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The Vision for Millbrook: Past, Present, and Future
Millbrook’s Mission Millbrook School educates its students to succeed and serve in college and beyond. In a community where everyone is known and needed, our curriculum instills • curiosity and a commitment to academic excellence; • respect for oneself and for others; • a moral framework based on personal integrity; • a commitment to serve as stewards of the natural world; • a readiness to use one’s knowledge and skills in service to others. We promote the intellectual, emotional, spiritual, creative, and physical growth that will lead to a life satisfying to the individual and valuable to the greater good.
a magazine for alumni, parents and friends of millbrook school
Spring 2015
Living the Tradition of Non Sibi Sed Cunctis up front 2 Introduction from Headmaster Drew Casertano
Millbrook Matters 5 Snapshots: A Year in Pictures
10 Facilities 12 The Big Picture Forums, Academics, Arts and Student Life
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Features
34 Relationships: The Heart of Millbrook School
34 Alumni Profiles 40 C hris and Alice Holbrook:
Millbrook Blue Through and Through
42 D ormitories:
Some of the Most Powerful Classrooms on Campus
44 25 Years: Building Community, Building
Momentum, Building A Better Millbrook
Board members, students, alumni, parents, and faculty speak to how Drew has
27 Faculty News 30 Athletics
Alumni 60 Turning Points A Millbrook Alumnus Comes Full Circle
62 M illbrook Alumni Gatherings
67 Headmaster’s Challenge 69 Class Notes 85 In Memoriam
On the Cover
continually led by example and, through the deep relationships he’s developed, enhanced the very best of Millbrook while helping the school grow and evolve.
56 L inda Casertano
First lady of Millbrook: her many roles here including the support she has been over 25 years
The Vision for Millbrook: Past, Present, and Future
Spring 2015 •
Photo of Drew Casertano in the Headmaster’s Office by John Dolan P ’13, ’15, ’17
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Introduction from
Headmaster Drew Casertano: The article titled Goodbye Mr. Boyden: Technology, Parents, Money and the Future of Headship, in the spring issue of Independent School Magazine, caught my attention in several ways. First, it talks about Frank Boyden, the legendary head of Deerfield, who transformed the academy from a failing day school to a nationally renowned boarding school over a 67-year tenure. He inspired far more than most to commit their lives and take • 1990 leadership roles in the school world. His brief biography, written by John McPhee, sits on the coffee table in my office. Second, the article is co-authored by two good friends and colleagues I admire—Rick Melvoin, head of Belmont Hill School, and Michael Thompson ’65, author, consultant, and psychologist. In January 1977, when a junior at Amherst, I interned with Rick, who was then a young faculty member at Deerfield. Since 1992, Michael has worked with Millbrook students and faculty and me in countless ways, with substantial benefit to his alma mater. Because of these connections, I read the article with care. Michael and Rick contend that technology, starting with the volume and pace of email communication, increasingly anxious parents, and the ever present and growing demands of fundraising have increased the scope and complexity of the headship. They’re right. Indeed, much has changed during my nearly 25 years at Millbrook. But, for me, technology, parents, and fundraising have created more opportunities than challenges. They offer potential and support for our central task—to help our students create their best selves and to serve the greater good. For example, technology helps me in so many ways: from sharing information in advance of important meetings, to having productive conversations and meetings with people around the
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world, to communicating efficiently regardless of time or location. The key is knowing when and how to use those technologies, and I’m learning continually. Millbrook parents are outstanding. While some are anxious about their children’s futures, they are also trusting, collaborative, and deeply committed to our mission—to preparing their children for college AND for lives of meaning and consequence. I always welcome their thoughts and perspectives and know that Millbrook is better for it. The fact that nearly all parents contribute to the Annual Fund is the best example we have of how much they support what the school is doing for their children. Fundraising is not a burdensome responsibility for me. I thoroughly enjoy getting to know parents and alumni, listening to them, and explaining where I think the school should go. I learn a lot, and when they step forward, we can make great progress in enriching what we do well. Needless to say, I’m grateful beyond words to the long and growing list of alumni, parents, and friends who support the school. I’m thankful most of all to the trustees, who have been so supportive of the school and of Linda, our boys, and me. What has not changed in my work is a love of teenagers and the importance of relationships—relationships with Millbrook students, with their parents, with the faculty and staff, with alumni, and with neighbors and friends. I have stayed at Millbrook for 25 years because I still have the privilege and pleasure of knowing every student, of reading to the IIIrd form on Thursday nights, of having advisees, of cheering on Millbrook teams and applauding Millbrook performers, and of building individual relationships. Those daily interactions and my relationships with students have been, and continue to be, the joy and inspiration of my work. Being part of a school that has made so much progress, that has so much momentum, is equally satisfying and fun. Since 1990, our applicant pool has tripled in size, our enrollment has grown from 170 to 300, our endowment, now $34,000,000, is six times larger, and the Annual Fund, then $425,000,
• 2015
topped $1,800,000 in 2013-14. We have added new, state-ofthe-art facilities for athletics, the arts, math and science, and world languages, while building a new dormitory for girls and renovating the Barn and nearly every other building on campus. Next up is a 400-seat dining hall, with construction to begin in June 2015. All of this has been made possible by our exceptionally generous and supportive alumni, parents, and friends to whom I am so very grateful. Looking ahead, what is most important is how well we deliver on our promise to educate young men and women to lead meaningful lives. Financial resources and fine facilities make this possible, but our success is best measured by judging how well we create a healthy community that inspires curiosity, strong scholastic performance, and a liberal mind. When we do this in an environment where
integrity, respect, stewardship, and service to others are the call, then you can say we are succeeding. I think Millbrook will continue to flourish because all our stakeholders—alumni, parents, faculty, and students—are grounded with the right values. They, and I, will never feel satisfied with the status quo, and we know that advancement means reaching for the future. Onward!
Drew Casertano Headmaster
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a m ag a z i n e fo r a l u m n i , pa r e n t s and friends of millbrook school
Director of Parent Programs
Honorary Trustees:
Barbara Gatski
Farnham Collins ’53 (GP ’17) Lucy P. Cutting (P ’77) David Holbrook ’56 (P ’82, ’83, GP ’11, ’12, ’14) Bruce Huber ’47 Thomas Lovejoy ’59 (P ’86) Bradford Mills ’44 (GP ’03, ’17) Oakleigh Thorne (P ’95)
Advancement Officer
Deborah Vanecek Events Coordinator
EDITOR
Betty Siegenthaler
Michelle Blayney
Research & Campaign Coordinator
DESIGN
Ginny Connolly
Proof Design
Gift Entry Manager & Administrative Assistant
CONTRIBUTORS
Michelle Blayney, Cindy McWilliams, Liz Morrison, David Osburn, Betty Siegenthaler, Voith & McTavish Architects PHOTO CONTRIBUTORS
Dan Cohen ’86, John Dolan, Charlotte Harris P ’15, Sarah Krauss ’95, Sarah MacWright, Yannis Malevitis, David Osburn, Kyleen Parajon, Kandice Zakarian MILLBROOK is published by the Communications
Melissa Pastre Administrative Assistant & Database Manager Class Notes Editor
Bonnie Lodevole Director of Communications
Michelle Blayney Assistant Director of Communications
Dave Osburn Communications Assistant
Catherine Zeiser
Office and Alumni & Development Office of
Photography and
Millbrook School for alumni, parents, and friends
Sports Information Coordinator
of the school. Contents may be reproduced
Kandice Zakarian
NON DISCRIMINATION Millbrook School adheres to a long-standing policy of admitting students of any race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its education policies, admission policies, financial aid program, or other school-administered programs.
or reprinted only by permission of the editor. Opinions expressed do not reflect the official position of Millbrook School.
Millbrook School 131 Millbrook School Road Millbrook, NY 12545
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
Chairman
Millbrook magazine is printed on Finch Fine Bright White Ultra Smooth 100 lb. cover and 80 lb. text. This paper is manufactured with 10% postconsumer fiber using on-site renewable power. It is FSC certified.
William Menard ’78 (P ’09, ’12, ’12) Vice Chairman
Paul Solomon ’61 (P ’98)
Phone: 845-677-8261 Website: www.millbrook.org
Secretary
Follow Millbrook at your favorite social media sites:
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ALUMNI & DEVELOPMENT OFFICE Director of Advancement
Nancy Stahl Assistant to the Headmaster for External Affairs
Robert Anthony ‘65 Director of the Annual Fund & Alumni/ Constituent Relations
Cynthia McWilliams Assistant Director of Advancement
Robin Herow
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BOARD OF TRUSTEES
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Peter Chapman (P ’11, ’12) Rick Stuckey (P ’00, ’03, ’09) Headmaster
For this issue we reduce our carbon footprint the equivalent of...
20 trees preserved for the future
Drew Casertano
20,199 gal wastewater flow saved
Francisco Borges ’70 Trevor Colhoun ’95 Morgan Conrad ’99 William L. Crossman ’74 (P ’09) Robert Hallett William R. Hettinger ’77 (P ’01, ’04) Christopher Holbrook ’82 (P ‘11, ‘12, ‘14) Robert Koenigsberger (P ’13, ’16) Christina Lang-Assael (P ’15) Tracy Merrill (P ’09, ’11, ’13) Gordon Pennoyer ’99 Anne Putnam ’95 Gilbert Schafer III ’80 Lisa Selz (P ’12, ’17) Caroline Wamsler ’87 George Whalen III (P ’06, ’09, ’10, ’14)
5,180 lbs net greenhouse gases prevented
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Please Recycle this Magazine
Snap
shots
A Year in Pictures 2
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1. M r. Bill Hardy talks about his pieces featured in Convocation, an exhibit of past and present faculty artwork in the Warner Gallery. 6
2. S tudents get acquainted during opening days orientation activities. 3. S tudents get festive for Hawaiian Friday. 4. I nternational students carry their countries’ flags during Convocation. 5. W ill Bates ’18 enjoys the Grandparents Day festivities with his grandparents. 6. S tudent leaders, dorm faculty, and Mr. Casertano set the tone for a creative, lively, and ambitious year at Millbrook.
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7 8 1. Laura Manuelides, physician and neuropathologist at Yale University, reads her poetry to the school during a fall forum. 2. D r. Erin Stuckey ’00 returns to Millbrook to speak about service and public health. 3. D r. Kenneth Ginsburg reminds parents about the importance of fostering resilience. 4. D r. Laurie Marker speaks to the community about her organization, the Cheetah Conservation Fund. 5. S tudents share their experiences from Ghana during a special group chapel talk. 6. S tudents enjoy many autumnal activities during Millbrook’s annual Fall Fest. 7. Clever costumes are shown off at the Halloween dance. 8. T he ceramics studio was moved outdoors for Fall Fest activities. 9. A n outstanding III form choral performance during Arts Night
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1. G ianna Muscari ’15 gets her peers pumped up about Crazy Hair Day. 2. S tudents prepare for the traditional holiday Candlelight service. 6
3. Students enjoy the Snow Ball, a favorite holiday dance and fundraiser for Outreach. 7
4. E dward Opoku ’15 gives an intimate chapel talk about his experiences in Ghana and his motivations to learn and grow at Millbrook. 5. G eorge Flinn ’16 enjoys a guitar lesson in the Holbrook Arts Center. 6. A va Goodale ’01 gives one-on-one feedback to Gray Palmer ’15 during an Honors Advanced Biology class. 7. C arol Nixon, Colia Clark, and Rev. Canon Albert Ogle speak at a forum about human rights.
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Winter Weekend 1. T he girls from Abbott Hall make their presence known on the way to the Winter Weekend pep rally. 2. T he Winter Weekend free throw competition is competitive as ever. 3. I t’s a sweet ending for the Westies in a pie eating contest. 4. T he boys of Case Hall have high expectations of regaining their Winter Weekend crown. 5. T he Westies have a photo finish to their Air Band performance. 6. B urton boys let loose in the Air Band performance.
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5 1. P icturesque winter campus provides for great seasonal fun. 2. S tudents and faculty alike look forward to traditional Thursday night chapel talks. 3. Broadway performer Margot Seibert workshops with performing arts students. 4. E li Bannett Mas ’15 travels to the Wolf Conservation Center to work alongside Trevor Zoo staff. 5. V ideo footage of our two baby Red pandas, Faith and MowMow, goes viral in the media.
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MILLBROOK MATTERS
Facilities:
A New Dining Hall Groundbreaking: expected June 2015 Grand opening: expected September 2016 As Millbrook moves ever closer to becoming a school of 300 students, plans have been approved by the Board of Trustees to move forward on the construction of a new dining hall to accommodate the larger school population. Here, school architects Voith & Mactavish share some of the project highlights:
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Not since the construction of the Flagler Memorial Chapel has Millbrook School considered a building as important to the campus and the community as the new dining hall. Like the Flagler Memorial Chapel, the new dining hall will be a gathering place for the entire community—students, faculty, staff, and their families. This demands that the dining hall be the best possible combination of form and function, that it is as beautiful and inspirational as it is functional, effective, and green.
Fast facts: • 380 seats • 12,000 square feet • 23’ ceiling in the dining room Millbrook’s Physical Resources Committee has sought to preserve and enhance the best of Millbrook’s campus design and architecture with the goal of having every alumnus/a who returns to campus say, “It looks just the same, only better.” The new dining hall nestled behind Prum Hall, with a beautiful new courtyard in between, will allow the primacy of Pulling Circle to remain as it creates a new center for community gatherings.
Sustainable design features include: • natural materials • recycled materials • ground couple heat source • natural ventilation daylit with views
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THE BIG PICTURE Academics, Arts, and Student Life
Forums: In a year focused on the core value of integrity, our forum speakers and performers paid living tribute to the value that focuses on an honest representation of our best selves. This year’s first all-school forum featured the tremendous talent of Millbrook’s performing arts faculty, who are all professional artists. Ms. Leighann Kowalsky (dance/choreography), Ms. Elaine Lifter (theater/public speaking), Mr. Steve Siktberg (instrumental music/
guitar), and Mr. Vince Vincent (choral music/voice) performed in the Chelsea Morrison Theater. The performances were a very intimate way for the arts faculty members to share their personal work with the entire school, and the performers hoped the event served as a • Vocal Music Director Vince Vincent sings during the performing arts faculty forum.
catalyst to inspire their students to take risks and showcase their personal work to the community without fear or anxiety. A few weeks later the community welcomed Dr. Laurie Marker, founding director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, to campus to speak about her organization. Dr. Marker is known around the world for her efforts in the conservation of cheetahs and their habitat near Otjiwarongo, Namibia. She discussed the ongoing struggle for survival of existing cheetah populations, the delicate balance between human needs and the habitat these wonderful creatures require, and conservation actions being taken to prevent the species from being lost forever. She also spoke about her participation in the KeepSafe Project, partnering with Millbrook, local wildlife conservationists, and local businesses. This joint initiative
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MILLBROOK MATTERS
THE BIG PICTURE
• KeepSafe box auctioned to support the Cheetah Conservation Fund.
is dedicated to raising public awareness of the need to preserve endangered species and their natural habitats in order to maintain the overall health of our planet. At the center of the KeepSafe Project are wooden “keepsake” boxes, symbolizing the project’s mission to keep wildlife safe by protecting animals and their natural environments. Artists from around the Hudson Valley created one hundred of these artistic boxes that were sold in the fall at a charitable auction at Millbrook. Early this winter two outstanding artists, Nicholas Kahn and Richard Selesnick, visited Millbrook to present at a forum and lead a workshop with students. The artists shared information about their artistic process, their experience of cooperating with each other as artists throughout their careers, and their latest professional project, Truppe Fledermaus. The project, which was on exhibit in the Warner Gallery, focused on a fictitious cabaret troupe, the Truppe Fledermaus, who travel the countryside staging absurd and inscrutable performances in the abandoned landscapes beyond the town’s edge. The morning following the forum, Mr. Kahn and Mr. Selesnick met with Millbrook’s student artists at the Trevor Zoo, joining Trevor Zoo Director Dr. Alan Tousignant, the animal behavior class,
• Artists Nicholas Kahn (bottom-middle) and Richard Selesnick (bottom-left) speak to students about their artwork in their Truppe Fledermaus Warner Gallery exhibit.
and the honors photography students for a cross-curricular photography workshop. Students dressed in various animal costumes and posed with live animals from the Trevor Zoo under the direction of Mr. Kahn and Mr. Selesnick. The honors photography students
observed and participated alongside seasoned professional artists, and the animal behavior students observed the animals’ reactions to unusual stimuli. This participatory workshop was a dynamic, hands-on learning experience for every student involved.
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THE BIG PICTURE experiences and explained how youth groups can get involved with human rights issues and make a real difference.
• Mrs. Colia Clark speaks to the community about her experiences within the Civil Rights movement.
In January the student body took Millbrook’s annual celebration of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a new direction and organized a memorial chapel service featuring inspiring readings, original and familiar music, film, dance, spoken word, and dramatic readings that expressed the message of justice that Dr. King represented. The Dr. King celebration continued throughout the month and included a forum about human rights led by Mrs. Colia Clark, Ms. Carol Nixon, and Rev. Canon Albert Ogle. Mrs. Colia Clark is a veteran of the civil rights movement. Her work has included activism in the fields of women’s rights and worker’s rights, as well as activism and advocacy for homeless people and youth. Mrs. Clark was a student at Tougaloo College, a historically black college in Mississippi, when she became involved with the Civil Rights movement. Later, as an activist
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with the NAACP, she was involved with voter registration efforts. Under the guidance of Medgar Evers and John Salter, Mrs. Clark founded the NAACP for Youth. During her NAACP tenure she became special assistant to Medgar Evers, field secretary for the NAACP, and was eventually named executive secretary of Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Mrs. Clark described her life experiences, including her current writing, activism, and advocacy work in Haiti. Carol Nixon joined the staff of the Riverside Church as director of social justice in October of 1998. Prior to joining Riverside Church, Ms. Nixon was a non-governmental organization representative to the United Nations, where she worked on several world conferences that focused on an array of human rights concerns and the development of a more just society. Carol spoke to the community about her
The Rev. Canon Albert Ogle is the newly appointed Vicar of St. Peter’s Church in Lithgow, New York, where Millbrook’s chaplain, Cam Hardy, serves as his associate. Over the last 32 years Fr. Ogle has served as a pastor and human rights activist working with the LGBT communities through his organization, St. Paul’s Foundation for International Reconciliation. He has also worked for many non-profit organizations to spread a message of compassion on issues such as homelessness, family poverty, AIDS and LGBT issues. Fr. Ogle spoke to the Millbrook community about his experiences and his recent work with Ms. Nixon and Ms. Clark, connecting youth with the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Most recently, in preparation for viewing the film Girl Rising as part of Millbrook’s forum series, female students participated in an academic day of silence to demonstrate how different the educational experience is without female voices and classroom participation. Girl Rising is a documentary film that shares the simple truth that educating girls can transform societies. Yet millions of girls around the world face educational barriers such as early marriage, genderbased violence, domestic slavery, and sex trafficking that boys do not. Education can remove these barriers and create not only a better life for girls, but also a safer, healthier, and more prosperous world for all. After viewing the documentary, students took part in a voluntary discussion led by Mary McCartney ’15, Elizabeth Couse ’15, and Emma Garschagen ’15. Their questions prompted many students to share profound and thoughtful observations and express their desire to continue to do work in this vein.
THE BIG PICTURE Academics: Millbrook continues to celebrate academic excellence, honoring faculty and students for exemplary achievements. The emerging faculty leaders program began this year with recognition of Tom Brown (mathematics), Sam Tarnasky (English), and Lindsay Peterson (history). These young faculty members were acknowledged for their eagerness to improve their craft, as each teacher worked extensively with his or her experienced department chair and outside groups to develop professionally. Millbrook alumnus Dan Lindley ’51, who spent his career educating teachers on how to be as effective as possible in the classroom, serves on Millbrook’s Academic Committee and will mentor these emerging faculty leaders throughout the year. In addition, Trip Powers was recognized as a master teacher for excellent teaching
exhibited throughout his 11-year career on Millbrook’s faculty. As a rule, graduating VI formers widely remark that history teacher Mr. Powers made an exceptional difference in their Millbrook education. That recognition was reaffirmed when Trip Powers was awarded the Kenan Chair for Excellence in Teaching. Headmaster Drew Casertano announced the award at the 2014 Faculty Honors Dinner. Established in January 1998, the Kenan Chair for Excellence in Teaching is made possible by a generous gift from the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust and, in particular, by the support of Thomas S. Kenan III. It acknowledges excellent teaching, characterized by a mastery of the subject matter, a passion for the material and the
•M r. Tom Brown, Ms. Lindsay Peterson, and Ms. Sam Tarnasky are recognized as emerging faculty leaders.
•H eadmaster Drew Casertano and Dean of Faculty Kathy Havard award Trip Powers the Kenan Chair for Excellence in Teaching.
students being taught, a commitment to Millbrook’s ideals, and a joy for teaching. For his part, Mr. Powers feels honored to be in the company of other master teachers previously awarded this special chair: Kathy Havard, Bill Hardy, Walker Zeiser, and Todd Feitelson. He proclaims loving teaching because it allows a perpetual search for truth as opposed to rightness. It’s not about being right and wrong.
“That’s the thing that got me excited about teaching—the idea of educating younger people and not teaching them a “thing,” but a way to make those choices for themselves, a way to find their truths.” Mr. Powers currently teaches Modern World History, a IV form course, and two VI form electives, Anthropology and Comparative Economics. In its fourth year, the economics course covers both micro and macro-economics, then bridges to ecological economics via a mini-unit on globalization. There are only a few colleges, and fewer other boarding schools, that have developed similar courses over the past 10 years. It is so unique, Mr. Powers brought other teachers together in November at the NYSAIS Council on Sustainability to share resources they have developed.
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MILLBROOK MATTERS
THE BIG PICTURE Students earned early honors this year as well! Millbrook inducted a small group of VI formers into the Cum Laude Society before commencement. The first inductees were Arthur Xiao ’15 (who will attend Amherst College), Mimi Li ’15 (who will attend Brown University), and Sylvia Tan ’15 (undecided). Faculty advisors gave brief but vivid remarks about their advisee’s accomplishments and contributions to our academic community.
•H eadmaster Drew Casertano congratulates Arthur Xiao ’15 for his induction into the Cum Laude Society.
Academic Arts: Millbrook faculty continually invite professionals to campus to share their work with our students. Most recently, Margo Seibert, who was last seen as Adrian in Broadway’s Rocky, visited Millbrook to lead a master class for our performing arts students. Ms. Seibert coached a few of our vocal artists individually, and she encouraged them to dig deeper into their musical intentions and to make personal connections. She also spent time with the Doo Wop girls from Millbrook’s winter musical, Little Shop of Horrors. She demonstrated how to be an individual voice within a trio, and how to take their work to the next level. Additionally, Ms. Seibert coached the Millbrook Singers group on how to further develop and grow their sound.
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For this special occasion the school invited alumna Trudy Dako Acquaah ’00 to speak, and she addressed the school community about how important decisions must be guided by an inner sense of integrity. She urged students to follow their passions and to not be encumbered by too much rational deliberation, suggesting that choices and judgments based on intuition and experience may lead to a more authentic path that better matches a person’s unique interests and moral compass.
Our Art History course, which focuses on a specific acclaimed artist and his or her field of work each year, centers this year on the photographic imagery of world-renowned artist Alec Soth. His work is rooted in the distinctly American tradition of “on-the-road photography,” developed by Walker Evans, Robert Frank and Stephen Shore. His photographs are a unique and honest look at people, their sense of place, and landscape. In addition to studying Soth’s award winning works in the classroom, students had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn this on-the-road style from Alec Soth himself during the “Sideroads” Intersession. Students explored several small towns around the Hudson Valley and wrote narratives, poems, and took photographs along the way. Some of this work will be featured in the Art History culminating exhibit in the Warner Gallery
• The Sideroads Intersession group with photographer Alec Soth.
at the end of the school year, alongside selections of Soth’s own work. Students also had the opportunity to work with two other professional artists, Nicholas Kahn and Richard Selesnick. They spoke at an all school forum and worked with Animal Behavior and Advanced Photography students for a crossdisciplinary photo shoot at the Trevor Zoo.
The Warner Gallery continued to house exhibits that provide unique and inspiring artwork for our student body to enjoy and ultimately learn from. Students particularly enjoyed two exhibits that featured works by alumni Noah Post ’97 and Jono Pandolfi ’95, both who have gone on to stellar professional art careers.
•D r. Alan Tousignant, Mr. Jeff Smith Esq., and students pose on set for a photo under the direction of Richard Kahn and Nicholas Selesnick.
• Painting by Noah Post ’97.
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THE BIG PICTURE Noah’s paintings, featured in the Home Dialect exhibit, exemplified the technique he uses—applying generous amounts of hand-pigmented plaster onto the canvas surface, which he quickly scrapes away with masonry tools. This process is executed in multiple overlapping layers to create an overcast of grays, beiges, teals, and muted taupes.
• Painting by Noah Post ’97.
“I find comfort in the flatness of an image, never trying to create a deeper, or more narrative picture, but I am startled when I finish a painting and can see such specific and personal imagery. Deciding that a painting is finished is usually a personal compromise, and just enough of a kick to start the next one.” –Noah Post ’97
• Ceramic tableware by Jono Pandolfi ’95.
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Jono Pandolfi’s ’95 handmade rustic ceramic tableware, which was recently featured in The Wall Street Journal, was a centerpiece in Confluence, a Warner Gallery exhibit of current and past faculty artwork. ( Jono was on the art faculty from 1999-2003.) Students observed Jono’s work, which inspired their own ceramics class creations.
MILLBROOK MATTERS
Millbrook’s arts faculty continues to take advantage of our proximity to the cultural hub that is New York City. This fall fifty students enjoyed the many artistic inspirations of New York City through a day that was custom tailored to fit their interests and coursework.
Art students visited eleven standout galleries in Chelsea and were excited to return to their own studios with new ideas for their creations. Playwriting students toured the newly renovated Public Theater. With many shows in technical rehearsals, they got a “behind the scenes” glimpse into the world of professional theater. Choreography
students worked with two New York City based choreographers, Angela Maffia and April Dayok, who led an hour-long improvisation session set to atmospheric music. Filled with fresh inspiration, garnered in one of the cultural capitals of the world, Millbrook art students returned to their classes with new vision.
• Students enjoy numerous NYC galleries on arts field trip.
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THE BIG PICTURE Fine And Performing Arts: Fall Arts Night launched a year of community appreciation of the countless hours of hard work student artists put into growing their artistic talents. Student musicians learned new techniques in a variety of styles, practiced chords, scale patterns, and improvisation. Our actors and actresses explored their physical and vocal range, practiced scripted scenes, monologue work, and improvisation. Likewise, Millbrook’s dancers studied extreme balance, endurance, timing, and dance composition. Each and every artist brought these new and honed techniques to the stage, gave it their all, and left the audience with an unforgettable show.
• Will Bates ’18 plays guitar at Arts Night.
In November students performed Macbeth in the Chelsea Morrison Theater. Led by Assistant Director Robbie Bisconti ’18, Stage Manager Kavya Nandigama ’17, Technical Directors Sylvia Tan ’15 and Oliver Kish ’16, and Costume Designers Mary Ma ’15 and Crystal Tam ’15, over 30 students worked diligently to create a stunning production. From lighting design to choreography, students were heavily involved in every aspect of the production.
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Initially, the cast thought they would be purist and traditional in their approach to Macbeth. However, as they began table reads and further discussed the script, parallels they discovered between the
original text and current events made them decide to broaden their vision. They realized that the power struggles, senseless violence, and human suffering found in Macbeth are endless cycles that continue
• Emotional performances by students create the tense, dark atmosphere of Macbeth.
• Colorful, comedic, and outstanding musical performances in Little Shop of Horrors
to plague our world. This realization influenced many decisions about lighting, set design, and acting that ultimately created the dark and ominous atmosphere of this student performance. The brutally cold winter was momentarily forgotten during a heartwarming student performance of our winter musical, Little Shop of Horrors by composer Alan Menken, father to Anna ’03 and Nora ’07. The musical follows a floral assistant who receives an interesting new plant; the evil that subsequently sneaks into her life causes increasing corruption. Despite a somewhat heavy, dark theme and moral, Little Shop of Horrors was a whole lot of fun to perform. While many students participated in these performances, students in visual arts regularly create artwork to complement events on campus. One event in particular that was very well received was Millbrook’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration. To support the many inspiring student performances at the event, visual arts students created
• Home Dialect Warner Gallery exhibit featuring artwork by Kardash Onnig and Noah Post ’97
an installation featuring artwork that expressed their personal interpretation of Dr. King’s message of peace and justice. Future exhibits this year will include the always highly anticipated Advanced and Honors Art show and the Art History exhibit of Alec Soth’s work. Alongside amazing student performances and exhibitions, the community has already enjoyed the
works of various professional artists in the Warner Gallery. Exhibits this year included: Confluence, works by past and present arts faculty, Home Dialect, paintings by Noah Post ’97 and sculptures by Kardash Onnig, Painting Eternity, painted Russian religious icons by Martha Zimiles, and Truppe Fledermaus, photographs and sculptures by Nicholas Kahn and Richard Selesnick.
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THE BIG PICTURE Student Life While the Trevor Zoo is Millbrook’s largest community service, it is also tied to curriculum across every academic discipline. Thus, the zoo has an incredibly unique impact on the lives of almost every Millbrook student. The zoo, its animals, and our students were propelled into a global spotlight as video footage of our Red pandas went viral in the media this winter. While life in the Northeast came to a standstill during numerous blizzards, our Red pandas, Hope and her two cubs, Faith and MowMow, gave the public something to smile about as they frolicked in the snow on a live video feed. Major media outlets, including The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Toronto Star, Euronews, Time Magazine, Buzzfeed, Mashable and many more, shared the footage online.
featured around the world in countless languages. Language teachers seized the opportunity to have their classes read and discuss the zoo articles on Spanish and French websites.
If being able to brag about attending the only high school with a zoo on campus wasn’t enough, our students can now say that their zoo has been
Note:
Only at Millbrook…the camera that currently captures a live feed of the Red panda enclosure was originally installed at the zoo last year in a tree 90’ above the ground just opposite a great blue heron nest. This was the brainchild of John Norfleet ’14, and his CES project came to be in true Millbrook fashion. The project started as a conversation between a student and his CES advisor—soon an alumnus, faculty and staff members, and a friend in the local community became involved. It was the epitomy of a Millbrook educational experience. Trevor Zoo fans can continue to watch our live stream: www.millbrook.org/trevorzoolive.
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Across campus, West Hall, our newest dormitory, opened its doors to its first group of boarding students. As with every new facility, it has greatly impacted student life. Although Millbrook became co-educational in 1971, West Hall is the first dormitory on campus architecturally designed specifically to house female students. It was also constructed to the highest environmental standards, as are all new building projects on campus. It features a ground coupled heat source system, passive house standards for insulation, recycled materials, bamboo floors, and local sourcing for a variety of building materials. Anyone who has been to Millbrook knows that dorm pride and allegiances run deep, especially during Winter Weekend. Over the course of the weekend, students show their spirit and rally together with their dorm. They dress from head to toe in their dorm colors, loudly chanting to prepare for their dorm’s success in the pep rally, and compete in events ranging from broomball matches to air band performances, earning points in hopes of achieving the ultimate Winter Weekend victory. In West Hall’s first year, its residents, the self-proclaimed “Westies,” had to define the spirit and voice of their dorm for future Westies to celebrate during Winter Weekend for years to come. They
• Students rallied and showed their dorm pride during Winter Weekend.
clearly understood their responsibility to give it their all and set a precedent for future Westies by dominating the events of Winter Weekend and ultimately taking the crown. They came in first in the pep rally and dorm video competition, second in the air band competition, and third in the traditional College Bowl. In contrast to the always boisterous Winter Weekend, Thursday evening chapel talks harbored quiet reflection. Chaplin Cameron Hardy invited an array of inspirational speakers, including students, alumni, and visiting professionals, to lead the thoughtful discourse. One particularly relevant highlight of the series was a chapel talk focused on service and public health with 2014 Edward Pulling Community Service Award recipient Dr. Erin Stuckey ’00. Dr. Stuckey spoke to students about how her experiences at Millbrook affected her commitment to service and public health,
Interested students and faculty later joined Dr. Stuckey in the Headmaster’s Office in Schoolhouse for further discussion about the Ebola epidemic.
•D r. Erin Stuckey gives a chapel talk on community service and public health.
and she then addressed the current Ebola epidemic in West Africa. She discussed what public health systems are like in West Africa, which populations in these regions are vulnerable, and how information from past epidemics can be used to help.
A variety of student-planned activities—dances, special holiday events, and competitions—also provided much needed and well-earned recreation time for students. Favorites this year included Fall Fest, Halloween celebrations (featuring a costume contest, hayride, and dance), a “crazy hair” day, the winter Snow Ball, Lunar New Year celebrations, the “Rock Band” Intersession group’s performances at Cabaret, and a Junior Breast Cancer Awareness Club faculty-versus-students dodgeball fundraiser game. The lessons that students learn while planning and enjoying these types of activities are just as valuable as the lessons being taught in the classroom. A Millbrook education is, after all, about the whole person, mind, body, and spirit.
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MILLBROOK MATTERS
THE BIG PICTURE Travel:
Sam Tarnasky explained, “We all had
Discovering, Serving, Connecting Millbrook has a tradition of experiential learning that is, at times, best realized by traveling to destinations that provide genuine and organic learning opportunities. This year, faculty and staff ventured near and far to provide service opportunities, study languages, share with professional peers, and reconnect with alumni and parents at receptions across the United States and the world. During the first week in December, faculty members Sara Krauss ’95, Jason Goodwin, and Sam Tarnasky traveled with current students Tahrieq Koonce ’17, Amanda Clizbe ’17, Alex Stafford ’16, and Olivia Galli ’16 to the NAIS People of Color and Student Diversity Leadership Conference in Indianapolis. Faculty members attended the NAIS conference while students participated in the diversity leadership conference that ran in parallel. Alex Stafford explained, “It is truly
hard to sum up in words how incredibly important and special this conference is. To be surrounded by 1,600 other students who all are so aware of the
inequalities within society and so open and willing to discuss incredibly uncomfortable topics is very liberating. You learn things about yourself and about the way in which the world works that you wouldn’t otherwise, and even in a room of 1,600 people, you feel like an individual. You feel like you matter.” The faculty members that attended the People of Color Conference learned strategies to continue our own community conversations about diversity. They attended sessions where other schools gave examples of programs that are working, of challenges they had to overcome, and advice on how to begin this kind of work.
• T ahrieq Koonce ’17, Alex Stafford ’16, Olivia Galli ’16, and Amanda Clizbe ’17 attend the Student Diversity Leadership Conference.
the chance to reflect personally and also professionally. We were able to consider our own feelings on these topics and also to think about our community and how we can be the welcoming, open, and conscious place that we want to be.” The group returned to campus and began implementing several ideas generated at the conference so that we can continue to fulfill our diversity mission in tangible and effective ways. Focusing on language immersion, French teacher Eve Whitehouse has been working with Education First, a world leader in international education, to organize an immersive world languages trip to Paris over spring break. In preparation for this comprehensive trip, Ms. Whitehouse attended a training session in Barcelona that modeled the format for the upcoming Paris trip. Each day of the trip focused on a specific theme, and the day was full of engaging activities while being fully immersed in the language and local culture. As a French teacher, Ms. Whitehouse visited Barcelona where she was able to experience how powerful learning in a completely immersive nature truly is. After only one day of the program, she was already able to participate in simple conversations with native speakers. Over spring break Ms. Whitehouse and a group of six Millbrook students joined another group of students from Anchorage, Alaska in Paris for a six day long French language and culture immersion program. Each day began with a few hours of classroom learning followed by educational activities in Paris. Some of the daily activities included shopping in markets for ingredients needed to prepare traditional French cuisine, visiting artists’ studios and world renowned galleries and museums, exploring the famous fashion district and working with French designers, participating in city-wide
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scavenger hunts, and much more. All of this was done while speaking French exclusively. Another cultural experience was planned this year, but this one was designed for parents. Barbara Gatski, director of parent programs, brought four current parents to Cuba for a hands-on cultural education trip. Participating parents included John Roach P’15, Charlotte Harris P’15, Diane Reilly P’17, and Carla Westcott P’15. The experience immersed the group in Cuban culture as they connected with Cuban people from all strata of society. Highlights from the trip included meeting local artists, trying local cuisine, working with students at a variety of schools, exploring Old Havana, and visiting a sustainable mountain community, coffee plantation, cigar factory, and Ernest Hemingway’s home. The trip proved to be a successful continuation of Millbrook’s program to involve parents in our travel and servicelearning program to spread the value of Non Sibi Sed Cunctis around the world.
•W orld Languages Chair Barbara Gatski volunteers in a classroom in Cuba.
Students and faculty members also traveled abroad earlier this year on a twoweek service-learning trip. Teachers Kathy Havard and Brad Hart led the student group to Ghana, West Africa this summer and spent considerable time at the
• Students on a two-week service-learning trip to Ghana
JoshKrisDan children’s home in Old Ningo. Mary Ma ’15, Harrison Bluestone ’15, Siena Buffa ’16, Melanie Carr ’17, Josh Clarke ’15, Elizabeth Couse ’15, Taylor Harris ’15, Sawyer Kelly ’15, Ilayda Koenigsberger ’16, Mary McCartney ’15, Jessie Ribera ’15, Abby Sanford ’16, Isabel Seaborn ’16, and Zack Schymura ’15 also spent time at Right to Dream, a residential school and soccer academy that recruits boys from all over West Africa and brings them to Ghana to train. Students develop the skill set required to play for boarding schools and universities in the United States and the United Kingdom or to eventually become professional players. The ultimate goal is for students to return to Ghana or their country of origin with the skills necessary to improve the communities around them. Millbrook has enrolled two dreamers, Edward Opoku ’15 and Baki Bawa ’14. This fall both will be playing in college. Edward will be playing in the Division I
program at the University of Virginia, and Baki will return to play for a second year at Gettysburg College. The students felt that this experience was profound in many ways and shared their personal and emotional experiences with the entire Millbrook community during a chapel talk this fall. Many of the students have stayed in touch with friends they met at the children’s home, continuing the dialogues that they started in person. This recent trip to Ghana is only a small piece of Millbrook’s ongoing service learning program. Under the leadership of Chaplain Cam Hardy service-learning has flourished in recent years and has included multiple service trips to Ghana, India, and New Orleans. These experiences expand on Millbrook’s traditional community service program, which focuses on service on and within the Millbrook campus.
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MILLBROOK MATTERS
THE BIG PICTURE large receptions all provided opportunity for friends to reconnect and reminisce. Millbrook’s annual New York City reception for alumni, parents, and friends was held again at the Racquet & Tennis Club in November. While this annual reception in Manhattan has become a Millbrook tradition, this year was particularly special as the gathering celebrated Headmaster Drew Casertano’s 25 years as Millbrook’s headmaster.
• E li Bannett Mas ’17 visits the Wolf Conservation Center in Westchester County.
Much closer to home, Trevor Zoo Animal Care Coordinator Kyleen Parajon and Eli Bannett Mas ’17 traveled recently to the Wolf Conservation Center in Westchester County. The Wolf Conservation Center teaches about wolves, their relationship to the environment, and the human role in protecting their future. They also housed our two male Red wolves during their first breeding season. At the center in Westchester, Ms. Parajon and Eli collected reproductive fluid samples from the endangered Red wolves and Mexican wolves. The samples will be banked at the St. Louis Zoo for further research and to help preserve these critically endangered North American species. With the Trevor Zoo’s commitment to the wolves’ Species Survival Plan (SSP) and professional partnerships with outside organizations that share the same commitments, we are able to help these incredible animals from becoming extinct. Across the United States Millbrook’s Director of Alumni Relations Cindy McWilliams and Assistant to the Headmaster for External Affairs Bob Anthony ’65 brought together alumni and friends. Small intimate gatherings and
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Once the attendees had settled in, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Bill Menard ’78 P ’09, ’12 addressed an audience of over 250 guests, the most ever in attendance at a school reception. He spoke of Millbrook’s momentum under the leadership of Headmaster Drew Casertano and highlighted the plethora of major campus improvements that have taken place under his tenure, from the first, construction of the Mills Athletic Center, to the most recent, the completion of West Hall. He spoke keenly on the past and optimistically about the future as he welcomed Headmaster Drew Casertano to share some words with the audience.
•C hairman of the Board of Trustees Bill Menard ’78 introduces Headmaster Drew Casertano at Millbrook’s annual Racquet & Tennis Club reception.
Mr. Casertano stressed that while Millbrook has accomplished a great deal in recent years, there is still much to look forward to. He highlighted the current capital campaign and the school’s goal to raise $65 million by June 2017. When this
•A lumni, current parents, and friends enjoy catching up at the reception in New York City.
current campaign is complete, Millbrook will have raised over $100 million since 1994. He painted a clear picture of the future and stressed that Millbrook is well on its way to being the best small boarding school in America. Members of the Admission Office have traveled extensively this year as well, as they went in search of Millbrook’s most promising future students. In a highly competitive landscape, applications to Millbrook continue to rise, and Millbrook continues to become more and more selective each year. To find the ideal candidates, Millbrook’s admission officers, led by Director of Admission Jon Downs ’98, traveled with purpose to over one hundred schools in key markets such as New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Washington D.C., Florida, Chicago, Colorado, California, and Texas. These efforts have proven to be successful, as over five-hundred prospective families visited campus between September and February, presenting the office with a wide gamut of talented and promising future Millbrook students.
• F rom left to right: Adriel Tong, Meghan Shine, Jeff Smith, Bill Castell, Vince Vincent, Ava Goodale ’02, and Jonathan Sokolski.
New Faculty Bill Castell Technology
Bill joins us from Boston University Academy and is Millbrook’s first director of Academic Technology. He is responsible for all technology on campus but is especially focused on meeting technology needs in the classrooms.
Ava Goodale ’01 Science
Alumna Ava Goodale’s commitment to sustainability and the sciences at Millbrook remains as strong today as when she was a student and won the Trevor Cup at commencement. She has returned to campus to lead our independent science research program, working with VI form students at a very advanced level. Ava is also teaching environmental science, serves as a sustainability coordinator, and is a dorm parent in the new West Dorm.
Meghan Shine Admissions
Meghan is unique in that she is experiencing two boarding schools
on a daily basis. She lives at Salisbury School, where her fiancée is member of the English faculty, and works in Millbrook’s Admission Office. Meghan joins us from the world of advertising and brings an eye for detail to the Admission Office.
Jeff Smith
Deans Office Jeff is Millbrook’s general counsel and the academic dean for the III and IV form. Jeff joins Millbrook after serving as Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of New York. He also previously served as dean of students and French teacher at the Doane Stuart School in Albany, NY. Jeff also plays the trombone, trumpet, and tuba and would love to find three other brass musicians at Millbrook to form a brass quartet. Stay tuned!
Adriel Tong Arts
Adriel recently completed his MFA at the Rhode Island School of Design and brings his artistic skills to Millbrook’s
classes in the Holbrook Arts Center. Adriel’s sculptural work was featured in the Warner Gallery early this year and served as great inspiration for his students in ceramics.
Vince Vincent Arts
Vince is a professional vocal musician and brings his commanding voice to the classroom. Vince’s dedication to Millbrook’s vocal program has resulted in a revitalized group of Millbrook Singers and many powerful performances at Arts Nights throughout the year.
Jonathan Sokolski Intern
Jon joins Millbrook’s faculty as an intern and wears many hats this year: working closely with Ed Allen in Athletics, coaching soccer, hockey, and lacrosse, running formal dinners, living and working in Case Hall, and much more. A graduate of Canterbury, he knows a thing or two about boarding school life.
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MILLBROOK MATTERS
Familiar Faculty in New Roles It is exciting whenever Millbrook faculty take on larger roles within the community. As the school grows, Millbrook looks towards its talented faculty to lead the way forward.
Director of Residential Life
Vincent Sorriento ’96 For the last seven years alumnus Vincent Sorriento ’96 has been a full-time mathematics teacher and dorm head. This year marked a major change for both Vinnie and Millbrook as he stepped into a new role of director of residential life. As our school continues to flourish, growing to three hundred students, it became clear that it was necessary to dedicate a faculty member to oversee residential life. Who could better know the requirements of a positive residential life experience than an alumnus? Vinnie is drawing on his own boarding experiences as a student, along with his understanding of safety and communitybuilding gained as a dorm head, to build a program that ensures students have a positive residential life experience at Millbrook.
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He has begun by working to establish a uniform dormitory curriculum. Vinnie understands (and loves) that each dorm has its own unique culture and boarding experience, so he is working closely with dorm heads to ensure the same messages are delivered, but delivered in ways that work best within the culture of each dorm. He is also exploring ways to improve gathering the information that is used to pair roommates. Vinnie views his initial task as streamlining and creating uniformity in the nuts and bolts of residential life in areas of safety, processes for handling student and faculty housing, and training for student dorm leaders and faculty dorm heads. Once these critical issues have been addressed, he looks forward to exploring the challenges of social matters such as Winter Weekend and other inter-dormitory competitions. He hopes to build on successful events, creating even more dynamic opportunities for dorm residents in the years to come.
MILLBROOK MATTERS
Dean of Faculty
Kathy Havard It’s hard to talk about anything at Millbrook, especially our very intentional academic program, that hasn’t been influenced or entirely shepherded by Kathy Havard. As a committed English teacher and administrator, Kathy has been shaping the lives of our students and overall academic program for the past thirty years. As we all know, boarding school faculty wear many hats, and since 1985 Kathy has acquired many, many hats and has worn them one on top of the other—dorm parent, teacher, coach, academic dean, and dean of faculty. This year she began to focus all of her energies on shaping the Millbrook education of today and tomorrow in a true full time role overseeing academic policy and curriculum and the professional development and mentoring of Millbrook’s faculty. Kathy has passed her part-time role in the academic office (overseeing the III and IV formers) to newly appointed Dean of Students Jeff Smith. No longer managing individual students, she can now devote time to planning Millbrook’s overall curriculum for all students. Kathy hit the ground running, and she has already made numerous improvements to academic policy and curriculum. A priority was to evaluate appropriate compensation, particularly as compared to our peer schools, for our teaching faculty who serve in a triplethreat capacity (teacher, coach, dorm parent). She also wanted to ensure teachers have access to materials and programs necessary to enable their continuing professional development. Kathy worked closely with the Board of Trustees and the Academic Committee to establish a “faculty covenant.” A survey of all teaching faculty identified additional needs including new laptops to meet technological needs and increased allocation of funds for housing improvements for faculty apartments within dormitories. There are other long-term improvements on the horizon. Always fostering faculty excellence, Kathy is fully committed to our master teacher program. This process begins with identifying the young faculty members that show the grit and thirst for excellence and recognizing them as “emerging faculty leaders.” The young faculty members then begin a course of mentorship with department heads and outside professional development organizations on their quest for maximum academic effectiveness. This year Kathy identified math teacher Tom Brown, English teacher Sam Tarnasky, and history teacher Lindsay Peterson as the first emerging faculty leaders, and we are excited to see them continue to grow professionally at Millbrook. In an ever-changing academic landscape we are happy to have Kathy, and her thirty years of educational and Millbrook experience, at the helm. Under Kathy’s excellent leadership our academic program continues to be better by design.
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THE BIG PICTURE
Athletics: Millbrook’s fall and winter athletic performances were nothing short of amazing, with historical achievements in soccer, cross-country, hockey, and basketball.
Athlete Achievements Edward Opoku Edward is Ghanaian and came to Millbrook through the Right to Dream program. This program strives to find talented boys and girls in Ghana and provide them with a world of opportunities through education and soccer. During his time at Millbrook, Edward has proven to be an exceptional athlete. While competing in his last season at Millbrook, he broke the boys soccer records for career goals (80 goals, 30 assists) and points (110). He has also been a WNEPSSA all-select player each of his four years at Millbrook and was Millbrook’s first player to be selected to play in the High School All-American Soccer Game, where he delivered the game-winning goal and was recognized as a co-MVP. Coach Rick McWilliams stresses that Edward is “the most prolific offensive player we’ve ever had.” Edward Opoku now joins the University of Virginia Cavaliers Division I soccer program, as they look to defending their national championship.
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Will Rayman Will Rayman is the epitome of a Millbrook basketball player. He is skilled, tough, coachable, and willing to work to improve both on and off the basketball court. His recent accomplishment of 1,000-plus career points is a testament to that hard work. Will is still undecided about where he will be going to college next year, but he currently holds scholarship offers from Loyola (MD) and Colgate.
Team Achievements Soccer Boys varsity soccer earned their sixth consecutive trip to the New England tournament this fall. Although they did not advance in the tournament, it was a terrific season with impressive victories over Williston and Trinity-Pawling.
MILLBROOK MATTERS
The girls varsity soccer team achieved their best record in over a decade and narrowly missed the New England tournament. With several high-impact underformers on the team, the girls are poised for a post-season run in the fall of 2015.
Athletic Awards FALL Boys Cross Country Most Improved Runners: Kazuki Unayama and Alex Wattles Coaches’ Award: Victor Lou Most Valuable Runner: David Westcott
Girls Cross Country Most Improved Runner: Elizabeth Couse
Cross Country “This year we had an amazing team. We defeated teams that in past years seemed unbeatable,” explained coach Ryan Tolfree. The team went through half of the season undefeated, and their first loss was to one of the better Division I schools by a relatively narrow margin.
Coaches’ Award: Charlotte Kasmin and Anna Waldschmidt Most Valuable Runner: Sarah Dietrich
In the second half of the season, they were hindered by injuries but pressed on and overcame their obstacles to win the large Canterbury and Cheshire invitationals while competing against many teams in larger athletic divisions. The Mustangs finished their regular season 62-7.
Boys Soccer
Led by an inspiring VIth form captain, David Westcott, they continued on to the New England tournament where they ultimately came in 3 places short of 2nd place, the closest the team has ever been to second place.
Defensive MVP: Max Carty
Most Improved Player: Brett Malinowski Offensive MVP: Edward Opoku
Coaches’ Award: Cate MacKenzie
WINTER Girls Varsity Basketball Most Improved Player: Sarah Dietrich
Boys Varsity Hockey Most Improved Player: Kieran Kennedy Coaches’ Award: Brett Barry Most Valuable Players: Jacob Moreau and Matt Gosiewski
Girls Varsity Hockey Most Improved Player: Katie Bishop-Manning Coaches’ Award: Morgan Moffat
Boys Varsity Squash
Girls Soccer
Most Improved Players: Tyler Schmalz and Rodney Brent
Most Improved Player: Amelia Ferris
Coaches’ Award: Zack Hollander
Defensive MVPs: Katie Bishop-Manning and Gianna Muscari
Most Valuable Player: Greg Reiss
Offensive MVP: Taylor Ham
Field Hockey
Girls Varsity Squash Most Improved Player: Caroline Reilly
Most Improved Player: Patty Smith
Coaches’ Awards: Iona Moir and Lucy Marquez Todeschini
Defensive MVP: Meggie Bromberg
Most Valuable Player: Heidi Reiss
Offensive MVP: Jennifer Frega
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MILLBROOK MATTERS
THE BIG PICTURE Hockey
Boys Basketball
Throughout the winter season the Mustangs gave it their all on the ice in multiple athletic tournaments.
Boys varsity basketball gave it their all over the course of a challenging season and earned a trip to the New England tournament in February. The game was tough, competitive, and close, and the Mustangs came back from a double-digit deficit twice in the game. Millbrook executed perfectly to attempt a game-tying shot in the final seconds, but it was not meant to be and the shot rimmed out. Despite their best effort, the Mustangs lost a 60-57 heart-breaker against Canterbury. Although they did not advance beyond the New England quarterfinals, the growing strength of Millbrook’s basketball program was clearly evident on the court this year.
Early in the season, boys varsity hockey competed in the BrooksPingree tournament, playing first against their host, Brooks School. Brooks played a very solid game throughout and defeated the Mustangs 4-1. In their second game, playing against New Hampton School, the Mustangs started slowly and never fully recovered, losing 5-2. The Mustangs were back on track against North Yarmouth Academy in game 3 of the Brooks-Pingree Tournament. They played extremely well in the first two periods, found themselves down 2-0 heading into the third period, but came back in the third to score 4 goals and come away with a win. Making it to the finals, the Mustangs kept their momentum against Pingree, winning 7-2. In the 18th annual Empire Cup the Mustangs came out strong against Albany Academy, but couldn’t get past their goalie. Albany scored four unanswered points for the win. The following day the Mustangs faced off against Trinity-Pawling. The game was a nail biter, with each team scoring points back and forth. However, the Mustangs achieved a dramatic game-winning goal with 2.9 seconds on the clock for the win. The final score was four to three and served as an excellent end to the 2014-2015 hockey season. Girls varsity hockey competed in the Southfield Holiday Invitational Tournament and, in what has become tradition for Millbrook and Southfield, their game was a thrilling, down-to-the-wire affair. Southfield started the game hot and took advantage of a Millbrook crew still trying to find their legs after exams. However, Morgan Moffat ’15 stood tall in the net and thwarted Southfield’s chances. The Mustangs found an extra jump in their step in the second period, but play leveled off as neither team was able to find the back of their opponent’s net. The third period consisted of back and forth action with multiple opportunities for each team, but the game went into overtime. Although the Mustangs had a couple of early chances in the five-minute overtime, a penalty put Southfield on the power play and they grabbed the sudden death winner. In game two of the tournament the Mustangs were defeated by Rivers School 4-0. In game three the Mustangs rallied to beat Middlesex 2-1.
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Visiting Professional Athletes Millbrook hosted a special squash event featuring Jonathon Power and Diego Elias, two prominent professional squash players. For those that follow professional squash, Jonathon Power is a household name. He is the most successful North American squash player of all time and is considered to be one of the greatest shot makers in the history of the game. Diego Elias is 17-years-old and from Lima, Peru. He is a rising star, having recently gained the #1 junior ranking in the world! In August he won the World Junior Championships in dramatic fashion going 11-3, 11-2, 11-1 in 31 minutes in the final. Those that have seen Diego play have little doubt that he is the next superstar of squash. The question is not whether he will make it to #1, but rather how long he will stay there. Our students were eager to meet these professional athletes face-to-face and observe their play styles as they prepared for the winter squash season. They participated in round robin match play, had autographs signed, and spectated an exhibition match between Jonathon and Diego.
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Relationships
The Heart of Millbrook School At Millbrook the strength of our community is integral to our mission and to our motto— not for oneself, but for all—and is a universal experience for everyone who studies at, works at, or visits Millbrook. Relationships born here are the result of our intentional size, where every student is known and needed, and are built on virtues of kindness, respect, and integrity. Millbrook relationships, like the friendships and family ties described in the following pages, are deep, abiding, and exceptional.
Caroline and Langka Millbrook—family that stays with you for a lifetime Caroline Treadwell ’90 • Trapezium Productions
Langka Domberger-Treadwell ’90 • Mother to 7 wonderful children
• Writer
• Pacific Palisades, CA
• Los Angeles, CA
Growing up on different coasts, Caroline Treadwell and Langka Domberger had little in common when they first met at Millbrook. Carrie (and younger brother Zach) had attended a day school in New York City. Langka was an only child and attended Juan Cabrillo, a public school in Malibu, California before making the
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switch to Crossroads, a private middle school. Carrie’s parents were familiar with boarding school—her father had attended Groton—but mom wasn’t thrilled about Carrie leaving home. Langka’s parents were in the entertainment industry, and most of the adults she knew slept all day and stayed up late into the night. Carrie loved the
zoo—Langka loved that one of her middle school friends was headed to Millbrook for high school. Both Carrie and Langka decided that Millbrook was the perfect place for them, and in the fall of 1986 an unexpected friendship was born.
“Boarding school life gave me a sense of structure and helped me become very responsible. I could definitely be counted on all the time. When I first came, I was crying all the time. I really matured a lot, learned how to deal with other people. I learned that I was able to count on people. I could count on the faculty, and I could count on all my friends.” –Langka Domberger-Treadwell
Langka wasn’t exactly prepared for how different life would be at Millbrook. “I didn’t get it at all back then. I lived in Malibu…no one cared about school. Everybody dressed differently and acted differently. I didn’t have anything in common, so it was a difficult first year.” But she thrived at Millbrook. She rose to meet the challenging expectations that adults had of her. She appreciated the rules and the structure, understanding that they were in place because people cared. “I finally had a bed time and knew what was expected of me. I was around adults that acted like adults. It was a really good place—a perfect place—for me.” Carrie looked forward to working with the animals at the zoo; however, she quickly found out that it was the people at Millbrook who would impress her the most. She immediately felt at home, made friends with other girls in her dorm, and developed deep and genuine relationships with faculty. “I was lucky to have Ms. Havard in Guest House and Mrs. Cornog and Mrs. Stellato in Abbott. I remember many conversations I had with them. They made a big impression on me.”
Friends from the start of freshman year in Guest House, Langka and Carrie only roomed together in Abbott Hall senior year. Carrie was a prefect and Langka a peer counselor, and they both found Mrs. Cornog and Mrs. Stellato to be supportive and caring dorm parents. Langka remembers, “They were the best—we were obsessed with them. They were like parents to us. They loved us, really loved everyone in the dorm.” The Treadwells were also like parents to Langka, and she would often go home with Carrie for Thanksgiving, weekends, and holidays. After Millbrook, the two friends went separate ways to college, but they remained close in those years, even travelling together through Europe for one semester in college. In 1997 their relationship changed: they officially became family. Langka married Carrie’s brother, Zach, and now best friends were sisters as well. They shared little, if anything, in common when they first met. Yet because of their Millbrook experience they share so much—a deep and abiding friendship, a family, other lifelong Millbrook friends, and lessons learned in selfawareness, integrity, and respect. Both Carrie and Langka feel that Millbrook’s small size made the difference and
created an intimate setting for real and meaningful relationships during the most transformative time of their lives. Carrie summed it up beautifully: “It’s an intense time of life, when so much happens and changes, and I think the people who are there with you for that, helping you through that, those are the people in life who stay with you matter what.”
“I loved Millbrook from the beginning. I felt that I could be myself there, and I felt valued. I don’t think many people can say that about their high school experience. I had such wonderful, supportive friends, and some of the best teachers I’ve ever had. I have to say that college was a letdown after Millbrook - I went to a big school and missed the small classes and the interaction with teachers.” –Caroline Treadwell
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Relationships: The Heart of Millbrook School
Bob and Woody Students Shape the Millbrook Culture Robert “Bob” McLean ’72 • UBS Financial Services
Martin “Woody” Lynn ’72 • Moody, Lynn & Lieberson, Inc.
• Senior Vice President
• CEO
• Ambler, PA
• Boston, MA
Bob McLean grew up in the Philadelphia area and attended a day school, Germantown Academy, through 9th grade. Most of his friends from grade school were staying local for high school, but boarding school was in the culture for the McLeans. His father graduated from Exeter and his grandfather from The Hill School. After researching schools, his parents felt Millbrook was the best fit, so Bob was off to New York in the fall of 1967 and was glad to be going. It wasn’t until 10th grade that Bob met Woody Lynn. Woody came from a private allboys day school in Waterbury, CT, and all of his classmates went on to boarding school.
Woody and his parents chose Millbrook in part because of an immediate reaction to the campus and its setting. “As soon as my mother and I drove down school road in 1968… obviously it was a very different campus than it is today, but it still had that same very special aesthetic appeal. I immediately liked it, its charm and beauty. And beyond the aesthetic, there was a spirit of friendliness and unpretentiousness with a community service ethic woven in. That was true then, and it’s true today.” Bob and Woody both lived in Guest House their IV form year but in different rooms on different floors. The quad-style
living in a then all-boys setting created a Lord of the Flies element that was different than the boarding experience today. Bob remembers, “While parents made decisions about what school a kid would go to, they were not involved once the kid was in school. Parents were much more hands-off.” Woody agrees and recalls how dorm living really created camaraderie, “Surviving was what bound you together. There was the element of being in a tough environment without much, if any, parental involvement.” While faculty certainly had a presence in the dorm, those interactions were rather loose—it was more about the students managing the students. As a prefect in two dorms, Bob gained much from his interaction with his peers: “We were together all the time. By my senior year, when I was head prefect, it was a very rewarding experience to have the responsibility that came with that.”
“My mother recently gave me the first letter I sent home from boarding school. I remember I was quite worried and not sure I liked Millbrook, but I was struck how I put a good face on it in the letter… A little different than the kids today who are immediately texting [their parents] how awful something is.” – Woody Lynn
Through shared interests and laughs over some rather satirical jokes and Beach Boys songs, Woody and Bob connected. Their friendship grew during their time at Millbrook and continued throughout college, while Woody was in Boston and Bob headed to Providence. Life moved
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“I have more memories from boarding school than I do from college. It’s truly a sense of community, and the students had a big role in forming that.” – Bob McLean
forward, and their friendship grew even stronger as they stood up in each other’s wedding and became godparents to each other’s children. Shared time of 10 years on Millbrook’s board of trustees provided opportunity to work together on something meaningful. “At that time we were the closest of friends. It was great to get together and relive Millbrook at the same time we were helping the school.” Shared business interests have kept them in touch weekly on the phone, and summer visits in
Martha’s Vineyard and now winter visits in Florida bring them (and their families) together regularly. “Millbrook is a unique place, and having that unique experience, a shared experience, is something you always return to.” Bob and Woody have enjoyed a 43-year friendship, born through their unique experience at Millbrook. And while the facilities have improved and parent involvement is definitely different today, the culture of dormitory life—the important role of
Sasha and Kathleen So Many People Dedicated to Helping You Succeed Kathleen Dill ’85 Sasha Buhler ’85 • Executive Director, • Constantin Film Global Business & Executive • Head of Acquisitions • Communications at J.P. Morgan
• Munich, Germany
• New York, NY
As an 8th grader in 1980, Kathleen Dill considered her options for high school. Millbrook was close to home, familiar, yet exciting. The youngest of three girls, her sisters (including Millbrook alumna Karen ’76) were out of the house, and her friends from Dutchess Day were heading off to boarding school. Thus, Kathleen “made a deal” with her parents and enrolled at Millbrook as a boarder in the fall of 1981. Sasha Buhler arrived two years later in the fall of 1983. Having difficulty thriving under cutthroat pressure at National Cathedral
student leadership and ownership of the dorm culture—remains much the same. Current sets of student friends will read this and wonder what stories they might be sharing with us 43 years from now. We know there will be many!
School in her hometown of Washington D.C., Sasha made the choice to transfer to Millbrook. She felt the warmth of the Millbrook community when she first interviewed with Don Abbott and was not disappointed when she arrived. Sasha and Kathleen became fast friends, and they approached life at Millbrook with the belief that, “Never again in your life will so many people be dedicated to helping you succeed.” Dorm life was like having a second family; the atmosphere was consistently kind and nurturing. Students worked to achieve their own best grades—it was not about out-doing each other but rather wanting each person to achieve his or her own success. In the classroom, teachers like Alan Tate and Farnie Collins pushed students to have high expectations for themselves and to respect the classroom as a place where they could succeed beyond their own self-imposed limits. Advisors like Tom Post were attentive to every detail, and coaches like Rick McWilliams were helping them forge ahead with new programs, in this case,
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Relationships: The Heart of Millbrook School lacrosse. And the Millbrook support network extended off campus too. Kathleen’s mother, Evelyn Dill, became a surrogate mother to Sasha. Even while Sasha attended Vassar College in the years following graduation from Millbrook, she would often study at the Dill’s home. Kathleen was away at Colgate, but she was glad that Sasha continued to have a home away from home: “It was a special relationship. [My mom and Sasha] always had a plan that they would go on the Orient Express together if they won the lottery—I was not necessarily invited to come with them.” Although communicating mostly through long letters in the years during college and shortly thereafter made staying close difficult, Sasha and Kathleen picked up right where they left off when Kathleen attended another classmate’s (Ricky Caracciolo’s) Italian wedding, stopping first in Munich to visit with Sasha (and perhaps borrow a few
choice accessories). Today, Kathleen has a special connection with Sasha’s family, regularly visiting with Sasha’s twin thirteen-year-old boys, Liam and Alec, in Europe and here in the states. Time spent together is always greatly relished by all, and the boys clearly feel the deep affection and trust in this friendship,
Brad and Jesse Teammates: Learning to Succeed Together Brad Mills ’44 • Retired Chairman,
Jesse Bontecou ’44 • Retired Farmer
• Bradford Investment Group
• Rally Farms
• New Hope, PA
• Millbrook, NY
Jessie Bontecou grew up on his family’s farm in Millbrook, New York. He attended a local nursery school and then the public elementary school—a one-room schoolhouse with 7 classes, 1 teacher, and no running water or central heat. When it came time to enter 7th grade, his parents thought it would make sense for him to attend Millbrook. After all, his father was good friends with Mr. Pulling, and
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a friendship now marked by constant communication via phone and text. What began at Millbrook—a feeling of connectedness and never-ending support—continues in Kathleen and Sasha’s relationship today. “We are still a resource for each other, and we still have ridiculous fun together.”
school. Having heard that Mr. Pulling started a school, the decision was made, and Brad was sent off to Millbrook at the age of 11 to begin in the III form. This was
the school property was then adjacent to the Bontecou’s farm, which made it quite convenient, as well. He would attend his first two years as a day student and then become a boarding student for the last four. Brad Mills grew up on Long Island and attended Greenvale School. His father was a strict disciplinarian and was considering only two options for Brad’s continuing education: military school or boarding
•G oalie Pete Richards is flanked by good friends, Jesse to his right and Brad to his left.
Jesse, Brad, and Pete were great friends through it all, and they’ve remained friends for an astonishing 70 years since! “We’ve been friends all these years – it’s been pretty easy to do. We’ve met quite often at reunions, and Brad and his children spent time at our family’s place in Rhode Island during the summers. We saw a lot of each other then. Just last June, it was a must that we went to our 70th reunion.”
“Back then, children did not eat with the parents until we were about 10 or 11. I was finally allowed to eat with my parents, and I didn’t like chicken-a-la-king. I said I wasn’t going to eat it. So dad picked me up and opened the front door—this was the middle of the depression—and he said, “there’s a million starving kids out there—go and join them.” Out the door I went, and the door closed. Eventually my mother rescued me, and it was decided that I had to go off to school.” - Brad Mills ’44
in 1938, and Brad joined Jesse and 8 other boys that year. The youngest in the school, they were known as the “bennies.” Going into a small class within a very small school, the boys came to know each other through and through. Having grown up on a farm, Jesse became thoroughly involved at the Trevor Zoo, caring for the animals there. An animal lover, Brad also appreciated the zoo but spent more time working on the Farm Squad, where he did everything from helping to dig asparagus trenches to plowing the potato fields. Brad and Jesse shared a passion for athletics and they spent the fall and winter seasons working diligently for Coach Knutson, playing football and hockey. All of the boys had to play a sport, and the class of 1944 was a talented group of athletes. Brad and Jesse both lived for a time in South Dorm. As younger students they were assigned to wooden cubicles, which formed small rooms with a bed and a place to hang their clothes. A curtain provided some privacy, but boys would often climb up over the top of the walls in order to
jump on a neighbor and cause a ruckus. Jesse remembers getting along very well with Mr. Bishop, the dorm master, and also recalls that Brad’s experience was sometimes different: “We were both kind of crazy and got along just fine. But he was always in trouble. I don’t think he saw a movie until he got to the VI form. He was in jug every single Saturday night! At one of his birthday parties in New York City, Mr. Pulling named Brad, ‘The King of Jugdom.’” Jesse, on the other hand, became a prefect in his class along with another good friend, Pete Richards. Brad remembers Mr. Prum being in charge during their VI form year, and how well Jesse and Pete worked with him to lead the other boys in the dorm. “Mr. Prum was a wonderful man, and Jesse and Pete were responsible for making sure we were doing what we were supposed to be doing in the dorm. There was a faculty meeting one night, and we decided to “attack” the prefects. We got ladders out and crept up the ladders to come in through the windows. Apparently it was watched by the whole faculty!”
“At Millbrook we did so many things together. Playing hockey with Jay and Pete was a wonderful experience. When you’re playing and you’re Millbrook’s first undefeated team, it’s exhilarating. That’s how you get close to somebody. We liked to do the same things together, and we always enjoyed each other’s company—like at the last reunion. It was Jesse and Pete and I—just like old times.” Jesse and Brad continue to talk on the phone and to see each other at reunions and in between whenever possible. Granddaughter Lucinda Mills is now a IV former, and Brad has two very good reasons to make his way to Millbrook. He knows he’ll always be welcome at the Bontecou farm.
“Mr. Pulling believed that athletics was a great training ground, and I believe it too. You lose, but then you’re taught to come back and to win. That’s the way life is. As a very young school, we had an undefeated hockey season our senior year. We were young, and we weren’t at 100 kids yet. We beat South Kent, Gunnery—we beat everybody that year. It was a big achievement. We learned how to succeed.” - Brad Mills ’44
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Relationships: The Heart of Millbrook School
Chris and Alice Holbrook:
Millbrook Blue Through and Through Interview Conducted by Bob Anthony ’65
relationships: my father’s relationship with the school and his relationship with Headmaster Don Abbott at the time. Looking back, Millbrook has been a part of both families, and it was a very natural and very easy choice. Bob: Why did you send your three children to Millbrook? Alice: There was so little time between when we graduated and when we really became re-involved in the school. We were living in Greenwich, and I had just had Ali. I joined the board then, as one of two female alumnae on the board. Chris: After Alice left the board, I came on. We loved Drew and the direction in which the school was moving. When it came time for our trailblazer, Cameron, to make a decision, he looked at Millbrook and at other schools. He was accepted at all sorts of schools, but there we so many things about him that fit Millbrook’s culture: his emphasis on his personal relationships, creativity in music, and so much more. Ali also applied to other schools, but she was so comfortable with where Cameron was. She came and took advantage of everything the school had to offer. When it came time for Parker, he never saw himself going anywhere else. He never even discussed it. Now, he’s followed Ali to Elon! Bob: How many members of your family have attended Millbrook? Chris: My father, David ’56, honorary trustee, and his cousin, Gray ’55, came first followed by Peter ’65, a former trustee. Then Lee, Alice, me, and Sandy, also a former trustee. With Shelley and Lyman, from Alice’s side of the family, and then our three children— Cameron, Ali, and Parker—that’s 12. Bob: What was it about Millbrook that made your parents send you here? Alice: For me it went back to my step-siblings going to Millbrook and my father who was living nearby in Millbrook. He really fell in love with the school. I chose to board at Millbrook rather than attend a day school down south where my mom lived. Chris: I came in 1980 as a junior, the same year that my younger sister, Lee, enrolled as a sophomore. It was about personal
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Bob: The dedication of your time and service to Millbrook has been so valuable. In what important initiatives have you been involved? Alice: It was great being on the board as a young member, and it was also really important when we began hosting receptions in Greenwich to spread the good word about Millbrook. Also, I was one of the founders of the M.O.M.S. (Mothers of Millbrook Students) group, helping to positively impact the student life experience. We supported dorm feeds, activities, and so much more. Seeing firsthand the impact on student life was so satisfying. Chris: We loved being all-around advocates for the school, serving on the board, and helping to host gatherings. I also take pride in having sat on the selection committee to choose Voith & Mactavish to be the school’s architects and diving deeper into the building process. The new buildings are so specific to Millbrook and have such a great impact because they are designed to fit a campus aesthetic and fit into
a strategic campus master plan. It was also really wonderful working with Alice—she contributed so much to the Barn renovation. Looking back, that is the satisfaction I take away—putting in the hard work up front for many future generations of Millbrook students to enjoy. Bob: What was your relationship like when you were Millbrook students, and how did you come to get married? Alice: We were friends at Millbrook and shared many common friends. Our college choices took us in different directions, but then we both moved back to New York City and reconnected at a Millbrook young alumni gathering. We were married within two years of that Millbrook reception. We would never be together if it were not for Millbrook. We tell our children – you never know!
Millbrook School became co-educational in 1972 when girls were allowed to attend as day students. In 1976 the first female boarding students moved into Guest House, and since then 17 couples have met here and married. Daniel Albinder ’79 — Susan Arends Albinder ’81 Christopher Holbrook ’82 — Alice Hager Holbrook ’82 C. Duncan Parsons ’86 — Lori Shilkret Parsons ’86 George Sayan ’88 — Caroline Bozorth Sayan ’90 Matthew Hoffman ’89 — Camille Rustige ’91 John Petrone ’89 — Teddi White Petrone ’90 Daniel Noone ’90 — Holly Meigs Noone ’94 Ethan Richman ’90 — Amy Kessinger ’92 Zachary Treadwell ’93 — Langka Domberger-Treadwell ’90 Wixon Greenwood ’96 — Sibyl Fenwick Greenwood ’96
Bob: What do you think it is about the school that encourages and fosters lifelong relationships and friendships?
Olivier Gagnon ’97 — Nicole Fiacco Gagnon ’98
Chris: It’s absolutely the size of the school and the intimacy of the relationships that you have with your friends and your peers that allows for these lasting relationships. It’s the shared experiences. When you develop a friendship, you have so much to draw on. The shared experiences are also so impactful that running across an old friend after many years after not being in touch, you have so much in common that it’s easy to reconnect.
Ryan Young ’99 — Catherine Marsallo Young ’00
Alice: From what we’ve seen with our children at Millbrook, their relationships they have forged are even deeper. It’s easy to project that they will be lifelong friends—they’re so close. It’s very specific to Millbrook. At the bigger schools, you might have your few great friends that you stay in touch with. But, like Chris said, you just know every single person at Millbrook, and you share so many of the same experiences. The intimacy of the experience is key.
Loukas Zoumas ’97 — Mary O’Connell Zoumas ’98 Patrick Mahon ’99 — Hadley Heffernan Mahon ’00 Justin Salvia ’00 — Sara Craighill Salvia ’00 Will Cart ’03 — Alexandra Peterson Cart ’04 Max Kennedy ’06 — Erin Schroth Kennedy ’07
Bob: What are your hopes for Millbrook’s future? Chris: We would love for the endowment to grow to $300 million and for Drew to stay for another 25 years! It’s absolutely our hope to see Millbrook continue on its current path to becoming the best small boarding school in the country. We want Millbrook to realize those aspirations while maintaining its unique culture and continuing to focus on the whole student. How to be responsible, the importance of service, how to be a member of a community. This is what Millbrook does. Bob: You spoke to our graduates about how they will effect great change in the world because they will take Millbrook with them wherever they go. Is there anything you want to add to that? Chris: As I had the privilege to address the class of 2014 at their commencement, I encouraged them to think about the core values of Millbrook and to apply those values to everyday situations, to approach all decisions both large and small by thinking about the impact those decisions will have on others. If, as a graduate of Millbrook they stay true to these values, they will naturally become leaders in their chosen field and in their personal lives. Their formative years have been informed by this rare combination of humility and confidence. In my experience those two attributes together are always a winning combination.
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Relationships: The Heart of Millbrook School
or with different experiences and different interests is a fabulous way of really developing a sense of self while at the same time building the foundation for lifelong relationships.
Dormitories:
Some of the Most Powerful Classrooms on Campus by Liz Duhoski Morrison
Assistant Head of School & Dean of Students
Recently, I was sitting and talking to a group of alums who ranged in age from 25 – 65, and I was struck by the numerous comments about their roommates at Millbrook. An older gentleman remarked that he and his Millbrook roommate have talked every week since graduating from Millbrook in the 1970’s, and many shared stories of dancing at each other’s weddings. Having not attended a boarding school myself, I was intrigued by this lifelong connection.
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When I think about dormitory life during my 18 years at Millbrook, some of my favorite memories are of students who became close friends because they lived together, and, other than sharing a room, they had nothing in common before coming to school. While a student may think he knows who he is at the age of 15, it is not until his world is expanded and he is exposed to differences that he can really start the process of self-definition. Living with a roommate from a different culture
The foundation is set at Millbrook, and our graduates carry these important lessons with them. I can’t help but think of our many college students who return to Millbrook and comment on their college peers who they find “so needy and dependent!” Millbrook faculty really get the delicate balance between encouraging kids to find their way in uncomfortable situations and providing the care, comfort, and support that teenagers need. Millbrook students are given enough autonomy and independence that they can gain the confidence to make their own decisions and manage their own lives. Simultaneously, dorm faculty instill these valuable lessons while caring and nurturing for each student in a way that can only be described as familial. Every year there will be at least one room with a conflict, and while the easy solution is just to make a room switch, that is not our immediate reaction. A switch assumes that the students do not have the ability to work it out. We prefer to assume that the students have the ability and need to use it, persevering through difficult times. Some of the most powerful lifelong relationships I have witnessed are the result of not giving
up on a difficult situation, or assuming that because there is nothing visibly in common it will never work. When there is no option to switch, the option on the table is how to find common ground and respect. As the dean of students, I believe that some of the most powerful classrooms on campus are in the dorms. It is in this space that one learns patience, the value of community, and how to attend to your own needs while simultaneously attending to the needs of the larger group. Dorm life teaches respect, tolerance, and empathy. Dorm faculty are still teachers when they are in the dorm—the subject matter just switches to a different discipline. The students have the privilege to know the dorm faculty on a much more personal level than in just their classroom setting. After hours is often when a student will share something personal and bond of trust is formed and solidified. I have often reflected on why the relationships that are created at Millbrook are so strong and can endure the trials, tribulations, and distances in life. I think the answer lies in the fact that we live and
learn together every day of every week, both teachers and students. We don’t have a school persona and a home persona—we are authentically living our lives in front of one another. Students living together in a dorm room at Millbrook share a journey through adolescence, with all of its ups and downs. Roommates laugh together, study together,
and cry together. They learn the importance of being honest with each other and how to communicate, especially in difficult situations, with integrity. From this shared experience bonds are formed, and those bonds often remain strong in perpetuity. The stories shared in the pages of this magazine by alumni from four different decades speak to the tradition of community and family that is dorm life at Millbrook.
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25 Years:
Building Community, Building Momentum,
Building A Better Millbrook We’re a school that is always teaching through community and always balancing the needs of the individual against the needs of the community, always trying to remind students and educate students about their responsibilities to something larger than themselves. – Drew
Headmaster Drew Casertano’s hair might be several
The past 25 years have been characterized by
shades lighter than when he began at Millbrook 25 years
tremendous growth and momentum, a thoughtful and
ago, but his focus, his drive, and his ambitions for Millbrook
intentional evolution of the school through the lens of
remain unchanged. Drew continues to work tirelessly every
our mission. And as Millbrook continues to grow and
day, week, month, and year to provide Millbrook students
change, the heart and soul of the place remains the
the most singular, unique, powerful, lifelong, enduring
same: the value of community service, the need to
education possible. He works for the students and for their
educate the whole student (the head, the heart, and
parents, for the alumni, and for everyone else who cares
the body), and the importance of learning through
about Millbrook School.
community are as vital today as they were in 1931.
In the pages that follow, students, alumni, parents, and faculty speak to how Millbrook’s sixth headmaster has continually led by example, focusing on the needs of the school community and working with all members of the community to carry through the best of the school begun by Mr. and Mrs. Pulling.
We are always going to look at the best of the institution and try to preserve and enhance that while also being willing to change and grow. That tension guides us and gives us tremendous energy. Change is essential—it has been one of the constants of my 25 years here, and it’s going to be a constant going forward. But it will always be balanced. – Drew
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Tradition An educational tool, a moral compass, and the tie that binds generations of students Original traditions brought back during Drew’s tenure:
The Mission Taking to heart the foundation upon which Ed Pulling built this school He was, and still is, committed to the original mission my father had, and he has kept that alive. There remains a true feeling of community, where every student is known and students and adults are always interacting, whether in the classroom, in the dorm, or on the athletic fields. There is still an important ethic of community service—everyone pitches in to make it work on campus. Yet the school has grown tremendously in every possible way. – Former Board Chair Lucy Cutting
The mission of the school is so strongly articulated and so woven into every facet of school life. The end result is a school that is strong and speaks for itself. Kids come to Millbrook because they believe in our mission—they like interacting with adults in a community, they like working hard, but they don’t want to do that in isolation. They don’t want to do it in cut-throat competition with one another; they want to do it in collaboration and in self-challenge. – Dean of Faculty Kathy Havard, P ’11, ’13
His decisions always circle back to the mission of the school, and any change has been the result of a thoughtful and deliberate process. It’s about a long-term vision for the school and then slowly, responsibly, deliberately, taking one step at a time. – Assistant Head of School Liz Morrison, P ’10, ’14
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•C hapel talks create connectedness between students and faculty and an openness in communication amongst everyone in the school. As originally intended during Mr. Pulling’s time, standing up to speak in front of the school provides the perfect opportunity to brush up on public speaking skills. •F ormal dinners are both a teaching opportunity and social opportunity, as students and faculty sit down and spend time with people, to whom they might not ordinarily talk, and forge new connections. • During III form reading nights the headmaster gets to know Millbrook’s youngest students in a more casual environment, which makes him more approachable and accessible to them.
Traditions that have been carried through and remain at the forefront:
High expectations for performance and for behavior.
We expect an enormous amount of our students, how they will perform and shape the academic experience, for themselves and for others, and how they will contribute to the community. - Drew
An engaged education Students are studying science out in the wetlands and English classes are writing outside, taking full advantage of and being inspired by the beauty of the campus. Students and adults are always engaged—in the classroom, on the athletic fields, and in the dorms.
Community service Service remains one of the most important ways we teach responsibility and leadership, and it is the backbone of our students’ education outside the classroom.
Drew had not just a willingness but an intention to hold onto those things that made Millbrook, Millbrook, at the same time bringing the school into a wider audience, in a modern world really. – Bill Menard ’78, P ’09, ’12, ’12
Drew has really enhanced the feeling of community by bringing back or enhancing some of the early traditions of the school. Students realize that they’re a part of something bigger than themselves, they’re a part of traditions in which generations of students before them participated. – Director of Alumni & Constituent Relations Cindy McWilliams, P ’01, ’05
Growth & Momentum Shattering Records
In 1992 the planning process began, as Drew worked with the board of trustees to chart out a course for Millbrook, challenging us with a goal of raising $36 million. It took the breath out of everyone in the room. But we hit that goal, and we hit it faster than we could have imagined. And the momentum just kept building. Twenty-five years later, the reports—whether it’s admissions, development, or finance—just keep getting better and better. Records are being shattered on all levels. It couldn’t be a more exciting time for the school. – Bill Crossman ’74, P ’09
Enrollment from 171 students in 1990 to 300 students in 2015. (70% increase)
Endowment from $6 million in 1990 to $35 million in 2015, with a goal of $50 by 2017. (483% increase)
Annual Fund from $425,000 in 1990 to $2 million in 2015 (370% growth)
Physical Plant the square footage on campus has more than tripled since 1990.
Campus building and improvements: MAC (1995) Three new faculty homes (1996) Harris Hall renovated (1997) HAC (2001) Abbott Hall (2002) Athletic Fields (2007) MASC (2008) Harris-Kenan Language Center (2008) Academic Center (2009) Turf Field (2010) The Barn (2012) West Dorm (2014) Solar Field (2015)
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Drew has pushed the envelope, not for the sake of growth, but really to better do the things that make Millbrook, Millbrook. The changes have been augmentation and improvement rather than a discarding of the past. The campus today, just from the view of the physical plant, is more beautiful than it was in previous generations. Its core is recognizable, but there’s been a modernizing, an improvement, but not a change really in the way the buildings are used or in the spirit. There’s been a very clear and conscious effort to build buildings that are appropriate for this school, for its history, and for our student body. – Bill Menard ’78, P ’09, ’12, ’12
Incredible facilities all around our campus support the academic program. Following Ed Pulling’s vision, classrooms continue to be incorporated into a variety of spaces, and students and faculty need to go outside between classes so that they get to experience this incredible campus, the beauty here, in all seasons. – Dean of Faculty Kathy Havard, P ’11, ’13
The bar keeps getting higher in all that we do—whether it’s in academics, in the arts, in athletics, or in facilities. It used to be if we lost a game to a school 4x our size, we just lost to a school that was much bigger than us. Now, because we’ve beaten those teams more than once, the expectation is that of course we can beat those teams. Of course we have a curriculum that can rival a school of 600 or 700 students. – Assistant Head of School Liz Morrison, P ’10, ’14
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Community
Relationships are the heart of Millbrook School The Board: Lucy Cutting was exactly the right person to be board chair in my earliest years. She’s a real expert in governance and how to develop a board to lead an institution. Bill McNamara and I forged the closet of relationships, and we worked together hand in glove in a great partnership. Now, Bill Menard is equally outstanding. All three are smart, ambitious, and extraordinarily generous. That’s prominent among the reasons why Millbrook has moved so far so fast. – Drew
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One of his strengths has been in empowering the board to dream big and to articulate their vision in concert with his and with the faculty’s vision. He’s helped create a vibrant, energized, forwardlooking board, where every member contributes something. – Dean of Faculty Kathy Havard, P ’11, ’13
The board of trustees has been a really key partner. Sandy Burton and David Holbrook in the beginning in particular, who were on the search committee. Also, Lucy Cutting— she took very good care of us, as she, more than any other person, knew what it was like to live in Pulling House and have those challenges of raising a family and running a school. All along the board has really supported Drew’s vision for the school, and that’s why we’ve stayed. – Linda Casertano Director of Financial Aid & Associate Director of Admission
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Faculty:
I am truly inspired by the faculty every day. These are people of extraordinary ability, outstanding scholars, creative, demanding, and rigorous. We’re so fortunate that people with such a high level of motivation and caring and ability want to do this important work with our students. – Drew Casertano
There’s been a real focus on supporting our faculty, and he’s dedicated a great deal of resources, both financial and time, to assemble a fantastic team of administrators that support the faculty and all the adults that work with the students here.
He is ever thoughtful in the leadership of the school. He listens carefully, he is responsive to feedback, and he has the deepest respect for this senior staff members, for the faculty, and for the professionals who work for this institution.
– Bill Menard ’78, P ’09, ’12, ’12
– Caroline Wamsler ’87 PhD
As president of the New York State Association of Independent Schools, president of The Association of Boarding Schools, and president of the Headmaster’s Association, he has brought those experiences and what he’s learned back to the faculty and to the administrators, so that Millbrook can continue to become a better school. – Assistant to the Headmaster for External Relations Bob Anthony ’65, P ’07, ’08, ’12
Drew’s vision is everywhere, and particularly when it comes to academics and our faculty. He really enjoys collaborating with faculty at all levels, listening to them and building teams. He recognizes talent and good ideas, and he empowers people to move forward, encouraging them to dream and to talk with him about what’s important in their experiences at Millbrook. He supports the development of a vision, then allows the academic program to unfold. – Dean of Faculty Kathy Havard, P ’11, ’13
Drew wants the best, and he demands that of the faculty, that every day we should strive to be better. – Gordon Pennoyer ’99
Parents: He is always available to parents to discuss adolescence and issues specific to teenagers. The relationships he has with Millbrook parents who have entrusted their child to him and his institution are more than just those of a headmaster. There’s a genuine respect and friendship there, and that’s why there’s such excitement around the opportunity to celebrate a milestone like this for Drew. – Bill Menard ’78, P ’09, ’12, ’12
Parents have come to know that what you see is what you get. The warmth that you see in him, the interest that he’s showing
in you, the knowledge that he’s going to be a big part of your child’s experience at Millbrook. They see him as a real resource and a real partner. They see their child benefit from a relationship with Drew while he/she is a student, but they also see the relationship continue in their child’s life as an alumnus/a. – Director of Alumni & Constituent Relations Cindy McWilliams P ’01, ’05
Drew brings the Millbrook story to life— he embodies the core beliefs of the school, and he articulates them very well. He is a statesman, and he enhances Millbrook’s reputation every time he speaks with parents. – Chris Holbrook ’82, P ’11, ’12, ’14
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Students: He knows every student, and he has tremendous energy for adolescents, how they become aware of themselves and find their passions, how they learn things they didn’t think they could. – Dean of Faculty Kathy Havard, P ’11, ’13
It’s a loving, caring school that challenges you to do things that make for great life experiences. And it starts from the top, with Drew. He challenges the kids the first day of school. “Come into my office and ask me to tell you your name. If I don’t know your name, you can have a cookie.” He might have given away a few cookies over 25 years, but not many… - Bill Crossman ’74, P ’09
Mr. Casertano made it very clear to me that he was going to play an active role in my time here and not let me just skate by. And he made it part of his life to interact with all students. He’s very much connected with the kids. It’s a genuine feeling that creates a special atmosphere, a really unique culture. – Teddy Karatz ’96
Drew Casertano had a profound impact on my experience at Millbrook. He was a constant source of help for me and always there. He really taught me a work-life balance. Being able to get good grades, get into a great college, play sports, and have time for friends. We had a lot of conversations around these things, and we still have these conversations. – Nick Weaver ’07
When we went to the III form readings on Thursday nights, he was the father figure who was reading to everyone. It was the only time during the week when everyone was quiet and not creating noise in the background. You knew he would call you out because he knows your name and your parent’s names and he had your parent’s phone numbers on speed dial. – Andrew Cochran ’06
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He rolls up his sleeves, he goes out on roadside cleanup days, he is down at lacrosse practice, he’s at morning assemblies, and he’s reading to III formers on Thursday evenings. He’s all over the place, having every sort of interaction with students in ways that mean a lot to our community. – Assistant to the Headmaster for External Relations Bob Anthony ’65, P ’07, ’08, ’12
Every school has a headmaster, and he takes it to a whole new level in the best possible way. He knows everybody’s name. He knows everybody’s family. He knows where you’re from, what classes you’re taking. He reads everybody’s report cards at the end of the semester, so he knows exactly how every student is doing. – Emma Merrill ’13
While coaching and while on service trips to Guatemala, Drew and the students get to know each other on a more personal level. While playing lacrosse together, cutting vegetables in the kitchen, tutoring young children, he gets to understand who they are and how he can help maximize their potential. There are many real moments where they see him as a person invested in their life. – Assistant Head of School Liz Morrison, P ’10, ’14
Alumni: Drew has been successful in building relationships and getting to know alumni— he has meaningful relationships and interactions and supports our graduates in any way he can. He’s always willing and excited to meet Millbrook alumni from before his time, to hear their story, to see what Millbrook meant to them. He is always thinking about how we can support our alumni in their lives. – Assistant to the Headmaster for External Relations Bob Anthony ’65, P ’07, ’08, ’12
He continues to play the role of headmaster and advisor well beyond my years at Millbrook. I can call and talk to him about job stuff, about life stuff. He has carried that on. He has this drive and energy to stay in touch with alumni. It’s amazing to see how many generations of alumni he has underneath him at Millbrook, and the years of students who have come back, yet
how he hasn’t changed. He hasn’t gotten soft—he’s just more experienced. He has just as much drive today as he did the first day that I started, and he has even more of a vision than when he first started. – Andrew Cochran ’06
shaping who I am today. Drew has a deepseated interest in the lives of students and in their success, and he continues to keep track of what I’m doing today. His door is always open, and that’s a wonderful thing to have as I move forward. – Erin Stuckey ’00
We’ve been friends for almost 25 years now. He makes you feel important and facilitates a natural relationship. That’s a pretty special quality. – Teddy Karatz ’96
Drew has taken his passion and vision and created a coalition of Millbrook graduates who are dedicated to the school and its success. – Gordon Pennoyer ’99
My Millbrook experience completely turned around the way I saw school and the way I saw life, and it played a huge part in
He’s always in tune with what you’re doing. He’s genuinely interested in making sure that everything is going well, and I know he would help out in any situation. – Cooper Babcock ’09
There’s a comfort level and a familiarity that’s really unique. I know that I can always call him, that he’d take my call and listen with an open mind, and be thoughtful. Millbrook alumni have a unique relationship with the school, and with him. – Holly Meigs Noone ’94
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Friends: Drew was a trustee at Dutchess Day School, and he became a member of the board of the Bank of Millbrook. He has joined the golf club, and he has made Millbrook’s facilities available to the surrounding neighbors and friends: the hockey rink, the squash and tennis courts, the turf field, the zoo! Millbrook is a destination now—we used to be just a little school 8 miles out of the village. – Assistant to the Headmaster for External Relations Bob Anthony ’65, P ’07, ’08, ’12
Drew really cares about friendships. He loves his family, loves his school, and deeply cares about the relationships that he makes, the relationships that he has, with alumni, students, faculty & staff, the board, and friends. – George Whalen III P ’06, ’09, ’10, ’14
Leadership A Shared Vision
He’s a visionary leader. His vision comes from within, from his relationship with the founding headmaster, with the faculty, and with the board members that he’s worked with throughout this tenure. He leads others to realize that vision. You find in his administrative team, in the faculty, amongst the parents, amongst the board, and the students, more than anything else, what marks his leadership is his ability to build teams that share a common vision. – Bill Menard ’78, P ’09, ’12, ’12
He is ever thoughtful in the leadership of the school. He listens carefully, he is responsive to feedback, and he has the deepest respect for this senior staff members, for the faculty, and for the professionals who work for this institution. – Caroline Wamsler ’87 PhD
He brought out the best in all of us— challenging us to do our best to enhance the educational opportunities of Millbrook students. – Del Shilkret
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He’s been really instrumental in creating highcaliber leaders who have come back to serve Millbrook. We have the right people on the bus, that are working on behalf of the long term growth of the institution. Drew cares very deeply about who he has on that team, and he has enabled them to go out and do things that were never done before.
Mr. Casertano cares about everything that’s happening on campus—whether it’s at the zoo, on the lacrosse field, or in the photography studio. He leads by example, and that is carried through in every department by every faculty member. They all care so much about the students and their education.
– Anne Putnam ’95
– Katrina Cox ’04
The Future
A partner in the school’s continuing growth There are many things that have kept me here for the past 25 years and will keep me here going forward: a great board of trustees, an inspiring and talented faculty, the chance to help a truly worthy and necessary institution grow and evolve, and every opportunity to get to know every student and be part of their lives. The students inspire me every day; they are the true joy of the work and the reason why we’re here. – Drew
Drew has a lot of ambition. There is still work to be done, so while he’s celebrating 25 years and has created quite significant change, we will, as a board and as a school, continue to maintain that legacy and pursue our ideals in order to create the best student experience. – Anne Putnam ’95
The progress that the school has made, both in conserving what it had and improving upon what it didn’t have, has been phenomenal. He has kept everyone focused on working in the same direction, always moving, moving forward, to create a great momentum. He says that this is not the time, then, to stop pushing. It’s when you need to keep pushing even harder. He should be proud of his achievements, but there’s still work to be done. He’s
focused on moving this school forward, and I think that’s why I have such tremendous respect for him, why my board colleagues gladly give their time and their effort to the school. Why he has a loyal following amongst the faculty, and why he runs such a great institution. – Bill Menard ’78, P ’09, ’12, ’12
Drew and Ed Pulling were the same age when they started out as head of Millbrook School. They also both played golf. So Drew still need to learn an important skill, and Nancy Stahl is prepared to teach him how to get up on a horse and become part of the Millbrook Hunt! – Assistant to the Headmaster for External Relations Bob Anthony ’65, P ’07, ’08, ’12
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Linda Casertano
Her many roles here including the support she has been over 25 years To put a new twist on an old adage: beside every successful man is a wise, competent, and supportive partner. In Drew Casertano’s case this would be his wife, Linda. For the past 36 years they have partnered in the work of boarding school, the last 25 years here at Millbrook. It is a partnership that began in
Linda grew up outside Albany, NY, attended Albany Academy for Girls and chose Smith for college, where she earned a degree in art history. She met Drew, who was a student at Amherst College, at the end of their freshman year. After their graduations in 1978, Drew went directly to his job at Loomis, Linda to New York City to work for an insurance company for a test drive of big city life. In June of 1979 they were married, and Linda joined Drew in Windsor. Linda immediately embraced boarding school life, and when Drew was deliberating about pursuing a career in law, she assured him that she would be very happy working, living, and raising a family in a boarding school.
1979, the September after they were married, and commenced with their careers together at the Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, CT. Drew was hired there as a traditional “triple threat” – teacher, dorm parent, and coach. Linda filled a role as capital campaign intern and dorm parent. Humble beginnings for what awaited these two in their futures.
“Linda is a remarkable combination of wife, mother, friend and professional. She has held leadership roles at four independent schools, and, in between, she was a consultant to numerous others. In ways behind the scenes and not so behind the scenes, Linda has played a
central role in Millbrook’s progress, for which I am grateful beyond words.” – Drew Casertano
The decade of the 80s was a busy one for Linda. In 1981, when Drew took a year off from his post to pursue a master’s degree at Harvard, Linda assumed the role of triple threat (and more) when she was a dorm parent in the boys dormitory in which they lived, taught art history, coached club soccer and varsity softball, all the while continuing her work in the Development Office and as editor of the Loomis Chaffee alumni magazine. Linda and Drew welcomed their first son, Alex, in 1983 just prior to a move
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that the community was very welcoming and helpful. She remembers she hit the ground running and, with the help of Maureen King, the director of food service, pulled off a number of events in the first months at school. Eileen Jeffreys, head nurse at the Miller Brown Health Center recalls, “I was amazed at Linda’s grace under huge change. She got a household up and running, two brothers into the community and delivered within two weeks of Drew’s installation. Her poise under pressure was impressive.” Linda did find acclimating to the rural setting of the school a real challenge. Absent were the conveniences available in the greater Hartford area, but she soon adapted to her new home in Pulling House.
to The Gunnery in Washington, CT, where Linda became the director of the annual fund and Drew was appointed director of admission. In 1985 Linda and Drew returned to Loomis Chaffee. On their return Linda would serve, at different junctures, as associate director of development, admission associate, teacher of art history and dorm head. Drew was director of admission. Soon after their return to Loomis, their second son, Tyler, was born. As the decade came to a close, Drew was offered an opportunity to become Millbrook’s sixth headmaster, and he assumed that role in July 1990. With their third child due in one month’s time, Linda joined Drew in Millbrook in August. In September Linda and Drew welcomed their third son, Will, to their family. She spent that first year caring for Will and settling Alex and Tyler into school programs, as well as adjusting to the intensity of Drew’s 24/7 role as head of school. Linda recalls
Of that time, Drew recollects that Linda was just home from the hospital with Will, when Pulling House was the venue for the Alumni Weekend cocktail reception, “With dozens of alumni downstairs, Linda was upstairs with a baby, plus a six- and four-year-old. She didn’t breathe a word of complaint.” In addition, Drew acknowledges how Linda graciously raised their family in the most public of dwellings, amidst faculty meetings, III form gatherings, and countless overnight guests. It was through her children that Linda made her first connections to the people and families at Millbrook. The Meigs, the McWilliams, the Posts, the Stellatos, the Anthonys, and the Kuhls all had children the same or close in age to Alex and Tyler. Friendships were formed between the children, and Linda got to know their parents. Those connections endure today. Linda has especially fond memories of Helen Panos (wife of art teacher, Louis Panos), who during Will’s preschool years, would often take him for the afternoon to do art projects, serving very much in the role of surrogate grandmother. In the early winter of 1992, as Linda was thinking about reentry to the work force, she was serendipitously approached by the
“I can say with confidence that there’s no better admission representative than “the first lady.” Linda has come to make Millbrook her life’s work. She’s not only raised
her family here, but she has helped forever shape our school through unparalleled diligence
and the ability to reach students and parents alike.”
– Jon Downs Director of Admission Millbrook School
interim head at near-by Indian Mountain School in Lakeville, CT, wondering if she would be willing to help his admission office with financial aid that year. It was the perfect part-time opportunity, and she was off and running. As the nineties progressed Linda held a succession of roles, serving as Dutchess Day School’s (Millbrook, NY) first director of development (1992-93), as a development consultant at Browning Associates (1993-96), and, eventually, as director of development at the Indian Mountain School (1996-2004).
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“My late husband, Bill, and I had the good fortune to see and work with Linda in so many roles: development at Loomis, The Gunnery, and Indian Mountain; admission at Millbrook; and as a consultant with Browning Associates. She works hard as an
office leader, inspiring others to follow her example.
Perhaps most important, she puts the emphasis on teamwork, so that every endeavor is more successful and more fun. While working professionally, she has been a loving and supportive wife to Drew, understanding mother to Alex, Tyler, and Will, easygoing Headmaster’s wife, and good friend to many. In short, she’s a treasure. Lucky are those of us who know her. – Linda Griffin Browning Associates
During these years of working away from Millbrook, Linda’s role as a headmaster’s wife took on a less traditional tone than those of many other heads’ wives. Commenting on working away from Millbrook, staying connected to the school, and managing a family, Linda says, “It was a real balancing act. I tried as best I could to knit together the various roles and demands, to engage fully in my work at Indian Mountain, to tend to the needs of our family, to support Drew in his work, and to embrace the students and faculty at Millbrook.” One way Linda kept connected with other women on campus was to join the campus book club—a connection she maintains to this day. She has attended dozens of book club meetings over the years where she has shared her love of reading with a range of friends and colleagues. One other connection she made and maintains is her association with the Housatonic 13. Founded by wives of two area headmasters in the eighties, its purpose was to provide an opportunity for spouses of heads of school to gather, exchange advice, and give support to one another. The organization, with its mission, is still active today. Linda made connections outside Millbrook through her children’s schools. All three Casertano boys attended
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Dutchess Day School and Indian Mountain School. Both she and Drew were glad to find schools close by for their boys that meshed philosophically with their expectations. When Alex and Tyler selected Loomis Chaffee for secondary school, the Casertanos were happy to reconnect with Loomis friends. New associations were made at Salisbury School where Will went to study a few years later. Linda and Drew proudly followed their boys’ athletic pursuits during prep school and college, managing to attend most all of their competitions. They enjoyed having no formal role at their children’s schools other than being parents. By 2004 Linda felt she had met the standards and goals set for her in the Indian Mountain School’s Development Office. Satisfied that she accomplished what she had intended, she was ready for a change. That change brought her to Millbrook where she covered a year’s leave for the director of the annual fund. At the end of that year she moved into the position of associate director of admission, where she has remained to this day. In her tenure, she has conducted hundreds of interviews, awarded millions of dollars in financial aid, and traveled thousands of miles to fulfill the goals of the Admission Office.
While Linda admits that she may have been a little reluctant to come to Millbrook back in 1990, she has grown to love the area and embrace the countryside and the school. She never imagined being here for 25 years, but it quickly became home to her family. The joy of it all, she says, has been in meeting all the different people through her various roles here. The faculty and their families, students and their parents (potential and matriculated), trustees, and alumni have all enriched her experience in countless ways. In many cases, individuals from these groups have become true and lifelong friends. Linda and Drew’s tenure at Millbrook has been very much a partnership of mutual support, both personally and professionally. The fact that Linda has spent a little more than half of her 25 years at Millbrook working away from campus is significant, as it enabled her to bring a perspective back to their partnership which fostered their collaboration in very important ways. In turn, Drew supported Linda’s career in every respect. The result is a winning combination of good leadership, collegiality, lasting relationships, and success for the school.
We extend our deepest appreciation to all those who have worked on Millbrook’s Board of Trustees over the past 25 years to help guide the school forward and fulfill its greatest aspirations.
With heartfelt gratitude, Drew and Linda Casertano John C. Burton ’50, P ’78
William B. McNamara ’75
Lucy P. Cutting P ’77
William L. Menard ’78, P ’09, ’12, ’12
Francisco L. Borges ’70
Peter M. Holbrook ’65, P ’86
Kristyn E. Reid ’74
Christopher D. Brady ’73
Bruce B. Huber ’47
Bradley C. Reifler P ’08, ’10, ’14
Peter R. Chapman P ’11, ’12
Peter E. Jackson ’58
Elizabeth P. Salett P ’89
Trevor L. Colhoun ’95
Linda B. James P ’87
Caroline Bozorth Sayan ’90
Farnham F. Collins ’53, GP ’17
Sandra Holbrook James ’86
Gilbert P. Schafer III ’80
Morgan C. Conrad ’99
Stuart F. Kirkpatrick ’69
Lisa P. Selz P ’12, ’17
Thomas S. Cox ’62, P ’04, ’07
Robert S. Koenigsberger P ’13, ’16
Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff ’48, P ’76
William L. Crossman ’74, P ’09
Christina Lang P ’15
Simon Sidamon-Eristoff ’76
Laurence Dawson ’38, P ’63
Eric A. Levine P ’95
Robert E.W. Sinclair P ’03, ’08
Richard A. Derbes P ’97
Alfred L. Loomis III P ’97
Paul M. Solomon ’61, P ’98
Langka V. Domberger-Treadwell ’90
Thomas E. Lovejoy ’59, P ’86
Richard A. Stuckey, Jr. P ’00, ’03, ’09
Maxwell B. Drever P ’98, ’01, ’02, ’05
Hampton S. Lynch III ’69
Ellen I. Sykes P ’91, ’92
Drew W. Effron ’83
Martin W. Lynn ’72, P ’09
Oakleigh B. Thorne P ’95
Julie Fowler P ’00, ’03, ’09
Blair Collins Maus ’88
Elisabeth K. Treadwell P ’90, ’93
Cynthia Chace Gray P ’07, ’11
Robert McLean II ’72, P ’99
James T. Wallis ’47
Joseph M. Gregory P ’04
Tracy L. Merrill P ’09, ’11, ’13
Caroline A. Wamsler ’87
Robert W. Hallett
Kathleen M. Metz P ’83, ’85
Patricia G. Warner P ’97
Bradford Mills ’44, GP ’03, ’17
Helene M. Weld P ’91
Gordon S. Pennoyer ’99
George T. Whalen III P ’06, ’09, ’10, ’14
Susan F. Perrins P ’89
H. Jeremy Wintersteen P ’88
Edward Pulling GP ’77, GGP ’05, ’08
Samuel T.S. Wong ’73, P ’02
Anne B. Putnam ’95
William A. Woodcock P ’57, ’60
William W. Reese ’59
Alison H. Zaino P ’09
Henry F. Harris William R. Hettinger ’77, P ’01, ’04 Alice Hager Holbrook ’82, P ’11, ’12, ’14 Christopher C. Holbrook ’82, P ’11, ’12, ’14 David D. Holbrook ’56, P ’82, ’83, GP ’11, ’12, ’14
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were welcoming. Vinnie soon felt like part of the group. He admits to struggling at first as he adjusted to new academic and social expectations at Millbrook, but he remembers how his work ethic improved and that he did well.
Turning Points A Millbrook Alumnus Comes Full Circle by Betty Siegenthaler
W
hile a student and avid hockey player at LaSalle Institute, an all-boys Catholic high school in Troy, NY, Vincent “Vinnie” Sorriento ’96 got wind of the concept of boarding school and enlisted his father’s help to explore the possibility for himself. He knew of other boys who were choosing this path and thought a prep school experience would provide him with the push he desired, both academically and athletically. After making the rounds of interviews and applications, he decided on Millbrook. Vinnie did have a moment of doubt,
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however, and informed his father that while he still loved the idea of boarding school, he thought he would just as soon stay home. His father had other intentions, and Vinnie arrived for his first stay at Millbrook in September 1994. Vinnie was tentative as he arrived for soccer pre-season that fall. He wanted to do everything right but felt clueless regarding the rules and habits of school away from home. In those days fewer athletes came back early, so the crowd was small, but the other boys and his soccer coaches, Rick McWilliams and Douglas Beeman,
Vinnie knows for sure that being a part of a school like Millbrook was a turning point for him and that the faculty had a lot to do with that. He remembers vividly how students listened when Drew Casertano spoke to them, how Douglas Beeman guided the boys in New Dorm (now Burton Hall), how Kathy Havard demonstrated her passion for English, and how much he loved to attend class with Walker Zeiser. Vinnie remembers that these adults were dedicated professionals. Yet, it was his ice hockey coach, Bob Howe, who was his inspiration. Even as a high school student, Vinnie was aware of the distinct interest Bob took in helping boys develop their potential on and off the ice, and the patience he employed while guiding them to become competent young men. After Millbrook, Vinnie played a year of junior hockey for the New Hampshire Monarchs. He followed that by enrolling at SUNY Cortland, where he majored in mathematics and continued to play hockey. Upon graduation, as a potential career was coming into focus, Vinnie explored a job in finance. At the same time he remembered a notion he had when he left secondary school that someday he might want to be a prep school teacher, maybe even at Millbrook. He had stayed in close touch with Bob Howe, who encouraged him to pursue this path, and in the fall of 2001 Vinnie began his teaching career at Rumsey Hall, a junior boarding school in Connecticut. While at Rumsey Vinnie was indoctrinated as a “triple threat”—math teacher, dorm parent to thirty 8th grade boys, and threeseason coach. It was also at Rumsey that he met Caitlin Ritchie, a teacher of Latin, who became his wife.
Alumni/AE
first and foremost a coach. His passion is to nurture a strong, healthy, and sustainable hockey program that helps young men grow as students and athletes. It is a program, he says, which he hopes will inspire them to be the best partners and fathers and maybe even coaches in adulthood. And that would be another circle closed.
Rumsey turned out to be great training for the time when Vinnie transferred his talents to the secondary school level. That opportunity came in 2007 when he was offered a chance to put his triple-threat skills to use at Millbrook. Vinnie arrived on campus that fall with Caitlin and their son, Anthony, ready to teach math, assist at ice hockey and run Case Dorm. Their daughter, Sophia, soon joined them that first year. Since then Vinnie’s duties at school and his family have expanded. He became head varsity ice hockey coach in 2009, occupying Bob Howe’s spot and closing a circle. In 2014 Vinnie was appointed dean of residential life and is in place to help students, especially new ones, figure out how boarding school works—another circle closed. Family additions Rocco and Mia now complete a family of six busy Sorrientos. In addition, Caitlin now works at Millbrook as co-director of the Academic Center. Vinnie thinks that the boarding school lifestyle for his family feels right. He loves the sense of community in which they live and knows he gets much more quality time with his children than most fathers do. The Sorriento family is ensconced in Shilkret House, where former Business Manger Del Shilkret lived for many years and raised his family. Vinnie remembers Del as a “great school guy” who was positive, dependable, and passionate about Millbrook. Vinnie
believes that passionate adults inspire kids, and with Del as an inspiration, he strives to provide that in his leadership both as a parent and a teacher every day. So what was re-entry to Millbrook like for Vinnie? “Obviously,” he says,” it was very different the second time around. I arrived focused on finding a place as an adult in the community. I definitely had different, if not higher, expectations for myself as an alumnus stepping into a faculty position than I had for myself as a student. It was certainly a challenge to interact with former teachers as colleagues—it took me a long time to be comfortable calling Mr. Casertano ‘Drew.’” In his incarnation at Millbrook, Vinnie wants to give back to the school that provided so much for him. One way is by connecting with the students in supportive and meaningful ways. “It’s why you do this job—to make connections and to guide kids and help them move to the world outside their bubble.” Another way he wants to give back is by building and sustaining a strong hockey program. He takes pride, especially as an alumnus, when one of his players earns a coveted spot at the college level. Vinnie says he is extremely happy where he is right now, serving as dean and math teacher, but, in his heart and soul, he is
Bob Howe “I can remember with great fondness my first meeting with Vinnie and his family…. [and] immediately upon arrival to school, Vinnie embraced the community and never allowed himself to be just a hockey player. He was a serious student, a friend to all, and the kind of person the Millbrook faculty wanted to call “their own.” Vinnie loved his school and he expressed this through his actions all about campus each and every day. It came as no surprise to me that he would wind up in teaching. It also comes as no surprise to me that he has become a dedicated and skilled teacher, coach, and father. It should make us all proud to see kids we’ve taught and coached coming back to be leaders on our campuses.”
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Millbrook Alumni
G ath e r i n gs
Alumni Parents
Current student legacies with their alumni parents: Gordie MacKenzie ’79, Cate MacKenzie ’15, Taylor Harris ’15, Samantha Sheldon ’92, Michael Trager ’79, Sydney Trager ’18, Henry Simons ’17, Paul Simons ’83, Liesje Bluestone ’16, Sabrina Ackerman Bluestone ’82, Harrison Bluestone ’15, Bob Sanford ’77, Abby Sanford ’16.
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Millbrook
Erin Stuckey ’00 speaks with current students and faculty.
California
Molly Bergen ’02, Sibyl Fenwick Greenwood ’96, Joanna Fowler Hutchinson ’91, Alex Tasker Marx ’86, Cindy McWilliams, and So Young Park ’05
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1. Robert Anthony ’65 and Cindy McWilliams with Joe Wendel ’99, who hosted a Millbrook reception on Google’s campus in California 2. Tom Fawcett with daughter Helen ’92 3. Steve Shilling ’86 with wife Susan and Jerry Hume ’56
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Women’s Event:
Poetry Reading with Dean of Faculty Katherine Havard On January 20th a group of Millbrook women— alumnae, parents, and friends—gathered at the Cosmopolitan Club in Manhattan for cocktails and dinner as guests of Caroline Wamsler ’87. Guest speaker Dean of Faculty Kathy Havard reflected on her years of teaching at Millbrook and spoke to the ways in which students read (and write) poetry. She shared how she and colleagues engage teenagers with poetry and turned attention to the ways that poetry can challenge, amuse, inspire and sustain us as adults, especially during the cold winter months in the northeast. It was intended as a gathering of Millbrook women to celebrate Kathy’s tenure and skill as an educator; it was no surprise, however, that Kathy turned the event into a teachable moment. While she admitted that preparing her talk was a little daunting, it became a joy for Kathy to reflect on her years of teaching and to see so many of her former students. During the evening Kathy read from a variety of poems including “Here, Bullet” by Brian Turner, a veteran of the Iraq war who visited Millbrook in 2009. Richard Blanco, President Obama’s inaugural poet, also visited Millbrook, just last year. Kathy read his poem, “America,” the first in his collection City of a Hundred Fires. She also read Billy Collins’s “Introduction to Poetry” and Mary Oliver’s “The Summer Day.” All those in attendance were inspired by Kathy’s presentation and appreciated her parting words, “May poetry and friendship sustain you this winter.”
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Alumni/AE Millbrook Alumni
G athering s
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Florida 4
1. C arole Purse P’17, Headmaster Drew Casertano, and Ashley Martini ’05 2. B rian Ross ’78 and Rick McWilliams 3. A shley Martini ’05, Joe and Andrea Kirchhoff P’10 ’17, and Layla Kirchhoff ’17 4. S allie Reider and Dell Battler ’56 5. K ris Reid ’74 and Bill Ryckman hosted Millbrook’s reception at the Gulf Stream Bath & Tennis Club. 6. N ancy Stahl and Patsy Warner P’97
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Alumni/AE Millbrook Alumni
G athering s
1
2
4 3
5
New York City 1. H eadmaster Drew Casertano speaks to alumni, parents, and friends at the Racquet & Tennis Club reception. 2. M illbrook alumni class agents 3. C arter Berg ’92, Zoe Chapin ’03, Anna Martucci ’92, Cindy McWilliams, Katrina Cox ’04, and Hallie Bates ’08 4. A llie Cavanaugh ’08, Jen Cavanaugh Maroney ’03, Headmaster Drew Casertano and Brooke Cavanaugh ’04 5. C hairman of the Board Bill Menard ’78 P’09 ’12 ’12 warmly introduces Headmaster Drew Casertano at the Racquet & Tennis Club reception.
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From July 1, 2014 through February 28, 2015 Millbrook’s young alumni, classes of 1990-2014, competed in the Headmaster’s Challenge.
I’m thrilled with the response to the Headmaster’s Challenge. And I’m inspired by the competitive spirit among the classes and your shared desire to support and advance Millbrook. Adding a little Mustang blue to my already gray flow (grayer now thanks to some of you!) is the perfect way to express my deepest appreciation. Onward! - Headmaster Casertano
Each class competed against the others to achieve the highest percent participation in this year’s Annual Fund, and two winning classes were recognized: the class of 2003 (representing the Millennials) and the class of 1999 (representing the ’90s). Their participation rates were a whopping 60% and 74% respectively, and the Annual Fund gift totals from these two classes are now designated for Millbrook’s faculty professional development program.
The historic support from young alumni cemented a $10,000 match challenge from two anonymous alumni donors. Additionally, because young alumni surpassed total percent participation from last year, Headmaster Drew Casertano agreed to color his hair Millbrook blue and gray. In early April we will reveal his new look!
The Headmaster’s Challenge also brought over 60 young
alumni together in New York City at a special
event at The Ainsworth, where Drew Casertano, Bob Anthony ‘65, Cindy McWilliams, and Deb Vanecek were on hand to catch up. The Alumni Office extends deep appreciation to Cam Bennett ‘02 for recommending the perfect event venue and to Morgan Conrad ‘99, Loukas Zoumas ‘97 and Marko Guzijan ‘99 for their generosity and commitment to hosting this event.
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Save the date
Alumni Weekend 2015
June 5-7
Join classmates, fellow alumni, and other members of the Millbrook family to celebrate your reunion. For question about the weekend’s events or help with planning your trip to campus, please contact Director of Alumni & Constituent Relations Cindy S. McWilliams at (845) 677-8261 x 103 or via email at cmcwilliams@millbrook.org. 68
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Class Notes Class of 1940 75th Reunion Reverend Bill James writes in, “Still alive at 92! Miss my classmates!!”
Class of 1942 John Mulligan and his wife, Virginia, say hello to everyone from their home in Waverly Heights, Gladwyne, PA.
Class of 1947 Oakleigh Thorne has just celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Thorne Nature Experience, formerly Thorne Ecological Institute, the nonprofit organization he founded in 1954. During the past year he successfully raised a million dollars for a special endowment fund called The Oak Thorne Vision Fund, and they kicked off a public campaign on October 17 at their big celebration. Through its Environmental Education programs, Thorne Nature has connected over 200,000 children and youth to nature over the past six decades. They have an active bird-banding program (shades of Frank Trevor who helped Oak get his original permit). “At 86, I still go to work each day!”
Class of 1948 Gordon Lamb and his wife, Anita, have become Florida residents but still venture north each August to Squam Lake in NH. They are sorry to be too far away to make most Millbrook functions, although Gordon did attend two reunions where he was the only representative of the class of 1948.
Class of 1950 65th Reunion Julian Padowicz is trying to get Academy Chicago, his publishers, to have some copies of his fourth memoir, When the Diamonds were Gone, available for his class’ 65th reunion this spring, in advance of its scheduled release date of July 1. The working title of the book was Growing Up American: A Prelude to Marilyn, and it covers Julian’s first 13 years in America, including the four at Millbrook. The proposed subtitle referred to the fact that his first job, following college graduation and a stressful, frustrating, and, at times, comical adolescence, brought him into contact with Marilyn Monroe, every college boy’s dream. There are three titles that precede this new book: Mother and Me: Escape from Warsaw 1939 (Book of the Year, 2006), A Ship in the Harbor, and Loves of Yulian.
Class of 1952 Clay Alexander reports that he received the spring/summer magazine and was most impressed. “We didn’t have anything like that in my day (63 years ago). When outdoors at that time, we had to keep a wary eye out for the occasional velociraptor.” His third novel entitled The Wisdom of Seashells was published on Amazon, and he is working on a sequel.
Class of 1955 60th Reunion Bill Allan is landlording and downsizing, selling his beach home in Sandbridge, VA and hoping to spend time in his Snug Harbor cabin in NC. He now lives in a fourplex that he has fully refurbished in the Oceana area of Virginia Beach.
Class of 1957 Paul Abbott has formally retired from South Kent School after 49 years of continuous service. The immediate next question is, “Why not one more for 50 years?!” Paul did work in public schools for four years before going to South Kent, and now is the right time for him. He and Terese celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on July 4, 2014. In September he will turn 75. His grandson, Corey, graduated from South Kent School, and Corey’s mother celebrated her 30th graduation from the place as well. Paul and Terese will continue to live in their home in Kent and are discovering that being together all day long is interesting, to say the least. They have many outlets for their energy and many friends nearby. When they get settled, they will do some traveling. One of Paul’s former students, now a trustee, has given them a 25-day tour of England, Scotland, and Ireland. They have been blessed with a life of service to others and the comments coming back to them are so special. To have touched so many lives is a real treasure. An update on the children: Ruth and Elliot live in Kent but will have an empty nest when Corey starts Alfred University. Kate and Victor live in Virginia with their three sons. Frederick Gardiner writes in “Dear Drew, your September letter listed awesome accomplishments. Anything the school can do to help youth grow up with understanding of the fragility and beauty of nature is worth our whole-hearted support.”
Class of 1958 Egbert Leigh is now struggling to help a middle school teacher make math more interesting to 13-year-olds without bowdlerizing it. Fibonacci’s rabbits, the golden section, and continued fractions all enter in.
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Class Notes Class of 1959 Jim Cochran and his wife, Marcia Shrock, moved to Cathedral Village, a non-profit retirement community in Philadelphia, PA. Residents include retired musicians, professors, doctors, and pastors and their spouses. Monthly concerts by professional classical pianists and others occur. The members of the community provide lectures and classes at the commons building. Jim provided a talk on weather forecasting in February. Residents, board members, and staff are very environmentally proactive. SEPTA buses stop at the corner of the property for easy access to downtown Philadelphia. Jim gets together occasionally with Bourne Ruthrauff ’59 who remains in law practice in Philadelphia.
Class of 1961 Rick Lamb is living in Cambridge, MA and maintains an active architectural landscape practice. He is the VP of Gore Place—an historical property including an 1806 mansion and active farm. He is also a member of the Society of Colonial Wars, the Society of the Cincinnati, and the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement.
Henry Frothingham writes “Thank you all—it was a wonderful springboard into a great life—and I am sure will continue to be for many more grads! Keep up the great work.”
Class of 1962 Kip Hargrove is in his third year as a parttime year-round computer consultant to the American Film Institute’s annual film festival, AFI Fest, in Hollywood. Peter Dunn has recently been appointed assistant disaster relief officer of the USAF Civil Air Patrol Colorado Wing. He is also on the Douglas County Office of Emergency Management Incident Management Team and continues to facilitate the Biblical Preparedness Workshop. His 24-year-old son graduated from Colorado State University in December of 2013 and is employed! Best of all, their second granddaughter was born on October 9.
Class of 1964 Ray Pfeiffer comments on Alumni Reunion 2014 “Greetings! - What a treat to see my old
classmates after a half century! It is amazing how much we still have in common, and how easy it is to communicate with them.”
Class of 1965 50th Reunion Charles Ingersoll retired from The Haverford Trust Company in Radnor, PA as of January 1, 2015. He spent 29 happy years there.
Class of 1967 George Zara is now retired from his career in hospital administration. He is living in Three Runs Plantation in Aiken, SC with his wife, Trish, and two horses and four dogs. He continues to build custom English and Western saddles.
Class of 1968 Reverend Terry Bennett reports that his daughter, Katherine, had a baby girl, his first grandchild. Terry’s wife, Leslie, is as thrilled as the parents. Son (Will) and his wife (Ruby) spent three months in India in yoga instruction and mountain climbing in the Himalayas. Terry is preparing to retire after
Class of 1958 Charles Evans worked 24/7 on Larry Hogan’s campaign for governor of the State of Maryland, doing policy work and heading up the transition reviews of eight of the state’s departments. It has been a joy to be a part of his team, and the learning curve has been extraordinary. As of January 21st, Larry Hogan was inaugurated, and during his administration Charles is serving as one of his senior advisers focusing on environmental issues. Because, as an advisor, he will be devoting only part of his time to that job, he will be returning to writing. After publishing his book, Terror on the Bay, last January, he has not put pen to paper for twelve months. He looks forward to getting back to writing a sequel and to working on two other novel concepts he had begun last year.
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Class of 1962 Tom Cox ‘62 shared this great memory of a snow sculpture on campus the winter of his senior year and a 25th reunion photo from 1987. Pictured from left to right are John Rutter, with his 1-year-old son, Platt Staunton, Griffin Oakie, James Grove, Tom Cox with daughter Katrina ‘04, Bill Howdown, John Case, and Ola Sandvik. Kneeling in front are Ted Elliott and Harry Teague.
Alumni/AE
Class Notes 36 years as an Anglican priest working with native people, jail prisoners, and veterans in five parishes across Ontario. After 40 years in Canada, he became a Canadian citizen in March of 2014, taking an oath to the Queen.
Class of 1969 Richard Bierregaard is winding down a 15-year project studying the migration of east-coast ospreys using satellite telemetry. Over the years he has tracked over 90 ospreys tagged from the Chesapeake Bay to northern New Hampshire. Currently at least 14 birds are wintering, mostly in South America, and will be heading north in a couple of months. You can follow them and learn more about the research at www.Ospreytrax.com.
Alumni Profile
Robert Thompson ’70 Robert Thompson ’70, a British citizen, spent only one year at Millbrook and visited this fall for the first time since he was a student. Robert lived in Callard House with the Boothby family, and the room in which he stayed is now used as an office by Admission Officer Ana Steele-Norton ’06. During this year Robert kept an extensive diary and took many photos. It was the discovery of these treasures that compelled him to make this visit to Millbrook. Robert shared with us his thoughts as he approached School Road: “On first seeing the distant chapel from Route 44, I was drawn as if to a magnet by what I realized was the warmth of the welcome of the Millbrook community...”
Class of 1974 David Dorrance comments on Alumni Reunion 2014: “Many thanks to all who organized a truly wonderful and meaningful alumni weekend. I don’t know why I have stayed away for so long. I hope to stay in closer touch with Millbrook and assorted classmates since the years are marching on with or without me.”
Rick and Cindy McWilliams organized a dinner with a fellow classmate of Robert’s, Sandy Podmaniczky ’72, and his wife, Korky. “It was great to meet someone who actually remembered me!” Robert attended classes and assembly, played the organ in the Flagler Memorial Chapel, toured the Trevor Zoo, and spent time wandering the campus.
Robert wrote: “Thank you particularly for the alumni tie but also for directing the CWW (Circle of Welcoming Warmth) that has meant so much to me and that I will never forget.”
Class of 1969 Gordon Hamersley reports that Hamersley Bistro of Boston, MA closed in the fall of 2014. Gordon, owner and chef, who wore his blue Red Sox hat behind the counter, and his wife, Fiona, had a very long and successful run of 27 years as owners. They thank customers, close friends, loyal staff, and family for their support. Opened in 1987 as a small 49-seat space, it was a dream come true to serve food and wine that they loved in the South End.
Class of 1971 Daniel Lazarus and Henry Rust were visiting from southern and northern CA, respectively, and Bruce Whitcomb and his wife, Brenda, drove down from their home in CT for a mini class of 1971 reunion. The party convened at the home of Daniel’s sister in Harrison, NY. Bruce and Henry brought various stringed instruments along and jammed pleasingly. While Daniel is not a musician, he happily posed with a mandolin between Henry (left) and Bruce, who are both accomplished players.
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Class Notes Class of 1977 Gurdon Hornor has moved back to the Northeast after almost 20 years down South. He is now living in Belle Mead, NJ, just north of Princeton. The move was precipitated by his wife wanting to be closer to her dressage trainer, Cesar Parra, in Whitehouse Station. Gurdon is thrilled because their new home has a huge pole barn for all his various collector cars. They are also much closer to the family summer home on Cape Cod. Their children, Amelia, who is 6, and Walter, who is 11, are very much settling in. They have enjoyed a nice weekend in Washington, DC and are also enjoying the history and beauty of New Jersey, which, it turns out, really is the Garden State. Their home borders thousands of acres of the Sourland Mountain district, which really looks quite similar to the Millbrook area. Gurdon looks forward to connecting again with his Millbrook classmates in the Northeast and to visiting the school more often!
Class of 1978 John McNamara and his wife, Christa, and children, Mark, Katherine, and Connor,
visited Bob ’65 and Ann Anthony, parents of Arthur ’07, Mimi ’08 and Sarah ’12, on Fishers Island in August. The McNamaras were on an American Yacht Club race for a week in CT and RI.
Class of 1981 Carolyn Ritchie is happy to share news that her daughter finished her first semester of college in Sacramento, CA. Carolyn is living in Tucson, AZ, and welcomes fellow alums to “give her a holler” when in the Southwest, El Desierto de Sonora, area. She has heard from Robert Wood ’82 (aka Mikki), periodically, and Robert Ponvert ’82. Since graduating, Carolyn has had a rich and full life. She remained in New York City, primarily, until 1992, when she returned to her hometown of San Francisco, CA; she has moved recently to Tucson, AZ. Carolyn currently runs her own business as a personal assistant and animal companion and feels that her time volunteering at Millbrook’s Trevor Zoo served her well. “Thank you, Mr. Jono Meigs. I will never forget Storko and the chimpanzee, the exotic birds, the beavers
that were temporarily placed at the school so as to relocate them and prevent them from damning up the school water supply. Cassandra and Horatio, the river otters, and the Canadian goose who acted as sentry at the entrance to the zoo, near the waterfall. The birds of prey, especially Virginia, the owl—so many magnificent creatures.” As Carolyn looks forward to reunion in 2016, she reminisces about her time at Millbrook: “Millbrook School was an amazing place to get a first rate and unique education. I still carry the concept of Non Sibi Sed Cunctis in my life to this day. Service is what it is all about. The memories I have of my life at Millbrook will stay with me forever. What an extraordinary place.” Charles Greeff, of West Linn, OR, has an awesome family including a 14-year-old daughter, Bethany, and a wife of 18 years, Eva. He still loves running long distance (around 25 miles per week) and has a thriving law practice.
Class of 1984 Kingsley “Kiki” Gallup is a mental health counselor, motivational speaker,
Class of 1974 Marion Percy wwas thankful to those who attended her Alumni Weekend talk about Varian Fry, America’s “Oscar Schindler.” She found it simply amazing that among our illustrious alumni is the nephew of Fry’s best friend, Danny Bénédite—Julian Strauss ’54. Julian shared with Marion letters written by Varian Fry and brought to life the research she has been doing. Another alumnus, Steve Twining ’59, provided Marion with contact information for his neighbor and good friend, who is one of the most informed biographers of Varian Fry. She was so happy to see her Stamford neighbor and Millbrook alum Julian Padowicz ’50 at the reunion. He and Julian Strauss ’54 have written terrific books. Marion welcomes anyone to get in touch—she would love to get together!
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Class of 1974 Edward Scarvalone wrote in to thank everyone in the Alumni Office for making Reunion 2014 such an enjoyable weekend. Edward shares that, “It was, without doubt, one of the most enjoyable and rewarding reunion experiences I’ve ever had—Millbrook or college—and whoever was in charge of ordering the picture-perfect weather deserves a pat on the back!”
Alumni/AE
Class Notes and newly-published author, and she is excited to announce the release of Project Personal Freedom: Tips and Tools for a Liberated Life. Project Personal Freedom is comprised of 365 daily readings aimed at improving psychological well-being and helping people live more self-determined, self-defined lives. Kingsley lives in Kennebunk, ME with her two children, Daisy and Zach. Her business, The Gallup Institute for Personal Freedom, aims to promote personal freedom through counseling, education, and advocacy, and equip clients with positively-framed tools for personal advancement. Tripp Hughes visited the Trevor Zoo this summer with his family (Emma and Harry, age 14, Tucker, age 12, and wife Missy). They were blown away by it. They invite other Millbrook alums to come visit in Wisconsin any time. Walter Mutter is enjoying time with his family in Boston. He has two boys, Colin and Liam, ages 8 and 11. He and his wife are physicians, and Walter specializes in kidney disease (nephrology). They frequently stop by campus and visit the zoo on trips back to visit his mother, who lives in Poughkeepsie, NY.
Alumni Profile
Daniel Cohen ’86
Filmmaker and Producer An accomplished filmmaker and producer, Dan Cohen’s most recent success story has played out on ESPN. Working with Director Neil Leifer, Dan produced the documentary Keepers of the Streak, which premiered on ESPN on Friday, January 23rd. The documentary film, about four photographers who have attended all 48 Super Bowls, played for students and faculty in the Chelsea Morrison Theater at Millbrook just a few days after its television premier. Dan’s foray into film and filmmaking began when he was a student at Millbrook, as he took most of the photos on campus during his four years. Dan attended NYU and graduated with a degree in journalism in 1990. It was during his third year in college that he began working for famed photographer Neil Leifer, assisting him on photo shoots around the world for six years thereafter. Some of those jobs included the winter and summer Olympic Games and a LIFE magazine assignment in Saudi Arabia to cover the first Gulf War. In 1994 Dan helped create a new TV channel called Classic Sports Network, where
Class of 1987 Karen Murray writes, “My heartiest congratulations to Drew on 25 years! He has made Millbrook the premier small boarding school.”
he was the director of Programming and New Media. After Classic was bought by ESPN in 1999, Dan spent a number of years traveling the world on his motorcycle. He has ridden to every US state (except Hawaii), every Canadian province and about 30 countries on six different continents. In 2002 he started his own production company, UNDARA, which focuses on documentary and promotional films. Millbrook has been a tremendous beneficiary of Dan’s talents and love for his school, as he has worked very closely with
Class of 1994 Jacqueline Moffatt Morrison joined Sodexo as Culinary Director of Fairfield University on September 1st. She wed James Morrison, whose family resides in Ancramdale, on October 2nd, and they have recently relocated from New York to Fairfield County, CT.
the Communications Department at Millbrook to direct and produce films and professional video content for the web. In 2007 he directed and produced Down School Road, a documentary celebrating Millbrook School’s history and 75th Anniversary, and in 2012 he produced Across the Pond: the Trevor Zoo at 75. Both films have been widely distributed to Millbrook alumni. Take a tour of the admissions pages on Millbrook’s website to see Dan’s other work—from campus tours to testimonial videos to A Week in the Life clips of everyday experiences at Millbrook.
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Class Notes Alumni Profile
Jono Pandolfi ’95
Premier Dinnerware Designer Jono is featured as a premier designer of unique handmade dinnerware in The Wall Street Journal’s September 30, 2014 issue. The article, written by Alina Dizik and
meals. “The aesthetic is simple—it’s a
entitled “The Latest Farm-to-Table Trend:
stripped down look. It’s all about the clay
Rustic Tableware,” highlights Jono in his
body and the glaze and letting some of the
Union City, NJ studio. He started his business
unglazed areas show.”
10 years ago, after teaching ceramics at
Jono provides dishes for popular
Millbrook for four years. His goal was to give restaurateurs some new options for their tabletop, and he has since grown the company gradually. “Everything I do is based on knowledge and experience, and I pride myself on never making a promise I
restaurants like The NoMad Hotel and Eleven Madison Park in New York and Tosca Café in San Francisco. His bud vases grace the restaurant tables of the New York Museum of Modern Art, and he has a created a line of tiki glasses for The Plaza
can’t keep, which is a tall order for a potter.”
Hotel in NYC. In 2013 he created a special
The business operates with several wheels
Crate and Barrel line. Online sales on Jono’s
and five kilns, and Jono and his team put out
retail site-www.jonopandolfi.com-are brisk,
well over 1,000 pieces a month.
too, and he’s really looking forward to
A WSJ video also features Jono speaking
increasing business in that area.
about working with chefs to create the
“My passion for clay was born at Millbrook
types of dinnerware that they need, pieces
under the good guidance of Cam and Bill
potter. It continues to influence what I do on
that are versatile and will stand the test
Hardy, who always gave me room to explore
a daily basis. I am so thankful for the time I
of time. Together they arrive at the ideal
and instilled in me a sense of responsibility
spent there and the discoveries I made both
assiette for enhanced presentation of
and leadership, both as a person and a
as a student and a faculty member.”
Class of 1991 Marshall Jamshidi is living in Shelton, CT and running Periodic TableWare, a design studio where he crafts unique drinkware from laboratory glass. His tableware and barware combine form and function in “laboratory” style, which Marshall aims to be “simultaneously entertaining and practical, elegant and amusing, nostalgic and unique.” His beautiful glasses can be used for drinking and serving, and you can check them out for yourself at http://www.themarysue.com/chemistry-drinkware.
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Class of 1994 Nick Gramza has recently patented an ecological device called “the Ponder,” which he notes is Millbrook-inspired!
Alumni/AE
Class Notes Class of 1997 Charlotte Jenks Lewis is living in Brooklyn with her husband, Brett, and two little boys, Heath and Reed. This past year she was listed as a top photographer in the US by Martha Stewart Weddings. She is in regular touch with class members, Caroline Loomis, Loukas Zoumas, and Kristi Popovich.
Class of 2000 15th Reunion Garrett Meigs and his wife, Cassie, have embraced some big recent changes as they wrapped up the grad school years at Oregon State University, traveled across the country, and settled into their new habitat in Burlington, VT. Garret’s postdoctoral research at UVM is still in forest ecology, but he is focusing on wind disturbance and old-growth rather than insect outbreaks and wildfires. They are happy to be back in the eastern time zone, and they look forward to many more Millbrook visits, including the upcoming 15th reunion!
Melissa Ruiter is living in Ile-Perrot, a suburb of Montreal, with her partner Patrick Arid and their two children. Mel is teaching grade 1 in French at St. Patrick’s Elementary School. She is enjoying a break from teaching to spend time with Alexandre (born August 2011) and Camille (born May 2013). She still enjoys playing soccer and hockey. Erin Stuckey PhD was offered a two-year fellowship in October 2014 at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as a project officer in the Malaria Department based in Seattle, Washington. It is an amazing opportunity—the perfect mix of research and coordination of partner organizations to further the foundation’s global health strategy. In September Erin returned to Millbrook to give an all-school chapel talk about how her experiences at Millbrook affected her commitment to service and public health. She also addressed the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, discussed the public health systems there, which populations in these regions are vulnerable, and how information from past epidemics can be used to help. After the chapel talk came to an end, interested students and
faculty joined Erin in the Headmaster’s Office for further discussion about the Ebola epidemic.
Class of 2003 Eliza Cantlay is beginning her third year in wonderful Kansas City and enjoying her fifth year as owner/certified professional organizer with her company, Simplicana. She has done some local news segments with organizing tips and had her work featured on the Steve Harvey Show. She took a long overdue diving trip to Cozumel this winter and looks forward to the class of 2003 taking the Callard Cup again this year! Hilary Gifford is a resident farmer at a community-supported agriculture farm in Pawling, NY. Growing Heart Farm delivers CSA shares to NYC on a weekly basis from spring to fall. http://www.growingheartfarm.com Mary Nelson Sinclair had her first solo exhibition of paintings in New York City. It was presented by Voltz Clarke and was held on October 21, 2014 at The Bowery. Several of Mary Nelson’s Millbrook friends
Class of 1997 Class of 1995 Sierra Bailey celebrated the twelve year anniversary of her jewelry company, Manic Trout, in January. She moved the business to Austin, TX, four years ago, and it has flourished in such a community-rich city. Currently she is working on repositioning the brand to extend beyond the handmade world and establish a foothold in the fashion jewelry market. She is looking forward to a stellar 2015 and the 20-year reunion for the class of ’95!
John Hyland is pictured with his wife, Sarah, and daughter, Djuna Keene. He shares how wonderful it was to return in 2013 for Alumni Weekend with Sarah, to walk the campus again and reconnect with faculty and friends. John completed his PhD in English at the University at Buffalo, SUNY in May, and accepted a position as visiting assistant professor of writing at Haverford College. John hopes to return to Millbrook next year, and, until then, sends his warmest regards.
Class of 1998 Cindy McWilliams enjoyed a visit with Lila MacLean Hochron in New Orleans in January.
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Class Notes were in attendance including, Page Hallock Finke ’03, Nick Pandolfi ’04, Cory Murphy ’04, Greg Murphy ’07, Alexander Wilson ’07, and Bob Anthony ’65.
Class of 2004 Eliza Glaister is a private chef who was recently profiled in The Millbrook Independent newspaper. Her love of cooking came from her parents, John and Sarah. After graduation from Savannah College of Art and Design, she attended the French Culinary Institute in SoHo. Following, she worked at Prune and Grey Lady in New York and for the Food Network’s Gordon Elliott as an intern assistant on The Chew. She describes her menus as “refined multi-cultural comfort food.” Andrew Marsallo and his fiancée, Samantha Lovell, both went to Saint Lawrence University but never really met until they both lived in Boston. In February Andrew and Sam traveled to Ireland, and there he proposed to her in a park just outside of the National Gallery in Dublin. Katelyn Massarone started in a new role on February 17th as supervisor of Special
Animal Exhibits within the children’s zoo at the Bronx Zoo. She loves what she is doing and is thrilled to be at such a large facility. Katelyn has been working on her master’s degree through a Bronx Zoo program and is poised to be a long-time player in AZA and WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society, parent organization of Bronx Zoo and associated facilities). Current Trevor Zoo Director Dr. Alan Tousignant is very proud of his former volunteer, advisee, student curator, employee, and longtime friend!
Class of 2007 Kaleigh Ferrari received her master’s degree in forensic science from the University of New Haven and is now employed in Fort Myers by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement as a DNA anaylst. She is engaged to Kyle Brownell, and the wedding is planned for October of 2015. Both are Saint Michael’s College graduates from the class of 2011. AJ Marino won a 2014 Emmy Award for his outstanding work as a producer on Good Morning America. Lauren Van Camp graduated from Villanova University with a degree in
English and then completed two years of volunteer work with City Year Los Angeles. She pursued her teaching certification and now teaches 5th grade reading and writing in East Point, Georgia. Last year she won an award for her students’ outstanding performance on the reading portion of their state standardized test.
Class of 2008 Winston Haas lives and works in Burlington, VT where he is finishing up a degree in outdoor education. He works at Stowe as a ski instructor and also as companion to a young man with Downs syndrome. Win’s primary focus is his band, The Edd, for which he plays lead guitar. He describes the band as a “funky/ heavy psychedelic rock band with an electronic edge and a lot of improv.” The Edd plays numerous gigs in Burlington and throughout Vermont and tours around New England. Win also has a musical side project called Yodapif. He and one other musician create beats by sampling music from sounds and old recordings, and they do live improvisation. With Yodapif Win plays drums and keyboards and raps.
Class of 2000 Ben Law has been named by Art Intercepts as one of the Five Chicago Dancers to Observe in 2015. Last year, Ben collaborated with dancer Jessica Marasa in a production of Archipelago, a showcase of solos and duets produced by The Leopold Group. He also danced last August in the fourth season of PRODUCE, an experimental dance and music performance at the Signal Ensemble Theatre on the north side of Chicago, and more recently in backto-back performances at Links Hall with Kate Corby & Dancers.
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Class of 2001 Cheyney Lonergan Barrieau is currently living in West Hartford, CT with her husband, Gib, and two kids, Lulu (5) and Max (4). In January she took a postion as assistant director of annual giving for young alumni and parent programs at the Kingswood Oxford School. She also owns a photography and social media/marketing company that keeps her super busy when she’s not running around after the kids!
Alumni/AE
Class Notes Alumni Profile
Alexandra Cart ’04
Forbes 2015 30 Under 30: Social Entrepreneurs Alexandra has always had a keen interest in philanthropy and helping others. During her time as a student at Millbrook, she participated in Outreach and was involved in the school’s Midnight Run chapter, delivering much needed clothing to the underprivileged, both locally and in New York City. In her VI form year she wanted to extend the principle of Non Sibi Sed Cunctis through the classroom and into the local community and so petitioned to create an independent study with Barbara Gatski, director of the World Language Department at Millbrook. During this yearlong study she worked with a variety of Spanish students in the classroom and helped them apply their lessons to social issues within the surrounding area. She and her classmates created informational pamphlets on how to access reasonable health care and distributed this important message to the community at large. While attending college at Middlebury, Alexandra volunteered with the Association of Africans Living in Vermont, Inc., where she assisted in the development of an ESL (English as a second language) program to assist African refugees and immigrants adjusting to life in Vermont after resettlement. Additionally, Alexandra worked on a grant from the US Department of Education to study the effectiveness of children’s television shows on the language skills of native Spanish speakers. Upon graduation Alexandra looked for philanthropic opportunities, but she soon recognized a great lack of efficacy and sustainability. The capital-seeking nature of these philanthropic organizations frustrated her greatly, and so she chose employment within the investment management field, appreciating the scalable and sustainable for-profit structures that allow her to combine her social and environmental consciousness with the power of a successful
providing attractive financial returns. Recognizing her successes, Forbes has named Alexandra to their 2015 30 Under 30 list of Social Entrepreneurs. Alexandra is married to her best friend and high school sweetheart Will Cart ’03, who she started dating in the fall of 2001. Will is an actor and owns his own production company, Angler Films. Alexandra and Will collaborate informally, and she enjoys opportunities to partner with him on professional projects. Reflecting on her Millbrook experience, Alexandra acknowledges being grateful for choosing Millbrook over other boarding schools for its culture of service and environmental stewardship: “Millbrook is a special place, where friendships endure and intense bonds amongst alumni exist.”
for-profit business model. Today, Alexandra is doing what she loves to do as co-founder of
Madeira Global is a New York-based investment firm focused on impact
Madeira Global, an investment firm that specializes in developing,
investment strategies. Cofounder Alexandra Cart, also helped launch
structuring, and managing a range of impact investment products
the firm’s asset management unit in 2013 in partnership with New
for qualified investors. She efficiently deploys capital to businesses
York City hedge fund manager, Brevet Capital. The firm advised on the
that drive deliberate social and environmental impact while
deployment of over $100 million into socially responsible investments.
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Class Notes Sabrina Julemiste has graduated from Suffolk University in Boston with a degree in communications. She is living in Venice Beach, CA and has been in London applying to a few universities to study dramatic acting. Julianna Kreta recently opened a business, the Little Red Bird Studio, where she is offering a range of art classes to the public including oil painting and knitting. Classes are available for children and adults with various levels of experience. Julianna is certified to teach art in grades K-12 in New York State and teaches additional art classes at the Education Center in Litchfield and Torrington, CT. When you’re in or around Millerton, NY, stop in to Little Red Bird Studio to check out the classes, shop in her gift shop, or tour her studio gallery where she sells her original oil paintings and the work of other local artists.
Class of 2009 Evan Haney is currently living in Iowa. He never thought he’d be saying that but finds playing for a minor league team in the ECHL, the Quad City Mallards, a terrific learning experience. He will be heading north (to
Canada) once his season is done, towards the end of April or in early May. He is hopeful to go far in playoffs!
Class of 2010 Rodney Benson, Jr. took a gap year after Millbrook and worked at St. Bernard’s Middle School with the technology department into the summer. He is currently a math major and is almost done with general education courses at CUNY York College in Jamaica Center, Queens; he will be working on courses in his major going forward. He is definitely enjoying the challenge. Jeylani Dublin graduated from Longwood University in the spring of 2014 and enrolled at Iona College, where he is taking courses and playing basketball. As of mid-February, his Iona team was number one in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and was projected to win the MAAC tournament. Jeylani recently received an acceptance letter from Shenandoah University, and he plans to enroll in their Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. Matt Ferrari graduated with his bachelor’s in business administration from Saint
Michael’s College in May of 2014. He has since been living in Burlington, VT working at a glassblowing store in Waterbury, VT, helping to manage the store and better track inventory. He would like to pursue business in the music or sports sectors. Laurel Greenfield graduated from Boston University and is now working towards her master’s of liberal arts in gastronomy while continuing to work on her art, which she showcased for the first time this past November in Boston. Caroline McCarthy McGrath runs a certified organic, grass fed dairy farm in central New York with her husband, Tom. They supply milk to a yogurt company called Maple Hill Creamery. On May 8, 2014, Caroline and Tom welcomed daughter Elaine Adele into the world, and she has been the biggest joy in their lives. Caroline can’t wait to see what the future has in store for her family. Emma Silvershein is living in New Jersey and working as an accountant for CohnReznick. Sam Silverstein is currently employed at Starr Hill Brewery in Charlottesville, VA, where he is one of eight brewers.
Classes of 2004 and 2005
Class of 2002 Molly Ogden spent 5 weeks this past summer traveling around the US with friend Sebastian, stopping in Chicago and traveling along the west coast. For the past 5 years, Molly has been a first grade teacher at the Frankfurt International School in Germany and loves it. She is the granddaughter of Hoyt Ecker ’44.
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Brothers Teddy Kunhardt ’04 and George Kunhardt ’05 are making their debut as documentary producers on the upcoming HBO film, Living With Lincoln. Their great-grandfather was Frederick Hill Meserve, a pioneer scholar of Abraham Lincoln, whose collection of 19th century photography has been in the Kunhardt family for five generations. Marking the 150th anniversary of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, the Kunhardts decided to tell the story behind the family’s collection. Living with Lincoln will premiere on April 13, 2015 at 9 p.m. on HBO and HBOGO.
Alumni/AE
Class Notes Class of 2011 Molly Chapman is currently attending Denison University where she plays field hockey. Molly led the Big Red with 11 goals and three assists, and this past fall she earned first-team National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) all-region honors. Molly also earned first-team AllNCAC honors and played in the NFHCA Division III Senior Game in Lexington, VA, on November 22. Victoria Gray is in her final year of college and will graduate this May from the University of Wyoming. She then plans to move to Buffalo, Wyoming to open her own retail store—stay tuned! Jonah Feitelson interned last summer at the National Economic and Social Rights Initiative (NESRI) in New York City. This opportunity was provided with funding from Hamilton College’s Summer Internship Support Fund established in 2005 by John G. Rice ’78 . NESRI is a non-profit organization that promotes movements for what it deems essential social and economic rights, including education, healthcare and housing. NESRI has played a large part in the universal
healthcare movement in VT and the housing crisis in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. Jonah, a government major and economics minor, says he became interested in social and economic rights after taking classes at Hamilton like Economic Development and Politics in Africa. Interested in visual media he is interning in the Communications Department at NESRI. Rachel Kanegis is a senior at the University of Delaware. She will graduate in May 2015 with a degree in elementary education. She is in her second year of assistant teaching in a nearby Delaware public school and loves it! Rachel is looking for a teaching job in a Manhattan private school upon graduation. She is an active member of Chi Omega sorority. She keeps her horse, Buster, at a nearby barn and continues to ride all the time, fulfilling one of her life’s passions.
Class of 2012 Winston Boney transferred from Savannah College of Art and Design to the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Carl D’Amour-Belizario enjoyed a great hockey season. His team, the Hobart Statesmen, clinched first place and had home ice for playoffs in February. Chloe Gbai is currently a student at NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. While a student a Millbrook, one of Chloe’s community services was the website, where she assisted the Communications Department by editing and creating various videos on campus. She’s taken her video skills to a whole new level recently. Working with fellow NYU student Emily Wong, she made a short film about the artist Banksy and his residence in NYC. About a month after posting their video on Vimeo, they were contacted by HBO to license their footage to be a part of a larger documentary. Chloe and Emily then worked with HBO’s production team to integrate their footage into the HBO documentary Banksy Does New York, which premiered on HBO last fall. Aldin Medunjanin, a junior at Skidmore, hit an historic 1,000-point mark on the basketball court at Skidmore this winter. Skidmore Athletics reports, “The talented guard became the 15th player to reach the
Class of 2009
Class of 2006 Matthew Mulberry earned a master’s degree in International Relations and European Studies from the Central European University in Budapest, graduating in June 2014. He now works in Washington DC at the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict (ICNC) as program advisor of Editorial and Media Initiatives. Links to his most recent work can be found on www.nonviolent-conflict.org.
Tyler Mauri, along with business partner Matthew Mead, has created a design+build startup, Hempitecture, that focuses on construction methods with one of nature’s most rapidly renewable and energy-friendly resources, industrial hemp. Coupled with its carbon-sequestering properties, hemp building represents a solution to the environmental issues caused by the building sector. Currently, Tyler and his partner are completing their first project in Custer County, Idaho at the non-profit Idaho BaseCamp. This project, partially funded by a successful Hempitecture Kickstarter campaign, is the first public-use hemp building in the US and will be utilized as a yoga, meditation, and dance studio. The design process was a collaborative endeavor between Hempitecture and Living Architecture, a design firm specializing in highly sustainable building practices. This project has been a foundational experience for Tyler, and he will continue to develop Hempitecture with his business partner while attending the University of Virginia Masters of Architecture program beginning in the fall of 2015.
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Class Notes 1000-point career mark and ranks 14th on Skidmore’s career scoring list with 1,010 points,” and his coach, Joe Burke, said this about Aldin: “I think everyone who follows our program knows how special a player and a person he is. To reach 1000 points as junior is quite the accomplishment.” Walter Ross is attending Colorado University at Boulder and is majoring in economics. TJ Sanders was named to the 2014 Academic All-Big Ten Conference team for men’s lacrosse. TJ continues to score big in the classroom and on the field for Penn State’s Nittany Lions. He was recently named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. Borui “Kimmy” Zhang is a junior at Centre College in Kentucky, majoring in financial economics. With a summer in accounting at the University of Kentucky and an internship with a local financial consulting firm, he is learning a lot and believes he made the right decision about his major, having considered physics and computer science. He expresses his appreciation for his encouragement when he was a student at Millbrook.
Class of 2013 Avery Anderson, a student at the College of William and Mary, has developed a passion for classical guitar. Reagan McAdam Brown is currently a sophomore at Mount Holyoke College. She recently declared a major in art history and expects to minor in art studio, with a focus in photography. She is working as a community organizer (R.A.) during this school year and is celebrating her second year as the photo/video editor for Mount Holyoke News, the longest-running all-female collegiate paper. In her freshman year, after a month as staff photographer, she was promoted to co-photo editor and then several weeks later from co-photo editor to photo editor. While photo editor, she created ‘Humans of Mount Holyoke,’ inspired by Brandon Stanton’s ‘Humans of New York.’ The goal of this project was to look at the people of Mount Holyoke and tell their stories. http://humansofmhc.tumblr.com/
Class of 2014 Emily Hoffman is feeling right at home on St. Lawrence’s campus, taking advantage
of the nearby Adirondack Mountains to do some skiing, hiking, and snowshoeing. She is currently loving a black and white film class, which has been an amazing experience as she has been “remaking” or “remixing” a few famous photographs. One photo by Dorothea Lange (with four boys and a baguette) Emily has recreated to show four boys standing in a circle with cell phones in their hands. It’s all about how culture today has changed the way we interact with each other. While she loves her classes, what Emily loves the most about SLU is that it is very outdoorsy. She is in the process of applying for an Adirondack semester for the fall. She will join other students and live in yurts, forsake technology, and bathe in the lake for 4 months. She’ll take all of her classes outdoors and learn by doing and going on adventures like hiking, fishing, canoeing, and so much more. Jordan Kanegis is a freshmen at George Washington University in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences and absolutely loves it! She will be majoring in Communications. She is an active member of Kappa Kappa Gamma.
Class of 2012 Jamie Buckley is living in Charlotte, NC attending Queens University. He loves the South and has fully embraced the Southern culture including the “ya’alls.” He has taken advantage of fly-fishing as well as deer and wild boar hunting opportunities.
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Class of 2014 While on holiday break from their studies, three members of the Class of 2014—Julia May, Alix Creel, and Mansell Ambrose—visited with Bob Anthony ’65 and his colleagues in the Alumni Office.
Alumni/AE
Class Notes Melissa Sheeran, a freshman at Plattsburgh State University, was named the ECAC West Womens Hockey Rookie of the Week in December. During Melissa’s time at Millbrook she was a force on the ice and led her team to many decisive victories. Her athleticism has continued at the collegiate level, and she joined her teammates recently in celebrating their big win at the 2015 NCAA National Championships.
Engagements Kaleigh Ferrari ’07 is engaged to Kyle Brownell. Their wedding will be in October of 2015. Jonathan Lopez ’02 and Alexa Ramos, both former faculty members, are engaged to be married on March 14, 2015. Andrew Marsallo ’04 will marry Samantha Lovell, also a Saint Lawrence University graduate, on July 25th, 2015 at the Mountain View Grand in Whitefield, New Hampshire. Andrew proposed to Sam in a park just outside of the National Gallery in Dublin.
The Crossmans joined the Pierreponts on Spring Island, SC. Pictured are: Pierreponts, Will ’10, Ned ’10, Evie ’08, Stuyve Sr. ’73, and Stuyve ’07, next to Crossmans, Brooks ’09 and Bill ’74 with Charlie Schuster ’74.
Julia McLaughlin ’00 is engaged to be married to Tripp Todd on September 19th, 2015. The wedding ceremony will take place in the Flagler Memorial Chapel at Millbrook, and the reception will be held at the Millbrook Golf and Tennis Club.
Weddings John Choate III ’97 was married to Caitlin Cobie on September 7, 2014. Denny Haight ’54 married Stephanie Tegtmeier on May 31, 2014 in Bedford Hills, NY. Jacqueline Moffatt ’94 wed James Morrison at City Hall in New York City on October 2nd. They celebrated with Jamie Magid ’94, Colin Kingsbury ’94, Lissa Harris ’94, Abby Simes Moffat ’00, and Alex Olsen Bullock ’00 at a celebration in NYC on October 5th.
Summer fun in Cooperstown, NY with Chris Holbrook ’82 and Anne Putnam ’95, co-trustees at the New York State Historical Association’s annual gala.
Lena Hardy ’13, Liz Morrison, Devin Hardy ’09, and Cam Hardy ran the Nike Women’s Half Marathon last spring. They are pictured at the finish on Pennsylvania Avenue.
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Class Notes
Caroline Wamsler ’87 married DeWayne Phillips on September 13, 2014 in Barnard, VT.
Jacqueline Stahl, daughter of Bill and Nancy Stahl, was married to Oakleigh Thorne, friend of Millbrook School, brother of Eliza Thorne ’95 and cousin to Caroline Wamsler ’87.
Matthew Marsallo ’98 married Courtney Roosa on September 13, 2014. From left to right, Ryan Young ’99, Katie Marsallo Young ’00, Courtney Rosa Marsallo, Matt Marsallo ’98, Jon Downs ’98 and Erin Downs, Andrew Marsallo ’04.
Courtney Ferenz ’93 married Anthony Vassalo in Middleburg, VA on September 13, 2014.
Andrew Brett ’02 was married to Evan Katherine Duffy on September 6, 2014 in Boston, MA. Guests included Brian Adams ’02, Matt Daniels ’02 and Ollie Haydock ’02.
Alexander Barrow ’03 married Brooke Steichen on September 20, 2014 in Indianapolis, IN. Wedding guests included 2003 classmembers, Wayne Charles, Jon Blanksteen, Nick Imbelli, Dan Kessler, Will Cart, Gillian Adler Ortiz, and Katrina Cox ‘04.
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Class Notes
Sarah Podmaniczky ’04, daughter of Sandy ’72 and former faculty member Kathy Podmaniczky, was married to Bill McGonigle on June 21, 2014 in Millbrook School’s Flagler Memorial Chapel. Millbrook friends in attendance included Eliza Cantlay ’03, Rick and Cindy McWilliams, Liz Morrison and husband Tom, Bill Hardy, Shawn Pratt P ’06, ’10 and husband Peter Charlap. Carly McWilliams ’05 was maid of honor, Cam Hardy officiated, and Maya Myers ’96 was the wedding photographer.
Andrew Cochran ’06 married Alyssa Smith on August 16, 2014 in Newport, RI. Names of Millbrook Wedding guests included Drew and Linda Casertano, Gina Fuller P’10’09, Chase Cochran ’10, PJ Santora ’05, Ali Blanksteen ’06, Michael Marsal ’06, Gavin Bennett ’06, J’nelle Agee ’06, Graham Hoffman ‘06, Debbie Papernik ‘06, Pete Smith ’06, and Ben Ross ’06.
Caroline McCarthy ’10 married Tom McGrath on June 1, 2013. The Millbrook contingency in attendance included Patricia McCarthy ‘11, Claire Moody ‘10, Olivia Farrell ‘10, Mary Rose Morrison ‘09, and Kathryn Whalen ‘10.
Past faculty member Julia Morgan was married to Tim Martin on May 10, 2014 in Boston. Julia works in the admission office at Dana Hall School in Wellesley, MA. Bridget Meigs ’96, current faculty members Barbara Gatski, John McMullan, Cindy and Rick McWilliams, and former faculty Skip Tirrell, Linnea Engstrom, Gwyneth Connell, Chris Keeler, and Monelle Quevillon ’99 all attended.
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Class Notes
Sara Place Krauss ’95 and Brian Krauss welcomed Tucker Bowden Krauss born on August 27, 2014. Tucker joins brother Nolan. The Krauss family is now living on Millbrook’s campus, as Sara and Brian are both current faculty.
James Carbone, Jr. ’96 and his wife, Maggie Quinlan Carbone, welcomed Sweeney Q. on October 22, 2014.
Deborah Muller Fisher ’01 and her husband, Branden, welcomed with love the newest addition to their family, Branden McCormack Fisher III “Mac”, born July 16, 2014.
Caroline Hettinger Foss ’01 and husband, Peter, welcomed son, Henry Hettinger Foss, born on December 6, 2014.
Caroline McCarthy McGrath ’10 and her husband, Tom, welcomed Elaine Adele, weighing 8lb., 6 oz. and measuring 21½ inches long, on May 8, 2014.
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Ethan Dubow ’00 and his wife, Katie, welcomed daughter, Quinn, who was born August 17, 2014 and weighed 7 lbs., 15 oz.
Matthew Oneglia ’02 and his wife, Taylor, welcomed Gregory “Grady” Francis Oneglia, who was born August 31, 2014.
Alumni/AE
Class Notes Gordon Pennoyer ’99 married Andrea Smith on November 22, 2014 at the Hillsboro Club, in Hillsboro Beach, FL. Millbrook was well represented at the wedding with a delegation led by Bob Anthony ’65, Bill Menard ’78, Whit Stillman ’69, Morgan Conrad ’99, Joerg Fiebiger ’97, Marko Guzijan ’99, and Margaret Pennoyer ’06.
Past Faculty News Andrea Caruso was a member of the Millbrook School Science department and taught Environmental Science for one year. She is now working at the local McEnroe Farm serving as their Education Program Manager and welcomes all Millbrook faculty, staff and students to come visit and take part in an education program or collaborate on a project.
In Memoriam We offer our most heartfelt condolences to the families of all Millbrook alumni, parents, past parents, and friends who have passed away recently.
Class of 1947 Richard Witherington Hyde passed away on October 30, 2014 leaving his wife, Susan, four children, six grandchildren, and his dog. A dedicated pulmonary doctor, researcher, clinician, and teacher, Rick retired due to Parkinson’s Disease. He served in the Korean War as an Army Sergeant and was nicknamed “Iron Jaw Hyde.” After his service he received his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1957, going into research at the University of Pennsylvania (1958-1969). He was medical director at Strong Memorial Hospital,
Respiratory Therapy Dept. On the home front he restored three homes with his wife – an Italianate Victorian in Philadelphia; a federal in Scottsville; and an 18th century cottage in Kittery, ME.
Class of 1948 George Denby passed away on May 4, 2014 in Wilmington, NC. He was born in Peking, China in 1929, and until the age of 14, he and his family lived in many foreign countries. He ultimately developed an abiding interest in the life and history of South Africa. He also attended Le Rosey School in Switzerland and Princeton University. George served five years in the US Air Force, was in Honolulu as an aide to Commanding General Curtis LeMay, and retired as a Captain. He considered his duty in the Air Force as one of the defining periods of his life. After the military he lived in Washington, DC and worked at Auchincloss, Parker and Redpath, Thomson and McKinnon, and Prudential Securities; he retired from Wachovia Securities. He served as president of St. John’s Community Services, a member and former governor of Chevy Chase Club, and member of the Metropolitan Club. He leaves Marion von Hagen Kober, the mother of his two sons, Douglas and Nicholas, his brother, Douglas Denby ’49 , and numerous grandchildren. He is survived by his wife Carmen Yoma.
Class of 1950 Austin Flint was a playwright and adjunct professor in the arts at Columbia University. He died at home in New York on January 31, 2015. After Millbrook, he graduated from Harvard College and then Columbia University. He married Aili Flint (Waris) in 1958 in Helsinki, where he was teaching. In 1960 he began a 47-year teaching career in writing at Columbia University; he taught playwriting and was the director of
Undergraduate Studies in Creative Writing. His play credits include: The Flaming Spider: Jonathan Edwards (Yale), Prison Light (New York), Marching to Jubilee: William Lloyd Garrison’s Campaign for the Abolition of Slavery (Yale), Compartments (New York), and others. A fan of Harvard football and The Brooklyn Dodgers, he attended all seven games of the 1955 World Series. Franz T. Stone passed peacefully surrounded by family at The Oaks in Savannah, Georgia, on September 15, 2014. After graduating from Millbrook, Franz joined the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1950 and was stationed at Port Columbus. Franz had an intuitive sense for mechanical engineering and manufacturing and designed his first hand held spray gun for use in the die-cast industry, which proved to become the industry standard to this day. Franz’s business, Rimrock Corp, became the leader in innovation in the die-cast industry, and its products are still sold globally. He retired from Rimrock in the late 1980’s and moved to Savannah, GA. His passions were many, especially his love of the outdoors. He and his wife, Harriett, created a paradise on Island 879 on Lake Temagami, Ontario, that was his family’s joy for over forty years. Whether canoeing, fishing, waterskiing or trying to keep up with him on a portage to a remote lake, he treated friends and family to a one-of-a-kind outdoor experience. Franz was also an instrument-rated pilot, compiling more than 2000 hours in several types of aircraft.
Class of 1951 Ross Dabney passed away on November 1, 2014 in Easton Maryland leaving his wife Charlotte Gmelin Dabney. He was a passionate college professor who taught at Smith College, the University of Virginia, Mount Molyoke College and Sweet Briar, from where he retired in 1998.
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Class Notes Class of 1957 Danforth Starr died peacefully on January 9, 2015 at his home in Dallas, Texas. He is survived by his former wife, Judith Starr, their three children, Danforth, Emeline, and Nicholas, and his wife Melina. After Millbrook Dan graduated from Williams College in 1961 and Harvard Business School in 1963. He worked 39 years for Dillon Read & Co. Inc., serving as a managing partner. He retired in 2002 as an investment banker for UBS. He was active in the Round Hill Community Church and served as chairman of the board. He was an avid recreational sailor on Long Island Sound and coastal Maine. He was also an accomplished sailplane pilot and competed in the National Championships in 1974. He spent summers in the Adirondacks at Hulett’s Landing, NY, on Lake George. There he indulged his love of the outdoors and of his immediate and extended family by bringing young and old together for water sports, picnics, and community improvement.
Class of 1959 Vaso Runyan Medigovich and wife of 30 years, Meredythe Crawford Medigovich, passed away on Thursday, May 29. In 1962 he joined the U.S. Army entering the Army Intelligence School at Fort Meade, MD. He studied German at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA, and was then stationed in Berlin, Germany. After leaving the service in 1965, he attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, earning a B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering. In 1970 Vaso earned an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and then travelled extensively in Asia and Australia before returning to the US. He became a product manager for The Trane Company’s computer room environmental control system before
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settling in San Francisco, CA in 1975, where he worked for a series of small technology firms. In 1983, Vaso moved to Marin County, CA where he formed the Flood Control Committee and served for 30 years. In 1987, Vaso was elected to the Corte Madera Town Council; he also served as the town’s mayor in 1992-1993. After retiring from the Town Council in 1995, Vaso continued his work in Corte Madera as an active member of the Beautification Committee, planting hundreds of street trees throughout the community he loved. In 2006, he was honored as Corte Madera’s Citizen of the Year. In recent years he provided both construction skills and funding to create the new patio at the Corte Madera Community Center.
Class of 1963 Charles Christopher “Kip” Eggert passed away March 15, 2014 as we learned from his brother Sebastian. Sebastian tells us that “for his entire life, Kip enjoyed fishing the trout streams around Millbrook School. I enjoyed visiting Kip at Millbrook visiting the zoo and seeing the red tailed hawk, Sister. We all became friends with the Trevors.” He remarked “Thanks for continuing to improve a terrific school. I especially applaud your efforts to achieve carbon neutrality; we all must go there as soon as possible, or all is lost.” Sebastian is a friend to Manning (Jake) Jacob 1969 and John Maynard 1969.
Class of 1964 Donald Kerr founded the High Desert Museum, the only institution in the nation dedicated to inspiring stewardship of the natural and cultural resources of Oregon. He died on February 4th. Kerr’s passion for the High Desert and raptors began as a child. He opened the museum in 1982
against great odds, realizing his vision of inspiring millions to “experience the wild nature of nature, and to realize its value.” Undaunted in his quest to create an innovative museum at a time when the timber industry and Bend were in deep economic trouble, Kerr attracted some of the area’s most powerful people as dedicated supporters. He saw the museum grow to become a major attraction in Central Oregon, with nearly 160,000 annual visitors. He described himself as a “desert rat” - a third-generation Oregonian who grew up in Portland, the son of a banker. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology at Oregon State University. During those years, he seized every opportunity to head east to explore the state’s High Desert. He pursued an interdisciplinary graduate degree in biology, anthropology and journalism, with the goal of becoming an educator, though not in the traditional sense. He became an instructor at the Oregon Zoo in Portland. In the mid ’70s, he was approaching potential donors with his idea. At that time, Bend was not a tourist town, and many people couldn’t imagine how it could be built or succeed. Many told him it could never be done. A major breakthrough for Kerr came when Bend’s Brooks-Scanlon Corp., one of the world’s biggest pine sawmills, donated 135 acres to be the museum’s home. Mike Hollern, then-president of Brooks-Scanlon Corp., has said Kerr’s passion, sound mission and persistence convinced them to become committed, longtime supporters. In 1995, Kerr was working with a wild great horned owl and the bird’s talon pierced his skin. Kerr contracted viral encephalitis, which left him unable to continue to lead the museum. Kerr is survived by his wife, Cameron; his sister, Eleana Kerr; 4 children, Jocelyn, Hodge ’91, Tenney and Jessie; 6 grandchildren; and dear family companion, Norbu Sherpa.
Alumni/AE
Class Notes
Obituary for Former Headmaster,
Donn D. Wright Millbrook’s fourth headmaster from 1971-1976, Donn Wright died in Ft. Myers, FL on January 10th, 2015 at the age of 86. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Barbara Townsend Chase Wright, his three children, Andrea, Jefferson ’76, and Jason, eight grandchildren, and one great grandson. Donn hailed from Ohio and graduated from Lawrenceville School and Trinity Collge, where he earned a B.A. in Fine Art. He later studied theology at General Seminary and NYU. Prior to his work in independent schools, Donn worked in advertising, human resources, and marketing. He served as director of development and secretary of the Academy at Blair Academy in NJ for five years. Subsequently, he was named headmaster of Hoosac School in Hoosick, NY, where he served in that capacity from 1966-1971 and again from 1984-1990. At Millbrook Donn oversaw the introduction of co-education at the school with day student girls joining the student body in 1971 and female boarding students enrolling in 1975. After he left Millbrook in 1976, Donn assisted several non-profits and schools including the Maine Maritime Museum, Bridgton Academy, and North Yarmouth Academy. In addition to Barbara, Donn’s other loves included sailing the coasts of Maine and Florida, painting, writing, and telling stories. He had a wonderful imagination and appreciation of beauty. The members of the Millbrook School community mourn his death, and we send our deep sympathies to Donn’s family.
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Class Notes Class of 2002 Devin Resler passed away on January 18, 2015 at his parents' home in St. Marys, Georgia, where he lived for the past eight years following a diving accident in 2006. Devin was an organ donor, and to date he has saved or extended the lives of three individuals in the South Florida area. A memorial service for Devin will be held at Millbrook on Sunday, June 28th at 4 p.m., near the Ski Hill on the bike trails that Devin loved so much.
Obituaries - Other Phyllis Arnoff, mother of Michael ’79, grandmother of Craig ’08, and wife of Richard, died on December 24, 2014. Mariam Babcock Holst-Grubbe, grandmother of Holden ’06, Quinn ’12, and
Cooper Babcock ’09, died in January 2015. Mariam was a very enthusiastic Millbrook School grandparent annual fund volunteer.
Jane Hotchkiss, grandmother of Alex
Stuart Clement, father of Stuart “Clem” Clement III ’75 and husband of Anne, passed away on January 16, 2015.
September 26, 2014.
Marcella Butts, great grandmother of Megan ’09 and Sarah Butts ’12, passed away on December 14, 2014.
January 28, 2015.
Evelyn Dill, mother of Kathleen Dill ’85 and Karen Dill Anderson ’76, passed away October 21, 2014.
December 25, 2014. She taught art at
George Flinn, husband of Eugenia, grandfather of George III ’16, died on October 19, 2014.
1970), passed away December 14, 2014
Ellen Gutenstein wife of Robert, grandmother of Emma ’10 and Sam ’10 Silvershein, died April 26, 2014.
Judie Schmidlapp, wife of Carl
’10 and Duncan Harvey ’14 and wife of Winchester Hotchkiss, passed away Waverley Byrd LaPrade, father of Virginia LaPrade ’80, passed away on Brita Murray, mother of Lars ’82 and Gordon ’79 Murray, passed away on Dutchess Day School in Millbrook, NY. Ryan Ostebo, past faculty member (1967leaving his wife Mary Hepburn, mother of Eric and Tim, who predeceased him. Schmidlapp III ’61, passed away on August 28, 2014 in Jackson, Wyoming.
Do you have an idea for a story that you would like to see in the next issue of Millbrook? Would you like to be a contributor in the magazine? Please get in touch with Director of Communications Michelle Blayney at mblayney@millbrook.org. Alumni photos are welcome! Digital photos, saved as 300 dpi .jpg files, are accepted, as well as print photos. To submit a photo, e-mail it to mblaney@millbrook.org or mail it to Millbrook School, 131 Millbrook School Road, Millbrook, NY 12545. Photos will be returned upon request. Only acceptable photos will be published.
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• Spring 2015
For all that You Love about Millbrook —traditions, community service and outreach, outstanding educational programs, life-long relationships, and exceptional faculty—
The Annual Fund Makes it Possible Ways To Give: Online at
www.millbrook.org/annualfund By phone at
845-677-6752 Or by mail using the enclosed giving envelope
Non Profit Org U.S. Postage
131 Millbrook School Road, Millbrook, NY 12545 Address Service Required
Paid
Cinnaminson, NJ Permit No. 579