legacies .
SUMMER 2012
The Alumni Magazine of King Low Heywood Thomas
Anything But a Still Life: The Photography of Tom McGovern ‘00, Page 4
King Board of Trustees 2011-2012 Edward Cesare ‘78 President John Qua Vice President Diane Martin-Tryhane Secretary Peter Savitz Treasurer Thomas Main Head of School Susan Beyman Eric Blattman Alan Bowser Thomas Conheeney (At Large) Keith Fleischman Frederick Gold Sarita Hanley Robert Holtz Fredrick Kuntzman John McDermott ‘78 Susan Mirza Louis Paglia (At Large) Linda Petrone Yvonne Powell Melissa Thomson (At Large) Timothy Tully ‘82 Terran Whittingham
Ex-Officio Libby Baker Mattson ‘82 President, Alumni Association Kelly Wheeler President, Parents’ Association
Dear King Low Heywood Thomas Alumni: As I look back over my many years of affiliation amidst each and every merger, I remain passionate, proud, and excited about our Schools of yesterday and the King of today. What are some of those common ties that bind us together? The excellence of Faculty! Our School has been committed to having a Faculty that is talented, inspiring, and devoted to children. The Faculty has been the cornerstone to many generations of students at King Low Heywood Thomas and, in many circumstances, a lifetime commitment to the mission and students of our School. Having stepped away for several years and watched the School from a short distance, I am extremely impressed by our Schools’ evolutions over the years while maintaining a strong hold on their core values. King has made significant changes so that the student of today can enter our global world with the tools and confidence to follow their passions and enjoy the successes that emerge. Each time I step onto campus, interact with students, Faculty, parents, and Alumni, it reminds me of how truly fortunate I am to be associated with such a diverse group of people here at King Low Heywood Thomas. Please join me and rediscover your roots. Bring your families to 1450 Newfield Avenue and experience the excellence of our School. Your stories, contributions, and legacies are valued here at King Low Heywood Thomas. Thank you, Mike Little, for developing more opportunities for us to come together to celebrate our past while sharing in the exciting future of King Low Heywood Thomas. Go Vikings!
Alumni Board Libby Baker Mattson ‘82 (President) Peter Zaccagnino ‘71 Jerome Alper ‘79 Scott Carson ‘84 Anthony Guevera ‘92 Colin Cosell ‘97 Rory Donahue ‘97 Colin Thom ‘97 Devere Jones ‘98 Lesan Chernet ‘02 Nicole Kenaga ‘02 Mike Sheehan ‘03 Christina Brennan ‘04
Libby Baker Mattson ‘82
legacies ‘12
SUMMER
2-3/ Alumni Profile: Will Sullivan ’06
4-5/ Alumni Profile: Tom McGovern ’00
6-7/ Alumni Profile: Ulla Tillander-
Godenhielm ’56
8-9/ Reunion Events:
First Boston Alumni Event Florida Alumni Reunion Thomas Class of ‘71 Reunion
10-11/ Alumni Spotlight: Frank Haines ’37 12-15/ Class Notes
Our Mission
16/ In Memoriam
King is dedicated to preparing its students to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
17/ Homecoming
We provide an excellent, progressive education, grounded in the traditional disciplines of the arts and sciences, committed to the nurturing of individual potential, and designed to promote critical thinking and reasoned reflection. Using rich and innovative methods, our Teachers facilitate each student’s fullest academic and personal achievement. We champion the development of character, self-confidence, and talent through challenging intellectual, creative, athletic, leadership, and service opportunities. King believes that individual accomplishment must go hand in hand with respect for others. Our culture of respect fosters collaboration as well as independence. We embrace human and cultural diversity. We value responsible citizenship. King graduates are well equipped to succeed in college and to pursue lives of ongoing inquiry, learning, accomplishment, personal fulfillment, and social responsibility.
> Alumni Profile
‘06
Will Sullivan
“King was a very safe environment to experiment at finding your voice – academically or artistically. I think it was a weird sort of contrast for me. As an artist I was inherently shy but I wanted a voice that stood out.”
When did you start your journey at King? One of the main reasons I transferred to King in Grade 10 was the School’s Performing Arts Program. My first opportunity to be on stage was in the production “Ragtime.” It was a perfect place for me and came at a perfect time. King was a very safe environment to experiment at finding your voice – academically or artistically. I think it was a weird sort of contrast for me. As an artist I was inherently shy but I wanted a voice that stood out. I was definitely battling with this in high school, but I was able to get up on stage, in front of an audience of Faculty and peers, and have a voice. The support of the King community gave me the courage to do that. And now I realize how much I grew from that experience. What is most memorable about your King experience? I did a lot of growing up at King. I participated in the musical productions “Ragtime,” “Hair,” and “Cabaret.” At that time these were three controversial musicals that other high schools were not doing. I also had my first chance to act in a play, “The Grass Harp,” which is ultimately what I studied in college – drama. It was very liberating for me to come in as a sophomore and open a course catalog and see classes that I had never seen
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before, like Musical Theater Workshop, or Dr. Melmed’s Forensics class, which was so much fun. King’s curriculum was very well rounded without being too rigid. In what ways did King enhance your strengths and prepare you for college? I feel that my ability to write was first explored in Ms. Sadlowsky’s English Class. She created a very relaxed environment. We would sit around brainstorming. She was always very open to new ideas, and I felt safe to take risks. That experience has played a big role in what I do now. How did you make your decision about where to attend college? At the same time I was taking part in all the productions at King, I was also very into filmmaking. During my senior year, Mr. Ennist helped me structure a twosemester outline for the Independent Study Program. The first semester, I wrote a screenplay, and the second semester I actually shot the film. I had a little back and forth about what I wanted to study in college, because I am interested in so much. Ultimately I decided I wanted to go for drama and Ms. Martino, Chair of the Performing Arts Department, helped with my auditions and monologues. I was accepted early decision at New York
University so I did not need to apply anywhere else. I went to NYU and started in the Drama Program, but I was really itching to get back into directing, so I applied for a double major in film. And that is where I am now: a director. What have you done since graduating from NYU? I have done a couple of regional plays. The first one ran for a week; it was very short run. Then the second one, “Percival’s Big Night,” ran off-off-Broadway for a short time, and later I decided to make a feature film version of the play. The premiere was at the Cinequest Film Festival in California, during the first week of March, and it was also accepted into the 2012 Brooklyn Film Festival and 2012 Newport Beach Film Festival. The film is a perfect example of a theater-to-film adaptation. It is 87 minutes long, and one continuous shot; the camera never cuts. The story is very relevant to where I am right now. It is about young adults, fresh out of school, and what they are doing with their lives. What makes the film unique is the one shot aspect; it sets it apart. I am hoping that the film festival will help connect us with distributors. I never would have thought that I would have a feature film under my belt at age 24.
What is your next project and whom do you admire in the industry? I still act, but I have become more of an actor’s director. The type of films I am attracted to are very performance-based. I admire director Sam Mendes, of “American Beauty,” because he likes to work with actors for weeks beforehand, gathering the cast in a rehearsal room, working the text, developing relationships, and building chemistry that will carry over on to the screen. That’s what I want to continue to do. Also, director Joe Swanberg, a major figure in the Mumblecore* film movement – he is making films where it is not all about the lights, sets, and sound, but just a great story with great performers. Ultimately, it is about connecting to the audience and getting them hooked on a relationship. For more information on Will Sullivan, go to http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3767859/ * From Wikipedia: Mumblecore is a term used to describe a number of American independent films produced in the early 2000’s, characterized by low-budget production values and amateur actors. The term does not describe a conscious movement more than a loose band of filmmakers who produce very low-budget films heavily focused on naturalistic dialogue.
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> Alumni Profile
4 / legacies 2012 Photograph by Tom McGovern ‘00
‘00
Tom McGovern “Use your talent and take the proper steps to learn your craft and become skilled in as many aspects as you can.”
What year did you enter King Low Heywood Thomas? What school(s) did you attend after King? I entered King in 1996 as a freshman in the Upper School. Before King I attended Saint Cecilia elementary school. I also attended Sacred Heart in middle school, which no longer exists. I graduated from King in 2000. I took some classes at Norwalk Community College and then attended The Hallmark Institute of Photography in Massachusetts. Did you always know you wanted to pursue photography? When did photography first spark your interest? I kind of always knew. My parents have photos of me from Halloween when I was in the third grade dressed up as a photographer/photo journalist wearing the signature hat and press pass, holding a camera. I liked being outdoors and being hands on, so it was right up my alley. When I was here at King we didn’t really have a photography program, but I was involved in and took pictures for the school’s yearbook, which allowed me to work on my craft. I did some freelancing and part-time work around the area. What is one moment growing up that stayed with you, and led you down this path to follow your passion? Between my freshmen and sophomore years in high school I attended the first-ever Young Photographers’ Workshop for week in Santa Fe, NM. It was fun and I learned a lot about photography. One of the teachers at the workshop took a picture of me while I was taking a picture of an iguana. That photo was featured in the story about the workshop in the travel section of LA Times and NY Times. It was an incredible moment for me and I knew that following this passion was what I was supposed to be doing. What kind of photography are you currently doing? Right now my primary focus and about 80% of my business is food. I do a lot PR work with restaurants and packaging companies.
A lot of photos go up on their web sites and in local and national magazines and news articles. Another part of my job that I enjoy is shooting architectural and interior design work. I recently shot Stepping Stones Children’s Museum in Norwalk and the newlyrenovated Norwalk train station. I do organic celebrity photos, which are product placement shots with celebrities in them. I make sure the logo for the company we’re shooting for is visible and try to make the shots look as natural a possible. It’s very fun to do. I do a lot of work with 203 Media Group. I co-founded a magazine called “203.” The magazine documents modern affluent living in Fairfield County from a business professional point of view. I do mostly all of the photography in the magazine. We publish the magazine here in Fairfield County and have free distribution. How has the industry changed from your days at King? Everything is digital now. When I first started, I learned the old-school ways of doing everything like dark room work, using chemicals, exposures, etc. Ten years ago I was told that digital photography would be the future. With digital photography it’s not easier to be creative but it’s more accessible to be creative – meaning that it is less work to process the film and there’s no major cost outlay when you want to experiment. I shot at Woodstock ’99 as a junior at King. I had to save a lot of money to shoot and it was very expensive in many aspects. Today I can shoot even more in a day and it won’t cost me anything extra. And I’m not processing film the same way I did years ago. What are some of your fondest memories of King? It was a time of transition for most everyone. The Internet was getting bigger. King implemented the laptop program during my time, which was pretty cool. I took my
first computer programming class at King and I learned how to use the Internet as tool. The class trips were always fun and informative. The class sizes were great for me. I thought I had more personal attention and support, as opposed to other schools in the area. King really allowed you to go on your own path. There was more then just a generic set of classes. I remember taking a class about the Holocaust my senior year that was very interesting and meaningful. In one of my History classes we did live interviews with World War II survivors. There were many great experiences at King I will rarely have again. What advice would you give to the 2012 graduates who are preparing for their lives after King? Do what you want to do but understand that nothing comes easily – there is a process is process to reach your goal. Use your talent and take the proper steps to learn your craft and become skilled in as many aspects as you can. No one leaves school and automatically becomes what they want to be. Things like interning or networking are important steps to reaching your career goals. I’ve met some photographers who are more talented then I am and didn’t excel because of ego. They thought that, because they attended great schools or workshops, certain work was beneath them; because their focus wasn’t the same as the jobs available, they didn’t take them. Although I went to school and did many workshops, I did everything from taking photos at Stop ‘n’ Shop to all types of freelance jobs to perfect my craft. I didn’t start off doing exactly what I wanted to do, but I continued to work hard and took the necessary steps to get to this point. As long as I was hitting the shutter I knew that this was what I was meant to do and wanted to do. For more information on Tom McGovern, go to www.tommcgphoto.com. legacies 2012 / 5
> Alumni Profile
Shortly before Thanksgiving 2011, two unannounced Low Heywood Alumni rang the doorbell of King’s administration building and were received in a most generous way. The two of us were Judy Harmon, ‘56, and me, Ulla Tillander-Godenhielm ‘56, the first-ever foreign exchange student at Low Heywood. Our “sentimental journey” to King was a rewarding experience for both of us. We toured the campus and were much impressed with what we saw: a modern, well functioning and inspiring school with an enthusiastic Faculty. We were gratified that the spirit we knew from our dear Alma Mater seemed still to be alive here at King Low Heywood Thomas. I can hardly believe that almost six decades have passed since my school year at Low Heywood in 1955-1956. To me my sojourn in the States seems like yesterday. Spending an entire year in Stamford, sponsored by the local Rotary Club, being a member of the Harmon family (Stanley, his wife, Elsa, and their daughter, Judy) and meeting and becoming friends with a great number of Americans of all ages were invaluable experiences for me that have obviously affected my entire life, both personally and professionally. Today we travel widely and we keep in close contact with friends and associates through
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social media. But back in the 1950s things were different. I don’t remember ever meeting an American before I came to the United States, and some of my new friends in the States had surely never even heard of remote Finland. Seen from a European teenager’s perspective, the 1950s was a time of uncritical admiration for everything in America: the land of milk and honey; of optimism and endless possibilities; of amazing popular music (which we couldn’t hear enough of); of glamorous movie stars; television; showy cars (we called them “dollar grins”); and of a free-and-easy lifestyle. There was Coca-Cola, popcorn, hamburgers, and 28 flavors of ice cream at Howard Johnson’s … Something to write home about, which I actually did. I had a column in a school journal back home. For me it was truly the chance of a lifetime to be part of all this for an entire year! I well remember the first impression I must have made on Judy, my future “sister” and classmate. I landed on American soil dressed in a bright red cotton skirt and a white blouse with frills – in other words, hopelessly out of fashion. It was obviously out of the question to be introduced to my future classmates in such outdated gear. Judy therefore hastily took me to downtown Stamford for a total change of appearance. In bermuda shorts, a blazer, tennis socks, and sneakers there was a chance for me to become one of the crowd, which I soon did. The seniors of 1956 gave me an ever-so-warm
welcome and made me feel at home with them. There was a major difference between the educational systems of the United States and the one we had in Scandinavia at the time: our curriculum did not allow us a choice of subjects. All was compulsory – three languages, with in-depth courses only in our mother tongue; European history from ancient times until present; biology; botanics; geography; mathematics; physics; chemistry; music; art; and sports of various kinds. The teaching methods were authoritative – there was no room for discussions or debate. We may have gotten a good all-around education, but it was in many respects superficial. In-depth studies and specialization took place only at university level. What I found so excellent at Low Heywood was the possibility of choosing an amalgam of a few subjects that could be focused on. I had English literature as one of my major subjects – it was truly gratifying. Our English Teacher was a superb, highly knowledgeable and ambitious pedagogue. She not only opened the door to the literary treasure of the AngloSaxon world, she gave me a profound understanding of the values, way of thinking, and morale of her country and culture. She spent endless hours of her private time with me; we read aloud; she corrected my pronunciation; and we analyzed the texts. I still have my two volumes of “British Poetry and Prose” on my bookshelf, full of annotations and comments
‘56
Ulla TillanderGodenhielm
“The seniors of 1956 gave me an ever-so-warm welcome and made me feel at home with them.”
Ulla in her yearbook photo
on the œuvres of all the great poets between William Wordsworth and T.S. Eliot. But British and American poetry were far from all I learned during my year in the United States. Today, 57 years later, I definitely think the most important thing I learned was to understand and appreciate the American mentality, the way of thinking, and the momentous American humor. A good laugh bridges any problems or difficulties. During my professional life I have had a great many occasions to work with Americans. I have written a host of articles, books, lectured, and curated exhibitions with colleagues in this country. They have without exception regarded me as one of them, not as a foreigner with whom it may be difficult to communicate. I have my year at Low Heywood to thank for this! When the school year was over in the spring of 1956, I received a most generous gift from the Stamford Rotary Club. It was a round trip ticket on a Greyhound bus, all the way across the continent and back. The ticket, as I recall, cost exactly $100. I must, in brief, relate what I experienced, because it was truly a fantastic trip for an 18-year-old girl from the other end of the world. My idea was to travel night and day and to make stop-overs only at carefully selected places. The first stop was Buffalo, NY, and the Niagara
Falls. I found it impossible to leave the USA before seeing this natural wonder. And was it impressive! The next stop was Memphis, TN, where a friend was getting married and had asked me to be one of her many bridesmaids. Only when back home in Finland did I realize that having visited Memphis was in itself a sensation – the home of Elvis, the King, and Johnny Cash! Both were at the time at the very beginning of their careers. “Heartbreak Hotel” had been recorded only five months before my visit. My next stop was New Orleans, where I stayed with friends of friends. They had an enormous fig tree in their garden; I was on a diet of figs for many days after leaving New Orleans. But my main reason for being there was to hear dixieland jazz live. I heard it in a local church during Sunday service. It was an unforgettable experience to hear the church-goers sing their jazzy gospels and see them dancing up and down the aisles. I was the only white person in church and became the center of a friendly interest. After Mississippi I had an endless ride on the bus through Louisiana and Texas to the Mexican border. I especially remember the ghost town we passed on the way. Then came Grand Canyon in Arizona. I couldn’t afford any means of transport in the Canyon (donkeys or horses, as far as I remember) so I ventured up and down by foot. Never before had I seen anything as spectacular.
My next stop was Las Vegas. Walking down one of the main streets early in the evening I noticed that Nat King Cole had a show in one of the big casinos. I loved (still do) his soft baritone and the great hits of the golden ‘50s. I picked up my courage, knocked on the backstage door and asked if I could possibly see Mr. Cole as I had come all the way from Finland in order to write about him in my column. Believe it or not, Nat King Cole came to the door to greet me! He did not give me an interview, but I got his autograph and a friendly word from him! The following stop was tantalizing San Francisco, then Beverly Hills, where I stayed with a movie star! She was Taina Elg, a family friend from home. Taina had trained as a ballerina and was young and promising at the time. She had a big role in Cole Porter’s film “Les Girls,” with Gene Kelly, Mitzi Gaynor, and Kay Kendall. It was thrilling to hear her talk about the allure of Hollywood. I especially remember her impressive wardrobe with over 100 pairs of high heeled shoes! In June 1956 I returned home to Finland. The memory of the hospitality, generosity and friendships I encountered, has stayed with me all my life.
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> Alumni News
Boston Alumni Event Attendees Laura Lasker ‘70 Sarah Pinkerton Bonneau ‘71 Mary Rohde ‘71 Libby Byers Moore ‘71 Susan Depew Barbara ‘78 Francesca Mellin ‘78 Lynn Lauterbach Bailey ‘79 Clare Macdonald ‘79
First Boston Alumni Event a Success! King Low Heywood Thomas has Alumni located all over the world. We are taking strides to make sure that we are able to reconnect with as many of our Alumni as possible. In the past few years, we have had a regional event in New York City. This year it was time for a change, and what a success it was! Downtown historic Boston was the perfect place to transition from New York. Its beautiful buildings and great people helped shape the alumni reception into a great event! Sonsie restaurant on Newbury Street hosted us, a venue known for its food and atmosphere, which is the hang out for high-profile celebrities and professional athletes who live in the area. We were fortunate to have a private room in which our 20 Alumni could reconnect and connect with other Alumni from different eras.
Sarah Dubitsky ‘87 Graham Burt ‘98 Devere Jones ‘98 Sarah Korval ‘00 Jeannette Brooks Naimoli ‘01 Nicole Kenaga ‘02 Mike Little ‘02 Michael Sheehan ‘03 Catherine Kiley ‘05 Calie Barker ‘05 Allison Reuben ‘05 Stephen Sheehan ‘07 Kevin de Regt ‘07 Andy Zaccagnino ‘07
Downtown historic Boston was the perfect place ... Its beautiful buildings and great people helped shape the alumni reception into a great event! Clockwise from top: (l to r) Angela Feraco, Chris Byrnes ‘00, Sarah Korval ‘00, and Devere Jones ‘98 (l to r) Stephen Sheehan ‘07, Lynn Lauterbach Bailey ‘79, Clare Macdonald ‘79, and Kevin de Regt ‘07 (l to r) Tom Main Head of School, Libby Byers Moore ‘71, Sarah Pinkerton Bonneau ‘71, and their Spouses. (l to r) Calie Barker ’05, Allison Reuben ‘05, and Catherine Kiley ‘05 (l to r) Mike Little ‘02 and Nicole Kenaga ‘02
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Florida Alumni Reunion In February, Cindy Dill, Director of Annual Giving, hosted an alumni reunion at John’s Island, Vero Beach, FL. Guests included Graham Brown ‘50, Frank DiSesa ‘50, Cinnie Ferris Casner ‘52, Bill Jones ‘53, Charlie Moritz ‘54, and Ellen Waters ‘72. They are all Vero Beach residents who have fond memories of their years spent in Connecticut. The group shared a number of stories and memories from their days at the predecessor schools of King Low Heywood Thomas and they enjoyed an evening filled with great food, wine, and company. They were all taken back to their childhood days … good laughs were had by all.
From left to right (l to r) Cinnie Casner ‘52 and Ellen Waters ‘72 (l to r) Charlie Moritz ‘54, Bill Jones ‘53, Frank DiSesa ‘50, Graham Brown ‘50 Cinnie Casner ‘52
Ellen Waters is coordinating efforts with Morgan Ames, 70, Chris Ames ‘72, and Evangeline Ames Murray ‘74, for a 1970-1974 reunion during 2012 Homecoming weekend, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, September 21-22. They all hope that as many of their classmates will join them as possible.
Thomas Class of ‘71 Reunion Submitted by: Deenie Webb Galipeau ‘71 During Columbus Day weekend 2011 nine members of the Class of 1971 in Shelburne, VT, for a special get together – 40 years after our own graduation from Thomas! The sun shone all weekend bringing warm temperatures, smiles, and great camaraderie that we all experienced throughout our years at Thomas and continued through the weekend ... and as we celebrated into the wee hours of the night, the moon over Lake Champlain just made the weekend that much more special! What a fantastic time we had – only wishing that more of us weren’t so busy with family and friends to keep us away from getting to our reunion! Standing (back row): Gyll Reardon Gemperle ‘71, Nancy Harrington Purcell ‘71, Shelly Fuller ‘71, Kimi McLean Hardej ‘71, Libby Byers Moore ‘71 Middle Row: Deenie Webb Galipeau ‘71, Nancy Koehler Foster ‘71, Mary McManus Guba ‘71, Sally Pinkerton Bonneau ‘71 Sitting: Marcia Fuller Lee ‘71
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> Class Notes
Alumni Spotlight
‘37
Frank Haines Frank Haines in his graduation photo, and today.
On a typically bright and hot Saturday morning in downtown Honolulu, a group gathers around its guide, a sprightly nonagenarian with ramrod straight posture. The leader spends a few minutes in discussion, pointing to objects in the distance. He then moves on with the speed of a man one-fourth his age, because Frank Haines has plenty to say in a short period of time. Haines, a noted Hawaii architect, leads the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) walking tour of downtown Honolulu’s architecture, for which he has served as its principal guide since he developed it more then 15 years ago. The briskly paced tours offer another way of approaching the history of Hawaii’s capital city. It would not be exaggerated to say that Haines represents a significant portion of Hawaii’s architecture’s institutional memory.
A former partner at a major local firm, Architects Hawaii. Haines edited the original and new editions of the comprehensive tome “Architecture in Hawai’i” (Mutual Publishing, 2008). He has also been active in the Historic Hawaii Foundation since 1974. The walk affords participants a chance to notice details of churches, museums, and other buildings they’d miss on a drive. Haines provides a running commentary of how or why a building was built and its cultural, social, and political ramifications.
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1936 King School Varsity Football Squad. Frank Haines is in the back row, far right.
At the Hawaii State Capital, which his firm designed with renowned San Francisco architect John Carl Warnecke, Haines takes pride in describing the architecture elements that represent the ocean (reflecting pools), palm trees (concrete columns), open sky (blue roof tiles), and the islands’ volcanic origins (the cone-shaped legislative chambers). “There was a big dinner in the courtyard on opening night and we were thrilled when it rained,” Haines says, explaining that this was a sign of approval from above. The capitol building is also the only one in the country not to have back passages. “We wanted legislators to have to pass by the people and hear what they had to say,” Haines adds. Upon leaving St Andrews Cathedral, he minces no words in denouncing a recently built neighboring high-rise: “The city should have never allowed something like that to be built so close to this beautiful church.” The tour ends where it begins, just south of Chinatown, in time for lunch. Later, it might be worth revisiting some of the buildings on other walks that offer their own informative tours, such as the Mission House Museum and Iolani Palace. But the Saturday morning jaunt with Haines is unbeatable for an overview of the evolution of Hawaii’s largest city. Article excerpted from AAA Hawai’i Magazine, July/August 2011. Written by Alex Salkever.
Haines edited the original and new editions of the comprehensive tome “Architecture in Hawai’i” (Mutual Publishing, 2008).
Photo at right > The Hawaii State Capital, which Frank Haines’ firm designed with renowned San Francisco architect John Carl Warnecke.
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> Class Notes
Class Notes Sarey Frankel Bernstein ‘53 “I attended Low Heywood from fourth grade to twelfth grade and I count those years as the best of my life. I have two children and five grandchildren, so there have been a lot of memorable moments and times since, but for me personally, none better than those at Low Heywood. My granddaughter, Hannah Rachel Freund, is a tenth grader at King; and because of her I have a renewed interest in the school, and becoming involved. I’ve currently attended a King Alumni benefit and re-met Biffy Dwelle Halliday (’54) and Jane Consolino Flounders (’54) and it was a thrill to see them both. My second granddaughter, Charlotte Freund, is our next attendee at the School, and I look forward to becoming a part of the King Low Heywood Thomas community again.” Cindy Hancock Nicholson ‘71 “I am still a pastor at the Vineyard Church in Evanston, IL. We have a grandson now and a granddaughter on the way. Our three kids are all launched and doing well. We enjoy living in Chicago, just a mile up the road from Wrigley Field!”
David Winnick ‘71 “I am still practicing as an Orthopedic Surgeon in Boston. My wife Debbie and I have a house on Cape Cod where we are spending a lot of time. My two kids are doing well. All in all no complaints again.” Ellen Waters ‘72 “Just moved from Vero Beach, FL, in March to Figure 8 Island in Wilmington, NC. Paul and I will be renting a house in New York for four months this fall. Hope to get a good group of 1970-1974 Alumni together for a 70’s reunion over Homecoming Weekend on September 22, 2012.” Buzz Kanter ‘73 “In addition to being in the National Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the American Motorcycle Hall of Fame, I am being inducted into the Sturgis Hall of Fame in August. I am the publisher of three leading international motorcycle magazines: American Iron, Road Bike, and Motorcycle Bagger, all three published from our Stamford offices.”
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Mike Luery ‘73 I am the author of a new book, “Baseball Between Us”, the story of a father/son roadtrip to visit every major league baseball stadium. My son Matt and I traveled 43,000 miles over 16 years to visit 32 ballparks, but we did it! Along the way we met several ballplayers and interviewed Bernie Williams, Maury Wills, Wes Parker, Dave Stewart and many others! ‘Baseball Between Us,’ was released March 1, 2012 in paperback and e-book via my website at www. baseballbetweenus.com. A 1970-1974 reunion during 2012 Homecoming weekend, is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, September 21-22. Bryan Nahrwold ‘75 “My wife Martha and I live in Salt Lake City. This year will be our 31st wedding anniversary. I work for Fidelity Investments and she works for American Greetings. We have two sons: Dixon, 24, just finishing with the Marines and is moving into film; and his younger brother, Paul, 21, who retired from long track speed skating after World Juniors and is currently in Perth, Australia, serving an LDS mission.” Diana Plotkin LeBlanc ‘76 “All is well with my family and me. We have been up in New Hampshire since 2003 and love it. My daughter is a freshman at Suffolk University and an avid tennis player; my sons are working and taking art/ photography classes. I am still with IBM; 31 years! Love that Facebook is helping me keep in touch with so many old classmates.” Janeane Bernstein ‘84 Janeane is a radio host, reporter, and voice-actress living in SoCal! She hosts and produces the MOMz Rock the House Show (it airs weekly on OC Talk Radio and 90.1FM KBPK). In the fall of 2011, she launched a new show on KUCI 88.9 FM, called “Get the Funk Out!” featuring inspiring guests sharing challenges and positive changes in this crazy roller coaster ride called life. Janeane is happily married and has two girls, who continue to rock her world! www.janeanebernstein.com. Ginny Rowley Stephan ‘86 “I continue to live in St. Louis with my husband, Scott. We have been married for
20 years. We have a 19-year-old daughter, Emily, who attends Missouri State University; 15-year-old daughter, Faith; 13-year-old son, Harrison; and 5-year-old son, Jack. I am teaching at-risk boys, ages 13-17. When I am not running to all the different sporting events with my kids, I am advocating for foster youth across the United States, educating foster parents, and working on a Masters in Behavior Disorders. We love the Midwest and enjoy raising our children here.” Christine Frydenborg Dargon ‘88 “I got married last year to Timothy J. Dargon of Boston, MA. We are now living in Rimrock, AZ, just south of Sedona. It is beautiful and we love it. I am taking a break from psychology and am currently working in real estate. I am still teaching graduate counseling courses for Grand Canyon University.”
Erin Shaw ‘88 “Moved to San Diego, CA; engaged to be married next spring.” Christine Bryan Biddle ‘89 “For the past 10 years I have been VP of Sales for Up With Paper, a large greeting card company specializing in pop-up cards and children’s activity products. On November 13, 2010, I married E. Law Biddle III (’87) at Waveny House in New Canaan. Cathy Mishkin, Phil Joffe (’87), Bjorn Gufstafson (’87), Brooke Feder (’89), and Tracy Dowling (’89) were in attendance. Law and I live in Alexandria, VA.” Brent Simon ‘96 “Brent lives in New York City with his wife, Beth. He is the founder of Integrated Health Care Partners, a health care-focused investment and management company. He is still very close with Ayaz Nanji (’96), whom he met in first grade at King in 1983.”
Jen Klein ‘97 “Currently I am in NYC supervising a new show for CMT that will air in September. For the last eight years I have been living in Los Angeles working as a producer in television. When I do travel back East I enjoy meeting up with Jenn Zala (’98), Colin Cosell (’97), and Kate Gardner. They are the people who helped make my experience at KLHT so enjoyable.” Robert Casselman ‘98 “After getting my Philosophy degree from the University of Chicago in 2002, I plunged head long into the realm of technology and haven’t left since. Over the past 10 years, I have taken my passion and applied it to clients large and small, for profit and for not, both domestically and abroad. Continually seeking opportunities at the intersection of doing good and doing well. I have had the great pleasure of working for UNICEF, World Vision, the City of New York, the American Museum of Natural History, and, most recently, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. I currently reside in Brooklyn, NY, and not a day goes by that I don’t feel tremendously grateful for my time at KLHT.”
Maude Murphy Ancone ‘00 “In June 2011, I married Jim Ancone. Chris Byrnes ‘00, his freshman year roommate, introduced us on our first day at Brown University. There were many King Alumni in our bridal party: Chris Byrnes ’00, Jake Murphy ’03, Anna Murphy Deutmeyer ’95, Carrie Murphy Guttman ’92, Tobey Wallace ’00, and Meggie Coates ’00. Jim and I honeymooned in Tanzania, spending two weeks on safari. Soon after, we moved from NYC to Stamford. For the past six years, I’ve worked for Nestle Waters North America, where I’m currently a Marketing Brand Manager.”
David Hurwich ‘00 “I currently live in San Francisco where I am a professor of Graphic Design at City College of San Francisco. I also am a web developer/UI
designer for a lot of startups companies and corporations here in Silicon Valley for their web/app projects. Drop a friendly ‘hi’ to everyone for me.” Lindsay Benjamin Rosen ‘02 “I’m currently writing, producing and directing a show for the Travel Channel called Mysteries at the Museum.”
Katherine Spencer Carey ‘03 After moving to New Haven, CT, and returning from a beautiful expedition through Colombia this March, Katherine was proud to present her latest work at an academic symposium hosted by the English Graduate Organization at UMASS Amherst. Visit kscarey.com to view photographs from “The Rebecca Katherine/ Katherine Spencer Project.” Katherine extends her best wishes to the Class of 2003! Wil Cromwell ‘03 “Big news since I last did this. I now work at a game company, LIFO Interactive, Inc. I have a big game coming out on Facebook, which I am assistant game designer on. I am also working on two Windows 8 games that are coming out in a few months. I am lead designer on both of those games.”
Mike Tsinkler ‘03 “I am currently living in Miami, FL. I run my own Internet business and I still do some international equipment sales. I am engaged and planning a wedding for Spring 2013. I got my BBA in entrepreneurship from U of Miami in 2007. I got my MBA from Nova Southeastern in 2007.” Chrissie Brennan ‘04 Chrissie is living in Norwalk, CT, and working as the Associate Director of Development for a nonprofit in Stamford. She is getting married in October and looking forward to celebrating with maid of honor Tara Carberry ’04, Cathleen Ryan ’04, and Caitlin Scully ’04! Caitlin Scully ‘04 “I am graduating with a Masters this June from Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s Marine Biodiversity and Conservation Program. There I have been using isotopes to date and understand the climate when the Claron Rock Formation was deposited. These charismatic
rocks create beautiful Bryce Canyon National Park, UT. Also in June, I will be departing from Bermuda to spend two months aboard the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program’s vessel the JOIDES Resolution. We will be drilling for ocean sediment adjacent to the Titanic site looking for evidence of past climate events that attribute to the very creation of the icebergs in the North Atlantic (aka the icebergs that sank the Titanic). You will be able to follow the expedition on Facebook, Twitter, a blog, live video feeds, as well as other media outlets. For more information please check out the JOIDES Resolution website: http://joidesresolution.org/ Ben Sessa ‘04 “I wrapped up a three-year graduate program, and graduated in May 2012 from the University of Virginia with a Masters of Architecture. Before that, I studied Economics and Visual and Environmental Studies (Studio Art) at Harvard, from which I graduated in 2008 with a degree in Economics. I have continued to paint and draw. My focus for my AP Art thesis with Terry Murphy in 2004 was architecture, but that was as close as I got to it in high school. And in college, I did not get much closer, as Harvard does not offer architecture to undergraduates. After I graduated college in June 2004, I stayed in Cambridge for an intensive six-week summer program called ‘Career Discovery’ at the Harvard Graduate School of Design that simulated the work of a first year undergraduate architecture program. I loved it and, to make a long story short, applied for admission to architecture graduate schools for the fall of 2009. I fell in love with UVA’s program because it emphasized freehand drawing and physical model making (which suited my Studio Art background), as well as computer drawing and digital modeling. In addition, I loved Charlottesville and found the campus an inspiring place to study. The past two summers I have interned in SoHo, NY, at a firm called Janson Goldstein, LLP. I had a winter internship in January 2012 in the Lower Eastside at a firm called Leroy Street Studio. Both firms are architecture, mainly residential. I hope to work at a residential architectural firm in New York after I graduate. I moved to New York at the end of May.”
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> Class Notes
Class Notes Anne Gillies ‘05 “I am in the process of earning my PhD in Chemical Biology at the University of Michigan. I passed my candidacy exam in April 2011 and hope to graduate in 2014. When not busy in the lab, I try to travel as much as possible, and last August I spent two weeks backpacking through beautiful Germany, visiting ten cities and watching four games of ‘football’ (soccer).”
Jess Goddard ‘05 “I am currently working in San Francisco at a non-profit, public interest environmental law firm. This summer I am moving to HubliDharwar, India, to begin research on water and sanitation with a team in the Civil and Environmental Engineering department at UC Berkeley. In the fall, I will begin an MS/ PhD program at the Energy & Resources Group at Berkeley working on social ecological systems, environmental engineering, and international development in India and South America. Life on the West Coast is as good as it gets!”
Natasha Das ‘06 “I’m currently at Columbia University getting my Masters in the Mathematics of Finance and currently interning at a hedge fund named Tourmalet Advisors.”
Gaëlle Tribie ‘06 “I graduated from Dartmouth College, Class of 2010. I subsequently spent a year in Paris working as a paralegal at a law firm. I plan to attend Stanford University Law School in the fall, Class of 2015.”
Jackson Philip Cheevers III ‘08 “As life in college draws to a close, I will be leaving Franklin College of Switzerland as a valedictorian candidate and with magna cum laude honors. After spending four years, four continents, and over 20 countries of adventures, I am ready to start my life continuing in the same global fashion by pursuing a career in luxury goods and design while making a permanent move to Europe.”
Clinton Global Initiative University conference held in Washington, DC, in May. To learn more about Practice Makes Perfect, please visit www.pmpnyc.org. Jen Stern ‘09 “Since graduating I’ve spent a significant amount of time working and living in both New Zealand and Fiji. Now I’m working towards my BS/MS in Marine Biology at NSU and continue to further my IYT and PADI training.” Eric Bannerot ‘10 “Currently I am a sophomore at the College of Charleston Honors College in Charleston, SC. I am in the honors business program, majoring in Finance. I am having a terrific time in college, and I truly feel that King perfectly prepared me both academically and socially. This summer I will be working as a financial analyst for a local investment real estate company.”
Jeff Eydt ‘08 “I am currently studying Journalism at the University of Iowa.”
Demetri Demascus ‘09 “I am entering my senior year at Babson College, majoring in Finance and Entrepreneurship. This summer I will be launching my first entrepreneurial pursuit, Game Day Men’s Products, which will offer innovative, high quality men’s grooming products at reasonable price-points. The business will be launched in early June of this year.”
Suzie Sheetz ‘05 “I am currently pursuing a Masters degree in Health Policy and Management at the Harvard School of Public Health. In between classes, I still make time for playing soccer, practicing Spanish, and traveling! This summer I will be living in Washington, DC, and working at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation.”
Amy Mitchell ‘09 Along with five other Cornell students, Amy created a non-profit organization called Practice Makes Perfect. Practice Makes Perfect is conceived in the belief that all students, regardless of race or socioeconomic status, can compete in our nation intellectually. The organization was recently recognized for its excellence by being awarded a $10,000 grant from Ernst & Young through their “Your World, Your Vision” competition. It was also selected as one of the top four commitments targeting education reform that was invited to attend the
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(l to r) Mike Zeko ‘10 and Eric Bannerot ‘10
Casey Correa ‘10 “I am attending Bowdoin College and have declared as a Visual Arts major with a minor in English. I am starting catcher on the Bowdoin Softball team, and I’m planning to spend next semester off campus studying art at the San Francisco Art Institute.”
Michael DeNapoles ‘10 “I just served my first term on the University of Alabama’s Senate in the Student Government Association and am now an active member in Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity. I am currently in Tuscaloosa, AL, but reside in Stamford, CT. I was recently in Miami for Ultra Music Festival and was off to Hawaii for a couple weeks in May. I will be interning this summer – not sure exactly where yet, but I have a couple of internships on the table in NYC and Stamford.” Alexa Gitlin ‘10 “I’m currently a sophomore studying drama at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts with a double major in Environmental Studies. I am pursuing acting and directing as concentrations. I’m also continuing to train in ballet and contemporary dance, and I am working on becoming a yoga teacher.” Amanda Meyer ‘11 “I’m at Duke University, and I am having the time of my life. College is much harder than high school, of course, but I’m having so much fun and love everything about it. I’ve gotten involved in Greek life at Duke, I am working on many different committees planning events and concerts on campus, and even have a job at the Graduate Business School at Duke, working with their women’s leadership initiative.” Conor O’Rourke ‘11 “I’m at Boston College in the second semester of my freshman year. No children or fiancée, but I like where I’m at and greatly appreciate all that King did for me and I’m still in touch with many of my fellow Alumni.”
Greta Savickaite ‘11 “When I started my freshman year at Bucknell, I picked up where I left off at King. Right from the beginning I got involved and joined the Activities and Campus Events Club, Astronomy Club, Social Justice Residential College, as well as a few other clubs. I have also become involved in organizing our Student Leader ship Institute and Fall Fest. Next year I was selected to be a Junior Fellow for the Social Justice Residential College, which is a part of Bucknell’s Living and Learning Community, where I’ll be one of the two students in charge of organizing the next year’s events for the incoming freshman, from trips to common hour projects. Also, a few others and I from the Social Justice hall are working to start a Social Justice minor on campus. Overall I am doing extremely well and am definitely enjoying my experience at Bucknell. I am looking forward to visiting King when I get back for summer vacation.”
Billy Smithline ‘11 “I am currently at New York University studying Economics. I am on the Varsity Tennis Team and part of a selective leadership and public service group. Over the summer, I think I am working at Discovery Communication in their Ad Sales Department.” Barbara Hartley Smith, Former Head of School “I hope all is well. As most everyone already knows, after my husband died in 2008, I sold my home in Stamford and moved to the town where I grew up Pelion, SC. I have stayed busy since arriving, have renovated and put an addition on my family home, ran and was elected to the town council, am serving as Vice Chair of the Newberry College Founding Board of Directors, and was elected president of the Ruritan Club, which is a service organization (the majority of our fundraising is for scholarships for seniors from the local high school). I also volunteer at the local high school as a judge for senior projects, serve on the music committee at the Lutheran Church, and occasionally play the organ when the organist is away. Since leaving Connecticut, I have taken numerous small trips, but the highlights of my travels were my trips to the Panama Canal, the Galapagos Islands, and Machu Picchu.
Greta Savickaite ‘11, bottom right, with classmates at Bucknell.
On a sad note, my daughter Shannon (Class of 1984) passed away in 2010. On a very happy note, my granddaughter, Carson, will be two on July 14, 2012. She is the daughter of my son Eric (Class of 1991) and his wife, Christine.
Stay Connected to King:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/vikings
Keep in touch!
www.facebook.com/King.Low.Heywood.Thomas.Alumni
www.twitter.com/kingstamford
We’d love to hear from you. Send any updates and images to be included in Class Notes to Mike Little ‘02 at alumni@klht.org.
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> Additional Notes
In Memoriam Harriet Franklin Boyd ‘31 April 27, 2012
Muriel Sprague Lockwood ‘38 December 26, 2010
Elizabeth Farley Gleason ‘41 February 13, 2012
Betsy Macdonald Gentry ‘46 February 2, 2011
Charry Dresser Roberts Snyder ‘54 December 21, 1995
Alan Leiner ‘31 April 15, 2010
Anne Nevin Chamberlin ‘39 December 31, 2011
Joyce Kissock Lockhart Lubold ‘41 March 3, 2011
Lorelei Craig Kinder ‘46 June 26, 2011
William Smith ‘55 March 27, 2011
Joan Carpenter Haine ‘39 October 15, 2010
Augusta Mowinckel Hyde ‘42 Feburary 23, 2011
Joan Murphy Stack ‘46 July 31, 2011
Marcia Fuller Lee ‘71 April 6, 2012
Ethel Randolph Chapman ‘40 September 27, 2010
Sarah McCulloch Miller ‘42 March 23, 2012
Virginia Mickle Treviranus ‘46 March 13, 2011
Douglas Gilmore Miller ‘77 March 22, 2012
Thomas Milligan ‘40 December 31, 2010
Phyllis Ainsworth Connaughton ‘43 November 6, 2010
Elinor Bray Burns ‘50 November 21, 2010
David Masotti ‘89 July 3, 2011
Pamela Wells Dudley ‘50 December 16, 2010
John Romano ‘92 June 13, 2011
Palmer Cappiello ‘32 July 20, 2011 Natale Linton Brown ‘34 December 9, 2011 Emily Brown Holman ‘34 September 22, 2010 Rosamond Underwood Wilson ‘37 May 28, 2011 Mary-Alice Keating Lewis ‘38 March 11, 2010
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Mary Waterbury Spalding ‘40 December 8, 2010
Micheline Muller Lucas ‘44 May 7, 2011
Diane Drouet Luque Pierce ‘51 May 24, 2011
Robeiro Canola ‘96 October 3, 2011
SAVE THE DATE: SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2012 Please join King Low Heywood Thomas Alumni and current families for an action-filled weekend of athletics, food, and festivities during Homecoming Weekend! This year’s Homecoming will be September 21-22, 2012. We hope to see you here!
Want to Volunteer for Your Alma Mater? If you are interested in volunteering or speaking at a special alumni event, please contact Mike Little ‘02 at alumni@klht.org or (203) 322-3496, Ext. 375.
Memorabilia Got Sports? Please join one of our special Alumni Sports Clubs, where you can compete against fellow Alumni and relive the experience of your “glory days.” Sports include flag football, basketball, softball, soccer, and lacrosse. Each game will be followed by a cocktail reception. Dates and times TBA. Please email alumni@klht.org with the sports you would like to play.
If you have any memorabilia from King, Low-Heywood, Thomas, LHT, or KLHT that you would like to donate to the Alumni Office, please contact Mike Little ‘02 at alumni@klht.org or (203) 322-3496, Ext. 375. Yearbooks, uniforms, journals, and photos – we would like to preserve as many items from your alma maters as possible.
Taylor Gramps ‘03 speaking at Career Day 2011.
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1450 Newfield Avenue Stamford, CT 06905 www.klht.org
legacies
‘12
SUMMER
Editors Mike Little ‘02 Director of Alumni Relations Kathleen O’Rourke Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications Student and Faculty Feature Stories Kathleen O’Rourke Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications Design Heads Up Marketing and Promotion Printing Velocity Print Solutions 1450 Newfield Avenue Phone: (203) 322-3496 Stamford, CT 06905 Fax: (203) 461-9988 Web: www.klht.org
Photograph by Tom McGovern ‘00