GILL ST. BERNARD’S SCHOOL MAGAZINE
THE NEW PERFORMING ARTS & COMMUNITY CENTER
WINTER 2019
The Magazine of Gill St. Bernard’s School
TABLE OF CONTENTS FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 FEATURES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Raising the Curtain on the New PACC CAMPUS LIFE Homecoming 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Speakers on Campus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 ATHLETICS Bednarsky and Boys' Soccer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Fall Sports Recaps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Winter Sports Preview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 ALUMNI NEWS/EVENTS Alumni Career Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 ALUMNI NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 REMEMBERING MARILYN DORI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Board of Trustees BOARD OF TRUSTEES Lee Amoroso Marcella Criscola Rajiv De Silva Tom Fischer John Frantz Michael Fritzlo Liz Fucci Matthew Harding ’81 Rose Kirk Jeff Lager ’86 Douglas Matthews Mark Mazzatta Linda Moore Britany Silverman Nelson ’97 Sandi Niccolai James O’Connor
Gill St. Bernard’s alumni magazine is published three times a year by the Communications & Marketing Department and the Alumni Office. S.A. Rowell, Head of School Jill Brown, Communications Coordinator & Senior Writer Jennifer Doherty, Director of Parent Relations & Special Events James F. Diverio, Director of Institutional Advancement Gwen Paxon, Director of the Annual Fund & Planned Giving Meredith Marks, Assistant Director of Development and Alumni Relations 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 Design by Vision Creative Group
Steven Polachi John Raymonds Marianne Saladino Vlad Torgovnik Janine Udoff Karen Young Sid Rowell, Ex-Officio HONORARY TRUSTEES Patti Aresty Joe Behot Miguel Brito Laurie Brueckner Harry Chowansky III Brandon Clark Bill Conger Sam Corliss Ann Drzik
Gia Dunn Richard Emmit Nelson Ferreira Donald Fuentes Michael Golden Robert Hemm SBS ’46 Judy Fulton Higby ’65 John Howard Adrienne Kirby Michael Mandelbaum Richard Markham Mary McNamara Edmond Moriarty III Patty Muchmore ’66 Ellen Nardoni Elizabeth Nametz Robert O’Leary Mark Paris
Preston Pinkett III Robert Sameth, Jr. ’89 Maureen Stefanick Jayne Vespa Michael Weinstein BOARD OF VISITORS Miguel Brito Brandon Clark Sam Corliss David Farris Michael Golden The Honorable Thomas H. Kean Blair MacInnes Edward E. Matthews
MISSION STATEMENT
Gill St. Bernard’s School provides a balanced, diverse and secure community that prepares students academically, socially and ethically for college and a meaningful life.
CORE VALUES
Courage • Integrity • Respect • Compassion • Excellence
FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL I hope that you will enjoy this latest issue of the GSB magazine. As the cover image attests, the lengthy process from vision and design schematics to the grand opening of our new Performing Arts & Community Center is at long last complete. On November 24, 2018, we celebrated the opening of this wonderful new facility with a donor reception, followed by a special concert in which three decades of alumni reprised songs from different GSB musicals over the years. It was particularly fitting, as our school community has been anticipating this moment since the oldest in that group of alums was still a student. Indeed, the event brought together many of the people who helped make this new building possible, including donors, parents, alumni, and faculty members. If it were not for the incredible contributions from so many, this moment would never have come. I am appreciative for all of our donors, but especially to the Matthews and Kirby families, whose leadership in the capital campaign ensured the success of this project. Of course, without our amazing students (and subsequently, alumni) as well as our talented faculty, the case for this facility would have been dramatically different. On a personal note, that same evening in November I could finally say to Paul Canada, our performing arts department chair, that I had delivered on a promise which was made 15 years ago. Like the concert itself, this issue of the magazine celebrates the opening of a building, yet equally important, it celebrates the history of our school that made this facility a necessity. Further, it attests to the bright future that it promises our community as our programs soar to even greater heights. I hope that each of you will make it to campus this spring to experience a concert, play, art show reception or other event in the new Performing Arts & Community Center. I am confident that you will agree that it was worth the wait. Regards,
S.A. Rowell Head of School
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lmost two years ago, in early 2017, the “old gym,” originally the Hall of Events, was razed to make way for the long-awaited new Performing Arts & Community Center (PACC). A new theater for the award-winning performing arts programs was long overdue, but a much-needed gathering space for so much more was the by-product of thoughtful planning for the newest building on campus. The goal? Create a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility for use by the entire community that would also be the best performing arts center of any school in the area. In November, the mission was accomplished, and more! “With the effort and support of so many in the Gill community, we were able to finance this magnificent building with no longterm debt to the school,” noted Doug Matthews P ’16, ’18, ’24, Chair of the Delivering the Future Campaign. “Many projects were completed during the last six years, but raising over $8MM to build the Performing Arts & Community Center was the primary goal of this comprehensive campaign,” he added. A year was added to the original timeframe of the campaign after the original goal of $15MM was achieved, and an additional $5MM was added to that goal at the time. The campaign ultimately raised over $22MM since it kicked off in the fall of 2012. 2
“Thanks to the generous financial support of the FM Kirby Foundation, the Matthews family, and several leadership donors we were able to build a new facility that more than meets our needs,” said Sid Rowell, Head of School. “We wanted it to be a signature building, located at the front of our campus and one that would serve all of our students. Meetings, guest speakers, assemblies, concerts and theatrical performances will now be held in this space, instead of the athletic center or offsite.” Even with a few delays, the facility was built in 18 months. The Building and Grounds Committee of the Board of Trustees along with Steve Graham, the school’s CFO, worked tirelessly to oversee the project from the first planning meetings to its completion this past November. “Steve’s attention to detail and ability to work with so many different people was critical in making things happen and resulted in a beautiful, first-class facility,” noted Rowell. The best way to appreciate what the students, alumni and the whole school community will enjoy for years to come is to see it. Here’s an introduction, but hopefully everyone will see for themselves very soon.
CURTAIN
RAISING the
A Pictorial from Construction to Opening Night
“ADRIENNE AND I WERE THRILLED TO BE PART OF MAKING THIS HAPPEN. WE BOTH LOVE THEATER AND THAT IS ALSO A FOCUS OF THE FAMILY FOUNDATION. BUT ALSO, THE CONCEPT THAT IT WASN'T JUST BEING BUILT FOR THE THEATER OR MUSIC DEPARTMENTS REALLY RESONATED WITH US. IT WAS A BUILDING DESIGNED TO BE A GATHERING SPACE FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY; BUILT BY A WONDERFUL GILL COMMUNITY.” – DILLARD KIRBY P ’09, ’13
Paul Canada, Sid Rowell, Adrienne and Dillard Kirby P ’09, ’13, and Doug Matthews P ’16, ’18, ’24 at the start of construction.
The devil is in the details as the magnitude and volume of materials and work to create this 23,000-square-foot building illustrate
280,000 POUNDS of structural steel used
The limestone substrate made for serious digging
1,400 CUBIC YARDS of hammered rock removed
Doug Matthews P ’16, ’18, ’24, Ann Drzik P ’17, John and Val Raymonds P ’21, and Sid Rowell.
Nearly 15,000 CONCRETE BLOCKS completed the framing
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112 TRUCKLOADS of concrete poured to create footings, foundation walls and slabs
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57 TOTAL ACOUSTIC DIFFUSERS/REFLECTORS
are mounted on the house ceiling and walls to balance the sound from the stage throughout the house
Orchestra Pit is
780 SQUARE FEET 7 MILES
Approximately of wiring run for theatrical lighting and sound system
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Off the spacious FM Kirby Hall & Gallery is a concessions and ticket booth, office and conference room
58,933 BRICKS and 6,623 LINEAR FEET of siding secure the walls
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40 HOUSE LIGHTS for audience lighting
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In addition to the Cherry Robinson Costume Shop, downstairs includes two dressing rooms, a classroom, storage and scene/set shop
FM Kirby Hall & Gallery
The Matthews Theater
450 SEATS in the house
87 ACOUSTIC ABSORBER PANELS
combined in the house to reduce unwanted high frequency reflections and control reverb
142 THEATRICAL LIGHTING INSTRUMENTS hang in the house and above the stage
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On November 24, a reception was held for the donors, followed by a special alumni performance. Accompanied by several members of the current student GSB Players, over 55 alumni returned to perform on the new stage. A spectacular 90-minute show, produced by Paul Canada, featured music from many of the musicals over the last 20 years.
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The evening kicked off with a welcome video from former Governor Tom Kean (Honorary Chair of the Campaign) followed by remarks by Sid Rowell, Adrienne and Dillard Kirby P ’09, ’13 and Doug and Ann Matthews P ’16, ’18, ’24. Finally, before Paul Canada introduced the show, Lee Amoroso P ’11, ’13, ’19 announced the naming of the classroom in his honor.
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GSB PLAYERS BREAK IN NEW THEATER On November 8, the GSB Players staged the first-ever performance in the Matthews Theater in the Performing Arts & Community Center (PACC). THE MUSICAL COMEDY MURDERS OF 1940 was directed and designed by Performing Arts Chair Paul H. Canada and produced by Todd Ross ’94, with lighting and sound production from Joe DeVico. Adding to the usual jitters that precede opening night, construction on the new PACC was completed only days before the first performance. The actors, many of them veterans of the GSB stage, did an incredible job of bringing the show together in time. “At first, the students were understandably apprehensive,” said Canada, “but that quickly turned to excitement once we were in the new space.” Working under the same time constraints for preparation, Canada, Ross and DeVico brought together the set, sound and lights. In addition, the stage crew, parent volunteers, staff and GSB’s operations team demonstrated their show-must-go-on spirit and pulled together to ensure the performance was ready for its debut. The performance drew a sizable crowd for each night of its three-day run, dispelling any concerns the players may have had about performing to a 450-seat house.
Friday, March 29 at 7:30 pm & Saturday, March 30 at 1:30 pm & 7:30 pm 12
Adults $25, Students $20 | Tickets Available at www.seatyourself.biz/gsbschool
@gsbschool
The tried and true and the brand new all took their turns on stage in the new Matthews Theater. Within a month of receiving the Certificate of Occupancy from the town, the Performing Arts & Community Center was quickly home to plays, concerts, speakers and art shows. The work of students of all ages was on full display on the stage and in the FM Kirby Hall & Gallery.
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For decades, GSB’s Chapel—owing to its superb acoustics—served as the favored venue for Upper School choir performances. With the advent of the new Performing Arts & Community Center, which also boasts great acoustics, Upper School music teacher David Southerland saw new possibilities. This fall, he auditioned students in grades 10-12 for a new elite performance group: Blue in The Face. “We still have the Knight Voices, Knight Brigade, Knightingales and Gillharmonics, but we have replaced the Ambassador Choir
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with Blue in The Face,” he shared. “This is a more modern version of a choir,” he explains, “modeled a bit after groups like Pentatonix and Toxic Audio.” He adds, “It will not be exclusively a cappella music; the group will feature students on vocals and instruments like violin, guitar, piano and drums.” In addition, choreography is an element of Blue in The Face performances, with each member of the group wearing a body mic to allow for freedom of movement on the stage.
WINTER ART SHOW
SHINES IN NEW GALLERY
GSB Fine Arts Faculty
The winter art show held its opening reception in the F.M. Kirby Hall & Gallery in the new Performing Arts & Community Center on December 20. There was a big turnout for the exhibit, which featured work from students in all three divisions and showcased a range of media, including photography and woodworking. The exhibition will remain open through the winter, with additional student work on display in Founders Hall and Cox.
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HOMECOMING
On Saturday, September 29, GSB held its annual Homecoming and Family Day, with more than a dozen teams at the varsity, JV and Middle School level competing at home. Highlights from the contests included a straight-set 5-0 win for varsity girls’ tennis, a first-round Somerset County win for varsity girls’ soccer, and the first-ever JV girls’ volleyball match. In addition to sports, Homecoming featured children’s activities, including the pumpkin patch, the wheel of teachers and a bounce house. Upper School booths, such as the always-popular dunk tank, face painting and high-striker game, helped to raise money for class funds. Other popular booths included the Athletic Booster Club, which offered spirit wear; the Home Winds Farm display, showcasing linden flower honey from the bees at Home Winds; and the Parents’ Association pie sale. Special thanks to our parent volunteers who began arriving at 7:30 a.m. to help set up and who stayed to lend a hand throughout the day.
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2018
HOME WINDS WALK
Capitalizing on beautiful late September weather, the Athletic Booster Club sponsored a Home Winds Walk the Thursday before Homecoming. That morning, Athletic Director Will Taylor, GSB coaches, and the Boosters were all on hand to greet more than 60 participants as they made their way to Hemm House on the Home Winds campus. Strength and conditioning coach Steve Leo led the group in some stretches before everyone set off on the 1.5-mile cross-country trail, which runs along several fields before looping back to Hemm House. After their walk, participants enjoyed healthy smoothies and snacks, courtesy of the Booster Club. Buoyed by the great turnout, the Boosters plan to hold additional Home Winds walks in the future. 17
photographer, Gary Joseph Cohen
Brendan Kiely
In September, Upper School students took part in writing workshops led by New York Times best-selling author Brendan Kiely. The author’s recent young-adult fiction includes All American Boys, Tradition, The Last True Love Story, and The Gospel of Winter. New York Times Best-Selling Author
In addition to the writing workshops, Kiely held two 50-minute sessions in which he talked with students about becoming a writer and how he tries to tackle difficult situations in writing. “I want to help us think about what it means to be better listeners, to listen to folks in our communities that have been silenced or not been heard or been told not to speak up,” he offered. “I want to write books about how we talk about these types of problems so that we can solve them and get over them.”
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Kate Messner
In October, Kate Messner, the author of numerous children’s and young adult books, visited the Lower and Middle Schools. The author talked with students about their own writing, remembering how much she had enjoyed writing at a young age. She also encouraged students to research topics they are interested in, both as a way to jump start Author of Numerous Children's their writing and to make it & Young Adult Books more interesting. In her own work, Messner travels to and researches places that appear in her stories—a fact that surprised many of the students. “Writing the story and doing the research are equally enjoyable,” she shared. Messner told the students how these ideas largely come from reallife experiences. Some of her novels, such as All the Answers, Over and Under the Snow and The Seventh Wish, were based on events that happened during her life. Perhaps even more surprising for the students was that Messner spends many months revising rough drafts before she considers a story complete. Understanding that even bestselling authors need to continually edit and revise is a great message for students and aspiring writers of all ages.
Ed Amoroso
Janice Huff
NBC meteorologist Janice Huff spoke with Upper School students in October; she was the first guest in this year’s Upper School Speaker Series. The South Carolina native talked about her career in weather broadcasting, saying that she had been interested in weather since age five and decided she wanted to be a meteorologist at age 10. “Most people NBC New York Meteorologist who do what I do are born that way,” she shared. After graduating from Florida State University with a degree in meteorology and coursework in communications, she worked as an intern at a local news station. From there, she went to Tennessee, Georgia, St. Louis and San Francisco before landing a job with NBC New York, where she has been for the past 23 years. Throughout her talk, Huff emphasized the importance of finding work that you love. “That is the message I have for all of you,” she told the students. “It is early for you to decide what you want to do for a career, but whatever you do, make sure you are passionate about it.”
The 2018-19 Upper School speaker series concluded with renowned cyber security expert Dr. Ed Amoroso P ’11, ’13, ’19, who talked with students about potential careers in cyber security, artificial intelligence, and other areas of technology. Throughout his presentation, Amoroso returned to two main themes: the threat of a cyberattack on US infrastructure is Cyber Security Expert and real, and halting those attacks is Chief Executive Officer of exhilarating work. He compared TAG Cyber LLC the timeliness of working in cyber security today to working in mathematics and physics during the 1940s and 50s. “Your grandparents in 1940 were sitting in a room like this with some physicist saying ‘My gosh, there are probably four or five countries that could drop a nuclear weapon and destroy the world,’” he said. “Those are the problems your grandparents worried about; your version of it is cyber security.” Just as those decades brought together great minds in mathematics and science, it is likely that the next several decades will bring to light strategic and creative thinkers in the fields of computing. “This is a fun topic,” he said. “Every day brings something interesting and new. It’s a cool career path, and I hope you guys will consider it.” Dr. Ed Amoroso is currently Chief Executive Officer of TAG Cyber LLC, a global cyber security advisory, training, consulting, and media services company supporting hundreds of companies across the world. He is the author of six books on cyber security and holds ten patents in the area of cyber security and media technology. His work has been highlighted on CNN, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal. Amoroso has worked directly with four presidential administrations on issues related to national security, critical infrastructure protection, and cyber policy.
In October and November, representatives from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) met with interested GSB juniors and seniors. The college reps shared tips for creating a portfolio as part of the college application process. The sessions were timely as this year marks the highest number of GSB seniors taking Advanced Placement Studio Art: Two-Dimensional Design Portfolio since the course was introduced in 2012. In May, each of those seniors will submit a portfolio of 24 finished pieces to the AP Board, with the portfolio taking the place of a final exam associated with most AP courses.
While all of the students will submit a portfolio, only a few plan to attend art school next year. Fine Arts Chair Sarah Isusi offers, “Whether or not students go on to art school, this is going to be an extraordinary year for the Fine Arts Department.”
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ATHLETICS BANNER YEAR
FOR BEDNARSKY AND BOYS’ SOCCER After beginning the season 1-5-1—an unusually slow start for boys’ soccer—the Knights caught fire and went 13-2 to close out the year. They were especially impressive in the state tournament, as Gill pulled off upsets against Dwight-Englewood and Montclair Kimberley Academy to claim its seventh sectional title in school history. The Knights went on to convincingly defeat Rutgers Prep 7-0 to win the fourth Non-Public B state championship in program history. Individually, Andrew Moglianesi ’19 was named 2nd Team All-Non-Public while Jacob Siegel garnered 3rd Team All-Non-Public honors and Tyler Merna ’19 and Jordan Canica ’21 were named 1st Team All-Somerset County. Leading the way for the Knights was 30-year veteran head coach Tony Bednarsky. Bednarsky was able to rally the team through the difficult spots and helped guide the boys through their successful playoff run. “The coaching staff knew that if we could keep the boys together and get everyone back healthy then we could be a force,” said Bednarsky. “The whole team truly believed in that. We stayed the course and did not let anything get in the way of our goals.” With his unflappable demeanor and never-quit attitude, Bednarsky was named Skyland Conference Coach of the Year by NJ.com. It is the second year in a row that he claimed the award. It was also a memorable year for Bednarsky on a personal level as one of the biggest wins during the championship season came on September 26 when the Knights defeated Phillipsburg 4-1 for Bednarsky’s 500th career win. “The wins are nice, of course, but it is the relationships with the many fine young men I have coached over the years that has meant the most,” said Bednarsky. “This has been a great group and I would not want to earn this milestone with anyone else.”
THE WINS ARE NICE, OF COURSE, BUT IT IS THE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE MANY FINE YOUNG MEN I HAVE COACHED OVER THE YEARS THAT HAS MEANT THE MOST. THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT GROUP AND I WOULD NOT WANT TO EARN THIS MILESTONE WITH ANYONE ELSE.
THREE KNIGHTS DIVISION I BOUND On November 19, seniors AJ Donofrio and Paul Mulcahy signed National Letters of Intent while fellow senior Sarah Smith announced her intent to compete at the NCAA Division I level next year. Donofrio signed his letter to compete on the baseball team at Wagner College, Mulcahy signed his letter to play basketball at Rutgers University, and Smith announced her intent to row at Cornell University. The three student-athletes were surrounded by family, friends and coaches as they took the next step in their athletic careers.
JV GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL INAUGURAL SEASON The school introduced JV girls’ volleyball this fall. The main goals for the inaugural season were to establish a positive tone for the program while teaching the girls the fundamental skills of volleyball and the finer points of competition. The Knights took on Asbury Park, Immaculata, Rutgers Prep and Newark Academy and competed at the West Orange JV tournament. “The girls came in very raw,” said head coach Mark Signorelli. “By the end of the season, however, they looked like a real volleyball team; passing, setting, and hitting with regularity on the court. I am looking forward to watching them develop over the next few years.”
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FALL SPORTS RECAPS CROSS COUNTRY
Despite having a young roster this past fall, the boys’ and girls’ crosscountry teams experienced a successful season as the runners continually improved their times and rankings throughout the fall. The boys had an especially strong championship season as they finished sixth at the NJISAA Prep State Championships and grabbed eighth place out of 20 schools in the State Group Championships. Individually, Niels Rongen ’20 was named 1st Team All-Mountain Division while Matt D’Ovidio ’19 and Will Strong ’22 earned 2nd Team selections. On the girls’ side, Lucie Antonius ’21 earned 1st Team Mountain Division honors.
GIRLS’ TENNIS
The girls’ tennis team established itself as one of the top teams in New Jersey this past fall. The Knights went 11-4 and finished the season ranked 11th in the state. The girls also claimed their first Prep B Championship since 2010 in dominating fashion as Mayjah Jean-Pierre ’21, Ella Baker ’21, and Michaela Kroon ’22 all won individual titles. Additionally, the dynamic doubles duo of Andree Aloise ’19 and Tori Goldin ’20 received a 3rd Team All-State selection.
GIRLS’ SOCCER
The girls’ soccer program had one of its most successful seasons in program history as the Knights earned an impressive 14-3-2 record and won the Mountain Division title—their first divisional championship since 2007. The team also had some significant individual success as Mia Kolb ’22 and Tess Kelly ’22 were named back-to-back Skyland Conference Freshmen of the Week, and Teresa Zimmer ’20 also earned Skyland Conference Player of the Week honors.
Courtney Hanks ’19
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COACH SINA REACHES 300 WINS!
Head boys’ basketball coach Mergin Sina won his 300th game with GSB on December 20 when the Knights defeated Franklin High School 75-45. Earning 300 wins as a high school basketball coach is an impressive achievement, but to do it in 14 years at one school is a rare accomplishment. “I think it just means that I have been here for a long time,” joked Sina. “I kind of have lost track of how many years I have been coaching here. I honestly just have fun doing it, so to earn this milestone along the way makes it extra special.”
Since taking over the program, Sina has enjoyed remarkable success on the court, helping to lead the Knights to the past seven conference titles and six out of the last eight Somerset County championships. “I am proud of building up this program from the start and establishing a winning tradition at Gill,” said Sina. “I think we do it differently here because we are bringing in great kids who are also high-level academically. We want our kids to come here and do well and then go on and succeed both on and off the court.”
WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW As this issue prints, our winter teams are enjoying outstanding seasons. Not only is our boys’ basketball team getting state and national attention, and the girls expect big things in the post season again, but the hockey team is on a record-setting pace, and the boys’ and girls’ swim teams are in the state tournament for the first time. Track and fencing team members are having breakout seasons as well. Watch for the next issue for all the results. 23
NEPAL STUDENTS IN
In June, nine students accompanied by Upper School teachers Jared Ciocco and Sharon Poticny traveled to Nepal for 10 days. The group visited Kathmandu, Chitwan National Park, and Lumbini, which is thought to be the birthplace of Buddha. During their stay in Kathmandu, the 11 visited Buddhist shrines, the Bhaktapur market, and the Royal Palace Museum. In Chitwan National Park—home to Bengal tigers, wild elephants, sloth bears, one-horned rhinos, and other exotic species—the group took part in two safaris (one by jeep and another by canoe) and even gave an elephant a bath! After so much excitement, Lumbini offered a chance to meditate and reflect, as students visited young Buddhist monks and learned about daily life in a monastery. Based on the success of this trip, the school is likely to offer one or more travel opportunities each June. Students noted that having a summer trip is particularly nice for anyone who is unable to travel for the Spring Unit due to sports or other commitments.
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MICHAEL MANDELBAUM
HONORED
In October, former trustee Michael Mandelbaum was honored with the 2018 Lindabury Thomas Award, the highest award the school confers on a past trustee. Mandelbaum served on the Board of Trustees from 2005-2011, chairing the Building and Grounds Committee for four years and acting as in-house ex-officio legal advisor for a number of years after leaving the board. He contributed time and expertise to several major renovation projects, including the Hockenbury Academic Building, the Chapin Math & Science Complex, the softball and baseball fields, and the creation of the Todd Quad. Addressing the gathering at the annual Trustee and Former Trustee Dinner, Head of School Sid Rowell offered, “Michael’s policy was that he never wanted his name on any wall or building. Yet he has made a most singular difference in the life of our school, and the impact of his work is immense. In that way, you can see his name everywhere on the campus.”
SEAN JOHNSON
BECOME PART OF THE ALUMNI WALKWAY
NEW ALUMNI COUNCIL PRESIDENT Sean Johnson ’08 was named president of the alumni council in May when Naomi Ages ’01 stepped down. Reflecting on his appointment, Director of Alumni Relations Chanelle Walker said, “Sean’s level of commitment to the GSB community has been invaluable to the alumni program. As alumni council president, he will make sure the alumni efforts continue to flourish.” Describing himself as “super passionate about Gill,” Sean began serving on the alumni council soon after college. He explains, “Chanelle had just started working at Gill, and she connected with me to see if I would be interested in joining the alumni council. I thought it would be a great way to be more involved with Gill. I was happy to do so.” The alumni council, which meets three or four times each year, works to foster alumni involvement with the school, spearheading events such as the recent alumni career panel. Of the career panel, Sean noted, “That is a key representation of something we want to continue doing because connecting alumni to current students plays forward in a really important way.” While a student at GSB, Sean was captain of the baseball team and student body president in his senior year. After Gill, he received a BA from Gettysburg College. He currently lives in Hoboken and works in New York City for an eCommerce focused software company.
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. 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. You can order online or contact the Development Office for more information.
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CASINO NIGHT & LIVE AUCTION 2018 Back by popular demand, this year’s second-annual Casino Night & Live Auction drew more than 200 guests to campus on Saturday, November 3. A professional singer crooning Sinatra standards helped set the mood, as did appearances from Elvis, who served as this year’s auctioneer. Special thanks to all who supported the event, which raised almost $200,000 in support of programs at the school.
CASINO NIGHT & LIVE AUCTION
CASINO NIGHT & LIVE AUCTION
Participation is Key! Support GSB students with your annual fund gift this year! Go online today... www.gsbschool.org/page/Annual-Fund or send your check to the D evelopment Office in Conger Alumni House: Gill St. Bernard's School , Attn: Gwen Paxon P.O. Box 604 S t. Bernard's Road Gladstone, NJ 07934 Call Gwen at 908-234-1611, ext. 205 or email gpaxon@gsbschool.org with questions. 26
NEW TRUSTEES
Five new members joined the Board of Trustees this year: Lee Amoroso P ’11, ’13, ’19; Marcella Criscola P ’25, ’26, ’29; Tom Fischer P ’16; Matthew Harding ’81; and Karen Young P ’21, ’21, ’25.
Lee Amoroso P ’11, ’13, ’19 served the Parents’ Association for many years, spending two years as president and working on committees for the Auction and Fashion Event. This year, she continues to offer her guidance to the PA as pro-tem vice-president. A dedicated supporter of the performing arts at Gill, Lee has been a parent volunteer for every GSB Players’ production for the past ten years. She also helped to raise funds for the new PACC, serving as a non-board member of the Development Committee in recent years. Lee holds a BA in International Studies and Spanish from Dickinson College. She and her husband, Ed, have three children, Stephanie ’11, Matthew ’13, and Alicia ’19. They live in Byram Township, NJ. For the past two years, Marcella Criscola P ’25, ’26, ’29 has served as chair of the Parents' Association annual Fashion Event. She has also contributed her time to several other PA committees and has been a Class Parent in the Lower School. Marcella is a former Human Behavior Specialist with a BA in social work from Rutgers. Before deciding to become a full-time mother and volunteer, she worked as a therapist for individuals and families. She, her husband, Frank, and their three daughters, Sofia ’25, Cecilia ’26 and Emilia ’29, live in Far Hills, NJ.
Tom Fischer P ’16 has remained active with the school since his son’s graduation in 2016. Tom has served on the Home Winds Committee, is a regular at soccer and basketball games, and attends other events regularly. A practicing attorney in Washington, NJ, Tom has readily shared his legal expertise with the school over the years. Tom and his wife, Dana, live in Basking Ridge. His son, Luke ’16, currently attends UVA.
A graduate of GSB, Matthew Harding ’81 is the President of Levin Management Corporation, a commercial real estate company with offices in numerous locations, including NJ and NYC. He has been affiliated with the company since 1986, shortly after graduating from Hamilton College. He also serves as vice president for the Philip and Janice Levin Foundation. Matt is still in touch with several longtime friends from GSB. He lives in Rumson, NJ, and has three grown children.
Karen Young P ’21, ’21, ’25 is Partner in Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP. She has extensive experience in pharmaceutical, medical device, biotech, and healthcare industries and specializes in various areas, including divestitures and strategic alliances. Karen has been recognized as one of the NJ Biz Best 50 Women in Business (2012) and by the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association with a Rising Star Award in 2010. At GSB, Karen has been an active volunteer with the Boosters Club. She and her husband, Bill, live with their three children, Andrew ’21, Brian ’21, and Mary ’25, in Chester, NJ. 27
ALUMNI EVENTS 2018 OYSTER BAR, GRAND CENTRAL STATION, NYC OCTOBER 4, 2018
YOUNG ALUMNI NIGHT DECEMBER 21, 2018
RECEPTION AT HOME OF ADAM TENNER ’85, WASHINGTON, DC OCTOBER 11, 2018
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Tim Erday ’90
Andrea Freeman ’95
Olivia Kupfer ’07
Bruce Easop ’09
ALUMNI CAREER PANEL This fall, four alumni returned to campus to talk with current GSB seniors about the transition from GSB to college and from college to career. Tim Erday ’90 and Andrea Freeman ’95, well established in their respective careers as a financial advisor and veterinarian, were able to provide students with a longer view of the transition from college to career, while Olivia Kupfer ’07 and Bruce Easop ’09 shared their insights from the early stages of their careers. Each of the panelists spoke for a short time before taking questions from the students. Tim Erday ’90 was the first to address the group, encouraging the students not to worry if the path that brings them to their career is not always a straight line. He said, “Right now, don’t worry so much about where you are going and what your major is. Think more about the foundations you want to build and the areas in which you could shine. Surround yourself with intellectually curious people, learn, and have fun.” Andrea Freeman ’95 echoed Tim’s remarks, but for her the twists and turns only strengthened her determination to become a vet. Despite having already earned a master’s degree from Columbia University with a focus in wildlife health and parasitology, Andrea still did not gain admission to vet school the first time around. Today, the highly-respected vet is glad she persisted. “I always knew I wanted to be a vet,” she said. “I got there, but there were a lot of unplanned detours along the route. If you really want something, find a way to make it happen and know that the detours can also be really valuable.” Offering more of a boots-on-the-ground look at the job market, Olivia Kupfer ’07, who works as a brand manager for Diageo,
suggested that students work to diversify their experiences, such as taking classes that might not immediately appeal to them. “Do something that you might not like to do. You will make connections that you would not have seen in advance. Push yourself to do it; I promise you there will be a value, and if you still don’t like it, know when to walk away.” In a similar way, Bruce Easop ’09 talked about the value of a “breadth and variety” of work experience. A graduate of Princeton University, Bruce currently works as Special Assistant to the President for Communications and Research at Princeton University. Talking with the students at GSB, he encouraged them to explore and broaden their interests because trying something new often opens up unexpected possibilities further down the line. “Along the way, I don’t think I expected those experiences—such as editing the school newspaper at GSB or signing on to the Freshman Orientation Committee at Princeton—would apply later on because I didn’t know what my career path would look like,” he said. ”So, I encourage you to stay open to opportunities, and rather than focusing on whether each step in your journey is the right thing to do, try to focus on what you can learn from each of those steps and it really might surprise you how it can come in handy further down the line.” The alumni career panel was initiated by the alumni council, a group of dedicated alumni who meet three times each year to discuss alumni affairs at Gill St. Bernard’s. The career panel really began with the question: How can our alumni be a resource for current students? Special thanks to all of our alumni who served on the panel and to the alumni council members for their work behind the scenes.
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ALUMNI NOTES the FORTIES CLASS OF 1948 Ruth Sims ’48 recalls Gill as a place where a “shy introvert could begin to bloom.” She is still living at home, has a companion, an 11-year old little black poodle, and enjoys walks, lectures, concerts, and theater now and then.
Susan Felmeth Eanes ’63 and Bonnie Baxter Vesper ’63.
the FIFTIES CLASS OF 1958 Judy Harrison ’58 has recently moved from Sun Valley, ID, to Charleston, SC. One of her favorite memories at Gill was time spent playing field hockey. Judy welcomes hearing more from other Gill grads.
Susan Felmeth Eanes ’63 and Bonnie Baxter Vesper ’63.
the SIXTIES CLASS OF 1963 Susan Felmeth Eanes ’63 and Bonnie Baxter Vesper ’63 had a brief but wonderful visit in October when Bonnie came east from her home in Rochester, MN, with her husband, Al, to visit Susan in Litchfield, CT.
CLASS OF 1965
Best friends Becky (Siegel) Spratford ’93 and Alyssa (Tabakin) Miller ’92 catch up in Chicago.
Jill Walton Walsh ’65 hosted classmates in the Connecticut area.
the NINETIES CLASS OF 1993 Becky (Siegel) Spratford ’93 and Alyssa (Tabakin) Miller ’92, best friends since their Gill days, caught up in Chicago with their families.
CLASS OF 1995 Andrea Freeman ’95 visited Court Clayton ’95 while in London. Marci Richburg ’93 was also visiting Europe at the time and the three connected.
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Marci Richburg ’93, Andrea Freeman ’95 and Court Clayton ’95 catch up while visiting London.
the 21ST CENTURY CLASS OF 2003 Ray Conger ’03 was married last spring to Hilary Richards and completed his MBA at NYU Stern.
CLASS OF 2007 Amanda Bisson ’07 married Tom Jakubowski in September 2018 at the Ryland Inn in New Jersey. Classmates Luz Dominguez, Erica Conte, Nina Siman and Erica Bluestone were bridesmaids. Other ’07 grads attending were Tersey Regan Jacobsen, Olivia Kupfer, Gina Spilatro, Dan Dennison and Matt Siman ’06 as well. Emily Clamp ’07 is an Environmental Engineer for the Illinois EPA, a position she has held for the past five years. She has recently been accepted to the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin and will begin her studies in August.
Ray and Hilary Conger with Ray’s parents, Nancy and Bill.
Amanda Maybaum McLaughlin ’07 and her husband, Frankie, had their first born, Carter Lee. Carter was born on September 4, 2018 and he was 8 lbs, 5 oz and 20.5".
Amanda Maybaum McLaughlin ’07 and husband welcome new son Carter Lee.
Save t he
Date
Amanda Bisson ’07 married Tom Jakubowski in September 2018.
Emily Clamp ’07 shown here with her dad Bob Clamp.
GSB Alumni Weekend May 3-4, 2019 SPECIAL REUNION FOR CLASSES ENDING IN “4” & “9” WWW.GSBSCHOOL.ORG/GSBREUNION
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CLASS OF 2009 Bruce Easop ’09 officiated the wedding of Mara Wood ’09 and Adam Grare ’06 on January 12, 2019.
CLASS OF 2012 One of Nicolette Miranda’s ’12 fondest memories at Gill was cheering on the sidelines with the cheer squad during the 2011-2012 varsity basketball historic season.
CLASS OF 2016-17 Christian St. Germaine ’17, in the Public Relations Committee for the Cornell Fashion Collective, interviewed designer Katherine Williams ’16 about her work at Cornell. Follow link for full story: www.cornellfashioncollective.com/ blog/2018/11/27/designer-spotlightkatherine-williams-1#comments5bfe17b7758d46ba062735c1= In January, Will Dadouris ’17 and Kaitlyn Sleyster ’17 received a $10K grant from the Bill Belichick Foundation recognizing their work with ReLax Collections, a nonprofit that collects new and gently-used
Kaitlyn Sleyster ’17 and Will Dadouris ’17 received a $10K grant recognizing their work with ReLax Collections.
equipment for fledgling lacrosse programs in the United States and abroad. This is the fifth year that ReLax is in operation, and to date the organization has raised more than $750,000 worth of equipment. The grant will allow the two to continue to grow the program. To learn more about ReLax Collections, visit www.relaxcollections.org. The GSB Community would like to hear from you. Share your news by contacting the alumni office. GSB Alumni Office (908)234-1611, ext. 292 or cwalker@gsbschool.org.
OBITUARIES Douglas Patten ’72 died on October 10, 2018. “Doug” ’72 was a Brown Cup recipient. He lived in
Raritan and worked as a commercial real estate appraiser. Douglas is survived by his daughters Lindsay and Casey, and his sister Deborah (Terry) Tereinko.
Margaret (Margo) B. Ward ’58 of Earlysville, Virginia, died peacefully on October 31, 2018. Stricken with polio in 1945, Margo dealt with the effects of this disease throughout her life. Despite these challenges, Margo lived a full, rewarding and courageous life, giving herself to her family, friends, community and church. She is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, Richard; her son, Tom; her daughter-in-law, Joanne; her brother, Robert; her sister, Gretchen; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Judith Johnston Gilman ’50 of Hume, Virginia, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 10 at the age of 87. Judy was born to Ina and V.A. Johnston, Jr. on July 9, 1931, in New York. She grew up in New Jersey, graduating from Gill St. Bernard’s School and Bennett Junior College. Her life centered around her family, horses, and her dogs, and she freely devoted much time sharing her vast knowledge and experience. Judy was predeceased by her husband of 51 years, A. Robert Gilman, VMD. She is survived by her daughters Andrea Gilman and Julie Sullivan (Brent), three grandchildren, and her two sisters.
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IN MEMORIAM
Con Amor Marilyn Dori
Longtime faculty member Marilyn Dori passed away on December 17, 2018, after a lengthy illness. A Spanish teacher in GSB’s Upper School for almost 20 years, Marilyn touched the lives of countless students, alumni, parents and colleagues during her time at the school. Marilyn was born in Puerto Rico, and her family moved to the United States when she was a girl. Educated in both the US and Puerto Rico, she began teaching at Gill St. Bernard’s in 2000. She was named Assistant Dean before becoming Class Dean for the 12th Grade in 2015 when the school transitioned to having deans for each Upper School grade. In this role, she was particularly well known for the enthusiasm and care with which she threw herself into planning and implementing the senior prom each spring. “Marilyn was an absolute pleasure to work with,” offered Dean of Student Life David Pasquale. “As the 12th-Grade Dean, she was especially close with the seniors every year, but her passion and her ability to inspire students was not limited by age or grade. She was always generous with her time and wisdom, and she often provided a comforting shoulder to lean on for students and colleagues. She leaves a legacy at Gill that will be remembered for quite a long time.” In addition to organizing the prom each spring, Marilyn put together a semi-formal Homecoming dance in the fall and assisted with planning holiday and year-end parties in her role as faculty advisor to the on-campus social committee— a group she founded and ran. She also provided faculty members with social opportunities on campus, spearheading a faculty yoga group. A strong advocate for community service, Marilyn led several Spring Unit community service trips to Spanishspeaking countries: From Houses to Homes in Guatemala; volunteering in Peru at a home for students from indigenous families who had to leave their homes in order to continue their education; and volunteering at an orphanage in the Dominican Republic. For close to a decade, she also facilitated a student exchange program with a school in Zaragoza, Spain. In the words of longtime colleague Spanish
teacher Brittany Casser, “Marilyn loved her job and her students tremendously. She attended sporting events, theater performances, school community events, and more.” Those remarks were echoed by Upper School Director Sue Petrone, who shared, “Marilyn was a dedicated, enthusiastic, and engaging teacher who really understood her students. She was able to help her students become stronger Spanish speakers, but also helped them to see how much she loved teaching and how much she loved them.” In the final months of her life, Marilyn returned to Puerto Rico, where she was surrounded by family, friends and the ocean that she loved. Those who were with her shared that she faced this last challenge of her life with characteristic grace, courage and humor. She is survived by her son Jonah Dori, her sister Nilda Gonzalez, and countless friends whom she considered family. A service of celebration for Marilyn’s life will be held at GSB on April 6, at 2:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts & Community Center. Donations in honor of Marilyn’s life may be made to the Marilyn Dori Unit Scholarship Fund at GSB. The Class of 2019 yearbook is dedicated to Marilyn. Alumnus Ben Hiramoto ’16 prepared the tribute, which Marilyn was able to see before she died.
RESPECTED FOR HER DIRECT AND HONEST APPROACH TO EVERYTHING, MARILYN WAS A CHERISHED TEACHER, COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND. HER LAUGHTER WAS SO JOYFUL, AND THE LOVE SHE HAD FOR OTHERS KNEW NO LIMITS. – SID ROWELL, HEAD OF SCHOOL
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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
Performing Arts & Community Center Donor Wall