The Academy Journal LAWRENCE ACADEMY FALL 2021
1980 Winterim catalog cover by Chris Wheeler ’83
C E L E B R AT I N G 5 0 Y E A R S O F W I N T E R I M
F ROM H EAD
OF
S CHOOL D AN S CHEIBE P’23, ’24
Pivots, Inflections & Turning Points: An Academy’s Place in History Moments define both people and place whether over a day or over history. Following one of the most challenging periods in recent public memory — and in Lawrence Academy’s nearly 230 years — I believe we are experiencing one of those defining moments today and that we are in great position to create Lawrence Academy for the future. In order to understand the potential significance of where we are, we need the context of our own school history’s defining moments. Here is a 4-part list from the past, with an aim towards the future. Many thanks to Doug Frank for the historical references cited here from his History of Lawrence Academy At Groton, published during the school’s bicentennial. LA Moment 1: On March 26, 1792 a group of townspeople in Groton created an Academy: “They were determined that their new Republic would be born with not only faith in liberty and democracy, but also with institutions of education.” We were born in the cradle of an infant country, a school that would “offer a more flexible and useful course of study…and respond to the growing demands of a society in its formative stages.” We were coeducational from our origins: “for all classes of citizens,” in the language of the original Act of Incorporation. As the school approached the end of its first century of existence, through the Civil War and reconstruction, two significant sequences of events occurred. LA Moment 2: Lawrence Academy enrolled its first black students, Robert Terrell and John Thompson. These two students, who overlapped during the 1879-1880 school year, went on to become among the first black graduates of Harvard College and Yale Medical School respectively. They had flourishing careers in law, diplomacy, medicine, and public service. Though among the first black students in the country to trace successful careers in the public realm to an independent school education, sadly neither Lawrence Academy nor the independent school world
beyond nurtured those individual stories into an immediate institutional legacy. At that same time of relative openness at Lawrence Academy, the “church school” movement started: “New England boarding schools became upper-class surrogate families (differentiating) the upper classes from the rest of the population.” A less polite and more straightforward way of stating the matter is to say that New England boarding schools became more exclusive. Interestingly, rather than strictly emulating these schools, Lawrence Academy competed against them according to its own original public-facing identity. LA remained oriented towards the “growing demands of society” and built “for all classes of citizens.” However, in the evolving market of schooling and society at the time, Lawrence Academy did not fare well in the competition. Enrollment declined to the point where at the end of the 19th century, the school faced another critical moment. LA Moment 3: During the 1897-1898 school year, Kate Isabelle Mann became Principal — in today’s terms, Head of School — the first and only woman to lead Lawrence Academy. The school, open from its beginning to male and female students, had its first female leader. In an implausible and improvident turn of events over the next two years, Kate Mann ended her tenure after only one year, Lawrence Academy temporarily closed to reassess its position, and then reopened in the fall of 1899 as a boys-only school in the manner of its recent neighbors. “When Lawrence Academy became a ‘limited school for boys’ in 1899, it was no longer an institution for ‘all classes of citizens.’” It is hard to understand these elements of the school’s history without deeply mixed feelings. What might it have been to imagine a school that persisted and succeeded in providing “flexible and useful” experiences of “society in its formative stages” while tracing a consistent path of inclusion and opportunity throughout its centuries of growth?
Today, diversity, equity, and inclusion are paramount as ideals, parameters, and practices for any educational institution. Yet those ideals have a place in the historical foundation of the school as well: “Boys and girls…the
approach of a new normal? Often these circumstances are described as “unprecedented.” Actually, they are very well precedented. As I tried to find some balance point between our current experience of the COVID pandemic and the
scholars of the Academy for one hundred and five years shared their educational experience in an environment that reflected the world beyond the gates of the school.” This is our creation story and yet also the story of temporary exile from that original intent.
sense of perspective provided by the school’s history, I came to this:
How can we recover the best parts of our past while we reinvent ourselves towards our future? For me, the seed defining Lawrence Academy today and inspiring tomorrow germinated around 50 years ago. Here are two joined moments to point us ahead. During the social and cultural crises and movements of the late 60s, the school needed to understand itself anew, not just in its expectations for teaching and learning, but in its fundamental composition. In the 1971-1972 school year, two pivotal things occurred. LA Moment 4a: The school had appointed a new Head, Ben Williams in 1969, who told the search committee at the time that subsequent to his appointment, “Lawrence Academy would become coeducational as soon as possible.” It did.
Our mission and motto are more necessary than ever. We hold ourselves responsible to welcome and recognize students for who they are and to inspire them to take responsibility for who they want to become. We commit ourselves to the ideal that the opportunity and benefits of Lawrence Academy are intended to shine for all. Lawrence Academy has always had within itself the fundamental identity necessary to be “responsive to the growing demands of society.” Now is the time to fully claim and exercise that identity — one that transcends the uncertainties and crises of any age. In the depths of the past and in the strengths of the present, Lawrence Academy exists to recognize, inspire, and support all of our students, while empowering them to take action for the greater good of the world around us. All historical references and quotation come courtesy of Doug Frank’s The History of Lawrence Academy of Groton, 1792 to 1992.
LA Moment 4b: Winterim was introduced that same school year, in March of 1972, as a signature and significant change to the culture and program of the school, heralding a new way of thinking about students and education at the time. LA recovered its coeducational identity and rediscovered its fundamental educational identity at the same time: school change was meeting social change, and it manifested — as it always does — in the programs and culture of the school — the lived experience of a diverse range of students. We wanted to be a school reflective of the society around it and responsive to the experiences of the world around it. In some of our historical language, we wanted to be “flexible” and “useful” and “for all.” This is the language of our origins, but it is also the language of our horizons. The last 20 months have introduced a new lexicon of change, often erroneously and exclusively focused on the current moment. How many times have we heard of the next pivot, the possibility of turning the corner, the FALL 2021 LAWRENCE ACADEMY 1
Board of Trustees of Lawrence Academy • 2021-2022 Jason Saghir P’19, President Phyllis Rothschild P’20, Vice President Karen Mitchell Brandvold ’82; P’16, ’17, Secretary David Stone ’76, Treasurer Robert Achtmeyer ’97 Ronald Ansin P’80, ’83, ’85, ’87; GP’03, ’05, ’14 Deborah Barnes P’13 Christopher Bernene P’19 Melissa Bois P’22 G. Randall Chamberlain ’79 Susanna Gallant P’20, ’24 Courtney Cox Harrison ’83 Kiyohiko Hirose ’94; P’22 Bradford Hobbs ’82 Samuel Liang P’18, ’19 Douglas Long P’15, ’18 Bruce MacNeil ’70; P’04 David Mazza ’01 Michael McLaughlin P’23, ’23, ’25 Peter Myette P’00, ’03 Pamela Nwaoko ’06 Devin O’Reilly P’24 David Santeusanio Taylor Sele ’02 Gordon Sewall ’67 Edward Steinborn P’23 Alex Sugar P’19 Richard Tyson Jr. ’87 Stephen Wilkins
HONORARY TRUSTEES George Chamberlain III P’79, ’81 Albert Gordon, Jr. ’59 Albert Stone P’74, ’76; GP’15 Benjamin Williams III P’82, ’84
Contents Around LA IFC From Head of School Dan Scheibe 3
LA at a Glance
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Commencement 2021
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Jordyn Remmes ’22, Making a Difference
10 LA Teachers Make the Most of Their Summers 12 Welcome to LA 14 A Little Library With Big Aspirations 17 Teaching and Learning With Artie: Artie Karp Retires 18 Caring for a Campus: The Cause Above Renown: Carole Figgins Retires 19 Big Stature, Big Heart. LA Says Farewell to Mike Carroll 21 Thirty Years of Opening the Door to a World of Opportunities: Mark Burkholz Retires Feature 22 Learning By Doing, Half a Century of Winterim Alumni Profiles 28 Inspiring People to Succeed: Sandy Wolcott ’64 30 Nothing But the Finest: Sam Rowse ’65 32 Childhood Passion for Woodworking Remains: Cliff Clark ’57 Alumni 34 Alumni Events – Spring 2021 36 Creative Solutions, Awards Spark Reunion 2021 40 Alumni Class Notes 50 Obituaries
Alumni Council 2021-2022 Carolyn Balas-Zaleski ’84; P’17, President
53 Amos and William Lawrence Society: A Gift of a Lifetime: Maureen Coleman ’82
Marianne Crescenzi Balfour ’88 Pat Donoghue ’06 Victoria Wellington Hanna ’97 Christopher Hazzard ’03 Lindsay Latuga Howard ’00 Victor Howell ’08 Paul Husted ’64 Ann Steward McGuire ’03 Catherine Floyd McMenamin ’97 Clare Noone ’14 Ben Stone ’15 2 LAWRENCE ACADEMY FALL 2021
Editorial Team Kate Engstrom, faculty – learning coach Joseph Sheppard, college counselor, retired
Geoff Harlan, alumni leadership advancement officer Jo-Ann Lovejoy, chief advancement officer
Angela Stefano, editorial consultant
Caitlin O’Brien, director of advancement communications and operations
Editorial Council
Layout/Design/Production
John Bishop, director of communications
Dale Cunningham, graphic designer
Chris Davey, assistant head of school for institutional strategy and advancement
Photography
Prudence Glover, program manager for alumni advancement and trustees
Jonathan Gotlib, assistant director of communications
LA at a Glance Athletic Signings Congratulations to Davonte Sweatman ’21, who signed his National Letter of Intent to play basketball at Central Connecticut State University last spring. Earlier in the year, Davonte’s classmates Faith Gargano, Mary Jo Smith, Sean Henderson, Marley Chappel, Meg Hayes, Walter Morales, and Nicholas Bilsbury all signed their respective NLIs. Congratulations to these and all of our Spartans going on to play in college.
Contagious – Virtual Theatre Performance In March, the LA theatre program produced and shared its first entirely virtual show, Contagious, a music and theatre performance collage from the LA Winter Theatre Ensemble. Working in the most unusual of practice spaces (remote, in-person, and various combinations of both) before its premiere, the Theatre Ensemble created their performance during rehearsals led by Michael Kroll ’21, Victoria Lucontoni ’22, Shelby Richards ’22, Aidan Berger ’22, Jace Marsh ’22, Paloma Harker ’23, Abby Remis ’23, Alex Kirby ’21, Lexi Olander ’24, Evan Elibero ’24, and Shea O’Reilly ’24. Faculty members Jenny Cooper and Joel Sugerman, and composer Zak Engel ’06, collaborated with the students throughout the process, and Zak guided the cast through the development of music for the show.
A Standing Ovation for the 2021 Senior Cabinet On May 21, the 2021 Senior Cabinet enjoyed the opportunity to broadcast assembly from the RMPAC for the first time during the 2020-2021 school year. Unfortunately, it was also their last assembly of the year, so the experience was bittersweet. Immediately following the
assembly, the whole school surprised cabinet members Amaya Benzaquin-Magill ’21, Nick Beloff ’21, Abby Kelley ’21, and Wilson Lee ’21 with a standing ovation on the Quad. Thank you, Amaya, Nick, Abby, and Wilson, for everything you did for LA this past year!
Ice Cream for Everyone Who doesn’t like ice cream? During the last few weeks of school last year, students were treated to ice-cold treats. In the weeks leading up to the final day of Spring Term, each class received their very own day to visit an ice cream truck located near Park House.
LA Dance on the Terrace On June 1, LA Dance took to the “stage” and performed their very first in-person show of the school year, in an untraditional, albeit beautiful, location under the tent on the McDonald Library Terrace. Students, parents, and faculty watched the show as Mr. Feigenbaum directed his two dance sections in their respective numbers.
Meet the 2022 Senior Cabinet Now that Amaya, Nick, Abby, and Wilson have graduated, a new senior cabinet has taken their places. Demetra “Meech” Danas has been elected the 2022 Senior Class President and her cabinet members are: Secretary Andrew Huang ’22, and Treasurer Shaniece Nugent ’22. Congratulations, Spartans — we all can’t wait to see what you have in store for Lawrence Academy this year! FALL 2021 LAWRENCE ACADEMY 3
“It’s good!” COMMENCEMENT 2021
by John Bishop
It almost didn’t happen. Going into the final days of May, Lawrence Academy continuously and carefully observed state and local directives and restrictions, knowing full well that the COVID-19 pandemic might make an in-person graduation ceremony impossible. All of the contingencies and alternatives the administration were considering never came to pass. Instead, on Friday, June 4th, graduation was held on Murbach Field. In the shadow of the goalposts, Head of School, Dan Scheibe imitated the look of New England Patriots kicking legend Adam Vinatieri — arms raised, saying, “It’s good!” — as the 228th Graduation Exercises at Lawrence Academy commenced.
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“Before this year, did we ever really understand just how beautiful and meaningful the words ‘in-person’ were?” Mr. Scheibe asked the crowd gathered on the athletic field. “I say this with a sense of celebration for those of us who are here, but also with sensitivity and compassion for those who are not here with us right now. “For those members of the Class of 2021 who are joining us remotely, we send you our love and our pride, reaching out to you as the Lawrence Academy family,” he added. “We dedicate this ceremony to you as a symbol of the bond we share.” The emotion on the faces of the graduates, their families, LA faculty members, and invited friends — enhanced as they were by the “jumbotron” placed in the corner of one end of the field to help the crowd watching
Guest Graduation Speaker Jared Mezzochi '07
“The world is hard right now,” said Jared Mezzochi ’07. “This world needs you to emerge as a community, as your own ecosystem, different from ours. Surround yourself with people who see the world differently than the rest of us. You’re on your way. You are here today, having earned an incredible foundation at Lawrence. These teachers love you. They aren’t saying goodbye to you — trust me.” It was that foundation that Senior Class President Amaya Benzaquin-Magill remembered as she looked out across the field, turned back to the faculty, and imagined the untold number of people watching from afar. And it wasn’t “goodbye” that resonated in her words — it was gratitude.
Amaya Benzaquin-Magill ‘21
“There are too many thank-yous to fit into this,” said the soon-to-be graduate. “But we know who you are. If you are here watching or live-streaming the ceremony today ... our parents, siblings, grandparents, godparents, friends, aunts, uncles, cousins, dogs, cats, fish, and especially the faculty, staff, and administration here at LA, thank you! You’re the people who got us through.” Her classmate, senior class speaker Brandon Wiercinski, added, “I could not be more excited to be getting ready to walk across this stage with all of you. The diploma we receive today symbolizes so much more than our completion of four or five years of high school. It is a recognition of the sacrifices that we have made and the work along our way to get here. And, that should be celebrated. That needs to be celebrated. Like this, together, and in-person.”
Brandon Wiercinski ‘21 and his dad Kevin
Turning back to the school’s commitment to the Class of 2021, senior speaker Ava DiVincenzo echoed the sentiments of the previous speeches and lauded the LA community. “Thank you for always giving 110 percent, and for working so hard to give us the most we could get this year. You’ve made a lasting impact on us all, and we are so appreciative,” she said. “And, to the Class of 2021, I’m so proud to be here with all of you today. “Thank you for being a part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience, and you should all be proud of yourselves,” she concluded. “Thank you. And congratulations.”
Ava DiVincenzo ‘21
The Class of 2021
on campus stay apart — were palpable; happiness, melancholy, hope, fear, and desire were all there. Meanwhile, through all of the emotion, the speeches sought to guide the grads to closure.
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“For those members of the Class of 2021 who are joining us remotely, we send you our love and our pride, reaching out to you as the Lawrence Academy family. We dedicate this ceremony to you as a symbol of the bond we share.” – Dan Scheibe
“A Memorable Day” on Murbach Field 6 LAWRENCE ACADEMY FALL 2021
G R A D UAT I O N AWA R D S 2 0 2 1
Senior Awards The Adrian Chen ’92 Award (linguistic and cultural fluency): Wilson Li The Benjamin Davis Williams Prize (leadership and innovation): Isabella Sepulveda The David Thomas Kinsley Prize for Public Speaking: Sophia Ronchetti The Faculty Award (conduct and character): Brandon Wiercinski The Ferguson Prize for Leadership: Enock Musyoka The Howard Glaser ’55 Award (school spirit): Amaya Benzaquin-Magill The Mary Elizabeth Chickering Prize (academic accomplishments and wholesome attitude): Ava DiVincenzo The Melvin Mann Award (leadership and respect): Emma Anane
Senior Class pic
The Norman and Catherine Grant Award (sportsmanship): Olivia Drugotch The Pillsbury Prize for Character and Conduct: Drew Barron and Tony Muse The Pillsbury Prize for General Improvement: Nicholas Beloff The Raymond A. Ilg Jr. Award (achievement in athletics): Anthony Cafarelli The Richmond Baker Prize (athletic leadership): Avery Badger The Thomas Park ’29 Memorial Award (loyalty and dedication): Tessa Griffith and Davonte Sweatman The Treisman Prize for Superior Scholastic Achievement: Sebastian Sepulveda The Whitehurst Prize (exceptional growth): Calum Tinker
Underclass Awards The Carl A.P. Lawrence Award (competence and loyalty): Shaniece Nugent ’22 and Demetra Danas ’22 The Dartmouth College Book Award (intellectual and extracurricular leadership): Kaitlyn Nguyen ’22 The David Soren Yeutter Memorial Award (appreciation of natural beauty and LA): Nathalie Pierpont ’22 The Harry and Ann Davidson Prize (effort to achieve): Jasmine Marsh ’22 The Harvard Book Prize (scholarship and character): Meaghan Sheehan ’22 The James E. Baker Prize (development in attitude and scholarship): Daniel Alpers ’22, Lauren Cloherty ’22, and Travis Perrault ’22 The Margaret Price White Award (motivation and work ethic): CJ Schuster ’23 The Thomas B. Warner ’75 Memorial Prize (determination to achieve): Abigail Schuster ’22 and Faith Massoni ’22 The Proctor Award (integrity, initiative, and responsibility): Shelby Richards ’22
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“If you want to make a difference, just start doing it!” Jordyn Remmes ’22 Is Making a Difference
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Mom’s nursing stint in Honduras inspires LA senior to help kids in need by Angela Stefano
When Donna Remmes, a nurse practitioner, returned from a working trip to the island of Roatan, Honduras, her stories sparked an idea in her daughter, Jordan Remmes ’22. Located near the hospital at which Donna had been stationed is the SOL International Foundation, a nonprofit organization that offers academics, sports, arts and crafts, and other extracurricular and community activities for school-aged children on the island. “My mom was telling me when she came back from her trip about how it wasn’t a very developed country,” recalls Jordyn, a boarding student from Wrentham, Mass. “She was telling us that the SOL Foundation did baseball games and some of the kids didn’t even play with shoes on.” A focused student-athlete who plays varsity ice hockey and varsity soccer at Lawrence Academy, Jordyn was inspired: She’d collect new and like-new cleats and other sports equipment on campus and donate it to the SOL Foundation. Her advisor and college counselor, Kimberly Bohlin Healy, pointed her in the right direction. And, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Community Engagement Kimberly Poulin helped walk Jordyn through the process of launching her donation drive and spreading the word. Jordyn launched the springtime service project with an all-school email — “I was checking it word for word … it was very nerve-wracking,” she admits. Her hard work was quickly rewarded when Michael Poulin, LA’s equipment manager, offered up a bunch of gentlyused cleats he had in his supply. The donation helped Jordyn start filling the donation bin she’d placed in the Stone Athletic Center.
Jordan at the sloth reservation on the island
Rather than ship the donations to the SOL Foundation, Jordyn and her mother traveled to Roatan to deliver the sports equipment, all packed into a large hockey sack. They also spent some time at both the foundation and the hospital at which Donna Remmes had worked during her first trip. “I wasn’t expecting to see how underdeveloped the country was,” admits Jordyn, who spent the week-plus trip helping the children at the SOL Foundation with their homework (Roatan’s schools have been closed for well over a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and playing sports with them. She’s been taking Spanish since the eighth grade but isn’t “incredibly fluent.” Nonetheless, she and the kids found ways to communicate, sometimes with the help of other children as translators. They also played a particularly great soccer game,” she said.
The community center where Jordan worked
FACT: Honduras is a low income country that faces major challenges, with more
Her donation drive’s success taught Jordyn something important: If you want to make a difference, just start doing it.
than 66 percent of the population living in
“With COVID, I kind of felt like I couldn’t really get involved as much,” Jordyn reflects, “but I think I learned that it’s not as hard as it seems. COVID did shut everything down, and some stuff is hard to continue, but all it takes is effort to actually complete it.
five Hondurans live in extreme poverty, or
poverty in 2016, according to official data. In rural areas, approximately one out of on less than U.S. $1.90 per day.
“If I’m actually willing to put in the effort,” she adds, “then it can be done.” FALL 2021 LAWRENCE ACADEMY 9
LA Teachers Make the Most of Their Summers by Caitlin O’Brien
Dina Mordeno Dina Mordeno, Arts Department chair and visual arts teacher, and Raquel Majeski, assistant head for equity and community life, attended the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Gender Spectrum Conference, part of NAIS’s Inclusive Schools Network Institute. In addition, Dina continues to create and show her work from her studio at the Western Avenue Studios in Lowell; her horizon paintings are inspired by the New England landscape and the ever-changing color and light of the seasons. To learn more about Dina’s work, visit DinaMordeno.com.
Scott Smith Scott Smith, arts faculty member, released a board game, Drop Drive. It’s not the first game that Scott — who also offers the on-campus Winterim course Beyond Monopoly: Board Game Design — has brought to market. In 2019, he successfully launched Dungeon Drop, which is distributed throughout the U.S. and Europe. To learn more about Scott’s work as a game designer, visit https://gameschooladventures.com/ dropping-in-on-scott-smith/.
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Like many of us, LA faculty found time last summer to relax, recharge, and connect with friends and family. However, several of our teachers have also been hard at work on other professional endeavors.
Jenny Cooper Director of Music, Jenny Cooper, conducted Carl Orff ’s Carmina Burana with the Concord Chorale last summer. The performance — which featured 55 singers, five percussionists, and two pianists — was presented virtually and can be accessed at ConcordChorale.org. Jenny has been the Concord Chorale’s music director since 2019, and the Honors LA Singers collaborated with the chorale in the fall of 2020.
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Welcome to LA Mike Polsonetti assumed the role of Dean of Enrollment and Admissions in July. A graduate of Connecticut’s Pomfret School, Hobart & William Smith Colleges, and Northeastern University, he previously served as the senior associate director of admissions and director of external partnerships for the Canterbury School in New Milford, Conn. Mike has also worked in admissions at Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies and Brandeis University. He also has experience both coaching ice hockey and playing at the college level and in the ECHL and CHL. Ben Rogers ’02 joined Lawrence Academy as the new Director of Annual Giving in late August. The Sharon Massachusetts resident has teaching, coaching, and tutoring experience. However, since 2008, he held various positions in development and alumni relations — most recently, Director of the Annual Fund and Director of Alumni Relations — at Waltham’s Chapel HillChauncy Hall School. Ben holds a B.A. in history and a minor in education from St. Lawrence University; an M.S. in Education from Simmons College; and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) in Educational Leadership from Salem State University. Lawrence Academy’s new Director of Parent Advancement is Tonya Kalmes of Dedham, Mass. She comes to LA from West Roxbury’s Catholic Memorial School, where she was the Director of Institutional Advancement. Tonya also has previous experience as Associate Director of Annual Giving and Reunion Manager at Dedham’s Noble & Greenough School, and as Associate 1 2 LAWRENCE ACADEMY FALL 2021
Director of Alumni Giving, Alumni Relations, and Initiatives at Kent School in Kent Connecticut. Tonya is a graduate of The State University of New York with a B.A. in liberal studies. Tonya spends her free time cross-country skiing, cycling, hiking, running, cooking, and practicing yoga. Matthew Ferreira is Lawrence Academy’s new Senior Athletic Trainer. A graduate of Springfield College (B.S., athletic training) and West Virginia University (M.S., athletic training), he most recently spent two years as a specialist in athletic training at the University of Connecticut, serving as head athletic trainer for the school’s 37 club sports teams. Matthew has also worked as an assistant athletic trainer at the College of the Holy Cross and Morgantown, W.Va.’s HealthWorks Rehab and Fitness, and has clinical experience with Holy Cross, Springfield College, Mount Holyoke College, and Longmeadow High School. As LA’s new Assistant Athletic Trainer, April Buchheit will work closely with Matthew. A graduate of Colby-Sawyer College (B.S., exercise and sport sciences) and the University of Maine (M.Ed., kinesiology and physical education), she previously worked for nearly a decade as Merrimack College’s assistant athletic trainer. Previously, April was an assistant athletic trainer at UMaine Farmington and the University of Maine. Marcelle Barker joined the College Counseling Office in August as the college counseling office assistant. She’s not new to campus, though, because from September 2012 through February 2014, she served
as LA’s bookstore manager. Marcelle holds a B.S. in education from Keene State College and has previously worked as the lead pre-K teacher at Indian River Nursery School in Canaan, N.H. Lawrence Academy’s new Director of Theatre, Dennis Canty, brings more than 15 years of experience to the role. Most recently the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild, he has also served as Boston College High School’s Director and Technical director, and as a guest director for both Middlesex School and Westford Academy. A member of the UMass Amherst Alumni Association Board of Directors and the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild’s Board of Trustees, Dennis holds a B.A. in women, gender, and sexuality studies from UMass Amherst and recently completed a M.S. in non-profit leadership through the University of Pennsylvania. Anna Fleming joins the English department for the 2021-2022 school year from the College Preparatory School in Oakland, Calif. She holds a B.A. in English from the University of California, Berkeley and an M.A. in English, with a concentration in teaching literature and writing, from the University of Virginia. During her time at UVA, Anna worked as an English Department graduate instructor and research assistant, and was a writing center tutor. At UC Berkeley, she served as the Berkeley Fiction Review’s student instructor, editor, and director of events.
Whether they live on or off campus, all faculty participate in the residential life program, either as dorm parents or affiliates. All serve as advisors as well, and most have coaching or extracurricular responsibilities.
Also joining the English department this school year is Katy Svec, who will be also be involved in LA’s ESL program. The Phillips Andover Academy graduate spent a year abroad in Hanoi, Vietnam before attending Middlebury College to earn her B.A. in theater and German. While there, she spent semesters in Irkutsk, Russia, and Berlin, Germany. Katie also holds her TEFL certification and most recently was a teacher with Wall Street English. Rhonda Hawthorne of Dunstable, Massachusetts, joins the language department to teach Spanish after more than 20 years of experience at both the middle school and high school levels at Lexington Christian Academy, Innovation Academy Charter School (Tyngsborough, Mass.), and Groton-Dunstable Regional High School. A graduate of Eastern Nazarene College with a B.A. in communication arts (theater education and Spanish education), Rhonda also previously served as the director of performing arts at Lexington Christian Academy and the director of theater programs at Innovation Academy. Molly Purcell joins the history department after three years at Cheshire (Conn.) Academy, where she served as a history teacher, the health and wellness curriculum coordinator, lead junior class advisor, a coach, and a dorm parent. The Milton Academy alumna received her B.A. in architectural studies from Mount Holyoke College and will earn her M.A.T. in teacher leadership from Mount Holyoke in 2022. Molly is an avid runner, hiker, and fisher, and loves to read.
Also joining the history department for the 2021-2022 school year is Gerry Wixted, who brings a B.A. in history from Dickinson College and a M.Ed. from the University of Virginia. Since 2015, he has worked at Woodberry Forest (Va.) School as a master teacher in the history department, dormitory head, faculty advisor, JV basketball coach, and summer program leader. Gerry also served as the faculty head of the school’s Young Libertarians Club and as a member of both the Financial Sustainability Committee and the Demerit Reform Committee.
Whitney Jones joins the math department this school year and will also be working as a learning coach. An alumna of North Andover’s Brooks School, she graduated from Colgate University with a B.A. in psychology and educational studies in 2017. She recently taught math at Portsmouth Abbey School, where she also served as the assistant athletic director, a coach, and a dorm parent. Whitney remembers her own time as a boarding school student fondly and hopes to be a mentor to current LA students in the same way her teachers were to her at Brooks.
Forrest Stillwell is Lawrence Academy’s third new history department hire for the 2021-2022 school year. He has extensive experience as a lacrosse coach at the collegiate level — including, a recent stint at UMass Lowell. He also worked as a coach and teacher at Citrus County Schools in Inverness, Fla., and Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School in Atlanta, Ga. Forrest received his B.A. in political science from Auburn (Ala.) University and is currently pursuing a Masters of Curriculum in history at UMass Lowell.
After four years teaching science at Dedham’s Ursuline Academy, John Andersen is joining the science department at Lawrence Academy. Prior to his time at Ursuline, John taught science at Renbrook School (West Hartford, Conn.), Hampton Roads Academy (Newport News, Va.), and The Hillside School (Marlboro, Mass.). He also has experience as an ice hockey coach. John holds a B.S. in education from UMass Boston and a M.S. in education administration from Springfield College.
Jake Douville of West Swanzey, N.H., is joining the math department for the 2021-2022 school year. He is a Keene State College graduate and recently completed a postbaccalaureate teaching certificate at Granite State College. Previously, Jake has worked as a math teacher at Kreiva Academy (Manchester, N.H.), Vermont Academy (Saxtons River, Vt.), and Hawthorne Academy (Antrim, N.H.), and as a paraeducator at the Marlborough (N.H.) School and a private tutor at the Forman School (Litchfield, Conn.).
Kara Celstin joins the Lawrence Academy Health Center staff as a part-time nurse. An experienced nurse manager who has worked at a variety of practices throughout Massachusetts, she is a licensed registered nurse and a certified developmental disabilities nurse, and has completed the American Red Cross’ CPR and first aid certifications. Kara earned her B.S. in nursing from Fitchburg State University.
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A Little Library With Big Aspirations by Nathalie Pierpont ’22
The Lawrence Academy Library Squad launched the campus’ first Little Free Library at noon on June 8 — the culmination of several months of hard work. “It all came together in a very LA way, because once the students got involved, things happened,” Head of School Dan Scheibe said proudly of the initiative. It was a big project, but the display of communication and collaboration reflected the ambition of everyone involved. The Little Free Library program is a worldwide system of more than 90,000 registered public book exchanges. The goal of the program is to provide public access to a collection of books and foster community engagement through book trading. The Library Squad’s original inspiration for the Groton Little Free Library came from Annie Montesano, who had seen one on a college campus and thought, “We could have one here at LA!” She brought the idea to the Library Squad early this spring, and after discussing plans to make the concept a reality and delegating tasks, the Squad got right to setting the plan in motion.
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The Library Squad organized several bins around campus to collect book donations, and were greeted with much generosity from the LA community. Art teacher Dina Mordeno, assisted by Abigale Moran ’23 and Alexandra Kelly ’23, created a smallscale model of the Ferguson Building, complete with hinged doors and glass windows. “The motivating factor for me to build the library was the excitement for the project from the Library Squad,” says Ms. Mordeno. LA’s Little Free Library now stands by the roundabout in front of Dr. Green, a high-traffic part of campus where its bright colors and stacks of books are sure to catch the eyes of passersby. The Library Squad encourages everyone to engage with the collection, for as Ms. Montesano puts it, “This library is a resource for our community and the greater community of Groton.”
Michelle Ruby ’98 is teaching Environmental Science using our campus as a classroom and getting our students outside for teaching and learning.
Support the LA Fund Lawrence Academy’s Annual Fund supports the day-to-day operations of the school, including program areas that are reflected each day on campus. Underlying that, the most important thing the Annual Fund supports is LA’s mission: recognizing our students for who they are, inspiring our students to take responsibility for who they want to become, and empowering our students to take action for the greater good. There is no better indicator of success for LA than a student who is growing and thriving in our wonderful community. We hope that we can count on your support with a gift to this year’s Annual Fund!
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A RT I E K A R P R E T I R E S
Teaching and Learning With Artie A Lifelong Group Project by Kate Engstrom
Unbeknownst to him at the time, Artie Karp’s days of stage managing in the world of opera were the perfect opening act for his 38 years in the classroom. Artie spent over a decade traveling across the country and in Europe, working with opera greats including Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo. But, in June of 1983, he was drawn back to his original dream of being a history teacher. His high school teacher, Mr. Donner, had inspired him and Lawrence Academy had a position that needed filling. Artie would soon discover just how well the intense and collaborative nature of work in a theater would translate to education. During his tenure at LA, Artie taught AP government, U.S. history, 10th grade history, and several electives such as criminal justice and psychology. He also ran the Model UN program. But he considers the Ninth Grade Program (NGP), which started during the 1992-1993 school year, one of his most enriching experiences. He worked alongside three other teachers to present a unified 9th grade curriculum focused on skill-building rather than driven by content. Prior to the start of the NGP, Artie and English teacher Terry Murbach team-taught a test class for 10th graders that dove deep into content as a vehicle for teaching writing, reading, speaking, and critical thinking. Despite all of the hard work it required to develop the NGP, he reflects, “It was, without a doubt, the most rewarding and meaningful experience on account of the way it made the team of teachers think deeply about how we were teaching, not what.” In fact, Artie’s efforts for the NGP influenced his work in the History Department. His colleagues attribute a shift in philosophy to his leadership as department chair. During Artie’s tenure, the department moved from a survey orientation to a problems approach, asking students to develop their own interpretations using primary sources and discussing ideas with their peers in a seminar format. In Artie’s view, this type of teaching fits well within LA’s philosophy, as it is easy to adapt to students at any developmental level. “Teaching is a relative thing, with no absolutes. You want kids to learn and to grow to the best of their ability, to think about what they are learning and figure out how they learn,” Artie comments.
He always wanted to do what was in the best interest of the students, and to capitalize on their interests and help them grow and develop from their own starting points. In Artie’s estimation, “Learning is not a solo activity — it is a group project.” Thus, it is no surprise that in reflecting on his long career, he sees his collaborative work as some of his best professional development. He became a better teacher because of the people around him – colleagues Terry Murbach, Becky Josephson, Denny Blodget, Jim Serach, Ned Mitchell, Mark Haman, John Curran, Mike Culley, Kevin Wiercinski, and many others. And Artie’s dedication, hard work, and sense of humor were an inspiration to his colleagues. “Being in the History Office with Artie was like enrolling in a professional growth program, and it was always fun,” reflects fellow long-time LA history teacher John Curran. “No matter the time, Artie was already there, planning, grading, or ready to discuss the news, a school issue, a new article or book he had just read, or a complex constitutional issue.” As Artie brings this performance to a close, he says, “If I have done anything, I hope I have given back to both students and faculty.” Indeed, he supported the growth of countless individuals in his educational circle — students and fellow teachers alike — as they figured out what they believed and sought after their own great performances. In retirement, Artie plans to read a lot and listen to more opera, but he will also stay engaged with his community by volunteering, working with immigrants, and taking classes. Just as he has given voices to his students over many years, he will continue to inspire others to grow into who they want to be. Artie teaching c. 1990
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C A RO L E F I G G I N S R E T I R E S
Caring for a Campus: The Cause Above Renown In that same collaborative vein, Carole’s working relationships with fellow staff are a vital part of her legacy at LA. Norm ’76 and Molly Shanklin offer nothing but glowing words about Carole’s impact on the appearance of the campus and the people who come and go across it. Molly worked closely with Carole on the Alumni Memorial Garden and the planting of countless class trees, and was always thankful for her expertise. Meanwhile, Norm reflects fondly on the cheerful attitude that Carole brought to any building project he led in his role on the Board of Trustees. As someone who not only likes to create order but is also a team player, Carole saw it as “her job to pick up the mess,” no matter what the situation. As Molly says, “It didn’t matter what part of campus you were in — you all did it together.”
Carole and wife Judy hiking in N.H. by Kate Engstrom
Driving down Route 119 and seeing the Lawrence Academy campus unfold, one can only be in awe of its rolling lawns and tree-studded hillside. The enduring beauty of this campus is Carole Figgins’ legacy as she steps away from her position with Buildings and Grounds after 23 years of service. As she starts her retirement with rest and recuperation, Carole takes great joy in reflecting on her time at Lawrence Academy and her part in a larger mission. Carole not only brought her nine years of experience as a groundsperson at Phillips Andover Academy to LA, she also had excellent training and experience before that. In 1986, she left the University of New Hampshire with an associate’s degree in horticulture and a B.S. in environmental conservation. She served in the Peace Corps in Ecuador from 1986 to 1988, learning much about serving a community through reforestation efforts with the indigenous population.
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In addition to her routine groundskeeping duties, Carole had a variety of other memorable experiences in her time at LA. From 2005 to 2007, she worked in the ice rink, where she was able to form connections with students in a new way. The 2008 ice storm, as sad and destructive as it was, made a huge impact on her, as it took from December until April to pick up. Around that same time, Carole worked to balance maintaining the appearance of the turf while also keeping in mind the needs and safety of kids, families, dogs, and the environment through the use of organic products. No matter the challenge, she loved her job, which showed in the great care she took with every project. These days, one might find Carole helping a neighbor with a yard project in her new housing association or hiking a new trail. She also serves on the board of her HOA, and her years of grounds experience are a benefit to her fellow residents. This fall, she will be exploring the Adirondacks High Peaks trails with her wife Judy, and she dreams of getting to New Zealand and Scotland someday. No matter where she goes, Carole will always take the words from the LA gym wall with her: “To love the game beyond the prize; to set the cause above renown.” That kind of humility set her apart, allowing her to do her best work because she wanted to, not because she had to. Her dedication and enthusiastic energy will continue to impact the lives of those who know her beyond the fields of Lawrence Academy.
M I K E C A R RO L L R E T I R E S
Big Stature, Big Heart: LA Says Farewell to Mike Carroll
B & G AT L A Our hard-working buildings and grounds team is busy year-round taking care of LA’s 140 acres and 15 buildings. Here are some highlights into their never-ending to-do list, season by season: Winter Plow, salt, and sand all roadways and lots. Shovel the walkways and stairwells the campus buildings. Maintain the rink, drive the Zamboni, and sharpen skates. Spring Humanely remove bats, bees, wasps, and other critters. (Pro-tip: try a butterfly net and a piece of cardboard to re-home bats!) Prune and care for trees and plants around campus.
Mike Carroll enjoying retirement
by Caitlin O’Brien
Known affectionately as “Big Mike” at Lawrence Academy, Michael Carroll began working at LA in 2013, and the school community quickly learned to not be intimidated by his tall stature. An integral part of the buildings and grounds team, Mike always made sure the campus was looking its best. His duties included regular housekeeping in several dorms — including Elm Tree, Spaulding Hall, and Pillsbury House — and helping with the daily mail. During the winter, he also drove the Zamboni, assisted with general Grant Rink maintenance, and sharpened skates for Spartan ice hockey players.
Summer Clean out, prep, and paint all nine dorms, getting ready for the next year’s students. Facilitate on-campus faculty moves. Mow and weed whack 40 acres worth of grassy areas on campus. Fall Clear and maintain the cross country trails and line all sports fields. Set up, break down, and provide parking detail for all on-campus events.
Described as an “all-around good guy” by his colleagues, Mike was a prankster at heart. He had a reputation for surprising people when they least expected it, sharing stories about his grandkids, and starting every day with a coffee from Dunkin’ and a scratch-off lottery ticket. Lawrence Academy will miss you, Mike!
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MARK BURKHOLZ RETIRES
Thirty Years of Opening the Door to a World of Opportunities by Kate Engstrom
Whether crawling through wires or paddling against a current, Mark Burkholz has been dedicated to the learning potential in the environments he has come to love, both in and outside the classroom. As of June, Mr. Burkholz has concluded his career at Lawrence Academy after 30 years of teaching math and computer science, 25 years as director of technology, and 19 years as co-leader of the outdoors program. In his tenure, LA’s use of technology has grown and changed with the times, and countless students have furthered their connection to the natural world thanks to Mark’s hard work, commitment, and passion for learning.
develop such projects drove Mark’s work in the math department as he introduced the concept of the flipped classroom. He then guided his colleagues in recording lectures so they could be watched at home, allowing them more time to teach experientially in the classroom. Fellow math teacher and longtime colleague Krista Collins says, “Without him, we would not have been as prepared as we were to make the transition to remote teaching due to COVID.” In looking back, Mark finds it gratifying to reflect on “the kids whom he has affected with computer science and math.” Some went on to careers in the field, and others walked away with lessons they could apply to any path in life.
After a decade that included teaching high school math in Australia and New York City, and work as a software engineer at AT&T Bell Laboratories in North Andover, Winterim also stands out to Mark as one of Mark came to LA in 1991 as a math teacher the most memorable parts of working at who knew about computers. When he LA. From 2006 to 2018, he led 12 arrived, he recalls, “there were only four consecutive kayaking trips in Central stand-alone computers, no network, and no America with his wife, Sheara Friend. In email. The internet was unknown.” After his addition to camping and being at the mercy first five years of working alone, Mark of the weather, his student groups had helped bring a reliable network to campus Mark and his wife Sheara Friend incredible opportunities in nature: observing thanks to the expertise of his network gray whales in Mexico, exploring Mayan caves in Belize, and administrators: first, Kyle Jones, and for the last 10 years, more. These immersion experiences tested participants’ stamina Austin Bradstreet. The contributions of department members and opened their eyes to the wonders of the world. Ken Berg and Paul Beauchamp have also been vital to the smooth functioning of technology on campus. Though he has officially retired, Mark is currently teaching, In Mark’s mind, a solid network was the key to the success of technology in the classroom, and then, what “changed everything,” he says, “was getting a laptop program.” Time that he had spent uploading software and maintaining computers across campus could be devoted to integrating technology in the classroom. As an educator first, Mark was able to support history teachers in connecting with people in Afghanistan and Iraq and guide his department to an alternative way of teaching math. As Mark says, “You need teachers to talk to teachers.” Mark particularly enjoyed his work in the computer science classroom, where he could employ a project-based approach to learning with his students. The same creative process that helped
remotely, one computer science class. With the rest of his time, he plans to continue the tradition of Winterim with trips to Mexico and the Virgin Islands. When he is not traveling, he can be found enjoying his home by a lake in New Hampshire with Sheara. He will also continue with one of his most important hobbies: karate, in which he is a fifthdegree black belt. As he steps into the next phase of his journey, Mark takes great satisfaction in all of the opportunities he provided for students and teachers alike and will revel in the many more experiences that lie ahead.
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Learning By Doing Half a Century of Winterim by Joe Sheppard
Like other schools in the early 1970s, Lawrence Academy turned itself inside out in a frenzied effort to hurry up and make learning relevant to a generation of discontented, rebellious young people who wanted nothing to do with the values, habits, and morals — or education — of their parents’ generation. New headmaster Ben Williams brought in some new faculty specifically to shake things up and start building a new Lawrence Academy on the foundations of the school that had passed into history with the retirement of Arthur Ferguson in 1969. Term-length elective courses, hitherto unheard of, were an early step in spicing up the curriculum. Catchy titles such as “No, But I Read the Book,” “Find That Fairy,” and “Revolution” were designed to attract wary students who demanded anything but more of the same. Independent studies sprouted up like mushrooms after a spring rain. By 1973, seniors’ transcripts required two pages because of all the electives and their fancy names. The curricular bling toned down after a few years, with simple, descriptive course titles replacing the fairies and the revolutionaries, but the shape of a Lawrence Academy education was forever changed, largely due to one of Ben Williams’ new teachers: Vincent P. (“Vin” — never “Vince!”) Skinner, hired in 1971 to teach English — and to reform the curriculum. As Mr. Williams put it in a recent conversation,
Winterim cover illustration, 1972
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“I was impressed by his résumé. And I thought John Curran, a strong advocate of change, needed a kindred spirit.” Though he spent only four years at LA, Skinner left an indelible imprint on the school as the founder of both Lawrence II (later renamed the IIP) and, especially, Winterim, the 50th anniversary of which we are celebrating this year. Winterim was designed to be “experiential” in nature — students would learn by doing and reflecting on what they had done, as opposed to learning by rote — and, therefore, appealing to a generation that demanded something new and different. The term “experiential learning” was just coming into common use in the 1970s, but the concept is ancient: Around 350 B.C., Aristotle wrote, “For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.” Both the winter term and the spring vacation were shortened by a week to make room for Winterim. From a teacher’s point of view, it was a blessing: The winter trimester was interminably long, and by the time March rolled around, everyone was exhausted. The kids, of course, were seduced by the siren call of the long, lazy, three-week vacation that was so close, yet so far away. Add in the student restlessness and discontent of the early 1970s, and it’s easy to see that something had to change. Winterim promised something new: a replacement for listening and repeating, absorbing and regurgitating — for two weeks of the school year, at least. It would provide, as the 1975 course booklet put it:
“… a highly intensive term designed to provide students, faculty, parents, and interested people from the larger community of Lawrence with experiences and learnings not usually found in an academic secondary school curriculum. Winterim is an occasion for students, faculty, and parents to join a partnership in learning and teaching which is primarily oriented towards the development of academic skills in the utilization of resources which have not been fully exploited.” Lawrence was not the only school to embrace experiential learning. New programs appeared in many school catalogues. However, none has survived — except for Winterim. How has it remained a vital part of a Lawrence Academy education when similar programs at other schools died after a year or two? Retired English teacher and former Winterim Director David Smith ’65 offers an explanation: “The reason Winterim lasted and grew into one of LA’s signature programs while similar efforts at other schools were soon abandoned is that directors over the years insisted that courses should be genuine learning experiences. Courses that were judged to be mere busy work or disguised vacations were quickly eliminated … The engine behind Winterim’s success is faculty enthusiasm. Free teachers to pursue their own genuine interests, help them create programs to share their enthusiasm in constructive experiences for students, and excitement is largely the result.”
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For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.” -Aristotle
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Keeping the emphasis on learning rather than on merely experiencing, especially in the off-campus trips, has been a challenge for both directors and faculty course leaders since the beginning. Early descriptions of travel courses read like glossy tour brochures: “Explore the bens and glens of Scotland!” “An eight-day sailing experience!” (In fairness, the exclamation points are added, and the course descriptions do describe in detail what would be studied and supposedly learned.) Guidelines were fairly loose, and a “vacation mentality,” to use the phrase coined by retired Assistant Head Denny Blodget, often prevailed. Mr. Blodget took over as director of Winterim around 1990. “I thought Winterim should be more educational, more rigorous; courses should involve more learning. While some of the courses provided great learning, many did not,” he recalled. Accordingly, he and the
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Winterim committee instituted a number of changes in the early 1990s: “The Winterim Committee created new course categories (types of courses offered — personal challenge, cultural immersion, etc.) and new criteria that we would use to accept or reject course proposals. For example, we eliminated tourist sorts of courses — moving from town to town or country to country, visiting attractions and merely looking at things — sightseeing. Trips required immersion in a place and culture, using home stays with people who lived there rather than putting students in hotels. The choice of place would need to be essential to the learning goals of the course (as opposed to “I’d like to visit Rome. What rationalization can I come up with?”). We required courses to have a clear, challenging, specific focus that would engage students and dominate the
“
Catchy titles such as ‘No, But I Read the Book,’ ‘Find That Fairy,’ and ‘Revolution’ were designed to attract wary students who demanded anything but more of the same.” two weeks. We encouraged courses that combined an academic focus with experience: archaeological digs, scientific field work, language learning, journalism. We asked that courses be designed to enhance the likelihood that students would learn specific skills and/or develop new perspectives on themselves and the world. And we emphasized the importance of reflection in order for the students to find personal meaning in their pursuits — time for journal writing and group discussion.” Since 1994, every course description in the Winterim booklet has addressed three required questions: “What will I do in this course?” “What will I learn in this course?” and “Who will lead this course?” In addition, many descriptions start with a specific advisory: “Students must be competent swimmers” or “Students must have a basic knowledge of musical notation.” The big trips are still offered — though they are fewer than a few years ago, for many reasons — but their focus must be specific. A recent offering, Underwater Discovery, required participants to pass a swimming test, and the course description told them that they would “undergo PADO SCUBA training, with the opportunity to earn open-water SCUBA diver certification. Basic instruction includes a three-part training course: confined-water skills, written work, and open-water checkout dives.”
While the travel trips have always been glamorous and coveted, it is the variety of on-campus offerings that reflects the amazing creativity of the LA faculty. As David Smith suggested, “freeing the teachers to create courses based in their own personal interests and passions” has always resulted in ‘constructive experiences’ and ‘excitement.’ Longstanding on-campus courses such as Chess Immersion and Quilting have stemmed from teachers’ hobbies. Often, too, faculty have ventured outside their own comfort zones to offer courses in which they themselves are learners as well as teachers. In 1974, veteran language teacher Roy Davis offered a course in creating illuminated manuscripts; more recently, ESL teacher Andrew Brescia sponsored Game of Drones, a course “using flight simulator software to explore various drone applications while assembling and flying lightweight drones.” The list is endless: radio electronics, a study of Catholicism, restoring parlor organs, songwriting, building your own kayak, pottery-making, etc.
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Longstanding on-campus courses such as Chess Immersion and Quilting have stemmed from teachers’ hobbies.”
From the beginning of Winterim, there have also been various independent study and community service options, true to the spirit of experiential learning. An important course for many years was The Professionals, a long-running program that allowed a student to work for two weeks with a professional in almost any field. The sponsor had to ensure that the student would be actually participating in his or her job, not merely standing by and watching. For some participants, “doing a Professional” influenced their choice of college major and even their career path.
Anyone who has listened to the rantings of Fidel Castro in Mr. Curran’s Nukes and Commies course or who has blown things up on the Quad in Jim Serach’s science classes has Vin Skinner and Winterim to thank for those unforgettable moments. “The interesting thing is that Winterim, so clearly tied to the 1970s, has survived all the changes and swings in education over the following 50 years,” notes Mr. Curran. “How this happened, along with the changes and adaptations we have made, is, I think, the real story of Winterim.”
Many alumni look back on their Winterim experiences as having done just that, in one way or another. And back on campus, the program’s influence on the curriculum has been deliberate and ongoing as well. As John Curran says, “We anticipated from the beginning that Winterim would influence the regular curriculum and teaching, and that it would have an impact on faculty-student relationships as well.” While Winterim remains, in the words of current Winterim Director Tony Hawgood, “by far our biggest commitment to experiential education,” he adds, “We work to make much of our curriculum experiential (doing the work of a scientist, rather than just learning the facts of science, for example).”
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“
Freeing the teachers to create courses based in their own personal interests and passions has always resulted in ‘constructive experiences’ and ‘excitement.’”
ALUMNI PROFILE Sandy Wolcott ’64
Inspiring People to Succeed by Joe Sheppard
A
mong Sandy Wolcott ’64’s favorite teaching tools in the courses on communication and negotiation skills that he led at the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School are his own “Wolcottisms”: adages and aphorisms he’s collected over a 49-year career in banking, from which he recently retired. Much of his outstanding career was spent with JPMorgan Chase & Co., in senior management in the upstate New York region. A four-year student at Lawrence Academy at a time when the school still had a good number of PGs — students who had completed high school elsewhere and came to LA for an extra year of college preparation — Sandy was a three-season athlete, quarterbacking Norm Grant’s football team, playing center on the hockey team, and serving as an attackman on the lacrosse team.
an admissions tour guide, served him well during his nearly five decades in the banking industry in his adopted hometown of Rochester, N.Y. (He was born in Boston, but his family moved to Rochester when he was young.) Nicknamed “The Legend of Upstate” by colleagues in New York City, Sandy was known for his dedication to his clients and a “strong moral compass,” as one CEO put it. His last position before retirement was as vice chairman of Northeast Middle Market Banking at JPMorgan Chase & Co.; previously, he served as president of the Upstate New York Commercial Banking team for 10 years. Sandy’s proudest accomplishment, as he told the Rochester, N.Y. Democrat and Chronicle when he retired, was “building up the customer base to what it is today.”
“Your attitude is 90 percent of what people will remember about you.”
Reminiscing about his years at Lawrence, where he “learned how to live with other people,” Sandy recalls that although he wasn’t an academic “standout,” he remembers all his teachers. In a recent conversation, he said they were all there “to help kids grow … and they gave me a work ethic.” In particular, Norm and Catherine Grant were mentors to Sandy; he remembers how Mrs. Grant, who was the headmaster’s secretary, reminded him of his parents’ wedding anniversary and arranged for him to send them some flowers. When Mr. Grant was inducted posthumously into the LA Athletic Hall of Fame, Sandy gave a speech in his honor at the induction ceremony.
After graduating from LA, Sandy earned a B.B.A. from Nichols College, and later completed the Executive Program at the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia. Sandy’s people skills, honed through boarding school living, team play, and working as
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Sandy’s personal warmth and his sense of humor imbue any conversation with him. Those “Wolcottisms” not only served him as a teaching aid, they also inspired his clients and employees to do their best. With employees, he was a motivator, telling his teams that they were the “secret weapon” for the bank in winning deals. “Remember,” he would say, “no one ever followed a pessimist into battle.” He might add, “Your attitude is 90 percent of what people will remember about you.” Or, urging his employees to just get the job done, he’d tell them, “Don’t tell me how many storms the ship had to go through — just tell me it’s in port.” High on Sandy’s list of “Wolcottisms” is a couplet familiar to any Lawrencian: “To set the cause above renown, to love the game beyond the prize.” Sandy’s employees were his cause; his game, teaching and inspiring them to be the best they could be. From his home in Florida, he can reflect with pride on a job well done and a life well lived.
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ALUMNI PROFILE Sam Rowse ’65
Checking out Elmwood station on the rail trail in Hancock, N.H.
Nothing But the Finest by Joe Sheppard
Coming to Lawrence Academy from tiny Mason, N.H., was “a pretty big deal” for Sam Rowse ’65, P’92, ’94; GP ’24. “I got a chance to do sports,” he recalled, “and really be involved with multiple teachers and things.” Having more than one teacher was new to Sam, as he had only one teacher through the eighth grade in Mason — he was one of “seven or eight” in his graduating class — as was the chance to play football for Bob Shepherd and hockey “on that old rink on the lower fields.” “We had good times,” Sam acknowledged in a recent conversation. “Sports really taught me a lot about getting along with people and that sort of thing” — lessons that would serve him well in his long career with the family business and beyond.
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For over a century, the family business was Veryfine Juice, a company started in 1900 by Sam’s grandfather, Arthur Rowse, when he bought the Standard Vinegar Company in Somerville, Mass. The elder Rowse eventually moved the business to Littleton to be “nearer the fruit,” and Sam’s dad ran the company from the 1930s through the early ‘70s, when Sam — then a recent graduate of Nasson College — took over the company with his late brother David. They weren’t making any money Sam explained, “So David and I got together and tried to figure out what we were doing wrong. We just couldn’t make a dollar. When we looked around a little bit and saw that all the other beverage guys were into single-serve, we decided we’d try that.”
With a smile, Sam continued the saga: “Everybody said, ‘Nobody’s going to buy single-serve juice!’” Of course they quickly learned, everybody, was wrong. As Sam told his dad, now retired, “We did a home run with 10-ounce fruit juices and fruit drinks. We knocked it out of the park. And then we did another one.” The next “home run” was Fruit20, the first-ever calorie-free flavored water. “We were the first guys,” Sam says with pride, “and all the rest followed us.” The brothers then approached Poland Spring with the idea of selling the company, but they weren’t interested — “It’s never going to be anything,” they told the Rowses — so they sold Veryfine, “a business that was growing at 300 percent a year,” to Kraft Foods. The sale was “a good deal,” but, as Sam explained, “They gave the company to a couple of MBAs and they buried it in less than two years … It was hard to have our family put our entire work’s lives into the business and … to see it go down the tubes that quickly was awful.” The untimely death of his brother David in
1988 heightened Sam’s pain over the loss of the company. Badly needing to recover and recharge, Sam “went sailing for quite a while.” The ocean air worked its magic, and Sam became a farmer, once again calling upon the innovative skills that made Veryfine a success. Today he is operating three separate and unique farms: the family property in Mason, where he grew up, raises Horned Dorset sheep; Peterborough, N.H., where Sam now lives, is home to a herd of Wagyu cattle; and his fiancée’s farm in Round Pond, Maine, is raising Berkshire hogs, considered, as Sam says, “the Wagyu of pork.” “Our idea behind doing this is to be able to feed ourselves and others with high-quality food that we know where it came from,” Sam states. And his new enterprise is succeeding because his years in the family business taught him that there is no substitute for the best. Once again, he’s knocking one out of the park.
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ALUMNI PROFILE Cliff Clark ’57
Childhood Passion for Woodworking Remains by Angela Stefano
In the foyer of Cliff Clarke’s ’57, P ’84 Boston home sits a clock: his first major-scale woodworking project. The hands have quit working, he admits, “but the clock hasn’t fallen apart.” “In fact,” says Cliff — speaking with the Academy Journal while taking a break from putting the finishing touches on a solid-cherry credenza — a “big lifesaver” of a project during the COVID-19 pandemic — “I sometimes wonder if I should drag it in the shop, and make some modifications.” Woodworking has intrigued Cliff for nearly as long as he can remember. When he was about six or seven years old, he’d pick up wooden vegetable boxes from the corner store near his family’s home in Boston and figure out how to build things out of them. Later on, he took his hobby to a new level with model airplane kits. “I just really liked everything about working with
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my hands and making things,” Cliff explains, adding wryly, “and ruining otherwise perfectly nice pieces of wood.” Cliff ’s curiosity and imagination grew as he did, but he also describes his teenage self as “just a doofus. I could not focus, was not a very serious guy … When I look back and think about me being 14 or 15 and how little I really knew about anything, it’s almost embarrassing in so much as I just never buckled down and learned discipline.” According to Cliff, a well-respected family friend who had graduated from Lawrence Academy, “recognized that I was going nowhere fast” and facilitated his application to the school. “How I ever got in is one of life’s mysteries,” says Cliff, who spent two years at LA after entering as a junior. But, he adds, “slowly, the lights went on, I developed some skills to tame this crazy brain of mine and focus, and it set me on a course for the rest of my life.”
“Now, that sounds pretty dramatic,” continues Cliff, “because it is. I would say that, you know, if this were some kind of a computer game and I would pull that module out of my life, I’d be a very different person without those two years. I don’t know where I’d be, I don’t know what I’d be doing, but I don’t think that I would be as comfortable and as spiritually happy as I am now.” During his school years, Cliff discovered a love of history that came to him as easily as woodworking did. Whereas in English and science courses “a lot of it was just sitting down and forcing yourself to just learn things,” Cliff lit up in his history classes, including a particularly memorable one taught by Jack Burckes. “I just loved that stuff. And unlike the other stuff, I didn’t even have to finish a sentence — somehow, I knew what was going to happen,” he says. Ancient and classic architecture still influences his woodworking projects. After leaving Lawrence Academy, Cliff earned his B.A. in history, with a minor in art history, from the University of New Hampshire in 1961. A six-month ROTC obligation turned into five years in the U.S. Army as an armor (that is, tanks) officer in Germany and at Fort Knox, and he earned his MBA from Boston University in 1969. The year prior, Cliff joined the Digital Equipment Corporation, where he worked until 1987, becoming a key player in their international business. By the time he left the company, Cliff was its corporate director of international trade. “It was a very multifaceted job; in a way, it was a dream,” says Cliff, as it gave him a front-row seat to a number of historical moments: the breakup of the Soviet Union, the modernization of China, the fall of apartheid. “I got involved in lots and lots of intriguing situations,” he adds somewhat mysteriously, though he promises that he’s more than happy to divulge plenty of the details in friendly conversation. In between his time at DEC and his 1996 retirement, Cliff started his own consulting company, working with companies that hoped to establish a presence overseas and representing his clients during trade organizations’ lobbying in Washington, D.C. Prior to the pandemic, he spent plenty of time traveling, too,
including undertaking a coast-to-coast walk across northern England — from the Irish Sea on the country’s western edge to the North Sea on its eastern edge — with his wife Nancy and another couple. “You pick up a stone on the beach of the Irish Sea and you put in your pocket, and then when you get to the North Sea, it’s thrown in the ocean,” Cliff explains, adding humorously, “and you get a little certificate that said you were dumb enough to do this.” Cliff and Nancy’s middle child, Peter, is also a Class of 1984 Lawrence Academy graduate, and is now working on Hollywood movie and TV sets. “They were all different people at the same age … and it just seemed that Peter would benefit more, at the time and at his age,” Of their decision to send only one of their three children to LA, Cliff explains, “The others [oldest child Cliff III and youngest child Susan] were off on different tracks.” Throughout the years, Cliff ’s at-home woodworking shop has grown from a few tools in his basement to a dedicated (and above-ground) space. He doesn’t do it for the money, just when he’s inspired. “Unfortunately,” he says, “I don’t need any more furniture … so I have a little bit of a dilemma as to what I do with the stuff that I’ve made. But I'm still making it anyway.”
Ancient and classic architecture still influence his woodworking projects. FALL 2021 LAWRENCE ACADEMY 33
Alumni Events
SPRING 2021
Despite the continued presence of COVID-19 precautions, the late spring and summer of 2021 remained a busy time for the Lawrence Academy Advancement Office. Alumni events, graduation, the virtual reunion, and a return to in-person programming kept former students and LA personnel busy until the start of school.
ALUMNI SPEAKER SERIES
ALUMNI FOR LA: A CAREER PANEL
On March 31, the Alumni Speaker Series continued with Robin Soloway Farmanfarmaian ’91, who presented “Thought Leader Formula.” Author, professional speaker, entrepreneur, and advisor, Robin provided a timely, informative, and interactive presentation sharing insightful advice from her most recent books: The Thought Leader Formula and Facilitating Virtual Events. Robin also posed several thought-provoking queries to those in attendance as the group engaged in helpful conversation. We are grateful to Robin for having provided such inspiring and encouraging wisdom throughout her presentation, making this a thoroughly beneficial and enjoyable LA Alumni Speaker Series event.
The Lawrence Academy Alumni Council followed suit with their Alumni for LA: A Career Panel series, featuring Careers in Sports. On April 29, NESN’s Scott Brewitt ’82, entrepreneur Ben Lord ’75, Greg Rybarczyk ’86 from the Boston Red Sox, and the Chicago Cubs’ Julia Tesoro ’12 spoke about their off-field work in the ever-expanding sports industry. The Alumni Council’s Carolyn Balas-Zaleski ’84, Victor Howell ’08, and Lindsay (Latuga) Howard ’00 moderated, and all in virtual attendance came away with a better understanding of what it actually takes to put players on the field and fans in the seats.
YOUNG ALUMNI GATHERING On Tuesday, August 10, Lawrence Academy held its first in-person alumni event since before the pandemic. Young alumni gathered at Tia’s in Boston, with former Spartans traveling to Atlantic Avenue in Boston’s North End to gather at a “Best of Boston” venue (as chosen by Boston Magazine). There, they reconnected with each other while viewing the Atlantic on a gorgeous, and toasty summer day. It was a festive young alumni event and we say “thank you” to the Spartans who were in attendance — it was great to see you all again!
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Golden Alumni Gathering
GOLDEN ALUMNI AND L AMPLIGHTER SOCIETY GATHERING
Lamplighter Society Gathering
LA hosted two events on the Quad late in August, the first on-campus alumni gatherings since before the COVID lockdowns. On August 17, LA hosted Golden Alumni traveling to Groton for hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and camaraderie. In addition, the Reunion Challenge Cup was presented to the Class of 1970, which boasted the most alumni on hand at reunion, in front of the Ansin Building. The next afternoon, LA alumni gathered as the Lamplighter Society (those who have given to the school for five consecutive years or more) held its inaugural gathering. Head of School Dan Scheibe addressed the group, thanking each of them for their support during unprecedented times.
NEW ALUMNI INDUCTION LA’s youngest graduates were inducted into the Alumni Association on Wednesday, June 2. Following the Class of 2021’s final graduation rehearsal, seniors were treated to a picnic overlooking Murbach Field led by Alumni Council President Carolyn Balas-Zaleski ’84. The class was welcomed by alumni council members Catie Floyd McMenamin ’97, Marianne Balfour ’88, Patrick Donoghue ’06, Lindsay Latuga Howard ’00, Paul Husted ’64, Ann Steward McGuire ’03, and Kevin McDonald ’70, each offering congratulatory remarks and a sincere invitation to remain involved in the life of the school. Moreover, every new graduate received their Class of 2021 banner and LA pin.
VIRTUAL REUNION On Saturday, June 12, Lawrence Academy gathered virtually for LA’s live and on-demand “virtual reunion programming and class Zoom social hours to celebrate the Reunion Classes ending in 0’s, 1’s, 5’s, and 6’s. See the following pages for details of the day.
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Creative Solutions, Awards Spark Reunion By Angela Stefano
The elm tree-shaded hillside couldn’t be full of former Spartans this past June — but our computer screens could. Faced with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic for a second year, the Lawrence Academy Alumni Advancement Team, reunion ambassadors, and class volunteers made the best of an unprecedented situation. Instead of canceling Reunion 2021, as happened in 2020, reunion-year classes from both 2020 (0’s and 5’s) and 2021 (1’s and 6’s) gathered virtually for a celebration of their graduating classes, their former teachers, and their accomplishments in the years since graduation. While the Alumni Advancement Team opted to postpone the Lawrence Academy Athletic Hall of Fame inductions for the second year, they worked with the communications team and several volunteers, in collaboration with the inductees, to create a website full of on-demand Reunion programming. Also archived there is the live Reunion programming that took place the afternoon of June 12. Opening remarks from longtime LA history teacher John Curran gave way to a slideshow narrated by former faculty member Joe Sheppard offering “a little history lesson” focused briefly on each Reunion class. “You’ve helped move the school forward,” Mr. Curran noted, “and you’ve also helped preserve a sense of community that has endured over all these years.” Head of School Dan Scheibe P’23, ‘24 echoed that sentiment during his State of the School address. “We’re indebted to generations who have built a school and built a culture before us,” he told the dozens of Lawrence Academy alumni tuning in from home, some taking advantage of the LA-specific virtual backgrounds designed just for the occasion. Together with Board of Trustees President Jason Saghir P’19, Mr. Scheibe stressed that while a global pandemic is a new experience for Lawrence, the school has weathered metaphorical storms in the past and now is again. “It’s a comfort to be in the presence of alums,” he said. “… A school that’s been around since 1793 has definitely seen its share of challenges to human vitality … We’ve experienced cultural
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tremors and turbulence before … and a need for a school to be able to reposition and reinvent itself, sometimes in the moment.” Alumni Council President Carolyn Balas-Zaleski ’84, P’17 presided over the presentation of a variety of faculty and alumni-focused awards, beginning with 2020’s Alumni Faculty Appreciation Award, given posthumously to longtime faculty member Arleigh D. “Doc” Richardson, a fixture on the LA campus from 1977 through 1991.
2020 Faculty Appreciation Award
“I had the depth and character of Arleigh (Doc) Richardson III probably a shallow puddle at the P’78; GP’06, ’11 time I came to LA as a 16-year-old,” admitted Steve Heinze ’88 during remarks in Dr. Richardson’s honor. “He certainly added to that water of my shallow puddle. Doc really is someone who has affected me and brought joy and understanding and respect for things I maybe would have not otherwise realized had I not met him.” More than 200 former Spartans from the early 1970s voted for 2021’s Alumni Faculty Appreciation Award winner, the late Vin Skinner. Mr. Skinner was only on campus for four years, but, as one nominator noted, “He saw me, and he saw every student he had. He didn’t just teach 2021 Faculty — he showed us who we were and Appreciation Award what we could achieve.” “I am still learning from this extraordinary man,” reflected Joe Donahue ’72, calling Mr. Skinner “an existentialist Socrates, always asking the questions that counted.” Skinner’s daughter Leigh — “a blonde blur,” as Joe remembered her from her time living with her father, mother, and sister on campus —
Vincent “Vin” Skinner
and widow Gail joined the ceremony and were visibly moved by the kind words offered. “It’s really gratifying to know he’s still remembered by so many people. Teaching was really his calling, his true love, his passion in life. It’s the work that gave shape and meaning to his life, and he took such joy in it and in his students,” Leigh shared, noting that her father would be “really, deeply moved” to see how his former students had turned out. “… He wanted to educate students not just to be successful people in their lives … but to have a real, aesthetic sense, in the truest meaning of the word — to be able to find beauty and meaning in both the human and natural worlds around them,” she added. 2020 Amos Lawrence Award Receipients
reconnect with each other and their former classmates via Facebook around the same time. Sandy, in particular, tries to engage her classmates with LA trivia and other online discussions about their time on campus. “I think we’ve always been connected to the school from the very start. Even though we go through life and our life changes, LA has a powerful effect on so many students. We were children of the ’70s, and we went through a lot with LA, and that connection will always be there,” explains Sandy. Adds Ben, “LA was the best thing for me.” The 2021 Amos Lawrence Award winners were: Brian Drolet ’01, Sam Pelham ’83, and Paige Beede ’16, the latter of whom helped solicit more than five dozen class notes from her classmates within the past year — enough to give the Class of 2016 the most class notes (62) submitted out of all 2021 reunion classes. It was one of five achievements measured for the inaugural Reunion Challenge, a newly established competition among the classes returning to campus to see 2021 Amos Lawrence Award Receipients
Witney Scheidman ’70
Sandy (Sweeney) Gallo ’75
Ben Lord ’75
Reunion 2020’s Amos Lawrence Awards, which honor alumni for their volunteerism at LA, went to Witney Schneidman ’70 and Class of 1975 Reunion Co-Chairs Sandy (Sweeney) Gallo ’75 and Ben Lord ’75. Sandy and Ben have been co-chairing their class’s reunions since 2010, after working to
Brian Drolet ’01
Sam Pelham ’83
Paige Beede ’16
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L AW R E N C E A C A D E M Y V I RT UA L R E U N I O N 2 0 2 1
which class can submit the most class notes, achieve the highest percentage of new or lapsed LA Fund donors, get the most classmates to donate to the LA Fund, raise the most money for the LA Fund, and get the most classmates to show up to Reunion. In addition to the Class of 2016, the Class of 1986 was recognized for the second-most class notes submitted among 2021 Reunion classes (four); in 2020, those honors went to the Class of 1975 (10) and the Class of 2010 (six). In 2020, the Classes of 1945 and 2000 achieved the highest percentage of new or lapsed LA Fund donors (33 percent and 15 percent, respectively), while in 2021, it was the Class of 1966 and the Class of 1951 (15 percent and 13 percent, respectively). The most LA Fund donors in 2020 came from the Class of 1970 (31) and the Class of 2015 (21), and the Classes of 1981 (first place, with 12), 1986, and 2016 (tied for second, each with 11) had the most in 2021.
Following the all-classes virtual program, each reunion class was encouraged to host their own Zoom call.
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D E MY
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L Uthe lives of others with “You continue U S to inspire B I everything you do, and thatCembodies who we are N as a school, so I feel that there’s a little bit of LA in all of you, and I’m very, very grateful for that,” Director of Alumni Advancement Jo-Ann Lovejoy told the gathered alumni before the all-alumni call broke up. “I think it’s the LA spirit to push through, to create opportunities, and to always find the best outcome in the most challenging of times.”
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Meanwhile, the classes that raised the most money for the LA Fund were honored with the Reunion Giving Cup. In 2020, it went to the Class of 1970 ($78,309), with the Class of 1975 ($7,712) in second place, and in 2021, the Class of 1966 ($81,300) won it, while the Class of 1976 ($56,550) came in second place. And, on Reunion day, the Classes of 1970 (19 attending), 1986 (18), 2001 (13), and 1960 (12) had the most classmates present.
Photos: Top to Bottom, Class of 1960, Class of 2001 at the Billiards Cafe in Ayer, and Class of 1986 at Sunset Tiki Bar in Westford, Mass.
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Alumni Class Notes
1955 Mountain Day: In this photo, three members of the Class of 1956 enjoy their first experience at Lawrence Academy’s Mountain Day. Pictured are: Norm Salem ’56, Jack McCarthy ’56, and Irv Weiner ’56 (along with a donkey whose name is unknown).
First Weekend at LA for (l. to r.) Jason Treisman ’56 and classmates Norm Salem and Irv Weiner. (photo provided by John J. Beades, ’56 Class Agent)
1956
1957 (65th Reunion)
All three class members (shown above left) were first-year students as post-graduates after graduating from their respective high schools. They were all residents of Waters House, so they experienced their first few weeks of LA culture together after successful high school athletic careers.
Jeff Foran ’57 writes: “After a long career in management consulting, I’ve turned into a novelist. My second book, A Mistaken Hostage, will be published in the fall. My first novel, Angels on a Tombstone, secured a first prize for Best Historical Fiction in 2019.
These members of the Class of 1956 belonged to one of the last LA classes with a significant number of post-graduates, or “PGs.” All three became key players on the 1955 football team which went undefeated and is now in the LA Athletic Hall of Fame, and loyal supporters of the school, with fond memories of their year at LA. In the “First Weekend at LA” photo, Jason Treisman, Norm Salem, and Irv Weiner pose to celebrate their first weekend at LA outside of Waters House. While Jason was a returning student, Norm and Irv were PGs. They experienced some initial culture shock in the opening weeks at LA as they learned about morning assembly, 8:30 a.m. classes, structured study hall, and Sunday afternoon Vespers. But thanks to the camaraderie they developed with their fellow Waters House residents and classmates, they managed to survive their introductory phase at Lawrence. Jackets and ties were required, but they didn’t mind at all.
Have a note to share in the Spring 2022 Academy Journal? Forward info and pictures to pglover@lacademy.edu.
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Arthur Ferguson, English teacher and headmaster in 1957, told me I was a good writer but I didn’t do much with that skill until recently.”
1959
1957 yearbook
Harris LeRoy ’59 wrote “So far, so good. Hitting my 80th birthday in September, and life is good. All three kids are doing well; all four grandchildren are doing well, and Sally and I will celebrate our 58th anniversary at the end of the year. I am still working on a part-time basis (I am a healthcare consultant helping physician groups grow and prosper in uncertain times) and now able to travel again. We’ve been to Turks and Caicos recently and head for Maui later in the fall. Caught up with Jerry Scott (my roommate at LA) and Prim, but other than that, only incidental contact with former classmates.”
Walter (Buck) Davis '60
1962 yearbook (student council)
1964 Bill Drowne ’64 writes: “I sold my insurance agency in Southborough, Mass., after 25 years as founder and owner and entered retirement as of Jan. 1, 2020.”
1967 (55th Reunion) Walter Davis, Jim Gurry, Don Beck '60
Joseph Motta ’59 sent this update: “To the LA Class of 1959 and the many who have helped our fine school over the years: I moved my business to Naples, Fla., from Waltham and am still working. Retirement is a myth! We purchased a new beach home in Boca Grande, Fla., and we still maintain a Massachusetts summer residence on Nantucket, playing lots of golf and tennis. No more hockey or football, but I still watch. Hopefully one of my granddaughters, living in Concord, will be a Spartan. I miss those 7:00-9:00 study halls and the Masters (are they still called that?). Come visit in Florida and we’ll go tarpon fishing!”
1962
Bill Boles ’67 writes: “I’ve retired from working for an IT consulting firm as lead business system analyst and project manager. Part of my work career was spent as an industrial engineer for Raytheon. I’m enjoying traveling, golf, and family, and am actively involved with Catholic Charities and Knights of Columbus.”
(60th Reunion)
Former LA faculty member Griffith (Fritz) Mark ’62 sent some recollections: “Alan Whipple [LA faculty 1955-1988] was the most important person in my life; he has influenced every decision I make and I miss him dearly. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson were wonderful people, both as a headmaster and headmistress and as friends. So were the Grants. I believe I was the first graduate to ever teach at Lawrence; that is what Mr. Ferguson said. I’m lifelong friends with Joe Sheppard (long distance), who was hired the same year as I was, and good friends with the Bakers, and, of course, the Jeffers [faculty, 1955-2001 and 1961-2008, respectively].”
Sketches by Donald Foy ‘67
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Alumni Class Notes
1968
1970
Stephen Starensier ’68 sent us this update: “It was the height of the 60s counterculture, yet I managed to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in art history in 1972 and a master of architecture degree from Columbia University in 1975. From offices in Houston I helped build across the state, exhibited in a Stephen M. Starensier ’68 contemporary art museum show, and was one of the founders of the (old) Houston Urban Bunch, helping the less fortunate with construction issues.
In celebration of its 50th reunion, again, the Class of 1970 held a Zoom get-together in June. In the run up to the virtual reunion, the class unanimously agreed to rename its Class of 1970, 50th Reunion Financial Aid Endowment Fund/gift in honor of its class agent, Kevin McDonald, as a way to thank him for his extraordinary service to the class and the school over the last fifty years. It was a thrill when Witney Schneidman surprised Kevin on the Zoom with the news that his classmates had voted unanimously to honor him in this way. Henceforth the Class of 1970, 50th reunion gift will be known as The Kevin J. McDonald Class of 1970 Financial Aid Endowment Fund.
Mid-career I returned to Columbia and earned a master of science in historic preservation in 1985, followed by a master of science in real estate finance in 1986. At Columbia, I was a professor’s associate for the classical redesigns of the Offices of the Secretary of State in Washington, D.C. and the façade of Bergdorf Goodman on 5th Avenue in New York City. I went on to participate in the review and financial structuring of an estimated $2.6 billion in market rate real estate across the country. After medical recovery in 2004, I committed the remainder of my career to needy not-for-profit housing organizations, many in some of the toughest neighborhoods in NYC. I am most proud that I participated in over $1.1 billion in affordable housing development for the disadvantaged, disabled, and the elderly. On a personal note, I have lived primarily in Manhattan since 1993 with Barbie, my wife of 34 years. Together we led very active outdoor lives and were longtime practitioners of vinyasa yoga. As well as being a registered architect, financial analyst and underwriter, and AIA SAP disaster responder, I am also a fourinstrument renaissance musician, chef, and multi-graphics artist. It can be noted that I am just a high-functioning autistic, never properly diagnosed, yet I managed to thrive. In 2020, I was medically forced into full retirement. I confess I hated the time served in the repressive LA environment of the 1960s and swore never to return. Upon belatedly discovering the well-rounded, dare I say, nurturing environment LA now offers, I rescinded that oath.
Class of 1970 golfers; Summer 21
1971 Four members of the Class of ’71 sent in this letter before Reunion last June. The masthead is by Bob Gordon (see below): “Hey, Class of 1971, It’s been 18,250 days since our relationships started 50-some years ago. Back then, we made Drew Lybrook ‘71, 50th reunion history as the last all-male class of Lawrence Academy. For any of us not fallen to Vietnam, relentless disease, unexpected trainwrecks or to the experimentation with consumed substances, it’s a miracle to be here today.
Go LA.”
Have a note to share in the Spring 2022 Academy Journal? Forward info and pictures to pglover@lacademy.edu. Masthead created by Bob Gordon ’71 for the Class of ’71 50th reunion
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We entered LA as a goofy bunch of guys, were enlightened by probably an equally quirky bunch of mentors and graduated as a wiser bunch of… goofy guys. Along the way we had successes and downfalls, laughs and anguish. We started as coat and tie buzz-heads and left as longer-haired laid-backs. However, we learned to look beyond an elm tree-covered hillside and soon we’ll share where we are a half a century later. We hope to reconnect the bonds formed and the stories written in the classroom, postered dorm rooms, the smoking room and the locker room. Let’s celebrate our years together at LA. We’ll cherish the good times we had, forget the bad times, and remember those of our class who are no longer with us. We can renew our relationships and be thankful that Lawrence Academy helped us to be who we are and contributed to richer and fuller lives. Omnibus Lucet, Jim Gilmore, Drew Lybrook, Jim Hartwell, and Bob Gordon
1972 (50th Reunion) From Bill Curry ‘73
1977 (45th Reunion)
1972 Graduation
1973
1978
Bill Curry ’73 writes: I received my Academy Journal in the mail today and was interested to see the article on baseball and Lawrence Academy.
Brian Reed ’78 writes, “Greetings from Atlanta! Kids are mostly out of school. Caroline is in her second year as an OB/GYN resident. Every day is a litany of epic stories. Vivienne is exploring law with Alston & Bird. Perhaps law school in her future. Janet and I work out of our house — she as a writer and I as an ops/marketing consultant. Hope you all came through the pandemic in a good way.”
On page 30 of the Journal there is an image of the LA baseball team and the caption that the 1923 image is the oldest known photo of an LA baseball team. I have one that is older. My grandfather, Carl A. P. Lawrence, was on the baseball team in his senior year (and before, I think), and as he graduated in 1910, this image is either the 1909 or 1910 LA baseball team. Grampy Carl is the player in the middle row, second from the left (next to the boy in the suit). I have this image framed in a shadow box along with Grampy’s glove, and that piece stands in my study in front of my great-grandfather William A Lawrence’s diploma from LA in 1873!
1981 Russ Brandon ’81 recently published a story on Amazon called Holy Smoke: Trapped by Hellfire. An educator, writer, and filmmaker, he teaches at the Sterling Montessori Charter School in Morrisville, N.C. Russ’ feature-length film script of the same story was a semi-finalist in the 2001 Chesterfield Writer’s Film Project. His scripts, TV shows, and directing work have earned him over 30 awards over the last 20 years.
Have a note to share in the Spring 2022 Academy Journal? Forward info and pictures to pglover@lacademy.edu. FALL 2021 LAWRENCE ACADEMY 43
Alumni Class Notes
1982 (40th Reunion)
Class of '82 Reunion Zoom call
1982 (40th Reunion) Karen (Mitchell) Brandvold ’82 reports: “We had a successful Zoom LA ’82 call last week. There were 23 people that showed up. I thought that was pretty good. It was a lot of fun.” Brian McKiernan ’82 recently retired from the Army as a major general, culminating 34 years of service. He writes, “I am settled in Northern Virginia and enjoying my new roles as vice president, operations at Cypress International and as a new grandparent. Looking forward to Reunion ’22.”
1984 Ron Schnell ’84 sent this note: “I recently published in Stanford Law School’s Journal of Computational Antitrust about my enforcement of the final judgments against Microsoft by the U.S.
1987 (35th Reunion)
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1982 – four-year seniors
and individual states. Full paper can be read at https:// law.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/ himes-nieh-schnell-computational-antitrust.pdf.”
1988 Karen McCann ’88 sent this note: “Hope everyone is doing OK post-pandemic! I am still working at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., playing soccer, and paddling the Potomac as much as I can. We are looking forward to our empty nest with our youngest at Bowdoin College and our oldest in grad school at UVA.”
1992 (30th Reunion)
1987 (35th Reunion)
Kim Knox ’95 writes: “I wanted to reach out with a little update for the Journal. I currently run a successful real estate team, the Knox Real Estate Group. We were selected Top Real Estate Producers for 2020 by Boston Magazine. Right now, I find myself teamed up with Shelbie McCormack ’15, working together on site at Emerson Green, Devens, an energy-efficient community of 84 homes and 40 apartments. I also have a spitfire 4-year-old little girl, JoJo. Thanks so much and hope all is well.”
Kim Knox ‘95
1999 Kate Dimancescu ’99 wrote her class note while enjoying a stay on the North Shore of Boston, writing her third non-fiction historical narrative. Last year she could not have predicted that Summer 2021 would find her writing near the seaside in a part of Gloucester, Mass., where her maternal grandmother and great-grandmother summered in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
1992 Yearbook Senior Page
1997 (25th Reunion)
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Alumni Class Notes
2002 (20th Reunion)
When not working on her book, she enjoyed finding the locations shown in her great-grandmother's vintage Gloucester vacation photos, touring The Hammond Castle Museum, and tucking in (as her friends in London say) to fresh seafood lunches waterside. She looks forward to sharing her book in due time with the LA community and wishes everyone a happy, healthy, and safe summer.
2003 Lindsay (Myette) McGloughlin ’03 writes: “In March I was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in the Concord (Mass.) Fire Department. I have been with CFD for eight years and in the fire service for the past 14 years. It is also an honor to be the first female firefighter to hold rank within the history of the Concord Fire Department.”
Lindsay (Myette) McGloughlin
2007 (15th Reunion) 4 6 LAWRENCE ACADEMY FALL 2021
2011 Dan Giovacchini ’11 is part-owner of a horse, Hot Rod Charlie, who ran in the Kentucky Derby last May.
Amanda Kressler ’08 and Brenna Morrisey ’09
2008/2009
Anna Demasi Godin ’12 and friends
After a long time coming, Amanda Kressler ’08 and Brenna Morrissey ’09 got engaged in January 2020 and were married this summer! The pair live in Somerville, Mass., with their two cats and newest addition to the family, a vintage camper named Little George. Follow along as they renovate and transform the 1971 junker to a modern tiny home. @LittleGeorges_BigAdventure on Instagram.
2010 Sara (Davey) Gillis ’10 and Logan Gillis ’09 are the proud parents of Boden Christopher Gillis, born March 26, 2021.
2012 (10th Reunion) Have a note to share in the Spring 2022 Academy Journal? Forward info and pictures to pglover@lacademy.edu.
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Alumni Class Notes Cailey Mastrangelo ’16 named 2021-2022 Class Agent Executive Committee Chair Cailey’s life has truly unfolded on the Lawrence Academy campus and she embodies the spirit of the school with her contagious enthusiasm and excitement for all things LA. Her leadership as a member of the Class of 2016’s 5th Reunion committee in 2020 helped bring her classmates together for this first of many LA milestones. We are excited to welcome her as committee chair this year as LA continues to grow its Class Agent program, increasing alumni engagement and participation in all areas of the life of the school. Cailey or members of her committee may be contacting you to ask you to consider serving as a Class Agent for your class or as a Reunion Ambassador. Cailey, who is the daughter of veteran faculty members Donna and Frank Mastrangelo, teaches Spanish I and ELL (English for Language Learners) at Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H. She is head coach of the girls’ JV soccer and basketball teams, and, as she says, “I also get to participate with the varsity girls’ soccer and basketball programs, teach dance, advise students, and help with the school musical.” She lives on campus, does weekly dorm duty and is “happy to be living on Lake Winnipesaukee.” Cailey adds, “I’m very fortunate to be staying connected to and working closely with my LA community.”
2017 (5th Reunion) Subin Kim ’17 earned her bachelor’s degree in molecular biology from the University of California, Berkeley in 2020. She is currently at Stanford University doing cancer, immunology, genetics, and genomics research, and hopes to see her LA friends soon.
Have a note to share in the Spring 2022 Academy Journal? Forward info and pictures to pglover@lacademy.edu.
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Obituaries This section is dedicated to alumni who have died since 2018.
James C. Dybes, Jr. ’46 passed away on Oct. 16, 2020 at Scripps Green Hospital in San Diego, Calif. He enlisted in the army after graduating from LA and served in Japan during the Occupation as the editor of the Stars and Stripes newspaper. After his tour of duty, he received a B.A. in education from Boston University, and eventually a master’s degree in education.
In retirement, Tom was active with the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Loyal Order of Moose. He also did volunteer work for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Meals on Wheels and Habitat for Humanity. He also authored two books, When the Sacred Marriage Ends and Veteran and Fraternal Clubs at Bay.
David is survived by his wife of 64 years, Randy (Kliger) Zussman, as well as his children and grandchildren.
Moving from West Roxbury to San Diego in the early 1960s with his wife Marilyn, James taught in the Diego city schools for 30 years. After Marilyn’s passing, James married Jean Dybes and they spent 17 wonderful years together enjoying music and world travel. James had many interests, including flying single-propeller airplanes and private jets, USO volunteer work, reading, jazz events, tennis, fishing in San Diego and Mexico, automobiles, technology and current events. He resided in Carlsbad, Calif. until his death.
Paul Leo Flynn, Sr. ’48 died on June 17, 2020, at age 91. A graduate of Fordham University, he was the retired owner of Stop Loss Insurance Brokers in Boston. He worked for the city of Boston for 60 years and knew every shop owner, police officer, and neighbor. He was always impeccably dressed and known for his pocket squares and colorful ties, and he greeted everyone with a smile and a kind word.
Irving D. (Sonny) Weiner ’56 died on Aug. 9. 2020, after a brief illness. He was 85. Sonny was a football standout, both at Lawrence and at Northeastern University; he later earned a B.S. in accounting at Bentley College. Following an early career as a CPA, he owned and operated a successful retail business on the South Shore for over 30 years, retiring in the mid-2000s. Always generous to family and friends, Sonny contributed to over 35 charities each year, many of which supported the humane treatment of animals.
In addition to his wife, James is survived by a son, two grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Thomas A. Moore ’47 passed away at age 93 on April 25, 2018, at his home in Alamogordo, N.M. He was active in the community and a member of Saint Jude’s Catholic Church. A veteran of World War II, he graduated from Boston College in 1951with a bachelor’s degree in physics. Tom retired from civil service, in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in 1986. His work involved electronic engineering in the fields of radar, transponders, communications, navigation, and survey with electronic position fixing equipment. With four U.S. patents to his credit, he was a recognized authority in the radar-transponder field. He published in Proceedings and presented over 35 papers at conferences throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
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Joseph A. Zanni ’54 passed away on Feb. 2, 2019, surrounded by his loving family. He was 85. In addition to his wife Sylvia (MacMillan), to whom he was married for 62 years, he leaves three sons, 12 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren, as well as two brothers Tom is survived by one sister, two sons, three and two sisters. One brother, Dominick grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren Zanni, predeceased him.
He is survived by his wife, Susan Leonard Flynn, as well as four children, nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. One daughter, Lisa Flynn, predeceased him. David T. Zussman ’49 passed away at his residence in Chestnut Hill, Mass., on May 5, 2021. He was 90 years old. A graduate of Tufts University, with graduate work at NYU business school and the Harvard School of Design, he was a leader and pioneer in residential and commercial real estate. He founded Creative Builders, which became Boston Development Group (BDG) in 1956, and he was the first to convert apartments into condominiums, winning 10 national awards for excellence in design, construction and development. In 1975, David created First General Realty Corp., a management and leasing company that manages Boston Development Group’s diverse portfolio of buildings. His firm has developed, constructed, marketed, and managed apartments, condominiums, offices, hotels, senior communities, and retail spaces along the East Coast of the United States from Buffalo, N.Y. to Florida. His philanthropy has touched many people.
He leaves his significant other, Sheila Byers, as well as a daughter, Christine Bielakowski, and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews. Neil Wiener ’58 died in Los Angeles on March 18, 2019, at age 78. After graduating from Lawrence, he earned a BA from Brandeis University and a Ph.D. in psychology from New York University. After a post-doctoral year at the University of California, San Diego, he joined the psychology department at York University in Toronto. Neil was a dedicated and creative teacher and researcher for over 40 years, focused on issues related to the biological basis of behavior. A kind friend and colleague, Neil was also an avid and eclectic reader, particularly enjoying poetry and all aspects of history, and he loved gardens, art, and music. In addition to Myra, his wife of 52 years, Neil is survived by a son, three grandchildren, a sister, two nephews, and a brother-in-law.
Charles J. “Jack” Remien ’60, of Plymouth, Minn., passed away peacefully on Feb. 22, 2019, after a brave battle with neuromuscular illness. He was 76 at the time of his passing. After college, Jack settled in Minneapolis, where he began a long and successful career in food service distribution and manufacturing. He held top-level management positions, most notably as president of the Plymouth, Minn., Division of PYA/ Monarch, Inc. It was at Monarch that he met Eunice, the love of his life, to whom he was married for 19 years. She survives him, along with two stepchildren, three step-grandchildren, a sister and a stepbrother, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Ted (Theo) Tracy ’66 passed away on Oct. 21, 2019, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston after a short but courageous fight with leukemia. He was 72. Athlete, glee club President, and member of the band at LA, he was also a student councilor for two years.
After graduating from Boston College, ‘Ted’, as he was known at LA, began a long and successful career in the sales and marketing branch of the newspaper industry, including a long stint with the New York Times. During his tenure with that paper, he moved to the greater Los Angeles area to open remote printing and distribution sites for the company. Ted returned to New York again Philip D. Berry ’64, of Groton, formerly of and lived in Darien, Conn., for many years Ayer, died on Jan. 16, 2020 at the Pat Roche until his retirement. In his “retirement” years Hospice House, Hingham, Mass. after a he worked as a consultant to a newspaper lengthy illness. He was 73. After Lawrence, publisher in the Boston area. After moving to Phil continued his education at the University Cincinnati, Ohio, he ran his own marketing of Alabama, Babson College and later Bryant consulting practice with two other local University. For over 30 years, he owned and associates, concentrating on online sales operated Carlin’s Tavern in downtown Ayer. and distribution as a consultant in the craft He enjoyed golfing. beer industry. Phil leaves his wife of 18 years, Christine, a son, David Berry ’88 of Harvard; a daughter, Leslie D. Bridges ’93 of Dunellon, Fla.; and four grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother, Lester W. “Sonny” Berry. Bill Aldrich ’65 died in January, 2021 in Shelburne, Vt. An accomplished athlete at Lawrence, he was inducted into the LA Athletic Hall of Fame for his tennis prowess during the team’s undefeated 1965 season. After serving in the Marine Corps and studying at Parsons College, Bill moved from Boston to the Champlain Valley, where he shared his passion for boats and his commitment to service by joining the Antique Boat Society, Lake Champlain Chapter, serving on the board of governors of Lake Champlain Yacht Club, and proudly volunteering for the North Country Honor Flight Foundation. While his boats were recognized for their meticulous preservation, particularly his 1963 Chris Craft Sea Skiff Miss Magic, he showed tireless effort in his support for veterans. Bill is survived by his daughter Alexandra; his son-in-law, Renier van Breen, and three grandsons, as well as one brother, and many friends and members of his extended family.
Ted is survived by his wife of 40 years, Emma (Egbert), as well as by a daughter and a son, and six siblings — including Bob Tracy ’71 — and 13 nieces and nephews. Brian Cassidy ’69, of Lincoln, Mass., passed away on July 28, 2021. A graduate of UMass Lowell with a degree in electrical engineering, he was owner and business manager of the Cassidy Water Conditioning Franchise of Culligan USA, which he helped found in 1968 along with his father in Lowell, Mass. Brian was extremely dedicated to the business and felt that his team at work was his extended family. He is survived by his brother Terence, a niece, a nephew, and their families. David Pickering ’72 died on May 3, 2021. A winner of the Pillsbury Prize for Character and Conduct at his LA graduation, he went on to own a florist business in Portsmouth, N.H., which was the start of his life-long green thumb. David’s career path eventually led to a division head position at Gillette in South Boston. The respect and admiration of everyone he worked with came easily due to his management style and work ethic. David raised his family in Kennebunk, Maine, before retiring to Harpswell Neck. An athlete and a
lifelong sailor, he could often be found on the hockey rink, on the golf course or on Casco Bay piloting his boat On the Blue. David was a past commodore of the Arundel Yacht Club in Kennebunkport and was on the board there for eight years. In the winter he dedicated time serving the Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation Ski Program at Sunday River. He is survived by Jennifer Williams Pickering, his wife of 40 years; two sons and two grandsons; and a sister and many other relatives. Elizabeth Baily (Haines) Hatch ’86 died on Aug.10, 2020, after a long illness. She had many passions, including a love of gardening, cooking and baking homemade breads. She was an avid reader, and loved crossword puzzles and watching horror films. She was an extremely talented musician, writing her own music and lyrics on both guitar and the piano. Baily leaves her two children, Ellis Hatch and Shane Hatch, as well as her mother and stepfather, her brother, Mark Haines ’82, two sisters and their families; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father, William Haines. Andrei Romanov ’03 died in an accident on June 16, 2021. He had jumped into the East River in New York City to retrieve a volleyball.
IN MEMORIAM Alumni who died more than three years ago John T. “Jack” Weathers ’54 of Bridgewater passed away on April 15, 2012, after a long illness. A graduate of Boston College and Northeastern University, he served as a medic in the U.S. Army 11th Airborne Division after graduation. He enjoyed a 38-year career with Polaroid Corporation; in his spare time, he was a co-founder and longtime coach of Brockton, Mass., Youth Hockey. At the time of his passing, Jack left his wife Jeanne (Heyner), three children, five grandchildren, and many extended family members.
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Challenge Complete! The 2020/2021 Reunion Challenge
The Alumni Trustee New Donor Challenge
As part of the virtual LA reunions, the LA alumni advancement team provided some fun and friendly competition by creating the 2020/2021 Reunion Challenge. The 2020 challenge was created for the reunion classes ending in 0s and 5s, and the 2021 challenge was created for the reunion classes ending in 1s and 6s. The results of each of these challenges are below.
To secure and advance the future of Lawrence Academy and to expand the base of alumni support, the LA Alumni Trustees pledged a one-time challenge gift of $25,000 to support LA financial aid if 520 new alumni donors joined them by June 30, 2021. With 60 percent of the goal achieved, LA alumni showed amazing support for this initiative. The four classes with the highest numbers of new donors are below.
2020 Reunion Challenge
2021 Reunion Challenge
Most LA Fund Dollars Raised (top two): 1970 – $78,309 • 1975 – $7,712
Most LA Fund Dollars Raised (top two): 1966 – $81,300 • 1976 – $56,550
Most LA Fund Donors (top two): 1970 – 31 • 2015 – 21
Most LA Fund Donors: 1981 – 12 • 1986 – 11 • 2016 – 11
Percentage of New (one or more years lapsed) LA Fund Donors (top two): 1945 – 33% • 2000 – 15%
Percentage of New LA Fund Donors (top two): 1966 – 15% • 1951 – 13%
Top Number of Class Notes: 1975 – 10
Top Number of Class Notes: 2016 – 62
Alumni Trustee New Donor Challenge Winning Classes: 1983 – 22 2000 – 14 1987 – 13 1982 – 12
LA
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R EUNION C HALLENGE
The Amos and William Lawrence Society
A Gift of a Lifetime A Union College graduate, Maureen Coleman ’82 spent years at environment-focused non-profit organizations before joining the Jamestown (R.I.) Arts Center as its executive director in February 2020. The Groton native and longtime Jamestown resident chaired Lawrence Academy’s Alumni Council from 2001 through 2007, and she is excited to celebrate her 40th LA reunion this coming summer. Having spent more than two decades in the non-profit world, I wholeheartedly believe in the importance of philanthropy. Donors are incredibly valuable to the organizations they choose to support, whatever the size of their contributions.
Maureen Coleman ’82, member of the Amos and William Lawrence Society
I support Lawrence Academy — both by donating to the Annual Fund and through a bequest — because of the immense impact my four years here had on my life. My LA experience provided an invaluable base of core skills, but also plenty of opportunities to try new things, think creatively, take constructive risks, occasionally fail, and move on. Lawrence’s culture was so supportive and community-oriented, and it helped set this nervous 13-year-old on a path toward thriving in new experiences.
At Lawrence Academy, I was introduced to photography, received world-class coaching in writing, completely botched a presentation to the Board of Trustees, developed team-building and leadership skills on the fields, and swam up a river with a flashlight in my teeth inside a cave in Guatemala. The lessons learned during those few formative years have helped me to find the fun in change, from trying a new sport to making a complete career pivot. It’s difficult to overstate the impact, and I’m incredibly grateful. As a former Alumni Council chair, I’m thrilled to see some of my classmates currently engaged with Lawrence Academy as Board of Trustees members. Their leadership inspires me to support the school, just as I hope my support inspires others — especially those in the Class of 1982 — to do the same.
The Amos and William Lawrence Society was established to recognize those individuals who have made a charitable planned gift to Lawrence Academy or have made known their intentions to include Lawrence Academy in their wills or estate plans through a bequest. Donors who have made financial or estate plans of any size through wills, trusts, and other planned gifts are recognized for their loyal and lasting support of the school. For more information about The Amos and William Lawrence Society, contact
Jo-Ann Lovejoy, chief advancement officer, at jlovejoy@lacademy.edu. SPRING FALL 2021 LAWRENCE ACADEMY 65 53
H E L P U S M A R K H A L F A C E N T U RY O F W I N T E R I M ! Winterim has been a vital part of LA life for 50 years, and we’re planning a celebration this spring. We need your memories — stories, journal entries, photos, comments — to help us honor this beloved program. Tell us about your Winterim experiences on and off campus, and help us build a 50th anniversary collection. Please send your submissions to both: Jo-Ann Lovejoy, chief advancement officer: jlovejoy@lacademy.edu and Joe Sheppard, Journal writer and editor: jsheppard@lacademy.edu. Thank you! John Curran, honorary co-chair, Winterim 50
