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KIMBALL UNION MAGAZINE | FALL/WINTER ����
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Last Word “Invincible” Courage There’s a question teacher John Custer P’02 ’05 poses to students in his history classes: If you were enrolled at Kimball Union during the Civil War, would you have left school to join the Army? For many KUA students at that time, the answer was yes. More than 200 Kimball Union men left The Hilltop to serve in the Civil War, many for the North and a few for the South. One alumnus—Francis Butler from the Class of 1861—was en route to Dartmouth College to begin his studies when he changed course to join the Union Army. Now, this brave soldier is commemorated with a portrait unveiled by officials in the southern back hallway at the N.H. State House in Concord. Capt. Butler was honored in a winter ceremony attended by Custer and his student Henry Carter ’23. Steve Lord, great-great-grandnephew of Butler, alerted Custer to the event because of his ties to KUA and interest in the war. “Butler began in New Hampshire’s 5th Regiment, then served on the signal corps, which stationed him on battlefields and in surrounding areas to send messages and to convey observations made behind enemy lines,” says Lord. “He carried messages daily for nearly three weeks at the Siege of Yorktown.” Letters from Butler’s commanders still in the family’s possession describe him as a natural leader who cut an imposing, handsome figure at 6-foot-4. His peers called him “invincible.” Butler was wounded in the knee during battle in Petersburg, Virginia. He took a train home to Bennington, N.H., to recover. Unfortunately, is leg was amputated, gangrene set in, and Butler died on July 30, 1864, at the age of just 22. “Butler was on his way to college when his conscience called him to join the Union. I find that selflessness inspiring,” says Carter, who talks about KUA students and faculty who fought on both sides of the Civil War in his classes. “Connecting KUA to historic events, particularly around the Civil War, is an easy thing to do.”
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Contents FA L L / W I N T E R
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Features “Human Connection Is at the Core” New mission statement captures the essential elements of the KUA experience.
Return to the Earth
Recompose founder Katrins Spade ’95 takes a sustainable approach to death care.
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20 Departments 9 HEAD OF SCHOOL 10 VOICES: HEARD FROM THE STUDENTS
Hilltop
12 NEWS FROM CAMPUS 20 SPORTS OVERVIEW 22 ARTS OVERVIEW 24 FIRST PERSON 26 COMMUNITY VOICES
Connect
36 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS 40 CLASS NOTES 46 OBITUARY 49 LAST WORD
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BOARD OF TRUSTEES
OFFICERS CHRISTOPHER BURNS ’83
Board Chair
New Canaan, CT MOLLY BOURNE STEFFEY ’92, P’20, ’22
Vice Chair
Hanover, NH KARLA RADKE P’21
Secretary
New York, NY PETER SCHIEFFELIN ’96
Treasurer
Jamestown, RI
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP DAVID ALLYN ’86, P’17, ’25
Skaneateles, NY JENNIFER BORISLOW ’78, P’07, ’10
Methuen, MA ROBIN GRONLUND ’81, P’11
Shelburne, VT VIVA HARDIGG P’21, ’23
Hanover, NH EDWARD G. HILD, J.D., ’88
Washington, DC DONALD LOWERY ’73
New York, NY GLENN POGUST P ’13
KIMBALL UNION MAGAZINE
New London, NH
EDITOR
PHOTOGRAPHY
CLYDE NEVILLE P’20, ’22
TRICIA MCKEON
Courtney Cania Roy Knight P’10 Dustin Meltzer ’05 Cole Gueldenzoph ’22 Christopher Johnson
Dracut, MA SETH SHORTLIDGE P’15, ’22, ’25
CONTRIBUTORS
New York, NY
Director of Marketing and Communications Kimball Union
EDITORIAL DESIGN WENDY MCMILLAN ’78, P’09, ’11
McMillan Design
COPY EDITOR THERESA D’ORSI
Theresa D’Orsi, Jes Lessard, Tricia McKeon, Dustin Meltzer ’05, Sebastian Morris ’22, Anna Olson, Stacey Summerfield
MAIL: Kimball Union Magazine welcomes submissions, letters, and comments.
We reserve the right to review and edit all material that is accepted for publication. Please email submissions to Tricia McKeon at tmckeon@kua.org or send to: Kimball Union Magazine, PO Box 188, Meriden, NH 03770.
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Delray Beach, FL ANDREA STERN P’19
JADI TAVERAS ’03
Haverhill, MA STEPHEN TAYLOR
Meriden, NH CHRISTOPHER P. YOSHIDA ’96
New York, NY
Head of School
“The deep sense of belonging so many feel at KUA is rooted in those connections that we make to one another.”
Living Deeply in the Present
T
he start of a new calendar year is always an
of life at KUA: our faculty and students. One of my
appropriate time to look in both directions:
most professionally gratifying experiences of the
back at the year just completed and forward to the
past year was to work with a group of faculty and
opportunities that lay ahead. While redefining our
students to find the words to capture KUA’s essence
experiences within a new set of health protocols
and the impact a KUA experience has on a student.
and guidelines has been an essential priority during
The process is outlined in an article later in the
the past 20 months, it has not prevented us from
magazine, and the outcome is a statement that has
also scanning the horizon and looking out to what
authentically resonated throughout our community
the future holds for Kimball Union.
and served as a solid foundation to our subsequent
When I reflect on 2021, the milestones that led
work on building strategy and navigating our ac-
up to our in-person graduation for the Class of 2021
creditation. In this issue, you will hear our mission
and the outstanding start to the 2021-22 school year
being lived through the voices of student Sebastian
are filled with experiences and challenges that we
Morris ’22, faculty member Alexis Liston ’03, and
celebrate daily. While we lit up the stage in Flick
alumna Katrina Spade ’95, as well as others within
and sent multiple teams off to NEPSAC tourna-
our community.
ments, we were also able to articulate our central
Here on campus, our students continue to lead
mission as a school while simultaneously living it
our community as they find their voices, embrace
out. During student-led initiatives that expanded
the tradition and history of the Academy, and put
our community service and addressed issues of
their own twist on campus life as every class has
equity in our community, we also pioneered a new
done before them. On January 8, we gathered
approach to the accreditation process and crafted a
outside the Stu and held a ceremonial dropping of
strategic plan that will guide our decision-making
the ball and fireworks show to mark and celebrate
and evolution for years to come. Throughout our
our return after winter break. The deep sense of
break, I reflected that living deeply in the present
belonging so many feel at KUA is rooted in those
moment while thoughtfully thinking about the
connections that we make to one another—and
future is a nice metaphor for how we approached
never has that been more alive than it is today.
the year gone by.
Happy New Year.
K
One of the most challenging exercises for a dynamic, diverse community of extremely inter-connected people is to succinctly articulate who
TYLER LEWIS
Head of School
we are through our mission. It is a process that we entrusted to those who are experiencing the depth
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Voices
H E A R D F ROM S T U DE N T S
“I was excited to be welcomed to a community that prides itself on unity, individuality, and teamwork.”
Why I Selected KUA New students share why they chose Kimball Union for their high-school experience.
—BRYNN GARG ’25
ALEX HOYT ’25 “When I first laid my eyes on KUA I instantly saw the family that is this campus. I fell in love with the environment and atmosphere, and it’s like nothing I’ve ever been a part of.
SOPHIA KERBER ’24 “I came here to further my education, and I also thought the campus was pretty cool when I was touring.”
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CASH MCCLURE ’22 PG “I mainly wanted to come to KUA for a PG year to get more exposure for basketball and put my name on more college coaches’ radars. While I knew this level of basketball would prepare me for the college level, I also knew it would be a good transition year for me academically and socially. I am very happy I made the decision to take an extra year at KUA.”
ANISA KETLEKHA ’22 “I came to KUA to prepare for college in both academics and lifestyle aspects.”
BRYNN GARG ’25 “I came to KUA because I knew it would be an accepting and diverse environment, and because I was excited to have the vast range of opportunities that KUA provides. Also, I was excited to be welcomed into a community that prides itself on unity, individuality, and teamwork.”
MICHAEL SULLO ’23 “I chose KUA for the sole purpose of belonging. The second I stepped on this campus, I felt as though I was wanted and had this instant feeling that I wanted to represent the KUA crest with integrity and dignity.”
MAGGIE LOPEZ ’25 “I chose KUA because of the community. Waking up every day in such a calm and cheerful home away from home makes me remember how fortunate I am to be here with the amazing teachers and students supporting me throughout my KUA experience.”
EMILY FENG ’23 “KUA gave me the chance to pursue my education in the US and its community kindly welcomed me.”
BEN LAWTON ’24 “I chose KUA because of the great community.”
ILLUSTRATION BY ROBERT NEUBECKER
Hilltop N EWS F ROM C A M P U S
INSIDE 12-27: HILLTOP NEWS ➤ CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS ➤ STUDENT SPOTLIGHT ➤ CLASSROOM ➤ SPORTS OVERVIEW ➤ ARTS OVERVIEW ➤ FIRST PERSON ➤ COMMUNITY S P R I N G � VOICES � � 8 11
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Keenan Thygesen ’22
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Dogs live on campus with faculty members
BRICKS AND MORTAR
Moving History Tucked between Rowe Hall and the Miller Bicentennial Hall parking lot sits a red, timber-frame barn. Today, many students pass the barn unaware of the stories and history it holds under its towering wooden beams. The oldest building in Meriden, the Kimball Barn once housed sheep belonging to KUA founder Daniel Kimball. Scores of alumni will fondly remember time spent with friends when it was the Snack Bar. This winter, the Kimball Barn will be dismantled and take a trip down Main Street, where it will be reassembled near the lower athletic field complex on Route 120 at the site of the former Penniman House. Once completed, the barn will house a heritage center and function space, along with services for athletic visitors and teams. Do you have memories of the Snack Bar from your time on The Hilltop? Share them at tmckeon@kua.org. K 12
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Students took the AMC Math test in November
In September, as most Kimball Union students were heading east to Meriden, Keenan Thygesen ’22 was driving west from his family’s home in Tunbridge, Vermont, to Madison, Wisconsin, accompanied by a family, friends, and seven cows. Breaks for food and gas during the 20-hour journey were balanced with two rest stops for milking. The happy caravan was headed to World Dairy Expo, where Thygesen was showing his cows in the annual “Super Bowl” of cow shows. Growing up on his family’s dairy farm, Thygesen developed a passion for working with dairy cows early in life and has been an active member of 4H since age 8. His parents have since sold their milking herd, but they maintain a small group of show animals that includes Holsteins, Jerseys, Brown Swiss, Guernseys, and Ayrshires. “There are personality and color differences between the breeds,” he says. “Right now, we have 16 total dairy animals and a couple beef cows.” Thygesen participates in local county fairs and statewide 4H shows throughout the summer, then gears up for the national shows in the fall. To prepare, he spends considerable time on what he calls “cow comfort.” He exercises the animals, feeds them a specific diet, and teaches them how to lead by walking them up and down the road on halters. At shows, he wakes between 3:30 and 5 a.m. to complete chores and get his cows ready by “fitting” them. “Fitting is basically giving cows fancy haircuts to make them look great,” he explains. Out in Wisconsin, his hard work paid off: Thygesen finished fourth in the senior male division of the national fitting contest, satisfying his long-term goal to get into the top five. Later that week, his Ayrshire summer yearling was 15th in her class and fifth in the junior show, while his milking yearling Holstein was fifth in the international junior show. He also led a spring calf named Trinket, which he bought this year, who won her class and went on to earn reserve junior champion honors in the international Guernsey junior show. Thygesen hopes to major in agricultural business management at either the University of Minnesota, Ohio State University, or Penn State—schools that will expose him to other agricultural practices. “I like my small-town feel, but there’s so much more out there and so many other aspects to agriculture,” he says. “I want to see cornfields until you can’t see the end.” K
“I like my small-town feel, but there’s so much more out there and so many other aspects to agriculture. I want to see cornfields until you can’t see the end.”—KEENAN THYGESEN ’22
Thygesen won top honors at the World Dairy Expo with his Guernsey calf, Trinket.
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N EWS F ROM C A M P US
COMMUNITY
“Climate Change” Assessment gathers perceptions of life at the Academy in effort to enhance community. Kimball Union Academy launched a new mission statement this fall, making a commitment to “create a deep sense of belonging for every member of our community.” As one step toward this goal, the Academy entered a partnership with Keith Hinderlie, a licensed psychologist and educator, to work with KUA community members as they continue their work to support diversity, inclusion, equity, 14
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justice, and belonging at KUA. Hinderlie’s background includes a unique combination of knowledge about psychology, personal development, education, leadership, and cultural diversity. He began working with KUA in the summer conducting a workshop with members of the KUA board and administrative team. This January, Hinderlie conducted a “climate assessment” of KUA through four days of interviews and conversations with students, employees, families, and trustees about perceptions of life at the Academy, perceptions of how KUA supports diversity and equity, and experiences with
“This assessment will serve as a roadmap, helping us to make priorities for our work of living our mission long into the future.” —HEAD OF SCHOOL TYLER LEWIS SUPPORT SYSTEM
Psychologist Keith Hinderlie conducted four days of interviews to better understand perceptions among the KUA community.
OBJECT LESSON
A Vintage Champion
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Sheep arrived on The Hilltop this fall for the farm program
Vintage clothing and Kimball Union hockey fans take note: An item from the KUA archives recently appeared in the book Tags & Threads Guide to Vintage Champion, cementing its place as the oldest-known Champion Sportswear hockey jersey. Champion Sportswear, originally known by the moniker Knickerbocker Knitting Co., was founded in 1919, after Kimball Union celebrated its centennial. Champion got its start in the knitwear and collegiate sweater market, systematically expanding its offerings sport by sport on its path to becoming the iconic sportwear and fashion apparel provider it is today, celebrating its own centennial in 2019. First appearing in the 1960 Concordia yearbook, this KUA jersey was worn by Bill Hagar ’61, a member of the 1959-60 junior varsity hockey team. Hagar later donated it to the KUA archives, where it sits safely to this day. Surprisingly, however, Champion didn’t break into the world of hockey until the 1970s, making this 1959 example the oldestknown Champion hockey jersey. Officially classified as a “custom order,” it marked KUA’s place in Champion’s history books. K
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Students serving in the new leadership role of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) Proctor
discrimination or harassment at KUA. “We hope to use this information to understand how well our campus climate supports diversity and equity,” says Head of School Tyler Lewis. “The administration, board, and faculty are all deeply committed to hearing all the voices in our community and looking into the mirror with clear eyes about how we are living out our mission to create a deep sense of belonging for every member of our community. This assessment, and Dr. Hinderlie’s guidance, will serve as a roadmap, helping us to make priorities for our work of living our mission long into the future.” K
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People attended 2021 Family Weekend
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Students—Jintao Yue ’22 and Ben Conway ’22—named Commended Students in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program
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N EWS F ROM C A M P US
692
Students interviewed for a space at Kimball Union
343 Students enrolled • 256 Boarding • 87 Day
Finding KUA
Despite COVID-19, Kimball Union saw record enrollment for the 2021-22 year. More than 1,500 families sought information about the program, with a record 343 students enrolling for the academic year. Here’s a look at the admission cycle. .
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Number of students enrolled who had a parent attend KUA
27%
256
Boarding Students
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
343 TOTAL STUDENTS
From 25 countries
FINANCIAL AID RECIPIENTS
Need-Based Financial Aid Awarded
$4,800,000 87
Day Students
Explore KUA Today The Office of Admission invites you to learn more about Kimball Union Academy today. Campus is open for on-campus tours, or admission officers can arrange for a virtual visit. We also invite you to attend our Spring Open House. To get started, contact us at (603) 469-2100 or admission@ kua.org.
Spring Open House May 14, 2022 9 a.m.
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48%
“Students design a sampling strategy that will allow them to test a hypothesis.” —BLAINE KOPP
CLASSROOM
Seeing the Forest Through the Trees Students use tree plots to understand ecological succession.
FIELDWORK Students evaluate changes in land across one, two, and three years.
In his first year of teaching at KUA in 2010, Blaine Kopp staked out a 10-by-10meter plot perched high on the Potato Patch. Each year since, he has climbed this campus hill adjacent to the lower playing fields to section off another plot of ground. In various plots, white pine, aspen, and birch trees of various sizes and ages shoot from the ground. The Louis Munro Chair of Environmental Science is repeatedly asked the same question about his plots: Who planted the trees? And therein lies the point of his work. No one planted the trees. Students in Kopp’s AP environmental science classes use these spaces to study ecological succession—the idea that when new resources, habitats, and space become available, early colonizers come in and occupy the landscape. The plots demonstrate secondary succession, which occurs as nature reclaims land that was once altered by humans. In one visit to the succession plots, students are able to evaluate the types of changes in land across one, two, or more years. The first few years show subtle differences, but changes in canopy height are easy to spot between the oldest and youngest plots. “We go out and learn the basic five types of vegetation, then we’ll go back and start to generate some hypotheses about the types of change that they think they’re seeing,” says Kopp. “Students design a sampling strategy that will allow them to test a hypothesis, so they need to measure data, then write with confidence and statistical significance whether what they predicted was supported by that data.” In addition to applying science, students develop a new relationship with The Hilltop, recognizing more scientific details about the landscape in which they live and speaking with a broadened understanding of ecological succession as a result. K FALL/WINTER ����
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CAMPUS LIFE
Good Neighbors
Students find meaning and purpose in helping others. 1. Students take shifts sorting through donated goods at the Listen Center Thrift Store.
2. The 11th-grade class spent a morning doing various campus
service projects, including stacking wood, painting, and constructing an outdoor rink.
3. Music and storytelling drew a crowd to Coffee House open mic
night, raising nearly $700 for the Sacred Heart Parish Church in Lebanon to provide Thanksgiving dinners to the community.
4. In early October, students and faculty participated in the Walk to End Alzheimer, raising more than $1,900 for the organization.
5. Throughout the fall, students volunteered to clear growth on the historic Townsend Ski Hill. The entire ninth-grade class devoted a morning to the endeavor.
6 The annual KUAid benefit concert raised more than $1,000 for the Upper Valley Humane Society.
7. The varsity field hockey team hosted its annual Play for a Cure game, raising more than $500 through the sale of T-shirts and baked goods to benefit the Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
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“I am proud of the work that this community does collectively to selflessly partner with those in need.” —JORDYN SILVERA '22
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SPORTS
Peak Performance Mountain biking team finds camaraderie on the trail. Sometimes it’s more common to find Aidan Davie ’22 on two wheels than on two feet. Slowly pedaling through the quad in late afternoon, Davie returns from the Potato Patch, where he and his teammates spent an afternoon on the single track—enjoying fresh air, the camaraderie of friends, and learning skills that will stay with them for a lifetime. As part of the mountain biking team, Davie is one of 18 students who are finding their place in the forests that surround campus. They are in good company among people of all ages who have found mountain biking a counterbalance to hectic, screen-driven lifestyles. Although mountain biking saw growth during the past decade, COVID-19 drove a meteoric rise in the past year. Market researchers reported sales of front-suspension mountain bikes were up by more than 150 percent in 2020. Located near world-class riding in New Hampshire and Vermont and a place where the sport already had a foothold, KUA finds itself in the right location at the right time. The team is coached by faculty members Bryant Harris ’04 and Mike Van Dolah. Harris was drawn to the sport as a KUA student through his advisor and former faculty member Mike Cloutman, who built the initial program. Today Harris advances Cloutman’s efforts while building a culture that promotes healthy, active participation over cutthroat competition. As a result, the team doubled in size in the past two years. The team travels regionally for Lakes Region races and competes well, but it’s the time spent in the saddle on KUA’s trails that appears to have the biggest impact on student-athletes. “We’re not always super race-oriented like some other schools,” says Davie. “They’re very focused on HOOPS ASSIST Kenyon College men’s basketball player Kamal Aubakirov ’17 was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Community Assist Team for outstanding community service. Aubakirov and his brother run 360 Mentors, a nonprofit that mentors students in his home country of Kazakhstan.
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placing well in races. Here, we do so much more than that. We’re encouraged to race but we also really try to maintain health and have fun and make this an environment that’s friendly for all. I like the thrill of the jumps, I get exercise, I build a lot of confidence, and I love my teammates.” “A lot of kids are not in it for the racing, but they do the racing because it’s such a positive environment,” says Harris. “And this is true for everyone participating in the races. They encourage the last-place person as much as the first-place person.” The sport, he says, is different from others because it’s not a college sport. “For our top riders, they might get to compete as an adult or gain small sponsorships. It’s a lifelong sport, and they’re learning things with the intention that they can use this for the next 50 years.” For now, the student-athletes are fortunate to have everything they need in their backyard. Harris utilizes the campus as much as possible so students can enjoy it in their free time. In the past couple of years, KUA has doubled the trail network at French’s Ledges, particularly around the old ski hill, and added nearly seven miles of single track above the Potato Patch. Harris also weaves in lessons from his U.S. history class so students can better understand the land they ride—the growth of forests, the stone walls, the abandoned root cellars. He’s built partnerships with local bike shops and invites parents and alumni to tag along on rides. “These kids are all representing the school and they’re all wearing their orange,” says Harris. “I tell them to just go out and ride as hard as they can and have fun.” K ICE TIME Kyle Konin ’17 made his NHL debut in December with the St. Louis Blues as backup goalie for a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Konin serves as the emergency backup goaltender for all Lightning home games, where he’ll dress if either team needs a goaltender.
“We’re encouraged to race, but we also really try to maintain health and have fun and make this an environment that’s friendly for all.” —AIDAN DAVIE ’22
MORE THAN RACING Trey Masson '23 joins riders from KUA and other area schools in a race on the KUA campus.
ACTION AND AWARENESS Inspired by the Hockey Diversity Alliance, KUA’s DEIJ Athletic Council hosted a mixed-gender exhibition game on MLK Day and shared information about student community action groups.
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Days between the last home basketball game in 2019 and the opening game of the 2021 season due to COVID-19
SIGNING INTENT On November 10, five senior student-athletes participated in National Letter of Intent Day, committing to continue their studies and sport in college. They head to Northeastern University, University of Vermont, Assumption University, Stonehill College, and Stetson University. FALL/WINTER ����
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THE ARTS
Ensemble Effort Students push for more “notes under their fingers.” Passing through the Kimball Union quad on any given afternoon, it’s impossible to miss the sounds emanating from Flickinger Arts Center. Saxophones, pianos, singing, and laughter are a mainstay of the space as the KUA music program finds renewed interest and growth. Music teachers Robin Garner and Demetri Papadopoulos strive for excellence in the arts, but their goal is to build a music program that offers a variety of experiences and builds lifelong appreciation for the arts. “I believe diversity of music is our biggest selling point,” says Papadopoulos, who holds degrees in music education and wind conducting. “We take students at whatever their interest is and at whatever level.” As a result, student engage in classical, jazz, rock band, and choral ensembles, which help build teamwork. They also have access to private lessons to strengthen individual technique and repertoire. Students new to music are offered courses in beginner piano and guitar. Five ensembles find dedicated practice time in the afternoons, including the audition choir Selects, Purely Orange Jazz, Chamber Ensemble, Rock Band, and Concordians, a community-focused vocal ensemble. “Even though there is so much to do on campus, we do have a dedicated time in the schedule for ensembles,” says
CREATIVE CANVAS Anna Boden ’19 received Honorable Mention in the Kennedy Center’s young artists JFK Creative Portraits art competition for Portrait of John F. Kennedy. A copy of Boden’s original work, painted in oil on canvas, will hang in the center’s Hall of States through June.
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Papadopoulos. “If we as faculty were pulling the ensembles, we’d never make it. They’re pushing us to constantly do more and try more and put notes under their fingers. It’s growing and we couldn’t grow it without the student body we have.” This year, 32 students, faculty, and staff participate in Concordians. Garner says her hope is to encourage more people to come out and sing. “They’re able to connect with their emotional side and do that with friends and peers to create something special together,” says Garner, who arrived at KUA this year after teaching at Ashley Hall and Christ Church Episcopal School. “We can play around with all different styles or repertoire. We’re also playing around with language. Students are exploring everything from Billie Eilish to Italian art songs,” says Garner. Garner and Papadopoulos point to the commitment of Wenshi Zhao ’23, who in December performed a piano recital with one hour of memorized music. More than 70 students and faculty watched his performance. “I don’t think people realize the commitment these students are making,” Papadopoulos says. “People only see the final product and they don’t see the process—and the process is intense. You have all that work tied up in that performance. A lot of times the magic happens in the process.” K
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Students working on the Winter Musical, the largest theater activity ever
FILM HONORS Colter Lingelbach-Pierce ’21 earned second place in the 2021 Freedom & Unity Young Filmmaker Contest for his film, Lord’s Hill. LingelbachPierce created the short documentary—about how his family reclaimed its ski hill—in KUA’s Digital Video Production class.
“A lot of times the magic happens in the process.” —DEMETRI PAPADOPOULOS
IN SYNC
Weston Harkey '23 plays cello with the Kimball Union Chamber Ensemble at the Fall Concert.
FINE ARTS Two works by teacher and artist Ursula Fries-Herfort P’14 ’17 were selected by one of the top ceramic exhibitions in the country. Her free-hand porcelain pot and a set of porcelain mugs were shown at Strictly Functional Pottery National, which recognizes functional pots and wares.
ON EXHIBIT The work of 10 students is on display at the AVA Gallery High School Exhibition, including this bracelet by Fiona Spence '23.
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N EWS F ROM C A M P US FIRST PERSON
Finding Our Place in the Social Fabric A Cullman Scholarship from KUA helped me to better understand how we might work toward improved community engagement. BY SEBASTIAN MORRIS ’22
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aniel walked up to me as I was about to bite into the fluffy pan de mallorca I’d bought that morning on my way to the youth center. “Me puedes dar un pedazo?” he asked, with an irresistible grin—can I have a bite? He was part of a group of 8-year-old boys I was mentoring in an after-school program for underprivileged youth in San Juan, Puerto Rico. After our games of soccer and tag, they’d crowd around me, wanting to hold my hand. It was easy to play the role of counselor with the larger group, but when it was just me and Yaniel I felt self-conscious. I was a teen from New York City heading to a new school in New Hampshire with dreams of playing soccer in a NEPSAC championship. Yaniel was a boy from Las Marias, a poor neighborhood disconnected from the city in every way. The differences between us had seemed insurmountable, but our connection—cemented that summer over a shared love of pastries and Pokémon—suspended us briefly from our predetermined places in the social fabric. Now, two years later, as a senior at Kimball Union, I have thought often of Yaniel and the massive obstacles he faces to even imagine a path out of Las Marias. Has anyone ever told him, “You are more than ‘this,’ ” as my teachers had done when I failed to turn papers in on time during my first semester at KUA? For me, the fact of being seen—beyond a literal grade—as a curious, passionate student allowed me to turn a corner and deeply influenced my growth. Teachers engaged in a manner of listening that I have come to appreciate as the most powerful form of human exchange, exercising empathy and a suspension of judgment that considers a person’s worth independent of any external condition. What if we approached working with communities, and kids such as Yaniel, with the same empathic listening? This summer, through a Cullman Scholarship from KUA, I explored this question, studying models of community engagement with Dr. Flavia Peréa, a professor of sociology and the director of the Mindich Program in Engaged Scholarship at Harvard University. I returned to San Juan to work as an intern with the nonprofit Resilient Power Puerto Rico (RPPR), which gave me a chance to connect to my ancestral land and
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understand what that community is going through and its place in the world. I was also able to learn about models of community engagement and service in that area. I determined to begin a service program at KUA and returned in the fall with some energy and a greater focus on how to implement such a program. I began to understand that “listening” in the context of community work begins with trusting a stakeholder’s competence and ability to manage its own resources and providing the tools to do so. With Dr. Peréa I learned that the projects with the most lasting impact are those that focus on building relationships and letting individual stakeholders—not the funding NGO—define their priorities. This shift in power gives the recipient control over the initiative, which is more likely to ensure its success. I saw the benefits of this dynamic firsthand during my work on RPPR’s “Red de Redes” program—a pilot to develop and fund solar microgrids for three women’s shelters that were members of a red, or network. At RPPR, listening took the form of capacity building, a process during which we worked closely with each shelter to define its energy usage, technical specs, and budget. It was inspiring to see the growing excitement as members of each organization became more invested in their project and embraced greater leadership roles. Their example motivated other shelters to opt into the initiative, strengthening the network overall. Whether it’s sharing pastry with a youth in Las Marias, trusting a student’s ability to transform, or letting a recipient of a microgrid determine its use, these exchanges have one thing in common: They empower people to exercise agency and break restricting power dynamics. Having been on both sides of the equation, I now firmly believe that listening is fundamental to community work, and especially to scenarios where economic or social imbalances exist. This was a chance for me to learn a proper and more rewarding way to do service and gain more understanding of the values and positions people bring to service work. These experiences have profoundly shaped me as a person and inspired me in my leadership at KUA and beyond. K
“Listening is fundamental to community work, and especially to scenarios where economic and social imbalances exist.” —SEBASTIAN MORRIS ’22
Sebastian Morris ’22 co-leads All School Meeting twice a week in Flickinger Auditorium.
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Hilltop
N EWS F ROM C A M P US
COMMUNITY VOICES
Alexis Liston ’03 A The Dean of Community wants everyone to know they belong.
s dean of community and belonging, Alexis Liston ’03 is tuned into the needs of students and works to ensure that all students find a true sense of belonging on the Kimball Union campus. As part of the Student Life Office, Liston and her colleagues are focused on the health, wellness, and social-emotional needs of the students so that they feel well prepared for all facets of life. After graduating from KUA in 2003, Liston attended Mount Holyoke College and worked at independent schools and Dartmouth College before returning to her home on The Hilltop.
lot on identity development. It’s an important time to work with them on this process—who you are, who you want to be, or who you think you should be. We have such an amazingly supportive community that wants to push issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging forward, from alumni to faculty to parents. Our goal is to provide spaces for all of our community members to truly feel like they belong. It goes beyond a slogan or phrase.
What is the goal of KUA’s student life programming? Liston: We try to strike a healthy balance
different ways. Advising provides a space where you have a trusted adult and a group of peers for open, honest conversations. At All School Meeting students hear from outside speakers and experts. And our Choices program is particularly important for our ninth-grade class. It helps them as they transition from wherever they are in the world to high school.
between having room to try things and having room to fail and learn from those experiences. At the same time, we want to have a healthy safety net and provide information before students enter situations where they’re not equipped to make decisions. Students’ frontal lobes still have a way to go before they’re fully cooked. They need to understand the consequences that come from decisions, so we practice them and talk through them so they’re not so challenging for a young person. Why is high school such a critical time in someone’s life? Liston: I don’t know of any other time in a
human life when people are working so closely with other people who span a broad range on the path of development. Developmentally, a ninth-grader is going to have different needs than a 12th grader, so we are intentional about what programming they receive and when they receive it. We work through critical topics such as health and wellness, time management, healthy relationships, and relationships with substances. Why is belonging such a key part of the KUA experience? Liston: Students at this stage are also working a 26
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Students have a lot going on. How do you deliver so much content? Liston: We provide all this information in a lot of
You’re an alumna, what brought you back to the community? Liston: We have 17 alumni working for the school
in various capacities from a range of class years. This is a testament to where we were, who we are, and where we’re headed. I didn’t realize how hard this job is, but all the values and beliefs were instilled in me as a young person and being able to give that back to people is so special. As a student, I had incredibly close relationships with a number of adults on campus. It was nice to have adults in my life, in addition to my parents, who could provide different perspectives and supports. One of the best parts of my job is having those relationships with students. I love connecting with young people, to hear them and what’s exciting in their world, and what’s bringing them down. Sometimes I offer advice and sometimes I just listen. That’s one of the most important parts of KUA. K
“Advising provides a space where you have a trusted adult and a group of peers for open, honest conversations.” —ALEXIS LISTON ’03
ALEXIS LISTON ’03 Dean of Community and Belonging Gosselin Learning Center Specialist Head Dorm Parent, Bryant Hall
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Q &A
“Human Connection Is at the Core” W New mission statement captures the essential elements of the KUA experience.
NEW MISSION STATEMENT
“Our mission is to create a deep sense of belonging for every member of our community. Through intentionally designed experiences and challenges, our students develop the knowledge, voice, and character to live with purpose and integrity.”
hen May arrived, and Meriden felt the warmth of spring, it would have been understandable if Kimball Union faculty needed to retreat from life on The Hilltop. The year came to a close after an uninterrupted, 20-week stretch during which tremendous energy was poured into giving students the best possible experience in the face of a global pandemic. Instead, a team of 13 faculty and two students pledged to work throughout the summer to create a new mission statement, one that felt distinctly KUA and would guide the Academy into the future: “Our mission is to create a deep sense of belonging for every member of our community. Through intentionally designed experiences and challenges, our students develop the knowledge, voice, and character to live with purpose and integrity.” Here, three committee members—Head of School Tyler Lewis, Science Teacher Elysia Burroughs, and English Teacher and College Advisor John Kluge ’66—share how they arrived at the new mission statement. Why did you feel it was appropriate to revisit the mission statement? LEWIS: It has served us well and there was nothing
inaccurate, but it fell short of fully capturing all that we’re doing. When I was interviewing for my job, I can remember what faculty really wanted to tell me about, and that was their relationship with kids and the depth of those relationships. That wasn’t addressed in our mission statement, and to me that was an indication that we weren’t articulating who we are. Revisiting our mission is a requirement of the re-accreditation process, which we undertook this year. At the same time, we all concluded that while the previous mission statement served us well for 20 years, times are changing and kids are changing. I was deeply in love with a couple words in that mission statement, but I decided it was time to let it go. It’s fascinating to read old mission statements. I went back and read one from 1981 and it didn’t make sense. We have changed for the better. KLUGE:
I didn’t feel it told our story and represented us authentically. When we introduced the new mission statement in a faculty meeting, no BURROUGHS:
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one took issue. I think a lot of people felt energized. I know I did. I am excited to work under a mission with a guiding philosophy that fits us. Lewis: We had the same experience with the Board of Trustees. They didn’t want to change anything from the committee’s work. How did you undertake such an important task? LEWIS: We
had a robust committee that volunteered to be part of this. Early on we were reviewing our mission and were playing with different words, but we quickly decided this would not be revision process. We chose not to focus on editing and critiquing the good work done before us. We just started from scratch by asking, “What is a mission statement? What questions should it answer?” It was the right way to move forward. BURROUGHS: We
began with a framing exercise that really asked three essential questions we needed the mission to answer: What is the environment that we create? What do we do in that environment? What is the lifelong impact on a person who experiences KUA? LEWIS: We
also tapped into work from a committee charged with defining KUA Design, our approach to learning. They observed that growth comes from being engaged, being connected, and feeling empowered, and we wanted our mission to reflect that growth period in students’ lives. I feel we’ve crafted something that has in it the tools we apply to all our interactions in a student’s development. How are you bringing the new mission statement to life? KLUGE: I
think we need to figure out ways to make it very present and put it in places where people see it. It’s easy to say you have a nice mission statement and then not think about. We don’t want to go there. LEWIS: Yes,
our new mission really drives us toward knowing that human connection is at the core of who we are. It’s on that foundation that we do everything else. We’re going to hold everything up to our mission. I feel we’ve crafted something that has in it the tools we apply to all aspects of the KUA experience.
JOHN KLUGE ’66 English Teacher College Advisor Mission Statement Committee
BURROUGHS:
I’ve used parts of the mission in talking with my classes this year. I tend to stress the importance of belonging in developing a safe, cohesive environment. I also talk about who we’re becoming—everyone here is growing, and it’s okay to take a chance and stumble because it’s part of the building of skills that you need to persevere. The mission cites specific characteristics—knowledge, voice, and character. How did you land on those? LEWIS: I
was proud of our committee members for pushing us toward increased specificity. It’s hard to say with specificity the characteristics we see in our students and alumni. We really debated those three words—knowledge, voice, and character—and questioned their place in the mission. They speak to the essential elements of a human being that you hope your experience will embed within them. This is what we hope will be embedded in you as a person because of the KUA experience. KLUGE: Especially
as an English teacher, I like the fact that it has “voice” in there. Voice is more than the ability to articulate an idea. It also suggests a certain self-confidence and where you fit in the world and what your ideals are. BURROUGHS: Voice
is also standing up for others and values we believe in. That ties directly into character. It’s all part of an amazing community we have. It’s courageous to talk about character. It’s one of the goals we have—to build character—not only in terms of toughness, but also in understanding and compassion and concern. What’s next? LEWIS: We
just wrapped up our New England Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation visit in November, and that really affirmed what we’re doing and the remarkable engagement of our students, faculty, and staff. The recommendations from the accreditation committee, and from numerous surveys and focus groups leading up to its visit, will inform a strategic plan that’s in the process of being drafted. That feels good and gives us momentum. All of it will be held up against, and even built upon, our mission statement so we know that the work we do is appropriate and meaningful to Kimball Union. K
“We all concluded that while the previous mission statement served us well for 20 years, times are changing and kids are changing.”
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RETURN T O
RECOMPOSE FOUNDER KATRINA SPADE ’95 TAKES A SUSTAINABLE APPROACH TO DEATH CARE. 30
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THE
PHOTOGRAPH: KEN LAMBERT/SEATTLE TIMES
EARTH
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“TO KNOW THAT THE LAST GESTURE YOU’LL MAKE WILL BE GENTLE AND BENEFICIAL JUST FEELS LIKE THE RIGHT THING TO DO.” D —KATRINA SPADE ’95
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start thinking about my mortality.” Later that fall, as she pursued her master’s in architecture, Spade considered the environmental impact and logistics of conventional burial and cremation as part of a design project. “I like green burial, but I want to live in a city,” she recalls thinking. “How could you bring nature to urban death care?” She built a compost heating system to demonstrate the power of microbes in what could be considered an early prototype and completed her thesis, “Of Dirt and Decomposition: Proposing a Place for the Urban Dead.” After graduation, Spade founded the nonprofit Urban Death Project to bring together experts to develop an initial human composting system. Other mileposts followed: feasibility studies with forensic anthropologists and soil scientists; a push to change state law and make natural organic reduction a legal means of disposing of human remains; and a capital campaign to raise $6.75 million to get Recompose going. In its first full year of operation, Recompose transformed 100 bodies, at a cost of $5,500 per person. Spade has incorporated ritual as an essential component in the process. “With cremation, it’s easier to skip over any sort of ceremony when someone dies because it has evolved into more of direct disposition: ‘Don’t make a fuss, just cremate me,’” says Spade. “I think the moment when someone dies is a great time to make a little fuss and do something.
PHOTOGRAPH TOP LEFT SABEL ROIZEN; RIGHT: OLSON KUNDIG
A
fter more than a decade of research and refinements—not to mention a successful campaign to change state law—Recompose founder and CEO Katrina Spade ’95 has developed the first human composting option for death care. “What if we had a choice that helps the planet rather than harms it?” she says. “To know that the last gesture you’ll make will be gentle and beneficial just feels like the right thing to do.” Her Seattle-based company began transforming bodies to soil in December 2020, after Washington became the first region in the world to legalize the practice, more formally known as “natural organic reduction.” Colorado and Oregon followed suit last spring with laws legalizing human composting, and bills are in the works in New York and California. It’s a sustainability movement that has its roots in Spade’s upbringing. She grew up in Plainfield, New Hampshire, where her mother was a physician assistant, her father was a doctor, and death and dying were a natural process. At KUA she pursued a range of interests, including theater and sports, and then studied anthropology at Haverford College and architecture at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. “I was totally encouraged to do a number of different activities at KUA and that translated to the practice of architecture, which is about understanding very different fields and disciplines but also knowing when you are not an expert and asking for that expert to come help you,” says Spade. “As an entrepreneur, I find Recompose is very much about knowing a little bit about everything and then saying, ‘Okay we need a biologist. We need a legal expert. Who can help me with finding the right type of investors?’” Spade started thinking about funerary alternatives in 2011, while playing in the backyard with her young son. “It was during that time where it seemed he was growing up so fast,” she says. “Someday he’ll be 40…oh wow—I’ll be over 70 then! That realization inspired me to
ENVIRONMENTAL BURIAL
That placement is the first step in the natural organic reduction process. The body is laid into an 8-by-4-foot reusable steel cylinder containing a bed of wood chips, alfalfa, and straw.
“At Recompose we think about ritual as a physical action that marks a moment that is important,” says Spade. “So that action for us is to place the body inside a ‘vessel,’ where the transformation into soil occurs. That transformation is nature at its best: You get to cease to be human and become soil.” Although the pandemic meant that families could not physically attend that laying in of a body, Spade found 90 percent of relatives eager to attend services via Zoom. “We learned that we
can have a beautiful service for someone virtually. Having families watch our staff place plant material on the person’s body and then place the body in the vessel—that’s a very powerful moment.” That placement is the first step in the natural organic reduction process. The body is laid into an 8-by-4-foot reusable steel cylinder containing a bed of wood chips, alfalfa, and straw. The vessel enables staff to monitor the amounts of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and moisture and temperature—sensors take readings
every 10 minutes—to create an ideal environment for the microbes and bacteria necessary for decomposition. “This is a very controlled process, completely driven by microbes,” Spade says. “It’s fueled by plant material and monitored in a very rigorous way.” After 30 days, all the organic material has been broken down into soil, which is moved to a curing bin for several more weeks to aerate. Then, the soil is screened to remove any nonorganic materials, such as pacemakers or metal fillings. The state also requires Recompose and a third party to test for pathogens and heavy metals in the resulting soil. “When we compost someone, we create a cubic foot of soil,” she says. It’s soft compost “genuinely good for your garden,” says Spade. Families have the option of donating the soil to restoration projects with a conservation partner—currently Bells Mountain, a 700-acre land trust in southern Washington—or collecting it for their own use. “You rejoin the natural cycle,” says Spade, “which is incredibly beautiful.” Looking ahead, Spade plans to open a larger location in Seattle this spring and then in Denver in the fall. “I’m excited because families will be able to visit their person, it’s meant for people to gather in.” K FALL/WINTER ����
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Connect
1888: Kimball Union
Academy 75th anniversary celebration taken on the steps of the original Congregational church. The current structure was built in 1897.
N EWS F ROM A LUM N I
INSIDE 36 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS 40 CLASS NOTES 46 OBITUARY
FA L L 2018
49 LAST WORD
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N EWS F ROM A LUM N I
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
League of His Own Vanderbilt’s Tim Corbin ’80 is the winningest baseball coach in the program’s history. As Head Coach Tim Corbin begins his 20th season this spring, he’s looking to extend Vanderbilt’s advance as a baseball powerhouse. Corbin has led the blackand-gold Commodores to two national championships and 15 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances—the longest streak in SEC history. No baseball story is complete without statistics—and Corbin’s are impressive: five College World Series appearances, 52 All-American student-athletes, 26 future Major League Baseball (MLB) players, including 18 selected in the first round of the MLB draft. It’s quite a transformation since 2002, when Corbin arrived at Vanderbilt. The program hadn’t played in the NCAA Tournament since 1980 or the SEC Tournament since 1996. Two years after he arrived in Nashville, he signed future Cy Young Award winner David Price and guided the team to its first NCAA Tournament, a feat he has since replicated every year but one. A year later, he signed future American League home run champion Pedro Alvarez and eight-year MLB veteran Ryan Flaherty. Regarded as one of the top coaches in college baseball, Corbin’s approach has earned him recognition on the diamond and off. He was named SEC Coach of Year three times, National Coach of the Year in 2019, and was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2020. Vanderbilt’s administration looks to him as a leader on campus. “By offering student-athletes a world-class education … while competing in the SEC, Coach Corbin has forged college baseball’s preeminent
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program and a team that we are all proud to call our own,” says Vanderbilt Athletic Director Candice Lee. The Wolfeboro, N.H., native’s journey from player to coach began on the fields at KUA. He says he “played third base, second base, and catcher and pitched a few innings in the spring of 1980” before heading to Ohio Wesleyan. There, he played baseball in the spring and served as football student manager in the fall, learning how to manage equipment, break down film, and organize recruiting efforts. It was a liberal arts education in the finest sense: “When you are doing both athletics and academics, I think it creates organization, structure, and routine,” he says. “When you’re going to be a teacher-coach, that in itself is the greatest learning tool.” After earning his degree in physical education, Corbin returned to Meriden as a junior varsity coach, then restarted a dormant program at Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C., as head coach. Six years later, he moved 70 miles west to serve as an assistant coach at Clemson. He helped the Tigers reach the College World Series four times and coached three ACC Players of Year. But Corbin—whose 802-377 win-loss record makes him first all-time in wins at Vanderbilt—isn’t content with last year’s score. His philosophy is focused on the immediate day. As he told he told Sports Illustrated after winning the 2019 College World Series: “All I care about is that once they get here in the afternoon, they get better.” K
Regarded as one of the top coaches in college baseball, Corbin was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020. .
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N EWS F ROM A LUM N I
YOUNG ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Emu Haynes ’17
Emu Haynes ’17 prefers to take the road less traveled. At KUA she navigated campus by skateboard; today she tackles Los Angeles gridlock en route to freelance gigs. A senior at Chapman University, Haynes is building her portfolio to become a director of photography in L.A.’s cutthroat film industry. She wouldn’t have it any other way. After graduating from high school, Haynes opted for a gap year. “Being in a small bubble, I wanted to see more of the world that my fellow KUA students, especially international students, felt and experienced,” says the Connecticut native. “Everyone went to college, and I decided to explore before taking the next step.” Haynes connected with a fellow KUA alumna in Vietnam before backpacking through Thailand. She did a film internship in South Africa during the nation’s water crisis and presidential transition. “I saw the presidential exchange take place right outside my office,” she recalls. Haynes then designed a solo backpacking trip through Europe, where she connected with KUA friends and connections from previous travels before returning to the States and selecting Chapman for college. “I remember immediately feeling like it was home, like I felt about KUA,” she says of Chapman. “They have an amazing film program that is up and coming and very competitive. They give you a camera on the first day of school. It was very hands-on, which is what I was looking for.” Haynes got her first taste of filmmaking at KUA, thanks to the encouragement of her advisor, Art Teacher and Dean of Faculty Julie Haskell. “There wasn’t a film class at the time, but teachers let me try and explore the realm of film,” she says. “I made film projects sometimes instead of writing an essay and created a short film as a capstone. The faculty and my classmates were pushing me and giving me the platform to explore film further.” Creative encouragement from faculty helped Haynes land first place in a Vermont film festival, an accomplishment she proudly used for college and job applications. Today Haynes is picking up freelance jobs on film sets while balancing her college courseload. “Cinematography is the end goal. I love shooting films that have real stories behind them, things that people feel drawn to and relate to on a personal level. “When I first arrived at KUA I was very shy, and I broke out of my shell and was pushed to try new things. I became a proctor, joined the Campus Activities Board, and then ran for All-School President. I built up so much confidence over my time there.” K 38
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“When I went to KUA, I took environmental science and it really piqued my interest in climate change.”
A recent graduate of the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, Herfort is a vocal and fervent advocate for climate action.
YOUNG ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Noah Herfort ’17
Former All-School President Haynes broke out of her shell and broke into the film industry.
It was reading Al Gore’s book Our Choice in Dr. Kopp’s AP environmental science class that helped lead Noah Herfort ’17 to where he is today. A recent graduate of the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, Herfort is a vocal and fervent advocate for climate action and has pointed himself and his career at solving what he describes as our “gargantuan issue.” “My parents always impressed upon me the value of environmental stewardship and made me aware of climate change before it was a well-known thing,” he says. “When I went to KUA, I took AP environmental science and it really piqued my interest in climate change. It really carried over to my university life and my outside jobs.” At St. Andrews, Herfort pursued a joint honors degree in sustainable development and international relations. He served as editor-in-chief of the campus environmental magazine and as a student representative on the school’s Environmental Sustainability Board, which devised a plan for the university to hit net-zero carbon emissions by 2035— ahead of Scotland’s target. “We live in a system that values economic returns and profits at the expense of the environment,” he says. “Real climate action requires a revision of the economy and the
political system.” To learn how to do just that, he sought meaningful internship opportunities at home and abroad. At the American Embassy in Croatia he examined how the embassy could become more sustainable and use environmental awareness to foster stronger relationships between Croatians and Americans. Herfort then interned with the Climate Institute in Washington, DC, where he authored a paper on “The Impacts of Climate Change on the American Rural Health Care System.” “I tried a breadth of different experiences beyond academics, which shaped what I want to do with my life,” he says. “I knew my passion, but this shaped the way I exercise my passion.” Herfort is now working toward an innovation, public policy and public value MPA at University College London. The new program, designed by a leading economist, teaches students to lead in the public and private sectors to confront the challenges of the 21st century. “Climate change and environmental degradation are systemic problems we can’t solve with cosmetic changes. The full breadth of society and our leaders need to step up to the plate.” K FALL/WINTER ����
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Class Notes DI S PAT C H E S N EWS F ROM A LUM N I
1943
Joseph D. Hayes (603) 964-6503 • jhayes697@yahoo.com
The year was 1937. My family was living in Newtonville, Massachusetts, and I was 12 years old. I remember a big man visiting our house in the spring, recruiting my brother, Bob, to come to a school called Kimball Union Academy somewhere in New Hampshire. The gentleman was of course Bill Brewster, headmaster of the school. Bob joined the Class of 1940, and when my turn came, I joined the Class of 1943. During my brother’s time my parents would drive up to visit and I would tag along. They would stay at the Moody Hotel, and I stayed in Bob’s room, which was quite exciting for a 12-year-old. To this day I’m still impressed with the win-loss record of the football team, coached by Fred Carver. They won every game and were never scored on. Unheard of! Years later, when my son, Jack, attended KUA, I came to know Tony Wishinski, who captained the team and then went on to attend Middlebury. In the hurricane of 1938, the top of the old gum was blown off. With New England frugality, the school used the boards to repair the hockey rink behind Chellis Hall. Fortunately, all the students were housed in the dining room at the bottom of DR, where I worked as a part of the waitstaff. Chef Albert allowed us to have a second scoop of ice cream. He endeared himself to all of us. It snowed a lot in those days, and clearing the ice fell to members of the hockey team, using shovels only. 40
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And then came December 7, 1941. Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, and we were at war. Mr. Collins, our hockey coach, as well as many students were drafted. Eventually Baxter was taken over by the Navy for flight training. But our sports teams, including hockey, lived on. Looking back almost 80 years, I still have great memories of my time spent at KUA. It warms my heart to see a small prep school with no endowment survive and achieve the status it enjoys today.
1948
Don Spear (207) 518-9093 • ponderingpundit@gmail. com
I missed the spring issue—a first for me since taking on this task for the class. I’m sorry, but I was in the hospital and a rehab facility recovering from congestive heart failure. I’m feeling much better but that sure has slowed me down some (and I wasn’t known as “Speedy” to begin with). If my late wife, Ellie, were still here, she’d say I had finally achieved it: being able to fall asleep on my feet! I have one death to report, that of Robert Charles Kelly. Bob spent one year at KUA, entering as a senior in the fall of 1947. He was a key player on the varsity football, basketball, and baseball teams. He was also active in the Glee Club, the Debate Club, and Dramatics. Bob was 91 and living in Concord, New Hampshire, when he died on September 4, 2020. He was born on October 9, 1929, in Teaneck, New Jersey. He was one of 17 of our classmates who went on to Dartmouth College, Class of 1952. In 1956,
he was commissioned a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, served aboard the aircraft carrier Boxer, and was stationed in San Diego, California. That’s where he met and courted his future wife, Ann (Feeney), who predeceased him. They were married in New Jersey and settled in Park Ridge. Bob worked for Chase Manhattan Bank in Manhattan. He always loved the outdoors and soon moved his young family to Hanover, New Hampshire, and began working for Dartmouth National Bank. He introduced his family to skiing, hiking, and watching Dartmouth football games. He had been a member of its football team when he was a student, so rooting for the Big Green was a family must. Bob ended his career working for the Small Business Administration in Concord, New Hampshire. Bob was predeceased by Ann and children Eileen and Shaun. He was survived by children Brian and Maureen and grandchildren Lathrop, Rachael, Stephen, Andrew, Addison, and Quinton. A private family service was held for him on September 17, 2020, at Christ the King Parish in Concord. I survived getting political in the fall 2020 issue of this magazine, but for the first time in my life I am feeling my age. This has caused me to ponder the inevitable more. I have been doing a lot of reading on mediation and Zen, which I wish I had done long ago. I saw a quote in a Dear Abby column from November 2010 that I put in the files I keep for preparing these columns. It’s still there, so I’m assuming I haven’t passed it along yet: “Dwelling on what you’re missing instead of what you’ve got is a prescription for misery.” What was I
doing reading Dear Abby? During the early years of my general practice, I handled divorce cases. (I also read her sister’s column.) I was encouraged by a delightful email from Ted Branch, son of our deceased classmate, Jim Branch, commenting on the mention of his father in my last column. I sent him a couple of stories and memories about his dad, who was probably my closest friend at KUA—perhaps in part because he was only an inch or so taller than me. He was a daredevil and possessed more courage per square inch than anyone else in our class, save perhaps Chuck Massey or Gene Teevens. I realize that I must have been the shortest member of our class. That stirred up another memory from my wonderful 58-year marriage to Ellie until her death three years ago. Her great mind and wit kept my bulging ego somewhat under control. One time when I was trying to explain some particular behavior of mine by saying “it was my Napoleonic aura,” she rejoined, “More likely, it was just a continuing expression of your runt complex.” Until the next issue: Be of good cheer, do good works, stay healthy, and keep on keeping on.
1953
Stanford B. Vincent
(508) 457-6473 • stan@vincentcurtis.com Pete Bowser reports from California
that now that the COVID situation has begun to ease, he’s finishing up another season of bocce and once again enjoying lunching with his pals. He and Sue are looking forward to resuming in-person concerts of their local main symphony.
“Looking back almost 80 years, I still have great memories of my time spent at KUA.” —JOSEPH D. HAYES ’43
Pete Whiteside and Jeri are keeping active and, as they’ve been doing for the last several years, continue to shuttle between Illinois and Florida. This summer Carol and I followed the Black Eagle Jazz Band to New Hampshire and Maine and while Down East were able to spend part of a day with Charlie Harriman at his beautiful home just outside Falmouth. Charlie has many fond memories of KUA, particularly the ski program of which he was a member and of the team winning all the major tournaments in 1953. It was the first time since graduation in Meriden 68 years ago that Charlie and I had seen each other. He, like several others in our class, now head to Florida to avoid the snow. Helen and Paul Russo met Carol and me recently during lunch at the Wayside Inn in Sudbury, Massachusetts. Both of our families continue to grow, with grandchildren and now great-grandchildren to keep us busy and happy. The latchstring is always out here on Cape Cod. Please drop a line or give us a call.
1955 Warren Huse
(603) 524-6593 • warrenhuse1@gmail.com On page 51 of the fall issue of this magazine, I learned that George Jackson had passed away on December 26, 2020. George, whom we knew as “Stonewall” back then, joined us for senior year from Wellesley, Massachusetts, and was active in the yearbook, Outing Club, rec skiing, and ski patrol. George was a 1954 graduate of Wellesley High School and a 1959
graduate of Middlebury, where he met his future wife, Linda Ruth Brewster. After serving in the Army Signal Corps, George worked for Remington Arms Corp., with a career of nearly 30 years in purchasing. He lived in Ilion, New York, where he was an elder in the First Presbyterian Church and a member of the National Ski Patrol and the Elks. George and Linda retired and moved in 2005 to Shelburne, Vermont, where George volunteered at the UVM Medical Center and served as deacon at the First Congregational Church of Essex Junction. In addition to Linda, the family includes sons Bradford and Reid, daughter Andrea, brothers Thad and Thomas, and seven grandchildren. The class sends condolences. Time marches on: A new administration in Washington, D.C., nears its first year; controversy continues regarding the events of January 6, 2021; and we are leaning into the runup to the off-year elections in 2022. I often wonder what A.D. Adams would think of today’s current events. It has been 66 years and counting since we graduated from KUA. According to the 1955 Concordia, there were 72 of us and, by my count, another 10 or so who left before senior year. Approximately 34 of us are still around, scattered from Maine to California, including New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Tennessee, Indiana, Ohio, New York, and Florida. Back in August, George Place and I had a Zoom conversation with Stacey Summerfield, who had joined KUA a few weeks earlier as director of institutional advancement. I put those statistics together for her information. As of late October, George Place reported: “Howard Goldberg and I
were the only ’55ers to attend the celebration of Al Munro’s life in Newbury, New Hampshire, on October 10, but KUA was well represented by past and present school staff and members of other classes. About 140 people were in attendance from Allan’s past, including his large extended family, Dartmouth, Greenwich Associates (he was a founding partner), and a raft of other friends. Kathy Munro deserves tremendous credit for organizing this very successful remembrance of her husband. In addition to KUA’s Woodie Haskins, Joan and Steve Bishop and Tim Knox, I chatted with Blake Munro, Al’s “little” brother (he’s 6’3”). I inquired about Bill Flickinger from his nephew, Goeff ’77, who reported that Bill is doing okay and has the help of an aide to get around.” George continues: “I called Norm Letarte last week and he, likewise, is doing okay, but eyesight issues keep him from driving. He is thankful for neighbors who assist him and Anneliese with shopping, etc. During the summer I talked to Walter Phelps, a retired stockbroker who keeps active by day-trading securities. He sits in front of two computer screens watching and reacting to the action on Wall Street. Pete Smith called me to inquire about Al’s celebration of life, following which I was able to get information mailed out to him and other members of our class. As a result, I received kind responses from Byron Koh, Vin Godleski, Ron Harrison, and Warren. I recently talked to Joe Dickinson and tentatively planned to have lunch somewhere this fall. Maybe someone would like to join us for old time’s sake. As for me, I’m buying a condo currently under construction in Pinehills in Plymouth, Massachusetts, as an investment. I’m
probably too old to take this on but the challenge of working with the developer on interior components and design features will, I hope, keep some brain cells from going south. My daughter-law, who is a design buff, is a huge help. In December, I’ll be traveling to Hawaii to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. I’m going with two friends, and the tour guide is a military historian I have been with to Cuba, Gettysburg, and Vietnam. This will be a chance to find out if General Short and Admiral Kimmel really screwed up in 1941 or took the hit for all the folks in Washington, including Roosevelt.” Howie Goldberg writes: “As you know, George and I, with Carolyn and Sheila, attended the celebration of life for Al Munro. It was well attended. He was an amazing guy, not only back when we were all causing problems at KUA, but for the remainder of his life. He made quite an impact on the world, particularly on those of us fortunate enough to have known him. Sheila and I are keeping well and keeping safe— so far. We were both scheduled with Walgreens to get our Moderna booster shot. Sheila got hers, then they cancelled mine. I’m not sure why. Maybe I insulted Mr. Walgreen sometime in the past. Fortunately, our doctor subsequently received his allotment and has scheduled me for my shot soon. Usually, Sheila and I get out to Lenox, Massachusetts, during the summer to check out the music, art, and theater in the area. While we’re there we plan a stop for lunch with Fran and Byron Koh. Unfortunately, we haven’t made it the last two years. By and I have had a couple of phone calls, but that doesn’t replace the in-person visit. George and I have managed to get FALL/WINTER ����
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Class Notes together for lunch since we live near each other. It may become an issue soon when the weather gets too cold to eat outside. We are still not comfortable eating inside a restaurant. I hope our classmates are keeping well and happy.” Bruce Whitney writes from Sanbornton, New Hampshire: “We did stay safe from COVID and will get the booster shot. We had the sailboat in the water this summer, but did not do any sailing, just used it like a cottage for swimming and socializing. The weather was not very good, too hot or too much wind or no wind. We’re not doing much traveling anymore, but did go to a Navy reunion in Washington, D.C., in September. Traveling is not fun anymore and we are happy to stay home. With age, health problems are increasing with knees, heart, and eyes. Stay well.” From Ron Harrison: “In the early spring, I will be starting my eighth year teaching watercolor painting to a class limited to 10 students that has a waiting list. I have some students who never picked up a brush before who are winning and selling. I have won three times at the prestigious Marblehead Festival of the Arts and also at shows in Florida, Maine, and New Hampshire. Portraits I have done exist in Minnesota, Michigan, California, Florida, and Texas. I enjoy painting original Christmas cards based on Salem’s glorious history and for 14 years have done a painting of some site in Salem complete with a historical blurb on the backside. I am running out of sites. Heart problems have forced me to give up flying and I miss it. I greatly miss both Paul Buckley and Dick Cleary and rue their untimely deaths. Both were roommates of mine, Paul at KUA and Dick at Brown. And, of course, I miss Al Munro, not as a roommate but as a great human being who had the fine touch of making everyone feel better for having known him. My first great-grandchild, Ivy Jane Davis, 42
KIMBALL UNION MAGAZINE
DI S PAT C H E S N EWS F ROM A LUM N I was born this summer and is, like her mother, beautiful. My daughter’s triplet children, two girls and a boy, turn 16 in November and are grandchildren to be proud of—and I am.” Vin Godleski sent the following: “My update will be very similar to everyone else’s, so I’ll just mention one new pursuit. To be able to talk shop with our grandkids, I am studying up on things in their area of specialty. I’ve found it difficult and it doesn’t work the way I thought it would. Discussions with Rachel, an operating room transplant nurse, are best held well after lunch. I can’t discuss cyberwarfare with Ensign Paul; he just talks about Navy football. Madison is a physicist working on weapon systems, but quantum physics and quarks are not conversation starters. When all that gives me a headache, I can talk with Aubreigh, who is a practicing neurologist physician assistant. And I can still resolve all the world’s problems over beers with my hockey buddies. All is well in rural New Jersey.” From Walter Phelps: “I thought I would outline what my agenda has been since graduating from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 1959 with a B.S. degree and as a commissioned ensign in the U.S. Navy. I was on active duty for 11 months, was denied the opportunity for Naval Graduate School, and refused a promotion. I decided to retire from the Navy as the lowest-ranking officer if I decided to join the reserves. I then entered the maritime industry and went from a test engineer to my last position as worldwide manager of customer service. During those 10 years, I worked on two nuclear submarines, installing the main propulsion machinery and the turbo generators. This was as a civilian. My first wife wanted a home body, not someone traveling all the time. I took this opportunity to follow my hobby, which was and is investing. Bonnie and I have been married for 40-plus years and I became
a stepfather to her two children and a stepgrandfather to four. I had two boys; one passed away at age 52 and the other started a business in Houston, Texas, 20 years ago with four employees. He just sold the company with 170 employees and banked a ton of money. For the last three years, we have been living in a retirement community. Bonnie loves it; not so much with me. I have been on 43 cruises (two of which were underwater on the submarines). One might ask why so many. My answer is simply I don’t want to be on vacation in just one place for seven-plus days. I needed a daily challenge. Also, I was diagnosed with recurrent melanoma in 1990, when I did a couple of experimental protocols that really worked. Some have asked, ‘Why spend so much time in the sun?’ My answer: ‘Respect the sun!’ I got my tans in the casino.” George Place reports he met with Joe Dickinson in early November at Joe’s house in Northborough, Massachusetts. Joe “recalled the successes he had with a partner in the dog racing circuit. He groomed the huskies [mix breeds, I surmised] and they raced all over the world—even in Laconia in the 1960s. Also recalled his house on Martha’s Vineyard, his time in Denver doing medical lab work, and taking care of his old historic house and barn, with two tenants who are helping to pay for the property’s upkeep and some other memories we have of growing up as neighbors in Waban.” I continue turning out two pages of local history every Saturday for the local Laconia, New Hampshire, newspaper. It’s only now, after doing this for 30-plus years, that I’m beginning to really understand this history and its interpretation. Too soon we get old, too late we get smart. More Zoom programs and meetings, flu and Covid-19 booster shots, masks, and avoidance of large numbers of people. Our historical society has been posting a series of colonial and early
19th-century local history events on Facebook, which seem to attract a lot of interest. (In-person gatherings are still being held in abeyance.) There are things to like on Facebook—along with other things I could do without. In closing, in putting these notes together, I try to contact classmates for whom we have an email address. (By the way, the magazine got mine wrong in the fall issue: It’s warrenhuse1@ gmail.com.) If you have not received an email from me, it’s because we don’t have your email address. If you do have email, we’d appreciate your letting us know so you can be included. (And email is a far stretch from the time when Mrs. Chellis operated the magneto switchboard for the Meriden Telephone Co. in her kitchen down the hill and we had to turn a crank to place a call.) Just before deadline, we received notification that Charles Robert Dart, 85, of Big Otter Lake in Fremont, Indiana, passed away January 6, 2022. Charlie had attended Admiral Ballard Academy and White Plains High School and joined us at KUA as a senior, where he was active in glee club, choir, the Players, Outing Club and rec skiing. A graduate of the University of Vermont, with a B.S. in business and industrial engineering, he served three years in the U.S. Navy. Charlie founded Commercial Identifications Inc., Consumer Retirement Services Inc., and Dart Associates Inc., cofounded American Hilton Life Insurance Co., and was a board member of Greenfield Life Insurance Co. He was past president of the Pine Valley Community Association, monitor of Faith United Church of Christ, a 40-year member of the Sitzmark Ski Club, and a world traveler with his wife of more than 50 years, Sylvia. He enjoyed tennis, boating, and singing in the church choir. Charlie loved to travel and was known to say to Sylvia, “Let’s drive to Labrador or Vancouver tomorrow.” On his 50th birthday he purchased a con-
“I got together with Paul Menneg for the first time in maybe 50 years for a day of skiing and reminiscing at Loon Mountain.” —MALCOLM COOPER ’69 verted Greyhound bus—“with four on the floor and no power steering”—and drove 12,000 miles to Alaska and back across Canada. Family members include Sylvia; son William and his wife, Debra; and grandchildren William II and Addison. The class sends condolences to all.
1961 Bill Hager
whagar467@comcast.net I received this note from Carleton Jones: “I’m sorry to have been out of touch for so long. Thank you for carrying the torch for our class. I was back to Meriden in the summer to officiate at the burial service for Doug Carver, with a reception afterward in the Guest House. There was a big crowd and several good tributes were offered. I’ve attached the address I gave for the occasion. I am living in New York City with my Dominican community in the parish where I was pastor from 2005 to 2010: St. Vincent Ferrer on Lexington Avenue between 65th and 66th streets. Though I am retired from public ministry, I keep busy with various internal jobs for my community, staying in touch with friends in the city, and doing some writing. This year, I finished a memoir in two books called Recollections. There’s quite a lot about KUA and Meriden in Book I. Book II requires a second email. Hoping to see you at our 61st! The following is drawn from Carleton’s comments at the burial service for Doug Carver last summer. “Now that Jane, David, Nancy, Gudrun, Kathy, Kirk, and I have become the elders of our families, I want to recall what Jessie said to Kathy and me when our mother died: ‘We will be your Meriden family.’ She was putting into words what Kathy and I had always felt—that when we were with the Carvers in Meriden, we were home.
“Doug and I met in the fourth grade and went through KUA together. I was part of his crew to collect sap for his syrup cauldron behind the headmaster’s house. I think we might have been the only two boys to recite poetry at the Class Day exercises. We thought of each other as friends, but we were quite different: Doug saw no good reason to leave Meriden, and I could hardly wait to move out to the city; Doug was a fine athlete, and I was not; Doug was a boy of few words, and I was a boy of many (too many) words. “A problem with city life is that if you have success at what you do, it promotes the illusion that you’re in charge. That’s why the titans of Wall Street are called ‘Masters of the Universe.’ Things may happen to dispel that illusion—failing at business or getting old, for example. But Doug chose a way of life that doesn’t allow illusions of mastery. Living and working on the land in the company of animals, tending gardens, making maple syrup, adjusting to changes of weather and seasons, enduring the resistance of the things you work with—that whole way of life instills the fact that you are not in charge. “If we allow life to teach us the basic fact that we are not in charge, we open ourselves to the knowledge of who is in charge. From the Book of Job: ‘Ask the animals and they will teach you…the birds of the air, the plants of the earth, the fish of the sea will declare to you…the hand of the Lord has done this….In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of every human being.’ And from the Confessions of St. Augustine: ‘I asked the earth…the sea and the deeps…the creeping things that lived [on the earth]…the breezy air, the sun, moon, and stars [and they replied] we are not your god. [So I pleaded] tell me something about Him. And with a loud voice they exclaimed, “He made us.” ’ St. Au-
gustine adds: ‘My questioning [of all these creatures] was my observing of them’—taking notice of them, getting to know them, coming to appreciate them, as Doug’s whole way of life demanded of him. ‘And their beauty was their reply.’ The more one is immersed in nature and its creatures, the more one’s heart is drawn by their beauty— and to their Creator. “St. Augustine goes on to ask, ‘What is it that I love [my God] in loving you?’ Our hearts find no rest in the beauty of nature and its creatures because they pass away—and we pass away. He asks, can the beauty of creation be found in the Creator, such that we can rest in it forever? And he answers, yes—for God, the Creator, ‘is the light, sound, fragrance, food… of my inner man—where that light shines into my soul which no place can contain, where that sounds which time snatches not away, where there is a fragrance which no breeze disperses, where there is a food which no eating can diminish.…This is what I love, when I love my God.’ “Doug was ‘planted’ here in Meriden, like the tree in his poem that ‘stand(s) waiting, waiting to be born again.’ His dying was a passage out of time to his Creator, waiting for the new creation that is promised in the Word of God, ‘where death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away. And he who sat upon the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” ’ ” For any of you who would like to receive Jonesie’s autobiographical writings, I will be glad to forward by email if you contact me at whagar467@comcast.net. Here in Vermont, Jeninne and I completed our vaccinations in April and have been attempting to return our living to “normal” ever since. Throughout the initial COVID onslaught, Vermont frequently achieved best-in-the-nation status. Unfortu-
nately, the Delta variant has penetrated here much more than we would like, and current infection rates now are higher than they were last spring. With vaccination access for children 5-11 starting and boosters for those older than 65 available, we look forward to better public health and release from the threat of disease soon. No one in my immediate family has yet been directly affected. We do enjoy regular contact with two of our three children and four of five grandchildren who live within a mile of us. Saturday night family dinner has become a common occurrence. It’s a whole lot like having Thanksgiving dinner once a week. Ski season will be upon us soon. Killington (only 10 miles away) has been blowing snow for some time now to get ready for the Women’s World Cup race on Thanksgiving weekend. Last year, I skied only one day, as I found COVID restrictions took all the fun out of it. I hope to get back to at least 20 days this year.
1967
Bob Jamback bobjamback@yahoo.com
Greetings to all, and good health as well. Recently, my wife and I got our flu shots and our third vaccination. On October 28, I went skating for the first time since last November’s fall. While it was enjoyable, I truly wonder if I will return, as I felt somewhat hesitant about the whole endeavor. I might take up Jim McCaffrey’s idea of retiring the skates. Bill Hogan shared news: He and his wife of 40 years, Melanie, have lived since 1988 in Las Vegas, where Bill is in commercial real estate. They have two granddaughters, ages 6 and 9. Bill also has a sister in Boston and one in Maine. He attended Ted Burnham’s wedding on Nantucket in 2008. In Las Vegas, he had dinner with Fred Willis, FALL/WINTER ����
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Class Notes
DI S PAT C H E S N EWS F ROM A LUM N I who spoke highly of KUA’s current hockey program. Next June will see our 55th reunion. I hope many can make it back to Meriden for the weekend.
1969
Malcolm Cooper (802) 867-25228 • tractormalc@gmail.com
1
I got together with Paul Menneg for the first time in maybe 50 years for a day of skiing and reminiscing at Loon Mountain. We were good pals at KUA, and our lives took different directions for the intervening years. It was a fun visit. Paul skis better than he did when he was in Meriden; I ski worse. Paul has a small place on the mountain. I hadn’t skied Loon and found it to be quite nice, considering it was in New Hampshire, rather than my home state of Vermont!
1975
1. 2008: Kalin GregoryDavis ’08, Julia MacDonald ’08, and Sophie Bodnar ’08
•
2
The alumna formerly known as Peter Fuhrmeister is pleased to inform classmates that she is now known as Polly Fuhrmeister. Polly lives in Clinton, Massachusetts, and has three wonderful children and four adorable grandchildren.
1981
Sarah Lummus sarah@ics.com Deena Smith MacDonald, Carl Strong, and I attended at Lee Walker’s wed-
2. 1999: Tim Laflam ’97 and Zannie Norgang ’99
ding at Walker Farm in Meriden. Scott Barry recently attended a Blue Lives Matter rally with fellow alumni Ray Jacques, Steve Baker, and Bob Fitzgerald ’82.
3. Molly Bourne Steffey ’92 and Chris Yoshida ’96
1989 3 44
KIMBALL UNION MAGAZINE
Melissa Longacre mlongacre@myfairpoint.net
It was nice to hear from a few of you. It has been a beautiful fall here in Plainfield-Meriden and my husband, chocolate Lab, and I make frequent use of the trail system at the Plainfield School connecting to the trail system on French’s Ledges that Ira Townsend started. Andrea Bueno Keen and her family live just down the road from the Plainfield School, where she is substituting. Their two children, Sebastian and Pip, are now at KUA. Andrea and Sebastian traveled to Indiana this summer and were near the Jonas family farm, so had to stop by and say hi to Jim, his family, and the goats! Pip will be in the fall play. Jennifer Biuso Dunn made a trip to New Hampshire this summer, and Hillary Mathewson and Lisa Cenci Sherman joined her for some paddle boarding and floating on Little Lake Sunapee! Jen is quite the artist—check out her work on her Facebook page. Beautiful! I spoke with Robyn Sachs Carpenter this fall. Her family is still on the Cape. She has been operating throughout the pandemic, as cancer doesn’t hold for these kinds of things. We are hoping to catch up with an in-person visit soon. I would love to catch up with more of you—drop me a line and fill me in!
1992 Molly Bourne Steffey reports, “It was so fun to meet up with Chris Yoshida ’96
for dinner in London on a recent trip I took to the United Kingdom. Chris and his wife, Sydney, are enjoying life across the pond and are as busy as ever with career and raising their two daughters. Closer to home, I caught up with Mike Coelho and Amy Coelho Cokinos ’93 at KUA Family Weekend; all three of us have KUA seniors this year! Finally, I want to say a special congratulations to Kevin Wickless,
“I can still hear your laugh from 25 years ago.”
—DWAYNE RHODES ’96 AT THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR MICHAEL TROMBLEY ’96
who tied the knot with Cristin Bullen this fall!”
1996
Bianca Saul kuaclass1996@gmail.com
I hope you and your families are safe and well. COVID fatigue, both mental and physical, a year and a half later is still an issue for many of us. I send all of you positive energy and good thoughts, especially to those still facing challenges from COVID. The years 2020 and 2021 will remain unforgettable. For me, they will be marked by the loss of my dad. For us, as a class, 2020 was the first year we lost classmates, Turley Muller in January and Michael Trombley in May. Like some of you, I learned of Michael’s passing earlier this year when his wife, Annie, invited everyone to a celebration of life. Michael was a kind, loving, and fun friend to many of us and always had a smile at the ready. Dwayne Rhodes shared the following: “I can still hear your laugh from 25 years ago. We had to fight to see who was going to get the biggest pants during football. During practice, you used to box people out like Darryl Dawkins and Charles Barkley. You had speed, my dude, and a wicked jumper. Had great practices with you, Turls, and V. The jokes we used to have, oh my lawd, some fun times. Remember me, you, and Muse in the front of the line leading our team into the trenches? You saved me more than a few times from getting my clocked clean. Thanks for the memories. One love, my dude.” Speaking of 25 years and memories: Our 25th class reunion this past June, although virtual, was a great way for many to reconnect with classmates and faculty. For some of us, the virtual format made it possible to attend for the first time. Can you believe that some of us have kids looking at col-
1
1. Andrea Stern P’19 host-
•
ed a holiday gathering for alumni and families at die Firma in New York City.
2. Zannie Norgang ’99, Michael Norgang ’03, and Colleen Norgang ’03
2 FALL/WINTER ����
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Class Notes leges (Kristine Pratt) and some of us have been blessed with a new baby in 2021 (Jonathan Romero)? Many of us started or finished pandemic home renovations and quite a few of us added to our families with a pandemic puppy (Bianca Saul, Gillian Frothingham-Gordon, Jessica Purdy, Katherine Rostad, and Sarah Memmi), bunny (Peter Kestenbaum) or hamster (Selin Caglar).
Earlier this year, Gillian Frothingham-Gordon was able to see Alex Pierson performing live in Nashville. Can’t wait to do the same and maybe see a few of you along the way! Please feel free to share your news with me for the class notes at kuaclass1996@gmail.com.
1999
Natalie Philpot nataliephilpot@hotmail.com Brandon King reports he is working
in finance and happily living with his wife, Tavia, and their four children in Lexington, Kentucky. Scott Kaplan writes that the pandemic has been a weird and wild time to say the least. He’s been focused on producing documentaries and factual series. His first producing endeavor just landed on Hulu (Red Penguins) and his next project (Queenmaker) is slated to premiere at Sundance next year. Fun times. Kevin Stoney responded with an absolutely amazing update (that is not appropriate for public consumption but made my day). He is doing well and living on Cape Cod. Zannie Norgang and her husband, Tim, still live on the coast of Maine. They have teenagers, which is interesting and surprisingly fun. Tommy is a junior in high school, Owen is a sophomore, Shep is in third grade, and Rosie is going to first grade this year. When she’s not working, Zannie is trying to learn French. Her sister 46
KIMBALL UNION MAGAZINE
DI S PAT C H E S N EWS F ROM A LUM N I works at KUA, so they are there from time to time. I am still living in southern Vermont with my two daughters and am currently drafting the greatest online dating profile ever written. I am also simultaneously working as a programs coordinator at a local nonprofit that aims to help youth navigate life on life’s terms without the use of substances. If you would like to submit a Class Note or just be in touch, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
2004 Daniel Manzouri married Anna Maz-
zolini on September 18, 2021, with friends Sean Smith, Keith Milne ’05, and Phil Mortillaro ’05 in attendance.
2008
Vermont with our chocolate Lab and calico cat. We are expecting a baby in November 2021. Brett Sillari is currently living in Somerville, Massachusetts. He is happily working in real estate. He is working as a realtor and is personally involved in some residential development projects. Brett is currently pursuing his second Ruby Award with Century 21, as well as being on track to be the top producer at his company. He is based in Cambridge at Century 21 Avon and covers the greater Boston area. Juliet Taylor is still currently residing in South Boston, where she lives with her rescue dog Bronn. He is a very good boy!
2009
Tia Nixa Peterson nixatai@gmail.com
Erica Finkelstein Ashner ’09 married
On their way to Ocracoke Island in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Kalin Gregory-Davis, Julia MacDonald, and Sophie Bodnar stopped for a visit in Asheville. Sarah (Cutts) Roberts published her first children’s book, titled AB Sea. The beautifully illustrated alphabet book is available to purchase on Amazon! She and Evan Roberts ’07 are also expecting their second baby in April 2022. I (Tia Nixa Peterson) transitioned jobs earlier this year. I am now the project coordinator at Ballet Vermont and am also a dancer with the company, performing in several shows across Vermont in 2021, including Farm to Ballet and Bees & Friends. I am dancing in The Quarry Project, a site-specific piece being created in one of the oldest, deepest granite quarries in the country and set to premiere to the public in August. I am also growing a freelance career in sewing and nonprofit fundraising. My husband, Conor, and I live in central
edith (Danko) See ’09, Kelley Noonan ’09, and Julia (Moore) Hussey ’09—in
Louis Ashner in May 2021 with friends and KUA classmates—including Merattendance.
Deaths Robert H. Russell Jr. ’44 Thomas H. Towler ’45 James Edward Gore Sr. ’50 John “Jack” Donahue ’50 David M. Stone ’51 Stephen Bennett Fainsbert ’54 George P. Trepanier ’54 Charles Robert Dart ’55 Edward M. Letson ‘56 Winthrop P. “Wink” Houghton Sr. ’57 John V. Hancock ’59 Michael M. Worcester ’59 Wilfred Alec Dulac ’66 Kevin M. Hill ’87 Michael Trombley ‘96
Obituary Douglas W. Carver ’61 Longtime Meriden resident Douglas W. Carver, 78, passed away at his home on January 29, 2021, after a short illness. He grew up at Kimball Union Academy where his father, Frederick E. Carver, was headmaster. As a teenager, Carver served as an original member of the Meriden Volunteer Fire Department. He graduated from KUA in 1961 and studied at Boston University. He soon found his calling in ceramics while working as an apprentice with the late Jack O’Leary in his Meriden Pottery Shop. From there, Carver trained at the College of Ceramics at Alfred University and then taught ceramics for a year at Western Michigan College in Kalamazoo. Carver set up his own pottery shop in Meriden and taught pottery and coached JV hockey at Kimball Union in the 1970s. He was largely self-employed throughout his life, but also worked for various Meriden family businesses, including with the Marsh family building houses and Dana Robes making furniture. Carver’s greatest joy came from farming, and throughout his life he helped with chores and haying at local farms such as the Stone and Taylor farms in Meriden. He raised cows for milk and beef and kept a horse that he would use for haying or logging. Carver loved the old ways of farming, and through friendships with the farmers of his childhood he acquired an extensive knowledge of local history. His other lifelong interest was athletics. He played varsity football, ice hockey, and lacrosse at Kimball Union and as an adult continued playing hockey and enjoyed tennis with friends. Carver is survived by his son, Frederick. He was predeceased by his former wife, Susan. A donation in his memory may be made to the Frederick E. Carver Scholarship Fund at KUA. K
My first producing endeavor— Red Penguins —just landed on Hulu. Queenmaker is slated to premiere at Sundance next year. —SCOTT KAPLAN ’99
Weddings
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1. Faculty member Sam Scrivani married Holly Noyes in the
company of many current and past KUA faculty and alumni.
2. Clockwise from lower left: Meredith (Danko) See ’09, Kelley Noonan ’09, and Julia (Moore) Hussey ’09 celebrated the wedding of Erica Finkelstein Ashner ’09 to Louis Ashner in May 2021.
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3. Friends Sean Smith ’04, Keith Milne ’05, and Phil Mortillaro ’05
celebrated the wedding of Daniel Manzouri ’04.
4. Lee Walker ’81, Sarah Lummus ’81, Deena Smith MacDonald ’81, and Carl Strong ’81 celebrated
Lee’s wedding to Claire Wellington on September 25, 2021.
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You Make the Difference Thank you to everyone who has supported The KUA Fund, providing a meaningful experience for future generations of KUA students.
Donors Progress: 454
DAY OF GIVING APRIL 7
Help KUA reach 300 participants in one day. We’ll have opportunities to join online and in person in Meriden, Boston, and New York.
Donors Goal: 1,000
REUNION JUNE 3-5
All are welcome home to the Hilltop, with special celebrations for classes ending in 0, 1, 2 and 5, 6, 7! www.kua.org/reunion
KUA Fund Progress: $1.1M
KUA Fund Goal: $1.4M
Make your gift today WWW.KUA.ORG/ONLINEGIVING
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Last Word “Invincible” Courage There’s a question teacher John Custer P’02 ’05 poses to students in his history classes: If you were enrolled at Kimball Union during the Civil War, would you have left school to join the Army? For many KUA students at that time, the answer was yes. More than 200 Kimball Union men left The Hilltop to serve in the Civil War, many for the North and a few for the South. One alumnus—Francis Butler from the Class of 1861—was en route to Dartmouth College to begin his studies when he changed course to join the Union Army. Now, this brave soldier is commemorated with a portrait unveiled by officials in the southern back hallway at the N.H. State House in Concord. Capt. Butler was honored in a winter ceremony attended by Custer and his student Henry Carter ’23. Steve Lord, great-great-grandnephew of Butler, alerted Custer to the event because of his ties to KUA and interest in the war. “Butler began in New Hampshire’s 5th Regiment, then served on the signal corps, which stationed him on battlefields and in surrounding areas to send messages and to convey observations made behind enemy lines,” says Lord. “He carried messages daily for nearly three weeks at the Siege of Yorktown.” Letters from Butler’s commanders still in the family’s possession describe him as a natural leader who cut an imposing, handsome figure at 6-foot-4. His peers called him “invincible.” Butler was wounded in the knee during battle in Petersburg, Virginia. He took a train home to Bennington, N.H., to recover. Unfortunately, is leg was amputated, gangrene set in, and Butler died on July 30, 1864, at the age of just 22. “Butler was on his way to college when his conscience called him to join the Union. I find that selflessness inspiring,” says Carter, who talks about KUA students and faculty who fought on both sides of the Civil War in his classes. “Connecting KUA to historic events, particularly around the Civil War, is an easy thing to do.”
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