Spring 2021 MKA Review Magazine

T H O M A S W. N A M M AC K

Architect of Culture

MKA revıew

THE MAGAZINE OF

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THE MAGAZINE OF

MONTCLAIR KIMBERLEY ACADEMY SPRI N G 20 2 1

F E ATURE

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An Architect of Culture Honoring our Head of School Thomas W. Nammack and the Indelible Legacy His Career Has Left on MKA

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FRO M TH E HE AD OF SCH O O L

03 A ROUND

MKA Campus, student, and faculty news

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42 T RUSTE E 44 A LUMNI

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AR E MKA Stories of Giving

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CLASS NOT ES

ON THE COVER Eleanor Shakespeare Illustrator and Designer eleanorshakespeare.com

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Editors Gretchen Berra Kim Saunders Assistant Editor Marnie McNany Design Aldeia www.aldeia.desgn Copy Editor Diane Lundy Contributors Jenn Baratta Ashley Conde Chris Kenrick Laela Perkins Photographers Michael Branscom Jamie Grill Michael Mineo

FALL 2015

Evidence of our mission is found in the KNOWLEDGE, VISION, and INTEGRITY of our students and our alumni: K N OW L E D G E • Academic excellence • Intellectual independence • Love of learning VISION • Personal engagement with the world • Understanding of human complexity • A sense of humility and compassion I N TEG R I TY • Strength of character • Responsibility as a citizen and leader • An honorable and generous life

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F RO M T H E H E A D O F SC HO OL T HO M AS W. N A MM ACK

With Great Appreciation Since the onset of mask-wearing at MKA, I have noticed that people make eye contact with one another far more often than when we were unmasked.

When we are masked, we truly can smile with our eyes even if we can’t always breathe. I have thoroughly enjoyed one of my extra duties this year; checking the temperature and daily health screenings of 7th graders as they enter school in the morning.

We look each other in the eye and say “good morning.” Sometimes it takes a few additional clicks on the hand-held electronic thermometer to get a read, and that requires some extra or what I consider “bonus” conversation. None of the 7th graders believe me when I tell them that with the touch of a button, the device becomes a taser. I will miss this unique start to my day.

In writing this letter for the Spring 2021 Review magazine, I am taking a first opportunity to really examine the year past—March to March—and I am overwhelmed by the dedication of my colleagues— faculty, staff, and administrators—the resilience of our students, and the patience and good will of MKA parents. I have not put on my rose-colored glasses in taking a look back. There have been some jarring bumps in the road and moments of exasperation, fear, and uncertainty. Hope, concern for others, and the desire to provide the very best educational experience possible for our students have gotten us back on our feet and kept us there. I am very grateful and proud to have been in such exemplary company during this most challenging year.

We have all drawn on our reserves of experience and strength of character in recent months. With my time as Head of School coming to a close, I have thought a great deal about those who have supported and inspired me along the way for this past year and the previous fifteen. As is true for many people who pursue a life in school, my career choice shaped most aspects of Zandi’s, Marion’s, and Travers’s lives. My wife and children are my wellsprings of strength, pride, and humility.

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When I visited MKA in the fall of 2004 for two rounds of interviews, one on my own and one with Zandi, I experienced the courtesy and respect that are in MKA’s DNA. Past parent and former Trustee, Denise Wagner was responsible for taking care of the candidates once they were on campus for round two, and I recall the sense of welcome, good cheer, and love for MKA that Denise exuded. Four exceptional people have served as Board President in my time here; Newton Schott, Alice Hirsh, Michael Johnson, and Kate Logan, each with his or her distinct leadership style and each invested in my professional growth and success. In sixteen years, I have never felt the common complaint of many heads of school, of being in the occasional maelstrom on my own.

The colleagues who make up MKA’s Administrative Council are exceptional educators as individuals and a team of amazing depth. Rarely have we all been in the same room this year, but we have been together and on point in scores of meetings irrespective of the old boundaries of weekends, vacations, early mornings, or late evenings. The quality of the MKA experience and the welfare of students, parents, and all other colleagues have been the unwavering concern and focus of this outstanding team of leaders.

There are a number of MKA colleagues making a career transition at the end of this year. I am proud and humbled to find myself retiring alongside of Carol Ippisch, Mary Elliot, and George Hrab, hired in 1986, 1983 and 1969 respectively. I am the only one hired in the current century and note with awe the length and quality of Carol’s, Mary’s, and George’s collective service to MKA. Together, they represent the widely shared and very best qualities of MKA’s teachers, staff, and administrators to provide a transformative education, to know our students as people and learners, and to strengthen the bonds of community at every opportunity.

With great appreciation and all best wishes, Thomas W. Nammack Head of School

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Members of the Student Alumni Relations Committee working together at the Upper School.

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ON OCTOBER 20, 2020, MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IN A VARIETY OF FUN AND EDUCATIONAL WAYS! From a painting session inspired by Frida Kahlo to a virtual cooking lesson making pastelitos de guayaba (guava puff pastry), each activity allowed students the hands-on opportunity to learn about different aspects of Hispanic culture.

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Pastelitos de Guayaba Recipe INGREDIENTS 1 pkg. Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Sheets 1 bar guava paste 1 pkg. Cream cheese (optional) INSTRUCTIONS • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

• Thaw the puff pastry according to package directions.

• Use baking parchment to line your cookie sheet so the guava won’t stick.

• Unfold one of the pastry sheets and place on pan.

• Spread cream cheese over guava paste slices (optional).

• Unfold second pastry sheet and place on top of guava paste.

• Cut to desired size before baking.

• Bake at 400 for 25 to 35 minutes or until golden brown.

• Cut guava into 1/4 inch slices and place on the pastry sheet.

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Congratulations to MKA junior Andrew Kim on achieving 2nd place in the chemistry division in the 2020 Nokia Bell Labs North Jersey Regional Science Fair (NJRSF). The award came with a certificate and a $200 prize award.

The science project he submitted for the fair was “Antioxidant and Vitamin C content in Citrus Fruit Peels,” focusing on the common citrus fruit peels’ nutritional value assessment. The pandemic situation changed the fair platform to a virtual fair, modifying the onsite judging rule to a multiphase online interview and presentation processes. Andrew shared that his reason for choosing this specific topic is, “...because I want to research the benefits of utilizing the content found in fruits (precisely, the health benefits) rather than treating them as waste.” Determining the connection between Vitamin C and antioxidant capacity would bring him one step closer to seeing how efficiently they can be applied to the real world. It was a long journey for Andrew to practice laboratory skills, collect data, analyze findings, and build presentation materials, yet it was a priceless opportunity for him to explore the modern applications of science. It also solidified his mind about what he will likely pursue in college and his career in the future.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO SENIORS GEORGE EILENDER AND ALEX KORFHAGE.

Their 4th place win at the 2-day Vassar College Invitational is a huge accomplishment as George and Alex were the only New Jersey Speech and Debate team to make the quarter-finals of the event. In addition to the team success at Vassar, George took second place—out of 150 competitors—in individual speaker points. The entire MKA Speech and Debate Club is putting in the hard work and striving for continuous improvement and long-term success in this new season of virtual events.

So far, their work is paying off because, when it comes to big competitions, it is clear that MKA’s Parliamentary debate team is New Jersey’s team to beat.

Three Students Achieve National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist Status MKA Seniors Anthony DiMaggio, Caleb Hofmann, Alexander Korfhage have been named Semifinalists in the 2021 National Merit® Scholarship Program. The National Merit® Scholarship Program is in its 66th year and is an academic competition for recognition and more than $30 million in scholarships that includes approximately 1.5 million entrants each year. Semifinalists represent less than one percent of high school seniors nationwide. Nutley resident Anthony DiMaggio and Montclair residents Caleb Hofmann and Alexander Korfhage will be considered for National Merit Scholarships as the selection of some 7,600 Merit Scholarship® winners from the group of more than 16,000 Semifinalists is now in progress. Congratulations to Anthony, Caleb, and Alexander on this tremendous accomplishment!

Congratulations to Leah Glaser ’21 on being named an International Federation of CP Football (IFCPF) Female Ambassador! Leah says of the honor, “Soccer allows me to be part of something bigger than myself. CP does not stop me from playing soccer; in fact it pushes me to be a better person and to work harder regardless of my disability. I am very excited and eager to get involved with IFCPF as an ambassador and represent the Americas, [and] I hope that more female players with CP get involved in any way they can.”

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Anya Singh ’23 was selected from a national pool of applicants to participate in an asiasociety.org panel to speak about the unique challenges faced by South Asian students in the United States.

From the pressures to assimilate to the stereotypes of being model students, this segment brought light to the true identities, dreams, and aspirations of this growing population of students. Anya did an extraordinary job promoting cultural awareness, and we at MKA are so proud of her.

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“ When the pandemic ends, I believe we will be able to claim individually and as a community that we were part of the solution and not part of the problem.”

—Tom Nammack

The Upper School community had the honor of welcoming Clint Smith as a guest speaker.

Clint Smith is a staff writer at The Atlantic and author of the poetry collection, Counting Descent, which won the award for best poetry collection from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association and was a finalist for an NAACP Image Award. He is also the author of the forthcoming nonfiction book How the Word Is Passed (Little, Brown, 2021). His writing has been published in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, Poetry Magazine, The Paris Review, and elsewhere. In 2018, Clint was named to the Forbes Under 30 list as well as Ebony Magazine’s 2017 Power 100 list. His two TED Talks, “The Danger of Silence” and “How to Raise a Black Son in America,” collectively have been viewed more than 7 million times. In his virtual talk with the community called “History Reconsidered,” Clint combined poetry and history, pushing the audience to wrestle with the complicated truths about the country we live in and help crystalize how this history has shaped the contemporary social, political, and cultural landscape of our world today. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and message with us!

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A School of Connection in COVID Times –by Dave Flocco, Head of the Upper School In November, Head of Upper School David Flocco participated in an Admissions Google Meet Information Session with 50 families and talked about MKA in hybrid mode. He focused on how the students were building community in the midst of the pandemic: “Operating in hybrid mode did not deter students and student leaders from rethinking what student life can look like. Virtual Friday Synergies allowed the community to informally gather together to play a variety of online games, compete in timed contests, and celebrate Halloween together. Student organizations had more flexibility to meet more often (when it was most convenient for members) and to try new ways to engage community members. From Jewish Cultural Society leaders building a Sukkah on campus to the new Psychology Club inviting outside experts to meet virtually with members to the Asian Cultural Society hosting a virtual cooking night, club and activity leaders provided meaningful opportunities for the community to be together.

In addition, student organizations benefited from the sheer number of virtual competitions that were offered: one real positive of the new reality.

Despite the challenges of operating remotely, students at the Upper School stayed connected as a community.”

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OUR VOICES ARE IMPORTANT TO ONE ANOTHER

Review: What are the goals of Mental Health Awareness Week and what role do students play in setting those goals?

Perri: The goals of Mental Health Awareness Week change from year to year as we try to use the feedback we get from our peers to direct the week. However, we always try to focus on destigmatizing the conversation surrounding mental health and provide the student body with healthy coping mechanisms and information regarding mental health.

Ayantu: Mental Health Awareness Week not only highlights but teaches the importance of our individual mental wellness. By reassuring students with ‘It’s okay to feel this way, now let’s find how we can combat it,’ [we can] call for individual growth and development. We are turning a topic that is heavily stigmatized into a learning moment: this brings our community together.

Review: What impact did the current COVID-19 related restrictions have on MHAW? Were there positive aspects that you realized?

Ayantu: While online, it is difficult to form connections over a screen. However, we all had something to relate to. This pandemic has affected our community as a whole, so everybody had a piece to contribute to the conversations.

One of the goals of the Upper School’s third annual Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) was to make it more student-centered. A robust schedule for the community included student shares, presentations, and conversation circles for students with the intent of destigmatizing mental illness. Topics centered around Mental Health and the pandemic and also social media and Mental Health.

Faculty organizers, Mr. Rob Leather and Mr. Varsay Lewis ensured that students had several opportunities to learn from each other about Mental Health, and the resources available to them. Information on the JED Foundation was provided to the community, and MKA will be working with JED to improve school policies and protocols around Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention. Apropos to the year, Review magazine had a “virtual” conversation with student leaders Perri Katz ‘22 and Ayantu Flowers ’22.

Perri: Though COVID-19 prevented us from bringing in speakers from outside, it also provided us with more time to allow students to share their own personal experiences with their classmates.

Review: Was there a presentation or activity this year that was particularly impactful?

Ayantu: Personally, I gave a student share about my own mental health journey and how it affects my communities. This was my first time talking about this to a large group of people, let alone my school, so it was a really important and exciting experience. The feedback I received really proves how tight knit our community is, and I’m glad our voices are so important to one another to the point where it’s helpful and life-changing.

Perri: [Ayantu’s presentation] was a particularly impactful presentation because the student body got to hear from someone who goes through many of the same things they do.

We are excited to share that the Montclair Kimberley Upper School has entered into a 4-year agreement with the JED Foundation to bring JED High School to our students.

Our school believes emotional and mental health is an important part of student health, and we want to create a school where students feel safe and feel like they belong. If students are not emotionally healthy, they cannot learn and thrive. The JED Foundation is a nonprofit organization based out of New York City that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults in the United States. Over the next four years, JED High School will work with Upper School Counselor Varsay Lewis and a multidisciplinary team of students, parents, faculty, and administration. They will add to current mental health initiatives and bring in new programs, policies, and systems to support and improve student mental health, reduce the risk for suicide, and prepare students emotionally for the rigors of and transition out of high school. The JED multidisciplinary team is currently working on a comprehensive mental health assessment of our school that will help build the foundation for this four-year initiative.

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Even with the start of school looking very different than usual, nothing can keep our students from showing their green and blue pride, especially during spirit week.

Middle School students, faculty, and staff came together in October for a Pink Out as a way to support and honor breast cancer survivors and memorialize those lost. Thank you to all involved for raising awareness!

To celebrate Diwali this year, Middle Schoolers celebrated the holiday by wearing traditional Indian clothing, making mango lassis, and studying interactive slides to learn more about the festive holiday.

From virtual celebrations to in-person costume contests, Middle and Upper School students celebrated Halloween in a variety of fun ways this year.

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With 87 registrants made up of alumni, faculty, staff, parents, and current students, The Fleming 5K raised $5,200!

Participants headed out to their local parks, got on their treadmills, and were active and generous in many ways to support this community fundraiser in honor of our beloved Tom Fleming, former teacher, colleague, mentor, and coach who passed away in 2017. All proceeds went towards the Human Need Pantry, the Special Olympics of New Jersey, and the newly created Tom Fleming Fund.

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Faculty

Ben Rich is a leader in the field of Sustainability in schools and has been active in bringing awareness to current, local environmental issues.

A physics teacher and the Sustainability Coordinator for the Upper School, Mr. Rich spoke at the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools (NJAIS) Climate Conference on October 26 and presented a workshop with Liz Cutler from Princeton Day School titled, “Sustainability PK-12: A Whole School Approach.” In addition, the group led by Mr. Rich, Organizing Action for Sustainability in Schools in Northern NJ (OASIS NNJ), held a separate event and discussed Environmental Justice and how schools can engage in creating healthier living conditions for people living near the incinerator in Newark where Montclair trash goes. The keynote speaker was Dr. James Hansen, former NASA Scientist, who was one of the original people to testify to Congress that climate change was a real threat in the 1980’s. Mr. Rich noted that it was an “honor to be part” of such important events, and we are grateful for his efforts to promote Sustainability in our own and nearby communities.

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MKA’s Director of Academic Leadership Stephen Valentine serves as the Coordinating Editor of Klingbrief, a publication out of Columbia University’s Klingenstein Center. Klingbrief reaches 5,000+ school leaders around the world, helping to focus schools on both timely and timeless matters. The first issue of the school year was called an “essential Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice read for independent school leadership.”

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Pictured above: resources from the Klingenstein Center.

Congratulations to Middle School Chinese teacher, Fangzhou Zhang, who recently had an article published in Asia Society’s newsletter as part of their Teachers’ Voices Series. Ms. Zhang shares her best practices of using the “preview phase” as a crucial step in preparing students to better learn through authentic materials in Chinese language classrooms. Ms. Zhang is a member of the Asia Society Chinese Teacher Leadership Program, an online, part-time certificate program aiming to help its participants make a positive impact in their classrooms, academic institutions, the greater community, and the Chinese pedagogy field.

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Style &

The MKA Community is sorry to bid two long-time employees goodbye at the end of the year. Mary Elliot is very familiar to students, faculty, staff, and visitors to the Middle School. Over the course of her 37 years of service, Mrs. Elliot served as a MS Library parent-volunteer, worked in the MS Bookstore for 10 years, and then moved to the front desk as Receptionist and Switchboard Operator.

In 2016, she was named the Honorary Alumni Award recipient for the Class of 1988, of which her daughter Crystal Elliot is a member, and credits the caring community of MKA with enriching hers and

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her family’s life over all these years. Mrs. Elliot’s constant presence, sophisticated style, and warm personality serve to welcome everyone, and she says that she is here “for the kids. They are what makes it all worth it.” She adds, “I have just loved it.”

Carol Ippisch began working at MKA in 1986. She left a highpowered position as Executive Assistant to the CEO at General Electric when the company started leaving NJ and found work at MKA. Initially, Ms. Ippisch travelled between the Middle and Primary Schools helping whomever needed it and then worked in the

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& Grace Business Office. For many years after she was brought upstairs to work for Dr. Frances O’Connor, the Head of School at the time.

Ms. Ippisch and Dr. O’Connor would split their time between the MS and US for two weeks each month. Thankfully, she no longer has to maintain two offices, and Ms. Ippisch is able to focus on being the cog in the wheel of school life for Head of School Tom Nammack and the Board of Trustees. Her years of experience, organizational skills, and down-to-earth good sense have been essential to the smooth running of the school for 34 years.

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Together, Mrs. Elliot and Ms. Ippisch have worked with four of the six MKA Heads of School. Tellingly, both women recount the many ways in which members of the community go about their work, and even have gone above and beyond, with the goal of making MKA a special place. This positive and inclusive culture has been a huge factor in their length of service. We will miss their smiles and warm welcomes and so appreciate their significant contribution to MKA’s success and history.

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Arts

Congratulations to Regional Scholastic Art Award Winners featuring the work of: Raghav Cholapaddi, Jake Gale, Dylan Sachs, Jackie Tsai, and Oliver Winters! This is a remarkable achievement for any young artist. Since 1923, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards have recognized some of America’s most celebrated artists while they were teenagers, including: Andy Warhol, Zac Posen, Tschabalala Self, Robert Indiana, Ken Burns, Luis Jiménez, and Kay WalkingStick. A jury of professional artists, curators, and arts educators spent 40+ hours reviewing 3,106 works of art submitted by 1,180 individual student artists from across northern New Jersey. (Our) students’ work was selected as part of the top 30% of the most outstanding work submitted among their peers.

The work of Jackie Tsai.

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MKA was thrilled to welcome our very own renowned jazz musician, Isaiah Thompson ’15 to campus to run a Jazz Workshop with a new class, Jazz Choir.

Isaiah is a phenomenal, young professional musician who graduated from The Juilliard School in NYC. MKA students were fortunate to have him speak about jazz music and the music of Duke Ellington. They were also able to sing a few songs with him.

The Upper School Band wished the MKA Community a Happy Thanksgiving. From recording studios in their homes, Upper School students recorded “A Million Dreams’’ from the movie The Greatest Showman. The two minute videos were individually recorded and then put together in Premier Pro and Garageband.

If you didn’t see it yet, please check MKA’s YouTube channel.

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Members of the Upper School Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, and Jazz Choir performed a virtual holiday concert that was a reflection of the hybrid work from the three Choral ensembles. The performance started with a fun song from the 1980’s, and then went all the way back to the 14th century with an a cappella madrigal, ending with a cheerful holiday mashup. Students sang on Google Meet with many recording themselves singing their voice part: soprano, alto, tenor, or bass. This is how the US Chorus singers were able to sing together while apart, although they were fortunate to have a warm autumn that allowed them to sing together outside everyday during class.

Theater Under the Stars

It is truly a miracle of theatre that Upper School students were able to perform their fall play, 12 Incompetent Jurors, which ran from October 17-19. Nothing about the experience was easy.

The cast and crew had to determine how to perform a show while following COVID protocols and how to put up a play in three weeks instead of the usual six. The amazing cast and crew met the moment and prevailed. This hysterical comedy played to three sold-out houses! All performances were held in the outdoor amphitheater, with onlookers seated in sociallydistanced pods. Audience members enjoyed a lovely fall night under the stars, laughing at a play that seemed perfectly chosen for the times.

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The Thomas W. Nammack Community Scholarship

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“ This program is a one of the most direct and powerful ways MKA recognizes a student and their family for the positive impact they have and will have on our school. The dedication, integrity, and diversity these Scholars bring to our school strengthens the MKA community, enriches our program, and benefits the life of each one of our students. I am humbled and deeply grateful for the commitments made by our alumni, parents, colleagues, and friends to support this effort. Thank you.”

- Tom Nammack

For the past 16 years, Tom Nammack has led MKA to be a school with a true unity of purpose, guided by our shared belief in MKA’s mission to create a diverse, collaborative, and inclusive community that inspires our students to lead lives of noble character, purpose, and distinction.

To recognize Tom’s career and to honor his legacy, MKA is adding an eighth award to the Community Scholars Program: The Thomas W. Nammack Community Scholarship.

This newly established, endowed award will expand MKA’s longstanding Community Scholars Program, which has provided complete financial support for seven students each year for students in grades 6-12 who represent a racial or ethnic minority,

possess academic and personal potential, and demonstrate full financial need. Recipients receive the most comprehensive financial assistance that MKA offers, covering the full cost of tuition and all additional expenses including, but not limited to, books, lunch, transportation, and athletic equipment.

For over fifty years, this program has been supported by MKA’s operating budget and a modest endowment, but thanks to the generous support of members of the MKA community who donated over $1 million to MKA’s endowment in honor of Tom, MKA will now have the resources to expand this program and offer an additional scholarship to a deserving young student each year in perpetuity.

If you are interested in learning more or you want to join this effort, please contact Director of Development Laela Perkins at 973.509.4528 or lperkins@mka.org.

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ATHLETICS FALL 2020 WINTER 2019-2020 TEAM AND STUDENT-ATHLETE HONORS AND AWARDS During the recently completed 2020 Fall Athletics season, the following MKA teams, coaches and athletes achieved honors:

FIELD HOCKEY Interim Head Coach: Izzy Mendez (1st year) Record: 5-8 Emma Ruddy ’21 MKA JV Coaches Award Lindsey Yu ’21 Capt.; 1st Team All-American Division, SEC; 1st Team All-White Division, Essex/Union Conference; 3rd Team All-Non-Public, NJ.com Catherine McLaughlin ’21 Capt.

Natalia Espinosa-Dice ’22 HM All-American Division, SEC; Lara Pramanik ’22 MKA Offensive Player of the Year Award; 2nd Team All-American Division, SEC; 2nd Team All-White Division, Essex/Union Conference Kate Weinstein ’22 MKA Coaches Award

NEW LOOK The Montclair Kimberley Academy Athletics brand redesign celebrates the past with the legendary Cougar and traditional school colors while looking forward with a bold design and updated, dynamic images for present and future MKA athletes and teams.

In August of 2019, MKA entered into a multi-year partnership with BSN SPORTS, the nation’s largest direct marketer and distributor of sporting goods to the school and league markets and a division of Varsity Brands. By teaming up with Varsity Brands, MKA was afforded the opportunity to go through a complete brand refresh.

“In finalizing our MKA Athletics brand redesign, we worked closely with a panel of MKA Varsity Head Coaches and former MKA athletes who competed at the collegiate level and understood what athletic branding does and portrays for a school and/or university,” shared Athletic Director Todd Smith. “We wanted to do something special that celebrated our history while moving us forward for the next generation of MKA athletes.”

Head of School Tom Nammack recognized the time and work put into this effort by many members of the community: “Together, they have created a modern, updated representation of what it means to be an MKA athlete, while maintaining the tradition of which we are so proud.”

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Michael Jimenez ’21 MKA Coaches Award Clay Morris ’21 MKA Offensive Player of the Year Award; 1st Team Offense All-MIFL, NJ Division; 2nd Team Offense AllNon-Public, NJ.com; 1st Team Offense All-Essex County, ECCA; 2nd Team Offense All-Essex Football Coaches Association Jake Pryor ’22 1st Team Offense All-MIFL, NJ Division William Hofmann ’23 Honorable Mention All-MIFL, NJ Division Nicolas Lembo ’23 1st Team Offense All-MIFL, NJ Division

BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY

Phoebe Williams ’22 Honorable Mention All-American Division, SEC; 2nd Team All-White Division, Essex/Union Conference

Head Coach: Timothy White (2nd Year) Record: 9-1; SEC Liberty Division Champions

Caroline Murphy ’23 Honorable Mention All-White Division, Essex/Union Conference

Nate Zuckerberg ’22 MKA Leadership Award; 1st Team AllLiberty Division, SEC

Natalie Yu ’23 2nd Team All-American Division, SEC; 2nd Team All-White Division, Essex/ Union Conference

Freddy Bishop ’23 MKA Most Improved Runner Award; 1st Team All-Liberty Division, SEC

Mimi Temkin ’24 MKA Rookie of the Year Award Tyna Davis ’24 MKA JV Most Improved Player Award

FOOTBALL Head Coach: Anthony Rea (7th Year) Record: 4-3 Michele Cestone ’21 Capt.; MKA Defensive Player of the Year Award; 1st Team Defense AllMIFL, NJ Division Dominick Greendale ’21 1st Team Offense All-MIFL, NJ Division Mohamed Hassaneen ’21 MKA Most Improved Player Award

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Caleb Hofmann ’21 Capt.; MKA Weiner Award; 1st Team Offense All-MIFL, NJ Division

Oliver Chang ’23 2nd Team All-Liberty Division, SEC Aidan Szilagyi ’23 MKA Most Valuable Runner Award; 1st Team All-Liberty Division, SEC Stephen Hatfield ’24 2nd Team All-Liberty Division, SEC Teddy Krenteras ’24 1st Team All-Liberty Division, SEC Nicholas Snyder. ’24 1st Team All-Liberty Division, SEC

GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY Head Coach: Timothy White (2nd Year) Record: 0-11

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Christina Bonarti ’22 MKA Most Spirited Runner Award Emma Burd ’22 MKA Most Valuable Runner Award Martine Gulliver ’22 MKA Most Dedicated Runner Award

BOYS’ SOCCER

GIRLS’ SOCCER Head Coach: Jordan Raper (2nd Year) Record: 13-1-1; SEC Liberty Division Champions Abigail Clothier ’21 Honorable Mention All-American Division, SEC

Head Coach: Rob Leather (7th Year) Record: 8-5-1

Julia Conforti ’21 Capt.; Coaches Player of the Year Award; 1st Team All-Liberty Division, SEC

Danny D’Angelo ’21 MKA Coaches Award; 3rd Team AllEssex County, ECCA

Sarah Hobbs ’21 Capt.; 2nd Team All-Liberty Division, SEC; 2nd Team All-Non-Public, NJ.com

Jeremiah Druckenmiller ’21 Honorable Mention All-American Division, SEC

Stella Marshall ’21 Honorable Mention All-Liberty Division, SEC

Nicholas Eiden ’21 3rd Team All-Essex County, ECCA

Chloe Skipper ’22 MKA Players’ Player of the Year Award; 1st Team All-Liberty Division, SEC; 1st Team All-Non-Public, NJ.com; 2nd Team All-State, NJ.com

Spencer Goldberg ’21 Capt.; 3rd Team All-Essex County, ECCA Rollins Heath ’21 2nd Team All-Essex County, ECCA; 2nd Team All American Division, SEC Will Horn ’21 Capt.; MKA Players’ Player of the Year Award; 1st Team All-Essex County, ECCA; 1st Team All-American Division, SEC; 1st Team All-Non-Public, NJ.com; Regional All-American (USC) Zach Wheeler ’21 Capt.; 1st Team All-Essex County, ECCA; 1st Team All-American Division, SEC; 2nd Team All-Non-Public, NJ.com Sean Cadigan ’22 MKA Most Valuable Player Award; 1st Team All-Essex County, ECCA; 1st Team All-American Division, SEC Zachary Seeve ’22 Honorable Mention All-Essex County, ECCA Julian Coviello ’23 MKA JV Coaches Player Award Omar Martinez ’23 Honorable Mention All-American Division, SEC Sebastian Gonzalez ’24 MKA JV Players Player Award

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Amara Sood Bhatia ’24 2nd Team All-American Division, SEC; 2nd Team All-Non-Public, NJ.com Milagros Carbajal Diaz ’24 1st Team All-American Division, SEC Katie Chung ’24 MKA Player of the Year Award; 1st Team All-American Division, SEC; 3rd Team All-State All-Flight, NJ.com

Hannah Lewis ’24 2nd Team All-American Division, SEC; 2nd Team All-Non-Public, NJ.com

VOLLEYBALL Season Postponed Due to COVID

Isabella Douglas ’23 MKA Most Points Award; 1st Team All-Liberty Division, SEC; 1st Team All-Non-Public, NJ.com Sofia Vinasco ’23 2nd Team All-Liberty Division, SEC; 2nd Team All-Non-Public, NJ.com

GIRLS’ TENNIS Head Coach: Bill Wing (24th Year) Record: 8-1; NJSIAA Non-Public Northeast Sectional State Champions Taylor Everson ’21 Capt.

Ella Breslawsky ’22 MKA JV Most Valuable Player Award Cassie Polonskyj ’22 MKA JV Coaches Award Louise Halbert ’21 Capt.; MKA Coaches Award Chiara Frungillo ’23 Honorable Mention All-American Division, SEC Hanna Ganchi ’23 1st Team All-American Division, SEC

WILL HORN GIVEN MKA CAPTAIN’S AWARD. The MKA Captain’s Award is given out each season to that male or female captain who has exhibited the qualities that we look for in our team captains: leadership, dedication, respect, work ethic, and being a role model both on and off the field for his or her teammates and peers. Congratulations to the recipient of the 2020 MKA Fall Captain’s Award, senior Boys’ Soccer Co-Captain Will Horn. Head Coach Rob Leather states, “Will has been a phenomenal leader for the boys soccer program this season. He leads in every way possible. He has the ability to be a mentor to the younger players and yet still be able to hold his peers accountable. Will is a very gentle natured young man but on the field is a warrior and leads by example. Will preached brotherhood to the group this year and was able to capture the right moments during tough times to remind everyone what our goals were for the season. It is not easy leading 15 fellow seniors, and I think, along with his co-captains, he showed great maturity and class. He will be sorely missed as both a player and leader.”

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Honoring our Head of School THOMAS W. NAMMACK

An Architect of Culture and the Indelible Legacy

His Career Has Left on MKA

The Nammack family was welcomed to the MKA community in 2005 with open arms and with confidence clearly borne out that Tom would provide strong, caring, and capable leadership and would build upon MKA’s legacy.

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T

om

grew up in Long Island’s Oyster Bay and graduated from the Taft School, a boarding school in Watertown, CT. He received his bachelor’s degree in history from Brown University and a master’s degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania. Tom taught at the Adirondack Mountain School in New York, The Purnell School in New Jersey, and Lawrence Academy in Massachusetts before joining the faculty of The Shipley School in Pennsylvania in 1988. Breaking with family tradition, Tom was the first in four generations who did not pursue and receive a medical degree. He shared that while his father understood that Tom did not have a passion for medicine, his grandmother, “always asked me when I was going to get a real job.”

At Shipley, Tom was first appointed as a full-time history teacher. He became Dean of Students the following year and was named Head of the Upper School in 1993. It was while teaching at Shipley that Tom met his wife, Zandi, a teacher by profession and a graduate of St. George’s School, Princeton University, and the University of Pennsylvania. Zandi was working as a private tutor and challenged Tom about the amount of reading he was assigning his students. Tom admits that Zandi was right: “It was a college-level text and a ninth-grade class. I was giving them 20–25 pages of reading a night.” A solid partnership emerged and has endured.

Tom, Zandi, Tom’s daughter Olivia, and his and Zandi’s two children, Travers and Marion, arrived in Montclair in the summer of 2005 and were welcomed by CFO Richard Sunshine, who

TO M ’S G R EATEST (CU R R I CU L A R ) ACHIEVE MENTS

TI ME L I N E

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Official start as Head of School

MKA’s first Gay Straight Aliance (GSA) established

2005

2006

MKA review / Mon tc l ai r K i mb e r l e y Ac ade my

Quiet launch of the Leadership Phase of MKA’s $30M Future Forward Campaign

Added Chinese language study to the MKA curriculum

>> 2008

2009

T HO M AS W. N AMMAC K

RAP ID FIR E QUEST ION S Tom was asked to play along and give his quick response to what he preferred of two options.

Of course, he had a few qualifiers...

broke his arm on the way down the hill from the Head of School’s house in the rain. No other colleagues have been injured in their interaction with the family, and Zandi, Marion, and Travers have left their own mark on MKA respectively as a colleague in the Admissions Office and FH goalie coach and as graduates in the classes of 2010 and 2011.

At the start of Tom’s tenure, his goals for the school included, “Looking to shore up MKA’s endowment so salaries can be improved and costs aren’t as dependent on tuition [and] seeking to forge ties with Montclair.”

In stating his initial goals to parents, Tom shared, “I plan to take full advantage of the experience of being new to the community and will strive to establish a relationship with as many of you as possible....I know that the school-home partnership is strong at MKA, but it requires constant effort and attention.” In the 16 years that followed, Tom achieved these goals and more as evidenced by the current strong position of the school and the lasting relationships and ties to the community that the Nammack family leaves behind.

MKA launched 1:1 Student Learning (Laptop) Initiative —Recognized twice as an Apple Distinguished School (2013–2015; 2015–2017)

Honors classes available in all major subject areas at the Upper School

2010

2011

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Jeans or Khakis Brahms or Bach Manhattan or New England Clam Chowder* *As long as it is done well.

Rear Window or It’s a Wonderful Life The Last Lion or Lonesome Dove The Lake* or The Beach *Would have been different 10 years ago.

Pistachio or Brazil nuts Tennis or Golfing 1953 Woody Wagon or Your Wife* *If the option was another car, the choice would have been hard.

The Nammack family celebrates Marion’s graduation in 2010.

The Middle School’s Penick Center renovation completed

2012

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Q&A When you arrived at MKA, what needs of the school did you prioritize?

We needed a plan. The school had previously run out its long range plan and had not committed to the next phase.

With Dr. Peter Greer at the helm, the school had established signature programs and initiatives that distinguished MKA and were embraced by the community. It was clear that we needed to begin a planning process to fulfill and anticipate the needs of the community in program, resources, and facilities.

In what ways has the school changed over the course of your tenure?

T IM E LINE

There is no question that it is a more diverse community in terms of the basic measures of diversity, and it is a more inclusive community because of our intentional work on gender, sexuality, and other significant identifiers such as race and religion. The use of technology has also been a huge part of how the school has evolved.

Coming out of the first strategic plan, we made a commitment to integrating technology to improve teaching and learning and, importantly, to create equity in the technology available to students. Many constituent groups, from Trustees to administrators, faculty, and students worked methodically to implement our 1:1 laptop initiative with these goals in mind.

Began sending Primary School Pre-K and K faculty to Reggio Emilia, Italy, to study at the Reggio Children— Loris Malaguzzi Centre and apply their learning to Pre-K and K programming

2013

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Published MKA’s Diversity and Inclusion Statement of Purpose

Announcement of raising over $15M for MKA’s Future Forward Campaign and launch of Public Phase of Campaign

T HO M AS W. N AMMAC K

What is the best, unique aspect of MKA?

I think the best aspect of the school, particularly in terms of the professional culture, is the intentionality of continuous school improvement and the thoroughness with which change and innovation are proposed, evaluated, and implemented.

There is a deliberate cultivation of this process so that the planning is generative but realistic.

What is the most challenging, unique aspect of MKA?

I think it is three campuses and 14 grade levels. In addition, and it’s something I also appreciate, but being situated IN the town at all three locations is a challenge. This proximity and integration not only inform the school’s character but also create complex relationships with our neighbors.

What accomplishment makes you the most proud?

Well, there are things I am proud of and things that I love. I am proudest of the way in which the school culture has evolved, for our students and for our colleagues and parents.

Even in this unusual time, I think the professional culture here is a significant part of why people say “yes” to us in hiring. They say “yes” to our commitment to professional growth. We seek to hire people who

I am proudest of the way in which the school culture has evolved, for our students and for our colleagues and parents. want to get better at what they do, and we have a lot of systems that support that aim. Two accomplishments I love, not that one should fall in love with a building, are the Academic Center at the Upper School and the transformation of the Primary School campus. Both were program-driven projects, and while there were other needs, I feel that we really chose well to direct our resources to those projects in particular.

As you depart, what advice will you pass on to the next Head of School?

In the first year, do the big listening tour: be out and about and don’t get stuck in the office. It is as important for people to get to know you as it is for you to get to know the school. The key is finding activities and getting to as many concerts and performances as possible, while knowing you can’t get to them all. Taking meetings at the different campuses offers even more opportunities to get to know students by division

as a start. And ultimately, because MKA is a wonderful place to be a Campus Head and work with some autonomy, it is imperative to forge strong relationships and establish effective communication with the Administrative Team.

What will you do after MKA? What is next for you?

We have a BIG MOVE planned to Easton, Maryland where Zandi grew up. We will basically be living with her parents, who are moving out of their house to a small apartment they built on the property so we can be a presence in their lives.

I am retiring and not planning on working. This job has been the center of my attention, and I definitely want to broaden the relationships I have with my children and my siblings and to be more present for them.

In full regalia, Head of Middle School Randy Kleinman, Head of Upper School Dave Flocco, MKA Board President Kate Logan, Head of School Tom Nammack, and Head of Primary School Ginger Kriegel celebrate Commencement 2016 together.

Official dedication of the renovated Muenster Field, the Everett L. Glenn Spectator Terrace, and the Strain Family Field House kicked off the school’s Homecoming weekend on October 25

2014

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The community reflects N A DI A AND MIKE ALT IRS P’23 ’24 ’26 ’27 ’29

If someone were to ask what it takes to be an exceptional head of school and then measured in the exact amount of every quality needed, the sum would be Tom. He is a visionary who is even-tempered and leads by example. He is a wonderful orator and insightful writer.

His honesty, transparency, and consistency during personal conversations as well as in front of the entire school make him a trusted source for all who interact with him. His altruistic and reflective nature serve him well because Tom seems to know exactly what is “right” in each situation that he is presented. It is without a doubt, that after a lifetime of refinement, Tom has reached the mastery level.

P ET E R GR E E R ( FO R M E R HEA D O F SCHO O L 1 992-20 0 5)

T IME LINE

At one of the two times I visited MKA during Tom’s recordbreaking tenure, Tom paid me a compliment at legend Richard Sunshine’s farewell party. He said “I like Peter because he stayed out of my hair.” In other words, I did not interfere with ideas or other meddling as to what Tom was attempting to accomplish. It is a good thing I did not become an obstacle, because after Tom and Zandi were so gracious to me during my visit, Tom took me around to see the gorgeous new and renovated facilities. I was stunned by his funding successes, especially at Muenster Field and the Everett L. Glenn Spectator Terrace and the Strain Family Field House on Upper Mountain Avenue. By the way, Tom is shrewd—he kept me away from interfering with his MKA vision by periodically supplying me with MKA apparel, which I still wear with pride.

MKA’s Mission Statement Revised

Adopted language of balance in defining both academic and personal success

2015

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Expanded focus on Social-Emotional Learning leads MKA to develop the SEL Competencies for the MKA Community

2016

MKA’s Multicultural Curriculum Statement of Purpose Published

on Tom’s career...

DAV ID F LO CCO P ’ 1 8 ’22 ’25 ’26 ( U P P E R SCHO O L HEA D O F CA M PUS 20 0 6 TO P R ES E N T)

Tom’s ability to remain cool under pressure has been a source of inspiration to me throughout the years. Lord knows, we have had our pressure points over the years, but Tom has always led with a steady hand, rooted in mission (both the school’s and his), and true to his unwavering moral center. I feel so fortunate to have worked so closely with him over the years. He has made me a better leader. As a matter of fact, he makes all those lucky enough to come into contact with him better.

S H E L LY A ND K E IT H P HIL L IPS P ’07 ’0 9 ’ 13 ( PAM KA P R ES ID E NT 20 0 6-20 0 8 A ND T RUST E E 20 0 0 -20 12)

Tom Nammack and I began working together during his first year at MKA while I was PAMKA President. The thoughtful way he would listen to our issues and concerns definitely allowed us to have a conversation. He never allowed me to feel like he had the right answer (even though he probably did); it was always a discussion. He was and is a considerate thinker with an intellectual mind. MKA was lucky to have him for 16 years.

Implemented a four-year computer science sequence at the Upper School

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Student Opening of the Upper School Academic Center after the 18-month renovation and expansion of the Avery Barras Library

Created MKA’s first Gender Inclusivity Guidelines

2016

2017

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Community reflections A LI CE HIRS H P’95 ’03 ’06 (TRUST EE 1994 TO PRES ENT, FORMER PRES IDENT O F TH E BOARD OF T RUST EES 2007-2010)

From the start of his tenure , Tom showed his commitment to honor the rich history of MKA and helped us to envision an exciting future. While I was President of the Board of Trustees, Tom and I would often meet at Brookside on Fridays for the class plays.

During those mornings, I was in awe of Tom and his ability to relate to the children, parents, and teachers. Tom always seemed to know exactly what to say; his ability to impart words of wisdom with a wonderful KAREN AND WARREN ROSS P ’ 13 ’ 1 5 quip seemed to ( PAMKA PRES IDENT 2010-20 12) While PAMKA President and working with Tom over mesmerize. He was the years, I was struck by how much he cared about the right man at all the students and his reaction when one was in trouble. No matter how serious the issue, Tom the right time to always said, “I hope that the student’s mistake can be corrected and isn’t life changing.” In our opinion, lead MKA and has that says it all! And a funny anecdote about Tom: undoubtedly left his Over 10 years ago, we introduced Tom and Zandi to our lake community. They ended up buying a cottage mark at the school. immediately. Our son Jack, who was around 12 years old at the time, was horrified. He was worried sick that He will be missed.

KA R E N GU L L IV E R P ’ 1 9 ’22 ( T RUST E E 20 14 TO P R ES E NT, PA M KA P R ES ID E NT 20 1 6-20 1 8 )

In my 11 years as an MKA parent, I’ve greatly admired Tom’s commitment to upholding the values of our school. But what I’ve most admired about Tom is the way he created a culture of continuous improvement, and he approached change in such a thoughtful way. Whether he was supporting PAMKA in building community, or the Anti-Racism Task Force in creating racial equity in our school curriculum and culture, it was always inspiring to see Tom personally invested in our growth as a school that strives to live our mission for all students and families.

T IM ELINE

Tom, as the Head of School of his school, was going to stop by our cottage and check on whether he had done his homework and summer reading!

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MKA celebrated the close of Future Forward: A Campaign for MKA raising close to $31 million in philanthropic support

MKA’s Global Experience program doubles 2014 travel participation numbers and provides record financial assistance, so every Upper School student can afford to participate at least once during their high school years.

2018

2019

>>

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continued…

JOA N N E A N D LEO N ARD GLENN P’03 ’04 ’ 11

Tom is a man who goes above and beyond what’s required to accomplish tasks. In every encounter we had with Tom, he added his personal touch to make everything that he handled more meaningful for us. When we were confronted with the most challenging time of our lives, the death of our son Everett Glenn, there were numerous times when we felt as though Tom was handling matters as though he had been a member of our family. We cannot thank him enough for the kindness he showed our family, particularly throughout this past decade. We get the sense that this is how Tom handled everything, not only from a professional standpoint, but also on a personal level. Tom will always hold a special place in our hearts.

$10M Brookside Campus expansion and renovation completed and open to students

TO D D S M IT H ( D IR ECTO R O F AT HL ET ICS 20 0 2 TO P R ES E NT )

During Tom’s tenure as Head of School, MKA athletic teams and programs have captured over 150 team championships. This level of unparalleled success is due in large part to his belief in providing the very best coaches and facilities we can in order to promote the growth and success of our athletic program as a whole.

GEO RGE HRA B ( FACU LT Y M E M BE R 1 969 TO P R ES E NT )

Tom’s extraordinary ability in dealing with stressful situations and crises in a calm, reassuring, sensitive, and thoughtful way are the hallmarks of his leadership. Add to that his amazing ability of coming up with a truly humorous and fully appropriate anecdote or comment on the spur of the moment, and one can see why his speaking engagements were always highly anticipated and thoroughly enjoyed.

Supported professional development grants for all 10-month faculty to prepare for hybrid and/or remote learning in September

2020

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Community reflections N EWTON SC HOT T P’87 ’98 (TRUST EE 1989 TO PRES ENT, FORMER PRES IDENT O F TH E BOARD OF T RUST EES 2000-2007, A N D CHAIR OF T HE HEAD OF SC HOOL S EARC H CO M M I T T EE 2003–2004)

After we completed our search and Tom agreed to become MKA’s next Head of School, I led a select team of MKA Trustees and senior administrators to The Shipley School in Pennsylvania where Tom was then teaching. Our purpose was to know Tom better, to visit with his school and colleagues, and to discuss a possible relationship between MKA and Shipley.

The Shipley team we met greatly admired Tom, hated to see him leave, and were very closely studying us to ascertain if MKA was good enough to “steal” Tom. At the end of the visit, they were pleased, and we were extremely happy and since then have been pleased with our selection of Tom.

BA R RY R ID INGS P ’03 ( T RUST E E 1 994 TO P R ES E NT )

As you know, I’ve been involved with MKA for 50 years. In that half century I’ve seen a number of Heads of School, and I have to rank Tom as one of the best! MKA has always been a great school, but Tom brought the skills and vision to make it even better.

GINGE R K R IEGE L P ’90 ( FO R M E R P R IM A RY SCHO O L HEA D O F CA M PUS 1 999-20 1 8 )

When Tom arrived at MKA, 16 years ago, he recognized the need for facility improvements at the Primary Campus and worked diligently for years to fulfill that goal. The beautiful new addition at the Primary School is just one example of Tom’s leadership and devotion to ensure the best environment for our students, faculty, and staff. What a great and lasting legacy!

RIC H A R D SU NS HINE P ’0 2 ’0 4 ( FOR M E R CFO 1 989–20 1 5, ASS ISTA NT HEA D O F SCHO O L 20 1 5–20 1 6)

The best way to describe Tom’s and my working relationship is the concept of Yin and Yang.

Being a Type-A personality and always looking to get things done way ahead of time, I was challenged by Tom’s approach. He was more cerebral, and he liked to do things on his own timeline. When something was due in a few weeks or he had a speech to make, and I would always ask him how it was going, he would always reply, “There’s plenty of time.” I would ask him again the day before and get the same response. The day it was due, especially a speech, I would see him in his office working on it. He would come out right before with an outline and deliver his speech from that. It clearly worked well for him as his speechmaking is one of his greatest skills. Our opposite approaches to things worked well, however, as we could bounce situations off each other and get different points of view for a better outcome.

continued…

RA N DY KLE I N M A N P ’ 13 ’ 16 (MI DDLE SCH O O L H EAD OF CAMPUS 2000 TO PRES ENT )

Over the course of his time as Head of School, Tom has guided MKA through a number of extremely challenging situations. While the most obvious and recent is the pandemic, I was most impressed during a very difficult situation some years ago with his steady and open style of leadership, his commitment to transparency and accountability, and his unfailing honesty and compassion. But what really speaks to me about who Tom is as a school leader, is the smile on his face while we’re on lunch duty together, walking around outside, circulating among the students, feeling their joyful energy as they play GAGA and soccer, use the swings and playground equipment, or chat in small groups in the Middle School play areas.

KA RE N N EWMAN P’ 15 ’ 18 (ASSI STANT HEAD OF SC HOOL FOR CURRICULUM A N D P RO FESS IONAL DEVELOPMENT 2000 TO PRESE NT )

Tom Nammack has been a consummate learner since the moment he arrived at MKA. With his superhuman abilities to listen patiently and ask insightful questions that feed his learning (and everyone else’s, too), he quickly became a true MKA aficionado. Even when Stephen Colbert asked Tom to sing MKA’s school song in an interview filmed to introduce Tom’s first PAMKA Gala, after a comedic exchange of “No, you first!”s, Tom demonstrated the utmost creativity and humility as he improvised lyrics to an only vaguely familiar tune. Afterward, he practiced dutifully to Jane Smith’s school song recording until he had it down for graduation.

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J OS HUA RAY M O ND ’89 ( FO R M E R T RUST E E A ND ALUMN I COU NCIL P R ES ID E NT 20 0 4-2 0 0 6 )

Tom’s greatest lasting legacy is that he understood the importance of building a broad-based sense of community at MKA. As MKA’s Head of School, he was mindful of his obligations to all constituencies: students, parents, faculty, staff, and, of course, the alumni.

Tom inspired a vision of a more inclusive alumni and encouraged “friend-raising.”

Tom appreciated the need for MKA to always reconnect with its alumni and to welcome their input and greater involvement. The entire MKA community was fortunate that Tom always led by example and with the utmost integrity.

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On your Retirement...

N A DI A AND MIKE ALT IRS P’23, ’24, ’26, ’27, ’29

We wish Tom all the best as he joins Zandi in retirement.

Hope his days are filled with all the wonderful gifts that he brought to MKA, returned to him tenfold.

R IC H A R D SU N SH I N E P ’02 ’04 ( FO R M E R CFO 1 9 89 –2 01 5, ASS ISTANT H EA D OF SCH O O L 2 01 5–2 01 6 )

Anyone who knows me, knows that I refer to people in their last year as “Driftwood.” It became a running joke over the years. But now being retired for about five years, I realize that it is a good philosophy. I told Tom when he informed me that he was going to retire that he could look back at his career as a job well done. But as Satchel Paige said, “Don’t look back, someone may be gaining on you.”

My advice is not to put pressure on yourself to have to do anything (not that that is Tom’s nature anyway).

Take life one day at a time and enjoy the moment: in other words, be “Driftwood.” Good luck on the next stage of your life.

J OSH UA RAYM O N D ’89 ( FO RME R TRUSTEE A ND A LU M N I COU N CI L P RES IDENT 2 004-2 006 )

Yesterday is a cancelled check, tomorrow is a promissory note, today is the only day that we have, so spend it wisely!

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S HE L LY A ND K E IT H P HIL L IPS P ’07 ’0 9 ’ 13 ( PA M KA P R ES ID E NT 20 0 620 0 8 A ND T RUST E E 20 0 0 -20 12)

We will miss you but know that you have made lifelong friends here in Montclair and at MKA! Cheers to retirement!

PET ER GREER ( FORMER HEAD OF SC H O O L 1 992–20 0 5)

Tom has already passed sixteen years of “stress tests.”

A Head makes many decisions each and every day and too many of those decisions involving students, faculty, staff, safety, anxious parents, budget, facilities, the Board of Trustees, alumni, athletics, admissions, and college acceptances are complicated and stressful. Tom will now be faced with passing “leisure tests.” How he spends his free time will say a lot about his and Zandi’s future satisfaction and happiness. One suggestion I have for Tom is to spend one hour a day driving around in GINGE R K R IEGE L P ’90 ( FO R M E R P R IM A RY SCHO O L his splendid Woodie HEA D O F CA M PUS 1 999-20 1 8 ) automobile (which Congratulations, Tom, made my eyes pop!) and making other people on your well deserved happy just looking at retirement. You have that striking vehicle and left an indelible mark of remembering….

KAREN AND WARREN ROSS P’ 13 ’ 15 ( PAMKA PRES IDENT 2010-2012)

accomplishments during your 16 years at MKA. May your next chapter in life bring you and Zandi new and exciting adventures along with great happiness. You will be sorely missed!

Tom, you chose your own retirement date and you really screwed up: it could have been 2019, and you would have avoided this nightmare of a year.

As we picture you in retirement, we see you driving home in your 1953 Buick loaded with wood that you freshly chopped to warm the house so your train set doesn’t freeze. After a gourmet meal cooked by your own personal chef, Zandi, you will be sitting in your favorite chair with a glass of champagne reading a book about Teddy Roosevelt. We know you will enjoy your retirement and don’t need any advice from us. Please make sure to “Steal Away” and always “Stay in Good Order”!

M KA review / Mon tc l ai r K i mb e r l e y Ac ade my

J U DY NES BIT ( FO R M E R M ID D L E SCHO O L AN D U P P E R SCHO O L M AT H INST RUC TOR 1 969-20 07 )

When I retired this advice was given to me, and now I pass it on to you: have something special planned for the week school opens. This is a great time to travel.

NE W TO N SCHOT T P ’87 ’98 ( T RUST E E 1 989 TO P R ES E NT, FO R M E R P R ES ID E NT O F T HE BOA R D O F T RUSTE ES 20 0 0 TO 20 07, A ND CHA IR O F T HE HEAD OF SCHO O L S EA RCH CO M M IT T E E 20 03–2 0 0 4)

Tom, with your skills and energy, I predict you will be in heavy demand as a volunteer in your new community. I hope that you, as I, will find that you never yearn for another day on the old job but instead enjoy your new life.

BA R RY R ID INGS P ’03 ( T RUST E E 1 994 TO P R ES E NT )

As we all know, 2020 has been a tough year. I can’t think of anyone better to help MKA manage through the crisis. I’m sure this was the last thing he expected to deal with before he retires, but thank goodness he was here!

A L ICE HIRS H P ’95 ’03 ’0 6 ( T RUST E E 1 994 TO P R ES E NT, FO R M ER P R ES ID E NT O F T HE BOA R D O F T RUSTE ES 20 07-20 1 0 )

Tom, I wish you joy during your retirement. I hope you find great fulfilment during this stage of your life.

JU DY P O LO N O FSKY P’85 ’88 (FO RME R DI RECTO R OF S PEC IAL EVE N TS A N D P ROJEC TS 20072 012 , FO RME R DI REC TOR OF DEVE LO P ME N T A N D EXT ERNAL A F FA I RS 1 9 8 5-2 007)

Tom—my best wishes with much joy and happiness to you and Zandi in the coming years!

CA RO L I P P I SCH (ASSI STA N T TO TH E HEAD OF SCH O O L 1 9 8 6 TO P RES ENT )

GEORGE HRAB P’86 ’89 ( FACULT Y MEMBER 1 969 TO P R ES E NT )

Far be it for me to have the temerity to advise Tom, but I must say, speaking from experience, that he is much too young to be retiring so soon.

JOANNE AND LEONA R D GL E NN P ’03 ’0 4 ’ 1 1

Having been retired for a few years now, our advice is to view the Golden Years as a time to truly celebrate all of the countless hours put forth throughout your life. You have a wonderful family to now invest more time in, and that’s a tremendous Blessing. Your body has been accustomed to a rugged routine. Hence, it’s important to keep busy physically, mentally, and spiritually. Just pace yourself.

Hit that bucket list and enjoy this new chapter in your life. God Bless from the Glenn family.

Dear Tom, It’s hard to believe that sixteen years have gone by since you arrived at MKA. I have had the great opportunity to work for you as my boss and with you as a colleague and friend. I admire that you were always calm, cool, and collected, with great patience. I remember once when I told you this and you replied, “You don’t want to be around when I lose it,” but you never did. I wish you a wonderful future with lots of time to enjoy with Zandi, your kids, and friends. Welcome to freedom Happy retirement!

DAVI D F LO CCO P ’ 1 8 ’22 ’25 ’26 (U P P ER SCH O O L H EAD OF CAMPUS 2 006 TO P RESEN T)

Certainly, no one expected your final 18-months as Head of School to be marred by a global pandemic and civil unrest, but your steady hand has continued to provide direction for all of us - at the time in our school’s history when we needed it most. My hope for you is that you leave here knowing you have left us better than you found us and that your retirement is filled with love, peace, and joy, for we all know no one deserves it more.

KA R E N NE W M A N P ’ 1 5 ’ 1 8 (ASS ISTA NT HEA D O F SCH OOL FO R CU R R ICU LU M A ND P RO F ESS IO NA L D EV E LO P ME N T 20 0 0 TO P R ES E NT )

Tom, may retirement bring you peace of mind, with nothing “keeping you up in the middle of the night” and many days of (re) building cars while at rest, not “while they are rolling down the hill.”

KAREN GULLIVER P’ 1 9 ’22 ( T RUST EE 2014 TO PRES ENT, PAMKA PRES IDENT 2016-2 0 1 8 )

“Retirement is not the end of the road. It is the beginning of the open highway.” – Unknown I hope you find more time to drive the classic Buick and do all of the things you enjoy most!

Robert and I wish you good health and every happiness in your welldeserved retirement!

It is clear the school has been and now will be in good hands-even if the passing of the torch is symbolized in this unconventional year by an elbow bump.

RA N DY KLE I N MAN P’ 13 ’ 16 (MI DDLE SCH OOL HEAD OF CAMPUS 2000 TO PRES ENT )

Too many cliches, however apt, come to mind, like “Retirement is when you stop living at work and start working at living.” But what I wish for Tom, particularly after this final year as Head of School, are blissful, endless weeks after weeks without email to answer.

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Introducing Nigel Furlonge, the next Head of School

On October 28, 2020, MKA named Nigel Furlonge to serve as the school’s 5th Head of School. Furlonge will succeed Tom Nammack in July 2021, following the conclusion of Nammack’s 16-year tenure as Head of School.

Nigel Furlonge brings extensive experience in nationally acclaimed independent schools. Currently the Principal of the Upper School at Ethical Culture Fieldston School (ECFS) in the Bronx, New York, he is responsible for curricular enhancements with a greater emphasis on social justice in both the academic curriculum and co-curricular offerings.

Prior to ECFS, he served as Associate Head of School at the Holderness School where he stewarded the community’s design of a Learning Master Plan, aligning it with the school’s strategic plan to further the school’s intellectual

and co-curricular goals. He was a founding team member of Christina Seix Academy, an innovative PreK-8 independent school, served as Academic Dean at The Lawrenceville School, and was an active member of the Board of Trustees at the Holderness School.

Nigel’s appointment represents the culmination of a comprehensive and collaborative national search process that began in January 2020 with the formation of a search committee, the hiring of Spencer Stuart as search consultants, and the solicitation of input from MKA stakeholders. “All leadership changes are crucial, but this

one is especially so given the intense and accelerating complexities facing independent schools,” said Board President Kate Logan, who also chaired the Head of School Search Committee. “Nigel is a deeply empathetic, humble, and thoughtful community builder, and he has dedicated his career to both academic excellence and inclusivity.”

In a letter to the MKA community, Furlonge expressed gratitude for the Board’s decision. He wrote, “MKA is a school and a community that fosters the ethical development, intellectual growth, and personal success of its students.

Such schools are much needed in our world. I am grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with you in the important work of building a better world for our students and for our larger human family.”

Born in Toronto, Nigel is the first child of parents who immigrated to Canada from Trinidad and Tobago. He earned his undergraduate degree in American History at

the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in the same subject from Villanova University. He went on to earn an M.Ed. in Organization and Private School Leadership from Teachers College Columbia University and was a John Klingenstein Fellow. For eight years, Nigel was History Lead Teacher and co-designer for the Diversity Strand in the Klingenstein Center’s Summer Institute.

A history scholar and teacher at heart, he is a growth-minded educator who shares his passion for teaching and learning with his wife, Nicole, who, since 2018 has served as the Director of the prestigious Klingenstein Center in the Teacher’s College at Columbia University. They look forward to moving to Montclair with their three children and becoming a part of the MKA community. Nigel begins his tenure in the summer of 2021.

Nigel Furlonge and his wife Nicole have three children, Logan, Lucas, and Wyatt.

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A creative way to showcase amazing student art and the happy faces on our Primary School campus, “Jumping for Joy in a Pandemic” is a photography project by teachers Anne-Sophie Roure and Jocelyn Fine.

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Dear MKA Families, I’ve had the privilege of working as an Admissions Ambassador, and one of the things that stands out to prospective families is MKA’s sense of community, not just among the students and faculty, but also the parents. As the year began, I worried that, because the health and safety measures that were keeping our children safe in school would keep parents out of school, the sense of connection would disappear. It can be easy to dwell on what we have missed this year, but looking back on PAMKA’s activities, I am amazed by the creativity and generosity of the MKA community. Whether inventing virtual food drives and hat and mitten drives, discussing anti-racism and White Fragility, or catching up with friends and discussing ways to keep our kids connected when the weather turns cold, parent volunteers found ways to foster community even from a distance.

It has been an unusual year filled with change, but the MKA community has risen to the challenge, supporting outside organizations such as the Human Needs Food Pantry, Toni’s Kitchen, and Valley Settlement House as well as supporting each other. The PAMKA Board looks forward to PAMKA being back in person and better than ever in the fall.

Our community faces another big change as we say farewell to our Head of School, Tom Nammack. It is hard to imagine MKA without Mr. Nammack. I am grateful for his unwavering support of PAMKA throughout the years, and I’m sure I speak for us all when I wish him all the best as he embarks on his next adventure.

Best wishes, Janice Jacobson PAMKA President

PAMKA BOARD OF OFFICERS Janice Jacobson President Erica Amsinger Secretary Sabrina Rodgers Finance Vice President Alison Slone Communications Vice President Lauren Kaplan ’93 Community Outreach Vice President Jamie Decter ’93 Volunteer Coordinator Vice President Leigh Conforti Special Event Vice President Margaret Wager Primary School Campus Vice President Becki Hirsh Middle School Campus Vice President Stephanie Salzman Upper School Campus Vice President

THE PAMKA MISSION STATEMENT

“ It can be easy to dwell on what we have missed this year, but looking back on PAMKA’s activities, I am amazed by the creativity and generosity of the MKA community.”

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PAMKA is a parent volunteer organization established to provide opportunities for parents to participate in the support and enhancement of the students’ educational experience at Montclair Kimberley Academy (MKA). PAMKA pursues its mission working in cooperation with the school administration through activities consistent with the policies and goals established by the Board of Trustees at MKA.

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Like all things this year, PAMKA is taking a socially distanced approach to their events and looking forward to a time when we can come together as a community.

A big shout out and thank you to the volunteers for the hours they spent to reimagine and execute these events.

Campus Chats

Campus VPs have fostered a sense of community through PAMKA’s Campus Chats. Margaret Wager, Becki Hirsh, and Stephanie Salzman have hosted multiple chats for parents of their respective campuses and provided sage guidance on everything from keeping kids engaged with school work and limiting distractions when they are remote, to helping our kids stay socially connected in a safe way. In a time when we aren’t able to get together as a community, these virtual gatherings were just what our parents needed.

PAMKA’s Community Engagement team has gone virtual. Lauren Kaplan ’93, Christy Burke, Tricia Garrubbo, and Ami Talkow have all reimagined how to support those in need in our local community.

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Faculty Appreciation

Food Drive The Patty Strain Thanksgiving Food Drive was a virtual event to benefit the Human Needs Food Pantry. The generosity of our community is amazing! Thank you to all students, parents, faculty, and staff who made this year’s Patty Strain Thanksgiving Food Drive a huge success! PAMKA delivered about 2,700 items to the Human Needs Food Pantry of Montclair, New Jersey. Many thanks to ShopRite of Passaic/Clifton for partnering with PAMKA in this important cause.

Thank you to Leigh Conforti and her team: Ginny Laird at the Primary School, Heidi McAndrew at the Middle School, and Deanna Critchley at the Upper School, for showing MKA’s faculty and staff just how much their efforts are appreciated. From goodie bags to gift cards to gratitude videos, this team is pulling out all the stops to celebrate our amazing faculty and staff.

Spring Gala PAMKA’s Spring Gala committee is headed by April Straten and Leena Bansal. Their team is working hard to plan a virtual event you won’t want to miss! Mark your calendars for April 16.

Cougar Pride Day MKA’s Hat and Mitten Drive and Toy Drive were also wildly successful virtual events. Parents were able to

Bring your school spirit to Cougar Pride Day on May 1!

Mimi Cuellar and Lauren Fass are planning a day of fun to celebrate all things MKA.

purchase wish list items through Amazon.com and all items were delivered directly to their respective charity.

Valley Settlement House was incredibly grateful for the hats and mittens MKA families sent them. Toni’s Kitchen made the holidays a little brighter for many of our local families in need thanks to all of the toy donations. Thank you to all of the MKA families who

Parenting Workshops Parenting Workshops Chair Suzanne Weinberg also worked hard with her team of volunteers to support MKA parents by bringing timely content directly to your laptop. Instead of a single day of workshops, Suzanne and her team pivoted to bring multiple virtual discussions throughout the year on topics like racism and mental health.

supported this effort.

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MKA’s In-person Commencement celebration on Van Brunt Field in July 2020

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MONTCLAIR KIMBERLEY ACADEMY 2020-2021 BOARD OF TRUSTEES OFFICERS Kathleen M. Logan President Luke A. Sarsfield III ’91 Vice President Karen T. Gulliver Vice President

Dear MKA Community,

Jeffrey G. Szilagyi Treasurer Evelyn M. Colbert Secretary MEMBER TRUSTEES

As you know, after sixteen years of dedicated service to our school, Tom Nammack is retiring. As Head of School, Tom succeeded by any metric. He more than doubled our endowment, strengthened our curricular and co-curricular programs including the implementation of a multicultural curriculum, and created an environment that fosters a deep and genuine connection between our faculty and our students with a focus on the social and emotional well-being of our students. Tom has encouraged the expansion of the professional growth of our faculty; he expanded our global opportunities; he guided the renovations of Brookside, the Upper School Academic Center, Muenster Field, and the Middle School Dining Hall, to name just a few of his notable achievements.

But what’s more, Tom succeeded in areas that are very hard to quantify.

He led us through the difficult and unforeseen terrain of the pandemic. He demonstrated, through his own kindness and strength of character, what being a member of the MKA community means, kept us focused on providing our students with the best possible education, and gave faculty and staff emotional support and encouragement. Tom lifted our spirits in times of crisis, listened to our concerns in times of change, and helped us feel safe and heard and valued. He was a leader in the true sense of the word: he went before us, as a guide, both in his speeches and in his responses, whatever the circumstance. He gave us a human North Star.

As his friend and colleague for the last thirteen years, I can say with certainty that he has made MKA a better place and that he will be deeply missed. I ask that you take a moment, either by letter or simply the next time you see him, to give him thanks for his service to us.

I am grateful to Tom for the commitment and guidance he has given to the Board, to prior Board Presidents, and to me.

With warmest regards, Kathleen M. Logan, President, Board of Trustees

Merrick G. Andlinger Naveen Ballem ’90 Jennifer A. Barbetta Anya C. Barrett ’89 James L. Bromley Bonnie S. Carter Evelyn M. Colbert Paige L. Cottingham-Streater ’79 Caitlin DiRuggiero ’06 Carolyn N. Everson Clifford B. Finkle IV ’92 Peter J. Fusco ’89 Tracy E. Higgins Janice L. Jacobson Tina A. Jordan Lauren H. Kaplan ’93 Thomas W. Nammack Robert J. Ruberton Stephanie A. Salzman Matthew J. Sherman Margaret A. Wager HONORARY TRUSTEES Aubin Z. Ames ’54 John E. Garippa Alice M. Hirsh Michal V. Johnson Newton B. Schott, Jr. ADVISORY TRUSTEES David A. Crichlow Barry W. Ridings ’70 Robert L. Tortoriello For more information about our Board of Trustees, please visit www.mka.org/about/ board-of-trustees

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An iconic image from Changemaker and DAA recipient Michael Yamashita ’67. The sunset in Yzad, Iran illuminates the 12th century Jame (Friday) Mosque, known for its striking blue Persian tile work.

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Dear Alumni, Greetings Readers of MKA’s Review, I can smell spring on the horizon and with that comes baseball, softball, and lacrosse games, golf, tennis, and most importantly, stepping outside without having to layer three different coats.

Unfortunately (but with everyone’s safety in mind), the decision was made to cancel the 2020 and 2021 in-person Reunion Weekend. However, we will be planning some virtual events on April 29 and April 30, so we hope to see you and your families there! One of the events will be the bestowing of the 2020 and 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award and Young Alumni Award.

This year, we are proud to announce that Stephen Smith has received the Distinguished Alumni Award and Isaiah J. Thompson has received the Young Alumni Award. We could not have done it without your nominations. Thank you! For more information visit: www.mka.org/ alumni/awards.

Our Alumni Council has been keeping busy and working hard over the winter! Thanks to our Engagement Committee, we started “Cougar Convos,” which you can find on our Instagram (@mkaalumni) as well as a vibrant and healthy Alumni database which is aimed at connecting alums and current students (future alums). Whether you need a new job, desire advice, or just want to connect with an old classmate, we are here for you. Feel free to reach out to me or Director of Alumni Engagement Gretchen Berra at gberra@mka.org for more information.

If you are interested in joining our Council, please contact me or fill out our new questionnaire (thank you Nominating Committee!): www. mka.org/alumni/alumni-council/questionnaire. Remember, you do not have to live in the area: we connect via video, so we welcome all, near and far.

Last but not least, the Development Committee has been committed over the winter to reaching out to all of you to support our Community Scholars Program: www.mka.org/supportmka/community-scholars.

There is still time to help fund a Community Scholar’s FULL year of MKA! Email jbaratta@mka.org.

There are so many ways to stay engaged as an MKA alum. Enjoy the spring and be in touch with us!

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Caitlin DiRuggiero ’06 President Stuart Harwood ’07 Executive VP Stephen Bezer ’11 Senior VP Lhenée McKoy ’05 Secretary COUNCIL Racquel Booth ’96 Seth Bynum ’11 Jenna Clancey ’03 Geoffrey Close ’71 Michael DeVita ’11 Frank Godlewski ’76 Cara Landolfi ’05 Angela McCaffrey ’06 Chadd Mukete ’11 Samora Noguera ’02 ADVISORY J. Dean Paolucci ’73 Jaclyn Spedaliere ’00

SAVE THE DATE!

Sincerely, Caitlin DiRuggiero’06 caitlindiruggiero@gmail.com Wednesday, April 14 - A Lecture with Ben Rich, Farm to MKA: How Your Food Choices Impact the Climate.

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CHANGE MAKERS I think the biggest way MKA prepared me for my career was by preparing me for college. When I started college, I was well equipped to handle a rigorous academic load while also balancing being a D1 NCAA athlete.

The school also provided me vast opportunities to experience the world at large such as traveling to Ireland during my senior year with classmates.

I remember that experience vividly and always knew I wanted a job where I could travel or where I could work with a global “product.”

Candice Watkins ’00 Candice is the Vice President of Marketing for Big Loud records. She specializes in Marketing Strategy, Artist Management, Artist Development, Product management, and Touring.

As a highranking Black executive in the lucrative country music industry, Candice Watkins, a longtime Nashville resident with posts at Red Light Management, Borman Entertainment (where she was Keith Urban’s day-to-day manager), and Universal Music Group Nashville on her résumé, was in 2018, named VP of Marketing at Big Loud. It is the first company she has worked with during her 14 years in town where she says she isn’t the only Black person on staff, and it is the first that has asked for her perspective as a Black woman, both before and since the industry’s recent reckoning with racism.

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“Before you can actually act, you have to listen,” says Watkins. Praising Big Loud’s approach, she points to having “a great network of people around me, supportive white colleagues and peers who do ‘get’ that the country music business is not diverse. Period.” As a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force that the Academy of Country Music (ACM) launched in 2019, she’s eager to erase the stereotype that Black people don’t like country music (one she says Black people can sometimes feed into) and to encourage her colleagues to speak out when they witness racist actions. Her own most painful and eye-opening experiences working in country music have stemmed from their silence. “In all the situations that I’ve been in—being called the N-word or “colored,” [hearing] racist questions and comments in front of my peers—no one ever called out the behavior,” she says. “No one has really said it was wrong, apologized, empathized, or even acknowledged it—until now.”

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“ I’ve had a lot of proud moments in my career, from seeing an artist reach #1 on the radio for the first time, or breaking a streaming record at both Apple Music & Spotify, to selling out an arena for a concert where the proceeds were donated to a charity. Ultimately, I’m proud whenever hard work pays off, whenever we execute a campaign that moves our artists’ careers forward.”

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“ I would not be where I am today professionally without my family and teachers. I hope my legacy is giving back to students in the same way my family and teachers have given to me. ”

Adrienne Phillips ’92

In terms of rewards, first, I am constantly asking questions, tackling problems, and solving puzzles. This satisfies my inquisitive side. Second, I get to work and collaborate with experts in a variety of fields which raises my knowledge base and forces me to think creatively. Lastly, for a disease where people generally survive less than one year, research allows me to remain hopeful and advance medical science to improve outcomes. The frustrations and challenges also relate to these rewards. Not asking the right questions or getting the wrong answer has resulted in numerous false starts and unsuccessful attempts to obtain grants; not all collaborations have been collegial; and lastly, many of my patients ultimately pass away, and I get emotionally tied to them and their families. However, the frustrations and challenges always motivate me to strive harder and believe in myself and my ideas.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

Adrienne is a board certified adult hematologist and medical oncologist. She specializes in treating patients with blood cancers who need a stem cell transplantation. Frequently, these patients have not responded to standard therapies, but with a stem cell transplant, they may have the potential of being cured.

Why medicine?

I am a third generation physician and first became interested in the field hearing stories from my grandparents and parents. I then started to shadow my mother in her office and in the hospital and from there, my inquisitive nature took off. Studying the human body, how it can become diseased, and then helping patients get better is fascinating to me.

What is the biggest career failure/challenge you have faced and what did you learn from it?

The biggest career failures/challenges relate to the biggest career rewards.

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One of my proudest accomplishments has been seeing a research project through to completion. I researched a rare blood cancer caused by a virus that’s endemic in the Caribbean called Adult T cell Leukemia/Lymphoma.

I was drawn to this field after treating a number of patients with the disease during my internship almost 20 years ago. Unfortunately, patients with Adult T cell Leukemia/Lymphoma have a dismal prognosis despite aggressive chemotherapy. The “few” patients I treated as an intern turned into one of the largest reports of the disease in the United States, and I was contacted by a pharmaceutical company to test a new and promising treatment. I ended up being the principal investigator of a phase II clinical study of a novel drug that showed promising results in Adult T Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma.

Patients with this disease now have a new FDA approved treatment option that may improve their outcome. Sticking with this clinical research, despite various obstacles and frustrations, has been one of my proudest accomplishments.

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Mike Yamashita ’67 (MKA DAA 1992)

A frequent keynote speaker for corporations and foundations, as well as a lecturer and teacher at schools and workshops around the world, Yamashita has received numerous industry awards including the Lifetime Achievement Award from National Geographic.

Major exhibits of his work have opened throughout the world, and he has published sixteen books (most inspired by his 30+ National Geographic stories).

While not traveling, he lives with his family in rural New Jersey, where he maintains a studio and is an active volunteer fireman.

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How did you first become interested in your profession?

I didn’t have a plan, but I credit The Academy for starting my career. I was able to take a course in Asian History that got me thinking about my roots and where I came from. It inspired me to make that my major in college, and my love for the Far East was born. I moved to Japan after graduation and bought my first camera, and that is when it all started. As I was travelling around, I naturally wanted to take photos to send back to my family and friends. It was then that I fell in love with photography. I left Japan, came back to the States, and was hired by National Geographic to take pictures of my passion, the Far East.

“ It’s About Telling Stories Through Pictures” Photographer Michael Yamashita has been shooting for the National Geographic Magazine for over 40 years, combining his dual passions of photography and travel. After graduating from Wesleyan University with a degree in Asian studies, he spent seven years in Asia, which became his photographic area of specialty. Upon returning to the US, Yamashita began shooting for National Geographic. In addition to Yamashita’s focus on Asia, his work has taken him to six continents. Yamashita’s particular specialty is in retracing the paths of famous travelers.

Geographic at their yearly National Geographic Photo Seminar, where the best of the best in the world come together. The year I won, a key point of discussion at the seminar was the need for minority representation at the magazine. When I was receiving the award, it came out that I have been the only person of color who has been a regular employee there. I was humbled to discover I have been a role model to so many other minority photographers in my field, and yet, I had never realized it.

What is your biggest career failure/challenge you have faced, and what did you learn from it?

The view from Songtsam Lodge in Tacheng overlooks terraced rice paddies. The local farming community of Tibetans, Lisu, and Naxi Minorities have been working this valley for centuries, thanks to its mild climate and fertile soil.

After over 40 years of working for National Geographic, I have the world’s largest body of work on China. Back in the 80s, during the time when China’s most massive growth occurred, I was on the ground there working for the biggest, most well established magazine in the world. I witnessed the history of the Silk Road because I was the only photographer allowed there for years, the only person with access.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

The proudest accomplishment of my life was receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from National

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The most challenging time in my career has been navigating the times of COVID-19. For a person who has travelled six months out of the year for the last 40 years, this is uncharted terrain for me. I’m not missing travel so much; I am a terrible tourist and much prefer to have a project when I’m travelling. That mission is what enables me to do what I do. However, there has been a gold lining to all of this with not being able to travel. In the time that I now have, I have hired four additional employees to help me catalog and archive hundreds of thousands of my photos. I consider myself very fortunate to be able to share these moments with others. Some of these memories, I have not seen myself for 30 to 40 years. I began posting them to my Instagram account, which has now launched this platform into the stratosphere for me. Expect to see another book or two soon.

What advice would you like to share?

My advice to younger alumni as they navigate their careers is to keep going back to your passion and what makes you happy. Passion is what drives you. In the field of photography specifically, only 1% of people have their work seen, and it’s especially hard now that everyone is a photographer with their iPhone. You must have a unique vision, a different way of seeing the world.

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Marc Hauser ’91 Slowly making his way west since leaving MKA, Marc Hauser now lives in Napa, California and is one of the nation’s leading cannabis attorneys for a global law firm. He’s been a corporate lawyer for over 22 years, practicing in firms and as personal deal counsel for 15 years to a Chicago-based multibillionaire, after graduating from Northwestern (both undergrad and law). Three years ago, Marc and his family moved to Napa to change their lives, and Marc remade his legal career by jumping into the state-legal cannabis industry.

When did you first become focused on law? Why cannabis?

I went to law school for the worst reasons possible—I couldn’t think of anything else to do right out of college (really) and listened to my mother. I’ve spent 22 years trying to figure out what I’d do after I didn’t have to be a lawyer anymore. Eventually, I’m going to work in a winery tasting room here in Napa, pouring wine and talking about where to go to dinner, which is what spurred the move to Napa three years ago. I started working at a boutique wine law firm but shifted quickly into cannabis when I saw an opportunity in the state-legal cannabis industry. I’ve since moved to a large, global law firm to make a difference in a brand-new industry, something you don’t get a chance to do very often as a lawyer. Yet, I still plan on pouring wine. Some day.

There have been major changes in the cannabis industry due to recent policy reforms. How have you been supporting this?

The state-legal cannabis industry has snowballed despite the fact that it’s still illegal under federal law. I work with some of the nation’s largest companies, investors, and institutions to navigate what I call the

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“ It still confuses me how a nebbishy, introverted, socially-awkward, anxious, conservative, sarcastic, bookish, risk-averse, unaware kid is now one of the nation’s top weed lawyers, working from home in Napa, thriving on networking, and embracing the open-minded, ironyfree, positive outlook on life of Northern California.” quantum mechanics problem of cannabis: it’s both illegal and highly-regulated at the same time.

What areas of opportunity in the cannabis market excite you the most?

The industry is only heading in one direction, and some day, it will be a fully-legal product nationally and available for safe, responsible adult use, just like alcohol. My MKA class grew up in the “Just Say No” era, which had its merits and flaws. It’s exciting to see the nation finally moving towards a more rational policy when it comes to cannabis.

What is your biggest career failure you have faced, and what did you learn from it?

The biggest career failure I made was going to law school straight out of college (which was more typical way back when). I should have spent more time thinking about what I wanted to do with my life jobwise, trying out different things, seeing what fit.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

In my job, taking the risk of getting out of a law firm early on and working for 15 years as personal deal counsel to a Chicago-based multibillionaire investor. As lawyers, we’re trained to avoid risk at all costs, but taking that step helped put me on a very different path for my career, one that fit better my personality and skills. Personally, I am so proud that my wife and I together are raising a great kid. That, and getting stupidly good at crossword puzzles (my only real skill in life).

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Frank Herrmann ’02 A husband and a dad to three kids (ages 6, 5, and 1), Frank lives in Tampa, Florida during the off season and outside of Tokyo, Japan during the baseball season. He grew up in Rutherford, New Jersey, in his childhood home where his parents still live today. He graduated from MKA in 2002 and continued his studies and baseball career at Harvard University. Currently, Frank is wrapping up his 14th professional baseball season—the last four seasons having pitched in the NPB in Japan. Prior to his time in Japan, he played in the MLB for the Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies.

Were you always active/athletic? What inspired you to play baseball?

I grew up playing a multitude of sports including football, soccer, swimming, track, basketball, baseball, and golf. I firmly believe kids should be exposed to a wide variety of sports at a young age. Both of my grandfathers were big baseball fans when I was a kid, so the game was present in my life from a young age.

What is your biggest career failure/challenge you have faced, and what did you learn from it?

In spring training of 2013, I blew out my elbow and underwent Tommy John surgery. Over the next three seasons I was released from three different MLB organizations. With two toddlers at home, it seemed inevitable, and an easy call to make, that I should retire and put my Harvard degree to use. However, I still felt I had some “more in the tank” and that my two-month showing with the Phillies—my last stint in the MLB—was not indicative of what I was capable of as a pitcher. Learning to trust those instincts and continuing to believe in myself has led to a great four-

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“ There is no secret formula. If playing professionally is really your dream, you have to be willing to work hard and make a lot of sacrifices. You also need a strong support system of people you trust and love. Of course, a dose of good luck here and there won’t hurt either.” year run in Japan that has included countless new and exciting life experiences.

What is your proudest accomplishment on the field?

In 2011, in front of about 40 close friends and family, I struck out Derek Jeter in a 1-2-3 inning on a Sunday afternoon in the Bronx. Both of my Jeter-crazed grandmothers, who passed away in 2019, were in attendance. I’ll never forget how proud (and maybe torn) they were that day watching their grandson strike out a living legend. That moment was a culmination of a lot of hard work that took me from being an undrafted minor leaguer to pitching in Yankee Stadium.

In what ways did MKA prepare you for the path your life has taken?

I often tell people transferring to MKA as a high school sophomore changed the trajectory of my life.

I owe a lot of that to Coach (Ralph) Pacifico and to my parents for guiding me. MKA taught me to become more self-motivated and consistent in my work habits and routines, all skills that I know are key to my success today. As someone who is competitive by nature, when I witnessed my peers studiously working on assignments in the hallway and engaged in the classroom, I knew I had to raise my academic ceiling.

Students around me were heading off to top colleges that weren’t even previously on my radar. MKA opened my eyes to a whole new world and allowed me to dream bigger, believe in myself, and work to attain my goals, no matter how challenging they may appear.

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Pam Holding ’82 Since graduating from college Pam Holding, has pursued a career in asset management, both in the fixed income and equity asset classes. She has been an analyst, a portfolio manager, a people/team manager, and a chief investment officer. Currently, she is the Co-Head of Equity at Fidelity Investments, managing a team of about 350 investment professionals that collectively manage over $1 trillion in equity assets. She is also co-executive sponsor for Fidelity’s largest Employee Resource Group—the Women’s Leadership Group—and Asset Management Lead for its ESG or Sustainable Investment initiative.

What areas of opportunity in the finance industry excite you the most right now?

Most definitely the increased focus on ESG or sustainable investing, across all asset classes.

This is a part of the business that emerged over the past few years as both a moral imperative for our associates and our community, as well as a business imperative for our firm and industry. The COVID-19 crisis has really accelerated investors’ interests in environmental, social, and governance principles and how they are employed in investment portfolios.

You were recently named to Barron’s 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance, and spotlighted as one of the top 100 alumni in finance and Investing from Harvard Business School.

What do you hope your legacy will be?

I hope my legacy will be that anything is possible.

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“ My proudest accomplishment, without hesitation, is that I was able to pursue a career AND have an amazing family. I have a wonderful husband of 27 years and three amazing kids, all of whom were raised by a dual working couple. We all had to make sacrifices and adapt; the kids didn’t get to see me at field trips and in the classroom as much as they wanted, but they are all incredibly proud of the path I have pursued, and am incredibly proud of them.”

For those that knew me in high school, I doubt anyone would have guessed I would have pursued a career in finance—sometimes you just find your passion and interests along the way. I hope to be an example for other women and to show that a career in finance and asset management is achievable without having to completely sacrifice family and other outside interests.

What is your biggest career failure/challenge you have faced and what did you learn from it?

Although it might not have changed where I ended up, I think my biggest failure was not having the confidence early on to pursue new opportunities, especially in organizations that were heavily male dominated.

I backed away from several opportunities because they lacked diversity. In retrospect, I should have had the courage to make change and the confidence in myself to pursue any opportunity.

In what ways did MKA prepare you for the path your life has taken?

I attended MKA from kindergarten through 12th grade!

The education I received, the teachers I had to support me, the athletic teams I played on, and the friends I made along the way all served to help give me the foundation I needed to achieve in college, in business school, at work, and in life.

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Rick Diamond ’91 Rick Diamond heads the Global Financial Technology investment banking practice at Citigroup. He joined Citi in late 2017 after 21 years at JPMorgan. Rick spends his time providing merger and acquisition and capital markets advisory to FinTech companies around the world—from mega caps like Mastercard and Paypal to emerging disruptors like Stripe, Robinhood, and Chime.

Why investment banking? When did you first become focused on technology?

I kind of fell into investment banking. I was a history major and planning to be a lawyer. Unfortunately, I had a minor in foosball and I didn’t get my act together my senior year at WFU to apply to law schools, so I worked as a paralegal out of college in NYC. If you ever want to be a lawyer, don’t be a paralegal! I was talking to a close friend and classmate, Amy Custode ’91, who was an analyst at Chase doing investment banking. She said I should try it, so I sent in my resume, somehow managed to get hired, and I’ve never looked back. I’ve stayed in investment banking because it’s such a dynamic career.

You get to work with incredible people and companies, and every day, there is something new and challenging. I fell into technology almost as I did with banking.

I managed my career more by aligning with mentors than a specific industry. There was a young MD who was building out the FinTech franchise in early 2000 at JPMorgan. It was a big risk at the time, leaving the Telecom group to align with this young banker in an industry that really wasn’t an industry yet. But, we just clicked, and together we built something pretty unique and special.

What area in the tech market excites you the most?

The area of tech that excites me the most is the intersection of the digitization of industries and data and analytics. I am so fortunate that I have a front row seat in the transformation of financial services and the rise in FinTech companies who have completely changed the

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“ Because of technology, the ability to leverage data, and changing consumer demands, there are now thousands of companies disrupting the sector around the world spanning all sizes, revenues, and services. Big is no longer better, and in many cases it is a barrier to innovation.” industry. When I first started covering the sector, it was dominated by a handful of big players who continued to get bigger through acquisition. It was all about scale. Because of technology, the ability to leverage data, and changing consumer demands, there are now thousands of companies disrupting the sector around the world spanning all sizes, revenues, and services.

Big is no longer better, and in many cases it is a barrier to innovation.

Have you seen a change in investment in the tech market with the recent world events moving the globe towards a virtual presence?

Recent events are having a profound impact on the sector. Prior to COVID-19, we were seeing the continued move to digital but at a much slower pace. The recent pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation in many areas of FinTech from years to literally, days.

We are seeing this play out real time in companies such as Paypal, Doordash, Square, and Robinhood. This is a game changing moment in FinTech. It is a time where the large players will need to pivot and innovate much more quickly if they are to sustain their relevance and comparative advantages, and it will be fascinating to watch the sector evolve.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

My proudest accomplishment will always be my daughter Millie and my son Richard. No matter what, nothing will ever be as great as being their Dad. I love being an investment banker, I really do, but they are my life’s work.

In what ways did MKA prepare you for the path your life has taken?

MKA changed my life. I found my voice at MKA because I was encouraged to do so. MKA taught me how to work hard and develop the tools and muscles to succeed in college and in my career. So many special mentors, like Mr. Hemmeter in AP History and coaches Smith, Pacifico and Halm. You don’t realize as a kid how important these caring and talented people are in your life. All I can say is thank you MKA! You hold a special place in this heart.

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W WE A R E M KA

Georgia (top left) and her classmates from the Class of 1954 gather for a Reunion photo.

W E A R E M KA

Walking the Walk and Talking the Talk: Stories of Extraordinary People and Why They Give

Georgia Carrington ’54 The Emerson quotation next to Georgia Carrington’s yearbook photo reads, “Nothing is ever gained without enthusiasm.” It is clear that the enthusiasm for life that she embodied at The Kimberley School in 1954 has not dimmed 67 years later. Georgia has maintained close ties with classmates across the United States and Europe, though she was only at TKS for three years.

Reflecting on those early years, Georgia shared, “The whole school welcomed new students so completely - within a month, everyone made me feel as welcome as if we had been in school together for years.”

Additionally, she was “majorly impressed” with the way in which Montclair Academy, The Kimberley School, and Brookside successfully merged in 1974 and created a vibrant and impactful community for students and families. She thinks this cohesive community was evident when the school sent a holiday video showcasing unity and a sense of fun, not to mention the singing talents of Head of School Tom Nammack, the Heads of Campus, and several students.

Georgia was voted “Best Athlete” by her class, and she was inducted into MKA’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998 for Racquet Sports. An accomplished tennis player and recipient of the Harold Cook Tennis Trophy after winning the school tournament, Georgia also played badminton and squash.

In addition, Georgia participated in field hockey and basketball and enjoyed learning from PE Teachers Miss Stone and Miss Brock. When not on a court or field, Georgia recalls participating in the Fall Frolic and believes the Class of 1954 may have pulled off a win in the student-written, directed, and judged dancing and singing competition at some point. In class and other school productions, music teacher Wallace “Bucky” Coursen’s leadership and sense of humor were much appreciated.

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In the years following her graduation from Hollins University in Virginia, Georgia traveled the world and then served as a creative drama teacher, dorm parent, coach, and administrator at several schools including Garrison Forest, Ethel Walker, Springside, and Westtown Friends. It is clear that the balance of academics and athletics she experienced as a TKS student informed Georgia’s illustrious career.

An active volunteer now, Georgia has spent her time assisting many worthy organizations in the southewestern corner of Connecticut, including the Ridgefield Library, the Danbury Grassroots Academy, and Renewal House, a resource for homeless seniors. Even in the face of restrictions due to the pandemic, Georgia has gone out to stock shelves and distribute food and meals. Her commitment to her community includes MKA, and Georgia is a proud member of the Heritage Society. Choosing to include

MKA in her estate plans will enable future generations of scholars and athletes to find and pursue their own passions.

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WE ARE MKA

India Larrier ’80 “ For any family, watching your children grow and care for and about their families, learn how to interact positively with others, and take their place in the world with integrity and courage is a great achievement.”

Describe your family. What are some things you love to do?

The Larriers are family, church, and neighborhoodoriented. We enjoy getting together with neighbors— socially distanced due to COVID, these days—and with family. Holidays are a great time, often with 15-20 of us around the table laughing and teasing.

We give back to our community: volunteering in town or for advocacy organizations, such as Maplewood’s Senior Advisory Committee, Planning Board, and (at one time) First Aid Squad. For leisure, Kendall ’20 loves riding and spends time at the barn (she has deferred college for one year) and Sydney ’14 loves to design and create outfits.

What drew you to MKA? MKA drew us in even before it was MKA. My mother, Rebecca Hayes, joined the faculty at the Brookside School. My siblings and I attended Brookside until the merger in 1974 when we went to MKA’s Middle School. Later, my aunt, Thelma Habron joined the English Department, and cousins, James Habron ’81, Mary Hayes McDaniel ’82, and Geoffrey Habron ’83, joined us at the Upper School.

Decades later, when Sydney and Kendall were entering high school, they opted to attend MKA for the activities and college-prep opportunities that were available.

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What about MKA means the most to you?

Has that changed over time?

What means the most to me is the education and college preparation we received and the legacy that our family has there. My family has lifelong friends from MKA. One great loss to our family was the death of Mr. Ken Gibson, whom my children came to know more as a family member than Mom’s teacher.

It has been disheartening to see the difficulties in racial relations at the school. While it feels as though this is a low point for MKA, sometimes the best way to overcome persistent struggle is to expose it to the much brighter light of day. The Board’s and Administration’s commitment to improving the school in this area, for the long-term, is encouraging. We look forward to seeing what changes will come moving forward, especially those that come about as a result of the Black

W E A R E M KA

Student Experience Task Force. Many eyes are watching as this important work builds on the school’s legacy.

What is your proudest achievement as a family (at MKA or in general)?

For any family, watching your children grow and care for and about their families, learn how to interact positively with others, and take their place in the world with integrity and courage is a great achievement. By God’s Grace, John and I have had the joy of seeing this growth, as I think our parents did before us. MKA played a big part in this achievement.

How do you work to make an impact at the school?

Over the years I have been involved in the Alumni Council, The Black Alumni Network Initiative, and have participated on occasion in Career Day. I have enjoyed SP RIN G 2 021

the opportunities to interact with the students. Sydney coordinated a Zoom call with the Black alumni to congratulate and welcome the Black students of the Class of 2020, which—even remotely —was uplifting. As a monthly recurring donor, giving every month is an extension of our desire to connect with the school community.

Why do you give back to MKA? We give back to MKA because MKA gave to me and my family. It has been a pleasure to watch the process as Sydney and Kendall grow into strong and discerning young women. MKA, like most schools, is not without its issues, but I was raised to believe that if you want a community to become and stay the place you want it to be, you must give if you can and get involved. This goes for the MKA community as well as our own neighborhood.

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C CL ASS N OT ES

Iconic view of NYC from the Upper School Green Roof.

C L ASS N OT ES

E D I TO R ’S N OT E

The deadline for news for the FALL MKA Review is May 15, and the deadline for the SPRING issue is December 15. News can be submitted at any time in response to the Alumni Office’s annual mailing, on the MKA Fund remittance envelopes, via mail or email to the MKA Alumni Engagement Office (alumni@mka.org) or your class representative. We keep ongoing files for each class and welcome photographs in digital or hard copy. If your class does not have a Class Representative listed, please consider volunteering for the position! It is a great way to re-establish contacts with old friends, does not require a great deal of time, and is essential to the ongoing vitality of the school. Thank you.

1951

/ TKS / Mrs. Gail Marentette, 93 Glen

Avenue, Llewellyn Park, West Orange, NJ 07052

1952

/ TKS / Mrs. Martha Moran, 8011 Strauff Road,

Baltimore, MD 21204, martha.moran1@ verizon.net

1954

/ TKS / Ms. Georgia Carrington, 38 Silver

Spring Lane, Ridgefield, CT 06877

1937 The Alumni Office was

/ TKS /

notified of the passing of Ruth Duff Eager on September 7. 2020. Our sincere condolences go out to her family.

The Alumni Office heard from 1940 the son of , who / TKS /

Josephine Watt Clark

passed away on November 24, 2020. Our sincere condolences to Josephine’s family.

1941

1946

/ TKS / Mrs. Eleanor Ketcham, 4 White

Oak, Elon, NC 27244, ellieketcham8@

/ TKS / Mrs. Enid Hyde, 5402 Duvall

Drive, Bethesda, MD 20816,

Congratulations to 1943 ’s granddaughter whose horse (Country / TKS /

Pamela Davis

House) won the Kentucky Derby in 2019. / TKS / Mrs. Leigh Smith, 847 Franklin

Street, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, lbsmith15@yahoo.com

So good to hear from Cynthia Carswell

Blair who happily recalls her many

Kimberley years. She remains in a fine Sr. facility in Manchester, NH, writing while the corona- virus still kept family reunions difficult.

Residents enjoy videos on history, national parks, animals, and Australia among the subjects.

Life on Martha’s Vineyard has been remarkable in a challenging year. Happily, daughter Pam has managed most aspects of my life,

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gmail.com

We send our sincere condolences 1947 to the family of / TKS /

enidghyde@aol.com

1945

though I can drive the 5-minute route between her house and mine.

JP, son of Alison Driscoll ’70, also lives and works here, and concerts and films and restaurants have all been available. Couldn’t be better off anywhere else!

MKA is sad to hear of the passing of Sarah “Sally” Dubois Moberg on November 14, 2020. Our sincere condolences to her family.

Margaret Soucek

Weissenborn, who passed away on

August 16, 2020.

The Alumni Office was notified that Cynthia Overton Blandy passed away on December 16, 2020. Our deepest condolences go out to her family.

1948

The Alumni Office heard from Secretary, Georgia Carrington, that her classmate, Victoria Wendt West-Peek, passed away on February 17, 2020. Our sincere condolences go out to her family. / MA / Mr. Sheldon Buck, 22 Bedford Court, Bedford, MA 01730, sheldonbuck@me.com

MKA is sorry to hear of the passing of Philip Donlin, Jr. who passed away on July 16, 2020.

MKA sends condolences to his family.

1955

/ MA / Mr. Lawrence Martin, P.O. Box 1058,

Lexington, VA 24450, martinlexington@ centurylink.net

1956

/ TKS / Ms. Susan Ferdinand, 125 Limerick

Lane, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865, facesbyferdinand@gmail.com

/ MA / Mr. Eric Jaeckel, P.O. Box 20153, Boulder, CO 80308, efjaeckel@hotmail. com / Dr. Lawrence Nazarian, 82 Brickstone Circle, Rochester, NY 14620,

/ MA / Mr. John Leonhard, 51 Fromm Court, Mahwah,

NJ 07430, nhandjhleonhard@aolcom

to send condolences 1950 to whose husband of

/ TKS / MKA would like

Peggy Steuart

66 years, Guy Steuart, passed away October 10, 2020. / MA / The Alumni Office learned of the death of Jerome Cronin, who passed away on February 4, 2020.

Our sincere condolences go out to his family.

MA Montclair Academy / TKS The Kimberley School / MKA Montclair Kimberley Academy

LFredN@aol.com

1957

/ TKS / Mrs. Thelma “Tam” Knight,

3001 Linton Boulevard, No. 201C, Delray Beach, FL 33445, tknight115@aol.com

Class Representative Thelma Knight notified the Alumni Office of the passing of Constance “Connie” Hay Van Heuven

on October 21, 2020.

MKA sends sincere condolences to her family.

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1958

/ TKS / Mrs. Diana Little, 1-K Buckingham Road,

West Orange, NJ 07052, dianablittle@ gmail.com / MA / Mr. Henry Agens, 86

Eagle Rock Way, Montclair, NJ 07042, hymelee@earthlink.net

Noted in the fall issue of the MKA Review was the passing of our classmate Walter Adriance Kipp III (Trey) in December 2019. Trey was a private person reluctant to talk about himself. I tried several times. Now, I believe it’s time to present an appropriate remembrance. Dave Black summed it up well by saying of Trey’s passing that “the class of ’58 lost one of the truly ‘good guys.’”

Dave continued: “Quiet and multi-talented, Trey was a clever artist [check out his sketches in the 1958 yearbook] and a good athlete.

He ran track and field in the spring and brought that speed to the football field in the fall as a bruising halfback. The ‘Rutherford Ramrod’ was quick, too – he never lost one of those grueling 40-yard sprints.”

Trey and Dave both entered the University of Vermont after MA graduation. They even joined the same fraternity. “He’s been a great friend for so many years. I mourn his passing, but keep a boatload of great memories. R.I.P., old buddy.”

Trey met his lovely wife Sue at UVM where they earned their undergraduate degrees. Later, he won his juris doctorate from Rutgers Law School and soon became the third generation of Kipps to practice law in Bergen County, New Jersey.

He was also very active in many civic affairs in the county.

In 1972, Trey and his family moved to Rowayton, CT where he passed the CT Bar and maintained law practices in both states.

Susan(Clair) and Trey were married for 56 years. They had two sons: Walter Adriance Kipp (Tim) and Curtis Clair Kipp.

Trey was always an active athlete.

He played hockey in a local ice hockey league. He loved distance running and skiing with his family. An avid competitive sailor, he participated

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in a number of transatlantic and Bermuda races.

We of the MA Class of 1958 remember Trey for his sincerity and wonderful sense of humor. Many of his friends and associates have called him a “Gentle Giant”as he bravely battled his cancer. Trey was the older brother of Harrington Streat Kipp (Tim) and sister Kerwin Kipp Mayers ’60.

Just as I was about to submit the preceding, I received a call from Donna Littlefield Grieves telling of the passing of her husband, our classmate, Peter Grieves on December 14, 2020. His death at home was sudden and unexpected. He was 80 years old. On behalf of our MA ’58 class, we extend our deepest and sincerest condolences to Donna, their two children (Melissa and Peter), two grandchildren (Sydney and Chase), and the rest of the Grieves-Littlefield family.

Time and space do not permit an appropriate recollection now, but one will appear in a subsequent issue of the MKA Review.

Suffice it to say, when I think of Peter Digby Grieves, two words come to mind: “fun” and “likeable.”

When Peter was around, something fun was going on, and he was one of the most likeable people I’ve ever met. Everybody felt that way about Peter.

As usual, dependable Dave Black summed it up succinctly: “Peter was the Class of ’58’s ‘Renaissance Man.’ He was into everything. From three sports to the Glee Club to the newspaper and yearbook to the Dramatic Club and hiding out in the audio-visual room. If MA had it, Peter was in it. His greatest talent, however, was sales. He sold his travel agent mother on booking eight classmates on a Spring Break cruise ship to Nassau and Fort Lauderdale. With a 4 to 1 college girls advantage, the never to be named classmates are forever in Peter’s debt. Our class just lost a really fun guy. R.I.P. my friend.”

On a less solemn note, from the Montclair Academy Sports archive: May 1957—Frank Sachs pitches

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a no-hitter against St. Bernard’s fanning ten obviously overmatched Knights. Final score: 13 to 1!

Until that time, that’s a wrap.

The Alumni Office sends its deepest condolences to the family of Peter Grieves

1959

/ TKS / Ms. Jarvis Reilly Nolan, 15612

Via Marchena, San Diego, CA 92128, jarvisno@aol.com

1961

/ TKS / Mrs. Suzanne Hardy, 47 Bartlett Parkway,

Winthrop, MA 02152, sueshardy@ comcast.net

1962

/ TKS / Mrs. Barbara Creed, 501 Portola Road, #8185,

Portola Valley, CA 94028, bbcreed@ aol.com / MA/ Mr. W. Doug Donald, 189 Sedgefield Circle, Winter Park, FL 32792, D1Donald@aol.com

1965

/ TKS / Ms. Katharine “Kitty” Haines, 201 East

83rd Street, Apt. 15F, New York, NY 10028, khaines22@aol.com

Our classmates all reported the same activities, or lack thereof, during this unusual year of the Covid pandemic. (No travel, lots of Zooms, crafts, yard work, and the thrill of cleaning out closets).

However, Susan DeBevoise Wright shared the most exciting news: “Dartmouth College is creating a $15.5 million academic center honoring former President James Wright and his wife, Susan DeBevoise Wright, that will focus on the use of computers to better understand and advance democratic societies and the rule of law. Susan Wright worked for Dartmouth

Susan DeBevoise Wright ’65

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Robert Livesey ’65 is a brilliant Professor and Director Emeritus in the Knowlton School of Architecture at The Ohio State University. As the principal of Robert Livesey, Architect, he has won numerous design awards and been published in national and international journals. He has recently written a new book that is one for the ages.

Architecture Stuff is about a way of looking at architecture. It examines seven seminal projects and shows how they might have been conceived with or without the design architect’s cognizance. More a working method than a theory, Architecture Stuff deals with questions pertinent to designers as well as to critics of buildings. More Stuff then illustrates how that same method can be used to make architecture.

The seven buildings are chosen for their breadth of styles and approaches to architecture and show that the author’s approach to architecture can be applied to any building. Presented in reverse chronological order, the first project, Grace Farms, is a building by SANAA. Noted for its meandering river form and minimalist detailing, it is seen to be—among other things—a juxtaposition of orthogonal and sinuous forms. The second project is Villa Dall’Ava by Rem Koolhaas/OMA. Located in the suburbs, the house is in one understanding a transition from city to country. The third project is the Neue Staatsgalerie by James Stirling. The analysis shows how the “bad boy” of architecture subverts conventional architectural tropes. Robert Venturi’s Mother’s House is shown to be a compressed stately manor and an architect’s conceit. The Kimbell Art Museum by Louis Kahn can be understood as simple repetitive forms with elaborated elements that organize and produce a diverse collection of spaces. Pierre Chareau’s Maison de Verre is much more than types of transparency and mechanization. One of its major themes is the use of “L” shaped spaces as a way of expanding space. Finally, St George’s Bloomsbury by Nicholas Hawksmoor is a parish church swallowed by a classical temple. The critique exposes how the architect used that idea to juxtapose the ecclesiastical and the civic to develop all of the details in the building.

These buildings share a density of ideas presented, and, as a way of seeing architecture, there are overlapping themes in this collection. For instance, the history of architecture of specific periods is a common theme, as is the disruption of architectural stasis with spaces seemingly expanding or contracting. A dry sense of humor is always appreciated.

More Stuff accounts for the same working method as a way to make architecture.

Here the author illustrates eleven projects across the span of his career. One of the key aspects of Architecture Stuff is that it is unpretentious and accessible, and these projects are meant to illustrate that quality. Architecture can be serious and playful at the same time.

“As an architect and educator, looking at buildings is a mental exercise for me, and I am always thinking about how to make architecture. In both looking and making, I enjoy determining why things are the way that they are. Architecture Stuff contains a broad range of architectural projects that illustrate a way to understand buildings visually. In More Stuff, I use the same working method to make architecture.”—Rob Livesey ’65

for more than 30 years, including directing the Montgomery Fellows Program, running the graduate advising program, and serving as an assistant dean.”

Congratulations Sue and Jim! / MA / The Alumni Office was notified by Joe Hare that the mother of Bobby Ferrara died at the age of 104.

Very active and living in her town

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house in Roseland, NJ until her passing. She is remembered fondly by many in the class of ’65. MKA sends condolences to Joe and his family.

1966

/ TKS / Mrs. Jessie Boyer, 8095 S. Addison

Way, Aurora, CO 80016, boyerjessie@ hotmail.com

MA Montclair Academy / TKS The Kimberley School / MKA Montclair Kimberley Academy

Congratulations to Ardis Cameron ’66 who received a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship in order to complete her third book, Unbuttoning America: A Biography of Peyton Place, which was published in 2015

by Cornell University Press. On a sadder front, her partner of thirty years, Nancy MacKay, passed away shortly thereafter. Ardis wants to thank her friends in the class of ‘66, especially Noel, Chris, Randy, Joan, Kate, Sandy, Jess, Margi, for their support and for putting together a fabulous reunion in Colorado. Ardis is looking forward to the first major snowstorm in Maine. MKA sends its condolences to Ardis.

MKA sends its deepest condolences to the family of Randy Bean who died on September 17, 2020.

Randy Bean was a broadcast journalist and film producer who was passionate about her family, friends, Labradors, politics, sports (NY Giants, NY Mets, and Stanford), music, and culture died of a heart attack on September 17, 2020 in Loveland, CO. After graduating from The Kimberley School in 1966, she studied at Northwestern University and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from George Washington University. Randy went on to become an accomplished broadcast journalist and film producer—and four-time Emmy nominee—at a time when few women were allowed to advance. In her own words, she was often “the only girl on the bus.”

Randy identified the most important part of her TV journalism training [1980] with Bill Moyers’ Journal and codified in a 2010 Daily Beast article what it takes to be the quality mentor Randy found in Moyers: “Moyers’ confidence in me gave me the gumption to back up my creative instincts with decisiveness and certainty, even if that wasn’t always what I felt inside.

News and documentary production requires minute-by-minute

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C L AS S N OT ES

decision-making—flighty ditherers need not apply. So, I’m grateful to Bill that he recognized my potential, then allowed it to blossom over the next season of the Journal. As important, he profoundly advanced my abilities as a writer. He taught all of us on his production staff how to write evocatively for the spoken word. Writing voiceover narration is very different from writing for print publication. The ear hears differently than the eye sees.”

Randy moved to Palo Alto, California as a member of the 1982 class of the prestigious John S. Knight Professional Journalism Fellowships at Stanford University.

Stanford remained her intellectual, spiritual, and professional home.

Her most recent project, American Creed, is an exploration of what it means to be American at a time when the nation is so divided. The feature-length film aired nationally on PBS in 2018 and continues to be a catalyst for community and classroom discussions across the country.

The family requests that gifts in Randy’s memory be donated to the Classics for Kids Foundation, an organization committed to empowering youth through music. For more information, visit https://classicsforkids.org / MA / Mr. A. Craig Cameron, 11 Bay Point Drive, Ormond Beach, FL 32174, ccameron@cameronhodges.com / Mr. Douglas Fitzpatrick, 70 Eastern Vista, Sedona, AZ 86351

Randy Bean ’66

1967

/ MA / Mr. Craig Perry, 25 Mooregate Square,

Atlanta, GA 30327, Craigcperry250@

1968

Kalker, 10 Knolls Road,

Williamstown, MA 01267, heraldicone@ gmail.com / MA / Mr. Geoff Gregg, 6108 Percheron Trail, Summerfield, NC 27358, tartanone@triad.rr.com

1969

/ TKS / Ms. Christine Hannon, 97 North

Street, Northampton, MA 01060, channon@smith.edu

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT The first sports bra was two jock straps, and the two women who invented it went to The Kimberley School. Lisa Lindahl ’67 still isn’t sure why she got kicked out of The Kimberley School in Montclair in the late 1960s, but there’s a good chance that smearing a chocolate cupcake into her friend Polly Palmer Smith’s ’67 face in the hallway, or letting Smith hold her by her ankles out a school window, had something to do with it. “My behavior was not ladylike,” she said. “I didn’t do things by the book.” But her penchant for doing things differently ultimately paid off. In 1977, after joining the jogging craze but finding it painful without a supportive bra, she hit on the idea of sewing two jockstraps together to create the world’s first sports bra. She enlisted the help of Smith, who had become a costume designer (“We have a long history of getting into mischief together,” Lindahl said.), and her assistant Hinda Schreiber Miller.

The trio patented the JockBra, later renamed the JogBra, and it was bought by Playtex in 1990. This spring, the three were honored at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington for their invention which Runner’s World magazine recently called “The greatest invention in running—ever.” The prototype of the invention is in the archives of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

gmail.com

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/ TKS / Ms. Avie Claire

M KA review / Mon tc l ai r K i mb e r l e y Ac ade my

Christine Hannon writes: As I write this column, most of us have been mostly at home since mid-March 2020. Visits with children and grandchildren, national and international travel, holiday gatherings, regular life—all postponed. Here’s what ​has​been happening: Shelley Brightman Walchak​ writes, “Finally retiring in January! Added another grandson in October—#8!

Oldest granddaughter will be 17 in February. Very fortunate. Love living on a river in SW Colorado and looking forward to some travel when we can.”

From Virginia Munson Vassallo in Kentucky: “Since I am pretty much socially isolated on my farm, COVID-19 didn’t change my life drastically. I have learned to FaceTime and Zoom very well but am not so good at WebEx. I have had time to virtually explore options of where I will ultimately move. I have continued to clean out my house and have done many, many jigsaw puzzles and read many, many books.

I have a ‘pod’ of friends.

The highlights of 2020 were a one-week visit in October from my 21-year-old grandson. Fourteen days later, my friend and I made a road trip to Altoona, PA to pick up her new puppy. We figured in the 36 hours we were together, we talked for 29 of them! Fourteen days after getting home from PA, I met my son and his family for vacation in Pigeon Forge, TN, which was wonderful.

Now I am settled in for the winter with the hope that spring will bring an end to this craziness.”

And Susan Schadler reports, “My pre- and post-COVID existences are starkly defined. February 29

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was the day the Biogen conference in Boston was held (that event now credited as the source of the infection of 300,000 worldwide). It was also the day of my second daughter’s wedding at a small inn in the White Mountains. We were blissfully unaware of the threat of the virus in the U.S. as were the 100 guests, who came from all over the country.

While the words coronavirus were uttered, it was strictly in the context of a problem in China. We hugged, we kissed, we skied, we danced, we shared food and wine. And now, we do none of those things.

Still, I am something of a hermit so I probably have had a better COVID life than most people. I regret that school visits to read my picture book Come Walk in the Fynbos with Me have ended, so sales have rather tanked except on Amazon. But, (and in what is one of those Covid behavioral surprises) people seem more interested than ever in economics, so the book, with my husband on macroeconomics is flying off the shelves (Macroeconomics for Professionals: A Guide for Analysts and Those Who Need to Understand Them).

We did some writing for Barons on economic developments and, most fun, an interview in June with one of my favorite podcasts, Planet Money, on inflation and deflation.

Who would ever have guessed?

So the hermit in me is feeling very free to indulge my whimsies around creating a native landscape at my house in Maine. It has been a slough, but it is coming together. I have cemented a relationship with New England’s Native Plant Trust that will certainly go on past the pandemic’s end. If anyone else can be dazzled by the wonders of dozens of varieties of ferns, asters, lobelias, milkweed…with all of the pollinators they attract—well, you have an equally oddball buddy.”

Finally, deepest condolences to Lynn Ehrhardt Gildea on the loss of her beloved husband, Chip, who died in April 2020 from complications of Covid and Alzheimers. They

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enjoyed many happy years together / MA / Dr. Edward A. Griggs Jr., 100 Cedar Street, Apt. B24, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522

1970

/ TKS / Ms. Leslie Bryan, 844 East Morningside

Drive, NE, Atlanta, GA 30324 / MA /

Mr. V. James Castiglia, 3 Lark Lane, Oak Ridge, NJ 07438, vjc@vjamescastiglia. com / Mr. Peter Webb, Mile Slip Farm, 48 Mason Road, Brookline, NH 03033, pwebb@winerbennett.com

Former faculty member and honorary Class of 1970 member Ian David Naismith passed away peacefully on October 3, 2020, at the age of 86, at AdventHealth Hospice Care East Florida in Palm Coast, FL. The youngest of five sons, he was born on September 24, 1934. His parents, Alice (Cannon) and Archibald Naismith were originally from Scotland. They were missionaries at the time in Narsapur, India where he spent part of his younger childhood. Ian was an officer in the Royal Air Force based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Malaya) for three years.

He always had a love of sports whether it was soccer, tennis, field hockey, paddle tennis, skiing, golf… even pole vaulting, receiving two RAF medals! He received a good part of his education in Scotland and graduated from the University of Glasgow and then Jordanhill College of Education where he received a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). He majored in Latin, Greek, and English.

In the third year of his time in the Royal Air Force, a notice was being circulated among the various UK military bases for a position as a professor/teacher of English in the USA at a junior college military school. To Ian’s surprise and delight, he was accepted and flew over to New Mexico, where he would teach at the New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) in 1959, and thus began a whole new lifestyle.

After three years there, he taught briefly in California and then at Montclair Academy (now Montclair Kimberley Academy) in New Jersey.

MA Montclair Academy / TKS The Kimberley School / MKA Montclair Kimberley Academy

He successfully coached soccer and golf, though he would later comment that the golf team members perhaps did not need his guidance, rather the opposite! While teaching, he acted in Community theater all over the country, in Roswell, New Mexico in Bus Stop and The World of Suzie Wong; in Bellport, Long Island in Under the Yum Yum Tree; and in Upper Montclair, New Jersey in Critics Choice. It was at the Academy, where twin brothers, Gregg and Gary Deehan, who were on the golf team, would introduce Ian to their sister, Elaine. Ian and Elaine married in 1968 and recently celebrated 51/2 years of marriage.

They belonged to Bradford Bath and Tennis Club and then Montclair Golf Club in New Jersey. It was at Montclair Golf Club where another fine tradition was born. Ian’s great talent as a performer enabled him to command the attention of a room.

For over thirty years, Ian was asked to propose the “Toast to the Haggis”

by Robert Burns at the Club’s Member-Member dinner. A bagpiper would harmoniously play prior to the speech. Ian then delivered it with such enthusiasm and vigor that the captive audience even believed they were going to eat a rare delicacy! He was also asked to deliver this speech at The St. Andrew’s Society of the State of New York.

After eleven years of teaching, Bernard W. Deehan, Ian’s fatherin-law, persuaded him to go into the investment business. In 1968, Ian started at Goodbody & Co. and was actively involved with a variety of other firms, ending with Sands Brothers. His wife, Elaine, flew for United Airlines as a flight attendant for thirty-six years and four months based out of JFK; therefore, they were able to travel to many parts of the world. Visiting Bermuda each July with his wife’s parents and family members was always an extra special treat.

In September of 2003, Ian and Elaine moved from Essex Fells, NJ, retiring in Ormond Beach, FL, where they enjoyed a more relaxed

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lifestyle. Ian was always a charming host, a wonderful grill master, and a humorous storyteller to family and friends.

Ian D. Naismith was predeceased by his parents, Alice and Archibald Naismith of Carluke, Falkirk, Scotland and his brothers, Dr. James Naismith (spouse, Margaret), of Ontario, Canada, and Dr. William Naismith (spouse, Elizabeth), of Largs, Scotland.

He is survived by his spouse, Elaine D. Naismith, his brothers, Archibald Naismith (spouse, Greta, deceased), of Edinburgh, Scotland, and Edwy Naismith (spouse, Patricia), of Surrey, England.

He is also survived by sister-inlaw, Jill Gilbert (spouse, Jack), of Scottsdale, AZ, brother-in-law, Gregg Deehan (spouse, Peggy), of Upper Montclair, NJ, brother-inlaw, Gary Deehan (spouse, Jody), of Jacksonville, FL, and brother-inlaw, Alan Deehan (spouse, Sally), of Ponte Vedra, FL, and nineteen nieces and nephews. Ian will be greatly missed. A celebration of life is planned at a later date.

1971

Bowles, 39 Orts Road,

outlook.com / MA / Mr. Jeffrey Jones, 77 Monroe Street, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009, coastdaylight98@yahoo.com / Mr. Anthony Vitale, 10 North Wood Avenue, Apt. 601, Linden, NJ 07036, tvod9999@ gmail.com

gregory.lackey@usps.gov

Eric Jaffe, the host of the Deciding Factors podcast and Americas Head of Events at GLG and Head of the GLG Institute, sits down with Jeffrey Kindler, former CEO of Pfizer and chairman of the GLG Institute, to discuss how academia, government, and industry are collaborating to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. Check it out at: https://glg.it/podcasts/ episode-12-jeff-kindler

1974

/ TKS / Ms. Erin Cuffe Crawford, 121 Clarewill

Ave, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043, erincrawford@verizon.net

1975

/ MKA / Mr. Paul Zukerberg, 1790 Lanier

Place NW, Washington, DC 20009, paul. zukerberg@gmail.com

The Alumni Office learned of the passing of William Baker’s mother, Karen Lindholm, on October 12, 2020. Our sincere condolences to William and his family. and 1976 met in Greenwich, CT where they both Malcolm Dixon’15

discovered they were both from Glen Ridge and went to MKA. A small world!

1977

/ MA? / Mr. Robert Hubsmith, 16 Warren

Road, Maplewood, NJ 07040,

1972 writes: I retired in 2014 after almost 25 years working

roberthubsmith24@gmail.com /

/ TKS / Patricia “Robin”

Mr. Andrew Pedersen, 335 Ocean

Silver

Blvd, Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716,

in the SF Bay Area as a Kaiser Permanente radiologist. I now do some volunteer work, play around making pottery and jewelry (more enthusiasm than talent), and travel the world (pre-Covid). Hope to make our 50th reunion (ouch!) in 2022. / TKS / Ms. Susan Read, 38 College Circle,

Staunton, VA 22401 / MA / Mr. Thomas

C. Galligan, 14805 Audubon Lakes Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70810, tgalligan714@

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Hunters Road, Medford Lakes, NJ 08055,

/ MKA / Ray Knox

/ TKS / Ms. Philippa

Hamburg, NJ 07419, john11t24@

1973

gmail.com / Mr. Gregory Lackey, 216

apedersenco@gmail.com Robert Hubsmith writes: “Well, it’s been a strange year for all of us and not just the Class of ’77. The pandemic has shut down most socializing like dining (and drinking) out, attending sporting events, movies, plays, parties, family gatherings and yes, the MKA Homecoming.

Fortunately, it was not a year ending in 2 or 7! I have heard from many of our classmates throughout the year via Zoom, social media, GroupMe, emails, texts, or calls. I thought I’d

MKA review / Mon tc l ai r K i mb e r l e y Ac ade my

Malcolm Dixon ’15 and Ray Knox ’76

give a mention to a few that we have not heard from in a while, just by name, to let you all know that they are out “there” and reachable (I’ll leave that to your devices), in alpha order—Jason Apter, Pat Berry, Chris Brenner, Marco Casta, Barry Centanni, Stacy Cochran, Marty Cohen, Meryl Connelly, Andy Dobbin, Robbin GordonCartier, Rick Jenkins, Michele Mitchell, Andy Pedersen, Brad Protas, Andy Read, Keith Ridings, Bruce Sanders, Ron Spivack, Joe Sullivan, Lauren Waters.

I did hear back from the two classmates that claim they collaborated on the COVID vaccine from opposite coasts, no less—Peter Valentine and Mike Platt. I’m sure their work in the sciences at MKA trained them to be expert immunologists. When not in the lab, Mike also found time to executive produce Grace and Frankie and has two new shows in development. Mike also told me that he recently celebrated his 15th wedding anniversary with his wife, Liz, 10 of those years socially distanced.

Bev Hall is keeping busy on her farm in Wyoming. She has four horses, some beef cattle and a milk cow. She says you can order the milk online at Amoozon.com. When not working the back 40, Bev works in the electrical engineering department at Montana-Dakota Utilities Company.

Joe Ciccolini reports that his son, Anthony, enlisted in the Air Force, finished basic training and now is in advanced training for the space division. Gerald Jones tells me that son Gerald III is a senior at Montclair HS and is an aspiring actor. He has appeared in Blue Bloods, Benji the Dove, and his most recent role in the critically acclaimed Vampires vs. the Bronx. Doug Mahler and wife

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Holly are enjoying retirement in their lovely home in Oceanport, NJ. Son Lukas graduated from Penn State last year and works for the software company, SEMrush.

Brother Derek is finishing up his last year at Penn State majoring in Marketing. Paul Hastaba and wife Lori moved from Brentwood, TN to New Orleans. They have plans to visit eldest son Danny, his wife Nikki, and granddaughter Cammy over the Christmas holidays in Palm Beach Gardens. Youngest son Nick will also make the trek east from Nashville. Steve Cowles and wife, Vicki have two daughters, Emma and Ava, who are attending Tulane and UConn, respectively. I also heard from Mike Werksman who is a fellow die-hard Yankees fan.

Mike says he is enjoying life in SE FLA and looks forward to the next Homecoming. Nancy Dainesi texted me to say that she is working remotely (aren’t we all?) at Disability RMS, a subsidiary of Sun Life as a vocational rehabilitation counselor.

She misses going to see her (our) beloved New York Rangers. Cheryl McMullen chimed in via text to take a jab at the Rangers bogus draft opportunity. Of course, we all know where Peter McMullen’s and Cheryl’s loyalties are as far as hockey teams.

Cheryl also reports that she and Marcy Pope have daughters that are getting married once COVID gets sorted out. I think you heard far too much from me in the last MKA Review, so I’ll just say things are fine with me. Despite the aforementioned challenges, it has been great to hear from many of you. For those of you whom I have not heard from in a while, please feel free to reach out to me via email (see above email address), FB, or LinkedIn. MKA sends sincere condolences to Chris Butler and his family whose father, Robert Clifton Butler, passed away on September 20, 2020.

1978

/ MKA / Ms. Pamela Zeug, 60 W. 57th Street,

#15F, New York, NY 10019, pzeug@

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT A black, female-owned marketing firm has switched gears to help companies and organizations acquire Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to help during the coronavirus pandemic.

Impact Consulting Enterprises announced that it has changed its focus from marketing, website design, and development to temporarily join the PPE network.

President and CEO Cheryl McCants ’82 activated her supply chain to begin helping organizations in New Jersey, where Impact is based.

“When I learned of the many challenges that procurement officers faced in identifying legitimate suppliers for masks, gloves, and other types of PPE, we instinctively jumped in to help,” McCants said in the release. “While we are not doctors, grocery workers, or first responders, Team Impact consists of great researchers and crisis managers. We put our skills to use and shored up a portion of the PPE supply chain for those in need. It only made sense. We did what we could to help others save lives.”

Beginning in March 2020, East Orange, New Jersey-based Impact Consulting began looking for reliable national and international suppliers to help deliver supplies during the coronavirus outbreak. Impact quickly acquired masks, gloves, hand sanitizers, and wipes for hospitals, schools, utility companies, and other organizations in need.

Impact’s effort has led to 50,000 masks going to New Jersey’s University Hospital. Another 12,000 masks were sent to the Eden School for Autistic Children. Ten thousand gloves were sent to Massachusetts’ Veterans Administration Hospital, and nearly 300,000 sanitizing wipes went to utility companies.

Robert Sharbaugh, University Hospital’s acting director of supply chain management, said the PPE it received from Impact Consulting was a huge assist.

“We had an immediate need for additional PPE supplies. Impact’s Newark office is located less than a mile away from University Hospital,” Sharbaugh said in the statement. “So working with Cheryl and her team was an easy, trustworthy, and close-to-home solution for the hospital.”

Impact Consulting is still working to provide PPE for organizations in New Jersey.

As the need for PPE sourcing settles down, McCants wants to resume her team’s focus on marketing.

We send our deepest sympathies to John Butler and his family. John’s father, Robert Clifton Butler, passed away on September 20, 2020.

1979

/ MKA / Dr. John Brink, 1246 Beach Haven

Road, Atlanta, GA 30324 / Mrs. Shawn Ortiz, 2163 Gilbride Road, Martinsville, NJ 08836

1981

1982 Congratulations to on being / MKA /

Pam Ruddick Holding

named one of Barron’s “100 Most Influential Women in US Finance.”

This list showcases the top female minds in finance in 2020!

1983

/ MKA / Mr. Walter J. Davis, 66 Oakwood

Drive, New Providence, NJ 07974,

/ MKA / Mrs. Laura

davisteam@comcast.net / Mrs.

Itzkowitz (Laura Reisch),

Maureen Natkin (J.P.), 5 Riverview

37 Nottingham Road, Manalapan, NJ

Road, Irvington, NY 10533

07726, howardandlaura@optonline.net

The Alumni Office learned of the passing of Kate Baker’s mother, Karen Lindholm, on October 12, 2020. Our sincere condolences to Kate and her family.

downinggroup.com

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MA Montclair Academy / TKS The Kimberley School / MKA Montclair Kimberley Academy

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT A huge congratulations to Kevin Wilkins ’83 who was just named Louisianan of the Year for 2020 for the work that he has been doing as founder of his company trepwise. trepwise is a growth consulting firm based in New Orleans that powers organizations to maximize their potential. This year, more than ever, trepwise has been doing a lot of change management with their clients, helping organizations and leaders across the country manage change - reimagining the familiar; reinventing the traditional; re-envisioning the future.

Kevin states: “We are living in a period where change is choosing us. So much is being thrown at us on a daily basis that we are forced to change both what we are doing and how we are doing it. In most other years, we often are choosing the change that we want. During this time of constant change, let us not forget that we still have the power to choose the change we want in our lives. So I ask people to reflect: What change is choosing me versus what change am I choosing?”

IN MEMORIAM We were saddened to learn of the death of former MKA Boys’ Lacrosse Coach Doug Alsofrom (1950–2020) who passed away suddenly on August 9, 2020.

Coach Alsofrom (kneeling in pic with the 1986 squad) led the MKA Boys Lacrosse Team to 4 NJ Prep Titles and 2 Garden State Division Titles in the 1980’s. Current MKA Boys’ Lacrosse Assistant Coach Sabino Rodano ’87, who played for Coach Alsofrom, said, “Coach Alsofrom was a great teacher of the game we all love.

But he taught us so much more than a game. He taught us invaluable life lessons that we have used long after our playing days were over. He is the reason many of us have coached lacrosse and still coach today.” Our heartfelt condolences go out to the Alsofrom family.

1984

/ MKA / Mrs. Jennifer Jones Ladda, 17

Belleclaire Place, Verona, NJ 07044, jjonesladda@gmail.com

1986

1987

2009 Morris Drive, Cherry

Hill, NJ 08003, llessig@brownconnery. com / Mr. Josh Raymond, 33 Oak Place, North Caldwell, NJ 07006, jraymond@ msbnj.com

Congratulations to Bram Zeigler and his wife Katie on their self-published book COVIDinners: Adventures in Quarantine Dining, a hilarious and heartfelt collection of daily quarantine dinner menus which is now available on Amazon. When the shelter-inplace order was announced, author and mom Katie M Zeigler found herself desperate for something to keep her family laughing. So, on her kitchen whiteboard, Zeigler began creating daily menus that quickly garnered the attention of family and friends! Zeigler’s creations will keep you laughing and well-fed, bringing some humor and comfort to people during this difficult time.

Congratulations to Lana Kang on being named one of the Castle Connolly Top Doctors recognized as Exceptional Women in Medicine 2020 in the December New York Magazine.

1991

/ MKA / Ms. Dara Marmon, 330 E. 39th, Apt. 21D, New

York, NY 10016, daramarmon@gmail. com / Mr. Luke Sarsfield, 105 Franklin Street, Apt. 4, New York, NY 10013, luke. sarsfield@gs.com

1992

/ MKA / Dr. Enrique Neblett, 718 Ainsley

/ MKA / Mr. Dennis

neblett@gmail.com

Rodano, 3 Byron Road,

Congratulations to

North Caldwell, NJ 07006, rodanod@

Enrique W. Neblett

verizon.net / Ms. Lynne Yellin, 413

Jr., PhD on his re-

lynneGY@aol.com

Remington-Knodel, 44

Hamilton Drive East, North Caldwell, NJ 07006, jenremknodel@aol.com

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/ MKA / Mr. Louis Lessig,

Court, Durham, NC 27713, enrique.

Ridgecrest Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, / MKA / Ms. Jennifer

1989

MKA review / Mon tc l ai r K i mb e r l e y Ac ade my

cently published article “Infusing Public Health with Psychology to Dismantle Racism.” The piece is a faculty profile about Enrique,

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Join me in congratulating the extraordinary Rashida MacMurray-Abdullah ’91 who was just appointed as Wiley’s first Chief Diversity Officer! As protests against racial injustice gained strength nationally this summer, Am Law 200 firm Wiley Rein sought to take a step many of its peers have done in recent years: adding a diversity-focused professional to its leadership team. Washington, DC-based Wiley Rein has created a new chief diversity officer position, bringing on former Deloitte consultant Rashida MacMurray-Abdullah. MacMurray-Abdullah, an attorney who spent more than 12 years at Deloitte as a consultant to law firms and general counsel, said 2020 was an awakening of sorts for her, fueling her desire to further diversity and inclusion efforts in the legal profession. “I started to ask questions about what was missing in diversity and inclusion efforts in the legal industry,” she said in an interview. “My friends, who are now partners, showed me that the diversity numbers hadn’t really changed since I was a summer associate. I was surprised by that.” MacMurray-Abdullah felt that the best way to further progress in the industry was to actively seek out a law firm that was serious about making the necessary changes. Wiley fit the bill. “From the conversations I had [with Wiley leadership], it was clear they didn’t just start thinking about this.” she said. “I know they are thrilled to have this role and are excited about it across the firm.”

MacMurray-Abdullah will have the ear of managing partner Peter Shields, she said. And she plans to start her tenure at the firm with a “listening tour” to learn exactly what is working around D&I efforts and where improvements are needed. “I believe in listening to what the attorneys and staff are saying,” she said. “We won’t be tied to existing programs and will take the time to understand where growth needs to happen.” MacMurray-Abdullah said nationwide protests, which peaked over the summer but are certainly not out of mind, provide a unique opportunity for all organizations to take steps in their D&I efforts that may not have gained traction only a few years ago. “As a country and as a people, we are seeing a different side of people,” she said. “There is a sense of urgency now—2020 has become a year of vision.” She said the efforts around D&I will not just be for attorneys, either, and that listening to and acting on behalf of business professionals within the firm is part of her plan. Wiley is somewhat late to the game in creating a diversity-focused role in the C-suite, compared with some of its peer firms. MacMurray-Abdullah said the entire C-suite in the legal business is still evolving. “It isn’t a matter of being late,” she said. “But rather a continuing evolution [of] the conversation around diversity and inclusion.” “Rashida is an extraordinary communicator with the ability to lead, engage key stakeholders, and empower diverse teams during challenging times, and we are excited to have her join us,” Anna Gomez, partner in the telecom, media, and technology practice and chair of the firm’s diversity, equity, and inclusion committee, said in a statement. Wiley was one of more than 200 law firms that signed on to the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance in early July. The firm said in its press release that the events of the summer were foundational to creating the position MacMurray-Abdullah now occupies. “It is our core belief that diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts must begin with mutual respect and an understanding that our differences make us stronger,” Shields said in a statement. “Now, at this pivotal moment in history, we are reaffirming our long-term commitment and dedicating additional resources to this mission.”

Professor of Health Behavior and Health Education at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, Associate Faculty lead for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Associate Director of the Detroit

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Community-Academic Urban Research Center. In particular, Neblett looks at how racism-related stress influences the mental and physical health of young Black Americans.

MA Montclair Academy / TKS The Kimberley School / MKA Montclair Kimberley Academy

MKA sends sincere condolences to Vejay Lalla and his family. Vejay’s father passed away on November 7, 2020.

1994

/ MKA / Mr. Jason Awerdick, 23 Greenbrook

Drive, Bloomfield, NJ 07003, jasonawerdick@gmail.com

1996

/ MKA / Ms. Tanya Barnes Barnes.tanya@gmail.com

/ Ms. Erica Hirsch, 10 West 15th Street, #710, New York, NY 10011, ehirsch77@ yahoo.com / MKA / Mr. Lee Vartan,

3 Swayze Lane, Chester, NJ 07930, ldvartan@yahoo.com

Congratulations to the incredible Jessica Bruder ’96 whose book, Nomadland, became a movie and was released in 2020! Starring Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, and Linda May, the movie chronicles a woman in her sixties who, after losing everything in the Great Recession, embarks on a journey through the American West, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad.

Jessica is a Journalism Professor at Columbia University, and her work can also be found in WIRED, the New York Times, and New York Magazine.

Twenty-five years ago, you could see MKA ice hockey team members Sean Duffy ’97, Alex Voinov, and Tim Fox (of Montclair Immaculate) glowering and growling along the boards of that winter’s Van Cott Cup game. The scoreboard showed a 2-2 tie. Overtime loomed ahead, but the MKA icemen decided to prove that they could play when it counted. The 3-2 victory over Hudson Catholic capped the impressive 17-5-3 season in the championship round of the Van Cott Cup. Led by tri-captains Carlton Pote’96, Tim Fox, and Alex Voinov, the hockey team amassed a collection of impressive wins. The 6-3 win over Seton Hall Prep early in the season had everyone guessing whether this was the

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT John Saroff ’94 is the CEO of Chartbeat, a leading content analytics software for the media industry with clients including the New York Times, CNN, ESPN, and the BBC. Journalists and editors at those and over 600 other clients use Chartbeat to see how their content is performing in real-time on their sites and apps. On election night, newsrooms all across the world used Chartbeat to see how many people were reading stories and watching videos about the election and using their software to find the best headlines, images, and social posts to go with those stories.

John has always been interested in both media and technology. He was the Sports Editor and then the Editor-In-Chief of the Academy News and has been interested in tech from his first exposure to “computers” at Brookside. Without dating him too much, John used PETs and Commodore 64s at Brookside. They were “so cool” to his young eyes (even though they took cassettes), and he’s never lost that fascination with technology and what it can do.

When asked in what other ways MKA helped to prepare him for his future, John said, “Beyond anything else, my Brookside and Middle School teachers taught me how to read and write. That’s the biggest gift I got from MKA. When I worked with my step-daughter on her college applications last week, I was channeling their lessons even today. Beyond that, specific moments stick in my mind. Boyd Herforth’s math class taught me that there wasn’t just one way to solve a problem. John Noble used the occasion of me failing a vocabulary test to teach me how to study and prepare. Nixon Bicknell taught me that I could actually sing. I use all of those lessons today, even when my 5-year- old doesn’t want to hear me singing her favorite songs.”

After graduate school (John received a JD/ MBA from Columbia), he went straight into a high pressure law firm because he thought it was “the next thing to do.” It wasn’t, and it took a lot of courage to admit that to himself, step away, and figure out what he really wanted to do with his life. “I think a lot of young people from places like MKA and its peer institutions can fall into just doing one thing after another, and I have found it is important to pause and say ‘what do I really want out of life’ and how can I use the gifts and opportunities that I am so lucky to have, to make that happen,” John says.

During a time when it has never been more important for companies to optimize the content they are creating, John says, “Our vision is ‘to make meaningful stories thrive,’ namely to make sure that the best and highest quality content is consumed by the most amount of people around the globe. In today’s polarized media ecosystem, we are far away from realizing that vision, but if we can be successful, it would be a wonderful legacy for our company to leave on the world. One of our values at Chartbeat is to ‘Be Human,’ and we recognize that everyone is a full person and that they are at their best at work when they are allowed to be that full person.

We work extraordinarily hard, but we make sure to prioritize ‘getting stuff done’ and not ‘facetime,’ so that people can take good care of themselves and be there for friends and family when they need it.”

These days, John is most proud of being an active and involved dad and stepdad, being a good partner to his wife, and creating a workplace where his team can do the same. He has a 17-year-old stepdaughter, a 14-year-old stepson, and 5-year-old and 2-year-old daughters. Spending time with them and his wife is really the best part of his life.

team that could repeat the performance of the 1992 season. It was and they did. The 1995-1996 season led to a number seven ranking in

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The Star Ledger top twenty. Allstate honoree Sean Duffy led the attack, while Carlton Pote tended the cage. Jake McKee, Dave Steinfeld,

MKA review / Mon tc l ai r K i mb e r l e y Ac ade my

Above: (left to right) Top: Mr. Reydel, Alfred Bequillard, Matt Bucciero, Alex Voinov, Sean Duffy, Adam Wartski, Dave Steinfeld. Middle: Ben Berkowitz, Gary Murphy, Tyler DiNapoli, John Mendes, Scott DeRosa, Jake McKee. Bottom: Beth Noell, Vivien Hudig, Jen Perrone, Kyle Torjussen, Carlton Pote

and Adam Wartski also became vital parts of the team. Unity and spirit pulled the team through when emotions got hot, and culminated in an impressive finale-sweeping the first playoff victory in three years.

1998

/ MKA / Ms. Gemma Giantomasi, 80 Avon

Drive, Essex Fells, NJ 07021, gemma. diaco@gmail.com

1999

/ MKA / Mr. Alexander Holz, 217 East 10th St,

Apt 18, New York, NY 10003, alexbhlz@ gmail.com / Ms. Sandra Tritt, sandratritt@gmail.com

Congratulations to Phil Mazo who created, wrote, and directed a hilarious short film “I’m Phil,” a comedy about a man who finds love while in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Congratulations to Igor Alves on his amazing DreamPlay TV video that he produced featuring the making of the Black Lives Matter murals in Newark, NJ called “Murals For Justice.” Head to YouTube to see the video.

The Strategy Room founded by the incredibly talented Ben Aronson, was in session with the amazing Jack

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Still from Igor Alves ’99 video “Murals for Justice”

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Strategy Room

Besser ’16. Jack is the social media mind behind Cori Bush’s historic election campaign. Cori is the first ever BLM activist to be elected to Congress, and Jack spoke about how he helped to shape her social media strategy.

The Strategy Room is an empowering, weekly forum and mentorship program open to all of Ben’s BIPOC + LBGTQ connections looking to get into creative or strategy.

2000

/ MKA / Ms. Anna Cook, 5 Highview Court,

Wayne, NJ 07470, anna_labowsky @ yahoo.com / Mr. John Garippa, 2741

NE 58th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308, oceanhut@aol.com / Mrs. Jaclyn Spedaliere, 60 E. Oak Street, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, jaclynspedaliere@ gmail.com

Congratulations to Courtney Knowlton on her article “Mom Talk: When The Treadmill Stopped, So Did My Son’s Anxiety” that was featured in Mother Magazine. In her essay, the New York City-based writer and mother of three discusses how her oldest son’s separation anxiety all but disappeared after lockdown.

In an excerpt from her excellent piece, Courtney writes: “In therapy, J named his alter ego. Mr. Worry Brain. He learned that Mr. Worry Brain acted in a way that J himself

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Rebecca Leffler ’00 is a writer and journalist who, after a career as the France correspondent for The Hollywood Reporter, has traded the red carpets of Paris for the green streets of New York where she hosts events and offers branded entertainment services for wellness brands. She is also the woman who inspired Netflix’s Emily in Paris! In January, Rebecca joined Lola Rykiel, founder of the fashion brand Pompom Paris, in a conversation about Emily’s extravagant fashion choices and whether they were cliché or the reality of the Paris Fashion scene.

wouldn’t, and he discussed strategies for keeping him under control.

Calming breathing and mantras and asking himself how he’d feel if his friends saw his tantrums. My husband and I learned how to properly acknowledge good behavior.

We were told to pick our battles, to give him more agency in his life and more alone time with us. Things got marginally better. But we were stretched so thin; we never quite finished the assigned readings about childhood anxiety. We didn’t add a jellybean to the jar every time J let me do an errand without hysteria...

In March, Mr. Worry Brain activated in people everywhere. The world stopped and so did that treadmill our family had been running on for the previous seven years. We moved into my parents’ house outside the city, and we stayed home together.

Instead of exposure to separation, J got exposure to me. All day, every day. For six months, we were never

MA Montclair Academy / TKS The Kimberley School / MKA Montclair Kimberley Academy

late. Never schlepping. Never apart.

Plus, my husband and I had so much stress navigating our jobs and the kids’ schooling and our future plans and sterilizing the groceries that we didn’t pick as many battles as we once had. As we got deeper and deeper into quarantine, J blossomed. I first realized it in June when I’d left for a run three days in a row without him barricading the door as he used to. Mr. Worry Brain had gone dormant.”

We’re excited to welcome Rachel Weary as the Assistant Middle School Nurse and Covid Compliance Coordinator. Rachel’s goal in this new position is to work with all employees and students toward a healthier, brighter, and more hopeful 2021.

Courtney Knowlton ’00

Rachel Weary ’00

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C L AS S N OT ES

2001

/ MKA / Ms. Dana Pisacane, 555 42nd

Avenue,San Francisco, CA 94121,dana. piscane@gmail.com

Sunny Wang ’01, the extremely talented, actor, athlete, founder of lifestyle brand The Empire, and much more, is featured with his beautiful wife, Dizzy, on the cover of #legend Magazine in The Treasure Issue. Check out the August issue and hear from them on parenthood, personal space, and shifting priorities.

2002

/ MKA / Miss Emily Santangelo, 27

Woods Road, Little Falls, NJ 07424,

IN MEMORIAM It is with deep sadness that we inform you of the sudden passing of longtime MKA Varsity Assistant Boys’ Lacrosse Coach, Ernie Mosca. Coach Mosca had been part of Coach Paul Edward’s coaching staff since 2005 and had a profound impact on the MKA Boys Lacrosse program. He was named the US Lacrosse “Person of the Year” in 2019. Coach Mosca was a true ambassador of the game he loved and was a wonderful role model, mentor, and friend to all who knew him. He was also MKA’s #1 sports fan as he would often come to all of the boys’ and girls’ games in all of our sports throughout the year.

Coach Edwards states, “Ernie had two families that he loved dearly...the Mosca family and the MKA Lacrosse family. Over his time with our program, he was so much more than a lacrosse coach to our players. He cared deeply about each and every player and helped them become better men as well as athletes.

His example to us each day about how to commit to one another and be accountable are lessons we’ll never forget.” As one of his former players texted, “We’re all blessed we got a slice of Mosca. He could bring a smile to your face on the rainiest of days.”

Rest in peace Coach Mosca...you will be missed by many, near and far.

emilyannesantangelo@gmail.com / Mrs. Melissa Fortunato Slomienski, 58 Oldchester Road, Essex Fells, NJ 07021,

Mountain Dew, on launching the incredible “Real Change” initiative.

This important strategy will help bring resources, programming, and funding to HBCUs in an effort to strengthen the pipeline of Black entrepreneurs.

slomienski@icloud.com

2003

/ MKA / Ms. Judith Ferreira, 819 Clifton

Avenue, Newark, NJ 07104, jferreir@ pratt.edu / Mrs. Melanie Bieber, 462 Vance Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ 07481, mel. braverman@gmail.com

2004

/ MKA / Brendan McCaffrey, 235 West

Cara Landolfi McNally’s ’05 son Connor Joseph.

/ MKA / Mr. Edmund Kozak, e.g.kozak@gmail.

com / Mr. Manav Lalwani, 132 Blue Heron

102nd Street, Apt. 10i, New York, NY

Drive, Riverside Court, Secaucus, NJ

10025, brendan.a.mccaffrey@gmail.com

07094, 201-617-5312, manav.lalwani@

/ Ms. Katherine Santoro, 333 River Street,

gmail.com

Apt. 539, Hoboken, NJ 07030, kate.

Congratulations to Cara Landolfi McNally and her husband, Walt, on the birth of their son Connor Joseph McNally.

Congratulations to Chisako Sugiyama-Murray and her husband, Kyle, on the birth of their son Taylor Lee Murray, born November 12, 2020.

santoro@gmail.com

Congratulations to alumnus Brandon Jones on successfully defending his dissertation on “Counseling while Black: A critical inquiry exploring the experiences of Black master’s level counselors in non-academic, predominantly white mental health settings.” Brandon received a BA in Psychology from Amherst College in 2008 and went on to obtain his MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lesley University.

He is now officially a doctor with a PhD in Counseling and Psychology.

He has a private practice called Jones Counseling Consultation, and he teaches at Regis College

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2005

Chisako Sugiyama-Murray ’s ’05 son Taylor Lee.

as an Assistant Professor/Field Placement Coordinator in Graduate Counseling Programs. We wish him the best of luck as he continues his extraordinary career!

Congratulations to Ashley N. Booker, who leads NBA Partnership and Music and Cultural Engagement Strategies for

M KA review / Mon tc l ai r K i mb e r l e y Ac ade my

2006

/ MKA / Ms. Natalie Azzoli, 8 Spruce

Street, Apt. 50H, New York, NY 10038, nat6888@gmail.com / Ms. Angela McCaffrey, 229 Crescenzi Court, West Orange, NJ 07052, angelamccaffrey@ gmail.com

Congratulations to Sean Gaffney and his wife Caroline Richardson Gaffney ’07 on their newest Cougar Cub, Jack!

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Caroline Richardson Gaffney ’07 and Sean Gaffney’s ’06 son Jack.

Congratulations to Katie Gelnaw

Patton on the birth of her baby boy,

Hurley.

2007

/ MKA / Mr. Brian May, bmay88@gmail.

com / Mr. Harry Raymond, raymond. harry@gmail.com / Mr. Stuart Harwood,

stuartmharwood@gmail.com

Congratulations to Caroline Richardson Gaffney and her husband Sean Gaffney ’06 on their newest Cougar Cub, Jack!

Congratulations to Derek Phillips who got engaged to Allie Goodchild (Glen Ridge High School ’07) in October 2020. A small COVID-safe wedding is being planned for the spring of 2021.

2008

/ MKA / Mr. Matthew Metzger, 235 Elizabeth

Street, Apt #1B, New York, NY 10012, metzgermd@gmail.com

Congratulations to Joe Correia and John Dantzler on the opening of Manhattan’s first brewery, Torch and Crown, in October! Growing up in the NYC area, Joe and John didn’t always want to open a brewery. But one night at age 16, fate struck: both tragically had their fake IDs confiscated at a bar in the East Village. Left with no way to buy beer, the two decided they’d make it. The first batch started with a Mr. Beer homebrew kit, two guys who hadn’t quite read the instructions, and John’s mom coming home to find that kit exploding all over her kitchen. They were both grounded for a month, but their resolve was undeterred, and the two kept at it.

By the time high school graduation rolled around, the two were winning

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Joe Correia ’08 and John Dantzler’s ’08 brewery, Torch and Crown Brewing Company.

Leah Cerf ’09 and her family retreat center, The Uplands, located 2.5 hours outside NYC.

some modest homebrew awards (which they had to send their dads to accept), and a passion had fully been born. On a trip to Ireland, Joe and John formally decided (over a toast of a pint of Guinness) that one day, they’d open their own brewery centered around their love of three things: great beer, ambitious creations, and the amazing city of New York. Fully aware that neither knew what the hell they were doing, they decided to divide and conquer. Joe studied chemistry and headed into the brewing world, and John entered finance in the hopes of figuring out that whole business side of things. After 10 years, thousands of trial batches, and a few more boilovers, John and Joe have reunited to create Torch & Crown Brewing Company.

others, by offering restorative and growth-promoting experiences (groups hosted include first responders, health care practitioners, educators, and social service providers). The Center offers meeting spaces for team-building, sharing, and innovation as well as spa amenities (massage, pool, sauna, hot-tub), yoga, meditation, and creative arts studios, all amid the peaceful serenity of a natural setting of extraordinary beauty. They work closely with you to co-create intimate multi-day retreats to achieve your group’s goals. www.uplandscenter.org

2009

2010

/ MKA / Ms. Devon Barrett, 109 Llewellyn

Road, Montclair, NJ 07042, dlb792@ aim.com / Mr. Matthew Palmisano, 2812 39th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007, matt.r.palmisano@gmail.com

/ MKA / Mr. Brian Purcell, 63 Wall Street, Apt 1509,

New York, NY 10005, bnpurcell14@ gmail.com / Ms. Jane Stanton, 240 South

2011

/ MKA / Mr. Seth Bynum, 23-43 35th Street, Long

Island City, NY 11105, seth.bynum1@

Mountain Avenue, Montclair, NJ 07042,

gmail.com / Ms. Carina Wong, 9 Deer

janestanton18@gmail.com

Trail Road, North Caldwell, NJ 07006,

Leah Cerf ’09 and her family have founded The Uplands, a Retreat Center located 2.5 hours outside NYC on 290 acres of tranquil farm and woodlands in the sweeping hills of the western Catskills. The Center offers a venue to meet, reflect, and grow for individuals and groups who share a common mission to care for others or facilitate change in the world. Its twin missions are (1) to empower changemakers by providing a dynamic setting for innovative program design, co-creation, and brainstorming, and (2) to revitalize those who serve

MA Montclair Academy / TKS The Kimberley School / MKA Montclair Kimberley Academy

carinamwong@gmail.com

The Heidelberg University women’s lacrosse team has its new leader!

Congratulations to Becky Smith on being named WLAX Head Coach.

We wish you the best of luck in your new role! To see the article go to: tinyurl.com/BeckySmith11.

Becky Smith ’11

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C L AS S N OT ES

2012

/ MKA / Ms. Casey Holden, 573 Farmdale

Road, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417, casey. musicant@gmail.com / Mr. Ed Rosini, 32 Edgemont Road, Montclair, NJ 07042, erosini32@gmail.com

Congratulations to Krishna Gall on starting a new position as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Columbia University in the City of New York.

Even though she can’t take the stage right now, Nadia Brown continues to shine! Nadia was on NBC’s One Night Only: The Best of Broadway to raise awareness for Broadway Cares which fights AIDS and unites theatre artists across the country to give back and help those in need!

2013

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Mark Phillips ’13 is engaged to Julia Heymann.

/ MKA / Ms. Elizabeth “Lizzie” Amato,

Liz.J.amato@gmail.com / Mr. Edward

Bozik, bozik@me.com

Congratulations to Mark Phillips on his engagement to Julia Heymann in October 2020. Mark and Julia met as juniors at the University of Vermont. Planning for a 2022 wedding is underway.

2014

Déja Lighty ’14 modeling for Jones Road Beauty by justBOBBI on The Wendy Williams Show

/ MKA / Ms. Kassandra Fotiadis, kassandra.

fotiadis@gmail.com

Congratulations to Déja Lighty who signed to Elite Model Management, New York City. She appeared on The Wendy Williams Show in December, modeling for Jones Road Beauty by justBOBBI.

2015

/ MKA / Ms. Korinne “Kori”

Celeste Fields ’15

Durando, koridurando@

jazz legend Buddy Montgomery!

Isaiah started music lessons at age 5. Afer MKA, he enrolled in The Juilliard School. This past May, Thompson graduated with a Master’s Degree in Jazz. He has played worldwide with several jazz notables and has appeared on Jazz At Lincoln Center’s celebration of jazz pianists with the release of A Handful of Keys.

He also appeared in the film and on the soundtrack for

gmail.com

Congratulations to Celeste Fields who has officially started her career as an Associate Product Marketing Manager (APMM) at Google! Celeste says, “I’m excited to take the intern hat off and return to this amazing company. I look forward to building new connections and growing throughout this journey!”

Isaiah J. Thompson released his debut CD celebrating the music of

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M KA review / Mon tc l ai r K i mb e r l e y Ac ade my

Ronny Bhatia ’19 (University of Pennsylvania Class of ’23) and Charlie Koenig ’20 (Tufts University Class of ’25) spent this past summer as two managers of the CommonHealth Project.

Founded with the mission to aid frontline health care workers, the CommonHealth Project seeked to use the goodwill of the community at large in order to produce reusable face shields to be donated to healthcare facilities.

Ronny was the logistics and distribution manager for Essex and Passaic counties while Charlie was the logistics and distribution manager for Bergen county. They joined this project with the desire to be able to help the fight against coronavirus in any way they could and hope they were able to make a positive impact for this cause.

Overall, the CommonHealth project emerged a success, with over 10,000 shields constructed by more than 200 volunteers. Some of the volunteers were MKA alumni as well: Casey Szilagyi ’19, Nicoleta Krenteras ’19, Matt Petrocelli ’18, and Jassi Martin ’19. They were able to donate to various facilities throughout NJ, including Clara Maass, the Valley Hospital, St. Joseph’s, Boys and Girls Club of Paterson, as well as MKA.

Motherless Brooklyn, released in 2019. His upcoming CD, Isaiah J. Thompson Plays the Music of Buddy Montgomery dropped on Sept. 18 and is available on Amazon and iTunes.

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IN MEMORIAM

Alex Eiden ’17

2016

/ MKA / Ms. Zoe Bieler, zoe.bieler@gmail.com

/ Mr. Charles Rilli, crilli33@gmail.com / Lily Andres, lily.andres@gmail.com

2017

/ MKA / Ms. Jenna Donatiello, jdonatiello12@

aol.com / Mr. Matthew ‘Matt’ Rubenstein, mattrubenstein98@gmail.com Alex Eiden (currently attending

Villanova University majoring in International Business, Computer Science, and Japanese) and his brother Nico ’20, co-founded the ALDAS Youth First Initiative in 2015 in an effort to help level the playing field for academic advancement for children in Caribbean schools. The program started with Alex and Nico donating 50 iPads from MKA. Since then, they have distributed more than 14,000 devices to schools across the Caribbean with embracers of the program now including Apple, Stanford, AWS Educate (Amazon Web Services), World Bank, US Department of State Senior Leadership, and many more. The brothers have worked with students and teachers to update public and private school computer labs, and further math and coding skills at the primary and secondary levels. Their commitment has even garnered the attention of

Luciano Calandra ’20

and a meeting with the Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley.

2018

/ MKA / Ms. Lailanni Lucien, llucien05@gmail.

com / Mr. Keenan McAuliffe, keenan.

cavenaugh13@gmail.com/ MKA / Ms. Kerri McGuire, kerrimcg11@yahoo.com

2020 Congratulations to and the whole / MKA /

Luciano Calandra

Calandra family on ushering in a third generation to the local familyowned and operated hospitality empire.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT In an effort to raise awareness for the International Day of Disabled People, Shea Hammond ’20, tells his heroic and inspirational story. A freshman at Clemson University, Shea plays for the US Paracentesis Men’s National Team and has Cerebral Palsy. With almost his entire left side affected from suffering a stroke at a young age, Shea’s extraordinary journey from MKA to attending and playing soccer at Clemson on an Academic and Athletic scholarship, and making the USMNT, is a legendary one. See the video www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOJyU7PWmd8&feature=youtu.be

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MA Montclair Academy / TKS The Kimberley School / MKA Montclair Kimberley Academy

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of the wonderful Patricia “Patty” Deetjen. Patty passed away on January 2, 2021 at Blue Hill Hospital with her family by her side.

Patty is survived by her two sons Leif and Cliff, daughter-in law Kim, three loving grandchildren, Alex, Ben, and River and nephew Scott Burrows. With laughter and a positive spirit, Patty enjoyed life to its fullest and always made everyone feel special. Above all, she loved making personal connections with family and friends. She would light up a room with her warm beautiful smile, find humor in any situation, and her infectious laugh made the world a better place. Patty was the daughter of Ethel and Mel Blun of White Plains, NY. Patty was born in Scarsdale, NY on July 21, 1936. She attended The Ethel Walker School and graduated from Bradford College with a degree in Education in 1956. Her first teaching position was at Rye Country Day School. She met the love of her life, Rudolph Deetjen in 1958, a fellow teacher at Greenwich Country Day School. Patty and Rudy married in 1961 and lived in Greenwich, CT where Leif and Cliff were born. They moved to Essex Fells, NJ in 1972 and then to Mendham, NJ in 1976. Patty supported Rudy, then a headmaster of Montclair Kimberley Academy and later the Peck School in Morristown, NJ, as well as both school family communities with her devoted enthusiasm and grace.

She was an active member of the Junior League and many volunteer organizations. In 1968 Patty and Rudy built a picturesque log home on the beautiful coast of Brooksville, Maine that they affectionately named “Kings Cove.”

They enjoyed summers and holidays at this special place with family and friends.

After Rudy retired, they moved to Maine full-time in 1998 and spent the summer season at King’s Cove and winter months in Blue Hill at Parker Ridge Retirement Community. Patty’s passion was people.

She was truly invested in others’ lives and sincerely cared about their happiness and well-being and made a difference. She will be greatly missed.

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Your gift to The MKA Fund is used throughout the current school year and directly supports our students and faculty. In an extraordinary year like this one, The MKA Fund provides critical, unrestricted support that helps the school navigate the challenges presented by the COVID-19 health crisis. It also helps us maintain our commitment to our core designations: diversity, inclusion and anti-racism; financial assistance; faculty development and compensation; and the student experience in academics, arts, and athletics. A robust MKA Fund allows us to be nimble while providing a transformative educational experience for our students every day, whether they are at home or in school.

Thank you for supporting MKA! Jenn Baratta P ’23 & ‘26 Director of Annual Giving jbaratta@mka.org 973-509-7932

www.mka.org/giving SCAN ME

MON TC L AIR K IM B E R L E Y AC ADE MY 20 1 VALLEY ROAD, M O NTCLAIR, N J 07042