The Bulletin Spring 2022 by The Masters School

THE MAGAZINE OF THE MASTERS SCHOOL

Bulletin

SPRING

2022

For the Love of the Game

contents F E AT U R E S

4 CHASING A DREAM Sam Coffey ’17

8 K E E P I N G PA C E W I T H T H E M I R N AVAT O R Mirna Valerio ’93

10 FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME 10 Panthers Roar on College Campuses

12 Alumna Makes an Indelible Mark on Girls Sports

14 Fencing Is Their Forte

16 The Business of Sports

22 A Leader On and Off the Field: Adul Samon ’23

24 Giving It the Old College Try

26 Turning a Love of Sports Into a Broadcasting Career

28 From March Madness to Masters

30 Alumnae Coaches Bring Passion and Acumen to Their Former Teams

ON TH E C OVER Through a combination of dedication, talent and passion, Sam Coffey ‘17 has risen to an elite level of soccer as a player with the Portland Thorns. Photo credit: Penn State Athletics

Printed on paper containing 30% post-consumer waste with vegetable based inks. 100% of the electricity used to manufacture the paper is green e-certified renewable energy.

 TH E BI G P I CT URE

In the Heights: Upper school students transformed the Claudia Boettcher Theatre into a Washington Heights neighborhood with vibrant singing and dancing during the musical production of “In the Heights.” The February performances included 91 cast and crew members. The Special Force for Spanish, a group of students from Hispanic backgrounds, worked with the cast to ensure cultural understanding throughout the production.

2 FROM LAURA DANFORTH

32 ON CAMPUS

34 A D AY I N T H E L I F E

36 ALUMNAE/I NEWS 36 Alumnae Spotlight 38 Reunion 2022 40 New Alumnae/i Board Members Named

41 ON OUR BOOKSHELF

42 D O U B L E TA K E

44 C AT C H I N G U P W I T H F O R M E R FA C U LT Y

46 CLASS NOTES

74 IN MEMORIAM/REMEMBRANCES

The Masters School 49 Clinton Avenue Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522-2201 mastersny.org Send letters to communications@mastersny.org

m a s t e r s n y. o r g

the game of life

 A Message from LAURA DANFORTH

Head of School Laura Danforth with varsity basketball players Dakota Daniello ’23 and Noah Kassell-Yung ’23

Teamwork, taken on with might,

Dear Masters Community, “To watch people push themselves further than they think they can,

also engenders a sense of “agency”: the confidence and capacity

it’s a beautiful thing. It’s really

to meet life challenges

human,” said Abby Wambach,

large and small.

Sam knows that determination is the pathway to joy. “It’s so fun to be at this level to be playing with, quite literally, some of the best players in the world. It’s unreal,” she says.

two-time Olympic gold medalist

As a three-sport, four-year college

and FIFA Women’s World Cup

athlete, I can relate to these stories

champion. I couldn’t agree more.

and deeply admire their heroes

Whether it’s on the field or the

and heroines. I understand what it

stage, in the innovation lab, or around the Harkness table,

means to be part of a team and how it develops one’s ability to

it’s gratifying and inspiring for coaches, teachers and peers to

communicate, make decisions, set goals and solve problems in a

watch students working and playing with — even discovering

supportive and trusting environment. Teamwork, taken on with

— their might.

might, also engenders a sense of “agency”: the confidence and capacity to meet life challenges large and small.

In this issue of The Bulletin, we are highlighting the dedication and growth of a few Masters students and alumnae/i who are

As I work to lead The Masters School, I’m keenly aware of the

pursuing athletics — or the sports industry — as a profession or

responsibilities of belonging to a community that asks us all

an interest. Their stories share common themes: perseverance,

to be our very best. We do that — both on and off the field

grit and joy. Olympian Suzie Paxton ’88 recalls her fencing days

— by educating our students about character, resilience,

at Masters as hard work mixed with fun. “Winning is not the

leadership and doing the right thing — all skills necessary for

ultimate goal. It was the joy of working towards the goal,” she

the game of life.

says. Fencer Ethan Yankey ’22 echoes Suzie’s perspective: “It’s about the development of your character,” he says. “It’s never

With gratitude,

about winning. It’s about having a good experience.” Such experiences and their rewards are found on the soccer pitch, as well. Sam Coffey ’17 embodies the commitment it took to earn a spot on the Portland Thorns professional soccer team. Laura Danforth Head of School

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“

...educating our students about character,

resilience, leadership and doing the right thing — all skills necessary for the game of life.

”

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chasing a dream

 S o c c e r, C o m m u n i t y , a n d F a i t h

Sam Coffey ’17

FROM

PA N T H E R

TO THORN Driven by a love of soccer, community and faith, Sam Coffey ’17 is the embodiment of her alma mater’s motto: Do It With Thy Might.

Sporting pajamas and glued to her computer screen, Sam Coffey ’17 was alone in Penn State’s quarantine housing due to a recent COVID-19 exposure. The National Women’s Soccer League draft was taking place via web streaming, and she was transfixed. That night, January 13, 2021, with her parents on FaceTime, Coffey got the news she had been waiting a lifetime to hear: The Portland Thorns drafted her to play for their team. She had heard rumblings that the Thorns might be interested in her, which was a thrilling prospect: If she didn’t go to Portland, Coffey was considering playing in Europe. When her name was called 12th overall, her life changed. “Usually the draft is in person and it’s a whole event where you go and make a speech,” Coffey says. But in the end, “All that mattered is that I was drafted to Portland because that’s where I wanted to be,” she says. Despite the strange circumstances in which she experienced the momentous occasion, “I look back on it with a smile because it’s an incredible story.”

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Coffey’s journey to becoming a professional soccer player is one of skill and determination. Her first foray into the game was as an energetic 4-year-old playing on the local recreational team (she still remembers the name: the Hedgehogs), and her passion grew from there. “From as early as I can recall, I’ve loved soccer,” Coffey says. “It’s all I’ve wanted to do.”

Photo courtesy Penn State Athletics

MAKING AN IMPACT IN HER COMMUNITY When she arrived at Masters in sixth grade, Coffey was already dedicated to the game, participating in club leagues and training at camps. Although she always knew that soccer was an integral part of her identity, she discovered other passions and interests at Masters. During her middle school years, she branched out into other sports, running cross-country and playing basketball and softball. She even gave singing and acting a try in the musical “Guys and Dolls.” “I am so thankful to Masters because an important part of the curriculum is being well-rounded and trying everything,” Coffey reflects. “I don’t do theater anymore and I don’t play those other sports anymore, but they taught me that I am so much more than just this game. I was never just Sam, the soccer player. That has kept me so grounded.” In the Upper School, Coffey found what has become a pillar in her life: service to others. She got involved with Masters Interested in Sharing and Helping (MISH) her sophomore year and was co-chair her junior and senior years. A devout Christian, Coffey explains, “a big part of my faith is loving others, serving others and helping those in need. I am passionate about using my life to lift others up, and I credit MISH with birthing these strong passions in me for helping others in any way I can.” She was particularly drawn to Midnight Run, a program in which students raise funds for clothing and personal care items that they distribute to homeless individuals in New York City. “The interactions I had with so many men and women were what sparked that passion in me,” Coffey says. “These people have value and are worthy.” Cheryl Hajjar, chair of the Visual Arts Department, is the faculty advisor to Midnight Run and worked closely with Coffey. "Sam is

Photo credit: Thorns FC/Craig Mitchelldyer

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SAM COFFEY ’17

one of the most impressive young people I have ever met,” Hajjar says, recalling how Coffey and her classmate Thomas Davoren ’17 took it upon themselves to raise funds, organize clothing and backpack drives, and gather supplies and volunteers for the Runs. “Sam is someone who is always aware of others and how she can help this world become a more equitable place to live,” Hajjar shares. To this day, Coffey does everything she can to support homeless individuals. When she was a student at Penn State, she was involved with an organization that opens church doors to provide overnight shelter. Early in the pandemic, she raised funds for Midnight Run and went into Manhattan with family and friends to provide masks, gloves, sanitizer, food and other resources to those in need. “We all need help in different ways,” Coffey says. “If we can just be willing to get uncomfortable, to go out of our way to help each other, then why not do it?” In addition to her work with MISH, Coffey was a founding co-chair of the School’s environmental sustainability group, EFFECT. She worked with students to bring zero-waste composting to the dining hall and helped lead a full-day symposium on sustainability. Unsurprisingly, her peers voted her Most Involved for the 2017 yearbook superlatives.

“

Her classes around the Harkness table were equally formative. Coffey recalls taking former English teacher Caroline Dumaine’s Before 19 course, during which students pen personal essays that are compiled in a school publication. She credits Dumaine with giving “me so much as a writer. Before 19 was the first class that I’d taken where I was writing about myself and my experiences. It was really, really life-changing.”

Masters provided me with

so many lessons of balance, passion, service and loving others.

”

“At Masters, there were so many resources, so many brilliant people who were passionate about so many different things, so many classes to take, so many things to learn,” Coffey reflects. “Masters provided me with so many lessons of balance, passion, service and loving others.”

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She brought these lessons — and her infectious energy — to the varsity girls soccer team. Coffey has fond memories of working hard during the hot days of preseason and then going into town with teammates to grab lunch. She also recalls the excitement of winning a hard-fought Fairchester Athletic Association (FAA) quarterfinal game. But mostly, she remembers the joy she felt while playing soccer — her “one true love” — with some of her closest friends. “We had fun, and we enjoyed each other’s company,” she says. One aspect of her time playing soccer at Masters that she is particularly grateful for is “that someone with significant soccer experience and someone with no soccer experience can just play on the field together and have a blast,” she says. “It’s what connected me with so many people at Masters and still connects me to them to this day.” Her Masters soccer coach, Hernando Santamaria, describes Coffey’s belief in her teammates and herself as “magical.” “She was a leader at her young age, and she led by example,” he says. When she graduated, Coffey was the Number 1 girls soccer player in the FAA, scoring 53 goals in the 2014 and 2015 seasons. In 2016, she was selected by the U.S. Soccer Federation as one of the top 26 players in the country, and she played on the U.S. National team in 2016-17. Reflecting on the School’s motto, Coffey says: “I live my life that way. I love the full verse — ’Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.’ My hand has found a lot to do. I credit Masters for that. There are going to be plenty of twists and turns, but I have the choice every day to go out and give whatever I’m doing everything I have.”

A COLLEGIATE STAR PURSUES HER DREAM After graduating from Masters, Coffey headed to Boston College, where she played Division I soccer. She hung up her Eagles jersey sophomore year and transferred to Penn State to play for the powerhouse Nittany Lions. She graduated with a degree in journalism, following in the footsteps of her brother, Sean, Masters Class of 2013, and her father, who both work in media. Coffey looks back on her college athletic career with fondness and gratitude for her teammates and coaches — and for the important lessons she learned about overcoming adversity.

Photos courtesy of Penn State Athletics

She describes her final season at Penn State, when she was one of the team captains, as having “the most triumphant wins and the worst losses.” The team made it to the third round of the NCAA tournament but lost to the University of South Carolina in what Coffey feels could have been a win. “I mourned the loss of what might have been — of the dream I had of a national championship and of it being the end of my college soccer career,” she explains. But she came to understand that “No matter what things don’t go my way or are viewed as a setback, they’re in some way, shape or form going to make me better. I can always learn from it.” She was helped along in this realization by her faith. At the time, Coffey and a teammate were completing a challenge to read the Bible in its entirety in one year. As she was navigating this difficult moment, she realized “how much of the Bible is a paradox. I came to peace with that — that soccer and life are not an either/or, they’re a both/and.” By the time she graduated and packed her bags for Portland, Coffey had built an impressive resume: Her 42 goals and 54 assists made her the 50th player in NCAA Division 1 soccer history to tally 40 goals and 40 assists. In 2020-21, she was named Big Ten Midfielder of the Year, and in 2019, she ranked second in the Big Ten in goals and assists.

KICKING OFF A PROFESSIONAL CAREER These days, Coffey is spending her time doing what she loves. In her wildest dreams, she couldn’t have imagined a more perfect schedule: wake up, head to the stadium, do an hour of pre-training work, meet with the team, then get on the field for a couple hours of training. After practice, she and her teammates lift weights or do recovery exercises. “I’m a rookie here,” she says. “I’m not a leader on the team, which is a really interesting role after being a seasoned veteran at the college level. But regardless of what my role looks like at this new level, I want to lift others up, and I want to be a positive influence on everyone around me, whether they’re a teammate, staff or security guard.”

Reflecting upon going pro, Coffey acknowledges that “I should have felt all this pressure, but it just went away. I realized: This is soccer. This is what you’ve been given, this is what you love. This is where you can have an impact.” Knowing how hard she has worked to get to this place, she still has moments of excitement and disbelief: “It’s so fun to be at this level to be playing with, quite literally, some of the best players in the world. It’s unreal.” Santamaria, her Masters soccer coach, never doubted that Coffey’s talent, passion and dedication would take her to the most elite level of the game. “I have never seen a person chase down a dream as she did,” Santamaria says. “Everything that she has, has been earned. With Sam, there is no luck or being lucky. In her, you see the embodiment of commitment and hard work.” With her first season in full swing, Coffey is looking forward to whatever comes her way. “I want to be so grateful for this step in the journey, knowing that there’s still so many more to go and still so many dreams to achieve,” she says. “I feel so blessed that I am here. I need to remind myself that every day, I’m truly — in every sense of the phrase — living out my dream.”

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G E T T O K N O W M I R N A VA L E R I O ’ 9 3

Keeping Pace with

The MIRNAVATOR

Ultrarunner, adventurer, motivator, author, trailblazer. It’s hard to find a single descriptor for Masters School trustee Mirna Valerio ’93. She has no problem describing her mission — to “move joyfully in whatever body you have” — and attributing it to Masters. “My passion for running started at Dobbs,” Valerio says. “I started loving running as a sport because it made me feel so good. Now every time I go out and run and I smell wild onions (they grew at the side of the field at Masters), I am immediately thrown back to those early ninth grade days when I started running.” Since that time, Valerio has competed in 14 ultramarathons and 11 marathons — and established a compelling media presence to inspire others to move with her.

BULLETIN Spring 2022

Mirna Valerio ’93 A member of the girls field hockey and lacrosse teams at Masters, Valerio admits that, except for football, there isn’t a sport she doesn’t enjoy. School offered more than just sports, she recalls: “My identity at Masters was as a musician. I was the singer on campus.” These days as she travels around the country, “whether it’s a photo shoot, a speaking engagement, showing up at a race and being a personality, all of that is connected to my performance background,” Valerio says. “Everything is full circle. It’s performance, it’s sports, it’s the speech class I took with M.A. Haskin, the exacting musical standards of Dr. Nancy Theeman. All of that, every single thing I did and learned at Masters, I use every single day in my present life.”

10 Things You Always Wanted to Know About Mirna Valerio

How Your Experience at Masters Contributed to Your Current Career I started running as a way to get better at field hockey in ninth grade. My first day at Masters was the day I tried out for the field hockey team. It was very difficult. We had to run a mile to warm up and then run several miles afterwards. I had never run that much in my life — my body was hurting, my mind was hurting, my fingers were hurting. Coach Dot Harrop (former athletics director) kept encouraging me every step of the way. She was a beacon of joy, of hard work and of acceptance. I was brand new to running, to running on grass and to field hockey drills. When I got on the team, I vowed that I would become a better athlete. Dot Harrop is the reason I am a runner today.

what I was going to do because this was also my income. For someone who makes a living speaking about running, going to races all over the world, being a sponsored athlete, I was worried about not being able to run. As I recovered from surgery, I devised a plan with my running coach. I happened to live across from a bike shop, got a gravel bike, and I hired an instructor who taught me the ins and outs of gravel riding. And much like my early history with running, after a couple of weeks, something clicked. I started loving cycling. It brought me joy. It allowed me to be outside and to train just as hard as I had been training as a runner. I mostly ride on gravel, but I have also developed a love for mountain biking.

Most Challenging Part of Your Work Work/life balance. My hobbies have now become my work. I’m so happy, honored and grateful to get to do the things I do now, but a lot of times it’s overwhelming because of all the opportunities that are thrown at me. Typical Workweek It changes from week to week. In the last two weeks I’ve been doing a lot of traveling. I had some speaking engagements, and then I co-hosted a retreat in Utah. I had to fly out during the retreat on a red eye from Las Vegas to New York City to help launch new Lululemon footwear. I went back to Utah to finish my retreat. Then I had a bike race the day after the retreat in Oklahoma. After the race, I had a video shoot for a brand commercial.

Pursuing Other Outdoor Sports I’ve been trail running for a while. That’s really what my athletic identity is. I love to be out on the trails. I love mountains. I love to run in grassy fields. When I had to take a break from running (due to a torn meniscus) I had to figure out

Passion for Skiing Yes, I’m obsessed with skiing. After seven or eight weeks of taking lessons, I fell hard for skiing. There’s something about sliding down a mountain in the freezing cold that just makes me feel alive. It’s such a great sport that strengthens your legs for running and cycling. Motivating Others I was teaching at a small all-girls boarding school in New Jersey, and I had just recommitted to running. I was running quite a bit. The athletic director noticed and asked me to take some of the girls along with me. It was really cool to take the girls out — many of whom had not made it on to any of the other sports teams or never saw themselves as athletes. I would teach them some technique, and we would do lots of cross training. I tried to make it fun and doable with some intermittent challenges. It was like a lifestyle running, more than it was competitive cross-country. Sometimes the faculty would join me and colleagues would come along. It became this awesome, loving, active community that wasn’t based on changing our bodies or trying to lose a billion pounds. It was to get outside, have a good time and move our bodies. Eventually, when I started my blog, I wrote stories about what it was like to be a plus-size runner in endurance sports. I think some of that ethos of joy and movement was the catalyst that got people to listen to me and go on their own movement journeys.

Biggest Inspiration My mom. She has a lot of mobility issues, but she will try anything. She will try hiking. She wants to try running and to take a ski lesson. She always tries to frame things positively, and that is the way I try to live my life. There are some athletes that I love, but there’s no one like my mom who inspires me to be better and do better.

8. ABOVE: Valerio, front row second from right, with her Dobbs field hockey teammates LEFT: What started as a passion for trail running has now become an impressive career for Valerio.

Navigating the Business Side Before all of this started, I was a full-time teacher and I had no real business acumen beyond what I needed for doing my taxes. As I got more speaking opportunities, traveling engagements, and athletic sponsorships, I had to learn a lot. I also had to learn how to ask for help, which is difficult. In 2018, I left teaching and went full rogue. And it has not slowed down. So now I have an agent, a marketing communications company that is helping me with branding, and a business manager. I never thought I would be in this position or situation, but it’s so cool.

Best Advice You’ve Given Strive in every way to be authentic to yourself and to others. It’s important to step back and look at who you are and try to present that at all times.

10.

Best Advice You’ve Received Get more sleep.

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PA N T H E R S I N C O L L E G E

Panthers Roar on College Campuses We caught up with four alumnae/i who have taken their talents to the athletic fields and courts in college. They reflected on playing at Masters, making the transition to college athletics, and navigating life after college.

“With 50 athletics teams — 26 of which are at the varsity level — Masters has a robust athletic program. It offers an opportunity for the novice athlete to learn individual and team skills, while also providing space for college-bound athletes to continue to grow. No matter where athletes are in their journey, we have had great success in preparing them for the next level.” —Director of Athletics Logan Condon

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TAHA DINANA ’20 Squash, University of Virginia Major: Commerce

PLAYING SQUASH AT MASTERS My experience at Masters was really good, Photo credit: University of Virginia mostly because of the Egyptian coaching staff Athletic Department that made it feel like home. Our coach, Meho, is like a big brother to me, and he always pushed me to become the best version of myself on the court. I loved getting on the court with the team, and traveling together to away games is a memory I cherish. TRANSITION TO COLLEGIATE SPORTS I left Egypt when I was 15 to study abroad. It was tough, but it helped form the person I am today and developed my independence. So being on my own wasn’t really difficult. At Masters, we used to have one practice session a day, so it was very easy to manage my schedule. At UVA, we usually have four sessions six days a week, which is similar to my training back home. Sessions are scattered around our class schedule, which makes it very intense to keep up. Eventually, I got used to it. COLLEGE ATHLETIC CAREER HIGHLIGHT It is definitely winning the deciding match when we played Drexel in the conference championship final. I was down 7-9 in the final game and came back to win it all 11-9. The feeling is indescribable as my teammates rushed the court to celebrate UVA’s third consecutive conference championship. POST-COLLEGE PLANS Most of the time, I remind myself about the incredible amount of effort and dedication that I put toward my sport, and I tell myself that I should go pro after college and play the sport I love. On the other hand, my love for the world of business and commerce is incredible, and a big part of me wants to end the squash chapter and start a new chapter in the business world. The last years of college will help me make that decision.

BROOKE TATARIAN ’21 Basketball, Fairfield University Major: Undecided; leaning toward chemistry

PLAYING BASKETBALL AT MASTERS Playing basketball at Masters was an incredible experience. I was Photo credit: Fairfield surrounded by an amazing coach and University Athletic Department teammates who had the same goal as I did: to get better and to make history, and that is exactly what we did. Our program and school had finally received the attention we deserved when we won the first girls basketball NYSAIS (New York State Association of Independent Schools) championship in school history. TRANSITION TO COLLEGIATE SPORTS It is definitely a difficult transition. Everyone in college is stronger, bigger, faster and more athletic. It is a different level of competition, but if you maintain a strong work ethic and are coachable, it is much easier to learn from your new coaches and teammates. COLLEGE ATHLETIC CAREER HIGHLIGHT My highlight so far was scoring my first collegiate point against Indiana University in their arena. It is a historic gymnasium, and it was a super cool experience. In that moment, it felt like I had opened a new chapter of my basketball career. POST-COLLEGE PLANS Basketball will always be a part of my life. I love playing it, watching it, and coaching younger girls who have the same aspirations that I did when I was that age. I will continue giving basketball lessons and will definitely continue playing for fun.

OLADAYO THOMAS ’18 Soccer, Santa Clara University Major: Political science with an emphasis on international relations

PLAYING SOCCER AT MASTERS Playing soccer at Masters was fun — Photo credit: Santa Clara I had a band of brothers. While the University Athletic Department abilities varied, we had a common passion to get better together and win as a team. There was also a good level of healthy competition as we pushed each other every day to achieve the goals we wanted to. This led to the FAA (Fairchester Athletic Association) win during my freshman year and junior year when we went up to the semi-finals in the NYSAIS tournament. My experience with the team was valuable. TRANSITION TO COLLEGIATE SPORTS It was tough for the first few weeks, but once I had a couple of practice sessions under my belt, the transition became smoother. I started to adjust to the commitment, the pace and the level of the game. By the time we started having games, I was into the swing of things.

COLLEGE ATHLETIC CAREER HIGHLIGHT The highlight for me has to be being able to finally make the transition from Division III soccer to Division I and then have the success that I have had. Particularly, leading my team in multiple stats lines and being able to help the team win the West Coast Conference championship this past season. POST-COLLEGE PLANS My goal is to continue to play after college. Even after that, I will still want to be involved with the sport in some capacity.

NOURAN YOUSSEF ’20 Squash, Trinity College Major: Computer engineering

PLAYING SQUASH AT MASTERS I moved to the U.S. from Egypt at a very young age and joined the Masters Photo credit: Trinity College Athletic Department squash team as a 13-year-old freshman. It was a tough transition for me to leave my family and to adapt to American culture. Everything was so unfamiliar to me, and I could barely speak English. However, the thing I was most familiar with was squash, and it is what helped me adapt and find myself. I felt comfortable with my coaches, and I’m very grateful to them as they are the reason behind where I’m at today. They helped me reach my goal of playing at a Division I school. We practiced very hard together because the field is very competitive. They made sure I was competing nationally and internationally in tournaments, including the U.S. Open, which I was able to win and claim its title; Canadian Open; British Open; and most of the Junior Championship Tour tournaments. I was also an All-American athlete three times. I enjoyed playing on the Masters squash team — my teammates were very supportive and hard-working, and it prepared me for what it’s like being on a college team. I also participated with the boys team at high school nationals, and we were able to win the title together. TRANSITION TO COLLEGIATE SPORTS The transition wasn’t easy because of how competitive it is: We compete with the top eight universities in the country. Trinity is ranked Number 2 in the nation after Harvard University, so we had the pressure to work harder to keep our ranking. I had a bit of a hard time managing everything in the beginning, especially having a tough major like computer engineering along with squash. It’s a lot to deal with, but competing with your team is one of the most rewarding experiences. Seeing everyone bonding and cheering for each other makes you forget how tough it could be. COLLEGE ATHLETIC CAREER HIGHLIGHT This is my first year being on campus and having a season, as it was canceled last year because of the pandemic. Some of my highlights this season are receiving All-American and First-Year All-NESCAC (New England Small College Athletic Conference) honors. POST-COLLEGE PLANS I will be playing professional squash after college. I’m looking forward to what’s coming next.

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E L I Z A B E T H PA R R Y ’ 7 9 H O N O R E D

Photo courtesy of Emma Willard School Photo credit: Michael Branscom

Alumna Makes an Indelible Mark on Girls Sports

When Liz Parry ’79 learned that the lower athletic field at Emma Willard School was going to be named in her honor, her initial reaction was ‘Wait, what are you doing?’” “It kind of scared me!” she said.

“

Despite her humility, the accolade is well deserved: Parry is in her 39th year at the all-girls school in Troy, New York, where she serves as athletic director, head varsity field hockey and lacrosse coach, and health instructor and swimming and lifeguard instructor.

I loved playing the game and

competing, but it was also about the relationships I had with my teammates.

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”

Parry came to Emma Willard as a one-year physical education maternity leave replacement. She was hired fresh out of Ithaca College with a degree in physical education. “Emma Willard gave me a chance,” she says. Since that time, she’s brought her lifelong love for field hockey and lacrosse to scores of students. She was introduced to field hockey in sixth grade at Rumson Country Day School in New Jersey, where she also played basketball and softball, and ran track. She came to The Masters School as a sophomore in the fall of 1976 and was a three-season athlete, playing field hockey, basketball and lacrosse. Parry has fond memories of participating in athletics as a Dobbs girl. She laughs thinking about the field hockey and lacrosse outfits — their white polos and purple kilts were accentuated with purple and white stirrup socks. “We played field hockey on the field outside the dining hall and lacrosse

on the field between the school road and Estherwood,” she recalls. “There were no boundaries in lacrosse at the time, and we played to ‘natural boundaries,’ which included a tree at one end of our field.” At 5 feet tall, Parry may not look the part of a typical basketball player, but she and her teammate Mary-Clare Banay Pugh ’79 were nicknamed Double Trouble. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Parry was a member of DAA (Dobbs Athletic Association) and its president senior year. More than anything, Parry enjoyed sports because of the friendships. “I loved playing the game and competing,” she says, “but it was also about the relationships I had with my teammates. We knew how to work hard but also how to have fun.” She considers Debbie Pool, her field hockey and lacrosse coach at Masters, a mentor. “She was a big inspiration,” Parry says. “She encouraged me to go to field hockey and lacrosse camp in the summer.” When Parry was looking at colleges, Pool suggested she consider her alma mater, Ithaca College, where she had played field hockey and lacrosse.

College inducted her field hockey team into the college’s Hall of Fame in 2015.

the Adirondack Chapter of the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

Being an advocate of the sport of lacrosse is an important mission for Parry. In the early ’90s, Parry was one of the founding members of the first girls interscholastic league in the area, Capital District Women’s Lacrosse League. She was the New York state section 2 girls lacrosse co-coordinator from 1997 through 2004, then took the reins as coordinator until 2016. She also served as the assistant state coordinator from 2006 through 2016. Since 2016, she has been the New York State Public High Schools Athletic Association girls lacrosse state coordinator. In this role, “I meet a lot of different people who are passionate and dedicated to the sport of lacrosse,” she says. In 2018, in recognition of her outstanding dedication and devoted service to the sport, Parry was inducted into

As a coach to high school girls at Emma Willard, Parry brings an unparalleled, lifelong love for and deep knowledge of her sports. She admits that “It’s fun to see where students go with their sport. Some go on to have a college career or play club sports, and others don’t, but they’re doing other special things.” Her tenure at the school is so significant that she’s taught the children of her former students.

At Ithaca, Parry continued playing field hockey and lacrosse, and in 1982, the field hockey team won the school’s first women’s national championship. Ithaca

Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of her work and the one that brings her the greatest satisfaction is helping girls who can’t picture themselves participating in athletics gain the confidence to do so. For every student who says, “I can’t do this,” Parry says, “Just try.” She gives the example of a student who comes to her believing she can’t run a mile. Parry will tell the student to run the straight parts of the track and walk the curves. “Eventually, we’re going to build up to a mile run, and then I hear that student is going off to college to run track,” she says. “I’m proud that I’m a good motivator and can encourage them to try it — to do it with their might — and keep going. With a little encouragement, you see that confidence build.” With untold future generations of girls playing sports on the athletic field that bears her name, there is no doubt that Parry will continue to inspire young women for many years to come.

ABOVE: Parry, dressed up for the DAA German, celebrated the annual tradition with former Head of School Hugh Silk. LEFT: As a coach, Parry has an unmatched gift for motivating student athletes and helping them build confidence.

Photo (left) courtesy of Emma Willard School

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F E N C I N G AT M A S T E R S

RIGHT: Suzie Paxton '88, left, and Francisco Martin, right, celebrated the dedication of the Francisco Martin Fencing Room in 2015.

For a sport that thrives on ferocity and a fair degree of aggression on the piste, there’s a lot of love and affection for the fencing program from current students and alumnae / i for both the team and its dedicated coach, Francisco Martin. Fencing is a distinctive, and justifiable, point of pride for The Masters School community. Over the last four decades, Masters’ tranquil Dobbs Ferry campus has been the launching pad for an Olympic medalist and numerous national and international fencing champions. Its reputation in the sport has attracted students from around the U.S. and the world — drawn not only by the results individual students have achieved but also by the opportunity to be coached by Francisco Martin, who served as the head fencing coach for more than 30 years. Retired for the past three years, Martin — affectionately known as Patxi by his fencers — has returned to Masters to assist current head coach Clara Meere-Weigel ’15, who was one of his student fencers.

FENCING IS THEIR FORTE

Martin is particularly proud that one of his former student fencers is the head coach. “Clara is doing a fantastic job on the team,” he said. “I’m very proud of those kids who are now running the team. I love the School and built the team with a lot of love.”

BULLETIN Spring 2022

Ethan Yankey ’22, who came to Masters from the Caribbean island of Dominica, chose the School because of the fencing program. “It was a big part of my coming to Masters,” he says. Yankey is on the boys varsity team as an épée fencer.

from the Academy in France and has been trained in psychology and physical conditioning. That training also helped him “learn how to detect talent,” Martin shares. “Students had to have the talent and potential to develop the ability.”

Similarly, Sunny Shi ’22 came to Masters from her hometown of Shenzhen, China, eager to continue the fencing career she had begun as a fourth grader. During the past season, she had only one loss. Heading to Cornell in the fall, Shi says she hopes to join the university’s Division I fencing team.

Martin takes an individual approach to his fencers. “Some people are good at foil, not at saber,” he says. “I recommend the weapon that’s best suited for each student.”

So what’s in the “secret sauce” that has contributed to Masters’ strength in fencing? “[Francisco] has a gravitas where he tends to walk into a room and everyone will listen to him automatically,” Meere-Weigel says. “When he was my coach, he coached in a unique way. There’s a lot of technique in terms of disengaging and blade work. But he taught me a lot more about how to read your opponents and turn that into your success in a bout.” That extra insight into his players and their opponents is not surprising, given that Martin is a fencing master

As a championship fencer himself — Martin won six Spanish National Championships — the Basque native has spent his career at the highest levels of fencing. He was the team captain for the U.S. Olympic Fencing team for eight years, starting in 2012. He has also coached the national team and been a referee in fencing for the past 30 years. Yet even with all the champions and successes, winning is not the only objective, which perhaps explains some of the magic at Masters. It’s about “the development of your character,” Yankey says. “It’s never about winning. It’s about having a good experience. The beautiful thing about fencing is

LEFT: As head fencing coach for more than three decades, Francisco Martin has helped generations of fencers develop their skills and talents.

LEFT: Upper school fencers celebrate a successful match this past winter.

how you control your mind. The sky’s the limit as long as you reach for the stars.” Suzie Paxton ’88, an Olympic fencer in 1996 and a Masters School trustee, freely acknowledges that Mr. Martin is the reason she became a fencer. “Patxi made it fun,” says Paxton, who turned her expertise into a role as an NBC fencing analyst for the 2004 Athens Olympics. “He was inspiring, and he wants to win — but it’s winning because everything comes together, and you’ve executed the plan. He’s like a second father. Whether you win, lose or draw, it doesn’t change how he feels about you. You get back in the gym and work harder. We’re all a work in progress, and you’re always trying to figure out how to do things better. Winning is not the ultimate goal. It was the joy of working towards the goal.” Fencing captured Paxton’s passion because, she explains, it’s “about body, mind and spirit. It’s mental. It’s physical chess. You have to keep yourself composed. In fencing you’re focused and find joy in being part of the process and the team.” Petar Agatonovic ’18 was another student who came to Masters because of the “legendary Francisco Martin.” A student fencer at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, he is currently an assistant fencing coach at Masters. ”Francisco is not only legendary but one of the most honest and caring people I know,” Agatonovic says. ”We became family friends. When I listened to Francisco [in a bout], I was victorious. Francisco coached to my strength and tapped into my ability. Francisco was always supportive. He saw I was a decent fencer and knew I could go the distance.” Agatonovic concedes that he put more pressure on himself than Martin ever did. ”He knew when I needed a timeout, to let me breathe and relax,” he says. “He is definitely a mentor.” Paxton believes fencing enhances the School’s ability to attract interesting students. “When a school offers a portfolio of different activities and introduces students to a sport like fencing, it makes for richer students,” she says. “It doesn’t mean they have to be champions. It’s one more tool in their toolbox.” That legacy will endure. The fencing room in the Maureen Fonseca Center for Athletics and Arts was named in his honor, and, as Agatonovic says, “At Masters, fencing will always be a staple as long as Francisco’s name stays on the wall.”

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ALUMNAE/I PURSUE CAREERS IN SPORTS

The Business of Sports

FOOTBALL

Touchdown: Looking Back on Two Decades With the NFL When Tara McCreery Wood ’84 accepted a job with the NFL in 2006, it was as a temporary, part-time leave replacement. Little did she know that she would spend 17 years working her way up the ranks to become an executive at one of the top professional sports leagues in the world. “I grew up with three brothers,” Wood says. “My father likes to say, ‘I always knew one of my kids would work at the NFL, I just never knew it would be my daughter!’” Throughout her career in law and human resources, Wood has often been the only woman in meetings — something she “never thinks twice about.” In addition to growing up with brothers, she credits the “undeniable value” of her Dobbs education for her confidence: “I learned not just that I had a voice in the world, but how to use it wisely.” Wood admits that when she first came to The Masters School as a junior in 1982, “I walked into a classroom with a conference table and chairs, instead of desks in rows, and I panicked! My nature was to hide in the back of the classroom, placing as much distance as possible between me and my teacher.” Although the seminar style of learning took some getting used to, “It has served me well in the long run,” she says. After graduating from Masters, Wood attended Vanderbilt, where she earned a B.A. in communications; she got her J.D. from Delaware Law School. She practiced law at Epstein, Becker & Greene, P.C. for three years before taking on a role at King World Productions, where she launched its human resources department. “Building a department from the ground up was a very challenging

“

Tara McCreery Wood ’84

experience,” Wood says. “The strategic and managerial skills I was forced to develop in real time pushed me out of my comfort zone and remain with me today.” Wood describes moving from a law firm to a fast-paced, live television studio as “a fantastic pivot.” And HR was a good fit for her personality. “I prefer to work directly with employees to reach amicable solutions to workplace issues, as opposed to adjudicating disputes, sometimes years later, in a courtroom,” she explains. While at King World, she met and married her husband, Simon, and they welcomed three children to their family. “Over the years we have always worked together to prioritize and integrate our expanding careers and our amazing family,” Wood shares. When offered a temporary, part-time job at the NFL in 2006, Wood jumped at the opportunity. “I was absolutely thrilled to play even a supporting role in such a prestigious organization,” she says. “I never imagined I would remain and grow my career at the NFL for the next 17 seasons.”

I learned not just that I had a voice

in the world, but how to use it wisely.

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As the league's head of employee relations for nearly a decade, Wood was responsible for “creating and implementing employment policies and practices to cultivate a positive, productive and diverse workplace.” She describes close consultation and collaboration with a number of departments, including HR, legal, compliance, audit and security to “help ensure the successful resolution of employee relations matters and workplace investigations.” She also oversaw annual league-wide workplace conduct trainings. She notes that, while many are familiar with the NFL’s social responsibility initiatives and their global impact, NFL leadership’s care for league office employees “although not publicized, is equally compelling. I was privileged to assist in the quiet channeling of resources, assistance and support given to a number of employees who were facing difficult personal situations. My file folder of handwritten thank you notes is a wonderful keepsake.” When reflecting on lessons she learned at Dobbs that she carried throughout her career, Wood is quick to mention that it was at Dobbs where she learned to “see my teachers as a valuable resource outside of the classroom.” Because day students couldn’t leave campus before 5:00 p.m. and teachers were often on campus until dinnertime, “When I had homework questions, I would simply pop in and speak one-on-one with my teachers,” she shares. “Those few extra minutes of individual help made all the difference in my effort to master a topic. Subsequently, in college and law school, I would wait after class or visit my teacher’s office for extra help. Even today, I never hesitate to circle back with my boss or colleagues to work through complex business issues — a lasting imprint from my Dobbs teachers.” As Wood looks back on her career path, her advice to those just starting out is simple: “Make the most of every opportunity you are given, no matter how trivial it may seem at the time. Be open to all possibilities and don’t be afraid to ask for what you need.”

A Home Run Career in Sports PR Andrew Rhodes ’07 can pinpoint the moment he became interested in the business side of sports: “Mr. Ives’ ninth grade history class. I wrote a paper on the business of baseball and rising player salaries. I still have it in my parents’ house. I recently came across it and thought, ‘This sort of started it all in many ways.’” Rhodes has now spent a decade in public relations serving as a communications counselor and strategist for professional sports industry clients. As senior vice president at PR firm DKC, Rhodes’ client list is an all-star lineup: Meta (Facebook Sports); SMAC Entertainment, founded by TV personality and pro football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan and his longtime business partner Constance Schwartz-Morini; Sports Illustrated; and many others. Rhodes also helped launch The Players’ Tribune, the media company that Derek Jeter founded when he retired from the Yankees. A lifelong baseball fan, Rhodes “worshipped the game and was a huge Yankees fan — still am.” He describes working with one of his childhood sports idols as “a lifelong dream come true” and “a careeraltering opportunity.”

encourages involvement and promotes the idea that you can and should try to make an impact in every session.” In history teacher Lisa Berrol’s psychology class, Rhodes discovered an interest in the subject; he double-majored in psychology and media and communications in college. At Muhlenberg College, Rhodes continued to pursue his passion for baseball and sports overall. He interned with the Philadelphia Phillies’ Triple-A baseball team, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, where he “did everything from on-field promotions and selling items in the stands to handing out giveaways and arranging the first-ever hotdog-eating contest for the team.” He later interned for sports anchor Bruce Beck at WNBC-TV. And he worked for Muhlenberg Athletics as a game day operations manager and public address announcer. After graduating, Rhodes took a job at a small technology company before landing an entry-level position at DKC. About that first role, he says: “I worked with a few executives to support them and the accounts that they worked on. I learned the fundamentals and worked really hard — the hours were long, the demands were high. But the people that I work with and the clients that I get to work with have always kept me motivated.” This September, he will celebrate his 10-year anniversary with the company.

Andrew Rhodes ’07

Although he works primarily with individuals and companies in the sports arena, Rhodes also consults for clients in other industries such as travel, retail, food and media, including award-winning documentary filmmaker Ken Burns. “I get to plan events around the country to support each film and go on the road with him for these sneak previews,” Rhodes shares. “I’ve been very fortunate to have many ‘pinch me’ moments.” Well before he took steps to launch a career at the intersection of communications, business, sports and media, Rhodes spent his high school years at The Masters School exploring a variety of interests. He caught fly balls as an outfielder, harmonized onstage with Dobbs 16, and showcased his performing chops in musicals. He was also co-president of Gold Key, co-vice president of MISH and co-chair of the Special Olympics. As captain of the varsity baseball team, Rhodes fondly remembers the team’s spring training trips to Florida, implemented and led by thenathletic director Ray Lacen. “Those trips, bonding with the team, the ability to play at one of the best facilities in the country, in Disney's Wide World of Sports, that was incredibly special,” Rhodes says. Another highlight was an “improbable win over Brunswick School” during his junior year. “We had no business beating them,” he explains. “It was one of these ‘Any Given Sunday’ situations.”

In the classroom, Rhodes recalls the impact that Harkness discussions had on him. “You don’t realize it in the moment, but the Harkness experience is very similar to the boardroom or a meeting room,” Rhodes reflects. “It

“

...the Harkness experience

is very similar to the boardroom

BASEBALL ” or a meeting room.

For Rhodes, the job is a winning combination of his two passions: sports and communications. Seeing the results of his work is also an exciting, tangible reward. “There’s something special about watching a news segment or reading an article that you helped facilitate,” he says. “Most of the news and entertainment media we consume — what we read, what we watch, what we listen to — has likely involved a PR person.” As someone who appreciates the complexity and nuances of a game like baseball, it’s no surprise that Rhodes enjoys the new challenges each day brings: “I wake up and, as much as I might plan, I have no idea what's going to come my way that day. Every day is a new adventure.”

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ALUMNAE/I PURSUE CAREERS IN SPORTS

SPORTS INFORMATION A Three-Season Panther Promotes College "Vikings" As a child, Jhon Guarin ’13 didn’t like watching sports. He remembers his older brother tuning in to ESPN, but says, “I found it to be very boring.” How times have changed. As the sports information director at Villa Maria College in Buffalo, New York, Guarin spends his days working on all things athletics. “I wear so many different hats,” he explains. A typical day might consist of scheduling games, coordinating transportation and hotels for away matches, writing pre- and post-game stories, and creating graphics for social media. Then, of course, he attends whichever games are taking place on campus, providing real-time stats and updates on social media.

Jhon Guarin ’13

Guarin’s passion for sports was ignited when he picked up a ball and became part of the game. At Masters, he was a three-season athlete, playing soccer, basketball and baseball in both the Middle and Upper Schools. It was the School’s athletic trainer at the time, Ken Verral, who opened Guarin’s eyes to a different world of sports beyond the pitch: working behind the scenes to support the athletes. Guarin recalls that he

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and other students would spend their free periods and downtime with Verral — whom they affectionately referred to as Mr. V — in his office. “He had an open door and was an awesome person to talk to,” Guarin says. “When I first went to college, I wanted to be an athletic trainer, and Mr. V was the reason for that.” Guarin also credits then-Athletic Director Ray Lacen with impacting “how I approached sports and also the career I wanted to pursue when I was going into college.” Once at SUNY Brockport, Guarin began taking classes in athletic training and quickly realized that wasn’t his passion. A friend in the program suggested he try sports management; that idea turned out to be a slam-dunk. As part of his course of study, Guarin interned in Brockport’s sports information office and dived into everything from graphic design and project management to sports writing and media relations. “It’s really cool work that you don’t think about when you’re the fan,” Guarin explains. “People love to see the graphics on Instagram, but they don’t think about who makes them. They love reading all the post-game articles, but don’t know who writes them. They see all the stats, but they don’t know the people that are inputting them

“

during the game. It was awesome to be a part of all that as an undergrad student. I was instantly hooked.”

Guarin earned his bachelor’s degree in sports management and communications, and stayed at Brockport for two more years as an assistant sports information director while getting his master’s in athletic administration. Now at Villa Maria, Guarin continues to pursue a meaningful career. One of the most rewarding aspects of his job is getting to know the coaches and players. “You get to meet a lot of different people from a lot of different walks of life who have gotten to Villa in different ways,” he says. The biggest perk, of course, is cheering for those players during their games, since “At the end of the day,” Guarin says, “I love watching sports.”

A typical day might consist of scheduling

games, coordinating transportation and hotels for away matches, writing pre- and post-game

stories, and creating graphics for social media.

”

The Business of Sports

Let’s Make a Deal: Building a Career in Sales Planning When Ross Lilienfield ’14 was asked to help the NBC Sports department with coverage of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he felt as if he’d won a gold medal. At the time, Lilienfield was working in account services at NBC’s broadcast entertainment division. He has always been interested in sports, sharing that “I played sports growing up, and football became the first sport I really loved watching.” Starting when he was 9 years old, “I began following it extremely closely.” At The Masters School, the diehard NFL fan hit the tennis courts as a varsity player for four years. After attending a summer program on sports business leadership at the University of Pennsylvania, he knew that was the right industry for him. “I wanted to pursue a career somewhere within the sports world so that I could be involved with a passion of mine,” he explains.

Ross Lilienfield ’14

Lilienfield attended the University of Michigan, where he received a bachelor’s degree in sports management and worked in the athletic department. After graduating, he took a job with an experiential marketing agency that hosted events at sports arenas before joining NBC. When the NBC Sports team approached Lilienfield to help out with the Tokyo Olympics, he says he “had wanted to try and make my way back into sports. This ended up providing a tremendous opportunity.” When a position later opened up on the NBC Sports team, Lilienfield had an established relationship and proven track record with the team. Unsurprisingly, he got the gig.

“

Keeping an open mind and

taking a chance may lead you

down the right path, even if it is not

Now, Lilienfield is a sales planner at NBC Sports and spends his days partnering with brand agencies to create media plans for NBC properties, including Sunday Night Football, the Premier League and the Olympics. “Clients come to us with a budget or target programs where they want to air commercials, and I work with our internal teams to put together a plan that fulfills their requests,” Lilienfield explains. Once they close the deal, he makes sure the terms of the contract, such as a certain number of views, are met.

what you imagined at first.

”

SALES PLANNING

“I never expected to end up where I am currently when I started my career,” Lilienfield says. “Keeping an open mind and taking a chance may lead you down the right path, even if it is not what you imagined at first.”

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The Business of Sports

ALUMNAE/I PURSUE CAREERS IN SPORTS

Love (of Data) and Basketball As a child attending New York Knicks games with his family, Nick Fleder ’13 was fascinated with data. “The game really came to life through the numbers,” he says. “I used to pour over The New York Times box scores every morning and have my dad quiz me on the statistics leaderboards.” What began as a childhood enthrallment has turned into a dream job. Fleder now works as a data science manager with his beloved Knicks. “Our group supports stakeholders in the Knicks front office with analysis, research and reporting,” he explains. Having been an avid spectator who also played the game throughout childhood, Fleder decided to pursue a career in the sports industry because “the game of basketball is mesmerizing both on and off the court,” he explains. “Everyone is looking for an edge — in terms of information, personnel, productivity — and that requires creativity, topnotch communication and a fair bit of luck. I love the challenge in that type of environment.”

Nick Fleder ’13

After graduating from Masters — where, he says, history teacher Lisa Berrol and science teacher Kristen Tregar “helped me grow as a student and a person” — Fleder received a B.A. in history and sports management with a concentration in analytics from Rice University. He followed that degree with an M.S. in business analytics from Texas McCombs School of Business. Prior to joining the Knicks, Fleder held analyst positions with the Indiana Pacers and Rice University’s men’s basketball team. “During my high school and college years, there was massive growth in terms of the data available to professional teams — everything from in-game player tracking and coordinate information to athletic performance and movement data,” Fleder says. “Every industry is changing rapidly in the information age, and if you have passion and creativity, you can find a way to land even through unconventional routes.” One of the most exciting moments of his career came when Fleder got to watch the full process of the NBA Draft unfold — an opportunity he describes as “a dream come true.” “I’ve always loved the NBA Draft process,” he says. “You have dozens of people realizing their dreams, and from the fan and team perspective, the league gets dozens of exciting young players at once to root for and watch grow. Meanwhile, there’s intrigue from everything to the draft lottery and figuring out how to evaluate a player’s fit with a team.”

“

Every industry is changing rapidly in the

information age, and if you have passion and creativity, you can find a way to land even through unconventional routes.

BASKETBALL”

One data point is certain: With a head for numbers and a heart for the Knicks, everything has added up for Fleder.

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VITAL SUPPORT The generosity of alumnae/i, parents and friends has shaped Masters’ history and will continue to impact its future. Gifts to the Masters Fund provide vital support to our community’s most valuable assets — our students and their teachers. Be a part of this annual intiative today. Visit mastersny.org/makeagift or contact Director of Annual Giving Hilary Finkelstein at hilary.finkelstein@mastersny.org.

The Estherwood Society recognizes alumnae/i, parents and friends who have chosen to honor The Masters School through their estate, trust or other gift planning vehicle. The thoughtful planning of society members provides an ongoing legacy for future generations of Masters students and helps the School remain on solid footing during times of economic uncertainty.

For a complimentary gift planning guide or to notify The Masters School of your intentions, please contact Director of Alumnae/i Engagement Sujata Jaggi ’01 at 914-479-6611 or sujata.jaggi@mastersny.org.

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S O C C E R C A P TA I N A D U L S A M O N ’ 2 3

A Leader On and Off the Field:

ADUL SAMON '23

Winning this season’s New York State Association of Independent Schools championship was a thrill for the boys varsity soccer team. But for one player, the taste of victory was especially sweet. Playing on a championship team may have been a goal for junior midfielder Adul Samon ’23 but not a priority. He enrolled at The Masters School a year ago from his home in Thailand, as part of a journey to expand his academic opportunities – and after surviving a harrowing, life-changing rescue operation that made headlines around the world. In 2018, Samon and his 11 soccer teammates and coach were trapped in Thailand’s Tham Luang caves for more than two weeks before a dramatic and miraculous rescue by international cave divers. Samon’s knowledge of four languages was instrumental in communicating with rescuers. “From that experience, I learned a lot, I became stronger and it let me think more positively in my life,” he said. That perseverance and strength of character has made him a soccer standout at Masters. “He was a clear choice to be a captain this year despite it being his first year on the team because of the example he sets. Adul is the definition of diligent, hard-working and conscientious,” explained Neil Jaggernauth, assistant coach of the boys varsity soccer team and middle school math teacher. The pandemic delayed Samon’s first season of play, so celebrating a championship as co-captain in his second year at Masters was more than he could ask for. “When we won the game, I said ‘Oh my God, this is amazing,’” he shared. “I never thought about this moment because I came here to study, and I never dreamed of being a champion.” Samon’s love of sports started when he was a child. He was athletic and did well at track because of his speed. As a volleyball player, he was recruited to play for the international team in Thailand. He played for six years but wanted to try a sport where he could use more of his physicality. Fueled by his admiration for professional soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, Samon started to get more serious about the sport. “I like to move everything: my body, my hands, my legs, my head. And also my brain is moving since I have to use it to figure out ‘what should I do next?’” His physical style of play is what defines him on the pitch. “Adul plays the defensive midfield position like a player three times his size and consequently does the work of about three people throughout the game,” Jaggernauth said. “He is absolutely fearless stepping into

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After their rescue, Samon, seated on the left, and his Thai soccer teammates were invited to the United Kingdom. While there, they took in a Manchester United game and toured the stadium.

tackles and disrupting the other team’s buildup of play while starting our attack as well.” Off the field, Samon misses home but as a boarding student embraces his Masters family. “It’s pretty cool to be in New York and here on campus,” he said. “I like the community. We are very close with each other: the teachers and the students.” Being a part of the team and making friends has helped Samon acclimate to his new surroundings. “When we’re on the bus for away games, we get to talk and get to know each other,” Samon explained. “We get hyped up together and say ‘C’mon let’s go and win this game!’” Those friends have also helped him overcome his shyness. “I wasn’t really talkative when I started playing soccer with the team, but you have to talk more, you can't just keep quiet,” he said. “When you play soccer, you have to be confident so that you can show your ability to play, and your teammates can trust you so they send the ball to you.”

mutual. “Adul is a pleasure to have on any team and has a fantastic attitude towards his game and his players,” Franklin shared. “He is a coach’s dream and he inspires other players around him.” Meanwhile, the story of Samon and his Thai soccer team continues to inspire and capture global attention, most recently in a National Geographic documentary and in upcoming Netflix and Hollywood productions. While that experience is indelibly etched in Samon’s memory, he has moved on and is creating a new narrative. Like many other Masters students, he is busy writing papers, doing homework, playing guitar and thinking about college. Soccer, however, remains a constant in his life. It is always on his mind. “I’m excited for the next season to start,” he said. “I can’t wait.”

Jaggernauth added: “I saw him step out of his comfort zone to try to work on being more vocal and involved because he knew that was what the team needed.” Samon is grateful for the insight and passion that Jaggernauth and head coach Ray Franklin have instilled in him — and the feeling is

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C O L L E G I AT E S P O R T S J O U R N A L I S M

Giving It the Old College Try With its robust journalism and athletics programs, The Masters School has instilled a love of journalism and sports in many alumnae/i and current students. These five recent graduates have combined these passions in their college careers. MITCH FINK ’21 would love to make his lifelong dream of becoming a sports journalist a reality. A first-year at Boston University’s College of Communication, Fink is a journalism major and sports editor of The Daily Free Press, the independent student newspaper. He puts his aspiration in perspective. “If that’s how it plays out, that would be great. I would love that,” he said. As sports editor, Fink plans the sports content for the week and manages a newsroom staff of sports writers and columnists. “Working on a college newspaper is really rewarding,” Fink said. “It’s a lot of people putting together a product for the whole community.” According to Fink, sports writing combines two of his greatest passions – writing and following his favorite sports teams. “I’ve always been a huge sports fan and I’ve never been particularly good at sports,” Fink shared. “I come from a family of writers and from a young age, I liked to write.” Fink earned his sports writing chops at Masters where he was sports editor of Tower his junior year and co-editor in chief senior year. “Tower empowers students to pursue careers in journalism like it did for me,” he reflected. Fortunately for Fink, the New York native has always been a Red Sox fan. “My dorm is right near Fenway Park. It’s definitely cool and a nice perk of being in Boston,” he noted. And yes, he admits, it would be tough to be a Yankees fan at Boston University. There’s always the chance that DREW SCHOTT ’19 will encounter Fink, his fellow Masters School alumnus, in the press box. “At the moment,” said Schott, a senior at Northwestern University, “I would love to be a college football beat writer for a major newspaper or a place like The Athletic. I really love to write and I love beat reporting, so that’s my goal for the long term.” Currently Schott is in a journalism residency working as a sports reporting intern at The Arizona Republic. Schott jumped into the sports reporting scene as soon as he entered Northwestern. He initially covered men’s soccer for The Daily Northwestern, the student-run newspaper. Having that beat “was instrumental in my growth as a journalist. It was a great way not only to get familiarized with beat reporting, but also a realistic introduction to a fast-paced newsroom, deadlines, and the different types of articles you have to write from precedes and game stories to features,” he said.

BULLETIN Spring 2022

Editorial positions on The Daily Northwestern soon followed. Schott was sports editor for a semester and then gameday editor responsible for coordinating the Daily’s coverage of Northwestern football. “You get a different perspective covering teams when you cover college football,” he said. “Find ways to differentiate yourself,” advises Schott. “Talk to as many people as possible. You never know if these people will become sources, if they will help you with stories, and who these people may introduce to you in the future.” Schott vividly remembers the sports articles he wrote for Tower and the edits and critiques he received from Tower advisor/ journalism teacher Ellen Cowhey. “It’s why I’m a better writer and where I am today,” he said. When SHAWN FARHADIAN graduated from Masters in 2019, he knew he wanted to be a sports journalist. It was one of the reasons he chose the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California, a university with “amazing school spirit” and “an attractive sports scene.” He hit the ground running. First semester freshman year, he became an assistant sports editor for the student newspaper, Daily Trojan, covering the school’s NCAA Division I football team. “I would go to football practice and interview players and coaches about practice and how they’re preparing for the game that week,” said Farhadian. By second semester, he was promoted to sports editor, overseeing the beat writers and laying out the sports section of the paper every night. “It was basically everything I did at Tower just on a much larger scale,” he explained. He credits his work on Tower and Ms. Cowhey with honing his editing, writing and communication skills. “My Tower experience served me well,” continued Farhadian, who was sports editor his senior year at Masters. When COVID-19 hit the USC campus, student journalists — among others — were isolated from the games. This led Farhadian to re-evaluate his career goal. He realized his “passion is not writing about sports. It’s about being around sports and being able to be in that environment,” he said. He switched his major from journalism to communications and tried out for a student manager position for the football team. As one of eight student managers working for the 100-plus players on the USC Trojans, Farhadian helped organize and manage practice and game-day logistics. He was responsible for ensuring

players had the proper equipment needed for practice and games. “It was a great experience being around the players at practice and talking to the coaches. Being part of a team and having that firsthand experience was rewarding,” Farhadian said. “Even though the team didn’t do so well and the work was onerous and time-consuming, at the end of the day, being in that environment was something I really enjoyed.”

MITCH FINK ’21

The USC junior is now enjoying being back in the stands as a spectator. He’s had the thrill of being on the field during football games and is happy watching the sport from a different vantage point. Farhadian plans to pursue opportunities in the sports industry – perhaps with an agency or in a front office role. “Things change,” he reflected. “My experience writing for the Daily Trojan helped me realize that I don’t need to write about sports to be a part of it.” Like Farhadian, SOPHIE GRAND ’21 arrived at college and immediately joined the student newspaper. Thanks to her work as chief design editor of Tower, Grand was well prepared to take on the responsibilities of managing design editor for The Michigan Daily at the University of Michigan. Grand designs the weekly Sports Monday covers and special edition pages and leads the team of illustrators, layout designers and infographic creators. “It’s a really cool experience designing covers and pages for such a huge newspaper at a DI Big Ten school,” she said. “I never expected to be designing covers celebrating wins like the UM vs OSU game or the crazy win against Iowa, where thousands of people across the country saw my work and ordered posters with the design on it.” “I have a lot of creative freedom in my role and I enjoy being able to explore and broaden the types of layouts I do,” said Grand, who confesses to being a “huge” Michigan football fan and loves going to the games.

DREW SCHOTT ’19

SHAWN FARHADIAN ’19

Grand hopes to start writing soon for The Michigan Daily. “Throughout my classes at Masters, I learned how to be an articulate writer,” she said. “I took Introduction to Journalism on a whim, ended up loving it and continued on that track with Tower.” Grand’s classmate LOGAN SCHICIANO ’21 is on the same track. At Masters, Schiciano served as Tower editor-in-chief junior year and lead producer for Tower Broadcast News his senior year. A first-year student at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Schiciano is continuing his journey in the world of journalism and sports.

SOPHIE GRAND ’21

Schiciano hit the airwaves as soon as he landed in Evanston. He is the editor-in-chief of WNUR Sports, the student-run radio station, where he provides color commentary for a number of games, and an associate producer for NNN Sports, Northwestern’s student television station. He also is one of the managers of the women’s varsity lacrosse team. “Managing lacrosse and getting to know the players and hearing what goes on behind the scenes and how they prepare for games really helped inform my overall knowledge of how a sports team functions, which of course is an important thing when you’re trying to report on a sports team,” Schiciano said. Some highlights of Schiciano’s sports reporting at Northwestern in his first year include covering Northwestern’s victory in the 2021 NCAA Field Hockey National Championship and the men’s basketball team’s run in the Big Ten Tournament for NNN Sports.

LOGAN SCHICIANO ’21

“I love sports, but don’t know which path I’m going to go on right now. During the pandemic I got into national news and went to college thinking I would want to do more TV news, hard news as opposed to sports,” Schiciano said. “But that doesn’t mean if a good opportunity in sports broadcasting presented itself, I wouldn’t take it. I have plenty of time to figure it out.”

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B R O A D C A S T E R PAY T O N F U ’ 1 4

Turning a Love of Sports Into a Broadcasting Career

PAYTON FU '14

BULLETIN Spring 2022

It’s almost 1:00 a.m. on a Monday in China, and Payton Fu ’14 downs a coffee and adjusts his tie. Fu is in a Beijing television studio about to go on camera to call back-to-back National Football League (NFL) games as a play-by-play sports television announcer for NFL China and Tencent, the Chinese media/ tech company.

It’s a tough gig because of the hour — but it’s also a dream come true for Fu, a diehard sports fan, who participated in basketball, cross-country, track and lacrosse at Masters. He also helped run the Football Club on campus, which meant organizing flag/touch football games and Super Bowl watch parties. “I was known as the guy who would stay in and watch games, while others would go to the city,” he said. “I even missed prom because of this, so safe to say I was hardcore.” His allegiance to athletics continued at the University of Richmond, where he majored in film and played on both the intramural and club basketball teams. As an intramural captain whose team went to the playoffs three years in a row,

LEFT: Fu, right, has taken his passion for sports to the small screen as a sports television announcer. BELOW: On Chinese New Year's Eve, Fu, right, was on camera calling the NFC Championship game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams.

he fondly remembers one game-winner: “One guy tried to foul me, but the ref didn’t blow the whistle. I drove down to the baseline, did a pump fake to get a defender out of position and knocked down the shot. One of the best feelings I’ve had on court.” Off the court, he pursued his passion for music at WDCE, the college radio station, where he worked as a DJ playing extreme metal and punk music and interviewing bands. “It was fun to be on air and play music I liked,” he shared. For the kid who wanted to be called Payton in middle school because of his admiration for former professional basketball star Gary Payton, working behind a mic in college gave him his first taste of what was to come. After college, Fu returned home to China to seize an opportunity to volunteer for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. “That kick-started my sports career in general,” he explained. “I didn't know the organization and business part behind sporting events. I just had a lot of energy and passion, and wanted to contribute to the greatest international basketball competition outside the Olympics.” The experience proved to be a major career turning point for Fu: “Even as a volunteer, I did a lot of work above and beyond my status, which helped me learn tremendously behind the scenes, and see how the whole spectacle worked.” Though the pandemic shut everything down in 2020, Fu’s diligence and perseverance paid off. When Tencent was looking to hire more announcers for both football and basketball, Fu put together some practice material and landed an audition. He did enough to impress the director, and the rest, as they say, is history. “I have now called two seasons’ worth of games,” Fu said. That coverage includes AFC (American Football Conference) and NFC (National Football Conference) Championship games and he was an on-camera strategic analyst for the Super Bowl. The NFC Championship game when the San Francisco 49ers faced the Los Angeles Rams was memorable.

“The game was on Chinese New Year’s Eve and we had to wear traditional Chinese jackets, or tangzhuang, on camera,” Fu recalled. As a big 49ers fan, he said, “Calling my favorite team’s game on New Year’s Eve, that was special for me.” Beyond adjusting to time zone differences, the job involves prep work and research throughout the week leading up to game day. During some games, he was required to stay in the studio to do even more: pre-game talk, a halftime report, between-quarter analysis and a post-game summary. “I’d spend four to six hours doing the research the day before sometimes just to enhance my knowledge,” he explained. “I’d also write my own game reviews and sync them on multiple platforms, so that takes time as well.” Around 8:00 a.m. when he’s done with his on-air work, he heads to his other job as content operator at ECO Sports, a Chinese sports media platform. “It’s not easy to make the schedule work, but again if you love what you do, you find a way,” he said. Someone who has cheered him from afar and witnessed his journey in real time is Fu's former teacher, John Chiodo, Masters’ director of innovation, engineering and computer science, whom Fu calls “a father figure.” “Payton has always been passionate about sports; in fact, on his first day on Masters’ campus, I remember we spent much of the day talking about basketball.” As Fu tackles his future in sports broadcasting, his family has been nothing but supportive and are, he said, “making an effort to learn more about the sports industry and American football.” He calls his four years at Masters “some of the happiest of my life”: from great English and history Harkness discussions to the close-knit JV boys basketball team with its 14-8 record his junior year and the Great Gig salute to Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon.” Fu has even been known to sport his purple Masters tie on the air. “Do it with thy might, and I wear it with pride,” he said. “For a long time, my passion in sports was compartmentalized, and I wasn't really driven to do something with it. The transition happened when I understood that passion goes beyond personal enjoyment, and I feel very grateful and lucky that I get to do something I love.”

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F A C U LT Y W H O P L A Y E D D 1 B A S K E T B A L L

From MARCH MADNESS .......... BASKETBALL ODYSSEY: FORMER ST. PETER’S STAR GUIDES BOYS VARSITY PROGRAM

he came out of college, shoot-first point guards were uncommon. It was unsettling to the basketball establishment to see a confident kid routinely sinking deep 3-pointers as if they were layups. This, of course, was not lost on Clark, who competed at the NBA pre-draft camp following college and was ranked as the 13th-best player.

The chance to play college basketball was life-changing for Keydren Clark. Clark, who has coached the varsity boys basketball team at The Masters School since 2020, blossomed like a vibrant spring tulip when he ventured in 2002 to Jersey City to attend Saint Peter’s College. “Getting a college scholarship and going to school for free was everything,” said Clark, who honed his skills as a child at the Alexander Hamilton Playground courts in Harlem. “I was the first in my family to do so — to get a free ride and have an opportunity to play a Division I sport. Reflecting on it, it was the best time of my life. I met some great people and made some great friends. It enabled me to want more for myself.”

KEYDREN CLARK

Clark maximized his talents at Saint Peter’s, morphing from an undersized and under-recruited New York City point guard into a bona fide superstar on the national stage. The 5-foot-11 Clark took college basketball by storm, utilizing his deft sharpshooting abilities to twice lead NCAA Division I in scoring. He graduated from Saint Peter’s in 2006 as the sixth all-time leading scorer in Division I history and is currently ninth on the list — two spots ahead of NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson. “If you put in the hard work and are determined, you can maximize your ability and go on to do things even when people doubt you,” said Clark, who attended a few of the Peacocks’ NCAA tournament games during this past March’s historic run to the Elite Eight. Clark, however, wasn’t satisfied with just being a legendary college player. Determined to see just how far he could take his passion for basketball, Clark went overseas and competed professionally for 13 years. “I was playing in countries — Turkey, Russia, Italy, Greece, France and China — that I never thought I’d even go to, especially as an inner city kid," he said. “All these wonderful places that I read about in books, I was able to go there and live and experience the culture. And this was all because I was able to put a basketball in the hoop.” Under different circumstances and in a different time, there’s a good chance Clark would have gotten a real shot with an NBA team. When

BULLETIN Spring 2022

“I was born too early,” he said with a slight chuckle. “The shots that I was taking back then weren’t accepted. Sometimes, I think if I were playing now — and I believe this in my heart — that I’d be an NBA player. But that’s just how things go. I still carved out a beautiful career for myself, so there are no hard feelings. I just laugh at how the game has changed and my shots were bad shots then and now they are the shots that everyone takes.”

Clark was tipped off about the Masters’ coaching opening via a family friend and has since transitioned from the role of superstar player to trusted coach and mentor for the School’s varsity basketball players. “I share my story with Masters students to let them know,” Clark said. “As a kid, I was just like them. I didn’t know a lot. I knew I could play and had a great outside shot, but that was it. I was kind of limited, but I showed up every day and believed in myself.” Clark has focused on helping the Panthers improve by challenging them day in and day out at practices and in games. “The most important thing for them is playing against better talent, so they can look themselves in the mirror and see they actually need to work,” Clark said. “They have so much access to everything, so there’s no reason for them to not improve — if they truly want to play this sport. That’s what I stress to them.” For Clark, the love of basketball has always been a constant. Saint Peter’s nourished that passion and forever transformed his life. “I look back at it and think that college was the best thing that could’ve happened to me,” Clark said. “It opened my eyes to so much more in the world that I was blind to because of where I came from. Basketball, to me, was everything. It was my way out to a better life. I’m thankful to my mom and dad for putting a basketball in my hands. The rest is history.”

RIGHT: Clark's significant basketball experience has been a boon for the Panthers.

..........

to MASTERS WALKING THE WALK AT KANSAS AND NOW 49 CLINTON

who lived near the school. He started out his college career at Mt. San Antonio College before transferring to Kansas. He graduated from the university with a master’s degree in social work before setting out on his own.

As a walk-on for the University of Kansas men’s basketball team in the early ’90s, Brandon Sanders experienced the pinnacle of college athletics.

His Hollywood-esque path as a walk-on gave him a unique view of college athletics that few get the opportunity to witness.

“Basketball at KU was like a fraternity,” said Sanders, who joined Masters this year as a counselor in the Upper School and thoroughly enjoyed watching the Jayhawks win this year’s NCAA Division I championship. “We always said we were a family. Even now, those guys, if I call them, they treat me like family.” That KU basketball family filled up virtually all of Sanders’ time outside of classes.

BRANDON SANDERS

“At 3:30 p.m., I’d be done with classes, and at 4:00 p.m. I was in the gym,” he said. "I got up every morning at 5:30 a.m., and I’d be working out in Allen Fieldhouse. It taught me a lot of discipline and dedication.” Word of Sanders’ intense devotion to his craft got around. His teammates, including Rex Walters, a first-round NBA draft pick who played for the New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat from 1993 to 2000, soon came calling — literally. “I’d always get phone calls from Rex Walters and Steve Woodberry, another close friend of mine,” Sanders said. “They would say, ‘Hey, let’s go shoot.’ That stayed with me.” Sanders, who dubbed his primary role at Kansas as a “practice player,” was brought up to the varsity squad in 1991 and remained until he graduated in 1994. His headline-grabbing teammates didn’t always love the practice battles. A physically gifted point guard who prided himself on smothering defense, Sanders relished those moments despite not getting much live-game action. “At that time, my best attribute was my defense,” he said. “Adonis Jordan [a 1993 NBA draft pick by the Seattle SuperSonics] hated playing me in practice. Rex Walters did also. They used to say I was too rough.”

“If you are trying to play college basketball, you have to have a balance between sports and academics,” he said. “Four years go by fast. Make the most of those four years and have something to fall back on. For me, after I left Kansas, I got into other things like music and tennis. At the end of eligibility, you have to let it go.”

A talented jazz drummer, Sanders went on to earn a degree in music studies from Berklee College of Music. His resume also includes roles at Legacy College Preparatory High School as a social worker, New York City Department of Education as a dean and social worker, and KIPP Academy as a music teacher. At Masters, Sanders has been afforded a chance to spread his wings and contribute in many different facets of school life. “The experience has been great and Masters is a great school,” he said. “It’s a school that allows me to use the skills that I have to work with kids via counseling, coaching basketball, tennis and music. I’m very appreciative and grateful for the opportunity.” The sport of basketball, however, will always occupy the largest space in his heart. “Basketball is in my blood,” Sanders said. “That’s my go-to as far as building confidence and self-esteem. That’s my first love.” And he took that love further than most anyone could have imagined.

A native of Los Angeles, Sanders grew up attending Kansas’ basketball camp in the summer when he visited his grandmother,

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feature

ALUMNAE RETURN AS COACHES

Alumnae Coaches

Bring Passion and Acumen to Their Former Teams When it comes to The Masters School’s various athletics programs, it turns out you can go home again. Two alumnae — upper school admission director Andrea Fischer ’02 and Clara MeereWeigel ’15 — have both returned to 49 Clinton and are flourishing in their roles as former student-athletes-turned-coaches. Fischer, a standout basketball player for the Panthers, grabbed the reins to the varsity girls program this past year. Meere-Weigel, a gifted and accomplished fencer, has served as the head fencing coach for the middle school, junior varsity and varsity programs since 2020. The experience has been both gratifying and nostalgic for Fischer, who helped guide Masters’ varsity girls basketball program to prominence in the early aughts. “It’s one of those full-circle moments," said Fischer, who became a 1,000-point scorer at College of

Mount St. Vincent after graduating from Masters. “Being back to coach a team that had such an impact on my life in just two years, it’s been a lot of fun. I never thought I’d be back coaching the same team I played for 20 years later.” Meere-Weigel, meanwhile, recalled feeling a tinge of jealousy after throwing her rose on Graduation Terrace and heading off to Concordia University. After all, she never got a chance to sharpen her épée skills in the Fonseca Center’s state-of-the-art Francisco Martin Fencing Room. “We had to set up the strips in the Middle School every time,” Meere-Weigel recalled with a chuckle. “Now these kids are so lucky, so it’s amazing to have access to the space.” Meere-Weigel learned about and fell in love with the sport under the direction of former Masters head coach Francisco Martin, a legendary figure in the fencing world who still helps out with the Panthers’ program. Meere-Weigel learned more than blade technique from Martin.

BELOW: Fischer, pictured center with the 2021-2022 girls varsity basketball team, is focused on the girls program’s long-term health and success.

BELOW: Fischer, seated second from left, has loved basketball since her days as a Panther.

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“When it comes to coaching middle and high schoolers, (Martin) taught me a lot about commanding a room,” she said. “I’m only 24 years old, so it’s not like I’m a lot older than the kids I’m coaching. As a new coach, I am working my way toward that. I’m bringing the team together, getting everyone to do drills and conditioning and learning more about the sport.” Meere-Weigel has been assisted in the process by Petar Agatonovic ’18, a superstar fencer who currently competes at Sacred Heart University. He has also come back to help out Masters’ program. Fischer’s time as a former player has allowed her to become a more informed and personable coach. She pointed toward all the various demands placed on studentathletes these days and how that knowledge has helped her better communicate with the team. “I only see them for two hours a day, and there’s so much more going on in their lives — particularly at a school like Masters where there’s so many different demands on their time and competing schedules,” Fischer said. “I knew that as a student, but even more so as a coach because I lived it. As a coach now, I hope that I have that level of empathy with my players.”

level, where sports are part of the physical education curriculum. And then getting those kids invested and involved in the sport through senior year.” Meere-Weigel initially questioned whether she would have enough fencers to fill out a lineup card. “I was pretty worried,” Meere-Weigel said of her mindset coming into the 2021-2022 fencing season. “We lost a lot of seniors last year who were the backbone of a lot of our teams, and I was worried that we wouldn’t have enough interest with kids getting into the sport. I also didn’t know how many international kids were coming back. Luckily, we did an intro to fencing class this fall, and a lot of those kids ended up being starters on varsity this year. We medaled (at the team championships) in

all weapons, so I call it a success. We got third place in everything and first place in girls foil.” There are now over 100 fencers among the middle school, junior varsity and varsity programs. With a swell of interest in the sport, Meere-Weigel has another problem to confront. “Next year, I think we will need one more coach,” she said. And an old Masters yearbook might just be the best place to start the search.

RIGHT: Meere-Weigel, second from left, placed in the Independent School Fencing League Championship for girls épée in 2014. BELOW: Meere-Weigel’s

coaching style is inspired by

acclaimed Masters fencing

coach Francisco Martin.

Both Fischer and Meere-Weigel inherited programs that were coming off long stretches without interscholastic competition due to the pandemic. As one can imagine, putting all the pieces together proved to be a bit of a tough task. Fischer, however, noted that her focus wasn’t all on the present. Ensuring the program’s long-term health and success were both top of mind. “I have every player coming back next year,” Fischer said. “My goals for the long-term are to build a program. That’s not just a varsity team but a middle school team that can feed a junior varsity team and a junior varsity that can feed varsity. I have my work cut out for me. But my hope is to drive more numbers and get that buy-in from starting at the middle school

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News and happenings 

on campus

Rave Reviews International Dinner Through song, dance and dishes representing more than 20 countries, cultural goodwill was on display at the International Headʼs Dinner this spring. The annual event is an opportunity for students to share and celebrate their heritage with the community.

The far-from-“revolting children” in the middle school production of “Matilda” wowed audiences with a darkly entertaining, humorous script and energetic song and dance. The cast and crew of 24 students received standing ovations for each of their two performances in early March.

Frank DiCicco Retires To the man who always delivers.

After 39 years of service to the Masters community, beloved mailroom manager Frank DiCicco retired in April. Head of School Laura Danforth noted that Frank held the record for the longest tenure at the School, adding “he was an anchor to me and had always given me sage advice.” She said his “calm presence on this campus was invaluable.” He made many friends over the years and often said “the people that I got along with so well here” were the main reason he stayed as long as he did. “It was such a joy knowing that I had friends to rely on all these years,” he shared. DiCicco joined Masters in 1984 as a carpenter’s helper, then became a driver of the School’s fleet of vans and buses. His journey continued for the next 12 years as a member of the grounds crew before taking a position in the mailroom, where he became a familiar and comforting presence. The Yonkers-raised, current Long Island resident will miss “the feeling of being part of the Masters family,” but looks forward to being with his own family in Georgia which includes three children, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. After that, more travel: “I’d like to see more of the world.”

BULLETIN Spring 2022

WINTER/SPRING NEWS

| on campus

Digging In Fifth graders helped celebrate innovation at Masters during a groundbreaking ceremony for the School’s new Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center. The new building will open in 2023.

Model UN Conference Day In March, all tenth grade students participated in the annual Model UN Conference Day. Students were assigned to one of five committees and wrote resolutions, gave speeches, and debated global issues, including climate, agriculture, cybersecurity and political security.

An Undefeated Season Thanks to their positive attitudes and hard work, Mastersʼ middle school girls basketball players celebrated a successful season. The Panthers — powered by an unwavering team-first approach — went undefeated with an impressive 5-0 record.

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BULLETIN Spring 2022

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alumnae spotlight

IN HER FOOTSTEPS

Ellie Collinson ’98 & Susan Smith Collinson ’62

Like mother, like daughter. Susan Smith Collinson ’62 and Ellie Collinson ’98 share a close bond, made even stronger by their connection to their alma mater. A family gathering a few years ago would

that her grandmother even “wanted to go

to look into holistic practices and start

have made Eliza Bailey Masters smile.

hunting on her honeymoon.”

her longtime work as a teacher of The Alexander Technique. She joined the

Susan Smith Collinson ’62 and her

Susan and her three sisters followed in

Dobbs Alumnae/i Association Board and

daughter, Ellie Collinson ’98, together

their mother’s footsteps. “My parents liked

the School’s Board of Trustees in 1987.

with Susan’s younger sisters, Barbara S.

the idea of an ‘all-girls’ education,” Susan

(She served on the Alumnae/i Board until

Smith ’71, Nancy Smith Robbins ’65 and

explained, “and my mother believed it was

1990 and the Board of Trustees until

Alexandra “Sandy” Smith ’67, started to

important for all four of her daughters to

1998.) This gave her the opportunity to

harmonize. “My aunt Sandy plays ukulele,

attend Dobbs and not give any advantage

expose Ellie to all things Dobbs — from

and we were all singing folk songs and

to one daughter over another.”

Annual Fund phone-a-thons to the

some of the songs we used to sing in

popular Estherwood Boutique events. She

Glee Club,” Ellie said. “I was trying to get

Like her mother, Susan loved her time at

them to remember the words to ‘Loreley’

Dobbs. She was a member of the dance

because it was one of my favorite songs.”

club and took on a leadership role as

Ellie thrived at Dobbs and enjoyed

vice president of the senior class. “Miss

exploring different interests. After

“Then we all broke out into our best

Sheldon (science) and Miss Nichols

participating in the Swiss term abroad

rendition of the ‘Tower Song,’” Susan

(ancient history) were my favorite

in eighth grade, she decided that she

fondly recalled.

teachers,” she shared.

wanted to board upon her return; she soon

encouraged Ellie to apply.

moved into Cole. Like her grandmother,

It was the perfect snapshot of the Smith-

Between her education and volunteering

Ellie pursued athletics (field hockey and

Collinson family’s Dobbs legacy, which also

at the Dobbs Ferry Hospital, Susan

lacrosse). “It was nice to be able to stay

includes Susan’s niece Laura Robbins ’98.

developed an interest in the health care

on campus after games,” she said. “I was

The family’s history with the School began

field. When she was accepted to the

also a member of Phoenix (the honorary

with their matriarch and Susan’s mother,

University of Michigan, she was thrilled,

theater society), DAA (Dobbs Athletic

Barbara Smith ’31. Barbara and her sisters,

explaining that “I wanted to go to nursing

Association) and the winter musicals,

Frances Hunt Austin ’30 and Janet Hunt

school and get a bachelor’s degree and

so I was more involved in after-school

Elliman ’29, all attended Dobbs together.

have a broader education.”

activities. I liked being independent.”

Susan remembers her mother as “a sporty

Susan worked part time as a nurse when

After Dobbs, Ellie attended Colorado

type” who was “a great tennis player, a

she and her husband settled in Chappaqua,

College and earned a degree in Asian

great golfer and loved to sail.” Ellie noted

New York. During this time, she began

studies and music, followed by a

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alumnae/i

master's in public administration from

over their love of food and travel. They

the University of Colorado. Thanks to

maintain special friendships with their

her extensive experience in advocacy,

respective Dobbs classmates and look

financial management and organizational

forward to reunions.

development, she recently was appointed to the Biden administration as chief of staff to the assistant secretary of administration in the U.S. Department of Commerce. She credits Dobbs with instilling confidence in her. She looked to her mother and the other women in the community — faculty and alumnae —

“

The Dobbs bond with my mom, my aunts and my grandmother

as role models with their “take charge”

Susan acknowledges that the Smith

attitudes.

women’s legacy is important to her,

is powerful.

in large part because of the mother/ And just like her mother, Ellie served on

daughter associations with the School —

the Dobbs Alumnae/i Association Board.

associations that span three generations.

“For me, I had so many positive memories of helping my mother, and I felt like I

“The Dobbs bond with my mom, my

was maintaining a legacy of our family’s

aunts and my grandmother is powerful,”

involvement,” Ellie said. “I’m always happy

Ellie said. “There is this sort of infinity

to support the School because it’s had a

that will forever link us to the School.”

”

huge impact on my life.” While Ellie is busy in Washington, D.C., and Susan calls Vermont home, they remain close, finding time to connect

ABOVE: Ellie Collinson ’98, left, strolling outside the hill dorms with cousin Laura Robbins ’98 as students. LEFT: The Smith sisters, left to right, Nancy Smith Robbins ’65, Susan Smith Collinson ’62, Alexandra "Sandy" Smith ’67 and Barbara S. Smith ’71, are part of the Dobbs family legacy.

m a s t e r s n y. o r g

reunion 2022 Together Again Reunion 2022 marked a meaningful milestone for alumnae/i, bringing together classmates from eight different classes and from as far as Haiku, Hawaii, and Big Sky, Montana, for an exuberant celebration on campus. The hugs, the walks up the hill, and the many laughs were

Hugs abound at Reunion 2022.

wonderful reminders of the closeknit and enduring connection with faculty and friends.

REUNION AWARD WINNERS It is tradition at Reunion to honor members of The Masters School community who have distinguished themselves through service to the School, to its students, and to the world outside Masters. Congratulations to the following award recipients.

The Richmond Bowl Betsy Hamill Bramsen ’63 Recognized for her outstanding dedication and commitment through service to the School, Bramsen has given generously of her time as a trustee (1986-1998), as an annual fund volunteer, and event host in the Chicago area for fellow alumnae/i and friends.

The Anna Howe Faculty Award Michele Dennis P’21, ’23 As a member of the math faculty for the past 25 years, Dennis has inspired and encouraged a generation of Masters students.

The Arts Hall of Fame Nia DaCosta ’07 An award-winning filmmaker and director, DaCosta serves as an ambassador for The Masters School’s long-standing tradition of excellence in the performing and visual arts.

2. 1. 50 years and going strong. The Class of 1972 returns to 49 Clinton Avenue to celebrate their 50th reunion.

2. Members of the Dobbs graduating Class of 1971 reunite, reminisce, and revisit their favorite spots on campus during their 50th reunion.

3. |

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3. The Class of 2017 embarks on their reunion journey.

alumnae/i

4. Jill Schneider Davis ’62 shares

6. May Seamans Baldwin ’71 is

9. Barbara B. Pilling ’72 grabs a

a laugh with Head of School Laura

delighted to reconnect with Sharon

ribbon and unbraids the Maypole

Danforth during a visit to Davis’s senior

Beardsley Clarke ’71 (left), Jane Driscoll

with her classmates.

year dorm room in Estherwood.

Cabot ’71 (right) and friend.

5. With open arms, David Adams '07

7. Cell phone: ✔ Coffee: ✔ Friends: ✔

cheers the award winners at the Banquet Dinner alongside Lakeya Graves '07 (left)

8. It’s good to be back on campus –

and Dobbs Alumnae/i Association Board

hills and all.

Member Natasha Bansgopaul ’04.

Photo credits: Large photo: Christina Ha; Nia DaCosta photo: Erik Tanner; photo #7: Isaac Cass; all other photos: Julie Brown Harwood m a s t e r s n y. o r g

alumnae/i board

New Alumnae/i Board Members Named Kathryn TAYLOR Kathryn is a marketing specialist for Leslie Corrigan Insurance in Manassas, Virginia. A graduate of George Washington University with a B.A. in communications, Kathryn earned an M.A. in family life education from Concordia University. She arrived at The Masters School in sixth grade

HARVILL ’95 and recalls the positive experience she had during her time at the School. “I met the most incredible people and cherish the bonds that were formed there,” she says. “It is important for me to give back to the school community that gave so much to me.”

Jodi INNERFIELD ’05 Jodi is the senior director of product marketing for Salesforce. She began her career as a production designer assistant on the movie “Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps” and followed a career trajectory that involved working with technology companies in marketing, product and human resources. Jodi earned a B.A. in psychology from Columbia University and an M.B.A. from the

University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. She serves on the NextGen Board of the AntiDefamation League of New York/New Jersey. Jodi entered The Masters School as an eighth grader and says she is inspired to give back to Masters and help the next generation of students find their passion and voice as she did.

Vincent MADERA ’05 Vincent is the director of the Children’s Village Institute in Dobbs Ferry, New York, where he oversees the family-finding and aftercare programs. He has been with the nonprofit for more than 10 years, beginning his tenure there as an assistant

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manager in the Residential Treatment Center. A graduate of Catholic University, Vincent received an M.S.W. from Hunter College. Vincent’s sister, Sarah, is a 2010 graduate of The Masters School.

on our bookshelf

alumnae/i

“Dress Code: Unlocking Fashion from the New Look to Millennial Pink” by Véronique Hyland ’02 HarperCollins Publishers March 15, 2022 As ELLE’s fashion features director, Véronique Hyland knows style. In her debut essay collection, Hyland delves into the way fashion’s hidden forces shape our lives. Unpacking ever-changing beauty standards, “viral” fashion items, social media tropes, the rise of “millennial pink” (a term she coined) and more, Hyland helps make sense of how fashion affects us on an everyday level. “I am very lucky to be able to write and edit stories about how fashion intersects with politics and culture as part of my job,” Hyland says. “I wanted to do something that struck those same notes, just on a larger scale and with more historical context included. I hope that it makes people think a little bit more about the messages they send through what they wear and how we are often too quick to pre-judge one another based on external factors.” As “Dress Code” hits bookshelves, Hyland says: “I spent a lot of time thinking that someone who had expertise should write a book like this, and it took a long time for me to realize maybe I could actually be that person. If thereʼs a project you want to see in the world, don't wait for someone else to make it happen.” That’s one piece of advice that will never go out of fashion.

“Northern Spy: A Novel” by Flynn Berry ’04 Penguin Random House April 6, 2021 Acclaimed author Flynn Berry’s third book, “Northern Spy” tells the story of two sisters who become entangled with the IRA. A New York Times bestseller, “Northern Spy” was selected as a Reese’s Book Club Pick. “If you love a mystery, then you’ll devour [“Northern Spy”]... I loved this thrill ride of a book,” Reese Witherspoon said. Berry’s novel was a New York Times Book Review Top 10 Thriller of 2021 and a Washington Post Top 10 Thriller or Mystery of 2021. A New York Times Book Review called Berry’s book “a chilling, gorgeously written tale of a modern community poisoned by ancient grievances… Berry is a beautiful writer with a sophisticated, nuanced understanding of this most complicated of places.”

m a s t e r s n y. o r g

double double take take

AN ALUMNA AND A STUDENT — BOTH WITH A PASSION FOR ARCHITECTURE — ANSWER A SERIES OF QUESTIONS ON THEIR INTERESTS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PURSUITS.

What motivated you to pursue a career in architecture? Architecture was not my first career. After college, I taught kindergarten through sixth grade for 12 years. I always had an interest in design and construction, and along with the desire to be a teacher, I wanted to be an architect. During my last few years of teaching, I went to architecture school in the evenings at The City College of New York.

BRUCE BARRETT ‘68 is the former vice president of architecture and engineering at the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA), a position she held from 2003 through 2019. She was responsible for a department of more than 270 professionals in four studios. During her tenure, Barrett oversaw the design of more than 7,800 capital improvement projects to existing schools and more than 320 new schools and additions that provided over 139,000 additional classroom seats throughout New York City.

PHOEBE RADKE ’22 took Foundations in Architecture with art teacher Stephanie Mestyan and participated in Carnegie Mellon’s pre-college summer course for architecture in 2021. Her senior thesis, “Minimalist Architecture and Mood,” studies the history of minimalism, including its proponents, critics and recent resurgence. She plans to study architecture in college.

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How do you define good design? Achieving good design is so much more than just the architecture or engineering of a project. It’s being responsive to clients and sharing responsibility with your team, both the designers and the construction team. It’s responding to unusual challenges, like the severe impact of Hurricane Sandy on dozens of school buildings, or creating spaces to house NYC’s Universal Pre-K program in a matter of months. It’s about being brave and learning from your failures and mistakes and celebrating your successes with your team. The most magical part about design is walking into a building that is in construction or completed, and seeing the realization of what had been hundreds of pages of design documents transformed into

What interests you about architecture? Art has played a major role in my life since I was a kid. I've taken advanced art classes both in and out of school. In eleventh grade, I stumbled upon a YouTube video about a day in the life of an architect. I was fascinated, because it seemed like a field where I could continuously grow and expand my creative side while satisfying my need to create something tangible that will have real, positive effects. I am attracted to architecture because of the visual design aspects, but I'm also interested in the engineering side: What makes a building actually stand up? How can we make these beautiful, wonderful, sometimes seemingly impossible designs come to life? How do you see the role of architects in addressing social and environmental issues? Climate change is going to become, not an optional element to include in architecture, but

an actual building. It is nothing short of thrilling, every single time. How do you see the role of architects in addressing social and environmental issues? Well-designed public and institutional buildings such as schools, museums and other municipal buildings are important pieces of the social fabric of any town or city, and they can inspire the people who use them and work in them to realize their best potential and mission. Public buildings have a clear program and purpose, and excellent design can make the whole greater than the sum of its parts. For the past few decades, sustainability has been an essential component of design and construction. Every day we see, with increased urgency, that reducing our carbon footprint, including that of buildings, is critical. Organizations like the U.S. Green Building Council and government agencies have taken the lead by creating Green Building Codes and Mandates. In New York City we have Local Law 97, which will require that greenhouse gas emissions of all large buildings be reduced by 50% by 2030. The challenges include not only how to best achieve this goal, but must also address competing priorities.

a mandatory one. With weather disasters, you're going to get a lot of different criteria of what a project needs now and in 10 years. Even if it's a little project, such as a restroom in a public park, you're going to need to consider: If a devastating hurricane came in, if the river flooded, how is that going to affect my building? How can I design it in a way that it can withstand all the damages that are going to come so that it can be easily used after? What kind of architecture do you hope to pursue? I love residential architecture and the idea of working with people to make their dreams come true. I'm also excited about large-scale public projects. I'm open to anything. I want to study sustainability and architecture, because that’s going to be at the forefront of what everyone needs to have in their toolbox when they go into architecture. Is there a class or teacher at Masters that inspired your interest in architecture? I have known Ms. Hajjar, chair of the Visual

alumnae/i

Was there a class or teacher at Dobbs that inspired your interest in architecture? Having Estherwood as part of the campus experience was inspirational. I remember, at Christmas time, when everyone in the School was on the first floor of Estherwood, and people were singing on the grand staircase. I remember exploring the building, top to bottom. What is your fondest memory of Dobbs? Being with my friends. We loved walking around the circle to gain points for the Deltas, walking into the village to get lunch or ice cream, and taking the train into the city for the day. Which architects do you admire? I have had the privilege of working on new school projects with some of New York City’s finest architects: Susie Rodriguez from Polshek Partnership (now Ennead), Francis Halsband from Kliment Halsband, Ian Bader from Pei Cobb Freed, and so many others. These are people for whom design is the air they breathe. They are not only fabulous designers, but

Art Department, since ninth grade, and she's taught me formally since tenth grade. She has been my mentor. Last summer when I wanted to start my thesis, it began as an independent summer project, and she inspired me to do it. She's always there to help, not only me, but any student. I think she inspires lots of people. What is your fondest memory of Masters? Outside the Art Studio is a tree that blooms in the spring. Every day, during lunch or when we have a free period, my friends and I bring a huge picnic blanket and go sit underneath it. It’s kind of our spot, and it’s really, really lovely. You can read there, you can do anything. Which architects do you admire? Zaha Hadid. I know she was a very popular architect, but I admire her because she was a

they and their firms have made a consistent commitment to public architecture. What buildings inspire you? I love buildings that offer the three-dimensional experience of seeing the spaces in buildings work together, of seeing through spaces and into others, inside or outside. And I love buildings where the large-scale gestures and the small details are both important, and together make you smile. One of my favorite buildings is I.M. Pei’s East Wing of the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. The design and execution are so perfect, you just can’t imagine it being any different. For me, the way a building sits on its site, the way the facade is balanced or rhythmic, the way the interior offers logical and clear paths, how you see into and out from and through a building, makes it successful or not. What’s the best advice that you have received? I studied tai chi, and my teacher used to say, “Don’t insist; don't resist.” Good advice

woman in the field and at the top of the field. Her designs never cease to amaze me. She was looking for what design was going to stay relevant for the next 100 years. In all of her projects, she gave 100 percent. What buildings inspire you? One that I find really cool is the Invisible House [in Venice, Italy, designed by Tadao Ando]. It's a house that's made of concrete and glass. And you wouldn't really believe it was real unless you saw a photo of it or looked at it. The floors are not level, each room has its own height. And the walls are completely glass, which allows the sunlight to come streaming into every area of the house. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? It’s actually a quote from “The Office” from the character Dwight: “Whenever I'm about to

for tai chi, and excellent advice for designers, or really for anyone. Be open to what your heart and intuition say. Artie Nusbaum, a titan of the NYC Construction scene in the age of skyscrapers (and in his last years, a wellloved consultant to my department), told me, “Question everything.” What project(s) are you most proud of? The school building project that I’m most proud of is PS 62, Staten Island, New York City’s Net Zero Energy school building, and one of the first such school buildings in the country. The project included a large geothermal well field under the playground and solar hot water panels to help keep the energy need low. It was an amazing design and construction effort, resulting in an astonishingly beautiful building. Within the first three years, it achieved net-zero energy. For our team, it was a labor of love. It confirmed that when you have an ambitious project with an almost absolute goal (achieving net-zero energy), and everyone works together, you can achieve amazing things.

do something, I think, ‘Would an idiot do that?’ And if they would, I do not do that thing.” What project(s) are you most proud of? I expanded my independent project to a whole senior thesis, part of which involves going to Switzerland to interview architecture firms and see minimalist houses. The thesis is about connecting minimalist design to mood and how it can positively affect whoever is inside of the space. I am also redesigning Masters’ dining hall right now. I have collected the original blueprints. I'm trying to dissect it into what works, what doesn't work, and how I can improve it for the School so that it fits into the beautiful, more classical style of Masters Hall, but also the newer design of Fonseca Center, and then the new IEC building. I've never fully designed a project on this scale.

m a s t e r s n y. o r g

catching up with former faculty

Ginger O’Leary O’Shea A t h l e t i c D i r e c t o r ( 19 8 7 – 2 0 01 )

I loved my time at Masters. It is there that I met my husband, got married, had two children, and enjoyed so many life experiences. I recently came across a Tower article written by Omar Griffin ’01 that highlighted my teaching and coaching career, and I had a huge smile on my face while reading it. When I left Dobbs, I had secured 200 volleyball wins and numerous FAA (Fairchester Athletic Association) championships and made some of my fondest teaching and dorm memories. I’m happy to say I still keep in touch with former faculty and students! I left Masters because my husband switched careers, which led me to accept a teaching and coaching job at The Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut, where I have been for the past 20 years. At Taft, I have been the assistant athletic director, admissions officer, director of the Service through Sports program, and head varsity volleyball and golf coach. I teach two upper school electives: Adolescent Psychology and Sports Psychology. I love being in the classroom, on the court, or out on the course. I have continued my volleyball coaching career, and three years ago, I surpassed 500 career wins. I was recognized in the book “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.” In 2006, I started the girls golf program and since that time, we have recorded eight league titles and five New England titles. To date, the golf record stands at 171-25-7. While at Taft I have traveled to Thailand, hiked parts of the Camino in Spain, and visited Italy. I have been in many of our school plays and continue to be athletically active. My Bernese Mountain Dog,

BULLETIN Spring 2022

Nitroglycerin (Nitro for short), is a therapy dog and, during exams, dresses up in outfits to wish the students good luck. None of this could have happened without a supportive network and close circle of friends. My husband of 30 years, Tim, is my biggest fan. When I met him in Estherwood, I had no idea where life would take us. Our son, Timothy McGillicuddy (Mack), graduated from Post University and is presently playing competitive hockey in Spain. Our daughter, Rita Catherine (RC), graduated from Clemson University and is a second lieutenant in the United States Army. She is stationed at Fort Gordon in Augusta, Georgia. I am in the process of writing a book called “WHAT STUCK.” It is a potpourri of short stories that center around one key word or phrase that has impacted or influenced the development of individual high school students. Past students from Masters have sent me entries, so it is fun to see what word they chose to write about. All in all, I have been very blessed and grateful to Masters and the wonderful people I have come in contact with. My Masters experience continues to shape the person I am today.

Priscilla Franklin Hindley ’66 Associate Head of Upper School a n d D e a n o f S t u d e n t s (197 5 – 2 013 ) I am often asked if I miss Masters, and my answer is always “yes and no.” I do miss the Masters community. Since retiring, I have found a new community to be a part of and contribute to. I live in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and love where I live. I took my passion for supporting children to CASA and became a court-appointed special advocate for abused or neglected children. I’ve been volunteering with the organization for eight years. I am on the board of the Colonial Theatre in Bethlehem, a cultural hub in New Hampshire's North Country. I am also on the board of OAKS (Organized Acts of Kindness for Seniors) and volunteer with a 90-year-old. All of these are volunteer organizations. I have also gotten involved with a group of politically active women. And, I have a part-time job at the local library and belong to two book clubs. B.C. (before COVID), I was fortunate to have traveled to several countries in Europe and Asia. To my former colleagues, students and friends, thank you for all your gifts.

Do it with your might!

m a s t e r s n y. o r g

in memoriam Barbara Eckhardt McIntyre ’45 died at the age of 93 on January 27, 2022. A true Dobbs alumna, Barbara wrote her own obituary, which reads verbatim as follows: “Bobbie McIntyre died in her sleep last night. She was NOT surrounded by her family, since praise the Lord, all her family have jobs. She was born May 8, 1928, graduated from Miss Masters School and Smith College, worked briefly for the New York Herald Tribune as a reporter for the Women’s Page and spent her life on her husband’s family compound in Dix Hills, raising five children: Angus, Katy, Jim, Betsy and Anne; six dogs, ten cats, two rabbits, three guinea pigs and an indeterminate number of gerbils. She now has ten grandchildren, Duncan, Sally, Andrew, William, Philip, Laura, Charlie, Julia, Amanda and Rebecca, and three greatgrandchildren, Angus, Sloane and Georgia. “She married the love of her life, Angus McIntyre, and joined him in building a vacation house in Stowe, Vermont where all the family learned to ski. She joined him less enthusiastically in his boating life, which she could have done without. She forged a rewarding relationship with her mother-in-law, her husband’s stepmother, who lived next door, and wrote a wonderful book about her called ‘Nobody Much—Life on the Farm with Granny Cool.’ Bobbie said she was probably the only person who ever wrote a nice book about her mother-in-law. “She was a longtime member of the Colony Club, which she seldom felt she could afford to use, and the Cold Spring Harbor Beach Club, where her whole family learned to sail and play tennis. She has no regrets, and if she could do it over again, she’d do it exactly the same way. The memorial service is private and in Boston.”

Virginia Dale Bartlett ’50 and Margaret “Peggy” Dale McCain ’52

Virginia Dale Bartlett ’50

Margaret “Peggy” Dale McCain ’52

Proud Dobbs alumnae and sisters Virginia Dale Bartlett ’50 and Margaret “Peggy” Dale McCain ’52 passed away within a few months of each other. Virginia died on February 24, 2022, and Margaret died on December 21, 2021. The two sisters shared professions, similar interests, and a love of music and tennis. A graduate of Barnard College, Virginia earned a master’s degree in education from SUNY Oneonta. She taught gifted elementary school children in White Plains, New York. Margaret was a graduate of Smith College and taught English in North Syracuse, New York. Virginia had a passion for history and antiques and enjoyed living in and preserving several 18th- and 19th-century homes. Volunteering for community nonprofits was important to her: She was an active member of the Child Health Association, a tutor to children with disabilities, and the first woman elected to the school board in Sewickley, Pennsylvania. When she and her family lived in Norwell, Massachusetts, she was a board member of the Norwell VNA, the James Library and Center for the Arts, and the Norwell Garden Club. She was a member of the First Parish of Norwell for 40 years, serving on many boards and committees and singing in the choir. Margaret, who lived in Fairfield, Connecticut, beginning in 1973, was a dedicated volunteer, serving six years on the Fairfield Board of Library Trustees. An active member of the Greenfield Hill Congregational Church, she was a deacon, a Ministerial Search Committee member and, for many years, a Women’s Guild Executive Board member. For many of her 45 years as a choir member, she arranged the church’s Dogwood Festival music programs. She was a member of The Fairfield Museum and History Center, The Connecticut Audubon Society, and the Fairfield Beach Club. Virginia is survived by her husband, Robert H. Bartlett, a daughter, a son and two grandchildren. In addition to her husband of 65 years, Arthur, Margaret leaves two sons, a daughter and seven grandchildren.

BULLETIN Spring 2022

in memoriam

we remember The Masters School received notice of the following deaths in our community.

ALUMNAE/I 1930s Jean Katt Balzerit ’36 December 12, 2021

1940s Nancy Berg Clark ’41 October 11, 2018 Mary Parvin Goodman ’42 December 19, 2020 Doree Gongwer Kluss ’42 August 6, 2020 Jessica Spencer Walker ’42 October 18, 2019 Margaret Merrick Barrett ’43 September 13, 2021 Laura Wiley Robertson ’43 December 3, 2020 Wolcott Rorick Stack ’43 November 1, 2021 Barbara Jackson Bruno ’44 November 6, 2019 Margaret Windsor Sherwood ’44 January 30, 2022 Barbara Eckhardt McIntyre ’45 January 27, 2022 Suzanne Frenzel Baldwin ’46 March 20, 2019

1950s

1960s

Sarah Griswold Leahy ’50 January 19, 2022

Camilla Bailey Mathews ’64 January 13, 2022

Nancy Barbara Santen ’50 November 12, 2020

Joan Stenhouse Murphy ’67 December 20, 2021

Joan Morgan Baldwin ’51 January 24, 2021

Gail Hollick Streisand ’69 November 8, 2021

Margaret Dale McCain ’52 December 21, 2021 Audrey Coleman Nichols ’52 November 17, 2019 Joan Barbour Gray ’54 November 29, 2021 Joyce Hadley Williams ’55 December 2, 2019 Martica Heyworth Marquardt ’56 February 17, 2022 Rebecca Marshall Scherer ’56 October 25, 2021

1970s Barbara Benton Corkum ’71 November 26, 2021 Marina Brock Hyde ’74 October 29, 2012 Lori R. Oshansky ’76 July 31, 2021 Joanna S. Carlson ’79 December 20, 2021 Nancy Hoguet Tilghman ’79 April 11, 2020

Brent Randolph Reyburn ’57 December 27, 2021 Ivey St. John ’58 December 7, 2021 Denny Tytus Young ’58 October 13, 2021

1990s Carrie A. Barcus ’93 February 14, 2022

Susan Schenk Wittig ’59 April 6, 2021

Louisa Noble Drury ’47 May 12, 2021 Sara Middendorf Lofving ’47 January 20, 2022 Lederle Stearns Tenney ’48 March 9, 2022

m a s t e r s n y. o r g

Bulletin THE MAGA ZINE OF THE MASTERS SCHOOL

C O M M U N I C AT I O N S

ADVANCEMENT

Meredith Halpern Associate Head of Strategic Communications

Seth Marx Associate Head for Institutional Advancement

Aishling Peterson P’18, ’20, ’22 Director of Parent Engagement and Special Events

Isaac Cass Digital Communications Coordinator

Judy Donald Advancement Associate

Maryann Perrotta Database Administrator

Hilary Finkelstein Director of Annual Giving

Mary Ryan ’00 Associate Director of Institutional Advancement

Christina Ha Communications Associate Laura Danforth Head of School

Jen Schutten Associate Director of Communications Design: KBWhite Communications LLC

THE MASTERS SCHOOL HEAD OF SCHOOL Laura Danforth BOARD OF TRUSTEES Edith C. Chapin ’83, Chair Beth Nolan ’69, Vice Chair Katherine A. Henry ’94, P’25, ’29, Treasurer Suzie Paxton ’88, Secretary Laura Danforth Marie Fabian P’22, ’26 Michael Greene P’10, ’13 Christina Masters Jones Philip Kassen Shaojian (Richard) Li P’20 ZhiFeng Li P’22 Latifa Lyles ’93 Sydney Shafroth Macy ’70 Steve Marlowe P’23, ’23, ’25 Edgar M. Masters H’98, Life Trustee Hannah Miller ’10 Allison Moore ’83, P’17, ’19, ’24 Susan Follett Morris ’57, Life Trustee Dana W. Oliver P’22, ’25 Hillary A. Peckham ’09 Rajiv Ratan P’22, ’24 Jonathan Resnick P’26, ’29 Steven Safyer P’04, ’07 Diana Davis Spencer ’56, P’84 Tracy Tang ’80, P’18 Mirna A. Valerio ’93

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BULLETIN Spring 2022

Sydney Hummel Advancement Assistant Sujata Jaggi ’01 Director of Alumnae/i Engagement

Amie Servino ’95, P’26 Director of Strategic Partnerships and Advancement Communications

L E A D ER S HI P 2021-2022

HONORARY TRUSTEES Marin Alsop ’73 Cynthia Ferris Evans ’52, P’76, ’86 Jeannette Sanford Fowlkes ’58, P’87 Ruth Mitchell Freeman ’51 Nancy Maginnes Kissinger ’51 Claudia Boettcher Merthan ’51 Lynn Pilzer Sobel ’71, P’99, ’05

PARENT ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Jennifer Nappo P’21, ’23, ’23, Co-Chair, Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day

Officers Marie Fabian P’22, ’26, President Madeline Seguinot P’20, ’24, Co-Vice President, Upper School

Joelle Resnick P’26, ’29, Co-Chair, Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day

Monaqui Porter Young P’23, ’25, ’27, Co-Vice President, Upper School

Jordana Manzano P’23, ’26, Chair, Parent Program Committee

DOBBS ALUMNAE/I ASSOCIATION BOARD Hannah Miller ’10, President Ricardo Oelkers ’03, Vice President Justina Michaels ’02, Clerk Natasha Bansgopaul ’04 Lucas Buyon ’11 Sharin Nechis Castillo ’84 Karen Feinberg Dorsey ’84 Austin O’Neill Dunyk ’98 Kathryn Taylor Harvill ’95 Jodi Innerfield ’05 Vincent Madera ’05

Jose Camacho P’26, ’28, Co-Vice President, Middle School Brooke Nalle P’24, ’27, Co-Vice President, Middle School Committees and Chairs Gabrielle Rosenfeld P’24, Co-Chair, Admission Support Saloni Singh P’27, Co-Chair, Admission Support Roxanne Todor P’21, ’23, Chair, Book Club Tracelyn Charles P’26, Co-Chair, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee Madeline Seguinot P’20, ’24, Co-Chair, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee Susie Williams P’26, Co-Chair, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee

Andrew Barnes P’26, ’26, Chair, Parent Masters Fund

Class Representatives Jose Camacho P’26, ’28 Marielys Divanne P’24 Marla Evans P’24 Midori Im P’22, ’28 Staci Marlowe P’23, ’23, ’25 Jillian Miller P’22 Jenny Liang Milward P’24, ’26, ’29 Lindsay Mortimer P’26 Brooke Nalle P’24, ’27 Jennifer Nappo P’21, ’23, ’23 Jennifer Neren P’28 Rini Ratan P’22, ’24 Joelle Resnick P’26, ’29 Elizabeth Stein P’22 Liz Tarter P’25, ’27 Natasha VanWright P’25 Monaqui Porter Young P’23, ’25, ’27

In a 1919 letter to alumnae, school founder Eliza Bailey Masters wrote: “You own the School.” Inspired by her words, alumnae raised funds for a new school building, completed in 1921, and named it Masters Hall in her honor. Today — 100 years later — The Masters School still relies on the generosity of our community to continue Miss Masters’ legacy and support our School’s mission, students, programs and future.

Here are just a few of the many ways that alumnae/i and parents can give back to the School. If you have an idea for involvement that is not listed, please let us know.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT ANNUAL GIVING

CAPITAL PROJECTS

ENDOWMENT SUPPORT PLANNED GIVING

Contact Associate Director of Institutional Advancement Mary Ryan ’00 at 914-479-6433 or mary.ryan@mastersny.org

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Parents Alumnae/i ADMISSION VOLUNTEER

ADMISSION VOLUNTEER

CLASS AGENT

FACULTY/STAFF APPRECIATION DAY COMMITTEE

ALUMNAE/I GIVING DAY CLASS NOTES EDITOR EVENT HOST

REUNION COMMITTEE Contact Director of Alumnae/i Engagement Sujata Jaggi ’01 at 914-479-6611 or sujata.jaggi@mastersny.org

ANNUAL FUND VOLUNTEER PARENT ASSOCIATION PHONATHON CALLER

Contact Director of Parent Engagement and Special Events Aishling Peterson P’18, ’20, ’22 at 914-479-6639 or aishling.peterson@mastersny.org

49 Clinton Avenue | Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522-2201

CONGRATULATIONS Class of 2022 Welcome to the Masters alumnae/i community.

The Bulletin Spring 2022

Articles inside

New Alumnae/i Board Members Named

Reunion 2022

Alumnae Spotlight

Clinton Avenue Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522-2201

Alumnae Coaches Bring Passion and Acumen to Their Former Teams

The Business of Sports

Fencing Is Their Forte

From March Madness to Masters

Alumna Makes an Indelible Mark on Girls Sports

Giving It the Old College Try

A Leader On and Off the Field: Adul Samon ’23

Turning a Love of Sports Into a Broadcasting Career

Panthers Roar on College Campuses