n i a t n u o M e h t n O
THE STORM KING SCHOOL JOURNAL WINTER 2024
ARTS SHOWCASE COLORING THE WORLD — JERRY O'NEILL '74
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS AS THE STORM KING SCHOOL A BEAT FOR THE NEW GENERATION
Board of Trustees Officers
Robert Ginsburg ’72 Chair Robert Docherty ’72 First Vice Chair Roger D. Auerbacher ’66 Immediate Past Chair Christine E. Watson ’94 Treasurer Scott Rutter ’73 Secretary Jonathan W. R. Lamb Head of School – Ex-Officio Steven Bluth ’83 Alumni Council President – Ex-Officio Trustees
Ila Barton ’92 Charles Cordero ’92 Richard Grossman '79 Bruce Hanson ’62 Kerryane Monahan ’92 Johnathan Flores '12 Ken Goldwasser '78 Neil Novesky P'25 Trustees Emeriti
Michael Brower ’63 Robert Cory III ’63 Jack D’Angelo H’13 Thomas Delaney ’58 Stephen Duffy ’71 Peter Duggan H’58 Lawrence Fain ’58 Michael Fischer ’82 Stanley Freilich P’11 Herbert Gelhardt ’48 Racey Gilbert ’60 Margaret Harbison Hon. Harold Kennedy ’73 Peter Lamb ’72 Bettina Murray GP’20 Arthur Reis ’75 John Settel ’50 Jeremiah H. Shaw P’95 James Sollami P’02,’08,’09 Robert D. Williams Jr. ’54 Suzanne van der Woude P’74,’75 Peter Wunsch ’73
The Storm King School does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender orientation, marital status, national or ethnic origins, age, disability, or any other classification protected under State or Federal law.
On the Mountain is made possible by the enormous effort of our school community. Special thanks go to: The SKS Alumni Council John Carruthers Dr. Nicole Cervantes Marisa Chapman ’24 Lynn Crevling ’72 Anne Fulton Sarah Fulton ’09 Robert Ginsburg ’72 Ken Goldwasser ’78 Jonathan Lamb Dr. Tim Lance Geoff Merrill ’79 Giselle Morales ’18 Neil Novesky P’25 Marek Pramuka P’20 Michaela Pramuka P’20 Toni Scherrer Lisa Shrem Elizabeth Wilson Taviloglu P’19
OTM Contact info: otm@sks.org OTM: The Storm King School 314 Mountain Road Cornwall on Hudson NY 12520 On the Mountain, the official journal of The Storm King School, is published for the benefit of the greater school community including alumni, families, friends, and faculty. On the Mountain is designed to communicate the School’s mission, values, and culture with accurate information and stories about members of the school community past and present, current news, upcoming events, and other information of interest to our community.
On the F E AT U R E S
M ountain
The Storm King School Journal WINTER 2024
4 Jerry O’Neill ’74 - Coloring the World with Flowers See how Jerry discovered his love for science and horticulture at SKS, and get a glimpse of his successful Puerto Rican flower farm.
10 We are Storm King! Join us on this interesting historical journey marking 100 years since our school has been named The Storm King School.
14 A Beat for the New Generation An Interview with SKS Visual Arts Chair and Woodcut Artist John Carruthers.
D E PA RT M E N TS
2 From the Head of School 3 Comments 20 Mountain Road Fall 2023 Enrollment Profile; Mountain Day; Spring 2023 Sports Roundup; I am SKS: Marisa Chapman ’24; 2023 Q-Term; Visual and Performing Arts Showcase; High School Musical; Fall 2023 Trivia Night; SKS Names New Head of School; 2023 NHS Inductions; 155th Commencement; Commencement Awards; Butterfly Ceremony; Community Service is Cool.
40 The Common Room Reunion 2023; The Alumni Council; Board of Trustees Welcomes Two New Members; Why I Give Geoff Merrill ’79.
46 Report of Giving 50 Events 51 Class Notes 56 In Memoriam
PHOTO CAPTIONS LEFT: A letter of support to a cancer patient written by Dana Xu ’24 for Amy’s Ray of Sunshine, one of SKS’ community service partners. FRONT COVER: Images of the woodcutting art process by Visual Arts Chair John Carruthers. BACK COVER: 2002-2003 Dr. Paul Briggs, Art Teacher with Na-Young Kim ’04, Hae Min Nam ’04, and teacher Yuval Ortiz- Quiroga.
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From The Head of School Jonathan W.R. Lamb
Dear Storm King Community, The spring and fall semesters of 2023 have gone exceptionally well. The Storm King School is blessed to have a student body full of scholars, talented actors, artists, musicians, dancers, singers, and enthusiastic athletes. This outstanding student body and a strong faculty and staff make the work we do a truly joyful enterprise. This issue of On the Mountain features stories about the successes of alumnus Jerry O’Neill ’74, a commercial flower farmer based in Puerto Rico, a colorful faculty profile of our Visual Arts Department Chair John Carruthers, and an interview with SKS senior Marisa Chapman ’24, who epitomizes what it means to be a student at The Storm King School.
Also in this issue, we welcome new Board of Trustees members Neil Novesky P’25 and alumnus Ken Goldwasser ’78, as well as our newest Alumni Council Member Peter Fox ’77. Over my nearly 15 years at Storm King, our alumni volunteers, whether on the Board, the Council, or in other capacities, have all demonstrated what makes The Storm King School such a special place. This issue of On the Mountain also serves to introduce all of you to Lisa Shambaugh, our next Head of School who will begin her tenure on July 1, 2024. I have enjoyed getting to know Lisa and her husband, Jay, ever since Toni and I met them this past September. In the years ahead, all of you will come to know Lisa and I am confident that she will be an outstanding Head of The Storm King School who will help continue to move our school forward.
Jonathan W. R. Lamb Head of School
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Comments Dear OTM, After seeing the featured Faculty Profile on Jeanette Jacobson in the Summer 2023 issue of On the Mountain magazine, I wanted to share a huge accomplishment and milestone I recently reached in my professional life. In June, I had the opportunity to join Citydance NY, a New York City-based ballet company, and perform with them in August 2023 in their production of Cinderella. I would like to thank The Storm King School, and especially Jeanette Jacobson (or Ms. Jacobson as I still refer to her), for helping and guiding me along the way. Although I started dance as a toddler, I never had nearly as much fun experimenting and creating with it until I joined her class. Throughout my years at SKS, dance became my whole world and some of my core memories include spending hours at the studio choreographing and dancing with my best friends. I remember the tears and the hugs that happened backstage during performances, and the incredible commitment from every dancer to each other, and to the show itself. Today, I am able to thank everyone who has stood by my side along this journey—including my SKS family. Giselle Morales Class of 2018 Giselle Morales ’18
SAVE THE DATE REUNION WEEKEND JUNE 14-16, 2024 Stay tuned for more information regarding Reunion Weekend 2024. Sarah Fulton ’09 Director of Annual Giving & Development Coordinator
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“SKS helped me develop my interest in science...and find my way in life. For that, I am eternally grateful.” —Jerry O’Neill ’74
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COLORING THE WORLD
WITH FLOWERS
JERRY O’NEILL ’74 If you’ve ever lived or traveled in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Central or South America, or any of the Earth’s sub-tropical regions, you’ve surely had the chance to gaze upon the iconic, climbing flowers in bright fuchsia hues found decorating the towns and villages in these climates–the Bougainvillea. It is also highly possible that the flowers you admired were initially cultivated by this Storm King alumnus.
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Elements and Influences
Mike Spano ’74 Jerry O’Neill ’74, a scientist and horticulturist at heart, is also highly successful in business. As the owner of Vista Farms, a wholesale, propagation-only nursery located in Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico, Jerry has been realizing his dream of adding more color to the world with his beautiful flowers for more than 35 years. “At Vista Farms, we cultivate a variety of Bougainvillea, Hibiscus, and Ixora,” explains Jerry. “Our customers range from small nurseries to large commercial growers all over the world.” So how did Jerry transform his passion for growing things into a small flower empire? Born in Florida and raised in Puerto Rico from the age of four, Jerry was fortunate to grow up surrounded by all of the elements and influences that would later help him succeed. His love for his uncle’s beautiful gardens, the presence of a strong family, role models and mentors, and a top-notch education all converged on Jerry’s path to becoming the person he is today.
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“I was born in Jacksonville, Florida, and spent my earliest years in Brooklyn, New York,” explains Jerry. “I am the second of eight children– the oldest boy of six with two sisters who are the oldest and the youngest. When I was four, our family relocated from Brooklyn to San Juan, Puerto Rico, so my father could practice corporate law there. It was a time when Puerto Rico was industrializing and there was a lot of work for corporate lawyers. We had a wonderful family life in Puerto Rico. We often went to the beach and had small boats. I loved snorkeling and diving and all sorts of water sports.” It was during these early years that Jerry’s entrepreneurial spirit and his love for growing things began to blossom. “My father, as a lawyer and a businessman, was my mentor. My maternal grandfather, Joseph O’Malley, was an entrepreneur and he also had wonderful home gardens. I always loved to visit him when I was a child so I could spend time among the plants and enjoy the scents. I especially loved the smell of tomatoes and flowers,” Jerry recalls. “Upon our move to Puerto Rico, I did not speak Spanish, but I picked it up instantly as children do. This allowed me to attend a Catholic elementary school run by Dominican nuns, followed by middle school and the first year of high school at a Jesuit school.” Les McLean
Vista Farms greenhouse
The Tropics to the Mountain Preparing for his sophomore year of high school, Jerry and his family decided that an American boarding school would be the right choice looking ahead toward college. “I arrived at SKS in 1971. It was quite a change from my home in Puerto Rico and Jesuit high school. Although living in a dorm isn’t exactly independence, it does teach you to be more self-sufficient, as well as how to live in a group of unrelated people. I also remember the wonderful changes of seasons which are very different from tropical seasons here in Puerto Rico,” recalls Jerry. Storm King’s offering of a small school atmosphere, bucolic natural beauty, and supportive relationships Aerial view of Vista Farms between students and faculty proved to be the right combination that allowed Jerry’s passions to flourish. “At SKS, I really developed my interest in science. I loved chemistry and life sciences, and that got me going. I was also able to expand my love of the outdoors. Hiking around campus and camping as a Boy Scout was just great.” One SKS faculty member that stood out for Jerry was his biology teacher, Les McLean. Jerry arrives for Reunion 1999
“I consider Les one of my mentors, and we’ve remained friends and in contact until this day,” says Jerry. Jerry’s classmate and future college housemate, Mike Spano ’74 shared the same sentiment about Les when he nominated him for the 2019 Margaret Clark Faculty Excellence Award: “Les McLean is known and beloved by many SKS alumni. I had no interest in biology, but I looked forward to each class because Les found a way to teach me. He showed me how to learn. I was lucky to have him as a teacher and also as a friend for the past 45 years.” Another faculty member that stood out for Jerry during his time at SKS was chemistry teacher Alan Bernstein. “My most memorable moment was a science experiment gone wrong which “exploded,” making a small mess in the chemistry lab,” explains Jerry. His fellow classmates, Renee Paolini Cusack ’74 and Winnie van der Woude Hennessey ’74 added more detail, saying they were “prompted by Jon Keeve ’74 to dump metallic sodium into the chemistry lab sink and turn on the water. As a result, major reverberations were experienced in all three sinks on the Chemistry class island.”
Jerry’s 1974 Yearbook senior page photo
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Mentors and Memories
very well at UGA, graduating Cum Laude with a degree His close relationships with his science teachers and the in horticulture. extensive time spent in the SKS chemistry lab apparSo why did Jerry–also a certified public accountant ently resulted in Jerry sharing a Boston apartment with (CPA) with an MBA in Accounting and Finance from Duke Mike Spano while attending Northeastern University their University’s Fuqua School of Business–decide to add these freshman year. According to Mike, “The SKS lab was open additional credentials to his resume? It was another at night, and Jerry and I ran the lab a couple of nights a mentor– a professor at UGA who had warned them that growing things was not only science, but a business; and week. In the fall of ’73, a recruiter from Northeastern was looking for Headmaster Frank Brogan. He saw the lights on that in order to be successful, they also needed some business savvy. “That’s and wandered into Dyar Hall. After chatting for when I decided to take a few minutes, he asked several elective courses whether we would like in accounting, which I to go to Northeastern. really liked,” explains We both said, “I don’t Jerry. know,” to which he It turned out that replied, “If you apply taking those additional for early admission, you courses paid off. During won’t have to take the his first year working at a SAT.” Ultimately, both large nursery just north Jerry and Mike applied, of Orlando, Florida, Jerry received a letter were accepted, and went from Duke University to Northeastern the following fall. inviting him to apply for Fond memories and graduate study. “I was adventures aside, Jerry accepted about a month says that SKS taught him before classes started, self-reliance and gave so I moved to Durham, him an essential founNorth Carolina, sight unseen, and started dation in the sciences. my MBA in the fall of He took both sets of 1979. Since I already skills and knowledge had some accounting with him to Northeastern. “I started in the classes under my belt, chemical engineering I decided that would program, which I did be my concentration. Before graduation, I well in,” Jerry explains. White Ixora variety named after Hurricane Maria took the CPA exam, “However, after the first year, I began to have doubts and felt the need to change passed, and applied to work as an auditor at the San course. I was considering a transfer to the University of Juan office of Arthur Andersen & Co. where I worked Georgia (UGA) to study horticulture.” His initial reflex was for several years.” to consult with his most important mentors, his father and Les McLean. Petals with a Purpose Looking back, Les remembers the conversation he had After returning to his childhood home of Puerto Rico, Jerry in support of Jerry where he reminded him that “when was once again surrounded by the support of family and you do what you love, you never work a day in your life. the familiarity of Puerto Rico’s climate and landscapes. When my students had a special interest or aspiration, I It wasn’t long before he began to pursue his passion for always encouraged them to follow their passion. I rememgrowing things, this time, with the purpose of doing busiber relaying that message to Jerry.” Ultimately, Jerry did ness. Fast forward 35 years, and Jerry has grown Vista
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Farms into one of the world’s top cultivators and exporters of young flowers. “At Vista Farms we grow a variety of young plants as a wholesale, propagation-only nursery,” explains Jerry. Vista Farms also represents the exclusive RijnPlant Vera line on Bougainvillea genetics in the USA, Canada, and Caribbean; and their flowers have won several awards. “Our customers range from small nurseries to large commercial growers all over the world. We have extensive stock plantings and modern propagation facilities that allow us to cater to the diverse needs of our customers from a single case to large assorted shipments. We are able to ship our flowers worldwide to customers on five continents through a network of plant brokers or directly with Vista Farms,” he continues.
A Flower Called Maria Jerry’s journey toward success wasn’t always smooth sailing. For example, Vista Farms was hit hard in 2017 by hurricane Maria like the rest of Puerto Rico. “We were lucky in that the physical damage to our farm was limited, unlike the greenhouses of many farms in the area which were pulled to the ground,” recalls Jerry. “Fortunately, our greenhouses remained intact and we were able put the plastic down on time. Our inventory was also not damaged, which enabled us to ship out the young plants two weeks after the hurricane. The main challenge was the aftermath of the strong winds which defoliated ten acres of stock. We had to get the production of the cuttings back on track. That meant pruning all of the defoliated branches and waiting for them to grow again. It took nearly two months to get new cuttings and this resulted in a substantial inventory loss,” recalls Jerry. “It took some time to get the cuttings, but after we managed to foliate the stock again, we were completely back in business. I can say that the hurricane brought one positive thing–a name for one of our new Ixora varieties. We were in the process of naming a new white Ixora variety when the hurricane struck, so we decided to name it Maria,” he says.
Reconnecting As his business blossomed over the years, Jerry has also found the time to reconnect with the island and his childhood interests. “I am an avid sailor, starting out as a child sailing with my father. Once I returned to Puerto Rico after grad school, I got hooked on competitive sailing in the early ’80s, and have continued to race until today in my J/39 sailboat, Crystal.” Most recently, Jerry
and Crystal placed 2nd at the 49th St. Thomas International Regatta CSA 3 Division (STIR) in March 2023. In addition, Jerry is also passionate about aviation and holds certifications for flying rotorcrafts and fixed-wing airplanes. In fact, SKS lore tells of Jerry arriving at a past reunion in a helicopter. Also an art enthusiast and collector, Jerry has over 200 works of primarily Latin American art, once supporting an exhibition of Caribbean artists at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. Alongside his busy schedule, staying connected with The Storm King School is also something Jerry actively pursues in his free time. A regular visitor to campus on reunion weekends, Jerry plans to attend his 50th in summer 2024. Giving back to his alma mater is something Jerry takes to heart. A Storm King Steward, he feels his continuing support to the Storm King Fund helps to ensure our current students continue to benefit from the same positive experiences he had on the Mountain. “SKS helped me find my way in life and, for that, I am eternally grateful,” Jerry explains. My hope is that today’s SKS students have a similar experience and head start on their adult lives. When they look back on their time after graduating from Storm King, I want them to realize that it was a life-changing experience and that they are as grateful for it as I am.”
Sunset Ixora
“As a child, I loved spending time among the plants and enjoying the scents in my grandfather’s garden. I especially loved the smell of tomatoes and flowers.” — Jerry O’Neill ’74
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WE ARE STORM KING! Celebrating 100 Years as The Storm King School A lot can change in 100 years, and at The Storm King School, a lot has. 2023 marks 100 years since Headmaster Alvin Duerr gave our School its current name, The Storm King School, for the majestic mountain on which we are located. In the 100 years since then, The Storm King School has become known as the caring community we are today—a place for students to explore their dreams, discover their future potential, and forge their own paths. Join us as we remember some of the events and people that have made the Storm King community everything it is today and setting the stage for another 100 years to come.
In 1867, Rev. Louis P. Ledoux founded the Cornwall Heights School on Storm King Mountain where our school resides today. In 1912, Headmaster Carlos Stone renamed it The Stone School. Eleven years later, our current name, The Storm King School, was established.
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1923 Headmaster Alvan E. Duerr (19161927) officially changed the name of the Stone School to The Storm King School after the mountain upon which it resides. Along with this change in name, the School was incorporated as a stock company under the leadership of nine trustees – a structure that continues today.
to be so successful that its tradition has endured to this day. More than 90 years later, Mountain Day has grown to become a tradition where students, faculty and staff hike all together to reach a single destination – the summit of Storm King Mountain. There, they take a break and enjoy the beautiful views of the campus and the Hudson River in the distance before making their way back to campus to enjoy a BBQ lunch.
1929 Stone Hall, a cornerstone of The Storm King School campus, was constructed as the School’s infirmary. By the mid-twentieth
century, Stone Hall was converted to a dormitory which housed boys , and later, girls. Later in its history, the building housed the School’s Academic Support Program, previously known as the Mountain Center, before it was converted back for use as a boys’ dormitory as it stands today.
1932 Storm King’s sixth Headmaster, Anson Barker, initiated the first Mountain Day. He excused students from classes on a crisp morning in November and sent them into the woods on hiking excursions which later culminated in a picnic feast. The event proved
of the State University of New York, solidifying its path forward as an elite college preparatory school.
1938 Fencing was added to the School’s athletics roster. The first fencing bout took place in February of that year against the Riverdale School.
1934 1934 was the year SKS adopted Margaret Clark’s original emblem as the official school crest. Margaret, the School’s first female faculty member, retired from Storm King
1948 The Wilder Memorial Hockey Rink was dedicated near what are now Dempsey and McConnell Halls.
1950s in 1938 after 44 remarkable years of service. Her legacy is honored annually with the presentation of the Miss Margaret Clark Faculty Excellence Award to deserving, former Storm King School teachers.
1935 During the tenure of Headmaster Anson Barker (1932-1951), the lower school was discontinued and The Storm King School was chartered by the Board of Regents
The 1950s were years that The Storm King School witnessed great physical changes. In 1954, Headmaster Barker asked mountain resident Stephen P. Duggan to join the SKS Board of Trustees, knowing that Duggan, a graduate and former board member of Exeter, Columbia and Harvard, and his wife, Beatrice, a Vassar graduate, were interested in education matters. In 1957, Duggan announced an
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ambitious ten-year campaign to completely rebuild Storm King’s campus. The Ogden Library (now Ogden Hall), Dyar Hall, and the Highmount Dormitory were all constructed in 1958; the Dempsey Dormitory in 1959; the Stillman Science Building in 1961; a new gymnasium in 1963. This was the single largest campaign in the School’s history to date.
which The Storm King School is a founding member.
1970 The Storm King School’s first three full-time female students were admitted in the fall of 1970: Susan Woodruff Pons ’71, Jeannie Stod-
1964 Consolidated Edison announced plans to build the world’s largest pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant at the base of Storm King Mountain, with the intent to blast into the Mountain’s face and summit. This endeavor threatened the natural environment of the Mountain, and thus the very fabric of the School. Duggan, a senior partner and litigator at the prominent law firm Simpson, Thatcher and Bartlett, along with his wife Beatrice, immediately took up the cause. They succeeded in establishing the Scenic Hudson Preservation Conference, and gained standing in a precedent-setting Supreme Court case to fight the project on behalf of the public. That victory gave birth to the American grassroots environmental movement, and after a 17-year battle, it also helped preserve the 3,785-acre Black Rock Forest through the establishment of a management consortium, of
dard Edwards ’71, and Winnie van der Woude-Hennessy ’74. By the spring of 1971, the coed population had grown to include eight female day students. Five years later in 1975, Storm King opened the doors to its first female boarding students, and the number of girls has continuously grown ever since.
1981 Dr. Rients and Suzanne Van der Woude, residents of Mountain Road, announced that 70 acres of Storm King Mountain land, contiguous to the campus on the western side, would be donated to the School. The Henderson Outdoor Recreation Program was launched, further expanding the tradition of embracing the School’s natural setting and immersing students in the outdoors with a significant grant from Girard B. Henderson ’23.
1990 SKS’ new roll-top observatory designed by astronomer and science writer Bob Berman was built around a late 19th-century telescope bequeathed to the school by Robert Cobb ’58. The antique telescope was eventually sold to purchase the School’s current Parks Newtonian telescope.
1993 Thanks to the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Karl Soderlund, the Cobb House, former residence of the Cobb family–descendants
1984 The Walter Reade Jr. Theatre was dedicated as the result of a generous gift from SKS alumnus Walter Reade Jr., Class of 1935, whose eponymous movie theatre chain had grown to more than seventy locations around the world. A facility was now available on
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campus for the study and practice of dramatic arts, a program that incorporated everything from sound and lighting to set and costume design, voice, and stage performance, which has provided countless opportunities for Storm King students to flourish.
of the School’s second headmaster, Oren Cobb–was renovated to become today’s Allison Vladimir Art Center, named after Ms. Soderlund’s daughter. Since then, the visual arts program at The Storm King School has thrived.
2000 The year of the millennium saw the varsity boys basketball team win the New England Preparatory Schools Athletic Conference (NEPSAC) title, repeat as conference champions in 2001, and a near-miss repeat win in 2002. Three years later, in an epic soccer
Habitat for Humanity, local food banks and soup kitchens, and many others.
2014 Jonathan W. R. Lamb, was appointed as the current Head of School. Under Lamb’s vision and leadership, SKS entered another era of transformation, reaching historic heights on all fronts: enrollment; signature academic programs; experiential learning; the arts; athletics; and campus improvements.
2016 match that went scoreless for 120 minutes, the boys varsity team was named NEPSAC co-champion alongside Chase Collegiate School.
In the fall of 2016, all four of SKS’ varsity sports teams won the Championship in the Hudson
The girls volleyball team wins the HVAL Championship, the first such victory for an SKS girls team.
Helen “Steevie” Chinitz became Storm King ’s first female head of school. Steevie’s administration also established the Mountain Center, predecessor of today’s Academic Support Program, where students with learning differences could receive additional intensive help in smaller classes.
2012 SKS dedicated its first Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a day of service for all students and faculty. Each year thereafter, SKS spends this day serving local oranizations including the Newburgh Armory,
2021 As the pandemic continued, SKS commemorated its 50th Anniversary of Coeducation. It was also the first year the number of female students exceeded the number of male students.
2023
2002
2004
first virtual commencement ceremony in June of 2020.
Valley Athletic League (HVAL) Sports included: Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Coed Cross Country.
2019 SKS graduates its largest senior class in recent history. A speech given by Senator Robert Torricelli ’70 highlighted the 151st commencement ceremony as 23 young men and 38 young women from five continents, 17 countries, and four states were awarded their diplomas.
Almost three years since the first pandemic shutdown, The Storm King School fully returned to in-person learning, starting off the year with a strong enrollment and an exceptional college placement record. Head of School Jonathan Lamb announced his retirement at the end of the 202324 school year after 14 years of service to the School. To succeed him, the SKS Board of Trustees appointed Mrs. Lisa Shambaugh as Storm King’s 18th Head of School to begin her tenure in July 2024.
2020 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, SKS closed its campus and switched to online classes in March 2020. The School held its
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A BEAT for
the New Generation
Sankaty Lighthouse
An Interview with SKS Visual Arts Chair and Woodcut Artist John Carruthers Artist, musician, academic, historian. These are only a few words that describe the multi-faceted creative force that is SKS’ Visual Arts Chair John Carruthers. Perhaps none conveys his quirky, quiet manner, his passion for teaching and learning, and his student-centric approach better than “educator.” For more than 12 years, Mr. Carruthers has been developing the creative skills of his students and pursuing his own artistic passions, further enhancing SKS’ reputation as a sought-out school for the arts. Q: Tell us about your background and past influences that inspired you. “I was born and raised in Westchester, New York. A precocious kid, I loved to copy out the illustrated dictionary–drawings and all. We had a set of encyclopedias called World of Wonder from the 1920s. I loved it because it was all about “the future” from a 1920s perspective–the miracle of air travel, automobiles, electricity, science, and industry! It had great old photographs, and it seemed important and anachronistic at the same time. My favorite thing to read was the New York Times Book Review. For book reports, I covered Shakespeare. I guess I just loved
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learning and education in general. I also went to summer school for fun–more science, more history! I read monster magazines, DC comics, and Mad magazine. One day, I was practicing my hero Jimmy ‘JJ’ Walker’s funky walk. My mom asked my uncle Harry, who is an artist, “What’s wrong with him?” Harry said, “It’s OK, he’s just a beatnik.” I said, “What’s a beatnik?” Little did I know that would be my life’s path. In high school, my main interests were books and music–Kurt Vonnegut, Jack Kerouac, Edgar Allen Poe, SE Hinton (who I read over and over), music-oldies, and classic rock of the day. Then, punk rock happened. Pow! Two friends and I went head over heels for it. We would go
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Mr. Carruthers playing with his band.
record shopping in New York City and walk past CBGB, the legendary music club where many of the top bands of the 1970s and ’80s performed. When it came time to pick a college, I chose Fordham. At first, I was taking liberal arts courses and hanging out on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. I switched to an art major and went to Fordham Lincoln Center where I saw ’80s graffiti artist Keith Haring drawing in the subway! Living in the Bronx shaped me tremendously. I liked to say, ‘I was raised in Westchester, but I grew up in The Bronx.’ I had an apartment in the famous Little Italy section on Arthur Ave. and a great cohort of friends. We were all in bands and had our own little ‘gang.’”
Q: What stands out in your mind as a factor that shaped who you are today? “Every teacher has that ‘one teacher’ story. Mine is Ms. Tripodi, my 8th grade teacher. I went to a small Catholic school. It was good, but it didn’t offer much art or have lessons that were really inspiring me. On the first day of 8th grade, Ms. Tripodi was playing Simon and Garfunkel music
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in class (pretty hip for the time), and the first lesson was poetry. That really made me pay attention again. We had a school newsletter where my poem was on the front page one month. That made me realize that I could do something I was passionate about and have it seen by everyone. It got me started writing and drawing, knowing that I could possibly reach people with it. Another big influence was my job at B. Dalton Bookstore on 6th Ave. and 8th St.–the center of Greenwich Village, and the center of the universe as far as I was concerned. While there, I met just about every famous New Yorker and legendary hipster including Andy Warhol who came in with Jean-Michel Basquiat, William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg; and all the beats who were still around like John Waters, Cousin Brucie, Jules Feiffer, Quenton Crisp, William Kunstler, Debbie Harry, David Byrne, Marianne Faithfull, Laurie Anderson…the list goes on. I designed the display windows and was given free rein to promote any book I wanted to Charles Bukowski, Ray Carver, Richard Price, Nick Tosches, Annie Liebovitz, etc. It truly was a dream job for me back then. At that time, the New York City art scene was really big and exciting–the Pictures Generation: Robert Longo, Cindy Sherman, Julian Schnabel, Barbara Kruger, Jenny Holzer. These artists were just coming into their own, and all the galleries were on West Broadway in Soho and Tribeca. It was no big deal for art students like myself to go to those galleries, walk into openings, and talk to whoever was there. It was pretentious and glamorous as the best art is, but it was still very inviting and ‘street level.’ I feel very lucky to have lived in the city at that time.”
Q: How did come to teach at SKS? “I had decided to dedicate my life to music and art, but for a ‘day job,’ I was working in publishing for Viking Penguin (called Penguin USA at that time) as a sales rep. Then, the whole industry consolidated, so I ended up at much smaller publishers. During that time, I also got my MFA from The New York Academy of Art and I was still a working musician. It was then that I had the ‘classic mid-life crisis’ and decided to move out of Brooklyn and into a small cabin in western Orange County. This brought me to enroll at SUNY New Paltz where I got my New York State Art Teacher Certification. My first teaching job was at the New York Military Academy (NYMA) from 2006-2008. While at NYMA, I heard about SKS, of course, and decided that was where I really wanted to work. After NYMA, I took a few teaching positions in public middle schools in Brooklyn and Yonkers (2008-2010) which ended when the recession hit. Since 2004, I had been teaching during the summers on Nantucket, so I stayed there and taught at the Artists Association and The Boys and Girls Club. In 2011, I moved back to New York City and began working for the NYCBOE again and got
an MS in Education from Mercy College where I taught art history. I always had my eye on SKS, so when I saw an art teacher position posted, I sent in my resume. As luck would have it, Amanda Penecale was the Art Department Chair at that time. I knew her from teaching on Nantucket, so I got the interview, and thankfully, the job!”
Q: Please express your vision and your personal mission at SKS. “In most of my other art teaching positions, I was fulfilling a requirement. I wanted to work at SKS because it was known for its strong Arts Department and I wanted to be at a school where the arts were an integral part of the curriculum. I also wanted to be at a school that emphasizes each student’s individual needs and interests. I felt a little ‘lost in the shuffle’ myself in high school, so I wanted to work where I could ask a student what they were interested in doing, and then do my best to guide them toward that goal. I’ve also tried to build a department that is flexible enough to accommodate different students’ interests while developing a scope and sequence that teaches students the foundations of art. As my students progress through each course, I gradually hand over the ability to make their own decisions about the content of their pieces. I want the students to be confident enough to say ‘I want to do this’ and have a department that says ‘Let me show you how to do it.’
To that end, we have a lot of activities, trips, college visits, and discussions about the various applications of their skills. Those applications may be in creative industries, or they may be in medicine, psychology, computer science, business, or the liberal arts. I think it’s our job to broaden our students’ horizons so they understand that creativity is everywhere, and it’s a career-oriented skill. I’ve had students go on to study in many different college programs from costume design to art therapy, product design, fashion design and marketing, character design and animation, as well as fine art, illustration, and graphic design. I’ve also had students go on to study medicine, psychology, and law. I’d like to think that our process helped them make those decisions.”
Q: How do you feel Storm King, and in particular the Arts, have progressed over the years? “Since I’ve been here, we have expanded the number of courses and subjects available to students. I was the chair of the scheduling
sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Winter 2024 / 17
Q: What have been the most memorable moments of your time at SKS? “When we entered the Congressional art competition and Charlotte Ji ’23 won, she had her work put on display in the halls of Congress! We’ve also had great opportunities to meet professionals in the field, most recently with SKS Trustee Richard Grossman ’79, who has arranged for students to visit blue chip art galleries and visit professional artists in their New York City studios to learn about the business of art. We also had some great trips by partnering with Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) including a visit to the offices of Conde Nast, and a tour of the Louis Vuitton exhibit in downtown Manhattan. We’ve also visited many of the great New York City museums, the Bronx Zoo to draw animals, Hudson Valley MoCA for figure drawing, artist studio visits in Newburgh, Mass MoCA, and more. All that said, my most memorable moments occur when I see students make real breakthroughs, either by mastering a new skill, or making a real personal statement with their artwork that they are proud of. That’s what it’s all about!”
Q: Please elaborate on your passions–woodcutting, Nantucket, and anything else.
committee where we came up with the semester system we are now using. That increased the overall number of classes students can take per year (from 4 to 6, or up to 8 for an ambitious schedule). Besides the regular classes, we have added photography and digital art, and more high-level classes in fashion and fine art. We’ve also done independent projects with students during their senior year if they want to expand on a particular passion. We have expanded the number of exhibition opportunities. Besides our usual all-school art show during Arts Weekend in April, we do shows with Orange County Community College, Garrison Art Center, Scholastic National competition (in which we have won quite a few gold and silver awards), a congressional competition (that we won in 2022), and a sculpture exhibit featuring the large outdoor sculptures we create in Builder’s Club. These are great opportunities for students to show their work, engage with the local community, and learn all that goes into putting on a professional exhibit.”
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“I have quite a few passions which include travel, history, music, art, and western wear! I fell in love with woodcuts through the work of the German Expressionists of the 1920s and the Sturm und Drang Romanticism of the time. It really struck the ‘eternal chord’ in me, but, I wanted to make it mine. So, although I took many art courses in my life, I never studied traditional woodcut techniques. I wanted to do that on my own and develop my own style. I try to combine the ‘German and Austrian’ style with American psychedelic posters of the ’60s, and the Golden Age of Illustration I loved as a kid (the Howard Pyle Brandywine School). My parents have a house on Nantucket, and I have spent summers there since 2003 teaching art and showing my work with the Nantucket Artists Association. It’s been an amazing experience. It’s a very supportive arts scene, and it’s inspiring to show and work amongst such great artists. I was awarded the Randy Goldberger teaching award there in 2013 and 2023, the mixed media award in 2014, and was the honoree at their annual summer gala in 2023. Music is another passion of mine. I played in bands throughout the ’80s, ’90s and into the early 2000s. and put out a lot of recordings. I got to tour the United States a few times, play in Ireland, and play some dream gigs on large stages in my home town of New York City. I still enjoy playing banjo on the streets of Nantucket in the summer and in Central Park. I play almost every day, and I’m proud to say I’ve finally moved from ‘intermediate’ to ‘pretty good.’ It’s a lifelong pursuit that I would recommend to anyone.
Travel is yet another passion. Every year, my wife and I go to Europe to see the great cities and indulge in our love of history. We read and discuss a lot of the Late Antiquity period, and it’s beyond thrilling to then go and see the cathedrals, castles, palaces, and art that we read so much about. When it comes to fashion, I’ve always loved ‘cowboy clothes.’ While stuck in my New York City apartment during the pandemic, I stumbled across various western wear sites online and bought a lot of ‘dream outfits.’ Perhaps I went a little overboard, but the outcome is really this–During a dark time, I was reminded to live in the present. Every morning I look through my wardrobe and decide ‘What’s it going to be today?’ it reminds me that every day is a special blessing; that it should be celebrated and I will be ‘dressed accordingly.’”
art, you’re an artist, and that gives you a voice amongst your peers. Like all subjects, art teaches definable skills in the making of art and in the articulation of your ideas, both written and verbal. It also teaches you how to be creative–how to draw on your own experiences and the cultures around you to make a strong, personal statement. I also think that SKS, with its diversity of students and strong mentorship from its teachers, gives students an incredible pool to draw from for inspiration and agency.”
Q: How do your other passions complement what you do at SKS? I recently did an interview with “N” magazine, a lifestyle magazine for Nantucket, about my work methods and my history on the island. During the interview, I realized how important being an educator is to my art practice and vice-versa. As I teach the fundamentals and help students grow their individual voice, I take those conversations and skills back into my own work. Many times, I will put a piece I’m working on alongside my students’ art during our critiques in class. I value their feedback because it’s straightforward and honest, and it helps them see that all artists are in the same boat, no matter the age or skill level. If you do
Life Saving Boat
“My most memorable moments occur when I see students make real breakthroughs, either by mastering a new skill, or making a real personal statement with their artwork that they are proud of. That’s what it’s all about!”
sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Winter 2024 / 19
-- Mountain Road --
FALL ENROLLMENT
Highlighted by Exceptional Students
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The Storm King School’s 156th school year got off to a great start as we welcomed 172 students from 21 countries and 13 states with nearly an equal number of boys and girls. According to the Assistant Head of School for Admissions and Marketing, Marek Pramuka, the School’s enrollment is extremely strong once again this year. “This year, we welcomed one of the most gifted groups of students we have ever worked with. Thanks to the generosity of our alumni and friends, we were able to provide scholarships in excess of $2.3M to aid qualified students in accessing a Storm King School education; students who would otherwise not be able to afford the cost of our tuition. As a result, The Storm King School’s student body, once again, ranks among the most diverse both in terms of demographics as well as socioeconomics,” explained Mr. Pramuka. “An outstanding group of teenagers has come to our campus. Among them are nationally ranked tennis and soccer players, students with nearly perfect SAT scores, and budding
© Daniel Zhang ’25 musicians and entrepreneurs. A number of our students returned to campus after completing summer science camps for the gifted at some of our nation’s top universities. We also continue to attract brilliant student-artists; kids who dream of careers in the field of architecture, fashion design, theater, and dance. One of our rising seniors has recently committed to play NCAA basketball at Yale University. “One of the figures that makes me extremely proud is that our reenrollment* eclipsed 85% which ranks among the highest within boarding schools in the Northeast. This speaks volumes as to the level of education we provide for our students and their overall happiness and satisfaction with our school. This success is due to the strong reputation The Storm King School has built both domestically and globally. Our students are inspired and supported by our exceptional faculty and staff. They are immersed in a nurturing environment where they are encouraged to dream big and reach for the stars. As a result, they attend great colleges which are outcomes families across the globe seek out,” he continued. *The number of students continuing to be enrolled at Storm King from one year to the next expressed as a percentage of the total number of students eligible to continue their enrollment.
-- Mountain Road --
MOUNTAIN DAY 2023 An SKS Tradition
Mountain Day, a long-standing Storm King School tradition dating back to the early 1930s, is a day when all students and faculty make a scenic trek up Storm King Mountain together and gather at the summit to enjoy the views. A highlight of fall orientation, this annual hike introduces our students to the natural environment surrounding the campus and serves to boost school unity and spirit at the start of the school year. Storm King’s sixth headmaster, Anson Barker, initiated the first Mountain Day during the fall of 1932–the first year of his 19-year tenure. On a crisp November morning of that year, he excused students from classes and sent them into Black Rock Forest on hiking excursions which later culminated in a picnic feast. The event proved to be so enjoyable that its tradition has endured until today. On the morning of this year’s hike, students and faculty set out to navigate the trails with their advisory groups. All made their way up to Butter Hill, the summit of Storm King Mountain, where they enjoyed a breathtaking 360-degree view of the Hudson River Valley, Black Rock Forest, and the Catskill Mountains. Upon their return to campus, the hikers enjoyed a barbecue lunch on Ledoux Terrace. Keeping with Storm King tradition, Mountain Day kicked off the School’s 156th year on a positive note. Many thanks go out to the faculty who made sure everyone got up and down the Mountain in good spirits, and to our chefs and dining hall staff who prepared the delicious feast for the hungry hikers upon their return.
sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Winter 2024 / 21
-- Athletics --
SPRING 2023 SPORTS ROUNDUP The spring 2023 athletic season wound to a close on Storm King Mountain with three teams bringing home the Hudson Valley Athletic League (HVAL) championship trophy in May. Congratulations to Boys Varsity Tennis, Girls Varsity Tennis, Ultimate Frisbee, and all of the SKS Cougars! Baseball: The SKS baseball team had a great season according to Coach Gillett, with several wins and some great plays and moments on the diamond. May was highlighted with an exciting win against Faith Christian Academy, where the Cougars hoped to carry their winning momentum through to their last game of the season against Greens Farms Academy. Unfortunately, they ended on a loss to the Dragons before moving on to compete in the first round of the HVAL championship tournament in late May. Season Record: 3 W – 5 L Boys Varsity Tennis was an undefeated force leading up to the HVAL championship held in May. In their final games, the Marvelwood Pterodactyls, Oakwood Lions, and the Hamden Hall Hornets all succumbed to the Cougars’ winning momentum advancing SKS to the HVAL tournament as the #1 seed. Facing Marvelwood once again for the trophy, the Cougars claimed victory in straight sets 8-0. “I can’t say enough about the abilities and hard work of these players,” commented Coach Feffer. Season Record: 8 W – 0 L; 2023 HVAL Champions
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Girls Varsity Lacrosse It was a season of rebuilding for Girls Lacrosse with several new faces. Although it wasn’t reflected in their scores, the team made a lot of progress and gained important experience on the field. Coaches Beckham and Cervantes agreed that the Cougars put in a great effort all season: “They really came together as a team and played 110% every second of every game. We’re very proud of them and the team should be proud. Now, we’re looking forward to next spring and what’s to come.” Season Record: 0 W – 7 L Girls Varsity Tennis The girls varsity tennis team sported mixed results on the court, but ended their season on a high note. Following schedule changes and poor weather early in May and a disappointing loss to the Hornets of Hamden Hall, the Cougars continued to give it their all on the courts with strong serving and consistent play. Their determination to close out the season with a win prevailed at their final match against the Marvelwood Pterodactyls where the Cougars emerged victorious with a 4-3 score. Their winning momentum continued at the HVAL finals, where the Cougars won over the Oakwood Lions, 5-2, to take home the trophy. Season Record: 4 W – 6 L; 2023 HVAL Champions Boys Volleyball A new sport on the spring roster, Boys Volleyball competed in five games for their first season that yielded mixed results. For their final game of the season, the Cougars traveled to Peekskill, New York, to face Downstate where they suffered a loss in straight sets, 0-3 to end their season. “As a new sport on the SKS roster, the team worked hard, improved their skills, and did a great job. Next year, we hope to sign up even more players to the boys volleyball team,” commented Coach Cervantes. Season Record: 2 W – 3 L Ulitmate The Ultimate Frisbee team had another great spring with the Cougars’ signature teamwork and moves on full display. To end their season, the Cougars enjoyed a closeout victory over the NYMA Knights giving them an undefeated record. With their sights set on the HVAL championship trophy, the Cougars tossed against Oakwood in the final. “We won 13-11 in a hard-fought game against the Lions that lasted nearly two hours,” explained Coach Fulton after the game. I am very proud of their determination and their accomplishments,” commented Coach Fulton after the win. Season Recored: 8 W – 0 L; 2023 HVAL Champions
sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Winter 2024 / 23
I Am SKS: Marisa Chapman ’24 by Sarah Fulton ’09 “When I came here, I think I really found myself. I was shy when I started at SKS, but I found my voice. ” — Marisa 24 / MOUNTAIN ROAD
When asked to describe herself in a few words, Marisa Chapman ’24 reflexively laughs and flashes her infectious smile. “Outgoing, energetic, student athlete,” she says. “I also take some difficult classes,” she adds casually. The classes in question are AP and BC Calculus, AP Literature, Honors History, and Advanced Psychology, to name a few. Marisa also runs cross country, plays lacrosse, and shines as an SKS star on the basketball court. This year, she placed first in HVAL for cross country and serves as the captain of the girls prep Class AA basketball team. She is one of three leaders of the Black Student Union, a member of the National Honor Society, and was elected Student Council Vice President. She was also recruited to play D1 basketball at Yale, where she will attend next fall. To say she exemplifies what it means to be a Storm King student is an understatement. Here is what Marisa says about her experience at SKS.
Q: Please tell us about your background. “I was born in Detroit, Michigan and lived there for eight years. My next move was to Stamford, Connecticut, where I found my love of playing basketball and my interest in the sciences. When I turned 11, my family and I moved to Pine Bush, New York, where I attended public school prior to coming to Storm King. In terms of my cultural background, something that is very important to me, my dad is an immigrant from the Dominican Republic and my mom is African American from Detroit. Growing up, I had great exposure to both cultures and experienced different food, dance, and music. As I get older, I appreciate it more and more. I believe my love for my heritage set me on a path to enjoy different cultures and to really appreciate them. Coming to Storm King in 9th grade really opened my eyes to diversity and made me aware of just how many other cultures there are.”
Q: Why did you decide to attend Storm King? “I was in 8th grade when school was moved online due to COVID. My mom wanted me to be able to study in person and have the full experience of attending school, so we began our search for smaller, private schools. Once we came across Storm King’s website, we looked no further. The prestige the School has acquired over the course of its entire history, the fact that we were founded in 1867, and the amount of incredible faculty and staff we have made the decision to come here an easy one. Even though we were still wearing masks when I started, I was able to attend my classes in person and participate in athletic practices, keeping my basketball skills sharp.”
Q: What has your experience been like at SKS? What challenges have you faced? “It’s been great. When I came here, I think I really found myself. I was shy when I started at SKS, but I found my voice. The public speaking that I do with the Student Council, like leading morning meetings, and the ways I’ve learned to communicate with people from other countries are helping me develop real-life skills. The fact that I get to go to school on a beautiful, outdoor campus doesn’t hurt either. It certainly hasn’t been the same experience as attending public school. In terms of challenges, I would say that the classes I’ve taken on have been tough, but they were nothing I couldn’t handle.”
playing basketball, and see where life takes me. Connecticut holds a special place in my heart and since I have friends and family there, I could see myself settling down there.”
Q: What would you say about your time at SKS? “Overall, it’s been a learning experience for me. I have really gotten to know myself. I was able to take classes that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to take in public school; and I was able to compete in big NEPSAC tournaments. If it weren’t for SKS signing me up to play in a NEPSAC showcase, I wouldn’t have been recruited to play for Yale. I know I will have relationships forever with the people I’ve met, and that includes fellow students, faculty, coaches, and even our chef! The opportunities that SKS has afforded me have been wonderful and I will never regret my decision to come here.”
Q: What will you miss the most? “The people and our community. I will never forget how unique it is to walk around campus and listen to people conversing in their own language and enjoying each other’s company. I will always think of how beautiful the environment is, too. Being able to run through Black Rock Forest for cross country, enjoying the colors, the hills, and the amazing scenery.”
Q: What is your favorite memory of being a student at SKS? “The moment I got elected to the Student Council, it made me feel really good that my classmates believed in me. I was really excited too, because I wanted to help our school as much as I can with the time I have left as a student.”
Q: What are your goals for the future? Where do you think you’ll be? “I want to pursue a career in psychology or the sciences, but am still in the process of deciding. I also have the goal to become a professional basketball player in the WNBA or overseas. I definitely want to play for as long as I can. Later on in life, I would love to have my own business that is either sports-related or has to do with science in some capacity. I will start with attending Yale and
sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Winter 2024 / 25
Q-TERM Takes Learning Beyond the Classroom After a year of hard work in the classroom, the final weeks of school are a breath of fresh air at The Storm King School. During the two-week period between final exams and commencement, both students and faculty are encouraged to explore new subjects that spark their interests and passions. This is Storm King’s Q-Term—a time that takes our students to interesting locations throughout the Hudson Valley and beyond.
Exploring Philadelphia – The City of Brotherly Love For example, the 2023 Q-Term called ‘Exploring the City of Brotherly Love’ delved into the historical and cultural significance of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Starting in the classroom, students discussed the drafting of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, and read Edgar Allen Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart. Then traveling to the city, students visited Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the National Constitution Center, the Museum of the American Revolution, the Betsy Ross House, the Edgar Allen Poe Historic Site, and enjoyed the “best Philly Cheesesteaks ever.”
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Destination Waterfall
Other 2023 Q-Term Courses included:
The ‘Destination: Waterfall’ Q-Term took students to the most beautiful waterfalls across three states where they identified native bird species and learned about the geography and history of each location. On their first day, the students traveled to Pennsylvania where they visited three stunning waterfalls: Bushkill Falls, Dingmans Falls, and Raymondskill Falls. Other beautiful parks and waterfalls included Awosting Falls in Minnewaska State Park, Bash Bish Falls in the Taconic Mountains of Massachusetts, Black Rock Forest’s Mineral Springs, Madam Brett Park alongside the Hudson River in Beacon, New York, and Bushkill Falls in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains. Another popular Q-Term, ‘Exploring the Big Apple,’ focused on exploring the arts, culture, history and food of New York City.
• Photography Masterclass: Fundamentals, Tips, Tricks, and Fun • Digital Drawing and Painting with ProCreate and Photoshop • Thinking Big: Mural Painting • Sewing and Fashion Design • Improvisational Theater • Video Journalism • Stop Motion Animation • Disc Golf • Hudson Valley Horticulturists • Buddhism, Mindfulness, and Other Philosophical Explorations • The History of Feminism from Mary Wollstonecraft to Lizzo and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez • Big Brother SKS • Forensic Science • Minecraft Redstone • Swords & Wizardry • Intro to Coding in JavaScript • Sports Management
Rocks & Minerals of the Historic Hudson Valley Students interested in geology joined the ‘Rocks and Minerals of the Historic Hudson Valley’ Q-Term which explored old mines, fossil deposits, ancient rock quarries, and Native American seasonal camps and the history behind them. Students searched for minerals such as magnetite, hematite, clear quartz crystals, flint, jasper, garnet, mica, feldspar, pyrite, and pure clay, and had the chance to replicate primitive uses of the materials. A highlight of the Q-Term was a trip to the Rock Garden, an abandoned iron pyrite and quartz mine in New York’s Shawangunk Mountains.
With the continued success of subjects like these, we can’t wait for next year’s Q-Term roster!
sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Winter 2024 / 27
-- The Arts --
SPRING 2023 ARTS SHOWCASE
Spring Student Art Show 2023 Along with the warm weather, budding trees, and blossoming flowers, the Spring Art Show at The Storm King School is a tradition our community looks forward to each year. With student work on display from both semesters of the 2022-2023 school year, the show recognizes the creativity and skill of our students and highlights the depth of School’s visual arts program. The show’s opening took place in the lobby of Ogden Hall with a colorful array of student work in five categories on display. Five students were chosen by a panel of faculty members as the best in each category who were announced along with two additional awards for the Best in Show and the Most Creative entries. Congratulations to the winners, and to all of our talented student artists who worked hard to create this exhibition of outstanding work: Painting: Aitana Gorrita Lois ’24, “Arachne”
Digital Art: Laura Haban ’23, “Skeleton Wedding”
Drawing: Fernando Morales ’23, “Hand Study”
3-D: Jack Grant ’23, “Ditto”
Photography: Jimmy Guan ’23, “Down River”
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Most Creative: Linda Li ’23, “Art Nouveau Self Portrait” Best in Show: Charlotte Ji ’23, “Struggle”
Spring Music Recital 2023 Spring wouldn’t be complete without a music recital that showcases the talents of our music and voice students. The April 2023 performance featured a series of instrumental and vocal performances from different musical decades and genres and had the audience clapping and singing along. The SKS Band Ensemble: Madison Bishop ’24, Hoin Chong ’23, Thomas Chou ’23, NaRae Tillman ’24, Nicole Tomasini ’24, Rebecca Betini Vannetti ’24, Dana Xu ’24 Band Vocal Soloists: NaRae Tillman ’24, Madison Bishop ’24 The SKS Chorus: Aitana Gorrita Lois ’24, Andrea Lopez-Moctezuma ’25, Isabella Borrelli ’26, Laurel Papera ’23,Nina Gannon ’23, River Tippin ’24, Christine Sung ’24, Eniola Kafidipe ’23, Thomas Chou ’23, Madison Bishop ’24, NaRae Tillman ’24, Dana Xu ’24, Mac McGrath ’24, Jasper Lung ’24, Nyla Anderson ’25
sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Winter 2024 / 29
Spring Dance Recital 2023 The Storm King School’s student-dancers captivated the audience at the Spring Dance Recital. Eight graduating seniors along with eight underclassmen performed 30 outstanding dance routines for the school community, who all agreed that it was “the perfect way to conclude the semester and begin Senior Week.” To open the performance, dance instructor Jeanette Jacobson recognized the seniors for their years of dance at SKS: “Seeing them perform is bittersweet. Choreographing their senior piece, “A Million Dreams,” was both fun and emotional. We were sad to see them go, but I know they are well-prepared for college and beyond. I was so proud of the work all the dancers did in this particular show. For some, it was their first time taking a dance class, and I am very impressed with their progress and level of confidence.” The SKS Dancers: Luke Ciunga ’23, Ana Diego Villazon ’23, Nina Gannon ’23, Taylor Moreno ’23, Laurel Papera ’23, Dekai Xu ’23, Yuecheng Zhao ’23, Ana Paula Angeles Sanchez ’24, Viktorie Mrazkova ’24, Yuqi Ruan ’24, Roberta Canales Obregon ’25, Marina Del Pozo ’25, Uta Fujioka ’25, Mei Ki Liang ’25, Andrea Lopez-Moctezuma ’25
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Students Experience the Art Industry in New York City Richard Grossman ’79
New York City is one of the best places for young, talented artists to learn about the art world. Recently, a group of Storm King students taking AP Art and Advanced Studio Art were invited to visit the Brooklyn studio of a well-known artist and tour a renowned contemporary art gallery on the city’s Upper East Side. Their visit was made possible by alumnus and Storm King School Trustee Richard Grossman ’79, a real estate executive, collector, and art enthusiast living in Manhattan. Mr. Grossman is inspired by the quality of the art produced by Storm King students and the School’s outstanding record in placing them in prestigious art colleges each year: “I am a big believer in the arts and arts education. I feel that exposing students to professionals in this field may help them form a better idea about how they want to spend their lives. They get to meet real art professionals: artists, advisors, and gallerists, which will hopefully help them understand the different roles and opportunities in the field.” Students who participated in the trip: Dantia Saucedo ’24, Hongwei Cao ’26, Matrena Mishina ’25, Milo Miga ’25, Rebecca Betini Vannetti ’24, Aitana Gorrita Lois ’24, Bijou Sene ’24, Seven Crofts ’25, Ah-Jhih Chin ’24, and Sid White ’24 First, the group traveled to the Michael Werner Gallery known for modern and contemporary European and American art. There, they viewed the exhibit of Aaron Curry whose work fuses a variety of motifs and sources from Surrealism to Pre-Columbian art, and graffiti art to digital imagery. After lunch, the group ventured to the studio of working artist Bo Joseph and his wife, Simone, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. During the visit, a studio critique that the AP and Advanced Art classes do at Storm King was recreated, giving the students the chance to critique one of Joseph’s paintings. Many thanks go out the Michael Werner Gallery, Bo Joseph, and his wife, Simone. A special thank you also goes to Richard Grossman ’79 for arranging this special glimpse of the New York City art world for our students. “The art world is an amazing place to work in, and it is diverse and multi-faceted,” he explained. “If we can inspire one student to think about a career in the arts, I think it is worth the effort,”
sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Winter 2024 / 31
-- Spring Musical --
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL Fills the Stage
The Walter Reade Jr. Theatre was transformed into a colorful Disney movie set for the School’s recent spring production of High School Musical. Complete with varsity letters, authentic costumes, and outstanding song and dance routines, the performance kept the audience singing and clapping along. According to Performing Arts Chair Anne Fulton, “The students in the cast were very excited about the choice of show. Many had seen the movie and were already familiar with the cast and the music. The dance routines, choreographed by Ms. Jacobson, were a major component of the production and everyone worked hard to be able to act, sing, and dance simultaneously.” Disney ’s High School Musical explores issues of friendship, first love, and acceptance through the blossoming relationship between Troy (played by Thomas Chou ’23), a high school athlete, and Gabriella (Madison Bishop ’24), the new smart girl at school, whose surprise decision to audition together for the school show is thwarted by the school’s current leading
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CAST OF CHARACTERS Troy Bolton: Thomas Chou ’23 Gabriella Montez: Madison Bishop ’24 Sharpay Evans: Nina Gannon ’23 Ryan Evans: Fernando Morales’23 Taylor McKessie: Dana Xu ’24 Chad Danforth: Kenzo Sadiku ’23 Zeke Baylor: Luke Ciunga ’23 Kelsi Nielson: Laurel Papera ’23 Jack Scott: Jasper Lung ’24 Ms. Darbus: River Tippin’24 Martha Cox: Ana Paula Angeles Sanchez ’24 Coach Bolton: Patrick Fulton (faculty) Susan: Andrea Lopez Moctezuma ’25 Cathy: Isabella Borrelli ’26 Cyndra: Aitana Gorrita Lois ’24 Ripper: NaRae Tillman ’24 Monica: Kaitlyn Machado ’27 Allie: Eniola Kafidipe ’23 Ms. Tenney: Joy Lee ’23 Moderator: Viktorie Mrazkova ’24 lady, Sharpay (Nina Gannon ’23), and Troy and Gabriella’s well-meaning friends. “Our cast members did a wonderful job. They brought a great deal of enthusiasm and talent to the rehearsal process and then delivered truly memorable performances. Our musicians and stage crew also went above and beyond to make our production of High School Musical a hit,” continued Mrs. Fulton.
Cheerleaders: Nyla Anderson ’25, Richeal Appiah ’24, Roberta Canales Obregon ’25, Uta Fujioka ’25, Joy Lee ’23, Andrea Lopez Moctezuma ’25, Viktorie Mrazkova ’24 Skaters: Isabella Borrelli ’26, Mac MacGrath ’24 Jocks: Mohanad Almashal ’25, Tony Berning ’24, Jaden Crump ’23
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1st Place Winners: Novesky Retirement Community
Trivia Night Benefits SKS Arts & Athletics
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n Saturday, October 14, 2023, The Storm King School held its second annual Trivia Night Fundraiser. The purpose of the event, hosted by English teacher Dr. Mark Rigg, was to raise money for after-school performing arts and athletic programs. With nearly 90 participants, Henderson Dining Hall was filled with the energy of people putting on their thinking caps to answer tough trivia questions. At the end of the night, three teams were crowned, but only one team, the “Novesky Retirement Community,” walked away with the trophy. In second place was “Bingo Wings”– a multi-generational team including our Head of School, and in third, “Risky Quizness,” our faculty and staff team. It was announced that the event had raised $15,000 thanks to sponsorships and registration. It was so much fun that we are already looking forward to next year’s event!
3rd Place Winners: Risky Quizness
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Thank you to our sponsors who made the event possible: Platinum Sponsors CR Studio Architects & E3 Developers Blu Aesthetics Gold Sponsors AJM Security Jon Lamb Silver Sponsors Callahan & Nannini Quarry, Inc. Bronze Sponsors Advanced DRI Engineered Solutions Corp. Facilities Maintenance Corp. Marshall & Sterling, Inc. Motivate Physical Therapy New York Fencing Academy Pepsi Cola of Hudson Valley Ray Hecht Superior Plus Propane United Air Valley Contracting, Inc.
2nd Place Winners: Bingo Wings
2023 NHS Members Inducted for Excellence
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he flame of excellence burned brightly at The Storm King School as 14 new members were inducted to the National Honor Society (NHS). Twelve juniors and two seniors were recognized for their accomplishments both in and out of the classroom at a traditional candle-lighting ceremony held in the Walter Reade Jr. Theatre on May 2, 2023. New NHS inductees are carefully chosen by SKS faculty for their accomplishments in the four areas the NHS deems essential for its members– scholarship, service, leadership, and character. These characteristics have been associated with NHS membership since the organization’s founding in 1921. Following tradition, four current NHS members lit candles representing one of NHS’ core values– scholarship, service, leadership, and character. Then, Faculty Advisors Lisa Shrem, Dr. Paul Feffer, and Assistant Head of School for Academics Dr. Tim Lance announced the inductees and invited each of them on stage to sign the NHS book. After the new inductees completed their signing, all raised their right hand to recite the NHS pledge. In closing, Head of School Jonathan Lamb thanked the members of the NHS for all they have accomplished and for representing The Storm King School well: “Our NHS chapter is an active one, so we know our members both old and new will continue to hold up the ideals of the NHS and spearhead service projects for our community in the years ahead. Congratulations to our new NHS members for this well-deserved honor.”
SKS Names its Next Head of School The Storm King School is pleased to announce the appointment of its 18th Head of School, Lisa Shambaugh, who will assume her new role starting on July 1, 2024. Lisa will take over for the current Head of School, Jonathan W. R. Lamb, who announced his retirement earlier this year after 14 years at Storm King and a prolific academic and boarding school career that spans more than 40 years. Lisa is a well-known and highly respected career administrator and educator currently serving as the Assistant Head of School for Enrollment and Strategic Projects at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Potomac, Maryland. She began her career in college admissions at Barnard College, did alumni work and admission outreach at University of California, Berkeley, and worked for Crystal Springs Uplands School in California and Georgetown Day School in Washington, D.C., before joining the St. Andrew’s Episcopal School community nine years ago. Lisa holds degrees from Vassar College and an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She was selected for the NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools) Aspiring Heads Fellowship in 2018-19. In his announcement to the Storm King School community, the Chair of The Storm King School Board of Trustees, Robert Ginsburg ’72, wrote “This appointment marks an exciting chapter in the history of our school, and we believe that Lisa will build upon the strong foundation laid by outgoing Head of School Jonathan Lamb. Her synergy with the school’s mission and core values, and the enthusiasm she has demonstrated for our school all contribute to our excitement about her appointment.” The school community welcomes Lisa and wishes her success in her new role as the 18th Head of School of The Storm King School.
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155TH COMMENCEMENT
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 47 GRADUATES
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n Saturday, June 3, 2023, The Storm King School held its 155th Commencement for 43 graduating seniors and 4 postgraduates. A speech given by New York Assemblymember Christopher Eachus highlighted this year’s ceremony as 26 young men and 21 young women from 10 countries and four states were awarded their diplomas. In his opening address, Head of School Jonathan Lamb welcomed the seniors and their families and reviewed the accomplishments of the graduating class: “The Class of 2023 will attend prestigious colleges and universities throughout the United States and across the globe. Some plan to pursue STEM-based paths while others will pursue majors in the liberal arts. In addition, many will study the arts at the nation’s top art colleges.” “In addition to their academic accomplishments, this senior class helped win 10 Hudson Valley Athletic Conference League Championships over four years. Five students committed to play NCAA sports in college; two at the Division III level, two at the Division II level, and one at the Division I level. In addition, the Class of 2023 logged over 4,300 hours of community service over four years. In the arts, the senior class won nine gold medals, six silver awards and one portfolio award from the Scholastic National Student Art competition. Another graduating artist received a Congressional Art Award with their work hanging in the Halls of Congress in Washington, D.C,” continued Mr. Lamb. Following Mr. Lamb’s address, Assemblymember Eachus spoke of his time as a teacher at Storm King and encouraged the new
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graduates to find their voices and use their power to vote: “Go forth in whatever you are destined to do, and also in something you find immense importance and pleasure in doing. Always remember the basics you have been taught here at The Storm King School and continue to use your talents for good.” To complete the ceremony, Assistant Head of School for Academics Dr. Tim Lance presented the 2023 Commencement Awards followed by the presentation of diplomas by Storm King School Board of Trustees First Vice Chair Robert Docherty ’72. As each smiling new graduate exited the stage, the tassel on their cap was flipped from right to left, officially concluding their high school career and their life on the Mountain.
Commencement Award Recipients The Storm King Scholar Award: granted to those students who have consistently achieved at the highest academic levels and who have contributed significantly to other areas of campus life. Edward Iannuzzi-Sucich ’23 Aleksandr Nuzhnyi ’23 Ziqi Li ’23 The Riley Cup: given in recognition of former Headmaster Philip Riley “to honor in perpetuity an outstanding member of the staff and an outstanding student who have contributed to the School’s community ethos in practical and creative ways.” James Bennett Nina Gannon ’23 The Spy Rock Cup: awarded annually to that senior whose performance and contributions to our school have fostered its best interests and traditions. Elena Centeno ’23 The Headmaster’s Cup: a gift of Mrs. Anson Barker, whose husband was the headmaster of The Storm King School for 19 years. Since 1938, the Headmaster’s Cup, inscribed “for cheerfulness of spirit and enthusiasm,” is annually awarded to that senior whose love for the School is profound. Yuecheng Zhao ’23 The Storm King Cup: the highest commencement award and an enduring tradition at the School whose recipient is chosen by a vote of the faculty, staff, and students. Since 1915 it has been won “by students who have distinguished themselves by their personal qualities and their accomplishments. What other positive traits they have manifested, they have shared the traits of idealism, quiet courage, and a vision of the School as it could be.” Kenzo Sadiku ’23
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-- SKS Commencement Traditions --
Butterfly Ceremony & Senior Service The week before graduation is an exciting time at The Storm King School, especially for the senior class. Anticipation reaches its pinnacle on the eve of commencement when the soon-to-be graduates and their families gather at Orr Commons for the traditional Butterfly Ceremony, followed by the Senior Banquet and Senior Service. The first Butterfly Ceremony happened nearly two decades ago and has become a beloved tradition of Senior Week. At the Ceremony, a sharply-dressed senior class forms a circle on the lawn in front of Orr Commons. Each senior is given a delicate envelope containing a live Monarch butterfly–a symbol of transformation in many cultures–to release as they make a wish for the future. Following the Butterfly Ceremony, the seniors and their families enjoy a delicious meal at the Senior Banquet before proceeding to the Walter Reade Jr. Theatre for Senior Service. Senior Service, another important Storm King tradition, gives members of the graduating class a chance to speak their minds and bid their farewells with family, faculty, and friends as witnesses–a tradition that began during Headmaster Frank Brogan’s tenure (1966-1974) when Storm King held its first open-forum commencement in 1969. The 2023 Senior Service opened with remarks by Science Department Chair Dr. Paul Feffer, followed by a processional of the senior class, who placed candles on the stage while Assistant Head of School for Academ-
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ics Dr. Tim Lance announced each student’s name and the college they will attend in the fall. Next was an inspiring and entertaining speech by faculty member Zhenya Kiperman, who was chosen by the senior class to address them. After his speech, Mr. Kiperman presented the Senior Slide Show. To conclude the program, seniors who chose to do so came to the podium to give their Senior Speeches about their time at SKS– their cherished memories, relationships, struggles, and triumphs. The final speech of the evening, given by Headmaster’s Cup recipient Yuecheng Cedric Zhao ’23, ended this year’s Senior Service perfectly: “Thank you to everyone who has been so important in my high school life. Now is the time for us to turn night into day and dreams into life.”
-- Service Learning --
COMMUNITY SERVICE IS COOL SKS Students are Making a Difference
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ith the 2023-24 school year in full swing, Service Learning at The Storm King School isn’t far behind. “This year, we are promoting a student-led approach to service,” explained Mrs. Shrem, an SKS community service coordinator. “We have several student leaders who, in past years, have gone above and beyond in terms of hours served and dedication to one or more organization. We are encouraging them to help organize and run activities and coach our newer students to get up to speed.”
For example, senior Jasper Lung ’24, who has volunteered more than 25 times at Beautiful People Adaptive Sports, now helps to recruit new students for the activity. Jasper’s advice: “I recommend Positivity: give the kids your positive energy; Patience: take time to communicate with them and help them understand you; Passion: show them some love and, also, have fun yourself!” There is one new activity on the roster this year that has created a buzz and made community service “cool.” It’s the Cornwall Cleanup Crew (CCC). The CCC is a local group of volunteers dedicated to collecting trash, refuse, and litter in our surrounding community and natural environment. The group was founded by a local high school student and a few other environmentally-conscious Cornwall residents. During several weekends this fall, SKS students joined Cornwall High School students and other volunteers to help clean up different locations across the town and Village of Cornwall. According to Mrs. Shrem, the organizers of the CCC have nothing but praise for the efforts of our students. “Volunteering for the Cornwall Cleanup Crew was a great opportunity to see the beautiful nature around here, and to interact with the community,” explained Theodore Baranszky-Job ’26. Ryan Wu ’24 expressed a similar sentiment and deemed his service hours with the Crew “an amazing experience.” “This community service activity is absolutely worth the time to spend with endearing friends and create a greener and safer environment for everyone,” concluded Tolik Tran ’25. “With the students helping to promote our service activities and new events, interest has continued to grow and sign ups have increased. We can’t wait to fill our rosters and add more new activities in the spring,” continued Mrs. Shrem.
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-- The Common Room --
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REUNION 2023
Alumni Enjoy a Beautiful Weekend at Reunion
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he Storm King School’s 2023 Reunion weekend took place on June 10-12 with nearly 130 people attending–one of the largest turnouts in recent history. The weekend was deemed a great success by alums who enjoyed the lovely weather as they reunited with old friends, reminisced, and celebrated community members. The Class of 1973 had 15 alums in attendance which was a great turnout for a 50th reunion. David Parks ’63 kicked-off the weekend with an informal conversation in the Smidt Conference room on Friday afternoon where alumni enjoyed video clips, readings from his book, GI Diary, and a Q & A facilitated by Don Friedman ’68. The evening was highlighted by a cruise on the Hudson River with lively conversation and a backdrop of beautiful views. About a dozen alumni continued the evening together after the cruise at Billy Joe’s Rib Works on the Newburgh waterfront. Saturday morning, members of the community who had passed away were remembered at Memorial Rock at a heartfelt gathering filled with expressions of love and laughter. Later that morning, Head of School Jonathan Lamb highlighted the challenges of recent years, the tremendous accomplishments of the Class of 2023, and shared the positive outlook for the year ahead in his ‘State of the School’ address. Mr. Lamb’s words were followed by a meeting of the SKS Alumni Association where Alumni Council President Emeritus, Scott Cantor ’73, relayed the highlights of the Alumni Council’s work
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this year, goals for next year, and thanked council members who concluded their terms including Sele Birchwood ’09, Dick Broughton ’54, Tom Delaney ’58, John Flores ’12, and Jermaine Miller ’02. Incoming council members were also announced including Richard Bailey ’02, Jaime Cunningham ’16, Lauren FitzHarris ’97, Jordan Golding ’20, and Ross Sober ’92. After a barbeque lunch on Ledoux Terrace and a relaxing afternoon of catching up and socializing, alumni gathered in Ogden Hall for the Alumni Awards program. Doug Burg ’71 presented the Margaret Clark Award to the late Frederick Lemaine (19641969). Burg’s comical dialogue between “Monsieur Lemaine” and an errant student (played by Jim Perlberg ’70) communicated the elegance, poise, and patience of their former teacher and had everyone laughing. John Prentice ’64, recipient of the Humanitarian Award for his work at a homeless shelter and establishing a food pantry, was surprised and delighted to receive his award from the wife of the late Pete Boden ’64, a dear friend at SKS. A crowd of family, friends, and former players were in attendance for the induction of past basketball coach Kevin Houston into the SKS Sports Hall of Fame. Houston’s teams had among the best records of consecutive wins in SKS athletics, and the stories of his personal connections and support of SKS students drove home the positive impact he had on their future lives. The Awards Program concluded with the Alumni Arts Award presentation. Recipient William Close ’88 traveled from California to accept this recognition for his world-renowned Earth Harp Collective. It was his first time back to the Mountain since graduation, and he was surprised that his former art teacher, Bonnie Cayea Newman, was there to make the award presentation. As per tradition, the day concluded with a sumptuous banquet dinner in Henderson Dining Hall. Trustee Scott Rutter ’73 introduced attendees from the Board, the Alumni Council, past trustees, and past faculty and staff. The school’s highest honor, the Founders Cup, was awarded for the first time since 2016 to three members of the class of 1973– Scott Cantor, Harold Kennedy, and Peter Wunsch. “All three have all brought ideas and a vision for the improvement and strengthening of our school. They have served as volunteer leaders; have remained connected to the school over the decades by participating in events and receptions; and all three have given their time, talents and treasure to invest in the future of SKS,” commented Head of School Lamb. Attendees also had the opportunity to bid on attractive items in a silent auction. After dinner, alumni broke in a new fire pit donated by the Class of 2023 outside Orr Commons. Over a crackling fire, alums continued to tell stories and share memories as the evening came to a close. Reunion 2024 is scheduled to take place June 14-16, 2024. Class years ending with 4 and 9, it will be your honor year. We hope that you, and your friends and past faculty will be here on the Mountain!
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6 Photo Captions: 1 The Hudson River cruise 2023 - Foreground from left: Greg Obremski ’93, Andrew Block ’93, and Block’s fiancée Andi; 2 The Class of 1973 at their 50th! - From top left: Henry Hudson, Paul Marsh, David Hartcorn, Scott Rutter, Peter Wunsch, Harold Kennedy, Scott Cantor, Micheal Rengers, John Pearson, Chris Milne, George Klein, Duffy French, and Kassie Spackman Randall; 3 Shannon Judge ’93 and Ross Sober ’92; 4 Kevin Houston, Sports Hall of Fame inductee 2023 - Daniel Peters ’06, Richard Bailey ’02, Fabian Figueroa ’05. Coach Kevin Houston, Cornwall-on-Hudson Mayor James Gagliano, and Jamie Farella ’02; 5 David Parks ’63, John ’63 and Roe Garrett, Mike Brower ’63, Ted Gross ’63 and John Prentice ’64; 6 Charles
Cordero ’92, Tommi Rubens-Quiros ’92 , past faculty Bonnie Cayea Newman & husband Roger Newman, Hibret Tilahun ’93, Sunil Sunderraj ’89, Hilary Cayea Fuller ’92
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THE STORM KING SCHOOL ALUMNI COUNCIL The Storm King School Alumni Council continues to meet in 2023-2024 to advise and engage with our school and to build and perpetuate a supportive alumni community in partnership with the Office of Alumni and Development. Representing six decades of SKS graduates, the Alumni Council membership is powerful in its diversity. Yet, we find ourselves connected across generations. The common threads of our experiences became evident at our fall 2023 meeting when the program was opened with each member recounting a memorable SKS moment. We share Council members’ special memories here. Whatever your class year, we think that you will see yourself in them and know that we are all Storm King. “One of my fondest memories at SKS was an English literature class Mr. Ingraham conducted outside on the grass below the library. We all sat in a circle around him and discussed Beowulf. It was something quite magical for me that day.” — Dominique Manpel ’79 “Many of my fondest moments at Storm King were the away games with the girls lacrosse team during my junior and senior years. There was no better bonding ritual than the McDonald’s stop on the ride home, tossing fries at each other after a job well done and singing songs to (playfully) annoy each other once we were back in the van. That was when I felt most like a family with my fellow friends on the Mountain.” — Jaime Cunningham ’16. “One of my favorites is about afternoon snack time. Usually, the daily afternoon snacks were cookies or fruit, but every couple of weeks, Luis Garcia, the school chef, would make cinnamon donuts. The routine was to have a member of the dorm go up to the kitchen to pick up the snacks (something we always tried to get out of, except on donut day when there was fierce competition to be the one to go). The
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donuts were hot and fresh and dripping with oil; AND whoever was picking up the donuts got an EXTRA.” — Jim Perlberg ’70 “Storm King was love at first sight. The first person I met was Admissions Director Mr. (Austin) Stern. He was amazing and made me feel at ease. I was shy and quiet but had an amazing roommate who was outgoing and brought me down to the student center, introducing me to others. That was the beginning of the best two years.” — Jodie Gerson ’91 “A memory that stood out for me was Black History Month 2020. My Co-President, Guy-Paul Delisfort ’21 and I led the Black Student Union (BSU) in conducting the first “Our Kings and Queens” event. That month, our members presented Black people who inspired them. We had two musical performances and hosted a BSU dance celebrating Black culture through music as well as food provided by parents and the SKS kitchen staff. We felt celebrated and supported.” — Jordan Golding ’21 “In the fall of my junior year, a few girls and I headed to Vails Gate on the weekly van trip. At the grocery store there was a man with a cardboard box full
of free kittens. Thirty minutes later we had purchased all the needed supplies, hid the orange kitten in a sweatshirt, and headed back to campus with our teacher none the wiser. Squirt was discovered a week later when he was spotted in our dorm window. Fortunately, Development Director George Squibb ’57 and his wife, Penny, lived on campus and adopted our little pet. They renamed him Speedo and we got to visit him often.” — Lauren FitzHarris ’97 “One of my best memories is of graduation day. Headmaster Horton believed public speaking skills were critical and taught a mandatory public speaking class. Every graduating student was required to give a speech. One of my classmates, Tony Behar, was an avid photographer. He walked up to the lectern, collected his diploma and gave his speech, then pulled out his camera and took photos of the whole audience! I remember it so many years later because it memorialized our shared journey. Tony, if you’re reading this, please post some of those pix!” — Lisa (Goldstein) Veyka ’83 “I remember the first day arriving at SKS and moving in for the start of my sophomore year. Being in an unfamiliar place and not knowing anyone did not give me much comfort until my interaction with an RA named Jeff (Jeffie O) Olson
’92. Jeffie O helped me move into the lower dorms and get acclimated to life at SKS. I met my teachers and classmates who quickly became new family. They are special friendships that remain to this day and will be cherished forever.” — Michael Pock ‘94 “My father and I went to Storm King to see if an opportunity existed for me to attend school there. Headmaster Brogan made me feel special and that SKS and I needed each other. I learned on that visit that a respected adult can make a young person believe in himself. Mr. Brogan accorded to me the respect that he envisioned my accomplishments and future could produce. My father, Mr. Brogan, and Storm King made me a better man and I share my sincere gratitude.” — Paul Jerry MD ‘69 “My fondest memory is captured by this photo of SKS students running onto the basketball court after we won the championship in 2002. We had no idea that a busload of students, faculty, and the headmaster would come to Massachusetts to support the team. There was a big crowd for our opponents, but our fans made their voices known and
cheered us to victory. I’ll never forget the embrace of the SKS students and the feeling we had winning that game!” — Richard Bailey ‘02 “When I arrived at SKS as a round faced, buzz cut, doofy teen, it didn’t take long for people to come up with a nickname for me. It was 1990 and the movie, Stand By Me, was hugely popular. First, someone nicknamed me ‘Vern’ for a chubby and short haired character in that film. When I met classmate Jeff Olsen, he immediately named me Verno! And, it stuck! When my parents called the dorm asking for Ross, no one knew who that was. And thus, I had my place. That is the magic that happens on The Mountain! — Ross Sober ‘92 “My favorite memory has to be graduation. All seniors took Headmaster Horton’s Public Speaking class. Not sure we understood why until each of us stood alone in front of our families, faculty and friends at graduation to thank them for literally everything– parents for the gift of sending us to SKS; teachers for basically everything; and then to each other for the friendships and the love. I remember being overwhelmed to tears at
the thought of saying goodbye to so many who had helped to change my life!” — Steven Bluth ‘83 “I’m flooded with unforgettable SKS memories, like late-night study sessions with friends at the library and the camaraderie among diverse international students. I recall the sense of accomplishment after conquering academic challenges. One of the most special memories was the first time I found out that I was eligible to get free unlimited BBQ at home games if part of the sports team. That was just pure awesomeness, since I’m a big fan of American BBQ. I greatly appreciate the School for a chapter in my life that shaped me in ways I couldn’t have imagined.” — Jack Liu ‘11
The SKS Alumni Council invites you to join us and share our common connections, building an alumni community of support. We thank you for supporting SKS and we look forward to seeing you on the Mountain, Sincerely, Steven Bluth ’83, Alumni Council President Lynn Crevling ’72, Alumni Council Secretary
Welcome to the Alumni Council: Peter Fox ’77 “My family has a long relationship with SKS and higher education in general. My father, Frederick B. Fox ’28, and my half-brother, Fred Jr. ’58, both graduated from SKS. My mother, Margery, was a Sociology and Anthropology professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Throughout my upbringing, my parents instilled in me the value of a broad education, the desire to achieve excellence in everything I do, and the need to give back. I will bring these skills and values to the Alumni Council to help shape the next generation of leaders. I am a CFA Charterholder with a master’s degree in Management from the Sloan School of Management at MIT, and a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Computer Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University. I began my career as an engineer at IBM in Poughkeepsie, New York. After several roles there, I joined Merrill Lynch, shifting my focus to Financial Services Technology. More recently, I was Director of Managed Accounts Technology at TIAA, a Fortune 100 Global Financial Services organization, where I headed large technology integration projects. I also have experience as an independent consultant, successfully completing numerous Investment Performance-related projects at Harris Direct, Morgan Stanley and Lehman Brothers.” — Peter Fox ’77
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BOARD OF TRUSTEES WELCOMES TWO NEW MEMBERS Ken Goldwasser, Class of 1978
Neil Novesky, Current Parent ’25
Ken Goldwasser ’78 attended Emory University and studied Earth Sciences after graduating from The Storm King School. Earning a degree in Geology, Mr. Goldwasser went to the Gemological Institute to study diamonds and precious stones, and took a position at the premier Cartier jewelry store on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California. He later opened his own store and office in Atlanta, Georgia, offering professional jewelry services, custom design, rare gemstones, and working with fine jewelry design houses. After 25 years in the jewelry business, Mr. Goldwasser turned to his lifelong passion for motorsports. He began in the world of club car racing and helped to develop customer programs and fund the campaigns of professional race teams. He got his Commercial Driver Rating and drove “race haulers” for several pro teams, and did race pit set up and going “over the wall” to fuel cars during endurance race pit stops. In the off season, he drove coaches, limousines, and busses. Putting his name on the Teamster Local Union list to drive trucks in the TV and motion picture industry led Mr. Goldwasser to his current job in the Picture Car Department at Marvel Studios. Mr. Goldwasser works with producers, directors and designers to come up with the perfect car for every character for dozens of TV shows and movies. The ever-changing landscape of production needs and schedules keeps his work interesting. Mr. Goldwasser looks forward to his role as a Trustee and says that discovering Storm King and his time on the Mountain truly changed his life.
Neil Novesky worked in government finance and economic development for 33 years, serving on numerous Boards of Directors including the Cornwall Town Planning Board (Chairman), the Board of New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the Board of the New York State Small Business Development Center (located in Albany, New York), and the City of Middletown Industrial Development Agency (IDA) (Chairman of the Board and Executive Director) over his 33-year career. Mr. Novesky is also a founder and has been a board member of Cornwall United Soccer for the last 30 years. Mr. Novesky attended Hartwick College for his undergraduate education and studied at University of Pennsylvania and London School of Economics. For graduate school, he attended the New School for Social Research (now the New School in New York City) and has various certifications from Wharton School, SUNY Buffalo, and University of Detroit. Mr. Novesky was also the New York State High School Tennis Champion. He resides in Cornwall, very happily married for decades to his wife, Elizabeth, and has three sons. His youngest son, Sagan, is a successful junior at The Storm King School. In addition to other board and professional experience, Mr. Novesky brings the perspective of the parent of a day student to the Board. The fact that their son, Sagan, has attended Storm King since 8th grade is testimony to their strong belief in the School and its individualized and collaborative approach. As a Trustee, Mr. Novesky hopes to strongly support the School’s outstanding professional faculty, staff, and administration as well as provide a receptiveness to new and innovative ideas.
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Geoff Merrell ’79
Written by Geoff Merrell ’79
A
Reunion 2023
s luck would have it, I was able to attend reunion weekend last year during a rare trip back East; in part because I had not been back to my alma mater for several decades. Of course, the weather was beautiful and the Mountain was as glorious as only it can be during late spring. The weekend itself was exceptionally well planned, allowing lots of time to visit and re-connect. There were a number of attendees from our era, as well as several previous faculty members, including Mr. Cesario, Dee Kolewe, and Michael Moore. The campus and physical plant look great, and a lot of new property has been added over the years. Naturally, there was a lot of chatting, getting caught up and much laughing about various (mis)deeds of a typically-spent youth. Frankly, it was gratifying to be able to say a simple “Thank You” to those former faculty that helped forge my future self. As the weekend progressed, I noted two different but related topics of discussion. The first topic was acknowledgement of what an extraordinary opportunity attendance at The Storm King School represents to each of us. Regardless of your history with the School, circumstances around attendance and whether those experiences were pleasant or fulfilling, there was unanimous agreement that Storm King provided a unique environment for growth and learning. It remains a truly special place for that purpose. The second topic was one that I’d not really spent much time thinking about previously. It is the notion that The Storm King School is a business. Much of the discussion considered that SKS is subject to many of the same challenges as any other business enterprise. For example, providing a quality product at reasonable cost, retaining/attracting talented employees, maintaining or
improving market share, growing the enterprise, etc. The private, mid-Atlantic college prep boarding school market is a small and exclusive one. Storm King must compete with peers to retain a portion of that niche market, or be forced out of it. Because the School can physically house a maximum number of students, there is an upper limit to revenue generated by tuition alone. As such, much of the discussion questioned how to continue to make attendance at Storm King a tremendous opportunity and a unique experience, while also continuing to make it a viable enterprise despite market pressures and limitations. There are many ways to support our school and thank you to all of you that do so. One of them is to give to the Storm King Fund, and another is to attend Reunion Weekend, which occurs in 2024 from June 14-16. If you’ve not been to the Mountain for a while, and even if you have been, it’s sure to be a weekend of laughs, hugs, and fun. I’m sure you’ll find it great to revisit, reconnect, and reminisce. I encourage all alums to consider attending. Perhaps you will be able to rediscover those attributes that made attendance at Storm King such a valuable part of your adult you. I give to the Storm King Fund in recognition of this self-discovery, and to pass along to the current and future generations the extraordinary opportunity and unique environment for growth and learning that The Storm King School affords.
Geoff Merrell ’79 and Jack Rainey ’78 1978
WHY I GIVE
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Honor Roll of Donors: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023 Dear Friends of the Storm King School, I am pleased to share our Honor Roll of Donors for the 2022-23 fiscal year. I want to express my sincere appreciation to everyone who made a gift. It is going to be an exciting year on the Mountain and one of change. In July we bid farewell to Jon and Toni and salute the accomplishments of the Lamb years, and there are many. During their tenure they accomplished much and they leave the Mountain a better and stronger place. We are very excited that Lisa Shambaugh will succeed Jon Lamb as the Head of School. Lisa is an energetic, highly regarded and accomplished educator. You will find her to be thoughtful, outgoing, and engaging. We expect great things from Lisa and I ask you to support her as you have Jon. Again this past year, Storm King moved up in the Niche.com rankings. For the first time ever, we cracked the top 100 list of the best boarding schools in North America at # 92. The Storm King School is positioned as the 5th most prestigious boarding school in the state of New York, up one position from last year. SKS also ranked in the top 7th percentile of the best private schools (day and boarding) in North America. Boston-based Findingschools.com once again listed Storm King’s arts program as the most selective of all boarding schools in North America, consequently ranking Storm King at the top of their ‘best-of-arts-programs’ category. These rankings in today’s fast-paced, technology driven
world are important for sure. But even more important is the positive and reaffirming feedback we receive from our students about their experience on the Mountain, exploring their dreams, finding their future potential, and forging their own paths. It is this ranking that inspires all at Storm King. And we hope it inspires you as well. Furthermore, the School’s senior class is regularly accepted into colleges and universities of their top choice. Recently, our graduates matriculated into some of the world’s most prestigious universities including Penn State, Yale, Hobart and NYU. This would not be possible without your support. Each year we ask all of our alumni, parents, faculty, and staff, and friends
to help us by donating to The Storm King Fund. If you have helped us in the past, thank you for your gift, and we ask that you consider a more significant gift this year. If you have not donated before, we ask that you consider a first-time gift. Large or small, every gift counts. Please invest in Storm King and to ensure a bright future for this special place. As you can see, the return on your investment is significant and growing. Thank you again for any way that you have or will contribute to The Storm King School and its bright future.
THE STORM KING STEWARDS Storm King Stewards are individuals who have given faithfully to SKS for five or more consecutive years. We are truly grateful to those listed below for their ongoing generosity, which has made an important difference in the life of the School.
Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan A. Broh ’74 Mr. Richard G. Broughton ’54 Mr. & Mrs. Paul Bucha Mr. Douglas H. Burg ’71 Mr. Scott H. Cantor ’73 Mr. John Carruthers Mr. & Mrs. Haddon C. Carryer ’61 Ms. Philie K. Chan ’80 Mr. Robert Chace ’68 Mr. Alan M. Coleman ’64 Mr. David R. Collens ’65 & Ms. Vivien Abrams Mr. Robert H. Cory, III ’63 Ms. Dana C. Crevling ’77 Ms. Lynn E. Crevling ’72 Mr. & Mrs. Jack D’Angelo
Ms. Michele DeFreece P’14 Mr. & Mrs.Thomas J. Delaney ’58 Mr. & Mrs. Richard J. deRosa ’61 Mr. & Mrs. Robert F. Docherty ’72 Mr. Bruce Dolph ’50 Mr. & Mrs. Jack T. Downing ’71 Mr. & Mrs. Colin L. Elgood ’71 Mr. & Mrs. David Y. Eng ’68 Mr. & Ms. Richard A. Epstein ’59 Dr. James Factor ’70 Mr. & Mrs. Angelo C. Ferraro P’94 Mr. & Mrs. Michael J. Fischer ’82 Ms. Lauren Fitzharris ’97 Mr. Peter Q. Fox ’77 Mr. John Franzen ’77
Mr. Howard Arnold ’71 Mr. & Mrs. Roger D. Auerbacher ’66 Mr. Jonathan S. Babcock ’75 Ms. Ila B. Barton ’92 Mr. James M. Bennett Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Bissell ’64 Mr. Steven Bluth ’83
46 / REPORT OF GIVING
Bob Ginsburg ’72 Chair, Board of Trustees
Mr. Jeremy Freeman Chief Donald M. Friedman USN, Ret. ’68 Ms. Sarah Fulton ’09 Mr. Jeffrey Galuten ’61 Mr. John H. Garrett III ’63 Mr. & Mrs. Herbert G. Gelhardt III ’48 Mr. Racey Gilbert ’60 Mr. & Mrs. John A. Gilchrist ’62 Mr. David Gilmore ’61 Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Ginsburg ’72 Mr. Leslie S. Gordon ’66 Mr. and Ms. Douglas M. Hall ’76 Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey S. Hall ’74 Mr. Bruce L. Hanson ’62 Mr. & Mrs. James M. Harbison, Jr. Mr. Brian A. Harrington ’60 Mr. & Mrs. Ray Hecht P’19 Mr. James W. Houstoun ’75 The Rev. & Mrs. Francis A. Hubbard P’03 Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence C. Jencks ’62 Mr. & Mrs. Roger A. Kaufmann ’63 Hon. Harold E. Kennedy ’73 Mr. & Mrs. Martin P. Kennedy ’50 Mr. & Mrs. George Klein ’73 Mrs. Margaret Kovacs Mr. Jonathan Lamb & Ms. Toni Scherrer Mr. & Mrs. Rocco Landesman Mr. & Mrs. Thomas F. Leeds ’69 Mr. Sean Leffler ’90 Mr. & Mrs. Pemberton H. Lincoln, Jr. ’60 Mr. & Mrs. John S. Lindsay, III P’12 Mr. & Mrs. Sayre A. Litchman ’59 Dr. Robert L. Littman ’70 Mr. & Mrs. Edward J. Merrell P’77, ’79 Mr. & Mrs. Putnam V. Morgan ’63 Mr. John T. Morris Jr. ’60 Bettina P. Murray Ph.D. G’20 Mr. & Mrs. George Muser Norma Gilbert Farr Foundation Mr. Jerome J. O’Neill ’74 Mr. H. James Perlberg III ’70 Mr. Joseph P. Phillips ’85 Mr. & Mrs. Samuel H. Post ’71 Mr. Andrew C. Powell ’76 Mr. John G. Prentice ’64 Mr. Arthur H. Reis ’75 & Ms. Marianne McGeary Mr. Michael D. Roberts ’70 Ms. Judy A. Romano ’79 Mr. & Mrs. Michael N. Rosenblatt ’89 Mr. & Mrs. Scott Rutter ’73 Mr. & Mrs. H. Gregory Shea, Jr. ’62 Mr. David M. Slap ’75 Dr. Richard E. Slimak ’64 Mr. & Mrs. Jamie Smith P’17, ’20, ’23
Mr. & Mrs. James A. Sollami P’02, ’08, ’09 Mr. & Mrs. Frederic Sopher ’58 Mr. Douglas P. Sperling ’73 Mr. Lawrence Spiegel ’69 Mr. Michael W. Spitz ’60 Mr. Gary J. Springer ’72 Mr. & Mrs. Hugh Ramsay Straub ’65 Ms. Elizabeth A. Taviloglu P’19 Ms. Ellen Van Dunk Mr. Ronald Vanoostendorp ’69 Mr. Jen S. Wang ’72 Mrs. Christine E. Watson CPA ’94 Mr. Robert Went Mr. John P. Williams ’69 Mr. & Mrs. Robert D. Williams Jr. ’54 Mr. & Mrs. Peter E. Wunsch ’73
HONOR ROLL OF DONORS The Storm King School is honored by the generosity of these individuals, organizations & foundations for their gifts The Brogan Society Gift of $25,000 & above 20th Century Trends Institute Mr. & Mrs. Roger D. Auerbacher ’66 The Ledoux Society Gift of $10,000 to $24,999 Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Ginsburg ’72 Mr. & Mrs. Peter E. Wunsch ’73 Storm King Champions Gift of $5,000 to $9,999 Mr. Richard G. Broughton ’54 Mr. Robert H. Cory III ’63 Mr. & Mrs. Robert F. Docherty ’72 Mr. John H. Garrett III ’63 Mr. Jonathan Lamb & Ms. Toni Scherrer Linus R. Gilbert Foundation Mr. Arnold S. Penner P’84 Mr. & Mrs. Scott Rutter ’73 Mrs. Christine E. Watson CPA ’94 The Pinnacle Society Gift of $2,500 to $4,999 AJM Security & Home Automation Ms. Ila B. Barton ’92 Mr. Kenneth D. Goldwasser ’78 Mr. Richard J. Grossman ’79 Mr. Bruce L. Hanson ’62 Mr. Michael J. Miller P’25 Ms. Pingping Mou P’23 Mr. & Mrs. H. Gregory Shea Jr. ’62
The Mountain Top Society Gift of $1,000 to $2,499 Mr. Anthony Bissell ’64 Black Rock Excavating Mr. Scott H. Cantor ’73 Mr. Robert R. Chace ’68 Mr. Alan M. Coleman ’64 Ms. Lynn E. Crevling ’72 Mr. Christopher DeSalvo ’85 Mr. Edward D. French ’73 Mr. James W. Houstoun ’75 Ms. Inas Jemal P’22,’25 Dr. Paul S. Jerry ’69 Hon. Harold E. Kennedy ’73 Mr. David N. Kratka ’73 Mr. & Mrs. Rocco Landesman Mr. David A. Laster ’60 Ms. Dominique Manpel ’79 Ms. Colleen Moore Mr. Neil Moreno P’22 Dr. Bettina P. Murray Ph.D. G’20 Ms. Jade Oliverio-Drewes P’23 Mr. Arthur H. Reis ’75 & Ms. Marianne McGeary Mr. Micheal W. Rengers ’73 Mrs. Jean W. Smith Mr. & Mrs. Frederic Sopher ’58 Mr. Hugh R. Straub ’65 United Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Plumbing Ms. Lisa Veyka ’83 Mr. Robert D. Williams Jr. ’54 The Spy Rock Club Gift of $500 to $999 Advanced Disaster Recovery, Inc. Allied Pollution Control Mr. James Bennett Mr. Christian Berning P’24 Mr. Kevin Corriston ’76 Council Certified Indoor Environmental Consultants Ms. Courtnay Dittbrenner P’20, ’23 Empire Landscaping & Snow Plowing, Inc. Engineered Solutions Corp. Facilities Maintenance Corp Mr. Johnathan R. Flores ’12 Mr. Peter Q. Fox ’77 Chief Donald M. Friedman USN, Ret. ’68 Ms. Vera Gannon P’23 Mr. Michael G. Hankinson Esq. ’74 Mr. Brian A. Harrington ’60 Mr. & Mrs. Ray Hecht P’19 Rev. Francis A. Hubbard ’03 Mr. Henry A. Hudson Sr. ’73
sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Winter 2024 / 47
Mr. Roger A. Kaufmann ’63 Mr. Thomas F. Leeds ’69 Dr. Robert L. Littman ’70 Marshall & Sterling Mr. Geoffrey T. Merrell ’79 Mr. Thomas N. Murphy Jr. ’60 Ms. Leigh Nannini New York Eye & Face Oculoplastic surgery Mr. Jerome J. O’Neill ’74 Pepsi Cola of the Hudson Valley Mr. & Mrs. Edward W. Proctor III ’63 Mr. Michael N. Rosenblatt ’89 Mr. & Mrs. Jamie Smith P’17, ’20, ’23 Mr. Ross I. Sober ’92 Superior Plus Propane Mr. Bona G. Tilahun ’91 Valley Contracting, Inc. The Headmaster Club Gift of $250 to $499 Ms. Megan Brogan Adley Mr. Howard W. Arnold ’71 Mr. Steven Bluth ’83 Mr. Richard J. Brennan ’75 Mr. Douglas H. Burg ’71 Mr. Luis Chapman P’24 Ms. Anna Coen Mr. Patrick J. Cunningham ’80 Mr. Bruce K. Dennison ’68 Mr. & Mrs. Richard J. deRosa ’61 Mr. Adam K. Eisen ’80 Ms. Yeside Elias P’23 Mr. David Y. Eng ’68 Dr. James Factor ’70 Ms. Madison Flores ’14 Mr. Patrick Fulton Mr. Jeffrey Galuten ’61 Mrs. Margaret Harbison Ms. Shannon M. Judge ’93 Mr. William C. McCray ’77 Mr. & Mrs. Neil Novesky P’24 Mr. Nicholas Pisarro Jr. ’63 Mr. Michael Pock ’94 Mr. Samuel S. H. P. Post ’71 Mr. John G. Prentice ’64 Dr. Mark Rigg Ms. Kimberly S. Rubens Quiros ’92 Mr. David M. Scheiner ’80 Mr. & Mrs. James A. Sollami P’02, ’08, ’09 Ms. Karen Hayes Szvoren Ms. Elizabeth A. Taviloglu P’19 Mr. Jen S. Wang ’72 Mr. Thomas A. Womble ’78
48 / REPORT OF GIVING
Friends of the Mountain Gift up to $249 Mr. Jonathan S. Babcock ’75 Ms. Lisa Bacigalupo P’23 Mr. Simon Belcher Ms. Cynthia Bell Bucha Dr. Francis S. Broadway ’72 Mr. Jonathan A. Broh ’74 Mr. John Carruthers Mrs. Haddon C. Carryer ’61 Mr. Jose L. Castillo ’84 Mr. Chris Cavallo Esq. ’70 Ms. Angelica Centeno Ms. Nicole Cervantes Mr. William Cesario Mr. William Chever ’70 Mr. Hoin Chong ’23 Dr. William Chou P’23 Mr. Mitchell E. Cirker ’73 Mr. David M. Cobb ’65 Mr. Andrew Cohen ’88 Mr. Robert Cohen ’79 Mr. David R. Collens ’65 & Ms. Vivien Abrams Mr. Paul Connors Mr. Daniel R. Constantinidi Ms. Ciany I. Conyers ’23 Mr. Charles J. Cordero ’92 Ms. Heather Cosgriff P’24 Ms. Dana C. Crevling ’77 Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Delaney Jr. ’58 Mr. Daniel DeLuzio Mr. Bruce H. Dolph ’50 Mr. James T. Dowell Mr. Stephen W. Duffy ’71 Ms, Jeanne S. Edwards ’71 Mr. Richard A. Epstein ’59 Mr. James Farella ’02 Mr. Wray D. Farmin III ’72 Ms. Marquetta Felder Mr. Braulio Ferreira ’18 Dr. Alexandra Finn Atkins Ms. Lauren L. FitzHarris ’97 Mr. John Franzen ’77 Ms. Jeniece Frazier Winston Mr. Jeremy Freeman Ms. Sarah E. Fulton ’09 Ms. Kym F. Garbatini ’75 Mrs. Jodie E. Gerson ’91 Mr. Jeffrey C. Gerwig ’60 Mr. John A. Gilchrist ’62 Mr. Timothy F. Gillett Mr. Leslie S. Gordon ’66 Mr. Douglas M. Hall ’76 Mr. Jeffrey S. Hall ’74
Ms. Kiara M. Hallinan Mr. Elliott Hardy ’01 Mr. Trevor Hughes ’13 Mr. Peter B. Huxtable ’59 Ms. Michele Iannuzzi Sucich P’23, ’24 Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Jacobson Ms. Dalia Jones ’88 Mr. Henry Jova ’68 Dr. Jonathan P. Keeve ’74 Ms. Maureen Kelly Mr. Derrick Kenan Ms. Mary Kennedy Mr. Diethard Kolewe P’81 Mrs. Margaret Kovacs Dr. Timothy K. Lance Mr. William Lewis P’25 Ms. Megan Liggett Mr. Pemberton H. Lincoln ’60 Mr. John S. Lindsay III P’12 Mr. Sayre A. Litchman ’59 Mr. Yiqi “Jack” Liu ’11 Ms. Isabel Lopez P’24 Mr. Jim P. Magid ’71 Mr. Paul C. Marsh ’73 Mr. Peter D. Mazur ’73 Ms. Wendy J. McCaw ’75 Mr. Anthony McGregor Dr. Leslie H. McLean Mr. Jermaine Miller ’02 Mr. Christopher B. Milne ’73 Dr. Kerryane T. Monahan ’92 Mr. Michael Moore ’72 Ms. Kelly Moran Mr. Putnam V. Morgan ’63 Mr. John T. Morris Jr. ’60 Ms. Laura Mowat Mr. & Mrs. George Muser Mr. Paul F. Needle ’66 New Windsor Senior Citizens Club Mrs. Bonnie C. Newman P’92, ’93, G’22 Mr. Greg H. Obremski ’93 Mr. Sehyoon Oh ’93 Mr. Steven R. Parker ’82 Mr. John E. Pearson ’73 Mr. H. James Perlberg III ’70 Mr. Joseph P. Phillips ’85 Mr. Andrew C. Powell ’76 Mr. Gerard Prunzion Ms. Ambreen Quereshi Ms. Katherine H. Randall ’73 Mr. Robert A. Rivkin ’66 Mr. Michael D. Roberts ’70 Ms. Edith Rodriguez P’23 Ms. Judy A. Romano Esq. ’79
Mr. Harry R. Rosansky ’64 Mr. Stanley M. Schiffman ’77 Mr. Richard M. Shapiro ’69 Ms. Lisa Shrem P’21 Mr. Harvey J. Skolnick ’61 Ms. Aleena Skyers ’23 Mr. Douglas P. Sperling ’73 Mr. Lawrence Spiegel ’69 Mr. Michael W. Spitz ’60 Mr. Gary J. Springer ’72 Mr. Richard Stein ’64 Mr. Richard W. Stern ’65 Mr. Jaime Suero P’24 Mr. Martin Swanhall Ms. Kathy Syvertsen P’04 Ms, Hibret Tilahun ’93 Mr. Quang T. Tran ’88 Mr. Rients P. van der Woude ’75 Ms. Ellen Van Dunk Mr. Ron H. van Oostendorp ’69 Mr. John P. Williams ’69 Ms. Katherine Winter P’22 Ms. Vallea E. Woodbury ’95 Mr. Steven Yagozinski
THE SESQUICENTENNIAL CAMPAIGN GIFTS The following list includes donors who have made a commitment to the Sesquicentennial Capital Campaign in support of the new Academic Center. Sheikh Hamad A. Al Sabah ’70 Mr. & Mrs. Roger D. Auerbacher ’66 Ms. Ila B. Barton ’92 Mr. & Mrs. Robert B. Bicknell ’61 Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Bissell ’64 Mr. Steven Bluth ’83 Mr. Christopher A. Brooks ’63 Mr. Richard G. Broughton ’54 Mr. & Mrs. Michael A. Brower ’63 Mr. Douglas H. Burg ’71 Mr. & Mrs. Anthony B. Cahill Jr. ’75 Mr. Philip K. Cameron Jr. ’64 Mr. Scott H. Cantor ’73 Mr. & Mrs. Haddon C. Carryer ’61 Mr. Robert R. Chace ’68 Mr. Robert H. Cory III ’63 Ms. Lynn E. Crevling ’72 Ms. Michele DeFreece P’14 Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Delaney Jr. ’58 Mr. & Mrs. Richard J. deRosa ’61 Mr. & Mrs. Robert F. Docherty ’72 Mr. Jeffrey A. Edinburg ’61
Mr. & Ms. Richard A. Epstein ’59 Mr. & Mrs. Michael J. Fischer ’82 Mr. Johnathan R. Flores ’12 Mr. & Mrs. Thomas A. Fogarty Mr. & Mrs. John H. Garrett III ’63 Mr. Racey Gilbert Jr. ’60 Mr. David Gilmore ’61 Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Ginsburg ’72 Mr. Kenneth D. Goldwasser ’78 Mr. Lawrence J. Gratz ’61 & Ms. Jane Schiff Mr. Bruce L. Hanson ’62 Mr. & Ms. Brian A. Harrington ’60 Mr. & Mrs. David L. Hartcorn ’73 Mr. & Mrs. James W. Houstoun ’75 Mr. & Mrs. Roger A. Kaufmann ’63 Mrs. Margaret Kovacs Mr. Jonathan Lamb & Ms. Toni Scherrer Mr. & Ms. David A. Laster ’60 Mr. Thomas F. Leeds ’69 Mr. & Mrs. William N. McDonald IV ’64 Mr. & Mrs. Myles Megdal Dr. Kerryane T. Monahan Ph.D. ’92 Mr. Putnam V. Morgan ’63 Mr. Jerome J. O’Neill ’74 Mr. Robert W. Parke ’57 Mr. Jeffrey L. Patchen ’63 Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Pisarro Jr. ’63 Mr. John G. Prentice ’64 Mr. & Mrs. Edward W. Proctor III ’63 Mr. Peter B. Redfield ’55 Mr. Arthur H. Reis ’75 & Ms. Marianne McGeary Mr. & Mrs. Scott Rutter ’73 Mr. & Mrs. Harry Scherr III ’63 Mr. & Mrs. H. Gregory Shea Jr. ’62 Mr. Thomas W. Sheppard Mr. Harvey J. Skolnick ’61 Mr. & Mrs. Frederic Sopher ’58 Mr. David H. Soskin ’60 The Allen Family Foundation Sen. Robert G. Torricelli ’70 Mr. Frederick T. Weber ’61 William & Elaine Kaplan Family Private Foundations Mr. & Mrs. Peter E. Wunsch ’73 1867 SOCIETY The following individuals have made a charitable provision for The Storm King School in their estate plans. We are grateful for their thoughtful & visionary generosity which supports the long term well-being of our School. The Albert Sussman Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett
Mr. Dean C. Ames ’56* Mr. Werner F. Auerbacher P’66* Mr. Eliot F. Bartlett ’37* Mr. Joseph W. Blount ’74 Mr. Michael A. Brower ’63 Mr. Robert T. Cobb ’58* Mr. Alan M. Coleman ’64 Mr. Joe I. Cooper ’46* Mr. Robert H. Cory, III ’63 Mr. John E. Creveling ’63* Mr. Peter M. Duggan ’58 Mr. Richard A. Epstein ’59 Mr. Antoine F. Gagne ’36* Mr. Herbert G. Gelhardt III ’48 Ms. Jodie E. Gerson PsyD ’91 Mr. Lawrence J. Gratz ’61* Mr. Bruce L. Hanson ’62 Mr. Edwin S. Jarrett ’24* Mr. Malcom Blake Johnson ’41* Hon. Harold E. Kennedy ’73 Mr. Peter F. Lamb ’72 Mrs. Joan F. Ledoux* Dr. Robert L. Littman ’70 Mr. Henry O. Lumb ’21* Mr. Bruce McCullough* Mr. Charles B. Merrill, III ’84 Mr. Daniel Natchez ’61 Mr. Chester H. Neumann ’68 Mrs. Clairborne O’Connor* Mr. Robert W. Parke ’57 Mrs. Susan W. Peck Mrs. Jean O. Rainey* Mr. Wilfred L. Raynor Jr. ’39* Mr. Arthur H. Reis ’75 Mr. Frederick P. Reynolds Jr. ’71 Mr. David E. Riker ’50* Mr. George F. Ross ’64* Mr. John F. Settel ’50 Mr. Jeremiah H. Shaw, Sr. Mr. H. Gregory Shea, Jr. ’62 Mr. Michael Sloan ’77 Mr. J. Halsey Smith, Jr. ’46* Ms. Florence Wall* Mr. Robert Went Mr. William R. Wheeler ’21* Mr. Robert D. Williams Jr. ’54 Ms. Elsie Wunsch P’73* The Storm King School gratefully recognizes those listed within these pages for their generosity & kindness. Every measure has been taken to ensure the accuracy of this report. Should you find a discrepancy, please bring it to our attention & accept our apologies. *Deceased sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Winter 2024 / 49
The Mountaineers
Events The Mountaineers Alumni team for Trivia Night: from left Scott Cantor ’73, Nicola Cantor, Nathaniel Cantor (not shown in the photo), Mark Williams, Lynn Crevling ’72, Ian Morrow ’70 P’27, Debbie Guerra with fiancé Matt Fascaldi ’14. Richard Broughton Celebrating the 86th birthday of past faculty/ staff Richard Broughton ’54’s are from top left: Sarah Fulton ’09, Jim Perlberg ’70 and wife Marilyn Perlberg, Broughton, Lynn Crevling ’72 and Scott Cantor ’73 Young Alumni Young alumni at the Class of 2023 graduation: from left: Hugh “Trey” Lawrence ’22, Jack Kidd ’22, Adit Mansury ’22, Juan Carlos Garcia Perez ’22, and Sofia Bove ’22
Upcoming Events
Richard Broughton Young Alumni
Alumni Basketball Game Sunday, March 24 at 2 PM. Contact sfulton@sks. org (845) 458-7522 if you will come face off against our students and faculty, or come cheer! Alumni Career Week (virtual) Monday – Wednesday March 25-27, and Career Night (in person) on Thursday March 28. Contact lcrevling@sks.org (845) 458-7517 if you will volunteer. Reunion Weekend June 14-16 celebrating 100 years as The Storm King School and graduation years ending with a 4 or 9, with all years welcome! Contact sfulton@sks.org (845) 458-7522.
50 / EVENTS
Class Notes
Lawrence “Chip” Archer ’65 (on the left) stopped by to visit campus in August 2023. It was the first time he had been back since he graduated, and he was elated! As part of his trip from his home in Las Vegas, Chip visited classmates Bob Borzillo (photo center) and John King “to rehash our lives in Craryville, New York (where John lives).” Chip said that he has one thing to say to SKS’ present students: “Enjoy your time on the Mountain. You probably don’t realize what a special place The Storm King School is.” Peter DeSilva ’65 wrote “What a surprise to open the envelope from SKS and see the old newsletter! I do appreciate it, and the giggles it brought for me and my friends! And what memories. I had told my dad during my sophomore year that I was not ready for college. It was [former faculty] Bill Bailey heading up the Art Department, and seeing some talent or gift in me, that led me to the Museum School of Fine Arts in Boston, further developing my talents and, ultimately, a long and satisfying career utilizing my gifts daily…and supporting a side career of racing cars. Not that you would have seen any indication from my addition to The Mountaineer [newsletter]! My gifts turned out to be very creative, thinking outside the box, and fabrication skills. They proved most valuable in my years in the movie industry doing special effects and props. In the back pages [of The Mountaineer], I even got several mentions as a front-line varsity hockey team member. It seems, and was, many years ago. I still stay in touch with John King, Chet Mayer, Bob Borzillo, Chip Archer and Brian Walker and will encourage a group gathering in June 2025 reunion for our 60th. Best to all on the Mountain.”
Seaver Jones ’73 was in touch recently reporting “I live in Futaleufu, Chile, where I have been a part-time resident since 2000. I have a water well drilling business and excavation operation and live a quiet life in a remote part of the Andes Mountains of Patagonia. Before settling here, I was a wilderness river guide working all over the world. I was also a technical rescue operative/instructor. It was in these capacities I was introduced to this part of the world and came to settle. When not traveling, I work as a traditional shipwright at the Gannon and Benjamin marine railway on Martha’s Vineyard.”
Ned Miller ’73 wrote “I have included a photo of myself (the first person from the left) with six of my boatmates from our rowing club, Carnegie Lake Rowing Association, in Princeton, New Jersey. We are extremely spoiled as we rent Princeton University’s rowing facilities (their boathouse, their boats– 8s and 4s, as well as their Winter training machines). This photo was taken at last year’s Head of the Charles River rowing regatta in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the premier rowing event in the U.S. bringing together more than 2,000 crews from across the country and globally. We competed in the Men’s 8 Grand Master event (ages 62-75). These are head races whereby a crew races against the clock for three miles. Competition is fierce - we had a couple of boats from Germany and England in our event who were past Olympians and
sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Winter 2024 / 51
they blew right past us! It is a truly wonderful event and hope to enter again next year. On the professional front, my specialty over the last 40 years has been devoted to the provision of Political Risk Insurance and Guarantees, to support and help facilitate trade and investment into Africa and the Middle East. I have been providing outsourced insurance risk management services to firms in Mauritius, Tanzania, and Kenya, as an adjunct to their core property and casualty insurance business. I have been consulting for several Mauritius-based investment funds that are allocating resources to help mitigate Africa’s chronic financing deficits. Risk mitigation (and in particular, political risk management) is and will continue to be, a key driver to help these funds, mobilize the needed capital from their institutional investors. I have been working remotely from home in Bernardsville, New Jersey, with quarterly trips out to the region. I particularly enjoy Mauritius, a magnificent place rich in culture. The island is in the middle of the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, and is predominantly Hindu, with Christian and Muslim being the other religions. The people are lovely and everyone gets along. The language is predominantly French Creole–Alan Servetnik’s French class did not teach this dialect. All, I am sorry that I missed our important 50th reunion due to work travel. Please reach out to me to reconnect: edwardmmillerjr@msn. com. Stay well!”
Angie Warner ’89 wrote “As the Tour Manager for Post Malone, this past year has brought us to Australia and New Zealand twice and on tour for most of the year. Happy to be wrapping up back in Australia where it’s warm– I’ll avoid the cold as long as I can! I’ve loved the past four years living in Nashville, Tennessee, and plan to call that home forever (But I do love my dog Stoney even more). As I go into my 24th year of touring, I’ll be moving to an artist that will give me a bit more life balance and very excited for the change. I’m not done yet!!! I hope that everyone had very happy holidays!”
52 / CLASS NOTES
(Post Malone is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor who has gained distinction and acclaim for his blending of various genres including hip hop, pop, R&B, and trap)
Susan Libutti Whelan ’90, who was a member of a billiards/pool team called the Pool Tang Clan that took first place in 9ball, Summer Session 2023 and qualified for World’s 2024, wrote “My earliest memories of playing pool started at SKS in 1988. I believe there are many similarities in playing pool and living your life. 1) It’s not just about making the ball it’s about setting you up for the next shot. 2) It’s not about your opponent, it’s you playing the table. 3) When you are anxious or nervous, remember to breathe because you’ve got this. 4) You may not always win your match, but if you learned something to help you next time it’s a win. 5) Be humble, because everyone is beatable, sportsmanship matters. 6) Work on your fundamentals, until it becomes muscle memory. 7) Have fun, do things that make you smile! As a side note, I’ve played in a pool league for 14 years, it took me 13 years to win a spot in Vegas in 2022.”
Jodie Gerson ’91 met with Paola Lavu Fergerstrom ’91, past faculty Robert Thompson, Hibert Tilahun ’93, Bona Tilahun ’91, and Ross Sober ’92 in July at a restaurant in
Washington, D.C. Jodie wrote “It doesn’t matter how long it’s been; we pick up right back where we were. Always fun times when we have SKS alumni meet-ups! Amazing people! Fabulous conversation! Always fun sharing memories!” David Bethea ’01 was welcomed into the Essex County Cubs of the Atlantic Baseball Confederation Collegiate League as their new Head Coach. After taking over mid-season as Interim, Bethea quickly ignited his Cubs to a tremendous 2nd half, finishing the season on a three-game winning streak. Congratulations to Dominique DeFreece ’14 for passing The Tennessee Bar Exam! Dominique is a graduate of Rhodes College, majoring in international studies and history. In 2023, she graduated from The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.
Past faculty Jeanette McMahon P ’17 sent an update on what she, her son Ricky McMahon ’17, and her spouse and past faculty Mick Hauser have been doing: “Mick is working for Strategic Initiatives for the United States Military Academy Association of Graduates on a number of interesting projects, including podcasts; establishing an after-school program for over 150 students at the Highland Falls Middle School free of charge to the families
there; and economic revitalization of downtown Highland Falls. Ricky graduated early from Norwich University in December 2021, during which time he enlisted in the Vermont National Guard to deploy with his assigned unit. However, he was offered an appointment at the United States Military Academy in March ’21 and accepted with the Class of ’25. He is currently a junior studying Systems and Decision Sciences, and will select his Army branch of assignment next fall. I am working as a Development Officer for the charity Children of Fallen Patriots. We provide full college grants to children who have lost a parent in the line of duty. I have found it is still as relevant as it was over a decade ago when my own children began to receive benefits, and I enjoy paying it forward. We all miss Storm King and have very fond memories of our time there. Our fond regards to the Lambs and the rest of our friends on the staff.” Thanyakumari “Tanya” Chandran ’20 completed her bachelor’s degree in February 2024 in International Hospitality and Business Management specializing in luxury brand strategy. She wrote “I have been in Monaco visiting hotels and companies as part of my class experience. After I graduate, I plan to work in Switzerland to go into real estate, and hopefully open my own food and beverage company in the near future.”
Morgan Papera-Krug ’20 married Cory Krug on October 15, 2023. “Cory and I met while managing a restaurant in Aventura, Florida. Over the last two years, I have started my own Wedding Planning Company called Avery Events and he has grown into sous chef and executive chef posi-
sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Winter 2024 / 53
tions in numerous restaurants. We are parenting three Siberian Huskies.”
Matthew Pelton ’20 was on campus in the fall of 2023 to make a short film and said “My last short film, “A Triptych About Water,” went on to win/be nominated in multiple film festivals, which has been a huge honor. While I’m still in post-production for my next short, “Please Don’t Lick the Psychedelic Toad,” I’ve started working on my next and last short I’ll make at Emerson (College). The movie is about my time at Storm King and having to say goodbye to a school I loved so much…” With a cast and crew of around 12 people, Pelton shot on campus at the fire pit and in Dyar and Stone Halls. “Shooting went amazing! The first night we got rained out around 11 pm, but we made up for it the following nights. Walking around Storm King again and getting to see my old dorm room and classrooms was truly a magical experience. I even got to see Mrs. VanDunk, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Bennett, and Mr. Kiperman! I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me. This whole process has easily been one of the biggest highlights of my entire life so far. Storm King will always hold a place in my heart!”
Milana Shigapova ’21 shared an update since graduating from SKS: “I am currently in my junior year studying Biotechnology with a minor in Psychology at New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) Manhattan Campus. I am also a research assistant working for NYIT as well as SUNY Downstate Medical School. We research a variety of things including eye tracking, neuroscience and some parts of radiology. One of my hobbies is helping out younger students to find themselves on the path of their scientific careers which led me to be a part of the Health Professions club that three girls and I founded about a year and a half ago in our university. We help students find opportunities for volunteering, shadowing in clinics, and host events to spread awareness for some big diseases that impact people daily for educational purposes (for example AFIB awareness month). I enjoy working out and exploring historic parts of NYC while I still have an opportunity to live here. I am planning to go to a graduate school and hopefully specialize in genetics and biotechnology since those are the topics I am most interested in currently.
Rita Tesfaye ’21 wrote “Following my time at SKS, my academic journey at the University of California, Santa Cruz has been marked by efficiency and dedication. I will complete my undergraduate degree in three years, anticipating graduation in Spring 2024. Throughout my time at UCSC, I have actively engaged in various labs, currently finding my academic home in the SET (Social Emotional Technology) Lab. My current project involves the development of a game designed to raise awareness about precautions for wildfires. As I near the completion of my undergraduate education, I am concurrently in the process of applying to graduate school to further pursue my academic and research interests.”
54 / CLASS NOTES
Remembering Dr. Mary Meynardie & Mrs. Suzanna van der Woude In the rich tapestry of The Storm King School’s history, two women stand out for their remarkable contributions and indelible impact: Dr. Mary Meynardie and Mrs. Suzanna van der Woude. Their lives, characterized by dedication, service, and groundbreaking achievements, left an enduring legacy at the School.
Dr. Mary Meynardie: A Life of Service and Education
Mrs. Suzanna van der Woude: A Trailblazing Trustee
Dr. Mary Meynardie’s journey was marked by resilience and perseverance. Orphaned at a young age during the Great Depression, she overcame adversity to become the first in her family to attend college, graduating from Winthrop College at just 19. Her early career saw her teaching in rural Appalachia, igniting a lifelong commitment to education and service. Her path took a transformative turn when she decided to become a missionary. After attending Columbia Seminary and Yale University Language School, she embarked on her mission in Japan, breaking socie-
As the first woman to serve on the School’s Board of Trustees, Mrs. Suzanna van der Woude set a precedent for female leadership in an era when such roles were predominantly held by men. Her appointment to the board came under unique circumstances. She was recommended by her husband, Dr. Rients van der Woude, who recognized her superior suitability for the role. The van der Woudes, living close to the School, were deeply integrated into its community. Their generous donation of 90 acres behind Spy Rock, which they stipulated remain forever wild, demonstrated their commitment to both the school and environmental conservation. This land, now under the stewardship of Scenic Hudson, remains a testament to their vision. After six decades in the United States, Mrs. van der Woude returned to her native Amsterdam, yet her connection to The Storm King School remained strong. Her daughter, Winnie Hennessey ’74, cited her mother’s pride in breaking barriers and her enduring affection for the School. Her son, Rients, is a member of the class of 1975.
A Shared Legacy at Memorial Rock 3 women leaders - Hennessey 1st 4 yr girl, Kohn 1st BOT President, van der Woude 1st female trustee - photo in 1992
tal norms of the time by working abroad. Her work extended beyond missionary duties, as she also taught university-level Japanese. Dr. Meynardie joined The Storm King School in 1975, bringing her vast experience and passion for learning. She served in multiple roles, including Chair of the English and History Department, Director of the Learning Center, College Counselor, Academic Dean, and coach for various sports. Her dedication was recognized with the Margaret Clark Faculty Excellence Award in 2012. Alongside her, her husband, Robert Meynardie, contributed significantly as the Business Manager from 1972-1989.
Both Dr. Meynardie and Mrs. van der Woude will be commemorated at Memorial Rock at The Storm King School Reunion on June 15, 2024. This shared memorial is a fitting tribute to two women whose lives were vastly different yet equally influential in shaping the ethos and landscape of The Storm King School.
Photo for Remembering Dr. Meynardie with John ’77, Robert Meynardie, Mary Meynrdie and Bob ’77
sks.org / ON THE MOUNTAIN / Winter 2024 / 55
In Memoriam SKS is saddened by the passing of the following members of our community. As is our custom, they will be remembered during Reunion Weekend 2024.
1949
1968
1997
Robert J. Singer
Robert Chace
Kerry Allen Valderrama
September 16, 2019
December 27, 2023
October 29, 2023
1955
1971
Rene Steuer
Somphon “Sam” Charumilinda
July 14, 2005
July 21, 2023
1956
1974
Dean C. Ames
Peter Lawrence
September 16, 2023
March 8, 2023
1963
1975
Edward “Terry” Proctor III
Lynanne Blount
October 30, 2023
September 24, 1988
Eric P. Smith March 11, 2023
1966 Martin D. Dillingham January 11, 2023
56 / IN MEMORIAM
1975 Michael Pozo April 10, 2023
Faculty/Staff Mary Meynardie (1975-1989) July 18, 2023
Storm King School Trustees Suzanna Van der Woude, Trustee Emerita & First Female Trustee June 4, 2023
Mountain Day 2023
We Are Storm King This September marks 100 years since Headmaster Alvin Duerr established our School’s current name, The Storm King School, for the majestic mountain on which we are located overlooking the mighty Hudson River and surrounded by forest. Many of us, at one time or another, have climbed the Mountain to Spy Rock, experiencing the spectacular views from the highest peak in Orange County, New York. Our school is truly a place of special beauty. In the 100 years since its naming, Storm King has become known as the caring community we are today—a place for students to explore their dreams, discover their future potential, and forge their own paths. This year we will celebrate the people who make up our Storm King community. We will share stories and experiences on the Mountain from students, parents, faculty, staff, and alumni. Many of these wonderful memories and experiences are provided through your support of The Storm King Fund. It contributes to scholarships, financial aid, new programs, creative and personalized learning, and helps to update resources and facilities. We ask you to contribute to The Storm King Fund to sustain the School that has transformed lives and to ensure a bright future for this special place—for at least another century. We all are Storm King!
Mountain Day 1990
On the Mountain
The Storm King School 314 Mountain Road Cornwall on Hudson, NY 12520
CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER SINCE 1867
