Holderness School Today Summer 2021

The Magazine of Holderness School

| SUMMER 2021

Inside: » I NTRODUCING OUR NEW HEAD OF SCHOOL » LOOKING FORWARD WITH PHIL » A LOOK INSIDE THE DAVIS CENTER » COMMENCEMENT 2021 » LEARNING OUTSIDE THE BOX

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Kat Alfond ’90 Sandeep Alva Karyn Campbell Katie Crumbo Carolyn Cullen ’87 Bob Cunha Cecily Cushman ’11 Chris Davenport ’89 Andrew Davis Paul John Ferri Tracy Gillette ’89 John Hayes The Right Rev. Robert Hirschfeld Burgie Howard ’82 Chris Keating ’81 Rob Kinsley ’88 Flip Kistler ’85 Alex MacCormick ’88 Chip Martin ’88 Kevin Mattingly Joe Miles ’82 R. Phillip Peck Nell Reynolds, Chair Andrew Sawyer ’79 Harry Sheehy Matt Storey Sander van Otterloo ’94 Richard Vieira Chance Wright ’14 Please send notice of address changes to the Advancement Office, PO Box 1879, Plymouth, NH 03264, or advancement@holderness.org. ©2021 Holderness School.

EDITOR: Greg Kwasnik CONTRIBUTORS: Rick Carey, Greg Kwasnik, Bob Hall P ’13, ’16, Nell Reynolds P ’18, ’20, ’22 DESIGN & PRODUCTION: Tessa Magnuson, Align Graphic Design, LLC

PHOTOGRAPHY: Thea Dodds, John Donovan, Greg Kwasnik, Max Paro ’ 17, Emily Magnus ’ 88 P ’ 17 ’ 20, Carol Dopp ON THE FRONT COVER: The all-school photo, May 20, 2021.

Sung You ’01

HEADMASTER EMERITUS The Rev. Brinton W. Woodward, Jr.

HONORARY TRUSTEES Warren C. Cook

Holderness School Today is printed

by Allied Printing Services, Inc. on sustainably produced, chain-of-custody stock certified to Forest Stewardship Council ® (FSC ®) standards.

Bob Hall Jim Hamblin ’77 Piper Orton ’74 W. Dexter Paine III ’79 Will Prickett ’81

FEATURES 8

COMMENCEMENT 2021

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A beautiful spring day on the quad. May 6, 2021

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30

INTRODUCING OUR A LOOK INSIDE THE HOLDERNESS NEW HEAD OF DAVIS CENTER OWNS WINTER SCHOOL

DEPARTMENTS From the Schoolhouse..................................................................2 From the Editor.............................................................................. 3

BONUS CONTENT

Around the Quad.........................................................................26

A Penny For Your Thoughts .......................... 22

Athletics....................................................................................... 30 Employee & Trustee Updates.....................................................38

Catching Up With The Furlonges.......................... 24

Alumni Profiles............................................................................ 40

College Commits.................. 36

In Memoriam................................................................................ 44 Class Notes.................................................................................. 46

Summer 2021 | 1

FROM THE SCHOOLHOUSE

FROM THE SCHOOLHOUSE

W

hat a difference a year makes, and what a year we have experienced! Last year, I shared this passage from Romans 5:2-4: "We rejoice in the hope of the Glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our own suffering knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." As I reflect on this past year, we never gave up hope. I am thankful for the leadership of countless members of the Holderness family who stepped up, appreciative of all that we have learned, and confident we are now stronger as a community.

This was truly a year like none other in the history of Holderness, and I want to share a few ref lections on how this community came together to achieve so much. First, for almost our entire community, we experienced in-person education for the full year. This experience even included interscholastic sports. Thanks to our health team’s proactive response, almost our entire 16+ year-old community was fully vaccinated by early May, and we enjoyed an in-person maskless Commencement of our seniors and their families. It was a glorious celebration that none of us took for granted!

Although exhausting, this year taught us much about scheduling, curriculum, and technology. We tried new ways of teaching, new ways of meeting, and new ways of communicating. Who would have ever thought we would meet with all our new parents in June via Zoom!

Or have our first assemblies in July, or hold over 10 meaningful alumni gatherings on important topics, or do regular parent town halls throughout the year.

Head of School Phil Peck

back to the spirit of Holderness. While we still have much work to do, that work is embedded in our DNA, and it is what the mission and motto of our little school calls us to achieve.

We also dealt with the specter of great financial challenges.

Heading into the 2020-21 school year, we had no idea if we would open fully enrolled; on the fundraising front, we had no idea if we could move important initiatives forward, including our ambitious Holderness Fund goal. In the end, we were blessed to have a truly exceptional year. We opened fully enrolled last fall and this April we finished the admissions cycle 12 students over enrolled. The Holderness family rallied, and we have had one of our most successful fundraising years ever, both in participation and amount raised—including the Day of Giving when over 1,500 folks supported our school!

Finally, we were able to move many strategic initiatives forward. We have a new strategic plan with initiatives in accessibility, athletics, social justice, health and wellness, and learning through being critically ref lective. We are also working on or completing numerous exciting projects, including the Davis Center, with its outdoor classroom; the Mittersill Performance Center at Cannon Mountain; and the on-campus air bag for freeskiers and snowboarders. In the months ahead, we’ll begin installing snowmaking on the Nordic trails; resurface the existing turf field and install lights; start work on a second turf field; and begin renovating Hagerman. We’re also well into our plans to build a new athletic facility.

It was also a year of growth around social justice, equity, and inclusion issues. While creating programming for students and professional development for adults, we continually came

Oh, and I did say how excited I am about our new head of school? Having John McVeigh appointed a full year in advance is a truly unprecedented gift. He has the ability

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Through all our challenges and sufferings this year, we never gave up hope, and we relied on each other

for support. As a result, we have learned much in our work together. No question, holding on to our core values and culture, Holderness is on the move!

Phil Peck, Head of School ppeck@holderness.org

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

I

f you’re anything like me, you probably spent a good portion of the last year hunched over your smartphone, endlessly scrolling.

A year of infinite doomscrolling didn’t do my neck any favors (just ask my chiropractor), but I found that I simply couldn’t stop. Perhaps, at a subconscious level, checking the news on my phone every five minutes was the only way I could exercise just a tiny bit of agency over a world that seemed to be spiraling out of control.

As I write this in the early summer of 2021, the world appears to be coming out of its uncontrolled spiral—and I’m trying to put down the phone. Here at Holderness, I recently unplugged to enjoy a beautiful, in-person commencement after 15 months of COVID restrictions. It was the start of an exciting new journey for our graduates—and a first step towards the kind of life we all took for granted before the pandemic began.

I hope this issue of Holderness School Today provides you with a similar look toward the future. And what a bright future it is. In these pages, you’ll learn about our newlynamed Head of School; take a peek inside the beautiful Davis Center, our newly-completed math and science building; and get a glimpse of exciting snow sports projects like the Mittersill Performance Center at Cannon Mountain and the major Nordic trail upgrades happening this summer. It’s a busy, exciting time to be a part of the Holderness community.

So put down your phone for a minute – or an hour – and f lip through these pages. In a world of infinite scrolling and endless online distractions, Holderness School Today should serve as a refuge—a place beyond the reach of the algorithms that determine our daily online experiences.

As such, I hope this magazine gives you an opportunity to think deeply about Holderness, and your connection to it.

From in-depth stories and photospreads to the 34 pages of

Greg Kwasnik

Class Notes lovingly compiled by our dedicated alums, we invite you to put down your phone and become absorbed in the world of the Holderness—as it was, is, and will be.

Greg Kwasnik, Associate Director of Communication and Marketing gkwasnik@holderness.org

Summer 2021 | 3

FROM THE EDITOR

to get to intimately know the Holderness community this coming year in ways that have never been possible for previous heads. I am eager to lead that welcoming process.

BY RICK CAREY

Head of School Phil Peck ponders the view from the Davis Center, the school's new math and science building

LOOKING FORWARD WITH PHIL A year before his retirement, Head of School Phil Peck discusses the challenges and opportunities facing Holderness School

BY RICK CAREY

“

That point when you’re strong and healthy—that’s a dangerous place in the life of a school,” said Head of School Phil Peck in his office one afternoon in March, 2021. By then it had been several weeks since he had announced his intention to retire after the 2021–22 school year. And he was speaking from just such a dangerous place.

“It’s a good place to be in, of course,” he added. “But the challenge becomes how to remain dynamic and progressive enough to stay there. It’s too easy to become stagnant instead.”

In fact, as any review of Holderness School history will reveal, the school has been at its most dynamic and progressive during and after its moments of crisis. The fire that destroyed a largely uninsured Knowlton Hall in 1931, just as the nation sank into the Great Depression? That was followed by The Reverend Edric Weld’s installation of the Job Program as a cost-cutting measure the next year.

Then the post-war years, as a small and chronically underfunded school began to lose its battle with its competitors? That was followed by Headmaster Don Hagerman’s hiring of skimeister Don Henderson to

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teach history—and also to build a snow sports program destined to be the envy of those competitors.

Then the campus turmoil of the late 1960s? That was met by an experimental outdoor education program, a ten-day winter journey through the woods and up mountains, that was proposed by English teacher Bill Clough ’57 and first mounted in December, 1969. That program became Out Back, and it has joined the Job Program and that thriving snow sports program as vital elements of the school’s identity, all three enduring keys not just to the school’s survival, but to its prosperity.

We might include the uproar that surrounded the question of co-education in the 1970s. When The Reverend B.W. (Pete) Woodward succeeded a retiring Don Hagerman as headmaster in 1977, the debate about the future of the Holderness School for Boys had polarized the school community in a way reminiscent of today’s partisan political divides. That fall, however, the new headmaster persuaded the trustees to settle the matter in favor of co-education.

By the time Phil Peck succeeded a retiring Pete Woodward

in 2001, these signature programs were firmly in place and the school community was largely oblivious to the fact that there had ever been doubts about co-education.

Holderness was strong, healthy—and complacent?

SETTING STRATEGIC GOALS “Fund-raising has always been part of this job, and in respect to that I had two goals in mind when I started,” Phil said that day. “Our endowment then was around $25 million.

I wanted our endowment to be $100 million to help move us closer to being fully funded need-blind with financial aid. And I also wanted fifty percent alumni participation. I wanted alumni to know that I didn’t care if it was ten dollars or a hundred thousand—just chip in, just participate.”

Of the two goals, the latter was the less ambitious, but not by so much. In general terms, the supportive alumni of an independent school like that school best as they remember it.

Keeping a school ahead of the educational curve and on top of the marketplace—doing those things, in other words, that ensure that it remains dynamic and progressive, especially in good times—can involve a tricky high-wire act. As the new head of school ventured out on that tightrope, he took as a balancing pole the school’s motto, mission, and core values.

“Pro Deo et Genere Humano, ‘For God and Humankind,’” he said. “I love the challenge built into that phrase. It’s not some kind of goal for you to achieve—instead it’s just something you do, something you can always strive to do better. And if that’s what you’re doing, if that’s where you’re headed, you go that way with a humble sort of confidence, a boldness that allows you to express and grow into your best self—your best, bold self, I call it.”

For Phil, steps along that tightrope have been measured over the years in a series of strategic plans, each following on the heels of the other. “Because we needed to keep moving forward, to keep evolving, we developed a new plan as a community every three years,” Phil said. “Each plan was meant to enhance the way we foster our core values of community, character, and curiosity, and I hope that over time we’ve successfully done so.”

During the course of Phil’s tenure, the plans have fallen into three broad phases. The first centered on health and safety, and it featured the renovation and expansion of the school’s health center, and also the construction of pedestrian tunnels connecting the east and west sides of the campus under busy Route 175. The second phase addressed community in its

residential aspect: Weld Hall was renovated, as well as the transformative renovations of Hoit and Rathbun dormitories to reduce the student faculty ratio; the new Pichette and Woodward dorms were built on the east side of campus; and more residential faculty were brought on campus, enough to establish an 8:1 student/teacher ratio in most of the dorms.

The third phase, a propulsive boost to the school’s academics and intellectual life, will culminate this fall with the opening of the Davis Center. This new math/science facility will increase the square footage of the school’s classrooms by forty percent, and its own classrooms are being specially detailed to allow innovation, f lexibility, and collaboration across the curriculum. Stretching between Livermore Hall and the Alfond Library at the northwest corner of the campus, it occupies the very spot whose view of Mt. Stinson prompted founder Bishop W.W. Niles in 1878 to choose this site and none other for the school he envisioned.

The Davis Center is in its own way visionary. “I learned that it’s not a matter of deciding how many labs you might want,” Phil said. “Instead, you have to think about where the study of math and science is going, and where it will be in fifteen or twenty years. What can we see over the horizon in terms of research, pedagogy, technology, and curriculum? Will there still even be a distinction between math and science?

The building will need to be able to keep pace with all the innovations that are sure to come in these areas. It will need to be the sort of adaptable, multi-use facility that Livermore has been since it was built—what?—almost a century ago.”

As this phase draws to completion—and as the Peck era nears its end at Holderness—the next strategic plan is (of course) already in place, a fourth phase now kicking into high gear. “When Don Henderson came to Holderness in 1951, the school’s ski teams were competing against the junior varsities of other Lakes Region schools because we weren’t on the same level as their varsity squads,” Phil said. “With Don aboard, and within a few years, Holderness was sending skiers to the US Olympic team. Today, on any given winter afternoon, 160 of our 280 students are out on the snow.”

For the past seventy years, thanks to Don Henderson—and thanks later to the many brilliant coaches who succeeded him, including former school Nordic (and US Olympic team) coach Phil Peck—the best snow sports program in America not found at a ski academy has been offered by Holderness. Which of course is a dangerous place to be in, given the many other independent schools that want to make that claim, and are strategizing to do so.

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“It’s to our advantage that we now have this world-class training slope at Mittersill, which is also a designated training site for the US Ski Team,” Phil said. “But the slope doesn’t even have a warming hut. If you want to get out of the wind, there’s only the Port-a-Potty. Similarly, our Nordic trails need an upgrade—new lights, snowmaking capability, and widening— if we want to continue to host national competitions here.”

make a whole new footprint. That was the case with our library, which once was in the basement of Livermore, and now it’s the case with the study of math and science.”

What’s remarkable about a top-tier program such as this at a traditional independent school is its integration with a three-season calendar devoted to other sports. At Holderness, moreover—and perhaps nowhere else—snow sports are also integrated with an outdoors program that finds common ground with both athletics and Out Back.

Other physical elements of this next plan include lights and resurfacing for the Robert T. Low Turf Field, and the addition of a second turf field on the other side of Mt. Prospect Street. “By the time all the objectives of this plan have been met, Holderness School will stand as the model for an integrated outdoors/athletic program,” Phil said.

“Our kids will be able to embrace the outdoors, participate in consistently outstanding team sports programs, and have available to them what will continue to be the premier snow sports program in the United States.”

“For our students, it’s not just one or the other, snow sports or traditional sports or the outdoors,” said Board Chair Nell Reynolds, speaking from her home in Hanover, NH. “Here, for example, you can play football in the fall, race on the alpine ski team in the winter, and then kayak in the spring. You can blend all three, and this next strategic plan aims to promote new levels of excellence in all three.”

One way this plan may be distinguished from its predecessors, though, is the way in which it is framed—not in the declarative sentences of a series of stated goals, but rather in open-ended questions. For example, leading off this plan: “How might Holderness amplify its remarkable athletic legacy and location by incorporating leading practices and competitiveness in all of our athletic offerings?”

The 9,200-square-foot Mittersill Performance Center— funded jointly with the Franconia Ski Club, Cannon Mountain, the State of New Hampshire, and under construction now—is the most conspicuous element of this plan and will be the sort of warming hut that also offers space for ski tuning, video training, and warm-up. But this new plan not only embraces the breadth of the school’s athletic and outdoors programs, it contains strategies as well for enhancing the school’s culture of inclusion, its habits of health and wellness, the assessment of academic growth, and financial accessibility. In this the plan is typical of its predecessors, which were similarly multifaceted, and which similarly circled back to reinforce the work of earlier plans.

Such sparkling new facilities as the Davis Center and the Mittersill Performance Center might tower over the plans that produced them, but in fact they are merely the iceberg tips that rise out of layers of low-cost initiatives having to do with people and existing programs. “We would not ever want our facilities to be the reason anyone chooses Holderness,” Phil said. “Whenever we can, we renovate our old buildings, as we did with Weld, Hoit, and Rathbun.

The Hagerman Center will continue to be a useful building for us, particularly with our arts programs, but sometimes new technologies, new possibilities, require that in order to best serve your people and programs, you have to

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“I HOPE IT REFLECTS MY LEADERSHIP STYLE, WHERE THE FIRST THING I TRY TO DO IS FIND THE RIGHT QUESTIONS TO ASK...”

Phil has come to see this as an important distinction. “I hope it ref lects my leadership style, where the first thing I try to do is find the right questions to ask,” Phil said. “If you build a strategic plan around statements, then you’re enacting an agenda. If you lead instead with questions, then you allow the answers that align best with your vision to guide you.”

OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHANGE Do not pity Phil Peck for never having faced a crisis during his tenure, as three Holderness heads had before him—because in fact he has. The fact that it was a crisis faced by every school leader in the nation during the past year does not lessen its impact.

True, at first he had it easy. Phil was out in the woods with an Out Back group—if that can ever be called easy—when COVID-19 swept across the nation the previous March. It fell to Associate Head of School Tobi Pfenninger to coordinate the school’s first responses at a time when many students were away from campus in various Special Programs. As soon as Phil got back, however, he joined Tobi and other school leaders—at Holderness and everywhere else—in inventing on the f ly a whole different way of educating.

Nor was it just a matter of coping with contagious disease.

“It was three pandemics at once, really,” Phil said. “There was the disease, and then all the financial stress caused by the disease, and then also the social turmoil—and opportunities for growth—that accompanied Black Lives Matter, the MeToo movement, and the wholesale drive for social justice. These all had implications at Holderness.”

If all this had to happen at once, Phil is at least grateful it happened when it did, while he was still the occupant of this office. “For me, it was a chance to apply everything I had learned over 37 years about pedagogy, team-building, curriculum, equity and inclusion, and the whole multifaceted task of leadership. It was exhilarating, experiencing the whole community pulling together on this, but at the same time, I have to admit it was really exhausting.”

So far everybody has pulled together very well. School was reconvened in the fall with no active cases. During the winter a small number of cases was detected on campus, and these were swiftly contained via contact tracing and quarantine protocols. By early March, most school employees had received the first of two vaccinations.

It was always Phil’s belief that Holderness would emerge stronger from this crisis, from these pandemics, and that has proven true—not in the manner this time of a revolutionary new program or an all-school paradigm shift, but rather more quietly in the discovery of efficient new options in scheduling, fruitful new techniques in pedagogy, effective new ways to communicate with parents and prospective families, and heretofore unrealized possibilities for collaboration, both within Holderness and with neighboring schools.

“Well, it was the sort of opportunity for change that was forced on us,” added Nell Reynolds. “We shook things up because we had to—and now we can hold on to the things that worked.”

Director of Admission David Flynn ’96, Head of School Phil Peck, and Bella chat with an admitted student during a Virtual Brownie Night this spring.

These are the sort of quiet and incremental changes that a strong, healthy school makes in the meat and gristle of a strategic plan, apart from the gleam of a new building, and that such a school can afford to make in the course of an unexpected shock. Also, in their direct interface with people and programs, these are the small-twitch adjustments that reliably keep a tightrope walker upright and a school out of danger.

"Right now I'm so glad I'm here for another year," Phil said, "as we get back to normal - a year to reestablish continuity, to get back to family-style meals and chapel, to open head's houses, reaffirm the Job Program, and all the rest of it.

One more year, also, to meet those fundraising goals established back in 2001. Is it likely with the endowment? “No, it’s not,” Phil laughed. I think our endowment is approaching $69 million, so we're a lot closer. But no, we won’t make $100 million.”

Alumni participation? “I’ve still got a good shot at that.

We had over 1,600 donors on our last Day of Giving. The Holderness Fund, of course, is no less important than the endowment, and here it is just March, and we’ve nearly reached the goal we set for that this year.”

Well, they were both very high bars, those goals, and trending sharply upwards with both, within shooting distance of one, is no small accomplishment. Best of all, though, is that after twenty years and counting, Holderness remains in its dangerous—and enviable—place. n

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CONGRATULATIONS

CLASS OF 2021 Commencement is always a joyous occasion at Holderness School, but few ceremonies have been quite as significant as the one that occurred on May 23, 2021. After more than a year of contending with the life-changing impacts of COVID-19—and watching the previous year’s seniors receive their diplomas over Zoom—the mostly-vaccinated Class of 2021 enjoyed a beautiful, in-person ceremony. After a year of COVID restrictions, sacrifice, and loss, the ceremony gave seniors — and the entire Holderness community—their first glimpse of a bright future to come.

“YOU HAVE WRESTLED WITH ISSUES OF GENDER, RACE, SOCIAL INEQUALITY, CLIMATE SCIENCE, THOUGHTS ABOUT POWER AND PRIVILEGE AND GENERAL FAIRNESS. IN TRUTH, THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE WHEN YOU LEAVE HERE. AT TIMES, THEY ARE GOING TO FEEL EVEN MORE INTENSE AND RISKY—AS YOU ENCOUNTER MORE PEOPLE WHO THINK DIFFERENTLY, LOOK DIFFERENTLY AND DON’T YET KNOW YOU. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LEAN INTO THAT DISCOMFORT. DON’T JUST STARE INTO YOUR PHONE, BUT ASK QUESTIONS AND CONTINUE TO LEARN—AND EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY.”

–Burgie Howard ’82, Holderness Trustee and Commencement Speaker

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“I KNOW THAT WE, AS A CLASS, WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO PUT INTO WORDS ALL THAT HOLDERNESS HAS DONE FOR US, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT WE ARE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT HAS BEEN DONE TO GET US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.” – Adam McNabney ’21 Holderness School President, 2020–21

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GRADUATING SENIORS Morgan Elizabeth A. from Tustin, CA Thanawan Atchariyachanvanit from Rayong, Thailand James Alexander Baber V from Richmond, VA Hallenbeck Jensen Barker from Cambridge, MA Jackman Schaub Bayreuther from Canaan, NH Aiden Levin Belt from Fort Collins, CO Jeffrey Pierce Bewlay from Fayston, VT James Sullivan Bocock from Salt Lake City, UT Tyler Todd Boes from Marblehead, MA Gwendolyn Nicole Bowler from Canterbury, NH Kate Summerfield Brayton from Waterville Valley, NH Ethan Alexander Callahan from Horseheads, NY Brooke S. Chandler from Duxbury, MA Yongrok Choi from Seoul, Korea William Scott Clouse from Brookline, MA Abigail Kathryn Cole from Plymouth, NH Joseph Arthur Colwell from Marblehead, MA Robert Cooper from Paget, Bermuda Charlotte Bray Croft from West Dover, VT Charles Morton Crumbo from Nashville, TN

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Christopher Henry James Davenport from Snowmass, CO Brendan Patrick Doyle from Stratham, NH Atkin Anthony Dwyer from Aurora, Ontario Colin James Eldred from Norfolk, MA Tiffany Feng from Suzhou JiangSu, China Emma Katherine Filosa from Bedford, MA Thomas Reed Fitzgerald from Falmouth, ME Garrison Leland Gagnon from Gilmanton Iron Works, NH Jobe McCabe Gemmell-Hughes from Hyannisport, MA Alex Willa Guest from New York, NY Patrick Martin Guinee, Jr. from Essex, MA Ethan John Hayes from Fort Myers, FL Greyson Heinzer from Westminster, MA Calvin Harold Hoder from Stowe, VT Amber Huang from Waltham, MA Sirin Jitklongsub from Bangkok, Thailand Kathleen Anne Jones from Amherst, NH SungWon Jung from Cheonan-si Chungcheongnam-do, Korea Uyen Le from Hanoi, Vietnam Shinya Ebony Lee from Rochester, NY

Thao Nguyen Mai from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Adam Steele McNabney from Baltimore, MD Ryan Jeffrey McNamara from Steamboat Springs, CO Patrick Joseph Mohan from Meredith, NH Charles Edward Morris from Hingham, MA Hien Tran Gia Nguyen from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Albert Jou Noyes from Falmouth, ME Pakorn Nunta-Aree from Bangkok, Thailand Griffin James O'Neil from East Greenwich, RI Abigail Flynn Palmer from Bridgewater, MA Honor Taylor Paton from Cambridge, MA Charles Francis Peterson from Durham, NC Alia J. Piccinni from Marblehead, MA Adam David Pilon from Farmington, CT Gene Propper from New York City, NY Isabella Qian from Beijing, China Brooks Comstock Reed from Hingham, MA Yansel Reyes from Manchester, NH Henry William Richard from Pepperell, MA Grace Jeanne Elizabeth Roe from Auburndale, MA Simon Thomas Rolfs from Telluride, CO

Madison Shea Roth from Charlotte, NC

Elijah Christopher Swanson from Meredith, NH

Avaline Elizabeth Wilson from Nantucket, MA

Jackson Wentworth Sawyer from Falmouth, ME

Ian Daniel Switzer from Thornton, NH

Kyle Charles Woodworth from Berwick Nova Scotia, Canada

Philippa Jennings Sheffield from Lake Bluff, IL

Chanaporn Tohsuwanwanich from Bangkok, Thailand

Jinyang Yu from Shanghai, China

Aaron McClain Shray from San Carlos, CA

Alexi Twahili from Kampala, Uganda

Grant Robert Zeps from Solana Beach, CA

Nicholas George Spanos from Lincoln, NH

Jacob Paul Waterman from Warwick, RI

Kwanlada Srijomkwan from Phichit, Thailand

Charlotte Mae Whitcomb from Holderness, NH

“IT HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE YEAR— OF CHALLENGES, OF CHANGES, OF RULES AND RESTRICTIONS, OF LEARNING, OF PERSEVERING, AND FINALLY OF TRIUMPHING—OF REACHING THIS MOMENT, TOGETHER, IN-PERSON, WITHOUT MASKS.” –Nell Reynolds P ’18 ’20 ’22, Holderness Board Chair

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COLLEGE DESTINATIONS Adrian College Bard College Bates College

Colorado School of Mines

Hobart William Smith Colleges

Providence College

Cornell University

Johns Hopkins University

Reed College

University of California-Irvine

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

University of CaliforniaLos Angeles

St Bonaventure University

University of Colorado Boulder

St. Lawrence University

University of Denver

Stanford University

University of Florida

Swarthmore College

University of MassachusettsAmherst

Bryant University

CUNY Hunter College

Bucknell University

Dartmouth College

Case Western Reserve University

Denison University

Colby College

Emmanuel College

New York University

College of the Holy Cross

Fordham University

Northeastern University

College of William and Mary

Gettysburg College

Northwestern University

Colorado College

Hamilton College

Plymouth State University

Johnson & Wales UniversityProvidence Middlebury College

Texas Christian University The College of Saint Scholastica

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Trinity College

University of MichiganAnn Arbor

University of New HampshireMain Campus University of Southern California University of Utah University of Vermont University of WisconsinMadison Vassar College Villanova University Virginia Military Institute

“MANY OF YOU FEEL AS THOUGH YOUR SENIOR YEAR WAS RIPPED AWAY FROM YOU, BUT INSTEAD, YOU ROSE TO THE CHALLENGE AND OUR WHOLE SCHOOL IS HERE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT THE BEST POSSIBLE YEAR THAT IT COULD BE. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENED, YOU ALL WERE SMILING EVEN IF IT WAS FROM BEHIND A MASK.” –Maizley Tone ’22, Holderness School President, 2021–22

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INTRODUCING OUR NEW HEAD OF SCHOOL—JOHN MCVEIGH Dear Holderness Community,

I

t is with great joy on behalf of the Board of Trustees and the Search Task Force that we announce the appointment of John McVeigh as the 10th Holderness Head of School beginning July 1, 2022.

After an incredibly rewarding and validating search that involved nearly 200 deeply talented and qualified candidates from across the country and around the world, we have the utmost confidence that we have found the individual that will best succeed Phil Peck.

John comes to us as a beloved and integral member of the Brooks School community, where over the course of 18 years he has held the positions of Dean of Faculty, Associate Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, Director of College Counseling, Science, Math and Oratory classroom teacher, advisor, and Varsity Boys Basketball Coach. In his current role as Associate Head of School for Faculty Affairs, he has successfully navigated Brooks through the pandemic, substantially expanded hiring and retention of faculty of color, significantly increased professional development funding and opportunities, helped to close one capital campaign and strategically plan another, been awarded an honorary degree by the Class of 2016, and served as the keynote speaker for countless events on behalf of Brooks. Prior to his time at Brooks, John worked as an engineer for Intel after graduating with a Masters of Environmental Management from Duke University. He also graduated Magna Cum Laude as a dual major in Biology and Chemistry from Merrimack College, where he was an Academic All-American basketball player and the recipient of a scholarship from the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence.

14 | Holderness School Today

We are thrilled to benefit from John’s extensive knowledge and broad experience, but even more so from his sincere appreciation for and desire to lead Holderness, his depth of understanding of the Holderness culture and community, and his authenticity as an educator and as a human being. It is clear from the recommendations we received and the interviews that we conducted that John has the innate ability to positively impact everyone, student or adult, with whom he comes into contact and, as such, is a clear choice to follow in Phil’s stead to uphold the mission, vision, core values, and motto of Holderness.

John will be enthusiastically joined at Holderness by his wife Candice and their children Jack and Kelly. Candice is an educator as well and has taught Health and Wellness at Andover High School for 23 years. When asked for his thoughts about taking on this role, John shared "I am absolutely thrilled and honored by the opportunity to join the Holderness community and so grateful for the chance to lead such a student-centered and mission-driven school. It's been energizing to meet so many students, employees, alumni, and families who have been deeply and positively impacted by the experiences they have had and the relationships they have made over the years – their love for Holderness is as contagious as it is inspiring, and our family can't wait to join you all next summer!"

In a transformational search process that highlighted the deep respect for Holderness School’s standing within the independent school world and the recognition of how wellplaced we are for continued strength and success in the future, the Search Task Force teamed with and learned from

“I AM ABSOLUTELY THRILLED AND HONORED BY THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THE HOLDERNESS COMMUNITY AND SO GRATEFUL FOR THE CHANCE TO LEAD SUCH A STUDENT-CENTERED AND MISSION-DRIVEN SCHOOL.”

the extensive expertise of Carney, Sandoe and Associates (CS&A). Through a rigorous process of interviewing and surveying hundreds of Holderness constituents, a Holderness Head of School position description was created and sent out across a massive network of educators and thought leaders. This unusually large applicant pool was narrowed down to a core group and presented to the Search Task Force who worked over several months and multiple stages to eventually arrive at three eminently qualified finalists to bring to campus for in-person interviews in late May. John was unanimously selected by the Search Task Force for recommendation to the Board and was subsequently unanimously approved by the Board of Trustees.

The depth and breadth of our candidates was truly impressive, and the thorough, diligent, and genuine search process was an incredible ref lection of all members of the Holderness community. We would like to acknowledge the innumerable hours of work done by our excellent CS&A consultants – Deveraux McClatchey, Rice Bryan ’91, Becky Sykes and Jessica Wright – our loyal and dedicated Search Task Force members listed below, and all participating members of the Holderness community that enabled us to reach this exciting and rewarding conclusion to our search process. The constant support from the greater Holderness community was equally integral to our success.

We would also like to thank Phil and Robin Peck for their gracious, thoughtful, and honest collaboration in this process and for playing a key role in the final interview days. It was an amazing and fully Holderness team effort from start to finish, and we look forward

to this next year of transition and celebration of both Phil and John as we begin this journey together!

With the deepest gratitude for the Holderness community we serve,

Nell Reynolds P ’18, ’20, ’22 Search Task Force Co-Chair Chair of the Board of Trustees

Bob Hall P ’13, ’16 Search Task Force Co-Chair Former Chair of the Board of Trustees

HOLDERNESS SEARCH TASK FORCE Carolyn Cullen ’87, P ’17, Trustee Burgwell Howard ’82, Trustee Chris Keating ’81 P ’24, Trustee Richard Vieira P ’20, Trustee Tobi Pfenninger P ’11, ’15, Associate Head of School Andy Herring, Director of Strategic Marketing & Communications Elizabeth Wolf, Math Department Chair

Summer 2021 | 15

OUTSI DE

LEARNING W

hen the COVID-19 pandemic overtook the country last March, it put a premature end to Special Programs. With the exception of eleventhgraders on Out Back, all students participating in Project Outreach and Artward Bound were sent home after just a few days of the start of their programs, where they would remain for the rest of the 2019-20 school year.

Special Programs 2021

This year, Holderness resolved to rethink Special Programs for the COVID era. With weekly COVID surveillance testing, masking, and social distancing, the school was able to keep the virus at bay and students engaged in outside-the-classroom learning. With a bit of flexibility, creativity, and patience, students and teachers were able to enjoy this signature Holderness program—and remain virus-free.

TH E BOX

16 | Holderness School Today

PROJECT OUTREACH

GRADE

Summer 2021 | 17

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ARTWARD BOUND

GRADE

Summer 2021 | 19

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OUT BACK

GRADE

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Starting a new job is never easy. Just ask our new Director of Health Services Karen Penny, RN, who started during a global pandemic.

PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS

I

t’s probably safe to assume that when Karen Penny decided to pursue a career in healthcare, she never imagined a scenario in which she would have to send hundreds of vials of saliva through the mail, every single week.

on campus. It was a stressful time for the new director and her staff, but the school’s success in stamping out the virus was proof that the months of planning and daily meetings with the school’s COVID response team had paid off.

But that's exactly the kind of scenario that confronted Karen, a registered nurse and Holderness School's new director of health services, during her first year on the job. And there have been plenty of situations just like that. With the threat of COVID-19 lurking over the 2020–21 school year, Holderness took unprecedented steps to ensure the health of the community: requiring masks indoors and out; practicing social distancing; and conducting pooled saliva testing of all students, teachers, and staff on a weekly basis. Those tests were an intense logistical undertaking that required Karen and her Health Center staff to create spreadsheets, assign barcodes, administer tests, and mail the school’s 450 saliva samples to a lab in New York City for testing every Tuesday.

“It’s been quite the year to take over as director, but I think it’s gone well,” Karen said during an interview this spring in the Health Center. “I think hopefully when we look back at our pandemic year we can say that we did the best we could and we would hopefully change very little. Nobody’s had to do this before.”

So how did it all work out? For the most part, all tests would come back negative within a couple of days, leaving Karen and the rest of the school to proceed with business as usual. But when testing turned up several positive cases in January, the Health Center quickly transformed into a contact tracing command center. Within hours, the school had managed to quarantine all positive cases and their close contacts, effectively halting the spread of the virus

22 | Holderness School Today

It was a year of firsts for everyone on the Holderness campus, and it was a year that required constant vigilance on the part of students, teachers, and staff. Every cough and sneeze was a potential cause for concern, and it was something Holderness students took particularly seriously. “Especially in the fall we had students coming in with all kinds of symptoms – a slightly runny nose, a little bit of a headache – because nobody wanted to be the first one,” Karen said. “Nobody wanted to be patient zero. The kids have really stepped up and taken responsibility for their health and the health of their peers.”

The arrival of vaccines in March marked a turning point at the school. Karen noticed a profound sense of happiness and relief in faculty and staff when she began administering their Moderna vaccines in early March. It was a nice change

of pace for Karen, who wasn’t used to seeing patients smile, laugh, or cry tears of joy when receiving a vaccine. “It was really exciting to be here and be able to participate in that,” she said. “It definitely felt like a celebration in here.” Students were just as enthusiastic about the vaccines. In April, the Pfizer vaccine became available to students ages 16 and older. Less than 24 hours after students became eligible to register for that vaccine, 116 had signed up to receive a shot.

The sense of relief accompanying those vaccinations was a welcome respite for Karen, but she isn’t declaring victory over COVID-19 just yet. Instead of planning a well-deserved summer vacation to celebrate her first year as director, she’s already planning summer meetings. As the current school year comes to an end, big questions are emerging about the continued presence of COVID-19, and how Holderness will adapt to this persistent virus.

She’s doing everything she can to find the answers.

“We already have meetings scheduled for when after school is out. I think it’s going to be: what is next year going to look like? Are we still going to be testing every week? Will we still be testing students who have been vaccinated? Will we still need to all wear masks?” Karen asks. “The vaccines are excellent and really good, but I think that it’s going to open us up to a whole new set of challenges, for sure.” n

A YEAR AT HOLDERNESS:

BY THE NUMBERS

13,637

CLASS MEETINGS

10,000+ COVID TESTS ADMINISTERED

648 COVID VACCINES ADMINISTERED

181 COLLEGES OFFERING ADMISSION

$6,000 RAISED FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS

1,065 HOURS OF COMMUNITY

SERVICE IN PROJECT OUTREACH

75

IN-PERSON SENIOR THESIS PRESENTATIONS

3 SEASONS OF

INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS

2 PLAYS 1

CONCERT

1 STUDENT ART SHOW At Commencement, Mrs. Penny and the school's COVID Response Team were honored for their exemplary service.

Summer 2021 | 23

CATCHING UP With the Furlonges

BY RICK CAREY

I

n the spring of 1994, Holderness School’s new Dean of Faculty—Phil Peck—was trying to do something that has historically proven difficult: recruit faculty of color to come live and work at a small school in the mountains of northern New England.

Phil was attending a job fair in Boston, one especially designed to attract teachers of color to New England independent schools. The fair as a whole was well attended, and many representatives from schools in southern New England were busy talking with prospective faculty members.

Among those prospects was Nigel Furlonge, 21, an alumnus of Boston Latin and a new graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s in American history.

Phil’s Holderness School table, alas, was not at all busy. So how did Nigel find himself there? “Well,” laughed Nigel 27 years later, speaking in April on Zoom from his home in Yonkers, New York, “the poor guy was sitting there alone, and I felt sorry for him.”

Nigel was empathetic enough to visit that lonely table. He and Phil talked. Three weeks later, he accepted Phil’s job offer to not just teach history but also serve as the school’s Director of Diversity.

It may have been very much an outside-the-lane sort of decision, Nigel’s choice of Holderness as a place to try out a career in teaching, but Phil, for his part, was ecstatic—and also worried. “Was it too much to ask someone right out of college to teach, coach, run a dorm, and also advance an important new program at Holderness?” he said during that Zoom call. “Eventually I asked Nigel if it was okay if we worked together as codirectors—and that’s how our partnership began.”

Two years later Nigel—burdened but nonetheless f lourishing under all he had taken on at Holderness—acquired another sort of partner in marrying Nicole Brittingham, who had just completed her Master’s in American literature, and was about to begin work on her doctorate at the University of

24 | Holderness School Today

Nicole and Nigel Furlonge with their children (l–r) Logan, Wyatt, and Lucas.

Michigan. They were wed in the Chapel of the Holy Cross, and in 1997 Nicole joined the school’s English department.

“Phil, you’re good at seeing the possibilities in people,” Nicole said during that Zoom call. “I still have an article you gave me on why college professors should have high school teaching experience, and it provided a way for me to articulate why I loved what I was doing there.”

So began a meteoric journey up the teaching ranks that took this couple away from Holderness and then back again. From 2000 to 2007, they worked at the St. Andrew’s School in Delaware, where Nigel became Director of Studies and Nicole chair of the English department and Director of Diversity. She also earned her doctorate with a dissertation that would be expanded into a book published in 2018 by the University of Iowa Press: “Race Sounds: The Art of Listening in African American Literature.”

Then to the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey, where Nigel served three years as academic dean and Nicole was a mentor to other teachers, coaching colleagues in other disciplines around their pedagogy and curriculum design.

From 2010 to 2015, while Nicole taught English and chaired the department at the Princeton Country Day School, Nigel was one of the founding team members of the Christina Seix Academy, an innovative pre-K–8 school in Trenton, both day and boarding, serving children from underserved

communities. During his time there Nigel did a little bit of everything in building that school from the ground up.

Yet the Furlonges were never entirely away from Holderness.

They stayed in touch with Phil, and way back in 1996—at a time when Nigel was pondering a career switch to law—Phil had suggested he apply to Columbia University’s Klingenstein Center Summer Institute. The Klingenstein Center is the nation’s premier incubator of independent school leaders, and its Holderness alumni include—among many others— Jay Stroud, Jim Nourse, Jory Macomber, Duane Ford ‘74, Kelsey Berry, Jini Rae Sparkman and Phil. There Nigel’s fire for education would be rekindled in earning a Master’s in independent school organization and leadership, and later he would become the Center’s lead teacher in both its history and diversity groups. In his spare time, from 2007 to 2014, he would serve on the Holderness School Board of Trustees.

In 2015 the Furlonges rejoined the Holderness faculty.

Nicole started off as English department chair, then also became Director of Teaching and Learning. Nigel served as Associate Head of School, and both Furlonges were prime movers in the design and implementation of its current and also its preceding strategic plans.

“In 2015, with a number of people with Klingenstein connections in the administration and on the board,” Nigel recalled, “we made a choice to centralize the intellectual and academic life at Holderness in a way that had a different sort of resonance to it—in a way, for example, that apportioned as much honor and prestige to the community’s scholars, artists, and professionals as to its Olympic athletes.”

Nigel argued that this mid-decade plan to enhance the life of the mind at Holdernesss should precede a plan addressing the needs of the athletics and outdoors programs because in that order the success of both would be more possible.

“Then Nicole developed a learning master plan for where math and science is going in the next 10–15 years, and played a pivotal role in securing several lead gifts for the Davis Center,” Phil said. “I was so fortunate to have this dynamic duo aligned with my vision for the school, and their fingerprints are all over what Holderness has become today.”

Then suddenly, in 2018, the ambitious scholar who had been enticed into teaching at the secondary level became one of the nation’s more consequential college professors when Nicole was named the new director of the Klingenstein Center, succeeding the retiring (and former Holderness trustee) Pearl Kane.

The Furlonges and their three children—Logan, now 16; Lucas, 13; Wyatt, 9—moved to Yonkers, where Nigel became principal of the upper school at the pre-K–12 Ethical Culture Fieldston School (ECFS) in the Bronx. Founded in 1878, ECFS emphasizes the teaching and practice of ethics in a context of equity and inclusion. This coming year, however, he will take on a new role as Head of School at New Jersey’s Montclair Kimberley Academy (MKA), another large pre-K–12 day school that foregrounds diversity and inclusion in its mission.

And this is where we find them now—at a time in America when the nation is harrowed by a pandemic, riven by economic inequality, and withered by the senseless deaths of Black men and women.

“And we’re also in a moment where independent schools are painted as elite and exclusive,” said Nicole. “Yes, we do in fact have privilege. We do in fact possess resources.

Along with all that comes the responsibility to shift the terrain, to make the changes necessary to refashion our independent schools into authentically welcoming and inclusive communities, both at the student and faculty levels.”

As with any sort of institutional change, it goes best if it comes from within. It can be done one school at a time, as by that young educator who invigorated the diversity program at Holderness; who as Director of Admissions at Christina Seix Academy in 2012 welcomed its first 70 students on campus; and who now assumes the helm at MKA on the promise—in Nigel’s words—of “cultivating empathetic listeners who understand the substance and salience of being culturally competent.”

Or it can be done from the sort of pulpit that reaches all independent schools, both in America and abroad, as is being done by the former secondary English teacher who in her brief time at the helm of the Klingenstein Center has already stressed issues of equity, inclusion, and social justice in the institute’s curriculum; and who currently leads an inquiry into how the financial structures of independent schools may be brought to aid, rather than impede, progress on those fronts.

It’s not a matter of building wider dedicated lanes for diversity into the robust learning environments offered by independent schools, these two potent and compassionate educational leaders are telling us—it’s a matter of building in America’s independent school infrastructure a single lane wide enough, inclusive enough, and safe enough for us all. Blueprints are available upon request. n

Summer 2021 | 25

AROUND THE QUAD

THE DAVIS CENTER

A look inside the school’s new math & science facility

On May 21, 2021—just two days before commencement—students and faculty gathered for senior thesis presentations inside the Davis Center, the school’s new math and science building. It was the n May 21, 2021 – just two days before commencement - students and faculty gathered for senior thesis first time anyone had truly transformative, square-foot academic which was presentations inside theused Davisthe Center, the school’s new35,000 math and science building.

It was facility, the first time anyone designed under the themes of innovation, collaboration, f lexibility, and connecting to the outdoors. truly used the transformative, 35,000 square-foot academic facility, which was designed under the themes of It was an inspiring start for theand new building, futureItgenerations of Holderness students innovation, collaboration, flexibility, connecting towhere the outdoors. was an inspiring start for the new building, where and teachers will benefit from wet and dry science labs, versatile classrooms, enhanced faculty future generations of Holderness students and teachers will benefit from wet and dry science labs, versatile classrooms, planningfaculty enhanced spaces, planning and an spaces, atrium-like and an atrium-like Winter Garden Winter Garden with stunning with stunning views views of Stinson of StinsonMountain.

Mountain.

O

26 | Holderness School Today

AROUND THE QUAD

Summer 2021 | 27

AROUND THE QUAD

28 | Holderness School Today

AROUND THE QUAD

In addition to versatile classrooms and science labs, the Davis Center features a beautiful gathering space in the Winter Garden, and an amphitheater-like outdoor classroom with views of the mountains to the west of campus.

Summer 2021 | 29

ATHLETICS

HOLDERNESS

OWN S

WINTE R Holderness School is known for its peerless snow sports program, but that program is quickly reaching new heights. With transformative projects like the Mittersill Performance Center and Nordic trail homologation slated for completion this fall, Holderness is quickly cementing its place as the best preparatory school ski program in the nation.

30 | Holderness School Today

ATHLETICS

FREESTYLE

This spring, the school’s freestyle skiers launched off the school’s new Air Bag Jump.

Built into the hillside above the football field, the jump allows athletes to perfect their aerial tricks while landing on an 1,800-square-foot air bag. The Air Bag Jump will permit skiers and snowboarders to train through all four seasons, while providing a soft landing to minimize the risk of injury.

Summer 2021 | 31

ATHLETICS

ALPINE

The Mittersill Race and Training Slopes at Cannon Mountain is a designated training site for the U.S. Ski Team – and it’s also where Holderness student-athletes train. Next winter, our skiers will have full use of the brand-new, 9,200-square foot Mittersill Performance Center. The lodge, which will be open to all resort guests, will provide Holderness and Franconia Ski Club athletes with much-needed space for alpine ski racing and training. Designed by lead architect and project manager Evan Mullen '00, the lodge will include ski tuning rooms, coaches' offices, video review rooms, and gear storage areas.

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ATHLETICS

Summer 2021 | 33

ATHLETICS

NORDIC

How does a school host championship-level Nordic races in a climate where winter temperatures and natural snowfall are becoming more variable? Holderness will attempt to answer those questions this summer when it begins a project to build several homologated competition loops – and install 2.5 kilometers of snowmaking along a key portion of its Nordic trail system. This project will allow the school to host elite-level Nordic races, and provide a more reliable racing and training surface for skiers during the early season.

34 | Holderness School Today

ATHLETICS

Summer 2021 | 35

ATHLETICS

COLLEGE COMMITS Of this year’s graduating seniors, 17 have committed to play competitive athletics in college.

These students represent some of the top athletic talent in New Hampshire and New England, and are testaments to Holderness School’s culture of academic and athletic excellence. We wish them continued success in college and beyond!

JACK BAYREUTHER

MORGAN AGRAN

ALEX BABER

Plymouth State University

Virginia Military Institute

HOCKEY

LACROSSE

JIMMY BOCOCK

TYLER BOES

St. Lawrence University

St. Lawrence University

Villanova University

LACROSSE

FOOTBALL

LACROSSE

GWEN BOWLER

ABIGAIL COLE

TOPHER DAVENPORT

Adrian College

Hobart & William Smith Colleges

Colby College

ICE HOCKEY

CROSS COUNTRY RUNNING

ALPINE SKIING

36 | Holderness School Today

ATHLETICS

ATKIN DWYER

SHINYA LEE

AJ NOYES

St. Bonaventure University

Gettysburg College

Middlebury College

LACROSSE

BASKETBALL

LACROSSE

GRIFFIN O’NEIL

BROOKS REED

HENRY RICHARD

Dartmouth College

Colby College

Vassar College

LACROSSE

ALPINE SKIING

LACROSSE

GENE PROPPER

ELIJAH SWANSON

MAE WHITCOMB

Hunter College

Emmanuel College

College of St. Scholastica

BASKETBALL

BASKETBALL

NORDIC SKIING

Summer 2021 | 37

EMPLOYEE /TRUSTEE UPDATES

New Dean of Students Mb Duckett Ireland (right) with wife Sarah Duckett Ireland and daughter Livi.

HOLDERNESS NAMES NEW DEAN OF STUDENTS

BY GREG KWASNIK

W

hether they’re learning how to live in a dorm, enduring discomfort on Out Back, or just watching their teachers go about their lives on campus, students at a boarding school learn countless important lessons outside the classroom.

That’s an idea that animates Holderness School’s new Dean of Students, Mb Duckett Ireland. Having spent the last 11 years as a form dean, English teacher and coach at Choate Rosemary Hall, Mb knows just how all-encompassing a private school education can be. She also knows how important it is for faculty and administrators to create an environment where all students can be comfortable growing into their true selves. “Helping students through that process of identity development and self-understanding and fashioning themselves to be ready for the world is what drives me,” Mb says. “And I just love conversations with teenagers, because they’re intellectually adults, but just have this joy that sometimes I think we lose sight of as adults.”

We’re excited to welcome Mb, her wife Sarah Duckett Ireland, and their two-year-old daughter Livi to campus this summer. But we couldn’t wait that long to talk to her. Here, Mb tells us about the unique challenges today’s students face, why she loves experiential education, and what drew her to Holderness.

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What first interested you in Holderness School?

I think it was the emphasis on experience as important to learning, coupled with still having a very strong academic program. The way students get to go outside —they get to actually do lots of hands-on things. A lot of schools use experiential learning as kind of a buzzword, but Holderness has been living it for a really long time. So that was a really exciting prospect to me.

Why makes experiential learning so exciting?

I was involved with the Environmental Immersion Program here at Choate. It’s an interdisciplinary curriculum where all the classes kind of talk to each other about the environment and solving environmental issues through an interdisciplinary lens. I think that sort of approach to learning is very real-world and applicable to what happens when you graduate from high school and college and go out into the world. I think it’s a really meaningful way to learn, and it makes things stick with students much better than sitting in a classroom all the time. Having a student population that’s willing to sign up for a school, like Holderness, knowing that they’re going to spend 11 days in the woods and three of them by themselves? It just attracts a certain type of student that’s very much my vibe. I went on a NOLS [National Outdoor Leadership School] semester right

You served as chair of Driving Equity at Choate, an interdepartmental team created to heighten cultural competency through training, curriculum review, admission work, and hiring practices. You were also a longtime faculty adviser to Spectrum, Choate’s Sexuality and Gender Alliance. Holderness has made a strategic initiative to grow our culture of inclusivity. How do you see the Office of the Dean of Students as aiding that initiative?

It’s really important work. It’s the foundation of everything that I do. If a Dean of Students office isn’t deeply, deeply involved in equity and inclusion work, then they’re not serving the students correctly. Whether it’s partnering to make programming with Jini [Director of Equity and Inclusion Jini Rae Sparkman] and her office, or making sure that we’re constantly involved in training around unconscious bias to make sure we check ourselves as adults so that we’re doing our best for all of our students and each of our students individually. I think you can’t be in the world of serving students well if you’re not constantly ref lecting on your own experience and trying to better yourself also.

What drives you as an educator?

Trying to help students. I think high school is a really exciting time in the life of an adolescent, particularly at a boarding school. Whether the student is living there or not, it doesn’t really matter because they’re spending more time away from their parents than they ever have before. There’s this great opportunity for students to explore different versions of themselves, different aspects of their personality that they want to cultivate and to look around at all of these adult models they get to see up close and to say “Wow, there are so many ways to be a successful adult in the world, and I get to see so many of them in action outside of just the classroom.”

What particular challenges do today’s students face?

I think it’s harder to be balanced these days. Everybody talks about the kind of drive to get into the right college and do the right thing and get the right job. It all comes

back to finding a way to live a balanced life. Academics are important, but they’re not everything. Sports are important, but they’re not everything. Sleep is important, but it shouldn’t be everything – but it should certainly be something, right? So whether it's sleep or not sleep, live your life online or live your life in person, put every hour you have into homework or do something for you – it wasn’t as much of a machine when we were in high school. When we were in high school, there wasn’t as much of a predetermined way or path to be on from a societal point of view. I think knocking yourself off of that path can be a really daunting prospect but it’s a really important thing to do in order to be true to yourself. n

RETIREMENTS This spring, we said goodbye to two longtime Holderness School employees who served the school for a combined 73 years.

Peter Barnum P ’05 ’07 ’09, the school’s senior associate director of major gifts, first came to Holderness in 1980. Prior to taking on his Advancement role in 2005, Peter welcomed thousands of students to Holderness as director of admission and director of financial aid. He’ll leave Holderness with countless treasured memories. “Doc O as a neighbor my first year. Great teachers and coaches, kids and parents,” Peter says. “A school that epitomized a wonderful balance between academics and athletics. How very lucky I was to fall into this place. Thank you, Holderness.”

After ensuring that generations of Holderness athletes took to the field with spotless uniforms, Athletic Equipment Manager Ed Simes is finally folding after 33 years on the job. “Does 33 years really go by so fast? It has been my pleasure to be associated with Holderness School,” Ed says. “Four of my children graduated from here, and I now have a grandchild attending as a sophomore. I will miss being here but I am looking forward to spending some quality time in retirement with my lovely bride, Kathy. Farewell and carry on, all.”

Summer 2021 | 39

EMPLOYEE /TRUSTEE UPDATES

after I graduated from college because I didn’t feel like I had done anything different enough while I was in school. I had always wanted to, but just never got to a place where I was willing to step outside of the classroom comfort zone. So it’s exciting to work at a place that values that so early and really emphasizes it.

ALUMNI PROFILES

TARUN SHETTY ’97 From Holderness to Hollywood

BY GREG KWASNIK

W

hen Tarun Shetty ’97 was in Norm Walker’s English class at Holderness, he told his teacher that he wanted to become a writer. Mr. Walker, the legendary teacher and football coach, must have seen something special in his young student.

“He said, ‘You should Tarun Shetty ’97 be funny, too – figure out how to do that,’” Tarun recalls more than two decades later. It would end up being important advice. “Nobody had ever said that to me,” Tarun says. “I took that to heart and said ‘Maybe I can do this.’ I just started trying to honor that human spirit, just to see where it took me.”

Honoring that human spirit took Tarun places far beyond his native New Hampshire. After graduating from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Tarun embarked on an odyssey to realize his potential as a writer, actor, and performer. He got his start as a doorman at the legendary Boston Comedy Club in New York City, where comedians such as Sarah Silverman, Adam Sandler, and Jim Gaffigan launched their careers. He spent years developing his material and hustling to get stage time; he even walked the streets, handing out f lyers for the comedy clubs where he was performing. It all required an immense amount of dedication, but Tarun wasn’t a stranger to hard work. He credits his work ethic, in part, to the lessons he learned working in the Job Program at Holderness. “I realized that if you just work hard enough and just hammer through that wall you can break through any way,” Tarun says. “That was my attitude as a standup, and it took me on some pretty crazy journeys.”

Those journeys eventually took Tarun to Los Angeles, where he f lourished as a writer and actor. Among his many credits, Tarun was a series lead in the Disney's pilot "Code

40 | Holderness School Today

9"; guest-starred on NBC's "Grimm" and the thriller "DOE"; co-starred in the sitcom pilot "No Money Down" that he also co-produced, and was a cast member on season one of Fox’s reality show “Flirty Dancing.” He also wrote and produced the comedy segment “Generation Desi” on the global program “Showbiz India” and wrote and produced on staff for G4TV. It was when he was working for “Showbiz India,” a Bollywood entertainment show, that Tarun co-wrote, produced, and acted in the viral web series “Desi OC.” It was a show that focused on the problems of young South Asian adults: dating, parents, career, love, religion, and other vital topics. It spoke to a generation of young South Asians tired of seeing themselves typecast as one-dimensional characters on mainstream film and television, and became an overnight success with millions of views. “There wasn’t really a voice for South Asians at that time,” Tarun says. “So we just connected with a lot of Indians, and grew a lot from that.”

That kind of creative growth has been a feature of Tarun’s career, with each phase—from standup comedian to actor to producer of a hit web series—serving as stepping stones along his creative journey. He took a new step along that path in 2019 with the publication of his first novella, “Laughing in Hell.” The book is based on his experiences in the cutthroat world of standup comedy, and is by turns wickedly funny, gritty, and very compelling. During the pandemic, he also produced a new comedy web series, “Writers Group,” a hilarious sendup of a Zoom-based writing workshop. That new show is set to premiere at the LA Comedy Festival. In a very real way, these new projects are just the latest fulfilment of Mr. Walker’s advice in his English class so many years ago. Tarun became a writer – and he found a way to be funny doing it.

“You have to figure out what makes you unique and different, and that’s really your best shot - and that hopefully will speak intrinsically to who you are as an artist, whether you’re a writer, an actor, a director,” Tarun says. “And then you follow that thread. It might change, it might evolve, but the important thing is identifying that, and then having fidelity to your human spirit and seeing where that takes you.” n

ALUMNI PROFILES

Jennifer Walker Hemmen ’89 (second from left) and her Forlorn Hope Expedition partners stand above Donner Lake in California's Sierra Nevada mountains.

Jennifer Walker Hemmen ’89

HOPE, NOT SO FORLORN

BY GREG KWASNIK

J

ennifer Walker Hemmen ’89 loves a good challenge. A seasoned ultrarunner, she’s completed more than 50 ultra races, including the legendary Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run near her home in California. And in 2019, she was selected to compete in EcoChallenge Fiji, a race so unbelievably grueling that it was made into an adrenalinefueled television show hosted by adventure icon Bear Grylls.

So when a friend asked Jennifer if she would be interested in joining an expedition that would follow a 108-mile route taken by members of the Donner Party—yes, that Donner Party—she jumped at the chance. “I didn’t even hesitate for a second,” Jennifer recalls with a laugh. “I said ‘That sounds perfect! When is it?’”

Accounts of the Donner Party’s ordeal make for difficult reading. In the spring of 1846, a wagon train of emigrants set off from Missouri on the Oregon Trail, bound for California.

By the time the Donner Party reached the Sierra Nevada mountains, they were behind schedule and racing the early snows of autumn. Heavy snows in early November forced the group to make camp at Truckee Lake—now Donner Lake—just a few miles from the mountain pass that would have led them to their destination in California’s Central Valley. By early December, with numerous people dying of starvation, a group of 17 men, women, and children embarked on a desperate journey to find help. Over the next several weeks, this group, subsequently dubbed the “Forlorn Hope,” undertook an epic snowshoe journey over

the mountains. Wallowing in snow that reached 12 feet deep in places, only seven people survived the trek, and several of those who perished were eaten by those who remained. Some 33 days and 108 miles after setting out, those survivors found help at a ranch near Sacramento.

Jennifer was one of four endurance athletes to embark on the new Forlorn Hope Expedition on December 16, 2020 – the same day the original Forlorn Hope party left Donner Lake. The expedition was the brainchild of Bob Crowley and ultrarunning icon Tim Twietmeyer, a five-time winner of the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run. Both Crowley and Twietmeyer had spent years obsessively researching the daily journals of the Forlorn Hope party, attempting to reconstruct their little-known route through the mountains. On the new expedition, Jennifer and her three teammates would trace the original Forlorn Hope route, traveling 10 to 35 miles a day over rugged terrain from Donner Lake to Johnson’s Ranch north of Sacramento. Along the way, they planned to carry tribute cards with pictures and bios of the original Forlorn Hope party members - a tangible reminder of their struggle.

The expedition would end up being one of the most intense experiences of Jennifer’s life. Trudging through the earlywinter snowpack in the Sierras, the group made it a point to stop at important points along the journey to read letters of the Forlorn Hope survivors and the journal entries of those who perished along the way. As a mother of three children, it was all too easy for Jennifer to imagine just how

Summer 2021 | 41

ALUMNI PROFILES

“I remember being thrilled to see a helicopter but also thinking ‘Well, we clearly know which way to paddle because he just landed on that island over there,’” Jennifer says. “It’s sort of the difference between Hollywood and reality.” In a very important way, though, an adventure race —in which an entire team is disqualified if just one member quits or can’t continue—gave her important insights into the trials and rewards of team expeditions. “Physically it wasn’t the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but emotionally it is really hard. It was a really intense experience,” Jennifer says. “When you’re on a team, you’re responsible for your teammates 100 percent of the time: their safety, their emotional state, what they’re eating and drinking. It’s a whole different ball game.”

Jennifer relaxes with her husband Travis in Fiji.

difficult the journey must have been for the members of the Forlorn Hope party, many of whom were only teenagers. She even thought back to her own experience as a Holderness School student on Out Back, alone in the White Mountains during her three-day solo. “Not many people have been left in the woods, or spent two weeks snowshoeing through the White Mountains as a teenager, so that was a pretty unique experience to compare to what these pioneer people were up against,” Jennifer says. “Not mentally, of course – it’s way beyond my understanding. It was a very emotional trip.”

Jennifer’s wintertime journey through the Sierras was a wildly different experience from EcoChallenge Fiji, where film crews were a constant presence and Bear Grylls would often f ly over the tropical course in a Blackhawk helicopter.

42 | Holderness School Today

A year after her team race in Fiji—and after five days snowshoeing and running across the Sierra Nevada - Jennifer and her Forlorn Hope Expedition teammates finally arrived at Johnson's Ranch in California's Central Valley.

The ranch was the first settlement reached by emigrant trains in the 19 th Century, and it’s where the original Forlorn Hope party found help. As Jennifer and her teammates ran onto the ranch at sunset, they followed two sets of 175-year-old wagon ruts laid down by generations of emigrant wagon trains. Eventually, those ruts abruptly ended in the middle of a field.

They had reached the end of their journey.

With friends and family standing around them, Jennifer and her teammates took the 17 Forlorn Hope tribute cards they’d carried across the mountains and placed them on the spot where the survivors made contact with rescuers. The Forlorn Hope party was finally reunited after 175 years. It was a powerful experience.

“When you’re there you can feel so strongly their presence and we felt, very strongly, that they knew what we were doing and could feel it,” Jennifer says. “It’s a tale of courage and hope that could give anybody the sense that if there’s something hard to accomplish, they could do it.” n To learn more about the Forlorn Hope Expedition, visit Forlornhope.org. To watch Jennifer compete in EcoChallenge Fiji, check “World’s Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji” on Amazon Prime Video.

W

hile COVID-19 made in-person meetings next-to-impossible, it also opened up some surprising new ways to connect. One such opportunity came through the new Alumni Speaker Series, which allowed the Holderness community to learn from, and connect with, notable Holderness graduates over Zoom.

During a year spent living and working remotely, it was refreshing and inspiring to learn from alums who had reached the pinnacle of their fields—from directing movies to promoting international public health. It was a welcome respite from the isolation of the pandemic, and it brought the Holderness community together in ways we never could have imagined. Here's just some of the wisdom we gained from these accomplished Holderness graduates.

“

There are so many things that are thrown at you and obstacles that are put in your way. You get out here and it is a little bit like everybody is playing this board game and no one is telling you how to play…To students, I would say be as proactive as you can in whatever discipline you’re in to get people to see you or read you or see your work. I think that’s the best advice I can give. Those relationships that you make with those like-minded people do turn out to be long-lasting.”

“

I don’t feel like Holderness inf luenced me so much as presented the opportunity to follow what I wanted to do.

Holderness had the outdoor programs which were available to anybody, and anyone could have taken advantage of that.

I just felt drawn to it and I think that’s the most important thing. If I didn’t want to be a climber – maybe I wanted to be a lawyer or just followed a different pursuit – I could have done that, because there were many other opportunities available."

-Nat Faxon ’93, Academy Awardwinning writer, actor, and director

-Brette Harrington ’10, World-class rock climber and mountaineer

“

We were living down in lower Manhattan in this tiny apartment, eating Ramen and takeout food and by day I was writing about billionaires. My face was pressed up against the glass window to see how the 1 percent lived. I guess I don’t know how I realized this, but I just had this natural affinity for reporting. I credit Holderness with making me a curious person. I had no background or interest in real estate, but I became obsessed—the competitive side of me came out and I wanted to break the biggest story every week competing against the other columns."

-Gabriel Sherman ’97, Special correspondent for Vanity Fair, and author of the New York Times best-seller "The Loudest Voice in the Room" about the late FOX C.E.O. Roger Ailes

“

Where can you make a difference? My expertise is not getting into the politics.

My expertise is actually getting the healthcare out to people. they literally are trying to get to the hospital to have a baby or get their kid vaccinated. That’s where I’ve chosen to focus my attention and make a difference."

Clockwise from top right: Brette Harrington ’10 at work, Nat Faxon ’93 on Zoom, and Suzy Jacinthe ’87.

-Suzy Jacinthe ’87, Health Development Officer for USAID in Ethiopia

Summer 2021 | 43

ALUMNI PROFILES

Holderness Alums: VIRTUALLY AMAZING

IN MEMORIAM

IN MEMORIAM Richard “Dick” B. Blauvelt 1930–2021

R

ichard “Dick” B. Blauvelt (PEM), a longtime business manager of Holderness School, passed away peacefully in Glen Allen, VA, surrounded by family on February 6, 2021. He was preceded in death by his brother, John Blauvelt, and wife of 34 years, Patricia Goodwin Blauvelt. He is survived by his three children (with first wife, Dreama Shelton Price), Rick Blauvelt (Candace), Joy Blauvelt and John Blauvelt (Lyn); his two stepsons, Brian Woodilla (Kerry) and Tad Woodilla (Susan); his eight

44 | Holderness School Today

grandchildren, Kathleen Blauvelt Kime (Ryan) ’ 99, Brady and Carly Blauvelt, Kyle, Kevin, Allison, Katie and Emily Woodilla; two great grandchildren, Karis and Grayson Kime; and close family friends, Paul and Marty Elkins.

Dick was born in Passaic, New Jersey on March 22, 1930 and grew up in nearby Millburn. He was a proud member of the Corp of Cadets at Virginia Polytechnic Institute where he graduated in 1953. He was immediately commissioned into the U.S. Army, served for 21 years, and attained the rank of Lt. Colonel. Military assignments included tours of duty in Japan, Germany and Vietnam.

Dick earned his MBA in 1964 through the Army Comptrollership Program at Syracuse University. In 1968, he received the Bronze Star for meritorious service in Vietnam. In 1970, he received a Department of the Army Commendation for his role as Section Leader while attending

Dick retired from the Army in August 1974 and started a second career in New Hampshire. From 1977 to 1993, he was business manager of Holderness School. Always active in his community, Dick served as welfare officer for the Town of Moultonborough and on school boards in Plymouth and Moultonborough. Each year during the month of March,

he enjoyed relaxing in Florida and serving on the board of directors of Hideaway Sands at St. Pete Beach, FL. In 2011, Dick moved to Virginia to be near his family. He was well known for his appreciation of the New England Patriots, old Broadway show tunes, social events and a glass of good bourbon. Dick was a devoted father and grandfather who was supportive, generous and optimistic. He treasured deep friendships and time with his beloved family. He was warm, soft-hearted and willing to listen -- always with a smile and a kind word. That is how he will be remembered by all.

Dick will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. n

David S. Hagerman ’63 1945–2021

D

avid S. Hagerman ’ 63, son of longtime Holderness School Headmaster Donald C. Hagerman, died on February 11, 2021 in Hanover, NH.

Born in Marion, MA on July 18, 1945, David was a graduate of Holderness School Class of 1963, Deerfield Academy Class of 1964, and The University of New Hampshire Class of 1968 where he was enrolled in ROTC. He attended Holderness School while his father was Headmaster; the elder Hagerman served in that role from 1951 to 1977.

Having been commissioned as 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army, David was stationed in Germany and Vietnam. He returned home to his first of four daughters, Casey (Hagerman) Bobo.

David got his mentor wings as a teacher, coach, and dorm parent at Deerfield Academy where he served as Athletic Director for ten years. It was during the family's years at Deerfield when they welcomed their second daughter, Kulin (Hagerman) Reardon, and third daughter, Jamie (Hagerman) Phinney. With his growing family of females, David moved to the northwest corner of Connecticut where he was asked to join the leadership team at Salisbury School, serving as Associate Head of School, Assistant Hockey Coach, and

Head Lacrosse Coach for the next thirteen years. It was during this time when his youngest daughter, Whitaker (Hagerman) Willocks joined the roster. With David’s trademark stern face, firm grip, and resolute mind, he would inf luence years of Salisbury graduates as they turned from boys to gentlemen. From there, he became Head of School at Pingree School in Hamilton, MA, and in his later years, he transitioned to fundraising at Cardigan Mountain School and Dartmouth College. Weekends were spent traveling back and forth to watch his children’s and grandchildren’s athletic contests, joined with mostly empty hunting expeditions, maple sugaring, refereeing, and finally, his daily walks on those cold and sunny New Hampshire mornings.

Amidst the years on school campuses, David was happiest on the sidelines of games either as a coach or proud parent and grandparent, listening to the Red Sox inside his red barn sugar shack, and boating along the Maine coastline with his wife, Brooke Giddings Hagerman. He is survived by his wife Brooke Giddings Hagerman of Lyme Center, NH; and his children, Casey H. Bobo, and her husband Mike of Concord, MA; Kully H. Reardon and her husband Tom of Cohasset, MA; Jamie H. Phinney and her husband Brian of Andover, MA; Whitaker H. Willocks and her husband James of Meriden, NH and their mother Parnell Patten Hagerman of Bailey Island, ME; and his grandchildren, Jake, Luke, Mac, Jack, Finn, Casey, Tommy, George, Charlie, Beau, and Lincoln; and his sisters, Judy H. Baldwin of Eugene, OR and Susie Hagerman of South Berwick, ME. n

Summer 2021 | 45

IN MEMORIUM

the Command & General Staff College in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Among his other military achievements are the Legion of Merit and a Meritorious Service Medal.

Dick was proud to serve his country and treasured the opportunity to travel in Europe and throughout the U.S., often making time for a round of golf or a family ski trip.

CLASS NOTES

CLASS NOTES Milestones DEATHS John J. Codman Jr. ’48: September 9, 2020 Jonathan F. Bourne (PEM): October 2, 2020 Peter A. Poole ’52: October 4, 2020 Richard H. Stowell ’64: October 27, 2020 Ruth Manion (PEM): October 28, 2020 Henry D. Granger ’55: November 2, 2020 Robert Bradner ’49: November 2, 2020 Robert L. Nields Jr. ’62: November 22, 2020 Joseph A. Kennedy (PEM): December 6, 2020 Bigelow R. Green ’50: January 5, 2021 Michael H. O’Donnell ’70: January 9, 2021 Robert A. Barrows ’49:

Elizabeth Wolf (EM) and Stephen Ulhman (EM): October 3, 2020 Kunal Shetty ’02 and Megan Marsden: October 16, 2020 Tyler Munroe ’05 and Joelle Castro: October 24, 2020 at North Andover, MA Katherine Brown ’00 and Julio Gutierrez: November 6, 2020 at Berkeley, CA Justin “J.J.” Hall ’05 and Victoria Hendrickson: November 21, 2020 at Boulder, CO Aiden O’Leary ’01 and Yuki Yamazaki: December 2020 Landry Frei ’08 and Victoria Hudson:

January 21, 2021 William V.A. Waldron ’68: January 26, 2021 Richard B. Blauvelt (PEM) P ’83 ’86 GP ’99: February 6, 2021 David S. Hagerman ’63: February 11, 2021 Scott W. Sirles ’78: February 18, 2021

Tai Haluszka ’06 and Billy Rivellini: July 4, 2020 at Sullivan’s Island, SC Jaime Pauley ’05 and Benjamin Cronin:

December 5, 2020 at Omni Mt. Washington Hotel, NH Christine Louis ’81 and David Fredett: January 1, 2021 at Plymouth, NH Abigail Kendall ’06 and Ahmed Alsaeedi: January 21, 2021 at Montana

Severin Rae Stowell on September 22, 2020 Shannon Fallon ’03 and Brair Bouthot: Oscar Fallon Bouthot on September 23, 2020 Brett Weyman ’01 and Amanda Lesse: Margaret “Margaux” Elle Weyman on September 25, 2020 Kristina Weatherbie ’04

on September 30, 2020 Cambria (Hempton) Brockman ’07 and Ross Brockman: Shepherd “Shep” Hempton Brockman on October 6, 2020 Evan Mullen ’00 and Jenny Mullen: Lennon Kessler Mullen on October 9, 2020 Nick Leonard ’03 and Jen Leonard:

BIRTHS AND ADOPTIONS Avi Aronson ’08 and Kali Nadeau: Bodhi Rose Aronson on August 15, 2019 Sarah (Kruysman) Espinal ’01 and Daniel Espinal: Poppy Espinal on February 3, 2020 David Madeira ’03 and Oriana Maderia: Hold McCann Madeira on June 11, 2020 James Jung ’98 and Molly Biscone: Josef “Reyn” Reynolds Jung Carling (Delaney) Bennett ’04 and Dane Bannett: Delaney Kay Bennett on September 6, 2020 Cheryl Barnhart-Wright ’01

on the Pemi, Plymouth, NH

Willow Mae Barnhart-Wright

Taylor James ’07 and Bradley Abbott:

September 21, 2020 Porter Stowell ’95 and Andrea Stowell:

Kennet Jo William Chaisson

Casey Gilman ’06 and Matt Trainor:

and Greg Barnhart:

September 13, 2020 at Mt. Wilson, CA

Rio Eileen Kaye Clements on

and Kyle Chaisson:

September 6, 2020 at The Barn Tammy Werntz ’91 and Aaron McGovern:

and Jonah Clements:

Catholic Church, Altamonte Springs, FL

on September 3, 2020

MARRIAGES AND UNIONS

Sofia Borsoi on September 8, 2020 Joanna Weatherbie ’04

December 5, 2020 at Annunciation

January 14, 2021 Bryan Charles Baxenden ’65:

Chris Borsoi ’09 and Raphaelle Harvey:

on September 6, 2020 Gillian (Howe) Wolfe ’98

Kaya Leonard on October 15, 2020 Allison (Neal) Graham ’04 and Scott Graham: Dakota “Coco” Madison Graham on October 16, 2020 Eamonn Reynolds-Mohler ’02 and Sarah Fitzmaurice: Emerson Sloane FitzmauriceReynolds on October 20, 2020 Ben Mitchell-Lewis ’06 and Frances Mitchell-Lewis: Linus Sanderson Mitchell Lewis on October 20, 2020 Laila (Schmutzler) Forster ’95 and Will Forster: Charles Otto Forster on October 21, 2020 Hilary Nichols ’06 and David Burman: Nell Nichols Burman on October 29, 2020 Joe Graceffa ’96 and Elsa Graceffa:

and Nathaniel Wolfe:

Alfio “Alfie” Gore Graceffa

September 19, 2020 at Church Island,

Josephine Roux Wolfe and

on November 1, 2020

Squam Lake, Holderness NH

Tigerlily Rye Wolfe on September 8, 2020

46 | Holderness School Today

CLASS NOTES

Lulu and Bella take a break on the quad. May 5, 2021.

Jenn (Calver) Gaudet ’05

Julia (Canelas) Vrucinic ’10

and Joseph Gaudet (EM):

and Sasa Vrucinic:

Willa Audrey Gaudet on November 4, 2020

Matija Francis Vrucinic on

Brock Hopkins ’05 and Sarah Marie Hopkins: Maisie Mary Hopkins on November 5, 2020 Layode Ahmed ’12 and Kara Ahmed: Oladayo Ezekiel Ahmed on November 6, 2020 Krista (Glencross) Officer ’06

December 3, 2020 Kelly Giller ’08 and Eric Schulz: Lincoln Dee Schulz on December 8, 2020 Emma (Schofield) Phipps ’05 and Christopher Phipps: Valorie Phipps on December 8, 2020 Kristina (Ward) Hanlon ’05

and Peter Officer:

and Dave Hanlon:

Quinn Isabella Officer on November 9, 2020

Jacob Thomas Hanlon on December 9, 2020

Alli Plourde (PEM) and

Tyler Weymouth ’01 and

Derek Plourde (PEM):

Amanda Weymouth:

Sabastian Alexander Plourde

Charles “Charlie” Mackiernan

on November 24, 2020

Weymouth on December 16, 2020

Haleigh (Weiner) Thompson ’11

Kelsey Berry (EM) and

Schuyler “Jason” Peck ’95 and Corey Lamothe: Bia Schuyler Peck on January 15, 2021 Nathaniel Campbell ’97 and Jennifer Campbell: Brayden Campbell and Carson Campbell on January 29, 2021 (Adoption) Ashley (Crook) Carlow ’04 and Greg Carlow: Wesley “Wes” Everett Carlow on February 12, 2021 Paul Baier (PEM) and Tatiana Baier: Philip Alexander Baier on February 15, 2021 Cary (Trainor) Duane ’03 and Eamon Duane: Téa Virginia Duane on February 15, 2021 Sarah (Thompson) Means ’02

and Eddie Thompson:

Michael Carrigan (EM):

and Colin Means:

Leo Thompson on November 25, 2020

Louisa Berry Carrigan on

Knox Robert Means on February 18, 2021

December 31, 2020

Summer 2021 | 47

CLASS NOTES

’47

’49

years. … And, finally, there is Bigelow Green,

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

away at his home upon retiring for the night

Bill Briggs

Bill Baskin

and was discovered by a resident nurse who

kvanlingen@holderness.org

william_c_baskin@sbcglobal.net

had been taking care of him. The news came

’48

Well, we lost Bob Bradner, our Most

young lady of whom I’ve always been very

Respected classmate, late in 2020. Bob

fond. So, we press on. … And finally, we raise

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

Barrows, our Most Popular classmate,

our glasses to pay tribute to Phil Peck who

Rik Clark

sadly passed away in January 2021. This

will soon be retiring as Head of School. I have

capeclarks@aol.com

unwelcome news about the ’49ers has not

great respect for this gentleman who, during

been countered by the restrictions that the

his tenure, preserved and protected that

William B. “Bart” Chase reports that “things

COVID-19 pandemic has visited on the

special sense of camaraderie that Holderness

here in the far West are pretty quiet, with trips

Coulters’—and others’—lifestyles. However,

students embrace as future leadership

and other enjoyable times outside our home

all of our thoughts and prayers are surely

figures. He leaves a powerful legacy.

not possible. We are naturally staying very

with our Bobs, and all of our families, for

close to home and really making safety and

the remainder of 2021. ~ Bill Baskin

’51

’50

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

looking forward to another great-grandchild in the late spring of 2021. We are most

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

tmw@sisqtel.net

fortunate to have all our family living within

Frank Hammond

an hour of our home. We are certainly very

f hammond64@comcast.net

another important friend who recently passed

to me from his daughter, Sarah, a delightful

good health number one in our daily life. Our family is doing very well, and we are happily

Terry Weathers

Here is a memory of English teacher Theron “Joe” Abbey. When I arrived at Holderness

fortunate to have them all so near to us. We try to be as active as we can, getting outside

There are still a few of us left from the mid-

in 1947, I had a severe lisp and a fear of public

as the weatherman allows. I am still very

century Class of ’50. My remaining brethren

speaking. I was surprised when Joe Abby

active in the local men’s golf club, playing on a

continue to appear to be alert and sound

asked if I’d like to try out for his debating

small nine-hole course that is truly gorgeous.

of mind. If not, we won’t admit it. It was a

team. Not being an athlete, I decided to give

Actually, our condo is adjacent to this same

pleasure to receive a phone call recently from

it a try, with predictably dismal results. Joe

course. Since we’re in a retirement community

David Luce from the West Coast. We ref lected

then asked if I’d like to work on that lisp after

we do have a lot in common with our neighbors

nostalgically about our first year at Holderness

hours. He had some books on elocution and

and other friends. Excellent memories of

in the fall of 1947 as “third formers,” most

we spent some evening time trying different

Holderness and the very fine school it always

of whom were assigned to the top f loor

things. He even purchased a wire recorder

has been are very important to us. Our class

dormitory in Livermore House. I believe the

(tape recorders were not yet consumer items

has really dwindled to very small single digit

total enrollment of students from the second

in the late ’40s) so that I could hear what I

numbers. Actually, the class of 1948 was only

to sixth forms at that time was 55. The dress

sounded like. Joe finally found a book that

27 at graduation. My personal thanks to Rik

code: blazer, Oxford blue button-down shirt

described in detail how one holds one’s tongue

Clark for his outstanding efforts in keeping

and tie, gray f lannels or dress khakis—during

to make specific sounds, and voila! We found

all of us informed and offering our news to

the day and at dinner hour as well. Dave and

I’d just never learned how to do it like most

everyone.” … As for me, Richard C. B. “Rik”

I, indeed, had fond memories from yesteryear.

folks do. We practiced a lot and gradually I

Clark, the year 2020 will long be remembered,

… William “Chico” Laird, from whom we

lost my fear of speaking in front of people.

for COVID-19, the election of Biden and

haven’t recently heard, is at his home in

A quarter of a century later; one day when I

Harris and for more personal reasons. My

Franklin, TN. … And then there is Roy Krebs

found myself addressing a formation of naval

daughter, Sharon, died unexpectedly in early

in VA who continues to keep us up to date

reserve sailors and naval officers about our

January; Sandy and I purchased and moved

with his engaging messages filling us in on

probability of being mobilized for the Vietnam

into our new condominium home and we

social and political events and figures about

war, with four gold stripes on my arms, I

have been able to maintain decent health

whom he “editorializes” in his very articulate

found myself thinking, “You know, I’ll bet I

and fitness. Lobsters for Christmas dinner at

manner. … David Wise, a student from our

wouldn’t be doing this if Joe hadn’t cured my

home helped finish 2020 with a smile with

first year who became a highly thought of

lisp!” I’ll bet many other alumni have their

hope ahead for 2021 and beyond. Our 75th

public school educator in MA continues to

little Holderness experiences outside the

Reunion takes place in 2023, not that far away.

give his loyal support to the school. … I keep

classroom and off the athletic field that have

in touch with Peter Hamilton, his late father

had a big inf luence on their lives but remain

Gordon “Doug” Hamilton being a dear friend

unknown to others. ~ Terry Weathers

I think about a lot during these late autumn

48 | Holderness School Today

’52 INTERIM CLASS CORRESPONDENT CLASS NOTES

Terry Weathers tmw@sisqtel.net Want to connect with your classmates?

Consider becoming a class correspondent and encouraging your classmates to reconnect in the HST class notes.

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org for more information. Thank you!

’53 Want to connect with your classmates?

Craftsmanship by Tom Anthony ’56.

Consider becoming a class correspondent and encouraging your classmates to

Craftsmanship by Tom Anthony ’56.

reconnect in the HST class notes.

also replied to my second plea: “Dick, your request hasn’t fallen on deaf ears. The problem

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

in what is known as paradise—Naples, FL.

is one we all feel. Not only are we living in

for more information. Thank you!

Every year as I get older, I can’t take the cold

isolation, we are simultaneously living with

anymore, and I come here from Cape Cod

all the time we can ever use to think about

’54

around the first week of October. I have a

ourselves and the world. It is a wonderful time

great-granddaughter born on June 20th, 2019.

to dig deep and think creatively and often to

Want to connect with your classmates?

That same granddaughter blessed me with a

act in the same way, but the other side of the

Consider becoming a class correspondent

new great grandson on December 9th, 2020.

equation also demands that we share creativity

and encouraging your classmates to

Her identical twin sister is going to have a girl

and learn from the responses of others. I’m

reconnect in the HST class notes.

around the middle of March. I sure hope the

not sure where this leaves us when it’s all over.

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

pandemic is gone before I return to Cape Cod

Unfortunately, the end continues elusively.

for more information. Thank you!

so that I can spend some real good time with

I am writing on January 4th while gingerly

all of the family this summer. My kids bought

hoping I see promise ahead in our country’s

’55

me an iPad for my last birthday, and I am

fortunes; today, hoping is hard, very hard. No

doing some FaceTime with them, but it sure

trip to Italy again this year. More likely it is

Want to connect with your classmates?

isn’t the same as being with them in person.

back to my workshop in the cellar for a variety

Consider becoming a class correspondent

There is nothing better than spending time

of projects, then it’s back upstairs to do more

and encouraging your classmates to

with your family. I wish all the Holderness

editing, and then writing, so that I’ll have

reconnect in the HST class notes.

people a safe, happy, healthy holiday and

more to edit. A walk on the beach is great, and

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

new year.” … My second appeal for notes was

we can wave to people whether we know them

for more information. Thank you!

successful. Bob Armknecht sent this in: “Hi

or not. I do know how much time these months

Dick, again, kudos to you for taking on this

have given us to appreciate what has usually

’56

thankless task. Following the unexpected

been too easily overlooked. There are all sorts

death of my wife in June of 2019, I moved into

of great writers who remind us of this every

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

a CCRC (Fox Hill Village, Westwood, MA)

day. Peace.” … Philip “Brud” Folger is another

Dick Meyer

while keeping my summer place in Westport.

regular contributor. “Hi Dick, I recently had a

richard419@roadrunner.com

I liked it and being here was quite nice until

long telephone call with Gordi Eaton ’58. We

mid-February when everything shut down.

both spoke of the impact ‘Hammer’ (aka Mr.

I received an almost immediate reply from

Fortunately, we have been COVID free for the

Don Henderson) had on each of us. He and

Dave Wiggins to my long letter requesting

last seven months and shots are scheduled for

Pat Henderson were the reasons both Gordi

notes. Since I like compliments as much as

mid-January. In the meantime, things have

and I went to Middlebury. He was tough, but a

anyone, and he was not only the first to reply,

loosened up quite a bit. I have three cruises

great master and ski coach. Pat is still in their

he also gets to go first: “Hi Dick! Fine writing

booked for this year and two for next (Amazon

house and doing fine. I plan to call her. All

indeed! My best wishes to you for Christmas

in the spring and the Northwest Passage in the

goes well with me and I am looking forward to

and a far happier New Year” … He was closely

fall), so I am optimistic that life will get better

the end of shelter-in-place and the pandemic!”

followed by Dick Endlar: “I am down here

soon. Keep up the good work” … Tom Anthony

… Dick Meyer continues, “Like Tom Anthony,

Summer 2021 | 49

CLASS NOTES

Daphne and I like to walk the several nearby

operating in three separate buildings, a rented

home for many of us has been a bit like

beaches every day that I am not at the railroad.

ticket office, an executive office, and a storage/

cowering, afraid yet secure, beneath the sword

Dogs are allowed on the beaches at this time

workshop. The pandemic put a damper on

of Damocles that slices both ways. Even as we

of year, and it is great fun to watch them play

sales, and the future of the railroad looked

grind our teeth and bounce our knees

with each other, romp in the water, or chase

bleak. However, an opportunity to consolidate

restlessly where we sit in our slippers, pajama

balls. My efforts at soliciting notes from the

the office, museum artifact storage, and

bottoms, and sweatshirts, glaring at the

class of ’57 drew exactly zero, nada, or no

workshop into one building came along, and

frenzied maskless fools in DC shoving one

response directed to me. But the good news is

we are now in the midst of moving again. We

another across our television screens, we, with

Bob Backus ’57 contacted Holderness and has

must be clear of our current shop by the end

no other company than the cat, the dog, our

volunteered to be their class correspondent.

of January. Over Thanksgiving one of the

gracious wives, do also concede to ourselves

For the last several issues of HST I have

returning five and his wife came down with

that we are in the best possible—albeit

written about my experience running the

COVID-19. As of this writing, in mid-January,

minimal—company and in the best possible

restoration team at the Maine Narrow Gauge

he is still suffering fatigue and is unable to

place. For Brooke Thomas, Mike Kingston,

Railroad & Museum, and I will continue.

leave his house. I had worked with him, but

and Bill Biddle, we have been, for a

Because of the pandemic my team had stopped

by the time he reported his condition to me,

substantial part of the pandemic, at our

restoration work in March. Five of us went

10 days had passed, and I have continued to

hideouts in Vermont where there’s been little

back to work in June wearing masks. We

be symptom free. However, being informed of

pestilence, little human traffic, and, for

completed new window sash, replacements for

a close call left me with an eerie feeling. I’m

months, no jet contrails dissipating their

some of the sash with glass broken by vandals

hoping that by the time you read this we have

petrochemicals on us from overhead. Gordi

after a protest march. The wooden sashes were

all had our shots and can take off the masks.”

Eaton and his sister Stephanie’s large tract of

made by one of the team members sheltering at home. We did finish and install new seat

land in Littleton, NH appears about to be

’57

preserved as a town-owned wholesome

cushions and backs in coach 22 just in time to get the season off to a late start, operating

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

lives in Manchester, NH but escapes the

only on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The

Bob Backus

plague at the seashore in York, ME. Some

next big project will be making another 160

robertbackus05@comcast.net

balance problems, and the grief he’s previously

feet of cushions and backs for coach 25. For

community recreation area. … Bruce Keller

expressed at the loss of his wife, have bothered

several years we have been running Polar

The bad news is I, Dick Meyer ’56, received

Bruce, but not so much as to distract him from

Express, licensed from Warner Bros. This

no responses to my request for notes from the

his afternoon glass of wine. … John Bergeron,

has been successful to the extent of 20,000

class of ’57. The good news is I am not your

having engineered forefront projects for

riders on just weekends between Thanksgiving

class correspondent anymore. The better news

Raytheon for years, retired early and lives in

and Christmas in 2019. It is, however, a huge

is your classmate, Bob Backus, contacted

Canaan, NH, where he keeps healthy and fit

undertaking, and requires a fee of 30% of

Holderness, and volunteered to be your

X-C skiing on abandoned backroads. He, Doug

gross paid to WB, and a ton of volunteers. This

correspondent. He will take over his duties for

Rand, and Bill Biddle have all served their

year the managers opted to go it alone but

the next issue of HST. In the meantime, if you

respective communities at length as chairs of

had to change the name to Holiday Express.

have anything you want posted here, you can

planning and zoning boards. Bill said that

The consist was extended to 10 cars from

contact Bob at: robertbackus05@comcast.net

those roles make you everyone’s enemy and no

seven, but only sold every other seat to effect distancing. Even with the pandemic raging, we

one’s friend, but John countered, “I’m used to

’58

it; it doesn’t bother me anymore.” Doug Rand,

serviced 11,000 passengers. The holiday train passes through a light tunnel on its way to

CLASS CORRESPONDENTS

said, “We made no enemies because there is no

Santa’s Village. There was a windstorm raging,

Bill Biddle

zoning and minimal land use planning. We use

and on a return trip, an extra strong gust

williambiddle@myfairpoint.net

the word “may” a lot and never use the word

distorted the arches, and the cupola on the

R. Brooke Thomas

“shall.” … When not at his camp in Cabot, VT,

last car on the last run of the last night, caught

rbthomas@anthro.umass.edu

Brooke Thomas lives in Leverett, MA, next to

on the top of the arch and ripped it apart.

on the other hand, living in rural Montana

Amherst. He co-chairs a non-profit in the

I’m told it was spectacular. A major project

The "Paradox of Pandemic" might be a suitable

Peruvian Andes that facilitates projects with

before next year is to rebuild the tunnel. This

title for our class contending with COVID-19.

Quechua alpaca herders, something he got

year was truly jinxed. When we went to set up

It has led us to two Zoomed gatherings, hosted

interested in as a graduate student at Penn

the tunnel, there were no wood blocks used

by Mike Kingston, the most recent on January

State while conducting high-altitude research

to space the arch supports off the ground. It

13th. It was a pleasure to see 14 of us (nearly

at 14,000 feet. Back in MA he serves on his

is suspected someone used them to fire up

half the living class) face-to-face: more of us

town’s energy committee, and is a trustee of

a steam engine. Since we lost our museum

than have been showing up at reunions at

the Rattlesnake Gutter Trust—which sounds

which included the workshop, we have been

Holderness. Being locked down and isolated at

like a Texas savings and loan but is actually a

50 | Holderness School Today

Dominican Republic. He then attended the

Vermont types f led, but he said that being near

Anthropology Department at UMass Amherst

Thunderbird School of International Business

Yellowstone National Park may sound better

and he and Shirley, to whom he’s been married

and took up a career in business that took him

than it is since this remote area has become

for 56 years, join their village neighbors on the

all around the world. In his retirement, first in

inundated with out-of-state tourists f leeing

shores of a nearby pond Sunday evenings to

Georgia, later in Winchester, VA, he has

the pandemic, clogging the hiking trails, and

howl for a few minutes at the world’s offenses

worked seasonally assisting the elderly with

building trophy homes. He suggested we could

and indignities. Brooke reports that this has

their tax returns. Mark also works with the

perhaps have a conversation through an app

therapeutic value in reducing the stress and

Citizens Climate Lobby. He and his wife have

about how our national politics are so messed

isolation of the pandemic. “Like laughter,” he

been married for 52 years and spent their 50th

up and what is best for us all. He said, “You

says, “it seems to feel good as sounds bounce

wedding anniversary visiting Fairbanks, AK.

could see a little of what I have been doing in a

across the ice and collide with one another.” …

… George Pransky was also with us on Zoom,

website that Ruth (his partner) has set up:

Others take a quieter, more churchy route to

cowering in his car, the heater on high,

www.doug-ruthpaths.com...Ruth is a medical

peace. Spiritual faith and prayer in times of

bundled up in winter gear, dodging in and out

researcher and has done a lot of work with

stress have played important parts in the

of iPhone visual range as he and his wife Linda

viruses.” … Tim Dewart lives in Beverly, MA,

families of several of us, including Mike

took refuge from a power outage in the house.

with his wife, and the most recent in a

Kingston, whose wife Louise is an Episcopal

He spoke with fondness of the late David

succession of Great Danes. He is also a

priest and chaplain. … After Middlebury John

“Beef ” Boynton and Hugh “Bobby” Weiss

motorcycle rider, his favorite a 1200 CC BMW

Greenman went to the Episcopal Divinity

’57. George reports that after graduating from

on which he has traveled most of North

School (EDS) in Cambridge and was ordained

Middlebury, where he played on the soccer

America, including up the Can-Am Highway

as an Episcopal minister in 1966. Shortly

team with John Greenman, he became a

to Alaska. One of Tim’s Great Danes traveled

thereafter he presided over Bill Biddle’s first

hippie for five years, lived in a commune, and

with him, riding in its own side-car drawing

wedding at Bass River, Cape Cod. John and his

made money selling beer at sports events. He

attention and admiration. And in goggles and

wife Patty live in Norge, VA, where he long

did not mention that he had previously also

helmet? We’d really like to see a photo of this!

served as a docent in various historic roles. He

graduated from Boston College Law School

… Erl Solstad reports that he served in the

currently is active in his church and assists

and practiced law brief ly and unhappily. He

marines during the Cuban missile crisis. He

newly released prisoners to re-enter society

eventually f led to the West Coast. He has since

and his wife Phakinee (from Thailand) are

and live on their own. John and Patty are

been the leader and chief practitioner in a

living once again in Brooklyn where he had

“enjoying our suburban home near

life-coaching firm, Pransky and Associates, in

lived years ago while studying architecture at

Williamsburg where my wife keeps a thriving

Washington State that he has run with Linda

Pratt Institute. He had bought an abandoned

vegetable garden and I enjoy reading history

and their daughters for many years. … After

three-story building back when the city was

books and keeping up the yard. Owing to the

Holderness and college, Doug Rand studied

virtually giving it away. A basement-to-attic

pandemic, we’re now attending services

architecture in Cambridge. An apprenticeship

restoring project ensued. Erl, Doug Rand, and

virtually at our parish church and keeping up

disappeared at the last minute just as the new

as you’ll see below, Don Latham have the

with family members by cell phone and email.

Holderness School dining hall was finished

unfinished house project in common.

Fortunately, Patty has family nearby who can

and work demolishing the old Livermore

Currently, Erl reports that the pandemic is

help us when needed. We consider ourselves

dining hall and kitchen was available. So he

everywhere in their Brooklyn neighborhood

very fortunate to have access to good medical

“sledge hammered structural clay block and

and they and their daughter are being

care and an active community of fellow

brick walls and carried it all outside. My final

especially vigilant. Like Tim, Erl rides a

retirees as well as historical attractions

job,” he added, “was chipping the mortar off

motorcycle—in Erl’s case an aging Ducati—and

galore.” … Bruce Leddy went to Trinity

the bricks, for which I was paid a penny a brick

he tinkers with a battered pickup truck that

College and then law school, eventually

for the ones that didn’t break.” In Montana,

refuses to die. A couple of large sailboats and a

becoming a real estate lawyer in Portland, ME.

where one can easily understand why he

wonderful Airstream trailer remain in a

His late first wife was heavily involved in the

escaped the Livermore bricks, he eventually

pasture back in NJ beckoning his return. …

women’s movement and to become a certified

taught architecture at the Montana State

Don Latham, mentored in art by Herb

counselor also was ordained at EDS. Since her

University’s School of Architecture. He lives 16

Waters, studied art at Duke and then got

studies and subsequent work involved a heavy

miles out of town in a house he started

himself an MEd at UMass Lowell. Somewhere

time commitment, Bruce assumed primary

building in 1977 and has been working on ever

along the way, he married the girl he’d met

responsibility for raising their children. After

since. He reports that the speed limit in

when he was 16, she 11, and they’ve been

retirement Bruce and his second wife

Montana was, until Nixon’s fuel-saving

together for 53 years. Don gave the Navy four

immediately moved to Fort Myers, FL where

national speed limit, whatever speed was

years of his life and a lifetime of patriotic

Bruce plays both tennis and golf three times a

“reasonable and proper; there are still no

follow-up: he has been the grand master of the

week. … Mark Fairbanks also went to Trinity

vehicle inspections with required stickers, and

Memorial Day Parade in Atkinson, NH, and

College (as did Andy Smith ’57) and after

you may build and drive anything that moves.”

patriotic speaker for the past 25 years. Much

Holderness served with the Peace Corps in the

You may think he’s escaped the stuff we

earlier, fresh from graduate school perhaps, he

Summer 2021 | 51

CLASS NOTES

conservation group. Brooke is retired from the

CLASS NOTES

returned to Holderness, this time on faculty to

Northeast Kingdom, not far from Brooke’s

the day? How about shooting a hunk of lead

head the art and music programs. The art

camp, and near St. Johnsbury Academy where

through Hagerman’s open bathroom window?

rooms were in the basement of Hoit, boots

he and his daughter both taught for a while, he

The result of this indiscretion was getting

required in snow-melt times. Don’s art

English to international students and she

caught but gaining a large measure of respect

students hung an exhibition of their work in

history to everyone else. Bill has climbed

for Don Hagerman, who as it turns out, had a

the new Dining Hall. Eventually Don returned

nearly all the four- and three-thousand footers

good sense of humor. I had a great year living

to MA for jobs teaching art in Winchester and

of Northern New England, and has a new

next to Buster and Hoagie with my roommate,

North Andover. He, his wife and kids have

titanium knee to prove it. After retiring from

Bruce Vogel. Buster mentioned one game we

both enjoyed and endured for many years their

the Academy, he moved on to teach writing for

would play that I would always win. It was

home in Atkinson. It was an endless interior

16 years at Lyndon State College (an

catching a dollar bill between your thumb

rebuilding project that, when they started, was

institution currently in dire straits, possibly

and forefinger before it hit the f loor. Good

finished on the outside but an empty shell

because of people like Biddle on faculty). Bill

ref lexes were the key to success. … Now from

inside. Don also had a new retriever puppy

writes for The North Star, a local literary and

the ridiculous to the sublime. Dick Floyd sent

that had more energy than is healthy for us old

cultural monthly. … The current pestilence,

the following note: “I’m sending a personal

men. The dog recently took off, yanked on the

the availability to meet collectively by Zoom,

note but it is not very interesting being that we

leash, and yanked Don’s shoulder out of kilter.

and the ticking clock have combined to bring

are sequestered due to the pandemic. My wife

… Jon Wales, another Navy veteran (four

14 of us together in what was a very pleasant

and I are well—we have cancelled all trips and

years), upon graduating from college worked

afternoon of renewal of news and collegiality.

vacations, family gatherings, parties, singing

for the First National Bank of Boston until it

In spite of some aches and pains, all looked

events (my a cappella hobby), and everything

started to morph into a mega-endeavor. He

pretty healthy on the screen. Biddle and

else which may bring us in contact with

left to join the family firm, running oil

George Pransky, and perhaps the late Denny

the public. I wear a mask imprinted with a

freighters from the East Coast down to the

Blouin seem to be the only ones who tumbled

message which says: ‘THIS MASK PROTECTS

Gulf of Mexico. Jon and his family have been

into hippiedom, and all seem to have survived.

ME AND YOU’. Had a short email from Cush

Marblehead sailing folk for three generations,

Denny’s loss came later. While a number of us

Andrews who said he was well. We have a

and Jon has continued there. Two years ago he

served in the military (and we lost Fred Wies

tentative meeting set up for this summer at

decided to throw in the anchor and give the

to Vietnam), others resisted participating in a

his Maine lake. Although I’m 80 my town is

younger members a chance to show their

war they thought wrong. Higher education-

going to use me as a volunteer vaccinator as

racing skills. To remain active, however, and

plus has affected most of us; lifelong learning,

soon as we get our hands on the stuff.” With

with some trepidation at 80, he persuaded the

all of us. … Stay well and keep in touch.

a little bit of luck one of his patients could be near neighbor Chris Palmer. … Plans to meet

family to take on a new retriever puppy, “great

’59

Cush Andrews, better known to my wife as

warned by Don Latham’s dog lament! … In late May, in part to avoid COVID-19, Mike

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

the making. … News from Henry “Gaucho”

Kingston and Louise moved out of their

Jerry Ashworth

Whitney: A trip to California and then on

Princeton, NJ home to their summer place in

ashworth.kemah@gmail.com or

to Sweden was canceled. Instead, he has

extreme northern VT and stayed put until

jashworth617@gmail.com

been writing to newspapers about Trump’s

company in the time of a pandemic.” Be

after Thanksgiving. He spoke of conditions in

Andrew Cushman, this coming summer are in

personality disorders. No need to worry

Chile, hard hit by the virus, which necessitated

Congratulations Class of 1959. You responded

about that any more, even if you are living in

temporarily closing down their wine and

to the call for news in a big way. Since this

Argentina. By the way, Henry was hinting at

tourist business. Reminiscing on his

will once again be a column chock full of

a class reunion of one sort or another. I think

endurance on the track and soccer field, he

news it will take some persuasion to get my

that is a great idea. If any of you out there have

recalled running his family’s Chilean farm’s

wife, Jeanne, to do the typing for me; my

any interest let me know. I could draft Steve

back roads in shorts, which were definitely not

typing skills still lack in proficiency. Before

Barndollar to do the heavy lifting like he did

the style at the time. Locals passing by on

I go any further, I highly recommend that

for our 50th. … Charley Murphy, you should

horseback would comment, “What happened

all of you go to your last HST magazine and

be happy. This outpouring of news makes up

to the bottom of your pants, Señor?” … Bill

read the 1958 column by Bill Biddle ’58 and

for our disgraceful past performance. I hope

Biddle has been married twice, once in the

Brooke Thomas ’58. Without a doubt it is

all is going well for you in DC. Just think,

wild hippie years to his children’s mother, an

the most relevant and honest alumni column

between you and your boss, Senator Greeley,

unrecovered hippie. Bill did recover and

that I have ever come across! Now for our

your combined ages must total up to 165 years.

finally in his late 40s persuaded Sharon

news. … I heard once again from Harold

… Bruce Vogel checks in from La Quinta with

Kenney, the woman he had loved all along

“Buster” Welch. What do you think would

news of the arrival of a new granddaughter.

(since toddlerhood in fact: they were babes in

happen when Buster, Dave Sleeper, and

Of course, the kid is just terrific in every

the bath together), to marry him. They’ve been

Chris Hoagland armed with a slingshot, got

respect, just like her terrific grandfather.

together ever since, living in Vermont’s

together after lights out one night back in

Teenage grandchildren have a tendency to

52 | Holderness School Today

’60

Middlebury, VT, where I attended college and

Time will tell. Quarantining in La Quinta is not the worst place to be. The only problem

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

company. So these are my “assets”…as I tell

is that it happens to be located in California

Gerry Shyavitz

everyone, and I am so very, very fortunate.

with all the impossible events taking place

g.shyavitz@comcast.net

Notes from classmates follow. … Arthur

is in marketing for a pet supply supplement

“Spike” Hampson writes, “So what has

there. A planned trip to Manitoba with Buster would bring some sanity to his life. Buster and

Goodbye 2020—good riddance!—the year

happened in this the year of the plague? Pretty

Bruce together, not a good recipe for sanity. …

of the “Zoom.” When I read the Holderness

much the same things as in a year without it.

Would you believe it, news has arrived from

School Today for the fall of 2020, I saw that

True, in March my good friend Dick Gardner

first time responders Ron Pierce and Pete

Edwin “Bruce” Haertl passed away. (1932–

and I got chased off the ski slopes when

Coughlan. I just received the news from Pete

2020). I remember he took us to Dartmouth

Colorado resorts shut down their operations

even though it was sent a year ago. Sorry for

and we saw his brother who followed Bruce

as a precautionary measure, but by then the

the delay, Pete, but he wishes all of us a good

play hockey for Dartmouth, as Bruce was

season was drawing to a close anyway. April

2020. The message was written in 2019 so I

captain of the hockey team there. I then

is the usual month for shifting to a different

guess that wish did not materialize. Having

reached out to headmaster Phil Peck and told

form of frivolous diversion, and as it happens

been retired for a while the Coughlans have

him that Bruce wrote the introduction to the

both Hobo the sailboat and Popeye the

been seeing new places of interest. A ten day

1960 yearbook, and Phil responded as follows:

motorcycle were sharing storage space in a

trip to Costa Rica was most rewarding as was

“Oh my Gerry, what a lovely new year’s gift.

facility not far from Port Charlotte, FL. Along

a trip to Chincoteague Island, VA, home of

So much wisdom and so very much Bruce’s

with three or four other COVID deniers, I

the wild ponies. That is one place I would like

voice. Love the lines: ‘Holderness strives to

f lew to FL and went to work preparing Hobo

to visit. … And now the long lost Ron Pierce

accomplish a great deal with each of its boys,

for launch. Eventually she made it into the

has checked in with the news that he winters

but it is under no delusion. If, while here, you

water and we cruised south to the Keys and

in Bonita Springs, FL, just a short distance

develop an honest sense of curiosity, a respect

then up along the east coast of FL to Stuart.

from my winter digs in Longboat Key. Life on

and veneration for the truth, and have begun

But this shoulder season between spring and

the Florida west coast is quite open with the

to be convinced that the only worthwhile

summer finally taught me how stupid it is to

exception of theaters and cultural shows so

way to live life is to live it decently, then I

be anywhere near FL when the hot season

Ron is coping well. It seems as though his f ly

am sure Holderness has made a worthwhile

arrives. By early May, my mind was made up.

fishing trip out of Winnipeg was canceled last

impression on you.’ Thank you for sharing.

I would deliver Popeye the motorcycle to a

year. All of you f ly fishermen should contact

Wishing you and Pearl a joyful, healthy, and

shipping company in Savannah, GA, and f ly

our expert guide—Harold “Buster” Welch.

blessing filled new year!” We, the class of 1960,

to England in early July to pick him up for a

Maybe he can help. Seems as though all is

were trying to make a strong statement. Our

few months of touring in Europe. There was

going well with you, Ron. Keep thinking 80

yearbook cover broke tradition with a white

the risk, of course, that COVID restrictions

is the new 60. If you have your health that

stripe down the side over a blue background.

would prohibit f lights to Europe in early July,

is true. … In my last column I mentioned

We saw something in Bruce that represented

but it seemed like a risk worth taking. I was

Hugh Barndollar ’56 putting Rip Richards

our aspirations. Please read his comments, if

lucky. On July 7th I arrived in London. On

over the boards during hockey practice years

you can find your book, and if not, I will send

the 9th Popeye was back in my possession.

ago. I got a response from John Cleary ’61

it to you, if you ask. It was really something.

By the 21st the quarantine period was over.

saying that Hugh was also his hero. Our

So, as usual, my fellow classmates have not

Over the following two months, we toured

class of ’59 had a so-so hockey team but it

responded that well, but I shall not give up

all parts of the UK and Ireland and then

was stacked with some really great skaters.

on you. With all that has happened this year,

used the Chunnel to get across the Channel.

For example, my two linemates each played

I can give them a pass. Pearl and I are still

After that, time was spent poking around in

Division 1 hockey, Charley Witherell ’60 at

doing fine. My plate is very full with part-

Normandy and Brittany before running south

Cornell, and John Cleary at Saint Lawrence

time estate planning and full-time at the IRS,

through France. We crossed the Pyrenees by

where he ended up winning an MVP award

etc., but I have also, to my somewhat dismay,

way of Andorra and then bounced around in

during his senior year. As for me, my college

discovered the occasional naps, although my

Spain and Portugal for about six weeks. Rain

hockey career ended after one day of tryouts

brain is still firing on full cylinders. My oldest

in northern Spain drove us south early on,

with the freshman team at Dartmouth when

grandchild may attend college in Germany

so much of our time was spent in Andalucia

the track coach so rudely demanded that I

and my oldest granddaughter is 16, followed

and the Algarve. In early November, Popeye

accompany him to indoor track practice. It

by granddaughters of ages 15 and 13. Abby, my

went into storage at a Harley Davidson repair

turned out to be a good move. Well, thanks

daughter in Montreal, practices law and works

shop in Lisbon and I f lew back to FL. I’m

for the great turnout. Don’t forget to look

for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

writing to you now from Hobo the sailboat,

for Bill Biddle ’58 and Brooke Thomas’ ’58

For the former public defenders, appearing

tied to a f loating dock in Indiantown Marina

column in the last issue of HST. It says it all.

before the Massachusetts Appellate Court,

where a few days ago I terminated the earthly

while Sara, daughter #2, lives outside of

existence of two rats who took a shine to

Summer 2021 | 53

CLASS NOTES

be quite different from their earlier years.

CLASS NOTES

Hobo’s nifty accommodations. Pretty soon,

remember this but you asked me if you could

the Salisbury Beach Reservation, in MA, year

Hobo and I will head south in the Intracoastal

room with me at Holderness, I said, great,

round, and read, and contemplate. … Win

Waterway so as to stage for a crossing to the

but different forms couldn’t room together.

Fuller, who I barely remember, but I think he

Bahamas. Bahamian COVID restrictions

I was f lattered. I see you’ve worked hard for

had dark, dark, black hair, says, “Greetings,

are awkward, but not impossible. One must

the school. Hagerman would be proud.” …

Shy. Wow, it certainly has been a very long

test negative for COVID no more than five

And lastly Rick Bullock says he and his wife

time since we made contact. In any case, Janet

days before clearance into the Bahamas, test

Patty feel “lucky to be alive and well—pretty

and I have retired to our house on Cape Cod

negative again upon arrival at a port of entry,

much staying put by ourselves. I am still

and are very much enjoying life in the ‘fast

and then test negative a third time after

working from home as a corporate f light

lane’ (yea right). In any case we have continued

having quarantined for (I think) five days. The

department manager and as a hangar landlord

to maintain our contact with Holderness. Two

procedure has been varying a lot so there’s no

at Fitchburg, MA. The rest of our family are

of our children, Jason Evans ’88 and Emily

sense in pinning down all its details much in

all nearby; regular outdoor visits when the

(Evans) MacLaury ’96, graduated from

advance of the intended crossing. If we make

weather permits. Looking forward to better

Holderness with Emily recently doing a stint

it to the Bahamas, we’ll head for Georgetown

times ahead and hopefully seeing other Class

as head of Holderness’s Health Services (she

in the Exumas and cruise in that vicinity for

of 1960 members next year. Appreciate all

also has a nursing degree from Yale). Her

a month or two. Sometime in April, the plan

your good efforts on our behalf. Hope you are

daughter, Meg MacLaury ’23, also attended

is to find storage for Hobo near Georgetown

well and that you have a happy holiday season

Holderness for a year. In addition, two more of

and then f ly to Lisbon to retrieve Popeye. The

ahead.” … In closing, may I wish you all good

our grandchildren have been recent

hope is that an early start in the spring will

health; stay safe, and until we either meet

Holderness students. Isabel Cole ’20

get us up to Arctic Scandinavia when the days

or connect again. ~ Gerry “Shy” Shyavitz

graduated last year and is now attending UNH, and her sister, Abigail Cole ’21, is

are long. I know, I know, the sun hardly ever shines in northern Norway, but when it comes

’61

currently a matriculating senior at Holderness.

to weather, I have always been fabulously lucky.” … Dave Grant responds by saying he

INTERIM CLASS CORRESPONDENT

enjoying the holiday season during these

is done strapping on the skates as our loyal

Gerry Shyavitz ’60

trying times. Thanks for taking on the

defender of the goal and reports, “In these

g.shyavitz@comcast.net

correspondence duties for our class.” … My old,

Oh well, that is enough for now. I hope you are

old, old roommate, John Cleary, who I

COVID times I need to stay out of the hospital.

Not much to tell since the last time I reported

Want to connect with your classmates?

understand was a fine dancer, says, “Greetings

in. The family of my wife, myself, our children

Consider becoming a class correspondent

ex-roommate Gerry, and thank you for

and our grandchildren are all doing well. We

and encouraging your classmates to

assuming the role of ’61 class correspondent. If

are always praying for our daughter who is

reconnect in the HST class notes.

I remember correctly, the last time we crossed

an ER nurse. Actually, she works at Sturdy

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

paths occurred at a nightclub in Cambridge

Memorial Hospital where your cousin Linda

for more information. Thank you!

where I danced to some zydeco. You were there

Shyavitz was the president. She is now retired.

with your daughter? Here is a little history of

While Linda was there the hospital was always

So long 2020—we won’t miss you! I am either

my last 60 years. From Holderness I followed

at least $8 million in the black every year. She

the temporary or permanent class

Mark Morris ’59 to St. Lawrence University

ran a very good hospital. I still work for the

correspondent now for your class. And either

where I managed to continue playing both

town engineering department 19 hours a week

way, I take it as an honor; anything for

varsity hockey and soccer. I co-captained

and love my work. It keeps me out of trouble.

Holderness! I will not go into what I have been

soccer with Bobby Keller. Immediately after

Today is one of my work days but we are having

doing, as you can read my comments in the

SLU, I volunteered in our Navy and served

a snowstorm so non-essential workers work

1960 material. Except to say, my life is full,

four years on a ammunition ship in the

from home. Don’t worry, I am on my coffee

with a beautiful wife, Pearl, of 53 years,

Vietnam ‘yacht club.’ Subsequent to a

break. I am also the president of the Board

although she says, “don’t push your luck”,

successful career in the Navy, I recognized

of Directors for Spring Brook Cemetery here

together with four wonderful grandchildren

that our dollar was the common denominator

in town. It is a 22-acre cemetery with over

and two lovely daughters, and wonderful, great

to all professions and, thus, decided to seek an

8200 burials. I have created a database of

sons-in-law. These are my assets and I am so

MBA education. However, my diminished

all the records that we have been able to put

very, very fortunate. Oh, by the way, I still

scholarship history prevented admission to

our hands on. Always adding and updating

work part time as an attorney, estate planning,

most well established MBA programs. I

with material as it becomes available. I hope

and full time for the IRS…and am very active

became a participant in New Hampshire

all our classmates are well and staying safe.”

in MCLE, Massachusetts Continuing Legal

University’s newly established graduate

… Don “Soko” Sokoloski says “Sorry, Shy,

Education, (the best in the country); yes, I am

business program; I truly enjoyed education

nothing shakin’ right now!” … We even heard

still working and enjoying it! No retiring and

for the first time in my life. One well known

from Harold “Buster” Welch ’59. “You’re

picking up seashells at the seashore. For

professor contributed to my life-change as I

looking good, Gerry!,” he writes. “You don’t

relaxation, I kayak in quiet waters and go to

slipped from white collar into blue collar

54 | Holderness School Today

the keyboard and forced me to look backwards

modern medicine which has afforded my

a few decades. As this is my first time to send

active, physical life of shaping artistic outdoor

in class notes I have burned up more than a

spaces and serious LA dancing. In comparison

few grey cells for this task, so bear with me a

to New England, LA has afforded entirely new

bit. After Holderness graduation I left for a

physical and social environments. Other than

summer job at Mesa Verde National Park.

receiving ‘wows’ to my revamped outdoor

Came home and started UNH but came down

spaces, my only real accomplishment to a

with a rare neurological disorder and had to

‘better’ society is a successful establishment of

drop out. Spent four months at home

our local dog park. Satirically...WOW! I do

recuperating. Went back to UNH after winter

enjoy my weekly gathering of a coffee klatch

break but it turned out to be a mistake. Did

(with ‘social’ distancing) at the Saturday

not fit back in. Transferred to Keene State the

morning local farmers’ markets under our

next fall; not good either! Well, Uncle Sam

downtown’s live oaks to solve the world’s

found me and after conferring with a friend

problems—lots of laughter. Each day allows

who had just gotten out of the Army Security

aging to make my life a little too interesting.”

Agency I was convinced that it would be a

… Dave Norton brief ly says from the wilds of

good fit for me. Oh, did I mention that I had

catapulting us from being youthful, energetic

ME, “There’s not a lot going on with COVID-19

found my soulmate, Pearl, and we were

seniors traveling the world and having lots of

starting to run rampant here in ME. I am still

married in June of ’64. We went to Germany

interesting adventures into a sudden entry of

chasing that elusive lobster and working with

for three years and totally took advantage of

experiencing older age and the various

one of our kids now and then at

the opportunities that were presented to us to

challenges and changes it presents us. Early

nortonstoneworks.com. Hopefully things will

see most of Europe. Four years of service to the

March found us (and most of the rest of the

come back to somewhat normal before too

country. Wonderful! A son and daughter, Peter

world) adjusting to pandemic life; keeping safe

long! Have a great Christmas and holidays,

and Susan. To our joy they gave us three

as seniors with concerning complicating

Shy!” … John Holley, as I remember, was one

granddaughters, all of them now (of course)

conditions. We canceled everything, all

of my loyal members in Marshall house when I

bright young women (thinking about Lake

activities in our lives, and settled into a

was house leader, and of course before the

Wobegone) taking on the world. I enjoyed

different existence at home, taking long walks

house was replaced, alas, by a new facility,

being self-employed as a photographer

almost every day and growing a vegetable and

before it slipped down the embankment. John

specializing in commercial large format

f lower garden at our community gardens. With

says, “2020 has been a year of trials,

photography for advertising. I was doing work

the help of wonderful neighborhood and

challenges, and renewal. Recognizing that we

for several national firms, many of whom you

church friends, we figured out how to acquire

would be limited in mobility during the year I

would know. In early ’84 I was lucky to fill an

food and medicine without entering any stores

chose to take care of several medical issues. It

opening with the Army Corps of Engineers at

or pharmacies. We kept a tight COVID bubble.

started with Mohs surgery on my nose to

the Cold Regions Research and Engineering

We became semi-experts at using Zoom for

remove a cancerous growth. The outcome was

Laboratory in Hanover. Spent 18 years doing

maintaining connections to people. In August

successful. That was followed by a foot

photography in support of the research efforts

I suffered a complete heart block. I came home

infection. Sand created a blister on my bunion

for the lab. Interesting learning experience

from the hospital six days later with a

which required two months of treatment. That

and a chance to travel the country as well as

pacemaker and new diagnoses of congestive

was followed by bunion surgery and three

soak up a lot of good information from many

heart failure, blocked right coronary artery,

months of immobility. Foot is healing and I am

good engineers and technicians. During the

pneumonia and f luid in my lungs; I was weak

now up and about in time for the quiet holiday

non photography times we have built several

and using a walker. The rest of the fall was

season. We have enjoyed talking with our kids

homes, additions, and rebuilt a ’57 Chevy

spent in recovery and rehabilitation; however,

and grandkids via FaceTime and Zoom, I have

convertible; no, we do not have it any more! In

the pneumonia and f luid retention cleared up

been involved with my Rotary Club via Zoom,

retirement I kept busy with a land clearing and

very quickly and the therapies have proven

and we have taken several mini vacations to

brush hog business, found an 1825 cape in

effective. The combination of COVID, my

the Oregon Coast staying at VRBO rentals.

Vermont, and it is now in very good condition.

recent heart problems and my prior health

Here’s to a happy and healthy 2021.” … Peter

In closing, I send my best to the class of ’61

issues, has totally changed our lives. We have

Keene writes, “Happy New Year to all of the

and the greater Holderness community; good

gone from traveling a quarter or more of the

Holderness community. I hope you join me

health and a desire to keep busy, use those

year to realizing we are high risk individuals,

with the hope that this coming year will grace

hands and minds for the good of family and

who can make limited car trips for lab tests

us with better outcomes and a better sense of

mankind. All the best, Peter” … And finally,

and those medical appointments we cannot do

working together to solve the issues that face

Bill Seaver goes on to say, “As we have all

by Telehealth. Although this may change in the

us and the world. The call from Shy came and

learned, 2020 has been a strange and different

future, we are focusing on our current reality

it gave me a kick to get the fingers moving on

year. For Sherry and me, it was even more so,

and enjoying what we have here and what we

CLASS NOTES

occupations. Today, I simply am thankful to

Bill Seaver ’61 and his wife Sherry.

Summer 2021 | 55

CLASS NOTES

can do now. We still have many satisfying and

so I dropped in on him, too. He also is doing

north of Burlington, hiking, skiing, biking, and

intimate Zoom meetings with my men’s group,

well. Went for a hike with Dennis Donahue

golfing. He is largely retired from professional

the Buddhist group, my Tuck business school

’62 this fall, Zoomed to Art Sleeper’s recent

photography but still does the iPhone version.

class, our children, Revels, Sunday church,

50th wedding anniversary about a month ago,

… I quote Tom McIlvain directly, “Recently

Sherry’s neighborhood knitting group, and

and so it goes. Connecting with characters

retired after 51 years with TBM Hardwoods,

more. Zoom even makes it easy for people who

from Holderness days has been a blast. So,

Hanover, PA, family hardwood distribution

have moved away to rejoin groups and I now

when the ’63 class correspondent position

business. Our two fine sons, seventh generation,

regularly see some past friends. Our son Dana,

opened up, I sniffed and I took the bait. So

now own it. Claudia and I celebrated 51 years

his wife Alicia, and 17-month-old daughter

far, picking it up has been very nice. I have

together, four children, 13 grandchildren.

Eloise took a big leap and moved to a

sought even those without email addresses

Often draw on four great years at Holderness;

single-family house with a backyard a few

on file. Some classmates have died, sadly, and

saved my life. Keep in touch with best friends

minutes’ walk from a large park. Eloise is

others remain at the empty ends of internet

Peter Chapman and Steve Wales.” Tom lives

growing like a weed and turning into a

searches. However, long-unheard-from figures

in Sandwich, NH, in the summer. … Fred

cheerful, curious, and healthy toddler. Our

continue to pop up. And it really is cool seeing

(now “Eric”) Eidsness is not in our yearbook

daughter Abby was out of work for seven weeks

what we all have done over almost 60 years

because he spent his senior year on Daytona

in the spring due to COVID restrictions, but

now. ~David Pope … Jim “Flash” Allen, now

Beach chasing girls. He stays in touch with

her business (as an acupuncturist) came

from St Paul, MN, is retired, and I quote him

William “Biff” Cuthbert. After Vanderbilt

roaring back when the restrictions were eased.

directly, ”I was an ophthalmologist. President

Engineering School he saw combat serving in

She is currently considered an essential worker

of the thirteen member St Paul Eye Clinic,

the Army (thank you Eric) and went on to a

and thus free from current restrictions. She is

and founding director of the Midwest Eye

career in the EPA (Atlanta) and Arthur D. Little

happy to be surfing as many days as she can

and Ear Institute (a surgery center).” Now he

(Cambridge) and on to more environmental

and is enjoying taking small, COVID-safe road

gives tours at the Minneapolis Institute of

engineering in Colorado where he now lives

trips when possible.”

Art, and with his wife coaches Nordic skiing

(Ft. Collins). His book The Gorilla in the Closet

with their grandchildren’s program. While he

is about why the US EPA is becoming obsolete

’62

was at Williams College I saw him at various

and its future after Trump. Simon and Schuster

college ski meets. … David O’Connor lives

will publish it later this year. Fred thinks he

Want to connect with your classmates?

near Hartford, CT, after working overseas

was the first person from south of the Mason-

Consider becoming a class correspondent

specializing in small business development,

Dixon Line to attend Holderness. I told him

and encouraging your classmates to

with the UN, Peace Corps, World Bank, etc.

Alan Sayer might contest. … I also quote Gary

reconnect in the HST class notes.

In the last ten years or so he and his wife

Richardson directly, “After Holderness went

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

have been helping place students from the

to Middlebury followed by Boston College

for more information. Thank you!

Middle East and Nepal in US colleges since

Law School. After a brief side trip with Uncle

that’s where they spent a good deal of their

Sam, I started practicing law in Concord NH

’63

careers. They do “community work” and live

for 50 years with the same firm (unheard of

close to their children and grandchildren.

now). I’m trying to retire but my son tricked

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

… After McGill University, Dick Joyce

me into helping try one more case in January.

David Pope

returned to Newfoundland. From there his

Still married to the same woman after 51 years

popemaine@gmail.com

large construction company moved him to the

of marriage (also unheard of). Other than

Halifax area and he now lives in LaHave where

that, life has been pretty boring. Look back on

Just over a year ago I had been skiing at

he rejoices in watching the sun rise over the

Holderness with warmth and nostalgia, but

Gunstock near Laconia, NH, as they offered

Atlantic every morning. His daughter, Tricia

it took a few years for that transition to take

free skiing to geezers over 70. Somehow, I

(Joyce) Brassington ’93, is a Holderness

place. Great memory of a guy named David

contacted David Stamps ’64, who lived near

alumna. She and her family live in England.

Pope sailing off after a night at the Biddeford

there. In turn, he put me in touch with Jim

… Dick’s roommate from Hoyt was Clifford

Pool Yacht Club into a strong southwesterly

Brewer who also lived in that area. I had

“Wyck” Coddington. Wyck spent his senior

breeze toward Portsmouth. Apparently he made

several nice visits with Mr. Brewer before

undergrad year at a school on Long Island.

it. Would love to hear about the rest of you.”

he passed away just about a year ago. From

After University of Arizona, Wyck went

… Gary Richardson and his wife provided

his hospital, and then convalescing home, I

through the Navy as an officer and spent a

a wonderful meal ashore as we delivered our

found him engaging, warm and ready to talk

career in the jewelry and gift business, retiring

boat to new owners in Portsmouth. And Gary,

about just about anything. He was a gentle

2003, from Cartier, NYC, as head of corporate

thank you for your service also. I look forward

and thoughtful man. Dave Stamps said he

business to business sales. … I spoke with Steve

to hearing from more of the class of ’63. To

was lucky to have known him for the last ten

Brooke who is doing well and lives nearby in

keep up with other classes, feel encouraged to

years or so. Turns out Dave also knows Don

ME. … Turns out that Lowell “Bud” Symmes

send along pictures of you doing something

Stephenson ’55, our Nordic ski coach in 1963,

summers near me in ME and winters in VT

interesting (and legal!) -David Pope

56 | Holderness School Today

trip was to England and Germany in late 2019.

have the years gone! We are still living in

Of course I had to catch a mineral show, so we

South Portland, ME. I am executive director

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

went to the big one in Munich that fills five

of Maine Summer Camps, a nonprofit

Guy "Sandy" Alexander

vast arenas with minerals, gems, and fossils

organization that represents 140 camps in

salex88@comcast.net

from all over the world.” … And finally, we

Maine. Due to COVID-19 it was an incredibly

have these thoughts from Jim Ricker, “Hard

crazy and difficult year that resulted in only

David Stamps recently made the decision

to believe that many of us will turn 75 this

20% of our camps operating last summer. We

to share with us his voyage of discovery and

year. The last decade has f lown by. But with

look forward to the time when we will be able

understanding of Asperger’s syndrome which

four children ranging from 40 to 51, seven

to travel again, especially out west f ly fishing!”

has been a part of his life for many years. His

grandchildren ranging from three to 19, all

story was shared in the Laconia newspaper

living nearby, and a 53rd anniversary with

in several installments in 2019, as well as a

Joyce on the way, I’m finding that this is a

’66

video. … In October we received the shocking

time of contentment as career stuff takes

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

and sad news of Dick Stowell’s passing. It is

a distant backseat to relationships. I also

Peter Janney

hard to accept that we are getting to that age

find that I’m frequently thinking of our time

pj@apllon.com

where once hearty and vital souls are leaving

together in the early sixties. We were raised

our ranks. … Richard Seltzer is having great

in the fifties when conformity and never

success with several of his books having been

challenging authority were the norms—and

’67

selected for publishing. In addition to Beyond

they carried over into the early sixties. But I

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

the 4th Door which came out in August, the

also recall that our class was probably the first

Jamie Hollis

All Things That Matter Press has accepted

to sometimes challenge those norms to the

jameshollis@comcast.net

Nevermind, Breeze, and To Gether Tales for

frequent consternation of Don Hagerman and

future release. The announcement of Beyond

the faculty. Questioning the status quo really

Jamie Hollis and Jim Stearns ’68 have

the 4th Door was met with promises by many

began building with the assassination of JFK.

created a matching gift challenge to honor Mr.

to quickly order copies from Amazon. An

And then we began to see back page articles

James Edward Brewer II who passed away in

update from Richard in December indicates

in our library copy of the New York Times

March of 2020. Jamie and Jim are matching

that Nevermind has been published! … Terry

describing the situation in Vietnam and the

all gifts made to the van Otterloo-Henderson-

Morse checks in from Moab that he and his

increasing numbers of military ‘advisors’ being

Brewer Chair Program up to $50,000. Each

wife have moved into their new downsized

sent there. By the time we graduated, some of

year the Chair Program provides one or two

house on acreage outside of town with

those articles were reaching the front page.

members of the faculty the opportunity to

beautiful mountain views. He is working

And then, Vietnam was front and center as

spend time off-campus pursuing graduate

non-stop to finish up interior built-ins

we entered college. By the time we graduated

and cabinets, etc. After seeing two of his

in the late sixties, the war was raging and

previous homes, I know that this will be a

impacting all of our lives. While many were

superb example of craftsmanship. His main

already questioning the official news about

regret these days is the COVID restriction

the war, I think shock set in after the Tet

that prevents travel to see family members

Offensive. Our government lost credibility

scattered from Canada to Chile. … From

and trust as it has recently. I hope the coming

Woody Thompson, we got this letter, “The

generations will get us back on track. I also

pandemic is keeping us at home this winter.

think about the classmates we’ve lost. Way

But last summer Louise and I spent some

too many at this stage of our lives. I hope it’s

time at our cottage near Holderness, and I

a long time before we hear of any others.”

was thankful to be doing field work for the New Hampshire Geological Survey in the northeastern White Mountains. I’m mapping

’65

earth materials left by streams and glaciers in

Want to connect with your classmates?

the Androscoggin River valley. The area has a

Consider becoming a class correspondent

great network of hiking, biking, snowmobile,

and encouraging your classmates to

and ATV trails, making it easy to socially

reconnect in the HST class notes.

distance and get some much needed exercise.

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

During the fall we enjoyed the best foliage that

for more information. Thank you!

I can remember. We sorely miss the longer trips, meetings with all sorts of people, and

Ron Hall ’65 writes, “This past year Susan

having breakfast in local diners! Our last real

and I celebrated our 50th anniversary—where

MATCH OPPORTUNITY!

Support the van Otterloo-HendersonBrewer Chair program Make your gift online at holderness.org/giving/makea-gift, or by contacting Mark Sturgeon at 603-779-5225 or via email at msturgeon@ holderness.org. Please make sure to designate your gift for the van Otterloo-HendersonBrewer Chair Program.

Summer 2021 | 57

CLASS NOTES

’64

CLASS NOTES

Alan Ayers ’71 with his family following the graduation of his daughter, Sara, from high school last summer. Shown in this photo from left to right: the Ayers’ niece Althea; wife Kathy; daughter Sara; Alan; and daughter Becky.

Alan Ayers ’71 on a hike with his wife and daughters.

retired about two years ago and have been

’69

enjoying it immensely, especially the time

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

passion for me,” David writes, adding that he

Jonathan Porter

rode just short of 4,000 miles last year. “Our

jwoodporter@cox.net

son Joshua lives in the St. Paul, MN, area with

available for cycling which has become quite a

his wife, Tyler, and their two children, Ainsley

’70

(three and a half years old) and Soren (one and

Want to connect with your classmates?

face-to-face, but are making do with FaceTime

Consider becoming a class correspondent

calls like all of us. Joshua finished Columbia

and encouraging your classmates to

Law School this year, passed the bar, and is

or professional work, the type of work that

reconnect in the HST class notes.

now actively working for a Minneapolis firm.”

Mr. Brewer and Mr. Don Henderson knew

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

David also shared that his daughter, Elena

was so important for faculty and for their

for more information. Thank you!

Taylor ’10, lives in southwestern MD, has been

A recent painting by John Coles ’68 of his neighbor's dog "Queen Tilly".

students. To support this challenge you may make your gift online at holderness.

a half years old). We miss seeing them

a sixth grade language arts teacher there for

’71

six years, and is now tenured. … Next, I heard

org/giving/make-a-gift, or by contacting Mark Sturgeon at 603-779-5225 or via

INTERIM CLASS CORRESPONDENT

Bob wrote that he studied fine arts and physics

email at msturgeon@holderness.org. Please

Dwight Shepard ’72

at Union College after he left Holderness.

make sure to designate your gift for the van

shepdb@comcast.net

After graduating from Union he attended the

Otterloo-Henderson-Brewer Chair Program.

from Bob Johnson who lives in Randolph, NJ.

Pratt Institute where he earned a master’s Want to connect with your classmates?

degree in industrial design. “Fortified by my

’68

Consider becoming a class correspondent

Holderness winter-term independent study in

and encouraging your classmates to

digital circuit design, I started at an aerospace

INTERIM CLASS CORRESPONDENT

reconnect in the HST class notes.

company designing test equipment, which led

John Coles

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

to another aerospace company, which led to

johncolesart@gmail.com

for more information. Thank you!

Bell Labs designing digitally-linearized

Want to connect with your classmates?

This is my first time compiling notes for the

wireless product offerings,” Bob writes. “A

Consider becoming a class correspondent

class of 1971. Minutes after I sent out an

good run for an art major.” Lately, he adds, he

and encouraging your classmates to

appeal to the Class of 1971 to submit news to

has been working several aerospace contract

reconnect in the HST class notes.

me, I got an immediate response from a couple

jobs. “My spouse Patricia and I raised three

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

of your classmates. The first note came from

beautiful girls of poise, beauty and grace,” Bob

for more information. Thank you!

David Taylor, of Doylestown, PA, who writes

adds. “Two became clinical psychologists and

that he and his wife Deborah have been living

the third is applying to a program at NYC’s

happily in Doylestown for over 23 years. “I

Museum of Natural History to finish off her

radio-frequency amplifiers for Lucent's

58 | Holderness School Today

consortium of large innovative companies.

never tried to reach out to this family before.

finally start saving for retirement.” As if he

This organization supports predominantly

What I learned, in trying to reach

hasn’t been busy enough, Bob also says that

commercial companies to collaborate with the

Christopher Sands, is that he passed on in

“along the way” he wrote a screenplay based on

federal government on research as well as

2014. Holderness did not have an email

the aeronautical exploits of author Rinker

securing and executing government contracts.”

address or phone number for him, so

Buck’s memoir Flight of Passage. But he never

Alan says he has lived in central CT now for 13

apparently, I was the first person representing

received Buck’s blessing to publish the play, so

years, and is able to spend summers on Lake

the school who had tried to reach out to him in

it has never been seen. “In the September 2015

Winnipesaukee, and get in a lot of hiking in

a while. His sister, Amy Sands McClellan, of

issue of The Smithsonian's Air & Space

the White Mountains of NH. His daughter,

Pembroke, MA, sent me a very kind note

magazine is an article about how Rinker’s

Sara, is a freshman at Syracuse University. His

telling me that he died of a stroke on

brother and I located the crash site of Max

daughter, Becky, is a junior at Glastonbury

September 7, 2014. “Christopher was one of the

Miller,” who, Bob explains, was the first US

High School. “I spend my free time building

funniest people,” she wrote. “We had great

Air Mail pilot. “I am back into [digital]

and remodeling our house, playing my guitar,

times together. His photography was

photography and thoroughly enjoying the

and singing,” he says. “In the past year, I

incredible and his knowledge of botany was

software tools now available,” Bob adds. “I

designed and am almost finished constructing

much admired. Everyone went to him with

dabble in other areas. Recently I roughed out a

a 750-square-foot deck on our house. Kathy

their plant questions.” I remember Chris as

design for an integrated low-carbon natural-

and I play in a band that performs regularly at

being one kick-ass soccer goalie at Holderness.

gas processing, salt-water desalination, and

coffee houses. Since last March, we suspended

There are many times our team would have

cement plant to produce cement for 3D

practice as a group and hope to get back to

lost, if it wasn’t for his incredible saves. Please

printing houses in New Zealand. This is

playing together in later 2021.” Alan adds that

join me in praying for Chris, and his family. …

partially due to my being befriended by a

in 2014, because of family need, Kathy’s

That’s it for now. Thanks so much to those of

woman from New Zealand who is the spiritual

six-year-old niece came to live with them from

you who responded to my request for notes.

leader of 150,000 Maori Islanders. You can’t

California. “It was a challenging time for all of

Remember, the school is looking for someone

make this stuff up. It is like the screenplay

us, but Althea has come a long way since then

from your class to reach out to you to compile

project; things I do for no reason which

and we are happy that she is with us,” he

notes, so if you are interested, please contact

become the best things I have done. This

explains. “I wish everyone a safe year in 2021

Kelly van Lingen at kvanlingen@holderness.

comes in a strange way from having run

and am looking forward to things getting back

org. It’s really easy, it’s fun to connect with

cross-country at Holderness. How to keep

to more normal as the year progresses. It

your old buds and only happens twice a year.

going when all you want to do is stop.” Bob

would be great to be able to have the

also says that he has run in 12 New York City

opportunity to see our classmates (and

marathons. “I owe just about everything to my

bordering years) in person if things get better.”

’72

time at Holderness,” he says. No moss is

… Hannah (Roberts) Artuso writes from

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

growing under your sneakers, Bob. Good to

Melrose, MA that she retired in 2018 after over

Dwight Shepard

hear from you. … Alan Ayers writes from

20 years as an attorney for the state’s child

shepdb@comcast.net

South Glastonbury, CT, that it has been a long

support division. Her daughter, Kelty, and her

time since has corresponded with HST. “I lived

fiance, Patrick Williams, bought a house in

Susan (Glidden) Francesco writes from

in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio, for 33 years

Scituate, MA, in the fall of 2020, so are only

Holderness, NH that she has been very busy

after college, most of the time leading research

about an hour away. Her father, former math

since she retired from the state Department of

and development of portable power,” he notes.

teacher, Larry Roberts, has an incredibly

Environmental Services in 2016. In December

“The most notable consumer products we

sharp mind but, for physical reasons is now

2019, she finished climbing the “NH48” – 48

developed were Energizer batteries. In 2000, I

living at Cedar Hill Community Care in

mountains in the Granite State all over 4,000

married a wonderful, talented, and strong-

Windsor, VT. “His big news,” Hannah says, “is

feet high. Her last mountain was Cannon

willed woman, Kathy. We have two girls, Sara

that he got his first COVID vaccine on January

which she scaled in December in the snow

and Becky. I also have two older children from

7th. We are fortunate that Cedar Hill has not

and ice. “I have been working diligently on

a previous marriage, Lisa and Brian, who live

had any COVID cases. Nonetheless, we are

my birding skills and bird photography,”

and work in Ohio. In 2007, Kathy was offered

relieved he is getting his vaccines. He loves

she notes, “Most recently capturing a sage

and accepted a job at Proton Energy Systems

hearing from former students, so if anyone is

thrasher in New Hampshire. My husband,

in Connecticut. I took early retirement, as

inclined to write (he doesn’t do email), his

Pete, daughter, Angi Francesco ’98, and

Energizer decided to focus exclusively on

address is: Larry Roberts, 49 Cedar Hill Drive,

her daughter, Jocelyn, traveled to Belize

disposable batteries and not pursue high-

Windsor, VT 05089.” … Every now and then,

and Guatemala in January 2020 before the

capacity rechargeable batteries that would be

when compiling this column, I stumble across

pandemic really took hold,” explaining that

powering many devices used by all of us today.

something I wish I had known that happened

the bird-watching was fantastic as well as

Kathy, the girls, and I moved to Glastonbury,

a long time ago. However, as this was my first

the wonderful culture in both countries.

CT. I accepted the job of IDCC president, a

time reaching out to the Class of 1971, I had

“Once the pandemic hit, we sequestered

Summer 2021 | 59

CLASS NOTES

credentials to become a teacher. Now I can

CLASS NOTES

here in Holderness. Susan’s daughter, Sarah,

incredibly easy. Our granddaughters are seven,

to me! … Daryl Bradley writes, “Well, I’m

husband Fennell and two grandsons, Trey and

four and one, and the two older girls love

fine and so is the family. I’m out and about

Francesco quickly came north from New York

skiing. We had a blast with them in January,

regularly as I have one of those ‘essential’ jobs.

City and moved in with Angi to get out of the

and are looking forward to our February ski

I have a hard time saying that word to myself

city where they stayed for four months. Both

trip. Our daughter, Lisa, who used to work as

(or about myself) without laughing out loud.

of our summer cottages were maxed out for

a snowboard instructor for the Vail Companies

Other than that it’s life as NOT usual. Masks,

the summer and I spent much time cleaning,

in Colorado, bought a house with her wife

social distancing, ninja-style forays to the

disinfecting, and making sure all our summer

Heather in Denver earlier this year. She no

market and trying not to get too bent out of

guests were safe. We spend evenings at the

longer teaches snowboarding, and works for

shape at the sad turn of events these days.”

lake, social distancing with guests, swimming

Amazon in one of its warehouses in Colorado.

In preparation for our 50th, Daryl goes on

and taking long slow cruises in our antique

When Lucy and I are not in Duxbury we spend

to say, “I dragged out the cameras the other

boat, Xanadu.” Good to hear from you, Susan.

summers and occasional days throughout the

day and tried to coax them back to life. Being

… Chuck Fisher writes from Occidental,

year at our seasonal home in Dennis on Cape

largely non-mechanical no one could be more

CA, that he is “blessed in health, love and life

Cod. So, if you can’t find us on one side of Cape

surprised than I was when they all seemed to

and hope all is well with you and yours. I am

Cod Bay, chances are we’ll be on the other.

be functioning. Pandemic be damned, I need

passionate about getting to teach resilience

Everyone stay safe. Hopefully this blasted

to make pictures. I am checking and scanning

strategies to medical providers and their staff

pandemic will be gone by the end of the year.

old negatives from my Holderness days.” … Stan Theodoredis exchanged a couple

for their own and their patients’ wellbeing in this difficult time. My nonprofit gives our

’73

e-mails and he writes “I must confess that I do

work as an open education resource, free to all, and we have a version for families I’d love

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

picture is me. It would make sense standing

to send you electronically. If you or others

Dick Conant

next to a great friend at the time and forever,

are interested, please write to me at chuck@

rconantjr@msn.com

Tim Scott, and in front of dearly departed

believe the person on the right in the HST OB

roommate Mike Naylon. I also got the French

dovetaillearning.org. … “This year maybe no news is good news,” Will Graham writes

Dear Classmates, I hope 2021 is off to a good

ski team hat from Dave Taylor ’71, who was a

from South Dartmouth, MA. “Hope everyone

start for all of you and I suspect the vast

senior when I was a sophomore. As for the OB

is weathering the storm.” Will says he has

majority of us are looking for an improvement

experience—chickens, smoke in the face, John

heard from Paul “Cash” Hoyt who is living in

over 2020 and a return to “normal.” Since I

Reynolds making spice cake and delivering

Montana and David Nicholson, who still lives

can’t/won’t talk politics ...“how about them

it to us in our holes in the snow!!” Good times

in central Massachusetts. … Chris Latham

Mets!” And that’s all I have to say about

indeed! Stan goes on to write, “Because of

seems well settled with retirement in Marion,

that. … Congratulations once again to

my OB experience, one of my major papers

MA., and says “maybe we can have a good,

Tim Scott on his appointment to lead the

in grad school was on how effective outdoor

in-person, turnout at Holderness in 2022

planned and legacy giving Balch Society at

therapeutic work is. Put the technology

for our reunion.” Yup, hard to believe that

Holderness. It’s good to have a mole from

away. You have to depend on and actually

our 50th is coming up. … As for me, Dwight

our class in the organization! I suspect he

communicate in the existential world with

Shepard, my wife Lucy and I are living the

may be contacting all of us as he gets the

each other. Very good stuff in the outdoors.

life two miles away from our son, Ted, and

program up and running. … Matt Kamarck

I’ve carried that OB experience my entire

his three daughters in Duxbury, MA. We

writes that he is back from the Philippines

life.” Stan had two successful business careers

just got back from a wonderful skiing trip at

and enjoying an early season snowstorm

following the family motto, “A man’s value

Attitash Mountain and plan to go back next

up in NH. He has recently been certified

is in how much he has and attains.” He then

month. Ted’s wife Jessica, a Vermont native,

by the State of New Hampshire as a solid

followed his heart and went back to school and

stumbled across a great deal for an Epic ski

waste facility operator, which qualifies him

got his master’s degree in clinical and pastoral

pass from the Vail Companies that is good at

to work at the Marlow, NH recycling center

counseling. “After several years of working

any of their mountains. Vail owns Attitash

and fulfill his life’s ambition of becoming a

for Caron Foundation, I left to open my own

and Wildcat in New Hampshire, and other

true town character. He is planning a future

practice, Lehigh Valley Counselors: www.

mountains in Vermont and Maine as well as

reality TV series, “DumpMasters,” or maybe

lehighvalleycounselors.com. Having opened

Colorado. In these days of COVID-19, their

a sitcom, “Recyclables.” In the meantime, he

with just myself, I now work with six very

system is awesome. They send you an ID card

has burrowed in and is happy amongst the

fine and caring counselors. It’s not viewed or

that you can “load” online with whatever dates

cans, bottles, papers, and other refuse of our

felt as work but a calling, which I thoroughly

you want to go skiing. Then, when you get to

ignorant world (his words). As for Marlow,

feel and put myself into. Mike Naylon, years

the mountain, you don’t have to go to a ticket

Matt writes, “It is a small town north of Keene,

ago, called me a Greek philosopher; turns

window. All you do is get in a lift line and

no store or gas station, poor cell reception,

out he was right. The finest moments are

they scan you with a “gun” from six to eight

and due to the isolation not a lot of COVID.”

not measured by the P&L but when someone

feet away, and off you go. They have made it

Sounds like an effective real estate pitch

says, ‘I can't thank you enough for how

60 | Holderness School Today

experience together), as I indicated in my

school, I wound up working 33 years for four

Holderness and the path that got me to at

original email to the Class of ’74, Tim Scott

very different federal government agencies

this point in my life. Life is measured now

and I have been the Class Agent and Class

as a marine biologist, aquatic biologist,

for me as ‘what you do for the least of these.’”

Correspondent, respectively, for the Class

wetlands biologist, and finally with the naval

Stan sends special greetings in no particular

of ’73 for more years than I can remember. I

submarine base down here in Groton, CT,

order to: Tim Scott, all around great guy

think we keep at it for the personal satisfaction

as an environmental program manager and

and friend, Peter Garrison and his twin

of reconnecting directly with our classmates

eventually as the environmental director, i.e.,

Morgan Dewey for Axelrod and the Grease

from five decades ago, but also as a small way

desk-bound supervisor/bureaucratic paper

Guns! How many years has it been since we

to give back to Holderness, which we have

pusher. After retirement, I picked up my

saw each other up there?! Fred Savage for

come to realize played an oversized part in

hiking/climbing passion again, which started

“A Whiter Shade of Pale” in the Chapel—I

our lives. When the school independently

with Mr. Bill Biddle’s Outing Club back in

hear that song today and it’s a time machine.

approached both of us to help temporarily

the 1970s. I knocked off the AMC 100-highest

The roomies at the Cayleys’ Outhouse, Tom

cover duties for your class, we both signed up.

of New England before moving on to do state

Mawn, Mike Naylon (RIP), and whatever

We are willing to help out, but as I indicated

high points. I’m at 44 3/4ths high points

did happen to Stephen “Woody” Peirce?!

we can’t do full justice to the unique identity

now (ask me about the 3/4ths sometime if

Sam Richards, good friend and tormenter

and story of your class. Please consider

you want to hear a real story!) with mostly

on the hockey rink teaching me to be a goalie

volunteering as a class correspondent or

kick-butt climbs out west still to do. I’m

and more. And school assemblies when Mr.

agent. Both Tim and I are more than willing

scheduled to do a guided technical climb up

Cesar Nobles would exclaim, “The bus for

to discuss our experiences and offer some

Mt. Rainier this summer with my eldest son,

Tenney Mountain will leave one at 1:00 and

further encouragement. Enough preaching

COVID-permitting. My three sons are all

one at 1:30.” And finally raise your hand if you

from me: I heard from Josh Hancock who

grown and situated west of the Mississippi

remember Thor Paulsen’s Pickle Proposal!

is living the dream out in Hollywood, CA.

with wives/significant others and doing grad

The best to all! … And as for my news, I had to

According to his website, Joshcar.com, Josh is

school or working. Here in Mystic, I more

put off a planned climbing expedition out west

an entertainment automotive expert and radio

than occupy my free time with a regional land

due to COVID, but managed a loop around

host with over 20 years of industry experience

conservancy, Avalonia, sitting on a couple

the east to do nine more state highpoints,

serving as a creative consultant for motion

boards, and in the capacity of Chairperson

including the mighty peaks in IL, LA, and

pictures and television. He is known for his

for the Groton Shellfish Commission. The

FL. I am up to 44 ¾ now with mostly kick-ass

deep understanding of how cars permeate

latter helps me reconnect to my marine

climbs still to do out west before I get too old.

American pop culture. Josh began his career

biology roots, which I wandered mightily

Speaking of out west, all three sons are now

working in Hollywood collaborating with

from during my career. Finally, I wish you

west of the Mississippi, with their wives or

directors such as Martin Scorsese, Francis

all a good 2021, which might be a low bar to

significant others, attending grad school or

Ford Coppola, Andrew Niccol, Mike Myers,

achieve after 2020, and I do hope you all give

working. I plan to be out to Jackson Hole for

and Steven Soderbergh while garnering credits

some thought to jumping into a class officer

a week in February with my eldest son who

on blockbuster films including “Casino,” “The

role. Best, Richard “Dick” Conant ’73

is coming over from ID to ski with the old

Rainmaker,” “Nutty Professor II,” and all

man. And I at least plan to LOOK down into

three films in the $656 million Austin Powers

Corbett’s Coulier! Hoping for the new normal

franchise. Josh also hosted and produced a

’75

to get here soon. Take care, ~ Dick Conant

car show he created for the History Channel

Want to connect with your classmates?

called “Shifting Gears.” He’s currently in

Consider becoming a class correspondent

’74

negotiations for a new show. Josh writes “I was

and encouraging your classmates to

always very much into cars from knee-high.

reconnect in the HST class notes.

INTERIM CLASS CORRESPONDENT

My uncle, who was a captain in the Maine

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

Dick Conant ’73

State Police, put me through their training at

for more information. Thank you!

rconantjr@msn.com

the age of 15! He had taught me a lot and was someone that loved cars and driving. When I

Want to connect with your classmates?

was 13, I would travel the state with him and

’76

Consider becoming a class correspondent

it helped me understand driving on a whole

Want to connect with your classmates?

and encouraging your classmates to

different level. After Holderness and college,

Consider becoming a class correspondent

reconnect in the HST class notes.

I wanted to find a way to mix my passion

and encouraging your classmates to

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

for cars and film making and that’s the road

reconnect in the HST class notes.

for more information. Thank you!

I went down.” … And in closing, since I am

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

writing this, I guess I get to convey a bit of

for more information. Thank you!

Classmates (I think I can call you classmates

my backstory since leaving Holderness (in

since we shared a part of our Holderness

100 words or less). After undergrad and grad

Summer 2021 | 61

CLASS NOTES

you’ve helped me!’ I am forever grateful for

CLASS NOTES

’77

muster, but I truly appreciated the humor

feet, where Don operates the equipment and

shared by everyone in the “inappropriate”

sensors in what he describes “as a spy plane

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

batch! COVID has forced an isolation

for fires.” “Very busy this past season in CO

Peter Grant

regimen completely foreign to any social

and CA with over 300 mission f light hours in

pete@grantcom.us

individual. I just want my wood‐smoked

four months,” he says. When he’s not doing his

Caesar salad and pastrami at the Copper Door!

aerial gig, Whit enjoys some down time with

Peter King never thought he’d be looking

Otherwise, all is as well as can be expected.

his wife and their pop-up camper in state and

forward to this kind of shot—er, a “vaccine

The neighbors who f lew in their kids from

national parks in FL. The couple’s daughter,

shot. California’s still in rough shape with

across the country for the holidays are all

Madison, is a rookie trainer and smokejumper

COVID-19 cases rising, exponentially. In 2019,

healthy, so this area dodged a big bullet. And

based in Missoula, MT, and their two boys are

we moved to a small mountain community

we passed an extremely dangerous time in

living and working in Boulder, CO. … John

in Southern California, Wrightwood. I still

our American democracy. Looking forward

“Steitzy” Steitz is also in MT, raising sheep

handle select legal matters, but really enjoy my

to seeing you guys starting this summer!

that produce merino wool. John and his wife

status as a ‘recovering litigator’ and part‐time PSIA Certified alpine ski instructor at our

Carol recently moved from Whitefish to a

’78

larger small ranch near Kalispell. “Loving

local ski resort, Mt High. I’m hoping that all members of the Class of ’77 are healthy and

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

and all the equipment has kept us quite busy.

safe. And we’re looking forward to traveling

Luther Turmelle

The perfect year to hunker down to a big

adventures and socializing with friends and

lturmelle@sbcglobal.net

project at home and ignore the world as much

family when the pandemic clouds have passed

the new place,” John said. “Moving 30 sheep

as possible.” Steitzy said the merino sheep

by.” … Mark Melvin reports, “I was fortunate

Like most folks during COVID-19, some

“started as our contribution to restoring the

that in 2019 I retired (semi) and that has

members of the Class of ’78 are chilling close

soil through regenerative grazing and they

afforded me time to help in the communities

to home. But for Chris Goodhue, home is

have become more than that. They were

that I live in. For the past year I have been

in a whole new place now. After 23 years in

supposed to be just a part of our sustainable

working hard on raising money, helping design

central MA, Goodie and his wife Celeste made

retirement farm project,” he said. “Somehow

and bring to fruition a permanent campus

a beeline for the wilds of northern NH. John

we won the biggest wool show in the west and

for Marco Island Academy. We have raised

Denver had his Rocky Mountain high, but

are selling wool across the US, Canada, and

$6 million of the $15 million needed during

for Chris and Celeste, it’s nothing but clean

Europe.” … Hal Hawkey reports his youngest

COVID. As the PM for the school I have been

living and lots of skiing not far from their cozy

daughter, Grace, is finishing senior year at

leveraging my years as a CTO and working

mountain home just outside of Franconia in

Elon University and his oldest daughter, Sarah,

on lots of construction projects doing the IT

the Easton Valley. … Chris lives not far—in

is working in human resources at NASDAQ.

for the buildings and data centers to help

NH terms—from Paul Bozuwa and Jay Mead,

… Colin Bruce MacLeod, AK A “Spud,” has

the school bring the GC in on time and on

who both reside in Norwich, VT. Boze built

a new seasonal job running a 42-foot charter

budget. I also had to run the club we belong

a house there five years ago and reports that

boat from Washington, DC’s Georgetown

to in MI, this past summer and make a lot

he sees Jay frequently. Paul says his three

waterfront. “There’s a company called

of decisions with the board to keep everyone

daughters “are working hard to make the

Boatsetter which handles all bookings and

safe and get us through the summer with

world a better place; hugely proud of them.”

insurance,” Spud said. “It’s quite lucrative.” In

no cases of COVID. No small feat with folks

As for Paul, he is still running a division

other MacLeod family news, Colin’s son James

coming in from all over the country. I have

of a printing company that printed former

is working in HVAC and Spud’s 97-year-old

also been working with my local food bank

President Obama’s book. … Keith Suttenfield

mom just won her first annual Calcutta tennis

here on the island to make sure that people

checks in from Australia to report that his

match at her club. … Nat Hancock reports

are able to feed their families through these

e-commerce business did well last year. “After

that his son just came back from the Middle

hard times. Also back in MI I have worked on

a 13-year decline that saw me lose a large

East after having been out of the country for

three land conservation projects in our area.

portion of the proceeds of the previous 20 plus

a few years. “It’s nice to have him back but

For fun I have been building three amazing

years of hard work, I finally found my groove

life is a bit tight with him in our apartment

houses, the first of which just sold for a record

again,” Keith said. “Our new brand is called

working remotely, which I’m doing as well,”

price on the island, and was considered best

Quazzie Design and I sometimes have referred

Nat said. “Looking forward to him moving to

in its class boasting waterskiing, paddle

to myself as the quasi aussie! Anyway, I am a

Denver this summer (that’s where his company

boarding, and lots of shooting. I hope all

much happier person for it.” … In news from

is). In a couple of years we’ll be joining him;

are well in these tough times.” … As for me,

the Wild West contingent of the Class of ’78,

we have a place in the Cap Hill area.” …

Peter Grant, I sent my request for news

we get news from Don “Whit” Whittemore,

to my classmates. Sixty-eight replies with

John Steitz and Hal Hawkey. Whit is back to

hilarious news snippets, which were reviewed

trying to hold wildfires at bay, only this time

for editorial appropriateness. Two passed

from a lofty citadel. Actually, it’s from 20,000

62 | Holderness School Today

’79 CLASS CORRESPONDENT CLASS NOTES

Hratch Astarjian hihratch@gmail.com Hratch Astarjian reports, “I’m still living in central MA and working for Bose, managing global sales and marketing for aviation products. Working from home for the past 10 months has been mostly good but, like many, I am ready for a return to normalcy. I hope you are all well and safe!”

Class of 1985 OB photo shared by Allyn Hallisey, Jr. ’85.

Katsu Nakamura ’85 and his wife Naomi in Tokyo.

North End of Boston, I’m living a few miles away from Boyd Boggess ’81 in Medford

Burgie Howard since my daughter Eliza

’80

(pronounced “Med-fed.”), and have been

started college in the fall of 2019 at Yale,

emailing and texting with lots of old friends

where Burgie is Vice President for Student

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

in New England as we have been needing

Life and Dean of Student Engagement. We

Jack Dawley

something to look forward to when this

had the opportunity to reminisce about our

jdawley@northlandresidential.com

wretched pandemic is under control. My re-

years at Holderness at several events for

introduction to the Northeast is finally getting

parents in New Haven before the lockdowns.”

’81

rounded out with a healthy dose of spending

INTERIM CLASS CORRESPONDENT

and skis in late December and finally made

’83

Chris Pesek ’82

it up to Cannon Mountain last week. I drove

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

chrispesek7@gmail.com

with my three kids up to Franconia and we

Peter Hewitt

bundled up for temperatures that topped out

phewitt21@mac.com

time outdoors. I brought up my mountain bike

Want to connect with your classmates?

at seven degrees on Saturday and soared to

Consider becoming a class correspondent

a high of 18 on Sunday. I forgot about the ice

Want to connect with your classmates?

and encouraging your classmates to

too. My daughter gave us a great travel tip to

Consider becoming a class correspondent

reconnect in the HST class notes.

take our skis off at the top of the Cannonball

and encouraging your classmates to

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

Quad chairlift, and to walk through the pine

reconnect in the HST class notes.

for more information. Thank you!

trees to the observation tower which holds the

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

cell phone towers at the top of the mountain.

for more information. Thank you!

’82

We were the only ones up there on Sunday

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

couldn’t see more than the tree tops nearby.

’84

Chris Pesek

On Sunday however, we met a half a dozen

Want to connect with your classmates?

chrispesek7@gmail.com

hikers who had snowshoed up from the base

Consider becoming a class correspondent

and we could see for miles. If you get to the

and encouraging your classmates to

Classes of 1981 and 1982, I hope this note

top sometime, take the path in between the

reconnect in the HST class notes.

finds you well. I won’t ignore the fact that

pines and check out the view. It’s worth it.

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

many of us have lost loved ones and friends

For now, tell us where you’re living and what

for more information. Thank you!

over the past year and most of our lives have

you’re up to. It’s been great finding classmates

been shaken pretty badly in 2020. I can’t

here in New England and all over the world

think of a year in my lifetime that had more

and doing our best to make the world seem a

’85

“resetting,” “waking up,” and stopping the

little closer. Reach out to Kelly at Holderness

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

incessant churn of work and putting a little

at kvanlingen@holderness.org, or me at

Katsu Nakamura

more thought into life and family. I am hoping

chrispesek7@gmail.com with any class notes

katsu.nakamura@ieee.org

we come away from last year with some

you wish to share. Let’s find opportunities

lasting revelations that we all take forward

for writing, calling, laughing, hugging, and

As we gathered these notes we ref lect upon the

with us. I moved to Boston in November and

connecting again and make up for what we

loss of Alex Brown nearly two years ago. His

it didn’t take me long to look for friends from

missed in 2020. Take care, Chris Pesek …

time with us was much too short and he is

Holderness. On my second night here, Bob

Emily (Conant) Spinna writes, “I am very

greatly missed. We'd like to dedicate these

Kenney and I had dinner together in the

happy to report that I have reconnected with

class notes to Alex, our classmate and friend.

because of the cold and wind and really

Summer 2021 | 63

CLASS NOTES

Freddy Paxton ’85 and his husband Steven preCovid in Verbier.

Al Brown ’85 from the 1985 Cuban Softball Champs - THE SEEDS. Kirstie Ennis, veteran mountaineer and friend of Colby Coombs ’85.

Mike Collins ’85, Deb and Teddy (the long tailed bear) hiking at Sunday River.

Mary Post ’85 and her fiancee Scott enjoying a night out in Portland, ME. Halle Barker ’21 and Nat Barker ’85 during a fall 2020 preseason morning ski.

… Robert Rumsey starts us off with this note.

Technology. My younger son, Alex, is a junior at Colorado Academy. Hope everyone is doing well!” … David Considine shares, “Retired

“Things here in FL are going well. It is a busy

junior and starting to look towards college. I

from the USCG, and now am the national

tax season, especially with COVID, the

work in news, now at Bloomberg in New York

director of the Boat Operations and Training

stimulus, and a new administration. Yet, I am

for the past 11 years. Michelle and I will

Program teaching tactical boat training to

trying to help my clients navigate these choppy

celebrate our 30th anniversary in 2022.

state and federal law enforcement. Get to run

waters and get their returns in and understand

Hopefully travel will be back in fashion by

into Keith Eaton every once in while up in

the adjustments going forward. I was so sorry

then.” … Mary Post writes, “Two years ago we

ME, and saw Ev Hatch up at Loon. In my 34th

to hear about Al Brown, Mr. Hammond, and

(myself, my son Will age 12 and my fiance

year patrolling at Loon. Nancy, the kids, and I

Mr. Barbour. May they all rest in peace! I

Scott Couture) moved from NY to Yarmouth,

spend every summer weekend at our island in

wish everyone all the best for a fantastic 2021!”

ME. We love being back in New England! We

ME, and every weekend in winter up north.

… Ruth (Levine) Ekhaus writes, “What’s up

also have had the pleasure of reconnecting

Stop in and say hi!” … Theodore Plowden-

Class of ’85? Living my best and foggy life out

with Kathy Tuck!” … Mike Collins said, “This

Wardlaw writes that he’s “living in Portland,

here in San Francisco with my husband, two

year has been the longest outward bound

OR. Just became an empty-nester as my

kids, two dogs, and two cats. Grateful to see

experience of my life. Grateful for my family

daughter headed off to attend the School of the

you all alive and well!” … We heard from

bubble and wonderful hiking and skiing at my

Art Institute of Chicago. Meanwhile, getting

Thomas “Ted” Fine who writes, “My oldest,

Sunday River doorstep but longing for the hugs

back to my roots, coaching a big mountain ski

Noah, is graduating from Middlebury in

of my extended family of friends in the post

team, exploring the mountains and trails in

February. He made the best of four years in

COVID world.” … Margaret “Poppy” Staub is

the Pacific Northwest and staying as active as

VT. Middle child, Lily, took the year off from

“still living in Evergreen, CO, and doing

possible. I still have ties to NH, as my mom

Boston University to avoid remote classes and

environmental work for the mining industry.

lives on Squam Lake, and I make it back there

is looking forward to getting back to Boston.

It’s fun but am looking to retire one of these

once a year or so. I’ve had fun reconnecting

She plans a section hike of the AT this spring

days. My oldest son, Nic, is in college in

with old classmates, and trying to organize a

and summer. Youngest, Piper, is a high school

Redmond, WA, at DigiPen Institute of

climb and ski up Tuckerman’s Ravine next

64 | Holderness School Today

CLASS NOTES Hannes Schneider ’85 on the slopes in Austria.

Jeff Tracy ’85, his wife Kimberely and their son Shawn on senior night.

Kris Figur ’85 and family at the BLM march in Boulder, CO on June 6, 2020.

Jeff Tracy ’85 and his daughter Josie.

Hazardous Waste Compliance Assurance Unit of the Colorado Department of Public Health

Jean Louis Trombetta ’85, Davinia, Silvia and Nico Dorion ’85.

and Environment, for whom I’ve been working

Hiking in Colorado. Lily, Ted ’85, Michelle, Piper and Noah Fine.

for the past 29 years (kind of looking forward to retirement!) I truly hope you are all doing

Phil Peck for all of his tremendous work and

April. Would love to have as many classmates

well and my very best wishes for a more

dedication that started when we were there so

join as possible!” ... Jeff Kaufmann “happened

normal year to come!” … Kathy (Keller)

long ago.” … Richard “Allyn” Hallisey writes,

to be in the White Mountains this weekend

Garfield writes, “Hi all! Hope this finds you

“Hey everybody. Not much to tell. Life in

skiing at Cannon and Bretton Woods with my

healthy and happy. Like everyone else, I’m

Colorado goes on. COVID keeps us out of the

daughter and her boyfriend. A balmy eight

missing my old life. Aside from that, happily

music scene, but not out of the great outdoors.

degrees and windy. Booting up in the parking

married, still working and still raising kids.

I see Alex Laughlin every now and again. His

lot due to the pandemic reminded me of the

My baby graduates from Davidson in May.

band, Highway 50, plays outdoors under a tent

cold nights under the tarp on OB. I stopped by

Happy to be done with outrageous tuition

near me. … Angus Christie writes, “Hello

school on the way back. Campus looked great

payments. Be well.” … Colby Coombs shares,

Holderness ’85. I hope you are well. Team

in the snow and the new science and math

“Our business got shut down so we made use of

Christie is doing well in ME. I am a cardiac

building looks amazing. Hoping 2021 is a

all the free time and went fishing. Planning to

anesthesiologist at Maine Medical Center in

better year for us all!” … Kris (Pfeiffer) Figur

climb Denali this May with Kirstie Ennis, a

Portland. In July 2019, I stepped down as the

says, “Hi Holderness alums! I hope you are all

veteran who inspires people to ‘stubbornly

Residency Program Director and have enjoyed

coping with this incredibly weird year. I’ve

climb the mountain in front of them.’” … We

more time with the family. My eldest son

been living in Boulder, CO, since graduating

heard from Charlie Lamson across the pond,

graduated from Holderness in May and is

from CU Boulder in 1989. My husband Chuck,

“Hi everyone. Great to see the chatter on the

currently a freshman at Tufts University.

an attorney for the US EPA, and I have been

back of Katsu’s note. Sorry Jean Louis

During COVID, I was able to learn how to

married for 20 years and we have two fantastic

Trombetta! I’m living in Ireland where I’ve

quilt and finished several projects. I am now

daughters; our oldest just started at Boston

been for the past 15 years with my wife

the proud owner of several antique sewing

University (what a strange year to be starting

Rosemary and our kids Molly and Michael. It’s

machines. Never thought I would admit that.

college!) and our youngest is a sophomore at

a good and mostly quiet place to be. I hope

Additionally, I continue to knit (a skill that I

Boulder High School. Currently, I manage the

everyone is doing well and a huge thanks to

can thank Mr. and Mrs. Clough for teaching

Summer 2021 | 65

CLASS NOTES

Andrew McDonnell ’85 and Tim Jones ’85 in Saratoga Springs, 2016.

Theodore Plowden-Wardlaw ’85 doing some skiing in the Pacific Northwest.

high school, so we will have an empty house soon and will move on to the next phase of life...weddings and grandchildren, or so I’ve

been seeing Andrew McDonnell the past few

heard from others...maybe some of the class of

years in August in Saratoga Springs.” … Dan

’85 have already hit this milestone?? It would

Taffe writes, “After several decades living at

be great to hear about it! Best to all!” …

me); that was not the only skill that I learned

boarding schools on both coasts, Michelle and

Andrew McDonnell reports he “had a great

from them. I am looking forward to the Day of

I have finally settled into our own home in

time connecting with classmates thanks to a

Giving; I really enjoy reaching out to each of

Concord, NH, with Liam (15) and an orphaned

group email from Katsu. Fun to also share

you and hearing about your exploits. Please

mutt we adopted. I was lucky early on to

stories about Al Brown. We all miss him. Have

answer the call from Maine.” … Phil Kistler

discover a career I enjoy as a surgical

fun seeing Tim Jones and Braden Edwards

sends greetings from Dallas, TX. “A lot

physician assistant and have changed jobs just

regularly and also playing in a Holderness

warmer down here than Plymouth, NH,” he

often enough to keep things fresh. After

Zoom poker game with Braden, Robert “Cort”

writes. “Hope everyone is doing well. It was

considering Holderness, Liam opted elsewhere

Pomeroy ’86, Blake Swift ’86, and Chris Zak

good to see Braden Edwards and Tim Jones

for high school, but I still got to rediscover

’86; call if anyone wants to join. Still living in

on Martha’s Vineyard last summer. Lots of

Holderness, as Michelle Taffe has been

the Hudson Valley with my wife Courtney and

laughs. All the best, Flip.” … We heard from

teaching French there for the last three years.

our three boys. The oldest is a freshman at

Hannes Schneider all the way from Austria.

Although nearly all the faces have changed,

college and other two are at Berkshire in

“Greetings from COVID lockdown in an

seeing the school anew through her eyes, it

Sheffield, MA. Looking forward to staying in

extremely snowy St. Anton am Arlberg,

amazes me how much Holderness holds onto

touch. … Nat Barker writes, “We’ve been

Austria. After having f led here last March,

the character that I remember as a teenager.”

living in Franconia, NH since March when we

three hours before the military locked down

… We heard from Jeff Tracy who says, “Hello,

went to work from home. At an acceptable

the town for the COVID outbreak in the major

class of ’85. When my family is not boating or

social distance I was able to catch up with

ski areas of Europe, I made it home to ME for

skiing we’re wrapped up in work and school.

Hannes Schneider, Tiffany (Beck) Teaford,

the summer. Back here for the winter under

My daughter Josie is about to graduate from

Ted Plowden-Wardlaw, and Ian Spencer ’87.

Austria’s third lockdown. Tourism is not

Syracuse while my son Shawn is graduating

Great to see old, but looking young, faces. Just

allowed and the only reason you can leave your

from Arch Bishop Williams. I continue to

dropped off our youngest daughter, Halle

house is for essential services. Luckily, exercise

operate Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac in Plymouth,

Barker ’21, for her senior winter/spring at

is considered essential so the ski lifts are

MA.” … Bob Zock is looking forward to seeing

Holderness. Can’t believe four years have gone

running and touring is available. The sanity

everyone in NH when our reunion is

so fast for her at our alma mater.” … Freddy

saver is that here in the fifth largest ski resort

rescheduled! … Peter Fish says “All is well in

Paxton says, “Hi from the Nation’s Capital! My

in the world we are experiencing an epic

Atlanta. Not much in the way of interactions

husband Steven and I are safe and sound living

winter of quality and quantity of snow and

down here with Holderness alums but it’s

in Adams Morgan in DC. Our time is spent

only competing with locals for the fresh snow!

always great reading HST and seeing what’s

working from home, baking, cooking, and

When the world opens back up, please come

new. I've been south of the Mason-Dixon for

enjoying our labradoodles! We cannot wait to

visit!” … Tim Jones reports he’s “been hanging

36 years...hard to believe. I still get kidded for

travel again.” … Braden Edwards is “still

out with Phil Kistler in the summers in West

being a ‘Yankee!’ Hilarious! My wife and I

living in San Francisco. Three kids. Oldest boy

Chop, Martha’s Vineyard. Also, was hanging

have three kids and we love it in GA. The

is at BC and twin junior daughters are going

out with Ian Sinclair this past year in

weather is outstanding and the people are

through the college process now. Been playing

Simsbury, CT where both our kids were

great. I have two of three kids in college (Univ.

Zoom poker with Andrew McDonnell,

attending Westminster School. Lastly, I’ve

of GA, and US Naval Academy) and one is in

Robert “Cort” Pomeroy ’86, Chris Zak ’86

Tai Haluszka ’06 and her husband Billy Rivellini.

66 | Holderness School Today

meetings all spring and summer, and workouts and then scouting kids all over South Texas daughter, Katie, is on a soccer scholarship at Angelo State in West Texas. In between school and soccer, she has been working for Xenex, the world leader in germ-zapping robots! What started out as an internship summer of 2019

Symantha Gate's ’86 new business featuring "the latest bundle from the one and only Kristin Ellison ’86".

has now blossomed into a part-time and eventually full-time career. She literally started at the ground level and when the kids got sent home from college last March the

Kristen Washburn Covert ’86 and Keith Eaton ’85 on a beautiful hike.

company responsible for Japan territory. Come

CEO, Morris Miller, had a computer waiting

visit me; hoping we will still hold the Summer

for her. She was placing orders for the robots

Olympics this summer.

for Italy, Spain, France, Japan, all over the world, and all over United States from home

’86

while I was negotiating real estate deals. It

and Blake Swift ’86. Feel free to join us. Good

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

school. We had in-school learning and our

fun.” … Kirsten (Orcutt) Singleton spent

Chris Zak

superintendent received a grant from the state

2020 “surviving through COVID and keeping

chriszak@gmail.com

to do COVID testing twice a week so we had

my job at the Massachusetts Health and

was wild. Koal, my youngest, is a junior in high

strict testing of all teachers, students, and

Hospital Association while working remotely.

We heard from Kristin (Washburn) Covert,

coaches, and we had a full fall football season

Due to a more f lexible work schedule, I

who wrote, “My husband and I are still living

with strict parameters with masks and

rediscovered my love of hiking and took over

in Astoria, OR where we have been for the last

everything. Koal had a good season. He plays

50 hikes this past year. Would love to join the

20 years. My sister and I have recently become

quarterback; he’s a good player and he really

class of ’85 trip up Mount Washington in the

caretakers of our family camp in Rangeley,

loves playing, which is the most important

spring!” Michelle Morrison writes, “I have

ME, where I have been spending more time in

part! I’m swamped at work. I don’t remember

been a pastor for over 15 years. I do quite a bit

order to be closer to my parents. The reopening

really having a day off since last March. What

of missions work across the globe. I absolutely

of Saddleback Ski Area has definitely been an

I thought was going to be a housing crash back

LOVE missions work. I travel all over the

incentive as well and I was able to get in 14

in March ended up being an accelerated

world to help the poor and preach! My hands

days right when they opened. I must say I’ve

housing boom!! Everything shifted from

are full doing missions even though I work

missed those New England winters after 30

downtown living to country living, suburban

secularly still as an attorney! I enjoy my

years on the West coast, although I’m not

living, space in the house and outside the

missions trips; in addition every year our

moving back quite yet! It has also been fun

house, distance from neighbors, bigger yards

ministry gives toys to over 500 low income

catching up with old friends. We spent time

to create outdoor living and recreation space,

kids in NYC. If anyone is in the NYC area feel

visiting Keith Eaton ’85 in Ellsworth and did

and pools!! So it was a successful year

free to reach out when the virus lifts—would

some great hiking at Acadia National Park this

professionally for me and 2021 is starting out

love to do coffee. STAY SAFE! Fond memories

fall. With our son now 21 and off pursuing his

even better. Trying to enjoy the last couple of

always!” … Martha Ellen Kesler reports, “I've

mechanical engineering degree in Portland,

years while my youngest is still in high school.

been teaching English at Wayland Academy in

we are fortunate to be more f lexible with our

I love having my kids around. Not ready to

Wisconsin for the past 23 years. I was the

time. I’d also like to give a hearty shout out to

empty-nest it!” … Taylor Hubbard checks in

swim coach for 14 years. Now I've been doing

Mr. Peck who has done such a fantastic job

with this note. “The summer after my

theater for the past ten. I spend my summers

guiding Holderness over the years since our

graduation from Holderness, I lived in

at a family home in Cape May, N.J.” …

days on campus. Good luck in your

Plymouth with fellow ’86er Jonathan Craig

Rhadames Killy writes, “I launched my own

retirement!” … Ellyn (Paine) Weisel notes,

and his family. We worked painting houses for

law practice, specializing in sports law.

“All the Weisels wish Phil well and thank him

Pete Wensberg ’84. Every day after work, we

Mainly, I represent footballers, agents and

for many decades of friendship.” … Katie

would head over to Phil and Robin Peck’s and

sports governing bodies. I still live in Paris

(Kelley) Detmer reports, “My oldest, Koy, just

meet Phil for a run. At this point, Phil was

and can be reached at rhadjillo@hotmail.com.

graduated from college this summer and he is

fresh off a standout career at Dartmouth as a

Please get in touch if you come to France.” …

now the running backs coach at Texas A&M

Nordic skier/football athlete and then US

“As for me, Katsu Nakamura, after 27 years in

Kingsville. He has always wanted to coach

Nordic Ski Team as a coach. Jonathan was

MA, I just moved my work base to Tokyo. I

college or pro so he has hit the ground

reigning prep school cross country champion

took a sales leadership position for my

running, climbing the ladder, doing the Zoom

(class agent note: congrats to Jonathan Craig’s

Summer 2021 | 67

CLASS NOTES

this fall. He loves every minute of it! My

CLASS NOTES

son who is taking his talents to the Dartmouth

class of ’86 fans will join us on this journey.

xc team!). And I was lacking in anything

Follow her website, kristinellison.com, and

’87

resembling innate cardio talent. We would

follow @artbundles on FB and IG.” …

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

head off into the hills around Holderness for

Elizabeth “Elise” Mott shares, “We are

Kathryn (Lubrano) Robinson

runs that stretched into the twilight hours.

weathering the pandemic with lots of dog

kathryn.robinson@gmail.com

Phil would strap a heart rate monitor to me

walks, hikes, and outside time. My daughter,

that would beep if I went into the red. While

Leila, is a sophomore at UVM, and my son is a

Hope everyone’s doing well in this new year,

Phil and Jonathan barely broke a sweat, I, on

seventh grader at Fenn, where I am teaching

after such a difficult 2020. I am sure that all

the other hand, had to dig deep every day.

and leading the service learning program. It’s

of you are dealing with your own challenges

Although I never told him, I would have

hard to believe that Phil Peck is retiring. He

in negotiating these new times, but I hope it

turned myself inside out to not let Phil down.

was an awesome history teacher and an

has also been balanced with joy, silver linings,

He was my hero. He had been my coach, my

incredible leader of Outback with Colby

and family milestones keeping you buoyed and

dorm parent, and most importantly, my friend.

Coombs ’85. We got a little lost the final day

sane. I heard from a few of our classmates. …

As a teacher myself, I look back at that

of hiking and ended up on an epic 10-hour

Heather (Johnston) LaRowe writes, “Our

summer and am humbled that Phil would have

overnight hike to get to our pick-up spot. Phil

eldest daughter graduated from high school

spent his time working with me and Jonathan.

has always led with kindness and genuineness

in June 2020. Three weeks later, we pulled

I will always be indebted to Phil for his time,

and Holderness has become a better school as

up to the gates of the US Naval Academy and

sincere kindness, and commitment to the

a result of his vision and care!” … Malcolm

dropped her off for Plebe Summer. Our middle

entire Holderness community. I wish Phil and

Davidson writes, “I think Phil is the last

daughter is excited to return to Holderness in

Robin all the best in their next endeavor. And,

faculty member from our days there. Because

September for her sophomore year (Go Bulls!).

yes, I'm pretty sure Phil and Jonathan could

of this, I need to send him a note sharing how

She had a wonderful freshman year, and I

still crush me.” … Caroline (Bloch) Jones

self-centered it would be if he leaves and wish

loved being back on campus and catching up.

writes, “I have enjoyed reading the Holderness

him the best. How am I? Pulling my 23rd lap

And our youngest is entering eighth grade and

magazine over the years as it highlighted many

around the fifth grade school calendar. I have

simply hoping to have a football season.” …

of the teachers who were young and active and

a sophomore at University of Washington and

Frances “Cricket” (Keleher) Braun and her

immensely important to Holderness while we

a 17-year-old budding auto mechanic. Skiing a

husband recently made a big move to Boston.

were there and for the decades after: Norm

ton this winter, to make up for the truncated

“Now that we are empty-nesters, we moved

Walker, the Hendersons, Mr. Hammond,

winter season last year. Still in Tacoma.” …

from Vermont to Boston where we both now

Marty and Paul Elkins, Mr. Woodward, and

Jake Reynolds sends “Congratulations to Phil

work. I am a psychologist in private practice

now Phil Peck. I feel that once Phil retires, all

Peck on an incredible 35-year run at

and my husband John is at MGH. Although

of the ‘old guard’ of Holderness from when we

Holderness. Hard to believe he started at the

our dogs prefer their VT digs, we love being

were there will be gone and that feeling of

school when we were juniors! Quick Reynolds

able to walk everywhere and are taking

‘family connection’ no longer there. It has been

family update: Robin and I have been living in

full advantage of the many food delivery

amazing to watch it grow so well over the years

Palo Alto, CA for the last 20+ years; three kids

options! We were able to reconnect with

under Phil. He has done such a great job

ages 19, 17, and 13. We’ve gotten a lot of family

Laura (Cooper) Page ’86 and her husband

keeping the school relevant and forward

time this past 10 months, which has been a

David, and will no doubt see them again when

thinking, as well as embracing its solid,

silver lining during the pandemic. Hard to

the pandemic lets up. I especially enjoyed

traditional past. It is always fun when we cross

believe this summer will be our 35th reunion.

hearing all about her children’s experiences at

paths with our Holderness friends. Sarah

Writing this note is making me feel old, so I’m

Holderness and reminiscing about our own!”

(Cooper) Connell ’87 and I have worked

going to stop now. Hope all the ’86s are

… Christopher “Todd” Burgess writes, “Here

closely together for the past four years for a

sheltering well and staying healthy.” … Kelly

in Hong Kong, where we thought we had this

company called Beautycounter, which is based

(Keating) Trinkle reports, “Life is very good

whole COVID thing covered, we are essentially

out of Santa Monica, CA. We have the best

here in New Hampshire with my new husband

on lockdown. On the back of protests last year

time talking about our Holderness days, as

Danny. His job takes him around the world and

and the new Rule of Law enacted this year, it

well as our busy current lives, Sarah living

I love traveling with him, especially on his work

has become a very different place to live. That

with her family in Vancouver, Canada, and

trips to Switzerland. My daughters are now 23

said, we are coping well, adapting and staying

myself in Greensboro, NC. Sarah hasn’t

and 25, out of my nest, and are working in NYC

resilient. Dylan (11) and Savanna (eight) have

changed a bit and she has once again become

and Boulder, CO. I have retired from coaching

started virtual school again and seem to be

one of my favorite people!” … Symantha

freestyle skiing and I have been busy

happy and motivated. We moved houses in

“Sym” Gates has started “a (tiny) side hustle,

remodeling homes and trying to become the

June 2020 so Katrise and I have been busy

Art Bundles. I’m collaborating with artists to

best female finish carpenter in the White

transitioning to a new home.” … Morgan

bring their work to Facebook and Instagram in

Mountains! It’s a lot of work but I love it!”

“Dix” Wheelock shared that the Wheelock

the form of sets of cards. Kristin Ellison is

family “is doing well and successfully

one of the first 10 to sign and we hope that our

navigating COVID, definitely ready to spread

68 | Holderness School Today

passes us by—holy cow, they were right; I now

and boys Reagan (nine) and big Mark (five),

think about dinner while eating breakfast.

along with our Weimaraner Steve, are moving

Our son went to college this year and is doing

to Franklin, TN soon. All our best to Phil

well and so is my high school junior daughter.

Peck in his retirement.” … We heard from

Business was slow at the beginning of COVID

Alex MacCormick who says, “All good here.

so I spent four months at my lake house.

Playing a lot of hockey this winter on Long

Amazingly, biz has gotten crazy busy in the

Island in between trips out West. Molly is

real estate market (I’m worried; seems too

a sophomore at USC and Alex Jr. about to

strong), so I’ve been working hard, loving it,

graduate from high school. Looking forward

and feel fortunate. On another note, Tulsa,

to a nice summer on Nantucket and already

OK received six inches of snow, it almost

thinking about our 35th reunion in 2023.”

shut down the town as long as COVID has

… Wilhelm Bohn hopes to be “supporting

been around. I miss the gang and hope to

renewable energy production in MA and NY.

see some of ‘y’all’ in the near future.” … We

Offshore wind fields need vessels to support

received the following news from Fredrik

maintenance efforts. Hopefully, it is my

“Tiann” and Lindley (Hall) van der Linde.

the wings and get back into the adventure

vessel out there—270 by 60 feet and virtually

“Yet another COVID casualty was the fact

routine. My twins applied to boarding schools

GHG emission-free—an emissions reduction

that our family had to cut short our two-year

for entry in the fall of 2021. They (Will and

of 10,000 metric tons of CO2 per vessel per

adventure in Hawaii. Our time at Asia Pacific

Lila) will be freshmen; that scares me. We

year.” … Chris Keeler reports, “No big news

International School was incredibly enriching

had a great visit to Holderness and got to

from the west coast. We are still just trying

for all four of us. We took advantage of as

spend a few minutes with Mr. Peck at the

to get through COVID. I am still working for

many opportunities as possible on Oahu and

fire pit in front of Livermore. Holderness

the #1 selling lemonade in the US, Calypso

three other islands, including surfing, boogie

really is awesome! We live in Chestnut Hill,

Lemonade, working around the house and

boarding, snorkeling, paddling, hiking, and

near Boston College, and would love to

trying to stay ahead of life with my wife and

mountain biking. We are happily back at

connect with local classmates when COVID

two-year-old dog, Emma. Our lemon tree

our home in Burke Hollow, VT, enjoying the

is quelled. GO BULLS!” … I agree with Dix

is bursting with lemons this winter! Going

mountains, restoring an old farmhouse and

Wheelock; it would be great to connect with

into my 52nd year on this earth; wow!” …

barn on our property, and spending the school

our classmates and Holderness again. It’s our

While the last six months have been full of

year teaching and learning at the wonderful

35th reunion next year (2022) and it would be

highs and lows, the slower pace that allows

K–8 school down the road.” … Christy (Wood)

fun to have a big crew of us there—something

for lots of family time has been a highlight.

Donovan reports that 2020 offered “Mixed

that’s never happened for our class reunions.

I am almost finished taking classes through

blessings for me. My dad passed away in

There are so many changes on the campus

Berkeley Extension towards a college and

November at age 85 after struggling with

and school program to see, a Head of School

career counseling certificate. It’s been fun,

dementia. The blessing though was that I

who is leaving to thank, cherished teachers

interesting, and something I look forward to

was able to spend lots of time with him in

who are still teaching, or cherished teachers

pursuing. I caught up with Kelley (Roberts)

the hospital, rehab, and eventually back on

who have passed away to honor. For me,

Bogardus ’91 via Zoom for an informational

Squam Lake, creating happy memories that

COVID heightened how important the small

interview assignment about her experience

I will carry with me forever. I continue to

communities I have or have had in my life;

in college counseling. The Holderness bond

manage my VA farm with 43 animals currently

Holderness is a significant one and it would

runs deep and it was great to reconnect.

including 16 chickens, 12 horses/ponies,

be pretty special to be together again after

On behalf of ’88ers, we wish the best to Mr.

seven barn cats, three dogs, two donkeys, two

so long; the memories I have of Holderness

Phil Peck on his retirement. It goes without

parakeets, and a guinea pig. The farm requires

and our class are vivid. Until next time, take

saying, the impression he made on our lives

tons of work but has been the best COVID

care. ~ Kathryn (Lubrano) Robinson

was indelible in the best way possible. ~

quarantine haven for me and my four kids

Christina “Nina” (Bradley) Smallhorn

this past year. My two college girls returned

Bruce Bohuny ’87, Chris Stewart ’88, JB Stewart (Chris' son), Steve Jones ’87, collecting early season pow turns and smiles in Jackson Hole.

December 2020.

’88

home full-time for remote classes starting

’89

last spring, and my two boys have been mostly

CLASS CORRESPONDENTS Alex MacCormick

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

multitasking—doing everything except paying

amaccormick@centerlanellc.com

Brad Greenwood

full attention to their online classes. This

Christina “Nina” (Bradley) Smallhorn

brad@greenwoodbiz.com

unique situation comes with its special set of

nsmallhorn@me.com

distance-learning, becoming experts of

challenges, but the gift of seeing my kids more Brandon Perkins writes from OK, “We’ve

is priceless. My mom and I tested positive for

always heard from the ‘old people’ how fast life

COVID in April—luckily with quick recoveries

Summer 2021 | 69

CLASS NOTES

Alden “Lee” Hanson writes, “My wife Jayme

CLASS NOTES

now. Serena is on the hill coaching with the

Want to connect with your classmates?

Sun Valley Divas and Mountain Masters

Consider becoming a class correspondent

program and Lexi is working for the Sun

and encouraging your classmates to

Valley Ski Education Foundation. Though

reconnect in the HST class notes.

we don't see each other all the time, it is

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

great to know they are close by. I’ve missed

for more information. Thank you!

seeing all of my ’89ers and I know we are all looking forward to a time where we can gather again safely—especially since many of us hit

’92

milestone birthdays this year! Hope everyone

INTERIM CLASS CORRESPONDENT

is staying healthy and sane!” … As for me,

Lindsay (Dewar) Fontana ’93

2020 proved to be an interesting one for sure,

linds_dewar@yahoo.com

but the Greenwood crew survived and at times even thrived! We are remote schooling and

Want to connect with your classmates?

working and decided this would likely never

Consider becoming a class correspondent

happen again so jumped on an opportunity to

and encouraging your classmates to

get a little ski-in-and-out chalet at our favorite

reconnect in the HST class notes.

NE mountain, Jay Peak in VT. We have moved

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

after only mild symptoms—and the blessing

up here and are making the most of things and

for more information. Thank you!

now is that we have been donating blood and

getting out on the hill as much as possible.

our convalescent plasma can be used to help

Winter is here and the snow is piling up as I

Maggie Zock writes, “It's been a long time

the really sick COVID patients struggling in

write, three feet in the last few days and more

since I've submitted any news! My husband

hospitals. This year has been like no other in

to come. Bust out the fattys! David Gerasin

Pete, and I were married in Jackson Hole,

my life, and I find myself leaning on my family

’91 and kids are also up here for the season

W Y in August of 2017 and in March 2019

and friends more than ever before to help me

and we have been skiing lots with them which

we welcomed our twin boys, Charles Robert

find the strength to carry on with a bright

has been great. We hope to see some of our

Sayour and James Peter Sayour. It's been

light and to fully appreciate all the blessings

Holderness folks up here for some runs and

incredible! It's a ton of work, and worth

I have.” … Ian Kirkwood shares, “Thanks to

outside après so give a shout if you are up this

every second! They are amazing little guys.

Brad Greenwood for taking up the challenge

way. If not, see you back in ME when the lifts

We just moved to Boulder, CO in December

of marshalling content from our class! No easy

stop spinning! Cheers, Brad Greenwood.

2020 and are happy to be in the mountains

Pepper deTuro's ’90 beautiful family.

task. Celebrating my 20th year as a Telluride ski patroller (and collecting my lifetime

and the boys are enjoying all the outdoor

’90

time. Before leaving the Bay Area, I was

pass for the achievement). My fourth year as assistant director has easily been the most

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

Stanford Children's in the OR. Taking a

challenging, trying to operate in a pandemic

Nina (Cook) Silitch

little break from nursing for a few months

and all, but so far we've managed to make it

ninasilitch@gmail.com

while we get settled and acclimated. Looking

happen. Hired my first Holderness alum last

working for 5 years as a pediatric RN at

forward to reconnecting with the Holderness

year, Bennett Hrabovsky ’09, who may be

Hello, Class of 90! I hope that no news is good

the best skier on our staff. I run into Chris

news and that all of you and your families

Davenport every now and then. Love to see

are well during this unprecedented time we

more ’89ers out this way!” … Amanda Black

are all experiencing. One thing that has been

’93

writes, “Well, 2020 was certainly one for the

so apparent during this global pandemic is

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

record books. It's been a year full of patience,

the power of community and I continue to be

Lindsay (Dewar) Fontana

pajamas, and gratitude for close friendships.

grateful for the Holderness community that

linds_dewar@yahoo.com

Who'd have thought we'd become so Zoom

we experienced together and that is part of

proficient? Harrison started middle school

us today. Stay safe and well. We would love

this year and has oscillated between in-person

to hear from you when you have a moment

’94

and hybrid learning. He played school soccer,

of inspiration. ~ Nina (Cook) Silitch

CLASS CORRESPONDENT Carolyn “Ramey” Harris-Tatar

is currently a U12 alpine athlete and will hopefully play lacrosse in the spring. We are

crew here in Boulder. Miss everyone!”

’91

rameyht@yahoo.com

fortunate to live in an environment where it is easy to get and stay outside! Both of my sisters

INTERIM CLASS CORRESPONDENT

I’m still working as a nurse practitioner and

Serena (Black) Martin ’91 and Alexandra

Nina (Cook) Silitch

manager at Lexington Pediatrics where I

“Lexi” Black ’16 are living in Ketchum right

ninasilitch@gmail.com

get to see kids of Holderness alums from

70 | Holderness School Today

CLASS NOTES Bjorn Franson ’96 and Field Pickering ’96. time to time. We are lucky to be surviving

Jon Conant ’96, his wife Karen and their four sons.

the pandemic well and enjoying a little more

’96

down time than usual. Hope everyone is doing

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

okay! ~ Carolyn “Ramey” Harris-Tatar

Heather (Pierce) Roy heatherbpierce@hotmail.com

’95

Arlo Storm Tankersley, son of Andy Tankersley ’97, is celebrating his first birthday with his best pal Gus, son of Sam Pope ’97.

Amanda (Knox) Hoffman

six years. Our son Jackson is 10 and Charlotte

bostonknox30@gmail.com

will be three. My husband Jonas is the head of Middle School at Germantown Academy and

INTERIM CLASS CORRESPONDENT Amanda (Knox) Hoffman ’96

Hello Holderness family. My husband, two

I own my own design studio—Studio CCLA,

bostonknox30@gmail.com

daughters (and our two dogs) are finally

LLC—which is a landscape architecture firm.

settled into our new house in Charlotte,

We work at a lot of different scales and with

Want to connect with your classmates?

VT. Our timing has at times felt a bit

a lot of different stakeholders from private

Consider becoming a class correspondent

serendipitous. This “brave little state” has done

residential properties to public parks and

and encouraging your classmates to

so much to keep residents healthy and safe

educational institutions to urban development.

reconnect in the HST class notes.

during COVID, which we feel very fortunate

We have done work from the east coast to

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

for. I loved hearing from many fellow alumni

the midwest. My website is www.studioccla.

for more information. Thank you!

over the course of the past few months. What

com. We spent this past summer in western

has resonated most in hearing from everyone

Massachusetts and northern Michigan at

Bryan Erikson writes, “For the past 17

is the connection each one of them has to their

the homes where my husband and I grew up.

years I have lived back in my hometown of

families and their careers. I can’t help but

Our parents make it hard not to come to the

Marshfield, MA with my wife Megan (now of

wonder if the seed for this success was planted

oases they built over time and it is wonderful

19 years) and my two boys (Alex, a freshman

in all of us at Holderness? I know mine was.

for the children to play with their cousins in

at UMASS Lowell, and Brady, a freshman

Wishing everyone who is reading this a safe,

the summer. They play tennis, sail, and swim.

in high school). I am currently part owner

healthy and happy 2021. ~ Amanda (Knox)

There is also a little tubing that goes on. We

of four hockey teams called the Northeast

Hoffman … Bjorn Franson notes, “My family

hope to get some skiing in this winter but

Generals. Two teams are at the U20 level,

and I are in Locust Valley on Long Island. We

are unsure if the slopes will be open. If not

one team at U18 and one at U16. I am the

moved here 11 years ago from NY right before

we will play in the streets of Philadelphia.

head coach and general manager of the

our first son was born.” … Olivier Lemire

Much love to you and your family as well

Northeast Generals’ top team that plays in

reports, “All is good on my end; my wife Aimee

as our classmates, their partners and their

the NAHL (North American Hockey League)

and I keep busy with our three kids (Juliette,

children. Stay well Holderness!” … We heard

out of Attleboro, MA. We have had over 120

14; Victor, 13; and Henri, eight). We still live

from Jon Conant who writes, “Life is great

NCAA Hockey commitments over the past

on the North Shore of Montreal. I have been

here in Rockport, MA. My wife, Karen had

five years. Love my wife, kids and my job.

working for Keurig Dr Pepper and run our

an opportunity to develop an internet startup

Everything is great at the Erikson household!”

commercial team for the Canadian market. I

with a few friends so we swapped positions

… Priscilla “Cil” Bloomfield reports, “My

made a few stops to Holderness in the last few

at the new year and I have been spending my

husband and I live in Orleans. My family

years when I was driving down to Boston for

days with my 4 boys. It has been an amazing

has been on the Cape forever, so it’s always a

some meetings with our US teammates. Miss

silver lining of this pandemic year and much

place that has felt like home. It is great to be

this place a ton!” … Carolyn Campbell writes,

more balanced than when I was juggling

here full-time after bouncing around a bit.”

“We are in Philadelphia, ‘city of brotherly

running our gym (which we sold in late 2018)

love’ and sisterly affection. Going into our

and trying to stay present with the kids.”

seventh year here after being in Boston for

Summer 2021 | 71

CLASS NOTES Dew Wallace ’98 and family at the Mounted Shooting Competition.

Katy (Gannon) Bode ’98 with her family, including her newest son. things. Despite the pandemic I feel incredibly fortunate to have shared good times with most

Willow Mae, daughter of Cheryl Barnhart-Wright ’01, in her Holderness swag!

of my immediate family since last winter and along the way we welcomed another member of the next generation with the joyous arrival of my brother Evan Mullen’s ’00 second son Lennon. Among other highlights I got to share a few good times at a social distance with our classmate Becca Hanson, and Tarun Shetty’s creativity kept me laughing

Eric Mueller ’98 and his family, Anne, Eliza and Liesl, quarantining in Hawaii.

during lockdown. I also enjoyed seeing Gabe Sherman for the first time since graduation, on Zoom in December, when he shared some

’97

illuminating context in his inaugural episode

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

he spent the Trump presidency breaking

Putney (Haley) Pyles

stories for Vanity Fair. Not much else to

putneypyles@gmail.com

report but I wanted to take this opportunity

of the new Alumni Speaker Series for how

to wish everyone well. I continue to hope that

Karyn Jennings ’01 and her daughter Avery on Ragged Mountains' "Barnyard".

A new year has begun. Thank goodness. I

humanity will come away from the shared

know that I was counting down the days of

adversity we’ve faced with a stronger sense

2020. Our class correspondence was quiet

of all that we have in common.” … As for my

Want to connect with your classmates?

for this HST issue. These are busy times,

family, we are continuing to wear masks,

Consider becoming a class correspondent

unpredictable times, and likely lots of

wash hands, practice social distancing and

and encouraging your classmates to

demands on our time. As we move forward

also await the arrival of a new baby this

reconnect in the HST class notes.

into the year, we can all hopefully find some

spring. We have been longing for snow and

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

renewed energy and joy and, fingers crossed,

Mother Nature finally answered today. I

for more information. Thank you!

time to gather again with family and friends.

can see the snow angels in our yard and

… Our update this time came from Shannon

hear the squeals of laughter from my kids

Hi all. As I mentioned, I’m temporarily helping

Mullen, and she had this to share. “I’m

playing outside as I rush to get this note

out with the class correspondent role. It was

writing from midcoast ME where I’ve been

over to Kelly van Lingen! Wishing everyone

great hearing from some of you for this issue

working on a play about an artist who lives

health and safety. ~ Putney (Haley) Pyles

of the HST. Here’s what your classmates had to say. Katy (Gannon) Bode writes, “We

in the area, as well as rewriting a couple of screenplays and ‘practicing being content’

’98

welcomed our second son in July. Bec and

as my mother continues to advise. No small feat these days; I’m a writer but words keep

INTERIM CLASS CORRESPONDENT

family nature adventure hikes.” … From

falling short when I try to apply them to this

Putney (Haley) Pyles '97

Colorado, Eric Mueller reports, “Anne, Eliza,

last year. I can say this much: I am enlivened

putneypyles@gmail.com

Liesl and I decided to quarantine in warmer

to the preciousness of people, places and

72 | Holderness School Today

Rhett and the dog Kayla enjoy our frequent

climes for the holidays, escaping to Hawaii

for a few weeks. A welcome respite from the chilly mountains. Now that we’re home in CO, we need some snow!!” … And Andrew

CLASS NOTES

“Dew” Wallace notes, “We started 2021 with a bang, as our family drove from MA to FL to compete in a mounted shooting competition.

While 2020 was filled with challenges, we are excited to share we are expecting a new addition to our family, a baby boy, at the end of May 2021. Our family has never been stronger and it’s been a blessing to spend so much time together. Always thankful for our experiences at Holderness, and instilling a spirit for adventure that we can pass on to our kids.” …

Caroline Evans ’03 as a Squaw Valley Ski Patrol volunteer.

Thanks for sharing this news. Best wishes in this new year. ~ Putney (Haley) Pyles ’97

’99

Ramsay (Hill) Chodounsky ’05, David, Larkey and Tippy on our front porch during the lockdown in May.

unforgettable winters at Holderness. Be well!” … Ramsay (Hill) Chodounsky checks in from

Barnhart-Wright and her husband Greg

Utah. “My husband David and I have been

Want to connect with your classmates?

welcomed their second child in 2020, Willow

hunkered down in our house in Park City.

Consider becoming a class correspondent

Mae Barnhard-Wright. “Everyone is happy

We have a 19-month-old baby named Larkey,

and encouraging your classmates to

and healthy up here in Ontario!” she reports.

and another baby on the way due in April.

reconnect in the HST class notes.

… As for me, Karyn Jennings, my year has

Teaching third grade and being pregnant

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

been wild just like everyone else's but my

during COVID has been an interesting time;

for more information. Thank you!

family and I have been doing our best staying

we have been learning in-person but also

safe, sane and keeping ourselves entertained.

going remote when cases pop up within the

’00

We have been trying to get outside as much

community. I’ve become a Google Meets pro!

as possible! Avery is ripping up the slopes this

My husband is working for a company called

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

year! We got passes to Ragged Mountain and

SE Group, which designs ski areas; right

Andrew “Sully” Sullivan

have been having a blast! If anyone is skiing

up his alley after his career as a World Cup

MyIreland20@gmail.com

there, let me know. Would love to meet up! I

skier and engineering major. Luckily, he has

also just accepted a position as the Director

been working from home and minimizing

’01

of Marketing at the Dow Realty Group out

our COVID exposure. All in all, we consider

of Wolfeboro. I'm leaving my job of 13 years

ourselves very lucky during this trying time

CLASS CORRESPONDENTS

this week, which is crazy to say but I am very

for so many. Best wishes to all in 2021, may

Karyn (Hoepp) Jennings

excited for the new challenge! I hope everyone

it be full of health and happiness.” … Ally

KarynPJennings@gmail.com

is well and I look forward to seeing you guys

Keefe reports, “Since the last class notes, I

at our (GULP) 20th reunion this summer!

have continued to work as an ER nurse in the

I’m sure all of us reading this can join Joy (Domin) Southworth in saying “oh what a

Reno-Tahoe area. Needless to say, that has

’02

been very difficult and exhausting. On a more

year.” “I am also filled with so much gratitude for my family’s good health and the ability

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

of science in nursing and passed my national

to keep my wellness center af loat. Although

Betsy Pantazelos

certification exam to become a family nurse

Gilford school may look very different this

b.pantazelos@gmail.com

practitioner! The learning curve ahead of me

year, we are very grateful our two children,

positive note, I recently completed my master

is quite steep, but I am looking forward to the

Grace (sixth grade) and Thomas (third grade),

Chelsea (Hooopes) Silver writes, “Hi there!

have been able to attend in-person this fall.

Josh, our boys (Bixby, 10; and Everett, six),

Their regular activities are cut in half but the

and I are still living in Saratoga Springs,

extra family time is a treat. My fitness studio

NY. I still run my own shop and gallery and

’03

is open for business with a limited capacity

I have been busy as chair of the board at the

CLASS CORRESPONDENTS

and a few less options, but I still guarantee

Hyde Collection in Glens Falls, NY. The boys

Nick Payeur

the same good sweat!! It will be nice to hit the

are both skiing and Bix has been racing for

ndpayeur@gmail.com

slopes at Gunstock in the coming weeks!! Drop

three years now... our weekends at Gore Mt.

Neal Frei

me a message if you are around!!” … Cheryl

and beyond still always remind me of my

nealfrei@gmail.com

challenges and opportunities of a new career.”

Summer 2021 | 73

CLASS NOTES

Emma (Schofield) Phipps ’05 welcomed her second daughter, Valorie on December 8th.

Jenn (Calver) Gaudet ’05 welcomed her daughter, Willa Audrey Gaudet on November 4.

Christmas.” … Caroline “Carrie” Evans says, “Hi everyone! I am writing from Tahoe City, CA. I have moved up here for the winter as a digital nomad, and joined Squaw Valley Ski

Carlie (Bristow) Febo ’06 and husband Anthony with their daughter Luna Febo.

Patrol as a volunteer patroller to get through the winter. Hope everyone is making the best of these strange times.” … Neal Frei writes, “It has been a big year in the Frei family. My brother, Landry Frei ’08 was married this past December to his fiancé Tori and my sister Lauren Frei ’05 got engaged to her longtime boyfriend Ziad on her birthday in July. Their wedding is scheduled for October 2021. As for me, I have been getting back into CrossFit following an ankle surgery this summer. I feel very fortunate as CJ Vincent ’06 invited me to join his CrossFit crew in San Jose via

Justin Hall ’05 and his new wife Victoria Hendrickson Stephen “Jay” Connolly reports, “I recently

Casey Gilman ’06 and her new husband, Matt Trainor, on their wedding day.

Zoom. It has been a wonderful community to

teaching middle school students all sorts of

workout with every day! Looking forward to

science (because that stuff is important...

seeing everyone when things settle down.”

some people seem to have forgotten or just don’t believe in it). Our daughter Lydia is

’04

keeping my husband Mike and me quite busy

re-connected with Matt Burzon through work and have had an excellent experience

Want to connect with your classmates?

my classmates, I wish you health, happiness,

working with him and his team at The Source

Consider becoming a class correspondent

and optimism. ~ Brie (Keefe) Healy … Now

and Recruit Company, which he runs. They

and encouraging your classmates to

on to some updates! As you hopefully saw in

are a talent sourcing company that runs much

reconnect in the HST class notes.

my communications about class notes, I asked

differently than traditional ‘head hunters’ by

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

for a “one word update” to capture your life at

using technology. Matt recently ran a search

for more information. Thank you!

the moment. So here’s a few words: “gratus,”

and happy—she’s just a little joy-bomb. To all

Justin Hall; “busy,” “Emma” (Schofield)

for our new CFO and is currently running

’05

Phipps; “patience,” Jenn (Calver) Gaudet;

entire career, never have I had such a great experience finding good people. He recently

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

Hickok. … Emily Sampson writes, “Hi Bulls,

moved back to VT from WI and seems to be

Brie (Keefe) Healy

I’ve been in San Francisco for four months

doing great. It’s been fun to be able to connect

healey.brie@gmail.com

and I’m really settling into the abundant

a search for a project manager. Over my

with him regularly via Zoom. Not much else

“fatherhood,” Stan Smith; “quiet,” Hannah

sunshine and outdoor adventures! Hope to

new to report here other than the Zoom call

Hi all! I’m writing from a snowy mid-January

meet up with some fellow alumni soon!” …

we all had, but maybe that was a while ago

in VT and feeling grateful and hopeful for the

Pete Schlech is doing well and reports, “My

and we already missed the most recent HST

recent change in leadership for our country.

wife Emily and I are living in Yardley, PA

notes section. We should do that again. My

While lots has changed in our new reality,

with our daughter Ruby, with a boy on the

best to you and all those up at Holderness for

not much has changed in my world; still

way in May. I’m a pilot for Delta Air Lines

74 | Holderness School Today

CLASS NOTES Taylor James ’07 and her husband Bradley on their wedding day.

Kristin Keohan ’06 at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.

and I just couldn't wait to be married and decided to elope in November! We just couldn't wait to start our lives together. Boulder, CO made a perfect background for an incredible wedding. A special thanks to Lauren Frei

Baird (Meem) Anderson ’08 bumped into Reed Laverack ’06 recently on the Cross Sound Ferry.

for introducing me to the love of my life.”

’06 CLASS CORRESPONDENT Casey Gilman Clgilman5@gmail.com

Krista (Glencross) Officer ’06 with her husband Peter and their baby daughter Quinn Isabella Officer.

Jesse Straus is “excited that my wife Madison is due June 7th with our baby boy!” … Jeff Meyers “spent most of the last year popping

Frei family at the wedding of Landry Frei ’08.

and work part time as a KC-10 instructor

around New England and Brooklyn working

pilot in the Air Force Reserve.” … Hannah

remotely. On the bright side I was able to

Hickok says, “I’m still living in Paris with my

spend more time with my son, who just turned

forward to making the best of 2021 now

husband Jonathan, where we’ve been through

two!” … We heard from Carlie (Bristow)

that I am officially back in Boston!” … Tai

two extended lockdowns since March and

Febo that “in early March my husband

Haluszka reports, “My husband Billy Rivellini

currently have a 6:00 PM curfew. It was our

and I were both at Holderness teaching for

and I got married this past 4th of July on

third holiday season here, but this year felt

Artward Bound when COVID-19 really hit!

the beach on Sullivan’s Island, SC! It was a

very deserted, with so many having left the

Although the program had to end early we

great, small ceremony officiated by a good

city and the majority of businesses closed. It’s

had such a wonderful time being visiting

friend with lots of fireworks!” … Krista

a strange time to live so far from family, but

artists for the special program. The rest of

(Glencross) Officer shared, “Hi! I wanted to

we take comfort in lots of chocolate croissants

2020 was spent being pregnant and then

send a quick update that my husband Peter

(boulangeries are fortunately considered

welcoming our daughter, Luna Catherine

and I welcomed our daughter Quinn Isabella

essential, so remain open). Sending wishes

Febo, on August 27th. We are enjoying

Officer on November 9, 2020 in Portsmouth,

for a happier, healthier 2021 to the whole

staying home with our new little one while

NH.” … Casey Gilman married Matt Trainor

Holderness community from across the pond!”

also learning what it means to be artists over

on December 5, 2020 at the Omni Mt.

… Emma (Schofield) Phipps and her husband

Zoom! … Kristin Keohan writes, “Despite

Washington Resort. “We were happy to be

welcomed their second daughter, Valorie

COVID, I was fortunate to see a decent

able to tie the knot, despite the pandemic

Phipps, on December 8th (class of 2038?)” …

number of Bulls this year. I hiked the White

and craziness of 2020. We even got to ski on

Jenn (Calver) Gaudet writes, “My husband

Mountains with Helena Scott, toured the

our wedding day and mother nature brought

(who now teaches at Holderness) and I just

Wyoming plains with Ashley Babcock, and

us 18 inches of new snow which made for the

welcomed a daughter, Willa Audrey Gaudet,

celebrated the marriage of Casey Gilman.

perfect day! Looking forward to celebrating

on November 4th!” … Justin Hall has had

To close out the year, I traveled to Tanzania

with a larger Holderness crew next year!”

an amazing 2020. “Victoria Hendrickson

and summited Mt. Kilimanjaro. Looking

Summer 2021 | 75

’07 CLASS NOTES

CLASS CORRESPONDENT Taylor James taylorveronicajames@gmail.com Taylor James married Bradley Abbott on September 19, 2020 at Squam Lake. “Although we had to postpone our larger wedding celebration until 2021, we were delighted to tie the knot this year and celebrate with a small group of family and friends!” … Annie Hanson

Ana "Lina" (Encalada) Goodwin ’09 outside her new place in Durham.

reports, “I am currently living and working remotely from Hanover, NH while my fiancé gets his MBA at Tuck. We are getting married

Emma Locke ’09 and her fiancée.

August 2021 in Quechee, VT.” … Marina Pappas is working with Julia Ford ’08 and

Jaclyn Vernet ’11 and wine walks with Jessie

Stuart Abelson on a nonprofit Stuart created

(Potter) King-Geovanis.” … Greg Ramey has

in Betsy O'Leary's honor, Better Faster

been staying safe and healthy while seeing

Together. More information can be found on

Holderness friends around the country: Ax

the website: https://betterfastertogether.org/.

Hayssen ’07, Dan Marvin, Andrew Grace ’09, Jessie (Potter) King-Geovanis, Baird

’08

(Meem) Anderson, and of course, Jaclyn

CLASS CORRESPONDENTS

pandemic to work on my group travel app

Baird (Meem) Anderson

called BACH—travel can’t come back soon

bairdmeem@gmail.com

enough!” … Haley Hamblin and her fiancé

Jessica White

Josh are still taking advantage of working

white.jessica.madigan@gmail.com

remotely. They’ve settled in Victor, ID for the

Vernet ’11. “I've used the down time in the

Ally (Stride) Lloyd's ’09 almost 8-month-old son, William.

ski season. She’s “loving living somewhere Annie Carney and Jessica White decided

with winter again, DC winter never really

the furniture in my apartment, re-watching

to avoid travel restrictions and rent a house

cut it.” … John “Tyler” Markley has been

Schitts Creek, and taking up activities I see

in Ludlow, VT for ski season. We’re looking

working remotely from NH and just south of

on Instagram. I recently knitted a sweater

forward to seeing some classmates on the

Cocoa Beach in FL. “It’s been a throwback to

that weighs 300 pounds and turned out to be

slopes! … Haley Wilich has recently gone

the spring lacrosse trips but without the 6:00

itchy. Other than that, I still work at Brandeis

through some changes in her life but has been

AM beach runs.” … Jessie (Potter) King-

University (from home) and am helping my

able to lean on her Holderness family for

Geovanis writes, “Since my last check-in I've

brother Jack Hyslip ’10, as best I can, with

support, and is doing much better. She is living

launched a virtual online platform for yoga,

his new gym (Plano Athletic Club); check

on the beach in Seabrook, NH and spending

wellness, and community, called Within (www.

it out on Instagram and Facebook! … Polly

weekends skiing with Annie Carney and

be-within.com). Due to this, I was fortunate

Babcock is still living in Denver and working

Jessica White. … Landry Frei got married in

to spend the past year partly between New

at Starz Entertainment as a photo production

December 2020 to Victoria (Tori) Hudson in

Orleans, Miami, and the mountains in upstate

specialist. She usually has her hands on some

a Catholic nuptial mass in Altamonte Springs,

New York. If there's one thing I'm grateful

sort of personal photography project, and

FL. They are living in a new house in Salt Lake

for about 2020 it’s that I was gifted so much

loves the artist community in Denver. In her

City, UT, enjoying all the outdoor activities the

unexpected time with family. I cohabitated

free time she can be found on the mountains

West has to offer and skiing on “the greatest

with my brother, sister, and parents for at

doing an adrenaline-rushing sport or cozy at

snow on earth.” … Dan Marvin spent two

least three months last year which was totally

home indulging in yoga and healthy cooking.

months working remotely and traveling the

unexpected and such a welcome treat :) For

… Sacha Gouchie is reading, teaching and

Midwest, going from Montana to Arizona

now, I'm excited to keep growing Within as

coaching. But her main occupation is cuddling

before finishing up in California. “Great to see

it’s allowed me to connect with people all

her cats, making tea and playing in the snow

Steve Smith ’09 and Eric Wolcott ’06 when

over the world and offered a welcome sense

with her dog. … Baird (Meem) Anderson

in Bozeman. Greg Ramey and I have taken

of community during this time.” … Gretchen

writes, “Not much has changed since my last

our talents to South Beach and are currently

Hyslip says “Hello out there! Doing all right.

update! I’m still teaching in person at Spruce

posted up in Brickell. Frequent visits from

I’ve spent my pandemic days rearranging

Street Nursery School in Boston and living

76 | Holderness School Today

CLASS NOTES

William Cosgrove ’73, Alex Rospos (Friend of Kelsey), Kelsey Muller ’09, Joe Muller ’06 meet in Bend Oregon for the first unofficial Central Oregon Alumni and friends of Holderness.

Emily (Marvin) Rider and her husband are

Cody Bohonnon's ’09 dogs Phoebe and Oscar.

living in Bow, NH and both work as school counselors. She'll graduate with her CAGS in Education this spring. They welcomed a son,

Brian Friedman ’10 enjoying a little down time.

Liam, in August 2020. … William “Cody” Bohonnon and his wife Jessie bought a place

meantime, she escaped to Jackson Hole where

in Stratton, VT near the ski area and moved

she and her sister are living (also hanging

up here this fall temporarily. Both of them

out with fellow ’09 alum Amanda Ryan) and

are working remotely and enjoying a bit more

fitting in as much skiing between work as

space in a new place compared to NYC. They

possible. … Laney (Hayssen) Forton is living

have been enjoying life near the mountain,

in NYC with her husband, Max. She is in the

getting outdoors with friends and family in

process of co-founding a company in the rare

the area. They also got a second dog, Phoebe,

disease space. Stay tuned for more! … Meghan

just after Christmas and have been enjoying

McNulty is an assistant district attorney in the

watching her grow and play with their other

Manhattan DA’s office. She has worked there

dog, Oscar, who is one-and-a-half years old.

since she graduated from law school almost

… Andrew Reilly is still living in Greenwich

five years ago! … Ana “Lina” (Encalada)

in London and experiencing UK lockdowns

Goodwin recently moved into a new home

over the last year. He did get a vacation in up

in downtown Durham. She’s looking forward

to the Scottish Highlands in August when

to seeing fellow Holderness alumni at Holly

restrictions were lifted, but other than that

Block’s wedding in July! … Jake Manoukian

in Cambridge, MA. In my free time I’ve been

“it’s been working from home overlooking the

has been very busy honing skills both new

rowing a lot outdoors (on an erg) at Row

Thames. Could be worse! In 2021, I can’t wait

(Peloton) and old (f ly fishing) while trying

House, FaceTiming with friends (especially

to meet my new nephew (son of Jenn (Reilly)

to remain socially distant and sane through

Haley Hamblin!), and continuing to add

Gorman ’04) when we can travel safely

the pandemic. Jake and his wife are still in

to my vinyl record collection! Recently, I

again!” … Emma Locke is getting married

New York City and can’t wait to see all the

made a music account on Instagram for fun

this May in South Carolina. She is marrying

other Big Apple Holderness alums when the

(@bees_beats), just to share my records,

a Tabor guy—YES, a Tabor guy...but don’t

weather warms up and/or we get vaccinated.

other music I’m enjoying at the moment,

worry, their kids will be going to Holderness.

… Meredith Peck is halfway through her

etc. I miss my Holderness friends and I can’t

;) … Megan Currier has spent the past year

first year of anesthesia residency at Maine

wait until we can get together again once

leading a team of global supply managers on

Medical Center in Portland. She is excited for

everything is back to normal! … Jordan

iPad, navigating a new supply chain landscape

her dad to retire so he can come hang out :-)

Gonzales just opened Bad Habit Disc Golf &

in the world of COVID-19, working to get

… As for me, My son is almost eight months

Collectibles in Denver! 10% off for Blue Bulls.

iPads into the hands of as many students and

and doing great, he's such a happy little

parents as possible to enable both remote

man. I’m including a pic for those who don’t

’09

work and school. While difficult, working

get spammed following me on Instagram :).

remotely has its advantages. She spent the past

I’m still working for Match—we launched a

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

nine months living on the east coast with her

fun end of year campaign. If you didn’t see

Allison (Stride) Lloyd

family, while she and her boyfriend worked on

it—sharing it at https://www.youtube.com/

stride.ally@gmail.com

a van conversion. They plan to live and work

watch?v=K ABSYzPqTTg. ~ Ally (Stride) Lloyd

Chris Borsoi ’09 welcomed his daughter, Sofia, on September 8, 2020. She's wearing a sweater from her uncle George Weaver ’09.

from the van once she is finished up! In the

Summer 2021 | 77

CLASS NOTES

’10

forward to skiing with some classmates in

lots of Bulls!” … Cole Phillips writes, “After

March (Jamie McNulty, Emily Hayes and

half a decade teaching skiing and guiding

CLASS CORRESPONDENTS

Sam Macomber)! Hope to see my fellow

f ly fishing in W Y I have moved to Portland,

Elise (Steiner) Hacker

Bulls soon!” … We heard from Juliet Dalton

ME. I’m looking forward to reconnecting

elisehsteiner@gmail.com

who says, “During the pandemic, I was lucky

with alumni of Holderness on the East coast.”

enough to spend last spring and summer up

… Andrew Howe notes that he and Cole

Brian Friedman writes, “I’m currently back

at our family lake house on Champlain, and

Phillips’ 12-year streak of living together has

in Boston and working on a few wellness,

I also took the leap to quit my job! I’m now

finally come to an end after Holderness, SLU,

travel, and sales tech startups. I’m moving out

working full time (more than full time!?) on

Bozeman, and Jackson Hole, W Y. Andrew

to Whitefish, MT for the winter.” … Wesley

my functional nutrition practice. I work with

says he’s too addicted to biking and skiing and

Mitchell-Lewis says, “Thanks to 2020 being,

women who struggle with digestive, skin,

is refusing to leave the west to start a “real

I’m sure, all of our favorite year, not too much

and hormonal imbalances. I’ve even had a

life.” … Catherine “Casey” Powell says, “Hi

has changed for me. Living and working in

few Bulls in some of my group classes, which

everyone! I’m finding it hard to believe it's

South Boston. I am starting to pursue my

I have LOVED!” … Alex Kuno notes, “I have

been 10 years since we’ve graduated (and that

MBA at UMass Amherst’s Isenberg School

been working and living in Burlington, VT for

we are becoming those people that say things

in the spring 2021 semester. Hoping that the

nearly six years. Still playing hockey whenever

like that now). I am currently living in San

winter in New England sees a bit more snow

I can and doing a bit more skiing now than I

Francisco working at an elementary school

soon and looking forward to the Class of 2010

have in the past. I have been f lipping a condo

as their emotional intelligence educator. I

rescheduled (thanks 2020) 10 Year Reunion!”

that I bought almost two years ago and will

moved here after living in Bend, OR for four

… As for me, Elise (Steiner) Hacker, my

be finally ready to sell in the spring!” … Alex

years where I worked as a behavior coach for

husband Michael and I recently moved out of

Gardiner is living in Salem MA where he

kids with trauma. I ref lect back to my time at

Boston and bought a house in the suburbs! We

and his girlfriend just bought a house! …

Holderness fondly, wincingly, and with pride. I

settled in Winchester, MA. It’s been nice to

Charlotte Noyes is living in South Boston

hope everyone is staying healthy and relatively

have a yard for our dog Bailey to run around

and has been with her company for over 5

sane.” … Kyle Long lives on the Jersey shore

in. We spent the holidays in VT and were able

years! She is excited for her brother, Beckett

where there is a lot of fist pumping. There is

to do some skiing, which was great. Looking

Noyes ’08, to welcome a baby into the family

no fist pumping in his management position

forward to the nicer weather and spending

this spring. The baby will join fellow baby

at a Trader Joe’s. … Sam Macomber writes,

more time outside. … Nathan McBeath

Bulls with Charlotte’s cousins Emily (Noyes)

“I am living in UT and enjoying the many

currently resides in Boston while working

Grunow’s ’03 daughter and Kelly Casey’s

Holderness friends who also moved to the

for a rapidly growing oncology-focused

son! … Klaus Vitzthum writes, “I’m headed

mountain west! Grateful for all the Bulls who

biotechnology firm. He and his fiancée are

off to The Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate

love to play outside, especially during COVID

counting down the days until they can safely

School of Management at Cornell for my

times. … Jamie McNulty has been living in

say “I do” in Chicago on October 2, 2021.

MBA this coming fall. Hopefully it’s not

UT for almost five years. “I love seeing all of

online the entire year.” … Desi Bennett says,

the Holderness alumni who come through or

’11

“Hi all! I’m currently a fourth year medical

are living here,” he shares. “I started working

student at the University of Massachusetts

for a small custom metalworker here and have

CLASS CORRESPONDENTS

and will be graduating this June! I’m applying

been busy learning the trade. I also got a pup

Cecily Cushman

into residency for plastic surgery, and am

during all of the pandemonium so it’s been

cncushman@gmail.com

currently on the interview trail. ‘Match Day’

fun showing him around!” … Carson Houle

Jamie McNulty

is in March, which is when you match with

reports, “I continue to work for an investment

jamcnulty20@gmail.com

a program (essentially you are placed at a

management firm in the NYC area and have

certain residency based on a ranking system).

been living in Portland, ME for the last year

Jaclyn Vernet reports, “I have been spending

It will be a nerve-wracking day, but definitely

with Sarah “Ashby” Sussman ’10. I have

time between Miami and NYC for work,

looking forward to it. I applied all over the

enjoyed biking, going to the beach and skiing

enjoying the warm weather down south and

country, so I could end up anywhere for the

in Maine and NH this year and look forward

seeing Greg Ramey ’08! Recently, I started

next six years. Only time will tell!” … Amanda

to seeing more Holderness alumni around!” …

working in real estate with my business

Engelhardt reports, “I’m still living and

Zhach Pham is “living in Denver working as a

partner Robbie, enjoying this new adventure.

working in Boston and running up to play in

product manager at a fintech firm and seeing

Hope everyone is safe and healthy!” … Cecily

the White and Green mountains every chance

Holderness peeps on a pretty regular basis!

Cushman writes, “I have been living in

that I get! And even though the pandemic

Oh and I started a company recently called @

Marblehead, enjoying skiing at Sunday River

has made it hard to see friends this year, I’m

snostrip that’s going well. I actually worked

on weekends and got engaged over Christmas!

super excited for Samantha “Sam” Devine,

with Eliza Cowie ’12 to set up a partnership

Took classmate Juliet Dalton’s class on

Margaret Thibadeau, and Gabbie Raffio’s

with POW.” … Patrick Sullivan writes, “Over

healthy nutrition which was amazing! Looking

’10 weddings this summer! Hoping to see

the past few months (since November) I have

78 | Holderness School Today

CLASS NOTES From Molly Monahan ’12: A translocated BlackFooted Albatross chick at James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge. been working on the Biden-Harris Transition Team in the Domestic Policy Cluster. I’m very excited to announce I have joined the

Hope Heffernan, Sasha Jones and Maggie Roberts (all class of 2015) met up this summer in Duxbury, MA, in lieu of the postponed 5-year Reunion . The only thing missing was our dear friend Teagan Mosenthal ’15 and the rest of the 2015 crew who we hope to see soon!

Jake Rosencranz ’15 and Leah Curtis ’15 enjoying a winter hike.

Biden Administration to work in the Office of Management and Budget! I can’t wait to help

I am hoping to head north this year for some

build back a better economy where workers,

skiing with Samantha Cloud and to see Erica

especially those usually left behind, are safe,

Steiner's new condo in Boston.” … Stephanie

secure, and empowered at the workplace. I am

Symecko is “living and working in Austin,

incredibly thankful for those whose guidance

TX. Recently graduated from the Global MBA

allowed this dream to become a reality.”

program at IE Business School in Madrid, Spain.

Got a COVID puppy (@bert.the.bernedoodle)!”

’12

’13

CLASS CORRESPONDENTS Alex Leininger

INTERIM CLASS CORRESPONDENT

leiningerbalex@gmail.com

Alex Leininger ’12

Kristina Micalizzi

leiningerbalex@gmail.com

kmicalizzi08@gmail.com Want to connect with your classmates?

Commissioned officer Grace Lawrence ’16 of the United States Navy.

Molly Monahan reports, “Not sure I’ve filled

Consider becoming a class correspondent

out a class notes since graduation but a brief

and encouraging your classmates to

catch-up—I’ve been working in conservation

reconnect in the HST class notes.

Hope Heffernan recently started a new job

and climate change mitigation in HI since 2019,

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

at Minute Media, working primarily on The

most recently on seabird translocations and as

for more information. Thank you!

Players’ Tribune account as an integrated marketing coordinator. Alexandra “Sasha”

a biologist on the implementation of predator

’14

Jones lives just a block away from me in

endangered seabird preserves along the Na Pali coast. I’ve been lucky enough to be working

Want to connect with your classmates?

are always looking for some Bulls to hang

since the beginning of March as an essential

Consider becoming a class correspondent

with,” she writes. “Hit us up if you ever find

worker but can’t wait to get back to NH for some

and encouraging your classmates to

yourself in the Big Apple! … Leah Curtis

much needed snow time. Maybe once we’ve all

reconnect in the HST class notes.

says, “Hello from Denver! I’m out here in

vaccinated we can have Holderness School’s (first

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

CO with Jake Rosencranz and, despite an

ever?) HI reunion.” … Brian Tierney has some

for more information. Thank you!

unusual year, we’re still making the most of

proof fences in Kauai for the establishment of

exciting news. “This past year I proposed to my

NY, so we are able to get together often and

living near the Rocky Mountains. We get to

’15

see the lovely Nikki Blair while she’s on ski

July of 2021,” he writes. … Kristina Micalizzi checks in from DC. “It has been a crazy past

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

and have had some fun visitors (like Maggie

few months here in Washington DC, but I was

Hope Heffernan

Roberts) out to visit. I work in corporate

fortunate enough to spend time outside the city

hopeheffernan@gmail.com

communications for RE/MAX and Jake is

fiance and have started planning a wedding for

with Sara Mogollon enjoying Virginia’s wineries.

patrol up at Copper Mountain on weekends

a project engineer for Howell Construction.

Summer 2021 | 79

CLASS NOTES

We always love seeing Holderness friends

Many of us are gearing up to graduate this

Ellie Batchelder writes, “Due to the

who are visiting or just passing through

spring! I (Elizabeth Johansson) have

combination of COVID-19 uncertainties and

Denver on their way elsewhere!”

one more year of undergrad at Quinnipiac

the high stakes of this past election, I took the

University since I switched my major from

fall semester off from school to work on Sara

’16

health science studies to nursing! … Connor

Gideon’s campaign for US Senate. Despite

Preston writes, “I'm planning on working

the outcome, it was an incredible experience,

Want to connect with your classmates?

in corporate sports, likely for a major sports

and I have now returned to Colby College

Consider becoming a class correspondent

marketing and talent rep agency after

for the spring semester where I am studying

and encouraging your classmates to

graduation in the spring.” … Liz Casey

government and environmental policy."

reconnect in the HST class notes.

reports, “I recently completed my history

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

senior thesis examining the ways in which

for more information. Thank you!

various components of the post-Civil War

’19

Southern carceral system worked to preserve

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

Grace Lawrence is commissioned as an

the social and economic functions of chattel

Lilly Patterson

officer in the US Navy and forward deployed

slavery. My research was enlightening and will

lgp011@bucknell.edu

with the USS Milius, an Arleigh Burke-class

definitely inform my work post-graduation;

Aegis guided missile destroyer homeported

I hope to explore professional opportunities

Tanner Ensign says, “Hi all! Hope everyone

at Naval Base Yokosuka, Japan. Milius is

that will combine my interests in education

is doing well and staying safe during the

designed to simultaneously perform anti-air,

and United States history. Aside from my

pandemic!” … Bryn Donovan is “currently

anti-submarine, surface, and strike warfare.

studies, I’m looking forward to making

an RA at Ithaca College majoring in culture

She is also a ballistic missile defense platform,

the most of my final semester at Bates by

and communications with a minor in Deaf

capable of providing theater and homeland

playing club ultimate frisbee, volunteering

studies. I play club rugby and mentor a young

protection through her ability to detect,

in the local elementary schools, and taking

girl through the Big Brothers Big Sisters

track, and engage ballistic missiles. The

advantage of the great ME outdoors!”

organization. This has been a whirlwind

ship’s motto, “Alii Prae Me” meaning “others beyond myself,” echoes Holderness School’s values of community, character, and service.

year, but my family and friends are doing

’18

our best to stay safe and healthy.”

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

’17

Stuart Clifford

’20

stugclifford@gmail.com

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

Sarah Rogers

Abby Vieira

Elizabeth Johansson

sarahro524@gmail.com

abigail.e.vieira@gmail.com

ecjohansson17@gmail.com

Luke Valentine lukevalentineoms@gmail.com

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! What’s happening in your world? Holderness School Today wants to know! Have you: ▪ Changed your mailing address or email?

▪ Had an addition to your family?

▪ Volunteered for an important cause?

▪ Embarked on an exciting professional or personal adventure?

▪ Experienced a chance encounter with another Holderness alumnus or alumna?

Send your photos, updates, and news to alum@holderness.org. We look forward to hearing from you!

80 | Holderness School Today

Spring is in the air. May 6, 2021.

Spring 2021 | 81

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The Class of 2021 casts a long shadow after their Prize Day ceremony. May 16, 2021.