Loomis Chafee Magazine Summer 2024

Sweet Concentration

Seniors Olivia Dunlea and Zarin Rizvi make pralines at a chocolate-making workshop in Bruges during an International Education Program trip to Belgium over spring break.

Cover: New Head of School Jody Reilly Soja

FEATURES

Jody Reilly Soja

School has always been a centerpiece in the life of Jody Reilly Soja, the eighth head of Loomis Chaffee, who began her work on the Island on July 1.

Outward Bound

Seven members of the Class of 2024 share lessons and highlights from their Loomis Chaffee years.

Giving His Regards to Broadway

John Zdrojeski ’08 plays Tom Buchanan in a new, musical version of The Great Gatsby, which opened on Broadway in April. His classmates predicted as much, giving him the “Bound for Broadway” superlative in the 2008 Confluence

EDITORIAL & DESIGN TEAM

Lynn A. Petrillo ’86

Director of Strategic Communications & Marketing

Becky Purdy

Managing Editor

Kelley Albert

Senior Graphic Designer

Jeff Otterbein

Obituaries Editor

CONTRIBUTORS

Jeff Otterbein

Lisa Salinetti Ross

Paige Abrams

Tim Struthers ’85

Will Katts

Deidre Swords

Heidi E.V. McCann ’93

PHOTOGRAPHY

Iris Photography

Wayne Dombkowski Photography

Kelley Albert

Megan Du Plessis

Defining Studios

Jessica Ravenelle

Cloe Poisson

Stan Godlewski

Makhala Huggins

Mary Coleman Forrester

John Groo

Pelican

62 Object Lesson 64 News from the Alumni/Development Office 72 Obituaries 80 Reflections

SUBMISSIONS/STORIES & NEWS

School community members may contribute items of interest to:

Loomis Chaffee Editors

The Loomis Chaffee School • 4 Batchelder Rd • Windsor, CT 06095

860.687.6811 • magazine@loomis.org

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Courtesy of Indian Mountain School

Lynn Petrillo

Matthew Murphy

Evan Zimmerman

Rachel M. Engelke

Richard Levine/Alamy Stock Photo

Carl Rickard

Visit Loomis Chaffee online at www.loomischaffee.org for the latest school news, sports scores, and galleries of recent photos. You also will find direct links to all of our social networking communities. For an online version of the magazine, go to www.loomischaffee.org/magazine.

Printed at Lane Press, Burlington, VT

Printed on Sterling Ultra Matte

Island Beginnings

Iwas on campus in May for the spring meeting of the Board of Trustees and Sheila Culbert’s farewell party. Both events provided an opportunity to learn more about the current state of Loomis Chaffee as well as a deeper understanding of the notable growth and success of the school over Sheila’s impressive tenure. This growth and success no doubt built on the foundations left by previous heads of school who acted as compassionate and ambitious stewards of this inspiring institution.

At the conclusion of the Saturday board meetings, I was walking back to my car in the small parking lot behind Longman — admittedly feeling a little anxious — and was struck by the Victory of Mercy sculpture (below) that I hadn’t yet seen during my previous visits to campus. I stood for a moment to take in the imposing monument, moved by its scale and intensity, and was drawn to the words — vision, courage, faith — below the Victory of Mercy title. I was strangely comforted by both the imagery as well as the message. Eager to know more about the origin story of the bronze sculpture, I reached out to the Communications Office to see what they could share about this piece of art.

In an article for a previous Loomis Chaffee Magazine by archivist and history teacher Karen Parsons titled “Evelyn Longman’s Tender Allegory of the Toll of War,” Karen writes, “[The sculpture] derives the deepest, most important meanings from its location. Placed on the east side of its sculptor’s studio … in view of the [Headmaster’s] home she shared with her husband and of Founders Hall.” From what I have read of Loomis’ first headmaster, Nathaniel Batchelder, he wanted Loomis to be a “school of citizenship” where students were engaged in learning about the current state of the world and in better understanding their roles as engaged, moral citizens. I also understand that Mr. B was an

idealist in his wish for world peace and strove to protect his beloved students in hopes that they might not have to go to war themselves. Nevertheless, for those that did ultimately serve their country, this memorial pays homage to their lives and losses.

The sculpture is especially captivating in the facial expressions of both the angel of Victory and the soldier, both clearly suffering, one likely in pain and the other in sympathy. As the angel provides comfort to the suffering man, the humanity, both powerful and painful, is brought to life. In Donna Hicks’s 2018 book, Leading with Dignity, she comments on the concept of human dignity and the

shared need that we all have to be treated in a way that shows we matter — a recognition of our inherent value and worth. In the opening chapter of her book, she quotes author John Naisbitt, commenting, “The most exciting breakthroughs of the twenty-first century will not occur because of technology, but because of an expanding concept of what it means to be human.” This sculpture is not only a reminder of the human cost of war, but also a testament to the ability we all share to provide comfort, care, and hope to those who suffer physically or emotionally. Focusing on our shared humanity is what will bind us together as we strive to fulfill the mission of Loomis Chaffee to inspire in our students a commitment to the best self and the common good. According to Robert Reich in his recent book The Common Good, “History has shown that the more commitment to the common good there is within a society, the more willing its inhabitants to accept disruptions that inevitably accompany new ideas, technologies, opportunities. … That’s because these inhabitants are more likely to trust that the disruptions won’t unfairly burden them, and that they stand to gain more than lose by them.” As we look to the work ahead, both on the Island and beyond, I know I will find comfort in the monument that sits to the west of the Head’s House and Founders Hall. There will always be challenges, but a focus on our shared values and the dignity of all will provide moral clarity and inspiration.

Longman herself, according to Karen’s article, noted that the sculpture embodied “the virtues of kindness, sympathy, and service.” For me, the inscribed words of vision, courage, and faith are a call to action for scholarship and leadership at Loomis Chaffee. With immense gratitude for the work that has been done at Loomis Chaffee the last 110 years, I begin my tenure with respect, enthusiasm, and optimism. I look forward to our work together.

ISLAND NEWS

$100 Million Gift from Henry R. Kravis ’63 Is Largest in School History

The school announced in late April a gift of $100 million from Henry R. Kravis ’63, co-founder and co-executive chairman of KKR, a leading global investment firm. The gift to the school’s endowment is the largest single gift made to Loomis Chaffee and one of the largest to any independent school.

“I’m a strong believer in the positive impact a world-class education can have on a person, especially during the formative high school years. Loomis Chaffee taught me how to appreciate different perspectives, and it ultimately made me a lifelong student of the world,” Henry said. “Marie-Josée and I are delighted to continue our support and help others benefit from the great education this wonderful institution provides.”

“I am humbled by the extraordinary generosity of Henry and his wife, Marie-Josée, and so grateful for their unmatched long-standing commitment to Loomis Chaffee,” said then-Head of School Sheila Culbert, who retired June 30. “This amazing gift reflects their dedication to fostering a culture of academic distinction and supports our Founders’ original commitment to access and opportunity.”

The gift will be distributed among three funds:

The Henry R. Kravis ’63 Opportunity Initiative Scholars Fund: $50 million

Addressing the school’s long-term commitment to accessibility, this fund will support students with significant demonstrated financial need and will increase the percentage of students on financial aid. In addition, it will fund the cost of books, computers, and some of the other extras that make a significant difference in a student’s educational experience.

The Sheila A. Culbert Fund

The quality of a Loomis education depends directly on the quality of the faculty and staff. Competitive compensation is crucial to attracting the very best people to the school. This fund will allow the Trustees and administration to continue prioritizing salaries for faculty and staff.

The Henry R. Kravis ’63 Fund for Institutional Priorities: $30 million

Offering versatility and choice, this fund will provide the school with the flexibility to invest in important educational initiatives and will have a positive impact on the lives of our students and faculty for years to come.

In addition to this generous gift, Henry will continue to fund the existing Kravis Scholars Program with an additional commitment of $5 million over the next five years. Originally established in 1989, the program enrolls students from underrepresented demographic and socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, emphasizing students who live outside of New York City. Kravis Scholars receive the financial support needed for all aspects of their Loomis education, including summer enrichment and travel abroad. They also benefit from the guidance and mentorship of the director of the Kravis Scholars Program.

This year the school had 11 Kravis Scholars.

Finally, in recognition of Henry’s extraordinary generosity to Loomis, the Trustees of Loomis Chaffee created an award named in his honor. The school will present the Henry R. Kravis ’63 Award for Distinguished Service each spring to a member of the alumni, faculty, or staff who has given selflessly to advance the mission of Loomis Chaffee through outstanding service and dedicated commitment to the institution. The first recipient, announced in June, was Sheila. Henry has long been a generous and sustaining supporter of the school. Through his generosity, in addition to the Kravis Scholars Program, Loomis has built Kravis Hall, established the Henry R. Kravis ’63 Center for Excellence in Teaching, and named the Henry R. Kravis ’63 Instructorship in Economics in honor of his former economics teacher, James “Grim” Wilson, whom he credits for his interest in business as a career.

As the school’s Commencement Speaker in 2015, Henry shared the following: “This school, more than any other, has shaped who I am today both personally and professionally. Not only did the school provide me with a good education, but it also taught me about commitment, perseverance, optimism, and altruism — the very values on which this school was built.”

“Marie-Josée and Henry’s philanthropic support of Loomis is without precedent in our community and historic for a boarding school,” said Duncan A.L. MacLean ’90, chair of the Loomis Chaffee Board of Trustees. “Their generosity embodies our Founders’ vision by endowing future generations with the gift of a Loomis education. Their leadership and demonstration of what it means to be one’s best self and serve the common good is an inspiration to us all.”

for Faculty and Staff Support: $20 million

Above: Henry R. Kravis ’63

Community Honors Sheila Culbert

Acrowd of faculty, staff, and guests filled the west dining hall in the Scanlan Campus Center on the evening of May 10 to celebrate Head of School Sheila Culbert and her leadership of Loomis Chaffee over the last 16 years as her June 30 retirement approached.

Among the highlights were laudatory remarks by former Associate Head of School for External Relations Nat Follansbee, Trustee and former faculty member Katherine Ballard, Director of the Physical Plant Lance Hall, and Chair of the Board of Trustees Duncan A.L. MacLean ’90, who also served as emcee for the evening.

As part of the festivities, a commissioned portrait of Sheila was unveiled by Duncan and the artist, renowned portrait painter Robert Anderson ’64. John Pearse ’58 and Sally Crowther Pearse ’58 presented a personal gift to Sheila. And in a surprise

announcement, former Trustee Kimberly Kravis ’93 presented Sheila with the first Henry R. Kravis ’63 Award for Distinguished Service. The award was established by Henry, Kimberly’s father, in conjunction with his historic $100 million gift to the

school’s endowment, announced earlier in the spring.

The guest of honor also spoke, thanking her family and many friends and colleagues who supported and advised her professionally and personally during her tenure. “I have a mix of emotions: gratitude, joy, sadness, and pride,” she said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to have led this wonderful school for the past 16 years. I am joyful for the memories and friendships that I have

made along the way. I am sad to say goodbye to the people and the place that has been my second home for so long. And I am proud of the achievements and the legacy that we have created together.”

Top: Sheila, artist Robert Anderson ’64, and Chair of the Board of Trustees Duncan A.L. MacLean ’90 unveil her official portrait, painted by Robert. Above: Sheila enjoys the evening surrounded by family friend John Dolan, Trustee Jamie Widdoes ’72, Trustee Katherine Ballard, and Sheila’s husband, Richard Wright. Right: The west dining hall in the Scanlan Campus Center is all dressed up for the occasion.

108th Commencement

“Be Prepared for Change”

Head of School Sheila Culbert looked at the soon-to-begraduates of Loomis Chaffee’s 108th class on May 26, and knew this year, more than ever, she could relate to what they were experiencing. She was “graduating,” too.

After 16 years at the school’s helm, Sheila retired June 30.

“As we stand here today, you and I are in pretty similar situations,” Sheila said to the Class of 2024 in her Commencement address.

“We are all facing the great unknown. Granted, it’s taken a little longer for me to graduate from Loomis than you.”

To mark the occasion, she was given a framed diploma signed by members of the Class of 2024.

The Commencement ceremony unfurled

gracefully on a summer-like day at the traditional location overlooking the Farmington River and flanked by the Loomis Family Homestead and the Head of School’s House, which itself was flanked by rhododendrons and peonies in full bloom. The graduating class processed from Grubbs Quadrangle and through Founders Hall

before settling into their seats.

Duncan A.L. MacLean ’90, chairman of the Board of Trustees, provided the greeting for the day, and the Rev. Ryan Heckman, religious life coordinator at Loomis, delivered the benediction at the end of the ceremony.

Sheila offered lessons from her life’s path, which at times has taken unlikely turns. She told the class that she hoped they would “not be too wedded to a plan or, rather, that you [will] be open to opportunities as they present themselves. As Emily Dickinson would say, ‘Dwell in possibility.’ Or John Lennon: ‘Life is what happens to you when you are busy making other plans.’ So, live your life. Yes, make plans, but be prepared for change — and a lot of it.

“What happens to us,” she continued, “is a combination of happenstance and purposefulness, pragmatic choices and idealistic

Members of the Class of 2024 with alumni family members: (front) Seniors Owen Caligiuri, Simon Vulliez, Alexander Lydecker, Mandarin Wallace, Jazmyne Ahipeaud, Sylvia Barresi, Campbell Hanson, Alister MacLean, Elena Higgins, Jack Marshall, Michael Breheney, Izzie Tarantino, Lily Clark, Audrey Hall, and Beatrice Bilezikian; and (back) Grace Caligiuri ’21, Lana Breheney ’21, Oliver Vulliez ’23, Martin Vulliez ’90, John Nichols ’94, Howard Hudson ’55, Kendra Nichols Wallace ’91, Libby Hudson Lydecker ’90, Stacy-Ann Rowe ’97, Petagay Rowe ’95, Terry Rowe Bailey ’03, Anna Hess Barresi ’97, Fridolf Hanson ’85, Duncan MacLean ’90, Jim Higgins ’92, Ben Clark ’95, Francesca Santorelli Breheney ’91, Kenn Tarantino ’93, Hays Clark ’97, Lucas Hall ’22, Lisa Pinney Hall ’88, Steve Hall ’86, Bob Hall ’56, Grayson Hall ’19, Larry Clark ’64, and Elspeth Clark ’01.

8 Loomis Chaffee Magazine Summer 2024

aspirations, as well as, unfortunately, setbacks and bumps in the road, and instances of tragedy and great sadness.”

She spoke of the death of her son Will eight years ago and the loss of her parents and two of her siblings.

“Will died in 2016, and by then I had been at Loomis for eight years and was well-versed in the school’s motto — ne cede malis. Don’t give in to adversity,” Sheila said. “It was perhaps a line that I would trot out without too much thought. Like, ‘Buck up little camper. You’ve got this.’ Now, though, I had to really wrestle with it. How do we not give in? How do we build our resilience in the face of adversity?”

She said she learned what was important in life and let go of some ingrained habits. She shared with the graduating class some habits of life that she found can make a difference when grief sets in. “They are both simple and effective: Value your family and friends, spend time in nature, and practice gratitude and kindness,” she said.

For Sheila, the restorative joy of nature became an integral part of her life on the Island. She urged the graduates to “take out your earbuds and listen, listen intently” to the world around them and to “pay attention to the birds and animals that share the space with you.” Sheila became an avid birder and bird photographer as she walked on the 300 acres of Loomis land and farther afield.

Under Sheila’s tenure, which began in 2008, the campus and the programming changed significantly. Major construction and renovation projects transformed the campus, and the establishment of five interdisciplinary centers expanded the school’s educational offerings.

Class Speaker Owen Caligiuri witnessed much of that transition. Owen was 6 years old when his family moved onto campus as his mom, Lori, started working as a history teacher and dorm head. Owen’s Commencement speech brought him back to his freshman year amid COVID-19 restrictions.

continued on page 18

Class Night and Commencement Prize Winners 2024

The Loomis Family Prize: Jason Chen | Anh Dao

The Nathaniel Horton Batchelder Memorial Prize: Owen Caligiuri

The Ammidon Prize: Angela Adu-Boateng

The Florence E. Sellers Prize: Lauren Sonnenfeld

The Jennie Loomis Prize: Preston McNulty Socha

Sellers Faculty Prizes: Angela Ye | Chelsea Ndzana-Zogo

Front: Seniors Andrew Dao, Angela Adu-Boateng, Chelsea Ndzana-Zogo, and Lauren Sonnenfeld; Commencement speaker and Head of School Sheila Culbert; and seniors Preston McNulty Socha, Owen Caligiuri, Angela Ye, and Jason Chen. Back: Chair of the Board of Trustees Duncan MacLean ’90; Trustees Fridolf Hanson ’85, Harvey Struthers ’60, Marc Rubenstein ’82, and Rachel Kort ’98; Dean of Academics and Curriculum Tim Lawrence; Religious Life Coordinator Ryan Heckman; Trustees Unsoo Kim, David Rogan ’76, Courtney Ackeifi ’06, Katherine Ballard, Ariel Williams ’06, Jonathan Kelly ’81, John Bussel ’87, Kendra Nichols Wallace ’91, Xin Tang, Britt-Marie Cole-Johnson ’00, and Erik Cliette ’84; and Dean of Faculty Andrew Matlack.

Reunion 2024 on the Island

Alumni Reconnect with Classmates and the School

Island Life Forever” was what one alumnus chose to have etched on his glass with the Loomis Chaffee crest. Reunion Weekend 2024 was in full swing, and he and others came to the Pearse Hub for Innovation (PHI) for the “Fun in the PHI” activity, which included the opportunity to etch a souvenir from the weekend with help from Scott MacClintic ’82, the director of innovation.

Island life for the weekend of June 7–9 was all about alumni, who returned to campus

to reconnect with classmates, dine, dance, and catch up on the school today. This year classes ending in 4s and 9s celebrated their reunions, including a large turnout from the Class of 1974 for their 50th Reunion.

The pull to come back is strong — and more than 700 attended. As Reunion co-chair and Trustee Keith Cowan ’74 noted, some alumni traveled a long way for the festivities. Three traveled from Thailand, giving them the distinction of

having come the farthest, about 8,500 miles, and others came from as nearby as Windsor and as far away as Canada, Hong Kong, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Austria, Italy, and the Netherlands.

“Island life,” yesterday and today, has always been about opportunities. So it came as little surprise that, when folks gathered on the Island for Reunion Weekend, there were many opportunities. One could get up early for a Saturday morning run on

Ronda Lundberg Lanzi, John Stavola, James Cubeta, Peter Holzer, Lisa Reilly, Penn Ritter, Susan Beebe, and Mark Davis. Back: Paul Daukas, Phil Sumner, Dennis O’Connor, Steve Stein, Randolf Parks, Keith Cowan, Thomas Rome, John Leffel, Bruce Hamilton, Richard Henrikson, Ned McMahon, Jack Wight, Harry Weinerman, Alex Feldman, and Jon Neiditz

Front: Deb Sudarksy, Dick Marks, Rene Redwood, Chris Otis, Kevin Mooney, Robert Holliday, Bill Gorman, Ann Cymerys Sutton, Henry Lowengard, and Susan Catler. Second Row: Jan Sniffin Brown, Linda Gregus, Cathy Daukas Painter, John Ritter, Dan Nussbaum, Leigh Newman, Ed Quinn, Deborah Adams Eliason, Christine Healey, Margie Cosgrove Claxton, Kevin Hunt, Stacey Payne, Sonia Mendoza Varley, Cynthia Mann, and Carlo Centeno. Third Row: Tim Holt, Joe Niemiroski, Donna O’Malley, Chris Coley, Corby Kummer, Larry Rothfield, David Thompson, Peter Kelley, Susie Tracy Moore, John Sutton, Walter Albrecht, Jamie Kennedy, Tobias Sckaer, Keith Raphael, Paul Buika, Mark Goldstein,

Loomis Chaffee Class of 1974

the cross country course or stay up late and hang around the Friday night firepit. Or both if you had it in you.

The Alumni Parade of Classes traveled through the center of campus on Saturday, ending in Grubbs Quadrangle, which was a gathering place at various times throughout Reunion Weekend, whether it was the all-class dinner on Friday evening or dancing under the tent on Friday and Saturday nights or face-painting and mini-golf for the children of alumni while food trucks served up Saturday’s lunch.

There was tennis, golf, an alumni lacrosse game, and other sports. There were class photos and a photo exhibit by six alumni from the classes of 1974 and 1975 who are professional photographers. (Read more about the exhibit on page 17.)

Head of School Sheila Culbert, who retired three weeks after Reunion Weekend, was at the center of two presentations. At her farewell state of the school address in the Norris Ely Orchard (NEO) Theater, Robert Anderson ’64 shared the portrait he painted of Sheila. Bob has painted hundreds of commissioned portraits, including the official portrait of President George W. Bush for the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. “I am incredibly honored,” Sheila said of her portrait, which depicts her sitting in her office with a book in her hand and two of

Spindler-Smith

her dogs by her side. In his introduction of Sheila before the state of the school address, Keith said that if he listed all her accomplishments in her years here, there would be no time for her to talk.

And there was plenty to talk about, including a recently announced $100 million gift to the school from Henry R. Kravis ’63. Sheila

also spoke about the $175 million in new construction on campus during her tenure, including three new dorms and the Scanlan Campus Center. And she spoke of the success of the athletics programs, which this year won five New England Prep School Athletic Conference and six Founders League titles.

continues on page 14

Front: Catherine McCaw, Scott Roe, Andrew Heath, Rachel McAllister Wilson, Maria Toumanova, Chrissy Batterson James, Arnab Chanda, Jon Lombardo, Adam Neuhaus, Grant Gager, Evan Ryan, and Greg Johnson. Back: Natalie Suski, Alen Lai, Emily Treat Czar, Liz Christian Ryan, Elizabeth Shoudy Smylie, David Thal, Noel St. Jean-Chevalier, Melissa Wilcox Yanagi, Ben Reder, Christina Calcagni Sack, Matt Spindler-Virgin, Colin McGlynn, Carson Taylor, Philip Silva, and Melissa

Left: The Alumni Parade of Classes strolls through campus. Right: Reunion celebrants gather for dinner under the tent in Grubbs Quadrangle.

Loomis Chaffee Class of 1999

Scenes from a festive and fun weekend reuniting Loomis, Chaffee, and Loomis Chaffee classmates for their 5th to 75th reunions.

A few hours later on Saturday, Sheila made a presentation on her passion for birding and wildlife photography, with the Island providing a rich habitat for more than 200 species of birds and other wildlife, including white-tailed deer, opossums, beavers, muskrats, coyotes, foxes, and squirrels. Sheila opened her conversation with a photo of a great horned owl she saw while walking her dogs, and she encouraged audience members to take an early morning walk in the Meadows by the Connecticut River on Sunday morning. They would be richly rewarded, she said, not only for what they might see, but also in their spirit. She also spoke about the importance of Loomis Chaffee’s being a steward of its land and the environment in which all this wildlife flourishes among wetlands and grasslands and tree cover.

Matt Johnson, associate director of the Kravis Center for Excellence in Teaching and academic technology coordinator, held a Saturday session on the impact of generative artificial intelligence on education and the Loomis Chaffee approach as AI moves swiftly along.

Food was a theme of another session on Saturday, in which panelists Jamie Kennedy ’74, Corby Kummer ’74, and Terry Jacobs Walter ’84 talked about the relationship between food and well-being, among other things. Deborah Sudarsky Wherry ’74 moderated the panel, which served as an appetizer, if you will, for what was to come on Saturday night: class celebration dinners, late-night s’mores, and small bites. As well as memories etched in the mind.

Reunion.

New Trustees Elected

After completing three fouryear terms, Bruce Alexander ’61 and Amy Edwards-Sweet ’01 rotated off the Loomis Chaffee Board of Trustees in June while two new Trustees were elected.

During his 12 years as a Trustee, Bruce contributed greatly as a committee member, most significantly in his service as chair of the Audit Committee for the last nine years. He also served as a member of the Finance Committee, the Head’s Evaluation Committee, the Investment Committee, and the 2020 Financial Strategic Planning Task Force, and he chaired the Head’s Search Committee in 2022. During Amy’s 12 years as a Trustee, she too had a significant impact, serving as chair of the Salaries & Benefits Committee and as a member of the Admission, Financial Aid & College Guidance Committee, the Building & Grounds Committee, the Head’s Evaluation and Advisory Committee, the Committee on Mission & Program, and the Finance Committee.

Newly-elected to the Board as of July 1 are James S. Higgins ’92 of Greenwich, Connecticut, and Jennifer A. Podurgiel ’96 of New York City.

Jim is founder and managing member of J. Higgins Holdings, a boutique real estate investment and management company focused on the multifamily housing sector; and Higgins Construction Services, a provider of construction management and owner’s representation services with a focus on single-family custom homes in Connecticut. In addition, Jim is a real estate salesperson in the Greenwich Brokerage Office of Houlihan Lawrence. Jim earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and environmental studies from the University of Vermont and a master’s degree

in historic preservation from the University of Pennsylvania. He served on the school’s Head’s Council from 2009 to 2011. His daughter Elena graduated from Loomis Chaffee this spring. His son, James, is a rising junior, and his daughter Elizabeth is a rising sophomore. Jim’s brother Michael is a member of the Loomis Chaffee Class of 1989, and his mother, Judy, served as a Trustee from 1989 to 1997.

Jennifer is senior vice president of global securitized markets at Citigroup Inc., where she has been employed for more than 20 years. She also has served as senior vice president of investor services at Citi. An active alumna, Jen has served on the Head’s Council since 2015 and has chaired the council since 2022. She was also co-chair of the Annual Fund from 2018 to 2021 and has served on the fundraising committees for her 10th, 15th, 20th (co-chair), and 25th Reunions. Her brother Bernard “Bernie” Podurgiel is a member of the Loomis Chaffee Class of 1987. Jen earned a bachelor of arts degree in physics from Fairfield University, a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Columbia University, and a master’s degree in information systems from Stevens Institute of Technology.

The Board of Trustees now totals 28 members, including new Head of School Jody Reilly Soja.

Below: Warham dorm mates from the Class of 1974 hold a mini-reunion within

Left: James S. Higgins ’92 Right: Jennifer A. Podurgiel ’96

Terrace Dedicated to Former Head Russell Weigel

Russell Weigel was quick to point to the work of many. He was the one being honored, but he knew he never stood alone on the Island.

The Weigel Terrace, in front of the east entrance to the Athletics Center, was dedicated in April in honor of Russ, head of school from 1996 to 2008. At the dedication ceremony, he spoke of his admiration for those who surrounded him during his tenure: “All in all, an impressive confluence of talent and devotion.” And he expressed affection for all who attended the dedication: “I share with you all this moment of recognition and beautiful space.”

The dedication plaque reads, “Committed to advancing the mission of Loomis Chaffee, Russ Weigel led with warmth, good judgment, and a devotion to the ideals of the Founders. Under his leadership, the school successfully completed its first comprehensive capital campaign, the endowment grew significantly, new facilities opened and existing facilities were enhanced, and the school’s academic and extracurricular programs and reputation continued to flourish.”

Joining Russ and his wife, Jane, were family members, friends, and current and former Trustees, including Joel Alvord ’56, John

Bussel ’87, Blanche Savin Goldenberg ’70, Sarah Lutz ’85, Chris Norton ’76, Peter Seigle ’65, and Harvey Struthers ’60. Blanche and Chris, both of whom served as chairs of the Board of Trustees during Russ’ tenure, spoke as part of the ceremony, praising Russ for his leadership of the school and devotion to excellence. They also thanked Russ and Jane for fostering a warm and welcoming community on the Island.

Sheila Culbert, who succeeded Russ and retired June 30, thanked Russ and Jane for being “so gracious when I was making the

transition to become head of school. Russ met with me regularly and gave me great advice about the issues I would face and all the things I needed to be sure I covered. And it was such a pleasure to meet Jane. They both had great tips for Richard [Sheila’s husband] and myself."

Russ came to Loomis Chaffee from Amherst College, where he had served for nearly three decades as a professor of psychology, dean of incoming students, and coach of the varsity ski team. His father, Russ Weigel Sr., was a 1933 graduate of Loomis.

Top: The Weigel Terrace forms the backdrop for the ceremony. Above: Russ poses with the dedication plaque. Right: Jane and Russ Weigel enjoy the celebratory luncheon after the dedication.

Young Nature Photographer Shares Passion for Florida Everglades

On any given day, Luca Martinez can be found knee-deep or submersed in the waters of the Florida Everglades. Or you might see him sleeping in a hammock between two trees in the Everglades, a canopy of trees above him, the water under him — and an alligator or two. Or he might be hanging from a helicopter 1,000 feet in the air, filming the Everglades.

Mr. Martinez, 19, is a nature and wildlife photographer who grew up in South Florida and has a passion for preserving the Everglades, the subtropical wetland that once covered 2,000 square miles but has been reduced by more than half. He shared his work with the LC community at an Earth Month convocation in April.

Head of School Sheila Culbert, who introduced Mr. Martinez, also has a passion for the natural world and nature photography. An exhibit, “The Wonders of the Natural World,” featuring Sheila’s photography, which concentrates on the environment of the Connecticut River, and Mr. Martinez’s

“I hope what comes out of this is a realization that young people really do have a platform and a voice to create real change. And, if nothing else, a sense of kindness not only to people around us but everything around us.”

— LUCA MARTINEZ

Everglades work, lined two walls in the Scanlan Campus Center this spring.

Mr. Martinez became interested in nature when he was a kid in his grandfather's backyard and took his first camera into the Everglades at the age of 13. Now his work has gone viral with more than 100 million views on Instagram and TikTok.

Peace and calmness is how he describes the feeling of being in the Everglades. “Whether you are knee-deep or completely submerged in water, there is a unique feeling you get nowhere else,” he said.

The Everglades is home to 360 species of birds, 300 species of fish, 17 species of amphibians, 40 species of mammals, and 50 species of reptiles. It also supplies drinking water to about a third of Florida’s population. Thus, Mr. Martinez’s campaign of passion and awareness.

“Despite all we have done, the damming, the draining, the dredging, this place is still alive. America’s Everglades are alive,” Mr. Martinez said. “As Americans, as people who have incredible backyards, it should be our moral obligation to help protect and preserve our wild places as best we can.”

In answer to one student’s question, Mr. Martinez said he hopes his work does a few things.

“I hope what comes out of this is a realization that young people really do have a platform and a voice to create real change,” he said. “And, if nothing else, a sense of kindness not only to people around us but everything around us.”

Top: Luca Martinez answers students’ questions at the convocation. Middle: Head of School Sheila Culbert and Mr. Martinez in front of a joint exhibit of their nature photography in the Scanlan Campus Center

Honoring Walter Rabetz Through Photography

The show was 50 years in the making. In the mid-1970s, six Loomis Chaffee students who would go on to careers in professional photography learned from and were inspired by Walter Rabetz, head of the Visual Arts Department at the time. Walter’s encouragement and ability to capture students’ imagination left a lasting impression on these six students, among many others throughout his 37-year teaching career at Loomis.

One of those former students, Keith Raphael ’74, approached the school last year about an exhibit that would honor Walter’s influence and celebrate the journeys of students from the Classes of 1974 and 1975 who went on to careers in professional photography.

The exhibit, “50 Years of Photography: An Historic Group Photography Exhibit Dedicated to Walter Rabetz,” ran from May 16 to June 9 in the Sue and Eugene Mercy Jr. Gallery. The exhibiting photographers were Bruce Hamilton ’74, Peter Kagan ’75, Just Loomis ’75, Ted Morrison ’75, John Sutton ’74, and Keith.

Keith says the exhibit showed “the impact that a teacher can have on a student for the rest of their lives. Also, an appreciation for the 50-year journey of the artists.”

Also remarkable, he says, is the fact that so many professional photographers came out of a two-year period at the same high school, a scenario that he calls “a testament to the education at Loomis Chaffee.”

Walter started teaching at Loomis in 1970.

He was head of the department for all 37 years of his tenure, and he was the director of the Mercy Gallery from its opening in 1995 until he retired from teaching in 2007. Walter died in 2019. His wife, Marilyn, an art teacher, also worked at the school from 1970 to 2007. She directed the Visiting Artist Program and the Richmond Art Center.

Each of the six exhibiting photographers made his mark in the world of professional photography, and it all started 50 years ago with Walter as a guiding force.

A promo for the show listed a few of the accomplishments of the artists: Just’s cover art for A-ha’s album Hunting High and Low was nominated for a Grammy. Peter directed the music video “Notorious” by Duran Duran as well as many well-known advertisements. Ted has photographed ad campaigns for Chanel, Tiffany, and other high-profile clients that have appeared in many publications, including The New York Times and Time magazine. Bruce recently retired as the media center manager and senior lecturer at Northeastern University’s College of Arts, Media and Design. John’s clients include The Four Seasons, Netflix, and Sephora, which sought him out for his acumen as an architectural and interior photographer. Keith’s digital fine art photo-graphics have an avid following in 114 countries.

Keith was asked what Walter might say if he were to see this exhibit.

“Well, Walter was very proud of being a teacher, and would be ecstatic and honored to be recognized in such a unique event,” Keith responded. “He would probably say to each of us in one way or another, ‘I knew you could do it. I knew that if you followed your heart, you would achieve great work.’”

Top: Exhibiting artists Bruce Hamilton ’74, Keith Raphael ’74, and John Sutton ’74 in the Sue and Eugene Mercy Jr. Gallery Bottom: A student takes in the exhibited photography.

continued from page 9

“I’m not sure if you remember, but freshman year we were required to take these ‘Healthy Living’ classes,” Owen said. “These ‘classes’ ranged from fishing with Coach [Donnie] McKillop, flexibility with Ms. [Jean] Sapula, and even reading books with Mr. [Jake] Leyden. I was lucky enough to take the DJing 101 course.”

As he prepared his remarks to the class, Owen put together a playlist to illustrate the experience of the past four years. “Apart from the cool transitions and airhorns,” Owen said, “the key to being a successful DJ is building a great playlist.” And in this case, a meaningful playlist.

The song representing their senior year, he said, was “The Way” by Ariana Grande and Mac Miller, a nod to both The Way, the walking path that cuts through campus, “and most importantly the way Loomis changed our lives.”

Tipping Point

That day in the kitchen, that moment, never left Traci Talasco.

“I knew I was an artist when I was 7 years old,” she said shortly before the opening of her show, Tipping Point, in the Sue and Eugene Mercy Jr. Gallery this spring. “I have a very vivid memory of the moment that I realized that, and I announced it to my parents. They were sitting in the kitchen, and I remember the light streaking through the curtains and the pattern on the curtains, and the whole scene.”

Vivid also could describe her work.

As visitors walked into the Mercy Gallery, old hardwood flooring from a Loomis Chaffee basketball court was arranged in various heights on the floor, which meant one must “Tread Carefully,” the name of that piece in Ms. Talasco’s show. She said she had been thinking about that type of piece for a while and had developed a model in her studio in New York. When Mercy Gallery Director

christian.ryan mentioned the hardwood flooring, the idea turned into reality.

In her artist statement, Ms. Talasco wrote, “Patterns and colors from the floor planks are jumbled, creating a disorienting space. ... ‘Tread Carefully’ has both a physical and emotional context, implying that one must watch their footing as well as their words to avoid conflict or danger.”

Ms. Talasco described herself as a social and political artist. “I really feel like the point of being an artist is to have [people] think about the world in a different way. So all of [my pieces in this show] have to do with different political ideas or social ideas. I think in general I take familiar things ... and put them in a different light. If people walk away looking at something in a different way, that would be great.”

Below: The artist with her installation in Mercy Gallery.

Top: Class Speaker Owen Caligiuri is called to the podium for his Commencement address.

Above: The “last chair” tradition acquired a tropical theme this year.

Traci Talasco Solo Exhibition

These Students Mean Business

Innovation Trimester (I-Tri) students advised local businesses and nonprofits with a variety of challenges this spring, all under the theme “hand-made,” and both the students and the clients benefited from the experience.

“I don’t think I’ve ever learned as much in one day,” said Allison Vaughan, the founder of SoulFully Vegan, after attending a presentation by the I-Tri students for the Berlin, Connecticut, business.

For this year’s I-Tri, 16 seniors stepped away from their regular classes and daily schedules for the spring term to tackle real-world challenges faced by local businesses and organizations. The program is a win-win: Businesses get recommendations at no cost and students get experience, on which there can be no price tag.

For SoulFully Vegan, which operates two food trucks and a restaurant, the I-Tri students researched and developed ideas for fostering brand loyalty, leveraging social media accounts, and enhancing the business’ visibility to customers in other ways.

One recommendation to SoulFully Vegan was to offer seasonal specials, and the group went as far as making a vegan apple pie milkshake on the spot since one of Ms. Vaughan’s favorite holidays is Thanksgiving. She was handed a sample. “Don’t be upset if I steal this recipe,” she said with a laugh.

Another client was a pair of Connecticut do-it-yourself pottery studios, The Claypen in West Hartford and The Firestone in Manchester.

“It is incredible how creative, imaginative, intelligent, and mature they all are,” said Danielle Pachkovsky, general manager of the two pottery studios, after the students presented their recommendations to her business. “I felt that from the first time I met them. Every single one of them hit the ground running, the moment they walked through the door, trying to problem-solve, learn about us, and how they could help us.”

The students also worked with Mira’s Jewelry Design of Middletown, Connecticut, which was trying to engage more customers online. Part of this project also focused on the owner’s

nonprofit, Forever in My Heart.

Like the clients they advised, I-Tri students came away from the program energized.

Senior Sylvia Barresi, who is interested in business as a profession, called the program “an incredible hands-on experience, really inspiring.”

Senior Tahmir Murphy says the experience taught her new things about herself as well as “how to work in a group, how to tailor things to the [client], how to market yourself and your ideas so a business will take you seriously and understand that your solutions are marketable and viable.”

Collaboration is a key element of the I-Tri, which has been offered each spring since 2019, except for the pandemic-disrupted spring of 2020. Students work together in groups to arrive at solutions. A willingness to veer from an idea that is not working is equally important. I-Tri Director Jen Solomon says this year’s group worked together at an extremely high level, which led to better solutions and better presentations.

Left: The I-Tri group visits Mira's Jewelry Design in Middletown, Connecticut, to learn more about their client's business. Right: Business leaders of two do-it-yourself pottery studios in the Hartford area explain their challenge for the I-Tri students during an on-site research session.

Beyond the Shadow of a Doubt

The Class of 2024’s choice of design for its brickwork square on the Senior Path eclipsed those of all 46 preceding classes that are memorialized on the path.

Eclipsed is a bold claim, you say? We don’t mean to throw shade on all the graduating classes back to 1977, when the Senior Path tradition began. But the members of the Class of 2024 chose to depict an actual eclipse on their square, in reference to the April 8 solar eclipse, which, at its peak, blotted out 93 percent of the sunlight on the Island and plunged much of northern New England into total darkness.

You have to admit, it’s a cosmic choice. And a rare occurrence. The next total solar eclipse to cross North America is expected on August 23, 2044, and its path won’t come close to Connecticut.

Loomis Chaffee declared a special schedule for the day of the eclipse. Two busloads of students and faculty left campus in the morning bound for Burlington, Vermont, which was in the path of totality, meaning the sun would be 100 percent covered by the moon. For everyone back on campus, classes ended at midday for a convocation with visiting environmentalist Dan Kinzer followed by a celebration and eclipse-watching event, dubbed “Shadowfest,” on Pratt

Right: Donning solar-safe glasses, students observe the eclipse from Pratt Field. Frame left: Head of the Science Department Neil Chaudhary ’05 adjusts a telescope for curious eclipsewatchers on campus. Frame right: Shadowfest also featured rotations on a trampoline, just for the fun of it.

Field. Locally, the eclipse began at 2:13 p.m. and reached its peak at 3:27 p.m.

Mr. Kinzer spoke to the community about the wonder of nature, brought acutely to humans’ attention by events like a solar eclipse.

“For me, this is just a reminder of this incredible dance we are in with one another ... with the natural world spanning the entire universe,” he said. “It’s easy to forget that. And we spend most of our time not appreciating this really beautiful, complex dance that we are in. Whenever we have a chance to gather and point our gaze in a shared direction, we should take it.”

The Loomis Chaffee community took it — and ran with it. Following the convocation, students, faculty, and staff, with solar-safe eclipse glasses at the ready, headed outside for Shadowfest. There was a bounce house, a bungee-jump trampoline, other games, music, and food. And that special guest, a

disappearing sun. It eventually became a sliver as the air cooled and the light faded to an eerie dusk. The Science Department set up its highest-powered telescope for students to take turns viewing the stages of the eclipse.

Meanwhile, the 85 students and nine faculty chaperones on the quest for totality encountered too much traffic volume to make it all the way to Burlington, Vermont, but they reached far enough north to experience the total eclipse. The buses pulled over near a park in Montpelier, Vermont, with an open view of the sky, and the students and faculty exited the buses and settled onto the ground with their eyes (behind eclipse glasses, of course) cast skyward.

“Once we saw the total eclipse, there was a lot of awe by students (and faculty),” English teacher Scott Purdy said by email from the bus on the way back to campus. “An amazing sight!”

Robotics Room Dedicated in Memory of Ewen Ross

The section of the Pearse Hub for Innovation (PHI) that is home to the robotics team was a second home to science teacher and robotics coach Ewen Ross, who died in January 2023 at the age of 51. That space was dedicated in Ewen’s memory in June of this year as an overflowing crowd of faculty and staff paid tribute.

In attendance were Ewen’s wife, Lisa, who is director of alumni and parent relations, and their children, Ellie ’23 and rising senior Tyler.

Head of School Sheila Culbert, Science Department Head Neil Chaudhary ’05, and Associate Director of Innovation Jen Solomon each spoke at the dedication.

Neil said his earliest recollection of Ewen came on a cold and dark January night as Neil was walking from the dining hall to an art exhibit opening at the Richmond Art Center. Along the way there was Ewen with a telescope pointed to the eastern sky above the Meadows. Ewen was inviting students coming to and going from the art exhibit to gaze at the night sky and all its wonder.

Neil likened Ewen himself to a star. “Bright, warm, and in his heart forged love for his family and with the world,” Neil said. “The love for science and engineering he shared with so many students and colleagues made his galactic neighborhood that much richer.”

Jen worked closely with Ewen and Director of Innovation Scott MacClintic ’82 to establish the PHI. “Naming this [space] for Ewen is a no-brainer. You can see Ewen everywhere,” Jen said. “Ewen built this space with joy, with laughter, with challenge and curiosity, with deep care for the students and adults he worked with each day.”

Ewen was posthumously awarded the FIRST Tech Challenge’s Compass Award in February 2023, which is given to a robotics

mentor or coach for outstanding work. Jen said students had tried to nominate Ewen for the award previously, but he had always felt it should go to others. He finally relented to being nominated shortly before his death.

The newly named space is a place where Ewen’s legacy will live on, Sheila said.

“Ewen touched the lives of so many students, faculty, and staff,” she said. And his family, seated in the front row, were “his everything,” she told them.

Sheila described Ewen as a passionate educator, kind and generous, and a man of many interests, including star-gazing, creating stained-glass art, golfing, and scouring land with a metal detector. She recalled winning a piece of Ewen’s stained-glass work in an auction about 15 years ago. It had hung in the Head’s House ever since then. At the dedication ceremony, she gifted it to Ewen’s family.

Sheila said she was always impressed by how many girls were involved in robotics and how Ewen encouraged them to be part of the team.

She read a letter that Lisa had received from Lily Clark ’24, a former member of the robotics team.

Lily wrote that Mr. Ross had taught her everything she knew in robotics. Under his guidance, a pursuit that had felt “scary and unavailable” to her became “warm and inviting,” she wrote.

Ewen “inspired me to explore different paths for my future,” Lily’s letter continued. She was accepted into the aerospace engineering program at Ewen’s alma mater, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, with a merit scholarship, and called that “something I would never have dreamed of doing before Mr. Ross.” She wrote that she wished she could share this success with him. “The things he taught me and the memories I have of him have gotten me to where I am today, and I will never forget him.”

Left: Ewen Ross Right: Ellie ’23, rising senior Tyler, and Lisa Ross at the dedication event

Becoming Citizens of the World

When Adrienne Hodson, Charlotte Millman, and Annie Shactman went on an International Education Program (IEP) trip to Rome and Sardinia, Italy, in 2023, they witnessed what it is like to live in a Blue Zone.

Residents of Blue Zones have lower rates of chronic illness and longer life expectancies, attributed in part to diet, exercise, and other lifestyle factors. Sardinia is considered a Blue Zone.

The three members of the Class of 2024 were in the Global & Environmental Studies Certificate (GESC) program, which is run by the Alvord Center for Global & Environmental Studies. The program combines coursework, co-curricular engagement, and experiential learning. The mission is to “develop global and environmentally engaged citizens,” not just during their time at Loomis Chaffee, but for a lifetime.

Each student in the program must participate in a capstone project. Inspired by what they witnessed and learned in Italy, the trio created a capstone project that brought dorm

residents together this spring to prepare and eat healthy meals. They documented the project through a website.

Another capstone project, by senior Isabella Delach, focused on four members of the faculty and staff and their immigrant experiences, which she documented through video. Seniors Grace Lund and Elena Higgins worked on a French language tables initiative for their capstone. They came up with the idea while in Scandinavia in the summer of 2023 on an IEP trip. Grace and Elena realized that they expected everyone to speak English. They decided they and other students should become more comfortable speaking another language. Elena said the program aimed to “break down language barriers, embrace diverse languages, and encourage comfortable communication beyond one’s first language.”

This year, 25 students in the GESC program worked on 14 capstones and were honored at celebration ceremonies in May, during which seniors Luke Daugherty and Chichi Oreh were asked to reflect. Luke’s project was about raising “awareness among Loomis Chaffee students of foreign policy issues in the 2024 election as this area has become

increasingly important and relevant to voters.”

Luke told his fellow students that as he was planning his speech, two friends, one from Brazil, another who is Turkish and lives in the Bronx, came into his room for a discussion that enabled them to “bring our unique contributions from a variety of global perspectives to a table where they could all be heard and valued.”

He went on to say, “It is this constant pursuit of perspective that I believe has been so important to me while I have been a part of this Global & Environmental Studies program. Through our study of the world, we are called to seek out new perspectives and new truths in everything we encounter. Only by understanding perspective can we truly reach out and interact with the world, with nature, and with ourselves.”

Chichi, in her address, recalled that “during the first few weeks of school we were tasked with exploring our identities through our first seminar,” which helped her discover “what causes I was passionate about.”

For her capstone project she teamed with senior Chelsea Ndzana-Zogo.

“There’s a Tanzanian proverb that says, ‘kidogo kidogo hujaza kibaba,’ and that translates to ‘Little by little, a little becomes a lot,’” Chichi said.

She said her “little form of change” occurred through the capstone project, for which she and Chelsea held African cooking classes that were open to the school community with the intent of “informing students of the rich culture embedded within the African continent.”

Senior Olivia Dunlea’s capstone focused on indigenous land use in Connecticut, which she hoped would enable others to “learn from the people who once lived here.” When brainstorming ideas for her project, Olivia said she kept coming back to “the history of the land and giving back to the environment we are so lucky to work, live, and learn on.”

Above: A 2023 school-sponsored trip to the “Blue Zone” of Sardinia, Italy, inspired three students’ capstone project for their Environmental Studies Certificates. Pictured are seniors Adrienne Hodson, Annie Shactman, Yazmeen Abdel-Hamid, Isabella Delach, Evan Gackstetter, Charlotte Millman, and Elizabeth Purdy and junior Catie Collins.

Spurred by Senior Projects

Students Research, Paint, Compose, Calculate, Create, and Analyze

Twenty-nine seniors devoted their final two weeks of classes this spring to the pursuit of in-depth projects of their own design, from conducting medical research to producing original music and from exploring crosscultural cuisine to investigating mathematical equations that model zebra stripes.

Senior Projects allow selected students to be excused from classes for the last fortnight of their Loomis Chaffee careers in order to turn their full-time attention to passion projects. This year 21 projects, some by individuals and some by small groups, received approval. At the conclusion of the projects, participants made presentations of their discoveries, creations, and insights to the school community.

2024 SENIOR PROJECTS

Here are the projects and the seniors who pursued them:

Across the Sciences and Math:

Clark Mural No. 2 | Isabella Wang

Art on the Brain: Learning the Craft of Crocheting | Jayden Furstein, Elizabeth Purdy, and Sofia Sorce

Baking for Hundreds: Mass-Producing

Desserts at LC | Isabella Delach

Behind the Scenes: Stories of Those Who Make Loomis, Loomis

Dalia Brown and Jaleen Kairys

Bomoseen: The Two-Week Mini-Album

Brigham Cooper

Cooking 101: The Melting Pot

Gabriel Jiang and Lauren Patterson

Cross-Cultural Cuisine: My Journey with Food | Mina Ruffle

Developing an Exercise Routine Using an Arduino EMG Sensor | Bella Flowers

Flood Risk Analysis: Finding Vulnerable Communities in Windsor, Connecticut, with Data | Sarah Wagner

Game Design: Retrieving a Lost Childhood Enjoyment | Andy Zhang

Learning How to Produce My First EP

Leah Ozgun

Loomis Uncovered: Exploring the Campus Through Senior Eyes

Melody Saunders and Annie Shactman

Molding Eco Magic | Kayla Anderson

Painting Stripes on Zebras: A Mathematical Exploration of Pattern Formation in Nature | Mark Zhang

Project Jazz | Christian Aljian

Pulse: An Encompassing Recommendation System | Zarin Rizvi

Research in Enzyme Kinetics

Charlie Liss and Charlotte Millman

Seeking a New Lens

Angela Adu-Boateng and Fedora Liu

Through the Viewfinder: A Photographic History of Loomis Chaffee | Annie Nichols and Max Shapiro

Tools for School | Izzie Tarantino

Unlocking the Secrets of Interstitial Fluid: A Deep Dive into the Skin Using Microneedle Technologies

Jessica Luo

Right: Senior Isabella Wang presents her completed mural in the Clark Center for Science & Mathematics.

New Program Focuses on Financial Literacy

Linda Fisher says the trajectory of the financial lives of students can be changed when they learn to manage their finances at a young age.

“Everyone has limited resources, and you need to figure out how to allocate them,” says Linda, an economics teacher and director of the Financial Literacy program. “That is the basic economic problem and where economics and financial literacy come together, learning how to manage whatever resources one has.”

The Financial Literacy program, a new endeavor in the 2023–24 school year, aims to help students gain these important life skills. Students could participate in events and simulations that advanced their understanding of budgeting, saving, building a career, giving to charity, and investing, among many other topics.

“I really enjoy sharing a room filled with peers who all have different levels of knowledge about financial literacy. I always come out of a session learning something new,” senior

Jazmyne Ahipeaud was quoted as saying, in a slide presentation at the program’s end-ofyear celebration in May.

A major part of the program this year was the development of Pelicoin, a virtual currency system used as a tool to teach personal finance to students. About 160 students participated in the Pelicoin part of

the program, with many more students taking part in other aspects of the program. Senior Lucas Levine developed a Pelicoin banking application that students can access on their phones.

At the May celebration, awards were presented to students who earned the most Pelicoin by engaging in financial literacy events and simulations, gave the most Pelicoin to charity (through a conversion of Pelicoin to dollars for charities), scored highest in the Personal Finance Simulation, and earned the highest return on their virtual investment in the Stock Market Game.

Among the guests at the celebration were John Pearse ’58 and Sally Crowther Pearse ’58, founders of the Financial Literacy program.

24 Loomis Chaffee Magazine Summer

Above: Director of the Financial Literacy program

Linda Fisher Below: Participants in various financial literacy activities during the school year gather for an end-of-year celebration in Founders Lounge.

THAT’S ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!

SCHOLASTIC ART & WRITING AWARDS

Twenty-three students earned Connecticut Regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards this year. The awards program for creative teens is coordinated by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, with competitions at the regional and national levels. Eight student artists earned awards for their photography, design, painting, and digital art, and 15 student writers won awards for their works of poetry and prose in several categories.

MODEL UNITED NATIONS

The Model U.N. team wrapped up a successful season with a trip to the Yale Model United Nations Europe conference in Brussels, Belgium, during spring break. “As a whole, the winter season was great,” faculty member and Model U.N. coach David Edgar said. “Our experienced students reliably sponsored resolutions and led blocks, and even our newest students were significant contributors.” The students participated in conferences at Yale, Boston University, and Georgetown University as well Brussels. Loomis students across all class years earned honors and commendations at the conferences.

CELEBRATING GIRLS ATHLETICS

In honor of Women’s History Month, an exhibit was installed in the Scanlan Campus Center celebrating girls athletics at Loomis Chaffee through the years. The installation, created by the Athletics Department, featured seven alumnae who, among many others, led the way for future Pelicans to “excel as students, athletes, and leaders, on the Island and beyond,” as the exhibit said. Featured athletes included Judy Parish Oberting ’87, Gretchen Ulion Silverman ’90, Johanna Deans Martell ’95, Lizzy Boyle Antonick ’99, Heather Hathorn Driscoll ’02, Maxine Offiaeli ’14, and Emma Trenchard ’17.

FAST-A-THON

More than 60 people participated in the third annual Fast-A-Thon at Loomis Chaffee on March 29 by choosing to abstain from eating and drinking from 8 a.m. until sunset at 7:13 p.m. Muslims around the world fast during

the holy month of Ramadan as an exercise in gratitude and empathy with those who go hungry every day. The Muslim Student Union partnered with the Pelican Service Organization, Jewish Student Union, and Christian Fellowship this year for the event, which was sponsored by the Norton Family Center for the Common Good and the Center for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. The Fast-A-Thon served as a fundraiser and a consciousness-raiser. Money collected through donations went to a relief agency providing meals during the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. To break their fast after sunset, participants gathered for an interfaith traditional meal.

DEI SYMPOSIUM

The Center for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) in collaboration with the multicultural organization PRISM presented a DEI Community Symposium in May with student-led workshops followed by a gallery walk of infographics prepared by student DEI interns. The goal of the symposium, as stated by the organizers, was “to help engage Loomis with topics normally not addressed while creating a space for community members to talk and share with those with whom they may rarely interact ... to be on the journey together to work toward eliminating discrimination, preventing conflicts, contributing to greater community cohesion.” The workshops covered a range of cultural, racial, societal, and historical topics.

TEAM+S

Two groups of Loomis Chaffee students this year participated in the annual TEAM+S competition, a national contest that challenges students, in groups of two to four, to tackle real-world problems using STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) skills. As part of the competition, the team members wrote essays proposing solutions to engineering challenges; took a written exam on engineering, math, and science; and worked in their teams to construct a functional “outer space vehicle garage” with as large a capacity as possible using materials such as unsharpened pencils, paper clips, tape, paper, straws, string, and rubber bands. The Loomis team of juniors Idil Turkmen, Bryan Chung, and Kenneth Lee scored a combined 212 points out of a

possible 240, which earned second place in the Connecticut state competition and an invitation to the national competition.

SCIENCE & ENGINEERING

Freshman Ria An won multiple honors in the Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair this spring and qualified to be a Connecticut representative at the International Science & Engineering Fair in Los Angeles in May. More than 400 students presented their research projects at the Connecticut fair. Ria explained that her research project was about “using deep-learning and novel methods to predict seizures for epileptic patients. After hearing stories during a hospital volunteer experience of how epileptic seizure patients could not lead a normal life due to the fear of constant seizures, I wanted to help them have daily lives free of anxiety.”

PHYSICS BOWL

Junior Bryan Chung had a sterling performance in this year’s American Association of Physics Teachers Physics Bowl competition, a 45-minute, 40-question test taken by more than 11,000 students around the world. Participating in the “advanced” Division 2 against 4,000 contestants, Bryan answered 38 questions correctly, earning second place in the U.S. Northeast Division and 20th place globally.

BLOOD DONATION DRIVE

Loomis Chaffee community members donated 35 pints of blood to the Red Cross on May 16 in an on-campus blood drive. The donations from students, faculty, staff, and administrators exceeded organizers’ goal of contributing 30 pints. The blood drive was organized by the Pelican Service Organization, the HOSA-Future Health Professionals Club, the Norton Family Center for the Common Good, and the Health Center.

PHENOMENAL WOMEN AWARDS

The town of Windsor honored Delaney Denno ’23 and senior Anuva Kolli this spring with Phenomenal Women Awards for making a difference in the Windsor community.

ISLAND NEWS

Faculty and Staff News

Several longtime faculty and staff members retired this summer amidst a swirl of bittersweet sentiment and well-wishes from the rest of the Loomis Chaffee community.

Bob and Ginny DeConinck (above), fixtures at the school for the last 26 years, retired to their home in South Carolina, where sunshine, golf, cycling, family visits, and well-earned relaxation awaited them.

Bob and Ginny arrived at Loomis in 1998 after working and living at the Hill School in Pennsylvania. On the Island, Bob taught chemistry and served as associate director of studies, dorm head of Richmond Hall (and Warham Hall earlier in his tenure), and head coach of varsity girls swimming &

“Younger people interested in working in boarding schools and those early in their boarding school careers should look to Bob DeConinck as a model. The playbook goes something like this: Work hard and do your best in those things that got you the job in the first place. Push yourself and your students to be their best in those areas. Embrace the other aspects of school life, like dormitory and advising and being a good colleague and community member at all times. Make sure your spouse or significant other is a delight who is an even better community presence.”

— WEBB TRENCHARD reflecting on Bob DeConinck's career

diving, among many other roles. In the Academic Office, he guided and scheduled hundreds of students through their academic careers alongside Dean of Academics and Curriculum Tim Lawrence, who paid tribute to Bob at a celebration in June. In

the pool, Bob brought out the best in athletes, both as swimmers and as young people, and helped them achieve goals they had thought impossible. Bob’s swim teams won 16 Founders League titles and a New England championship in 2007.

Ginny worked as an administrative assistant in the College Office and was the standardized testing coordinator, a huge, exacting responsibility for which she earned acclaim at peer schools far and wide. She also served as a dorm staff member and a community engagement coordinator and previously assisted with the Student Activities program.

Among the many students whom the DeConincks mentored was Liz Bucceri ’07, a four-year varsity letter winner on Bob’s swim and water polo teams. Liz returned to Loomis in 2012 to teach math and assistant coach the girls swim team with Bob. She now is a science and math teacher and the head of Palmer Hall, and she will be the head coach of the girls swim team next year.

Speaking at the end-of-year retirement celebration, Liz called Ginny “a second mom to me” and Bob “the best coach, mentor, and friend a person could ask for.”

Associate Head of School Webb Trenchard shared his thoughts about Bob’s career: “Younger people interested in working in boarding schools and those early in their boarding school careers should look to Bob DeConinck as a model. The playbook goes something like this: Work hard and do your best in those things that got you the job in the first place. Push yourself and your students to be their best in those areas. Embrace the other aspects of school life, like dormitory and advising and being a good colleague and community member at all times. Make sure your spouse or significant other is a delight who is an even better community presence.”

Other longtime employees who retired this summer included:

Carpenter Andy Dowe, who worked for the Physical Plant for the last 26 years. “Whether it was building furniture and decks, replacing windows, updating kitchens, or even rescuing birds from chimneys, Andy was the man for the job,” said Lance Hall, director of the Physical Plant. “He will be missed not only for his expertise but also for being an integral part of our team.”

continued on page 28

COMMUNITY HONORS

At the annual Community Honors event in June, a number of faculty and staff members were honored for their dedicated work at the school:

Four faculty and staff members marked 20 years of service to the school this year: Director of Counseling Julie Field; Dean of Faculty Andrew Matlack; Abe Passardi, an engineer in the Physical Plant; and Director of Strategic Communications & Marketing Lynn Petrillo ’86.

The Austin Wicke Prize was presented to Alexander Peña Bethencourt, who teaches in the History, Philosophy & Religious Studies Department. The prize was given in memory of Austin by his parents and is awarded to a Loomis Chaffee faculty member of less than 10 years of service who has demonstrated a dedication to the discipline of teaching, and a commitment to fostering the growth and development of young persons.

English teacher and department head Stephen Colgate received the Distinguished Teaching Award in Honor of Dom Failla. The award was created by a number of alumni who got together and raised a Failla Fund after Dom retired in 2009. The fund supports faculty salaries, professional development, and the award, which is presented each year to a senior faculty member. Dom taught philosophy and religious studies at Loomis, and his kindness and intellect had a profound influence on many students.

The Lena M. Chen M.D. ’87 Faculty Prize for Mentoring went to Director of International Student Support and history teacher Molly Pond. Established in loving memory of Lena by her family, the award is presented annually to a faculty member who excels as a mentor to students. The award honors and celebrates the impact that faculty members have on the lives of students in and outside of the classroom.

Palmer Fellowships were announced for Ned Heckman and Kate Seyboth. Ned teaches science, is a dorm head, and serves as associate director of the Kravis Center for Excellence in Teaching. Kate teaches computer science and is director of digital and computational learning. The Palmer Fellowships, which support professional and curricular development, are awarded to faculty members with a record of exemplary service to the school. The Keller and MacLean families established the fellowships in honor of former faculty members Ann and Keith Palmer to recognize superb teaching at Loomis Chaffee, with the specific goal of fostering innovative pedagogy.

The school honored three teachers with instructorships. Math teacher Nicole Bowen was named to the Herbert Savin Instructorship in Mathematics. Music teacher and Orchestra Director Netta Hadari was awarded the Thomas Benedict Carter Instructorship in Music. Language teacher Kitty Peterson ’72 was named to the Independence Foundation Instructorship.

Service to the School Awards were presented to nine members of the faculty and staff: Housekeeper Chris Beckford, Campus Safety Officer Mike Begley, Dean of Students Stephanie Bissett, Groundskeeper Jesse Burnham, Bookstore Manager Tammy Hobbs, Campus Safety Officer Jose Pagan, Chief Advancement Officer Tim Struthers ’85, and Director of Institutional Giving Chelsea Stuart.

continued from page 27

Medical assistant Lorna Grant, who cared for students in the Gwendolen Health Center since 1998, usually working the evening shift. “For over a quarter of a century, students have passed through the health center doors, and between the hours of 3 p.m. and 10 p.m., Lorna has greeted and welcomed them all,” said Dean of Faculty Andrew Matlack at the retirement celebration.

ISLAND NEWS

over North America. He is grateful, though, for his decades at Loomis. “I just love the diversity of the students here,” he says. “I’ve met some incredible kids over the years.”

Cotton, was born on March 11. Rose Saxton Chaudhary, daughter of Associate Director of Studies and Registrar Kate Saxton and head of the Science Department Neil Chaudhary ’05, was born on April 16.

Qioxyn Rowe Clark, daughter of Visual Arts Department head Ro Clark ’97 and her husband, Quinn Clark, was born on May 3. And Wilson J. “Sunny” Haldane, son of Counselor Eva Haldane ’00, was born on June 16.

Linda Rossi, executive assistant to the head of school, who kept everything in order for two heads of school, first Russell Weigel and then Sheila Culbert, during Linda’s 25-year tenure. Sheila said Linda was the best assistant she ever had but noted that the title assistant didn’t really do Linda justice. “She really was a work companion ... my friend ... been there through good and bad times ... given me more than I could ever repay.” Sheila also joked that with everything Linda saw and heard over the years, she could write a book.

Connie Yocius, who was an administrative assistant in the Academic Office, starting in 1997. “I have been blessed to have Connie’s excellence and support,” said Tim Lawrence, dean of academics and curriculum. “Connie is incredibly detail-oriented, methodically exact, and careful in her every endeavor.”

David Madsen, an adjunct music faculty member who taught guitar lessons to students at Loomis for the last 39 years. An internationally recognized expert in the Suzuki method of guitar training, David has taught courses in countries such as Italy, Singapore, Argentina, Peru, and all

Faculty members who departed Loomis Chaffee this spring for new endeavors and their lengths of service were consulting psychiatrist Rich Miller (30 years); Chief of Staff Mary Liscinsky (14 years); Fred Kuo, senior associate director of the Annual Fund (nine years); language teacher, head of Cutler Hall, and Associate Director of the Norton Family Center for the Common Good Lillian Corman (eight years); science and math teacher Adam Alsamadisi (three years); Chief Diversity Officer Ashley Augustin (three years); language teacher Carmen Hatchell (three years); economics teacher Michelle Ruffle (three years); science teacher Ihab Ismail (two years); language teacher Maria Vazquez Sanchez (two years); Sports Information Director Will Katts (one year); social sciences teacher Matthew Kirkwood (one year); and science teacher Jaime Tracewell (one year).

In the latest baby boom on campus, Loomis Chaffee welcomed four new arrivals this spring. Casey Carson Cotton, son of teacher, coach, and head of Harman Hall Caitie

Susan Chrzanowski, choral director and head of the Performing Arts Department, has been appointed artistic director of the West Hartford Women’s Chorale. She says the role will dovetail well with her work at Loomis.

Woodwinds teacher James Kleiner has published a memoir, Landing On My Feet: Teaching and Learning During a Career in Education, that has earned positive reviews and is available in paperback and ebook format. Reviewer Gail Graham writes in Pacific Book Review: “With his lively storytelling and deep understanding, Kleiner encourages us to explore the diverse experiences of joy, adversity, and success which shape the path of a dedicated educator.”

Director of Alumni & Parent Relations

Lisa Ross was inducted into the Berkshire County (Massachusetts) Basketball Hall of Fame in March. Lisa was a standout player at Lee High School, graduating in 1986.

Teacher of the Year

The Student Council chose David Edgar of the English Department and the History, Philosophy & Religious Studies Department as Teacher of the Year for the 2023–24 school year. “I feel very honored,” David said after the award was announced at the Celebration of Excellence ceremony in May. “Honestly, there were a lot of teachers I would pick before myself, but I am completely honored and glad that some things I said stuck in the students’ heads.” Teacher of the Year is chosen by the Student Council each year based on student nomination essays.

Loomis

PELICAN SPORTS

Team Effort Delivers Championship Season

NEW ENGLAND CHAMPS

The girls track & field team won the Division I New England prep school title on May 18, accumulating an impressive 137.5 points at the championship meet, 64.5 more than second-place Phillips Exeter. Completing the season undefeated and as Founders League and New England champions, the Pelicans also broke multiple school records throughout the season. Even with this recording-setting talent, the team’s greatest strength was its depth. Twelve members of the team scored points at the New Englands. And while Loomis Chaffee won four of the 17 championship events, nearly 100 of the team’s points came from second- through sixth-place finishes. The team was led by head coach Lilian Castillo de Hutchinson and the three captains, seniors Samantha Mancini, Chelsea Ndzana-Zogo, and Sofia Rincón.

Front: senior Tahmir Murphy (manager), senior Chelsea Ndzana-Zogo (captain), senior Sam Mancini (captain), senior Sofia Rincón (captain), senior Logan Elie, junior Natalie Crocker, and senior Yazmeen Abdel-Hamid (manager). Back: assistant coach Jaime Tracewell, assistant coach Rick Tyo, assistant coach Chloe Alexander ’12, head coach Lilian Hutchinson, sophomore Stella Purdy, junior Gabby Wood, senior Angela Adu-Boateng, sophomore Charlotte Preuss, junior Delaney Pece, junior Marlow Fortune, sophomore Maleah Cogle, junior Ellen Chen, senior Sylvia Barresi, senior Chloe Kahn, assistant coach Becky Purdy, senior Olivia Beauvois, senior Angelina Reno, sophomore Lauren Plummer, assistant coach Skyler Dovi ’17, and senior Izzy Tarantino.

VARSITY RECORDS

1: Sophomore Lucas Hanley

2: Senior Connor Bankoff

3: Freshman Solen Josey-Trainor

4: Sophomore Jake Paasch

BASEBALL 9-10

BOYS GOLF 15-4

Founders League Championship, 3rd Place

GIRLS GOLF 16-3

Founders League Championship, 3rd Place

BOYS LACROSSE 16-2

Founders League Champion

GIRLS LACROSSE 8-8

Founders League Tournament, Semifinalist

SOFTBALL 14-4

Western New England Tournament, Finalist

BOYS TENNIS 10-5

Southern New England Tennis League Tournament, 3rd Place

GIRLS TENNIS 5-5

BOYS TRACK & FIELD 7-0

Founders League Champion

New England Division 1, Runner-Up

GIRLS TRACK & FIELD 9-0

Founders League Champion

New England Division I Champion

GIRLS WATER POLO 9-4

New England Semifinalist

5: The boys lacrosse team celebrates victory in the Founders League Tournament championship game.

6: Senior Sarah Wagner

7: Senior captain Sofia Rincón

8: Junior Izzy Heflin

9: Sophomore Olivia Manganiello

10: Junior Cata Tarantino

11: Senior captain Orion Browne

JodyReilly Soja

By Becky Purdy

There is an interesting paradox in Jody Reilly Soja’s life and career in education, a journey that brought her and her family this summer to Loomis Chaffee, their new home, where Jody began her work as the new head of school on July 1.

An accomplished school leader with deep experience as a teacher, coach, dorm faculty, dean, administrator, and head of school, Jody describes her career with disarming simplicity.

“I guess my whole life story is ‘Nothing’s going to go according to plan.’ But it’s all worked out,” she says.

The irony is that the ability to see an institution’s big picture and collaboratively plan for the future is one of Jody’s greatest strengths and favorite undertakings as a head of school. And it is one of the many qualities that stood out for the Loomis Chaffee Board of Trustees in its decision to appoint Jody to the post.

Nudge further at the paradox, though, and it dissolves, for while Jody couldn’t have predicted the path of her life and work, each step along the way has followed an overarching theme defined by learning, teaching, and community.

From her earliest memories to the present, school has always been a centerpiece of Jody’s life.

She grew up in the college town of Middlebury, Vermont, where her father was a legendary basketball coach at Middlebury College and her mother was a teacher. Her mom, in fact, was her first teacher when 3-year-old Jody started preschool. Jody and her sisters spent much of their free time as children on the college campus playing sports and hanging out.

“I really grew up in the Middlebury College athletic facilities,” Jody says. “Just drop us off there with my dad, and we would hang out all the time. I traveled with his basketball team. I played sports with all the coaches there. We were total fac brats, and it was just part of our life.”

A curious student who liked to read, Jody attended public schools in Middlebury through high school. “I still have such fond memories of my elementary school teachers,” she says, naming a few in particular. “Those people were very instrumental for me.”

High school lit an intellectual spark in Jody, and she credits her teachers. “I was really blessed with teachers who felt scholarship was very important,” she says. “They challenged us, and they wanted us to think, and they wanted us to learn how to write.”

Jody attended Tufts University in Boston for her freshman year of college but says she was “quickly overwhelmed by city life, coming from Middlebury.” As a sophomore, she transferred to Bates College in Maine. A standout lacrosse player since her childhood, Jody played the sport at both Tufts and Bates.

She majored in political science at Bates, and a semester abroad through the School for International Training was one of the turning points in her life. “I studied for about five and a half months in Durban, South Africa, studying both at the University of Durban, Westville, and then University of Durban, Natal,” she says. “I studied Zulu language, but also my research was on political reconstruction after apartheid. It was a fascinating, life-changing experience.”

“My independent project (for the semester abroad) focused on women’s resistance and how they use their roles as mothers to be

sort of a catalyst for garnering support for their rights.”

Graduating from college brought change, of course, but Jody continued to gravitate to school environments. She has spent her whole career in education, from her first job as an administrative assistant at Walnut Hill School near Boston to her years as a teacher, coach, advisor, and administrator at Indian Mountain School in Lakeville, Connecticut; Millbrook School in Millbrook, New York; and National Cathedral School in Washington, D.C.; and then as head of school at Indian Mountain since 2015. Her husband, Kevin Soja, also has devoted his career to schools, and the couple have lived and raised their two sons, Russell and William, on boarding school campuses.

“School has always been very much home to me,” she reflects. “Being in school, when I returned to it as a teacher, just felt very natural to me.”

When she looks back on her career so far, Jody is struck by its serendipity.

“If you had asked me when I was in high school or college if I wanted to be a teacher, I would have been aghast and said, ‘No way,’” she says. She had planned to pursue a career as a lawyer, but after college she wanted to work for a couple of years before going to law school. She took a summer job at the Wolfeboro Camp School in New Hampshire and then accepted a position in the Dean’s Office at Walnut Hill, an independent secondary school focusing on the arts. Her role was primarily entry-level administrative work, including tracking attendance, but she also was a gym teacher for the school of budding musicians, artists, and creative minds.

Interested in being in the classroom, she applied for teaching jobs for the following year, and she discovered Indian Mountain School (IMS), a junior boarding and day school, where she was hired to teach history and English as a second language (ESL) as well as fulfill the myriad other duties that come with boarding school faculty life. “I totally fell in love with being in the classroom and coaching and dorm duty and all that good stuff,” she says. Thoughts of law school and a legal career soon faded.

That’s not to say the move into the classroom was easy.

“I arrived [at Indian Mountain] really having no idea what I was doing,” she recalls. “But the coaching part came naturally to me because that’s the environment I grew up in watching my dad coach. And then I just learned, figured out how to be a teacher.”

She credits her fellow teachers, including her first History Department chair, with mentoring her through her initial years in the classroom. One experienced colleague “taught me how to write a lesson plan and taught me how to plan backwards and how to design a unit and just talked to me all about the planning part of being a teacher,” she says. The history curriculum had some built-in structure, but her ESL classes were more open-ended. “I was sort of on my own to figure out what to do” in teaching ESL students, she says. “One of those students ended up at Loomis, so I think I did all right.

Top left: Jody and her co-coach, John Buck, with their lacrosse team at Indian Mountain in 2002. Top right: Kevin and Jody in 2004 or 2005. They were married in 2003. Bottom: The Indian Mountain soccer team with Coach Reilly in the fall of 2001, Jody’s second year at the school.

Some of it was trial and error, but I also had colleagues who took me under their wing.”

Among her closest colleagues to this day is Tom Stewart, who was a more experienced history teacher when Jody started teaching at Indian Mountain and who still works there, now as the director of sustainability programming & initiatives. “He and I shared an office for a number of years,” Jody recalls. “We just bounced ideas off of each other and in many ways co-designed the course that we taught. It’s really fun to have him as a thought partner and planning partner, and we still worked very closely together years later, which is kind of cool.”

Jody’s talent for considering the bigger picture also emerged in her early years of

teaching. The IMS head of school at the time encouraged her to take on greater responsibilities, and she was appointed assistant athletic director, along with her teaching role, in her second and third years there.

After three years at the school, she took a year away to earn a master’s degree in education at Harvard, where she focused on adult growth and evaluation in school settings.

When she returned to Indian Mountain in 2003, she found abundant opportunities to apply her master’s degree work and her interest in strategic planning. The school was merging with a local private elementary school, adding pre-K to fourth grade to the existing fifth-to-ninth-grade enrollment, and in the administrative reconfiguration that comes with such a change, Jody was appointed to the role of assistant director of

Left: A faculty photo from Jody’s early teaching days at Indian Mountain School Below: Kevin, Russell, William, and Jody

Family Matters

Jody’s husband, Kevin Soja, works in the Development Office at Berkshire School in Massachusetts, a job he will continue in a hybrid format, working some days from the house at Loomis and some days in the office at Berkshire. The family also is renting a house in Sheffield, Massachusetts, where Kevin will stay if he needs to be near Berkshire for special events and evening occasions.

The couple’s sons will both be boarding students at Berkshire School. Russell, who began as a freshman at Berkshire, will be entering his junior year. William will be a freshman. “They are both very, very excited to be boarding students,” Jody says. “They’ve only ever lived on boarding school campuses, and they’ve always looked up to the kids who are boarding.”

academics. “That also was our reaccreditation year, so I was in charge of running the accreditation process, and I was redesigning the faculty evaluation process because that was my focus when I was in grad school,” she says.

She was subsequently appointed head of Indian Mountain’s upper school, which is seventh through ninth grades, a role she continued until she became the overall school’s dean of faculty.

“I loved being the dean of faculty,” Jody says. “That’s what I was going to be for the rest of my life. I liked working on evaluations and seeing how adults grow in school communities. Also, I still was teaching, so I loved the balance of teaching and the administrative work. I loved feeling like I was teaching teachers and still had the kid balance. It was really interesting work to me. I thought, ‘I’m a career dean of faculty.’ But again, nothing has gone according to plan.”

In 2009, after Jody and Kevin’s second son, William, was born, the couple decided to simplify their family’s life on one campus. Kevin already was working at Millbrook School, a boarding high school about 20 miles away from Lakeville, and Jody went to teach history there as well as coach lacrosse and serve as a student advisor.

The following year, Kevin was recruited to be dean of students at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia, so the family moved south. After a year at home with baby William, Jody was hired at National Cathedral School, where she taught American government and English, was director of the middle school, and oversaw professional development of the full school’s faculty.

She was working at National Cathedral when she heard that Indian Mountain’s head of school had announced that he was leaving at the end of the 2014–15 school year. “I had no desire to be a head of school, but I was just being nosy, and the search consultant, Chuck Burdick, lives in Middlebury. … I reached out to him, just to see what was going on,” she says. He asked her to meet him for a cup of coffee and to take a look at the position description, and she agreed. They met and chatted and didn’t talk again for several months, and then Mr. Burdick called her. “They’re starting semifinalist

Pivotal Moments

Joys and Challenges as Head of Indian Mountain School

There were many gratifying moments and challenges over Jody’s nine years as head of school at Indian Mountain School. The proud occasions that stand out in Jody’s memory were big-picture moments, when she encountered a sudden vista of the school’s accomplishments and meaning. The challenges that stand out were just that: challenges to be overcome. Here are a few of both:

Feel-Good Moments

“I’m really proud of the two strategic plans that we did,” she says. The first took place early in her tenure as head of school. “We reached out to every constituency to try to get people re-engaged, to introduce me as the leader to the constituents, open up dialogue about what was working well and what we could improve on.”

“No disrespect to my predecessor, but it felt like … we were a school trying to be all things to all people, and we didn’t really have a sense of our identity. We couldn’t really tell our story very well. People would often say, ‘I don’t know how to describe it, but you just know it. When you’re on campus, you just feel it,’” she says. Discovering and defining the school’s identity was a crucial first step in the strategic planning process, and it drove the rest of the project’s work.

“It gave us direction and helped us to tell our story better and helped us to figure out what we were going to prioritize. I’m really proud of that. It took a lot of work, and I can’t imagine it ending up better than it did. It was a really useful plan and was a living plan.”

The second strategic plan, completed a few years later, followed a similar process and,

while the plan offered new insights and made adjustments, it also reaffirmed the wisdom of the direction the school was taking. “It was gratifying in the sense that we all felt like this is still who we are,” she says.

Indian Mountain School’s Centennial in 2022 was another proud moment for Jody, who was a frequent visitor to the IMS archives. “Knowing the history of a place, I think, is really important, and I have such an appreciation for that founding history, and it gave it a little more meaning to me to be [at IMS] on the 100th birthday, particularly as the first female head of school, just to think about how far we’ve come.”

The most profoundly rewarding moments for her are when she sees students and alumni making a positive difference in the world. She recounts one such moment in a conversation with the head of a secondary school: “He started talking about how Indian Mountain School kids at secondary schools are known for being excellent community members, inclusive and engaged and kind. When he said that, I just started sobbing, so that might be my actual proudest moment. But there have been many.”

Meeting Challenges

When Jody arrived as head of Indian Mountain, the school was not hitting its enrollment goals. “That was a challenge to rebuild the brand and get people re-interested in IMS. In some ways it was a fun challenge, but it was hard work,”

“Knowing the history of a place, I think, is really important, and I have such an appreciation for that founding history, and it gave it a little more meaning to me to be [at IMS] on the 100th birthday, particularly as the first female head of school, just to think about how far we’ve come.”

— JODY REILLY SOJA on her time at Indian Mountain School

she says. “And then the financial piece that goes along with that is making sure that we were really sound financially through that process, so that was hard. You know, it’s hard when people are in disagreement about what’s best for kids. I’m always of the belief that we all want what’s best for kids, but we might disagree on what that is. And some of those moments can be very challenging. Usually you end up in a good place for everybody, but it can be difficult.”

Under Jody’s leadership, Indian Mountain did turn around its enrollment challenges, hitting record numbers of enrollments in the last two years.

COVID-19, of course, presented daunting unknowns and difficulties for schools, with a unique subset of challenges for boarding schools.

As was the case at Loomis Chaffee and most other boarding schools, Indian Mountain shut its campus in the spring of 2020 as the pandemic spread around the world. “And

then we worked all summer to figure out how we were going to reopen in the fall of 2020, which we did,”

Jody says. IMS reopened with a remote program and an in-person program, and the school created different entry points when students could switch from one program to the other. Few, if any, students chose to switch from in-person to remote, according to Jody, but the school did have students arriving onto campus throughout the year, with 60 to 70 percent of boarders back by the end of the year.

“That was a scary year and challenging in some ways, but it also was an amazing year, and really joyful in some ways,” Jody says. The students and faculty who were on campus were thrilled to be there. “And the way that people came together and rallied around what’s best for kids and were willing to just roll up their sleeves and do what was needed was pretty spectacular to watch,”

Jody says. “I don’t ever want to go through that again, and it was horribly tragic for so many reasons, but really we were our best selves in that time. It really came back to what was essential and important for working with young people. … Watching that and being part of that energy to do what we needed to do, what was best for the kids, it was so gratifying to be in this occupation and to remember that what was the most important was just being together.”

Above: The Indian Mountain School campus in Lakeville, Connecticut. Inset: On the hill behind the head’s house at Indian Mountain, Jody and puppy Hadley enjoy Mountain Day. Hadley is now 8 years old.

interviews. It’s now or never. Are you in?” she recalls him saying. She thought, “What’s the harm in going to a semifinalist interview?”

She agreed to the interview, she recounts, “and really enjoyed the conversation with the search committee. I love talking about strategic planning, and I love [Indian Mountain]. Next thing I knew, I was head of school.”

Jody wasn’t seeking a change last year, either, when she got a call from Isaacson Miller, the consulting firm helping Loomis Chaffee find a new head of school as Sheila Culbert neared retirement.

“I wasn’t looking for a job,” Jody says. “But life presents opportunities.”

The consultant asked Jody if she was interested. “It’s a great school. Of course I have a little bit of interest,” Jody replied, and she sent her materials to the search firm. “At the time I thought, ‘Well, this is good professional development. Haven’t tested out my resume in a while, and why not?’”

Soon she was invited to interview with the Head of School Search Committee. “The conversation with the Search Committee was so lovely and interesting and exciting that it definitely piqued my interest, just increased my interest in the work and in this new challenge,” she says. “I felt like the time was right for me personally and professionally, and also right for [Indian Mountain]. And again, next thing you know —”

Anyone’s first few weeks on the Island are both head-spinning and exciting, whether as a new student, a new faculty member, or the new head of school. Jody and her family moved to campus the last weekend in June. For the first month or so, while the Head’s House underwent transitional renovations and maintenance work, the Sojas lived in a

she did during visits to campus in the spring, she listened.

“I feel like in my first year I’m a student of Loomis Chaffee,” she says. “I don’t think it works well when somebody comes into an institution with their own ideas of what needs to be done without really listening and learning first. I’ve been asked several times what my vision is, and it’s to take a great school and hopefully make it continue to be great. I don’t know enough yet about where some modifications could be made, and I don’t want to presume anything. So [I plan] to listen and learn and be a student of Loomis, and to try to get to know as many people as I can and try to start building relationships. For me, it’s all relational work.”

Leaving Indian Mountain was bittersweet.

“This is a place that really was formative for me in my educational career,” she said in an interview two months before she departed. “And so I think goodbyes are hard and change is hard. But also there’s new, great stuff to come.”

faculty house on Island Road, and Jody got the initial lay of the land while walking back and forth to Founders Hall. She got to know faculty and staff who work in Founders and across campus during the summer. She met with Trustees and administrators. And as

Asked what she wants the Loomis community to know about her, she says, “I would like them to know that I’m curious about them. For alumni, I really want to hear about their experience at Loomis and what made it either very special or in some cases challenging for them. For students, what drew them to Loomis? What keeps them here? What do they most love about being a student at Loomis? I really am genuinely curious about it all.”

She says she wants to be accessible “so that people feel comfortable sharing things and talking with me about what makes Loomis special to them. And where are some of the things that we can work on? What are some things that need attention? The school has come dramatically far under Sheila’s tenure, and it was already in a great place. … But there’s always more we can do.”

“I would like them to know that I’m curious about them. For alumni, I really want to hear about their experience at Loomis and what made it either very special or in some cases challenging for them. For students, what drew them to Loomis? What keeps them here? What do they most love about being a student at Loomis? I really am genuinely curious about it all.”

— JODY REILLY

SOJA, when asked what she wants the Loomis community to know about her

38 Loomis Chaffee Magazine Summer 2024

Above: The annual Trustee retreat was held on campus this summer and included an “amazing race” around the Island. Jody and Trustees Courtney Ackeifi ’06 and Jamie Widdoes ’72 enjoy the medal ceremonies at dinner in front of Founders Hall.

SENIOR PROFILES

Outward Bound

By Jeff Otterbein

We talk with seven students in our annual senior profiles. During their years at Loomis Chaffee, they have found out more about themselves and the world around them, and now they take that knowledge on their next journey.

Quick Takes

College: Harvard/New England Conservatory of Music dual-degree program, Boston, Massachusetts

Clubs/activities/honors: Swimming & diving (two-time captain), water polo (captain), Student Council president, Orchestra, Concert Choir, tour guide, Norton Fellow, William C. Card Junior Music Award, Aaron P. Pratt Jr. Senior Music Prize, Samuel C. Suisman Senior History Prize, Global & Environmental Studies Certificate, Cum Laude Society honors, and Jennie Loomis Prize.

On the beauty of the campus: “It’s so stunning, nicer than a lot of college campuses. One thing that is amazing to me is that the campus is contained in a loop. ... Obviously it is large, but contained, and I think that helps with the sense of community.”

Favorite place on campus: “I love the pool, that’s for sure. I also love the Harkness tables in Chaffee. I love Founders Lounge.” He says his greatest intellectual discussions were at the Harkness tables, long classroom tables designed to foster dialogue as equals.

Favorite snack: Chex Mix and Kit-Kats

As a freshman I was ... “one who wanted to explore. One who lived by the word ‘try.’”

As a senior I ... “still live by the word ‘try,’ but I also say I’m pretty resilient. When you come out of Loomis Chaffee, you have had a lot of experiences, so when you experience them again, you don’t get knocked down. ‘Oh, I’ve been in tough situations before, I’ve made tough decisions, or had a lot of work and I’ve done it.’ So, you don’t really fall. You’re resilient. You're tough.”

SENIOR PROFILE

Preston McNulty Socha

Making Hay Every Day

Preston McNulty Socha will long remember his swimming days — and not just because he was a two-time captain.

Preston says one of the best pieces of advice he received came from Grant Gritzmacher, the boys swimming and diving head coach at Loomis Chaffee.

“We have a lot of sayings on the swim team,” Preston says. He laughs. “Some make sense, some don’t.”

This one made perfect sense to Preston: “Every day, Mr. Gritzmacher says we’re putting hay in the barn so we can feed the horses. When it comes to [big races], you have stored all that hay in the barn, and you can go out and feed the horses. … [T]hat advice has stayed with me. When you are doing something so intense for so many months, even if it is outside of swimming, there are a lot of times you feel like you’re dragging and saying, ‘Where is this really getting me?’ But I always have that — I’m putting the hay in the barn, and eventually I’m going to reap the results.”

Preston stored a lot of hay in the LC barn as a member of the swim team. Yet that is just a part of the person Preston became in high school. He had never played water polo and was reluctant to try the sport. As a junior, he took the leap.

“Swimming is more of an individual sport,” Preston says, “and water polo is six things happening all at once in perfect sync, so that was a great learning experience.”

Another reason he joined the water polo team, he says, was that he “wanted to do something purposeful with all my time here.”

Goal achieved. Swimming captain as a junior and senior. Water polo captain as a

“[College-Level English Seminar] taught me how to engage in complicated but intellectual academic discourse, and how to say there is this piece of information on the table and there are six ways to look at it.”

— PRESTON MCNULTY SOCHA

senior. President of the Student Council (StuCo). Cellist in the Orchestra and alto in the Concert Choir. Norton Fellow the summer before his junior year, when he taught music classes and read books at the Hartford Public Library for lower income children with limited access to musical instruments. Recipient of a Global & Environmental Studies Certificate. All of it led to Preston’s being awarded the Jennie Loomis Prize for outstanding contributions to the school at Commencement in May.

Preston likes mentoring and helping others, whether as Student Council president, a team captain, or a Norton Fellow. “On the swim team, I loved being that senior to help guide freshmen and sophomores in their first swim meets. So I think that is the same in StuCo,” he says. “I wanted to be in a position where I am helping lead the culture of our organization, creating a positive and hardworking environment, and having a personal connection with each of the [members].”

Leadership seemed to be a natural part of his progression through his years at Loomis.

“I was never one to always be the loudest in the room, or just talk for the sake of talking,” Preston says. “I like to be a purposeful listener, and I think my leadership comes from [the fact that] I care so much for StuCo, for swimming, for water polo.”

Preston was accepted to the five-year Harvard/New England Conservatory dualdegree program, through which he will work toward both a bachelor’s degree at Harvard and a master’s degree in music at the conservatory. Music has been a big piece of his identity on the Island.

“Music at Loomis is a lot about community,” Preston says. Making music as part of a group helped him gain skills in both musicianship and collaboration, he says, adding, “What you learn playing your instrument and how you interact with each other, that is one of the ultimate gifts that just takes you places.”

Preston used his music skills during his Norton Fellowship in the summer of 2022 as he worked with children in Hartford.

“That helped me think about the word ‘apply,’” Preston says. “How do I take all that I do here and apply that to the community?”

The word apply also comes to mind in regard to the College-Level English Seminar that Preston took as a junior.

“I’ve never had to embrace discomfort so many times,” he says. “I knew every day coming into class that our discussions would be purposeful and confront the foremost things in our world. Coming out of that class, I think it taught me how to engage in complicated but intellectual academic discourse, and how to say there is this piece of information on the table and there are six ways to look at it. That informed one of my core values that I tried to foster in StuCo.”

That core value was to hear all the perspectives in the room because, he says, “if we just hear one or two, we are not getting as much as we could from the people we have. That class taught me that great learning comes when we have all those conversations with one another. The class was never predictable and always inspiring.”

SENIOR PROFILE

Chelsea Ndzana-Zogo

A Kind Spirit Committed to Social Justice

Sure, there are bigger, more exotic bucket lists. And the time will come to experience those. In the spring term, her final one at Loomis Chaffee, Chelsea Ndzana-Zogo was more into the here and now.

Chelsea and some friends wanted to do some of the things they had first done when new to campus, she says. Run along the trail in the Meadows. Get a bite to eat at Dom’s. Go to The Bean coffee shop for its wide variety of drinks. Swing on the swings in the playground by Faculty Row. “It’s one of those remembering-Loomis-before-I go bucket lists,” Chelsea says.

Rest assured Loomis will remember Chelsea. Founders Prize recipient. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) intern. Resident assistant. Pelican Support Network mentor. Track and field captain. Volleyball III player for two years, and two years as the varsity team’s manager. Part of “Slavery and Loomis Chaffee: An Ethical History Project.” Innovation Trimester (I-Tri) student. Recipient of a Faculty Sellers Prize on Class Night in recognition of personal achievement and service to the LC community. Someone who

Quick Takes

College: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

Clubs/activities/honors: Prefect in Cutler Hall, resident assistant in Howe Hall, Pelican Support Network mentor, track & field (captain), Diversity, Equity & Inclusion intern, tour guide, Founders Prize, Sellers Faculty Prize, Global & Environmental Studies Certificate, Innovation Trimester.

“Loomis Chaffee has made me the person and citizen that I am today. There are so many opportunities for me to explore my interests, whether that be social justice or history.

— CHELSEA NDZANA-ZOGO

took it all in and gave it all she had.

Chelsea will head to the University of Pennsylvania in the fall and has long been interested in a career in law. When she was in fourth grade, her teacher, a former lawyer, was talking about the importance of reading every night.

“Somehow, she went off on a tangent about her first day in court,” Chelsea says. “And just hearing her stories about cases, how the people felt that she had helped, the basis of the cases, was the inspiration for me to want to pursue law.”

Favorite snack: Biscoff cookies

Favorite meal: Jollaf rice, a West African stew made with tomatoes, rice, spices, and meat. “With plantains on the side,” Chelsea says. “My mother makes it, and friends on campus made it, too.”

If you could invite one person to dinner, who would it be and why? “Michelle Obama when she was a lawyer. Being who she is and the determination she has and where that determination has taken her is inspiring to me. And I would love to learn how she got through all of that, especially as a Black woman in law.”

Kristen Newmark, an associate director of college guidance at Loomis, says Chelsea’s “commitment to social justice is unwavering.” She also says Chelsea’s “energy is contagious, and her kind spirit impacts everyone with whom she comes in contact.”

Chelsea came to Loomis from the Prep to Prep program out of New York City, which prepares promising students of color for placement at independent schools in the city and boarding schools throughout the Northeast. She says that experience helped mold her into the student she is today. Loomis has furthered that growth.

“Loomis Chaffee has made me the person and citizen that I am today,” Chelsea says. “There are so many opportunities for me to explore my interests, whether that be social justice or history. Even science. Taking environmental science last year was something that I had not thought of coming into Loomis, but taking that class helped me to understand what it truly is to be a citizen, whether that be at Loomis Chaffee,

Would you rather live 100 years in the past or 100 years in the present? The past, she says. “So much has happened in the last 100 years. Plus, I’m thinking more in family terms. I would be able to see my parents born and how their life went before they knew me and I knew them. And my grandparents. It’s also interesting to me that a lot of African countries were not liberated until about 1960, so being able to see what life was like before liberation and what liberation looked like for these countries that I know today would have been something to [witness] with my own eyes.”

in Connecticut, or in the world in general. And how my role as a person connects with the physical world.”

When she was a freshman, she was a Pelican Support Network (PSN) mentee, learning from others. As an upperclassman, she was a PSN mentor. “PSN allowed me to bridge the gap from Prep to Prep to here,” she says, “and I wanted to do the same for people, to help them find their way academically, socially, emotionally.”

Chelsea also contributed to “Slavery and Loomis Chaffee: An Ethical History Project” through her work as a DEI Intern. Since 2021 the project has investigated the lives of Black people enslaved by the Chaffee, Loomis, and Hayden families as well as the historical contexts in which they lived. As part of that work, Chelsea and other students developed a way to engage the Loomis Chaffee community with the history of slavery as it relates to the school. They worked with the Norton Family Center for the Common Good to incorporate the lessons of slavery into the Best Self Seminar for freshmen and the Common Good Seminar for sophomores. “It’s important to know the history of the land and the school,” she says.

Chelsea developed a yearning for social justice at various stages of her youth. Yes, she was fascinated by the law as far back as fourth grade, but there’s more. In 2015, when she was 9 years old, she remembers seeing news reports of people lost to police brutality. “It was hard. I didn’t really know how to process it,” she says. The year 2020 sticks out, too, when the Black Lives Matter movement spread across the world. So she seeks to work for change that she says can benefit not only people today, but also future generations. “I want to change the way civil rights and criminal law works,” she says.

Before she set out to change the world, though, she enjoyed every last minute of her high school days. And every little detail. One of her favorite places is Grubbs Quadrangle. She remembers seeing it on the school website before she visited. The real thing never disappointed.

“Especially this time of year,” she said on a spring day as the flowers and bushes bloomed. “It is so nice to see everyone hanging out, playing music. I see so many different connections being formed on that quad. And it’s such a beautiful place.”

Angela Ye found herself in Carnegie Hall in New York City in February. She wasn’t in the audience. She was on stage, playing the flute, having earned a spot in one of the prestigious Carnegie Hall Honors Performance Ensembles.

She says the experience was unforgettable, a once-in-a-lifetime moment, but it didn’t really sink in until the day of the performance.

“We had been rehearsing in a hotel ballroom, so the acoustics were not that good,” Angela says. “The moment we played our first note at Carnegie Hall, everyone was astounded — how we sounded, how beautiful the hall looked. It was such a nice experience, feeling the legacy and history of that hall.”

Carnegie Hall opened on May 5, 1891, “with horse-drawn carriages lined up for a quarter mile outside,” and famous composer Tchaikovsky one of the performers inside, according to the Carnegie website.

Suffice it to say that not even wild horses could have dragged Angela away from that opportunity.

She met people from all over the country. “The one thing that was the same about all of us is that we really love music,” she says.

Music is just one of many passions for Angela, who plans to major in chemical science at the University of California, Berkeley, and wants to minor in music and try out for the school’s orchestra.

As a senior, Angela was president of the Pan-Asian Student Alliance (PASA), secretary/treasurer of the Student Council, a head tour guide, and a captain of the

SENIOR PROFILE

Angela Ye Hitting All the Right Notes

“I have a lot of memories of going to the practice rooms [in the Hubbard Music Center] and seeing the same people all the time, always working hard, and that inspired me to work as hard as they did to get to where I wanted.”

— ANGELA YE

cross country team. She graduated with Cum Laude honors and was awarded a Sellers Faculty Prize at Class Night in recognition of personal achievement and service to the Loomis Chaffee community.

“I am very grateful to Loomis that I was able to do such a spread of things here,” Angela says.

She has played the flute since she was in the fourth grade. She says she likes “lyrical, winding melodies,” but the flute allows for many styles. “When I play the flute, I feel my entire body is involved,” she says. “Just a very fulfilling experience.”

The experience has been enriched by her time on the Island.

“Before coming to Loomis Chaffee I wouldn’t say I was one of the most serious players,” Angela says. “I learned a lot through my teachers and private instructors, but I feel what has made the most impact on me is the other students here. I have a lot of memories of going to the practice rooms [in the Hubbard Music Center] and seeing the same people all the time, always working hard, and that inspired me to work as hard

as they did to get to where I wanted.” Some of them were her classmates, some were younger, and some played instruments other than the flute, but all were role models to Angela, she says.

One of Angela’s goals as president of PASA this year was to strengthen relationships with other affinity groups, so many events were collaborative. Another goal was to “get more people excited” about Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month in May, which falls at one of the busiest times in the school calendar. This year’s activities included a dinner with Asian faculty at which teachers could share their experiences. “We thought that was great because it is important to connect to faculty that look like you, that have similar experiences,” Angela says.

An exhibit in the dining hall to celebrate the AANHPI community lined two walls.

Affinity groups are important to Angela.

“Sometimes you don’t even need to say a word,” Angela says. “It is that unspoken connection, which is very comforting.”

She also pushed herself out of her comfort zone with grueling cross country training runs and races. The reward came at the finish line.

“The best part is when you get through the finish line and you’re hugging and highfiving teammates because you did it together,” Angela says. “It seems like such an individual sport, but it is nice to know people are going through the same things as you. No matter the time you run, I like to think the effort is all the same. ... I also think the mental part is so important, and I have been able to apply that to other areas knowing I’m strong.”

Quick Takes

College: University of California, Berkeley

Clubs/activities/honors: Head tour guide, Student Council secretary/treasurer, Pan-Asian Student Alliance president, cross country captain, William C. Card Junior Music Award, Junior Science Award, Founders Prize, All-State musician, Cum Laude Society honors, Sellers Faculty Prize.

Favorite course/assignment: She couldn’t settle on one. She had three. At the end of the Harlem Renaissance course, students had to create something to correspond with one of the texts read in the course. Angela created a piece of music. “I don’t write music very often, so that was fun.” At the end of her Developmental Psychology course, she created a board game in the Pearse Hub for Innovation (PHI), the goal being to test one of the concepts learned. The third course that stuck out was Molecular Biology because it involved so much time in the lab.

Favorite snack: M&M’s, chocolate-covered pretzels

Favorite place on campus: Hubbard Music Center. “It just feels very homey to me and represents a lot of growth in many ways.”

On her bucket list: Running a marathon, which her mom has done. And attending the Vienna New Year’s Concert with her dad.

I will never forget ... “the first time I went sledding in the Meadows. That is such a different kind of joy, so exhilarating. Sledding is such a good thing to do every year when we have one or two big snow days.” It’s even fun, at least for a while, “to be so cold and wet at the same time.”

SENIOR PROFILE

James Livingstone Open to the Possibilities

James Livingstone says his parents taught him persistence.

You’ll have ups and downs, he says, whether it’s athletics, academics, or life in general.

“But keep going,” he says. “Don’t let one bad thing keep you from accomplishing what you want.”

He took that advice. James transferred to Loomis Chaffee his sophomore year, and he sat behind more seasoned players on the basketball team. Injuries cost him much of his junior year in athletics. In his senior season, he was a presence on the court for the team, which finished at 16-9.

That persistence will follow James to Notre Dame. He’d love to eventually be a walk-on for the Irish men’s basketball team, but his immediate goal for his freshman year is to be one of the team’s managers.

He first let the Irish know about that interest last summer and continues to email the staff. They know his name, but not only for that reason.

The Livingstone family has a deep connection to the school, he says, going back a few generations to his grandfather and greatgrandfather. His mom and dad went to Notre Dame, and so do his brother Jack ’20 and his sister Marin ’22. It doesn’t get much bigger than an Irish basketball or football game, of which Jack has seen many in person, including the Notre Dame-Navy football game last summer in Ireland.

“I became much more open-minded, and I think that serves me well going forward because I have a lot of experiences that changed the way I think about approaching every day.”

— JAMES LIVINGSTONE

“I’ve always wanted to go to college there, and fortunately I was able to do it,” James says. “I’ll be in business school. In the next four years there, I want to connect with my faith, school traditions, family history. I look forward to it.”

James’s first year at Loomis was as a day student. He became a boarding student as a junior. He says he will always remember his first day as a boarder.

“That first night in Kravis [Hall] we had a huge pizza party and then went out to the turf and played a bunch of games with each other,” James says. “For me, who really didn’t know anyone in the dorm, that was very helpful. I built strong foundations with different people that developed into nice friendships.”

Loomis, he says, changed the way he sees himself.

“I was a little close-minded and figured I knew what I wanted to do with my life as a 15-year-old,” James says. “I only wanted to do specific things. I became much more

open-minded, and I think that serves me well going forward because I have a lot of experiences that changed the way I think about approaching every day.”

He played football as a sophomore and senior, became a head tour guide, earned multiple department honors, and pushed himself to be comfortable presenting in front of others. He remembers as a middle school student running into his mother’s room to practice a speech. Over and over again.

“There are so many opportunities here to do presentation-type assignments,” James says. “While I need to still improve, I have definitely improved a lot over the three years. It’s a drastic difference.”

James says being a head tour guide allowed him to learn more about the campus and gave him a greater appreciation for the school.

“I got to meet so many families from all over the world,” he says. “One day you’re giving a tour to someone who lives down the street and the next day someone who lives on the other side of the country.”

To Jack, one of the main selling points of Loomis Chaffee is a slam dunk: the community.

“I know we say it a lot and it can sound clichéd, but the community here is great,” James says. “The warmth ... it is easy to make strong connections with so many people. I’ve made them with my teammates, my classmates, people in the dorms. It is hard not to find people here that will become good friends.”

Quick Takes

College: University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana

Clubs/activities/honors: Basketball, football, head tour guide, peer mentor, Cum Laude Society honors.

Favorite snack: “Peanut butter and jelly. It’s a fast way to get some energy.”

Favorite meal: “When my mom and aunt cook on Thanksgiving. That is great every year, and Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because of that meal.

And then the food the next day. There are football games and leftovers for sandwiches. That’s always great.”

On his bucket list: “I would like to travel, see more of the world.”

Advice to a freshman: “Get involved in as many things as you can, sports, clubs. It’s good to play more than one sport to test your athleticism.” He says playing another sport might expose gaps in athleticism that, when addressed, can improve your performance in your preferred sport.

If you could invite one person to dinner, who would it be? Lou Holtz, the Notre Dame football coach from 1986 to 1996. In 1988

the Notre Dame team went 12–0, won the Fiesta Bowl, and was the consensus national champion. “My dad was in college when [Holtz] was coach there, and he always told me stories about Lou Holtz football. Plus, I’ve read a lot of quotes from him that have provided me inspiration over the years.” One of them is about the importance of a positive attitude.

Favorite place on campus: The Meadows. Late in the afternoon or early evening James and friends sometimes went there and played “Meadows golf” deep in the back, away from the playing fields. He also says he sometimes just sat on a bench. “It is calm, peaceful.”

SENIOR PROFILE

Katie Fullerton

Finding Connection Through Writing

Katie Fullerton had only been here two days, miles away from her home in San Francisco. The cross country team was participating in a preseason training run off campus at Wickham Park in Manchester, Connecticut. They were running on a trail in the woods.

“I tripped and turned my ankle,” Katie recalls. “I’m in Connecticut with strangers, I’m totally disoriented and homesick. And these two seniors on the team — I had never spoken to them, they didn’t know anything about me, they might have known my name, might not have. I’m not sure. They stopped their run because they heard I had fallen.”

They helped carry her back to where the run had begun, most of the journey in the hot sun.

“I was just so blown away by how nice they were,” Katie says.

One was Julia Lantner ’22, the other Karishma Lawrence ’22. Julia’s sister, rising senior Rachael became one of Katie’s best friends.

If that was the opening chapter to Katie’s time here, the final chapter finds her heading to Scripps College with aspirations in the short term to become a journalist and in the long term to be an elementary school teacher who also writes short stories and fiction.

“My Loomis experience is defined by writing,” Katie says. “It’s why I was drawn to Loomis in the first place.”

She wrote for various school publications, won a Katharine Brush Flash Fiction award, received multiple English Department honors,

“There is always a real-world application to what we’re doing in school, and everything serves a purpose. It’s about what you do with the tools you have and the skills you’ve built.”

— KATIE FULLERTON

and took English courses ranging from Literature and the Environment to Creative Writing. This year she was awarded the Norris E. Orchard Senior English Prize.

She calls herself a bookworm.

“My grandma always has a book in her hand,” Katie says. “She’s always reading and has been my inspiration. I’ve always loved to read, always felt connected to the characters and their stories. I used to stay up at night under the covers, and my dad would always catch me.”

In the summer of 2023, Katie combined her interest in history and writing when she received a Norton Fellowship. The fellowships, administered by the Norton Family Center for the Common Good, enable selected students to pursue their interests and become more engaged with their local communities over summer break. Students must apply and, if chosen, each receives up to $1,000 to help complete the project.

Katie created an anthology by interviewing Vietnamese women about their recollections of the Vietnam War. Katie’s mother was born in Vietnam during the war and came

to the United States when she was about 7 years old. Katie’s grandfather is of Korean descent and fought for the United States in the war. He met Katie’s grandmother during his tour of duty in Vietnam.

“On a personal level [the project] allowed me to connect with other Vietnamese women and learn from their stories and feel more connected to my history as a woman, as a Vietnamese American, as a daughter.” Katie says. “It inspired me to continue to learn more about other people’s lives.”

“Academically,” she continues, “it showed me there are so many different ways to utilize the tools gained in school. There is always a real-world application to what we’re doing in school, and everything serves a purpose. It’s about what you do with the tools you have and the skills you’ve built.”

The anthology is not published. “I’m still not exactly sure what I want to do with it,” Katie says. But this she is sure of: “It will always be something I have to hold onto.”

That and many memories from her time at Loomis Chaffee.

“I have had a healthy balance of encourage ment and challenge from my English teachers,” Katie says. “They’ve pushed me and helped me find my own voice. I’m also very grateful for all the friendships I’ve made here.”

Loomis, she says, is a busy place, filled with challenges and opportunities. Her advice to newcomers: savor the little moments. “There are a lot of moments of joy and peace,” she says looking out the window of the Katharine Brush Library. “Like right now, looking at the Meadows. So enjoy them, cherish them.”

Quick Takes

College: Scripps College, Claremont, California

Clubs/activities/honors: The Loom, The Log, World Bulletin, Katharine Brush Flash Fiction Contest award, Writing Studio tutor, Norton Fellow, Community Engagement, Norris E. Orchard Senior English Prize

Favorite snack: Raspberries. “Sometimes my parents come home from the grocery store and there are raspberries in the fridge. They figure they have bought enough for the week, and they disappear after an hour.”

Favorite meal: “My mom makes very good Korean barbeque. I love that, and I love pasta. Pasta is my go-to comfort food. It’s consistently good. You can’t go wrong with pasta.”

Mountains or the beach? “I can't answer that. San Francisco is such a special place because you have both the mountains and the beach, and you literally have mountains that lead to the beach, so I can’t make that decision.”

Hobbies: Sewing, finding things in thrift stores and “beautifying them,” playing the piano, running, and spending time in nature. “I like to surf, but I’m horrible at it, even though I’m from California. I can hardly catch a wave, but it is so fun to fall off, so maybe it’s good that I am not good at it.”

Favorite place on campus: The swing sets at the playground by Faculty Row, especially in the spring or during fall foliage. “It’s just so tranquil and reminds me of being a little girl and swinging and taking a breath and embracing nature.”

Anthony Ndika & Orion Browne

When Paths Converge

At 6-foot-4, Anthony Ndika stands out in a crowd. When he arrived for his sophomore year, he was on a campus he had never visited and in a country he had never seen. His family was 5,000 miles away in Nigeria.

When he graduated in May, he once again stood out in the crowd, towering above many others, but not only for his height. He had become a standout on campus, a leader whose next steps take him to Hanover, New Hampshire, and Dartmouth College, where he will play football, a game he had not played before coming to Loomis Chaffee.

Anthony was a prefect in Carter Hall as a junior, resident assistant (RA) in Taylor Hall as a senior, a Founders Prize winner,

50 Loomis Chaffee Magazine Summer 2024

Anthony has four brothers back home, but says he has one at Loomis, too.

Anthony and fellow 2024 graduate Orion Browne were roommates in Anthony’s first year on the Island.

co-president of Brothers in Unity, a Pelican Support Network (PSN) mentor, a member of the football and track and field teams, and part of the Chamber Singers and Concert Choir.

Along the way, he became friends to many and a brother to one. Anthony has four brothers back home, but says he has one

at Loomis, too. Anthony and fellow 2024 graduate Orion Browne were roommates in Anthony’s first year on the Island. Each was a prefect as a junior, and each was an RA as a senior. Each is headed to an Ivy League school. Orion will attend Yale and compete on the track and field team.

“He is like a brother to me,” Anthony says. “His parents are like my parents in the U.S. ... They are so welcoming, friendly.”

Anthony spent many school breaks and holidays with Orion and his family at their home in Hatfield, Massachusetts.

“He is a brother to me at this point,” Orion says, “and I can call him a brother the rest of my life. My family is super welcoming. They could see he was a passionate kid, loved a lot of different things and was interested in exploring all of them. And they were interested in helping him pursue his interests. My mom is the best person in the world and is great at providing love to every single person in my life.”

When Orion was born in Plymouth, New Hampshire, the night sky was lit up by the Orion constellation. Thus, his first name, which is fitting since he became one of the brightest stars in the history of track and field at Loomis Chaffee.

Orion earned All-America status at the New Balance Indoor Nationals last winter with his 48-foot, 3 ½-inch triple jump, finishing fifth to become the highest-placing Loomis boys track and field athlete ever at a national championship meet. In the outdoor season he helped lead the Pelicans to an undefeated regular season, a Founders League title, and a second-place finish in the Division 1 New England championship meet, where he won the triple jump. He also played basketball, but track and field jumped ahead of basketball in his mind.

continued on page 53

Anthony Ndika and Orion Browne

Orion Quick Takes

College: Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut

Clubs/activities/honors: Prefect in Harman Hall, resident assistant in Batchelder Hall, Pelican Support Network

mentor, basketball, track and field, Founders Prize, Cum Laude Society honors.

Favorite snack: Chocolate chip cookies

Favorite meal: Salmon, rice, kale. “I love my rice.”

Favorite place on campus: Batchelder Hall. “Sophomore year I knew that as a senior I wanted to be an RA in Batch, and I got to do it.” Many of his friends lived on the third floor with him.

If you could invite one guest to dinner, past or present, who would it be and why? Kawhai Leonard. “He’s my favorite basketball player of all time. … He’s known to stay calm and be serious, and I’d like to ask him how he does that. I’d just like to get to know him.”

Hobbies: “I enjoy learning math on my own. I love to ski in the winter in my free time when I can.”

Best piece of advice you’ve received and from whom: “My mom for sure. After I had a really good competition, she told me ‘Don’t get too high, don’t get too low. You’re going to have bad days and good days, and it’s about being present and focusing on the moment.’”

On his bucket list: The Great Barrier Reef in Australia. “It always has been a place I wanted to see, a totally different habitat than what I’m accustomed to growing up in New Hampshire with mountains, bobcats, bears. I would love to see the fish and the coral.”

Anthony Quick Takes

College: Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire

Clubs/activities/honors: Prefect in Carter Hall, resident assistant in Taylor Hall, football, track and field, Brothers in Unity (co-president), Pelican Support Network mentor, Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, Founders Prize

Favorite snack: Gummy bears, yogurt

Favorite meal: “A dish from back home, Jollof rice.” Also, soup and fufu, a doughlike dish made from various starchy vegetables such as cassava.

Favorite place on campus: Taylor Hall, where he was a resident assistant. “I felt like the people in the dorm and the dorm head, Mr. [Ned] Heckman, created a space where everyone could contribute. ... And the people make the dorm.” He also enjoyed stopping by the individual practice rooms in the Hubbard Music Center “to play guitar and sing by myself from time to time.”

If you could invite one person to dinner, past or present, who would it be and why? “Just one? That’s kind of tough because I like football and I also like singing and music. If it’s two, I’d invite Quenton Nelson, an offensive guard for the [Indianapolis] Colts. I like his style of play, how aggressive he is on the field, but how different he is off the field.” The other dinner guest — Michael Jackson. “I’d like to pick his mind. A great singer, a legend.”

On Anthony’s bucket list: He grew up a soccer fan in Nigeria, so he’s always wanted to go to Spain and see Real Madrid play a home game at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

continued from page 50

“I never thought track and field would have such a big impact on my life. But when I first met the coaching staff — Coach [Scott] Purdy and Coach [Justin] Daniels — they really helped me gain a love for the sport and pushed me to really develop that passion,” Orion says. Scott is the head coach and Justin is an assistant specializing in the triple jump and long jump.

Little can compare to the feeling Orion gets in the triple jump. “It’s a hop, a skip, and a jump ... and the better you get at it, the better it feels,” he says. “So as you jump farther, you are in the air longer, and that just feels like time slows down, freezes for a moment, and it’s a beautiful feeling. When you learn the technique, you get stronger and faster, and you just feel like everything is calm around you. That’s one of my favorite things in the world.”

Football became a favorite for Anthony, a two-way lineman at Loomis. He had known only soccer back home.

“The idea of teamwork and everyone working together toward a common goal interests me,” Anthony says. “The game is pretty aggressive, but I’m not an aggressive guy outside of football. I try to be friendly with people.” His teachers and peers attest to his welcoming demeanor, one of the qualities highlighted in his Founders Prize citation.

He learned to make people feel welcome early on. Anthony says he was inspired to become a prefect and an RA by Jake Klein ’23, a prefect in Kravis when Anthony first arrived.

“I remember the way he was so welcoming, taking me around and helping me,” Anthony says. “So I always looked to pay it forward and extend help in the way help was given me. I wanted to help make students feel comfortable.” When he was a prefect in Carter Hall, he recognized his former self in the younger boys he mentored.

Now he sees himself differently. He says he lacked confidence in his first year. Not now.

“Loomis Chaffee encourages you to become a leader, and there are so many opportunities here to get out of your comfort zone,” Anthony says.

Singing was one of those opportunities.

“I never liked singing in front of people, but I wanted to be someone not just defined by playing football but using my talents in other ways,” he says. “You can try so many things here.”

That is his advice to incoming students.

“Get out of your room, meet new people, join clubs or sports, take chances beyond the required courses, branch out. There are so many courses offered. I took photography as a sophomore and junior, and that inspired my artistic mindset,” Anthony says.

Orion feels much the same about the academic side of the school.

“I would not have been able to find the passions I have without Loomis,” Orion says. “The courses are specific and advanced in every single subject, and Loomis does a great job helping students find their niche subject areas. The school forces you to look inside and see what you really want to do. In general, Loomis does a great job of helping each student become the best version of the person they envision.”

Orion envisions himself as a mechanical engineer, which will be his course of study at Yale.

“I love math and I love physics, and I was trying to figure out how to do both,” Orion says. “And as a prefect and an RA, I think Loomis helped me realize I really like helping people. I think mechanical engineering, when used right, can be a great tool to create things to help a lot of people. So ideally after college I want to design prosthetics to be more affordable and more accessible or work on public transportation to make it more efficient for large cities.”

Anthony plans to major in economics with a minor in computer sciences at Dartmouth. He is interested in finance and tech.

“I chose to major in that because I am interested in building up the economy of my home country, Nigeria, and I feel I could achieve that with the understanding of economics and computer sciences in my arsenal,” Anthony says.

GIVING HIS REGARDS TO

ZDROJESKI ... JOHN ’08

Says “Everything is Brighter, Bigger, More Vibrant.”

When you’re performing eight shows a week on Broadway as one of the lead actors in The Great Gatsby, there is no time to get bogged down mentally or physically.

So John Zdrojeski ’08 has his routine.

“You know how Wade Boggs would eat chicken before every game,” John, a Mets fan, says by email. “I essentially do the same thing. I don’t do it in imitation of Wade Boggs. He played for the Yankees and the Red Sox, two teams I have no tolerance for. But the reason he did it, I assume, is it allowed him to focus on what he needed to do that day. I eat pretty much the same thing [balsamic or lemon pepper chicken and instant brown rice from Trader Joe’s] before every performance. I don’t like to eat anything heavy. I want to have energy but not be weighed down.”

John has a vigorous exercise regimen but says he doesn’t like to do a big physical warmup shortly before the show, which is about 2 ½ hours including intermission.

“I like to ease my body and consciousness into ‘We’re just doing this thing,’ so treat it as not a big deal as opposed to treating it as

‘I have to nail it’ because that just causes anguish,” he says.

John says he takes big breaths off stage, trying to fill his body with air, and then he makes his entrance.

Who he becomes is Tom Buchanan, the character from the 1925 novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. What he becomes in that role is someone variously described as unlikeable, selfish, arrogant, aggressive, controlling, dangerous, pampered, power hungry, a brute, a sexist, a racist, an elitist, the worst of the rich and powerful.

One review of the show early on said John finds “just the right level of awfulness.” Another said he is “suitably brutish.” And a third went so far as to say he “absolutely walked away with the show.” A New York Times review said the show has the “tremendous asset of a terrific core cast,” and includes John in that mention.

By Jeff Otterbein

Pretty good stuff for the guy known at Loomis Chaffee as “Boomer,” so named by his father because he was kicking in the womb so much. Apparently even back then he couldn’t wait to see the bright lights. loomischaffee.org

Left: Eva Noblezada and John Zdrojeski in The Great Gatsby, which opened on Broadway in April

His journey took him from Loomis to Boston University for a bachelor’s degree in fine arts in 2012 and to New York University for a master’s degree in fine arts in 2018. He was in previews last year for Goodnight, Oscar, a comedy-drama and his Broadway debut, when he got word that he had earned the part of Tom Buchanan in The Great Gatsby.

“I found out the day Goodnight Oscar opened, April 24, 2023, and we opened The Great Gatsby a year later,” he says. “I had always been a bridesmaid, never a bride, when it came to musicals, so to be asked to not only do a musical, but a big musical — The Great Gatsby is very much that — was kind of —” He searched for a word. “Bamboozling.”

Origin Story

Some might say it was bound to happen. Yes, John is an actor, but he also is a singer.

“I remember John as one of my most expressive Chamber Singers — a terrific collaborator, an incredibly hard worker, and exceptionally witty,” says Sue Chrzanowski, head of the Loomis Chaffee Performing Arts Department and the choral/vocal director. “I will never forget his performance in Grand Hotel — it sticks with me almost 20 years

Sue says he was coming up with new ideas at every rehearsal. “I think that summarized John while he was on the Island, an innovative tour-de-force who savored working and creating in an ensemble. ... He seemed to soak it all in and propel it forward.”

He’s still soaking it in.

“The thing about being on Broadway,” he says, “is that everything you have ever loved about theater, it is the best version of that. Everything is brighter, everything is bigger, everything is more vibrant.”

Broadway also brings musical theater productions to a special level, as John describes it.

later. He was just a sophomore, yet he took us all through the anguishing journey of the Baron — drew us all right into the struggles of that character. I remember him as Big Jule in Guys and Dolls as well; he was just starting to really develop this terrific bass-baritone sound at the time. And, oh my goodness, the year he played Berthe in Pippin — he was all in.”

“Doing a play on Broadway and off Broadway is not that much of a difference,” he says. “But doing a musical on Broadway, there is so much more that goes into it, so many more balls that need to be juggled by the creative team. And there is just the caliber of performer you are working with that is elite. I am not speaking of myself here. I’m speaking of the ensemble performers in my show who essentially dance the entire show, sing the entire show; they are not necessarily featured

Loomis Chaffee

in an acting capacity such as I am, but they carry the weight of the show.”

A longtime sports fan, he reaches into that part of his brain.

“Imagine you are surrounded by 15 of the most elite athletes you have ever encountered,” John says. “That’s every day I go in, and those are the people I am working with. You never want to take that for granted because it is such a surreal experience. Since Loomis I have very much been an actor first, but to sing and be in the company of these people is humbling.”

John was the Class Speaker at Commencement in 2008, with then-Head of School Russell Weigel calling him a “remarkable member of the school community” and introducing him by saying, “Boomer, the stage is, as usual, all yours.”

When John thought back to his days at Loomis, many teachers came to mind.

“I am a product — everything I have achieved and hope to achieve — I am a product of teachers,” he says. “You take stock of the village of those who influenced you, helped you, equipped you to accomplish your goals. As I went down the line and was remembering the teachers I had there, I cannot think of one teacher — even teachers who I did

JOHN ZDROJESKI

Pronunciation: “struh-JE(H)-ski”

Hometown: Glastonbury, Connecticut

Education: Loomis Chaffee 2008, Boston University (bachelor’s degree in fine arts, 2012) and New York University (master’s degree in fine arts, 2018)

Theater at Loomis: Macbeth, Julius Caesar, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Guys & Dolls. One Acts: Marital Bliss (director), One Acts: The Not-So-Pearly Gates (playwright), and others

Other activities at Loomis: The Log (sports editor), Musical Revue, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Class Speaker at Commencement, Sellers Prize recipient

Senior superlatives in 2008 Confluence: Bound for Broadway, Boomer Zdrojeski

Message from his family in 2008 Confluence: “Boomer, thank you for the joy you bring! May your life be filled with wonderful roles, great direction, and lots of standing O’s.”

Broadway: The Great Gatsby; Good Night, Oscar

Selected Off-Broadway: Jonah, Heroes of the Fourth Turning (Special citation at the Obie Awards)

Television credits: Include Evil, Billions, and Madam Secretary

Recent release as a singer/songwriter: Nor’easter, July 2024

Opposite page: Top: Portraying Macbeth in the Norris Ely Orchard Theater in 2008, John’s senior year Middle: Delivering his Commencement address as Class Speaker in 2008 Photo Strip: A multitude of expressions during Macbeth rehearsal at Loomis in 2008

not perform well for — I cannot think of one teacher I didn’t learn something from or who I wasn’t grateful for.”

He rattles off a long list of names, his voice revving up along the way, from former Theater Director Brian Kosanovich to those who taught him in classes that gave him other life skills. Among them is retired history teacher Mark Williams. “Where historians are now, Mark Williams has been there his entire life in terms of understanding that history should not be told through the super powerful people but should be told about people who lived an average life at the time,”

John says. Then there’s Betsy Conger. “I still think about her environmental science class.” Burt Thurber. “I had him for a term in

“I am a product — everything I have achieved and hope to achieve — I am a product of teachers. You take stock of the village of those who influenced you, helped you, equipped you to accomplish your goals. As I went down the line and was remembering the teachers I had there, I cannot think of one teacher — even teachers who I did not perform well for — I cannot think of one teacher I didn’t learn something from or who I wasn’t grateful for.”

— JOHN ZDROJESKI

World History, and he literally taught me as a ninth grader the meaning of the word ‘ethnocentrism,’ which I still think of all the time. I don’t know how you could have a better teacher who could set you up for a life of curiosity.” Rachel Engelke. “Her European History class — if I could take her class every year of my life for the rest of my life, I would.”

“The first word that comes to mind when I think of John is ‘exuberant,’” Rachel says. “I can’t get that word out of my mind, honestly. His larger-than-life personality to match his wide smile. His willingness to take risks during class discussions — signs of his budding confidence as an actor were present even back then.”

Above: Theater-goers wait to see the show on Broadway. Right: A promotional photo for The Great Gatsby

The Mad Scramble

There are 42 theaters in the Broadway district, and in a typical season there are close to 1,300 Broadway roles that need to be filled, according to the Broadway Collective. About 10,000 people are after the roles, so there is about a 13 percent chance of landing one.

John says he lived a charmed life in the Norris Ely Orchard Theater (NEO) while at Loomis. “I got so many cool parts and worked with so many talented people,” he says. “There never was a time where someone said, ‘We’re not giving you that part.’ I auditioned and I got it.”

Same thing at Boston University, he says. “I got to play incredible roles there, too,” he says. “No adversity.”

He laughs hard.

“And then I went to New York,” he says. “I realized that I had never auditioned for anyone who didn’t know who I was since my freshman year at Loomis. And I had great training at BU, but I didn’t know how to apply it because I didn't know what it was like to be a professional. In New York my hands wouldn’t stop shaking when I was in auditions because I didn’t know how to prepare. People will remember this about me. I have an anxiety tremor in my hands, so when I get nervous, my hands shake.”

It didn’t help that he was holding audition sides, which are excerpts of scripts.

addendum — it’s not only do not yield to adversity. Sometimes you have to actively court it. Where I set the groundwork for being in The Great Gatsby on Broadway 12 years down the road was that time in New York when I was at my absolute lowest, where I had this thing that I had been really good at and people told me I was really good at, but I could no longer do at the level required of me.”

“That is where I learned for the most part how to be a professional,” John says.

Robert Illingworth, one of John’s professors in the grad acting program, describes John as an incredible student and citizen of the program.

“He approached the work with a voracious curiosity and was an enthusiastic collaborator on project after project,” Mr. Illingworth says. “His love of history repeatedly rose up as a key way he explored and understood the world of characters he played. As importantly, John was a truly generous member of his cohort — celebrating the growth of his classmates and willing to work hard even when the focus was on other students. In the time since graduation, he’s become an invaluable member of the alumni community by serving on our alumni board and offering advice and mentorship to current students. The open and passionate person who auditioned for the program was very much the person John proved to be as a student and member of our community.”

“When you have to hold an audition side and you don’t know it cold, it is impossible to read it because your hands are shaking so much,” he says. “And not only can you not read it, but people can see you are nervous and that your hands are shaking, and they’re not going to give you a job because they don’t think you can handle it. And I couldn’t handle it.”

He cites the Loomis motto.

“Ne cede malis,” he says. “Do not yield to adversity. And I had never faced any real adversity as an actor. I can add an

Like most actors in New York, he needed to support himself as he chased the dream. And what better way than being a waiter? Well, that only lasted a few months. Remember the tremor in his hands?

“I was a terrible waiter,” he says. “I remember bringing a wine bottle to someone in a restaurant, and my hands were shaking so much, they actually took it from me and opened it. So that did not work out so well.”

He did some coaching, but when he decided to go back to school at New York University in the grad acting program at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts, there was little time for anything else.

Fitness always has been a part of John’s life. He follows a strict regimen now to keep in shape for the show. During his last semester at NYU, he became a personal trainer, which is how he supported himself until his role came along in Good Night Oscar, a six-month run. And now The Great Gatsby, scheduled to run at least through November 24.

One of the many things he has learned along the way is that acting is different every night.

“You don’t have to try to make it different, and if you try and make a theater into a painting that exists on a wall, you fundamentally deaden it and rob the audience of the experience they came to see,” John says.

He says he tries to make his work “exist somewhere in the middle — where you are not trying to add anything to make it something it isn’t, but you’re also not trying to do yesterday’s performance today.”

Transporting audiences to the lavish Roaring Twenties, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s timeless story follows eccentric and mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby, who will stop at nothing in the pursuit of the lost love of his youth, Daisy Buchanan. Through its fascinatingly nuanced characters, driven by complex inner lives erupting with extravagance and longing – this epic tale has always been destined to sing. Now, it finally comes to life on the greatest American stage, through an electrifying jazz and pop-infused score, and a grand production befitting the 21st century.

From Playbill.com

John did some theater in middle school. And when his sister Kate ’03 was a senior at Loomis, he saw a production of Kiss Me, Kate on the NEO stage. Twenty years later it

sticks in his mind. His sister’s best friend was in the show as an ensemble member, “and then I saw Damon Daunno [’03] come down and sing to the audience, and that is everything I’ve ever wanted to do, and how anyone could ever want to do anything different — I still remember that. Also in that production was Betty Gilpin ’04. One of my bucket list goals is to work with her.

She is just an insanely talented actor.” (Damon is now a Tony- and Grammy-nominated actor, singer, musician, and composer who played the role of Curly in the Broadway revival of Oklahoma! in 2019–20. Betty is an actress and author best known for her roles as Debbie “Liberty Belle” Eagan in the Netflix series GLOW, for which she earned three Emmy nominations; and Dr. Carrie Roman in Showtime’s Nurse Jackie, along with many other TV and film roles.)

60

Top: Nick Carraway (played by Noah J. Ricketts), Myrtle Wilson (Sara Chase), and Tom Buchanan (John) travel in style in The Great Gatsby: A New Musical.

Loomis Chaffee Magazine Summer 2024

Empathy

John says acting “requires you to be generous with your thinking toward people at times who are loathsome. I can look at Tom Buchanan and see that he is a deplorable human being. In the book, not in the musical necessarily, he is a white supremacist in addition to being a brute, as [Tom’s wife] Daisy calls him, in addition to being born on third base and scoring on a single and telling everyone he hit a home run. So it requires me to emphasize my empathy and my generosity muscles as an actor and to think how I can relate to this person and portray him accurately without judgment.”

John’s professor at NYU, Mr. Illingworth, says that as an “actor and a person, John is playful, forward, driven, warm, funny, and curious about the work and the world.”

Sounds a bit better than all those adjectives to describe Tom Buchanan.

John became curious about musicals when he was about 10 and his mother bought him a cast recording of Ragtime “as an appetizer for the real gift, which was seeing the musical at the Bushnell. I wore out that cast recording,” he says.

John’s mother was top of mind as he was creating Nor’easter, the first of his three EPs that came out in July. He has been writing songs since his college days and says he thinks songwriting has made him a better actor and vice versa. He chose the title for two reasons.

“I wanted the lyrics to be bulletproof, and to do that, I drew unapologetically from the world I’m most familiar with,” John says. “That world is the Northeast. The second reason is that my mother was diagnosed with a glioblastoma in 2021, and died in 2022. So the title is also an allusion to that experience as a storm during and after which these songs emerged.”

“I wanted the lyrics [for Nor’easter, the first of his three EPs that came out in July] to be bulletproof, and to do that, I drew unapologetically from the world I’m most familiar with. That world is the Northeast. The second reason is that my mother was diagnosed with a glioblastoma in 2021, and died in 2022. So the title is also an allusion to that experience as a storm during and after which these songs emerged.”

— JOHN ZDROJESKI

Cancer reprised its role in John’s life in March. Shortly before The Great Gatsby opened, his girlfriend, Sara Chase, was diagnosed with cancer of the fallopian tubes. Ms. Chase plays Myrtle Wilson, the mistress of Tom Buchanan in The Great Gatsby. A graduate of KingswoodOxford in West Hartford, she played Cyndee Pokorny in the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, a Netflix sitcom that aired from 2015 to 2019.

Ms. Chase decided between the run of The Great Gatsby at the Paper Mill and on Broadway

to proactively have her fallopian tubes removed since she carried the BRCA gene, which can increase the risk of cancer, and had a family history of cancer. She opened up about the diagnosis to Broadway.com in May, saying that she was in the second week of rehearsals when she got the call informing her that cancer had been found in the fallopian tubes that had been removed. She began six months of treatment while performing.

“I have been able to cope when I remember all of the women who came before me like my grandmother and performers like Gilda Radner and Madeline Kahn who weren’t so lucky,” Ms. Chase said by email weeks before taking a medical leave of absence from the show in mid-July. “I don’t know how I would have kept afloat if it weren’t for John and my

two sisters. They are at every appointment, they take care of me, and buoy me when I feel moments of defeat. I know it’s superficial, [but] I have also had to confront my own vanity, and John always makes me feel beautiful.”

John says he felt “sadly equipped” to provide support for Sara because of what his mother had gone through. “Sara and I have said this will be a blip in the grand scheme of her life and our lives,” John says.

It is with his characteristic exuberance and a nod to “ne cede malis” that John sets his sights on the horizon.

Top: An Instagram image for John’s album, Nor’easter

OBJECT LESSON

School Charter Turns 150

By Karen Parsons

Loomis Chaffee History Teacher, School Archivist & Curator

Thomas Warham Loomis stood before the Connecticut Senate on May 20, 1874. A state senator representing Windsor and a seventh-generation occupant of the Loomis Homestead, Thomas was the perfect choice to introduce his cousins’ proposed bill to fellow lawmakers. Titled “An Act to Incorporate the Loomis Institute in the Town of Windsor,” the bill outlined plans and governance for a school to be constructed at some undetermined time in the future, funded by the conjectured estates of Thomas’s five cousins.

Despite any unlikeliness that this bold plan would someday be implemented, less than six weeks later, on July 1, the bill had passed both the Senate and the House. This set the Loomis Institute Founders’ vision for their school into Connecticut’s legislative annals and provided a legal framework for it to be realized — intentionally — after the deaths of the siblings and their spouses. It would be 40 years before the school opened, and the Act served, from 1874 on, as the first iteration of the school’s charter. A copy of Senate Bill No. 5, owned by Thomas’s cousin, James Chaffee Loomis, who was one of the Founders, resides in the Loomis Chaffee Archives collection.

While James is credited with drafting the bill, his words materialized out of philosophical and practical discussions over two years with his four siblings: Hezekiah, Osbert, Abby, and John, and their spouses. Having outlived all of their children and faced with

the prospects of no successive generation, they chose, as Osbert related in a family tribute, “to found an Institution for the instruction, enlightenment & moral advancement of future generations.” Osbert described this as the family’s “cherished hopes and honorable ambition.”

Bill No. 5 stated that the school would honor the long family history in Windsor and be located on lands of the Loomis Homestead inhabited by the Founders’ ancestors, Joseph and Mary Loomis and their children, beginning around 1639; the school would be for “all persons,” students from near and far, “without regard to state or nation”; the school would be tuition free as long as funds permitted; and “good moral character” would be required of all students and employees. Written during the first decade after America’s Civil War, the bill made a progressive statement on inclusivity: “No officer, instructor, employee, or student shall be made eligible or ineligible for or by reason of his or her religious or political opinions, nor be compelled to acknowledge or sign

any religious or political creed or test whatever.”

This summer marks the 150th anniversary of the “Act to Incorporate.” It’s an opportunity to renew gratitude for the Founders’ progressive vision, their appreciation of place and history, and their astute planning. It also may prompt a reflection on the idea of “beginning.” Could there be other — perhaps many — beginnings of the place known as Loomis Chaffee? The Founders located one beginning in their ancestors’ arrival at Windsor. The Centennial celebration in 2014 honored the school’s opening in 1914. More recently, Loomis Chaffee broadened the view on beginnings with a land acknowledgment statement. It reads, in part, “…we must also acknowledge the land where we stand, which was tended for centuries by the Poquonocks and the Podunks, as well as the other Algonquin nations of southern New England, and which was taken from them in the 1630s… . We honor the Indigenous communities of New England as we continue our quest to make this school an inclusive and welcoming space for all.”

Sometimes looking back is a way to move forward.

Above: Four of the Loomis Founders and their spouses in November 1872: John Mason Loomis, Mary Sherman Loomis, Mary Hunt Loomis, James Loomis, Hezekiah Loomis, Euphemia Loomis, Abby Loomis Hayden, and H. Sidney Hayden. Not pictured were Osbert Burr Loomis and Jeannette Hart Jarvis Loomis.

150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACT TO INCORPORATE

Connecticut State Senator

TIMELINE FOR THE ACT

1639 Founders’ ancestors, Joseph and Mary Loomis and their children, inhabit the land of the Loomis Homestead

Today, with more than a century of students educated at the Founders’ school, it’s hard to imagine the legislative process for the Act to Incorporate as being anything other than perfunctory. However, for a short while, the school’s legal future stood in the balance. While the Senate took no issue with the bill, the House proposed two amendments. The first stated that the Loomis Institute would not confer college degrees; this was swiftly added to the bill. The second was more controversial. The Hartford Courant reported that a proposed amendment called for “alterations” to the charter “at the pleasure of the general assembly.” James’s bill stated that changes would require approval by two-thirds of the school’s trustees. In discussion on the House floor, George Woodruff, chair of the Judiciary Committee, “said that he doubted if this charitable project would be carried out under those [revised] circumstances.” Rep. George M. Landers of New Britain spoke on behalf of the proposed amendment but ultimately said “he would not oppose [the Founders’] charitable enterprise,” according to the newspaper account. The second amendment was eventually defeated, the bill passed, and the groundwork laid for the charter’s vision to be stewarded — on paper only — by successive boards of trustees for decades. Construction of school buildings began in 1913.

1874 MAY: Bill proposed by Thomas Warham Loomis in the Connecticut Senate

JULY: Proposed bill passes the State Senate and House

1914 School opens

2014 Centennial celebration of school opening

2024 150th anniversary of the Act to Incorporate

James Chaffee Loomis

Thomas Warham Loomis

NEWS FROM THE ALUMNI / DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

Annual Fund Tops $5

Million

Thank You! The Loomis Chaffee community raised a record-breaking $5,087,002 for the 2023–24 Annual Fund. This remarkable effort allows the school to deliver on its promise to provide each student with a transformational educational experience. We are deeply grateful for the collective generosity of our alumni, parents, grandparents, parents of alumni, and friends who support the mission and the value of a Loomis Chaffee education, providing almost 10 percent of the school’s operating budget.

On behalf of our entire school community, thank you!

San Francisco Reception

MARCH 8

Above: Chris Rogan ’04; Trustee and host David Rogan ’76, P ’04; Head of School Sheila Culbert; and Chief Advancement Officer Tim Struthers ’85 Top Right: Former faculty member Ingrid Mueller P ’92, ’93, GP ’25; Claudine Stuchell Emeott ’00; and Erik Mueller ’93, P ’25 Bottom Right: Suzy Rothfield Thompson ’72, P ’06; Glenn Shor ’71; Karen Polivy ’72; and Peter Samis ’73 Below: Nancy Albarran P ’24, ’26; Clarissa Horowitz ’89, P ’22; Hans Johansen P ’22; Natha Singhasaneh ’14; Elizabeth Lee ’14; and Edwin Gackstetter P ’24, ’26

MARCH 7 Submit a Class Note

Email the Class Notes Editor at magazine@ loomis.org to share news with classmates and friends. High-resolution photographs are welcome; please clearly identify all people. Class Notes appear on the school website and social media channels.

Above: Chief Advancement Officer Tim Struthers ’85, Ji Eun Choi ’09, Jason Karp ’94, Head of School Sheila Culbert, Dan Oppenheimer ’94, Temp Keller ’94, and Michael Potter P ’16

Loomis Chaffee Alumni

Loomis Chaffee Alumni

ALUMNI GATHERINGS

Los Angeles Reception

MARCH

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Above: Doug Stewart ’68, Michael McEwan ’67, and Peter Kreitler ’61 Top Right: Guests gather at the outdoor reception. Right: Wendy Lee P ’25, Ethan Lee ’25, Eric Chen ’08, and Ellis Gould ’08 Bottom Right: Jason DiVenere ’01, Sandra Kwan ’02, K.C. O’Brien ’01, and Jaclyn Lyons ’01 Bottom Left: Mark Nussbaum ’70 and Trustee and host Jamie Widdoes ’72

ALUMNI GATHERINGS

Chicago Reception

8

ABOVE: The gathered guests at the Chicago reception BELOW (Top Left): Susan Lyons P ’16, ’19; Head of School Sheila Culbert; and Alexandra Nichols P ’91, ’94, GP ’24 (Top Right): Jamie Kopp ’11, Kathryn Moffitt, Aarman Pannu ’20, Mark Valadez ’19, Lily Potter ’21, Grace Lyons ’19, and Jamis Fite ’20 (Bottom Left): Ypvonne Bruce P ’25, ’27; Vanessa Zises Filley ’94; James Oberweis P ’27; Trustee Kendra Nichols Wallace ’91, P ’24; and Director of Institutional Giving Chelsea Stuart (Bottom Right): Chair of the Board of Trustees Duncan MacLean ’90, P ’24, ’27; Head of School Sheila Culbert; and Trustee Doug Lyons ’82, P ’16, ’19

APRIL

Left: Maya Guyton ’19, Tatiana Espinal, Danielle and Mikel Guyton P ’19 Right: Associate Director of the Annual Fund Mandy Carroll ’94 and Betsy Pelgrift Boak ’69

Left: Nick Filipone ’98 with Angela, Emilia, and Wyatt Right: Jon Bellobuono ’94 with Michael and Cassie

Kelly Hefner ’91 Scholarship Fund Honors Remarkable, Giving Friend

When Kelly Hefner ’91 decided it was time to tell her friends that her battle with metastatic breast cancer had taken a turn for the worse, she created a Whatsapp group chat so her friends, colleagues, and relatives could become her inner circle of supporters during this difficult time. Kelly’s many 40-plus-year friendships were the mainstay of her existence.

People mattered to Kelly. She spent hours mentoring, assisting, and comforting her family, friends, employees, and acquaintances. Never arrogant or judgmental, she discovered the value in each person. She helped many to move from their emotional distress to Kelly’s world of love, kindness, and happiness. Kelly’s father, Bob Hefner, describes Kelly as a bridge. “She continually assisted friends and family overcome challenges (depression, phobia, sadness, insecurity, illness, lack of friendships, etc.) and helped them cross over to a happier life and gain the positive energy to move on and forward with their life’s mission,” he says.

Kelly lived her life as a bridge. She often served as a conduit between the political left and right; the wealthy and the poor; the physically and mentally challenged and the athletes and geniuses; the socially adept and the shy; and those who worked in the executive suite and the factory floor. Kelly found beauty wherever she looked. Over the last five years of her life, she welcomed the sense of a spiritual existence while remaining present and influential in her earthly body. As much as she was kind, loving, sensitive, and empathetic, she was also competitive and driven, held

herself to high expectations, and had a high threshold for physical and mental pain. She believed in Eastern medicine, yoga, meditation, acupuncture, reincarnation, as well as modern Western medicine mostly practiced in the United States.

At Loomis Chaffee, Kelly was a positive presence who earned the respect and affection of her classmates. She was known as someone who took the time to listen to others, a person who made others feel at home. She was an athlete who excelled at soccer, ice hockey, and lacrosse. She was a writer who loved Jane Archibald’s journalism class and Dom Failla’s Death & Dying class. Kelly’s younger siblings Jennie ’93 and Brian ’97 also attended Loomis.

life-changing decision, moved to California, and enrolled in a master’s degree program in psychology and somatic therapy, focusing on treating the body as well as the mind. She became a certified somatic movement therapist and continued to work on completing her master’s degree until her passing.

Kelly lived a life of transformation. She gracefully adapted to circumstances throughout her life, and she affected others’ lives because she paid attention to one and all, welcomed deep conversation, and helped others see themselves as she saw them: worthy, beautiful, full of potential, and special. Kelly’s family and friends smile when they see a butterfly because they believe it means Kelly is near.

After graduating, Kelly was a standout athlete at Middlebury College and became interested in environmental studies. Her professional career was vast and encompassed a mixture of her seriousness, creativity, and desire to blaze trails — literally and figuratively. She worked for National Geographic and produced numerous documentary films featuring exotic geographical locations, nature, safaris, and indigenous inhabitants. She then became a senior vice president and executive producer for several media companies, producing TV movies, documentaries, and children’s shows. She later became an adjunct professor of documentary films at Columbia University. And in 2020, she made a

After Kelly’s passing, an anonymous donor and classmate made the decision to create a financial aid scholarship in her name. With Kelly’s family’s blessing, the Kelly Hefner ’91 Scholarship Fund now exists at Loomis Chaffee and will be awarded to a day student each year in perpetuity. The fund will forever honor Kelly’s spirit and the effect she had on others. For more information on how to donate to this fund, please visit www. loomischaffee.org/hefnerscholarship or reach out to Heid E.V. McCann at heidi_ mccann@loomis.org or 860.687.6273 or Chelsea Stuart at chelsea_stuart@ loomis.org or 860.687.6816.

Read an obituary for Kelly on page 78.

Scholarship Named in Honor of Sheila Culbert

In anticipation of Head of School Sheila Culbert’s retirement, a generous anonymous donor provided seed money in 2022 to establish the Sheila Culbert Scholarship. In creating this fund, the school honors our seventh head of school, who worked tirelessly to advance Loomis Chaffee’s mission during her 16-year tenure. The Sheila Culbert Scholarship will be awarded each year to three qualified students with significant financial need.

Raising money for financial aid has been and continues to be a top priority for the school, whose charter included a desire to be

tuition-free. Today 236 students (32 percent of the student body) receive financial aid, and the average grant is roughly 80 percent of tuition.

More than 26 alumni and current and past parents have contributed to the Sheila Culbert Scholarship for a total of $2.8 million in commitments when this magazine went to press. Gifts and pledges of $50,000 or more to the fund have been matched by 50 percent thanks to the Scanlan Financial Aid Initiative. New donors can add to the scholarship fund at any time in the future.

BRUCE T. HAMILTON ’74

“Over 50 years ago, my parents gave me a remarkable gift that has profoundly shaped my entire life: a Loomis Chaffee education.

“Growing up in New York City, my parents introduced me to a world of art, music, and culture. When they gave me the opportunity to live and learn at a superb school in a beautiful setting such as Loomis Chaffee, it was easy to leave New York.

“At Loomis Chaffee, I not only learned academic subjects but was continually intellectuallychallenged by dedicated teachers. They equipped me with invaluable problem-solving skills and the ability to confidently engage in discussions and writings on a wide array of topics. Beyond academics, I learned many life lessons from friends, mentors, and peers alike.

“A Loomis Chaffee education has given me an advantage in life, and I would like to give that same advantage to other young men and women to carry with them throughout their lives. That is why I have become a member of the JMT Society.”

For more information about planned gifts and the John Metcalf Taylor Society, please contact Heidi E.V. McCann ’93, P’23, ’25, ’28 at 860.687.6273 or heidi_mccann@loomis.org.

www.loomischaffee.giftplans.org

GET LINKED

LinkedIn is now our primary tool for alumni networking and engagement.

The platform's extensive network allows for dynamic and interactive connections among the thousands of Loomis Chaffee alumni who have already joined our LinkedIn group. By joining this group, you enhance your ability to take full advantage of this growing network.

To join the private Loomis Chaffee Alumni LinkedIn group, go to www.linkedin.com/groups/68181/

Be sure to update your LinkedIn profile to include Loomis Chaffee in your education section.

Loomis Chaffee Alumni Group

OBITUARIES

1951

Robert Davidson of East Dorset, Vt., on February 17 at the Equinox Terrace in Manchester, Vt., where he spent the last three years of his life. Bob was a four-year student from West Hartford, Conn., who was involved in multiple sports, clubs, and committees. He continued to keep ties as an active alumnus. Bob received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut. He moved to New York City to start his career as an insurance broker, eventually opening his own agency. At the London Terrace Gardens, he met the love of his life, Joan Gordon, and a few years later, on January 30, 1960, they were married. They lived in New Jersey and then the suburbs of New York, raising their three children until coming to East Dorset 33 years ago. He was an active member of the Village Light Opera Group, performing Gilbert and Sullivan shows in New York City for several years. Men’s field hockey also was a passion. He played and refereed much of his life. In 1984, he was the field hockey announcer for the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Bob was on the ski patrol at Butternut Basin for many years while his children were growing up, which instilled a love of skiing in his family. Bob was involved in his children’s lives, attending and supporting their many activities. Upon moving to East Dorset as empty-nesters, Bob and Joan became members of various groups and organizations. They also loved spending time with their grandchildren, who often came to eat his famous pancakes and ski. Bob and Joan eventually became instructors at Bromley Mountain along with their son Billy. Joan passed away in 2007 after a courageous battle with cancer. Bob continued to stay involved in the community, acting in plays at the Dorset Playhouse, singing with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, ushering for the Manchester Music Festival, and attending Friday evening Shabbat services at The Israel Congregation in Manchester.

Biking, hiking, ping pong, croquet, and teaching fencing were just a handful of other activities that brought him joy. Bob was survived by his brother Harry and his wife, Diane; his son Billy and his fiancée, Donna; his daughter Suzanne and her husband, Rich; and six grandchildren. Bob was laid to rest next to Joan and son Johnny.

1952

William John Meyer, on March 1. Bill was a three-year-student from Port Washington, N.Y., on Long Island. Academics, football, and baseball had a profound impact during his formative years. He played both sports as well as basketball at Loomis. Bill met Barbara Esty, his wife of 52 years, while attending Middlebury College. Bill was a sales manager at Boone & Co. Realtors and was known for his integrity, candor, and sense of humor. During his retirement at Woodland Hills in Roanoke, Va., he enjoyed a special bond and mutual comforting relationship with Edith Burton. Bill was survived by his children, William R. Meyer and his wife, Maria; Linda Meyer Lombardi; and Gary John Meyer and his wife, Silvana;

and his four grandchildren. A memorial service was held in March at Second Presbyterian Church in Roanoke.

1954

James Lee Loomis III, of Haiku, Maui, Hawaii, on March 26 in Wailuku, Hawaii. He was a four-year student from Collinsville, Conn., who was in multiple theater productions, wrote for The Loom, played baseball and football, and wrestled. Jim won the American Field Service International Scholarship. A graduate of Boston University, he served as the director of the City and County of Honolulu’s Office of Information and Complaint under Mayor Frank F. Fasi. After a stint as general manager of Hawaii’s AAA baseball team, the Hawaii Islanders, he went on to establish and run Loomis & Pollock, an advertising agency in Honolulu that specialized in political campaigns. Jim had a passion for train travel, which he described as “the only civilized way that’s left for us ordinary folks to see this or any other country.” Over more than three decades, he traveled almost every long-distance train ride in North America, most of them multiple times, as well as international routes including the Trans-Siberian Express, the Orient Express, and the Ghan railroad in Australia. He shared his expertise as the author of All Aboard! The Complete North American Train Travel Guide, as a travel writer for numerous publications, and on his popular blog. He also served on the board of directors for the Rail Passengers Association, advocating for improved access to passenger rail systems across the United States. Jim also wrote two other books, Fascinating Facts about Hawai’i and Travel Tales, the latter being a personal account of his many adventures. Jim was a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan, attending his first game in 1946 and making many return trips to Fenway Park over the decades. In cities around the world,

if he noticed a stranger wearing a Red Sox cap, he always greeted them with a hearty, “Go Sox!” and often came away with a new friend. When he wasn’t traveling, Jim loved the peace and quiet of his life on “Manini Ranch” in Haiku, Maui. He was a raconteur who enjoyed good conversation, and he relished hearing from and reminiscing with his many friends in his final weeks. He was survived by his wife, Paula W. Loomis; his son, James Loomis IV; his daughter Kristin Jiles and her spouse, Everett; his daughter Anna Ilima Loomis; two grandchildren; his brother Pierre Loomis and his spouse, Lynn; and his sister Virginia “Ginger” Loomis Parker ’64. He was predeceased by his brother Thomas Loomis. A celebration of life was planned.

1956

Peter W. Gehris, of Palm Harbor, Fla., on February 26 at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, Conn. Peter was a four-year student from West Hartford, Conn., who played multiple sports and was a Common Good Society member. He graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. After serving on active duty as a member of the New Jersey Army National Guard, he joined Travelers Insurance Company in 1963. That year, he married the love of his life, Elizabeth “Betty” Ann Jones. In 2023 they celebrated their 60th anniversary. During his career at Travelers, he held many executive positions. He retired from Travelers in 1993 after 30 years and founded Travel Insured International, where he was chairman, president, and chief executive officer. Pete was proud to work with his sons at Travel Insured. Pete also prided himself on the ability to form a fun, friendly, family environment at Travel Insured and enjoyed interacting with the employees daily until his retirement in 2018. He also enjoyed spending time with his family and watching his grandsons play hockey. Pete was survived by his wife, Betty Gehris; his son Jonathan D. Gehris and his wife, Tina; his daughterin-law Sharon Gehris; his brother Jonathan A. Gehris ’63 and his wife, Kathy; his sisterin-law Jane Gehris; six grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Pete was predeceased by his son Jeremy Gehris and his brother David Gehris.

Timothy Thrall, of Killingworth, Conn., on May 16 at home after a brief illness. Tim was a four-year student from Windsor, Conn.,

who played multiple sports, including wrestling, in which he was the New England Interscholastic 177-pound champion. He was self-employed and the previous owner of Woody’s Auto Sales and Service of Westbrook, Conn. Tim was a devoted husband, brother, father, and friend who cherished time with family. A light-hearted man, he had a loving and gentle nature with a great sense of humor. He also enjoyed boating, playing pool, and mastering puzzles. Tim was survived by his son, Jeffrey Thrall; his daughters, Jennifer Thrall, Amy Thrall, and Carrie Sweet and her husband, Gary; his brother Peter Thrall and his wife, Pat; his brother Kit Thrall; his sister, Susan Berriman, and her husband, Bill; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews. Tim was predeceased by his brothers David Thrall, Mark Thrall, and Jonathan Thrall; and his daughter, Linnea Thrall. Calling hours were held June 10 at Swan Funeral Home in Old Saybrook, Conn.

1958

Philip Bernstein, on June 16 at his home. Phil was a four-year student from West Hartford, Conn., who graduated cum laude and played soccer, basketball, and baseball. He was awarded the Trinity Club of Hartford Prize and was on the Student Council. In 1962, he graduated cum laude from Harvard, where he majored in social psychology. His varsity baseball career as a cleanup batter and first baseman led to a 1962 offer to try out for the New York Mets. He told them that he had already been accepted to medical school and that his mother would be very disappointed. Phil went to Yale Medical

School, graduating cum laude in 1966. He then interned at Stanford and met Arlene Upright, who was teaching school in San Francisco. They married during his year of general surgery at Stanford then moved to Boston, where he did his orthopedic surgery residency at Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital. During his residency, hip replacement surgery was introduced in Boston. After two years in the U.S. Air Force, Phil joined Drs. Scott Smyth, Thomas Lewis, and Stanford Pollack in San Mateo, Calif. When his partners retired, he recruited Drs. Todd Kim and Paul Abeyta to join him in the new Mills Peninsula Clinic in Burlingame, Calif. Phil taught Stanford Orthopedic residents at the Palo Alto VA hospital for 19 years and was promoted to assistant clinical professor. His main interest was arthritis surgery and especially joint-replacement surgery. Phil served as chief of orthopedics at Mills Hospital, director of San Mateo County Medical Society, and a member of the San Mateo Advisory Board of the Arthritis Foundation. He co-chaired the MillsPeninsula campaign for the arthritis and rehab center. Phil enjoyed reading; fishing, especially fly fishing; traveling; eating out; fine wine; and spending time with his family. His favorite travel destinations included Africa, Galapagos, Nepal, Asia, and Europe, especially Paris. He was survived by his wife of 57 years, Arlene; his daughter, Dana Bernstein Stiskin, and her spouse, Howard; his son, Alex Bernstein; a grandson; and nephews and cousins.

1959

Penelope Cosgrove Morris of Ann Arbor Mich., on May 13 after an extended illness. She was a four-year student who was a member of the Student Council, served on committees, and was a Common Good Society member. Penny graduated from the University of Michigan. The oldest of seven siblings, Penny loved family; her children, Jonathan, Anne, and Matthew; and her many grandchildren. She found great joy working with students at the University of Michigan as a Literature, Science and the Arts undergraduate counselor, as an administrator in the Medical Scientist Training Program, and as a member of the admissions committee. She was a voracious reader and enjoyed volunteering at the University Commons library. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles “Tony” Morris; and a sister, Mary Jane Stanley. In addition to her children

and grandchildren, Penny was survived by family members John Cosgrove, Chris Cosgrove, Priscilla Cosgrove, Elizabeth Merrill, Margaret Cosgrove Claxton ’74, and Peter Stanley. Funeral services were private.

1960

Michael W. Ingram of West Hartford and Old Saybrook, Conn., on March 11 due to complications from multiple myeloma. Mike was a four-year student from Somers, Conn., who played multiple sports and was involved in several committees and clubs. He graduated with cum laude honors. After Loomis, Mike majored in economics and music at Trinity College and accepted a position at Aetna Life and Casualty as a software developer and systems engineer. Mike was an expert sailor and enjoyed sailing on Long Island Sound. He learned how to sail from his dear friend Tad Bell. Mike then wanted to sail in more exotic locations and did so on bareboat charters. After retiring he started cooking and immediately found a new creative outlet. He also never forgot his childhood interests and maintained a love of cars and all kinds of car racing, traveling near and far to see races. He remained a NASCAR enthusiast his whole life. Most important in his life from a very young age was music. He enjoyed many different styles, and he mastered acoustic bass, electric and acoustic

guitar, mandolin, banjo, and many other string instruments. Mike understood the origins of popular music in the 1920s and had great regard for the poor, older, Southern musicians who made music out of nothing, often making their own guitars, such as Blind Lemon Jefferson and Blind Blake, who was important in the development of fingerpicking. Mike gave back to the community as a volunteer in the Wethersfield school system and managed the West Hartford food pantry for more than 10 years. He enjoyed his cottage in Old Saybrook and could be seen working in his vegetable garden and riding his bike around town. Besides Marie, his wife and best friend of 59 years, he left his sister, Ginni Soja; his two sisters-in-law, Fran Olesen and Jan and Michael Cashman; a niece and two nephews. A celebration of life was held on June 22 at Trinity College.

1961

Edward Thomas “Ned” Lyons, of Windsor, Conn., on March 17. Ned was a four-year student from Windsor who was in multiple clubs, played on several athletics teams, and was a football team manager. He received a bachelor's degree from Boston University and a law degree from University of Connecticut. He was employed for 30 years with the State of Connecticut Department of Revenue Services. Ned enjoyed spending time on Martha’s Vineyard, creating culinary delights,

reading mysteries, hanging out with his dogs, and watching old movies, tennis, and the UConn Huskies basketball teams. Ned was survived by his wife of 45 years, Rena, who made every effort to keep him happy and comfortable in his last weeks. He also was survived by his stepson, Rick Cole, and his wife, Carole; his stepdaughter, Rebecca Cole; his brothers, Tim Lyons and Peter Lyons; his four grandchildren; and many other family and friends, including his cousin Kevin Hunt ’74. Services were held in March.

1962

William Edward Bausch of Damariscotta, Maine, on March 14. Bill was a three-year student from West Falls, N.Y., who played multiple sports, served on the Student Council, and was a member of the ski, French, and radio clubs. He graduated with cum laude honors. After Loomis, Bill went on to Princeton University, graduating in 1966 with a degree in aeronautical engineering, and began his career designing helicopters at Sikorsky Aircraft in Connecticut. With his wife, Wendy, they raised their three children, William, Jeff, and Betsey, in Newtown, Conn. During this time, Bill served as a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician and earned his pilot’s license for small aircrafts. He moved to Greenwich, Conn., in 1985, where he met Mary Stephens and they married in 1987. They remained in Greenwich for nearly 20 years, where Bill served as a computer tech for many nonprofits, eventually retired, and continued to be actively involved as a volunteer in his community. In Greenwich, he found his singing voice as a tenor and sang in the church choir, the Greenwich Choral Society, and the a cappella group The Off Sounders. Bill and Mary moved to Damariscotta in 2005. There, he immersed himself in the community and loved living on Biscay Pond with lake access and boating, canoeing, and kayaking. Bill was a master gardener volunteer and a talented woodworker who crafted canoes and kayaks. He was rarely idle over the last 19 years, helping lead the boards of The Carpenter’s Boat Shop, the Pemaquid Watershed Association, Skidompha Library, Tapestry Singers, and the Second Congregational Church of Newcastle UCC, as well as providing IT advice and support for many other local organizations. Bill was a generous giver of his time, treasure, and talent. A consummate volunteer, he was quiet, unassuming, and reliable and

sought no credit or praise. Survivors included Bill’s wife, Mary Bausch; his sister, Carolyn Bausch; his son William Bausch and his wife, HaMy Vu; his son Jeffrey Bausch and his wife, Jenna; his daughter, Betsey Bausch Beamer, and her husband, Paul; the mother of his children, Wendy Davenson; his stepdaughters, Toni Ritchie, Nancy Nanos, and Deb McLarty; and seven grandchildren. He was predeceased by his much-loved younger sister, Barbie. Other late family members included his father, William G. Bausch ’37, and his uncle, Carl L. Bausch Jr. ’34. A celebration of his life was scheduled.

Richmond “Rick” Lucas Crolius of Groton Long Point, Conn., on November 29, 2023. Rick was a four-year student from New Britain, Conn. He earned an undergraduate degree

in international business from Quinnipiac University in 1979. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1964 to 1966 and was honorably discharged as a petty officer third class. An avid skier, Rick spent 20 years as a volunteer on the National Ski Patrol providing emergency first aid to the skiing public across New England. He held a progression of leadership positions at the local, state, and regional levels for the organization and was awarded National Appointment #8200 in recognition of his service. During his time as a ski patroller, he maintained certification as an emergency medical technician. Rick was a proud, lifelong member of the Groton Long Point community. Following in his grandfather’s footsteps, Rick served on the Groton Long Point Board of Directors for 10 years and was elected its president for the

2004–05 term. He also served as harbormaster. An avid sailor and fisherman, Rick was a charter member of the Groton Long Point Blue Jay Fleet when he was in his early teens. He loved performance cars, and over the years he drove in many competitions throughout the East. A special moment for him every year was riding in the Cobra in the Fourth of July parade with his grandchildren, who were the brightest lights of his universe in recent years. Passionate about supporting those who have served the United States, Rick was a charter member of Work Vessels for Veterans. He earned the nickname “Rock ’n’ Roll Rick” during his many years with the group for planning benefit music concerts and other events across New England to assist former service men and women in their return to civilian life. He was recognized with the organization’s Patriot Star Award for his 15 years of service. Rick was survived by his two best friends, son Todd and daughter Sue; Todd’s wife, Leslie, and their children, Noah and Caroline; Sue’s son, Tyler; his former wife and good friend, Karen; his brother, Rob Crolius ’65; his sister-in-law, Julie; his nephew, Jeff Crolius ’91; and a niece. Rick’s father was William Crolius ’37. A Celebration of his Life was held June 1 at the Groton Long Point Casino in Clark Hall.

1969

Joan Mary Boczar Delphia, on June 18. Joan was a four-year student from Windsor, Conn., who was secretary-treasurer of the Chaffee Class of 1969. She was known for her kindness, dedication, selflessness, and boundless love, and her generosity and compassion touched the lives of many. She was raised in Windsor, returned to raise her family in Windsor, and lived there for 39 years. Joan graduated from Boston College in 1973 and received her master’s degree from Trinity College in 1977. She was a middle school math teacher for more than 20 years before returning to work at Travelers Insurance Company for 25 years. Her colleagues admired her for her work ethic, integrity, and unwavering commitment to everyone around her. Her warm and nurturing spirit created a home filled with love, laughter, support, and cherished memories. As a grandmother, Joan was a beacon of love, joy, and wisdom. Joan was survived by her husband of 51 years, Larry W. Delphia; her son, Christopher Delphia; her daughter, Alexandra (Delphia) Wittner, and her husband, Mark; a granddaughter; and many nieces,

Loomis Chaffee

nephews, and other family members. Joan was predeceased by her sister, Julie Ann Boczar Story ’66. A Mass of Christian Burial was held June 24 at St. Gabriel Church in Windsor.

Daniel P. Russo, of Middletown, Conn., on February 19. Dan was a four-year student from Bloomfield, Conn., who was in the sailing and glee clubs and a member of the Loomis Athletic Association and the Foreign Policy Association. He graduated in 1973 from Trinity College with a bachelor’s degree in history and later a graduate fellowship in history. Dan graduated in 1978 from Suffolk University School of Law in Boston, Mass., and received a juris doctorate in 1987 from Boston University School of Law with an LL.M. in Taxation degree. He earned a master’s degree in management and financial services from The American College in Bryn Mawr, Pa., in 2003. Early in his career he worked as an attorney in Washington, D.C., for the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee on taxation issues and legislation. Subsequently, he held corporate legal positions for more than 20 years in the financial services industry. For several years he also consulted nonprofit organizations, and he was involved with political service to the city of Middletown for several decades, including as chairman of the Middletown Democratic Town Committee and chairman of the Middletown Planning and Zoning Committee. He was a Middletown resident since 1989. Dan was predeceased by his wife of 30 years, Judith Celia Hample Russo; his brother Nicholas J. Russo II; and his brother Joseph N. Russo III ’64. He was survived by his brother Frank T. Russo ’73 and his nieces and nephews, including Charles Russo ’98. Dan’s father was Joseph N. Russo ’37. Services were held in Middletown in March.

1973

William Edward Broaden III, on April 10, at his home in Manchester, Conn. William was born in Hartford and raised in Windsor, and he was a four-year student who wrote for the school newspaper, The Log; competed in intramural athletics; and was a member of the Black Students Association. After Loomis, William attended the University of Pennsylvania. While home on break, William sustained injuries in a car accident in New Hampshire while working for Connecticut Bank & Trust as a driver, which altered the course of his life. He was survived by a sister, Deborah L. Broaden; a nephew; and

many other family members and friends. Services were held in Windsor in April.

1975

Kevin Paul Holland, of Gainesville, Fla., on February 9 at Shands Hospital in Gainesville. Kevin was a four-year student from Windsor, Conn., who played club sports and was on the varsity baseball team as a senior. He attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he was on the baseball team. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from MIT and moved to Texas to work for Dupont as a chemical engineer. After several years, he moved to Florida near his family to work as an engineer for Pratt & Whitney. After that, Kevin earned a master’s degree at University of Florida in Gainesville and began working with the University of Florida Genetics Department as a genetic sequencer until his retirement. Kevin was blessed with a sharp intellect that enabled him to excel at work that was mentally challenging, and he was always solving difficult puzzles and brain teasers. He also enjoyed any sport with a ball, especially baseball, and he would make sure to tune in on the radio when the Gators were playing. Kevin was humble and put the needs of others, especially his family, before his own. He was proud of his nieces and nephews and supported them generously. Kevin was survived by his siblings: Karen Mary Butz and her husband, Kevin Butz; Joseph Michael Holland; Alicia Claire DiSandro and her husband, Gregory DiSandro; Stephen Conway Holland; and Lawrence

Theodore Holland; as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. A Memorial Mass was held February 24.

1977

William Howard Jackson Jr., of Wilmington, Del., on April 26. He was a three-year student from Cleveland who was an executive board member of the Black Students Association and a tutor in the SPHERE program, which helped young people from Hartford in math and reading. Bill was on the varsity track & field team as a junior and senior. After graduating from Loomis Chaffee, he attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he received a degree in civil engineering in 1981. Dedicated to his faith, Bill ministered for more than 40 years and was a passionate and active associate pastor for A Higher Dimension Church for the last eight years. He also authored two Christian books, Wisdom Too, Works by Love; and The People vs. The United States. Bill was preceded in death by his sister, Janelle Jackson-Marshall. He was survived by his father, William H. Jackson Sr.; his children, Renda, Rebekah, Rachelle, and Sean Jackson; his sisters Danielle Jackson-McCully and Nekole Martin; three grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; his former spouse, Lena Jackson-Hughes; and many other family members and dear friends. A memorial service was held May 1 in Newark, Del.

1979

Jean Hill Rademacher, on May 30 in Kansas City, Mo. Jean was a two-year student from West Hartford, Conn., who played volleyball and was involved in theater. She went on to graduate from the University of Vermont. Jean was a kind, caring, and adventurous soul and an independent woman. Friends and family were important to her. Her passion from a young age was sailing. Her aunt, Janet Hill Johnson, introduced her to sailing, and Jean excelled at it. She engaged in competitive sailing, which took her to the pinnacle of the sport in 1994, when she was invited to try out for the “all woman” America’s Cup team. In 1999, Jean fell nearly 40 feet, and the accident almost took her life, leaving her blind and with other associated complications. Jean was a fighter and did not let the accident take away her zest and spirit for living. She recovered, got a job with the Internal Revenue Service,

and moved to the Midwest. There, she easily made friends and met other people with and without her same disability. She developed a community of friends and continued her involvement in the Episcopal Church, St. Andrews, in Kansas City, Mo. Her faith was very important to her. Jean left those who knew her with fond memories of her easy laugh, obsession with telling jokes, spirit of adventure, and love of community. Jean was survived by her three siblings, Leslie Rademacher Nitkiewicz, John Rademacher, and Janet Rademacher Hull; as well as five nieces and three nephews, who affectionately knew her as a quirky and silly aunt. Services were June 2 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.

1991

Kelly Ann Hefner, on March 20. A four-year student from West Hartford, Conn., Kelly played soccer, hockey, and lacrosse, and was captain of two of the teams. She graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont where she also played soccer, hockey, and lacrosse, was captain of two of those teams, and was an All-American in lacrosse. She remained at Middlebury for her first year after graduation as an assistant coach and then worked at Travelers Insurance, National Geographic, and media companies Discovery, Woman’s Entertainment, Rainbow Media, Original Media, and Crazy Legs Production. She began to change the direction of her career

when she became an adjunct professor of documentary films at Columbia University. In 2020, Kelly made a life-changing decision, moved to Ojai, California, and enrolled in a master’s program in psychology and somatic therapy. She struggled with cancer the entire time but would not give up her dream. She became a certified somatic movement therapist and continued to work on completing her master’s degree up until her passing. Kelly lived a life of transformation. She gracefully adapted to various circumstances throughout her life, and her life’s work was helping others view themselves and their surroundings differently. There will be a celebration of Kelly’s life in the fall in Rhode Island. Kelly was survived by her parents, Robert and Jacquelyn Hefner; her sister, Jennie Hefner Carbone ’93; her brother, Brian Hefner ’97; two nephews and a niece; and hundreds of friends. The Kelly Hefner ’91 Scholarship Fund has been created at Loomis Chaffee in honor of Kelly’s spirit and the positive effect she had on others.

Former Staff

Barbara Strider Kuehn, on February 23 in Atlanta, Ga., with her daughter Suzanne by her side. Barbara was database manager in the Development Office from 1984 to 1993; all of her children attended Loomis Chaffee. Seth Beebe ’78, director of advancement services and operations, said Barbara “taught

herself the software, was new to computers, but became an expert, and was a stickler for accuracy.” Barbara attended George School, in Newtown, Pa., graduating in 1947. While there Barbara, or “Rocky” as her classmates called her, lettered in field hockey, captained the basketball team, and was president of her class. As years passed, Barbara was a loyal and enthusiastic participant in class reunions, even organizing her 70th. Barbara attended the University of Rochester School of Nursing and was a member of Class of 1952. It was there that she met her husband, Paul G. Kuehn, who was in medical school. They married in 1952, lived in New York City for Paul’s training, then settled in South Windsor, Conn., and went on to have four children. In New York City, Barbara was the head nurse of an orthopedic floor. Even though Barbara’s mother died when she was 6 years-old, her four children attest that Barbara was an outstanding mother who taught them the importance of loving kindness, service to others, faith in God, and unconditional love, which she gracefully exemplified. Barbara was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in South Windsor, and even in her final days, she delighted in hearing a favorite hymn or Bible verse. Upon retirement, Barbara and Paul moved to Florida: Naples, St. Augustine, and then Jacksonville, where they lived with their son, Stephen Kuehn, and daughter-in-law Chanda, who welcomed them into their family. Barbara’s final years were spent in Atlanta, Ga., with her daughter Suzanne and family, who cared for her with love and tenderness. Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, Paul; her brother Robert; and her sister Sydney. She was survived by her brother David Strider; her daughter Kathryn Kuehn Noll ’72 and her spouse, David; her daughter Suzanne Kuehn Mason ’79 and her spouse, Greg; her daughter Carolyn Kuehn ’84 and her spouse, Peter Sinanian; her son, Stephen Kuehn ’75, and his spouse, Chanda; 15 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. A celebration of life was held April 26 in Jacksonville Beach, Fla.

Scott Edward MacDonald, of Yardley, Pa., on May 17 after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Scott taught Spanish at Loomis

Chaffee from 1977 to 1982. He graduated from Northfield Mount Hermon in 1973, where he was an outstanding runner. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in geology and Spanish at Duke University, graduating in 1977. After teaching at Loomis Chaffee, he earned a master’s degree in geology from Rice University. While at Rice, he studied and performed research in Antarctica. Scott was a principal at ENVIRON/Ramboll, where he spent most of his career. He was committed to his clients and had an undeniable work ethic. Scott traveled the world throughout his career and especially loved London. He also loved Philadelphia sports, especially the Phillies, and cheering on the Duke Blue Devils. He enjoyed fly fishing with his friends, and he loved scuba diving with his children and other family members in Honduras, Fiji, and the Caribbean. He spent many vacations with his extended family and friends at the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where he loved floating in the ocean, kayaking, wave runners, crabbing, and manning the grill with his brothers-in-law and dear friends. Scott’s commitment to his family was exceptional and unwavering, and he relished his time with them. Scott was survived by his wife of almost 28 years, Kathryn A. MacDonald; his children, Colin S. MacDonald, Olivia H. MacDonald, Erin E. MacDonald, and Tyler J. Moss; his grandson, Liam H. Moss; his sister, Lynn MacDonald; his brother, Bryan MacDonald; and many nieces and nephews. A funeral service was held May 24 in Yardley.

Frederick Morgan Alford, of Windsor, Conn., on June 10. Raised in Windsor, Fred graduated from Brewster Academy Prep School. After graduation, he continued with his career as a taxi driver at Airfield Taxi then became a bus driver for Rainbow Bus Company while also driving a school bus for Loomis Chaffee. Fred worked on the grounds crew in the LC

Physical Plant for many years. His sister, Gayle Alford, also worked at Loomis for many years, concluding her career by working in the mailroom. Fred was affiliated with Hayden Station Company of the Windsor Fire Department for more than 50 years, retiring as a deputy chief. Fred served on the Board of Directors of Hartford County Fire Emergency Plan. He also was a member of the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association. Fred was predeceased by his sister Gayle and his father, Alden Alford ’34. Fred was survived by several cousins; a special friend

and caregiver, Alicia; and family who resided with Fred in his home. Services were held June 22 in Windsor.

More News

The alumni office has learned of the deaths of former Trustee Eugene Mercy Jr. ’55 on July 16 and John Hurlburt ’57 on January 2. More information, as available, will be published in a future magazine.

Many Paths, One Destination

REFLECTIONS

The route of the Alumni Parade of Classes during reunion weekends has changed through the years. It has stepped off from Founders Circle and traveled through Founders Hall. It has followed the covered colonnade by Batchelder, Palmer, and Howe halls. It has traversed the brick walkway in front of Ammidon and Flagg halls. And for the last couple of years it has begun in the Ratté Quad and proceeded through Rockefeller Quad. But the annual procession of graduates always concludes where the school itself started, in Grubbs Quadrangle. One other constant: Follow the bagpipes.

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Athletics Director

gets a high-five from his daughter

as the faculty convene for a photograph on Commencement morning.

Loomis Chaffee School

Associate

Donnie McKillop

Phoebe