HARVEY … WHERE CURIOSITY TAKES ROOT: IN GRATITUDE TO THE WEIL FAMILY
Cover: Seventh grader Ella Adler engaged in class. Photo by Gabe Palacio
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Harvey’s Homestead
We honor the life and legacy of Frank A. Weil ’44 and the Weil Family, all of whom played an important role in bringing The Harvey School to its current campus home in Katonah on the former Weil Family homestead.
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Harvey’s STEAM Voyage to Denmark
Harvey Global Opportunities in Enhanced Studies (Harvey G.O.E.S.) brought students and teachers together for an engaging STEAM research collaboration abroad with peers at Ranum Efterskole College in Aalborg, Denmark for students aged 14-18.
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A Day of Athletic Triumphs & Community Fun: Homecoming 2024
The sun bathed the Harvey hilltop in warmth and light for Homecoming 2024 and the Alumni Reunion this past fall, uniting generations of the Harvey community to celebrate, reconnect, and cheer on Harvey’s athletic teams.
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Lights … Camera … Action!
Howard Baldwin ’56, son of beloved former Harvey librarian Rose Baldwin, and his wife Karen gift a stunning collection of original film posters to the school to showcase in The Walker Center for the Arts gallery.
magazine
The Harvey School
260 Jay Street, Katonah, NY 10536 harveyschool.org // (914) 232-3161
HEAD OF SCHOOL
William J. Knauer
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Karen Grazia
ALUMNI EDITOR
Greg Janos ’98
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Chris Del Campo
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Sarah Parker
CONTRIBUTORS
Nate Alexander ’13
Laura Dahm P’18, P’19, P’19
Barry Fenstermacher
Andrew Jamieson ’09
Chris Kelly
Ray Lacen
Alex Lindquist
Joanne Lombardi
Alex Pugliese ’07
Nikki Pugliese ’12
Denise Smith
Nicole Tantillo
Beth Visintainer
John Wahlers
Amanda Weil
Sandison E. Weil ’76
William Weil
CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHERS
Gabe Palacio
Tim Coffey
John Brooks
DESIGN
Good Design, LLC gooddesignusa.com
PRINTING
J. S. McCarthy Printers jsmccarthy.com
MISSION STATEMENT
Our purpose is to prepare and inspire students to become independent, adventurous thinkers and engaged, compassionate citizens in courageous pursuit of knowledge and truth.
CORE VALUES
» Passion for learning
» Respect
» Integrity
» Determination
» Excellence
From the Editor
During its 108-year history, The Harvey School has undergone two foundational moments. The first was its original establishment in 1916 in Hawthorne, New York; the second occurred in 1959 when it relocated to Katonah, New York, settling on the historic Hickory Hill homestead of the Weil Family. Each year, we honor our original founders, Dr. Herbert and Mabel Carter. Yet many in our community may be less familiar with our Katonah campus founders — Frank A. Weil ’44 and the Weil family — whose vision and generosity allowed Harvey to flourish in its current home.
In this issue, we’re excited to explore the pivotal role Frank Weil and his family played in relocating The Harvey School and the remarkable history of our 125-acre campus. Knowing that our school stands on the Weil Family’s former homestead, we are not surprised that Harvey radiates a homelike atmosphere cherished by students, faculty, staff, and alumni alike. Remembering our history reconnects us to our roots, highlighting the importance of preserving landmarks like the Weil House and Barn as central pieces of Harvey’s legacy.
In addition, you’ll read about the Harvey G.O.E.S. Program and the student trip to Denmark last June. In partnership with Ranum Efterskole College in Aalborg, Denmark, our students capped off their monthslong collaborative STEAM project by building an autonomous underwater vehicle for data collection and analysis. Learn about the challenges they faced, the milestones they reached, and the lasting impact of this cross-cultural experience on their lives.
As you dive into these stories, we hope you find inspiration in Harvey’s enduring legacy and the community that continues to honor and build upon it today.
Happy reading!
Karen Grazia, Director of Marketing & Communications kgrazia@harveyschool.org
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Eileen Walker, Chair
Philip Bowers ’70, Vice Chair
Jerri-Lynn Galgano, Vice Chair
Wendy Belzberg
Leslie Berni
Lara Casano ’05
Kevin Durkin
Ashley Foote, Secretary
Jonathan Kass
William J. Knauer, President
Wendy Lederer
Donna Leone
Lindsey Walker Lynch ’05
Gregg Roberts
Elizabeth Schwartz
Wallace L. Schwartz
Andrea L. Tessler, Treasurer
Dawanna Veneable
Dr. Nicole Wright ’05
Emeriti Trustees
Daniel K. Chapman ’73
Alice DeSomma
Barry W. Fenstermacher, Headmaster Emeritus
Edward W. Kelly
Charles A. Krasne
Raymond G. Kuntz
Jeffrey Lasdon
Jane Petty
ALUMNI EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Lara Casano ’95, President
Seth Morton ’57, Secretary Pieter Catlow ’73
Erica Cheyne ’14
Philip A. Eifert ’73
Daniel Galgano ’20
Andrew Jamieson ’09
Greg Janos ’98
Lindsey Walker Lynch ’05
Laurel Elkind Meredith ’88
Sean O’Brien ’09
Alex Pugliese ’07
HEAD’S COUNCIL
Dennis Dilmaghani ’62
John Fasciana P’02
Lori Garbin, P’16
Deirdre Glascott, P’19
John Hughes ’68
Richard Ledes ’71
Vivien Levy, P’16, ’19
Lucy Lopez, P’19
Jennifer Powell-Lunder, P’18
Dave Raneri ’69
David Silk, P’14, ’17
Kathleen Treat, P’16, ’18, ’18, ’22
Vanessa Williams, P’18
welcome from the head of school
People are often quite surprised when they first discover that there is a small cemetery on our 125-acre Harvey School campus. Surrounded by modest stacked stone walls, it sits tucked away in the land between the Evarts Ice Rink and the Raymond Kuntz Athletic Fields. Although at first glance a cemetery is an unusual feature for a school campus, like so much at Harvey, it serves as a tangible link, dating back more than two centuries, to our history and to our deep roots in the surrounding local community. This little-known yet intriguing feature of the campus also invites curiosity about its origins.
In 1927 Sylvan Weil, a New York businessman originally from Savannah, Georgia, married Ruth Alice Norman, the daughter of Aaron Norman, a successful entrepreneur who helped build the Sears, Roebuck & Co. empire, and his wife Lottie Rosenfield Norman. The Weils acquired the Hickory Hill estate that would eventually become The Harvey School campus in 1929. Frank Weil ’44, whom you will read more about in the pages that follow, was born at Hickory Hill in 1931.
At that point, the cemetery already existed as indicated by the presence of headstones dating back to the early 1820s that mark the resting place of members of the Lyon family, who had settled in the Bedford and Katonah area around the turn of the 19th century. Their prominent presence in the area is still reflected in nearby Lyon Ridge Road.
Some time in the 1930s, the cemetery was subdivided, and Aaron Norman was interred there in 1936, followed by Lottie in 1939. In 1952, Sylvan Weil was laid to rest near his in-laws and was joined by his wife, Ruth Alice, in 1971.
Even though this almost hidden cemetery is rarely noticed during the course of the year, it still acts as an enduring connection between the school and the Weil family. On a sunny Saturday morning this past fall, Frank Weil’s children and their families came together to celebrate the lives of their father and their mother, Denie, his wife of more than 70 years, and lay them to rest in a place they both loved.
When the Weil family generously donated their homestead to Harvey in 1959, they not only ensured the future of the school but also created a legacy that spans decades and continues to connect the family to the generations of students who call Harvey home.
All the best,
William J. Knauer, Head of School
“When the Weil family generously donated their homestead to Harvey in 1959, they not only ensured the future of the school but also created a legacy that spans decades and continues to connect the family to the generations of students who call Harvey home.”
HARVEY’S Homestead
By Chris Del Campo
Honoring FRANK A. WEIL ’44 & THE WEIL FAMILY
With the passing last spring of Frank A. Weil ’44, our school community lost one of its most prestigious and beloved alumni, a man who led an extraordinary life as a lawyer, renowned financial expert, and assistant U.S. secretary of commerce. Yet he always found time to be of service to Harvey, a school he loved and credited with guiding him through his formative years.
WWhat our newer generations within the Harvey community may not know is how great a role Frank Weil played in saving The Harvey School at one of its darkest hours — when New York State imposed its right of eminent domain on the school in its original site in Hawthorne, New York. Harvey was told that it had to abandon the property and leave at the end of the school year in 1959 to allow the state to build a cloverleaf traffic interchange at the convergence of Route 100 and the Taconic and the Saw Mill River parkways. The school had no place to relocate, and the fall term was just a few months away. But coming to the rescue was Frank Weil, who had attended Harvey as a middle schooler before moving on to Phillips Exeter Academy for his upper school education.
Frank, a graduate of Harvard Law School, was working on Wall Street when he learned of Harvey’s urgent need to find a new location. He called it an “injustice“ that the state was forcing the school to move so quickly, on such short notice. He thought that his family’s farm would make an ideal site for a school and that donating it would have pleased his father, Sylvan Weil, who was deceased. His mother, Dr. Ruth Alice Norman Weil, an organic chemist, had built a research lab called Hickrill Laboratory on the property, and it was meaningful that the lab would continue on as an educational adjunct to Harvey. Frank stepped up and offered part of his family’s 150-acre Katonah farm, called Hickory Hill, as Harvey’s new home.
“This was not simply a green field looking for a purpose. It was land and buildings looking for new people to appreciate it and keep it alive with youth,” Frank once said.
When he accepted his Centennial Award at Homecoming Day 2015, Frank’s great pride in Harvey was clearly evident when he said its longevity and success come from its having “the essential elements of a great school,” which he said included “environment, culture, and place, consistency of academic leadership, support from parents and graduates, students who want to be educated, and faculty who care and love students.” Recalling his days as a student in Harvey’s Hawthorne campus, Frank once shared that he found self-confidence at Harvey when he received the “Most Improved Student” prize at graduation. He said he hadn’t given it much thought until he heard a friend of his parents say he had earned the best prize available because “at this age, what kids should be working on is improving.”
Frank would go on to serve on Harvey’s Board of Trustees from 1961-1977, spending 10 of those years as the chair. He would see one of his sons, Sandison Weil, graduate Harvey in 1976, and later a grandson, Sandison Weil Jr., would attend as well. Frank, who would serve as an honorary school trustee for the rest of his life, was a familiar face at Harvey alumni gatherings throughout the years.
From his days as a student through the years he spent on the Board of Trustees, in both active and honorary capacities, Frank Weil’s connection to Harvey spanned nearly eight decades. Each October, we rightfully honor our school’s founders, Dr. William Carter and his wife Mabel, who in 1916, established the school on their property in Hawthorne. Perhaps it is also fair to say that Frank Weil could be considered a kind of second founder for his vital role in seeing that Harvey had a new home in the fall of 1959 after the state took possession of the Hawthorne campus. Who knows what might have become of Harvey without the intercession of Frank and his family!
The Harvey community will always be appreciative of the investment that Frank and his family made in the school’s past, present, and future.
“We appreciate the school taking such good care of our father’s legacy, as well as his parents Sylvan and Ruth Alice, as well as sisters Phoebe and Lucinda. It was a special place to them and remains so to us. As when our dad mistakenly ate a rare heirloom tomato as a young child (normally saved for its seeds), Hickory Hill is a place for exploration, experimentation, wonder, learning, and gratitude.”
—DEBBIE, AMANDA, SANDISON ’76, AND WILLIAM WEIL
Above. Thirty members of the Weil Family gathered at the small cemetery on the Harvey campus in September 2024 to inter Frank Weil ’44 and his wife Denie.
Frank’s Boyhood Home BECOMES HOME TO HARVEY
For Frank Weil to see his childhood home in Katonah become the new campus of the school he had attended in Hawthorne as a young boy was certainly extraordinary. He was quoted as saying, “You know, in the past, we used to grow vegetables, fruits, and animals here, and now we grow young people.” His reflection speaks to the profound pride he felt in seeing all the good that came about from his family’s gracious donation of the property to Harvey.
Frank was born in the original house on the top of the hill, but that building was later destroyed in a fire. The building that now stands at that location is named Sylvan Hall, after Frank’s father, Sylvan Weil. During WWII, the family moved temporarily to what is now known as the Weil House, near the red barn. Both structures are currently under renovation to preserve these historic buildings and repurpose them for future generations.
Frank and his wife Denie had a home nearby in Mount Kisco, New York. They often sent their three younger children to play hockey and skate at the Evarts Rink and attend the Harvey Summer Camp for many years, ensuring that the next generation of Weils would have a strong connection to Frank’s beloved childhood home. His daughter, Amanda, remembers, “Even as a young child, when doing arts and crafts in the barn, or swimming in the pool, or just playing Red Rover in the field, I knew that it was very special to be in the exact place where my father grew up.”
As Frank grew old and began to reminisce, he spoke of Hickory Hill with particular appreciation. He described his childhood there as “a feast of the senses.” He loved visiting the Harvey campus as Hickory Hill became everything he hoped for — “alive with youth.” Frank always knew that his final resting place would be at Harvey. He came full circle when, in September of this past year, 30 members of the Weil family gathered at the small cemetery near Evarts Rink to inter Frank and Denie right next to his mother and father and other family members, and also honor his memory.
Left. The pond behind Weil House on the Harvey campus // Right. Former Head of School Barry Fenstermacher being tossed into the pond // Below. The undefeated 2004-05 Middle School girls basketball team poses with Coach Beth Visintainer and a pond-soaked Mr. Fenstermacher
GO JUMP IN The Pond
There’s a fascinating tradition that involves the pond behind the Weil House, formerly the home of the head of school back in the days when Barry Fenstermacher presided over The Harvey School (1986-2016).
Mr. Fenstermacher and his wife held many school celebrations and community gatherings at their home for more than 30 years. So it wasn’t entirely unbelievable that Mr. Fenstermacher would come up with the idea to announce to the entire student body that any Harvey athletic teams that had an undefeated season would have the privilege of throwing the head of school into the pond in celebration.
Not really believing he was in any immediate danger of being submerged, Mr. Fenstermacher was in for a shock when two teams went undefeated that very year!
Beth Visintainer remembers that year with pride, as it was her Middle School girls basketball team that kept winning games much to the amusement of her family and herself, who admitted to having “absolutely zero sports talent.” Yet at the season’s end, they were undefeated.
Mr. Fenstermacher tried to delay the inevitable since it was March and there was ice on the pond.
“Don’t you want to wait until the ice is gone?”
asked Mr. Fenstermacher. “No, we can break the ice!” they responded.
So Ms. Visintainer and her team of incredible athletes rolled down to Weil House, carried Mr. Fenstermacher to the back of the house where they mucked through some cattails and used sticks to break the ice. Once they found enough deep water, they threw him into the freezing cold pond (which in all honesty is maybe three feet deep in winter and five feet in spring).
“We were so proud,” beamed Ms. Visintainer. Now that’s a tradition worth revisiting!
Coming in 2025:
Above Left. The Weil House and barns when Frank Weil was a young boy // Above Middle. Rendering of the renovated house and barn slated to be completed in summer 2025. Rendering courtesy of Rob Siegel. // Above Right. Construction underway in winter 2024 // Right. Rendering of Middle School flex space
COMPLETION OF THE WEIL HOUSE AND RED BARN PROJECT
By Sarah Parker, Director of Development
In 2016, Harvey’s Board of Trustees determined that the Weil House in its current state was no longer fit to house the head of school, and so they began to assess the possibility of renovating this historic building to be used for a new purpose. A capital project task force was established, and, after an extensive process of evaluating campus needs and interviewing key stakeholders, the board decided that the Weil House will be renovated to house Harvey’s “outward-facing” offices such as Admissions, Business, and Development to make room for much-needed classroom and academic space on Harvey’s upper campus. The adjacent red barn — since named the Alumni Barn in honor of the legacy gifts from recent graduating senior classes — will become a flexible community and event space, and a welcoming home for alumni reunions. Moreover, the Weil House and Barn complex will create a superior first impression of Harvey and serve as an impressive welcome center. Not only do the Weil House and red barn represent key moments in Harvey’s history but also they are protected historic structures. Local architect and former Harvey parent Rob Siegel P’22 was hired to create a design for the new Weil House and Barn complex that will honor these historic buildings and preserve as much of their original materials as possible, visually and symbolically representing the connection between Harvey’s past and future. The Weil family name will continue to live on at Harvey through this newly renovated Weil House and Barn complex, to be completed by fall 2025.
The effort to renovate and repurpose the Weil House and Barn complex has grown into the Cornerstone Campaign, which addresses four pressing capital renovations from the standpoint of building community and supporting student experience. Projects include the renovation of the unfinished lower level of the Krasne Middle School into a flexible community space plus the addition of two classrooms; transforming Sylvan Hall from administrative offices into academic space for Upper School students; and an extensive renovation of the O’Malley and Stafford Dormitories. For more information about current and upcoming capital projects, contact Sarah Parker at sparker@harveyschool.org or call (914) 232-3161, ext. 111.
Homecoming 2024
Harvey Homecoming 2024 was a day full of spirited competition, community activities, and school pride. Held on October 19, the event brought together students, families, alumni, faculty, and staff for a memorable celebration. The day’s athletic events saw Harvey’s teams shine, with Harvey Hill filled with cheering fans and school spirit under a clear blue sky.
The varsity football team thrilled the crowd with a commanding 46-26 win over the Frederick Gunn School, while the girls varsity soccer and varsity volleyball teams also earned decisive victories. The boys varsity soccer team battled to an exciting draw, showing resilience and skill. Although the varsity cross country team could not hold a meet due to construction on campus, the team got creative and held a Costume Run to join in on the festivities.
Beyond the athletic highlights, Homecoming offered a wide range of activities for all ages. Young children enjoyed face painting, while community members showed their school spirit by purchasing Harvey spirit wear and accessories. Auburn Jewelry offered custom forever jewelry pieces, and Petite Art Studio provided hands-on crafting fun for the younger attendees.
A unique touch to this year’s Homecoming was the Zen Zone, where guests could unwind and relax amidst the excitement. Alumnus Josh Gantt ’15 showcased his latest clothing designs of his brand Health Clothing, giving attendees a chance to support Harvey talent. Additionally, Harvey Grown teacher Carolyn Bean led a special nature-themed activity, fostering a deeper connection to the environment.
Harvey’s resident Chef Suchada Palmer and her Flik team kept everyone well-fed throughout the day, starting with breakfast treats and then a BBQ lunch. The Harvey Parent Association hosted a snack tent so there was always something to nibble on. Many on hand for the activities played cornhole throughout the afternoon as a fun way to socialize with friends. With athletic success and a rich lineup of activities, Homecoming 2024 was a day of celebration, school spirit, and community engagement — an event that Harvey will remember for years to come.
Alums Celebrate at the Top of Harvey Hill
Under a bright blue sky on October 19 without a cloud in sight, we welcomed our alumni back to campus for a special day of reconnection and celebration as part of our Alumni Reunion at Homecoming 2024. From honoring distinguished alumni to enjoying a variety of communitycentered activities, the event brought together generations of Harvey graduates to celebrate the school’s enduring legacy.
The day began at the Alumni Hospitality tent, where alums were greeted warmly by Director of Alumni Relations Greg Janos, himself a Harvey alum from the Class of 1998. The tent buzzed with excitement as former classmates reunited, reminiscing about their school days and catching up on life post-Harvey. The tent offered refreshments and provided a prime central spot for alums to reconnect and watch the athletic contests taking place on Stark Field below.
A delicious lunch was prepared on location by Wah Gwaan Tacos, a flavorful spread of Jamaican-inspired jerk tacos by Harvey alumnus Stephen Wallace, Class of 2007, bringing an extra sense of pride to the event as alums enjoyed savory food made by one of their own. Stephen’s success in the culinary world is just one of many examples of Harvey alumni making a name for themselves post-graduation.
“This year’s Homecoming and Alumni Reunion were exceptional, with each event continuing to surpass the previous year. What stands out the most to me is the number of new faces and the growing engagement from our alumni. It’s inspiring to see them network, reconnect, and strengthen the lifelong bonds they formed at Harvey. Watching everything come full circle is truly rewarding.”
— Greg Janos ’98, Director of Alumni Relations
Alumni Hall of Fame
One of the highlights of Harvey Homecoming 2024 was the Alumni Hall of Fame presentation, with this year’s honorees being recognized for their outstanding achievements and ongoing contributions to the Harvey community.
» Richard Mack ’91 received the Distinguished Alumni Award, recognizing his significant professional accomplishments and philanthropic efforts. He was inducted by Lara Casano ’95, who spoke warmly about Mack’s impact both in the world and within the Harvey community.
» Chia Hudson ’07 was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame for her exceptional accomplishments in athletics during her time at Harvey as the only track and field athlete at the time and no official team. Current cross country and track and field coach Christian Coscio recounted her dedication, hard work, and leadership on and off the field and declared her the best student-athlete Harvey has ever known.
» John DePalma ’01 received the Outstanding Service Alumni Award, recognizing his continued involvement and support of the Harvey School community. His induction, led by Vinny Alexander, underscored John’s passion for giving back to his alma mater and his dedication to Harvey students, faculty, and staff as a member of today’s Harvey School and Harvey Summer Camp staff.
After helping to cheer the varsity football team onto victory in their Homecoming game, the alums concluded their day with a special alumni reception at Peppino’s in Katonah. “The alumni-exclusive reception at the restaurant was the perfect way to cap off an exciting weekend,” said Mr. Janos. “I’m already looking forward to planning next year’s event and seeing everyone again throughout the year.”
We look forward to welcoming even more alumni back to campus in the years to come, as the tradition of Homecoming and alumni reunions continues to thrive.
2004 Class Reunion
A few members of the Class of 2004 gathered at Grace’s pub in NYC to celebrate 20 years since graduating Harvey. Among the attendees were Joanna Glickberg, Liz Mearsheimer, Nick Hertz, Lauren Spatz, Chris Vitolo, Tom Tedone, Michael Leone, Nick Duncan, Jon Klein and Greg Haas. A great time was had by all!
Harvey’s STEAM Voyage to Denmark
By Karen Grazia
June 2024 saw the return of the Harvey Global Opportunities in Enhanced Studies Program, or Harvey G.O.E.S., with 25 of our students and four teachers embarking on a trip to Denmark as part of a collaborative STEAM project.
This theme-based exchange program involved Harvey students and teachers collaborating on an interactive research project outside the United States. Beginning in January 2024, Harvey partnered with students at Ranum Efterskole College in Aalborg, Denmark, to design and build an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to implement aquatic data collection and analysis. Students were permitted to choose their area of interest to study from among robotics, ecology and marine biology, or film and media arts.
Work began in January 2024 with a visit from the Danish students and teachers to the Harvey campus. The students worked together in the Harvey robotics lab while the film and media arts team began capturing the process for a student-created documentary that would conclude in Denmark six months later.
During the next few months, the Harvey and Danish students continued their work separately as they eagerly awaited reuniting in Denmark to put their hard work to the test. Arriving in
Denmark in early June for a two-week stay, the Harvey team wasted no time getting down to work with the Danish team.
“At the Maritime Center, the robotics team worked on technical issues with the AUV while the science team worked in the marine biology lab learning about Ranum’s coral revitalization program,” said Alexandra Lindquist, Harvey G.O.E.S. organizer, English teacher, and director of the international program. “The film and media arts students continued to film as well as review and edit footage,” she said.
The science students and film crew joined the robotics team members out on the sailboats to launch the vessels. While waiting to get on the boats, team members enjoyed exploring the shoreline, examining the local geology, and even swimming in the chilly fjord (49 degrees Fahrenheit) followed by warming up in the sauna.
Learn more about each team’s objectives and goals.
The ROBOTICS Team
Logan Alexander ’25, Wyatt Bland ’26, Brady Campos ’25, Łukasz Daszczyński ’24, Olaf Górski ’24, Will Hargreaves ’25, Eli Klagsbrun ’26, Gabriel Meredith ’25, Neel Mistri ’27, Kyler Warner ’27, Sullivan Wieting ’27, Daniel Wood ’24, Ben Zilberstein ’25, and Jack Zimmerman ’27 with their teachers John Wahlers and Chris Kelly
The technical objective of the STEAM project was to develop an AUV capable of efficiently capturing video footage underwater in a fjord while simultaneously measuring pressure, light levels, and temperature at various depths.
“The engineering team went through a two-month brainstorming process, which we listed out all our ideas,” said Gabe Meredith ’25, the project manager for the team. “These ideas varied from building hugely complex boats to using a remotecontrolled submarine-like robot.” In the end, the team decided on refactoring their drone into a small pod about a foot long. “We used a Raspberry Pi connected to a camera to record a two-hour video of the drone as it traveled through the fjord,” Gabe said.
“The robotics team created the internals and circuitry for the capsule that would be suspended under the surface of the water, where it could record data visually and internally,” said Wyatt Bland ’26.
“We had more than a few technical and engineering difficulties when assembling the final robot in Denmark,” said John Wahlers, Harvey robotics teacher and director of technology. “We transported the robots in pieces, and everything was assembled completely for the first time once we got to Denmark.”
Brady Campos ’25 set a personal goal to construct a soil sampling device for the AUV similar to those used on large research vessels. “I broke my workflow into three steps — research, CADing (computer-aided designing), and prototyping,” said Brady, who further explained, “This workflow was repeated for the duration of the project as I was constantly discovering new information and working to improve my design.” Brady went through three different variations of the soil sampler, each very unique and borrowing design elements from different places. Although the soil sampler didn’t end up being incorporated into the final AUV, Brady still learned a lot from his research and months of designing.
“The Danish students were fantastic to work with and brilliant in their ways, which allowed me and my peers to experience how school is conducted in other parts of the world. This was my first experience as a project manager. It helped me learn how to be more confident in my communication.”
— GABE MEREDITH ’25
“The students and adults at Ranum were eager to learn from and about us, and we were equally interested in learning about Denmark, their culture, and their unique school environment. The hospitality and friendship was contagious. We all felt as if we were at home.”
— JOHN WAHLERS, HARVEY DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY AND ROBOTICS TEACHER
Everything did not go according to plan, requiring the students to work toward solutions in the moment, in the classroom, on land, and on the water. “Neither school had any experience with underwater vehicles,” said Mr. Wahlers. “Combining our skills, resources, and ingenuity allowed us to create a unique vehicle which sank below the surface on more than one occasion, but thankfully came back.” The practical engineering and problemsolving experience was worth dealing with the setbacks for the team, as they got the chance to work directly and continuously with their Danish counterparts in the robotics lab.
After a few days of submerging the AUV in the fjord and not getting any useful results, underwater video clips started to appear on the screen and everyone was instantly mesmerized by what appeared. “We had video of the bottom of the fjord, rock formations, mud, sand, and plant and animal life,” said Mr. Wahlers. With renewed energy, the robotics students redoubled their efforts to fix issues and improve the robot before heading back out to the fjord again.
“The video footage turned out excellent,” said Logan Alexander ’25, the lead engineering designer. “It was incredibly insightful to see what the bottom of the fjord looks like.”
“The entire trip became worth everything we put into it the instant the bottom of the fjord appeared on that screen,” shared Mr. Wahlers. “I’ll never forget it. It was one of the most satisfying moments of my professional career.”
“The time we spent on the sailboat laughing, talking, and sharing our own experiences with the Danish robotics students was when we really learned about one another. I truly enjoyed the experience.”
The ecology and marine biology team’s collective objective was to observe the ecosystem in a foreign country, as well as study the human impact on the environment, which can drastically change the ecosystem.
“The biology team met in the winter to begin working,” said Maeve Lazzaro ’26. “We drafted our ideas, what we wanted to accomplish, and a list of needs from the robot. From there, we did research of our own on life in a fjord and about ghost nets.” Ghost nets are abandoned fishing nets that usually end up discarded at the water’s bottom, endangering animals and the ecosystem.
“Our team collaborated with the robotics team to collect data and observations from the underwater drone,” said Harvey science teacher Nicole Tantillo. “Although the probes for the drone were unable to collect data on water temperature or collect water samples, there was still much information to be studied from
“I
really enjoyed being at the school and meeting all the students. I roomed with three other girls and they were all very sweet and welcoming. During our free time we walked into town and went to the shops. The school is beautiful, and I liked exploring the campus as well!”
— MAEVE LAZZARO ’26
the video footage that allowed the team to view various species present in the fjord.”
“The science team took a lot of note-taking on the environment in the first few days,” shared Sophia Collum ’26. “Our notes included the wind speed, weather, template, water turbidity, and environmental observation. We also broke open rocks and observed the insides,” she said. “Our goal was to study the biological life and surroundings of the fjord, such as animal and plant life, water temperature, and water clarity,” Sophia said.
The students were able to observe for themselves the haunting impact of human activities on the ecosystem. “In the end, the robot was successful at capturing footage of the fjord, and we saw crabs and a whole lot of ghost nets. In the fjord, the human impact changed the environment for the worse as ghost nets were scattered all over the bottom of the water,” shared Maeve.
“The G.O.E.S. program provides students with the opportunity to broaden their cultural understanding and their experience of the world. Traveling in general is an enriching experience, but the added layer of collaboration with peers makes for a more meaningful connection to the land, people, and culture.”
— NICOLE TANTILLO, HARVEY SCIENCE TEACHER
All the Harvey students visited the National Test Center for Wind Turbines. “We got to see a variety of wind turbines and learn about how they work and how they supply Denmark and Germany with power,” said Ms. Tantillo.
Amelia Bowman ’27 enjoyed the incredible experience of traveling to Denmark and experiencing the Efterskole. “My favorite part of the trip was our outing to the North Sea,” Amelia said. “It was absolutely stunning. The waves were 12 feet high. The natural beauty was surreal,” she said.
The students gained a different perspective from working with the Danish students. “Their collaboration on the project brought more energy and enthusiasm to the experience as a whole,” Ms. Tantillo said. “The trial-and-error aspect of the design process can be tiring, but having a new group of individuals to collaborate with and taking that experience to a new country made everything more exciting and memorable,” she said.
“A fun memory had to be after our long walking tours and getting to debrief at the pool or just talk about random things in the sauna where you got to meet more people from around the world who were also visiting Denmark. It was a fully immersive experience. I met new people, saw new things, and learned new customs. I have tons of photos and a documentary to look back on.”
— AMANI KELLY CARTY ’26
FILM & MEDIA ARTS Team
William Bland ’25, Amani Kelly Carty ’26, Grace Hamilton ’27, Ava Lazaroff ’24, and Zoe Seltzer ’27 with teacher Nate Alexander ’13
Members of the film and media arts team filmed and recorded the progress of the robotics and science teams, conducting interviews and documenting their findings and results. As soon as the Harvey group arrived in Denmark, filming began.
“Once we arrived at the pier, the film group instantly began filming and breaking off into groups,” shared Amani Kelly Carty ’26. “Some with GoPros, some with standard Canon cameras or an iPhone with microphones,” she said.
The team members frequently rotated these jobs and were able to capture the moment when the robot was dropped into the fjord. Amani was in charge of interviewing students and teachers. “Interviews were held with teachers, administrators, and the students behind this project,” she said. “I was able to capture the raw and natural moments with all the students and teachers on the marine biology team and robotics team.”
Harvey Media Arts teacher Nate Alexander ’13 was in charge of the film and media arts team and was in awe of the experience from both the student and teacher perspective. “The highlight of the trip for me was working with students in Ranum’s media lab. Our team came together and worked hard to edit footage, create graphics, and even create music for the film,” Mr. Alexander said. “It was an awesome experience to see the work of all the teams come together in the form of an exciting, student-produced documentary,” he said.
“The Ranum school was welcoming, and Harvey students were able to live in the dorms, eat meals, and attend activities with the Danish students. It gave our students a unique perspective they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to experience.”
— NATE ALEXANDER ’13, HARVEY MEDIA ARTS TEACHER
our documentary!
The documentary was shared with the Harvey community this past fall and at the State of School this past September. It can also be found on the school’s website under Innovative Programs and Harvey G.O.E.S. (www.harveyschool.org/ academics/signature-programs/harvey-goes)
“By breaking up the trip into interdisciplinary teams, students had to work with one another to problem-solve and accomplish a wide array of tasks,” Mr. Alexander said. “As problems arose, students had to adapt to the situation at hand. Students were able to triumph and overcome these challenges and learn a multitude of life skills from this trip,” he added.
As with all good film crews, everything is captured and reviewed in the editing process. “Lots of laughs and funny bloopers were captured,” Amani shared. “It was truly a great experience for everyone.”
What We SAW & DID
“One of the major benefits of Harvey G.O.E.S. is that I would not have gone to Denmark on my own, nor tried certain things such as the roller coasters. The canal trip where everybody (except Mr. and Mrs. Wahlers) was absolutely drenched in the heavy downpour.”
— LOGAN ALEXANDER ’25
“A fun memory happened at Tivoli Park in Copenhagen. While I was feeding the fish, a blackheaded gull landed on my head! Throughout the trip all the students contributed to a journal that helped us share our experiences.”
— AMELIA BOWMAN ’27
“I believe this was a valuable experience for the Harvey students. It allowed students to not only interact and learn alongside other students their age from a different country but also gave students the chance to experience a different way of life while learning through hands-on experiences rather than in a typical classroom setting.”
— BRADY CAMPOS ’25
NATIONAL TEST CENTER FOR WIND TURBINES
HARVEY G.O.E.S.
NATIONAL PARK: Site of WWII German Bunker and Museum
SPRINGEREN MARITIME EXPERIENCE CENTER
THE RANUM EFTERSKOLE in Aalborg, Denmark LIGHTHOUSE on wild western short of Jutland
DENMARK
TOURING COPENHAGEN Including cooking Danish pastries with the Danish students and immersion in Danish culture
TIVOLI GARDENS World’s second oldest amusement park
ROLLERCOASTER at Tivoli
On a broader scale, this was a cross-curricular venture involving environmental science, videography, and robotics.
The project provided an opportunity to enhance student understanding of the fjord’s underwater ecosystem via video recordings and environmental measures. “I believe the real educational value was that the scope of the project created an ideal collaborative opportunity to bring together Harvey students from diverse educational disciplines and foster innovation and broaden perspectives,” said Harvey robotics teacher Chris Kelly. “This type of complex challenge, by design, prepares our students to think critically and creatively across multiple fields.”
“I homed with one of the Danish kids named Mikle, and it was a great experience. I would gladly do it again. My favorite memory was the Tivoli amusement park. The trip was such a valuable experience because it lets you see the world.”
— KYLER WARNER ’27
“Walking around and exploring the city of Copenhagen, seeing new things, and meeting new people gave me a chance to leave my comfort zone. This was fun, and the country is beautiful.”
— SOPHIA COLLUM ’26
Karen Baldwin, Rose Baldwin, and Howard Baldwin ’56
Lights … Camera … ACTION!
Hollywood arrived in The Walker Center for the Arts by way of a stunning collection of original film posters generously gifted to Harvey by alumnus Howard Baldwin ’56 and his wife Karen. Howard and Karen are well-respected film producers who have brought many iconic films to the big screen through their production company KEMB Productions. This very special “Movie Poster Gallery” went on display in September 2024 in the gallery space for the community to enjoy as we celebrate Howard and Karen’s incredible contributions to the world of cinema and their continued support of Harvey.
Howard is the son of the late Rose Baldwin, a longtime teacher and mentor at Harvey from 1951 to 1973, serving first as the school’s beloved librarian, instilling in students the love of reading and learning, and then later as a trustee.
“We wanted to gift our movie posters to The Harvey School for the Performing Arts Center in memory of Howard’s mother, Rose Weld Baldwin,” shared Howard and Karen. “We felt it was appropriate to gift them to the school as they are personal to us. Each poster represents a film we were integral to creating and executing,” they said. “We hope they will help to inspire Harvey students.”
To learn more about Howard and Karen at KEMB Productions, visit kembproductions.com.
Howard Baldwin ’56 and Karen Baldwin with Jamie Foxx after producing the film “Ray” together.
State of the School 2024 Community & Conversation
Every September, we host our annual State of the School event in The Walker Center for the Arts, bringing together parents, guardians, faculty, staff, and trustees for an evening of community and conversation. This past fall, the night began with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for attendees in the gallery space where they could also view the “Movie Poster Gallery” exhibition gifted to Harvey by alumnus and filmmakers Howard Baldwin ’56 and his wife Karen. (See page 28 for more on this generous gift.)
Eileen Walker, Chair of the Board of Trustees, opened the event with a heartfelt introduction, highlighting the school’s ongoing successes and expressing gratitude for the Harvey community’s support. Her remarks were followed by an engaging presentation from Head of School William J. Knauer, who discussed Harvey’s new initiatives and strategic priorities, emphasizing the school’s commitment to academic excellence, student well-being, and
campus improvements. Mr. Knauer also shared an impressive short film created by students who documented the June student trip to Denmark through the program Harvey G.O.E.S. (Read about this trip on page 18 of this issue.)
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Faculty Impact Award, a prestigious recognition that honors community members who embody the Harvey spirit, give selflessly to the school, and make a profound impact on the community. The 2024 Faculty Impact Award recipient, Susan Harris, a dedicated faculty member and the dean of grades 9 and 10, has made a significant difference in our community, and we are proud to celebrate her achievements.
After the presentation, guests enjoyed a reception on the patio outside the Arts Center, mingling under the evening sky. The event was a wonderful start to the new school year for the entire school community.
2024 Faculty Impact Award recipient Susan Harris
In Their Own Words
Profiles from the International Student Program
Marc Bueno Guerra ’26
Hello, everyone. I’m Marc Bueno Guerra. I am 16 years old. I’m from Murcia, which is in the southern part of Spain, and I’m studying at Harvey in 11th grade. In Spain, I live with my mother and father. My parents are Maria and Juan Manu. I have two brothers who are already independent. My brothers are named David and Gorka. David is 32 years old, and Gorka is 24. In the United States, my host family is lovely. They are Ignacio and Laura Gomez. I’m living with two other international students, Yun and Alvaro. Yun is from Korea and Alvaro is from Spain. We have a great time on the weekends. We always do a lot of things. We like going to Danbury or just staying home playing ping pong, which we’re all really good at.
My hometown of Murcia is not a very big city, but it’s not small either. It’s a medium-sized city. I live very well in Murcia. I love walking through its streets, and the people who live there are very charming. The difference I’ve noticed is that Katonah is much smaller than Murcia. What I miss the most about Murcia is hanging out with my friends there. When I first came to Harvey, I thought I was going to have a really bad week, missing my family, my friends, and my city, but that wasn’t the case. From the very first day, I made friends, and I haven’t had a single bad day in Harvey so far.
My favorite subject is Algebra 2. At first, it wasn’t my favorite, but now I love it. The teacher explains things really well, and I understand everything perfectly. I’m not very good at math, but thanks to the teacher, I’ve improved a lot. I haven’t decided yet on the university major I’m going to take. I’ve joined the Sports Club; it’s quite entertaining, and we play all kinds of sports. Speaking
of sports, this past fall I did soccer, and in winter I’m going to play basketball. My favorite extracurricular activity is basketball because it’s my favorite sport. My whole family plays it, so I grew up with it.
I am having a great experience at Harvey. I really like their way of teaching, which, unlike in Spain, is much more practical here. That is much better than studying an entire book and then not knowing what to do when it’s time to practice what you’ve learned. Here at Harvey, it’s much better because, yes, you have to study, but you also practice. So what you learn, you memorize and put into practice.
Adam (Ruiming) Wang ’26
I’m Adam Wang, 16 years old, and a junior international student from Changchun, China, where I live with my parents. Changchun, in the northeast part of China, is the capital city of Jilin province with a population of almost eight million. The city’s economy is supported by car and high-speed trains and subway manufacturers and about 20% of cars manufactured in China per year were built here. It’s also the city that manufactured the first car and movie that was made in China, so I am proud to have been born in Chanchun and to call it my hometown.
There’s a significant difference between my hometown and Katonah. Katonah is just like a national park, which has fresh air, and it’s just like living and studying in a natural forest with hundreds of history. After four months of study, I have become more and more adept at following the campus study rhythm.
The enthusiasm from teachers and classmates makes me not feel lonely but happy as I enjoy the study journey in Harvey.
My favorite subject is physics. Learning physics requires strong logic and a lot of formulas to be memorized. There are some difficulties during the study of physics, but my dream is to become an aircraft engineer, so I enjoy the process of learning physics. Every time I learn a formula I feel that I am one step closer to my dream, so learning physics is not a study but a process to realize my dream for me.
Turning to sports, I chose instructional tennis in the fall because it is one of my favorite sports. My school in China doesn’t have a tennis court, but here at Harvey I have a chance to play my favorite sport. During my free time, the library is my favorite place to go. It provides students a quiet and comfortable atmosphere to study or review during the free slot.
Four months of Harvey’s experience has let me feel many aspects of America. People’s enthusiasm and outgoing character let me fit in on campus more comfortably and enjoy studying.
Alvaro Churruca ’27
My name is Alvaro Churruca. I am 15 years old, and I’m in 10th grade at Harvey. I live in Madrid, the capital of Spain. In my family there are five members — me, my parents, my brother Carlos, who is 9 years old, and my sister Carolina, who is 13 years old. Here in the United States I board in school on weekdays and stay in the home of Ignacio and Laura Gomez during the weekends. I play a lot of ping pong with Marc Bueno Guerra from Spain and Jun Lee from South Korea, who both live with me with our hosts.
Where my host parents live it’s a little city called Danbury and I saw that in the city there were a lot of Mexican people. The thing I like the most about Danbury is that it is a very beautiful city with very green hills, and I think it’s very similar to Katonah.
The thing I miss about my hometown is walking around the neighborhood. I feel very lucky to be at Harvey, but I also think that the days can be very intense because we are always doing things. The transition was easy. I made friends quickly and the people here are very nice. The only thing I had a bit of problems with is that here the life is in English. In the beginning I felt a bit of a struggle, but I said to myself that I am very lucky to be here and that this is an opportunity once in life.
Here my favorite subject is English because my classmates are very friendly and they help me when I need it. I also feel that I’m improving my English skills. This fall I played soccer as a goalkeeper. During my free time I normally go to the library to study because I have a lot of homework or because it is a quiet place.
The thing I like the most here is that I basically live with my friends, and I spend a lot of time with them.
Mirosa Gregori ’27
My name is Mirosa Gregori and I am a sophomore and 15 years old. I come from Barcelona, Spain, but I am also Italian, from Venice. I live with my parents and my little brother Manuel who is 5 years old. My host parents are Ivonne and César. They have two children, Kayla, 14 years old and César, 11. There is also another international student from France. Her name is Louise and she is my age.
We play board games together and cook different dishes from our countries.
Barcelona is a pretty big city and is one of my favorite places in the world. It is usually warm there during the year. What I like about Barcelona is that the people are very friendly, and they don’t judge your appearance. I like that it is near the beach. It’s a really beautiful city to live in and to visit and, although it’s very touristy, it is also very peaceful for me.
The principal difference between living in Spain and in Katonah is that in Spain I could go everywhere walking or using public transportation, but here I always have to go by car. It is my first time in a boarding school and I really like it. It’s like living with your friends. At the beginning I was very homesick and I didn’t really like being here, but now I’m having an amazing time and meeting new people.
My favorite subject is math because for me it’s really easy to understand and memorize. I don’t know what I want to study in college, but I’m thinking about a career related to economics or criminology. My extracurricular activity in the fall was volleyball, and in the winter I’m looking forward to joining the ski team.
During my free time I like listening to music and chilling with my friends. What I really like about Harvey is that people are very friendly. I’m also enjoying dorming; it’s a very rare aspect in Spain and very exciting.
Blaire (Soyeon) Kim ’27
My name is Blaire Kim, a 10th grader from Busan, South Korea. I live with my family, which includes my dad, mom, my sister Seung Yeon, who is 15, and my 10-year-old brother, Suhyeon. We’re a pretty close family, and I love spending time with them. We also have two dogs, Bungae and Yaksun, who are both 6 years old and always keep things lively at home.
I’m staying with a wonderful host family who has been so welcoming. They have five kids, so their house is always bustling with activity, but I love the lively atmosphere. One weekend, they took me to this famous ice cream shop in town that they’ve been raving about. I decided to try the brownie and Earl Grey tea flavors, which were amazing — so rich and unique! It was such a fun experience, and I’m enjoying discovering new places and trying new things with my host family.
Busan, my hometown, is the second-largest city in South Korea, with 3.27 million people. It’s famous for its beautiful beaches and lively atmosphere. I often miss Busan, especially because Korean and American food are so different. I love spicy food, but it’s hard to find dishes that are spicy enough here in the U.S. Even though the dorm rules are stricter than I expected, I’m enjoying the challenge of getting used to a new place and culture as I work toward my goals.
My favorite subjects are math and art. I like math because it’s straightforward, with clear answers, while art lets me express myself without any strict rules. This past fall, I played tennis for the first time. Although I’m still learning how to play, I enjoyed the challenge of trying something new. I also plan to try skiing this winter. In my free time, I love listening to music of all kinds. I don’t stick to just one style. Someday, I would love to work as a music director.
In the few months I’ve been living in the U.S., I’ve noticed many interesting things about the culture. One thing that stands out is how much people value individuality and personal expression. Everyone is open about sharing their ideas, which creates an environment where different viewpoints are appreciated. I also like the sense of community and how quickly people welcome newcomers.
At Harvey, I enjoy meeting people from all over the world. The school offers many activities and clubs that let me explore new interests and connect with others who share my passions. I also appreciate how supportive the teachers are. They encourage students to think deeply and express themselves, making learning more interesting. Although there have been some challenges, I’m enjoying my time here and am excited to keep exploring what American life has to offer.
Frank (Xu) Zhang ’27
I am Frank (Xu) Zhang. I am a sophomore from Beijing, China, and I am 16 years old. In China, I live with my parents and my siblings. My sister is 19 years old now and my brother is 12 years old. My sister is a college student and my brother is a middle schooler.
My hosts in America are the Controne family, a couple with a daughter and a son. The daughter is a college student, and the son, who is in high school, plays many sports. They celebrated my birthday in a Chinese restaurant called Fantasy. The food there was very good, and we had a lot of fun that day. My hometown Beijing is a very fun city with a large population. In my hometown, you can find a lot of good food such as Peking duck and Beijing hot pot. The biggest difference I have experienced here in the U.S. is the language. Although I love learning to speak English here, sometimes I still miss speaking Mandarin, which is comfortable for me. During the first few months on the Harvey campus, life has been really nice. I am making a lot of friends and getting better at my school work than last year.
My favorite subject is music because I play saxophone and I am in the school band. I joined the football team because I love the
competition. It is my favorite extracurricular activity. I planned to join the weight room during the winter. During my free time, I always listen to music and practice football, and I really enjoy talking to my friends.
In conclusion, the thing I love the most about American culture is football. I have not looked for my career yet because I am only a sophomore.
Jun (Hyunjun) Lee ’28
My name is Jun. I am in ninth grade. I’m from Seoul, South Korea where I live with my family, consisting of my father, mother, and my younger brother. His name is Eli, and he loves and is good at baseball, much better than other kids. My host family at The Harvey School is Mr. Nacho (Ignacio Gomez) and Ms. Laura and their two Silky Terriers, Junior and Ella. I also live with Marc Bueno Guerra and Alvaro Churruca. On weekends, I usually play table tennis with Marc and Alvaro in the basement or play with the family’s dogs.
My hometown Seoul is the capital city of South Korea. As a capital city, the population density is quite high, so there are not many places to exercise. But in the United States, I was really astonished that there is an enormous space to play sports such as tennis, soccer, and even an ice skating rink. On the other hand, I really miss Korean food, especially hot soup. For me, the food here is a little greasy, like hamburgers and pizza. I used to like those foods, but imagine if you eat them at least twice a week! The time difference between here and Korea is 13 hours, which means night and day have totally changed. I just struggled with the time difference for a few days. I eventually adjusted to the time, but there was a major problem, communication. I’m trying to solve this problem nowadays by speaking and listening a lot.
My favorite subject is robotics, since coding and making a robot makes me feel accomplished. Also, I’d learned C language in Korea, so it was not that difficult for me to learn new codes and programming for robots. Making robots with a programming language inspired me to make my job related to robotics. I will take an Ultimate Frisbee Club because I used to play Ultimate in Korea. Also, in the fall I participated in cross country and I love running. Even though I had never heard about cross country before, it has become my favorite sport. In my free time, I like to play computer games.
While I’m staying here, I love the culture which is being polite in every situation when people greet someone. Even if I meet peers for the first time, they treat me as a true friend with a handshake. The Harvey School, the most energetic school in the United States, is a school that makes me eager all the time.
Mike (Zicheng) Wang ’28
My name is Mike (Zicheng) Wang. I am in ninth grade, and my hometown is a really beautiful city called Hangzhou in China. My family has four members — my mother, my father, my grandmother and me. I am the only child in my family.
My host is Ms. Pilar Menacho. She is pretty excellent. She has a 27-year-old son and a 29-year-old daughter. Her son’s name is Giovanni and her daughter’s name is Michelle. Since they are all adults, they do not live with their mom.
My hometown is Hangzhou, the capital city in the Zhejiang province, so it is really a large modern city. The population in Hangzhou is more than 15 million people, a really large population. In my opinion, the best point of living in Hangzhou is that it has really convenient public transportation. You can take public transportation to go everywhere. That is really convenient for peoples’ lives. The dominant difference between Hangzhou and Katonah is that Hangzhou is a modern city. It is really noisy every day, but Katonah is just a small town, so it is really quiet. Katonah’s ecological environment is also much better than Hangzhou. I felt really excited for the first few days because I went to a definitely different environment, and I also felt excellent after a few days since all the students and teachers treated me friendly. It is really awesome. I adapted to the study environment in America really quickly. I am an outgoing and optimistic person. I already made many friends in Harvey, so the transition was not a big deal for me. I did not experience struggles at first.
My favorite subject is robotics class because I am interested in making robots. Although it is difficult for me to learn how to code the C language, I would like to challenge myself. It is not a problem for me. I have no idea about my career in the future now since I have not yet found what I am really good at. I played football this past fall season, and I really loved my football team. During winter, I may go to the weight room to enhance my strength and athletic ability to become a better football player. My favorite extracurricular activity is running. In my opinion, running not only can help to keep me healthy but also can release my pressure and let me relax. By the way, I really enjoy watching some sports games like football, basketball, and soccer if I have spare time. I also can learn some skills from watching these games.
My most enjoyable thing about the culture in America is that people always greet each other, and Americans also greet someone who they are not really familiar with. That is pretty interesting because in China many people do not greet each other even if they are friends. From my point of view, the best part of my life at Harvey is football. I really have a passion for it. I also played football in China; however, I was under a lot of pressure to study in China, so I just participated in football practice on Sunday. I felt upset about it. Now, the situation changes a lot. I am not under lots of study stress now, and I can participate in football training almost every school day. It is really fantastic!
Chen (Beichen) Yan ’28
My full name is Beichen Yan, but people usually call me Chen. I am 14 years old and a ninth grader. This is my first year in the United States so everything is brand new, but still exciting. I have two sisters and two parents. I live with my family and a cat in my hometown of Beijing, China. The cat’s name is Fifteen and he is now 2 years old and he has been a good friend to me. My host parent is Ms. Pilar Menacho. There are five kids with her. They are Peter, Joy, Mike, Adam, and I. The special activity on the weekend is usually shopping in a supermarket, or going out and eating lunch together.
My hometown of Beijing is a big city, but the part I live in is not downtown. It’s called Shunyi. My old school was there. I love living there because all my friends are there. Usually after school we play soccer together till very late. I really enjoyed playing soccer during that time. It was very relaxing. Here, I found out it is very easy to make friends, and people here are very friendly. For the first week in the dorm I felt very comfortable, because there’s literally nothing to do except clean up and make friends. It’s relaxing and nice.
Right now I think my favorite subject is English because you can learn a lot and it is a very interesting class. For my career I want to be an entrepreneur because they make money. I want to join the Ultimate Frisbee Club and maybe Model UN because I want to try new stuff. I played soccer in the fall, and for winter I’m willing to ski. I love staying outside when I have a free slot or going to the library and studying for work. The thing I love most about Harvey is soccer. Harvey has a bigger field than my old school.
I think it is very comfortable to live in America. Even though every day repeats the same, it’s always surprising. I feel that living in The Harvey School is very joyful. Sometimes it can be tiring, but I think I will soon overcome it.
We also welcome new international students Sam Bibawy (Austria) and Mathilda Heinrich (Germany).
Upper School, Everyday Excellence
1. Student Ambassadors Talya Langer ’26, Logan Kreisberg ’26, and Benji Cutler ’25 give tours at our Fall Open House. // 2. Ninth Grade Common Ground classes plant trees on campus with the help of Harvey Grown teacher Carolyn Bean. // 3. At the pottery wheels in Ceramics are Caitlin Savitt ’27 and Evangeline Gambetta ’26. // 4. Seniors Meaghan Sullivan and Gabi Schneider exchange sunny morning greetings with Head of School Mr. Knauer. // 5. Juniors Sarah Strnad and Peyton Forde work collaboratively in the robotics lab. // 6. Senior Gavin Kothari used Blick foam carving blocks to make these Spongebob characters in 3D studio 1 class. // 7. The award for Best Character Costume on Halloween went to the Clue group: Lena Boyce ’26, Lucy LaGattuta ’26, Jacob Harkins ’26, Meoira Adler ’27, Sam Novarro ’26, and Sullivan Wieting ’27.
The Harvey School is a magical place. Magical in the sense that it transforms one from an awkward teenager (or the parent of one) to an adventurer, a transformer, and a changemaker. It’s an unfortunate reality, but, throughout your time between kindergarten and high school graduation, through the tears and the triumphs, you can either enjoy some of the ride or endure it and become who you are. As a parent, you experience all the hope, all the ups and all the downs right alongside your child. As much as we try to shield the pain and encourage bravery and endurance, it is our challenge, too. You go through it with each child you have. It is never the same for each.
I believe to this day that the team at Harvey was there right alongside us. We have three daughters who attended Harvey; Lizzie ’18, Annabelle ’19, and Kaitlyn ’19. Harvey made their educational journey just what we wanted it to be — an adventure; one that involved taking the big leap to challenge yourself physically through sports or dance, challenge your brain, and explore academics without bias or unrealistic expectations, and to do it together, like a family, like a team.
Three children only one grade apart is a challenge. As you can imagine, each wants to do exactly the opposite of the other. How did this work at Harvey? Magicians, like the girls head varsity lacrosse coach, Mr. Janos, who somehow convinced Lizzie to let her sister Katy join the team. Then, he somehow convinced Annabelle to join the team as the manager. Her role as manager fulfilled her sports requirement and allowed her to use her managerial skills to keep the team’s stats in check. Another bonus was that we, as parents, didn’t have to be in two places at once on game days. Just one pickup time for us.
All three of our girls started Harvey in ninth grade, but years later, we wished we had found Harvey sooner.
What a first year our oldest daughter, Lizzie had, when arriving at Harvey! She learned more that year about math and bonded with her teacher. It didn’t stop there. Ms. Mahony was Lizzie’s advisor and became her advocate, hand-holder, and snack provider. Having such a close relationship with her teachers allowed Lizzie to learn how to become her own advocate. Lizzie just graduated CU Boulder, and we were happily shocked when one of her professors ran up to meet
Kaitlyn ’19
Elizabeth ’18
Annabelle ’19
my husband and me, wanting to share how “special” Lizzie is. While at Harvey, Lizzie learned how to speak to her professors and teachers. Now, as she embarks on her professional career, she does so with a sense of self-confidence and assuredness.
Annabelle found so many exciting academic challenges at Harvey. Her teachers encouraged her to explore her abilities and to defend her opinions. Imagine our dinner conversations! “No, mom, please allow me to explain” was heard a lot. Mr. Leibovic “made physics fun,” according to Annabelle. She found her artistic ability in the art room of Mr. Price. The experience has given her an appreciation and understanding of art that still exists today. Annabelle is now pursuing her master’s degree in museum studies at NYU after receiving her undergraduate degree in archeology and anthropology from George Washington University. She spent last summer in Sparta, Greece, on an archeological dig. The fact that she has chosen these interesting and nontraditional interests to pursue is due to the expansive areas of study offered at Harvey. Kaitlyn’s love of learning did not come very easily, but she learned that a struggle doesn’t mean impossible. Impossible
“As
is not an option. Ms. Beth Visintainer was instrumental in molding the student that Kaitlyn has become and still is today. Ms. V’s gift is her ability to see what’s inside a student and uncover their strengths even when they don’t think they have any. Kaitlyn discovered that it is possible to love to learn. At Harvey, Kaitlyn finished her lacrosse career with more than 200 saves as goalie and a league championship. She joined the Spanish Club on a trip to Argentina, where they explored culture, language, and traveling independently, which inspired Kaitlyn to travel independently to Peru the following summer and hike Machu Picchu. Now she has found her path studying for her master’s degree in special education from Southern California State University, and it is no surprise that her passion and teaching skills are a direct reflection of the Harvey way.
The lasting values of our family’s Harvey education are the magical memory of unconditional support and the motivation to accept a challenge. Take that leap! Who knows, you may win the proverbial team MVP ball or find that ancient treasure. Don’t end up wishing you had tried it sooner.
a parent, you experience all the hope, all the ups and all the downs right alongside your child. As much as we try to shield the pain and encourage bravery and endurance, it is our challenge, too. You go through it with each child you have. It is never the same for each. I believe to this day that the team at Harvey was there right alongside us.”
John Kavounas, Annabelle ’19, Laura Dahm, Elizabeth ’18, and Kaitlyn ’19
Middle School, Eager Explorers
1. In keeping with Harvey tradition, this school year’s youngest students, sixth graders Logan Brockenbaugh and Sabine Weiss cut the Founders Day cake at morning meeting with Mr. Knauer. // 2. The Boundless Adventures rope course challenges seventh graders Alana Telford, Ella Adler, Brydie Groff, Ruby Cayer, and Carmen Perez. // 3. Seventh grader Noah Adams is focused on designing and building a robot. // 4. Eighth grader Ally Zimmerman films a student interview with Senna Lieber ’29 on the Quad. // 5. Sixth graders Jasper Pons-Beltsyk, Logan Brockenbaugh, Wayden Ebanks, Riley Reichenberg, and Desmond Dilmaghani have some fun in music class. // 6. In sixth grade art class, Catalina Dragan, Samantha Doughty, Elias Hajem, and Joseph Marcoliese collaborate on a drawing. // 7. Eighth graders and Student Ambassadors Isolda Corena, Sam Roberts, Aoife Lazzaro, and O’Launi Ebanks welcome prospective students at our Fall Open House.
Years of Service Honored
Back to School and Recognition Dinner, August 27, The Walker Center for the Arts
10 Years
• Virginia Holmes, English Chair & Upper School English
• Carolyn Bean, Upper School English
15 Years
• Lori Fowler, Assistant Director of Admissions Operations
• Kyle Delaney, Upper School History
20 Years
• Ignacio Gomez, Maintenance Associate
• Scott Fowler, Assistant Facilities Manager
• Dr. Stephanie Metz, Middle School Dean of Academics
25 Years
• Dr. Brendan Byrne, Head of Middle School
30 Years
• Phil Lazzaro, Head of Upper School & History
WHY WE GIVE
By Alex ’07, Alumni Executive Council, and Nikki Pugliese ’12
A WORD TO DESCRIBE HARVEY Community (Alex) Nurturing (Nikki)
WHY DO WE SUPPORT HARVEY?
Without the financial support that the Harvey Fund provides to students, sending us to Harvey would not have been a possibility for our family. It’s important to our family that we “pay it forward” so other families and students can have the same education, experience, and opportunities that we were provided.
Harvey is more than a school. It is a family, and our whole family feels a strong commitment to aiding the next generation of Harvey students and families.
Artistic spotlight
Opening Page. Delilah Hickson-Bilotta ’26 is the voice of Audrey 2 in the Upper School Fall Musical “Little Shop of Horrors.” // 1. Photoshop Desert Bullseye by Dean Jones ’26 // 2. Acrylic painting by Sophia Beldotti ’25 // 3. Seniors Jordan Cole and Gabi Schneider are two of the leads in “Little Shop of Horrors.” // 4. Logan Kreisberg ’26 is the dentist terrorizing Seymour, played by Jordan Cole ’25 in “Little Shop of Horrors.” // 5. Chinese ink painting by Cici Feng ’26 // 6. Drawing by Jadyn Lurie ’29 // 7. Graphic design by Alana Telford ’30 // 8. Sophia Thilo ’27, Lena Boyce ’26, and Meaghan Sullivan ’25 celebrate the success of Seymour’s (Jordan Cole ’25) unusual plant, Audrey 2.
Fall Sports Wrap
This fall season was truly extraordinary for Harvey athletics, one filled with championship runs by all five varsity teams, with three finishing with first-place trophies and two others falling just short of doing the same. For the boys varsity soccer team, winning the Housatonic Valley Athletic League (HVAL) crown ended a string of three straight runner-up finishes. Along the way to his team’s ultimate victory, senior captain Jonah Kass set a new school season record with 35 goals scored. For the football team, the 2024 campaign ended gloriously with the squad winning the New England Prep School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) 8-Man League championship. The cross country team’s fall season culminated with the girls’ capturing the HVAL championship and Harvey’s top two runners, senior Felipe Torres and eighth grader Ally Zimmerman, crossing the finish line first in their respective HVAL championship 5K races. The girls soccer and volleyball teams, though finishing as HVAL runners-up in their respective championship runs, produced outstanding seasons filled with many thrills and much excitement. The level of effort, determination, teamwork, and sportsmanship of each of the five varsity teams was championship caliber.
We salute all the varsity, JV, and Middle School players for their great efforts on behalf of Harvey’s athletic program this past fall. We also congratulate the following players who received league recognition or earned special team awards from their coaches:
A Family Legacy of Connection and Gratitude at Harvey
Harvey has always held a special place in my heart. It is a truly unique and extraordinary community that my family has been a part of since 1990. That was the year my brother John and I joined Harvey as sixth and eighth graders, respectively.
Two years later, our sister Alex became a Harvey middle schooler, entering as a sixth grader. More than three decades later, my family remains deeply connected to this remarkable institution, each of us compelled to give back to a school that has given us so much.
When my brother and I started at Harvey, my parents immediately embraced the community. They attended every game we played, home or away, cheering not just for us but for all of our teammates, with our youngest sister, Emily, always by their side. My mother was a cornerstone of the Harvey Parent Association, planning benefits and countless events year after year, while my father served on the Board of Trustees. Their commitment to Harvey’s mission left a lasting impression on me. I saw firsthand how much they believed in supporting a school that had profoundly shaped our family.
Although 35 years have passed since I first arrived at Harvey, and much has changed, so much of what makes Harvey special remains the same. Today, I am proud to carry on my parents’ tradition of service and involvement. As a volunteer in the parent association, a member of the Board of Trustees, and president of the Harvey Alumni Association, I feel privileged to give back to the Harvey community that has meant so much to my family.
One of the easiest decisions my husband, Sean Gilligan, and I made about our children’s education was choosing Harvey. During the years, the campus has evolved with new buildings
and restored spaces like the Weil House and Barn, ensuring the school continues to meet the needs of future generations. Yet, the heart of Harvey — the connections, the traditions, and the community — remains unchanged.
I love that my children — Cade ’25, Mallon ’27, and Rylan ’27 — are now experiencing the same extraordinary environment that shaped my siblings and me. Many of their teachers, like Mr. Lazzaro and Ms. Mahony, are the same inspiring educators who taught us years ago, continuing to challenge and support their students with Harvey’s signature “Rigor with Heart.” Watching Mallon and Rylan play soccer and basketball on the same fields and courts where John, Alex, and I once competed is a joy. Cade, now a team captain and league champion, embodies Harvey’s leadership values and is preparing for his next chapter with confidence.
Finding my parents still in the stands is not uncommon, cheering beside Sean and me for this next generation of Harvey Cavaliers. The connection we feel to this incredible school is truly enduring.
This June, Cade will graduate, exactly 30 years after I did. I have no doubt that Harvey has prepared him for the future just as it prepared me. My family is deeply grateful for the 35+ years we’ve spent as part of this community. We remain committed to supporting and staying involved in a school that has enriched our lives in countless ways. Harvey is more than a school to us — it is home.
Warm regards,
Lara Casano ’95, Alumni Association, President
class notes
To submit a note or share your Harvey memories, please contact your class agent or the alumni office at alumni@harveyschool.org
1956
Class Agent: John Crawford, (540) 247-8810, celect@comcast.net
Howard Baldwin and his wife Karen generously gifted to Harvey a stunning collection of their personal original movie posters that now hang in The Walker Center for the Arts gallery, on display for the Harvey community to enjoy. (Read more on page 29 of this issue.)
1959
Will Rosenbaum VMD is semiretired, spending his summers in Maine and winters in northern Florida. He has been keeping busy traveling to European capitals with his daughter and granddaughters. Will and his wife Jody attended Harvey Homecoming on their way down to Florida. They loved their tour of the Harvey campus and are looking forward to their next visit. Will shared, “I can’t believe it’s been 65 years since leaving Harvey.”
1961
Class Agent: Sandy Gabel, (919) 693-8099, sandy.gabel@icloud.com
1965 // 60th Reunion
Class Agent: Rev. Malcolm Starring, (603) 444-6016, mfstarring@gmail.com
Will Rosenbaum VMD ’59 with his family in Florida.
Will Rosenbaum VMD ’59 and his wife Jody at Harvey Homecoming 2024
Robert Hard ’66 and Lindsay Smith ’66 catch up.
1968
Class Agent: Alex Edwards-Bourdrez, (631) 754-1041, alexb2@gmail.com
1973
Class Agent: Phil Eifert, (914) 232-6489, peifert@yahoo.com
1978
Class Agent: Patrick Peterkin, (203) 655-9917, p_peterkin@yahoo.com
1980 // 45th Reunion
David Horowitz is a lawyer living in Phoenix, Arizona.
Class Agent: Herbert Sloan, (203) 438-0051, hjs1988@yahoo.com
1985 // 40th Reunion
Ann Beattie Paul returned to campus in October to be a guest speaker in all the Senior Bridge classes. Ann, who is now the executive director at Westmoreland Sanctuary in Mount Kisco, New York, engaged students with an open discussion about their passions, their time at Harvey, and the benefit of going “off grid” and putting down their cellphones “for your own mind, for your own development, for your own peace.” We thank Ann for taking the time to talk with the Class of 2025.
1988
Class Agents: Charles Collin, (860) 263-7972, chascolin@gmail.com; Laurel E. Meredith, (917) 280-5233, laurel.meredith@gmail.com
1989 // 35th Reunion
Class Agent: Chris Abrenica, (914) 556-8344, cabrenica71@outlook.com
1990 // 35th Reunion
Class Agent: Peter Hall, (518) 369-1991, hallpeter1@gmail.com
Peter Mason is excited to share that he joined In Thyme Catered Events in the newly created position of chief commercial officer (CCO). He’s looking forward to helping the organization expand capabilities, enhance customer/guest experiences, and capitalize on new opportunities.
1991
Richard Mack received the Distinguished Alumni Award at this year’s Alumni Reunion at Homecoming 2024 for his many philanthropic contributions to his community and to Harvey’s. He was inducted by Lara Casano ’95. (See page 16)
1994
Class Agent: Russell Stamm, (781) 329-3004, rcstamm@rcstammco.com
Small classes, inspiring teachers, rigorous academics, and an array of extracurriculars instill in students a passion for lifelong learning and the confidence to pursue individual passions.
1995 // 30th Reunion
Class Agents: Lara W. Casano, (347) 539-7301, lcasano@harveyschool.org; Raphael Miranda, (917) 520-7808, mirandaraphael@hotmail.com
Erik Rosner celebrated two years at Veloxis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in April 2024.
1996
Class Agents: Keith Harrigan, (412) 853-9392, kh1843@gmail.com; David Stark, (336) 771-5303, dlstark@kpmg.com; Jeannette Brandt Stark, (336) 771-5303, jeanettemstark@gmail.com
Krystal Gadson started a new position in May 2024 as motor vehicle representative at New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.
1997
Class Agent: Blayre Farkas, (561) 929-1802, carolynfarkas@gmail.com
1998
Class Agent: Greg Janos, (845) 857-7688, gjanos@harveyschool.org
Walker Manzke celebrated seven years at Chilton & Chadwick — Global Real Estate Concierge in June 2024.
Greg Presseau recently wrote a children’s book on grit and resilience through Matt Moulson’s experience and a metaphor (Thanks, Mr. Lopes!) of a Grit Pile. Check it out on Instagram @gritpilekidz or online at www.gritpilekidz.com.
1999
Class Agent: Amy Albert Morello, papillia@hotmail.com
Alice Levitt and her husband Tyson visited former headmaster Barry Fenstermacher in Rose Bay, Maine, at the end of July.
2001
Class Agent: Jennifer J. Vogeney, (914) 494-9397, jenn.j.vogeney@gmail.com
Dain Carver visited the Harvey campus in October to speak with the Upper School Investment Club. The students wanted to hear how Dain had found success investing in the market through a diversified portfolio. They were excited to learn more about investing and highest potential gain.
Dain is a business owner and the owner of Abel Air.
John DePalma received the Outstanding Service Alumni Award at the Alumni Reunion at Homecoming 2024 in October. His family, friends, and Harvey School colleagues were in full attendance to show their support for this well-deserved award. (See page 16)
2002
Class Agent: Tiffany Franqui Hamilton, (845) 612-9858, travelsize84@gmail.com
Tiffany Franqui Hamilton celebrated three years at Fidelity Investments in May 2024.
Alexander Milano started a new position as claims management executive at American Contractors Insurance Group in May 2024.
Alice Levitt ’99 meets up with former headmaster Barry Fenstermacher in Maine.
Dain Carver ’00 instructs Harvey Investment Club on portfolio diversification. (Below:) Dain poses with Investment Club students.
Tommy Bibliowicz celebrated four years at Wild Provisions Beer Project in May 2024.
Denise Grieger got engaged in October 2024 to “the best person I know.”
Tyler Jackson celebrated two years at Hope and Heal Fund: The Fund to Stop Gun Violence in California, in July 2024.
Emily Roman celebrated one year at J.P. Morgan in July 2024.
Graham T. Posner, after four years as technical director and adjunct lighting designer at Centre College, left to take on the role of production coordinator and managing director at Transylvania University’s Mitchell Fine Arts Center. Since 2022, he has managed the facility, enhancing infrastructure and bringing in artists from around the world, with a focus on inclusivity and accessibility to the arts. Graham resides in Lexington, Kentucky, with his wife, an opera stage manager and professor at the University of Kentucky, his 14-year-old son, and their two dogs.
2003
Class Agent: Jaclyn Walker, (914) 319-1699, JaclynMarisaWalker@gmail.com
2004
Class Agent: Maria Neri, (845) 279-5234
Matthew Fierstein was nominated at The Clio Awards this year. “I’m so proud to be a part of the Ignition Creative team,” Matthew said.
Gregory Haas started a new position in August 2024 as teacher assistant at Coney Island Prep.
Andrew Pape started a new position as a development officer at Washington State Opportunity Scholarship.
Christopher Vitolo celebrated four years at Collins Aerospace in April 2024.
2005 // 20th Reunion
Class Agent: Brian Ryerson, (914) 329-6863, ryersonb@gmail.com
Shane Fierman celebrated nine years at Capital Advisors Group, Inc. in June 2024.
Jonathan Peters was recognized by Forbes on this year’s Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors ranking. “I’m so proud to be included among this exceptional group of my peers,” said Jonathan.
Lindsey Walker Lynch started a new position as head of project management operations and L&D at ApiJect Systems in July 2024.
2007
Class Agents: Doniella McKoy, (914) 960-9375, donimckoy@yahoo.com; Alexandra Pugliese, (914) 760-0119, alexandra.m.pugliese@gmail.com
Brandon Brooks was excited to join Grafana Labs as a senior customer success manager in May 2024.
Michael Bruno welcomed his new son Charlie April 23, 2024. “So happy to have a healthy son and mom!” said Michael. “I’m a dad now!”
Chia Hudson was inducted into the Harvey Athletic Hall of Fame for her athletic accomplishments as a track and field athlete even at a time when Chia was a team of one. She was inducted by Harvey’s current track and field and cross country coach Christian Coscio, who declared her probably the best student-athlete Harvey has ever seen. (See page 16)
Stephen Wallace was on campus at Homecoming 2024 to serve up his delicious Jamaican-jerk tacos for this year’s Alumni Reunion Luncheon. The only word for it — delicious! (See page 15)
Clara Lefton graduated from Rutgers Law School in May 2024.
Joanna Smith hosted a STEM Camp to make a real difference in Brooklyn, New York this past July. She continues her mission to help kids excel in STEM.
2009
Class Agents: Andrew Jamieson, (203) 273-3884, ajamieson@harveyschool.org; Erika Osborne, osborne7937@gmail.com; Peter Sorenson, (914) 438-7486, psorenson68@gmail.com; Megan Taylor, (914) 234-6205, meg.kerrytaylor@gmail.com
Tim Carpenter is currently working at Nextdoor in New York City as a brand strategist. Outside of his day-to-day job, Tim pursues his passion project teaching self-defense and fitness. Although he grew up playing American football, he recently picked up soccer and formed a competitive team in Stamford, Connecticut. (“Don’t tell Coach Kelly,” Tim says.) Tim has fond memories of hanging out in the Commons between classes and walking around campus, as well as football and lacrosse practices with Coach Kelly and Coach Hill. He also loved his time as a counselor at Harvey Cavalier Camp (now Harvey Summer Camp).
Laura Glass-Johnston started a new position as software engineer at Laurel Road.
Shanicee McKoy was honored with the Martin Bucksbaum Memorial Fellowship from the Zell Lurie Real Estate Center at The Wharton School. This prestigious award commemorates Martin Bucksbaum’s pioneering contributions to the modern shopping center industry. It is granted annually to MBA candidates focusing on real estate who not only demonstrate
outstanding academic achievements but also show a deep commitment to leading and diversifying the industry.
“Receiving this fellowship is not only a profound honor. But also it validates my commitment to real estate and fuels my passion for furthering diversity within its leadership,” said Shanicee. “I look forward to continuing to learn, grow, and contribute to the field of real estate, inspired by the legacy of Mr. Bucksbaum.”
Matthew Ross started a new position as a therapist at Abhaya Wellness in June 2024.
Spencer Weisner was named to the honor roll for the second-to-last semester of his MBA and completed his Master of Business Administration with a 3.97 GPA in July 2024. “This degree was a journey as I took courses in Louisiana, Korea, Japan, and finally finished it in Utah,” said Spencer. “The lessons I learned from this degree program taught me a lot about myself, not only professionally but also as a person, and it is bittersweet that it is coming to an end.”
2010 // 15th Reunion
Andrew Abt celebrated eight years at DERF Electronics Corporation in May 2024.
Gregory Hennings got engaged in Italy in May 2024 to Hannah Hoffman.
2011
Class Agents: Amelia Slater, (914) 874-7436, ameliajslater1@gmail.com; Nicolette A. St. Lawrence, (914) 707-0414, ns669@cornell.edu; Konrad Testwuide, (914) 953-9006, ktestwuide@gmail.com
Malik Garvin took a trip to Princeton University with Ice Hockey in Harlem (IHIH). They took a tour and dined on campus ahead of the men’s and women’s ice hockey preseason event. The young players had the chance to meet every
Tim Carpenter ’09 enjoying life
Gregory Henning ’10 pops the question in Italy to girlfriend Hannah.
player on both teams. Malik continues to bring IHIH to Harvey each summer for a great summer camp experience and a week of hockey training.
Daniel Goodkind joined EQT Group on the Private Wealth Capital Raising team in October 2024 after nine “incredible years and invaluable relationships built at Morgan Stanley.”
In May 2024, Justice C. Koonce came back to Harvey for a surprise visit and caught up with Mr. Lazzaro and Ms. Visintainer.
Haley Schwartz celebrated six years at American Express in April 2024.
Konrad Testwuide celebrated seven years at Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. in July 2024.
Morgan Greenwald embarked on a new journey as a senior search editor at The New York Times in July 2024. “The last few years at Penske Media have been wonderful, but I’m excited for new challenges as we all continue to navigate the ever-changing publisher landscape,” Morgan said.
2013
Class Agents: Sharif Koonce, (914) 356-1553, skoonce29@gmail.com; Karina K. Lambert, (914) 844-9123, karina.k.lambert@gmail.com; Ben Walant, (203) 947-4541, bwalant@gmail.com
Shavana Clarke won the 2024 Miss Connecticut USA title and is honored to be the first openly lesbian Miss USA state titleholder. She is a first-generation Jamaican-American holding a Bachelor of Fine Arts in writing from the University of Connecticut and has performed regionally as well as in numerous off-Broadway shows post-graduation. Shavana created #YourMentalHealthBestie, using both social media and her blog to share her own experiences with mental health struggles and to educate people about borderline personality disorder and other diagnoses with “the hope of helping others feel less alone.” She took up crocheting to help with her anxiety and turned her passion into a crochet-wear line lovingly named Sour Candy Studio, “where she makes unique and fun one-of-one sustainable pieces.” Shavana currently works as a sales coordinator, model, and entrepreneur.
Jabea Kisob was a member of the spring 2024 SUNY New Paltz stage production of “Urinetown.”
David Mandra started a new position as senior account executive at Cyndx in August 2024.
Armando Vazquez obtained a new certification: Real Estate Development Process from NYU School of Professional Studies.
2014
Class Agents: Christian Artuso, (914) 462-0302, cjartuso@aol.com; Erica Cheyne, (914) 708-9482, ericacheyne@outlook.com
Audrey Rowe was promoted to senior district manager at ADP. “It’s been a year of hard work and dedication,” said Audrey. “I’m incredibly proud to have accomplished this,” she said.
Rebekah Shovron started a new position as account manager at Get Engaged!
2015 // 10th Reunion
Class Agents: Julia Chatzky, (914) 420-6876, jbc310@gmail.com; Richard Hicks, (914) 233-6825, hicks.ricky1@gmail.com; Brendan Kneitz, bkneitz24@gmail.com; Ariana Weaver, (914) 703-0008, arianaweaver@gmail.com
Josh Gantt attended Homecoming 2024 and we were thrilled to have him set up a booth to share his latest designs for his brand Health Clothing.
Richard Hicks was promoted to integrated media senior associate at UM Worldwide. “I’ve learned and grown so much within the last two years and look forward to being able to continue my contributions toward the success of our Essential Health and Baby Brands,” said Richard.
John Mather started a new position as special education teacher at Family Life Academy Charter Schools.
Alexia Sikorski started a new position as director of marketing at PARADYME.
Zaire Elleby celebrated nine years at All Star Code in June 2024.
Claudia Smith started a new position as a licensed master social worker at Mount Sinai Health System.
Lauren Suna spent the last three years working as an assistant language teacher in a junior high school in rural Japan. She reflected that the experience “has truly been the most meaningful and fulfilling job” she’s ever had. In September 2024, Lauren moved to Toronto to pursue a master’s degree in information with a concentration in culture and technology. She’s excited to start this next path of her academic career and see what opportunities she’ll find in Canada.
Jane Wiesenberg started a new position as director of client solutions at Nielsen.
2017
Class Agents: Joseph Bakas, (914) 708-6131, bakasjoe@gmail.com; Alexandra Barber, (914) 414-7353, lgbarber1999@gmail.com; Jewel Li, (914) 920-1409, lijewel1117@gmail.com; John Wise, (203) 637-7876
Drew Reno was promoted to senior account executive at Salutem, a Daniel J. Edelman Company.
Angel Vasquez celebrated two years at Anteriad in June 2024.
John Wise celebrated two years at McCarton Foundation in April 2024.
Kevin Dorf recently started his own business called Thrive Performance for personal training and health and wellness. “Harvey instilled core values in me that allowed me to succeed in college and post grad,” Kevin says.
Benjamin Kabakow started a new position as senior research analyst at Bespoke Partners. He is excited to further his career and be at the forefront of executive search, private equity, and software.
Jared Peraglia started at Cardozo School of Law as a dean’s scholar in fall 2024. After arriving at NYU film school almost six years ago, all Jared wanted to do was make movies. Law school was the last thing on his mind, While working at his dream job at CNN, he learned a lot about journalism and the rapid evolution of media, technology, and democracy. Engaging with lawyers at CNN and beyond made it clear to Jared just how critical they are in shaping these issues. The Cardozo School of Law concentrations in media, technology, and entertainment are “unmatched,” according to Jared, and he is excited to make the most of his next three years there.
Lucas Taylor has officially stepped into the role of regional program coordinator at Kesem. “For the past six years, I’ve had the privilege of volunteering with Kesem, and it has been an incredibly rewarding experience,” Lucas shared. “Now, as I embark on this new chapter, I’m excited to work closely with the student leaders and help them bring their amazing visions of camp to life. Being part of a team that supports children through and beyond a parent’s cancer diagnosis is both an honor and a dream come true for me,” he said.
Nathan Ward celebrated one year at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
2019
Class Agents: Treshawn Felder, (347) 792-7458, joel@harlemlacrosse.org; Charlotte Levy, (914) 238-1099, charlottehailey16@gmail.com; Sebastian Wallach, (914) 763-2579, sebski01@gmail.com; Courtney Warren, (914) 755-6960, courtrw1@gmail.com
Morgan Chapman started a new position as account coordinator at Live Wire Strategic Communications.
Brian Cicero celebrated one year at Markel Group Inc.
Giselle Garcia was the featured alumni guest speaker at the Senior Class of 2024 Breakfast held in May 2024.
Colin Glascott accepted a role with Brandon Spearman as his personal assistant. He is excited to gain firsthand film experience alongside an industry professional.
Charlotte Levy celebrated four years at Sanctuary for Families.
Maya Mehrara joined Newsweek as a live news reporter in London. She is excited to start this new chapter.
Mackenzie Rendo started a new position as a law clerk at the New York State Assembly.
2020 // 5th Reunion
Class Agents: Allan Dilone Rodriguez, (914) 393-3642, allanedilone@gmail.com; Daniel Galgano, (914) 763-0461, dpgalgano@gmail.com; Ryan Piken, (914) 628-4166, rypenguin57@gmail.com; Cameron Thomas, (914) 736-6565, cameronthomas155@hotmail.com
Aidan Cammisa graduated from Bryant University in May 2024 and started working as a sales development representative at WeWork in June.
Jason Chunchi started a new position as a sales development representative at Oracle.
Allan Dilone Rodriguez started a new position as a relationship associate at Polen Capital.
Allison Glass graduated from the University of Vermont in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Health and Society, and minors in sociology and human development. In August, Allison started a position as a member of Americorps VISTA at United Way of Westchester and Putnam, helping build the capacity of agencies that address the issues of hunger and poverty.
Benjamin Goodman graduated from S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University in May 2024 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast and Digital Journalism. Reflecting on his past four years, Benjamin noted that he has grown not just as a student and journalist but also as a person.
Ryan Horowitz started a new position as UTC Design Engineering, Actuator 2 at SMC.
Ryan Piken graduated from the University of Buffalo in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. She was a leader on campus in Delta Phi Epsilon Society, Hillel of Buffalo, and the Women’s Awareness Alliance. In September 2024, Ryan started a new position as Springboard Fellow at Hillel of Buffalo.
Sydney Sakin accepted a position as a Social Media Coordinator at Spanx. “Joining the exceptional team at Spanx represents a new beginning for me,” she said. “I am excited to contribute to such an inspiring environment.”
Cameron Thomas graduated from James Madison University in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, concentrating in public relations, and a minor in writing, rhetoric, and technical communication. In August, Cameron started a position as PR account coordinator at 160over90 (a company of Endeavor) in New York City. She is excited to start this new chapter in her career.
Michael Wolff shared that he will be joining Scripps Montana/MTN as a multimedia journalist at KTVH-TV, the E.W. Scripps Company owned by the NBC affiliate in Helena, Montana. “I look forward to serving the people of the City of Helena, Lewis and Clark County, and all of Montana with my passion for storytelling, local news, and community-focused journalism,” says Michael.
2021
Mia Cornell just concluded her study abroad program at University of the Arts London Camberwell College of Arts where she grew her love for illustration. Although she enjoyed living abroad in London, Mia also found herself often missing home. In one of her classes, Mia designed a tea towel that made her think about her special connection to her family back in the states, and she chose to celebrate that bond through
food. Mia’s design features a variety of vegetables that her mom often uses in her cooking. These vegetables include asparagus, daikon, carrots, potatoes, cabbage, eggplant, and kabocha (Japanese pumpkin). Mia said her project was “designed for students to take them from idea to production, making them feel at home with what it is to run a product-based business or launch a product.” Students took part in a six-week program of talks, workshops, and financial support to create products ready for market. Her tea towel is available for purchase through the school in London (not available in the U.S.).
Mia is a Japanese-American artist who studies at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University. You can find more of Mia’s work on Instagram under the handle @iwanomia.
Max Edelman had the opportunity in late September to cover the game between the Mets and Phillies at CitiField. He attended the press conference, took videos of batting practice on the field, and watched the game from the press box. Max thanked “Schneps Media for the opportunity and Joe Pantorno for letting me tag along!” Max was named to the Hofstra University dean’s list for achieving a GPA of at least 3.5 for the spring 2024 semester.
Tea towel designed by Mia Cornell ’21
Samantha Fern was a public relations and social media intern at J/PR in their New York City office this past summer.
Keegan Glucksman accepted an A&R internship at Position Music that started last May.
Eliana Katzin accepted her second and final co-op as a clinical assistant at Boston Children’s Hospital last May in the Otolaryngology and Communication Enhancement Clinic.
Jacob Robicheau was named to Emerson College dean’s list for the spring 2024 semester. To make the dean’s List, you must have a GPA of 3.7 or higher. Jacob is a member of the Class of 2025 majoring in media arts production.
Alexandra Simon accepted an internship at Insignia Films this past summer.
2022
Armaan Bhaskar accepted a summer internship as a customer insights intern at SymphonyAI.
Ash Champlain was named to the SUNY New Paltz dean’s list for the spring 2024 semester. To make the dean’s list, a student must have a GPA of 3.3 or higher.
Amanda Mohamad accepted a reporter position on University of Miami Television’s flagship, award-winning, weekly live news broadcast, NewsVision.
Jadon Silva was named to the Emerson College dean’s list for the spring 2024 semester. To make the dean’s list, a student must have a GPA of 3.7 or higher. Jadon is a member of the Class of 2026, majoring in media studies.
2023
Aislinn Carnes Swingle was named to the Emerson College dean’s list for the spring 2024 semester. To make the dean’s list, a student must have a GPA of 3.7 or higher. Aislinn is a member of the Class of 2027 majoring in business creative enterprises.
Julia Rocco was named to the SUNY Oneonta dean’s list for the spring 2024 semester. To make the dean’s list, a student must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Julia is studying psychology.
2024
Olaf Gorski accepted an internship at APS Energia SA this past summer.
Annissa Khanna extended her strategic litigation internship with Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights as a John Lewis Fellows Management intern in June 2024.
Ian Bryant ’24, Felix Oliver ’24, Coach Kyle Delaney ’04, and Michael Sorio ’24
Julian Marin ’24 and Charles Treseler ’23 connect on the rugby field.
Robbie Mejia ’26, Michael Sorio ’24, Felix Oliver ’24, and Ian Bryant ’24
Annissa Khanna ’24 enjoying college
MILO FLAMENBAUM ’22
From Harvey to Skidmore: Community Matters
Milo Flamenbaum is thriving at Skidmore College, where he is currently a junior majoring in physics and minoring in management and business.
“I knew I wanted a small liberal arts college in the Northeast,” says Milo of his college search back at Harvey. “When I visited Skidmore, its strong offerings in arts, science, and humanities caught my attention. The brand-new science building, the Billie Tisch Center for Integrated Sciences, along with the opportunity to try new things sold me,” he says
Working with the Harvey College Office helped initiate ways of where to start looking for colleges to attend and understanding the process. “Working with them, I was able to create a list of schools to look at, telling me what to look for and how to best prepare for supplementals or interviews,” shares Milo. “And here I am loving Skidmore and college life.”
Milo is very involved at Skidmore, making the most of his college education and experience. He is an admissions ambassador, physics lab assistant, VP for student life as part of the Student Government Association, Physics Club treasurer, DJ and Production Club treasurer, and served as the Hillel co-president in 2023-24.
Although he is beyond happy with his decision to be at Skidmore, he still has praise for his time at Harvey. “Harvey taught me academically how to work in a team, be independent, and organize my work. The school gives students the background of diverse academic interests that helped with navigating a liberal arts college,” Milo says. “Harvey helped me learn what it
“Harvey helped me learn what it means to be a community member, to meet new people, and to get involved in and out of the Skidmore community.”
means to be a community member, to meet new people, and to get involved in and out of the Skidmore community.”
Milo loves to cook and try new foods in his spare time, and his dream job is to be an imagineer at the Disney Company.
“Being able to create experiences that make people happy is a passion of mine,” Milo says. “While I love Disney Parks, the job of creating rides and themed experiences is something I can see myself doing forever.”
in memoriam
ALUMNI
Halsted Ward Wheeler ’40 August 22, 2024
Halsted Ward (Link) Wheeler died peacefully at his home in Duxbury, Massachusetts, Aug. 22. He lived a long and productive life.
Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1926, the son of Wilmot Fitch and Hulda Chapman Wheeler, Halsted attended The Harvey School, St. Paul’s School and Yale University. Between high school and college, he served in the U.S. Navy for two years during World War II. After graduating from Yale in 1949, Halsted worked in New York and Detroit for American Chain and Cable. He was married in 1952 in Paris to Mary Louise Riedel, with whom he had three children. Following his divorce, Halsted married Elsie Yandell Trask in New York City in 1970; together they had two children and more than 50 years together until Elsie’s death in 2022.
Halsted moved back to Connecticut in 1958 and took a job with the Jelliff Corporation, a wire manufacturing company, in Southport, Connecticut. He rose to president and chairman over a 45-year career, during which he traveled the world meeting customers and suppliers from Europe to the Far East. He never lost
his love for adventure travel, shared by his second wife. Together they visited the North Pole on a Russian nuclear icebreaker, the Three Rivers Gorge in China, the penguins of Tierra del Fuego, and other exotic destinations.
Halsted was dedicated and loved his work but also enjoyed his family and activities together like sailing, skiing, golf, tennis, paddle tennis — always a fierce competitor. He purchased a house on Scotts Cove in Darien, Connecticut, from Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh in 1964 and enjoyed many years there “messing about in boats,” as he would say, including his prized Chris Craft houseboat, “FATMAN.” A generous philanthropist, Halsted supported an array of causes and charities, from supporting the local Episcopal church to building a school and a drinking well in a remote village in China.
Halsted and Elsie moved from Connecticut to the Village of Duxbury in 2016 to be closer to their daughter, Chelsie, and her family.
Dedicated, hard-working, loyal, funny, cat-loving, self-deprecating, iconoclastic, Halsted was one of a kind and he will be sorely missed by his friends and family, including his children, Halsted Wheeler, Jr., Geoffrey Wheeler and wife Mary, Alexandra (Roo) Wheeler and husband Thomas (Rocky) Rukan, Chelsie Olney and husband Sandy, and Richard (Blue) Wheeler and wife Ady, and his 10 grandchildren. (Published in the Duxbury Clipper, Sept. 11, 2024 www.duxburyclipper.com/articles/ halsted-ward-wheeler-98/)
James Wood ’41
August 11, 2024
James (Jim) Wood was born May 2, 1927 in Mount Kisco, New York, where he lived until 2005 when he and Twink moved to the Kendal on Hudson retirement community in Sleepy Hollow, New York. The only child of Martha Speakman Wood and L. Hollingsworth Wood. Jim grew up on his family farm, Braewold, attending local schools and Deerfield Academy 1941-45. He then joined the United States Naval Reserve in 1945-46 before attending Haverford College, graduating in 1950. He took graduate courses at New York University and the University of Michigan while working at the Bank of New York for 28 years, Prescott, Ball Turbin and Smith Barney until 2002, when he retired. During this time he served on the boards of Bryn Mawr and Haverford colleges, The American Bible Society (of which he was president for 10 years), the Kellogg Foundation, and many others.
Jim was married to Frances (Twink) Randall May 2, 1953. They celebrated their 70th anniversary just before Twink passed May 29, 2023.
Jim and Twink were founding residents of Kendal on Hudson (KOH) Retirement Community. Jim served on KOH’s Pennsylvania and New York corporate boards as well as on the KOH Sleepy Hollow board and various committees, including education and co-chair with Twink of the welcoming new residents committee.
Jim was always active in participating and or watching baseball and tennis and adventure activities such as skydiving and rafting.
He remained active in the Westchester, Bedford and Mount Kisco communities and area happenings including the Historical Society, Mt. Kisco Child Care, Bedford 2030, Bedford Farmers Club and Lions Club. Jim was the founding Director of Bedford 2020 and remained deeply involved as a board member until December 2023 when he became director emeritus. “His unwavering enthusiasm and dedication made him an invaluable champion for Bedford 2030, and he will be profoundly missed,” shared Bedford 2030.
Jim was very dedicated to the running and upkeep of the Croton Valley Quaker Meeting house in Mount Kisco. Jim loved nothing better than to spend time with family and friends and to travel the world to spend time with many of them.
He is survived by his daughter Emily (Anders) Crofoot and their children, David and Sarah Crofoot. Son Steve (Jenny) Wood and their children, Jaime & Lacey, Bill & Missy, and Sam Wood, Elle & Dawson Patritti, and great-great-grandchildren Kaiden, Myckena, Glynn, Brayt, Carli, Maysa, Tom Wood and Cal Patritti.
In 2023 Jim became a resident of Montana where he lived with Steve and Jenny until passing away Aug. 11, 2024.
Frank Weil ’44
May 29, 2024
(See feature on page 4 of this issue)
Investment banker and Smithsonian board chairman, dies at 93. A longtime Democratic donor, he was assistant secretary of commerce for domestic and international business in the Carter administration.
Frank A. Weil, a former New York lawyer and investment bank executive who became an assistant secretary of commerce during the Carter administration and chaired the national board of the Smithsonian Institution, died May 29 at his home in Washington. He was 93. The cause was complications from dementia, his son William S. Weil said.
Mr. Weil was president and chief executive of the New Yorkbased Abacus Fund when the investment company merged in the early 1970s with the larger firm Paine Webber. He was chairman of Paine Webber’s finance committee as well as chief financial officer when he, a longtime Democratic donor, joined the Commerce Department in 1977. After two years as assistant secretary of commerce for domestic and international business, he worked on international trade issues at Washington law firms and then became chairman of Abacus & Associates, an asset management and venture capital firm in New York. He retired at age 90.
Frank Alan Weil was born in Bedford, New York, Feb. 14, 1931. His father was a stockbroker, and his mother was a chemist. His maternal grandfather was an early investor and executive with what became the retail giant Sears, Roebuck & Co. and started a family foundation philanthropy in which Mr. Weil was long involved.
Mr. Weil graduated from the private Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, then from Harvard University in 1953 and from Harvard Law School in 1956. He was a partner at the investment firm Loeb, Rhoades & Co. before being named head of Abacus Fund in 1967.
He served on many corporate and not-for-profit boards and advisory bodies, and chaired the board of the Council for Excellence in Government, which was a nonprofit group in Washington. He was involved in voter-registration efforts as well as public-private partnerships to address social and civic concerns. He also was a prolific blogger.
His wife of 72 years, Denie Sandison, died in 2023. In addition to his son William of Washington, survivors include three other children, Debbie Weil of Stonington, Maine, Amanda Weil of Manhattan, and Sandison Weil of Port Chester, New York; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. (By Washington Post staff, June 3, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. EDT)
Hunt B. Wagstaff ’57
December 17, 2023
Hunt Bradford Wagstaff, 82, of Peoria, Illinois, passed away Dec. 17, 2023, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. He was born in Washington, D.C., September 19, 1941, to David, Jr. and Sally (Bradford) Wagstaff. Hunt spent his early childhood in Tuxedo Park, New York, later lived in Sarasota, Florida, and spent his adult life in Peoria.
He is survived by his sisters, Beatrice W. Ingham, Loraine (Laurie) Peek, and Michelle (Wagstaff) Fulton, and brothers David Wagstaff III, Randolph A. Peek and Thomas Wagstaff. He is also survived by three step-siblings and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother Richard Ernest Peek III, nephew
From Bruce Osborne:
Andy Smith, parent of alums Tom and Brittney Smith, shared with me the sad news of the passing of his mother Virginia. Ginny, or Virge as the staff called her, worked as the assistant to the rink director and ran the front office from 1969-1994. She was instrumental in helping to develop the culture and atmosphere of the rink, and many of the ways that we continue still to serve this community.
I have often said that the front office position is the most important one at the rink (including mine). Only two people (three, if I include Don Woodlief who held the position for a year in an interim capacity) have served in that role in the 55 years that the rink has operated. The skating community held a surprise retirement luncheon for Dale in the lounge. I was having flashbacks to a similar event held in the same location in 1994 to recognize Ginny. There is a picture I have (and posted at the rink 50 year celebration) of the two of us standing in almost the same spot. Hearing the news from Andy several days later made the whole thing seem surreal. Andy helped to arrange to have his mother attend the rink’s 50th celebration, and it was gratifying to see the respect and gratitude the attendees had for her. Ginny holds a very special place in the history of The Harvey (Evarts) Rink.
Jackson R. Turner, and longtime companion Mary Jane Streitmatter.
Hunt was a proud Vietnam veteran, having served as a medic in the Medical Corps of the U.S. Army. He attended The Harvey School and Hampton-Sydney College in Hampton-Sydney, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts from Nathaniel Hawthorne College and a Master of Arts in Education from Bradley University in Peoria. He was an elementary school teacher in Peoria and later owned his own contracting business, Endlico Construction Co.
He was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Virginia, a Red Cross volunteer for Disaster Relief, and an active member of the Unity Church of Peoria. Hunt was an accomplished woodworker and enjoyed dancing, travel, and lifelong learning. He was devoted to his widespread family and will be especially remembered for his empathy, kindness, public service, and sense of humor. Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the Unity Church of Peoria or the American Red Cross. Online condolences may be left at www.GaryDeiterFH.com.
Virginia Smith,
July 4, 2024
Former assistant to the Evarts Rink Director 1969-1994 Virginia Claire (Boyden) Smith, 92 made her final transition peacefully surrounded by family on July 4, 2024. Ginny was born August 29, 1931 in Brooklyn, New York, to her parents; Lewis Emory Boyden and Florence LaClaire (Judson) Boyden. She was a graduate of Garden City High School in 1949 and later graduated Hofstra University in 1954 with a degree in Philosophy. She met Donald L. Smith in Buzzards Bay Massachusetts and married in Wareham in 1955 having their wedding reception on her beloved Great Herring Pond in Plymouth. After living in New York, North Carolina, Illinois, and back to New York, she eventually returned to the Herring Pond to retire in 1994. Her career consisted of raising a family, teaching school, and managing the front office of the ice arena at The Harvey School. She was truly a mother to thousands of kids during her 25 years on campus.
She was an avid knitter, cross stitcher, weekly New York Times crossword puzzle solver, and reader. She enjoyed her time in the sun and cooking for all those who visited. As a member of St. Luke’s in Katonah, New York, and St. Peter’s on the Canal in Buzzards Bay she volunteered as a eucharistic minister and Alter Guild member. She was a letter writer and card sender and rarely missed an opportunity to send a note with her near perfect penmanship. She was a lover of ice cream and all things chocolate.
She leaves her daughter Susan Hickey and her husband Dave, Donald E. Smith and his partner Laura Cottle, and T. Andrew Smith and his wife Debbie and was predeceased by her Daughter
Ginger Horvath and her husband Frank. She is survived by her grandchildren Dustin and wife Deena, Frank IV, Rachel, Megan, Brittany, and Tom and her great grandchildren Ember, Brooklyn, Frank V, Penny, and Cece.
FACULTY/STAFF
Richard Ryerson
June 3, 2024
Director of Buildings and Grounds
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of Richard John Ryerson Sr., who left us on June 3, 2024, at the age of 68. Richard, known fondly as Rich, passed away at Danbury Hospital, leaving behind a legacy of dedication, hard work, and love.
Rich was born Oct. 27, 1955, in Brooklyn, New York, to Vincenza Iovine and the late George Ryerson. Rich was a loving husband to Judy Ryerson and a proud father to their son, Brian Ryerson, daughter-in-law Amanda Ryerson, and the proudest grandpa (Papa) to his granddaughter Charlotte (Carmel, NY). Rich is survived by his loving mother, Vincenza Ryerson, and his two brothers, Stephen Ryerson Sr. and George Ryerson. He was predeceased by his brother Robert Ryerson. He is also survived by his son Michael Ryerson, grandsons Kevin (Gabby) Ryerson and Jacob Seabolt, and great-granddaughter Knox Ryerson (Tazewell, TN). He is also survived by his son Rich Ryerson Jr. and his family.
Rich was a dedicated and loyal employee of The Harvey School in Katonah, New York, for over 41 years as the Director of Buildings and Grounds. Whether it was the biggest of blizzards or the calm of a regular day, Rich ensured that the campus was meticulously cared for, always putting the needs of students, families, and staff first. His tireless dedication made him an indispensable part of the Harvey community.
A man of many talents, Rich was the ultimate handyman, known for his ability to fix anything for anyone. He spent countless hours in his workshop, helping friends and family with various projects. His passion for the New York Jets was well known, and he cherished the times spent tailgating with his son Brian and dear friends Lee Robinson, Will Diano, and Michael Barefield.
Rich’s kindness, dedication, and love for his family and community will be deeply missed, but his legacy will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.
Interment was private. The family kindly requests donations to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center at www.mskcc.org, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital www.stjude.org, or the charity of your choice. To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store. (Obituary published on Legacy.com by Clark Associates Funeral Home on June 5, 2024.)
Tribute to Rich Ryerson
The Ryerson family is one of a small, special group of families that enriched The Harvey School campus while both Rich and Judy were employed by Harvey, and their son Brian ’05 became a distinguished graduate. They all played important roles in Harvey’s growth.
For many years, Rich had the responsibility of keeping Harvey’s grounds tended and safe, and the physical plant operating at peak performance day in and day out. I always marveled at how well Rich handled our very complex buildings and their various operating systems. During the years, that responsibility grew every time we added a new building, a new water source, fire alarm system, more modern heating and air conditioning, and new campus communication systems. Those duties were added to Rich’s snow plowing, road maintenance, schedule and supervision of daily campus maintenance, and special event setup. As if all of these duties were not enough, Rich had the responsibility of meeting local codes, health department mandates, water testing quality control, fire department regulations, and building code compliance.
Rich did this job with energy, enthusiasm, and professionalism that is simply awesome. His sense of humor and respect for everyone at Harvey was a hallmark of his tenure. It is always ironic to me that we take the daily running of our school’s system for granted. Yet when only one system decides to fail, all of us immediately notice the problem. We always trusted that Rich would have things fixed and soon back to normal.
The knowledge and experience Rich had for Harvey is unsurpassed. I hope he knew how proud I was to work with him for so many years. His dedication has made all the difference for The Harvey School of today — and even more so as we remember the much simpler school Rich signed on to so many years ago.
Thank you Rich, for your wonderful contributions to our school. I will miss you.
— Barry Fenstermacher, Headmaster Emeritus
Parting Thought
From the Director of Alumni Relations
Whether you graduated one year ago or 50 years ago, I encourage you to stay connected. Let us highlight your accomplishments and celebrate your milestones. There are so many ways to give back — whether it’s through mentorship, attending our events, or even connecting at one of our networking opportunities or happy hours. This year, our goals are ambitious, and your support — whether it’s financial or through involvement — can make a profound impact.
Remember, you’re always welcome to visit us up the hill at Harvey, where the view, both literally and in terms of the student experience, is nothing short of extraordinary. Thank you for continuing to be a part of our vibrant community.
Looking forward to connecting,
Scan for up-to-date event information and more about the Harvey alumni.
Greg Janos ’98
Join Us!
New York City Alumni Networking Reception
Thursday, April 10, 2025
6-9 p.m.
Juniper Bar, NYC
237 W. 35th Street
$25 per person
Harvey Annual Spring Celebration
Saturday, May 3, 2025
Save the Date. More details to follow!
Cavalier Golf Outing: Round 2!
Monday, June 23, 2025
Starting at 10 a.m.
Westchester Hills Golf Club
401 Ridgeway, White Plains, NY
For golfers and spectators
Week of March 10, 2025
Mark your calendar to join us for Harvey’s Days of Giving in March. We invite our entire community to join the fun and participate in unique daily challenges geared toward a specific group of the Harvey community each day of the week. All donations support the Harvey Fund!
For more information, contact Director of the Harvey Fund Andrew Jamieson at ajamieson@harveyschool.org.
260 Jay Street
Katonah, NY 10536
Address Service Requested
Harvey Cavalier Golf Outing
MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2025
Westchester
Hills Golf Club
401 Ridgeway White Plains, NY 10605
Breakfast & check-in begins at 10 a.m. Shotgun start at noon
In our inaugural outing last June, all our golfers and spectators had so much fun. Don’t miss this amazing event in 2025! Whether you’re an avid golfer or prefer to take in the atmosphere as a spectator, this is THE event for all Harvey alumni, families, and friends. Join us for a day of fun, camaraderie, and friendly competition!
