both went to EHS. Just wanted to share and hope everyone is doing well!”
’98
Katherine Moncure Stuart (C) 434-989-7054
katstu@gmail.com
Andrew B. Nielson Sr. (C) 706-254-2277
Joint 25th Reunion with 1998: June 2028
’99
Dr. Margaret Ravenel Richardson (C) 843-422-7638
ravenelrichardson@gmail.com
Joint 30th Reunion with 2000: June 2030 Your Class Correspondent writes: “We have had a fun-filled summer. It was great fun catching up with everyone at the Reunion in June, especially our Class of ’98 friends whom we hadn’t seen in so long. We enjoyed the new class grouping format, and I will never forget the live fish market or the karaoke bar. I am excited to share that I had a book come out with Manchester University Press, a co-edited collection titled “Mid-century Women’s Writing: Disrupting the Public/Private Divide.” Our big trip this summer was returning to Whitefish, Mont.,
Mary Cunningham, with her husband, David Glen, and new daughter, Lois, getting settled in Vienna, Va.
Circuit Court Judges Tad McLeod ’97 and Marvin Dukes ’80 at Edgefield County Courthouse.
Lois Cunningham-Glen, future Old Girl, gets acquainted with campus on her dad David’s shoulders
Michael Dunn ’97, Scott Harris ’97, and Bill Allen ’97 at Wolfe & Porter, a new bar opened by Scott and two of his law partners — across the street from their firm in Raleigh!
Hannah Huffines Amick ’99 & William Stallworth ’00
In 2006, William Stallworth ’00 moved to Atlanta, and reconnected with his friend Hannah Huffines Amick ’99. He got to know her husband Justin (son of renowned restaurateur Bob Amick), and the two embarked on a venture: Painted Hospitality. Launched in 2014, the Atlanta-based company specializes in creating unique, entertainment-driven concepts, bars, restaurants, and hospitality ventures.
Currently, Painted Hospitality operates four successful venues. Their first, The Painted Pin, is an upscale boutique bar and bowling venue. Located in a transformed industrial warehouse, it features 20 full-service bowling lanes, live music, and classic interactive pub games.
“Justin was in the process of creating his first eatertainment venture, and I threw the idea of bowling out there. We spent almost six hours on the phone,” William remembered fondly.
“It’s incredible to see the vision come to life.”
Painted Hospitality expanded in 2017 with The Painted Duck, a distinguished drinkery, duckpin bowling, and gaming parlour with 16 full-service duckpin bowling lanes, live music, and unique competitive gaming options.
Hannah serves as the duo’s publicist through her PR firm Huff & Co. “Painted Hospitality is a hometown brand, and the community has really shown up to support them,” she said proudly.
The partners continue to innovate with the Painted Pickle, which opened in April 2024. The space is a high-end pickleball compeatery™ (their trademarked term for a place to compete, eat, drink, and be social), gaming and entertainment venue. Just six months later, they opened Painted Park by restoring a historic space into a recreational place of assembly, green space, and private events venue on the pedestrian-heavy Beltline.
The Georgia Restaurant Association named Painted Hospitality the “Best Eatertainment Experience” in Georgia. Justin and William were named “Buckhead Entrepreneurs of the Year” by the Buckhead Business Association. Business Insider called The Painted Pin “One of the 50 Coolest New Businesses in America,” and Forbes hailed The Painted Duck as “An Icon in the Making.” William also oversees the private events, a substantial part of their business, and estimates they have hosted almost 7,500 events since inception.
As the business expands, Hannah, Justin, William, and his wife Mary Riddick remain committed to keeping family at the heart of their work. “William’s youngest is my godson, and our families are incredibly close,” Hannah shared. “We believe that if you love what you do and enjoy the people you work alongside, you’re as lucky as it gets.”
and
and Glacier National Park where I enjoyed a gap year during college. We had a great time hiking, fly fishing (kiddos each caught a few cutthroat), and horseback riding. Tess (8) and Oliver (8) are headed into third grade. We are still enjoying living in Cleveland. Please reach out if you are in town!”
Philip Cox says: “Our summer’s been busy as I’m sure others have been as well. We did have a couple of surprising EHS connections. Both my daughters went to Camp Greystone and my oldest was cabinmates with Alicia Ravenel Boyd ’00. My son went to Woodberry’s compass camp. We spent most of our summer in Banner Elk, N.C., and plan to continue to do that next year. Please reach out if anyone is ever up that way. I played in the Biltmore Forest member
guest and ran into James Barmore ’00 who was in town from Willmington. Croft Thomas ’96 and Evan Remmes ’96 played as well. Some baseball games, concerts, and golf trips have filled in the rest. I could not make the Reunion but I plan to come to The Game this fall. I’m taking my son, mainly for him to check out the campus. Hope everyone has had a great summer.”
Elizabeth Hackney Davies writes: “It feels like yesterday that we were students, but I was reminded recently that is no longer the case! Our daughter, Page Davies ’28 , just started her freshman year at Episcopal. Seeing how campus has evolved and changed has been fun, but I have to admit that it felt odd to move her into McGuire where the freshman girls now
live as part of the Freshmen Village. It was great to run into both Chris Koh ’99 and Mike Gorman ’99 who were dropping off freshmen as well. My husband, son, and I are already looking forward to our first visit. Like Philip Cox, we will be at The Game this year and I hope to have the chance to see a few of you!”
Prather Smith Claghorn says: “We had a very eventful first half of the year with the arrival of our daughter on April 10. Anne Louise Prather Claghorn (“Annie”) was born 10 weeks early and surprised us all by making her appearance while my husband Jake and I were on my company trip in Palm Beach, Fla. After 50 days in the NICU (over half of which were spent in NYC after we were lucky enough to get a medical transfer),
Morgan Guthridge ’99, Jason Coker ’98, Griffin VanMeter ’99, and Will Chapman ’99.
Class of ’99 friends
classmates: Will Chapman ’99, Katie Kaufman ’99, Amanda Inman, Walker Inman ’99, Stephen Salyer ’99 at the Keeneland Races in Lexington, Ky.
Alexis and Benjamin Geer ’99 celebrating their nuptials in June 2024.
Elizabeth Hackney Davies ’99, her husband Joe, and her son Alex move their daughter Page ’28 into EHS.
The children of Prather Smith Claghorn ’99: Oliver, 8, newborn Annie, and Jack, 10.
Annie came home to her doting big brothers Jack (10) and Oliver (8). We spent our summer mostly in the Poconos trying to exhale, with some hockey camps sprinkled in here and there. Annie is doing beautifully and we are ready to get back home and into a routine in the fall! Lindsay Whittle Comstock visited me in NYC in June for our first ‘girls’ weekend’ with Annie which was incredibly special.”
Stephen Salyer, Tim Garon, Katie Kaufman , and Walker Inman visited Will Chapman in Lexington, Ky., for the Keeneland Races.
William Akridge spent spring break partying with Pat Carlini and a wild crew in D.C.
Will Chapman, Jason Coker ’98, Morgan Guthridge, and Griffin VanMeter traveled to Greenwood, S.C., to support Chris Pracht at the funeral of his mother, Debbie Dorn. In Will’s words, “Debbie was the best!” We send our thoughts and prayers to Chris and his family.
Congratulations to Ben Geer, who married his wife Alexis Richardson Geer this June at the Chattooga Club in Cashiers, N.C.
Hannah Huffines Amick and her husband Justin Amick are business partners with William Stallworth ’00 and Mary Riddick Stallworth in Painted Hospitality, an Atlanta based company that creates and operates one of a kind entertainment driven concepts, bars, restaurants and hospitality ventures. They just opened two new concepts in Atlanta, in addition to their first two. Painted Pickle, a high end pickleball compeatery™, gaming and entertainment venue is a 32,500 square foot space with eight boutique individually hedge contained courts, complimentary gaming, live music, a sushi bar and more. Painted Park, in Atlanta’s Inman Park, is located on the busiest stretch of the Beltline and is a “recreational place of assembly, greenspace, and a private events venue.” Check them both out if you are in Atlanta!
’00
Schuyler Williams Seifert (C) 703-304-9423
schuyler13@gmail.com
Maisie Short Short (C) 310-498-5241
maisieshort12@gmail.com
Joint 25th Reunion with 2001: June 2026
Congratulations to Katherine Lummis on getting engaged!
’01
Beezie McLaughlin Sayers (C) 713-560-6210
beezie.sayers@gmail.com
Joint 25th Reunion with 2000: June 2026
Jonathan Lee got to visit with Arden Faires ’19 in the Pacific Northwest this summer! He writes, “It was great to be able to catch up with her…[and] to hear about her pending success as she navigates the world post Episcopal and VaTech.”
’02
Andrew S. Farrar (C) 919-616-6636
asfarrar@gmail.com
Artie L. Armstrong (C) 805-341-5233
artiearmstrong@yahoo.com
Joint 25th Reunion with 2003: June 2028
William Akridge ’99 and Pat Carlini ’99 visited each other in D.C. with their children Coco Akridge, Knox Akridge, Will Carlini, Skyr Akridge, Tory Carlini, and Cameron Carlini.
Jonathan Lee ’01 and his wife Lauren with Arden Faires ’19 as she visited the Pacific Northwest.
Tess and Ollie Richardson, children of Ravenel Richardson ’99.
’03
Alden Koste Corrigan (C) 443-783-4659
alden.k.corrigan@gmail.com
Joint 25th Reunion with 2002: June 2028
Jordan Whichard reports that he and his wife, Jessica, have been in Raleigh, N.C., since moving from Washington, D.C., near the end of 2015. That was quickly followed by their daughters, Eliza (8) and Katherine (6). Jordan says it’s good to see Joe Stallworth and Lyle Farrar ’04 around town from time to time, and by chance, Eliza and Graye Pelletier Todd’s daughter Emmie were in the same cabin this summer at Camp Seafarer.
Professionally, Jordan has spent most of his time back in North Carolina
working with Governor Roy Cooper, first as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs in the Governor’s Office from 2017-2021, and since 2021 as Chief Deputy Secretary at the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
’04
Charlie E. Williams
(C) 304-669-1170
charlie.e.williams@gmail.com
Joint 25th Reunion with 2005: June 2030
Kalee Stuart Blackburn recently finished her masters in epidemiology and returned to a career teaching high school science at an independent school in Houston, Texas.
Nick Stewart and Hugo Gilbert just celebrated the christening of Blake
Murphey’s youngest son Theo at Episcopal this past June.
Parker Barnwell and John Henderson got together a couple of weeks ago in Philly to see the art-punk band Les Savy Fav and had brunch in the countryside the next day. Parker is a clinical associate professor in the Family Medicine Department at ECU Health in Greenville, N.C. He works as a hospitalist in the Family Medicine clinic, teaches residents, and teaches medical student courses. He also got engaged last summer to Anna Strandberg, a lawyer, biology student, and all around cool person. And he has two cats — Mabel and Jerome, and a statue of a cat named Jerbel.
Peggy Albertson Campbell ended up inadvertently traveling to the Reunion with Lyle Farrar. After some serious delays and
William “Alexander” Nisbet III, son of Eloise and Will Nisbet ’01.
Robertson Greenbacker ’04 and Lyle Farrar ’04 in Raleigh, N.C.
Blake Murphey ’04, Nick Stewart ’04 and Hugo Gilbert ’04 celebrate the christening of Blake’s youngest son Theo in Callaway Chapel this past June.
Parker Barnwell ’04 and John Henderson ’04 in Philly to see the art-punk band Les Savy Fav.
Class of 2004 friends celebrating their 20th Reunion at the School!
Class Notes
travel shenanigans, they made it! They both saw good friends and had a good time catching up with everyone.
Lyle started a new job as the director of annual giving at Ravenscroft School in Raleigh where he bumped into Robertson Greenbacker. The 20th Reunion for the Class of 2004 was great and hopefully we can recruit more of our classmates back for the 25th!
’05
Peebles Squire (C) 434-594-4652
peebles.mobile@gmail.com
Joint 20th Reunion with 2006: June 2026 Tabb Wyllie recently caught up with his godson Hank Hudgens, and Phil Hudgens recently caught up with his goddaughter Maren Wyllie in Richmond. We can neither confirm nor deny if Tabb is wearing an OG Class of ’05 issue shirt in the pic, but Go High School! Tabb will be hosting a tailgate for this year’s Game. As the old saying goes, “all are welcome!”
The Murray clan didn’t know what hit them when the Squire pontoon flotilla arrived at their Lake Gaston getaway this summer. While busy wrangling toddlers, we were unable to get a group photo, but it was a delight catching up with Gray Murray ’03, Sally Mebane Murray ’03, Madison Murray Carlos, Peebles Squire, and Hendrik de Zwart ’06.
’06
Molly E. Wheaton (C) 504-247-8674
mewheaton@gmail.com
Margaret von Werssowetz Waters (C) 843-607-5788
margaretvonw@gmail.com
Joint 20th Reunion with 2005: June 2026 Hey, friends! As I write this, the school year has just begun and there’s finally some action around Episcopal again. I’ve been watching the preseason athletes battle the heat and reliving the days of preseason volleyball back when Centennial wasn’t air-conditioned. My daughter Goody (5) just started kindergarten in D.C., and Charles (3) is still at the Butterfly House just across the fence from EHS. It was a big summer of
Peggy Campbell ’04 and Lyle Farrar ’04 inadvertently traveled to Reunion together after some serious delays and travel shenanigans.
Daughters of Honour Alston Thornton ’06 and granddaughters of Cotten Alston ’63.
travel: Kanuga with my brother Odie von Werssowetz ’04 and the rest of our family, Bermuda to see Nea Fowle and Lily Fowle Halls ’08, the Chesapeake Bay with several friends including Case Anderson ’03 and his family, Aspen with Ned’s family, and finally a very brief road trip to Charleston where I saw Frances deSaussure Murray. We had a blast, but my Apple Watch politely informed me that my average heart rate is significantly lower when I’m not traveling with two small children.
Molly Wheaton writes: “I was lucky to spend a long weekend in May at the lake with fellow 06ers: Caitlin Dirkes Simmonds, Kingsley Trotter McNeil,
Tabb Wyllie ’05 with his daughter Maren and Phil Hudgens ’05 with his son Hank. Tabb is Hank’s godfather, and Phil is Maren’s godfather!
Margaret von Werssowetz Waters ’06, Sarah Montz Harcus ’06, Molly Wheaton ’06, Caitlin Dirkes Simmonds ’06, Kingsley Trotter McNeil ’06, Olivia Head, and Ned Waters in Hot Springs, Ark.
Margaret von Werssowetz Waters, and Sarah Montz Harcus (+ honorary mention for Olivia Head, who should’ve gone to EHS). Kingsley still claims to be “the most interesting person in the world,” so some things never change (SMH). I was devastated by the passing of Julie Zambie Williams ’07, but I was glad I could make it to her funeral where I reconnected with a ton of EHS alumni to celebrate her wonderful life. There are too many people to list which goes to show her importance and impact. Don’t take anything for granted and long live, JZ <3.”
While we were at the lake in Arkansas, Peyton Killeen Walling was busy getting
Julie Barraza Boggs ’06
In North Louisiana, Julie Barraza Boggs ’06 dons her gray issue and heads out the door to her family’s 10,000 acres of farmland.
In addition to managing the family farm, she has overseen up to 130,000 acres for the last decade for clients ranging from families to investment funds. Now a member of the Peoples Company, based in Iowa, Boggs continues to apply her extensive knowledge and expertise in land management, helping dozens of her clients yield the best results possible from their croplands.
“Farming was never the plan,” Boggs said. But a friend from Mer Rouge, La., trusted Boggs to manage the farmland in her family’s fully integrated rice operation through her family’s company, Delta Land & Farm Management, changing Boggs’ trajectory for good. “I wanted a career where I could communicate not just effectively but impeccably, and Episcopal taught me how to do
that,” she said of her decision to make such a big career change.
Hailing from a small town in Louisiana, Boggs was inspired to follow her older brother Michael ’03 to The High School. His positive experience at Episcopal made her the second of four siblings to graduate from the School. “Teachers like Mr. Morgan, Mr. Goodnow, and Mr. Ferrell all greatly influenced my writing and communication skills,” she said. As she hones the skills she learned at Episcopal, she remains the only woman in Louisiana to receive the Accredited Farm Manager designation from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers®.
As the farm manager for acres across the Louisiana Delta region, Boggs focuses on nurturing relationships, embracing change, and forging new paths in an ageold industry. Each region presents unique problems, from soil structure to weather patterns. Her
expertise allows her to navigate these complexities, ensuring optimal land management practices despite environmental factors.
“Training and educating farmers to produce a sustainable crop is essential,” Boggs emphasized.
“It’s my job to help them understand that it’s also better for their soil quality and ultimately, for their yields and their bottom line.”
As the mom of two young boys and a newborn daughter, Boggs’ advocacy centers sustainability and female education/engagement in farmland management.
“Being a woman is my biggest asset when it comes to this job,” she said. “I think it’s really hard sometimes for women to even perceive putting themselves in a role like this because they don’t think they’re ever going to have access to it, but without a doubt this has been an incredible career for me. I’ve had nothing but support, and I hope to continue to advocate for women in this industry.”
Class Notes
ready for baby number two and welcomed another boy, Owen Lawton Walling, on June 3.
I asked for mundane updates, and Rutledge Long delivered with gusto. “I have been struggling to find matching socks lately after my clothes go through the dryer. I still have plenty of socks but more and more often they’re ending up mismatched. The ones I have, fortunately there are a lot of similar colors — dark gray and black, for example, and even some patterns that look similar enough to pair together, but I have been considering whether it may be time to just fully embrace mismatched socks as a part of my overall style and ethos, or maybe if it could be time to throw out all of my old socks and start over new in 2025. I’m waiting to see how the election goes and I’ll probably make a decision after that.”
Mary Lide Parker, whose life defies the mundane, writes, “Ahoy, friend! Talofa from American Samoa! I’ve been working with a team of researchers out here for the past month. We had to endure some rough seas but we saw tons of oceanic white tip sharks and humpback whales. At the end of this expedition, I’ll fly home to North Carolina for a few weeks and then head to Hawaii, Guam, and Palau. Still loving life at sea!”
Honour Alston Thornton reports: “Just wrapped a home renovation. My 5-yearold daughter now loves looking through the EHS magazines when they come in the mail. Hoping she can be on the Hill one day!”
Finally, Kingsley has shared an announcement: “Hey, everyone! We are moving to (outside) the Charlotte area in early 2025. Looking forward to connecting with EHS people there.”
’07
Class Correspondents Needed
If you would like to share an update or volunteer to be the Class Correspondent, please contact Marissa Murdock at mmurdock@episcopalhighschool.org or 703-933-4125.
Joint 20th Reunion with 2008: June 2028
’08
Lucy Glaize Frey (C) 540-327-2267
lglaize@gmail.com
Joint 20th Reunion with 2007: June 2028
Greetings from the Class of ’08! It was so wonderful to be back on campus in June with so many members of our class. The highlight might’ve been experiencing a snippet of life as a dorm family, hanging out with Ann deSaussure Biondi and her adorable family in their home on North Dorm. I failed to give my classmates plenty of advanced notice for these Class Notes, and, despite my short notice request, they still delivered some fascinating updates. Larry Owens continues to wow audiences as an actor, singer, comedian, and now producer extraordinaire in New York.
He most recently appeared on the third season of “Abbott Elementary,” the A24 film “Problemista,” and appeared opposite America Fererra in the feature film “Dumb Money.” He is currently venturing into theatrical producing with his first musical, “The American Football Musical,” a Southern country rock satirical comedy about sports films, and the play “Five Sisters of the Regan Dauphin,” a play about Black women in roles of leadership written in verse and African American Vernacular English. If you’re interested in getting involved with Broadway in any capacity, do not hesitate to reach out to Larry. He’d love to share a Tony Award with you!
Johnny Motley is traveling the world writing and tutoring. He sent his updates, along with this awesome airport selfie, from Frankfurt, as he was en route to Riga, Latvia. He covers mostly lifestyle content, including wine and spirits, travel, and some fashion. (I
Emily Urquhart ‘08 and Rebecca Hart ‘08 spent some quality time at Grandfather Mountain over Labor Day weekend.
Class of ’08 friends attend the wedding of Eleanor Galloway Williams ’08 and Rob Williams: Lucy Glaize Frey, Ann Gordon Pelletier Eisenzimmer, Marguerite Kleinheinz Stoner, Ann deSaussure Biondi, The Bride, Leah Andress Brady, Eliza Coker Sheldon, and Lily Fowle Halls.
Johnny Motley ’08 snaps a quick picture before he continues his travels around the world.
didn’t get the details on his tutoring gig, but now I’m wondering if he tutors students all over the world. I’ll do my best to report back on this in the next Class Notes.) Johnny also shares that he is an angel investor in Ramp, a credit card company founded by his college roommate. He encourages CFOs, founders, and anyone else interested to check it out!
We’ve added a few new babies to our next generation (maybe a few for the EHS Classes of the late 2030’s and 2040’s?).
Clay Dunnan Maxwell and her husband, Grover, welcomed their second daughter, Lillian Wallace Maxwell, in March. Lillian’s big sister Adelaide is smitten! The Maxwells are enjoying raising their girls in Charleston. Leah Andress Brady and her husband, David, welcomed their third child and first daughter, Margaret “Miller” Brady
on June 3. Big brothers Ward and Weston are very proud!
Eleanor Galloway and Rob Williams were married at New York City City Hall on June 24. They had an epic wedding celebration in August in Brooklyn, where many of us joined to celebrate. Episcopal alumni were not limited to our class. Many of Eleanor’s cousins who went to EHS and Jess Alfaro ’07 were also there celebrating the nuptials!
Emily Urquhart is enjoying life in Raleigh. She recently ran into Max Hoon at F45 Training. The trainer partnered her up with “some guy” wearing an Episcopal T-shirt who Emily did not recognize at all, until they introduced themselves. Episcopal never fails to keep bringing us all together! Emily also met up with Rebecca Hart at Grandfather Mountain over Labor Day weekend. Looks like they got some gorgeous views of the North Carolina mountains! Emily sees Elizabeth Dale Uhrinek weekly for their standing date every Monday night to watch the Bachelorette. This makes me feel nostalgic for the weeknights when we piled in the commons on Anderson and Harrison to watch the new episodes of “The OC” and “Gossip Girl” every week.
’09
Jeila M. Kershaw
(C) 334-399-0386
jeilamartin@gmail.com
Haley Morgan Tenney
(C) 703-509-3117
09hmorga@gmail.com
Joint 20th Reunion with 2010: June 2030
Hellooo, my dearest darlings, my EHS Class of 2009! This whirlwind summer is coming to an end and while I am sad to see it go, I do love to watch it leave and make way for crispy fall weather (when we can all really start dressin’). In the beginning of July, I traveled to Rome, Italy for the wedding of Paula Pavlova and Hans Harris. The wedding was absolutely incredible, as you would expect from Paula and her fabulous mother, and I got to catch up with some wonderful EHS grads including Caroline Moncure, Carter Voss ’08, Juliette Crowther Elliot ’10, and Hunter Benedict ’10. We danced until our (my) feet bled and ate until the sight of pasta was upsetting. On my way back home I stopped in NYC for a catch up with Haley Morgan Tenney, Mary Spencer Morten, and Drew Johnson Pucci, all of whom are as beautiful and hilarious and wonderful as ever. Mary Spencer spent some time in North Carolina this summer with Hanes Dunn, Frances Stone Edge, and their respective families (everyone at Roaring Gap is related, right?). Speaking of Chez Dunn, Hanes and Smith Marks bamboozled me into watching a live stream Phish show back home in New Orleans, and I have to say it wasn’t half bad! I won’t be camping with them any time soon, but the couch experience was positive. David Block writes that he got married in September 2023 and both Madeleine Breaux and Alex Helm were in attendance. His wife is pregnant with their first child, a boy, who is due at the end of August. They are living in Old Town, Alexandria, just a couple of minutes away from Episcopal and
Lillian Wallace Maxwell, daughter of Clay Dunnan Maxwell ’08 and Grover Maxwell.
Leigh Ainsworth Coutoumanos ’08 and her family in front of the Capitol.
Margaret “Miller” Brady, daughter of Leah Andress Brady ’08 and David Brady.
James Williams ’09 with son Weston Alexander Williams, born on July 1, 2024.
Class Notes
encourage any locals to reach out! Many congratulations in order!
Speaking of reproduction, James Williams reports that he has been happily living and working as an ER doctor in Guam for the past two years and that he and his wife, Kelsey, were excited to welcome a baby boy, Weston Alexander Williams, on July 1. YAY WILLIAMS FAMILY!
Liz Ward Nation gave birth to her second child, Eliza Brooks Nation, and also relayed that her husband, known WFS traitor Charles Nation, accepted a hospitalist job at VCU, which will keep them in Richmond and hanging with Frances and new Richmond resident Elizabeth Henderson for a few more years. I see a Virginia trip in my fall future!
Not to be outdone, Kate Stover Lane and her husband Tim welcomed Charles Wolfgang Lane on June 13, 2024. He promptly asked for a glass of pinot grigio and hospital valet, leading me to believe that there really is such a thing as too much Bravo and Kate has watched it. Or maybe it’s because he is European, being born in Portugal and all. Things to ponder… That’s all from Class of 2009 for now! Until we meet again… xoxo, JMK.
’10
Whitt W. Clement Jr. (C) 804-477-5732
whitt.clement@gmail.com
Joint 15th Reunion with 2011: June 2026
Sara Shiels Brooks writes: “I got married! My last name is now Brooks. Also I had a baby on 2/17/24. Hopefully he will go to EHS as well, but we have a few years.”
’11
Connor V. Gallegos (C) 703-919-4833
connorgallegos92@gmail.com
Joint 15th Reunion with 2010: June 2026
’12
Celeste H. Jones (C) 434-414-4696
jonescelesteh@gmail.com
Joint 15th Reunion with 2013: June 2028
Hannah Gray Kirchin got married on May 25, 2024 to James Kirchin in Richmond,
Va. She’s now moving back to Virginia! Congratulations, Hannah!
’13
Somer G. Glubiak (C) 804-370-5886
sglubiak@gwu.edu
Joint 15th Reunion with 2012: June 2028
’14
Cici R. Sobin (C) 703-999-1277
cici.sobin@gmail.com
Joint 15th Reunion with 2015: June 2030
’15
Presley G. Goode (C) 804-441-2286
pgoode2@gmail.com
Tyler P. Hartmeyer (C) 516-474-9843
tyler.hartmeyer@gmail.com
Morgan A. Lineberry (C) 205-789-0447
morganlineberry12@gmail.com
Joint 10th Reunion with 2016: June 2026
Juhyeong Park writes: “I just got my medical license in Korea, and will be working as a public health doctor for the next three years.”
’16
Kelsey M. Anderson (C) 703-624-6968
kelseymanderson4@gmail.com
Andrew Karo II (C) 804-592-9640
andrew@andrewkaro.com
Priscilla B. Barton-Metcalfe (C) 727-410-8746
16bartop@gmail.com
Joint 10th Reunion with 2015: June 2026
’17
Halle T. Hughes (C) 904-322-2828
hughes.halle@me.com
LizaBanks Campagna (C) 202-650-7687
lizabankscampagna@gmail.com
Joint 10th Reunion with 2018: June 2028
Whit Goode moved to New York City in September 2023!
Duncan Trau currently coaches special teams for the Pierre Governors football team in South Dakota. This fall they won their seventh consecutive state championship.
’18
Lexi N. Weger (C) 571-721-8585
aweger@princeton.edu
Joint 10th Reunion with 2017: June 2028
Class of 2015 classmates and friends at the wedding of Emily Salvant Ducker: Leigh Channell Sandman, India Nix, Calvin Lawson, Teddy Wilhelm, Ben Arp, Emily Salvant Ducker, Thomas Ducker, Karli Francis Farnsworth, Sophie Holt, Vicky Reynolds, and Josh Howard.
’19Olivia H. Tucker
(C) 415-361-1561
olivia.tucker@yale.edu
Lilly F. Whitner
(C) 904-504-5027
lfwhitner@gmail.com
Joint 10th Reunion with 2020: June 2030
With a little over a year of post-grad life now under their belts, the Class of 2019 has some exciting personal and professional updates!
Chris Denning writes that he recently switched jobs and moved to Chapel Hill, “so reach out to meet up!”
Kyndall Donalson reports that in the fall of 2024, she began a one-year
master’s program in systems medicine at Georgetown University.
Juliet Faris writes: “Been loving summer in Denver! I’ve been prioritizing doing all the outdoor things. I got to spend the 4th in Montana at the rodeo. On the way back to Denver, I stopped at Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons for some hiking! I started segment hiking the Colorado Trail with my best friend. It’s been great to get away from life for a few days at a time and breathe in fresh mountain air. I got to go to Glacier National Park with my roommates at the end of July to backpack for a few days. We ended our hike in Waterton, Canada. Other than those big trips, I’ve been playing lots of volleyball, rock climbing, hiking, and trail running on the days I’m not at work!”
Alexander Keller reports that he has begun his service in the Swiss Armed Forces.
Kidron Kollin recently moved to Denver to pursue his master’s in mechanical engineering on the biomechanics track. He reports that he’s doing “lots of climbing, skiing, and outdoorsy stuff,” and encourages his classmates to “come holla.”
Payton Leeby writes: “Living life to the fullest in Dallas! After earning my master’s degree, I spent a month exploring Europe with my boyfriend. I’m currently working as a live host for TikTok, and I just launched my own clothing store, so there are plenty of exciting things on the horizon! Plus, Sam Fanning has moved to Dallas too, which has been wonderful! I miss everyone and hope you’re all doing well. Xoxo.”
Juliet Faris ’19 flew out from Denver to celebrate the engagement of Olivia Tucker ’19 and Jack Streed ’17.
Alexander Keller ’19 and a peer serving in the Swiss Armed Forces.
McKenna Gribbon ’19, Sophie Singletary ’18, and Lilly Whitner ’19 enjoy a meal together in Washington, D.C., in June 2024.
Alexanne Penton ’19 became a first officer at PSA Airlines this past spring.
Juliet Faris ’19 crossed the U.S.-Canada border on a backpacking trip with her roommates this past summer!
Alexanne Penton says: “In March of this year, I began my position as a first officer flying the CRJ 700 and 900 for PSA Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines.”
Lilly Whitner writes: “I have so enjoyed my first year living in Washington, D.C., working at Accenture Federal Services. It’s been a great opportunity to continue learning and growing, while reconnecting with old EHS classmates not far from The Holy Hill.”
Jonesy Wilbanks reports that she has been traveling around Southeast Asia with her family.
’20
South Wallace III (C) 843-973-0626 csw3ve@virginia.edu
Joint 5th Reunion with 2021: June 2026
’21
SS Singh (C) 732-586-9788 ssinghseeds@gmail.com
Joint 5th Reunion with 2020: June 2026
Congratulations to McClain Brooks for winning Sewanee’s election to become the next Student Government Association (SGA) President. Flora French was also elected SGA Senator in the same election! Way to go, ladies!
Friends Isabel Schneider, Lucy Bland, Charles Starks , and Thomas Gibert gathered to celebrate Maria Claiborne in Richmond, Virginia for the 61st annual Bal du Bois debutante ball. They had a great time celebrating Maria at this memorable event!
On April 8, 2023, Caroline Davis Binnall married Jesse Binnall at the prestigious Larz Anderson House in Washington, D.C. She gave birth to her daughter Blair Mason Binnall, future Episcopal alum!
Friends Caroline Panton and Virginia Friedman gathered to celebrate the 21st birthday of Caroline Davis Binnall at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, D.C. The event was hosted in the renowned Eisenhower Room and was a fabulous opportunity to reconnect!
’22
Class Correspondents Needed
If you would like to share an update or volunteer to be the Class Correspondent, please contact Marissa Murdock at mmurdock@episcopalhighschool.org or 703-933-4125.
Joint 5th Reunion with 2023: June 2028
’23
Class Correspondents Needed
If you would like to share an update or volunteer to be the Class Correspondent, please contact Marissa Murdock at
mmurdock@episcopalhighschool.org or 703-933-4125.
Joint 5th Reunion with 2022: June 2028
’24
Class Correspondents Needed
If you would like to share an update or volunteer to be the Class Correspondent, please contact Marissa Murdock at mmurdock@episcopalhighschool.org or 703-933-4125.
Joint 5th Reunion with 2025: June 2030
Jack Streed ’17 and Olivia Tucker ’19 got engaged in Boston on August 24, 2024!
Payton Leeby ’19 and her dog Ari at her graduation from Southern Methodist University.
Cadet Brennan Sharp ’20 will begin Air Force Pilot Training after his graduation next spring.
Payton Leeby ’19 and her boyfriend on a trip to Greece this past summer.
Caroline Davis Binnall ’21 and her daughter Blair Mason Binnall, a future Episcopal alum!
Caroline Davis Binnall ’21 married Jesse Binnall at the Larz Anderson House in Washington, D.C.
Thomas Gibert ’21, Anna Scott Arnold ’22, and Brenton Smith ’21 pose with Episcopal’s Assistant Director of College Counseling Warren Quirett on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
From left to right: Caroline Hunt ’22, Ginny Moore Carr ’03, Alice Carr (future EHS Class of 2041), and Louisa Hunt ’24.
Kevin Gu ’23, Patricia Okwueze ’23, Audrey Davies ’22, and Charlotte Joyner ’20 with Episcopal’s Assistant Director of College Counseling Warren Quirett at Duke University.
Isabel Schneider ’21, Lucy Bland ’21, Charles Starks ’21, and Thomas Gibert ‘21 gathered to celebrate Maria Claiborne ’21 in Richmond, Virginia for the 61st annual Bal du Bois debutante ball.
Caroline Panton ’21 (left) and Virginia Friedman ’21 (right) celebrate the 21st birthday of Caroline Davis Binnall ’21 (middle) at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, D.C.
McClain Brooks ’21, Will Snead ’23, and Flora French ’21 at the Sewanee Student Government Association transition dinner and induction ceremony.
Class Notes
Births and New Arrivals
Email alumni@episcopalhighschool.org with news of births, adoptions, and other family additions.
Page Palmer Guilday to Elly Palmer Guilday ’98 and Steve Guilday on June 10, 2022
Anne “Annie” Louise Prather Claghorn to Prather Smith Claghorn ’99 and John Claghorn on April 10, 2024
Cyusa Karasanyi to Toni ’00 and Lanny Karasanyi on November 11, 2022
William “Alexander” Nisbet III to Will ’01 and Eloise Nisbet on February 13, 2024
Asher Tide Pflaum to Suzanne Pinckney Pflaum ’02 and Jacob Pflaum on January 18, 2024
Hugo Vandeveer Gilbert Jr to Hugo ’04 and Elizabeth Gilbert on July 21, 2024
Anne Tait Jacob to Reade ’06 and Claire Jacob in February 2024
Owen Lawton Walling to Peyton Killeen Walling ’06 and Christopher Walling on June 3, 2024
Lyla Gail MacInnes to Aimee Barazza MacInnes ’07 and Omar MacInnes on August 24, 2023
Margaret “Miller” Brady to Leah Andress Brady ’08 and David Brady on June 3, 2024
Lillian Wallace Maxwell to Clay Dunnan Maxwell ’08 and Grover Maxwell on March 1, 2024
Charles Wolfgang Lane to Kate Stover Lane ’09 and Tim Lane on June 13, 2024
Eliza Brooks Nation to Elizabeth Ward Nation ’09 and Charles Nation on August 25, 2024
Weston Alexander Williams to James ’09 and Kelsey Williams on July 1, 2024
Barclay Brooks to Sara Shiels Brooks ’10 and Nolan Brooks on February 17, 2024
Thomas Holton Hurley to Emma Holt Hurley ’12 and Thomas Hurley ’11 on March 10, 2024
Blair Mason Binnall to Caroline Davis Binnall ’21 and Jesse Binnall in 2024
Marriages
Email alumni@episcopalhighschool.org with news of any and all matrimonial unions.
Ben Geer ’99 to Alexis Richardson Geer in June 2024
Eleanor Galloway Williams ’08 to Rob Williams on June 24, 2024
Edward Pritchard ’09 to Holly Pritchard on February 17, 2024
Sara Shiels Brooks ’10 to Nolan Brooks on October 22, 2022
Peter Pritchard ’11 to Emilie M Waché on May 11, 2024
Hannah Gray ’12 to James Kirchin on May 25, 2024
Caroline Davis Binnall ’21 to Jesse Binnall on April 8, 2023
In Memoriam
In Memoriam includes deceased alumni as reported to Episcopal High School on or before September 29, 2024.
Mr. John Howe Cecil Jr. ’41 of Richmond, Va., on May 24, 2024
At Episcopal, Mr. Cecil ran indoor and spring track. He also received the Laird Prize.
Mr. Cecil is survived by his sister; children, including daughter Sallie Cecil Stillwell ; son-in-law Head of School Charles M. Stillwell ; four grandchildren, including Jane Whitney Stillwell ’18; a great-grandchild; nieces; and nephews. He is predeceased by his cousins Miles Fairfax Cary ’40 and John Barry Cary Jr. ’55
Rev. John Cutrer Smith ’42 of Charlottesville, Va., on March 31, 2021
At Episcopal, Rev. Smith was a member of Whispers, choir, and Stewart Advisory Committee. He also played spring tennis and was on the 130 football team.
Rev. Smith is survived by his two children and two grandsons. He is predeceased by his brother Dr. Edward Cutrer Smith ’40.
Mr. William Lee “Bill” Pryor III ’46 of Bay St. Louis, Miss., on August 13, 2024
At Episcopal, Mr. Pryor played JV football and JV basketball and ran spring track.
Mr. Pryor is survived by his wife Julie, seven children, 24 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and brother Edward Rouse Pryor ’50.
Mr. Frank Watkins Draper ’47 of Atlanta, Ga., on April 30, 2021
At Episcopal, Mr. Draper was a member of Blackford Literary Society. He played JV football, basketball, and ran track.
Mr. Draper is survived by his wife Fontaine, two children, and six grandchildren. He is predeceased by his brother Clare Hill Draper III ’46 and cousin Henry Duncan Draper ’47.
Mr. Luther Neil Conrad Jr. ’48 of Atlanta, Ga., on August 22, 2021
At Episcopal, Mr. Conrad played JV baseball and ran track. He was also a member of the 130 football team and Centennial basketball team.
Mr. Conrad is survived by his wife Stiles, three children, seven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
Mr. Louis Platt Benedict ’49 of Phoenix, Az., on October 27, 2023
At Episcopal, Mr. Benedict was a member of E Club, Missionary Society, and Blackford Literary Society. He played varsity football and tennis. He also served as a waiter and received the E Club Award in 1949.
Mr. Benedict is survived by his wife Kay, three children, thirteen grandchildren, and sixteen great-grandchildren.
We are proud to honor each departed alumnus and celebrate the contributions each made to Episcopal and their respective communities. Scan to read their full obituaries.
Mr. George Worthington “Nick” Barlow II ’51 of Charlottesville, Va., on August 25, 2023
At Episcopal, Mr. Barlow was a member of Wilmer Literary Society. He also played tennis, ran track, and was on the 130 football team, and the Centennial basketball team.
Mr. Barlow is survived by his two children, sister, and three granddaughters.
Mr. John Roberts Maddox ’51 of Atlanta, Ga., on August 14, 2024
At Episcopal, Mr. Maddox was a member of E Club, choir, Missionary Society, and Advisory Board. He played varsity football and was the co-captain of varsity track. He also served as a Monitor and waiter.
Mr. Maddox is survived by his wife Bettye, son John Roberts Maddox Jr. ’75, daughter, and three grandchildren.
Mr. Robert Anthony “Bob” Dilweg ’52 of Bethesda, Md., on March 20, 2021
At Episcopal, Mr. Dilweg was a member of the Wilmer Literary Society and Stewart Advisory Council. He also played JV football, junior basketball, and JV baseball.
Mr. Dilweg is survived by his brother, four children, including son Anthony Hume Dilweg ’85, ten grandchildren, and companion Janet. He is predeceased by his brother Jon Coleman Dilweg ’49.
Maj. Robert Hunter “Bob” Lindsey ’52 of Monroe, Ga., on February 14, 2020
At Episcopal, Maj. Lindsey was a member of Blackford Literary Society, The Chronicle , Whispers, dramatics, and Missionary Society. He played squash and fall and spring tennis. He also received the Debater’s Medal in 1952.
Maj. Lindsey is survived by his wife Mary, daughter, sister, four grandchildren, and many other extended family members. He is predeceased by his uncles Asbury Abney Payne Class of 1900 and Robert Nelson Page Class of 1923.
Mr. John William Scott III ’52 of Atlanta, Ga., on August 4, 2024
At Episcopal, Mr. Scott was a member of dramatics, Whispers, and Blackford Literary Society. He was on the 130 football team, ran winter track, and played tennis. He also served as a library keeper.
Mr. Scott is survived by his sons John William Scott IV ’81 and Robert Augustine T. Scott ’95 and nephews Hargrave A. Garrison Jr. ’78 and John Scott Garrison ’76. He is predeceased by his son Matthew Thompson Scott ’82, father John William Scott Jr. Class of 1918, and uncle Dr. Augustine Thornton Scott Class of 1925.
Mr.
Harry
Bowen Jr. ’54
of Charlottesville, Va., on May 20, 2024
At Episcopal, Mr. Bowen was a member of The Chronicle, press club, Egypt, and served as a Monitor. He also played varsity football and was on the varsity wrestling team.
Mr. Bowen is survived by his wife, Anabel, sons Richard Carlton Bowen ’79 and William M. Bowen ’83, four grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter. He is predeceased by his father Harry Bowen ’31 and grandfather Hedley McNeer Bowen Class of 1907.
Mr. William McKay “Mac” Johnston ’55 of Cary, N.C., on March 31, 2022
Mr.
Bennette
At Episcopal, Mr. Johnston was a member of The Chronicle, Whispers, chapel committee, choir, Fairfax Literary Society, and dramatics. He played squash and was the assistant manager for varsity track.
Mr. Johnston is survived by many loving family and friends.
Eugene Geer “Ben” Keys ’56
of Greenville, S.C., on June 9, 2024
At Episcopal, Mr. Keys was a member of the Honor Committee, hop committee, E Club, Advisory Board, Missionary Society, and Blackford Literary Society. Mr. Keys played varsity football and was the alternate captain for varsity basketball and co-captain for tennis. He also served as the Head Monitor, church usher, and a member of the Board of Trustees from 1968-74. In 1998, an anonymous donor established the Ben Geer Keys Scholarin-Residence Program, which has a long, treasured history of bringing talented scholars and artists to The High School.
Mr. Keys is survived by his wife Martha, four sons, and six grandchildren.
Mr. Shepard Bryan “Shep” Ansley ’57 of Atlanta, Ga., on May 18, 2024
At Episcopal, Mr. Ansley was a member of Whispers, The Chronicle, dramatics, Missionary Society, Blackford Literary Society, and Rifle Club. He also served as a waiter and played varsity football, soccer, and tennis.
Mr. Ansley is survived by his sister, two daughters, grandson, and granddaughter.
Mr. David Lee Maulsby Jr. ’59 of Lincoln, Mass., on April 7, 2024
At Episcopal, Mr. Maulsby was a member of Whispers and Wilmer Literary Society, and was on the Daemon board. He was also the news cartoonist and won the publications prize.
Mr. Maulsby is survived by his wife Sally, two children, and four grandchildren.
Mr. Cyrus Wiley “Cy” Grandy V ’64 of Norfolk, Va., on February 29, 2024
At Episcopal, Mr. Grandy was a member of Whispers, The Chronicle, Missionary Society, dramatics, press club, and A.A. Shop. He also played JV soccer and managed the Greenway baseball team
Mr. Grandy is survived by his wife Edith, son Cyrus Wiley Grandy VI ’04, daughter, four grandchildren, and cousin Michael W. McCabe Jr. ’92. He is predeceased by his father Cyrus Wiley Grandy IV ’39 and cousin Charles R. Grandy ’54.
Mr. George Partridge Greenhalgh III ’64 of Boyce, Va., on January 18, 2024
At Episcopal, Mr. Greenhalgh was a member of The Chronicle, E Club, Wilmer Literary Society, Missionary Society, and Blackford Literary Society. He played cake football, varsity soccer, and Greenway baseball.
Mr. Greenhalgh is survived by his wife Robin, four children, and six grandchildren.
Mr. Hugh Knapp Wachter ’64 of Hagerstown, Md., on July 21, 2024
At Episcopal, Mr. Wachter served as a Monitor and was a member of The Chronicle , chapel committee, Missionary Society, and Blackford Literary Society. He played JV football and varsity basketball and ran varsity track.
Mr. Wachter is survived by his brother Theodore Humphreys Wachter ’60 and many cousins.
Mr. William Terry Thurmond ’65 of Trussville, Al., on November 20, 2023
At Episcopal, Mr. Thurmond was a member of Whispers, Blackford Literary Society, and A.A. Shop. He played cake football and Greenway baseball. He also served as a manager for junior football and Greenway baseball and was a part of the photography staff.
Mr. Thurmond is survived by his wife Deborah and loving family.
Mr. Gerald Courtney “Jerry” Hester ’66 of Palmetto, Fla., on March 9, 2024
At Episcopal, Mr. Hester was a member of Whispers, The Chronicle, Missionary Society, Blackford Literary Society, and A.A. Shop. He also ran track and played JV football and baseball.
Mr. Hester is survived by his wife Mary Ann, two sons, two stepdaughters, and nine grandchildren. He is predeceased by his brother George Patterson Hester ’54.
Mr. William Francis “Will” O’Keefe ’66 of Remington, Va., on December 18, 2023
At Episcopal, Mr. O’Keefe was a member of E Club, Lounge Committee, Missionary Society, and Blackford Literary Society. He also played JV football and lacrosse and was on the varsity wrestling team.
Mr. O’Keefe is survived by his wife Kathleen, daughter, grandson, two nephews, and brother Dr. Edward Michael O’Keefe ’64.
Mr. William Atterbury “Bill” Perry Sr. ’66 of Frankfort, Ky., on October 9, 2023
At Episcopal, Mr. Perry was a member of Wilmer Literary Society and Missionary Society. He played cake and JV football, JV soccer, varsity baseball, and ran winter track.
Mr. Perry is survived by his two sons, sister, and two brothers.
Mr. Frank Howard Hudgins ’69 of Arlington, Va., on May 29, 2024
At Episcopal, Mr. Hudgins was a member of The Chronicle , Daemon , dramatics, Chapel Committee, and Blackford Literary Society. He also played varsity soccer, junior football, and was on the 1969 track team that was inducted into the Episcopal Hall of Fame in November 2013.
Mr. Hudgins is survived by his wife Beth, two children, and brother Edward Wren Hudgins II ’67. He is predeceased by his father Gen. Edward M. Hudgins ’29 and uncle William H. Hudgins ’34
Mr. William Ritter “Bill” Lane ’69 of Newport News, Va., on March 25, 2024
At Episcopal, Mr. Lane was a member of Pithonian Society, Whispers , Chapel Committee, and Blackford Literary Society. He played football and Greenway baseball and ran varsity track.
Mr. Lane is survived by his two children, brothers Bernard Bell Lane Jr. ’76 and Douglas Bassett Lane ’75, nephew David Coblentz Lane ’02, and niece Mary MacPherson Lane ’06.
Mr. Richard Alexander Rhodes Sr. ’69 of Fairhope, Ala., on April 1, 2024
At Episcopal, Mr. Rhodes was a member of Whispers, The Chronicle, Daemon , dramatics, choir, Wilmer Literary Society, Fairfax Literary Society, E Club, and glee club. He played varsity soccer, varsity lacrosse, football, and basketball, and ran winter track.
Mr. Rhodes is survived by his six children, twelve grandchildren, and brothers James Slade Rhodes III ’61 and Thomas Jackson Rhodes ’65
Mr. Isaac Shearon “Don” Stephens ’69 of Fuquay-Varina, N.C., in November 2023
At Episcopal, Mr. Stephens was a member of Fairfax Literary Society, Pithonian Society, and chapel committee. He also played soccer and ran track. He is survived by his loving family.
Mr. Robert Beverley Herbert III ’71 of Columbia, S.C., on December 27, 2023
At Episcopal, Mr. Herbert was a member of Wilmer Literary Society.
Mr. Herbert is survived by his brother and sister. He had many EHS relatives. He is predeceased by James Hull Herbert ’36 and C. Carrington Herbert ’41 . He is survived by C. Carrington Herbert Jr. ’68 , Oliver Frank Hart II ’68 , R. Beverley Herbert ’72, William Pinkney Herbert III ’72, William Fairfax Herbert ’73, Bruce T. Herbert ’75, William Andrew Herbert ’78, David Ray Herbert ’80, and John Carlyle Herbert ’83
Mr. William McClellan “Mac” Ritter III ’73 of Elizabeth City, N.C., on September 17, 2017
At Episcopal, Mr. Ritter was a member of Press Club, E Club, The Chronicle, and Hummel Dorm Committee. He also served as a Monitor and manager for varsity football, and basketball. He played junior football, basketball, baseball, and varsity lacrosse.
Mr. Ritter is survived by his wife Carol, mother, sister, brothers, including, David Winslow Ritter ’75, and many nieces and nephews.
Mr. John Christian Mott ’77 of Arlington, Va., on January 29, 2010
At Episcopal, Mr. Mott played junior football and was on the JV wrestling team.
Mr. Mott is survived by his nephew, several great-nieces and nephews, and several great-great-nieces and nephews.
Mr. David Michael Schindler ’82 of Atlanta, Ga., on April 3, 2007
At Episcopal, Mr. Schindler played soccer and ran track.
Mr. Schindler is survived by his parents, brothers Dr. Stephen Paul Schindler ’81 and Christopher Alan Schindler ’84 , and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Dr. James Russell “Jim” Forsythe ’86 of Lusby, Md., on March 15, 2024
At Episcopal, Dr. Forsythe served as a monitor, was a member of the Siberian Society, and was on the varsity wrestling team. He also received The Llewellyn G. Hoxton Medal For Excellence in Mathematics.
Dr. Forsythe is survived by his wife Alexandra, children, father, and brother Dr. David Andrew Forsythe ’85.
Mr. Julian Wayne “Jay” Unger ’92 of Mount Pleasant, S.C., on March 23, 2024
At Episcopal, Mr. Unger was captain of the boys’ cross country team and threw the shot put for winter track. He also was in the Washington Post club and volunteered with Head Start.
Mr. Unger is survived by his wife Betsy, two children, three nephews, and niece.
Ms. Amanda Lee “Mandy” Ross ’96 of Elkins, W. Va., on May 19, 2024
At Episcopal, Ms. Ross was a member of Whispers , Community Service, Student Health Advisory Committee, and Youth in Philanthropy. She served on the dorm council and was the varsity football manager.
Ms. Ross is survived by her mother, sister, brother-in-law, and nieces.
Mr. Andrew Victor “Andy” Saigh ’02 of Creve Coeur, Mo., on March 30, 2024
At Episcopal, Mr. Saigh was a member of the orchestra and ran varsity cross country. He also performed in the winter musical.
Mr. Saigh is survived by his father and mother.
Mrs. Julie Ann Zambie Williams ’07 of Monroe, La., on May 18, 2024
At Episcopal, Mrs. Williams played varsity tennis and was part of the cross training program.
Mrs. Williams is survived by her husband John, son, brother, sister, and several nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Elizabeth Lundholm Taglieri of Washington D.C., on April 22, 2024
Mrs. Taglieri joined Episcopal in 2012 as the School’s gift administrator. She was a highly valued member of the Advancement Office team for over a decade. Described by her colleagues as the heart of the Advancement Office, she always brought joy, laughter, and support to all coworkers, students, and alumni she encountered.
Mrs. Taglieri is survived by her husband, Jim, three sons, and three grandchildren.
A Prayer
from School Chaplain Rev. Betsy Carmody
O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day the departed members of our community. We thank you for giving them to us, their family and friends, to know and to love as companions on our earthly pilgrimage.
In your boundless compassion, console all who mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on Earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
“Something lit up in my
DURING FALL FAMILY WEEKEND, SENIOR AND ACCOMPLISHED ARTS STUDENT HUSTON SGRO GAVE A CHAPEL TALK THAT REFLECTED ON THE IMPACT PHOTOGRAPHY HAS HAD ON HER LIFE — AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO REDISCOVER YOUR INNER CHILD.
Growing up, the only time I felt close to home without my parents around was when I would go to my grandparents’ house in North Carolina. They smothered me with love and affection while stuffing me with various sweets and endless questions as if their lives depended on it. My grandmother, Nonnie, an amateur photographer, once showed me her old camera. It was a big, heavy, fully manual Nikon. I remember sitting next to her and looking at those pictures from “back in the day.” …
My grandmother used to say taking photographs of the people she loved made her feel as if she was giving more to the world than just her love for others. It was the chance to preserve her love of our family for years to come in a way she adored.
In 2020, after my grandmother died, I often reminisced about our time together — not by looking back at her photos of golden sunsets and blue-gray mountains but at the photos she took of our family at our happiest times. I found Nonnie’s camera and SD cards just days after her death, and thought to myself, “What if I went out and tried to take some pictures of my own with that old camera?”
I spent the next week shooting every person, animal, or thing within a two-hundred foot radius of me. After three days of trying to figure out how to download the pictures onto my school Chromebook, I was finally able to see them, the thousands and thousands of photos I had taken: my sister playing on the
Amelia, daughter of Rachel and Kadeem Rodgers
Molly and Charlie, children of Mimi and Peter Schwanda
Teddy, son of Charlotte and Patrick Hyland
“I have loved getting to know so many wonderful people and sharing my love for the world in the best way possible.”
field hockey field, my brother with my great-grandfather’s golf clubs, and my three sweet dogs sprawled out in the sun. It felt as if something lit up in my heart from looking at what I’d accomplished in attempting to keep Nonnie’s memory alive. …
From that day, I have continued to adore photography, whether it is working with families to photograph important moments like birthdays and births, meeting with seniors to capture their last year of grade school before leaving to start life on their own, or even meeting with college kids who need help getting sorority photos taken for the next chapter in their life. I have loved getting to know so many wonderful people and sharing my love for the world in the best way possible, just as Nonnie would have done.
But of all the subjects I have worked with, the most genuine images emerge when I work with children. They are unique, and not afraid to be their authentic and enthusiastic selves, no matter who is watching or if a camera is pointed in their direction. We as people in this society have inevitably been taught that to fit in or to be accepted, you have to act, look, dress, or speak a certain way. Kids don’t conform to these same standards that we do, and if you haven’t noticed quite yet, I’ll tell you that they seem to be happier, healthier, and so much more lovingly quirky than almost all of us teenagers and adults combined.
There is always something new to learn, especially from the young girls and boys in our lives, and my challenge to all of you is to rediscover your inner child again. For me, this
was looking through Nonnie’s old photographs to see a young Huston staring back at me in her small pink smocked dress and her hair in the tiny blonde bob, this is how I know our inner children are all within us. When I am with my inner child, I don’t hide my face and hair from the rain, I don’t sit in the shade hiding from the sun, and I don’t even squirm at the sight of a bug on the floor or the wall.
Not only does being more like your inner child allow you more freedom, but it makes you more unique. I’ve never seen two kids go for the same picture pose, but on multiple occasions, I’ve seen two teenage girls do the same exact thing when I’m taking their pictures. From the true smiles I have seen in the happy moments of this school, I know you are all amazing and perfect in so many ways, and I fear the best and most unique parts of everyone could be hidden behind a polished door we are too afraid to open.
So next time I or someone else asks to take your picture, or even if you’re taking a picture of yourself, don’t be afraid to show the real you and your genuine smile. And the next time it rains or snows, don’t hide from it. Instead, enjoy it the same way you would have when you were only five years old. Let that inner child play, even if only for a minute, and even if it’s uncomfortable. Because I know I’m not the only person who would be delighted to know all of the real you. Let’s make it our mission to make every young kid in our lives proud — even Nonnie who is watching over us, overjoyed that we’re letting our little inner child out to play.
Aaron Greer ’25, Huston Sgro ’25, and Sean Kim ’25 lower the Freedom Flag, which honors and remembers those we lost in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, at Friday Night Lights in the Hummel Bowl.
