Winter 2013 Loomis Chaffee Magazine by Loomis Chaffee

MAGAZINE

Afghanistan Education Around the World 19 Familiar Faces Campaign 2012

WINTER 2013

Winter 2013/ Volume LXXV, No. 1 ON THE COVER Shabana Basij-Rasikh, a pioneer of girls education in Afghanistan, talks with students during her visit to campus in November as part of the Hubbard Speakers Series. Photo: John Groo ON THIS PAGE Freshman Madden Aleia plays the electric guitar during the Jazz Band concert in December. Photo: John Groo DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING | Lynn Petrillo ’86 MANAGING EDITOR | Becky Purdy CLASS NEWS | James S. Rugen ’70 OBITUARIES | Katherine A.B. Langmaid CONTRIBUTORS | Rachel Allen, Jeuley Ortengren, Missy Pope ’04, Mary Coleman Forrester, Jeffrey Holcombe, senior Jordan Williams, Lisa Salinetti Ross, Karen Parsons, KeriAnne Travis, and Katherine A.B. Langmaid 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 6811 magazine@loomischaffee.org PRINTED AT LANE PRESS Burlington, Vermont Printed on 70# Sterling Matte, an SFI sheet SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY INITIATIVE POSTMASTER Send address changes to The Loomis Chaffee School 4 Batchelder Road Windsor CT 06095 Be a fan: facebook.com/loomischaffee Follow us: twitter.com/loomischaffee See our boards: pinterest.com/loomischaffee

INSIDE

LoomisChaffee

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Girls Education in Afghanistan The 22-year-old founder of the first boarding school for girls in Afghanistan shared her story with the Loomis Chaffee community this fall, including details of her childhood years attending a forbidden school during Taliban rule.

20 | Around the World

Faculty journeys far and wide are bringing new discoveries, lessons, and perspectives back to the Island, as evidenced by a sampling of faculty travels from last summer.

28 | Nineteen Familiar Faces More than 11 percent of faculty members are also graduates of the school. No wonder these faces look so familiar.

30 | Campaign 2012 A whirlwind of election-related events on campus this fall launched a year-long look at democracy and put students in the roles of the candidates and their campaign teams.

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.

The football team rings the Victory Bell. With a 5-3 record this fall, including wins over Andover, Hotchkiss, Deerfield, Avon Old Farms, and Trinity-Pawling, the team had lots of victories to announce with the traditional peals of celebration. Photo: Lisa Salinetti Ross

HEADLINES | BY SHEILA CULBERT

Diversity in Admissions

WO years ago, the Trustees established a task force to look at diversity at Loomis Chaffee. This past summer the group returned a set of recommendations that included asking the Board of Trustees to become more diverse, affirming a commitment to diversity in admissions and employment, and suggesting ways we could further strengthen multicultural education both in and out of the classroom. (See the article on page 6 for more on the recommendations by the task force.) Reactions to the task force were overwhelmingly positive throughout the process. The diversity issue that undoubtedly generates the most discussion relates to admissions, particularly the idea of considering race as a preference in admissions decisions. The Supreme Court is reviewing once again the issue of affirmative action in the case of Fisher v. the University of Texas, where a white student is claiming that the university favors African American and Hispanic applicants over better qualified white and Asian American students. The court is expected to make a decision sometime in early 2013 — perhaps before this column even appears — and that decision is widely expected to have a significant impact on college admissions across the country. The topic evokes strong emotions because it involves questions of access and privilege. Who takes a place at the best institutions and what factors do schools weigh as they make admissions decisions? There are obvious questions also for Loomis Chaffee. With a school of 650 students, every 2 |

seat is precious. How should we decide which students to admit? What role should diversity play in those decisions? And what do we mean by diversity? Of the 1,600 prospective students who apply each year, probably close to 70 percent are academically qualified to do the work at Loomis Chaffee. So we could simply admit the number of applicants we need who meet the academic standards on a firstcome basis, taking into account, of course, that we have to admit more to realize the final yield required to fill the school. Such a process would certainly simplify admissions! The resulting student body would also be quite different than our current one. My sense is that choosing on a first-come first-served basis would create a community with less domestic geographic diversity; we would have a higher percentage of students on financial aid, which, while noble, is not something that our budget could absorb; and we would lose the ability to orchestrate a collection of students who represent the wide-ranging perspectives and backgrounds that make this such an intellectually vibrant community. Students learn from one another. They benefit from being surrounded by peers, faculty, and staff who come from a variety of backgrounds and cultures and who challenge received wisdom and deeply held assumptions and truths. It is often only when we encounter people who have very different beliefs and value DIVERSITY | continued 16

Head of School Sheila Culbert Photo: John Groo

“

Diversity of perspectives, experiences, and talents is essential to a 21st century education that prepares students to be good citizens and leaders on the local, national, and international stages.

”

— Sheila Culbert

AROUND THE QUADS

Girls Education in Afghanistan

ROWING up under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, Shabana Basij-Rasikh attended a secret school because girls education was forbidden. “We all knew that we were risking our lives: the teachers, the students, and our parents,” she told a rapt audience of students, faculty, and staff in the Olcott Center on November 29. “From time to time, school would suddenly be canceled for a week because the Taliban seemed suspicious. We always wondered what they knew. Were we being followed? Do they know where we live? We were scared. But still, school was where we wanted to be.” Ms. Basij-Rasikh, the 22-year-old founder of a boarding school for girls in Afghanistan, visited Loomis Chaffee as part of the Hubbard Speakers Series. She spoke at an all-school convocation and met with several classes. In telling her story, she explained her motivation for establishing SOLA, the School of Leadership, Afghanistan, and discussed the importance and challenges of girls education in her native country and throughout the world. Ms. Basij-Rasikh was born in Kabul to a family that valued education above all else. “My father would say, ‘Listen, my daughter! You can lose everything you own. Your money can be stolen. You could be forced to leave your house during a war, but the only thing that will remain with you is [your education]. If we have to sell our blood to pay your school fees, we will,’” she recounted. Dressing as a boy named “Shaban,” she and

her sister walked 45 minutes to and from the secret school, a home where girls came and went at all hours of the day, disguising their school books as groceries, pretending that they were running errands. She received an education there from a woman and her three daughters who had been involved in education in Afghanistan prior to the Taliban regime. Secretly, Ms. Basij-Rasikh, her sister, and close to 100 other girls received tutoring for the five years of Taliban rule. When the U.S. military invaded Afghanistan in 2001, Ms. Basij-Rasikh, then 11 years old, was able to attend school as a girl, wearing a uniform and carrying her school books publicly. Shortly after, she received a scholarship for an exchange program through the U.S. State Department that sent students to learn in the United States. She was one of 40 accepted, and she completed her senior year of high school in Wisconsin. She was accepted to Middlebury College in Vermont for the following year. Ms. Basij-Rasikh went on to major in international studies and women and gender studies at Middlebury, where she graduated magna cum laude. While still a college student, she founded a non-governmental organization to build a school in her native province, was selected as one of the Glamour Magazine Top 10 College Women of 2010, and directed the NGO Afghan Youth Initiative. She is now the managing director/ interim head of school for SOLA, the only boarding school for girls in the country.

“

To me, Afghanistan is a country of hope and boundless possibility, and every single day the girls of SOLA remind me of that. Like me, they are dreaming big.

”

— Shabana Basij-Rasikh

“When I am back in Kabul, when I look at the students in my school and the parents who encourage them, I see a promising future, and lasting change,” she said. “To me, Afghanistan is a country of hope and boundless possibility, and every single day the girls of SOLA remind me of that. Like me, they are dreaming big.”

Shabana Basij-Rasikh talks with students in Dennis Robbins’ Introduction to Ethics class. Photo: John Groo

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AROUND THE QUADS

The View from Year 5: An Interview with Sheila Culbert

Head of School Sheila Culbert reviews plans for a new dormitory with senior Rekha Kennedy, sophomore William Parsons, senior Shannon McCabe, senior Amy Ward, sophomore Michaela Esteban, and sophomore Aidan Dunlavey. Photo: John Groo

IN THE SUMMER OF 2008, SHEILA CULBERT ARRIVED ON THE ISLAND from Dartmouth College and plunged into her new role as Loomis Chaffee’s head of school. Although her official duties began in July, Sheila’s mind already had been hard at work for months, preparing for the responsibilities and challenges of her new position at the helm of a thriving, ambitious, and complex school that will mark its Centennial in 2014–15. Now in her fifth year as head of school, Sheila’s pace has never flagged, and her skills as a strategic planner, a teacher, a historian, a leader, and a decision-maker have brought changes while also crystallizing the school’s vision of its future — a vision that draws from the Founders’ noble and progressive intentions and embraces today’s changing world. Sheila sat down in December for an interview about her time at Loomis Chaffee so far and her thoughts about the school’s future. A portion of the interview follows. To read a full version of the conversation, go to loomischaffee.org/magazine.

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Before you started as head of school, you asked faculty to give you feedback on a couple of questions. So now, after four and a half years here, how you would answer those questions? The first one was, “What values and characteristics describe Loomis when it’s at its best?”

Faculty, when they wrote to me, emphasized the sense of community. The relationships that get formed among the students, but also the relationships between the students and faculty, are very genuine and very important. Well, five years into this position I understand what the faculty then were talking about; there really is something special about this place. Part of our success is that we manage to be an academically rigorous, first-rate school where our students go on to do extraordinary things. We manage to blend that rigor with a warmth, an emphasis on character, on being supportive of one another, and being responsible for the community. I know other schools talk about this, but we have somehow managed to make it part of our ethos. There is a lovely line from Barss [John E. Barss, a faculty member from 1919 to 1942] where he talks about the “community without the consciousness of effort.” Isn’t that lovely? It just sums up for me what’s really important here.

he other question that you T asked people was, “What are your hopes and aspirations for Loomis over the next five to 10 years?” What are yours?

Our Founders had a particular vision of this school as being a progressive beacon of light. They wanted to have a place that was really committed to having an outstanding education for a wide range of students, and my vision for the next hundred years is that we continue to build upon that and are known for it. Loomis was a very unusual school when it was founded. We have a history to really be proud of and celebrate as we go into our 100th year. As part of that I hope to really get the centers [the Norton Family Center for the Common Good, the Center for Global Studies, and the Henry R. Kravis ’63 Center for Excellence in Teaching] solidified and cemented into the culture of the school. We already do a very good job of inculcating those values that lead to the sort of community that we have. The Norton Center will make that even better, even more part of the culture. I’d love to see us have a still richer global studies program. I’d love to see us do even more with environmental science. I’m really looking forward to having the new dormitories — a larger one to house

50 students and four faculty apartments to complement Kravis Hall that will also include the Health Center, and a smaller dormitory of 22 students and two faculty apartments in Gwendolen. And I am looking forward to further expanding our financial aid program. The Financial Aid Initiative that we began a couple of years ago has been extremely successful, and we want to continue that momentum to ensure that the school remains accessible to a broad range of students.

“

The transformation that takes place with high school kids . . . is pretty dramatic, and it’s an exciting one for any educator to watch.

”

What do you like most about your role as head of school?

I really like the students. This weekend I went to the athletics awards tea and then on to the jazz concert. On Saturday, I watched some hockey, and I saw a little bit of basketball — the varsity girls were playing the JV boys, which was fun. And I have my Civil War class this term. I see students in all these different venues and I see what they are capable of doing. … The transformation that takes place with high school kids, going from the age of 14 to the age of 19, is pretty dramatic, and it’s an exciting one for any educator to watch. I like my job. I like dealing with budgets. I like problem solving. There’s nothing — well, I don’t like Disciplinary Committee — but on the whole I’m very privileged. I’m involved in something very meaningful. I’m able to travel all over the world in support of an incredibly good institution, and I meet fascinating people who care about the school. I have great colleagues on the faculty who are very committed to what they are doing. They’re professional. They care about kids. It’s hard to complain about anything.

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AROUND THE QUADS

Diversity Task Force Reports Findings, Recommendations

OW diverse is Loomis Chaffee? Do all community members feel welcomed here? Why does diversity matter? In its July 2012 report to the Board of Trustees, the Diversity Task Force concluded that, in the spirit and ethos of the Founders, “diversity and inclusivity remain two guiding ideals of the institution” embraced by all the school’s constituencies. The report is the culmination of an 18-month exploration of diversity and inclusivity at Loomis Chaffee initiated by Head of School Sheila Culbert and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Christopher K. Norton ’76 in the summer of 2010. A commitment to diversity is integral to the school’s mission. “In the world in which we live, we can’t educate students to be their best selves and serve the common good without exposing them to a wide range of ideas and different perspectives,” explains Mary Liscinsky, dean of student life and a Diversity Task Force member. The task force gathered facts and perspectives from the school’s different constituencies by administering the Assessment of Inclusivity and Multiculturalism, a program designed by the National Association of Independent Schools. The assessment included 13 focus groups and an online survey. Last spring the task force analyzed the results and formulated recommendations for the board and school to consider. Six overarching themes emerged: intentionality; diversity of Trustees, faculty, staff, and administrators; one community; “the invisibles”; curricular/co-curricular; and resources.

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Illustration: Istock

While the task force concluded that the Loomis community values diversity and inclusivity and has benefited from many related initiatives throughout the years, it also noted in its report that “diversity and inclusivity at Loomis Chaffee could be strengthened by a more conscious, intentional, and explicit effort.” Such effort will make it easier to “measure progress toward diversity goals and to hold the school and offices accountable for meeting goals and objectives.” “The task force tried to avoid prescriptive recommendations in its report,” notes Lynn Petrillo ’86, director of strategic communications & marketing and a Diversity Task Force member. “The members felt it would be more effective for the board, school, and specific departments/ constituencies, as experts in their particular areas of responsibility, to determine whether and how best to address each recommendation.” In that spirit, the task force distributed the focus group summaries to the appropriate departments this fall to help guide their work, and the head’s administrative team divided the task force’s recommendations for follow-up. Some of the work began immediately. Based on the recommen-

In the spirit and ethos of the Founders, “diversity and inclusivity remain two guiding ideals of the institution,” the task force found.

dations, the school created and distributed a Parent Handbook this summer. Several administrative offices are preparing presentations for the faculty about the religions and religious practices of the school’s students and about financial aid resources that are available to students. The Curriculum Committee plans to take a closer look at the topic of multicultural education. The school is also examining the value of “bridge programs” to help students transition to Loomis. And in an effort to strengthen retention of all faculty but in particular faculty of color, the first- and second-year evaluation processes now include explicit conversations about career goals and retention. The task force will reconvene next fall to assess the school’s progress on the recommendations. Both Mary and Lynn stress the task force’s belief that the responsibility for diversity and inclusivity is a shared one. “Diversity isn’t a topic that is encapsulated into one class period or only overseen by the Office of Multicultural Affairs,” Mary says. “It should be integrated in everything we do here.” For more information on the Diversity Task Force Report, go to loomischaffee.org / magazine.

To Err Is Comedic

WORD play and word play, chase scenes and slapstick all were part of the fun and confusion that audiences at the Norris Ely Orchard Theater encountered watching this fall’s student production of William Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors. One of the playwright’s earliest and most farcical plays, the show never stopped moving, delivering an entertaining night at the theater. Seniors Darius Moore and Mark Crawford played Antipholus of Syracuse and Antipholus of Ephesus, identical twins who meet years after being separated from each other and their parents during a storm at sea. The twins also have identical twin slaves, Dromio of Ephesus (played by senior Alyssa Reamy) and Dromio of Syracuse (senior Sarah Horowitz), who often suffer from their masters’ confusion and subsequent fury. Add in a diva of a wife, Adrianna (junior Liana Barron), and love-hungry sister Luciana (senior Amy Ward), and you have a pot ready to boil over with misunderstandings and shenanigans. Given the physical demands of the play, a professional fight director was engaged to teach the students how to do basic fight scenes. “Each fight scene has to be worked through a bunch of times in order to make them look realistic and safe,” Alyssa said during a break in rehearsals. “You may not be able to see it from the audience, but none of us were ever actually slapped or hit, but we can get pretty close to it. We all have to really trust each other and let go of any reservations we may have.”

Plaid-clad senior Mark Crawford, as Antipholus of Ephesus, reacts to a madcap moment. Photo: Wayne Dombkowski

The Comedy of Errors enjoyed a five-show run. This winter the NEO is preparing for a student production of Legally Blonde: The Musical in February.

Global Studies Speaker Discusses International Aid

ONATHAN Starr, a former Wall Street investor and more recently the founder of a school in his uncle’s homeland of Somaliland, visited campus on October 5 to speak about his experiences in the field with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international aid. The lecture, titled “The International Aid Industry: Built to Fail,” warned students about the structure for funding and problems with channeling donated money to those in need. Throughout his experiences, Mr. Starr said he has noticed that large NGOs operate as businesses, rather than as organizations interested in protecting and caring for people in need. The lack of accountability he has witnessed tends to lead to larger problems, such as poor tracking of donated funds and limited oversight of the quality of the aid provided to the community.

In claiming that the NGO model is “broken,” he concluded that unpaid businesses that are good at marketing sad pictures of needy children are the organizations providing aid. The money that these organizations receive is distributed to a few groups before reaching the hungry and needy. He advised students to be mindful of these issues and fully research an organization before providing any support. Funding smaller and locally-run projects, starting one’s own nonprofit, and finding groups with true accountability can protect charitable donations and ensure money gets to the right people, he said. The lecture was sponsored by Loomis Chaffee’s Center for Global Studies, which opened this fall.

Far away from Wall Street, Jonathan Starr sits on the steps of Abarrso Tech in Somaliland. Photo: Patrick Adams

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AROUND THE QUADS | THE BIG PICTURE

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FARM TO TABLE The Loomis Chaffee community enjoyed a special farm-to-table family-style dinner on November 8. The ingredients for the buffet came fresh from farms in Connecticut and Massachusetts, and students, faculty, and staff raved about the meal. The menu, prepared by the dining hall staff, included apple cider, tossed salad with sprouts, maple-glazed roasted turkey, cranberry apple relish, vegetable-based corn bread stuffing, mashed potatoes, stuffed acorn squash, house-baked rolls, and homemade pumpkin pie.

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AROUND THE QUADS Planning for the Norton Family Center for the Common Good began in earnest last school year as Al Freihofer ’69 met with then-seniors Brianna Malanga, Daniel Trompeter, and Samson Chow and then-junior Nicholas Miceli. Photo: John Groo

Centering on the Common Good

HE Norton Family Center for the Common Good opened on campus this fall, creating a forum that caters explicitly to fostering the best self and the common good, ideas that are central to the school’s mission. “We are trying to bring out the backbeat to the culture of Loomis Chaffee in just a more obvious way and make it readily apparent,” says Al Freihofer ’69, director of the center and a former Trustee of the school. The center is named after the Norton family, a three-generation family of Loomis Chaffee alumni who believe in the benefits and responsibilities of citizenship. Among the center’s first projects was the creation of the Common Good Seminars, a mandatory series for all freshmen. The weekly seminars began in November and will continue through the end of the school year. In future years, the seminars will run during all three terms. The small, discussion-based seminars engage students in conversations about a variety of topics, in a range of disciplines, and from varying perspectives. “The freshman course is aiming to develop a fluency in the idea of the common good,” Al says. “It’s an expression of what the school already does and shows how all areas on campus work together toward the shared common good. In literature, it’s a great piece of writing that causes introspection; in mathematics, it’s data from which you extrapolate information and make an informed decision. We see it in teachings from history, and in science it can be discussing how we contribute negatively and positively to the environment.”

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“Everything we are doing is modeling what we are trying to teach, which ultimately is the power of the common good put forth by the best self,” he adds. “The terms common good and best self are often in tension with one another in today’s culture. It’s figuring out how to be your best self and work toward the common good, which can sometimes be painful. We are constantly told that being our best self is striving toward material success. Sometimes you have to forgo the materialistic and completely engage in service directly to the common good in order to reach it.” The Norton Center’s advisory board, a nine-member group of faculty, developed the initial series of seminars organically. The group solicited input from the full faculty, who offered suggestions based on areas of their expertise as well as areas of passion that lend themselves to promoting the best self and the common good. The course will continue to grow as new ideas come into play for topics of discussion. Al says the teachers of the seminar are embarking on a learning experience quite like the students as they cooperate to continually improve and develop the curriculum. And as the course continues to evolve, the center hopes to involve upperclassmen in the process to make sure the course reflects the common good that exists within the school culture.

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We aren’t pushing a definition of the common good. We are pushing an open-mindedness that everyone has his or her own beliefs of what the common good is.

”

— Al Freihofer ’69, director of the Norton Family Center for the Common Good “We aren’t pushing a definition of the common good. We are pushing an open-mindedness that everyone has his or her own beliefs of what the common good is,” Al explains. “My definition of common good may be drastically different from yours, and that becomes a point of discussion.” Eight faculty members are teaching the 10 seminar sections. They are Woody Hess, English teacher and associate head of school; Eric LaForest, history teacher and assistant director of the Norton Center; Michael Donegan, dean of sophomores and director of student activities; Mary Liscinsky, dean of student life; Elizabeth Parada, Spanish teacher

and director of multicultural affairs; Patricia Sasser, dean of juniors; Ned Parsons, English teacher and dean of faculty; and Al, who also teaches English. Woody, Eric, Mike, and Mary also are members of the advisory board along with Fred Seebeck, English teacher and dean of freshmen; Nick Pukstas, Latin teacher and associate dean of faculty; Dennis Robbins, head of the Philosophy, Psychology, and Religion Department; English teacher Phyllis Grinspan; and history teacher Rachel Engelke. For more information about the Notron Family Center for the Common Good go to www.loomischaffee.org / commongood

Freshmen Bond Through Community Service

HOOSE your class bonding experience: taking a two-hour standardized test; writing college essays; or canoeing with friends down the Connecticut and Farmington rivers on a sunny fall day to help with clean-up along waterways’ banks.

To be fair, the first two options were not intended as class-bonding experiences but rather were necessary rites of passage for Loomis Chaffee sophomores, juniors, and seniors. On October 17, a day when mid-week PSAT tests and the height of the college application season occupied their older counterparts, the freshmen arguably had the most fun when they embarked on a class-wide community service project that included river cleanup, tulip planting on the town green, trail clearing at Northwest Park, and other local efforts. The community service day was part of a yearlong endeavor to help the Class of 2016 make Loomis Chaffee their own. “This is a chance for the class to bond: to work and play together,” says Fred Seebeck, dean of freshmen. “It also exposes the class as a group to community Freshmen Jeremy Brezenoff and Margaret Upjohn plant tulips on the Windsor town green. Photo: Missy Pope ’04

service as a concept, something we strongly support as a school.” The school’s 133 freshmen broke into groups of 10 or 12 and, working with faculty volunteers, engaged in a range of service projects. “The folks at Northwest Park — and they probably represent the others as well — were extremely grateful for our help,” Fred reports. “A bunch of the kids thanked me for the event,” he adds. The project was one of many activities in which the class participated this fall, including a twoday orientation before the start of the school year, a bowling outing, and a class dinner. Groups of freshmen, along with their older peer counselors, also spent the first several Thursday afternoons of the school year at the ropes course engaged in team-building and collaborative exercises. Students also meet regularly with their peer counselors in small discussion groups. Engaging freshmen as a class continues this winter with the launch of Common Good Seminars, in which all freshmen participate once a week.

Hundreds Sign Loomis Chaffee Pledge

ORE than 400 members of the school community have signed the Loomis Chaffee Pledge, a mission statement created and advanced by the Student Council. Signing the pledge is voluntary and open to students, faculty, and staff. Imprinted on a special book, it reads: “I pledge to honor the school’s mission to promote the best self and the common good by living with integrity and by championing a respectful culture.” “[If] you go to the head of school’s office, you can see all the names and realize that even though this wasn’t a mandate, so many people have still agreed to sign it … just for the sheer reason that they agree with these values that we have made more noticeable through the pledge,” says junior Pledge Committee member Christina Wang. The pledge was first proposed last school year as an honor code, but students and faculty wanted to remove the aspect of disciplinary action should a student break the code, explains Edward Pond, advisor to the Pledge Committee and head of the Science Department. “The pledge is meant to be about community building and strengthening the common good,” he says. Signing it is meant to foster good behavior naturally, he adds. Senior Pledge Committee member John Macdonald observes that the pledge helps to unify the community. “You can look at your peers and know that they also signed the pledge and they are holding themselves responsible to the same morals you are,” he notes. Lindsay Gabow ’12 first brought forth the pledge during her service as Student Council president last year, and her successors have advanced the effort. “I like that we are carrying on Lindsay’s initiative,” says Rowan Rice, a senior on the Pledge Committee. “She made a lasting impact on the Loomis community.”

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Forum Addresses Arab World Controversy

HE tension between freedom of speech and freedom of religion delineated a student debate in September about an antiIslam YouTube video that led to violent protests in the Muslim World. The Arab World Affiliation, a student organization, arranged the discussion in the wake of the video controversy. The question of the evening was whether freedom of speech should still apply when the speech criticizes and perhaps even jeopardizes people’s freedom of religion. Senior Esraa Sabah, a citizen of Bahrain, and senior Ezra Kauffman, led the debate. Esraa discussed opinions held by members of the Muslim community. She noted that the Muslim religion believes in mutual respect of all religions, which is why a large part of the Muslim World found the video offensive. Ezra highlighted points that American politicians raised about the issue, including the belief that the video alone did not bring about the September uprising of the Muslim World against Americans. Students and teachers who attended the debate agreed with this sentiment, saying that the single video, though inflammatory, did not the cause the violence and conflict. Rather, they said, tension already existed between the United States and the Muslim World, and the video merely heightened it.

The two images compare a wild nemotode (left) and one that has developed blisters in its cuticle as the result of a lab experiment that knocked out a gene with ribonucleic acid interference. Photos: seniors K.J. Picou, Krishna Kulkarni, and Paul Lee

Students Explore Gene Manipulation

HE genetics class taught by Jeffrey Holcombe successfully knocked out the expression of a gene in nematode worms this fall. The sophisticated lab work gave students first-hand understanding of gene therapy.

Nematodes are mostly found in the soil, but some are roundworm parasites while others are important in plant diseases. In the soil variety, students fed to the worms bacteria that contained special ribonucleic acid (RNA) to activate an RNA interference pathway in the worms. “RNA interference is a epigenetic mechanism for blocking the expression of target genes,” Jeff explains. “It is in development as a therapy for several human disorders, including high cholesterol, viral infections, and hemophilia.”

Junior Yusuf Alnawakhtha, another resident of Bahrain, also attended the debate. The presence of two representatives of the same country showed the varying views within the Muslim World. While Yusuf said that he was not greatly offended by the video because he knew it was exaggerated and false, Esraa said she was very offended by the video despite knowing that things it portrayed were not true. The debate illustrated the varying and equally valid views on the issue and confirmed the fact that the topic of freedom of speech versus freedom of religion will be an ongoing discussion. — Senior Jordan Williams

In the worms, the students blocked a gene important in formation of the worms’ outer covering, called the cuticle. The cuticle of worms whose RNA interference pathways were activated showed large, bulging blisters on their sides. According to Jeff, the results of this lab work show that it would be possible to study the function of nearly any gene by knocking it out with RNA interference and to develop therapies by blocking expression of genes involved in a wide variety of diseases. Arab World Affiliation forum in Gilchrist Auditorium Photo: Missy Pope ’04

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AROUND THE QUADS | ISLAND ARRAY

Fall happenings, night and day, inside and outside, at Loomis Chaffee INSIDE

Seniors Esraa Sabah History and Jordan Williams Also Bought Customers collect College Night Formats Amazon Price New from materials.

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Visiting Artist Zbigniew Grzyb in the painting studio

Sophomore Olivia Shin during the fall Dance Showcase

Senior Meditations on football: Kent 30-day free trial “K.J” Picou, Reginald “R.J.” Paige, Book Description and Stuart “A.J.” Poplin

Sue and Eugene Mercy, Jr. Gallery

Latino Fest fun: pinata-breaking and Release crown-making

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Scary monsters at Boofest, the annual Halloween night dinner

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Faculty children embark on their trick-or-treating adventures around campus.

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expert Tony provides a

Wagner powerful rationale

Spirit Week leading up to Kent Day Juniors Nana Minder, Simone Hugh brought a snowstorm in conjunction Sam, and Alida Ratteray enjoy Jennifer Kennedy and Nicholas Raposo withinnovation-driven Pajama Day. economy. He explores what parents, Harvest Festival. ’86 with their daughter, teachers, and employers must do to develop the capacities ofsophomore young people to become Isabelle Raposo, on Parents Weekend innovators. In profiling compelling young American innovators such as Kirk Phelps, product

manager Apple’s Students and Jodie Wu, dance in powered a Zumba reveals how class during creativity Latinothem Fest. teaching identifies to deepinterests,

for The inaugural Clubs Harvest first iPhone, Festival on Grubbs Quadrangle who founded a company that builds bicyclewas a huge hit this fallWagner with grilled maize shellers in Tanzania, from the BBQ Club, outdoor the adults infood their lives nurtured their strategizing with thewhile Chess Club, and sparked their imaginations, more fun. to learn from failuresand andmuch persevere. Wagner a pattern—a childhood of creative play leads seated Photos: Patricia J. Cousins, junior Shannon Deveney, Mary which in adolescence and adulthood blossom into a deeper purpose for career and

OUTSIDE

Coleman Forrester, John Groo, junior Natalia Gutierrez, Jeffrey Holcombe, junior John “Jack” Kelly, junior Laura Paddock, Missy Pope ’04, and junior Sarah Regan

loomischaffee.org | 13

Neuroscience and the Thinking Behind Learning

Former faculty member Andrew Watson, a neuroscience education consultant, points to an illustration of a neuron. Photo: Patricia Cousins

LTHOUGH they think they are just doing their homework, studying, or thinking about what they learned in class, Loomis Chaffee students spend hours every night growing connections between the neurons in their brains. In a visit to campus this fall, former faculty member Andrew Watson, a neuroscience education consultant, showed students how they can grow these connections most effectively, in short, how they can learn more without adding more hours to their homework. Andrew, who last year completed graduate studies in the Mind, Brain and Education Program at Harvard University, spoke at a morning convocation and worked with teachers and students in smaller groups later

in the day. He explained some of the emerging neuroscience behind learning, and he offered practical and sometimes surprising strategies for putting that science to daily use. “Within your lifetimes, neuroscientists have figured out how to look at people’s brains while they’re alive,” Andrew told students. These advances enable researchers to see how thinking happens and to understand how people learn best. Strategies that Andrew shared, supported by research data and scientific findings, included: • When reviewing for a test, give yourself short-answer quizzes on the material or exchange shortanswer quizzes with a friend. This type of studying leads to higher

levels of test success than rereading, multiple-choice quizzing, or not reviewing. • Spread your learning over several days to reap long-term retention and understanding. • Use repetition to improve memory, but you gain nothing from over-studying. The key is to identify when the repetition has led to cognitive learning and when additional repetition is no longer helpful. • Exercise. A chemical that the body creates during physical exercise vastly improves learning, Andrew said. • Sleep eight hours a night. With all other things being equal, less sleep leads to lower test scores, he said.

Parents Book Club Discusses Creating Innovators

EAD of School Sheila Culbert hosted the first Loomis Chaffee Parents Association Book Club of the academic year and selected Tony Wagner’s Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change the World for discussion. The choice was a hit with the 35 parents who attended the event at the Head’s House on September 14. Both Sheila and LCPA President Jeff Verney (father of junior Sam Verney), in his introduction of Sheila, touched upon Wagner’s alliterative encouragement of play, passion, and purpose as important to the de-

14 |

velopment of innovative thinking, and the assembled group discussed the applications of Wagner’s model in the lives of Loomis Chaffee students and parents. An enthusiastic conversation ensued about what parents and teachers can do to help foster the innovative abilities of young people. The LCPA organizes two book clubs each year, with dinner and discussion led by a Loomis Chaffee faculty member. The spring book club will be held on April 19. Details will be announced soon.

• Focus on one thing at a time. Multi-tasking, interruptions, and distractions hinder learning. The human brain can notice lots of different things happening at once, but to learn, a human being needs to pay “thoughtful attention” to what he or she is trying to learn. And the brain does not switch easily or quickly between paying thoughtful attention to one thing and then another, Andrew explained. An emotional distraction, such as music, makes the attention switch even more difficult for the brain to maneuver. Understanding these approaches to learning does not, however, put them into practice. Andrew encouraged students to work on changing their habits in order to focus on one thing at a time. He advised them to focus on a single task — reading or solving math problems or working on a paper — three times a day for 30 minutes at a time. For those 30-minute stints, they should turn off distracting electronics and ask others for uninterrupted time. And after each half hour of focused concentration, they should give themselves a reward. They’ll find they start to like focusing on one thing at a time, he said. Their neurons will, too.

brilliant!  Fifteen Loomis Chaffee musicians will participate in the Northern Connecticut Regional Music Festival on January 18 and 19 at New Britain High School.  Juniors Karen Cha and Leah Rubin remained undefeated at the Roxbury Latin Parliamentary Debate Tournament this fall and placed third out of 30 for a novice team.  Students raised a total of $1,647.88 in the Thanksgiving Food Drive, a tradition organized this year by the Pelican Service Organization and Student Council.  Members of the Pelican Service Organization dedicated a Sunday morning in November to shopping for needy families through Rachel’s Table, a not-for-profit central food distribution service in Springfield, Massachusetts.

An “Invisible Injury” Receives a Close Look

S part of Loomis Chaffee’s continuing efforts to educate the community about concussions, two experts from the Sports Legacy Institute spent a day on campus in October to talk to students about the causes and signs of concussions as well as the potentially life-threatening consequences of repeated concussions and insufficient recovery time. “A concussion, unfortunately, is an invisible injury,” Dan Daneshvar told students at an all-school convocation, where he and Alex Bagley emphasized that someone with a concussion is just as injured and in need of rest and recovery as someone on crutches or in a cast. They urged students to stand up for themselves and their friends and teammates if they show symptoms of a concussion. Tell a coach or other responsible adult, they advised. Take yourself out of the game or tell your teammate to get checked on the sidelines. See a doctor, take the necessary time to rest and recover, and follow an accepted return-to-play protocol for concussions. Loomis Chaffee follows a careful concussion protocol developed in consultation with medical professionals and concussion experts. The protocol involves the Health Center, the student’s parents and advisor, the Counseling Department, and, if the student is an athlete, the training room staff and the student’s coach in the treatment, recovery, and return to activity. Mr. Bagley and Mr. Daneshvar, two of the founders of the Sports Legacy Institute Community Educators, said individuals and their teammates and friends play an important role in making sure that they or someone else who

Concussion expert Dan Daneshvar speaks with a student after the convocation. Photo: Patricia Cousins

might have a concussion gets help. Most patients will recover completely from a concussion with rest and gradual return to activity, Mr. Bagley said. But ignoring signs of a concussion or returning to play when symptoms persist can lead to irreversible and debilitating brain disease or a dangerous condition called Second Impact Syndrome. This syndrome claimed the life of a New Jersey high school football player in 2008 when he suffered two concussions in less than a month. Mr. Bagley said the boy saw a doctor after first taking a hit to his head, and the doctor cleared him to return to full-contact play. During a football game a few weeks later, he collapsed and died after a seemingly harmless hit. Mr. Bagley said the boy had still been experiencing concussion symptoms, but he had told only his friends about the continuing headaches and difficulty concentrating on his school work. His friends did not bring this information to the coach or other adults, and the consequences were tragic.

Kassidi Jones at the Bushnell Theater. Photo: Nick Caito

 Junior Kassidi Jones opened the Connecticut Forum’s 2012–13 season by reciting an excerpt from Eve Ensler’s poem “I Am An Emotional Creature” in front of an audience of approximately 3,000 people at the Bushnell Theater in Hartford.  Students in Ceramics 2 created bowls for the 15th Annual Empty Bowls Project at Manchester Community College, an international grassroots effort to fight hunger.  Four students were selected to participate in the 2013 National Association for Music Education All-Eastern Honor Ensembles based on their successful Connecticut regional and state auditions and participation in previous years. Junior Liana Barron (alto) and senior Daniel Wade (tenor) were chosen for the All-Eastern Mixed Chorus, and senior Daniela Rakhlina-Powsner (soprano) was selected for the Treble Voice Chorus. Junior Sijie Wei was selected as a clarinetist in the All-Eastern Band. The ensembles will rehearse and perform during the National Association for Music Education Eastern Division Conference, April 4–7, 2013, in Hartford.

loomischaffee.org | 15

AROUND THE QUADS | OF NOTE | FACULTY & STAFF

 Christine Mangiafico Steiner ’83 started working at the school this fall as director of the Parent Annual Fund, a volunteer effort guided by the school’s Alumni/Development Office to support the Annual Fund.

DIVERSITY | continued from 2

systems that we really begin to reflect on what matters to us and why. Our process focuses on the experiences of young people and what they can bring and achieve here. We are looking for students who can succeed academically and contribute meaningfully to the school.

 Faculty member John “Jake” Leyden recently moved from his position as director of campus safety to become associate director of athletics. Jake also is a dorm faculty member and coach.

But if we cannot simply take the first academically qualified students who come along, how do we decide that a particular individual should be admitted while another should not? It’s not easy and, to be honest, good admissions work is much more art than science. Our process is holistic. We look at a variety of factors including scores and grades but also teacher recommendations; accomplishments and extracurricular activities; additional talent in the arts, athletics, or another area; character and leadership potential; and level of preparation. Talent is broadly shared across the population, but not all students have the benefit of good schooling before they arrive on the Island. And, yes, we do take race into account along with socioeconomic background and legacy status. We also interview every student because that conversation allows us to discern those special qualities that might make a student a contributing member of our community.

 Art teachers Chet Kempczynski and Mark Zunino were featured in “Student/Artist/Instructor/Friend,” an art show this fall at the Hartford Art School’s Silpe Gallery at the University of Hartford.  Head of the Visual Arts Department Jennifer McCandless spoke on an artist’s panel at the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan, this fall in conjunction with the show Body Double: The Figure in Contemporary Sculpture. Jennifer exhibited her work in the show, which ran from September 19 to January 6.  Faculty member Stanford Forrester will have four poems featured in the Norton Anthology Haiku in English: The First Hundred Years, a volume to be published by W.W. Norton & Company in early 2013, placing him among very distinguished company.  Bob Howe ’80, director of athletics; Adrian Stewart ’90, head of strength and conditioning and head coach of girls varsity basketball; and Bobbi Moran, sports information director and head coach of girls field hockey, presented at the New England Prep School Athletic Council annual meeting on November 16, 2012.  There are three new babies in our midst. History teacher J.R. Zavisza and his wife, Kristen, welcomed their first child, daughter Hadleigh Irene, on December 1. Holden Max Lett, son of Associate Director of College Guidance Jami Silver and her husband, Chris Lett, was born on December 19. And English

16 |

Baby Boomer Pile Up by Jennifer McCandless, was shown in the juried exhibition Body Double: The Figure in Contemporary Sculpture.

teacher Stephen Colgate and his wife, Dana, welcomed their first child, Sarah Elizabeth, on January 4.

Ultimately, we have a responsibility to admit a class of students who not only are academically qualified, but also whose members will inspire each other to be their best selves, and commit to serving the common good of the communities in which they will work and live. Diversity of perspectives, experiences, and talents is essential to a 21st century education that prepares students to be good citizens and leaders on the local, national, and international stages. That level of diversity does not often come together on its own. I am proud of the thoughtful admission process in place at Loomis and the amazing students we welcome to campus every year as a result.

19 1 4

2 01 4

Let Us Hear Your Voice H

OW would you celebrate the Loomis Chaffee Centennial? How might the Centennial celebrate the “many voices” of Loomis, Chaffee, and Loomis Chaffee? What events would you like to be involved in?

What people, events, topics, and themes in the school’s history would you like to learn about? Please share your thoughts by sending them to centennial@loomis.org.

Loomis and Chaffee students sing in harmony, 1971. Photo: Walter Rabetz

loomischaffee.org | 17

AROUND THE QUADS | ATHLETICS | BY BOB HOWE ’80

Health & Wellness as a Community Goal

BOUT a year ago Human Resources Director Kelly Hasenbalg and I first met to discuss the concept of wellness at Loomis Chaffee. We were looking to create a program for our faculty and staff to help them live healthier lives. Shortly after our initial meeting we formed a committee to assist with ideas and the direction of the program. Allison Beason of the Math Department, Jessica Fenner of the Alumni/Development Office, Julie Field of the Counseling Office, Bob Hanson of the Physical Plant, Julia Hinchman of the Science Department, Debi Knight and Lisa Parsons of the Office of Admission, and Jean Sapula of the Athletics Department all volunteered to join Kelly and me. Together along with Susan Kayeum, a senior consultant with Schuster Driscoll, the group began meeting regularly. The mission of the Loomis Chaffee Wellness Program is to improve the overall health of the community by providing opportunities for better lifestyle decisions and to maintain the attitude and commitment to the best self and the common good through exercise, awareness, and knowledge that will allow individuals to lead healthier, happier, and more productive lives. Last year the group organized a wellness screening and invited the faculty and staff to better understand their personal health status. Participants signed up for a health clinic on campus that checked their cholesterol levels, triglycerides, and glucose. They completed a health and wellness assessment, a tool to help people evaluate their lifestyle risk behaviors. There were questions about eating, exercising, stress, and other lifestyle topics. In the final phase of the screening, interested faculty and staff members participated in one of the online programs offered through Aetna, the school’s health insurance provider. These programs included smoking cessation, weight management, stress reduction, and sleep management. The Wellness Program got a huge boost 18 |

Maggie Kennedy ’05 Photo: John Groo

in energy and commitment last summer when the school hired Maggie Kennedy ’05. Since graduating from Dartmouth College in 2009, Maggie has lived in the Hartford area, teaching at an elementary school in West Hartford and helping to coach Loomis girls soccer, hockey, and softball. She now resides on campus and is a full-time member of the Athletics Department, coaching those same three sports, advising students, teaching conditioning classes, doing dorm duty, and leading the school’s Wellness Program. Already the community is beginning to feel Maggie’s presence. There are now yoga classes for faculty and staff two days per week. Loomis Chaffee yoga experts Patricia Cousins and Bobbi Moran teach the classes. A Wellness Club has been created and is growing daily. Members of the club receive a weekly newsletter that includes healthy recipes, workouts, and nutritional tips.

Faculty and staff also can access the new wellness page on the school’s website. The page offers tips on getting and staying healthy, articles on a wide range of health issues, daily challenges, and schedules of events. In the months ahead, the committee, under Maggie’s leadership, will continue looking for ways to promote health on campus. Among the ideas soon to be introduced are Zumba classes; a pedometer/“Fitbit” challenge; nutrition seminars; and Fitness Pal, a program enabling participants to track their food intake, activity, and weight as part of an online community where people encourage each other to reach their goals. The Loomis Chaffee community is doing everything it can to help people on campus lead healthy lives.

Sophomore Greer Davis

Junior Caitlin Farrell

Senior Luvin DeLeon

Senior Dale Reese and sophomore Theodore Lyons

Seniors Faith McCarthy and Danielle Marmer

VARSITY SCOREBOARD SPORT

RECORD ACCOLADES

Boys Cross Country 7-2 Girls Cross Country 4-5 Field Hockey 9-4-1 Football 5-3 Boys Soccer 10-5-3 Girls Soccer 13-2 Volleyball 8-8 Water Polo 6-8

Quarterfinalist in New England Tournament Founders League Champion Quarterfinalist in New England Tournament Founders League Champion Quarterfinalist in New England Tournament Founders League Champion Quarterfinalist in New England Tournament

Senior Michael Horowicz and junior Tate Knight Photos: Tom Honan

loomischaffee.org | 19

AROUND THE WORLD N W

E S

BY BECKY PURDY

nal Lesson o i t a n r e t s n I B WHEN g ack n i to Br y

eI slan

Fa c u

I was a little girl, my grandparents brought me dolls from the countries they visited on their retirement trips, mostly to European countries. Delicate and decorative, the dolls were for display, not play, and I lined them up neatly on a shelf in my room. Each one wore a traditional costume of the country from which they came: The German doll wore lederhosen, the Irish doll wore a green jumper, the Japanese doll wore a silk kimono, and so on. Looking back, I cringe a little at the touristy stereotypes these dolls perpetuated, but at the time, I treasured them as cultural artifacts. The Spanish doll had actually come from Spain, I marveled.

When I took my first overseas trip to France when I was 15 years old, I remember taking my initial breath of European air as I exited the airplane. I made a mental note that the air seemed pretty much the same as the air in New York, where I had boarded the plane. The naiveté of this observation did not escape me. Of course the air was the same; I was still on Earth, for goodness sake. Thus began a summer of discovery, about a foreign land, about myself, and about home. After that trip, the dolls of foreign lands on my bedroom shelf no longer held my fascination. They were stock characters, I realized, symbolic but not enlightening about the world beyond familiar borders. Language, experiences, stories, new perspectives — those were the profound and lasting “things” one brings home from distant travels. Good teachers innately understand this idea. Great teachers seek out opportunities to learn from experience and understand diverse perspectives. And Loomis Chaffee teachers, with their legendary devotion to lifelong learning and great teaching, return from global journeys ready to incorporate their new discoveries into the courses they teach and develop new courses that bring the world to the Island. Look no further than the Loomis teachers who traveled abroad last summer, through schoolfunded programs, on sabbatical trips, or on personal adventures. We asked them what they learned from their travels and what they brought back to share with their students. 20 |

BO ZHAO Bo Zhao — China

Tibetan Monastery

The Peacock Sea — China

Lucy Thiboutot — Egypt

Lifestyles of Chinese minorities and Tibetans Chinese teacher Bo Zhao, a 13-year veteran of the faculty, traveled to China and Vietnam for eight weeks last summer on a Loomis summer sabbatical. Starting in Beijing, she journeyed by bus and train across several of China’s large provinces, including Gansu Province, Sichum Province, and Yunan Province as well as to the outskirts of Tibet. She particularly wanted to meet and learn about Chinese ethnic minorities and Tibetans, an endeavor that requires travel to some of the country’s more remote areas. While the Han comprise the vast majority of the Chinese population and hold many of the positions of power in the government, China has approximately 55 ethnic minority groups, which make up less than 10 percent of the population and are concentrated in inland regions of mainland China. Spending a couple of days at each stop of her journey, Bo talked to the local people and learned about their lifestyles, experiencing as much as she could first-hand. “I spent a day and a night in a Tibetan yurt and watched what they did and how they lived for 24 hours,” Bo says. “Their life was so simple, and there was almost nothing in the yurt, yet they cooked us a delicious meal. It’s amazing.” Bo grew up in China before moving to the United States

in 1986, but there were many regions of the vast country that she had not visited during her childhood. Domestic travel is a new phenomenon in China. So despite her roots, she says, “I felt like a total foreigner in China. The culture shock was bigger than what I had experienced in the U.S.” After about a month in China, Bo traveled to Vietnam for three weeks and capped off her trip with four days in Shanghai. Her travels, her deepened knowledge of the Chinese minorities and Tibetans, and her experience of parts of Asia she had not visited before the trip all have enriched Bo’s teaching. “I can do slideshows for the students using the photos of my travel. I’ve talked with them about my travel, what I saw, and what the Chinese people told me,” she says. “Now whenever we have discussions in class that touch the topics of Chinese minorities and Tibetans, I feel much more confident in presenting my opinions because I’ve been there and seen what their lives are like.”

“ Their life was so simple, and there was almost nothing in the yurt, yet they cooked us a delicious meal. It’s amazing.” — Bo Zhao

LUCY THIBOUTOT The Egyptian Dialect of Arabic Arabic teacher Lucy Thiboutot spent most of the summer in Egypt on a U.S. Department of Education fellowship for high school Arabic teachers. The program involved intensive training in Egyptian, the most widely understood dialect of Arabic. Lucy, who teaches Arab Culture as well as three levels of the language, has built the Arabic program at Loomis over the last three years. In her language courses, she teaches the Syrian dialect, which she spoke while living in Syria, and Modern Standard Arabic, the form of the language most often used in written materials. After her immersion in Egyptian, she says she could teach that dialect as well. Lucy and three other high school and college teachers participated in the fellowship, training intensively in the language and living in a women’s dorm that they shared with some female Egyptian medical students. “We were in a classroom in Alexandria for five hours a day learning Egyptian Arabic and working on our skills in Modern Standard,” Lucy recounts. “Then we had ‘language partners’ in the afternoons who would practice our Egyptian Arabic with us while doing fun activities, like shopping.” On weekends, the group traveled in

The Mediterranean Sea — Egypt loomischaffee.org | 21

Lucy took photographs of some of the revolutionary graffiti she found throughout the country, and she looked forward to showing the pictures to her students back on the Island.

Jennifer McCandless — Ghana

Potter — Ghana

Potters prepare to fire pots — Ghana

Skyline —Moscow

other parts of Egypt. Beyond the language and culture, Lucy experienced the political climate of Egypt during a particularly interesting moment of the country’s history. She arrived in Egypt on the day that the selection of President Mohamed Morsi was announced, and she and her dorm mates shared the excitement of a new democracy. “It was really awesome sitting around with these women … watching the election results come in. I felt like I was back in 2008 watching the Obama election,” she says. Celebration of the election results filled the streets, and throughout the summer, Lucy saw Egyptians engaging in intense political discussions. As the summer wore on, people became more jaded as, inevitably, practical matters arose. Garbage piled up in the streets, for instance, because the new government could not operate as efficiently as the previous autocratic regime. But even as they began to understand the realities of change, Egyptians still supported the country’s democratic revolution, Lucy says, and the excitement of the Arab Spring still was palpable. Lucy took photographs of some of the revolutionary graffiti she found throughout the country, and she looked forward to showing the pictures to her students back on the Island. Even first-year Arabic students could understand some of the simple graffiti slogans, such as “The

street is for us,” she says, adding, “I wanted to bring back this sense of excitement and political awareness.” Her own immersion in Egyptian over the summer inspired Lucy to teach her Arabic 3 class at Loomis entirely in Arabic this year. She was reminded how powerful and useful immersion can be for language learning, and her Arabic 3 students have done well with the new approach.

JENNIFER McCANDLESS Traditional Art Forms of Ghana Head of the Visual Art Department Jennifer McCandless traveled to Ghana this summer in the first year of her Loomis Chaffee Palmer Fellowship, a five-year professional development grant. During the threeweek trip, she visited artists in southern and eastern regions of Ghana and attended workshops and performances by artists from northern and central parts of the country. “I lived at an artist residency called Cultural Arts Collaborative just east of Accra,” Jen explains. “I was able to visit groups of potters and sculptors in remote regions.” An accomplished sculptor and potter herself, Jen took great interest in the group process of creating art in the remote villages. The artists, primar-

ily women, “gathered together to work and make traditional pottery and sculptural forms, helping each other when it comes time to fire the work,” she says. “In these villages, such as Kpondu and Vume, when one woman has made 50 to 100 large pieces, all the other women — and their children — come out to help cut palm trees and use every aspect of the tree in the firing process. They build a huge open-air pit filled with branches and layer the pots, cover it with dried palm fronds and brush, and tend the fire together.” From the Ghanaian artists, Jen learned a number of techniques and traditional art forms: the process of traditional beadmaking “using recycled glass, hand-formed molds of clay, and small brick kilns”; two types of batik cloth dyeing; creation of Adinkra stamps as well as the storytelling and history of these West African symbols; traditional pottery and sculpture techniques in clay as well as “contemporary techniques of sculpting in cement over armatures, an inexpensive, relatively permanent way to sculpt the figure.” She also learned kiln building and pit firing. Jen, who is in her sixth year on the Island, hopes to incorporate what she learned into the development of a globally-oriented studio art course at Loomis. The school’s art history courses have a global focus, but she wants to create a studio course that fits in with and enhances the school’s

“I lived at an artist residency called Cultural Arts Collaborative just east of Accra. I was able to visit groups of potters and sculptors in remote regions.” Moscow 22 |

— Jennifer McCandless

Moscow, Alec found, “is a city of contradiction. It’s a very gritty city with a lot of poverty — though low unemployment and very little homelessness — and alcoholism, contrasted with endless lines of luxury cars and record numbers of women in high-heeled shoes.” growing emphasis on global studies, including the creation of the Center for Global Studies (directed, incidentally, by Jen’s husband, Alec McCandless) and the possibility of a global studies diploma certificate. With this goal in mind, she took extensive notes, photos, and videos during her visit to Ghana. Jen hopes to expand her global research to Korean art, particularly ceramics, next summer. In the next segment of her Palmer Fellowship, she says she would like to travel to South Korea for a national celebration of the history of Korean ceramics. Although the details have not been finalized, Jen’s idea is to visit museums and studios and work hands-on with master potters and sculptors in the country.

ALEC McCANDLESS Global Studies and Russian Culture Before Jen ventured to Africa, husband Alec traveled to Russia for a global studies conference in June at the Lomosonov Moscow State University in Moscow. Hosted by the university and the Eurasian Association of Universities, the conference focused on “Eurasia and Globalization: Complexity and Global Studies.” As the director of Loomis Chaffee’s new Center for Global Studies and an economics

teacher, Alec soaked up the three-day conference. Divided into four sub-themes — economy, power, culture, and the environment — the conference included 41 presentations and discussions on these topics as well as major conference-wide presentations titled “Russian and Regional Globalization Agendas,” “Complexity and Global Studies,” and “Political Economy: Inequality.” Alec attended as many of the talks as he could squeeze into his days at the conference, including sessions that focused on Russia in transition, globalizing campuses, China’s investment in Africa, service learning and curriculum, students and diversity, finance, and many more. While he was in Moscow, Alec also did some outreach for Loomis Chaffee’s Office of Admission and explored the possibility of partnering with a Russian research university to send Loomis students to a math program in Moscow. Alec managed to visit some of the tourist attractions as well. He attended the ballet; experienced the circus, a major Russian tradition; visited the Kremlin; spent time at several museums; toured the metro system; and visited Russian Orthodox churches and monasteries, among other stops. Moscow, he found “is a city of contradiction. It’s a very gritty city with a lot of poverty — though low unemployment and very little homelessness — and alcoholism,

contrasted with endless lines of luxury cars and record numbers of women in high-heeled shoes.” “It was a fantastic opportunity to learn more about both the current state of the field in global studies along with Russia, one of the largest economies in the world and one of only five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council with veto power,” he notes. “I also now have a better understanding of the culture and history of our Russian students.”

Guatemala

Roseanne Lombardo — Guatemala

ROSEANNE LOMBARDO Connection to the People of GuatemaLA Roseanne Lombardo, director of the Loomis Chaffee Community Service Program since 1999, took a summer sabbatical to Guatemala for six weeks in June and July, traveling, learning Spanish, and devoting time to service projects. During her travels, she visited World Heritage sites throughout the country, including Lake Atitlan and T’kal Mayan ruins. For three weeks she stayed in a guest house in the city of Antigua and took daily Spanish classes at the Don Pedro Alvarado Spanish Speaking School. Her service work involved working in a clinic, Casa Jackson, caring for infants and children suffering with malnutrition, which she explains is a

“I learned and experienced so much on this trip, It is one of the best things I have ever done in my life.” — Rosanne Lombardo

Children in Guatemala

Kitchen in hut — Guatemala

Mayan Ruins — Guatemala loomischaffee.org | 23

For next summer, Rachel is researching the possibility of a trip to Berlin and Prague, including visits to several World War II concentration and work camps.

Big Ben — London

major health problem in Guatemala because of the high poverty rate. She also helped at a school teaching English to high school students and adults who hoped to improve their incomes by finding jobs in tourism. “I learned and experienced so much on this trip,” Roseanne reflects. “It is one of the best things I have ever done in my life.”

Royal Shakespeare Theatre — London

Imperial War Museum — London

Becky and Scott Purdy — Rome

Duomo — Florence, Italy 24 |

She became deeply involved in the agency that runs the clinic, God Child’s Project, and wants to continue to help the agency in its work on problems of poor education and lack of housing. “Families literally sleep on the dirt in makeshift tents or huts with no indoor plumbing, electricity, furniture, little food, and no access to health care of any kind,” she says. “… I have a new-found appreciation for what inhabitants of [developing] countries face on a daily basis and how hard they have to work just to survive.” She was struck by the contrasts between the United States and Guatemala and the degree to which we in the developed world take for granted the simple presence of a regular meal. Roseanne is putting together a proposal to take a group of Loomis students to Guatemala during spring break or summer vacation to work with the agency to build cement block houses for poor families living in the mountains. She also would like to work with other groups that set up temporary health clinics or dental clinics in Guatemala to provide people with immunizations, physicals, medications, and other health

necessities. And she hopes, through the service-learning trip, “to introduce our students to this beautiful country rich in Mayan heritage; lush forests and jungles; beautiful, antique ruins; and indigenous pueblos where customs and dress from hundreds of years ago are still in place.”

RACHEL ENGELKE Middle East Perspectives History teacher Rachel Engelke, like Jen McCandless, received a Palmer Fellowship from Loomis, and she is using the fellowship to deepen her expertise in European history as well as expanding her knowledge of other regions of the world. In 2012, her first year with the fellowship, she traveled to England to take a summer course at the London School of Economics and Political Science. The course, The Middle East in Global Politics, involved three hours of lecture and an hour of group discussion every day for three weeks in July. The class provided Rachel with a thorough grounding in Middle East politics and is proving particularly useful in the Advanced Placement Comparative Government course she teaches. The course studies six countries, one of which is Iran. She says her expanded knowledge also has enhanced her work with the student Foreign Policy Association, the student foreign affairs publication The World Bulletin, and the school’s Model United Nations delegation.

While the first year of her fellowship enabled Rachel to feed her interest in the Middle East, her main expertise is in European history. Rachel developed a seminar on the Holocaust at a previous school and has taught the course at Loomis since 2001. Rachel also has taught Russian History for 10 years, having minored in Russian in college and visited Russia twice in the 1990s. With the goal of furthering her understanding of both of these vast areas of study, Rachel hopes to travel to Eastern Europe as part of her Palmer Fellowship. For next summer, she is researching the possibility of a trip to Berlin and Prague, including visits to several World War II concentration and work camps, through a program called Classrooms Without Borders. With outside funding, she took a Holocaust education trip in 2004 to Poland and Israel, and the on-site experiences greatly enhanced her teaching of the subject. A return to Russia or a Stateside summer of immersion in Russian history, politics, and even language interests her for a subsequent year. “Russia weaves its way into my AP European History and Europe 1919–1991 courses as well as AP Comparative Government — Russia is one of the six countries in that curriculum,” she notes. “I used to speak Russian pretty well, but I’ve lost so much of it in the last 15 years or so. It would be great to get back there for a few weeks and re-immerse myself in the language and culture and history.”

SCOTT AND BECKY PURDY Theater in Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire Head of the English Department Scott Purdy, who is in his 15th year at Loomis Chaffee, ventured to Italy, Greece, and Turkey last summer on a sabbatical trip that visited key spots in the ancient world, including the ruins of a number of Greek and Roman theaters. In many ways, the theater aspects of the journey built upon his previous summer’s trip to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in the first half of his sabbaticalfunded travel. Scott combined his sabbatical travel with that of his wife, faculty member Becky Purdy (the author of this article), a writer and editor who works in the Loomis Chaffee Communications Office. The Shakespeare festival in Ashland, Oregon, is known for its outdoor Elizabethan theater and its top-notch productions. As Scott points out, Shakespeare plays were meant to be seen in performance, not just read, and Scott and his colleagues in the English Department often have their classes act out scenes from the bard’s plays that they study. The physical humor of Shakespeare’s comedies especially begs to be experienced in performance, a point reinforced by watching the experts at work at the Shakespeare festival. “The more you see the physicality, the less inhibited you are as a teacher” to introduce these aspects of the plays to students, Scott says.

In addition to seeing a number of Shakespeare productions at the festival, Scott took the festival’s week-long course for teachers, which included discussions with actors and directors, a back-stage tour, and the open exchange of ideas about teaching Shakespeare in the classroom. Visiting ancient Greek and Roman theaters and the ruins of civilizations last summer added dimension to Scott’s knowledge about theater and literature of ancient times and their lasting influence. He says he was fascinated to stand in the amphitheaters and imagine productions taking place. “I was pretty shocked at how vertical [the amphitheaters] are,” he says. The steepness of the seating and the close proximity between the seats and the stage enabled thousands of people to attend plays and witness the action and dialogue, without amplification, of course. The Theatre of Dionysus on the southern slope of the Acropolis in Athens seated 17,000 around a stage that was only slightly larger than Loomis’ own Norris Ely Orchard Theater stage. (The NEO, incidentally, seats 164.) Scott took extensive photographs of the theaters in the hopes of conveying some of his observations to his students and colleagues. Beyond the specific discoveries of the European trip, Scott also noted a less concrete but equally important aspect of the travel that he brought back with him: a shift in perspective. It is a quality that many of the trav-

eling faculty mention in various ways. “You understand in the abstract that there’s a whole world out there that doesn’t care about America, but to see it up close is pretty cool,” Scott reflects. To experience the daily life of Florence, to walk its streets and feel its pace, for example, brought a perspective on Europe that one cannot gain except through being there, he says. And he observes that taking things for granted is a two-way street, enlightening in both directions. A tiny cup of gelato in Italy brought full satisfaction, he notes, while a Friendly’s sundae seems necessary back in the United States. But on the flip side, Scott and his companion travelers were amazed by the amount of cigarette smoking in public places in Europe. He found himself wondering, “Doesn’t Europe understand that smoking is bad for you?” International travel also brings different perspectives on the news, Scott and other faculty members observe. Although taxi drivers and others in the tourist industry were reluctant to share their views on the European economy, Scott did convince a couple of Greeks and Italians whom he met to talk about the situation from their perspectives, bringing the news to a much more personal level.

Ancient theater —Taormina, Italy

Great Theater — Ephesus, Turkey

Visiting ancient Greek and Roman theaters and the ruins of civilizations added dimension to Scott’s knowledge about theater and literature of ancient times.

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“As a result of this experience, I grew exponentially — as a person and as an international education student/professional.” — Marley Aloe Matlack

Marley Aloe Matlack — Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Children — Koh Pdao, Cambodia

Hindu temple complex — Angkor Wat MARLEY ALOE MATLACK Cambodia’s Past, Present, and Future Faculty member Marley Aloe Matlack traveled last summer to Cambodia to engage in a two-week educators program called Where There Be Dragons. As associate director of the Center for Global Studies, Marley is helping to expand Loomis’ offerings for international education experiences for its students. Where There Be Dragons offers teachers an opportunity not only to learn more about international

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education, but also to experience it first-hand. The program included a rural homestay; meetings with experts on Cambodia’s political, social, and cultural history; lessons in Khmer, Cambodia’s language; travel to some of the country’s important historical and cultural sites; and discussion with others in the program about international education and experiential learning. In addition to the exposure to international learning, the program also looked at conflict resolution and globalization through the lens of Cambodia’s past, present, and future, Marley explains. During her homestay on the island of Koh Pdao on the Mekong River, Marley lived with a family of subsistence farmers, the lifestyle of about 80 percent of Cambodians. Her host family — a mother, father, son, and daughter — were rice farmers and lived in a house without running water or electricity. The family did not speak English, which Marley says allowed her to practice her Khmer. “As an international educator who usually is responsible for leading one of these trips, it was amazing to be able to become a participant,” Marley reflects. “As a result of this experience, I grew exponentially — as a person and as an international education student/professional.” She says the trip has helped to shape her approach to the international education programs she is building at Loomis as she thinks about ways to prepare students for overseas experiences, to develop the dynamics

of student travel groups, to empower students while they are abroad, and to help students alter their perspectives.

— —————————————

The global experiences of faculty members did not begin or end with these teachers, of course. Other recent international experiences include travel to Greece by English teacher Abby Byerly; South America by Spanish teacher Courtney Carey; and India, France, and other countries by faculty members leading student trips. And the newest Palmer fellow, French teacher Sabine Giannamore, plans to take a Spanish immersion language program at Middlebury College next summer, followed by a subsequent summer at the Cervantes Institute in Spain and possible travel to South America or Latin America. All of these far-flung faculty experiences coincide with an increasingly varied and vibrant global perspective at Loomis Chaffee. With a student body that includes 15 percent international students, a curriculum that factors in the world, the new Center for Global Studies, and expanding offerings for students to study abroad, the school’s Island nickname might seem a misnomer, until the spring floods arrive to remind us that it is the school’s geography, not its mindset, that inspired this affectionate moniker. ©

World Travel Through the Eyes of LC Scholars Faculty aren’t the only ones bringing the world back to the Island. Eight students who entered their junior year this fall traveled abroad over the summer as part of the LC Scholars program, which provides financial support, mentoring, summer enrichment, and international travel to Loomis Chaffee applicants who, according to the program’s mission, “demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities, outstanding academic work, and an extraordinary commitment to the best self and the common good.” Among their individual destinations were Italy, Thailand, Fiji, New Zealand, Morocco, France, Ghana, Spain, and Costa Rica. To hear directly from LC Scholars about their adventures abroad last summer, go to www. loomischaffee.org / magazine and view video interviews with some of the students.

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E S

Beneath colorful Ramadan flags, Lucy Thiboutot teaches an Arabic class. Photo: John Groo

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ELIZABETH BUCCERI ’07 Math teacher Assistant Coach, girls swimming and girls water polo Faculty member since 2012

JAMES RUGEN ’70 Music teacher Associate Director of Communications Faculty member since 1974

LYNN PETRILLO ’86 Director of Strategic Communications & Marketing Faculty member since 2004

JAMES DARGATI ’85 Head Coach, boys varsity basketball Faculty member since 1990 TIMOTHY STRUTHERS ’85 Director of Development Faculty member since 1992

SARAH ZIMMERMANN ’97 Library faculty Faculty member since 2012

KATHLEEN “KITTY” JOHNSON PETERSON ’72 Foreign language teacher Faculty member since 1979

NEIL CHAUDHARY ’05 Science teacher Theater director Faculty member since 2009

MELISSA “MISSY” POPE ’04 Social Media Manager Faculty member since 2012 ROBERTSON “BOB” HOWE ’80 Director of Athletics Seth Beebe ’78 Faculty member since 2004 Director of Information Resources Assistant Coach, boys III basketball Faculty member since 1984

HELENE RAMIREZ-GUERRA ’07 Assistant Director of Admission Faculty member since 2011

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ADRIAN STEWART ’90 Athletic Trainer Head of Physical Therapy Head Coach, girls varsity basketball Assistant Coach, football Faculty member since 2001

Margaret “Maggie” Kennedy ’05 Athletics faculty Head Coach, girls JV soccer Assistant Coach, girls varsity hockey and varsity softball Full-time faculty member since 2012

CHRISTINE MANGIAFICO STEINER ’83 Director of Parent Annual Fund Faculty membe r since 2012

ALBERT FREIHOFER ’69 English teacher Director of Norton Family Center for the Common Good Assistant Coach, football Former Trustee Faculty member since 2012

JEFFREY SCANLON ’79 English teacher Director of Loomis Chaffee Summer Program Faculty member since 1986 SCOTT MACCLINTIC ’82 Science teacher Director of Kravis Center for Excellence in Teaching Faculty member since 1990

JAY THORNHILL ’05 Assistant Director of Admission Coordinator of International Student Recruitment Assistant Coach, boys soccer and girls track and field Faculty member since 2009

Familiar Faces

It says something good about a school when its graduates seek to return as teachers. Loomis Chaffee counts 19 alumni among its faculty — more than 11 percent of the 160 faculty members. Their graduation years range from 1969 to 2007, and their years of tenure reach back nearly four decades. These familiar folks help shape the lives of today’s students in much the same way that they themselves were nurtured through Loomis Chaffee, with intellectual vigor, with respect, with joy, and with a healthy sense of humor. Photos: John Groo, Justin Zheng ’11

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Election Fervor Kicks Off the School’s Year-Long Examination of Democracy

CAMPAIGN 2O12 STORY BY BECKY PURDY & PHOTOGRAPHS BY PATRICIA COUSINS

BARACK OBAMA SCANNED the faces of Loomis Chaffee students and faculty gathered in the Olcott Center on Election Day and declared in emphatic syllables, “Though you feel your vote, your one vote, is insignificant, you have the power to change the course of history.” Moments earlier, Mitt Romney had rallied the same crowd with his own declaration: “We need to get America back on its feet and claim its rightful place as a superpower.” Third-party candidates Jill Stein and Gary Johnson also made appearances, as did the running mates, families, and campaign managers of all of the presidential candidates. OK, not really. Students stood in as the candidates and their campaign teams during the Election Day convocation, a culminating event in the 2012 U.S. presidential mock campaign and election on the Island. But simulated or not, real candidates or sincere stand-ins, the five-week mock campaign engaged the entire Loomis Chaffee community in the electoral process, from “candidate” rallies and political “ads” to on-campus polling, panel discussions, and dorm viewings of the actual televised debates. Every student, faculty member, and staff member also had the opportunity to vote in the mock election, and the 30 |

results reflected that of the country, with President Obama winning re-election to the White House. The History and Social Science Department organized and coordinated the multitude of events, which dovetailed with the school’s theme for 2012–13: Democracy at Home and Abroad. Molly Pond, head of the department, said the mock election aimed to bring the real presidential election to life for the Loomis community and to teach students about the American electoral process and the issues surrounding the election. She noted that the program also Junior James Daring (left), who played the role of Mitt Romney, and junior Isaac Simons (right), who played Barack Obama, pose with their campaign placards. Juniors Taylor Williams (left) and James Cox (right) Juniors Jeremy Bogle (left), as Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson, and Kassidi Jones (right), as Michelle Obama, deliver stump speeches. Facing page: Rallies during the mock campaign spread the election-season fervor as juniors support their assigned candidates: (top) Obama campaigners Mercedes Villareal, Caroline Dodson, Charlotte Giroux, and Maria Genatios; (bottom left) Libertarian booster Leah Rubin; (bottom center) Green Party supporter Olga Golovneva; and (bottom right) Romney campaigner Patrick Afriyie.

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sought to “enact the school’s mission to educate our ‘students for service in the nation and in today’s global civilization.’” Like the national campaign, the mock campaign season on campus brought a swirl of activity, message-crafting, speeches, and debate. Along the way, students met alumni and parents who work in politics and hosted several national commentators on the political process. Early in the fall, each of the three 11th-grade American Civilization classes was assigned a partisan role in the mock election. One class represented the Obama campaign, a second the Romney campaign, and the third class split between the two third-party candidates. The classes identified key individuals in each campaign’s team and then nominated one another to play the roles. James Daring took on the role of Mitt Romney. Isaac Simons played the role of Barack Obama. Natha “BamBam” Singhasaneh channeled Green Party candidate Jill Stein. And Jeremy Bogle embraced the role of Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson. Classmates

played the spouses, running mates, advisors, and campaign staffers of the candidates. For the next several weeks these students researched the issues, discussed strategy, wrote speeches, created campaign advertisements, covered news about the presidential race, conducted polls, and disseminated information to the Loomis community. Students, faculty, staff, and parents were given access to campaign portals for the student-run Obama, Romney, and third-party campaigns as well as an Election Central portal with links to news, results of campus polls, and information feeds from the campaign trail on and off the Island. On October 4 the “candidates” and their entourages gathered in the SNUG for the first of two election rallies. Students held posters and signs supporting the candidates, and rousing music blared from the speakers as excitement grew. Fiery introductions by the vice presidential candidates pumped up the crowd for each candidate’s turn at the podium. Junior Alexander Calle, im-

“Mrs. Obama” speaks at a rally in the SNUG amphitheater.

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personating Vice President Joe Biden, introduced President Obama by saying, “Barack has given ... security to many citizens, who were unemployed before his term. A job is about a lot more than a paycheck. It is about your dignity. It is about respect. It is about your place in the community. It is about being able to look your child in the eye and say, ‘Son, it’s going to be all right.’” Isaac Simons, filling the shoes of President Obama, cautioned the audience that “there is much work to be done” but generated a wave of excitement when he pledged to make college more affordable for all. Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan, played by junior Jae Lee, took a different approach when introducing the Republican candidate, calling out “to my fellow Americans, all I can say is help is coming!” James Daring, playing Governor Romney, motivated the “voters” with his plans to create jobs in lieu of raising taxes. “The solution is not increasing taxes but increasing employment opportunities,” he declared. As the campaign speeches continued, chants for candidates

spread through the crowd, and student journalists interviewed rally-goers and recorded the events on their smart phones. Like any good political rally, the high-energy event left participants and observers breathless as the rally concluded and the school returned to its regular class schedule. The campaign fervor carried over onto the website portals, where students posted political ads they had created as assignments for their history classes. Student voice-overs narrated clips of the real candidates rallying supporters, shaking hands, meeting school children, and touring factories and farms. Bold graphics questioned the motivations, the vision, or the chances for success of the other side. In one student-created advertisement for Romney, a distinctly “Americana” image — a white barn with an American flag tacked above the weathered door — fills the screen as Governor Romney’s voice is heard saying, “Over the last three-anda-half years, we’ve seen hopes and dreams diminished by false

On Election Day, a student band pumps up the crowd in the Olcott Center: seniors Ryan Shelby and Alex Buis on guitar, senior Darius Moore on vocals, senior Gregory Duvergé on trombone, and sophomore Drew Voghel on saxophone. (Not pictured: senior Benjamin Russell on drums)

promises and weak leadership. Americans are tired of being tired.” The barn image fades out and the viewer joins Governor Romney and his wife, Ann, who wind their way through a backstage hallway toward a meeting hall filled with bright lights and supporters’ cheers. “A better America begins tonight,” Romney declares. In a student-made ad for Obama, patriotic images flash across the screen as a voice states, “Our nation was founded upon the principle of integrity, a principle which has enabled our country to become the superpower it is today, a principle that presidential candidate Mitt Romney refuses to uphold.” The advertisement then shows a succession of apparent flip-flops by Governor Romney on the issues of immigration, global warming, and assault weapons. “The American people deserve a president who champions integrity and leads by example,” the voice-over concludes as video rolls of President Obama and his family at a bookstore and then fades into a clip of the president at a Nobel Peace

Prize event stating, “We lose ourselves when we compromise the very ideals that we fight to defend. We honor those ideals by upholding them not when it’s easy, but when it is hard.” The mock election portals also contained sections of Twitter feeds from the real candidates, links to pertinent articles and opinion pieces from publications around the world, quotes from the candidates, bulletins on the latest developments in the presidential race, and transcripts of speeches by the candidates and their Loomis counterparts. Not all of the election activity fell along party lines, however. For a more impartial perspective on campaign issues, 16 foreign policy and economics students participated in a panel discussion on October 25 that aimed to clarify the positions of the candidates for students and faculty in attendance. Moderated by Alec McCandless, director of the Center for Global Studies, the discussion explored issues of America’s role in the world; the U.S. relationship with China, Russia, Iran, and

Syria; jobs; health care and Medicare; energy and the environment; taxes, spending, and the federal deficit; and defense spending. Alec explained that the goal of the panel discussion was to provide the audience with as many facts and as much clarity as possible as well as offering a learning experience for the student panelists. “This is a way outside of the classroom for students to be invested in their learning and then share it with their classmates, which is an incredibly effective teaching technique,” he said. Senior Ekaterina Kryuchkova said participating on the panel brought the issues into sharp focus for her. “You have to go through all the research and basically do the same thing as the candidates who participated in the actual debate. You have to fact-check and compare policies to make the contrast clear,” she said.

In one student-created advertisement for Romney, a distinctly “Americana” image — a white barn with an American flag tacked above the weathered door — fills the screen as Governor Romney’s voice is heard saying, “Over the last three-and-a-half years, we’ve seen hopes and dreams diminished by false promises and weak leadership. Americans are tired of being tired.”

Another group of students experienced the election from the perspective of pollsters. To track trends on campus loomischaffee.org | 33

Is the country on the right track or wrong track? In the final week of the campaign, the poll tallied

67% “right track” and

29% “wrong track” responses.

and explore the complexities of gauging public opinion, students polled community members on campus on five separate occasions during the fall. The student pollsters roamed the dining halls, dorms, student lounges, and other gathering places and asked sets of four or five questions. The tabulated results appeared on the election portals, and with help from their history teachers and Advanced Placement statistics teacher Joseph Cleary, the students identified trends. “Is the country on the right track or the wrong track?” the pollsters asked. In the first week of polling, 62 percent of respondents said the country was on the right track, and 38 percent said it was on the wrong track. The difference in opinions fluctuated in the ensuing weeks although the “wrong track” opinion, while significant in size, never overtook the “right track” view. In the final week of the campaign, the poll tallied 67 percent “right track” and 29 percent “wrong track” responses. The polling samples reflected

growing interest in the election as the voting day neared. Eight-five percent of respondents said they were interested in the election in the first week of polling while 15 percent said they were not interested. By the final week, 100 percent reported interest in the election and 0 percent said they were not interested. Poll questions also delved for insights into the presidential and vice presidential debates. A few days after the first presidential debate, pollsters asked, “Based on what you saw and/or heard of Wednesday’s presidential debate, who do you think is the better leader?” The result was a statistical dead heat between President Obama and Governor Romney. After the second presidential debate, students were asked which candidate they believed had won the debate. Forty-seven percent said President Obama won, and 28 percent said Governor Romney came out on top. Adding a level of sophistication to the polling, the student questioners also asked whether the second debate had changed respondents’ opinions of the

candidates. Sixty-four percent of respondents said the debate did not affect their opinion, 10 percent said the debate changed their opinion of the candidates, and 23 percent said they did not watch the debate or declined to answer the question. The pollsters also asked the all-important question, “If the election were held today and you were eligible to vote, for whom would you vote?” Obama held a lead throughout the fall, climbing to 67 percent in the final week. Romney’s support held strong at roughly 30 percent during the heart of the campaign but fell to 23 percent shortly before the election. In Election Day voting in the mock election, Obama garnered 50 percent of the vote, Romney received 23 percent, Johnson received 11 percent, and Stein received 9 percent. (The remaining 7 percent were found to be invalid votes or errors.) Along with the steady flow of mock election activities, the Island also turned to the wider world for perspective on the 2012 presidential race and the American electoral process.

Students cast their ballots in the mock election. Voting, which took place in the Parton Room, was open to all students, faculty, and staff with valid school identification.

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Students pause for the national anthem before the Election Day rally in the Olcott Center.

All Loomis students were required to read the book Democracy Despite Itself over the summer, and to kick off the school theme for the year and whet the community’s appetite for the election, the authors of the book visited campus on September 20. The authors, psychologist Danny Oppenheimer and political scientist Mike Edwards, spoke at an all-school convocation, answered student questions, visited classes, and participated in an evening book discussion open to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and parents. The authors asserted that democracies work because people believe they have a voice and are participating in a fair system, not because those same people make informed — or even rational — decisions at the voting booth. In the convocation address, Mr. Oppenheimer discussed some of the influences on voters’ decision-making that have no connection to candidate ideology or proposed policies. “The human mind is not designed for politics,” Mr. Oppenheimer said. He demonstrated the power of visual messages to alter people’s perceptions and the ease with which people remember things incorrectly, and he shared results of a study that found a

subliminal influence from a lefttilting or right-tilting chair on a person’s political attitudes. But even though people often base political decisions on irrelevant information and influences, he continued, the mere fact that citizens can vote at all keeps democracies moving forward, producing healthier, more educated, longer-lasting, more successful societies than nondemocracies do. When people feel they are participating in a fair system, they tend to follow the rules and support a stable society. When they feel they don’t have a voice or believe the system is unjust, he said, they tend to refuse to cooperate, breaking down society, as happened with the Arab Spring. In October, political analyst Michelle Bernard, chief executive officer of the Bernard Center for Women, Politics & Public Policy, visited campus and spoke to students and faculty about the upcoming election and the state of politics in the United States. (Ms. Bernard timed her visit with her participation in the Connecticut Forum’s State of Women 2012 as a featured panelist along with Gloria Steinem and Ashley Judd.) “Politics is getting nastier and nastier,” Ms. Bernard said, addressing the all-school convoca-

tion. Constant fighting between the Democrats and the Republicans has shifted the focus of elected officials to destroying the rival party, rather than to helping people and communities in real need. In response to one student’s question, Ms. Bernard asserted that the bipartisan political system works in name only. She argued that elected officials need to focus on what is best for the country rather than on what is best for their respective parties. She believes that strict term limits are one way to accomplish this goal. She proposes one-term restrictions, with no option for reelection. Under this model the president would serve one eight-year term, a senator would serve one six-year term, and a congressman would serve one two-year term. This format would allow elected officials to make decisions and do their jobs without worrying about reelection and fundraising, she said.

“Politics is getting nastier and nastier,” Ms. Bernard said, addressing the all-school convocation. Constant fighting between the Democrats and the Republicans has shifted the focus of elected officials to destroying the rival party, rather than to helping people and communities in real need.

While the many voices of election season on the Island offered a range of insights into the American electoral process, another event in the program offered an insider’s view of careers in public service. For this perspective, the school tapped the wisdom of seven Loomis

loomischaffee.org | 35

Author and psychologist Danny Oppenheimer addresses the school about democracy’s paradoxes.

National political analyst Michelle Bernard continues discussions with students after her convocation talk.

Paul Mounds ’03, faculty spouse Sam Caligiuri, Lucy Cox-Chapman ’02, and faculty member Jessica Fenner participate in a panel discussion about their current and previous work in politics and government.

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community members who work or have worked in politics. The panel discussion drew a crowd of more than 80 students and faculty members, and several of the panelists remained on campus for a lunch with Advanced Placement Government students and discussions with other history and social science classes. Topics of discussion included the importance of various roles on a campaign staff, the personal characteristics needed to survive in a political career, the dangers of corruption, and issues surrounding money and politics. Knowledgeable and eloquent, the panelists also reflected on their paths to political careers and the challenges along the way. Alumni panelists included Paul Mounds ’03, a senior policy analyst for Connecticut Gov. Danell P. Malloy and former staffer for U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Rep. John B. Larson; Lucy Cox-Chapman ’02, a former staffer of U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd; Ben Fifield ’06, a political science Ph.D. student at Princeton who formerly worked as a research analyst for the Democratic National

Committee and as a campaign staff member for Senator Dodd’s 2008 presidential primary bid; and Fred McNulty ’11, a student activist who is engaged in campus mobilization efforts at Connecticut College. The panel also included Robert Cox, U.S. editor for Reuters Breakingviews, a contributor to Newsweek and MSNBC, and the father of Loomis freshman Samuel Cox; Jessica Fenner, a member of LC’s Alumni/Development Office who formerly worked for U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy; and Sam Caligiuri, the former mayor of Waterbury, Connecticut, twoterm state senator, and 2010 candidate for Congress whose wife, Lori Caligiuri, teaches in the History Department. In response to one student’s question, the alumni panelists discussed Loomis experiences that have aided their work in government and politics. They noted the enormous advantages they have experienced because they learned to write well and quickly on the Island. And several of the alumni panelists mentioned their appreciation for Loomis courses and teachers that offered them unglorified

and intriguing views of political work. “I was prepared for the realities of politics because of my experiences at Loomis Chaffee,” Paul said. Paul’s response would have pleased Nathaniel Horton Batchelder, Loomis’ first headmaster, who believed private schools had a public responsibility. “Our task is not merely to furnish college preparation and social amenities for those who can afford to pay for them, but earnestly to seek potential leaders and train them in the arts and duties of citizenship,” Mr. B said. Decades after this visionary decree, another generation of students has gained an understanding of important political and democratic realities, through the whirlwind of the 2012 election season on the Island. ©

The stage is set for Election Day.

85%

In the first week of polling

of respondents said they were interested in the election while

15%

said they were not interested. By the final week,

100% 0% reported interest in the election and

said they were not interested.

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OBJECT LESSONS | BY KAREN PARSONS

Children of the Fountain

N 1919, industrialist August Hecksher commissioned Evelyn Longman to create a marble sculpture for his soon-to-be-opened art museum in Huntington, Long Island. Later that year, The American Magazine of Art noted that the sculpture, a working fountain, was intended to represent “childhood,” echoing Mr. Hecksher’s groundbreaking philanthropic efforts to improve the lives of New York City children. When he made his final payment to Longman in October 1920, Mr. Hecksher wrote, “It has rarely afforded me greater satisfaction to pay a bill which I have owed. … When the replica of the fountain is erected your studio will always be a [m]ecca for us.” Ms. Longman’s sculpture portrays three children standing over a basin. Bas-reliefs of storybookstyled animals surround the basin’s outer surface, and a bronze frog poised on the rim camouflages the fountain’s nozzle. The replica to which Mr. Hecksher referred is cast in concrete and bronze, and both versions of the sculpture share the name Youth Eternal. A 1931 letter to Ms. Longman from an interested Long Islander, Marion Makay, explained that a poem found among the possessions of Mr. Hecksher’s friend inspired this title. Forever fair and ever to be loved Their youth eternal and their innocence By art enshrined in spotless, changeless stone. The children of the fountain woo me back To those sweet days when it was also mine. The sculpture held personal significances for the artist and the patron. The figures of the children are sculpted in the images of three of Mr. Hecksher’s grandchildren who, by 1919, resided in London. And Ms. Longman’s work on the commission spanned her courtship and June 1920 wedding to Nathaniel Horton Batchelder, first headmaster of the Loomis School. Sometime in the first decade of their marriage, the replica of Youth Eternal was placed along the exterior east wall of Chiselhurston-Farmington, the studio Mr. B constructed on campus so that his wife could relocate her thriving New York City art career. If Mr. Hecksher journeyed to Chiselhurst-on-Farmington, evidence of the visit does not survive.

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Family and school events intertwine with the Loomis sculpture’s life story. The rising flood waters of 1936 and 1938 surrounded the fountain, inspiring the Fall 1938 Loomis Bulletin to proclaim in a photo caption, “Three Frog-Watchers Go Wading.” The Batchelders featured the sculpture on their 1931 holiday card and again in 1948 after moving it to their Cape Cod home in preparation for their retirement. The latter card shows three of Mr. and Mrs. B’s grandchildren playing gleefully in the basin.

Longman’s sculpture portrays three children standing over a basin. Bas-reliefs of storybook-styled animals surround the basin’s outer surface, and a bronze frog poised on the rim camouflages the fountain’s nozzle. The generosity of the Batchelder family, and especially that of Nathaniel and Evelyn’s son, Skip ’35, made possible the return of the Youth Eternal replica to Loomis Chaffee. Permanently installed outside the Richmond Art Center in 1992, the sculpture was seen by hundreds that year who viewed a Longman retrospective created by faculty members Marilyn and Walter Rabetz. The “children of the fountain” remain today on the Island, enticing the young and the old to consider those “sweet days” of youth.

Photo: John Groo

loomischaffee.org | 39

U M M E R S

M R O A G R

Where the wonders of summer meet the joys of learning JUNE 27–AUGUST 1, 2013 FOR GIRLS & BOYS GRADES 7–12 Writing, Science, Robotics, Visual Arts, Dance, History, Mathematics, and Chinese

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PROGRAM AT

www.loomis.org/summerprogram 40 |

ALUMNI NEWS | EDITED BY JAMES S. RUGEN ’70

1950

“At the age of 79, I have finally retired from both the U.S. government and private business,” writes Bert A. Engelhardt. “I am now at home with my wife, who had brain surgery last March, followed by a minor stroke.”

1952

“My wife, Ramona, and I are approaching our 60th year of marriage,” writes Frank Bob Cook. “Please remember me to Don Joffray,” he adds. (Hope you’re reading this, Joff!) From Bill Fischer: “Staying busy and engaged as an elected trustee of Mira Costa Community College in Oceanside, Calif., where I have lived for the past 10 years. Also playing as much New Orleans traditional jazz as possible — mostly trombone, some banjo. Family keeps me most engaged and occupied, especially two granddaughters and two grandsons. Unhappily lost my dear wife, Susan, last February after 52 years together.”

ALBERT HURWIT ’49 FEATURED IN PBS DOCUMENTARY

documentary, “Lifecasters,” featuring composer Albert Hurwit ’49 and the story behind the creation of his Symphony No. 1 “Remembrance” will be aired nationally on PBS, on February 7. Check local listings for the time in your community.

Co-producer Connecticut Public Television plans a special preview, details to be announced. After a fulfilling career as a physician, Alby revived a lifetime interest and became a classical music composer. He was honored as the winner of the 2009 American Composer Competition, and his music has been performed by numerous orchestras, including the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, the Columbia Orchestra of Maryland, and the

’33

1953

Richard D. Crutchfield writes: “Looking forward greatly to our 60th Reunion. I hope Dave Harmon can pull together some of the old crooners for some Pelican songs. Life in the North Carolina mountains is exciting these days. Asheville is fast becoming a mecca for the arts: music of all kinds, theater, the visual arts and crafts, and literature. My son, John, now married and a father and living close by, is an actor, playwright, and theater critic (and translator of German poetry). He holds a doctorate in English and also teaches creative writing at Warren Wilson College. My daughter, Lilian, many years a gifted teacher, is now pursuing a master’s degree in counseling to further her career in teaching in the North Carolina prison system. I have a lot to be thankful for; it all started at Loomis.” From Sheila Cronan Danielli: “Still living in Rome. Recently widowed and living in the throes of a desperate euro economy. Grandchildren to appear in a Pupi Avati

Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra. His Symphony No. 1 “Remembrance” is available on CD, performed by the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of former HSO director Michael Lankester. For more information about Alby and his music, see www.alberthurwit.com.

JOHN FOSTER ’51 EARNS NATIONAL POETRY RECOGNITION

T Associate Head of School Nathan Follansbee and Head of School Sheila Culbert visit with Fred Graham ’33, who at age 97, is one of Loomis Chaffee’s oldest living alumni.

’51

’45

Fellow alumni and long-time friends Henry Van Vleck ’51 and Jack Washburn ’45 enjoy catching up this fall at Homecoming.

HE following poem by John Foster ’51 earned second place in a nationwide contest for formal verse. A nonet, it consists of nine lines, the first of which contains nine syllables, the second containing eight, the third containing seven, and so forth all the way down to a single syllable in the final line. John writes: “This poem comes with the hope that you will find ways to cope with the stresses of living in a troubled world.”

RELEASE When the taut and teeming coil of day has eased its fevered self into the quiet cool of twilight’s pastel pool, then I may be at last released, unwound, unbound unspiraled into sleep.

loomischaffee.org | 41

Chaffee

Head of School Sheila Culbert hosted the fall gathering of the Chaffee Book Club on Wednesday, October 3, 2012. The group discussed Rachel Joyce’s The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, a 2012 Man Booker Prize nominee. The next Chaffee Book Club will take place on February 6, when music teacher Sue Chrzanowski will lead a discussion of Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall by Kazuo Ishiguro.

BOOK CLUB ’59

film. House in Greece, still standing and a lovely refuge.”

1959

’54 ’64 Lew Knickerbocker ’54 has published his third book, Jockey on a Crocodile: A Memoir — Almost. In it, Sylvester Van Zandt pens his memoirs as a Korean War hero and an early spy for the C.I.A. In the chapter titled “Not Quite the Dry Tortugas,” there is a fictionalized view of Van Zandt’s stay at “The Island School.” Lew recently became a great-grandfather for the third time. A psychological thriller with a Cambridge, Mass., setting; a Victorian “castle” in Jamaica Plain; and several mysterious murders, M-O-T-H-E-R Spells Murder is the first novel by E.B. Boatner ’59. He is at work on his next novel, Who Mourns the Death of a Cabana Boy? Dancing in the Kitchen, by Sue Sterling ’64, received advance praise from novelist Richard Russo and was published by Publerati, a literary agency/e-publisher specializing in fiction. Set in Maine, New Hampshire, and England, the novel concerns the revelation of secrets in a New England family after the unexpected death of the father. Sue and her husband, Paul Machlin, live in Waterville, Maine.

’76 ’73 Steven Strogatz ’76 and Jamie Williams ’73 met at the Harvard Book Store on October 5, 2012, where Steve offered a presentation on his new book, The Joy of x: A Guided Tour of Math, from One to Infinity. Award-winning professor at Cornell, author, and columnist, Steve examines the greatest ideas in mathematics and shows how they connect to literature, philosophy, law, medicine, art, business, and even pop culture.

’79

As E.B. Boatner, Ethan Boatner is the author of the recentlypublished psychological thriller, M-O-T-H-E-R Spells Murder, his first book. A journalist and photographer for nearly 40 years, Ethan has published articles and photographs in Harvard University Gazette, Harvard Magazine, and Lavender Magazine. He has photographed such diverse subjects as John Wayne, the Dalai Lama, Georgia O’Keefe, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, and Sarah Palin. He sells his prints and greeting cards through his business, Harbinger Art. Ethan lives in Minnesota. “Life is good,” writes Debbie Savitt First. “Still working. Still loving being a gram to seven. Still biking for the Jimmy Fund. Now serving on Loomis Chaffee’s Head’s Council and so proud of the school’s direction under Sheila Culbert.”

1968

’72 Classmates Palmer Davis, Laurence Waltman, and Larry Richmond (all ’72) gathered in Rhode Island in September to enjoy a beach weekend with family and friends. Palmer teaches photography in New York City; Laurence acts and performs in various stage productions in New York City; and Larry works in the family music business.

Deborah Zlotsky ’80, Amy Zlotsky ’75, Nancy Zlotsky ’78, and Jane Marcus-Delgado ’79 enjoy an Independence Day reunion at Tanglewood last summer.

’80

’75

’79 ’78

’79 Classmates Bill Ganem ’79 and Chris Rout ’79 enjoy a reunion in Maine. Chris writes: “During a business/pleasure trip to the area last September, I stopped in Damariscotta at Bill and his wife Barb’s wonderful restaurant, Larson’s Lunch Box. It features the best lobster and crab rolls in the state.” During a trip to Thailand last April, Chris Rout ’79 met Apichart “Bert” Chutrakul ’79 for a reunion near Bangkok.

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Gerry Cohen was appointed special counsel to the North Carolina General Assembly, effective September 1, 2012. He has been employed by the General Assembly since 1977, the last 31 years as director of bill drafting.

1973

Frank T. Russo (Lt. Cmdr., U.S. Navy, retired) lives in Cotuit, Mass., with his wife, Judith Savery, and their Shetland sheepdog, Major Higgins. Frank battles a number of medical issues deriving from his exposure to chemical warfare defoliants, which forced his medical retire-

’81

zine, August 5, 2012. Keith is a professor at Oregon State University and will be featured in “The Write Stuff” section of the spring magazine.

20 Reunion 13 June 14–16, 2013

1981

Andrea Korzenik McCarren is happy to report that her daughter, Callaway, is a member of the Loomis Chaffee Class of 2015. Andrea is a correspondent with the CBS station in Washington, D.C. Her work was honored last summer with two Emmy awards, her ninth and 10th for news reporting.

1983

David Flash ’81 and former Loomis English teacher Samuel “Steve” Stevenson show off their catch; caught off Monomoy at the Cape, David’s specimen is 33 inches; Steve’s is 35 inches. The photo was taken by Matt Sutphin ’69 at Wychmere Harbor in Harwichport, Mass.

ment after a distinguished career as a naval officer. Classmates and friends of Frank wish him the best and thank him for his extraordinary service.

1975

From Charles Williams: “I went to New York City last April and saw classmates Mike Carter ’73 and Drew Zingg ’73. My daughter Ella is a sophomore at Centre College. Anna, my oldest daughter, lives in Houston and will be working for Shell Oil.”

1979

“The company I work for, Cannondale Investments, completed its first acquisition October 1, 2012,” writes Jonathan A. Flatow. “I am now serving as the chief operating officer of OneSource Information Services (www.onesource. com), a leader in the business intelligence and sales enablement industry.”

1980

The Vintage paperback edition of The Oregon Experiment, the third novel by Keith Scribner, originally published in hardcover by Alfred A. Knopf in June 2011, was released in August 2012; and the French edition, released by Christian Bourgois Editeur in Paris, came out in September. Keith’s piece Stuck Together, about the important role of Vermont maple syrup in his family, appeared in the “Lives” column of The New York Times Maga-

From Chris Estes: “After my nine years as director of the North Carolina Housing Coalition and 27 years in North Carolina, we are moving to Washington, D.C., as I take over as president of the National Housing Conference. I would love to catch up with any LC friends in the area. Reach me at www.nhc.org.”

1984

William Bissell, managing director of Fabindia and founder of The Fabindia School, was awarded a Forbes India Leadership Award 2012 for being an “entrepreneur with social impact.” He won the award for “creating a globally recognized, profitable retail brand that has over 22,000 local artisans as its shareholders, most of whom would have lost their livelihoods if it were not for Bissell and Fabindia.” William was featured in Loomis Chaffee Magazine, winter 2012, and he was the 2012 Loomis Chaffee Commencement Speaker. His future plans call for combatting the junk food sold in India and increasing customers’ access to organic fresh food, grown locally.

1985

Artists Sarah Lutz and Beth Dary were awarded the Miranda Arts Project Space (Port Chester, N.Y.) first Collaborative Workspace Residency. They collaborated on a dynamic gallery installation that highlights the natural environment and compelling history of Port Chester. Throughout the residency, the artists documented their ideas and progress in an ongoing blog. Both have a deep affinity with nature originating from their lives spent on the water both in New York City and Cape Cod. This common ground informs the distinct yet related vocabularies found in their work and provided them with a mutual language to articulate the discoveries that occurred as they

CLASSES ENDING IN 3s AND 8s! Loomis Chaffee wants YOU to celebrate this year! Join classmates, friends, and faculty for your 5th or 60th or any other reunion in between. Look for your invitation this spring. Be sure to receive electronic updates by sharing your email address with the school. Update your information at www.loomischaffee.org /cf_ forms or call 860.687.6273

loomischaffee.org | 43

’88

Leigh Todd Camard ’88 and her husband, Wayne Camard, enjoy a chat before lunch with S.E.M. Alassane Ouattara, president of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.

’92

Alexandra Socarides ’92 recently published her first book, Dickinson Unbound: Paper, Process, Poetics, an examination of the material history of Emily Dickinson’s poems that situates Dickinson’s creative process in relation to other 19th-century compositional practices. The book is published by Oxford University Press. Alexandra is assistant professor of English and literature coordinator at the University of Missouri. She received her doctorate in English from Rutgers University in 2007. “We recently welcomed with joy our second daughter, Sophie Davia Brueggeman,” reports Jodi Luster Brueggeman ’94. “Big sister Alexandra is very excited to have her sister finally here!”

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Renata Hoddinott ’00 and Marcus Dong were married on September 1, 2012, in Newport Beach, Calif. Classmates Kurt Malec ’00, Kathryn Bach ’00, the bride, and Chuck Kelly ’00 celebrate the happy occasion.

’81

’96

’94

Nancy Webster Gleason ’96 and her husband, Alex, welcomed the arrival of their second son, George Knowles Gleason, in May 2012. Here they pose with George and their older son, Theodore, on George’s baptism day in September. Godparents Vanessa Lisi Lyon ’96 and Ben Stout ’96 joined the family in Maine for the special occasion. George was born four days after Nancy walked in the Tufts graduation, having been conferred her doctorate in international relations.

worked side-by-side. The artists were intrigued by the notion of a collaborative residency — not merely a shared space but a truly collaborative creative process, in which each responds to her own last mark as well to the other’s, ultimately creating a call-and-response dynamic much like that in a jazz ensemble. Sarah employs an additive, fluid, and responsive process to build paintings and drawings that feature clusters of forms suggesting habitats of profuse growth. Her most recent body of work, The Cenote Series, was inspired by snorkeling in sink holes in the Yucatan, Mexico. In the collaboration at MAPSpace, she expanded beyond the confines of paper and canvas to work directly on the gallery walls with a variety of new materials. A gallery talk with the artists was held November 17, 2012, and their exhibit, Interplay: A Collaboration, was on view November 17, 2012, to January 19, 2013.

1986

Rachael N. Beare has been appointed the dean of admission for Keystone Academy, a new school in Beijing opening in the fall of 2014. Keystone Academy of Beijing will be primarily for Chinese students, grades 1 through 12, and will provide not only a world-class formal education and depth of appreciation for Chinese language, history, and culture

ANNUAL FUND 2012–13

’01

Following his passion for aviation, Jason DiVenere ’01 works as an aerospace engineer at Scaled Composites in Mojave, Calif. Seen here with Sir Richard Branson, Jason works closely with Branson’s Virgin Galactic to complete SpaceShip Two, the world’s first commercial spacecraft.

but also an understanding and appreciation for the cultures of others and a commitment to making important and lasting contributions to society and to the welfare of others. Rachael’s husband, former Loomis Chaffee faculty member David Beare, will also join the Keystone administrative team as the dean of academic life. Rachael has served in admissions at Phillips Exeter and Deerfield academies, as director of financial aid and associate director of admission at Loomis, as director of admissions & financial aid at Lakeside School (Seattle, Wash.), and as director of admissions at Hotchkiss, where she is being succeeded by Jane Reynolds Weigel, wife of former Loomis Head of School Russell Weigel.

1988

Leigh Todd Camard lives in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, with her husband, Wayne Camard, resident representative for the International Monetary Fund. Leigh writes: “My 10-yearold daughter, Hannah Blackwood, lives in Maryland with her father until my return. She and I spend as much time together as possible, in the U.S., here in Côte d’Ivoire, and also in the south of France, where my stepchildren Emma, 11, and Thomas, 9, live with their mother. Our lives as a tricontinental family are complicated but very interesting!”

1993

After spending six years in Boulder, Colo., as a partner at an advertising agency, CP & B, Winston Binch moved to Los Angeles in the spring of 2011 to work for Deutsch LA, where he’s partner and chief digital officer. He sees fellow “ad guy” Tom Pettus often. Christina “Topher” Samra Karper and her husband, Jamie, welcomed their first child, Brooks, on April 27, 2012. “Everyone is happy and healthy and enjoying each new day,” she writes.

1995

“We welcomed our second son, Shai Parker Sundheim, to the family April 14, 2012,” writes Daryn Morgenstein Sundheim. “He joins big brother Eli, 2, making us two very excited (and tired) parents.”

1998

Megan Gremelspacher Swindal writes: “My husband John and I welcomed our first child last spring. John Grayson Swindal was born April 11, 2012.”

2001

News from Daniel Patrick Griffin: “I’m currently living in Boston where I am the assistant director of admissions at St. John’s Prep in Danvers. I completed my master of fine arts degree in creative writing at Emerson College and taught middle school

Leadership Citizenship Service Photo: John Groo

“At Loomis Chaffee, I’ve become a global explorer. In my freshman year I traveled in India for two weeks on a school-sponsored trip, and last summer I spent four weeks studying in Morocco as part of the Loomis Chaffee Scholars Program. With guidance from our new Center for Global Studies, I am now focusing my studies on coursework dedicated to exploring global perspectives and international relations.” — junior Keara Jenkins Thanks to the generosity of our Annual Fund donors, Loomis Chaffee is able to fulfill its mission to educate our students “for service in the nation and in today’s global civilization.” As a result, Keara discovered a passion for global studies and already is making an impact on our world, serving as a youth delegate to the United Nations 56th Commission on the Status of Women. Who knows where her passion will take her next? It takes only a few minutes to make a difference for today’s Loomis Chaffee students. Please make your Annual Fund gift today.

www.loomischaffee.org/giving loomischaffee.org | 45

Remember Loomis Chaffee ALUMNI NEWS | EDITED BY JAMES S. RUGEN ’70

Charitable gift planning at Loomis Chaffee dates back to the school’s founding when the five Loomis siblings, bereft of heirs, pooled their respective estates to found The Loomis Institute. Now a century later, the John Metcalf Taylor Society honors the more than 550 alumni, parents, and friends who have followed in the Founders ’ footsteps and remembered Loomis Chaffee in their estate plans through charitable bequests, trusts, or other provisions. Rika Poor Stevenson ’88 is one such member:

“ Education is very important to my

husband and me, so we felt very strongly that it was important to support the schools we attended by naming them in our estate plans. Loomis Chaffee helped me become the person I am and was much more influential on me than any other education experience I have had. This sounds clichéed, but Loomis Chaffee was not always easy for me, and the support of friends and teachers really helped me learn how to get through the harder times. At the same I became a much more confident, strong, and outgoing person through my experiences and leadership opportunities at Loomis Chaffee. Including Loomis Chaffee in our estate plans made perfect sense, and I hope it will help future generations to share in those same experiences.

— Rika Poor Stevenson ’88

46 |

”

Herrika “Rika” Poor Stevenson ’88 (back right) with her husband, Will, and three sons, Elliot (13), Reese (10), and Herrick (6), at their home in Harvard, Mass.

John Metcalf Taylor Society

To join Rika in the John Metcalf Taylor Society or to learn more about establishing your own Loomis Chaffee legacy by creating an endowed fund or scholarship through your estate plans, please contact Director of Development Timothy G. Struthers ’85 at 860.687.6221 or tim_struthers@loomis.org.

Scan the QR code to connect instantly to the Loomis Chaffee Gift Planning page, or go to www.loomischaffee.org/ giftplanning.

Ari Sussman ’06 is greeted by his former Loomis lacrosse coach, Jim “Grim” Wilson, and by Fred Groen, his coach from 4th to 8th grades in New Haven. Ari played for the Boston Cannons in the semifinals of the Major League Lacrosse Championship last August. In attendance at the game were Ari’s friends and LC teammates Ben Lawrence ’06, Drew Schaffer ’06, Tim Cahill ’08, and Greg Zuboff ’08. Grim writes: “It was good fun to see all these folks on a glorious summer day.”

English at Hillside School in Marlborough, Mass. While at Hillside, I had the privilege of calling Dan Marchetti ’98 and Lauren Gremelspacher MacPherson ’99 colleagues. I also helped develop Zombie in a Penguin Suit, a short horror film that went viral in October 2011 and appeared on websites such as Gawker, The Huffington Post, USA Today, and Adult Swim. My sister, Katie Griffin ’04, is living in Brooklyn and has sailed competitively in Manhattan, Newport, and Block Island. My parents, Sue (Loomis Chaffee faculty 1981–2005) and Paul (man, myth, legend) are well and living in Mystic, Conn., with their golden retriever, Finlay. Mom works at St. Bernard School in Uncasville, Conn., and still coaches. Dad is owner and president of Griffin Private Investigations. For those who remember, the infamous Jessica went to the Big Meadows in the Sky about three years ago. I am looking forward to being a groomsman in Chris Buell’s wedding this spring in Washington, D.C.”

2003

After graduating from Loomis, Christine Hanks moved to Colorado to attend Colorado College. Her family made the move to Vail, Colo., in 2004, and she enjoyed having a place in the mountains to call home. She spent three years working in marketing for a local travel company, but after her mother was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2010, she quit her full-time job to move home and be a permanent caretaker. She lives with her family full time, taking care of

’06 ’01

her mother and enjoying some part-time work as a TV host, chef, and children’s ski instructor. Look for her brief cameo at the end of the upcoming Warren Miller film Flow State as well as her appearance as host of a show for Altitude Network about the Colorado Ski and Snowboard History Museum. When she’s not at home, Christine can be found on the slopes learning from her experience as a member of the Loomis Chaffee ski team. She welcomes any alums to look her up if they are in Colorado or visiting there. Chris Vola’s first novel, Monkeytown, was published last November by a small independent press. Chris works in Manhattan, where he edits two literary magazines, writes, and lives with Anthony Feldman, his roommate of more than five years.

2004

Tina Jeon writes: “If you like blogs, check out my latest about public-private partnerships and public diplomacy — on my firm’s website http://ow.ly/dZ6v4 and the latest on my own personal blog about electoral reform in America http://ow.ly/dZ6zs. Thanks for the support, and enjoy!” Missy Pope writes: “Having worked a few jobs in marketing after college, I was happy to see a position open up at Loomis Chaffee in the Strategic Communications & Marketing Department, and luckily I was able to apply. In September, I was hired as the social media manager for the school and absolutely love being back on campus. I am also happy to

’04

’02

Esther “Tess” Jeanne Larkin arrived May 5, 2012, the daughter of Molly Flanagan Larkin ’01 and Ed Larkin. Proud aunts include Elizabeth Flanagan ’01 and Jean Larkin ’10. Molly continues to work as project manager on the renovations and historical restoration of the New York State Capitol roof and skylights.

announce that I am engaged to my best friend, Benjamin Wolff, and will be married in May 2013. Feel free to reach out and come visit whenever you’re in town!”

2005

After his second year on active duty and nearly a year stationed in Okinawa, Japan, Bryan Jennings was promoted to 1st lieutenant in the Marine Corps.

2006

Brian Sheffer spent 11 months serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras, teaching HIV/AIDS prevention. Now he’s enjoying life in western Massachusetts and plotting his future path.

Their first child, Julia Rose, was born October 8, 2012, to Anna Tova Levin and Kenneth Herzl Levin ’02. Missy Pope '04 with fiancé Benjamin Wolff

Maggie Kennedy ’05 placed second in the Connecticut State Amateur Golf Tournament in August. An accomplished athlete at Loomis and at Dartmouth, Maggie considers herself a casual golfer. After coaching for several years at Loomis, she joined the faculty full time last fall as a member of the Athletics Department. She runs intramural programs, oversees the fitness center, directs the Wellness Program and coaches girls JV soccer, girls varsity ice hockey, and girls varsity softball.

’05

On August 25, 2012, two alums played in the semifinals of the Major League Lacrosse Championship. In separate games at Harvard Stadium, Ari Sussman played for the Boston Cannons, and Drew Snider ’07 played for Denver. Ari was featured in Inside Lacrosse for his accomplishments last season. loomischaffee.org | 47

AN ARTFUL PARTY AT THE NEW BRITAIN MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART

NE hundred fifty members of the Loomis Chaffee community gathered at the New Britain Museum of American Art on October 17, 2012, for a reception hosted by Trustee Johnny Magwood and his wife, Robin, parents of senior Haley. Alumni, parents, grandparents, former faculty, current faculty, and Head of School Sheila Culbert reconnected and discussed happenings on the Island. Attendees were offered tours of the newly renovated museum, whose exhibits included a Norman Rockwell piece, a Lisa Hoke installation featuring 20,000 plastic cups, and Mary Cassatt pastels. To view more photos of the event, go to loomischaffee.org/magazine. Associate Head of School for External Relations Nathan Follansbee joins hosts Trustee Johnny Magwood and his wife, Robin, parents of Haley ’13. An enthusiastic and interested crowd surveys the art as part of a guided tour at the New Britain Museum of American Art.

Classmates Joan Saddler ’79 and Mary Collins ’79 and guest share in the camaraderie of the event. Carol “Sue” Fisher Shepard ’62 and Richard Reinhart ’55 enjoy a respite in the museum lobby.

A glass sculpture provides a stunning focal piece at the New Britain Museum of American Art as Loomis Chaffee alumni, parents, and friends gather.

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ALUMNI NEWS | EDITED BY JAMES RUGEN ’70

2007 Jesse Friedland works as a software engineer for MLB Advanced Media in New York City. Quincy Knapp is teaching English to 12-year-olds in Changwon, South Korea, for a year.

2008

Chris Choquette is among the primary research assistants listed for the new Advanced Placement Latin textbook, Caesar, used in the Loomis Chaffee curriculum. A Classics major, Chris graduated last spring from Union College. Michelle Winkler was recognized last summer by the National Golf Coaches Association as a member of the All-American Scholar Team, an honor she has received three times. The NGCA includes golfers from Division I, II, and III collegiate programs with a total of 585 women golfers recognized with this honor. Michelle graduated from Xavier University last May. She works as a teaching professional at Indian Hill Country Club, Newington, Conn. She is ranked sixth on Xavier’s career scoring list. Enrolled in the PGA certification program, she looks to receive her professional license in two to three years.

2009

Pam Daitch is a senior at the University of Florida, majoring in geology. She serves as music director of the university a cappella group.

2010

At the 2012 Division III Cross Country Championships in

Terre Haute, Ind., on November 17, Tully Hannan and Chris Lee finished in the top 20 (Tully in fifth place and Chris in 18th) to garner All-America status in the field of 280 runners. As track teammates at Loomis Chaffee, Tully and Chris often ran side-by-side exchanging leads throughout distance races. They ultimately worked the field together one opponent at a time to take first and second place in the 1500 meters at the New England Championships. Now in their junior year of college, the two former teammates have had several opportunities to face off against one another. Tully, a junior at Bates College, ran the 8k course at Terre Haute in 24:39.9, averaging 4:58 per mile, and helping his Bates team to a sixth-place finish among the 32-team field. The meet gave Tully his second All-America nod. He placed 27th at cross country nationals in 2011. The top 35 finishers earn All-America. Tully now stands as the 13th athlete in Bates men’s cross country history to earn AllAmerica honors and the sixth athlete in the program to garner the honor more than once in his Bates career. Chris, running for Williams College, completed the Terre Haute course in a time of 24:53.4, averaging 5:01 per mile. The Williams College Athletics Department notes: “Chris Lee proved that he is not only an elite runner within the NESCAC [New England Small College Athletic Conference], but also deserves to be mentioned among the top group of Division III runners nationwide. Lee crossed the line in 18th overall, … the top NCAA finish by a male Williams cross country runner since Edgar Kosgey ’10 (3rd in 2009).”

Pick a Pelican

o you love Loomis Chaffee and know someone else who will too? We are always inter-

ested in learning about students who can become future Pelicans. It takes just a few minutes to fill out the online nomination form and help us “pick a Pelican.” Visit www.loomischaffee.org/pickapelican today.

Photo: John Groo

loomischaffee.org | 49

NEW YORK CITY RECEPTION AT THE GRAND HYATT

Readying for their 5th Reunion in June, classmates Lainey Dubinsky, David Hakim, Greg Zuboff, Alyson Cunningham, and John “Boomer” Zdrojeski, all Class of 2008, kick off the celebration in New York. The Grand Hyatt New York’s unique interior provided a lovely venue in which guests could mingle. Photos: Missy Pope ’04

N energetic crowd of 135 was on hand on November 27 at the Grand Hyatt in Manhattan, as alumni hosts Elizabeth Kohn ’93; Sean McAndrew ’93 and his wife, Amory; and Alex Overstrom ’02 and his wife, Sloan, treated New York City alumni, parents, and friends to a lovely post-Thanksgiving Loomis Chaffee gathering. Guests heard from Head of School Sheila Culbert as they enjoyed reconnecting with classmates and friends.

Reception host Sean McAndrew ’93 welcomes alumni, parents, and friends to the event on November 27.

Alex Overstrom ’02 and his wife, Sloan, served as hosts for the gathering.

Candace Naboicheck Dolce ’99 and Mike Dolce ’99 join reception host Elizabeth Kohn ’93.

Tim Marshall ’90, Brett Rodriguez ’90, and Sandra Ward ’90 are all smiles as they reminisce about their time on the Island.

To view more photos of the event, go to loomischaffee.org / magazine.

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JOIN THE CONVERSATION! Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+ and join nearly 1,800 alumni on our private LinkedIn group. loomischaffee.org/mashup

’10

An intern with Elizabeth Warren’s finance team last summer, Thomas Barry ’11 here celebrates with the senator-elect at Boston’s Fairmont Copley Plaza’s Oak Room on election night.

’11

Tully Hannan ’10 and Chris Lee ’10: Division III Cross Country All-Americans

2011

Thomas Barry is a sophomore at The George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs, where he edits the school’s undergraduate academic journal, The Globe. He interned for Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s finance team last summer. He supported senior staff members, including National Finance Director Michael Pratt and Massachusetts Finance Director Colleen Coffey. Thomas also helped plan, organize, and execute all major fundraising events. Alexandra Crerend is taking a year off from Brown University to intern at Owl Creek Asset Management in New York City.

2012

A freshman at the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), Lindsay Gabow has proven herself on the Army Black Knights cross country team. In the first competition of the season, the Army Open meet, the Black Knights hosted seven local schools on the West Point Golf Course, and Lindsay impressed the coaches with her second-place overall finish. “It was great to see a freshman jumping into the front line like Lindsay Gabow did,” head coach Troy Engle pointed out after the race. In the second meet of the season, a tri-meet competition with Cornell and Binghamton on September 7, Lindsay again found herself among the top runners in the

’11 field. Finishing second for her team and 10th overall, she impressed the coaches yet again. Her time on the 5,000-meter home course was 18:02.2. “This race really showed how the women are a great team, their esprit de corps. They have great team chemistry by the way they motivate one another and work together,” Coach Engle said. Of Lindsay, he added: “She has shown she will end up being an outstanding runner in the Patriot League level.” Injury prevented Lindsay from competing for the Black Knights at the end of the cross country season. Ian Knapp is a member of the Brown University Chorus. He and Christian Bermel are in the same mathematics class.

Founding editors of The Loomis Chaffee World Bulletin Alexandra Crerend ’11 and Thomas Barry ’11 meet for dinner in Washington, D.C., last November.

Be sure to consult the school website for additional and latebreaking alumni news.

Don’t forget to write! Please email Alumni Newsnotes Editor James Rugen ’70 at james_rugen@ loomis.org with news to share with classmates and friends. High-resolution photographs are welcome; be sure to identify all people clearly. Thank you!

loomischaffee.org | 51

IN MEMORIAM

Photo: Loomis Chaffee Archives

1931 Richard Betts Scudder Jr., on July 11, 2012. Dick was a threeyear student from Newark, N.J. He was business manager of The LOG, vice president of Le Cercle Français, and a member of the Chess Team and the Publications Board. Dick was active with the tennis and fencing teams. Following Loomis, Dick earned his bachelor’s degree from Princeton University before becoming a reporter for The Boston Herald. During World War II, Dick served in the Army for Operation Annie (short for anonymous), an underground German-language radio station with the mission of broadcasting misinformation to 52 |

the Nazis. Upon coming home from the war, Dick became a reporter for The Newark Evening News, a newspaper founded by his grandfather in 1883. Dick eventually became publisher of the newspaper until it closed in 1972. He also helped invent the first newspaper de-inking process, in which ink is removed from the newspaper, leaving the paper intact for reuse. He opened the first newspaper recycling plant in the world, the Garden State Paper Company in Garfield, N.J., in 1961, which led to his induction in the Paper Industry Hall of Fame in 1995. Dick later opened three other mills that, together with the original mill, produced more than two million tons of

recycled newspaper a year. In 1983, Dick co-founded the MediaNews Group, one of the nation’s largest newspaper chains. He served as chairman of MediaNews Group from 1985 until 2009. Today, MediaNews owns major papers like The Denver Post, The Detroit News, The Oakland Tribune, The San Jose Mercury News, and The El Paso Times. Overall, MediaNews has 57 daily newspapers in 11 states with combined circulation of 2.3 million. MediaNews also owns 122 nondaily newspapers in nine states. Dick was predeceased by his wife, Elizabeth; and his brother, Edward Scudder ’30. He is survived by his three daughters, Jean, Carolyn, and Elizabeth; one son, Charles;

eight grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. Margaret King Widegren, on August 23, 2012, at Masonicare in Wallingford, Conn. Margaret was a student at Chaffee from Windsor. She was a graduate of Howard Seminary and Cambridge Secretarial School. She was the librarian at Brainerd Library in Haddam, Conn., for 25 years and also served 25 years on the board of Haddam Public Health Nursing Association. She was a member of Haddam Congregational Church since 1947, where she held many positions, and was a member of Daughters of the American Revolution. Margaret

was predeceased by her first husband, Wilfred C. Schneider; her second husband, Walter M. Widegren; and her sister Julie K. Carlson. She is survived by her son, Howard K. Schneider; her stepson, W. Barry Widegren; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and a nephew. A private service was to be held.

1933 John Stuart Parsons, on July 31, 2012. John was a threeyear student from New Britain, Conn. A life-long nature enthusiast, John was a member of the Darwin Club. In addition, he created a fish display for the school and kept tanks of reptiles in his dorm room. John left Loomis in 1932 to become an assistant model-maker at The Stanley Works (now a division of Stanley/Black & Decker). Although not formally trained, John became a gifted designer who, in a test of mechanical aptitude, achieved one of the highest scores ever recorded at Stanley. He devised ingenious methods for improving products and increasing the speed and accuracy of quality inspections. As a product line engineer, he had numerous patents to his credit for sophisticated architectural hinges. John worked at Stanley for 45 years, except during World War II, when he served in the Pacific Theater as a master sergeant with the 16th Ordnance Battalion. An avid marksman, John won numerous targetshooting competitions and also loved sailing, competing in races at Weekapaug, R.I., and other locations in a uniquely

designed sailing canoe later donated to the Mystic Seaport Museum’s collection. John was an accomplished woodworker. John was predeceased by his wife, Jean Fowler Parsons. He is survived by four children, Pamela Naughton, Patricia Poe, Deborah Slocum, and David Parsons; four grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. A private memorial service was to be held. Edmund Whiting Wallace, on June 13, 2012, at his home, under the loving care of his family. Ed was a one-year student from Milldale, Conn. He was involved with the Concert Orchestra and the Glee Club and was active with Allyn soccer and hockey. He later enrolled in the Fine Arts College of Syracuse University. His professional career included work as a machine load analyst for Pratt and Whitney Aircraft during the war; town planner for five western states with S.R. DeBoer in Denver; director of planning and engineering for the Denver Parks and Recreation Department; chief landscape architect of EXPO ’67, an international exposition in Montreal; and chief landscape architect for the Canadian National and Historic Parks. Ed and his wife lived in their retirement in Willsboro, N.Y., where he was a member of the Essex Community Church. Ed was predeceased by his sister, Dorothy Ellis. He is survived by his wife, Lucia; his daughters, Cynthia Day and Marjorie Alison; his grandchildren; his great-granddaughter; numerous nieces and neph-

ews; and his cousin, Calvin T. Hughes ’44. A private service was to be held at the convenience of the family.

1934 John Vaughn Kean, on June 4, 2012, following a brief illness. John was a three-year student from Bronxville, N.Y. He was a member of the debating team and was involved with the French and Political clubs. John was active with Ludlow soccer, wrestling, winter track, and tennis. He was voted “Takes Life Most Seriously” in his senior superlatives. Following Loomis, John earned his bachelor’s degree from Harvard College and his law degree from Harvard Law School. He was also a graduate of the Army War College. Upon earning his law degree, John was engaged as an associate by the Providence, R.I., law firm of Edwards & Angell. He later became a partner and for several years was chairman of the firm’s executive committee. Except for periods of active military service, he remained in the active practice of law in the state and federal jurisdictions until his retirement from Edwards & Angell in 1987. During World War II, John enlisted in the Army, completing officer candidate school, attending the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and serving overseas in India and China. After the war, he joined the 43rd Division Artillery of the Rhode Island National Guard and, as a member of the division’s general staff, served overseas in Germany during the early years of the Korean Emergency. He remained in the National Guard

as a senior officer in command and staff assignments until his retirement in 1972, having attained the rank of brigadier general. His decorations include the Legion of Merit. He had numerous civic and philanthropic interests, including many years of assistance to high school students with respect to college admissions and financial aid; active participation in the Greater Providence YMCA, of which he was a director as well as chairman of its Downtown Division; the Alexis de Tocqueville Society of the United Way; the Urban League; and the Nature Conservancy. He attended Grace Church and Saint Martin’s Church in Providence and Saint Andrew’s-by-the-Sea in Little Compton. Other active memberships and interests included the American and Rhode Island bar associations; the Association of the U.S. Army; National Guard and Reserve Officer associations; the Rhode Island Society of the Cincinnati, in which he was an honorary member; the Society of Colonial Wars in Rhode Island; the Harvard Club of Rhode Island, for which he served as president from 1964 to 1966; and the Providence Committee on Foreign Relations, for which he served as chairman from 1994 to 2000. At the time of his death, he was also a member of Agawam Hunt; the Hope Club; the Providence Art Club; the Sakonnet Golf Club; the Warren’s Point Beach Club; and the Army and Navy Club in Washington, D.C. John is survived by four nieces, Vaughan Thornton, Molly Luthi, Annesley Schmidt, and Mary Louise Kean; and two nephews, Alec Cooper and William L. Kean. A funeral loomischaffee.org | 53

IN MEMORIAM

was held on Saturday, June 9, 2012, at St. Martin’s Church in Providence, R.I. Interment with military honors was to be at Arlington National Cemetery. Betty May Althen Rathbun, on October 26, 2012. Betty attended Chaffee before graduating from John Fitch High School. She married her husband, Bill, in 1941 and spent 65 years raising their family. Betty, who was an avid reader and loved vintage movies, worked in the bookkeeping department at Savitt Jewelers during the 1960s. Betty was predeceased by her husband, Bill; her brothers, Clayton and Robert; and a stepbrother, Douglas. She is survived by her son, David; two grandchildren, Danielle and Jason; and many nieces and nephews. Burial was to be private, at the convenience of the family.

1938 Robert B. Atkinson, on June

17, 2012, peacefully at home in Longmeadow, Mass., surrounded by loved ones. During his time at Loomis, Bob developed a love for travel through his participation in a study-abroad program to Europe. Following Loomis, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College. Upon graduating from Dartmouth in 1943, Bob served in the Army Intelligence Service during World War II. After the war, Bob attended Harvard Law School, earning his law degree in 1948. His eminent legal career began the same year, when he joined the Springfield, Massachusetts-based law firm of Mallary and Gilbert. The firm eventually merged to become

54 |

Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, with which he continued as a loyal partner until his passing. A champion of the community and its causes, Bob was dedicated to numerous organizations throughout western Massachusetts. He held several prominent positions within the community: a director of the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company; a trustee, chairman, and first president of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts; a director and chairman of the Executive Committee of the Eastern States Exposition; a director and first president of the Western Massachusetts Health Planning Council; president of Wesson Memorial Hospital, which joined Baystate Medical Center; a director and president of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce; a trustee and director of Hampden Savings Bank; a director of the executive committee of Springfield Central Business District; a director of the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts; and a member of the Board of Assessors of Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Bob received several accolades throughout his accomplished career, including the Distinguished Service Award from the National Pedigreed Livestock Council and the Special Achievement Award from the American Morgan Horse Association. An avid skier and golfer, he was active in both sports into his 90s and cherished his time outdoors with close friends and family. Bob was predeceased by a grandson, David. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Lucy; two daughters, Lucy “Robin” Patterson and Sarah

“Sally” Harrelson; five grandchildren, Elizabeth, Whitney, Robert, John, and Jeffrey; and five great-grandchildren. A private family celebration was to be held at a later date.

1940 Barbara Cook Gilbert, peacefully in Farmington, Conn., on June 26, 2012. A one-year student from West Hartford, Barbara was active with Drama. After Chaffee, she attended Wellesley College. Barbara built a reputation as a topproducing real estate agent in the Farmington Valley while at Heritage Group and Westledge Associates. She later enjoyed an exciting second career with her daughter, buying antique furniture and accessories throughout England then retailing them through their store, The Broken Shell Gallery in Canton, Conn. Barbara had an indomitable zest for life and loved her family, world travel, theater, music, entertaining, flowers, Giants Neck Beach, and her home in the Florida Keys. She was an avid reader who maintained membership in the Minerva Book Club and orchestrated book sales for several organizations, including the Wellesley Alumni Association. Barbara thrived on table games as well, particularly bridge and Rummikub. She was a member of the Town & Country Club in Hartford; the Red Hat Society in Key West, Fla.; the Granby Tennis Club; the Bloomfield Racquet Club; and the Hartford Tennis Club. Barbara is survived by her four children, Brooke Mallory, Earle Gilbert, Amanda Gilbert Shelburne ’72, and Kristin Adams; six grandchildren, Benjamin,

Megan, Kate, Jordan, Ian, and Caleb; and two great-grandchildren. A celebration of her life and burial were to be held at the convenience of her family. Harry Hudson Mead, on June 24, 2012. “Huddy” was a one-year student from Grosse Point, Mich. He was involved with the Political Club and the Senior Reception Committee. Huddy was active with the tennis squad and Ludlow hockey. Following Loomis, Huddy received a bachelor’s degree from Williams College. He then served two years in the U.S. Navy before earning a law degree from Michigan Law School. Huddy practiced law for 50 years, principally with the firm of Tolleson, Mead, Welchli and Dahn. A member of Planned Parenthood since 1955, he served on its board in 1958. Huddy was appointed by Governor George Romney to the Michigan Historical Commission, on which he served from 1965 to 1978. He also served on the Detroit Hospital Society Board. He served a term as president for each organization. Huddy was instrumental in the resurrection of the Grosse Pointe Historical Society in 1979 and was a member of the Michigan Civil War Roundtable. He was also a member of the Country Club of Detroit; Grosse Pointe Club; Yondotega Club; St. Andrews Club of Delray Beach, Fla.; and the literary clubs Prismatic and Witenamagote. He belonged to the Wood Workers, Waweatanong, Sons of the Whiskey Rebellion, Cooley Club, the Senior Men’s Club of Grosse Pointe, and the Grosse Pointe Audubon Society. Huddy

Photo: Loomis Chaffee Archives

advised the Detroit Artists Market from 1967 to 1984, and the Senior Center, now Adult WellBeing Services, for 30 years. In his 80s he wrote for the Williams College Alumni Review and the Yondotega Club newsletter. Huddy was predeceased by his first wife, Frances. He is survived by his second wife, Mary Mains Blain; his children, Priscilla, Mignon, and Hudson; and five grandchildren, Dakota, Dylan, Catherine, William, and Parker. Huddy is also survived by his brother, Taylor W. Mead ’42. A memorial service at Grosse Pointe Memorial Church was to be held at a later date. Ronald Peter Straus, on August 6, 2012, at his home in mid-town Manhattan. Peter was a three-

year student from Valhalla, N.Y. He was involved with the Endowment Fund Executive Committee, Advisory Committee, Warham Dormitory Committee, LOG Board, Handbook Board, Maroons, Political Club, and Jazz Band. Peter was a member of the Dramatics and in the cast of Richard II and Henry IV. He served as head cheer leader and was active with the first fencing team, tennis, and the second soccer squad. Following Loomis, Peter attended Yale University, graduating in 1943, a year early, under a World War II program. He became a B-17 pilot and flew 35 bombing missions over Germany. After the war he worked in public relations for a time before joining radio station WMCA in New York as program director

in 1948. In 1950, he left WMCA to become an executive of the International Labor Organization, a United Nations agency in Geneva. He returned to WMCA in 1958, succeeded his father as president in 1959, and became chief executive in 1961. Under his leadership, WMCA became one of the nation’s most innovative radio stations. WMCA was the first radio station in the country to run editorials on political and civic issues, with Peter himself reading opinions on air, and the first to endorse a presidential candidate, backing John F. Kennedy in 1960. Further, WMCA began playing rock ‘n’ roll in the 1950s, with its Top 40 format dominating the New York airwaves through the 1960s. After Peter converted the station to an all-talk format

in 1970, WMCA became known for years as a forum for liberal causes. It was the first station to call for the resignation of President Richard M. Nixon in the Watergate scandal, the first to ban cigarette advertising, and the first to accept ads from abortion rights advocates and makers of contraceptives. When Peter sold the station in 1986, it was the last privately-held station in a leading urban market. Peter was also a plaintiff in a historic reapportionment lawsuit that forced New York’s Legislature to give cities increased representation. It became an integral part of the Supreme Court’s “one person, one vote” ruling, which concluded that many state legislatures were unconstitutionally unbalanced in favor of sparsely populated loomischaffee.org | 55

IN MEMORIAM

rural areas. Long active in Democratic politics, Peter was President Lyndon B. Johnson’s assistant administrator for aid to Africa in the Agency for International Development from 1967 to 1969, and director of Voice of America under President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1979. He was also author of Is the State Department Color Blind? (1971), The Buddy System in Foreign Affairs (1973), and The Father of Anne Frank (1975). Peter was predeceased by his first wife, Ellen Louise Sulzberger. He is survived by his second wife, Marcia Lewis; his children, Diane, Katherine, Jeanne, and Eric; his stepchildren, Monica and Michael; two brothers, Nathan Straus ’34 and Bernard S. Straus ’37; and nine grandchildren.

1942 Lawrence S. Carlton, peacefully at McLean Health Center in Simsbury, Conn., on October 10, 2012, surrounded by his family. Larry was a four-year student from Lynnfield Center, Mass. He was involved with the Debating Team, Radio Club, Founders Committee, and Work Program. He served as secretary of the Darwin Club. Larry was a cast member in H.M.S. Pinafore. He was active with club tennis, Ludlow senior basketball, and Ludlow club soccer, serving as captain of the latter. Following Loomis, Larry earned his bachelor’s degree from Harvard College in 1948, following three years served in the CBI Theater in World War II in India and China. He then went on to receive a medical degree from Harvard Medical School. In 1953 he became 56 |

diplomate, American Board of Medical Examiners, and in 1954 he began his family practice of medicine in Canton, Conn. In 1968 Larry began work as the director, Student Health Center, at Hartford Hospital, and in 1974 became physician-coordinator of the Nurse Practitioner Program until that program came to an end in 1981. Until 1983 he served as coordinator of education in ambulatory medicine, Department of Medicine, at Hartford Hospital. In 1983 he became the first medical director of quality assurance, a position he held until his retirement in 1990. He spent his last years pursuing his many interests — local history, seafaring, whaling, photography, serving as docent and teacher of docents at the Canton Historical Museum, church historian of the Canton Center Congregational Church, worldwide travel, and presentation of lectures and shows to various groups. He never tired of gaining new knowledge and sharing it with others. Larry was predeceased by his son, Thomas, and two sisters. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Peg; three daughters, Katherine, Betsy, and Nancy; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. A memorial service was held on October 20, 2012, at the Canton Center Church in Canton, Conn. Anne Francis Schumann Chasnoff, unexpectedly in her sleep on August 19, 2012. Anne was a student at Chaffee from Hartford. While at Chaffee she served as Athletic Association president. Following Chaffee, Anne attended Connecticut College for Women in New

London, Conn. While at college, she met her future husband, Joseph Chasnoff, with whom she eventually settled in Kansas City, Mo., a city that she wholeheartedly adopted over time and that adopted her. In her early years in Kansas City, Anne was actively involved in Chasnoff’s stores, where she enjoyed traveling to New York to buy accessories. After she retired from Chasnoff’s, she used her retail skills at Menorah Medical Center Auxiliary Gift Shop and then served as president of the Menorah Medical Center Auxiliary. She loved her weekly games with friends, going out to lunch or dinner with family or friends, and cruising. Anne was predeceased by her husband, Joseph; her son-in-law, Stephen; and her grandson, Adam. She is survived by her daughters, Pati and Barbara; two grandchildren; and four step-grandchildren. A memorial service was held on August 23, 2012, at D.W. Newcomer’s Stine & McClure Chapel in Kansas City, Mo.

1943 Robert S. Griggs, in Sarasota, Fla., on October 19, 2012. Bob was a three-year student from West Hartford. He was involved with the Rifle, Chess, and Ski clubs; the Loom Editorial Board; the Scholarship Committee; and the Military Drill. Bob served as room inspector, study hall supervisor, and treasurer of the Darwin Club. He was a cast member for Green Pastures. In addition, Bob was active with Wolcott senior soccer and baseball, with skiing, and as assistant manager of the tennis team. Following Loomis, where Bob was an Honor Roll

student for all three years, he earned a bachelor’s degree from MIT and a law degree from the University of Michigan. He began his legal career at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York City before moving, in 1954, to Puerto Rico to join McConnell Valdes, the largest law firm in the Caribbean, where he was managing partner from 1976 until his retirement in 1991. In 2002, Bob and his wife, Betty, moved to Sarasota, Fla., where he was a member of the Sarasota Rotary Club, on the board of the Sarasota Concert Association, and a member of the University of Michigan Club. Bob was predeceased by his first wife, Jessiemay. He is survived by his second wife of 31 years, Betty; and his children, Linda, Susan, Gayle, Susie, Charlie, K-Kin, and Jeanie Griggs ’82; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren. A burial was to be held at a later date in Connecticut. Samuel Hartman Title, peacefully on October 14, 2012, surrounded by his wife and loving family. Sam was a three-year student at Loomis from West Hartford. He was involved with the Endowment Fund, Stamp Club, Grounds Committee, Spring Dance Committee, Military Drill, and Executive Committee Publications. Sam served as study hall supervisor, president of the Press Club, and art editor of Loomiscellany. He was active with Ludlow intermediate football, basketball, and tennis. Following Loomis, he earned his bachelor’s degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Upon graduating from West Point,

Arthur Ochs Sulzberger ’45

rthur Ochs Sulzberger ’45, an iconic newspaper publisher who championed freedom of the press and transformed the state of newspaper publishing in the 20th century, died in his home in Southampton, N.Y., on September 29, 2012.

creating separate sections for metropolitan and business news, and introducing new sections oriented towards consumers. It was a gamble, made during another financially difficult period; however, it was instantly successful and widely imitated.

“Punch” attended Loomis for two years before enlisting in the U.S. Marines in 1944 as a 17-year-old. Trained as a radioman, Punch went through the Leyte and Luzon campaigns in the Philippines and then landed in Japan as a jeep driver at General Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters. He was discharged in 1946 as a corporal. Recalled to active duty five years later for the Korean War, he served as a public information officer in Korea before being transferred to Washington. By the time that he returned to civilian life in December of 1952, he had been promoted to captain.

Over the next two decades, a billion-dollar investment in new printing facilities made still more innovations possible, among them a national edition, special regional editions, and the daily use of color photographs and graphics.

Between military tours, Punch earned his bachelor’s degree in English from Columbia University. Punch’s family has owned The New York Times Company since 1896, when his grandfather, Adolph Ochs, purchased it. Having decided to go into the family business, Punch began his career with a one-year apprenticeship at The Milwaukee Journal. He then returned to New York and joined The New York Times in 1955, first on the foreign copy desk, gaining experience as a foreign correspondent in Great Britain, France, and Italy, followed by a stint as assistant to the publisher before rising to assistant treasurer of the company. Upon the death of his brother-in-law, Orvil E. Dryfoos, in 1963, Punch was appointed publisher of the paper as well as chairman and chief executive of The New York Times Company. When he took the reins of The Times, it was already respected and influential, often setting the national agenda. But it also had financial troubles — low revenues and high labor costs. During his tenure, The Times was transformed into a paper with a national scope, sold on both coasts, and was the heart of a diversified, multibillion-dollar

Photo: Courtesy of The New York Times

media operation that included newspapers, magazines, television, and radio stations. By 1997, when Punch passed on the chairmanship to his son, The New York Times Company included 21 regional newspapers, nine magazines focusing on golf and other outdoor pastimes, eight television stations, two radio stations, a news service, a features syndicate, and The Boston Globe. On Punch’s watch, The New York Times won the Pulitzer Prize, American journalism’s highest award, 31 times. A staunch advocate of the importance of an independent press, Punch published, against the advice of his legal team, a secret government history of the Vietnam War known as the Pentagon Papers. It was a defining moment for Punch and, in the view of many, his finest. When the Pentagon Papers were divulged in a series of articles in June of 1971, an embarrassed Nixon administration demanded the series be stopped immediately, citing national security concerns. The Times refused on First Amendment grounds and won its case in the U.S. Supreme Court in a landmark case ruling on press freedom. In the mid-1970s, Punch reshaped The Times, expanding the paper from two sections to four (SportsMonday, Science Times, Living, and Home and Weekend),

Punch left the publisher’s job in 1992 and the chief executive’s job in 1997, handing over both posts to his son Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr. In 1997 Punch assumed the title of chairman emeritus, which he retained until his retirement in 2001. Punch was recipient of the 1992 Columbia Journalism Award, the highest honor of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Loomis Chaffee awarded him its Distinguished Service Award in 1981. He also held honorary doctor of humane letters degrees from Tufts University and Montclair State College. In presenting Punch with the Loomis Chaffee Distinguished Service Award, thenChairman of the Board Thomas S. Brush ’40 shared the following sentiment: “He is indeed a distinguished person in every respect, one that The Loomis Institute is proud to acknowledge as one of her sons.” In addition, Punch held honorary doctor of law degrees from Columbia University, the University of Scranton, Dartmouth College, and Bard College. Punch had been a trustee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art since 1968, serving as chairman from 1987 to 1998. He was a trustee of the Mount Sinai Medical Center and had served as life trustee at Columbia University since 1967. Punch was predeceased by his sister, Judy; his second wife, Carol; and his third wife, Allison. He is survived by his children, Arthur Jr., Karen, Cynthia, and Cathy; nine grandchildren; and his sisters, Marian and Ruth.

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IN MEMORIAM

Photo: Loomis Chaffee Archives

Sam served in the occupation of Japan from 1946 to 1949 and then served in the Korean War. He served 10 more years in the Army Reserves. He went into the insurance business with his father and ran the Title Insurance Agency on Pearl Street in Hartford until 1990. He then worked for the National Life of Vermont until his retirement in 1995. He served on the Board of Directors of Mechanics Savings Bank and the Hartford Tobacco Company for 20 years. Sam dedicated his life to public service. He served as treasurer of the United Way of Greater Hartford for 25 years, receiving its Community Service Award, the United Way’s highest volunteer award, in 1980. He served as an officer of Mount Sinai Hospital and on the board of the Boys’ Clubs of Hartford. He also served as treasurer of 58 |

the Greater Hartford Jewish Federation. An avid golfer and life-long member of Tumble Brook Country Club in Bloomfield, Conn., he served as its president from 1976 to 1978. Sam is survived by his wife of 57 years, Sally; his sister, Elaine Title Lowengard ’46; his three children, David Title ’75, Diane Title Harris, and Betty Title Fiegenbaum; 10 grandchildren, Kim, Nathan, Chelsea, Russell, Sarah, Jack, Robin, Dana, Max, and Maya; nephew J. Henry Lowengard ’74; and nieces Mary Lowengard ’71, Sarah Lowengard ’72, and Pleasance Lowengard Silicki ’96. A funeral was held, on October 16, 2012, at Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford, Conn.

1946 Caroline Grubbs Garside, unexpectedly at her home in Waterbury, Conn., on April 28, 2012. Caroline was a student at Chaffee from Windsor. While at Chaffee, Caroline served as Yearbook Board art director. Following Chaffee, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College. After Oberlin, Caroline and her husband, Richard Garside ’44, settled in Riverdale, N.Y., and Caroline worked for a publishing house and for CBS television during its early years. After her first child was born, Caroline became a stay-at-home mother and the family moved to Connecticut, settling in Watertown. Caroline was involved in many volunteer organizations, including the Waterbury YWCA and the League of Women Voters. In the

mid-1970s, she earned certification and became the recreation director at Cheshire Convalescent Center, where she worked for many years. She was an active member of Christ Episcopal Church in Watertown, serving as choir member and lay reader. She later belonged to other area churches, including St. George’s in Middlebury, Conn., and St. John’s Episcopal Church in Waterbury, Conn., the latter of which she was a member at the time of her passing. It was her devotion to her faith that led her to become one of Connecticut’s first ordained female Episcopal deacons, one of her proudest accomplishments. She served in this capacity in several parishes throughout the years. Caroline enjoyed reading, music, history, politics, gardening, and, most of all, spending time with her family. Caroline was predeceased

by her husband, Richard. She is survived by her two daughters, Julia and Emily; and two granddaughters, Katherine and Caroline. A funeral was held on May 8, 2012, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Waterbury, Conn.

Wendy; three grandchildren, Beverly, Katie, and William; and his sister, Mary. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on June 18, 2012, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Wheeling, W.Va.

1948

Henry Ty, on July 23, 2012, at Briarcliffe Nursing Home in Johnston, R.I., after a long illness. Henry was a two-year student at Loomis. Henry was born in Manila, Philippines, and his education and childhood were abruptly interrupted by World War II and the Japanese occupation. He worked as an errand boy at the U.S. Officers Club, where his intelligence and superior work ethic caught the attention of four U.S. Army officers. He came to the United States in November of 1945 under the guardianship of Lt. Ned Palmer of Attleboro, Mass., who sponsored Henry’s education at Loomis. While at Loomis, Henry was involved with the Glee, Bridge, and Ping Pong clubs; the Pelicans; and the Fire Fighting Squad. He served as president of the Chess Team and senior library supervisor. Henry was a member of the choir in York Nativity. In addition, Henry was active with first team soccer, in which he earned a varsity letter; Wolcott senior tennis and basketball; and wrestling. He attended Tufts University although he was unable to finish for financial reasons. By leaving Tufts early, Henry was at risk of being deported back to the Philippines under U.S. immigration law. An Act of Congress, Bill #1688, sponsored by Speaker of the House Joseph W. Martin, allowed Henry to remain in the United States. He became a naturalized citizen in

William Anderson Fluty, on June 13, 2012. Bill was a fouryear student from West Hartford, Conn. He was involved with the Glee and Chess clubs; Le Cercle Français; the Nominating, Scholarship, Founders, Executive, and Spring Dance committees; Allyn Debating; the Fire Fighting Squad; and the Publications Association. He served as business manager of The LOG, K.P. supervisor, and study hall supervisor. Bill was a cast member in Seventeen and in the chorus of York Nativity. He was active with Allyn senior football, with Allyn senior baseball, on the ski squad, and on the rifle team, earning a varsity letter on the rifle team. Following Loomis, Bill earned a bachelor’s degree from Yale University. He was an ensign in the U.S. Navy and served in the Korean War. Bill was a retired bond manager from Aetna Life & Casualty. He was a lector and extraordinary minister of the Eucharist at St. Vincent de Paul Church; a member of the Wheeling, W.Va., Rotary Club; a member of the Sierra Club; and past president of the Stone Church Volunteer Fire Department. One of his greatest joys was reading to children at Madison School through the Rotary Club Reading Program. Bill was predeceased by his wife, Beverly. He is survived by his daughters, Holly and

1958. Henry started his career at Standard Plastics, where he worked from 1948 until 1950. He then became a design engineer for Texas Instruments, where he worked from 1950 until 1989, with a brief departure in 1982–83 to work as vice president of research and development at Standard Thompson in Waltham, Mass. Henry received many awards for technical achievements during his career at Texas Instruments, including being named a senior member, technical staff, in 1986 and being nominated for the TI Fellow Award, the company’s highest honor for scientific and technological achievement. Henry was recognized worldwide as an expert in the design and application of thermostat metals, particularly in the automotive industry, and held more than 25 U.S. patents for his innovations during his tenure at Texas Instruments. After retiring from Texas Instruments in 1989, Henry consulted to Atlantic Alloys. He is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Natalia; four children, Maureen, Diane, Frederick, and Jonathan; seven grandchildren, Ty, Evan, Gregory, Jeffrey, Allyson, Alexa, and Sara; three brothers; and three sisters. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on July 30, 2012, at Holy Ghost Church in Attleboro, Mass. Robert Arden Woodall, on January 27, 2012. Bob was a two-year student from Windsor. He was involved with the Senior Scholarship Committee, the Library Committee, the Photography and Radio clubs, the Orchestra, and Senior Speeches. Bob was active with

Allyn soccer, Allyn junior basketball, and baseball. Following Loomis, Bob attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., before earning a master’s degree in metallurgy from the University of Washington in Seattle. After serving the Air Force in the Pilotless Bomber Program in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Bob worked first at Boeing in Seattle and then at Special Metals in Utica, N.Y. He went on to spend the balance of his career at Latrobe Steel, from which he retired in 1991. He also taught statistics at Westmoreland Community College. Bob served on the council of Laura Mountain Park Association, St. Michael’s of the Valley in Ligonier, Pa. Bob is survived by his wife of 60 years, Ann; his son, Lawrence; a daughter, Victoria; two grandchildren, Celest and Caven; and a sister. A memorial service was held at St. Michael’s of the Valley in Ligonier, Pa., on February 3, 2012.

1953 E. Rhyne Cannon Jr., at home on August 25, 2012. Rhyne was a two-year student from Charlotte, N.C. He was involved in the Student Development, Senior Reception, and Entertainment committees and was a member of the Glee Club. Rhyne was active with first team track, in which he earned a varsity letter; winter track; Barbell Club; and Allyn intermediate soccer. Following Loomis, Rhyne earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before joining the family business, Charlotte Casket Company, where he worked until 1967. Rhyne then joined the John Hancock loomischaffee.org | 59

IN MEMORIAM

Insurance Company as a sales agent and manager, where he remained until his retirement. Rhyne had a love of the outdoors and enjoyed hunting fowl of all kinds. He was a member of the Charlotte City Club and Ducks Unlimited and was a past member and president of the Charlotte Exchange Club. In addition, he especially valued his volunteer activities with the Uptown Women’s Shelter, Friendship Trays, and Holy Comforter Episcopal Church. Rhyne was predeceased by his sister, Lillian; and his nephew, Hilliard. He is survived by his wife, Charlotte; sons E. Rhyne III and Scott; four grandchildren, Kathryn, Mary, Britni, and Chad; two nephews; and five nieces. A Celebration of Life was held on August 29, 2012, at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church in Charlotte, N.C. Arthur Edmond Fournier, on July 9, 2012, peacefully, surrounded by family. Art was a four-year student from Hartford. He was involved with Le Cercle Français and the Radio and Photography clubs, and he was a member of the Advertising Board for The LOG, the Senior Dayboy Committee, and the Dining Hall Committee. Art was active with Ludlow senior football, for which he served as captain; Ludlow senior basketball; Ludlow senior baseball; and first team track. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Yale University before earning a law degree from George Washington University. He served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. Art retired in 2007, having served as director of ALSTROM’s North American 60 |

Intellectual Property Organization. Following retirement he was retained by ALSTROM as a consultant on intellectual property law and was most recently retained by Recurrent Engineering as an intellectual property law advisor. Prior to his work with ALSTROM, Art’s law career included employment with Combustion Engineering; Connecticut Product Development Corporation; a private law firm in Hartford, Conn.; General Electric Company; and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Art was deeply committed to public service and served on many boards and commissions in the town of Canton, including the Democratic Town Committee; the Zoning Board of Appeals, where he served as chairman; the Canton Board of Education; and the Solid Waste Transfer Study Committee. He also served as one of Canton’s representatives on the Hydro Power Advisory Commission. Art was a longtime member of St. Patrick’s Parish in Collinsville, serving as a member of the Finance Committee. He also served as lector and as a member of the first Parish Council. Art is survived by his wife, Betty; seven children, Jennifer, Mike, Kathleen, Amy, Andrew, Peter and Sarah; and 12 grandchildren, Rachel, James, Olivia, Michael, Matthew, Andrew, Emma, Paige, Marin, Lily, David, and Liam. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on July 13, 2012, at St. Patrick’s Church in Collinsville, Conn. Frederick August Schroeder Jr., on July 7, 2010, at Nyack Hospital in Nyack, N.Y. A two-

year student from Pearl River, N.J., Fred was a member of the School Development and Senior Scholarship committees. He served as chairman of the Chapel and Assembly Committee, was a medical aide, and was a member of the Political Club. Fred also served as assistant coach of Allyn junior football and manager of Ludlow intermediate football. Following Loomis, Fred earned a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University and a medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine. Fred served his internship and residency in medicine at Ohio State University Medical Center. He was an internist in Pearl River, N.Y., for 37 years and on the staff at Nyack Hospital before retiring in 2000. He was an active member of the Pearl River Rotary for 44 years and was a Paul Harris fellow. Working with the Rotary and as a member of the Pearl River Ambulance Corps in the early 1970s, he organized and trained the first volunteer ambulance telemetry cardiac care with Nyack Hospital. He also served as a doctor for the Pearl River Fire Department. Fred is survived by his wife of 53 years, Geraldine; a daughter, Cynthia Anne; two sons, Keith and Todd; five grandchildren; and a sister, Breta Marie Sizelove. A funeral was held on July 10, 2010, at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Pearl River, N.Y. Trevor Gaylor Mallory Smith, peacefully on September 4, 2012, after a long battle with ataxia. Trevor was a three-year student from Larchmont, N.Y. He was active with the Glee Club, for which he also served as librarian; Pelicans; the Senior

Reception Committee; and Student Council. Trevor served as treasurer of the School Development Committee, chairman of the Senior Smoking Committee, vice-president of the Endowment Fund, and assistant station wagon driver. He was a cast member in Saint Joan, Julius Cesar, Life with Father, Our Town, and Slight Case of Murder. Trevor was also active with Ludlow intermediate football and served as manager for Ludlow hockey. Trevor was a recipient of the Commencement General Prize. Following Loomis, Trevor earned a bachelor’s degree from Amherst College, where he continued his pursuits in both theater and hockey. After Amherst, Trevor entered the health insurance industry with Connecticut General Life Insurance Company and later Banker’s Life Insurance Company in Lincoln, Neb. In 1970, Trevor worked with partners Charlie Guy and Jack Murray to form Plan Services in Tampa, Fla., a company that would be acquired by Dun & Bradstreet in 1978. In 1989, Trevor fulfilled a lifelong dream to work in public service, accepting a two-year appointment as assistant state treasurer and assistant insurance commissioner. During his time in office, he helped to create the organization Healthy Kids. When he returned to Dun & Bradstreet, he served in many roles until his retirement. Trevor held key roles with many philanthropic and charitable organizations in Tampa and beyond. He served as chairman of the board at St. Joseph’s Hospital; he was president of the Professional Insurance Marketing Association; he founded the HALO Foundation; and he was

a volunteer leader at the local and national level for the Association for Retarded Children/ Citizens (The Arc), The Jaycees, the Florida and International Special Olympics, and Angels Unaware, among many others. In addition, Trevor was a loyal Loomis volunteer, serving as alumni volunteer, class agent, and fundraising chair for the Class of 1953 Reunion Committee. Trevor is survived by his second wife, Nola; four children, Reve, Lesli, Ford, and Mallory; two step-children, Shelley and Jamie; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He was predeceased by his siblings, Leila Jane, Herbert, and C.R. Mallory. A memorial service was at held at Lake Magdalene United Methodist Church in Tampa, Fla., on September 13, 2012.

1955 Thomas Kofoed Larmore, peacefully at home on August 6, 2012, after a brief and courageous battle with cancer. Tom was a four-year student from Windsor. He was involved with woodworking, the Dining Hall Committee, and the Athletic Store, where he served as manager. Tom was active with Wolcott soccer, baseball, and tennis; first team tennis; and wrestling. Following Loomis, Tom earned a bachelor’s degree from Babson College before serving in the United States Army. He worked for Cigna for many years in the financial services area before retiring. He enjoyed boating, fishing, hunting, and going to tag sales. Tom is survived by his wife, Vera; his brother, Dale; and many special friends. No memorial service was held.

1956

1961

Charlotte M. Acquaviva, on August 7, 2012, in Mystic, Conn. While Charlotte was a student at Chaffee, she served as editor-in-chief of The Chiel and editor of Epilogue. She was also involved with Chaffers and the Political Club. Following Chaffee, Charlotte earned a bachelor’s degree from Radcliffe College before receiving her law degree from Harvard Law School. She began her career with the Trust Department of the Connecticut Bank and Trust Company and continued practicing trust law at the Bank of Hawaii. She then transitioned back to the East Coast while changing her law focus to government affairs, working for New York Life for approximately 20 years. Charlotte then moved closer to home and shifted her legal focus back to trust law at the Bank of New England until its demise. She completed her career at the Connecticut Insurance Department as counsel to the insurance commissioner. Charlotte served on the Loomis Chaffee Board of Trustees from 1974 to 1978. She was also active in Episcopalian Church affairs in New York City and in Connecticut. Charlotte is survived by her two brothers, Philip and Samuel; four nieces and nephews, Kimberly, Jennifer, Kristen, and Jonathan; and two grand-nephews, Greyson and Thomas. A graveside service was held for family members on August 17, 2012.

Hugh Slevin Butler, on August 28, 2012, after an extended illness, during which time he never lost his humor, joy for life, or wit. “Brick” was a three-year student from Darien, Conn. He was involved with the Political-Debating Team, Student Endowment Fund, and Senior Elections Committee. Brick was a member of the cross country and first track teams, in both of which he earned varsity letters, and he took fourth place in the Preparatory School Distance Championships. He was also active with Wolcott senior basketball. Brick earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Brown University. His professional career included real estate investment trusts and, most recently, accounting and tax consulting with Jackson Hewitt. Brick loved politics and followed sports closely. He enjoyed golf and paddle tennis. Brick is survived by his sister, Hannah Butler Steel; two nieces, Loretta Dee and Amy; and a beloved grandniece and grandnephew. A celebration of his life was held on September 1, 2012, at St. John’s Roman Catholic Church in Darien, Conn.

1964 William A. Kromer II, on October 3, 2012, at Wilson Memorial Hospital in Jackson City, N.Y., from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. Bill was a four-year student from New York City. He was involved with the Glee Club, Humanities, the Religious Life Committee, and the Library Committee. He served as associate editor of The Loom, and as a member of The LOG staff. Bill was active with wrestling and track and was a coach of Ludlow

junior soccer. An Honor Roll student, Bill received the Eric W. Barnes Memorial Prize in Humanities. Following Loomis, Bill received a bachelor’s degree from Bard College, a master’s degree in science and education from SUNY New Paltz, and a master’s degree in English from the Bread Loaf School of English, a summer graduate school of Middlebury College. Bill first attended Bread Loaf in 1981 on a full scholarship from the Rockefeller Foundation as a participant in the Program in Writing for Rural Teachers of English. In 1984, 1987, 1989, and 1991, he was awarded fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities to participate in the Summer Seminars and Institutes program for teachers, a program designed to promote the intellectual vitality and professional development of school, college, and university teachers. Only 15 grants are awarded per seminar annually nationwide. Bill taught French, English, and Spanish at Downsville Central School in Downsville, N.Y., from 1974 until he retired in 2004. Since 2005, he had been a teacher of English and Spanish at the Family Foundation School in Hancock, N.Y. In addition, Bill coached soccer for the Downsville Eagles for years. Bill was also active in the Downsville Fire Department and sang in the Delaware County Men’s Choir until it was dissolved. He played the organ at St. Mary’s Church in Downsville and St. Margaret’s Church in Margaretville, N.Y. Bill is survived by his wife, Blanca; two daughters, Rosetta and Isabel; and a brother, Jonathan. A memorial service was held on October 13, 2012, at the Family Foundation School Chapel in Hancock, N.Y.

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IN MEMORIAM

John Lawrence, in Georgia on August 26, 2012, following a three-year battle with liver disease. John was a four-year student from West Hartford, Conn. He was active with Student Council, the Senior Scholarship Committee, and the Press Club. He served as senior class secretary, as editor-in-chief of The LOG, and on the work squad of the Executive Committee. He was also active in winter track. An Honor Roll student at Loomis, John earned degrees from Yale, Cornell, and the University of New Haven before embarking on a career in city planning. John worked in Connecticut and Pennsylvania before joining the planning department in Dunedin, Fla., in 1980. He ascended to the position of planning director and then city manager — a post he held for 21 years in a profession where the national average is five to seven years. Under his watch, the city built or renovated a slew of recreation buildings and infrastructure facilities, consolidated trash services, and replaced the Dunedin Police Department with service from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, saving the city millions of dollars. Most of all, John was known for his push to model the downtown area of Dunedin after the walkable towns he had admired while traveling abroad. Much of the success of the city of Dunedin has been attributed to John’s leadership. In 2005, he and his wife, Jo Pamela, relocated to Georgia to be near family. While in Georgia, John worked for the city of Powder Springs as special projects coordinator and taught urban design at a local university. John was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served in the Vietnam War. He is survived by his wife, Jo Pamela; two sons, 62 |

Matt and Andrew; a granddaughter, Emma; a brother, Michael ’61; and a sister, June. A memorial service, to be held in Dunedin, is planned for the spring.

1975 Toni Shippenberg-Stein, on June 25, 2012. While a student at Loomis Chaffee, Toni served as editor of The Confluence and as a tutor. She was involved with the Darwin Club and active with tennis. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University and a doctorate in pharmacology from Baylor College of Medicine. Toni undertook post-doctoral work at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Martinsried, Germany, where she worked for seven years in the field of neuropharmacology, gradually taking on greater leadership roles, culminating in the position of chief of the Drug Abuse Research Unit for the Institute in Munich. In 1992 she joined NIDA in the Preclinical Pharmacology Laboratory as a senior staff fellow and later went on to a tenure track position, obtaining tenure in 2001 as a senior investigator and chief of the Integrative Neuroscience Section of the Behavioral Neuroscience Research Branch. In 2010, she was appointed as chief of the newly created Integrative Neuroscience Research Branch before formally stepping down from that position earlier this year due to illness. Toni’s contributions to the fields of neuroscience and neuropharmacology over the years were outstanding and are reflected by the high esteem in which she was held by colleagues within the National Institutes of Health as well as

throughout the United States and abroad. For many years she held influential positions within the neuroscience community by serving as reviewing editor for the Journal of Neuroscience and on the editorial boards of Neuropsychopharmacology and Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology. In addition, she served as a reviewer for dozens of extramural and intramural grants, participated on numerous advisory boards, and maintained myriad extramural collaborations. Her contributions to the field did not go unnoticed as the National Institutes of Health director appointed her to the prestigious Senior Biomedical Research Service in 2005, a designation allotted to only 500 of the most outstanding scientists within the United States Public Health Service. In addition, she was appointed in 2004 as an honorary professor by the University of Queensland in Australia and held appointments of adjunct associate professor at the University of Maryland Medical School and research associate professor at Georgetown University Medical Center. Toni was the recipient of numerous awards over the years, including the NIDA/NIH Women Scientist Achievement Award in 2009, a J. William Fulbright Senior Specialist Award in 2008, an Australian Federation Fellow award in 2006, and the NIDA Director’s Scientific Merit Award in 1994, 1995, and 1998. Not only was Toni a distinguished neuroscientist, but she also was an exemplary mentor and citizen within the NIH and NIDA communities. Her mentorship abilities were recognized in 2005 when she won an NIH Outstanding Men-

tor of the Year Award. Furthermore, Toni was extremely generous with her time through service on the NIDA Animal Care and Use Committee, the IRP Promotions and Tenure Committee, and the NIDA Postdoctoral Advisory Committee, not to mention memberships on a host of additional NIH committees. Toni is survived by her daughter, Alexandra; and her parents, Stanley and Trudi. A memorial service was to be held at a future date.

2006 Rebecca L’Heureux, peacefully on September 18, 2012, surrounded by her family. Becca came to Loomis Chaffee from Mirror Lake, N.H. While a student, she was involved in Community Service and SADD and was active with the junior varsity hockey and swimming teams. Following Loomis Chaffee, Becca earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Mary Washington, where she rode on the varsity equestrian team for all four years. Upon graduation, Becca worked as a research associate and the executive assistant to the senior vice-president of the McCormick Group in Arlington, Va. A lifelong equestrian, Becca competed and fox hunted extensively in the United States and abroad. Becca is survived by her parents, Mary Chilton Crane and Robert James L’Heureux; her sister, Katherine; her grandmother; many aunts, uncles, and cousins; and her boyfriend, Derek LeComte. A celebration of her life was held on Saturday, September 29, 2012, at the Dover Church in Dover, Mass.

2007 Christopher C. Baker, unexpectedly in a tragic car accident on June 28, 2012. Chris attended Loomis Chaffee before graduating from Albany Academy. He then received his associate’s degree, with highest honors, in science and physics from Hudson Valley Community College. At the time of his passing, Chris had just completed his junior year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on the Honor Roll in applied physics. In secondary school, Chris was an avid and successful soccer player and wrestler. He was also an outstanding snowboarder, among many other interests. Chris was predeceased by his grandfather. He is survived by his parents, Nancy Petersen and Brian Baker; his sister, Emily; his grandmother, Edith; and aunts, uncles, and cousins. A funeral was held on July 3, 2012, at the Stephentown Federated Church in Stephentown, N.Y.

Former Faculty Robert Anthony diCurcio, peacefully on April 17, 2012. Bob grew up in Cranston, R.I. His determination and hard work led to a bachelor’s degree in experimental psychology from Brown University and a master’s degree in physics from Princeton University, the first advanced degree for his working-class family. A summer job during his college years, in the early 1950s, brought Bob to Nantucket, Mass., for the first time. That early visit sparked a love and appreciation for the quiet and remote island, and it became a place he visited frequently and ultimately settled year-round. During the 1960s, Bob worked as an engineer at IBM and Pratt &

Whitney. In 1972, he joined the Loomis Chaffee faculty. He loved teaching and wrote The History and Philosophy of Science as a resource guide for his classes. He led students on scientific inquiries that presaged the now-mainstream “green” movement, such as testing the water in the Connecticut River to trace the origin of different pollutants. A demanding and inspirational teacher, Bob inspired his students with his love of science, music, and art and his fascination with important scientists such as da Vinci, Pythgoras, and Galileo. Former student Steven Strogatz ’76 remembered Bob as, “Brilliant, feisty, curious, stubborn — that was Galileo, and that was Bob.” Bob left Loomis Chaffee in 1979. Around the same time he acquired a modest home on Nantucket — a minimal structure which he transformed into a charming cottage. As a year-round resident on Nantucket, Bob composed musicals, learned languages, and pursued his varied interests, including physics, astronomy, history, and art. One such interest was sundials. He created several of them, and the one he made in 1989 for the Maria Mitchell Observatory in Nantucket maintains a time accuracy of one to two minutes year round. His other publications included The Tried-Out MobyDick, a reader’s companion essay to Herman Melville’s Moby Dick; and Vermeer’s Riddle Revealed. Bob was predeceased by his wife, Anne. He is survived by two daughters, Laura ’76 and Leslie ’80; three granddaughters, Mollie, Anna, and Eva; a niece; and four great-nephews.

Former Staff Jill M. Holcomb, peacefully on August 1, 2012. Jill was born in Hartford and raised in Wethersfield and New Britain. She graduated from New Britain High School. Jill worked in the Business Office at Loomis Chaffee for 19 years beginning in the late 1970s. She had a great love for her family, travel, and winters in Florida. Jill is survived by her husband of 54 years, Bruce; three children and their spouses, Lorna Giannuzzi, helpdesk coordinator in the LC Information Technology Department, and husband Frank Giannuzzi, Lisa and Jeffrey Horowitz, and Lynn and Steven Bialakis; five grandchildren and their spouses or partners, Brett Giannuzzi and Erika Travella, Erik and Shauna Giannuzzi, Chad Giannuzzi and Kelly Christian, Scott and Katelyn Horowitz, and Alex and Alyssa Bialakis; and two great-grandchildren, Braelyn and Nicholas Giannuzzi. A private service was to be held. Donald Hoxie, on June 21, 2012. Born in Norwich, Conn., in 1925, Donald grew up in Putman, Dayville, and Windsor, Conn. He graduated from Windsor High School at the age of 16 and began to work with his father at the Loomis Institute dairy farm before serving in the U.S. Army during the final months of World War II. After discharge from the service, he made his home in southern Maine, where he worked as a service station mechanic in Kennebunk for 10 years. He developed an interest in flying and earned his pilot’s license. Later, he even began to build an airplane in his home. He and his wife, Joan,

then moved to Stonington, Conn., where he worked as technical lab supervisor for Davis-Standard for 27 years. An accomplished craftsman and builder, Donald built his homes in Stonington and Wells, Maine. After his retirement, he returned to southern Maine, where he was a member of the Maine Antique Power Association and enjoyed building and displaying model engines. Donald was predeceased by his brother, Hermon Hoxie ’39. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Joan; two sons, Dale and Eric; a daughter, Sharon; and three grandchildren, Andrew, Alison, and Kathleen. A memorial service was held on June 26, 2012, at Bibber Memorial Chapel in Kennebunk, Maine.

More News The Alumni Office has learned of the passing of Richard Porter ’30, on December 18, 1997; Perry M. Smith ’42 on February 12, 2012; Fred Lennox Hudson Jr. ’47 on May 8, 2010; Alan David Crowley ’49 on September 22, 2011; James Newell Skinner III ’51 on June 7, 2012; James T. Robinson ’58 on December 23, 2010; LaVentrice Delaine Taylor ’74 on June 9, 2007; Ann W. Koucky ’80, on October 21, 2011; and Kimberly Hurwitz Awao ’83 on June 16, 2010. More information, as available, will be printed in future issues.

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THE LAST WORD | BY RAY ANDREWS ’56

Thinking of Moo

Editors’ Note: The following quote is from Ray Andrews, Loomis Class of 1956, on the occasion of his 55th Reunion, June 2011.

“ Biology teacher Ray Andrews, Loomiscellany, 1956

Howard ‘Squirrel’ Norris assigned a theme topic: ‘How does a cow walk?’ I didn’t know it was an exercise in careful observation and wrote a colorful essay. I did not do well but got the point.

”

— Ray Andrews '56

64 |

Howard “Squirrel” Norris, 1956

Myron Hoxie, superintendent of the Loomis School Farm, 1933–1956, with 10 of the school’s 110-cow dairy herd. Photo: Loomis Chaffee Archives

The Loomis Chaffee School 4 Batchelder Road Windsor, Connecticut 06095

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The late autumn aftrenoon sky is reflected in the windows of Hubbard Hall. Photo: Patricia Cousins