The Magazine of Episcopal - Winter 2020 by Brandon Westerman

T H E

M A G A Z I N E

O F

EPISCOPAL Episcopal School of Jacksonville

W I N T E R

2 0 1 9

Mission Statement The mission of Episcopal School of Jacksonville is to provide a superior college-preparatory education in an environment marked by high expectation, Christian nurture, and social diversity. Through a balanced program of academics, arts, and athletics, Episcopalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s faculty seeks to instill in each student intellectual growth, character development, responsible leadership and a commitment to community service.

LEADERSHIP 2019-2020

Board of Trustees Claudia Saenz Amlie ’87 (Secretary) O. David. Barksdale ’84 Beverly H. Bonaparte, Ph.D. Stephen D. Busey (Chancellor) Troy M. Davis ’93 Kelly Flanagan ’02 (Treasurer) Heather Fouts Michael J. Grebe Paige Hakimian Mark R. LaBorde ’84 The Honorable Donald Lester R. Brian King John B. Magevney ’89 Andrew K. McCain ’80 The Very Rev. Katherine B. Moorehead (Vice-Chairman) Helen C. Rowan (Chairman) John C. Schmidt ’70 Sally Haskell Singletary ’86 William N. Steitz III Carl E. Stoudemire III ’75 Stephen M. Suddath ’73 Kenneth D. Sweder Arnold D. Tritt, Jr. ’81 Ryan J. Uitti Theodora D. Walton Sidney E. Wells ’91 The Right Rev. Samuel John Howard, Bishop of Florida, Ex-Officio The Rev. Adam S. Greene, Ex-Officio Heather Rainey Mosely ’88, Alumni Board/President, Ex-Officio Foundation Board Robert M. Clements John A. Delaney Stephen D. Moore Jr. Michael A. Kelley John E. Sawyer IV Kenneth D. Sweder (Chairman) Helen C. Rowan, Ex-Officio The Rev. Adam S. Greene, Ex-Officio

Trustees Emeriti William B. Bond E. Bruce Bower Peggy P. Bryan J. F. Bryan IV Stephen D. Busey John W. Donahoo Jr. † David W. Foerster Henry H. Graham Jr. † Joan S. Haskell Preston H. Haskell III Mark Hulsey † Delores T. Lastinger Allen L. Lastinger Hugh M. Magevney III J. T. McCormick † Thad L. McNulty Walter A. McRae Jr. † John A. Mitchell III Jane S. Munnerlyn † W. Wilson Munnerlyn † The Rev. Doctor Robert R. Parks † Gert H.W. Schmidt † The Honorable Gerald B. Tjoflat Elizabeth Walton † William H. Walton Jr. † Mary Winston † James H. Winston † Katharine K. Zambetti Head of School Emeritus Charles F. Zimmer Honorary Trustees Michael D. Abney † William B. Barnett Margaret B. Berg † Jackie J. Busse The Rt. Rev. Frank S. Cerveny Robert M. Clements Maxwell K. Dickinson Thomas M. Donahoo J. Dix Druce Jr. Bertram N. Herlong † Richard H. Jones Dr. Ross T. Krueger Joan W. Newton Marian B. Poitevent Luther F. Sadler Richard H. Suddath † The Very Rev. Gustave J. Weltsek †

Alumni Board Heather Rainey Moseley ’88 – President William Milne ’00 – President-Elect Shannon Shea ’89 – Vice President of Membership Peter Blumeyer ’08 & Mary Lanier Cook ’94 - Vice Presidents of The Episcopal Fund Brooks Fraleigh Cannon ’97 – Secretary Ashley Helmick ’07 – Chaplain Tracy Thompson ’12 – Eagle Society Chair Alumni Board Members at Large Mary Burke Baker ’93 Derek Gaff ’87 Darren Glenn ’91 Lee Haramis ’10 Jennifer Stopiak Hayes ’90 Leigh Elizabeth Black Israel ’05 Nicole Clemons Lewis ’97 Brad McCollum ’08 Joseph Murray ’99 Graham Riley ’00 Julie Wiggins Sorenson ’98 Stacy Byrd Thomas ’07 Deanna Thornton ’10 Nick Walker ’10 Katharyn Smith Woods ’07 Editor Meg Scheu Sacks Design and Production Katie Lawrence Photography Laura Evans Joe Kohla Brandon Westerman ’99 Contributors Katie Lebhar Black ’95 Debbie Deppe Taylor Lee Horne ’00 Heather Newman Johnson ’90 Missy Ketchum Andy Kidd ’99 Jane Labossier Mike Rickey Chip Stroud David Wandel Brandon Westerman ’99 († deceased)

Table of Contents 6 7 20 40 66 74

From the Head of School Class of 1970 Celebrates 50 Years Alumni News Campus Life Advancing Episcopal End Notes

Photo

Joe Kohla

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Every year during the weeks of rest and time with family over the holidays, I like to reflect and wonder at all of the exceptional accomplishments that have occurred on campus during the fall semester. This year is no different, and may even be one for the record books! In November our football team — with one loss all season— won its first playoff game in school history, defeating Baldwin High in the regional quarter-final. The boys’ swim team was again state runner-up. Top finishers for the Eagles included Jace Crawford ‘20 with two state titles; Mary Kate Kelley ‘21, second in the 100 back (school record); Scott Haney ‘21, second in the 200 free; Caden Staggard ‘20, third in the 100 back (school record); and Julian Smith ‘21 – third in the 200 IM and the 100 breast (school record). New school records were also set in the 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay (Jace, Julian, Scott, and Caden). Our cross country and golf teams also sent members to state competitions, and volleyball won its third district title in as many years. Fine Arts staged a magnificent performance of Chicago: High School Edition, with a packed house for all three shows in Deming Theatre. High energy, with outstanding choreography and vocals and a beautiful set, ESJ rivaled Broadway that weekend! Photography students opened a show in the Berg Gallery that featured photos from their trip this summer to Italy as part of the school’s Global Learning Institute. And as always, the Christmas Concert at St. John’s Cathedral was filled to overflowing at both performances. This momentum doesn’t stop at the edges of our campus. In October we announced a merger with St. Mark’s Episcopal Day School on the westside of Jacksonville, a strategic opportunity to expand our Episcopal family geographically. The merger

Winter 2019

of ESJ and St. Mark’s, as well as ESJ and Beaches Episcopal School, both on July 1, 2020, will provide a seamless educational opportunity for students from their preschool years through their high school graduation. We are thoughtfully exploring educational and operational opportunities on all three campuses as we work toward these mergers in the next few months. We continue to offer our Health, Safety, and Well-Being program through special events and trainings for students and faculty. This year we jointly worked with The Bolles School and Bishop Kenny High School to create a random drug testing program for all three schools in an effort to deter substance use and to help students more quickly find the resources to support them if necessary. This partnership involved a team from each of the three schools and was a rewarding process in which we worked together for the benefit of our wider community. Today’s students face pressures and social issues more intense and with greater consequences than ever before, and our goal is to show them how much they are cared for and loved. Your ongoing support makes all of these great accomplishments possible. The time you spend on campus cheering in the stands or applauding in the Munnerlyn; the gifts you give to The Episcopal Fund or to support the Endowment; or the enthusiasm you bring to your quiet work behind the scenes ensure that our future builds on the success of our past. I am particularly grateful for the support that you provide to our outstanding faculty and staff. Our team of dedicated educators goes above and beyond in all that they do - in their classrooms, on our fields and stages and in our studios. I continue to be amazed at all that they help our students accomplish and achieve. As we celebrate this joyous season, I wish you the best in 2020. We are thankful for the blessings of this semester, and look forward to all to come this spring.

The Rev. Adam S. Greene Head of School

50TH REUNION

Fifty Years Episcopal celebrated the 50th anniversary of the founding of the school in 2016. On September 5, 1967, the school opened its doors with 25 teachers and 265 students in grades seven through ten. The class of tenth graders that entered Episcopal in the fall of 1967 graduated in 1970, making the spring of 2020 the Class of 1970’s 50th reunion, and the first one in the school’s history. At the Class of 1970’s Commencement, held in what was then known as The Student Commons Building (Buck) on Wednesday, June 10, at 8:00 p.m., Founder Lucius Buck addressed the class of 55 students. He congratulated them on their academic achievement and sent them on their way. While at Episcopal they had taken Greek and Latin, an additional three years of a second language, math, science, English, fine arts, religion, and daily P.E. Class began at 8:00 a.m. and ended at 4:30 p.m. Girls wore skirts. Boys wore coat and tie and those who did not comply with hair length had their hair cut at school under the supervision of the first Headmaster — Horton Reed. Everyone, including the custodian, attended Wednesday morning Worship in the cafe-gym-a-torium (the Alumni Gym), which featured colorful 1960’s fabric vestments and a blue pottery chalice. Fifty years later, we have collected the stories of that first graduating class. In this issue of The Magazine of Episcopal, we hear from members of the Class of 1970 and the faculty that pioneered the school through those first years. And you’ll read that, while much has changed, the spirit of this great school remains the same, 50 years later.

ESJ

Faculty 50TH REUNION

LES MCLEAN, Faculty

Les McLean was the second person Headmaster Horton Reed hired, after his assistant. Les interviewed after seeing an advertisement in the newspaper about the opening of the school. He graduated from Sewanee on a weekend in the spring of 1967, and the following Monday reported for work at Episcopal, where the campus was a sea of mud as buildings were being constructed and concrete poured for pathways. With not many students in grades seven through ten upon the school’s opening, we all knew each other quite well. We were all part of a new experiment, and we were all in it together. Tradition was instant – and if something was needed, we created it. For instance, when faculty couldn’t find an ecology textbook that provided the information science teachers felt should be taught, the Episcopal faculty wrote one. A student illustrated it. I still have a copy of it. We felt like we were part of something bigger, it was a very special time and place with people who were all very collegial and respectful of one another. With all the planning and support from St. John’s Cathedral, it couldn’t help but be a big success.

SAM MOSS, Faculty The students in that first class had the unusual opportunity to be leaders and “seniors” for three years. We opened with students in Forms I-IV (grades 7-10), so those Fourth Formers were cast in leadership roles for all of their years there. They established expectations, developed leadership, student government, and activities structures, chose the mascot, named the newspaper, and the like. They really did define how the student body would operate.

Winter 2019

50TH REUNION

Significantly, Episcopal opened as the only integrated independent school in Jacksonville in an era of segregation and racial turmoil. It was clear from the beginning what our values were to be – and our students were expected to embrace those values, and they did so with admirable gusto. The atmosphere at the school was joyous, adventurous, and electric with excitement! The faculty and staff were all together for the first time, and I remember vividly our moving furniture into the classrooms right before opening day. Initially, the road was not paved, the plaza was not paved, the Hart Bridge was under construction, and Atlantic Boulevard was being constructed from a two-lane road to four lanes - all happening simultaneously! What remarkable

Sam Moss met up with The Rt. Rev. Don Wimberly, a former member of Episcopal’s Board of Trustees (1978-1985) and Dean of St. John’s Cathedral, and his wife, Wendy. “It was a great reunion visit for Don and me,” said Sam.

leaders Bob Parks and Horton Reed were. I don’t think at age 21 I realized fully what they had actually accomplished in building such an amazing school in such a short time. The longer I have spent as a teacher and administrator, the more I have grown to appreciate them.

MEL HAZEN, Faculty In the first year, the faculty (of about 40) and the student body (of about 250) were close knit. Once a month the faculty met in the Lecture Hall, now the Florence M. Sikes Theatre, in a two hour meeting in which EVERY student was discussed – some at more length than others. Seeing students go on to successful careers, happy and meaningful family and professional relationships are some of the rewards from those wonderful years at JEHS that I cherish now.

ESJ

Faculty 50TH REUNION

KAREN KELLY BECKER, Faculty From the very beginning, I just loved my students: they were— and are—wonderful people. In fact, I’m amazed when I realize how many of our former students Ned and I are still friends with today. I continue to think of them as the “kids”—members of the Class of 1970—but these friendships have actually lasted for 50 years! We all grew up together, although the students may not have realized then how young we were as a faculty: the average age in 1969-1970 was 26. The outgrowth of personal commitment that has influenced our entire lives stemmed from our original institutional commitment. That first class created a cohesive culture that hasn’t fundamentally changed. One of the things Episcopal did then and still does is to inspire and instill genuine loyalty in both students and faculty—not from a sense of duty, but from a lifelong commitment to a school, a church, a place you love and where you spend time with people you love. It’s really a lasting, gratifying, and unbeatable combination. Karen Kelly and Ned Becker, initially a regular teacher and later the school’s assistant headmaster, met at Episcopal, where Karen taught English and eventually served as English department chair. They were married in 1974, and Kaitlyn, the second of their three daughters, was baptized in an allschool Chapel service in 1979.

Ned Becker and Les McLean

Winter 2019

50TH REUNION

RICHARD POWELL, Faculty Episcopal was an exciting place to be in the early years. There was an ad hoc nature about the school. There was a spirit of innovation and a strong sense of mission at the school. This was particularly apparent in the curriculum. We developed a curricular concept called Central Subjects which unified the teaching of English, history, religion, and the fine arts. We taught these subjects in three blocks of three hours and two blocks of two hours each week. Also, the walls in the G-Building (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gâ&#x20AC;? for General Education) were originally movable. The fourteen rooms could be divided into as few as two rooms, one equal to eight classrooms, and one equal to six classrooms. Unfortunately, the movable walls never worked very well. Although the days were long and frequently exhausting, the faculty was young and energetic. We got along well with each other and frequently got together on the weekends or for special occasions, at least occasions we thought were special. I would say the early Episcopal years were busy, hectic sometimes, but it was a very exciting place to be, particularly in the context of the late sixties-early seventies. We were doing something new and very important. We had a strong sense of community, and we were young, energetic, and very idealistic. We all formed strong and lasting friendships with our fellow teachers and some students as well. For most of us, I think, we could look back and be grateful we spent part of our formative years at Episcopal.

ESJ

Students 50TH REUNION

JOHN A. DUNCAN, MD

With a few exceptions, the same group that entered in the fall of 1967 was the group that graduated in 1970. We had been told we would be seniors for three years to allow us to be prepared for college and, not really obvious to us at the time, to successfully demonstrate Episcopal to the college world for the classes that would follow. The whole three years represented a “thrill ride” in which we grew together as a class, progressed academically as the faculty had anticipated, and created the extracurricular environment “from scratch”, e.g. sports, newspaper, yearbook, clubs, academic teams, musical presentations. Undoubtedly, with the staff having “set the bar high,” I can look back and say that all my post-1970 successes (college, medical school, career, family, and church and community commitments) had some part of their foundation poured while attending JEHS. Often, I think back to my parents encouraging me during the applications and admissions process to Episcopal and recognize their wisdom, as well as that of the school leaders. I remain constantly grateful for the opportunities I/we were given during those three years.

JACK SCHMIDT The classroom sizes and our camaraderie with the very dedicated faculty were special. We had fun times but we were all at Episcopal to excel and to prepare for our higher education. The environment was certainly less institutional and more caring than what we had experienced before. The dress code of coat and tie, although not always enjoyed, did lend an air of formality and prestige to the campus. Gatherings in the courtyard before and between classes were fun and informal. I do look back now and wonder, “how did they do it?” The school was established and built in a very short period of time. Faculty was hired and instruction put in place. And three years later, the first class graduated. It is somewhat remarkable. I think that same spirit is alive today, with new buildings, athletic fields, superb arts programs and very impressive students graduating. It is very special to say, “I was in the first graduating class” (even

Sam Moss and Jack Schmidt

Winter 2019

though it was 50 years ago)!

50TH REUNION

CANDY OBERDORFER EDWARDS When Episcopal opened in 1967, Duval County public schools were in a challenging transitional period due to dis-accreditation and the Florida teachersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; strike. We saw Episcopal as a rigorous academic institution. Great care had been taken to establish a school that provided educational and leadership opportunities that would truly prepare us for college. A faculty of educated professionals, who focused on individual students and academic excellence, set a tone and work ethic that fostered a lifelong love of learning and a desire to help others to better our communities. The comparative rigor of the academic expectations required us to develop study skill strategies that translated to work strategies, as we pursued college and graduate degrees, establishing careers. There were very high expectations for those of us in the first graduating class. We were expected to dress and conduct ourselves in a way which would reflect well on the reputation that the school was trying to establish. Dress code and conduct, on and off campus, were held to high standards. We were encouraged to apply to competitive colleges. Academics was the most important part of school life. Participation in extracurricular activities was encouraged but definitely took a second seat to classroom responsibilities. My experiences as a student at Episcopal made such an impact on my academic path and choice of career that I chose to spend the majority of my professional life at ESJ to give back to the students and the community the lessons and values learned there.

MIKE EDWARDS If I could go back in time, I would step back and take a minute to appreciate the experience. I would not be so worried about the grades earned, but concentrate on the knowledge, relationships, and experiences ESJ provided.

ESJ

Students 50TH REUNION

JOHN BOWMAN

The campus was new school, but the curriculum was old school. I recall the smell of recently poured concrete, and of the new binding on my textbook of ancient Greek. Episcopal was on the water, but not on some remote island. Those most impressionable years for most of us were witness to political assassinations, riots, a man on the moon, Vietnam, Haight Ashbury, four dead in Ohio, and Woodstock. It was a lot to process. Mark Twain said he never let his schooling get in the way of his education. But at Episcopal, coats and ties were the ceremonial garb that signified something serious was going on: education. An early liberal arts education is the seed for lifelong learning. I learned, and have not forgotten, what the Greeks carved into their temples: All things in moderation, a sound mind in a sound body, and above all, know thyself.

Winter 2019

50TH REUNION

Memorabilia

1. Program from the first commencement ceremony. The evening event was held in the newly opened “Student Commons Building” which

is now known as the Buck Student Center. 2. Commencement program. 3. A list of the first graduating

class on the back of the Commencement program. 4. Acolyte Bill Walton ‘70 lights the Advent candle. 5. The current Alumni Gym was the only multi-purpose

building on campus until the Commons (Buck) was completed. The maintenance team converted the gym into Chapel and into lunch service and back in the course of a day. The building was referred to as the “cafe-gym-atorium” by the members of the 3

school’s Planning Group. 6. Student Bobbie Anding.

5 6

ESJ

Memora 50TH REUNION

7. The courtyard, then as now,

was a popular place to hang out.

8. Student Franklin Beard.

9. The mulch path between the

Buck Student Center and

the F Building has fielded 50 years of students since the

Buck Center opened as â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Commonsâ&#x20AC;? in 1970.

10. Bill Valentine taught Russian and Latin in the early years. 11. The daily bell schedule from 1970. The school day officially ended at 4:30 p.m. 12. Boys were required to wear coat and tie every day.

Winter 2019

abilia

50TH REUNION

13. P re-Jangro Stadium, parents and faculty filled the stands. Horton Reed, the Headmaster, is behind the girls on the front row.

14. The Reverend George Young was a member of the faculty until 1989.

15. Student Helen Searcy Holmberg. 16

16. H orton Reed, Headmaster, served for 11 years. A graduate of Harvard and Tufts, he was an English teacher whose leadership skills launched him into administration. 17. S tudent Vicki Mein Hinton. 18. Students Tom Bliss and John Bowman. 19. S tudent Duncan Ennis.

18 17

ESJ

Memorabilia 50TH REUNION

20. A morning shot of the Senior Courtyard, which was a great place for gathering then, as now. 21

21. Louise Bignon was a Latin teacher who became the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s archivist after she retired from teaching. Without Louise, much of the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s photographs and memorabilia would be lost. 22

22. Student Val Stieglitz. 23. Students Kent Motes and Bill Walton. 24. Student Lily Pearl Warthen.

23 24

Winter 2019

50TH REUNION

Members of the Class of 1970 Establish 50th Reunion Scholarship As the Class of 1970 prepares to be

As the classes celebrating 50th reunions

the first class in Episcopal’s history

after the Class of 1970 continue the

to celebrate a 50th reunion, they also

tradition of giving to this scholarship

have established a new tradition for all

fund, the principal will ultimately

succeeding classes who will celebrate

generate substantial scholarships for

their 50th reunions: they are working

students.

to endow a 50th Reunion Scholarship Fund in order to provide annual support

“We greatly appreciate the leadership the

for deserving students at Episcopal. The

Class of 1970 has shown in giving back to

class’s goal is to raise $50,000.

Episcopal. As the first class to graduate from the school, they made history

The Class of 1970 has always been a

and shaped the culture on campus

group of leaders/pioneers – they were

that still exists today. We hope their

the first students to lead the school, to

generosity will inspire the next classes

help shape the warm and welcoming

to support the scholarship fund,” said

environment that still thrives on campus,

Missy Ketchum, Director of Institutional

and to set the stage for all who followed

Advancement.

through the decades.

ESJ

ALUMNI NEWS

ALUMNI

Annual Alumni BBQ Homecoming 2019 Episcopal’s Annual Alumni BBQ on Homecoming evening continues to be a favorite alumni tradition. More than 300 alumni and families gathered at the Alumni House to enjoy a delicious BBQ dinner catered by The Bearded Pig, owned by Michael Schmidt ’96, before watching the Eagles defeat Cedar Creek Christian 56-0 on Pajcic-Hunt Field. Alumni Cara Freeman Bowyer ’92 and Richard Spence ’85 crowned the 2019 Homecoming King and Queen, Ellie Riggs ’20 and Tommy Bishop ’20. The Alumni Association’s tradition is to ask alumni who were Homecoming King and Queen as students to return to campus to crown the new king and queen each year.

Winter 2019

ALUMNI NEWS

ESJ

ALUMNI NEWS

Winter 2019

ALUMNI NEWS

ESJ

ALUMNI NEWS

Lady Alumni Networking Event Episcopal’s Alumni Board formed a Lady Alumni Committee that focuses on supporting and encouraging female alumni through networking and service. On August 22, alumnae gathered at Riverside Liquors for a networking event. The group has planned a community service project for March 7, 2020, from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at Sulzbacher Village in Springfield. Contact alumni@esj.org for more information. DC Alumni Event The Rev. Adam Greene, Head of School, hosted DC area alumni at the Cosmos Club on June 27. Attendees enjoyed a cocktail reception, catching up with old friends, and meeting new ones! Summer NYC Alumni Event On July 11 New York City area alumni gathered at The General Theological Seminary in the home of The Very Rev. and Mrs. Kurt Dunkle where Kurt is Dean and President. Cathleen and Kurt are parents of Maddie ’12 and Caroline ’10. The Rev. Adam Greene, Head of School, welcomed alumni and shared updates from campus. Fall NYC Alumni Event Katie Lebhar Black ‘95, Director of Fine Arts, met up with New York City area alumni on October 25 at Bond 45 for a cocktail reception.

ALUMNI NEWS

Young Alumni Event The Young Alumni Committee hosted a young alumni happy hour in historic Five Points at the Derby House on September 26. This group focuses on engaging alumni who have graduated within the past 15 years. If you have ideas or suggestions for the Young Alumni Committee, please email them to alumni@ esj.org. Fine Arts Wine and Cheese Reception On November 7, alumni and parents of alumni enjoyed a wine and cheese reception before the opening of Chicago: High School Edition in Deming Theatre at the Munnerlyn Center. Class of 2014, 5 Year Reunion Lots of hugs, smiles, and high fives took place as members of the Class of 2014 celebrated their five year reunion on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Old friends enjoyed reconnecting and reminiscing in the private Belgian Bar Basement at Kickbacks in Riverside. The Class of 2014 set a new school record in terms of support. 2014 holds the record for the highest percentage of classmates to attend a five year reunion and the highest percentage of classmates to make gifts in honor of their five year reunion. Congratulations, Class of 2014!

ALUMNI NEWS ‘74

class’s 45th reunion! Go Eagles! ’77

Women from the Class of 1974 met in Hendersonville, NC, in early November for a mini-reunion. From left to right: Susan Stephens Conway, Peggy White Lester, Katina Touloumis Clark, Molly Wood Snow, Missy Walton York, Stacy Moseley, Sally Burton Walton, and Jill Mahaffey. ‘76 Tim Platt started a new job this past August as Database Manager and Gift Processor in the Advancement Office at Holderness School in Holderness, NH. After 37 years of teaching Latin (the last 19 at Berwick Academy), he is no longer in the classroom and is thoroughly enjoying his new career direction at Holderness. Holderness is an old (Episcopal) School, founded in 1879, with a fledgling crew program, but still without a boathouse of their own. Holderness reminds Tim of the early days of Episcopal crew, when he and his father, with help from Kirk Logan, Bill Huntley, and others, built ESJ’s first boathouse on the Ray Knight property with a chain-link fence for walls. He is very much hoping to be back in the spring of 2021 for his 26

Winter 2019

Twenty-six members of the Class of 1977 gathered at Susie Good Yazgi’s home on June 22 to celebrate their 60th birthdays together. The party was cohosted by Homer Bliss, Lilli Denmark Behrens, Francine Andia Walker, Julie McDowell Moorman, Simone Aden Reid, Laura Griffin Kelley, Tricia Granum Doolittle, and Walter Mingledorff, with support from Cathy Joseph Gunter, Doug McCain, Lon Walton, Maurice Grant, Cliff Shepherd, and MJ Pierce Hinson. ’82

Lori Harrell Hershey returned to the ESJ campus to give congratulatory remarks to seniors and juniors being inducted into the Aerie Chapter of the National Honor Society this fall. Lori is Chairwoman for the Duval County School Board and a champion for students and public education. Lori is a former middle school teacher who is certified in Critical

Thinking Strategies and Instructional Design by the National Institute for Teaching Thinking. She is a leader with the Florida School Board Association serving on the Federal Relations Network Subcommittee, Finance Committee, and is on the Board Legislative Committee and the Board of Directors. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Council of Great City Schools.

Randy Poitevent DeFoor was Episcopal’s guest speaker for the ESJ Student Government installation ceremony in August. Randy also served as student body president during her time at Episcopal and shared how that experience helped develop her as a student and shaped her career path. Randy currently serves on Jacksonville’s City Council for District 14 and is senior vice president and national agency counsel for Fidelity National Title Group.

ALUMNI NEWS ‘98

Class of 1984 teammates Will Ketchum, David Barksdale, and Tommy Donahoo enjoyed catching up with their former coach, John Howard, who coached football, basketball, and baseball for the Eagles 1981-1990. ‘87

Curry Pajcic was named Trial Lawyer of The Year for the state of Florida this fall by The American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). The award was presented at a conference in Orlando. “It is certainly the greatest honor of my legal career. I am proud to be recognized by my peers. These are both colleagues and competitors of mine, who are highly respected,” said Curry. The award is given for an attorney’s cumulative body of work over the past year. Curry was also president of Jacksonville’s ABOTA chapter.

Simon Grice married Janicka Kucerova on June 29, 2019, at the Chateau Mcely, in Mcely, Czeck Republic. Jeremy Grice ’96, sister Miranda Singley, his mother Bonita Marriott, grandmother Pamela Marriott and other family all flew from South Florida to attend. The couple met while attending university in London. Both were completing their second master’s degrees. Simon and Janicka bought a home in Prague and intend to continue living and working there. They honeymooned in Lisbon. ‘99

Jorge Oliver and his wife Elena welcomed their first child, Camille Natalia Oliver, on July 29, 2019.

Sara Burnett Granberry shares a photo of two Baby Eagles in junior kindergarten class. Her daughter (right, Eleanor Granberry) and Scout Cerveny (left, daughter of Billy ’87 and Charla Cerveny) are in the same class at St. Paul Christian Academy in Nashville, TN. ‘01

Timo Weiland continues to be a star in the fashion industry. He runs The Lead, which connects a community of iconic fashion brands and retailers, rising digital natives, emerging startups, investors and the wider fashion-retailcommerce ecosystem. This spring, Timo collaborated with two other designers to release a collection of colorful ready-to-wear suits that can go from a day at the office to a playful night out. On June 2, Timo presented the collection at New York Fashion Week. ESJ

ALUMNI NEWS ’03 Albert Chester began his career at Walgreens, where within three years, he was promoted to Pharmacy Manager. Noticing the lack of affordable programs for pharmacy techs, Albert began the process of starting a post-secondary career program to train individuals interested in the field. The Capstone Institute opened in 2017, allowing many students to attend for free. In 2018, Albert invested the money earned from The Capstone Institute into another business in the community - New Town Pharmacy. New Town Pharmacy is an independently owned full-service community/ retail pharmacy and is patient-centered, offering everything the large corporations offer and more, including free home delivery. This business model has proven to be crucial for many seniors that have no means of transportation. Recently, Dr. Chester sold the business to Walgreens and is now running for Congress. ’05 and ’06 John Daraskevich ’05 married Lauren Spiller ‘06 on March 2, 2019, in Jacksonville. They have known each other for years and have always been friends. More than three years ago they reconnected and the rest is history! They now live together with their two dogs and a cat. They love 28

Winter 2019

to garden, take the dogs for “hikes” (Fiona-the bulldog-moves pretty slowly!), see live music, and generally be merry. ’06 Clay Greenhaw recently announced an expansion of Claymaker to a full creative agency. While his company still does a fair amount of commercial television, film, and digital video for its clients, they are able to offer much more in terms of branding, brand strategies and entertainment. He invites everyone to visit his recently overhauled website, claymaker.tv. Stacey Jackson Hall and her husband, David, welcomed their first child, Connor William, on May 10, 2019. He weighed in at 7 pounds and 3 ounces. ’07 Kristin Otterson Cronic’s work was exhibited at Stellers Gallery in San Marco this fall. Kristin is now a full-time painter, after serving in the U.S. Navy for six years and graduating from the United States Naval Academy. Images of her work are available on her website kristincronicart. com and on the Stellers Gallery site.

Elizabeth Danner Roth married Nicolas Roth at the Lightner Museum in St. Augustine, FL. Elizabeth and Nicolas now reside in Avondale in a 1926 home they recently renovated. ’09 Caila Gordon-Koster Moed and her husband, Eric, collaborated with Samuel Maddox and Main Made Studios of Jacksonville to install an 11-piece sculptural bike rack called “Changing Perspective” along East Ocean Street between Bay and Forsyth Streets in downtown Jacksonville. The art was commissioned as part of Phase II of the Downtown Investment Authority’s (DIA) Urban Arts Project, with funding from the City of Jacksonville and JEA and administered by the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville. Caila began her MBA at Oxford University in England this fall.

ALUMNI NEWS Gardner Davis ‘09, son of Gardner Davis ‘77 was recently named to Forbes 30 Under 30 list in Finance. Gardner is a Senior Investment Associate at Bridgewater Associates.

mentors that she had at Episcopal - especially Ms. Russo, Ms. Horne, and Mr. Crandall. She hopes to continue making this community proud of her personal and professional achievements.

Christopher Lenahen graduated from Mississippi State University in 2017 and is now a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and working in Brooklyn, NY, at the Veterinary Emergency and Referral Group. He specializes in emergency and critical care. He attended Northern Michigan University for his undergraduate degree, where he was a weightlifter.

’11

’10

Mackenzie Ball Marosy is attending Harvard Graduate School of Education and will be earning her Ed.M, specializing in education policy and management, in 2020. After earning her degree, she will be returning home to Charlotte, NC, and is committed to a career in educational equity and advocacy. Mackenzie is most grateful for her time at ESJ and feels passionate about her work in education because of the amazing teachers and

Palmer Booth graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in mechanical engineering in 2016 and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering in 2017. Beginning with his junior year, he was in a co-op program at Gulfstream Aerospace in Savannah and started full time with the company in July 2017 as an engineer. The photo shows Palmer with a Gulfstream G-600 business aircraft. It was taken in August 2019 at a company celebration on the occasion of the first delivery of a production G-600 airplane to a customer. ’14 Becky Milon was recently accepted into the graduate program at the University of Cambridge.

Madison Yauger is living in Cape Town, South Africa, where she is finishing her master’s degree from Northwestern University Medill with a three month reporting internship. She is working for a human rights news agency called GroundUp News, where she spends the majority of her time reporting on the refugee crisis. ’15 Lawrence Sims graduated in May from the University of South Carolina with a double major in supply chain and marketing and a minor in Spanish. He recently began working for Georgia-Pacific at their headquarters in Atlanta, GA, where he is currently working on brands like Quilted Northern, Angel Soft, Brawny, and Dixie, as part of their Consumer Products Sales Rotational Program.

ESJ

ALUMNI NEWS University of Florida, spent a week this summer in the towns of Puerto Lara and Arimae in Panama, offering free access to physician consultations, dental work, and seminars regarding personal hygiene and other topics.

‘17

Alice Bodge, who attends Emory University, spent the fall semester in Prague where she had an internship with the Global Arena Research Institute. Alice was initially tasked with reaching out to companies to promote the Next 100 Symposium that focused on globalization across multiple disciplines. Alice contributed so much to the event logistics that by the end of her internship, she was asked to take on the leadership role of Director of Operations for the symposium. At the symposium she led a team of ten volunteers and was the point of contact for companies and partners like Coca Cola and the Vodafone foundation. Alice shares “I really do thank Episcopal for instilling a sense of responsibility and ambition in me. It has really paid off.”

Davis Cury, who is a biochemistry student at the 30

Winter 2019

Alex Dent, a physics major, is the first student from Hampden-Sydney College to be accepted into the prestigious and highly competitive Mayo Clinic’s Clinical Research Internship Program. He spent two months of his summer conducting research under the supervision of Mayo Clinic specialists, while honing his career interests and goals. At the end of the internship, he presented his findings in front of physicians and the other interns at the Mayo Clinic. At HampdenSydney he also plays rugby and is a brother in Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Katie Ralys is a junior who plays soccer for the University of Georgia. Last season, as a sophomore, Katie played in all 18 games and had 14 starts. She played both midfield and forward, scoring game-winning goals against Charlotte and Kentucky. Katie has been elected to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll the past two seasons, as well as the SEC Honor Roll in 2018.

Speakman Smith is in his third year at Howard University, where he swims for the Bisons. Last season he was named to the 2019 Mid-Eastern Conference Commissioner’s All-Academic team and recorded five first-place finishes, eight second-place finishes, and three third-place finishes for the season. He is a biology and pre-medicine major and earning a minor in chemistry pre-medical. Chandler Washburn took part in a historic victory in the Kings Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta in England this summer. The Kings Cup was run in commemoration of the original 1919 race, held at the end of World War I. Midshipmen from the United States Naval Academy, including Chandler, won by a ¾-length ahead of the German Bundeswehr team in the championship final of the King’s Cup trophy event.

288

ALUMNI NEWS

ALUMNI DONORS

SURPASSING GOAL ALUMNI OF 250 DONORS

ALUMNI

...for being part of someone’s story this year! A large part of the wonderful experience we had as students at Episcopal was made possible by the generosity of those who came before us. Thank you for paying it forward.

WHY

GIVE

The Episcopal Fund is about much more than money. It’s about people. It’s about students and faculty. It’s about the strength of the Episcopal community which stretches to virtually every continent on the globe. In the Episcopal tradition, it calls on us to be our best. To get involved. To be engaged. And to give back to the school that has given us so much.

BE PART OF SOMEONE’S STORY ALUMNI GIVING CAMPAIGN BY THE NUMBERS

YOUR GIFTS AT WORK

Donations of all sizes make an immediate difference this year!

$50 $150 $500

24 Lacrosse Balls One Year of Pottery Clay for Two Students Student Transportation to National French Contest – Bon Voyage!

$1,000

One Month of Chemicals, Bunsen Burners, Beakers, and Goggles for Budding Scientists

$2,500

One Year of Guest Speakers to Inspire Students and Contribute an Outside Perspective to the Curriculum

42%

Donor Increase from Bring it Home for Homecoming 2018 Campaign

TOP 3 CLASSES HIGHEST

PARTICIPATION

DONATIONS RECEIVED FROM

22 STATES

1990 1994 1995 84

ALUMNI CLASS REPRESENTATIVE

VOLUNTEERS ESJ

ALUMNI NEWS

Kara Virtue ’15’s Internship Comes Full Circle With Job at Adecco With Episcopal’s Career Launcher

resources exclusively to Episcopal

program heading into its sixth summer

alumni. Information and helpful links

of providing internship opportunities

are available on esj.org/alumni/career-

for college age alumni, nearly 60 alumni

launcher.

have now participated. “My internship reinforced my interest Kara Virtue ’15 participated in an

in a Human Resources company and in

internship at The Adecco Group through

bettering the workplace for employees,”

Career Launcher, and following her

said Kara. “My professional goal upon

internship, was hired as a Workforce

my college graduation in May of 2019

Planning Coordinator. Her internship

was to work for a company that valued

field was in Human Resources -

leadership, teamwork, entrepreneurship,

Employee Relations and Compliance.

and philanthropy. The Adecco internship taught me the importance of seeking

Career Launcher is offered through

“

the Alumni Office as a resource for

your own values and principles in the place you choose to further your career.”

alumni transitioning from college to

career. The goal of this program is

At Adecco, Kara has decreased overtime

to help young alumni by providing

expenses, analyzed and communicated

internship opportunities and career

productivity data to directors, managers,

Winter 2019

ALUMNI NEWS

and VPs, and escalated business risks to finance and leadership. She has created and managed associate job sourcing through the Handshake platform. She also has designed training documents to support colleagues in the implementation of a new scheduling tool. After her internship, Kara took a communications course during her senior year at Florida Southern College because the internship had taught her the importance of clear and concise communication techniques in business. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I chose to pursue an internship through Episcopal because of the wide variety of companies the school partners with in order to provide both students and alumni with positive workplace experiences in order to enhance and strengthen their abilities in the professional world,â&#x20AC;? said Kara.

ESJ

ALUMNI NEWS

2019 CAREER LAUNCHER INTERNS AND HOSTS

Winter 2019

ALUMNI NEWS

1. D avis Cury ’17 interned at Ackerman Cancer Center, through ESJ parent Jennifer Maggiore.

2. A lice Bodge ’17 interned at Burdette Ketchum through President and CEO Will Ketchum ’84. 3. Be’ijz Smith ’16 interned at Downtown Vision, Inc. 4. E SJ’s Athletic Department welcomed Kieran Wallace ’16 as an intern this summer with Athletic Director Andy Kidd ’99. 5. S am Meyer ’17 interned at Hodges Mazda through owner David Hodges ’90. Also pictured are alumni Drew Woods ‘08 and Ken Sweder ‘18. 6. A lex Oakley ’16 interned at Mantay & Company through Francesca Mantay Jones ’11. 7. Anjelo Villero ‘16 interned at Northwestern Mutual.

8. M embers of the Class of 2016, including Dinah Stephens, Maggie McQuiddy, Taylor Gunter, and Alexis Terkonda, along with Shane Kilker ‘17, and Class of 2018 members Thea Tutor and Sara Himebauch (pictured here with Candice Anderson and Mary Kate Hickinbotham) interned at the Adecco Group. Internships at The Adecco Group were made possible by ESJ parent Rich Thompson.

NOT PICTURED: Cole Tollet ’17 at Almond Engineering, through Hillary Liles Almond ’90; Anna Baumeister ’18 at Gemstone Media, through Ashley Helmick ’07; Gabi Zlatanoff ’18 at Pikle through Heidi Luebke Dent ’88; Sophie Laettner ‘16, Camille Henley ‘16, Caroline Still ‘17, Jake Still ‘17, and Thomas Freeman ’18 at State Attorney’s Office through Erin Wolfson ’01.

ESJ

ALUMNI NEWS

Glimpsing My Future Through Adecco Job Shadow Opportunity in London This summer, Charlotte Rosenberg ‘20 participated in a job shadow opportunity in London while 18 ESJ students participated in job shadow opportunities in Jacksonville through Episcopal’s Career Launcher program. The program seeks to provide juniors and seniors and college-aged alumni with opportunities to intern or job shadow, providing them with valuable skills and insights into future career possibilities.

By Charlotte Rosenberg ’20 When I entered the lobby of Adecco’s London office, the first thing I saw was a man with a welcoming, excited smile. He quickly approached me and introduced himself as Manny, my point person for the day. We took the “lift” up to the Adecco office where we warmly greeted each and every person that we encountered. Manny showed me my daunting schedule, back-to-back meetings all day. I was nervous and had no idea what to expect. Thirty minutes later, my nerves had dissipated. Aimee and Yasmine, the office interns, had just as many questions for me as I did for them. We compared American and English cultures and school systems, particularly at the “uni” level. After my conversation with the interns, I was surprised to be introduced to the Chief Marketing Officer. We talked about my aspirations and how difficult it was for Americans to work in London. Despite the inevitable challenges of acquiring a work visa, the conversation furthered my interest in working for a business abroad. Each meeting 36

Winter 2019

showed me a glimpse of who I want to become and how I could get there. Although some were merely casual conversations, one in particular involved asking for my opinions on a new marketing campaign. I felt honored to have a say in the process, and they seemed to value my input. Though all my experiences were valuable, my personal favorite meeting was with both the head of marketing and the head of communications. We discussed environmental sustainability and its connection to the business world. We discussed movements like “Gag the Swag” to replace wasteful corporate marketing materials with gifts such as pencils with seeds inside that can be planted once the pencil is no longer useful. We discussed the need to decrease our carbon footprint and how the sustainability movement started small. I am hopeful that movement will continue to expand, with large corporations taking the lead. In London, I saw my future and what I want to do to advance corporate sustainability. I hope to use my voice to make a global impact. As I left the office, I realized that my experience at Adecco was incredibly unique and equally amazing. I knew that I had been lucky to catch a glimpse of my future, and I am so thankful for this opportunity made possible through Episcopal’s Career Launcher program.

ALUMNI NEWS

REUNION WEEKEND COMMITTEE Episcopal thanks the 2020 Reunion Weekend Committee members who make these events possible through dedication of their time and talent.Reunions provide a great opportunity for our alumni to reconnect with old friends and the Episcopal community. We look forward to welcoming our alumni to campus each April and are grateful to these committee members for their leadership and support.

1970 - Bobbie Anding Franklin Beard John Bowman John Duncan Candy Oberdorfer Edwards Duncan Ennis Vicki Mein Hinton Helen Searcy Holmberg Jack Schmidt Bill Walton 1975 - Katie LeMaster Reid McCormick 1980 - Jim Moseley Marci McTier Skinner 1985 - Rip Canon Raymur Walton Rachels Richard Spence 1990 - Jennifer Stopiak Hayes, Co-Chair Katherine Donahoo Nott 1995 - Anne-Marie Forbes Hulsey 2000 - Sam Hyde Geisler William Milne Eduardo Oliver Kacey Lewis Roache Graham Riley, Co-Chair 2005-Leigh Elizabeth Black Israel, Co-Chair 2010 - Lee Haramis Deanna Thornton Nick Walker

ALUMNI NEWS

REUNION WEEKEND Episcopal School of Jacksonville

Friday, April 24, 2020 All-Alumni Reunion Weekend Kick-Off Party

Saturday, April 25, 2020

ALUMNI alumni@esj.org

Classes celebrating reunions: 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2010 |

904.396.5751

www.esj.org/alumni

CAMPUS LIFE

OPEN HOUSE JOIN US FOR AN OPEN HOUSE AT EPISCOPAL SCHOOL OF JACKSONVILLE! Learn about our balanced approach to education. Discover how we prepare students for a life of purpose.

JANUARY 14, 2020 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Munnerlyn Center for Worship and Fine Arts Prospective students and parents welcome. Come and go as you please - no formal program. Visit with administrators from all areas of campus life. Tour ESJâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campus with a current student. For more information or to schedule a personal tour, contact the admissions office at 904.396.7104 or admissions@esj.org. Grades 6-12

esj.org ESJ

ALUMNI NEWS

CAMPUS LIFE

Episcopal Holds First Ordination in School History Episcopal held the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first ordination on campus in its 53 year history on Wednesday, December 4. The Rev. Christopher Dell, previously a transitional deacon, was ordained to the priesthood at 11:30 a.m. in Deming Theatre in the Munnerlyn Center by The Right Reverend Samuel Johnson Howard, Bishop of Florida, during a special Chapel and full Episcopal church service.

Winter 2019

CAMPUS LIFE

The laying on of hands is a sacramental act that can be traced back to the first apostles. Through the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Chris was made a priest in God’s church. Following the ordination, the community celebrated Holy Communion. “We are so excited that Fr. Chris’s congregation -- the students, faculty, and staff at Episcopal -- were able to witness his ordination. This is a significant event in Fr. Chris’s life and in the life of our school,” said The Rev. Teresa Seagle, School Chaplain. “To be ordained as ‘pastor, priest, and teacher,’ as the ordination rite says, surrounded by faculty and students, including many whom I teach in Middle School Bible classes, was profoundly moving,” said Fr. Chris. “I am deeply grateful to all of the colleagues, students, family members, and other friends of the Episcopal community who helped to plan, prepare, and Chris was presented to Bishop Howard, which ensured he was selected by the Church to be ordained and that he was willing to make certain commitments in

celebrate this joyous occasion.” Chris serves as an Associate Chaplain for the school.

his life in Christ. Following a reading and sermon by the Bishop, Chris went through The Examination, during which he made certain vows. Then the Bishop laid his hands on Chris, along with other priests in attendance, including The Rev. Adam Greene, Head of School, and The Very Rev. Kate Moorehead, Dean of St. John’s Cathedral and Vice Chair of the Episcopal Board of Trustees.

ESJ

CAMPUS LIFE

October 11, 2019 Dear St. Mark’s and Episcopal School of Jacksonville Communities: We are pleased to share with you today that after much contemplative and prayerful deliberation, together our organizations have reached a decision to merge St. Mark’s Episcopal Day School (SMEDS) into Episcopal School of Jacksonville (ESJ), effective on July 1, 2020. A Mission Advancement Agreement governing the terms of the merger (subject to the customary conditions including the approval of the Standing Committee of The Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Florida) was signed on October 11. The decision to proceed with a merger has been approved by the ESJ and SMEDS Boards of Trustees, the Vestry of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Foundation Board of Trustees, and The Right Rev. Samuel Johnson Howard, Bishop of Florida, and the Episcopal Diocese of Florida. This decision was made after many thoughtful discussions with our boards and members of our communities. All of those in leadership considered the feedback and questions received, input from counsel, and exploration of the legal and financial impacts on both organizations, before reaching this conclusion. We are deeply grateful for the selflessness, hard work, and time of all of those who dedicated themselves to the due diligence process. We firmly believe that the joining of the two schools creates an opportunity for both to strengthen quality Episcopal education in the Diocese of Florida, for our programs to grow in depth and breadth, and for our students, faculty, staff, and families to be enriched by the expansion of our schools’ communities. This partnership between the schools and the church ensures the continuation of spiritual formation in the lives of our students. SMEDS will continue to operate as an independent school through June 30, 2020, after which time it will be merged into ESJ. An information meeting for SMEDS parents to learn more about this union with ESJ will be held on Wednesday, October 16, at 5:30 p.m. in Leatherbury Hall at St. Mark’s Church. Following in the spirit of our schools’ founders and our missions, ESJ and SMEDS will continue to provide our students with an exceptional education within a Christian environment that encourages them to follow their passions and to develop into leaders in our community and the greater world. Together we will work to ensure that the spiritual and moral tenets of our Episcopal tradition are evident in all that we do going forward. Trusting in God’s guidance, we look forward to an exciting future as one school. Sincerely,

The Rev. Adam Greene, Head of School, Episcopal School of Jacksonville

Alex Graham, Chairman, Board of Trustees, St. Mark’s Episcopal Day School

The Rev. Thomas P. Murray, Rector, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

Winter 2019

CAMPUS LIFE

ESJ Announces New Leadership Appointments as Mergers Approach In mid-November, Episcopal made several leadership appointments which will support the growth and culture of excellence of the school as it continues to look toward the July 1, 2020, mergers with Beaches Episcopal School (BES) and St. Mark’s Episcopal Day School (SMEDS). All new appointments are effective July 1, 2020. Following these new appointments becoming effective, Keesy Goebertus will continue as Associate Head of School, and Paige McGee will remain Episcopal’s Head of Middle School. “All of these individuals are committed educators and experienced administrators who are dedicated to our great school’s mission. Most importantly, their love for, and commitment to our students guides all that they do,” said The Rev. Adam Greene, Episcopal’s Head of School. “I could not be more excited about the future of Episcopal with these fine professionals in leadership roles.”

Natalie Herford Head of Upper School, Munnerlyn Campus Natalie has two decades of teaching experience, with almost half of those in Episcopal’s history department. She has served as the History Department Chair since 2015 and currently serves as the Curriculum Committee Chair. Natalie chaired the school’s Portrait of a Graduate committee last year. She was the 2016 recipient of the Davis Award for Excellence in Teaching. Prior to teaching at Episcopal, Natalie taught at Porter-Gaud School in Charleston, SC; Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School in St. Louis, MO; and The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, GA, among others. Natalie is currently completing her certificate in School Management & Leadership at Harvard University, Graduate School of Education/Harvard Business School. She has a Master of Arts in Teaching from Boston University’s School of Education and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Boston University as well. She has been very involved in the College Board’s AP programs, serving on the leadership teams for the organization. ESJ

CAMPUS LIFE

Beville Anderson Head of Lower School, St. Mark’s Campus Beville’s many years of experience in education — 16 of them on the St. Mark’s Episcopal Day School (SMEDS) campus — make her an ideal candidate for this position. Beville most recently served St. Mark’s as the Dean of Faculty. She served as the Assistant Head of School at SMEDS for four years prior to that; as the Director of Christian Education; and as a guidance counselor and service learning coordinator from 2008-2014. She also taught at SMEDS for three years. Beville graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in communications. Her graduate studies are extensive and include the fields of education, counseling, and theology: she has earned an M.S. Ed. in Counseling Education from Duquesne University; completed graduate hours in counseling psychology from the University of North Florida; and completed graduate studies at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. She also has earned certification for the State of Florida Department of Education Certificate for Guidance and Counseling (PreK – Grade 12) through 2021. She is a recipient of the SMEDS Nancy N. Wood Excellence in Education award (2013).

Winter 2019

Jennifer Ketchum Head of Lower School, Beaches Campus Jennifer currently serves as the Interim Head of School for Beaches Episcopal School. Most recently she served as Episcopal’s Director of Strategic Initiatives and as the merger transition coordinator. Before joining the ESJ family, Jennifer spent nine years as the Principal at St. Peter School, Pre-K4-Grade 8, on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. Because of her leadership, the school also earned the prestigious National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award. Jennifer also taught at the elementary and middle school levels for more than ten years. Jennifer received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ, and a Master of Arts in Teaching, Notre Dame of Maryland University in Baltimore, MD. She also received a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN.

CAMPUS LIFE

Sixth Grade Travels to Driftwood for a New Biology and Ecology Experience Sixth grade students went to Driftwood Education Center on St. Simonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Island in Georgia this fall for a new marine biology and ecology experience. The trip enhanced and reinforced the marine science knowledge that students have learned in the classroom with hands on interdisciplinary activities, such as squid and fish dissection, visits with reptiles, and plankton collection.

ESJ

CAMPUS LIFE

“Each student learned that there is a whole world of moving and creepy creatures in our waterways that is not visible to the eye. Students had photographs and descriptions to help identify the various plankton in front of them,” said Debbie Deppe, sixth grade instructor. Groups also completed fish dissections to compare and contrast the sea bass and the mullet. “Cutting off the fins and then opening up the fish was not for the weak of heart! Each student learned that all fish are definitely

Winter 2019

not alike,” said Mike Rickey, sixth grade instructor. “Even the most squeamish students enjoyed it, however.” The classes also spent an entire day on Cumberland Island, splitting into small groups with Driftwood teachers and hiking seven miles around the island to explore. While at Cumberland, students used a seine net (a vertical net with a weighted bottom) in the ocean to catch and release different varieties of fish and other sea life. They explored the ruins of the Carnegie mansion and grounds and wondered at the wild horses, being careful not to disturb them.

CAMPUS LIFE In addition, sixth graders learned about snakes, turtles, and other reptiles in their small group with Driftwood teachers. Students were able to hold snakes and small reptiles and visit with an alligator. On the last day, the ecology lessons were reinforced with a performance of The Lorax by Driftwood teachers. The final night was capped by a fireside gathering complete with songs and skits.

Sixth graders enjoyed the opportunity not only to get to know their classmates but also to step outside their comfort zones and grow in their awareness of various ecological communities around them. “God’s world is beautifully made with lovely islands and wonderful creatures that inhabit every nook and cranny if one only takes the time to really look,” said Debbie Deppe.

ESJ

CAMPUS LIFE

Students Benefit from Modeling Method in Science Honors Biology students at Episcopal are benefiting from a new teaching method instructor Megan Wickenden ’06 has instituted on campus, called “modeling.” In fact, the Honors Biology class has been redesigned around the modeling framework, which she learned how to implement during a professional development opportunity. Modeling is a form of student centered teaching that emphasizes small groups working to discover models of understanding using data and then synthesizing that data into a consensus with the entire class. The process requires collaboration, similar to the Harkness Method, but the results are different -- the entire class works together to create a consensus on a model that explains the data and problem presented. “A common misconception about modeling is that the students are making a physical model. The model they make is usually a conceptual model,” said David Wandel, science instructor. “For example: A unit on evolution would start with a question such as, ‘How do organisms change?’ The students use simulated data that mirror the original data that the actual scientists used to create an explanation.”

Winter 2019

CAMPUS LIFE Typically, biology is a field in which students

physical phenomena as a central aspect of

are required to memorize a high volume of

learning and doing science.

content like all of the parts of a cell, steps of protein synthesis, or the classification of

“I was thankful to join the faculty at ESJ

organisms.

when we were trying to make learning more student centered, and excited at

“While a class that gives students

the prospect of changing the way I was

information to memorize is easy to teach

teaching,” said Megan. “The Harkness

and pretty straightforward for students,

method equipped students to be able to

it was frustrating that students were not

share and support their own conclusions

gaining insight into the real process of

from readings, but it was difficult to

scientific discovery or critical thinking,” said

adapt to the science classroom because

Megan.

of the dynamics of a full class discussion.

Typically lab work

Science is often

fills those gaps, but

about figuring out

labs had students

what doesn’t work

following a plan

before discovering

that led them to

what does, and there

“right” answers or

was not enough

data that supported

time for students to

something that they

work through those

already understood.

challenges in a large class discussion.”

“While a lab experience can

Adapting the Honors

be helpful, it takes the student out of the

Biology curriculum to the modeling method

driver’s seat. They become used to looking

meant changing the sequence of units to

for the right answer instead of following the

follow a historical model of discovery in the

patterns of evidence to come to their own

field of biology. Students begin the year

conclusions, which is the most exciting part

asking the same questions that were posed

of studying science!” said Megan.

by Charles Darwin, then use Mendel’s pea plant data to fill in the gaps that Darwin

WHY MODELING?

did not understand about how traits are

Modeling Instruction is an evolving,

passed on. This sequence continues through

research-based program that was

the entire year as students learn about

developed through funding from the

population genetics, molecular genetics,

National Science Foundation. Initially

biotechnology and cell function. Students

developed for physical sciences,

rely on a claim, evidence, and reasoning

modeling emphasizes the construction

framework to explain their logic. As they

and application of conceptual models of

get more comfortable with this pattern, they ESJ

CAMPUS LIFE begin to apply it naturally to sources that

long-term data collecting projects for their

they use for research and discussions in

modeling process such as Mendel’s pea

class.

plant experiments, genetics with drosophila, and biotechnology experiments using PCR

“It’s always exciting when students realize

and electrophoresis.

that supporting their ideas in science looks a lot like the way that they explain their

Another major improvement that is

ideas at the Harkness table,” said Megan.

in discussion should the new science classrooms be built is having classrooms

In the classroom, a unit begins by posing

that are linked. This would allow biology

a question or presenting a natural process that doesn’t align with what students expect. From there, students work in small groups to analyze data, create experiments, use online simulators, or do lab work that will help move them towards a solution or explanation. Students present and justify their conclusions and often use whiteboards as a tool for collaboration and presentation. Upon hearing the work of their peers, the class works to come to a consensus and conclusion. teachers to have a shared prep area where

FUTURE OF MODELING ON CAMPUS

they could collaborate on modeling lessons

Episcopal is currently exploring the addition

and house the equipment needed to run the

of a new building on campus that would

investigations to collect data.

possibly include new facilities for science

classes, allowing for expansion of the

“My role as a teacher has become asking

modeling method in science courses. A new

questions that make students explain their

science center would improve flexibility

thought processes and helping them work

for teachers, as modeling would run more

through the tension of solving a problem.

smoothly with furniture designed to move.

It is thrilling to see students working

For example, small groups could get

through the same questions that scientists

together for the initial breaking down of the

asked as they discovered key patterns and

data and then quickly shift desks to a full

processes,” said Megan. “By the end of the

class discussion on the model.

year, students are strong collaborators and

Having the space for classroom layouts

problem solving comes more naturally. They

that are more mobile would allow Honors

ask questions and follow their curiosity

Biology the space to set up their own

when they are given the space and means.”

Winter 2019

CAMPUS LIFE

The Theme Timeless Touches All Aspects of Life, Art Katie Lebhar Black ’95, Director of Fine Arts

with choreography by Bob Fosse, an enduring legend in dance. The upcoming

Most things in life are fleeting. We all

Middle School play will explore work by

know this and we experience it every day:

Anton Chekov, one of the most influential

developments or events that are significant

writers of the modern era. The choral music

in the moment, but hardly memorable in

spring concert will explore lasting songs

the future. In fashion, bell bottoms were

from various decades in history, and our

fleeting, but the little black dress? Timeless.

annual dance concert is titled “In Its Time.”

In technology the palm pilot (yes, I had

We will partner with The Cummer Museum

one) was fleeting, but global connectivity?

to present “Midsummer at the Cummer” in

Timeless. In education, slide rulers were

April, demonstrating the enduring relevance

fleeting. Critical thinking? Timeless. Yet often

of Shakespeare’s work. And we will end our

in the art world, things endure for centuries.

school year with Eagle Arts Camp in June

Poems and songs for children written a

as we take a “Journey Through Time.” These

hundred years ago are still used today. The

are only some of our events throughout the

Mona Lisa at the Louvre Museum is loved

year that explore the Timeless theme.

by generations. Tourists still marvel at Greek and Roman sculpture. Great literature is

I am struck as I walk through campus that

reused and reinterpreted through theatre

there is so much about this place itself that

and film, such as the multiple versions of

is timeless. The first graduating class 50

Shakespeare’s plays. These things are truly

years ago probably thought that the Great

timeless and thus our theme this year in

Oak would be one of those things. Sadly

Fine Arts: Timeless.

that specific tree is now gone, but in its place a beautiful new live oak has settled

The ESJ fall musical this year was Chicago,

in, calling this campus home. It reminds

the newly released high school version of

me that growth is itself timeless. Now three

the truly timeless Kander and Ebb musical

generations of graduates have walked through these halls. Alumni all remember different faculty members, we experienced Chapel in different buildings, we had chalk boards, or white boards or smart boards, and we sat under the shade of different trees, but all of us have had a timeless experience in this place. We underwent personal growth and change in a place that has always been and continues to be a reminder that we are formed by our Creator Little Mary Sunshine (1976) was performed in the Commons (Buck). ESJ

to live in community. In Fine Arts at Episcopal something that has always stood the test of time is the development of creative young people who see the world as beautiful, full of potential, and needing their gifts. We don’t simply desire to turn students into professional artists, although that sometimes happens. Rather, we seek to provide them with a different lens through which to view themselves and their reality. The creative impulse is by definition timeless. We were made by our Creator to create. In fact, that is what happened at the very beginning of time itself, a force of creativity so powerful as to spin light into darkness and breath into being. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the very definition of timelessness. And truly, the arts are timeless. Whether you performed a play in the Commons in the 70’s or the Sikes Theatre in the 90’s, or the Deming Theatre in the Munnerlyn Center, we all explored story, character, and ensemble. Whether you took pictures in photography class solely with film, or whether digital photography was in the repertoire, you still learned how to see life through the lens of a camera. If you sang in St. John’s Cathedral, or on the road for the Mitchell Mass, you still glorified the essential Spirit that was the catalyst for creating this school. The arts have existed throughout history as every generation of people discovers the power and beauty of artistic expression. Timeless.

Caberet was performed in the Sikes Theatre in 1997. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead was performed in the Munnerlyn in 2014. The Mitchell Mass was a folk mass written by The Rev. Ian Mitchell, who was commissioned by the school to create it in 1967. In the late 1960s, students traveled to perform it at Episcopal churches around Jacksonville. Students sing at the Christmas Concert at St. John’s Cathedral every year. 52

Winter 2019

CAMPUS LIFE

Broadway-Worthy: Chicago: High School Edition With Taylor Lee Horne ’00, Director of Upper School Theatre “I knew Chicago was the perfect choice of show for the abundant singing, dancing, acting, and technical theatre talent we have been blessed with at Episcopal,” said Taylor Lee Horne ’00, Director of Upper School Theatre, of this year’s selection for a fall musical. “I was thrilled when a high school version was released.” Episcopal’s Fine Arts Department presented Chicago: High School Edition November 7 - 9 in Deming Theatre in the Munnerlyn Center for Worship and Fine Arts. With show-stopping performances by Lauren Holland ’21 (Roxie Hart) and Julia

Polster ’21 (Velma Kelly), a set that served as a courtroom, women’s prison, and backdrop for multiple visually gorgeous musical numbers, and amazing choreography, ESJ’s fall musical was Broadway-worthy. There’s a reason why the 1996 Broadway production of Chicago holds the record as the longest-running musical revival and the longest-running American musical in Broadway history. There’s a reason why it is the second longest-running show to ever run on Broadway, behind only The Phantom of the Opera. There’s a reason why the West End revival became the longest-running American musical in West End history and why the 2002 film version of the musical won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

ESJ

CAMPUS LIFE

The reason is also its plot. Chicago is what sells. You might be one of the millions who watched FX’s Fosse/Verdon this summer. In a scene where Gwen Verdon is trying to talk Bob Fosse into doing the Broadway show, she explains, “It’s about what happens when no one even bothers fighting anymore. When people don’t even care about the truth, when all they care about is what sells. When everything - politics, the news, life and death - it’s all just entertainment. That is about as old-fashioned as today’s front page.” The musical was inspired by a play of the same name written by Maurine Dallas Watkins. Watkins was a reporter for the Chicago Tribune in the 1920s, where she covered the trials of accused murderers 54

Winter 2019

Beulah Annan (her inspiration for Roxie Hart) and Belva Gaertner (her inspiration for Velma Kelly.) It was the dawn of “sobsister” reporting in an age of all male juries. Watkins recognized that the rival Hearst papers were focused on the plight, attractiveness, redemption, or grace of female defendants, and that people make decisions for all the wrong reasons. In response, career driven Watkins covered Annan and Gaertner as if they were celebrities. This amazing Chicago: High School Edition cast of Episcopal students played to a packed house three days in a row.

CAMPUS LIFE

ESJ

CAMPUS LIFE

Visual Arts Showcases Italy Journey Visual Arts opened an exhibit of student photography on November 7 in the Berg Gallery. All works were created during this summer’s photography-focused trip to Italy as part of Episcopal’s Institute for Global Learning. Students’ images feature Venice, Florence, and Cinque Terre. “I could not be more proud of what our students were able to accomplish. This group worked beautifully together while documenting the people, landscapes, and everything in between, on our journey, which we titled ‘The Search of Jacobo,’” said Mr. Zimmerman, photography instructor.

ESJ

CAMPUS LIFE

Tidings of Comfort and Joy Episcopal’s Fine Arts Department presented Tidings of Comfort and Joy, the 2019 Christmas Concert, at St. John’s Cathedral on December 6. Both performances filled the Cathedral. Members of the Middle School, Honors, and Concert Chorales presented “On Christmas Night,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.”

Winter 2019

Selected works performed by the Middle School Concert Band, Honors and Upper School Wind Ensemble, and Upper School Instrumental Ensemble included “All is Calm,” “Deck the Halls with Chips and Salsa,” and a “Silent Night” sing-a-long with the audience. Greg Hersey, Director of Instrumental Studies, and Carolyn Tuttle, Director of Choral Studies, directed the performers.

CAMPUS LIFE

ESJ

CAMPUS LIFE

2019 Fall Athletic Accolades Football • 9-1 regular season record – finished regular season ranked 11th in state rankings • Qualified for the state playoffs for the sixth time in school history • Hosted a playoff game for the third time in school history • Defeated Baldwin 35-25 for the first playoff win in school history Boys Swimming • Boys swimming repeated as state runnersup • Three individual state champions (most of any school at state meet) • Eight top three finishes (most of any school at state meet) • Ten top five finishes (most of any school at state meet) Girls Swimming • Finished 11th overall • Two state runner up swims by Mary Kate Kelley ‘21 Girls and Boys Swim teams combined for seven new school records. Boys Golf • Advanced to state championships for eighth consecutive year • Tommy Bishop ’20 was top local finisher at boys state championship Girls Golf • Advanced to regionals • 16 girl golfers involved in the program (a record number for ESJ) • Sofia Pecoraro ’21 advanced to state championship as an individual Cross Country • Boys’ team advanced to the state championship • Girls’ team advanced to state championship and finished ninth out of 32 teams Volleyball • District champions for third straight year 60

Winter 2019

CURRENT COMMITMENTS TO PLAY IN COLLEGE Football Nick Elksnis – Penn State University Baseball Matt Komaroski – Pacific University Swimming Jace Crawford – University of Florida Kate Wilkerson – Florida Atlantic University Mary Kate Kelley – University of Florida Volleyball Liv Leinenweber – Babson Collage Emily Mayher – Loyola UniversityNew Orleans Victoria Wood – Queens College Hannah McCarthy – Franklin & Marshall College Baseball Clayton Hodges – Jacksonville University

CAMPUS LIFE

ESJ

CAMPUS LIFE

Eagles Football has Historic Season

The 2019 season was one for the Eagle record books, as Varsity Football won the first playoff game in the school’s history, in addition to finishing the regular season ranked eleventh in the FHSAA state rankings with a 9-1 regular season record. The record included key wins over Providence, Lake Highland Prep, Crescent City, and Andrew Jackson. “I couldn’t be prouder of Coach Brunell, his coaching staff, and our kids for the way they represented Episcopal this year. This team and coaches put in the time and effort to be great beginning in spring practice and didn’t stop until they made history in the playoffs,” said Andy Kidd ’99, Director of Athletics. Under Head Coach Mark Brunell, the team earned the number three seed in the 62

Winter 2019

region at the conclusion of the regular season to start the state playoffs. This is the sixth time the Eagles have qualified for the state playoffs, and the third time Episcopal has hosted a playoff game. The Eagles defeated Baldwin 35-25 for the first playoff win in school history at Jangro Stadium on November 8. Team members, coaches, faculty, staff, and students rushed the field in the rain to celebrate the amazing win. “Certainly a low point of the season was getting beat at home by Baldwin 35-7. But the highlight was getting a second chance at them and beating them in the playoffs. It was an incredible moment that showed just how special this team is,” said Coach Brunell. “They simply believed they could win and believed in each other. It was perfect!” Prior to the Baldwin game, former Eagle football players, led by ESJ football alumnus Jim Moseley ’80 and ESJ football parent Rich Thompson, supported the team by sending in notes of encouragement to the players. The dozens of notes were then

CAMPUS LIFE

displayed for the players in the locker room on gameday. Alumni from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and 00’s all participated. “It was awesome to see the football alumni support this year’s team. I saw many of them in the stands at the playoff game as well. It really gives our teams a lift when they receive encouragement from our former athletes,” said Andy. The entire ESJ community rallied around the team as they prepared to head to Tallahassee for the regional semifinal game against Florida High on November 15. Led by ESJ’s student spirit group, the 12th man, ESJ coordinated an “Eagle Walk” for the team as they headed across campus to board the buses for Tallahassee. Students lined the halls, cheering for the team. A fan bus for enthusiastic students excited to support their classmates departed later that day for the game as well. Despite ultimately being defeated in the regional semifinal game, the Eagles still finished a great season on a high, going further in the playoffs

than any other team in ESJ history. ESJ football coaches Marcus Wells ’90 (defensive coordinator) and Charlie Hunt Jr. (offensive coordinator) were key contributors to the team’s success. In the playoff win against Baldwin, the defense forced five turnovers and the offense racked up almost 400 yards of total offense on their way to victory. Senior Max O’Brien and juniors Nick Elksnis, Jack Bogan, and Tucker Tomberlin led the team through the historical season as captains. “The 2019 team will certainly be considered one of the best in Eagle football history. And the credit goes to the young men that worked so hard throughout the season preparing for each game,” said Coach Brunell. “This team was loaded with talent but their strength was their character, their positive attitude and their incredible work ethic. It really was a pleasure coaching these student-athletes.”

ESJ

CAMPUS LIFE

Positive Experiences, New Facilities Grow ESJ Wrestling Program The number of wrestlers competing for the Eagles over the last two years is the most seen on the mat in the past 10. This year, 35 wrestlers are involved in the program. In addition, the wrestling team qualified at least two wrestlers for the state tournament three out of the last four years. ESJ wrestlers recorded multiple district and regional championships as well as two state runners-up finishes and a state third-place finish during those four years. The Episcopal wrestling program consists of a Middle School team and a Varsity team, and is a no-cut sport that takes place during the winter season, with opportunities for students to be involved in the spring and

Winter 2019

summer as well. The increase in numbers can be attributed to the hard work of the Middle School coaching staff, who work tirelessly to increase the numbers by providing a positive experience for young wrestlers. “Our core group of Middle School coaches – Mike Rickey, Darren Glenn ’91, and Randy Towers ’78 – have done a great job building a foundation for the program over the past several years that has resulted in a committed and seasoned group of wrestlers at the high school level,” said Coach Jefferson Brant, wrestling’s new program director.

CAMPUS LIFE

Coach Brant most recently served as a teacher and wrestling coach at Severn School outside of Baltimore for three years. Prior to his time at Severn School, he served as a teacher and wrestling coach at St. George’s Independent School in Memphis for six years. In addition to his coaching duties, Coach Brant also teaches history at Episcopal. “Coach Brant brings a wealth of experience as a coach and former wrestler to our program. His ability to also teach history at ESJ made him standout as a candidate in the search process. We feel strongly that coaches who can also work full time at ESJ are able to make a bigger impact on our student-athletes,” said Andy Kidd ’99, Director of Athletics. In addition to ensuring the experience on the mat is a positive one, ESJ wrestling coaches introduced the first off-season club team this past spring and summer, which provides a great opportunity for ESJ wrestlers to develop their skills outside of the high school season. Additionally, DaShaun Gibbons, Strength and Conditioning Director, works to train the wrestlers so they are in the best shape possible for the 2019-2020 season. “While we still have room to grow in terms of the number of kids on our varsity and JV squads, we’re really excited to see the results from all this hard work and preparation,” Jefferson said.

Wrestling hosts the Bierbaum Invitational on January 4, 2020, in the Semmes Gym. Wrestling Senior Night is January 14, 2020, vs. Bolles at 6:30 p.m. in the Alumni Gym.

Wrestling also has new, dedicated space on campus on the second floor of the Semmes Gym. Gone are the days of moving chairs and tables and rolling the mats out in the Buck Center before practices.

“We would love to see as many people as possible from our wider school community come out to cheer on our kids at our home matches and tournaments this year,” said Jefferson.

“I’m not sure any of this would be possible without the vision of Lead the Way campaign and support of Randy Towers to create a practice space for our wrestling program. The old adage of ‘If you build it, they will come,’ holds true for our wrestling program.” said Andy. ESJ

ADVANCING EPISCOPAL

ADVANCEMENT

Herlong Planned Gift Endows Scholarship Episcopal was notified last spring that the school’s first chaplain, The Right Reverend Bertram N. Herlong, and his wife, Vickie, who died in 2011 and 2019, respectively, had made a planned gift to the school. The Herlongs’ $100,000 bequest is now an endowed scholarship in memory of the couple, who were lifelong partners in a ministry that began in Florida and spread to New York, Michigan, and Tennessee, where Herlong was named Bishop of the Diocese of Tennessee. The Rev. Bert Herlong had been serving as Canon at St. John’s Cathedral, but he was happy to be named as the founding chaplain of the new high school being formed on the St. Johns River. “My father liked to teach,” said his daughter, Angela Herlong Bean, who attended Episcopal as a member of the Class of 1974. “He and Bob (Parks) had a symbiotic relationship,” said Angela. “There was a high level of trust between the two of them.” That trust gave Herlong

the confidence that teaching theology and working with high school students would be rewarding. Herlong was a natural with teenagers. In the earliest days of the school, the current Alumni Gym served as the cafeteria, gym, and Chapel space. Father Herlong led Chapel services wearing groovy vestments that Vickie made for him. “He was a firm believer that the way to get kids interested was to have them involved in Chapel services,” said Angela. “The students planned and participated in every aspect of Chapel.” She recalled the large ornamental fabric that hung behind the wooden cross--affectionately referred to by students as the “colossal dossal”--and the bright colors of the banners that hung around the altar. Herlong insisted on live music for every Chapel service, and he and fellow faculty members wrote a musical mass that was recorded and released on LP vinyl. The Rev. Bob Parks was called to serve as rector of Trinity Church Wall Street in 1971. A year later, he recruited Herlong to be rector of St. Paul’s Chapel on the campus of Trinity Church, a post he held for seven years. Following his service to Trinity, Herlong was called to be the Dean of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Detroit, Michigan. In 1993, The Rev. Herlong was named Bishop of the Diocese of Tennessee, and under his leadership, the diocese became the fastest-growing of any diocese in the United States. Given the range of the Herlongs’ experiences in ministry, their decision to include Episcopal in their estate plans reflects their love for the mission and ministry of the school as well and the role they played in its beginning. The Herlong Scholarship will support a qualified student with financial need. “Ensuring access to students from all backgrounds was extremely important to them,” said Angela. “I am thankful that this scholarship will be a blessing for deserving students at Episcopal.” The Reverend Bertram N. Herlong and his wife, Vickie, who made his colorful vestments. The Rev. Herlong conducts a Chapel service with “the colossal dossal” in the background.

ADVANCING EPISCOPAL

Jerry Kimbrough ‘74 Honors Ted Rickard, Provides Visiting Artists Jerry Kimbrough ’74 is a professional musician whose career path was forged on the Episcopal campus in the classroom of Edward H. “Ted” Rickard. Mr. Rickard was the school’s first Director of Music, and his influence on scores of teenagers endures, though those teenagers are now middle-aged adults. Jerry wants the light that Rickard spread to extend to successive generations of Episcopal students. “His classroom was profoundly and thankfully disruptive...mapping out a world of music and possibilities previously unknown to me,” said Jerry, in a letter to his classmates. “And we all benefited from the energy he poured into Chapel and other campus events that called for music.” Jerry was inspired to start an endowed fund in memory of Mr. Rickard with the goal of providing annual support for visiting artists to work with Episcopal students. “While we have teachers in every discipline, they can’t possibly be well versed in every artistic style,” said Katie Lebhar Black ‘95, Director of Fine Arts. For Jill Langford Dame ’74, the fund is a fitting tribute to the kind of teacher Mr. Rickard was.

“He was gracious about giving kids a chance, whether or not they were his best musicians or had the best voices,” she says. Jill remembers that Rickard let her accompany a choral piece after some of his better pianists had graduated. “He encouraged me to try,” she said. The Edward H. Rickard Endowed Fund for Visiting Artists will add distinction to our fine arts program. Initially, Jerry Kimbrough solicited his classmates from 1974 for the fund, all of whom remember Mr. Rickard, but anyone who wishes to support a visiting artist program at Episcopal is welcome to contribute by going to https://www.esj.org/give-to-the-endowment/. Jerry believes in the power of art to shape any path to success. “Are all the students at ESJ going to grow up to be ‘Artists,’ as such? I hope not!” he says. “Not in this world where the need for confident, creative minds in medicine and business, governance, and technology has never been greater! From that perspective, this opportunity to foster greater imaginative powers and creative confidence in the students at ESJ becomes exponentially more important.” Mr. Rickard would definitely agree.

ESJ

ADVANCING EPISCOPAL CORPORATE SPONSORS - DIAMOND

CORPORATE SPONSORS - PLATINUM

CORPORATE SPONSORS - GOLD

Winter 2019

ADVANCING EPISCOPAL CORPORATE SPONSORS - SILVER

ESJ

ADVANCING EPISCOPAL CORPORATE SPONSORS - BRONZE

Winter 2019

ADVANCING EPISCOPAL CORPORATE SPONSORS - BUSINESS

CORPORATE SPONSORS - SPONSOR

ESJ

ADVANCING EPISCOPAL

2018-2019 Report of Philanthropy The Office of Institutional Advancement gratefully acknowledges the many parents, grandparents, alumni, faculty, staff, coaches, students, and friends who contributed to Episcopal School of Jacksonville during the 2018-2019 academic year. You can view the 2018-2019 Report of Philanthropy online at www.esj.org/rop.

esj.org/rop

ADVANCING EPISCOPAL

ONE GIFT CHANGES EVERYTHING

esj.org/donate

ALUMNI NEWS

END NOTES ALUMNI

In Memoriam

Dr. Susan Baker Hewell ’71 died on July 25, 2019. She is survived by her husband George Hoyt Hewell II, her sister Judy Baker Pate (Mike) of Tallahassee, stepson Galen Brett Hewell of Las Vegas, NV, and stepdaughter Adrienne Shea Dilger (Mike). After graduating from Episcopal, she earned her undergraduate degree at Queens College in Charlotte, NC, her masters from Jacksonville University, and her doctorate from the University of Florida. Susan was a life member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. An accomplished musician, she played piano professionally and served as choir director at churches in the Jacksonville area. A service was held August 1. David Roberts Fulford, Jr. ’73 died on July 8, 2019. He attended Episcopal from its opening day. After graduation, he attended the University of Virginia. Many classmates attended his memorial at Episcopal Church of the Redeemer on July 18. He is survived by his daughter, Dorothy (Tripp) Browning and granddaughters, Tinsely, and Palmer. William “Bill” Thompson ’74 passed away on October 30, 2019. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida. A Master Electrician, he was the third generation owner of Bill Thompson Electric Company. He is survived by his daughter Danielle and son Billy (Catie). A celebration of life was held on November 10 at the beach with many of Bill’s classmates in attendance. Memorial donations may be made to Community Hospice & Palliative Care.

Winter 2019

END NOTES

D’Arcy Moran Freeman ‘00 died on July 14, 2019. A resident of Idaho Falls, Idaho, D’Arcy leaves behind her husband Josh, and children Emily, Maddie, and Charlie. In Jacksonville she is survived by her parents, Donald and Elaina Moran Jr., and her siblings, Richard (Penny), Brendan (Kait), and Donald Moran III. She graduated with honors from Episcopal and Summa Cum Laude from the University of Florida. Funeral services were held July 19, 2019. Donations may be made to www. EasternIdahoDownSyndrome.org. Christa Elizabeth Bryant ’17 passed away October 27, 2019. Christa was the Editor and Chief of the Episcopal yearbook and graduated with honors. Christa was a junior on the dean’s list at Florida State University. She is survived by her parents, Jill and Ken, and her siblings, Michael, Jenn, and Matthew Purcell ’14. Many classmates attended Christa’s celebration of life service on Tuesday, November 5, at St. John’s Cathedral. FACULTY Peggy Skilling Walker passed away in Huntsville, AL, on November 30. Peggy served as Episcopal’s Science Department Chair and taught Honors and AP Biology. Peggy graduated from Ensley High School in 1960, earned a BS degree at Auburn University in 1964 and received a Master of Education from the University of North Florida in 1985. She was one of 100 teachers chosen to participate in Genentech’s inaugural program to introduce computers into the science classroom. She was the recipient of many professional development grants, which enabled her to attend summer programs at the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University and the Department of

Neurobiology at Duke University, among others. She was named Alabama Science Teacher of the Year by the National Association of Biology Teachers in 2003. Peggy is survived by her husband, Roland E. Walker Jr.; her children, Amy Walker, David Walker ’87, and Elizabeth Walker Townsend ’89; and four grandchildren. A funeral service was held December 7 at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, AL. TRUSTEES Dr. Robert B. Van Cleve, former Board of Trustees member and longtime friend of Episcopal, passed away on July 8. He was parent of four Episcopal graduates -- Beth Van Cleve Weldon ‘76, Catherine Van Cleve Bauman ‘77, Sis Van Cleve Miller ‘82, and Robert Van Cleve ‘83 -- and grandparent to almost a dozen ESJ alumni. Dr. Van Cleve’s longtime friendship with the school will be very much missed. In 1988 he and his wife, Sarah, created the Sarah Elizabeth de Lannoy Morley Towers Scholarship Fund at Episcopal. In 2005 Dr. Van Cleve’s family made additional contributions and included his name on the fund. Each year the fund helps to assist scholarship students with various additional expenses that arise. Dr. Van Cleve’s funeral was held at First Presbyterian Church on August 17. Donations may be made to The Salvation Army, the First Presbyterian Church, or the Dr. Robert B. Van Cleve and Elizabeth Towers Scholarship Fund at Episcopal.

ESJ

END NOTES

HISTORY OF A HEAD’S DESK

More than 50 years ago, Episcopal’s first headmaster, Horton Reed, pondered the school’s future from his office desk. Reed moved on after a few years, and eventually his desk got moved into storage, where it stayed for more than 45 years, until The Rev. Adam Greene, Head of School, chose it for his office in Winston House. Newly refinished, Horton Reed’s desk is once again playing a key role in the decisions, challenges, and joys in the daily life of Episcopal’s leader.

Winter 2019

END NOTES

LIFE AT KEYSTONE BOYS’ HOME, 1936 - 1942 Late last year, we received a call from

He sent us a narrative and illustrations

Robert Sholtes, a gentleman now 90 years

of the campus of the boys’ home, which

old, who grew up at the Keystone Boys’

included a main house with an outdoor

Home which predated the Episcopal School

sleeping porch where the boys slept year

of Jacksonville campus. Mr. Sholtes arrived

round; a laundry; barn with two milking

at the boys’ home in 1936 and left

cows; a swimming pool; a vacant house

around 1942.

(now the Bond-Lane house); and a bowling alley (presently near the baseball field).

This photograph from the Episcopal archives features the boys and their caretakers, 1940. ESJ

END NOTES

The main house, according to Mr. Sholtes’

radio shows on the giant floor radio on the

drawing, would be where Parks Hall is

sleeping porch.

today.

On weekends, residents of the boys’ home

Mr. Sholtes described life at the home, led

went to the movies in San Marco and, in the

by The Reverend Ambler Blackford, who

summers, rode together in a special trailer

was an associate

towed behind a car for

priest at St.

day trips to Jacksonville

John’s Cathedral,

Beach “with home-made

which owned

tomato sandwiches

the property. It

and lemonade.” The

was called the

boys made surf boards

Keystone Boys’

of plywood and nails.

Home because

There was morning

the estate was

and evening prayer in

bequeathed to St.

the main house, and

John’s Cathedral

scheduled study hours

by Pennsylvanian

each evening. The

Mary Packer

group went to church

Cummings, who

on Sunday.

called it “the

Mr. Sholtes left the

Keystone Estate.” Daily life at

boys’ home in 1942 and Robert Sholtes standing in front of the main house.

from high school and

the home included gathering wood for the wood stove that

college, and he earned a doctorate in

heated the showers, selling flowers grown

engineering.

on the property to passersby on Atlantic Boulevard, swimming in the artesian wellfed pool, climbing the limbs of the Great Oak Tree, and listening to the old time

went on to graduate

Winter 2019

Front Cover: The Class of 1970 at the Bond-Lane House (from the 1968 yearbook).

4455 Atlantic Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32207