Holderness School Today Spring 2020

The Magazine of Holderness School

Inside: » TRADITIONS THAT DEFINE US » BULLS BEHIND THE SCENES » SNOW SPORTS EXCELLENCE » CATCHING UP WITH DON HINMAN

| SPRING 2020

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 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 The Right Rev. Robert Hirschfeld Burgie Howard ’82 Chris Keating ’81 Rob Kinsley ’88 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 Sung You ’01 Please send notice of address changes to the Advancement Office, PO Box 1879, Plymouth, NH 03264, or advancement@holderness.org. ©2020 Holderness School.

EDITOR: Greg Kwasnik EDITORS EMERITI: Emily Magnus ’88 and Rick Carey GUEST CONTRIBUTORS: Mackenzie Brewer Krol, Max Paro

DESIGN & PRODUCTION: Tessa Magnuson, Align Graphic Design, LLC PHOTOGRAPHY: Thea Dodds, Ken Hamilton, Greg Kwasnik, Max Paro Holderness School Today is printed

by R.C. Brayshaw and Company on sustainably produced, chain-of-custody stock certified to Forest Stewardship Council ® (FSC ® ) standards.

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

HONORARY TRUSTEES Warren C. Cook Bob Hall Jim Hamblin ’77 Piper Orton ’74 W. Dexter Paine III ’79 Will Prickett ’81

FEATURES BULLS BEHIND THE SCENES

TRADITIONS THAT DEFINE US

SNOW SPORTS EXCELLENCE

Holderness Class of 2020

CATCHING UP WITH DON HINMAN

DEPARTMENTS From the Schoolhouse..................................................................2 From the Editor.............................................................................. 3 Around the Quad........................................................................ 30

BONUS CONTENT

Athletics....................................................................................... 34

Congratulations Graduates............................ 4

Employee & Trustee Updates.....................................................38 Alumni Profiles............................................................................ 42 Small Gatherings......................................................................... 44

Construction Updates......... 32 In Memory of James Brewer II................. 71

Class Notes.................................................................................. 48

Spring 2020 | 1

FROM THE SCHOOLHOUSE

FROM THE SCHOOLHOUSE

I

’ve sat down to draft this letter several times, and each time it seems that our world becomes a little more disconnected and uncertain. A global pandemic, record unemployment, a deeply fractured society, and the thunderous roar to condemn injustice and the sin of racism have made 2020 one of the most consequential years of my life. As a school, how might we not only confront these challenges but how might we also see—and seize—the opportunity in these challenges? How can we grow from this?

For me, I look to the culture of our school to answer this question. Since the Juniors’ return from the 50 th Out Back, the Holderness experience has been virtual, only accessible from couches, kitchen tables, and computer screens across New England and the world. We celebrated countless first-ever virtual events, learned that it’s terribly difficult to sing on Zoom, and saw our students and adults come together in unprecedented and amazing ways. Students worked in partnership with the administration to help refine our remote learning curriculum, the community hosted a Virtual 5K to benefit Speare Memorial Hospital, a few of us even drove around New Hampshire as part of Operation Diploma Drop to give our seniors an unexpected and unforgettable graduation surprise, and we stood—and continue to stand—in solidarity with our students and alumni of color, the Black community, and the peaceful protesters across the nation. I am proud of Holderness.

Given this unique time that we are in and the particular opportunities and challenges that Holderness is facing, it seems appropriate that we focus on Holderness culture in this issue of the Holderness School Today. While the constraints of the spring made it difficult to respond to the state of our world—and Holderness School’s place in it—you will find stories of how Holderness has worked through daunting adversity as well as times of growth to hold onto its core beliefs, traditions, and programs.

You will read stories about the remarkable people who make Holderness such a caring community—Don ’57 and Marylou Hinman, the amazing folks in Housekeeping and Maintenance and Dining Services, the great and resilient Class of 2020, and our true-to-mission alumni.

In these pages, too, you’ll see that Holderness is moving forward with our exciting new academic building and planning for future projects. These endeavors, though, are

2 | Holderness School Today

Phil Peck, circa 1973

only worthwhile if they are supporting the extraordinary people and programs that define the culture of our school.

During these most unsettling times, I have found solace in this passage from Romans, Chapter 5 that reads, “we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." I lean on this passage constantly to remind myself that the true character of our school is revealed during these moments, and it is the true character of our school that gives me hope. And I hope that you come away from reading this Holderness School Today knowing that the culture of Holderness School —with its emphasis on empathy, humility, and service leadership—will emerge from these challenges stronger and committed to developing people the world needs most.

Phil Peck, Head of School

ppeck@holderness.org

I

FROM THE EDITOR

FROM THE EDITOR didn’t truly understand the culture of Holderness until I took a white-knuckle snowmobile ride deep into the White Mountains last March.

In truth, I was bumping along in an oversized sled attached to a snowmobile driven by Director of Outdoor & Climbing Programs Erik Thatcher ’08. As sleet fell from the sky and pinged off my eyeballs at 40 miles per hour, I could feel the surly bonds of civilization slip away (maybe it was just the diesel fumes) as we sped through the White Mountain National Forest toward our destination: Out Back Base Camp.

That snowmobile ride was my official introduction to Out Back. You see, I’m new here. Last fall, I became Holderness’s new Associate Director of Communications and Marketing, replacing the irreplaceable Emily Magnus ’88. In the months since I was hired, I’d heard countless stories about Out Back, and was excited to finally see it up close. My task for that day, along with my colleagues from the communications office, was to photograph students as they began their three-day wilderness solos. When we returned to school that evening, we would post the photos for anxious parents on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

As we approached Base Camp, I wasn’t quite sure what I would find. The sleet had turned to rain, and those of us who hadn’t been in the woods all week were feeling overwhelmed and disoriented by the escalating COVID-19 pandemic.

Fortunately, what I did find that day changed my perspective.

As my glasses fogged up and I struggled to keep my camera dry in the cold rain, the students and teachers I photographed were laughing, joking, and in amazingly good spirits. I even heard one group singing a Taylor Swift song as they hiked into base camp. Had I entered some sort of parallel universe?

In fact, I had. What I saw that day was a quintessentially Holderness experience. Where else but Out Back could a student learn to build a shelter with their geometry teacher, or navigate by map and compass with the English teacher who taught them The Odyssey? And where else but Holderness would teachers volunteer to spend 11 days in the woods – in winter – with their students? I suspect Holderness teachers volunteer for Out Back because they love the outdoors, but also because they view those 11 days as an invaluable teaching opportunity - one their students will remember long after they’ve forgotten the finer points of calculus or the itinerary of Odysseus’s journey across the wine-dark sea.

Greg Kwasnik, circa 2002

As I’ve come to learn, the self lessness of teachers on Out Back is just one example of the other-centered culture that defines Holderness. This edition of Holderness School Today is full of such examples, from the Job Program and weekly Chapel to Head’s Photo of the Day and family-style dinners. In these pages we also shine a spotlight on the school’s tireless and loyal support staff, some of whom have spent decades of their lives in service to Holderness. As I’ve learned in my nine months on the job, it’s the people of Holderness - the teachers, students, parents, alumni, and staff - who make the school what it is. They’re the ones who welcomed me to campus, treated me with kindness, and made me feel like a true member of the community.

While my snowmobile ride to Out Back may have been bumpy, my first year at Holderness has been anything but.

Thank you, and happy reading.

Greg Kwasnik

gkwasnik@holderness.org

Spring 2020 | 3

CONGRATULATIONS

CLASS OF 2020

W

hen the Class of 2020 arrived at Holderness last September, few could have foreseen a world in which, nine months later, they would attend graduation in their living rooms during the school’s first-ever Zoom Commencement.

But that’s the world we’re living in. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in March, students were sent home to continue their classes online, faculty revised their lesson plans for distance learning, and all of us grappled with the consequences of a virus that would tragically claim the lives of more than 100,000 Americans by late May. If there’s anything we’ve learned this difficult spring, it’s that the Holderness community is far more resilient than any of us could have imagined. The examples are everywhere.

Students, confronted with their new reality, adapted to distance learning and even staged the spring musical through Zoom. The Holderness Chaplain, Rev. Joshua Hill, tended to his f lock on YouTube. And in May, the school’s Run COVID Out of Town Virtual 5K raised more than $5,000 to help Speare Memorial Hospital fund its fight against the virus.

In the weeks leading up to Commencement, faculty and staff spent hours loading diplomas into FedEx boxes and mailing them to seniors across the country and the world.

Administrators like Phil Peck, Tobi Pfenninger, Peter

4 | Holderness School Today

Durnan, John Lin, and Jini Sparkman even spent a day crisscrossing New Hampshire in Holderness minibuses to deliver diplomas to as many local students as possible.

And on May 24, the day of Commencement, Holderness once again rose to the occasion. The Zoom Commencement ceremony, the product of weeks of planning by faculty and administrators, was more personal, poignant, and bittersweet than any in-person ceremony could have been.

To that end, we would like to take these next few pages to honor the singular Class of 2020. Amid a global pandemic that cancelled Prom, Prize Day, Baccalaureate, Commencement, and their first Reunion, they persisted and excelled. Their accomplishments, resilience, and poise deserve our full attention—and admiration.

“TALK ABOUT TESTING YOUR GOALS OF ENGAGEMENT, STAYING POSITIVE, AND BEING CONNECTED? NO QUESTION. CRISIS REVEALS CHARACTER, AND YOU RISING TO THE OCCASION HAVE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS AND LEADERS FOR ALL OF US THIS SPRING.” –Head of School Phil Peck

Just a few of our graduating seniors, and their families, showing their Holderness pride.

“SENIORS, HARD AS THESE DAYS HAVE BEEN, YOU’VE ADDRESSED THEM WITH GRACE AND COURAGE AND WE COULDN’T BE MORE PROUD OF YOU.” –Academic Dean Peter Durnan

Spring 2020 | 5

GRADUATING SENIORS Maximillian Philip Alden

Mason Joseph Grasso

Jan Matias Novitsky

Malin Harriette Alusic-Bingham

Seth Wagg Gray

Eleanor Lee Page

Macy Grace Arsenault

Katrina Lynn Grzeszczuk

Jordan Kai Parlett

Eva Victoria Austen

Xinyu Vivienne Guo

Jake Arthur Pelusi

Rodolfo Scott Beer

Dalton Riley Gustafson

Panupong Pitt Phoompuang

Luc William Bourbeau

Benjamin Putnam Hutchinson

Patrick Quinn Reilly

Olivia Caldon Branch

Thomas William Inwood

Andrea Grace Reynolds

Jared Nickerson Carr

Emilija Jakumaite

Alexander Clark Robbins

Wyatt J. Carr

Benjamin Christopher Jansen

Carter Jon Rose

Nikos James Carroll

Emilie Gail Jones

Spencer Singh Sachdeva

Colin Edward Casey

Connor James Keegan

Katherine Santana

Reilly Andris Termes Cepuritis

Shawn Kim

Claire Rose Sheehan

Angus Alistair Christie

Julia Mackenzie Knight

Devin M. Shepherd

Isabel Lucile Cole

Chayathorn Mikey Kulthonchalanan

Eleni Welsh Spiliotes

Kirsten Marie DiCicco

Jonathan Carter Storey Thomas J. Larson

Alexei Dikranian

William Erik Strobeck Cole Sutton Lehouiller

Binh Nguyen Dinh

Nolan Daniel Sullivan Patrick Wurth Lessard

Delaney Kendall Dolan

Isabel Grace Thompson Griffin Daly Lewis

Ebba May Eneqvist

Amanda Voorhis Vansant Yuechen Louis Liu

Eric Peter Favreau

Henry Theophile Vaule Lillian Jane Magnus

Carolyn Marie Fernandes

Abigail Emma Vieira Timothy Robert Manning II

Henry Hardin Frandsen

Yihan Jerry Wang Astrid Mary Martin

Eric Nicholas Freudigman

Zizhen Wang Luca Martinez-Ostos Merino

Emma Reynolds Gagne

Gustav Vanderpoel Whitcomb Hanna Stevens Mason

James Edward MacKechnie Gemmell-Hughes

Noah Vernon McIntire

Kiara Doris Wilson

Andrew Alan Gotts

Ruby Mundy Shaw

Hanling Mandy Wu Andrew Chixiao Yang

6 | Holderness School Today

“WE’VE REACHED THE POINT, TWO MONTHS AWAY FROM CAMPUS, WHEN WE CAN TRULY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE’LL MISS. BUT I THINK IT’S MORE IMPORTANT TO LOOK FORWARD TO ALL THAT WE STILL HAVE. WE HAVE OUR FRIENDS, OUR ROOMMATES, OUR TEACHERS, AND OUR TEAMMATES ALL STILL WAITING WITH ARMS WIDE OPEN FOR THEIR FINAL GOODBYES.”

–School President Abby Vieira ’20

COLLEGE DESTINATIONS Babson College

The American University of Paris

University of Denver

Bentley University

Dickinson College

Boston College

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University– Daytona Beach

Brandeis University Castleton University University of Colorado Boulder

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

University of Utah

Skidmore College

University of Vermont

University of South Carolina–Columbia

Villanova University

St. Francis Xavier University

Wentworth Institute of Technology

Merrimack College

Boston University

University of New Hampshire– Main Campus

Brown University Cornell University

Fairfield University Bryn Mawr College

Endicott College

New York University

Gettysburg College Clark University

Suffolk University

Hamilton College

Trinity College Colby College

Syracuse University

Lehigh University

University of Pittsburgh

The University of Texas at Austin

Loyola University New Orleans

University of Richmond

Tulane University of Louisiana

College of the Holy Cross

Wheaton College– Massachusetts

Stonehill College Pepperdine University

Tufts University University of Delaware

St. Lawrence University

Paul Smiths College

Clarkson University

American University

Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Williams College University of Wisconsin– Madison

Spring 2020 | 7

BULLS BEHIND

THE SCENES

They clean the buildings on campus, fix the plumbing, mow the grass, and serve hundreds of delicious meals every day.

They’re the unsung heroes of Holderness—the maintenance workers, housekeepers, and administrative staff who keep the school running all year long. Here, in their own words, is what they love about working at Holderness.

Photos by Thea Dodds 8 | Holderness School Today

“I like the community.

I like how everyone works together —it’s a great atmosphere.

It’s probably one of the best places I’ve worked.

I like that I’ve lived in this community most of my life—and in New Hampshire. My grandmother used to work here years and years ago.”

JIM CLOGSTON

MAJEL THOMPSON

Maintenance Staff 6 Years at Holderness

Food Services 12 Years at Holderness

“I love the community and how often we get together and how many different parts of Holderness are involved with each other…

Holderness students are so nice. They are so polite. They come by my office and are like ‘Hi Miss Darling!’ and it always brings a smile to my face.”

LYDIA DARLING Registrar 4 Years at Holderness

“Working with great people. They push me to learn and take on new challenges. I feel that I am treated with respect and given daily encouragement. I love Holderness.”

“Everything. There’s not many downsides, actually. The school has been great to me, so I’ve been loyal to the school. It’s a caring community that is really involved in basically every aspect of everyone’s life that’s here on campus.”

ED SIMES P ’99 ’01 ’08 ’11 Athletic Equipment Manager 32 Years at Holderness

Spring 2020 | 9

“I’ve never worked anywhere

where the sense of community is so strong. Obviously, the campus is gorgeous and being a part of the team that keeps it that way is very rewarding.”

“I am grateful

to be a part of a community of people who show up for one another and value each other.”

ROBIN APPLETON-POTTER

STEVE THOMPSON

Assistant to the Director of Facilities 6 Years at Holderness

Maintenance Staff 6 Years at Holderness

“I really like the

leadership on campus. I feel like people are always trying to accomplish things—not just come to work every day. There are always goals in mind.”

“I like that the employees are

good people, the students are good kids, and I like the fact that Holderness is here for you even when there’s hard times.”

SPENCER KELLY

ROBERT BUSHAW

Food Services 6 Years at Holderness

Maintenance Staff 5 Years at Holderness

10 | Holderness School Today

CHRIS WYRWICZ Food Services 5 Years at Holderness “At Holderness, I love the sense of community and belonging.�

Spring Fall2020 2019 | 11

JOSEPHINE WILLIAMS Housekeeping Staff 7 Years at Holderness “I very much enjoy taking care of Livermore, because I feel a strong bond with the people who work in the building.”

12 | Holderness School Today

“When each student and team member has a smile on their face—that, my friends, is a great place to work.”

DIANE POITRAS Food Services 15 Years at Holderness

“Definitely community, friendships, interactions with students and faculty, employees. It’s like a working farm. Everybody has the same goal—to make everybody happy and the kids situated with what they’re doing and making everything happen.”

“I like that the paychecks don’t bounce and I like the proximity to home and I like the feel.

They’ve been very good to me—the administration has been very good.”

DOUG MCCORMACK Housekeeping Staff 14 Years at Holderness

“I like the atmosphere.

I’ve been treated so good here. I’ve never had a job like this where I’ve been treated as well as I have been here. And I figure if I can consider the headmaster of the school a personal friend, I think that’s pretty good.”

DUANE STEVENS

BILL CHANDLER

Assistant Director of Facilities 28 Years at Holderness

Maintenance Staff 19 Years at Holderness Spring 2020 | 13

SIMPLY IN THE AIR

BY RICK CAREY

The school's history, its traditions, and its buildings—since 1879, these three elements have been in conversation with each other in a way unique to Holderness.

14 | Holderness School Today

H

ow do you tell the difference between an independent school’s culture and its buildings?

It’s not quite so obvious a question as it seems because there is always a certain overlap between the two, a kind of mutual feedback loop. But among the obvious answers is this: culture is portable, and a building is not.

Culture, for example, may be conveyed to a mountaintop—even to the top of Mt. Everest. One element of Holderness culture, for example, holds that you don’t walk around campus with your face down, ignoring passersby. Instead you look people in the eye, and you say hello. After a while this becomes instinctive. Sometimes it leads to conversation. Even in the thin air of the Himalayas. Head of School Phil

Peck remembers the email he received from Zach Zaitzeff ’95 at the Everest base camp. Zach wrote that on his way up he had caught the eye of a climber coming down. “So they got to talking,” Phil said, “and eventually Zach got this feeling that led him to ask, ‘Hey, do you know this little school in New Hampshire?’

It turns out he was talking to Linden Mallory ’03.”

After summiting, Zach stopped on the way down to chat up another climber going the other way, one who had skis on his back. That same eerie feeling, that same do-you-know question, and this time it was Chris Davenport ’89. “Zach urged us to keep it up,” Phil said. “Keep looking people in the eye, keep saying hello. Surprising things can happen.”

Spring 2020 | 15

PLACE YOUR BETS You can say that a building unites people in the ways it brings them together into a common space, but culture unites people across space and time.

And it was culture, not buildings, upon which the school placed its bets at its founding in 1879 as an Episcopal school that would be an economical alternative to St. Paul’s, one whose tuition would be affordable even to clergymen’s sons. It was well and good—said New Hampshire Bishop W. W. Niles in 1875—that St. Paul’s was drawing students from across the country, but “the community in which his lot had been cast [i.e., New Hampshire] also needed schools of high grade for the boys and girls who had been born and might be expected to spend their lives in it.”

So for this more local enterprise there was no attempt to match the Gothic magnificence of St. Paul’s buildings, dormitories, and chapel. And then, early in its history, a pair of catastrophes dropped like bombs on this home-

16 | Holderness School Today

spun school: in 1882 the Livermore Mansion, the school’s original classroom/dorm facility, burned to the ground; then in 1931 Knowlton Hall, the building that had replaced the mansion, burned to ashes as well. Still in debt from building Knowlton and hamstrung by its low tuitions, Holderness had insured the hall for just a fraction of its value, and the school nearly closed its doors.

The new rector, The Rev. Edric Weld, narrowly convinced the trustees to assume more debt in building first Livermore Hall, then the Niles and Webster dormitories.

Subsequently, for the next two decades, the school’s red ink would be washed away only by annual infusions of cash from the family fortunes of Edric and his wife Gertrude.

But one happy result of that second catastrophe was a program that would become one of the enduring cornerstones of school culture. By the 1930s, of course, a number of values and practices were already in place that would be

Much has changed at Holderness over the years (the "School for Boys" moniker has gone the way of the horse-drawn carriage) but many traditions remain. Students participate in the Job Program, play hockey, and excel academically.

Spring 2020 | 17

Holderness All-School Photo 1910

recognizable to today’s students. The school’s well-prepared scholars were admitted “without examination” to schools like Dartmouth, Cornell, and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Holderness was widely known for the success of its athletic teams—especially its skiers—and for an arts program whose crown jewel was a celebrated choir. Hiking, climbing, camping, sledding, and snowshoeing were routine recreational activities. And a 1937 strategic planning document is full of terms that have become engrained in the school’s identity: “home-like,” “intimate,” “informal,” “balanced,” etc.

Yet for all its home-like informality, Holderness—like other boarding schools—had always required its scholarship students to clean the rooms of other boys and in other ways assist in school maintenance. Once Livermore was built, however, this changed. Edric Weld described the school’s new “self-help program”—in which all boys shared equally in work on campus, whatever their pay status—as a cost-cutting measure, which it was. But in erasing the

18 | Holderness School Today

class distinctions implicit in scholarship work, this new program not only fostered a more truly home-like and egalitarian culture at Holderness, it also demanded of its participants a new measure of responsibility, a personal investment in the welfare of the campus and its buildings.

Today this is the school’s Job Program, and Kathy Cunha— the mother of Maggie ’16, now at Hamilton, and Charlie ’19, now at the Berklee School of Music—cites this as one of the things Holderness does best. “Kids can easily have a sense of entitlement, but not at Holderness,” she said. “We loved it that everybody is expected to help, that everybody plays an authentic role in taking care of the campus, and that real responsibility is built into it. You show up, or the work doesn’t get done. So if you can’t show up, you have to find a sub. Helping others and actively caring—it demonstrates that these values are an important part of the school.”

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Holderness All-School Photo 2020 | A senior prank in Weld | An undated, but groovy, photo of Holderness students.

An immediate success, the Job Program really kicked into high gear during the 1950s when it was married to the student leadership program invented by English teacher Charlie Abbey and his student council, and which remains unique to Holderness. In the Abbey system, students are evaluated by their peers according to strength of character rather than more superficial measures of status, and when

In this system there are also house leaders, f loor leaders, Job Program leaders, and crew leaders within that program.

Good student leadership keeps the dorms orderly, and good student leadership in the Job Program ensures that all its various crews work in synchrony with themselves and the professional maintenance staff. The combined effect is a culture of interdependence, one in which every

those seen as highest in such strength are assigned highest leadership positions, the result is not only reliably good student leadership—also, at the institutional level, a cultural affirmation of the importance of character, of substance.

individual has a job to do, and—therefore—one in which every individual matters and can make a difference.

“Only at Holderness do introverts get elected school president,” noted Don Hinman ’55, who taught English at Holderness from 1977 to 1998, and who as a student was himself an introvert elected president.

“Only at Holderness could girls have been elected president or vice-president so early in the shift to coeducation, when girls were such a minority.”

“There is such an element of collaboration at Holderness,” added Kathy Cunha, who credits the school’s culture in helping her two very different children grow closer to each other. “The community offers genuine appreciation for such a wide variety of kids. You don’t have to be a star athlete or an A+ student to have an opportunity to shine.

Holderness offered the type of environment that allowed them to be themselves, to take risks, and to thrive and gain confidence despite the normal setbacks and challenges.”

Spring 2020 | 19

Honor Paton ’21 and Randy Houseman share a fist bump on Out Back.

20 | Holderness School Today

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Out Back mitten-sealing | Students on Out Back receive instructions before starting their three-day wilderness solos | Celebrating Holderness pride on Mountain Day last September | Teamwork on display during Out Back | Skiing has always been a big part of life at Holderness.

INTO THE MOUNTAINS Schools, just like kids, have their setbacks and challenges. Some are overcome by the right sort of new building, perhaps—such as Livermore Hall. Some just require certain enhancements of culture.

Through the 1950s, all systems were go at Holderness.

The Job Program and the Abbey system were humming along together, and the trustees had concluded at last that the school “of high grade” imagined by Bishop Niles could not be sustained at low-grade tuition rates. As tuitions slowly climbed, Holderness settled its debts, began to build a modest endowment, and in the 1960s finally added a dedicated dining facility, Weld Hall, to the campus.

Then: “The 1970s were a very dark time for the school, in the midst of the Vietnam War and all the negativity out there,” said Duane Ford ’74, who now teaches math at Holderness and directs the Job Program.

“The chapel was mostly empty, the Job Program lacked energy, and except for skiing, not even the sports programs

were working,” remarked another witness to that time, Will Graham ’72. “We were all too anti-authoritarian.”

Beleaguered headmaster Don Hagerman was willing to try anything—even the grueling winter junior-class excursion into the mountains proposed by new English teacher Bill Clough ’57. The program that eventually became Out Back grew organically out of the school’s outdoor culture. It also offered students a new and different opportunity to shine, so nurturing its own formidable set of candidates for school leadership. And by virtue of the hardships shared equally by students and faculty, it restored camaraderie and trust between those parties.

This was also the time, late in that decade, of the shift to co-education. “And there were other things going on too,” added Duane. “When Pete Woodward came in as headmaster in 1977, mandatory chapel was restored.

Some really good young faculty were hired as well: Fred Beams, Mac Snyder, Bill Burke, a number of others.”

Spring 2020 | 21

Culturally, the revitalized chapel combined in a sort of synergy with the Job Program to revitalize the spirit and letter of the school motto: Pro deo et genere humano, “For God and humankind.” Community service programs were broadly expanded, and this aspect of school culture was galvanizing for Kathy Cunha’s daughter Maggie, for example, who built her Senior Thesis on her volunteer work at a shelter for mothers recovering from addiction. “The community service requirement and the thoughtful guidance of her thesis advisor,” said Kathy, “ultimately led her to find her passion and forged her commitment to the desire to help others.”

Yet another consequence of Out Back was the boost it provided to other facets of school culture by means of the special programs developed to run in tandem with it. Therefore, each March, another jolt of rocket fuel is provided to the culture of academic excellence via Senior Thesis; to the arts via Artward Bound; and to community service via Project Outreach.

“That van ride on your way back to campus from OB—that’s the best feeling ever,” said Duane. “You’re going back to your old life with a feeling of tremendous accomplishment.

But there’s so much going on in that old life, and our sixday week is so hectic, that there’s an element of survival in negotiating that as well. I think alumni look back and feel mutual respect in having gotten through the whole thing, not just OB—and I think that’s a big reason why our classes stick together so well, and stay in touch with faculty.”

The Job Program and OB and community service and looking people in the eye and all those other things that get squeezed into these hectic six-day weeks and nine-month school years— they’re all expressive of a school culture that has grown ever more far-ranging and complex since its first spark so long ago simply as the idea of a no-frills destination for New Hampshire’s youth. Can we somehow still put it in a nutshell?

“You have to think about your traditions, your values, the language you use,” said Duane. “Bottom line, what do you care most about? In one word, I’d say it’s relationships.”

THAT LIFE-LONG GIFT Arguably that’s just what Bishop Niles had in mind—focus on the relationships, mix good teachers with smart students, and never mind the frills in assembling this homespun, high-grade school.

Therefore its campus was decidedly modest—so modest that two fires, fifty years apart and each taking down just one building, both nearly destroyed the school.

Over the second half of the last century, though, as the endowment grew and as Holderness—like St. Paul’s— began to draw students from all over the nation, all over the world, its campus, well, remained decidedly modest.

As recently as the 1990s its card-catalog library was crammed into the basement of Livermore, and its basketball teams played “home” games at Plymouth State University or the Ashland Elementary School because Holderness itself had no gym.

“Holderness has always been proud of its ability to make the most of what it has,” wrote Claudia McIlvain in 1996, when she was co-chair of the capital campaign that would result in the construction of the Alfond Library, the Gallop Athletic Center, and the renovation of the Carpenter Arts Center. “The old adage ‘less is more’ is a well worn favorite around here. But there comes a time when less is simply less.”

22 | Holderness School Today

Piper Orton ’74 was treasurer of the board of trustees then, would go on to be board chair, and she recognizes that the school’s historical reluctance to invest in buildings was compounded as early as the 1990s by an aversion to being drawn into the “facilities wars” of the last three decades—i.e., that sort of contest in which colleges and independent schools try to outdo each other by virtue of the size and splendor of their buildings.

“Holderness has always kept up its buildings so well, and has done wonderful things in renovating and adapting them, as with Carpenter,” Piper said. “But I also think that Holderness may sometimes be frugal to a fault. You can’t prepare for every contingency, every new development, and there comes a time when you can’t go on renovating, when you need to do something transformational in order to preserve what is fundamental.”

Such was the case with Alfond and Gallop in the 1990s, and such will be the case soon with the 35,000-square-foot math/ science building rising now at the northwest corner of the campus—a structure whose design emphasizes opportunities for collaboration, f lexibility, and innovation in its classrooms—and with the new locker-room facility that will replace the outmoded and architecturally dissonant Bartsch.

"THE COMBINED EFFECT IS A CULTURE OF INTERDEPENDENCE, ONE IN WHICH EVERY INDIVIDUAL HAS A JOB TO DO, AND— THEREFORE—ONE IN WHICH EVERY INDIVIDUAL MATTERS AND CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE."

“If anything, we’re fifteen years overdue on these projects,” said Duane Ford about structures that will provide state-ofthe-art places for teachers, coaches, and students to work, play, and form enduring relationships. In that feedback loop between culture and those gathering sites on campus where culture is renewed and passed on, these will be new dynamos.

“Culture is everything,” said Phil Peck. “I hope people won’t be distracted by these facilities, will rather see how these additions are only enhancing our programs and people, and thus supporting Holderness culture.”

Jane McCoy offers a nice long view of things. Jane is the mother of Tracy McCoy Gillette ’89, and has stayed involved as Tracy’s daughters Lilly ’19 and Wells ’22 have also come to Holderness. She said that she and her husband John “have observed our granddaughters bloom in personal and intellectual confidence at Holderness,

thrive on the school’s community spirit, welcome the ritual of Out Back—one’s completed it, one to go—and feel gratitude for the good fortune of experiencing all that Holderness is and will be in their ‘becoming.’”

She added that if the campus is no longer so barebones as it was in Tracy’s time, this does not seem to be at all to the detriment of the school’s distinctive culture. “Today we see the same wholesome values, the same depth of friendship created on campus, but there are increased opportunities available in academics and athletics,” she said. “Holderness should never feel that growing its physical campus will erode its capacity to inspire kindness and character in its students. That ephemeral, life-long gift is simply in the air of the school.”

Best of all, this is a gift that can be taken even to where the air is very thin. n

Spring 2020 | 23

ATHLETICALLY GIFTED

$6 Million Gift Elevates Holderness Snow Sports, Athletics

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ffirming Holderness School’s position as the premier snow sports school in the country and committing to the school’s multi-sport athletic philosophy, the school

recently received a transformational $6 million gift. Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, Holderness School is able to jumpstart fundraising initiatives that will better support world-class outdoor athletic facilities and impact every athletic team and snow sports discipline.

The $6 million gift will further define Holderness School as a leader in independent school athletics by elevating outdoor athletic facilities to support the school’s commitment to developing student-athletes while continuing to grow its legendary snow sports program.

“This unexpected but very timely anonymous gift will have an instant and broad impact,” says Head of School Phil Peck. “Every Holderness School student and team will benefit from this generous commitment to our school.”

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING VENUE Holderness School will improve its already highly-regarded cross country trails, developing a 5-kilometer homologated cross country skiing venue that will incorporate 2 kilometers of lighted trail and 2.5 kilometers of state-of-the-art snowmaking. The homologation process establishes an international standard that provides guidelines for course design, construction, and competition. In addition to hosting Lakes Region races, an improved, homologated trail system will allow Holderness to not only host USSA events such as the Eastern Championships but also FIS-level competitions, like college carnivals and national championship events.

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FREESKI AND SNOWBOARDING AIR BAG The school’s freeski and snowboarding teams will also realize incredible gains with the addition of an on-campus air bag that will give student-athletes the ability to safely progress from the existing trampoline to competitive on-snow aerials.

The air bag offers approximately 1800 square feet of impactabsorbing cushion, significantly improving the safety of the training environment. Skiers and snowboarders will be able to train in all seasons with greater effect and to throw more technical tricks with the addition of the air bag.

MITTERSILL PERFORMANCE CENTER This gift also supports the imminent construction of the Mittersill Performance Center at Mittersill Slopes, home to Holderness School’s Eastern Alpine ski program and a designated US Ski Team training site. The Mittersill Performance Center is a 9,500 square foot facility that will house dedicated space for gearing and warming up, fitness and stretching, video analysis, coaches offices, and equipment tuning and storage. Offering an 1800-foot vertical drop, dedicated Super-G trail, and a high-speed T-bar, Mittersill Slopes is one of the top ski training venues on the East Coast and is made possible through a partnership between Holderness School, Franconia Ski Club, US Ski and Snowboard, the State of New Hampshire, and Cannon Mountain.

TURF FIELDS Two best-in-class turf fields will give a clear home-field advantage to the school’s fall and spring teams, and the inclusion of lights will ensure that Holderness can host night games and other outdoor evening events.

“While some additional fundraising is required,” says Head of School Phil Peck, “our vision for athletics can move much closer to a reality in the coming year.”

Spring 2020 | 25

26 | Holderness School Today

Holderness School Names Ben Drummond Director of Snow Sports

“

After a thorough national search, Holderness School is pleased to welcome Ben Drummond as the school's new Director of Snow Sports.

I am extremely honored and excited to be the new Snow Sports Director at Holderness School,” Ben says. “The rich history in all phases of snow sports at Holderness is inspiring. I look forward to working with the talented staff to assist our student-athletes as they work to achieve their goals athletically and academically.”

Ben is the founder of the Proctor Academy Junior Ski Team as well as the owner of Drummond Five Sales, a business representing winter sports and cycling brands in New England. Ben previously served as Racing Director and Team Manager for HEAD Wintersports USA, Director of US Competition for Blizzard Sport USA/Tecnica USA, and the National Junior Alpine Race Program Director of Marker USA/Tecnica USA/Volkl Sport America.

“Ben impressed us with his passion, expertise, and ability to connect with a broad range of folks,” says Head of School Phil Peck, a former US National Team Coach and captain of the Dartmouth College cross-country ski team. “Ben’s references spoke to his coaching ability, his experience in developing competitive skiers, and his humble confidence. Ben certainly feels like a Holderness match!”

A standout skier at the University of New Hampshire, Ben captained the Wildcats mens’ team in 2004 and 2005, earned Academic All-American honors, and was a five-time competitor in the US National Alpine Championships.

“Ben has great energy and is committed to excellence," says Search Committee Chair and Franconia Ski Club Board Member Chip Martin ’88 P’20. "His experience as a former high-level racer, combined with his more recent ski brand and junior race program development, will serve him well as he leads Holderness snow sports forward.”

“Ben is a leader in the ski industry and has great relationships with coaches and athletes alike,” says Mattie Ford DiNapoli ’04, a former two-time NCAA All-American and captain of the Middlebury College womens’ alpine team. “He has stood in the finish area with top athletes like Bode Miller and Ted Ligety, and he has created strong ski programs to develop youth racers. Ben will be an amazing addition to the Holderness community and will help build and grow the snow sports program.”

Thank You As Holderness says hello to Ben Drummond, it bids a fond farewell to iconic Eastern Program Director Craig Antonides ’77.

If anyone knows the recipe for success at Holderness, it’s Craig.

Having grown up in Aspen, CO and Waterville Valley, NH, Craig skied for Holderness in the 1970s.

After graduating in 1977, he went on to ski for Middlebury College and compete on the Peugeot Pro Ski Tour before returning to coach at Holderness in 1984.

Looking back on his distinguished career at Holderness, Craig says he is proud of how his hardworking Holderness skiers competed at a high level against athletes from nearby ski academies.

“They have to go to school, they have a job at school, and it’s a bigger community,” Craig says.

“To get those results requires extra effort on all the coaches’ parts and the kids’ part.”

It’s that balancing of athletics and academics that is an invaluable part of the Holderness experience.

“It’s a life lesson and they seem to learn a lot in the process,” Craig says. “I think a lot of them continued on to have really nice college careers and the foundation was built at Holderness.”

To read more about Craig, visit Holderness.org/news

Spring 2020 | 27

CATCHING UP With Don Hinman ’55

BY RICK CAREY

this question, ‘What is it that makes Mr. Hinman such a great man?’” Norm wrote. “She had begun her paper by observing how graceful he was as a skater, and how even his walk and certainly his f ly casting echoed that quality that had so impressed her at the rink. I suggested she focus on the concept of ‘grace’ as a theme in her paper.”

She did, and so did Norm, who requested a photo from Don for his book, one perhaps skating or casting a f ly.

Instead he got a photo of Don “digging a cellar hole at his home in Danbury, New Hampshire. His wife, MaryLou, is looking on, perhaps managing the project.”

Why that shot? “What I like about this picture,” Don told Norm, “is that you can just barely see me.”

There is more than motion to grace, and Norm knew full well that Don’s humility, empathy, and self-deprecating humor were—and are—part and parcel of that grace that made him a big part of the school picture to generations of students.

W

e sat that sleety February day—Don and MaryLou Hinman, Head of School Phil Peck, and this writer—in the cozy 1790 Cape where the Hinmans live in their retirement, one that sits atop a hill that in clear weather looks out to Mount Kearsarge.

We were there to talk old times, though that was only part of what Phil had in mind. But first old times, and when Phil recalled what a graceful skater Don had been when he coached hockey at Holderness, I recalled an essay about Don in “Teachers,” that book of tributes to admired colleagues written by former English teacher, coach, and poet Norm Walker.

There Norm cited a student—one of Don’s hockey players— who had chosen her coach as the subject of a “Reporter At Large” paper for her English class. “Part of her assignment was to interview one of his colleagues; she asked me

28 | Holderness School Today

We learned how these lovers met. Don had grown up a faculty brat at Holderness, the son of the great Coach Hinman and Don Hagerman’s indefatigable secretary Alice-Jane, while Mary-Lou had grown up in Lebanon.

In the mid-’60s they were both at the same table in a graduate poetry seminar at the University of Connecticut when a student from Long Island bragged he could read a Robert Frost poem with an authentic New Hampshire accent. The stif led laughter these two Yankees shared in listening to that performance would unite them for life.

Don had earned his B.A. at Wesleyan, and he taught at Pomfret while Mary-Lou first taught with her Master’s at Western Michigan University, then returned to marry Don and finish her doctorate at UConn. When they came home to New Hampshire in 1977, Don found himself back where he had been a graceful enough athlete to be captain of the hockey and baseball teams, quarterback of the football team, and was also school president.

Don Hinman during his years at Holderness.

But none of that success, nor any subsequent, could make him proud. “I remember coming into the faculty room during my first day teaching at Holderness and being really nervous about my classes,” Phil said. “Don was there making copies on the mimeograph machine— remember them?—and he said, ‘It’s only because I can work this that they think I’m a teacher.’”

In truth he was so good on that machine—and at teaching— that Don’s colleagues, Phil among them, would recommend him to Headmaster Pete Woodward as the next assistant headmaster. Don reminded Phil of what he had said then: “With friends like you, who needs enemies?”

Mary-Lou understood. “He told me once, ‘Look what I’m getting away with here,’” she said. “’I get to teach poetry, to teach Shakespeare’s plays, to coach girls’ hockey—and they actually pay me for that.’”

It was so much fun, such a Frost-styled fusion of vocation and avocation, that Don wanted nothing else to get in the way or even supplement it—unless it was f ly fishing, which he taught to anyone who wanted to go out with him.

“We had twenty kids sign up for fishing at the last Mountain Day,” Phil said. “Fishing is part of our DNA now, thanks to you, Don. And poetry as well. Poetry Out Loud, that national competition, is a huge deal on campus, and that’s in no small part because you and Norm were such champions of poetry.”

In “Teachers” Norm Walker called Don a classic “school man,” one of those whose only passion is teaching, leaving administration to others. But there was more to it than Shakespeare and fishing. For years he and Mary-Lou were dorm parents on campus—Mary-Lou, meanwhile would become chair of the English department at Plymouth State, and now PSU awards an annual essay prize, the Hinman Award for Literary Studies, in her honor—

and Mary-Lou recalled an instance of high-jinks gone wrong with their boys in Hoit that Don handled with perfect equanimity. “I was so angry, I would have made things worse,” she said. “But Don was just great.”

That sort of grace once annoyed two young faculty members during the time Don served on the Discipline Committee.

“I heard they had a trap set to catch some boys smoking in Niles,” Don said. “So I went to the house leader, told him that if he had some illegal stuff going on in his dorm, he needed to take care of it. We’re here to educate kids, not bust them.’”

Good advice, prompting Phil to remember treasured advice he got from Don’s mother shortly before she died: “She told me, ‘Love the unlovable boys.’”

The little house on Mt. Prospect Street that was Don and Mary-Lou’s last dorm is now being renovated and will be assigned a permanent name. Phil’s last question of the day, and the second item on his agenda, was this: “May we call it the Hinman dorm? Would that be okay?”

The old skater, fisherman, coach, teacher, and gentle disciplinarian was clearly uncomfortable with this degree of visibility. Finally he consented with this clarification: “If it’s in honor not of me, but of the Hinman family,” he said, “then I guess it would be okay.”

Outside a squall had blown past and Kearsarge had snapped into view. At that Don remembered coaching soccer one fall with Latin teacher Doug Kendall. “For no apparent reason, Doug blew his whistle,” Don said. “Then he said, ‘We’re stopping here for an esthetic moment—just look at the beauty of what’s around us, these fields and trees and mountains.’”

Don stopped and marveled with the rest of them, knowing he was home. Of course he still is. n

Spring 2020 | 29

AROUND THE QUAD

HEAD'S PHOTO Before Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat, there was Head's Photo of the Day

T

he year was 2001. Facebook wouldn’t get off the ground for another three years, and tweeting was something only birds did. But up in New Hampshire in the leafy confines of Holderness School, a forwardthinking educator named Phil Peck had already launched his own social media platform: Head’s Photo of the Day. In a world lacking today’s ever-present social networks, Holderness in 2001 relied mainly on its website to tell the world about its mission, values, and activities.

Like most websites at the turn of the century, however, Holderness.org wasn’t particularly dynamic or engaging.

“Our website at that time was static,” Phil says. “A couple times a week we would update sports scores or something, but it was not very interactive. It was 2001.”

Having just been named Head of School, Phil was looking to spice things up a bit. He’d seen other schools incorporate daily blogs into their websites and wanted to do something similar at Holderness. When he broached the idea with a member of the school’s advancement team, he was told that he would need to hire a full-time person to chronicle the life of the school and create daily content for a blog. But the idea of hiring someone to write a single daily update seemed unnecessary to Phil. Why couldn’t he just do it himself?

“I said ‘I’ve got a digital camera. I’m at everything.

I’ll just do it,’” Phil remembers. And with that, Head’s Photo of the Day was born.

In short order, Phil’s daily updates breathed life into the school’s online presence. Roaming campus with his trusty

30 | Holderness School Today

Phil Peck departing for Out Back in March 2020.

digital camera, Phil captured pivotal moments in the life of Holderness—outdoor chapel, sit-down dinner, the Job Program—and shared them with the world. To accompany each photo, Phil would write a thoughtful caption that placed the image within the context of the school’s values, mission, and culture. “I try to go back to the question: how is this reinforcing what makes Holderness unique?” Phil says. “Not just grabbing a moment, although that’s part of it, but also how is this moment informing the core values, the mission, the motto, the vision for Holderness?”

Those early Head’s Photos met with rave reviews. Students got a kick out of it (they began keeping track of how many times they appeared in the photos) and parents saw the photos as a window into their children’s lives. Instead of asking their kids “How was school today?” and getting a vague response, parents began to use the Head’s Photos as conversation

AROUND THE QUAD

starters - prompts to begin talking with their children about their daily lives. “Really it was done for our parents,” Phil says. “They’ve always been really warm and appreciative of it, and feel like it helps them stay a little more connected.”

Having taken on the weighty administrative duties of Head of School, the Head’s Photos also helped Phil stay connected to the daily life of the school - and his own roots. As a high school student, Phil was an avid photographer—so much so that he had his own darkroom at home. If you stepped into a time machine and traveled back to the early 1970s, you would have seen a young, super-groovy Phil Peck – just elected president of his high school—walking around campus with his trusty film camera. Fast forward to 2001, and the Head’s Photo of the Day became a way for Phil to reclaim his passion for photography and connect with people. “In some ways it was going back to that part of me that found joy in capturing moments around the school and then delighting people by sharing it with them,” Phil says. “And ultimately that’s what I’m trying to do: capture meaningful moments in the life of the school and then delight people with the picture—but also with the story behind it.”

It’s that act connection—and delighting people—that’s kept Phil posting Head’s Photos for the last 19 years. But those two decades haven’t always been easy. While Phil’s acquisition of an iPhone in 2012 markedly streamlined his Head’s Photo workf low, capturing a good photo and writing

a thoughtful caption still takes time. “There have been times when it’s been really crazy,” Phil says. “I’m like ‘Why am I doing this? This is taking two hours a week of my time.

Is this the best use of my time?’” Phil says. “And I guess I come back and say ‘Well yeah, it is. If it’s serving a role.’”

That role has become even more important in a world drowning in superf luous digital content. Whenever Phil takes 25 minutes out of his hectic daily schedule to take a photo, write a thoughtful caption, and post it to the web, he sends a powerful message to students, parents, and faculty. “What I realized is that one of the most important things you do as head of school are the symbolic things that are substantive,” Phil says. “So you get into a situation like this, the symbolism of a head of school who knows the kids, who is a presence at different things, and is able to do that—it’s a symbolic act.”

But what does the future hold, after 20 years of Heads Photos? Having ushered Holderness from the era of dialup modems to Instagram and beyond, Phil says he will continue posting Head’s Photos as long as they fill a need.

“If it’s presenting a different view on the life of the school and it’s delighting people,” Phil says, smiling, “then I’ll continue to do it.”

Check out the latest Head’s Photo—and those that came before—at holderness.org n

Spring 2020 | 31

AROUND THE QUAD

COMING SOON: THE DAVIS CENTER H

olderness School is pleased to announce that the science and math building currently under construction will be named The Davis Center in honor of Trustee Andrew Davis P'18 and the Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund. The Davis Center is made possible by the generous support of Mr. Davis and all of the donors of the Elevating Academics Campaign, a $27.3 million fundraising effort to support teaching and learning at Holderness School.

Slated for completion in Winter 2021, The Davis Center is a 35,000 square foot academic facility that will be home

32 | Holderness School Today

to Holderness School’s math and science departments.

Designed under the themes of innovation, collaboration, and f lexibility, The Davis Center will feature wet and dry science labs, versatile classrooms, enhanced faculty planning spaces, break-out rooms, and an atrium-like Winter Garden with stunning views of Stinson Mountain. “The Davis Center not only provides Holderness School with dynamic teaching and learning spaces, it also allows us to transform every teaching and learning space across campus," says Head of School Phil Peck. "We

AROUND THE QUAD

are deeply appreciative of Andrew Davis for believing in Holderness and helping us to be a leader in science and math education among independent schools.”

The reach of The Davis Center will go far beyond just science and math. The building will have tremendous inf luence on the entire Holderness experience, increasing available classroom square footage by 50%, informing curriculum design, and ushering in a wave of renovations across existing learning spaces.

“This building will add definition to the campus, connect learning spaces to the outdoors, and give the academic program the room it needs to deliver a complete Holderness education,” Mr. Davis says. “Schools must have campuses that are effective, more than just a collection of buildings. The Davis Center will be a magnifier.

Our teachers will be better resourced, able to offer a stronger program, and the students will have greater learning opportunities as a result. No question.” n

Spring 2020 | 33

ATHLETICS

ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS

Bulls Roll in Postseason Play

CROSS-COUNTRY Both the boys’ and girls’ teams had an exceptional season, running their way onto the podium in almost every competition. The girls’ team dominated in nearly every race, notching a second-place finish in the Lakes Region Championship and capping their season with a third-place finish at the NEPSAC Championship.

The boys also enjoyed a very strong fall, winning the opening Lakes Region meet with three runners in the top 10, and later claiming the Lakes Region title.

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BOYS' SOCCER

ATHLETICS

With fifteen of their twenty games decided by two goals or less, opponents knew they were in for a battle every time they stepped on the field against the Holderness boys’ varsity soccer team.

Indeed, their season was defined by nail-biters, as the Bulls contended with Winchendon—and the NEPSAC Playoff Selection Committee—to reach the NEPSAC Playoffs. In the end, Holderness notched penaltykick wins against Hebron and Pingree to advance to the NEPSAC Class C Final, where they lost 3–2 against Concord Academy.

FIELD HOCKEY When asked about the season’s highlights, tri-captain Macy Arsenault ’20 pointed to the team’s growth: “At the beginning of the season, our team was still new and in our first Lakes Region game against Proctor, we tied 1–1. The team improved drastically, and by the end of the season, we beat Proctor 6–1.” That 6–1 win over Proctor capped off a strong run for the team as they ended their regular season, winning seven of their final eight games and claiming the #2 seed in the NEPSAC Class C Tournament, where they played brilliantly to advance to the semifinals.

Spring 2020 | 35

ATHLETICS

EASTERN ALPINE Holderness skiers recorded another impressive winter. Holderness qualified several skiers for the US Junior Nationals, including Andrea Reynolds ’20, Pauline Tews ’21, Ebba Eneqvist ’20, and Hugo Eneqvist ’22. Emma Reynolds ’22, continued to dominate the competition this season, capturing the Women’s U16 Regional Performance Series Race at Sugarbush, where she qualified to represent the U.S. Ski Team at the Alpe Cimbra FIS Cup in Folgaria, Italy. In February, School President Abby Vieira skied for Trinidad and Tobago at the 2020 Youth Winter Olympics in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Abby was the first athlete for Trinidad and Tobago to ever compete in the Youth Winter Olympics. Photo: Abby Vieira ’20 representing Trinidad & Tobago at the 2020 Youth Winter Olympics.

Photo: Andrea Reynolds ’20 practices at Mittersill Slopes, Cannon Mountain.

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BASKETBALL

ATHLETICS

After claiming back-to-back NEPSAC Class D championships, the Holderness girls’ varsity basketball team made the jump to Class C for the 2019-2020 season.

A strong regular season left the Bulls with a 14–9 record including a 9-3 record in Class C matchups. The girls earned the 6th seed in the Class C playoffs and a matchup with Brewster Academy. Despite a slow start offensively, the team clawed their way back to within four points of the Bobcats with only minutes to play. Unfortunately, they were unable to close the gap and the Bulls’ quest for a three-peat was cut short. Left with the strong foundation constructed over the last four years by the team’s five departing seniors, the Holderness girls’ varsity basketball team looks to bounce back and make another run at the championship next year.

NORDIC SKIING On the heels of hosting a successful Cheri Walsh Memorial Eastern Cup Nordic Race, the Holderness School Nordic Skiing Team competed in the Lakes Region Nordic Championship Race. The Girls’ Team won the overall title with Mae Whitcomb ’21 earning a silver medal and Amanda Vansant ’20 earning a bronze medal in the race. Gus Whitcomb ’20 took silver in the boys’ race. Photo: Lilly Magnus ’20 digs deep during a race.

Spring 2020 | 37

EMPLOYEE /TRUSTEE UPDATES

WELCOME NEW TRUSTEES!

I

f good governance is invaluable, then Holderness School is wealthy beyond measure. Holderness has been and continues to be blessed with a thoughtful, empathetic, and strategically-minded Board of Trustees. And, in the spirit of good governance, trustees retire and new trustees join the board to carry on the tradition of dedicated service to our school. This fall, Holderness welcomed five new trustees, who have quickly made a meaning ful impact on the life of the school: Chance Wright ’14, Cecily Cushman ’11, Sung You ‘01, Karyn Campbell P ’17, and Joe Miles ’82 P ’11, ’13, ’18.

"I love that the new trustees have wasted no time in getting fully involved in any way that they can," says Board Chair Nell Reynolds. "They have been ’on mission’ from their first weekend, and they already contribute their expertise,

Chance Wright ’14 Los Angeles, CA; Virginia Feature Film Movie Producer

What's it been like being on the board so far?

It’s been great! The work, while it can be long days of meetings that all require equal attention, is rewarding.

Shaping the school and seeing the "other side" of how the school operates has been fascinating and totally different from what I originally expected, in the best ways.

We have our challenges, like any board, but we have a really great cohesive group that is all fully engaged in the work.

Why did you say yes to joining the Holderness Board of Trustees?

I believe that the education of the next generation and generations following will determine how the world is shaped. I also believe in giving back time, money and work to the institutions which have shaped me into who I am today. I chose to go to Holderness because of the way that I felt welcomed and at home when I visited the school, which I think should be available to everyone who is interested in boarding school education.

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their ideas, their passion for Holderness and their support for the Board and the school. It is an honor to work with them and with all their longer-serving colleagues."

Head of School Phil Peck, too, is impressed with the energy, diversity of experiences, and range of perspectives that these trustees bring. “Importantly, they all love Holderness, ask probing questions, and are already making us a stronger board and school,” Phil says. “Cecily Cushman ’11 and Chance Wright ’14 are already providing insights that are helping us to be more relevant, aspirational, and joyful in our work. Add Sung You ’01 and her tremendous financial acumen, Joe Miles ’82 and his rich background in facilities and construction, and Karyn Campbell’s marketing and strategic perspectives, and we are blessed with one really dynamic class.”

Cecily Cushman ’11 Marblehead, MA Sales and Event Manager, Charles Riverboat Company

What does Holderness mean to you?

When I think of Holderness, I think about the community and all of the amazing times that I had there. From dorm life to the different sports that I played to all of the life long best friends that I made. The campus is filled with such great people that really make the school truly special!

What are your hopes for Holderness?

I hope that Holderness can continue to stay the amazing place it is for high school students to grow and learn through the classroom, sports, and the outdoors. There are some really exciting prospects on the horizon for the school and I can't wait to watch them unfold!

Sung You ’01 New York, NY Healthcare Venture Capital / Growth Equity

Boston, MA Education and Finance

Why did you say yes to joining the Holderness Board of Trustees?

I believe that Holderness offers an education, inside and outside the classroom, that is unique and so needed in today’s society. Holderness wants its students to try everything, knowing and accepting that they will excel at some experiences and struggle with others. This process enables students to learn more about themselves, gain confidence in who they are while developing respect and appreciation for the talents of others within the community.

What are your hopes for Holderness?

I hope Holderness will be widely recognized as a leader in, not only offering a quality education, but developing individuals (students and faculty) that will prosper by continually adding value to their communities and beyond.

Why did you say yes to joining the Holderness Board of Trustees?

International students face many challenges, one of which is being far away from their families. Additionally for them, there exists a very narrow path to finding a career opportunity in the US, if any at all. Holderness taught me to believe in my potential and prepared me to face any challenge. Solid preparation from Holderness set me up for success in college which then allowed me to pursue my dream career. I always wanted to give back and help Holderness continue to be the very best learning community for our students to reach their full potentials. I am extremely honored and thrilled for this meaningful opportunity.

What are your hopes for Holderness?

Never change its true core. Recruit and educate future leaders with integrity and prepare them for a lifetime of learning and to instill a sense of responsibility to give back to the broader community and the world.

Joe Miles ’82 P ’11, ’13, ’18 Manchester, VT Owner, rk MILES Inc Building Materials Supplier

What are your hopes for Holderness?

The Holderness experience and programs have never been more relevant than today. My hope for Holderness is that it continues to offer and expand upon programs like Outback, its solid core curriculum and the Jobs program.

These fundamental aspects of the Holderness experience have a proven track record while offering a compelling path for students today.

What's it been like being on the board so far?

My board experience has been great. It is a no nonsense, hard working group with a clear focus and strong leadership.

Spring 2020 | 39

EMPLOYEE /TRUSTEE UPDATES

Karyn Campbell P ’17

EMPLOYEE /TRUSTEE UPDATES

WELL GROOMED

W

hen Peter Hendel retired as Holderness School’s chief financial officer last December, he rode off into the sunset on a Snow Rabbit 3x grooming machine.

and stir it up. So sometimes we would drag that around a trail when it got really icy. Sometimes you’d load a heavy duty box spring from the old beds here and weigh it down even more so it would dig in. It was a very crude system.

Like many Holderness employees, Peter has taken on a number of different roles during his time at the school.

First hired as a Nordic coach in 1988, Peter also taught AP Calculus for a time before assuming the role as CFO in 2003. And while Peter left behind Excel sheets and budget meetings when he retired as CFO, he remains on the Holderness payroll - as the school’s newest assistant groomer.

We recently asked Peter about his high-octane new gig, what

Looks like you’ve upgraded your ride since then. Tell me about this sweet groomer you’re driving now.

drives his passion for skiing, and why he’s excited about major upgrades coming soon to the school’s Nordic trails.

How long have you been grooming Nordic trails at Holderness?

I became the official assistant groomer – which is just sort of being humorous here – when I retired this fall. In terms of the grooming of the trails here, up until about the late nineties, maybe early 2000s, all the grooming was done by snowmobile, and all the grooming was done by the Nordic coaches. Sometimes we had to take what’s called a chain harrow to groom the trails. It’s used by farmers to dig up their fields in the spring, and it’s basically a bunch of interlocking chains with hooks that come down and grab the earth

40 | Holderness School Today

It’s made by Favero, an Italian company. They have a distributor in Vermont. It’s called their Snow Rabbit.

It’s their smallest groomer for Nordic trails – they make bigger ones, also. It’s got a nice heated cab, two people can ride in it. It’s got a tiller which all good groomers have, which churns up the snow and gets into the ice and kind of makes that nice corduroy.

How long does it take to groom the trails?

When I groom, typically it takes about an hour to make one pass of all the trails, and you typically have to make at least two or three passes to do a good grooming. So it’s generally a two-to four-hour job to groom all the trails.

What do you like about grooming?

What do I like about grooming? It’s kind of mindless, you kind of get in the zone. It’s a Zen thing. I used to hay fields with a scythe, and it’s kind of like that, a little bit.

It’s really fun. It just gets your mind off of other things.

EMPLOYEE /TRUSTEE UPDATES

From CFO to assistant groomer, life at Holderness has been a wild ride for Peter Hendel.

And it’s wonderful, the product you get out of it. People really appreciate it. You get a lot of nice feedback. We have about 120 members in our community Nordic club.

We have a ton of Nordic trails on campus. How unique is that for a school like Holderness?

It’s pretty amazing. It’s not typical. Most college teams have to travel by vehicle to train—they can’t just walk across the street. Some of them travel half an hour or more.

Middlebury has a 25-minute drive. For our students to be able to walk across the street is pretty amazing. And then also this site, this location, is probably the most demanded race venue for the big races in New England. Not only because it’s in central New Hampshire, but also because it’s so easy off the highway and because we have such an amazing stadium area for staging races and also facilities for people to get warm - bathrooms, locker rooms.

The school recently received a $6 million gift to upgrade some of its athletics facilities. Part of that gift will fund the homologation (widening to meet standards for major competitions) of several Nordic trails. How will that change the trail system?

you’re in the woods. A homologated trail, a homologated race course, has to be about twice as wide as our trails are, and it also has to meet certain standards of how much elevation it climbs in certain parts of the course, whether people are able to pass adequately, so you can’t do as much meandering and have that feel. But we’re only doing it on a limited number of trails. Basically, the homologated trails are probably going to impact about a third of our trail system. So we’ll still have some of those old style Nordic trails, but it will allow us then to have some top-level races.

At the end of the day, what drives your passion for Nordic skiing?

I just love being active and the exercise and that’s really fulfilling. But I also love this age group, and I’m starting to love even more the middle school age group. They’re a lot of fun. I’m now coaching with Molly Whitcomb, who is the middle school coach for Holderness Central School. We’ve got about 14 kids, maybe about 20 next year, fifth through eighth graders. They meet here three days a week after school.

It’s just a really fun group to work with. That’s the teacher side of me—I really love just working with kids and learning technique and getting faster and fulfilling their dreams. n

One thing it will do is it will change the character of some of our trails. A lot of people like our trails because they’re not that wide, they kind of meander, and you really feel like

Spring 2020 | 41

ALUMNI PROFILES

LITTLE SCHOOL IN THE BIG WOODS Joe Sampson ’02 grew up in Plymouth, left the nest, and has found his way back home at the helm of the Holderness Central School.

J

oe Sampson hadn’t planned on attending Holderness for his high school years. His mother was then in the midst of a 32-year teaching career at Plymouth Regional High School, and Mrs. Sampson was among those surprised when her son asked if he might try Holderness instead.

He went on to Colby-Sawyer, where he majored in communications and thought he’d work somewhere in the media after school. “But then I realized two things,” Joe said. “Most media jobs are in the city, and I really need to be in the woods. And the second thing was that I needed to be in the family business.”

And the family business, on both sides, was education.

Joe eased into it with two years of coaching and tutoring at the Okemo Mountain School. In 2008 he came back to New Hampshire, where—working for a nonprofit— he piloted the first at-risk youth life-and-study-skills program of its kind in the state at the Laconia Middle School. Soon he was co-teaching at-risk middle school kids in Laconia’s Alternative Education classroom.

Joe Sampson ’02

“Well, Chris Nielson [’02] was a good friend whose parents taught at Holderness, and he encouraged me to apply just for the fun of it,” Joe explained one day last March in his office at the Holderness Central School. “I was a ski racer, and— like Chris—also a bike racer and musician, so Holderness was actually a good match for me for all the fun stuff.”

What was particularly fun was mountain biking, and Joe and Chris were more or less the founding fathers of this sport at Holderness. A spare-time activity became a club at Holderness, and then a non-competitive sports alternative for Joe and Chris during their senior years.

Now Holderness has its own network of trails, and its team races competitively each fall in the Northern New England High School Mountain Bike League.

“It was also a good opportunity for me to be independent,” Joe added, “and to work very hard academically.”

42 | Holderness School Today

This was also when he realized his real interest might be in administration. “With the at-risk kids, much of what you teach involves life-skills—how to be a self-advocate, how to take responsibility, etc.,” Joe said. “So really you’re using the skills and strategies an administrator uses.”

During this time he earned a Master’s in academic leadership at Plymouth State, and after just a year teaching kindergarten special education in Laconia, he slipped precociously into the prinicipalship of the elementary school in Wentworth.

In 2019 a job came open closer to his and his wife’s home in Moultonborough, and here he is running a high-achieving elementary school that is sort of a feeder school for Holderness, one where some ten faculty children attend.

Which is fine with Mom, who quite supported Joe’s choice of Holderness. “And I love the connections I have there,” he said.

“We work closely with the Nordic team, and I enjoyed being invited by Pete Durnan to be a judge for Poetry Out Loud.”

And mountain biking? “I started a club here,” Joe said, “and one of the fun things I do is to go biking with the kids.” Which suggests that Holderness Central is also a good match for the fun stuff for its young principal. n

ALUMNI PROFILES

ALWAYS AND ALREADY BACK AT WORK—WHICH IS FUN Even with an Oscar on his mantel and a new film to debut, writer/director/ actor Nat Faxon ’93 takes nothing for granted in Hollywood.

“Yep, I’m forever terrified of not working,” Nat laughed, speaking to HST from the Los Angeles home he shares with his wife Meaghan Gadd and their three children. “We all live in fear of that in this industry, and you combat the terror by being proactive and as varied as possible in what you can do.”

But isn’t having an Oscar on your résumé sort of like unemployment insurance in Hollywood? “Sure, that can help,” Nat said. “But it’s also true that in this business you’re only as good as the last thing you did.”

In fact that last thing was hitting theaters just as we spoke: “Downhill,” a darkly comic drama starring Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Like the first film Nat directed, 2013’s “The Way, Way Back,” this was cowritten and co-directed with Nat’s friend Jim Rash.

And this project, a remake of the 2014 Swedish film “Force Majeure,” sort of fell into their laps. “Julia, FOX Searchlight, and the original director of ‘Force Majeure’ were all keen to have an American version of it done,” Nat said. “Jesse Armstrong, the writer of ‘Succession’ on HBO, had already written a few drafts of a screenplay.

When it came to us, Jim and I took a few more passes at the script, and then we got it going with Julia and Will.”

Set and filmed in the Austrian Alps, Nat and his cast and crew often found themselves slogging up ski trails and shooting on steep slopes in cold temperatures. ”Julia and Will, these are people we look up to as role models,”

Nat Faxon ’93 on the set of "Downhill" with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Will Ferrell, and co-director Jim Rash.

Photo by Jaap Buitendijk. ©2020 Twentieth CenturyFox Film Corporation.

All Rights Reserved.

S

ince winning an Oscar in 2011 ( for co-writing “The Descendants,” which won for Best Adapted Screenplay), Nat Faxon has stayed busy doing a whole lot of things in addition to screenwriting. He’s played lead roles in three television comedy series (“Ben and Kate” on FOX, “Married” on FX, “Friends From College” on Netflix), performed dozens of supporting film roles and TV series guest spots, provided as many voiceovers for animated shows (you can hear him currently on Netflix’s “Disenchantment” and “The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants”), and has written and directed two other films.

Nat said. “Shooting our scenes was made a lot easier— and a lot more fun—by the fact they’re both wonderful people, both entirely talented, kind, and patient.”

Of course Nat’s first exposure to this sort of work was on the stage of the Hagerman Center, where he performed many roles under the direction of Martha Kesler. Does his own style as a director owe anything to Martha’s? “Martha brought such a sense of fun to everything we did, and that carried over,” Nat said. “That joyous atmosphere she instilled—I try to do that myself. We’re so lucky to be able to do what we do, and to get paid for it. You’ve got to remember to enjoy it.”

And even as “Downhill” bursts out of the chute, Nat and Jim Rash find themselves already back at work and having fun writing/directing their third film, “The Heart,” this one starring Jim Rockwell, Gina Rodriguez, and Allison Janney. “A dark action-comedy story,” Nat said, “centering around the world of the black market human organ trade.”

Watch for it. But first watch “Downhill” and have fun with a film Variety praises as “unsettlingly funny,” one that “stays true to what gave ‘Force Majeure’ its force.” n

Spring 2020 | 43

GATHERINGS

SMALL GATHERINGS The Holderness School community includes over 10,000 people worldwide, and throughout the year there are plenty of reasons to get together and celebrate! The Holderness Alumni Relations team plans events throughout the country, and sometimes even internationally, so check the Holderness School website calendar of events often and make plans to attend an event.

PUCKER GALLERY EVENT BOSTON DENVER GATHERING  While on his admissions travels, Senior Associate Director Woody Kampmann also loves to visit with Holderness alumni.

Pictured here is one of Woody’s most recent stops in Denver, where he hosted a rooftop happy hour with some of Colorado’s finest.

HOLDERNESS IN SALT LAKE CITY  We had an excellent turnout this January at our event in Salt Lake City, which included alumni, longtime friends, parents past and present, and even some future Bulls. In total, more than 50 people joined us! Who knew that this many Holderness folks were hiding in the mountains of Utah?

NYC HOLIDAY GATHERING 44 | Holderness School Today

 Nearly every fall, close friend of the school Burnie Pucker invites the Holderness community to his Boston art gallery for a gathering and viewing of a current exhibition. The Pucker Gallery also partners with the Edwards Art Gallery on campus every year to share one exhibit with us, bringing big city art to the hills of New Hampshire.

Holderness is grateful for this wonderful friendship and partnership.

LEARNING FROM OUR LGBTQ+ ALUMNI  At Holderness, we have a rotating Equity & Inclusion theme for the full year. The four areas of focus are race and ethnicity, abilities, privilege, and gender and sexuality. The latter is the theme for this year, and over two days in March we experienced an inquiry conference on Gender and Sexuality. This year we called on some of our LGBTQ+ alumni to help lead our discussions. Prior to the conference, our guest speakers gathered with Phil Peck and faulty to share their stories from Holderness and insights on how Holderness might improve.

Allegra Driscoll ’19, Quinn Berube ’18, Robbie King ’99, Lee Scaralia ’15, RC Whitehouse ’00, Joe Kelleher ’97, and Bryn Donovan ’19 (missing was Becca Kelly ’15).  The NYC Holiday Party is back! Holderness New Yorkers were excited to celebrate the Holidays together again this year, always in good cheer. Special thanks to the Hall family for hosting once again!

This past November, Phil Peck, Tobi Pfenninger, and Neal Frei ’03 spent two weeks in Asia on a whirlwind trip visiting current families, catching up with alumni and past parents, and interviewing potential new students. One of their main goals this year was visiting every current family, hoping to replicate the feeling of Parents Weekend, an event often difficult for Asian parents to attend. At every stop they were greeted with hugs, smiles, great hospitality, and amazing meals. Pictured are several of the events hosted by our families throughout Asia. It is amazing to see that the Holderness Family extends to all parts of the globe. ê

HO CHI MINH

HANOI

SHANGHAI

BEIJING

SEOUL

SEOUL Spring 2020 | 45

GATHERINGS

SMALL GATHERINGS

GATHERINGS

SMALL GATHERINGS Throughout the year, Assistant Director of Alumni and Parent Relations Neal Frei ’03 travels all over the Northeast visiting recent alumni on college campuses. The list of schools keeps growing each year, as do the turnouts. This year Peter Durnan, Janice Dahl, and Carol Dopp joined in on some of the fun!

BOSTON AREA SCHOOLS

HWS/ ITHACA/ CORNELL

UVM/ MIDDLEBURY

BATES

SLU/ CLARKSON 46 | Holderness School Today

UNH

COLBY

Our annual Day of Giving is a success because of YOU! This year was a huge success with more than 1,100 donors contributing over $300,000. Thanks to all the Bulls who took time out of their day to give. The best part of the day happened in the evening, when alumni and friends gathered in cities from coast to coast to celebrate our accomplishments. A big shout out to Boston for having the largest gathering ever on a Day of Giving. Go Bulls!

BOSTON Hosts: Baird (Meem) Anderson ’08, Elise (Steiner) Hacker ’10, Cecily Cushman ’11 and the Cushman family

BURLINGTON, VT Hosts: Liz Hogan ’94, Courtney Fleisher ’90 and Bruce Barton

NYC Hosts: David Phippen ’76 and Peter Durnan

DENVER Hosts: Kristin and Blake Barber ’01

PORTLAND, ME Hosts: Taylor James ’07 and Neal Frei ’03

BOULDER Hosts: Jon Hatch ’91 and Kate (Stahler) Starrett ’94

PLYMOUTH Hosts: Sara (Simes) Custance ’99 and Erin (Simes) Daigneault ’01

D.C. Hosts: David Phippen ’76 and Peter Durnan

Spring 2020 | 47

GATHERINGS

SMALL GATHERINGS

CLASS NOTES

CLASS NOTES Milestones DEATHS

Beckett Noyes ’08 and Ashton Noyes:

Willard T. Wight ’46: October 6, 2019

December 7, 2019 at Smith

Stephen J. Earle ’67: October 21, 2019

Barn, Peabody, MA

Stephen D. Connary ’61: November 18, 2019 Guy J. Whitney ’50: November 29, 2019 J.P. “Paul” Wilson ’48: January 2, 2020 Harlan K. Harris ’67: January 6, 2020

Ali Power ’01 and Nicholas Carder: December 27, 2019 Brett Weyman ’01 and Amanda Lesse: January 23, 2020

John D. Pfeif le ’67: January 16, 2020 John “Jack” F. Copeland Jr. ’69: February 21, 2020 George “Chip” W. White Jr. ’86: March 24, 2020 James “Jim” E. Brewer II (PEM): March 28, 2020 Michael E. Goriansky ’48: April 9, 2020

BIRTHS AND ADOPTIONS Erik Thatcher ’08 (EM) and Liz Wilson: Sawyer Lucas Thatcher on April 3, 2019 Andrew Stif ler ’02 and Caroline Stif ler: Bowdoin "Bode" William Stif ler and Finley Curtis Stif ler on June 8, 2019 Heather Keslin-Sharbaugh ’04 and Matthew Sharbaugh: Bailey Jay

Michael F. Drummey (PEM): April 12, 2020

Sharbaugh on August 11, 2019

David G. Helmick ’72: April 21, 2020

Nina DiBona-Pauk ’03 and Michael Pauk: Francis Joseph Pauk on September 11, 2019 Joe Muller ’06 and Mandy Muller: Sylvia

MARRIAGES AND UNIONS Nate Fuller ’09 and Ariel Fuller: August 25, 2018 at William Allen Farm, Pownal ME Kelly Walsh ’07 and Colin Dolph: May 4, 2019 at St. Regis, New York, NY Samantha (Shlopak) Larsen ’07

Katherine Muller on September 22, 2019 Geoff Mintz ’02 and Colleen Mintz: Fleur Aneise Mintz on September 25, 2019 Alex Palmisano ’03 and Katherine Palmisano: Owen Murray Palmisano on October 1, 2019 Blair (Thompson) Bruning ’06

and Jasper Larsen: May 25,

and Quig Bruning: Daphne Levis

2019 at Round Hill, Jamaica

Bruning on October 16, 2019

Ryan Tesink ’11 and Brooke Tesink: August 10, 2019 at Ticklebelly Hill: Oak Bay, New Brunswick Paul Cocchiaro ’05 and Kara Sullivan: September 21, 2019 at White Oak Pond, Holderness NH Jesse Straus ’06 and Madison Straus: October 5, 2019 at Martha’s Vineyard, MA Ana “Lina” (Encalada) Goodwin ’09 and Tyler Goodwin: October 12, 2019 in Durham, NC Laura Cote ’09 and Erik Krahn: October 12, 2019 at Pineland Farms, New Gloucester, ME Sean Delaney ’03 and Elizabeth Gladitsch: October 26, 2019 at Hutchenson Island, FL Cody Bohonnon ’09 and Jessie Bohonnon: November 16, 2019 at Jupiter Island, FL

Abby Dorschel ’96 and Jeffrey Embow: Sage Louise Embow on October 25, 2019 Jamie Wallace ’05 and Stephanie Satya-Morrissey: Siena Shirley Wallace on October 29, 2019 Kathryn (Bridge) Angelo ’99 and Steve Angelo: Cameron Davis Angelo on November 1, 2019 Susan (Taylor) Wasp ’05 and Garrett Wasp: Remy Christine Wasp on November 5, 2019 Alex Simes ’08 and Toni Simes: Elijah Lucas Simes on November 8, 2019 Annie (Muse) Kearney ’06 and Denny Kearney: Laven Robert Kearney on December 5, 2019 Sydney (Aronson) McKenzie ’10 and Chris McKenzie: Asher Jacob McKenzie on December 19, 2019

48 | Holderness School Today

Lumi Hayden Lindsay on December 26, 2019 Mike Tucker ’05 and Stephanie Tucker: Emerson “Emmy” Welch Tucker on December 31, 2019 Casey Carroll ’04 and Megan Carroll: Charlotte Avery Carroll on January 7, 2020 Tyler Gosselin ’07 and Jessica Gosselin:

Maclear “Mac” Jacoby Jr. ’45: April 11, 2020 William M. Rawle '56: April 19, 2020

Kerstin Bendl ’04 and Tyler Lindsay:

Margaret “Maggie” Ann Gosselin on January 8, 2020 Juley (Perkins) Sadler ’97 and Thomas Sadler: Charlies “Charlie” Noble Sadler on January 31, 2020 Sam Pope ’97 and Alexandra Keenan: Bayard “Gus” Foster Pope V on February 11, 2020 Sean Leake ’04 and Katelyn Leake: Christopher Graham Leake on February 14, 2020 McKinley “Chuckie” (Carbone) Crowley ’11 and Adam Crowley: Everly Kit Crowley on February 19, 2020 Mike Dodge ’98 and Tara Dodge: Marshall Jewell Dodge on February 26, 2020 Kourtney (Brim) Martin ’07 and Stephen Martin ’07: Henry James Martin on March 10, 2020 Andy Bohlin ’01 and Katie (Bristow) Bohlin ’00: Josie Aurelia Bohlin on March 13, 2020 Nigel Malloch ’05 and Nikki Newland Malloch: Isla Rose Malloch on March 19, 2020 Ryan Tesink ’11 and Brooke Tesink: Beau Vaughan Tesink on March 24, 2020 Liz Baldwin ’95: Eloise Virginia Baldwin on March 25, 2020 Alexandra Disney (EM) and Kurt Schuler: Skadi Disney Schuler on April 9, 2020

old mark and Rik is not far behind. Best to

the church was filled with loved ones at home

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

all.”…Though Bart is a Packers fan, that is not

and from afar, along with Squidge Hammond

Bill Briggs

the case with your 1948 Class Correspondent

who passed away in December of 2018. The full

magdalenabriggs@ymail.com

who is a major New England Patriots and

houses at both events unsurprisingly reminded

Boston Red Sox fan. Life goes on. –Rik Clark

us that these ladies were beloved beyond belief

’48

by family and friends who deeply mourned the

’49

tremendous losses we all witnessed on these

CLASS CORRESPONDENT Rik Clark

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

of ’50 will be celebrating its 70th reunion.

capeclarks@aol.com

Bill Baskin

Those of us who still are able to tie our own

william_c_baskin@sbcglobal.net

bibs unassisted (just kidding) might want

There were 27 classmates when we graduated

occasions. This year our midcentury class

to consider showing up at Holderness the

from the all-boys school of 75 students in

Hey! Just to let you all know that I am still in

fifth of June of this year. It’s easy for me to

1948. Gradually over the years death has

the mix. All is well here in Weddington, NC.

say when I’m only an hour’s drive from New

taken many of our classmates with only seven

I am active in the local YMCA (Grace) three

London to Plymouth. We’re hopeful, however,

of us remaining. When you reach the age of

days a week. That also includes a “Senior

that some of my old classmates do attend,

90, you expect and sadly accept the loss of

Endurance Class.” The other four days I do

if possible. We’ll see. –Frank Hammond

friends. The most recent 1948 loss was that of

as I see fit. As one gets up in age, activities

Paul Wilson who died on January 2, 2020.

become limited. The family (four children

Paul, with Sandy and me, attended our 70th

and nine grandchildren) are all well. My

’51

reunion in June 2019. Another death was

health is fine. Had some issues a while back

Want to connect with your classmates?

closer to home, the unexpected and sudden

but all has been resolved. My regards to

Consider becoming a class correspondent

death of my daughter, Sharon, age 63, who

the class of 1949 – Bob Barrows 70+ years

and encouraging your classmates to

died peacefully in her Concord, MA home on

later??!!…Here’s a Judy and Bill Baskin

reconnect in the HST class notes.

January 9, 2020. No one prepares you for the

report: Last year (2018) our children (five)

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

death of a daughter. Sandy and I remain in

and their spouses (four) persuaded us to sell

for more information. Thank you!

good health and have a very active lifestyle.

our oversize (for two of us) home in Branford,

Active involvement at the Cape Cod YMCA

CT, and move to a condominium/apartment

helps keep us reasonably fit. Serious yard work

health care and retirement community in

helps, too. Our travel is limited pretty much

nearby North Branford. Excellent advice and

to short trips to Bermuda and another two

choice. Evergreen Woods has every facility,

Want to connect with your classmates?

weeks in Palm Springs, CA. Local performing

service, and program we could possibly want,

Consider becoming a class correspondent

arts, golf and thinning out our accumulated

operated by a cheerful and knowledgeable

and encouraging your classmates to

possessions helps keep us busy and smiling.

staff, and is home to about 230 happy senior

reconnect in the HST class notes.

Staying in close contact with Phil Peck and

citizens. The social programs and activities

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

Holderness is among my many blessings. I

complement our continued participation in the

for more information. Thank you!

am hopeful for another overnight visit to

functioning of our Trinity Episcopal Church,

campus during the current academic year.…

in Branford, and our family celebration events.

’53

’50

Want to connect with your classmates?

will contribute to our class news. Out here in

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

reconnect in the HST class notes.

Oregon, my wife Bunny and I are doing well.

Frank Hammond

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

We just returned from a fine bus tour of the

f hammond64@comcast.net

for more information. Thank you!

on the Rogue River. It’s showing our age that

These have not been easy times for some of us

Elvin Kaplan says, “This past summer my

our eldest daughter is now 64. Time does go

who have lost our brides in the last year or so;

wife and I traveled through Scandinavia

by too fast. Yes, finally reached the 90 year

namely, Sally Green whose funeral service at

on our way to Estonia. We stopped off in

Other news has Bart Chase, a major Green Bay Packers fan, continuing to be a happy NFL camper in Oregon. Bart says: “Best to all my classmates, class of 1948. Still hope more of us

’52

Consider becoming a class correspondent and encouraging your classmates to

Redwoods in California and a jet boat ride

Spring 2020 | 49

CLASS NOTES

’47

Helsinki for a visit with Seppo Niemela. He provided us with a marvelous exploration of

CLASS NOTES

this lovely city, and then joined us in Tallinn for the choral festival that celebrates Estonian independence and freedom. This was certainly the high point of 2019 for us! And if we are real lucky, we hope to repeat this when the festival rolls around again in five years.”

’54 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!

’55

The restored interior of coach 23 for the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad. Work completed by Dick Meyer ’56 and his team of ten volunteers.

Want to connect with your classmates?

Closeup of the restoration work done on coach 23. Photo submission from Dick Meyer ’56.

The photos will not reproduce with adequate

Consider becoming a class correspondent

Once again, I sent an email to classmates with

detail, but the caption on the back of one read:

and encouraging your classmates to

such, and a written letter to those without.

“August, 2019, France. Zen Sesshin. Myself

reconnect in the HST class notes.

The letters were quite effective the last time,

sitting facing out in Hu Jar rear left, during

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

eliciting a response from two classmates

a mondo (question and answer) exchange.”

for more information. Thank you!

whom the school did not have emails for, and

The second reads: “August 2019, France. Zen

now has one additional email. However, Tom

Sesshin. Zazen meditation. Myself, facing

Bill Byers checks in from Connecticut: “Your

Anthony responded within hours of my latest

out, head shaved and barely visible. Seated to

note requesting my news arrived just prior

email request so he goes first. “Hey, Dick. I

my right is the French to German translator.”

to heading to Blue Hill, ME and a logging

keep meaning to come up to Portland and get

His letter reads: “Dear Richard, Thank you

operation. In mid-April Susi and I begin to

a ride on your train. Daughter Jess’s book,

for your letter of Dec. 10. And thank you for

travel down the Atlantic coast visiting friends

Enter the Aardvark, is being published on

printing up what I wrote and the photo I sent

along the way. From Florida we make birding

March 24 by Little Brown. Just so you know,

you for your last HST Fall 2018 magazine.

stops until we arrive at Eunice, NM. Besides

she lives in Portland! What are we up to? It’s

Thanks to that piece of information, Mrs.

being the largest oil producing region in the

so easy to grow old and so hard once you get

Pat Henderson, wife of Don Henderson, my

USA, large ranches are located there. Our

there. Finishing up another elaborate piece of

coach at Holderness (our Holderness ski team

granddaughter Megan and her beau Brett live

furniture with confused hints of Art Deco and

went together with Don on a ski trip to Aspen,

and raise cattle (bulls for bull riding) there.

Craftsman styles. Writing a lot and find myself

Colorado in ’55 or ’56), sent me a long and

Thence to Mescalero, NM and the rez. Visiting

growing new ideas in mid-sentence as often

touching letter, reminding me of our chance

more family and several guys who talk with

as not. We’re heading back to Italy in May and

encounter in Gstaad, Switzerland some years

the spirits. We had a grand time! Following

will spend a couple of weeks on the island of

later. And also, news from my classmate and

our walk in slot canyons near Page, AZ, it was

Ischia this time. My Italian is now sufficient

old friend, Josh Edgerly, with whom we have

back to Connecticut. We, one dog now, our

to get around, but I still find myself giving

rekindled a f lowing correspondence. It’s all

GMC one ton dually and fifth wheel. Who read

wrong answers to what I think the questioner

thanks to you and the HST! All is well here,

Travels with Charlie, John Steinbeck, or Blue

asked. Like the rest of us, we continue to be

as you can see from the two Zen photos I’ve

Highways: a Journey into America, by William

ambushed by all the ‘controversies’ in the news

included in this letter. Have a good Christmas,

Least Heat Moon? Good stuff. We like to ride

and fear for democracy as well as the planet.

which is tomorrow, and a happy New Year!”…

similar roads. Enough. Happy New Year all!”

A grandson is off to college this year and his

Brad Hooper writes, “I am sorry that I have

sister follows two years from now. Best to all

not responded to you sooner. However, I will

’56

of the few of us.”…The proof that letters can

attempt to give you a summary of my time at

also get results is in the reply from Philippe

Holderness as it applied to my life forward.

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

Coupey. I again sent him a letter and received

The year at Holderness fortunately prepared

Dick Meyer

not only a letter in reply, but two photographs

me for the University of Maine (1956–1960).

richard419@roadrunner.com

of him taken during a Zen meditation session.

My memories of the time at Holderness were

50 | Holderness School Today

have received multiple compliments. The

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

event at probably the old Chapel. I was a

electrical system was a nightmare because

for more information. Thank you!

participant in football and Glee Club. The

it was daisy chained throughout the ceiling

group of eight of us sang at the Lions Club

from end to end, with the platform and step

We heard from Herbert Wendell “Doc”

and various other civic organizations. My

lights branching off. I wanted two separate

Gray Jr. that he is a retired surgeon living

class would rotate in washing dishes and

circuits and was finally able to reconnect

in Hilton Head, SC with his wife Kathleen.

serving food to the classmates’ tables. I fondly

things to give separate interior and exterior

remember Mrs. Henderson lending a pair of

control of the lights. I found some appropriate

dress shoes to a date that I had from St. Mary’s

light fixtures which did not break the bank,

’58

School in the Mountains. My date had broken

and one of the team members donated six

CLASS CORRESPONDENTS

the heel of her shoe on the steps near the

lamp shades from a chandelier his wife did

Bill Biddle

dining area. Upon graduation, I was accepted

not like, but which were just perfect for our

williambiddle@myfairpoint.net

at the University of Maine. I graduated with

situation. We finished on July 3, just in time

Randall “Brooke” Thomas

a B.S. in Agricultural Economics. After

to put the coach into service for the July

rbthomas@anthro.umass.edu

spending three years in the hotel business I

4th run transporting people to the Eastern

moved to Washington, DC and was employed

Promenade for the annual concert. Then later

Throwing caution to the wind as far as these

by Mutual of Omaha as a claim examiner

in the month while the coach was parked

class notes are concerned, Brooke Thomas

paying federal health claims for 10 years.

on a siding a truck smashed into a corner of

and his wife Shirley have gone off to their

Along the way, I was given the opportunity to

the car with enough force to move the track

winter retreat in Peru and left the final

learn to play the Scottish Highland bagpipes.

and 16 ties about 5 inches out of alignment.

drafting and editing of these notes to me (Bill

I have been playing for 40 years, having the

The truck (automobile type) was abandoned,

Biddle), a bit of a loose cannon in such

ultimate experience of playing at Arlington

and the driver was never found. The damage

matters. Brooke did his doctoral research in

National Cemetery five times. After 43 years

looked bad, especially because it appeared

anthropology in Peru and has maintained an

in the Washington, D.C. area and two years

the trucks (coach wheel assemblies) were

affectionate relationship with the community

working in Philadelphia, PA, I have now

damaged as well and the exterior of the car,

he studied and lived with many years ago.…We

resided in Huntington, WV for 12+ years. I

and some of my new wiring and a junction

wrote about Charlie Kellogg in the last

miss New England every day. Actually, my

box were hanging down. When we lifted the

edition of HST, and to our great pleasure heard

grandmother, Ruth, and my grandfather,

car off the trucks, the pivot assembly swung

the following [slightly edited by me, Bill] back

Howard Thompson M.D., were married in the

back into position with no damage; so that

from Charlie’s wife Gillian: “When the

town of Holderness. My classmates were super

was a relief. All the lamp shades were knocked

Holderness magazine arrived today I was

guys and I was fortunate to meet and be a part

off, but the bulbs and fixtures were OK, and

hesitant to look inside, but I am glad I did.

of their lives. The best to all of the Holderness

the shades were not damaged. I was able to

What nice words you two wrote about Charlie

new and graduating classes.”…As for me, Dick

re-secure the junction box and fortunately

and the meaning of his continued visits! I

Meyer, my team (there are 10 of us) worked

the wires were not broken, just stretched a

thought you and his classmates might like to

hard to finish rebuilding the interior of coach

bit. We cut off the damaged exterior boards at

know that I have set up the Charlie Kellogg

23 for the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad.

the window line and replaced them with new

Fund to help support up-and-coming

This coach is a 60+ year old reproduction

wood of matching pattern. What looked like a

biathletes from the top of the United States B

that had deteriorated badly. Actually, two

disaster to our hard work, was repaired with

team. The A team skiers get reasonable

years ago a trio of men from Pennsylvania

elbow grease and $22 worth of new wood. The

support, but the B team is a small contingent

had stripped the interior and paneled it in

wooden bench seats proved uncomfortable

of athletes, generally not as well known or as

bead board, and built wooden bench seats

for the ride so later in the fall we made 75

well supported as they might be. Moreover, it’s

to my design. One of our BOD members is a

feet of bench seat cushions (8’ sections) which

especially hard to find work and time to train

woman who also works as a steam and diesel

further enhanced the interior appearance.

as a B team member, so this support makes a

engineer, and laborer in the yard, had stained

These were installed just in time for the

big difference to them. You might remember

and varnished the new wood. However,

Polar Express runs on weekends between

that Charlie was the very first US National

there was no trim around the windows, nor

Thanksgiving and Christmas where we

Biathlon Champion after having done his

window sills. Where the walls met the ceiling

provide the experience for about 15,000 riders.

military service in the Biathlon Unit of the

was jagged and rough. We made window trim and sills from pine and used the same

Army in Fort Richardson, AK. He won a berth

’57

as a cross country skier representing the US in

stain which comes out a little darker giving a nice blend of colors. Then we installed

Want to connect with your classmates?

sports. He also served on the US Biathlon

pre-stained and varnished crown molding

Consider becoming a class correspondent

National Board for close to 20 years. Our

which just changed the entire character

and encouraging your classmates to

grandson Carl Kellogg, headed to Middlebury,

of the interior of the car for the better. We

reconnect in the HST class notes.

is currently cross-country ski racing for Green

the 1968 Olympics. He was dedicated to both

Spring 2020 | 51

CLASS NOTES

positive, I played trumpet for a Christmas

CLASS NOTES

Mountain Valley School, so you may see

rapidly even if you’re late for class, and it’s best

form classmates, but they were walking slower

another C. Kellogg in the current results.”

to place one’s feet perpendicular to the slope

than I cared to; so I decided to walk by myself.

After holding a stopwatch at cross-country ski

lest gravity, the strongest force in the universe,

Hardly noticing a branch across the trail, I

meets for years while I, Bill, was teaching at

take you down. Living in western

kept going. Soon, there was no path ahead of

Kents Hill School and many years later at St.

Massachusetts, this has served me well, so

me, and when I looked around for the way I

Johnsbury Academy (where, several years ago,

far.”…Sticking to a winter theme, Don Latham

had come, it was invisible. It dawned on me

current Olympic biathlete Susan Dunklee

recalls a terrifying ordeal out at the old ski

that I was lost. The bottom dropped out of my

skied), I enthusiastically second Gillian in

slope: “I remember (perhaps not so warmly) a

stomach. I realized how foolish I had been to

urging support for the less glamorous, most

time shortly after the ski jump was completed.

leave my classmates behind. Isolated on a

grueling sport. You can help with your check to

At the end of the day, with most everyone gone,

strange mountain, the situation felt dire. I

https://www.teamusa.org/us-biathlon/

someone dared me to jump off it using my

began to yell for help. I don’t remember if I ate

membership/donate-to-us-biathlon…Brooke

downhill skis. Well, not to be outdone, I

the bag lunch that had been provided, but the

Thomas writes, “In our last class notes Bill

unhitched the cable of my bindings so that my

morning turned to afternoon. Then I heard

Biddle and I asked you for memories of times

heel could lift somewhat off the heel plate

voices off to the left talking and feet running

we spent, now 62 plus years ago, in the

portion of the old ‘bear claw’ bindings and

downwards. I commenced yelling again. As I

foothills of the White Mountains sequestered

made my way to the top. Standing there

continued to cry out, they answered. They were

away in our wrinkled khakis and blue blazers

looking down was somewhat daunting—you

Phillip Fiore ’55, Arnie Manthorn, and Sandy

with parochial hopes that our sports team

could see down the in-run to the lip of the

Gibson ’55, upperclassmen whom I had never

might win its next game, that the myths

jump and then…oblivion!!! A deep breath, a

met. On a whim, they had taken an old trail

regarding Miss Mary Harley Jenks,

jump into the ski tracks, a quick prayer, and I

from the summit. They now encouraged me to

Headmistress of St. Mary’s in the Mountains

hurtled down towards certain destruction! I

keep up, them saying, ‘You OK, Little Brother?’

(where many of us were headed for annual ski

made a half-hearted jump, just barely clearing

Soon we were back in the van at the bottom of

and dance weekends), weren’t true. Most of us

the beginning of the outrun, making it to the

the mountain, and Mr. Bart Chase, the driver,

had vague ideas of what lay ahead after

bottom still standing upright!! The one and

was radioing the group on the other side where

Holderness. We knew that we were expected to

only time I ever did that—chalked up to

I was supposed to be, ‘Yeah, we got him.’

get into a college we actually wanted to attend,

youthful exuberance!” And on a more domestic

Nothing else was said. I had been lucky.” John

but few of us had any idea of what would

note Don recalls the little pleasures that kept

ends with, “I was saddened by the addition of

become of us beyond college. And here we are,

us going. “I loved the HST cover photo of Rip

David “Beef ” Boynton to the list of deceased

still striving, albeit for more modest goals:

Richards and his daughter, Sara Richards

classmates. Dave was a very good roommate

more digestible salads, more comfortable

’80. I was one of four students who enjoyed

for me my fourth form year because we were

shoes, fewer prescribed pills, lower taxes, and

staying in the student end of the newly-

exact opposites in many ways. He was

wishing we could remember the name of that

completed house on Mountain Rd where Rip

optimistic, funny, a great athlete, and a team

fellow we just saw downtown and whom we

Richards and his wife lived. I remember, as

player. I later learned that he had coached at a

played in a foursome with last week. It could

part of my student work crew duties, I was to

private school in Richmond, VA, before he

be worse. We could still be being fed cold

keep the school vehicles clean and swept out

moved to Florida.”…So as time f lies, we hope

sunny-side-up fried eggs, their edges crunchy

every day. One day Rip asked if I would wash

you’ll write about your memories or more

and brown, their middles ringed with slime, as

and wax his station wagon (with the

recent adventures. Have you made out like a

we were fed when we breakfasted in Livermore

understanding that I could drive it, but only as

bandit in the market at the same time you’re

Hall. Instead of nightly Netf lix we could be

necessary and only next to the car shed!) The

shaking your head at the cultural ignorance

doomed to the Saturday clatter of the projector

payment for the job—one apple pie! DONE and

and the “Je ne give a damn pas” personality

casting images through the beefy miasma in

DONE!! Speaking of pies, reading Ron

f law in our president that Mr. Loys Wiles so

the schoolhouse study hall. Or, alternatively,

Crowe’s ’57‚ warm memories of Marshall

aptly named in some of us so long ago? Be in

preferably, Sunday afternoon tea and cookies

House reminded me of the ever-present ‘Ma’s

touch with Bill or Brooke.

served by Mrs. Hagerman or Mrs. Cayley,

Bakery’ at the end of the hall where ‘Ma’ and

both of whom greeted each of us by our last

Bart Chase resided. Each evening their door

names. ‘One sugar or two, (Denny) Blouin?’”

would open, and the Bakery was open for

’59

We hope you’ll work on that remembering

business.”…Prompted by the articles and

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

part, and remind us of stuff we perhaps haven’t

comments in the last HST on Out Back, John

Jerry Ashworth

thought about in ages. As Brooke recalls: “One

Greenman writes of its predecessor, Mountain

ashworth.kemah@gmail.com or

of the most practical lessons I learned at

Day. “When the headmaster, Don Hagerman,

jashworth617@gmail.com

Holderness: being from New Jersey, with little

suspended classes, the entire student body was

experience walking on ice, my first winter in

driven to the foot of Mt. Kinsman, half of us

I’m back! It has been a year since I last wrote

New Hampshire’s snow land was fraught with

on one side of the mountain and half on the

this column. The overwhelming demand for

hard knocks. Advice: never round a curve

other side. I fell in with a small group of third

my return was more than I expected. As a

52 | Holderness School Today

have not heard from in years. Their updates

to find them. She works for what used to be

with my wicked wit. As I write this I am in

are as follows.…“Well, another milestone

called public defender, and she does appellate

Longboat Key, FL where I have spent most

reached on December 4: 77 years old! Starting

work before the Supreme Court. Sara, on

of the winters for the past 10 years. I am

to feel a little old now, but it’s better than

the other hand is a marketing specialist for

joined down here by Chris Palmer and his

the alternative. Even my son is starting to

a Vermont company which specializes in

wife Suzanne who are over on a neighboring

complain about the aches and pains of aging.

supplements for dogs, and she has been to

key. Speaking of Chris, this past summer I

He’s 54 now. At least we had a mild start to the

various parts of the country on their behalf.

joined him and Steve Barndollar for a most

winter here in Michigan, while others across

She recently asked me, ‘What is there to do in

enjoyable game of golf in Fairlee, VT with

the country are getting blasted with severe

Idaho?’, as she was there on a business trip,

a remarkable 94-year-old Pat Henderson.

storms. I want to encourage everyone from

but actually she enjoyed it. She is the same

As you know, Don Henderson passed away

the class of ’60 to try to make it to this year’s

daughter who went to Zimbabwe her junior

two years ago but Pat is doing really well.

reunion; it’s THE BIG 60! Probably the last go

year abroad and was the only one who never

We hope to make this into a yearly event as

’round for some of us! We’ve lost some of our

saw an elephant there; at least that is what she

long as time permits. I see Steve Barndollar

‘regular’ attendees since the 55th reunion so

said. That’s all folks. See you at reunion. –Shy

quite a lot since we live 15 miles apart. He

we need more of you to show up for this one.

did a most remarkable thing this past year

Len Richards, Bill Niles, and I traveled great

by entering himself in the dirtiest game

distances to be there in the past, but they are

’61

I can think of. No, he did not make dirty

gone. See you then,” Don “Soko” Sokoloski…

Want to connect with your classmates?

movies. He entered the world of politics

Peter Waldron reports, “My wife ‘Dee’ and

Consider becoming a class correspondent

in his home town running for the board of

I are both retired, living in Hanover, MA

and encouraging your classmates to

selectmen. I think he did quite well as a first

and Mattapoisett, MA in the summer. She

reconnect in the HST class notes.

timer despite losing out by a hundred votes.

is a former teacher and I had a sales agency

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

Alas, two emails from Buster Welch. The

representing building products and hardware

for more information. Thank you!

first email gives particulars about Buster’s

manufacturers for New England and New

full provisioning for the upcoming winter.

York which I sold about a year ago. Our two

John Holley says, “Best wishes to the

Major success in his gardening exploits. The

daughters and their families live in the Boston

class of 1961 for a healthy and happy 2020.

second email tells of his disastrous garage

area (Arlington and Charlestown). Lisa, the

Fortunately Candace and I continue to enjoy

fire that wiped out most of his prized fishing

oldest, has two kids—5½ year old Anna and

travel, family, and our volunteer activities

equipment and native fur skinned winter

2½ year old Benji; Lindsey has a 1½ year old

despite creaky knees, backs, and feet. The

clothing. Buster is a world class fishing expert

son, Jack. My son Brian lives in Los Angeles,

highlight of 2019 was a two-week trip

and this loss must have meant a great deal to

working on a career as a musician (performing,

to Tuscany where we visited many of the

him. How about this; a young looking Phil

blogging and teaching classical guitar) and

beautiful hill towns. Our kids are all happy

LaFrance, Pete Coughlan, and Dick Floyd

is attached but still single. Anyone with

and healthy, and the grandkids are beginning

gracing the back pages of the last HST. Were

grandkids or musician friends should check

to build their lives. So, we have traveled

we ever so young? Believe it or not, we were.

him out at @brianwaldronguitar on Instagram

through the empty nest period to the missing

Please keep news coming. I know you all

or www.facebook.com/brianwaldronguitar.

families period as our kids disappear to visit

enjoy reading my notes. I can only write this

He is a very talented teacher for all levels from

their kids around the globe. Nevertheless,

column with your help. Till next time –Jerry

professionals wanting to improve their skills

we are looking forward to an exciting 2020.

to beginning students ages seven and up, and

Onward!”…Bill Seaver reports, “My wife

’60

he gives lessons both locally and on Skype.

Sherry and I have always felt that with proper

I look forward to seeing many of you at the

nutrition and exercise we could do it all. In

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

reunion.”…As for me, I am slugging along,

the last two years, my body has told me I’m

Gerry Shyavitz

working full time at two jobs which means my

no longer 35 and cannot ignore the march of

g.shyavitz@comcast.net

brain must be in “full exercise mode.” Pearl

time. However, the march of time also brings

is fine as always and my two daughters and

good things, specifically our first grandchild,

At the time of this writing, only two classmates

four grandchildren are great, along with two

Eloise Seaver, born to Dana and Alicia on

have responded. I am slightly disappointed

wonderful sons-in-law. Sara, my daughter in

July 3, 2019. We try to see as much of Eloise

and this can only be made up by all of you

Vermont, is going to Germany for a second

as possible either in person or through

returning in great numbers for our reunion.

time soon for a short visit. My grandson has

Instagram. At this age, she is growing rapidly,

As Don “Soko” Sokoloski says later on in this

a friend there who they will visit as well as

and we don’t want to miss anything. In our last

report, this could be the last time we see each

tour. Abby, my other daughter in Montreal,

Christmas letter in 2017, I noted my medical

other; that sounds ominous, but any way you

is actively practicing law in Massachusetts,

issues have all been curable. During 2018, we

get here is fine with me, if it works. I heard

and comes down here about once a month as

discovered that I had three incurable, but not

from both Soko and Peter Waldron. Peter I

her clients are all in jail, so she knows where

life-threatening, conditions: white matter

Spring 2020 | 53

CLASS NOTES

result, you will have to continue to put up

CLASS NOTES

The class of 1963 was well represented at Pine Valley (rated #1 in the world). From left to right: Peter Chapman, Steve Wales, Tom McIlvain.

Bill Seaver’s ’61 granddaughter Eloise wearing ear protection with her parents at a noisy event.

Eloise with Grandma and Grandpa (Bill Seaver ’61). clear image from my right eye, takes quite

’64

disease (age-related decline in the nerves

a bit of extra effort since 70% of the brain

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

that connect areas of the brain), syncope

effort is related to vision, so I am learning to

Sandy Alexander

(spontaneous fainting), and a dropped lens,

take naps when I am tired. Since it is illegal

salex88@comcast.net

plus a failed cornea transplant (monocular

to drive with syncope, I have been enjoying

vision). This new reality so depressed me

riding with Sherry, or with neighbors in the

Some of our members are on the move. Bill

and scared Sherry that we did not send

rare cases when Sherry and I are not going to

McCollom and his wife have recently sold

out a Christmas letter in 2018. Now, a year

the same place. I enjoy watching the scenery

their farm in Barnard, VT and moved to a

later, I have adjusted and my old ‘glass half

I would have missed if I were driving and

house in Hartland, culling the accumulation

full’ attitude has returned. Although I find

having conversation with Sherry. However,

of stuff from living 45 years in the same place.

it difficult to admit that I am mortal, I am

my not driving adds stress to Sherry’s life,

Bill says it was very satisfying to see many

slowing down, coping with my new reality, and

for I can no longer pop out to get something.

overloaded dumpsters disappear down the

listening to my body. My new normal starts out

Sherry is also concerned about my health and

driveway.…Terry Morse and Anne Vitte are

with me deciding what two or three things I

spends much energy protecting me from my

in the process of selling their house in Moab

would like to do this day as opposed to having

impulses. I focus on healthy eating, getting

and moving to acreage south of town that

a full schedule where I blindly rush from one

daily exercise, having meaningful interactions

will get them out of the “busy-ness” of town,

thing to another so I will always be busy. I

with others, reducing stress, doing only

(in Terry’s words) and to a more idyllic spot.

first decide when I will take a walk around our

what I want to do, and sleeping at least eight

Terry contributed to the County Council until

wooded neighborhood. Regular exercise walks

hours each night. My weekly Buddhist and

he had to relinquish his seat due to this move.

are something I can do to maintain my health

men’s group meetings provide some very

Knowing Terry and Anne Vitte, they will

while having a relaxing ‘forest bath.’ Walking

meaningful interactions. I want to remain

personalize the new home with their amazing

also provides a chance to talk to neighbors. For

vital, connected, and live each day fully.”

creative ideas.…Rick Hintermeister reports

the last year, I have been eating mostly vegan for my health. I am surprised that I do not

from Florida that he is healing from a broken

’62

foot but doing well. He has 12 screws in his

miss meat at all. Physical therapy has helped me reprogram the brain pathways damaged

Want to connect with your classmates?

me, Sandy Alexander, I recently got talked

by white matter and improve my balance. I

Consider becoming a class correspondent

into trying pickleball with an active group

have gotten better at anticipating syncope

and encouraging your classmates to

in Durango. With little chance of becoming

and lying down. To get this far, last winter

reconnect in the HST class notes.

more than a beginner, it gets me out of the

and this spring were consumed with medical

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

house on the mornings that I don’t ski.

appointments. Just as I was adjusting to my

for more information. Thank you!

new normal, I got shingles, even though I had had the older vaccine 15 years ago. Shingles

foot, the result of a bad fall in his yard.…As for

’65

is no fun. Get the new vaccine even if you had

’63

the old! I am still developing coping strategies

Want to connect with your classmates?

Consider becoming a class correspondent

for my monocular vision so I can pour water

Consider becoming a class correspondent

and encouraging your classmates to

in the glass instead of on the table; I no longer

and encouraging your classmates to

reconnect in the HST class notes.

have any depth perception. Coping with my

reconnect in the HST class notes.

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

monocular vision, plus an extra white blob of

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

for more information. Thank you!

light from my left eye superimposed on the

for more information. Thank you!

54 | Holderness School Today

Want to connect with your classmates?

John Coles ’68 spent many months gilding 24 arches for this church in Somerville, MA.

CLASS NOTES

John Coles ’68 helped restore this ceiling for the Little Building, where the publisher Little Brown was located in Boston (now Emerson College).

Will Parish ’71 and his son, Nate, enjoying a day on the water.

letter via email from Doug regarding giving

’70

to the Holderness Fund.…I spoke with Bill

Want to connect with your classmates?

Clough ’57 recently and congratulated him

Consider becoming a class correspondent

on his incredible support for Holderness

and encouraging your classmates to

School’s Out Back program, which under

reconnect in the HST class notes.

his tutelage and direction has become a

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

highly successful part of today’s Holderness

for more information. Thank you!

’66

experience. All of you may remember that

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

fall of 1962, the same year we were all

Peter Janney

matriculating third formers (ninth grade).

pj@apllon.com

Bill and Ki currently reside in New London.

Bill came to teach at Holderness in the

’71 Want to connect with your classmates?

Consider becoming a class correspondent

Steve Foster writes that he completed the

’67

and encouraging your classmates to

purchase of the 290-year old Tobias Lear House in the South End neighborhood of

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

Portsmouth, NH, the first step toward

Jamie Hollis

for more information. Thank you!

creating a unique lodging experience in New

jameshollis@comcast.net Will Parish writes, “In California, the

Hampshire’s most historic city. The Lear house, first built in 1730 by Captain Tobias

reconnect in the HST class notes.

’68

nonprofit I founded in 2012 succeeded in its

Lear III, was the birthplace of Tobias Lear V, who served as personal secretary to George

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

requirement that students be environmentally

Washington for over 14 years. Washington

John Coles

literate. Every year, 500,000 students

himself famously visited the house during his

johncolesart@gmail.com

graduate from high school in California.

1789 Northern Tour. Foster and his colleagues

goal of changing education code to include the

Can you imagine if they understood the

plan a “painstaking rehabilitation and

John Coles has been keeping busy. In

interdependence that we have with nature?

preservation project” which will likely take two

2019 he did restoration work for Harvard

That is becoming a reality! Family: Julie is

years to complete. Once completed, the house

Medical School, Gardner Museum, Old South

on the California Advisory Board of Trust

will operate as a small two-bedroom inn,

Meeting House, the Little Building, several

for Public Land, Mac (33) lives in LA and

retaining the character and feel of a private

churches in Boston and one in Somerville

works with a startup company in the medical

residence. “We want to make this an intimate

that consisted of gilding 24 arches!

trials field, and Nate (29) is engaged to

venue for guests and the premier lodging site in Portsmouth for history buffs, lovers of old

Callie Voorhees! He is the outdoor education

’69

coordinator at the Waldorf High School in

homes, and, we hope, their children, too,” Steve said. “There will be modern amenities,

Want to connect with your classmates?

I’m still water skiing and snow skiing.”

to be sure and at a luxury level, but they will

Consider becoming a class correspondent

be designed to highlight the property’s historic

and encouraging your classmates to

character, which will be the true centerpiece

reconnect in the HST class notes.

of the visitor experience,” he added.…Doug

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

Griswold continues as our Class Agent. I

for more information. Thank you!

San Fran, and Callie is with One Medical.

expect all of you reading this have received a

Spring 2020 | 55

CLASS NOTES Philip ’72 and Kathy Edwards in San Francisco (Feb. 6, 2016) to attend Super Bowl 50 (Broncos vs. Carolina) as guests of the Bowlen family who own the Broncos. Broncos won 24–10.

a blast anyway.” After Jed graduated from high

we have a first f loor bedroom in our house.

school, Don built an addition to his mother-

The wedding went forward with only minor

in-law’s house that fronts a beautiful lake. “We

glitches, and Lisa married a lovely woman,

moved in to take care of 90-year-old Mary

Heather J. Herman, formerly of Grass Valley,

who lives upstairs and Mary quietly tolerates

California. The two now live in Denver and

us. I’d love to hear from any of you and we

love it there. On November 6, Charlotte Ma

have plenty of spare room for visitors.”…From

“Charlie” Shepard was born to Ted and Jess.

Grafton, MA, David Nicholson writes that

Ted’s family lives less than two miles away

his son Bradley married Rachel Cadwallader-

from us here in Duxbury, Massachusetts, so

Staub on May 18, 2019, in Oskaloosa, IA, on

we are having lots of fun watching his family

her grandparents’ farm. “A wonderful joining

grow. We continue to maintain a second house

of two large families in a very beautiful and

on the Cape, in Dennis, and spend lots of our

productive region of our country,” David

time there. Thanks to all of you who responded

says. As of this writing Dave’s daughters-in-

to my request for news updates. Hope to hear

law Laura and Kelsey were both expecting

from more of you next time. –Dwight Shepard

to deliver babies in January. “Suzie and I are thrilled”, Dave adds. “We are extremely

’72

grateful for our good fortune. I hope everyone

’73

had a terrific holiday season and wish all a

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

healthy and happy 2020.”…It was great to hear

Dick Conant

Dwight Shepard

from Gary “Alex” Circuit from south of the

rconantjr@msn.com

shepdb@comcast.net

border. He writes, “Greetings from Mexico.

Life has been good. I am married two times

Dear Classmates, I hope 2020 is off to a

Philip Edwards writes from Denver that

over with two kids and four grandchildren.

great start for all of you. If you haven’t

he has been running his company, Fido

Most everyone in my family lives in Acapulco,

already, check out the Holderness calendar

Inc., www.fidobones.com, for some time. “I

except me. I live in Cuernavaca.” Gary says

featuring photos from 50 years of Out Back,

invented the world’s first dental bone back

he has “a car mechanic shop, an ice cream

i.e., Outward Bound from our era. William

in 1983 and started selling product the

business and does well in real estate.” He has

(“Bill”, “Cos”, “Truck”) Cosgrove graces the

next year. We sell our products all over the

been in touch with Stuart Porteous and Nat

January centerfold. He must have hired his

world.” Phil says his company has over 100

Mead, but would love to hear news from all of

own personal Outward Bound photographer

products for dogs including toys and treats.

his classmates and others from Holderness.

since he is also captured in two of the four

They are available through the company‚ its

Hopefully this column is helping him out a

OB photos in our yearbook!…I heard from

website, on Amazon.com, Chewy.com, and in

bit.…Peter Kimball and his wife Miriam

Daryl Bradley, who reports himself alive

stores including TJ Maxx, Home Goods and

retired last year. “At this writing, retirement

and well and working in the New Haven area.

Marshalls. “I have been living in Denver with

feels more like an extended vacation,”

Ruminating on his most lasting memory for

my wife Cathy for the last 10 years and we ski

says Peter, who used to work for Harvard

Holderness, Daryl says “There are too many.

up in Vail mostly,” he says. Phil and Cathy have

University in Cambridge. “I am still waking up

Suffice to say, I started down the road to

two children, Jennifer, 29 and Christopher, 32.

at the same ridiculously early hour. I don’t miss

becoming a better human being; figuring out

“Also my niece married a Holderness alumnus,

the commute and the daily grind. Volunteer

who I was and where I stood.” Wise words

Chris Roche ’07 from Massachusetts, this

work, deferred maintenance around the house,

that might apply to all of us…Scott Morrison

summer.”…Donald Westwater writes that

children, and grandchildren offer a welcome

checks in from the Gaspé Peninsula in Canada

he and his wife of 24 years, Kathy, recently

change of pace. Hope to see many classmates

where he apparently is spending some time

moved back to Arlington, MA. “Our daughter

at our 50th reunion.”…For me, 2019 was quite

this winter before heading down to Block

Emma graduated from Bates College in

a ride, with my daughter Lisa getting married

Island this summer for a work project. He

Maine in the spring and is teaching English

at our seasonal Cape Cod house in June, and

writes, “We don’t generally come up to the

in Cuenca, Ecuador. Our son Jed is a junior

my son Ted and his wife giving birth to our

Gaspé in the warm months. We come up to

at Union College and is currently taking a

third granddaughter in November. Just as my

play in the snow. Great people, great hills,

class in Argentina.” Before Don and Kathy

wife Lucy and I were getting ready to host

and its snows pretty much constantly. Skied

had children, Kathy lived in South America

Lisa’s wedding, we learned that my sister Ruth,

soft snow with no crowds all this past week!”

and Don, in Southeast Asia. “We’ve continued

who lives on the Cape, had been thrown from

Scott works to lift and move buildings mostly

the tradition,” Don says. “We moved to Quito,

her horse and had broken more bones than I

in New England and New York. He also

Ecuador, for four months when Emma and Jed

knew a person even had in her body. Ruth and

repairs/resurrects “hopelessly deteriorated” or

were in fifth and third grades. Kathy and I

her German shepherd came to live with us for

damaged house frames and he is sitting on an

attempted to home school the kids and we had

a few weeks as she could not climb stairs, and

endless supply of antique building material.

56 | Holderness School Today

Baird Gourlay ’75 on one of his many days of skiing.

tax season since I started my own CPA firm. I

’74

love my work, my clients and the IRS. I enjoy

Scott remembers that his Holderness time was the most important factor in molding

Want to connect with your classmates?

more opportunities!”…Baird Gourlay says,

his future. “We were allowed the freedom to

Consider becoming a class correspondent

“Hi Mac, I skied 154 days last year, and am

be independent thinkers and doers. We were

and encouraging your classmates to

on day 55 today (Jan 22), need I say more? I

surrounded by wilderness and encouraged

reconnect in the HST class notes.

still own 33% of PK’s Ski & Sports, but try to

(pushed at times) to make that wilderness and

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

remain a silent partner. My son Ben manages

nature itself a part of our life.” Scott is living

for more information. Thank you!

the rental shop and started a bike shop a

in Vermont at the moment in rustic conditions: “Pretty much like being on Outward Bound,

my existing clients returning and always

couple summers ago. My oldest daughter

’75

is a ski coach, runs the U14 ski program at

although there is a roof.” When Scott heads through the area later this year, we’re going

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

skis wicked fast. My youngest daughter is

to see if we can get together with the other

Mac Jackson

in her sixth year teaching fourth grade in

locals, Tom Carver and Daryl Bradley to

skifarmer@live.com

Breckenridge, CO. My wife Chelle works for

reminisce and, more importantly, have an

Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation and

Conrad Brothers Construction full time, which

adult beverage.…Peter Terry reports a new

Mac Jackson says, “Here’s what’s going on in

allows me to play golf, mountain bike ride,

job and a new home. More details to follow.…

my life (at least today): Took my old clothes

and ski. I dabble in energy consulting and

Tim Scott is well and toiling away at work

dryer to the recycle bin this morning, and as I

LED retro projects around Idaho and Utah,

over in Jackson, NH. He reminds all that our

was leaving the transfer station in Waitsfield,

but just enough so Chelle and I can go on nice

50th(!) reunion is coming up in 2023. Tim and

VT, I got the first call from the Mad River

vacations. Like the Dolomites, where we are

I will be heading up the cheerleading squad

Valley Ambulance Service dispatcher. Then

headed in September. Cheers to all, and come

(with pom-poms, if we must) to encourage

after taking the patient to the hospital and

visit any time, we have three extra bedrooms

all of you to attend. Our working sales pitch

returning to the MRV, we got the second call,

now. PS. I saw Perry Babcock and John

for the moment is “Reunion 2023: If not now,

then while getting coffee from the Red Hen

Putnam at Middleton reunion last June, and

when?” Might have to work on that pitch a bit

Bakery in Middlesex, VT (returning from the

Rick Shipton shows up a couple times a year.”

more…Finally, Sam Richards checks in with

second call), we received the third call. So I

best wishes to all for 2020 and some advice

didn’t get any wood stacked, or my new clothes

for our current icy winter conditions to “stay

dryer installed properly. This what I do most

’76

vertical.” Words of wisdom from Sam’s long

Mondays, though most Mondays there are

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

career on the Holderness hockey rink.…As

usually no calls, or maybe one on average, so

Biff Gentsch

for my news, my youngest of three sons got

I usually catch up on odd jobs and anything

biffgentsch@gmail.com

married in June. Seems like just yesterday

Robin wants me to do. My youngest daughter

that he was in grammar school. Got in some

made the Deans List at UVM, so exciting!! If

skiing with my middle son up at Stratton

skiing in or visiting the Mad River Valley look

’77

and Mt. Snow in January and I am planning

me up at Sugarbush (occasionally at MRG) or

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

another assault on Mt. Rainier in Washington

in the phone book!…J. Hunter Ten Broeck

Peter Grant

state this August with my eldest son. Our first

writes, “I’m still loving living in New Mexico.

pete@grantcom.us

attempt last September was preempted half

I spend as much time as possible hiking

way up by serious rain/snow/wind. Not sure

(mountains, deserts, slot canyons) and doing

Craig Antonides says he “Ran into a few

why the hell I am still doing this kind of stuff

photography. We are still very busy with our

fellow alumni—Barton “Linden” Mallory ’03,

since I get enrolled in Medicare this coming

company Waterwise Landscapes as well as

and brothers Colin Rodgers ’99 and Chris

May 1. Maybe like Sam Richards says, “stay

several non-profit environmental groups.”…

Rodgers ’02—at the wedding of Olympic

vertical.” Have a great year! –Dick Conant

Rodger Wolf writes, “This will be my 10th

cross-country skiers Sophie Caldwell and Simi

Spring 2020 | 57

CLASS NOTES

Hunter Broeck ’75 and his wife Barb in August of 2019 climbing four 14ers in Colorado in a day (Decalibron).

Linden Mallory ’03 Colin Rodgers ’99, Craig Antonides ’77 and Chris Rodgers ’02 at a wedding in Vermont this past October.

CLASS NOTES

Jim Murray ’77, Joseph “Jodie” Collins ’77, George “Ham” Boynton ’77, Olin Browne ’77, Pam Browne and Ginger Boynton. Having dinner at Omni National golf resort in Tucson Arizona where Olin and the PGA Champions Tour we’re playing that week.

David King ’78 and his son Cameron during a hike up Rattlesnake Mountain in January 2020. every summer and welcome getting together with our NE Holderness friends then as well. Looking forward to attending the next Holderness School reunion for the Class of 77.

Best to all my classmates from the 1970s.”

’78

Randy White ’77 and his wife Sara and two grandkids Tucker and Wyatt Holenback in Canyon Jamul, CA (spring 2018).

CLASS CORRESPONDENT Luther Turmelle lturmelle@sbcglobal.net

Jim Murray ’77, Olin Browne ’77, Joseph “Jodie” Collins ’77, Jef Sharp ’77 and George “Ham” Boynton ’77. At a Pro-Am round in Tucson.

Travels, foreign and domestic, highlight the latest edition of news from Class of 1978. Dave King started the new year with a return to the

club is Brent Lafoley ’90. The neighborhood

“Lakes and Mountain Region of central New

I lived in in Denver had a ’69 graduate. At the

Hampshire” as I used to have to say in my old

place we leave our dogs down here when we

radio job at WPNH. Dave and his son Cameron

are away, the owner’s sister graduated from

did a little hiking up Rattlesnake Mountain

Holderness. Small world and gets smaller as

and got a great shot together with what I

you get older. Everybody who I’ve seen who

believe is Big Squam Lake in the background.

Hamilton.…George “Ham” Boynton writes

graduated after the class of ’77 always wants to

Dave tells me Cameron graduated with a math

in that he had a couple of classmates down to

know about the ‘tunnels.’ ‘What tunnels?’ I ask

degree in May 2019 and is currently working

the house in Tucson, AZ to watch and catch up

them.”…Schuyler “Randy” White writes in

as a CAD technician saving up funds so he

with fellow classmate Olin Browne. “Joseph

that he moved to San Diego in 1984, has three

can hike the Appalachian Trail from start to

"Jody" Collins, Jim Murray, and Jef Sharp

kids, four grandkids and a fifth on the way. “If

finish this spring/summer. Dave’s other son,

made the trek down here in February for a

you’re in town look me up.”…We heard from

Jack, “is a neuroscience guy with a master’s in

week so we could surprise Olin Browne who

Peter King who said: “Last year (2018–2019)

public health,” according to his father, and is

was playing in a PGA Champions Tour event

I was the municipal lawyer (city attorney) for

working for a non-profit healthcare provider in

here in Tucson. To make a long story short, we

the City of Palm Springs, CA, but now have

Los Angeles as a data scientist. “He loves the

had a blast. Olin came over to the house one

re-retired; however, I continue to handle a

work but not the place. Misses our lovely (New

night and stayed until the wee hours but all

few legal matters—primarily as counsel to

England) weather.”…John Steitz did a little

we had to do the next day was to go play my

the snowsports industry. I still ski (Alpine)

traveling down memory lane for us. “Steitzie”

course, Tucson CC. It was great catching up

until the legs give out and teach skiing at a

was a civil engineer for quite a while, living

with everyone. I see Olin at least once a year

local mountain in Southern California as

around Lake Placid, NY, but now he’s a sheep

down here and saw the other three at our 40th

a certified PSIA Instructor. When we (my

rancher in Big Sky Country. John and his wife

reunion which was the first time in 40 years.

wife Sue and I) are not at our home in the

Carol raise champion natural colored Merinos

The local paper caught wind of this happening

San Gabriel Mountains, we’re usually on our

in the Flathead Valley of Montana. He’s also

and we were in the sports section of the paper.

boat located in Point Loma, San Diego, CA.

the subject of a recent podcast episode. The

The article was titled ‘Mini Reunion.’ I do

Visits from Holderness friends are always

podcast, Ovinology, talks about how “sheep

want to say this about Holderness, but we are

welcome. And usually we’re in New England

helped shape the world” (the words of the

everywhere. A good friend of mine from the

(Newburyport, MA) for at least six weeks

podcaster, not mine). John and Carol operate

Randy White’s ’77 family on a sandbar in the Colorado River, Yuma AZ (summer 2019).

58 | Holderness School Today

’82 Chris Pesek chrispesek7@gmail.com "Chris Pesek gets an A for urging us all

Luther Turmelle ’78 overlooking the Baha’i Gardens in Haifa, Israel during June 2019.

Steitzhof Merino and from the looks of it, what the late Rip Richards was to root structure,

to submit a class note. My wife Christine and I live in Manchester, VT and I have

Chris Pasek's ’82 family at Nolin Lake in Kentucky. Left to right: Marty (17) Chris (55, acts 35), Alex (19) and Teddy (16).

“Steitzie” is to sheep ranching. And he’s so

been working in our family business since graduating from UNH in 87. Our son Henry ’11 works in the family business, Francis ’13 works in San Francisco and our daughter

dedicated to the business that we couldn’t

from my class—Will Neff, Cullen Morse,

Mary “Phie” ’18 is a sophomore at SLU. All

lure him back east in the summer of 2018

Andy Sawyer, Ghia (Szwed) Truesdale,

three children are Holderness grads. I am

for our 40th reunion. During a recent return

Kris (van Curan) Nordblom, Tim Brook,

honored to be serving on the Holderness

trip to Lake Placid, John ref lected upon his

Chris Coffin, Ander Wensberg, William

board along with Chris Keating ’81 and

previous career. “While there are so many of

“Ward” Hobbs—but would love to hear

Burgie Howard, who not only bring great

my engineering/ construction projects that I

from other classmates as well. My personal

experience to the board but are also highly

have left behind, it was really cool to see the

email is hihratch@gmail.com. If you’re ever

entertaining. The highlight of the last board

Winooski Downtown project. I cannot believe

in the Framingham/Sturbridge area, please

meeting was sitting in on the Out Back 50th

I actually lived through my portion of that

let me know. It would be great to catch up.”

panel discussion including Bill Clough ’57 and Mike Henriques ’76 - great stories, all

monster. Sheep are so therapeutic after that.

’80

true. Best, Joe Miles"…Chris Pesek writes:

scribe, ’78ers, my family and I went on an extended trip to Israel last June. My youngest,

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

Holderness friends, catching up, hearing

Jacob, has dual citizenship there and took his

Jack Dawley

different perspectives and experiences and

older brother Zack as well as my wife and me

jdawley@northlandresidential.com

sharing stories we all have in common. I

Just chillin’ is good.”…As for your humble

all over the place. Spent a week in Jerusalem and visited the Old City and the Western Wall

“2020 has been great for reconnecting with

really have enjoyed the conversations we

’81

have had and love hearing about classmates,

as well as Yad Vashem, which is the Holocaust Museum. We traveled to visit the Dead Sea,

Want to connect with your classmates?

and women staying connected, vacationing

Masada, Haifa, and finished in Tel Aviv to take

Consider becoming a class correspondent

together and nurturing lifelong friendships. It

a quick dip in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

and encouraging your classmates to

has been good to hear from George Samaras

My wife Joan and Zack stayed for a third week.

reconnect in the HST class notes.

and Dave Marsden in Portland, ME, Miles

Zack is in his second year of teaching English

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

Glascock in Florida, Josiah Miles and

and social studies at Dobbins Vo-Tech in North

for more information. Thank you!

Mary Ann Zock in Vermont, Betsy (Farny)

roommates, and upper and lower classmen

Baur back in Colorado, Bob Kenney, Sheila

Philadelphia. Very proud of both my boys. As for me, I’m still a working journalist, having

Hilary (Frost) Warner writes in: “With two

Finnegan and Erica (Weber) Scatchard in

reached 22 years with the New Haven Register

amazing new hips (both mine), my husband

Massachusetts, and Dagny Bock in Montreal.

in Connecticut. As Charlie Daniels used to

and I embarked on a pre-retirement adventure

Let’s make this a year of “don’t be a stranger.”

say back in the day, “It’s been a long road

in the spring of 2019. We moved from Bow

Please send me or Holderness a note and give

and many turns of the wheel” from working

NH to Morrisville VT in hopes of finding

us your email address and let us know where

on the Campus Bull newspaper. –Luther

more snow and colder temps. Jeff retired

you live and what you’re up to. You may find

from work as a civil engineer and is now a

out an old friend lives near you, in a place

’79

bicycle mechanic and I was fortunate to find

where you’re headed or somewhere you want to

a three-days-a-week job at the community

go. If you need us to try and connect you with

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

health center, a 15 minute walk from home.

another Holderness alum, we can try. If you

Hratch Astarjian

It has been fun to mix things up a bit!”

really think you need to check out American

hihratch@gmail.com

whiskey or that little horse race in Kentucky in May, send me a note. I have to warn you,

Hratch Astarjian reports: “I’m living in

we got walloped with 1” of snow last week

Massachusetts and working in Framingham

here in Louisville, KY and the schools were

at Bose. I have been in touch with a few people

delayed for one hour. Louisville is working

Spring 2020 | 59

CLASS NOTES

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

Faber’s boys) and my son Theo is a seventh grader. I’m still playing lots of tennis and paddle and trail running in between. Looking

CLASS NOTES

forward to running the Dipsea Race with my kids again this June in Mill Valley, CA.”

’87 CLASS CORRESPONDENT Kathryn (Lubrano) Robinson kathryn.robinson@gmail.com

Ian Sinclair ’85, Angus ’85 and Missy (Waverly) Christie ’85 (who eschewed inclusion in the attached photo) had fun catching up at a Holderness soccer game despite the tough loss to Concord Academy.

Happy New Year! Didn’t hear from many folks

Todd Burgess ’87 and his family.

this round, but here is what I have from our classmates. Peter “Zeke” Sieglaff and his wife moved back to Boca Grande, FL and have

on it. This would not have happened like

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

joined Gulf to Bay Sotheby’s International

this at Holderness. I remember us making

for more information. Thank you!

Realty. Zeke wrote, “I have also resumed

a makeshift ice rink in front of Niles and

f ly fishing guiding for Tarpon from April

having boot hockey tournaments under lights.

Tim Jones reported in that he caught

through July as well as accepted a position

The snow was close to waist high on campus

up with Steve Jones ’87 in Jackson

as the saltwater angling sales manager for

that year and we had fun. Getting down the

Hole, W Y. It had been 35 years.

Eleven Experience. Eleven is right up my

back hill to go into town was tricky but not as unforgettable as continuing to break my

alley as they cater to f ly fishing and skiing in

’86

some of the greatest destinations around the

waxed laces on my snowshoes during the longer day hikes on Out Back. All the best, and

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

pictures on Facebook and Instagram; amazing

remember ’don’t cut corners on the path, if you

Chris Zak

adventures!…Christopher “Todd” Burgess

do, you’ll cut corners the rest of your life.’”

chriszak@gmail.com

and his family still live in Hong Kong, going

’83

Margaret “Molly” (Adriance) Whitcomb

league baseball for my 11-year-old son, rock

writes in from New Hampshire: “My son is

climbing with my eight-year-old daughter,

Want to connect with your classmates?

graduating from Holderness this spring and

and playing tennis keeps me busy outside

Consider becoming a class correspondent

my daughter next spring. It has been a joy to

my day job of banking. We still visit Florida

and encouraging your classmates to

watch them thrive with all Holderness has to

and Idaho every summer and Christmas

reconnect in the HST class notes.

offer and to be a part of the endless positive

and during the winters we don’t ski, we are

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

energy on campus. I continue to design

watching plenty of TGR movies! Hope all

for more information. Thank you!

homes in the area and coach Nordic skiing

is well with Class of ’87.” Todd also had the

for local middle schools.”…Pete Fenwick

opportunity to have dinner with Phil Peck

’84

writes in from Maryland: “Still on the farm

and a small gang of Holderness folks back

and playing with horses. We have increased

in December: “Fun to share Holderness

Want to connect with your classmates?

our salt water on the f ly lately. My son Tommy

relationships all over the world!”…I know that

Consider becoming a class correspondent

is a very engaged sportsman and we’ve had

Priscilla “Cilla” Foster is doing incredibly

and encouraging your classmates to

great trips to Andros, Abaco (pre-Dorian), and

well with her custom book bindery, Priscilla

reconnect in the HST class notes.

Cuba. My daughter Daisy is in college, and

Foster Handmade—and that she has two

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

Tommy beginning the process. Both pursuing

very cool kids who are keeping her busy and

for more information. Thank you!

AG. I recently purchased an industrial tools

doing amazing things in theater and dance.

business—stressing my learning curve but

I’m sure that is the case with most of you,

’85

a fun challenge.”…Jamie Faber is still in

keeping busy with family, life, work, animals,

San Francisco and road biking a ton. His

parents, etc!!…As for me, Kathryn (Lubrano)

Want to connect with your classmates?

two boys, Chase and Henry, are freshmen at

Robinson the biggest change has been that

Consider becoming a class correspondent

Marin Academy and his oldest son, Sam, is

we lost our 14 1/2 year old Aussie, Maggie, this

and encouraging your classmates to

a freshman at Colorado College.…Chris Zak

summer. She was an incredible dog, who was

reconnect in the HST class notes.

reports, “My daughter Alexandra is a freshman

my sidekick, so taking a bit of time to make

in high school (at the rival school to Jamie

the steps toward the next one. Maybe it will

world.” I am sure many of you have seen his

on 23 years now. Todd is “coaching little

60 | Holderness School Today

CLASS NOTES

Alex MacCormick ’88 ran into Travis Aldrich ’94 on the chairlift. ’88ers Renee Dupre, Liz Ganem and Lisa (Hand) Cicero getting together in Southern California.

Fredrik “Tiaan” and Lindley (Hall) van der Linde began a family adventure by taking a

happen by the next HST or that’s the plan. I

break from their lives in Burke, VT to move

am sure that you are all keeping up with your

to Hauula, HI. Lindley is a science faculty

Holderness relationships on your own and

member and agriculture program director,

on social media. Until next time, be well!

and Tiaan is Director of Admissions, College

Amanda Black’s ’89 son, Harrison Black.

Counseling, and the Outdoor Program at

’88

Asia Pacific International School on Oahu.

CLASS CORRESPONDENTS

and fourth grades, respectively, and learning

Christina “Nina” (Bradley) Smallhorn

Korean, Chinese, saxophone, guitar, as well as

nsmallhorn@me.com

surfing, boogie boarding, and other Hawaiian

Their children Linden and Stella are in sixth

activities. They are missing snow sports but Erika (Ludtke) McGoldrik writes, “My oldest

deeply appreciate this enriching experience!…

Emma graduated in May and is living and

Amanda Black writes: “Hard to believe that

working in NYC as a digital creator. She loves

we have moved into another decade! Harrison,

the city! My son Jack is a senior, graduating in

Potter (our three year old Norwich Terrier)

May and going to University of South Carolina.

and I are enjoying life in Idaho. Harrison will

My youngest Edy Ann is a sophomore and I am

graduate from fifth grade this May from the

happy to have her home for two more years.”

Sun Valley Community School. He’s dabbling

Erika is still living in Hilton Head.…Todd

in hockey, loves ski racing and lacrosse, but is

Holmes says, “Life is good in Charlotte, VT

most passionate about his work in the theater.

with wife Julie and three kids ages 9, 16, and

He just recently completed a run in Fun Home

18. Two are driving and the eldest is looking

(John Bechdel) and is on to the Wizard of

at colleges for next year (doh!). Continuing to

Oz (Scarecrow). Harrison turned eleven in

work at UVM Medical Center as an associate

January and was very pleased to receive his

professor of dermatology with a focus on Mohs

acceptance letter from the Hogwarts School

surgery. Playing disc golf when I have free

of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am wrapping

time.”…Chris Stewart has been celebrating

up my sixth season with US Ski & Snowboard

his 50th (April, 2019) with a vengeance.

as the director of development for their major

After hitting up the Burning Man Festival, he

gifts program. It is challenging and rewarding

linked up with Bruce Bohuny ’87 at a Dead

work which allows me to see many Holderness

& Co show at Madison Square Garden, met

peeps while on the road. Have missed seeing

up with Morgan “Dix” Wheelock ’87 for an

my core Holderness crew these past few years,

early season ski weekend in Stowe followed by

but am grateful that we are all still in regular

The van der Linde family (Tiaan ’89 and Lindley ’89) flashing their "tats".

Andrea Hamlin-Levin ’90, Natalie “Pixie” (Spencer) Brokaw ’90, Megan (Sheehan) Kristiansen ’90, Tegan (Hamilton) Hayunga ’90, Kat Alfond ’90, Tracy (McCoy) Gillette ’89, and Serena (Black) Martin ’91.

a 62 inch dump in Jackson Hole with Steve

touch. Ironically, Carolyn (Colket) Cullen ’87

busy with all kinds of different activities. We

Jones ’87.…Renee Dupre, Lisa (Hand)

and I both sit on the SVCS board together and

are looking forward to a couple of ski trips

Cicero, and Liz Ganem all got together

it has been fun reconnecting with her and her

to Quebec and then VT. I was fortunate to

in Los Angeles.…David Warren moved to

family. If anyone is ever out this way, be sure

get to hang out with my little BFF, Tracy

St. Louis with wife Julie and son Knox.

to look us up!”…Charles “Brad” Greenwood

(McCoy) Gillette the other day in Denver,

reports he is doing well and staying busy

which is always a highlight for me. Seeing all

’89

with family, work, and fun. No crazy changes

our Holderness friends at the reunion this

in our world, still living in Kittery, ME and

past summer was a lot of fun and I can’t wait

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

representing Helly Hansen and a few other

till the next one...provided they will have us

Brad Greenwood

small brands. Cora is 11 and Charlie is 9, both

back! Cheers to all and keep the notes coming.

brad@greenwoodbiz.com

are doing well in the local school, and staying

Spring 2020 | 61

CLASS NOTES

Joe Nolan ’96 (aka Santa Claus) and his children (left to right) Joey, Owen and Abigail.

Abigail Wilson ’93 in Rwanda last year supporting democratic governance.

’90

Sky Kubby ’93 (center) showcasing his Medical Foods products.

’92 CLASS CORRESPONDENT

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

Kelly (Mullen) Wieser

Nina (Cook) Silitch

kelly@wiesermail.com

ninasilitch@gmail.com Edwina “Nina” (Cook) Silitch writes: “I am

’93

very excited about the celebration of Out Back

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

50. It was indeed Out Back that launched

Lindsay (Dewar) Fontana

me into my own career of outdoor education

linds_dewar@yahoo.com

and my love of climbing and skiing in the mountains. Because of this and wanting

Abigail Wilson says, “Hello Holderness!

to give back to the program in some way, I

I’ve been living in DC for the past 15 years,

had the idea of bringing back the Out Back

supporting democratic governance in Africa

handknit hat. This project was inspired

through USAID funded projects. In recent

by my own love of the Out Back program.

years, my work has brought me to Mali, DRC,

Don’t forget—Reunion Year!!! Sign up!”

Chad, Rwanda and Djibouti, allowing me to

Joe Nolan ’96 and his wife Jessica.

always keep learning and stay humble. My

’94

’91

more important role is mom to a high energy

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

nine-year-old girl who is a blossoming artist

Ramey Harris-Tatar

Want to connect with your classmates?

and writer. Yoga and meditation keep me sane

rameyht@yahoo.com

Consider becoming a class correspondent

most of the time. And I greatly enjoy seeing

and encouraging your classmates to

Dr. Lewis Overaker once a year on Christmas

David Castor reports, “Still living in

reconnect in the HST class notes.

Eve at church in Plymouth!”…Hilary Taylor

the DC area, working in the Pentagon.

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

writes, “In January, I left higher education

Promoted to colonel last August. Our son

for more information. Thank you!

for the world of non-profit. I now oversee the

Adam is now 20 months old and already

300+ volunteers at Promises2Kids.org, a foster

a very stubborn 2 year old, but amazes

Hey peeps, Jon Hatch here, still alive

youth agency in San Diego. The agency and

us daily with his ability to learn.”

and well in the republic that is Boulder,

the position are both incredibly fulfilling.”

ColoRADo! Kids are in high school. Ethan graduates in the spring. Their mom is the

We heard from Sky Kubby who writes: I

’95

bomb! We’ve been married for 25 years;

still live out here in Hawaii with my wife

Want to connect with your classmates?

holy carp! I’m still running and f ly fishing.

and 13 year old daughter, Star. I make it

Consider becoming a class correspondent

Check out my YouTube channel https://

to the mainland to ski at Tahoe and some

and encouraging your classmates to

www.youtube.com/user/Hatchbaak/videos

business stuff for my brand Medicinal Foods.

reconnect in the HST class notes.

and laugh. Residential real estate continues

Just went out to Los Angeles to speak on

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

to be a great choice for a career here. I’m

Invincible Immunity and Everlasting Energy

for more information. Thank you!

always here for your friends and family

and was on a Food as Medicine panel.

who are moving here to heaven’s gate.

62 | Holderness School Today

’96

writes: “Life is good for my son Jack and me.

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

anyone when they are local. After our 20th

Heather (Pierce) Roy

reunion time has f lown by. We are looking

heatherbpierce@hotmail.com

forward to lacrosse season, Jack’s third. He and I plan to visit Holderness for a game this

Joe Nolan writes, “I am currently a loan

spring. We were able to see Coach Bob Low

closer with Citizens Bank in the commercial

a couple years ago, and will try to catch up

operations department in Rhode Island. I live

with him again this year.”…And from Allie

in Seekonk, MA with my wife Jessica whom

Barker: “Well, it’s dark, winter, and has been

I married in May 2011. We have two boys

well below zero for a couple months now. We

together, Owen (8) and Joey (12), and I have

are receiving an additional three minutes

two stepsons, Dominick (20) and Brandon

of light each day, since solstice. Although

and I am the only affiliated newborn

(24). I spend most of my free time coaching

we’re deep in snow, avalanche forecasting

photographer at the largest hospital in the

youth football in our town and also helping

work, logging, and cabin projects...farm life

area, which is quite exciting. Reach out if

to develop a new youth tackle program in the

is around the corner. A day in the off-grid life

you want some portraits done; it’s a such a

spring for our surrounding towns in Rhode

looks like: get up after eight hours of sleep

fun way to reconnect! I was able to get out

Island and southeastern Massachusetts. We

(because the light won’t wake you up), load the

on the town last winter with Sara (Simes)

are currently in our second year with the

wood stove, sip hot tea, tend to the chickens

Custance ’99 and Vito Roussell to see Angel

Rhody Junior Rams and are trying to help

and ducks and muck poop while dreaming of

Del Villar perform in Somerville, MA. He is

our kids who love the sport of football gain

beautiful compost, haul water from the well

so incredibly talented. Look up his touring

experience and knowledge to assist them to

to the ducks so they can bathe despite it being

schedule (under Homeboy Sandman) and

have better opportunities to gain entrance

-20°, make breakfast on the woodstove (which

go see him perform! Absolutely worth it!

to private high schools and eventually

includes most of the following: homegrown

Angel is touring pretty much the next three

college like much of the rest of the country

and processed sausage, scrapple or bacon, eggs

months, and writing and recording whenever

does with their youth football programs.”

from our forested chickens, potatoes from the

he gets a break. That’s pretty much it for me!

root cellar, and a ferment) eat, load the wood

Tara (Walker) Hamer…Adam Goldberg

’97

stove, chop wood, move wood from one place

says “Hello from Atlanta! I moved here with

to another and either work on farm planning,

my wife and two girls from Colorado a few

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

go to the mountains to work avalanche

years ago and am enjoying it. I am a full-time

Putney Pyles

forecasting job, or craft wood to do finish

architecture photographer with a focus on

putneypyles@gmail.com

work in the cabin. Every day is an opportunity

hospitality. Also, I’ve been fortunate to travel

to be creative, relish the quiet peaceful

the world working with luxury hotel brands

From Katherine “Putney” (Haley) Pyles:

landscape on our handmade homestead,

and tourism boards for their social media. You

“Hi all! By the time this issue reaches our

and chop at least a few rounds of wood!”

can follow along or say “hi” on Instagram

mailboxes, there will be leaves on the trees

Angel Del Villar ’98 (Homeboy Sandman) at his performance in Boston with Sara (Simes) Custance ’99, Vito Roussell ’98 and Tara (Walker) Hamer ’98.

@adamgoldbergphotography. Hope to connect

’98

with everyone soon.”…Margot “Alex" Cooper

coziness of winter. We put my two-year-old son Peter on skis for the first time two weeks

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

for the past three years. Loving the sunshine,

ago it lasted about two minutes, but we are

Tara (Walker) Hamer

the beach, and the ocean. Only ski a couple

hopeful! I hope 2020 is off to a nice start for

taraphotography@gmail.com

of times a year these days but have been

and gardens in bloom. For now, we cherish the

all. Thanks to our classmates who submitted

writes, “Have been living in Palm Beach, FL

looking into purchasing a winter home in

updates for this issue.”…Mike Moriarty sent

Hello friends! I’m back from a hiatus and

Colorado! I do miss the snow and the feeling

in the following news: “All is well here. I am

excited to hear from some classmates in 2020!

of a ‘real winter.’ Still working in finance

living in St. Johnsbury, VT which is not that

I reached out to a handful and heard back

and living with my wonderful boyfriend of

far from Holderness. My wife Ashleigh and

from a handful. Some I’ve kept in regular

the past few years. Family is well and life is

I have two daughters who are 11 and 8. I am

touch with, others I haven’t heard from in

good. As always, I miss the old Holderness

the director of instruction for a school district

maybe 15 years; so fun to reconnect! I am

days.”…William “Zach” Antonucci reports,

in the Northeast Kingdom and received my

still living here in Dover (seacoast) NH with

“In 2018, Cat, Greyson (3) and I moved to

doctorate in education a few years back. We

my husband and three daughters, Vivie

Andover, MA after spending a good portion

spend our winter weekends in our yurt close

(11), Lola (9), and Etta (6). I’m running my

of the previous decade in South Boston with

to Jay Peak where my oldest is on the race

photography business full-time still, which

a brief stint in Jacksonville, FL. Greyson is

team. All in all, life is good!”…From down

is going wonderfully. I regularly photograph

active like most toddlers and we’re hoping (not

the road in RI, William “Garrett” Kemble

Holderness alumni weddings and families

pushing!) he’ll enjoy the outdoors as much as

Spring 2020 | 63

CLASS NOTES

We live in Westerly, RI and are happy to see

CLASS NOTES

Taylor Swasey ’01, Anne (Palm) Mormina ’01, Betsy (Cornell) Aceto ’01, and Karyn (Hoepp) Jennings ’01 in Boston.

Christopher Nielson ’02, his wife Suni Dillard, Betsy Pantazelos ’02 and her boyfriend Chris Potter on Stinson Mountain in Rumney, NH.

we do. Catherine got me hooked on cycling and although a slew of house projects took up most of the last two summers, I am anxious to ride more in 2020. I played in a men’s ice hockey league while we were in Southie but haven’t searched for a new local team; let me know if

Nina DiBona-Pauk ’03 and family.

anyone is looking for a broken down 40-yearold. 2019 was a good year reconnecting with old classmates. On a business trip, I caught up with former roommate Erik Dane, who remains as creative and charismatic as he was

Andy Gaylord ’02, Chris Rodgers ’02, Ave Cook ’02, Philip “Britt” Ruegger ’02, and Dave Madeira ’03 enjoying a ski trip together.

in the ’90s. We spent the better part of the evening catching up and hopefully another trip brings me back to Santa Monica. I’ve

’00

become addicted to Jimmy Jung’s Instagram

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

posts and hoping we can share some cycling

Andrew “Sully” Sullivan

rides in the near future. Vito Roussell

MyIreland20@gmail.com

proved to be a shockingly reliable source of swimming pool advice; more than once I thought my pool would end up green. I haven’t mustered the courage to visit his family for

’01

fear of bodily injury and undoubtedly a wide

CLASS CORRESPONDENTS

range of verbal assaults—bear in mind we

Karyn (Hoepp) Jennings

lived together at Wesleyan for two years. I

KarynPJennings@gmail.com

have been able to keep in good touch with

Pictured with Santa is Alex Palmisano’s ’03 son Cooper and newest family member Owen who joined the family in October 2019.

other Holderness alumni, my brothers Tom

Karyn (Hoepp) Jennings says, “Happy New

’97 and Ben Antonucci ’17. Tom is at Taft

Year! 2019 was a great year and hoping to

who has opened Dirt Road Brewing in

School with his wife and two daughters

continue that into 2020! I was lucky enough

Philomath, OR. His beers are unsurpassed

teaching history, coaching and overseeing

to meet up with Betsy (Cornell) Aceto, Anne

and that is saying a lot in the Pacific NW.

Taft summer school. Ben is finishing college

(Palm) Mormina and Taylor Swasey in

It has also been good to see Jamie Bradley

at USM and is aspiring to be a teacher. I’m

Boston. It was so great catching up with the

’99 after almost twenty years. He and his

already motivating myself to get the 25 year

ladies, just like no time had passed. This year,

beautiful family live in PDX too. He still

reunion in 2023 to catch up with everyone.”

we’re having a great time skiing with Avery,

races bicycles and has me almost convinced

who will be four in March. She’s actually

to get back into it. Maybe this spring.”

’99

learning to turn and stop now, which, as you

Want to connect with your classmates?

busy and we’re just enjoying life! Hope to see

’02

Consider becoming a class correspondent

everyone at our (GULP) 20 year reunion!!”…

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

and encouraging your classmates to

Tyler Stubbs writes, “My family and I have

Betsy Pantazelos

reconnect in the HST class notes.

been living in Portland, OR since last year. It’s

b.pantazelos@gmail.com

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

nice to be ninety minutes from the mountain

for more information. Thank you!

or the ocean. I have been able to reconnect

Betsy Pantazelos has “been spending a lot

with classmate Leonard “Jon” Campbell,

of time in New Hampshire this year having

64 | Holderness School Today

know, is key! Otherwise, work is great and

CLASS NOTES

Gunstock race league. Pictured L-R: Neal Frei ’03, Will Regii (brother of Mindy (Regii) Wright ’03), Joe ’02 and Kaitlin Sampson, Emily Sampson ’05, Evan Mullen ’00, and Brett Patten (spouse of Megan (Bristow) Patten ’98).

Susan (Taylor) Wasp’s ’05 daughter Remy Christine Wasp.

Brie (Keefe) Healy’s ’05 daughter Lydia Healy.

Dave Campbell ’04, his wife Audrey, and their daughter Matilda celebrating New Years in Santa Cruz, CA.

bought a cabin in Rumney, New Hampshire.

Emily Sampson ’05 and Brie Healy ’05 enjoying their tattoos at their mutual friend’s wedding.

It’s been a lot of fun to explore the local area in my free time and I have even skied to the summit of Stinson Mountain right in Rumney with Christopher Nielson, his wife Suni, and my boyfriend, Chris Potter.”

’03

Nigel Malloch ’05 with his wife Nikki and dog Torrey.

’04

’05 CLASS CORRESPONDENT Brie (Keefe) Healy healey.brie@gmail.com

Want to connect with your classmates?

CLASS CORRESPONDENTS

Consider becoming a class correspondent

Mike Tucker writes, “My wife Stephanie and

Nick Payeur

and encouraging your classmates to

I welcomed baby girl Emerson “Emmy” Welch

ndpayeur@gmail.com

reconnect in the HST class notes.

Tucker on December 31, 2019. Mom and baby

Neal Frei

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

are happy and healthy!”…Willie Ford reports,

nealfrei@gmail.com

for more information. Thank you!

“I still live in Utah. Started a business, Givego,

Nina DiBona-Pauk reports that this year

Dave Campbell writes, “I am living in San

mobile coaching technology that connects

has been an exciting one. “We welcomed

Francisco, CA with my wife Audrey and

amateurs with professionals. I continue to

our second son, Francis, in September!

daughter Matilda, who turns 1 on January

love skiing, entrepreneurship, and adventure.

Mattie (Ford) DiNapoli ’04, Mindy (Regii)

13. We are thrilled to be parents and are

In my spare time, I serve on a few non-profit

Wright, Ashley (Hedlund) Healy ’04, and

enjoying all things California—surfing,

boards—High Fives Foundation and the Shane

I were also able to get our families together

running, golfing, hiking, skiing, and life

McConkey Foundation—which is a ton of

for a mini ski team BBQ reunion over the

in the city. I recently started a new job as a

fun.”…Pete Schlech notes, “I am currently

summer.”…Alex Palmisano wrote, “We have

product manager at Gusto, a tech company

living in Yardley, PA with my wife Emily and

just moved to Portland, ME from California

focused on helping small businesses

our eight-month-old daughter Ruby. I’m an

and are enjoying our first Christmas here.”

easily run payroll, benefits, and HR.”

instructor pilot f lying the KC-10 in the Air

which is headquartered in SLC. Givego is a

Force Reserve part time, and I f ly for Delta Air

Spring 2020 | 65

living in New York City and started my own brand strategy, experiential marketing, and

CLASS NOTES

production firm — The Morrison Group.

We work globally across the fashion, arts, entertainment, hospitality, consumer goods, and nonprofit spheres.…Kelly Walsh married Colin Dolph on May 4, 2019 at the St. Regis in

Blair Bruning ’06 with her husband Quig and daughter Daphne.

Michael ’07 and Natalee Schleck and their dog Archie.

NYC.…Michael Schlech says “Hey everyone.

Quick update on what I am doing and where I am at. I live and work in Los Angeles doing

April 2019, and our pup Rosie. Not much

sales and relationship management for a tech

has changed otherwise besides staying busy

company. My wife of four years, Natalee, works

teaching middle school and enjoying my new

in tech as well, and we are currently building a

role as a mama! Hope you all are doing well.

house in Marina Del Rey. Life is good, and we are enjoying the sunshine on the West Coast, if

’06

you ever are in our neighborhood reach out to

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

can meet up. Hope everyone is doing well!”…

Casey Gilman

Cambria Brockman is “currently living in

Clgilman5@gmail.com

Charlestown MA and writing my second book.

me on LinkedIn or something and maybe we

I recently took my two year old son skiing Blair (Thompson) Bruning writes, “In

for the first time at Cannon Mountain! He

October Quig and I welcomed Daphne Levis

loved it.…Christopher Roche was married

Bruning; we’re so in love! The night before

in September of 2019 in Eagle Colorado.

she arrived, we had a very spicy Thai dinner

“Henry Holdsworth ’07 was in my wedding

Lines out of New York City as my full time job.

with Anne Richardson in Santa Monica,

party. Henry still lives in Tahoe and comes to

Cheers!”…Nigel Malloch is working for PBF

CA. This March, we are relocating from

visit my wife and I in San Francisco here and

Energy. “Happy wife, happy life, expecting

California to New York City. We hope to

there. Polly Babcock ’08 was our wedding

baby Isla in March 2020; spouse and I surfing

see more alumni when we’re East!”…Jesse

photographer. Interesting enough, Polly grew

daily.”…Emily Sampson writes, “I’m still

Straus reports, “Got married to the love of my

up with my wife in Vail and their families

living in New Hampshire and working as a

life on October 5, 2019. I was lucky enough

are really good friends.”…As for me, Taylor

board certified behavior analyst in public

to have some Rathbun originals attend.”…

James, I recently moved to Portland, ME from

schools consulting with special education

Reed Laverack says, “My wife Emily and I

Boston and I’m getting married in September.

teams. I coach ski racing on the weekends in

welcomed our daughter Scout last September;

the winter and spend the rest of my free time

she loved walking the trails at Holderness

running and walking in the mountains, and

over the holidays!”…Tai Haluszka recently

’08

begrudgingly riding my road bike just as I did

moved from New Hampshire to Charleston,

CLASS CORRESPONDENTS

at Holderness. Brie (Keefe) Healy and I keep

SC. “I went from teaching to being the

Baird (Meem) Anderson

in regular contact over the Bachelor franchise

education and outreach coordinator at

bairdmeem@gmail.com

and frequent visits to Vermont.”…Susan

Redux Contemporary Art Center and am

Jessica White

(Taylor) Wasp reports, “We joyfully welcomed

loving it! I miss the mountains, but luckily

white.jessica.madigan@gmail.com

our second child, Remy Christine Wasp, to

I will be back skiing with former faculty

the world on November 5. Her two-year-old

member Hal Gartner this February!”

An alumni photo at Jesse Straus's ’06 Wedding: Bill White ’06, Chris Hoffmeister ’06 Madison and Jesse Straus, and Ben Trook ’06.

brother Jack is very excited to have a sister!”…

Jenn (Calver) Gaudet wrote in from Pomfret

Baird (Meem) Anderson lives in Cambridge, MA and is a teacher at Spruce Street Nursery

’07

School in downtown Boston. It took a little

School (CT), where she is director of financial aid and coaching lacrosse, while her husband

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

Boston after moving from NYC in 2018.

teaches English and coaches hockey/baseball.

Taylor James

Baird sees Holderness friends in Boston and

“In the fall, I bumped into Justin Simon

taylorveronicajames@gmail.com

NYC as much as she can! She is very much

’04 in Texas while we were both recruiting.

bit, but Baird now loves and appreciates

looking forward to seeing her best friend

Always fun to catch up with fellow Bulls!”…

Samantha “Sam” (Shlopak) Larsen married

Haley Hamblin get married this summer in

As for me, Brie (Keefe) Healy, I’m still

Jasper Larsen on May 25, 2019 in Jamaica.

Massachusetts!…Brett Phillips is living in

enjoying living in Vermont with my husband,

They live in NYC with their dog named

Boston and is a creative director at Create

Mike, our daughter Lydia who was born in

Bear.…Sarah Morrison reports in: I am still

Media. He is also strongly considering

66 | Holderness School Today

getting a cat.…Gretchen Hyslip lives in Waltham, MA and is an associate director at Brandeis University.…Haley Wilich lives

CLASS NOTES

in Portsmouth, NH and just started a new job as an informatics analyst in the selffunded insurance industry.…Annie Carney lives Cambridge, MA and works as a senior producer at Sosolimited in Boston.…Ryan O’Riordan lives in Bow, NH and is in his last year of law school. He is currently working

Ian Nesbitt ’09 with a sub-ice research team in Antarctica.

part time at the NH attorney general’s office in the environmental protection bureau.…

new year in Montreal with a bunch of the ’09

Jeremy Larrere is living in LA and working

class, which was a blast, and look forward

as a casting associate for feature films.…

to returning to the Squam area this summer

Haley Hamblin lives in Washington, DC and

for boating and a Biederman’s Boa.…Jessica

works as a photo editor at The Washington

White says, “Hello! I’m still living just

Post. The Holderness contingency is small in

outside of Boston and working as controller

DC but she usually bumps into Haley Wilich

at J.L. Dunn and Company. I recently took a

when she’s in NH, talks to Greg Ramey about

two week trip to Australia, and am happily

chicken sandwiches regularly, and rarely goes

enjoying ski season in Killington, where I’ve

more than a few days without talking to Baird

run into a few alums, including Jack Dings

(Meem) Anderson.…Craig Leach currently

’09 and Maggie Dembinksi. Looking forward

lives in Chicago and works as a strategic

to the Day of Giving event in Boston!”

Holly Block ’09 and her fiancée Mike taking a break during their hike.

account manager at Nasuni.…Gregory Ramey is living in NYC with Dan Marvin and is seeing Holderness friends regularly

’09

in NYC, San Francisco, and everywhere in

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

between. “I spend countless hours bothering

Allison Stride Lloyd

Haley Hamblin to write an article on my

stride.ally@gmail.com

new company!”…Polly Babcock is moving

Stephen Smith ’09 and his wife Kaysie on their wedding day. her longtime boyfriend, Mike, and planning

into her fourth year in Denver, CO and is still

Last spring, Ally Stride Lloyd and her

a summer wedding in York, ME this August.

working in the photography industry. She

husband bought their first house, in

They are living in Denver and both working for

started a digital archive company in 2016

Huntersville, NC, and are looking forward

HomeAdvisor!…Kelsey Muller got engaged

after moving back from NYC, and caters to

to welcoming their first child in May—a

in December and she and her fiancée have

clients from local artists to large corporations

baby boy! Ally is still working at Match

been steadily working on house renovations

such as Vail Resorts. One of her clients hired

as marketing manager running the social

and are planning for more. Her brother, Joe

her in early 2019, and she now works full-

media and inf luencer channels for their suite

Muller ’06 and his wife who live in the same

time in the photo operations department at

of dating apps. Their two dogs, Biscuit (2

town as Kelsey (Bend, OR) just had their first

Starz Entertainment. She enjoys being able

1/2-year-old pug) and Bunk (nine-month-old

baby, daughter Sylvia. She is now a proud

to work in the entertainment industry from

chocolate lab) are loving having a backyard

aunt and gets to spend lots of time with her

her home state where she can ski, mountain

and excited about the newest addition in

growing family.”…Elena “Laney” (Hayssen)

bike, and spend time with family on a whim.

May.”…Last spring, Andrew Reilly got

Forton got married this September to Max

She is also conducting creative photo shoots

engaged to his fiancée Ashleigh and then

Forton and the newlyweds are still living in

at her home studio which include portrait,

moved to London, England over the summer.

New York City.…Isabelle “Lane” Curran

e-commerce, and artwork digitization.…

“We are happily living in Greenwich on the

graduated from medical school in New York

Dan Marvin writes: “Continue to live down

River Thames and I am currently working

(got her M.D.) and started general surgery

in NYC and enjoying all that the big apple

as the territory manager for London for a

residency in Portland, ME. She is working

has to offer. Living with Greg Ramey in

global software company. In 2020 we’re

70–80 hour weeks, doing her best to ski

the East Village, the pizza epicenter of the

looking forward to taking advantage of our

occasionally and see her boyfriend who is

world, which keeps us both busy. A little

current base and traveling more of Europe,

an internal medicine resident at UMass.…

different place in our lives than when we

as well as attending Euro2020 and the Open

Ana “Lina” (Encalada) Goodwin and Tyler

were roommates freshman year in Connell,

Championship. Shout out to my sister, Jenn

Goodwin got married in October in Durham,

but sadly I think the dorm/apartment square

(Reilly) Gorman ’04, on getting married

NC. They traveled to Thailand in December

footage is about the same. Kicked off the

this past fall!”…Holly Block is engaged to

for their honeymoon and are excited for the

Spring 2020 | 67

CLASS NOTES

Lina (Encalada) Goodwin ’09 and her husband Tyler at their wedding in October 2019.

Andrew Reilly ’09 and his fiancée Ashleigh.

Ally (Stride) Lloyd ’09 and her husband Michael outside their new home in Huntersville, NC.

Emma Locke ’09, her fiancée Mike and their 6 month old puppy, Revelstoke. would love to have everyone over for a drink

Cody Bohonnon ’09 and his bride Jessie.

on the roof deck! They named their six-month-

master’s project at UMaine is nearly done

old Golden Retriever after their favorite ski

(I was working with the same instruments

mountain in BC, Revelstoke. Emma says,

on the ice as in my master’s project, but that

rest of 2020 with their two dogs, Chalupa and

“Please come meet him soon!”…Ian Nesbitt

project is unrelated to my own research).”

Kai.…Caitlin Mitchell spent the last two years

just got back from Antarctica, where he

In the meantime, Ian is living in Panama,

on the south island in New Zealand working

spent 11 days camping in a place called Allan

cycling and running on a volcano, brushing

for a merino wool company and moved

Hills on the edge of the East Antarctic Ice

up on his long-dormant Spanish, and doing

home in July to take on a new opportunity

Sheet, doing sub-ice research with a group

software development and technical support

in Portland, OR. She is currently working

that was drilling the oldest known ice in the

for a company that makes seismographs.…

for a design firm as the project manager for

world. He says, “In many ways, it felt a lot like

Jake Manoukian got married in September

the industrial design team—they work with

a drier and windier Out Back, but instead

and lives with his wife in the Upper West Side

Nixon Watches, Smith Optics, Lululemon,

of hiking I was dragging a radar antenna

of Manhattan. The second best highlight of

Vega Protein, EA Sports, Microsoft, and The

behind a snowmobile! McMurdo Station,

2019 was certainly the 10 year reunion. And

James Brand. Most time outside of work is

the primary US base, feels surprisingly like

he hopes to catch up with everyone soon!…

spent mountain biking (racing in Enduros)

a larger version of the Holderness campus,

William “Cody” Bohonnon and his wife got

and skiing (finally did a back-f lip) and a lot

but has 24-hour summer sunlight, and is

married in November 2019 down in Florida

of times meeting up with other Holderness

located on a volcanic island, with seals and

and they are still living in New York City.…

alums (Ben Osborne ’10, Ashleigh Boulton

penguins a few hundred meters away on a

Andrew Grace is living in Los Angeles,

’10, Sumner Ford, etc.). Caitlin lives with her

sheet of pack ice. The dorm furniture is the

CA where he is an actor and comedian. If

partner Griffin and Lola (her Aussie) in NE

same, the dining hall has a waff le maker that

you are ever in Los Angeles, you can catch

Portland.…Emma Locke is loving working

is never free at breakfast and a soft serve

Andrew performing weekly as a member

as a rep for the specialty running division at

machine that everyone loves, and everyone

of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.…

ASICS and is planning to run her 12th full

is very kind and says hi when they walk

Stephen Smith is living in Bozeman, MT

marathon in Boston this year. Her goal is to

past each other outside. McMurdo is a great

with his wife, Kaysie, and two bird dogs. He

run a marathon in all 50 states by the time

place to do science, and on clear days it has

has been living out there since graduating

she is 50; we’ll see. She and her fiancée Mike

an incredibly gorgeous backdrop of glaciers

Holderness, ten years ago. They love the

currently own a condo in South Boston and

and volcanoes visible across the ice shelf. My

outdoor community here and spend as much

Jake Manoukian ’09 and his wife Meredith on their wedding day in September 2019.

68 | Holderness School Today

someone who’s always seen themselves living

f ly fishing outfitting business, operating on

in the mountains it was an interesting change

the Yellowstone, Madison and Missouri rivers.

of scenery. I see a few other Holderness alumni

In the fall, he guides elk hunters on a ranch

(Mike ’13 and Katie ’11 Finnegan live out here)

outside Yellowstone National Park, where he

and plenty of Holderness bumper stickers now

continues to put those same old OB mittens

and again. If you’re ever on the island feel free

to work. In the winter, they love to downhill

to say ’hey’!”…Katie Leake writes, “This year

ski and cross-country ski with the dogs.

has been amazing and packed full of positive

CLASS NOTES

time as possible under the big sky. He owns a

experiences from getting engaged to teaching

’10

at Landmark School and finally finishing up

CLASS CORRESPONDENTS

forward to the year ahead. Hope everyone is

Elise (Steiner) Hacker

doing well!”…Matthew Kinney is “working on

elisehsteiner@gmail.com

my third year as a teacher, coach, and dorm

Parker Weekes writes, “I’m currently in my

parent at the Hyde School in Bath, ME.”…Eliza

last semester of college at The College of St.

Nathan McBeath recently started a senior

Cowie recently moved to Boulder, CO, where

Scholastica (Duluth, MN) and I am gearing

business analyst role for a young biotech

she works for Boulder-based nonprofit Protect

up for my senior hockey weekend. Crazy how

oncology startup, Concerto HealthAI. It’s

Our Winters. “Holderness is truly everywhere! I

time as f lown by. I am an exercise physiology

been a wild summer as he also got engaged

have been able to spend time with fellow alumni

major with a psychology minor and plan on

on the coast of Santorini, Greece in June.…

Brandon Marcus, Chris Howe ’06, Preston

becoming a sports nutritionist in professional

Elise (Steiner) Hacker reports, “In September

Kelsey, Chris Nalen ’13, Jeff Hauser ’13 and

sports, whether that be the NHL, NFL, etc.,

2019, my husband Mike and I made the

Chris Davenport ’89 who all love it out here as

I am open to options! Hope all is well, take

move back to Boston from NYC! We are so

well!…Kristina Micalizzi is “starting off 2020

care, and go Bulls.”…Sarah Garrett recently

excited to be back in Boston and had the

back in DC after my time in Finland working at

accepted a position at MIT Lincoln Laboratory

opportunity to reconnect with some fellow

the U.S. Embassy in Helsinki. Although I didn’t

in their special programs department within

Holderness alumni including Neal Frei ’03,

manage to get in any skiing, I made it up north

security. MITLL is a Department of Defense

Cecily Cushman ’11, Juliet Dalton ’11, and

to the Arctic Circle to see the northern lights.”

(DoD) Federally Funded Research and

graduate school at Lesley University. Looking

Charlotte Noyes ’11 at a recent event at the Pucker Gallery in December. We’re looking

Sasha Jones ’15 in front of the apartment she shares with Maggie Roberts ’15 in NYC.

Development Center (FFRDC) that works

’13

to apply advanced technologies to problems

forward to seeing more Holderness alumni in Boston over the next few months!”

Want to connect with your classmates?

masters in criminology and criminal justice

Consider becoming a class correspondent

from Northeastern this past December!

of national security. She also obtained her

’11

and encouraging your classmates to

CLASS CORRESPONDENTS

Contact us at alumni@holderness.org

’15

Cecily Cushman

for more information. Thank you!

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

reconnect in the HST class notes.

Hope Heffernan

cncushman@gmail.com Jamie McNulty

Aidan Kendall received his bachelor’s degree

jamcnulty20@gmail.com

from the University of Montana in 2017. After

hopeheffernan@gmail.com

spending a few post-undergraduate years in

Maggie Peake reported in that 2019 has

Cecily Cushman is now “living in Boston

beautiful Chattanooga, TN, Aidan has been

been an amazing year! “In May, I graduated

but moving out to Marblehead soon! Love

accepted into the horticulture program at

from The New School, earning a degree in

seeing fellow classmates around the city!”

Washington State University, where he will

liberal arts. In March, I signed on to industry

begin working towards a master’s of science

executive Scooter Braun’s publishing company,

’12

in the fall of 2020. He will be studying

Atlas Music Publishing, as a songwriter. I

water conservation methods in cider apples,

have had the amazing privilege of working in

CLASS CORRESPONDENTS

and plans to pursue agricultural research

LA and traveling to Nashville and New York

Alex Leininger

as a career. He’s pretty darn excited.

frequently throughout the year collaborating

leiningerbalex@gmail.com Kristina Micalizzi

with artists crossing through multiple genres

’14

and backgrounds. As a result, a song I wrote

CLASS CORRESPONDENTS

was placed on an episode of this season’s

In April, 2019 Edward “Paul” Pettengill

Tess O’Brien

Grey’s Anatomy! I released my first single

moved from Boston to Nantucket Island. “As

tmobrien@uvm.edu

as an artist under my new alias Emlyn. The

kmicalizzi08@gmail.com

for artist Hailey Knox, entitled “Hardwired,”

Spring 2020 | 69

CLASS NOTES

Maggie Peake ’15 aka Emlyn song, “Had Me at Hello,” has only been out a

Lily Gillette ’19, Wells Gillette ’22, Macklin "Mack" Bowen ’22, Christopher “Topher” Davenport ’21, Joe Colwell ’21, Brooks Reed ’21, Killian McKim ’21, and Stian Davenport ’19

couple weeks but has already been reviewed by

and architecture courses while I’m here and

a number of publications including American

planning to travel a lot throughout Europe.”…

Songwriter Magazine, Ladygunn Magazine,

Risa Mosenthal says “My junior year at Brown

Vents Magazine, and more! I’m super excited

has been filled with lots of fun, studying, and

to continue to watch its growth and to put out

lacrosse. I’m heading into my third lacrosse

new music in 2020.”…Marguerite “Maggie”

season and couldn’t be more excited about it.

Roberts and Alexandra “Sasha” Jones

This year we have a great team that’s hoping

are roommates (again!). “This past fall we

to make it to the Ivy League tournament

Bridgit Potter spent her first semester of

moved to NYC; just a small change from the

for the first time in program history.”

freshman year in Salamanca, Spain.…Henry “Paxton” Bunting elected to take a gap year

White Mountains and our Pfenni dorm room!

We’re loving the big city and being in the

Abby Vieira ’20, her father Richard, sister Ria and mother Alison at the Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne, Switzerland

’18

to play for the Seahawks in the European

‘real world.’ It’s always nice to see Holderness faces around too. We enjoyed catching up

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

“Howdy! I am playing hockey at the University

with Mr. Phil Peck at the Halls’ (Bob and

Stuart Clifford

of Utah and continuing my computer science

Joanie Hall past trustee and past parents)

stugclifford@gmail.com

education.”…Sergio Yap writes, “Hi, I’m

Holiday Party and often see classmates

Sarah Rogers

currently serving in the Singaporean Armed

around the city. Give us a shout if you’re

sarahro524@gmail.com

Forces as a full time national serviceman. I’ve

ever here! Finally-BIG welcome to Hope

Luke Valentine

been posted to Officer Cadet School (OCS)

Heffernan who’s moving here in February!”

lukevalentineoms@gmail.com

and have begun training as a ground based air

’16

Abby Wiseman writes, “I just finished my

much else, however, I will be commissioning in

sophomore fall at Dartmouth College where

mid-July and hope to visit Holderness soon.”

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

I’m double majoring in engineering and earth

AJ Chabot

sciences and doing research studying a river’s

ajc8@williams.edu

ability to recover following a dam removal.

Hockey League.…Tanner Ensign says,

defense (GBAD) officer. I’m sorry I can’t share

This winter I’m taking a term off to travel Hi Holdy fam! I’m hanging out in

and ski before returning to Dartmouth for

Williamstown for my junior year, reading,

the spring.”…Caitlin Blinkhorn says, “I am

writing, dancing, skiing, and stuff. Loving

nearly halfway done with my sophomore year

having recent Bull alums Claudia Cantin

at Colorado College and have been pursuing

’19 and Kitt Urdang ’19 here :) and

a psychology major and global health minor.

getting to see some other friendly faces on

This past summer, I was able to build off my

weekends races. –Alan “AJ” Chabot

Senior Thesis experience by volunteering in the Dartmouth Autism Research Initiative

’17

as part of the Robertson Lab. I am actively

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

research process and hope to participate

Elizabeth Johansson

in similar opportunities this summer.”

seeking classes that are pertinent to the

ecjohansson17@gmail.com McKinley Deery writes, “I am now a junior at

’19

UVM studying environmental science and this

CLASS CORRESPONDENT

semester I am studying abroad in Florence,

Lilly Patterson

Italy! I am taking several sustainable design

lgp011@bucknell.edu n

70 | Holderness School Today

SHARE YOUR NEWS! Have you recently encountered a milestone in your life? Share your news with your classmates!

Please contact us at alumni@holderness.org.

AN OBSERVER OF BUTTERFLIES IN HONOR OF JAMES E BREWER II (NOVEMBER 16, 1931–MARCH 28, 2020)

I

t is challenging to consider writing something that will begin to encapsulate James Brewer—he was quite the literate individual, to put it mildly, and crafting words worthy of his legacy is daunting. For him, Holderness was always more than the job; it was home and family and he was dedicated to the educational mission and integrity of the school. He walked on the paths of campus with generations of students and faculty, discussing details of life and encouraging their pursuits with a wry sense of humor and a smile hidden behind a hard demeanor.

For many who were part of Holderness during his time there, you will have your own memories or recollections. For students today, you walk past plaques bearing his name in the library and in front of one of the new dorms. As his granddaughter, I will do my best to share and celebrate the essence of who Jim was.

While young, I learned to walk carefully behind his chair on a stroll through the gardens while he pointed out arrays of flowers or a butterfly species. I bet the first pile of leaves I raked happened at his property in Rumney, where my mom, Kate, got us to work on the grounds, teaching us the invaluable lesson of doing something for others. Unbeknownst to me, I was participating in a long tradition of Holderness students visiting “The Farm” for spring clean up.

Jim began his teaching career at Holderness in 1960 and taught for 9 years before becoming Headmaster at the Barlow School then moving on to teach at Phillips Exeter Academy. In 1978, he chose to return to his beloved Holderness where he remained until his retirement in 1995. His love of the school centered around the ability to have “one’s fingers in many pieces of the pie” as he would say. Throughout his career he was Teacher, Coach (founding Men’s lacrosse in 1961 and Women’s lacrosse eighteen years later in 1979), Assistant Headmaster, Dorm Parent, Advisor, Director of College Counseling, Holderness School Today founder and Publicist, Chair of the English department, a Mentor, and inspiration for the Van Otterloo-Henderson-Brewer Chair Program for professional development. He embodied the sort of education he believed in—an approach to the whole being of the student in and out of the classroom, on and off the field.

He paid attention to the things that mattered to each one of us— athletics, curiosities, the natural world, and our relationships to each other. This past summer I met Holderness alumna Emily Maclaury in the White Mountains when I noticed a Holderness sticker on her water bottle. She told me the story of how “Mr. Brewer” instructed her to go collect her thoughts

“He taught with iron discipline but always a ready smile...He was one of the most alive and energetic faculty at the School and I always thought of him as ‘one of the most unforgettable characters’ I would ever know.”

-A former student and friend, David Stamps

under a tree before a big test. Later in life when it came time to take her nursing exams, she went and sat beneath the boughs of a tree. The lesson he shared had nothing to do with the classroom and everything to do with life; his approach to teaching centered on the heart of the learner.

He lived life in fulfillment of educating, appreciating the beauty in the world around him, and storycraft. A lifelong friend, Norm Walker, wrote of Jim’s storytelling in his book Teachers.

“His genius as a bard was a result from his imposing stature; the powerful features of his Hemingwayesque face; his gently sardonic sense of humor; his vast knowledge and abiding love of animals; his deep well-modulated voice; and his subtle use of pause and timing when he was on stage.

In fact, even his entrances were worthy of note – whenever he moved to a podium, his massive shoulders and powerful arms working the crutches, there was a breathless, palpable pause in the audience. Then his voice filled the room.”

His capacity for enlivening the written word never ceased. I feel fortunate to have known him and absorbed these experiences simply because he was a part of my young life. I still edit my writing as though he is reading it—cutting extraneous words and criticizing my use of descriptors. He encouraged a fascination with the natural world and taught me the value of learning something to the point of being able to teach it to another. He never stopped being a teacher or coach, and we all benefited from his instruction, however gruff. I shared him with many others—his students and colleagues, our family, and the friends he made wherever he went. I believe anyone who was lucky enough to meet and know him has a little something to carry with them that they learned from James. n Mackenzie Brewer Krol, daughter of Kate Brewer (Faculty Child) and Chris Little, (Holderness ’81, Faculty 1990–2007)

Spring 2020 | 71

LIVERMORE LEADERSHIP SOCIETY

H

olderness would not be the remarkable school that it is today without the philanthropic foresight of you— our loyal alumni, families, and friends. Holderness School appreciates the support of each and every donor, and we are particularly humbled by those donors who make transformative gifts year after year at a leadership level.

To show our appreciation for our leadership donors and the impact that they have on the Holderness community, we are

launching the Livermore Leadership Society, recognizing donors who contribute $1,000 or more ($250 or more for recent graduates) to Holderness School each fiscal year.

We rely on these generous gifts to help elevate our school, and we thank our donors for their visionary support.

The Livermore Leadership Society is comprised of seven levels recognizing significant individuals and moments in the school’s history:

Livermore $100,000+ Livermore Mansion and the surrounding land was the first “home” of Holderness, donated by Mrs. Balch, honoring her late husband, the Rev. Lewis P. W. Balch Jr., who always wanted to start a religious educational institution.

Niles $50,000–$99,999

Webster $25,000–$49,999

Carpenter $10,000–$24,999

William Woodruff Niles was the second Bishop of New Hampshire, President of the Board of Trustees, and founder of the school.

Headmaster Rev. Lorin Webster was a scholar, musician, and lover of athletics, which flourished during his tenure.

Webster’s daughter, Lorraine, was the first female student to attend classes.

The school’s first gymnasium and now home to the arts is named for an original trustee, Josiah Carpenter, and was made possible through the generosity of his widow, Georgia Butters Drake Carpenter.

Weld $5,000–$9,999

Hagerman $2,500–$4,999

Rev. Edric Amory Weld oversaw the construction of Livermore Hall and several dormitories. During his tenure, the school adopted its four leadership criteria which are still used today - dependability, initiative, fairness, and leadership (now empathy) - and women were welcomed as formal faculty.

Donald Clark Hagerman was headmaster for 26 years and grew the school from 67 to 226 students, while maintaining its warmth and character. Out Back began, and the first Day Girls were accepted.

Woodward $1,000–$2,499 */ ** Rev. Brinton W. Woodward was headmaster for 24 years. He was an athlete, scholar, and chaplain and is remembered best for his “years of enlightened, compassionate, moral leadership.” He oversaw the transition to coeducation, reaffirmed twice weekly Chapel, and the school launched the first annual alumni weekend, Artward Bound, and what would become Senior Thesis. Two large fundraising campaigns were completed, and the Outdoor Chapel, Hagerman, Gallop, Connell, Alfond Library, and Alfond Arena were added to campus. *Young alumni through their 5th Reunion $250+ | ** Young alumni through their 10th Reunion $500

72

TOGETHER APART. THOUGH YOU MAY BE FAR AWAY, YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL HOLDERNESS HOME.

Chapel Lane P.O.Box 1879 Plymouth, NH 03264-1879

NONPROFIT US POSTAGE

PAID MANCHESTER, NH

PERMIT NO ###

Seniors may have been far from campus this spring, but they were never far from our hearts.