GSB Alumni Magazine: Summer 2014

T H E

M AG A Z I N E

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G I L L

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B E R N A R D ’ S

S C H O O L

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S U M M E R

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Bleeding Blue: The Rise of the GSB Knights

TABLE OF CONTENTS FROM THE HEADMASTER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 FEATURES Bleeding Blue: The Rise of the GSB Knights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 COLLEGE CORNER Getting to the Bottom of Things: Hayley Diverio ’11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 PROFILES Rising to the Challenge: Mary Louise McGraw Breitenbach GS ’54 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 A Diamond in the Rough: Warner Dailey SBS ’63 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

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ALUMNI NEWS Alumni Reunion Weekend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Alumni at Commencement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Alumni Establish Creative Writing Award in Honor of Former Teacher Gauch . . . . 15 COMMENCEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 GSB NEWS Sid Rowell Inducted into Country Day School Headmasters' Association . . . . . . . . 18 GSB Players Revisit Godspell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 National Merit Scholarship Finalists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Paul H. Canada Receives SBS Chair of Excellence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 New Leaders Named to GSB Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 A Fond Farewell to Matthew Huber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Honoring Faculty-Staff Retirees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 ATHLETICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 PATRONS

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Retiring Board of Trustees Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Gill's Saturday Knight Bash. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 New Development Building Complete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 New Endowment Fund Established . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Fundraising Continues for New Track Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Planning for the Future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Progress Continues on Performing Arts Community Center Challenge . . . . . . . . . . 33 ALUMNI NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 FACULTY NEWS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Board of Trustees Gill St. Bernard’s alumni magazine is published three times a year by the Communications & Marketing Department and the Alumni Office.

S.A. Rowell, Headmaster Allyson B. Daly, Director of Communications and Marketing Megan Zakrzewski, Communications Specialist James F. Diverio, Director of Development Michael Liddy, Director of the Annual Fund and Planned Giving Matthew Marsallo, Major Gifts Officer Chanelle Walker, Director of Alumni Relations/Associate Director of Development Gill St. Bernard’s School P.O. Box 604, St. Bernard’s Road Gladstone, NJ 07934-0604 908-234-1611 gsbschool.org facebook.com/gsbschool facebook.com/gsbschoolalumni Photography in this issue by Becky Bedrosian Photography, Larry Levanti Photography and GSB staff members, unless otherwise noted.

Design by Vision Creative Group.

Some freelance writing by Jerry Carino, Janet McDonough and Alice Roche Cody.

Cover photos: (Clockwise, from top left) Bobby Papazian ’05, Taylor Rooks ’14, Sarah Quinn ’12 and James Reiner ’14.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Harry Chowansky III Samuel Corliss, Jr. Gia Dunn Liz Fucci Donald Fuentes Robert Hemm ’46 Judith Fulton Higby ’65 John Howard Rose Kirk Douglas Matthews Linda Moore Edmond Moriarty III Patricia Hallett Muchmore ’66 Elizabeth Nametz Sandra Niccolai James O’Connor Robert J. O’Leary

Preston Pinkett III John Raymonds Todd Ross ’94 Marianne Saladino Robert Sameth, Jr. ’89 Vlad Torgovnik Janine Udoff HONORARY TRUSTEES Patricia Aresty Joseph Behot Miguel Brito Laurie Brueckner Brandon Clark William F. Conger Richard Emmitt Barbara Evans Nelson Ferreira

Michael Golden Adrienne Kirby Michael Mandelbaum Richard Markham Mary McNamara Ellen Nardoni Mark Paris Katherine Smith Maureen Stefanick Jayne Vespa Michael Weinstein ’87

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FROM THE HEADMASTER

T H E M AGA Z I N E O F G I L L S T. B E R N A R D’S S C H O O L There are certain pivotal moments in the life of a school. Such moments are usually the product of the coalescence of people, ideas and opportunities, along with a measure of good fortune. The success of Gill St. Bernard’s performing arts program throughout the last decade offers one example; the rise of our athletics program is another.

Growing up the second of three boys in my family certainly helped shape who I am as a person.

Constantly competing with my older brother and jockeying for position in our “world,” it was only natural that my father would encourage us to play sports. My love and appreciation for athletics certainly has continued into adulthood. Needless to say, as a school leader, I have always extolled the benefits of an appropriately competitive athletics program.

Although athletics have always been a staple at GSB, what has taken place over the past decade is nothing short of amazing. Incredibly talented student-athletes, excellent coaches, supportive faculty and strong leadership have all contributed to the newfound prominence of our athletics program, which has become one of the best in the state.

As is the case with any change, this did not happen easily or overnight. The feature story, Bleeding Blue: The Rise of the GSB Knights by guest writer Jerry Carino of The Star-Ledger, does a wonderful job chronicling the admirable beginnings of this success and the individual catalysts who believed GSB could become a school that promotes both academic and athletic excellence.

Ten years ago, few could have predicted where we are today. While the creation of the Athletic Booster Club and, especially, the decision to join the NJSIAA were initially met with little enthusiasm, it is clear that they were the right decisions. But each one required the support of our trustees, including Honorary Trustee and long-time GSB friend Dick Emmitt P ’02, who was a key catalyst in this transformation.

In addition to acknowledging Dick, I would like to thank all those who have been a part of our Athletic Booster Club. This organization has made an immeasurable impact on the growth of our athletics program and heightened school spirit. I would also like to thank our Director of Athletics David Pasquale and his dedicated staff for their leadership and dedication to the program. Because Gill is, first and foremost, an academic institution, I need to recognize our faculty and coaches for their support in helping our student-athletes find the right balance to excel both in the classroom and in their respective sports. There is Assistant Dean of Students Mike Wendell ’84 P ’23, who worked with student leaders to establish the “Blue Crew,” our own student cheering section. Finally, I would like to thank all of our student-athletes. It is their talent, enthusiasm and discipline as well as their commitment to sportsmanship that is central to the success of GSB’s athletics program.

Whether or not our teams win or lose, I am so proud of their efforts, and of our school. After all, I too, bleed blue.

Regards,

S. A. Rowell 1

T H E M AGA Z I N E O F G I L L S T. B E R N A R D’S S C H O O L

FEATURES

Bleeding Blue: The Rise of the GSB Knights

By Jerry Carino When Bobby Papazian ’05 arrived on the bucolic campus of Gill St. Bernard’s as a freshman in 2001, the school’s varsity sports were far removed from the spotlight. The gym was tiny, the competition was almost exclusively fellow prep schools and the “Saints” was the mascot.

“I was a swimmer up until then, but Gill didn’t have a swim team at the time,” he said.

“I wasn’t that good of a swimmer anyway, and I had been running for a few years, so I figured I’d give cross country a try.”

Four years later, when Papazian earned a State championship on the trails, the wheels of change were in motion. Gill St. Bernard’s joined the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA), built an athletic center, formed the Athletic Booster Club and changed its mascot.

Today, the “Knights” are recognized nationally for boys’ and girls’ basketball. The school’s cross country, track, tennis and soccer programs are state powers at the Non-Public B level, and softball made a recent run at a State title. Just about every sport—baseball, golf, you name it—competes at a high level against tough competition. In 2012, the Knights won the prestigious ShopRite Cup, awarded by the NJSIAA for excellence across the board.

Gill St. Bernard’s is now renowned for its interscholastic sports.

To Papazian, who went on to compete collegiately at Villanova University and will attend Rutgers

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The 2011-12 ShopRite Cup is presented to Director of Athletics Dave Pasquale (l.) and Headmaster Sid Rowell (second from right) by ShopRite Store Manager Glenn Cunningham (second from left) and Assistant Director of the NJSIAA Jack DuBois (r.).

School of Law in the fall, the rise has been astounding.

“To me, Gill was a small school that no one ever heard of,” he said. “Now people are following it as passionately as they follow Villanova basketball. It’s amazing how it got to this level so quickly.”

Shining Knights Fast forward nine years. There are Papazians all over campus. Girls’ basketball star Taylor Rooks ’14 is headed to Stanford University on a full scholarship. Girls’ track state champion Dana Klein ’14 is on her way to Yale University, where she will lace it up. Lead GSB defender and boys’ soccer star James Reiner ’14 will take the field at Princeton University. Rising junior Tyus Battle is one of the most sought-after boys’ basketball recruits in the country, with the likes of Rick Pitino of Louisville, Jim Boeheim of Syracuse and John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats dropping by to see his workouts and games.

“It’s been so exciting and such an honor to be a part of the ride, of Gill rising to the top,” Klein said.

“It’s a great environment for school spirit. Soccer and basketball—everyone is at the games.”

In late February, Klein won the 3200-meter at the NJSIAA Indoor Track Meet of Champions. Right around that time, Rooks was helping girls’ hoops win its third straight Somerset County title.

“When I first came to Gill I was like, ‘Wow, this school is beautiful,’” Rooks said. “But, at the same time I was drawn in because I knew about the basketball program and about the school’s reputation for tough academics. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but I didn’t want to waste an opportunity.”

Don’t waste an opportunity. That attitude is how Gill St. Bernard’s athletics reached its current height.

From left: The GSB Blue Crew cheers for the varsity boys’ soccer team in the Somerset County quarterfinal against Bernards on October 12, 2013; Head Varsity Boys’ Soccer Coach Tony Bednarsky celebrates his 300th GSB victory in 2010; Honorary Trustee Dick Emmitt P ’02 receives the 2012 Lindabury-Thomas Trustee Award in recognition of his instrumental role in the growth and advancement of GSB’s athletics program.

In at the Ground Floor

Building Up

The first thing teacher and coach Tony Bednarsky noticed when he came to Gill St. Bernard’s in 1989 were the fields. The school had lush, spacious, well-groomed soccer pitches. He just needed to find enough boys for the soccer team.

That commitment was bolstered by the enthusiasm of Dick Emmitt P ’02, a parent and Honorary Trustee who served as a major catalyst for the growth of Gill’s athletics program.

With about 30 kids in each class, that was going to be a challenge.

“We’re talking 15 senior boys—not even senior athletes, just senior boys,” Bednarsky recalled. “You try to do the best you can. That first year, we went 5-7-2.”

It was one of just two losing campaigns for Bednarsky, who was the first to prove that sustained athletic success was possible at Gill St. Bernard’s.

Once the school joined the NJSIAA, his program took off. Over the past 10 years, Bednarsky has guided the Knights to six Sectional titles and two Non-Public B State championships.

“We went from graduating classes in the 30s to class sizes ranging between 70 and 90. That’s pretty significant,” he said. “Just by the pool of players you have more to choose from, so one factor is volume. Number two, you have a very determined administration. They made a commitment to growing the school, finding balance and seeking out students who excel in both academics and athletics.”

While his daughter attended Gill St. Bernard’s Middle School in the 1990s, Emmitt said he “saw a number of good athletes leaving in sixth, seven or eighth grade to go on to pursue other schools that had a bigger stage and an opportunity to compete at the state level.”

He realized the importance of a strong sports program at the school. Furthermore, he felt that a booster club, in addition to joining the NJSIAA, was an important step to take. Headmaster Sid Rowell agreed.

“Nobody was trying to turn Gill into a sports academy or an athletic factory,” Emmitt said. “All we had in mind was having the school be as good as it could be.”

These ideas were not met with universal support, at first.

“When you’re talking about change, there’s going to be a certain amount of pushback,” he said, “and we had pushback from the administration and a lot from the coaches.”

Michael Wendell was one of those pushing back.

“I was somebody who was dead set against it,” said Wendell, a Gill grad with the Class of ’84 who coached boys’ basketball and baseball at the school and is now 3

FE AT U R ES

assistant dean of students in the Upper School. “In my mind, we didn’t have the talent to get there yet. But I can say, without hesitation, I was flat-out wrong. It gives our athletes more exposure, more opportunities, and it got Gill’s name out there. It was a great move by the school.”

Dominoes Falling into Place The 2004-05 school year was a watershed one for Gill St. Bernard’s sports. Thanks to the leadership and vision of Rowell, the impeccable Athletic Center opened that September. The Booster Club was formed. The school finally joined the NJSIAA. Later that school year, Dave Pasquale was hired as director of athletics.

During Pasquale’s tenure, the school would go on to add ice hockey, swimming, fencing and boys’ and girls’ lacrosse to its athletics program.

“All of the conditions were in place for the success of the athletics program and David was the right person to take it to the next level,” Rowell said.

Less earth-shattering in 2004-05 but, perhaps, more symbolic than anything else, the school’s mascot was changed from the “Saints” to the “Knights.”

After a lengthy process, which included a student body vote, the “Knight” was selected. With the support of the Booster Club, as well as supervision from Director of Development Jim Diverio, today’s Knight logo was born.

The “Knight” mascot is introduced to the GSB community in 2004.

“When we switched from the Saints to the Knights, there were strong feelings about it, but as a non-sectarian school, we needed a more inclusive mascot,” said Diverio.

Papazian won the NJSIAA cross country title that fall, along with a victory at the Penn Relays in the spring, becoming the first Gill athlete to draw big headlines state- and nationwide. A little more than a year later, 4

Bobby Papazian ’05 medals gold in the 3000m event at the Penn Relays in 2005.

another supernova was on the way, opening the floodgates for girls’ basketball.

The Simmons Factor Mergin Sina saw Daisha Simmons ’10 in a middle school game and knew she could be special. Simmons’ friend Niiya Ruth ’10—a current member of the Bloomfield College women’s basketball program— already was on her way to Gill St. Bernard’s to play for Sina’s girls’ basketball squad.

But Sina didn’t inquire about Simmons. He figured she was too good for his team. Instead, Simmons’ mom did the inquiring.

“I told her, ‘I don’t know if our level is for you,’” Sina recalled. “She said, ‘We don’t care, we just want to get out of Jersey City and give her an opportunity for a good education.’”

Together, Simmons and Ruth led the Knights’ big breakthrough. In 2009, they won their first Somerset County Tournament and advanced to the NJSIAA Non-Public B final.

The following winter, Simmons scored her 2,000th career point— a rarity in high school hoops and the first for any player at Gill St. Bernard’s School. Four Fellow teammates (l. to r.)

Daisha Simmons ’10 and Niiya Ruth ’10.

GSB’s varsity softball team claims the NJISAA Prep B Championship and Skyland Conference Valley Division crown in 2011.

years later, Rooks also joined the 2,000-point club and scored more career points—including 522 as a freshman at the Nichols School in Buffalo, NY— than any GSB basketball player in school history.

at the school would make serious runs at State titles within three years. The Skyland Conference is arguably the best girls’ sports league in the state, and that rubbed off.

It was a long road to that point for Simmons. Living in Jersey City, NJ, Simmons would rise at 5:30 each morning, take a train to Newark, then catch a bus out to Peapack-Gladstone.

In the fall of 2011, the Knights’ girls’ cross country team won the Non-Public B with a stunning upset of Mount St. Dominic. A few months later, the girls’ hoops squad advanced to the Tournament of Champions final. Girls’ soccer always performed at a high level and continues to do so.

“At first it was tough, but I learned to adapt and it was a great experience,” she said. “If I could do it all over again, I would still go to Gill.”

Simmons went on to earn a scholarship at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and later transferred to The University of Alabama, where she became a star in the Southeastern Conference.

She graduated college in three years.

“Believe me, my first year at Gill, academic-wise I wasn’t the best,” she said. “But, every year I became a better student. Once I got to college, I was able to balance basketball and academics.”

By the time she left Gill St. Bernard’s in 2010, the sports renaissance was in full bloom.

Girls in the Forefront Joining the Skyland Conference in 2009 was the final piece to the puzzle for Gill St. Bernard’s athletics. Buoyed by the competition, six programs

“The exposure to great competition was really important,” said alumna Sarah Quinn ’12, who paced the cross country team to its 2011 crown.

“My freshman year we won the Patriot Conference pretty easily, which is funny looking back because we really weren’t that great. Ultimately, if you want to grow, you have to compete against people who are better than you.”

Quinn, who runs at MIT and interned at the Bank of America in Manhattan this summer, said the same principle began to apply within the teams at the school.

“Once you start bringing in talented people and you create this atmosphere, other talented people are going to come,” she said.

Michael Chimes, GSB’s former track and cross country coach (1979-2011) who led Quinn’s 5

FE AT U R ES

“I remember getting back to the hotel room that night and checking my phone—there were hundreds of messages,” he said. “Kids from high school, some teachers; everybody.”

Back in Somerset County, an entire school celebrated with him.

Jaren Sina ’13 continues his successful basketball career at Seton Hall University. Photo credit: Seton Hall Athletics.

“The biggest change I’ve noticed over the past few years is the school spirit,” said Donna Bednarsky, who coached girls’ soccer at Gill for a decade and still teaches there. “I remember the first time our boys’ soccer team went to the State final. The whole school came down to watch. I think that was the start of it.

It’s gotten fantastic over the years.”

Final Tally

championship team along with current head cross country and track and field coach Dave deWolfe, put it best.

In the long run, from Papazian’s triumph to Sina’s front page appearance, success in sports changed the trajectory of the entire school.

“When kids are committed to being their best, they put in an awful lot of hours. That’s a culture the school didn’t have before,” Chimes said. “It had kids like that, but there weren’t full teams of them.

Now, we actually have teams of them.”

“Upper School enrollment, alumni engagement and school spirit have increased dramatically over the last eight to 10 years,” Pasquale said. “Certainly, I’d like to think that some of that has to do with the success of our athletics program.”

The Big Show The culture is in full effect in boys’ basketball, which has appeared regularly in USA Today’s national “Super 25” high school rankings over the past three years.

Jaren Sina ’13, who surpassed former teammate and current Dartmouth College basketball player Alex Mitola ’12 (1,978 points) to become the first male member of Gill’s 2,000-point club, went on to earn Big East All-Rookie honors at Seton Hall University this past winter.

During the college season, Sina said he fielded plenty of compliments about his alma mater.

“Some people said we had nicer facilities than some Division I programs,” he said. “I was blessed for the opportunity to go to a school like that.”

In March, Sina’s photo was splashed across the front page of the New York Post after helping the Pirates stun a third-ranked Villanova in the Big EastTournament. It was the best possible advertisement for Gill St. Bernard’s School.

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When he helped form the Booster Club a decade ago, Emmitt laid out the challenge.

“Ninety-five percent of high schools in New Jersey are bigger than Gill. How do you compete?” he said.

“Everybody has to be pulling the oars together.”

His call has been met. From Cape May to High Point, New Jerseyans with even a passing interest in high school sports know the Knights of Gill St. Bernard’s School.

“There’s a line from Father Ted Hesburgh (former University of Notre Dame president) that says, ‘There’s no academic virtue in having a mediocre athletics program,’” Pasquale said. “Small independent schools with strong academic programs should strive for the same measure of excellence in their co-curricular programs.”

Every coach, from Princeton, Stanford, Yale or the like, who visits Gill St. Bernard’s to meet an athlete proves his point.

COLLEGE CORNER

T H E M AGA Z I N E O F G I L L S T. B E R N A R D’S S C H O O L

Getting to the Bottom of Things: Hayley Diverio ’11

By Janet McDonough While the early bird is said to catch the worm, early-rising environmental studies major Hayley Diverio ’11 is applying her talents to far more than our planet’s wiggly inhabitants.

Carrying forth her GSB work ethic, Diverio—who from September through May rises at 4 a.m. six days a week for training on the University of Delaware (UD) crew team, before heading to classes and leadership endeavors—has her sights set on improving the environment.

Hayley Diverio ’11.

Diverio’s policy-based studies, with a concentration in sustainability, encompass environmental economics, conservation and geographic information system mapping—one of her favorite programs, which delves into population density and land use. She has mapped populations in the U.S. and New Jersey, and also learned about wetlands and rising sea levels resulting from climate change. “Environmental studies is about how humans interact with the environment,” she explained. Minoring in legal studies, Diverio is considering environmental law school in the future.

Her interest in the field was spurred by a junior-year GSB Unit trip to the Florida Keys to study marine biology. “After that, I started looking at colleges with degrees in marine biology and environmental studies, which is what I see myself doing. I always thought I would go into the medical field or genetics, but after that trip I completely switched gears and I couldn’t be happier,” Diverio said.

She grew up in rural Sussex County, where her parents introduced her to the wonders of the environment at an early age, taking her hiking when she was only three. Her father is involved with The Raptor Trust, which she said had a great impact on what she wanted to study. “I was always more interested in learning about what was going on outside rather than just observing it,” Diverio said.

This summer, she worked as a planning intern for The Land Conservancy of New Jersey in Boonton, acquiring valuable insights about conservation and open-space planning. Diverio’s responsibilities involved an environmental resource inventory for the town of Caldwell, gathering climate data from a monitoring station and researching climatic events, soil makeup, air quality, geology, geography and topography. Her research will culminate in a 100-plus-page report for the town.

At college, Diverio has found invaluable the time management skills she honed while juggling classes, sports and a long commute in high school. Introduced to the Blue Hen Leadership Development Program during freshman orientation, she has spent all three years fully engaged in student life. Learning about leadership styles and becoming a mentor, she recognized the need for—and engaged with peers to organize—a campus-wide Earth Day of Service. Diverio was also selected to be a campus orientation leader. “It was a great experience,” she said. “I got to meet 4,000 freshmen!”

SEE DIVERIO, PAGE 40 7

PROFILES

T H E M AGA Z I N E O F G I L L S T. B E R N A R D’S S C H O O L

Rising to the Challenge: Mary Louise McGraw Breitenbach GS ’54

By Mary Louise McGraw Breitenbach GS ’54 and Chanelle Walker While Mary Louise McGraw Breitenbach GS ’54, who prefers to be called Lou, graduated from Miss Gill’s School* more than 60 years ago, she speaks of her time there with surprising clarity.

Breitenbach reflects on her years at the school as a pivotal time and confesses it was life-changing, teaching her skills she carries with her—and cherishes—to this day.

Breitenbach faced a dead-end in her adolescent years as a result of growing up in an abusive household, and had become very destructive. Her paternal grandfather and the school’s founder, Elizabeth Gill, believed they could save her. “She not only took me in against heavy odds, but she created a safe environment for me to grow and learn through her gentle style of coaching,” Breitenbach said. “She believed every girl could be taught and a hunger for knowledge could be created.”

The intimate environment of the school was exactly what Breitenbach needed. She was one of eight members of her class, including five boarders and three day students, with whom she developed lifelong friendships. In addition to finding healthy relationships, Breitenbach thrived in the classroom with the help of her teachers. Looking back, she recalled, “I felt constantly cared about, which provided me with the ability to succeed. It was a wonderful time in my life and eventually led to my first job working for the St. Bernard’s School’s former headmaster, John Durward.” She added, “I taught riding on Junie Hockenbury’s wonderful roan gelding, Thane, and other horses.”

Breitenbach’s time spent in Gladstone was full of rich and memorable experiences and lessons learned during these years have proven invaluable.

Following high school, Breitenbach attended Russell Sage College in Troy, NY where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1958.

After completing her degree, she was given an opportunity to participate in Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference as a contributor. Then, in December, she gave birth to fraternal twins—Douglas, a boy, and Cary, a girl. She made the difficult decision to give them up for adoption in order to ensure a better life for both. Happily, they have since been reunited.

Mary Louise McGraw Breitenbach (first row, middle) with the seven other members of The Gill School Class of 1954, Mary Jane Weed de la Garza,* Carol Drysdale Misdom, Patricia King Goff, Anne Reynolds Mayles, Elisabeth Ruperti Rittenhouse, Catherine Battaglia and Barbara Arend Sudlow.* (*deceased)

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*From 1937 to 1953, The Gill School was referred to as Miss Gill’s School in the Mendham Hills. Upon Elizabeth Gill’s retirement in 1953, the name of the school was changed to The Gill School. It later merged with St. Bernard’s School in 1972 to become Gill St. Bernard’s School.

PROFILES

In need of a change and in the spirit of adventure, Breitenbach traveled to Wyoming in 1959 to folk sing with a friend. The new beginning brought more than just a change of pace for the then 21-year-old.

She found love and soon married her soul mate, Jake Breitenbach.

A climbing guide for Exum Mountain Guides in Jackson Hole, WY and avid adventurer, he joined an expedition to climb Mount Everest in 1963. Jim Whittaker, the first American to reach the summit of Mount Everest, was part of the expedition. Unfortunately, catastrophe struck and Breitenbach’s husband did not survive the journey. In an instant, her life was shattered and she knew it would never be the same.

Over the next nine years, Breitenbach struggled to put the pieces of her life back together. Fighting her way past the grief with help from Reverend Philip Zimmers and his family, she discovered a support network. She found strength in her faith and looked back on a very important lesson she learned from Miss Gill: never quit. Finally ready for a new beginning, Breitenbach sought acceptance within a master’s of psychology program at Harvard University and, with financial backing from an individual in her church community, flourished.

Mary Louise McGraw Breitenbach GS ’54 with her husband, Joseph Piccoli, in their home in Wyoming.

In 1983, Breitenbach completed the master’s program and returned to Wyoming where she began work as a therapist. She started by working with at-risk teens and later expanded her focus to include counseling as an addiction therapist for court-ordered men and women. Eventually, Breitenbach opened a private practice. She explained, “My love of counseling is strong, despite being complicated by the challenges of my first jobs. It is a part of my life I am most grateful to God for. At 78, I continue to serve my patients because they ask. I still care deeply about my patients in the same way that Miss Gill cared deeply about her students. That was her gift to me.”

Breitenbach resides in Wyoming with her husband of 28 years, Joseph Piccoli.

A Diamond in the Rough: Warner Dailey SBS ’63

By Alice Roche Cody Warner Dailey SBS ’63 has spent nearly his entire lifetime collecting, and he has developed a knack for spotting overlooked treasures, whether it be a diamond—or a diner—in the rough.

“I’ve been doing this since I was old enough to pick something up, around age four, collecting rocks, shells and fossils,” says the London-based art and antique dealer. “By age 11, I was buying and selling. Antique dealers protect their own—they don’t want to tell you how to spot a fake. But I was young and they showed me how to run my hands along the bottom of a drawer to feel the ridges and tell if it’s hand-chiseled. I had no idea it would become a career.”

Warner Dailey SBS ’63 and his wife, Fiona, dine at a restaurant in Latvia.

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Warner Dailey SBS ’63 transports a sperm whale’s jaw.

Dailey’s fascination with art flourished when he was a student at St. Bernard’s School, working as a gardener for the Pierrepont family of Far Hills. He became their son’s tutor and accompanied the family on trips to Greece, England and Africa, and summered with them in Northeast Harbor, ME. Soon he hobnobbed with other influential aristocrats, like Brooke Astor, philanthropist and socialite; Malcolm Forbes, publisher of Forbes magazine; and the Rockefellers, oil tycoons who held one of the world’s largest fortunes.

“They started using me to buy things at local auctions and bid on their behalf,” says Dailey. “It was exciting. I made great connections.” And he forged some unforgettable memories.

Once, as Dailey rummaged through New York City garbage cans for discarded valuables, he found an unlikely accomplice. “I was picking stuff out of the trash—expensive places throw out great stuff—when Forbes’ chauffeured Phantom V pulled up.” When Forbes asked what Dailey was up to, he responded: “Getting a few bits.” “‘Sounds like fun! Let’s do it!’ Forbes replied. So I got into his Rolls-Royce, then we went through the trash and got pieces,” Dailey says.

Years later, that friendship with the multimillionaire led to an intriguing opportunity. Forbes asked the Alfred University graduate to be his art agent in Europe for 100 pounds per day, in comparison to the nine pounds a week he had been earning at Christie’s in London.

Dailey recalls buying an 11-foot-high stuffed grizzly bear and transporting it on a forklift through Heathrow to send to America. “The expressions of the air passengers were priceless as the unwrapped grizzly bear was brought sideways to the door of Malcolm’s aircraft,” he says.

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PROFILES

When Forbes bought his London residence, the Old Battersea House, Dailey helped him fill the mansion with Victorian art he secured at auctions throughout Europe.

Dailey was still crossing continents in search of finds for himself and others in the 1980s when he spotted a ’50s-style stainless steel diner sitting in a New Jersey scrap yard. Once located nearby on Route 22, the GateWay Diner was the spot the Rolling Stones stopped for a bite on their first world tour. Dailey had to have it, and over the next few weeks negotiated the sale from London.

“I came back with $10,000 cash in a bag,” he says. “Soon the local paper heard that an antique dealer was taking back a piece of his American youth to England. Within a couple of hours the story was featured on NBC and CBS, and I had my 11 minutes of national television.” Shipping the diner to London set Dailey back another $10,000, but in the end he made about $90,000 profit and the diner found a new home on a lake in Almere, Netherlands.

The GateWay Diner is prepared for shipment overseas to London circa 1980.

Throughout his career, Dailey has dealt with every object imaginable, from snuff boxes to stuffed sharks.

“I supplied a portion of Hitler’s desk and 17 stuffed dogs to an art director who filled the guest suite in his Hollywood Hills house to discourage any guests from actually staying at his place,” he says.

In 2013, Dailey took a break from his travels to return to Gill St. Bernard’s for his 50th reunion. Here, he reminisced about his high school days: firing muskets, riding motor bikes, performing in plays and forging friendships with teachers, such as Jim Pope. Back then, when his mom, who served as the librarian, asked permission to pull Dailey from school for a trip to Europe, the headmaster excused him, provided he kept a daily journal. Even then, the world was his classroom.

“It was a crazy school—I worked on the farm and looked after horses, and for punishments, I had to shovel shale from the back of a truck to fill holes in the road,” he says. “It was probably the greatest time of my life and prepared me for all that I’ve done and all that’s to come.”

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ALUMNI NEWS

T H E M AGA Z I N E O F G I L L S T. B E R N A R D’S S C H O O L

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Alumni Reunion Weekend During the spring, alumni gathered for two reunion weekends to honor the history of Gill St. Bernard’s and its predecessor schools (The Gill School and St. Bernard’s School). The Gill St. Bernard’s reunion was held on May 2 and 3, gathering alumni from the classes of 1973 through 2009 to enjoy student-led tours, softball and catching up with faculty and classmates during a picnic. The combined Gill School and St. Bernard’s School reunion was held on May 31 and June 1. Highlights of the weekend included faculty presentations by Director of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs Amy Tierney and Upper School math teacher Ed Brown, who discussed the Unit program. These were followed by student-led tours and a seated dinner where commemorative gifts were presented to the 50th anniversary classes.

Above, from left: Gerard Mason ’84 enjoys an alumni reception with Carol Layton Regner ’85 and her husband, Randy, on May 2 in the Hockenbury Student Center; Daniel Flynn ’79 flips through an old GSB yearbook during Friday’s reception; Below, from left: Former classmates (from left) Brad Iorizzo ’89, Gerry O’Connor ’89, Doug Cameron ’89 with his son Thomas Cameron, Kirsten Dugan ’89, Roger Harkavy ’89 and Ted Eldracher ’89 return to campus for Alumni Weekend; Chris Soucy ’83 shags some flies with fellow alumni on the GSB softball field prior to this year’s picnic on May 3.

ALUMNI NEWS

Former Gill School and St. Bernard's School alumni return to celebrate 50 years or more since graduating high school.

Front, from left: Martha Denton Vigman GS ’64, Joanna Billings GS ’56 and Linda Engelberger with her husband Fred SBS ’71; Middle, from left: Mel Vigman, Judy Fulton Higby GS ’65 and Tyson Merrill GS ’64; Back, from left: David Taft SBS ’58, Herb Gaiss SBS ’54, Elliott Case SBS ’53, Hal Higby and Merritt Ierley SBS ’54.

From top: Front, from left: Graduates of the Class of 2007 Nina Siman, Amanda Bisson, Erica Bluestone, Olivia Kupfer and Erica Conte. Back, from left: Alumni James Finger ’06, Chris Escue ’04, Kyle Mullins ’04, Alex Weisman ’04, Alex Kudziela ’04, Matthew Siman ’06, Mike D’Arcangelo ’09 and Sean Johnson ’08; Rachel O’Neill Dinsmore ’94 and her husband, Donald; The Ross family, including Todd Ross ’94 and his wife Mandy with their two children, Jacob and Allyson.

ALUMNI NEWS

Alumni at Commencement Many familiar faces returned to Gill St. Bernard’s School on June 1 to celebrate this year’s Commencement exercises with family, friends and GSB faculty.

Above, from left: Members of the Weisman family, including (from left) siblings Katie ’08, Sam ’14 and Melanie ’10, and their cousin Ross ’06 (second from left); The Jablonskyj family, including grandmother Alexandra, GSB alumnus Roman ’09, mother Irene, recent graduate Andrea ’14, father Michael, GSB alumnus Michael ’09 and uncle Jerry.

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Clockwise, from top left: The Ferreira family, including (from left) father Nelson P ’12, ’14, former student Nicholas (’15), recent graduate Alexandra ’14, mother Natalie P ’12, ’14 and GSB alumna Cristina ’12; (L. to r.) Katelyn Stephenson ’13 congratulates her younger sister, Kylie ’14; Siblings Alexa ’08 (l.) and Dylan ’14 (r.) Polachi with their mother, Debra Chipman P ’08, ’11, ’14; Former classmates (from left) Pearson Treanor ’13, Dillon Seng ’11, Kyle Swartz ’13 and Alden Corbett ’11 reunite during their return visit to campus.

(R. to l.) GSB’s 2014 graduates, Caitlyn Raia and Elizabeth “Sally” Gordon are joined by their siblings, Teddy Gordon ’12 and Jessica Raia ’12, at Commencement.

Alumni Establish Creative Writing Award in Honor of Former Teacher Gauch Many Gill St. Bernard’s alumni recall the literature, writing and drama classes taught by Upper School teacher Patricia Lee Gauch between 1974 and 1984. During her tenure, teachers worked under the Unit plan, an academic forum in which one class was held for six hours every day over a two- to seven-week span.

Currently a children’s book author, workshop leader and guest lecturer along the east coast, Gauch continues to be a part of the GSB community. On May 4, 2013 Gauch returned to campus for Alumni Reunion Weekend and delivered a lecture on the Unit plan, exploring the values of using the motto “The World is Our Classroom” and the qualities of a good education. She Patricia Lee Gauch pays a visit to Andrew Lutz’s English class during the returned to GSB again this past spring as a guest lecturer in Upper School 2013-14 school year.

English classes and for Commencement.

As a frequent visitor to the GSB campus, Gauch confirmed, “The individuality of Gill remains today. I’ve seen it in the classrooms and hallways of Hockenbury—the love of learning, the creativity of teachers, the relationship between teachers and students, the willingness to see each person for what, or who, he or she is.”

Many alumni have expressed their appreciation for Gauch’s style of teaching and endless devotion toward her students. Her lasting impact led alumni to spearhead the creation of The Patricia Lee Gauch Award for Creative Writing, which was presented for the first time at GSB’s 2014 Commencement on June 1.

The prize’s recipient was selected based on criteria established by the Upper School English department: a senior whose inventive voice, artful storytelling and disciplined work contribute to the literary life of Gill St. Bernard’s. The award, including a cash prize and signed copy of Gauch’s This Time, Tempe Wick? was presented to Kristin Murtha ’14.

The Development Office continues to work with alumni volunteers to build an endowment for The Patricia Lee Gauch Award for Creative Writing.

To make a gift toward The Patricia Lee Gauch Award for Creative Writing, visit gsbschool.org/gift, or for information on other ways to give to the endowment, please contact Director of the Annual Fund and Planned Giving Michael Liddy at 908-234-1611, ext. 205 or mliddy@gsbschool.org.

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COMMENCEMENT The 71 members of the graduating Class of 2014.

Class of 2014 Celebrates New Beginnings More than 800 family members and friends gathered in Todd Quad on June 1 to share in the start of a new chapter for the graduating Class of 2014.

This year’s Commencement exercises opened with an invocation by Reverend Edmund K. Sherrill II, current headmaster at the Church Farm School in Exton, PA. In his welcoming remarks, Headmaster Sid Rowell applauded the 71 members of the Class of 2014 for their individual achievements and acceptance to an impressive array of colleges and universities nationwide. (See page 17.) “Without their work, their efforts, their commitment, all of us would not be here today,” Rowell said. “They are a special group, indeed.”

With a standing ovation, Gill’s graduating seniors recognized both their parents and teachers as key sources of support and inspiration over the past several years.

In all, 25 students received special honors for academic, athletic and artistic excellence throughout their GSB careers. These included a total of 20 different prizes such as the prestigious Elizabeth Gill Girl Award and Julian T. Brown Cup. Performing Arts Chair Paul H. Canada was also presented the St. Bernard’s School Chair of Excellence in Teaching Award in honor of his many contributions to the lives of students and families at Gill St. Bernard’s School. (See page 20.)

Following the benediction from Reverend George E. Andrews II—former headmaster of Saint Andrew’s School in Boca Raton, FL—GSB’s newest group of alumni marched from Todd Quad to the Athletic Center where they were greeted with handshakes, high fives and hugs from faculty members and trustees. Students then joined their families for a Commencement reception outside of Founders Hall.

For more on Gill’s 2014 Commencement ceremony, please see the latest issue of “Milestones,” available online at gsbschool.org/publications.

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From left: Kristin Murtha ’14 (m.) is presented The Patricia Lee Gauch Award for Creative Writing by former English teacher Patti Gauch (l.), for whom the award was created, and Upper School English teacher Andrew Lutz (r.). Learn more about the newly established award on page 15; Joshua “Jay” Corbett ’14, Kasey Collins ’14, Emilie Dizdarevic ’14 and Katherine Giordano ’14; Emma Clayton ’14, Kelly Staples ’14, Kensey Olsen ’14 and Emily Carmosino ’14.

From left: Friends and family members join Trevena Bennett ’14 while celebrating her high school graduation; Upper School Director Sue Petrone and 2013 graduate Emily Iannaconi present this year’s Elizabeth Gill Girl Award to senior Carly Meyers. Meyers was also inducted within the Gill St. Bernard’s chapter of the Cum Laude Society, a membership granted to those students who rank among the top-20 percent of their graduating class; Upper School Director Sue Petrone and the 2013 recipient, Ryan LaPré, present this year’s Julian T. Brown Cup to senior Oscar Gomez in recognition of his thoughtfulness, integrity, faith, honor and consideration for the overall good of the school.

Class of 2014

College Matriculation List The University of Alabama

Hobart and William Smith Colleges

University of Pittsburgh

Bentley University

College of the Holy Cross

Princeton University (2)

Binghamton University

Indiana University Bloomington

University of Richmond (2)

Boston College

James Madison University

Saint Joseph’s University

Boston University

Johns Hopkins University

The University of Scranton (2)

Bucknell University (3)

Lehigh University

Southern Methodist University

The Catholic University of America

Loyola University Maryland

Stanford University

Chapman University (2)

University of Michigan

Stevens Institute of Technology

College of Charleston

Middlebury College

Syracuse University

Colgate University (2)

Muhlenberg College

Tufts University

University of Delaware (3)

The College of New Jersey

Vanderbilt University

Elon University (4)

New York University (2)

University of Vermont (2)

Fordham University (3)

Northwestern University

Villanova University (2)

Furman University

University of Pennsylvania (2)

University of Virginia (3)

Georgia Institute of Technology

Pennsylvania State University, Altoona

Washington University in St. Louis

Harvard University

Pennsylvania State University, University Park (2)

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

High Point University

Yale University

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GSB NEWS

Headmaster Rowell Elected as Member of The Country Day School Headmasters’ Association Gill St. Bernard’s Headmaster Sid Rowell was elected as a member of The Country Day School Headmasters’ Association (CDSHA). Founded in 1912, the CDSHA’s active membership is limited to 100 members from day schools around the United States.

The purpose of the association is to bring together school leaders to discuss important issues impacting education. University and college campuses play host to the annual conference, where members hear from a series of prominent speakers. This year’s meeting took place from June 18 until June 20 at the University of Notre Dame.

“It is a tribute to the school and a wonderful opportunity for me to join this group of school leaders,” said Rowell, who shared that he learned a great deal about the university and truly enjoyed the peer-to-peer conversations he had at the conference. “I had the chance to learn so much more about many of our peer schools throughout the country,” he said. “It was interesting to see that many of them have similar opportunities and face similar challenges.”

Rowell became Gill St. Bernard’s fifth headmaster in 2001. Throughout his 13-year tenure, the school has grown significantly, particularly the Upper School, which has more than doubled in size. Many other changes have taken place under Rowell’s leadership, including the expansion of the curriculum to include honors and additional advanced placement courses, the success of the athletics program and the rise of the school’s performing arts program to become one of the best in the state—a winner of 18 Paper Mill

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Playhouse Rising Star Awards since 2007.

Gill St. Bernard’s 79-acre campus has also undergone significant growth under Rowell’s leadership, including an addition to the Conover Middle School in 2002, the completion of a 27,000 square foot Athletic Center in 2004, the construction of the Upper School building—the Hockenbury Academic Center—in 2009 and the addition of Todd Quad, used for Commencement and other major school events, in 2011.

When the CDSHA was formed, there were fewer than a dozen member schools. Since then, the organization has grown steadily. In 1984, the membership limit was extended to its present limit of 100. In all, the CDSHA has elected 589 members since 1912.

Clockwise, from top: In 2001, Sid Rowell is installed as the fifth headmaster of Gill St. Bernard’s School; 2014 graduate Kathryn Bednarsky laughs with Headmaster Sid Rowell outside Hockenbury; Sid Rowell attends a Middle School class after swapping places with the student named “headmaster for the day” in 2003; Headmaster Sid Rowell.

GSB NEWS

GSB Players Revisit Godspell Similar to the lessons taught every day at Gill St. Bernard’s School, the GSB Players’ 2014 production of Godspell expressed the value of forming a community that is both nurturing and accepting of all. GSB’s Godspell premiered on February 27 and included five sold-out performances for faculty members, families, students and patrons of the arts.

This spring’s musical marked the GSB Players’ second production of Godspell. In 1999, the play featured cast members as clowns in an empty theater. This year’s production was set in a turnof-the-century traveling carnival and incorporated a “steampunk” theme—a 19th century view of the future as seen by people living in Victorian England and the American Old West. The idea for the setting of this year’s musical was inspired by the opening number of the show, “Tower of Babel,” which features numerous historical philosophers and religious leaders who—much like carnival snake-oil salesmen—try to convince others that they have the antidote to life’s afflictions. Characters included a sharpshooter, gypsy fortune-teller, snake charmer, puppeteers, chorus girls, belly dancer, male impersonator and lion tamer. The play, based on the Gospel according to Saint Matthew—with creative book

by John-Michael Tebelak and music by Stephen Schwartz—also cast an endearing and kindhearted Jesus Christ as the carnival barker.

The final curtain call for Godspell took place on March 2 and proved a bittersweet moment for five members of the senior class—Kaitlyn Avery, Kasey Collins, Katherine Giordano, Henry Holmes and

One highlight of this year’s final show was the attendance of four cast members from Gill’s original 1999 production, Godspell.

Following the performance, the two casts shared their experiences presenting Godspell and as members, both past and present, of the GSB Players. Front, from left: Brandon Arvesen ’00, Edward Fischer ’15, Kaitlyn Sleyster ’17, Mycroft Zimmerman ’16 and Henry Holmes ’14; Row two, from left: Katherine Coscia ’15, Melissa Guttman ’01, Jamie Goetchius ’15 and Catarina “Caty” Matthews ’16; Row three, from left: Ariana Shulman Fort ’01, Kasey Collins ’14, Katherine Giordano ’14, Alexandra Baker ’15, Erin Wetzel ’15 and Kaitlyn Avery ’14; Back, from left: Robert Huber ’01, Paul Dunham ’15 and Maxwell Lieblich ’14.

Maxwell Lieblich—who have participated in multiple Upper School productions since their freshman year.

“The most rewarding part of working with the Players was finding a loving family,” Collins shared of her experience, appearing four times on the GSB stage over the past two years. “The support and caring nature of the entire cast and crew has changed my life forever. I would not trade this experience for anything.”

Boasting a multitude of theatrical styles and improvisational techniques, as well as a talented ensemble of actors, crew members and musicians, Godspell received three Final Nominations and three Honorable Mentions, including one for Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical, in the 19th annual Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards competition.

The winner of 16 Rising Star Awards since 2007, GSB was ranked among the top-10 New Jersey public, independent and parochial schools competing in this year’s program.

On June 3, Gill added two more accolades to its already impressive collection when it was recognized with: Outstanding Costuming Achievement (Paul H. Canada, Beth Holland P ’12) Outstanding Hair and Make-up Achievement (Lee Amoroso P ’11, ’13, ’19, Venus Romero-Nedd P ’06, ’09) (L. to r.) Erin Wetzel ’15, Maxwell Lieblich ’14 and Paul Dunham ’15 depict a male impersonator, carnival barker and lion tamer.

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T H E M A G A ZDistinction I N E O F G I L L Sas T. B E R N A R D’S Seniors Earn National Merit Scholarship Finalists

SCHOOL

National Merit Scholarship Finalists Kaitlyn Avery ’14 (l.) and Katherine Giordano ’14 (r.) were formally congratulated by Headmaster Sid Rowell during an Upper School assembly in late March. As Finalists in the 2014 program, both Avery and Giordano were recognized for demonstrating high potential for future academic accomplishment. This fall, Avery will continue her studies at Johns Hopkins University, while Giordano will matriculate at Princeton University.

A Standing Ovation for Performing Arts Chair Canada 2014 SBS Chair of Excellence in Teaching Recipient

Paul H. Canada, a man best known for his dedication to students and to his craft in the arts, has served as performing arts chair at GSB since 1990. As Canada approaches the 25-year benchmark of his Gill St. Bernard’s tenure, he is credited by parents, alumni, co-workers and students alike as having played a critical role in the heightened success of Gill’s theater program. In recognition of his leadership, creativity, enthusiasm, sensitivity and utmost professionalism in the arts, Canada was presented the St. Bernard’s School Chair of Excellence in Teaching Award at the 2014 Commencement on June 1.

Over the past 25 years, Canada has directed nearly four dozen comedies, dramas, mysteries and musicals, as well as numerous Middle School presentations on the GSB stage. Since making his debut at Gill, Canada has effectively converted the school’s theater into an imaginary time and place with each passing performance, using ingenuity and sheer talent to successfully transform thespians into princesses and kings, ducks and chickens, and everything in between. “Nowhere is ‘The World is Our Classroom’ more true than in the GSB theater, where Paul allows his students to try on a different Performing Arts Chair Paul H. Canada is character from a different era, and discover untapped possibilities presented the 2014 SBS Chair of Excellence in Teaching Award by last year’s recipient, Middle within themselves,” one parent wrote in a letter recommending School science teacher Teri Cosentino, and Canada for the 2014 SBS Chair of Excellence prize.

Headmaster Sid Rowell.

Canada, who holds a Master of Fine Arts from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and Bachelor of Music Education from Mississippi College, has awed both audiences and critics with his wide expertise in set design, costume design, musical composition and more. Referred to by another GSB parent as a oneof-a-kind “gem”—the epitome of excellence and artistry at Gill St. Bernard’s School—Canada has received seven Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards for Outstanding Costuming Achievement in the past eight years alone (2007 - She Loves Me; 2008 - The Secret Garden; 2010 - Kiss Me Kate; 2011 - A Little Night Music; 2012 - The Mystery of Edwin Drood; 2013 - Little Women; 2014 - Godspell). “His dedication to the program is obvious in the many awards it has received,” one family shared.

In all, the GSB Players has earned 18 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards since 2007—including two for Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical (2008 - The Secret Garden; 2012 - The Mystery of Edwin Drood).

“Paul has a natural and endearing way of working with students and volunteer parents to ensure that the highest quality work is achieved,” one parent said. Another added, “I feel fortunate that my children 20 spend time with a teacher who has so much to offer.”

GSB NEWS

New Leaders Named to GSB Administration The GSB administrative team will be joined by two new members as the 2014-15 school year kicks off this fall. Kyle Armstrong began his tenure as Middle School director in July, following the retirement of long-time GSB division director Matthew Huber in June (see page 22). In addition, Sarah Rowland was appointed director of admission and financial aid. “I’m very excited for both Kyle and Sarah to join our team,” said Headmaster Sid Rowell.

“They bring considerable experience and expertise to these very important leadership roles.

I hope that all will join me in warmly welcoming both to Gill St. Bernard’s School.”

Middle School Director Kyle Armstrong.

Armstrong brings to the Middle School director position more than 16 years of experience in teaching and administration. He joins GSB from The Swain School in Allentown, PA, where he served as middle school director for three years before assuming his most recent role as associate head of school for academics in 2010. Prior to that, Armstrong also worked for six years as a teacher, coach and eighth grade team leader at the Flint Hill School in Oakton, VA.

Armstrong has experience in all aspects of education. In his most recent role, he managed regular communication with parents, oversaw the observation and evaluation system for teachers and led the writing committee responsible for developing Swain’s new mission, vision and diversity statements. He also developed a middle school public speaking program, a travel program for seventh and eighth grade students and implemented a one-on-one technology program. Armstrong said work in independent schools is especially fulfilling, crediting relationships he has fostered throughout the years with students, teachers and families.

“Throughout my career, I have worked with students from ages three to 18 and every child brings something unique to the table,” he said. “My experience has been filled with dialogue and the trading of ideas. Each day brings something new and exciting and my growth as an educator is continuously framed through connections with students.”

Director of Admission and Financial Aid Sarah Rowland.

Rowland, who has more than 20 years of experience in independent schools, joins Gill from Montclair Kimberley Academy in Montclair, NJ, where she has been the director of admission and financial aid for the past five years. Prior to that, Rowland was director of enrollment at South Kent School in South Kent, CT, director of admission and financial aid with The Purnell School in Pottersville, NJ, and served six years as director of secondary school placement at Far Hills Country Day School in Far Hills, NJ. She brings extensive experience to Gill and, as a long-time resident of Far Hills, a deep understanding of the local area and independent school market.

“I am very excited about this new opportunity with Gill,” Armstrong, his wife Kristen, and Rowland said. “I have watched their two daughters Hayley, 11, the school grow tremendously and Sydney, three, recently throughout the past decade and relocated to Morristown, NJ. am thrilled to now become a Hayley will enter the sixth grade member of its leadership team. in the Middle School and Sydney I look forward to working with will enter the Primary 3 class in the the team as we reach even greater Lower School. Armstrong holds a achievements and milestones.”

Master of Education from Lesley Rowland holds a Bachelor of College in Cambridge, MA and a Arts from Denison University in bachelor’s degree in history from Granville, OH. Trinity College in Hartford, CT.

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Middle School Leader Huber Celebrates Retirement Gill St. Bernard’s School has experienced significant growth and development over the past two decades. In the early ’90s, the campus was more rural; there were haystacks for farming where the playing fields now are, and many of today’s main buildings such as the Athletic Center, Cox Lower School and Hockenbury Academic Center did not exist.

Matthew Huber, a man with a deep love of schools, is one among several long-time leaders credited for contributing to the rise of GSB and its prominence today. He says of his passion for education, “Being around schools, making a difference in them and creating a place where children feel comfortable and do well is what drives me.”

After spending a combined 23 years as director of admission and assistant headmaster at Fairfield Country Day School in Connecticut, Huber joined the GSB community in the summer of 1992. For two years, he directed students and Matthew Huber with his teachers grades pre-k through six on the Stronghold campus in Bernardsville, NJ. granddaughter, Alyssa McGuirl ’26, Then, in 1994, he became GSB’s inaugural Middle School director—a position at Stone Soup Day in 2013. founded on the premise that the school’s overall structure should be comprised of three independent academic divisions: a Lower, Middle and Upper School. “The Middle School age group is terrific; it’s challenging and still leaves plenty of opportunity to make a real difference in each child’s life,” Huber says.

Huber, whose educational background includes a Klingenstein fellowship with the Teachers College of Columbia University, a Master of Liberal Arts Studies from Wesleyan University, and both an M.A. in education and B.A. in English from Fairfield University, has also fulfilled the role of Latin teacher throughout his 22-year tenure at GSB. He considers moments inside the classroom as some “of the nicer times of the day, when you can really interact with the kids and remember what it’s all about; why we are doing this.”

Middle School teacher Donna Butler has worked alongside Huber as part of the Middle School Latin program for the past 20 years. She says, “Matt has always been eager to give the kids the best chance to succeed in their studies and grow as individuals. He’s helped them become familiar with the basics of Latin and has presented a host of skills in organizational tactics, note-taking and time management.”

As with Butler, Huber has established a mutual respect among all faculty members at Gill St. Bernard’s School. Middle School science teacher Teri Cosentino affirms that, as a leader, “Matt has found the perfect balance between being a professional and personal friend. He’s a master of deflating an intense situation, whether with his amazing sense of humor or immense empathy, and he’s been a joy to work with.” Butler adds, “The Middle School has thrived due to his leadership. He’s done a great job of making the Middle School an excellent place to prepare students before heading to our high school.”

Considering the Middle School’s current enrollment status and curriculum offerings, Huber sees no better time than now to retire. “I’m very happy with where the school is and the direction it’s going in,” he says. “Many schools around us have been resting on their laurels for far too long and we’ve become more competitive because of this. Now is the perfect opportunity for someone new to take it over and continue moving forward.”

As he retires, Huber says he will most miss the inclusive, warm and rigorous environment found campus-wide at Gill. He comments on the rare opportunity to live in Henshaw House for six years with his wife Nancy and their two children, Jennifer ’97 P ’26, ’29 and Robert ’01. “It was nice to raise my own children right here on campus, to have the entire school be their backyard; that was a good feeling.”

Former Middle School Director Matthew Huber.

In his retirement, Huber says he and his wife plan to spend more time with their grandchildren, two of which will be enrolled at Gill St. Bernard’s School during the 2014-15 academic year.

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GSB NEWS

Honoring Faculty-Staff Retirees Lower School art teacher Joanne Bodnar has enjoyed every moment at Gill St. Bernard’s, and credits the freedom to develop a strong yet fun curriculum as having contributed to her growth as an educator over the past 15 years.

Since 1999, Bodnar has offered a range of innovative lessons, connecting art to other areas of study including math and science. “Incorporating these subjects into the fine arts curriculum allows students to experience hands-on and often different applications of what they are learning in other classes,” says Bodnar. “Working with a highly capable team of colleagues has enhanced the GSB curriculum by allowing students to experience lessons in a way that would be near impossible without one another’s support.”

Bodnar notes the Lower School “cave,” an imaginary rock formation constructed by herself, French teacher Hope Napolitan ’81 and science teacher Lynn Prosen in the Lower School gathering room this year. During visits to the “cave,” students gained a better understanding of valuable lessons Joanne Bodnar taught in the classroom. Again with Matthew Mazzatta ’23. working with Napolitan, Bodnar created a beautiful indoor landscape—Monet’s Garden—in the Cox lobby in 2012, complete with Impressionistic paintings and French vocabulary lessons on basic colors and articles of clothing.

“Students enjoy viewing these arrangements and collaborative displays, as they often appear in unexpected places,” explains Bodnar, who loves creating unique experiences and finds pleasure in seeing students respond enthusiastically to art.

As president of the Hunterdon Watercolor Society and a member in other art-related organizations, Bodnar looks forward to continuing to pursue her own art in retirement, and hopes to dedicate more time toward enriching the lives of the adult population. She plans to visit family, travel more and volunteer. “Of course my love of the outdoors will keep me busy,” she adds “and the pearly whites of my piano will no doubt see more action.”

In 1987, Linda MacDonald was notified by her dear friend, Joyce Colella—a pre-k teacher at GSB—that the Lower School division would offer its first program for three-year-old students. Having just devoted nine years to being a stay-athome mother, MacDonald saw this as the perfect opportunity “to care not just for one child, but for a bunch.”

Linda MacDonald with her Primary 4 students Charlotte Brown (l.) and Ariana Isusi (r.).

She met with former Headmistress Chris Cox to express her interest in becoming a teacher’s aide. By September, MacDonald found herself tending to six three-year-old students alongside teacher Ellen Fitzpatrick. MacDonald assisted Fitzpatrick for 12 years before moving to Ellen McCann’s pre-k classroom in 1999. Noting that Gill St. Bernard’s has given her a lifetime of great memories, MacDonald says, “I felt our program in the pre-k class was very special, and my favorite moment was when Ellen McCann became teacher-of-the-year just before retiring.”

With McCann’s retirement, MacDonald assisted teachers Alison Passerelle and Ellen Ryan for the next two years in Gill’s Primary 3 and 4 classrooms, and transferred solely to the Primary 4 level with Passerelle in 2011. MacDonald says the school would not be nearly as special without the teachers who have become like family over the past 26 years. “We’ve developed a wonderful bond with one another, as friends and as colleagues,” she shares. “This has been such a supportive, close-knit group. Even through difficult times, everyone has always been there.”

She and her husband Gordon plan to retire to South Carolina to live near their son Mark, daughter-in-law Amy and grandsons Landry and Paiden. Despite living in the same house in Basking Ridge, NJ for 43 years, MacDonald says, “When my son and his family left, I knew I was making the right decision. Many of the kids I once taught are graduating from college and starting their own lives. I’ve been truly blessed to see them mature at the very beginning of their start at Gill, and it’s now time to watch my grandchildren grow up.”

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GSB NEWS

Barbara Ripton.

Barbara Ripton’s 28 years at Gill have truly been a family affair. Ripton first came to GSB in 1986, joining her husband John—Upper School history department chair— and their three children, Jessica ’96, Sarah ’99 and Erin ’01, as a member of the school community.

Ripton spent the early part of her Gill St. Bernard’s tenure working alongside former teachers Kathy Maisano and Ronna Storm to co-pilot a language arts program for ninth grade students. When the pilot program dissolved, Ripton began teaching traditional English classes. She accepted a position as chair of the English department in 2002.

To help her prepare for this new role, former Head of School Chris Cox encouraged Ripton to take a sabbatical in 1996. “That sabbatical launched me with 15 credits,” says Ripton, who continued to pursue a master’s degree in literature at Drew University. “It changed my whole perspective toward teaching, enhancing my methodology and, more importantly, my curriculum.”

While grateful for the opportunity to continue her own education as well as watch her daughters grow, Ripton says she is most grateful for the chance to collaborate with others to bring literature alive in the classroom. She reinstated the GSB literary magazine, The Unknown Muse, and wrote the 10th grade American literature curriculum, once by herself and again with fellow colleague Andrew Lutz. “It has been truly rewarding to work with a group of hardworking teachers. Some of my deepest and longest friendships are with faculty members here.”

Ripton plans to keep in touch with students and faculty members in retirement. She hopes to spend more time with her grandchildren and daughters, travel often, take piano lessons and pursue other interests. “I’d like to participate in a book club where, for once, I’m not the facilitator,” she says while laughing. “I’m done with grading papers. From now on, I just want to be a participant.”

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Juliana Ruby’s decision to work in education came later in life. After more than two decades in publishing, Ruby decided to pursue a new ambition: dedicating her time and talents to an occupation with far more promise of making a significant impact on others.

After 10 years of working on trade publications in New York City, as well as 11 additional years with New Jersey Monthly magazine—serving as production director and later as director of circulation—Ruby says she experienced a sudden “change of heart.”

She shares, “I loved it, but decided if I was going to put in all this time, I wanted it to be for a worthwhile cause.”

Ruby joined Gill St. Bernard’s Development Office as data manager in the early ’90s, noting that the transfer from her old career to GSB provided a beautiful place to contribute meaningful work. Since accepting the position in 1991, Ruby has taken personal ownership of the digital fundraising software program, Raiser’s Edge, a duty Juliana Ruby. she considers her biggest contribution to the school today. Though typically “a paper, pencil and spreadsheet” person, she quickly found her niche within the GSB community. “This job has become very much my own. I didn’t go to school to learn how to do it,” says Ruby, an honors English major at the University of Florida. “I figured it out, set up my own policies for how things would be inputted and created a manual on how to do the yearly conversion.

Essentially, I’ve created a version of the program that has lasted more than 20 years and has proven to be effective and sustainable, and that makes me feel really good.”

While working at Gill for the past 23 years, Ruby says, “I saw the product of what my work was all about every day; students’ experiences at GSB being enhanced from our fundraising efforts. I’m so excited about the future of this school that I can hardly wait to see what happens next! It’s a wonderful place where great things happen and I plan on staying in touch.”

Long-time teacher and history department chair John Ripton announced his retirement in late summer. More on Ripton and his 29-year career at GSB will be featured in the next "GSB Alumni Magazine."

T H E M AGA Z I N E O F G I L L S T. B E R N A R D’S S C H O O L

ATHLETICS

Setting their Sights on Division I Schools The Gill St. Bernard’s athletics program has had great success over the last few years, in part due to the ever-growing exceptional group of young student-athletes. The result has led to more students pursuing intercollegiate playing opportunities at top schools, both athletically and academically, nationwide.

and our amazing chemistry on the court, I’m excited to have finally reached my dream of playing for a Division I school,” Sina said.

Taylor Rooks signed an official National Letter of Intent with Stanford University on November 13, making her the third Division I girls’ basketball recruit from Gill in the last five years. Rooks represents one of several GSB graduates from the Class of 2014 who will matriculate to the nation’s best DI colleges and universities in the fall.

Top defender James Reiner rounded-out his varsity athletics tenure with the highest number of goals (23) scored by any GSB defenseman in one season, and will continue his soccer career at Princeton University.

Throughout his time at Gill, Reiner logged 47 goals and 16 assists, and helped the Knights (20-3-1) to the 2013 Non-Public B State title, Prep B championship and Skyland Conference crown. “The academic opportunities Princeton provided were the real deciding factor,” said the honors student with a 3.8 GPA.

Rooks’ teammate, point guard Jasmine Sina, secured a top spot with a Division I program in April. Binghamton University named her its first Class of 2014 women’s basketball recruit for the 2014-15 season. Sina scored 1,300 points for GSB over four years as a starter, and looks forward to being the new face of the BU program. “While I’ll miss my GSB teammates

As an AP Scholar and track star for the Knights, Dana Klein’s opportunities for college placement were endless. She considered several prestigious institutions, including Columbia, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton and Wake Forest, before officially committing to Yale University in December. “Ultimately, it was the academic challenge and reputation of

Division I athletes (from left) Alexandria Benoit, Taylor Rooks, James Reiner, Jasmine Sina 25 and Dana Klein.

AT H L E T I C S

Pasquale Enters NJSCA Hall of Fame Director of Athletics Dave Pasquale has amassed more than 400 varsity wins throughout his 21-year career as a varsity coach. As head coach of boys’ basketball and baseball at GSB and Newark Academy, Pasquale's teams earned several conference, prep and Sectional championships. He has received multiple coach-of-the-year honors and, this past March, was inducted to the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association (NJSCA) Hall of Fame.

“This is a special honor for David and our school,” said Headmaster Sid Rowell. “GSB’s athletics program has grown significantly under David’s leadership over the past nine years and we are very pleased with his most recent accolade.”

An honor made possible through a partnership with the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, the NJSCA Hall of Fame recognizes those coaches who demonstrate a high level of integrity, possess outstanding skills on the sidelines, and have contributed to a wide range of team successes. In 2012, Gill St. Bernard’s athletics program was awarded the ShopRite Cup in the Non-Public B division for overall performance and outstanding sportsmanship both on and off the playing field.

Director of Athletics Dave Pasquale.

the Ivy League—along with a good chemistry I sensed between the coach and her team—that helped me make my final decision,” Klein said.

“GSB Lifer” Alexandria Benoit will also carry her running career beyond Gill to the College of the Holy Cross. Since 2010, Benoit has participated year-round for the Knights, all the while maintaining

a 3.8 GPA in the classroom. Benoit’s GSB track career was highlighted by a number of events, including relays, the 100m, 800m and long jump. She hopes to focus strictly on middle distance running throughout her four years with the Division I Crusaders.

Stephanie Fuentes (tennis/Colgate) will also compete for a position next year at the Division I level.

Winter Sports’ Teams Shine Success from a multitude of talented athletes this winter resulted in two Skyland Conference titles, a berth in the Non-Public B South Sectional final, several fine showings in the Prep B Championship and a Somerset County title.

Girls’ basketball repeated as Somerset County champion to take its third consecutive county crown on March 1. GSB opened the tournament with an 81-38 rout of Montgomery, and advanced to the final with a resounding 74-47 victory over Rutgers Prep. Tournament MVP Jasmine Sina ’14 scored 16 points and dished out nine assists against Franklin in the championship game to give Gill the 55-51 overtime win. Sina and fellow senior teammates Trevena Bennett, Alexandra Ferreira and Taylor Rooks also guided the Knights to their eighth straight 20-win season (26-4) and a share of the Skyland Conference Delaware Division crown.

GSB boys’ basketball achieved its fourth straight Delaware Division title. Sophomore sensation Tyus Battle—247Sports’ No. 11 nationwide recruit from the Class of 2016 as well as a 1st team All-State honoree in the Non-Public B division—led the young team throughout the season, earning Most Valuable Player at the Prime Time Shootout on February 8 and guiding the boys to their fifth straight Somerset County Tournament final. In all, GSB went 19-8 to give Coach Mergin Sina his 200th win as head coach with the Knights.

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Tyus Battle ’16.

AT H L E T I C S

For five years, Sina led the girls’ basketball program to 106 wins—including one Prep B crown, two conference titles and back-to-back Somerset County championships. Since 2010, he has taken the boys to nearly 100 victories, one State Sectional crown, two Somerset County championships and four division titles.

Dana Klein ’14.

In track and field news, Ludi Zhu ’16 notched the school’s top indoor long jump distance (16’6 ½”) at the Poreda Invitational, while Dana Klein ’14 shattered the 3200-meter run in a Somerset County record 11:15 on December 27. Klein continued to set high marks with a meet best 5:13 (1600m) in the Skyland Conference Championships on January 24 and school-record finish (3200m/10:37) in the Meet of Champions (MOC) on March 1. Both she and Patrik Andersen ’15 became the first female and male GSB winter athletes to medal at the MOC. Andersen also helped the boys to their first Prep B crown since 2007. The girls finished runner-up in the Prep B Championship as well, and second in the Non-Public B Group Championship on February 19. Prince Adablah ’16, Alexandria Benoit ’14 and Joshua “Jay” Corbett ’14 also secured first place finishes in numerous events throughout the winter.

For the young but growing GSB swim program, Joseph “Julien” Esposito ’15 led the varsity team through multiple championship and regular season events, including Gill’s first-ever “home” meet at Raritan Valley Community College. On February 4, he took silver in the 200y (1:46) and 500y (4:47) freestyle events to earn Prep B swimmer-of-the-meet. For the second straight year, Esposito competed in the NJSIAA Individual Swim Championship— his 2013 qualification signified the inaugural appearance of any GSB Knight in the prestigious event. Esposito placed fourth in the 500y freestyle (4:42) and 10th in the 200y freestyle (1:45) to advance to the finals. He achieved a Y National cut for his performance (500y/6th; 200y/11th) during both events on March 2.

Joseph “Julien” Esposito ’15.

The 2013-14 varsity fencing roster represented the largest in team history. GSB earned its best-ever ranking—19th in girls’ epee—at the Santelli Tournament on January 4, and placed 26th overall among some of the best male foil fencers in the state at the Cetrulo Tournament the following day. Success continued at the NJSIAA District One Fencing Championship on January 25. The boys’ sabre squad placed sixth, the boys’ epee squad took eighth, and both the boys’ foil and girls’ sabre squads finished ninth.

On February 2, GSB’s freshmen and sophomore fencers competed in the Montclair Invitational. Epeeists Nichole Morley ’17 and Luke Fischer ’16 claimed gold and silver, respectively. Colette Bilynsky ’16 (girls’ foil), Jada Davis ’16 (girls’ epee) and Ross Pollack ’16 (boys’ epee) medaled with bronze. The girls concluded their season with a fourth place effort in the Prep B Championship on February 19. Both the girls’ sabre and epee squads captured bronze, and Davis placed second in her individual bout at epee. The boys’ epee squad finished seventh overall behind Fischer with third in his individual bout.

During its second year of varsity competition, the ice hockey program continued to make strides as one of the newest members of the Morris County Secondary Schools Ice Hockey League (MCSSIHL). A two-game sweep of Charette Division rival Morris Hills—including a 3-0 shutout on January 29— proved a highlight of the season. On March 30, the MCSSIHL formally recognized athletes Alexander Ferruggia ’14, Gunnar Valentine ’15 and Christopher Ward ’14. Ferruggia earned 2nd Team All-Conference Defenseman honors. Valentine received Honorable Mention All-Conference Goaltender distinction with the second-highest number of saves in the league. Ward achieved 1st Team All-Star Forward honors as the league’s leading scorer with 23 goals. He also took home the 2014 Reynold Fauci Sportsmanship Award for outstanding leadership.

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AT H L E T I C S

Spring Athletes Applauded for Success A number of student-athletes played significant roles in guiding the Knights to Skyland Conference and state-level success this past spring.

(L. to r.) Seniors Alexandria Benoit, Trevena Bennett, Taylor Rooks, Caroline Roch, James Reiner, John Stumpf, Cara Napolitano, Justin Durcan, Jasmine Sina, Dana Klein, Kathryn Bednarsky, Stephanie Fuentes and Andrea Jablonskyj.

Seniors Make Commitment to Collegiate Athletic Programs Several of GSB’s newest alumni announced their decision to continue athletic participation at the intercollegiate level. They will matriculate to the following institutions this fall: Women’s Basketball Trevena Bennett Bentley University

Andrea Jablonskyj The Catholic University of America

Taylor Rooks Stanford University

Softball Cara Napolitano Stevens Institute of Technology

Jasmine Sina Binghamton University Rugby John Stumpf Furman University Men’s Soccer Justin Durcan The University of Scranton

Caroline Roch Worcester Polytechnic Institute Women’s Tennis Stephanie Fuentes Colgate University

James Reiner Princeton University

Track & Field Alexandria Benoit College of the Holy Cross

Women’s Soccer Kathryn Bednarsky The College of New Jersey

Dana Klein Yale University

The Communications Department apologizes for any inadvertent omissions.

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The varsity track and field team shattered records in regular-season and championship meets. Dana Klein ’14 captured the Skyland Conference (1600m/3200m) and Somerset County (1600m/3200m) crowns, and ran a school best 9:53 (3000m) at the Penn Relays in late April. She swept all three distance events in the NJSIAA’s Non-Public B South Sectional and Group championship meets as well, including a school record finish (2:15) in the 800m on May 30. Armani Comick ’15 recorded dual wins in the discus and triple jump at the Sectional Championship to give the girls their fourth straight runner-up finish in the prestigious meet. In addition, she took gold (34’4”) in the triple jump at the Group Championships, and combined with Ludi Zhu ’16 for GSB’s top long jump distance (32’7½”) at the Millburn Relays on April 26. Zhu established a new school record (17’1”) during her individual jump in the Millburn, NJ event, and helped the sprint medley relay squad to new school and meet records (4:15) along the way.

Patrik Andersen ’15 placed first in the 800m and 1600m, and second in the 3200m, to help the boys to fourth overall in the Non-Public B South Sectional Championship. He also qualified for the Meet of Champions (MOC) with a school and meet record finish (1:53.7) in the boys’ 800m at the Group Championships. Both he and Klein made history on June 4 as Gill’s first-ever spring track and field boy and girl to earn medals in the same MOC. Klein set a new school record (10:33.21) with third in the 3200m, while the girls’ 4x800 relay squad of Alexandria Benoit ’14, Samantha Bittman ’17, Sahara Ensley ’16 and Lillie Wilson ’16 clocked a GSB best 10:23 to close the year.

Armani Comick ’15.

T H E M AGA Z I N E O F G I L L S T. B E R N A R D’S S C H O O L

Gill’s varsity softball program finished 15-9 as a result of an all-around team effort displayed by each player on the field. After falling 3-0 to Bernards in the Somerset County Tournament (SCT), the girls rebounded with back-to-back wins over Oak Knoll and Bound Brook. Cara Napolitano ’14 also smashed her 100th career hit at Belvidere on May 3. GSB earned a dramatic 7-6 victory over Morristown-Beard in the Prep B semifinal on May 13 to secure a spot in the championship game for the fifth consecutive year.

Down by six in the seventh inning, the team strung together nine straight hits to claim the victory. Gill fell 3-1 to Wardlaw-Hartridge in the championship game, and concluded its spring with a loss to Wildwood Catholic in the Non-Public B State Tournament.

The GSB baseball season (13-14) was highlighted by several team and individual accomplishments, including a no-hitter from pitcher Daniel Spear ’15 on April 7. The boys fell to Rutgers Prep in round two of the SCT, and continued postseason play with the Prep B Tournament on May 8. Spear—a participant in this June’s Garden State Underclassmen Games—went 3-for-4 with five RBIs, and threw a complete game two-hitter in the 12-0 trouncing of Doane. Craig Pilla ’14—a school record-holder for most hits in one season and postseason participant in the New Jersey Scholastic Baseball Coaches Association Senior All-Star Games—combined with Luke Beveridge ’15 for four hits and four runs as well to take the Knights to the semifinal round versus Morristown-Beard. Gill headed to the Non-Public B South Sectional Tournament on May 23, where the 10th-seeded Knights advanced with a 4-0 shutout over Mater Dei. The boys—runners-up in the Valley Division of the Skyland Conference—saw their season end 5-0 to Marist, the state’s eighth-ranked team.

Boys’ tennis (7-5) defeated Raritan Division rivals Franklin and North Hunterdon to also finish runner-up in the Skyland Conference. The Knights, a No. 3 seed in the Non-Public B South Sectional Tournament, earned a 4-1

quarterfinal win over Saint Rose on May 13. Points from the doubles squads of Ivor Guest ’15, George Harris ’16, Bryce Neville ’14 and Marc Orazietti ’16—as well as from singles players William Conlan ’16 and Kyle Williams ’14—helped Gill to the semifinal round against Rutgers Prep. On May 18, Williams advanced to the championship round of the Kyle Williams ’14. third singles flight in the Prep B Tournament. The boys placed fifth overall behind Williams, who sailed past opponents from Pennington and Montclair Kimberley Academy. John Carlson Brown ’14 and Conlan also earned crucial points for Gill in the quarterfinal round.

Gill’s golf team greeted 2014 with back-to-back victories over Belvidere and Bernards, behind strong performances from Edmond “Cole” Moriarty ’14.

He shot an 83 for sixth in the Skyland Conference Championship at Royce Brook Golf course on May 14. Dylan Blackman ’16 (89) and Gunnar Valentine ’15 (91) followed in eighth and ninth to take their team to second amongst all Valley Division schools. Valentine shot a team-best 89 in the Prep B Championship the very next day and John “Jack” Lowe ’15 (90), Moriarty (92) and Blackman (93) rounded-out the scoring.

The boys’ lacrosse team (4-2) played its first season of interscholastic competition in more than two decades at the JV level. The team earned victories over Rutgers Prep, Oratory Prep, Warren Hills and WardlawHartridge. Leading scorer Nicholas Cooper ’17 and goaltender Will Dadouris ’17 will spearhead the Knights’ ascension in the years ahead.

The girls’ lacrosse program entered its inaugural varsity season on April 3, after a year competing at the JV level. The young squad faced experienced teams from Ranney, North Warren, Rutgers Prep, the Academy of Saint Elizabeth and Warren Hills to prepare for a successful future. Juniors Sarah Fenton and Kaila Gong, as well as freshman Allison Coffey, led the girls in scoring throughout the milestone season.

Daniel Spear ’15.

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PATRONS

T H E M AGA Z I N E O F G I L L S T. B E R N A R D’S S C H O O L

Three Board of Trustees Members Retire Three members of the school’s board participated in their final meeting in May. Each has been invaluable in his service to Gill St. Bernard’s School, bringing a unique perspective and expertise to the board, and all have been voted to Honorary Trustee status.

Samuel Corliss, Jr. served his first term as a member of the board between 1995 and 1999, and after serving an additional nine years as Honorary Samuel Corliss, Jr. Trustee, was reelected in 2008. Leadership positions held by Corliss during his last six years on the board include two terms as treasurer and one year as finance committee chair.

A former managing director at Merrill Lynch for 16 years, Corliss headed the firm’s Public Finance Group within Municipal Markets before moving to Newport Beach, CA, with his wife Katherine and their three children— Vander, Sandra and Maddie—in 1999 to manage a family partnership. Corliss has spent six years as a member of the board of St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano. He currently volunteers his time with Padres Unidos as well, a not-for-profit organization in Santa Ana that engages in providing parent support and pre-school/ kindergarten readiness programs to members of the Latino population.

Corliss holds an M.B.A. in finance from the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business as well as a B.A. in economics from Trinity College.

Rob O’Leary P ’11.

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Rob O’Leary P ’11, a former parent at Gill St. Bernard’s School, has been a board member since 2000 and chair of the GSB advancement committee for the

past two years. In his role as advancement committee chair, O’Leary assisted with the launch of Gill’s new school website in 2012. In addition, he has worked with the Communications and Marketing Department to establish an online social media presence, develop GSB identity guidelines, execute the first of several parent focus groups and create an inaugural senior and senior-parent survey.

O’Leary has also played a significant role in GSB’s capital campaign and building and grounds committees.

O’Leary began his career working in the entertainment industry. In 1981, he founded the staging and production company, The RJO Group, which has ultimately transformed into a multi-channel creative communications agency specializing in corporate live events, sales training, experiential marketing and disease state simulator experiences.

O’Leary is also partner and CEO of Karyon, a full-service integrated multi-cultural marketing communications agency that was launched in 2011 and implements ideas in digital and traditional spaces. With help from Karyon, Gill St. Bernard’s recently released a video to promote its current capital campaign. Building on his entrepreneurial successes, O’Leary’s newest business venture is with Deminuos. As president and CEO of Deminuos, O’Leary is dedicated to helping others produce outstanding meetings and events without allowing cost to deter creative excellence. A father to two sons, Timothy ’11 and Robert, and one daughter, Lauren, O’Leary currently resides in Gladstone, NJ. He considers his service to Gill a unique way to contribute to the community in which he lives.

PAT R O N S

Alumnus Todd Ross ’94 was appointed a trustee in 2011, after serving as alumni representative to the board for three years. Ross is the assistant general manager of Fox Hollow Golf Club Todd Ross ’94. in Branchburg, NJ, a venue that has played host several times to the school’s alumni golf outing. He has served on the GSB Golf Classic committee since 2007, relying

on his real-life expertise in the world of golf to offer suggestions for improved participation and sponsorship in each outing.

Ross holds an M.F.A. from Columbia University and B.A. from Bucknell University. He, his wife Mandy, and their two children, Allyson and Jacob, currently live in Whitehouse Station, NJ. Michael Fritzlo P ’19, ’21 has been named to the board of trustees for a three-year term beginning with the 2014-15 academic year. A story will be featured in the next edition of “GSB Alumni Magazine.”

Gill’s Saturday Knight Bash An evening to remember, Gill St. Bernard’s 32nd annual Auction—Gill’s Saturday Knight Bash—was held on April 12 at the Bridgewater Marriott. More than 200 parents, faculty members, alumni and friends attended the school’s largest fundraising event of the year, helping to earn more than $180,000 as well as a record-breaking $50,000 for the Fund-A-Need campaign. (See page 32.) Chaired

by Tracy Silverschotz P ’18 with help from Associate Auction Chair Jaime Goodrich ’01 P ’27, several new elements were added to the event. Guests enjoyed electronic bidding for the Silent Auction and tested their luck in a Wine Pull event. The Live Auction was led by nine-time Emmy Award winner and lead NBC 4 New York sports anchor Bruce Beck. Thanks to all who donated, volunteered and attended for making this year’s event a huge success.

Front row: (L. to r.) Parents’ Association President Lee Amoroso P ’11, ’13, ’19, Associate Auction Chair Jaime Goodrich ’01 P ’27, Auction Chair Tracy Silverschotz P ’18, Wendy Supron P ’17 and Kaya Magee P ’19; Back row: Julie Bliss-Chan P ’20, ’22, Sharon Bittman P ’17, ’23, Noelle Sue Chalfant P ’17, Karen Walsh P ’17, Marianne Saladino P ’14, ’16, Dawn Richardson P ’17, ’23 and Lisa Bothwell P ’16, ’18. Missing from photo: Hanan Anwar P ’18, Kim Bertolini P ’22, Andy Bittman P ’17, ’23, Kathleen Brown P ’24, ’26, LaShonda Chaney P ’18, ’20, Marcella Criscola P ’25, ’26, ’29, Gia Dunn P ’12, ’14, ’16, Kim Ferruggia P ’12, ’14, ’16, Liz Fucci P ’17, Jill Gateman P ’17, ’20, Kristin Hassett P ’17, Kassandra Hayes P ’18, Fran Howard P ’17, ’21, Patty Jones P ’21, Carolyn Layden P ’13, ’16, ’20, Ann Matthews P ’16, ’18, ’24, Cindy Matthews P ’17, ’20, Brian and Lynn Neville P ’18, ’19, Valerie Raymonds P ’21, Tanya Sameth P ’25, ’27 and Lower School room project volunteers.

New Development Building Complete Gill St. Bernard’s six-member development team made its move to the Conger Alumni House in late July. The new facility has offices, a meeting space and a conference room. Alumni and members of the Parents’ Association will use it for meetings and a reception area. Construction of the Conger Alumni House—a gift made possible, in large part, by the Conger family, including husband Bill, wife Nancy and son Ray ’03—began in early March to replace the school’s beloved Cottage, which was deemed uninhabitable after sustaining flood damage throughout the first floor and basement. The building, including repurposed pieces of The Cottage's hand-hewn fireplace mantels, will be dedicated during an official ribbon-cutting ceremony in the fall.

Take a look at construction of the Conger Alumni House on YouTube.com.

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T H E M AGA Z I N E O F G I L L S T. B E R N A R D’S S C H O O L

New Endowment Fund Established Gill St. Bernard’s School offers a solid financial aid program, which has grown significantly in recent years. Thanks, in part, to support from generous donors and school fundraising events like the GSB Classic, Gill now offers more than $2 million in need-based aid per year to students whose families qualify for financial assistance.

After learning that these existing funds are restricted for transportation and tuition costs, parent Wendy Supron P ’17 questioned, “What else can we do to help?”

In 2013, Supron met with former Director of Admission and Financial Aid Karen Loder to identify incidental expenses not covered by GSB tuition. Supron worked with Loder to develop a long-term solution that would provide support for things such as class trips, school-run clubs and programs, social events and sporting equipment. “I wanted to set up an endowment, where each year we’d have $5,000 to give,” said Supron, who brought the idea to GSB’s Development Office. “When I got the go-ahead, I solicited for donations person-by-person. Once people knew about the need, they were happy to help the Student Support Endowment Fund. Some gave $100, while others donated $50,000, and before long we had $150,000 to establish the endowment fund. It just goes to show, it takes a village to truly make a difference.”

At a special reception in May, Wendy Supron P ’17 thanks patrons of the Student Support Endowment Fund.

To date, the school has received a total of $211,000 in cash and pledges. This includes a record $50,000 as part of the Fund-A-Need campaign at the 32nd annual Auction. This endowment fund will provide nearly $7,500 each year for families receiving at least 80 percent financial aid. Decisions about how–and to whom– to allocate funds will be made by a committee consisting of new Director of Admission and Financial Aid Sarah Rowland and the three division directors.

For questions, or to donate to the Student Support Fund, please contact Major Gifts Officer Matthew Marsallo at 908-234-1611, ext. 361 or at mmarsallo@gsbschool.org.

Fundraising Continues for New Track Installation Funds are still being raised to replace the outdoor track surrounding Gill St. Bernard’s new turf field.

GSB’s synthetic field was completed last August.

Since 2010, GSB’s running program has garnered five Prep B titles, two Non-Public B State championships

and one division crown. Gill’s current BSS 100 porous track, once considered state-of-the-art, was installed in the early ’90s. Although it has been inspected and deemed safe for competition, a new track would offer a significant upgrade to the school’s present running surface. Gill St. Bernard’s is considering a nonporous all-weather surface complete with a polyurethanebound black rubber mat for optimum shock absorption during competition.

The Development Office has received $140,000 in pledges and donations from Upper and Middle School track families as well as past parents to date.

The proposed upgrade will cost approximately $400,000.

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For more information or to make a donation, please contact Major Gifts Officer Matthew Marsallo by phone at 908-234-1611, ext. 361 or by email at mmarsallo@gsbschool.org.

PAT R O N S

The Past, Present and Future of Gill St. Bernard’s School Gill St. Bernard’s School will celebrate its 250th anniversary in the year 2150…and all are invited! That may sound a bit crazy, but with a little planning, anyone can become a part of GSB forever.

Take a look at Winfield S. Russell, for example—an inaugural member of The Founders Society of Gill St. Bernard’s School, GSB’s legacy giving program. Russell lived in Boston for most of his life, working as a machinist until he passed away in 1932. Prior to his death, he established a last will and testament, which is on file at Gill St. Bernard’s along with information about a trust that he created. It may be just a few pages long, but that simple planning allowed him to provide for his wife until she passed away in 1936, and then to provide perpetual support for the organizations for which he cared. For the past 80 years, Gill St. Bernard’s has been fortunate to receive quarterly support from the Winfield S. Russell Trust, all because he took steps to plan for the future.

All can have a long-term impact on Gill St. Bernard’s School, while also providing for personal and family needs. Today, there are many more ways for donors to leave a legacy at Gill St. Bernard’s than were available in 1932. These include: • Creating a charitable trust to support Gill St. Bernard’s during or after a donor’s lifetime; • Leaving a bequest in a will for a set amount or percentage of an estate; • Making Gill St. Bernard’s a full or partial beneficiary of retirement plan assets; • Designating Gill St. Bernard’s as the new owner and beneficiary of an insurance policy; • Transferring real or personal property rights to Gill St. Bernard’s; • Transferring appreciated securities to Gill St. Bernard’s.

To provide assistance in this area, Gill St. Bernard’s and its financial partners are pleased to offer a free, confidential and complete financial planning service to individuals and families. For any questions or to learn more about The Founders Society, please contact Director of the Annual Fund and Planned Giving Michael Liddy at 908-234-1611, ext. 205 or mliddy@gsbschool.org.

Progress Continues on Performing Arts Community Center Challenge The challenge grant presented to Gill St. Bernard’s late last fall by the F.M. Kirby Foundation (see winter 2014 GSB Alumni Magazine) has proven critical in the initial phase of fundraising efforts for the new performing arts and community center (PACC) project.

Since this past winter, a number of supporters have stepped forward to help make significant inroads toward achieving this $4.5 million challenge. As of mid–summer, nearly $2 million of that sum has been given or pledged.

Doug Matthews P ’16, ’18, ’24, chair of the Delivering the Future campaign, praised everyone involved. “Our An artist rendering of the west side of Gill’s Performing performing arts families, both past and present, have really Arts and Community Center in the evening. stepped up to create momentum. Our goal is to continue and finish this challenge early so this project can get underway. The F.M. Kirby Foundation really wants this to happen and both Dillard and Adrienne Kirby P ’09, ’13 have been outstanding partners in helping us to do so.”

SEE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, PAGE 40 33

T H E M AGA Z I N E O F G I L L S T. B E R N A R D’S S C H O O L

FACULTY NEWS

Faculty Updates Jane Boyer will fulfill the role of interim director of the Lower School for the 2014-15 academic year.

During her 20-year tenure with Gill St. Bernard’s School, Boyer spent the past 15 years as Lower School director of admission. Prior to that, she was lead kindergarten teacher.

Middle School science teacher Teri Cosentino received the 2014 Garden State Green Award for kindergarten through grade 12 teaching at the Garden State GreenFest this past March. Also known as the “Boggies,” the Garden State Green Awards annually honor positive contributions made by individuals and organizations to better the environment. Cosentino also participated as a fellow in the 2014 Siemens Teachers as Teri Cosentino (r.) joins actor and environmentalist Researchers (STARs) Program at Oak Ridge Ed Begley, Jr. in receiving the 2014 Garden State Green Award.

National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, TN this past June, where she spent two weeks conducting research and attending mini-workshops with professional scientists and educators.

Upper School history teacher Leo Janas joined 20 other educators at the Ninth Annual Federal Trials and Great Debates in United States History Summer Institute for Teachers. Sponsored by the Federal Judicial Center and American Bar Association, the institute allowed high school teachers nationwide to explore federal trials alongside leading historians, federal judges and curriculum consultants in Washington, DC. In July, Upper School Director and honors chemistry teacher Sue Petrone attended one of 17 workshops funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), a federal agency that annually supports summer study opportunities for teachers nationwide. Petrone was selected among a large pool of applicants as an NEH Summer Scholar in early April and participated in the Landmarks of American History and Culture: Atomic West Atomic World workshop. The workshop was held at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington state—part of the Manhattan Project during World War II.

Back to School Associate Director of College Guidance David Lee recently obtained an M.A. in sociology and education at the Teachers College of Columbia University. Lee holds a B.A. in political science from Drew University.

Dave deWolfe, Middle School math teacher, earned a Master of Arts in educational leadership from The College of New Jersey this past spring. DeWolfe holds a B.S. in mathematics from Stony Brook University.

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T H E M AGA Z I N E O F G I L L S T. B E R N A R D’S S C H O O L

DIVERIO: Focused on the Environment FROM PAGE 7

In addition, this year she served as a student consultant for adapted sports and recreation at Yes U Can, a nonprofit organization that helps people with physical limitations become involved in sports and outdoor activities. Part of her role involved creating a proposal to improve cohesion between the national and campus organizations to achieve one joint mission.

That interest in equality, stoked by the Lead for Diversity program at Gill, also prompted the varsity coxswain to initiate a campus chapter of Athlete Ally, a national organization that promotes respect and acceptance for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender athletic community. “Teams are like families; we see each other every day and go through tremendous amounts of stress all year long. To think that someone can’t be true to his or her self around family really hit me, which is why I wanted to bring a chapter of Athlete Ally to UD,” Diverio said. Partnering with another athlete this past spring, she wrote a constitution and gained approval for starting a campus branch of Athlete Ally. She hopes to further increase current membership when she returns to college in the fall.

Diverio clearly digs deep, whether studying the environment or creating a better atmosphere for those around her.

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN: A Big Year Ahead FROM PAGE 33

The project includes creating a beautiful performing arts center that will be used by all three divisions for performances, assemblies and guest speakers, and building a new field house to maintain the functions currently held in the Old Gym—the site of the new PACC. “We are thrilled with the enthusiasm and generosity of those who have committed to date,” said Director of Development Jim Diverio. “As we progress through this phase of the campaign, the net is being cast wider and wider and the interest hasn’t waned. With less than a year left to fulfill the challenge we will continue to share the vision for this project with more and more people through individual discussions and group events. We need to continue to secure leadership gifts in order to achieve the challenge, but every gift helps toward the goal.”

For more information about the project (both the PACC and new field house) or the challenge, please contact Jim Diverio at 908-234-1611, ext. 210 or jdiverio@gsbschool.org.

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“ONE OF THE BEST THINGS TO COME FROM REGIONAL EVENTS IS THE ABILITY TO CONNECT DIFFERENT GENERATIONS OF ALUMNI."

Alumni, faculty members and friends gathered at the home of Adam Tenner ’85 in Washington, DC for the opportunity to mix and mingle.

(L. to r.) Andrea Dowell Dennehy ’85, Christopher Pellegrinelli ’07, Tenner, Sean Ages ’05, Emilia Giordano ’06, Laura Cooper ’06, Kaitlyn Creegan ’06, Sarah Clamp ’06, Ray Conger ’03, and Peter and Randi Schmidt.

Regional Events Strengthen Alumni Relationships Gill St. Bernard’s current alumni mailing list contains information for more than 2,000 alumni around the world. While recent advancements in technology have made it more convenient to overcome the obstacles created by long distances, the school has further increased its outreach efforts by focusing on regional events over the years. Initial steps for developing this new effort have included pinpointing geographic locations where clusters of alumni live and identifying alumni from these areas who are interested in connecting both alumni to the school and alumni to alumni.

Through the help of numerous alumni such as Dave Hickok ’76, a key figure in orchestrating a gathering at Universal Studios Hollywood in 2012, the occurrence of regional events has grown. Adam Aresty ’03, chairman for regional events, has been working with other alumni council members to further establish the goals of these regional events and continue to build interest. The committee’s statement of intent explains, “Regional clubs will focus on uniting alumni through networking events; with the ultimate goal of fostering a ‘campus away from Gladstone’ community eager to support the school’s current faculty and students, as well as attend reunions and homecomings.” Earlier this year, with assistance from alumni Amy McCloskey ’79 and Adam Tenner ’85, GSB held events in New York City and Washington, DC, respectively.

Amy McCloskey ’79 hosted a special happy hour for GSB alumni at her New York City bar, Madame X, this past February. (L. to r.) Naomi Ages ’01, Director of Alumni Relations Chanelle Walker, Dan Flynn ’79, McCloskey, Glenn Ollendorf ’81 and Andrew Vazzano ’06.

According to Director of Alumni Relations Chanelle Walker, regional events are essential components for building a stronger alumni community. She explained, “One of the best things to come from regional events is the ability to connect different generations of alumni. Although guests may have attended the school during different times, it is wonderful to see alumni from different generations share common experiences, and reflect on the same set of core values and sense of community. I hope that more alumni will come forward and recognize these events as a great way to support the school while growing their own social and professional networks.” The alumni council is currently working with Walker to identify volunteers and locations in which to host events in the fall and throughout 2015.

From left: Ellen Wulfhorst ’76, Catherine Howard ’76, Scott Schnipper ’76 at the Explorers Club; Kaitlin Dicks ’08, Kelsi Feldman ’08 and Sasha Arnesen ’07.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT REGIONAL EVENTS, OR TO JOIN GILL ST. BERNARD’S email distribution LIST, PLEASE 3 CONTACT CHANELLE WALKER BY PHONE AT 908-234-1611, EXT. 292 OR BY EMAIL AT CWALKER@GSBSCHOOL.ORG.

Gill St. Bernard’s School P.O. Box 604 St. Bernard’s Road Gladstone, NJ 07934-0604 (908) 234-1611 gsbschool.org facebook.com/gsbschool facebook.com/gsbschoolalumni

Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage PAID W. Caldwell, NJ Permit No. 55

Congratulations and best of luck to the 71 members of the Class of 2014, who will attend 50 different colleges and universities nationwide in the fall. (See page17 for a full college matriculation list.)

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