Worcester Hilltopper Summer 2021

HILLTOPPER Growing Together

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REMEMBERING DEE ROWE ’47 JOHN HOPE FELLOWSHIP FUND CO-EDUCATION AT WA summer 2021

VOLUME XXIX / ISSUE 2

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CONTENTS

4

A Decade as Head of School: Ron Cino Expanded Worcester Academy from Every Perspective

SUMMER 2021

contents

12

Nathalie Pérez-Cino: A Model for Embracing Community and Being Yourself

14

Worcester Academy’s Dee Rowe ’47: Encouragement, affection, and positivity to last a lifetime and beyond

20 22

John Hope Fellowship

Co-Education At Worcester Academy Has Its Roots In 1850s

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departments 24 27 29 30 35 46 53

ALUMNI NEWS ON THE HILLTOP WA ATHLETICS GIVING NEWS CHECKING IN PASSINGS READER SURVEY

the

HILLTOPPER

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

summer 2021

officers & members

President

Vice President Treasurer Secretary

James J. Pietro ’81, P’11,’14,’19 David Shamoian ’70 Jonathan S. Stuart ’86 Andrew B. O’Donnell, Esq. ’73, P’03,’05,’07,’10

Head of School

Hilltopper Editor

Graphic Designer

Dr. Marla Abodeely ’90 Benny Sato Ambush ’69 Sava B. Berhané, J.D. ’03 Nora Toohy Brooks Jamie E. Lavin Buzzard ’02 Courtney N. Carr, Esq. Peter Cronin ’80 Henry Dormitzer III ’88 R. Victor Fields ’71 David P. Forsberg ’65, P’91,’94 Lawrence A. Gordon ’72, P’11 Michal Grabias ’11 J. Michael Grenon ’88 Ernst Guerrier P’19 William Haddad ’92 Susan Weagly Jacobs, J.D. P’03 William H. Kettlewell ’69, P’08 Michael J. Mangaudis P’11,’14 Megan O’Leary P’20,’22 Jacqueline Peterson Sarah S. Pulsifer ’91 Susan Puryear P’19,’21 Caroline Reich P’06,’08 Dr. Michael T. Shannon ’73 Luke M. Vaillancourt ’01

Photography

VOLUME XXIX / ISSUE 2

Worcester Academy exists to instill in its students the desire to learn throughout life, to engage passionately with the world around them, and to be honorable persons of strong and resourceful character.

Neil R. Isakson P’15,’19 Good Design LLC, www.gooddesignusa.com Ursula Arello ’85, P’21 David Barron, Oxygen Group Karla Cinquanta Alicia Figueiredo Neil Isakson P’15,’19 Tom Kates Photography

Development Office Kim Stone, Director of Development

Ursula A. Arello ’85, P’21, Director of Alumni & Donor Engagement

Alicia Figueiredo, Director of Alumni Relations

Neil R. Isakson P’15,’19, Director of Development Operations and External Communications

Mark E. Lufkin, Senior Development Officer

Anette Macintire P’22, Development Database Manager

James McNamara ’07, Assistant Director of Donor Engagement, Assistant Director of Admission

Dexter P. Morse, Headmaster Emeritus

Jennifer Sabatini, Director of Individual Giving

Featured Writers

Contributing Writers

MISSION

Ronald M. Cino P’21,’22,’24

Christine Foster is an independent school fundraising and communications professional. An independent school parent and a frequent feature and contributing writer for colleges as well as independent schools, Christine has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Alicia Figueiredo is director of alumni relations at Worcester Academy. Alicia has been at Worcester Academy since 2007 and previously held the position of manager of alumni programs & events.

CORE VALUES

HONOR | RESPECT | COMMUNITY | PERSONAL GROWTH | CHALLENGE

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2016 CASE DI Silver Award winner for General Excellence, Independent School Magazines

Cheryl Bardoe is a visiting educator, author, and a frequent writer in the educational field. She is a regular contributor to Worcester Academy’s Hilltopper magazine.

Ursula Arello ’85, P’21 is the director of donor engagement at Worcester Academy. She serves on the Residential Life team overseeing Heydon Hall. She also manages the Rowe Family Golf Committee and supports the Everyday Excellence Fund.

We are a community—curious, thoughtful, generous, and thriving in our diversity. We embrace each of our core values as essential to the mission of Worcester Academy and as testimony of our beliefs and commitments.

2015 Case DI Bronze Award winner for Best Designed Magazine

The Hilltopper is published twice yearly by Worcester Academy.

Reader comment, as well as information of interest, is always welcome.

Please write to Neil R. Isakson, Director of Development Operations and External Communications, at Worcester Academy, 81 Providence St., Worcester, MA 01604, or email neil.isakson@worcesteracademy.org.

ON THE COVER Head of School Ron Cino (left), Giovanni ’21 (top middle), Christiana ’24 (bottom middle), Isabella ’22 (top right), and Ron’s wife, Nathalie Pérez-Cino.

from the head of school

carrying the WA motto Schools are amazing ecosystems, with many layers of interconnectivity. One inspiring aspect of leading a 187-year-old institution like Worcester Academy is being respectful of the history, traditions, and culture that have made this place special to those who have learned, lived, and worked here over time.

Equally inspiring are today’s students, whose eagerness to learn and bright futures urge us to evolve for their benefit.

It is fair to say Worcester Academy has changed in important ways since I first arrived as director of college counseling in 2001. This is as it should be. We all share a responsibility at

Worcester Academy to evolve the educational experience to give the best to our students. The bridge between generations at WA? Our motto, “Achieve the Honorable.”

As I reflect on my time at Worcester Academy, I’m most grateful for the distributed leadership across so many people who dedicate themselves to preparing our students. I offer heartfelt thanks for the collaboration with past and present trustees, faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumni. I have truly cherished the warmth and friendship of this community.

Nathalie and I had been married only a year when we first moved into our Heydon Hall apartment, excited about our new adventure on the Hilltop. Two decades later, we have three children in the Upper School at Worcester Academy. Every day we are in awe of the people our children are becoming, as we see the impact of Worcester Academy through parents’ eyes.

The growth of character and intellect that we observe in our own children are what students from down the street, from across the nation, and around the world come to find.

The transformational impact of a Worcester Academy experience is the reason alumni remain in relationship with each other, with faculty, and with our school throughout their lives. We are bonded together by our school mission and our motto. I still remember how, “Achieve the Honorable,” resonated with me when I first saw it on WA’s website when applying to work here.

It is a message that speaks to generosity, respect, and how we prioritize people.

It has been a tremendous honor for Nathalie and I to serve the WA community, and our entire family will carry this motto with us always, along with many wonderful memories. Thank you!

Ronald M. Cino

Worcester Academy

3

A Decade as Head of School

RON CINO EXPANDED WORCESTER ACADEMY FROM EVERY PERSPECTIVE

by Cheryl Bardoe

Head of School Ron Cino always appreciated the teachers who went above and beyond for him and helped him find his path in life. Growing up in Brooklyn, he attended Poly Prep Country Day School. As he recalls, the experience was transformational. “I’ve always valued what I got out of being a member of that community. To this day, I see the impact those teachers had on my success as a student, and later in life. As a life-long educator, I’ve wanted my own students to have a similar life-changing experience.”

AN INSTINCT FOR

EDUCATION

For Mr. Cino, the seeds of being an educator sprouted early. In First Grade, he was tapped by his teacher to mentor a fellow student who was new to the country. Even as a boy, Mr. Cino recognized this as an 4 the HILLTOPPER : summer 2021

opportunity to help others by sharing what he knew. Inspired by school, he soon began drawing up math tests and compelling a brother who was two years younger to take them. “We still love each other, so that’s good,” Mr. Cino jokes. He later served as a student tour guide for his high school, a summer camp counselor, and a college admission officer. “I always appreciated how education is about

access and opportunity,” Mr. Cino says. “What people learn and how they apply it is the key to how they navigate the world.”

Mr. Cino’s favorite part of being an educator is seeing students grow into the people they want to be. “The goal of a school is to offer structure, safety, challenge, opportunity, and choice,” he explains. “That’s what helps young people mature and rise to the occasion inside and outside the classroom.”

Trustee Meg O’Leary P’20 was impressed with Mr. Cino’s approach to education from the moment she met him. She and her daughter, Tess, were touring WA’s campus when they unexpectedly met Mr. Cino in Walker Hall. With an open window on his calendar, he invited them to chat about what they were seeking in a school. “Ron was kind, passionate about education, and projected

a sense of community that I knew I wanted my daughter to be a part of,” Ms. O’Leary says.

Tess enrolled, and WA quickly lived up to the expectations of that first encounter. Ms. O’Leary describes the Eighth Grade “Ted Talks” as being more than a classroom project. “The students put themselves on stage and shared their deepest feelings about being teenagers,” she says, “and the whole school, from the teachers through to Ron, was there to support them.” Ms. O’Leary observed such moments happening time and again. In addition to engaging with WA’s core curriculum, students shared their learning so that the community as a whole could grow. Ms. O’Leary also likes how WA’s curriculum embraces the larger city of Worcester and extends beyond campus boundaries. “It’s an extraordinary way to bring education to

“I always appreciated how education is about access and opportunity.

What people learn and how they apply it is the key to how they navigate the world.”

Worcester Academy

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Top left: Ron Cino and his wife, Nathalie Pérez-Cino, WA’s first-ever director of diversity and community relations, 2003.

Top right: Ron Cino and Mary Fenner, then administrative assistant, in the College Counseling Office in 2002.

Left: Ron Cino, far right, assistant WA wrestling coach, 2003.

Above: A photo of Nathalie Pérez-Cino from the 2003 yearbook.

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life,” she says. “I know that experience started with Ron’s vision and then carried down to the classroom.”

Both as a WA parent and as a trustee since 2016, Ms. O’Leary has interacted with Mr. Cino in a variety of settings and describes him as the personification of WA. “I’m moved by how Ron always made time for people,” she says. “He knew every student’s name and he knew their parents. He always seemed to be present, whether to support a class project, a sporting event, or a play.”

COMING TO

THE ACADEMY

Mr. Cino first came to WA in 2001 to be director of college counseling. He had learned about the school because he regularly visited independent schools throughout New England as an admission officer for Trinity College in Hartford, CT. Then head of school Dexter Morse immediately recognized Mr. Cino’s potential. “He’s a tremendous people person,” Mr. Morse says. “He cares deeply, and it was clear that he would be a thoughtful person to work with seniors—and their parents—through what is often an anxious process.” Mr. Cino moved to WA with his new wife, Nathalie Pérez-Cino, who became WA’s first-ever director of diversity and community relations. “I often teased Ron that he wouldn’t have gotten the job if we weren’t also able to hire Nathalie,” says Mr. Morse.

In the ensuing years, Mr. Cino taught English, coached wrestling, and worked in residential life. In 2005, he became the director of Upper School, and in 2010, he served as acting head before the Academy’s

“Ron did a lot of work relating to curriculum and programs.

He played an important role in making the school more student-centered and more transparent in how it interacts with students and parents.”

—Dexter Morse Board of Trustees selected him to become the school’s 31st head of school. The focus of each head of school is strongly influenced by the era in which they serve. “Ron did a lot of work relating to curriculum and programs,” Mr. Morse says. “He played an important role in making the school more student-centered and more transparent in how it interacts with students and parents.”

Recently-retired Barbara Ahalt, who worked alongside Mr. Cino for many years as a teacher and then as an associate head of school, observed his open door for conversations with students. “He really believes in student agency and student voice,” she says. “Students would come out of those meetings feeling heard.” The same was true for faculty, she says, adding that Mr. Cino has been a strong proponent of professional development.

Listening closely to so many perspectives gave Mr. Cino a clear, distinct vision for implementing WA’s mission. Change can be a challenge for any institution as old as the Academy—and yet the ability to be responsive to current times is critical for survival. Mr. Cino found success in balancing timeless values with the rapidly evolving needs of the 21st century. “Ron could make difficult decisions, which is critical for a leader,” Mr. Morse says. Ms. Ahalt adds, “He worked tirelessly to improve WA and was an effective

communicator about what he felt was the right educational direction for the school.”

As a trustee for 20 years, Victor Fields ’71 welcomes Mr. Cino’s willingness to exchange ideas. “I’ve talked to a lot of alumni over the years and the common thread that people find at WA is a real passion for learning,” he says. “Talking with Ron has been invaluable in helping me to understand the WA student of the 21st century and the challenges they face.” Mr. Fields also enjoys Mr. Cino’s attention to detail and ability to make things happen, ranging from facilities to programming. “In addition to education, we talk a lot about personal development and the skills needed for leadership,” he says. “I view Ron as a friend, and our conversations have been as helpful for me as I hope they’ve been for him.”

ADVANCING

DEI WORK

Mr. Cino has been particularly impactful in expanding diversity, equity, and inclusion at WA. When current Director of Equity and Inclusion Bonnie Walker arrived at WA in 2019, she was pleased to find a solid base from which to build. Walker appreciates that culture and community are identified as a priority in the current Strategic Plan and that a sense of

awareness has already been established among students, faculty, parents, and trustees. “Rather than trying to convince the community of the importance of equity and inclusion,” Ms. Walker says, “I can focus on driving us forward in response to where our school and nation are.”

WA’s academic and co-curricular programs already reflect significant work to become culturally responsive.

Faculty are now challenging themselves to increase the consistency of this experience and to implement pedagogy that is anti-racist, in addition to being multicultural.

Ms. Walker points out that Mr. Cino has cultivated a team of faculty, administrators, and trustees who are primed to continue this effort. “The culture we create is critical to operating a successful school,” she says.

“The leadership at WA understands all the pieces of infrastructure that support a strong school culture, and they are forward-thinking in what we need to do relating to curriculum, hiring, retention, and professional development.”

Under Mr. Cino’s direction, WA has also strengthened off-campus relationships. WA has conducted joint programs with nearby Union Hill School and developed curricular projects that link to Worcester’s vibrant business and cultural arenas. The school has partnered with city officials and community leaders to invest in streetscaping and promote public

Worcester Academy

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“The world is grappling with race and racism, and it is striking how Ron has advanced difficult and important conversations.

In my view, the school’s competitive advantage is its rigorous education and its motto of ‘Achieving the Honorable.’ Ron never lost sight of these priorities even as he elevated necessary conversations around diversity and inclusion.”

—Sava Berhané ’03 safety in the surrounding neighborhood. The Academy was a founding tenant at nearby Fidelity Worcester Ice Center and was recently named the Official Independent School Partner of the Worcester Red Sox, the Triple-A Major League Baseball team that recently relocated to the city.

Farther afield, the Academy was the first of many American independent schools to work with a WA alumnus to increase educational opportunities for students in Somaliland by bringing them to America to lay the groundwork for success at U.S. colleges.

Sava Berhané ’03, who has been a trustee for three years, observes that during Mr. Cino’s tenure, WA has had its most diverse board in the school’s history. “The world is grappling with race and racism, and it is striking how Ron has advanced difficult and important conversations,” she says.

“In my view, the school’s competitive advantage is its rigorous education and its motto of ‘Achieving the Honorable.’ Ron never lost sight of these priorities even as he elevated necessary conversations around diversity and inclusion.”

A healthcare technologist and a professor at Brandeis International Business School in Waltham, MA, Ms.

8 the HILLTOPPER : summer 2021

Berhané credits Mr. Cino’s principled governance with motivating friends of the school and welcoming innovative ideas. “Ron was dedicated to students and faculty and thoughtful in how he incorporated the perspectives of diverse stakeholders, such as parents and trustees” she says. “How could you not support a school being led by someone like that? Ron has laid a foundation the school can build upon.”

DEFINING

CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS

Toward the beginning of Mr. Cino’s tenure as head of school, WA completed the ONWARD capital campaign, which raised a record $55 million. This led to the creation of Morse Field, a 109,000-square-foot synthetic turf field that was dedicated in 2012, plus the renovation of Walker Hall, which is the school’s oldest academic building. The academic heart of campus, Walker Hall is fondly remembered by alumni, and it remains the building that welcomes visitors to

campus. It had not undergone a major renovation since its original construction in 1889. While respecting the historic architecture, the renovation transformed the interior of the building into a modern space with new windows, an elevator, improved mechanical systems, six additional classrooms, and the best technology in every classroom. The result, completed in 2014, was a more accessible, better supported contemporary education, and a building that qualified for a LEED Silver Certification (LEED=Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). “Ron understands how facilities need to reflect the quality of teaching at a school,” says trustee David Shamoian, chair of the Board’s Building and Grounds Committee. “His insight into what the students and faculty really needed in that reimagination and revitalization was invaluable.”

In 2015, WA converted a vacant generator building from the old St. Vincent’s Hospital into the state-ofthe art South Campus Performance Center. This project is part of an acquisition of 15 acres of former hospital property, which includes the land Morse Field is on. The development of this space has enhanced WA’s relationship with neighbors, including Union Hill Elementary School, which uses it for recess and field days. It has also expanded the Academy’s flexibility in developing the campus Master Plan, which outlines priorities for campus development over the next decade.

That report was released in 2019 along with the Strategic Plan. Both documents reflect many hours of conversations among many constituents, and offer a roadmap for WA’s future. Mr. Shamoian has valued Mr. Cino’s guidance in developing these

plans. “When we were considering many possibilities,” he says, “Ron had a unique ability to bring us back to what is most important and what would best serve our students.”

Of course, fundraising is a vital aspect of implementing campus improvements, and Mr. Cino built strong relationships with donors based on alignment in values.

Director of Development Kim Stone shares an anecdote about Ron meeting with a donor who gave funds for a future WA pool at South Campus.

Although the donor recognized that the pool may not be built for years to come, she wanted to designate the funds in honor of her son, a WA alumnus, who had passed away and had also loved swimming. “Ron’s care for people is obvious,” Ms. Stone explains. “He really understood that this donation was about a mother’s legacy for her son.”

“Ron understands how facilities need to reflect the quality of teaching at a school.

His insight into what the students and faculty really needed in that reimagination and revitalization was invaluable.”

—David Shamoian

Above: Ron Cino and Head of School Emeritus Dexter Morse in 2015.

Right: Ron and his daughter, Issa ’22.

Worcester Academy

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“Ron understood the delicate balance of trying to promote all of our co-curricular programs.

He had a macro-view of where athletics fit into our school—both for the students here now and reaching back to our alumni.”

—Edward Reilly ENHANCING

ARTS & ATHLETICS

Throughout his time at Worcester Academy, Mr. Cino has been a strong supporter of arts, athletics, and cocurricular activities. The creation of the classic black box theater in the South Campus Performance Center Center has proved to be an important asset for the arts program. This space, which replaced the old “Pitt Theater” that was repurposed during the renovation of Walker Hall, includes a 120-seat theater, dressing rooms, a green room, gallery space, an open-air patio, and the Cole Porter, Worcester Academy Class of 1909, Lobby.

“Having this space significantly expanded our options for theater and design classes,” says Donald Irving, chair of the Visual and Performing Arts Department. “During this past year, having that additional building also turned out to be important in unexpected ways.”

Mr. Irving, who has been at WA since 1985, appreciates the professional collaboration he has had with Mr. Cino in various roles over the years. “Ron brought a strong cohesion to everything we are doing,” he says.

“He also shows tremendous respect and support for faculty.”

As is common on boarding school campuses, Mr. Irving has also enjoyed

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watching the Cino family grow (the Cinos have three children, all born during Mr. Cino’s tenure), and loved seeing a family with children living in Abercrombie House. “When high school students interact with faculty families in the dining hall and elsewhere on campus,” he explains, “it adds more layers to how faculty build relationships with and serve as role models for students.”

Director of Athletics Edward Reilly likes how Mr. Cino has helped to keep the many elements of a robust WA education in perspective. “Ron understood the delicate balance of trying to promote all of our co-curricular programs,” he says. “I always felt that Ron had a macro-view of where athletics fit into our school—both for the students here now and reaching back to our alumni.” Keeping this view in mind, Mr. Reilly says, ensures that choices made about time and resources are well-rounded and in service of the school’s mission and core values.

Life-balance can also be reflected in role modeling. Mr. Reilly recalls that Mr. Cino, who was a wrestler in high school, also was an assistant WA wrestling coach for a time as well as being a stalwart fan at games, often stopping by practices to connect with students. Sometimes, he would even exercise alongside a team in the fitness center. “There’s nothing more important for our student athletes than to see that our school leadership has an affinity for what they are doing,” Mr. Reilly says. “Ron has a way of

being very relatable for students. He was front and center representing who we are as an Academy.”

THE

LAST YEAR

Mr. Cino announced his plan to leave WA in January of 2020, giving the school ample time to conduct a national search for a new head of school. Less than two months later, he was faced with the greatest challenge of his career at WA—leading the Academy through a pandemic. Once again, Mr. Cino’s gifts for listening, balancing priorities, and synthesizing a clear direction carried the day.

Thomas DiConza, the Academy’s CFO, had noticed Mr. Cino’s ability to assess risk and make plans throughout his tenure as head. “Ron has always been unique in his thought processes,” Mr. DiConza says. “He keeps a close eye on future financial trends and how various scenarios may affect our work.” In any systemic project, he adds, Mr. Cino kept communication lines open, organized processes, and looked to synthesize salient points into effective action steps.”

Some of the work that had occurred earlier in Mr. Cino’s tenure brought unanticipated benefits during the COVID-19 era. The South Campus Performance Center, for example, offered flexible spaces for spreading out classrooms. Similarly, previous investments in technology positioned WA to pivot quickly to meet the needs of remote learning. “Several years ago, Ron saw modernizing our technological infrastructure as a priority,” Mr. DiConza says. “No one saw a pandemic coming, but we knew the school needed to be nimble. We couldn’t have

done what we did last spring if the foundation hadn’t already been laid.”

Trustee Susan Jacobs considers Mr. Cino’s service during this past year to be one of his most important contributions to the school. Since last spring, WA has revisited every aspect of how it delivers on its educational mission, focusing on how to meet constantly evolving safety protocols. First the school implemented its unique remote learning model last spring, and then it made it possible for students to return to campus last fall. Throughout this time, Mr. Cino has infused the community with a strong sense of trust during an unsettling time. “Ron is a generous and empathetic person,” Ms. Jacobs says. “And all along he has had a strong attention to social-emotional learning.

He is always attentive to how students best learn and how to support them.”

Thus, the traits that have made Mr. Cino successful as a head of school are essentially the same ones that caught people’s eye when he first came to WA two decades ago. Ms. Jacobs recalls her daughter, Jessica ’03, working with Mr. Cino on her college search process: “He was a very good listener,” she said. “He was good at understanding the priorities and translating that into a plan that would achieve the goal.”

Looking back on many years of warm working relationships with both Ron and Nathalie, Neil Isakson, director of external communications and development operations, says what everyone is thinking. “They’ll be missed—greatly,” Mr. Isakson says. “They’ve had a dynamic, positive, and deeply personal presence on our Worcester Academy campus these last 20 years. Everything they’ve done has contributed to a stronger, better Worcester Academy.

Their legacy will be strong for many years to come,” he says. W

Above: Attending a Grandparents Day luncheon together were, seated, from left, Giovanni ’21, Christiana ’24, Head of School Cino’s dad, Ron Cino, and wife, Margaret; and, standing, from left, Head of School Cino’s mom, Mary Anne Cino, and partner, Dan Ruffle.

“Ron and Nathalie will be missed—greatly.

They’ve had a dynamic, positive, and deeply personal presence on our Worcester Academy campus these last 20 years.

Everything they’ve done has contributed to a stronger, better Worcester Academy.

Their legacy will be strong for many years to come.”

—Neil Isakson

Left: Nathalie Pérez-Cino is flanked by her mom, Martha Pérez, and her son, Giovanni.

Worcester Academy

11

Nathalie Pérez-Cino: A MODEL FOR EMBRACING COMMUNITY AND BEING YOURSELF

by Cheryl Bardoe

After 20 years of working, living, and raising a family on campus, Nathalie Pérez-Cino has made her own impact on Worcester Academy.

Ms. Pérez-Cino was hired to be the school’s first director of diversity and community relations at the same time that her husband, Ron Cino, became director of college counseling.

“I gave a lot of students a space to be and a place to engage,” she recalls.

“My goal has always been to create environments that are conducive to letting people explore themselves, learn who they are, and thrive.”

Ms. Pérez-Cino—with support from English faculty member David Baillie and a group of international students—launched the International Students Assembly, which has grown over the years to become a place where all students share, celebrate, and honor the unique cultures that are represented at Worcester Academy.

She introduced the WA community to the Day of Silence, which builds awareness about the harmful effects of harassment and discrimination that is faced by the LGBTQ+ community.

She also initiated WA’s Habitat for Humanity club, which under the guidance of faculty advisor Stephen Scott, has worked on two builds and several clean-ups in the immediate neighborhood, and has completed 11 trips to work on houses elsewhere.

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Ms. Pérez-Cino’s role also included cultivating stronger connections with the vibrant city of Worcester. This took many forms, ranging from building school-town civic relationships to sending student representatives to Youth for Community Improvement group, a student-led grantmaking committee established by the Greater Worcester Community Foundation.

“When I look at the past 20 years, I am excited that it is no longer one person doing diversity and community relations, but rather the whole community,” Ms. Pérez-Cino says. “Now, there are so many organizations both student and faculty-staff-led, including diversity committees at the extra-curricular and leadership levels.” She says she is particularly proud of the strength “of true student leadership,” so vital to the health and happiness of any school community.

“Student voice is so important,” she adds. “The growth and development of engaged student leadership at WA has gone hand-in-hand with the way that diversity, equity, and inclusion work has become woven into our community fabric.”

While Ms. Pérez-Cino spent 14 years as a stay-at-home mom, stepping out of her full-time job as a director shortly after the birth of her two oldest children, she has continued to play important roles at WA

and in the wider Worcester community. As a volunteer in Worcester Public Schools, she received the Worcester School Department’s Thomas Jefferson Award for her contributions. She served as a dorm parent for nine years in Heydon Hall, and since moving into Abercrombie House, she has endeavored to make that space a home for all on campus.

At first, Ms. Pérez-Cino collaborated with residential life faculty to host each dorm for dinner at Abercrombie.

The initiative evolved to feature cookie decorating events and daytime advisory lunches so that every student, from middle school to high school, has an opportunity to visit Abercrombie each year.

“I love it when we have a student event and they walk right in instead of ringing the doorbell,” Ms. PérezCino says. “They go to their favorite spots, or they play the piano. They are comfortable here.”

Similarly, the Cinos have hosted faculty and staff as well. Twice each year, they host all-employee gatherings celebrating the start and end of each school year. There is delicious food, fun music, lawn games, and great company. In the winter, the more formal holiday party is held at Abercrombie, and then moves to the Megaron for dinner and dancing.

“Ron and I have closed out most

parties over the years, except when the children were little,” she says.

Most importantly, Ms. Pérez-Cino has been intentional about being a role model for students. “I made it a point to be me,” she states. “I believe we should be who we are, and I want folks to see that.” She points to her extensive garden as one expression of this goal. There, she is often seen wearing a bandanna and tending a wall of raspberries and blackberries, alongside strawberries, grapes, asparagus, oregano, sage, basil, parsley, tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, and other edibles.

When Ms. Pérez-Cino came to WA, she had been married less than a year. She met her husband while working together in the admission department at Trinity College. “Ron’s deep empathy for students is one reason I fell in love with him,” she recalls. Now, the Cinos are parents to three children, each of whom has found their own path at the school.

Giovanni ’21 is active behind the scenes in theater, where he mentors younger students in learning the various aspects of technical theater. He is also a mentor and active participant in Model U.N. for five of his seven years at the Academy. As a student leader, Isa ’22, says she loves the WA community and strives to help give every person a voice and a

“It’s the people who make WA the special place that it is. The students keep us grounded, challenge us, inspire us, and shape our community.

And the faculty and staff give so much of themselves to work so hard for the youth we serve and for each other.

The community is what I’ll miss the most from Worcester Academy.”

way to express it. Over the years she has been involved in many extra- and co-curricular clubs and activities, which have earned her recognition.

Christiana ’24 plays field hockey and is always willing to help a classmate.

Having grown up on the WA campus since birth, the Cino children have benefited from having the run of the campus, ready friends nearby, and sometimes sneaking downstairs in pajamas as young children to enjoy cocoa and dessert at staff parties in Abercrombie House.

“I have always appreciated knowing that my children are growing up in a place where people are looking out for them,” Ms. Pérez-Cino says.

For the next year, the Cino family will span the continent. This summer Mr. Cino will relocate to begin his new role as the head of Laguna Blanca School, a K-12 day school in Santa Barbara, CA. Giovanni will attend Bennington University in Vermont. Meanwhile, Ms. Pérez-Cino will remain in Worcester one more year so that Isa can graduate from

WA, while Christiana can experience a “ normal” year in the Upper School. Until moving to California, Ms. Pérez-Cino will continue her current work at Clark University, where she recruits and supports BIPOC candidates (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color candidates) for the Master of Arts in Teaching Program, with the ultimate goal of attracting more diverse teachers to Worcester Public Schools.

Although excited for future endeavors, Ms. Pérez-Cino reflects fondly on

her time at WA. “I have grown into the most authentic version of myself here,” she says. “A big part of that is the people at WA who have touched my life over the past two decades.

“It’s the people who make WA the special place that it is. The students keep us grounded, challenge us, inspire us, and shape our community.

And the faculty and staff give so much of themselves to work so hard for the youth we serve and for each other. The community is what I’ll miss the most from Worcester Academy.” W Worcester Academy

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Worcester Academy,s

DEE ROWE ’47

14 the HILLTOPPER : summer 2021

Dee Rowe ’47

Encouragement, affection, and positivity to last a lifetime and beyond

by Christine Foster

he lifelong mutual love affair between a native Worcester boy named Donald E. Rowe and his hometown prep school, Worcester Academy, began while the Second World War still raged.

The final chapter for the beloved WA basketball coach, trustee emeritus, and father-figure unfurled as a pandemic tore across the world.

Despite the tumultuous world circumstances at the beginning and ending, that shared 70-year journey— the important parts anyway—were mostly played out in little moments.

They happened when Dee, as he was known to all, stopped by a colleague’s office to check in on the health of an ailing family member, or when he wrote a note thanking a friend for having sent him a thank you note.

Dee ’47 was a basketball legend, for sure. But more than that, he was the kind of person who made his players feel so valued that one former player fell to his knees in tears in a Worcester Academy parking lot on seeing his coach again after many decades. Dee was a man for whom the little moments were everything, and the lessons went well beyond basketball. His daily example of how one should live—listen intently, stay connected, and value each individual—is his real legacy.

“He had a remarkable ability to connect with people and he was equally at ease flying with the kings and the queens of this world, or with those

who were not so highly placed,” says Director of Athletics Ed Reilly. “He made everyone comfortable with him.”

Dee Rowe grew and influenced Worcester Academy, and it, too, shaped him. The truth is that Coach Rowe’s death on Jan. 10 at his home in Storrs, CT, at the age of 91 doesn’t end the story. It continues in the lives of those he touched and on the courts and fields and classrooms and offices where it all began.

Starting Out in WORCESTER

“I’m just a kid from New England who loved the game since the third grade.” Those were Dee’s own words to the Hartford Courant when he got the call in 2017 from the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame that he would be receiving the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award.

Generations of fans—at Worcester Academy and beyond—are grateful for the moment that boy picked up a basketball. Young Dee Rowe’s prowess on the court grew, and by the time he began high school at Worcester’s North High School, he was talented enough to make the varsity team as a freshman. But Dee’s father was in the service during wartime and the boy was struggling. Finally, school officials suggested that a different setting would be a better fit. Dee Rowe

transferred to Worcester Academy.

It was a glorious time to be a basketball-loving boy in that small city. In March 1947, the hometown team, College of the Holy Cross, rallied to beat Oklahoma in the national championship game. Dee came out with 35,000 other fans to Worcester’s Union Station to welcome back the “Cinderella Kids.” One of the Holy Cross players he was cheering for was basketball great Bob Cousy, who would become one of Dee’s dearest friends.

After captaining the Worcester Academy basketball and baseball teams, Dee went on to the University of Rhode Island, but transferred after

“

H

e had a remarkable ability to connect with people and he was equally at ease flying with the kings and the queens of this world, or with those who were not so highly placed.”

—Ed Reilly

Dee Rowe, seated, wearing number 14 in a team image during his senior year. (Worcester Academy Towers Yearbook) Worcester Academy

15

Below: Dee Rowe and future Celtic great Tommy Heinsohn, who joined Dee for a time as a Worcester Academy camp counselor.

Botton Left: From right, Dee Rowe, along with fellow Worcester Academy camp counselors Assumption University legend Andy Laska, Celtics great Red Aurbach, and Holy Cross College’s Buster Sheary on the steps of Warner Theater Bottom Right: A circa 1957 image of Dee Rowe.

(Worcester Academy Towers Yearbook)

16 the HILLTOPPER : summer 2021

a short time to Middlebury College.

It would be the second time when a serendipitous transfer resulted in a lifelong connection to an institution.

Dee met his wife, Ginny, at Middlebury.

In one of those classic movie-like moments, Dee saw her walking by from his dorm window and said, “I am going to marry that girl.” And he did.

After earning a master’s in education at Boston University, Dee headed back to Worcester Academy.

He became the head coach of men’s basketball and baseball teams as well as the director of athletics. In just 13 seasons, his teams won nine New England Prep School Championships.

But Dee’s calling was always to positively influence his players.

“I have been reading some letters that my dad wrote my mom lately, which are pretty wonderful,” says Don Rowe Jr., “and he talked about why he wanted to be a coach, and he talked about how he felt like that was the best place he could make a difference

“

H

e’d say, ‘The lessons you’re gonna learn here on the court today are gonna be lifelong lessons, they’re going to help you throughout life.”

—Julie Berberian

as a coach because he said he realized that he wasn’t the greatest athlete, but he thought he could be the best coach.

“He thought he could be somebody who helped turn kids’ lives around through athletics, and I think he probably saw a lot of that at Worcester Academy,” he says.

One of Dee’s Worcester Academy players, who became a lifelong friend, Bob Hall ’62, remembers that impact from his playing days. During Mr. Hall’s sophomore year, he fractured his leg, and it was Dee who provided constant encouragement during his recovery. Mr. Hall credits Dee’s influence in his recovery, after which he played at Brown University

where he broke numerous records.

Beyond the winning tradition, though, Dee Rowe and those who followed him teach about life, says Julie Berberian, assistant WA athletic director and former WA girls basketball coach.

“He’d say, ‘The lessons you’re gonna learn here on the court today are gonna be lifelong lessons, they’re going to help you throughout life,” she says. “In my coaching, I try to do the same. I say, ‘This is a small problem, but we’re going to work through it, and you’re going to gain the skills, so later on, when challenges happen in your life, you’re going to have the confidence to get through those.”

He didn’t just teach, though. He worked, often quietly, behind the scenes, to solve problems, to deal with challenges. “I found an old letter that Dee wrote advocating for a pay raise for the equipment manager and facilities staff here,” says Ursula Arello ’85, P’21, director of donor engagement. “It was from the ’60s ... it really reflected on his character and his commitment.”

One of Dee’s classic lessons was about making a positive first impression. Dee was always impeccably groomed: shirt, tie, coat—maybe even seersucker, in the right season, often stylishly sockless— frequently carrying a rolled-up yellow notepad. “In my 32 years, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him in a relaxed dress at all,” says Julie Berberian. “He was dressed to the nines. I try to emphasize that with my kids as well—first impressions really, really make a difference.”

He did have an impish side, too. Tom Blackburn P’77,’80,’82,’85 GP’09,’24, who succeeded Dee as the WA athletic director, remembers that when the sermon at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in North Grafton was a bit slow, he could expect that Dee might pass the church program his way marked up with Xs and Os so they could surreptitiously discuss basketball plays.

Dee Rowe ’47

Beyond the HILLTOP

The impression Dee developed at Worcester Academy drew attention and his next step was onto the national stage. In 1969, he became the mens basketball coach at the University of Connecticut. Over the next eight years, he led the team to three postseason appearances, including to the NCAA’s Sweet 16 in 1976. He was also picked to be assistant coach for the U.S. Men’s Olympic Basketball Team in 1980 but missed out when the U.S. boycotted those games. When he retired from coaching in 1977, Dee moved on to work his relational magic by working in fundraising for UConn Athletics for another dozen years. Thanks in part to his work, the university built the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion and sports center. And he was part of bringing on board NCAA winning coaches Jim Calhoun and Geno Auriemma.

He may have been in Storrs, but Dee’s close connection with Worcester Academy never wavered. He continued to attend sports and other events.

Many of those at Worcester Academy who love him first met him during this period, such as Mo Cassara ’93, who met Dee when Mr. Cassara was a postgraduate player at WA in 1992-1993.

It was the beginning of a relationship that continued through Mr. Cassara’s own coaching career at WA and later Clark and Hofstra universities.

“When I was the head coach at Clark University, we had lost a really bad game,” remembers Mr. Cassara. “He knew I was really in a bad place—I was a young coach trying to figure it out. So, the next morning, I came to my office … and he was sitting in my chair behind my desk … The best part of the story is he never got up. He stayed in my chair on the other side of my

desk, and I had to sit in the guest chair on the other side, where my players usually sit, or other people sit when they’re in trouble or have an issue.

He made it clear that I was having an issue, and he was gonna coach me through it, and he sat there with me, I would guess for a couple of hours and just talked. We talked basketball and life and players, and he told me about a million games that he lost and players who had issues and different things …

I honestly can’t remember exactly what we talked about, but we probably sat there for two hours and those are the things, and those are the memories I’m getting choked up just remembering.”

For Dee, the connection was never about him. He used his immense personal capital to build up other people and institutions. At Worcester

O

“

ur basketball legacy, many of whom make up our donor base, is 100 percent tied to their experience with Dee as a coach, as an athletic director, as a friend.”

—Nancy Osborn

Above left: Dee Rowe and Rowe Golf Classic Chair Bob Hall ’62 Above: Director of Athletics Ed Reilly stands in the Dee Rowe Court in Daniels Gymnasium.

Right: Dee receives the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.

Academy, the major way that happened was through the Rowe Family Scholarship Fund, established in 1998.

In the last 20 years, 64 scholar-athletes have attended Worcester Academy thanks to the fund. “Our basketball legacy, many of whom make up our donor base, is 100 percent tied to their experience with Dee as a coach, as an athletic director, as a friend,” says Nancy Osborn, P’13, director of parent relations. She counts herself among his many fans. “Second only to my own father, he is the most unforgettable character in my life,” she says. “Yeah, he was amazing. He is still amazing.”

So much of that connection was due to Dee’s social smarts. “In so many ways, he was a brilliant man,” says Ed Reilly. “There are a lot of people that

are smart, and they spend a little bit too much time trying to impress you with how smart they are, and with Dee, it was the exact opposite. He was so smart, but he had a brilliant way of making you think that you were the smartest person in the room.”

He also valued long-term relationships with a broad swath of people.

“We kept in touch, and that’s when he started talking more and more about giving back, and he was a real role model, so you always had to do the Worcester Academy

17

Above: Worcester Academy friends and family were on hand as Dee received the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.

Left: Iconic Worcester Academy couple Dee and Ginny Rowe. Ginny passed away in 2018, just a few years earlier than Dee.

right thing,” says Jim Davis ’62, owner and chairman of New Balance. “He was very disciplined, and that all rubs off on you after a while when you hang around with the person long enough, you sort of recognize the attributes he or she possesses, and you try to emulate that and that’s what I tried to do in many ways.”

“He would get turnout from the CEOs of the world,” remembers legendary Celtics player Bob Cousy.

“He would bring back the tall and short and successful and they would fly into Worcester for WA’s Rowe Family Scholarship Golf Classic. He 18 the HILLTOPPER : summer 2021

completely extemporaneously would go on and on, he remembered everyone’s name from God knows where.

He engendered this kind of loyalty.”

This self-effacing nature was even more evident on the many occasions later in his life when Dee was being honored. Dee would prepare extensive notes (including color coding and Roman numerals) for his speeches, making sure to thank everyone. “He didn’t want to leave anyone out, and his bride, Ginny, would be sitting there, and she’d be gesturing to cut him off, and Coach would be going on and on, and he’d be thanking the bell boys and the bartenders,” Ed Reilly remembers.

“He never wanted to leave anyone out.

Everyone mattered to Coach, and I’ll always remember how detailed he was in making sure that everyone knew that he felt that they mattered.”

Dee’s passion for people didn’t end with the big public events. He was there in the hard moments, giving

countless eulogies, and checking in on people dealing with personal challenges. “I have a sister who was diagnosed with a rare cancer, and within three days, he called me and said, ‘I’ve got my guy at UConn, a doctor who is the head of oncology, to see your sister. So, can he see her Tuesday at two? Can she be there?’ ” remembers Nancy Osborn. “I was like, ‘Who does that?’ Yeah, Dee does that.

That man saved my sister’s life. So, it was always about us … and making people’s lives better and helping them with whatever struggles they were going through.”

Dee also spread his love broadly at Worcester Academy. He was, for example, a faithful fan and supporter of the girls basketball program. “He was always quick to recognize the accomplishments of the girls,” says Sherry Levin, coach of the WA girls team from 2001-08 and again since 2016. “He was always quick to send notes to my players. He was always at the game, standing there in the corner with the other groupies, if you will, and supporting our program and my efforts. I think he knew how much I revered him. And I think he knew that I was trying to follow in those Dee

Rowe footsteps. And the mark that he had set was a very high bar, a pretty high bar for us coaches and anybody who has to try to emulate him.”

A Devoted FAMILY

By his side through the journey, was Dee’s growing family. He and the former Virginia “Ginny” Bradford Reynolds enjoyed 64 years together before she passed in 2018. Their brood grew to include seven children—and eventually 17 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Ginny was a full partner—vital to Dee’s success.

“She was that woman—Dee could not have done what he did without her,” says Ursula Arello. “She was just a pillar of strength of support for him. They were really quite a pair.”

Coaching is an incredibly demanding career, usually involving long hours and significant travel, but Dee always put family first. “We just did everything together,” says Dee’s daughter, Karen. “My mom would pack us in the car for all the away games that we could drive to from Worcester. We’d all get in this nine-passenger wagon

Dee Rowe ’47

“

W

ith Dee, it was the exact opposite. He was so smart, but he had a brilliant way of making you think that you were the smartest person in the room.”

—Ed Reilly

… we’d all just cram in it. Or we’d be listening to the game if it was too far a drive. We would all be huddled around the radio. We all knew basketball like nobody’s business.”

Three of his grandsons, Aiden Collins ’17, CC Collins ’19, and Jesse Rowe Pelletier ’12 attended Worcester Academy, and he enjoyed seeing them thrive in his old stomping ground. The grandsons appreciated the connection, too. “Dee was my hero,” says CC. “It felt special. I was very proud to be Dee’s grandson.” His dedication to his family didn’t end with the Hilltoppers. When another grandson, Justin Rowe Pelletier, was playing basketball at Neshoba High School in Bolton, MA, Dee and Ginny would make the 70-minute one-way drive from Storrs to Bolton for each game.

Dee seemed to be able to keep giving and spreading his magic even when others were slowing down.

Retirement, for example, provided time to reconnect with Middlebury, where Dee and Ginny met. For 20 years, Dee taught one of the college’s most popular January term classes on coaching and issues in sports.

A Legacy of CONNECTION

Living out Dee’s legacy today is Jamie Sullivan P’10, another local Worcester boy, who now coaches the boys team at Worcester Academy.

Under Dee’s mentorship, he worked his way from being a part-time assistant coach to being the head coach of the storied WA program. Mr. Sullivan was the fourth generation of his family to live in the neighborhood, but thanks to Dee and others, his son was the first to graduate from WA and is thriving as a result.

One of Mr. Sullivan’s most powerful memories of Dee was when the older man invited his successor to attend the basketball hall of fame awards ceremony. Mr. Sullivan recalls the awe that he felt being in the room with such basketball royalty. “I couldn’t sleep,” Mr. Sullivan remembers. “I wrote a three-page letter to Dee about how much he inspired me and how proud my mom and dad would be of me. He was such an amazing mentor.”

Another friend, Peter Gardner ’63 remembers a poignant conversation he had with Dee in recent years.

Although Mr. Gardner was a four-year boarding student, he did not play for Dee, and the men became acquainted later through their work on behalf of Worcester Academy. “I once told Dee, ‘I never got to play for you,’ and I said, ‘It was just as well because honestly, you were too intense for me … and he said to me, ‘Peter, with your attitude, I would have made a room for you on my squad,’ Now that touched me, and I was a 65-year-old. One can therefore understand the way he touched the young lives that were still developing. If he could do that for me, imagine what he did for youngsters.”

***

The final chapter of Dee’s life came amid a pandemic that tore from all of us the very currency on which he built his life—deep, close, personal connection and affection. Like so many, Dee’s circle narrowed for a period, save the dedicated caregivers who came in to help him, especially after Ginny’s passing.

But the enormous community—call it The House That Dee Built—stepped in after just a bit to end the isolation.

By June 2020, one of his former UConn players was hosting a weekly Zoom call with those who loved him, including those from Worcester Academy. He was also able to host visitors outside at his home in Storrs.

One of his last visitors was Bob Hall, still at his beloved coach’s side after all these decades. “I was actually apprehensive about visiting him,” remembers Bob. “I wasn’t sure if I could handle it … he came to the porch and hugged me. His caretaker reminded me we were in the middle of a pandemic and shouldn’t do that!

Well, during the next 45 minutes, he hugged me several times and said each time, ‘Bobby, you were the greatest. I love you.’ I said the same to him and told him how much he made my life better, as well as the lives of so many others. When I walked to the car, Dee surprisingly came over, on the caretaker’s arm, and waved goodbye. He put his hand on his heart and lifted it off in my direction.”

For Hall, that is the final memory, but for so many, it is Dee’s own words.

He ended so many of his speeches with similar words. His daughter, Cindy Rowe Pelletier, remembers him sometimes quoting Diana Ross lyrics, “Reach out and touch somebody’s hand. Make this world a better place if you can.” Another daughter, Julie Rowe P’17,’19, remembers a slightly

different amalgamation, taken from Jimmy Valvano’s famous ESPY awards address. “You may already know that my dad hired Jimmy as an assistant at UConn and he went on to a highly successful college coaching career, but sadly his life was cut too short due to cancer,” she says. “Jimmy was like a son to my dad. In Jimmy’s ESPY speech, he said, ‘everyday laugh, think, cry—that’s a full day.’ What my dad added was, ‘And tell someone you love them …’ This was not only a part of all of his speeches, it was also my dad’s mantra.”

No matter what he said, every ending was pure Dee—full of encouragement, genuine affection, and positivity to last a lifetime and beyond. W Below: Dee Rowe, Celtic great Bob Cousy, and New Balance Chairman Jim Davis ’62.

Worcester Academy

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John Hope Fellowship Fund 20 the HILLTOPPER : summer 2021

John Hope fellowship fund

The Worcester Academy community welcomed a surprise announcement during a community-wide Black History Month event in February. The Academy announced that that WA parents Kirk Upton (a WA history faculty member) and Laurel Hemmer P’24 had made a generous gift to support Worcester Academy’s John Hope Fellowship.

The John Hope Fellowship at Worcester Academy is named in honor of WA alumnus, John Hope, a member of the Class of 1890. Hope, an alumnus of Brown University, was the first AfricanAmerican president of Morehouse College. He was also a founder and first president of the Atlanta University complex that connected Morehouse and Spelman colleges to Atlanta University to offer the first graduate education for African-Americans.

Hope, along with W.E.B. DuBois, was among the founders of the Niagara Movement, a group of civil rights leaders who would later form the NAACP.

Recalling John Hope’s deep commitment to education and racial justice, the Hope Fellowship at Worcester Academy provides an opportunity for the recruitment and retention of faculty and staff members of color (African-American, Asian-American/Pacific Islander, Latina/Latino/Hispanic-American, Multiracial, Native-American) and is awarded to individuals passionate about creating pathways for culturally responsive teaching and learning that elevate our mission and bolster equitable institutional structures.

The Fellowship award totals up

to $10,000 annually and may be distributed among one or more recipients. The stipend is in addition to base salary for one academic year.

Recipients are eligible for consideration in multiple fellow years. John Hope Fellows may be recognized for their work, without application completion, in the form of an award.

The John Hope Fellowship is one of the many ways that Worcester Academy is focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work to dismantle discrimination and racism, and to foster a sense of belonging for all community members. W

Opposite page: Kyle Layne-Allen, 2021 John Hope Fellow and Worcester Academy Middle School English faculty member.

Above: Laurel Hemmer and Kirk Upton P’24.

Above Inset: John Hope, Worcester Academy Class of 1890.

To support Worcester Academy’s ongoing DEI work in general, please visit WorcesterAcademy.org/GiveNow, and write “DEI” in the comments field.

Worcester Academy

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

Co-Education

At Worcester Academy Has Its Roots In 1850s

by Alicia Figueiredo

As far back as 1857, girls were admitted to Worcester Academy, although most only know the modern day story of girls on the Hilltop.

When girls first arrived at Worcester Academy in 1857, the campus was located at the former Antiquarian Society Building, at the corner of

Summer and Belmont Streets (now the location of the Worcester Police Department). The girls were fully integrated into daily Academy

life, including being admitted to the WA debate society and the Legomathenian Society and serving as editors to the school periodical.

As noted in Dec. 5, 1857 Legomathenian Society minutes in Cloyd Small’s book, Achieving the Honorable, Worcester Academy 1834– 1978, “The Gentlemen always gave declamations, the Ladies gave ‘rehearsals.’ In December 1857, rehearsals were given by the Misses Bentley, Blake, and Lamb. Later that month an amendment to the By-Laws read: ‘Any female student of the Worcester Academy, having attained the age of thirteen [males had to be fourteen] who shall subscribe to the constitution may become a member of the Society by a vote of the same.’ At the same time, it was voted to revive the MIRROR (the school periodical) and to choose by ballot two ladies to act as editors. The Misses Lamb and Stowell were so elected.

An attempt to change the name to ‘Ladies Enterprise’ was defeated.”

By 1858 there were 120 young men and 21 young women attending WA, and the addition of modern languages, music, painting, and drawing were added to the curriculum to appeal to admittance of girls on campus.

During the following years, Left: 19th century Worcester Academy co-eds.

22 the HILLTOPPER : summer 2021

co-education Left: Worcester Academy Softball Team, 1975

Worcester Academy had fallen on hard times, and by 1869, in order to flourish, the trustees purchased the Dale General Hospital Building on Union Hill, WA’s current location.—our storied Hilltop. Although girls had been attending Worcester Academy for over 10 years, they were only allowed as day students, boarding with families outside the school building. In an 1869 advertisement, it was noted that “a Young Ladies department would be opened to teach Modern Languages and Drawing at the cost of $12.00 per quarter, no extra charges.”

By 1871, girls were allowed to board at Worcester Academy, living in the South Wing of Davis Hall (the former Dale General building).

Life at WA was busy. Girls attended church, went on outings to hike up Mount Wachusett or to row on Lake Quinsigamond; exercised outdoors playing croquet; and made molasses candy for male athletes. In 1879, a girl named Mary Augusta Witham of Gloucester won the Academy’s Pulcifer Prize, for proficiency in modern languages. Following graduation from WA, most graduating Academy girls matriculated to Wellesley College.

But their time on the Hilltop was short lived as women began to opt for the new, free Worcester Normal School, and, by March 18, 1880,

the Board voted to discontinue the Female Department at the Academy.

Girls could still attend Worcester Academy, but they were no longer allowed to board without special permit from the Executive Committee.

Subsequently, female instructors of the program were also let go.

By 1882, there were only four girls attending Worcester Academy’s day program, and in 1889, only a few girls remained at WA. Miss Agnes T. Bemis is reported as having recited the Class Poem during Class Day that year.

In 1890, the Executive Committee of the Trustees made the decision to stop admitting girls to Worcester Academy, stating, “The time has come to make it exclusively a school for young men.

The Board directs that hereafter young ladies [will] not be admitted.”

Some 84 years, with little fanfare, Worcester Academy Trustees convened in December 1973 to vote in favor of restoring co-education. In 1974, girls arrived back on campus.

The first class to graduate in the modern era of women on campus was the Class of 1975. At Commencement, a half dozen girls graduated, the first being the headmaster’s daughter, Nadine Bloom. Other women graduating that year included Kathryn Bard, Donna Kayarian, Carole Orkiseski, Denise Peters, and Margaret Prunier.

Margaret Prunier, recalling her matriculation at Worcester Academy, says, “My parents saw that Worcester Academy had gone co-ed in the newspaper, and since I was kind of floundering at the high school I was at, I was excited to attend. From the beginning I felt immediately embraced and had the best, most supportive teachers imaginable.

“I learned more in that one year at Worcester Academy than I had in three years at my previous school,” she says. “I felt appreciated for my intellect and that boosted my confidence considerably.”

But being on the Hilltop was not without its challenges. “I was only

one of six girls on campus, and the Vietnam War was raging at the time, so there was a lot of social unrest and protesting. I often felt self-conscious with all the boys in the classroom and felt like I was infringing on their territory. There wasn’t even a girls bathroom in Kingsley for us to use,” she recalls.

“Overall, however, the experience gave me the structure I needed and helped me find my voice, which gave me a springboard into my career.”

Ms. Prunier says she is grateful that she was able to send two of her three sons to WA. She notes that the motto in their house was to always “Achieve the Honorable.” She finds that the Worcester Academy motto applies to everything. Now living in Florida as a retired licensed mental health counselor, she provides free mental health counseling at her church, and she will soon begin caring for her elderly mother. She believes giving back and finding the humor in things is what life is all about.

Since 1974, enrollment of women has increased and today makes up nearly 50 percent of the student population, with more than 2,000 women graduates worldwide. W Below: Worcester Academy students today

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Alumni News alumni events

1 > Football Zoom Call

Our new Head Football Coach Jeremy Bandy was introduced to the Worcester Academy community virtually via a zoom call. Former WA Coaches Michael Stubljar and David Dykeman, as well as some of Jeremy’s former colleagues from Harvard and Holy Cross joined the call to swap tales about Coach Bandy’s distinguished background in coaching. During the call viewers were given a glimpse of what is to come for the football program. Alumni in attendance included: A. J. Scola ’04, Connor McCarthy ’15, Gordon Lockbaum ’08, Kyle Hackett ’17, Luke Eddy ’10, Romeo Masuku ’14, Robert Gourdeau ’09, Thomas Amorello Jr. ’03, and Canaan Severin ’08.

1

2 > Elizabeth Butterworth & Afternoon Tunes

2

Worcester Academy Association of Black Alumni (WAABA) members connected with the Black Student Union (BSU) for a virtual Zoom call to encourage students and to let them know, “We are here for you!” Graduates from 1962–2016 were on the Zoom. WAABA has been meeting regularly by Zoom throughout the pandemic.

4 > Worcester Academy Board of Visitors

Board of Visitors members participated in a virtual meeting in November. The topic was “HyFlex Learning, X Marks the Spot, and WA Happy Meals: Life at WA During the Pandemic.”

Participants heard from school leaders, board members, and incoming head of school Kevin Breen.

Elizabeth Butterworth ’07 took time out of her busy schedule for a virtual Zoom meeting with the Worcester Academy Afternoon Tunes Club, which provides musical instruction to inner-city youth.

Elizabeth, a 2012 Rhodes Scholar, is the founder of Afternoon Tunes.

4

3 24 the HILLTOPPER : summer 2021

3 > WAABA Virtual Meeting

alumni news

6

5 > Nov. 25 Alumni Event

The annual Thanksgiving Eve Event was held by Zoom. Alumni participated in a friendly game of trivia and attended a drive-thru dining experience on-campus.

6 > “Achieving Excellence Speaker Series”

In February, the Alumni Office hosted a series of four Zoom events in its “Achieving Excellence Speaker Series” leading up to WA’s Founders Day, Feb. 28th. Speakers included acclaimed American jazz singer Victor Fields ’71; Smithsonian Veterinary Pathologist Kali Holder ’00; Appalachian Trail hikers Tom Meyer ’85, Courtney Talcott ’08, and Mike Topalian ’80; and American comedian Alingon Mitra ’04.

6

5

7 > Class of 2021 Programming

The Alumni Transition Team, a senior class leadership group on campus, hosted several events to keep classmates connected, to raise money for their class gift, and to prepare them to join the alumni community following graduation. Events included a hot chocolate bar event, 100 Days Until Graduation food truck lunch, College T-Shirt Day, and Night ’21. W

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7 Worcester Academy

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alumni news

7000

We’ve heard you!

surveys sent

SURVEY SHOWS HILLTOPPER MAGAZINE, FRIENDSHIPS TOP WAYS WA GRADS STAY CONNECTED! Results from a survey sent to nine decades of alumni earlier this year show that graduates feel most connected to Worcester Academy when reading the Hilltopper alumni magazine or when engaging with classmates and other friends made on the Hilltop.

The results stemmed from a WA alumni engagement survey sent to 7,000 alumni with 679 responding—a whopping 10%.

“The Hilltopper magazine has been an excellent tool over the years to keep our alumni community strong and engaged,” says Alicia Figueiredo, director of alumni relations. “Our job now is to drill down on what’s serving alumni well and deciding how we can build on that success.”

A full 50% of graduates selected the Hilltopper as the best way to stay connected, while 45% selected friendships. Newsletter at 29%, social media at 23%, and giving to WA at 22% followed. Respondents could select as many options as they liked.

Interestingly, members of WA classes in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s chose friendships and social media as being the most important to them in remaining connected. While friendships somewhat declined in importance for 26 the HILLTOPPER : summer 2021

older classes, respondents nearing their 50th reunions placed a growing emphasis on friendships.

“Time and again, alumni tell us friendships made on the Hilltop are some of the most enduring of their lives,” Mrs. Figueiredo notes. “Our job is to make sure we help alumni to leverage those lifelong friendships for networking and job searches, as well as ensuring they can maintain the relationships and connections they value.”

As far as what would help graduates to feel even more connected to WA, respondents selected strengthened connections to other alumni, communication about the community, and WA events as their top three choices.

It was classes from the 1990s who most wanted to connect with other alums, while more recent decades wanted more events and networking opportunities. Additionally, those identifying themselves as most and least closely connected to WA also said they wanted more events and to connect more deeply with other alumni.

“We’ll be drilling down on all these responses in an effort to gain more information,” Mrs. Figueiredo says. “We have also been following up with respondents and are having some very insightful

conversations. Most importantly, we want alumni to know ‘we heard them’ and will act based upon on what they have shared with us.”

She says a significant number of respondents—more than 100—agreed to follow up with the Alumni Office to provide more details about their responses.

More than just being interesting, all of the results will aid the Worcester Academy Alumni Office in being strategic and in finding ways to best communicate with and serve the vibrant WA alumni community, which spans the globe, Mrs. Figueiredo notes.

“The WA alumni community grows bigger and stronger each year,” she says, noting it now numbers about 10,000. “It’s important for our graduates that we continue to leverage this network and to nurture it on their behalf.

“Additionally,” she notes, “Worcester Academy depends upon the continued support of alumni and other friends to ensure we can offer one of the best independent school educations anywhere. “We deeply appreciate the confidence our graduates have in the WA experience, as well as their commitment to current and future generations of students who will go into the world to make an honorable

679

alumni responded

50%

say Hilltopper is the best way to stay connected difference wherever they may be.”

“For that, and for everything our alumni do for Worcester Academy, we thank them from the bottom of our hearts!” Mrs. Figueiredo says.

“And we are so appreciative for the generous time graduates gave us to fill out the survey, whether on paper or digitally.” W For more information about the survey, or to offer comments, please call Alicia Figueiredo, director alumni relations, at 508-459-6925 or email her at alicia. figueiredo@worcesteracademy.org.

e h t on Dr. Marla Abodeely ’90 Peter Cronin ’80

HILLTOP

Worcester Academy new trustees DR. MARLA ABODEELY ’90 PETER CRONIN ’80

Dr. Michael T. Shannon ’73

Dr. Marla Abodeely ’90 is director of analytical development at Sanofi’s Research and Development Department in Framingham, MA. She and her team support the clinical development and commercial registration of new biologics, gene, and cell therapies. A graduate of Columbia University, where Dr. Abodeely received her bachelor’s in biology, she earned a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine. She went on to support the clinical development and commercialization of biologics and gene therapy assets at Shire Pharmaceuticals. Following Shire, she joined Sanofi as its director of analytical development in manufacturing sciences and technology within its Industrial Affairs Department. Over the years, she has authored nine publications. She is a member of BioPhorum Operations Group and the California Separation Science Society (CaSSS). In 2017, she received recognition from Nobel Laureate in Physiology and Medicine Dr. Michael Young who cited her work as integral to his own in cracking the code of circadian rhythm. Dr. Abodeely lives in Belmont, MA, with her husband, Matt, and her two children, Leila and William. Her father, William Abodeely ’64, and sister, Alison Abodeely ’92, are also alumni of Worcester Academy.

Peter Cronin is vice president for advancement at Syracuse University, where he is responsible for overseeing the fundraising work of the University’s academic units, as well as the central advancement administrative functions. He has spent the last three decades in conceptualizing, leading, and managing comprehensive alumni and development programs and capital campaigns. Originally from Holden, MA, He was a four-year day student at Worcester Academy, graduating in 1980. He received his bachelor’s in geology and art from Washington and Lee University and completed graduate work in visual communications at Ohio University. He began his career in advancement at Worcester Academy where he worked in development, alumni relations, and publications.

Later, he held leadership roles at Cornell Law School, Washington and Lee, and the University of Virginia School of Nursing. He joined Syracuse as vice president in 2017. Currently, he a resident of Fayetteville, NY, Mr. Cronin is married to Amy Doonan Cronin, and the couple have two adult children.

DR. MICHAEL T. SHANNON ’73 Dr. Michael T. Shannon ’73 is founder/ managing partner of the Northeast Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Center in North Andover, MA. A senior staff surgeon at Lawrence (Mass.)

General Hospital, he specializes in oral and maxillofacial surgery, including pediatric facial trauma and pain management. Prior to establishing his surgery and dental implant center in 1989, he was associate surgeon at the Geisinger Clinic in Danville, PA, and was assistant professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. A graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester and Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Shannon is a diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and serves on the boards at Lawrence Boys and Girls Club and Lawrence General Hospital.

His father, Paul Shannon ’31, and brother, Paul Jr. ’66, also graduated from Worcester Academy. W

Worcester Academy

27

on the hilltop

AL VAUDREUIL is retiring from Worcester Academy after more than 30 years as director of instrumental music.

A longtime dorm parent, Mr. Vaudreuil also served as director of residential life and as golf coach. His wife, Shirley Balestrier, works in WA library services, and his children, Becky ’00, Michelle ’06, and Joe ’09, are all WA grads. Best of luck Mr. Vaudreuil as you begin your new adventure!

28 the HILLTOPPER : summer 2021

WA ATHLETICS

unbridled excellence– Lauren Gray ’21 Balances Academics and Equestrian Expertise

by Ursula Arello

Lauren Gray of Hopkinton, MA, is a Worcester Academy senior and highly ranked competitive equestrian. A WA lifer, Lauren has attended Worcester Academy since the 6th grade. Throughout all of her WA career, she has been balancing a rigorous academic regimen while supporting her demanding riding schedule. Now, as COVID-19 has changed the landscape of learning, Lauren has been studying remotely, residing in Florida, and regularly competing at Wellington, FL, equestrian contests.

Wellington is known for its equestrian community and hosting equestrian events, notably show jumping, hunting, and polo.

It’s host to the Winter Equestrian Festival, the largest and longest running horse show in the world from January to April.

When living in Hopkinton, Lauren spends her weekdays attending school on the WA campus, following an afterschool routine at the barn caring for her beloved horse Winston. Time practicing equestrian skills typically ranges from one to 12 hours a day, six days a week.

However, now that Lauren is in Florida, her riding schedule has been even more intense.

Competing in Wellington

has been a longtime aspiration for Lauren. She acknowledges that it can get difficult to balance horseback riding with schoolwork, but Lauren is grateful that WA has made this unique opportunity possible.

“Reaching out to my teachers and getting work beforehand helps a lot; I usually learn my riding show schedule at the beginning of each week so I’m able to plan ahead with my teachers about what classes or work I will miss,” Lauren says. “My teachers always try to be as flexible as possible with me while still having the expectation that everything will be turned in on time.

“Because of COVID-19 this year, teachers have also been recording classes over zoom and posting them on online.

Consequently, I am able to go back and watch the classes that I had to miss for riding,” she says.

Balancing horseback riding with schoolwork has definitely taught Lauren time management skills. Some Sundays, she is at the barn from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., and utilizing her time efficiently is critical to her success.

This past fall, Lauren finished in the top 25 at the United States Hunter Jumper Association

Hunt Seat Finals. In 2019, she was able to compete and place in classes at the National Horse Show in Kentucky. She also has had top 12 placings in Children’s Derby Finals along with Hunter Prix. More recently, she was champion in the 15–17 equitation at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, winning 2 out of 3 classes and placing second in the other in

of a very competitive group of over 30 riders.

Lauren appreciates WA’s flexibility, and she is grateful that remote learning has been instrumental in helping her attain her equestrian goals. As she matriculates at Texan Christian University, the discipline that she has achieved in her equestrian skills will continue to benefit her her college career. W Worcester Academy

29

It’s official! Let’s celebrate EVERYDAY EXCELLENCE! In April, Worcester Academy proudly announced the renaming of its annual fundraising campaign as “Everyday Excellence: The Annual Fund for Worcester Academy.”

We hope you’ll agree, there’s no better description of the way annual giving supports excellent teaching and

30 the HILLTOPPER : summer 2021

learning on the Hilltop, day in and day out, 365 days a year.

According to Kim Stone, director of development for WA, it’s Everyday Excellence that provides the resources for Worcester Academy to offer an unparalleled educational experience that champions diversity, vibrancy,

and exploration. It’s the reason generations of graduates and families have counted on Worcester Academy to deliver what is one of the best independent school experiences anywhere for 187 years “Thanks to the generosity of grads, their families, and friends, Everyday

giving news “Every day, we expect students to give their very best.

The Everyday Excellence fund is an opportunity to give yours.”

Excellence takes an Academy education to the next level,” Ms. Stone says.

In recent years, Worcester Academy’s annual giving initiative has raised more than $1M to provide budget relief for programming, teaching and learning, professional development, and many of the extras that tuition alone would not cover.

“Support for Everyday Excellence does not make a Worcester Academy education possible. But it does make it excellent,” Ms. Stone says.

Contributions of every size, in support of Everyday Excellence, combine to give WA the freedom to

say “Yes” to new opportunities for students, and to ensure they have the very best resources and materials with which to learn.

In its 187-year history, Worcester Academy has seen its share of disruptions and hardship—including multiple wars, the Great Depression, and two pandemics. During each crisis, it has been able to quickly respond and adapt, thanks to continued support from passionate and generous alumni, families, and Worcester neighbors.

Coupled with a culture of

philanthropy, Everyday Excellence is the reason every WA faculty member was prepared to pivot in the face of challenges posed most recently by COVID-19, Ms. Stone says.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Worcester Academy has long championed access to education and depended on its friends to help it successfully educate young men and women of honor, who go out into the world to make a positive difference wherever they go.

By rebranding its Annual Fund, Worcester Academy keeps the focus on the excellence of work of being

done by students and faculty every day, Ms. Stone says.

“Worcester Academy students give their best every day,” she says. “Can we count on you to give yours by supporting Everyday Excellence?” W To support Everyday Excellence, visit WorcesterAcademy.org/GiveNow and make YOUR gift today! (If you’ve already done so, we thank you!).

As a BONUS, anyone making a gift now through the end of this school year will receive an Everyday Excellence keychain as a gesture of our appreciation! Thank YOU!

(Everyday Excellence Banner Design, Karla Cinquanta, Worcester Academy Creative and Brand Manager)

Worcester Academy

31

Ed Fedeli ’67 LESSONS LEARNED ON THE HILLTOP DRIVE HIS SUCCESS AND PHILANTHROPY

by Neil Isakson

When Ed Fedeli ’67 started at Worcester Academy in 1963, he was excited to join his brother, David ’65, on the Hilltop. Ed had already been excelling in academics and sports, and he was confident he could do the same at WA. But he’d have to “up his game.”

“I’d been a big fish in a little pond,” Mr. Fedeli says of his academic experience in Sterling. “But when I got to Worcester Academy, every kid was as smart or smarter than me. It raised the bar quite a bit, so I had to up my game to compete. Whether it was academics or athletics, I had to study and play that much harder.”

Once at WA, he benefitted from the excellent teaching and learning that has distinguished Worcester Academy from other independent schools for generations. He got good grades. And he became a three-sport athlete competing in football, basketball, and baseball.

“The coaching was terrific,” he says, recalling men such as Coach “Dee” Rowe, WA’s then-director of athletics who coached basketball and baseball (See our story remembering Dee Rowe on page 14). “There really was nobody like Coach Rowe. I’d see him years later at Worcester Academy’s Rowe Golf Classic, and he would remember the year I graduated and that I played shortstop on the Worcester Academy baseball team. And he did this with everyone. His memory was amazing.”

Following Worcester Academy, Mr. Fedeli went on to the University of New Hampshire for business, where he 32 the HILLTOPPER : summer 2021

discovered just how well prepared he was for college.

“In some ways, the classes at UNH were easier than those I had at Worcester Academy,” he says, echoing the experience of many alumni starting their college careers.

When Mr. Fedeli graduated from UNH in 1971, he took a path that was quite familiar to him. Many of his relatives, including his parents, owned their own businesses. His grandfather and his father owned a movie theater and drive-in theater, respectively.

Those are the places he and his brother “learned how to work” and developed a yearning to succeed.

His Worcester Academy experience, coupled with his entrepreneurial sensibilities, gave him an advantage.

“I always wanted to succeed,” Mr. Fedeli notes. “And the lessons I learned at Worcester Academy absolutely added to the success that I’ve had.”

Together with his brother, he began a food distribution company in 1973.

Over the years, it morphed into military installations, and finally government contracts. Mr. Fedeli says.

Today, he is CEO of the business, Northeast Military Sales Inc., which stocks commissaries at 36 military bases across the United States.

But he hasn’t forgotten where he came from, and he hasn’t forgotten Worcester Academy. The friends he made at WA are still some of the closest friends he has.

“After all these years, I’m still friends

with Rick Graham ’67, Steve Oakes ’67, and Peter Sieurin ’67,” he says. “That’s 58 years of friendship.”

In fact, he made a gift toward the construction of Morse Field, WA’s synthetic turf field at South campus, with Rick and Steve. A plaque located at the field celebrates both the gift and the friendships.

“You can’t forget your roots,” he adds. “And you can’t forget the people who helped you get where you are.”

Mr. Fedeli says it’s those types of personal connections that drive his philanthropy. It’s the reason he honored his mother and set up the Mary Fedeli Memorial Scholarship with the Greater Worcester Community Foundation.

And it’s the reason he has contributed regularly to “Everyday Excellence: The Annual Fund for Worcester Academy” as well as to the Academy’s Rowe Family Scholarship.

“Worcester Academy made me work harder and helped me achieve success,” he says. “I’m a firm believer in giving back.”

This year, he and his wife, Peggy, made a generous gift of $250,000 to endow a scholarship for a student from

a surrounding town who would otherwise not be able to attend Worcester Academy. He says he was thrilled when WA awarded the inaugural Ed ’67 and Peggy Fedeli Scholarship to a shortstop.

“I wanted to make sure that our recipient could afford an Academy education and that he or she would have the same excellent experience that I did when I arrived almost six decades ago,” Mr. Fedeli says.

Mr. Fedeli says that he and his wife are fortunate to have done as well as they have over the years and are happy to pass on that good fortune.

“If you can do a few good things and share your success, that’s nice,” he says.

“Giving comes back to bless you in a lot of different ways,” he adds. “You don’t have to be the richest guy on the block.” W Many thanks, Ed and Peggy, for your generosity! To learn more about endowing a scholarship or another fund of your choosing at Worcester Academy, call WA’s Director of Individual Giving Jennifer Sabatini at 508-459-6931 or email her at jennifer.sabatini@ worcesteracademy.org.

giving news

Excellence in Gratitude: DR. W. STEPHEN PIPER ’58

by Christine Foster

Some of Dr. W. Stephen Piper’s earliest memories of Worcester Academy feature the glorious copper beech trees he saw as his family moved into Abercrombie House in June of 1954.

But Steve Piper ’58, whose father William S. Piper Jr. was WA headmaster from 1954 to 1968, quickly noticed much more than the environment. Six decades later, he can still remember how important the Everyday Excellence of faculty members was to each student. After Dr. Piper’s first few weeks in Algebra 1, his teacher noticed his boredom, for example, and moved him ahead to Algebra 2.

Perhaps the faculty member who had the biggest impact on Dr. Piper was math teacher Clarence Barthelman.

Just months after the Soviet Union launched Sputnik in October 1957, the National Science Foundation organized math enrichment programs for high school teachers. Worcester Academy could send a teacher to a seminar at the College of the Holy Cross and that faculty member could choose to bring along a student. Mr. Barthelman tapped Stephen Piper.

“He told me, ‘I think you would enjoy this. I think this would be good and enriching.’ And indeed, I went on to become a mathematics major at Bowdoin College, and then pursued graduate study at Stanford, culminating after four years in receiving my doctorate in mathematics,” says Dr. Piper. “If Clarence Barthelman doesn’t get a score for that, he certainly gets an assist.”

Barthelman wasn’t the only excellent

Above: Stephen Piper ’58 (Worcester Academy Towers Yearbook) Left: Stephen and his wife, Diane.

faculty member at Worcester Academy.

“All the Academy faculty and staff cared about and counseled us,” Dr. Piper says. He remembers a legion of educators who contributed to and encouraged his academic successes.

After graduating, Dr. Piper stayed connected to his alma mater, visiting through the end of his father’s tenure, and then bringing his mother, Mary Piper Johnson, back to campus occasionally after his father’s death in 1974. He watched with interest as the Academy expanded its facilities, adding new buildings for athletics and arts, and became coed. A Bowdoin classmate, Dexter Morse, became headmaster at WA, further deepening the sense of connection Dr. Piper felt.

Eventually, the Academy increased its engagement with the city of Worcester, including student internship opportunities and community service projects.

He saw each new initiative as a continuation of the Everyday Excellence he experienced during the most formative years of his life.

Following his early affinity for math, Dr. Piper went on to have a long and successful career, particularly in various government posts, including serving as a trade negotiator during the Carter administration and working to develop a technology relationship with Japan as part of the Pentagon’s International Cooperation office. In 1989, he established his own trans-Pacific defense technology cooperation consulting firm.

Dr. Piper has always given back to Worcester Academy to show his gratitude for the excellent experience he had. First, there were small contributions to the annual fund and later gifts to scholarship funds set up in memory of his parents. “It is in honor of them,” says Dr. Piper, “but also in honor of their life’s purpose, which was to help young people and their education, and to help young people to develop their potential.”

In continuing his philanthropy, Dr. Piper turned his analytical mind to retirement. He had made steady contributions over the years to SEP (Simplified Employee Pension) IRAs. Being older than 70-and-a-half now, he’s been asking his IRA custodian to send checks directly to Worcester Academy, which has the tax advantage of reducing his Adjusted Gross Income and hence his taxes.

Over the decades Dr. Piper has also built a portfolio of stocks that in some cases have doubled or tripled in price.

When he read about charitable gift annuities, he was intrigued.

—continued on next page Worcester Academy

33

giving news Piper continued from previous page—

Dr. Piper remembers thinking, “They are an asset on my books, but if I donate some to Worcester Academy in the form of a charitable gift annuity, I can get a charitable deduction now and generate a tax-free retirement income stream.” After discussing the idea with Worcester Academy, some of his appreciated stock ultimately became a tax-exempt income stream for him.

For many years, Dr. Piper has been a member of Worcester Academy’s 1834 Society, having included WA in his will.

Recently he reviewed the tax implications. Instead of having his estate as an IRA beneficiary, with post-tax proceeds going to WA, he’s chosen to fund his bequests by making the Academy the direct beneficiary of some of his IRAs; these amounts pass tax-free to WA. Acknowledging that the last year “has been a good one” for the markets, he encourages others to also look at their gains, to look at the Everyday Excellence that shaped their lives while at Worcester Academy, and to think about how to support the next generation going forward.

“If you’ve had an increase in your portfolio and pension accounts, think about who might benefit and how you might demonstrate your gratitude,” Dr. Piper says. “For me, Worcester Academy was the right beneficiary. It was a way of saying ‘thank you for all you did for me. Thank you for continuing to educate young people of honor. Thank you for ‘Achieving the Honorable.’” W To find out more about charitable gift annuities, or joining Worcester Academy’s 1834 Society, email Jennifer Sabatini, director of individual giving at WA, at jennifer.sabatini@ worcesteracademy.org or call her at 508-459-6931.

34 the HILLTOPPER : summer 2021

BECAUSE OF WA FRIENDS LIKE YOU,

We smashed our Founders Day giving record IN SUPPORT OF EVERYDAY EXCELLENCE AT WORCESTER ACADEMY! Many thanks to all those who helped us meet—and exceed!—our annual Worcester Academy Founders Day giving goal during the month of February!

Because of friends such as you, we smashed every previous record for Founders Day (Feb. 28), receiving 454 gifts and raising $181,175. That’s a whopping 24 percent over our 2021 goal of 365 gifts, one for each day of Everyday Excellence on the Hilltop each year.

At Worcester Academy, we think our students, parents, grandparents, graduates, faculty, staff and other friends (have we missed anyone!) are the best ever!—and we couldn’t be happier or prouder of their support for what is one of the best independent school experiences anywhere.

So, give yourself a handshake, or a hug! WA friends such as you have set the bar high and challenged us to raise even more next year during our 2022 Founders Day campaign. (We know we can count on you to make next year’s effort a smashing success as well!)

Many thanks for your kindness and your generosity!

in 1944

1957

1969

ARNOLD HIATT was recently interviewed about the 1990 art heist at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in episode 1 of the Netflix documentary, “This is a Robbery.” Arnold was a board member at the Boston museum at the time of the heist.

1954 TOM CURTAIN says, “As years slip by, I have fond memories of Worcester Academy. It has always been a stepping stone in my life. ‘Achieve the Honorable’ is a true value.

My heartfelt thanks.”

Congratulations to

BILL RABINOVITCH on winning the 2020 Van Gogh Museum Art Competition in Amsterdam for his entry of “Vincent—The Field— Animation.” Check out this link to view Bill’s animated submission. www.facebook.com/1139702889/ videos/10224569076111264

1973 ROBERT D. COX JR., managing partner at Bowditch & Dewey, has won the Stephen G. Lewis Merit Award for Service to the Environmental Industry.

BENNY SATO AMBUSH will be From left are Bill Hickey, Gus Krantz, Jim Bennan and Tim Ryan.

BILL HICKEY submitted a throwback photo and memory on WorcesterAcademyConnect.org.

Bill says, “The Night Raiders” …

Four members of the Worcester Academy Football Team 1956-1957, including the co-captains, student council president, vice-president, and head monitor. Headmaster Piper was not pleased.”

joining the Venice Theatre in Florida as its Artistic Director in July.

1971

GLEN PETERSON updated the WA Alumni Office recently. He says, “I retired in 2018 from General Dynamics Information Technology—after 30 years of service. Retiring as the Ethics Officer and Staff Vice President of Internal Audit. We have enjoyed retirement very much and have kept busy with hobbies, family, friends, and travel (the later being restricted in 2020 due to COVID-19).”

1966 Congratulations to MICHAEL REIDY on his book, The Rock Pool, receiving the Chill Awards Joint Book of the Year 2020 Award.

VICTOR FIELDS graced us with his voice during the Academy’s Black History Month “Achieving Excellence Speaker Series” event this past February. Victor, an acclaimed jazz singer, is also the founder of WAABA, the Worcester Academy Association of Black Alumni.

Worcester Academy

35

1975 MICHAEL DURKIN is an agent partner at Laer Realty Partners in Northborough, MA. Michael has been recognized as one of the top agents in the country by Coldwell Banker, GMAC, and REMAX. He is currently the leader in individual sales at LAER Realty Partners and has been for the past five years. Michael reports, “I still do a lot of business with WA alumni and friends. And, I am grateful to the late WA teacher and coach Bob Macko for encouraging me to maintain a strong work ethic and commitment to success. I think of him every day.”

JAY POWELL, chef/owner of JP’s Twisted BBQ, was among chef competitors appearing on Season 3 of Food Network’s TV hit primetime series, “Supermarket Stakeout” this past December.

1981

BRIDGET LUCEY resides in Eastham, MA, and enjoys living on Cape Cod. She stays busy managing the family warehouse business and also enjoys life as a hockey mom. Her son, Kevin, is a goalie, and she juggles her professional life with traveling to his high school sporting events.

1985

1977 CONGRESSMAN JIM MCGOVERN

WA graduates JOHN and SUSAN (COLBERT) married in 2018.

will be honored by the New England Council at its annual New Englander of the Year celebration on October 26.

MIKE TOPALIAN hiked the entire

1980

Appalachian Trail in March 2020.

He shared his experience during the Academy’s “Acheiving Excellence Speakers Series” in February, along with other Appalachian Trail hikers: COURTNEY TALCOTT ’08 and

TOM MEYER ’85.

1982 Thank you to

KELLY BLACKBURN CURRAN from EIP Pharma Inc. for speaking to the Medical Explorers Club!

1984 H. JON BENJAMIN was featured in

MARK LAINER submitted a throwback photo and memory on WorcesterAcademyConnect.org.

It includes Mark and his friends in theater.

36 the HILLTOPPER : summer 2021

the Worcester Telegram & Gazette newspaper about growing up in Worcester and life at the Academy.

Jon provides the voice of Bob Belecher on the popular animated sitcom Bob’s Burgers and also does the voice for Sterling Archer on Archer. Both sitcoms kicked off their 11th seasons in September 2020.

CARL PHILLIPPE LAMPKE of Antwerp, Belgium, heard that WA’s history and social sciences teacher, Dr. Zachary Gardner, needed someone to share insights on the shipping industry. Dr. Gardner is teaching a class entitled, “Boxes of Globalization: Shipping Containers and the Mass Movement of Goods,” which explores how shipping containers, airports, and the Internet transfer goods, people, and ideas at revolutionary speeds. Carl generously provided maps, photos, shipping summaries, and diagrams. His insights gave WA students a unique, true-to-life industry perspective—all the way from Antwerp! Thank you, Carl!

1987

checking in

1987 JAMES LOCKMAN submitted a throwback photo and memory on WorcesterAcademyConnect.org.

James says, “Thomas Meyer and I entered a snow sculpture contest during the Winter Carnival of 1982, and I think we may have won, just on volume. It was the time of the Rubik’s cube and K-cars, it appears.”

behind the post KATHY TIRARDO started a new job as director of rehabilitation at Lifecare Center of Auburn. She also reports her daughter, current WA senior Victoria Tirado ’21 will be attending Curry College to major in forensics and minor in theater.

get connected

Worcester Academy has a variety of social media channels to help you stay up to date with the latest news from the Hilltop. Whether you still live in the area and want to know about upcoming events, or you live overseas and want to see what is happening in our classrooms through videos, social media is our way of bringing the Hilltop to you.

MIKE BURWICK made some big career moves this past year. In the fall of 2020 he joined Natick-based Asset Strategy Advisors, a prominent SEC-registered investment advisor, as its General Counsel with oversight of the company’s Sports, Media & Entertainment Division. He is also a full partner in a prominent national law firm, specializing in sports, media and entertainment law as well as tax and securities law. He passed the NBA Players Association’s Player Agent examination and is now a certified NBA agent. He will be adding the NHL and MLB licenses in the next few months and is looking toward NFL licensure in 2022. He recently launched Strategic Sports, Media & Entertainment LLC (www. strategicsme.com) and is adding athletes to the SSME roster on a weekly basis. Congratulations, Mike!

behind the post FLORIDA STATE REP. TOBY OVERDORF secured his reelection over Democrat Edgar Bernier in the race for Florida House District 83.

Here are just a few ways that you can stay connected: Become a fan of the Worcester Academy Facebook Page and the WA Alums Facebook Page. See posts about upcoming events and connect with the Worcester Academy Online Community.

Visit Worcester Academy on Flickr to see the latest photos from games, performances, and school life. www.flickr.com/photos/worcesteracademy Watch videos of students, faculty, alumni, and parents experiencing a real-world education. www.youtube.com/user/WorcesterAcademy Catch breaking news about events, lectures, and more when you follow @WorcesterAcdmy on Twitter.

Worcester Academy

37

Thank you to DR. MELISSA WELBY for speaking to the Medical Explorers Club in December about her job in the field of psychiatry.

1993

KIMBERLY BURWICK’S fifth book of poetry—Brightward— was recently published by Carnegie Mellon University Press (2019).

Burwick recently moved back to New England with her husband and nine-year-old son. She teaches at Colby-Sawyer College.

JENNIFER QUINN submitted a throwback photo and memory on WorcesterAcademyConnect.org.

Jennifer says, “Nothing says high school quite like prom, so here is a pic from 1987. From left are MIKE

MANIFOLD ’88, LESLIE FINKEL, JODI WILLIAMS, BILL HARKINS ’88, VICKI TRIOLA, CHRIS COMEAU ’88, me, and Jamie–my

JASON STIEN’S son, JASON entered WA as a 9th grader.

imported date who refused to dance.

No, I’m not still bitter about that.”

1988

CAITLIN MCCARTHY was featured on the front cover of Imagine Magazine. The cover story focused on WONDER DRUG heading towards production with Rhino Films and producer Stephen Nemeth. www.imaginenews.com/ purchase-this-months-issue Caitlin also submitted a photo on WorcesterAcademyConnect. org. Caitlin says, “The late OLGA NIZIN ’90 and I were best friends at Worcester Academy.

Here we are at my graduation in 1988. Olga is forever missed.”

38 the HILLTOPPER : summer 2021

KEN BRODKIN serves as the rabbi of Congregation Kesser Israel in Portland, OR. Since graduating from WA in 1993, Ken graduated from Brandeis University and was ordained as a rabbi in Jerusalem. Throughout his career in the rabbinate, Ken has been passionate about community development at a local level. In 2011, Ken and his wife, Aviel, founded Maayan Torah Day School to serve the needs of their local Jewish community. In February, the school celebrated its first decade of success through a virtual “dinner.”

The school will be honoring the Brodkins for their work in founding and leading the school through its early stages of development.

Rabbi Brodkin’s Podcast, the Torah Journey, provides weekly wisdom and guidance for your life journey.

Congratulations to

PAGE SARGISSON of Page Sargisson Jewelry. Page is excited to announce that she is opening a store on Atlantic and Hoyt in Brooklyn, NY. It will be studio/office in back and retail in front. Good luck, Page!

’24,

1996

SEAN SOMERS submitted a throwback photo and memory on WorcesterAcademyConnect.org. Sean says, “One Of My Favorite WA Peeps @JulieBerberian!”

1999

2001

Writer BARBARA RICHTER was recently profiled in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette for her work translating best selling French writer Fanny Reybaud’s novel, “Mademoiselle de Malepeire.”

2000

checking in

KALI HOLDER was a speaker during the Academy’s “Acheiving Excellence Speakers Series” this past February.

She spoke about her exciting career as a veterinary pathologist at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, DC.

behind the post JOSH RITZ tied the knot with Whitney Schwartz despite many COVID-19 hiccups, rescheduled from 6/20 to 8/29 and ultimately held socially distanced on 8/30.

In attendance were his father, JESSE ’69, and his sisters, LINDSAY ’02 and JULIE ’10.

TIM QUAGLIERI and JULIA (POST) QUAGLIERI ’03 shared their Valentine’s Day story on WorcesterAcademyConnect.org. They say, “We both graduated from Holy Cross but ended up meeting online in 2012 and got married in 2013. Our connection to WA & HC played a big part in our relationship because we had so many friends and experiences in common. We live in Shrewsbury with our two boys, Patrick & Andrew.”

2002

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2003

2004 ALINGON MITRA held a virtual comedy show for WA alumni as the culminating event for the Academy’s “Acheiving Excellence Speakers Series” this past February.

2005 JOHN FERRISS submitted a throwback photo and memory on WorcesterAcademyConnect.org.

John says, “Last day of classes, 2004.

From left, me, JOSH TANNENBAUM

’05, ERIC HOLZHAUER ’05, SAMANTHA COOK ’05, and LIBBY OBORNE ’05.”

Restaurateurs JOE KAPLAN and his brother, BEN ’01, bought JPs Restaurant and Pub last November, a longstanding fixture on Westboro’s dining scene. It’s their fourth restaurant, but who’s counting? The siblings own and operate Lakeside Bar & Grille in Shrewsbury Herbie’s in Worcester, and Center Tree Bar & Grill in Rutland.

DENNIS FANG and WEI-TING LIN ’04 both graduates of WA and the University of Wisconsin. Dennis says, “We moved back to Asia after college. We now live in Taipei, Taiwan, with our two kids, Lucas and Chloe.”

Congratulations to LISA (KING) MACGREGOR and her husband, William, on the birth of their baby girl, Eloise Helen MacGregor, on Dec. 7, 2020.

Congratulations to LAURIE (BOLAND) LODGE on her marriage to Mark Lodge on June 13, 2020 in Dayton, ME.

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2006

checking in

Congratulations to JENNIFER HARRINGTON and partner, Frédéric, on the birth of their son, Daniel Harrington-Boulet, who was born last November in Paris, France.

2007 behind the post

Congratulations to EMILY BLOOM and DANIEL RODRIGUEZ on the birth of their daughter, Amelia Ileana Rodriguez on Oct. 21, 2020.

Congratulations to CATHRYN (WELCH) WILLIAMS and her husband, Corey, on the birth of their daughter, Charlotte.

Big sister, Caroline, along with several WA uncles, JEFF ’06, BRYAN ’11, and ZACH ’19 welcome Charlotte to the family!

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2009

HOLLY DUPUIS earned her MD from Congratulations to alums MATT DiSTEFANO and CARA (BROWN) DiSTEFANO ’08 on the birth of their daughter, Olivia “Via” Moore DiStefano, on Aug. 24, 2020.

Congratulations to PATRICK O’DONNELL and his wife, Colleen, on their marriage on Sept. 12, 2020 in Malverne, NY. Their small wedding included his father, ANDY O’DONNELL ’73; and groomsmen brothers ANDY ’03, MATT ’05, and PETE ’10; and JIM MCNAMARA ’11. Pat and Colleen now reside in Manhattan where he teaches and she works in marketing.

42 the HILLTOPPER : summer 2021

2008

Congratulations to NEIL SULLIVAN and his wife, Kristen, on the birth of their daughter, Harper, born Sep. 9, 2020. She and her older brother, Brady, are doing well!

COURTNEY TALCOTT finished the Appalachian Trail in April 2019. She spoke to alumni during the Academy’s “Achieving Excellence Speaker Series” event in February 2021.

the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell this spring and will be returning to Worcester to begin her Emergency Medicine residency at the University of Massachusetts.

2010

checking in

2011 KATHRYN ANDREOLI reports, “I’m

RYAN MCKETCHNIE submitted a throwback photo and memory on WorcesterAcademyConnect.org. Ryan says, “This photo of an unsuspecting Coach Ricciardi was taken in the Spring of 2009. The ‘Gatorade’ bath was the seniors’ way of thanking him for four great years with the crosscountry and track teams as well as to celebrate the breaking of the school record in the 3000M run, achieved by GREG MCKETCHNIE the previous week. Even more incredible than the memories of that day and those teams are the memories of the photographer who perfectly captured this moment,

CHRISTOPHER WEIGL ’07.

Chris was a great friend and an incredibly talented photographer who sadly passed away in 2012.

To learn more about Chris and see more of his work, you can visit www.christopherweigl.com.”

excited to share this new milestone in my career! I am thrilled to be joining the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound as a Communications and Education Specialist!” Kathryn brings a background in broadcast journalism and digital marketing, having worked as a TV news reporter along the east coast and in marketing and communications for a theatre in Charlotte, NC. She is a Clemson University graduate with a B.A. in Communication Studies and a minor in film and screenwriting. Kathryn grew up in Massachusetts spending all her summers on Cape Cod and is thrilled to be back in her home state to advocate for the preservation of the Nantucket Sound.

Congratulations to FOUAD EL-NEMR on receiving Worcester Business Journal’s 40 Under Forty Award as the Executive vice president for Nouria Energy Corp. in Worcester. Fouad began his career at Nouria in 2010 as an intern and has steadily risen to EVP for the company, which owns 137 convenience stores and 53 car washes, and supplies fuel to more than 150 independent gas stations.

Against all odds, SARAH KARR and her husband Tim Lima recently got married in October 2020. Fellow classmates EMILY FASK, LIZ

STRZEPA, KATE DUNN, MEG DUNN, ALYSSA WESTERMAN, SARAH DUNN and FALLON CROWLEY were among the guests that celebrated their nuptials.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to newlyweds EDDIE REILLY and his wife Kaitlyn!

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2012

SARA RIORDAN and SAM GREEN shared that they are celebrating their 10-year anniversary and are planning to get married in 2021. They started dating at WA Senior Prom!

Thank you to ATHENA CROWLEY for sharing her expeirence as a nurse with the Academy’s Medical Explorers Club.

CANAAN SEVERIN wrote and directed a short film.

Check out “Lean In” on WorcesterAcademyConnect.org.

2013

COLIN BACCHIOCCHI, and his longtime girlfriend, Natasha Nicholas, became engaged last fall. The two were introduced to each other seven years ago by their mutual friend, CANAAN SEVERIN, a classmate of Colin. Colin and Canaan were two of the co-captains of the WA football team their senior year.

ALESSANDRO SECINO joined Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., as an associate in the Real Estate Department in December 2020.

join worcesteracademyconnect.org TODAY! SITE IS WA’S DEDICATED ALUMNI NETWORKING PLATFORM—DOWNLOAD THE APP! Join WA’s dedicated alumni community TODAY by visiting WorcesterAcademyConnect.org online! Meet up with friends and classmates, expand YOUR professional network, and cultivate a culture of helping and giving back in a trusted WA environment. YOU’LL be amazed at how vibrant YOUR WA community is! Sign up, sign in, link YOUR social networks, and hang out with fellow Hilltoppers today at WorcesterAcademyConnect.org! For assistance, email Director of Alumni Relations Alicia Figueiredo at alicia.figueiredo@worcesteracademy.org.

44 the HILLTOPPER : summer 2021

2014

2017 KAZ GRALA finished 28th at his firstever Daytona 500 start with Kaulig Racing, and is also competing in a limited, part-time schedule together in the 2021 NCS season.

checking in

2019

EMILY ISAKSON submitted a throwback photo and memory on WorcesterAcademyConnect.org.

Emily says, “Days like this on the Quad were always idyllic!

I spent a lot of time sitting out here, hanging out with friends and doing schoolwork. I think I took this photo on Field Day 2013.”

ZHAO FEI (GRACE) ZHOU started

2015

a new position at Amazon AWS in Beijing. Grace says, “As a business student, I’m very excited but also nervous to explore the IT field and learn about cloud computing.

Learning is a life long process, so I guess it’s beneficial to start learning tough stuff earlier in the career path.”

2016

ALIYAH BOSTON is a sophomore at the University of South Carolina and is a post player for the Gamecocks.

Aliyah has been named The Athletic’s women’s basketball player of the year after leading her team to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

She also is the winner of the 2021 Lisa Leslie Award for the best post player in the country, a First Team All American, an SEC first team all start, and co-SEC defensive player of the year. Wow, congratulations!

BEN SIGEL is the founder of the

LIANDRA CASTRO submitted a throwback photo and memory on WorcesterAcademyConnect.org.

Liandra says, “Cabaret the musical.

This photo was taken in 2013 and is one of my fondest memories at WA.”

Central MA Food Rescue, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit connecting farms to food banks to alleviate the increased strain on the food supply chain due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ben graduated in May 2020 from Goizueta Business School at Emory University, with a double concentration in management consulting and marketing and a subconcentration in entrepreneurship.

He is a 2020 recipient of the Goizueta Business School Entrepreneurship Award, and an associate merchant for Health and Wellness at Walmart Corp.

TELL US WHAT’S NEW WITH YOU! To submit a class note, please send note and/or image to Alicia Figueiredo at alicia.figueiredo@ worcesteracademy.org.

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passings 1942

1943

DR. PAUL C. DALRYMPLE died April 24, 2020 in

PETER KAISER SR. died Sep. 8, 2019 in

Rockland, ME. Paul served during World War II, seeing action in several battles in the European Theater and being taken prisoner at the Battle of The Bulge. He received the Silver Star for his service. He went on to get a master’s from Syracuse University in 1952 and his PhD in geography from Boston University in 1964. For many years, he was a geographer and meteorologist with the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps and Corp of Engineers. Predeceased by his companion, Grace Machemer, Paul is survived by two daughters; five grandchildren; a brother; and nephews.

Vero Beach, FL.

1944 MURRAY L. AISENBERG of Newton, MA, died May 28, 2019. He leaves his wife, Helene Goldberg; a daughter and son; and grandchildren.

HOYT EDWARD BATTEY JR, 93, died Oct. 28, 2019 in Barre, VT. He was born in Springfield, MA. He graduated from MIT. He served in the Navy during

1947 / former WA director of athletics DONALD E. “DEE” ROWE, former head coach of Men’s Basketball at the University of Connecticut and UConn’s iconic Athletics Ambassador for the past 53 years, died Jan. 10, 2021. He was married to Virginia (Ginny) Bradford Reynolds, who predeceased him in 2018. Together they raised a family of seven children; 17 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Dee fell in love with the game of basketball in the third grade. He attended Worcester Academy, captaining the basketball and baseball teams, and played basketball at Middlebury College (A.B. 1952). He also earned an M.Ed. at Boston University in 1953. Dee was Worcester Academy’s legendary director of athletics and head coach of boys basketball and baseball at Worcester Academy from 1955 to 1969. He built the school’s basketball program into a perennial power in New England prep school ranks. His teams won nine New England Prep School Championships, and he compiled a record of 180–44. Dee also co-created the Worcester Academy sports camps and for nearly 60 years, the camp has served thousands of kids throughout Worcester and surrounding areas. In 1969, Dee was named head coach of men’s basketball at UConn and directed the program for the next eight years, winning 120 games. He was named New England Coach of the Year twice, led UConn to a pair of NIT berths, and guided the 1975–76 UConn team to the ECAC New England Championship, a berth in the NCAA Tournament, and UConn advanced to the NCAA “Sweet 16.” In 1980, Dee represented the United States as assistant coach of the United States Men’s Basketball Olympic Team. Dee’s remarkable professional career included numerous individual honors. This was highlighted in 2017 when he received his greatest recognition, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award. At the request of the Rowe family, donations may be made in Dee’s name to the Worcester Academy “Rowe Family Scholarship” (www.worcesteracademy.org/rowe).

See story on page 14.

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WWII and was stationed in Guam. After the war, Hoyt married Jean Davis and had three children. In 1957, he moved to Chelsea, VT, and he and his father started HEB Manufacturing. He served on the school board and was a deputy game warden serving the central Vermont region for many years. He also became a pilot and frequently flew out of the airport in Berlin, VT.

GEORGE CLARK FIFIELD passed away June 17, 2020. He was predeceased in 2013 by his wife and lifelong partner, Helen Derby Gustafson Fifield.

He attended Dartmouth College. Following World War II and a stint in the Navy, George received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy. In 1950, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the field artillery. Upon retirement in 1970 as a lieutenant colonel, George and his family came home to the Worcester area, settling in Holden, MA, and getting the chance to enjoy their camp on East Lake Waushacum in Sterling, MA. HERBERT SOHN, M.D. passed away June 7, 2019.

A urologist supremely dedicated to his patients, Dr. Sohn practiced medicine at University of Chicago— Weiss Hospital for almost 60 years. A New York native, Dr. Sohn enlisted in the Navy at 17. He went on to attend the University of Virginia and Chicago Medical School and remained in the Chicago area for the rest of his life. Later in life, Dr. Sohn obtained a law degree from The John Marshall Law School. He was active in politics, running for the United States Congress and mayor of Chicago. He is survived by his partner of 12 years, Kathleen (Kitty) Martin; his two children; two grandchildren; and a brother.

ALBERT BAILEY SPARKS of Malden, MA, passed June 20, 2020. The scion of the Malden based department store chain, Sparks Department Stores, Mr. Sparks, along with his brother and longterm business partner, George Sparks, expanded their mother and father’s dry good store to seven department stores located throughout New England.

Albert served in the Coast Guard during World War II and later graduated Bates College in Lewiston, ME. His wife, Myrna Ellen Sparks, passed away in 2018.

He is survived by his four daughters and sons-in-law; grandchildren; and a great-grandson.

passings

1945

1946

1948

BRUCE BOYD CRAWFORD of Sarasota, FL, died July 27, 2020. He was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Shirley “Leigh” Crawford and his brother, Sidney C. Crawford Jr. Bruce leaves behind three sons; a daughter; 11 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. He was a graduate of Worcester Academy, Dartmouth College, and Tuck School of Business-MBA. While living in Needham, MA, he served as an elected member of the town council and chair of the Athletic Booster Club. He had a successful career as vice president of marketing and sales for State Mutual Life Insurance Company.

TOM BRADFORD, MAJOR, U.S. ARMY NATIONAL GUARD, retired, died June 12, 2020. He leaves behind

DEAN B. ARVIDSON of Westborough, MA, died Feb. 10, 2021 following complications from COVID-19. He is a graduate of Tufts University. He joined the Army in 1952, attended Officer Candidate School in Fort Benning, GA, and then spent a year in Korea where he was awarded a Bronze Star. Following active-duty, he became a member of the Army Reserve for 20 years and retired at the rank of major. After returning from Korea, he joined Norton Company in Worcester as an Industrial Engineer where he worked until retiring in 1989 as director of corporate compensation. He leaves his loving wife of 67 years, Joanne (Seibert) Arvidson; three children; a brother and sister in law; and seven beloved granddaughters.

WALTER B. DENNEN JR. of Medford, NJ, passed away March 9, 2019. Walter is survived by his wife, Mary (Shreve) Dennen; a sister; four children; grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. Walt served in the United States Navy during WWII and was a active alum of Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

He was an engineer and communications manager for many years at RCA and General Electric in Somerville and Moorestown, NJ, where he served as the liaison between RCA/General Electric and the Navy for the commissioning of naval ships with the Aegis Combat System. He worked as an editor for several electronic trade publications and in Philadelphia with a large public relations firm.

former staff WILLIAM “BILL” GANGNON JR. of Northborough, MA, died June 15, 2020 due to complications from COVID-19. His wife of 61 years, Shirley E. (Smith) Gangnon, died in 2018. Bill leaves two sons; a daughter; four grandchildren; and several great grandchildren. He was predeceased by two brothers. Born in Worcester, he graduated from Northborough High School. Bill was a veteran of the United States Army serving during the Korean War. In 2012, he retired from Worcester Academy where he worked for 20 years in facilities. He previously worked for Robertshaw Control Company.

his wife, Carolyn “Sue”(Lueck); three sons; three daughters; 15 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1951 with his bachelor of science. He served in the U.S. Army, active duty, from 1951 to 1953, and as a reservist in the Army National Guard from 1953 to 1972. He retired with the rank of major in 1972. He worked for the Michigan Secretary of State’s Department from 1953 to 1985 in several roles, with his longest and last role as that of an elections official.

KENNETH H. MOREY of Framingham, MA, died Feb. 14, 2019. Raised in Shrewsbury, his family owned and operated Morey Greenhouses. He earned his pilot’s license before he was old enough for his driver’s license. He later solo traversed the United States, combining his passion for photography with his love of travel. Ken worked as an electrical engineer for various companies including Lincoln Laboratories, EG & G, Geodyne Corp. and Millipore Corporation, from where he retired in 1991. In addition to his wife of 60 years, Gail, he leaves two daughters; grandchildren; a sister-in-law; and two nephews.

1947 WILLIAM CULLUM SNOW died Feb. 11, 2021.

He was predeceased by his loving wife, J. Anne Snow (Cummings), in 2016. He lived his entire life in Orleans, MA. He received a business administration degree from Boston University in 1951. Upon earning his degree, William, along with his brothers, Robert and Stanley, became the fourth generation to manage the family business, H.H. Snow and Sons, now Snows Home and Garden. William was the CEO and president of the business until he retired in 2005. He is survived by his three children; two grandchildren; and two brothers and their spouses.

GLENN P. KIMBALL died March 15, 2019. Glen served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict as a photographer’s mate and technician. Mr. Kimball was a co-owner and former president of the R.B. Kimball Insurance Co, located in downtown Haverhill.

He leaves his devoted wife of 66 years, Violet L. (Pitts) Kimball; a daughter and two sons; a sister; eleven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, and cousins.

JOHN GILBERT SOULT of Clearfield, PA, died April 3, 2019. He was a graduate of Gettysburg College, with a degree in economics, and the Dickinson School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctorate. His wife, Ann Hedding, predeceased him in 1999 after 46 years of marriage. Following his graduation from law school, they had made their home in Clearfield, where John was an owner of Soult Wholesale Company for more than 60 years. John is survived by his three children; six grandchildren; and a brother. He is also survived by his long-time friend and companion, Donna Tubbs, of Curwensville.

1949 RICHARD “DICK”GREEN died Aug. 8, 2020. Dick graduated from Harvard University, where he received a B.A. in architecture in 1953. Upon graduation, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served two years in Germany. He initially served as a medic; however, once they learned of his drawing skills, he was

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former faculty R. NELSON “OZ” GRIEBEL, 71, of Hartford, CT, died on July 29, 2020. He was born in Camden, NJ, son of the late Richard and Elaine Griebel. A graduate of Dartmouth College and Suffolk University Law School, Oz cherished the early years of his first job as a coach and teacher at Worcester Academy. He later transitioned into the business world. Following a career that included companies such as BankBoston and the MetroHartford Alliance, he twice ran for governor of Connecticut. Oz is survived by two sons and a daughter; a brother and sister; nieces and nephews.

quickly transferred to intelligence where he worked to draft maps. Following the Army, Dick received his master’s degree in Urban Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). From MIT, Dick joined the Boston Redevelopment Authority.

In 1968, he was recruited as the director of city planning for the city of Cleveland. Dick later went into private business, serving as the VP of management for a national real estate company. He was also the president and COO of a real estate holding company.

Eventually, he went on to open a business brokerage firm with his wife, Diane, and also served as a real estate consultant for a major hospital complex.

WILLIAM J. JEROME JR. of Brunswick, NY, died

former staff AGATHA “SUE” MOYNAGH of Worcester died July 1, 2020. In 2017, Sue retired after having worked more than five decades in Adams Dining Hall at Worcester Academy.

She was inducted into the Worcester Academy Hall of Fame in 2018 in recognition for her contributions to WA over her many years of service on the Hilltop.

former faculty JOHN BOYD OGDEN JR. died Dec. 26, 2020 in Williamsburg, VA. Dorothy, his wife of 58 years, predeceased him in 2014. He is survived by four sons and ten grandchildren.

A graduate of Harvard College and Boston University, he was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Navy and discharged in 1959 as a Lieutenant. He later taught at WA and served as chair of the English Department, among other roles. After leaving WA in 1963, he began a long tenure at Governor Dummer Academy (now Governor’s Academy). He was head of the Brookwood School and later the Berkeley School.

48 the HILLTOPPER : summer 2021

Oct. 9, 2020. Bill graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1953. Bill proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corp. during the Korean Conflict, earning an Honorable Discharge in 1955. After military service, Bill worked at Wells and Coverly in Troy, where he met his wife. Bill then began a 35-year career as a pharmaceutical salesman for Lederle Laboratories (Pfizer). Bill is survived by his wife, Maureen; five children; grandchildren; and a niece.

JOHN J. LONERGAN of Bowie, ME, died Sept. 18, 2020. His beloved wife, Maureen Ann McGovern Lonergan, passed away in 1995. Jack was a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester and was a member of its 1952 NCAA National Championship Baseball Team. Holy Cross was the first school in the Northeast to win the College World Series. After college, Jack proudly served in the United States Marine Corp. After the service, he worked with the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), then transferred to the National Security Agency, where he retired after 30 years of service. Prior to his service with the federal government, he worked as a buyer for Pratt Whitney and an assistant manager at Friendly’s. Jack is survived by six children; 17 grandchildren; 14 greatgrandchildren; and a sister.

RALPH SHERBURNE PERKINS JR. of Shrewsbury, MA, died Nov. 24, 2020. Ralph graduated from Babson College. He served in the U.S. Air Force. Ralph had a varied career as a sales representative for New England Film Service, constructing houses in Worcester and Charlton, MA, and owning multi-family homes. He leaves his wife, Dorothy; three children; and three great-grandchildren.

1950 DR. ROBERT H. “BOB” DEANS died Dec. 5, 2019 in Columbus, OH. He attended the University of Massachusetts on a full athletic scholarship for track and field. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force as a second lieutenant. He spent two years in active duty as a navigator/bombardier in the Korean War. He was honorably discharged from the Reserves in 1968 as a captain, with eight years spent as an intelligence officer under presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy. He obtained his PhD in Economics at the University of Pittsburgh and worked for the State Department in Washington, D.C. Dr. Deans taught international finance at Temple University, was associate dean of its school of business, and was dean of the business school at California State University Long Beach. He retired from higher-ed in 2000. He is survived by his wife, Janet; a son and daughter; and three grandchildren.

JOHN H. ROSENTHAL of Chevy Chase, MD, died Jan. 15, 2020. He was the beloved husband of Susan G. Rosenthal; a devoted father to three children; and cherished grandfather of seven.

EDWARD R. THOMPSON of Bristol, RI, died March 18, 2020. He enlisted in the army in 1953. After serving his country, Ed pursued a career in the motion picture industry and moved to California to attend the Pasedena Playhouse. He landed parts as a college student in Dragstrip Riot and on different television series, including Playhouse 90. He was Burt Reynolds’ roommate for a time when they both tried out for the same part. To support himself, he developed a career in the lighting effects of the industry that spanned more than 40 years and put his name in the credits for lighting technician on movies like Back to the Future II and III, Hook, Death Becomes Her, and Jurassic Park. He was also a lighting technician for several TV series such as Mash, Kojak, Operation Petticoat, and Emergency.

passings

1951 KENNETH F. BOLAND died Aug. 30, 2020 in Needham, MA. He was a graduate of Mary E. Wells High School in Southbridge and a graduate of Boston University and a U.S. Navy Veteran of the Korean War, serving on the Destroyer USS Hickox DD-673.

Ken, together with his brother, Dick, were partners in numerous business ventures, the largest of which was the Sheraton Sturbridge Hotel, which is now the Host Hotel in Sturbridge. In 1969, they built the Carriage House Motor Lodge (now the Super 8) in Sturbridge.

He served on the Sturbridge Planning Board.

RICHARD PHELAN of Marblehead, MA, died Oct. 10, 2020. Rich received a bachelor of science degree in engineering from Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 1954. An officer of the United States Navy, Rich was responsible for routing United States Navy ships throughout the Far East. He married Takami Morikawa while stationed in Sasebo, Nagasaki.

Richard was a production engineer at Bomac/Varian Associates in Beverly, MA, and later became manager of manufacturing engineers at Honeywell’s computer divisions. He was chairman of the board of assessors in Marblehead for 12 years. He was also a Marblehead Town Shellfish Constable for several decades. Together with Takami, Rich owned and managed the Pleasant Manor Inn on Pleasant Street in Marblehead for 24 years. Surviving Rich are his children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

1952 NICHOLAS G. ANDRESON of Worcester died Sept.

20, 2019. He completed his undergraduate studies at Suffolk University in Boston. He went on to obtain his law degree at New England Law School in Boston.

He served in the United States Army from 1958-1960.

Nicholas practiced law for nearly 50 years in the Worcester area. He was a member of the Worcester Zoning Board of Appeals. He is survived by a son and daughter; his former wife; his five grandchildren; a sister; and nieces, nephews, and cousins.

JOSEPH PERAULT HANNON of Chicago died Aug. 9, 2019. After graduating from Worcester Academy, he joined the United States Marine Corps. Following

his service, Joe earned a bachelor’s from Fitchburg State University and became a history teacher. He had a master’s from Stanford and a PhD in educational planning from the University of Northern Colorado.

In 1970, he became assistant superintendent of schools in Chicago. A few years later, he became superintendent. He was later tapped to become managing director of McCormick Place, at the same time becoming president of the Chicago Convention and Visitors Bureau. He served as a member of the city’s Board of Trade. He led three missions for Illinois to Cuba. He ended his career as director of the Illinois Department of Commerce. Joe is survived by his wife, Denise; a daughter; and a granddaughter.

PETER ADAM JESWICK JR. of Sumpter, SC, died July 20, 2020. Peter was retired from the USAF following 20 years of service. He went on to work for United States Post Office and retired from there with a full 20 years of service. Surviving him are an adopted daughter; a grandson; and three great grandchildren.

WILLIAM N. JOHNS died June 11, 2020. Bill was the owner of several restaurants in Worcester, the most recent being Coes Cafe. He served his country as a member of the United States Army having served in Austria. Bill’s wife of 55 years, Loretta A (Steffon) Johns, died in 2012. He leaves a son; two daughters; nine grandchildren; and a brother.

JAMES KOSTA PRIFTI of Worcester and Holden, MA, died July 30, 2019. He leaves his wife of 62 years, Dorothy P. (Kiritsy) Prifti; a daughter; a son; six grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army before completing his education and graduating from Worcester Poly Tech with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He later earned a master’s degree, also in mechanical engineering, from Northeastern University. He was a supervisor for U.S. Army Natick Labs for 40 years before retiring in 1994.

1953 PAUL C. BJORK of Sutton, MA, died April 30, 2019.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Joan (Eagan) Bjork; four children; seven grandchildren; and a sister. He served several years in the United States Army during the Korean War before being injured.

He is a proud alum of Worcester State College where he received a bachelor of science degree in 1973, followed by a master’s of education in 1981. Paul worked many years as a teacher in the Auburn School system before retiring in 1997. He spent most of those years teaching physics at Auburn High School.

THOMAS RALPH CICCONE of Beaumont, CA, died Dec. 24, 2019. Thomas was retired and was passionate about his woodworking. He made many beautiful wooden pieces for family and friends. Thomas leaves his wife of 63 years, Angela Ciccone; two children; four grandchildren; a greatgranddaughter; and a sister.

LT. CMDR. WILLIAM “BILL” MCPHERSON, United States Coast Guard, retired, of St. Augustine, FL, died Nov. 8, 2020. He attended the University of New Hampshire and University of Plymouth, England.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in France. He was posted in Japan and South Korea before serving his tour in Vietnam, being awarded numerous medals. Later, he transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard. In 1968, he began providing flying support for the communication systems operated by the U.S. Government during the Vietnam conflict.

He retired from the Coast Guard in 1977 and served as Flotilla Commander of the Coast Guard Auxiliary at Ocean Reef in Key Largo. Bill continued to enjoy his love of travel over the last five years with his partner, Judy Alden. He is survived by his three children; a brother; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

JOHN LOUIS “JACK” VIRGILIO of Auburn, MA, died Dec. 24, 2020. He attended the College of the Holy Cross. Jack enlisted in the United States Army Reserves in 1956, served on active duty, returned to the reserves and was recalled to active duty during the Berlin Crisis of 1961. He was honorably discharged in 1963. He began working in his family construction business in the summer of 1949. He worked at Norton Company as a senior staff engineer in the Facilities Engineering Department, Engineering and Construction Services Division. He retired from Norton Company (Saint-Gobain) as Northeast Regional Marketing Manager for the Construction Products Division in 1996 and worked as a property manager for the Massachusetts highway department for the re-construction of Route 146 in Worcester. He leaves his wife; sons; and four grandchildren.

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staff PAUL J. VAILLANCOURT of Clinton, MA, formerly of Boxborough and Waltham, MA, died Dec. 30, 2019. A beloved athletic trainer at Worcester Academy, he leaves his wife, Jennifer; his son, Jason; his mother and father; four brothers; nieces & nephews; aunts, uncles, and cousins.

years in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany. His wife, Lucille (Bernier) Kopf, predeceased him in 2012. He is survived by his partner, Pat Harrison of Amherst; a son, Herbert III ’85; a daughter; six grandkids; a brother-in-law; and nephews and nieces.

1955 former faculty S. GRANT RUDNICKI of Norwell, MA, died on Jan. 24, 2020. Born in Boston, Grant grew up in Dorchester, attended Boston Latin and Kent School, and received his AB from Harvard College and MA from Northeastern University. He went on to teach English at Worcester Academy and then at the Salisbury School in CT. In 1980, he launched a second career as a licensed builder. He is fondly remembered by his wife, Susan, of 55 years; his two children; a brother and sisterin-law; granddaughters; and nieces.

RAYMOND T. ANGLETON of Natick, MA, died June 21, 2019. Ray served in the U. S. Coast Guard during the Vietnam War and was assigned to the East Wing, a U.S. Coast Guard ice breaker. He was owner of Village Sunoco service station.

SIDNEY R. HODES of Worcester, MA, died Dec. 3, 2020. He graduated from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Sid joined the family business, Hodes Food City, which included supermarkets in Worcester, Grafton and Spencer.

He leaves his beloved wife of 61 years, Marion “Susie” (Eisenberg) Hodes; a son; a daughter; three grandchildren; a sister; and nieces and nephews.

1956 1954 RICHARD B. HOYT of Venice, FL, died Sep. 8, 2020.

DR. DAVID B. JORDAN, PH.D. of Edgewater, NJ, died Jan. 30, 2020. He attended Springfield College, then earned his Ph.D. in exercise physiology from the University of Oregon. He was a lifetime fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine. David was a Korean War veteran. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1954, where he proudly served his country until 1956. He worked most of his career as a professor for the City University of New York. David leaves behind his companion Susan Candee; two children; a daughter-in-law; two brothers; and five grandchildren.

MILTON H. FREM of Worcester, MA, died Jan. 25, 2021 from COVID-19. He is survived by his beloved wife, Arlene, to whom he was married for 61 years; a son; a daughter and son-in-law; four granddaughters; a brother, Robert ’65; a sister; and nieces and nephews.

Milton established Frem Corporation with his father, of which he ultimately became president.

1957 STANLEY CHARLES KOPPEL of Cheshire, CT, died March 11, 2020. He was a veteran who proudly served in the Army National Guard. He is survived by his wife of nearly 48 years, Linda (Kuraczea) Koppel; two daughters; a son; and four grandchildren.

HERBERT M. KOPF JR. of Amherst, NH, died May

COLONEL ROGER G. SAMIA, US ARMY (RET),

26, 2020. Herb graduated from Tufts University in 1960, where he was a quarterback on the football team. He interrupted his time at Tufts, serving two

of Shrewsbury and Harwich, MA died May 9, 2020.

Col. Samia earned his BA from the Military College of Vermont, Norwich University. He became an armor

50 the HILLTOPPER : summer 2021

officer and tank platoon commander stationed in Munich, Germany. On discharge from active duty, he returned to Worcester, and worked for Texaco Oil before founding his own company, Cat-Val, Inc. Roger also became a member of the Massachusetts National Guard, retiring as Commander of the 2nd Battalion, 181st Infantry with the rank of Colonel after a total of 28 years of service.

Col. Samia is survived by his wife of 57 years, Nancy M. (Ellms) Samia; three children; and ten grandchildren.

1958 JACK HOFFMAN of Framingham, MA, died of COVID-19 June 2, 2020. Jack is survived by his wife of 53 years, Joan, two children, and two grandchildren.

He owned a medical supply business and also manufactured hats and shoe covers for the operating room. After he sold his company, he promoted concerts in Worcester and Providence. Jack’s passion for politics led him to become Shirley Chisholm’s campaign manager in MA. He also served as a delegate in the 1972 Democratic Convention. He wrote the book Run Run Run, about his brother, activist Abbie Hoffman ’55.

In later years, he wrote for an independent newspaper and set up shop in flea markets during the summer.

THOMAS LILLARD NEAL of Biloxi, MS, died May 16, 2019. He had a Bachelor’s in arts. He was a Marine and an iron worker.

1959 DANIEL F. PATCHEN JR. of Norwalk, CT, died July 3, 2019. He owned Dan Patchen & Son Pools in Norwalk, CT. He changed career paths and began building homes in Norwalk and Florida. He is survived by his partner of 40 years, Elizabeth (Betty) Parisi; a son; two brothers; 16 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

1962 JAMES JEFF LINCOLN III died July 4, 2020. He attended Hillsdale College in Michigan. He was a math teacher at JFK High School in Cleveland and

passings worked in real estate. He and his first wife, Karen, had one daughter, Chris, who died at one month of age.

Jeff remembered Chris daily until the day he died. He is survived by his second wife, Peggy; a daughter; a son; a stepson; a grandson; and several siblings and half-siblings.

1963 OTIS M. “SKIP” GRAHAM III of Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth, ME, and Venice, FL, died Feb. 1, 2020. He graduated from Drake College in 1968. After graduation he went to work for his father at NA Burkitt, a heavy construction equipment dealer, in Scarborough.

Skip was president after his father died, in 2002, until 2009. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Faye Tibbetts Graham; two sons; and five grandchildren.

RAY N. “BUTCH” JOHNSON. JR. of Grafton, NH, died April 4, 2020. He is survived by his wife, Myra; two children; two stepchildren; and five grandchildren.

NICHOLAS A. SCANGAS of Danvers, MA, died Oct. 13, 2020. He graduated from New York University in 1967. He served in the Coast Guard Reserve from 1967 to 1972. Nick grew up in the dairy industry and went on to run West Lynn Creamery and the Richdale Convenience Stores with his cousin, Arthur Pappathanasi, and brother, Christopher Scangas ’64, for 35 years. He led several national organizations in the dairy industry. After the sale of West Lynn Creamery, Nick discovered his passion for commercial real estate.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Trudy Myhre; two daughters; four grandchildren; and four siblings.

1964 DAVID M. GOLD of North Smithfield, RI, died Aug. 27, 2020. He graduated from Bryant College in 1971.

David was the owner of Gold International Machinery in Pawtucket, founded by his father, Victor, in 1961.

An accomplished photographer, he has a photo on display at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. His home, “The Gold Farm,” where he raised horses, was a source of pride. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Marcia; two sons; three grandchildren; and two sisters.

GARY RUSSELL HUTCHINSON of Naples, FL, and Dennis, MA, died Aug. 9, 2020. He attended Boston University and completed an MBA at University of Hartford. Gary worked at Aetna and Cigna and was the owner of Resource Group Staffing. He was predeceased by his wife of over 40 years, Bonnie Hutchinson. Gary is survived by his companion, Lynne Weitz; a son; a daughter; a sister; a niece; and a nephew.

LAWRENCE H. SMITH of Honeoye Falls, NY, died May 25, 2019. Larry had a successful career for 30-plus years as an insurance executive in the Rochester area. An avid skier, he helped to coach some Olympic hopefuls and worked at Killington, VT’s Alpine Training Center. Larry is survived by a sister; niece and nephew; and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

1965 JAMES B. HUGHES of Worcester died Jan. 31, 2020.

He was a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and Georgetown University where he received his PhD. He was involved in a variety of entrepreneurial endeavors, including the establishment of the Himalayan Salt Company (USA) and SeaTech Bioproducts. He is survived by a sister.

1967 PAUL CHARLES TOPALIAN of Kailua, HI, died Jan. 10, 2020. He graduated from Norwich University in 1971 and commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army, retiring at the rank of LTC in 1996. He had two graduate degrees, a master of science in business management from Salve Regina University, and a master of arts in national security studies from the U.S. Naval War College. With 30 years of experience as an intelligence professional, he was awarded the Intelligence Collector Award by the U.S. Intelligence Community and the Legion of Merit Distinguished Medal by the U.S. Army. He wrote Tradecraft Primer: A Framework for Aspiring Interrogators. He is survived by his wife, Solinuu Poueu Topalian; a daughter; two sisters; and many nieces and nephews.

1968 MICHAEL P. KELLEY of Jamestown, NY, died Jan. 25, 2020. He received a bachelor’s degree in recreation from Springfield College. He was employed by Long Point State Park as manager and worked as regional program specialist for Allegany State Park for 42 years.

He is survived by his wife, Deborah Barton Kelley; two children; a granddaughter; and a sister.

1971 DR. WILLIAM M. MAYKEL of Paxton, MA, died Nov. 22, 2020. Dr. Maykel graduated from University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Western States Chiropractic College. Dr. Maykel owned and operated a chiropractic and kinesiology practice in Auburn for 40-plus years. He lectured throughout the world and treated over 50,000 patients from over 90 countries, including an array of executives, famous musical artists, and professional athletes. He is survived by his partner, Deborah Gayner; two daughters; two grandchildren; a brother; four sisters; and nieces and nephews.

1972 JEFFREY KLORMAN died March 10, 2020.

KEVIN PAUL O’ROURKE of Millis, MA, died Nov. 15, 2019. He earned his bachelor’s degree from University of New Hampshire. He worked as a healthcare delivery specialist for SDS for many years. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Nancy M. (Reardon) O’Rourke; a brother; a sister; several nieces and nephews; several great-nieces and great-nephews; and aunts and uncles.

1973 MARK W. DAVIS of Waterbury, VT, died June 17, 2020. He is survived by a sister.

1975 MICHAEL B. FIELDING died March 24, 2019.

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former trustee THOMAS S. ZOCCO P’77, of Tiverton, RI, formerly of Shrewsbury, MA, died on Feb. 10, 2021. Beloved husband of the late Ethel (Hibbert), he is survived by a son, Tom ’75, and daughter, Ellen ’77; grandchildren; and great-granddaughters. Tom received his bachelor’s degree from Boston University and his master’s from the Stonier School of Banking at Rutgers University. As a U.S. Marine during the Korean War, he saw action in the defense of the Pusan Perimeter, the invasion of Inchon, and the battle of the Chosen Reservoir in North Korea. He was awarded the Purple Heart with a Gold Star. Tom was president of The Provident Institution for Savings in Boston, Consumers Savings Bank in Worcester, and was a founder, president, and chairman of the board of Wainwright Bank & Trust in Boston.

1978 MARK F. MINGOLLA of Holden, MA, died Dec. 10, 2020. Mark graduated from Worcester State College. He worked in the computer industry for many years. He is survived by his parents, Ted ’57 and Audrey Mingolla; a daughter; a son; two brothers; three grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Stephen ’80.

RICHARD VERNON NOSSEK of Stonington, CT, died July 11, 2020. He graduated from Rider University in 1982. Richard began his career at the Naval Underwater Systems Center (NUSC) in New London, from 1982-1988, as a systems engineer and program manager. He then moved to Pfizer, where he was responsible for strategic design, engineering, and service delivery of Global Digital Infrastructure Services. Rich was the interim chief information officer for two years. He finished his career at Pfizer in 2019, as vice president, Business Technology Infrastructure. Rich is survived by his wife, Carole (Johnson); two children; his brother; two nephews; and aunts, and uncles.

TIMOTHY JOHN SCOTT of Derry, NH, died March 15, 2020. He attended Keene State College and Plymouth State University. He was employed as a CDL driver at Material Installations of North Andover, MA. He is survived by his partner, Theresa Russell; a son; and two grandsons.

52 the HILLTOPPER : summer 2021

1979

1983

MARK ROBERT ANGELO SR. of Orlando, FL, died April 13, 2020. He attended Florida Southern College.

He was drafted to the Cardinals organization, playing up to double-A level, retiring due to injuries. Over the next 30 years, he created over 26 businesses.

He helped to pass the “Right to Try” law in Florida, which will help patients like him receive experimental treatments not currently FDA approved in the United States. Mark is survived by his wife, Lisa; a daughter; a son; a sister; and a brother.

GUY CHRISTOPHER PEZNOLA of Boston died Dec.

FIRUZEH KHORASANIZADEH of Amherst, MA, died on Jan. 17, 2020. Firuzeh was born in Iran and came to the United States to study at Worcester Academy. She attended the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and a master’s degree in applied mathematics. Firuzeh worked at MassMutual as an actuarial analyst, at UMass Medical as a data analyst in public health, at UMass Amherst in various capacities, and as a high school math teacher in Springfield public schools. Firuzeh is survived by her husband of 38 years, Kourosh Danai; two children; her mother; and three siblings.

1982 MERCEDEH MIRKAZEMI WARD of Torrance, CA, died July 3, 2020. Born in Tehran, Iran, she moved to the United States to attend Worcester Academy. She studied engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

A gifted artist, Mercedeh combined her creative talents with her engineering skills to build a distinguished career in children’s toy design and manufacturing. She spent the early part of her career at Mattel working on the engineering, fashion design, and production of Barbie and Barbie accessories. This was followed by time at MGA where she brought to life the Bratz doll collection, which became a ground-breaking cultural phenomenon in fashion dolls. In her most recent role in product development for Spin Master, she worked on the popular Paw Patrol collection as well as numerous other product lines. Mercedeh is survived by her husband, Bruce; two children; her parents; her sister; and aunts, uncles, nephews, and nieces.

7, 2020. He was a graduate of Massachusetts Maritime Academy. His career was in real estate development.

DAVID GEORGE TSE of Westfield, MA, died May 3, 2019. He was a graduate of Westfield State University.

He was the General Sales Manager at Lundgren Honda in Greenfield and had worked in several area dealerships. He is survived by his mother, Jane Tse; three children and their mother; their grandmother; his siblings; and aunts and uncles.

1988 MICHAEL J. SACCO of Auburn, MA, died July 14, 2020. Mike played at Quinsigamond Community College before getting recruited to play Division 1 baseball at the College of Charleston in South Carolina, where he started as a third baseman. After college, Mike went on to work for Fidelity and Oracle and later as a self-employed human resource information systems analyst. He is survived by his father; two sisters; three brothers, including James ’85; four nephews; a godson; his brother-in-law; his sisters-inlaw; and his love, Debbie Fredette.

2003 COLTON J. “COLT” BRENNAN died May 11, 2021. A former University of Hawaii football quarterback and two-time Heisman Trophy finalist, he led the Hawaii Warriors to their only Football Bowl Series appearance in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia on Jan. 1, 2008, after a 12-0 season where the team won the Western Athletic Conference title. He finished his college career with 131 touchdowns and broke or tied 31 NCAA records. In 2008, he was drafted in the sixth round by the Washington Redskins. He remained with the team as a backup for two years, later playing for a variety of teams in other leagues. These last several years were spent working with Hawaii high school football programs. Survivors include his mother and father, Terry and Betsy Brennan, and two sisters. W

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