Holderness School Today | Winter 2023

HOLDERNESS SCHOOL TODAY

Winter 2023

THE OUTDOOR ISSUE + REPORT OF APPRECIATION

Winter 2023

IN THIS ISSUE From the Schoolhouse.............................1 Around the Quad.................... 3

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OUT BACK THRIVAL GUIDE

Head of School Induction.... 5 Finding Balance: A Q&A with Academic Dean Jordan Graham ......... 13 From the Desk of.................. 15

5 Essential tips from Out Back experts................................................ 7

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CLASS SPOTLIGHT: AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

29 Taking learning outdoors.................................................................. 17

Mountain Day 2023.............. 17 Shannon A. Mullen ’97: In Other Words, Leadership.. 25

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REPORT OF APPRECIATION

Gabrielius Maldunas ’11: Chasing Dreams Across the Court and Around the World................................27 Catching Up With Pat Henderson...................... 29 Welcome New Trustees...... 31 New Board Chair..................32 Bulls Behind The Scenes... 34 Holderness Gatherings...... 35 Class Notes.............................37 From the Archives................71

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Our annual Report of Appreciation, with special thanks to our donors and volunteers.

A Year in Giving.......................................................................65 Paths to Giving......................................................................... 67 The Power of Planned Giving..............................................69

Board of Trustees John Hayes P ’15 ’18 – Board Chair Bishop Rob Hirschfeld – President of the Board Chris Keating ’81 P ’24 – Secretary Richard Vieira P ’20 – Treasurer Kat Alfond ’90 P ’23 Karyn Campbell P ’17 Katie Crumbo P ’21 Chris Davenport ’89 P ’19 ’21 Andrew Davis P ’18 Paul John Ferri P ’18 ’19 Dr. Liz Gardner Burgie Howard ’82 Rob Kinsley ’88 P ’22 Flip Kistler ’85 Cecily Cushman Koopman ’11 Clarissa Lee P’26 Anne Lompo P ’22 ’24 Chip Martin ’88 P ’20 Wendy McAdam P’26 Joe Miles ’82 P ’11 ’13 ’18

Mike Murchie ’81 Simon Parmett P ’25 Courtney Peschel P ’26 Nell Reynolds P ’18 ’20 ’22 Sander van Otterloo ’94 CJ Vincent ’06 Dix Wheelock ’87 P ’25 P ’25 Chance Wright ’14 Sung You ’01 Headmaster Emeritus R. Phillip Peck 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 Holderness School Today is printed by RC Brayshaw & Company, LLC.

Please send notice of address changes to the Advancement Office, PO Box 1879, Plymouth, NH 03264, or advancement@ holderness.org. ©2023 Holderness School.

EDITOR: Greg Kwasnik CONTRIBUTORS: Thea Dodds, Greg Kwasnik, Meghan McCarthy McPhaul DESIGN & PRODUCTION: Tessa Magnuson, Align Graphic Design, LLC PHOTOGRAPHY: Thea Dodds, Greg Kwasnik, Max Paro ’17.

ON THE FRONT COVER: Students in AP Environmental Science measure a tree's diameter for an on-campus carbon sequestration lab this fall.

Photo by Greg Kwasnik.

FROM THE SCHOOLHOUSE House, look across to our campus, and think to myself: “I get to do this again today!” It certainly happened during my own OB experience during times of challenge when I needed inspiration from a team member or colleague. Sometimes, it occurs just walking by the quad and looking out at the visible joy our students take from spending time together during the meaningful, unscripted moments of boarding school.

Head of School John McVeigh and Jackson Ehwa ’23 at Commencement.

“LOOK UP.” This past May, our school President and commencement speaker, Jackson Ehwa ’23, shared these wise words as he imparted one of the fundamental lessons he learned at Holderness. He meant it literally and figuratively: On our campus paths, looking up means putting your phone away and making eye contact with the people you pass. It’s how we connect with each other, welcome our guests, and let people know that they matter to us.

I’m proud when visitors consistently remark how our students greet them on the paths. More broadly, he noted that on Out Back, looking up helps you take a moment to pause, be inspired by the stars, and tap into the wonderful sense of awe and wonder when we ponder things far greater than ourselves. Jackson reminded himself every day with a psalm that he wrote on his OB gloves, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” He told the assembled audience that every time he read that passage, he took a moment to look up.

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We can learn so much from Jackson’s words and example. There’s never been a time when it’s been easier for folks to be disconnected or selfabsorbed. In fact, corporations spend billions of dollars a year to ensure it happens. And that’s why it’s so crucial for us to lean into what has made Holderness a unique and powerful life-changing institution for nearly 150 years. There is such power in connecting with each other, being outdoors, and marshaling the forces of our mind, body, and spirit in the service of others. The Holderness experience is rooted in relationships and moments that foster this exact and profound sense of purpose.

Jackson went on, “I often found that when you looked up around here, you’d find something you didn’t even know you needed.” That statement resonates deeply with me as I begin my second year in this role and ref lect upon my Holderness experience so far. These bursts of inspiration and purpose happen time and again. I feel it every morning when I walk out the front door of the Head’s

Having inspired and energized his classmates and our audience, Jackson concluded, “Look up as you did on the trails of the White Mountains, look up as you did after cram studying the last few nights before midterms, look up as you did before you started your fifth class of the day, look up as you did when you walked around Holderness School.

We’re ready to take on our next adventures with our heads high.”

In honor of Jackson’s words, and thanks to a similarly inspired community member who made it for me as a gift, I now have a small sign above my desk that simply reads, “Look up.” This attitude and approach is how we will fulfill our vision of developing people the world needs most. Holderness students like Jackson leave here looking up, their heads high and their eyes set on the future. They are well prepared and ready to be those very people that the world needs right now and will move on to leave their communities better than they found them. Generations of our alums before them serve as trailblazers and examples to follow and emulate. I am thrilled to be starting my second year as a part of this community and honored to play my role in helping Holderness to keep looking forward and looking up.

John McVeigh Head of School

Seniors visit Trinity Chapel for a New Student Sign-In Chapel in October. They missed their sign-in chapel in the fall of 2020 due to COVID. Winter 2023 | 2

AROUND THE QUAD

HOLDERNESS STUDENTS VISIT EASTERN EUROPE Just days after the end of the last school year, three dozen Holderness School history students f lew across the Atlantic Ocean for a 12-day tour of Eastern Europe. After f lying into Berlin, students and teachers spent nearly two weeks traveling by bus between Dresden, Prague, Krakow, Budapest, Slovakia, and Vienna. Along the way, students took in the full scope of European history, from the 2nd Century ruins of a Roman city in Hungary to the effects of the war in Ukraine on the Polish economy and its citizens. All 35 students on the trip were enrolled in or had just completed Advanced History of the West (AHOW), a twoyear course that combines AP U.S. and AP European History. “One of the reasons for the class is to take down the artificial barrier between Old World history and New World history,” said History Department Chair Andrew Sheppe, who helped create the AHOW course and accompanied his students to Europe this summer. “That barrier that looks like an Atlantic Ocean is pretty artificial. If the class is about removing that artificial barrier, then getting to the other side of the ocean is important.”

TALES FROM THE BORDER Holderness School Dean of Faculty and Spanish teacher Kristen Fischer was recently named a NEH Summer Scholar, selected from a nationwide pool of applicants to attend one of 35 summer seminars and institutes supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Kristen traveled to The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) in July to participate in a Summer Institute named “Tales from the Chihuahuan Desert: Borderlands Narratives about Identity and Binationalism.” The city of El Paso provided an immersive backdrop to the two-week course, which combined in-class sessions with daily trips to Spanish missions, churches, and migrant shelters. Kristen came away from the experience with plans for a migration-focused unit in her AP Spanish class—and with a newfound appreciation for the complex realities of life at the border. “That’s one of my big takeaways: it’s really complicated —and it’s not just complicated relationships between humans,” Kristen says. “There’s a relationship between humans and the landscape, and there’s a relationship between humans and history, and humans and resources.”

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Dean of Faculty Kristen Fischer, with mementos from the University of Texas at El Paso.

THE WRITE STUFF: WINTER EDITION If you happened to pick up the summer/fall issue of Appalachia, the journal of the Appalachian Mountain Club, you would have found a beautiful essay written by Liesl Magnus ’17. The essay, titled “Lizard Dreams and Our Same Hearts,” was the runner up in the annual Waterman Fund Essay Contest, which seeks to recognize new and emerging writers. The essay, which chronicles Liesl’s winter as a caretaker for the AMC’s Carter Notch Hut, is a meditation on the joys and struggles of winter in the outdoors. A graduate of St. Lawrence University, Liesl has spent her post-graduate years traveling between New Hampshire and Montana. Her interests in conservation, natural resources management, and wild places have led her to work and study all over the world, from Patagonia to Idaho.

Liesl Magnus, chilling out in one of the Carter Lakes.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

Samantha Zhang ’25

When Samantha Zhang ’25 was home last summer, she picked up a camera and made a 15-minute film about her hometown in Inner Mongolia, an autonomous region of the People’s Republic of China.

This fall, her film, “Heritage,” was nominated for Best Young Female Filmmaker and the Best Student Short at the prestigious Indie Short Fest, a Los Angeles-based international film competition. “As an international student studying in the US, one of my dreams is to show the ‘treasures’ hidden in my hometown to friends, teachers, and classmates around me,” Zhang said in her contest submission.

“My love for my hometown and my respect for the nomadic people’s efforts in preserving nature and culture are apparent in every second of these fifteen minutes. Now, carrying the responsibility of spreading the culture and history of the Urad Mongols in Inner Mongolia, I share this documentary with you.” You can watch “Heritage” online at https://www.holderness.org/about/news.

LOREA ZABALETA ’18 LAUNCHES COLORADO COLLEGE OUTDOOR JOURNAL As a Holderness student, Lorea Zabaleta ’18 was a fixture on the school’s rock climbing and mountaineering teams. She also wrote for The Picador, the school’s newspaper. It’s no surprise, then, that as a student at Colorado College she spearheaded the creation of the Colorado College Outdoor Journal (CCOJ), a publication which aims to expand the definition of outdoor storytelling. The CCOJ, which published its second issue in April, has provided an opportunity to show the intersection between the environment, recreation, and social issues through feature articles, travelogs, poetry, and photography, including some work from Gracie Roe '21. Lorea and her staff aim for the CCOJ to be “radically inclusive” with the intent that “the word ‘adventurer’ is meant to encompass a wide breadth of students, alumni, athletes, activists, and more. The CCOJ is for casual evening strollers, backyard botanists, ski fanatics, and more —from novice to expert. It is a publication for anyone who loves being outside.” Check it out for yourself at https://ccoutdoorjournal.com/.

Lorea Zabaleta ’18 Winter 2023 | 4

HEAD OF SCHOOL INDUCTION October 19, 2023

On Thursday, October 19, Holderness School celebrated the Induction of Head of School John McVeigh.

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n an evening ceremony on Livermore Common, Mr. McVeigh was officially inducted as the 10 th head to lead Holderness School since its founding in 1879. He was joined by the school’s students, faculty, Board of Trustees, family, and friends.

During his Induction remarks, Mr. McVeigh recognized the previous two heads of school in attendance, the Rev. Brinton W. Woodward P ’87 ’91 ’93 (1977–2001) and Phil Peck P ’08 ’09 (2001–2022). He thanked his two predecessors for the example

they set for him to follow—and the mentorship they’ve provided since he became head of school in July 2022. Mr. McVeigh promised the two former heads of school—and the rest of the Holderness community—that he would do everything possible to ensure a bright future for the school.

“I look out here at this school and campus and I think to myself: I get to do this. I get fired up thinking about what we might accomplish together,” Mr. McVeigh said. “I am happy and proud and honored to grab the torch from the two of you. And I know someday I'll pass it off. In between, you will get my very best.”

-Head of School John McVeigh

Head of School John McVeigh was joined at his induction by friends, family, all 300+ Holderness students, and former heads of school Pete Woodward and Phil Peck.

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OUT OUT BACK BACK THRIVAL GUIDE GUIDE

By Thea Dodds

Each March, nearly 30 faculty members swap out their blazers for backpacks to join the entire 11th grade on Out Back, an 11-day backcountry odyssey through New Hampshire’s White Mountains. This experience would be a challenge in the summer, but doing so in the winter makes it undeniably difficult. Out Back is hard, intentionally hard. But it’s an experience that thousands of Holderness students have successfully navigated. We asked a number of faculty OB experts for their best tips, tools, and recipes to not just survive, but thrive, on Out Back.

TYLER CABOT / 10 OB s

PAT CASEY / 10 OB s

PETER DURNAN / ~20 OB s

ELIZABETH MCCLELLAN / 3 OB s

IAN CASEY / 7 OB s

LEIGH ANNE CONNORS / 9 OB s

FAVORITE OB RECIPE MOST PRIZED PIECE OF GEAR ON OB TYLER CABOT: Outdoor research Gore-Tex sombrero hat.

Awesome for keeping rain and snow off your head and neck. If it has snowed recently and there is melt on the trees it is also great to hike in. It keeps your head dry, warm, but not too hot.

PAT CASEY: A Swedish hatchet that I take if the weather looks iffy.

PETER DURNAN: The same LL Bean puffy coat I wore in 1999 when I went on OB with the then-11th grade Andrew Sheppe. I've used it every year, including this year.

ELIZABETH MCCLELLAN: Aquaphor.

IAN CASEY: I don't have any "luxury" items that I bring. The boots and sleeping bag that I get from the school are the only items that feel crucial to my comfort throughout the trip.

LEIGH ANNE CONNORS: Nemo inf latable sleeping pad and my 60Tree Oh My Hoodie (I think that is what it is called).

TYLER CABOT: Knorrs chicken f lavored rice sides turned into soup and add extra veggies (l like broccoli and edamame) then can either add extra chicken or meatballs. It is pretty lightweight, can be made in one pot and it is quick both to make and clean up.

I also loved a new recipe I tried this year which was spam and vegetable rice bowls. Minuterice in one pot, assorted frozen veggies (peppers and broccoli) in one pot, then cubed up spam in the frying pan. Add hot sauce and soy sauce on top of everything in the bowl, maybe add some garlic powder and pepper too.

PAT CASEY: Pizza bagels and apple crisp.

PETER DURNAN: Whatever Leigh Anne Connors is cooking. Maybe brussels sprouts hors d'oeuvres.

ELIZABETH MCCLELLAN: Spaghetti and meatballs + brussels sprouts in with the meatballs (and a lot of parm).

IAN CASEY: OB breakfast sandwich (sausage and cheese on a fried bagel).

LEIGH ANNE CONNORS: Appetizer Veg. Cooking frozen veggies (brussels sprouts being my favorite) before dinner with soy sauce, butter, and any spices that we bring with us. I learned this from Mr. Sheppe.

BEST SOLO FOOD HACK TYLER CABOT: Heat the solo meal slowly, don't try to rush it. If you are patient, watch it carefully, don't get your fire too big, it will turn out pretty good.

PAT CASEY: Combining the peanut butter and chocolate bar was a favorite of mine during my solo. I also tout the technique of cooking the solo meal on coals rather than over open-f lame.

PETER DURNAN: Don't forget to remove the plastic wrapping before cooking.

ELIZABETH MCCLELLAN: Cook your ramen, drain most of the water so it's more of a sauce than a soup, and add the f lavor packet plus a big scoop of peanut butter. Mix and enjoy :).

IAN CASEY: Start planning out your meals and preparing your food well before you want to eat. You're much more likely to take the time to make something you're excited to eat.

LEIGH ANNE CONNORS: Check to see if there is any plastic wrapping around the meal so it doesn't melt into your food.

BEST TIP FOR STAYING POSITIVE TYLER CABOT: Enjoy the surroundings and the people.

Find joys in the smallest things like a good shelter, or great conversations. Lean on your peers and your adult leaders. Laugh at yourself, at others, or the situation.

PAT CASEY: Sing, dance, and eat often.

PETER DURNAN: Go with Janice Dahl/Leigh Anne Connors/Alexandra Disney.

ELIZABETH MCCLELLAN: Singing in your head, playing a trail game.

IAN CASEY: When you're feeling down, find a way to help someone else in the group. It will make you feel better about yourself and what you're capable of. It will also spread this habit throughout your group.

LEIGH ANNE CONNORS: Smile and Laugh. It is inevitable you are going to fall in the snow with your pack on and it is going to likely hurt a little but laughing about it and having a group member help you up can go a long way. I think also helping each other can help everyone have a positive mindset. The group functions best when everyone is helping each other.

Also, eating and drinking can certainly help change a mood.

BEST TIPS FOR STAYING WARM TYLER CABOT: Don't or rarely sit down. There are very few leaders who sit in their crazy creeks around the fire. Instead they are always moving; collecting/cutting wood, tending to the fire, cooking, or just generally moving around. Also staying hydrated and well fed is key. You don't think about it at home, but out in the woods it makes a big difference.

Lastly, make sure the feet are as dry as possible (change your socks if you get cold) and make sure your core is always warm. I love a vest.

PAT CASEY: I'm always working on staying warm by keeping dry. If you wear too many clothes you'll get wet from the inside out with sweat.

I'm a big believer in the ""be bold and start cold"" method for starting a hike. If I get cold I'll do 50 jumping jacks to warm myself back up. I warm my hands with big windmill arm-swings. The windmill motion throws the warm blood from my core out to my cold finger tips.

PETER DURNAN: A long walk with a Nalgene full of hot gatorade.

ELIZABETH MCCLELLAN: Move!!!!! Sit-ups in the bag, walking around, squats, sawing firewood, digging the kitchen pit. Cooking dinner is also a great way to stay warm.

IAN CASEY: Key to staying warm: Stay dry. Keys to staying dry: 1. Adjust your layers throughout the day to avoid sweating. 2. Don't let your clothes touch the snow (It will melt. That includes not leaving your layers on the ground when you take them off and not sitting directly in the snow.).

LEIGH ANNE CONNORS: Move, move, move! Go collect firewood, change your socks, put on another layer (the rain jacket can do wonders), saw wood, take a walk. If you're in the ski group, pop your skis on and ski around.

WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU KNEW ON YOUR FIRST OB? TYLER CABOT: Do everything in your power to stay as dry as possible and keep all of your gear as dry as possible.

Insulated neoprene gloves are way better than f leece gloves.

Hiking pants are so much more comfortable than rain pants.

PAT CASEY: I wish I knew about how wet my feet would get within minutes of hiking in bunny boots.

Sock changes seemed optional, but they really are mandatory.

PETER DURNAN: My ass from my elbow. I didn't.

ELIZABETH MCCLELLAN: Move move move before getting in your sleeping bag—the warmer you are getting in, the warmer you'll be for the night.

IAN CASEY: OutBack is such a unique experience that, after it's over, you'll spend a lot of time ref lecting on every detail of how you spent the trip. Take advantage of every opportunity to do something your future self will be proud of.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST OF ALL TIME OB MOMENT? TYLER CABOT: It's hard to pick one, but the feeling when you are finished and on the bus home or back to campus, never gets old. It's 10 of those moments but they are all some of the best 10 days of my life.

PETER DURNAN: I'm usually out there on my birthday, March 15 (the Ides). Three years back we endured a Nor'easter that dumped two feet on us on the 14 th. We let the kids sleep in after a long night of clearing off buried shelters. But Dis and I woke early and ripped some runs on our skis in the fresh powder. Best birthday ever.

ELIZABETH MCCLELLAN: Sitting in a fire pit in the middle of a snowy field on the last night before solo, stargazing with the group, and we all saw a shooting star at the same time, coming out of Orion's bow like an arrow.

IAN CASEY: Best summit is Mt. Carrigain with a clear view of the top of Mt. Washington with my (pregnant) wife on the year we got to lead a group together. Best group activity is the first official game of "twig hurling" with Will Tessier and Charles Harker. Best meal is the triple-decker quesadilla with fried pepperoni made by Ryan Houx and Anna Jones.

LEIGH ANNE CONNORS: I have two...

1. There are so many but one that sticks out to me the most is when Andrew Sheppe and I took our group up Mt. Chocorua on the most beautiful day. We could see so far in the distance. If you have been to the summit of Chocorua you know it can be windy but on this day there was no wind and a blue sky.

2. This past year was my first year leading the ski group with Peter Durnan which was so much fun. During the second half of Outback there was a major snow storm where it snowed about 14 inches. As the ski group we had to go skiing. We lapped the hill behind us and had an unforgettable powder day.

Both of these moments have different weather elements of a huge snow storm and your perfect blue bird day but the group embraced the moment to have the best time and make the most of the experience. |

FINDING BALANCE A Q&A with Academic Dean Jordan Graham C

ommercial river guide. Football coach. History Department chair.

If anyone embodies Holderness School’s balance of academics and athletics, it’s the school’s new Academic Dean, Jordan Graham.

A Montana native, Graham came to Holderness to teach history in 2015 and in the years since has chaired the History Department, served on the Academic Committee, led AP History students through Europe, coached football, and helped resurface the school’s kayaking team.

Here, Jordan talks about his new role as Academic Dean, the biggest pressures facing today’s students, and what he thinks is the secret to student success at Holderness.

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So tell us about yourself.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Missoula, Montana. I attended high school, undergrad, and graduate school in Missoula.

Missoula had a bunch of different offerings in many areas. I was able to work for a Division I football program, but I also got to be a commercial river guide.

I was able to do that, plus get a master’s in history. So it was a fortunate place to grow up.

There are a lot of similarities to out here in terms of the people and their appreciation of the outdoors. I see a lot of transplants back and forth between here and Montana. While I didn’t know many people in New Hampshire

when I moved here with my wife Allison, it felt like an instant fit.

What sets Holderness apart from other schools?

We have some really unbelievable teachers. This is what academics are at Holderness. It’s not just these different programs we’re running, which are great, but it’s the people we are able to attract who have found enormous success outside of high school education as well as within. Like [English faculty] Joe Gaudet who played Division I hockey in the Ivy league, followed by a PhD at the University of Michigan, or [math faculty] John Donovan, who served as math department chair at the collegiate

for them to fail. We’re supposed to create that environment for them to stumble and then give them the tools to pick themselves back up, and they’re not often getting that chance because they’re so nervous.

I think we pride ourselves on giving students those hard situations.

That’s Out Back, and kids jump into that because there’s no “failing” Out Back as long as you join in. So we (teachers, students, and parents) need to try and get back to a place where the norm is leaning out of your academic comfort zone.

What does success look like for a Holderness student?

Academic Dean Jordan Graham in his history classroom. level. Leigh Anne Connors [math faculty] was a Division I skier and now runs a booming economics program at Holderness. Pat Casey [science faculty] coached the US Ski Team and now runs an exercise physiology course, in addition to running our Nordic program and managing our world-class trail system. Like many of our teachers, Kelly Casey [language faculty] was a high-level athlete in college, which she parlayed into coaching several varsity teams at Holderness and is one of the brightest teachers I’ve had the chance to meet. The list is much longer than this, but highlights the incredible depth of talent our faculty possess.

Combining this with the fact that we are also a small school, students get to have contact with all of these adults. If we had 1,000 students with 200 faculty, then our kids wouldn’t make contact with every single teacher. Here, you will.

And in many cases if there’s a chance they could get a ‘B’ they won’t take it. This speaks to a couple of things. First, the grade inf lation part, which I’d like to try to tackle this year. As grades have become inf lated nationwide, colleges see all sorts of straightAs. It’s mostly all As and some Bs. So if you’re a straight B student, students and families, fear that they are now in a lesser category…

Ideally, if students are going to fail, this should be the safest place

Our Dean of Students Tyler Cabot says that our best students are the ones who come here and they can say “I’m here for this and this."

I love that we get top-tier skiers and some really top-tier students.

Still, the ones who do the best (and there’s a lot of them) say “I’m here for this—and for this other reason.” If they’re only here to ski (for example), they don’t tend to succeed. Instead they say “I’m here to ski and for school” or “I’m here to play lacrosse and live in a dorm” or “I want to do three sports but I also want to be in a school play and that’s not normal at my school.”

Here, that’s the only way we do it.

When you do this and that—that’s something we do better than almost any school in New England. |

What is one major challenge facing students today?

I don’t know if it’s a post-Covid issue, but students feel much more tentative about taking a course if there’s any chance they could stumble. If there’s a chance they could get a ‘C’ then there’s zero chance they will take that course.

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FROM THE DESK OF...

Director of Outdoor & Climbing Programs Erik Thatcher ’08 As Holderness School’s Director of Outdoor & Climbing Programs, you don't have a traditional desk job. Where can we find you on a typical day at Holderness?

Many of my class periods (Environmental Science) will find me with students on the forgotten, wild pieces of land around the edge of campus, areas that were never farmed or developed.

During sports in the afternoon, I’ll be at one of our area cliffs climbing with students. In between—when not at a desk—I’m running around campus preparing equipment or spaces in the gear cage, bouldering room, at the snowmaking pond or up at the Out Back Cabin.

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What are some essential pieces of gear you take with you when you’re exploring the outdoors with students?

I always carry a med kit, Oh Sh!t Kit [water purification, head lamp, matches and knife, hand warmers, whistle, etc.] and satellite coms, like a Garmin InReach. An interesting piece of equipment I usually bring for risk mitigation is a Bothy Bag. It’s kind of like a group bivy sack, named after these tiny rock shelters spread across the British Isles that are always open and free to use for people who are wandering or in need of safe shelter. I try to always have a map, whether hard copy or geospatial, on my phone. It’s obviously necessary for route finding and risk mitigation, but it’s also, to me, the best teaching tool in the backcountry. It can be used to explain so much about our surroundings on any given adventure—from where we are, to the geologic history of the landscape.

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Where was this picture was taken?

This photo is from the top of a cliff on the northern end of Hounds Hump Ridge in Franconia Notch, looking down on The Eaglet, the only free-standing rock spire on the East Coast. It was taken during the culminating adventure for our rising seniors in the Outdoor Leadership Program—they were up at four in the morning on Prize Day so we could squeeze this in. It involved hiking into Eagle Pass, bushwhacking up to the summit of Eagle Cliff, traversing Hounds Hump Ridge on an abandoned trail, and then descending a gully and scree field that passes The Watcher and The Eaglet. Franconia Notch is such a great example of the wild and adventure at our fingertips. We take it for granted as we drive through on the highway to Cannon Mountain, or for some of our day students from Franconia, on their daily commute to school. But it is a wild and rugged notch that’s geologically active and ecologically diverse with such a huge range of both hidden and world-famous recreational opportunities.

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MOUNTAIN DAY September 18, 2023

Students take a break from paddling on Moore Reservoir in Littleton, NH. 17 | Holderness School Today

How much does Holderness School love the outdoors? Enough for students and faculty to spend an entire day each fall—Mountain Day—climbing mountains, paddling rivers, and scaling rock faces throughout New Hampshire’s rugged White Mountains.

That love was certainly tested this year, when a rainy forecast loomed for the big day.

Rather than cancel their outings, students and faculty donned rain gear and changed their plans to suit the weather. Students dodged raindrops while f ly fishing, hiked through wind and fog on the Presidential Range, and paddled from New Hampshire to Vermont across Moore Reservoir.

Whether they were climbing mountains, scaling rock faces, or paddling local waterways, this year’s Mountain Day was a great opportunity for students and faculty to practice risk management and sound decision making in the outdoors, no matter the weather.

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(Clockwise from top) On Mountain Day, students fly fished the Mad River, posed for a group photo atop Mt. Eisenhower, and performed trail maintenance on the Nanamocomuck Ski Trail.

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(Clockwise from top left): Fording a stream on the Raymond Path, mountain biking near Cathedral Ledge, and rock climbing in Crawford Notch.

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CLASS SPOTLIGHT: AP Environmental Science O

n a cool morning in late September, as mist rose off the nearby Pemigewasset River, a small group of students hiked into the forest that abuts Holderness School’s athletic fields. Their task: to determine how much carbon is stored on the school’s 600-acre campus, and how that number measures up against its carbon footprint.

The students, carrying clipboards and the kind of large measuring tapes used by engineers, were conducting a carbon sequestration lab for their AP Environmental Science course.

With more than 50 students enrolled in four sections of the class, it’s one of the most popular Advanced Placement courses on campus.

And there’s little wonder why. The stated aim of the course is to explore

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the complex web of interrelationships that make up the natural world, and to analyze environmental problems, both natural and manmade.

Situated at the conf luence of New Hampshire’s lakes, rivers, and mountains, Holderness School provides the perfect laboratory for environmental inquiry.

“I like to get them outside. I don’t necessarily like to just talk about stuff,” says Dr. Rachel Jastrebsky, who teaches two sections of the course. “I think it’s better if they can see it for themselves, and apply it to their lives here on campus.”

On that September morning, Dr. Jastrebsky led her students through the forest to a small study plot studded with mostly deciduous hardwoods—a mix of American

beech, red maples, red oaks, and hemlocks. When they reached the plot, students spread out into the forest to measure the diameters of certain marked trees, and each tree’s distance from a central marker. Using the data they collected, students calculated the estimated carbon stored in the study plot’s trees. From those numbers, students would go on to extrapolate the amount of carbon stored on the school’s entire 600-acre campus, and compare it to the school’s carbon footprint.

And that’s just one outdoor lab of many. Past AP Environmental Science classes have visited a campus stream to test its water and collect aquatic specimens; measured air particulates to determine campus air quality; and solved a dimensional analysis problem to determine how much

Students in AP Environmental Science conduct a carbon sequestration lab, measuring the diameters and density of trees on a campus study plot.

carbon dioxide would be emitted if every student rode the elevator to class in the Davis Center for STEM —instead of taking the stairs.

While all of these labs are geared toward preparing students for the AP exam in May, the course—at least as it’s taught at Holderness—promises to have a far more lasting impact. In a world threatened by climate change, pollution, and other environmental threats, that’s no small thing.

“There’s really an opportunity to look at what personal responsibility

is for environmentalism from a science-based approach,” says Bryan Felice, who teaches the other two sections of the course. “It’s not just tracking our carbon footprints, but looking at what the science is behind the most important and impactful ways for the leaders of our students’ generation to feel empowered as dynamic thinkers and policy makers and responsible citizens.”

Both Bryan and Rachel hope to run the carbon sequestration lab every year. That way, Holderness can track its increased carbon sequestration as

the trees grow larger. Ideally, Bryan says, the school could use that data to move itself toward carbon neutrality— or sequestering just as much carbon on campus as the school emits.

“I think it could be really fun and exciting to see how we’re doing in terms of managing our forests—what we are using, and comparing the two,” Bryan says. “Then we can see what kind of goals we can set as a campuswide community to work towards.” |

Winter 2023 | 22

The Girls Varsity Field Hockey team celebrates a goal against St. Paul's School on October 11.

23 | Holderness School Today

Winter 2023 | 24

SHANNON A. MULLEN ’97 In other words, Leadership

By Greg Kwasnik

I

n the eight months it took Shannon A. Mullen ’97 to write her book “In Other Words, Leadership,” the firsttime author found herself thinking back—again and again—to her time as a student at Holderness School.

“I thought intensely of Holderness while working on this project,” Mullen said from her home in midcoast Maine, in between stops on her book tour. “I came to be able to articulate something that I’ve come to understand since I left there.”

25 | Holderness School Today

That something is, in a word, leadership. It’s a concept that was top of mind for the high school-aged Mullen, who aspired to become one of Holderness School’s vaunted senior leaders. And it’s also the animating theme of “In Other Words, Leadership” which tells the true story of a young mother, Ashirah Knapp, who sent weekly handwritten letters of support to Maine Governor Janet Mills during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The book offers a fascinating window into a fraught 12-month period when the governor imposed unprecedented public health

restrictions on her state—restrictions that often drew vitriolic criticism. The book, which weaves Knapp’s letters with the governor’s private journal entries, presents a story of civility, compassion, and connection in the face of fear and division. It’s also a powerful meditation on leadership, and the burdens that come with it.

For Mullen, the new book is simply the latest fascinating story in a career filled with them. In 2002, just a few years after graduating from Holderness, Mullen became the Washington correspondent for

2021 and learned about the letters, she knew she'd found an interesting story. “I asked if I could read them and she [Gov. Mills] let me read them,” Mullen said. “I laughed; I got a little teary. I remembered so many things about the pandemic that I’d forgotten. And I said ‘The world needs to see these letters.’”

What made the letters so compelling?

“I was hearing people who were tired of division and feeling powerless —and here was this woman who sought unity and believed in her own consequence enough to write letters to her governor,” Mullen said. “It’s the simplest thing. We’re all telling ourselves ‘What could I, one person, possibly do to help all these things that are wrong with the world?’ This woman didn’t do that.

She said, ‘Here’s one little thing I can do, and I’m going to do it.’”

New Hampshire Public Radio. In the two decades since, she has been a regular contributor to public radio programs like American Public Media’s “Marketplace” and NPR’s “Morning Edition,” and has published stories in The New Yorker and a host of other national publications. She also hosts a podcast, “Character,” about character actors, and founded an independent production company, Broad Reach Productions, which develops projects for the stage, screen, and spoken word.

At its core, the book proves that leadership can come in many different forms—whether it’s a governor making difficult choices for millions of people, or a mother in rural Maine writing weekly letters.

Mullen points to the final letter Gov. Mills sent to Knapp as that first pandemic year came to an end. “She wrote back to her and said ‘Thank you for all the things you’ve been doing —keeping your children’s education going, teaching them the value of an inquisitive mind, helping keep a small business af loat, helping people in your community. In other words, leadership,’” Mullen said. “And I thought, what a beautiful title. Here’s the governor of Maine, telling this woman, who just helped her through a hard time, celebrating her leadership.”

So when Mullen met Gov. Mills at a dinner party during the spring of

That realization, that leadership can come in many different forms,

Shannon A. Mullen ’97 near her home on the Maine coast (left), and the cover of her new book (above).

stirred up powerful memories for Mullen as she wrote the book in Campton, NH—just a few miles from Holderness School. As she wrote, she kept thinking back to her own quest to become one of the school's senior leaders.

“All I wanted in the world when I was at Holderness was to be elected one of those - and I never did,” Mullen said, recalling the 70-year Holderness tradition in which students—without campaigning or making speeches —elect their leaders based on the qualities of fairness, initiative, and empathy. It’s a process that leads to some unexpected results. “That’s one of the things that makes Holderness unique – that the people who were chosen for school president and some of the most important leadership positions, when I think back on it now, were kind of a surprise,” Mullen says. “They weren’t the ones who were seeking it. Leadership is a burden.”

Mullen freely admits that she wouldn’t want to shoulder Gov. Mills’ burden of governing Maine during a once-in-a-century pandemic, and—looking back—she wouldn’t have wanted the burden of leading her fellow students at Holderness.

Instead, Mullen found her own way to lead—by becoming a respected journalist who tells important stories that millions of people will read or listen to every day.

“It took everything that I started to study and be confused by and not quite understand as a high school student, and brought it sort of full circle,” Mullen said, of writing her book. “I was able to celebrate both the role I have in the picture, and what leaders do.” |

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Photo: fiba.basketball

GABRIELIUS MALDUNAS ’11 Chasing Dreams Across the Court and Around the World

By Meghan McCarthy McPhaul

G

abrielius “Gabas” Maldunas, ’11, is living the dream. As a young boy in Lithuania—where basketball eclipses all other sports in popularity and participation— Maldunas dreamed of playing for his country’s national team someday.

It’s a dream that came true this past summer, when he donned the Lithuanian National Basketball Team uniform and took the court at the FIBA World Cup in the Philippines.

27 | Holderness School Today

“In Lithuania, everybody watches the national team. When we started playing basketball, we were dreaming of playing for the national team one day,” he said. “That dream coming true was definitely crazy, and I enjoyed every second of it.”

Before Maldunas’ path led to the World Cup, however, it took him to New Hampshire, where he arrived at Holderness School as a 15-yearold sophomore in 2008. Some 4,000 miles and several international borders away from Maldunas’

hometown of Panevėžys, Lithuania, Holderness seemed a world apart.

The teenager had never been to the United States before arriving at the start of the school year.

But he had a two-pronged goal of furthering his basketball prowess and his academic achievement.

Holderness School would prove the perfect place for realizing both.

“In Lithuania, if you want to do higher education, it’s very hard to play basketball and study. If you want to do sports, you have to go to a sports

“My first year in the United States, I made a goal to myself that I would go to the Ivy League” he said. “Education was very important to me. I realized that the Ivy League has the best universities. I wanted to challenge myself, so I made that goal. I knew that basketball was not the only way —you also need some academics and some other connections, and the Ivy League is one of the best at that.”

Among the many adjustments he faced when he started at Holderness —the language barrier, the different course load, a school that comprised not a single building but an entire campus—playing a different sport each season was among the most surprising. But ultimately, Maldunas said, shifting his athletic focus beyond basketball helped him to become a better all-around player.

He found the opportunity to realize that goal at Dartmouth College, where he studied economics and excelled on the court. As he had been at Holderness, Maldunas was a captain of the Dartmouth team during his senior year. That season, the team posted the best record in recent Dartmouth basketball history, earning a spot in post-season play for the first time since 1959.

“Other sports make you see athletics in a different perspective,” he said.

“It actually made me miss basketball a little bit more, so then I was hungrier during basketball season.

And using different muscle groups in different sports helps you as well.”

After graduating from Dartmouth, Maldunas pursued his professional basketball aspirations in Spain, where he played for two years. By the end of his second season, he’d been away from Lithuania for nine years and was eager to get back home— even if it meant he had to give up his professional basketball career.

Maldunas played soccer all three years at Holderness, and opted for tennis as his spring sport the first two years. The spring of his senior year, he switched to lacrosse, an experience he said was “very interesting. I’d never played a contact sport like that before. But actually, it has some similarities to basketball—the footwork and some of the plays.”

Throughout his time at Holderness, Maldunas worked with basketball coach Tony Mure.

“He gave me a lot. I was working with him also in the summers and off seasons. He helped me not only with basketball, but with fitness and conditioning.,” Maldunas said of his coach. “He helped me to see basketball in a different perspective—and to see that there is other stuff in life.”

Regardless of the sport season, Maldunas was also focused on his academic studies. He was particularly interested in math, and also studied multiple languages at Holderness.

As with basketball, he set targets for academic achievement.

“The Lithuanian basketball league is pretty strong, and I thought I didn’t really have a chance to play there,” he said.

Instead, he accepted a job offer from a bank, putting his economics degree to work. Maldunas’ banking career, however, was short-lived.

“I worked for 4 or 5 weeks, and then a club in Lithuania called and said they wanted to see me, and they had a contract ready for me in the first division in Lithuania,” he said. “I decided I needed to take a chance, because it’s not every day that you get offers from the best league in Lithuania to play basketball.”

After two seasons, Maldunas’ hometown team, Lietkabelis Panevėžys, offered him a contract.

This fall he started his fifth season with the team, not long after wrapping up Lithuanian’s top-8 finish at the World Cup, where a highlight was beating Team USA in group play—only the third time Lithuania has done so, and the first since the 2004 Olympics.

Photo: fiba.basketball

academy, but it’s not connected to your school,” he said. “Everything was a lot different. In Lithuania, we didn’t have private schools like Holderness.

We just had public schools, and those were basically one building, and you’d go to classes then go home.

It was kind of a shock when I got here, to see all of those buildings.

It was overwhelming. It was tough at first, but I got through it.”

Gabrielius Maldunas ’11 on the court.

Maldunas feels fortunate to still be pursuing his basketball dreams—from Holderness to Dartmouth to Spain and eventually back home in Lithuania. He was called up to the National Team in February of 2023, at the age of 29. (He is now 30 years old.)

“It’s kind of rare that a guy this age makes a debut for a national team. They usually take younger guys,” he said. “But the coaches saw that I could help the team.”

When the time comes to hang up the basketball shoes, will he return to banking? Maldunas said probably not. He’s working toward a graduate degree in sports education and thinks he may eventually pursue an off-court role in basketball.

“You never know what life is going to bring you,” he said. “I tried banking, and I think it wasn’t really for me. I’m pretty happy being in the basketball industry.” |

Winter 2023 | 28

CATCHING UP WITH PAT HENDERSON

By Greg Kwasnik

I

n the fall of 2023, for the first time in Holderness School’s 144-year history, female students outnumbered their male counterparts, 51 percent to 49 percent. To the woman who had done so much to mentor the school’s first female students some 50 years ago, it was a piece of unexpected—and welcome—news.

“Oh, that is just wonderful,” says Pat Henderson, a tack-sharp 97-yearold who, in a phone interview this summer from her home in Massachusetts, breezily recounted Holderness memories that stretched back some 72 years. “I didn’t think I would see that in my lifetime.”

To generations of Holderness students —both girls and boys - Pat and her husband Don were iconic figures on campus. The couple first arrived at Holderness in the fall of 1951 when Don took a job teaching history and coaching the school’s f ledgling snow sports program. Over the next 37 years, Pat and Don would go on to become the school’s preeminent power couple—Don by creating a snow sports juggernaut that would produce nine Olympians, and Pat by working in the Admissions Office, becoming the school’s first archivist, and serving as a beloved mother figure to countless students.

And, in the early 1970’s, she would become the advisor to the school’s first intrepid female day students.

How did she find herself in that role?

29 | Holderness School Today

“I have no idea. I never applied for it—it was a non-existent job,” Pat says with a wry chuckle. “I’m tall and formidable looking. Maybe they thought my scowl would keep these frisky girls in line.”

In reality, Pat says, those trailblazing girls lived up to the high standards they set for themselves. “They were a great, experimental, open-minded, lively bunch of girls,” Pat says. “They knew that they were on trial, and that they had better behave themselves if they wanted girls to have a future at all at Holderness, which they did. They were delightful, that's all.

Strong, strong individuals. They had to be able to buck the boy system.”

If anyone was capable of bucking that system, it was Pat. After all, she grew up in northern New Jersey surrounded by five brothers. “I just always liked boys. I played with boys—there were never any girls to play with around my neighborhood,” Pat says. “And there were nine boys within just a few blocks. So, I grew up with a positive attitude about the male sex.”

She also came to an early appreciation for coeducation. After spending an unhappy first year at Bennington College, then an all-girls school, Pat’s advisor suggested she look into coed Middlebury College. In short order, and without telling her advisor, she hitchhiked with a friend to Middlebury, sat for an interview, and was admitted. Transferring to Middlebury proved to be a life-

changing decision for Pat, because it’s where she met Don—a veteran of the 10th Mountain Division attending the school on the GI Bill.

He was an intellectually curious, bold, persistent boy who grew up skiing in Berlin, New Hampshire. His nickname, Pat recalls, was Hammer.

“He was a fanatic about skiing. He was a fanatic about history,” Pat says. “He was a fanatic about getting outdoors every day. He was a lively lad, and good fun to be married to."

When the couple arrived at Holderness in 1951, they found a small but welcoming community with just over 70 students and 12 faculty.

They planned to stay for a year or two before moving out West to ski, but ended up staying for quite a bit longer. In the end, the Hendersons would be fixtures on campus until their retirement in 1987. “After two years, we decided we liked it so well we couldn't barely leave at all,” Pat says. “36 years later was when we finally were able to break the news.”

During their four decades at Holderness, Pat and Don would do much to transform Holderness into the school it is today. Don effectively modernized the teaching of history at the school and built the ski team into a powerhouse that rivaled the best schools in the nation..

At the same time, Pat became an indispensable figure in the life of the school and its students. “Pat was this wonderful bookend to Don, and to the women of this school,

Pat Henderson during her days at Holderness.

because she was so smart and so erudite—but also so interested,” says Tim Scott ’73, who lived in the Hendersons’ home on the Hill for two years and still keeps in touch with Pat. “She was interested in kids, interested in people, interested in learning. She was my other mother.”

In countless ways, Pat and Don became like surrogate parents to the students of Holderness. They would remember all the students’ names— even at the beginning of the school year—and recall small details about their lives that made them feel seen and special. “I remember that kind of attention, even though I know that they gave everyone attention equally,” Tim remembers. “They made you feel special, which is a real gift, I think, for anybody to be able to pull that off and make you feel that you matter.”

They also challenged the students to live up to a high standard, both inside and outside of the classroom.

“You wanted to meet their standard —and it wasn't manipulative,” Tim says. “It was just ‘You can do better,’ and you believed them.”

In 2015, Tim compiled “A Living Tribute to Don and Pat Henderson,” a collection overf lowing with remembrances from former Holderness students and faculty.

Former English teacher and Assistant Head Jay Stroud, who would later go on to become Head of Tabor Academy, wrote of the outsized role Pat played as Assistant Director of Admissions.

“Every once in a while, when people

were disaffected from Holderness for one reason or another, they were critical of Pat—NOT because she wasn't good at her job but because she was so wonderful at it,” Stroud wrote. “I remember one family who left the school remarking to me, ‘We thought everybody at Holderness would be like Mrs. Henderson.’— as though her lovely, humane and ever-thoughtful approach to kids and families was some kind of sham.

But, I always thought Pat made Holderness seem ideal—because she embodied that quality. For me the kind way she treated people was a goal to be achieved.”

Pat’s kind, steady influence was likely key to the success of the school’s first female students. As advisor to the day girls in the early 1970s, she helped bridge the gap between the Holderness School for Boys and the coed Holderness School of today. With Pat’s influence and mentorship, the day girls soon had their own trailer behind Livermore, a private space where they could change, shower, and commiserate.

Named ‘Hen House’ by one of the girls as an ironic nod to Pat, it was the first true female space in the all-male school. “Pat Henderson was tireless in her efforts to be supportive of the early coeds. She understood the need for a private place of our own on campus, and the ‘Hen House’ quickly materialized,” Kim Speckman ’76 wrote in “A Living Tribute to Don and Pat Henderson.”

“Pat's quiet manner, sage advice, and her readiness to be there when things inevitably went awry were invaluable.”

Today, the spot behind Livermore where the girls’ trailer sat is a parking lot, and the school’s female students have their own dorms, locker rooms, and sports teams.

Pat, who spent decades in happy retirement with Don at their home in Fairlee, Vermont, currently lives with her daughter Nancy Henderson ’72 in Massachusetts. Don passed away in 2018 at the age of 94.

While Pat and her husband left Holderness some 36 years ago— almost exactly the length of their time at the school—their presence is still felt on campus. The new Henderson Dorm was dedicated to their family in the fall of 2019; the HendersonBrewer-van Otterloo Chair Year gives faculty the opportunity to spend a year off campus learning or exploring a passion; and every year on Prize Day the Pat and Don Henderson Award is given to a senior who has exhibited leadership and “given of themselves most freely and generously to the welfare of the community.”

It’s a fitting tribute to a couple who gave so much of themselves to Holderness.

“I just know that I really loved the school—not just liked—but loved it. In those days when it was so small, you literally knew everybody.

And parents and aunts and uncles and probably cousins too,” Pat said. “From the very start, it just seemed like the place for us.” |

Winter 2023 | 30

WELCOME NEW TRUSTEES

(From l-r) New Trustees Dix Wheelock , Wendy McAdam, Courtney Peschel and Michael Murchie. Not pictured: Clarissa Lee.

T

he Holderness School Board of Trustees is a group of volunteers—alumni, parents, and friends - whose mission is to care for a school that has seen many triumphs and challenges over its 144-year history. This fall, Holderness School welcomes five new board members whose expertise will undoubtedly benefit the mission of the school: Wendy McAdam P ’26, Mike Murchie ’81, Courtney Peschel P ’26 ’27, and Dix Wheelock ’87 P ’25 P ’25.

Here are their thoughts as they begin their terms on the Board.

Dix Wheelock ’87 P ’25 P ’25 I am excited to give back to Holderness, and for the opportunity to offer perspective that ref lects my experience as both a student and current parent. I’m hopeful that my contribution will help propel Holderness into the future while maintaining the important traditions that make Holderness so special.

Wendy McAdam P ’26 I hope to contribute to the continued vitality of Holderness School. To me that means embracing the evolutionary process needed to meet the needs of today’s students while continuing to nurture all the longstanding aspects of the

31 | Holderness School Today

Holderness education that make it such a special experience.

Courtney Peschel P’26 ’27 I hope to be a voice for Holderness’ strength of creating a supportive community by emphasizing all parts of the student experience. I hope to help Holderness continue to develop students as they become the best versions of themselves as they learn, compete, serve others and make their difference both inside and outside of Holderness.

Michael Murchie ’81 “There are many aspects to how I think about my participation as a Holderness School Trustee.

Holderness has an amazing, powerful

and unique culture and I hope to be a voice of support for the culture while allowing it to adapt to today's world.

I think of the culture as making a difference in everything you do in a quiet and humble way, the Holderness way. I look forward to listening and learning about the challenges and opportunities Holderness is facing today and over the next decade and utilizing my business experience as a lens to to bring ideas forward.

Lastly, at this stage of my life and being an alumni, I look forward to deeply connecting with the entire Holderness community.” |

MEET JOHN HAYES P ’15 ’18

By Greg Kwasnik

I

f you’ve ever taken a sip from a can of soda or marveled at the images from the new James Webb Space Telescope, then you’ve benefited at least in a small way - from the leadership of John Hayes P'15 '18. the new chair of the Holderness School Board of Trustees.

Hayes is the proud Holderness parent to Annie Hayes ’15 and Jack Hayes ’18 – and he’s also the retired Chairman and CEO of Ball Corporation, the world’s leading provider of sustainable aluminum packaging for beverage, personal care, and household products. “Anything aluminum, we make,” John says. “Whether it’s

Coke or Red Bull or Pepsi. Chances are, it’s ours.” The company also has an aerospace division, which designed and built the advanced optical technology and lightweight mirror system that enables the James Webb Space Telescope to peer 13.5 billion light years into space - back to the early days of the universe.

New Hampton, Gould Academy, and Holderness. When they pulled up to Holderness our daughter turned to my wife and said ‘This is the one I want to go to.’ All the things that we maybe take for granted but we hold so dear about the Holderness experience, she saw it immediately.”

Here, John talks about his future as Board chair, the importance of finding purpose in life, and the power of a Holderness education.

On the mission of Holderness

On visiting Holderness for the first time “My wife Susie and Annie looked at a number of schools. They looked at

I don’t think people realize what a special place Holderness deeply is. There are a lot of institutions, whether it's governments, sports teams, schools, or companies that have posters on the wall and talk about things, but they do something else. This is an institution that lives by

Winter 2023 | 32

fields, Special Programs—I could go on and on—all those support that.

The Importance of Out Back Head of School John McVeigh says it best – that there are a lot of schools that are so envious of Holderness because if they were trying to create some of these programs like Out Back today, they’d never be able to do it. There will always be 28 reasons why you can’t do it. But the mere fact is we have it, and it’s such a gift. I see how impactful it was on my children, and made them who they are – so much so that when my son heard I was becoming Board chair said ‘Dad, you have to go on Out Back to make sure you deeply, truly understand the Holderness experience.’ So, I’m planning on going on Out Back this March.

The Power of a Liberal Arts Education

John with his wife Susie, daughter Annie ’15, and son Jack ’18. what it says. It says what it does and does what it says. I think that's really important. In fact, it's inspiring.

Finding purpose I have a firm belief that as human beings we all want to be part of something bigger than ourselves.

That’s why we have organized religion; that’s why we have sports clubs, and down in Boston on Sunday people paint their faces red and blue for the Patriots. Well, schools like Holderness can also provide that place where people can be part of bigger something bigger than themselves. I think being deliberate and intentional about what that deeply means and how do we leverage that and be structured in the way we think about that – those types of things get me excited. I believe that if you get the culture side right, you get the people side right, that’s 95 percent of anything you do. Everything else will follow. Success will always

33 | Holderness School Today

follow if you get the culture right, the values right, and the people right.

Goals for his first year as Board Chair Number one, it’s for John [Head of School John McVeigh] and his team to live out the mission of developing the people the world needs most, and then we can talk about how we do it. Everything we do at the school should align in one way, shape, or form with that. I just finished up a meeting with John where we were talking about this, because when you talk about creating people the world needs most, if you ask 10 people what that is, you might get 12 different answers. So we’re going to be going through an exercise at the Board level to hone in on what do we deeply, truly mean by that? It’s going to be really exciting because everything we do at the school, whether it’s in the academic classrooms, the athletic

I went to Colby University, a classic liberal arts school. I double majored in English and economics. So I’m a product of liberal arts. Running a big multinational company – 50 percent of our revenues are in the U.S. and 50 percent are outside, and we have over 80 facilities around the world and 25,000 employees – it takes every ounce of a liberal arts education to do that…We’re making 350 million beverage cans a day around the world, and then we’re making two satellites a year to help change the way humans look at the universe. That’s liberal arts, and that’s really cool.

It’s just amazing. We can look millions of light years away. I mean, I can’t even fathom what that means.

So think about seeing something millions of light years away, and being able to see it with the clarity we can see. You’re proud to be part of something like that, even thought I had nothing to do with making the sensors and other things. But I was proud to lead an organization that was very much purpose-focused and very much focused on making the world a better place, so maybe that comes full circle. That’s what has always attracted me to Holderness.

This whole concept of striving to make people the world needs most. |

BULLS BEHIND THE SCENES

DUANE STEVENS YEARS AT HOLDERNESS: 26 HOMETOWN: Holderness, NH JOB TITLE: Assistant Director of Facilities

How did you start working at Holderness?

I grew up right here in Holderness, right across from where Squam Lakes Automotive is. My mom was friends with a lady who worked in the kitchen here, Carol. And Carol talked with Dick Stevens and said “Hey, do you need some summer help? I know a kid that’s looking for a job.” And so I met Dick and he said “Go out there and just mow your heart out” and that’s kind of how I got my foot in the door.

What does a typical work day look like for you?

We try to keep up with the needs on campus. It’s a real challenge because you can make the best plan you want, and what happens is you wake up in the morning and you see 10 emails and you’re like “Oh no.

Two of those are not good!” You just have to prioritize stuff, you know?

Obviously, water and f loods or any type of toilet backing up or if it's

a roof leak or if it's ice and snow everywhere, you’ve just got to shift.

You got to be able to shift your day if you have to. I feel like sometimes we’re chasing out tail, but I just try to be upbeat with the guys and be like “It’s going to be fine, we're going to prioritize stuff, and we'll get through it.” And we always seem to pull it off.

Last spring you graduated from Plymouth State University with a Bachelor of Science in Operations and Project Management, becoming the first person in your family to get a college degree. What made you decide to go back to school?

I was getting to the point where I was like, “All right, Dwayne, now what?

You're sitting here. You’ve been here a long time now.” Since I wasn't a kid that wanted to be in school, I never thought I would want to do college.

But then I was like, what are you going to do? Are you just going to sit here at idle, and not have a college

degree? I'm like, you need to do something. So I kind of pushed myself and, I will say, my significant other, Cassie, she helped me out. She said “You really should do something.”

So I started poking around, looking at different ideas and operations and projects. And operations and project management seemed like it was right up my alley. And so I jumped on board…Then I just kept pecking away. It took me four and a half years, but I finally got it done.

So what’s kept you at Holderness all these years?

I feel like opportunity has kept me here. Holderness has been like another family for me – and I do mean that. I’ve met a bunch of awesome people over the years that have been inspirational, just helpful, nice to talk to. And being around students is great. You can teach them a bunch of stuff. I built a couple of go-karts with the Senior Capstone projects, which was fun. I just like being part of the whole school’s mission. |

Winter 2023 | 34

HOLDERNESS GATHERINGS The Holderness School Alumni Association includes more than 4,000 people worldwide, and throughout the year there are plenty of reasons to get together and celebrate! The Holderness Advancement office plans events throughout the country, and sometimes even internationally.

For the most up-to-date calendar of alumni events, please visit Holderness.org/alumni/events.

Here are just a few of the events that have occurred over the past year.

New Holderness families and students were welcomed at a reception held at Castle in the Clouds on August 16.

A huge thank you to Courtney and Jamie Peschel P’26 ’27 for hosting current and incoming Holderness families in Winchester, MA.

Family and friends gathered on campus in June to celebrate with Sarah and Bruce Barton. The Bartons were recognized for their years of service to Holderness by having a classroom in the Davis Center dedicated in their honor.

35 | Holderness School Today

Holderness alums, families, and friends take in a beautiful August sunset in Portsmouth, NH.

Alums, families and friends enjoying time together in Hull, MA in August. Thank you to Nicole and Ted Anastos P ’17 ’19 ’23 for hosting!

It was a great turnout for this year’s Grandparents and Family Day.

On August 26, more than 20 alums, faculty, and friends saddled up for the Holderness 100 - a scenic 100-mile ride through New Hampshire’s White Mountains!

Winter 2023 | 36

CLASS NOTES

The first snowfall of the season, Nov. 9, 2023.

MILESTONES DEATHS John R. McKinley, Jr. ’52: June 16, 2021 Dr. John “Jay” P. Olmstead ’54: January 28, 2022 John R. Skeele ’44: August 21, 2022 George "Gregg" M. Angle, Jr. ’68: February 25, 2023 Van “Mike” Hartman ’63: February 26, 2023

Morgan Markley ’10 and William Lomas: March 18, 2023 John “Jack” Dings ’09 and Lizzie Mackey: April 1, 2023 Nam Tran’14 and Trang Huyen Le: April 9, 2023 Bee Crudgington ’12 and Paul Reilly: April 29, 2023 Phoebe Erdman ’07 and Adam Harmon: June 9, 2023

James C. Coulter ’49: March 3, 2023

Emily Starer ’11 and Marion “Ham” Wallace: June 17, 2023

Thomas "Jeff " Ritzman ’60: March 24, 2023

David Grilk ’09 and Janelle Driscoll: June 17, 2023

Dr. Jonathan K. Howe ’68: July 2, 2023

Channing Weymouth ’02 and Matt Scheufele: July 14, 2023

Robert A. Zock PP ’82 ’85 ’89 ’92 PT: July 2, 2023

Jonathan Merry ’92 and Rebecca Allen: July 17, 2023

John Webb ’71: July 5, 2023

Francis Parenteau ’13 and Sabrina Hall: July 22, 2023

MARRIAGES AND UNIONS Peter Ferrante ’12 and Claire Caplan: May 2022

37 | Holderness School Today

Leah (Curtis) Rosencranz ’15 and Jake Rosencranz ’15: July 30, 2023 Emily (Hayes) Langlands ’11 and Robert Langlands: August 12, 2023

BIRTHS AND ADOPTIONS Eamonn Reynolds-Mohler ’02 and Sarah Fitzmaurice: Sadie Orlagh Fitzmaurice-Reynolds, February 2023 Sharlyn Harper ’06 and Elan Dejourdan: Auri Rowe Dejourdan, February 1, 2023 Edward “Paul” Pettengill ’12 and Sarah Jean Horton Pettengill: Charlie Pettengill, February 17, 2023 Jesse Straus ’06 and Madison Straus: Baker Phillips Straus, April 13, 2023 Caroline (Walsh) Andren ’10 and Derek Andren: Pearl Novella Andren, April 13, 2023 Olayode Ahmed ’12 and Kara Ahmed: Oyinlola Naomi Ahmed, April 14, 2023 Rob Maguire ’00 and Julianne Lenehan: Layla Anne, April 15, 2023 Nick Renzi ’12 and Margaret (Thibadeau) Renzi '11: Finn Ward Renzi, April 22, 2023 Austin Haynes '03 and Haley: Schuyler Otto Haynes, April 27, 2023

Samantha (Shlopak) Larsen '07 and Jasper Larsen: Willow Jane Larsen, May 9, 2023

Emma (Locke) McGreal ‘09 and Michael McGreal: Cameran "Cami" Mae McGreal, June 24, 2023

Gahwui Kim '07 and Joseph Charalambous: Leo Kim Charalambous, July 18, 2023

Anna (Lockwood) Kelly '03 and Ryan Kelly: Sophie Kelly, May 21, 2023

Lauren (Frei) Sleiman '05 and Ziad Sleiman: Koa Issa Sleiman, June 25, 2023

Sean Leake '04 and Katelyn Leake: Tucker Jameson Leake, August 2023

Gabrielle (Raffio) Weisburger '10 and Ben Weisburger: Audrey Grace Weisburger, June 2023 Landry Frei '08 and Victoria Frei: Thomas Antonin Frei, June 15, 2023

Jeff Rudberg '06 and Emily Rudberg: Paige Rudberg, June 27, 2023 Elena Taylor '10 and Tori Poss: Theo Taylor-Poss, July 2023

Taylor Nissi ‘04 and Brittany Nissi: Graham Paul Nissi, August 10, 2023 Kelsey (Muller) Rospos ‘09 and Alex Rospos: Eliza Quinn Rospos, August 17, 2023

IN MEMORIAM Beverley Ann Eccleston It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Beverley Ann Eccleston PEM ’87–’97 P ’89 ’92 GP ’26 ’27 on February 21, 2023.

Beverely and her husband Thomas Eccleston III came to Holderness School in 1987 and stayed for the next decade. The couple made a lasting impact on the school during that time—Beverely worked as the school’s assistant librarian, while her husband was a history teacher and coach. In addition to working at Holderness School, Beverely also worked in various administrative support roles at The Hill School and Proctor Academy.

She was predeceased by her husband of 55 years on October 3rd , 2022.

Forever cherishing Beverely’s memory are her two brothers, seven grandchildren, and three sons—one of whom, Rick Eccleston ’92, teaches math at Holderness. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the entire Eccleston family.

Robert “Bob” Zock It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of longtime Trustee Robert “Bob” Zock TR ’80–’92 P ’82 ’85 ’89 ’92 on July 1, 2023.

Bob was an integral part of Holderness School, serving for 12 years as a member of the Board of Trustees. He was also father to four Holderness alums (Mary Anne ’82, Bob Jr. ’85, Katie ’89 and Maggie ’92). Bob was loved by many for his kind heart, self lessness, and dedication.

Bob is survived by his wife of 62 years, Maureen, five children and eleven grandchildren.

He will be deeply missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him.

We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the entire Zock family.

Want to connect with your classmates? Scan the QR code and submit a class note online today. Thank you!

Winter 2023 | 38

’47

and grandchildren will continue to

am still planning to go back to Naples,

preserve and protect our invaluable

FL in October. I don't know how long

democratic traditions.” I’m confident

I can go back and forth, but I have to

that the upcoming generations of our

keep trying. STAY WELL.” … Brud

kvanlingen@holderness.org

younger people (former and current

Folger sends this in: “There was great

Holderness students, for example) will

snow at Sugarloaf last winter and it got

’48

make the necessary assessments and

put to good use by the Folger family.

proposed solutions in correcting these

Daughters Phoebe and Hilary are both

lingering issues. ~Frank Hammond

lifelong Sugarloafers who are full time

Class Correspondent Bill Briggs

Class Correspondent Rik Clark RCBCcapecod@aol.com The two remaining members of the Class of 1948, Bart Chase and its scribe (Rik Clark), are still alive

mothers with a combined five children

’56 Class Correspondent Dick Meyer

and kicking, although dealing

richard419@roadrunner.com

with health issues. There were 27

Within minutes of my request for class

in our graduating class. Hope to attend our 75th Reunion in 2024.

notes, Bob Armknecht replied: “My hat is off to you for your diligent efforts in a thankless job. [I replied that the

’50 Class Correspondent Frank Hammond f hammond64@comcast.net Being, perhaps, the next to last living member of “The Class of ’50,” I can only contribute a copy of a letter to the editors I recently wrote underscoring the problems this nation is facing with respect to its dealing with our currently alleged dysfunctional 2-party system.: “Having once been a Republican, I was appalled by the apparent lack of responsible leadership that no longer stands for the principles of the GOP when it had at the helm people like George H.W. Bush, a man of integrity, who was more than qualified to lead this country through good and difficult times. He was an important role model who, I’m convinced, will get good grades when assessed by students of American history in years to come. I love my country and was honored to have been able to serve it for a few years as a member of the armed forces during the early fifties.

I am confident that our children

39 | Holderness School Today

job is not thankless; it isn’t too difficult, and it is fun to hear from classmates I haven’t seen in 67 years.] I wish I had some exciting news to pass along, but I don’t. I am alive and as well as can be expected, and I continue to spend my time going back and forth between my Westport house and my apartment at Fox Hill Village in Westwood, MA. When I travel it is usually courtesy of Silver Sea Cruise Lines, but there is nothing in the offing until the end of the year. I did go to Arizona this spring to see my grandson graduate from ASU. I hope all is well with you.” … Dick Endlar writes: “I am doing the opposite of what you did. I am selling my Cape Cod home in East Sandwich and moving to an assisted living area in Needham, MA called North Hill.

The house was just too big for me to get around in and my family did not come down much. I have always said to everyone that to me there is nothing better than being with your family.

Hopefully being closer to them will help me see them more often. My second identical twin granddaughter gave me my fourth great-grandchild, a cute little dude named Jack Maione. I

in the Carrabassett Valley Academy ski program. My hope is to have our oldest granddaughter, Skye, visit Holderness with me and possibly finish her last two years there. I keep in touch with Gordi Eaton ’58 often. He told me he moved to Oregon to be close to his grandkids.

I understand the desire and joy to be close to the grandkids!” … After a bit of prodding Tom Anthony really came through. This bit has something of a different flavor. I hope it encourages others to speak more about the bricks that make up their lives: “Alumni, friends, classmates, we all knew we would be somebody else eventually and most of us had no idea what that would be. My own view was hazy at best. I learned to revel in history and became a college admissions officer.

Fast forward 67 years and the retired college admissions officer and his Latin teacher wife, Susan, are recently returned from Vienna, Innsbruck, and Munich. Vacationing in Europe has been a regular part of our lives for twenty years or more. Music? I still can sing, or at least I think so, but I have to accept the fact that an 84-year-old voice isn’t always easy to listen to. History? Oh yes, history remains a monument in my life, so much so that I think maybe I should have been a history major. Languages were a burden at Holderness. Bill Judge—from whom I took Latin at Holderness—met my wife shortly after we were married and said, ‘Humph, opposites attract.’ Today I can tote up eight languages I’ve studied.

Woodworking, carving, writing, poetry,

of downtown Portland for the Maine

about our house, galloping upstairs

and opera are the bricks that make my

Historical Society, and will also resume

and down, over furniture, through

life today.” … Dick Meyer finishes with

tours of the Portland Observatory for

draperies, knocking things over, failed

this: “I always was a little crazy or just

Greater Portland Landmarks when life

their attempt to climb up the front of

plain stupid, but the latest may top

around here settles down a little more.”

a dining room high-boy but succeeded in shaking down an antique Austrian

it all. We had a very nice apartment, but the owner decided to make the whole complex into condominiums.

We didn’t want any part of a 20-yearold-plus building for upwards of a million dollars. So, long story short, we bought a 2000+ square foot house on a third-acre lot with many trees less than four miles from the apartment in the same town. The move came just before the call for class notes so I only sent requests to those with e-mail accounts because of the hectic situation. A year ago, I got fed up with the management at the narrow-gauge railroad I had volunteered at for 22 years and I quit, so I really needed something to do.

This yard is proving to be more than an adequate replacement. (I still get together with my old volunteer crew for breakfast every Monday.) The fun part of this neighborhood with this setting is we can watch squirrels, a chipmunk, a woodchuck, and a variety of birds at the feeder. We also have been adopted by a homeless cat. The cat is outside the sliding glass door every morning about 5 o’clock. It now eats two cans of Fancy Feast and occasionally returns after dark for a bedtime can of food. In another vein, a partner and I have written a paper on the number of wind turbines required to make green hydrogen to make green ammonia for the shipping industry as a replacement fuel for bunker C fuel oil. The paper was published on the Hydrogen Energy Center website.

We are currently researching “white” hydrogen, that is, hydrogen found naturally in deep wells. We have not yet been able to determine if the discovery of significant amounts of white hydrogen is a hoax. Daphne continues with walking tours of an historic part

’57 Class Correspondent Bob Backus robertbackus05@comcast.net

’58 Class Correspondent Bill Biddle billbiddle2310@gmail.com R. Brooke Thomas rbthomas@anthro.umass.edu Depending on where we live, many of us have been baked or steamed by the weather since Brooke and I last wrote of our class of ’58. Here in Massachusetts and northern Vermont where the terrain varies as much as the weather, some of us have been flooded out—disastrously for the entire city of Montpelier—and some of us just baked.

Sharon and Bill Biddle have lucked out: had heavy but manageable rain, tolerable heat, and a bumper crop of plump blueberries and raspberries and prolific but leggy flowers in Sharon’s gardens. The roadside weeds in places have stretched too tall to see beyond.

A couple of weeks ago I (Bill) had an unannounced visit from a woman I’d hired 30 years ago to teach at St. Johnsbury Academy, where she’d stayed for a year then moved on.

She and two teen daughters and two German Short-Haired Pointers were in a camper van when she arrived in our turn off, disembarked, and came on in. She turned the dogs, who’d been storing up energy in the confines of the camper, loose. They instantly barked, bared fangs at our aged gentle Black Lab, and, spittle flying, tore

ceramic beer stein, which shattered.

The woman cajoled, commanded, whimpered, and eventually captured one, then the other of the hellhounds, mumbled apologies, never got to tell us anything of her past 30 years, nor her about ours, and marched dogs and daughters (who’d stood mute, hands at their sides throughout) to the van and to their next reunion stop. Otherwise, our life has been quiet lately. … On May 24th Mike Kingston welcomed 10 of us (including Gordi Eaton, John Greenman, Bruce Leddy, Tim Dewart, John Bergeron, Steve Carpenter, Doug Rand, Brooke Thomas, and Bill Biddle) to one of our now roughly quarterly Zoom gatherings. Mike ran long distances seemingly tirelessly when we were in school together, and we all understood that his extraordinary endurance came from running the trails of Chile when he was at home. There evolved, back then, several myths explaining just why a pale runner’s family lived at altitude in so “other” a culture and geography. Mike told us the real story (which we greatly abbreviate here). His Michigan grandfather, a miner, and some partners sought richer copper veins than they could find in Michigan, and invested in a likely chunk of South American Andes geography in which to burrow, and which, if the project went bust, Grandfather Kingston would get to keep. Mike rehashed the complex political and economic history of Chile that three generations of Kingstons subsequently experienced. After going to Harvard, Mike’s father returned to the Chile land and farmed it. Mike was born in Chile and was homeschooled there before his family sent him (and

Winter 2023 | 40

his brothers) off to Holderness. In

He noted, though, that jumping has

'62. Check him out as well as his past

the meantime, the Marxist-Socialist

been eliminated from interscholastic

family going back to the Civil War. No

upheaval put Salvator Allende in

competition. Today, he said, one

lieutenant colonel there. … Another of

charge of Chile and the Kingston

has to be raised in competitive

our military officers was Ken Lewis,

farm (and Chile’s economy) on the

skiing from the earliest age; no

who served in the Navy from 1964 to

rocks. Since then, the farm has fought

more community rope tow. Folks

1968 with the Atlantic Mine Force in

on. Under the leadership of Augusto

in small communities (like Gordi's

the Mediterranean area. Ken retired

Pinochet, Chile’s social circumstances

Littleton, NH) hardly have a chance

with the rank of lieutenant. He told

for the majority of Chileans declined,

to afford or participate competitively

me to mention the class of 1959 Zoom

but the economy improved. The

in the sport. Things have changed."

meeting initiated by Henry Whitney

campesanos of both Chile and Peru

~Brooke Thomas and Bill Biddle

in Argentina. Eleven members of the

are currently experiencing a better

class participated but sadly I was not

economy, pride of ownership, better

able to participate. Good job getting

schooling, and as a result, much greater professionalism. When governments make extreme swings between the far left and the far right, during the in-between spells (that is to say, now), many capable people return to their homeland and bring improvements in every sector. Brooke Thomas—whose experience of Peru and Chile from an anthropologist’s viewpoint—is less sanguine. Today the Kingston farm consists of 3000 hectares, a modest dairying operation, wild horses on the fallow lands, and, of course, the thriving and much praised vineyard.

There followed on the Zoom meeting a brief conversation in response to several details of Kingston history, the vineyard, and South America's social economic history. Chile is currently the most prosperous of the Western South American republics. The ’58 classmates have concluded that Holderness continues in good hands under John McVeigh’s leadership. We admire his enthusiastic participation in the Out Back program, and appreciate how his former experience as a basketball coach for underprivileged kids suggests he’ll be both an effective leader and, just as important, a compassionate one.

A final note "Gordi Eaton, Olympic medalist and consultant to the skiing industry, noted major improvements in Holderness's skiing program, making it one of the strongest private schools in both Alpine and Nordic events.

41 | Holderness School Today

’59 Class Correspondent Jerry Ashworth ashworth.kemah@gmail.com or jashworth617@gmail.com Welcome to summer 2023, not much of it so far, but I am actually looking forward to the beginning of the fall season. I drove through the Holderness campus on the way to Hanover last month, and it looked just as fine as it always does. The artificial turf playing field with lights is something our generation can't imagine. Try to imagine this. … Peter Coughlan has just celebrated his 60th anniversary with his wife, Nancy. Peter graduated from Colby in 1963 and then went on to Nebraska for a master’s, followed by an Air Force career of 20 years. Nancy had a career in elementary education and ended up being selected as the elementary school administrator of the year in Virginia while Peter retired as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force.

This sounds like a successful 60year romance. … Hello from Duncan Hunter. Too bad about the poor New England weather, Duncan, but it will improve. Duncan served 24 years in the military retiring as a lieutenant

that big of a turnout. … There is no more bruvog (Bruce Vogel) at aol. com. No, the news is not bad, it is just a change of email address to Bruvog77@gmail.com. … Steve Barndollar and I are hoping to connect with Bruce if and when New England is in his plans. … As for me, Jerry Ashworth, the biggest news is the acquisition of my new Bearded Collie, Piper. She is our seventh dog and sixth beardie. I can't imagine being without a dog. This puppy has taken at least ten years off my age. Keeping up with a beardie is a real test and I love it. My supposed military service is quite sketchy. I was participating with the Army Special Forces Track Team when I dislocated my shoulder, thanks to the Fryeburg football game senior year. Being before Vietnam I was medically discharged against my will. End of the Army for me, as much as I tried to get reinstated. Well, that's it for now. Thanks for the responses.

’60 Class Correspondent Gerry Shyavitz g.shyavitz@comcast.net

colonel. That is two lieutenant colonels

John Dunklee is celebrating his

in our class. … If you want to look

33rd anniversary and he is chairman

up something interesting, we had a

of the town’s Historic Commission

Holderness student two or three years

and assistant to the town manager.

behind us named Montgomery Meigs

Otherwise, he is enjoying himself at

the lake, swimming and fishing. …

of Milan and the plan has been to

Dave Grant responded that Gerry

head southwest from there, down

Shyavitz forgot to include Dave’s

through Spain and into West Africa.

response in the last issue. Gerry replied

I’m starting to chicken out, though,

by saying, “Oops, we cannot afford to

so there’s a good chance I’ll switch to

piss you off as we are only carrying

Plan B and run eastwards through

one goaltender.” Dave says he guesses

Turkey instead. Last summer was a

Gerry left him out because his life

wonderful adventure with Popeye. We

was too boring, which is not the case.

started out from Athens in April and

He sent good wishes to Gerry’s wife,

didn’t pack it in until early November.

Pearl, on her issues with MS and he

The one significant mishap occurred

sent his love to her as well. That was

near the start of the trip on the Greek

nice. … Ross Deachman is working

island of Karpathos. I crashed on a

part time as an attorney for his son. He

dirt road—at a really slow speed but

says the campus is busy with building

fast enough, evidently, to break a few

projects and he loves the recent alumni

ribs. I had to spend the month of May

publication. He will do a better job in

recuperating in a hotel in Rhodes. It

responding next time. … I did not hear

was intimidating to climb back aboard

from Charley Witherell, but Pam, his

Popeye, but it all worked out okay. Last

lovely wife responded, so he gets a pass.

winter I did spend a couple months out

Pam says their two sons are visiting

in Utah where my son still lives. I’m

from Colorado and Hawaii with a

presently tired of boating because of all

family of five from Australia, so they

the problems over the past few months,

have been very busy. … And finally,

but I am eager to throw a leg over

here comes Arthur “Spike” Hampson,

Popeye for another season of touring.

last responder and almost did not

When that’s done with, I imagine

make it. “Hi Shy. Well, the middle of

I’ll be rejuvenated once again for the

August is looming so I guess it is time

boating life. The prospect of touring

to stop all the procrastination. This

alone and at this advanced age—on

is Spike conjuring up some sort of

dirt roads that often turn to mud, and

tall tale about what is going on in my

in countries that sprout coups—gives

corner of the world. I am writing to

me pause. That’s why I am thinking

you from my 25’ Cape Dory sailboat,

about Plan B. By the way, I maintain a

currently in a slip at the Safe Harbor

collection of different kinds of writing

Marina in Charleston, SC. The past

at a Substack page. Anybody interested

few months have been spent trying

can access it at sp1ke.substack.com.”

to make progress northward in the

g.shyavitz@comcast.net It’s your temporary (like Marshall dorm) correspondent here, Gerry Shyavitz. We heard from Mark Shub who wrote: “Hi Shy. Your temporary class agent comment with the reference to Marshall House is what inspired me to write. I spent my first year at Holderness in Marshall House with Peter O’Connor and it is a warm and meaningful memory. I am quite fortunate that other than a recent hip replacement due to a cat successfully challenging me while I was on my morning bike ride, I am in great health. I made an Olympic-style high speed dismount but I did not stick the landing; well, I stuck it with my hip.

I am living in Florida with my wife Judith and still carrying on my fulltime practice of law. The practice keeps me invigorated and fills my days with meaningful events. I have a son and daughter, and Judith has a daughter.

Between us we have six grandkids, three boys and three girls. Judith’s daughter and grandkids live locally so we get to spend much time with them. My kids live in DC and LA so we rely more on Zoom than in person visits. Really nothing extraordinary to report, other than the extraordinary

classmates and my thanks to you for

sailboat) does not have air conditioning

assuming the ‘Marshall temporary’

and for weeks on end the temperature

position of class agent.” … John Holley

in Florida, Georgia, and South

sends: “Greetings from Portland,

Carolina has been obscenely high. It

OR. Now that the pandemic is over,

has worn me down to the point where

we too have started traveling again.

I ask myself if I’m being prepped for

Visited Coronado Island in February

my afterlife. Sometime in September

to escape the winter rains. Enjoyed

Hobo will be parked and I’ll visit my

(Popeye) is in storage on the outskirts

Gerry Shyavitz ’60

very content life. My best to all my

slow and fitful. Hobo (the name of my

before flying to Italy. My motorcycle

Interim Class Correspondent

fact that we are all well and living a

Intracoastal Waterway. It has been

daughter and her family in Connecticut

’61

Arthur "Spike" Sampson ’60 and his boat Hobo.

a granddaughter’s wedding in Belize in May. Spent a week in Kauai in July and returned to Puerto Vallarta in

Winter 2023 | 42

November. Except for the chaos of airline travel, we had a great time at each destination. Between travels we visit our doctors regularly. I have developed some peripheral arterial disease which has caused problems walking. Hopefully that will be treated in August. Growing old is a challenge but we must push forward. ONWARD!”

’63 Class Correspondent David Pope popemaine@gmail.com Dear class of ’63, Somehow my commitment to gathering and submitting class notes has either slipped or been thwarted. I could make a few calls and scare up a bit of news; but that doesn't appeal to me right now. Twenty-four hours from the deadline I am in a cabin that luckily has Wi-Fi, on a quiet lake in Maine. Thought I was going to be able to relax for a few days by getting away from my volunteer routines; but no, my classmates ignore my pleas for news and I'm left holding the empty sack. When I started this gig, I enjoyed hearing from many.

But recently I've been relying on a few and I feel abandoned. I haven't sent my news to my college, so I know the feeling. So, here's the deal: I'll send in a few sentences about my life to my college if even just one of you slackers sends me something for this column. Suggestions: what gives you joy, or what really ticks you off, or something funny or stupid you did at Holderness. Keep it short. If you're reading this you care enough to do this; and please know that the rest of us are turning into forgiving and caring codgers that would love to hear from you! Come on! Be the one! All the best, David Pope

43 | Holderness School Today

’64 Class Correspondent Guy “Sandy” Alexander salex88@comcast.net It was good to hear from several classmates during a busy summer full of wild weather here in the East. They shared the following, with attention to the school’s request for any military service. But first, this news from Dikkon Eberhart: “I know Rich Seltzer is our class’s prolific writer, but I am going along in that vein as well. At the moment, I’m producing what is planned as a four-novel series of thriller and romance (combined), set on and off the Maine coast in contemporary time. Book one came out in January and has done well for a new series beginning. Book two is done and will appear in September.

Book three will emerge in December (I hope) and book four about next March.

This is my first attempt at a series, and it’s great fun! Book one is titled EGG ISLAND—Death is Your Choice.

It’s readily available on Amazon, in paperback and Kindle. Check its numerous reviews. I’m self-publishing the others in the same way, working with the South Carolina enterprise www.selfpublishing.com.

Book two is titled DOWNEAST—This Blessed Assurance. Same two principal characters, who are middle-aged, divorced professionals (he a fine arts painter and she a therapist at a women’s center) with an interest in coming emotionally together with one another. Here’s the elevator speech for Egg Island: former pastor—and now fine arts painter—Percy Black must reclimb the precipice of his faith in order to save two women from the crimes that pursue them on the Maine coast and waters. After DOWNEAST comes out, I plan to begin producing all four books as audios in addition to

the paperbacks and Kindles. I hope some others among my ’64 friends will try the books out!” … Roger Farwell writes: “I served in the USAR from 1969 to 1975 in the 200th Military Intelligence Company out of Boston, MA. My MOS was bridge analyst/ combat engineer. I spent most of my active-duty time at Fort Meade and achieved the rank of specialist fifth class.” … Terry Morse sends this along from Moab, UT: “Good to hear from you, Sandy. To answer your question about the military: I was in the Armor Branch but assigned to the Fort Richardson-Biathlon unit in Anchorage, AK where my job in the military was to train for and compete in the 1972 Olympics at Sapporo, Japan. I traveled to Europe, Canada, and Asia to compete in various competitions as well as world championships and the Olympics.

After the 1972 Olympics I resigned my commission. I was a captain when I finished my tour of duty.” … Baer Connard offers us this: “I was in the US Navy Reserves 1965–1971 and active duty 1968–1970. Discharged as an E-4, petty officer 3rd class.

Here in Maine we have been battling the weather as well, but the center and northern parts of the state have fared worse than here on the coast.” … From Jeff Hinman: “Drafted into the US Army in December 1968 in Rome, NY. Discharged September 1970 at Fort Carson, CO. I achieved the lofty rank of E-4 a.k.a Specialist 4. I served in Vietnam with the 82nd Airborne and the 25th Infantry Division. I was an infantryman, clerk, and finally a photographer/ correspondent in the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. I was awarded an honorable discharge in early September 1970 at Fort Carson just in time to make it to cousin Dick Stowell’s wedding in Virginia.” … Pete Bodine writes: “My

active military service was September

My spring note about getting in touch

If you would like to hear from Cleve,

1968 to March 1970. Achieved the

and sending in details of military

send Holderness a donation and see

rank of specialist 5th class—MOS

service seems to have stirred a few of

if he follows through! … Another

13E20. I served as chief of section

you into action, at least in the great

full update came in from Charlie

for fire direction control for the 5th of

state of Maine. … From Portland, Bro

Reigeluth: “I retired as a full professor

38th Artillery/2nd Infantry Division

Adams writes: “For what it's worth, I

from Indiana University 10 years ago

on the Korean DMZ. I hope all is

am retired and living and writing in

with the ‘illustrious’ title of ‘professor

well with you and thanks for staying

Portland, ME and Puyloubier, France.

emeritus.’ However, I have continued to

in touch!” … And from Bill Baxter

Like you, I dropped out of college

mimic Don Quixote, with my windmill

I received this: “As you know I was

and went into the Army. I accepted

in the form of the K-12 education

ROTC at Clarkson and commissioned

an invitation to attend OCS at Fort

system. My main focus has been on

in the Corps of Engineers. I served two

Sill, OK. From there to Fort Knox

transforming educational systems from

years active duty mostly at Fort Riley,

and then to Vietnam, where I served

the industrial-age paradigm to the

KS, but also served in the reserves in

as an advisor to regional Vietnamese

digital-age paradigm: replacing time-

Buffalo, NY, Minneapolis, MN, and

forces in a remote part of the Mekong

based student progress with learning-

St. Louis, MO ending up with the

Delta on the Cambodian border. It

based student progress, replacing

rank of captain (O-3). … In my case, I

changed me greatly and forever. When

one-size-fits-all instruction with

received a commission in the US Air

I returned in May 1969, I joined the

personalized learning, replacing grades

Force from ROTC at Union in June

anti-war movement and left my Bronze

with lists of competencies mastered,

1969. I served as a pilot until June

Star at The Wall in Washington, DC.

replacing courses with projects,

1974, with a final rank of captain.

Like you, I understand and sympathize

replacing grade levels with continuous

After pilot training in Mississippi,

with the hard decisions people had to

progress across all competency areas,

I was stationed for my entire stint

make.” In another note, Bro included

and much more. I worked with a small

at Griffiss Air Force Base, Rome

a link to his website: wdaworks.

school district in Indianapolis for 11

NY, except for periodic temporary

wordpress.com. I recommend it highly

years helping them to engage in such

duties around the US, Puerto Rico,

as it contains impressive insights into

transformation. Since retirement, I

and England.” ~Sandy Alexander

our world today. … I also received the

have been sharing what I’ve learned by

following from Cleve Patterson: “I

publishing four more books, ten more

am thankful that I was born when I

chapters in other people’s books, 30

was. Yes, we experienced the horrors

more articles in professional journals,

of a war many of us were opposed to,

and at least a dozen presentations at

but our generation was the vanguard

conferences and universities. What

of a changing world. I wonder if we are

I’ve found is that the most important

witnessing that same change today.

outcome of a paradigm change effort

What music will they be listening to

is the changes in mindsets or mental

fifty years from now? I was walking

models about education that occur, so

along the waterfront in Belfast, ME

the transformation process needs to

today and an old guy (our generation)

focus on such mindset change within

had a coffee wagon and a huge sheet,

a large number of stakeholders. And

outlining in great detail the various

you can’t just transform one school

happenings of every year of the ‘60s.

within a district, because then it

We have lived a life that could only

becomes incompatible with the rest

be available to us in the US.” Cleve

of the district, which automatically

also promises to “get off my ass to

tries to change it back. This has been

write thank yous to the fourteen

a really fun journey of exploration

classmates who gave generously to

and invention, and now there are

the Holderness Fund. I am on the

more than 1,000 schools across the

board of our community in southwest

country that have transformed, with

Florida and we have been buried in

great student outcomes. But I sense

dealing with the aftermath of Ian.”

that we in education are at the Wright

Jeff Hinman ’64 during his military service in Vietnam.

’65 Class Correspondent Tom Butler Tom_Ryan@twcny.rr.com

Winter 2023 | 44

brothers stage of aviation development.

50-mile group rides (much safer as I

The effectiveness of these schools is

get older and makes Deborah much

going to increase dramatically over

less anxious!). Also enjoying travel

the next few decades. Other than

(winter trips to the Caribbean and

that, I love spending time with my

Mexico each year) and seeing our three

grandchildren. I can’t believe my

grandchildren (two in San Antonio, TX

oldest is 21 now and entering her last

and one in southwestern Maryland).”

year of college. The youngest two are three and five, and they live just over an hour away in Indianapolis, so we get to see them every two or three weeks. Life is good!” … Following

Dave Nichols ’65 and Charlie Reigeluth '65 next to an F-4 Phantom which (a plane actually flown by Dave!).

up, Dave Nichols writes: “Last fall, Charlie Reigeluth and his wife Tena came out from Indiana to San Diego to see their daughter's family. While here I took them and their grandson, Dane, and my wife, Louise, aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway, now a floating museum, which I flew from during my combat tour in the Vietnam War in 1972 and 1973. We had a great time visiting, having dinner, and reminiscing about our times together at Holderness, family, our kids, our grandkids, and our life paths over the past 57 years. I shared some of my more exciting times flying for the US Navy and my 27 additional years in aerospace with Ryan Aeronautical and Northrop Grumman.” … Clearly there are good connections to be reestablished in our class. If there is someone you would like to reconnect with, let me know and I will publish your note and hope we get a response.

My best to all. ~Tom Butler

’67 Class Correspondent Jamie Hollis jameshollis@comcast.net

’68 Interim Class Correspondent John Coles johncolesart@gmail.com

Class Correspondent Dwight Shepard shepdb@comcast.net

Class Correspondent

neglected to send you all a note about

Jonathan Porter

I am a bad class correspondent. I class notes for this issue of Holderness

jwport9537@gmail.com

School Today, and thus, practically

’70

to be a place in heaven for Nat Mead.

Class Correspondent Ted Coates

blew the deadline. But there’s going When I put out a rush request to all of you for submissions, he sent a family photo with this reply: “A

Tedc33@outlook.com

flick of the flock, minus sons-in-law.

’71

left), Audild, Tiril, Eleanor and Birk,

Robert Johnson ravenowner232@gmail.com David Taylor is still living in Doylestown, PA (26 years now). He

45 | Holderness School Today

’72

’69

Class Correspondent

Dave Nichols ’65 and Charlie Reigeluth ’65 with their wives and Charlie's grandson during a tour of the USS Midway.

Nat Mead ’72 and family in Norway.

has been retired for four years and is enjoying it thoroughly. Main activity in retirement is road biking. “Found a local organization that plans 40- to

The family photo includes (from the Sara-Maria and Olav, Susanne and Grandpa (Nat). All’s well with us on this side of the dam. Greetings to the Holderness family.” Ah, the wonders of the Internet: I heard from the classmate who is the furthest away.

Nat, you’ll recall, lives in Norway.

Thank you, Nat, for bailing me out. … My excuse is that I had five weeks of house guests. Our daughter, Lisa,

and her wife, Heather, stayed with

might have checked out one of his

us in our Cape Cod house for the

theater productions.” … I actually did

month of July, which was a huge and

hang out with Paul a bit during my

wonderful distraction. Then, my son,

senior year and remember sharing a

Ted, and his family, and four of their

bottle of Boone’s Farm Strawberry Hill

friends visited us in Dennis the first

wine (ugh!) while BS-ing the night

week in August. It was not until they

away at the cemetery across the street.

left that I realized I had just blown

He was a character: “Mr. Boston” in the

Holderness’ deadline. I’ll do better next

wilderness of New Hampshire! …

time; promise! ~Dwight Shepard

Finally, as for my news, and in the category of “What doesn’t kill you,

’73 Class Correspondent Dick Conant rconantjr@msn.com Dear Classmates, you’ve been a quiet bunch this time around, but I did hear from a couple of our classmates. … Tim Scott reports that (wife) Sheila’s fourth grandchild was born in May and a fifth is slated to arrive in January.

Consequently, her gardening has taken a backseat to being a helpful grandmother. Meanwhile, Tim has been rallying the Holderness

makes you stronger”, I am headed out to Montana in September to attempt the high point in that state, Granite Peak. It’s 15 miles into the Beartooth wilderness north of Yellowstone and has a 300-foot vertical technical rock face at the summit. I have decided to use a guide since I haven’t done any rock climbing since my senior year with Emil Poisson on the Rumney Cliffs. And if Peter Hoag is out there somewhere, he will remember that the two of us spent as much time on “smoke break” as actually climbing!

Best to all, Dick Conant

Day. Great to catch up with them and old Lake Placid haunts.” … Jack Sanderson reports: “After fully retiring (no more consulting projects) my wife, Susan, and I took a longawaited trip this summer cruising southeast Alaska. We spent two weeks kayaking with humpback whales, sea lions, and sea otters, while also viewing many bears and marine life on bushwhacks and shore walks.

The Glacier Bay National Park was particularly beautiful as we enjoyed an unusual week of sunny days in the Tongass rainforest. I feel lucky

most of a year we decided to start fresh

her in August of ’23 and the update will

instead of being in ‘recovery mode’

appear in the next issue. Tim hopes to Tim Scott ’73—Outdoor Crew “This was my section of walk, to be shoveled by 7 am or else. I lived upstairs in Rathbun. The location is below the Heads office facing west.”

for the next decade or more. I'm still board chair for Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project (mbstp.org) but am mostly avoiding frequent trips back to Santa Cruz. The genetics conservation

many great close friends at Holderness

hatchery has mostly been restored

and laments losing touch with them as

led in his adult life. If I had a clue, I

50th reunion of Berkshire Country

living in an RV on our burn site for

Editor Greg Kwasnik also interviewed

had no idea what a powerhouse life he

reunion trip to the Berkshires for the

community in August of 2020. After

icebreakers for coeducation. HST

“I didn’t hang with him at school and

in Lake Placid while on a whirlwind

took my home, studio, and whole

for the early girls who served as the

passing of Paul Dervis as an example.

Babcock and Sue Babcock last week

Juan Islands about a year ago. Wildfire

Holderness, with particular fondness

over the years. Scott notes the recent

wonderful time with Mr. Perry

to Orcas Island in Washington's San

ever and enjoys talking about all things

well as with many of our classmates

Rick Shipton writes: “Had a

Community! My wife and I moved

MA. Tim notes that Pat is as sharp as

Scott Morrison remembers having so

georgesfox@msn.com

the following note: “Hello Holderness

in with daughter Nancy in Ashfield,

back in June was really a lot of fun. …

George Fox

retirement.” … Mathers Rowley sent in

Henderson who, at 97, recently moved

2024! The Zoom call some of us had

Class Correspondent

to remain healthy and active in

community to reach out to Pat

see everyone at our belated reunion in

’75

’74 Class Correspondent Cindy Maclean cynthia.maclean@yahoo.com

since the fire but I still need to build a bridge to provide more secure access to it. I'm looking for Holderness alums that inhabit the PNW so if that's you, reach out. Maybe we could do a hike, bike, kayak, or go skiing? My son just

Winter 2023 | 46

’76

transferred to Central Washington State University to study geology. I'm looking for connections there too!” …

Randy Wellford writes: Semi-

Hunter Ten Broeck is still a designer

retired from Virginia law practice

and co-owner with Barb at Waterwise

after 38 years; still active status in

Landscapes in Albuquerque. “We try

Virginia State Bar; just moved to

to do a hike every weekend in New

Surfside Beach, SC; plan to take

Mexico and sometimes Colorado.” … David Keiser writes: “We have recently moved to Vermont, near

South Carolina Bar Exam in 2024.

Jack Sanderson ’75 kayaking with a school of Humpbacks.

Hanover, to a lovely home on the green of Newbury Village. We ski at

’77 Class Correspondent

Cannon along with Holderness ski

Peter Grant

racers.” … As for me, George Fox, I’m

pete@grantcom.us

returning to Ukraine in October.

George “Ham” Boynton reports: “Have had a busy first half of the year.

Anyone who remembers my dad; he just turned 90. Plays golf four days a week and still drives. Saw and played Good friends Rick Shipton ’75 and Perry Babcock ’75 reconnected on Perry’s home deck.

golf with Mark Perkins a year ago.

We hadn’t seen each other since 1977.

Also had classmate Olin Browne over for dinner when the Champions tour

The view from David Keiser's ’75 front door.

was in Tucson. Ginger and I have six kids and nine grandchildren. We play a lot of golf and go to concerts and have the grandkids over to the cottage.

That’s what we call our house. All is well and at the time of this writing all is hot in Tucson. Have a great year.”

Mathers Rowley ’75 on the lower slope of Mt. Baker.

Perry Babcock ’75 while he stretched legs and cracked bones around Lake Placid.

George "Ham" Boynton ’77 and Olin Browne ’77.

Jack Sanderson ’75 climbing a ridgeline on Baranof Island.

47 | Holderness School Today

Hunter Ten Broeck ’75 on one of his many weekend hikes.

Enjoying a day of golf are Olin Browne, Jim Murray, Jody Collins, Jef Sharpe and Ham Boynton all class of 1977.

’78 Class Correspondent Luther Turmelle lturmelle@sbcglobal.net Who can recall an expression from the 1960s and 1970s, a phrase uttered by parents of that generation: “Let’s get this show on the road”? (Don’t all raise your hands at once, folks. The sound of crickets is deafening.) But classmate Don Whittemore did just that this summer, taking his expertise in disaster and crisis management to Saudi Arabia of all places. Working as consultant and trainer, Whit headed to Saudi Arabia to help build the emergency management program for the city of the future. Let’s let Don explain further: “They (the Saudis) are building it along the Red Sea and it’s called NEOM. It’s pretty crazy in so many regards.” Whit is also working with Emergency Management Australia as well as the US National Park Service in a consulting and training capacity. “Lots of frequent flier miles in my future,” he said as he prepared to shuffle off to Saudi Arabia.

A little closer to home, Team Whit is preparing for a big shindig. Daughter Madison, who is a smoke jumper, is getting married in Montana in October. … In other nuptial news of the Class of ’78 variety, J.D. Hale’s middle daughter Rosie Hale was married to Brock Bell this on June 10 at the Mayfair Farm in Harrisville, NH. Here’s Jud’s take on the proceedings: “It was truly a magical day. Either one of them or both could have gone to Holderness. They both have a love of the outdoors (just moved back from Denver – after seven years out there).

Don Whittemore and John Neal ’77 got to meet Rosie while she was a Colorado resident. Thank you to both of them—especially early, it was nice to know local friends were there in

case of need.” Brock, Rosie and Jud

industry (Chris Davenport ’89, Steve

went up to Tuckerman’s last spring.

Jones ’87, Sam Bass ’94).” … Hal

Jud says he hadn’t been up there since

Hawkey is still living in Denver and

1978, when he went up with Paul

is semi-retired from Northwestern

“Boze” Bozuwa. “When we got to the

Mutual. Wife Jackie retired this past

bowl, the rangers would not let us ski

March and is loving the freedom,

due to sleet and fog,” Jud said of his

according to Hal. “Our girls, Sarah and

latest trip to Tuckermans. “I did not

Grace, are living together in NYC,” Hal

ski this time either, but those two love

writes. “Sarah is in human resources

birds went up the left gully in the bowl

with a financial services company

and had a great ski down from the

and Grace is in the digital advertising

top. I plan to join them next year if

space. We try to visit them a few times

anyone wants to join. It was good for

a year and they are back to Colorado

me to check it out again, meet a lot of

to hike and ski when they can.” Hal

people, and see the gear!” Elsewhere

and his family gathered at a shared

on the Hale family front, he reports

summer home in the Adirondacks

that DaLonn and Kristen live in North

during the summer of 2023.… As for

Reading, not too far from the Hale

me, I am seeing a lot of my adult sons

homestead. DaLonn is on the police

this summer. My youngest, Jacob, is

force for Reading. His daughter Lacey

home on an extended visit from Israel

just started a new job at Record Future

and is working on developing his

and she lives in a Dorchester condo.

freelance photography business. Any

Son Charlie and his wife Ava are still

leads are greatly appreciated. His older

out in Los Angeles. And Jud is now

brother Zack is about to start his sixth

a grandfather times two: Nova is 22

year of teaching at Dobbins Vocational

months and Landon is seven months

Technical School in Philadelphia. Time

old. … Matthew Riley is working hard

marches on and by the time you read

for the chief of staff of the Department

this, hopefully I will have worked for

of Homeland Security and ICE’s legal

25 years in Connecticut journalism

department. Matt and his Brazilian

and started working on the 26th year.

wife have five kids. … Finally, there’s

God willing and no meltdown, as

The Edge. No, not the U2 guitarist,

Boston radio legend Charles Laquidara

but our own Bruce Edgerly. Bruce

used to say. ~Luther Turmelle

writes: “After 29 years, I’ve finally stepped back from the day-to-day ops at Backcountry Access (BCA), a leading manufacturer of backcountry skiing and avalanche safety equipment based in Boulder, CO. My title is now BCA co-founder and brand ambassador. I’ll spend my time ‘networking’ on snow this season instead of nodding off in the conference room. I’ll be speaking at some snow science conferences, teaching a few avalanche courses, visiting our subsidiaries (Japan is my favorite!), and pushing out my ‘[EDGE] ucation’ video series on avalanche safety. I’m always stoked to run into all the Holderness grads in this awesome

’80 Class Correspondent Jack Dawley jdawley@northlandresidential.com There was not a lot of class news so I’ll add some, so that our slot is not a blank space. Sarah and I had a busy summer of celebrations as we hosted daughter Anna’s wedding to her longtime partner Shannon in Madison, Wisconsin and daughter Liza to longtime boyfriend Kris at our summer home on the Cape.

Both affairs were wonderful with lots of family, friends and perfect weather.

Winter 2023 | 48

Rising seniors in the school’s Outdoor Leadership Program descend a scree field in Franconia Notch last May. The route took students past The Eaglet, the only free-standing rock spire on the East Coast.

49 | Holderness School Today

Summer 2023 | 50

So, we’re free and off to some sort

for the health insurance industry is

from NH: “The highlights of what has

of new adventure! In between the

not for me after a year of giving it a

gone on since I last corresponded with

weddings, I visited with Chris Coffin

shot. I have returned to the bedside

Holderness are that my husband and I

'79 on Winter Harbor in Wolfeboro

seeing patients as a hospitalist. Life is

managed to successfully raise one son

to celebrate his purchase, restoration

good! Take care!” … Ty Wallace has

who graduated from New Hampton

and re-launching of the former Pierce

“retired” and moved to Chatham, MA

School and UNH. We remain living in

family’s, (Stephen “Woody” Pierce

this summer to be with his soulmate,

the town of Sandwich, NH on Squam

'73 and his late brother Doug Pierce

Laurie. Ty is truly living his dreams

Lake amongst several other Holderness

’79) Chris-Craft boat - Sweet Sue II.

there, boating and fishing with his best

graduates (Heather (Johnston)

Chris, myself and many '79 and '80

friend of 40 years! … Mike Murchie

LaRowe ’87 and Molly (Adriance)

classmates have great memories of

sees Mark Cavanagh ’82 and Dave

Whitcomb). I think that makes three

roving the lake with our dear friend

Slaughter ’79 from time to time, and

red heads and must mean something?

Dougie Pierce in Sweet Sue, so it is

they are trying to find a date for some

Ha! I am able to work remotely and

only appropriate that she is now in

golf and dinner in Maryland. Mike

purchased a condo on the Space Coast

Chris’s hands. We’re all looking forward

says he is “doing pretty well overall.”

of Florida where the weather is more

to making new memories with Chris at

… Kevin Rowe continues to split his

agreeable most of the time and we

the helm. Please send along your news

time between Weston, Beaver Creek,

enjoy watching Space X launch rockets

for the spring HST. ~Jack Dawley

and South Dartmouth where he reports

whenever we can get there. I believe it

running into Marguerite and Will

was Cort Pomeroy who once said to

Graham ’72 during the summers. …

me, ‘Tavia, you just can’t slow down…’

For me, life is good. My oldest son,

This was after numerous speeding

Ian, is getting married next year to

violations commuting to school and

his long-time girlfriend; Charlie is

several other driving capers in those

working and thinking about going back

days. Although I believed I had calmed

to get a master’s (I thought the bills

down, I did roll my husband’s Porsche

were done). Jen continues her career at

Cayman GTS. I walked away from the

UNH while I do volunteer work, run

crash without a scratch. My marital

my family’s farms, and try not to be so

bond was thoroughly vetted to say the

bored that I am down to organizing

least.” … Greg Redmond writes in

the battery drawer. ~Peter Baker

from Alabama: “I'm in Birmingham,

Chris Coffin ’79 on his Chris-Craft Sweet Sue II.

AL working for Protective Life - we

’81

’82

Class Correspondent

Class Correspondent

Peter Baker Peterabaker@gmail.com Christine Louis writes: “After more than a decade on one side of Plymouth (NH), my husband and I just completed a build on the other side of town. (We're planning for that next phase of life as empty-nesters.) Also, in April, I became vice president for

Chris Pesek chrispesek7@gmail.com

’84 Class Correspondent Craig Westling cwestling@gmail.com

Radio; it's exciting and rewarding

’86

work! I hope this finds all my

Class Correspondent

classmates well and enjoying life.” …

Chris Zak

Dave McCarron reports that “Working

chriszak@gmail.com

from home doing utilization review

Tavia (Street) Cederberg writes in

development at New Hampshire Public

51 | Holderness School Today

really love it here. I recently visited with Owen Hyland and his family in Rye Beach, NH during a business trip; great to see him and spend some time reminiscing about our Holderness days. For anyone in NYC or a music fan in general, check out my daughter Ella at a local venue, or on Spotify, Instagram or Apple Music etc. She is a rising music talent who has released her own songs (which are amazing!).

She goes under the name of Ella Galvin for her music.” … Matt Reynolds writes in from Georgia: “We were on a college tour last April (two daughters currently in college at UVA/UGA with two more to go) driving up the coast from LA to San Francisco, where I was fortunate to catch up with classmate

Ellyn (Paine) Weisel. So great to see

Jack Snow (25) resides in Weymouth,

a fellow Holderness classmate! I have

MA and is working in commercial

been in Atlanta since the ’96 Olympics,

insurance, Dr. Linsin (28) resides in

so if any Holderness alums are ever

San Francisco working in a biotech

passing through the ATL, please

company; hoping she returns to

reach out! MattReynol@gmail.com

Boston someday. Anyone in bio tech? Our youngest, Tague, is super pumped to attend Proctor Academy this fall as a ninth-grader. I can’t wait to get back to the football sidelines and enjoy those beautiful New Hampshire fall days again we all grew to love and appreciate. I would

Tavia (Street) Cederberg '86 and family in Boothbay, Maine.

love to hear from you!” … Geordie Elkins, by chance, ran into Chuck Staples on Mount Washington.

“What a great coincidence. OB came full circle. He still has the moves. You should have seen him telemark down Tuckerman Ravine.

It was a thing of beauty. (Although I understand the subsequent ski trip didn't go as well. Get well soon!)”

’89 Class Correspondent Brad Greenwood brad@greenwoodbiz.com Michael Erlanger says: “Hey Holderness, I have been practicing ophthalmology in Denver for the last 20 years and recently received Denver’s 2023 Top Doc award by 5280 Magazine. My two daughters Arwen (2028) and Madeline (2029) have been busy playing lacrosse for their club team, Urban Elite, and the team finished the year nationally ranked 10th and 18th respectively.

I had an amazing Alta and Powder Mountain trip with Todd Wagner last March!! He still rips, and even after his fourth knee surgery, I can’t keep up. Stay classy, Holderness.” …

Christy (Wood) Donovan reports: “Still living in DC/VA and on Squam Lake in summers and would love to host Holderness visitors anytime! My oldest kid graduated from college and

Matt Reynolds ’86 and family.

plans to coach adaptive skiing in Aspen this winter, so I know where I will be skiing more and hoping for another epic snow season! Two other college kiddos and one in boarding school keep me busy with visits while I also manage my VA farm and adjust to being an empty nester. I am exploring ways to Geordie Elkins ’88 and Chris Staples '88 on Mount Washington.

… Brandon Perkins writes: “Howdy from The Okie! Summer is in full swing and we just returned from a week in Crested Butte, CO escaping the brutal

Class Correspondents

Oklahoma 110-degree days. We have

Christina “Nina” (Bradley) Smallhorn

a lake home about an hour from Tulsa

nsmallhorn@me.com

and I typically spend 3-4 days a week

Lauren (O’Brien) Smith writes:

Longboat Key (Sarasota). My son

horseback riding or other areas in the get back to campus for Reunion 2024!”

’88

enjoying residing in Duxbury and

and/or get involved with therapeutic health and healing arena. Excited to

Matt Reynolds ’86 and Ellyn (Paine) Weisel ’86 in California.

“Hi everyone! Stewart and I are still

get back to practicing physical therapy,

between Memorial Day and Labor Alex MacCormick ’88 and Sam Turner ’26 have a chance meeting in Nantucket.

Day cooking, floating, surfing, and maybe even having a few occasional

Winter 2023 | 52

cocktails. If you get a wild hair, come

a little of this, a little bit of that, and

’88 and Chris Stewart ’88 in NYC in

on down and spend a few days with

always working on new hobbies. Many

late July. And as always I hang with

us! Phoenix, our 21-year-old son, will

do not know—and most would never

Tracy Gillette whenever I can. Hope

be a senior at Oklahoma State this fall

have guessed—that I have struggled

to see many of you at reunion next

and is majoring in MIS. (Obviously

with depression for the last 20 years.

May!! … Jen(Murphy) Robinson is:

and thankfully, he was awarded most

I have worked hard and developed

Looking forward to our big reunion

of his genes from his mom.) This

some tools that ‘keep me out of the

this coming spring. It’s timed nicely

summer he had an internship in Dallas

ditch.’ Why would I share this? I am

with Sam Robison’s ’24 graduation

with Critical Start, a cyber security

not embarrassed by this disease. If I

which will be great to attend with my

firm. I believe this is the path he has

can raise awareness just a tad, or help

fellow Holderness alum, Addy Robison

chosen. He's transformed from a

just one person, then my struggles

’22. After a few years in Austin, TX

mild-mannered, quiet bookworm as

with mental health are worthwhile. I

for a work stint, I am back living in

a child to a state champion lacrosse

know many suffer in silence and I want

Marblehead. Hope to see more of you

goalie; from a reserved pledge in a

them (YOU) to know that they (YOU)

all soon! … Todd Maynard writes:

fraternity where he knew no one to

are not alone. I am here for YOU and

My three kids are leaving the nest!!

the social chairman in that fraternity

I would be elated to chat about life;

Samantha is at Amherst, Charles

house. Phoenix is a fantastic man,

confidentially, of course, if wanted.

a Senior at a certain “hornets nest”

with a great head on his shoulders.

Call or email. I would love to catch up

and Magdalena a 7th grader at Dexter

It's been a joy to watch him mature.

with all of you about the good, bad,

Southfield so.. Charlotte and I are

Ella, our 18-year-old daughter, has

ugly, and hilarious.” … Tracy (McCoy)

open to suggestions on what’s next!?

been living in Dallas for almost a year.

Gillette writes: Getting excited for

… Brad Greenwood reports: “Hey

She is attending the Aveda School of

our 35th Holderness Reunion next

Bulls! All is well in Kittery, ME with

Cosmetology and will graduate this

spring!! It will be fun to also have my

the Greenwood family and I hope the

October. Reality is setting in for her

older daughter, Lily Gillette ’19 and

same is true for the rest of the great

and she is discussing continuing her

her class in our reunion year too. Lily

class of ’89. Summer is going fast but

free ride…errrrrr…education. ;) She is

’19 graduated Magna Cum Laude from

we are making the most of it with all

a beautiful, amazingly talented young

Colby College in May. And was also

kinds of adventures like visits from

lady who dances to her own beat.

inducted into Phi Beta Kappa Honor

family and friends, riding gravel and

(Her first sentence as a child was ‘who

Society. She is currently working in

mountain bikes, playing tennis, boating

built me?’) Due to her love of all living

the medical field at Boston Children's

and fishing, and chilling by the pool

creatures, Ella has been a vegetarian

Hospital. I ran into lots of Holderness

in the sun. Our daughters Cora (15)

since she was two years old; she has a

alums this summer at the Dead and

and Charlie (13) are getting tall and

heart of gold. We are excitedly watching

Company show in Boulder, CO - Steve

becoming great young ladies. Cora works

her find her perfect path and know

Jones ’87, Todd Hopgood ’87, Chris

at the Stage Neck Pool in York Harbor

she will continue to shine. My wife,

Stewart ’88 and Chris Davenport!

and has been fishing with me a bunch

Elizabeth, and I have been married for

Super fun to see everyone. … Chris

this season. Charlie went to surf camp in

almost 25 years. She is a pharmacist

Davenport says: Hi everyone! I hope

the Outer Banks and is enjoying being

by day, having started an in-house

you all have had a wonderful summer.

too young for an official job! Megan

pharmacy for a fantastic orthopedic

I just got back home to Colorado from

is well and continues to be the brains

group. She works normal weekday

my 20th season skiing in Chile. My ski

of our repping business. Come visit

hours, and has just pared down to 3.5

camp at Portillo continues to thrive and

anytime you are traveling by Kittery.

days a week. She has always been a

my entire family was down there with

hard worker and deserves the break.

me. Stian Davenport ’19, graduated

She loves yoga and has been traveling,

from CU and moved to Encinitas, Ca,

studying, earning yoga teacher training

Topher Davenport ’22, is ski racing at

hours, and continuously molding her

Colby, and Archer Davenport ’26 is

practice. Me? Well, residential real

an incoming freshman at Holderness.

estate development; the same thing for

I’m so excited to have all three of our

the last 30 years and I love it. Besides

boys be Bulls!! Other than that I saw

that, I am just as you would imagine:

some fun music with Alex McCormack

53 | Holderness School Today

Jim Queen ’90 and Pepper deTuro caught up this spring in Ireland for a little golf

’91 Class Correspondent Lex Leeming lleeming@nexphase.com Paul Laflam says: “I am currently practicing nephrology in southwest Virginia. My wife Monica and I Christy (Wood) Donovan ’89 in her happy place after a short sunset hike up Eagle Cliff overlooking Squam Lake, NH this summer.

celebrated our 25th anniversary— albeit a year late (thank you COVID)— with a few weeks in England and Sweden. And in yet another moment of time marches on, in May our eldest graduated from UVA. Our youngest daughter will be a sophomore at UVA

my family and friends. Cheers! … As for me, Nicholas “Lex” Leeming, we spent a few weeks in Romania (visiting my wife’s relatives) and Italy (Amalfi Coast and Rome) and gaining a few pounds. It was an amazing trip. I also crossed that 5-0 threshold with a round of golf and dinner at the Wee Burn Beach Club in Rowayton, CT surrounded by close friends and family. It was a great evening and fantastic to see folks from all points of the compass. I am on the road a lot, so shoot me a note and let’s connect.

I would love to reconnect with you.

this coming year. We currently live in Roanoke, VA (not the one on the ocean where the settlers disappeared) and have been here for 10 years.

It’s a lovely place that I never knew existed until we decided to relocate Alta 3/1/23 with Michael Erlanger ’89 foreground and Todd Wagner ’89 over the right shoulder.

from New Hampshire after working at Dartmouth, after my wife and I finished our respective specialties.

The door is always open!” … David Gerasin writes: Happy Summer from the Gerasin Family! It’s been a while so here we go: Laura (fiancé) and I welcomed Henry Van Gerasin into the family in April 2022. He fits in perfectly and will be on skis this winter! Neve and Tristan ’27 are phenomenal bigs to this little guy. Neve

Michael Erlanger ’89, his daughter Arwen and wife Nichole after Arwen won the 2028 AA division at the 2023 Sandstorm Lacrosse Tournament

is now 11 and Tristan is 15. Tristan

David Garsin's ’91 children Tristan ’27, Henry and Neve.

is heading off in ten days to attend this little school, don’t know if you’ve heard of it, Holderness and with any luck will graduate in '27. He is super excited and after going through three or so months of gut-wrenching pain I am at peace with him leaving home so early. On the personal front, pretty much all goodness. I had a great ski season last winter having spent time in Big Sky, Steamboat and Beaver Creek. Laura and I are now engaged.

Brad Greenwood ’89 and his daughter Cora with the 45" birthday stiped bass she caught.

Business at Steele Street Capital is great. I’m just happy to be healthy and be able to spend a lot of time with

Lex Leeming ’91 "gaining a few pounds" during his travels in Pierluigi in Rome.

Winter 2023 | 54

Melissa Barker writes: “In January we uprooted our life from Colorado and moved to Corvallis, OR. After more than 20 years of teaching biology, I’m starting a new adventure at Oregon State University, working for a program called Polar STEAM that facilitates collaborations between educators and Lex Leeming ’91 celebrating his 50 th birthday with friends.

science research teams in the Arctic and Antarctic. We are adjusting to a wetter existence and less snow and

’92

loving the easy access to great forest adventuring on bike and foot.”

Montana or Glacier National Park.

begin school, me or Charlotte? We had

with Charlotte so positive, and the Jason Myler ’94, original receipient of the MJ LaFoley award, and Natalie Low ’25, current recipient of the MJ LaFoley award, met unexpectedly at a lacrosse tournament for their son and brother respectively. Notice both are sporting their Holderness gear.

reports from Whitefish Montana

who happen to be coming through

I can’t tell who is more excited to

consulting made our search process

service for an amazing teacher,

love to see any Holderness classmates

preparing for drop off at Holderness.

lunch with Will Richardson. Will’s

celebration of life. It was an incredible

Collins this year and that he would

house this fall. Charlotte ’27 is busily

where we were lucky enough to have

faculty and alums at Mr. Eccleston's

Colorado State University in Fort

abundant excitement here at my

travels brought our family to Maine,

tournament. She also saw several

that his daughter Maggie started at

Greetings from Vermont. There is

alongside Charlotte. This summer’s

was in town for his son's hockey

area. … Nathaniel “Than” Pulsifer

bostonknox30@gmail.com

’27; both will be ninth graders

Biederman's in Plymouth when he

recently; reach out if you're in the

Amanda (Knox) Hoffman

Dahlberg’s daughter, Grace Dahlberg

Nici Ash ran into Stu Wales at

Nici relocated to Manchester, NH

Heatherbpierce@hotmail.com

Barnhorst ’27, and Reece Spinney

Niciash12@gmail.com

(Mullen) Wieser and Maggie Zock.

Heather (Pierce) Roy

Barnhorst’s ’00 daughter Brooklyn

Nici Ash

She is in touch regularly with Kelly

Class Correspondents

fun making connections with Tim

Class Correspondent

mentor and coach to so many of us.

’96

outcome so rewarding for her. What a treat to see a contemporary in their professional environment?! Both Will and I were not-so-secretly thrilled when Charlotte chose Holderness this spring. In between rain storms and floods, July brought some great

’95 Interim Class Correspondent Amanda (Knox) Hoffman ’96 bostonknox30@gmail.com

times on the lake. One of the notable afternoons was spent with Augusta (Riehle) Comey and her family, who were visiting from Utah. They are all thriving in SLC alongside Augusta’s sister Emily (Riehle) Dixon ’99, who just had her second baby! We heard that Kate (Hendel) Paik retired in

’93

May as a lieutenant colonel in the US Marine Corps where she also

Class Correspondent

completed a three-year assignment as

Lindsay (Dewar) Fontana

the director of Pacific and Southeast

linds_dewar@yahoo.com

Asia on the National Security Council.

The best part about being a Holderness

’94 Class Correspondent Ramey Harris-Tatar rameyht@yahoo.com

55 | Holderness School Today

parent as an alumna? I’ll be cheering Katie (Hendel) Paik '96 with her husband Laurence and children Amelia (9) and Mattis (6).

alongside my classmates from ’96 and ’97 with Sam Daigneault, David Flynn, Andrew Miller ’97,

Reece (Spinney) Dahlberg and

Marshall came up from Wyoming to

go along with the occasional memories

likely more folks I don’t know about

Bozeman where Ryan LaFoley ’96

from campus. We’ve been casually

yet! ~Amanda (Knox) Hoffman

and Joe Sheehan both live. Lots of

trying to meet up in person, but Jimmy

laughs and Holderness stories shared!”

and Zach are the only ones to capitalize on their travel schedules to make it

’98 Interim Class Correspondent Putney (Haley) Pyles ’97 putneypyles@gmail.com

happen.” … Billy Bentley and Jake Spaulding got their families together in Eliot, ME over the summer to catch up with each other. … Rob Maguire and his wife, Julianne, welcomed Layla Anne Maguire to the world on April 15, 2023. … Pat Hagan writes: “My former roommate, Brendan Dane, is

Ben Dulac ’97 in Montana with the crew: Tim Duffy '96, Jim Sheehan '96, Andrew Marshall '97, Ryan Lafoley '96 and Joe Sheehan '97.

a musician/songwriter/music producer under the name Alific. He has created a bunch of great albums over the years, which are all on Spotify. Recently we collaborated on an instrumental song I wrote called ‘Shifting Dawns’, which features me, Brendan, the drummer from Slightly Stoopid along with an amazing pedal steel guitar player.

Ola Ahmed ’12 with his beautiful family, Kara, Ola (3) and new daughter Oyinlola.

All this started back at Holderness, really, with our dorm jams, and when we recorded our song ‘Daybreak’ with David Lockwood.” … Hedda

Sarah Barton joins Shannon Mullen ’97 at her new books signing.

’99 Class Correspondent Darren Moore

’97 Class Correspondent Putney (Haley) Pyles putneypyles@gmail.com Hi all. I'm writing this note on August 16th, just two weeks out from my son's first day of kindergarten. We've had a great summer and hope you have, too.

Updates were quiet this time, but a big thanks to those who sent in notes.

Best wishes as summer wraps up and for the fall/winter season. Ben Dulac shared this news: “I had a great trip to Montana this past spring with this crew. Lifelong friends and brothers.

Tim Duffy ’96 and Jim Sheehan ’96 came down from Alaska and Andrew

dmoore@holderness.org

’00 Class Correspondent Andrew “Sully” Sullivan MyIreland20@gmail.com Hello to the class of 2000 from Tim Barnhorst! “I’ve recently taken on

Burnett writes: “Hello! I'm now in my 13th year as a Brooklyn resident and think maybe I'm a New Yorker?

Ben (husband) and I have two kids, Wyatt (seven) and Willa (four). We have two mediocre cats, Chicken and Mini Monster, and we live in Cobble Hill. My veterinary practice is right in the neighborhood. Ben has a software development company based in Dumbo and is colleagues with Andy Hardy so we get to ski with him. I still see Heidi Webb once a year and sometimes RC Whitehouse and Susan Hobson too!”

the role of co-president of the Alumni Council alongside Elise (Steiner) Hacker ’10. We’re both excited for the new challenge and we are looking forward to connecting with alumni from all classes. I’ve been in regular contact with Mike Schnurr, Jimmy Jung ’98 and Zach Antonucci ’98 on a daily group chat that typically consists of ruthlessly ragging on each other to

Hedda (Schipper) Burnett's ’00 children Wyatt and Willa.

Winter 2023 | 56

’06 Class Correspondent Casey Gilman clgilman5@gmail.com Jesse Straus reports: “My wife, Madison, and I moved to Norwalk, CT in late-summer 2022 with our son, Rob Macguire ’00 and his wife Jules welcomed their daughter Layla Anne on April 14, 2023.

’01

Hughes (two), and dog, Lambert. We welcomed our newest addition, Baker, Nina (DiBona) Pauk ’03 and Ashley (Hedlund) Healy ’04 at their weekly happy hour in Exeter, NH.

in April of this year. I’m a little over a year into working at a new company called Oceanworks, specializing in helping organizations take action against plastic pollution.” … Casey

Class Correspondent Karyn (Hoepp) Jennings

Gilman writes: “I am still living in

KarynPJennings@gmail.com

North Conway, NH with my husband, Matt, and husky named Neiko. It has

Tyler Stubbs writes: “Greetings!

been great getting to spend lots of

My family and I have relocated

time in the mountains and outdoors!

back East to Providence, RI after a

I have been enjoying working at the

decade in the West. I am working in

Omni Mount Washington Resort

Boston at Lego; childhood dreams

& Bretton Woods Ski Area as the

do come true. Looking forward to

HR director. We are hiring for a

reconnecting with many of you.”

’02 Class Correspondent Betsy Pantazelos b.pantazelos@gmail.com

’03 Class Correspondents Nick Payeur ndpayeur@gmail.com Nina (DiBona) Pauk writes: “Been enjoying summer on the seacoast. I see Ashley (Hedlund) Healy ’04 all the time as we both live in Exeter, NH and have kids in the same elementary school. I've taken up a new hobby of abstract acrylic painting which has been a fun outlet. I hope to put a website together in the near future to display my work...stay tuned!”

number of positions in various departments. If anyone is looking for new opportunities, please reach out Resilience Within, 36"x36" floral abstract acrylic on canvas by Nina (DiBona) Pauk ’03.

writes: “Became an NBA champion as the assistant GM with the Nuggets!”

’04 Class Correspondent Kate (Kenly) Tith kate.tith@gmail.com George Denny writes: “Sold my first novel this year, titled Wokelynd, and when it comes out the world will never be the same.

Otherwise, I'm roughly what my former classmates would expect.”

’05 Class Correspondent Brie (Keefe) Healy healy.brie@gmail.com

57 | Holderness School Today

and let me know!” … Tomas Balcetis

Tomas Balcetis ’06, Assistant GM of the Denver Nuggets, holding the NBA championship trophy in the locker room right after their win.

Tomas Balcetis ’06 and his family on the championship parade float celebrating the Denver Nuggets NBA championship.

transitioned into an instructor role

Jessica White reports: “After seven

for the next few years. I continue to

years, I am stepping down from my

work as a detective for the local police

position at JL Dunn & Company

department. We joke about buying a

in October and looking forward to

Holderness mini bus someday for our

traveling for a bit and starting a new

seven children: Mitchell (10), Julia

chapter!” … Jesus “Moose” Moore

(eight), Aubrey (six), Joel (five), Henry

writes: “Holderness! How long it has

(three), Josiah (one), and Luke (eight

been! I hope everyone who has gone,

months). We keep busy in our free time

will go, and is currently going to school

homeschooling, staying active in our

or working there is doing well! A great

church, and traveling the east coast

place where I met some lifelong friends!

for the kids' wrestling tournaments!”

Never have I forgotten my time there.

Currently teaching in Lawrence and am the boys basketball head coach.

Fresh off the most successful season in school history and we were number one in the state for the majority of the season! Recently married Laura Moore and have a three-year-old daughter named Giavanna ‘Gigi’ Moore.” … Polly Babcock has been in Denver, CO for seven years since her time in Brooklyn, NY. She is running an Ecommerce Photo Studio that shoots the full seasonal apparel and equipment lines

Jesse Straus' ’06 sons Hughes and little brother Baker.

Gahwui Kim's ’07 son Leo.

for outdoor brands such as The North Face, Outdoor Research, Pit Viper, Obermeyer, and many more. Polly is the director of operations and the first employee at the 2.5-year-old company.

’07

She owns a townhome in the heart of the city and lives there with her dog,

Class Correspondent

Wiley. She visits her mom in memory

Taylor James

care south of Denver in her free time.

taylorveronicajames@gmail.com

She gets to the mountains often to ski,

Matt Tomaszewski

mountain bike, backpack, camp, and

mctomaszewski@gmail.com

play outdoors with friends and her boyfriend. … Converse Fields says: "I

Gahwui Kim writes: “Hello! This might be my first ever submission :) My husband Joe and I wanted to

Stephen ’07 and Kourtney Martin ’07 along with their beautiful family.

share that we welcomed our first son,

in NYC. We're all doing well and looking forward to all the adventures ahead!” … Kourtney (Brim) Martin reports: “Stephen is still an activeduty Marine/EOD Tech stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC. After returning home from his sixth deployment, he

2009) where I live with my daughter, Adeline (nine) and my fiance, Crystal.

Since retiring abruptly from snowboard

Leo Kim Charalambous, into the world at 11:56 am on July 18, 2023

am still in Steamboat Springs, CO (since

’08 Class Correspondents Baird (Meem) Anderson bairdmeem@gmail.com Jessica White white.jessica.madigan@gmail.com

racing in 2018, I have started a pottery business and a handyman business.

In 2021 I also started working as a snowboard coach and have led three of my athletes to their first World Cups.

John Swift (former pottery teacher) is my step dad now. He and my mom got married in December 2022."

Winter 2023 | 58

Hi, everyone! My husband, Mike, and I are still living in Winchester, MA with our son, Jack (9 months), and dog, Bailey (3 years). Jack loves Bailey, Bailey is indifferent about Jack but is warming up to him more every day. A few months ago, I took on the role of co-president of the Holderness Alumni Council with Tim Barnhorst '00. If you have Polly Babcock ’08 and her boyfriend enjoying a day of mountain biking.

any thoughts or suggestions on how to engage our alumni community, please reach out to either Tim or me,

’12 Class Correspondents Alex Leininger leiningerbalex@gmail.com Kristina Micalizzi kmicalizzi08@gmail.com Peter Ferrante reports: I have moved to Northern NJ with my wife Claire and two dogs. I am now teaching Middle School English and loving the opportunity to help students grow!

we are always open to hearing from you! Hope to connect with many of you soon. ~Elise (Steiner) Hacker

Head coach Jesus Moore '08 and the Lawrence, MA boys basketball team at a sold out field house at one of the State Tournament games this past season.

Elise Hacker's ’10 son Jack with their dog Bailey.

’11

Peter Ferrante ’12 and his wife Clair Caplan on their wedding day in Greece.

Class Correspondents Cecily Koopman cncushman@gmail.com Jamie McNulty Jesus Moore's ’08 three year old daughter Giavanna Moore.

jamcnulty20@gmail.com

Class Correspondents

Paige Kozlowski reports: “Living in

solmsallie@gmail.com

London and love meeting up with

’09

’14

fellow alum Derek Pimentel!”

Alexandrea “Allie” Solms Mikaela Wall wallmikaela@gmail.com

Class Correspondent

’15

Allison (Stride) Lloyd

Class Correspondents

stride.ally@gmail.com

Hope Heffernan hopeheffernan@gmail.com

’10 Class Correspondent Elise (Steiner) Hacker eliseshacker@gmail.com

59 | Holderness School Today

Jake Rosencranz jrosencranz1@gmail.com There was a huge Holderness showing for Emily (Hayes) Langlands ’11 wedding.

Leah (Curtis) Rosencranz lcurtis1330@gmail.com

William Tessier writes: “Hello! For

Europe, Japan, Canada, and South

the past four years, after graduating

America taking on the best extreme

from UNH, I've been living in Boston

skiers from around the world. Taylor

working for Paul|McCoy, a small family

credits her success to Holderness's top

office in Back Bay. While working full

tier snow sports program, where she

time I've also been getting my MBA

learned strong fundamentals from

part-time from Babson College. I'll

coaches George Capaul, Ben Moody,

graduate this May! After seven years of

Janice Dahl, and more.

living together at UNH and in Boston with Chris Hyland and Charlie Day we all went our separate ways last fall. I moved in with my girlfriend, Jess. I missed our class reunion last May but I'm looking forward to the

Leah and Jake Rosencranz ’15 celebrating their wedding with Holderness friends.

10-year reunion in a couple of years.

The Boston alumni events have been fun and well attended. It's been great to catch up with classmates I haven't seen in a while. If anyone is ever in Boston or wants to reach out and catch up please do!” … We got married on July 30th at Arapahoe Basin in Colorado! The day was filled with cheer and love as we celebrated alongside

Taylor Dobyns ’16 finishes 2nd in North America in the Freeride World Qualifier and qualified for the 2024 Freeride World Tour.

friends and family (and a few moose, who lingered around the lodge for the duration of the festivities). We are so excited for this next chapter in life and can’t believe it all began with a walk-back over 10 years ago.

William Tessier ’15, James Rowe ’15, and Kai Lin ’15 got together on William's apartment rooftop on July 19 th to catch up.

~Jake and Leah Rosencranz ’15

Class Correspondent

’16

Elizabeth Johansson ecjohansson17@gmail.com

Chris Sargent

’18

christopher.t.sargent@gmail.com

Class Correspondents

Class Correspondent

Taylor Dobyns is the first ever Holderness alum to qualify for the Freeride World Tour. Taylor received the invitation to represent the US on the Freeride World Tour after finishing second in North America in the Freeride World Qualifier series this year. Impressively, Taylor qualified for Jake Rosencranz ’15 and Leah (Curtis) Rosencranz ’15 on their wedding day in Arapahoe Basin in Colorado.

’17

the Freeride World Tour and graduated from law school during the same year.

Next year Taylor will put her legal career on hold while she travels around

Stuart Clifford stugclifford@gmail.com Sarah Rogers rogesb524@gmail.com Luke Valentine lukevalentineoms@gmail.com

’19 Class Correspondent Lilly Patterson lgp011@bucknell.edu

Winter 2023 | 60

Andrey Yao is starting a PhD in computer science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, studying the theory of programming languages.

’21

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!

Class Correspondent Adam McNabney adamsteelemc@gmail.com

’22

Students do a bit of landscaping during the school's first 9th Grade Service Day in October.

Class Correspondent Rachel Storey rachelstorey11@gmail.com

’23 Class Correspondents Evan Plunkett eplunkett31@gmail.com Terry Zhu terry961616@126.com

Evan Plunkett ’23 and Jackson Ehwa ’23 reunited for a couple weeks this summer working as camp counselors at Elite Hockey Camp at New Hampton School.

HAVE YOU SERVED IN THE MILITARY? IF SO, WE’D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU. Please submit your name, final rank, branch of military and service dates to alum@holderness.org. THANK YOU!

61 | Holderness School Today

Charging uphill during a mountain bike race this fall.

Winter 2023 | 62

REPORT OF APPRECIATION 2022–2023

SCAN FOR DONOR AND VOLUNTEER LISTS —OR VISIT WWW.HOLDERNESS.ORG/ROA.

63 | Holderness School Today

E

ach and every year, I continue to be amazed and humbled by the generosity of the Holderness School community.

During the 2023 fiscal year, nearly 2,200 individuals—alums, parents, students, and friends—donated a combined $6.7 million to Holderness School. For a school with just over 300 students, those are incredibly impressive numbers. Our donor base, which exceeds those of our peer schools, is a testament to the power of the Holderness School community— and the lifelong connections it fosters.

That large donor base is what prompted us to try something

different with this year’s Report of Appreciation. In past years, the printed report has included the names of every single donor and volunteer from the prior fiscal year. In last year’s Report of Appreciation, those names spanned 30 printed pages.

In a world of widespread inf lation, rising printing costs, and environmental concerns, we have decided to move our lists of donors and volunteers online. You can find them by scanning the QR code on the facing page—or by visiting Holderness.org/ROA. I would like to thank each and every one of you for your continued

support of Holderness School. While this year’s donor and volunteer lists may be digital, please know that your generosity has made an indelible impact on the school and the lives of its students.

With gratitude,

Mark Sturgeon Executive Director of Advancement

Winter 2023 | 64

A YEAR IN GIVING 2% Other

2.8% Summer Programs

8.6%

Income

Holderness Fund

10.6%

76%

Endowment Distribution

Tuition & Fees

$21,113,303 Revenues

1.7%

Summer Programs

9%

Instructional & Student Programs

10%

Administration

20%

Physical Plant & Maintenance

59.3% Salaries & Benefits

65 | Holderness School Today

$20,734,454 Expenses

Total Fiscal Year Giving:

$6,700,867

FY22 Holderness Fund

Endowment

$1,819,740

$2,653,470

2,917 Donors

2,917 Gifts

27 Donors

FY22 Capital Campaign Contributions

$2,227,657

58 Gifts

33 Donors

40%

$4.3 million awarded in financial aid

22%

increase since 2017–2018

122 endowed funds

39 Gifts

of students received financial aid

4

62

endowed scholarship funds

bequests

$924,410

DAY OF GIVING FEBRUARY 17, 2023 Total Giving

$598,194

1,656

Top 10 Classes Participation Rate

Donors from

1988

2011

1989

2008

1994

2019

2022

Faculty/Staff Participation Rate

2006

States

1978

40

54.6% 1999

10

Countries

Winter 2023 | 66

PATHS TO GIVING

Over more than 60 years, Holderness School students have built a sprawling network of Nordic and mountain biking trails on the school’s wooded, 600-acre campus. Now, thanks to a gift from a generous donor, those trails have become some of the best in New England.

A skier races on our newly-homologated trail system (top). In December, Director of Snow Sports Ben Drummond tries his hand at snowmaking (bottom left).

67 | Holderness School Today

In 2022, an ambitious project added 5 kilometers of homologated, FIS-certified racing trails to the school’s existing Nordic trail network. The project also installed 3 kilometers of snowmaking, fed by a 3-million-gallon snowmaking pond on Mt. Prospect Road. With dependable snow and high-caliber competition trails, Holderness is poised to become one of New England’s top Nordic racing venues. And since the new trails adhere to international standards of course design, Holderness can now host larger local, regional, and even national competitions.

On the mountain biking side, a recent gift funded the construction of a f low trail on the school’s old ski hill. The machinebuilt downhill trail features berms, rollers, and jumps that take advantage of a rider’s momentum. The new trail has been an exciting addition to everyday riding on campus, and has become a part of the school’s fall mountain biking competitions. |

Whether bombing down the school's new machine-built flow trail (top, bottom left) or racing flowy singletrack, our mountain bike trail system is tough to beat.

Winter 2023 | 68

THE POWER OF PLANNED GIVING

W

hen Lars Hansen ’52 passed away in the spring of 2021, he donated his body to medical research. Everything else—his condo, car, clothing, and more— he gave to Holderness School.

That’s when Holderness School’s Director of Advancement Mark Sturgeon got a call.

“Unfortunately, it was kind of a sudden passing,” Mark said from his office on the third f loor of Livermore Hall. “We had known that we were the sole beneficiary to Lars’ estate, but we weren’t fully aware that included everything from his socks to his antiques to his car.”

A successful Georgetown real estate agent, Lars passed away at the age of 87 without any immediate survivors. Since he listed Holderness School as the sole beneficiary of his estate, it was left to the school—and Mark in particular—to settle his affairs. In short order, Mark f lew to Washington, D.C. where he worked

69 | Holderness School Today

with a real estate agent to list Lars’ condo, hired an auction house to sell his paintings and antiques, and even sold his car—which ended up going to another Holderness alum.

As Mark went through Lars’ home, he found various pieces of Holderness memorabilia: rolls of old film taken by Lars when he was a student; a Holderness class ring; and a Holderness patch that Lars had cut from his sport coat and framed. Before he passed away, Lars had described Holderness as a safe and inclusive place that opened the world to him. He made the most of his time on campus— playing tennis, taking part in the Bull, yearbook, and debating, and was the secretary-treasurer of the camera club. He was also voted “best dressed” and “most modest.”

Clearly, the school had meant a lot to him.

By the time his apartment and all of his other assets were sold, Lars’

Lars Hansen ’52

estate amounted to more than $500,000. Those funds were used to create The Lars Hansen ’52 Endowed Scholarship, which gives preference to Holderness-bound students from the two churches Lars attended throughout his life.

In the end, Lars was able to make an impact on Holderness that far surpassed any of his past donations to the school.

“Before his estate gift, his largest gift to Holderness was $1,000— which is great,” Mark said. “But multiply that by 500 and that’s what he gave through his estate.

That’s the power of planned giving.

It gives donors an opportunity to make extraordinary gifts.”

While the particulars of Lars Hansen’s story are certainly unique, planned giving at Holderness School has a long and distinguished history. In fact, a legacy gift is how the school was founded.

“Creating a legacy is how Holderness was created,” said Tim Scott ’73, Advisor to the Balch Legacy Society.

Tim notes that after the Rev. Lewis P.W. Balch, Jr. passed away in 1875, his widow Emily donated much of their estate to help Bishop W.W. Niles establish Holderness School on the hill overlooking Plymouth.

“So many things over the years have been done because of people leaving money in their estates to help the school through hard times and also to help the school grow,” Tim said.

Today, there are numerous ways to give to Holderness. You can bequeath all or part of your estate to Holderness, like Lars, or simply list the school as a beneficiary on your retirement account. Another option is a charitable gift annuity.

If you give $50,000 to Holderness today, for instance, the school will give you 6 percent of that sum every year until you pass away. Whatever is left over goes directly to the school.

A charitable gift annuity is how Chris Latham ’72 chose to give back to Holderness. Chris came to the school as a postgraduate in 1971 with the goal of playing a year of football and lacrosse before college. Unfortunately, he promptly blew out his knee during his first football game. The rest of the year, which Chris freely admits could have been a disaster, turned out to be just the opposite. Instead of struggling, injured, in a strange new school, Chris was embraced by a tightknit community of newfound friends, faculty, and their families. “It could have been the worst year of my life,” Chris said, “But it turned out to be a wonderful, transformative experience.”

Chris ended up returning to Holderness, first as an intern in the development office, and then as the school’s Director of Development in 1980. For the next 10 years, Chris was responsible for the school’s fundraising efforts—so he knows a thing or two about the importance of planned giving. “As many people may or may not know, tuition only pays a fraction or a portion of the actual operating costs of a school,” Chris says. “Charitable support is vital and critical to the health of a school.”

Chris Latham ’72 As a scholarship student himself, Chris directly benefited from that kind of support—and, as an alum, he wanted to return the favor. “I was a scholarship student and obviously that provided the financial support that enabled me to attend and have that wonderful Holderness experience,” Chris says.

“For us alums, charitable giving is a way of paying forward or paying back in hopes of creating a similar opportunity for somebody else.” |

Every gift to Holderness makes a difference. Whether you donate $5 on Day of Giving or bequeath your estate to the school, your gift impacts every aspect of our students' experience—from academics to athletics, special programs, financial aid, chapel, and residential life.

To learn more about planned giving and other ways to give to Holderness, please visit www.holderness.planmygift.org or contact Tim Scott ’73, Advisor to the Balch Legacy Society at tscott@holderness.org.

Winter 2023 | 70

FROM THE ARCHIVES

By Dr. Jennifer Martinez

T

his summer, the outdoors has seeped into the Holderness School Archives. Or perhaps they were always a part of it? I am inclined to believe the latter.

Many of us have spent the summer surrounded by nature, perhaps enjoying the calm lake waters that our beautiful state has to offer - or hiking one of our several breathtaking

71 | Holderness School Today

trails. Here in the archives, we’ve been reading through four log books (c. 1970-1983) kept by members of the Holderness School Outing Club.

Each log book is filled with the stories of adventures, photographs, and drawings that chronicle the many trips the Outing Club members took during those years.

Director of Outdoor and Climbing Programs Erik Thatcher ’08 says the tradition of keeping journals in the outdoors was revived two years

ago, mostly thanks to the help from Margot Roguet ’22, and that journal entries were usually a photo or drawing from the trip along with a list of participants and possibly a doodle or two. This past summer, I worked with Erik to digitize the old journals and make them accessible to the wider community at some point in the future. In the meantime, please enjoy a snippet of past outdoor memories, in this case from a hiking trip up Mount Liberty in the winter of 1973! |

Some 50 years after the Outing Club battled freezing winds on Mt. Liberty, Holderness students enjoyed a much nicer day in Franconia Notch. Photo taken May 26, 2023.

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Physics teacher Mike Carrigan and Chemistry teacher Thomas Lightburn lead a group of first-year students on Orientation Hike before the start of school in August.