Spring 2012 Loomis Chaffee Magazine by Loomis Chaffee

MAGAZINE

SPRING 2012

Curriculum Review | A Primer on Social Media | Cats in Foreign Lands loomischaffee.org | 1

Spring 2012/ Volume LXXIV, No. 2 ON THE COVER Illustrator Daniel Baxter captures Loomis Chaffee life through the lens of social media. A primer on social media, “The Importance of Being Social,” begins on page 22. ON THIS PAGE Rhode Island Red chicks, which will take up residence in the school’s new hen house when they’re more grown-up, scuttle around under the watchful eye of junior John Macdonald, one of the student e-proctors in the Sustainability Program. Check in on the chickens virtually at the Daily Chicken Checkin at http://www.loomis.org/chickencheckin. Photo: Patricia Cousins EDITOR | Louise D. Moran MANAGING EDITOR | Becky Purdy CLASS NEWS | James S. Rugen ’70 OBITUARIES | Katherine A.B. Langmaid CONTRIBUTORS | Mary Coleman Forrester, senior Mimi Do, Mercedes Maskalik, Jeuley Ortengren, sophomore Sara Gershman, Alexandra Muchura, Karen Parsons, John Ratté, and Marc Cicciarella DESIGNER | Patricia J. Cousins PRINTING | Lane Press SUBMISSIONS/STORIES AND NEWS Alumni may contribute items of interest to: Loomis Chaffee Editors The Loomis Chaffee School 4 Batchelder Road Windsor CT 06095 860 687 6278 or 6811 magazine@loomis.org

Printed at Lane Press, Burlington, Vermont Printed on 70% Sterling Matte, a recycled stock Postmaster Send address changes to The Loomis Chaffee School 4 Batchelder Road Windsor CT 06095

2 |

INSIDE LoomisChaffee

22 | The Importance of Being Social:

Photo: John Groo

DEPARTMENTS

A Primer on Social Media

2 | HEADLINES | CENTER FOR THE COMMON GOOD

From “friending” to “tweeting” to “pinning,” social media offers opportunities to connect with others as well as occasion to feel overwhelmed by this fast-changing realm. We’re here to help with this guide to the world of social media and how you can tap into it.

6 | THE BIG PICTURE

32 | Thinking About Liberal Arts:

32 Curriculum Review

Outcomes of the Curriculum Review A two-year curriculum review has engendered an array of new courses, several major academic initiatives, and a reaffirmed commitment to the liberal arts at Loomis Chaffee.

37 | Room With a View A fitting centerpiece to the Loomis Chaffee Centennial logo, the Founders Hall cupola offers sweeping views of the surrounding landscape as well as a vantage point on the school’s rich and varied history.

3 | AROUND THE QUADS

13 | ISLAND ARRAY

17 | OF NOTE | FACULTY & STAFF

38 | Cats in Foreign Lands Felicity Ratté ’81 discovered an unexpected (and furry) bond with the people and places of the Islamic cities whose urban architecture and language she studied during a recent sabbatical. Go to Loomis Chaffee online @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. Scan the QR code at left with your smart phone and instantly link to the magazine or go to loomischaffee.org/magazine.

German porcelain frog clinging to a branch Photo: John Groo

HEADLINES | BY SHEILA CULBERT

Founding Principle Inspires Center for the Common Good

OOD citizenship was one of the outcomes for which the Loomis Founders particularly hoped when they envisioned and chartered The Loomis Institute in the 1870s. Osbert Loomis, the brother who took on the special responsibility of bringing his siblings’ dream to fruition, asked “if we should not give greater importance and attention to … the principles and workings of our own government” in the curriculum, hoping that upon graduation Loomis students would have “very clear notions of the position and duties of a patriotic, law-abiding citizen of our own Republic.”

As a school, we want to graduate students who are not only academically accomplished, but also committed to democratic principles, public service, and civil discourse. In the words of our mission statement, we hope to inspire in our students “a commitment to the best self and the common good,” although putting this goal into practice is, of course, easier said than done. But done it must be, and no better place exists to begin this work than high school.

With this goal in mind, beginning next year, Loomis Chaffee will open a Center for the Common Good to encourage students to understand their It is hard not to believe that our roles as citizens in a small community and a large diverse deFounders’ emphasis on citizenmocracy and to foster an active, ship stemmed, at least in part, engaged approach to citizenship from the threat to the nation’s in our global society. The center unity by the secession of the will inspire our students to be southern states in the 1860s knowledgeable about the demoand the subsequent civil war where the very idea of American cratic principles of freedom and justice; informed about local, citizenship was sorely tested. regional, and national public After all, James Loomis had affairs; capable of engaging in fought for almost four years under Ulysses S. Grant and Wil- civil discourse and other forms liam T. Sherman in the western of political engagement; ready campaigns, including fighting at to become responsible voters and respectful neighbors at Vicksburg. And the family as a home; and understanding of the whole surely embraced Abradifferent cultures and governham Lincoln’s invocation “that ments of the world. government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall We are delighted to announce not perish from the earth.” that Albert Freihofer ’69 has accepted the directorship for If good citizenship was an understandable goal in the 1870s, it remains a laudable one in 2012. CENTER | continued 36 4 |

“

Loomis Chaffee will open a Center for the Common Good to encourage students to understand their roles as citizens in a small community and a large diverse democracy and to foster an active, engaged approach to citizenship in our global society.

”

AROUND THE QUADS

William Bissell ’84 To Speak at Commencement

ILLIAM Bissell ’84, managing director of one of India’s most successful retail companies and co-founder of The Fabindia School, will speak at Loomis Chaffee’s Commencement in June. During a visit to India in February, Head of School Sheila Culbert asked William to deliver the Commencement address, and he agreed.

William’s company, Fabindia Overseas Pvt., sells artisan-made textile goods, furniture, clothing, and other products in its chain of more than 140 department stores and counting. His father, John, founded the company half a century ago to export hand-crafted fabric products. William took over the helm in 1999, after his father’s death, and has grown Fabindia into a company with annual sales of more than $100 million. But profitability is not the company’s sole purpose. From the beginning, the company has pursued a “double bottom line,” with dual goals of making a profit and helping the community. William explains that the company aims to include rural communities in the process of prosperity. By creating economic cooperatives of artisans and craft workers who supply the products that Fabindia sells, the company enables the rural poor to become financial stakeholders and to build access to markets that previously had been out of their reach. The Fabindia School is an extension of that social and cultural mission. Founded 20 years ago by William and his father, the school is located in the rural village of Bali, Rajasthan, and enrolls 1,000 children from preschool through 12th grade. In a

region where high-quality, affordable education reaches few children and especially few girls, the school provides holistic, local, Englishbased education to boys and girls and subsidizes their tuition so that families can afford it. William modeled the school after Loomis Chaffee, where he says he transformed from a mediocre student with little excitement for school into a passionate and motivated learner. (A feature story about The Fabindia School and William’s vision for it appeared in the winter 2012 issue of Loomis Chaffee Magazine.) After Loomis, William attended Wesleyan University then returned to India to help run the company. Although he grew up in Delhi, India, and lives in India with his wife and two young children, he

has many family ties in the Hartford, Connecticut, area. His grandparents lived in Avon when William attended Loomis, and many of his cousins, aunts, and uncles continue to live nearby.

William Nanda Bissell ’84 Photo: Courtesy of Fabindia

Loomis and The Fabindia School also are forming a close connection. For the second year in a row, a group of Loomis students and faculty members traveled to India during March break this year and spent a week at The Fabindia School doing service work and spending time with the students. And two 15-yearold Fabindia students attended Loomis for the first two terms of this year as exchange students. To see photos of the March 2012 trip to India, go to loomischaffee. org / magazine.

loomischaffee.org | 5

AROUND THE QUADS

Genetic Ethics

HE mapping of the human genome has led to a rapid explosion of interest in genetic testing, says Arthur Caplan, director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania. But that explosion of interest — in the form of the burgeoning genetic testing industry — raises many ethical questions. Mr. Caplan addressed some of those questions and offered some solutions during his visit to Loomis Chaffee in February as part of the Hubbard Speakers Series. “There are many, many companies out there now that are saying, ‘We would like to test your DNA,’” Mr. Caplan said during a convocation address. But in his view, much of the testing these companies offer is irresponsible at best. He offered as an example one company that claims to match your diet to your genetic risk factors. “This would be very exciting if it wasn’t utter nonsense,” he said. “We don’t know anything about the predisposition of genetics in terms of foods that may give you allergies or that metabolize best.” Stickier ethical questions arise over genetic tests that claim to measure personal qualities — such as a child’s athletic proclivity — unrelated to health risks, disabilities, or other medically relevant information. These tests not only are unreliable, Mr. Caplan said, but they also may lead parents to force their children into narrow life choices. Moreover, prenatal tests that measure a genetic predisposition to having certain qualities such as homosexuality may lead parents to make reproductive choices based on the results. “Is sexual orientation a disability?” he asked. A consumer issue underlies genetic

6 |

Faculty member John Robison ’05 and others continue the genetic ethcis conversation with Arthur Caplan, right, in the Caption Ortengren Burtonhere Room Photo: after theJeuley convocation. Photo: Jeuley Ortengren

“

If you ask me what excites me the most about the genetic revolution, it’s not testing your genes. It’s finding out what genes you have that determine your response to medicine.

”

testing as well. Many companies that offer genetic testing claim the results can help people make better lifestyle decisions. But Mr. Caplan asserted those claims are misleading. “If your results say you are predisposed to type 2 diabetes,

what’s the advice? To eat better, to exercise more. I can tell you those things without any testing,” he said. There is no regulation of Internet sites that offer this testing. “We ought to be pushing the Federal Trade Commission and

other regulatory [agencies] to say that stuff better be off the Internet because it’s bilking people,” Mr. Caplan said. The work in genetic testing that warrants our interest and excitement, in Mr. Caplan’s view, relates to pharmacogenomics — testing that looks for genetic compatibility with certain medications that have dangerous side effects. “Can I find out things [genetically] that tell me if you are a rapid metabolizer of this particular chemical? . . . We are starting to get some good information,” he noted. “If you ask me what excites me the most about the genetic revolution, it’s not testing your genes. It’s finding out what genes you have that determine your response to medicine.” To listen to Mr. Caplan’s talk, go to loomischaffee.org / magazine.

Researching the Immune System

Photo: Matthew Septimus

Power Play Loomis Chaffee reduced its electricity use by 7.6 percent during the month-long Green Cup Challenge this winter. The reduction ranked 10th out of the 32 Northeast boarding schools participating in the challenge. Public and private schools across the country participate in the challenge each year, a friendly competition designed to get students committed to and excited about saving energy. At Loomis, the Sustainability Committee spearheaded the effort, encouraging energy conservation through dorm competitions, Twitter updates, and awareness-raising. The LC community responded to the challenge. “The first two weeks were the lowest [in energy consumption] two weeks that I have ever seen at Loomis for seven years,” says Sustainability Coordinator Jeffrey Dyreson. With a baseline of 100,998 kilowatt hours, the school used an average of 93,291 kilowatt hours per week over the course of the competition. The 7.6 percent reduction outpaced the school’s performance in the challenge last year, when the campus cut energy consumption by 1.5 percent. Other sustainability initiatives also moved forward during the winter months. The school switched to singlestream recycling, meaning that all paper, plastics, metals, and other recyclable items go into one bin for collection. The Sustainability Committee is fine-tuning plans to tend a flock of chickens to aid with composting, and a coop is due to arrive in April. And the school has constructed frames for garden plots for faculty and staff on the agricultural lot behind the Clark Center for Science & Mathematics.

ILL Adams ’01 returned to the Island on February 18 to offer students a glimpse at his work in microbiology and immunology. A post-doctoral research scientist at Columbia University, Will has spent the last seven years researching the biology of the immune system in his efforts to develop new vaccines against incurable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. “It was during my senior year at Loomis that I was introduced to microbes and molecular biology,” Will says. His interest in science continued through college at Bates, a traineeship at the National Institutes of Health, and doctoral training at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, from 2006 to 2011. Will’s presentation included a brief overview of the science that goes into his work and several key concepts, including dendritic cells and their ability to link the innate immune system to the adaptive immune system. He closed his presentation with helpful advice for students interested in pursuing careers in science: “Find mentors who are interested

“

There is a lot of research opportunity in studying the immune system and studying viruses.

”

— Will Adams ’01

in your scientific development. … Pose and test hypotheses. … Ninety percent of the time, you will, and should, be wrong about the way that you think things work. … Don’t be afraid of this failure.” There is much work still to be done in the development of vaccines for many diseases despite the work of thousands of scientists and the billions of dollars already spent on these efforts. The reason, Will says, is that “we still don’t understand many of the basic aspects of the immune system and how [we] interact with pathogens. ... There is a lot of research opportunity in studying the immune system and studying viruses.”

Will Adams ’01 speaks to biology students. Photo: Mercedes Maskalik

loomischaffee.org | 7

AROUND THE QUADS | THE BIG PICTURE

8 |

HAIRSPRAY In a scene from the winter musical, Hairspray, at the Norris Ely Orchard Theater, Motormouth Maybelle (sophomore Taylor Williams) and Edna Turnblad (junior Mark Crawford) seek common ground despite their different backgrounds â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and divergent taste in fashion â&#x20AC;&#x201D; while Tracy Turnblad (senior Liana Fernez), Penny Pingleton (junior Amy Ward), Seaweed Stubbs (junior Darius Moore), Wilbur Turnblad (sophomore Samuel Verney), LuLu (freshman Jennifer Hewitt), Little Inez (senior AsiaSol Goring), Tasha (sophomore Nana Minder), and Gilbert (senior Samson Chow) react to the tension. Photo: Wayne Dombkowski loomischaffee.org | 9

AROUND THE QUADS

Students Serve as Translators, Friends in Guatemala

t’s a scary experience for a young child to undergo a surgical procedure, and being without your parents when you wake up is even scarier. But one boy in Guatemala woke up from surgery in February with a special friend by his side who calmed him amidst the machines making loud noises and the strange people hovering over him. The special friend was Loomis Chaffee senior Kevin Caba, who had volunteered as an interpreter for Children of the Americas (COTA) in Zacapa, Guatemala. Since 1987, COTA has dedicated itself to providing medical care, dental care, surgical services, and specialists in prosthetics to children and their families in rural Guatemala. The not-for-profit, volunteer organization networks with Guatemalan healthcare providers to share medical and surgical knowledge. Kevin and fellow senior Kelvin Gonzalez were invited to accompany LC Spanish teacher Charles Bour as part of the COTA week in Guatemala this winter, during which more than 100 American medical professionals traveled to the country to provide free care to the local residents. Both Kevin and Kelvin’s families hail from the Dominican Republic, and both students are bilingual in English and Spanish. They were the only high school students invited to participate in the event, and Charlie remarks that the boys bonded closely with many of the children who came to the clinic for medical procedures. COTA Coordinator Jennifer Christmann says interpreters serve a critical role in provider-patient communication in the clinic. “When our team arrives in Guatemala for

10 |

the week, the number of people seeking care far outweighs the time we have. Having hardworking and skilled interpreters can have a measurable impact on the overall patient experience,” she noted in a letter following the LC group’s visit to Zacapa. The trip was Charlie’s fifth visit to a COTA facility in Guatemala. “After graduating from college in 2005, I met a fellow Spanish instructor, and when he mentioned that he couldn’t go to Guatemala, I immediately volunteered to take his place. The rest is history,” he says with a grin. “The work involves 12 hours every day under some grueling conditions, but everyone is so flexible. The majority of the medical professionals use their vacation and sick time to make this trip. They all end up working more hours every day than they would at home, and the results are amazing.” Kelvin says he enjoyed being immersed in the culture and learning about the country as well as befriending many of the children and other local people. He showed such a strong interest and talent in the medical field that several of the physicians encouraged him to become a doctor himself, a career he is now considering. Ms. Christmann’s letter praises the students’ work: “Both Kevin and Kelvin did a phenomenal job as interpreters. They willingly did what was asked of them and were very open to new experiences in an environment that was unfamiliar and potentially a little uncomfortable.” For a gallery of photos of the Guatemala trip, go to loomischaffee.org / magazine.

Senior Kevin Caba and a young patient share some fun at the clinic in Guatemala. Photo: Charles Bour

Living (Safely) Online

INETY-FIVE percent of all teens are online, and 80 percent have an online profile on a social networking site, according to Sameer Hinduja, director of the Cyberbullying Research Center at Florida Atlantic University. “The Internet isn’t just a part of kids’ lives,” Mr. Hinduja told the Loomis Chaffee faculty in January. “It is their life.” Mr. Hinduja was invited to campus to speak to faculty and, in a separate convocation, to students about the potential pitfalls and dangers of living online and what they can do to protect themselves. His advice was not to turn away from technology but to use it wisely. One of his particular concerns is online bullying of teens. Forty-five percent of teens report having been bullied via a cell phone text, he noted, and photos and videos are being used more and more often as means of bullying via smartphones. Teens who feel bullied and others who are aware of the risks often continue to use Facebook, create formspring profiles, and engage in other online communities, he said, because adolescents naturally seek validation and reinforcement. “They keep hoping someone will love them and say something nice,” he explained. And teens are reluctant to tell adults when they are bullied online because they not only fear peer retaliation and ostracism, but also worry that the adults will take away their online privileges, which is indeed a frequent result. Mr. Hinduja highlighted several positive examples of teens standing up against bullying, including flashmobs and online anti-bullying campaigns that went viral, and he urged Loomis Chaffee students

Sameer Hinduja addresses students in the Olcott Center. Photo: Jeuley Ortengren

“

Forty-five percent of teens report having been bullied via a cell phone text.

”

to put their creativity to work for similar causes.

jobs or prominence for “demonstrating such low self-control,” he said. Mr. Hinduja explained to students how to restrict access to their Facebook profiles through privacy settings and disabling location services, which allow people on Facebook to know where you are. In the end, Mr. Hinduja’s down-toearth and practical advice for students was simple: “Don’t be a jerk online; don’t be a moron online. Pause before you post. Don’t think you are invincible. Don’t sabotage your future. Be known for something bigger than yourself.” For a link to information on and suggestions from the Cyberbullying Research Center, go to loomischaffee.org / magazine.

Page Turners

OOKING for a good book? Discover new titles or rediscover favorite classics on the 2012 Loomis Chaffee Summer Reading list. To peruse the list of recommended books on a variety of topics, or just to see what students in each grade are required to read over the summer, go to www.loomis. org/summerreading.

In addition to the problem of online bullying, Mr. Hinduja also warned students about damaging their own reputations online. He gave examples of people acting out online in ways that negatively affected them, possibly for the rest of their lives. People have lost their loomischaffee.org | 11

AROUND THE QUADS

Once Upon a Lily Pad

FTER more than 35 years as residents of Katharine Brush Library, the frogs are hopping off to new lily pads. The school has decided to sell the 1,100-piece collection of frog figurines, donated to the school in 1975, and the proceeds will augment a scholarship fund established by the same donor. Details of the sale have not yet been determined, but a representative of the auction house Sotheby’s is scheduled to examine the collection this spring, according to LC Director of Planned Giving Marc Cicciarella. An appraiser estimated the value of the collection at between $200,000 and $400,000 although its market value could differ from its appraised value, Marc notes. Emily Louise Sample bequeathed the frogs to the school in memory of her son, Ralph Sneath Sample ’42, who died in an air cadet training

accident a year after he graduated from Loomis. Emily, who also lost her husband in 1943, created the Ralph Sneath Sample Scholarship Fund in her son’s memory in 1944. Emily collected frog figurines for most of her life, and her friends and acquaintances brought back additions to the collection after traveling abroad, according to a letter in the Loomis Chaffee Archives from a trust officer involved with her estate. The collection includes frogs from many far-flung locales and crafted from a huge variety of materials. An opal frog on a jade diving board was signed by famed jeweler Carl Fabergé. A 3,000-year-old figurine in the collection was recovered from a tomb in Egypt. In an article in the April 10, 1976, issue of The LOG, Pam Kosty describes the collection this way: “There are frogs with diamonds and rubies, frogs cut in old Chinese ivory, jade frogs, rose quartz frogs, teakwood and balsam wood frogs.

Delicate signed Asian ivory leaf with two frogs sitting on inner side of leaf

There are amethyst frogs and old European Wedgwood frogs. Frog musical bands, frog chess pieces, frog dancers, frogs with toothaches and headaches, and frogs-a-courtin’ can be seen.” When Emily died in 1975, the collection transferred to the school with the provision that it be properly displayed. Nathan Follansbee, associate head of school for external relations, says the bequest did not require that the school keep the collection. It makes sense, he says, to sell the frogs and put the money into the scholarship Emily created to honor her alumnus son.

Antique Viennese enameled bronze frog, one of many whimsical frogs in different settings

Old ivory grouping of frog god with frogs on his head and an attending boy with good luck symbols, signed by Ikkeisai Photos: John Groo

12 |

aretηʹ * ’

 Five student artists received awards in three separate programs this winter. A sculpture created by senior Abigail Adams was selected for the National K_12 Ceramic Exhibition, a juried competition sponsored by the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts. Abby’s sculpture, “Peacock,” was one of 150 selected out of more than 700 from across the United States and was displayed as part of the exhibition in Seattle at the end of March.

Senior Abigail Adams and her art work

Art works by junior Diana Suciu, sophomore Juwon Jun, and junior Ji Hee Yoon were selected for Connecticut Scholastic Art Awards. Diana’s sculpture, titled “Diana’s Dragon,” and Juwon’s self-portrait, an oil painting on canvas, received Silver Key Awards. Ji Hee’s drawing on the theme of allergies received an Honorable Mention. The 655 award-winning pieces, selected from more than 1,500 entries, were exhibited in January at the Silpe Gallery at the University of Hartford. The Scholastic awards are sponsored by the Connecticut Art Education Association. A photograph by sophomore Natalia Gutierrez received an Honorable Mention in the teen category of the Hartford area’s National Arts Program exhibition in January. The photo, titled “Straight in the Eye,” is an extreme close-up of a person’s eye. The juried exhibition at Capital Community College in Hartford featured pieces from artists of all ages and levels of experience.  The Debate Society notched one good showing after another this winter. In January, the Loomis Chaffee debaters placed fifth out of 20 teams in the novice division of a tournament hosted by Cho-

ate. In February, Loomis defeated teams from Choate, Exeter, Hotchkiss (twice), Noble and Greenough, St. Sebastian’s, the Winsor School, and Worcester Academy at a parliamentary debate tournament at St. Sebastian’s. The duo of seniors Patrick Kennedy-Nolle and Isaac Kornblatt-Stier had the highest speaker point total of all 54 teams in the tournament. And in March, six Pelican debaters competed in the final Connecticut Debate Association tournament of the year, where Patrick and Izzy went undefeated, placing first out of 34 teams in the advanced division. The pair’s 4-0 record qualified them for the state finals on March 24. Results of the finals were not yet available as the magazine went to press.  Senior Sirena Huang, a talented and internationally decorated violinist, is one of 152 YoungArts Finalists from the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. The finalists, who are in the running to become U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts, represent the top 3 percent of more than 5,000 applicants who were selected by blind adjudication from a national pool of young artists. Sirena and the rest of the finalists attended Young Arts Week in Miami in January, which included master classes by world-renowned artists and performances and exhibitions.  Senior Jay Kim placed third in the Strings Division of the 36th Annual Musical Club of Hartford High School Competition for students studying and living in Connecticut. He joined other winners in a concert in West Hartford in January. Jay serves as the concertmaster for the LC Orchestra.  The Pelican Service Organization raised $2,200 at the annual Mardi Gras Benefit Dinner in February. The organization donated the proceeds to help the music program at Grace Academy, a tuition-free middle school for girls from low-income families in Hartford. Approximately 225 people attended the dinner in the Wilbur Dining Hall. Parents, students, staff, and faculty members volunteered to cook and bake for the event. Several Loomis Chaffee students teach music lessons

to students at Grace Academy as part of the LC Community Service Program. The inner-city middle school, however, has a limited selection of musical instruments for its students to use, and some of those instruments are in deteriorating condition. The donation from the Mardi Gras Benefit will enable the academy to purchase more instruments and enhance the music component of its students’ education. Several of the Grace Academy girls who take lessons from LC students attended the dinner, as did the academy’s head of school.  Thirty-six students represented Loomis Chaffee at the Yale Model United Nations Conference in January. The students simulated delegations from Chile, Israel, and the United Kingdom, and 12 of the Loomis participants received awards for their contributions, marking the school’s best performance in the 10 years that LC students have attended the conference. The Yale Model United Nations, which attracts approximately 1,300 students each year from New England, New York, and around the world, is considered one of the premier sites on the Model United Nations circuit. Loomis participated in the Cornell Model United Nations in April.  Three Loomis Chaffee students advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Physics Team selection in March. Senior Chate Khemakongkanonth and juniors Shuncong “Michael” Gu and Ji Hwan Seung were among the top 400 students out of more than 3,000 students nationwide who took the qualifying exam, administered by the American Association of Physics Teachers.

* areté: Greek for

“excellence of any kind”

loomischaffee.org | 13

AROUND THE QUADS

A Meditation on Etching

RINTMAKER Louise Kohrman worked with and alongside Loomis Chaffee art students during her week as a visiting artist in the Richmond Art Center this winter. Demonstrating the process of intaglio, she shared her passion for printmaking as an art form and a form of meditation. Like many previous guest artists, Ms. Kohrman was attracted to the Island through her connection to and professional friendship with LC art teacher Mark Zunino, director of the Visiting Artist Program. Ms. Kohrman earned her bachelor’s degree in studio art from Smith

College, where she first met Mark. “He was a mentor, definitely a mentor,” she says. “It was [Mark who] showed me the etching process and what was special about it.” Ms. Kohrman’s etchings are simple yet intricate and usually contain patterns. Intaglio, or etching, prints begin as pictures drawn on a copper plate. Once the drawing is complete, the artist etches it in with acid, inks the plate, and then prints the artwork. The process seems straight-forward enough but can take hours of precise work. “It’s very much about meditation,” she says, emphasizing the rhythmic

repetition of her etching. “It opens me up to a whole new realm of possibilities.” Ms. Kohrman, who lives in Western Massachusetts, further developed those possibilities during her time at Rhode Island School of Design, where she earned a master’s degree in fine arts in printmaking, and later at Brown University, where she received a collegiate teaching certificate. One of Ms. Kohrman’s favorite aspects of etching is the difference between her initial expectation for a print and the way it may turn out in the end. And while she cares about how her prints look — she describes herself as a “perfectionist at heart” — she laughingly admits that she “[doesn’t] know if perfection’s always possible.” The Visiting Artist Program brings working artists to campus throughout the school year, giving students the opportunity to observe and work with professional artists in many different fields. Over the past few years, printmakers, sculptors, bead makers, weavers, photographers, and even an artist who restores Renaissance gold portraits have lived on campus for several days to several weeks while creating and demonstrating their artwork and techniques for LC students. — By sophomore Sara Gershman To learn more about Ms. Kohrman and her artwork, go to loomischaffee.org / magazine.

Louise Kohrman describes her art work to students, including seniors Cris Margaret Frias and Karolina Kwiecinska. Photo: Mercedes Maskalik

14 |

Kravis Center Hosts Social Media Boot Camp

HIRTY people from schools throughout New England filled the Kravis Center for Excellence in Teaching in December for an educators’ training session on using social media. The “boot camp,” run by edSocialMedia, taught participants about blogging, photo uploads, wall posts, video, and more. The hands-on training session included sending participants on a quest around the Island to blog, tweet, film, and set up a Flickr album on a school-related theme of their choice. edSocialMedia, the brainchild of four education professionals, including former LC teacher Ernest Koe, holds workshops and professional development events to help organizations “discover the power of social media.” Scott MacClintic ’82, director of the Kravis Center, and Mercedes Maskalik, LC’s web content editor/writer and social media manager, were instrumental in hosting the boot camp on campus. As a follow-up to the workshop, Scott is helping to organize a Mobile4Learning conference in April in the Kravis Center. The conference, co-produced by the Kravis Center and MobileEd.org, will explore innovative uses of cell phones and other mobile devices in secondary school education.

AROUND THE QUADS | ISLAND ARRAY

Winter happenings, night and day, inside and outside, at Loomis Chaffee INSIDE History teacher Elliot Dial before the annual faceoff between faculty and the JV girls hockey team Ceramics creation by junior Diana Suciu Math teacher Frank Merrill and former students at the Young Alumni Brunch

Dance Company performance at Martin Luther King Jr. celebration

Husband-and-wife duo Roberto Clavijo and Elizabeth Parada, director of multicultural affairs, perform at the opening of the Community Art Show.

Juniors Hannah Shushtari and Mark Crawford love the chocolate fountain at their class dinner.

Visiting alumnus Morgan Lee ’11 and Head of School Sheila Culbert

Junior Amy Ward on the red carpet during Carter Hall’s Oscar Night fun

DAY

Bird of Paradise in the Loomis Greenhouse

Sledders on Flagg hill

Saxophone section of the Hairspray pit orchestra: guest musicians Bruce Krasin and Bob DePalma and seniors Victoria Socolosky and Alexander LaFrance

NIGHT

Senior Stewart Anoya’s hilarious comedy routine for Senior Meditations

Seniors Lindsay Gabow, Sara Martino, and Kelsey Millward on a Saturday snow day

Fire juggler at Cultural Outburst

Photos: senior Mimi Do, Jeuley Ortengren, Mercedes Maskalik, sophomore Sara Gershman, Becky Purdy, Lisa S. Ross, Roberta Moran, Susan Chrzanowski, senior Katherine Timko, and Elizabeth Tomlinson

Geese return to the Meadows at the end of winter.

OUTSIDE loomischaffee.org | 15

AROUND THE QUADS

Doctor Opens Window on Civil War Medicine

OBERT Bedard lives a double life. In today’s world he is a physician and partner in the Connecticut Asthma & Allergy Center of West Hartford, but in his other life, the year is 1861 and he is Lt. Brigham Hadley, a regimental surgeon with the 14th Connecticut Volunteer Regiment. In a presentation on campus in January, Dr. Bedard portrayed both roles as he explained the realities of disease, injuries, and death that a small-town doctor faced when he was called to serve his country during the Civil War and how those experiences led to many advances in medicine. “The majority of surgeons in the Civil War did the best they could with the knowledge they had,” he explained, adding, “Most of the deaths during the war were due to disease. … It was not the bullet but the bug.” The fatal diseases ranged from childhood illnesses such as measles and chicken pox to dreaded diseases like smallpox and typhoid fever. “Many of these diseases are almost unknown in today’s medical world thanks to modern vaccines and antibiotics,” he noted. The so-called cures often could be as dangerous as the diseases themselves. Some treatments included the use of arsenic, lead, and mercury although Dr. Bedard noted that many physicians in the 19th century were beginning to question the use of these “remedies.” He added that the Civil War also provided an amphitheater for expanding the use of effective anesthetic agents, such as ether and chloroform. The kinds of wounds that soldiers suffered in battle resulted from the war’s close hand-to-hand combat

16 |

Junior Amy Ward, sophomore Brenden Edwards, and senior Christopher Edwards look at Civil War-era medical instruments with Dr. Robert Bedard. Photo: Jeuley Ortengren

“ ”

Most of the deaths during the war were due to disease. … It was not the bullet but the bug. —Robert Bedard, Civil War medicine expert and the use of rifles that distorted the impact of the bullet and resulted in serious shrapnel damage. “The amputations so often associated with the Civil War very often saved the soldier’s life, but most were performed under anesthesia, not the often-gory scenes that Hollywood depicts,” he noted.

“Much was learned in the Civil War that advanced modern medicine,” Dr. Bedard said, citing improved sanitation, experience in wound care and surgery, and development of rehabilitation methods. Care of the wounded from impact to rehabilitation began during the Civil War, as did the roots of the

modern ambulance corps. And women played a large role, serving as nurses and caregivers. The presentation was part of a program provided by the LC Civil War Club under the direction of senior Christopher Edwards.

Fashioning Art: Mercy Gallery Exhibition to Feature Alumni Designers

N May 8, the Mercy Gallery will introduce the final exhibition of the year: Sartorialist, an exhibition of fashion design by Loomis Chaffee alumni. The exhibit, curated by LC faculty member Mercedes Maskalik, will feature more than 100 pieces and sketches displayed across three themes. “Well Heeled” will showcase the ability of Ruthie Davis ’80 to combine the intuitive with architectural forms in her sky-high stilettos and platform heels. “Fashion: From the Inside Out” examines the interplay between fashion and culture, highlighting contemporary styles and paying specific attention to their relationship with leisure and place. This section will include menswear by Adam Kimmel ’97; women’s apparel by Alex Casertano ’01, Dana Hurwitz ’08, and Gabriella Salvatore ’09; and swimwear by Haverhill Leach Nugent ’97. “Tension Setting” focuses on intricately detailed jewelry by Ashley Green ’97 and Dana Hurwitz.

“This exhibit is a wonderful sampling of the entrepreneurial spirit and sheer creative genius that comes out of Loomis Chaffee,” Mercedes remarks. “Sartorialist will explore the thin, almost non-existent, line between fashion and art.” The exhibition will run through June 17. In addition to the opening reception in May, the artists will share their stories, inspiration, and industry experience with other alumni at a Reunion Weekend reception on Saturday, June 16. All alumni — not only Reunion-goers — are welcome to attend the June event.

Necklace by Ashley Green ’97 Women’s apparel design by Alex Casertano ’01 Shoe design by Ruthie Davis ’80 Sketch of “Poppy” cocktail dress by Gabriella Salvatore ’09

loomischaffee.org | 17

AROUND THE QUADS

Bringing the Jungle to the Island

OME time between the moment when Scott Wallace ’72 mentioned the jaguar tracks and the anacondas and when he spoke of two men disappearing into the Amazon jungle, the Olcott Center got especially quiet. The students, faculty, and staff who had gathered to hear Scott speak in February held their collective breath as he told the story of his journey deep into the South American rainforest 10 years ago on a quest to locate the Arrow People, one of the last tribes to remain untouched by the outside world.

Scott, a journalist, embarked on the expedition on assignment for National Geographic, and he later developed the story into a book, The Unconquered: In Search of the Amazon’s Last Uncontacted Tribes, which was published in October 2011. (Photographs from the book and Scott’s reflections on the influence of his Loomis Chaffee experience on his career as a journalist appeared in the winter 2012 issue of Loomis Chaffee Magazine.) Scott spoke and showed slides of the journey at an all-school convocation and at a public talk on campus the previous evening. Students listened intently as he described the perilous three-month journey, first by boat then on foot, with Brazilian Indian rights activist Syndey Possuelo and a group of 32 other men. Mr. Possuelo has dedicated his life and work to protecting both the tribes and the rainforest that they call home from poachers, loggers, and others who would seek to encroach upon their territory. On this expedition

18 |

Scott Wallace ’72 shows some of his photographs during the convocation and answers questions from curious students and faculty. Photos: Jeuley Ortengren

“

It was crucial that the group maintain a safe distance from the uncontacted tribe members. In the past, previously uncontacted tribes have been decimated by disease once they made contact with the outside world.

”

Mr. Possuelo sought to identify the expanse of the Arrow People’s territory so that it could be marked and protected, but it was crucial that the group maintain a safe distance from the uncontacted tribe members. In the past, previously

uncontacted tribes have been decimated by disease once they made contact with the outside world. “What we have here is this man, Sydney Possuelo, doing this incredible work for people who don’t

even know he is doing it for them,” Scott said. “He is safeguarding the human rights of people who don’t even know there are such things as human rights.”

AROUND THE QUADS | OF NOTE | FACULTY & STAFF

 Head of School Sheila Culbert, Associate Head of School for External Relations Nathan Follansbee, and Associate Director of Development Thomas Southworth traveled to Asia on behalf of the school in late February and early March. All three visited Vietnam, where they met with a woman who is founding a United States-style boarding school in the countryside near the highland city of Dalat and has asked for Loomis Chaffee’s guidance. On one evening in Ho Chi Minh City, Sheila, Nat, and Tom held a dinner for current and past Loomis parents, and Tom

“

In India, Nat, Sheila, Trustee Kimberly Kravis Schulhof ’93, who is living in Delhi for part of this year, visited two schools to discuss possible student and teacher exchanges with Loomis.

”

hosted another such dinner in Hanoi. Sheila and Nat’s itinerary also took them to Hong Kong and India for visits with alumni, parents, and friends of the school. In India, Sheila, Nat, and Trustee Kimberly Kravis Schulhof ’93, who is living in Delhi with her family for part of this year, visited two schools to discuss possible student and teacher exchanges with Loomis. During their stay the delegation enjoyed a dinner party hosted by 2012 Commencement speaker William Bissell ’84,

managing director of Fabindia Overseas Pvt. Ltd. and co-founder of The Fabindia School, and his family in Delhi.

 History teacher Megan Blunden has been named dean of international students as of the 2012–13 school year. A former international student herself, Meg’s responsibilities in her new position will include supporting the school’s international students, celebrating their cultures at Loomis, helping with travel plans and immigration documentation, and serving as a liaison to their parents. Meg also will continue to teach in the History Department.  Nineteen faculty, staff members, and faculty spouses shared their creative work in this winter’s Community Art Exhibition in the Barnes and Wilde galleries at the Richmond Art Center. The show included paintings, bronze sculpture, photography, ceramics, and fiber arts. Several exhibitors shared their thoughts on their artistic sides: Simon Holdaway, science teacher, photographs: “I like to photograph people and their expressions. I got into photography when I was the Confluence advisor more than 10 years ago. I was fortunate to win the Buhl Grant for faculty that took me to Alaska to take photographs. The photos in the exhibit were taken at summer camp in Vermont in 2011.” Mark Zunino, art teacher, paintings: “The landscape painting I included was created while I was in Lacoste, France, last summer with 10 LC students that were part of the summer art program. The other piece is a painting of ‘Doc’ Failla, [Dominic Failla, former head of the LC Philosophy and Religion Department who retired in 2009]. Doc is a great teacher and dear friend that I wish was still teaching.” Bo Zhao, Chinese teacher, photographs: “I took a travel grant as my summer sabbatical, which enabled me to travel to some remote areas of China and Vietnam. I always take photos when I travel.”

Top: Painting of “Doc” Failla by Mark Zunino. Bottom: “Dancing the Appian Way” photograph by Jeff Holcombe. Photos: Jeuley Ortengren

Jeffrey Holcombe, science teacher, photographs: “My work in the Community Art Show is a dance photography series from my project called ‘Dancing the Appian Way.’ It was done last spring on a sabbatical in Italy. I have been pholoomischaffee.org | 19

AROUND THE QUADS | OF NOTE | FACULTY & STAFF

Portrait by Martha Hess, sculpture by Alicia Specht, block print by Mary Forrester Photos: Jeuley Ortengren

Mary Collopy, faculty spouse, photographs Ewen Ross, science teacher, astronomy photographs Jennifer McCandless, head of the Art Department, sculpture Christine MacClintic, faculty spouse, paintings

tographing dance interpretations of the landscape for over 30 years. The idea is to combine the twin perspectives of dance and photography to make a statement about the space. ‘Dancing the Appian Way’ is a narrative that involves dance interpretations of the ruins and communities along the ancient Roman highway, from its origins in Rome to its terminus in Brindisi on the Adriatic Sea.” Patricia Cousins, Communications Office graphic designer, paintings: “My abstract paintings are inspired by elements in nature — water, land, and sky — and for me, they are meditations on the natural world. The last few years I have become interested in encaustics. Two years ago there was an encaustic show called ‘Waxing Lyrical’ at the Mercy Gallery, and I was inspired to learn how to use the medium. I have a love for making beautiful objects, and that is why I paint.” Chet Kempczynski, art teacher, paintings: “For the past several years I have been working on sky and sea images from Cape Cod, Rhode Island, and the south of France. I have been fascinated with the horizon line throughout my entire career. One painting is painted

20 |

Timothy Struthers ’85, director of development, photographs Alicia Specht, math teacher, sculpture John Mullin, art teacher, photographs Martha Hess, former English teacher, paintings

 Former French teacher David Goff and his wife, Jessica McGovern, welcomed their first child, daughter Mairin Virginia Goff, on February 28. The family lives in Massachusetts, where David teaches at Pingree School.

plein air on a beach in Truro, Cape Cod, with Provincetown in the background using watercolor/ gouache, and another painting is a watercolor/gouache done at Watch Hill, Rhode Island.” Other artists in the exhibit were: Donna Burrall, Development Office assistant, knit sweaters Mary Forrester, director of public

information and Confluence advisor, block prints Stanford Forrester, Confluence advisor, coach, and residential faculty, prints Paulette Studley, English teacher, drawings Frank Merrill, math teacher, photographs

 Faculty member Stanford Forrester has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize for his poem “short summer night.” The Pushcart Prize honors literary works published in the small presses each year. Stan’s poem, a type of Japanese poem called a tanka, was published in the literary periodical Magnapoets, which nominated him for the Pushcart.

AROUND THE QUADS | ATHLETICS | BY BOB HOWE ’80

A Swimming Legend in Her Own Time

Senior Samantha Pierce slices through the water. Photo: Tom Honan

VERY once in a while a school is fortunate enough to have an exceptional leader, student, or athlete — a person whose classmates will long remember his or her skills and amazing accomplishments. The winter of 2011–12 marked the end of Samantha Pierce’s amazing four years in Loomis Chaffee’s swimming and diving program. Her 13 individual and team records will remain her legacy in the Benjamin Van Doren Hedges Pool, and opposing teams will breathe a sigh of relief next November when Sam is no longer on the LC starting blocks. In her four years competing in the Founders League and New England championships, she won 14 individual events: eight at the Founders meets and six more at the New Englands. “Samantha is arguably the best female

swimmer we have ever had here at Loomis Chaffee,” says head coach Robert DeConinck, who coached Sam throughout her Loomis years. “What sets her apart from others has been the power and strength she brings to her races. She works very hard on her fitness with outside trainers. Another component that makes her as good as she is, is the fact that she’s very in tune with her swims and how fast she is moving. Her stroke mechanics are exceptional, and Samantha has dedicated a great deal of time over the years toward perfecting these.” Sam didn’t take the easy road striving to be her best. In a sport where many individuals focus on only one or two events, Sam challenged herself to try all the distances and strokes. She holds school records in eight of the 11 individual and relay events contested

“

Samantha is arguably the best female swimmer we have ever had here at Loomis Chaffee.

”

— Swim Coach Robert DeConinck

loomischaffee.org | 21

AROUND THE QUADS | ATHLETICS

SAM’S LOOMIS CHAFFEE SCHOOL RECORDS EVENT

200-meter freestyle 200-yard freestyle 200-meter individual medley 200-yard individual medley 100-meter freestyle 100-yard freestyle 100-yard butterfly 400-meter freestyle 500-yard freestyle

in a swim meet, and her times are among the top 10 in every event. (If you count her records in both meters and yards, her tally is even higher.) Coming to Loomis was always part of her plan. Her mom and dad, Steven and Elisa, were both graduates in the Class of 1982. Her two brothers, Josh and Jacob, graduated from Loomis in 2004 and 2009, respectively. When Sam arrived in the fall of 2008, one of the first people she got to know during orientation was classmate Elizabeth Titterton. They didn’t know at the time that they would be four-year teammates. The team experience at Loomis has meant everything to Sam. Records are exciting, and setting personal goals is something you do as a competitive swimmer. Without great teammates, however, the experience may be lessened, as Sam is the first to acknowledge. “Swimming is the kind of sport that needs company,” she says. In their senior season this winter, Sam, Liz, and Megan Farrell were outstanding captains. They led by example and kept the team motivated. Sam also is quick to mention teammate Sela Wang, also a senior, as an elite swimmer who pushed others every day at practice. Sela herself holds five school records. Sam says her father has been one of the most influential people in her success as a swimmer. “He was a swimmer, and he stills swims as a master. He has always made it known to me that the swimming is for me and not others. I didn’t have to do it to please anyone, and this made all the difference in my approach to my training in my 22 |

TIME

Spiderman drawing by Samantha Pierce

younger years,” she reflects. Sam credits three faculty members for having a big impact on her life at Loomis. The first she names is Coach DeConinck for his support throughout her four years on the Island. “Coach D knew what his swimmers needed and insisted on staying with a regimen even when we didn’t want to,” Sam says. Assistant coach Patricia Chambers and Dean of Students Mara Lytle also have provided good counsel and helped Sam with the rest of her Loomis life and responsibilities throughout the years, she affirms. Sam is not only about swimming. An honors student, she also has discovered a talent for art. “Loomis has been a great place for me to excel as an athlete and as a student,” she says. “Not many people believe I’m good at art. I took Drawing 1 in my junior year and wound up exhibiting lots of pieces in a show. This year I have taken Ceramics and plan to take Drawing 2 in the spring.” Next fall, Sam will head to Connecticut College and swim in the New England Small College Athletic Conference under the tutelage of coach Marc Benvenuti. Sam chose this school over many others in part because of her positive experience at Loomis. “When I

2:06.82 1:51.41 2:25.90 2:08.41 58.79 52.07 57.35 4:31.00 5:06.53

YEAR 2009 2012 2011 2010 2009 2012 2010 2012 2012

200-meter medley relay 2:04.42 2011 (Sela Wang ’12, Kendra Waters ’11, Kaily Williams ’11, Pierce) 200-meter freestyle relay 1:52.79 2009 (Sela Wang, Nicole Wang ’09, Cecelia Coffey, Pierce) 400-meter freestyle relay 4:07.48 (Sela Wang, Helen Grant ’12, Coffey, Pierce)

2010

400-yard freestyle relay 3:37.27 (Sela Wang, Grant, Coffey, Pierce)

2010

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Founders League 2009 2010 2011 2012

200 individual medley, 100 butterfly 200 individual medley, 100 freestyle 200 individual medley, 100 butterfly 200 individual medley, 100 freestyle

2009 2010 2011 2012

200 freestyle 200 freestyle, 100 butterfly 200 freestyle, 100 freestyle 200 freestyle

New England

At the 2011 New England Championship Meet, Sam won the Grace Robertson Award, given to the swimmer who best represents the ideals of New England Prep School Athletic Conference leadership.

toured and visited Connecticut College, I just loved the people there, and the atmosphere was relaxed. I really could see myself being happy there,” she explains. “Also, the coach there really sealed the deal for me. I know I’m going to continue to improve there. He is a great mix of my club swimming coach and Mr. DeConinck. I’m really psyched.”

Loomis Chaffee thanks Sam for four great years of record times, leadership, and growth and looks forward to tracking her successes next year at Connecticut College.

Below: freshman Chynna Bailey and senior Brianna Malanga

VARSITY SCOREBOARD SPORT

RECORD

Skiing 15-4 Boys Basketball 11-10 Girls Basketball 9-12 Boys Hockey 2-23 Girls Hockey 9-11-3 Boys Squash 9-8 Girls Squash 6-11 Boys Swimming 6-5 Girls Swimming 6-5 Wrestling 11-6

Senior Cory Morgan

Senior Katherine Mandigo

ACCOLADES

3rd at Founders League Meet 7th at New Englands Founders League Champion 5th at New Englands 2nd at LC Duals 3rd at Canterbury Invitational

Senior Austin King

Senior Samuel Broda At right: Senior Jamil Hashmi

Senior Cris Margaret Frias

Photos: Tom Honan

loomischaffee.org | 23

24 |

The importance of

BEING SOCIAL A Primer on Social Media By Mercedes Maskalik Illustrations by Daniel Baxter NE MINUTE. It’s barely enough time to perfect the sugar-to-cream ratio in your coffee, much less navigate a virtual labyrinth. It is more than enough time, however, for the light-speed world of online socializers to flood the Internet with status updates, tweets, connections, and check-ins. This is one minute in social media: 700,000 Facebook messages sent; 175,000 tweets; 2 million videos viewed on YouTube; 7,610 searches on LinkedIn. That’s just 60 seconds of activity. Overwhelmed? You’re not alone. Online conversations and networking platforms — known broadly as “social media” — continue to grow at a rapid pace. Keeping up with these changes can be a daunting task, especially at a time when new developments are introduced on a monthly basis. Understanding the basics of social media may help make the choices less overwhelming as you determine how — or whether — to tap into these virtual communities.

loomischaffee.org | 25

SOCIAL NETWORKING IN THE UNITED STATES A breakdown of the U.S. digital consumer audience. Source: The Digital Consumer, a Nielsen Report

46% MALE 54% FEMALE 13% Age 2 _17 27% Age 18_34 29% Age 35_49

In the last 10 years, 81 billion minutes have been spent on social media platforms.

22% Age 50_64 9% Age 65+

12% Hispanic 75% White 10% Black, African-American 3% Asian, or Pacific Islander

The term social media is often attributed to former AOL executive Ted Leonsis. In a 1997 interview, Mr. Leonsis discussed AOL’s goal to offer users “social media, places where they can be entertained, communicate, and participate in a social environment.” At its core, social media is electronic, user-generated content (such as blogs, videos, photographs, experiences, and opinions) across many online platforms. It is participatory in nature, encouraging contribution and feedback from a digital community of individuals with shared interests. From photography to ancient philosophy, medicine to politics, architecture to sports, climate change to school reform, social media encapsulates nearly every possible subject with some form of online conversation, be it blog, forum, tweet, or status update. On a personal level, social media and today’s widespread dissemination of iPhones, Androids, BlackBerries, and 26 |

other smart phones make one’s geographic location and social setting a non-issue for keeping in touch, creating a global village, where a mother in Connecticut may converse as easily with an Iranian doctor as she may her town treasurer. Social media has created a fundamental shift in how we communicate, how we interact, and how we conduct business. In the business sector, social media has knocked down the scaffolds upon which corporations have long built their public relations and marketing campaigns. The era of highly controlled one-way messaging from business to consumer is over. Increasingly, consumers are using social media to exchange product experiences and to rate and evaluate products, thus influencing new and returning buyers. Companies are scrambling to find ways to leverage these online conversations about their products to their businesses’ advantage. Social media forces compa-

Social media has created a fundamental shift in how we communicate, how we interact, and how we conduct business. ... It is participatory in nature, encouraging contribution and feedback from a digital community of individuals with shared interests.

nies to engage in dialogue with their stakeholders and consumers. We’ve moved from a “show me what I’m looking for” approach to consumerism to “show me what you’ve got” in an online world with multiple networks of user-generated product information that allow people to select the content they want to receive. The change marks a shift in power from businesses to buyers. In 2009 social media surpassed email as the top online activity, and the user demographics today in the United States may be surprising. According to a recent Nielsen report, The Digital Consumer, adults now surpass teens on social networking sites. So what does it all mean? Americans are spending immense amounts of time on social media platforms, connecting, collaborating, creating, and reacting.

To get started, go to www.facebook.com and create a free account. Set up your personal profile/timeline by uploading a photo of yourself and entering any personal information you would like to share. Search for friends in the site search or by uploading contacts. Make sure to check your privacy settings to control who can view your profile and information.

Status update = A text missive on anything you deem mentionable

Fan Page = The Facebook presence of a business, brand, organization, or celebrity

News Feed = A homepage list of your status updates and new activity from friends and pages you follow

Timeline = A digital collection of your activity, interests, photos, links, videos, “likes,” and comments, spanning your entire history on Facebook

FACEBOOK F Facebook were a country, it would be the third largest in the world. Approximately 174.5 million people are members, contributing to an online “community” that surpassed 800 million members, which includes individuals and organizations, earlier this year. The attraction to Facebook, at least in part, is the ease with which users may stay in touch with people they do not see as often as they once did, such as former classmates and coworkers. The content and status updates on Facebook connect to many members on an emotional level. Members continue to return because the rate at which new content is posted keeps the News Feed fresh, relevant, and engaging. Sharing content, including photos, information, opinions, and musings, on a fairly easyto-use website is a major factor in Facebook’s overwhelming success. The News Feed is the platform’s main sharing

Cover photo = The photo at the top of your timeline that sits behind your profile picture. Dimensions are 850 pixels wide by 315 pixels high.

domain. Members are able to “like” and comment on nearly every piece of information they receive in their News Feeds. Facebook’s pièce de résistance is the Timeline, which rolled out for members this year. The new feature, which replaced the Profile, is essentially a digital collection of a user’s activity, interests, photos, links, videos, “likes,” and comments that span the member’s entire history on Facebook. It even allows members to go back and fill in their pre-Facebook history, all the way back to their birth — in other words, you can digitally document your entire life.

groups connected by an event, interest, or passion. Loomis Chaffee has two Facebook pages, a fan page and a private group space for alumni. The public page has nearly 2,000 fans and includes videos, photographs, LC news, links to the weekly Head’s Blog, and other content that appeals to a large audience of alumni, students, friends of the school, and prospective families. The second Facebook presence is a private group page for alumni only. The group space enables members to engage freely among themselves. Alumni members can post comments on the group wall, upload images, create albums, and comment on other members’ postings. With so much information sharing and content uploading, perhaps it’s no surprise that the average American user spends a staggering 7 hours and 46 minutes per month on Facebook.

Businesses and organizations use Facebook’s fan pages to market to and interact with consumers. Group spaces on Facebook are perfect for small loomischaffee.org | 27

A Brief History of Social Media

LinkedIn is for anyone interested in expanding their professional network, joining a network of professionals in their field (or in a new field), seeking employment, or seeking employees.

MAY

2003

LinkedIn launches as a business-related social networking site. FEBRUARY

2004

Facebook starts as a nice project for Mark Zuckerberg — and rises to astronomical popularity.

DECEMBER

2005

YouTube officially launches. Today 8 million YouTube videos are watched every day.

To get started, go to LinkedIn. com and create an account. Build a personal profile listing your employment history, education, skills, and a photo. Upload or import your contacts to see who is already a member of LinkedIn. Connect!

“LinkedIn connects you to your trusted contacts and helps you exchange knowledge, ideas, and opportunities with a broader network of professionals.” – LinkedIn.com

JULY

2006

Twitter sends its first pithy message. Short and sweet, tweets get to the point in 140 characters or fewer. MARCH

2010

Pinterest tacks itself on to the Internet, enabling users to share virtual pinboards of ideas. SEPTEMBER

2011

Google+ ramps up Google offerings by allowing users to connect in real time.

28 |

LINKEDIN INKEDIN is the adult, business end of social media platforms. Think of it this way: Monster. com meets Facebook. They fall in love and have a child. His name is LinkedIn. The business-networking platform is home to 157 million registered users. Of that number, more than 61 million are from the United States. LinkedIn allows members to build a professional network, search for jobs, discover likeminded professionals, provide recommendations, receive recommendations, and manage their professional identity. In addition to individual profiles, LinkedIn offers members thousands of professional groups to

join, and users may create their own group if the preexisting groups fail to meet their needs. The industries that use LinkedIn most often in their recruitment practices are higher education (19 percent), information technology (14 percent), financial services (12 percent), and retail (11 percent). In February, in a nod to Twitter, LinkedIn introduced a “following” option, which allows members to follow brands or companies, as long as those brands and companies have LinkedIn pages. Loomis Chaffee’s private alumni group on LinkedIn was created in March of 2008 and has more than 1,600 members. The group space allows alumni to post and view employment opportunities and to browse, initiate, and participate in discussions with each other.

To get started with Twitter, go to www.Twitter.com and set up a free account. Find and follow other accounts of interest. Read other people’s tweets, comment, and send your own tweets.

Followers = People who are interested in and receive your tweets

Tweet = A short (up to 140 characters) phrasing of information that you send to others via Twitter. It may include links to images, videos, and external sites.

Retweet = “A Tweet by another user, forwarded to you by someone you follow. Often used to spread news or share valuable findings on Twitter.” — Twitter.com

TWITTER F you think Twitter is only for the young and trendy, consider this: Pope Benedict XVI launched his own personal Twitter account last spring, joining more than 465 million accounts on this social media platform. With more than 250 million tweets a day, Twitter is one of the leaders in the open exchange of information online. The strength of Twitter is in the follower concept, real-time link sharing, and live feeds of tweets, all of which help to make Twitter interactions resemble normal conversations. So how does Twitter work? It’s quite simple really. Users send out tweets (messages of up to 140 characters) about an interest, a current activity

Mention = Referring to another user in your tweet by using @ followed by the person’s username

Live feed = A stream of tweets listed in reverse-chronological order on a Twitter account’s homepage

in which they’re involved, or whatever is on their minds. With the hashtag (#) feature, users can participate in global conversations, in real time, surrounding specific topics. The social aspect of Twitter comes from a user’s following (other Twitter accounts that follow the user’s tweets and the accounts that the user follows). Tweets are updated immediately and are displayed in reverse chronological order on the user’s Twitter homepage. Loomis Chaffee, whose Twitter “handle” is @ loomischaffee, has more than 1,000 followers on Twitter and follows about 230 accounts. Followers of the school receive tweets that link them to school news, the Head’s Blog, upcoming events, and responses to tweets from alumni, friends, and prospective families. Other school Twitter accounts include

Hashtag = A way of marking topics or categories in a tweet using # followed by a keyword

The easiest way to gain followers on Twitter is to engage in conversation.

Head of School Sheila Culbert (@SCulbertLC) and Director of the Kravis Center for Excellence in Teaching Scott MacClintic ’82 (@Smcclintic). Sheila, Scott, and Loomis Chaffee all regularly use the hashtag tool to join conversations revolving around education (#edchat) and, more specifically, education in independent schools (#isedchat), in addition to many hashtags related to their tweets. The hashtag is perhaps the most significant tool on Twitter and was pivotal during the Arab Spring. Users from around the globe categorized tweets related to Egypt’s revolution with #Egypt and #jan25, referencing the start date of the uprising. The phenomenon was emblematic of Twitter’s role in providing users with immediate updates of international interest. #Egypt, according to Twitter, was the

top hashtag of the site in 2011, with millions of tweets surrounding the uprising. In a 2011 blog post, Sheila discussed her foray onto Twitter, saying: “Hashtags transformed my experience from one of lonely and seemingly pointless tweets to being an active participant in various online conversations, including exchanges with some other heads of schools. … A brave new world opened up! I quickly found myself introduced to and reading articles and comments on all sorts of pertinent educational topics. Twitter provided a useful way of staying on top of the broad, fascinating, and multifaceted conversation about education. It works as a clearinghouse of information that the user can shape and channel as desired.” loomischaffee.org | 29

To get started, go to www.youtube.com and create a free account. Search YouTube videos by keyword or category of interest. Upload a video from your phone or computer. DID YOU KNOW? YouTube is the No. 2 search engine on the Internet.

YouTube is a social media platform that allows billions of people around the world to upload, watch, and share videos.

Companies use YouTube to increase search engine optimization, the process of increasing traffic to your website organically (unpaid) from search engines such as Google, Yahoo!, or Bing.

YouTube N Saturday, August 1, 1981, MTV (or Music Television) officially launched at 12:01 a.m. with the first music video selection, “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles. The MTV era marked a shift in music and television for an entire generation. Thousands of consumers tuned in to MTV, watching it nearly around the clock, waiting for the vee-jay to play their favorite videos. By 2008, however, MTV reduced the daily allocation of music videos to less than three hours and dropped the tagline “Music Television” altogether. The behavioral trends of the network’s 12-to34-year-old primary audience indicated a new shift, one that would change music television forever: More and more video was being consumed online. Today the pop culture network focuses primarily on reality programming. As it turns out, YouTube may have killed the video star. Launched in December of

30 |

2005, YouTube is a social media platform that allows billions of people around the world to upload, watch, and share videos. The website is also a search engine behemoth — it surpassed Yahoo! in 2008 — playing second to its parent Google, which acquired YouTube in 2006, in online search inquiries. So what’s on YouTube? … Just about everything under the sun from the latest viral video to personal video of the Midwestern tornadoes this year. Registered members may upload video content, which may be viewed by any visitor to the site, member or non-member. In 2007 CNN hosted full-length live feeds of the presidential debates via YouTube, and rock band U2 live-streamed its entire concert on YouTube in October of 2009. This year, the 30-minute “KONY 2012” documentary, produced by Invisible Children, has dominated YouTube, gaining more than 86 million views in three weeks. YouTube has something for everyone: Dora the Explorer videos to keep your toddler sane in the doctor’s office,

instructional videos on descaling Keurig coffee machines, or understanding the risks of Keynesian Thinking from Khan Academy. It’s all there. YouTube is an excellent website and marketing tool for small businesses, consultants, independent musicians, and individuals interested in promoting talent or skill. Many YouTube visitors are looking for customer reviews of products, instructional videos, and demonstrations. Because YouTube is a Google product, any videos uploaded to the site will appear in a Google search. An organization may increase traffic to its website, gain brand recognition, and even improve its search engine optimization by simply uploading relevant videos to its YouTube channel and using relevant keywords integrated into the title, description, and tags. The Loomis Chaffee YouTube channel includes the popular “Why I Love Loomis” video, an Assessment of Inclusivity and Multiculturalism video, a video highlighting the 2010 visit by the Tibetan Buddhist monks, and several fun videos that emphasize campus life.

To get started, set up an account at www.plus.google.com. You must have a Google account to join. Upload a photo and include a brief bio in your “about” page. Look for interesting people or organizations and begin creating Circles. Invite your contacts to join Google+. Circles = Networks within Google+ created by you and visible only to you. Circles allow you to share certain things with certain people, just as you do in your offline life.

Stream = The landing page on Google+ where content and updates of people in your Circles are updated

You can change the content in your Stream by toggling from one Circle to the next. Use this tool to cut straight to the content you want to read.

Hangouts = A feature that allows Google+ members to participate in a video chat with up to 9 other people

Search plus Your World = A new Google search feature that includes your personal results from Google+ and your other Google accounts Google+ is a social networking tool that is compatible with other Google products, including Google Search. Google+ aims to create an online experience where the social, professional, and consumer lives of its members can be navigated with ease.

GOOGLE+ OOGLE+ launched for fieldtesting June 28, 2011, and has surpassed 90 million unique visitors — growing faster than Twitter and Facebook. The platform often is compared to Facebook, but it is quite different from other social media sites. Google+ is an integration of the suite of Google applications (Google Earth, Maps, Documents, Search, YouTube, Alerts, Adwords, and so on) plus several new social features. The Circles feature enables users to organize their contacts into groups for sharing through integration with other Google applications like Picasa, Gmail, Calendar, and Documents. Another feature, Hangouts, facili-

tates group video chat for up to 10 people. Anyone, anywhere in the world, may join if they are provided with the unique web address for the hangout and are Google+ members. Think of it as Skype x 5. On campus, Google+ is used in several classrooms for homework help sessions. “Google+ has been a nice addition to my toolbox as a teacher,” says Scott MacClintic ’82, who teaches science as well as directing the Kravis Center. “I have used Google Hangouts for extrahelp sessions with my students and extended the time in which I can interact with them. The ability to interact with my students beyond the classroom and beyond email has been a definite plus.”

foreign language Hangouts, live multiuser video conversations, using Google Translation to enable video conferencing among people speaking different languages. French students at Loomis may hold a Hangout with English students in France — #imagine! Teachers could promote group projects through Google+ by dividing a class into whateversized groups a teacher chooses. Using course streams in this platform, a teacher has the ability to monitor the group project and assist students in real time.

Potential projects for classroom use on Google+ include creating loomischaffee.org | 31

In a 2008 article in The Atlantic magazine, one of the most famous bloggers, Andrew Sullivan, had this to say about blogging:

BLOGGING WARTHMORE student Justin Hall created the first blog (Web log) in January 1994. Today, there are an estimated 170 million blogs on the World Wide Web. Perhaps the most commonly know blog today is The Huffington Post. Blogs are web pages that provide a stream of unique content similar to a newspaper column but are updated whenever the “blogger” posts something new. Most often blogs are displayed in reverse chronological order, allowing the viewer to enjoy the most recent entry before drilling down into the blog archive. This type of social media is conversational and streamof-consciousness in tone, and it frequently includes links to other sites, such as The New York Times, Slate magazine, and many others. Blogs often focus on niche topics and incorporate photos, videos, podcasts, and other media; for instance, yoga master Rebecca Pacheco ’97 uses recipe videos, meditation videos, and photography of yoga poses among other media to enhance her blog about holistic approaches to healthy living. (Visit www.OmGal.com, which was voted Best Yoga & Fitness Site in the 2010 Intent Web Awards). In a 2008 article in The Atlantic magazine, one of the most famous bloggers, Andrew Sullivan, had this to say about blogging: “It is the spontaneous expression of instant thought — impermanent beyond even the ephemera of daily journalism.

32 |

It is accountable in immediate and unavoidable ways to readers and other bloggers, and linked via hypertext to continuously multiplying references and sources. Unlike any single piece of print journalism, its borders are extremely porous and its truth inherently transitory. The consequences of this for the act of writing are still sinking in.” At Loomis Chaffee, Sheila Culbert produces the Head’s Blog weekly. The writing is intellectual and personal, and the topics span everything from risktaking in teenagers to teaching Civil War history. From the Kravis Center, Scott MacClintic also has a weekly blog, Pelican Ponderings, a niche blog that focuses on education and technology. In his February 10 blog “Let’s Go Mobile,” Scott writes: “Most of our students these days are carrying in their pocket or backpack a computer that is far faster and more powerful than most of us (their teachers) ever got a chance to even use in high school, namely their smart phones. Are we taking advantage of this incredible access to technology and access to the world beyond the walls of our classrooms, or are we fighting it tooth and nail?” A successful blog is consistently updated, relevant, timely, and concise.

“ It is the spontaneous expression of instant thought — impermanent beyond even the ephemera of daily journalism. It is accountable in immediate and unavoidable ways to readers and other bloggers, and linked via hypertext to continuously multiplying references and sources.

”

To get started, create an account at www.pinterest.com. Set up a profile page, which may include a bio, photo, and any social media accounts to which you want to link. View other boards to gain inspiration. Install a “Pin It” button. Start pinning!

Pinning = Using the “Pin It” button to select an image from any webpage (unless the site has opted out) and attach it to a board. Pinterest automatically credits the website you have pinned from.

Board = A collection of pins, a kind of virtual bulletin board. A board may be created around any topic.

EED inspiration? Create a virtual pinboard on Pinterest.com. Although this website has been around for more than two years, it just recently picked up a huge following after being listed as one of the 50 Best Websites of 2011 by TIME magazine. Pinterest allows members on the site to organize content found on the web or uploaded from their computers by “pinning” their “interests” onto virtual bulletin boards linked to their accounts. Collections may be shared within categories and with the member’s following. That’s where the social aspect comes into play. Similar to other social media platforms, members on Pinterest have the ability to follow other member accounts or drill down and follow specific pin boards. The accounts and/or

boards they follow immediately appear on the member’s homepage. Members are able to cross-promote their pins on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms. There is a participatory nature to Pinterest as well. Members may create a board and allow friends on Pinterest to contribute. Recipes, wedding plans, architecture, photography, fashion, and more are available on the site. The Loomis Chaffee Pinterest account has several boards, including Life at Loomis (which links to selected LC videos), Notable Alumni, Magazine Covers, Book Store Apparel, and Spring on the Island, which is a board filled with images from spring term events and campus landscapes. Plans are in the works to begin a Pinterest board for Reunion 2012.

LINKING TO THE FUTURE

IVILITY, humanity, and reality are the future of social media. In the last 10 years, our world has transformed into a global village, affording us an international reach like never before. Social media has taught us that we can have instant impact on causes near and far; for example, post-earthquake Haiti changed the face of social giving forever. The January 21, 2010, Pew Research Center article “Social Media Provide First-Hand Accounts, Direct Action on Haiti” notes: “The online communication site Twitter played an especially large role as it quickly filled with Haiti-related information and ways to offer aid … giving people fast, direct access to action.”

We have moved beyond the first stage in social media, which was all about making connections — friends, followers, subscribers. The next phase is about what we will do with those connections. You’ve said you “like” something, so now what? As social media grows, attention spans narrow. What happens next will be a gamechanger. New technologies will make it possible for us to fine-tune what we read and see online. More and more attention will be paid to social algorithms such as EdgeRank (Facebook’s News Feed algorithm) and PageRank (Google’s link analysis algorithm). These algorithms will sift through the noise, block out the content we don’t need, and present us with only the content that interests us. Users also are becoming savvier about privacy issues on social media platforms and are paying greater care to their personal social presence and whom they allow into their world. Social networks are an age-old method for mediating interactions among people with common interests. Social media takes those interactions and spreads them across the Web, allowing us to interact with companies, organizations, and political figures. We now follow the lives of friends, family members, associates, and celebrities with unfathomable ease. And at the current rapid rate of growth, it’s fair to say that in the next 10 years, social media will be ubiquitous, existing in nearly every aspect of our lives. ©

Mercedes Maskalik is the social media manager for The Loomis Chaffee School.

loomischaffee.org | 33

THINKING ABOUT LIBERAL ARTS: OUTCOMES OF THE CURRICULUM REVIEW BY BECKY PURDY

T A H W

do we teach? And why do we teach it? For the last two years, the Loomis Chaffee faculty have conducted a thorough examination of these questions and their answers during a comprehensive curriculum review.

As part of the project, they also tackled an arguably more difficult, openended question: What can or should we teach differently? The arrival of Head of School Sheila Culbert in 2008 and the advent of a school reaccreditation process shortly thereafter provided the appropriate moment to take a deep and wideranging look at what Loomis Chaffee teaches and where the curriculum might need to grow and change. As Sheila said at the outset of the review, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Great schools are works in progress. They evolve and change to ensure that they stay relevant and true to their ideals. Only through a review of the whole can we strengthen the parts.â&#x20AC;? 34 |

The outcomes of the process, the first formal curriculum review in 30 years, include new initiatives in global studies and citizenship, reimagined approaches to some of the school’s core courses, the introduction of interdisciplinary courses, modifications to the daily class schedule, and programs focusing on the academic experiences particular to each grade. Some of the changes already have been rolled out, and others are in the works. While the review inspired many new initiatives, the process also reaffirmed the school’s commitment to a liberal arts curriculum that emphasizes both depth and breadth, according to Dean of Faculty Ned Parsons, who oversaw the curriculum review. “Although we considered as a faculty wiping the slate clean and reimagining the curriculum from the ground up, it became clear to us early on that the fundamental structure of our curriculum was sound and that we needed to spend our time thinking about how to further strengthen and enhance what we already had,” Ned reported to the Board of Trustees in January. “While we look forward to the exciting prospects before us, we want to ensure, too, that our curriculum remains responsible to the tenets of our mission.” The steering committee for the curriculum review put these findings into writing, a document aptly titled “The Foundational Principles of the Loomis Chaffee Curriculum.” The full faculty voted to adopt the principles in 2010. (To read the principles, go to loomischaffee.org/magazine.) Through the years, the school has adjusted and expanded course offerings to incorporate changes in the world, developments in academia, and

educational innovations. The launch of the Writing Workshop program for sophomores; the introduction of Arabic and Mandarin Chinese as language offerings; the addition of Linear Algebra to the math curriculum; the development of molecular biology, microbiology, anatomy and physiology, and environmental science courses; and the creation of the World History and World After Columbus courses, along with other academic shifts and changes, all advanced the Loomis Chaffee curriculum, Ned notes. But a comprehensive curriculum review would enable the school to “look holistically at the curriculum to ensure that we fully prepare our students for the changing world into which they are headed and to address some emerging challenges,” according to Ned’s report. The faculty welcomed the project and engaged in the process with characteristic energy and intellectual enthusiasm, devoting extensive time and effort to the endeavor in addition to their regular classroom and school responsibilities. As a result, Ned says, “The initiatives are entirely faculty-driven and have served to energize the faculty around course creation and curriculum design.” The review looked at the curriculum from six different angles: the daily schedule, diploma requirements, the ninthand 10th-grade experience, the 11th- and 12th-grade experience, interdisciplinary teaching and learning, and global education. Teachers worked on subcommittees focusing on each of these perspectives and recommending changes that could strengthen the Loomis Chaffee experience in each of these areas. Because the areas of focus

“

Photo: John Groo

The arrival of Head of School Sheila Culbert in 2008 and the advent of a school reaccreditation process shortly thereafter provided the appropriate moment to take a deep and wide-ranging look at what Loomis Chaffee teaches and where the curriculum might need to grow and change.

”

loomischaffee.org | 35

Programming in Java

AP Computer Science

AP Statistics (accelerated) AP Chinese Language 2 Advanced 3 Advanced 4 Advanced

•

AP European History AP United States Government and Politics AP Comparative Government and Politics

•

A MAP OF LC CURRICULAR INNOVATION MATH

A proliferation of new courses and programs resulted from the curriculum review.

CHINESE

•

HISTORY

Digital Photo III

VISUAL ARTS

Desegregation and Democracy in Southern Africa Economics and Statistics of Human Behavior The Model T and the American Industrial Revolution Oil in Water: Topics in Environmental Law Precalculus Advanced Precalculus Advanced Precalculus with Differential Calculus

•

MATH

•

INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES

COURSE PROGRESSION REORGANIZATION

overlapped, the resulting initiatives had a prism effect for the curriculum. For instance, a new interdisciplinary course for upperclassmen might involve international issues and, thus, satisfy one of the requirements for a proposed optional diploma certificate in global studies. Initiatives that have sprung from the curriculum review include: Interdisciplinary Courses. The school offered three interdisciplinary courses this year as term electives for seniors: The Model T and the American Industrial Revolution, The Economics and Statistics of Human Behavior, and Oil in Water: Topics in Environmental Law. A fourth course, Desegregation and Democracy in Southern Africa, will expand the offerings next year. Changes to the Daily Schedule. Extensive analysis and faculty discussion led to changes in the class schedule in 2010–11 and fine-tuning this school 36 |

year. The class day starts at 8:30 a.m. instead of 8:10 a.m. — a response to the growing understanding of adolescents’ particular sleep patterns. And all classes meet in both “long” (75-minute) blocks and “short” (45-minute blocks) each week to enable different types of lessons in the classroom. Other adjustments to the daily schedule also aimed to keep in step with the way LC teachers teach and students learn. Greater Flexibility in Yearlong Courses. Several departments divided some of their yearlong courses into term courses, enabling students to choose to take one, two, or three terms on the topic. The Environmental Science course, for instance, now is offered as a fall term course in Ecology, winter term electives in Human Populations & Impact and Energy & Sustainability, and spring electives in Water: A Limited Resource and Sustainable Agriculture. (The department continues

“

Great schools are works in progress. They evolve and change to ensure that they stay relevant and true to their ideals.

”

— Sheila Culbert, Head of School

to offer Advanced Placement Environmental Science as a yearlong course that prepares advanced students for the AP test.) Likewise, the history course that was previously a full year of economics has been divided into a series of three term electives: Introduction to Economics, Macroeconomics, and Microeconomics. Alternatively, students who complete the introductory course can choose to take the term course Economics Applied. (As with Environmental Science, the History Department continues to offer AP Economics as a yearlong course that prepares students for the AP exams in microeconomics and macroeconomics.) Changes like these have “enabled students to take a wider range of classes, thereby broadening the academic experience open to them,” Ned noted in his report. New Term Electives. In addition to parsing some yearlong courses, several departments added brand-new term elec-

ARABIC

•

THE CENTERS

Arabic 1 Arabic 2 Arabic 3

KRAVIS CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING

•

• •

Off-Campus Programs Curricular Development

•

•• • •

New Teacher Program Public Programs Pedagogical Work by Teacher, by Department

Civics and Civil Discourse Community Engagement and Outreach Race, Roles, and Religion

ENGLISH HISTORY

Certificate in Global Studies

The Freshman Program

CENTER FOR THE COMMON GOOD

TERM COURSE OFFERINGS EXPANDED

SCIENCE

•

CENTER FOR GLOBAL STUDIES

Voices of Dissent SOPHOMORE ELECTIVES AREA/ADVANCED STUDIES

Arab Culture Today: Youth Uprising

REWORKED COURSES

Microbiology

Ecology Human Populations & Impact

Sustainable Agriculture

•

ECONOMICS

Molecular Biology

Evolutionary Microbiology Genetics

Energy & Sustainability at LC

Revolution!

American Civil War

Universe

Biology II Advanced

Women in Politics: The American Experience

Modern Brazil

Solar System

Astronomy

•

Contemporary Economic Perspectives

Anatomy & Physiology

Culture Wars Material Culture Intro Macro Micro

Applied Microeconomics: Current Issues and Politics

Water: A Limited Resource (a case-study approach)

PHILOSOPHY, PSYCHOLOGY & RELIGION

Children of Abraham: Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed Hinduism and Buddhism

MATH Advanced Statistics: Global Issues

tives to give students more choices. Sophomores can take history term courses in Global Human Rights, Revolution, Women in Politics, and Contemporary Economic Perspectives, for example. The interdisciplinary courses for seniors all are term courses as well. Meanwhile, Library Skills, previously a diploma requirement, is no longer offered, and the content of the course has been incorporated into other, existing courses in various

departments. Eliminating this required course frees students to take other term electives, Ned explains. Sustainability. The school’s burgeoning sustainability program, while not a direct outcome of the curriculum review, grew in tandem with the rethinking of the curriculum. Not only can students take the science term course Energy & Sustainability, but they also can participate in various sustainability efforts beyond the

classroom. Led by e-proctors, a new and coveted student leadership position, students help maintain the compost center and sustainable agriculture plot behind the Clark Center for Science & Mathematics, participate on the Sustainability Committee, advance recycling efforts on campus, and propel the school’s involvement in the annual Green Cup Challenge, among other efforts. Two of this year’s e-proctors made a presentation to the

Graphic by: Nicholas Pukstas & Patricia Cousins

Board of Trustees in January. In describing their roles as e-proctors, both students mentioned the unexpected educational benefits of the position. They had expected to turn soil and plant pumpkins, but they were pleasantly surprised to find they also help to shape the sustainability movement. Global Studies. Several new initiatives related to global studies are taking shape, based on the recommendations of a faculty Global Studies loomischaffee.org | 37

Task Force that grew out of the curriculum review. Next school year, Loomis will create the Center for Global Studies to oversee these initiatives. History teacher Alexander McCandless will serve as director of global studies, and the school has hired Marley Aloe as assistant director. The center will coordinate globally oriented course planning, oversee study abroad programs, help to provide professional development for faculty teaching global studies courses, organize speaker forums on global issues, and arrange faculty and alumni study tours and exchange opportunities, among other charges. The center also will serve as a hub for the globally oriented aspects of a number of existing offices, programs, and student groups on campus. The school plans to begin offering a Global Studies Certificate, a special notation on the diplomas of students who meet certain criteria involving the study of global issues and firsthand international experience. The proposed requirements include a minimum number of courses identified as global studies, a core interdisciplinary course during freshman or sophomore year, four years of a modern language, extracurricular involvement in relevant programs, a two-week (or longer) trip abroad, and a culminating paper or presentation. Alec, who chaired the Global Studies Task Force, said the sojourn abroad could take many forms, such as the study of yoga

in India, an archaeological dig in Israel, environmental study in Congo, or a formal academic program at a foreign school. The student would work with the director of global studies to design an individualized and educational overseas experience. Ninth-Grade Program. A coordinated effort launching next year will help freshmen to begin their Loomis Chaffee experience with a shared understanding of the school’s history, the community’s values, and the expectations of a boarding school. The program also will help freshmen “to develop strategies for academic success at Loomis Chaffee,” Ned explains. Core Course Changes. Faculty are redesigning some of the core courses in the curriculum to more closely align with the principles established in the curriculum review. For instance, World History and World After Columbus, the two core, yearlong history courses for underclassmen, will merge into a single, revamped course next fall. In a subsequent year, the U.S. History course also is likely to undergo changes to place American history in a more global context. Center for the Common Good. The school next year will open the Center for the Common Good to focus attention on the meaning, responsibility, and opportunities of citizenship in a diverse democracy. The center, which will be

directed by Albert Freihofer ’69, will support experiences in the classroom and beyond, advancing students’ understanding of citizenship and inspiring them to promote the common good. Al, a member of the Loomis Chaffee Board of Trustees, will step down from the board before joining the faculty in the fall. (See “HeadLines,” page 2, for a more complete discussion of the Center for the Common Good.) While the curriculum review progressed, so did two other important initiatives designed to support teaching faculty. First, the school established the Henry R. Kravis ’63 Center for Excellence in Teaching, a resource for teachers to continue to grow, experiment with, and fine-tune their craft. The center, with a permanent home on the first floor of the Katharine Brush Library, buzzes with activity as its director, Scott MacClintic ’82, raises consciousness

Alexander McCandless will direct the Center for Global Studies. Photo: John Groo

about educational innovation and responds to teachers’ ideas and queries. Second, the school launched a new evaluation system for classroom teachers to give faculty members regular and useful feedback as they seek continued growth in their profession. Ned says this increased support for teaching faculty, along with the curricular changes, “round out the total picture of Loomis Chaffee as a vibrant academic community committed to student learning and teacher effectiveness.” While the process itself of reviewing the curriculum sent a charge of creative energy through the school, the many outcomes of the curriculum review have further elevated excitement about the wealth of opportunities to learn, teach, and discover at Loomis Chaffee. ©

Albert Freihofer ’69 will lead the Center for the Common Good. Photo: Wayne Dombkowski

CENTER | continued from 2

the directorship for this new center. Al is committed passionately to the principles of civic engagement, and he is eager to inspire a similar passion in the students at Loomis Chaffee through both academic and extracurricular activities. In addition to teaching a course himself, Al will work with other faculty interested in augmenting existing courses or developing new courses. He also plans to partner with local and state civic organizations, bring in speakers, oversee our service learning and work programs, and develop leadership opportunities for our students on and off campus.

38 |

The best education forces students to grapple with uncertainty, disagreement, conflicting ideas, and grand principles. It teaches humility and mutual respect, self-reflection and critical analysis, accountability and engagement. It inspires them to greatness. We hope that the center will become a central and distinctive component of a Loomis Chaffee education and will inspire our students to embrace their responsibilities as good citizens. It will acquaint students early on in their Loomis careers with the wonderful legacy of our Founders and the values that underpin the school.

A Room with a View

An artist’s rendering of Founders Hall that was submitted by the firm Murphy & Dana for The Loomis Institute architectural competition in 1912

NYONE who has had the opportunity to ascend the spiral stairs to the Founders cupola understands what faculty member Scott MacClintic ’82 means when he says the view from there is “intense.” With this commanding prospect on the built and natural landscape, one takes in the graceful sweep of the Farmington River, the Loomis Homestead and the riverbank site known for centuries as “Loomis Landing.” The southern view is a tableau of the expanding school and beyond; on a clear, early spring day Hartford rises above the low-lying river lands. There is a lot to see.

eight-sided cupola. In contrast to Founders’ robust cupola, these tall, rectangular 12-paned windows give the impression of a lighthouse. This attenuated feel has much in common with another Loomis cupola, a belfry-type structure above the William H. Loomis Dining Hall, also designed by Murphy & Dana. And it’s no wonder. Mr. Batchelder noted in a World War II-era letter that Irwin Jones had worked as a junior draftsman in Richard 1914 2014 Henry Dana’s architecture office and that the architect “took particular interest in Mr. Jones.”

The cupola’s graceful Palladian windows allow this view. They also echo design elements of Founders’ center doorways and help to anchor the building firmly in the neo-Georgian style that the firm Murphy & Dana chose when drawing up architectural plans for the school’s 1913 design competition. A trustee citation written in 1949 described these winning plans as “combining realism, imagination and vision.”

Cupolas are not all heady business. It turns out that the Loomis and Chaffee cupolas have inspired a fair bit of fun and adventure. Samuel Pelgrift ’06 and Ryan Blair ’06 made perhaps the first documentary film shot in part in the Founders cupola with their 2006 Senior Project, “Marauder’s Map.” Loomis’ Wireless Radio Club set up Station 1ARP in the Founders cupola in the fall of 1923. The boys sent and received messages throughout the United States, Europe, and South America. 1ARP provided entertainment, too. Boys on the first floor of Founders waited for

In 1945 when Nathaniel Horton Batchelder asked the school’s architect, Irwin Jones ’22, to make preliminary drawings for a building at The Chaffee School, he requested that the structure be on a “distinctively domestic” scale with the Sill and Chaffee houses. Mr. Jones designed a brick schoolhouse topped by an

A VIEW | continued 55 loomischaffee.org | 39

Bu’Inaniya Madrasa — Fez, Morocco

40 |

Cats in

Foreign Lands

Text and photos by Felicity Ratté ’81

RAVELING in places where you’ve never been, you look for something familiar, a way to understand where you are and what the people there are like, and sometimes you find a connection in the most unforeseen places.

This past year I spent about six months conducting research on medieval urban design practice in the Islamic cities of the Mediterranean. As an Italianist, this material was new to me, so I began my research in the Moroccan city of Fez, where I enrolled in an intensive six-week course in Modern Standard Arabic. I cannot remember when it first occurred to me how many cats there were in Fez, but I am fond of cats, and so it must have been early on. They are as plentiful as people in the narrow streets of the old city (Medina) — and as varied as well. Their appearance, too, seems to mimic that of the people: There are scruffy, tough cats who swagger about the streets daring anyone to challenge them. There are serene, still ones, eyes lightly shut as they nap quietly in the sun. There are industrious ones, energetically addressing themselves to the latest supply of comestibles that has been deposited on the street. It took me a while to be curious about them: first, because everything about Fez — the narrow streets, the gates positioned in unlikely places throughout the city, the high windowless walls, the terrain, the sounds, the smells, the chickens, fruits, olives, piles of spices, sides of beef all sitting out in the open on the different shop-owners’ shelves — was all so different from my own visual experience that one more thing, the ubiquity of cats, seemed almost inconsequential.

Kairouan, Tunisia

But as one lives in a place, one becomes accustomed to things, shops in the markets, chats with the shop-owners, understands the logic of the divisions created by the gates and the cool and privacy provided by the absence of windows, tastes the spices, eats the olives. Finally, I started to really consider the cats. How could they live in the city like that? Who looked after them? Were they like my cat who luxuriates, on his own terms, of course, in a prolonged belly massage? There was a cat who lived in the yard at school, and after a while all of us got over our initial reticence and began to cultivate his affection. With him, I found the loomischaffee.org | 41

Cairo, Egypt

answer to my last question to be an enthusiastic affirmative. The prophet Muhammad approved of cat ownership. There are a number Hadiths (sayings of the prophet) that specifically address cats, their treatment, and their cleanliness. In short, they are to be well treated and given their freedom. And they are considered extremely clean — so much so that it is not considered inappropriate to eat from a dish that has been sampled by a cat. Of course, I did not know this at the time. I was in Fez to learn Arabic (and to study architecture). I asked my professor endless questions about grammar, but I was afraid to ask about the cats, mainly because they seemed to be such an integral part of life in Fez that it seemed the height of ignorance to not quite understand them. Over the course of my travels, I became accustomed to the presence and to the wide acceptance that cats enjoyed in all the countries I visited. In the Tunisian city of Kairouan, the warm sun and the colorful markets were handsome backdrops to the happy, well-fed cats. In Cairo, the rough streets of the old section of the 42 |

city housed tough, muscular cats with expressions of cool authority — or long-suffering endurance. I found two kittens happily chasing each other across the Bayn al-Qasrayn in the center of the old city, seemingly secure not only in their company but in the good will and watchful care of the humans who walked, drove, and rode bicycles around them. In Istanbul the cats were legion. I watched one happily diverting himself with a piece of fabric, up the steps, down the steps, across the court, and back up the steps again in the Yeni Valide Mosque. The guardians of the prince’s mosque designed by the famous architect Sinan in the 16th century took great care in the feeding of the mosque’s army of cats. Istanbul can be cold, even in March, and a cat at the Uskudar Mosque on the Asian side of the city captured perfectly in his body language and expression what I felt as I braced against the cold wind coming off the Bosphorus. In Damascus, I watched as a man came out onto the street with a bag full of choice chicken parts and proceeded to distribute them to the cats who lived on his street.

Watching the behavior of people whose language you only barely speak, whose cultural traditions you have only read about, whose architecture you marvel at, whose history has been inexplicably set at odds with your own, is a complex and sometimes frightening endeavor. But the cats created a bridge. Everywhere I went, there were well-cared-for cats. Everywhere I turned, cats watched me, and I them. They were comfortable, happy, engaged, loved. I took great pleasure in photographing them and in learning their names from the shopkeepers who kept them fed. I worried along with many tourists in front of the Egyptian museum in Cairo when a street kitten fell into the ornamental pond. But he was rescued, and a friendly woman took care to comfort his worried mother. Finally, I stopped thinking that these cats needed homes like mine did. I finally realized they all had homes. This was a little revelation, and it opened the door to a calm acceptance of difference laced with common humanity.

Cairo, Egypt

Şehzade Camii — Istanbul, Turkey

My Arabic is not as good as I had hoped, and I have much more work to do before I will fully understand Islamic urban design, but I have found a common bond that links me to these people and these places in a way that cannot be broken. We all like cats. And that is enough. ©

Felicity Ratté graduated from Loomis Chaffee in 1981. After finishing her doctorate in art history at New York University in 1995, she moved to Vermont, where she eventually got tenure at Marlboro College. As the college’s only art historian, she teaches broadly across the discipline. In 2010, after spending five years as Marlboro’s dean of faculty and chief academic officer, she took a yearlong sabbatical (from August to April) to reacquaint herself with her discipline and to research Islamic art and architecture in order to integrate more of that material into her curriculum. Daughter of former Headmaster John Ratté, Felicity has traveled extensively alone and with her mother, former LC history teacher Lou Ratté, but Felicity’s experience in North Africa, the Levant, and Turkey forced her to find new ways to connect with where she was and what she was doing.

Uskudar Mosque — Istanbul, Turkey

Damascus, Syria

loomischaffee.org | 43

OBJECT LESSONS | BY KAREN PARSONS

Dancing in Taffeta and Tulle

Mary Jane Mather Snyder wore this tulle and taffeta dress to the 1954 Chaffee Senior Prom. Photo courtesy of Mary Jane Mather Snyder ’56

ARY Jane Mather Snyder ’56 wore a strapless, tulle and taffeta gown to the 1954 Chaffee Senior Prom. The dress, now in the collection of the Windsor Historical Society, features an aqua sash, a corsage of fabric flowers pinned at the hip and a boned bodice — all evidence of the fashion trends and tastes of this time period. Just a few moments with this lovely object had me wondering about the evenings at which Mary Jane and her peers wore their cherished gowns. The memories of 1950s Chaffee graduates, Chiel articles, and other artifacts help bring to life Chaffee proms from the mid-20th century.

The Loomis gym served as the location for Chaffee dances: the senior prom in February and the junior prom in June. Faculty and parents chaperoned, and a local band entertained from 8 p.m. until midnight. The girls understood proper dancing

form. Zane Hickcox Kotker ’52 recollected, “We’d had word from Mrs. Sellers: Keep your left hand in his right and your right arm on his shoulder and never put both arms around the boy.” The theme and decorations set a unique tone for each prom.

over the threshold [and] were swept into colorful and enchanting valentine worlds … . In the middle of the dance floor stood a sparkling white tree, hung with bright valentines, which complemented the colorful frieze of romantic flowers, cupids, and mailboxes.”

Sarah “Sally” Hoskins O’Brien ’55 remembered that the “class picked a theme and transformed the gym into a beautiful dance hall.” These were ambitious projects relying on the work of many hands, work characterized by Sally Sullivan Schenck ’56 as “the best part” of the event. The seniors of 1954 chose a card theme and adorned the gym with “sparkling hearts, clubs, diamonds, and spades.” Two years earlier, the senior class had created “a wonderland of hearts, cupids, and old-fashioned silhouettes.” A large red heart had framed the entrance to the gym, and as The Chiel recounted, “couples stepped

Dance cards matched the aesthetic of the evening. For the 1954 prom actual playing cards decorated the front and back covers. The Chiel portrayed the 1952 Senior Prom dance cards as “[o]ne of the most pleasant surprises of the [evening].” Their “white velour” covers exceeded expectations; these were the first in Chaffee School history to be printed professionally.

The 1954 dance card is from the same prom to which Mary Jane wore the dress. From the collection of Patricia Tisher Shea ’56 and Brendan Shea ’55.

44 |

Girls wrote names of their dance partners on the cards’ lined-paper inserts. Zane explained, “We were expected to spend at least the beginning and ending dances with our own partner. The other slots on our dance cards could be traded off with classmates.” In looking over her 1954 dance card, Patricia Tisher Shea ’56 recently noticed: “I saved not just one but the last two dances for Brendan [Shea ’55, my date]. Exchanging dances was always an interesting event — we girls sat in a circle and asked each other to trade, but I guess I was not willing to trade them all.” This hesitancy may have foreshadowed things to come: Brendan and Pat have been married for 50 years. ©

“

The dress, features an aqua sash, a corsage of fabric flowers pinned at the hip and a boned bodice — all evidence of the fashion trends and tastes of this time period.

”

Dress courtesy of the Windsor [Connecticut] Historical Society. Photo: John Groo

loomischaffee.org | 45

THE WRITE STUFF | BY JAMES S. RUGEN ’70

FEATURED WRITER: Gerald Warner Brace ’18 (1901–78)

best-selling author, praised by critics and widely honored, Gerald Warner Brace ’18 achieved national and international recognition as a writer of fiction. In his long career as a writer and teacher, he earned a devoted following of readers and influenced many young and aspiring writers. He was a 1958 National Book Award nominee for fiction and the 1967 recipient of the Shell Award for Distinguished Writing from Boston University. In his essay “Gerald Warner Brace: Forgotten New England Novelist” (The New England Quarterly, June 1999), Norman Pettit writes: “Though his name is no longer familiar, Gerald Warner Brace was a well-known writer in his time — a New England novelist of high repute. From 1936, when his first novel was published, he established himself as a chronicler of New England life, not only along the coast of Maine but also in the hills of New Hampshire and Vermont. His most popular novel, The Garretson Chronicle, was promoted for the Pulitzer Prize in 1948 while he was serving on the faculty at Boston University, where the creative writing program still awards a prize in his name.” Brace spent many summers at Deer Isle, Maine, where he loved to sail the 32-foot sloop he designed and where he was inspired by the island’s boat-

46 |

builders and fishermen. In his novels, he depicted New England with nostalgia and appreciation for traditional ways but also with an understanding of the forces of change. Brace excelled in depicting hardy New Englanders, some struggling in harsh conditions to maintain the ways and values of the past, others choosing newer opportunities and a turning away from tradition. Such is the case in his first novel, The Islands, in which a young man is caught between becoming a boatbuilder on his island or pursuing an education at Harvard. In later novels, set in various New England locales, Brace continued to examine characters as they navigate between different ways of life. The Garretson Chronicle, probably Brace’s best-known novel, is described by C. Hugh Holman in his introduction to the W.W. Norton 1964 reprinting as “a story that hinges on a recurrent conflict between self and society through three generations of a family, and as such it becomes almost a representation of transcendentalism in its long, slow decline as it exists in a world that gives less and less value to the individual.” The novel is set in fictional Compton, Massachusetts, a thinlydisguised Concord. In The Spire and his last novel, The Department, Brace depicts academic settings with a critical and satiric eye, based on his

Photo of Gerald Warner Brace reprinted by permission of W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Works of Gerald Warner Brace The Islands (1936) The Wayward Pilgrims (1938) Light on a Mountain (1941) The Garretson Chronicle (1947) A Summer’s Tale (1949) The Spire (1952) Bell’s Landing (1955) The Age of the Novel (1957) The World of Carrick’s Cove (1957) Winter Solstice (1960) The Wind’s Will (1964) Between Wind and Water (1966) The Department (1968) The Stuff of Fiction (1969) Days that Were (1976)

“

The life of Gerald Warner Brace stands as testimony to a time when many shared in an American dream and belief in the future — not based on faster networks of communication — but on hard work and inner strength. His novels may no longer be in print, but the scenes he recreated have not totally disappeared.

”

—Charlotte Holt Lindgren

long career as a teacher at Amherst, Harvard, Williams, Dartmouth, Mount Holyoke, and Boston University. Additionally, he wrote a book on writing, The Stuff of Fiction, and an autobiography, Days that Were, the latter devoting a chapter to his memories of Loomis. He writes: “All in all, Loomis, like the others of its kind, operated with the best of intentions, and I think actually its newness in its field gave it a special quality of youth and discovery that we all shared.” Another departure from Brace’s novels, Between Wind and

Water presents a loving and informative portrait of the Coast of Maine, enhanced by his own illustrations — with chapter headings such as “The Ways of Life,” “Boats,” “Summer Folk,” “Talk,” and “Sailing.” Brace is himself the subject of an admiring 1998 biography, Gerald Warner Brace: Writer, Sailor, Teacher, by Charlotte Holt Lindgren. In an early chapter, she writes that he was very happy at Loomis: “He discovered for the first time that he liked to write.” Later she writes: “He became co-editor of the weekly newspaper, The Log, reporting the school news and writing articles exhorting the boys to have more school spirit and, since they had been reading Walden in English class, to be more aware of the beauty and transcendental harmonies of nature.” Lindgren concludes her biography: “The life of Gerald Warner Brace stands as testimony to a time when many shared in an American dream and belief in the future — not based on faster networks of communication — but on hard work and inner strength. His novels may no longer be in print, but the scenes he recreated have not totally disappeared.” And Arthur S. Harris Jr., in his overview “Gerald Warner Brace: Teacher-Novelist” (College English, December 1956), finds Brace’s prose style “so perfected and shaped that it is difficult to find anywhere a poorly written sentence.” A revival of interest in the life and work of Gerald Warner Brace is overdue. ©

Books by Alumni Authors Recently Published or Recently Added to the School’s Master List A more complete list of books by Loomis Chaffee authors can be found on the school website. The editors ask alumni to send updates and corrections to magazine@loomis.org. John F. Foster ’51 Where There’s A Quill Carter Elwood ’54 The Non-Geometric Lenin: Essays on the Development of the Bolshevik Party 1910–1914 L.H. Knickerbocker ’54 The Earth Endures Alex Kuo ’57 A Chinaman’s Chance The Man Who Damned the Yangtze Jib Fowles ’58 My Life As I Lived It Jeanne Robertson Bonaca ’62 The Lady in Blue: A Maria Chavez Mystery David Margolick ’70 Elizabeth and Hazel: Two Women of Little Rock Scott Wallace ’72 The Unconquered: In Search of the Amazon’s Last Uncontacted Tribes Risa Bernstein Sodi ’75, ed. (with Millicent Marcus) New Reflections on Primo Levi: Before and After Auschwitz Keith Scribner ’80 The Oregon Experiment Thomas A. Foster ’87 Long Before Stonewall: Histories of Same-Sex Sexuality in Early America New Men: Manliness in Early America Amy Traverso ’89 The Apple Lover’s Cookbook James Stillman Hanson ’90 From Maine to Georgia: My Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike Joshua Kurlantzick ’94 The Ideal Man: The Tragedy of Jim Thompson and the American Way of War

loomischaffee.org | 47

ALUMNI NEWS | EDITED BY JAMES S. RUGEN ’70

1938

The Prescott (Ariz.) Center for the Arts has dedicated the 2011–12 season in honor of Zach Hirsch and his late wife, Kay, for their distinguished contributions to the arts. Both enjoyed long careers in the theater, Zach as a performer, director, and technical director off-Broadway, at Madison Square Garden, and in national performances, and Kay as a costumer for the Guthrie Theater (Minneapolis), ballet, opera, and Shakespeare companies, and the Six Flags Over Texas theme park. In retirement in Prescott, both remained very active in local theater, earning the gratitude of the community.

1940

From Jean McKay Eckhardt: “I have been in Summerhill Assisted Living a little over a year. Though I miss my home, this is a pleasant place with congenial people.”

1941

“The education I received at Chaffee was an excellent basis for my future life,” reflects Mary Loomer Gavin. “The small classes, close contact with the faculty, and choice of course material all helped to shape my life. I am grateful for the future opportunities it presented, even though the realization of this did not occur until much later!” Clinton G. Morrison writes: “At the age of 91, I still have fond memories of Loomis. Charlie Pratt ’23 was tops on my list. Mr. Batchelder would read stories to us in his home 48 |

on Sunday afternoons. Mr. Burns wrote a book about prep school students, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I were in it. I played a trick on him (in fun). I had kept in touch with Bill Paddock ’40, who has now passed away. I lost touch with other classmates during World War II.”

1942 | Reunion

“I will be unable to attend the 70th Reunion,” writes Peter Abel, “not because I am lame and halt but because obligations require me to be in Italy at that time. My best wishes to all surviving members of the class.”

1943

Donald M. Wilson writes: “Vernajean and I enjoyed a Holland American cruise — the Voyage of the Vikings — last summer to Québec, Newfoundland, Greenland, Iceland, Scotland, Holland, England, France, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Nova Scotia. Enjoying our third year at Shell Point, Fort Myers, Fla., the largest retirement community in the state. Wonderful concerts and learning opportunities … splendid health program … excellent support groups. We’re planning to attend Reunion again this year.”

1945

Cuffee School. He continues to run the Rhode Island High School Shakespeare Recitation Contest. He adds that he and Anne are approaching their 60th wedding anniversary.

Bend, Ore., with his younger daughter, granddaughter (a sophomore at the University of Oregon), and son-in-law.

1947 | Reunion

“We are now sailing out of Kentucky Lake instead of Pamlico Sound, N.C.,” reports G.B. Hartmann.

Dean A. McCallum writes: “Living at an independent living facility in Kirkwood, Mo., a suburb of St. Louis. Wife Joyce is in a sister Alzheimer’s facility nearby. I hope to get back to Reunion this year. That will require special arrangements for dialysis, but I have done that before in Hartford. I continue to be impressed with Loomis Chaffee. Son Mark and daughter Elise were sent to mostly day schools as we moved around the U.S., I being inspired to send them by my Loomis inspiration. The four grandchildren continue that tradition.” At the time of his note, Ed Rhodes was planning to spend Thanksgiving 2011 in

1948

1949

Carol Blumenthal Isaacs writes: “Still very active at the wonderful continuing care facility where I live. I also do AARP tax counseling for the elderly from February to April.”

1951

“I continue to do residential and commercial appraising with my one-person Edwards Group,” writes George Edwards. “It has been slow.” John F. Foster has been invited by the Florida State Poets Association to present a workshop on humor in poetry. The title of

Chaffee

BOOK CLUB MAY 2, DINNER 6 P.M., DISCUSSION 7:30 P.M. BURTON ROOM The Education of Little Tree by Forrest Carter Leader: Molly Pond, Head of the History Department

“My grandson Charlie Kenney is a freshman at Loomis Chaffee — and loves it,” writes Joan Tilton Kenney.

1946

David Burnham is busy on the boards of the Herreshoff Marine Museum and the Paul

Chaffee Book Club Fall 2011

2O12 REUNION JUNE 15–17

his program: “The Funny Bone in Poetry — or — Probing for the Humerus.”

1952 | Reunion

From Deborah Hitchcock Jessup: “I’m looking forward very much to our 60th Reunion in June. Our news reflects retired living. John, 84, takes care of our large garden (almost six acres including woods). We usually travel to England or Sweden, where we have two beautiful grandsons. The most important grandchildren news is that the oldest, Megan, is now a bachelor of science graduate and registered nurse in the pediatrics unit of a big Seattle children’s hospital. I stay very busy with three book clubs, tennis, a study club, and Unitarian activities, including piano playing for the congregation. We are ‘Yellow Dog’ Democrats in this RED state (Alabama).” Pierre Laurent writes: “Will head our 60th Reunion with Stan Hayward and Mike Altschuler. Ginny and I still extensively in childcare with eight grandkids within 35 miles of us. Got abroad for September again in Paris, which never fails to bring forth something new, exciting, and interesting.”

1954

Lew Knickerbocker has published a new novel, The Earth Endures. Set in Argentina, it concerns the CIA’s involvement during the downfall of President Juan Perón. From the Amazon.com book description: “Argentina in the mid-1950s is in chaos. The army, the church, and the communists each have plans to save the nation. The

only issue they agree on is that Perón must go. Into this fray comes a German-born CIA agent, Argentina’s chief spy catcher, an ambitious police detective, a teenage courtesan, a spoiled American debutante, and a female assassin. Each with a different motive, they are caught up in the revolution.” Lew’s new novel is available on Kindle, at Amazon.com, at fine bookstores, and as an e-book from CreateSpace.com.

1955

John R. Roberts reports: “Kay and I continue to enjoy retirement in North Carolina and travel, both in the U.S. and abroad. This past September, we sailed aboard a five-masted schooner on the Mediterranean and Adriatic seas. We still spend a couple of months each summer in Kennebunkport, Maine.”

1957 | Reunion

Richard Hughes III reports that he’s enjoying retirement: “Doing a few small design jobs, volunteering with Friends of Office of State Archaeology in the field and the lab, and taking courses in archaeology at Central Connecticut State University. Still biking, singing in the Hartford Chorale, gardening, and playing with grandchildren. Life gets better and better!” News from Dorothy Smith Pam: “2011 was a busy year: Visited Istanbul to see son Jeremiah on leave from Afghanistan, played Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest at Holyoke Community College, taught English and

Reunion 2012 promises to be a fun, memorable occasion for alumni in classes ending in 2s and 7s and their guests. Some early highlights include: FRIDAY • Back-to-School Seminars • All-Class Reunion Welcome Dinner Buffet • Evening Child Care • Late-Night Reunion Party with a DJ – and Bruno Burgers grilled by Chuck Vernon SATURDAY • Morning run and yoga with Rebecca Pacheco ’97 • Alumni Book Club, art exhibit, panels, and more • Camp Pelican for kids ages 4–12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. • “LC Today” with Head of School Sheila Culbert • Alumni Parade of Classes and BBQ lunch (with kids’ entertainment) • Alumni Co-Ed Soccer game • Reunion Class Dinners followed by live music and dancing • Evening Child Care • Poetry, Conversation, and Music with Dom Failla & Elizabeth Parada • Late-Night Comedy with Khristee Rich ’92 SPECIAL JUNE EVENTS The following events taking place during Reunion Weekend are open to all alumni, parents, and friends: JUNE 13–15 Pelican Two-Day Century Ride: Join Rich First ’86 and Director of the Kravis Center for Excellence in Teaching Scott MacClintic ’82 for a two-day/two-night, 100-mile bike tour that begins in Putney, Vermont, and ends on the Island. For more information, go to: www.pomgbike.com/bike-tours/pcpelican-century.html. LOOMIS CHAFFEE GOLF OUTING AT TUMBLE BROOK COUNTRY CLUB Friday, June 15: 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT Friday, June 15: 12–3 p.m. PRISM DESSERT RECEPTION Saturday, June 16: 12:30–2:30 p.m. (includes BBQ lunch on the Quad) *For more information and to register for any of these events, scan the QR code or go to: www.loomischaffee.org/events. loomischaffee.org | 49

STEVE ROSENTHAL ’58

ORTY photographs by Steve Rosenthal ’58 from his book White on White: Churches of Rural New England have been assembled into a traveling exhibit sponsored by Historic New England and will appear at three venues in 2012. Currently on display at the Adams Gallery, Suffolk Law School, Boston, through the spring, the exhibit will travel to the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Conn., in the summer and then to the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, Conn., in the fall and through January 2013. The photographs were taken by Steve over a 45-year period beginning when he was a graduate student in architecture. Steve will be at the openings of both shows in Connecticut, and he looks forward to seeing classmates and friends.

York Street Village Baptist Church, 1891 York Village, Maine

speech courses, and enjoyed being very involved in the lives of grandchildren Lily, 3, and Oliver, 2. Bob and I are enjoying our new home in Amherst, Mass.”

1958

“Members of the class had a poignant reunion in Washington, D.C., last fall,” writes Virginia Wardner Bradford. “Our years at Chaffee grounded us for life and gave us a lasting deep bond.” Jib Fowles has published his autobiography, My Life As I Lived It, and will send a copy gratis to anyone who emails him at jibfowles@gmail.com. Arline (Lee) Bishop Howard writes that her life continues to be full with John ’56, seven children, and eight grandchildren.

50 |

1959

News from Craig Stewart: “Val and I were recently blessed with our first two grandchildren: Izumi Keala Stewart-Ito was born July 15, 2011, to our daughter Ali and son-in-law Jo Ito in Honolulu; our son Clint and his wife, Valentina, who live in Seattle, had a daughter, Siena, born November 21. Inlaws from Chile and Germany joined us for a great holiday celebration. It’s been great to keep in touch with classmates Tom Eustis, Jim Bowers, Hank Hallas, Hew Jeter, et. al. Best to all for a healthy and fulfilling New Year.”

1962 | Reunion

Judith DuLyn Howe’s grandson, Adler Wainwright Howe, was born January 30, to her son, Henry, and his wife, Anne.

1965

Phil Rose reports that he is retired as state architect and that his new endeavor is oil painting and other fine art. He writes: “I’d enjoy hearing from Loomis Chaffee artists and art lovers.”

1966

Tom Andrews reports: “In spite of several medical conditions, I was recently able to get my F.A.A. medical renewed. Bought a 1948 Swift airplane with a 210-horsepower engine. Am now reliving my younger flying adventures in the beautiful Southwest! Another bucket list item completed!” John Bonee writes: “Enjoying relocating my law office from downtown Hartford to West Hartford Center, where I can stay healthy with workouts at New York Sports Club and salads from Whole Foods. My son, John Alexander, has just turned 10; he is in the fourth

grade at Duffy School and loves winning swimming races when he can at Cornerstone Pool.”

1967 | Reunion 1969

News from Richard Carey: “I’m teaching writing at Southern New Hampshire University, working on a book about a 1997 gun rampage in Colebrook, N.H., and am blushingly proud of my daughter’s Celtic-Americana CD, which is getting national folk radio play. Check out her website: Kyleannecarey.com.”

1972 | Reunion 1974

Chris Coley sends word of his son: “After five years of studying in Palo Alto, Alex is living in Japan for a year, enrolled in an intensive Japanese language program.”

’74

1975

J. Hugh A. James has been named the new rector of Christ Episcopal Church, Norwich, Conn. He has served as vicar of Kidwelly and Llandyfaelog in West Wales for the last seven years, in which position he was responsible for three churches. Hugh introduced modern language liturgies and acts of all-age worship, and he oversaw restoration programs in two of the church structures, including a £400,000 ($650,000) restoration of 14th century St. Mary’s (Kidwelly) spire, tower, and west wall. Hugh is a graduate of Durham University. He trained for the ministry at St. Michael’s College and was ordained at Llandaff Cathedral in 1981 and priested in 1982, continuing a family tradition of service in the Welsh Anglican clergy. Hugh received the University of Wales’ certificate in Welsh as a second language in 1990 and the degree of master of philosophy from the University of Wales-Bangor in 2002. He is the author of A Fitting End, a book on the subject of funerals. Following the visa process, Hugh, his wife Susan, and their springer spaniel will take up new responsibilities stateside. Laurie Gibson Lindberg writes: “My daughter Skye is about to get her driver’s license … keep your eyes open when/if driving in northern Virginia!” New Reflections on Primo Levi:

Before and After Auschwitz, a new book by Yale colleagues Risa Bernstein Sodi and Millicent Marcus, was published in 2011 by Palgrave Macmillan. It’s Risa’s third book on Levi, a writer she finds endlessly fascinating. Risa writes: “My son David works in New Haven for the Yale University Art Gallery, and my other son, Alex, works in New York for the auction house Christie’s. My father, Simon Bernstein, co-president with my mother of the Loomis Chaffee Parents Association, 1974–75, turned 99 on January 17, 2012.”

’76

’78

1976

News from Neil Landy: “I have been living for the past 25 years in Virginia and practicing periodontics at my office in Virginia Beach. Happily married to my darling wife, Aline, and proud father of Graham, a freshman at Yale, and our daughter Caroline, a junior boarding student on the Island.”

1977 | Reunion

“I am already making plans to be back for a visit to coincide with Reunion,” writes Kristin Delaney Bonaldo. “Let’s have more members of our class come back this year than ever before. I would love to see everyone and hope you can all be there.”

1981

Mary-Ellen Barrett was named prosecutor of the year

’81 “Time passes much too quickly,” writes Carlo Centeno ’74, here escorting his daughter, Nicole, on her wedding day. “She went from infant to college grad to independent adult in a blink. She was married on a Cape Cod beach over a beautiful fall weekend. Mary Jane and I, along with family and friends, celebrated an addition to our family, our son-in-law, Brian. Not surprisingly, Mary Jane’s ready to be a grandma. And I — still — just go with the flow.” Neil Landy ’76 relaxes with his daughter, Loomis Chaffee junior Caroline Landy (right) and her roommate, junior Melissa Haganey, in their dormitory room. “It is such a thrill for me to visit my daughter on campus and see so many familiar faces,” Neil writes. Gerard Senehi ’78 and his wife, Francesca, enjoy the Woolman Rink, Central Park, NYC. He writes: “Great things are opening up at the midway point of life. My wife and I married both for the first time at the age of 50! And I am starting an institute to promote the understanding of cultural evolution and its potential contributions to the future. The new combination has added a few hours to my days, but all of it inspiration!” Christopher Downs ’81 (second from left) poses with the Hotchkiss varsity soccer team, the 2011 New England Class A champions. Chris has been coaching varsity soccer at Hotchkiss since 1993. The team’s recent championship marks its third in four years. Chris’ son Nicky is seated at the far right in the front.

loomischaffee.org | 51

’92

The Hartford wedding, October 29, 2011, of Beth Gilligan ’97 and Lodewijk Vöge reunites Island alums and faculty members: (back) Dan Price ’94, Keith St. Germain ’96, former faculty member Martha Hess, Associate Head of School Aaron “Woody” Hess, and Jill Markowitz Cohen ’97; (front) Sebastian DiMauro ’42, Lisa Rudikoff Price ’97, Anna Hess Barresi ’97, Antoinette Olivares Terrana ’97, Francesca Pedemonti ’97, Rebecca Roswig Jaffe ’97, the bride, Becky Nyce ’97, the groom, and Liz Olson ’97.

’97

Melody Diegor Caprio ’97, is joined by classmates Sherry Carvalho Umansky, Stephanie Garfield, Ryan Belden, Liz Dunn Marsi, Betsy Mowell Erickson, Erin Shoudy Meyer, Kathy Agonis Friebus, Kari Diamond, and Greg Bemis at her wedding to Andrew Caprio, May 23, 2009, in West Hartford, Conn. Andrew proposed to Melody while vacationing in the Philippines. The couple honeymooned in Italy.

’94

’97 ’99 Their first child, Ryan William Lovett, was born August 25, 2011, to Jacqueline Gange Lovett ’92 and her husband, Bill. Maia Sierra Grumbley was born to Heather Moran ’92 and her husband, Alexander Grumbley, in Darwin, Australia, on August 31, 2011. Heather writes: “In the short six months since Maia was born, she has adapted to our family lifestyle wonderfully, traveling through three continents with ease and fabulous humor — Australia to be born, North America to visit the Moran family and friends (including Stacy Kellogg, Jennifer Murray, Monique Martineau, and Mark Oppenheimer, all Class of 1992), and Asia to live. We are loving the adventures that every new minute with Maia brings!” Note: Maia is the granddaughter of longtime Loomis Chaffee faculty members Louise and Barry Moran. JinBon Kim ’99 and his wife, Nayoung, are flanked by Director of Development Tim Struthers ’85 and Michael Higgins ’89 as they enjoy a luncheon in Hartford last December. Tim and Michael served as JinBon’s advisors when he was a student on the Island. J. (Jack) Paddington Caprio (born January 31, 2010) holds his little sister, Olivia Catherine Caprio (born September 9, 2011). They are the children of Melody Diegor Caprio ’97, and her husband, Andrew.

52 |

Heather Daqui Thanos ’94 and her husband, Christopher, welcomed the birth of their first child, Grace Camille, October 18, 2011.

’95

Sayuri Michelle Takahashi was born December 6, 2011, to Virginia Banh and Masayuki Takahashi ’95. Sayuri joins her older sister, Akina.

’97

for San Diego and Imperial counties by the California Narcotics Officers’ Association last October. She was designated the statewide winner a month later. The award recognizes Mary-Ellen’s 21-year service as a deputy district attorney, much of which time she spent working on drug cases. She now serves as a team leader in the major narcotics division of the district attorney’s office, supervising deputies assigned to the Border Crime Suppression Team.

1982 | Reunion 1986

Philip Rudnicki visited the Island twice last fall to visit his son, Caleb, a freshman. “I was there for the October snow event … incredible. I’m thankful to live in the South now. Had several dinners with Dave London in Boston on one of those visits, as well.”

1987 | Reunion

Cathryn Prince Saldinger presented a talk about her book Burn the Town & Sack the Banks: Confederates Attack Vermont, on January 21 at the Rowayton (Conn.) Historical Society. She is working on her fourth book, Stalin’s Last Torpedo, concerning the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff.

1988

Lisa Berman reports the happy news that her second son, Benjamin Harris Keeler, was born April 27, 2011. Alison Locke Perchuk enjoys teaching art history at Occidental College, Los Angeles. From Nancy (Nonie) Muse Shore: “Life is pretty great out here in Los Angeles. Samantha, 8, is in second grade, and Ben, 5, is in his last year of preschool. The real estate develop-

ment biz is picking up again for Dan, and we are all very excited to be going to Europe for spring break. Jen Rhodes and I recently went to see The Ellen Show together. It’s so much fun getting together with an old Loomis friend.”

1992 | Reunion 1993

Book cover: J. Stillman Hanson at McAfee Knob, Virginia Photo by Eric Manson “Marco” Maine Hundred Mile Wilderness

Photo by J. Stillman Hanson

JAMES STILLMAN HANSON ’90

Shares His Appalachian Journey

hike. Additionally, the book includes a section of extraordinary color photographs, a section of profiles of other southbound thru-hikers, photographs of Stillman, as well as photography notes, data, and Stillman’s responses to frequently asked questions.

N his book From Maine to Georgia: My Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike, James Stillman Hanson ’90, provides observations, poetry, journal entries, and exquisite black & white photographs of his journey along the entire length of the Appalachian Trail. In June 1994, he started the 2,155-mile hike from Maine’s Mt. Katahdin and finished atop Georgia’s Springer Mountain on December 16, 1994. Stillman spent the next six months developing and printing his photographs, nearly all of which are southward-looking images of the landscape along the Appalachian Trail. In the intervening years between his thru-hike and the publication of his book, Stillman started his family and his career; and

Stillman at the southern terminus, Springer Mountain, Georgia Photo by Lara Hanson

he selected photographs and wrote more about his journey. The result is a stunning compilation of beautiful photographs and sensitive reflections, often capturing Stillman’s mood at various points along his thru-

Stillman lives in Raleigh, N.C., with his wife, Lara, and their children, Stillman Jr., Luke, and Faith. In addition to being a husband and father, he is an attorney, photographer, soccer coach, and gardener. For additional information, including a complete book preview and purchasing information, visit https://sites. google.com/site/frommainetogeorgia/.

Joe Hill and his partner Max Lowry teamed up with Reebok Crossfit to create a huge piece of 3D street art. The painting took a week to create in London’s Canary Wharf area and measured 1,160.3 square meters, making it both the largest and the longest 3D street art ever made, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

1994

In his new book, The Ideal Man: The Tragedy of Jim Thompson and the American Way of War, Josh Kurlantzick explores the true story of an American Cold War spy and opponent of U.S. policy in Asia during the Vietnam War. Thompson vanished mysteriously in Malaysia in 1967.

1995

Jeff Levin reports that he is “living happily in Marblehead, Mass., with two beautiful children: Lucia, 5, and Kai, 3.”

1997 | Reunion 1998

Sarah O’Keefe Greig, husband David, and daughter Callahan live in NYC, where Sarah teaches architecture to first- and loomischaffee.org | 53

ALUMNI NEWS

Heads’ Holiday 2012 BOSTON

A happy gathering of alums convenes at La Meal in the Little Italy section of NYC on December 16, 2011: (back) Chris Copp ’98, Danny Klein ’98, Casey Ryan ’98, Jon Lombardo ’99, Evan Ryan ’99, and Connor Kriegel ’98; (front) Ryan Scharfenberger ’97, Mike Prindiville ’98, Tom Casey ’98, Adam Neuhaus ’99, and Ned May ’99. The gathering was to celebrate Connor’s 32nd birthday and the beginning of a new business venture, Watku, a San Francisco-based social enterprise that transforms workplace culture through unique, local experiences (www. watku.net), founded by brothers Casey and Evan.

Joanna Jacunski ’97, Jennifer Welch ’97, Andrew Cartin ’94, Geoffrey Sullivan ’94, Adam Heilemann, and Elaine Jarvis Heilemann ’94 gather for the Head’s Holiday Reception in Boston on February 2 at Andrew’s restaurant, JM Curley. Head’s receptions also took place in New York City, Hartford, and Washington, D.C.

’98

Courtney Ackeifi ’06, Gregory Jones, Kathleen Adams ’02, and Christopher Lee ’05

Nicole Meo ’04, Megan Fanning ’04, Kendra Staley ’04, and Elizabeth Spear ’04

second-graders and runs her own photography business. She had the pleasure of photographing the rehearsal dinner of Brooke Diamond O’Brien ’99 last July, and enjoyed seeing Kari Diamond ’97, Ali Thurber ’98, Laura Richards Milligan ’99, and many past coaches at the wedding.

2000

On January 6, the Japan Foreign Trade Council awarded Nicole Brown the Grand 54 |

Prize in its international essay contest on the topic “Vision for a New Japan after 3.11,” the date referring to the devastating earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown of 2011. The trade council has sponsored the essay contest every year since 2005, this year drawing 186 entrants from 43 countries. The council flew Nicole to Tokyo to receive the prize, which included a cash award of 1 million yen, the equivalent of approximately $13,000. Nicole’s essay, “Japan v 3.11 — Reclaiming the

Date,” envisions a new version of Japan, much as new versions of computer applications and other innovations build on and enhance the strengths of previous iterations. Nicole imagines “a better and stronger society … where the philosophy, vision, values, and innovative capacity of the nation are restructured, while retaining the features that make Japan the great nation it already is,” according to her essay summary. Judges for the 2011 competition were Iwo Nakatani, director of research at Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting Company and chairman of Fushiki-an; Yoko Wake, professor of business and commerce at Keio

Callahan Margaret Greig, the daughter of Sarah O’Keefe Greig ’98 and her husband, David, looks very pleased with her Pelican T-shirt. Callahan was born March 23, 2011.

University; and Kazuo Mori, senior staff writer at Nikkei Inc. In announcing the prize, Mr. Nakatani mentioned the selection committee’s positive reaction to Nicole’s hypothesis: “Another notable feature of the essay is the rich sense of humanity and humility exuded by the author, which makes the reader warmly receptive to the message she presents.” Nicole, a Jamaican citizen, lives and works in Trinidad and Tobago. After graduating from Loomis Chaffee, she attended Trinity College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in international affairs in 2004. “I credit the strong writing-based curriculum of Loomis Chaffee and strong research focus of the American Civilization class I took junior year for giving me such a great foundation,” she says. Quinten Burgess and Emily Marie Burgess welcomed the birth of their daughter, Lyvleigh Ann Marie Burgess, January 1, 2011. They live 15 minutes west of Orlando, Fla.

’00

Nicole Brown ’00 delivers her acceptance speech as the grand prize winner of the Japan Foreign Trade Council international essay contest. Meredith Keller ’00 and Jason Hasday were married in NYC on October 22, 2011. They live in Manhattan. A family trip to Atlantis, Bahamas, brings three alumni brothers and families together: (back) Todd Mendlinger ’08, Wendy Mendlinger-Savin, David Savin, Layna Mendlinger (wife of Josh), Josh Mendlinger ’87, and Ross Mendlinger ’04. In the front are Cooper, 8, and Noah, 11, sons of Josh and Layna.

2001

Jason Kraus writes: “I am working as an artist in NYC and showing internationally. I went back to graduate school at Columbia last fall to get my master’s degree in fine arts. I

Last September, Preston J. Byrne qualified as an English lawyer with the firm of Berwin Leighton Paisner, an international law firm headquartered in London. His practice encompasses bilateral and syndicated corporate lending, acquisition finance, and securitization.

Bar Association and graduated with dean’s honors. While an undergraduate at Tufts, Tucker was captain of the varsity men’s lacrosse team, earning All-America and Scholar AllAmerica honors. He volunteers as a Big Brother in the Big Brother Big Sister Foundation of Greater Boston and resides in South Boston.

2004

2005

Last fall, Betty Gilpin appeared in the role of Dinah in Zoe Kazan’s play We Live Here at the New York City Center, Stage I. Amy Irving and Mark Blum played her parents.

’87 ’04 ’08

’04

2002 | Reunion

With the impending London 2012 Olympics, archer Tina Jeon ’04 shot an Olympicsthemed commercial for Omega watches with an Italian production company. Michael Phelps and other well-known summer Olympians are also featured in the commercial and print advertisements. Tina blogged about the experience: tinaontarget. wordpress.com.

am getting married to Leslie Fritz this summer.” Margaret Nicoll is busy working with her husband on Sky Saddle Swings, a handcrafted wooden rope swing business (www.SkySaddleSwings.com).

Tina Jeon is a director at Qorvis Communications in Washington, D.C., and leads the firm’s account in the South Pacific. Representing the government of the Republic of Fiji, she has traveled with the country’s prime minister and attorney-general, supporting their Ministry of Information as the country prepares for democratic elections in 2014. J. Tucker Merrigan is a partner at Sweeney Merrigan Law, Boston, Mass., along with his brother, Peter Merrigan ’01. His practice concentrates on cases involving personal injury, wrongful death, premises liability, products liability, medical malpractice, and insurance law. Tucker is a member of the Massachusetts Bar, the Boston Bar Association, and the Massachusetts Bar Association. He graduated from New England School of Law, and he earned his bachelor’s degree in political science at Tufts. As a law student, Tucker served on the board of the Student

Lauren Robertson has recently been published as a second author in the journal Science Translational. The article, “Surgical Stress Resistance Induced by a Single Amino Acid Deprivation Requires Gcn2 in Mice,” has been picked up by the popular press for application in humans — and featured in The Washington Post and on ABC News and Fox News. Lauren recently was accepted to doctoral programs at Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania in, respectively, biological public health and neuroscience. Lauren asks friends and classmates visiting Boston to drop her a line for a drink or coffee.

2007 | Reunion Elena Correa graduated with honor from Colorado College.

News from Benjamin Kraus: “I graduated from Claremont McKenna College in May 2011. I moved back to New York and started in the analyst program at Morgan Stanley. Matt Ginsberg and I share an apartment on the Lower East Side.” Having graduated from Oberlin in June 2011, Caleb Strait is now a graduate student in brain and cognitive science at the University of Rochester. loomischaffee.org | 55

ALUMNI NEWS

2008

Kathy Bradley has been accepted into the 2012 Teach for America Corps and will teach elementary school in Connecticut. Patrick Meggers is completing his junior year at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He completed a five-week trip on board the Eagle, visiting ports in South America. Patrick is a member of the football team and a government major. From Jacob Peterson: “I’m entering my eighth and final semester studying biomedical engineering in the honors program at UConn. After graduation, I’ll be entering medical school in August although I haven’t made a final decision about which school. In the meantime, I’m continuing to volunteer my skills as a firefighter and EMT and work in the operating room and emergency department at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown. I’m ultimately planning to practice medicine in the U.S. Navy.”

2009

In a competition held February 11 at Canton (Conn.) High School, Kaitlyn Tarpey was announced as the new Miss Greater Simsbury (Conn.). She is a 2008 Miss Teen America and was crowned Miss Rocky Hill in 2011. The Miss Connecticut Scholarship competition promotes the Miss America and Miss America’s Outstanding Teen programs. Kaitlyn will be volunteering throughout the Greater Simsbury and Farmington Valley community, raising funds for the Children’s 56 |

Miracle Network Hospitals and national Miss America philanthropy, and preparing to compete in the Miss Connecticut pageant. The state finals will be held June 28–30 at the Garde Arts Center in New London, Conn.

2010

A sophomore at Holy Cross, Taylor James Esper is a starting defenseman on the men’s soccer team. Jean Larkin is studying prelaw at Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas.

’06

’09

Spencer Reese ’06 graduated from specialized undergraduate pilot training last November and is now a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. Here, he and his wife, Julia, are photographed on a C-17 transport jet. They were married October 8, 2011, in Rocky Hill, Conn. Anthony McGuire ’09 was recently elected president of the student government, called the Wesleyan Council on Student Affairs, at Ohio Wesleyan University. He was also elected president of his fraternity, Sigma Chi.

Annual Fund

2011

Mallory Collins, who plays lacrosse for Boston University, was named the America East Rookie of the Week February 28. According to Boston University Athletics, “Mallory began her collegiate career on February 22 by converting her first two shot attempts at Massachusetts before following that with her first collegiate hat trick at Harvard on February 25.” LaDarius Drew recently set Wesleyan University indoor track records in the 60-meter dash and the 200-meter dash. In the New England Division III indoor track championships, held in Springfield, Mass., February 17–18, he scored 16 of the 30 points Wesleyan accumulated to place 11th out of 24 scoring teams. LaDarius won the 60m with a time of 6.96 seconds, setting the Wesleyan record. In the 200m dash, he placed third in 22.69 seconds, just three-hundredths of a second away from the school record

Help Support Excellence in the Classroom Loomis Chaffee students benefit from numerous opportunities to discover and pursue their passions in an engaging academic environment. Your support of the Loomis Chaffee Annual Fund ensures that students continue to be inspired by exceptional educational experiences. Please make your gift today. loomischaffee.org/giving

ALUMNI NEWS | EDITED BY JAMES RUGEN ’70

Head coach John Zavisza and the Loomis Chaffee varsity hockey players join the alumni players on the ice.

Alums at Home on the Ice

HE boys varsity hockey program and the Alumni Office resurrected the alumni hockey game this winter. Skating just before the boys varsity was to take on Hotchkiss, the group of returning alumni brought their “A” game. Alumni who returned to the Island for the game included Frank Amato ’05, Rich Buckholz ’83, Mike Dolce ’99, Dan Dumais ’79, Peter Lewis ’79, Chris Martin ’05, Steve Martorana ’03, Dave Mattei ’99, Scott Miller ’87, Bob Savin ’91, Jay Thornhill ’05, and David Wit ’81. Rounding out the participating players were three parents of current varsity

in that event. He erased that narrow miss a week later. In the all-division New England Open Meet, February 24–25, LaDarius ran a school-record time of 22.08 in the 200m dash preliminary heats. The previous record had stood since 1999. He also took his 60m record down a few more notches with a time of 6.93, good for sixth place. In an email New Year’s greeting, Doron Shapir writes from Haifa, Israel: “Army life is not the easiest; it’s challenging to live with a lot of guys in the same tent, wake up early in the morning, and learn to shoot a rifle. I am proud to wear the uniform, and I hope I can excel in serving my country. I miss the U.S. a lot, and Loomis — my school — especially. I am very glad I went out of my comfort zone and lived away from home. I learned so much, and I had so much fun!”

A VIEW | continued from 37

news of the 1923 Yale-Princeton football game. According to The LOG, “the Radio Division … gave out a play-by-play report of the … game. [Freshman Robert] Burton rigged up a telephone from the cupola direct to the study hall, and here the course of the ball was marked on a blackboard.” The next Saturday, the boys were resigned to send a runner back and forth between the cupola and the study hall to report on the Harvard-Yale game. Former Dean of Students F. Evelyn “Evie” Smith ’50 recalls a Saturday morning when she and Martha Porteus ’36 joined forces to find their

players: Peter McCormick (father of freshman Seth), David Tobin (father of junior Henry), and Terry Gould (father of senior Ellis). Freshman Caleb Rudnicki, a member of the boys JV team whose father, Philip, graduated from Loomis Chaffee in 1986, also came to play, sharing goaltending duties with Scott Miller. The group was split into two squads randomly before the game, and Director of Athletics Bob Howe ’80 was the game’s official. After a spirited game, the alumni players and guests enjoyed a reception and cheered on the varsity Pelicans.

way into the Sellers cupola. By the mid-1960s both women had returned to the school: Martha as a science teacher and Evie as assistant to Headmistress Barbara Erickson. After carefully removing a library-ceiling tile that gave way to the opening, Martha brought a “rickety old ladder” from the Science Room and used it to climb up into the cupola. And what did she see? Mrs. Erickson approaching Sellers Hall on foot. Evie dashed out to distract Barbara from looking up and noticing Martha’s gingerly attempt to descend from the cupola. Evie and Martha claim to have gotten away with their “devilishness.”

pears in the Loomis Chaffee Centennial logo. A beacon of the school’s rich and varied history, relationships forged over generations, and ingenuity in the face of challenge, it is a perfect symbol to usher the school into its second century.

The Founders cupola ap-

loomischaffee.org | 57

A Personal Story: Why I Included Loomis Chaffee in My Planned Giving

The Rosenberg family: Tom, Brooks, Valerie, Alex, and Chloe Photo: Courtesy of Tom Rosenberg

“I John Metcalf Taylor Society

58 |

T all started when I wrote my first will, when I was single and living in New York City. I was already doing alumni work for Loomis and understood the importance of planned giving. I had no one to look after but myself, and it seemed like a logical and appropriate thing to name LC in my planned giving. I have just finished my third will and now have three teenagers, and keeping LC in my planned giving was never a question. My wife and family understand how important the school is to me, and it has remained a beneficiary of my estate. “It also happens that in my professional life I give wealth management advice on estate planning and philanthropy. These topics have always been a concern for my clients, and in walking through the varying ways people can give, I can provide more meaningful advice. In my personal life I also advise a few nonprofits, and planned giving is always a discussion for our major donors.

“I have often counseled people that, if rewriting a will or an estate plan seems like a daunting task, they can complete some planned giving by naming a nonprofit like LC as a beneficiary of their IRA or 401k plan assets. To do this, you just get one form from your IRA custodian or your employer. This is super easy and has the same impact as giving through a will or estate plan. “Planned giving through the John Metcalf Taylor Society is a way alumni can show their love of Loomis Chaffee and know that their gift goes to promote the longterm financial strength of the school.” — Thomas P.J. Rosenberg ’78, a member of the John Metcalf Taylor Society, a group of more than 550 benefactors who have remembered Loomis Chaffee in their estate plans To learn more, contact Marc Cicciarella, director of planned giving, at 860.687.6087 or marc_cicciarella@loomis.org, or go to www.loomischaffee. org/giftplanning.

IN MEMORIAM | BY KATHERINE A.B. LANGMAID

1931 Walter Mayer Franklin III, on January 17. “Bud” was a fouryear student from Plainfield, N.J. He was a member of the Chess and Radio clubs, electrician for the Dramatic Club, and active with Ludlow football. At Loomis, Bud was known for his Victrola and complete set of records. Following Loomis, Bud earned a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University. After living in Westchester County, N.Y., and Louisville, Ky., he and his family moved to Richmond, Va. Bud served as director of electrical market sales for Reynolds Metals Company. After retiring from Reynolds, he became president of Atlas Fence Company. Throughout his life, he enjoyed many (largely self-taught) activities, including painting, photography, flying seaplanes, boating, fishing, playing various musical instruments, and following the hunt at Deep Run Hunt Club, where he was a member. Bud was also a member of the Jamestowne Society, Sons of the Revolution, the Virginia Yacht Club, the Commonwealth Club, and the Country Club of Virginia. He was predeceased by his wife, Mary Wall White Franklin, and two brothers. He is survived by his children, Harriet Apperson Franklin and Walter Mayer Franklin IV; a granddaughter; and a sister. A funeral was held on January 19 at All Saints Episcopal Church in Henrico, Va.

1939 David Tyler MacLane, on November 25, 2011. A one-year student from Norwalk, Conn.,

Photograph of a primative map of the Town of Windsor Photo: Archives

Dave was involved with Dramatics and with the Nautical and Musical clubs. He was a member of the Orchestra and was active with Wolcott senior football. Following Loomis, Dave earned his bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College. A lifelong educator, Dave began his career as a private school educator and was then headmaster of The Country School in Madison, Conn., developing the arts, English, and math programs to grow the school from a few students to 80 in a span of 12 years. At the close of his career, a David MacLane Creative Writing Prize was still awarded annually to a Country

School student whose writing has demonstrated creativity. In addition, the library on campus at The Country School bears his name, The MacLane Library. David was known for his landscape and abstract art as well as for his appreciation of music. He was predeceased by his wife, Marsha Reynolds. He is survived by his companion of 15 years, Beverly Jean “B.J.” Blachy; his sons, Donald and Duncan; four grandchildren; and two great grandchildren. A memorial service was held on January 28 at Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Washington County in Hillsboro, Ore.

1940 Mary Cornelia Brewster Bamber, on February 10, following a sudden medical attack. Mary was a student from Farmington, Conn. Following Chaffee, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College and a master’s degree in library science from Drexel University, the latter of which she earned while raising her family. She worked as a reference librarian and then as an assistant director at the Cherry Hill, N.J., Library for many years. Mary was a proud U.S. Navy veteran and member of the WAVES, serving as communiloomischaffee.org | 59

IN MEMORIAM

cations officer in Washington, D.C., during World War II. As a member of a military family, she moved many times, including various overseas and stateside assignments. Mary’s volunteer activities included helping at local historical societies, comforting cancer survivors, transporting seniors to medical appointments, and tutoring elementary students in reading. Her most recent volunteer activities included the library and entertainment committees at Green Ridge Village, the retirement home where she resided with her husband of 58 years, William. Mary’s lifelong hobbies included travel, theater and opera, reading, knitting, and antiques shopping. She was a lover of plants and animals and always had a special family pet. She was a lifelong and devoted member of the Episcopal church, most recently at Trinity Church in Moorestown, N.J., and St. John’s in Carlisle, Pa. Mary is survived and deeply missed by her loving husband, Lt. Col. USA (Ret) William H. Bamber; her children, William E. Bamber II and Elizabeth W. Bamber; a granddaughter; a brother; a nephew; and two nieces. A memorial service was held on February 16 at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Carlisle, Pa. Edwin Samuel James, on November 25, 2011. A two-year student from Chappaqua, N.Y., Ed was involved in The LOG and the Plantation and Rifle clubs and served on the Activities Committee. He was active with first baseball, the wrestling team, and the 150-pound football team. Ed earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at 60 |

Chapel Hill. During World War II, he served first as an agent in the Counter-Intelligence Corps, an early U.S. counterintelligence operation. Later he was posted to Brazil, Australia, and New Guinea. He worked with a guerilla unit as a plane-spotter on Jolo Island in the Philippines. During his life Ed lived and worked on six of seven continents, first as a coffee buyer for Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company and later as an executive for Socony Vacuum, which became Mobil Oil Corporation. He retired from Mobil Oil in 1980 and retired to Rock Hill, S.C., with his beloved wife, Rosanne Guess. In retirement, Ed lectured at Winthrop College (now Winthrop University) and wrote articles for the editorial page of The Rock Hill Herald. He was an avid sportsman, and some of his happiest moments were spent on the ponds of South Carolina with his cherished fishing companions and, later, his grandchildren. Ed was multilingual and a spellbinding raconteur who loved poetry, history, and song. He was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Rosanne. He is survived by his brother, Robert J. James ’39; his daughters, Rosanah and Lysa; and four grandchildren. A private memorial service was to be held in South Carolina.

1941 Alan Nourse Houghton, on December 2, 2011. Alan was a four-year student from West Hartford. Conn. He was involved in the Chess, Dance, and Junior French clubs and with Special Committee. He served as president of the Stamp Club

and chairman of the Handbook Board. Alan was a member of Band and the Business Board for Loomiscellany. He was active with first baseball and track and served as captain of Allyn senior football. Alan earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Harvard University and did post-graduate work at Columbia University. He proudly served his country during World War II as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps, flying 33 missions over Europe as a B-24 bombardiernavigator. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with three Oak Leaf Clusters and the Air Medal. Alan was a career independent school educator as well as a Latin and ancient Greek scholar. After serving on the faculty at the Groton School, Alan was chairman of the Classics Department at Loomis Chaffee from 1951 to 1955. He went on to serve as headmaster of Pine Point School in Stonington, Conn., and Renbrook School in West Hartford, Conn. Following his tenure at Renbrook, Alan served as executive director of the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools, a position he held until his retirement in 1989. He was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Elizabeth Jones Houghton. Alan is survived by his children, Alan N. Houghton Jr., Elizabeth Houghton Ross, John B. Houghton, and Suzanne Houghton Varney; and seven grandchildren. Funeral services were private, and a memorial service was to be held at a later date.

1942 James Kent Jr., on November 18, 2011. Jim was a one-year student from Norwich, N.Y. He was involved with Allyn Club and Plantation and was a member of the Dining Hall Committee. Jim was active with second football and first basketball. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Hamilton College and was a proud veteran of World War II. Jim’s passions included reading, politics, swimming, blood donation, college football, hockey, and lacrosse. He was predeceased by two sisters and two nephews. He is survived by his son, James Kent III; his granddaughter; three nieces; a nephew; several great-nieces and great-nephews; and special friend Barbara Challenger. A celebration of life was to be held at a later date.

1943 Carlyle Fuller Barnes, peacefully, on January 21, following a long battle with type 1 diabetes. “Hap” was a five-year student from Bristol, Conn. He was president of the Student Council, president of the Endowment Fund, president of Junto, president of Band, and vice president of the junior class. In addition, he was involved with Dance Committee, Advisory Committee, and Military Drill. He was a cast member of Trial by Jury. Hap was active on the fencing team and served as a student coach of the team. He received the Gwendolen Sedgwick Batchelder Prize. Hap earned a bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University and was awarded, in 1977, an honorary Doctor of Laws degree

from Trinity College. Following Wesleyan, Hap joined Associated Spring Corporation as staff assistant in the Bristol Division, rising to general manager in 1951, when he was also elected to the board of directors. He took over as president in 1953 and was elected chairman and chief executive officer in 1964 until his retirement in 1994. Hap was a director with Travelers Insurance Company, Burndy Corporation, Kaman Corporation, Connecticut Light & Power, and the United Bank and Trust Company. He was president of the Manufacturing Association of Connecticut, president of the Connecticut Expenditures Council, and Connecticut chairman of the Newcomen Society. He served as chairman of the board of directors of the MacDuffie School, trustee of St. Lawrence University, and trustee of the New England College Fund. He was director of the WALKS Foundation and president of the Barnes Foundation. He was president of Bristol Hospital and, in later years, volunteered as a pastoral counselor in the hospital’s emergency room, where he brought smiles to all with his life-like hand puppets. He was a trustee of The Institute of Living, and a director of the American Red Cross. Hap was a long-term trustee of the Bushnell Memorial in Hartford. He served as president of the Nauset Heights Association in East Orleans, Mass., where he and his wife, Betty, spent their summers. Fulfilling a long-seated passion, Hap served as fire commissioner in Bristol for 36 years and then was made commissioner emeritus. Also in Bristol,

Gate. Photo: Dena Tucker

he was a director of the Main Street Community Foundation, chairman of the United Way, trustee of the West Cemetery Association, and an active member of the First Congregational Church. He also served for many years as a justice of the peace. Hap was a thirddegree Mason and was Jaycees’ Man of the Year in 1959. In 1986 he received the Boy’s Club Humanitarian Service Award. In 1997 he was presented with the Distinguished Service Award for dedicated service to the business community from the Bristol Chamber of Commerce. In 1999 he received the John Filer Award for Creative Leadership in Philanthropy from the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy, and in 2007 he received the ACE Award from Bristol Center for Arts and Culture. His hobbies included

photography, writing children’s books, singing, and playing jazz bass. He also collected antique fire memorabilia that evolved into the Museum of Fire History upstairs at the Carousel Museum of New England in Bristol. Hap was a member of the Loomis Graduate Council and served as an Alumni Half Century Fund volunteer and as co-chairman of the 50th Reunion Gift Committee for the Class of 1943. He directed the Barnes Foundation to name, in 1961, a chemistry laboratory in the Clark Science Center in memory of his father, Fuller Forbes Barnes and, in 1970, the Barnes Gallery, originally in Katharine Brush Library and now in the Richmond Art Center. Hap was predeceased by his brother, Edward; and by his sister and brother-inlaw, Aurelia and William S.

Bristol ’44. He is survived by his cherished wife of 62 years, Elizabeth “Betty” Ann May; his children, Lynne Leahy, Janis Owens, Joan Flynn, and Fuller Barnes; 10 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; his sister, Louise Adams; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. A memorial service was held on January 28 at First Congregational Church in Bristol.

1947 William Austin Kugler, peacefully, on July 9, 2011. A twoyear student from Winchester, Mass., Bill was involved with the Darwin, Jazz, Photography, and Political clubs as well as with the Student Federalists. He was a volunteer medical aide and a cast member in Macbeth. Bill was active with Ludlow senior football and loomischaffee.org | 61

IN MEMORIAM

62 |

Ludlow senior physical education. He achieved honor roll for both of his years at Loomis. Upon receiving his bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University, Bill joined the Army and attended Army Language School in Monterey, Calif., specializing in Russian. He went on to receive master’s degrees from Columbia and Harvard in Russian studies and economics, respectively. He was also a Fulbright scholar at the Free University in Berlin. Bill was a career economist with the CIA whose work took him to the former Soviet Union and to Germany. A notable three-year assignment in Munich was a formative and memorable experience for his entire family. Preceding and following his retirement, he founded and led Kugler Tours with his wife and Paula Greenhouse, organizing trips for music lovers to operas and music festivals coast to coast. Bill is survived by his wife, Joan; his children, Margaret, Thomas, Elizabeth, and Katherine; and five grandchildren. A memorial service was held on July 23, 2011, at All Saints Church in Chevy Chase, Md.

working as assistant regional manager for United Aircraft International (a predecessor to United Technologies International) in Southeast Asia, the Far East, Australia, and New Zealand; serving as an officer in the Trust Municipal Finance areas of BayBank Connecticut and Connecticut Bank and Trust; and working for 15 years as a business development officer for Business Development Finance Corporation in Tucson, Ariz. He was an avid sportsman, serving as a ski instructor, playing tennis and golf, and, upon moving to Tucson in 1994, hiking and trekking. He and his wife, Maureen Bowe Vosburgh, enjoyed travel to many distance places. He will be remembered for his zest for life and sunny disposition even when in failing health. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Maureen; his children, Leslie Vosburgh Byrne, Peter Vosburgh Jr., Jonathan Vosburgh, and Christopher Vosburgh; his step-daughter, Darcie O’Brien; several grandchildren; and his sister, Helen Vosburgh Dixon. Funeral services and a celebration of his life will be held at the convenience of his family.

1948

1949

Peter Barent Vosburgh, on January 23, following a lengthy illness. Pete was a two-year student from West Hartford, Conn. He was active with first soccer, first hockey, first baseball, and Allyn intermediate football. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College. He served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps and as a major in the Marine Air Reserve. His long and varied career included

DeWitt Herbert Loomis Jr., on December 3, 2011. DeWitt was a one-year student from Washington, D.C. He was involved with the Glee and Chess clubs, and Pelicans. He was a cast member in Iolanthe and The Bat. DeWitt was active with Ludlow senior football, Ludlow intermediate basketball, and Ludlow senior baseball. DeWitt enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was stationed

in Japan, intercepting Russian intelligence. After the war, he earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia. He then received his calling to the Episcopal ministry and graduated from the Philadelphia Divinity School. He served Old Durham Church in Nanjemoy, Md.; an ecumenical ministry in Theresa, N.Y.; St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Bainsbridge, N.Y.; St. Ann’s in Afton, N.Y.; and Varina Episcopal Church in Richmond, Va. He retired in 1995. Following his retirement, DeWitt lived at Westminster Canterbury in Richmond, Va., where he was active in many organizations and continued his lifelong passions for pool, fishing, reading, and bridge. He also served as interim or supply minister for several dioceses of Southern Virginia parishes. DeWitt was predeceased by his son, DeWitt Herbert Loomis III ’82. He is survived by his children Kathryn Hyde Loomis, Timothy Ward Loomis, and Philip Butler Loomis; four grandchildren; his sister, Gwendolyn Loomis Walker; a niece; and a nephew. A memorial service was held on December 9, 2011, at Westminster Canterbury in Richmond. The family has requested that gifts in DeWitt’s memory be made to The Rev. DeWitt H. Loomis ’49 Scholarship Fund at The Loomis Chaffee School. Almon Rodney Warren, on October 5, 2011, following a brief illness. Rod was a four-year student from Hartford, Conn. He was involved with the Bridge, Chess, Nautical, Chemistry, and Stamp clubs as well as with the Special Committee. Rod served as a volunteer Medical Aide.

He was active with first team soccer, for which he earned a varsity letter; first team wrestling; and the Rifle and Ski clubs. Rod earned his bachelor’s degree from Colby College. After several years with Travelers, Rod began his restaurant career with Warren’s Country Kitchen, later adding the Hungry Mate, both in Pocasset, Mass. He later retired to Cocoa Beach, Fla., where he took up a rope and chandelling business. Rod was predeceased by his loving companion of many years, Nancy Schoch. He is survived by his former wife, Terri Warren; his children, John Warren, Leslie Shanley, and Holly Crook; eight grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren. Private services were to be held at a future date.

1950 George Daniel Enterline Jr., on November 8, 2011. Dan was a one-year student from Dover, Del. He was a member of the Senior Executive and Senior Reception committees and was active with winter track and the Barbell Club. Dan served as coach of Ludlow intermediate football. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware, where he was elected student government president and was active with Sigma Nu Fraternity. Following the University of Delaware, Dan was involved in Delaware politics. He was elected as the first vice chairman of the State Federation of Active Young Republicans, eventually serving as a committeeman for the Kent County Republican Party. In 1968, Dan was named co-chairman of the Rockefeller for President Com-

Former Trustee: John C. Sienkiewicz ’51

mittee in the state of Delaware. In 1969, Dan joined the staff of the newly elected Delaware governor, Russ Peterson, where he worked as the governor’s administrative assistant. In 1973, Dan worked as administrative assistant to Lt. Gov. Eugene Bookhammer. In 1977, Dan was hired by Gov. Pete DuPont to act as a liaison between the governor’s office and the Delaware Legislature. Dan also worked as the campaign manager for U.S. Congressman Thomas B. Evans Jr. Dan maintained his business, Dan Enterline Real Estate, which specialized in real estate sales, appraisals, and consulting, until his death. In addition, he raised cattle on his 100-acre East Dover farm, Hazel Tract. He served on the Board of Directors for the MarylandDelaware Forage Council and a term as treasurer for the Delmarva Beef Cattleman’s Association. He was active as a legislative and political advisor to Delaware Wild Lands. He also served as president for The Sheperd Place, a facility for the homeless in Kent County, Delaware. Dan was predeceased by his son-in-law, David H. MacKelcan. He is survived by his children, Thomas, Paul, Daniel, and Laura; a daughterin-law; and four grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on November 11, 2011, at the Immaculate Conception Church in Marydel, Md. James Henry Goodrich, unexpectedly, on October 13, 2011. Jim was a four-year student from Windsor, Conn. He was involved with the Health Society and Glee Club. He served as a medical aide and as Loomis representative to the Junior

John Casimir Sienkiewicz died unexpectedly at his home in Loblolly, Hobe Sound, Fla., on January 3. John was a four-year student from Doylestown, Pa. He was involved with the Jazz and Bridge clubs and the Student Endowment Fund. He served as president of the Senior Class, president of the Senior Executive Committee, and president of Ludlow Club. He was active with first team football, for which he served as captain and earned a varsity letter, as well as with first team basketball, for which he also earned a varsity letter. John was awarded the Evelyn Longman Batchelder Prize for sportsmanship. Following Loomis, John earned his bachelor’s degree from Princeton University, where he served as president of the Class of 1955 and played varsity football during his senior year, receiving the award for Most Improved Player. John remained a valued advisor to Princeton University throughout his life. John served in the United States Navy from 1955 to 1957 aboard the USS Hancock, rising to the rank of lieutenant. In 1958, John joined Hutchinson, Rivinus & Company of Philadelphia as an insurance salesman. In 1965, he became a partner of the firm, which later was acquired by Alexander and Alexander International. In time, John became president and chief executive officer of international operations of Alexander and Alexander, which was known as the largest international insurance brokerage firm in the world. After the firm’s acquisition by Aon Risk Services, John remained an active vice chairman. He lived most of his life in Princeton, N.J., with his wife of 50 years, Patricia Davis Sienkiewicz. His passions included golf, philanthropy, and travel. John was a member of the Pine Valley Golf Club, Seminole Golf Club, and many others. He was an active member of the United States Senior Golf Association. John was widely philanthropic, giving generously to many organizations. He served as chairman of the board for 10 years for the University Cottage Club at Princeton University. John served The Loomis Institute as a Trustee from 1983 to 1996. In addition, he was a loyal volunteer, holding such positions as chair of the Annual Fund, co-chair of the Reunion Committee, reunion fundraising volunteer, Annual Fund leadership giving volunteer, alumni admission volunteer, and longtime class agent. In 1980, John spearhead-

ed fundraising efforts to establish the Ralph W. Erickson Instructorship in Physical Education to honor the former athletics director and coach. “As an alumnus, Trustee, Annual Fund leader and volunteer, and parent of two Loomis Chaffee graduates, Mark ’86 and Peter ’89, John was incredibly loyal, dedicated, and generous to his school. In reunion years, he enjoyed immensely reconnecting with his classmates and reconnecting at least some of them with their school. He also always wanted the very best for Loomis Chaffee, pushing all of us to excel in our efforts, while praising us for our successes. We will miss John’s energy and enthusiasm and thank him for his lifetime of devotion to his school,” recalls Associate Head for External Relations Nathan Follansbee. John was predeceased by his first wife, Patricia, and his brother, Bur Sienkiewicz. He is survived by his second wife, Maisie Barlow Sienkiewicz; his sons, Mark Sienkiewicz ’86 and Peter Sienkiewicz ’89; his brother, Michael Sienkiewicz ’55; and many more family and friends who loved him dearly. A celebration of life service is planned for June 9 at Princeton University.

loomischaffee.org | 63

IN MEMORIAM

Board of Directors for the Greater Hartford Tuberculosis and Public Health Society. He was a library supervisor and a cast member of Iolanthe. Jim was active with tennis, Ludlow junior football, and baseball. He served as manager for Ludlow football and the athletics store. Jim lived for many years in Connecticut and eastern New York. On a visit to Colorado in 1992, he fell in love with the mountains and streams of northern Colorado and retired to Livermore, Colo., with his wife in 1996. He loved to hunt and fish, especially with his sons and grandsons. He was an accomplished woodworker and was generous in sharing his knowledge and shop. Jim is survived by his wife of 51 years, Marian; his children, James, Jill, Timothy, Kit, and John; 11 grandchildren; his sister, Sally; and many nieces and nephews.

1952 Benjamin Rodman Tuttle, on January 25. Rod was a threeyear student from Easton, Conn. He was a member of the Chess, Radio, and Science clubs and was involved with the Endowment Fund and Assistant Permissions Committee. Rod was active with Ludlow intermediate soccer, Ludlow intermediate basketball, Ludlow senior basketball, Ludlow intermediate football, spring sports, and the Gun Club. He also served as manager of Ludlow soccer. After serving in the Marine Corps during the Korean War, Rod earned a bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering from Lafayette College. Extending his engineering education, Rod’s business career 64 |

included a series of successes in precise instrumentation, and he became the district sales manager at Non-Linear Systems and opened the Boston district office. From there, his career prospered mainly in the New England area, highlighted by a successful tenure at Digital Equipment Corporation. Rod and his second wife, Jan, settled in Gainsville, Fla., in 2003, after spending seven and a half years exploring 18 countries around the Caribbean basin. Rod was committed passionately to American ideals and worked hard to support those tenets, both with the Board of County Commissioners and as a member of the Alachua County Charter Review Commission. He was an active board member of the Gainsville Country Club, where he served on the board of directors and diligently worked on turning his proficient sailing skills into those of an average golfer. Rod is survived by his daughters, Anne Tuttle Sweetapple and Jennifer Tuttle Shea. Private services were to be held.

1953 Richard Whitman Finch, peacefully at home, on February 5. Dick was a four-year student from Cheshire, Conn. He was a member of the Glee, Nautical, and Political clubs. He was a member of the Student Foreign Policy Association and the Chapel and Assembly Committee. Dick was active with first team soccer, for which he earned a varsity letter; Wolcott senior basketball; and Wolcott senior baseball. He attended St. Lawrence University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Dick worked for Olin Corpora-

tion, Bomar Specialties, and was president of Precision Polymer Systems. Dick is survived by his wife, Jan Zetsche Finch; his children, Susan Finch Moore, Stephen Finch, and Spencer Finch; and five grandchildren. Private funeral services were to be held.

1954 William Fisher Perry, following a sudden illness, on December 25, 2010, surrounded by his family. Bill was a two-year student from Keene, N.H. He was a member of the Darwin Club and the Dayboy Committee. He was involved with the Student Endowment Fund and Student Council. Bill was active with first team football, track, and Wolcott senior basketball. He attended the University of New Hampshire for two years before he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. After two years and an honorable discharge, he returned to the University of New Hampshire, where he earned a bachelor’s degree. He worked for Peerless Insurance for two years, where he met his wife of 47 years, Janice J. Jardine. Later, he and Janice moved to Peterborough, N.H., where they bought a car dealership and started Perry Motors. He owned and operated the car dealership for nearly 40 years. Bill enjoyed camping and boating on Moosehead Lake in Maine. He was a member and past president of the Peterborough Lions Club. He was past president and a 37-year member of the New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association; a member of the Keene Masonic, Jerusalem Lodge No. 104; and a member of the Amoskeag

READER’S VOICE Editors’ Note: Frederick Davidson ’55 was inspired to write the following when he read about the untimely death of his classmate in the winter 2012 issue of Loomis Chaffee Magazine.

on Avery was a classmate whom I remember — vividly — from our days at Loomis (now Loomis Chaffee) where Don was quiet, brilliant, always conscientious, a joy to be with, and ever thoughtful of others. We last saw him at our 50th Reunion. When Gene Mercy and our wives, Sue (Mercy) and Mary (Davidson), were returning to New York, after the Reunion, Gene and I were asked (independently) who we admired most in our class, and we both named Don. I would venture that this opinion would be shared by many — most — of our classmates. I am sorry Don died so suddenly and did not live to enjoy more of life with his children, grandchildren, and friends. Don was a rare man. He may be gone, but in our hearts he is still with us. Frederick Davidson ’55

Veterans of Peterborough. Bill received the Melvin Jones Fellowship from the Peterborough Lions Club. Bill is survived by his wife, Janice; his children, Deborah Lynn Perry, Charles D. Perry, and Cynthia Benson; one brother; twin sisters; five grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, and cousins; and two Lab-Sharpei dogs, Louie and Primrose. A funeral was held on December 30, 2011, at Keene Unitarian Universalist Church in Keene, N.H.

1965

Staff

Michael Earl Gentile, at his home, on November 28, 2011. Mike was a four-year student from Windsor, Conn. He was involved with the Chess and Printing clubs, Student Council, Admission Committee, Foreign Policy Association, and Pirandello Society. Mike was active with varsity football, for which he earned a varsity letter, and Wolcott lacrosse. He grew up spending all of his free time in Vermont, where he met his wife, Rachel. Mike earned a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University. He retired from the U.S. Army after 25 years of service, having achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel, and was a member of the American Legion and a life member of the National Rifle Association. He was passionate about Civil War history and his family, especially the time spent with his grandchildren. Mike loved the outdoors and enjoyed fishing, hunting, canoeing, and travel. He was predeceased by his wife, Rachel. He is survived by his daughters, Kristina Criss and Carrie Cohen; his brother; and five grandchildren. A memorial service was held on December 10, 2011, at the Andover Community Church in Andover, Vt.

Deborah Marie Stone, surrounded by her family at her home, on December 28, 2011. Debbie was born in New Britain and spent most of her life in Windsor, graduating from Windsor High School in 1972. Early in her career, Debbie worked at Aetna, before starting a home daycare while she raised her children. She worked in dining services at Loomis Chaffee from 1995 to 1998. Most recently, she served as the human resources director for 13 years for Spectrum Microwave in Worcester, Mass. In her spare time, Debbie enjoyed caring for her home, spending time with her family, and taking trips with her family and friends to the casino. She also loved spending time on her sister’s boat in Rainbow Reservoir and relaxing on a warm summer day. Debbie was predeceased by her father, Harold J. DePianta. She is survived by her mother, Santina Lastrina DePianta; her children, Keri-Ann Stone, Christopher Stone, and Gregory Stone; a brother; two sisters; three grandchildren; three uncles; several nieces and nephews; and several great-nieces and great-nephews. A Memorial Mass was celebrated on January 4 at St. Gertrude Church in Windsor. Clayton LePire, unexpectedly at his home, on February 17. Clayton was born in 1944, the son of the late Herbert and Jean LePire. He lived in Windsor his entire life. He worked

in dining services at Loomis Chaffee from 1989 until his retirement in 2011, and he was a member of the Windsor Volunteer Fire Department. Clayton is survived by his sister, Jane Dill. A private funeral was to be held.

Friends Constance Haaren Wells, surrounded by her family, on January 20. She was 90 years old. Connie was married to the late Daniel H. Wells II ’34, director of development and alumni affairs. The couple came to Loomis Chaffee in 1967 after Dan’s retirement from a 25-year career in the U.S. Navy. They lived on campus for 16 years, during which time Connie was an active member of the First Church of Windsor, where she also taught nursery school. Connie enjoyed tennis, skiing, golf, and bridge, but mostly delighted in the company of her friends and family. In 1983, Dan and Connie retired to New Hampshire, where Connie remained until her death. She was predeceased by her husband, Dan; and her son, Daniel H. Wells III. She is survived by her daughters, Leslie Wells Schettler and Kimberley Wells Messinger ’78; five grandchildren, including Daniel H. Wells IV ’07; a large, extended family; and many friends. The family has requested that gifts in Connie’s memory be made to the Daniel H. ’34 and Constance Wells Scholarship Fund at The Loomis Chaffee School.

More News The Alumni Office has learned of the passing of Charles H. Sullivan ’32 on October 8, 2004; Harriet A. Asquith ’33 on February 24, 2010; Robert Sawin Gillett ’40 on March 25, 2011; John Stewart Harrison ’41 on August 1, 2009; Roland Anderson Fletcher ’42 on January 14, 2009; Ardee Ames ’50, on February 21, 2010; Gerald J. McGrath ’73 on September 28, 2008; Peter Matthew Lederman ’76 on June 8, 2011; Phillip K. Parton ’81 on February 1, 2012; and Andrew Robert Levene ’88 on January 26, 2012. More information, as available, will be printed in future issues.

loomischaffee.org | 65

THE LAST WORD | BY W. VAN ALAN CLARK SR.

A Parent’s Tribute Editors’ Note: In 1947, W. Van Alan Clark Sr. and his son Hays Clark ’37 looked back with fondness on a shared experience on the Loomis campus during Hays’ time as a student. Mr. Clark later recounted that revelatory conversation when he spoke on behalf of The Loomis School parents during the June 14, 1947, celebration of Nathaniel Horton Batchelder’s 35 years as headmaster.

“

Hays Clark ’37, son of W. Van Alan Clark Sr.

I was talking with one of my boys about Loomis. ... [H]ere is the way the conversation went: ‘Dad, you always used to liked to go to Chapel, and I used to like to sing then — with Bill Card at the organ.’… We recalled one spring Sunday. The windows were open; we could look out into the green trees and blue sky. He said, ‘I remember what Mr. B talked about that day. It was about the importance of the habit of doing the right thing. For there would some time come an emergency when we would not have time to think it out. And if we were trained to do right instinctively, we would not go wrong.’ Now that was a very satisfactory conversation, for I, too, have thought of that day and of those very things. They did something to me. Perhaps parents, too, have something happen to them on this quadrangle that is not understood at the moment.

”

— W. Van Alan Clark Sr.

66 |

Founders Chapel in the 1930s, around the time of W. Van Alan Clark Sr.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recollected moment loomischaffee.org | 67

Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Loomis Chaffee School

The Loomis Chaffee School 4 Batchelder Road Windsor, Connecticut 06095 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

LOOMIS CHAFFEE SUMMER PROGRAM

FIVE WEEKS — JUNE 27–AUGUST 1, 2012 | GRADES 7–12

LEARN TO WRITE . . . WRITE TO LEARN ❂ BUILD A ROBOT ❂ DISCOVER A VOICE EXPRESS A POEM ❂ EXPERIENCE SCIENCE ❂ PAINT A PICTURE ❂ ENCOUNTER GEOMETRY ❂ VISIT NYC

M M

C O V S E I

ER PROG

Live and learn on our beautiful campus, improve academic skills, expand global awareness, explore the joys of learning in a new way . . . among new friends . . . in a new environment. Five weeks can change your life! 68 |