PATRIOT
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THE
GERMANTOWN ACADEMY MAGAZINE
Spring 2020
Can’t Wait to Be... Together Again!
The Class of 2014 reconnected on GA/PC Day during Alumni Weekend.
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May 2020
Dear Alumni/ae,
It is impossible to overstate just how much we miss seeing you, our students, families, faculty, and staff here on campus. Fortunately, and in true Patriot fashion, the GA community has remained steadfast, persevered, and proved GA’s motto true during this unprecedented time. Once alerted that a community member had tested positive for COVID-19 in early March, our administrators and faculty quickly assessed the situation, developed an academically-challenging distance learning program for all students called Virtual GA, and continues now to work exceptionally hard, each week layering in additional student engagement opportunities and connections to tend to our students’ health and well-being. I am proud of what our faculty has achieved, and I encourage you to follow GA on social media to learn firsthand how GA is moving forward, together, even amidst a pandemic.
I’m grateful for the remarkable perseverance and buoyant attitude of our students. While Zoom classes offer some opportunities for personal interaction, nothing can replace being together on our campus. We know how disappointing this spring has been for the Class of 2020, but we are committed to continuing as many beloved traditions as possible. We have planned a special Drive-In Senior Night, including favorite movie snacks, to award prizes and to celebrate each senior through individual tributes and the annual video created by our Parents’ Committee. In addition, even if we are socially distanced, we are planning to hold an in-person Commencement in July, come what may!
While this separation is not how we had envisioned the end of the 2019-20 school year, we remain thankful for the moments of joy we shared together, highlighted in this abbreviated version of The Patriot Magazine, Patriot in Pictures. Hopefully you will remember our nail-biting victory in the Competition Cup during GA/PC Weekend, our spectacular celebration of the Belfry Club’s 125 Anniversary, and, more recently, our highly entertaining gathering for Alumni Trivia Night! Over the last few months, we hope you have enjoyed connecting virtually through “events” such as 2020 McVeigh Day and the Book Club, as well as celebrating your favorite memories during Teacher Appreciation Week.Your kind words boosted the spirits of both past and present faculty.
I send my very best to you and yours and hope that you are healthy. To all the members of our gifted alumni/ae who are working tirelessly to keep people well and our country functioning, we are indebted to you. We look forward to when we can be together again, and we hope you will return to campus to celebrate GA/PC Day and Alumni Weekend, November 13-14, 2020, at GA. We can’t wait to see you! Best,
Rich Schellhas Head of School Rich.Schellhas@germantownacademy.org
Robert DiDonato ’21 and Issy Goldstein ’20 brought home the Cross Country trophies at GA/PC Day and Alumni Weekend 2019.
On March 5 over 120 alumni gathered for the annual Philadelphia Alumni Reception at the Union League. Pictured above: Erin Patrick ’13, Shannon Patrick ’06, Matthew Turner ’06, and Head of School Rich Schellhas.
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A VIRTUAL MCVEIGH DAY
ALUMNI TRIVIA NIGHT
2020 McVeigh Day took place on April 25 and, this year, focused on acts of kindness, ways to raise someone’s spirits, or being of help, all with social distancing in mind. Patriots of all ages rose to the occasion and shared pictures on social media (like Sal Paone ’95 and family, shown above) of actions or the things that brought them joy. THANK YOU to all for "Living His Legacy!” Stay Tuned for McVeigh Day of Service 2021 and plan to participate in service efforts around the country in memory of Peter C. McVeigh 1760.
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Pictured from left are: Kyle Donahue ’14, Carolyn Korman Jacobs ’80, Ellen Stern Sternberg ’81, Michael Jacobs P ’09 ’12 ’17, Football Coach Matt Dence
In late January, over 100 alumni came out for our 2nd Annual Alumni Trivia Night.With questions ranging from obscure historical facts to pop culture and even mindbenders related to GA, the score was close until the end with the faculty team pulling out a narrow win. Be sure to Save the Date for next year’s Alumni Trivia Night – February 19, 2021.
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS...JIM BUCKLEY 1760
Jim Buckley 1760, history teacher, athletic administrator, and longtime girls basketball coach (250-89 in 14 seasons) has always been unique in his ability to say both GA/PC Day and PC/GA Day with ease. A Penn Charter graduate, Buckley found a home at GA. “I loved that the schools were originally down the street from each other. It was more like brother versus brother since our friends went to the other school.We didn’t have to worry about getting to the game at 2:30 on Friday afternoon, because we were right there among the 5,000 spectators.We watched from the classroom windows as the fans, alumni, parents, etc. came to fill the stands.” Buckley fondly recalls being a founding member of the “Bad Boys Table.” However, he credits the inclusion of girls at GA to have changed the profile of our school instantaneously. “Other than the ‘Bad Boys’ lunch table (consisting of Ted Haynie 1760, Joe Elwell, Roger Eastlake ’59, Phil Rittenhouse 1760, sometimes Tony Garvan 1760 who slapped the label on the group, David Martin 1760, as both colleague and son-in-law, Patrick David 1760 wandered in, Jason Straub 1760, Barbara Hitschler Serrill ’68, Judy Krouse 1760, and AliceMary Honeycutt among others), I miss the students and colleagues that I worked with for 36 years.We started the lunch table routine in the corner of the Dining Room, and it got so big at one point we needed two tables.”
“I finished coaching girls basketball at GA in 1998, but I was still teaching. A friend called and asked if I was interested in being an assistant basketball coach at the University of the Sciences. It was pure luck that put me on the
court there, but the more I became involved in the game on the college level, the more I wanted to go further. I went on to coach at Bryn Mawr College and then Ursinus College.” His years of coaching recently garnered Buckley an induction into the Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame. A well-deserved honor!
“I did not have a favorite player in any of my coaching. Instead, I tried to learn from all of them, thus broadening my experience and giving me greater appreciation of my craft. I had some great coaching relationships with students.” “Since I ‘officially’ retired in 2015, I have been playing a lot of golf and volunteering as a basketball coach for the Episcopal Academy’s girl’s program. I also helped out recently in the GA Athletics Office digitizing the college signing photos.” “The inclusion in the Class of 1760 is very special to me. Recognition for fostering the quality of life at GA through involvement with students and faculty is quite an honor.” GA is honored to have Jim Buckley on its roster of faculty and coaches who established a lasting legacy over the years by guiding students and enabling them to thrive as learners and athletes.
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S T O I R T A P
WIN THE DAY!
Boys Cross Country: GA 23, PC 32 Girls Cross Country: PC 26, GA 31
The Patriots were triumphant on GA/PC Day, which was held on November 9, 2019 at Penn Charter, as they won the Competition Cup by just one point! Led by golf, boys cross country, boys water polo, field hockey, girls tennis, and football, GA defeated PC, 5.5-4.5 (each team is awarded half a point when a tie occurs).
Boys Water Polo GA 13, PC 11
Golf: GA 4, PC 4
Girls Tennis: GA 6, PC 1
Girls Water Polo: PC 22, GA 8
Boys Soccer: PC 1, GA 0
Football: GA 38, PC 35
Field Hockey: GA 3, PC 1
Girls Soccer: PC 2, GA 1
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THEN & NOW
As a member of the 50th reunion class, Gary Stever ’69 was proud to serve as the alumni advisor to Head of School Rich Schellhas in picking the football game’s Most Valuable Player, Geis Trophy Award Winner, Jerry Griffen-Batchler ’21.
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FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME
On September 14, Patriot football alums from the 1960s through the 2010s met at the home of Colin Dougherty ’94 for a post-game celebration honoring the program’s long tradition and in support of an endowment initiative - the GA Football Helmet Endowment Fund. This new fund was established to provide financial support for the GA Football program well into the future. If you are interested in learning more about this effort, contact Martin Dean at martin.dean@germantownacademy.org.
SAVE THE DATE!
AT HOME
NOVEMBER 13-14, 2020 GA/PC DAY and ALUMNI WEEKEND
(Top photo) There was a great turnout for the Alumni Boys Soccer Game! Alumni and coaches, past and present, came out for the friendly game with a touch of competition. Victors were the Blue Team, 4-3.
Boys Soccer and Ice Hockey Alumni
Mark your calendars for next Thanksgiving Weekend!
(Bottom photo) Organized by Rich Podulka ’95, the Ice Hockey Alumni game was once again a good time for all, including two current Upper School team members this year. The White Team won, but all enjoyed refreshments upstairs afterwards.
BELFRY 125: A SHOW FOR THE AGES
Many familiar faces returned to the Arts Center stage on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019 for Belfry 125, a spectacular variety show that featured performances by both former and current members of the Belfry Club. Along with many alumni in the audience, they celebrated the 125th anniversary of the legendary Upper School club, which is the oldest, continuously-run high school dramatic club in the United States. The evening, a collaboration between Belfry Club Director K. Richardson and the Office of Institutional Advancement, featured individual performances from Merton "Dee" Nason III ’58, Geoffrey Goldberg ’02, Courtney Lyneé Williams ’03, Scott Stampone ’09, Will Bellamy ’10, Alexandra Doman ’10, Lea Tsoubanos ’10, Sophie Hearn ’15, Hayley Dare Derbyshire ’16, Alexandra Kafrissen ’20, and Rachel Roth ’21. The evening also included special appearances from Ginny Hofmann 1760, Robynne Murray Graffam ’86, Brian Klugman ’93, Michael Alfieri ’07, Michelle Geosits ’11, Eli Schleicher ’13, Emma Hearn ’14, Kristen Vaganos ’14, Maxwell Donches ’19, Danny Ritz ’19, J. Fassler ’20, Lauren Paynton ’20, Isabella Venziale ’20, and Morgen Zighelboim ’23. Belfry Club friends Brian McCann, who starred in King Lear, and award-winning playwright Chisa Hutchinson also offered their well wishes.
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CLASS OF 1969 REDUX!
In honor of their 50th Reunion, members of the Class of 1969 banded together and generously gifted more than $100,000 to the school. Their gifts were made in support of the Annual Fund, Alumni Financial Aid Endowment Fund and for a special rehabilitation and rededication for the ’69 Outdoor Classroom. The class built the outdoor learning space by hand during their Senior year using stones gathered in Germantown to ensure a lasting connection between the two campuses, the class, and their fond GA days. Thank You Class of 1969 for setting an example for current and future Patriots and for leaving a legacy of camaraderie, compassion, and commitment!
CELEBRATING OUR BELOVED FACULTY DURING
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
From May 4–8, GA celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week with special “shout-outs” to faculty – past and present – on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and www.germantownacademy.net/support-ga/teacher-appreciation-week. For those who submitted photos, stories and memories, we THANK YOU for sharing and spreading the love for our GA faculty. They loved hearing from you!
“Without Mr. Mattern I wouldn’t be the person I am today. He pushed me to follow politics as a profession, he showed me what American History could mean and inspired me to take my passion forward into college and beyond.” Jefrey Pollock ’89
“I would like to give a shout out to Ritt and Mrs. Pizzino - the best science teachers ever! Today, I am a fourth and fifth grade teacher, and I still find myself sharing those memories of my Marine Bio and Environmental Science classes with my students.” Rebecca Gober ’15
“My favorite professor? For sure, Mr. Bodine! My Spanish teacher. A great man! From 1964 to 1966, I studied Spanish with him, with great pleasure. Many thanks Mr. Bodine!” Jim Bricker ’66
“As a math and science kid, I never really pushed myself to improve my reading or writing skills, which is why I'm so fortunate to have had Robynne Graffam in my corner during high school. Throughout my time as a Writing Center advisor and student in her Outsiders AP English class, Mrs. Graffam wouldn't let me take the easy route, consistently challenging me to raise the bar higher and higher for myself.” Emily Hyman ’10
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Patriot Connect Your Germantown Academy Network
“I truly believe that the purpose of gaining knowledge is to share it, and it was a delight to offer AJ a window into my world. I feel fortunate to have had so many formative learning experiences at GA and it was an honor to pay it forward to AJ all these years later.”
Daniel Lipschutz ‘08
Daniel Lipschutz ’08, a freelance illustrator, enjoyed hosting AJ DiFranco ’24 for his 8th grade day off campus experience in locations all around Philadelphia.
Andy Towne, P’13 ’17 ’21, GA parent and CEO/Founding Partner of Hobbs & Towne, Inc., spoke over Zoom with GA alumni from the classes of ’16 & ’17 about how to best position themselves in this uncertain and volatile job market. “The call with Mr. Towne epitomizes the power of our GA network. I feel so fortunate to have an alma mater that continues to support their alumni and guide them toward success post-graduation.” – Kat Stambaugh ’16
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