Worcester Academy Hilltopper Summer/Fall 2016 by Good Design

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COMMENCEMENT 2016 REUNION WEEKEND CHECKING IN

summer/fall 2016 VOLUME XXV / ISSUE 1

CONTENTS

Jessica Phillips â&#x20AC;&#x2122;89: from Worcester Academy, to Broadway and Hollywood, and back again!

SUMMER 2016

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ONWARD Campaign transforms campus, student and teaching experiences for 21st century

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Worcester Academyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 182nd Commencement

BY CAROLINE REICH

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HEAD OF SCHOOL ALUMNI NEWS ON THE HILLTOP VARSITY CLUB GIVING NEWS CHECKING IN PASSINGS

the

HILLTOPPER

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

officers & members

summer/fall 2016 VOLUME XXV / ISSUE 1

Head of School

Ronald M. Cino P’21, ’22

Hilltopper Editor

Neil R. Isakson P’15, ’19

Associate Editor

Barbara Strogoff P’97, ’03

Graphic Design

President Henry Dormitzer III ’88 First Vice President Susan Weagly Jacobs, J.D. P’03 Second Vice President Sarah (Sullivan) Pulsifer ’91 Secretary Brian A. O’Connell, Esq. ’67 Treasurer Jonathan S. Stuart ’86

Benny Sato Ambush ’69 Dr. Lauren S. Baker P’15,’18 William Breidenbach ’69 Patricia Z. Eppinger P’16,’20 R. Victor Fields ’71 Matthew Finkle ’87 David P. Forsberg ’65 J. Michael Grenon ’88 Arthur Kentros ’74 Jamie E. Lavin ’02 Dana R. Levenson ’75 Andrew B. O’Donnell, Esq. ’73 Jacqueline Peterson James J. Pietro ’81 J.P. Ricciardi P’15,’17 Hervey S. Ross ’46 Robert Scumaci P’15,’18 David V. Shamoian ’70 Luke M. Vaillancourt ’01

Photography Ursula Arello David Barron, Oxygen Group Greg Cappello Barbara Gould Hockmeyer Studios Neil Isakson Tom Kates Photography Marcia Mallett Anette Macintire Mike Nydam Peter Smith

CORE VALUES

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. HONOR | RESPECT | COMMUNITY | PERSONAL GROWTH | CHALLENGE 2 the HILLTOPPER : summer/fall 2016

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

Videography Neil Isakson OskeeVision Advancement Office

Marillyn G. Earley, Director of Advancement Ursula A. Arello ’85, P’21, Director of Donor and Alumni Engagement Frank R. Callahan ’71, Director of Planned Giving Alicia Figueiredo, Manager of Alumni Programs and Events Neil R. Isakson, Director of External Communications Anette Macintire P’22, Annual Fund Coordinator Dexter P. Morse, Headmaster Emeritus Tara Probeck, Director of Marketing Erica Driscoll Ribeiro P’20, Director of Annual Giving Donald E. “Dee” Rowe ’47, Special Assistant to the Head of School Kim Stone, Director of Donor Development Barbara Strogoff, Gift Coordinator/Editor

Caroline Reich P’06,’08 is a former development staffer for Worcester Academy. She and her husband, Joel Reich, are benefactors of the Summer Scholars Program, which serves children living in the WA neighborhood.

Featured Writer

Contributing Writer

Jody McNamara P’09,’12, a marketing and communications consultant, is a longtime feature writer and former director of parent relations at Worcester Academy. Jody, who organized and chaired two consecutive auctions for WA, lives on Cape Cod.

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 external communications, at Worcester Academy, 81 Providence St., Worcester, MA 01604 USA, or email neil.isakson@worcesteracademy.org.

MISSION

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.

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ON THE COVER Kingsley Laboratories received a complete renovation during ONWARD: The Campaign for Worcester Academy.

FPO

from the head of school

impact of Worcester Academy’s ONWARD campaign measured in stories of success and growth I am pleased to announce the successful completion of ONWARD: The Campaign for Worcester Academy, which has exceeded its goal of $50 million with a total of $52.2 million! I am humbled by the generosity of our alumni, parents, and friends around the world. To all of you who care deeply about Worcester Academy and the role it plays in the lives of our students and this community, please accept my deepest appreciation. Your investment in the school’s future is inspiring and has brought to fruition exciting opportunities for our great school. The Worcester Academy Board of Trustees, led by Henry Dormitzer ’88, current Board President, and Jim Pietro ’81, who served as Board President at the start of ONWARD and continued to steer the campaign to its successful completion, have collectively supported this effort with bold decision-making and personal generosity. Their leadership, together with Dexter Morse (Headmaster 1997–2012), provided the vision for this campaign and the conviction that it was both necessary and possible. The impact of this campaign on Worcester Academy is nothing short of remarkable and will be remembered as historic in many ways. Twenty years ago, the idea of completing a campaign of this magnitude would have seemed unrealistic at best. We received a $15 million challenge gift at the start of the campaign, which at the time was not only the largest gift the school had ever received, but also was the largest single gift ever donated to a Worcester organization. The continued growth of the campus is shaping not only our present, but also our future. Purchasing 17 acres of land in our own neighborhood connects us with our community while opening a world of possibilities to us. The construction of Morse Field has enabled us to expand our program while providing a space we share with our community. The opening of the Performance Center, the first new arts building since the construction of Warner Theater, gives new prominence to our outstanding performing arts programs and connects arts, academics, athletics, and community space in an authentic, unique way.

We also should honor the impact of the campaign on our historic main campus. We dreamed of renovating and properly stewarding our historic buildings. Our phenomenal faculty and student body deserve learning environments that are equal to their talent, passion, and overall excellence. For example, as we became better known as a top math and science school, we renovated Kingsley, creating customized science laboratories and equipping classrooms with important resources that match our desire for excellence. Walker, too, is now a state-of-the-art academic building that projects the ways in which we value both our tradition and our innovative spirit. The work on these buildings has allowed our faculty to create collaborative learning opportunities for students and themselves, and to demonstrate the depth of what our students might explore. This campaign has created 22 new endowed funds that honor faculty excellence, support learning, and provide scholarships for students. As the cost of education rises, these funds enable Worcester Academy to stay true to its roots, as Dr. Abercrombie envisioned, when he said, “The academy should ever invite the worthy student of slender means.” These funds speak to the impact that dedicated and talented teachers have on students and the desire that alumni and parents have to continue the spirit and practices that have made Worcester Academy special and accessible. I am honored to be part of the accomplishments of this historic campaign. So, it is with pride and tremendous gratitude that I say, “Thank you!” and offer stories in this Hilltopper issue of success and growth. You will learn more about the many ways in which the generosity and support of many have set the highest standard for Worcester Academy while opening our eyes to the next set of ideas about what is possible. Onward, indeed.

Ronald M. Cino Worcester Academy

campaign TRANSFORMS CAMPUS, STUDENT AND TEACHING EXPERIENCES FOR 21ST CENTURY by Caroline Reich

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THINK BACK TO WORCESTER ACADEMY IN 2005. Those days were heady times on the Hilltop—innovative programs happening in classrooms and a recent successfully completed $31.5 million capital campaign, the largest in WA’s history. The Hilltop was thriving. School leaders were busy working on plans to meet the needs of the talented student body. Our teachers and students needed modern spaces and places to learn, play, and grow. Several of the historic buildings that define the character of our campus were outdated, and would need renovations requiring open-minded vision and serious investment. “We knew,” says James Pietro ’81, ONWARD Campaign co-chair and then-president of the board of trustees, “that the next campaign would have to be transformational and would require a vision encompassing a new sense of what was possible for our students and faculty, our facilities, and the entire WA community.”

NEW APPLIED TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY The Goldsberry family’s ties to WA run strong and deep, with a senior currently studying on the Hilltop and two generations of the family as active alumni. The family established the multigenerational “Goldsberry Family Fund for Applied Technology” during the ONWARD Campaign through gifts from Drs. John and Dorista Goldsberry and the families of their children: John ’77, Yvonne ’78, James ’82, and Carol ’83. “We decided that applied technology for teaching and learning was what we wanted to support with our fund,” explains Yvonne. The ONWARD Campaign and the Goldsberry Fund have enabled WA to make great strides in our commitment to a strong technology infrastructure and innovative technology programs for students. The Mildred H. McEvoy Library alone now has a new MakerSpace where students can create with robotics, electronics, 3-D printers, 3-D pens, computer programming, and art and design; whiteboard tabletops for collaborative student research projects; an audio-visual area with a green room; and a Lego wall. This year, physics students built self-powered model cars using Logger Pro research software and Vernier sensors; and used the Scratch programming language for building video games. Students in engineering class built a wind tunnel and designed bodies for slot cars that they tested in the wind tunnel. Yvonne says her family appreciates that the fund allowed them to pool their resources to make a meaningful gift and that they all can grow the fund over time. It also creates a legacy of philanthropy at WA for younger generations of the family. “As donors, we love hearing about the real-world impact our gift is making for today’s students, and, as a family, we’re proud to have been a part of this aspirational campaign,” Yvonne says.

Worcester Academy

SCHOLARSHIP FOR STUDENTS WITH MUSIC PASSION When Henry Dormitzer ’88 created the Ellen Dormitzer Memorial Music Scholarship in 2008, he knew he wanted its recipients to share his beloved sister’s love of music. As a WA Board member (now its president), he also knew the importance of creating scholarship funds to help keep a Worcester Academy education accessible to the best and brightest. “To me, WA is all about bright students experiencing great programs,” Henry asserts. “I am very pleased that each year a talented, passionate student receives a scholarship that bears my sister’s name,” he says. “The academy has historically been about delivering a very high quality education to talented students across all socio-economic backgrounds, and it is important we continue to honor that.” Daviana Perez ’18 of Worcester is this year’s Dormitzer Scholar. She says, “Without scholarship support, I would not be able to attend WA, nor would I have had amazing opportunities to explore the artistic opportunities here. Every day, whether in my voice lessons, Advanced Chorus, Academy Singers, musical rehearsals, or even independent practice, I learn more about ‘where’ my voice can go, the places it can take me.”

On hand for the dedication were Paul Rossley ’56, George McEvoy ’56, and Tony Tilton.

LIBRARY NAMED FOR WA MOM, BENEFACTOR While you find the Mildred H. McEvoy Foundation atop donor lists on plaques around WA’s campus, you wouldn’t have found it on a building—until now, that is. The academy has honored Mildred H. McEvoy, mother of George McEvoy ’56 and founder of the Mildred H. McEvoy Foundation, by naming the WA library in her memory. George says, “Our family isn’t big on naming buildings and things,” but he did like the idea of honoring his mother, who drove regular, long carpool routes and was in every way a great WA mom, with the naming of this bustling hub of student activity! George and his best friend, WA classmate Paul Rossley, note that they spent lots of time during their student years in the corner of campus where the library is now located, eating jelly doughnuts—so it is a perfect location for a naming in Mildred’s honor! Mildred passed away in 1968, but her spirit lives on through the philanthropy of the foundation. In just over 30-plus years, the McEvoy Foundation has committed more than $1M to Worcester Academy’s fundraising efforts.

WA PARENTS INVEST IN TODAY, PAY IT FORWARD When Bob and Jennifer Scumaci’s son, Jake ’15, enrolled at WA, they were duly impressed with the recent renovations to Kingsley’s science labs. “Someone before us had invested generously in that project to benefit our child, so we made our first campaign gift to invest in the next step,” which happened to be the Walker project, Bob explains. When their second child, Louis ’18 enrolled, they made another gift around the time that the Worcester Academy Performance Center was built. “There are lots of things you can give your dollars to, but investing in your child’s school, for their time and for the generations that follow, is a great way of securing your investment and priorities.” Their daughter, Angela ’20, recently joined the freshman class. When Tom and Mary Heiser P’09,’11,’15 made their gift to the ONWARD Campaign, it was to support the Academy’s Center for Learning (CFL), “because our children were able to benefit greatly from extra help at WA. The CFL encourages students seek extra help if they need it and to know that it is a place for learning, not a place for struggle,” they explain. “Our family had an incredible WA experience,” say Tom and Mary. “We are thankful for the caring, respect, and friendship that the faculty provided to our children. It encouraged us to participate more and support WA in positive ways.”

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$15M GIFT EMBOLDENS ACADEMY TO MAKE VISIONARY DECISIONS And then came an anonymous donor. A $15 million challenge gift from an alumnus and parent of an alum who believed that unless the WA community was willing to dream big and invest in that dream, all the great ideas were just “pie in the sky,” says Pietro. That $15 million gift—at the time the largest single gift to an educational institution in Worcester—changed everything. “The donor challenged us to raise $50 million because he believed that WA could be bigger, better, and more. In his challenge, he invited us as a community to envision what our school could be, to believe in that vision, and to work hard to make it happen. “Financial and moral support like that are very empowering,” explains Marillyn Earley, Worcester Academy’s director of advancement.

SETTING UP THE NEXT CENTURY Sometimes the moon and the stars align. Worcester Academy’s historic main

campus was landlocked in 2005–2006. Just then, the nearby former St. Vincent Hospital property hit the market. The developer who owned the property was also a WA alumnus and was willing to work with us to make a purchase happen. With the challenge gift secured, the acquisition was able to move forward. “That property gives us the space and the potential to do whatever we want and need for the next 100 years,” says Pietro. “The message to our school community and to the larger world in acquiring this property was: Worcester Academy is going to be around—we’re going to thrive, not just survive.” The $15 million gift also changed the wider community’s attitudes toward Worcester Academy. Local foundations, always supportive of the school, made very generous early gifts to the campaign. Several were excited to support the campaign’s first project, the renovation of Kingsley Laboratories. Others supported the land acquisition or more general goals of the campaign. When the school publicly announced the campaign, named “ONWARD: The Campaign for Worcester Academy,”

we knew it would be about more than just raising money. It would be about believing in a future in ways WA had not envisioned in decades. “This effort was about stretching us to dream bigger, to imagine boldly, and not to settle,” says Head of School Ron Cino. “The ONWARD Campaign name tells that story, of pushing excellence as an institution well into the 21st century, in our programming, student access, faculty support, facilities, and endowment growth.”

AS ALWAYS, ACADEMICS COME FIRST “Values-driven” is how many describe the focus of ONWARD effort. While the Worcester Academy Board of Trustees had a long list of capital projects it needed or wanted to do, the touchstone for every discussion, says Headmaster Emeritus Dexter Morse, was, “What is the right thing and the best thing for our students?” And since the school’s founding, the most important values at WA were instilling a love of learning in its students and offering the finest teaching. “We knew we had to take care of the core of our school first—the academic

program,” Pietro explains. So, what to tackle first? When Dr. Daniel W. Abercrombie built Kingsley Labs in 1897, he designed a state-of-the-art science/academic facility that drew admirers, such as presidents of Harvard and MIT, who ogled the labs where high schoolers were getting their science instruction. But, by the late 20th century, the labs had become inadequate for 21st century science education. The facilities were, in fact, inhibiting our ability to teach science using modern technology and teaching practices. In 2008, the ribbon was cut on a $6M+ Kingsley renovation with seven allpurpose science labs where teachers are now “designers of learning experiences that put students at the center of the learning process in an interactive way,” explains former administrator Michael Mallett, who was Science Department chair during the renovation. Students now have the infrastructure to use laptops, do auto data collection, collaborate in small teams for investigation and sharing, use whiteboards and SMART Boards, and develop uber-confident lab and technical skills. “They leave WA quite prepared for

Worcester Academy

the case-based and inquiry-based projects they’ll find in college and beyond,” Mallett says. “Dr. Abercrombie’s vision to build a state-of-the-art campus formed an anchor and a permanence for the educational experience here at WA. So bringing those buildings back to life was our commitment to bringing them back to relevance for this century,” says Pietro.

new technology tools to use at the same time teaching pedagogies emphasizing project-based and collaborative learning were being integrated with WA’s traditional rigorous academic program. Renovating Walker Hall, which housed WA’s humanities and arts programs, was another priority. The goal was to create appropriate spaces for teachers and students to learn in the most engaging ways.

TRANSFORMING TEACHING AND STUDENT EXPERIENCES

ENHANCING STUDENT ACCESS AND EXPERIENCES

The impact of the Kingsley project was profound and immediate, Morse remembers, and Jim Pietro concurs. “Kingsley was the first big pivot point in the campaign. We’d had a series of building projects in mind, but Kingsley caused a paradigm shift in how the thoughtful renovation of a building can change the educational experience for students and for our faculty,” he explains. “Some of the old stuff [in our historic buildings] was endearing, but, at some point, it became inhibiting to our students, teachers, and programs.” The new labs and renovated classrooms in Kingsley gave teachers

All the lovely classrooms and labs in the world are meaningless without bright, motivated students in them. WA has long embraced its commitment to providing financial aid to talented students. The ONWARD Campaign attracted many donors whose passion is ensuring that our student body continues to be a rich tapestry of students from every walk of life. Two donors, for example, created endowed funds to provide permanent support for WA’s Neighborhood Scholarship Program. Another created a scholarship for a student who excels in swimming. Several

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donors added significantly to existing scholarship funds so that more students could benefit. And yet other donors created special program funds to enhance specific needs on campus. One new fund brings visiting artists to campus, while another covers the miscellaneous costs of financial aid recipients, such as winter coats or soccer cleats. Another fund supports the Center for Learning, and a multigenerational academy family created a fund that supports applied technology. All of these funds are reflective of donor passions and have enriched the student experience on our campus. As Worcester Academy focused on student-centered educational programs, it also looked at how buildings and technology influence teaching practice, which directly impacts student learning. It goes without saying that Walker Hall needed a whole new infrastructure. Heating and cooling, having outlets to plug in technology, and handicap access were obvious upgrades on the list. This shift in thinking influenced every phase of the Walker design process, creating new spaces for faculty department offices and gathering

places for collaboration. Teachers were included in the design process. “Before the Walker renovation, collaboration between peers was immensely challenging. Teachers were all over and communicated largely through email,” explains Kirk Upton, Upper School history teacher. “Now, we have open-concept offices, we’re sitting in the same room, we just spin around and talk to our colleagues—this provides consistency for our students, better mapping between courses, and creativity is higher,” he says. Upton also notes that prior to the renovation, problems with classroom connectivity and flexibility were very distracting to the learning process. “Now they can roll their desks together for brisk discussion, use their fully-charged laptops with working Wi-Fi, and collaborate on a SMART Board.” Class of 2007 alumni Patrick O’Donnell, who now teaches history in WA’s Upper School, and Stephanie Jackson, who now teaches math in the Upper School, each experienced Kingsley and Walker as students before the renovations and now teach in renovated buildings. They have

DONOR PERPETUATES CIRCLE OF PAYING IT FORWARD WITH CAMPAIGN GIFTS Bob Weissman ’58 is a thoughtful and experienced philanthropist—and a savvy investor. It is no surprise then that his ONWARD gifts reflect that. Knowing the importance of a strong annual giving program, Bob set up a challenge to increase donor participation and help the Annual Fund reach the $1M mark. Both goals were exceeded! This gift was personal for Bob. “As a grad who did not participate in annual giving for a number of years, I recognized late in life that America was built and runs on the energy and contributions of people who understand how to create real opportunity. I got a wonderful education at the Academy, and I was a scholarship student, so this is my time to pay it forward and to create new opportunities for today’s WA students.” Bob and his wife, Janet, have also made a leadership commitment to ONWARD by becoming members of Worcester Academy’s 1834 Society, whose 275 members have included WA in their estate plans. Says Bob, “Like many, I had plenty of uses for my capital, but I didn’t want that to be an excuse for not giving generously to the campaign.” Plus, he says, planned giving donors have the benefit of seeing how charities are stewarding the institutions while donors are still alive. Bob doesn’t consider his contributions to WA to be gifts, but rather investments. “I’m giving tools to bright, energetic kids so they can gain the skills they need to be highly successful in life. Then they can perpetuate the circle of paying it forward, and return our investment,” he says.

NEW SCHOLARSHIP BRINGS RARE OPPORTUNITIES, OPENS HEARTS AND MINDS The background story is interesting enough. A WA alum from Michigan served in the U.S. Army in Ethiopia and saw the desperate need for education—and the power even a few educated people have to change the lives of many. Could Harry Emmons ’60 and his wife, Lori, have imagined that their scholarship’s first recipient, Mubarik Mohamoud ’13, a young man who grew up in a refugee camp, would head off to MIT? Or that the second Emmons Scholarship recipient, Deqa Aden ’14, a lovely young woman from Somaliland, would discover the joys of singing, participating in model U.N. and all manner of campus activities, and would gain entrance to Grinnell, one of the country’s most competitive liberal arts colleges? Would it surprise them that the current recipient, Ahmed Hussein ’16, enjoyed a second successful cross-country season (running on a course named for Emmonses) and is headed to Texas Christian University this fall? “We decided that we would fund a student each year to receive a Worcester Academy education with the hope that perhaps they’d return to their countries to be leaders and change-agents,” Harry explains. Harry and Lori also hoped that the presence of students from Africa would enrich perspectives of the WA student body—and it has. One WA day student tells of a small moment during the Annual Spree Day when she and Deqa Aden were watching students pour buckets of water over each other and squirt each other with water guns. “Americans sure do waste a lot of water,” Deqa remarked, explaining how in Somaliland, water is a precious resource. The moment has stuck with both of them. A boarding student from New Hampshire exclaimed that the best part of his WA experience had been living with friends from Somaliland and Azerbaijan. Being donors of a scholarship has also given Harry and Lori and their three recipients a chance to get to know each other. “We don’t have our own children, so sharing events like graduations, sporting events, getting together for meals, these have been great moments,” comments Harry. Deqa says, “I consider myself lucky to have been able to meet and spend time with the Emmonses, who even made it to my WA graduation! Mr. and Mrs. Emmons were more than just my sponsors. They taught me so much about the importance of giving back and the power of generosity. I will forever be grateful and honored to be an Emmons Scholar.”

Harry and Lori Emmons and their scholarship recipient, Ahmed Hussein ’16, from Somaliland at his WA graduation.

Worcester Academy

UNIQUE BOND BETWEEN DONORS AND RECIPIENTS

Arpan Bose, the first Bernon Junior Community Service Award recipient, has directed a $7,500 donation to Habitat for Humanity.

DONOR’S PASSION TO CREATE TRUE COMMUNITY SERVANTS SPARKS INNOVATIVE FUND Alan Bernon ’72 had previously endowed a Community Service Fund to support service learning overall. Through the ONWARD Campaign, Alan decided to push his passion for developing young people’s interests in service and philanthropy to the next level. He and his wife, Carol, endowed the Bernon Junior Community Service Award, to be given to a student who excels in community service. “My thought was to encourage a student to go deeper into their community service, to reward and inspire them, so that it might in spark a lifelong passion,” says Alan. This award, begun in 2015, is given annually to one junior who demonstrates an exceptional commitment to community service. The recipient receives $2,500 as a personal award, and the remaining $7,500 is donated to a charity of the student’s choice. Says first recipient, Arpan Bose ’16, “I was tremendously honored that my work was being recognized in this way, especially since volunteering is, to my mind, something you do for others.” Arpan has volunteered for the YMCA, the Mustard Seed soup kitchen, and for a missionary charity in India. He also has gone on WA’s Habitat for Humanity mission trip and has worked on the Habitat project across the street from the academy campus on nearby Aetna Street. “In the end, I decided to give the donation to Habitat for Humanity Metro West/ Greater Worcester. This was a large amount of money to have responsibility for—it impacts not just you but many others, so you want to make a good decision,” he explains. “The impact of this award has been huge for me. It has made me want to do more, to learn how philanthropy works. This is not just a ‘pat on the back’ award—it sticks with you,” Arpan says. As for the $2,500 personal award, Arpan will use it for school expenses at University of Michigan, where he has already checked out the Habitat for Humanity Chapter.

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Richard Sullivan ’59 of Shrewsbury, MA, passed away in 2010 after a long struggle with Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS). His family, wanting to honor him, considered how important his Worcester Academy experience had been. So they created a scholarship for a student-athlete “who demonstrates courage in the face of adversity,” as Richard had done in his final years. They could not have imagined that just a mile away in Shrewsbury, a young family was dealing with the loss of the dad to ALS. Two of their daughters, Alicia ’07 and Lauren ’08, had graduated from WA, but then John ’14, son to recently widowed mother, Nancy Marculitis, was at the academy. John became the first recipient of the Richard Sullivan ’59 Memorial Scholarship. Dianne Sullivan, Richard’s widow, says she cried when she learned of the ALS connection between the two families, but she now revels in the joy of meeting Nancy and John, having attended many of his baseball and basketball games. For his part, John knows that the connection and support of the Sullivans made his goal of attending WA possible. “The Sullivans, I feel, were there supporting me all the way through my journey,” John says, adding that it’s the relationships among academy families that makes Worcester Academy a special place. Today, the youngest Marculitis child, James ’19, is a sophomore at WA. “It is really special to have this connection with the Sullivans, who have been so nice and supportive,” James explains. As a freshman, James participated in Dexter Prize, and Nancy invited Dianne to watch his debut performance. He also runs cross-country and track, and recently won a Model U.N. award. This year, he is starting a literature club. “I feel privileged that Nancy and the boys have been willing to allow our family to share in their lives as they attend Worcester Academy. Ours is a unique and wonderful experience. At some point, we hope to build on the fund so more students can benefit,” Dianne says. Dianne Sullivan P ’91,’93, Abigail Sullivan, James Marculitis ’19, Nancy Marculitis P ’07,’08,’14,’19, and Sarah Sullivan Pulsifer ’91.

unique perspectives on the changes. “The shared faculty space is huge in my teaching practice. Now I can connect with other teachers and receive mentoring and advice, and share ideas easily,” O’Donnell says. Of the Walker renovation, he says, “It’s familiar but better. It’s in keeping with the 21st century while holding on to connections of the past.” Jackson believes that teachers in both buildings are using technology and project-based leaning in their teaching much more because the renovated buildings have made this possible. “The investment WA made in these facilities says, ‘We are willing to invest what it takes to prepare our students as learners and investigators,’ ” she states.

‘FIELD OF DREAMS’ AND A NEW STAGE FOR PERFORMERS The students happily engaged on the Hilltop and soaking up science in the new labs in Kingsley were not onedimensional. The Athletic Department was fielding 50-plus teams each year, and scheduling games was a real challenge, even with New Balance Fields

and Gaskill Field in full play. Throw in a few weeks of bad weather and you could have a muddy mess of cancelled games and frustrated coaches and athletes. The solution: a “field of dreams” in the form of an artificial turf, lighted, all-purpose field, dedicated in honor of Headmaster Dexter Morse and his wife, Barbara, in 2011. Morse Field became the first WA facility at South Campus, the name for the old St. V’s property. The project attracted donors ranging from alumni, to groups of alumni parents, to groups of former teammates, and has been a huge success. In constant use by WA athletes for football, soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey, it is also used by Union Hill Elementary School students for physical education, and on off days by neighbors and community groups. “We sent a clear signal to the community that by keeping Morse Field accessible to visitors, the academy is a true neighbor and partner on Union Hill,” says Cino. “And we are set up to enjoy the excitement of night games and other events at this beautiful facility.” While Walker’s renovations added wonderful theater classrooms and visual arts classroom spaces, we knew the

Pit Theater would be displaced in the renovation. Here again, good planning and the acquisition of the South Campus property presented a value-added option for our students. In 2016, the Worcester Academy Performance Center officially opened, featuring a new, flexible black box theater, green room, enhanced dressing rooms, a lobby/gallery for events and art exhibitions, and a patio for outdoor performances. Students are learning to use professional-level theatrical sound and lighting systems. “There are so many ways in which the performance center has already enhanced our program,” says David Plante, performance center manager. “From a technical standpoint, the enhanced sound and lighting systems have a lot to offer, and students are experiencing a much more intimate setting, which will be leading us to much more challenging work. Most important, the students all feel the excitement of the new facility which they can truly own. I’m proud to say our opening season was a strong one,” Plante says. The performance center has already hosted several community events, student and faculty art exhibitions, master

classes by visiting artists, a Mother’s Day concert featuring alumni performances, and plays by Upper School and Middle School actors.

A FUTURE SECURED, SCHOOL PRIDE SURGES The ONWARD Campaign has transformed Worcester Academy in ways even its leaders could not have imagined back in 2005. It has enabled us to be ahead of the curve in 21st century teaching practices and programs and has provided us with the space we need to build our future for generations to come. “I have always been impressed with how deeply our alumni and most loyal donors trust Worcester Academy. They love this school. They love their teachers and know that they need to help new generations of teachers continue to be transformational for future generations of WA students,” declares Morse. And the ONWARD Campaign has fostered newfound pride in our school. “You can see this especially in the unrivaled passion of our young alums,” says Jim Pietro. “They want to know what’s next and what’s possible, and they want to be part of the journey ONWARD.”

Worcester Academy

donors $15 MIL+ Anonymous

$1 MIL+

George I. Alden Trust Kingsley Laboratories Renovations Dr. John L. Edwards 1904 Trust Harold ’60 and Lori Emmons Harold H. Emmons III & Lori K. Emmons Scholarship George ’60 and Bicky Kellner Vinik Family Foundation M. Penny Siegel Vinik ’80 and Jeffrey Vinik Robert ’58 and Janet Weissman

$500K+

Allen Family Charitable Trust Estate of F. Harold Daniels 1905 Estates of Jacques C. LeBermuth 1924 and Claudine LeBermuth Levine Family In memory of Marc D. Levine ’84 Mildred H. McEvoy Foundation Michael Puk Sun ’68 and Frances Tien In honor of George M. Andes, Clarence H. Barthelman, Irving B.Freeman, and Gordon C. Ramsey The Tien Student Impact Award Estate of Charles E. Willock 1922 James L. Wilson 1928 Living Trust

$250K+

Bernard ’43 and Judy Briskin The Bernard ’43 and Judith Briskin Endowed Scholarship Austin Cable 1938* Fred Harris Daniels Foundation Daniels Gym Renovations George F. & Sybil H. Fuller Foundation Peter ’63 and Karla Gardner Rowe Family Scholarship Estate of Guthrie M. Mitchell 1930 Mary P. Stinson Trust Stoddard Charitable Trust

$100K+

Anonymous Jacqueline Abodeely ’93 George M. Abodeely Jr. ’58 Neighborhood Scholarship In memory of George M. Abodeely Jr. ’58 Alan ’72 and Carol Bernon Carol & Alan J. Bernon Family Charitable Foundation The Bernon Family Community Service Program Bernon Family Scholarship Bernon Junior Service Award Estate of Eric F. ’38 and Jane Bessels Estate of Mrs. Violet Blakeley David R. Brown 1931 Trust Donald and Phyllis Campbell P’97,’98,’00 The Phyllis and Donald Campbell Charitable Foundation Campbell Community Service Fund Anthony and Susan Consigli P’09, ’21 Consigli Construction Co., Inc. Joseph ’46 and Margaret DiGeronimo Henry ’88 and Jessica Dormitzer Ellen Dormitzer Music Scholarship Andrew Duncan ’81 Frederick and Patricia Eppinger P’16,’20 (2)

12 the HILLTOPPER : summer/fall 2016

Matthew Finkle ’87 and Grace Cho Matthew K. Finkle ’87 Scholarship Thomas and Mary Heiser P’09,’11,’15 Center for Learning Financial Aid Susan W. Jacobs P’03 N. Scott ’65 and Sheila Knight Norman Knight Charitable Foundation Knight Family Scholarship Alice McCabe P’71 Neal Graham McCabe ’71 Memorial Fund Neal G. McCabe ’71 Memorial Scholarship James Pietro ’81 and Terrie Hanna P’11,’14,’19 John J. Pietro, Jr. Scholarship Dr. W. Stephen ’58 and Diane Piper William S. Piper Memorial Scholarship Hervey Ross ’46 Ellen Dormitzer Music Scholarship John J. Pietro, Jr. Scholarship Rowe/Blackburn Fund for Athletic Excellence Morse Field- in memory of Wanda Ross The Excellence in Teaching Fund William “Doc” Samko Scholarship Edwin ’61 and Felicia Shaw Estate of Mary Starrett Donald ’44* and Ruth Taylor P’70 Worcester Academy Thimble Club Thimble Club Endowed Scholarship Johnny Yeung ’72*

$50K+

Steve ’64 and Cynthia Adelman P’97 Rowe Family Scholarship Bill Breidenbach ’69, P’98,’00 and Melanie Gage Visiting Artist Program Estate of Robert Doyle ’43 Karnig and Karen Durgarian P’04,’08 Armenian Heritage Scholarship Fletcher Foundation Lawrence ’72 and Jane Gordon P’11 Alice and Richard Hammond P’73,’75,’81, GP’11,’14,’18,’19,’20 John J. Pietro, Jr. Scholarship In memory of John J. Pietro Jr. ’48 Jeffco Fibres, Inc. In honor of Blanche Lonstein Estate of John Murray Fox 1938 Halbert Katzen ’80 General Campaign Fund Serendipity Fund Arthur ’74 and Mary Kentros Stewart ’70 and Rhonda Lassner, Lassner Family Gift Trust Dana ’75 and Christine Levenson P’18,’21 Jeffrey ’74 and Nancy Lonstein In honor of Blanche Lonstein Estate of Lemuel Manchester ’44 Jim and Sue Mullholland P’15 Barbara F. Gould Varsity Swim Coach Fund Stephen ’61 and Judy Pashall Pashall Family Fund Paul ’75 and Susan Pietro P’18,’20 John J. Pietro, Jr. Scholarship Richard Piper ’60 and Ann Coles William S. Piper Memorial John Salter ’61 Robert and Jennifer Scumaci P’15,’18,’20 Capital Projects General Campaign Fund Estate of Dr. Ivan Spear ’40, GP’00,’04 Jonathan Stuart ’86 and Kelly Giles Stuart ’86 The Stuart Family Fund Estate of Donald H. Trussell ’51 Donald H. ’51 and Sylvia G. Trussell Scholarship

$25K+

Dr. Lauren Baker P’15,’18 Estate of Karl L. Briel ’40 Harold G. Rader Scholarship In memory of Dorothy M. Briel In memory of Harold G. “Dutch” Rader

George ’55 and Alta-Mae Butler GP’11,’14 Morse Field Scoreboard In honor of the Butler Family ’55,’11,’14 Estate of Henry J. Camosse ’49 Nicholas ’58 and Jean Cotsidas, Trustees of the Cotsidas Charitable Trust Gerald Cushing and Martha Shadan P’07,’10 Kingsley Laboratories Renovations Peter and Rita Dignan P’07 M.J. Donnelly In memory of J. Robert Donnelly 1936 Michael Donoghue ’71 Robert Dorfman ’69 In memory of Carol Dorfman Gould Barbara F. Gould Varsity Swim Coach Fund Alan ’72 and Pam Duncan The Paul Morano Sr. Fund for Community Enhancement David ’65 and Ann Forsberg P’91,’94 The Grenon Family: J. Michael Grenon ’88 and Brittany Holt Grenon David and Rosalie Grenon P’88,’92 Joshua Horowitz ’77 and Patricia Baggett Hoche-Scofield Foundation Kingsley Laboratories Renovations Hyde/Dexter Russell Charitable Foundation Myles ’52* and Lois Lopatin Christian and Cathy* McCarthy P’11 Estate of Florence Medlinsky P’70 Jeffrey Medlinsky ’70 Scholarship In memory of Jeffrey Medlinsky ’70 Dexter and Barbara Morse General Campaign Fund Morse Field John ’60 and Ted ’59* Natt Ted M. Natt Endowed Fund Charles ’73 and Elizabeth O’Connor P’03,’06,’12 In memory of Charles J. O’Connor Jr. and Paul T. and Elizabeth Kelleher Sean Padgett & Ann-Margaret White P’13,’15,’20 Serendipity Fund Barbara F. Gould Varsity Swim Coach Fund Joel and Caroline Reich P’06,’08 Summer Scholars Program John Rosenthal ’50 John B. and Virginia Wade Sampson Trust Estate of Frank M. Simons 1936 Bernard and Laurie Student P’18 Goldsberry Fund for Applied Technology Dianne Sullivan P’91,’93 Richard F. Sullivan ’59 Memorial Scholarship The Stempler Family Foundation Gerald and Deana Stempler Fund In honor of Emily ’05 and Sally Rose ’09 Stempler Ross Weaver ’66 James and Marita Zuraitis P’08,’09

$10K+

Anonymous Ronald ’50 and Gladys Abdow Morse Field Dr. and Mrs. James J. Barry P’15,’18 Barbara F. Gould Varsity Swim Coach Fund David and Lynn Butler P’11,’14 Morse Field In honor of Samuel ’11 and Mackenzie ’14 Butler Ronald M. Cino and Nathalie J. Pérez-Cino P’21,’22 Robert ’78 and Denise Clemence P’07,’09,’12 Morse Field James ’62 and Nancy Coghlin P’86 Morse Field In honor of Dee Rowe ’47 and David Gavitt* Michael and Janine Dallas P’17 Thomas and Mary Demakes P’06 Morse Field In honor of Harry Demakes ’06 Francis Ford and Shirley Doyle P’09 Barbara F. Gould Varsity Swim Coach Fund General Campaign Fund

Edwin ’67 and Peggy Fedeli Morse Field In honor of our lifelong friendship: Ed Fedeli ’67, Steve Oakes ’67, and Rick Graham ’67 Dr. Alfred H. Graham Scholarship Drs. John Ferriss and Mary Maloney P’02,’04,’06 Lippard Scholarship Michael Flaherty ’64 The Excellence in Teaching Fund John J. Pietro, Jr. Scholarship William “Doc” Samko Scholarship James ’82 and Lisa Goldsberry P’14,’17 Goldsberry Family Fund for Applied Technology Drs. John and Dorista Goldsberry P’77,’78,’82,’83, GP’12,’14,’15,’17 Goldsberry Family Fund for Applied Technology Dr. Yvonne Goldsberry ’78 Goldsberry Family Fund for Applied Technology The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation Marc Hembrough ’80 Morse Field Dianne Jones Anne Cooke Jones Scholarship Franklin ’41 and Caroline June Jamie Lavin ’02 Kim L. McCabe Neal G. McCabe ’71 Memorial Scholarship Estate of Neal G. McCabe ’71 Neal G. McCabe ’71 Memorial Scholarship William J. McKee, Jr. 1927 Trust Dr. Gordon McMurdo ’47 Donald ’51* and Margaret Mix Mark and Katherine Puccio P’16 Sarah Sullivan Pulsifer ’91 and L. Hale Pulsifer Richard F. Sullivan’59 Memorial Scholarship In memory of Richard F. Sullivan ’59 Ellen Dormitzer Music Scholarship In honor of Richard ’59* and Dianne Sullivan Jennifer Gaudette Quinn ’87 and Daniel Quinn The Rader Family, Richard A. Rader ’51 Harold G. Rader Scholarship Paul ’56 and Fay Rossley In memory of George D. Blakeslee 1929 Estate of Richard M. Sargeant 1940 Page Sargisson ’93 In honor of Betsy Sargisson David ’70 and Andrea Shamoian Capital Projects Center for Learning Endowed Fund James Wells ’61 Harold G. Rader Scholarship In honor of the Wells family

$5K+

Estate of Dr. Charles Freeman Alexander III ’62 In memory of Dr. Charles F. Alexander III ’62 Kelly Blackburn Curran ’82 John Deitz ’63 Members of the 2003 Junior Football Team, and their coaches, Dexter Morse and Bill Servant In honor of their undefeated “Silver Bowl season” Julian Geiger Rowe Family Scholarship Edward ’77 and Macrina Hjerpe Rowe/Blackburn Fund for Althletic Excellence In honor of the Hjerpe Family Earle Leeder ’52* Endowment Unrestricted George and Donna McMillan P’06,’08 McMillan Fdn. Fund for Music & Performing Arts Neil* and Joanne McNamara P’09,’12 Estate of Dr. David J. Molloy ’56 In memory of Joseph F. Molloy Brian O’Connell ’67 In memory of Andrew J. and Ireen B. O’Connell Larry and Kathleen Park P’13 Donald ’47 and Virginia Rowe GP’12,’17,’19 Rowe Family Scholarship E. Michael and Maribeth Scanlon P’07 Morse Field In honor of the 2006 Boys Varsity Soccer Team

Shelly Scherer ’59 Stanley Shenkman ’46 In honor of Samuel Shenkman William ’47 and Anne Snow In memory of Harry H. Snow 1906 Championship Soccer Teams’ Families In honor of the 2008, 2009, 2011 Championship Girls’ Varsity Soccer Teams, Coach Adam Strogoff ’97 and Assistant Coach, John Liller Parents and teammates of the 2006 Boys Varsity Soccer Team In honor of their undefeated season and Coach James Proctor and Assistant Coach Ryan Boccuzzi Benjamin Williams Benjamin D. Williams III Scholarship

$1K+

Peter Adams ’61 Peter Babaian ’95 Thimble Club Endowed Scholarship Estate of Robert I. Beddoe 1935 Bill ’48 and Doris Cahill Richard Canton ’53 Estate of Warren A. Clason ’47 Ronald Davis 1938* Morgan and Loretta Dewey P’03,’05 Barbara F. Gould Varsity Swim Coach Fund George DiFalco GP’94 Sarah Duemmel Memorial Award Estate of Gordon I. Erikson 1939 Russell Gaudet ’56 Thomas George ’56 Dr. Sonia Glazer P’80,’84 Allan Glazer Memorial Award Helen Gould* Swimming Pool John and Josephine Hackett GP’00,’03,’05,’07,’16,’17,’19 William “Doc” Samko Scholarship Brooks Harrington P’03 Mary Piper Johnson* P’58,’60 William S. Piper Memorial Robert Johnson ’45 Kenneth F. Johnson ’73 Memorial Award Robert Johnston ’44* James and Mary Jordan P’17 Kevin and Nancy Lagasse P’15 Barbara F. Gould Varsity Swim Coach Fund Andrew ’73 and Marjorie O’Donnell P’03,’05,’07,’10 Ken and Joanne O’Keefe Janet Macko Award William “Doc” Samko Scholarship Dr. Howard & Valerie Price P ’15, ’19 Barbara F. Gould Varsity Swim Coach Fund Thomas ’76 and Janice Roddenbery The Purjes Foundation Neal Graham McCabe ’71 Memorial Scholarship In Memory of Neal G. McCabe ’71 Kenneth Safran ’64 William “Doc” Samko* P’69,’72 William “Doc” Samko Scholarship Frederick Squire ’59 John J. Pietro, Jr. Scholarship William Talcott ’79 and Wendy McGovern-Talcott ’80, P’08 William “Doc” Samko Scholarship Luke Vaillancourt ’01 Benjamin Williams Benjamin D. Williams III Scholarship David Woodbury ’66 Barbara F. Gould Varsity Swim Coach Fund Kenji Yoshikawa and Arva Chiu P’17 Barbara F. Gould Varsity Swim Coach Fund *denotes deceased list finalized as of June 30, 2016 Gifts to the Rowe Family Scholarship fund are acknowledged each year in the Annual Report.

182

Commencement nd

exercises

Worcester Academy held its

182st Commencement Exercises on Friday, June 3, with 162 students graduating under sunny skies. Commencement speaker was a longtime history teacher and coach Peter Roberts, who retired at the end of the school year. Mr. Roberts, who is loved by students and alumni alike, has taught at Worcester Academy for the last 32 years. He has coached soccer and track and field. The graduation ceremony was held outside on the historic Quad on the Academyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main campus at 81 Providence Street. Also speaking were Valedictorian Martha Kebeh of Worcester and Salutatorian Varun Bhaskar Nair of Bolton. Worcester Academy

Peter Roberts Speech Excerpt “Worcester Academy Class of 2016, may you be in the vanguard of advancement and may you craft new venues by which to use the tools of today and tomorrow so that we can solve in a totally “big way” the enormous problems that beset the planet, like and for example, climate change, but know too technology alone won’t get the job done, for let us all embrace the wisdom and experience of the ages, let us embrace diversity, let us embrace education, let us embrace passion, and let us embrace empathy. So Class of 2016, shall we get on with it, because if there is any generation that can and needs to make a real difference, it’s you; if there is any generation that can save ourselves from ourselves, it’s you; if there is any generation that can save the world from the world, it’s you. Progress is being made; we can create a sustainable future and we must. With nature’s wind at your back, may you depart from this campus with that sunny and polite optimism you are so well known for. Thank your academy faculty and thank your parents for all they have done. I will look for you when I am back this way and you will look for me. We will rejoice! That’s it!”

Class of 2016 College Matriculation List Bekbolat Abdikanov Purdue University Danae Alexandrou University of Rochester John Andrew Alexopoulos Eastern Connecticut State University Katherine Altamirano Dickinson College Alila Amangali University of Rochester Marislena Amezquita University of Connecticut Nazaire M. Arcand Quinnipiac University Zackary Bennett Aresty Suffolk University William Athanas The University of Tampa Keelan M. Baldwin Elon University Elizabeth Barberio University of New Hampshire Nassir Shakur Barrino University of San Diego Nicholas E. Barris Tufts University James W. Bechta Colorado College Madeline A. Belden College of the Holy Cross Arpan Bose University of Michigan Alexander J. Botazzi University of Connecticut Alexander E. Brickman Siena College Yusheng Cai Duke University John A. Campsmith Long Island University - Brooklyn Isabelle R. Capestany-Murkland Johnson & Wales University Robert Carlson Saint Michael’s College Keith P. Carroll Boston College Jordan Chagnon University of Ottawa (CAN) Xuezhen Chen University of Connecticut Virginia J. Courtney University of Massachusetts, Amherst Colin Creamer Merrimack College

14 the HILLTOPPER : summer/fall 2016

Jonathan Crimmin Siena College Porraket Dechdacho Pennsylvania State University Peter N. Del Po Boston College Justin Depietri Roger Williams University Caleb I. F. Dimenstein Skidmore College Thomas J. Diskin Bentley University Matthew P. Donovan Deerfield Academy (Postgraduate) Laina Dowd Suffolk University Kaitlin M. Drapkin The George Washington University Mary Katherine Drinkwater University of New England Brian Eddy Indiana State University Jocelyn C. Emus Pratt Institute Victoria M. Endow The George Washington University Kathryn E. Eppinger Duke University James L. Fahey Franklin and Marshall College Jingzhang Feng Pennsylvania State University Devin P. Fitman Wentworth Institute of Technology Nell Fitzgerald Northeastern University Jacqueline R. Gangi Fairfield University Katrina P. Gangi Fairfield University Turner R. J. Geenty Union College Marguerite C. Gordon-Johnson University of Rhode Island James Christopher Griffin Framingham State University Xiaoquan Gu Undecided Timothy Francis Guinee Union College Sang Yee Ha New York University Alexis D. Hackett Suffolk University Kevin Haley Suffield Academy (Postgraduate)

Weston Daniel Hannon-Bogosh Stephanie A. Hartman Julia Harvey Siobhan Herr ReAnnen M. Hogan Tyler J. Hogan Yin Hu

Union College Temple University Northeastern University University of New Hampshire Connecticut College Marist College University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Ahmed Hussein Texas Christian University Emma Joaquin University of Richmond Daniel Johnson Bryant University Barrett T. Kalmansson Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute DuKyung Kang Maryland Institute College of Art Garrett A. Kasper Hofstra University Martha L. Kebeh Harvard University Julia Kelleher Connecticut College Hannah M. Kelley High Point University Rohshan Khalili University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth MinJun Kim Wake Forest University Muzaffer Koksal Undecided Zachary Koulopoulos Syracuse University Hannah Kreh University of Delaware Ashlyn Krygowski New York University Andrew S. Lavine Bryant University Kylie J. Lavine University of Miami Seth Learned College of the Holy Cross Hongyang Li University of Wisconsin

commencement 2016

2016 Senior Awards Bucknell Scholarship: Jiayuan Michael Liu Class of 1935 Prize Trophy: Brian Quistberg Class of 1890 All-Around Athletic Prize: Ashlyn Krygowski The Rev. Edward Merrill Dart ’27 Award: Andranik Markaryan Sarah Duemmel ’94 Memorial Award: Ahmed Hussein The Dr. David A. Echelman Memorial Science Award: Shucheng Phillip Tian The Allan Glazer Memorial Science Award: Bekbolat Abdikanov Marc D. Levine ’84 Lifer Award: Hannah Kreh William W. McAlpine Award: Julia Harvey Neil W. Peters III Award: Varun Nair Cole Porter 1909 Visual & Performing Arts Award: Garrett Kasper H.G. Rader Grant: Martha Kebeh Donald “Dee” Rowe ’47 Award: Arpan Bose George T. Sargisson Class of ’27 Award: Kevin Marfo Sigma Cup: Martha Kebeh Richard Winters Drama Award: Nicholas Barris

scan this page for more photos from commencement 2016

Peishan Li Siraphob Limprapaipong Jiayuan Liu Olivia M. Lockbaum Lyle Logan Hannah M. Lowe Timary P. Malley Hannah B. Malloy Jennifer N. Manning Kevin Marfo Andranik Markaryan Olesya Martynova Julie A. McDermott Ryan M. McDermott Brady McMillan Michaela Margaret McNamara Morgan McSweeney Hiliana M.R.M. Melo Samantha Mili Amir J. Miller John Moore Michael Morhardt Moira C. Mullaney Alexander R. Mura Varun Nair Quang Anh Nguyen Lucio C. Nicoletti

Colgate University Lehigh University Washington University in St. Louis McGill University (CAN) Suffolk University Worcester Polytechnic Institute Hamilton College Lafayette College State University of New York - Plattsburgh The George Washington University University of California, San Diego Trinity College American University Roger Williams University University of San Diego Endicott College Wake Forest University Smith College Mount Ida College Ohio University Deferring Enrollment Boston College Colby College Fairfield University Duke University Indiana University Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Marcello Nicoletti Abigail Leigh O’Keefe Harun O. Ozgul Zachary Harris Pesetsky Sean C. Pierson Carmela A. Pijaca Lena M. Polito Isabel Polletta Christian A. Polymeros Sirapatsorn Pongpiriyakarn Ryan M. Poyastro-Pearson Caroline R. Puccio Brian P. Quistberg Christian Ramsey Gwen Ream Keith J. Reiter Mickey C. Riley Brandon Ryan Rinaldi Tamell Robinson Catherine A. Romanova Michael John Ryan Maximillian S. Sadlier Matthew Sanchez Nicholas B. Sanchez Bryce A. Santos Abdul Sesay Benjamin M. Sigel Kishan Singh

Worcester Polytechnic Institute Brown University Quinnipiac University Fitchburg State University Trinity College Dublin (IRL) Fordham University Loyola University Maryland Bard College Massachusetts Maritime Academy Harvey Mudd College Temple University High Point University Northwestern University Stonehill College Bryant University University of Maine at Farmington Stonehill College Curry College SUNY – Buffalo State Northeastern University Merrimack College Northeastern University Southern New Hampshire University Roger Williams University Merrimack College American International College Emory University University of Southern California

Aaron R. Snyder Joe R. Suyemoto Jake Teuner Shucheng Tian Matthew E. Topa Abulkhair Turmakhanov Benjamin I. Ushman Hunter John Walsh Justin Wang Wei-Chen Wang Xin Wang Yadi Wang Samuel B. Waxlax James Wells Jesse Paul Wims Danica J. Woo Jiaxin Wu Yingjian Wu Ying Yang Jeffrey Otto Zaccardo Jiaqi Zhang Qingwen Zhang Xiangyu Zhang Jiaxian Lou Zheng Qiyuan Zheng Jiacheng Zhu

George Washington University Syracuse University American International College Tufts University Bryant University American University Washington University in St. Louis Merrimack College University of Oxford (UK) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Bates College University of California, Berkeley Colorado School of Mines McGill University (CAN) University of Redlands Northeastern University University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Boston College University of Pennsylvania Syracuse University Boston College New York University Indiana University Cornell University Wesleyan University Undecided Worcester Academy

Reunion 2016 16 the HILLTOPPER : summer/fall 2016

1 1. The Class of 1966 began their weekend by sharing their stories with students in history teacher Peter Roberts’ “Experience the 60s” class.

Reunion Weekend 2016 welcomed the Classes of 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, and 2011 back to the Hilltop to rekindle friendships and experience Worcester Academy today.

2. Members of the Class of 1991 who attended their 25th Reunion included Bonnie Carr O’Neill, Raymond Carville, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Drew Forsberg, Paula Hamann, Kenneth Paharik, Sarah Pulsifer, Elissa Robertson, and Sarah Wilson. 3. Members from the Class of 1996 warmed up the dance floor later in the evening.

4. Members of the Class of 1966

3 5

gathered at Tatnuck Country Club in Worcester on Friday night to celebrate their 50th Reunion. In attendance were Fred Anderson, Scott Beeten, Robert Bertucio, Robert Bourgault, Robert Caine, Daniel Callahan, William Carr, Wayne Clarkson, Kenneth Cohen, Richard Cooke, Richard Friedman, David Gardner, Richard Gaudette, Wayne Glazier, Marshall Gould, Douglas Green, Jack Hall, Peter Hawes, Richard Higgins, Kenneth Jacobs, Andrew Johnson, Benjamin Kravitz, James Lasbury, Michael Luzzi, Gary Mesnick, David Muller, Philip Myers, Noah Nason, George Pipkin, Glenn Rader, Pate Rawak, Michael Reidy, Paul Shannon, William Stelmok, William Such, George Weill, David Woodbury, and Peter Wright.

5. Andy Johnson, Class of 1966, celebrates his class winning the Reunion Cup Challenge.

Worcester Academy

The 50th Reunion Class of 1966 started their weekend on Friday, May 6, with a special class called “Experience the ’60s” taught by faculty member Peter Roberts and his students. After lunch in the Megaron, some classmates enjoyed reminiscing while others went back to class. In the afternoon, the Class of 1966 met in Daniels Gymnasium to remember their dear classmate, Lawson “Spider” Riley, who passed away their senior year. The Class capped their day off with a dinner at the Tatnuck Country Club in Worcester hosted by Head of School Ron Cino and his wife, Nathalie. 1 4

1. Members of the Class of 1966

memorialized their classmate, Lawson “Spider” Riley, who passed away during their senior year. Spider’s sister, Barbara, and his cousins, Pat and Brian, were in attendance, along with his coach, Dee Rowe, and WA trustees and Varsity Basketball Team members.

2. Peter Roberts, longtime WA faculty member and coach, rang the old school bell to open the Reunion Gala dinner. Peter retired in June. 3. Jessica Phillips ’89 put on a

top-notch performance in the new Performance Center at WA’s South Campus.

4. Attending their 20th Reunion

were Alta Dantzler, Erika Elbeck, Kate Freed, Bianca Ho, Ryo Mouri Shibahara, Jason Sabol, Shana Starobin, and Beth Williams-Breault.

5. Donald Muir ’56 celebrated

his 60th Reunion and Kenneth Gorczynski, Class of 1961, celebrated his 55th Reunion at the Saturday night Gala.

18 the HILLTOPPER : summer/fall 2016

Reunion Weekend welcomed back the rest of the classes on Saturday, May 7, as alumni returned to campus for a series of events beginning with a memorial service and including the annual alumni soccer game, reunion barbeque, a memorable concert by Jessica Phillips ’89, and lots of catching up!

Later in the afternoon several award winners were celebrated at Warner Theater. Young Alumna Award Winner Shana Starobin ’96, Distinguished Alumnus Award winner David Muller ’66, Cole Porter Award winner Victor Fields ’71, and Hall of Famers Sonia Glazer, John Mackenzie, and Howard and Janet Shainheit were all presented with framed certificates. 6

6. Classmates from the Class of 1991 enjoying the night and reminiscing about their time at WA.

7. Head of School Ron Cino enjoying the company of alumni from the Class of 2011. 8. Class of 2011 celebrated their

5th Reunion! In attendance were Alexander Aghjayan, Samuel Butler, Jaclyn DiPersio, Cole DiRoberto, Anthony DiStefano, John Donovan, Stephen Economos, Mia Etre, Thomas Gardner, Samuel Green, Nicholas Greenhalgh, Tamani Jayasinghe, William Lane, Kevin Mangaudis, Caroline McCarthy, MaryClaire Pelletier, Erin Reilly, Brandon Revelli, Sara Riordan, Jessica Scott, Julianna Sheridan, and Joseph Young.

9. WA faculty members Jack Haringa ’86 and Anthony Butler enjoyed the class posters on display. Other attendees from the class of 1986 were Stephen Scott and Jonathan Stuart. 10. Philip Miles and John O’Horo, Class of 1976, celebrated their 40th Reunion from WA with their significant others.

Worcester Academy

1. The Class of 1966 Gala attendees included Jeffrey Allen, Robert Bertucio, Robert Caine, William Carr, Wayne Clarkson, Kenneth Cohen, Richard Cooke, David Gardner, Richard Higgins, Kenneth Jacobs, Lawrence Kelcourse, James Lasbury, David Muller, Philip Myers, Noah Nason, Glenn Rader, Pate Rawak, Michael Reidy, William Stelmok, George Weill, David Woodbury, and Peter Wright. 2. Jaclyn DiPersio and Joseph Younge from the Class of 2011 find themselves among the crowd in their class photo. 3. Victor Fields, Class of 1971,

graced Worcester Academy with his melodic voice at a well attended Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Concert following the Reunion events. Pictured are his daughter, Gina, Ron Cino, Nathalie-Perez Cino, and Victor prior to the concert.

And then the party started! The Reunion Gala brought alumni of all ages to the dance ďŹ&#x201A;oor in celebration of their friendship and love of Worcester Academy.

4. The Class of 2001 was well

represented at its 15th Reunion by Angela Bonnici, Rebecca Bourke, Mark DiStefano, Jennifer Glowik, Seth Goldberg, Kathleen Irving, Urs Klingsporn, Eva Nazarewicz, Joshua Ritz, Alexis Singh, Irene Slepak, William Treese, Luke Vaillancourt, and Judith Wilber.

5. Frank Callahan, William Camp,

Victor Fields, Alan Kirschbaum, Alan Pandiani, Michael Schreiber, and Michael Scully attended their 45th Reunion.

1 scan this page for more photos from reunion weekend

Also attending Reunion Weekend were Richard Fucillo and Christopher Tully who celebrated their 35th Reunion.

20 the HILLTOPPER : summer/fall 2016

reunion 2016

Peter Wright ’66 Proves All Who Wander Are Not Lost by Jody P. McNamara

Those 1966 WA grads who found themselves back on the Hilltop for their 50th Reunion were greeted with a blast from their past. Sitting front and center in the parking lot was the very same 1947 MG that Peter Wright had driven to school every day. It was as if time had stood still, and the image of that MG brought with it all the memories and the promises of Providence Street 50 years ago. “The trip actually needed to happen,” Peter tells us. “I completed the MG’s fourth engine rebuild just a while ago, and I really needed to take it on a nice long drive. Since I live in Maryland, this seemed the perfect opportunity. And it was wonderful to bring back all those good memories. “My WA roommate, Pate Rawak, was from Doylestown, PA. On one of my trips to visit Pate, we dropped in on another classmate, Steve Foster,” Peter recalls. “Steve’s brother was selling the MG, but wanted $1,500 for it. That car was only about 15 years old at the time, but $1,500 was a lot of money in those days. I said ‘If the price ever drops to $200–$300, let me know.’ Just a few days later, Steve called to say $200 was sounding like a good offer. I bought it and drove it back to Massachusetts. “We drove all over the place in that car!” Peter continues his reminiscing. “Pate was a cheerleader and would ride around the Gaskill track on the fender, shouting through a megaphone at football games. Many weekends, we’d pile four guys into it and head out to Cape Cod or other places all over the state.” “Heading out,” it turns out, has been a lifelong pursuit for Peter Wright. Wanderlust, and the freedom it brings, is definitely a part of his being. Those high school trips to Pennsylvania? Almost all of them were done on a bicycle!

“The summer before my freshman year at WA, my older brother was leaving to attend Lycoming College in Williamsport, PA. I bet him that I could beat him to Williamsport riding a bicycle if he gave me a 3-day head start. I had a bike that I’d bought for $15 in a hardware store. Three hundred and fifty miles later, I won the bet. I did it again the following year,” Peter adds. By his WA junior year, Pete was a seasoned bicyclist and ready to attempt a more challenging ride. “It was the midSixties and racial tensions were running high,” Pete explains. “One class project was to send books to the Medgar Evers Library in Jackson, MS. Our class boxed up hundreds of books. It got me thinking. I’ve never trusted TV coverage—I’ve actually never owned a TV—and I wanted to see the real story. I convinced my parents that a bike trip to Mississippi was in order. “I saw the South,” muses Peter. “I passed right through Oxford, MS, where those three civil rights workers were lynched. “But I learned a lot about human nature,” Peter continues. “I have found that around the world, people are intrinsically good. There is really no one out there looking for someone on a bicycle to beat up! I’ve met people from every walk of life. Rich … Poor … Criminals … you name it.” And Pete isn’t joking when he says “around the world.” In addition to his domestic forays (which he still lights out on), Pete has brought his bicycle to Mexico, Colombia, Panama, and further. With his single-speed Schwinn that he built in 1968, Pete undertook 10 years of mission work in Romania—all on his bicycle. “I rode from Budapest to the Ukraine,” Pete states. “It’s the

freedom, not the device. We get so caught up in the accouterments rather than the experience,” he explains. “If you ride an expensive bike, what happens if it’s stolen? If you carry nothing of value, there’s nothing to lose. You learn ‘less-is-more’ very quickly when you’re stuck at the side of the road in the Carpathian Mountains!”

And through it all, Pete remembers his WA experience. “WA taught me what perseverance is all about. It didn’t matter how good you were, it mattered that you showed up. I was never a great student. I went out for football, wrestling, and track, and I was no good at any of them. But it was what you did. You kept moving forward.”

Worcester Academy

AWARDS 2016 22 the HILLTOPPER : summer/fall 2016

Distinguished Alumnus Award

Cole Porter Arts Young Alumna Recognition Award Recognition Award

Cmdr. David G. Muller, Jr. USN ’66

R. Victor Fields ’71

Dr. Shana Starobin ’96

Dave grew up in Worcester and attended the Academy as a day student. He was president of Eta Kappa Alpha and appeared in many of its productions. He studied history and Chinese language at Dartmouth College, graduating with honors. Dave was commissioned an officer in Naval Intelligence, and served 20 years in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Mediterranean theaters, in the Office of Naval Intelligence, and at the White House. Commander Muller was the US Navy’s foremost expert on the rise of China’s seapower, and his book China as a Maritime Power was widely acclaimed as definitive. He later directed the Navy’s clandestine and overt human-source intelligence collection operations worldwide, principally targeting the armed forces of the Soviet Union, China, Iran, and Cuba. He completed his naval service at the White House, providing intelligence support to the office of national drug control policy. In the private sector for six years, Dave founded the international investment service Foreign Markets Advisory. In 1998, he sold the business and returned to the Intelligence Community, serving in intelligence operations at the Central Intelligence Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency, and developing policy for the Director of National Intelligence. Commander Muller completed his intelligence career at the National Counterterrorism Center, where he taught advanced seminars on terrorism intelligence to officers of the Intelligence Community, the Defense Department, and law enforcement agencies. He returned to writing after retirement in 2014, publishing in ancient history and biblical studies.

It has been written that Victor Fields belongs to a rare species of silky soul jazz singers. His rich gauzy tenor and ability to move seamlessly between blues, jazz, R&B and Pop prompted legendary performer Lou Rawls to call him “the man with the golden voice.” Born in Brooklyn, NY, and raised in Worcester, Victor was shaped by his mother, a singer and a Julliard-trained pianist, who cultivated his love of music. While a student at the Academy, Victor was awarded “Best New Actor” for his portrayal of Tony in the musical West Side Story, and he sang in R&B bands at dances in the Megaron. “I captained varsity basketball and soccer and I was active in student government. So it was cool to express myself artistically.” After attending Bowdoin College, Victor moved to Oakland, CA. While building a successful business career, he studied voice and sat in at local jazz clubs in the evenings. There, a mutual friend introduced Victor to Grammy-nominated producer/songwriter, Kashif (George Benson, Whitney Houston), which led to their collaboration on Victor’s debut album, “Promise” (1999). The CD gained impressive reviews and a loyal fan base and launched a career. Victor has since released four more CDs: “52nd Street” (2002), “Victor” (2005), “Thinking of You” (2006), and “The Lou Rawls Project” (2015). Now a Billboard-charted artist, criticallyacclaimed international jazz vocalist and leading interpreter of classic American music, Victor reflects on WA: “Worcester Academy changed my life. I have great memories, and I’ve made many life-long friends here. Now I have the opportunity to give something meaningful back.”

Shana Starobin is a Regulation Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania Law School (2015–2017) and an Assistant Professor of Government and Environmental Studies at Bowdoin College (2017– ). Her research and teaching center on the transnational regulation and governance of agriculture, natural resources, and the environment. A Lifer at WA, Shana was a dedicated scholar and leader. Inducted into the Cum Laude Society as a junior, she earned faculty prizes for overall academic achievement as well as awards in Biology, English, Fine Arts, History, and Spanish. Shana served as an editor of the Lance and Vigornia and was active in student government through the Council of Senators. A four-year Ambassador, she also participated in varsity tennis, the ski team, the Committee for Social Action and HKA. Following graduation from Worcester Academy, Shana attended Harvard College, where she concentrated in History and Science and graduated magna cum laude in 2000 for her thesis on the politics of governing Alaska’s temperate rainforests. Shana moved on to pursue a career in environmental policy and sustainable development. As a scholar, practitioner and educator, she has worked with organizations in the U.S. and internationally, including American Jewish World Service, Ashoka Innovators for the Public, BRAC in Bangladesh, and FINCA Nicaragua. She holds two Masters degrees in Public Policy and Environmental Management from Duke University and will complete her PhD at Duke in 2016.

Hall of Fame Recipients Dr. Sonia Glazer As a child Zofia (Sonia) T. Glazer began her education in her native Poland and in Kazakhstan (Siberia), graduating from high school in Belgium. She attended the University of Brussels, where she earned her M.S. in Chemistry in 1953 and her Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1956. After engaging in research on amino sugars at Massachusetts General Hospital from 1956 to 1959, Dr. Glazer worked with steroids at the Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology from 1959 to 1961. She joined the Worcester Academy faculty in 1974, spending the next 23 years teaching Chemistry, as well as Earth Science, General Science and Algebra, along with coaching skiing. In 1998 Dr. Glazer joined the faculty of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where she taught for 16 years. In 2013, at the conclusion of the “Honor the Legacy” campaign, Worcester Academy’s Alumni and Annual Fund offices honored a group of ten iconic faculty members from the annals of Academy history, and across various disciplines, as personifications of “excellence in teaching.” Dr. Glazer was selected as part of this special group, the rest of whom were all men. She set high standards in her classrooms, and always worked with her students to ensure their success. In fact, she mentored students and faculty alike over her long teaching career. The 1989 yearbook, which was dedicated to Dr. Glazer, affectionately states: “Any of her students could testify to her attention to detail and safety, which are

incorporated into her love of science. She is an extremely helpful and caring teacher. In many ways and for many years the presence of Dr. Glazer has enriched our community.” She is the mother of David Glazer, Anita Sadun ’80 and Michael Neill ’84.

John Mackenzie John Mackenzie began working in independent schools three months after graduating from Bowdoin College and has spent his entire career in service to independent schools as a teacher, coach, department chair, senior administrator, and ultimately as a Head of School for twenty-two years. He also earned a M.A. in Educational Administration from Columbia University as a Joseph Klingenstein Fellow. John served as Headmaster at Worcester Academy from 1991–1997. During his tenure the school witnessed a thorough remodeling of Middle School and postgraduate programs; a reversal of declining enrollment trend; the establishment of a faculty evaluation program; the introduction of community service and senior project requirements; a redesign of personal counseling services and health curriculum; a refinement of budgetary and financial aid procedures; the planning, fundraising, and completion of the capital project to renovate Gaskill Field; two strategic plans; the addition of sixth grade; a significant technology initiative; the revitalization of parent and alumni organizations; the initiation of a comprehensive capital campaign; and an increase of the Annual Fund by over 80%. In 2013, John joined Educators’ Collaborative, a partnership of twelve

former schools heads who provide a range of consulting services to independent schools nationally and internationally, with a primary focus on assisting Boards of Trustees with Heads of School searches. In 2014, he became managing partner of Educators’ Collaborative.

Howard Shainheit Born in Brooklyn, NY, in 1937, Howard grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts. After high school, he served in the U.S. Air Force for three and a half years as a radar maintenance technician. He then earned his B.A. in English, summa cum laude, from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he was a Phi Beta Kappa scholar. He later attended graduate school there as well. After Howard and Janet were married in 1963, they served in the Peace Corps for two years, teaching English in Nigeria. After the Peace Corps, Howard began his independent school teaching career, first at the Winchendon School and then at Cheshire Academy. Howard joined the Worcester Academy faculty in 1975, teaching English and serving as the Department Chair. During his 25 years at Worcester Academy, he taught eighth grade English, Junior Honors, Senior English and a variety of electives, including Shakespearean tragedy, comedy and satire, African literature and creative writing. He served as a dorm master for 12 years, advised the debate team, coached tennis and cross country, and was the Academy’s first coach of girls soccer. In his retirement, Howard spends his time gardening, styling bonsai, birding, and fly-fishing.

Janet Shainheit A graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Janet served as Worcester Academy’s Librarian/ Library Director from July 1975 to June 2006. During her years on the Hilltop, Janet also taught several elective English courses in Creative Writing and Women’s Literature. Throughout her tenure, she was an advisor to clubs and activities, including Lance and the Student Faculty Senate, and she served as the costume assistant for the spring musical. She also was active in the Thimble Club and the faculty chorus. In addition, for 30 years, Janet was responsible for selecting the prize books awarded to students who were honored for academic excellence. Janet represented the Academy in the Cooperative Library Association of Greater Boston, the School Library Association of Greater Worcester and the New England Independent School Library Association. In Janet’s last decade at WA, she was an enthusiastic participant in planning the school’s new library, now known as the Mildred H. McEvoy Library. She studied library design, visited over a dozen school libraries, and recruited a faculty committee to share their perspectives and vision. Janet consulted with the architects of Rader Hall and was a critical partner in the project’s successful completion.

Worcester Academy

Alumni News hello from your alumni relations team!

around the world SHANGHAI

A dinner and social gathering at the Pudong Shangri-La in Shanghai brought parents, alumni and other friends together on March 17. It was great connecting new and old friends alike!

TOKYO

Hello and greetings from your dedicated Worcester Academy Alumni Relations Team! We want to help you stay well connected with your alma mater. If you have any questions regarding events being planned, services available to alumni, or would like to make suggestions, please feel free to contact us. We would love to hear from you! We work collaboratively to ensure that Worcester Academy alumni enjoy the many programs, events, opportunities, and resources available. Your Worcester Academy experience extends beyond your years as a student. Please join us at an event, whether on or off campus. We hope you will stay connected to us! You are part of a worldwide network of over 7,500 active Worcester Academy alumni. We urge you to take this association to heart and become an involved alumna or alumnus. For more information, visit our website at worcesteracademy. org or visit the WA Alums Facebook page.

WORCESTER ACADEMY

Tokyo, Japan

Head of School Ron Cino and members of the Worcester Academy community gathered at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel in Tokyo on March 11. The group had dinner together and heard the many ways WA is delivering on its mission to students.

HONG KONG

The Worcester Academy community in Hong Kong enjoyed a wonderful dinner with at the JW Marriott Hong Kong, Pacific Place on March 15. The dinner was a great chance to catch up on news about WA and the exciting ways our students are engaging with the world around them! 24 the HILLTOPPER : summer/fall 2016

WA alumni, parents, and others gathered at the Grand Maison in Beijing on March 20. Hilltopper spirit was on full display throughout the lunch!

KOREA

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

Alicia Figueiredo Manager of Alumni Programs and Events

BEIJING

Seoul, South Korea

The Venus Room of the Intercontinental Seoul COEX was nice location for a get-together of Worcester Academy’s community in South Korea on March 13. Those gathered heard about all the exciting things happening at the Academy, including the culminations of over $50 million capital campaign.

alumni news

events close to home Alumni Hockey

NYC

HOCKEY

Attending the January Alumni Hockey Game were Lauren Abbenante ’14, Michael Allen ’05, James Athanas ’80, Michael Barry ’03, John Bath ’07, Patrick Brosnihan ’05, Bryan Carpenter ’11, Brian Cooperman ’83, Colin Hackett ’06, William Kasper ’05, Ryan King ’89, Kevin Mortimer ’08, Matthew Mortimer ’12, Brian Reynolds ’09, William Richard ’87, Robert Snider ’57, Dennis White ’09, and Timothy White ’05.

Players suited up for the game!

Ron Cino and Chuck Vassallo ’77

at the Explorers Club in NYC this February.

NYC

Dan Gezari ’61 hosted Worcester Academy alumni and friends

NYC

FLORIDA Bob ’76 and Shana Arello hosted Worcester Academy at The Ritz-Carlton Members Beach Club in Sarasota, FL. Alumni in attendance were Robert Aronson ’74, Paul Cohan ’47,

Our host Dan Gezari ’61

Bruce Crawford ’45, Al Dawley ’55, Howard Jacobson ’50, Benjamin Kravitz ’66, Pate Rawak ’66, and Karam Skaff ’46.

and Lyn Stevens

John Butterworth ’10, Praveen Howard Jacobson ’50, Karam Skaff ’46, and Paul Cohan ’47 at the Sarasota Alumni event.

Mahendran ’10, and Sam Tripp ’10 at the Boston Reception.

Night ’16 is a celebratory event to welcome the class into the alumni association. Class of 2016 members sign their banner.

Victoria Endow, Katrina Gangi, Danica Woo, Jacqueline Gangi and Moira Mullaney enjoyed the night with friends.

BOSTON

Alumni soccer players gathered for a game, followed by a reception at Whisky on Water in May.

we’d love to see you! Want to reconnect with classmates, faculty, and other friends?

Visit us during one of our upcoming alumni events! The schedule below includes many fun opportunities to share memories and rejuvenate fond friendships. For additional details, updates, or to register, go to worcesteracademy.org/register.

Saturday, October 22, 2016 OSKEE WEEKEND

Wednesday, November 23, 2016 THANKSGIVING EVE WORCESTER MEET UP

John Pearson ’68, Carla Zottoli DeFosse ’82, and Ed Moffitt ’80

Friday, May 5, & Saturday, May 6 REUNION WEEKEND

Vincent Ciavarra ’10, Alex Danais ’09, faculty member James Proctor, and Lilly Slatkin ’10 at the Boston reception in January.

To host an event or to suggest an event location, or for more information, call the Worcester Academy Alumni Team at 508-754-5302 extension 181.

Night ’16

BOSTON BOSTON

FLORIDA

SOCCER

Worcester Academy

e h t on

HILLTOP

Jessica Phillips:

FROM WORCESTER ACADEMY, TO BROADWAY AND HOLLYWOOD, AND BACK AGAIN! Concert By NBC ‘Law & Order, SVU’ Star A Celebration Of New Worcester Academy Performance Center by Neil R. Isakson

Broadway star and Academy alumna Jessica Phillips ’89, held a special concert May 7 to celebrate the completion of the new Worcester Academy Performance Center at 14 Marion Avenue in Worcester. Phillips, widely known for her recurring role as assistant district attorney “Pippa Cox” on NBC’s Law and Order, Special Victims Unit, sang a selection of songs from her Broadway shows as well as a compilation of songs written by fellow Worcester Academy graduate, Cole Porter, Class of 1909. “What an exciting time for Worcester Academy and for the lucky students and families who will benefit from the new Performance Center,” Phillips said. “It’s wonderful to be back on the Hilltop.” Phillips has said that she found her voice during her four years at Worcester Academy where she first began performing in musicals. She said she was thrilled to return to WA and to shine a spotlight on the new facility and the enormously positive impact it is having on the school community. The Worcester Academy Performance Center is the first visual and performing 26 the HILLTOPPER : summer/fall 2016

arts building constructed by the Academy since Warner Theater was built in 1932. A milestone in the success of the school’s $50 million capital campaign—“ONWARD: The Campaign for Worcester Academy,” the $3.5 million theater features a flexible, 120-seat theater/multi purpose space, an adjacent lobby/gallery named the “Cole Porter Lobby, Worcester Academy Class of 1909,” and large bi-folding glass doors that open to the outdoors. The lobby is one of the few spaces in America named for Cole Porter, one of America’s greatest songwriters, who spent four years at Worcester Academy.

scan this page to see the master class

Megan Dickie ’19 works with Jessica Phillips during a master class that Jessica held while visiting campus.

GRADUATION PROJECT TAKES

students to haiti JESSICA PHILLIPS Jessica Phillips graduated from Emerson College in Boston in 1994. She is best known on Broadway for her role as “Sheriff Marla” in Alan Menken’s Leap Of Faith, starring opposite Raul Esparza. Other Original Broadway Cast credits include “Marion” in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert; Pulitzer Prize winner Next To Normal; the 25th Anniversary revival of Jesus Christ Superstar; and The Scarlet Pimpernel, 1,2, & 3. On television, viewers will recognize Jessica as the indefatigable assistant district attorney “Pippa Cox” on NBC’s Law & Order, Special Victims Unit for the last four seasons, as well as guest star appearances on Royal Pains (USA), Unforgettable (CBS), and pilots “The Ordained” (CBS) and “Bronx Warrants” (FX). She is featured as The Singer in the film La Vida Inesperada, premiering this year. Jessica was recently honored to perform as the guest vocalist for Broadway Today and Tomorrow in the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers’ 100th Anniversary celebration at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., and appears on concert stages across the country. In addition to her Broadway cast albums, Jessica can be found on iTunes singing with her country band, “10th & Carlisle.” She is mom to sons Jonah and Malcolm, which she calls her “greatest role to date.”

Worcester Academy Seniors Katie Eppinger and Emma Joaquin flew to Haiti in March as part of their Graduation Project. The trip to the Be Like Brit Foundation and orphanage gave the pair an understanding of Haiti’s culture and the needs of its people, as well as provided an opportunity for them to design, implement, and install a professionally-organized French-language library at the orphanage. The library features color-coded guides that correspond to levels of difficulty. Also traveling to Haiti with Katie and Emma were Katie’s sister, Lauren ’20, and Katie’s mom, WA Trustee Patty Eppinger, along with Academy French teacher Wendy Perkins, and friends Mark and Jan Fuller. Read more about their experience on the Be Like Brit Foundation blog at belikebrit.org.

BROADCASTING STUDENTS EXPLORE

ESPN studios

Stephen Scott ’86 took his Worcester Academy Broadcasting Class to ESPN studios in Bristol, CT. The class toured the facility, including production spaces, studio spaces, and office spaces for each show. The group also watched “NFL Live” as it was being filmed.

Worcester Academy

math team

SENIORS CELEBRATE THEIR

college selections

TAKES SECOND AT NEW ENGLANDS The Worcester Academy Upper School Math Team won Second Place at the New England Championship Math Meet in the spring. WA has been First or Second in the New Englands for 11 of the last 12 years. The teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s continued success places it among the winningest teams of any kind ever at WA (mathematically speaking of course!), contributing largely to Worcester Academyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reputation as a math powerhouse!

Seniors celebrated their college selections recently by wearing sweatshirts or T-shirts that named the colleges and universities they would be attending. The annual tradition came with plenty of picture-taking as well as cupcakes complete with mini college pennants.

2016 Capstone presenters Eight Worcester Academy seniors made Capstone presentations this year as the culmination of their WA Capstone Projects, which represent the highest levels of scholarship at the Academy. The 2016 Capstone Projects covered a range of topics including Wealth Inequality, Monochrome Photography, Game Theory, Gene Mutation, the Implications of Taoism, the Influence of the Ming Dynasty, the Decline of the Tang Dynasty, and Structural Applications based on Maple Seed Pods. 28 the HILLTOPPER : summer/fall 2016

on the hilltop

Martha Kebeh ’16 a brilliant academic, an even better human being NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOLAR BEGINS STUDIES AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY by Jody P. McNamara

Intelligence. Perseverance. Inquisitiveness. These are all attributes you’d expect to find in a Worcester Academy valedictorian. And while Martha Kebeh ’16, this year’s class-selected valedictorian, has all of these qualities in abundance, the first thing you notice about her is her warm and generous smile. Martha has a lot to smile about right now. After addressing her class at graduation this past June, Martha has begun her studies at Harvard University. It’s been a long road to this enviable position, but Martha has managed her way through WA with great grace and charm—and her classmates love her for it. Getting Martha to this point has been an arduous road for the Kebeh family. Martha’s mom, Abibatu Kamara, is a native of Sierra Leone, and her dad, Lamine Kebeh, hails from Liberia. Together, the Kebehs fled Liberia for Greece in 1995, eventually emigrating to the United States and settling in Worcester. Adding three children to the family along the way, both of Martha’s parents now work at UMass Memorial Medical Center, Abibatu as a nurse and Lamine as a custodian. With Abibatu working days and Lamine on a night shift, juggling the family schedule and finances has been difficult. “It’s not easy for my parents,” Martha confirms, “And I appreciate everything they’ve done for my brother, sister, and me.” But it’s been well worth the

struggle. The opportunities that the WA Neighborhood Scholarship has afforded Martha are unparalleled. When asked about the highlights of her years here on The Hilltop, Martha doesn’t skip a beat. “The 8th grade Outward Bound trip to New York City definitely stands out,” Martha offers enthusiastically. “We all complained about not taking a shower for 3 days, but we all knew that we were learning a lot about the world and about each other. We all became a little more independent on that trip and, clichéd as it sounds, I think we began to find ourselves.” Martha plans to double major at Harvard. She’ll be studying both English and Biology, taking on a pre-med track. “I’m not completely positive about medical school, but I want to have things lined up correctly if I decide in that direction,” Martha says. “And I just love studying English. It’s my way to express myself.” Martha, always eager to learn, adds, “There were still classes at WA that I didn’t get to take! Astronomy… Geology… I’m so sad there was never enough time for everything.” Is there a favorite teacher at WA? “Don’t make me pick! Martha laughs heartily. “These teachers are tough, but their toughness just makes you better in the long run.” We couldn’t agree more. Martha had her pick of schools, to be sure. In fact, Martha was accepted for admission to every school where she

applied, including Yale and Princeton. Why Harvard? “The location is perfect for me, “ Martha says, enthusiastically. “It’s close enough to come home, but far enough away that I can create my own little world there. After all, that’s what college is for; to go find yourself in a new setting.” “The people I met and the vibe I got were just perfect,” Martha continues. “I went to Harvard’s accepted students weekend and had coffee in Harvard

Square. I just felt so great! So independent! I love the city and the feeling of having everything right at your fingertips. I like stepping outside of who I am and meeting people who aren’t all having the very same experience as me.” It appears that Martha Kebeh has a world of new experiences ahead of her. She sums up her current situation just perfectly for us: “I feel very prepared by Worcester Academy. I feel like I’m in a good place.” Worcester Academy

WA ATHLETICS

Worcester Academy’s

Joe Philbin ’80 coaching for Colts Worcester Academy’s Joe Philbin ’80 is new assistant head coach/offensive line coach for the Indianapolis Colts. Previously, Joe was head coach of the Miami Dolphins. He earned a Super Bowl ring in 2011 as offensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers. Worcester Academy honored him as its 2010 Varsity Club Honoree with a dinner in the Megaron. Joe says he still appreciates the value of his experience on the Hilltop, even 36 years after his graduation from WA.

Sherry Levin returns to lead Hilltopper girls basketball program by Neil Isakson

30 the HILLTOPPER : summer/fall 2016

Veteran girls basketball coach Sherry Levin has returned to the Hilltop, bringing a wealth of experience to the Worcester Academy girls basketball program. As head coach at WA from 2001–2008 Coach Levin’s teams won two New England Championships, one in Class B and one in Class A, including a 24–0 season in 2006. Many players went on to have collegiate careers at schools such as William & Mary, Manhattan College, College of Charleston, Bentley University, and WPI. Ms. Levin, who was also recently appointed coach of the U.S. Womens Open basketball team at the next year’s World Maccabiah Games, said she is thrilled to return to WA. “It is an amazing opportunity,” she said. “I look forward to working with these students to sustain the high level of competition at Worcester Academy.” Levin has been inducted into three halls of fame: In the first year of eligibility at the College of the Holy Cross, Newton North High School, and the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. As a player at Holy Cross College, she was honored as a Kodak District I AllAmerican, two-time first team Division I CoSida Academic All-American, four-time Jewish All-American, and MAAC Conference Scholar Athlete. She still holds the HC all-time

scoring record for women with 2,253 points. Levin played for Holy Cross legend, Togo Palazzi. Internationally, she has been the head coach for the USA Womens Basketball team that played in the 2012 Pan Am Maccabi games in Brazil and the USA Jr. Girls Basketball Team at the 19th World Maccabiah Games in Israel— both teams captured the gold medal.

Worcester Academy athletics program

WA student athletes excel both on and off the field while also embracing each of the Academy’s core values: honor, respect, community, personal growth, and challenge. They build camaraderie, develop strategies for competition, hone leadership skills, and learn valuable lessons about achieving goals through Worcester Academy’s athletic program. The range of athletic offerings at Worcester Academy is extensive as it fields more than 50 teams and 17 different sports throughout the year at the Middle School and High School levels. Nearly 60 percent of students participate in one of its programs and all athletes are encouraged to pursue excellence. Many alumni credit their athletic experience as having prepared them for success in college and later in life.

The 18th annual

varsity club

Naismith basketball

2016

2016 Rowe Scholars enjoying time with Dee ’47 and Ginny Rowe.

Rowe Tournament supports scholarship aid for WA student athletes

Hall of Fame calling? Donald “Dee” Rowe ’47, legendary WA basketball coach and former UConn coach, is being nominated for induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Celtics great Bob Cousy and the New England Basketball Hall of Fame are nominating Dee for the honor. Dee, who was assistant coach for the 1980 U.S. mens Olympic team, led the Hilltoppers to 9 Prep School titles as well as having led the Huskies to the Sweet 16 in 1976. Sports columnist and WA alumnus Bill Reynolds, who starred as a senior on Dee’s 1964 championship team at WA, is currently authoring a book on Rowe. You’ve got our vote, Dee!

by Ursula A. Arello

The 18th annual Rowe Scholarship Classic was held at Worcester Country Club on June 6, 2016. The day began with the annual golf tournament, followed by a cocktail reception and dinner. The 2016 Rowe Family Scholarship recipients were Abby Flaherty ’17, Dervin Hylton ’17, Julia Pelletier ’17, and Ivan Sebuufu-Bazitya ’17. Since 1998, the Rowe Family Scholarship Fund has awarded annual scholarships to new or returning students of outstanding character who, in addition to participating in athletics, exhibit strong leadership both at school and in the community. The scholarship fund was established as a lasting tribute to Worcester Academy alumnus Donald E. “Dee” Rowe ’47, and his family for more than 50 years of love and devotion to Worcester Academy. Dee played basketball for Worcester Academy and returned to serve as athletic director

and basketball coach. Following his years at Worcester Academy, Dee coached mens basketball at the University of Connecticut and was also an assistant for the Olympic team in 1980. Dee and his wife, Ginny, were present at the 2016 event, and were greeted by guests and golfers, including Rowe Tournament Committee Chairman Robert Hall ’62. When asked about Dee’s impact on student athletes, Bob Hall stated “He taught us character and discipline more than wins and losses. He is more than a coach, he’s become a lifelong friend to many of us.” The dinner program was highlighted by the presentation of the awards, and included master of ceremonies David Forsberg ’65, Head of School Ronald M. Cino, Director of Athletics Ed Reilly, and prior Rowe recipient Bobby Barrett ’06. Concluding remarks were offered by Dee.

scoreboard spring 2016 team

win

loss

tie

other (18–7 reg.season) (Florida 6–1)

Varsity Baseball

JV Baseball

Varsity Softball

Varsity Boys Track/Field

NEPSTA — 5th place

Varsity Girls Track/Field

NEPSTA — 4th place

Varsity Boys Tennis

Varsity Girls Tennis

Varsity Golf

Varsity Boys Lacrosse

Varsity Girls Lacrosse

Worcester Academy

varsity club honors Harvard College’s Daniela Faas Ph.D. ’00 and NBA’s Michael Wilhelm ’86 The Worcester Academy Varsity Club honored two alumni this year at its annual Varsity Club Dinner in April. Those receiving 2016 Varsity Club Awards were Daniela Faas, Ph.D. ’00 and Michael Wilhelm ’86. Dr. Faas is a researcher and instructor in Mechanical Engineering with Harvard College and MIT. Michael Wilhelm is an NBA assistant coach with the Chicago Bulls. The awards were presented at the Annual Varsity Club Dinner in The Megaron. A reception preceding the dinner was held in Abercrombie House, the head of school’s home. Nearly every year since 1965, the Academy has honored a graduate who, while at the Academy, excelled in sports, and then has gone on to experience success in athletics and in life. The honoree is selected from nominations submitted by alumni and other members of the school community. While they have very different careers, each of the recipients spoke about the role of their Worcester Academy education and their mutual respect for what the other had achieved.

Daniela Faas, Ph.D.

Daniela is the senior preceptor in design-based instruction at the School of Engineering and Applied Science at Harvard University and a research affiliate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at MIT. She teaches courses in Mechanical Engineering and engineering design. Her research focuses on developing low cost immersive Virtual Reality applications in Mechanical Engineering and in design methodology for engineering education. Daniela received her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, B.A. in International Relations and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering at Bucknell University and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Human-Computer Interaction at Iowa State University. Daniela’s foundation for excellence was set at the Academy through exemplary academic achievement 32 the HILLTOPPER : summer/fall 2016

and great success in the athletic arena. She earned varsity letters in three sports—soccer, swimming and softball. Her passion was swimming. Team MVP in 1999 and 2000, Daniela was undefeated over a two-year period in the 500 freestyle and undefeated her senior year in both the 200 and 100 breaststroke. Daniela had a distinguished swim and water polo career at Bucknell and at Iowa State. She was a fourtime All-Patriot League swimmer who set league records in two events and school records in four. In water polo, Daniela was a 3-year letter winner and 4-year Player-Coach of the Iowa State women’s club team. She was named her team’s Most Valuable Swimmer, received the 2004 Margaret L. Bryan Award as the best dual athlete at Bucknell, and was twice the recipient of Bucknell University’s International Awareness Award.

Michael Wilhelm

Mike Wilhelm is currently in his 14th season as a coach with the Chicago Bulls and in his 21st overall in the NBA. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Mike attended St. Ignatius High School prior to enrolling at Worcester Academy for a postgraduate year. During that year Mike excelled in the classroom and was a two-sport star. He captained the Varsity Basketball team and earned the Most Valuable Player award in Track & Field, a sport in which he remains the Academy’s record holder in the 110-yard hurdles. Mike credits two Worcester Academy coaches, Tom Blackburn and Mike Stubljar, for inspiring his passion for coaching. Mike attended Southampton College on Long Island, where he excelled in basketball, led his team as a two-year captain and earned his B.A. in History. Mike earned a Master’s Degree in Sports Administration from Ohio University, then began his career in Sweden’s professional league with the Sundsvall Dragons in 1992. In 1993, Mike entered the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers as a video coordinator. In 1999 he became the team’s advance scout. During that time, Mike was

also an assistant coach for the WNBA’s Cleveland Rockers, helping lead them to the Eastern Conference Championship in 1998. Mike worked the 2002 season as a regional advance scout for the Denver Nuggets. Since 2002 Mike has served the Bulls in several capacities, including his current position as Assistant Coach. Mike’s stature as one of the longest-tenured NBA assistants is a testament to the impact he has on his players and his teams.

Worcester Academy

olympians With the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, still fresh in mind, we salute those Worcester Academy students and alumni who have represented their country, and their alma mater, so well on the national stage! >> Wes Piermarini ’00, 2-man crew, Beijing 2008 >> Donn Nelson ’82, Coach, Basketball Atlanta 1996 >> Jeff Bannister ’65, Decathlon Munich 1972 >> Bill Toomey ’57, Decathlon Mexico City 1968 >> Dee Rowe ’47, Coach, Basketball Moscow 1980 >> John D. Clarke ’45 Lacrosse London 1948 >> Nevin Harkness ’39, Lacrosse London 1948 >> Basil Francis ’36, Breast Stroke Los Angeles 1932 >> Charles Proctor ’24, Ski Jump, St. Moritz 1928 >> Willard Tibbetts ’22, Track Paris 1924 >> Bill Comins ’21, Broad Jump Paris 1924 >> J. Oliver Johnstone ’12, High Jump Stockholm 1912 >> L. A. Whitney ’10, Shot Put, Stockholm 1912 >> Charles French ’05, 300 Yard Dash, London 1908 >> Arthur F. Duffey ’99, Sprinter, Paris 1900 >> Bascom Johnson ’96, Pole Vault, Paris 1900

varsity club

varsity club notes >> Kudos to the Worcester Academy Girls Hockey Team for raising Leukemia Awareness at WA. Leukemia, which affects both children and adults, is diagnosed in nearly 400,000 people worldwide each year. It is the most common childhood cancer. Thanks, girls, for raising awareness of this terrible disease and for promoting a cure! >> Worcester Academy’s Lexi Hackett ’16 became the all-time leading scorer for WA’s Varsity Girls Basketball Team in a 58–45 win versus Naval Prep. Lexi’s 3-pointer eclipsed the record of 1,351 set by Erica Sobel ’98, which had stood for more than a decade and a half. Congratulations Lexi! Worcester Academy was well represented on the Worcester Bravehearts Baseball Team this year! Anyone who caught a game at Hanover Insurance Park found themselves cheering for no fewer than five Hilltoppers! Representing WA were alumni Peter Bovenzi ’15, John Friday ’14, Nick Barry ’14, Dante Ricciardi ’15, Joe Caico ’14, and Sam Steeves ’13. The Bravehearts, part of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL), have won two of the last three FCBL championships.

>> Former Worcester Academy crosscountry coach and Virginia resident Dixon Hemphill, enjoying the ripe old age of 91 years old, continues to rack up track achievements. Dixon, who coached at Worcester Academy from 1958 to 1961 (following an invitation from fellow Middlebury grad Dee Rowe ’47), currently holds the 2015 senior world record for the 5000 meter and has previous world records in the 1500 meter and the mile. Surprisingly, Dixon’s competitive running career didn’t begin until he was 50 years old. Before that, his focus was on field events like

the pole vault, the high jump, and discus. Dixon says he is still managing to cut time off his own records and is glad to continue following his passion. His other hobbies include sailing, woodworking, and spending time with his grandchildren. >> Worcester Academy alumnus Dick Capp ’61 is celebrating his 55th Reunion this year. He wrote to say he fondly remembers having been a member of the Green Bay Packers team that won Super Bowl II 33–14 over the Oakland Raiders at the Orange Bowl in Miami in 1968.

>> Two Academy alumni who graduated more than 10 years apart had the opportunity to meet each other on the basketball court—though not on the Hilltop. Head coaches Rick Carlisle ’79 of the Dallas Mavericks and Michael Malone ’89 of the Denver Nuggets played one another in Texas in February. While the Mavs won the matchup 122–116, the two head coaches are still good friends and have long supported one another in their careers in the NBA. Go WA!

beater to earn only its second basketball championship in ’Nova school history. Congratulation, Darryll! Our Hilltopper pride is showing! >> It was a big year for Hilltoppers in the National Football League draft. Three WA alumni entered the NFL as draft picks for the Steelers, Dolphins, and Redskins, respectively. The Hilltoppers are Canaan Severin, Jordan Lucas, and Steven Daniels, all members of the Class of 2012. Congratulations to these outstanding athletes! >> Sophomore Aliyah Boston ’19 was a finalist for the USA Womens U17 World Championship Basketball Team. As a finalist, Aliyah was one of 18 girls who trained at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado in June. We’re impressed, Aliyah, and so very proud! >> This season, Gerry Frew earned his 500th career coaching victory after the WA girls track and field team set a school record in wins with 21 (21–1 overall), while the boys posted a 19–4 mark and their ninth consecutive winning season. Altogether, he has amassed 510 wins. Congrats Mr. Frew!

>> WA’s Darryl Reynolds ’13 won the NCAA National Basketball Championship along with his teammates in April in what many were calling the greatest NCAA March Madness championship game in tournament history. Villanova beat the storied University of North Carolina 77–74 with a three-point buzzer Worcester Academy

MULHOLLAND CHALLENGE GIFT ESTABLISHES

Barbara F. Gould varsity swim coach fund by Jody P. McNamara

Great care for and dedication to students are definitely the hallmarks of many great Worcester Academy teachers and coaches. If you or your children went to school here on the Hilltop, you know this to be true. Every once in a while, though, one of these remarkable individuals inspires so many students and instills such lifelong ambitions in his or her charges, that a groundswell of acknowledgment and giving back bubbles to the surface. So it is with Barbara Gould and the newly established and endowed Barbara F. Gould Varsity Swim Coach Fund. Barbara Gould, first and foremost, is truly remarkable. For 24 years, her relentless knack for getting to know each of her students—their individual strengths and weaknesses, desires and motivators—has put her at the top of many students’ lists of beloved teachers and coaches. Her ability to take the meekest student with little known athletic ability under her wing and to turn her or him into a team player, at the very least, or even a champion in some cases, is without parallel. And, all the while, Barbara does this extraordinary work with no fanfare. What spurs Barbara on isn’t acknowledgment or accolades. Just the honest desire to see a kid succeed. Life could have gone on this way indefinitely, with no recognition, other than the occasional hug, for Barbara and her wondrous work. Enter the Mulholland family with an ingenious idea. 34 the HILLTOPPER : summer/fall 2016

Sue and Jim Mulholland are grateful parents. Their son, Robert ’15, entered WA as a junior in the autumn of 2013. He was understandably apprehensive about his new surroundings and lack of institutional knowledge. Barbara, then Dean of the Junior Class, bent over backwards to acclimate Robert, helping with everything from course selection to academic advisor. When it came to sports, Robert was in a bit of a quandary as well. A no-brainer for Barbara, she encouraged Robert to join the swim team that winter and the results, for Robert, were extraordinary. Through her enlightened coaching, Barbara brought Robert from the “slow lane” to the “fast lane,” with his significant contributions leading to two New England Championships, a Feldman Swimming Award for Robert, and the discovery of a true passion for the water. Robert has gone on to attain certifications as a Red Cross Life Guard, a Water Safety Instructor, and a Life Guard Instructor. As Sue Mulholland later wrote, “Miss Gould set the standards of conduct and self-discipline at a very high level for Robert as well as for all of her students. With ﬁrmness and a sincere interest in my son, she challenged him to be the best person that he could be.” The Mulhollands had a sneaking suspicion that others might feel the same way about Barbara Gould as well. With the assistance of WA’s advancement team, they hatched a plan to honor Barbara in perpetuity. The Mulhollands generously

donated $25,000 to establish an endowed fund in Barbara’s name. They also issued a challenge to those who had also benefitted from Barbara’s outstanding mentoring: If those interested could raise $25,000 by June 30, 2016, the Mulhollands would match that amount as well. The call-to-action went out with incredible results. The goal was met and exceeded, and the generous Mulhollands matched the entire amount dollar for dollar. In the end, about half of the gifts came from alums who had swum for Barbara. Most of the remainder came from parents of Barbara’s swimmers. (There were even gifts from current students, including one

envelope from a class of 2020 member containing two ten dollar bills!) The Barbara F. Gould Varsity Swim Coach Fund is an endowed fund whose proceeds will be used to benefit WA’s swimming program. Further, WA’s varsity swim coach position will be permanently named “The Barbara F. Gould Varsity Swim Coach.” How well deserved this honor is! To contribute to The Barbara F. Gould Varsity Swim Coach Fund, please contact the Advancement Ofﬁce at 508-754-5302, x172 or visit the Academy website and make your gift online.

in 1909

1942 On June 13, 2016, THAD BELL ’42 was the recipient of the Harold E. Saunders Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the American Society of Naval Engineers at a ceremony at the NAVSEA Warfare Centers in Newport, RI. During his 38-year career in this field, Thad was recognized as an international expert in submarine and surface ship sonar design, testing, and performance analysis. He was responsible for the conceptual design of the anti-submarine warfare sonar used on destroyers and cruisers for more than a decade. In fact, a 1975 digital electronics upgrade to this system is the principal hull-mounted sonar in the U.S. Navy today. Thad wrote, “I owe much to WA—my most important educational experience!”

ALUMNI PROFILE

WA’s oldest known living alumnus DR. JAMES T. BLODGETT ’34, who turns 100 in September 2016, has stories to tell. One of his most recent is of being decorated as Chevalier, or knight, of the French Legion of Honor by the Consul General of France in Boston. The Consul General Fabien Fieschi remarked that it is France’s “oldest and highest honor.” During the ceremony, Dr. Blodgett recalled when his pipe was shot out of his hands by an unknown German in Normandy, France, during World War II. Dr. Blodgett was a 27-year-old physician when he entered military service in 1943. During World War II, he was assigned as Medical Officer, General Duty Surgery, with the 129th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion. He was initially stationed in Dover, England, but was soon advancing to Normandy and landing on a three-mile long stretch of shoreline that was given the code name of Utah Beach. In his three years of service during the fighting in Europe, Dr. Blodgett’s unit also moved through Belgium and Germany and helped to defeat the German air force. Dr. Blodgett went on to a distinguished medical career. He and his late wife, Alice, lived in their Sterling, MA, home for over 60 years, and raised two daughters. Dr. Blodgett now resides in The Villages, Florida.

1954

1957 did you know?

After traveling from Mexico to attend his grandson’s graduation from Marianapolis, MIGUEL MARQUEZ ’54, his grandson, Ricardo Devila, and his youngest daughter, Sylvia, traveled to WA by Uber to visit and tour WA’s campus. URSULA ARELLO ’85, director of donor and alumni engagement, showed the family around. His son, MIGUEL ’83, and daughter, CECELIA ’85, are both WA alums, as was Miguel’s cousin, VICTOR CRUZ ’33.

1955 DR. CARL LIEBERMAN ’55 reports that he is still practicing Ear, Nose & Throat medicine in Framingham, MA. He spent some time with KARAM SKAFF ’46 in Longboat Key, FL, last winter.

Did you know that alumnus MARK SLADE ’57 became an actor after filling in for another boy in a WA play called “The Male Animal?” Mark, who was the step-son of Esmond Crowley Jr. ’36, later became famous acting in television and in movies following graduation. Union Hill’s Kathleen Lewis was president of Mark’s fan club. “I grew up on nearby Shannon Street and had a fan club for Mark from 1977 to 1995 with fans from all over the world,” she says. Kathleen notes that Mark starred in the television series “The High Chaparral” and “Wackiest Ship in the Army” while his films included “Benji.” “He still has a huge following of new and original fans from all over the world,” Kathleen says. She notes that Mark stayed in touch with Worcester Academy even after he became famous. He was a member of WA’s Chips ‘n’ Slivers group (group members have relatives who also attended Worcester Academy) and frequently visited Dutch Rader and Shirley Pelletier in the WA Alumni Office. Today, Mark is an accomplished artist and cartoonist with a studio in Northern California, where he lives with wife of 48 years, Melinda. Even his current occupation has roots in his time at Worcester Academy, says Kathleen. As a student, Mark loved to draw, she says. His much-appreciated cartoons can be seen in WA’s Towers Yearbooks from the 1950s.

Worcester Academy

1958

1977

PETER MONE ’58 and his wife Sharon

BILL KEVILLE ’77 is a partner at Melick & Porter in Boston where he handles civil litigation. Bill lives in Southboro with his wife, Nikki. He attended this year’s Boston alumni gathering with his “chip,” CAITLIN ’08!

enjoy their winters playing golf in La Quinta, CA. Peter says their four grandsons keep them happy. Also, their son, Peter, age 32, ran a 2:37 in the Boston Marathon and a 2:28 in the Chicago Marathon. The Mones were in Boston in April to watch their son compete.

1966

1985

40th Reunion May 5–6, 2017

1980

MICHAEL REIDY ’66 has been appointed chairman of the academy council at St. Augustine Academy in Maidstone, Kent, England. The council is a local governing body for the school.

1983

LISA WALSH plays in the coverband “Hot Sauce.”

1973 JIM FORBES ’73 has returned to his investigative reporting roots, serving as co-executive producer of a project that aired on Cable TV’s History Channel in July. For the past four years, Jim was part of a team of in pursuit of the truth about the only unsolved air hijacking in American history, perpetrated by a man who called himself Dan Cooper, on Thanksgiving Eve, 1971. 36 the HILLTOPPER : summer/fall 2016

1981 Following up on last issue’s Facebook post...TIM TANGHERLINI’S ’81 daughter, Isabella, is a member of a group that builds schools in the developing world. Last summer, they kicked off their fundraising campaign to build a school in Malawi. The one they built in Haiti the previous summer is complete, and a central point of the village. Another recent donation is putting solar panels on the school, so that it can have lights!

behind the post

JAMES LOCKMAN ’85 wrote: I wanted to pass along this photo for the Hilltopper. In March, my son’s FIRST Robotics team 172 Northern Force came to WPI for the WPI District event. We needed a place to gather and enjoy some down time after the first day of the event, and we connected with Jeremy Smith and Leah Wolf, mentors of WA’s FIRST Team 4987 Mega Rams. Our team came to the Hilltop for some pizza and a little history lesson. The kayak in the Megaron was put there by Donald MacMillan, polar explorer and WA Faculty from 1903 to 1908. MacMillan was a Bowdoin College graduate and had ties to Gorham, Maine, where a museum of his expedition is located in a local church. Northern Force is comprised of students from Gorham and Falmouth, Maine, closing the circle.

1993

behind the post WINN SARGISSON GIANINO’S ’85 daughter is attending Suffolk University in Boston this fall as a freshman.

1990

1991

checking in

1994 Congratulations to KYLE LARACY ’94 and his wife, Ginny, on the birth of their fourth daughter, Clare Jeanne, in December. The Laracy family lives in Montclair, NJ.

1996

ALTA BOOVER DANTZLER ’96 was on campus in May to conduct a master class for Don Irving’s choral students in Walker Gallery. Alta, whose mezzosoprano voice has graced the halls of Carnegie Hall, among other legendary venues, spoke with students about her experience at WA, which she said she has come to value tremendously over the years.

Worcester Academy

Sharing

the joy of discovery

Worcester Academy Annual Fund

1997

www.worcesteracademy.org/givenow

1998

20th Reunion May 5–6, 2017

behind the post MEIGHAN NURSE ’97, along with her father, JAMES NURSE ’70, and cousin, MATTHEW TOPA ’16, celebrated Matt’s graduation from Worcester Academy on June 3. 38 the HILLTOPPER : summer/fall 2016

Through the innovations of dedicated teachers, we deliver on our mission to cultivate progressive, forward-thinking leaders with a global perspective. It is the Academy’s Annual Fund that lifts us from good to great. Help us by making your contribution to the Annual Fund today!

2001

checking in

2002

1999

15th Reunion May 5–6, 2017

2000

After graduating from the Juilliard School and dancing professionally for 12 years, ANTHONY BOUGIOURIS ’99 went back to school and received his MBA from McGill University. He has been consulting over the past two years and recenttly relocated to New York City to join the marketing department at a Midtown law firm.

TSUNE ITO ’99 and his wife, Yorika, visited campus in November as the couple traveled to the U.S. for their 10th wedding anniversary. Tsune and Yoriko visited with Bob Thorn and had lunch with Pam Lefferts and Elisabeth Cotton. Tsune stays in touch with SEIJI ICHIHARA ’99, YUTA NAKAMURA ’00, AND BRIAN KIM ’99. The

couple now lives in Kawasaki, Japan, where Tsune works for Expedia.

Worcester Academy

LINDSAY RITZ ESPOSITO ’02 completed her second year of Physician Assistant school at Tufts University. Lindsay and her husband, Andy, live in Somerville, MA.

2003

2004

2006

KATHY ARIAS ’04 is now an administrative assistant for Partners eCare at Partners Healthcare. She lives in Chelsea, MA.

LATICIA ROLLE ’06 is a current blog creator and content writer for BluHazl.com, a lifestyle blog empowering women and embracing sisterhood. Laticia attended the 2016 White House Easter Egg Roll in Washington, D.C., with friend Shaquille (aka “Shaq!”) O’Neal, where the pair socialized with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

get connected NICK STAFFORD ’03 stopped by campus and visited with Director of Planned Giving Frank Callahan ’71, Director of College Counseling Jonathan Baker and receptionist Marketta Carter in March. A prominent player on WA’s 2003 N.E. Championship boys basketball team, he followed then-coach MO CASSARA ’93 to the University of Dayton where he continued his basketball career. Nick is now the director of development, Academic Affairs, at the University of Cincinnati Foundation and was in the Worcester area for work.

40 the HILLTOPPER : summer/fall 2016

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. Here are just a few ways that you can stay connected: Become a fan of the Worcester Academy 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.

2007

10th Reunion May 5–6, 2017

2008

checking in

DAPHNE BASTIEN ’08, who attended the alumni reception in Boston, is working as a staff therapist at a community-based mental health agency in Boston.

PATTAYA HONGSMATIP ’08 has entered the technology development program at AT&T. She earned her master’s degree in electrical engineering from Boston University.

2009 ALBERT FELDMAN ’09 earned his Master’s in Public Health at Boston University’s School of Public Health this year.

JASON FELDMAN ’07 visited and

behind the post After spending 6 years abroad in China, Democrats Abroad DNC Sanders delegate SOLOMON STEEN ’06 dives back into the deep end of U.S. politics at Senator Warren’s campaign manager training camp. To learn more about Democrats Abroad, and how you and your friends overseas can vote in the upcoming congressional primary and federal elections, please visit votefromabroad.org.

spoke to Worcester Academy’s Activities & Allies Club at lunch on April 26. Jason talked about his work as Dean of Character and Culture at Outward Bound High School in Brooklyn, NY, where he metes out “restorative justice” (helping student realize the impact of their actions without punishing them for their behavior). A 2011 graduate of Boston College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in English, Jason is currently finishing a master’s degree in Secondary Inclusive Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. He plans to work at a school in Manhattan in Special Education, with an emphasis on projectbased learning following his graduation from Columbia.

behind the post PETER RAWINSKI ’08, along with fellow WA classmates KELLY ’08 AND CASEY ’09 ZURAITIS, traveled to Prague and Vienna this spring.

Worcester Academy

2012

2013

5th Reunion

May 5–6, 2017

STEVE DANIELS ’12 was drafted in the 7th round (pick #232) by the Washington Redskins. “Juice,” who attended WA as a postgraduate, played inside linebacker for the Eagles of Boston College.

2011 JESSA CAMPBELL’S ’11 first featurelength film, “10 Days in a Madhouse,” was well received at the Cannes Film Festival and is now showing in select theaters across the U.S. Jessa co-stars with Christopher Lambert (Highlander, Mortal Kombat) and Kelly LeBrock (Weird Science) in the true story of Nellie Bly, a young reporter who feigns mental illness to expose corruption and abuse in an insane asylum during the late 1800s.

SCOTT ISBELL ’11 has signed on to Wu-Tang Management as Wu-Tang Clan’s first-ever signed pop artist. In 2015, he performed at the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, TX alongside Raekwon, Cappadonna, and Ghostface Killah, all of the Wu-Tang Clan. His most popular song “Trumpified,” has been played more than 92 million times on the web based SoundCloud audio platform. Scott has also been using his status in the entertainment industry to help spread awareness about eating disorders in men. He works as a journalist and blogger for 50 Cent/G-Unit’s This Is 50 and is in his senior year at Emerson College. 42 the HILLTOPPER : summer/fall 2016

behind the post Bryant University baseball senior ROBBY RINN ’12 was named the New England Player of the Year in May. He became the first player in program history to earn New England Player of the Year honors. In addition, he was voted to the first team for the second straight year. Robby had one of the best offensive seasons in program history this past year, hitting .380 with 81 hits, 24 doubles, four triples, five home runs, 57 RBI and 52 runs scored. He won the NEC batting title and also leads the NEC in hits, doubles, RBI and runs scored, becoming just the second player in DI program history to record 50+ RBI and 50+ runs scored in the same season.

2014 A student at Union College, HANNAH BARNES ’14 participated in a 3-week mini-term in India last December and plans to study in Greece this fall.

checking in

CONRAD GEENTY â&#x20AC;&#x2122;14 spent 3 weeks stationed in Phnom Phenh Cambodia teaching English and learning about Cambodian life and culture as part of the Army ROTC CULP program designed to increase the cultural awareness of cadets. Here he is pictured at one of the ancient Cambodian Temples near Siem Reap.

2016 2015

TELL US WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEW WITH YOU! To submit a class note, please send note and/or image to Greg Cappello at greg.cappello@worcesteracademy.org. Some tips for sending us digital photos that will look fantastic in print: > Set the photo size to 4 x 6 inches or larger, in 300 dpi > Set your digital camera to the best photo setting > Save files as JPG or TIF > Identify everyone left to right in the photo and provide a caption

Worcester Academy

passings 1936

1943

1946

JOHN E. D. PEACOCK of Indianapolis, IN, died on Dec. 18, 2015. After graduating from Dartmouth College in 1940, he entered the Marine Corps as a second Lieutenant and retired as a Major in 1945. During that time, he served in Cuba, Guadalcanal, and in Quantico, VA. In 1943, he married Sylvia Griffith after a whirlwind two-week courtship. They were married for 67 years, until her death in 2010. In 1945, they moved to Indianapolis, where they raised three children who survive him; as well as five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Mr. Peacock enjoyed 28 years in management with L.S. Ayres & Co., followed by several years as personnel director of the Indianapolis Department of Public Safety. He served as president of the Ayres Foundation and was a volunteer for the Executive Service Corps. As a result, he made many connections with Indianapolis area non-profit organizations, which he considered to be the backbone of the Indianapolis community. He always said he learned much more from them than he was able to give back. In his recent years at Marquette Manor, Mr. Peacock volunteered in the gift store and library and enjoyed reviewing books for the residents.

JAMES P. FYFE of Wellington, FL, passed away on

SANFORD “SANDY” CONN of Coconut Creek, FL, and formerly of Worcester, died on June 15, 2016. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Miriam; a son and a daughter; a sister; and five grandchildren. A graduate of Nichols College, Mr. Conn was president of Mac-Ben Sporting Goods and Flying Feet of Mac-Ben. His passions included his family and sports. For many years, he taught tennis, golf, skiing, and SCUBA diving. He also founded the Mac-Ben Softball League. He will be missed by the sports enthusiasts of Worcester, where he was well known prior to his retirement to Florida.

1941 GRANT ERIC NELSON of Woodbridge, CT, and Marco Island, FL, passed away on March 24, 2016. He attended Colgate University. After first serving as a U.S. Marine, Mr. Nelson went on to join the Navy, serving as the commanding officer of the USS Strength, a minesweeper during World War II. Mr. Nelson was president of Perrigo Inc. before he retired to spend more time on Marco Island. Predeceased by his wife, Joyce, Mr. Nelson is survived by a daughter; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He also leaves behind a special friend, Lois Marx of Cleveland, OH, and Marco Island.

44 the HILLTOPPER : summer/fall 2016

April 6, 2016. His daughter, Patricia Fyfe Monaco, wrote to inform WA.

1945 COLONEL DONALD W. STEWART, USAF (Ret.), of Nashua NH, passed away on Dec. 23, 2015. In 1944, after his junior year at WA, he entered basic training in the U.S. Maritime Service. After serving on a petroleum tanker, Mr. Stewart returned to Worcester Academy and completed his senior year. He graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 1948 and went on to sail 13 seas and visit 35 countries. In 1951, he transferred to the U.S. Air Force and became a pilot. He flew 112 missions in Korea and 131 in Vietnam. He served with the 4th Allied Tactical Air Force NATO in Germany. In 1975, he was assigned as Deputy Director of Maintenance Engineering, NORAD/Aerospace Defense Command Headquarters. Mr. Stewart attended Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell, AFB in Montgomery, AL, and earned an MBA at George Washington University. As a civilian, he worked for TRW Colorado Springs Electronics; Textron Defense Systems in Wilmington, MA; and Honeywell Electro Optical Systems Division in Lexington, MA. In 1984, he went to work for Raytheon as Quality Assurance Manager for the Patriot Air Defense Missile Program Office. He retired in 1994. He is survived by Karen, his wife of 43 years; a brother; one daughter; four sons; and five grandchildren.

former faculty LEONARD DESPRES of Cornville, ME, passed away in January of 2016. Mr. DesPres earned a B.S. in Zoology at the University of New Hampshire and a Master’s in Education from the University of Maine at Orono. He retired in 2003 following a 40-year career teaching high school science in several New England schools, including Worcester Academy, where he taught from 1967-1969. In his spare time, Mr. DesPres enjoyed blacksmithing, gardening, and skiing. An avid historian, he was affiliated with several French and Indian War reenactment groups that traveled throughout the U.S. and Eastern Canada bringing history to life for visitors at historical settings. He is survived by Marie, his wife of 53 years; two sons; his brother, Daniel; and several grandchildren. One of his brothers, Jack DesPres, who predeceased him in 2001, taught biology at the Academy and coached football, hockey and baseball at WA for 10 years. Longtime friends Pauline and Samuel Hirth, who was a faculty member at Worcester Academy from 1966-69, were instrumental in helping Len remain in his home until his passing.

passings

1947

1948

SAMUEL I. COUTURE of Gill, MA, died on Jan 8, 2016.

FRANCIS E. BARON of the Wisconsin Veteran Home

In 1951, after earning a degree in business administration from the University of Massachusetts, Mr. Couture enlisted in the U.S. Army. During the Korean War, he was assigned to field artillery until his honorable discharge in 1953 as a 2nd Lieutenant. In 1952, Mr. Couture married his teenage sweetheart, Lillian, after having endured many separations due to education and military service. They enjoyed 62 years of marriage before her death in 2014. Together, they raised three children and traveled the world enjoying the beauty and good food of each destination; making lifelong friends at “Painting and Decorating” conventions; and playing golf whenever they could. For more than 60 years Mr. Couture was a member of the Country Club of Greenfield, where he won the 1964 Club Invitational 4 Ball and got three holes in one. He truly loved this game of golf. He was also actively engaged in many civic and charitable clubs in his community. In addition to his three children, Mr. Couture is survived by five grandchildren.

in King, WI, formerly of West Warren, MA, passed away on Nov. 28, 2012. Mr. Baron was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean Conflict. He is survived by his brother, Thomas Baron, of Worcester; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, John, WA Class of 1950, in 2004; and Joseph.

DR. RICHARD CHARLES LIPPINCOTT of Little Rock, AR, died on March 10, 2015. He is survived by a son; two daughters; two granddaughters; and Jacqueline Petit, a dear family friend. A medical doctor specializing in psychiatry, Dr. Lippincott advocated for the mentally ill his entire working life. He directed the mental health programs for the states of New Hampshire, Louisiana, and Oregon. Dr. Lippincott was a professor or assistant professor of Psychiatry at the University of Vermont Medical School, Tulane School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Medical School, and UAMS, among others. Testifying before state legislatures and Congress, he also advocated for the inclusion of mental health care coverage in state and federal health insurance programs.

RAY BILLINGTON passed away in 2015 in Somerset, MA, where he had served the town as a school committeeman and a selectman for 20 years. He graduated from Colby College in 1954 after serving in the U.S. Navy. He continued his interest in sports by coaching the American Legion baseball team and by officiating at high school baseball, basketball, and football games in southeastern Massachusetts. Mr. Billington was a founder of the Southeastern Massachusetts Baseball Officials Association and was awarded the Milt Kelley Award for 40 years of service to football officiating, both as an active official and as commissioner. He is survived by his wife, Priscilla; a daughter; a son; and four grandchildren.

JOHN HARVEY SHEA of Scituate, MA, passed away on June 28, 2014. A graduate of Harvard College with a B.A. in English Literature, Mr. Shea served in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Benning, GA. He was a sports fan, devoted to Harvard football, Scituate athletics, and the enjoyment of watching his children and grandchildren participate in sporting events. Mr. Shea leaves his former wife and longtime friend, Jane Shea of Squantum; two children; and two grandchildren.

1950 RUSSELL WILLIAM KERR JR. of Bradenton, FL, passed away on March 7, 2016. He leaves behind two sons and a daughter; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and four siblings. He was married for 58 years to his wife, Kathryn, who passed away in 2010. Mr. Kerr graduated from Northeastern University with majors in History and Business. A Korean War veteran, he attained the rank of sergeant before being honorably discharged in 1955. Mr. Kerr was a business owner, an artisan, a golfer, an okay card player, and an awesome friend.

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1951

HAROLD W. “HAP” PRESSON of Burnt Hills, NY, died on Jan. 8, 2016. Hap graduated from Dartmouth College in 1953, then served for three years as a gunnery officer aboard destroyers in the Atlantic and Pacific fleets. Following his service in the Navy, he joined General Electric Company in 1957. Mr. Presson remained with GE during a long career in employee and labor relations, except for a three-year leave of absence when he served as press secretary to Mayor William F. Walsh in Syracuse, NY. Mr. Presson is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, whom he married in 1958. Together, they raised two sons and a daughter, and they have three grandchildren. He enjoyed hunting, boating, golf, reading, and spending time with his family. Mr. Presson’s father, known as “Had,” WA Class of 1917, was a former faculty member at Worcester Academy and a member of the Academy’s Hall of Fame.

LANE WOODWORTH “WOODY” GOSS of North Andover, MA, died on May 6, 2016. His wife of 49 years, Nancy, predeceased him in 2007. He is survived by three sons; six grandchildren; and a large extended family across the country. Woody graduated from Dartmouth College in 1955 and The Darden School at the University of Virginia in 1960. He was a former Dartmouth College class president and longtime Dartmouth College Fund Chair. He served in the U.S. Army from 1956 to 1958 and the U.S. Army Reserves until 1962. Mr. Goss was a commercial banker for 35 years, beginning his career in 1960 at Chemical Bank in New York and then spending 16 years in Worcester as vice president at Mechanics National Bank (Multibank). He later moved to Arlington Trust in Lawrence, MA, and Union National Bank in Lowell, MA. From 1980 to his 1995 retirement, Mr. Goss was a vice president at State Street Bank in Boston.

Worcester Academy

Throughout his life, he was a trustee for a wide variety of charities and educational and historical institutions. He was an elected member of the American Antiquarian Society. He and his wife, Nancy, shared a passion for art, music, history, antiques, and the preservation of historic properties.

REYNALD SANSOUCY of Worcester died on June 9, 2016. He is survived by his four daughters and two sons; ten grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. His wife of sixty-two years, Ginny, died in 2011. He graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1955 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and was an active WPI alumnus for many years. Upon graduation, Mr. Sansoucy was recruited to work at the Presmet Corp. in Worcester, one of America’s pioneering powder metal manufacturers. He worked at Presmet for 40 years, retiring as executive vice-president. In 1993, he received the Distinguished Award for Service to the Powder Metal Industry, awarded by the American Powder Metal Industries Institute. A member of several Model A and Model T car clubs, Mr. Sansoucy enjoyed restoring, maintaining, and driving his antique cars on many club tours with his wife, Ginny, as navigator. He also loved gardening, and, every year, his orchard, vegetable garden, berry patch, and flower beds were remarkable for their beauty and abundance, which he shared generously. He was also known as an animated raconteur on many subjects from the Civil War to sports legends to the way things work. The quintessential handyman, he spent many enjoyable years in his workshop among his tools and projects. KENNETH LOUIS WAKEEN passed away on Feb. 24, 2016 in Naples, FL. A World War II veteran and recipient of the Victory Medal, he used his GI Bill benefits to attend WA and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering. He went on to work for Raytheon, Digital, and Gould Instruments. Mr. Wakeen was an accomplished artist. His paintings are on display in homes across the country and abroad, and in the Armenian National Museum in Watertown, MA. Mr. Wakeen is survived by his wife, Joan; three daughters and two sons; 14 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

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1953 RICHARD M. MORIN of Nashville, TN, died on Dec. 17, 2015. He graduated from Boston University and earned a master’s in religious education from the Scarritt-Bennett Center. A life-long Jewish educator, Mr. Morin was director of education at Temple Ohabai Sholom and a trustee of Congregation Micah. He also served as executive director of the National Association of Temple Educators and as registrar for the Reform Jewish Educators Certification Program. An alumnus of Leadership Nashville and a member of the executive committee of the Davidson County Democratic Party, Mr. Morin managed human resources training for Mayor Richard Fulton and was a director of Metro Head Start. A Worcester native, he remained a diehard Red Sox fan. Mr. Morin is survived by Cynthia, his wife of 57 years; a daughter and a son; and four grandchildren.

1954 JOSEPH “JOE” GABIS of Lunenburg, MA, died on May 24, 2015. He played football at Boston College, graduating in 1958 with a degree in Economics. Mr. Gabis worked for Beneficial Finance as the manager of the Gardner, Leominster, and Fitchburg offices, retiring at age 50. He was also the president of the Lenders Exchange. Mr. Gabis was actively involved in the Elks, Knights of Columbus, and sportsman clubs. He enjoyed all outdoor activities, BC football games, and playing chess with his children and grandchildren. Mr. Gabis is survived by Caroline, his wife of 57 years; four children; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

RICHARD “DICK” N. JOSEPH SR. of Shrewsbury, MA, passed away on Feb. 13, 2016. An outstanding athlete while at the Academy, he earned an athletic scholarship to Holy Cross, where he developed his nickname, “Lefty.” Mr. Joseph completed his studies at Suffolk University and later earned his degree from New England School of Law. He served in the U.S. Army. He was active with the Shrewsbury Little League where he helped open the door to the first female little league player. He also was responsible for instituting the Shrewsbury Senior Babe Ruth team. Mr. Joseph taught English at the Shrewsbury middle school and chaired its language arts department. While teaching, he earned his master’s in Education from Worcester State College and

trustee STEPHAN “SHLOMO” RUBINSTEIN ’56, a lifelong resident of Worcester, died on July 5, 2016. He leaves his sister, Joan Urdan, of Milwaukee, WI; a niece and nephews; a large extended family and many friends. A 1960 cum laude graduate of Harvard University, he owned and managed real estate. Mr. Rubinstein served on the Worcester Academy Board of Trustees from 1977 to 1979.

credits toward his Ph.D. After 33 years in education, he retired in 1998. Mr. Joseph also worked as vice president and general manager of Holden Country Club for seven years. Retirement afforded him time to work with his son, Richie, doing landscape work. It also enabled him more time on the golf course, especially at Oak Hill Country Club, and a weekly dinner ritual with his best friend and “gumba,” Mike Revelli, WA 1954. It is an understatement to say that he was an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan. In addition to his wife of 53 years, Elaine, he leaves a son and a daughter; and four grandchildren.

WALTER F. SAWYER III of Ashburnham, MA, died on May 4, 2016. After graduating from the University of Maine, Orono, he returned home to Fitchburg to work in the paper mills and stayed in the paper field his entire professional life, finally selling his own business, Cheever Specialty Products Inc., and retiring in 2014. Mr. Sawyer loved the Red Sox and to read, cook, fish, bird watch, battle squirrels, play tennis, and spend time with his family, particularly his grandchildren. He was a trusted friend, had a quick wit, and was a master of the one liner. He was a good, honest, hardworking man who infuriatingly thought complicated things were simple, and he was usually right. He leaves his wife of 57 years, Charleen; two sons; a daughter; a brother; and four grandchildren.

passings JON E. THORSON of Camden, ME, passed away on

JOHN E. “JACK” KING of Little River, SC, died on

Nov. 11, 2013. He was a 1959 graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he received his degree in electrical and mechanical engineering. His served as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Monmouth, NJ. Mr. Thorson’s career was with IBM in New York, where he held several patents. He retired in 1991 and moved to Maine. Mr. Thorson loved his retirement in Camden, where he enjoyed working at The Owl & Turtle Bookstore; Steel Pro; Stonewall Kitchen; and French & Brawn; in addition to being a member of The Camden Fire Department. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; a son and a daughter; two grandchildren; a step-son; and a sister.

March 26, 2015. He spent most of his life in Central Massachusetts, where he taught physics and mathematics in the Leicester school system, rising to become head of the high school math department for many years. During his summers, he worked the presses at the Cape Codder newspaper in Orleans. After he retired, Mr. King moved to Little River, where he pursued his life-long passion for wildlife-watching and photography. He is survived by his wife, Mary; his sister; a daughter and a son; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

HOWARD C. VIBBER II of Auburn, MA, died on Dec. 26, 2015. After owning the Northeast Book Binding Co. in Medford for 8 years, he moved back to Auburn in 1985 where he and his wife, Carol, owned and operated The Burning Bush Religious Stores in Auburn and Westborough until his retirement in 2001. He also flew his own single engine plane in and out of Oxford and Worcester airports. He and his wife traveled extensively throughout the years. Mr. Vibber leaves his wife of 58 years, Carol; five children; 12 grandchildren; eight greatgrandchildren; and a sister.

1955 ROBERT W. KELLEY of Saco, ME, passed away on April 11, 2016. Robert attended schools in Worcester and left school early to serve in the U.S. Air Force. After his service to his country, he returned home, enrolling first at Worcester Academy and then at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he received a degree in mechanical engineering. He moved to Maine in 1978 and was employed with Saco Defense until his retirement. He and his wife, Priscilla, spent many summers at the camp he built in Vinalhaven. Mr. Kelley enjoyed crossword puzzles, cooking turkeys, and reading. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Priscilla Prince Kelley of Saco; a daughter; and two grandchildren.

1956 JAMES GEORGES HAIDAS of Osterville, MA, passed away on Dec. 18, 2105. A graduate of Colby College, he received his MBA from Cornell University. After graduation, he worked as a financial analyst in Manhattan before partnering with his brother, Connie, and Samuel Ungerleider to form Ungerleider Haidas, a full-service Wall Street brokerage firm. After nearly 15 years of living in NYC, he returned to Cape Cod. In 1976, he and his Connie began building the first of three Cooke’s Seafood restaurants. He and his wife, Frances, made their home in West Harwich and had two sons. Mr. Haidas had successful careers in finance, restaurants, and real estate, but what mattered most to him was family. He filled his home with laughter and the sound of his beautiful piano playing. A true epicure and an accomplished cook, he loved good food, French wine, cigars, and the pleasure of enjoying those with loved ones. His favorite days were spent boating on the “Outlook” with his family and friends. Aided by his wife and partner, Frances, he displayed great courage and self-discipline for over 20 years with kidney and, later, cardiac disease—never complaining and living a full life. He was overjoyed at the arrival of his first grandchild, Zoe, and at the news of his second. He delighted in seeing his sons follow in his footsteps in the restaurant business.

DAVID JOSEPH MOLLOY, M.D. of Sun Lakes, AZ, died on Dec. 26, 2015. He graduated from Princeton University with an A.B. in 1960 and from Yale University with an M.D. in 1964. Dr. Molloy practiced OB-GYN in St. Thomas for 24 years. He loved the U.S. Virgin Islands; Tortola; the culture; the people and the food. He is remembered as a surgeon who performed the very first vaginal hysterectomy in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Dr. Molloy was a member of the 1834 Society.

1957 JOHN “BUCKO” M. BUCKLEY of Marion, MA died on Dec. 13, 2015. He leaves his wife, Nanna, of Marion; two sons; a step-daughter; and his former wife, Patricia; two sisters and a brother; and four grandchildren. A graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a degree in Physics, he received an M.B.A. from Thunderbird School of Global Management. Mr. Buckley’s career began at High Voltage Engineering, followed by Braincon, Black and Webster, MKS Instruments, and Buckley Consultants. His commitments to the community included serving on the Town of Marion’s School, Finance and Conservation committees. A former Commodore and race chairman of the Beverly Yacht Club, he spearheaded the “Porch Project” and was instrumental in founding the women’s racing program. Mr. Buckley was recognized nationally for his race management of major regattas and championships as well as for his own sailing accomplishments. Above all he was a great mentor and always willing to provide support for new and old sailors and innovative programs, while enlivening all of his endeavors with wit, laughter, and a sharp intellect. He was also a competitive squash player and enjoyed music throughout his life. DAVID J. MERCER of Los Angeles and Palm Desert, CA, passed away on Dec. 7, 2015. Born in New York, he graduated from Roanoke College, where he met Georgia Lee (Kunke), his wife of 53 years. They moved to Los Angeles, where he went on to found two businesses: Horizons International and Performance Labs. He is survived by his wife; a son; a grandson; and his brother, Howard. He loved playing golf, especially while in his Palm Desert home, talking with friends, walking the dog, and eating sushi.

1959 RONALD M. LEVINE of Carmel, NY, passed away on Dec. 9, 2015.

Worcester Academy

passings

1960 CHRISTOPHER FINK of Little Switzerland, NC, passed away in April of 2016. A graduate of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Mr. Fink served in the U.S. Navy for nearly five years during the Vietnam War. Formerly of Willow Grove, PA, Mr. Fink greatly enjoyed his scenic views of the sea and of eight or nine mountain ridges from his Little Switzerland retirement home in the Blue Ridge Mountains. In 2002, he retired from Honeywell Inc. after 32 years as an industrial product marketing manager. WA heard of Mr. Fink’s passing from his classmate, Moris Kushelevitch, who had heard the news from Chris’ wife, Carol Fink. Sadly, Moris also passed away just a couple of months later. Moris wrote that he felt lucky to have reunited with his former WA classmate a few years ago during a visit to North Carolina, and that Chris seemed very much like the 15-year-old Moris remembered from long ago.

MORIS KUSHELEVITCH of Moshav Bet Yehoshua, Israel, died unexpectedly on July 1, 2016. Close friend and Academy classmate John McGowan received the call informing him of Moris’ passing. Mr. Kushelevitch lived in Israel and also loved America. He leaves his devoted wife, Deborah; three children; three grandchildren, and his two bulldogs in Israel; and a sister, Clarita Kaufman, in New York City. John McGowan recounts that in recent years, when several of their WA classmates had visited with Moris and Deborah in Israel, Moris always enjoyed being their tour guide. His hobbies included restoring old cars, including most recently, a 1957 Cadillac convertible. Mr. Kushelevitch served the Israeli government for many years in both a civilian and a military capacity. He later developed a strong interest in photography and owned the only Kodak Kodachrome film processing lab in Israel. Classmates who were able to attend their 50th Worcester Academy reunion a few years ago each received beautiful prints of Moris’ photographic work.

1961 RAYMOND “RAY” E. JOHNSON JR. passed away on Nov. 5, 2015. A resident of Readfield, ME, he had many interests, which included raising the Boxer dog breed for many years with his late wife, Karen. He was very involved with his church family. He also enjoyed

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spending time with his family and friends and was known for his wonderful sense of humor. One of his favorite things to do was eat, and, even though he was always eating something, somehow he never gained a pound. In fact, Mr. Johnson loved food and cooking so much that he wrote and published two cookbooks. Above all, he was so proud to be a grandfather and a great-grandfather.

1966 ROBERT ALAN HOCHBERG, a resident of Bristol, RI, for eight years, died on June 3, 2015. Mr. Hochberg had been an attorney for 43 years. In addition to his wife, Sandy, he is survived by his two children and his sister.

1970 EDWARD H. LEONARD III, a longtime resident of Holden, MA, passed away on Sept. 16, 2014. Mr. Leonard graduated in 1981 from the University of Bridgeport with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. He then furthered his education at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, earning his master’s in electrical engineering in 1984. Mr. Leonard joined Analog Devices in 2003 as a member of Central Applications in Wilmington, where he worked tirelessly in customer support for the previous 11 years. His diverse experience and knowledge, combined with a willingness to always help out, made him a “go to” person for customers and ADI colleagues alike. As a friend and engineer, Mr. Leonard was well respected by all. In his spare time, he was an active member of the HAM Radio community.

1979 BARBARA J. LISTENIK of Glen Spey, NY, passed away on Feb. 25, 2016. A graduate of Roger Williams University, Ms. Listenik had a successful career as an artist, founding Fierce Release Design Corporation, which specialized in residential and commercial murals. She was a fervent advocate for animal rights, proposing the “Safe Air Travel for Animals Act,” known as the “Boris Bill,” which was passed into law in 1999. Ms. Listenik is survived by her partner, Edward Gavalla; her

father Dr. Henry Listenik, and his wife, Ann, of Webster, MA; three sisters and three brothers, including Mark Listewnik, WA Class of 1990. She was predeceased by her mother, Dorothy Lilla Listenik.

1980 PROFESSOR HOUMAN YOUNESSI of South Windsor, CT, a native of Tehran, Iran, passed away on March 24, 2016. He is survived by his wife, Sheyda; son, Daniel; mother, Farah; and brother, James. A true Renaissance man, he was an international authority on informatics, computer science and functional genomics, and was the author of several books and numerous scientific articles, Dr. Younessi’s academic career spanned research, teaching, and leadership positions at Swinburne University of Technology in Australia, RPI (Hartford, CT campus), UConn and Jackson Laboratory (CT). He was also an avid photographer and an accomplished poet.

1981 ROBERT J. BUONOPANE JR. of Peabody, MA, husband of Molly Buonopane, with whom he shared 23 years of marriage, died on Dec. 20, 2015. He is survived by two daughters and one son; his mother; four brothers and many nieces and nephews. Being of strong faith, he was a daily communicant at St. Adelaide’s church in Peabody, attending the 9 a.m. Mass. He was a devoted family man who loved spending time with his family and watching his children play sports.

2002 SEAN PATRICK TOOMEY of Dudley, MA, passed away on July 3, 2016. He leaves the mother of his two young children, Abby Ruth Terreri; his son, Sean Patrick, and his daughter, Maia, all of Gilford, CT; his mother, Wanda Toomey, of Dudley; and four siblings. He also leaves many adoring family members and friends, who remember him for his caring heart. His father, Michael Toomey, predeceased him in 2000. Sean was a 2008 graduate of Roger Williams University. He loved being a father, and his happiest times were spent sailing, fishing, golfing, and spending time with his family.

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Reunion

If your class year ends in a “7” or a “2,” plan to attend Reunion Weekend on May 5–6, 2017!