EHS: The Magazine of Episcopal High School (Spring 2017)

Page 1

T H E M A G A Z I N E O F E P I S C O PA L H I G H S C H O O L

TODAY’S CLASSROOM How faculty and students are driving a culture of innovation

|

SPRING 2017


Mural created by students during Episcopal’s MLK Day Symposium. See page 8.

COLOR FIELD STUDIES BY ELSABE DIXON’S PAINTING I AND PAINTING II STUDENTS.


Contents ON THE COVER

CLASSROOM 20 TODAY’S How faculty and students are driving a culture of innovation. FEATURES

STUDENT CENTER IN STEWART GYM UNVEILED 16 THE Experience a day in the life of Episcopal’s new student center. MAN IN A WHITE COAT 30 ADr.BLACK Cedric Bright ’81 on his journey from EHS student to UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine’s Assistant Dean of Admissions.

ROAD 34 RECOVERY Wood Marchant ’84 on substance abuse recovery and helping college students overcome their addictions.

THE WAVES OF HOPE 38 RIDING Emily Vaughan Gilger ’96 on battling neuroblastoma alongside her young daughter and fundraising for cancer research.

WITH AMY 42 INHyunTHEJeeLAB (Amy) Lim ’17 on the inspiration behind her award-winning research in physics.

CAMPUS TO THE BIG APPLE AND BEYOND 46 FROM Faculty member Lucy Whittle Goldstein ’97 helps kick off Episcopal’s inaugural book club night; CONNECT travels to New York for a conversation on arts and fashion.

DEPARTMENTS

2 FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL 4 EHS SOCIAL 5 EPISCOPAL UP CLOSE THE ARCHIVES 50 FROM “All in all quite a thrilling day” — Page Dame’s ’59 letter home following Eisenhower’s second inauguration.

NOTES 52 CLASS After Episcopal: Freddie Bocock ’50, Rob Banner ’75, Rebecca Hart ’08, and David Kagulu-Kalema ’10.

90 IN MEMORIAM

Head of School: Charley Stillwell Director of Institutional Advancement: Christina Holt Director of Communications: Billy Faires Editor: Audrey Courchesne Class Notes Editor: Elizabeth Henderson ’11 Contributing Editors: Lindsay Bingham, Kirkland Hagerty Photographers: Audrey Courchesne, Rebecca Drobis, Billy Faires, Elizabeth Henderson ’11, Cory Royster Archivist: Laura Vetter Designer: Linda Loughran

Printer: Worth Higgins & Associates, Inc. Published by Episcopal High School for alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends of Episcopal High School. ©2017 Episcopal High School Please send address corrections to: Advancement Office Episcopal High School 1200 North Quaker Lane Alexandria, VA 22302 Or by email to dwr@episcopalhighschool.org

EHS

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 religion, race, color, sex, ancestry, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, or any other protected category in accordance with applicable Federal, State, and local laws.

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

1


From the Head of School When arriving on the Madeira School campus recently to witness our girls varsity basketball team clinch a share of the regular season ISL A Conference Championship, I was reminded of a wonderful saying, festina lente, that is displayed across the campus. This Latin motto meaning “make haste, slowly,” which was a favorite of the Roman Emperor Augustus, was a saying Miss Madeira, the founder of the school, shared regularly with her girls. Given the speed with which our world operates today, this saying seems particularly important. Our Theologian in Residence, Ian Cron, echoed the spirit of festina lente when he spoke to our School community during chapel, cautioning them to go slowly in a hectic time. As we strive to prepare our students to take this world by storm and to lead successful lives of meaning and purpose, the opportunities we look to offer them expand and accelerate in numerous directions. It is exciting to see what our students are accomplishing in the areas of physics and robotics. It is inspiring to see how their creative energies help them shape wonderful new service initiatives across

At the same time, what I love about this community is its appreciation not just for haste but for the importance of slowness. Many of the most important moments on campus come when we step back from the hectic pace of this acceleration. As Mr. Cron told us, “Smile. Breathe. Go slowly.” The power of the educational experience at Episcopal has always resulted from the transformational nature of the relationships that these amazing students from across the country and around the world form with each other and with this group of outstanding educators. These relationships are strengthened when we slow down for chapel, when we slow down for seated meals with our advisory groups, when we connect on campus in the evenings and on the weekends, and when we take the time to cheer for each other, support each other, and inspire each other. The time we gain in this 100 percent boarding community for approaching parts of our day “slowly” is critical. As we work together to plan a bright future for the School, we must vigorously pursue and create opportunities for growth and excellence, while remembering to slow down when the time calls for it. It has been a great benefit for me to have an experience in the 2015-16 school year as a boarding parent from Richmond and this current year as a new Head of School to learn as much about this very special community as I can. In the months ahead it will be exciting to seek input from the School’s many constituencies and to think carefully about how best to prepare our students for the changes of tomorrow in our shrinking global community. We will want to build on the School’s many strengths that have served it well over time and to continue to pursue those innovative approaches that will most benefit our students’ experiences. Episcopal has always strived to produce young leaders who are ready to make a positive difference with their lives.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY IS ITS APPRECIATION NOT JUST FOR HASTE BUT FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF SLOWNESS. the Greater DC community. It is terrific to see the faculty pursue an even higher level of teaching excellence on campus with innovative approaches in the classroom. Our students, faculty, and staff “make haste” on this campus each day in such remarkable ways. They lean into new experiences and opportunities such as our day-long program focusing on community and social justice to honor Dr. King’s holiday. They achieve great success on the athletic field, and it has been fun to watch the success of our winter teams build momentum for the start of the spring seasons. They celebrate each other’s artistic talents either with their hit musical performance of “Urinetown” or in the honors our students received at the Alexandria All-City Art Awards Ceremony and the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.

2

Together, as we “make haste, slowly,” we will ensure an especially exciting future for Episcopal.

Sincerely,

Charles M. Stillwell



EHS Social

3

2

1

6 5

4

7

8

9

1 Students participating in EHS service opportunities. 2 This year, every student has had the opportunity to tour the new National Museum of African American History and Culture. 3 The Fall Semester Student Art Exhibition showcased work from EHS student artists. 4 Seniors enjoying the first day of Senior Donuts! 5 The afternoon theater group traveled to NYC to see a Broadway show. 6 Sunrise over the Front Drive. 7 At the Table with Doctor King kicked off this year’s MLK Day Symposium with an inspiring performance. 8 Snow on the Chapel quad. 9 The faculty beat the students by a score of 32-31 in the annual Faculty vs. Seniors basketball game.

CONNECT WITH EHS Instagram @episcopalhs

4

Facebook Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va.

Twitter @EpiscopalHS @EHSMaroon

YouTube EpiscopalHSVa

Flickr Episcopal High School (Maroon and Black)


Episcopal Up Close n FA C U LT Y

She’ll Walk With You, Wherever You Are Introducing Betsy Gonzalez, Episcopal’s New Head Chaplain

Last September, Betsy Gonzalez stood at the Callaway Chapel altar, clad in her cassock and surplice, a smidgen of nervous excitement working its way through her. One of her first tasks after being named interim head chaplain (following the departure of Head Chaplain Gideon Pollach) was to introduce Episcopal’s newest students to the School’s approach to spiritual life.

The chaplains aim to “walk with you wherever you are,” Betsy told the students. “That’s our goal. As a vestry, and as a chapel team, we are here for you wherever you are.”

with the support of fellow chaplains Thom Hummel, Preston Hannibal and Scott Parnell, and the student vestry and service council.

She looked out on the roughly 150 new students and could feel their anxiety.

“We are blessed with such great student leaders who are fully committed to our chapel and service programs,” she says. “It’s so very important to me to know I can count on them, that they’ll do what’s needed and asked of them. They don’t even always need to be asked, which is great.”

“It’s been a challenging year to pastor a community of young people,” she reflects. “Not just because it was an election year, full of divisive talk and emotions, but because EHS had so much in flux this year.” Changes on The Holy Hill included a new head of school in Charley Stillwell and the transition in chaplain leadership. The transition has been smooth, however, and after a national search Betsy was named head chaplain in November. In her first two years at EHS as assistant chaplain, her primary responsibility centered around organizing and arranging service learning opportunities while also supporting Gideon, who as head chaplain organized and managed a busy schedule of events in Callaway Chapel. This school year, she has been juggling both responsibilities

Betsy’s vision of what makes an effective school chaplain is easy for her to explain. “Being a good chaplain is to read where your community is and meet them in that place. You also need to know what isn’t being said; the struggles being wrestled with quietly in small groups or by individuals. It also means challenging the community regularly to be something more than what we currently are, for one another and for others beyond this campus. We can always be better, do more.” Betsy found her calling after years of work in journalism, and she has lived all over the

country, from her upbringing in Alabama to life in California to her current home on the EHS campus. Living in different regions, often surrounded by people with different approaches to spiritual life and religion, was foundational to her perspective on serving as a chaplain. “My life experiences have taught me not to make many assumptions about what people do or don’t know about the Christian faith, or the Episcopal church, or what a ‘worshipping community’ is or looks like, or why we need to gather regularly in chapel,” she says. “We all — regardless of faith or belief — yearn for community, to be together and for a common cause, and our chapel gives us that experience. “But this process can still be hard, because it’s 440 kids all exploring who they are, often by bumping into one another and not always having the answers.” When the year is over and she reflects on her effectiveness, she will evaluate herself based on the promise she made to new students in September, she says: on how well the chaplains met students — wherever they were — over the course of the year. “How have we supported their formation as individuals and the continuing formation of our EHS community as we work to be people of good will together?” EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

5


EPISCOPAL UP CLOSE

n CAMPUS NEWS

Seen and Heard on The Holy Hill MARCH 1 Kristin Stadum, volunteer with DC Books for Prison and The Reading Connection, spoke to students about the power of giving back. Creativity consultant Courtney Ferrell led a small group of students through an empathy workshop.

FEBRUARY 15 Reggie Love, former special assistant and personal aide to Barack Obama, spoke to the sophomore class about the value of hard work and contributing to a team.

FEBRUARY 1 Dele Liu, EHS Trustee, parent, and director of Youku, China’s predominant video hosting company, spoke to seniors about how he approaches business and treating others. Shanterra McBride, life coach and founder of Marvelous University, led sophomore girls though an interactive session on identity, friendship, and courage.

DECEMBER 7 Minister, motivational speaker, and former NFL lineman Joe Erhmann spoke to sophomore boys about his life experiences, courage, and what it means to “be a man.”

NOVEMBER 9 EHS parent Dr. Will Thomas ’82, chair of the department of history at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, spoke to the student body on the U.S. presidential election and its historical context.

NOVEMBER 2 Poets Robbie Q. Telfer and Phil Kaye of Project VOICE — whose mission is to promote empowerment, improve literacy, and encourage empathy and creative collaboration — performed their poems for the student body.

OCTOBER 26 Ed Goeas, CEO of republican research and polling firm The Tarrance Group, offered students his perspective on the U.S. presidential election. 6

THEOLOGIAN IN RESIDENCE

Ian Cron, father of Aidan ’15, spent January 9-13 on the Hill as Episcopal’s Theologian in Residence. The Theologian in Residence Program was established by Dick Rutledge ’51. Ian, Episcopal priest and best-selling author, offered the message at a special Monday evening vestry service as well as at chapel on Thursday and Friday. He also visited a variety of English, theology, and music classes throughout the week, looking to gain direct insights into the students and the school culture beyond his understanding as the parent of a former student. He worries that too many young people (not to mention adults) can find themselves chasing endless demands that can never be fully met, running themselves into the ground. One of his messages for the week centered around his belief that the community should find time to “Smile. Breathe. Go Slowly.” “This is a great place, and what you see in these students is a lot of people seeking a connection to good souls and to meaning,” he comments. One of the great things here is that students must learn to navigate what it means to live together with a lot of different people, Ian says. “You have to learn how to tolerate those you don’t like, how to support the friends and people you do like. It’s harder to isolate yourself here, too. Not impossible, but harder. And there are benefits to learning how to manage that reality. Humans develop and grow in a social context. We find identity in a relational world. If you’re not in the midst of others, you are bound to miss something vital in the growth process.”


SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE

On January 10, the EHS community welcomed Professor Cindy Hoehler-Fatton to campus as this year’s Ben Geer Keys ’56 Scholar in Residence. Cindy earned her B.A. from Bowdoin College and her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, where she is currently a professor in the department of religious studies. Cindy participated in several classes in several departments — philosophy, English, religion, and French — reflective of her commitment to and passion for interdisciplinary study. “Dr. Hoehler-Fatton’s expertise comes from synthesizing information from history, anthropology, theology, visual arts and sociology,” says Mary Fielder, assistant head for academics. Cindy also led art teacher Liz Vorlicek and her students on a Washington Program trip to the National Museum of African Art, where she guided them through a lesson on the symbolic significance of African ritual masks and statues. Jared Young ’17, who attended the excursion, says, “Professor Hoehler-Fatton’s immense knowledge of African culture, history, and religion allowed us all to see the true depths of how important the art in the museum is, especially in the commemoration of the evolution of African society, from the prehistoric era to the modern day. From Nigeria to Kenya and everywhere in between, Professor Hoehler-Fatton possesses the unique and amazing ability to contextualize art from almost every pocket of Africa. Needless to say, I left the WPE excursion much more informed and inspired by the art than I ever could have previously imagined, all thanks to Professor Hoehler-Fatton.”

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

7


EPISCOPAL UP CLOSE

n CAMPUS NEWS

Dr. Cedric Bright ’81, Rodney Robinson ’86, David Hatcher ’84, Lauren Marshall ’09, Dr. Juergen Taylor ’81, Dylan Glenn ’87, Jonathan Lee ’01, Louis Smith, and Charley Stillwell.

MLK Day Symposium Includes Unforgettable Alumni Panel Discussion “To engage every student in some component of work that would have embodied the spirit of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement.” This was the vision of co-director of the Office of Equity & Inclusion Joel Sohn and other EHS administrators and faculty in creating the MLK Day Symposium, a day full of learning opportunities that was received with enthusiasm and praise from students and adults alike. The events of January 16 began with a special performance, “At the Table with Dr. King,” by the group Listen. Live.Repeat. The performance offered a mashup of excerpts from some of Dr. King’s most famous speeches with music and multimedia clips of art and archived footage from the Civil Rights Movement. “The morning performance was one of the best events at Episcopal we’ve ever had,” said one student, who submitted an anonymous comment to Joel, who requested feedback to help him plan for next year’s event. The remainder of the day offered students more than 20 options during a morning and afternoon session to explore 8

a wide range of topics and activities of their choosing, many conducted by faculty and outside experts.

and friends from their time as students, and were also open about the challenges and struggles they faced.

“From volunteer service where students could help other communities and individuals, to creative endeavors that allowed for artistic expression and understanding of the impact that art and poetry had during the Civil Rights Movement, to history lessons, science lessons, and cultural anthropology lessons; the day reflected the diverse ways the nation experienced, and continues to experience, the fight and push for social justice for all,” Joel says.

Reflecting on the event the following day, David Hatcher ’84, Executive Producer at WNBC-TV in New York, wrote, “The experience has sparked a conversation on my (Facebook) feed with other EHS alumni. Conversations that bring back good and bad memories…as well as emotions of fear and sadness but also joy and happiness.”

The most highly attended session of the day was the special alumni panel discussion moderated by English teacher Louis Smith and featuring seven African American alumni sharing honest experiences and insights from their time on the Hill. All of the participating alumni expressed deep gratitude, often for specific mentors

“For us to have as strong and caring a community here as possible, we need to be able to take honest looks at when we do things really well and when we could have been more effective,” says Head of School Charley Stillwell. “The alumni panelists especially all lived through important and challenging times here as students, and I am grateful they were willing to help us be the best community that we can be today.”


n CAMPUS NEWS

INAUGURATION TRADITION CONTINUES On January 20, some 350 students traveled to the National Mall to watch President Donald Trump take the oath of office and deliver his inaugural address. In keeping with EHS tradition, students of every political persuasion bore witness to the peaceful transition of presidential power, a pillar of American democracy. “Faculty chaperones who attended the event were provided with detailed training, and both faculty and students received a safety briefing that outlined standards and practices in the event of civil unrest or other incidents,” says Director of the Washington Program Jeremy Goldstein.

“The U.S. has been a global leader in celebrating a peaceful exchange of power from one party to the next since George Washington’s inspired decision not to run for a third term,” says Head of School Charley Stillwell. “This day for Episcopal is meant to celebrate our democratic process, rather than to support a particular winning candidate or party. I hope we will be able to continue to attend the event in future years, but we will also always keep the safety and security of our students front and center in our minds.”

As part of the day’s program, 100 or so students spent the morning engaging with residents at Goodwin House retirement home in Alexandria. They later walked to Northern Virginia Community College and watched the live broadcast of the inauguration. “With both options, we made sure that the EHS tradition of engaging with the inauguration on a deeper level remained a key part of the student experience,” notes Jeremy.

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

9


EPISCOPAL UP CLOSE

n PERFORMING ARTS

NOT YOUR MOTHER’S MUSICAL This year’s winter musical production, “Urinetown: The Musical,” ran February 16-18 in Pendleton Hall. “Urinetown” is a satirical musical comedy that takes place in a town where a terrible water shortage and 20-year drought has led to a government ban on private toilets and a proliferation of paid public toilets. “Urinetown” tackles the topics of capitalism, bureaucracy, and corporate greed with humor and wit. The EHS production of “Urinetown” featured students from the winter musical afternoon option, who devoted months to creating costumes, building sets, and rehearsing musical numbers for the offbeat show. “It’s an awesome production and a barrel of laughs. I have been so impressed by the students and the effort they have put forth on the project,” says Director of Theatre Arts Bill Patti. “With

10

an entirely new production team, and a cast made up of mostly freshmen and sophomores, the company is incredibly proud of the final product. The senior leadership was unparalleled. We anticipate huge amounts of growth in the coming years, as we build upon this important EHS tradition.” Lead roles were played by Mark Berry ’19 (Officer Lockstock), Gray Goodwyn ’18 (Caldwell B. Cladwell), Christian Hudspeth ’19 (Bobby Strong), Julia Messenger ’18 (Hope Cladwell), Emma Thorp ’17 (Penelope Pennywise), and Savanna Zumbado ’19 (Little Sally). For the full cast list, visit episcopalhighschool.org/urinetown.


Urinetown: The Musical

eeee “THE BEST SHOW I’VE EVER SEEN!” IVAYLO ARNAUDOV ’18

eeee “IT WAS HYSTERICAL!” PAGE LIGHT ’17

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

11


EPISCOPAL UP CLOSE

n VISUAL ARTS

AWARDS IN THE ARTS

This winter, 17 EHS art students received Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for their work in the visual arts.

“Since 1923, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards have recognized the vision, ingenuity, and talent of our nation’s youth, and provided opportunities for creative teens to be celebrated,” says the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards organization.

Hope Gray ’17

Each year, students from across the country submit their work to be judged by leaders in the visual and literary arts. Winners are recognized through three levels of awards: the Gold Key, the Silver Key, and Honorable Mention.

Rett Dotterer ’18

Jimin Kim ’18

This year’s EHS award recipients: Gold Key: • Brooks Buyck ’17 • LizaBanks Campagna ’17 • Hope Gray ’17 • Jimin Kim ’18 Silver Key: • LizaBanks Campagna ’17 • Linda Chiang ’18 • Ameliea Dulaney ’17 • Virginia Helm ’17 • Hayoung Lee ’20 • Ellie Sykes ’17 • Rett Dotterer ’18 Honorable Mention: • Guen Dunstan ’18 • Ameliea Dulaney ’17 • Hope Gray ’17 • Honor Kalkin ’17 • Jimin Kim ’18 • George McLanahan ’17 • Salina Tsegai ’17 • Thomas Kreger ’18 • Tim Liu ’17 • Page Light ’17 12

Hayoung Lee ’20


Linda Chiang ’18

Brooks Buyck ’17

Ellie Sykes ’17

LizaBanks Campagna ’17

Virginia Helm ’17 EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

Ameliea Dulaney ’17

13


EPISCOPAL UP CLOSE

n ATHLETIC S

WINTER WINS D awn Farquharson ’18, Bijee Jackson ’18, Brianna Williams ’18 Litchfield Ajavon ’19 The girls’ and boys’ indoor track and field teams put in significant time on Cathcart Track in Flippin Fieldhouse and it paid off at the State Championship meet on St. Christopher’s track in Richmond, VA. The girls’ squad broke both the 4 x 200-meter relay and 4 x 400-meter relay school records. Litchfield Ajavon ’19 and Dawn Farquharson ’18 both were crowned State Champions in the 55-meter hurdle events along with 12 other All-State performances.

14

Sophie Singletary ’18 The girls’ varsity basketball team had a remarkable season, winning important games to clinch the regular season co-championship. They went into the ISL Tournament as the #1 seed in the A division. The Maroon took their 22-9 overall record into the first round of the VISAA Tournament, where they faced Potomac in a rematch of the ISL tournament finals.


Nicole Carino ’19 and Duncan Agnew ’17 The boys’ and girls’ varsity squash teams had strong seasons of their own. The boys’ team finished the season 6-5 which included a runner-up trophy from the Mid-Atlantic Squash Tournament and an impressive run in Division III of US Squash’s High School Team Championships. The girls’ team ended the season with two tournament trophies, taking home first place plaques at the Mid-Atlantic Squash Tournament and also the Episcopal Invitational. The girls’ team also had a strong run in the US Squash High School Nationals, ending with a 3-1 record to take the Classic Plate final win and finish fifth in Division III. The boys’ program retained the coveted AmosWillett trophy with two decisive wins over Woodberry Forest. With a combined record of 22-2 the boys’ and girls’ junior varsity programs continue to bring new talent into the game as well.

Alexander Block ’17 The wrestling team’s season was highlighted by noteworthy individual performances on the mat. Senior leader Alexander Block ’17 was awarded his first All-IAC Distinction after making the finals of the IAC Tournament for the second year in a row. William Smith ’19 also placed third at the IAC Tournament and followed that up with a strong eighth place showing at the State Championships. Page Light ’17 A strong group of returning athletes continued the growth of our newest program, the EHS climbing team. An impressive team showing at the Washington Area Interscholastic Climbing League Championship meet (WAICL) was a highlight of the season, where the girls’ team placed runner-up in team scoring and the boys’ team placed 4th. George Mawanda-Kalema ’17 The boys’ varsity basketball team had a strong start, but the team struggled during the second half of the IAC season. The Maroon fought until the final buzzer in each game, falling by just one point on three separate occasions. There were some thrilling nights in the Hershey Athletics Center including an exciting two-point win over Bullis (the eventual IAC champions) and the team’s overall record of 12-13 qualified them for the first round of the VISAA Tournament.

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

15


9:25

am A generous gift honoring former faculty member Jim Seidule makes it possible

Grabbing breakfast

12:05

pm

Gathering between classes

Meeting on the deck for class

1:10

pm


FEATURE

THE STUDENT CENTER IN STEWART GYM UNVEILED ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2ND — THE DAY AFTER THE SENIOR CL ASS WAS GIVEN A SNEAK PREVIEW OF THE EAGERLY ANTICIPATED SPACE — THE DOORS OF THE NEW STUDENT CENTER IN STEWART GYM OPENED TO THE ENTIRE EHS CAMPUS COMMUNIT Y. HEAD OF SCHOOL CHARLEY STILLWELL DELIVERED OPENING REMARKS, THANKING ALL WHOSE HARD WORK AND GENEROSIT Y ALLOWED FOR THE BUILDING TR ANSFORMATION, AND HEAD CHAPL AIN BETSY GONZALEZ SHARED A BLESSING.

Students rushed the building, where they were greeted with delicious treats, comfortable seating areas, and pool and ping-pong tables which they wasted no time breaking in. The 12,706-square-foot space houses the Stewart Gym has played many school store, post office, snack bar, multiple seating different roles on campus, it has areas, performance stage, TV room, gaming area, and always been a space dedicated to more. A beautiful patio and terrace overlook Hoxton fostering community and Episcopal track and Hoxton field. students’ well-being. Stewart Gym — a gift from Mrs. George W. Peterkin Stewart Gym became Episcopal’s official student (Marion), wife of the Bishop of West Virginia, who center in 2012, and in July 2014 the EHS Board of attended Episcopal from 1856 to 1858, and two Trustees decided to expand the building’s offerings, all of her sisters — has served many purposes since while preserving the historic character of the space. They its opening in 1913. The building, named selected Voith and Mactavish Architects to undertake the projin honor of their uncle, Daniel, and their ect, and fundraising efforts were spearheaded by a generous gift father, John, has been home to basketfrom Louis Bacon’s ’74 Moore Charitable Foundation. ball, wrestling, fencing and boxing, the art department, temporary “This gift honors Jim Seidule, a teacher who had a tremendous impact on dormitory housing, and commy life. The new Center will provide spaces for students to learn, unwind and munity meeting. While foster relationships, just as Mr. Seidule would have encouraged,” says Mr. Bacon.

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

17


THE STUDENT CENTER UNVEILED

2:40

pm

Studying

Indeed, relationships are at the core of what makes the Student Center in Stewart Gym such a special place. In addition to the everyday ways in which students are using the space, a full schedule of organized events offer a multitude of opportunities for community-building. Events have included student chess and ping-pong tournaments, dances, art activities, yoga, open mic nights, and more.

4:10

pm

Playing chess

Shooting pool

3:30

pm

18


Relaxing with friends

5:35

pm

8:25

pm

Singing at open mic night

5:55

pm

Checking mail

9:40

pm

Gathering outside during Winter Carnival

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

19


HOW FACULTY AND STUDENTS ARE DRIVING A CULTURE OF INNOVATION

TODAY’S CLASSROOM

20


COVER FEATURE

ALTHOUGH MORE LIKELY TO BE FOUND IN AN ENGLISH CLASS OR WORKING ON WHISPERS THAN IN THE LAB, SENIOR ELLA SAYRE FELT FAIRLY CONFIDENT AS SHE ENTERED BAKER SCIENCE CENTER FOR HER ENGINEERING EXAM. Her teacher, Dave Collins, had told the class that the first part of that day’s exam would be devoted to the classic egg drop experiment, and like scores of students before them, Ella and her classmates used their exam preparation time to build, test, and rebuild mechanisms to protect their eggs from the impact of a drop. Many students had encountered a version of the tried-and-true experiment in middle school: how hard could it be? A third of the way through the exam period, Ella breathed a sigh

of relief. Her egg had survived the drop, and she was surviving her first engineering exam. THEN CAME THE SURPRISE, and the true test of the

students’ understanding of the physics principles — momentum, velocity, impulse, energy — that they had studied throughout the semester, along with their ability to effectively employ critical life skills like creativity, collaboration, and communication. The students were assigned partners and challenged to use K’NEX, the same building tools they used to make their egg drop carriers, to construct collision cars that would protect their eggs in a series of crash tests. Ella was paired with fellow senior Jack Streed — whose egg had cracked during the drop test — and the two wasted no time getting to work. “It was fun, but it definitely wasn’t laid back. We had to get in there and immediately start making something,” Jack recalls. “We had no idea what our car should look like because we had never done anything exactly like it before.” The two deftly navigated the occasional difference in opinion — for instance, over deciding which pieces to remove when they realized their car had exceeded the weight limit — to build a car that protected its egg through both collisions. Each crash test propelled the car at a different speed, and the team used what they learned from the previous crash to make minor adjustments to account for the next speed. “Process is important,” says Scott Pohjola, who also teaches engineering. “We’re looking for numerical understanding — the students had to analyze computer-collected data — but also for how well a student worked with their partner. We’re looking at how a team worked together to make adjustments based on the results of previous tests.”

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

21


TODAY’S CLASSROOM

SUPPORTING A DIVERSITY OF PEDAGOGIES 21st century education. Design thinking. Flipped classrooms. Social-emotional, personalized, experiential, and project-based learning. These buzzwords have been floating around the education community for years, but at Episcopal, they are more than passing trends or feeble attempts to keep up with the times. COURSE SPOTLIGHT: In Episcopal’s Fab Lab — short for fabrication lab — engineering students use 3D printers and laser cutters to create everything from model car wheels to rocket parts. “The course centers around project-based learning, and students use their hands as much as possible,” says Dave Collins. Engineering familiarizes students with cutting-edge technologies, and Scott Pohjola notes that “even if they don’t go into a tech industry, these technologies may come into their view in a business context, and they’ll benefit from having a bit of insight into them.”

22

“In the end we compromised pretty well. If you’re taking engineering class, you’re used to working in teams,” says Jack, who plans to study engineering in college. “We were both really open to each other’s ideas. If something doesn’t work you have to ditch it and figure something else out,” Ella adds. “Mr. Collins made it really clear early on that your grade wasn’t dependent on whether your egg broke or not. You could get a perfect score and have your egg break. It was about understanding and being able to defend your choices.” Dave hopes the class teaches kids that failure isn’t an endpoint. “I want kids to feel like they can fail. You’re not always going to get it right the first time. I want them to have to produce multiple iterations of something and to learn from that experience.” The egg crash exam models Dave’s philosophy in action. When he and Scott conceived of the assessment years ago, students worked with toothpicks and glue. The next time, they worked with balsa wood. The two make adjustments to the assessment each year. “We stick with what went well; we change what didn’t go as well, and sometimes we try new things just to see what happens,” says Dave. “They see that we’re doing the same thing we ask them to do.”

At Episcopal, teachers are empowered to experiment, take risks, and embrace a diversity of pedagogies — all within the framework of the rigorous college-preparatory curriculum upon which the School was founded — thereby modeling the flexibility, love for learning, and spirit of innovation that the School strives to instill in its students. “When you limit yourself to one teaching approach — whether it’s all sage on the stage, or all group work, or only the Harkness method — you’re not strengthening and stretching the kids’ muscles,” says Mary Fielder, assistant head for academics and theology teacher. While the Episcopal curriculum embodies a variety of teaching methods and class formats, all courses are designed to foster active engagement. They are designed to encourage students to think, rather than merely to memorize and regurgitate information. “Students have to be engaged in what they’re doing, not just passive recipients of content, in order for us to foster the characteristics we value most: flexibility, resilience, creativity, and moral and intellectual courage,” says Mary. History teacher Jessie George, who recently helped to redesign Episcopal’s Global History I course, recalls recognizing that “our goals for the course — to introduce students to historians’ thought-processes and skill sets, and to develop their foundation in global history so that they can be thoughtful participants in a global society — did not align with past students’ experience of the course.”


Students have to be engaged in what they’re doing, not just passive recipients of content, in order for us to foster the characteristics we value most: flexibility, resilience, creativity, and moral and intellectual courage. — Assistant Head for Academics Mary Fielder

Students felt that the course, as it was taught prior to the redesign, required extensive memorization of facts above all else. In many cases, students would cram for their exams and soon forget what they had learned. To address this problem, the course evolved from a survey format which offered broad historical coverage of eight to 12 regions, to a case-study format which encourages in-depth inquiry into six critical moments in global history. “With this approach, we intentionally left out certain topics in order to create time and space to dive deep into a narrower selection of content,” says Jessie. “Rather than a broad study of Chinese history from the Xia-Ming dynasties, this year’s third case study focused solely on the rise and fall of the Qin Dynasty.” Jessie’s students spent 16 class periods using that moment in history to investigate questions like: Why do some governments thrive while others fail? and How was the First Emperor able to create a foundation for a lasting Chinese state? This approach gives students the “interest, historical thinking skills, and knowledge of historical themes and patterns to pursue additional content on their own,” says Jessie. “In this age of instant access to content, we decided that it’s more important to teach students how to discover information on their own and how to thoughtfully consume the information they find, than to try to introduce them to every possible piece of content.”

PUTTING STUDENTS AT THE CENTER The Episcopal curriculum offers a multitude of teaching methods, like Jessie’s, that demonstrate a belief in the importance of student-centered learning, whereby students — guided by highly experienced faculty — are encouraged to take responsibility for their own education. In math teacher Lionel Rauth’s Algebra/ Trigonometry and Geometry classes, students engage with the Harkness method — a student-led, discussion-based approach to teaching and learning — and, according to Lionel, “discover concepts and definitions through problem-solving, rather than through lectures. Much of the learning happens in the evening when a student sits down to work through a problem set, in which the questions have been designed to encourage exploration and experimentation. Students come to class armed with new ideas about how to solve the problems, which they discuss with their classmates.”

COURSE SPOTLIGHT: Jessie George’s global history class is organized into six in-depth case studies — The Emergence of “Civilization” in River Valleys; Pericles’ Democracy vs. Augustus’ Empire; The Rise and Fall of the Qin; Early Globalization: The Silk Road and Its Travelers; Encounters in the Colonial World; Age of Revolutions — through which students explore critical moments or places in history. “With this approach, students gain the interest, historical thinking skills, and knowledge of historical themes and patterns to pursue additional content on their own.”

Lionel has watched as his students, primarily ninthand tenth-graders, have grown into “confident problem-solvers who approach learning as active exploration rather than passive reception.” Lionel acknowledges that Harkness is not the only way to teach math, nor necessarily the best way for every student to learn. “It can be especially tough for students who have only experienced math problems as evaluative

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

23


TODAY’S CLASSROOM

assessments of their intelligence, rather than as puzzles that challenge you to view and quantify the world in different ways,” he says. “Nonetheless, I’ve been blown away by the insights the students can achieve as a result of their interactions with the problems.” This acknowledgement that not every student learns in the same way — or thrives in the same classroom environment — is one of the underpinnings of Episcopal’s open-minded approach to pedagogy. “Learning happens in many different ways and places, and we want students to have a multifaceted experience of engagement,” says Mary. “When they get to college, or out into the work world, they’re going to be expected to engage in a variety of ways. We want their work here — in every class, irrespective of teaching method — to connect them more fully to their world, their passions, and their roles as citizens and change-makers.”

RETHINKING THE CLASSROOM SPACE Episcopal classrooms are strategically designed to promote different types of interactions, maximize students’ learning, and, to echo Mary’s words, “connect them more fully to their world.” Peer through the doors as you walk through Townsend Hall or Hummel Learning Center, and you’ll see a multitude of classroom environments: standing desks, Harkness tables, circles of couches, and so on. Leave those storied halls, and you’ll see that the Episcopal classroom extends beyond its academic buildings. Every Wednesday, the Washington Program brings students into Washington, D.C., where they interact with the city’s foremost organizations and experts and explore the district through four concentration areas: cultural awareness, entrepreneurship, public policy, and sustainability. The Washington Program

THE WASHINGTON PROGRAM Director of the Washington Program Jeremy Goldstein used design thinking principles — principles with which EHS asks its students to engage in many of its project-based courses — when he was hired and tasked with redesigning the program three years ago. In an interview with CampusTap, an online networking and mentoring platform with whom the School has recently partnered (see inside back cover), Jeremy explains how he used design thinking to transform the program.

“Design thinking is a human-centered approach to innovation that draws from the designers’ toolkit to integrate the needs of people, the possibilities of technology, and the requirements for business success.” –TIM BROWN, PRESIDENT AND CEO, IDEO

“The task at hand was to spread the program across the School and the entire curriculum,” he says. The program was originally conceived as a senior externship program, and under Jeremy’s leadership it has grown into a core component of the curriculum for all students. “The question was, how do I do this when we’ve got multiple constituencies and a lot of emotion revolving around the

24

program? — which, if you know enough about it, is a perfect design challenge.” In order to improve the Washington Program, Jeremy says, “I gathered as much information about the program as I could, looked at it from the inside out and took it apart. “I think the hardest part of design thinking is that you have to abandon traditional ways you make decisions. For me, it got me out of my bubble of, ‘I need to make decisions and hand down programming,’ versus ‘I need to hear and design programming.’ There is such a drastic difference between the two.” On the benefits of introducing students to design thinking, Jeremy notes, “There is a statistic that states 65 percent of the jobs our students will have in adulthood have not been invented yet. The design mindset is pretty interesting, because what it does is allow people to break the mold of how they used to be making decisions. We’re getting feedback from companies like Google and start-ups that say you can’t just think in a traditional way. You’re going to have to have a signifier that allows you to break the mold. I use it to introduce students to a new way of thinking.”


Learning happens in many different ways and places, and we want students to have a multifaceted experience of engagement. — Assistant Head for Academics Mary Fielder

serves as the leading example of Episcopal’s investment in experiential learning, but the School’s commitment to learning through experience and connection to place doesn’t stop with the program. Joel Sohn’s Environmental Literature students spend at least one class period per week outside, where they spend their time “writing about nature and science, getting dirty and sweaty in order to improve their writing and reading comprehension,” he says. One winter class period begins with reflection on the previous night’s reading from Italio Calvino’s “The Baron in the Trees” — a novel about a boy who rebels against his family by fleeing to the treetops where he builds a new life for himself — and concludes in Laird Acres, where the students walk, observe, touch, and learn about some of the trees that populate the land behind Episcopal’s athletics fields. In teacher Brett Mayer’s Environmental Science class, “the focus is on taking what we’ve talked about in class and putting it into the context of this place,” he says. In the classroom, Brett’s students learn about environmental history, environmental ethics, and sustainable design principles. Then, they take that knowledge — along with the questions that have surfaced over the course of their classroom inquiry — into the field.

helping with, and learning from, that transformation. From carefully selecting plants to populate a native plant garden and prepping the land for installation, to observing chickens in their coop as part of a food and agriculture unit, students are learning by doing. The space, too, provides an experimental ground for data collection, where students track temperature and precipitation events, and learn to observe, ask questions, and draw conclusions about changes in the environment. Brett takes experiential learning a step further when, in his role as co-director of outdoor programs, he helps students to recognize in the wild many of the phenomena they’ve learned about in class. “Some of the best relationships I’ve had with students are with those who take my class and then also come on outdoor trips. We’re in a different setting — say, backpacking in West Virginia — and I’m saying, remember this from class? I can see the kids’ wheels turning when they identify something from class in a real-world setting.”

COURSE SPOTLIGHT: Math teacher Lionel Rauth teaches with the Harkness method, a discussion-based teaching and learning approach that encourages students to take the lead. “Students discover concepts and definitions through problem solving, rather than through lectures,” Lionel says. “Much of the learning happens in the evening when a student sits down to work through a problem set, in which the questions have been designed to encourage exploration and experimentation. Students come to class armed with new ideas about how to solve the problems, which they discuss with their classmates.”

Since Brett arrived at EHS in the fall of 2015, he has been working to transform a plot of land adjacent to his house on campus into an outdoor classroom. Armed with a maxim from “Theodore Roosevelt: An Autobiography” — “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are” — Brett’s students are now

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

25


TODAY’S CLASSROOM

COURSE SPOTLIGHT: Joel Sohn’s Environmental Literature students take to the outdoors where they engage in place-based learning, “writing about nature and science, getting dirty and sweaty in order to improve their writing and reading comprehension,” he says. One winter class period begins with reflection on the previous night’s reading from Italio Calvino’s “The Baron in the Trees” and concludes in Laird Acres, where the students walk, observe, touch, and learn about some of the trees that populate the land behind Episcopal’s athletics fields.

26

KEEPING PACE WITH INNOVATION How do teachers keep up with innovations in teaching and learning? How do they decide which methods might work with their students and which methods are best left for another teacher to explore? While the School tends to hire experienced faculty who have honed their craft over many years, EHS also makes a point of hiring lifelong learners who are always seeking to bolster their knowledge and improve their work. “Professional development energizes them,” says Mary, reflecting on the myriad requests she receives from teachers interested in attending workshops, conferences, and seminars — this on top of everything else that is expected of an EHS faculty member. The Future of Education Technology Conference. The Association of Boarding Schools Conference. The Center for Collaborative Education Institute. Learning and the Brain. Independent Schools Experiential Education Network. Time to Thrive. These are just a handful of the many professional development opportunities that Episcopal faculty have embraced in recent months. Conferences offer a window into what’s working — and what’s not working — at other schools, and teachers return to campus invigorated by the possibilities for their own classrooms.

Professional development, however, is not limited to conference attendance. Many teachers are members of a Professional Learning Community (PLC) — a group of EHS colleagues who gather at least once a month to learn from each other. This school year, several PLCs strategized about how to maximize learning at the aforementioned conferences, and those groups continue to work together to decide how to best implement ideas gleaned at those conferences. Other groups are exploring a variety of topics noted in these pages, such as performance assessments, 21st century skills, and experiential education. An additional cohort of PLC groups are looking at how to better incorporate the School’s rare books collection and arts center into the academic curriculum.

DEFYING CATEGORIZATION In addition to challenging students to engage with a variety of teaching and learning styles, Episcopal’s courses — and the teachers who bring them to life — encourage students to challenge their own assumptions about themselves. “Every teacher has a passion, a particular area that they love, but that doesn’t preclude them from having interests in other areas,” Mary notes. “The teachers here are interested in what’s happening across the curriculum, and they want to make connections across disciplines.” The Episcopal faculty’s commitment to making connections across disciplines has a lasting impact on the students. When students see their teacher co-teaching a course with a teacher from another discipline or seeking professional development, they’re inspired to think of themselves in new ways. “Our teachers defy categorization in the sense that you can’t pigeonhole them as just one thing. Likewise, we don’t want our students to see themselves as just one thing,” Mary says. “Our teachers help our students realize: I am not only the football star. I am not just the girl who is really good at biology. I am much more than that.


The teachers here are interested in what’s happening across the curriculum, and they want to make connections across disciplines. — Assistant Head for Academics Mary Fielder

I can be great at those things, but I am much more than that.” Junko Pinkowski’s Digital Graphics course, which sits at the intersection of technology, art, and marketing, attracts a wide range of students; some think of themselves as tech savvy, others have been previously lauded as creative, and others — simply looking to fulfill an art credit — presume they have little to offer in either realm. The interdisciplinary nature of Junko’s class allows for lots of surprises, as students break free from the boxes they’ve created for themselves and each other. Junko has loved watching as, she explains, “the artistic kids influence the kids who have less experience with art, and vice versa. The kids who have never taken an art course come at the class with a fresh perspective, free from the fear of living up to the expectation of what an ‘artist’ should produce. Each student has something to offer, and each student benefits from the unique skills and perspectives of their classmates.”

REINVENTING ASSESSMENTS Driven by an appreciation for the value of collaborative learning, approximately 50 percent of the School’s teachers opted to administer alternative assessments in place of traditional exams this year. “When you take a traditional exam, you’re interacting with a piece of paper. You’re not interacting with your peers,” Mary says. “We know that in the working world you’re most often interacting with other people, you’re collaborating, and you’re accepting and providing constructive criticism.”

COURSE SPOTLIGHT: Brett Mayer’s placebased approach to teaching and learning challenges students to, in words from Teddy Roosevelt’s autobiography, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” From tending garden to tending to chickens, students learn about environmental history, environmental ethics, and sustainable design principles by doing.

While the traditional exam is the preferred and most meaningful form of student evaluation for some classes, the ‘quality performance assessment’ offers a compelling alternative. “The quality performance assessment gives students the opportunity to synthesize and apply information in different ways,” says Mary. “In addition to demonstrating what they learned about a particular event, theorem, or book, a quality performance assessment might encourage students to show off their public speaking skills, their critical-thinking skills, their creativity, or their ability to interact productively with their peers.” History teacher Heidi Huntley evaluated her Global History II students’ understanding of imperialism and the historical context of the Berlin Conference of 1884-85 through their thoroughly researched role play. In 1884, representatives from 13 European countries congregated to devise a plan to colonize

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

27


TODAY’S CLASSROOM

The students not only learned about the subject they were exploring, but they gained invaluable skills as to how to find original sources and how to sift information that often conflicts. — Trustee Alex Jones ’64

COURSE SPOTLIGHT: Junko Pinkowski’s project-based digital graphics course challenges students with real-world design assignments. Throughout the course, they learn the skills required to effectively communicate through design. For a final assessment, students entered their designs into a logo competition for the All City Art Exhibit — an event that highlighted art from students at EHS and three other local schools. The winning logo design, selected by judges from all four schools and created by Lilly Wilcox ’18, graced the promotional materials for the event.

28

Africa. In Heidi’s classes this winter, groups of six students assumed the voices of their assigned characters during one-hour reenactments of the conference, with a twist. “We invited voices that would not have been included at the time,” says Heidi, who delegated the roles of European heads of states, along with the roles of African leaders, to her students. Students were given cursory biographies of their assigned figures, as well as a list of questions to guide their independent research. Then, in preparation for their assessment, they learned and inferred as much about their characters as they could. What would the British have thought of slavery? Which countries would the Boers have sought to colonize and why? With whom would Germany have sought allegiance? What would the Zulus had offered had they had a seat at the table? Once gathered around their table the students played their parts in a Harkness-style discussion, with Heidi assessing their knowledge of their characters and their context along with their ability to carry on a dialogue with their classmates. Olivia Morton ’19, one of Heidi’s students, says, “I really enjoyed this assessment as it allowed us to immerse ourselves into the research process and really work to understand the perspectives of different nations during the era, rather than having an outside and usually biased view. It also helped me to improve my articulation skills and taught me how to continually support my ideas. We were graded both on the research process and our participation during the reenactment, which made for a difficult, yet very interesting and gratifying conversation as we had to draw on a lot of prior knowledge from the

previous semester as well as our research. Overall, the assessment was very rewarding and allowed for more hands-on learning rather than just memorization in preparation for a sit-down test.”

BUILDING SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE Following the assessment, several of Heidi’s students were invited to talk to Episcopal’s Board of Trustees about the experience. In attendance was Trustee Alex Jones ’64, who noted, “I taught at Harvard for 15 years and the depth of research and analysis that was on display by the EHS students in this new program exceeded much of what I saw at Harvard. The point is that the students not only learned about the subject they were exploring, but they gained invaluable skills as to how to find original sources and how to sift information that often conflicts. They then came to insights of their own. This experience is something they can apply in years to come that will put them ahead of the pack. That’s my idea of first rate education!”


COURSE SPOTLIGHT: The Rev. Betsy Gonzalez’s Compassion in a Changing World course engages students in human-centered design thinking, challenging them to work in groups to evaluate and offer prototypes for solutions to challenges for faith-based service communities. “Often we tunnel in so fast on a solution that we miss the more creative elements that could address our challenge,” says Betsy. “By working to help real organizations solve their problems, students see that their work can have an impact out in the world.”

COURSE SPOTLIGHT: In American Studies — an interdisciplinary course co-taught by history teacher Caroline English and English teacher Lucy Goldstein ’97 — students study American history, culture, and literature by exploring their surroundings. Place-based learning immerses students in the local, with various EHS locations, the adjacent Seminary campus, and Old Town Alexandria playing host to class. One class period took students to Fort Ward, where they read Thoreau and learned about Episcopal’s relationship to the town of Alexandria during Civil War times.

COURSE SPOTLIGHT: Ben Courchesne’s English students enjoy making connections between a “Radiolab” podcast and Virginia Woolf’s “Mrs. Dalloway,” or contemplating the performative nature of selfhood in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” while listening to an “Invisibilia” podcast — all while walking. “Aristotle allegedly lectured to his philosopher acolytes while strolling through the colonnades of the Lyceum. The ancients seemed to inherently understand what a great deal of scientific research has substantiated about the link between thinking and walking and writing,” says Ben. The podcastwalk — a kind of walking “lecture” delivered through a smartphone app — marries the old with the new by helping students engage with a variety of high-level content in a new way.

COURSE SPOTLIGHT: Students who study French with Bodhi Amos are on their feet for at least half of each class period. Research connects standing desks to higher levels of productivity and performance, and Bodhi notes that students’ “improved physical posture encourages engagement and helps to create a lively environment. Interactions are more focused, and students move quickly from activity to activity and from individual work to group work.”

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

29


Photo from a video produced by Black Men in White Coats, an organization that seeks to increase the number of black men in the field of medicine by exposure, inspiration, and mentoring

30


FEATURE

A BLACK MAN IN A WHITE COAT Dr. Cedric Bright ’81 on his journey from EHS student to UNCChapel Hill School of Medicine’s Assistant Dean of Admissions

AS THE ASSISTANT DEAN OF ADMISSIONS FOR THE UNC-CHAPEL HILL SCHOOL OF MEDICINE SINCE 2012, DR. CEDRIC BRIGHT ’81 READS OVER 1,000 APPLICATIONS AND INTERVIEWS SOME 100 CANDIDATES EVERY YEAR. THEY RECEIVE WELL OVER 6,000 APPLICATIONS ANNUALLY, FROM WHICH THEY WILL ENROLL A CL ASS OF UNDER 200 FIRST-YEAR MEDICAL SCHOOL STUDENTS. IN ADDITION TO THIS WORK, CEDRIC RUNS UNC’S MEDICAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT SUMMER PROGR AM, A 9-WEEK IMMERSION PROGR AM STARTED IN 1974 “DESIGNED TO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO DEMONSTR ATE EDUCATIONAL PROMISE AND COMMITMENT TO A HEALTH CAREER BUT WHO HAVE L ACKED THE OPPORTUNIT Y IN THE PAST TO MOVE TOWARD THEIR PROFESSIONAL GOALS.”

The program, which accepts 80 students every summer, has enrolled almost 3,000 students, with almost 90 percent being accepted to medical or dental school, and four out of every five entering the field.

achieve their dreams,” he says. “There is more than just one way, and more than just one door you can walk through, to become a doctor if you want it badly enough and are willing to work for it. But most kids don’t know that, and they give up.

“My role here, in running this program, is to help students realize they have multiple ways to achieve their goals, to help them keep their dreams alive if they’re willing to work toward them,” Cedric says.

“My job is to convince them that your dream is only over when you give it up.”

His job and mission, he explains, is to be a mentor to those less familiar with the med school ropes.

BEGINNING ON ONE HILL...

“A mentor is very important in helping students from certain backgrounds understand the minefields they’re trying to go through, and redirecting students when they get information — either directly or indirectly — that they can’t

Looking back on the life experiences that led him from The Holy Hill to Chapel Hill, Cedric recognizes that he came by this desire to mentor others thanks in large part to his own mentors from Episcopal and his higher education. Even

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

31


A BLACK MAN IN A WHITE COAT

as a high school student, he was drawn to science and the thought of a medical career.

By the time you get to medical school or law school, you’re drinking out of a fire hydrant.”

“I was pushing myself as a student in my science courses at Episcopal,” he says. “Between biology and chemistry, I liked chemistry more. My teacher, Mr. (Joe) Shelor ’52 was also my football coach, and he was always supportive of me and whatever I wanted to do. He and Mr. (Tony) Shaver, who was my basketball coach, were both instrumental in giving me the confidence and saying I could do it. I did well in AP Chemistry. Mr. Shelor wrote my recommendation for Brown, which must’ve been a good one, because that’s part of the reason I got in.”

Cedric adapted and eventually thrived, completing his residency and taking a job running a clinic in Rhode Island. The clinic was his first window into serving as a mentor, as students in Brown’s medical school would shadow him at the clinic. While there, he published a paper in the Journal of the National Medical Association on perceived barriers and biases by race and gender in medical education. Soon after, he found himself at Duke University, assisting with minority recruitment and retention, and developing a community clinic where the students could gain valuable practice while helping those who could not otherwise afford it.

Cedric’s college experience had ups and downs, often connected to how seriously he took his work, versus when the opportunities for too much fun drew him away from it. He ended up graduating with a major in film (“Brown’s way of offering a communications major”) and then took a year off working as a paralegal to try and improve his MCAT scores. MY ROLE HERE, IN RUNNING THIS PROGR AM, IS TO HELP STUDENTS REALIZE THEY HAVE MULTIPLE WAYS TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS, TO HELP THEM KEEP THEIR DREAMS ALIVE IF THEY’RE WILLING TO WORK TOWARD THEM. “I took the paralegal job because it was the only job I could find that allowed me to wear a shirt and tie,” Cedric explains. “You don’t think about it a lot when you’re that age, but wearing a shirt and tie, it kind of sets you up for what you want to do in life. It was a constant reminder that I had to get really serious about going to medical school, buckle down, study harder, do better on my scores. And it worked. I was able to gain admission to UNC.” In the summer before he began medical school, in 1986, he attended the same Medical Education Development program he now runs. The program’s new assistant director, Larry Keith, became a vital mentor to young Cedric. “Mr. Keith made it clear: from that point on he was going to be there for me and the other students to help us get through medical school. And he was. He kept that promise.” The hardest thing about med school, according to Cedric, isn’t about a lack of knowledge or ability; it’s about managing such a high volume of information in a timely fashion. “In high school, you’re drinking from a water fountain. College is more like a garden hose. If you go to graduate school, they put a little nozzle on that hose to add pressure.

32

He had achieved the goal he had set for himself as a young college undergrad with his first clinic at 28, and he developed and grew it over a decade. “Ever since then, I’ve had to keep asking, what’s next? And the answer has always involved serendipity.”

…AND RETURNING TO ANOTHER HILL In 2010, Larry Keith died from cancer at 58. The man whose mentorship helped Cedric prepare for, and succeed in, medical school, had served over 30 years at UNC advocating and supporting minority students looking to enter and thrive in the medical profession. He earned national recognition and awards for his commitment and efforts. The words “pioneer,” “hero,” and “unwavering dedication” were just some of the accolades included in the reports of his death. When the summer program lost funding for a couple of years, Mr. Keith asked Cedric to return and advocate for its re-funding, and his efforts helped keep the program alive until it found more grant funding. Upon Mr. Keith’s death, Cedric was asked to replace his mentor, which he did while understanding that “you can’t ever really replace a legend.”

“I AM A VOICE OF DIFFERENCE” One of Cedric’s passions and goals is to increase African American representation in all medical schools and the medical profession as a whole. Fewer black students currently apply to or enroll in medical school than in 1978, and the percentage of black students per capita was higher at the turn of the 20th Century than well into the 21st, he


Photo credit: Black Men in White Coats

explains. While African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans comprise more than one-quarter of the nation’s population, they represent only six percent of the nation’s doctors and an even smaller percentage of dentists. Most glaring, is that fewer than three percent of the nation’s med school faculty are black.

willing to have that type of frank and honest discussion,” he says. Cedric references his 35th Reunion last summer where he and Dr. Juergen Taylor ’81 participated in the School’s oral history project and were given the opportunity to speak frankly on camera about their experiences, the good and the bad, as “a cathartic event” for them.

“It can be difficult for some people to appreciate or understand the challenge, being in a school with so few others who look like you, with only one or two of your teachers who look like you. It can be a very isolating experience,” Cedric says. His aim is to try, one student and one encounter at a time, to reduce that sense of isolation while being a resource to all of UNC’s med students.

As difficult as it was being black at Episcopal in the late ’70s and early ’80s, he worries about whether today’s black teenagers have been falsely lulled into a bit of complacency. “A lot of them think they’re living in some post-racial generation, and I worry that it just takes a few bad experiences to put their world in shambles. We have to be able to redevelop a resilience in our young people to understand that it’s not what they call you, it’s what you will answer to that matters.”

“What I hope comes across is yeah, I have a niche and a commitment to increasing the number of African American doctors in our ranks, but I also have a bigger responsibility,” he says. “A part of me being a faculty member is to be a voice of difference. My majority students also know they can come and talk to me, and hear my opinions, and have an opportunity to see things or understand things from a different perspective.”

“NOT JUST AN EHS GRADUATE” In January, Cedric returned to the Hill to participate in the School’s first-ever MLK Day Symposium. He was one of seven African American alumni spanning almost three decades who participated in a panel discussion about their experiences and reflections from life on the Hill (see “MLK Day Panel Includes Unforgettable Alumni Discussion,” p.8 for more). “I have to commend (Head of School) Charley (Stillwell) and (Director of Alumni and Parent Programs) Rick (Wilcox) for bringing us back like that, for the School to be

WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO REDEVELOP A RESILIENCE IN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT’S NOT WHAT THEY CALL YOU, IT’S WHAT YOU WILL ANSWER TO THAT MATTERS. Cedric’s experiences in the past year have helped him turn a corner, mentally and emotionally, with Episcopal. “I have to tell you, I’m excited,” he says. “I’m excited to be part of The High School again. I count it all good that I have this opportunity to reconnect with the people who are there now, and with my classmates, and to become an Old Boy. Because up until this year, I was just a graduate of Episcopal. I didn’t really feel like I was part of the Old Boy network. Now I do, and I want to be a resource for these students who are graduating from Episcopal, so they can look at me and say, ‘Hey, he’s an Old Boy, and I can go to him and talk about his path and journey, and maybe he can help me on my way, too.’ That’s what I’m looking forward to. That’s what I’m excited about.”

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

33


FEATURE

RECOVERY ROAD

Photo credit: Reese Moore

34

WOOD MARCHANT ’84 ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY AND HELPING COLLEGE STUDENTS OVERCOME THEIR ADDICTIONS


Wood Marchant’s ’84 life has come full-circle. The healing that brought him out of pain is now his catalyst for helping others. Wood recently became director of the new Collegiate Recovery Program at the College of Charleston. The program, which launched in the fall semester of 2016, is specifically for students at the College who are recovering from addiction. Supported and sanctioned by the College, this is the first collegiate recovery program, or CRP, of its kind in South Carolina.

next morning to make the decision to begin recovery. Wood says his progression was more gradual. It was while he was in advertising school in Atlanta that he realized he couldn’t do it anymore. “I wasn’t able to be as bright; I couldn’t find the words that I needed to be a copywriter in this competitive advertising field. I realized the drugs and alcohol were holding me back.”

Wood spent most of the past decade working at drug and alcohol treatment centers, where he saw varying trends of substance use. “I didn’t know much about CRPs but knew people were getting sober at younger ages,” he says. “The drug and alcohol combination helped folks hit their ‘rock bottom’ quicker.”

At first he tried to get sober on his own, but he soon realized that quitting one substance would lead him to use more of another. “After working in the field of addiction and treatment for years, I realize now it’s a brain disease; it’s a mental illness,” he says. “Your focus is on what you need to feel comfortable in your own skin, and the drugs and alcohol become part of your survival.”

Although Wood’s career path led him to this point, it was his own recovery that brought him to the field of social work. In college, Wood was like most of his friends: engaged in academics, extracurriculars, and substance use. Unlike most of his friends, he didn’t stop getting drunk and high after college. “I knew for about eight to 10 years that I had an issue (with addiction),” he says. Often recovery is depicted as someone hitting rock bottom in a dramatic fashion and waking up the

Wood decided to quit smoking pot and drinking alcohol altogether with the help of a therapist and a daily recovery program. Not long after Wood became sober, he began teaching at Charleston Day School, where he taught several future EHS students, including Margaret von Werssowetz Waters ’06 and Frances deSaussure Murray ’06, who both now work at Episcopal, and students as young as Caroline Hagood ’12. The only thing harder than teaching seventh and eighth grade students was getting sober, he jokes.

Wood quickly transitioned from teacher to student again when he went to the University of South Carolina for a master’s degree in social work. He wanted to continue working in an educational setting after he graduated, but instead found himself working at an HIV clinic at the Medical University of South Carolina. “I knew

I REALIZED THE DRUGS AND ALCOHOL WERE HOLDING ME BACK. nothing about HIV, but I knew that was an underserved and growing population in the rural South,” he says. After five years there, Wood continued to feel a call to do more specific drug and alcohol treatment. He began a private practice before becoming the lead inpatient counselor for the Charleston Center, the county’s treatment center. “It was a fantastic job. I learned how to meet people where they were. You see that not every treatment style works for every patient,” he says. He also learned therapeutic techniques at the center that he uses today at the CRP, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, and motivational enhancement therapy.

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

35


RECOVERY ROAD

Recovery continues to be part of his daily life. “I can’t tell you the blessings that being in recovery have brought,” he marvels. Actually, he can.

MAYBE SHARING A LITTLE BIT OF MY STORY WILL ALLOW OTHERS TO COME FORWARD. In 2001, a father of one of his students passed away. The funeral was at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Charleston. “He was successful, had a beautiful family, a wonderful life. But hearing how ready he was to go where he knew he was going after he passed — he was ready to be with the Lord. It offered me something I didn’t know I was missing.” What Wood found that day at the church was another step in his recovery process. “He (the deceased man) found peace at that church, and that’s something I knew I needed to look for,” he says.

One of the patients whom Wood met at MUSC was Isaac W. He became sober when he was 19 years old. “I remember what it felt like to think there was no way it was possible to get sober before being legally allowed to drink,” Isaac says. “I’ve had to take my recovery on a different kind of path.” That path was going to an inpatient treatment program in Atlanta, and then entering the program at MUSC. Isaac was not a patient of Wood’s, but his friend was. Three years later, the two remain friends and roommates — and sober.

as little surprise given that they exist at fewer than 10 percent of four-year colleges in the U.S. His friend told him how students in recovery had the opportunity to have the same college experience, but in an environment surrounded by others in recovery at the same time. Inspired, Isaac applied to nearly a dozen schools. College of Charleston was the only one that didn’t have a collegiate recovery program at the time. The same friend mentioned that he and some others were trying to get one started there. “I said to him, ‘get me in that meeting.’”

Because Isaac was kicked out of high school and subsequently had an extensive criminal history, for a while he didn’t think college was an option. Once Isaac began recovery, he decided it could be. “I applied and I got denied six semesters in a row,” he says. “I didn’t disclose my recovery to the college.”

Isaac, his friend, and two others held a meeting with the dean of students at College of Charleston. “They were confused why four people that weren’t even students at the college were coming to them, trying to start something there,” he says. It was in this meeting that Isaac was able to disclose his recovery to the dean. Two weeks later, he was accepted.

Isaac’s chance came soon after his last rejection letter. “A friend of mine had just moved to town. He had been sober seven or eight years at the time, and was coming from a collegiate recovery program in Georgia.” Isaac had never heard of a CRP, which came

Now a sophomore at 23 years old, Isaac has been with the College of Charleston’s CRP since its inception. After attending St. Michael’s for a few Isaac and his cohorts were told that months, Wood found something else: if they raised enough money, they his wife, a local physician. The two would be able to hire a director. The have been married for 13 years number, Isaac said, seemed and now have 10-year-old unattainable. He estimated it twins. “I’m a soccer dad,” he would take years to raise the quips. Wood continues to keep in touch with several full amount. To his surprise EHS classmates who live near him in the — and arguably everyone else’s The Medical University of Charleston area. “I love keeping up with my — they did it in six months. South Carolina has an estabclassmates and alumni on Facebook,” he lished outpatient treatment says. “We found that in the commuprogram called the Center for nity, people had been looking Drug and Alcohol Programs, Another way many alumni keep in touch is by for something like this,” Isaac where Wood moved on to attending class reunions. Wood acknowledges says. become a clinical instructor. that Reunion Weekend can be difficult for He saw patients for more than someone who is sober. He admittedly hasn’t The program was built for six hours each day. “We helped been to a reunion in several years. “That’s a students, by students. Isaac them see the choices they were tough weekend for a sober guy.” was one of the students on the making and tried to help them panel interviewing potential make better decisions as it In the past few years, however, Episcopal has directors. related to their substance use begun to offer spaces and times for recovery disorder.” meetings during Reunion Weekend. Wood

36

says now that he knows the School provides that support for recovering individuals, he may soon return for his next reunion.


Meanwhile, Wood had kept in touch with Isaac and his friend, and heard they were developing the CRP. “I was watching this program being put together from afar, thinking that would be the neatest job I could ever have: going back to my alma mater and helping those who were struggling,” he says.

community. “It’s not the norm to be sober in college,” he says. The main challenge for students is what to do on the weekends. While their peers may attend parties or social events involving alcohol, Wood holds recovery meetings on or near campus. Soon, he will start a community service initiative.

After rounds of interviews, he was named the program’s director in November, just months after its official launch. He intends to take the program in a direction of service and giving to the greater Charleston

One of the principals of any recovery program is that in order to keep what you have you have to give it away. “By sharing his own story in a professional capacity, he shows that staying sober isn’t difficult as long as you’re keeping

up with the work. You can have a beautiful life,” Isaac says of Wood. “He has this wonderful family… he’s a role model to look up to.” Wood hopes that being open with his addiction and recovery will help others. “I’ve often wondered if and how many of my former classmates and friends at Episcopal have found recovery themselves, or needed to,” he says. “Maybe sharing a little bit of my story will allow others to come forward.”

SIGNS OF ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE AND ABUSE (FROM NIH): CRAVING — A strong need, or urge, to drink. | LOSS OF CONTROL — Not being able to stop drinking once drinking has begun. | PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE — Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety after stopping drinking. | TOLERANCE — The need to drink greater amounts of alcohol to feel the same effect.

20%

18

MILLION About 20 percent of college students show signs of alcohol dependence and abuse.

4X

Individuals with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) who enter treatment are four times more likely to stop drinking. But less than one quarter of those with AUDs actually receives treatment or participates in mutual or self-help groups.

Approximately 18 million people in the U.S. suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence.

Alcohol is the substance of choice among adolescents and is used by far more young people than tobacco or marijuana; early alcohol use is associated with future alcohol dependence.

Excessive and/or chronic alcohol use may result in medical conditions such as liver and heart disease, pancreatitis, short and/or long-term harm to the brain, and esophageal and liver cancer.

Statistics according to the National Institutes of Health

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

37


38

Photo credit: Northwestern Mutual


FEATURE

RIDING THE WAVES OF HOPE Emily Vaughan Gilger ’96 on battling neuroblastoma alongside her young daughter and fundraising for cancer research

ATOP A FLOAT AT THE CELEBR ATED 2017 ROSE BOWL PAR ADE — FL ANKED BY SEAGULLS AND SANDCASTLES — WAS THE L AST PL ACE EMILY VAUGHAN GILGER ’96 EXPECTED SHE’D FIND HERSELF ON NEW YEAR’S DAY. LESS EXPECTED STILL, WAS THE JOURNEY THAT GOT HER THERE.

In June of 2009 — after graduating from the College of Charleston, working in the wedding and event planning industry, and falling in love with and marrying husband Nick — Emily gave birth to their first child, a daughter named Edie. At Edie’s routine doctor visit in December, Emily expected to get tips for introducing solid foods, learn where Edie fell on the growth chart, and comfort her while she got her six-month shots. Instead, the family received a heartbreaking diagnosis. Edie had neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer that develops from nerve cells in the fetus called neuroblasts. A neuroblastoma develops when neuroblasts grow uncontrollably and form a tumor. Neuroblastoma

almost always occurs in infants and young children, and it accounts for 7 to 10 percent of childhood cancers. After two years, 12 rounds of chemotherapy, six surgeries, and multiple trips in and out of remission, Edie was referred to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia so that the Gilger family could explore treatment options that weren’t offered at the University of Virginia Hospital. In Philadelphia, the Gilgers met Dr. Yael Mossé, who recommended a blood test to determine whether Edie carried a hereditary mutation to the ALK gene — a hereditary mutation that only appears in 1 to 2

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

39


RIDING THE WAVES OF HOPE

percent of neuroblastoma cases. Edie, as it turns out, was one of those cases, and that information altered the course of her treatment and her life. Dr. Mossé was nearing the conclusion of a study on a new form of treatment for hereditary neuroblastoma, and at just two-and-a-half years old, Edie became one of 21 children to receive crizotinib, a new drug meant to inhibit the ALK gene in order to keep cancer cells from multiplying. “The drug did not even have a name. It was so new, it only had a number,” says Emily. “We had some fears about the trial, but at the same time, nothing else had worked. Throughout the whole process, Nick and I put our faith in the hands of our doctors. We both felt strongly that if they were recommending this treatment for Edie, then it was something that we needed to do.” After 28 days on crizotinib and near daily trips to the hospital to check her blood count, Edie was pronounced cancer-free. She has been in remission since that day in 2012 — two years after her initial diagnosis — but that’s not where this story ends. IF ANYBODY IS AN ADVOCATE FOR PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH, IT’S EDIE. SHE HAS NO PROBLEM TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT EVERY THING WE’VE BEEN THROUGH. SHE ALWAYS WANTS T0 KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO R AISE MONEY. From whom had Edie inherited the mutated ALK gene? Blood tests revealed that it was Emily who carried and had passed on the hereditary gene. However, with no neuroblastoma symptoms herself, and the knowledge that fewer than 10 percent of cases occur in adults, life went on. In the fall of 2013, the Gilgers were overjoyed to learn that they were expecting a second child. That joy multiplied when Emily was 18 weeks pregnant and tests revealed that, despite a 50 percent chance that she would pass the ALK gene mutation on, their second child had not inherited the gene. “We’re done. We’re saying goodbye to neuroblastoma. This is the end of it,” Emily recalls thinking. Approximately three months before her due date, Emily started experiencing excruciating pains in the sides of her back. Her doctors suspected kidney stones after ruling out

40

preterm labor. While scans did confirm kidney stones, they also revealed that Emily’s adrenal glands were enlarged to ten times their normal size. Further tests revealed two large tumors. Emily had neuroblastoma. “My biggest concern was not for myself, but for the baby,” Emily remembers. “We had such an incredible relationship with Edie’s oncologists. I knew they would take care of me, and I knew that worrying about myself was not going to do any good.” So just days after diagnosis and at 30 weeks pregnant — unwilling to risk the possibility of passing the cancer on to the baby through the placenta — Emily delivered a son, Kinsey. Born 10 weeks early, Kinsey would be in the NICU for nine weeks, but there was little doubt that in time he would thrive. Five days after Kinsey’s birth, working with Dr. Mossé and the same team of oncologists who had cared for Edie, Emily started treatment for neuroblastoma. For the next nine weeks, she balanced that treatment with daily visits to the NICU. “When Edie would visit she loved to play in the hospital’s playroom,” Emily recalls. “Now that’s a child that’s grown up in a hospital.” Eight months after her diagnosis and Kinsey’s birth, Emily underwent surgery that removed 90 percent of her tumors. “Edie thinks it’s fabulous that we have matching scars,” Emily says. Today, like Edie, she is is in complete remission. Although mother and daughter are free of neuroblastoma, the Gilger family’s fight is not over. “If anybody is an advocate for pediatric cancer research, it’s Edie,” says Emily. “She has no problem talking to people about everything we’ve been through. She always wants to know what we can do to raise money.” Emily and her family have been working with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation — a national childhood cancer foundation dedicated to raising funds for research into new treatments — ever since Edie was admitted to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “Alex’s Lemonade Stand funded Dr. Mossé’s research and the treatment that saved Edie’s life, and then in turn, mine,” says Emily. “They do an amazing job raising money for pediatric cancer research, and they also provide amazing emotional and financial support for families that have children in treatment.” The Gilgers now regularly host and participate in lemonade stands, parties, auctions, and telethons to raise money for the foundation.


Photo credit: Northwestern Mutual

It was their connection to Alex’s Lemonade Stand that led the family to what Emily calls a “truly magical experience”: the 2017 Rose Bowl Parade. Northwestern Mutual, a corporate sponsor of Alex’s Lemonade Stand and, specifically, Dr. Mossé’s research, chose to honor Edie and Emily with their Rose Bowl Parade float. The “Waves of Hope” float was designed to reflect Edie’s love for the beach, and portrayed the now six-year-old — who Emily describes as “active, social, and spicy — a step above sassy” — riding the top of a wave, surrounded by dolphins. “When Edie saw the float, her mouth was on the floor,” Emily says. Of the entire experience, Emily recalls Edie saying that “she felt like she was in a dream.” “My hope is that every child can have an experience like the Rose Bowl Parade. I also hope that with continued funding for research we can get closer to a cure for all pediatric cancers,” says Emily. “Our family was given a second chance because of Dr. Mossé’s treatment, which is in thanks to the research funding.”

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

41


IN THE LAB WITH AMY

42


FEATURE

Hyun Jee (Amy) Lim ’17 on the inspiration behind her award-winning research in physics

HYUN JEE (AMY) LIM ’17 WAS RECENTLY RECOGNIZED BY THE SOCIET Y FOR SCIENCE & THE PUBLIC’S REGENERON SCIENCE TALENT SEARCH — THE NATION’S PREMIER SCIENCE COMPETITION FOR HIGH-SCHOOL SENIORS — WHICH NAMED HER TO THEIR LIST OF THE TOP 300 SCHOL ARS OF 2017. The research and paper that landed Amy this honor (and a financial award that will help to enrich Episcopal’s science department) were the result of her work with Dr. Jun Chung, a researcher at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The inspiration for the research, however, originated in an unlikely place — Amy’s cousin’s hospital room in their native South Korea. When Amy visited her epileptic cousin Jenny in the hospital following brain surgery, she was taken aback by what she saw. Looking to pinpoint the origin of her seizures, Jenny had undergone surgery to monitor her brain activity. Amy was surprised by just how invasive the surgery appeared to be — electrodes were placed directly on Jenny’s brain — and dismayed when, after three weeks of monitoring and little information gleaned, the surgery appeared to have been for naught. “There must be something that isn’t so invasive,” Amy recalls thinking. “They had to literally cut open her head and plug the sensors directly inside, which is really dangerous. It got me thinking that there must be a way to develop some kind of technology to detect the

origin of someone’s disease — to facilitate that process — that isn’t so risky.” Amy contacted a researcher who she had heard was studying nanotechnology out of a lab at Pohang University of Science and Technology. Could nanotechnology be the key to unlocking a less invasive alternative to the surgery Jenny had endured? Amy wanted to know more. So for the summers following her ninth and tenth grade years, she worked to model an electric sensor that might, with development, be used to monitor small-scale movements in the heart — or brain. Amy had caught the research bug, and during her junior year when she came across an article about a brain study completed by a team of researchers at Harvard, her interest was piqued once again. Scientists have long wondered what causes the structure of the folds in the human brain, and Dr. Chung and his colleagues’ research pointed towards a mechanical process, rather than a biological one. “This was really interesting to me,” says Amy, “because even though the research didn’t directly look at seizures, it could have implications for how they originate

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

43


IN THE LAB WITH AMY

and how they might be controlled.” The suggestion that physics — rather than biology alone — could be responsible for the brain’s gyrification (or folding) might lead to the ability to link certain brain functions to the mechanisms behind changes in the folds. These links could help doctors to make early diagnoses and develop more effective treatments for neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s, autism, and epilepsy. ...THERE MUST BE A WAY TO DEVELOP SOME KIND OF TECHNOLOGY TO DETECT THE ORIGIN OF SOMEONE’S DISEASE — TO FACILITATE THAT PROCESS — THAT ISN’T SO RISKY. Inspired by these findings, Amy decided to investigate the causes behind crack patterns (perhaps not dissimilar to brain folds) such as those found in desiccated muds and crocodile head scales. Amy performed a series of experiments using a cornstarch-water mixture to study drying shrinkage-induced cracking, and from those experiments she produced the research paper that caught the attention of the Regeneron Science Talent Search: “Crack Morphogenesis Induced by Drying Shrinkage.”

Amy’s study revealed two distinct types of cracks produced by different underlying mechanisms, with variables such as sample thickness and temperature driving those physical processes. As Amy notes in her paper, “These findings may provide important insights into how complex geometric patterns observed in physical and biological contexts can emerge and what factors will influence their shape and size.” Amy notes that her study identifies basic physical principles, and she’s interested in continuing to explore their implications. “Maybe I could apply what I did here to brain patterns, by looking at how normal and abnormal patterns differ, and how those patterns work physically,” she says. “Amy brings incredible diligence and passion to the study of physics,” says EHS faculty member Jim Chesson. “She enjoys the challenges that the subject presents, and when she commits to a problem she digs in for the long haul. Where most of the rest of us would see insurmountable obstacles, Amy sees an opportunity. When I see Amy engaged in a tough physics question, I cannot distinguish between work and play. For Amy, I think they may be one and the same.” Next stop for Amy is the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia University, where she has been named an Egleston Scholar. The prestigious Egleston Scholars Program recognizes the top one percent of Columbia Engineering applicants, and will provide Amy with a stipend, research opportunities, faculty mentorship, and more. “I really want to help people who are sick,” she says. “I know this sounds really cliche, but I think my ultimate goal is to help the next generation.”

An excerpt from Amy’s award-winning research paper.

44


RE U N

O

JUNE

9 & 10, 2017

IO N

Return. Reconnect. Dance. Debate.

Carry on. Stay up late. Be yourself.

Feel like a kid again.

CELEBRATING THE CLASSES OF 1952 1957 1962 1967 1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 2012 EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

45


FEATURE

FROM CAMPUS TO THE BIG APPLE

AND BEYOND Faculty member Lucy Whittle Goldstein ’97 helps kick off Episcopal’s inaugural book club night; CONNECT travels to New York for a conversation on arts and fashion

46


Alumni and Parent Book Club Night Beholds the Dreamers THROUGH BOOK CLUB NIGHT, WE HOPE TO GIVE OUR ALUMNI AND PARENTS AN OPPORTUNIT Y TO CONNECT WITH EHS, OUR TEACHERS, EACH OTHER, AND THE KIND OF INTELLECTUAL EXPLOR ATION THAT OCCURS DAILY ON CAMPUS. EHS parent Darryl Joyner, who attended the inaugural Book Club Night hosted in the Crosland Alumni Cottage, notes that “sitting together to share thoughts, opinions, and ideas around a common topic is a unique opportunity to build relationships and understanding among the Episcopal parent and alumni community.”

LOOKING FOR YOUR NEXT BOOK? CHECK OUT ONE OF LUCY’S PICKS! “Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi “The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah “Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie “Out Stealing Horses” by Per Petterson The next Book Club Night is on May 3! English teacher Molly Pugh will lead a discussion of Margaret Atwood’s “The Penelopiad” at 7:30 p.m. in the Alumni Cottage. RSVP at events@episcopalhighschool.org.

English teacher, ninth grade dean, and varsity girls’ squash coach (among other things) Lucy Whittle Goldstein ’97 led the discussion centered around “Behold the Dreamers,” the debut novel by Imbolo Mbue. The novel, set in New York City, follows two families during the 2008 banking crisis. Jende Jonga is a Cameroonian immigrant who works for Clark Edwards, a Lehman Brothers executive. Characters are confronted with the tension between dreams and reality, as well as the pressures and demands of family, and they’re ultimately driven to their breaking points.

Club Night is just the newest addition to Episcopal’s event calendar. Sophomore parent Cassandra Lewis traveled from Maryland to participate. She notes, “Book Club Night at EHS appealed to me as an opportunity to connect with the EHS community to discuss a remarkable book, and I was not disappointed! Lucy facilitated a satisfying and engaging conversation that wove together our impressions of the story and characters with reflections on how themes from the book resonated in our lives.”

Episcopal students are students, yes, but they are also athletes, artists, performers, volunteers, and so much more. It follows, then, that Episcopal parents and alumni are multifaceted, too. Looking to offer fellowship opportunities both on- and off-campus that serve our community’s diverse affinities, Book

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

47


FROM CAMPUS TO THE BIG APPLE AND BEYOND

CONNECT Brings People Together for a Conversation on Arts and Fashion OSCAR DE L A RENTA.

BATTERY PARK.

NEW YORK CIT Y.

FOUR ALUMNI, EACH HIGHLY REGARDED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE INDUSTRIES. The latest installment of Episcopal’s CONNECT series, held on March 9, brought approximately 60 alumni, parents and current students together for a conversation focused on the arts and fashion. The panel, moderated by EHS faculty member David Douglas, featured Alex Bolen ’86, CEO, Oscar de la Renta (oscardelarenta. com); Franklin Boyd ’95, CEO, Xipsy (xipsy. com); Hattie Gruber ’00, Founder, Kiss The Ring New York (kisstheringnewyork.com); and Will Mebane ’91, Photographer (williammebane.com). CONNECT was established in 2015 to encourage cross-generational networking and to provide opportunities for engagement beyond Episcopal’s traditional regional receptions. Leah Latella ’01, a photo editor at The Wall Street Journal, was in attendance and credits

the strength of the Episcopal network with helping her to land her first job. “When I first moved to New York in 2005, I searched the alumni directory for every Episcopal graduate who worked in journalism in New York. Four names popped up and all of them were kind and open to meeting me and discussing job prospects. One of those people was Jamie Wellford ’80, who at the time was the Senior Photo Editor at Newsweek for International News. He had me by the Newsweek office, looked at my portfolio, and we kept in touch. Weeks later, a photo assistant job opened up at the magazine and I applied for it. Jamie recommended me and after several rounds of interviews, I was hired. In my four years working there, he took the time to teach me what it meant to be a photo editor and introduced me to countless photographers and editors. He became my mentor and close friend.” Of the CONNECT event, Leah says, “I loved hearing about the experiences of everyone on the panel and how far their careers have developed. So impressive! While at EHS I took photo classes with David Douglas, and panelist Will Mebane ’91 came back for a photo workshop. It was fun to get to catch up with the two of them.”

Eliza and Alex Bolen ’86 with Charley Stillwell

“I THIN K THAT AR T , L I K E G O O D FASH I O N , SER VES T O I N S PI R E PEO P L E T O L EAD T H EI R L I VES IN A WAY T H AT I S ABO UT B EI N G T H E B ES T PER S O N T H EY C AN BE . ” Alex Bolen ’86, CEO, Oscar de la Renta

48


“ YOU C AN ALWAYS GO

I N T O T HE M E T O N A SU N DAY AN D I T ’ S A M ED I TAT I VE EX P E RIE N CE . I T H I N K I T ’ S R EA L LY I M PO R TA N T T O C O NT INUE T O H AVE AR T I N EVER YO N E’ S L I VES AS PA R T OF T R A I N I N G T H E O T H ER S I D E O F T H E B R AIN . ” Hattie Gruber ’00, Founder, Kiss The Ring New York

“ T O Q U O T E A N DY WA R H O L ,

“DO N ’ T T H I NK ABOU T MAKIN G AR T, J US T GE T IT DONE . L ET EV ER YONE EL S E D E CID E IF IT’ S GO O D OR B AD, WH ET H ER T H EY L OVE IT OR HATE IT. WHILE THEY AR E DEC I DI N G , MAKE E VE N MORE AR T”. RE PE AT THE C YC L E. T H AT PROCESS OF SOME TIME S YO U FAIL, SOM ET I M ES T H E WOR K YOU MAKE IS GRE AT, SOME TIME S I T ’ S JU S T T H E WOR K T H AT YOU N E E D E D T O MAKE IN O RDER T O G ET T O T H E NE X T LE VE L WHIC H IS ACTUALLY GO O D , T H AT ’S T H E WHOLE PO IN T. ” Will Mebane ’91, Photographer

“ WHAT IS AR T?

WE L L , IT ’S T HE EP I S T EM O L O G I C A L C O N C ER NS OF BE IN G H U M A N , A N D I T ’ S L OVE T HROUGH BE AUT Y. WI T H O U T I T, WE’ R E M O N K E Y S W IT H M O R T G AG ES.” Franklin Boyd, CEO, Xipsy

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

49


FROM THE ARCHIVES

“ALL IN ALL QUITE A THRILLING DAY”

On January 21, 1957, Page Dame lll ’59 and Junius Fishburne Jr. ’58 took part in history by attending the second inauguration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Page was so moved by the day’s events that he shared his recollections with his parents in a four page letter, which he generously donated to the School’s archives this fall. Page and Junius departed Episcopal by taxi following that morning’s chapel service, and upon arriving in D.C. they were hosted by the Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Congressman Howard W. Smith (father to Howard W. Smith, Jr. ’32, grandfather to EHS Trustee Howard W. Smith III ’76, and great-grandfather to Howard W. (Worth) Smith IV ’12). When an individual in Congressman Smith’s office learned that Page did not have a ticket to the inauguration, he produced a handful of them and told Page to take his pick. Page was thrilled to discover that his seat for the swearing in ceremony, a mere 25 yards from the presidential platform, afforded him a

50

bird’s eye view. He had 25 minutes to enjoy the Marine Corps Band before the start of the ceremony, which he described to his parents: “As Ike entered the platform, the band struck up “Hail To The Chief ” and the gathered multitude cheered solidly for about two or three minutes. Then after about a three minute pause Nixon was sworn in by William Knowland, Senate Minority Leader from California. Then Marian Anderson sang the National Anthem, and Earl Warren swore in Eisenhower with much solemnity. Hereupon Ike delivered his inaugural speech amid the audible grindings of the movie cameras, etc. and the pops of the flashbulbs.”


Congressman Smith’s hospitality continued after the inauguration ceremony when he hosted Page, Junius, and others for “a sumptuous banquet of a buffet lunch. The tables groaned with platters of sandwiches, deviled eggs, olives, pickles, various dips etc.” Replenished from lunch, Page and Junius watched the parade from the roof of the House wing of the Capitol. As their Inauguration Day adventure concluded, the students “… bade good-by to all our benefactors and sped back to the High School in a taxi.”

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

51


Class Notes There are several ways to submit Class Notes:

’43

John Melvin P.O. Box 1770 Pawley’s Island, SC 29585 (H) 843-237-9815 jmel@sc.rr.com

’44-’46

Class Correspondents Needed

If you’d like to volunteer to be the class correspondent or just to share an update, please contact Elizabeth Henderson ’11 at eah@episcopalhighschool.org or 703-933-4125.

’47

Harvey Lindsay One Colley Avenue, Apt. 900 Norfolk, VA 23510 (H) 757-423-1877 (O) 757-640-8202 harveylindsay@harveylindsay.com

Peyton Craighill writes that he and his wife have been living in Kendal Retirement Community in Lexington, VA for 8 years. They are enjoying the panoramic view from their cottage of the Blue Ridge Mountains. “With congenial friends, Washington & Lee and VMI to entertain and enlighten us and beautiful scenery to uplift us…. Who could ask for more? I think heaven will be an anticlimax after Lexington, VA! The only fly in the ointment is a speech condition that prevents people from understanding me when I speak to them.” Hunter McGuire writes, “Just as Americans are being urged to think outside biased bubbles, Mac McGuire reports that he’s quarantined in a rehab hospital for a norovirus epidemic. His last quarantine was the 1945 EHS scarlet fever epidemic. Even without quarantine, EHS was then a cultural/spiritual bubble in which old boys are still blessed. Mac hopes it will be the same for his grandchildren, now in the Class of 2019.”

52

1. Submit news online through the alumni portal at www.episcopalhighschool.org; 2. Contact your Class Correspondent by phone, mail, or email; 3. Write your news in the space provided on the Roll Call remittance envelope and mail it with your annual gift; or 4. Send news to your Alumni Program Officer* by phone, email, or mail to 1200 N. Quaker Lane, Alexandria, VA 22302. * Alumni Program Officers and their assigned classes are: * Classes up to 1973: Matt Drake, 703-933-4026 or mhd@episcopalhighschool.org * Classes of 1974-96: Margaret Waters ’06, 703-933-4023 or mrw@episcopalhighschool.org * Classes of 1997-2017: Katharine Farrar ’07, 703-933-4056 or kdf@episcopalhighschool.org

Stu Baldwin writes, “Nothing new here except that I’m pleased with reports of the new headmaster and sorry that Rob Hershey has retired, but certainly ran the course with distinction. It appears to me that we are doing very well on Headmasters, and their tenure proves that. As one who relished the wartime austerity and opposed coeducation, I’m really pleased with what EHS now offers and the added attraction of talented young women who appear to be driving up our academic standing. We are still living independently in this placid little “college town” (Chestertown) on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. We are pushing up the average age of the population. I often think of my good fortune in attending EHS, but since the demise of the Waxter brothers, aside from Gaylord Clark ’46 and Ben Cadwalader ’40, I haven’t seen any old boys since my 50th reunion, or was it the dedication of Callaway Chapel?” Hugo Blankenship writes, “Nothing new to report. I get around on a cane these days, but at least I’m still in motion… just a little slower. We have both of our children living close by and we enjoy our grandchildren. Sally went to Cuba a few years back and enjoyed that.” Harvey Lindsay, Jr. writes, “Still enjoying life at the Harbor’s Edge Retirement Community. We love it there. We are getting around a little

slower these days, but happy to be here. I still go to the office every day, but have cut back.”

’48

Hugh Richardson 1819 Peachtree Road, NE, #200 Atlanta, GA 30309 (O) 404-351-0941

Pictured are Shirley and Norris Broyles on another of their global trips. This time it was to London and Barcelona. With them were Norris’ sons: Edwin N. Broyles II ’73 and wife Holly, Norris Broyles, Jr. — a great guy even if he did go to Woodberry — and wife Kathy, and Norris’ daughter Nancy, wife of Doug James. Shirley says she and Norris are planning an excursion to Mexico in November and their invited guests will be Shirley’s eight family members and Norris’ six. One thing is certain: Shirley and Norris have no need for Red Bull (energy drink). How much is an advanced standing Episcopal High School diploma worth? To James H. Blake, it was all he needed to be admitted to Tulane University. After he graduated from the Holy Hill, Jim returned to his Lake Charles, LA home. He had not declared for Yale, which was his father’s alma mater, because his mother wanted him closer to home. He had not applied to Tulane, but visited the Tulane admissions office. Jim,

SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTES ONLINE! Just go to the homepage and click on “Alumni” and then “Submit A Class Note.” For help with passwords or login, please contact the Advancement Office.


Norris Broyles ’48 and wife, Shirley, the Class of 1948’s most indefatigable couple, on another of their global cruises.

with his 97 grade High List average, showed them his EHS diploma and remembers the admissions director looked at it and simply said, “sign here.” Jim graduated from Tulane in 1952 and became a Marine infantry officer rising to the rank of Captain. Then he was a special FBI agent in Washington for the Justice Department until 1960. He moved to Fullerton, CA where he has had a rewarding career in the investment business. Jim has a daughter, age 46, and a son, age 45, and five grandchildren all living not far from his residence. Jim is the oldest of three brothers to attend the High School. William D. Blake ’51 died in 2016, and Henry E. Blake is Class of ’57. Louis Schacht, son of Janet and Henry Schacht is now the manager of Schacht Groves in Vero Beach, FL, the thriving citrus fruit business that Henry made so successful. Henry is still active in the operation but finds time for rest and relaxation in Las Vegas. He’s made over 50 trips there for what he jokes is “Losing Therapy.” Janet and Henry are hoping to go to Charleston to visit Rufus Barkley’s widow, Nella, and David Maybank ’50 and Archie Barker ’47. Archie was a varsity infielder in 1946-47 and Henry was the best Maroon pitcher the three years he was at EHS. Jason Eckford, who died September 28, 2016, was on the Holy Hill for only one year and was our only classmate to have lettered in two varsity sports then. He began in football at tackle but was so fast he was moved to the backfield. In track, he won his “E” performing both high and low hurdles. A Charlottesville native, he attended

Venable Grammar School and graduated from Lane High School in 1947. After EHS, he returned to Charlottesville and finished at the University of Virginia in 1952 with a B.A. degree in English. He served with the Marines during the Korean conflict. Norris Broyles recalls that Jason married Ellen Underwood, the sister of Merrill Underwood, who was the wife of Paul Barringer, whose obituary appeared in the Fall of 2016 EHS Magazine. Jason was one of the most well known and likeable of Charlottesville’s bankers. Banks are known to have name changes, and although Jason was an officer in three of them, it was said that the trio changed names 13 times. Jason was a devoted UVA sports fan. He must have acquired his love of running from his hurdling days on the EHS track around Hoxton Field. Jason ran the Boston Marathon and other 26.2 mile events into his 70s.

’49

Class Correspondent Needed

If you’d like to volunteer to be the class correspondent or just to share an update, please contact Elizabeth Henderson ’11 at eah@episcopalhighschool.org or 703-933-4125.

’50

Gish Anderson 109 Oak Hill Lane New Bern, NC 28562 (H) 252-635-6562 gishgay@earthlink.net

’51

Walter Reed (H) 707-448-3347 waltnloli@earthlink.net

’52

Harte Crow (H) 603-643-5007 hcahcrow@gmail.com 65th Reunion: June 9-10, 2017

The EHS Class of 1952 is planning to have a 65th reunion during the School’s traditional Reunion Weekend, June 9-10, 2017. While a 65th reunion is unusual for a class at the High School, it is not unprecedented. The fact that more than 20 members of ’52 are planning to attend is a tribute both to the positive role the High School played in our lives as well as to the leadership of Bob Mason and the other

planners of this event. If you wish to find out more about the reunion, take a look at this website: www.episcopalhighschool.org/page/ alumni/reunion-weekend. Don’t be put off by the absence of the “Class of 1952” in the information; apparently when the data were assembled, the organizers at the High School didn’t realize that we’d be there. What were they thinking — that we’re too old? Surprise!

’53

Ed Mullins (H) 803-782-3027 (O) 803-733-9401 ed.mullins@nelsonmullins.com

Sam Holt writes, “Not much change the past year, beyond the more creaks and groans that come with our 80+ age cohort. Still “keepin’ company” with a lovely fellow-Alabamian, increasingly away from DC, and without many consulting clients (for whom I realize I look less actively) and so, I guess, basically retired. Eternally grateful for that one year at EHS, which truly bent my life’s track in a valuable way, and for the number of classmates who waded through the “rat” crap to accept, even befriend me. Again, glad to catch up with classmates who come to Washington.” Bailey Patrick writes, “We have a grandson finishing EHS this year and are looking forward to attending his graduation ceremony. Our youngest grandson has submitted his application for admission to next year’s freshman class . If he is accepted he will be our 8th grandchild to attend the High School. Am still Of Counsel with K&L Gates but slowing down quite a bit.” Luke Simons reports that he and his wife, Susan, still reside in Nashville Tennessee. He is retired from UBS but is still active with a private equity fund dealing in the healthcare field. He has a another home in Charleston where he grew up and where a daughter, sonin-law and grandchildren live. Luke recently was diagnosed with cancer but so far has had positive results because of a new treatment called immunotherapy. Greg Cummings reports that he still lives in Bethesda. He retired from Morgan Stanley last April after 50 years as an investment banker. He and Sam Holt are in the same Rotary club and see each other often at its EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

53


CLASS NOTES After Episcopal

Members of the Bocock Family stand outside the newly dedicated Bocock Wrestling Cage. Natalie Bocock Turnage, Berta Bocock, Alex Bocock ’86, Marianne Bocock Doyle, Nonie Bocock, and Jack Bocock ’82.

Head of School Charley Stillwell, Alex Bocock ’86, wrestling captain Alexander Block ’17, wrestling coach Steve Castle, and Jack Bocock ’82.

The Bocock Wrestling Cage was officially dedicated on January 31 to recognize one of Episcopal’s finest ambassadors, Freddie Bocock ’50. ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, THE EHS WRESTLING CAGE WAS NAMED IN MEMORY OF FREDERIC SCOTT BOCOCK ’50. FAMILY, FRIENDS, ALUMNI, AND WRESTLING TEAMMATES FROM THE CL ASSES OF 1949-2011 RETURNED TO CAMPUS TO CELEBR ATE THE OCCASION BY WATCHING THE EPISCOPAL VS. WOODBERRY WRESTLING MATCH. MORE THAN 80 MEMBERS OF THE EXTENDED SCHOOL COMMUNIT Y WERE ON HAND FOR THE EVENT.

The ceremony began with remarks by Charley Stillwell, Head of School; Jack Bocock ’82, son of Freddie Bocock; and a dedicatory prayer by Rev. Betsy Gonzalez. Guests were then invited to watch the EHS vs. WFS wrestling match. After a tough loss to WFS, the wrestling team joined invited guests for a dinner in Bryan Library, where speakers included Steve Castle, head wrestling coach; and Alexander Block ’17, wrestling captain. Guests shared stories of their experiences on the wrestling team and the impact that Freddie Bocock had on the wrestling program at EHS. He was a member of the School’s first-ever team, as the program began in the 1949-50 school year when Freddie was a senior. “Freddie Bocock was just such a compelling ambassador for Episcopal, it only makes sense to see his name on this space that meant so much to him,” said Rick Wilcox, Director of Alumni and Parent Programs. “He was such a charismatic figure that he was an ambassador for many things he cared about deeply, including EHS, the sport of wrestling, and the city of Richmond among others.” Freddie Bocock was from Richmond, Va., where he and his wife Berta lived and raised their four children: Alex, Jack, Natalie and Marianne. Sons Alex ’86 and Jack ’82 both attended Episcopal High School. Freddie’s wife Berta served on the Board of Trustees from 1984-1990 and again from 1993-1999. She

54

received the Distinguished Service Award in 1990. At EHS, Freddie was a Monitor and a member of the Blackford Literary and Missionary societies. He played tennis and was alternate captain for the wrestling team. Freddie’s life was remarkable, especially because of the quiet and unassuming way in which he lived. Freddie was president of the Richmond Memorial Hospital Board; a founding member and past president of the Board of Trustees of the Richmond Memorial Health Foundation; and president of the Men’s Advisory Board of the Virginia Home. He also served on the boards for the Instructive Visiting Nurses’ Association, St. Catherine’s School, Historic Richmond Foundation, Friends of the Richmond Public Library, Sheltering Arms Hospital, and the Hand Workshop. People have described Freddie as a “community jewel, a community gem, a steward of a legacy of caring and a cherished member of the Episcopal community.” “May the coaches who coach here, through their guidance, continue to build bridges between this sport and how their students live their lives,” Head Chaplain Betsy Gonzales said in her prayer of dedication. “May the students who wrestle here in their quest for the top, always cherish that the base of their skills was built on the sturdy foundation of hours spent here.”

SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTES ONLINE! Just go to the homepage and click on “Alumni” and then “Submit A Class Note.” For help with passwords or login, please contact the Advancement Office.


meetings. He is looking forward to the 65th Reunion. Ed Hutchings and his wife, Lenora, are experiencing good health and still living in Mesquite, Nevada. He continues to do the stretching exercises and play a lot of golf. He is thinking about coming to the 65th Reunion. Mayo Reid reports that he and his wife, Ellen, are doing well and are in their 6th year living at Bishop Gadsden, a retirement home in Charleston. They are planning a trip in the near future to Alaska and will report back to us the significant events of that trip for inclusion in our fall issue. He is considering attending the 65th Reunion. Ed Mullins reports that, after 58 years at Nelson Mullins Riley and Scarborough law firm, he is taking the retirement plunge. He got out a little sooner than expected but in time to avoid a gold watch which was rumored to be on the way. He was hired in 1959 by his father and Pat Nelson, the uncle of Nelson Weston ’54 and Bill Weston ’52. The firm was founded in 1897 by Bill and Nelson’s great-grandfather, Patrick Henry Nelson. Ed was the 5th lawyer in their then only office in Columbia, South Carolina. The firm currently has over 500 lawyers with 17 offices that run from Jacksonville up the Atlantic Coast to Boston and West to Nashville, Denver, and Los Angeles. He now has a real challenge as he does not hunt, fish, or play golf. He plans to attend the 65th Reunion. Peter Page writes that they are now permanent Virginians and have been retired for many years. He plans to attend the 65th. Jonathan Bryan writes, “All’s going well for Judy and me. Have a granddaughter in the Antarctic, another in Colorado College, a grandson in an outdoor leadership school in Idaho (later in Chile), and a grandson just out of diapers.” Austin Moore will be attending in Branson Missouri the 60th Reunion of the 357 Marine basic school class from which he graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. He is still active in many areas and enjoying good health. He plans to attend the 65th Reunion at EHS.

’54

Charlie Covell (H) 352-336-0127 (O) 352-273-2023 covell@louisville.edu

Will Bridgers spent Thanksgiving in the Middleburg, VA area and passed by our archrival Woodberry Forest School enroute. He told me that Hilton Head, SC “will be months if not years getting over the Hurricane Matthew disaster.” He had a pine tree fall on his garage during that terrible storm. He keeps his hand in his financial advising work. Mort Boyd wrote “All’s well with me and my wife Anne. We’re trying to grow old gracefully and enjoying our five grandchildren. Still playing some golf with my buddies but nothing to write home about. I did however shoot my age for the second year in a row. Currently, spending the winter at Sea Island, Ga. after a Fall of watching The University of Louisville produce its first Heisman Trophy winner. Haven’t seen that much excitement at U of L since you were a professor there. Having fun bantering with Johnny Burress and Bob Baker regarding ACC basketball. Not sure which of UNC, Duke or U of L can prevail. Hope to hang in there until the next reunion.” From Bill Pender in Charlotte, NC: “Entering life as an octogenarian has been very pleasant so far primarily because my activities are far less robust with more contemplative reflecting as I often visit my nine grandchildren and try to convince them that I am the shrine at which they should worship for greater wisdom and understanding. I am amazed at how well my children and their spouses seem to accept me with such charity and a good sense of humor even as I bring discord and conflicting views into their lives. They may allow me to advance and become a senior octogenarian as I struggle to press forward. I have enjoyed painting landscapes and nude women which I find quite agreeable. I have a web site, www.paintingsbypender.com, which I need to clean up. I still enjoy studying American history — currently with a focus on the Indian wars and George Armstrong Custer who presents a profile of destructive narcissism that fits well with some of our current American leaders and politicians.”

Along with my usual plea for news and best wishes for a healthy 2017 I’d like to report that I finally became a grandfather a bit over two years ago. Though a continent separates us, our daughter keeps us well stocked with photos and video clips of little Zora.

’55

Sandy Wise (H) 614-766-1511 (O) 614-447-0281 hawppmd@aol.com 65th Reunion: June 2020

’56

Terry Cooper (H) 434-202-8066 (O) 703-931-8172 terry@cooperresearch.us 65th Reunion: June 2021

Fielder Israel writes, “Gretchen and I are in our ninth year of serving God through community bible study in France September to October 2017.” John Richardson writes, “I wish to bring to your attention publication of my new book, “Alexander Robey Shepherd: The Man Who Built the Nation’s Capital” (Ohio University Press, 2016).”

’57

Louie Gump (O) 423-282-3933 lhg703@yahoo.com 60th Reunion: June 9-10, 2017

Chip Buxton writes, “I’m still practicing law with my son, Wakefield Buxton, and we opened our newest office in Virginia Beach in the fall so we now have 4 estate planning offices in Tidewater. We operate as TrustBuilders Law Group with locations in Williamsburg, Yorktown,Virginia Beach and Urbanna. Since our 50th, I have gained two grandsons: Joseph T. Buxton IV, age nine, and Frederick William Wakefield Buxton, age 8, and I hope to steer both of them to the Hill. I don’t know if I mentioned this in the previous class notes but since our 55th my wife Mary Wakefield has published her 12th book, “The Private War of William Styron” Brandywine Press, Richmond.

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

55


CLASS NOTES

’58

Surry Roberts (H) 919-828-2245 surryroberts@adventure777.com 60th Reunion: 2018

Charlie Hooff relates a dramatic meeting with a cape buffalo at 30 yards with thirty others in close proximity. His annual safari last July was to private land east of Kreugger National Park. This July he will return to South Africa sponsoring a young man from his real estate firm with extensive experience shooting white tailed deer! Hayne Hipp joined Carl Ragsdale for hiking mountain vistas, tall tales and supreme cocktails at Carl’s son-in-law’s condo at Big Sky, Montana. After prolonged back pain and successful surgery, Tim McCoy is back on the golf course! Tommy Boyd relates that he works in a fitness center and most impressive is Ricky Pietsch “burning up the machines”. He looks to be in the same shape as he was playing tennis at EHS. He also remembers Ven Minor, who attended every UVa baseball game until he couldn’t walk. It’s also great to cross paths with those from EHS who now live in Charlottesville — Terry Cooper ’56, Jack Rinehart ’52, Rives Richey ’55, Mark Gibson ’57, Landon Hilliard ’58, Fred Shields ’55 and Rick Pietsch.

George Flowers ’61, Elliott Randolph ’61, Bill Julian ’61, Bill Tylander ’61 and Tenny Mason ’61, accompanied by George’s, El’s and Bill T’s wives, went out for dinner at Clyde’s before the Landon football game in October.

’59

’61

J.D. Simpson (H) 501-663-8631 (O) 501-377-2110 jdsimpson@stephens.com 60th Reunion: 2019

’60

Bill Drennen (H) 304-876-1236 (O) 304-876-6400 wmdrennen1@me.com 60th Reunion: 2020

John Winfield writes, “I am now fully retired from medical faculty at UNC- Chapel Hill. I miss my patients, but am definitely extending my lifespan. Go Heels! Bill Casparis writes, “All is well. Retired in Reno, and travelling a lot. Next trips are Great Barrier Reef and Tokyo.” 56

Bill Julian ’61, Al Carr ’61, George Flowers ’61, George Craddock ’60, Lanier Woodrum ’61, Peter Winfield ’61, and John Fowler ’61 had a great time at a beer and burger lunch in Charlottesville in December.

George Flowers 60th Reunion: 2021

We are sad to report that George Flowers died. See page 91 for his obituary. Our thoughts and prayers are with George’s loved ones. We are going to try to hold an informal 2017 mini-reunion for the whole class during an early football game weekend at EHS in the Fall (per Al Carr: “…one we know we can win!”). We hope many classmates will be able to attend. Details TBA. Stay tuned. Bob Steptoe writes, “Still practicing law in Clarksburg, WV, but scaling back in favor of travel, bird hunting, mountain climbing, and spending more time at our house in Wild Dunes near Charleston, SC. Look forward to seeing other members of the Class of ’61 at future gatherings.”

Lanier Woodrum writes, “Al Carr, Bill Julian and I attended the WFS-EHS game. We were somewhat chagrined (to put it mildly) at the thrashing that EHS received. We believe that more post graduates may be in order — don’t bother with their IQ.” Tenny Mason writes, “A belated Happy New Year to all. I have attended several of these reunion events. It is easy for me since I live about an hour from the school; but I have yet to do one of these bios, so here goes. After EHS, went to UVA where I majored in English (thank you Mr. Ravenel) and joined the St. Anthony Hall fraternity with Polk Kellam. On graduation, went to Navy OCS and did three and a half years working for Uncle Sam. A couple of trips to Nam and at one point lived briefly in a barracks with Frank Martin ’62. I eventually drifted into the newspaper business, where I did pretty much everything editorially (reporter, editor,

SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTES ONLINE! Just go to the homepage and click on “Alumni” and then “Submit A Class Note.” For help with passwords or login, please contact the Advancement Office.


Bill Tylander ’61 with daughter, Elizabeth ’01, in Nicaragua.

Stan Lawrence ’62, Howdy Goodwin ’62, Menard Doswell ’62, David Simpson ’62, with Robert “Chooch” Train ’62, in the fall of 2016 at Beaulieu, Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia.

some graphics and layout, and eventually settled down in photography). Ended up running a 12-person photo staff for 16 suburban newspapers in the Baltimore/Washington corridor. When the newspaper business imploded, took a buyout and flipped houses for several years until real estate imploded, and now I dabble in photography again — mostly for fun. Had a 13- year marriage that ended in divorce in 1984. Have two grown daughters and a grandchild on the way. That’s about it. Great to hear from so many classmates and hope to see you at one of the upcoming get-togethers.”

teaching at W&L Law; this semester I have 50 first-years for a required course in Federal Administrative Law. We’re plodding through a dark and sporadically cold/warm January. Gail and I spent a good part of Christmas break with our daughter and son-in-law on Skidaway Island outside Savannah. Christian’s a professor at Savannah College of Art and Design and Garret — a marine biologist — is executive director of Wilderness Southeast. The whole time we were there the temp was 75 to 80 and sunny. Tempting. BUT I have yet to see any alligators, not one!, in Lex Vegas. No hurricanes either, so there are tradeoffs.”

Al Carr writes, [Editor’s Note: I had just circulated a 1992 letter from Mr. Ainslie to John Fowler which implies that alumni who have been out of school for 50 years could receive an EHS Certificate as a “Blackford Associate.” This would of course be of interest to those who had not graduated (typically mid-1940s and earlier) or who had left early to pursue higher education.] “Interesting indeed. I was surprised when we had our get-together in Charlottesville in December to learn that of the 7 or 8 of us there, at least three hadn’t graduated! Should I hold my breath waiting for my certificate? (not serious about that!) I must say though, as an English major at VMI, I was and still am in awe of how well Mr Fox, Mr Phillips and Mr Ravenel prepared me, from rules of grammar to writing ability and style to how to read and analyze what I had read. Lessons which have stayed with me to this day. I still have a copy of the (sainted) English Reference Book, with the Ravenel family crest on the front cover. Nothing much to report here from Lex Vegas. Still

Bill Tylander writes, “Gigi and I spent Christmas in Nicaragua with daughter Elizabeth ’01, who is a volunteer in the Peace Corps. She is working in a health clinic in the small town of Achuapa in northern Nicaragua.”

’62

Al Berkeley (H) 410-243-7859 alfredberkeley@gmail.com 55th Reunion: June 9-10, 2017

Howdie Goodwin writes, “Ellen and I are well. We celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary in November and we are both still gainfully employed. Our three boys, two who went to EHS, are also doing fine. They have blessed us with eight grandchildren which is great. Menard Doswell, Stan Lawrence, David Simpson and I are putting together a trip to visit Robert Train in Savannah in

Feb. (See Class of 1963 Notes, for more on trip to see Robert.) Rick Funkhouser writes, “Kathy and I sold our Baltimore house in June, spent the summer in Chautauqua, NY and began 2-3 years of travel in Europe in September. We’ve traveled a good part of the globe the last several years, but have wanted to spend longer periods of time in European places we’ve loved, but in which we’ve only spent several days in past travels. We began with five weeks in Paris, and with short intermediate stops, five weeks in the Languedoc, three weeks in Colmar for the holidays and are now heading for Tuscany, Barcelona and London before coming back to the states in March for a month, catching up with children, grandchildren and friends, and returning to Europe.” Chuck Weitzel writes, “After reading the latest Class Notes and recognizing that I will not be able to attend the 2017 Reunion, I decided that I needed to make a contribution to the next issue of Class Notes. I retired 8 years ago after a 35-year career in semiconductor R&D first at RCA Labs in Princeton, N.J. and later at Motorola/Freescale in the Phoenix area. I met my wife Jane, a Canadian, at a travel club meeting and we were married a year later. We are fast approaching our 29th wedding anniversary in March 2017. Like many of you, Jane and I are involved in a wide variety of activities. Our favorite forms of exercise are hiking and working out at a local gym. In earlier years we enjoyed hiking the Grand Canyon. I have also retired “so to speak” from three activities that I enjoyed EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

57


CLASS NOTES

for many years: backpacking, rock climbing, and mountain climbing. Our focus now is volunteer service work for several non-profits including our church. One of our favorite church activities involves holding Catholic communion services inside a women’s prison in Phoenix. We have a second home in Sedona that keeps us busy and offers a slightly cooler getaway from the Phoenix summer heat. With family and friends scattered across the US and Canada a fly-drive trip to the eastern US is a yearly activity. We usually plan one international trip each year, but often take more than one. In 2016 we visited Australia/New Zealand, and the UK. Your humble class scribe writes that he was delighted to receive a book on the battle of Gettysburg from Howdie Goodwin. It details the activities of four of my Berkeley ancestors who fought in the battle, most of whom were students at EHS in the first class of 1839! I was pleased to learn about them. ​ My oldest daughter, Cary, and her family are in Australia for her husband’s sabbatical from the Engineering School at Clemson University​. It is fun to hear her daughters’ reactions to elementary school in Australia. I just returned from Davos, Switzerland, where I attended the World Economic Forum. It was very interesting to see the international caution about what a new administration brings. ​

’63

Cotten Alston (O) 404-310-0541 cottenalston@gmail.com 55th Reunion: June 2018

Recently I was headed out of Atlanta to the Georgia coast to see a family member and an added bonus to the journey was a close fly-by Savannah where Julia and Robert Train reside…I had not seen them since a hospital visit in Atlanta some years ago. It was good fun and a treat to see them. Robert’s smile will brighten the day! Julia spoke of recent visitors and showed me the picture you see here. The 4 of them had come down in the Fall to visit for 2-3 days and they were all over Savannah! What a nice tight group that has been together for 50+ years.

I’m sorry that Class Notes are not robust this issue, but the distractions of 2016 have obviously clouded most old school thoughts of (frivolous) class news bites…however, you can know that Pig/Piglet/Pigasus Nicklin, our only 1963 Summa Cum Laude graduate, is now “Walter Nicklin” and he is fully engaged in meaningful reporting about things political with a focus on climate change. He has a strong web presence. Check it out. The internet is such a powerful force that our radio and television programs usually refer us to an app or to some link for more information…pretty soon Class Notes will be linking directly to our Facebook scribes and I will be silenced! I am not an avid FB viewer but I can attest that Nicklin, the KingT, Strother, and Wil are putting some good stuff out there in the ozone…71 is the new 50, check it out; join the conversation. Onward and upward.

’64

Alex Jones (H) 617-497-2387 (O) 617-469-2582 alexsjones2@gmail.com 55th Reunion: June 2019

About eight years ago, Tom Pope got an email out of the blue from an organization he had never heard of called the Center for International Legal Studies inquiring if he would like to teach law students in Eastern Europe — at his own expense. Intrigued, he checked it out and as a result he has been traveling all over the former Soviet Union to give aspiring lawyers a sense of how civil law is practiced in the United States. How it’s done. “These people are pretty well desperate,” Tom says. They are in countries where “corruption is everywhere. Not violence, but their economies have tanked.” The prospect of actually being able to practice civil law in the American way is almost nil, but the students are hungry to learn and Tom has found one of the most rewarding experiences of his life in teaching them. So far he’s been to Hungary, Kosovo, Albania and Ukraine, and he’s signed up to go to Tbilisi, Georgia, this year. Mongolia is on his wish list. His teaching style is somehow very much what you would expect. He has no interpreter,

58

but manages to get the message across regardless. He often adjourns to a café for drinks and conversation with the students after class, and he always concludes with a party that he pays for. His teaching tools include DVDs of My Cousin Vinny and To Kill a Mockingbird. His favorite so far was Kosovo, where the population — almost all ethnic Albanian Muslims — remain deeply grateful for America’s intervention in the war that saved them from the Serbs. There are streets named after both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. A cab driver, learning that Tom was American, stopped the cab, got out and insisted on shaking his hand before continuing. In Albania, on the other hand, Tom was not even allowed to see a court in action because of the government’s paranoia. In Ukraine, he was around 100 miles from the fighting, though he didn’t see any battling. He hears plenty of horror stories from his students and has stayed in touch with many of them. And he has become part of a national network of lawyers of his vintage and older who do this teaching as a service. He doesn’t get paid anything, which may be a reason why he has not been successful at enticing any other South Carolina lawyers to try it out. He thinks that is their loss. Though he isn’t making money, he often gets appreciation of other kinds. For instance, he is a devotee of yoga and asked the members of one class where he might find a yoga instructor. Their blank looks told him that yoga was not something that has become the rage in Eastern Europe. But the class ultimately found a place and they insisted on escorting him for fear he would never find his way or get back. As a parting shot, he told me of another yoga adventure, this one in Manhattan. Tom is experienced, but not at the top level and the class he took was above his level of competency. Nevertheless, he got through it and, sweating and exhausted, left — passing Jennifer Aniston, dressed for yoga, at the elevator. Tom “Joe Crow” Hall is a newly-wed! After knowing Kenny Jewett for twenty years and being together with him for 13, the two tied the knot officially just before their

SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTES ONLINE! Just go to the homepage and click on “Alumni” and then “Submit A Class Note.” For help with passwords or login, please contact the Advancement Office.


annual Christmas Party in December. A City Commissioner came 15 minutes early and did the honors, and the Party served double duty as a wedding reception. “The way things were going politically, we thought it was smart to formalize things,” Tom said. They had grandchildren to think about. Four grandchildren to be exact, with a fifth one on the way. They call him Poppa Tom and are the children, all under 10, of Kenny’s son. Chick Darrell ’65 (3rd from right) with quarry in Yorkshire, England.

Kenny has been to two EHS reunions and loves them. “He’s been to more reunions than most graduates,” Tom said. Kenny’s profession is taking old and neglected houses, refurbishing them and selling them…flipping, in other words. But he favors old homes with character rather than just dilapidated ones. His most recent was on the market for 14 days before going to contract. Kenny and Tom also have a home near Asheville in the town of Leicester, pronounced Lester, about 13 minutes from downtown. “I didn’t want a place that was hanging off the side of a mountain because we needed somewhere for our Jack Russell and for the grandkids to run around,” Tom said.

David Eggleston ’65 and grandchildren.

Nightshift at the firehouse: Frank Louis’s ’65 grandson.

They have done extensive renovations, but preserved much of the original character of the place, which was constructed largely of wood that had been salvaged from a building that once housed a newspaper in Winston Salem. That building dated from the early 1800s, so though their Asheville home is modern, it has patina. Tom is chairman of the Tampa Aquarium Foundation and in 2014 led a delegation to Cuba to find common cause in preserving coral reefs with the Cuba Aquarium. Since the Obama opening with Cuba in 2015, that partnership has proven very fruitful, especially in finding ways to save the much-imperiled staghorn coral. “I love working with the Cubans,” he said. By the way, I took the opportunity to ask him how he got Joe Crow as a nickname at EHS. “You know, I don’t really know. There was an upperclassman, and I can’t even remember his name, but he somehow came up with it,

Mason “Speed” Sexton ’65 and family. EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

59


CLASS NOTES

thought it was funny, and it stuck. So when I went to college at Lake Forest, it followed me and that was that.”

’65

Jim Sullivan (H) 615-292-3536 (O) 615-327-5759 jsullivangrayson@gmail.com Richard Lee (H) 617-497-4523 dlee60@verizon.net 55th Reunion: June 2020

Good Will Hunting. Or something like that. We just heard from Chick Darrell who, as you may recall, plods over fen and heath in his quest for the perfect bird shoot. Here’s a photo of the take over four days in Yorkshire, England. Yes, yes, some birds were harmed for purposes of this picture, but he notes that all quarry, not ingested, go to local restaurants and grocery outlets. We would add that there are enough feathers there to keep the entire British fly-tying population going for a decade. In the past year, Chick has hunted in Argentina, Scotland, and southern Georgia. We now await comparable documentation from Jamie Totten, who periodically plies the pampas of Ecuador with similar intent. And in this vein, we received in a plain brown envelope a candid shot of Tommy Pope ’64 as he stalks the elusive white-tailed deer. Tom has developed a finely honed capacity for stealth and deception over the years, beginning with his tenure as a Vietnam riverine officer. Here he practices the bold and time-honored “nap” ruse, a technique of choice for the over 65 hunting crowd. Lest PETA be upon us with hammer and tong, we should point out that the only true blood sport these days is American Politics. Humphrey Tyler suggested an anonymous class poll on the recent presidential election. Well, the response was tepid. Trump eked out by 3 to 2. The new President was so informed and, apparently, this news did become the basis for a Tweet declaring his win on the popular vote. As grandchildren become an increasing pre-occupation for many of us, David Eggleston sends us a relentlessly cute photo. 60

Tom Pope ’65 on high alert.

Here, he is closing a real estate deal with two of the latest additions to the clan. Absent writing skills, a handprint is being affixed to a contract for some highly speculative swampfront property near Wilmington. Our understanding is that no down payment will be required until twins, Mae and David III, are twelve and able to go to work. This seeming, if not utter, indifference to labor law, also applies to a photo of Zachary Rogers Louis, Jr., “taking five” at the Suffield, CT Fire House. Nailing down a sleep cycle is difficult given nighttime hours. It is a volunteer organization. Frank Louis is exercising bragging rights for his grandson’s civic-mindedness. As a runner-up in last issue’s Von Trapp Family Contest, we are distressed to learn that David “Phantman” Patterson neglected to tell us that one of his granddaughters is studying opera. We had requested choral CD’s from contestants, and something Wagnerian from her might have put him over the top. The road not taken. Phant notes being in touch with Tom Dashiell ’66, who along with building housing developments in California, is deeply embroiled in the barbecue business. (We didn’t think anyone in California ate meat anymore.) Phant also reports passing the forty-eight year mark in his marriage, which, in part, explains the remarkable extended family. Perhaps, a class “first great-grandfather” award should go on tap for the near future (unless current intel is failing us). There is little doubt that retirement is upon many of us, when Mason “Speed” Sexton

Sam Dawson’s ’66 grandchildren: Noah is on the left, Mason is on the top right, and Ellis is on the bottom right.

declares bird watching as a newfound diversion. Now that he and Jane reside well north of NYC, it has become engagingly apparent that species beyond the pigeon really do exist. (There was a report of a wild turkey running rampant on the Lower East Side a few years back.) We note a recent exchange between Mason and photographer, George Cathcart on bird IQ. (Some of us fifth year students are still sensitive about such topics, but, generally speaking, we have moved on.) Mason and Jane’s son, Buck, continues to sit in regularly for Rush Limbaugh, as the other offspring seem to progress at a meteoric rate in their respective fields of law, business, and finance. Good for them all!

Lastly, nods were received from Richard Gwathmey, Ward Carr, and Will Haltiwanger, all vertical, and moving at a determined pace. It goes without saying that Will has always been more vertical than the rest of us.

’66

Phil Terrie (H) 607-319-4271 pterrie@bgsu.edu 55th Reunion: June 2021

What a terrific 50th reunion we had! I drove away Sunday morning with a complicated mix of delight and melancholy — delight for having had a grand time with people from a distant moment in my life whom I otherwise almost never see and melancholy as I thought about so many conversations not completed or even begun. I suppose reunions are always like this.

SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTES ONLINE! Just go to the homepage and click on “Alumni” and then “Submit A Class Note.” For help with passwords or login, please contact the Advancement Office.


Rex Wilson ’68 with granddaughter, Alice Weston Hall.

Thanks to all who responded so quickly to my email blast asking for news. Here’s what some of you are up to: Julian Brantley, “Wife and children good. One grandchild. Still working — pelvic surgery and wound care. Major back surgery this past fall — successful so far.” Henry Smythe, “I recently attended the wedding in Charlottesville of the son of my Best Man, Bill Gray ’67. Went by and had a nice visit with Elizabeth and John Howard.” Wick Williams, “I am retired. No longer an architect. Right now I am a grandfather — two new ones this summer — and a printmaker, with a show of my Moroccan prints coming up in Fes. Not working is lovely.” Jack Sibley, “Cary and I are taking our children hiking in the Basque region in late May and headed to Russia, Budapest, and Berlin in October. It was great to see everyone I saw at the 50th.” Sam Dawson, “No retirement. Still busy with Camp Alleghany. I have a new grandson. Our daughter, Elizabeth, gave birth to Noah Cooper Shreckhise on 9/7/16. He was 7lb, 15 oz and 21 inches.” David Higgins, “Sorry I missed the 50th. I was a delegate to the West Virginia Democratic convention that weekend and have to admit it was interesting. I have always had some ancillary interest in politics (Charleston City Council, House of Delegates, some other unsuccessful campaigns). Patti and I regularly travel to Europe. We particularly like taking

Viking Cruise trips. We have done the Rhine trip and the Danube trip. Highly recommend Viking. Still practicing law and really enjoying it. We have 40 some lawyers, so I can always find someone younger and anxious to do the work while I observe and comment. Now that’s a nice gig! Rickety Rackety.”

Whitt Clement, “I missed our reunion due to health issues, am gradually recovering from stem cell transplant. I appreciated all the emails and notes received from 66’ers and other classmates. I am a partner at Hunton & Williams and serve on the board of visitors of the University of Virginia.”

Bill Harryman, “My wife, Susan, and I live in The Villages, FL. The region is fast growing and it currently is over 100,000. I think I saw our MSA, whatever that is, is the fastest growing in the US. We are happy with this community and our retirement. We have been full time for four years, although we have had a place since 2004. We are involved in golf, crafts, flying and pickleball which is a paddle sport played on a badminton-sized court with what could be called a wiffleball. Very fast growing game across the country. We do have a rental house down here, so if anyone is interested, please call or write. We are about 1 hr to the Orlando attractions, and 1.25 hr to Tampa. Our children are in Broadway, NC, Austin, TX and Seattle, WA. No immediate family in the area. Our one granddaughter is eight, and she lives in Seattle. We have had her come down for a visit for the last two summers and she wears us out.”

Sad news from Don Robinson, whose beloved Audrey died at Don’s family farm near Lexington, KY, in September. Besides being a loving mother and wife, Audrey was a poet, artist, sculptor, and martial arts instructor.

Howell Hollis, “In October, 2016, we were traveling in Japan with a small group which included George Thompson ’48 from Marshall, Virginia; his wife, Rab, was very familiar with the announcing skills of Will O’Keefe from the Steeplechase circuit. And in January, 2017, I was in Greenwood, MS on the verge of a meeting with Billy Whittington when weather stymied the visit. I have joined the board of the Atlanta Shakespeare Company.” Tom Dashiell, “I’m still living in Berkeley CA, where I’m semi-retired but still doing some real estate deals. I take care of my wonderful 4 year old granddaughter about 20 hours a week. Mostly, I’m wondering why more of my classmates don’t get in touch with me when they come to the Bay Area. Now that we’ve had our 50th and we’ve had a chance to reconnect, I’d love to see more old friends when they come out here. My passions are my daughter and granddaughter, golf, tennis, and the Golden State Warriors, whom I have followed for 40 years. Now is our time!! I’ve had season tix for many years, and now I’m one of the most popular guys around.”

’67

Charles Coppage

(H) 252-473-3893 (O) 252-480-2568 charles@nccoppagelaw.com 50th Reunion: June 9-10, 2017

’68

Walker Moore (H) 864-543-1514 (O) 864-941-0666 moorew327@aol.com 50th Reunion: June 2018

Rex Wilson reports that his granddaughter, Alice Weston Hall was born on November 29, 2016. She weighed 8 lbs, 2 oz and was 20.5 inches, and she’s “so smart, she’ll graduate from EHS in four years!”

’69

Kinloch Nelson (H) 585-385-3103 (O) 585-264-0848 kinloch@rochester.rr.com Marty Martin (H) 919-787-5804 (O) 919-272-2106 marty_martin@bellsouth.net 50th Reunion: June 2019

’70

Jim Newman (H) 703-820-3713 (O) 202-261-6706 craig.stewart@bernstein.com 50th Reunion: June 2020

As I watched Clemson win the National Championship from Alabama, I thought of one family in particular. Soon afterwards Craig Stewart wrote that he and Cricket will EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

61


CLASS NOTES

soon be moving to South Carolina. He says it’s to be closer to her mother, but I wonder if Cricket and daughter Lee ’13 being Clemson alumnae (What a championship game!) has anything to do with this. As I recall, they have season tickets to Death Valley. Another happy classmate is Jenner Wood. As a longtime resident of Atlanta, Jenner is no doubt ecstatic about the Falcon’s entry into Super Bowl 51. Jenner recently retired after a highly successful 41 year career with Sun Trust Bank in Atlanta. Jenner is ideally positioned for retirement with 3 grandsons who currently live in Chapel Hill. The foursome is set! Jenner was able to play Augusta National with classmate David Clarke. Jenner remarked that David played Augusta National very well! Finally Jenner reports that he is still happily married to his wife of 41 years, Libby Dowd. But the happiest of them all is Bob Coffin! Bob recently married his girlfriend of nine years Vasilya Gapirova. Bob and Vasilya met on a blind date in Tashkent, Uzbekistan nine years prior. Bob did not mention a honeymoon, maybe he will share it in the next Class Notes. In closing, it is always nice when you can share a similar experience with your children. My youngest son Eric recently returned from a study abroad in Seoul, Korea sponsored by Washington State University. I was stationed north of Seoul in the late 1990’s. Both of us enjoyed Korea for different reasons but we mutually agreed on the warm hospitality from the Koreans during our respective tours.

’71

Geoff Snodgrass (H) 504-895-4200 geoff@snodgrassplc.com 50th Reunion: June 2021

Bill Fletcher is getting married in August to Malinda Brakeman in Costa Rica at Casa Verde in Manuel Antonio. Congratulations, Bill. Mark Gardner is still living on San Juan Island, making photographs, occasionally consulting and “having as much fun as possible.” His recent adventures include publication of a small portfolio by the fine art photography magazine “LensWork”, motorcycling in Oregon, and taking an extended driving trip with his son throughout Alaska as 62

Nick Conner ’72, Aaron Efird ’72, and their wives celebrate the engagement of Aaron and Len’s daughter and Nick and Lauren’s goddaughter during the Christmas holidays.

well as the Yukon Territory, British Columbia, and Vancouver Island. He states that “Life is good!” I’ll second that and hope to see all of you at our postponed reunion in November during the weekend of the Woodberry game. More details to follow.

for a public relations agency in Los Angeles, 72 and Sunny. Robert S. Preston the Fourth, Robbie, is a sophomore at Wake Forest University. Although struggling with early onset of Alzheimers, Bobby remains always and forever, ‘The Great BP!’

’72

Finally, I heard from Charlie McKamy, or ‘Buck’ as he was known during his W&L days. Charlie has a coffee roasting and landscaping business in Pensacola. In 2016, he suffered from his diabetes and had a leg amputated. But, his spirits are high and he assured me that he will attend our 45th Reunion on June 9-10, 2017.

Beau Wilson (H) 212-588-0363 (O) 212-603-6185 beauatciti@aol.com 45th Reunion: June 9-10, 2017

Pat McCoy was the first to respond for Class Notes. He and his wife continue to reside in Charlotte, and Pat is running a non-profit which is dedicated to liberal policies and candidates. Pat, good luck under the Trump Administration! Meanwhile, Pat reports that his “far-smarter wife teaches at Elon Law School and tolerates his rants.” Howell Morrison reports that he remains hard at work while his wife, Erwin, successfully summited Mt. Kilimanjaro in Kenya this past year. Howell stayed home, fed the dog, and looked out for their daughter, Lilly. Nick Conner and Aaron Efird and their wives celebrated the engagement of Aaron and Len’s daughter and Nick and Lauren’s Goddaughter during the Christmas holidays. Who’s to say that EHS friendships are not everlasting! Bobby Preston is retired and living in Carpinteria, CA with his wife of 35 years, Sarah. His oldest daughter, Hallie, lives there with her husband and with Bobby’s 3 grandchildren. His second daughter, Claire, works

’73

Porter Farrell (H) 817-732-4315 pfarrell@farrellcompany.com 45th Reunion: June 2018

David Carr writes that he and George Wickham ’74 caught up with David Dougherty ’64 for a Princeton basketball game in Richmond. David has retired as Head of the Hill School. Mr. Dougherty is still intense in his sports cheering.

’74

Bill Stokes (H) 919-493-7481 (O) 919-490-7141 billstokes972@yahoo.com Gilliam Kittrell (H) 919-788-8171 (O) 919-876-7411 gillkitt@bellsouth.net 45th Reunion: June 2019

SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTES ONLINE! Just go to the homepage and click on “Alumni” and then “Submit A Class Note.” For help with passwords or login, please contact the Advancement Office.


After Episcopal

Photo from the Great Meadow International FEI Nations Cup of Eventing. This year’s competition is set for July 7-9.

BY E L IZABE TH HE NDERSON ’11

Rob Banner ’75 has always had a love for horses but never suspected that he could make a career out of his passion. AFTER GR ADUATING FROM EHS AND THEN FROM VANDERBILT WITH AN ENGLISH DEGREE, ROB BEGAN HIS CAREER WORKING AT SEVER AL EQUINE MAGAZINES, INCLUDING THE HORSEMEN’S JOURNAL, EQUUS MAGAZINE, AND THE CHRONICLE OF THE HORSE.

After working his way up through the ranks of advertising and publishing, Rob began serving on the board of the Great Meadow Foundation, the nonprofit organization that operates Great Meadow Farm and is dedicated to preserving and protecting open space. After 17 years, Rob was appointed president of the foundation and began managing the daily operations of Great Meadow, a 380-acre field events center and steeplechase course located in The Plains, the heart of the scenic countryside of Virginia. “You can see tens of thousands of acres of land without a single building in your view except a lonely silo and a barn… it’s an amazing view,” says Rob. Throughout the year, Great Meadow hosts a variety of events that are dedicated to eventing and steeplechase, including the Virginia Gold Cup and the FEI Nation’s Cup of Eventing, an international team competition. In addition, Great Meadow hosts events such as Twilight Polo and the Scottish Games, which attract over 200,000 people to the farm each year. “It’s an amazing time to be at Great Meadow,” Rob says, “and the facility, after 30 years, is showing that it’s not done growing yet.” Great Meadow is currently in the running to host a CCI 4-star eventing competition. The Concours Complet International (CCI),

or the ratings for the equestrian sport of eventing, are given by the international governing body for the sport, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI). CCI 4-star events are the highest level of international competition and are comprised of three events: dressage, cross country, and show jumping. Great Meadow has been selected as a finalist to host this international event from five other eventing centers across the country. There is only one other CCI 4-star event in the nation, and if Great Meadow’s application is approved, it would be only the seventh in the world. After another round of inspections and deliberations, the winner will be chosen from the two finalists in June, and Rob likes Great Meadow’s chances. “We have the experience, we have the facility, we have the volunteers, and we have the sponsors.” Rob’s passion for horses and the sport of eventing has inspired him to become an advocate for horsemanship in the Piedmont region of Virginia. “My goal as a horseman is to anchor Virginia as a center for equestrian in the nation, and the MidAtlantic area is filled with top level horsemen,” he says. “It was conspicuous to me as to why we had never hosted any international level sport in this area. We’re in this great area for horsemanship, but we haven’t hosted the world.”

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

63


CLASS NOTES

George Wickham writes, “I have just finished my first book — a middle grade novel (ages 8-12) called Evie’s Been Eavesdropping. It’s set in a Richmond-like town called Riverton and follows the adventures of a sixth-grade girl as she tries to discover her past, confront bullies, and stare down a conniving developer who wants to close her school. Can she save it? Well, if you really want to know, you’ll have to read the book. It’s been an amazingly fun and rewarding experience for me, which I hope will translate into reading pleasure for many young readers.” Kevin Kelly provides this update:

’76

Boota deButts (H) 703-998-1487 (O) 703-933-4092 whd@episcopalhighschool.org 45th Reunion: June 2021

Edward Morrison reports “All boring...duck season over; too many Yankees in Charleston; all four adult children are working, paying taxes, no engagements. All is well, but we need another reunion!”

“I continue my 25+ career in executive recruiting. For the past 8 or 9 years, I’ve been with Diversified Search, one of the 10 largest retained search firms in the U.S. Harriott and I have been empty nesters for a while. As a result, she restarted her professional career, joining a software company that has grown exponentially in the past five or so years. None of our three daughters live in Atlanta right now. Two are working in NYC (one in media planning — focused on two pretty big brands: Coke and Coke Zero — and the other is working in cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering). Our third daughter chose to stay South (Charleston, SC) where she manages a multi-family housing community for MAA (a Memphis-based real estate investor). Harriott and I spend much of our free time visiting the girls or our parents in Charlottesville and Charleston.

’77

“Old Boys whom I see with some regularity include Jamie Coleman ’72, Dal Burton ’72, Cheshire Rhett ’71, John Barnwell, Billy Peebles ’73 and Vince Dobbs ’72.”

“So let’s talk about reunion. We need some help finding some people. Here is the list of the missing that we have no contact information on at all: Rene “Cisco” Altamirano; Michael Bake (UK); Ralph Calloway; Clif Hunt; Chris Keesling; Tommy Rhett (unless he is a country music star now); and Sam Shelton. We are finding others on Facebook or Linkedin, but it is a slog. If you want to help reach out to people who you roomed with or were close to we would be happy to send you the list and put you to work calling people or doing investigative work sleuthing them out. We need some help!”

’75

Willie Moncure (O) 703-768-1705 william.moncure@raymondjames.com Hunt Burke (H) 703-768-1705 (O) 703-684-1645 huntandmolly@verizon.net 45th Reunion: June 2020

“Tad Archer here! I am still here on Maui. January 21st of this year was my tenth anniversary of moving from Richmond to Hawaii. I still work as a contractor, maneuvering my 64

time to surf and kite surf. Life is good! Much Aloha To All!”

Class Correspondent Needed 40th Reunion: June 9-10, 2017

David Mikell writes, “If any high rollers from the class of ’77 are down in de Lowcountry, they could try me at 843-442-2287. And if any of the aforementioned happen to have a rebuilt engine for a ’96 Toyota pickup truck, so much the better.” From Reunion Co-Chair Isaac Manning: “I just got back from a trip to Atlanta and had dinner with Tommy Long and his wife Elizabeth. Tommy retired as CEO of Miller Coors. Tommy looks about 18 again after getting out of the pressure cooker of running a major company and still has his Cheshire cat smile.

The cover of Evie’s Been Eavesdropping, the new book by George Wickham ’74.

’78

Jim Clardy (H) 704-332-4195 (O) 704-339-2015 jim_clardyjr@ml.com 40th Reunion: June 2018

’79

Bill Hughes (H) 203-861-1641 hughesbill@aol.com 40th Reunion June 2019

John Higgins has embarked on selling a product of his own development called Harvest Clean (www.HarvestClean.com). It is a waterless hand cleaner to eliminate odors from your hands. It works on fish, gasoline, garlic and much more. It is currently in some Walmart stores in the Southeast and will soon be in all Autozone stores. That, a 15-year-old new driver and working for a new pharmaceutical company manufacturing generic class 2 drugs keep him busy. But not too busy to host the Labor Day weekend football game with Sylvia and Buist Rivers at the Auburn/ Clemson game. John Marshall is hosting the EHS science class again this year with teacher Kathleen Caslow. For the past several years, a group of EHS science students has toured Georgetown University Hospital where John is the Chief of Oncology. The EHS students meet with medical students, tour labs, and learn about

SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTES ONLINE! Just go to the homepage and click on “Alumni” and then “Submit A Class Note.” For help with passwords or login, please contact the Advancement Office.


for Randy Watts, Head of School, at the Brookwood School. Randy taught at EHS. Bob Watson says, “We had nice turnout at our reunion last June, good to see so many 81’s. We had good representation in the golf outing, which was a lot of fun. Regrettably I see Tom Evans fairly regularly, and I have enjoyed seeing Paul Sheehy in Richmond where I have a son, Ben, who is a junior at University of Richmond. My daughter will also be attending UR next year, so I will enjoy four more years of Richmond visits. Best wishes to all.”

Christopher Marston ’82 with his son, Peirce, and father, Lee Marston ’51, after watching Peirce’s complete game win for the Stevens Ducks.

careers in medicine. Anatomy class is the regular favorite! Rick Hutchins writes, “I have lived in Charlotte for 33 years! Still teaching history and coaching football and baseball at Charlotte Latin School. I have 2 boys, ages 22 and 17. The older son studies at Appalachian State and the younger son is a junior lineman at Latin — and just won the state football championship — going undefeated! Quite a thrill for us! I recently traveled to Las Vegas in January to get remarried. My uncle, Ed Hutchins ’53, was my best man and my niece, Kate Woltz Shelton ’05, was in attendance! Would love to hear from classmates. Email is rhutch61@aol.com. I need to get to the next reunion in 2019. I haven’t been to one yet. Would I recognize any of y’all? If you pass through Charlotte, call me and I will gladly buy you a beer or three.”

’80

Staige Hoffman (H) 813-597-5059 staigehoffman1@aol.com 40th Reunion: June 2020

Peter Simpson writes, “Jenny and I are still in Richmond although spending lots of time on the Eastern Shore in Cape Charles. I am still in the wine business at The Commonwealth Club in RVA. Our daughter, Mary (27) lives in Richmond and our son, Graham (24) is in Breckenridge, Colorado — the lucky rascal!”

’81

Seward Totty (H) 859-268-8673 (O) 859-514-6434 seward.totty@gmail.com 40th Reunion: June 2021

Latane Campbell and his wife Betsy and sons are moving back to Richmond, Va (“promise it’s our last move”) in April. Latane is currently a 737-800 captain with American Airlines and is also speaking publicly these days about changing US/European diplomatic and economic relations. He is also continuing to do both national and local affiliate media interviews about airline accident investigations and safety issues as well. Latane’s wife has also started an online women’s retail business called The Chic Boutique.“Life is crazy for us right now but very interesting. Looking forward to the next reunion!” Scott Cornelson is pleased to share that his oldest son, Montgomery, after thru hiking the Appalachian Trail is working for Bear Island Craft Beer Distributors in Charleston, his middle son, Campbell, is working at Walt Disney World in merchandising and his youngest son, Henry, a Junior at Wofford College, is currently taking a semester abroad in Alicante, Spain. Artie Newcombe writes in, “We have moved, and I now live in Thomasville, Ga. My wife, Jennifer, works as Lower School Director

’82

Dave Coombs (O) 804-934-4707 david_coombs@cable.comcast.com 35th Reunion: June 9-10, 2017

Christopher Marston writes, “My wife Julia and I have been married over 26 years. Our daughter, Grace, works at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, and our son, Peirce, graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ, where he was a pitcher on the Stevens Ducks baseball team (Division III). He now works as a tunnel engineer for Parsons Brinckerhoff in New York City. “I’m proud to announce the publication of my latest book, Covered Bridges and the Birth of American Engineering, published by the National Park Service. It’s a well-illustrated, collaborative effort, documenting the history of covered bridge trusses, for which I served as co-executive editor. If any alumni are interested in a copy, please contact me directly at: chmarston29@gmail.com.”

’83

Frank Vasquez (H) 804-767-5096 (O) 888-343-6245 Ext 5249 rfvasquez@yahoo.com 35th Reunion: June 2018

William Nakhleh writes, “I married Vanessa Conklin on September 24, 2016, in a small beach ceremony, and we continue to live in Northern Virginia and Ocean City, Maryland. I haven’t seen too many Old Boys lately, except Graham Ferguson, who occasionally drives up to go to a Redskins game EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

65


CLASS NOTES

with us, Alec Smith ’81 at Redskins tailgates, my brother, Sam Nakhleh ’95, who lives in New York, and Will Stubbs ’81 who lives nearby in Alexandria and who recently hosted a party where I saw Jim York ’81. On the business front, I moved my law firm, The Nakhleh Law Firm, P.C., down by the river in Old Town Alexandria. My practice is focused on family law and civil litigation in Virginia, Maryland, and D.C., and I appreciate referrals. My elder child, Ziad, graduated from college and took a job as a financial analyst at Morgan Stanley, and my younger child, Elizabeth, is in college.” From Ken Tyler: “I am in my fifth year as Director of Athletics at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA, where I oversee 23 NCAA varsity sports, 4 club sports and approximately 75 staff. Proud that both of my kids are 4th-generation at EHS, with Jordan ’16 in his freshman year at VMI and Logan ’19 doing great in the classroom and on the soccer field. Have really enjoyed re-connecting with Episcopal as a parent and seeing so many of my old classmates. Go High School!”

’84

Sam Froelich (H) 336-288-5711 froelich@me.com 35th Reunion: June 2019

Ed Rackley continues to work in disaster relief, most recently with populations affected by Boko Haram in Cameroon and by Islamic State in the Syria region. He’s in Atlantic Beach, NC often to kayak and enjoys seeing Garth Ainslie and Clint McCotter occasionally. Get in touch if you are in the area! This spring will mark twelve years that Stuart Smith has served in various capacities with DataCore Software, based in Fort Lauderdale. Stuart reports that he works remotely for DataCore, having moved to Winston-Salem in the fall of 2013 to be closer to aging parents, who reside in the western part of the state. He describes that as “Partner Business Manager” in the Americas Channel Team, he engages with and enables literally hundreds of DataCore value-added resellers (VARs) to execute their go-to-market strategy with DataCore, which he describes as a dynamic, 66

Class of 1985 classmates, Lathan Allen, Scott Collie, Edward Wilson, Rob Jones ’86, Tony Bueschen, Rod McGee, Thorne Gregory, and Marvin Lummis got together for a weekend of golf in Albany, Ga. Not pictured: Clint McCotter.

industry-changing company. Stuart is also actively involved with the national men’s Christian organization “New Canaan Society” and encourages all Old Boys to join a local chapter at www.newcanaansociety.org. Stuart sees Jimmy Patrick and Jimmy’s son “JT” (Stuart’s godson) routinely. He also reports that he is in touch with Jim Sutton and Sam Froelich, and he encourages anyone coming through Winston-Salem to meet up. He would love to Link-In with classmates he has lost touch with via LinkedIn — www.linkedin.com/in/stuartsmith4.

’85

Thorne Gregory (H) 203-655-7139 (O) 212-500-3049 tgregory@marathonfund.com 35th Reunion: June 2020

Tony Bueschen shared a photo of Scott Collie, Rob Jones ’86, Tony, Lathan Allen, Edward Wilson, Rod McGee, Thorne Gregory, and Marvin Lummis during a winter golf weekend in Albany, Ga. for guys from the class of 1985. Clint McCotter also attended and was the chef for the weekend, and Ken Hodges ’84 stopped by Thursday night to visit. Tony wins the Old Boy Award for allowing 8 Old Boys to stay at his home! Son Beau is a baseball star and state champ, and daughter Kate is a basketball star. They were smart enough to not be around the house and only joined the group for lunch.

Marvin Lummis has returned to his hometown of Houston after years living in Colorado. Marvin’s daughter is a ballet dancer. Rob Jones ’86 interests include medical devices and interpretive dance. Edward Wilson has also returned to his hometown of Charleston. Clint McCotter is also in Charleston where he is highly regarded for seared tuna and flank steak. Rod McGee is a portfolio manager and intimidating presence on the tennis court in Columbia, SC. Thomas Crampton moved from Hong Kong to London last year with his wife and their three young children. After a career as a foreign correspondent for The New York Times and the International Herald Tribune, Thomas now works at the advertising and communications firm Ogilvy & Mather, running their global social media team and helping companies go digital.

’86

Art Taylor (H) 703-273-8331 art@arttaylorwriter.com 35th Reunion: June 2021

Just a few bits of news this column — and interestingly, not only did Todd McKee beat Steve Cook in sharing Steve’s own news first, but Todd’s account also shows his verve for street-smart reporting. Here’s the news in a nutshell: Steve Cook won his age group at the Urban Bourbon Half Marathon in Louisville, Kentucky.

SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTES ONLINE! Just go to the homepage and click on “Alumni” and then “Submit A Class Note.” For help with passwords or login, please contact the Advancement Office.


com. A dark story, but hope folks might enjoy — and wish me luck when the winners are announced in late April. As always, send your updates my way for the next column. My email is art@arttaylorwriter.com.

’87 Andy Reynolds ’87 and son Drew in the Hershey Athletics Center at EHS.

Christopher Van Cleave ’87 and family.

David Haddock (H) 571-286-9486 (O) 703-854-0334 davidhaddock@yahoo.com 30th Reunion: June 9-10, 2017

When I sent out requests for Class Notes this time, Robert Weatherly was the first to reply all and shame everyone to participate. Many did, and it was really cool to hear stories and see pictures as classmates chimed in. Those emails are set forth below in order, edited to fit available space and to omit the more personal stuff that was intended to be shared with classmates but perhaps not the world:

Rich Gardner ’87 with husband, Francis.

And here’s Todd’s account: “The biggest news item for our class has to be Steve Cook’s radical transformation from a middle-aged former stud runner to a middle-aged stud runner. He’s dropped at least 20 lbs, which for Cookie is like, what, 18% of his total weight? He’s winning his age group on a regular basis racing in Louisville. Don’t be surprised if he shows up at our next reunion in his old wrestling singlet.” (I’m not sure whether this prediction will increase or decrease sign-ups for our 35th in 2021.) As for Todd himself, he’s still in Nashville with his wife, Kate, and their three boys, and working at McKenzie Laird law firm. Additionally, this spring he’ll be teaching Nonprofit Law, Governance and Ethics for Lipscomb University’s Masters in Nonprofit Management program.

Michael Cheng ’87 and wife Catherine after climbing a mountain in Honolulu.

Todd adds: “And I still avoid running at all times” — which prompts a sincere congratulations to Steve for continuing to keep his pace and bring in the wins. In other news, Park Hand has made a big cross-country move — from Naples, Florida, to Yakima, Washington — for a new job with a small radiology group. Not only is he excited about the new job but he’s also enjoying being “close to the mountains!” Best wishes on all counts. As for me: The annual mystery conference Malice Domestic has been very kind to celebrate my work in recent years, and just as I was finishing this column, I learned that my short story, “Parallel Play,” has been named a finalist for this year’s Agatha Award for Best Short Story. The story originally appeared in the anthology Chesapeake Crimes: Storm Warning, but it’s also available now to read for free on my website at www.arttaylorwriter.

Robert Weatherly reports that he is married to the best woman in the world, Vanessa, which allows him to teach 4th grade at the Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School and keep two cats alive. He is writing and recording his own original music — soon to net millions — has recently summitted no mountains in any state of the union, is 87% sure the Falcons will defeat the Patriots in the Super Bowl, has no kids of his own, and looks forward to seeing a current pic of H. Koonter and his new kid! Michael Cheng: Thanks for the wake up call, Weatherly; you’re the original Lebowski, the righteous dude. I’m in California, finishing up a Masters in Counselor Education. I’ll contradict Weatherly on only one thing — I married the best person in the world, Catherine, in 2016. Here’s a picture of us after (unhappily) climbing a small but steep hill in Honolulu. Incidentally, this track survived the German attack. Damn good of you to throw down the gauntlet, Weatherly. I see some of you on social media, but not enough. I think about you guys often, mostly in good terms, always in admiration. Mason Pope: Can someone do an invitation like we did for senior party (I think Miles did it) and can we get the Flying Eyes to play again?? The invitation reads: “Come friends EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

67


CLASS NOTES

let us discover an evening of cosmic rituals... let us discover the seraphim of the day and destruction of the night.” Howard Hunter: I won a fiver from the wife. I can fit in Robert’s crib quite nicely. Nap time. H Hampton Nager: If you’ve ever wondered if I ever do jack squat, the answer is I used to but have reverted to the mean. Now down in Dallas after years in Baltimore and Washington — even Tampa — where instead of real estate I’m more interested in Cub Scout meetings and PTA. I look terrible in a beard yet have one, anyway; and I find fashion pointless with a kid or dog around. I’ve one each of those, by the way — and a better wife than I deserve. No exotic vacations on tap this year as I openly wonder whether if I leave the country they’d let me back in. Instead you’ll find me at the ACC Toonamint this March in New York and probably in Alexandria for the 30th. Hurt’s out of Congress so he better show this time. Save a seat in Upper Study for me. Christopher Van Cleave: I am glad to be on this list, but was only with you junior year. I guess I just had to go back to being a BASF. By the way, I still correspond with my old roommate — Nori Saito. He just got promoted to basically overseeing the Shanghai operation of the shipping company he works for. Has a beautiful wife and two beautiful daughters. I started late and married young. Family shot attached. James Blue: 2017 has started with a bang. We knew President Trump would be different, although we had no idea just how different. In D.C. running PBS NewsHour. Kids are away at school: Alden at Craftsbury Academy and Effie at St. George’s. Life is too short. Hoping to vacation and have more time with friends this year. Looking back at EHS it seems like ages ago. Looking forward I am hoping to spend more time overseas — we loved living in London for seven years. I included a picture from Easter 2016 in Cape Town. Both kids were orphans in Johannesburg and adopted as newborns. By far they are the joy of our lives. John remains at Sullivan & Cromwell. His daily grind reminds me how thankful I am that I avoided law school.

68

James Blue ’87 and family in Cape Town at Easter 2016.

Robert Weatherly ’87 with wife, Vanessa.

Nelson Tyrone ’87 with wife, Leslie.

Nelson Tyrone: I love this. Wow. Time flies. I live in Atlanta with my wife Leslie and our 7-year-old daughter Munday (named after her grandmother and great-grandmother). I have another daughter, McGowan, who is 14 and lives with her mother in Arizona. It is sweet to hear from folks — to see your faces and to see your families. Wow. Who could have guessed that a bunch of knuckleheads (I am speaking for myself only) could turn out alright. I hope to see you and reconnect.

ago. We’re considering opening a business here but no firm plans as of yet. Take care everyone...might see you all at our 30th.

Rich Gardner: Hey all, fun reading everyone’s replies! I ran screaming from Wall Street almost five years ago and went back to Berkeley to study Linguistics. I considered a PhD but couldn’t stomach seven years of that type of grind at our age. I married my husband Francis almost three years ago. We recently sold our place in SF and decided to move to Madrid, which we did two weeks

Andy Reynolds: Four years after EHS graduation, alphabetical order again had Adam Rice behind me in line to receive a diploma at Denison. My mom got almost identical high school and college graduation photos where I’m being handed a diploma and Adam is right there, lurking to receive his next. If going to EHS was the best move I made as a kid, then marrying my wife, Danna, was the best move I’ve made as an adult. We and our 9-year-old son, Drew, live just outside D.C. in Maryland, about 30 minutes from EHS. I somehow became a healthcare marketing guy. This fall I’m organizing and hosting a TEDstyle conference, www.qualitytalks.org, so let me know if you can recommend any great

SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTES ONLINE! Just go to the homepage and click on “Alumni” and then “Submit A Class Note.” For help with passwords or login, please contact the Advancement Office.


at Williamsburg MS. I continue to run my real estate brokerage, Fortney Fine Properties, headquartered in Old Town Alexandria where my wife serves as our Director of Communications.” Roy Percy is a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Mississippi. Roy was sworn in on October 3, 2016 in Oxford, where he lives with his wife and children.

Scott Fortney ’89 with his wife, Janet.

Scott Fortney’s ’89 children, Maxwell, Madeleine, and Juliette at Madeleine’s graduation from Yorktown High School.

Ross Reynolds ’89 with wife, Kathia, and son, Miles, on a cherry picking excursion.

healthcare speakers. Looking forward to June and hope many of you can make reunion.

Christian Wrights to bless the hallowed halls of EHS!”

’88

’89

Will Burdell (H) 505-259-9068 (O) 912-638-3611 willburdell@gmail.com 30th Reunion: June 2018

David Hallock recently left his role as Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Mark Warner to return to Richmond, VA and opened his own consulting firm, Two Capitols Consulting. In addition, David is teaching as an adjunct faculty member at UVa School of Law. Chris Wright writes in, “My son, Christian Wright ’18, is in his junior year at EHS. That makes three generations of Frederick

Croom Lawrence (H) 540-878-6754 croomlawrence@gmail.com 30th Reunion: June 2019

Scott Fortney writes, “My wife Janet and I just celebrated our 20th anniversary and have three kids....Madeleine 19, Maxwell 16, and Juliette 12. Madeleine graduated from Yorktown High School in the spring of 2016 and now attends the Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University in Philadelphia. Maxwell’s Ultimate Frisbee team at HB Woodlawn (Arlington HS) is ranked 11th in the nation (Yes, Ultimate is a real sport in Arlington now!) Juliette is a happy 6th grader

Ross Reynolds writes, “We’re still living in San Francisco and enjoying our life here. Kathia is working at UCSF, and I am working in tech as a Product Manager. My folks are in Crested Butte, Colorado, so we go there every summer. Miles started school and is in 1st grade in the San Francisco school system and is loving it. He has taken up soccer, which must come from his Brazilian side, though he sure as hell can run. He recently opened my EHS album and said that our school looks pretty cool too. He wanted to know what Donald Haddock was doing with the Washington Monument between his legs though. We hope to go to D.C. next year and visit Congressman John Lewis’s office and possibly Nancy Pelosi if Paul Pelosi can hook us up. If we do, I’ll send out a heads-up for those in the area. I’m sure we’ll drop by the campus. Maybe we’ll time it with the reunion, even if it is an off year. If any of you are ever out this way, look us up.” Pratt Lewis writes, “Moved my family to Franklin, TN, this summer when I took a job in Nashville working for Pinnacle Financial Partners. Prior to that I was in Chattanooga for five years. Learning my way around Nashville. Not sure if anyone else from our class is here. If so, please let me know. Happily married with four kids (3 girls and 1 boy) and a dog. Things are busy, but having fun.” Don Haddock writes, “I went to a goose hunt that spanned 62 years of EHS history. Our host was Charlie Hooff ’58. The youngest hunter will graduate in 2020. The weather cooperated and we had a great time even though the geese laughed at us from across the river and we only dropped 4 birds between us all. As always the hanging out was the best.

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

69


CLASS NOTES

’90

Zan Banks (H) 404-252-7848 wabanksjr@gmail.com 30th Reunion: June 2020

’91

Will Coxe (O) 803-404-0984 williecoxe@gmail.com 30th Reunion: June 2021

Alex Lesman says, “I have made the transition from direct representation to public policy work. In early February I started as a Policy Analyst at the Council of State Governments Justice Center, doing federal grant-funded work on criminal record clearance for the purpose of increasing employment. I’ve been following classmate Will Mebane’s flourishing photographic career in the New Yorker, the New York Times Magazine, and elsewhere.” Robert Khayat is living in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife Susannah and their three children. He left a large law firm two years ago to start his own litigation firm in midtown Atlanta. He spent time with George Gates this fall at an Ole Miss v. Georgia football game and enjoyed seeing George’s growing family. Please say hello if you are in Atlanta! William Coxe writes in, “Hope this finds everyone doing well and enjoying the New Year. I just wanted to let everyone know that I finally made the move to Greenville, South Carolina. For the first time since we met, Laura and I are under the same roof and enjoying being together. I made the move back in November and decided to go back into the investment business as a Wealth Advisor for WCM Global in Greenville. Greenville is growing rapidly and is a wonderful place to call home. I caught up with Patrick Weston ’85 around Christmas time, and we had lunch downtown. I also caught up with Champ Covington last week, and Champ is living close by in Asheville. Lately, I have been hanging out with Worth Williamson ’86. He just celebrated a birthday, and he is not that bad of a guy considering he is a Georgia Bulldog. “For those of you who have not met our new Head of School, you need to do so. Charley Stillwell was my sports camp counselor in 1982 at Woodberry Forest Sports camp 70

Don Haddock ’89 on a goose hunt with EHS alumni spanning the Classes of 1958 through 2020.

when we were both on the Saints team. We welcome Charley and Sallie and their family and feel lucky to have him. Laura and I plan to host an Alumni gathering in the Spring so please keep a lookout for an invitation to follow.”

’92

Fred Alexander (0) 704-641-4858 fcaiii@yahoo.com 25th Reunion: June 9-10, 2017

We are entering countdown mode to our 25th reunion. It’s hard to believe that it’s been one score and five years since we graced the Holy Hill. I would say that the saying of “the more things change, the more they stay the same” is appropriate for EHS. The school has gone through some wonderful renovations. However, the kids still go through the same type stuff that we went through. Basically, from post Woodberry weekend until perhaps mid-March, we wondered what are we doing in this overcast, dreary, cold, quasi hell hole. Then the clouds clear, the weather warms up and all is good or at least better than it was for the final push of the year. I had the pleasure of eating dinner with Abbitt Goodwin this week (January 31st). We have not seen each other since our 15-year reunion. We fell right back in like we hadn’t skipped a beat and had a great time catching up. Troll has three children that occupy all of his time when he is not developing shopping centers. He did say that he had a great time recently with one Roderick Gray Wilson. They went to Belize on a fishing expedition.

The report back stateside was that they had a good time and set Belize fishing records on numbers caught and of course the 800 pounder that got away. Abbitt also stated that he sees Wild Will Crantz around in Raleigh and occasionally runs into Mike McCabe at trade shows. Will can still do two-handed reverse dunks and Mike is working for shopping center anchor tenant Dollar Tree or perhaps it was Scores… I forget. To help people keep up going into the reunion, the school has setup a reunion web site for us, www.EpiscopalHighSchool. org/1992. Check it out! While you are there, go ahead and register. I promise you will have a great time catching up with everyone at the reunion. One last note, my lovely wife Holly and I are bringing up our children a day or so early to do some sight seeing of the National monuments and the Foggy Bottom Metro Station. Anyone else interested in doing that, please reach out. We’d love to hang out prior to the festivities. Please do not hesitate to reach out and share what is going on with you. Send pictures and stories. Otherwise I’m forced to come up with terrible old pictures and “Fake News”… See you in a couple months.

SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTES ONLINE! Just go to the homepage and click on “Alumni” and then “Submit A Class Note.” For help with passwords or login, please contact the Advancement Office.


’93

Walker Lamond (O) 212-496-9195 walkerlamond@mac.com 25th Reunion: June 2018

Brian Barker ran into Bee Reeves ’94 down in Chapel Hill in October. Bee calls “Beef ” the funniest guy he’s ever met, which coming from Bee is high praise indeed. Ruth Yutiamaco Baxter may have dabbled in goth in high school, but these days she’s summering in Nantucket and wintering at the Breakers in Palm Beach. Chip Baysden is an accomplished and Emmy Award winning video journalist for WTTG Fox5 in D.C. Suzanne Craythorne Lennox started her career in marketing and advertising at OgilvyOne, and now this corporate-warrior-goddess is the UK Market Lead at Wunderman in London. Her success is yet another testament to those First 48. Kennedy Helm, whom I always admired for both his intellect and impressive head of hair, is going to have a very busy next four years working as a civil rights attorney in Oakland. Griff Gideon has got himself a new wife, new beard, and when the mood strikes him, a man-bun. It’s all part of the Aloha lifestyle, brought to you by Olukai, America’s favorite Hawaiian-inspired footwear. Griff is leaning right in his old age, but he’s still fighting for the right to wear shorts. No flip flops, no peace! Stephen Bierman ’92, whom I saw on a weekend jaunt to Dubai in December, reminded me that Igor Ermalov Anatolyevich really was a trailblazer when he arrived at EHS from Moscow in 1989 as part of one of the very first Russian student exchanges in the United States. Remember, this was before the fall of the Soviet Union! Soft diplomacy at its best. Dr. Denver Graninger received his Phd in Greek and Roman history at Cornell, and is currently a professor of classics at UC-Riverside. He is also author of “Cult and Koinon in Hellenistic Thessaly” (Brill, 2011), a study of the dynamic relationship between state cult and political identity in the Thessalian League, ca. 196-27 BCE. Which sounds like a page-turner. Dr. Denver, I’m extending an invitation to come visit me in Amman, Jordan, where we’ve got plenty of Roman ruins and great schwarma. Bob Holding’s love of watersports and the

outdoors led him to a career at Patagonia and Arcteryx. In 2007 he and a buddy formed Waypoint Outdoor, a sales and marketing firm in the Outdoor Industry. A passionate waterman, Bob is also the Vice Chair of the board at the Surfrider Foundation and lives on Bainbridge Island, Washington with his wife and three children. Meanwhile, Walker Wilse is preparing for the collapse of the plutocracy as VP at UR Technologies, the maker of an advanced cryptocurrency. He might be Mr. Robot.

Amy Fannon Cupic shared Lane Eastland McIver, Jenny Long, and Beverley Logan McCaskill threw her a baby shower in November and they took a tour through campus to see our old stomping grounds. Couldn’t resist a little Rickety Rack on the front steps with EHS gear. No honor or discipline violations occurred ;) In more recent news Amy and Steve Cupic welcomed their daughter, Elise Sandra on February 9th at 6lb. 3oz. We are so happy for them and they are feeling very blessed!

I’m a bit of an eBay addict and every once in a while I see an old copy of Whispers pop up or some EHS dinner plates pilfered from the dining hall. Recently, I came across a vintage ringer t-shirt commemorating the Sesquicentennial (complete with a giant 150! on the back in case people needed help figuring out what a sesquicentennial was.) It got me thinking about that morning Sandy Ainslie stood up in front of Pendleton Hall and announced that in the fall, EHS was going to start admitting women. Now, there had been some rumblings about going co-ed of course, but the announcement still came as a shock. (Phil Lepanto ’91 might still be recovering.) But despite the resistance of a minority of students and parents (who printed up protest buttons pronouncing the 1989 equivalent of Make America Great Again), the student body pretty quickly adapted to the new reality. Plying us with a Headmaster’s Holiday and an ice cream social with St. Agnes girls also helped. Looking back 25 years later, I think we can all agree that admitting women to Episcopal made the student body not just more diverse but smarter, better, and definitely better-looking. EHS tradition is steadfast, but not static. The truth is that a variety of voices makes that fabric of tradition that much stronger. Kinda like the good ole USA. I suppose if you really want to turn back the clocks, there’s always Woodberry.

My husband, Patrick, and I are still in Dallas, TX with our 7 and 3 year old sons and are doing well. We’d love to hear from more of you so please reconnect with me via FB or email if you are not getting requests for Class Notes but would like to.

’94

Emily Fletcher Breinig (O) 214-234-4242 fletchee@hotmail.com 25th Reunion: June 2019

Topher Patterson lives in Berwyn, PA with his wife, Ashley, and two children, Charlie, 5, and Harper, 2.

’95

Sarah Baltimore McElwain sarahbmcelwain@yahoo.com Pence Craddock Scurry maryspencercraddock@hotmail.com 25th Reunion: June 2020

Greetings Class of 1995! We hope that all of you are well and having a wonderful start to 2017. We would love to hear from all of you across this year. With 40 knocking on our doors, we’d love to know how you will be celebrating that milestone! We will look for those in our next correspondence. Mary Cate Sleigh Claudias writes, “Pryor, our daughter, turns three in March. We’re moving (as we speak) to Catonsville, Md., about 15 miles from where we are now in Baltimore City to be closer to John’s work and better schools. I’m going into my seventh year of business with Charm City Organizers and couldn’t be luckier or happier with it. We provide residential professional organizing and business productivity coaching.” Lisa Welker Radzevich writes, “Something about turning 40 lit a fire in me last year. I opened my own business, DeluxeDux Threads, a high end consignment boutique. It’s growing more quickly than anticipated, but I’m excited and grateful for the response! I also decided to enter a bodybuilding competition in the bikini category. So I’m in the middle of intense physical training, a strict clean diet, and lots of mental challenges...and enjoying the highs and lows of it all while EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

71


CLASS NOTES

balancing motherhood and work. The show is April 22nd.”

’96

Luke Zehner (H) 571-338-1389 zehnerlj@gmail.com Temple Forsyth Basham (H) 804-447-4238 templefbasham@gmail.com 25th Reunion: June 2021

Happy 2017, my esteemed classmates. I — like most of you — have officially entered my final year as a thirty-something. My hope is for peace, happiness, and all things good although I’m not sure that’s a realistic expectation given the fact that we elected an Internet troll as our president. But, if I learned anything from the Women’s March on Saturday, it’s to stay positive, energized, and committed to ensuring that our country operates with love, tolerance, and inclusion rather than hate, fear, and narcissism. Speaking of narcissists, Luke Zehner (Head Cheerleader) just launched a great ad campaign for Power Bar: powerbarcleanstart.com. The basic message is that anyone (even Ryan Lochte) can make a fresh start with healthy eating and fitness. Great news, Garland Lynn!! Thank you to Nena and Tyler Meurlin for hosting the young alumni Christmas Cocktail Party in their lovely home. The food, drinks, and tagged swan were unbeatable. I enjoyed catching up with Gretchen Byrd, who told me she attended The Rev. Becky McDaniel’s ordination to the priesthood at Trinity Episcopal Church in Staunton. Becky now serves as Chaplain for Stuart Hall School. Congratulations! And congrats to Rev. Willis Logan, who recently moved from Charlottesville to be the new Rector at St. Mark’s in Fincastle. He’ll return to his Star City roots with his wife, Ashley, and their three children. (In contrast, I am currently en route to Hot Springs for a weekend sure to be rife with myriad sins. Hampton Moore Eubanks will be there so you get the picture.) Court and Laura Morton Michau livened up our holidays with a day-long visit just after Christmas. Laura’s two girls, Caper and 72

Patricia Kinser ’97, Shriti Patel Moore ’97, Jack Moores ’97, Lesley Sztan Hicks ’97, Carolyn Wright Kessler ’97, and Lissa Williams Gupton ’96 were reunited last summer.

Millie, are funny and smart like their mother (and ahem, godmother), and I look forward to visiting them in early February on a solo trip out to Santa Barbara. Andrew’s really looking forward to playing Mr. Mom.

at the reunion! I hope you had as much fun catching up with your friends as I did. Can you believe what old so-and-so has been up to lately? Crazy. I’m really glad he or she made the effort to get there from wherever.

Another excited Mr. and Mrs. Mom, Brian and Sarah Akridge Knutson, are proud parents of their third son, Bodie, born December 14th. Sarah Pugh Kadish was one of the first to meet him; I plan to follow closely behind! Rumor has it he looks like his Mama but already shows the quirky restlessness and picky eating habits of his father. He’ll be eating WAWA custom sandwiches with Bud Light by 4 months.

Everyone must have been preoccupied with their travel plans for the reunion, or they’re all saving up their updates to use as conversation pieces at the reunion. That’s cool; I can always count on my man Finny Akers dropping science on me. Finny has been traveling for work to such remote, boring locations as Miami Beach and London, and he’s so high class that he managed to get snapped by a tabloid photog — AGAIN — with Kendall Jenner. They were wearing the same fur coat, which was super awkward. He didn’t explain how both of them fit into one fur coat though, nor did he send me a pic. In beefcake news, Finny also completed a video shoot with Men’s Health and Reebok/CrossFit as part of their “Be More Human” campaign, and he’s looking forward to shotgunning silver bullets in a Coors Light commercial being filmed in Cold One City, USA. Nice work, bud!

I wish you and your families the absolute best. I’m both deeply concerned and curious about what our country will look like when this magazine lands on your kitchen island in a few months. Here’s to hoping for harmony, peace, and unity.

’97

Bill Allen (H) 919-781-0805 (O) 919-784-8371 williamwallen@gmail.com 20th Reunion: June 9-10, 2017

Twenty years! It’s hard to believe that it has already been twenty years since we were on our way rejoicing from this special place. I’ve been looking forward to this reunion for a long time, and I look forward to seeing so many of you in June. I always forget when the spring/summer issue of the alumni magazine comes out, so it’s possible that you guys won’t even see this until after the reunion. If that’s the case, it was great to see all of you

Kristen Edwards Marquardt has been quite busy lately also. Last time she reached out to me, she had packed up and moved from San Francisco back east to Washington, DC. For the last two years, she’s served as a senior advisor to the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, covering counter-terrorism policy as well as Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan and Afghanistan for the Chairman and Republican committee members. She had a front row seat during that kooky election last year, which I’m sure was quite spectacular to view from the inside. She gets to travel quite a bit, and manages to

SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTES ONLINE! Just go to the homepage and click on “Alumni” and then “Submit A Class Note.” For help with passwords or login, please contact the Advancement Office.


second child in August, and their son, Alex is really excited to be a big brother! I think I left this out of the last update, but Patricia Kinser, Shriti Patel Moore, Jack Moores, Lesley Hicks, Carolyn Wright Kessler, and Lissa Williams Gupton ’96 got together last summer for a mini reunion and had a killer time and they shared a picture from their weekend.

Andrew Barrick Nielson, son of Andrew Nielson ’98.

Easton Brawner and Luke Carlisle, Dave Traviesa’s ’98 sons.

I look forward to seeing everyone in June! Or, if we’ve already had the reunion, I’m so glad to have seen everyone, and let’s all make it happen again for our 25th!

’98

Katherine Moncure Stuart (H) 540-672-4258 katstu@gmail.com Andrew Nielson (o) 615.777.6382 anielson@servicesource.com 20th Reunion: June 2018

It has been wonderful to hear from so many of you from the Class of 1998, many thanks to Andrew Nielson for sharing some classmates’ phone numbers so we have more news.

Lucille, daughter of Margaret Kopp Andrews ’98, with Beatrice, daughter of Lizzie Wellons Hartman 98.

catch up with Meg Smoot Stonehouse as she passes through London. She also bumps into Church Hutton ’96 on Capitol Hill, and also enjoys catching up with Jed Davies and his family when they pass through. Speaking of Meg Smoot Stonehouse, she wrote in to tell us that their third boy, John Daniel Stonehouse, was born back on July 29 in London. One more member of the three boys club. Congratulations! Nate Collier and his wife, Cooper, had their second baby girl, Eloise Hadley Collier, on May 8. Two kids keeps them really busy. So busy, in fact, that poor Nate couldn’t even get his act together enough to go see the P-Fish when they stopped in Charleston last summer. Such an old timer. Thomas Joyce is here to make all of your vacations seem lame. 2016 was a busy travel

Stayton Ellwood Bonner, son of Stayton Bonner ’98.

year for him: he made stops in Portugal, Germany, Italy, Spain, India, Belgium, England, Romania, Sri Lanka, Morocco and Hungary. He isn’t sure what his travel plans for 2017 are yet, perhaps because he’s already been everywhere. I doubt Steven Tyler was in any of those places though. When he isn’t traveling the globe like a young Marco Polo, he’s still teaching in Switzerland and he’s committed to learning to speak Italian. After mastering how to order pizza and a glass of wine, I’d say he has pretty much everything he needs though. Alex Dickerson got to see Tyler Gilbert and meet his daughter Mabel, and also got to party with Nicole Nicolette Mace at Art Basel in Miami. Shriti Patel Moore is still in Norfolk and is on the faculty at Eastern Virginia Medical School. She and Eric are expecting their

Dave Traviesa sent pictures of his two adorable boys, Easton Brawner (3) and Luke Carlisle (2 months), according to Dave, Luke just started smiling the day before class notes were due; he was ready for his alumni magazine reveal. Congrats to Emily and Dave! Stayton Bonner also welcomed a new son, Stayton Ellwood Bonner was born on November 19, 2016. Stayton has been working on a new book, soon to be published by Hachette Book Group, keep on the look out for his book, it’s sure to be a good read. Josie and Andrew Nielson welcomed Andrew Barrick Nielson, Jr on 8/22/2016. Margaret Kopp Andrews reports that she works part-time for Johnson Service Corps, a nonprofit that’s a part of the nationwide network of “Episcopal Service Corps” programs. She also sees Lizzie Wellons Hartman now that she has moved back to North Carolina. Margaret sends a picture of her daughter, Lucille Brantley Andrews, with Lizzie’s daughter, Beatrice. EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

73


CLASS NOTES

Lizzie Wellons Hartman is in Wilmington now. She reports that “Eric and I had our third baby in June, Beatrice. We are enjoying being back in NC and closer to family. There is a great Episcopal alumni group here! I live down the street from Helen Lambeth Wells ’95 and get to see Stewart Poisson ’96 and Lillian Smith Teer ’00.” Frank Brawley is still living in Tampa and working with his father at UBS. He and his wife have 3 boys, Frank (5), Jones (3), and Bennett (1). Frank is headed to Costa Rica to fly fish for sailfish and also training for an Olympic distance triathlon in April. Harrison and I are still in Nashville, where he is the founding head of the Episcopal School of Nashville. It’s been a busy year for us, but well worth it, two of our four, Teddy (8) and Jack (6) are students at the school, and the younger two, Kate and Lillian (2) will be there soon! Hope that everyone stays in touch and plans to attend our 20th next year!

Alex Schultes’s ’99 children at Christmastime in Qatar.

Jacquie and Tyler Brown’99 welcomed son, Jay, in January.

Will Chapman ’99 and David White ’99 duck hunting in Montana.

William Akridge ’99 and his family.

’99

Becky Kellam beckykellam@gmail.com 20th Reunion: June 2019

Hello Class of 1999! I hope everyone is doing well. Here goes: On January 27th Jacquie and Tyler Brown welcomed their 3rd boy — Joseph “Jay” Fitzgeorge Brown. His big brothers Jeb (4) and Jack (2) are excited to have him home. William Akridge saw Reid Phillips in Denver this winter. He is enjoying baby Skyr, born last April. This fall, Will Chapman and Davis White met in Montana for a duck hunt. Good times! Deyana and Alex Schultes welcomed their second child in February 2016 – Jenna Alexa Schultes. In July, they moved from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the State of Qatar. Alex is now the Director of Admissions for the Northwest University campus in Qatar. He reports that: “Everyone is happy, healthy and enjoying the warm and sunny weather here. If anyone ever flies Qatar Airways and wants to take advantage of their great transfers through Doha, don’t hesitate to reach out!” 74

’00

Schuyler Williams schuyler13@gmail.com Maisie Cunningham Short maisieshort12@gmail.com 20th Reunion: June 2020

Things are great on the left coast, celebrating two years with Los Angeles Capital and having fun running around the country meeting with investors. Since my mom moved to Florida, I get to see lots of Elizabeth Hossfeld and her adorable son, Decker. Over the holidays, I made it back home to DC where Carlie Hooff

Casella hosted a mini-reunion where Schuyler Williams, Bill and Brittanny Wildman Meierling, Willy Nash and I all got to catch up over peppermint martinis. Ouch. Carlie is loving being back in Virginia with her husband Dan and has her hands full with young Charlie and Alice (who did not appreciate our late night reunion shenanigans). Schuyler is also loving being back in DC where she sees a lot of Brenton Hardee ’02 and Will Nisbet ’01. After an epic six year run with the Wall Street Journal, Schuyler has joined the New York Times. Brittanny and Bill Meierling rung in the new year by welcoming

SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTES ONLINE! Just go to the homepage and click on “Alumni” and then “Submit A Class Note.” For help with passwords or login, please contact the Advancement Office.


Bill and Brittanny Wildman Meierling’s ’00 sons sporting their EHS gear.

Lauren Kemp Bonapfel’s ’00 second daughter, Virginia, was born in November.

Matthew Kirwan ’00 with wife, Amanda, and baby, Hayden Elizabeth Kirwan.

Yoon Lee ’00 with his wife, Seon Min Byeon and their son, Sung Been Lee.

their second boy, Parker McDowell Meierling. Brittanny is now completely and utterly outnumbered and loving it! Lauren Kemp Bonapfel welcomed her second daughter Virginia Curry Bonapfel in early November and I look forward to watching Parker and Virginia’s romance unfold when they are classmates on Quaker Lane in 2030. Vince van Dillen writes that things are well with him and he looks forward to some upcoming travel both back home to California and possibly abroad. He’s enjoying work, recently bought a car, and has been taking several enrichment classes online. Franz Yanagawa

wins most impressive update by sharing that he became a board certified general surgeon last year and then became double boarded last fall with the addition of a surgical critical care certification. He is currently finishing up his year as a Junior Attending/Fellow hybrid year at Johns Hopkins (Baltimore, MD) in Acute Care Surgery. He plans to return to St. Luke’s University Health System in Bethlehem, PA where he did his surgical critical fellowship and will focus on General, International, and Trauma Surgery as well as Surgical Critical Care. From our classmates overseas, Yoon Lee writes that he is also pursuing an exciting

career in medicine and completed resident training and board certification in Korea. He plans to stay in Woniu, Korea for his fellowship and sent a phenomenal photo of his son on his 100th day (a Korean tradition called “Baek Yil”). Zsolt Parkyani is still loving life in Dubai. Betsy Watts Metcalf says all is well in Atlanta. She’s still enjoying running her own company, TailorMade Education Educational Consulting. It’s been fun and exciting! Laney is 4 1/2 and Grace just turned 3. They keep her busy and on her toes but it’s a lot of fun. She’s heading up to DC in early March to visit Brittanny and her new little boy, Parker. She’s also enjoyed spending time with Kate Leggett Mabry and Leah Kannensohn Tennille ’01 in Atlanta. Katie Elmore Thomson is also in Atlanta. They’ve been back almost 3 years now. Her oldest, Will, is almost 8, Caroline is 6.5 and Annie is 4. They keep her busy with their different sports and school activities. In January, Katie and Russell were able to visit with Augusta Wilson Harvard ’98 while they were in Tampa/ St. Pete’s for the NCAA National Football Championship game. She and her husband, Billy, have an adorable little boy! It was a lot of fun catching up with them even though they weren’t rooting for the same team to win the game. Go Tigers!! 2016 ended with a glorious bang for Amanda and Matthew Kirwan, on Dec 4th 2016 at 10:43am they welcomed their first child into the world. Baby Hayden Elizabeth Kirwan was born 5lbs 15oz and 18.5in! She is beautiful, healthy and happy! They were lucky to share the holidays with family and friends, and spent January getting settled into parenthood. They are looking forward to bringing her by campus to enjoy the sights and sounds sometime soon! Things are going very well for William Stallworth in Atlanta. He and his business partner (Justin Amick, Hannah Huffines Amick’s ’99 husband) are starting construction on their newest venture called The Painted Duck in March with a hopeful Summer opening. The Painted Duck is going to be a boutique duckpin bowling alley on the west side of Atlanta. They are super excited about this new project as it is going to be the first of it’s kind in the country. His son turned two in January, so between that, Mary Riddick teaching third grade at The Westminster Schools, The Painted Pin, and The Painted Duck, they are about as busy as they can be! That’s all she wrote! EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

75


CLASS NOTES

’01

Taylor Gillis Clement (O) 910-693-0032 tgclem@gmail.com Leah Kannensohn Tennille lktennille@gmail.com 20th Reunion: June 2021

Jonathan Lee writes that “2016 marked a big year for the Lee Household. I married Lauren and celebrated with family and friends. I was joined by Bernie Carey ’00, Andy Nelson and Libby Seaton Ayoob ’01. It was a wonderful celebration. And to round out the year, we welcomed Grayson Edward Lee on 12/6/16!”

’02

Andrew Farrar (C) 919-616-6636 asfarrar@gmail.com Artie Armstrong (C) 805-341-5233 artiearmstrong@yahoo.com 15th Reunion: June 9-10, 2017

Kit McLendon ’02 with wife, Lea, and daughter, Everett.

Kat Hutchison Merritt’s ’02 son, Joe, was born in November.

Although work has taken me to Sweden recently, I don’t think I can make it to the Holy Hill this summer. Look forward to the stories and photos!”

Amelie Hereford Fredland writes, “It’s great to hear what you all have been up to. Can’t believe it’s been 15 years! After 3 years in DC, I moved to Houston back in 2009 for graduate school. My husband, Jonathan, is from Houston so we’ve landed here for the foreseeable future. Since our son, Frank Lane, was born in June 2015, I’ve been juggling work in real estate and the energy industry, and of course learning how to be a mom. I’ll be sorry to miss you all at the reunion but we are expecting baby #2 at the very end of May. Can’t wait to see pictures of the big bash!”

Brenton Hardee writes, “I’m very much looking forward to catching up with y’all at our upcoming reunion. Let’s get a big turnout! I’ve recently taken on a new job in DC as Director of Business Development at Alliance Architecture, which is a really cool, innovative design firm, specializing in interior architecture for tons of unique projects. Look us up! We’re actually headquartered in NC, so I am able to visit my sister, Gray Hardee Yelle ’99, and her darling family of 5 with frequency...a lovely perk! Having lived in the District for over a decade now, and with my new job jump, I’m (un)officially claiming “DC-Lifer” status! I continue to hang out around these parts with Will Nisbet ’01 and Schuyler Williams ’00, and visit Hattie Gruber ’00 in NYC. I can report that everyone is doing well, and hope that you all are too!”

looking forward to bringing Mary Claire to campus for the first time this summer to attend the 15th reunion of the magnificent 2002 class. It will be very exciting to catch up with my wonderful classmates and see all of the great improvements around campus.”

Joy Harper Jones writes, “I can’t wait for the reunion in June! I have recently moved to Kansas City for my husband, Hudson’s job with Cerner Corporation. I’ve been so lucky to continue to pursue my career doing Business Development & Marketing for Adams Electric Company. We are enjoying life in the Midwest despite the polarizing weather climates. If you’re ever in KC — please, please let me know!” Suzanne Pinckney Pflaum writes, “My husband, Jake, and I are back in Portland, OR and I’m in my second year with Context Partners, where I practice community centered design to help brands and foundations better understand their communities so together they can make a positive impact. 76

Will Corbitt writes, “I currently live in Atlanta with my wonderful wife, Mary Claire (5/30/15). In 2014, I moved from Athens to Atlanta to be with her and join Cortland Partners after graduating from UGA/Terry College of Business with Jack Sibley ’03 and Easley Hooff ’04. Cortland owns and operates multifamily properties primarily throughout the sunbelt region, and has an investment platform which is my area of focus. I regularly spend time around town with roughly 10-12 close EHS friends. I am

Jeff Van Schaick writes, “I ended up moving to Texas recently and am still not really sure how it happened. It’s quite different than the energetic pace of the D.C. area I have enjoyed for most of my life. Although I now drive a pickup truck and own not one but three pairs of steel-toed boots, I miss the familiar feel of wing tips marching on marble floors and the casual loosening of my tie just before happy hour to give the appearance that sitting at a desk for eight hours is hard work and deserves a $12 beer served by some guy who “wants to get into politics.” My day job working for a railroad company often turns into days at a time as I travel the country to preach the gospel of freight rail to anyone who will listen. My kids think I “drive” the train but in reality my company won’t let me anywhere near the locomotives. It’s probably for the best. When I’m not trying to save the world as I know it, joy and purpose comes from my wife and two kids, our life in suburbia, and a small hope that one day Ron Howard will remake the last season of Arrested Development. Until then I’ll continue my pledge to submit a class note to the EHS magazine once every 15 years.” Elizabeth Lankford writes, “In December, I resigned as a state government affairs lobbyist with a trade association in Washington,

SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTES ONLINE! Just go to the homepage and click on “Alumni” and then “Submit A Class Note.” For help with passwords or login, please contact the Advancement Office.


I hope everyone from the Class of 2003 is having a great year! As always, feel free to send class updates to me at any time. We love to hear what everyone is up to! Congratulations to CeCe Barfield Thompson and her husband, Will, who welcomed their second daughter, Grace Wilson Thompson, on December 15th in New York. Sang Wook Han reports that he is living in Stutgart, Germany, working as a site manager at Ed. Züblin AG.

Gray Murray ’03 and Joe Stallworth ’03 with their sons, William Gray Murray and Banks Manly Stallworth.

SuperBowl! The last time that happened was my freshman yeat at EHS in 1999. I remember watching it on dorm while John Elway (High) Schooled us on National TV. That being said I am excited to see how it plays out. I have also moved back in the Saddle with Wells Fargo in their Wealth Management Divsion and enjoying the ride! I look forward to seeing everyone at the Reunion. Who’s ready to ROMP??? — WILX Evans

CeCe Barfield Thompson’s ’03 eldest daughter welcomes the newest addition to their family, Grace Wilson Thompson.

D.C., and purchased Blue Crab Bay Co. in Melfa, Va. A specialty food and gift company, Blue Crab Bay sells Bloody Mary mixer, nuts, seasonings, and stoneware throughout the country. I am moving to Onancock, Va., this month. As a native of the Eastern Shore, I am excited for the opportunity to foster the growth of a well-established company. If you ever find yourself on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, stop by our retail shop and warehouse right off the highway in Melfa!” Lea, Everett, and Kit McLendon say the winter has been a good one so far, and to let them know if you’re ever in Aspen! Hello Holy Hill!! Glad to be seeing you soon!! Nothing new to report here in the Cols, GA except that the Falcons are going to the

Grant Brown writes, “In December, I got engaged to Laura Tickner in Aspen, Colorado. While in Aspen, we had Christmas dinner with Kit McLendon, his wife Lea and daughter Everett where many memories from Episcopal were rekindled. Kit had everyone cracking up with his amazing story telling skills. I look forward to catching up with everyone at the reunion in June!” Kat Hutchison Merritt and her husband, Spencer, live in Raleigh where they welcomed their first child, Joseph Spencer Merritt Jr., in November. Joe enjoys getting together with his cousin, Janie (Dorothy Hutchison Driscoll’s ’04 daughter) who is just three months older. Kat is looking forward to seeing some EHS friends at Sarah Rienhoff’s wedding in March and then again at the reunion in June.

’03

Alden Koste Corrigan (H) 443-783-4659 alden.k.corrigan@gmail.com 15th Reunion: June 2018

Brad Tubesing and his wife, Laura, gave birth to their second child, Tucker Thomas, this winter. Their daughter. Hadley Jane, is doing well and enjoying being a big sister. In November, Brad and his family moved to Ohio to be near his brother, Chris Tubesing, and his family! Chris and his wife, Lauren, recently gave birth to their third child, Carson Rose, a beautiful baby girl. Chris and Lauren’s other children, Brody Evan and Adley Joe, are also doing well. Chris and Brad love that they live approximately 250 yards from each other — they drive golf carts back and forth from their houses and are enjoying being part of their growing families.

’04

Caitlin Smith (C) 337-302-2444 caitlin.ann.smith@gmail.com Harrison Gilchrist (H) 804-443-5247 chgilchr@gmail.com 15th Reunion: June 2019

We were shocked and saddened by the untimely passing of fellow classmate Eleanor Noell Torres. Her close friend and roommate at EHS, Mary Peterkin Worthington writes: “Eleanor passed away surrounded by her loving family on December 17, 2016. At Episcopal, she was a dedicated student, avid athlete and steadfast friend to all. She loved her four years at EHS and often called it the best four years of her life. At the time of her passing, she successfully donated her organs and helped save the lives of many, her final selfless act. The void she leaves in the hearts of those who loved and cherished Eleanor is impossible to describe.” EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

77


CLASS NOTES

Peggy Albertson Campbell and her husband Patrick welcomed a new baby boy to their family on December 27. His name is Andrew Albertson Campbell and he weighed 7 lbs 12 oz. Shaw Cornelson and his dog Cowboy spent most of their January in Arkansas duck hunting with friends. He is living in Charlotte with wife Amanda Weisiger Cornelson ’08 and enrolled in the Masters of Business Association program at Wake Forest University.

’05

Ellie Frazier kefrazier8@gmail.com 15th Reunion: June 2020

Shaw Cornelson ’04 with his dog, Cowboy, on a hunt.

Alexandra Varipapa’s ’05 daughter, Sloane.

Liza Morten Gioia ’05 married Chris Gioia on December 10, 2016 at the Jupiter Island Club in Florida. Mary Spencer Morten ’09, Devon Morten McCombs ’03, Hannah Reuter Rothrock, Brennan Killeen, Kate Hollo Kegan and Henry Kegan were all in attendance. Brennan Killeen still works in DC on the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU/recovery room) at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital. She got engaged to Francis Lynch in September 2016 and they’ll be married in July 2017. Kate Hanlan Hollo Kegan, Hannah Reuter Rothrock and Liza Morten Gioia will be bridesmaids in the wedding. Francis went to Sewanee with a few EHS classmates and they were introduced through Kate and Henry Kegan. Such a small world! Charlotte Woltz moved to London after graduating from Harvard Business School and would love to connect with anyone in the area or passing through! ​Will Damron won his second Voice Arts Award for audiobook narration at the end of 2016. He continues to narrate 1-3 books per week, and is publishing his debut novel, The Tercentennial Baron, the first in a fantasy-adventure series set in Scotland, in late spring 2017. Alexandra Varipapa moved to Brooklyn with husband Brian Morse and daughter Sloane. So far they’re loving it and making lots of friends in the neighborhood. Sloane turned 1 on December 17th. Will Frazier ’10 made 78

Ellie Frazier ’05 in Sierra Leone working with Timap for Justice.

a cameo appearance and Ellie Frazier skyped in from Sierra Leone! Hillary Harper Molitor’s daughter, Molly, was baptized at Episcopal on October 23, 2016. Lots of EHS alumni/current students in attendance: Olivia Armfield ’20, sisters Catherine Martin ’18 and Joy Harper Jones ’02, Alston Armfield Daigh, Richard Lee, Brennan Killeen, and God Parents Henry and Kate Hanlan Hollo Kegan. It was a great day with a service led by The Rev. Betsy Gonzalez. Ellie Frazier is currently in Sierra Leone for a nine month Fulbright research grant. She’s working with a national legal aid organization, Timap for Justice, to study the impact

of the Ebola epidemic on the legal system. She spent the previous year working at the Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs in New York City and teaching in Fordham University’s undergraduate program in international humanitarian studies.

’06

Molly Wheaton (H) 504-288-1990 mewheaton@gmail.com Margaret von Werssowetz Waters margaretvonw@gmail.com 15th Reunion: June 2021

Howdy! Molly Wheaton here and I feel very fortunate that I see EHS friends throughout the year. The most recent get-together

SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTES ONLINE! Just go to the homepage and click on “Alumni” and then “Submit A Class Note.” For help with passwords or login, please contact the Advancement Office.


included Margaret von Werssowetz Waters and David Schoen ’03 at an EHS Happy Hour in Austin in late January. Earlier in the year, I was in New Orleans with Kingsley Trotter for Sarah Montz Harcus’ baby shower which was a blast...and by the time this issue is published, Sarah will be a mom! But enough about me — let’s hear from everyone else. Honour Alston Thornton shares that she and her husband bought a house in Chicago and she finishes her Master’s this August. Hillary Harper Molitor ’05 and the EHS crew at her daughter, Molly’s, christening in Callaway Chapel.

Carrie Coker is a proud new homeowner as well as pet owner — she is living in Nashville with her adorable Goldendoodle puppy, Millie. Harper Cullen recently left Salesforce to join the tech consulting world for a company called Benissimo. He says the team is smart and fun but they do have some concerns about his tendency to “work from home” when the waves are good. Harper spent NYE in the great state of Texas visiting Phil and Thomas Duggins — studied several different species during the trip including deer, ducks, rabbit, bass, etc. Harper notes that he is pulling for his old roommate’s (Sloan Battle) NFL team during the playoffs this year. Go Steelers.

Christian Broyhill Swan’s ’06 daughter rocking an EHS onesie!

Nea Fowle ’06 enjoying birdwatching with family dog, Honey.

Keith Plum ’06 in Moab, Utah for a mountain biking trip.

Sam Hess is living in Blowing Rock, NC with his wife, Morgan, and pup (Cooper). They just finished renovating their first house — while they’ve gotten accustomed to the small town life, they still enjoy going back to Charlotte and Raleigh. Sam has gone into business with his dad, practicing public accounting under the new name of Hess & Hess, LLP. He jokes that he will be living under a rock for the next several months during tax season. Lastly, Sam really enjoyed seeing everyone at the reunion and would welcome anyone who is in his neck of the woods to stop by! Nea Fowle is braving the winter in Stamford, CT but looking forward to getting to Charleston, SC at the end of January for Frances deSaussure Murray’s bachelorette party. She looks forward to catching up with Eleanor Cooper, Margaret von Werssowetz Waters (“based on her IG account I assume this is her new married name”), Sarah Vance and Ann deSaussure ’08. Nea adds that her family just got a puppy, Honey, and they like EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

79


CLASS NOTES

to bird watch together. She loves this picture of them together, noting her “full and perfect ponytail”. Cate Smythe writes that there isn’t too much new to tell, but she left the Fat Hen and took a new job as a Sous Chef for a catering company here in Charleston — she is also in charge of production for a new cafe that just opened inside the Gibbes Art Museum downtown. Her boyfriend has just bought a house so they are doing renovations there and hopefully moving in in a couple of months.

Franny Kupersmith van Os ’07 and her husband exploring their new city, Amsterdam, by boat.

Van Nguyen Kagawa ’07 and her husband had an adorable baby boy named Kento Kagawa last June.

Chris Williams notes that he is an “actual lawyer now, which is cool”. He asked me to come up with a funny legal pun to include in his update, but I’ve been picking up the slack for too long. Sorry, Chris. Speaking of the legal world, Kingsley Trotter is loving her 2L year at Vanderbilt. She enjoys channeling her inner Elle Woods in and out of the classroom: “whoever said orange is the new pink is seriously disturbed”. Absolutely nothing new with Mark Battin, who only contacts me 1-2 times per year when it happens to be Friday the 13th. Thanks, Mark. Such a sweetie! Thomas Light writes that he is finishing business school at UVA in May. He and his wife, Kate, are planning to move to Atlanta after graduation. Keith Plum shares that he is living in Denver these days making the most of the outdoors and taking a dive in growing a fitness company called City Surf Fitness (which offers surf-inspired fitness classes and adventure retreats). He adds “last year we went to Cerritos Beach in Mexico on a Surf Retreat and then Moab for Mountain Biking, White Water Rafting, and Canyoneering. All good times!” Anne Womble Hobart writes that she and her husband, John, are expecting a baby girl in March — they are really excited and their baby girl is due one month after Sarah Montz Harcus so maybe they will be friends...at EHS one day! Speaking of, Anne and John received an EHS onesie over the holidays so she will send a picture for the next iteration of class notes! 80

Teddy Peterson ’07 married Laura Eshelman on November 19, 2016. Their wedding party included EHS alumni Griffin Johnson ’07, Sallie Madden ’07, Jeb Leva ’07, and Fritz Reuter ’07.

Ina Dixon shares that she is still living the dream in Danville, Virginia working on community revitalization projects, uncovering local history of the Danville area, and meeting great people. Ina notes that many of the most awesome people she meets have an EHS connection — whether in Roanoke, Charlottesville, Durham or even Chatham — the amount of EHS alumni that she runs into through work or otherwise is bananas! She adds “there’s really not a day that goes by that I’m not grateful for the High School, its history and the way the values and ties of that community extends beyond my time on the Hill.” Ditto, Ina.

’07

Katheryn Grover Oswald 213 Peachtree Hills Circle NE Atlanta, GA 30305 groverkatheryn@gmail.com (c) 804-513-1070 Clark Barber 3900 Tunlaw Road NW, Apt. 219 Washington, DC 20007 tbarber@executiveboard.com (c) 864-325-0940 10th Reunion: June 9-10, 2017

The Episcopal folk from the class of ’07 are faring well! To kick off the New Year, Jay Fazio, JT Jobe, Clark Barber, Griffin Johnson, Teddy Peterson, Hunter Coffee, Gil Lamphere and Drew McGowan traveled to Beaver Creek for a ski-themed bachelor party for Jay. Many of us are still studying hard. Sallie Madden is finishing up her last semester at UNC Business School, and “the job hunt is on!” Sally Channell, also at UNC Business

SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTES ONLINE! Just go to the homepage and click on “Alumni” and then “Submit A Class Note.” For help with passwords or login, please contact the Advancement Office.


being away from friends and family, she and her husband love traveling and exploring new places. In early January, they took a mini vacation over a weekend to the Austrian Alps for skiing and were back to work on time on Monday morning— incredible! Reporting in from DC, Mari Casey shares that she’s living in the city and managing a fine jewelry boutique in Dupont Circle. She also reports that she’s looking forward to the reunion this summer. We can’t wait, too. Karl Stratos ’08 at his graduation from the PhD program in computer science at Columbia University.

Matt Hurley ’08 serving in the Army.

Leah Andress ’08 and David Brady after their engagement.

Elizabeth Dale Uhrinek ’08 and husband, Brian Uhrinek.

School, is about to complete her first year. Hopefully both Sally(ies) will be returning to DC in the near future. Also in Chapel Hill, Hubie Haywood is in the middle of his second year of medical school at UNC and really enjoying the town. Ned Burns has come down from DC a few times to visit. Annabel Rose will be graduating this May with her master’s degree in nursing for nurse anesthesia and has her eyes set on NYC after graduation.

Guide headquarters, which she is enjoying. Sebastian Sabella also got a “new” job (back in April 2016) working for a medical device company known as Kavo Kerr Group selling dental equipment. His area covers half of New York City and Westchester County. In NYC, as well, Ford Phillips is currently working as the Associate Director at Tilton Gallery. He always has a great time running into fellow EHS alums in the city, including Lindsey Dorman Johnson, Caroline Kelso, Chris DellaRoca and Kidder Williams.

There’s news on the job front. Catherine Coley is living in San Francisco and working for Silicon Valley Bank helping start-ups grow globally. She recently ran into Ginna Oates ’09 and Khoury Ibrahim ’10 and had a good catch-up debating Evans Dorm > Harrison Dorm. In Richmond, Molly Barber has started a new job at the Scout

Franny Kupersmith Van Os had a big move this past summer and is now living with her husband in Amsterdam. She’s been getting acquainted with the Dutch way of life. Examples include riding a bike everywhere, eating lots of cheese and stroopwafels, and enjoying all the tulips. While it’s been tough

Danielle Rengers had some scary news to share. This time last year, she wound up in the hospital for 10 days and was on bed rest for 2 months. We are so glad to hear that she is back up and running. She’s living in a house in Clarendon, which has a great backyard that she enjoys. She is working now with CGI Federal and was promoted this past fall. So awesome! Danielle also shares that she started a book club this past September, which has been a highlight, and in 2017 is looking forward to a healthy and happy year ahead! Van Nyugen Kagawa had a happy and healthy baby this past June, who is adorable. His name is Kento Kagawa. This past Thanksgiving, she flew down to Virginia with her husband and baby to meet up with Dan Lee ’08 and Derek Ho. They are both doing well, too. Van is planning to be at the reunion this June. Very exciting — we hope to meet your baby boy. More wedding news! Teddy Peterson married Laura Eshelman on November 19, 2016 in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The couple met after college in Georgetown and now live together in the area. Teddy’s groomsmen included Jeb Leva, Griffin Johnson and Fritz Reuter. Sallie Madden was a bridesmaid, and Clark Barber and Sally Channell were readers during the ceremony. Other EHS alumni at the wedding included Henry Eshelman ’10, David Glaize, McGowin and Case Anderson ’03, Katharine Farrar, Julie Zambie, Kelsey Montz, John Lockett, Spencer Graves ’08, Caroline Dashiell Dean, Juli White ’08, Jay Fazio, Drew McGowan, John Haines ’80 and Hank Eshelman ’77. And before we finish out the notes, and in honor of Jeb Leva’s favorite movie 10 years, this is a friendly reminder that the class of EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

81


CLASS NOTES After Episcopal

B Y EL IZABE TH HE NDE R SON ’11

When Rebecca Hart’s ’08 grandfather, Bob Hart, purchased a 200 acre tract of land in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina 50 years ago, he never could have imagined the success of what would become the Hart Square Village. THE MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA ARE A HUB FOR PRODUCTION OF TIMBER, COAL, AND NATUR AL RESOURCES. AS A RESULT, MANY SMALL AGRICULTUR AL VILL AGES WERE ESTABLISHED IN THE REGION TO SUPPORT THE INDUSTRIAL BOOM. IN THE EARLY 1960S AND 1970S, MANY OF THESE HOMESTEADS WERE DEMOLISHED.

Bob Hart’s passion for the Appalachian region’s history and culture led him to purchase not only the 200 acres of land, but also several 1800s log cabins and time period antiques to furnish them. The Hart Square Village, as it is now known, is composed of 101 structures that serve a variety of purposes: blacksmith, Episcopalian chapel, school, print shop, houses, and even a functioning cotton gin. Rebecca Hart grew up playing on the property with her siblings, Abby ’10 and Robert ’13, and helping her grandfather disassemble and reassemble the structures. Now at age 80, Bob Hart has turned over the reins of Hart Square to his granddaughter, Rebecca. “I could never let that space die with all the opportunity that it has to enrich the lives of people around us,” Rebecca says. At age 23, Rebecca was chosen to lead the Hart Square Foundation, the operating body of Hart Square Village, and she moved back to Hickory, NC to continue her family’s work at Hart Square. Also on the board of the Hart Square Foundation are Rebecca’s father, Eric ’81 and uncle, Keith ’82. In order to continue the legacy of Hart Square, and to build upon its growing success within the community, they decided to design an education center to build on the site. The $2.5 million,

82

15,000 square foot education center will provide “a space for local K-12 students to come after school, to learn skills to provide them for life,” Rebecca says. With the new education center, Hart Square has a five year goal of servicing 10,000 school children. Rebecca’s approach to working with local schools is a holistic one. “I want to see what the teachers need, what the school system needs, and what the child needs… so I try to design curriculum that fits that,” Rebecca says. “I have the passion for it because of my love for history, Hart Square, and the kids in my community.” The largest annual fundraising opportunity for the Hart Square Foundation is the Hart Square Festival, which is typically held on the fourth weekend of October. Hart Square Festival is the largest demonstration of 1800s crafts in America, and during the festival, the whole village comes alive with demonstrations led by volunteers in period clothing. “It’s our biggest annual fundraiser, but it’s also a community education event, as well,” Rebecca says. “You can see so much being done there. From candle making and knitting to things like Appalachian toy making and carriage making.” Rebecca now runs the festival and coordinates approximately 400 volunteers from all over the country for the annual event.

SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTES ONLINE! Just go to the homepage and click on “Alumni” and then “Submit A Class Note.” For help with passwords or login, please contact the Advancement Office.


Matt Hurley reports that year one of infinity of marriage to Hannah Leveridge is off to an excellent start. He regrets to inform us that the professional photographer at their wedding didn’t get the EHS shot, but fortunately, someone did get an iPhone photo of the EHS crew at the wedding.

Emily Urquhart ’08 catches the bouquet at Elizabeth Dale Uhrinek’s ’08 wedding.

Zach Whorton, Lisa Dargan, Wes Graf ’08, Amanda Weisiger Cornelson ’08, Shaw Cornelson ’04, Marshall Weisiger ’12 at Christmas.

In other news in Matt’s world, this past fall, he completed what is likely his last deployment to Afghanistan as a Strike Force Platoon Leader in 1st Ranger Battalion. He is contemplating a transition from Special Operations into the private sector this summer. Matt looks forward to connecting with EHS Alumni working in various spheres of business. If his schedule does indeed open up, Matt hopes to link up with classmates more often. Congratulations and thank you, Matt, for your service! And finally, Matt would like to say, “Shout out to Spencer McKenna and his fiancé, Holly, on their recent engagement!” Spencer McKenna was engaged to Holly Selvitella of Boston, Massachusetts in October. Spencer and Holly are getting married this summer in Boston. Upton Stover and Graham Jones will be groomsmen, standing with Spencer when he says, “I do!”

Upton Stover ’08, Clark Wright ’08, Matt Hurley ’08, Hannah Leveridge Hurley, Spencer Graves ’08, Spencer McKenna ’08, Graham Jones ’08 at Matt and Hannah’s wedding.

2007 will be celebrating our 10-year reunion this June. When did we get this old? You have a few months to hit the gym and impress your classmates! Hope to see you there.

’08

Lucy Glaize Frey lglaize@gmail.com 10th Reunion: June 2018

In this Spring 2017 edition of the Magazine, the Class of ’08 announces engagements, follows up with wedding updates, and reports professional achievements. I suppose we don’t report every single one of our mini-reunion updates at this point, because 9 years postgrad, many of us see our Episcopal classmates and friends so regularly that it’s hard to justify

all of these mini-reunions, dinners, spin class dates, etc. etc. etc. as Class-Notes-worthy. On that note, I personally don’t have any ClassNotes-worthy updates. I’m just enjoying married life, and learning what it’s like to live in the Midwest! Let’s start off with the fall weddings! Elizabeth Dale was married to Brian Uhrinek this past fall in Asheville, NC. (She and Brian are still living in Chicago; so let them know if you’re in town!) Also, Emily Urquhart caught the bouquet at Elizabeth’s wedding! Emily heads to Charlottesville in March for Elly Montague’s wedding. Perhaps she’ll catch the bouquet there, too!

Leah Andress said “Yes!” to David Brady over Thanksgiving weekend. They are getting married this coming November. David is from Alexandria, and his sister, Mary Kirk Brady Griswold ’02 is an EHS grad! Leah and David are still living in Washington DC, so I’m sure they’ll be frequenting the Holy Hill more often than not for alumni events, social visits, and more. Last, but certainly not least, for engagements is Tucker Clarkson. He proudly reports that this past January, he and Rebecca Lindner got engaged. (I inquired about a picture of this engagement, but sadly his phone died the Sunday after their engagement, and the iCloud backup was only through Friday. Shucks!) Otherwise, Tucker says he’s doing well, and also doing his best to avoid the real world in his last year at UVA’s Darden School of Business. Karl Utermohlen reports that he is still working on InvestorPlace as a freelance journalist. He also started working for The Motley Fool EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

83


CLASS NOTES

Canada in the same role. And in case two jobs isn’t enough, Karl is working for a Spanish blog called FluentU, finding creative ways to teach the language. He hopes all is well with our classmates!

Austin Miller will also be getting married. His wedding is scheduled for June 17th in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Karl Stratos graduated from the PhD program in computer science at Columbia last summer. He’s now a senior research scientist at Bloomberg, and is teaching part-time at Columbia as an adjunct professor.

Katie Chapman took some time away from her busy life in Jackson Hole this winter to do some solo traveling. She spent a few weeks back in the south where she met up with Olivia Vietor for a fun filled weekend in Nashville. She then set off for Japan, touring the streets of Tokyo and the backcountry skiing of Hokkaido.

Finally, Wes Graf spent Christmas in Charlotte with one of his favorite EHS families. He celebrated the holiday with Amanda Weisiger Cornelson, Shaw Cornelson ’04, and Marshall Weisiger ’12. Of course, Wes could report endless Episcopal get-togethers (this is not an exaggeration), so we’ll limit it to just this one for now. I know it’s over a year away, but, Class of ’08, mark your calendars for our 10 Year Reunion in June 2018!

’09

Billy Hackenson (H) 703-757-0445 whackenson@gmail.com Kathleen Hullinger khullin@g.clemson.edu Stockett Marr (C) 540-905-2916 j.stockett.marr@gmail.com 10th Reunion: June 2019

Jack Keleman writes that he joined the Army almost two years ago. He is currently a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry and has been stationed in Vilseck, Germany with the Second Cavalry. He will be deploying to Poland for a six month rotation in April. Additionally, Jack was able to meet up with Carly Linthicum when she was in Berlin! Ben Shuford and Phil Dujardin went skiing together for New Years and Ben got engaged in October. Continuing the engagement news, David Dutton is engaged and will be getting married on October 14th of this year. Jimbo Hardison is his best man and Mr. New will officiate the wedding. The wedding will be at the Ware River Yacht Club in Gloucester, Virginia. 84

Congratulations to all on your engagements!

Edward Pritchard writes that he is “embarking on his second deployment with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines out of Kaneohe Bay, HI, where he will serve as the principal advisor to his leadership for all functions pertaining to logistics.”

’10

Whitt Clement (H) 804-353-9333 wwc3uk@virginia.edu 10th Reunion: June 2020

It was great hearing from Sage Ofray who is having a lot of fun and success pursuing his passion for art, especially painting. Following the finish of Hillary Clinton’s campaign in North Carolina, Zack Czajkowski bought a one way ticket to Los Angeles where he’s managing the campaign and fundraising efforts for Nick Melvoin, a school board candidate. Will Frazier wrote from Brooklyn, “I continue to work remotely as Scarpa’s creative and marketing director. I traveled to Paris for work in the fall, and Lily Merrill and I had a glorious reunion. Also, last year I co-founded the Franklin Electric Reading Series with some writer friends from UVa. It’s a monthly event that features established and up and coming poets, fiction writers, and essayists. Brokelyn named it Brooklyn’s hottest free reading series. I continue to write and have poems appearing soon in No Tokens Journal and Cosmonauts Avenue.” Sarah Cauthen is balancing her time between teaching another year of middle school in Honolulu and completing her Master’s degree at the University of Hawaii. Sarah enjoyed seeing Galen McCleary at a local banana ice cream shop on the island which he helped start. Chelsea Jack writes, “Alongside about 250,000 other folks, I participated in the Women’s March

Franco Brunet ’11 with Senator Tim Kaine.

on Chicago with Molly Seely ’09 the day after Donald Trump’s inauguration. It was a heartwarming way to kick off 2017. I split most of my time between exploring Chicago and completing my M.A. research on the opioid overdose epidemic in central Appalachia.” Will Winkenwerder is living in New York and reports, “I’m working in private equity at Apollo and occasionally run into Hayden Rockwell, Haley Morgan, Ben Shuford, and Whitt Clement. I also recently caught up with Beirne Hutcheson about his girlfriend who has just returned home from a tour in Iraq. Anyone in NY give me a call!” Paul Blake is also in New York and recently accepted a job with ABC News. Last but not least, Jimmy Wu says that he’s excited to return to the U.S. to attend business school this fall and hopes to have the opportunity to reunite with many of our classmates.

’11

Ambler Goddin (H) 703-683-4757 lag9qy@viriginia.edu 10th Reunion: June 2021

Collin Wiles graduated from Brown University last May, and is currently working at Recombine, a clinical genetic testing company based in Manhattan. He is mapping out a software system to manage embryo screens to prevent the transmission of genetic conditions like Huntington’s disease, Cystic Fibrosis, and Down syndrome! Franco Brunet and roommate, Adam Lynne ’12, are currently working and living in D.C.. After graduating in May, he began

SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTES ONLINE! Just go to the homepage and click on “Alumni” and then “Submit A Class Note.” For help with passwords or login, please contact the Advancement Office.


After Episcopal

BY E L IZABE TH HE NDERSON ’11

David Kagulu-Kalema ’10 is not afraid to face a challenge, and in his work at Endeavor, he helps entrepreneurs face the challenges of starting a new business. ENDEAVOR IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS ENTREPRENEURS IN EMERGING MARKETS TO GROW THEIR BUSINESSES AND ACCESS RESOURCES TO HELP THEM SUCCEED. “TRYING TO HELP ENTREPRENEURS SO THAT IT IS NEVER A SOLO JOURNEY FOR THEM… IT’S NOT ONE SPECIFIC FACTOR THAT LEADS TO SUCCESS AS AN ENTREPRENEUR, IT’S A COMBINATION OF CAPITAL, MENTORSHIP, AND COMMUNIT Y,” SAYS DAVID.

David’s passion lies in community building through social entrepreneurship and economic development. David says that he, himself, is not an entrepreneur yet, but his entrepreneurial spirit shines through when he talks about his own business ideas. After graduating from EHS, where he was a captain of the varsity basketball team, David went on to play on the National Championshipwinning team at Amherst College. He is combining his passion for the sport of basketball with his interest in entrepreneurship by creating a new social media platform for college athletes that will allow athletes to connect with each other and share their postcollege experiences. For David, entrepreneurial skills were just one of the lessons that he learned during his time at Episcopal, and he has taken

many of those lessons with him into his post-EHS career. “At Episcopal, there’s a big community… and a lot of people that supported me. Episcopal taught me how to tap into resources and maintain relationships, and that has been how I’ve been able to be successful. Knowing that there’s a broader community of support.” David tries to apply this lesson to his work at Endeavor by providing entrepreneurs and growing businesses with a strong support system and network of mentors. David will be playing the role of mentor himself, when he returns to EHS to speak to the Entrepreneurship class and share his experiences from the startup world.

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

85


CLASS NOTES

working at Senator Tim Kaine’s office where he is now a full-time staffer. Adam is working at a mortgage loan company in Fulton, MD. He and Franco live with two other roommates from Chicago, and Franco’s puppy, Lily. Caroline Andress graduated from Georgia Tech with a Master’s degree in mechanical engineering in December. She is going to work for General Motors as a vehicle engineer starting in May!

’12

Class Correspondent Needed 5th Reunion: June 9-10, 2017

2012 classmates, Marshall Weisiger, Chase Huges, Merrill Pischke, Emmy Ragsdale, Marion Williams, and Carly Lyerly caught up in Charlotte this past January. Zach Ashburn ’12 and his dad in their matching EHS golf shirts at the Fazio Parent-Child Golf Tournament.

If you’d like to volunteer to be the class correspondent or just to share an update, please contact Elizabeth Henderson ’11 at eah@episcopalhighschool.org or 703-933-4125.

Sarah Claiborne has been enjoying life out on the West Coast, and is currently living in LA. Marion Williams was recently promoted in her job at Walker and Dunlop. Elizabeth Buyck is finishing up her time at grad school at the University of South Carolina. Austin Conger just moved down to Charleston, South Carolina earlier this year. Sporting their “Split E” golf shirts (a gift from Zoe Ashburn ’16) as a team uniform, Zach Ashburn and his father, Dave Ashburn, recently competed in the Fazio Parent-Child Golf Tournament at Baltimore’s legendary Caves Valley Golf Club, taking first place honors. Renowned golf course architect and tournament namesake, Tom Fazio, played in the tournament as well and was on hand to present the winning team their trophies.

Wells Patrick ’12, Caroline Hagood ’12, Lauren Mealy ’12, and Buck Armstrong ’12 celebrated New Years in Aspen.

Julia Baker, Mai Morsch, Grace Weisiger, Haley Lyerly, and Abby Fralin, all Class of 2013, at Grace’s debutante ball.

’13

Somer Glubiak sglubiak@gwmail.gwu.edu 5th Reunion: June 2013

Greetings from the nation’s capital! I’m set to graduate from GW in just a few months, and I’ll be the class correspondent for our class from now on. Grace Weisiger is graduating from UGA in May. After that she will be moving to Austin, TX to start work. This past Christmas break Julia Baker, Mai Morsch, Abby Fralin, and 86

Katie Harlow’s ’13 four boat from UPENN winning their race at Head of the Charles this past October. Katie is fourth from the left. SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTES ONLINE! Just go to the homepage and click on “Alumni” and then “Submit A Class Note.” For help with passwords or login, please contact the Advancement Office.


This past summer a few of us met up to celebrate Anne Page’s birthday. We had a reunion in Charlottesville, Virginia before everyone returned to school in the fall.

’14

Cici Sobin cici.sobin@gmail.com 5th Reunion: June 2019

Class of 2013 classmates, Somer Glubiak, Anne Page, Joslyn Chesson, Crawford Horan, and Lee Stewart celebrating Anne’s birthday in Charlottesville, VA.

Rennie Harrison ’14 had the opportunity to meet Vice President Joe Biden at his home.

Haley Lyerly attended Grace’s Debutante Ball in Charleston, South Carolina. Haley Lyerly will be graduating from Sewanee this spring. She will be finishing out the year with running track and playing basketball her four years at Sewanee. After graduation, Haley will be moving to Nashville, Tennessee to start her work for Teach for America. Currently, she is set to be certified to teach Pre-K through 5th grade. But, she hopes to be assigned a kindergarten class. Katie Harlow will be graduating from UPENN this coming spring. She has exciting news, as she has just accepted an offer to participate in Red Bull’s graduate program in sales strategy and marketing. She will start this right after her graduation.

Fleming Redd ’15, Sophie Holt ’15, Millie Waller ’15, and Natalie Wall ’15, classmates at the University of Virginia, caught up with EHS art teacher, Frank Phillips and his wife, Meghann, while on sabbatical in Charlottesville, Va.

Holly Reynolds will be graduating from William & Mary this coming spring. She is working hard at her honors thesis to finish before she graduates. After she graduates she will be teaching at a camp for gifted students during the summer. This will help her as in the fall she is planning on attending William & Mary School of Education. There she will be getting her Master’s in Secondary Education: English. Ironically enough, she is hoping to become a high school teacher, and will maybe end up at a boarding school like Episcopal one day. Lee Stewart still attends Clemson University. But, she is taking the semester off to work and live in Australia! She will be returning to Clemson in the fall. Lee will be graduating a year late because of transferring and taking this upcoming semester off.

It’s hard to believe the Class of 2014 will be entering our final year of college this fall. The feeling is bittersweet and often leads me to reflect on how quickly the years have passed since leaving the gates of EHS. As the Class of 2014 has navigated the sometimes-tumultuous waters of academia, we have utilized the skills we honed at EHS and pursued the passions that The High School stirred in us. I hope that all of my classmates have found their passion in college and continue to pursue it upon graduation. This summer I will be interning at CVent in Tysons Corner and am planning on beginning the summer by traveling overseas. This past winter I traveled with Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business to Italy. During the trip we traveled between Sorrento, Rome, Venice, Milan, Florence and Bologna. I had the opportunity to visit many businesses in the cities we traveled to, and already can’t wait to go back! Studying away from Vanderbilt, Monica Jeon took classes at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago during the spring semester. Monica completed coursework on graphic design and video editing. Jackson Neagli spent the previous summer doing research for a professor at GWU and a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute. At GW, Jackson did research on Chinese NGO regulations. Jackson is currently captain of the Rice University lacrosse team and is interning with a federal district judge in Houston. In January, Rennie Harrison was invited to the White House for the last event of the Obama administration, an “It’s On Us” summit. Rennie was invited to VP Joe Biden’s home in October for a “It’s On Us” reception and was able to meet him. Addison Ingle spent her spring semester studying abroad in London. Addison took EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

87


CLASS NOTES

classes through Birkbeck University. Outside of class Addison interned for Global Street Art, working on their PR team. Celeste Pritchard is also studying abroad in London through her university, UNC. Ania DeJoy is enjoying her time at Duke University as she serves in the role of Assistant Music Director for her acapella group which competed in the ICCA competition this past semester. Ania also served as the Recruitment Chair for her sorority, Alpha Phi. Sarah Luther studied abroad this past semester in Bath, England. Liz Martinelli has been working in sales at Outdoor Voices, an athletic apparel start-up in Dallas, TX. Liz also travelled to London over spring break to visit Addison Ingle ’14. Andrew DeJoy spent this past summer interning for Arcadia Power, a start-up based out of DC. Suzelle Thomas was accepted into the Political Science Honors program at Navy.

’15

Presley Goode pgoode2@gmail.com Tyler Hartmeyer tigerpearson97@gmail.com Morgan Linebery morganlineberry12@gmail.com 5th Reunion: June 2020

Pendleton Bogache is enjoying her second year at Georgetown University. She is on the Women’s Golf Team and finished in 4th place in the Lehigh Invitational. She has been working as a Georgetown Athletics Marketing Intern which involves assisting with on court promotional and digital media at the Georgetown basketball games in the Verizon Center. Mike Otoo has conducted two research projects thus far in college, one on URM rice faculty and the other on Fifth Ward Houston. He is competing on the division one track team at Rice. While at VMI, Calvin Lawson is a Cadre Corporal in Hotel Company, having the opportunity to train the rats to meet Corps standards. He received a two and a half-year 88

India Nix ’15, Cameron Nix ’16, Ryland Hughes ’16, and Helen-Anne Gable ’16, were presented at the International Debutante Ball.

Army scholarship and will commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army after graduation. He has made the Deans list all three semesters at VMI. He’s planning on studying at the London School of Economics this summer. Jay Forehand is also a Cadre Corporal in Bravo Company. A few months ago, he received his private pilots license. This summer, he plans on attending Marine Corps OCS with the hopes of commissioning as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps.

’16

Kelsey Anderson kelseymanderson4@gmail.com Andrew Karo andrewkaro@utexas.edu Priscilla Barton-Metcalfe pbarton3@jhu.edu 5th Reunion: June 2021

Kelsey Anderson ’16 met up with classmate, Jesse Meyler ’16, in Times Square.

Helen-Anne Gable, India Nix ’15, Cameron Nix and Ryland Hughes, were presented at the International Debutante Ball. Many of the escorts were also Episcopal High School alumni including Philip Faris ’13, Benjamin Fortson, Andrew Karo and John Ainslie ’17. There were also a number of EHS students who were guests. Lane Ballentine, Olivia Johnson, Alexa Scully, Eve Matheson, Porter Geer, Kelsey Anderson and Juliette Eberle, all at different universities, went through rush this semester and became part of the same sorority- Kappa Alpha Theta! SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTES ONLINE! Just go to the homepage and click on “Alumni” and then “Submit A Class Note.” For help with passwords or login, please contact the Advancement Office.


M A R R I AG E S

BIR T HS

Augustus Loftus Middleton, Jr ’48 to Beverlye Edwards on December 30, 2016.

Elise Sandra Cupic to Steve and Amy Fannon Cupic ’94 on February 9, 2017.

James Riley McNab IV to Stephanie and Jamie McNab ’00 on February 8, 2017.

H. Thomas Hall III ’64 to Ken Jewett on December 10, 2016.

Boden Brewster Knutson to Brian Knutson ’96 and Sarah Akridge Knutson ’96 on December 14, 2016.

Grayson Edward Lee to Lauren and Jonathan Lee ’01 on December 6, 2016.

Peter Roberts Coffin ’70 to Vasilya Gapirova on January 28, 2017. Frederick S. Hutchins ’79 to Terri Bennett on January 15, 2017. William Z. Nakhleh ’83 to Vanessa Conklin on September 24, 2016. Dylan Glenn ’86 to Mary Elizabeth McNairy ’99 on November 19, 2016. Michael David Cheng ’87 to Catherine Lu on November 15, 2015. Griffin Llewellyn Gideon ’93 to Stefanie Wargala on May 2, 2015.

John Daniel Stonehouse to Bryan and Meg Smoot Stonehouse ’97 on July 29, 2016. Eloise Hadley Collier to Cooper and Nate Collier ’97 on May 8, 2016. Luke Carlisle Traviesa to Emily and Dave Traviesa ’98 in December 2016. Stayton Ellwood Bonner to Catherine and Stayton Bonner ’98 on November 19, 2016. Andrew Barrick Nielson to Josie and Andrew Nielson ’98 on August 22, 2016.

William Case Anderson ’03 to McGowin Ey on November 5, 2016.

Beatrice Wellons Hartman to Eric and Lizzie Wellons Hartman ’98 on June 29, 2016.

Liza Strub Morten ’05 to Chris Gioia on December 10, 2016.

Joseph Fitzgeorge Brown to Jacquie and Tyler Brown ’99 on January 27, 2016.

Frances Huger deSaussure ’06 to Billy Murray on February 25, 2017.

Jenna Alexa Schultes to Deyana and Alex Schultes ’99 in February 2016.

Theodore Leon Peterson III ’07 to Laura Eshelman on November 19, 2016.

Parker McDowell Meierling to Bill Meierling and Brittanny Wildman Meierling ’00 on January 3, 2017.

Elizabeth Stuart Dale ’08 to Brian Uhrinek on November 19, 2016. Matthew Brett Hurley ’08 to Hannah Leveridge on November 5, 2016.

Virginia Curry Bonapfel to Ed and Lauren Kemp Bonapfel ’00 on November 4, 2016. Hayden Elizabeth Kirwan to Amanda and Matthew Kirwan ’00 on December 4, 2016.

Joseph Spencer Merritt to Spencer and Kat Hutchinson Merritt ’02 on November 18, 2016. Grace Wilson Thompson to Will and CeCe Barfield Thompson ’03 on December 15, 2016. Tucker Thomas Tubesing to Laura and Brad Tubesing ’03 on September 23, 2016. Banks Manly Stallworth to Leigh and Joe Stallworth ’03 on November 4, 2016. William Gray Murray to Sally Mebane Murray ’03 and William Murray ’03 on November 24, 2016. Banks Manly Stallworth to Leigh and Joe Stallworth ’03 on November 4, 2016. Andrew Albertson Campbell to Patrick and Peggy Albertson Campbell ’04 on December 27, 2016. Elizabeth McLeod Sullivan and Ophelia Page Sullivan to Rebecca and Mac Sullivan ’04 on November 14, 2016. Caroline Heyward von Werrsowetz to Rad and Odon von Werssowetz ’04 on February 8, 2017. Parker Frances Harcus to Bruce and Sarah Montz Harcus ’06 on January 31, 2017. Kento Kagawa to Ryousuke and Van Nguyen Kagawa ’07 on June 27, 2016.

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

89


In Memoriam Beverley Lansing Campbell ’42

of Jacksonville, Fla., died Dec. 25, 2016. At EHS, Mr. Campbell was a member of the varsity track and JV football teams. After Episcopal, he graduated from Bowdoin College. Mr. Campbell is survived by his wife of 71 years, Jane; two daughters; 8 grandchildren; and 10 greatgrandchildren.

Donald William Martin, Jr. ’47

of Orlando, Fla., died Dec. 19, 2016. At Episcopal, Mr. Martin was a member of the varsity basketball and varsity track teams, co-captain of the JV football team, a monitor, and member of the E Club and Fairfax Literary Society. After EHS, Mr. Martin received a degree in Economics from Indiana University, and spent a year studying sociology at the University of Kentucky before serving in the Navy for four years. His career in computer science led him to IBM and, until retirement, Lockheed Martin. Mr. Martin is survived by his son Thad Martin III; daughter Kym Marco; granddaughter Karin M. Beal; and twin sister Catherine Haberstroh.

Benjamin Allston Moore, Jr. ’48

of Charleston, S.C., died Feb. 18, 2017. At Episcopal, Mr. Moore was President of the Blackford Literary Society, a waiter, and a member of the Check-up Squad and Missionary Society. He was also on the JV football, winter track, varsity track, and rifle teams. After EHS, Mr. Moore attended Princeton University where he was a member of the Naval ROTC and the track team. After graduating, he served for two years in the Navy and then enrolled in the University of Virginia Law School. Mr. Moore spent his legal career focusing on maritime law and more recently estates, starting at his father’s firm and navigating through many merges during his time. He was an EHS Trustee from 1982-88 and served on other trustee boards, including First Chairman of the Board at Charleston Day School from 1968-73. Mr. Moore is survived by his wife Judy; three children, Benjamin Allston Moore III ’83, Margaret Charbonnier Moore Miller, and Susan Middleton Rutledge Moore Hoogland; stepson William Reed Rawlings; and eleven grandchildren, including Bam and Dana Miller, McLain Hoogland, Alex Hoogland, Kathleen Michalek, Ben Hoogland, C.C. Hoogland, Sam Hoogland, Benjamin Allston Moore IV ’14, Emily Moore, and Margaret McGowan Moore ’19.

John Marshall Lee ’49

of Farmville, Va., died Sept. 22, 2016. At EHS, Mr. Lee was a Monitor, member of the Missionary Society, and member of the choir. He also played football, squash, and tennis. After Episcopal, Mr. Lee graduated from the University of Virginia. Retiring as Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, he trained and graduated from the Command and General Staff College, in Fort Leavenworth, KS. Mr. Lee had a successful banking career, and in 1986 was named President and CEO of First Virginia Bank-Southside. He was active in his community, through organizations such as the Farmville Rotary Club, the Farmville Chamber of Commerce, Meals on Wheels, and the Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Lee was also a member of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, Sons of the Revolution and the Society of the Lees of Virginia, where he served as secretary. As a longtime member of Johns Memorial Episcopal Church in Farmville, he served as a vestry member and treasurer. Mr. Lee is survived by his daughter, Sally “Missy” Lee Roberts; son, John Marshall Lee, Jr.; and four grandchildren, Matson Lamar Roberts, Jr., Sally Meriwether Roberts, Caroline Hannah Lee and Allison Ambler Lee.

90


William Knight Russell, Jr. ’50

of Newport Beach, Ca. and Pinehurst, N.C., died Nov. 28, 2016. At EHS, Mr. Russell was a member of the varsity football, varsity basketball, and wrestling teams. He was president of the “E” Club and a member of the Missionary Society. After Episcopal, Mr. Russell attended the University of Texas in Austin and served in the Navy during the Korean War. He later founded The Knight Equipment International, Inc., a leading manufacturer of pumps and dispensing equipment for industrial laundries, commercial dishwashing, and chemical metering. Mr. Russell was also a life-long avid golfer. Mr. Russell is survived by his three children and several grandchildren.

Charles Edward Wright, Jr. ’54

of Lenoir, N.C., died October 20, 2016. At Episcopal, Mr. Wright was a member of the track team, the choir, and the Missionary Society. After EHS, Mr. Wright earned a mechanical engineering degree from Georgia Institute of Technology and an economics degree from Vanderbilt University. He went on to work for his family’s business in Bristol, J. Walter Wright Lumber Co., before joining Equitable Securities in Nashville where he began his career in investment banking. Mr. Wright also worked for Robinson Humphrey and Kuhn Loeb in New York. He later retired after a 24-year career with Merrill Lynch as a managing director. Mr. Wright is survived by his children, Carol Wright Carlson and William Miller Wright; their mother, Susan Miller Wright; a brother, James Hannum Wright; grandchildren, Charlie, Jim, Will, Lynn, Logan, and Carolyn; daughter-in-law, Margot; great grandson, Christian; and companion and caretaker, Teresa Burgett.

Bennett Watson Cowper Roberts ’55 of Durham, N.C., died Dec. 17, 2016.

At Episcopal, Mr. Roberts was a member of the football team, junior varsity basketball team, and tennis team. He was also in the drama club and Egypt. After EHS, Mr. Roberts attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he graduated with a degree in business administration. While there, he was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. For more than 20 years, Mr. Roberts worked for the American Tobacco Company, retiring in 1987. He co-authored two books on the history of tobacco, and was an avid collector of books, especially on topics of all things North Carolinian. The Roberts Award for Literary Inspiration, named for Ben and his wife, is awarded each year to a North Carolina writer whose works have made an impression on the state. Ben is survived by Snow, his wife of 52 years; sons Bennett Watson Cowper Roberts, Jr. and Webb Loy Roberts, and their wives and children; daughter Snow Loy Roberts; and brother, Surry Parker Roberts ’58.

Marshall Young Cooper, Jr. ’59

of Henderson, N.C., died Jan. 10, 2017. At Episcopal, Mr. Cooper was a member of Egypt, Missionary Society, E-Club, Blackford Literary Society, Wilmer Literary Society, 130 Football, varsity and JV football teams, soccer team, senior track, and the manager of the football and varsity baseball teams. After EHS, Mr. Cooper graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While there, he also graduated from UNC’s Young Executives program and was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He also served in the U.S. Coast Guard. His career in the textile industry led him to become CEO of Harriet & Henderson Yarns, Inc., based in his hometown. Mr. Cooper is survived by his wife, Bettie White Cooper; son John Cooper II ’95 and his wife Emily Parrott; sisters and sisters-in-law; grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

EHS

THE MAGAZINE OF EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL

91


IN MEMORIAM

George Horace Flowers III ’61

Eleanor Carraway Noell Torres ’04

At EHS, Mr. Flowers was the Chairman of the Honor Committee, a Senior Monitor, and an Usher. He served on the Advisory Board, the Hop Committee, E-Club, Students’ Committee, Chronicle, and Missionary Society. He played varsity football, was named All-Metropolitan and co-captain of varsity soccer, and was a “speedy quarter-miler” and co-alternate captain of varsity track. Mr. Flowers was valedictorian of his EHS class, and during commencement received the J.C. Herbert Bryant Scholarship Medal, the Llewelyn Hoxton Medal for Excellence in Mathematics, the Chemistry award, and the Randolph Fairfax Medal for Character, Conduct, and Scholarship. After Episcopal, Mr. Flowers was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Duke University (BSEE) where he was co-captain of the track team. He also earned degrees from the University of Virginia (MEE) and Virginia Commonwealth University (MBA). He enjoyed careers as an engineer and manager at Virginia Power, and as an administrator and instructor of engineering and mathematics at Reynolds Community College. He died peacefully after a two-year encounter with esophageal cancer. Mr. Flowers is survived by his wife, Alice Funkhouser Flowers; two sons; a daughter; brothers John Flowers ’64 and William Flowers ’67; and six grandchildren. He has numerous additional EHS relatives, including his father, George Flowers, Jr. ’34; and cousins, Lenox Baker ’59, Bob Baker ’54, Randy Coupland ’67, John Coupland ’70, and Clinton White ’98.

At EHS, Ms. Noell Torres was the captain of the varsity field hockey and varsity track teams, and a member of the varsity lacrosse team. She was a math tutor, tour guide, waiter, monitor, and member of the spectrum club. After Episcopal, Ms. Noell Torres graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration from the Kenan Flagler School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was an avid UNC basketball fan. After college, she loved being active and lived in New York City and later Chapel Hill. In the summer of 2009, Ms. Noell Torres suffered a traumatic brain injury while studying in Costa Rica and spent nearly three weeks in a coma. She always had an incredibly strong will, and through her own determination and great medical care, she worked hard to make a full recovery and live a wonderful, meaningful life. Ms. Noell Torres is survived by her husband, Herminio; father, Charlie; mother, Paula and her husband, Palmer T. H. Page; brother, Davis and his wife, Stacey; sister, Nell and her husband, Rusty; stepdaughter, Stephanie Torres; stepmother, Barbara Voss; grandmothers, Lossie Taylor Noell and Irene Barden Tilley; nine stepsiblings; and four nieces and nephews.

of Richmond, Va., died March 24, 2017.

Richard Lee Snodgrass, Jr. ’73

of Virginia Beach, Va., died May 4, 2016. At Episcopal, which he attended for two years, Mr. Snodgrass was involved in soccer and tennis. After EHS, he graduated from Proctor Academy, and then Sewanee where he majored in forestry. Throughout his life, Mr. Snodgrass kept up his creative edge by working in a variety of art mediums. His life was well-documented, thanks to his daily habit of writing his observations in journals. Mr. Snodgrass is survived by his four siblings, Susan Snodgrass Wynne, Geoffrey Powell Snodgrass ’71, Llewellyn Powell Snodgrass, and Julia Snodgrass Walker; as well as their spouses and children.

92

of Chapel Hill, N.C., died Dec. 17, 2016.

Zee Robert Lamb ’06

of Elizabeth City, N.C., died Jan. 25, 2017. At Episcopal, Mr. Lamb’s megawatt smile and brilliant sense of humor provided his classmates with constant laughs. After EHS, Mr. Lamb graduated with a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, a member of Christ Episcopal Church and was employed with Joe Lamb, Jr. & Associates of Kitty Hawk, N.C. Mr. Lamb is survived by his parents, Zee and Nancy; his sisters, Anna Katelin Lamb and Caroline Grace Lamb; his paternal grandparents, Joseph Thomas Lamb, Jr. and Ann Rochelle Lamb; his maternal grandmother, Juanita Draughn Beasley; and his true love, Claire Elizabeth Hill.


WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE EHS CONNECT,

THE NEW ONLINE NETWORKING COMMUNITY FOR EPISCOPAL ALUMNI AND PARENTS. In the coming weeks, alumni and parents will receive an email from noreply@thecampustap.com inviting you to join EHS Connect. Using the unique registration link in your personalized email, completing your profile will only take a few minutes. From there, you’ll have the opportunity to search for classmates or others in your region, to join affinity groups, to post jobs opportunities, or to offer to serve as a mentor to others in the Episcopal community. If you misplace your email invitation, you may visit www.episcopalhighschool.org/ehsconnect to get started. You may also sign-up using your LinkedIn profile (fewer passwords to remember!).


1200 North Quaker Lane | Alexandria, VA 22302 703-933-3000 | 1-877-EHS-1839 www.episcopalhighschool.org Change Service Requested

The Student Center in Stewart Gym opened on December 2. See page 16.

Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID Alexandria, VA Permit No. 105

Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID Alexandria, VA Permit No. 105


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.