HONORING OUR PAST. INSPIRING OUR FUTURE. The Alumni Magazine of Northwood School
Seasons of change Celebrating our legacy and forging new trails Spring 2021
Reflections
HEAD OF SCHOOL
Michael Maher
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT
Stephanie Colby colbys@northwoodschool.org
DIRECTOR OF THE NORTHWOOD FUND
Christine Ashe ashec@northwoodschool.org
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Darcy Norfolk norfolkd@northwoodschool.org CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Michael Aldridge aldridgem@northwoodschool.org DESIGNER
Julie Hammill, Hammill Design
Northwood Magazine has been made possible by the financial support of Bradley A. Olch ’69, Board Chair.
Northwood The Alumni Magazine of Northwood School 92 Northwoood Road Lake Placid, NY 12946 alumni@northwoodschool.org 518-523-3357 www.northwoodschool.org
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Spring 2021
HONORING OUR PAST. INSPIRING OUR FUTURE. The Alumni Magazine of Northwood School
Mirror Lake’s mesmerizing beauty and the shore line reflection in the water. This was the inspiration for the original name of the alumni magazine.
INSPIRING OUR FUTURE
Fea tu ring:
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Coming Full Circle Board Chair, Bradley A. Olch ’69, and Head of School, Michael Maher, reflect on our past, present and future.
Innovation Hub
From classroom to community center, recapping the first yeear at Northwood’s new transformative location on Main Street.
Leaving a Legacy
Don Mellor ’71’s classmates, fellow teachers and students reflect on his impact on Northwood as he celebrates retirement.
Leading the Way A Q&A with Northwood Trustees Karen Miller and John Taylor.
12 The Gondola Project 14 Merci, Madame: Martine Schachenmayr 15 Building Confident Learners: Brenda Cotton 16 Reflections 17 Second Century Society 18 Virtual Northwood 20 The Adirondack Ecosystem 23 Protecting the Park ACHIEVING AND LEADING 24 The Next Chapter in Boys’ Soccer 26 Tony Granato ’83, Hockey Hall of Famer 27 First Responder’s Love For Hockey 28 Northwood Siblings 30 Hockey Alums Return to Lake Placid 31 New Mascot 32 Sharing Their Success HONORING OUR PAST 36 Honor and Tradition: The Distinguished Alumnus Medal 38 Appreciating Northwood Forebears 39 In Memoriam 40 From the Archives
Northwood magazine is published by the Advancement Office at Northwood School. This magazine is produced for and circulated to Northwood alumni, parents and friends. Please send us your comments and ideas for future issues. Drop us a line and let us know how we can improve your magazine. alumni@northwoodschool.org
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MESSAGE FROM BRADLEY A. OLCH ’69, NORTHWOOD SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR Like every faction of our society, the pandemic flipped Northwood School and our entire community upside down in March of last year. A year later, I am proud to say as a school, we are upright. We are weathering the pandemic, and Northwood is moving forward with a renewed vision and great hope for our students and the world. In 2015, Northwood underwent a significant transition. Former Headmaster Ed Good retired after nearly two decades of successful leadership, and we warmly welcomed Head of School Michael (Mike) Maher. Mike has approached Northwood with an open mind coupled with insight, experience, and a bold vision for our school. He has transformed the school’s academic philosophy, hired additional faculty and staff with elite credentials, accelerated college placements, and altered the Northwood student experience with increased diversity, a world-class soccer program, a new Learning Center, and a gamechanger — the Innovation Hub at Northwood School. Today, we are embarking on a Master Plan that will invigorate our campus facilities. With this, alongside a renewed 5-year strategic plan to continue to attract elite students both academically and athletically, I project that Northwood School will soon be one of the country’s finest boarding schools. You are probably wondering if you have missed the previous editions of Reflections in your mailbox. The answer is no. Reflections has been on a hiatus while Northwood staff has been focused on its mission and transitions. This issue, with a new name and a new look represents its return. As the Northwood School Board Chair and a fellow alum, I can certainly say that there is no time like the present to engage or re-engage with Northwood. Like the pandemic and this publication, it has been too long. Therefore, I am committed to ensuring that this publication continues for the long term. Being a part of Northwood isn’t just about giving money. It is about being a part of the Northwood community, from participation in our Alumni Council or Pathways series, sending in your Class Notes, or attending Reunion weekend or an Alumni Exchange. From events to Northwood News and Ring the Bell, I hope that you will join me in reconnecting with Northwood. Best, Bradley A. Olch ’69 Board Chair, Northwood School Board of Trustees
OLCH ’69 NAMED BOARD CHAIR
On July 1, 2020, the Northwood School Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Bradley A. Olch ’69 as Board Chair, replacing Hans L. Carstensen. A Boston native, Olch graduated from Northwood School in 1969. He went on to the University of Denver where he studied real estate and finance and ultimately settled in Park City, Utah. There he built a tremendous real estate business and was elected Mayor of Park City, serving for 12 years. During that time, he was pivotal in Utah’s quest to host the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Olch joined the Northwood School Board of Trustees in 2012 and was named Northwood’s Distinguished Alumnus in 2019, the highest honor to be bestowed upon an alum, in recognition of his decorated career and life-long loyalty to Northwood School.
We’re back!
ALUMNI MAGAZINE RETURNS
Northwood’s alumni magazine returns with this issue debuting a new look and a new name. True to our identity, the magazine is now called Northwood, yet our previous title, “Reflections” carries forward in the vision for this publication. The Spring 2021 edition captures our rich history and our vibrant future. We hope you enjoy it — it’s good to be back! Class Notes will return in a future edition. We want to hear from you! Please email your updates to alumni@northwoodschool.org.
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TO THE NORTHWOOD FAMILY: I am immensely proud of all the members of our school community for the impressive way in which they have navigated a most difficult time. Despite the burdens and restrictions imposed by the pandemic, the kids have forged ahead and made the most of their experience while the faculty have demonstrated a commitment to their trade that I have not witnessed in my 32 years in education. The virus interrupted an exciting period of evolution and growth at Northwood School. In the last five years, the school opened a new innovation center in downtown Lake Placid, renovated the Allyn Building, completed a makeover of the dining hall and built a new indoor turf field. In addition to these capital improvements on campus, we have modernized and strengthened the curriculum. New courses in coding, robotics, entrepreneurship, innovation and design, Olympic physics, and advanced math and science research have created a greater passion for learning and captured the interests of selective colleges. In the last two years, students have earned acceptances to Cornell, Colgate, Dartmouth, Boston College, UNC, Bowdoin, Holy Cross, Hamilton, Northwestern, Michigan, Virginia and several other terrific institutions. There are exciting times ahead — beginning with the return of this publication! At the winter board meeting, the Northwood School Board of Trustees also began planning for the next stages of the school’s Campus Master Plan and Strategic Plan. Stay tuned for developments as we look ahead to the next 50 years of Northwood School’s continued excellence. I close by thanking all of you — our alumni, parents and community members who have stood by Northwood when the school needed you most. With your participation and continued support, we are optimistic that we will reach our million-dollar Northwood Fund goal. When we do, we will have set a new record for our great school. More importantly, we will have provided our dedicated faculty and students during trying times with the support that they deserve. Sincerely, Michael Maher Head of School
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YEAR IN REVIEW
BY THOMAS BRODERICK
What a year! In late December of 2019, I was standing in the Innovation Hub in its last stages of construction. Painters, electricians, plumbers, and carpenters were working at full tilt to close out their punch lists. The building was already transformed. Bobby Dow, owner of Dow Electric, and I were chatting. He turned to me and said something along the lines of “When I came in here to bid on this project, I said to myself, ‘better to tear it down.’ Now I look at this place and, Wow!” The statement was an affirmation of Head of School Mike Maher’s desire to transform Northwood School through the development of a Main Street location.
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INSPIRING OUR FUTURE / INNOVATION HUB
By mid-February, the punch lists were complete, the furniture was installed, and the school held an open house. Students began using the facility for classes, study hall, and activities. Then, COVID hit.
Overnight, the Hub transitioned into a community center dedicated to helping local hospitals, nursing homes, and first responders by making medical-grade face shields. From March to June, the facility utilized the Hub’s 3D printers to create over 4,000 face shields. In late spring, current Northwood student Quy-An Andrea NguyenLe ’21 and her parents Quoc-Anh and Kathy NguyenLe created a non-profit organization called The Mask Hub with the intent of providing tested and certified reusable 3-ply cloth masks to North Country residents and second-line essential workers: grocery store workers, food workers, police personnel, and many others. Her goal was to minimize
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the competition between medical facilities and non-medical facilities over the already limited supply of disposable surgical masks by providing the public with high-quality reusable protective cloth masks. The Innovation Hub transitioned again and began distributing over 150,000 face masks to schools, hospitals, colleges, universities, and other non-profits. Throughout the summer, the Northwood School administration utilized the facility to meet and plan for the 2020 - 2021 school year. These meetings were pivotal in initiating policies and procedures to open the school during a pandemic safely. By the middle of August, these policies were fully enacted, and Northwood successfully brought all of its students back for the beginning of the school year. Once classes started, the Innovation Hub transitioned back to a modern maker space. Classes in robotics, coding, 3D printing, entrepreneurship, and civics were taught daily, and for a time, the facility felt as if it was operating as designed. By the end of November, the students were back home, and the Hub, once again, became an operations center for the school’s administration. Administrators met to discuss how best to bring students back in the new year during the height of the pandemic. Broader discussions about
the future of education were held because the changes to education brought on by COVID warranted a reassessment. After all, entrepreneurs know that adversity is, in and of itself, an opportunity. The Innovation Hub’s first year of existence was, without question, a success. The pace of the year was unrelenting, but many of the objectives were met. The school successfully integrated its Innovation & Design, Entrepreneurship, and Engineering courses into the facility. The transition of entrepreneurship from the main campus to the Innovation Hub’s second floor was extremely satisfying. I had the honor and pleasure to meet with Northwood School Trustee Brian Lilly ’85 during the construction, and we talked for some time about the school’s goal to bring entrepreneurship to Main Street, Lake Placid. “Where better,” I said, “to have our students connect with local businesses, local and state officials, and visitors around the world?” Graciously Mr. Lilly agreed and then committed to the vision by generously donating to the project. This fall, I returned to the classroom and taught the first entrepreneurial class to occupy the Brian Lilly ’85 Center for Entrepreneurship. It was one of those exciting moments when I got to see first-hand how an individual’s generosity directly impacts the lives of our students.
Many of our students, who did not fully understand the purpose of having a location on Main Street, love the space and appreciate how it brings them directly in contact with the heart of Lake Placid. The location was picked, in part, to provide the school with free advertising. It is common to give three to four hours a week in tours to alumni, locals, and visitors to Lake Placid. The school added a QR-code to a 360o tour of the campus in July, with over 400 people scanning the code and visiting Northwood’s website. The future will best be served when public and private schools, colleges, universities, non-profits, governmental
The connection to Main Street has allowed the school to reach out to those institutions that support educational endeavors. organizations, businesses, think tanks, and other organizations work together to tackle the problems facing Lake Placid, the Adirondack Park, New York State, and the world. Head of School Mike Maher has worked tirelessly to partner with many of these organizations by positioning the Innovation Hub as the central cog to forming these problem-solving relationships. Northwood has begun to develop relationships with the North Elba Historical Society, Point Positive (which fosters Adirondack entrepreneurship through angel investing), the Adirondack Writing Center, Clarkson University, and numerous businesses. The school has also established formal partnerships with North Country School, North Country Community College, and Paul Smith’s College. These relationships and partnerships are designed to extend the campus beyond the close
ENTREPRENEURSHIP ON MAIN.
Students experience hands-on learning in the Brian Lilly ’85 Center for Entrepreneurship located in the heart of Lake Placid’s Main Street.
confines of the 88-acre campus and involve our students with the broader community where they can be exposed to unique life experiences and educational opportunities. This fall, Northwood’s new Advanced STEM Research students were able to work with Paul Smith’s prestigious Adirondack Watershed Institute and its director Dan Kelting on environmental research projects. Going forward, the Innovation Hub will host the Institute’s 2021 Water Week that looks to celebrate the most precious and valued resources in Adirondack Park. These successes are by no means fulfillment of our vision for the Innovation Hub. The pandemic interfered with the school’s plans to fully develop the Innovation Hub into a modern learning center for the residents of Lake Placid, the Adirondack Park, and beyond. Rest assured those plans, while on hold, are being developed for future deployment. The vision of a modern learning center is critical to Northwood’s efforts to utilize the facility for future growth. What is a modern learning center? It is rooted in 21st century technology and expands the educational market to non-Northwood constituencies, including middle school students and adult learners. It will leverage the school’s academic expertise to help individuals, businesses, non-profits, school districts, and municipalities solve real-world problems. Lastly, the facility will be a unique space where students, locals, and visitors can come together to solve problems, share knowledge, and connect. The school is preparing to launch the HubFactor Educational Consulting Services based at the Innovation Hub. These services are designed to help middle school, high school, and post-graduate students who need instruction, academic support, and guidance. Phase I introduces support services including academic coaching, tutoring, language immersion, and study supervision. Phase II adds guidance services to include college counseling and internships. The final phase includes developing instruction services such as online courses and independent studies. The HubFactor is one of several endeavors being planned. Others include:
SUMMER INSTITUTES to provide enrichment programs in robotics, 3D printing, film making, coding, and other academic pursuits. PROGRAMING FOR LOCAL STUDENTS,
adults, and visitors to the community. SUMMER CO-WORKING SPACE for visiting remote workers and facility rentals. MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS for interested students, adults, and business partners. BUSINESS CONSULTING and partnerships
that will help local businesses find new solutions through technology or design thinking.
HUBTALKS will bring expansive thinkers
to the Hub to share their ideas about the future of education, technology’s impact on rural economies, environmental stewardship, and community solutions.
STUDENT EXCHANGE will bring local
students together through poetry/ story slams, open mic events, writing contests, and other academically oriented events.
Some of these endeavors will be implemented during the pandemic, and others will have to wait until a time when gatherings are allowed again. Regardless, these efforts will ensure that the Innovation Hub will continue to develop and evolve over time. It also provides that the first year’s fast paced evolution will be the norm and not the exception. The one lesson one can take from the past year is that life as we knew it is gone. Going forward, institutions like Northwood School need to be adaptive and prepared for an unknown future. Put another way and in the words of Winston Churchill: “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
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INSPIRING OUR FUTURE / FACULTY
Leaving a Legacy Don Mellor ’71 Retires and Leaves a Lasting Impact BY STEVE REED AND CONTRIBUTORS
In the last six decades at Northwood, Don Mellor ’71 has embodied the mission of Northwood: living a life of consequence. As a student, teacher, and administrator, he has modeled superb teaching and mentorship and collegiality and shared with all his love of our school and of the environment which gives Northwood its character. Even though I’ve known Don since 1971 and enjoyed debating presidential politics and school disciplinary decisions with him, and experienced as his colleague countless joyous, comical, and tragic events over the years, this is not just one friend’s story to tell. Therefore, I will fade into the role of a prose master of ceremonies and let classmates, fellow teachers and students speak of him.
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Don was a student here from 1967-1971. The early Friedlander years were marked by raucous behavior and deep connections (for both students and faculty). Don’s friends and brother offer their memories:
REED MILLER ’71/’72 “September 1967, when I started my freshman year (wow, that was 53 years ago!) I was 13 years old. I was the youngest Northwood student, while Donnie was the next youngest! Though time has certainly flown by and much has changed, what has never changed is Donnie’s wonderful smile, his love of the outdoors and his quick wit and ability to laugh! I am fortunate to say that we have remained great friends since that first meeting. I have been privileged to stay in contact with my friend Donnie and observe him as a father, grandfather, teacher, author, mentor — the “Epitome” to all. Donald has a special understanding and love for Northwood’s students! He has an amazing ability to communicate, to “Be Real” and help each student move forward and grow. He is a teacher, beloved mentor, a phenomenal and true person!”
would come to admire and emulate over 40+ years from their teacher, coach, explorer, mentor, and leader.”
TOM MELLOR ’68 “My brother Don and I spent one fun year together at Northwood. I was a senior and Don, an incoming freshman. I only wish I had realized how special that year would be…our first and last time as teammates on the hockey team. Don would revel in the Northwood experience, continuing his education at UNH and remaining in the North Country his entire career. Perhaps it was those climbs up Cobble, or maybe Yockie’s influence, but whatever the case was, Don became a true outdoorsman and lover of the mountains. He found his dream early and followed it. Looking back over my brother’s career makes me extremely proud. The Dean of the Adirondacks, he wrote the quintessential climber’s guide. Today, I reflect on the impact my brother has had on hundreds of students he has guided through the years… WOW…way to go bro!”
The huge impact Don had on our faculty is evident in the following thoughts:
MARCY FAGAN “Don Mellor left enormous shoes to fill when he retired. When I think of Mellor, I think of an even-keeled, wise, unflappable human being who is always flexible when boarding school life gets nutty. He’s also obviously a hero in the outdoor classroom. One time I was with Mellor and a group of skiers who were getting ready to traverse an extremely narrow ledge to get to a cliff on Pitchoff Mountain. One kid, who was also an accomplished ski jumper, said to me, “Ms. Fagan, I don’t think this is a good idea. I seriously can’t do this.” He was so nervous he was shaking (and so was I). But I looked him square in the eyes and told him I had 100% faith that Mellor wouldn’t do anything to put us in danger. With that, we all crossed successfully using a rope that Mellor called a dog leash. He said if we fell on the dog
BERNIE CURRY ’71 “Don was a founding member of Northwood Lacrosse Club (NLC) along with Chip Bissell ’71 and me. The NLC competed from 1969 – 1971 in the North American Toboggan Championships. As dangerous as that sounds, we became more adventurous: daring (ropeless) rock climbs on Mount Ed; hiking Cascade Mountain at dawn; learning to upright kayaks in mostly ice-covered Mirror Lake; cross-county ski trekking up Mt. Marcy in 20 degrees below zero (Motto: Ski or Die); jumping out of the third-floor West windows into snowbanks; walking back from the movie theater in mid-May over thin ice on Mirror Lake. These were to be the formative lessons that generations of Northwood students
Mountain Day summit
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Few can consider Northwood without Don’s presence in the classroom or at the faculty meeting. Imagine, he’s probably eaten more meals in the dining room than any human on the planet! Who has hiked up Cobble Mountain more times than Don Mellor? No one, I can assure you.” —JEFF EDWARDS, FORMER FACULTY
leash, we wouldn’t die but we might break a bone or get concussed. No big deal. None of us fell, and we eventually hung off the cliff with big smiles on our faces. Mellor has a way of injecting confidence into kids without them even knowing it. He never gives advice. He simply listens and asks questions. Mellor created a L.E.A.P. course called Mountain Rescue where he taught a group of kids how to safely rescue a real person from a 100-foot cliff. He never touched a rope on the day of the staged rescue; he simply watched the kids work. That course is now a staple in the L.E.A.P. Program. Don Mellor is the epitome of Northwood and what we are trying to teach our students.”
JEFF EDWARDS “When I heard Don Mellor was retiring, I found the news shocking, but not unexpected. After all, Don has essentially lived at Northwood School for nearly 50 years, either as a student or faculty member. Who could possibly envision such a commitment? Nonetheless, few can consider Northwood without Don’s presence in the classroom or at the faculty meeting. Imagine, he’s probably eaten more meals in the dining room than any human on the planet! Who has hiked up Cobble Mountain more times than Don Mellor? No one, I can assure you. When it comes to the quirks of Mellor — those idiosyncratic teaching methods he is so bound to follow — I can’t help but 10
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laugh about his fascination with Warriner’s English Grammar and Composition. Really? The thing is now 847 pages long and costs $85.75 on Amazon. I write this knowing full well that Don will shred my short piece with characteristic dry sarcasm. Does anyone still teach The Sea Wolf? They would need to suffer from Klondike scurvy before even considering it. Name one Northwood School sophomore English student who doesn’t still feel tortured by the opening paragraph from Cannery Row. Nonetheless, I consider it a privilege that my own children benefitted from the detail Don put into teaching the English language. Few teachers of any level, at any school, can honestly say they honed the craft as he did. Northwood School will go on without Don, he would be the first to admit that fact, but we all know the school will not be the same. Let the stories now flow freely and the legend expand with imaginative exaggeration. Cheers to Don Mellor on a career well done.”
JILL WALKER “Don is the person I went to when I was having trouble connecting with or understanding a student. He always helped me get past my own emotional perspective and figure out how to deal with the student on their terms. He spent more time hanging out and having conversations with students in the living room than any teacher in all my years at Northwood. He heard them, he respected them, but he also held them
to high standards. He is a master of all things related to grammar (which I always needed help with) and is an accomplished storyteller. The most fun I have ever had in a co-curricular occurred when I helped run rock climbing with Don. It was in the outdoors that he made some of the deepest and most important connections with his students — conversations and experiences that they will never forget.” Most important to Don, of course, would be the sense his former students have of his contribution to their lives. Hundreds would have contributed to this article “had we but world enough and time.” These four speak for three generations made stronger by his friendship and guidance:
IAN OSTEYEE ’87 “A measured man, Don Mellor, would render verdict when necessary, but seemed to prefer helping young minds find their own, sound, conclusions. His teaching style spanned classroom, life, and outdoor skill sets. Our 80s, Outing Club hiked, rock climbed, ice climbed, camped, navigated and learned outdoor field craft. Don had us out daily, always learning and adventuring. Remembering those days, I now know how generous he was; he really wanted to give us all we could absorb. What we didn’t realize was how accomplished a technical rock and ice climber Don was. We were learning from a world class climber. Don
had climbed and was climbing some of the hardest technical routes around, all over the county and abroad. Those outing club days really helped form my life and set me up for success. I’ve enjoyed my own climbing successes around the globe, guiding, first ascents and professional sponsorships. Those experiences also helped as I started my military service. My advantage in navigation, field craft and enjoying uncomfortable conditions gave me an edge that allowed me to excel in Special Operations. That success opened doors to other fields, and I have enjoyed a meaningful life because of it. I owe a lot to Don Mellor, and to Northwood. I’m one of many who discovered the skills and confidence we may not have realized we had, and it’s made all the difference.”
about his students, always making sure they’re well and happy. Mellor had the ability to talk to kids and make them feel better on the back side.”
KIP MORGAN ’20
“Don Mellor will often tell you that he’s “seen the movie;” he’s seen the new students, the emerging leaders, the graduates, and every moment in between. Growing up is hard to do, and it helps to have someone who has seen the movie to guide you through it. My four years were tumultuous, and I would have been lost
“Mr. Mellor took time out of most every day to take kids climbing on rock or ice. It didn’t much matter if these kids were just starting or had been doing it a while, he had a place for them to go where they could learn to love the outdoors. From the outdoors to the classroom, he cared heavily
CISCO DELLIQUADRI ’20 “Life has mentors, and mine was Don Mellor: the teacher, explorer, climber, and rescue maestro. Mellor is the strong arm of the law, but also a loving shoulder to cry on. He is there to catch you when you fall, but also willing to give you a little shove. Mellor helped me grow and discover who I am. He is always there to tell a good story or start a good argument. Even though I wish Mellor was my mentor only, he has been a mentor to the whole Northwood community, and he has left quite a legacy.”
without Mellor’s guidance. Whether it was in the classroom or out climbing, Mellor was honest when I made mistakes, encouraged me when I was right, and helped me grow into myself. I’ll always be grateful for his influence and the impact he had on me.”
“As the song from Rent says, there are 525,600 minutes in a year. Multiply that by Don’s 42 years of a life of consequence devoted to kids, you have 22,075,200, most of which made students grateful to be heard, grateful to be learning, grateful to be important to someone they admired. From all who have known you here — much admiration and thanks.” —Steve Reed
HANNAH KESSEL ’18
Share your stories!
Share your own memories of Don Mellor’s place in your life. Email alumni@northwoodschool.org
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INSPIRING OUR FUTURE / SOCIAL INNOVATION
The Gondola Project BY THOMAS BRODERICK
Early in the fall Northwood School Trustee Erik Berg ’92, a former teacher and alumnus called me. He was effusive and enthusiastic, and he outlined the following idea: Northwood should try to win, through auction, two Whiteface Mountain Cloudsplitter gondolas, upcycle them, and auction them off to raise money for the Northwood Fund. He called me because he learned that I was teaching Social Entrepreneurship & Design Thinking, and he thought having kids design and retrofit the gondolas would be a worthwhile project. Of course, those who know me know I loved the idea. Upcycling old gondolas is a big deal in ski communities. If you google upcycled gondolas, you will see saunas, privacy booths, vending machines, and in the age of COVID-19 — dining pods. Head of School Michael Maher also loved the idea, and we shared the vision with the Board of Trustees during the fall board meeting. Trustee and entrepreneur Brian Lilly ’85 reached out and offered to donate the funds needed to win the gondolas at auction. I was not surprised by Mr. Lilly's philanthropy. During the construction of the Innovation Hub, we spent some time touring the facility together. Today, the second floor is named the Brian Lilly '85 Center for Entrepreneurship in his honor. With Mr. Lilly's backing in place, the school submitted two winning bids and the gondolas were delivered in late October. In January, the thirteen students of Social Innovation & Design Thinking were introduced to the Gondola Project and its four phases. Students in the class produced eight unique designs. Kaiya Belisle, a senior from Lake Placid, has developed The
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PHASE I
Introduction to design thinking PHASE II
Design contest — students create an upcycling concept and develop a pitch video PHASE III
Team renovation of gondola and fundraising for needed materials and labor PHASE IV
Final auction pitch video and upcycled gondola reveal
Cloudsplitter Relaxation Station, a space where a person can get away from it all. The retrofitted gondola has swing chairs, wood features, music, and more to help relieve stress for those who enter the new space. Omiel Brito and Jordan Harrison, two seniors from New York, N.Y. and Cambria Heights, N.Y., respectively, proposed transforming their space into The Cloudsplitter Privacy Booth. The office-like area will be a perfect remote workstation and feature an aquarium because studies show that aquariums lower stress. Jalen Commissiong, a senior from Bermuda, tied his Cloudsplitter Sauna & Tanning Booth to his love of the sun and warm weather. The retrofit will allow anyone, anywhere, to be warm and tan. David Green, a junior from Chile, envisioned the gondola as a Power Lift charging station. The retrofit gondola will be a perfect space for travelers in airports, busy neighborhoods, or other public areas, with
the ideal environment for them to charge their devices while they are on the go. Lars Kroes (senior from Lake Placid), Mark Monico (senior from Harbor, N.Y.), & Joe Papin (junior from Redwood, N.Y.) teamed up to make the Gondola-drop Camper. Their upcycled gondola will feature an aerodynamic attachment designed after the Lake Placid ski jumps to provide fuel efficiency and the extra sleeping space to turn the Cloudsplitter Gondola into the perfect camper to take on any adventure. Seniors Andrew Mazza, from Manasquan, N.Y., and Calil Neme-Filho, from San Paulo, Brazil, envisioned turning the Gondola into The ADK Tiki Bar. The retrofitted space will remove the floor, add seating around the gondola, open the windows and provide drinks to any pool, patio, or deck. Jasmin Valenzuela, a senior from Stamford, Conn., envisions the gondola as a Coffee Break Café. The Café will be centrally located on any school/college campus and provide students, faculty, and staff a perfect space for the ideal coffee break. Finally, senior Chuer Zhang, from Liuzhou, China, believes her idea to turn the Cloudsplitter Gondola into a Hot Tub is best for any ski chalet. Where better to sit on a wintry night but in a warm gondola-tub looking at the stars? The most popular design concept in the initial round, The ADK Tiki Bar, was identified by polling the Northwood community. The third trimester class will compete to identify the design concept of the second gondola. Both winning designs are expected to be fabricated next year by an advanced design and fabrication class. Once fabricated, the upcycled gondolas will be auctioned online with all proceeds supporting the Northwood Fund.
UPCYCLED GONDOLAS WILL BENEFIT THE NORTHWOOD FUND.
Students, post-demo, are ready to bring their design vision alive.
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INSPIRING OUR FUTURE / FACULTY
Merci, Madame Last summer, Martine Schachenmayr retired after 26 years teaching languages to Northwood students. We are grateful for her years of service to our school.
For all of my fifteen years at Northwood, Martine has been a wonderful colleague, and an inspiring and thoroughly dedicated teacher.
Merci, Madame!” – HOWARD RUNYON
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Originally from Saumur, France, Martine joined the faculty in 1994. Both of her children, Philipp ’07 and Beatrice ’09 are Northwood alumni. Madame, Schach — the entire Northwood School wishes you the very best in retirement! In celebration, fellow faculty share some of their well wishes: “Martine is a great colleague and friend. Her professionalism and constant desire to improve as a teacher was impressive. Her effervescent personality and ability to find humor in all situations made her a strong member of the foreign language department. We’ll miss you Martine!” —Tim Weaver “What I love most about Martine is her passion for living and her adventurous spirit. Some folks might not know that during the summer months, Martine loves to take a late-night dip in the lake by herself. She’s a friend to all and always gave 100% to her students and
colleagues. Congrats on a well-deserved retirement!” —Marcy Fagan “Martine. You made it! we have been through so much together. Raising our kids at school. Watching you be the most amazing mother and parent role model. I will never forget Sara saying to me that you were one of her favorite teachers of ALL TIME. Thanks for all the laughs over the years. You will be truly missed.” —Donny “Martine — You’re a wonderful friend and a talented and patient teacher. We’ve all benefited from your love and support and Northwood won’t be the same without you! Enjoy every minute of retirement, you’ve earned it!” —The Martins – Sytske, Jeff and Anja ’22 “No one makes crepes like Martine — a memory that many alums share. We will miss you, Martine, but we still intend to invite ourselves over to your garden!” — Stephanie Colby
Building Confident Learners BY TARA WRIGHT
Brenda Cotton’s impact continues with her last project, the Learning Center. Walking into the Learning Center at Northwood School, you can feel Brenda Cotton’s mark on each carefully crafted aspect of the program. Her enthusiasm for learning and persistence toward goals still exudes from every crevice, even months after she has retired. From the visual partnership of academic coaches and students sitting together at tables, to the open dialogue and the strengths-based focus of conversations, Brenda’s presence is felt. Brenda’s passion for highlighting a student’s positive attributes and strengths while building skills to help each succeed throughout life, a hallmark of her approach, is one which she thoroughly instilled in
her faculty and rings through today in each aspect of their work with students. Each student with whom Brenda worked became like her own, and from advocacy to pep talks, and tears to laughter, she would offer unconditional support. When reflecting on her time at Northwood School, Brenda said, “When Mike Maher offered me the opportunity to develop the Learning Center Program for Northwood, I could not have thought of a better final career project. It embodied all that I love about what I have done professionally — following and applying the research, collaborating with a tremendously supportive group of people (faculty, staff, parents), working with
an incredibly dedicated team of academic coaches, and especially getting to know the students and watch them grow into confident learners. I feel very fortunate.” In retirement, Brenda’s husband, Rich, her two daughters and two beautiful and energetic grandchildren fill her life with love and laughter. Here at Northwood School, our Learning Center continues her legacy with robust programming and support, impacting lives for generations to come.
NORTHWOOD SCHOOL’S LEARNING CENTER
is designed for students who are capable of meeting the standards of our curriculum but require or seek an extra layer of academic support in order to do so. The Learning Center is staffed by a team of academic coaches trained to assist students with academic anxiety, ADHD, executive function deficiencies, and mild to moderate diagnosed learning disabilities. Learning Center services are fully integrated into our daily schedule in order to allow students to take full advantage of all academic and co-curricular offerings.
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Reflections OF THE PAST YEAR / 2020–21
Masks became the norm in and out of the classroom in the 2020-21 academic year as the entire campus community embraced the theme “Protect our Pack.”
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Mark “Dill” Driscoll ’70
Second Century Society Marketing visionary and entrepreneur Mark “Dill” Driscoll ’70 will tell you he’s led a charmed life. From his point of view, Northwood took a big chance on a kid that had been to nine different schools in the first nine years of his education. “I had no money, but I had talent,” he mused. “Thanks to people like John Friedlander and Warren Witherell, I left Northwood knowing I could do anything I wanted. That changed my life.” Few could argue Dill’s ability to spin straw into gold. He was the valedictorian of his Northwood class where he also made the U.S. Ski Team’s Development squad, and a Baker Scholar who earned his Bachelor’s degree at St. Lawrence University. Post-graduation on his way to pursue a Harvard MBA, John Friedlander instead coaxed him back to teach and coach at Northwood School for a couple of
Dill Driscoll ’70 and his wife Northwood Trustee Susan Driscoll
Thanks to people like John Friedlander and Warren Witherell, I left Northwood knowing I could do anything I wanted. That changed my life.” years, becoming a favorite mentor to many. While in Lake Placid, Dill started a one-of-a-kind sporting goods store where he created the world’s first indoor track for customers to experience the new Nike Waffle Trainers. Everyone told him he was crazy, but this was the start of his success in experiential marketing, an industry many say he pioneered. Dill went on to launch and sell several multi-million-dollar marketing and event companies, promoting more than a dozen of the most iconic brands in the world. And as though that weren’t enough, he has also authored
two books, become a much-loved college entrepreneur-in-residence, and has helped raise over $27 million for veterans through a Memorial Day event called Carry the Load. Dill’s can-do attitude and innovative thinking along with his belief in the “power of human touch” have helped him create an enviable career. As he says, “I’ve pulled off the impossible more times than I can count.” So, why has he chosen to include Northwood in his estate plans? “I give to my other schools, but Northwood made me who I am.”
If you find yourself reflecting back on the role that Northwood has played in your life, we hope you will consider helping to secure the long-term future of Northwood School by becoming a member of the Second Century Society. This giving society recognizes those loyal donors who have positioned Northwood School as one of their most important priorities through a planned or estate gift. For more information, please contact Stephanie Colby at colbys@northwoodschool.org or 518-302-5138.
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INSPIRING OUR FUTURE / EVENTS
VIRTUAL NORTHWOOD The pandemic has forced typical inperson activities to shift to digital formats. Many activities from campus tours, events and meetings are now virtual, and we have developed new ways to promote and share the Northwood experience. These include Northwood360, student virtual tours, virtual open houses, virtual events, and a series called Private School Guidance available on Soundcloud podcast and YouTube playlist video.
WORKSHOP WITH WRITER RUSSELL BANKS Award-winning novelist and short story writer Russell Banks met virtually with Northwood School students on September 28, 2020. Mr. Banks, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, is the author of Continental Drift, The Sweet Hereafter, and Cloudsplitter, among other books. Students were a part of an all-school presentation, and two groups attended workshops with Mr. Banks.
ALUMNI EXCHANGE: A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION Created in 2019, these tele-town hall style meetings hosted by Head of School Mike Maher and introduced by the Alumni Council take place once each trimester. These virtual talks aim to provide alumni with school updates and a forum to ask questions of the Head of School. All alumni are welcome to join online.
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DISENCHANTED! Northwood students performed the musical comedy Disenchanted! in virtual format on campus during Family Weekend, October 9-11, 2020, while families tuned in from home.
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS EVENT Northwood alumnus Rick Shaw ’68, dean of admissions and financial aid at Stanford University, joined a virtual college counseling event last September along with the University of Notre Dame and Yale University deans. This was an opportunity for Northwood students and local area students to learn about the admissions process during the COVID pandemic.
Rick Shaw ’68
Save the Dates! As events begin to return to our calendars, Northwood is excited to offer an in-person Commencement ceremony for our students and families and an in-person Reunion for all Northwood alumni. In an effort to Protect our Pack, a negative COVID test or proof of vaccination is required for attendance and masks and social distancing guidelines will be observed.
Commencement M AY
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JUNE
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INSPIRING OUR FUTURE / STEM
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The Adirondack Ecosystem Advanced STEM Research at Northwood School BY JILL WALKER
Northwood School’s academic philosophy is built upon the concept that students learn best through exploration and inquiry. This year, Northwood has started an Advanced STEM Research Program for students who wish to design and implement their own research projects. This program includes collaborations with scientists at schools like Paul Smith’s College and SUNY ESF. Several students in the class have chosen to research questions about humans’ impact on the natural environment with a specific focus on the Adirondack Park ecosystem. One area of study this year is the effects of microplastic pollution on freshwater systems. Under environmental conditions, larger plastic debris breaks down into microplastics (particles smaller than 5mm). These particles are of special concern because they are ingested by the smallest species in the food chain which have a high potential for accumulating harmful substances. Plastics frequently contain dangerous additives and readily absorb other contaminates from their surroundings, increasing the risks to species higher up the food chain. Freshwater species are especially sensitive to contamination and are therefore at greater risk for microplastic
toxicity. Currently, data for freshwater ecosystems is limited, and laboratory data on ingestion and uptake of contaminants like microplastics in freshwater species is sparse. Small tourist towns like Lake Placid, with an influx of visitors, increase the levels of microplastics in local lakes and rivers. Laundry facilities in hotels release microplastics with their wastewater, recreation on lakes and rivers directly adds plastic debris, and homes near water sources with older septic tanks can fail or leak resulting in contaminants seeping into the soil and groundwater sources. These contributors increase microplastic levels in our water. Therefore, finding low-cost, easy-to-use tests to locate these areas of high microplastic contamination is an important issue to address. The students in the STEM class have developed a variety of experiments to pursue the prevalence and consequences of microplastic contamination in Adirondack waters. Some experiments include: Microplastic pollution from washing synthetic textiles has recently been determined to be the main source of primary microplastics in the oceans. Few studies
have looked at the pollution from washing machines in freshwater ecosystems. One project will collect and quantify microplastics released from washing machine effluent and methods to reduce these pollutants will then be tested. Water samples will also be collected from a local high-use lake to assess current levels of microplastic contamination. Results from this research will then foster collaboration with local hotels and businesses to help reduce the impact laundry facilities are having on our waterways. In collaboration with Paul Smith’s College, students are working on determining a simple test to measure the level of urine in lakes. The goal of this project is to identify a test that will allow researchers to locate septic systems that are leaking into our freshwater systems. Simply measuring nitrogen levels will not provide an accurate measurement of urine contribution since human sweat and urea from lake animals will also contribute to overall nitrogen levels. However, measuring the level of artificial sweeteners, such as Acesulfame K (Ace-K) or Saccharin, will provide a way to measure the contribution of human urine in the water. These sweeteners are not found in nature NORTHWOOD SCHOOL
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INSPIRING OUR FUTURE / STEM
and are not broken down by the human digestive system, so their presence in lake water will be correlated with human impact or septic leakage. Students hope to develop methods to measure artificial sweetener levels in local high-use lakes. If successful, this method could then be applied to find and monitor older leaking septic tanks and understand their contribution to microplastic and other freshwater contamination. Other research points to the synergistic effects of microplastics and the herbicide Roundup on zooplankton such as Daphnia. Some students will be looking at the effects of fertilizers and yard herbicides and pesticides commonly used in residential and recreation areas such as golf courses and resorts. In the laboratory, Daphnia will be exposed to various levels and types of these compounds in combination with microplastics to explore whether there are also negative synergistic consequences. This data will shed important insight on the use of these chemicals considering microplastic levels have become a growing presence in our water sources. Invertebrates are another important part of Adirondack ecosystems as the base of the food web. Antibiotic contamination in water sources can lead to an altered gut microbiome for wildlife exposed to that water source. Recent studies suggest that larvae without a robust gut microbiome are even more sensitive to heavy metal exposure. One student project explores the effect of microplastic exposure on the reduced gut microbiomes in Drosophila melanogaster, the common fruit fly. The results of these experiments will highlight the consequences of multiple, combined contaminants on water invertebrates in Adirondack lakes. Another area of study evolved from collaborative work with Dr. Paul Jensen, adjunct professor at SUNY ESF, who is creating a long-term wildlife monitoring program focused on the forests of the Adirondack Park. This project uses trail cameras to begin an inventory and monitor mammals in the Lake Placid area. Data is collected every six weeks and images from the cameras along with climate data will be recorded in a database. This work will help
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Our STEM Research Program provides a platform for students to be immersed in the natural history of the region.” —JILL WALKER, DIRECTOR, ADVANCED STEM RESEARCH PROGRAM
meet an immediate need for baseline wildlife inventory data and serve as a platform for assessing drivers of ecological change, such as global warming, over time. By sharing data with the New York State agencies responsible for the stewardship and management of private and public lands within the Adirondack Park, this project will create new partnerships for our school and will provide an opportunity for our students to present their work to the broader community. A final area of environmental study will be looking at the effects of road salt on sugar maple trees. Around 320 million pounds of salt is applied to roads in the Adirondack Park every year leading to some lakes in the High Peaks region having 100 times more chloride than expected. (Adirondack Watershed Institute). Maple trees are sensitive to and have a low tolerance for salty conditions leading to twig dieback and reduction in sap production. One project samples soil, leaves, and sap from trees near the Cascade Lakes during the fall and again in the spring to determine if sodium and chloride ions can be detected, and if the levels are significantly different before and after the winter season. Once students have analyzed the effects of road salt on these trees, they will work to determine viable solutions for remediations. Our STEM Research Program provides a platform for students to be immersed in the natural history of the region. Hands-on training in scientific research, including hypothesis generation and testing, and data analysis, will enable students to gain valuable experience in collaboration. By sharing their data and presenting their findings as poster projects or webinars to the wider community
at a symposium at the end of the year, the students’ communication skills will be sharpened, and the greater community will be informed of the research.
ACADEMIC PHILOSOPHY AND APPROACH TO EDUCATION
Northwood School’s academic philosophy builds on the school’s mission and serves as the foundation for all aspects of the curriculum. Northwood School prepares students to shape the future. We engage students in the active pursuit of knowledge and believe that students learn best through exploration and inquiry. Students gain resilience, become independent thinkers, and challenge perspectives by forming relationships with their teachers and peers. The Northwood experience is rooted in the Adirondacks and creates confident, globally minded students, ready to innovate and adapt to our everchanging world.
Protecting the Park BY KELLY CARTER
In addition to “Protecting the Pack” this year, Northwood is aiming to do its part to protect the Park as well. As an educational institution located in the Adirondacks, a 6-million-acre state park, we have a unique opportunity to educate and empower the next generation of leaders to protect the environment and to build a better world. Northwood is taking this responsibility seriously by preparing our students to address the intersecting social, economic and environmental challenges of our time. That’s why this year we established a sustainability team of passionate people who share a common interest in creating a cleaner, greener school and community. This dedicated group of faculty, staff, and students are committed to developing a plan that fosters a culture of sustainability across campus. Kate Broderick ’22, a student member of the sustainability team says, “Sustainability is important because in order to slow or reverse climate change, every effort counts. As a school located in the Adirondack Park, I think it’s important that we work to attain a more sustainable campus and collaborate with the surrounding community to do our
part. I joined the sustainability team both as a student, and a local, to carry on what past members and teachers have started in order to help continue making Northwood School and the Adirondacks more sustainable.” This fall we learned more about the local Mirror Lake watershed, as we partnered with Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute to launch the inaugural Adirondack Water Week program. The webinar series focused on environmental issues impacting our lakes and waters such as road salt in Mirror Lake, invasive species spread, and the effects of warming winters. Partnering with the Adirondack Watershed Institute provides Northwood students place-based, experiential learning opportunities to apply science practices and engage in solutions to protect our valuable natural resources. Additionally, we surveyed the Northwood community to assess our school’s sustainability performance and environmental literacy. Using the results of the audit and community input, the sustainability team is developing goals and identifying actions we can take to reduce our carbon footprint. Our main goal this year is to develop a sustainability plan
Building a sustainable school is important because it helps us develop sustainable habits which help us live a more sustainable life. It is crucial that our generation is environmentally conscious because the health of our planet is at a tipping point. It will be up to us to fix it.” – MADDIE KOSTOSS ’21
that aligns with our academic priorities, strategic plan, and mission to raise awareness of ecological solutions that promote environmental stewardship and social responsibility. In addition to the sustainability team, a new sustainability advisory board has formed to guide our efforts as we move forward with implementing Northwood’s sustainability plan.
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ACHIEVING AND LEADING / SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
The Next Chapter in Boys’ Soccer at Northwood School BY JON MOODEY
In the fall of 2018, Northwood School established a new signature athletic program when it partnered with Black Rock FC to create the Black Rock FC Residential Academy | Northwood School. Though there has always been a proud soccer tradition at Northwood School during the fall season, there has never been a continuous soccer experience for students to pursue like the hockey and ski programs. This new program was designed to attract a diverse and talented group of student-athletes from around the globe and to establish another nationally recognized sports program built on strong character, community engagement, and academic excellence. Now three years into this exciting new venture, the soccer program has established itself as one of the premier options for domestic and international student-athletes looking for high level academics and a yearlong soccer experience. Since its inception, students from over 30 countries and 10 U.S. states have come to Lake Placid to be a part of this unique program. Despite coming from many different backgrounds, the members of this program are united in their passion for the game of soccer, their commitment to academic excellence, and their dedication to the school community. On the field, the team has performed well against the very best prep schools during the fall season and against some of the nation’s top club programs during winter and
spring. Highlights include an undefeated prep record and #2 national ranking from Top Drawer Soccer; a championship at the Players Invitational in Las Vegas; a semifinal appearance at the Dallas Cup, the most prestigious national soccer tournament; a thrilling victory over the U19s from New York City FC, one of the top MLS academy programs; and having 5 players representing Northwood School in the High School AllAmerican Game. The future is exciting too, as the program has been invited to join the USL Academy League, a top national league. Around campus, members of the soccer team engage in the full life of the school, taking part in programs such as Blue Key Society, Multicultural Student Club, Headmaster’s Council, International Student Organization, and other school clubs. These student-athletes have contributed meaningfully to the life of the school, and they have benefited so much from their time at Northwood. Many have been fortunate to matriculate to top colleges and universities like Boston University, Colgate, Cornell, Dartmouth, Hobart, Michigan, Northwestern, St. Lawrence, Trinity, and other fine schools. Though this new soccer program is still settling into life in the North Country, there is a lot of positive momentum overall and the future looks bright.
Connect with us!
FOLLOW NORTHWOOD ATHLETICS
for schedules, scores, and results! @northwoodathletics
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ACHIEVING AND LEADING / ALUMNI ATHLETES
Tony Granato ’83, Hockey Hall of Famer BY STEVE REED
From the moment he stepped on the Olympic Arena ice as a junior at Northwood in 1981, it was clear that Tony Granato ’83 was a special player and leader. Nearly 40 years later, his election to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame this past September
During his NHL career, Tony Granato ‘83 played for the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks (pictured here).
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capped a career in hockey both legendary and still thriving. Before I get to Tony’s accomplishments with Wisconsin, three NHL teams, and our Olympic program, it seems appropriate to recount some memories of his time at Northwood.
From the days of Jim Fullerton and Charlie Holt (Northwood coaches, who, along with goalie Mike Richter ’85, are also U.S. HoFers), Northwood had one of the strongest prep hockey programs nationally, allowing us to recruit many exceptional players. By the time Tony arrived, future NHLers such as Tom Mellor ’68, Tom Songin ’73, Chris Nilan ’76, and Jay Miller ’79 either had arrived in or were working their way toward the NHL, making it easier for our coaches to expand recruiting beyond New York and New England. In 1981, we recruited Andy Otto ’82, a Chicago native and future Clarkson All-American, at the Capital District Tournament run by Northwood parent, Jim Salfi. Andy mentioned he had a buddy, a pretty good player, named Tony Granato. We did some research, but when he stepped on campus, we had no real sense of the impact he would have on our program. I remember my only observation of his first practice under Coach Glenn Thomaris ’73: How the hell does he play with a stick that short? I got smarter after he’d played about ten games — this was a dominant player, a ferocious competitor, and, most of all, a natural leader. In the two thirty-game seasons that followed, Tony scored about 160 points, and even as we played very strong college JV squads (Clarkson would bring an entire varsity unit down to test us), Tony never let anyone on the team think that anything but a win was acceptable. In his second year, Tony brought in another friend, Frank Provenzano ’83. I remember Tony telling me in my office “Frankie can really shoot. I will be dishing off a lot to him this year; he is going to get a scholarship.” All those things were true and resulting in my winning a substantial bet. At one Clarkson game, I made a friendly waiger on the result, a dinner for four at one of Placid’s top restaurants, with the Clarkson head coach, Bill “Flapper” O’Flaherty. With NWS down 2-1 with a couple minutes to go, Kermit Salfi ’83 tied it up on a breakaway. Early in overtime, Tony made a pretty pass to Frankie, and I was on my way to getting even fatter. Tony by then was one of the country’s top recruits, prized enough so at least one state’s governor called him to
Rob Serra’97 celebrates after scoring a goal for the FDNY hockey team at the Nassau Coliseum in 2004. Photo: Bill Bennett
Tony Granato ’83 enjoys golf with fellow alums at Reunion.
entice attendance at that state’s university. One university even tried to get him to leave Northwood mid-year and fill a hole on the college’s roster for the second semester. Wisconsin won the lottery, and Tony left there as their fourth all-time leading scorer with 220 career points. Then came a long pro journey (Rangers, Kings, and Sharks) which included a four-goal game against Mario Lemieux’s Penguins, an All-Star game, 249 goals and a reputation as one of the toughest players in the game. He both played and coached for the United States in the Olympics, and had stints as an assistant coach with the Penguins and the Red Wings, and a few seasons as head coach of the Avalanche. He is currently head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers. His has been a career marked by courage, character, and unmatched love for the game. On a personal note, I have witnessed innumerable times the class with which he conducts himself. One small example: As a coach with the Penguins, Tony was in Montreal for a Stanley Cup series. About two hours before game time, my phone rang; it was Tony. He said “It is quite a thrill to be here. It made me think of how I got to this point, and I want you to know I appreciate the role Northwood played in all that’s happened to me.” That phone call was from someone who is an all-star in much more than hockey.
A First Responder’s Love For Hockey Rob Serra ’97 featured on NHL Network At school meeting on September 11, 2020, we marked the anniversary of September 11 by watching a short film about Rob Serra, a Northwood grad from the Class of 1997 whose first day on the job at the FDNY was 9/11. In recent years, Rob has advocated successfully for health care, benefits and compensation for emergency services professionals who became ill as a result of their service on 9/11 and has even been featured on the NHL Network. Rob’s work is an example of Huskies engaging their world and leading lives of consequence. None of our current students were born on 9/11/2001, but after learning of Rob’s story, we all have a personal connection to the tragedy. In 2018, Rob contributed a guest essay about the role hockey has played in his life titled Life’s Goals for the Northwood Mirror, Northwood’s student-led paper.
WATCH THE FILM HERE.
Scan the QR code for a direct link to Rob’s story.
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ACHIEVING AND LEADING / NORTHWOOD LEGACIES
Northwood Siblings: The Hardens BY STEVE REED
For years, our campus community has been blessed by families who have sent multiple siblings to Northwood. In my first years back in the 70s, the McGreevy family had five siblings in attendance in the same school year. This is the first of a series of articles about Northwood siblings who have found success in a variety of fields after college. Three Hardens from McConnellsville, N.Y., of Harden furniture fame, graduated from Northwood between 2004 and 2007. All were terrific athletes (skiing and soccer) and attended college in the Northeast to be near the mountains. Each responded to a series of questions about their current lives and the paths that led them there.
Alex ’04
Alex Harden ’04 (Colgate ’08) is a Ph.D. candidate in Geography focusing on how climate variability and long-term change interact with climate culture to affect the lived experience of glacio-hydrological change in the South American Altiplano.
Brad ’05
What led you to choose the field you have entered? I have always been interested in climate science. Before I started grad school, I found a 5th-grade essay titled “My future as an Atmospheric Scientist” while packing. My biggest concerns about this future career were that the weather didn’t stop for Christmas, and it didn’t stop for weekends. (Joke was on me, most jobs don’t stop for Christmas or weekends, so you might as well love what you do!)
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What is the most interesting aspect of your work/study? I think one of the most interesting aspects of my work right now has been climate modeling. It’s incredible to see how these simulations can change over space and time, especially in mountain systems.
How well did your college serve you in preparation for your career? Colgate gave me a well-rounded education, which helped me develop a skillset and see the value in looking at climate as more than just a physical science and research it using an intersectional approach. What advice do you have for Northwood students relative to choosing a college and career? There can often be a lot of pressure around choosing the right college and the right career, so I think it’s important to focus on things that you really love. I would also encourage students to chat with Northwood faculty and alumni about their experiences. Having a support system to help navigate these choices can be incredibly helpful. On the flip side, if you have no idea what you want to do, try not to stress! Attempt to narrow down possible options and know that nothing is permanent.
Allow yourself to be malleable and find what sticks. The greatest gift you can give yourself is an open mind and curiosity.” —MAX HARDEN ’07
Brad Harden ’05 (Saint Michael’s ’10) is a portfolio analyst with Goldman Sachs, managing a number of institutional fixed income investment strategies for large institutions and Fortune 500 companies. As an analyst, he works toward capital preservation with a focus on liquidity and moderate yield. What led you to choose the field you have entered? I can’t point to anything specifically, but I’ve always had a general interest in financial markets. I gravitated more towards mathematics/statistics/economics in school as it came a bit more naturally for me and seemed like a good utilization of my talents post college. I’m sure Reno and Howard Runyon would agree that a career in writing was not in my future... What is the most interesting aspect of your work/study? Goldman Sachs has a knack for attracting a diverse group of talent — so it’s nice working with some very bright people from various backgrounds. I personally enjoy being able to work for a competitive firm while having the opportunity to live in and enjoy Vermont. How well did your college serve you in preparation for your career? I would say college prepared me decently well. I majored in business and economics at Saint Michael’s College. I think a liberal arts education provides a great foundation, especially for those who haven’t settled on a particular career path. I knew I wanted to be in business or finance but was unsure in what capacity.
What advice do you have for Northwood students relative to choosing a college and career? My advice for Northwood students is to set short term goals for yourself. A lot of people, when they think about career goals, they think about the final product. Realistically, your career will have all sorts of twists and turns, so it makes more sense to set goals for near term and reevaluate every couple of years.
Max Harden ’07 (Saint Michael’s ’11) works in architecture, furniture and interior design and has partnered with another Northwood alum to launch a hospitality business on the side. What led you to choose the field you have entered? Taking photography during my time at Northwood really sparked my love for the arts and working on creative projects. Afterward, I naturally gravitated toward art history and studio art classes, taking as many drawing and painting courses as I could while studying business and accounting as my major in college. I remember learning about architects like Le Corbusier and Charles and Ray Eames in an art history class and knew it was something I needed to explore. What is the most interesting aspect of your work/study? Architecture and design is an incredibly expansive field. Over the past ten years I’ve been lucky to work on a diverse number of projects ranging from small scale art installations to
public programming in Barcelona and philanthropic urban design work in Rio de Janeiro. The design profession allows me to work all over the globe no matter where I’m living at the moment. I’ve also had the opportunity to design and start Camp Toasted, an experiment in hospitality with another alum, Emily Simmons ’08. There truly is never a dull moment! How well did your college serve you in preparation for your career? College served me incredibly well in multiple respects. The technical design skills I learned have allowed me to cross pollinate between architecture, furniture design and even graphic design. I use the same programs and knowledge to design homes as I would to design a chair and even illustrations of skiing marshmallows for Camp Toasted. What advice do you have for Northwood students relative to choosing a college and career? I would tell Northwood students to explore and have fun with it! Take art classes even if you don’t think of yourself as an artist or creative. Allow yourself to be malleable and find what sticks. The greatest gift you can give yourself is an open mind and curiosity.
These siblings have had the great good fortune to enter fields for which they have real passion and talent. They represent well the breadth and depth of the experiences of our alums. The next installments in this series will feature different but equally rewarding careers.
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ACHIEVING AND LEADING / ATHLETIC NEWS
Hockey alums return to Lake Placid for NWHL BY ANDY FLYNN GUEST WRITER AND EDITOR, LAKE PLACID NEWS
The 1980 Rink in the Herb Brooks Arena is home ice for three Northwood School alumni who returned here to play professional hockey in the National Women’s Hockey League “bubble” season between Jan. 23 and Feb. 5. Brooke White-Lancette, class of 1998, and 2015 graduates Cailey Hutchison and Alyson Matteau spoke with the Lake Placid News on Monday, Jan. 18, five days before their first games at the Olympic Center. The shortened season was necessary due to the coronavirus pandemic. BROOKE WHITE-LANCETTE , 41, is a forward
on the Minnesota Whitecaps. This is her 17th season with the team. When she attended Northwood School, she had to play on the junior varsity and varsity boys’ teams; there wasn’t a girls’ hockey team until the 1999-2000 season. She also played on the all-girls community team, the Lake Placid Rockets. “That was the first time I played girls hockey,” she said, “because coming from California, I played guys hockey growing up all the way through.” After graduating from Northwood, WhiteLancette played at Northeastern University from 1998 to 2003. During that time, she took a year off from college to take part in the U.S. Women’s National Hockey Team residency in Lake Placid during the winter of 2000-2001. She played in the 2001 World Championships and pre-Olympic Tour and participated in several development camps for the national program.
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White-Lancette enjoys playing a leadership role on the Whitecaps. Her biggest piece of advice for the younger generation? “Just enjoy what you’re doing. Have fun. And if you’re having fun, you’ll keep playing.” CAILEY HUTCHISON , 23, is a forward on the
Metropolitan Riveters. This is her second season on the team. “When I was a freshman at Northwood, until my senior year, my goal was to play at a Division I school and make a USA world championship team or an Olympic team,” she said. “So, toward the end of my Northwood career, I started learning about different opportunities to play professional.” Hutchison said her experience at Northwood shaped her as a person and a hockey player. “I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today without it,” she said. “I learned so much about myself. I knew before going to Northwood I loved hockey, but Northwood helped me find my purpose, what I wanted to do with hockey, and led me to achieve my goals playing Division I and now playing professionally, playing at one of the highest levels I could possibly play in.” Hutchison played hockey for the University of Maine, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in child development. She is currently earning a nursing degree at Stony Brook University. At the University of Maine, she played with fellow Northwood graduate and teammate Alyson Matteau. They were college roommates.
Former Northwood teammates Cailey Hutchison ’15 and Alyson Matteau ’15 catch up in Lake Placid.
ALYSON MATTEAU , 23, grew up in Montreal, Quebec, and began playing hockey when she was 5 or 6 years old. Her father, Stephane Matteau, played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League, and he was a member of the New York Rangers 1994 Stanley Cup championship team. Her brother Stefan currently plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets in the NHL. Matteau plays defense with the Buffalo Beauts. This is her first season with the team after taking a year off from hockey after graduating from the University of Maine with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Matteau spent her junior and senior years of high school playing for Northwood, which was key preparation for a hockey career as a Black Bear and a Beaut. “It definitely opened up my options of looking into colleges in the U.S., so I was able to continue my growth in hockey,” she said. “And it was good to be on the ice every day, as opposed to when I was back home, it was only once or twice a week. So that was a really big difference in my development.” (This story was used by permission of the Lake Placid News.)
New Mascot!
MEET NUKKA!
The newest husky of Northwood! Pet owner and member of our Business Office, Mrs. Ratkos-Stanton has been sharing Nukka’s puppy love with the students.
In the spring of 2020, Northwood released a new visual identity for the Husky mascot. A consistent symbolic visual of the husky, which ultimately generates a fuller sense of belonging and morale, had long been missing. Huskies are known to be energetic and athletic with an intelligent, outgoing, and friendly temperament. Like most dogs, they are wonderful companions. Dogs in general, are said to reduce anxiety, ease loneliness, and boost one’s mood. There proved to be no better time to unveil the new husky identity than last spring. The history behind the selection of the husky as the mascot was compiled and written about in 2018 by Su Hae Jang ’20 in the Northwood Mirror. Excerpt: “Though the Husky is widely considered the symbol of our community, not a lot of people at Northwood realize that we had been the Northwood Indians for much of the school’s first one hundred years. However, students later found such ethnic labels offensive and saw the tradition as a bit anachronistic. The school-wide controversy on the mascot soon led students to take action. Don Mellor reflected on the history, “the Board decision to change the school’s official mascot from the Indian to the Husky began as an impromptu student initiative… when an informal vote picked the Husky over several other North Country options.” Bill Kelly, Northwood’s night watchman at the time, and a Native American, is assumed to have been the “real inspiration” for the choice of husky, because he raised a group of huskies in his trailer on campus near where the Hanke ’56 Ski Building is today. According to the official minutes of the February 2, 2001 Board of Trustees meeting, the school’s governing body formally approved changing the school’s official mascot from Indians to Huskies.
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ACHIEVING AND LEADING / ALUMNI MENTORS
Sharing Their Success Virtual alumni panels help students discover their career path
Each event offers really great advice from panelists representing a variety of interests.” —CALIL NEME-FILHO ’21
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How do you choose a career — or a college major — when there are so many possibilities? How do you even begin to explore them? And, what happens if you change your mind? Northwood’s Alumni Council volunteers remember asking these same questions and have created a monthly virtual talk to introduce students to careers in a variety of fields, inviting them to ask questions of panelists to dig deeper into those that interest them. Each month, the Northwood Alumni Council with support from the Advancement Office features one panel with alumni representing a single industry from technology to sports and education to law. Special thanks to our organizers Emily Roy ’08, Chris Zuk ’09 and Luke Daniels ’14, who take turns moderating the panels.
OCTOBER
JANUARY
MARCH
Healthcare & Medicine
Technology & Engineering
Law & Government
Dr. Erik Berg ’92
Otolaryngologist, Boston, MA
Dr. Michael Rempel ’03, DNP, RN
Nurse Practitioner, University Hospital
Ms. Kristen Jakubowski ’08
Chris Roy ’15
Software Engineer, Amazon
Emma Zdgiebloski ’14 Manon Edeline ’12
Nick Vaugh ’06
Dr. Kathryn Pawlak ’09, DDS
Tim Faulkner ’12
Pediatric Dental Resident at John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital
Digital Practice Lead for Mechanical Engineering, WSP
Dr. Emily Roy ’08 | MODERATOR
Mike Palladino ’05
Investor Lead, CBRE Host
Chris Zuk ’09 | MODERATOR
Deal Strategist, Google Cloud NOVEMBER
Brad Harden ’05
Fixed-Income Portfolio Analyst, Goldman Sachs
Annie Xiang ’11, CPA Manager at KPMG
Bryan Taylor ’04
Attorney, Fulton County Department of Social Services
Modern Workplace Customer Engineer, Microsoft
Business & Finance
Counsel at House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Senior Analyst, Cigna Information Protection
PhD candidate at Northwestern University working in the Neuromuscular Control Laboratory and Neuromuscular Biomechanics Laboratory
Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy, Mass General
Raffaela Wakeman ’04
FEBRUARY
Marketing & Communications
Lobbyist, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Emily Baxter Chase ’09
Associate Attorney, Gunster
Kerri McDonough ’12
Associate Attorney, Aronson Mayefsky & Sloan
Chris Zuk ’09 | MODERATOR
Deal Strategist, Google Cloud APRIL
Sustainability & the Environment Mike Richter ’85
President, Brightcore Energy
Pam Scheideler ’90
US Head of Digital, Edelman
Justin Clancy ’90
Trevor MacArthur ’95
Sr. Director of Sports Brand Solutions, ESPN
Former Senior Environmental Compliance, Energy, Land Use Law and Ethics Counsel for U.S. Navy
Kristen McDonough ’13
Martha O’Leary ’04
Senior Analyst in the CFO organization, Goldman Sachs
Director of Brand Communications and Marketing, Skidmore College
Alexandra Harden ’04
Luke Daniels ’14 | MODERATOR
Megan Bagg ’08
Jerica Young ’05
Jordan Bruce ’11
Principal, Kensington Capital Partners Limited
Senior Analyst, Analysis Group
Associate Producer at NHL
Luke Daniels ’14 | MODERATOR Senior Analyst, Analysis Group
Ph.D. candidate in Geography focusing on climate change Packaging Innovation Director at Grove Collaborative
Luke Daniels ’14 | MODERATOR Senior Analyst, Analysis Group
Get involved!
For more information on the Alumni Council or Pathways, email alumni@northwoodschool.org
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ACHIEVING AND LEADING / TRUSTEES
Leading the Way We are grateful to the men and women who serve or have served on the Northwood School Board of Trustees. We thank them for dedicating their time to this special place called Northwood and for sharing their expertise and wisdom for the betterment of our school. We plan to profile current board members intermittently in Northwood News and in this magazine to introduce you to the individuals that make up this dynamic group as they lead our school into the future.
Karen Miller
Vice Chair Karen Miller serves on several committees within the board. She is Chair of the Advancement Committee, Chair of the Admissions Committee, and Chair of the Former Trustees Committee. Saying, “I love being part of any and all of it!”, she also serves on the Facilities Committee, and Student Life Committee. We recently caught up with Karen to ask her a few questions:
Karen, why did you choose to serve on the Northwood School Board of Trustees? I have been involved with prep schools all my life. I went to Phillips Exeter Academy in the late ’70s and then taught and coached at Greenwich Academy for a few decades. When my husband (Reed Miller, Northwood Class of ’72) and I came to Lake Placid to see his old stomping grounds I was incredibly impressed and realized how much I missed being involved with school life, the students, the athletes and the entire prep school world. I was truly excited to get back involved in education and to be part of the Northwood family. What an amazing school community and little gem of a prep school nestled in the Adirondacks!
What are you excited about for Northwood in the near future? I’m excited to witness Northwood as it continues to grow and flourish. Seeing the Campus Master Plan unfold is something we can all be excited about and proud of. Additionally, there are so many new opportunities being explored. Developing programming at the Innovation Hub for not only Northwood students, but also local families and their children to learn about coding, robotics and all that this exciting 34
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space has to offer. I am excited to see Northwood becoming fully engrained in the community. Another aspect of Northwood that is becoming highlighted is the fact that our campus is not just the school buildings but the entire Adirondack Park and Olympic Village. Olympic Physics classes have been designed around the luge track, ski jumps and bobsled runs. Geology classes have been held at the top of Cobble Hill. Mountain Day has groups of students hiking the 46 Peaks. The L.E.A.P. program teaches fly fishing on the AuSable River, Mountain Rescue, hiking the Saranac Six, and understanding the modern Olympic movement as well as a variety of other week-long courses.
Why is philanthropy/giving back important to you and your family? So many alumni including my husband talk about how Northwood changed their lives. Those are hugely powerful words, and for that reason it is incredibly important for us to give back so that the tradition continues and the programming continues to grow.
Bonus question: What was her favorite music during her high school years? (We know she played guitar at the time.) James Taylor, Carly Simon and Cat Stevens.
Trustee Karen Miller and her husband, former Trustee Reed Miller ’72
Karen Miller was born in Oceanside, California at Camp Pendleton. She attended Phillips Exeter Academy and is a graduate of Wesleyan University. Karen says it took a few careers (at Lord & Taylor and Merrill Lynch) to figure out her passion. For 18 years she coached field hockey, squash and tennis at Greenwich Academy. An avid and accomplished squash player, Karen travelled the world with the Men’s and Women’s U.S. Squash Team as Manager and Assistant Coach 1999-2008 and played on the U.S. Women’s Squash Team in the 2000 Pan Am Federation Cup in Brazil. She is a member of Wesleyan University Athletic Hall of Fame. Karen and her husband Reed live in Greenwich, Conn. and they love spending time in the Adirondacks.
John Taylor “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” Trustee John Taylor was 18 when he first heard this quote from Charles Dederich repeated during a Dale Carnegie course that his father had arranged for their company, Taylor Made Group. It was an eye-opener for John, and these words still inspire him today. “Learn from yesterday, but don’t get lost dwelling on it. Look at today, look towards tomorrow. What you do today, in the present, creates the path forward.” A member of the Northwood School Board of Trustees since 2009, John Taylor serves as Chair of our Facilities Committee. We interviewed John via Teams in late February.
John, why did you choose to
And in the near future?
serve on the Northwood School
“Keeping our focus on improving campus facilities with the continuation of the Campus Master Plan. We need to be competitive in the independent secondary school marketplace. Facilities have expected standards and it is imperative, for the sustainability of the school, that we continue to invest in Northwood’s infrastructure.” He recognizes that “improved facilities combined with our world-class Adirondack setting, stellar faculty and ambitious academic and athletic programming will be a winning combination for Northwood. Facilities get future students and families in the door and serve as a platform for the memorable Northwood experience to unfold.” “Buildings are key, but at the end of the day it is the people and the relationships within them that people remember. That’s what our school is about, and inspiring spaces provide the stage for that.” John is also excited about Northwood’s spectacular new venue on Main Street. “I am excited to see the Hub in action as it becomes safe to resume normal activities again. The Hub already plays a key role in the life of Northwood School and, as we witnessed with the community 3D face shield project and the Mask Hub initiative over this past summer, we anticipate that it will be an invaluable asset to our local community as well.”
Board of Trustees? “The day we dropped our son Bryan ’04 off for his year at Northwood, then Head of School Ed Good addressed the parents before they said their farewells to their child and left campus.” John recalls Mr. Good saying, “When you again meet your son or daughter, it is our expectation that your child will talk about relationships with their teachers, not just their peers. If not, we have failed.” Sure enough, the school had delivered. Bryan did talk of his teachers, and one in particular — Don Mellor ’71. “They’ve got something special here,” thought John and his wife Sandi. “They are actually going to teach our kid how to be a young adult.” The senior year their son spent at Northwood was life-defining, particularly in the areas outside of academics. “I wanted to be a part of this school that was doing something extra special for kids.”
What are you most excited about Northwood currently? “I’ve been amazed by the school’s ability to adapt during this COVID 19 pandemic.” John credits the administration, the teachers, and the health team for helping the school pivot at such a critical time. “I’m proud that everyone at our school has been able to adjust the programming to accommodate and serve the kids in all aspects. We’ve been fortunate. It is an incredible feat, and I am simply in awe of their resilience,” he says.
Trustee John Taylor
Why is philanthropy/giving back important to you and your family? “It is important to give back, to help society prosper. To give financially if you can, but also to give in other ways, with your heart and spirit, and your hands.” Causes involving education, the Arts, and children are particularly close to the Taylors’ hearts. “I feel it is important to contribute to causes that can help others become well-rounded and able to contribute positively to society.”
Something people might not know about John: An avid reader and walker, if you catch John on his daily walking loops around Mirror Lake when he’s in town, he’s bound to be listening to an audio book. Biographies, particularly revolutionary war biographies, have been a recent fascination for him. (That is, if you can catch up to him — his pace is quick!) John Taylor is a native of Gloversville, New York. He attended Tilton School and graduated from Union College with a degree in Computer Science in 1974. John was a programmer/ analyst at General Electric prior to joining his family’s company Taylor Made Group, a renowned supply leader in the recreational marine industry. John and his wife Sandi are residents of Florida and spend a few weeks in Lake Placid in the summer.
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Honor and Tradition The Distinguished Alumnus Medal Honors Excellence
Established in 2016, the Distinguished Alumnus Medal is awarded to an alumnus or alumna who typifies the Northwood School tradition of excellence and has brought credit to the school through their personal accomplishment, professional achievement or humanitarian service. This is the highest honor to be bestowed upon a Northwood School graduate. The medal is awarded at a ceremony each year during Reunion at the True North dinner.
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Northwood’s First Distinguished Alumnus Medal Recipients: Colonel G.F. Robert Hanke ’56 Rob Hanke, a highly decorated Marine veteran, served as a regular and reserve officer for over twenty years, choosing to retire early as a young colonel. After active duty, he worked for President Gerald Ford in Congress, followed by a career on Wall Street as an attorney, financial analyst and investment banker. He then switched gears to run a successful independent film and stage company that produced an Academy Award-nominated British feature film as well as shows both on and off Broadway, and the West End in London. In addition to serving on numerous other civic, business, scholastic and foundation boards, Rob served on the Northwood School Board of Trustees for more than thirty years and was recently elevated to Trustee Emeritus. We thank him for his incredible service and leadership.
Lew Allyn ’57 Lew Allyn’s vision and leadership as a member of our Board of Trustees has shaped and inspired Northwood’s growth for over two decades. Inheriting the role that his father William ’28 held close to his heart, Lew’s dedication to Northwood is truly a family affair—a passion that he also shares with his daughter Tanya (Allyn) Dillon ’86. It’s safe to say that for every significant moment in Northwood School’s history, an Allyn family member was there. In addition to his Northwood service, Lew spends much of his time on conservation and water quality matters, serving on the Boards of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida and the Nature Conservancy, roles which he finds particularly rewarding. But of course, his most exceptional role is that of husband to Dawn and father to Tanya, Tasha, Josh and a handful of foster children, and grandfather to eight.
Nick Evans ’48 When asked for a list of his proudest accomplishments, we received from Nick a careful curated list of the interests, honors, and achievements, not of our honoree himself, but those of his wife and two children. We quickly understood — Nick’s proudest accomplishments are not his own countless awards, or honors. Much to the contrary, his proudest accomplishments are the members of his family and their cumulative achievements. For 70 years, Nick has been one of Northwood’s most loyal and generous supporters. “Looking either back or to the future, I have every reason to remain a loyal and supportive alum.”
Brad Olch ’69 Current Board Chair, Brad Olch ’69 immersed himself in the community of Park City, Utah, serving on the planning commission and city council before ultimately being elected Mayor in 1990, where he served for 12 years. During that period, Brad was pivotal in Utah’s quest to host the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, serving 10 years on the bid committee and then the organizing committee. Open space acquisition and historic perseveration were also hallmarks of his time in office. Post-Olympics, he went on to found and grow the Park City Community Foundation into a multimillion-dollar entity with broad-reaching impact in the region. Brad’s sophisticated business perspective, thoughtful insight, and constructive way of asking tough questions have helped to shape our school’s vibrant future.
2 0 16 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS RECIPIENT
Colonel G.F. Robert Hanke ’56
2 0 17 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS RECIPIENT
Lew Allyn ’57
2 0 18 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS RECIPIENT
Nick Evans ’48
THE 2020 AND 2021 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS MEDALS
will be presented during Reunion June 25–26, 2021.
2 0 19 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS RECIPIENT
Brad Olch ’69
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HONORING OUR PAST / IN MEMORIAM
Appreciating Northwood Forebears BY VANDERLYN PINE ’55
World War II officially ended in September 1945. However, that date did not mean much to the families and loved ones of those who had been killed in the War. Commemorative activities continued on for several years, with statues, plaques, monuments, memorial rooms, bequests, and other forms of honor in memory of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice — their lives. Northwood was the recipient of two such honorific gifts. First, there was the Lawton Davis Memorial Senior room and second, there was the bronze plaque listing the names of those who died in the war above the large fireplace in the living room. As is often the case in schools and colleges, time and new young people mute the profound emotions that had been behind the school’s acquisition of these two honors. The fall of 1952 was full of new, exciting experiences for me. With very little fanfare (except from my parents and grandparents), I went away to school. Not just any school — Northwood School for Boys in the Olympic Village of Lake Placid. I had heard of Northwood because of several older boys from my hometown who had gone or were going there. I knew little else, but it was exciting to think about going away to a special place. Growing up in the 1940s in the small town of New Paltz, New York, about equal distance from the Military Academy at West Point as well as from the official home of President Franklin D. Roosevelt at Hyde Park, NY, meant that World War II was a major source of community conversation and activities. A fair number of men and boys, as well as a few women, had gone off to war and a small number had died or been killed in action, and New Paltz had its fair share of commemorative memorials. Of these, I was aware but never felt connected. Midway through my first Fall term a 38
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“Sixty-three years later, the sight of that World War II memorial plaque still brings tears to my eyes and thanks to my heart for the sacrifices a group of sixteen Northwood Boys made to keep our world safe and peaceful.” —VANDERLYN PINE ’55
group of about six men who looked to be in their late 20s or early 30s came to Lake Placid to visit Northwood. The purpose of their visit was neither announced nor obvious. It could have been a football game or some other school function, but that didn’t matter —they were there together. They greeted and shook hands with some of the long-time faculty and laughed raucously at some secretive reminiscence of a long-ago happening. Then, they disappeared into the relatively new Lawton Davis Memorial Senior Room for a while. The topic of their conversation therein is not known. It is what happened when they emerged from the room that is indelibly etched in my memory. Their faces were very
serious, almost somber when they stood in front of the fireplace and the plaque. One of them mumbled something I could not hear, and they simultaneously drew to attention and saluted the plaque. Their crisp salute ended, and they turned in unison with tears on their faces and silently walked back through the living room into the entry lobby and out the front door. As a young teenager, their tribute forever changed the meaning of the plaque for me. Sixty-three years later, the sight of that World War II memorial plaque still brings tears to my eyes and thanks to my heart for the sacrifices a group of sixteen Northwood Boys made to keep our world safe and peaceful.
In Memoriam In 2015, Northwood began holding a memorial service each reunion to honor the alumni, trustees and faculty who have passed away during the year. Fittingly, it is beside the fireplace in the Living Room where we gather to read their names aloud. Attendees are then invited to say a few words if they wish. We hope this brief but poignant ceremony provides some comfort to families and friends. It has become an important annual tribute. Since Reflections has been dormant for several years, for this In Memoriam, we are listing those whom we know have passed away since the last issue. (In the virtual issue of this edition, links to obituaries are provided.)
2015 Herbert McMeekin Jr. ’38 Henry Coupe ’40 Richard Cardamone ’43 Karl Gebhard Jaeger ’48 Edgar Wholey ’50 Thomas Arnold ’51 Donald Hatch ’53 Sveinbjorn Sveinbjornsson ’54 Alexander Clarke ’63 Edward Nutter ’65 John Conde ’66 James B. O’Connell Jr. ’69 James Williams ’92
2016 William F. Pennebaker ’36 John LeFevre ’37 Monteagle Stearns ’41 Paul Vestal ’49 Gerret Wullschleger ’52
J. Richard Belanger ’52 Robert Stephens ’55 John C. Bishop ’56 David Coseo ’56 Harold Metcalf Green ’59 Hannah Hartl ’11 Philip Clough, Former Faculty William McCluskey, Former Faculty
2017 Forbes Tuttle ’42 William Sneath ’43 Bernard Bouvier ’52 Burt Howell ’60 Douglas Cole ’73 A. Kathryn Moore, Faculty
2018 Thomas Eaton ’45, Former Trustee Bernard Strait ’54 William Sichol ’57
Vance Beggs ’61 Nicholas Swann ’69 James Birkenstock ’93
2019 Robert T. Booth ’41 Griffith Harsh ’41 Theodore D. Lockwood ’42, Former Trustee Charles B. Morgan ’52, Trustee William Richwagen ’56 Jeffrey Dorrance ’60 Philip Metcalf ’60 John Borchert ’65 Thomas Haight ’68 Walter Elicker ’72 Michael S. Messuri ’80 Larry Rosenbaum ’80 Kathleen Bergamini, Trustee Emeritus Stephen Buckley, Former Trustee Lila Stephens, Former Faculty
2020
Rogers Rice ’47 John Tanner ’47 Richard C. Comolo ’48 Donald Thomas ’54 Stuart Wyeth ’62 Philip “Fud” Frommholz ’65 Paul Souza '66 Michael Quinn '74 William A. Wikoff ’74 Stephen Whisenand ’82 Justin Benedict ’06 Richard Keller, Former Trustee
2021 Bruce Pirnie ’53, Former Trustee Bill Hovey ’79 Jonathan “Jonny” Kellock ’10
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From the Archives Tucked away on shelves in the Advancement Office, alongside Epitome editions ranging from 1927 to 2020, sit several curious old volumes. A bit dogeared, their worn, unassuming bindings give absolutely no indication of the surprise contained within — page upon page filled with the old-fashioned penmanship written over one hundred years ago by teenage boys. What exactly are these volumes? Let’s step back in time. Back when Northwood was called The Lake Placid School, the Spring and Fall terms were held in Lake Placid and a Winter term took place on the coast in Cocoanut Grove, Florida. (Originally spelled with the “a” it is now Coconut Grove, a neighborhood within Miami.) Naturally, one of the activities during the winter term included sailing. “The fleet consists of a cruising yawl, a knock-about, several sailing dories and larks, a proa and a launch, together with a generous supply of rowing skiffs. The cruising yawl is fitted to accommodate six or seven persons.” “The cruises are made to the neighboring keys, where the shallow water on the “banks” affords opportunities for exploring the varied and interesting fauna and flora with which the bay teems. A master and an experienced sailor go on every cruise.” These slim volumes served as logbooks for their weekend sailboat cruises. They list the date of the cruise, the destination and the names of the crew. In a couple of pages, they chronicle everything from weather conditions, meals, fishing and swimming and any significant happenings from the time they weighed anchor. For instance, on the first cruise in January 1911 on the Etta May: “In spite of the delay caused by low tide, the first cruise of the term started off with a merry crew and the nose of the Etta May was headed south for Cutler. The sail down was a glorious one as we had a fine breeze and the delight of seeing the full moon come up out of the sea. We came to anchor in the bay off Cutler at 6:45 p.m.
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and immediately began to prepare supper. There were various exclamations heard when the engineer discovered that sugar and butter had been left out of our supply of provisions. The boatswain and the junior member of the crew were sent in to the “department store” at Cutler to get the missing delicacies.” Throughout the log of the Etta-May, the name Israel Lafayette Jones keeps popping up. Such as, “Immediately after breakfast an expedition set out in search of Israel Lafayette Jones, and soon they returned accompanied by the old man who looked as hale and hearty as ever.” Or here, “after having had lunch one of the boats and the Captain, Second Mate and Israel Lafayette Jones went out after crawfish.” We were curious about this man mentioned by name in these sailing logs. We did a little research and learned that he was no ordinary fishing guide. Israel Lafayette Jones had “risen up from slavery in North Carolina, migrated to Florida after the Civil War, and eventually managed to buy three of the small, uninhabited islands that separate Biscayne Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. He began a profitable business growing key limes.” (PBS.org) This land owned by Israel Lafayette Jones would eventually become a part of Biscayne National Park.
Students, Teachers, and YOU! When you make Northwood a priority and support the Northwood Fund, bright futures abound. Your gift supports all the important work that goes into the Northwood experience. From the labs to the locker rooms, we’re stronger together.
Northwood Fund TOGETHER FOR NORTHWOOD
Ways to give: P Online www.supportnorthwood.org P Recurring monthly gifts of any size online P Mail in the enclosed envelope P Gifts of appreciated securities
Gift Recognition Societies The 1905 Society $1,905 annual gift* The Northwood Leadership Society $10,000 annual gift High Peaks Society $25,000 annual gift
* A SPECIAL NOTE TO OUR YOUNG ALUMNI TEN YEARS OUT: Did you know we have a GOLD giving level within our 1905 Society? Graduates of the last decade can become a member of the 1905 Society with a gift of $100 (alumni 1–5 years out) or $250 (alumni 6–10 years).
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Non-Profit Org.
Northwood School 92 Northwood Road Lake Placid, NY 12946 518-302-5115 alumni@northwoodschool.org
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