Moses Brown fall / winter 2017-18
cupola
expert fall / thinking winter 2017-18
Sheyna Gifford ’96 The Martian
John Littlefield ’43 Nick Gilson ’07
...and more!
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Moses Brown School Board of Trustees Paul Adler P ’14 ’16 Gabe Amo ’05 Issmat Atteereh P ’13 ’18 John T. Barrett, Jr. ’63 P ’01 Russell Carpenter ’59 Peter Crysdale Elaine Dickson P ’18 ’22 Clerk, Enrollment & Marketing Committee Jane Dietze P ’20 ’23 Recording Clerk of the Board Thomas J. (T.J.) Fullam P ’14 ’17 Clerk, Trustees Committee Gary I. Goldberg ’87 P ’17 ’19 ’20 Clerk, Campaign Steering Committee Michael Hirtle Gardner Lane P ’27 ’28 Rachel Littman ’87 P ’22 Clerk of the Board Clerk, Executive Committee Dele Mabray P ’17 ’20 Mike McGuigan Donald McNemar Friends Coordinator Kara Milner P ’19 ’21 ’27 Kaplan Mobray ’90 Mary Lee Morrison George Panichas ’83 P ’15 ’18 Clerk, MB Alumni Association Alisha Pina ’96 Vincent Porcaro, Sr. ’83 P ’11 ’24
Moses Brown, a Friends school, exists to inspire the inner promise of each student and instill the utmost care for learning, people, and place.
Jim Procaccianti ’76 P ’19 ’23
—Moses Brown School mission statement
Jane Ritson-Parsons P ’17 ’21 Brad Shipp ’83 Clerk, Buildings & Grounds Committee Liesa Stamm Stephen Thomas P ’27 ’30 Heather Tow-Yick ’94 Dawn Tripp P ’19 ’24 Clerk, Nominating Committee Marguerite Tunnicliffe P ’21 Clerk, Parents’ Association Carl Weinberg P ’90 ’94 ’16 ’24 Treasurer of the Board Clerk, Budget & Finance Committee Cecily Kerr Ziegler P ’22 ’24 Assistant Clerk of the Board Elizabeth R.B. Zimmerman P ’94 Clerk, Nurturing Friends Education Committee Matt Glendinning Head of School Frederick Weiss Clerk of NEYM
Expert Designers Moses Brown is pleased to announce a new graphic design team for Cupola. Jason Arias is a Providence-based freelancer who’s designed for Newsweek, Scientific American, Guernica, and The Baffler. Jason has taught at MB for DownCity Design’s Summer Build It, bringing a sincere enthusiasm for education. Sam Mandeville is the new designer for Class Notes. As MB’s in-house designer, Sam also creates the school’s admission and advancement materials, summer camps catalog, and more. Let us know what you think of their work!
Cupola Fall/Winter 2017-18 Thanks to Guest Editor Greg Marsello ’73, p. 24.
Letter from Matt Glendinning .................................... 2 News from Moses Brown Today................................... 4 Community Perspectives: Susan Pirruccello-McClellan ................................. 18 Brendan Hassett P’20 ’30 ....................................... 19 Harry Bell ’20 .......................................................... 20 Bradford Sunderland ’15 ........................................ 20 Gifts in Action ............................................................. 22 Alumni Profiles: Sheyna Gifford ’96 .................................................. 26 Nadeem Ahmad ’85 ................................................ 28 Nick Gilson ’07 ........................................................ 30
Cover and above photos by Darin Hartlieb.
About Our Cover Dr. Sheyna Gifford ’96 delivered a recent TEDx Talk in St. Louis on space, astronaut health, and the future. See page 26 for more.
Cupola — A semi-annual magazine for Moses Brown School alumni
John Littlefield ’43 ................................................... 32
Editor:
Managing Editor:
Celia Adelson ’97 .................................................... 34
Adam Olenn ’91 P ’25 ’27 ’30
Kristen A. Curry
Director of Alumni Relations:
Class Notes:
Karin Morse ’79
Jordan Bailey (editor)
Assistant Head of School for Institutional Affairs:
Sam Mandeville (designer)
MB Alumni Events and News .................................... 36 Class Notes .................................................................. 42 In Memoriam ..............................................................56 Reflection: Many Paths to Mindfulness ................. 60
Ronald Dalgliesh P ’21 Photography: Peter Goldberg, David O’Connor, MB Communications
Contributors: Kristen A. Curry Adam Olenn ’91
Designer: Jason Arias Printer: Colonial Printing, Warwick, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council The next issue of Cupola will focus on... M B in t h e Worl d
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Cupola is produced by the offices of Communications & Community Engagement and Alumni Relations for alumni and friends of Moses Brown. Your feedback is welcomed. Please send comments to: Cupola, Moses Brown School, 250 Lloyd Avenue, Providence, RI 02906. Send suggestions, class notes, and address updates to MB Alumni Relations via mosesbrown.org or alumni@mosesbrown.org; 401-831-7350 x114. Moses Brown School is a nonprofit institution. www.mosesbrown.org
Stay in touch! Was your MB experience the passport to a unique career or invention? The spring issue of Cupola will showcase surprising places where alumni are making a contribution, whether in Providence or Peru. If you know of an alumnus doing interesting things in interesting places, let us know! And send in your photos of MB gear in unusual places!
Send thoughts on this issue or suggestions for our next edition to kcurry@ mosesbrown.org. Please be sure we have your best email and mailing addresses for MB news and event invitations. Direct address changes, news, or photos to alumni@mosesbrown.org. Follow: www.mosesbrown.org | Facebook.com/MosesBrownSchool | Youtube.com/MosesBrownSchoolNews | mosesbrownblog.wordpress.com | twitter.com/MosesBrown | Instagram.com/mosesbrownschool | MB Connects app
a letter from matt glendinning , head of school
A Call for Expert Thinkers Over the past 233 years, Moses Brown has educated children
ficult problem, whether that information is in her head, in reference
who have had to contend with tectonic changes in society — the In-
to work on the table, or in a database. As importantly, she knows how
dustrial Revolution, the invention of the steam engine, the abolition of
to use this information to quickly brainstorm, design, test, and revise
slavery, internal combustion, electricity, powered flights, spacewalks.
potential solutions. She knows when to buckle down on her own, and
Today’s students face a shift as great — or perhaps greater —
has the social fluency to actively collaborate with a team of skilled
than those. In fact, the societal changes brought about by the Inter-
contributors. And more than anything, she has the moral framework
net pose an existential question: in an age when most of humanity’s
to guide her through the many compromises she will be asked to ne-
factual knowledge is available through the device in your pocket,
gotiate. (This, no doubt, is thanks to her grounding in Quaker values.)
what is the point of education? What is the purpose of schools?
In this issue of Cupola, we feature a scientific explorer who
While I know I’m a bit biased, I firmly believe that schools are
braved the frontier of interplanetary exploration, one of the research-
as relevant as ever. But I also recognize that education needs to shift
ers of DNA and cellular structures, and alumni, students, parents,
from an emphasis on the digestion of factual knowledge to building
and teachers who display the essence of Expert Thinking in science,
skills like problem-solving, teamwork, and improvisation.
academia, service, and the arts.
At Moses Brown, we’ve grouped these skills under the name
I hope you’ll find their stories as inspiring as I do.
“Expert Thinking,” but what does that mean exactly? An expert has at her command sufficient factual information to dig into a new or dif-
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In friendship,
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news from moses brown today
Hope & Lloyd
MB faculty attended this winter’s 2017 NAIS People of Color Conference in California.
Live at the Grove Tom Cotter ’82 will be the 2018 Commencement speaker on June 7. Even before his historic, semi-finalist run on the world’s largest talent competition, America’s Got Talent, Tom was already one of the funniest comedians in the country. He continues to hone his craft, treating audiences across the U.S. and around the world to his sidesplitting satire. Tom has won at the Seattle International Comedy Competition, Boston Comedy Festival, and Las Vegas Comedy Festival. Yes, Tom’s got talent. We are looking forward to it!
Discerning Truth in a Post-Fact World What challenges does the “post-truth” era present for educators? And what do Quaker pedagogy and practice have to offer those teaching and learning in this environment? A Friends Conference for Librarians and Educators, hosted by Moses Brown in October, posed these questions and drew attendees from New England Yearly Meeting, Lincoln School, Scituate High, Tabor Academy, Cheshire Academy, Germantown Academy, Middlesex School, Brown University, even Pacific Ridge School in San Diego.
New Wellness Staff Barret Clarke (left) is MB’s new full-time school nurse; she previously served as a nurse for the Massachusetts General Hospital Back Bay Health Center. Barret is a graduate of independent schools (Brookwood and Middlesex). MB also expands its counseling program this year, welcoming Krista Haskell as Nursery-6th Grade Counselor. Krista has counseled at Friends schools and is supporting social and emotional learning for all students in N-6.
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Thank You MB celebrates longtime employees departing and starting new roles this fall. After four decades of teaching at MB, faculty member Bruce Shaw (right) debuts a new role at MB this year, as Theater Technical Director and Scene Shop Manager for the Woodman Center. Bruce taught mathematics to generations of MB students and has been a coach, parent, sabbatical recipient, MBAA Faculty Member of the Year honoree, and a member of the Providence Meeting of Friends. Bruce relishes playing multiple roles at MB. “We are engaged in educating the whole student and expect students to grow in many ways: academic, artistic, athletic, social, and spiritual,” he says. After 27 years of service, Elisio Castro retired in December. Elisio was a vital member of MB’s Operations department and coaching corps, and cared for buildings, classrooms, and the MB community. In addition, Elisio spent 14 successful years as the varsity girls’ soccer coach. Elisio not only shared his work ethic but also his life, memorably bringing the entire girls’ soccer team to visit his hometown in Portugal one year.
Welcome, New Board Members MB welcomes new members to the Board of Trustees this year (left to right): Thomas T.J. Fullam P’14’17, John Barrett ’63 P’01, Jane Ritson-Parsons P’17’21, Meg Tunnicliffe P’21, Vincent Porcaro, Sr.’83 P’11’24, Dele Mabray P’17’20, and Gabe Amo ’05. Gary Goldberg ’87 P ’17’19’20 also rejoins the board.
Kudos
Finding Your Inner Teacher: Alumni Stewardship Are you interested in volunteering or sharing your expertise with the MB community? The MB Alumni Association is piloting a Stewardship program across all divisions, and in the coming months will invite you to participate. Thank you in advance for considering volunteering on campus, coaching, or hosting a student for his or her senior project!
› To Jim Skillings (above) for his 30th trek up Mt. Chocorua on middle school team trips! › To Kevin Matson, recipient of the 2017-18 Joseph Olney ’32 Sabbatical. Kevin used his sabbatical to complete an EMT
The fifth grade participated in — and won! — the World Peace Game in November. MB is the first school in Rhode Island to host the game, a hands-on political simulation of 23 interlocking global challenges.
Basic education and certification program. After completing the EMT course at CCRI, Kevin passed the national registry exam and is now a National
Y-Lab open! David Husted ’86, the inaugural Director of Moses Brown’s new Y-Lab, is excited to help accelerate ‘hands-on, minds-on’ learning at his alma mater.
Registry EMT. › To MB’s new Math Team, at press time, placed fifth in the state out of 39 teams. 5
academic news from moses brown
Academic Highlights Lower schoolers visited Book Fair during the day to browse and write wish lists. now strengthening their language skills via research-based projects, building on the base started by faculty in grades K-4. Fifth graders are joining book clubs, tackling complex nonfiction, meeting to discuss fantasy books (a favorite), reading and writing memoirs, writing persuasive letters to authors, and trying argument-based opinion writing — including letters to our state representatives. Last year, two students were state semi-finalists in the Library of Congress’ Letters About Literature contest.
Before launching a study of contemporary Civ-
Y-Lab Opens to Public at Fall Open House
ics this fall, 12th grade
Moses Brown welcomed the public into the school’s new Y-Lab in Oc-
tour of Providence, vis-
tober. David Husted ’86, recently hired as Director of Innovation & Design, helped prospective students and their families explore engineering, experiment with design challenges, try Vex Robotics, make their own robots, and explore rapid prototyping. Located on the site of MB’s historic 150-year-old Alumni Hall, the new Y-Lab is a ‘maker space’ filled with materials for creating prototypes and a home for project-based learning in STEM. Curious to see it? MB welcomes alumni and admission visitors. Contact the school for details (401-831-7350,
students took a walking iting the Rhode Island State House, Roger Williams National Memorial, and the Old State House. In order to have a sound understanding of the political character of Rhode Island today,
alumni@mosesbrown.org / admissionsoffice@mosesbrown.org).
students traveled back
Lower School Students Own Their Learning
walking tour was part of
How can veteran educators teach reading and writing in a new way?
Island’s political history and the early growth of Providence. At the
How can fifth graders prepare for the rigors of middle school? Fifth grade language arts teacher Carolyn Garth was inspired by programs at Teachers’ College, Columbia University to deepen her curriculum and give students ownership of their learning. Fifth graders are
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to colonial times. The the class’ unit on Rhode State House, they visited the Royal Charter Museum where Rhode Island’s original 1663 Royal Charter is housed, declaring Rhode Island a colony with religious freedom and establishing a colonial government separate from the crown.
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Ten seniors were inducted into MB’s Cum
that we can be grateful for this community
who were better at these things is what
Laude Chapter this year. They represent
of learners that we are so fortunate to be a
pushed me to become better, to try harder,
the top 10% of the senior class in the fall
part of. Being a student at Moses Brown was
to succeed. Teaching middle school at MB
of senior year: Sophia Ahn, Lucy Atkin-
an incredibly humbling experience for me.
has been the hardest thing I have ever done.
son, Jack Bertman, Isaac Blinn, Caroline
There was always someone here who had
The most humbling experience of my life
Cassese, Eli Epstein-Lubow, Chase Har-
worked a little bit harder than I had: some-
has been trying to keep up with my amazing
rington, Jing (Jenny) Liu, Xiaomeng Wang,
one who started studying a day before I did
teachers, who are now my colleagues. So,
and Peter Zubiago. Middle school faculty
for midterms. Someone who stayed up later
my charge to you is this: Be mindful of the
member Katie Evans Goldman ’06 deliv-
editing their paper, someone who had done
water that you swim in and be grateful for
ered inspiring words at the induction cere-
all of the math problems when I had only
the ways that this community pushes you to
mony: “Sometimes our surroundings, our
done half. Someone who ran a mile more
achieve. Always find ways to be a small fish
environment, can blend in, become a back-
than I did during track practice on a freez-
in a big pond, surround yourself with people
drop which we lose sight of — take for grant-
ing cold day in December when I was ready
who are smarter, more athletic, more artis-
ed. I hope that we can all be mindful of these
to be done. Simply put, I was never the best
tic, more adventurous, and I promise you
things that create the backdrop of our expe-
at anything here. I was never the biggest
that you will always be learning and it will
rience here, that may go unnoticed. I hope
fish. But being surrounded by the people
always be exciting and fun.”
In December, five seniors presented on their Class of ’48 Award for Independent Study and Inquiry. Chase Harrington was inspired by the friendship he forged with Etienne Irambona during Chez Innovation and used his award to volunteer with orphans from Etienne’s birth country, Tanzania (below). Arabella Littlefield attended RISD’s pre-college program, using her award to learn more about transforming the fashion industry into a more environmentally responsible one by creating clothing from recycled and reusable materials. Peter Zubiago explored his interest in ancient Greek theatre, attending a Gamm Summer Intensive and taking an Ancient Greek Theatre Performance class at Brown. Sophia Ahn took a Dance for Parkinson’s Disease & Professional Enrichment workshop in Brooklyn and attended Boston Ballet’s adaptive training program for Down’s Syndrome. Caroline Cassese drew on her passion for diving, science, and history to dive into a marine archaeology program.
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This year’s ’48 and Owen Award recipients presented in December and met with members of the Class of ’48.
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Upper school biology students enjoy Kate Turner’s fun approach to lessons.
Biology Students Learn Through Play Kate Turner, upper school science, was struck by her students’ high levels of anxiety. Ninth graders in her Honors Biology classes seemed fixated on mastery and test scores, pinning high hopes on this first lab science course in the upper school, to the detriment of their learning. Compounding matters was some students’ belief that they “couldn’t” absorb the material via traditional lectures, worksheets, and lab. So Kate decided to shake things up. She designed a 20-minute tactile activity for each unit to reinforce a specific topic. No teacher demo, these exercises would be student-driven, short-duration
Affinity Groups Launch The MB upper school launched a new affinity group program this fall, offering space for discussions of shared experiences to strengthen our whole community. Students have enthusiastically volunteered to participate in racial affinity groups (facilitated by adults in the community), including a white anti-racist affinity group, a student of color affinity group, and an Asian-American affinity group. Each month, the students meet to connect with others and explore how their racial identity impacts their experience at MB and in the world. The response from students has been very positive.
activities to encourage hands-on kinesthetic learning — with no grades. Inviting the spirit of play into the biology lab would help lower the stakes for her anxious students, Kate hypothesized. The
MB Immersion
activities used common, accessible supplies such as paper, coins,
At the start of the year, stu-
and dice. To illustrate the complex process of cellular respiration,
dents in the 9th Grade Immer-
Kate created molecules with plastic Perler beads.
sion program worked with and
What were the results of her pedagogical experiment? The stu-
learned from local community
dents loved using a hands-on activity to learn about respiration, work-
partners: Amos House, McAu-
ing through natural selection with pipe-cleaner “worms,” and playing
ley House, Mixed Magic The-
a card game to demonstrate microevolution. They even visualized
atre, Pleasant View Elementary
cell membrane transport with M&Ms, Lifesavers, gummy bears,
School, Refugee Dream Cen-
candy corn, and Smarties — representing sodium, glucose, proteins,
ter, and Sojourner House. This
starch, water, oxygen, and phospholipids. “That one was time-con-
March, 9th graders will contin-
suming to set up, but the kids loved it!” Kate says. “Now the students
ue their engaged scholarship
ask me when the next activity will be, and look forward to them.”
alongside these organizations.
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Kudos › A student in MB’s upper school Tinker Maker class designed and built a successful working indoor plant station, now in use in the first grade. This project was made possible through a grant from MB’s Sustainability Committee. › Three MB students were recognized as National Merit Semifinalists this fall: Lucy Atkinson, Isaac Blinn, and Peter Zubiago.
Need a pick-me-up after school? Students can now buy Refuel Boxes in the afternoon before practices, rehearsals, meetings, or games, as a result of recent graduate Abby Mansolillo ’17’s senior project.
Montana rancher Martin Davis returned to MB in November to speak to parents and community members about the economics of ranching and the partnerships and tensions between ranchers, ecologists, and government agencies. His visit was part of the seventh grade Yellowstone wolf unit. Thirteen upper school students also met Martin last summer during last year’s Yellowstone National Park service trip to Montana. They did service work on his ranch, connecting studies in science and English and working as ‘citizen scientists’ in the real world.
Montana rancher Martin Davis.
What do the inventors of the elevator, cataract surgery, and the stoplight have in common? They were all African-American, as many of the lower school students can now tell you. This fall in lower school science, several grades fostered their engineering and problem-solving skills. In preparation for that work, they were asked to name familiar scientists and inventors and offered names such as Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Edison. Sets of photographs of more than 20 life-changing inventions were handed out, and when students noticed that every one of them was the brainchild of an African-American, they had a Musician and speaker Toby Morse delivered an in-
chance to reflect on why none of these names had been mentioned in their ini-
spiring message to middle and upper school students
tial list. Better late than never, most of them are now aware of the impact Afri-
in October about positive thinking, being true to your-
can-American inventors have played on all aspects of life, from fire engine equip-
self, and living free of prejudice.
ment to air conditioning to sharpened pencils!
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MB field hockey advanced to their 6th Division I R.I. Interscholastic League State Final in the last seven years.
sports news from moses brown
Go Quakers! The field hockey team defeated a talented East Greenwich squad in an exciting, well-played semifinal contest. The state final was a triple-overtime loss that highlighted the resiliency and grace of MB’s players.
Girls’ soccer finished the season with a 1-0 loss to Scituate in the Division II semifinals. They finished the year with a winning regular season record of 12-6-3.
With fast times during the fall cross-country season, sophomore Ben Buroker qualified to compete in the boys’ state championship in November at The boys’ varsity soccer team clinched the Division II regular season championship for the third year in a row, going on to win the state championship for the second year and finishing their season with a 19-1 overall record. In addition, the team set a school record by scoring 120 goals this season.
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Ponaganset. At the state meet, he placed in the top half of all elite runners and set a new school record for the course.
Sophomore Ben Buroker
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Single-Sport Specialization in Children: Helpful or Harmful? Thanks to Dr. Keith Monchik ’90 for sharing on this important topic in November in a public event at the Woodman Center. Keith’s talk parsed the myths and realities of specialization,
misunderstand-
ings of ‘the 10,000-hour rule,’ and data on children and growth, achievement, and injury. Keith is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon who teaches at Brown’s Warren Alpert Medical School; he’s also worked with the Providence Bruins, Brown University, and Rhode Island high schools, and has served on the Rhode Island Squash starts! MB squash players are enjoying the chance to play in the new Gorgi Family
Interscholastic League’s Sports
Squash & Education Center and are thrilled to welcome new players to their ranks this year.
Medicine Advisory Committee.
The team started the season on a high note, beating Wheeler 7-0 in their annual match.
MB Football qualified for their fifth straight Super Bowl this year. The MB football team qualified for their fifth straight Division II Super Bowl appearance. They lost the final game after establishing an impressive season record of 10-2. The civic-minded players also took time this season to help pack boxes of books for the hurricane victims in Houston and Puerto Rico, placing 5th in the country in the Touchdowns Against Cancer Campaign, and leading the Autism Walk at Goddard Park. Congratulations to junior Mike Walsh of East Greenwich, named WPRI’s Hometown
MB welcomed a great turnout for fall
Hero in November. This fall, the junior quarterback led the RIIL in passing yards (3,089)
Expo weekend, including Tony Dungy,
and total yards (4,040), with 37 passing touchdowns and 17 rushing scores. His big numbers
Hall-of-Fame coach of the Indianapolis
helped the Quakers complete a 10-2 season and earn a return spot in the DII Super Bowl. Mike
Colts, who stopped by for a pep talk be-
is also a member of the lacrosse team.
fore the football game!
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SquashBusters Boston participants played the MB squash team on December 9, the opening day of MB’s new squash facility.
Moses Brown, SquashBusters, and Nicol Squash Club Launch One-of-a-Kind Partnership In December, Moses Brown and SquashBusters opened the doors on
accepting memberships. The club is operated and directed by re-
a facility unlike any in the world. The Gorgi Family Squash & Edu-
nowned world champion Peter Nicol with five-time Irish national
cation Center features 12 squash courts, classrooms, study space,
champion Arthur Gaskin as the resident pro. The arrival of Nicol and
changing and locker facilities, and a pro shop. This unique building
Gaskin, together with the new facility, establishes Rhode Island as
is now home for MB’s squash teams; the Nicol Squash Club; and the
one of the preeminent squash destinations in the world.
Rhode Island chapter of SquashBusters, an organization that uses
MB and SquashBusters entered into this partnership to further
squash and academic achievement to improve the education and life
the closely-aligned missions of both organizations, welcoming an
outcomes of under-served children.
inaugural class of 28 sixth graders from DelSesto Middle School. To
The Nicol Squash Club offers affordable public memberships
learn more, visit www.squashbusters.org.
and elite-level coaching to newcomers and experts alike and is now
Congratulations to the middle school girls’ “A” soccer team (shown
left) for winning the
Wheeler Middle School Soccer Tournament for the second straight year. Middle school field hockey (right) also won their end-of-season tournament.
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Several MB seniors signed national letters of intent this fall: Janel Gamach, UNC Wilmington (softball); Adam Towey, UMass Amherst (lacrosse); Caitlin Tucker, Bucknell (lacrosse); Ali Blanchard, Princeton (softball); Andrew Dorman, Boston University (lacrosse); and Oluchi Ezemma, Holy Cross (basketball).
Girls on the Run: Go MB! Moses Brown was again a host site this year for Girls on the Run. This past year, MB welcomed a variety of girls from the greater Providence community as part of the ten-week after-school program for girls in grades 3-5. In this unique program, girls train for and run a celebratory 5k while participating in lessons regarding self-image, confidence, and positive selftalk, developing essential skills to establish a lifetime appreciation for health and fitness. The program is open to all. See www.gotrri.org.
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arts news from moses brown
The Arts at MB The lower school staged its first-ever lower school musical in the Woodman in January: Annie Kids. The fifth grade also performed The Little Prince in October.
Students Step Into The Spotlight MB student-directors are taking on mature, difficult plays this winter. Senior Harry Wasser is directing Arthur Miller’s A View From The Bridge and Abigail Klipfel is directing When We Were Young and Unafraid, about domestic abuse. Senior Peter Zubiago will direct As You Like It as part of Shakespeare in the Grove this spring, an MB first.
Stories Matter MB’s eighth grade recently concluded its StoryCorps Unit, giving each eighth grader the chance to interview an adult in their lives. As the students learn about StoryCorps, they get a chance to explore the online collection; one of this year’s favorites was by MB faculty member Jonathan Pitts-Wiley, who interviewed his father, Ricardo Pitts-Wiley, about being bused into a predominately white school and finding his life-long passion in theatre. Inspired by these individual stories, students went out into the world to interview adults in their lives. With stories about first-generation female college attendees, family immigration and refugees, coming out, and being diagnosed with and overcoming disabilities, MB eighth graders heard powerful personal stories that make up the fabric of a larger community narrative. Thank you to all of the family members who opened up to students this year, demonstrating the power of real-life stories.
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Kudos to junior Jack Tripp, the very first student set designer for MBinRep. Jack designed a beautiful back wall for MB’s fall shows, Twelfth Night and The Crucible, created from pallets repurposed from the building of the new SquashBusters building (page 12). The transformed pallets made an astonishing foundation for Jack’s wood-mosaic backdrop. It’s part of efforts toward sustainability across campus, even in surprising places.
Tracy K. Smith April 27, 2018 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Woodman Center
A Case for Poetry’s Relevance in the Modern World MB hosted Rhode Island Poet Laureate Tina Cane and Matthew Zapruder this October at the Woodman Center. MB was pleased to welcome them to campus for a reading and discussion of poetry and its role in modern society. Zapruder is the author of four collections of poetry — his most recent was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. A Guggenheim fellow, he also held the rotating position of editor of the poetry column for the New York Times magazine from 2016-17. In addition to serving as Poet Laureate of Rhode Island, Cane is the founder and director of Writers-in-the-Schools RI, an instructor with the writing community Frequency Providence, and recipient of a Fellowship Merit Award from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. The Woodman Center will hold its next poet event in April when U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith (right) comes.
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MB hosted a Creative Conversation in partnership with FirstWorks, featuring Chick Corea and Steve Gadd.
Hot House This October, MB and FirstWorks partnered to host a Creative Con-
Lover,” is perhaps the most revered studio drummer of all time, hav-
versation with music legends Chick Corea and Steve Gadd before a
ing laid down iconic beats behind Eric Clapton and others.
rare concert appearance in Rhode Island at the Vets. An enthusias-
Corea and Gadd visited MB for a conversation moderated by
tic audience enjoyed the chance to get up-close with 22-time Gram-
Eric Jackson of WGBH — and live-streamed — before their evening
my winner / jazz piano icon Corea and drum legend Gadd, walking
concert. They demonstrated their creative process and took ques-
guests through their musical collaboration. Between Corea’s tenure
tions from the audience, which included students from MB, Clas-
as Miles Davis’s pianist and decades of dynamic collaborations since,
sical, Jacqueline Walsh School for the Arts, and Trinity Performing
he is truly a titan of modern music. Gadd, the percussive architect
Arts Academy. The free, public event drew a sold-out crowd to the
behind Steely Dan’s “Aja” and Paul Simon’s “50 Ways to Leave Your
Woodman Center.
9 Students Accepted to the 2017 All New England Band Festival Nine MB upper school students were accepted to the 2017 All New England Band Festival this November in New Hampshire. More than 300 students from throughout New England were nominated by band directors for 200 seats in the two bands performing at this year’s festival. Congratulations to Evan Daniels, Aunjoli Das, Julia Gurzenda, Abby Hirsch, Lily Lustig, Michael Rawson, Abigail Sherwood, Nuri van Dommelen, and Rowan Van Lare for their hard work and commitment to musical excellence.
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Congratulations to six MB students honored as part of the 2018 Rhode Island Arts Education Association Scholastic Arts Awards: Alex Flaxman (A), shown above performing improv at SPAF; Lucy Tang (B); Abigail Lambert (C); Abby Gerrish (D); Alexander Runci (E); and Jack Tripp (F). The students exhibited their work at Rhode Island College in January.
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community perspectives
Learning Lessons
Current community members on expert thinking in action Susan Pirruccello-McClellan
problem-solving. Instead of standing at a board, back to students, she
Lower School Mathematics
asks them questions: What are you trying here? Doing mazes illustrates
One hidden variable in Susan Pirruccello-McClellan’s person
steps. It’s about trying and gaining confidence.
her point. The first time you hit a dead end, what do you do? Retrace your
al math equation might surprise you: as a student, she hated math class!
MB teaches math as a language skill with students tackling negative
However, she loved mathematics as a subject and says she got into math
numbers as early as first grade. Counting cookies and evaluating Fahren
precisely because she disliked it so much in school. “I didn’t want math to
heit weather degrees may seem basic — and appealing — but it’s really a
be the subject kids hated,” she says. “I wanted to be the teacher who made
high algebraic concept in practice. Students become comfortable pro
math fun! I tell kids, ‘You don’t have to like math, but you won’t hate it
posing ideas, giving evidence, evaluating results, and working in teams.
with me.’ It’s gratifying to see the smiles when they realize they can do it.”
This is different from the approach parents may have experienced, one
Adding to her love for math (and economics background), a faculty
in which a single correct answer led to the best grade. “Kids who struggle
tour of Hasbro two years ago opened Susan’s eyes to math’s real-world ap
more with math are willing to go through the thought process — that can
plications. “They’re looking for people who can work as a team and push
actually mean a better mathematician in the long run,” Susan notes.
boundaries, not just mimic,” she says. “Our math program teaches kids to
“It’s exciting to get kids at this level and not let them build walls,” she
reach forward, not just wait to be told what to do. Companies like Hasbro
says, “but to lead instead. Looking for the mathematician in every student
want people who can be handed problems and figure out solutions.”
is core at MB. There is a spark in every child: it’s up to us as teachers to find
One of her primary goals is teaching students perseverance and
18
and keep fanning that flame.”
cupola
Brendan Hassett has a bird’s-eye view, not only from his 11th-story office overlooking the Providence River, but also as Director of the Institute for Computational and Experimental Research in Mathematics. Affiliated with Brown and funded by the National Science Foundation, ICERM is a global think-tank for advanced mathematics. A central part of his work at ICERM is building community. “There has been a tremendous decline in the proportion of single-author papers,” says Brendan. “You see far more research published by teams of two or three — even eight. The questions we’re asking now require a diversity of perspectives. The most interesting work pulls together expertise from a wide range of disciplines — number theory, algebra, calculus, fractal geometry — combining them into a deeper understanding.” This cross-specialty work has become a favorite of funding agencies, who often aim to create a stronger scientific infrastructure by getting people talking. “Communication skills are essential,” he says. “You need to have the technical ability to do good research; you also need the rhetorical ability to share why it’s interesting and important.” He stresses the significance of being able to share ideas in a clear, concise form, which helps attract both talented collaborators and funding agencies. “While you probably won’t remember the details of the math problems you solved in high school,” he says, “you will remember the story of the process. That story becomes the scaffold upon which the details hang, including many of the technical aspects of the work.” And just as writing and speaking abilities empower one for success in mathematics, math has become an essential tool for answering questions in the humanities. ICERM brings experts from disparate fields together to tackle problems. “Recently, we had a working group studying seismic and radar imaging techniques,” Brendan says. “We had mathematicians and people from the oil industry, defense industries, and national laboratories — before this, they never talked to each other!” ICERM hosted a workshop on `Predictive Policing’ in collaboration with Providence Police, where researchers used Twitter data to identify disturbances needing police attention. In each of these ways, Brendan sees the big picture — whether that’s the interconnections of mathematical disciplines, math and the humanities; the arc of a math program, lower to upper school; or the Providence waterfront outside his window.
Brendan Hassett P’20 ’30 Parent
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19
Harry Bell ’20 Student
Bradford Sunderland ’15 Alumnus
Harry Bell is one involved student. He’s
of middle school. “He pushed you to explain
the faculty at MB are more supportive than those
a member of the Robotics and Math clubs, plays
and define your thinking.”
in college. They really look out for each student.
squash and tennis, and is on his way to member-
Today’s upper schoolers will need this
ship in a selective club: MB Lifers, the group of
depth of knowledge, and a fearless approach, to
graduates here for 13 or more years, which ac-
handle the problems awaiting them after grad-
The summer after his freshman year at
counts for about 10% of each graduating class. A
uation, but Harry feels current MB students are
NYU, Brad started a team which published a
student at MB since kindergarten, Harry follows
engaged and ready. Expert Thinking has given
50-page business case answering a challenge
in the footsteps of his mother Heather Crump
him a new perspective, too: “Robotics Club has
set by Elon Musk for proposals to deploy Hy-
Bell ’90. Heather’s MB experience was so pos-
shown me how many different solutions you can
perloop One, a transformative 750 mph tube-
itive that she wanted her children to benefit and
have to a problem.”
based transportation system. Brad’s team were
moved to Providence to make that happen.
There is a lot of support in place to help you meet the challenging workload and expectations.”
even flown to LA to make an hour-long pitch to
Harry has enjoyed having some of the
The summer before his junior year at
same teachers as his mom. “MB is constantly
MB, Brad Sunderland spent hours trying to mas-
ber that they lost — to the Chinese government.
changing; new buildings are going up all the
ter his footwork on the squash court. He was rel-
Still, Brad was honored to be a semifinalist in a
time, but the core values and people stay the
atively new to the sport but had fallen in love with
project which has grown in credibility, attract-
same,” he says. Certain teachers and experienc-
it and wanted to master its elements. His focus
ing $250 million to date from investors to build
es helped him meet the challenges of study at
and dedication paid off: by senior year, Brad was
the route in Shanghai.
MB, such as Carol Entin’s flash-card instruction
the school’s top squash player and captain of the
Brad calls MB’s project-based learning,
in fifth grade. The preparation techniques Carol
team. This willingness to fearlessly throw himself
language program, international emphasis, and
taught that year helped Harry study better; he
at a challenge — and travel rapidly from point A to
overall environment a great base for his current
still uses them today.
Hyperloop executives. They learned in Septem-
B — translated nicely when Brad led a team for Hy-
ventures: “MB offered unconventional teach-
Harry welcomes project-based learning
perloop in Asia, recently finishing as a semifinalist
ing and curriculum. You might make a video in
in the MB curriculum, whether it’s embarking
in its Global Challenge Competition. More than
Spanish or Environmental Science or be asked
on a project, making a video presentation for
2,600 teams registered; the 35 strongest proposals
to read White Tiger. We had to research and
English, or using MB’s 3D printer to create a
were named semifinalists, including Brad’s team.
present. Harkness discussions gave me the con-
handheld cost-efficiency model for Geometry.
Now a junior at NYU Shanghai, Brad says
fidence to test ideas out around a lot of people.
Harry says teachers like Jon Gold exemplify Ex-
MB prepared him well. “In college, the cours-
MB was very much about stepping out of your
pert Thinking. “History is not the most hands-
es were actually more relaxed! MB’s an intense
comfort zone, learning to grapple with ideas. It’s
on subject but Jon made it so,” Harry recalls
place — they strive for excellence there. However,
a foundation you take with you.”
20
cupola
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New Squash & Education Center Honors Gorgi Family In December, hundreds of community members braved the snow for the dedication of a unique 19,000-square-foot, 12-court facility built in partnership with SquashBusters, featuring a club program led by five-time world champion Peter Nicol (see page 12). The Gorgi Family Squash & Education Center is named in honor of Habib ’74 and Susan Gorgi and their four children (’08, ’10, ’12, ’17), all MB graduates and squash players. Habib was the Clerk of the Moses Brown Board of Trustees for 10 years, leading the school to its most ambitious strategic plan and fundraising campaign ever. He and Suzie have been among the school’s most dedicated volunteer leaders for over two decades.
gifts in action
MB Scholarship Budget Doubles to $4.2 million $6M Raised toward $15M Scholarship Campaign Goal 70%+ of Applicants Now Requesting Scholarship Moses Brown is making great strides in Open Access, a critical
missions. “Then, 55% became the ‘new normal.’ Last year, 72% of appli-
goal of the MB Believes Campaign. The school’s annual scholarship budget
cants requested aid, and this year’s demand is matching that level.”
has doubled in ten years and now stands at $4.2 million. A record 28%
What’s driving this need? Rhode Island’s median incomes have de-
of current students receive financial support, compared to 14% in 2007-
clined by double-digits as high-paying jobs have migrated away from the
2008. The average scholarship award is $20,368 with upper school tui-
state. In fact, the most common reason a student leaves MB is a family move
tion this year at $35,555 .
to pursue a job opportunity. Demographics also play a role, as the school-age
“Among alumni and parents there is a deep commitment to scholarship
population has fallen by 23,000 over ten years. As demand for scholarship
funding,” says Ron Dalgliesh, Assistant Head of School for Institutional Affairs.
outpaces our resources, MB’s ability to enroll the top applicants is threatened.
“Our community understands how important this is to the vitality of our school.”
“One thing the ‘best’ schools most often have in common — secondary
Thousands of endowment and Moses Brown Fund donors have come together
or university — is maintaining a high level of scholarship funding,” says Ron.
to help the school take historic steps forward in access and affordability. But the
“This enables them to enroll the most talented and diverse student body.”
campaign is still far short of its scholarship goal and the need is only increasing.
The strength of an educational community is largely driven by the quality
“Before the economic downturn of 2007-2008, 40% of applicants
of the students, as peers challenge each other. When motivated students
typically requested financial aid,” says Hugh Madden ’84, Director of Ad-
elevate classroom discussions, academic rigor rises, and teachers are em-
22
cupola
Reflections of Current MB Scholarship Recipients What does this award mean to you? What about MB do you hope to take with you?
shaped me into the per son I am today | tools that w ill help me to make an impac t | take the knowledge, love, and welcome I received at MB and share it | to m y f ulles t poten tial f or e v er y one w ho made this scholarship possible | the chance to pursue an amazing experience academically and socially | means ever ything to me | inspires me to strive in my future endeavors | a gift that I cherish each and every time I s tep on the campus | t h e c han c e an d pla t f o r m t o l ea d a su c c e ss f ul li f e | allowed me to grow and build connections that I would not change for the world | a leader in my community, upholding the importance of truth and integrity | so grateful to have this amazing opportunity | the humanity that surrounds me in this school | forever thankful for all of the love and support that has surrounded me boldened to push the boundaries of the curriculum. Moreover, as the workplace becomes increasingly diverse and globally integrated, students must develop the competencies and collaborative skills that come from working with peers who bring a variety of perspectives to each situation. To add $1 million to the annual financial aid budget, the MB Believes campaign will raise $15 million in new endowment dedicated to scholarship, grow the Moses Brown Fund by more than 25%, and increase annual giv-
Scholarship at MB: The Last 10 Years
Dramatic Progress Ever-Growing Demand 2007-08 Students Receiving Scholarship
113
Percentage of Students on Scholarship
14%
Annual Scholarship Budget
$1.89m
Average Scholarship Award
$15,975
Upper School Tuition
$23,620
Applicants Requesting Scholarship
233
Percentage of Applicants Requesting Scholarship
43%
2017-18
206
28%
$4.2m
$20,368
$35,555
371
72%
ing dedicated to scholarship. Since the inception of the campaign, 20 new endowed scholarship funds have been added, for a total of 49 named funds supporting financial aid. Meeting the campaign’s fundraising objectives will provide scholarships for 50 more students, every year. “We’re intensifying our outreach and urging the MB community to come together in new ways to meet the imperative of the scholarship goal,” adds Ron. “It’s so important to our school’s future, and there’s no greater gift than providing educational opportunity to a child.”
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Historic increases in scholarship funding are a critical tool that helps MB attract and enroll an increasingly talented and diverse student body, one enriched by a variety of worldviews, ethnicities, races, and socio-economic backgrounds. As one measure of this diversity, the percent of students of color enrolled at MB has risen from 16% to 25% in the last ten years. 23
editor ’ s letter
We Are All Experts
Anyone Can Teach,
Anyone Can Learn. This
simple mantra was rooted into my vernacular at Moses Brown and has been a driving force in my life ever since. We all are experts in one area or another, and we increase our expertise by learning from others and from the work we do. Some experts, like those in this “Expert Thinking” Cupola, are renowned, but each of us has expertise. Gregory Harrison, the Quaker Coordinator and Religion teacher during my time at MB, introduced me to the ‘Anyone Can Teach, Anyone Can Learn’ concept. He inspired me to learn from him and from my classmates — something I hadn’t considered — and he encouraged me to share my expertise in the pursuit of learning.
24
Harrison also exposed me to engaged learning, the idea that learning is participatory and does not just take place in the classroom, which is a critical component of expert thinking. Experts understand the importance of collaboration and helping others. True experts have clear vision but also challenge themselves by taking risks. Experts value perseverance and practice. They don’t define success as perfection because they know — and accept — that perfection is not possible. It’s never too late to be an expert. We are all lifelong learners. At MB, I was provided the opportunity to become an expert in academics, sports, student life, and community
cupola
service. As a convinced Quaker, my worldview embraces the importance of the light within and that everyone has
to consider sharing your expertise. And above all, never stop learning.
knowledge, or expertise, to share. Quaker queries challenge me to learn and thus improve my expert thinking. In my life, I’ve had many opportunities to be an expert: as a jewelry manufacturer and father, building a local community education business, founding a continuing education and lifelong learning association, developing software systems, and serving my community. The best experts have diverse knowledge but, perhaps even more important, they have a willingness to share their knowledge. The expert thinking fostered by Moses Brown shines in the following stories. I encourage you to read them and
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At MB, Greg Marsello ’73 P’99 ’02 discovered Quakerism, was president of the Student Council, and learned the importance of varied learning experiences. After graduation, he attended Hamilton/Kirkland College where he met his future wife, Melinda Foley-Marsello. While in college Greg co-founded the Learning Resources Network and upon his return to Rhode Island, started Learning Connection, a statewide community education program registering over 7,500 people per year. Today, Greg is recognized internationally as an expert in the lifelong learning field. He says his friends, building a diversified skill set, and the many opportunities to participate were highlights of his MB experience.
25
sheyna gifford ’96
The Martian
To celebrate their 100th day on simulated Mars, Sheyna Gifford ’96 and the crew of HI-SEAS IV practiced fire safety drills outside the dome. Hawai’i Space Exploration Analog and Simulation. Mauna Loa, 2015. Photo by Sheyna Gifford.
One of the most beautiful moments of Sheyna Gifford’s year on Mars was laying on the rocky planetary surface, watching the Milky Way galaxy rise across the curved dome of her space helmet. Most spacewalks had a highly specific purpose that needed to be completed in a set period of time, but Sheyna had a rare moment of free time, and so she lay down sideways in her EVA (Extra Vehicular Activity) suit and watched the stars unfurl to the music of her helmet’s whirring fans. Sheyna was the crew doctor and journalist for the six-person mission to sMars, the longest simulated space mission in NASA history. From August 2015 to August 2016, this small crew lived in a simulated Martian base 8,200 feet up on Mauna Loa volcano on the island of Hawai’i. Their only contact with people “back on Earth” was through a 20-minute delay to replicate the time it would take light to travel between the third and fourth planets from the Sun. If you have a question for ground control, it will be at least 40 minutes before you have an answer. “What this means in practice,” says Sheyna, “is that once you’re past the moon, ground control can’t run the show.” This means that interplanetary explorers will have a lot of autonomy — and a tremendous amount of responsibility. “There’s no such thing as a vacation in space,” says Sheyna. “The mission comes first. Space is an environment of hyper-realism. You can’t take the day off from checking whether you have enough power or making sure there’s clean water.” Everything else — relaxation, conducting scientific experiments, even selfcare — has to take a back seat to the mission.
Astronauts Sheyna Gifford and Ethan Good took science very seriously on NASA’s HERA VI simulated space mission to explore asteroid Geographos, a Mars-crossing asteroid.
One side effect of this attention to survival necessities is the increased emphasis on the value of community. In space, having people to rely on isn’t a ‘nice-to-have,’ it’s a requirement for staying alive. “In space,
Photo by Andrzej Stewart and Linda Rodriguez.
nadeem ahmad ’ 85
Heart Beat Nadeem Ahmad’s career as a cardiologist was perhaps fore-
warding to go to work every day knowing that you will make a difference
shadowed when he was a student at MB. As a student, Nadeem valued co-
in patients’ lives.” He advises interested students to see the real-world
operation, effort, community, and hard work; he belonged to the Political
applications of their science classes and to volunteer at local hospitals.
Affairs Club and wrote for The Quaker.
The most gratifying part of Nadeem’s work is the connections with
A career in medicine seemed like a sure way to make an impact.
patients. He’s been taking care of some for almost 20 years and views
Nadeem remembers MB science teachers who made science fun and rel-
many as friends: “I see them when they are at their most vulnerable, and
evant for him, illustrating that you could be a science geek and cool at
the trust they put in me comes with a lot of responsibility. It is a privilege
the same time: “I don’t think I ever pulled off ‘cool’ at MB, but it was still
to take care of them, and especially rewarding when they share stories of
something to aspire to!”
milestones reached.”
After MB, Nadeem headed to Brown for undergraduate work and
Nadeem enjoys incorporating other interests into his work, such as
medical school, followed by training at Washington and Emory universi-
photography when making medical images of the heart. The fundamen-
ties. He lives and works in Pennsylvania today. Cardiology drew him, with
tals of taking a picture — whether a sunset or a heart beating 60 times a
heart disease a leading cause of death worldwide. “A career in medicine
minute — are similar. Nadeem also treated underserved patients in the
is within reach for any motivated student passionate about improving the
mountains of Tennessee and in Pakistani villages and says, “Those mem-
welfare of people and alleviating suffering,” he says. “It’s incredibly re-
ories fuel me to be the best physician I can be.”
28
cupola
you value every member of your community,” says Sheyna, “whether or not
ics, which led her back to Rhode Island for a master’s in biotechnology
you happen to actually like them at the moment. There is a mathematical
from URI, eventually culminating in a medical degree and an MBA in
reality that to lose any member of the group would result in more work for
healthcare administration.
everyone else, and there is already a lot to do.”
Fortified with this new education, and a master’s in journalism from
Sheyna says this was one of the most important questions to answer
the University of Southern California, she was the ideal candidate to be
in planning a Martian mission — could the people withstand the isola-
the physician/journalist for a mission to Mars. “My specialty is physiatry,”
tion, sensory deprivation, and each other? “It turns out,” she says, “that if
says Sheyna, “which is essentially rehabilitation. It’s about recovering from
you select six mission-oriented people basically at random, they are going
trauma and maximizing function. My goal is to rehabilitate astronauts,
to get the job done. Astronauts don’t need a group hug all the time. “
because the rule of thumb is that one day in space means one day in rehab.”
Despite their tough-as-nails commitment to the mission, Sheyna
Returning to real Earth from simulated Mars has required some
and the rest of the crew showed a fastidious commitment to maintaining
cultural rehab for Sheyna and the crew. The austerity and emphasis on
their physical and mental health. “I did yoga and aerobic exercise every
survival within the sMars mission meant that a different value system
morning,” she says, “and we had movie nights on Fridays, and some game
predominated, one that is impossible to shake. “On the mission, noth-
nights on Wednesdays. Some people played music, others used downtime
ing is wasted. If something seems like waste, that just means you haven’t
to focus on their scientific work.” In all cases, the crew maintained their
thought hard enough about what its next use is.” Earthly (or ‘Terran’ in
social environment like any other critical system.
Martian) culture is much more materialistic, and wasteful. “My goal is to
Somewhat more challenging was the management of relationships
live zero-waste,” says Sheyna. “I’m not quite there, but I’m working on it.”
‘back on earth’. “My husband gave me 12 letters to open — one a month,”
She still makes her own yogurt using cultures from the mission, and is a
says Sheyna. “And my friends and family were very understanding; I’ve
dedicated composter.
been doing this kind of thing my whole life.” In high school, she spent a
Now that she’s part of Terran society again, Sheyna says she has an
summer in Mexico at the age of 15 before coming to MB as a boarder for
extra aspect to her life, beyond her work as a physician at Barnes-Jewish
her junior and senior years — with a summer in West Africa in between.
Hospital in St. Louis. “As a veteran of the sMars mission, I have a duty to
“Usually, the question is not ‘what is Sheyna doing?’ but rather ‘where is
share what I’ve learned, and in fulfilling that duty I get to enjoy the honor
Sheyna doing it?’” After Moses Brown, Sheyna dropped a friend off at col-
of being an astronaut.” She also gets to enjoy the rich palette of Earth
lege in California and eventually sat in on some classes at Berkeley, which
colors, and remember things few others will ever know, like the way the
led to a degree — and work — in photojournalism. A relentless learner,
first tomato harvested on a Martian base burned her lips with acid, or the
she also indulged her lifelong interest in space with classes in astrophys-
sublime beauty of a galaxy rising outside the visor of her space suit.
A good clinician puts patients first, says Nadeem. “The great thing about medicine is that you are always a student and you are always a teacher,” he says. He appreciates being a part of the medical tradition of ‘paying it forward’ and hesitates to describe himself as an expert: “I’m still waiting for that day to come. I don’t know that I ever want it to. Those that stop being humble usually get burned. The hunger and passion to keep learning and try to master the intricacies of the human body are what motivate me and most of my colleagues each day.”
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Cardiologist Nadeem Ahmad appreciates the privilege of walking with patients on the path to better health.
29
Carving a Path nick gilson ’07
Nick Gilson ’07 leads a snowboard and ski company which has been doubling in size annually.
A catamaran is formed by two hulls for balance, with sails in the middle. Two school environments — MB and Teach for America — might be the hulls supporting the business he now pilots. After graduation, Nick headed to Johns Hopkins University, majoring in Earth & Planetary Sciences, which perhaps gave him literal grounding in what today forms the essence of his eponymous company: trees. Today Nick is the founder and CEO of Gilson Boards, turning out thousands of innovative, catamaran-inspired snowboards and skis a year. Their products are shaped from sustainably harvested poplars grown in rural Pennsylvania. Start to finish, Gilson Boards are crafted entirely in the Appalachian foothills. After graduation from JHU, Nick left Baltimore to teach middle school science in Nashville with TFA. A wide range of education levels in Nick’s classroom favored hands-on learning and led him to revisit a design he had been thinking about a decade earlier when he was an eighth grader at MB. Asking students to embark on a year-long invention project, Nick retrieved his own junior high design for a catamaran-inspired snowboard to model experimentation. It was only when he dusted off his own youthful idea for a boat-like snowboard to demonstrate scientific experimentation that he jumped on the path to business ownership. One problem: Nick’s design didn’t work. After a series of failures, he tried to throw in the towel, telling students that they were still responsible for completing their projects. The students were stunned; some started crying. One raised his hand, saying, “Mr. Gilson, if you can quit, we can quit.” Nick was humbled. “Cassius forced my hand,” he says. “That failure and the ensuing motivation led to the invention of the Soft Edge, the design feature that has been the most important to our success.” “I did my fair share of failing at MB,” Nick recalls, “and felt supported by my teachers as I picked myself up each time. It’s important to go through failure and perseverance in a safe environment and MB provided that. Having those experiences early in my education were hugely important in building my confidence. I still fail frequently, but I am confident in my ability to learn and grow each time, and I know I have the support of my team. MB laid the foundation for that mindset and the confidence I now have during times of failure.” Nick says he wouldn’t be where he is today without his students and their experience together: “I justified the time and expense of my early work on our class project by telling myself it was in the name of education, and it was. If I told myself I was working on this project to start a company it would have put too much pressure on it being a viable product and business. It would have been too easy to give up at the first set of failures.” Despite his company’s success, Nick says the growth he and partner Austin Royer (his former teaching partner) realized with their students still stands as the most rewarding achievement in his life. When they started, they faced 18% proficiency and an unranked science program. Within two years, their students were outperforming their wealthy counterparts in the next district over with 89% proficiency. The curriculum they wrote and the program they built is now ranked in the top 4 in the district. And he left his students with an example of experimentation and perseverance that works.
For Nick’s TEDx talk, visit: youtu.be/bFvgujCC8XA 31
john littlefield ’43
Top of His Class Do you remember
where you were when you first
Photo by University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
learned about ribosomes, those little dots on the diagram of a cell that
knowledge, and the techniques he learned with Watson and Crick, back to Massachusetts General Hospital.
read and write instructions coded in protein? Friends Hall? The biology
In Boston, John developed a way to isolate hybrid cells, a crucial ad-
lab, perhaps as part of a group project? For one alumnus, that group proj-
vance in the effort to map genetic sequences. He founded and led genetics
ect was particularly momentous — John Littlefield ’43 (1925-2017). He
training units at the hospital and Harvard Medical School for over ten
was part of the team of researchers who discovered how ribosomes read
years before being recruited to head the pediatrics department at Johns
instructions from RNA to make new chains of protein. Perhaps you got an
Hopkins University.
A on your project. The senior researchers on this team, Watson and Crick,
While overseeing 200,000 patients a year, John continued his pi-
were about to win a Nobel Prize for their earlier work on DNA, and John’s
oneering research in genetics and cellular culturing techniques. As the
work extended their research.
head of pediatrics, he brought these interests together, using the proce-
John was born in Providence and attended Moses Brown, graduat-
dure of amniocentesis, as a way to diagnose genetic disorders in utero.
ing one year early to matriculate at Harvard. Just five years later, through
This innovation has informed the pregnancies of millions of families, and
an accelerated undergraduate and medical school program, he earned his
allowed early intervention for a broad range of conditions.
medical degree from Harvard Medical School.
John Littlefield retired in 1992, but instead of working on his putting
After medical school, John served as a resident at Mass General,
game, he went back to the lab to contribute to yet another ground-break-
married, and spent a year on a fellowship at the University of Wisconsin.
ing research effort. This time, he joined Johns Hopkins professor John
He next joined the Navy and headed to Korea in 1952.
Gearhart’s team and helped identify and isolate, for the very first time,
John boarded the USS Repose, a Navy hospital ship stationed off the
human stem cells. These cells can be induced to grow into any kind of
coast of Korea, where he tended soldiers wounded in the fighting. He re-
cell in the human body, and are of inestimable value in medical research.
mained in the Navy reserves and had another deployment to the Arctic Cir-
In addition to his research, John taught classes about ethics and
cle. Following his discharge, he returned to Harvard Medical School, this
genetics, applying the same values-based approach to education that he
time to join the faculty and see patients at Massachusetts General Hospital.
learned at MB. He was particularly focused on how science can contribute
John’s appetite for learning led him to relocate with his wife to En-
to social equality for women and girls around the world, and taught his
gland for a year, spending 1957-1958 conducting cellular and genetic re-
students to consider the moral dimensions of their work.
search alongside James Watson and Francis Crick, the famed scientists
John Littlefield died last year in Maryland at age 91. While he is no
who had discovered the molecular structure of DNA. It was there that
longer with us, his work lives on, with his research and groundbreaking
he contributed to the team effort that identified, for the first time, how
procedures saving and improving lives every day, while his discoveries
ribosomes perform their essential cellular functions. He brought this
about cellular organelles continue to educate MB biology students.
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33
celia adelson ’97
Pluripotent Cells and MB Grads: You Can Be Anything! As a stem-cell researcher, it’s fitting that Celia Adelson has tried so many things. While she fell in love with science in Barbara Heavers’s biology and AP biology classes — and learned how to take responsibility for her own work in Jamie German’s self-paced chemistry — she also nurtured her artistic abilities in Kristin Street’s darkroom and Bruce Shaw’s theater tech crew. Celia describes her career path as the result of a lot of trial and error. She graduated from Moses Brown and went into the combined bachelor’s/M.D. program at Brown University, but soon discovered that while she loved medical science, she didn’t have the same passion for practicing medicine. She pivoted, focusing her attention on the intersection of sci-
Celia Adelson works in the expanding field of stem cell science.
ence and business, and earned an MBA. “It was a circuitous path,” says Celia, “but I credit MB for never making me feel like I had to choose one
ness school classmates are.” However, she has a particular and practical
interest. MB was a place where I could be deeply interested in science,
focus, a fascination with science, and a talent for solving problems and
French, and photography all at once, and that provided the foundation for
coordinating projects.
finding my way to the niche I enjoy now.”
Celia notes that it’s actually her generalism that makes her valuable
In a career path that includes brand strategy consulting, running a
on a team of specialists. “It feels backwards,” she says, “but I can add val-
stationery store and figuring out how to build a lab in a warehouse, Ce-
ue precisely because I am not an expert.” She focuses the group by ask-
lia has made the most of her adaptability. She observes that some things
ing the basic questions that test whether their plans or ideas are sound.
which come easily to her are hard for others, and vice versa. “It’s difficult
And while her role is more air-traffic-control than pilot, it’s still thrilling.
to properly value our own strengths, because they’re the areas that seem so
“In my current role, I’ve seen therapies developed that cure Severe Com-
easy,” she says, “but it’s also how you can add enormous value to a team.”
bined Immunodeficiency (“Bubble Baby” disease), or provide a lasting
Inseparable from learning to value one’s strengths is learning to ac-
treatment for cancers that were untreatable five years ago.”
cept one’s weaknesses. “I don’t have the right attention span to be a re-
Celia urges students to strive for a career that really fits. “Until you
search scientist,” says Celia. “I don’t have the passion for my patients to
find the right fit,” she says, “keep learning, keep adding to your skill sets,
be a doctor. I am not excited about marketing products the way my busi-
and keep looking.”
Expert Thinking Takeaways experts persevere | you can be an expert thinker in multiple areas | it is OK to make mistakes | problem solving is key | practice, practice, and practice some more | experts help others | having a vision allows you to chart your path | being part of a community is a benefit | although some know from childhood their desired expertise, others discover it | you can be a team of expert thinkers where the whole outweighs the individual | sometimes it takes time for your idea to find fruition | experts come in all ages | being humbled is a good thing 34
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Sam Chafee ’09 honors his brother Zech ’07 by sporting his number 32 jersey. Pictured are Ian Hunter ’07, Matt Warnecke, Zach Cole ’07, Sam Chafee ’09, and Joe Gorgi ’10. Photo credit: Eamon Convey ’09
Alumni Events
moses brown alumni association
The Moses Brown Alumni Association and Moses Brown School partner to provide opportunities for alumni to engage with each other and MB, near and far. If you would like to host an event or volunteer for the MBAA, please contact Karin Morse ’79 at kmorse@mosesbrown.org or 401-831-7350 x191.
Coast to Coast November 22 Alumnae Soccer Game at MB
This fall, the MB soccer community came out in full force to celebrate Elisio Castro’s 140+ wins and 14 years as girls’ varsity soccer coach. Former and current soccer players, Elisio’s family, coaches Karim Sow, Tom Andrew, Kelly Arrighi, George Tsakraklides, and many fans joined in. Thanks, Elisio!
Abbey Littman ’06, Sarah Brady ’06, Rachel Rosenzweig ’01, and Alicia Pari ’03 took a moment before the Alumnae Soccer Game to catch up with their former coach Kelly Arrighi. 37
November 22 Alumni Soccer Game at MB Alumni played against current boys’ soccer players in the Waughtel-Howe Field House. They were joined by coaches Karim Sow, Tom Andrew, and Eric Aaronian.
November 30 MB Connects at Persimmon Restauranteur Lisa Harrison Speidel ’95 and sommeli-
Tim McCahan ’80, Neath Pal ’81 and his wife Beth Toolan,
er Ross Mattis ’95 hosted a Chef ’s Dinner together. Ross
and Bernie Buonanno ’84 caught up over fine wine and
discussed tasting notes, wine pairings, and his experience
food at Persimmon.
as a wine specialist. Lisa presented a four-course chef ’s menu with her husband, celebrated chef Champe Speidel
Wine expert Ross Mattis ’95 describes KWC wine to attend-
(repeat winner of ‘Best Chef in the Northeast’ by the James
ees. Ross’ history with KWC goes back to the 1999 harvest when
Beard Foundation).
he was a student at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore.
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October 12 MB Alumni & Friends Reception at Threes Brewing in Brooklyn The Class of 2008 turned out for MB’s fall event in Brooklyn: Paul McCarthy, Max Charness, Kate Gorgi, Lauren Thomas Charness, Paul Shamirian, Nish Shah, and Wendel Swaszek. Wondering if classmates live near you? Download the MB Connects app to see. Keep us updated with your current address so you don’t miss an event in your area!
September 28 Quaker Classic Golf Tournament at Newport Country Club ment will go a long way toward strengthening the Bliss Scholarship Fund and expanding MBAA programs locally and around the country. At left, Mike Jezienicki ’97, Jon Hyde ’99, John Baldwin ’94, and friend Chad Stone stop for a photo at the first hole in front of the historic clubhouse. The MB Alumni Association hosted the 4th bi-annual
Missy Crouchley Hem ’85
Quaker Classic in September. With a full field of golfers,
shows off her strong form
sponsors, and volunteers, this year’s successful tourna-
long and down the middle.
November 24 Annual Spree Bowl The annual post-Thanksgiving Spree Bowl celebrated the lives of Evan Spirito ’06 and Zech Chafee ’07.
moses brown alumni association
August 2 Alumni 7v7 Football The MB Football community returned to Campanella Field for the annual 7v7 Alumni football game.
October 19 MBAA Stewardship Dinner at Branch Line The MBAA hosted a stewardship dinner at Branch Line Restaurant in Watertown, Mass. See page 54 for more on this exciting initiative underway. Shown are Perry Buroker, Brian Panoff ’94, John Lewis ’09, Sia and George Panichas ’83, Jamie Magee ’78, Dave Murdock ’93, Karin Morse ’79, Joss Poulton ’07, and Donna Cirelli ’85.
August 10 Young Alumni Social at Flatbread Young alums enjoyed dozens of pizzas at Flatbread Providence. The Moses Brown Alumni Association took the opportunity to thank Caroline Veale ’17 (on the right), the MBAA’s 2017 summer intern. Alex Towey ’15, Colby Farnham ’15, and George Panichas III ’15 caught up before heading back to school. 40
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Middle school’s Team 3 circa 1979-80. See page 28 for an update on one of the students pictured. We hope to hear from the rest of you next issue!
Class Notes keeping in touch
1947
More congratulations go to Charles Staples who was awarded the Driehaus Joe Antunovich Historical Preservation Award for his decadeslong work to save the Chicago Public Library. The gorgeous building Charles worked so hard to preserve (pictured at left) is now the Chicago Cultural Center. Kevin Eatinger
1948
William Pettine and his wife Ginny plan to return to the Shadow of the Elms for his 70th reunion. “I turned 87 this August,” he writes. “I hope there will be many classmates joining me.” The Class of 1948 (shown right), with their reunion liaison Jordan Bailey, will welcome reunioning alumni back to campus on May 19 for Reunion 2018. Join them! Pictured: Fran Sargent, Ray Mountain and wife Mary, Kathryn Lubrano Robinson (daughter of David Lubrano).
1950
Kinvin Wroth was appointed Professor of Law Emeritus at Vermont Law School this past July. Kinvin joined the VLS faculty in 1996, serving as dean and then president and dean until 2004, and continuing as professor of law until his retirement in June. Kinvin and his wife, Dee, live in Sharon, Vt.
1954
Ralph Mills, Jr. is retired but having fun making 3-foot-high nutcrackers and 3-1/2-high tin men. He lives in Mashpee, Mass. Ralph hopes to see more news from classmates and other 1950s alumni in future issues. Will you join him?
1955
Karin Morse ’79 and her colleague Linda Kaplan were delighted to join Mason Flemming for lunch at Cavallo Point, Calif.
In 2017, Adrian Hendricks (left) concluded 7 years of service on the MBAA. Thanks, Adrian, for your many years of service to MB and making the trip to Providence for countless board meetings. Adrian is shown with Cara Camacho ’97 at the D.C.-area reception at the home of John Richardson ’59.
1958 Robert Ellis Smith began stage and film acting at age 73. His latest short Down the Rabbit Hole was filmed in South County, R.I., and his latest stage appearance was in Over the River and Through the Woods at New England Repertor y Theater in Sharon, Mass. Robert returned to campus this fall for the Homecoming Harvest Dinner.
1959
After reading the last edition of Cupola about Art Goddard, seventh grader DJ Plante (left) told Head of School Matt Glendinning he is inspired by Art’s passion for STEM topics. Luckily for DJ, Art had a trip planned to visit MB not long after, and DJ got to show him the new Y-Lab and discuss careers in aerospace engineering.
Larry Kilham just published Free Will Odyssey through futurebooks.info and sent copies to Doc Odell and Karin Morse ’79. With a theme of personal responsibility and artificial intelligence, the book is getting great reviews by readers online.
The Class of 1959 returned to Newport Country Club for the annual Quaker Golf Classic. The foursome, comprised of Stephen Thornton, Drew Kemalian, Tom Godfray, and Joel Davidsen, was joined by their wives at the 19th Hole Reception, bringing a perfect ending to the day.
John Richardson hosted alumni and friends for a reception at his home in Georgetown. He is pictured here with Bob Knibb ’71. 44
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The mission of the Moses Brown
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es Brow n
Step Morris, Jerry Chase, Alec Turner, and spouses got together for a fun minireunion on the rockbound coast of Maine.
A lu
2017-2018 MB Alumni Association Board
1966
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A ssoc
Alumni Association is to foster lifelong relationships with the school and fellow alumni.
1968
Kenneth Hoxsie retired in 2015 from law practice at WilmerHale in Boston. He’s since joined the board of a public company, Franklin Street Properties Corporation. Ken’s son Christian graduated from Claremont McKenna in 2015 and is living and working in Los Angeles. Fred Rotenberg has just completed his 31st year as an attending anesthesiologist at Rhode Island Hospital and the Miriam Hospital. He and his wife Sally continue to enjoy visiting their children and granddaughter in Philadelphia.
1971
The Class of 1971 held their second annual golf outing at Crestwood Country Club. It was a perfect golf day and a nice group with which to play. This year’s outing saw just one foursome, but the class is hoping for a better turnout next year. Pictured are Jeff Brier, Steve Bienenfeld, Jody Karas, and Sandy Bodell.
George Panichas ’83, Clerk Albie Dahlberg ’87, Assistant Clerk Brian Panoff ’94, Treasurer John Baldwin ’94, Recording Clerk Gabriel Amo ’05 Taylor Rotondi Anderson ’02 Cheryl Schadone Cohen ’81 Joanne Debrah ’97 Alexander Egan ’03 Jason Engle ’98 Thomas Frater ’82 Katherine Gorgi ’08 Austin Jaspers ’11 David Keyser ’89 Jane Knowles ’81 Todd Machtley ’00 Vin Marcello ’60 Maggie Moran ’08 David Murdock ’93 David Murphy ’91 Nicole Navega ’89 John Pariseault ’97 Vincent Porcaro ’83 Matthew Romano ’14 Matthew Runci ’64 Miles Rutter ’04 Conal Smith ’06 Ahvi Spindell ’72
LOOK WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER A priority of
MB Believes A CAMPAIGN FOR LEARNING, PEOPLE, AND PLACE
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make your gift today!
mosesbrown.org/onlinegiving
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ia
1973
Dr. Nick Sadovnikoff spoke with MB’s medical ethics class about his journey to become a member and a cochair of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Ethics Committee and shared how ethics consulting works. The students have been studying ethics during end-of-life decision making.
1978
Habib Gorgi ’74 and his brother Michael Georgy ’81 share a light moment at the opening of the Gorgi Family Squash & Education Center this December.
Congratulations to Sasha Alpert (above, left) on winning a 2017 Emmy for Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program for her work on Born This Way, an A&E show that follows the lives of young adults with Down syndrome. This is Sasha’s third Emmy, with previous wins as a producer in the Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program category, also for Born This Way, and for Outstanding Nonfiction Special Emmy as a producer for Autism: The Musical on HBO. Sasha is pictured with co-recipient Megan Sleeper.
1979
Members of the Class of 1979 attended the DeLeo Family’s 100th Fourth of July party at the Bristol Fourth of July Parade. There was a strong turnout from the Moses Brown contingent at the DeLeos’ annual Independence Day celebration: (left to right) Steve DeLeo, George Boitano, Henry Nodarse, Marc Geffroy, Peter Roe, and Richard Sugerman. Peter Roe also held his own against current MB Boys’ soccer players at the Alumni Soccer Game.
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1981
Half Miler & High Flyer: A.W. “Jake” Gorton ’1916
Phil Zexter and Larry Goldstein ’84 prepared to play the beautiful course at Newport Country Club at the 2017 Quaker Classic Golf Tournament.
Captain Adolphus “Jake” Gorton — recently inducted into the Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame — was a pioneer Naval aviator, veteran of World Wars I and II, and an outstanding MB athlete.
Former soccer teammates Neath Pal and Michael Georgy, who played left and right wing together, were reunited at the opening of the Gorgi Family Squash & Education Center. Their favorite play was the wishbone!
1982
The Class of 1982 returned to the Front Circle to celebrate their 35th reunion. Many thanks to Laura and Peter Ramsden for hosting a Friday evening reception at their home. Don’t miss Tom Cotter as the 2018 Commencement Speaker!
Jake came to MB as a “ringer,” brought in for his track skills. He spent two years as a boarder, with sensational track times — his record in the half mile (1:56.8), set in 1915, was not broken until 1973. While here, he set the scholastic record for the 880-yard run, coming within a fraction of a second of the standing world record. He was designated the best high school half-mile runner in the country and also held the school record for the 1000-yard run. From MB, Jake went on to Dartmouth on a track scholarship — before answering the call for young men to go to France as ambulance drivers. He served in the French army during World War I. After the war ended, he returned to D.C., flew for the Pacific Fleet, joined the Navy air race team, and volunteered for the aerial mail service. During the 1920s, Jake set six world speed records for seaplanes and flew on the leading edge of the most exciting, challenging, and dangerous aspects of early naval aviation. Jake earned a special Navy commendation for laying stretched on the wing of a crippled seaplane for 2.5 hours, holding open the engine throttle while his assistant pilot flew 200 miles, carrying mail to Washington. Airships, dirigibles — Jake flew them all, and pioneered the technique of fighter plane hooking. Jake also oversaw naval flight training and taught Joe Kennedy, older brother of President John F. Kennedy, to fly. Throughout his life and career, Jake spoke highly of his MB education and the opportunities the school provided him. Years ago, he stopped by campus to see his alma mater’s new indoor track. In a 1982 letter to MB, Jake said that his two years at Moses Brown “were without question the two happiest and most rewarding years of my life. Entering MB was like entering a new world. The teaching I received was outstanding and the rules of conduct set there made a lifetime impression. The teaching and training I received at Moses Brown gave me the confidence I needed to accomplish the goals I set out for myself.” Thanks to Bryan Cooper ’78 for bringing this story to our attention. Photo courtesy of Delta Mike Airfield, Inc. (www.dmairfield.org)
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1983 Lisa Fischer, Heidi Buonanno, Ted Fischer (right), Lisa Ardente, and Liza McCahan attended an MB Connects at Persimmon restaurant hosted by Lisa Harrison Speidel ’95 and Ross Mattis ’95. Lisa and her husband, chef Champe Speidel, served a four-course Chef ’s Dinner at their restaurant, which Ross generously paired with wine from Ken Wright Cellars, for which he is East Coast sales manager. Classmates George Demopulos, Ron Gendron, and George Panichas all turned out for the 2017 Quaker Classic at Newport Country Club.
Daniel Elbaum and his wife Deb have three children, Hannah (junior at Smith College), Nathan (freshman at Brown), and Noah (6th grade), and Daniel still sails as much as possible, including frostbiting through the winter. Dan works in biotechnology doing drug discovery and still regularly makes it to Providence to visit his parents.
1986
David Husted has been busy this school year working with students of all ages in the new Y-Lab as MB’s first Director of Innovation and Design.
1987
Classmates Tom Wynn, Joe Mollicone, and Ed Ricci pause for a photo at the first hole at the 2017 Quaker Classic.
1991
Dave Murphy shared an annual Thanksgiving tradition with his daughter Skylar at the Turkey Tailgate. Alexis Miles and Lori Bean Geisinger ’89 enjoyed being fireside at the Sugarbush Resort reception after spending the day on the windswept slopes in 10 degree weather. 48
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1994
Brian Panoff, Mike Degnan, and Dan Sarles raised a glass at Townsman in Boston.
1995 Ross Mattis and Gardner Lane, both MB parents, enjoy the sunset at the Quaker C l a s s ic Golf Tournament at Newport Country Club.
1996 Best friends Abigail Wing Douek and Allison Weitberg Spurling stopped by the Homecoming Harvest Dinner and bonfire. Abby made the trip up to Providence from her home in Raleigh, North Carolina to celebrate Allie’s birthday. Congratulations to Scott Young on his appointment as the next head of school at The Park School in Brookline, Mass. Scott will begin his new position in July. He’s now finishing the year at Marin Academy before moving back East with Katie Karpowicz Young ’99 and their children Caroline and Peter.
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1997
Basil Lee is co-founder of Finback Brewery in Glendale, Queens. Basil left a career in architecture to turn his homebrewing hobby into a commercial brewery, and distributes draft beer throughout the greater NYC area. The taproom has 12 rotating taps focusing mainly on hop forward, sour, and dark beers, with can or bottle releases every 2-3 weeks. Next time you are in Queens, stop by the taproom to try one of these creative, elegant beers.
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1999
In July, Sara MacLeod and her husband Cornell stopped by for a visit with Karin Morse ’79 on the way to their favorite Narragansett Beach. Daughter Harper loved racing around campus, while baby Brooks enjoyed the quiet of the Woodman Center. Seth Weitberg is hard at work as one of the co-writers of The Opposition w/ Jordan Klepper (formerly the senior white correspondent of The Daily Show). The new show launched in September on Comedy Central and tapes in New York City.
2000
Ben Brier proudly showed off the LinkedIn headquarters to Karin Morse ’79 when she visited in February. Ben is relationship manager for sales solutions and works in their San Francisco office.
2003
Alex Egan (left) and Celeste Menschel came to Providence to have dinner at the home of Karin Morse ’79 and Larry Tremblay, and took a quick tour of the Woodman Center. Georgia Mischak (far right) stopped by campus for a field hockey game and a visit with coach Leslie Caito-Jones.
Yun Lindell Chabot married Jordan Chabot in October 2016. Family and friends were in attendance at the Lindell residence, including many members of the Moses Brown community. Pictured are Jackie DiSanto Mateo, Adrienne Beauregard-Rheaume, Melanie Lindell (Library Assistant), Josh Lindell ’00, Yun Chabot, Jordan Chabot, Hollie Quigley, and Stephanie Traynor Lindell ’00. cupola
2004 In October, Bay Hudner and her father Michael went on a campus tour with Karin Morse ’79 and stopped at The Studio of the Three Oaks en route from the Woodman Center to the Y-Lab. Amazingly, Bay found the blue-and-white model sloop she built in 7th grade perched on the fireplace mantle.
Welcome to the board! Vincent Porcaro, Sr. ’83, Gabe Amo ’05, and John Barrett, Jr. ’63 have joined MB’s Board of Trustees.
2005
Mike Markarian, Ash Wall, Adam Tracy ’06, Anthony Tracy ’04, and Phil Gregory enjoyed reminiscing at the Boston reception at Townsman.
Rob Treut married Stephanie Titus atop the Lost Mine Trail at Big Bend National Park in May. Peter Treut ’01 served admirably as best man. After the wedding, the couple relocated from Austin to Boston.
THE NICOL SQUASH CLUB
WELCOMES MB ALUMNI! Featuring 12 squash courts (including doubles), locker rooms with showers, and a pro shop, the Nicol Squash Club has affordable memberships and elite-level coaching for newcomers and experts alike. Operated by world champion Peter Nicol, the club offers clinics, individual and group lessons, league play, and Nicol’s signature junior academy program.
nicolsquashclub.com
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2006
Ben Chaffee and Alex Zinn (left) toured the new Woodman Center with Director of Alumni Relations Karin Morse ’79 and Assistant Director Jordan Bailey. This year’s Alumnae Soccer Game was also a celebration of former soccer coach Elisio Castro. The MB soccer community, past and present, came out in full force to celebrate Elisio’s 140+ wins and 14 years as Girls’ varsity soccer coach. Pictured here is Elisio with two of his former players, Sarah Brady and Abbey Littman.
2008
Chris Hasslinger and Meredith Wasserman graduated from Brown Medical School this past May. Chris is completing a residency in emergency medicine at Maine Medical Center and Meredith is completing her residency in urologic surgery at Rhode Island Hospital. She joins MB grads Michael Mariorenzi ’06 (orthopedics) and John Poggi (neurosurgery).
2009
Brayden Puddington and Mia Rotondi married on August 5th at the very spot where they first met: the front steps of Moses Brown. MB alumni in attendance were sisters and brother-in-law of the bride, Taylor Rotondi Anderson ’02, Arian Rotondi Solomon ’04, and Nicolas Anderson ’03, as well as many friends: Neil Vasquez, Jordan Crystal, Derek Army, Rosa Heyman, Sophie Stevenson, Leah Saris, John Lewis, Travis Army ’11, Ryan Fullerton ’08, Karin Morse ’79, and MB hockey coach Larry Tremblay. Steve Johnson married Emily Cathcart in a ceremony in Great Britain in November. His MB family will celebrate them here in 2018.
On the Ground Floor Two summers ago, Jordan Greer ’12 interned with Deepwater Wind, the developer of the Block Island Wind Farm, while studying civil engineering at Lehigh University. That was the summer they installed the foundations of the turbines on the seafloor. As an engineering intern,
Jordan got to apply skills she learned in the classroom to a fast-moving undertaking at the forefront of energy. The experience furthered her interest in renewable energy and offshore engineering. She’s now pursuing a master’s
2011
In June, Hope Spector , Yixin Sun ’12, and Julia Martin — pictured in Prague — travelled to eastern Europe together.
Congratulations to Robby Rinn, who wrapped up his second season as a minor-league member of the Kansas City Royals organization. After graduating from Bryant University, Rob was a 25th-round pick for the Royals in the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft. He played first base last spring.
2015
Jill DeStefano ’14 and Molly Freeman joined each other once again in the NCAA Division III Field Hockey semifinals match-up. Jill plays defense for Franklin & Marshall, and Molly plays forward for Middlebury College.
Julio Barroso spent a morning in the WaughtelHowe Field House with coach Karim Sow at the Alumni Soccer Game. Ethan Binder has launched an EdTech startup called GoPeer, a sophisticated online platform that allows K-12 students and their parents to search for and connect with qualified college students for in-person cross-age peer tutoring lessons. They’re here in Rhode Island and Ethan welcomes any interested MB families. Learn more at gopeer.com. George Panichas III (second from right), a junior at the University of Mississippi, hosts the newest additions from MB to the Ole Miss family: his sister Melina Panichas ’18 and Meaghan Fawcett ’18, along with other members of the Fawcett and Panichas families, including George ’83.
in civil engineering at UC Davis, focusing on geotechnical engineering and performing research in the school’s Soils Interaction Laboratory, an engineering research center of the National Science Foundation. Her project centers on the stimulation of natural bacteria in the soil to control underground
2017
In July, Lydia Beal screened a film she made in Newport. The film was a direct result of MB’s Owen Student Travel Experience award, which Lydia used to travel to South Africa to explore the aftermath of apartheid through film, and to volunteer for Universal Promise. Lydia is now a freshman at Northeastern University. Her film — UBUNTU: A Silent Uprising — delivered a powerful message at its Rhode Island debut.
water seepage and involves collaboration between biologists and engineers. Last August, Jordan also was selected as a Science under Sail Institute for Exploration fellow, one of 16 college students chosen to serve as a research fellow on an expedition
at sea in the Bahamas, to study Caribbean coral reefs. Experiences like these fuel her passion for renewable energy and sustainability. “I’m fascinated by the strength and behavior of the ground,” Jordan writes, “and look forward to joining this field.”
See more!
Calling All Classes: Alumni Stewardship
Read more about the incredible life and career of John Littlefield ’43 on page 32.
Thanks to Greg Marsello ’73 for serving as guest editor for this Cupola. Greg is recognized internationally as an expert in lifelong learning. He received MB’s Alumni Achievement Award in 1998, is a Quaker, past parent, and former trustee. See page 24 for Greg’s thoughts on Expert Thinking.
Are you interested in sharing your expertise or volunteering with the MB community? Would you be willing to speak to a class or student group about your work? The Moses Brown Alumni Association will be piloting a Stewardship program this year, and in the near future, alumni will be invited to participate. The program will pilot across all grade levels. Thank you in advance for considering volunteering on campus, coaching, or even mentoring a senior project.
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Nadeem Ahmad ’85 lives in the Poconos; he and his wife Teri have two sons. Nadeem says mentorship has played a key role in his career. “The great thing about medicine is that you are always a student and you are always a teacher.” See more on page 28. cupola
Sheyna Gifford ’96 has been to sMars! See her story on page 26.
Celia Adelson ’97 says MB never made her feel like she had to choose one way of approaching the world: “I could be deeply interested in science, French, and photography all at once; that opportunity provided the foundation for finding my way to the niche I enjoy now.” See page 34.
Enjoyed this winter’s snow? Take inspiration to get outside by learning more about Gilson Snowboards, dreamed up by Nick Gilson ’07 while an MB middle schooler. Nick says high expectations at MB set him up well to succeed at Johns Hopkins and beyond. See more on page 30.
“There are so many teachers and people I can thank at MB,” Brad Sunderland ’15 says, “but I am most grateful to Meg Fifer and Graham Holland; they always pushed me to stretch and push beyond my initial understanding or current level.” See page 20 for more on Brad’s post-MB journey.
YOU CAN’T ALWAYS MAKE IT BACK TO CAMPUS ALUMNI NEARBY, ALUMNI DIRECTORY, CAMPUS NEWS, EVENTS The MB Alumni Association has made it easier than ever for alumni to stay connected to each other and the school. Download the MB Connects app today!
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condolences
In Memoriam
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Robert Harrington, Class of 1943, graduated from
Norman Steere, Class of 1948, was a respected banker,
Harvard College and received his M.Ed. from the Harvard Gradu-
having spent most of his career at Mellon Bank in Pittsburgh, ulti-
ate School of Education. He began teaching at Aiken Prep School
mately serving as its Vice Chairman and as a member of the board.
in South Carolina in the fall of 1947, which commenced a long
During his early years at Mellon Bank, he and his family lived in
career teaching English and Latin. Bob was headmaster of Aik-
Buenos Aires while he worked with the Bank of London and South
en Prep from 1971-1988, and continued his involvement with
America from 1970-1972. Following his retirement from Mellon
the school after retirement, teaching Latin, coaching tennis, and
Bank, he was president and chief executive of CityTrust in Bridge-
working with alumni. Bob was instrumental in the school’s suc-
port, Connecticut for two years. He served on multiple boards,
cessful merger with Mead Hall in 2012. He also taught at St. Mark’s
including Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania and the Regional
School, Eaglebrook School, and Tabor Academy Summer School,
Industrial Development Corporation. He was inducted into the
all in Massachusetts. Bob was an active member of the Aiken
Moses Brown Hall of Fame in 2003 for his many athletic achieve-
County community, volunteering for various school boards and
ments, including setting the school records in the shot put, javelin,
foundations. He played tennis most of his life, winning the City
and high hurdles. In 1948, he was awarded the Headmaster’s Cup.
of Aiken Doubles Championship twice and, with his father, being
Norm graduated from Brown University in 1952 and received an
ranked six times nationally for father/son doubles. (6/28/17)
M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1957. (10/24/17)
Howard Armbrust, Class of 1946, graduated from
Robert Pratt IV, Class of 1949, graduated from the Univer-
Concordia College with a degree in the liberal arts, after which
sity of Texas. After graduation, he served as a captain in the U.S. Army
he received a degree in business from Bryant University. He was
during the days leading up to America’s entry into the Vietnam War.
chairman and CEO of Armbrust Chain Company, an international
Bob received his M.B.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan,
chain manufacturer founded by his father. Howard was president
and had a long career in business. He joined General Electric in 1963,
of the Better Business Bureau of Rhode Island and the Manufac-
and spent 14 years with the company in marketing and strategic plan-
turers Jewelry and Silversmiths of America, and was a member
ning assignments. He also worked in strategy development for Heu-
of the 24 Carat Club of New York. He was a member of multiple
blein, Inc., R.J. Reynolds Food & Beverage Group, and Avon Products.
boards, including the boards of Women & Infants Hospital, South
He retired from Avon as executive vice president and member of the
County Hospital, Bryant University, and the Dunes Club. Howard
corporate executive committee. During his long career, Bob found
had a passion for travel and the New England Patriots and was a
great joy in mentoring others, and was a marketing executive-in-res-
talented skier, tennis player, swimmer, and golfer. After moving
idence and adjunct professor at Columbia University’s Graduate
to Florida, he started a new venture as an artist, specializing in oil
School of Business Planning. He also served on several nonprofit
on canvas paintings. Howard’s work has shown in the Newport Art
boards. Bob nurtured his love of sailing throughout his life, keeping a
Museum as well as art shows and galleries in Florida. (11/23/17)
sailboat of some kind in almost every place he lived, and taking many
Charles “Chip” Robinson, Class of 1947, attended
memorable sailing trips with friends and family. (6/12/17)
both Columbia University and Tufts University before becoming
Bruce Randall, Class of 1949, graduated from the Rhode
a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Providence College. He received
Island School of Design with a B.S. in textile engineering. After col-
a master’s degree in anthropology and archaeology from Harvard
lege, Bruce was a member of the United States Army, and served
University. Two pieces of his work, “Lenio and the Sea” and “To
for two years before being honorably discharged as Specialist III.
One Who Became a Poet” were published in The Alembic, an annu-
He was known for his hard work ethic and passion for everything
al publication by Providence College. He authored multiple books
he did. He worked for Safelite Auto Glass for several years as a sales
on New England archaeology, history, and ghost stories. The New
representative, Catalina Inc. as a co-owner, Coventry Narrow Fab-
England Ghost Files delighted people of all ages with over 50 ac-
ric as vice-president, and Columbia Narrow Fabrics as president. He
counts of local hauntings. Chip had columns in Yankee magazine
was also the president of the Southern New England Textile Associ-
and the Rehoboth Reporter, and published stories in the Providence
ation. Bruce was an active member of the Westerly Yacht Club and
Journal. He was a rare coin collector, dealer, and historian, and had
a past member of the Watch Hill Yacht Club. He had a great passion
a vast collection of artifacts. Chip loved all types of animals, from
for boating, antique cars, and woodworking. One of his greatest joys
his fish and turtles to his cats and ferrets. (10/14/17)
was spending time with his grandchildren. (12/14/17)
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57
Bruce H. L. Shaw, Class of 1950, received a B.A. from
Montgomery Scott. Gus served as a reunion agent for MB’s Class
Trinity College. He served in the United States Air Force in Japan
of 1958. As a student, he was involved in performing arts, art, and
and Korea, and was honorably discharged as a captain in 1957.
music. He most enjoyed spending time with his family in Ver-
Bruce and his brother were co-owners of the family business,
mont. Gus was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, and
Woonsocket Supply Company, from which Bruce retired in 1997.
was “born with the gift of laughter.” (6/18/17)
After retirement, he worked security for a variety of companies. He was a member of the Children of the American Revolution,
Angelo Incerpi, Class of 1958, attended the University
Ballou Family of America, and Trinity Club of R.I., as well as the
of Idaho before transferring to the University of Maine, where
past president of the Ballou Home for the Aged. Bruce attended
he received his B.S. degree. He worked as a fisheries biologist in
the Arnold Mills United Methodist Church and was a past mem-
Maine until moving to Danville, Vt. to work for the State of Ver-
ber of the board of trustees, on the staff parish and education
mont Fish and Wildlife Department, where he was employed un-
committees, and a church school teacher. He was also a former
til his retirement as Director of Operations in 2002. Angelo was a
ambassador of the Woonsocket Chamber of Commerce and a
brother with Tau Kappa Epsilon and a lifetime Mason with the Pi-
member of the Morning Star Lodge #3. (11/23/17)
oneer Lodge #72 in Ashland, Maine. He was active in numerous professional and local organizations promoting fishery and wild-
Randall Weeks, Class of 1953, graduated from Tabor
life management and believed strongly in the encouragement of
Academy and attended Nichols College. He served his country as
youth in the outdoors. He was a lifelong hunter, fisherman, and
an Army medical corpsman during the Korean War. After military
overall outdoor enthusiast, and he spent many hours tying flies
service, he co-founded and worked for Dyrelite Corporation until
and doing fine woodcarving which he donated to raise money for
his retirement in 1987. Randy was involved in numerous commu-
wildlife and habitat conservation. This spring he will be award-
nity and nonprofit organizations, including Town Meeting, the
ed the Northeast Fisheries Administrators Association Career
Dartmouth Youth Commission, the Jaycees, the New Bedford
Achievement Award. He is the first-ever recipient of the award
Assembly Association, and the board of directors at Hidden Bay.
which will be named the Angelo Incerpi Conservation Award for
He belonged to the American Legion, Metacomet Sports Car
Lifetime Achievement in his honor. (12/30/17)
Club, and the Thunderbird Club. Randy was a familiar sight zipping around town in his beloved 1967 Mustang and was an avid
Albert Harrison, Class of 1959, earned an undergrad-
Boston sports fan. His favorite sporting venues, though, were the
uate degree from UC Santa Barbara before going to the Univer-
local playing fields, gyms, and rinks where he was the most vocal
sity of Michigan, where he received a Ph.D. in social psychology.
cheerleader at his grandchildren’s many games. (7/8/15)
Al returned to California and found a home in Davis and the UC Davis psychology department. In addition to teaching, he held
Robert Coupe, Jr., Class of 1953, was longtime pastor
several administrative positions, including executive associate
of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in South Wheeling, W.Va. He
dean in the College of Letters & Science, department chair, and
attended the University of Maine and graduated from the Ban-
director of the Internship and Career Center. In 1978, his career
gor Theological Seminary. He served in the U.S. Navy and was
took a turn when NASA contacted him with a request to study
stationed at Memphis, Tenn., Norfolk, Va., and Brooklyn, N.Y.
psychological requirements of space flight. From then on, his re-
During his 37-year tenure at St. Paul’s which began in 1964, he
search and writing centered on issues around humans in space,
led a successful capital campaign to build a new addition to the
the possibility of extraterrestrial life and the human response to
church, and worked tirelessly to help parishioners and the com-
it, and the role of social science in space exploration. His interest
munity. One of his initiatives was a yearly “White Gift Sunday”
in astrobiology led him to travel around the world and write ex-
during Christmastime where congregants would collect clothing
tensively; he never stopped learning or sharing. (2/9/15)
for the Ohio County Clothes Closet. Reverend Coupe served as president of the Wheeling Council of Churches and was involved
Russell Carpenter, Class of 1959, was an honors grad-
in the annual World Day of Prayer observance. He was also the
uate of Princeton University and Yale Law School, where he was
longtime coordinator for Meals on Wheels in Wheeling. Reverend
an editor of the Yale Law Journal and a member of the Order
Coupe was married to his wife Constance for 56 years. (9/6/17)
of the Coif. As a Rhodes Scholar, he studied law and politics at Oxford University, where he attained a master’s in philosophy.
Donald “Gus” Gardner, Class of 1958, worked for over 40 years as a financial advisor, most recently at Janney
58
Since 1969, he was an attorney at the Washington, D.C. law firm of Covington & Burling, where he was partner for 33 years and
cupola
senior counsel. For years, Russ did pro bono legal work in international human rights and was widely published as an expert on
Tristram Hogben, Class of 2008, attended Carnegie Mellon University. He was an MB ‘lifer,’ completing 13 years at
Soviet, Russian, and other East-West joint ventures. He was an
the school. He won the 2006 JV Sailing Coaches’ Award and the
avid world traveler, having visited dozens of countries, his last
2007-2008 Swimming Coaches’ Award. He was also active in
being Namibia last spring, and was fluent in French and Rus-
the performing arts department. A memorial service was held
sian. Russ’s longstanding commitment to MB was extraordinary;
at the Providence Friends Meeting House to celebrate Tris’s life.
he joined the board in 2000 and was a revered and appreciat-
Friends, colleagues and classmates came from near and far, re-
ed member of the Budget & Finance and Buildings & Grounds
membering him for his kindness, sensitive nature, and positive
committees and the Strategic Planning Task Force. His skills as
presence. (6/29/17)
an attorney helped the school clarify its relationship with New England Yearly Meeting, ensuring MB’s financial independence while also strengthening its commitment as a Friends School. Over a 60-year period, Russ was recognized by MB with three of the highest honors that can be bestowed upon an alumnus:
former faculty / staff
Dorothea “Dot” Allen was an English teacher at Moses Brown. She also taught at Dedham Country Day School and in the
the Headmaster’s Cup, the 25th Reunion Alumni Achievement
Mansfield, Franklin, and Foxboro, Massachusetts public school
Award, and the Service to Alma Mater Award. Through the Car-
systems. She sang in the Bethany Congregational Church choir
penter Endowed Program in Teaching Excellence (established
for many years and was part of the Bell Choir at the Church of The
2013), his commitment to teachers and academic excellence at
Palms in Delray Beach, Florida. She was also a member of the Opti-
MB will live on for generations. (9/15/17)
mist Club of Mansfield and the Monday Club of Foxboro. She served
Earl Hutchinson III, Class of 1968, was in the boating industry for most of his life, doing painting, varnishing, and car-
as president of the Pond Home Board of Trustees and Church of The Palms Women’s Fellowship. She enjoyed knitting, reading, and spending summers with her family in Mattapoisett. (7/26/17)
pentry. He was very talented with his hands, and chose to live his life that way. He was a self-taught musician and played guitar for many years. He also loved classic cars and owned a 1974 Corvette
Louis Pezzullo was a respected and noted professional musician as well as an incredible teacher. A giant in the Rhode Island
which he customized himself, winning “Best in Show” in the first
music scene, Lou taught for over 40 years in Rhode Island public
show he put it in. He also loved carpentry and built several pieces
schools and local colleges. He played both baritone and trom-
of furniture for his family home in Harrisville, where he lived with
bone, and was the principal trombone player for the Rhode Island
his wife Betsy. (3/8/14)
Philharmonic Orchestra from 1969-1989 and the orchestra’s mu-
Zechariah Chafee Jr., Class of 2007, received a B.A. from Bryant University in 2016. A Moses Brown ‘lifer,’ Zech was
sic librarian. Lou taught at MB for the past five years and, in that time, formed a close connection with many students, parents, faculty, and staff. (10/8/17)
a heavy hitter and fiery leader at middle linebacker for several powerful MB football squads. He won 2006 Rhode Island Inter-Scholastic League First Team All-Division III honors for his
Mary Pollart taught music in Moses Brown’s lower school for 37 years, retiring at the conclusion of the 2016 school year.
dominance at his position. Zech had a probing mind, swift wit,
She had a profound impact on the lives of more than a genera-
and rare ability to read people, as well as a natural ease with peo-
tion of MB students and was an invaluable member of the lower
ple of all ages. He was an inimitable presence in the MB commu-
school faculty and the Moses Brown community. Mary especial-
nity. At a reception held in the Sinclair Room at Moses Brown,
ly enjoyed watching students turn into middle and upper school
many friends, family and teammates expressed fond memories
students, complete their educational journey at MB, and even
of Zech and enjoyed the array of photos, many taken on Campan-
come back as parents. “It has been my joy and pleasure to have a
ella Field. In addition to being a devoted and loyal friend, team-
career filled with singing, dancing, playing instruments, and lis-
mate and brother, he will be remembered for his gregarious spir-
tening to music with children,” Mary remarked at the end of her
it, compelling presence, and of course his satire. (9/29/17)
MB tenure. (9/8/17)
Moses Brown’s memorial notes are based on published obituaries. Please forward to Office of Alumni Relations, Moses Brown School, 250 Lloyd Avenue, Providence, RI 02906; fax (401) 455-0084; email alumni@mosesbrown.org.
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reflections
Many Paths to Mindfulness Senior Lyle Tingle ’18 is a History Prize winner, Camp Invention volunteer, and was a founding member of MB’s Robotics Club. Lyle Tingle, Senior
aware of my body, thoughts, and emotions, in
this may sound dramatic, but it changed my
“Once a week, I sit in silence with my class-
the moment without harmful judgment.
life. Since then I have attempted to focus my
mates at MB and use silence and stillness to
“To quiet my mind I focus on my breath-
mind whenever I am feeling stressed out and
focus my mind. I also use these skills each
ing. It’s a simple way to bring attention to the
need a break from my reality. I am now a
week when I practice the discipline of Shaolin
body. The most effective way to be in a sustained
much calmer and relaxed person; I think less
Kempo Karate. I practice being present and
state of mindfulness that I’ve experienced so far
about the little things and more about the
aware of everything going on with my body,
is to be on a silent multi-day retreat. The school
big-picture things that actually matter.”
beyond the five senses to my thoughts and
has supported me in this, and it is truly a gift.”
emotions. I focus on meditative approach-
Maureen Nagle, Middle School English
es to self-control, conflict avoidance, and a
Sierra Slack, Grade 3
“We begin every middle school English class
judgement-free understanding of other peo-
“On Wednesday mornings, we walk to the
with 10 minutes of silent reading. For both
ple. Quieting your mind is the hardest thing
Meeting House for Meeting for Worship.
students and teachers, we all have to man-
to learn, but ultimately the most important.
I know to get settled because you are sup-
age what feels like a million transitions every
“If you seek mindfulness in Japan, you will
posed to be silent and present and listening.
school day. I’ve found this invaluable to help
be told to select an activity that will lead you
I remind myself to be quiet and that I want
the class settle, to come together in the act
to that state, rather than having someone try
to be ready to hear what people have to say
of reading, to settle into the silence. It is so
to teach you it directly. This is because mind-
and think about their words. Gymnastics also
simple, and a powerful way to practice sus-
fulness, with its focus on reduced self-talk,
helps me to be mindful. During practices, my
taining our attention on one thing, especially
non-judgement, and self-awareness, is an un-
coaches give me corrections to make. When
in a world where so many things can pull our
orthodox state. Life has two modes, a being
it is my turn, I take a deep breath and focus
focus in different directions.”
mode and a doing mode. Mindfulness shifts us
on trying to make them. During a competi-
“Running also helps bring me to a mind-
from a doing mode to a being mode through
tion, I focus even harder. Before it is my turn,
ful state. I’ve always been a runner, and the
the application of attention and awareness.”
I focus on my breathing, tell myself ‘I can do
rhythm is so meditative. I rarely run with mu-
this!’ and think about what I want to accom-
sic. I prefer to hear the sound of my breathing,
Anne Krive, Libraries
plish. Being mindful before and during my
or the wind through the trees, even my sneak-
“It seems mindfulness is a goal, something to
routines helps me feel confident.”
ers splashing in puddles. It is often while
be attained. But it is not. It is a practice. And
I’m running that I have my most creative
not practice to get better, but practice to ex-
Trey Sullivan, Sophomore
thoughts or reach some conclusion, or figure
plore and get to know oneself. There are many
“I am thankful that MB set up a guided med-
out a solution to a problem. I think when I’m
ways to practice — in silent meditation or in the
itation room during exam week. I never quite
running I am so fully physically engaged that
midst of chaos. I find mindfulness when I’m
knew the power meditation could have, and
it activates different areas of my brain.”
60
cupola
“Teaching is what Moses Brown is about. It’s what it has always done best. To my mind, it’s the most important part of the school to support.” To support world-class teaching with a bequest or planned gift, contact Perry Buroker at 831-7350 x289 or pburoker@mosesbrown.org.
In 2014, longtime board member Russ Carpenter ’59 made the singlelargest contribution to MB’s endowment through a bequest, creating the Russell Carpenter ‘59 Program in Teaching Excellence. A Rhodes Scholar and alumnus of Princeton, Oxford, and Yale Law, he lived, worked, and traveled in more than 65 countries, spoke Russian, and was fluent in French — a lifelong passion developed at Moses Brown. Russ was profoundly influenced by MB — and exhibited a profound influence on Moses Brown with his unprecedented $3.6 million gift in support of teaching here today. Russ passed away in September, but leaves behind a legacy of world-class teaching for generations to come.
Moses Brown School 250 Lloyd Avenue, Providence, RI 02906 www.mosesbrown.org 401-831-7350
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Providence, RI Permit No. 3264
For the Honor of Truth
MB REUNION 2018: MAY 19TH
MAKE TRACKS FOR MB!
NOT A REUNION YEAR? Alumni and parents of alumni are invited to stop by campus to see the new Gorgi Family Squash & Education Center. Contact alumni@mosesbrown.org or call 401-831-7350.
To register, check attendance, or get the latest updates, visit mosesbrown.org/reunion
’48 ’53 ’58 ’63 ’68 ’73 ’78 ’83 ’88 ’93 ’98 ’03 ’08 ’13
STEP OUT IN STYLE AT MB REUNION THIS SPRING
Alumni parents: If this Cupola is addressed to a graduate no longer residing at your home, please contact alumni@mosesbrown.org or call x114 to update his or her address.