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Conger Alumni House Dedication
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Nancy & Bill Con ger
TABLE OF CONTENTS FROM THE HEADMASTER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 FEATURES Alumni in the Military . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 COLLEGE CORNER
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Templeton Timothy ’11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 PROFILES Andrea Freeman ’95 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 ALUMNI NEWS New Alumni Website. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Alumni Return to Campus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Regional Alumni Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Young Alumni . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 GSB NEWS Homecoming/Family Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
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GSB Players – The Learned Ladies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 ATHLETICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 PATRONS GSB Classic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 New Trustee Michael Fritzlo P ’19, ’21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Trusteeship Celebrated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Conger Alumni House Dedicated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Former Governor Joins GSB Arts Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 ALUMNI NOTES/FACULTY NEWS George Fessenden 1920-2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
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John Ripton Retires. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
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 & 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 Bill Thorndike.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Harry Chowansky III Gia Dunn Michael Fritzlo 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 Preston Pinkett III
John Raymonds 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 Samuel Corliss, Jr. Richard Emmitt Nelson Ferreira Michael Golden Adrienne Kirby
Michael Mandelbaum Richard Markham Mary McNamara Ellen Nardoni Robert J. O’Leary Mark Paris Todd Ross ’94 Katherine Smith Maureen Stefanick Jayne Vespa Michael Weinstein ’87
20 Correction In the “Summer 2014” issue of GSB Magazine, the letter from the headmaster inadvertently associated guest writer Jerry Carino with The StarLedger. Carino, a native of Old Bridge, NJ and professor of journalism at Kean University, has covered sports articles in Gannett New Jersey newspapers, including The Courier News, since 1996 and has reported on college basketball since 2003.
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
I grew up in the 1960s and early ’70s. It may have been a byproduct of the times or just the very nature of the Vietnam conflict that made it hard for some in our country to respect those who served in our nation’s armed forces. Fortunately, in the many decades that have since passed, this has largely changed as most Americans recognize the courage and commitment required to volunteer in this capacity. Our school has always had graduates who have chosen to follow such a path, some of whom made the ultimate sacrifice. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of GSB alumni who have chosen to join one of the branches of our nation’s military. Such a development merits both our attention and coverage, which is why it is the main feature of this edition of GSB Magazine. Nonetheless, the underlying issue—war—is not an easy one to comprehend and certainly not something we are trying to glorify. Over the centuries, many soldiers have made statements similar to the one by General William Sherman, who said during the Civil War, “War is hell.” Indeed, it is a terrible thing even now, but those who step forward to defend us deserve our appreciation and respect. My father served during the Korean War, and though he never saw combat, Dad was proud of his years in the Coast Guard. When he died in October, it was his wish to be buried in the Veterans’ Cemetery in Exeter, RI. In the months before he passed, I was blessed to hear him talk about those days, and understand why they meant so much to him. I have heard it said on more than one occasion that the best life is one that is lived in the service of others. While it is certainly true that there are many ways in which each of us may do so, serving in our nation’s armed forces brings with it an additional inherent risk. To all of those in our community who serve or give to others on a regular basis, and especially those in our military, I offer my sincere thanks. In addition, I offer up a prayer that one day circumstances will no longer require such a sacrifice by the citizens of our great nation, or any other. Peace,
S. A. Rowell Headmaster 1
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Military Alumni: A Commitment to Serve By Bill Thorndike Camp was born in Atlantic City, NJ in 1930 and spent his early childhood in Elmer, where his father managed a dairy farm. After WWII broke out, his father entered the Army, eventually serving in both Europe and the Pacific. Unfortunately, the war took a toll on Camp’s family. His parents divorced, and he and his sister went to live with their mother, Evelyn, who was employed as a housekeeper at the home of John and Rhoda Clark in Bedminster, NJ.
CMSGT William B. Camp SBS ’49 while stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in December of 1947.
Gill St. Bernard’s School is known for its academic excellence; preparing students for success in college and beyond. The notion of service is also deeply embedded within the school ethos, and has remained a proud tradition for more than a century. Following Gill St. Bernard’s core values of courage, integrity, compassion and honor, several graduates have chosen a life of service in the military. This commitment to serve can be found in the experiences of GSB alumni, like Edward Van Court ’83, an Armed Forces Service Medal winner; Jordan Brehove ’98, who took part in the first wave of Operation Iraqi Freedom; Tyler Merck ’08, a U.S. Army Ranger currently serving in Afghanistan; and Brian Moscioni ’11, who will report to flight school in the U.S. Navy after he graduates from Villanova in May. For more than 50 years, this spirit of service to our country has been embodied in former St. Bernard’s student William B. Camp, now 84, who left school in 1947 to enlist in what was then the U.S. Army Air Corps. 2
The Clarks took an interest in young Camp’s education, and saw to it that he was enrolled at St. Bernard’s School. He was just shy of graduation, however, when the Clarks’ fortunes soured and their estate was sold. With his mother out of a job, he said, “It didn’t seem right that I should add to her burden.” “I was always interested in aircraft,” Camp recalled—an interest that would take him through two wars and to every corner of the globe, as a half-century of military aircraft evolved under his watch.
Take Nothing for Granted U.S. Army 2nd Lieutenant Tyler Merck ’08 began attending Gill in the eighth grade. He is currently a paratrooper and platoon leader in a parachute infantry regiment with the 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan. “I always wanted to be a soldier. I didn’t always tell people that, but deep down I always knew,” said Merck, who played baseball and soccer at Gill before attending Auburn University as an ROTC student majoring in history. Merck said his coaches at Gill, including Matt Marsallo (baseball) and Tony Bednarsky (boys’ soccer), helped influence the course of his career. He recalled a trip the baseball team made to Florida during spring break.
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friendly environment,” Van Court said. “I think there was only one teacher—my physics teacher, Mr. Draughtman—who was a veteran. And, of course, he thought my choice was awesome. But everyone else seemed puzzled by it.”
Tyler Merck ’08 serves as a U.S. Army Ranger in Afghanistan.
“It was 2007, my junior season. Coach Marsallo recognized our potential and saw that we weren’t reaching it. We were just sliding by. I remember him telling us that he would give anything to go back to his high school playing days—that he would trade years off his life just for one more chance to go back to those times.” This message of taking nothing for granted was not lost on Merck and his teammates. “I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to times of doubt,” Merck said of his career choice. “When you’re sleeping in the pouring rain, moving miles through the mountains with 60-70 lbs. on your back, or when the sirens go off signaling an incoming rocket attack, you wonder what it would be like if you’d gone the path of all your classmates. What would it be like to sit in a comfortable chair in an air-conditioned room, where your worst fear is some guy in a tie yelling at you?” In those moments, Merck said he remembers the words of his coach. “I don’t ever want to look back on a time in my life and think ‘I could’ve done more,’” he said. “There will be plenty of time for sitting in comfortable chairs in air-conditioned rooms.”
Russian-Built Tanks Edward Van Court ’83, said he didn’t know what he wanted to do after high school. His decision to enlist in the U.S. Coast Guard came as a surprise to many. “You have to keep in mind that Gill St. Bernard’s in the early ’80s was not a military-
Van Court served five years in the Coast Guard, then attended Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey as an ROTC student with the New Jersey National Guard, studying Latin, Greek and ancient history. After graduation, he was commissioned and stationed in Germany, then deployed to Hungary, where he managed convoys in and out of Bosnia during the 1990s. “The military is not for everybody, but it worked out pretty well for me,” he said. “I got to see and do a lot of things that most people will never have a chance to do; I’ve ridden around in helicopters, I’ve driven Russian-built tanks, I’ve spent time on three continents.” And he met his wife, who is still an active duty Air Force officer today. Their son, now a high school senior, has already enlisted in the Army Reserve. “Gill gave me a great foundation,” Van Court said. “I think the academics and the education that I received at Gill really served me well, and set me up for success later in college and in life.”
Operation Iraqi Freedom Jordan Brehove ’98 was just beginning his senior year as an ROTC student at Wake Forest when terror struck on September 11, 2001. “So it became very clear that I was no longer going into a peacetime Army,” he said. Brehove completed officer training at Fort Eustis in Newport News, VA, entering the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant with specialties in transportation, logistics and explosives. He joined his unit in Kuwait in February of 2003. “On March 19, 2003, we ‘broke through the berm’ and invaded Iraq,” he said. “I commanded convoys along roads that were filled with IEDs (improvised explosive devices). For one quarter in 2003, we were the most attacked transportation battalion in Iraq, and for that period I was the most attacked convoy commander.” 3
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At first, Brehove said, the Americans were greeted as liberators. “I know a lot of politicians have said we weren’t welcomed as liberators, but when we were first entering these towns, the locals would fall over themselves just trying to touch the fingertips of an American soldier. They truly loved that we were there.” Unfortunately, mistakes were made that prevented that initial welcome from becoming the long-term story, he said.
Jordan Brehove ’98.
Brehove now lives in Manhattan, where he is vice president of professional services at MakerBot, a 3D printing company. He is still an active officer in the Army Reserve.
“I think there’s no better school of leadership in the world than the U.S. military. And I think that ties into the outlook that I had at Gill, and in my personal life,” he said. “I grew up participating in Boy Scouts, and was very committed to service. I think those same ideals are at Gill, in the way teachers and students look at the world, with a sense of responsibility and commitment to service.”
Served in Two Wars After enlisting in the Army Air Corps, Camp completed basic training in Texas, and eventually Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois for aircraft propeller school before landing at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL. In August 1950, Camp was reassigned to the 307th Bomb Wing. He flew with his unit to Okinawa, and from there, straight into the Korean War. “Our assignment was one year, and when our year was up we returned and I helped form the 305th Bombardment Wing at MacDill, with B-29s, which were propeller-driven bombers. Then the base got B-47 jet bombers, and I was 4
with the 305th Air Refueling Squadron for in-flight refueling of the B-47s.” While stateside, Camp met his first wife, Patsy Graham, in Florida. They were married in 1952. For Camp, the years immediately following the Korean War were good ones. In 1954 he returned to Chanute Air Force Base for instructor training, then was assigned to the 3499th Mobile Training Squadron. “During this period I guess I went to every country in the world,” he said.
Vietnam Camp re-enlisted in 1958. After more training, he was stationed at Turner Air Force Base, in Albany, GA, where he served as shop supervisor for pneudraulics on B-52s and KC-135s. In 1963, he was given a special assignment. “I was called in and told I was going overseas, and that I should get everything in order in case something should happen,” he recalled. “This was before we were in Vietnam real strong. We couldn’t call it Vietnam. We had to call it ‘incountry,’ because we weren’t supposed to be there.” He returned to Vietnam after the war escalated, and was there in 1965 when his second daughter, Gina Lee, was born. It was one of several important events in his life that took place while overseas. In 1969, Camp was nearing the end of his second tour in Vietnam when he received word that his wife, Patsy, had died. Fortunately, his mother was able to join the family at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, GA, to help care for the girls. “I love my country,” Camp said simply. “I have been on many assignments that I can’t even talk about. But I was there to protect the people of the United States of America, and I did my best to do that.” Camp remarried in 1971. His second wife, Clara, had three boys of her own, including one who served in the U.S. Army as a door-gunner in Vietnam.
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Camp retired from the Air Force in 1977, after serving for 30 years and attaining the rank of Chief Master Sergeant. For the next 21 years, he served as a supervisor and logistics officer in the Civil Service, working with F-15s and rounding up parts for the E-8C, a modified Boeing 707. In all, his military career totaled 51 years and spanned six decades. “I met the best people I ever met in the military service. I’m talking about all of them. And that’s a lot of people,” he said. “We tried to help each other, which you don’t find much today.”
Ceiling Unlimited
given Moscioni a glimpse of the life that awaits him after graduation. “I’ve always looked up to members of the military. I’ve always been inspired by them,” he said. “I’m not sure many people really appreciate what these men and women are doing when they decide to join the military. I know I didn’t. Only now have I started to appreciate what they do, what they have dedicated their lives to.” Moscioni said Gill St. Bernard’s prepared him well. “The small class sizes, the more individual attention given by teachers and faculty, I believe all of that really paid off. It allowed me to have more of that personal touch in high school. It gave me a sense of confidence that perhaps I wouldn’t have gotten at a larger institution.” He credited Gill, and physics teacher Larry Bostian in particular, with helping him to follow his dream. “At Gill, they really try to encourage you to have a goal, and to make sure you stay aligned with that goal,” he said. “Nothing can be more powerful than being motivated by something you love, something you believe in.”
Brian Moscioni ’11 rides shotgun in the back seat of a T-38C jet trainer from the United States Naval Test Pilot School.
If Camp represents the past of Gill St. Bernard’s military tradition, Brian Moscioni ’11 is its future. Moscioni is a senior in the Navy ROTC at Villanova University, majoring in mechanical engineering. When he graduates in May, he will be commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy, and begin training to become a military pilot. Moscioni has dreamed of becoming a military pilot since the eighth grade, when he attended an air show at McGuire Air Force Base that featured the Blue Angels. “I love my country and I felt like I wanted to give something back,” he said. “But it’s grown into so much more than that.” College summers spent working with the Navy, including time aboard the USS Nimitz, have
Hot Chocolate From his base in Afghanistan, Merck also spoke of the connection Gill St. Bernard’s alumni have with their alma mater. “I do miss my time at Gill. I miss arriving at the old Chapin Library every morning and asking Mrs. Schmidt and Ms. Hesler for hot chocolate,” he said. “I miss the library being packed with students and knowing the names of every one of them. Gill is a special school. Its size and environment produce a uniquely connected atmosphere. It’s a family. I get a sense of that in my unit, but it’ll never quite be the same.” Merck, who was preparing for a return to the States in November, reflected on the 2014 midterm elections, which drew a record-low turnout. “It’s sad that people will camp out all night on the street to get the newest iPhone, yet won’t take their lunch break to drive to the nearest 5
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polling center and exercise a right that so many around the world can only dream of. People here (in Afghanistan) would die, and do die, for that opportunity. It’s infuriating to see it wasted.” Merck said this most recent conflict has been going on since he was in the sixth grade. “Thousands of my brothers died during my time in high school,” he said. “It was because of them I was able to go to a school like Gill, and now I feel it’s my turn to ensure others get that same opportunity.” He acknowledged that objectives in Afghanistan have been elusive at times. “It’s an ugly fight. It’s not clear-cut. But it is real, and it is necessary,” he said. “Whether or not you chose to ignore it is up to you. For me, that wasn’t an option.”
Mission Accomplished In his retirement, Camp went into business restoring antique aircrafts. “I still own four vintage airplanes,” he said. But after a long, distinguished military career, there was still a piece of unfinished business. He had left St. Bernard’s School just prior to his graduation, a circumstance he hoped one day to reconcile. To that end, he spent many hours meticulously documenting his years in the military, filling a three-ring binder with the details of his career. Several years ago he sent the binder to Gill St. Bernard’s with a humble request: Could his alma mater find this record of service worthy of a longdeferred diploma?
Alumni Killed in Action Gilbert B. Dymock SBS ’16 WWI John K. Breeden SBS ’26 1944 – Heart attack while on active duty with the Coast Guard
CMSGT William B. Camp SBS ’49 retires from the United States Air Force on September 22, 1977. Camp (r.) is formally congratulated by retirement officer, Major General Hayes, at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia.
The school said yes, it could. Today, Camp’s diploma is displayed in a case in his home in Georgia. It is surrounded by other accolades—his Meritorious Service Medal, and numerous other medals and letters of commendation collected during his military career. He said he values his diploma from Gill St. Bernard’s School above all the others. “It really was a day I will always remember; when I got my diploma. As a matter of fact, I show it to everybody who comes around,” he said. “It helped me define myself, to know that I had the potential to be a graduate of such a fine school.” If you are or know of any alumni who have served in the U.S. Armed Services, please contact Alumni Relations Director Chanelle Walker by phone at 908-234-1611, ext. 292 or via email at cwalker@gsbschool.org.
Harry George Kirk, Jr. SBS ’39 WWII
Allen Kressler Stinger SBS ’41 WWII
Luther B. Plumer III SBS ’39* WWII
* Did not graduate; left school to enlist.
Robert Teshima SBS ’39* WWII William O’Donnell SBS ’40* WWII
Carlton Upton SBS ’29 WWII
Robert Edmund Eble SBS ’41 WWII
Edward Penniman Larned SBS ’36* WWII
Paul McGrath Conant SBS ’41 WWII
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We apologize if anyone was omitted from this list. If you know of any alumni killed in action in the U.S. Armed Services, please notify Alumni Relations Director Chanelle Walker by phone at 908-234-1611, ext. 292 or via email at cwalker@gsbschool.org.
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
Following his Passions: Templeton Timothy ’11 By Megan Zakrzewski Despite graduating nearly four years ago, Templeton Timothy ’11 has not strayed far from his GSB roots. He keeps in touch with many of his friends, attends the annual alumni soccer game each November and continues to support Gill’s Relay For Life campaign. When he first joined Gill St. Bernard’s in 2007, it wasn’t long before Timothy discovered his own true passions. In fact, he devotes much of his time today to doing many of the same things he fell in love with during high school.
Templeton Timothy ’11
during a recent visit to Spain. When searching for the “right fit” college, Timothy looked for a place that would offer similar opportunities as Gill, but on a much larger scale. “I still wanted a close relationship with my teachers and to go to a school where everyone was really passionate about being there,” said Timothy, who visited both Seton Hall and the University of Cincinnati before setting his sights on Franklin & Marshall College (F&M).
The Pennsylvania school also had its sights set on him. Timothy traveled to F&M on an academic scholarship with the school’s Collegiate Leadership Scholar program, participating on its Division III men’s soccer team and declaring a double major in psychology and Spanish his freshman year. After sustaining an injury during the 2011 soccer season, he searched for alternative ways to stand by his teammates and stay true to his sport. He did so by serving as team manager for two years. In between juggling F&M’s rigorous academic course load and soccer schedule, Timothy also worked to establish a Spanish tutoring department on campus in 2013. “It takes up a lot of time, organizing the rest of the tutors and setting up appointments, but it’s something I really enjoy,” he said. Timothy credits Gill St. Bernard’s for exposing him to Spanish culture early on in high school. At age 14, his family hosted a student from the Juan De Lanuza secondary school in Zaragoza, one of Spain’s major metropolises. Two years later, he played host to yet another Spanish student and that same spring went with teachers Brittany Casser and Marilyn Dori to the Aragon city as part of the GSB Unit. For the first time, Timothy felt fully immersed in the Spanish way of life. From that moment forward, he vowed to someday return to Spain. And it didn’t take long before he did, this time with F&M. Timothy spent the spring semester of his junior year living in a dorm room and attending five classes per day at the Complutense University of Madrid. “The trip was half about studying and half about traveling throughout Spain and really experiencing it first-hand. Monday through Thursday, I went to class and Friday to Sunday explored the different parts of Madrid,” said Timothy. With his final year of college quickly winding down Timothy hopes to continue to study the things he cares for most, Spanish included. For this former GSB student, the opportunities for the future are boundless. “I’d like to be a paralegal for about a year—I’m taking the LSATs in June—as a way to feel out practicing law and make sure it’s what I want to do,” said Timothy, an active participant in the mock trial club at both GSB and F&M over the past seven years. “Another clear option is going back to Spain and getting my master’s in Spanish.” No matter where his final destination may be, Timothy feels well prepared for all that lies ahead and finds comfort in the course he’s set thanks to Gill.
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A True Lifesaver: Andrea Freeman ’95 By Allyson B. Daly “It was an extremely cold night in December and our beagle Chet got away. We finally found him about 10 hours later, freezing and minimally responsive,” said Director of Studies Peter Schmidt. In 1994, Schmidt and his family lived on campus, and their dog Chet had wandered to a neighboring home construction site in search of food left by workers when he fell into one of the foundations and was trapped. When the beloved family dog was finally discovered around 3 a.m. the next day, he was at death’s door. Before racing Chet to the local veterinary emergency room, the Schmidts’ son, Joe ’95, called classmate Andrea Freeman ’95. “I raced over to help,” she said. “We warmed him up with hair dryers and blankets and then fed him warmed corn syrup to correct low blood sugar as we drove him to the vet.”
Andrea Freeman ’95 tends to a bird.
Chet survived the ordeal and Freeman was happily excused from her first period calculus class with Mrs. Landrieu the next morning for her overnight shift to help the Schmidts. “If it wasn’t for Andrea’s quick thinking, I don’t think that Chet would have survived,” said Schmidt. The Schmidts’ decision to call Freeman was not without good reason. By the time she was a senior, she had already logged hundreds of hours volunteering at Califon Animal Hospital—at first helping to clean cages, but eventually watching surgeries and assisting her mentor and Califon Animal Hospital owner Dr. Mary Beth Hamorski, both in the small animal hospital and on farm calls. “I started off just working summers. Eventually it was summers, weeknights and weekends and my learning extended from cats and dogs to alpacas, llamas, goats, horses and the occasional cow. It was amazing,” she said. “I loved every minute I spent at the animal hospital.” Through the encouragement of teachers like the Schmidts, Freeman solidified her ambition to become a veterinarian during her senior year with an independent study Unit on veterinary medicine. “For my senior Unit, I went to Califon every day and observed and assisted with surgeries. It was a wonderful experience and strengthened my goal to pursue a veterinary focus in college.” Freeman went on to study at Washington University in St. Louis, declaring a double major in biology and anthropology. At Washington, she was a founding member of the pre-veterinary society. During her college years, she worked as a veterinary technician in a small animal and equine general practice as well as at a small animal emergency and referral practice. She then earned her master’s degree from Columbia University in 2001 with a focus in wildlife health and parasitology. Following graduate school, she moved to Philadelphia and continued studying parasitology as a research assistant at the University of Pennsylvania’s (UPenn) School of Veterinary Medicine. Her research led to six publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals in just over two years. 8
PROFILES
Although Freeman contemplated pursuing a doctorate and continuing a career in research, the call of clinical veterinary medicine was too strong. She then enrolled at UPenn and in 2007 earned both a veterinary medical degree and a veterinary business management certificate. Freeman was also awarded the Small Animal Clinical Proficiency Award by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals upon graduation. Following a short time working at a general practice in Middlesex County, NJ, Freeman transitioned to practice full-time emergency medicine at AnimERge, a 24-hour emergency and specialty practice in Raritan, NJ. Her quick thinking that helped save the Schmidts’ dog 20 years ago should come as no surprise today, as Freeman has found her true passion working in emergency veterinary care. “It’s not for everyone, but I truly love it,” she said. “I love the challenge and quick thinking that is required to figure out what’s wrong and help save an animal in critical condition. Our pets are a part of the family and when pet owners are standing there asking for help at such a dire time, it makes me so happy that I am able to help.” Freeman shared some of the hardest moments in a typical day. “In an emergency environment, you’re running around, constantly multitasking and handling multiple cases. It’s not uncommon to go from one room where you are surrounded by a grieving family while you put their dog to sleep and then have to walk fresh-faced into another room with a happy family playing with a new puppy with a minor problem.” The job often takes an emotional toll on Freeman. “We love our pets and animal trauma is terrible for pet owners. I sometimes walk into rooms with people crying or yelling at me because they are so upset that they just need someone to cry with or yell at,” she said. “A big part of my job is providing much-needed counseling to pet owners.” Freeman’s ability to operate in a fast-paced, life or death, situation was put to the test in late October 2012 when Superstorm Sandy hit the Northeast, devastating much of New Jersey and leaving hundreds of thousands of homeowners without power, or worse, stranded. “The day following the hurricane, we were staffed for a normal day shift and I was the only emergency veterinarian on duty. We were working on backup generator power. I think there was only one other vet working in about a 30-mile radius and their X-ray machine wasn’t on their generator so they were sending all their traumas to me,” Freeman said. “We essentially had to set up a triage center and had standing room only in the waiting room. It was a crazy time, but in the end, we were able to help so many families. To see their delight that we were able to help, especially during such a difficult time for all, was a wonderful feeling.” In her free time, Freeman still connects with her mentor and now veterinary peer, Dr. Hamorski. “Her initial trust in me at such a young age was so important to the beginnings of my career,” Freeman said. She also spends time with her father who is her partner in Pet Pizazz!, a pet retail business that provides high quality natural and U.S.-made dog and cat food, as well as Andrea Freeman ’95 performs a surgery at the other products. In addition, Pet Pizazz! helps support adoption University of Pennsylvania. services. Since its founding in 2012, the business has placed over 100 dogs and cats in new homes. Freeman also enjoys time with friends, gardening, playing piano, traveling, and spending quality time and exercising with her two dogs, Charlie and Jack, both whom she helped rescue. 9
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
Alumni Website Refreshed The Alumni Relations Office is pleased to announce the launch of its new community website at gsbschool.org/alumni. The refreshed site is fully integrated with the school’s website to be a central resource for all alumni information. During the past year, several alumni events were held on campus and across different regions (see page 12). Due to an increase in efforts to engage alumni, a new website has become a necessary next step to centralize these activities. The Alumni Office plans for the alumni section to expand as the interests and programs for alumni grow. The website currently includes sections for class notes submissions, an alumni map, athletic hall of fame listing and alumni gift opportunities. One of the new special features of the alumni section is the alumni world map. The interactive map (see left) displays the locations of alumni around the world based on information provided to the school. For privacy reasons, the map only identifies locations and class year. Recognizing the sensitive nature of privacy and the Internet, the alumni site contains a secure password-protected area of the school’s website, known as KnightSite. Alumni can access KnightSite by visiting the new alumni page, where each person will be prompted to complete a brief form to request a username and password. Graduates of the Classes of 2013 or 2014 already have access to KnightSite using their existing KnightSite accounts. Moving forward, student accounts on KnightSite will become alumni accounts as students graduate. Once logged in, users can view past issues of GSB Magazine and choose to share information about their location, career and interests. Additionally, KnightSite provides the option to share information with alumni for a new directory for those looking to connect with alumni who live in their area. There is also the option to support a regional event, provide professional advice or help with a spring Unit or other student-related experience. Alumni Relations Director Chanelle Walker shared her thoughts on the launch of the new website. “There are many alumni who comment on how much they value their experiences. They want to support the school community in a variety of different ways and do not know where to begin. With this platform we hope to help bridge the gap and that more people will come forward.”
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gsbschool.org/alumni
ALUMNI NEWS
Alumni Return to GSB Classroom GSB faculty members take extreme pride in providing each student with skills necessary to succeed in the world beyond high school. To show their utmost appreciation for the lessons they learned while at Gill, two GSB alumni returned the favor to Michael Chimes this past December.
Liz Parsons ’00 visits Michael Chimes’ filmmaking class on December 4.
Both in person and via Skype, Liz Parsons ’00 and Sean Baker ’89 took some time to share their entertainment industry experiences with current students in Chimes’ filmmaking class. Parsons, a senior assistant editor at the New Yorkbased creative editing company, BlueRock, explained the process for
managing and editing TV commercials and online advertisements. Baker, a director, writer and producer known for the Spirit Award nominated films “Take Out” and “Prince of Broadway,” described the steps for completing a major film project. If you are, or know of any alumni interested in presenting their practical experiences to GSB students in the classroom, please contact Alumni Relations Director Chanelle Walker by email at cwalker@gsbschool.org or via phone at 908-234-1611, ext. 292.
Sean Baker ’89 connects with current students via Skype.
GSB Alumni Giveaway – We want to hear from you! The GSB Alumni Office is holding a drawing on March 31 to give away Gill St. Bernard’s merchandise worth more than $100. Alumni who enter KnightSite via gsbschool.org/alumni-login before March 31 will automatically be entered to win.
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Regional Alumni Events Since August, alumni from New Jersey to California have reunited at regional events coordinated by the Alumni Office and the alumni council. On August 9, nearly a dozen alumni shared some summer fun and laughs at Bar Anticipation in Lake Como, NJ. Fifteen California alumni met on November 8 at Dominick’s in West Hollywood, CA. And in early December, almost 40 alumni living in or near New York City enjoyed catching up with old friends at the Houndstooth Pub.
Counter clockwise, from top: (L. to r.) Jonathan Ramsay ’09, Kyle O’Neill ’08, Kyle Grare ’08 and Sarah Morris ’11; Naomi Ages ’01 (l.) and Richard Lecky ’97 (r.); (L. to r.) Jordan Brehove ’98, Naomi Ages ’01, Sean Johnson ’08 and Peter Schmidt; (L. to r.) Sonia Kumar ’10, Kristen Bailey ’10, Megan Plevy ’10, Noreen Syed ’10 and Lauren Rosenblatt ’10.
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ALUMNI NEWS
Counter clockwise, from top: (L. to r.) Jayme Singer Stolz ’99 and her husband, Gary Stolz, Christian Bredefeld ’98, Emily Maisano Freedman ’97 and Nancy Washburn Lee ’81; (L. to r.) Jessica Garvey ’05, Adam Aresty ’03 and Alexis Nedd ’09; Tom Reavey SBS ’69.
Front row: (from left) Roman Jablonskyj ’09, Nina Siman ’07, Gina Spilatro ’07 and Tyler Merck ’08. Back row: (from left) Peter Bednarsky ’08, Erica Bluestone ’07, Walter Graber ’08, Amanda Bisson ’07, Erica Conte ’07, Sean Johnson ’08 and Mike Jablonskyj ’09.
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ALUMNI NEWS
Young Alumni Return More than 30 young alumni returned to the Gill St. Bernard’s Athletic Center on December 19, where they enjoyed a Booster Club dinner and cheered on the basketball teams on opening night of the season.
Top row (L. to r.): Assistant Dean of Students Michael Wendell ’84 (l.) welcomes back Wes Spear ’13 (r.); (L. to r.) Kristin Murtha ’14, Elizabeth “Sally” Gordon ’14 and Caroline Roch ’14; (L. to r.) Craig Pilla ’14, Edmond “Cole” Moriarty ’14, James Reiner ’14 and John Stumpf ’14; Bottom row (L. to r.): (L. to r.) Kimberly Calabrese ’14, Raena Dell’Ermo ’14, Claire Jenkins ’14 and Andrea Jablonskyj ’14; Christopher Ward ’14 (l.) and Jordan Taylor ’14 (r.).
Alumni Back on Soccer Field On the day after Thanksgiving, 26 rising and recent graduates competed on the turf field during the fifth annual alumni soccer game.
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GSB 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
Homecoming/Family Day Tradition Continues Gill St. Bernard’s School played host to hundreds of GSB community members— students, parents and alumni included—at Homecoming/Family Day this September. The warm weather lent itself to a full day of delicious food, fun-filled activities and 12 GSB athletic contests. The successful outing was organized by Homecoming/Family Day chairs Hanan Anwar P ’18, Cheryl Fritzlo P ’19, ’21 and Michele Johnson P ’18, ’20, with assistance from many volunteers and staff.
From top: (L. to r.) Kyle O’Neill ’08, Tyler Rowell ’08, Eric Kohler ’10 and Kyle Grare ’08 check-in at the GSB alumni table; Sophomores (from left) Ashley Maldonado, Edwin Laubach and Sabrina Marques; Claire Chestnutt ’18 races her friends down the inflatable slide; Katherine Giordano ’14 visits Learning Specialist Kim Turse P ’18, ’22 (m.) and Upper School teacher Margery Schiesswohl P ’17 (r.) while volunteering at the theater booth; (R. to l.) Haven Miscia ’25 gets ready to cream Peter “Alec” Johnson ’15; Devon Kaiser ’15 and the rest of the varsity girls’ tennis team hosted Kent Place to a 3-2 victory on September 27.
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GSB NEWS
GSB Players Bring Laughter to the Theater Gill St. Bernard’s School presented Molière’s 17th century comedy, The Learned Ladies, during three outstanding performances in the Theater this past November. The GSB Players rehearsed for three months with Performing Arts Chair Paul H. Canada to master the play’s unique dialect. “Many hours were invested, inside and outside of the rehearsal hall, to create a vocal interpretation that was, at once, both poetic and natural,” Canada said. By the time the play debuted, the Players’ witty dialogue—combined with the humorous story of a household without “rhyme” or reason—had audiences roaring with laughter and ready for more. Members of the fall 2014 Learned Ladies cast (from left) Sarah Abowitz ’16 as Martine, Lachlan Wright ’17 as Chrysale, William Conlan ’16 as Clitandre and Katherine Coscia ’15 as Henriette.
Fall Fashion Event Fifteen senior moms dressed to impress while rocking the runway at the GSB Parents’ Association’s 19th annual Fashion Event this past November. Current parents Sheri Cohen P ’22, ’23 and Sharon Macak P ’20, ’22, ’25, ’27 co-chaired “Paint the Town,” an event which raised $35,000 toward special programs, projects and events that benefit all members of the Gill St. Bernard’s community. Fashion Event co-chairs (from left) Sheri Cohen P ’22, ’23 and Sharon Macak P ’20, ’22, ’25, ’27.
Pink Out The 2014 varsity basketball doubleheader versus Immaculata featured Gill’s first-ever “pink out” event, Good Knight to Cancer. The enthusiastic crowd helped raise approximately $1,500 for the Steeplechase Cancer Center at Somerset Medical Center.
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ATHLETICS
Girls’ Tennis Enjoys Great Season This past athletics season proved nothing short of wonderful for Gill’s varsity girls’ tennis team, which captured its fourth consecutive Skyland Conference Raritan Division crown, achieved a best-ever ranking in the Somerset County Tournament and clinched a third straight berth in the Non-Public B State final. Recently named both Courier News and From left: Krishna Patel ’16 places first in the Somerset Skyland Conference Girls’ Tennis Player of County Tournament to lead the girls’ team to its best-ever the Year, Krishna Patel ’16 led the way for the finish in the annual event; Sharon Jin ’17. Knights, conquering both the Somerset County (SCT) and Prep B tournaments in the first singles flight. Sharon Jin ’17 was the runner-up at second singles in the SCT and guided the team to a third place finish in the annual event. Both Jin and Carolyn Najarian ’16 (third singles) took second in the Prep B Championship to help their team to a runner-up finish amongst the top independent schools in the state. Gill St. Bernard’s earned the number-one seed in the NJSIAA Non-Public B South Sectional Tournament, and handily defeated Mater Dei (5-0), Rutgers Prep (4-1) and Moorestown Friends (4-1) to claim the Sectional crown. The girls fell short to Newark Academy in a battle for the Non-Public B State title and closed the season with a solid 14 wins and two losses.
Girls’ Soccer Advances to Sectional Championship During their fourth consecutive winning season (12-10), the girls’ soccer team saved its best performances for the biggest stage. After experiencing early round eliminations in the Somerset County and Prep B championships, the girls entered the NJSIAA Non-Public B South Sectional Tournament ready to win, and made an impressive run all the way to the Sectional finals. Elizabeth Todd ’15, Amelia “Mia” Kirby ’18, Jane O’Connor ’16 and Renee Turner ’16 each scored goals on November 4 to help the sixth-seeded Knights to a 5-1 victory over Calvary Christian in the NJSIAA opener. GSB faced a third-seeded Timothy Christian in the quarterfinal round, where O’Connor scored off a pass from Todd to capture the 1-0 upset win. Kirby scored an overtime goal in Gill’s 1-0 semifinal victory against Mater Dei, giving goalkeeper Alyx Shcrecengost ’15 her sixth shutout of the year. November 13 represented the girls’ first visit to the South Sectional Championship since 2007, where, despite a hard-fought effort, they lost to Moorestown Friends. Elizabeth Todd ’15.
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AT H L E T I C S
Cross Country Teams Shine
Boys’ Soccer Battles for Titles Though the varsity boys’ soccer program graduated three starting seniors last fall, it did not miss a single beat. The boys continued to shine with impressive runs in this year’s county and state tournaments, and finished the season 17-5-3.
The varsity boys’ cross country team wins its first Skyland Conference Mountain Division Championship since 2009.
For the first time since joining the Skyland Conference in 2009, the varsity boys’ cross country team went unbeaten (6-0) to claim the Mountain Division Championship. Meanwhile, the girls’ squad (5-1) placed runner-up in its division after several fine performances at regular season meets.
Sahara Ensley ’16.
After much dual meet success, GSB entered the championship season at full throttle. Skyland Conference Runner of the Year, Patrik Andersen ’15, took gold (16:26) in a field of 96 to become Somerset County champion on October 15 in Pleasant Valley Park. On October 29, he claimed the third Prep B gold medal of his career and Mathieu Petit ’17 followed with bronze to help the boys to second place overall.
The girls also secured a runner-up team finish in the Prep B Championship behind medalist performances from juniors Sahara Ensley (4th/20:38), Lillie Wilson (7th/21:20) and Hope Fluet (10th/21:26). Ensley, Wilson, Fluet, Nicole Johnson ’18 and Samantha Bittman ’17 took third overall as a team in the NJSIAA Non-Public B Group Championships on November 15 to advance to the prestigious Meet of Champions. 18
Goalkeeper Jordan Schreer ’15 notched 12 shutouts in his final season with the Knights to help the boys to a first round bye in the Somerset County Tournament (SCT). GSB stormed past both Ridge and Bridgewater-Raritan to advance to the SCT semifinals on October 25. With one goal apiece from sophomores Steven Bednarsky and Kevin Brito, the Knights took a 2-0 lead over Montgomery early in the contest. The Cougars answered with two goals of their own, however, to take the game into two scoreless overtime periods and a penalty kick shootout. Maxwell Aunger ’17, Brito, Tyler Kwaak ’16, Anes Mrkulic ’17 and Schreer each converted penalty kicks to capture the thrilling win and a ticket to the SCT Championship. After falling to Pingry in the SCT finals, GSB opened the NJSIAA NonPublic B South Sectional Tournament with wins over Calvary Christian and Wardlaw-Hartridge. The three-time defending NJSIAA Non-Public B South champion, GSB met Pingry in the Sectional final on November 13, falling 3-2 on a last-minute goal in double overtime. The team will look to rebuild again, as seniors Schreer (3rd Team All-State) and John “Jack” Lowe take their soccer careers to the collegiate level next fall. Goalkeeper Jordan Schreer ’15 secures 12 shutouts over 25 games in his last season with the Knights.
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
PATRONS
“Classic” Endowment Grows Thirty foursomes of golfers took to the Hamilton Farm Golf Club fairways this past September, raising funds to help provide financial aid for qualified students interested in attending Gill St. Bernard’s School. Since 2004, the annual GSB Classic has raised nearly $1.1M toward the school’s endowment, specifically for the needbased scholarship fund. Approximately $100,000 was raised this year at the (L. to r.) Joe Vespa P ’07, Salvatore Davino GP ’16, ’22 and Greg 10th anniversary event. “The GSB Niccolai ’16. Classic has made a difference in the lives of many children already, and its impact will last forever,” said Headmaster Sid Rowell, who publicly thanked GSB Classic Chair Greg Niccolai P ’16 and GSB Classic founder Joe Vespa P ’07 during a formal reception that evening in the Hamilton Farm clubhouse.
Fritzlo Named Trustee The board of trustees warmly welcomed one new member for the 2014-15 academic year. Michael Fritzlo P ’19, ’21, a senior executive and entrepreneur with 25 years of experience in financial services, brings invaluable knowledge and experience to the board. Fritzlo is currently CEO and chairman of TRM Venture Partners. He has held a number of senior leadership positions at public and private companies including: Sprint Financial Services, Global Crossing Financial Markets, One Equity Partners (OEP), Vercuity Solutions, TRM Solutions, CS Technology and Wall Street Network Solutions. Fritzlo is also the co-founder of GiGi Films, an independent film company, and was recently chosen as this year’s business committee chair for the Young Audiences’ Annual Gala, Arts for Learning. He and his wife, Cheryl, have two children—Gillian ’19 and Michael ’21—and currently reside in Far Hills, NJ.
Back to School This past September, Headmaster Sid Rowell and the trustees hosted the annual Headmaster’s Reception. Each fall, the gathering serves to welcome new parents to the Gill St. Bernard’s community as well as acknowledge some of Gill’s most supportive families and friends. Karen Walsh P ’17, ’21, Michele McHugh-Mazzatta P ’21, ’23 and Dawn Richardson P ’17, ’23.
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Trusteeship Celebrated, Clark Honored said. “They are a part of who he is, and Gill St. Bernard’s was blessed by the gift of himself that he gave, and Carol gave, to our school community.”
The Clark family, including son Grant ’06, father and 2014 Lindabury-Thomas Trustee Award recipient Brandon Clark, mother Carol and daughter Megan ’02.
Current, honorary and former trustees gathered for a celebratory dinner on October 17. The annual event brings together many of those who have served Gill St. Bernard’s School over several decades. During the dinner, Brandon Clark P ’02, ’06 received the Lindabury-Thomas Trustee Award, the pinnacle of recognition for former trustees. Headmaster Sid Rowell addressed the group in Founders Hall, specifically noting factors he believes trustees share in their decision to become members of the board. “The first is very obvious; our children and the generation of others who will attend Gill St. Bernard’s School in the future,” he said. “The second reason is the opportunity to be a part of something much bigger and, in so doing, contributing to the greater good. We need each other and our world today needs more trustees, those who willingly give themselves up with no expectation of receiving anything in return.” Clark and his wife, Carol, have devoted over 22 years to serving Gill St. Bernard’s School, and continue to promote and support the work of Gill today. While presenting Clark with the 2014 Lindabury-Thomas Trustee Award, Rowell commended him for his collaboration, inclusiveness and sensitivity to culture. “These are the terms that define Brandon’s leadership style and focus,” he 20
Clark served his first two threeyear terms as a member of the board beginning in 1996, helping to raise more than $7M for the school’s Expectations of Excellence campaign. These funds resulted in the expansion of the Conover Middle School and completion of Gill’s Athletic Center. Clark happily rejoined the board in 2005. One year after seeing his youngest child, Grant ’06, graduate from Gill, he became chairman. In his new role, which he held from 2007 until 2010, Clark spearheaded another campaign—Building an Enduring Legacy—and assisted in raising more than $12M to construct the Hockenbury Academic Center as well as increase the school’s endowment by $3.5M, among other things. He credits the hard work and dedication of others as providing a pleasure-filled tenure with the board. “People will ask, ‘What was it like to be a trustee? Wasn’t it hard?’ And I’ve always responded that it wasn’t really hard because of the people in this room,” Clark said. “I always had confidence. No matter what the issue, we could always figure things out, do the right thing and make it happen. Just look at what Gill’s progression has been over the past 20 years.” (L. to r.) Kathrine Corliss with board of trustees members Sam Corliss, Jr. and Gia Dunn P ’12, ’14, ’16.
PAT R O N S
Conger Alumni House Dedicated Alumni who return to the Gill St. Bernard’s campus will now find a new “home” where the beloved Cottage once stood. Built in 1903, The Cottage— originally known as the Bungalow—was deemed uninhabitable in March of 2013 after sustaining a flood throughout the entire first floor and basement. At the time, the building was occupied by the Development Office staff. Though most records and archival materials stored within were spared, the century-old home’s wooden frame had been severely compromised. As reconstruction plans were being reviewed that October, the Conger family—Bill, Nancy and their son Ray ’03—offered a lead gift to provide a new building for the Development Office. Construction of the Conger Alumni House began in March of 2014 and reached completion over the summer. The goal was to retain, to some degree, the appearance of the original structure but increase the size and provide space for meetings, and a place for alumni (and parents) to go while on campus. Among some of the artifacts retained from the original building was one of The Cottage fireplace’s hand-hewn mantels. On October 11, the Conger family joined Headmaster Sid Rowell for a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony on the porch of the Conger Alumni House.
(L. to r.) Headmaster Sid Rowell, Bill Conger P ’03, Alex Jennings, Nancy Conger P ’03, Cassie Jennings, Ezra Jennings, Penelope Jennings, Ray Conger ’03 and Abby Conger at the Conger Alumni House ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 11.
Since 1996, the Congers have played an integral part in the growth and development of the GSB community. They have supported a number of campus initiatives, including the construction of the Hockenbury Academic Center in 2007. Bill Conger served as a member of the GSB board of trustees from 2001 until 2006, during which he was a member of the development, finance and executive committees, as well as treasurer. He received the fourth annual Lindabury-Thomas Trustee Award in 2013, in recognition of his longstanding commitment and service to the school. His son, Ray, is currently a part of the GSB alumni council and an active member of the regional clubs committee.
Former Governor Joins GSB Arts Campaign Former Governor of New Jersey Thomas H. Kean spoke to a select group of parents, grandparents and friends of Gill at The Bernards Inn on January 8. Invited by hosts of the event, Dillard and Adrienne Kirby P ’09, ’13, Kean addressed the importance of the arts in education. Last May, he accepted an invitation to be the honorary chair of the campaign to build a new performing arts facility on campus.
(L. to r.) President of the F.M. Kirby Foundation Dillard Kirby P ’09, ’13, former New Jersey Governor Thomas H. Kean and Chair of the Delivering the Future campaign Doug Matthews P ’16, ’18, ’24.
The co-chairman of the 9-11 Commission and former president of Drew University, Kean is also widely recognized for his ardent support of the arts. He told the audience of his experience in the arts as a student at St. Mark’s School in Massachusetts and the influence it had on his life; and he has been an advocate for such experiences for young people ever since. As governor, in addition to increasing state financial support for the arts, Kean was instrumental in fulfilling the vision for the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark and, at Drew 21
PAT R O N S
University, helped revive the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival as well as build the Dorothy Young Center for the Arts on campus.
project, especially given Gill’s current leadership. We continue to work with Gill Headmaster Sid Rowell and Doug Matthews P ’16, ’18, ’24 [chair of the Delivering the Future campaign], and others, to help them achieve “I have watched Gill St. Bernard’s grow so much over the the challenge grant and ultimately build this facility. I last several years,” Kean commented, “more so than any could not be more pleased to other school in New Jersey. have Tom Kean as honorary Having a facility for theater chair. His being part of this, and music, and so much “I have watched Gill St. Bernard’s and of Gill St. Bernard’s, says more, will be significant for volumes.” Kirby continued, grow so much over the last several the students and the faculty. “We hope that the challenge With great faculty there years,” Kean commented, “more so generates what we call should be great facilities. than any other school in New Jersey." the ‘gg’ factor; genuine And all the students will generosity. Fortunately, we benefit.” are seeing lots of that, but Gill St. Bernard’s was given we still need the entire Gill a challenge by the F.M. Kirby Foundation late in 2013 to community to respond and commit in a timely manner.” raise $4.5M by the summer of 2015, and the foundation To find out more about the new facility, the challenge would double its $500,000 commitment to the project. grant and the campaign, please contact Director of Since then, the school has raised over $2.5M of that sum. Development Jim Diverio at jdiverio@gsbschool.org or Dillard Kirby, president of the F.M. Kirby Foundation, call 908-234-1611, ext. 210. said, “The foundation board believed in what the school is doing and we were quickly on board to support this
“I believe the earlier the better. You just never know what is going to happen and one of the ways to be prepared is through early estate planning.” – Michael Weinstein ’87, Founders Society Inaugural Member The Founders Society of Gill St. Bernard’s School recognizes alumni, friends, and parents who have made or planned a Legacy Gift to Gill St. Bernard’s. These gifts account for over $1M in support and include: • Bequests through Wills or Trusts • Life Insurance Gifts • Retirement Plan Gifts • Other Tax Advantageous Charitable Gifts Gill St. Bernard’s, with support from well-respected, licensed financial partners, offers no cost, confidential, financial and philanthropic planning assistance to interested individuals and families. For information about these services, or to share your gift intentions, contact Director of the Annual Fund and Planned Giving Michael Liddy at 908-234-1611, ext. 205 or at mliddy@gsbschool.org.
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FACULTY 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
Ripton Retires to Southern Maine Longtime History Department chair John Ripton announced his retirement from Gill St. Bernard’s School this past summer. Prior to joining GSB, Ripton taught both in Long Island and at Rutgers Preparatory School in Somerset, NJ. He earned a B.A. in Latin American history from Hartwick College, graduated from Columbia University with a master’s degree in international affairs and, with assistance from GSB, obtained a Ph.D. in history from Columbia in 1997. According to Ripton, the opportunity to establish relationships with students and co-workers proved the most rewarding part of his profession. “My wife Barbara and I have met several of our dearest friends at GSB. Many of the colleagues I first met when I joined Gill continue to teach there today. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to work for the past 29 years,” said Ripton, whose connections with students, in particular, flourished while leading the Unit program from the early ’90s until 2013. As director of the Unit, Ripton felt it crucial to participate in every activity alongside the students he chaperoned. On one such occasion, he recalled, he even conquered his fear of heights. “It was a Unit that focused on the geology of New Jersey,” he said. “We climbed and rappelled in the Delaware Water Gap. We also went spelunking and I remember getting into a chamber I could barely fit my shoulders through. That’s something I wouldn’t ordinarily do, propelling off cliffs, but
History Department chair of 29 years, John Ripton.
those kinds of experiences with students held a deeper meaning for me.” When not accompanying GSB’s students on the Unit, Ripton established lifelong relationships in the classroom, where he taught courses on Latin American film and literature, Latin American history, comparative world cultures, American history, European history and more. Ripton shared hopes to continue teaching Middle Eastern film and literature at Tufts University, located approximately one hour from the new geothermal retirement home he and his wife Barbara (Retired in spring 2014. See p. 24 of “Summer 2014” edition of GSB Magazine.) are building in Cape Porpoise, ME. Ripton also hopes to spend more time with his grandchildren, Patrick and Aurelia, and to continue to write and take photos, two pursuits he enjoyed long before retiring. He remains busy adding images of breathtaking natural subjects to his photography portfolio.
Fedon Directs Handbell Choir at Carnegie Hall This October, Lower School music teacher Jill Fedon directed the handbell choir, The Trinity Ringers, during a performance in Carnegie Hall. Fedon, a director of handbell choirs since college, has led The Trinity Ringers of Hackettstown, NJ for the past eight years. The 13-member group—the first handbell ensemble to perform alongside a full symphony orchestra (the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland) in Carnegie Hall—opened the second half of the show with a processional composed by Fedon. 28
ALL ALUMNI WELCOME THE D A
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gsbschool.org/alumni
Special reunions for classes ending in “5” and “0”
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
Alumni Walkway Receives Facelift As a member of the Gill St. Bernard’s School community, you have the opportunity to help preserve our past and secure our future. During GSB’s centennial year, the alumni walkway was established to honor members of the school community. This past fall, the walkway was refurbished. The walkway approaches the Chapel, at the center of the GSB campus, and is used by every member of our community day after day. Reserve your place in GSB history by personalizing a piece of this walkway. Bricks may be purchased by or for alumni, students, faculty or friends of the school for $125 each (4” x 8”) and include up to 12 characters/spaces per line.
Purchase your brick at gsbschool.org/bricks, and become a part of GSB history today.