Moses Brown spring / summer 2019
cupola
stewardship
Regis Bingham ’90 Priya Desai ’99
Kieran Harrington ’16 Natasha Harrison ’87
Adrian Hendricks ‘58 Andy Read ’05
Peter Salmons ‘04 Scott Triedman ’78
MB Connects: How Can You Let Your Light Shine?
Moses Brown School Board of Trustees Gabe Amo ’05 Issmat Atteereh P ’13 ’18 John T. Barrett, Jr. ’63 P ’01 Neil Beranbaum ’86 P ’22 ’24 ’28 Clerk, Alumni Association Maitrayee Bhattacharyya P ’20 Carl Bogus ’66 GP ’30 Cheryl Cohen ’81 Joanne P. A. Debrah ’97 P ’20 Jane Dietze P ’20 ’23 Clerk, Investment Committee Lisa Donahue P ‘21 Clerk, MB Parents’ Association Thomas J. (T.J.) Fullam P ’14 ’17 Gary I. Goldberg ’87 P ’17 ’19 ’20 Clerk, Campaign Steering Committee Austin Jaspers ’11 Dolph Johnson P ’20 ’23 William (Tad) Jose ’78 Rebecca Leuchak P ’04 ’09 Shaun Levesque P ’12 ’14 ’17 Treasurer & Clerk, Budget & Finance Cmte. Dele Mabray P ’17 ’20 Mike McGuigan
Moses Brown, a Friends school, exists to inspire the inner promise of each student and instill the utmost care for learning, people, and place. —Moses Brown School mission statement
Friends Coordinator Kara Milner P ’19 ’21 ’27 Recording Clerk of the Board Stephanie Ogidan-Preston ’97 P ’22 Clerk, Enrollment & Marketing Alisha Pina ’96 Vincent Porcaro, Sr. ’83 P ’11 ’24 Yiguang Qiu P ’20 Peter Ramsden ’82 P ’16 ’19 Clerk, Buildings & Grounds Cmte. Jane Ritson-Parsons P ’17 ’21 Assistant Clerk of the Board Paul Salem P ’19 ’19 ’22 Clerk of the Board Ahvi Spindell ’72 Liesa Stamm Ariana Steele P ’26 ’29 Reza Taleghani ’90 P ’21 Clerk, Governance Committee Stephen Thomas P ’27 ’30 Dawn Tripp P ’19 ’24
Thank You to the Class of 2019! MB’s newest graduating class reached 87% participation for their Senior Class Gift, the highest level achieved since the Class of 2010 reached 100%! Thanks to the Class of 2019 for your stewardship of MB and best wishes as you head off to college this fall. We hope to see you — and all MB classes and community members — at Homecoming and Expo this fall: October 17-19. Watch your email and mosesbrown.org for details.
Clerk, Nurturing Friends Education Carlton Tucker P ’18 Matt Glendinning Head of School Frederick Weiss Clerk of NEYM
The Moses Brown Alumni Association is unveiling a new program of stewardship. Look for the MB Connects logo throughout this issue to see just some of the ways alumni are connecting with MB and watch for details coming soon.
Cupola Spring/Summer 2019 Letter from Matt Glendinning ..................................... 2 News from Moses Brown Today .................................. 3 Community Perspectives: Sophie Schmults ’23 ................................................. 13 Kelly Joseph .............................................................. 14 Scott Martin P’22 ’24 ’26 ’30 .................................. 15 Gifts in Action .............................................................. 16 MB Connects ............................................................... 18 Stewardship, Adrian Hendricks ’58, guest editor .......... 20 Alumni Profiles: Priya Desai ’99 ......................................................... 22
See our feature section starting on page 20 to hear from alumni who are working for the greater good at and outside of MB. This issue of Cupola also introduces the school’s new MB Connects program, described on page 18.
Kieran Harrington ’16 ............................................. 25 Regis Bingham ’90 .................................................. 26 Peter Salmons ’04 ................................................... 28 Natasha Harrison ’87 .............................................. 30 MB Alumni Events and News .................................... 32 Reunion 2019............................................................... 36 MBAA Award Recipients ........................................... 38 Departing Faculty & Staff .......................................... 40 Class Notes .................................................................. 42
Cupola — A semi-annual magazine for Moses Brown School alumni Editor: Adam Olenn ’91 P ’25 ’27 ’30 Director of Alumni Relations: Karin Morse ’79 Assistant Head of School for Institutional Affairs:
Class Notes: Kate Tompkins P’28 Sam Cosenza (designer) Contributors:
Photography:
Emily Atkinson
David O’Connor, MB Communications
Kristen A. Curry
Designers: Jason Arias, Sam Cosenza
In Memoriam ............................................................... 56
Printer: Signature Printing, East Providence, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council
The next issue of Cupola...
Kristen A. Curry
Ronald Dalgliesh P ’21
Commencement 2019................................................. 54
Reflection: Scott Triedman ’78 ................................. 60
Managing Editor:
Adam Olenn ’91
FSC Placeholder
Cupola is produced by the offices of Communications 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. mosesbrown.org
Stay in touch!
We’ll soon be starting work on the next issue of Cupola. Notes, updates, feedback, and suggestions always welcome!
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: mosesbrown.org | Facebook.com/MosesBrownSchool Youtube.com/MosesBrownSchoolNews | twitter.com/MosesBrown Instagram.com/mosesbrownschool
a letter from matt glendinning , head of school
Stewardship in Action Quaker values. Testimonies. SPICES. We use these terms regularly at Moses Brown as shorthand for a shared framework that guides and energizes the school. But what do these words mean, what do they look like in practice, and what impact do they have on our students? George Fox, considered the founder of Quakerism in 17th-century England, espoused a singular, powerful belief: that each person embodies and has access to an inner divine essence — what Friends refer to as “that of God” or the Inner Light. Since that time, Quakers have developed an enduring set of values and practices that put Fox’s core belief into practice. These are called testimonies, and principal among them are simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship/service (hence the acronym SPICES). Taken together, these testimonies call on us to care for one another and to strive to live in a way — personally and collectively — that makes the world more just, humane, peaceful, and sustainable for all. A commitment to caretaking is implied in all the testimonies, but it’s especially clear in the last of the SPICES. Stewardship and service are values that focus our attention on our place in the world, our obligations to one another, and our work for a secure and just future. Stewardship is one of the fundamental purposes of a Friends’ school, and it stands at the heart of MB’s mission: we exist “to instill the utmost care
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for learning, people, and place.” Everywhere I look around campus, I see examples of stewardship in action. This year, as part of a new program called Immersion, the Upper School deepened its engagement with the city of Providence and its various populations. Ninth graders designed and carried out weeklong service projects with the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, the Refugee Dream Center, and other community-based organizations. The same spirit animates the other divisions, too. This year, fourth grade successfully navigated a complex project called the World Peace Games, fifth grade studied climate change in depth and successfully lobbied MB’s administration to stop using plastic straws on campus, and eighth grade helped students in the SquashBusters program develop their reading skills. Indeed, stewardship is so central to our identity as a school that as the Moses Brown Alumni Association wanted to do something transformative for MB, they have created a new structured program of stewardship — MB Connects — that will ensure every member of the community can give their time and talents for the good of others and the school. In this issue of Cupola, you’ll find stories about this spirit of care and commitment to others, and how MB’s mission is impacting the world beyond our campus. If you have a story to share, please reach out to me at mglendinning@mosesbrown.org.
cupola
news from moses brown
Hope & Lloyd
Thank you for a successful 1784-Minute Challenge!
1784 Challenge In a first-ever 1784-Minute fundraising challenge in May, MB surpassed its goal of 200 donors to reach an incredible 508 donors! The MB community generously contributed $47,036 which was matched by three anonymous donors, Reza ’90 and Deme Taleghani ’90 P’21, raising a total $87,036 in support of students and teachers! Thanks to all who participated, including: • 60 volunteers who made calls and sent emails from MB and all across the country
• 58 Members of the Class of ’19 • 57 Faculty & Staff
• 195 Alumni
• 30 Parents of Alumni
• 152 Current Families
• 17 Current & Past Grandparents
Meet your new Head of Lower School: First-grader Penelope Kwan won the chance to be the Head of Lower School for a day in May, a top prize in this year’s MBe There silent auction. First order of business: a school-wide pajama day in lower school! Penelope greeted morning arrivals, led a Faculty Huddle, and met with architect Trung Le to help plan the lower school redesign — and attended, class, too! Senior Jack Tripp, a Friend, was recognized at
Congratulations to MB’s Middle School
this year’s Spring
VEXIQ team! Middle school students gave a strong performance at their first robotics
Members of the upper school Environmental
Tea sponsored by
tournament. Tucker Gibbs and Lily Pro-
Council worked successfully with Sage
the Providence
caccianti finished 4th in the finals.
Dining to ban plastic straws at MB this year.
Meeting.
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MB Welcomes New Head of Upper School
Kudos
• The lower school SPARK group raised almost $400 to benefit Providence Animal Rescue League, in conjunction with their visit from author Lisa Papp.
This summer, Moses Brown is pleased to welcome the new leader of MB’s upper school: Elise London. Elise joined the
• Channel 10 recognized junior Gia D’Alessandro for her work in support of Clothes to Kids RI, helping to provide new and quality used clothing to low-income and in-crisis Providence schoolchildren. • Seventh-grader Nate Gray took sixth overall in the National Geographic State Geography Bee. • The middle school Math Team earned 6th place at this year’s R.I. Mathcounts Competition and the upper school Math Team qualified for the state playoff in April.
MB community in July, coming from St. Mark’s School in Massachusetts, where she was Associate Director of College Counseling. Elise impressed MB with her knowledge of school operations and vision for a student-centered program grounded in Quaker values. Elise says, “Schools at their best educate students about the world as it is but also inspire them to create the world they wish to inhabit.” Please join us in welcoming Elise London to Moses Brown.
• Faculty member Maureen Nagle’s suggestion, What the Eyes Don’t See, was selected as this year’s Read Across Rhode Island book. • MB’s 2019 Ethics Bowl team finished as runners-up in the state Ethics Bowl. • Freshman Nathan Xing earned two trophies at this year’s Rhode Island Math League playoffs, tying as the highest-scoring ninth grader. • Congratulations to the winners of this spring’s Pitch-a-Switch challenge, where students were invited to come up with solutions to improve their community. First place went to Olivia Cooley, Karl Lauture, and Karina Ruiz, to improve equity and inclusivity at Moses Brown. • Junior Eric Song earned second place in the American Mathematical Society’s “Who Wants to Be a Mathematician” Pi Day competition at Providence College.
Matt Glendinning gathers with this year’s international In January, a new tradition was
students. MB’s international
born in the lower school, as MB
population is currently 16
held its first-ever family dance!
students, with close to 20
Funds raised supported the
Chinese students anticipated
World Wildlife Fund.
to come next year.
• Members of the Class of 2019 will attend 69 distinct colleges in 20 states plus Washington, D.C. and Paris, France. See page 54 for the full list. • Middle school teacher Jon Gold was featured in Education Week, discussing different approaches to evaluating student classroom responses. • Seventh graders Lydia Whitely, Phoebe Kinnell, and Brooke Beranbaum earned an Honorable Mention in an NPR Podcast Challenge for their submission of “School Dress Codes: What’s Appropriate Anyway?” 4
This year’s third annual “Evening of Advocacy: Connecting Friends & Refugees,” sponsored by MB’s Partnership Through Advocacy Club, was a huge success. Thank you to everyone who came and donated!
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news from moses brown
Academic Highlights Dominique Avila ’11, shown working with students in the Y-Lab, teaches art in both middle and upper school. Stop by her classroom at Expo this October to learn more about art at MB today.
Congratulations to members of the class of 2019 who were named candidates for the United States Presidential Scholars Program: Caroline Coia, Lucy Handy, Allie Lee, and semifinalist Jillian Lombardi. The United States Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by Executive Order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors.
Rising senior Trey Sullivan created and presented a powerful documentary about homophobia in schools this spring. Trey interThe eighth grade hosted Brown scholars Rawan Arar and Alex Winder, who presented and discussed their research with students. The session took place during the students’ final stage of preparation to lead a discussion on the U.S. role in the Middle East, as well as their independent research projects. Thanks to parent Robin Gibbs (director of international advancement at Brown) for helping to create this inspiring, eye-opening opportunity.
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viewed about 40 faculty members, as well as students, community activists, family, and Thayer Street passersby on their beliefs — and experiences with — homophobia. “Thanks to all who came to see the film and to support this push for change,” Trey says. “Homophobia affects us all, regardless of how we identify.”
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Kudos • AP Statistics students presented the culmination of a year’s independent research in academic poster format, in the Y-Lab. • Allie Lee ’19 was one of just nine Rhode Island students awarded a 2019 National Merit Scholarship.
Seven rising seniors were selected for Class of ’48 Awards this year: Tristan Connell, Yufei Xiao, Lauren Bonner, Adam DiBiase, Nina Ahmad, Ilse Novis, and Mel Ea. The annual awards fund summer independent study and inquiry.
• The kindergarten class enjoyed a walkabout around the campus this spring, visiting Upper Dwares, the “Bird Room,” and the very top of Moses Brown, the cupola. • Lauren Metters, a rising junior, won Rhode Island’s top honor in the Classical Association of New England’s annual writing contest. • For MB’s 2019 Rooster Games, Moses Brown’s fifth grade invited their Henry Barnard counterparts to create teams to compete in a funfilled day of competition, cooperation, and celebration of reading. • Seven fifth graders were recognized as winners in this year’s Library of Congress Letters About Literature Contest for R.I.
Lauren Brignac-Huber’s anatomy students got an up-close look at the real thing, when they visited the cadaver lab at Johnson & Wales’ Physician Assistant Program in Providence in May. As part of first grade’s unit on Community, students partnered with faculty and staff members to get a deeper understanding of our school community. Each student interviewed a different person while spending time with them in their workspace. The first graders summarized the interview on paper and drew a portrait from a photo taken on the day of the visit. At the conclusion, MB community members gathered to see the outcome!
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Mathematics faculty Brett Ford, Kit Wallach, and Brendan Kinnell took advanced upper school classes to visit Brown’s Institute for Computational and Experimental Research in Mathematics (ICERM). In May, the sixth grade visited the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center on Elmgrove Avenue to hear a Holocaust survivor speak. This trip complemented their study of the Holocaust and The Diary of Anne Frank. Navyn Salem P’19 ’22, founder of Edesia Nutrition, visited the upper school during this year’s MB Immersion. Navyn discussed how her Quaker upbringing inspired her passion for social justice and gave her the confidence to launch her company.
MB hosted actress/author Karyn Parsons, author of How High the Moon. Ms. Parsons met with the third through seventh grades.
Spotted at MB this spring: ladybugs! Nursery students studied insects in Science class and staged their annual campus Ladybug Parade, sharing what they learned. After a fun and informative Elena Peterson’s upper school Spanish students studied artist and
presentation, the ladybugs ‘pollinated’ flowers made by older
architect Antoni Gaudí, creating a mosaic and competing in a high-
peers. Thanks to these fourth graders for helping younger class-
stakes “Clash of the Classes” and scavenger hunt.
mates get excited about science!
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As part of an MB TRIPs program, students traveled to California during March break to study entrepreneurship. They had private tours of Facebook and Apple; got hands-on experience with robotic surgery at Intuitive; and visited Craig Newmark, founder of Craig’s List, and Alydia Health, a medical device start-up founded by a college student. At Quizlet’s offices, they met with Andrew Sutherland, who founded the company when he was 15 years old (now 50 million monthly users). Ashley H. Wagstaff ’82, John Slafsky ’83, Uday Kumar ’90, and Alex Rickler ’09 hosted student experiences and were instrumental in trip planning.
Middle school found a creative way to emphaQiong Waters’ four Mandarin classes joined MB’s Chinese students and their local
size Friends Education in classrooms this year,
parents to make dumplings to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The community was
creating SPICES posters in art class. Each post-
invited to share the delicious result, as well as interactive posters showcasing students’
er conveys the meaning and special quality of
learning about Chinese New Year and Chinese culture.
each Quaker testimony.
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news from moses brown
Arts at MB
Photograph by Jesse Dufault
The cast and crew of upper school’s Rent poured their hearts, hard work, and talent into this exceptional show, with sold-out performances.
Isabelle Blinn The Upper School Chorus and String Orchestra spent a weekend in Boston, participating in a master class with Harvard’s Director of Choral Activities. They also caught a Boston Symphony Orchestra performance, toured Symphony Hall and the Institute of Contemporary Art, and yes, Fenway Park. The trip culminated with a live performance at Faneuil Hall! Theater teacher Steve Kidd and speech/language pathologist
Yufei Xiao
Alison Anderson P ’29 ’31 have joined forces to create Next Stage, a program that uses improvisational theater to support the development of social, emotional, and communication skills in schoolchildren. Last winter, they piloted a program with MB’s fourth graders.
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Lucy Handy
In February, eight MB students were honored with 2019 Rhode Island Scholastic Art Awards including Alexander Runci and Isabelle Blinn.
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Forty-eight ensemble students traveled to Washington, D.C. on their way to perform at the Music in the Parks festival in Williamsburg.
Kudos • 2019 graduates were admitted to some of the top arts programs in the country, including Berklee College of Music, Pratt Institute, Parsons Paris, and Rutgers University’s BFA Program.
Lower school music
• The Woodman Center hosted one of the highest art forms when Aunjoli Das ’19 performed a live aerial cirque performance to support Alma Mater Education.
students presented “in-
• Rising sixth grader Amy Steele performed with over 100 other young singers in the 2019 RIMEA Elementary AllState Chorus.
out the year, individual
• Ginger Berry and Brooke Bender were accepted into this spring’s juried Ceramic Show “Earthworks” at the South County Art Association. • Two seniors gave a recital in June as their senior project. Emmi Ahn performed two movements of the Elgar Cello Concerto and Jonathan Rosenzweig performed the Glazunov violin concerto; 75 music fans attended this amazing event. 10
Every year, upper school’s Winter Plays are directed,
formances,” blending traditional performance elements with informal and spontaneous music
designed, and acted by students. This year’s offerings included An Inspector Calls, directed by Brenda Wasser and Trey Sullivan, and The Seagull, directed by Jackson Mello. Singers and instrumentalists reprised their exhilarating set of selections from The Greatest Showman this March.
making, highlighting the skills they built throughcreativity, and formal performance. Dance masterclasses returned for a popular winter session. Local professional dancers worked with several community members, teaching Tap, Breakdance, Latin, HipHop, Bollywood and Stage Movement. Improv We Trust’s spring performance was uproarious, thanks to seniors Lucy Handy, Lily Lustig, Griffin Ownjazayeri, Jonathan Rosenzweig, Charlee Sparr, and Brenda Wasser, and several talented underclassmen.
Dozens of performers and crew created a lively middle school musical production, High School Musical, Jr. MB ROCKS 2019 celebrated “Peace, Love, & Rock ‘n Roll!” Musicians and singers performed for happy friends and family and a “drum-off ” between upper and middle school percussionists became a new highlight. Funds raised help defray costs of the music trips.
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sports news from moses brown
Go Quakers!
Go, Class of 2019! Twenty percent of this year’s graduating class will participate in varsity athletic programs in college. Thanks to middle school’s Dan Ohl for leading the girls’ varsity soccer team for the past eight years. Dan helped MB make the playoffs seven of those
The girls’ lacrosse team won their fifth consecutive Division I state championship.
years and was responsible for the team’s
Senior Teo Milner co-captained the Outdoor
move up to Division II;
Track Team this year and also worked on
he also was instrumental in moving the girls’ soccer coaches’ association toward gender equality. MB’s girls’ soccer team also won the RIIL
athletics for his senior project, studying ways to improve the school’s Fitness Center.
Sportsmanship Award in 2017. After 19 years, Leslie Caito-Jones stepped down as head coach of the Girls’ Field Hockey program. In her years at MB, Leslie holds an overall 204-89-22 record. After moving to Division 1 in 2009, the team holds a 128-22-15 record with nine state championship appearances, six state titles, seven division titles,
Congratulations to students who qualified for this year’s New England
and four undefeated
track championships: Eli Coleman, Marybeth Fitzsimmons, and Abby
seasons. Leslie will stay on as program coordinator in MB’s
Gerrish. Marybeth placed third in the Long Jump and set a new R.I. state
Athletic Department and is looking forward to cheering on
record in the 200 meter. Kudos also to Kolya Markov-Riss who broke a
the team this fall.
school record in the 800 meter.
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The MB sailing team is State Champ! The team competed and won in the high school championship in Newport this spring.
Kudos • Olivia Cooley and Natasha Gorriaran won the shot-put and the 600m, respectively, at this winter’s RIIL Indoor Track Division Championships. • Several MB community members stepped up to volunteer with SquashBusters this year including John Sargent, Dominique Avila, and several eighth-grade mentors. • Rising ninth grader Sophia Gorriaran set a new record for the girls’ mile of 4:59. Sophia also won the 800m and 1500m races at the USATF Indoor Track Championships, setting a national record in the 800m. • Three MB student-athletes were recognized by the Providence Journal in June, named Players of the Year in four sports: Kari Buonanno – Field Hockey & Lacrosse, Marybeth Fitzsimmons – Outdoor Track, and Candice Ballarin – Girls Tennis.
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Basketball player Tori Matson ’19 scored her
Congratulations to 5th grader
1000th point in February. This incredible
David Perez! David placed
achievement has been reached by only three other
second in the Reno Worlds
MB alumnae: Katherine Reaves ’01, Ogechi Ezem-
Championship wrestling com-
ma ’15, and Oluchi Ezemma ’17.
petition in Nevada which earned him the title “All-American.”
The girls’ squash team placed third in the U.S. High School Team Squash Championships.
He’s also the 4x Rhode Island State Champion and 2019 New England Champion.
Larry Tremblay has retired from coaching MB’s Ice Hockey team, capping a long and storied career. During his coaching tenure at MB, Larry and his teams won more than 200 games, three division titles, NEPSAC Holt Conference, and two sportsmanship awards. When asked what he will miss most about coaching, Larry said, “I will miss the kids the most. All of my players are like family to me.” Luckily for MB, Larry will continue as our golf coach.
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“Food allergy is invisible and it’s more than a stomachache or hives. Having a reaction spurred me into action.”
community perspectives
MB and Beyond Sophie Schmults ’23 Student
Kashi crackers seem innocuous enough, but when 13-month-old Sophie Schmults bit into one, something unexpected happened: she had an anaphylactic allergic reaction. Although Sophie could not even say the word “sesame” at the time, it’s now a regular part of her daily vocabulary as she lobbies the FDA for better labeling of food products for people with life-threatening allergies, managing her allergy and activism around a busy schedule of schoolwork, theatre, Service Club, and competitive fencing. Although sesame is in the top 10 of frequent allergens, it’s not required to be labeled and is often included on ingredient lists as simply a flavoring or spice. One look inside your cupboard will likely reveal how problematic that can be for people like Sophie. Better labeling would go a long way to help her and other allergy sufferers. (Currently, the governments in Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand
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require food labeling for sesame; the U.S. does not, although sesame allergies are as numerous as those to fish and soy and are often more severe.) Sophie was incident-free until middle school, when she had two allergic incidents in 18 months. This spurred her into action, although she was only in sixth grade. Now she’s gathered signatures for a petition to the FDA to address labeling and has become active with FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education). She’s raised money and led a food-allergy awareness walk in Boston. Sophie works as an advisor for FARE’s Teen Allergy Group, collaborating with other teenagers around the issues of labeling and trying to make food banks more allergy-friendly. She writes for an allergy blog and has even shared her story in the Wall Street Journal. In addition to her advocacy, Sophie is also writing a book — a fantasy novel about a girl who explores her own power. Allergy sufferers deal with the food-al-
lergy issue multiple times a day, in varied contexts and situations, from birthday parties to shaking hands at a fencing match (where energy bars are a common snack). New restaurants pose a particular challenge. “You’re basically putting your life in the hands of someone you don’t know or see,” Sophie says, though she notes that Pasta Beach, in Wayland Square, is a safe favorite. Having a food allergy has taught Sophie to advocate for herself and deal with scary moments. She says that attending a school that values caring for community has influenced her. “Going to MB has made me a lot more confident in talking about my allergy,” she says. “I have to talk to teachers, parents, team, and the school chef. Talking to other friends, I feel lucky that my school cafeteria takes my allergy seriously. This has made me a bigger, more confident advocate for myself. I’ve learned to speak up in all settings.”
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After she started at MB, Kelly Joseph launched a new TRIP, bringing students to sleep over at the Meetinghouse, then branch out for a week of service across Providence.
Kelly Joseph
Upper School Humanities In a peaceful Gifford classroom overlooking Mann Field, MB’s Religion and Ethics teacher Kelly Joseph and her students tackle big topics — injustice, the criminal justice system, race, mass incarceration, gender. The topics are hard but the job fit is good. “I am honored to do this work,” Kelly says, “to have the flexibility to talk to kids about things that are meaningful to their lives and to our world at this time.” “These are intense, important issues and our students are so curious about the world around them,” Kelly says. “These are hard questions and matters to grapple with, even for adults. I feel privileged to work with kids through these issues.” Kelly teaches Religion, Contemporary Ethics, Philosophy, a course on the Modern Middle East, and next year, a new course on Media, Culture, and Politics. She appreciates the common goal shared, across disciplines and backgrounds, by faculty and staff at MB. “The Quaker identity of Moses Brown is what makes it a community of such great potential,” she says. “While we come from so many different faith traditions and cultural backgrounds, we can use the Quaker principles of peace and equality to work together to build a better community and, ultimately, a better world.” Kelly advises Community Outreach and also oversaw MB’s community service program for a number of years and helped develop the school’s new upper school immersion program. She hopes to impart to students the idea of “being proximate,” the philosophy espoused by lawyer and activist Bryan Stevenson. “It’s important to be close to people who are struggling,” she says. “It’s important to connect with people to realize our shared
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humanity. We have a responsibility to help one another.” Getting students to volunteer before school at Amos House, a Providence social services organization, is one way Kelly has inspired MB students to find that proximity. Serving early in the morning before school, conversations are sparked and connections made. Their kitchen shifts run from 6:30-8 a.m., so they can be back on campus in time for first class. “It’s a powerful way to start the day,” Kelly comments. “Kids begin to realize the real struggles of our neighbors, and the humanity that binds us together.” Community service has long been part of Kelly’s life, whether volunteering at a women’s shelter in Boston or working with the School of Leadership Afghanistan, providing English lessons to girls in Kabul over Skype. Today’s upper school service is somewhat different from what alumni and parents might remember, as the school has moved away from a 40-hour graduation requirement. Instead of requiring service as a box to be checked, MB decided to take service in-house. Now in fall Freshman Studies, students work with community partners, learning about issues, then working directly with community organizations like R.I. Community Food Bank, City Year Providence, and Clothes to Kids. At Sojourner House students tackled beautification, planting a flower bed, something that staff did not have time to do in their regular workday. Others sewed clothes for youth impacted by natural disaster or helped House of Hope clients complete paperwork for bus passes and driver’s licenses (with funding support from the Class of 2011 Fund) — a relevant exercise as many had just gotten their own licenses. “They start as ninth graders,” Kelly says, “and we hopefully plant a seed. It’s not just about a graduation requirement, it’s about forming connections.” Young people need to work for social policy, she says, advocating for change at the government level. “The advocacy piece is key.” It’s not just about money and direct service (though those are important). The legislative piece is essential, too. “We have to look at the root challenges and problems,” Kelly says, hoping to help kids learn more about social policy and advocate for change. Kelly cites the influence she sees of direct service on students like Kieran Harrington ’16 (see page 25) and Skyler Sullivan ’18, both now in the Pulse Program at Boston College. Both attended the first Providence Service Trip in 2015 and now have taken that commitment to college with them. “They planted those seeds here,” Kelly says. Today’s students are finding their place in a sometimes-bleak world. “They are faced with so many challenges,” Kelly says, “and are under a tremendous amount of stress. We have a chance here to step back and evaluate the world we live in, question what we are going through. They have so much coming at them, but these students give hope. They are curious and willing to argue and work for what is right. This generation has the potential for real activism and real change.”
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Scott Martin P’22 ’24 ’26 ’30 Parent
“How are your spiritual values being lived in the real world?” That’s a question parent Scott Martin is asked annually at his church’s global leadership summit. One year a particularly charismatic speaker — Bono, of U2 fame — challenged the church for being absent on HIV/AIDS and extreme poverty. The church leaders quickly came to see the truth in the point and began exploring ways to get involved. These are some of the most pressing problems in the 21st century, and sub-Saharan Africa is the epicenter for both. Though not easily solvable, Scott and several others were energized and began wondering how they could help and undertook a thorough research campaign. Of the many things they learned, two facts stood out. First, much aid to impoverished areas does far more harm than good. When secondhand clothes are shipped in bulk to poor countries, they flood the garment market and put local manufacturers out of business. When crop surpluses are shipped to food-insecure areas, they flood the market and put local farmers out of business. In each case, the collapse of those local businesses pushes people into poverty rather than lifting them out. The second key finding was that Haiti is affected by the same problems to a similar degree as sub-Saharan Africa but is 5,000 miles closer. In fact, Haiti lies well within the range of Scott’s turboprop airplane. After several exploratory trips with church colleagues, Scott met Haitian business owner Pierre Leger. Pierre owns Frager, the world’s largest producer of vetiver oil, an extract from the roots of a wild grass which forms the basis for many fine fragrances. After seeing the way Pierre has been able to build a successful company — without first-world infrastructure to support him — Scott realized that this was a way he could contribute that would actually help, using his own background as the owner of a family business (Brahmin in Fairhaven, Mass.) — and his pilot’s license. “If you can make it as a moderately successful businessperson in Haiti,” says Scott, “without clean water, without dependable electricity, without reliable roads or transportation, and without a stable security environment ... you must be doing something really right.” In Pierre’s business model, Scott also saw the kind of community support that reflected the values that motivated him to get involved in the first place. Frager has high walls and steel gates to protect workers when violence erupts, offers a full-service restaurant for workers, provides an on-site credit union with financial literacy classes, and trains workers in specialty trades that increase their value as employees. “When you get right down to it,” says Scott, “aid without relationship is broken. You can’t know if what you’re doing helps or hurts unless you have a feedback loop, and that can only happen if there’s an ongoing relationship.” Scott has certainly cultivated those relationships and been a long-time advisor to Leger and his children, who are taking leadership roles in the business. His son Franck is overseeing vetiver extraction, long the core of Frager’s
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business, and his daughter Joan (below) is using her MBA from Boston University to undertake strategic diversification of Frager’s productions, from lime and cacao to fill a global demand for citrus oil and chocolate, to support crops like bananas and mangos that provide shade and wind cover while also selling on the local market. This relationship has provided many opportunities for Scott, an irrepressible engineer and problem-solver, to support the growth of the local economy made possible by Frager’s success. Sometimes he’s consulting on pricing strategies for the global market. Sometimes he’s shin-deep in rich mud, checking on a solar-powered irrigation pump he designed and installed to support crop diversification. And his commitment to developing authentic relationships doesn’t stop at the org chart. Ride with Scott through the dirt byways of Les Cayes, Haiti, and you may find yourself suddenly taking a hard left into a tangle of windowless cinderblock homes to try and find an old woman Scott met once. Or sitting with an elderly agronomist freely sharing decades of agricultural expertise. Or bantering with a shopkeeper. Like so much in Haiti, these relationships are fruit-bearing. Frager is building and expanding, hiring more and more workers at excellent wages, training people to manage capital and build things, and helping them learn how to take care of their families with education and resources. For Scott, being connected to these people is both a fulfillment of a spiritual calling and an enrichment of his own life. “These are some of my best friends,” he says, “and I’m learning at least as much from them as they are from me!” MB parent Scott Martin is helping to support entrepreneurs in Haiti.
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gifts in action
A Singular Challenge: A Defining Moment “Despite all we’ve accomplished in recent years, we are at a defining moment at MB. The demand for scholarship funding presents an urgent challenge for all who care deeply about Moses Brown. To meet it, we must take historic leaps forward in scholarship endowment to secure the school’s long-term financial health and the vitality of the student body. At a very human level, there is perhaps no more powerful or enduring gift than providing educational opportunity to a young child.” —Matt Glendinning, Head of School
Thanks to the MB Believes campaign, Moses Brown has made unprecedented investments in its people, programs, and facilities, and continues to attract a vibrant, talented, and diverse applicant pool. At the same time, demand for financial aid has grown exponentially in recent years:
• 73%+ of new applicants now request need-based scholarship support, up from 43% ten years ago. MB has risen to meet this challenge by:
• increasing annual scholarship funding to $4.36 million in 201819 (up 130% in ten years)
• growing the number of students receiving scholarship by 82% (215 students or 29% of student body now receive support).
• raising $10 million in endowed scholarship as part of a $15 million goal for MB Believes. Despite these successes, the increasing pace of growth in demand for need-based scholarships
DOUBLE YOUR GIFT
$3.5m challenge
As part of a historic $5 million gift, an anonymous donor has made the largest scholarship pledge in school history — $3.5 million. This commitment was made as a dollarfor-dollar matching challenge to the MB community. We must raise $3.5 million to “earn” the $3.5 million in matching challenge funds: that’s a potential $7 million in new scholarship funds for Moses Brown!
threatens MB’s ability to enroll the most talented students. These realities present a singular challenge and an anonymous donor has provided us with a historic opportunity to meet it!
To learn more or to explore specific giving opportunities, please contact Asst. Head of School Ron Dalgliesh P’21 at (401) 831-7350 x111 or rdalgliesh@mosesbrown.org.
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A thank-you message … the power of scholarship giving
“I would like to thank you for helping change my life. I don’t know where I’d be without MB and because of you, I have been able to experience this amazing place for three years. To be an MB student is one of the greatest privileges I will ever have, and I will NOT take it for granted. Growing up, I never thought I’d be able to attend one of the best high schools in Rhode Island. My mom and I would occasionally drive by MB and stare at the beautiful campus. We admired the historic brick buildings and wondered what went on behind those closed doors. Never in a million years did I expect to sit in one of those classrooms. It seemed like a dream so far out of reach. But because of your generosity, students like me can also experience the wonders of Moses Brown. From the bottom of my heart, I’d like to say THANK YOU (again!) for this gift. I will not let you down, that is a promise!” - Scholarship recipient, Class of 2020
After being admitted to Moses Brown on the merits of their academic and co-curricular achievements, the school provides scholarships to students and their families based solely on financial need…allowing MB to enroll extremely talented students who elevate the experience for all.
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Yangchen Lama ’94 (center) met with the students and faculty who traveled to her homeland of Nepal for service work in schools in Kathmandu.
MB Connects
by karin morse ’79 , director of alumni relations
There is a longstanding tradition of alumni giving back to our school in a myriad of ways. Individuals’ stewardship of Moses Brown often evolves over time. Two months ago, I was in contact with Gabe Amo ’05 who lives in Providence and invited him to our event at Google Cambridge. Gabe was travelling, but instantly offered to fly into Boston to attend the event and was pleased to join our host committee. As is the case with many who give of their time, expertise, and experience, Gabe’s leadership and devotion to making MB a great school began as a student. He was a responsive, inclusive, and inspirational Student Senate Class Representative, then President and Orientation Committee leader here at MB. Soon thereafter, Gabe led the student government at Wheaton College, where he received a Truman Scholarship, followed by becoming a Marshall Scholar at the University of Oxford (England). While working on the Obama 2012 campaign as National Political Coordinator and later at the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Gabe was a reunion committee member and a host committee member in D.C., NYC, Providence, and Cambridge. He has been incredibly generous with his time, presenting to classes, being interviewed by students, helping a student with an internship, and even writing an essay on
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making a difference for this very magazine, all while serving as Director of Public Engagement for Governor Gina Raimondo. Gabe is a member of the MBAA Board and is now also a Trustee. Each year, over 1,000 alumni give back to Moses Brown in a variety of ways: visiting classes to share expertise with students, serving on a reunion committee or the MBAA Board, mentoring students or fellow alumni, hosting alumni events, coaching, advising senior projects, providing an inspiring Commencement address, and so much more. In recognition of the fine tradition of which alumni like Gabe have been a part, the MBAA, led by George Panichas ’83 and Albie Dahlberg ’87, has developed a program to connect alumni talent, gratitude, and expertise to specific needs at MB so that a culture of engagement and ‘service to school’ will be instilled and carried forward from the student to the alumni experience. This tradition connects strongly to the Quaker belief that each individual has a unique Light within and is capable of offering something to this community. On these pages, you will see wonderful examples of MB Connects in action. Twelve years ago, Dr. Molly Bliss ’86 invited MB students and faculty to participate in a medical service trip, now well known as the “The DR Trip.” This year, Molly and MB students and faculty spent a week in the batays.
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share his inspirational story with the upper school and to have lunch with that year’s Ethan Ruby Most Courageous Athlete Award recipient and her or his family.
Four-time U.S. Ambassador Chris Hill ’70 (Iraq, Korea, Poland, and Macedonia) spoke at Head of School Matt Glendinning’s installation and has presented about his book Outpost to alumni, parents, faculty, and staff. When he had lunch with our lacrosse teams, Chris shared his experiences and observations about war criminals and presidents, and how his athletic experience at MB helped prepare him for the world stage. With our fifth graders, Chris discussed treating all people with respect and negotiating for peace. Yangchen Lama ’94, sponsor/supporter of MB’s Nepal Trip, delivered MB’s Commencement address this year and took time to have lunch with students who traveled to Nepal. Brian Panoff ’94 is an MBAA Treasurer; he hosted Alex Benik ’94 for a conversation on venture capital with Boston-area alumni. Justice Robert Krause ’63 was first introduced to Peter McKendall ’16 by Karin Morse after Peter stopped by the Alumni Office to inquire if there were an alumnus who had already been very tall when he or she was in middle school. Peter soon learned of Judge Krause and their commonality of experience (at height 6’5 and 6’6, respectively) was reflected in Peter’s I-search. Two years later, when it came time to shadow a legal professional for his Senior Project, they reunited. When Jason Weiss ’93 was breaking into Hollywood, renowned producer Will Mackenzie ’56 provided him with invaluable advice. In turn, Jason returned to campus and gave an actor’s workshop for MB theater arts students. Ethan Ruby ’93 has returned to MB every year (but one) to
MB ALUMNI BRING THE WORLD TO MB In 2014, Ashoka Mukpo ’99 contracted Ebola while working as a journalist/cameraman in Liberia and was evacuated by the U.S. State Department. While Ashoka was recovering in the hospital, students in MB’s Medical Ethics class wrote notes to him, which he read on an iPad. A few months into his recovery, Ashoka returned to Providence and visited the students who had written him and had lunch with faculty, generously sharing details of his experience. Phil Barr ’00, a survivor of the 2003 Station Nightclub Fire in West Warwick, has returned to campus and Skyped with upper school students, sharing his story of escaping the club and how he worked his way back to being a student at Bates and rejoining the swim team, despite working with 87% lung capacity. Phil’s leadership and spirit earned him the 2005 NCAA Sportsmanship Award and he went on to help set up the Station Family Fund to aid victims of the fire. Rob Wilson ’67 has brought his background as an educator to work with faculty member Abby Phyfe on her English and Literature of War classes, connecting MB students with the Wounded Warrior Project/Veterans on the Rise. Students have heard directly from veterans of recent conflicts and volunteered with multiple veteran organizations. Becky Harrington ’04 and Kristin Rocha ’06 have visited classes to speak about their books and the writing process. Rick Turner ’62, best known for building “boutique” guitars for some of the world’s best-known musicians, came to MB on a snowy winter weekend and led a group of 11 students and faculty in a four-day ukulele-building workshop in the Woodshop. “I had a blast!” he said. “The kids were great.” Please be on the lookout for your invitation to continue our tradition by looking at the opportunities presented through MB Connects!
Let Your Life Speak: Recent alumni Commencement speakers • Social entrepreneur Tom Chappell ’61 (founder, Tom’s of Maine) • Former U.S. Ambassador Chris Hill ’70 • Civic leader Sue Minter ’79 • Comedian Tom Cotter ’82 • Yale law professor / human rights specialist Muneer Ahmad ’89 spring / summer 2019 • Motivational speaker / author Kaplan Mobray ’90
• Entrepreneur / disability activist Ethan Ruby ’93 • Writer / editor Joyce Chang ’94 • Education leader Heather Tow-Yick ’94 • Investment advisor / global women’s education Yangchen Lama ’94 • Entrepreneur Wiley Cerilli ’98 19 • Journalist / Ebola survivor Ashoka Mukpo ’99
editor ’ s letter
Moses Brown Stewardship 2019 Adrian Hendricks ’58 gained a solid academic foundation and leadership experiences at MB, as well as lifelong bonds with classmates.
When I accepted the invitation to be guest editor for this edition of Cupola, I did so with a certain amount of trepidation. Before retiring, I was vaguely aware of the concept of stewardship being integrated into the business strategy for at least one of the businesses for whom I worked. I can’t say that stewardship was pervasive in the others or part of their culture. I always regarded it as an obligation on the part of an organization and didn’t give that much thought to the implications of stewardship for me as an individual. On and off the job, the word stewardship was not typically part of my vocabulary or was it a subject that surfaced during business or casual conversations. However, becoming closer to MB in several ways over the years, I have developed a heightened awareness of the importance of stewardship and how it has been woven into the school’s fabric through words and actions. I have been impressed by the stories in Cupola by MB students, alumni, parents, and staff who are giving back to various communities in meaningful ways. However, until recently I never had given much thought to
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how my contributions to MB fit the definition of stewardship and thus qualified me as a steward. If I am part of MB’s stewardship tradition, how is that so? An essential part of my relationship with Moses Brown is the responsibility I feel to give back to the school as “payback” for all that MB gave to me as a student. In addition to financial aid, the educational experiences I received from the “masters” gave me a solid foundation and thirst for continued learning. I learned to accept responsibility as a boarder and “scholarship” student. I had to meet formidable academic demands while accepting responsibilities as a boarder, table waiter (famous or infamous), and occasional switchboard operator. As a class officer, President of the Athletic Association, captain of the basketball team, and member of house counsel, I had to quickly learn the meaning of leadership. Those lessons served me well in college, the military, and in business. Indeed, while I left MB, the values and education I learned there stayed with me.
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“I am awed by Moses Brown’s ability to sustain the consistently high level of educational achievement in the face of challenges from rapid societal changes.” Moving around the country before settling in Vir-
I’d had no contact since graduation. The calls became a
ginia 39 years ago, I was unsure how I could become
portal for catching up with classmates and hearing the
more closely engaged with MB and how to contribute
positive impact that MB experiences had on their lives.
in a meaningful way to my alma mater. However, be-
My satisfaction as a steward can be found in the out-
ing “kept in the loop” by Moses Brown Alumni Associ-
standing success of the students’ educational achieve-
ation events and publications, I became more knowl-
ments, the upgraded facilities, and the creation of new
edgeable of on-going activities and events. Being kept
innovative programs and new facilities that provide en-
up to date mitigated the difficulties inherent in being
hanced opportunity for students’ growth. I am awed by
an out-of-state alumnus. I was encouraged to become
Moses Brown’s ability to sustain the consistently high
a member of the Alumni Association Board where I
level of educational achievement in the face of chal-
served for several years. The Board’s focus on the im-
lenges from rapid societal changes. I believe that each
portance of stewardship helped me to better under-
of us in the MB community has a responsibility for en-
stand my role as a steward. In addition to serving on
suring the continuing viability of the school as an insti-
the MBAA board, I represented my class as its agent for
tution providing excellence in education. As a donor or
several years and committed to supporting MB through
volunteer, we have resources to help the school reach
gift giving for more than 30 years. Based on more than
its goals. I am proud of MB’s diversity and its contin-
60 years’ association with MB, I try to articulate the
ued growth since 1956 when I was welcomed into the
views and concerns from the “old guard” perspective
Moses Brown community as the school’s first “colored”
when engaged in conversations with students and staff.
student by the Headmaster, Mr. St. John. From my per-
I am fortunate to have been able to participate in
spective stewardship is a well-thought out process en-
MB’s campaigns for giving on an on-going basis. Cam-
abling those of us in the MB family to give back to MB
paign giving has given me the opportunity to show my
in recognition of what the school represents and the im-
commitment to MB’s future. The MBAA played an im-
pact that it has had and continues to have on graduates.
portant role in keeping me connected to MB through publications and media. Attendance at alumni events
Adrian Hendricks ’58, now living in Virginia, served three terms on
in the D.C. area, and whenever possible in Providence,
the Moses Brown Alumni Association board. Adrian first came to MB
provided the opportunity for updates on notable school
as a boarding student from New Jersey, selected as part of a program
events. Serving on the MBAA Board for several years
to integrate private schools in the Northeast. “The warm welcome I
was a privilege and an opportunity to gain insight from
received and the excellent educational experience and opportunity to
a new perspective into school operations and the impor-
grow has sustained my loyalty to MB,” he says. He credits the faculty for
tance of stewardship. Although my initial reaction to the
giving him a strong foundation which served him well at the University
role of class agent was “I’m not sure I can be an effec-
of Pennsylvania and then Temple University. In particular, he credits
tive fundraiser,” guidance from staff responsible for an-
William Paxton and Ted Whitford, Grand Masters who taught at MB
nual giving eased my anxiety. Assuming the class agent
between 1925 and 1972, for teaching him the benefits of critical thinking
role helped me to reunite with classmates with whom
and a disciplined approach to learning.
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priya desai ’99
Something To Smile About
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“I had been studying for years, but I wanted to see how things happen on the ground.” Until 2011,
Priya Desai ’99 had never even seen a case of cleft lip. However, a bachelor’s in philosophy and a master’s in public health sparked a passion for the transformative effect public health interventions can have in the developing world. This first led her to roles at Brigham & Women’s Center for Surgery & Public Health and NYC’s Department of Public Health, then to a position as medical programs manager at Smile Train, the world’s leading charity working to address cleft lip and cleft palate in the developing world. While Priya had been to India many times with her family, this was her first professional visit, and her first opportunity to interact with all classes of Indian society. Smile Train’s then-Chief Program Officer said, “If you’re going to do this work, there are two things you need to know: you need to be culturally sensitive, and you need a passion for sustainability. We don’t want people doing things for us — we want to learn how to do them for ourselves.” Then he led her on a journey that opened her eyes to a different India than what she had experienced as a child. During a visit to a remote village in Gujarat, they visited a farmer’s hut. The farmer seemed kind; they talked about his daughter, the fact that she had a cleft lip palate, and how Smile Train could help her. Throughout the conversation, Priya wondered: the farmer, a single father, seemed to love his daughter very much, but where was she? Then he pulled aside a carpet and lifted a trap door. Below the floorboards spring
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was a tiny room carved into the earth, complete with furnishings, a plate of snacks, and a five-year-old girl. Priya was horrified and completely stunned, but did her best to hide her reaction. The farmer explained — because of his daughter’s appearance, he couldn’t be sure what the other villagers would do to her, and this was the only way he could keep her safe while he was at work. The experience made a lasting impression on her, and to this day it informs Priya’s work as Senior Director of Medical Programs for Smile Train. “Cleft lip and cleft palate aren’t considered emergency surgical conditions, so they often don’t get the attention they truly deserve in developing countries,” she says. “But they can dramatically change the course and quality for a person’s life — all the more so for girls.” And while surgical interventions for cleft lip and palate have transformative effects on patients’ lives, that condition is not what brought her to this work. “I was a Research Assistant for Dr. Atul Gawande at the Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Gawande developed a surgical safety checklist that was endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to improve patient safety before, during, and after surgery. The findings were published in The New England Journal of Medicine — the safe surgery checklist demonstrated a 66% reduction in infections and an estimated $175 million saved by not having to treat them.” The WHO-endorsed checklist was clearly effective, but the organi-
zation had limited funding and no marketing plan to get hospitals to adopt it. Smile Train, however, had a network of over 1,100 hospitals, and part of the agreement with each one was that they would adopt Smile Train-approved safety and quality protocols. The organization adopted the safe-surgery checklist, making it a requirement for continued participation by each of its partner hospitals. Implementation of this checklist would hopefully reduce any complications associated with cleft lip and palate surgery, and improve the hospital’s surgical outcomes overall. Priya was fascinated by the power of this simple intervention to have such a positive effect on public health. “I had been studying for years,” she says, “but I wanted to see how things happen on the ground.” As it happened, Smile Train needed a Director of Medical Programs. Priya applied, interviewed, and began packing for a move to Manhattan as a member of the Smile Train team. “One of the most compelling things about Smile Train,” she says, “is our focus on sustainability and this can be seen in the ‘train the trainer’ model we adopt for our education and training programs. Many groups do good work by bringing first-world talent and resources to developing countries, but their impact can only go so far. By teaching local doctors, anesthesiologists, and nurses to train their colleagues, we can have an ongoing effect.” She also points out that local providers have cultural context no outsider
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A positive impact on public health: Priya Desai ’99 is working toward transformative change in the developing world, through her work at Smile Train which helps to address cleft lip and cleft palate around the world.
can match, and that shared language and culture build essential trust between providers and patients. “One of the most important things is to listen,” Priya says. “Often companies will donate refurbished medical equipment to developing countries, but without training, no one knows how to run it and it’s of no value to them.” Similarly, because of weak communications, many health care providers don’t know that their Ministry of Health might provide equipment, training, and supplies. Smile Train works with administrators and political leaders in-country to make sure their partner hospitals have all the support and resources they need to ensure that all patients receive the safest care possible. This affects the care delivered to cleft lip and palate patients, and elevates the standard of care for all patients at the hospital. “We’re really in the safe surgery busi24
ness,” says Priya. “A child with cleft lip and palate also puts a face on the global surgery movement which makes explaining the need for safe surgery so compelling. Nothing is as powerful for donors as the before-and-after photos.” And while those pictures are undeniably powerful, equally compelling is a study which found that every Smile Train investment in a child amounts to more than 200x return on investment for a single cleft repair. “Our analysis puts the total figure of economic impact over a ten-year period across 83 countries — at around $20 billion,” she says. For all that success, Smile Train is hardly resting on its laurels. “It’s not enough to empower the doctors and build medical infrastructure,” says Priya. “To be truly sustainable, we have to be able to fundraise in the countries where we work and adopt cost-sharing
mechanisms with local governments where possible, and we’re doing this in countries where we have our biggest programs.” Priya’s laurels are in good shape, too — she was acknowledged in Dr. Gawande’s book The Checklist Manifesto. “That was the greatest honor of my life,” she says. And like Smile Train, she’s not resting either. Looking forward, she’d like to see deeper analysis quantifying quality-of-life improvements for Smile Train patients in particular, and more broadly for girls in the developing world. As for the little girl kept in an underground bunker? Her severe cleft lip and palate were corrected through a series of surgeries, and speech therapy was tremendously effective, and while she entered school a few years behind her peers, she has completed high school with the goal of becoming a social worker, just like the woman who found her. cupola
kieran harrington ’16
Stepping Up
Moses Brown’s mission of instilling care for learning, people, and place is exemplified in Kieran Harrington ’16. “Ever since I learned the importance of community at MB, I’ve been unable to look past those who fall on the margins,” Kieran reflects. “I’m aware of my privilege and the need to use it to help bolster those without it. I’m there to walk in their shoes and by their side, to help them any way I can.” “At MB, I found my passion,” Kieran says. “I began volunteering with Providence’s marginalized communities.” During his senior project, he shadowed a social worker for over a month. Megan Smith works with homeless individuals and families, and Kieran was the first high school student to accompany her on nightly outreach walks. “I saw firsthand what homelessness looks like, and I was blown away by the aid and resources Megan was able to offer,” Kieran says. “Her work makes a real impact on our community and I wanted nothing more than to follow in her footsteps.” This experiential learning inspired Kieran: “I felt I could apply what I learned in the classroom to real-life issues,” he recalls. Similarly, he planned an upper school service immersion week with faculty mentors Kelly Joseph and Tara Tsakraklides, spring
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At MB, Kieran Harrington did everything from Community Outreach to Varsity Tennis. He’s joined by family after a performance of his BC comedy group.
including a walk through the East Side to mark the paths of run-off water and pick up trash, connecting AP Environmental Science with efforts in the community. Boston College’s values of service and social justice appealed to Kieran. “I hit the ground running,” he says, “made great friends, joined the admissions program and the sketch comedy group … but something was missing.” He found an added sense of purpose in an internship with Environment Massachusetts and was excited to work on a campaign with the goal of getting Massachusetts to 100% renewable energy and to learn valuable skills such as lobbying, writing op-eds, and fundraising. Sophomore year, Kieran’s community focus returned to social justice, through BC’s PULSE experiential learning program. PULSE connects students with marginalized populations and social change organizations, as they study philosophy and theology. Kieran’s placement was at Boston’s Pine Street Inn, the largest homeless shelter in New England, sleeping more than 500 residents every night. “Volunteering at Pine Street three times a week was an unforgettable experience,” Kieran says. “Working with the male guests, I was impressed by how resilient and hopeful they were in the face
of adversity. Mental health issues, substance abuse, addiction, and other forms of trauma are prevalent. It’s a challenging environment to work in, let alone live in.” As he learned to navigate the nuances of shelter operations, he applied for a summer position as a relief counselor. Working as a staff member proved a different experience. “As I worked to build the guests’ trust, they seemed to test me, a college student caring for grown men,” he recalls. “I saw how much work goes into running a shelter, for little affirmation, validation, or support. The scale of the need and pace of the work are grueling.” Yet Kieran is optimistic. “Every day, I’m excited and hopeful for what the future holds. The political sphere is polarizing, but I’ve witnessed the ability of students to come to the table, thoughtfully discuss their differences in opinion, and fight for the issues they believe in.” He sees many students rallying against climate change. “It’s our future that will be affected, if nothing is done now,” he says. “I’ve learned that homeless and impoverished people are the communities most affected by climate change. My efforts towards solutions for one issue also work towards mitigating the other. It’s special to see how my education and passions have come full circle and support each other.”
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regis bingham ’90
Community Connections 26
Regis Bingham calls Williamsport, Pennsylvania home and has spent his career helping others, using his cupola psychology background to help people remove obstacles.
Come August of each year, the eyes of the world are on Williamsport, as the Pennsylvania town welcomes guests, visitors, and players from around the world for the annual Little League World Series. A resident of the central Pennsylvania town for two decades now, it’s a welcoming mindset that Regis Bingham would like to see his adopted community foster year-round. Regis already knows what it’s like to be the new kid in town (or school). He came to Moses Brown in his junior year, a transplant from Oklahoma who moved to Rhode Island for his father’s job. Regis quickly got involved, joining the football and basketball teams, performing in the school play, joining NCCJ and the Minority Student Union, and serving on the Student Senate. Regis says his MB years were short but transformative. “It was a big cultural shift,” he says, “but I decided to go after it and got involved. I look back on MB fondly. Although I was only there two years, I have fond memories of Moses Brown.” Regis departed MB, still willing to learn from new perspectives, and headed to Bucknell University, followed by Howard University for his master’s in social psychology. Today, Regis is a community activist and contributor; he’s spent his career helping families, working in mental health counseling, community development, and school violence prevention programs. He is a co-founder of Community Connection and a licensed financial professional who specializes in working with middle-income Americans to build better futures. Regis says the question “where are you from?” — the topic of a recent TED Talk he delivered in Williamsport — is actually “why are you here?,” one he’s fielded firsthand as a 20-year resident of the town. “I understand the motivation behind the question,” he says. “It is necessary to protect your community. Community requires shared vision and shared values.” Although Williamsport is well-known as the birthplace of Little League, the town has seen conflict over an influx of people coming to the area for recovery programs, creating tension between those who are ‘from’ there and those there for other reasons, with worries that they are bringing drugs and crime. “Why are you here?” is a question Regis has been asked, too, which he can answer a number of different ways given his time spent so many places, including: Bucknell Unispring
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versity, Oklahoma City, and Helena, Arkansas, the small town which was the birthplace of Regis’ parents. All of these different community influences coalesced in Regis’ TED Talk, where he delivered a call for better community connections, relevant questions for any town and part of a larger national discussion: “There is a belief that problems derive from those who are not from here and the response is keep outsiders out. Williamsport, or any town, can be trapped into antiquated thinking. It is impossible and illegal to restrain individuals from moving into your neighborhood. By intentionally ostracizing groups of people from becoming a part of the community, an unintentional foe is created within a community. “ Despite the threats facing Williamsport and other towns across the country, Regis calls for communities to expand their vision beyond geographical borders. “Two weeks out of the year, during the Little League World Series, the entire world comes to be part of the Williamsport community. That is a tremendous opportunity to have the impact of our values felt throughout the world. We have demonstrated that we have the capability to host the world. Why can’t we be friends to the world? We can develop a support and resiliency that neither time nor attacks can destroy as it was demonstrated in Oklahoma City. We must acknowledge the human worth of all of our citizens. We should embrace the contributions that they can make to our community. Let us not limit the contributors based upon superficial boundaries. It begins by taking a look at yourself and asking, ‘am I being friendly?’” Regis says that his call to see the best in others and to be welcoming also reflects in some way his time at MB. He says that MB’s Quaker roots have influenced him over time and that influence had a profound effect on him, although he didn’t realize it at the time: “I have incorporated a lot of the Quaker principles into my life as an activist. Moses Brown had a great impact on me.”
“I have incorporated a lot of the Quaker principles into my life as an activist. Moses Brown had a great impact on me.”
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Peter Salmons learned of MB through a family connection with Karin Morse, when his family moved to Providence; soon after, he joined MB’s middle school. Years later, Karin wrote one of his recommendations for the Police Academy, citing his leadership potential.
peter salmons ’04
Neighborhood Beat 28
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A group of teenagers is hanging out on the sidewalk in
time with them. They got to see a police officer as an ordinary perSouth Providence. A cop waves them over to his police car. They son — I wouldn’t wear my uniform while I was coaching. When I’d freeze — then one calls out, “Coach!” They slowly recognize Peter bring my oldest son with me, they could see me as this baby’s dad.” Peter was glad to move to the day patrol two years ago. “BeSalmons, who coached their middle school basketball program. Soon the whole group is gathered around Officer Salmons, catch- tween radio calls, I can stop in at the community center or local ing up. “It’s good to build bridges,” Peter says, “when so many peo- businesses. Unlike the midnight shift, I’m surrounded by ordinary people living their daily lives.” He believes his MB educaple form opinions about police based on social media.” Growing up on the East Side, spending nine years at Moses tion prepared him to engage with confidence, for better diaBrown, Peter never imagined a career in law enforcement. Yet as logue with people on the street. “Your best tool is your mouth,” a Providence police officer, his work supports stewardship of the he says. “It can get you in or out of trouble. You don’t want to community, through Quaker principles of peace and nonviolence. be intimidated or intimidating. You need respect, perspective, “I really didn’t find my niche ’til after college,” he reflects. to understand where people are coming from.” He thinks the PPD works well with the community and apWorking for the family business, living with his MB friends, enpreciates 2017’s Community Safety Act. “The Mayor does a good joying CrossFit training, he searched for a meaningful career. “I was interested in service, in giving back. I found service and phys- job with transparency, welcoming community input on policy icality in police work, where each day brings a different challenge.” and procedure.” Most calls are for cases of domestic violence or Peter was accepted to Providence’s Police Academy in 2014. “It mental health issues. “Violence is always there, unfortunately, was like boot camp, getting broken down to rebuild stronger, a to- as the economy ebbs and flows as a stressor in people’s lives. The tally new experience for me,” he recalls. “Looking back on it, I un- safety net is overwhelmed, with insufficient resources or training to help people.” Rhode Island Hosderstand it’s part of the process of prepital is in his territory, and he sees the paring, keeping your composure and same people in the ER over and over learning who you are.” Though most again, sometimes twice a day. “They’ll in his class had gone to college, some be back on the street within hours. peers and instructors gave him a hard We don’t have the resources to fix the time about his East Side background. larger issues, so we just combat what’s “They couldn’t see why I’d want to do here and now. It can be disheartenthis,” he reflects. “For me it was a badge ing and having a family has definitely of honor, that I’d chosen this work. My changed my perspective. You can feel privilege doesn’t define me.” upset about the world we live in, but During Peter’s first three years on I chose this job to help protect people the job in South Providence, he worked Police Officer Peter Salmons ’04 coaches students at from that, in a healthy way. We don’t the third shift, midnight to 7:00 a.m. Esek Hopkins Middle School in Providence. hear ‘thank you’ very often, but we do “I’d always identified with Providence,” know we’re helping and doing some good. Most people aren’t he says, “but I realized I didn’t know much beyond my neighborhood, MB, College Hill, Thayer St. My eyes were opened to a new even aware of the ways our work benefits them.” Peter’s rotating four-day schedule allows him and his wife, an reality, working towards a common goal with people from different socio-economic backgrounds and races.” Paying his dues on occupational therapist, to share care of their two sons, both under the midnight shift, Peter recalls, “I missed seeing everyday people, two years old. He puts every spare moment into studying for the the ones working to build the community, not just those doing detective’s exam. “Now, my role ends when someone is arrested harm. I wanted to be involved in positive change.” Through the and the report is filed, unless I testify in court,” but when he is Police Athletic League and Providence After School Alliance, he promoted, he’ll hang up his uniform and give up patrols. Detecstarted coaching Esek Hopkins Middle School’s afterschool bas- tives take ownership of cases from start to finish: investigation, ketball and football, twice a week. “It was awesome!” he smiles. interviews, witnesses, prosecution. He looks forward to greater “Even as a police officer, it was daunting that first day walking into responsibility. Last September he received his master’s degree in the school, but I figured it out: despite the challenges facing them, criminal justice with a concentration in strategic management these kids just wanted attention, a high five. It was more the en- from Boston University, paid for by the PPD. “The department gagement than the basketball, showing them that there are people prioritizes training, education, and advancement,” he says, “which in the community who care about them, who choose to spend free we direct towards the betterment of the community we serve.” spring
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natasha harrison ’87
Nature Matters 30
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Photos courtesy Norman Bird Sanctuary/Matt Eldridge (large) and Kim Fuller (inset).
For nearly 30 years, Natasha Harrison ’87 has improved Rhode Island’s quality of life through the arts, education, and habitat protection, building strong nonprofit organizations and helping them to thrive. And as an artist, she also explores vulnerability. “I work in glass to express my feelings about the fragility and intensity present within nature and our lives,” she says. “The temporality, invisibility, and tenuousness of glass reflects the precarious state of nature.” Natasha’s connection with nature began in childhood, attending summer camp at Norman Bird Sanctuary, a wildlife refuge in Middletown. During her high school years, nature became an essential refuge. “I loved Moses Brown, but academics were a struggle for me,” she recalls. “I hadn’t yet realized that art can be therapeutic. Being out in nature saved me during those years.” Rhode Island School of Design was the only college Natasha considered. “I wanted to be a glassblower, of all things!” she laughs. She thrived at RISD, but after graduation, found few opportunities for artists, and returned to Norman Bird Sanctuary’s summer camp as a counselor. When summer ended, she and a friend dreamed about starting a gallery in Newport, if only they could find the space. A bar owner offered his upstairs storage space, rent-free. “There were floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking America’s Cup Avenue in downtown Newport, a gorgeous area,” she says. Using the space, Natasha co-founded and launched Island Arts, which grew to serve Aquidneck Island with exhibitions, classrooms, a darkroom, outreach programs for at-risk youth, and events. “Island Arts shows the power of one act of kindness,” she reflects. “Our ‘landlord’ never charged us a dime.” Along the way, Natasha learned nonprofit management, nurturing Island Arts for 12 years. In 2005, she followed the call to focus on her art, and left the Ocean State to pursue her MFA at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her artwork expressed her love for the natural world, spring
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and it led her back to stewardship. “My thesis was inspired by Norman Bird Sanctuary,” she recalls. “In the final stages of the work, a job opened up there! I knew the sanctuary like the back of my hand — as a camper, a counselor, even as a camper parent — and now I had nonprofit management experience.” It was the perfect fit. And when Natasha was diagnosed with a brain tumor during her first year, the supportive surroundings of the sanctuary helped her weather the crisis. Under her leadership, the sanctuary restored acres of wildlife habitat, developed educational programs, upgraded the property, and created new artist programs. (And after surgery, she is appreciative for a clean bill of health.) After a decade as the sanctuary’s executive director, Natasha recently began a new position as president of Alnoba, a New Hampshire retreat center with programs in the arts, conservation, wellness, and leadership education. “I’m sad to leave,” she says, “but the sanctuary is in great shape. This opportunity marries my artistic side with the environmental side that I’ve been living and breathing for the last 12 years. Alnoba has an incredible sculpture park where the art is chosen to interact with the landscape.” Natasha’s new organization’s mission reads like a definition of stewardship: “Alnoba is dedicated to developing courageous leadership and sustainability models to help change people’s lives, create stronger communities, and save the earth we share. We believe that it is through deep personal reflection and connection to our humanity and the natural world that we access passion and purpose — transforming how we lead, live, love, build communities, and honor our planet.” Natasha reflects on her career path. “I used to joke with my kids that I went to school for glassblowing, and I run a bird sanctuary! It might look like there’s no rhyme or reason, but my artist’s training helps me to think outside of the box… to be comfortable with creative ideas, articulate them, and make them real.”
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Alumni Events
moses brown alumni association
D.C. Dinner Loyal D.C. alumni came together in April to regale one another, learn the latest about what is going on in D.C. and Providence, and enjoy an evening with Head of School Matt Glendinning.
Perry Buroker, Chuck Stuart ’56, Andy Read ’05, Brad Engle ’05, Matt Glendinning
Peter Kilmarx ’79, Jim Millward ’79, Karin Morse ’79, Marc Geffroy ’79, Tad Jose ’78
There was a great turnout for the annual Alumni Lax Game on Campanella Field. The 2020 game will take place on May 9th.
Alumni Lacrosse Game 2019
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San Francisco Reception Hosts Ching-Yee Hu and Gary Orenstein ’86 welcomed Bay-area alumni and friends to their comfortable home and everyone, young and old, fully enjoyed Ching-Yee’s gourmet fare.
Left photo: Ching-Yee Hu, Gary Orenstein ’86, Elizabeth Worrell Carroll ’86. Above photo: Linda Kaplan, Greg Katzen ’03, Milo Katzen, Caitlin Miller ’03
Mitch Maloof ’13, Ben Sack ’13, Linda Kaplan, Karin Morse ’79, Jake Jordan ’11, Sam Yules ’12
San Francisco Young Alumni Dinner Stanford grad Sam Yules ’12 provided lots of local knowledge to recent Bay Area arrivals and visitors alike as everyone caught up at NOPA in February.
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.
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Matt Glendinning, Maggie Moran ’08
Alumni & Friends at Google Cambridge Alumni visited Google’s Cambridge campus and Maggie Moran ’08, an amazing host, even presented Matt Glendinning with his own Googler hat. Everyone enjoyed the great food and beverages, mingled, and Matt shared a comprehensive update from campus. Jarrid Hall, R.I. Entrepreneur of the Year, also spoke about the passion project, GAB-on, that he is working on with Entrepreneurship students from Moses Brown.
L.A. Dinner Fifteen MB alumni came together from around the city to enjoy a lively dinner at SoHo House kindly hosted by Max Heckman ’08.
Georgia Mischak ’03, Micah Clasper-Torch ’05, Karin Morse ’79, Ian Hunter ’07, Linda Kaplan, Max Heckman ’08, Mike Marasco ’04
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moses brown alumni association
True Blue
Hilary Major, Paul Salem, Eric Schultz ’78
Members of the MB community came together to celebrate and reflect on the many ways our loyal donors and volunteers made 2017-18 such a successful school year.
Cruz Goler ’89
Kristen Murray Porcaro ’82, Cheryl Schadone Cohen ’81, Nancy Pasquariello ’91, Davide Dukcevich ’92, Aaron Simon ’92, Phil Zexter ’81, Jane Knowles ’81
MBAA Winter Reception A vibrant audience of about 75 alumni came to celebrate award recipients Carlos Andrés Gómez ’00 and Sam Mencoff ’74 in March at the Providence Athenaeum. Carlos and Sam each shared compelling stories about the way in which their Moses Brown experiences shaped their life. spring
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NYC Social NYC alumni shared a superb seasonal Italian meal prepared by celebrated chef Cruz Goler ’89 and his team at La Pecora Bianca in Midtown East. In addition to great company and fine food, Cruz made a presentation about his culinary arts background and experiences. 35
reunion 2019
Reunion 2019
1959 Walt Farnam, Joel Davidsen, Tom Godfray, and Steve Thornton (left to right) joyfully represented their class throughout the weekend.
1964 L to R: Richard Licht, Ken Anderson, Frank Ward, and Pete Mann shared
1969
drinks in the Front Circle before heading
Congratulations to the Class of 1969 on their 50th Reunion. Chip Celestino, Ken Feld-
“back to Study Hall” to celebrate Richard,
man, Win Sanford, Mark Sisson, Michael Farber, Bill Lannigan, David Hill, Frank
who received the Alumni Association’s
Gustafson, Eliot Raymond, Basil Mignacca, and Thatch Harvey and their guests had
Distinguished Alumnus Award.
an amazing celebration throughout Reunion 2019.
1979 The Class of 1979 had a great turnout with everyone meeting at Flatbread on Friday,
1974
spending time on campus Saturday afternoon and evening. Top: Wayne Curtis, Jim Myers, Nick Nunez, Nick Gorham, Peter Roe, Karan Taleghani. Middle:
The Class of 1974 fully enjoyed their Friday evening
Jim Stallman, Peter Kilmarx, Dave Richter, Dave Parker, George Boitano.
dinner at the home of Suzie and Habib Gorgi and
Bottom: Cliff Faintych, Micheal McLaughlin, Jim Millward, Roger Goodman,
also enjoyed dinner on Saturday in the balcony of
Dave DeBlois, Boyd Smith, Amy Roebuck Jones, Shug Sugerman, Steve
the Woodman Center and later on the dance floor.
DeLeo, Karin Morse.
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1984 Familiar faces regularly on campus were joined by many classmates, and it was great to have this group present to celebrate the induction of the 1984 Baseball Team into the Hall of Fame. Top: Hugh Madden, John Zienowicz, Steve Griffin, Tony Capo, Jon Scott. Middle: Matt Widmer, Anthony Lambrese, Bernie Buonanno, Rich White, Mindy Fischer Penney. Bottom: Karen Rosenbaum Donatelli, Michele Goldsmith, Larry Goldstein, David Goldberg, Todd Grant.
1994 Congrats to the Class of 1994 on their 25th Reunion. There were lots of good stories shared over dinner as they had the beautiful Library all theirs until the dancing began next door in the Woodman Center. Top: Zach Florin, Lauren Angelone Pelletier, Corey Pelletier, Lisa Perlman Harwood. Middle: Jessica Perkins Slusarski, Brian Panoff, Dan Gilbert, Seth Kertzer, Lex Sadasivan, Laura Marasco. Bottom: Anna Bliss, Heather Tow-Yick, Seth Shapiro, Ngina Johnson, Dominique Townsend, Ben Struck.
2004 The Class of 2004 celebrated in their inimitable style, and of course had an after-party on Saturday evening. Top: Ted Parker, Pam Priestley Gyles, Spencer Kurn, Miles Rutter, Mike Marasco, Tim Savage, John Campopiano, Peter Salmons. Bottom: Evan Fain, Rowan Acebes, Alexa Flinton Gold, Jill Teverow, Chris Brito, Hannah Woodberry.
2009
2014
The class of 2009 showed their usual great spirit
This class had a great reception in the Class of 2014 CafĂŠ in the Woodman Center on
on the front steps. Top: Ian Deveau, Sam Chafee,
Friday evening, and on Saturday went from the front steps to the Woodman Center
Brayden Puddington, Mia Rotondi Puddington,
for dinner and then danced the night away! Bottom Row: Spencer Greer, Jake
Nate Ardente, Josh Padwa. Middle: Sam Mocar-
Slovin (with Penelope), Griffin Adler, Carson Brown, Leah Falk, Audrey Falk,
ski, Maria Tonry, Nate Rickler, Courtney Sher-
Jordan Voccola. Second Row: Eric Cosmopulos, Will Chadwick, Jack Stall-
man, Neil Vasquez. Bottom: Derek Army, Ilyse
man, Remy Fischer, Lily Ardente. Third Row: Sebastian Ferrell, Ben Pinsky,
Blazar, Leah Saris, Eamon Convey, Mike Jeffrey,
Sarah Steingold, Will Allcock. Fourth Row: Austin Miller, Sydney Harrington,
Marcela Donat, Melissa Gordon.
Sophie Gould, Amos Cariati, Isaac Mocarski. Fifth Row: Sam Crisafulli, Alix Quattromani, Robert Calabresi. Sixth Row: Bryan McAdams, Matthew Romano, Andy Sepe. Seventh Row: Charlie Ruhl, Alex Patrick, Sam Greenfield, Alex Farkas, Ian Taylor, Dan Harrington, Carlin Lynch.
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congratulations !
Spring Award Recipients Moses Brown Alumni Association Recognizes 2019 Award Winners at Reunion
Richard Licht ’64 P’95 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD
Richard Licht was the Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island (1985 to 1989) and also served in the R.I. Senate. He practiced privately as a lawyer and lobbyist, playing a central role in the expansion of T.F. Green Airport and the construction of Providence Place Mall. He also led Rhode Island’s Department of Administration. In 2014, Richard took on a new role — as a Superior Court judge, which he said gave him the opportunity to combine his love for the law with a passion for public service. Richard has provided extensive community experience on several boards including Save the Bay, the Samaritans, Roger Williams Hospital, and NARAL Pro-Choice America, and served as the first Board Chair of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.
Jared Schott
FACULTY/STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD Jared Schott began at MB as a math teacher on Team II in 1991. He truly understands the middle school years and has dedicated his career to supporting the needs of this age group. As head of the middle school, his caring, involved presence has guided scores of middle school students (and parents) through this challenging stage of life, preparing students to meet the rigor and challenge of life in the upper school. Jared brings the helpful ability to cross barriers and converse with students, imparting a calm perspective to the challenges of this critical time: “The energy, chaos, highly charged emotions, and unpredictability of this age makes me love coming to work each day. Every episode involving a middle school student is critical in guiding him or her to be a better self-advocate, lifelong learner, and confident and caring community member.”
Brian Panoff ’94
25TH REUNION ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Brian Panoff is a Senior Venture Principal at Shell, which invests in early-stage energy technologies. He has helped Shell invest in new energy technologies and focuses on investments in data infrastructure, cybersecurity, and enterprise software. Prior to this, Brian worked at Siemens Venture Capital and Granite Ventures. Brian has been a generous mentor and advisor to many Moses Brown alumni, maintaining an active connection to the school as an MBAA Board member, Reunion agent, and event host. He says, “I benefited enormously from MB and feel that it is important to give back to support the institution and to help ensure that others are able to benefit from a similar experience.”
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Congratulations to the most recent inductees into the Hall of Fame.
The Moses Brown Alumni Association also welcomed new members into its Athletic Hall of Fame this spring, recognizing the following: Jeffrey Sparr ’81
(front middle) was a top-ranked singles
player at MB and in Rhode Island and New England and was captain and MVP of the MB Tennis team. He also represented the USA at the Pan-American Maccabiah Games in 1979. Following MB, Jeff was a four-year varsity player at The Ohio State University. Jeff and his wife Jennifer are the parents of recent graduate Charlee ’19. Jeff also is well-known in Rhode Island for his work and advocacy around issues of mental health as the co-founder of PeaceLove.
Laurie Center (front left), Director of STEM Education, started teaching at MB in 1983 and helped MB to win the school’s first SENE Lacrosse Championship. She coached girls’ basketball for 32 years (1986-2018) and was named N.F.H.S. R.I. Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year and USA News R.I. Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year. Laurie was also named R.I. Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year three times and won 14 SENE league or tournament championships. Her teams won three RIIL divisional league titles, were Division 2 State Champions, and won the State Tournament in 2018. Laurie finished her coaching career with 462 wins in 702 games, 17 league or tournament championships, and two state titles. In her own career, she played field hockey and basketball for Dartmouth, earning All-Ivy Basketball Honors, and is a member of the New Milford High School (Conn.) Hall of Fame.
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Bernard Buonanno III ’84
(front right) played soccer,
basketball, and lacrosse at MB and was captain of basketball and lacrosse. He was a member of the First Team All-SENE Prep Basketball team and the SENE basketball scoring leader (21.9ppg), U.S. Lacrosse Coaches’ Association All-American, a player in the East-West All-Star Lacrosse Game, and a recipient of the Owen and Fletcher awards. At Brown, Bernie was a captain of the lacrosse team and the Bears’ 5th all-time leading scorer when he graduated in 1988. Bernie and his wife Heidi are the parents of Meghan ’15 and Kari ’19 and his father Bernie Buonanno ’55 is also a member of the Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame Coach Paul Donovan instilled leadership, character, and
a commitment to success in the players on MB’s 1984 Varsity Baseball team (upper rows): Michael Zexter, David Izzi, Jeffrey
Durso-Finley, Todd Grant, Eugene Bernardo, Jonathan Scott, Lawrence Carrera, Glenn Sparr, Christopher McLaughlin, John Zienowicz, Christopher Dusio, Stephen Griffin, Anthony Lambrese, Randell Masterson, Anthony Capo, Hugh Madden, and Joseph Petrosinelli, along with assistant coaches Rex McGuinn and Robert Potter. In MB’s bicentennial year, the team recorded a perfect 16-0 season, an 8-0 conference record, and outscored their opponents 112-35. Six players were named to the New England All-Prep team.
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departing faculty & staff
Community Care
MB says thanks and best wishes to departing longtime employees. We will miss you. With four decades at MB,
RANSOM GRIFFIN
taught middle school history and middle and upper school English, served as English department head, and coached football, basketball, and golf (winning four state championships and one SENE championship). Ransom was the faculty advisor for MB’s student literary and visual arts publication, Omnia, since 1987 and brought renowned poets to MB through the school’s visiting poet series. Ransom also chaired the 1993 committee to write MB’s mission statement. He’s known for partaking in jam sessions with colleagues, sporting his stylish caps, and waxing poetic with thought-provoking queries, in or out of faculty meetings.
gic initiatives and in 2015, became MB’s Direc-
ing at the present time. Throughout my years
tor of STEM Education; she was instrumental
at MB, the community gave me something that
in the design of the Y-Lab. In addition to her
I could not have found working anywhere else,
administrative responsibilities, Laurie taught
a sense of comfort and compassion that con-
and served as an advisor, most recently starting
stantly surrounds the community of Friends of
MB’s Advanced Placement Computer Science
which I am now a part.”
courses. In addition, she made an indelible mark as coach of girls’ varsity basketball for 32
Soon after she came to Moses Brown as a par-
years, 702 games, 17 championships, two state
ent,
titles, and 462 wins — the most of any female
help in the Walter Jones Library. Her children
coach in Rhode Island. Laurie was named R.I.
graduated and Melanie stayed, drawn by the
Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year three times.
community’s interesting and friendly faculty,
She joined MB’s Athletic Hall of Fame this May.
staff, and students. “Not only did my children
In MB’s Business Office,
ADELE BLACKMAN
MELANIE LINDELL volunteered to
benefit from a fabulous MB education, but I enjoyed the privilege of being involved in the
excelled at managing the tremendous detail
education of its students. I feel so fortunate to
proud parent of two MB graduates.
behind MB’s payroll, retirement plan, health
have worked here,” she says. Melanie official-
plans, employee background checks, and oth-
ly joined the MB workforce in 1997, becoming
LAURIE CENTER joined MB in 1983 as
er benefit programs. She served as a member
the Library Assistant and later lending her as-
of the Retirement Plan Oversight Committee
sistance to the Lower School Office. Melanie
and was a valued planner of staff retreats. Well-
also sought new opportunities where she could
known as a kind, generous, and helpful staff
benefit colleagues — sending the monthly list
member, Adele eloquently once said, “We are a
of employee birthdays being just one example.
community that cares about each other; wheth-
Colleagues appreciated Melanie’s positive spirit
er we are celebrating the birth of a child, feeling
and sense of humor.
Ransom truly is one-of-a-kind, as well as the
the school’s Director of Computer Education. Her title has changed many times, reflecting the fast-growing responsibilities of the post (MB had eight computers when she started!). In 2005, Laurie’s career took on a broader academic charge when she became Director of Studies, Director of Curriculum, and Academic Dean. Laurie led MB through important strate-
40
compassion over the death of a family member, caring during an illness or, in my case, expressing interest in what my son Michael (’04) is do-
school science teacher MIKE DEANGELO is known for his humor and love
Middle
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of everything unique and disgusting about sci-
mini-web courses. He was selected by fellow
expanding her role with international placement
ence, and for bringing an infectious sense of
faculty members for the James English Teach-
agencies. She will also continue her private prac-
play to his teaching. “I love middle school kids,”
ing Prize (2009) and by the Student Senate
tice in performing arts coaching and serving her
he once said. “They have a sense of wonder and
for the Rufus S. D. Bilodeau ’89 Award. These
healing arts clientele and continuing her writing,
awe about the world that is inspiring, and they
awards recognized George for the respect and
music, performance, and recording work.
ask the most fascinating questions.” Mike also
high standards he holds for students and his
served for many years as a middle school foot-
ability to make science accessible and challeng-
MICHAEL HIMELFARB is leaving MB
ball and softball coach, motivating his players
ing for all. George and his family will remain ac-
to teach English part-time, allowing him more
to play with energy, spirit, and good character.
tive in the MB community as his children con-
time at home with his newborn, Benjamin (his
Mike also was the force behind the 8th grade
tinue their journey as MB students.
fourth!). In his eleven years at MB, Michael
Independent Study Project, the 6th grade CSI project, and the social studies/science Egyptian
In her 16 years at Moses Brown,
LILLY
taught 7th-12th grade English, including the popular electives Shakespeare, Fiction into
Tomb collaboration built in his classroom. Keep
CATALDI-SIMMERS
supported the of-
Film, Metafiction, and Literature of Power
an eye out for Mike walking his dog, Buddy; he
fices of the Academic Dean, the Assistant Head
and Protest. Michael served for three years as
will remain connected to MB as a neighbor and
for Academic Affairs, and contributed to the
the Chair of the English Department and elev-
a parent of two graduates.
support of the three divisions. Throughout the
en years as the advisor for Improv We Trust.
years, Lilly organized and managed everything
He co-directed, produced, and assisted six-
from advances and conferences to scholars and
teen mainstage theater productions in Alumni
speakers. She managed MB’s online calendar
Hall and the Woodman Center; emceed the
and soccer, and was recognized for excellent
and was a founding member of the Logistics
annual Halloween pageant and MB There;
teaching. George strove to instill an enthusi-
Committee. Lilly served on the school’s Nur-
and wrote and performed at Story Drive for
asm for learning in his students, teaching all
turing Friends Education Committee for 12
MB Believes. Michael also served as a mem-
levels of physics as well as a popular meteo-
years. She created an Administrative Assistants
ber of the Discipline Committee for ten
rology elective. He piloted an engineering and
Committee, making a space for staff members
years, traveled to the Galapagos on an E.E.
design class with Laurie Center, which became
to share information and improve their impact
Ford grant, and received the 2014 Rufus S.
an established elective. George received an E.
upon the school community. Post-MB, Lilly will
D. Bilodeau Faculty Award, selected by stu-
E. Ford Award to develop a website for his me-
continue her work in education, serving as a host
dents in recognition of his commitment to
teorology course and a Swan Grant to develop
parent for high school students from abroad and
excellence and genuine love of learning.
GEORGE TSAKRAKLIDES has led a chess club, coached basketball
In his years at MB,
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Class Notes keeping in touch
The Class of ’48 sets the standard for MB stewardship. Their leadership and generosity has realized nearly 70 student projects over the years.
1954
1959
Congratulations to the Class of ’59 on your 60th reunion! Congratulations to Denny Wilson, celebrating the 60th anniversary of his graduation from Moses Brown this year. Denny currently resides in Maine and is working at the Boothbay Railway Village from Memorial Day until Columbus Day. He and Susan have two sons and six grandchildren. “I’m glad to see the class of 2019 has been successful in furthering their education studies,” he writes.
Michael Bate returned to MB for this year’s Reunion, recalling his excellent teachers on his Reunion survey.
Guest editor Adrian Hendricks ’58 is always a regular attendee at
D.C.-area MB events — and has even brought family! See page 20 for more from Adrian.
Larry Kilham was awarded the Design and Production Award for The Perfectionist: Peter Kilham and the Birds. Peter was Larry’s father who lived most of his adult life in Rhode Island and founded the famous bird records and feeders company, Droll Yankees. Quite a nice tribute. We recently heard from Nat White who is currently living in Flagstaff, Arizona. Nat’s claim to fame at MB was running for Mr. Howe, who also coached his father in baseball nearly 30 years before. After MB, Nat continued running and competing through college, graduate school, and even now at 78, setting a number of records from the 800-meter to 20-mile trail runs. Nat has lived in Flagstaff for 50 years and has served as vice mayor of the local community college board, on many committees and commissions, and is now an elder.
1962
Joe Lovett’s latest documentary, Children of the Inquisition, reveals the secrets of what happened to the people who were forced to convert or flee Spain and Portugal during the Spanish Inquisition. The film was shot on four continents over the past ten years and premiered in March at the Seattle Jewish Film festival and other festivals and community screenings are planned. See childrenoftheinquisiton.com for more. 42
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1964
DeWolf Fulton, Roger Davis, and Ted Livingston gathered for steamers and littlenecks at Quitos in Bristol in June. While Ted and DeWolf are Bristol residents, former hockey star Roger came all the way from his Maui home in the Hawaiian Islands to see his beloved Bruins play in the Stanley Cup. Roger was recognized opening night as the fan who traveled farthest to be at the game. He also took time to catch up with classmate and distinguished Harvard University photographer Jon Chase in Boston. The MB Alumni Association celebrated Richard Licht this spring with the Distinguished Alumnus Award; see page 38.
1969
Merci to Danielle and Michael Farber ’69, who made the trip from Quebec to attend Reunion.
1974
1965
In November, Tom Reed published his book Seeking Hyde: A Novel, a story about Robert Louis Stevenson meeting Jack the Ripper. The novel was a finalist for the 2018 INDIES Book of the Year Award (Historical Fiction Category).
Thank you to alumni from the 1960s who are active stewards of Moses Brown School today. Matthew Runci ’64 is an active member of the MB Alumni Association Board and did you know that Mauricio Barreto ’65 and Paul Silver ’68 are lending their expertise on the school’s Buildings & Grounds and Budget & Finance committees? Thanks to Matt, Mauricio, and Paul and all of our 1960s alumni helping to steward MB today!
Habib Gorgi and Sam Mencoff caught up with Bernie Buonanno ’84 at Reunion.
The Class of 1974 was in fine form at Reunion 2019.
1976
Jon Rollins spent time with MB’s Sharon Bray at the National Business Officers Association annual meeting where he presented on facility design and construction.
1977
Bob Samors recently decided to honor his parents and thank them for his MB education. He did so by naming a seat in the Woodman Center in honor of his late father Burton and his mother Harriet (right).
Several alumni from the 1970s are active volunteers for MB today, including Ahvi Spindell ’72 on the MBAA Board and Rory Riggs ’71 and Lloyd Granoff ’75 on the school’s Investment Committee. Thanks to all of our 1970s alumni helping to steward MB today!
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MB Legacies 2019 Seniors and their alumni parents gathered on the steps of the Walter Jones Library before the Senior Dinner this June. Pictured are: Sam and Neath Pal ’81, Lyeden Crane and Kim Little ’88, Brooke and Greg Bender ’90, Alexander and Chris Runci ’88, Charlie and Sandy Ballou ’80, Austin and Nick Gorham ’79, Max and Heather Handrigan Ross ’85, Charlee and Jeff Sparr ’81, Liza and Peter Ramsden ’82, Georgia and Steve Griffin ’84, Arden and Hugh Madden ’84, Liv and Jamie Worrell ’85, Jack and Ted Moran ’87, Alden and Greg Sadovnikoff ’74, Jude and Gary Goldberg ’87, Kari and Bernie Buonanno ’84, John Max and Peter Petrarca ’92.
1979
1978
Jeff Husserl visited with MB’s Linda Kaplan in Huntington Beach, California in February. See page 60 for more from Scott Triedman ’78.
1983
The Class of ’79 had fun in the BlueCube booth at Reunion! Sue Minter was appointed Executive Director of Capstone C om mu n it y Action. Most recently Sue was the President and CEO of Specia l Oly mpics Vermont.
1982
Social Innovation spring break: MB students headed West this March, traveling to California to visit Facebook (thanks to Jack Moran ’19’s aunt Ashley Wagstaff ’82); Craig Newmark, founder of Craig’s List; and Andrew Sutherland, founder of Quizlet.
Brian Nichols flew home to visit his mother who recently turned 90. He got together with some classmates in February. Brian is currently the U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe.
In New York City this April, Sarah Jaffe ’83 and Maddy Schaberg ’93, as well as Patrick Murphy ’85, gathered to make calls to NYC-area alumni to build support for the NYC Friends Endowed Scholarship Fund, an initiative conceived of and driven by a larger group of alumni including Andy Tothy ’55, Zach McDonald ‘96, Ari Heckman ’01, and Alex Egan ’03, to raise endowed scholarship support for current MB students. They are 80% to their goal. 44
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1986
Gary Orenstein hosted a gathering of MB alumni and friends at his home in San Francisco. The group enjoyed wonderful food prepared by Gary’s wife, Ching-Yee. See page 33.
1987
Rachel Littman was named the inaugural Executive Director of YANA, the Yale Alumni Nonprofit Alliance, an organization that organizes and leverages the collective power of Yale’s nonprofit alumni network for the greater social good.
Natasha Harrison shares more about her time overseeing Norman Bird Sanctuary on page 30.
Athletic Hall of Fame This spring, the Moses Brown Alumni Association celebrated Jeff Sparr ’81 (right) and Bernie Buonanno ’84 (below with family), inducting them into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame at Reunion.
The Moses Brown Alumni Association inducted the 1984 Baseball Team into MB’s Athletic Hall of Fame at Reunion in May: Michael Zexter ’85, David Izzi ’85,
Jeffrey Durso-Finley ’86, Todd Grant ’84, Eugene Bernardo ’85, Jonathan Scott ’84, Lawrence Carrera ’84, Glenn Sparr ’85, Christopher McLaughlin ’85, John Zienowicz ’84, Christopher Dusio ’85, Stephen Griffin ’84, Anthony Lambrese ’84, Randell Masterson ’84, Anthony Capo ’84, Hugh Madden ’84, and Joseph Petrosinelli ’84, with Paul
Donovan, Rex McGuinn, and Robert Potter as Coaches. Larry and Randy were inducted posthumously. See page 39 for more.
1989
Great to see you at this year’s Reunion, Veronica Assalone and Adam Boaz! Alumni from the 1980s represent the largest decade represented on your Moses Brown Alumni Association board, from Cheryl Schadone Cohen ’81 to David Keyser and Nicole Navega in the Class of ’89. Thanks to all of our 1980s alumni helping to steward MB today!
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1991
Thanks to Dr. Emanuela Binello who recently hosted senior Allie Lee. Allie shadowed Emanuela at Boston Medical Center last summer, observing both brain and spine surgeries, and says, “It was an amazing experience.” Allie heads to Brown this fall for the university’s PLME program (8-year BA/MD). Adam Olenn recent ly enjoyed a second graduation after five years as MB’s Director of Communications & Community Engagement. He is now leading Rustle & Spark, a strategic marketing and communications firm that helps clients in many industries tell their story with impact to move customers to act.
1993
Thank you to Ethan Ruby for returning to campus t his spring to present this year’s Ethan Ruby ’93 Most Courageous Athlete Award. This year’s award went to Caroline Castellone.
When she was a little girl living 17,000 feet above sea level in the Himalayas, there was no way Yangchen “YC” Lama could have imagined that she would be standing before the graduating class of 2019 at Moses Brown. In June, Yangchen delivered the 2019 Commencement address. “This wouldn’t have been possible without Hands In Outreach and Moses Brown lifting me up through education and opportunity,” Yangchen says. Today, Lama is Senior Vice President of Wealth Management, Certified Portfolio Manager, and a Family Wealth Director at Morgan Stanley’s Beverly Hills office. She has been recognized as one of the Top Wealth Advisor Moms in the country by Forbes and named a 2019 Five Star Wealth Manager in the Los Angeles Times and Wall Street Journal. “If Moses Brown hadn’t given me that scholarship 30 years ago,” she told graduates, “my life would have been totally different.” In gratitude, Yangchen announced a gift to help support MB’s Nepal program, honoring her American parents, Betsy and Roy Zimmerman.
1994
Brian Panoff was honored by the MB Alumni Association in May, receiving the 25th Reunion Achievement Award. See page 38 for more.
After attending Bucknell for his degree in psychology, Regis
Bingham ’90 went on to
get his M.S. in social psychology from Howard University. He’s worked as a behavioral specialist, consultant for the National Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse, director of the Caring People Alliance, and now for Wealth Wave. See page 26 for more from Regis.
Omar Siddiqi ’91 reports that he’s finally been able to start a neurology training program in Zambia. “I could not be more pleased,” he writes. “It was such a special moment.” The program officially launched with a neuroscience symposium last October and the first class was composed of five trainees in adult pediatric neurology. U.S. Ambassador Daniel Foote was the keynote speaker for the lunch, which was the culmination of years of work by Omar and others. “Many thanks to all of you who supported the program,” he says. “It is a real gamechanger.”
Several alumni from the 1990s are active volunteers for MB today, including David Murphy ’91 and Joanne Debrah ’97 on the MBAA Board. Thanks to all of our ’90s alumni helping to steward MB today!
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1998
Good luck to Natasha Ramirez P’16 who left MB at the end of this past year to become the Assistant to the Head of School at Wheeler after two years as an Admissions Coordinator at MB. Natasha also ran the Key Ambassador student groups and participated in the NAIS People of Color Conference, MB’s AllSchool Diversity Committee, upper school affinity groups, the Stewardship Working Group, the Safety Committee, served as a class representative for reunion planning, and helped teach salsa dancing in the Lower School.
You’re never too young to come back to your alma mater. Many alumni from the ’00 decade are already doing just that, including Todd Machtley ’00 and Kate Gorgi and Maggie Moran from the Class of ’08, serving on the MBAA Board.
1999
The Class of ’99 enjoyed gathering at this year’s Reunion.
Priya Desai ’99 (right) shares more of her story on page 22.
2000
Davis Sanford wrote to let us know he recently provided testimony at the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Tra nspor tat ion last September, discussing autonomous maritime shipping.
2001
Left: Event hosts Jeb Barrett with Telfer (9 months) met up with Nick Jezienicki ’00 and Bowen (3 months) in San Francisco. Jeb and Nick have been lifelong friends since they were neighbors on Lloyd Ave.
GIVE THE GIFT OF AN MB EDUCATION Apply Today!
mosesbrown.org/admission
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2002
Sam Daly and his wife Marissa welcomed baby Hudson in February. The family lives in Los Angeles.
Andy Read ’05 Andy Read had an early interest in water. From growing up in Westport, Mass. and spending part of each summer on a lake in the Adirondacks, he was introduced to water policy at a young age. After MB, Andy headed to Virginia Tech, where he pursued civil and environmental engineering with a focus on water resources. This also exposed him to hydraulics and hydrology, the science behind flood mapping, which is how he came to work at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. When he joined FEMA, Andy learned the responsibility that comes with being a civil servant and the steward of programs supporting over 23,000 communities nationwide. Andy has worked in the flood resilience industry for more than a decade now and at FEMA for almost six years, most recently as Executive Officer for the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, with specific focus on floodplain management, flood mapping, environmental/historic preservation, and the National Flood Insurance Program. “When people think about FEMA,” he says, “response and recovery often come to mind, but our charge is to focus on reducing risk and creating resilience within communities ahead of the next catastrophic event.” The media coverage of wildfires sweeping the Western U.S., Hurricane Katrina, Sandy, Harvey, and others, have given us all the opportunity to witness the challenges our country faces. Andy says students today have significantly more exposure to these challenges than previous generations — and that will be needed to help address these critical issues in the future. Andy started at MB in first grade and says that is where he first learned the gratification that comes with offering service. He recalls volunteering at a daycare center in middle school and playing music at a soup kitchen as part of his senior project. “There are few things more meaningful than the feeling you get from helping someone in need. I’m fortunate to have worked with FEMA where that feeling is a part of what you do each day.” While going to press, Andy was offered a position in the private sector and concluded his service with FEMA. He looks forward to continuing to help companies, communities, and global public sector leaders manage risk. Andy also enjoyed connecting with Chuck Stuart ’56 at an MBAA event earlier this year about their shared work at FEMA; see page 32. 48
Kendall Reiss is currently an artist in Bristol where she is working on a project at Coggeshall Farm Museum, Plumbing the Depths. She is forging a set of hammers on the antique forging set- up (powered by a double-action bellows) in the blacksmith shop at Coggeshall Farm Museum. The hammers will be used as strikers for a number of bronze bells that Kendall will permanently install into the landscape at the Coggeshall Farm Museum adjacent to Colt State Park.
2004
Michael Blackman and his wife Kathleen recently celebrated the arrival of Nora. Michael’s mom Adele retired from MB this year (see page 40) and is looking forward to having more time to visit Chicago now.
Providence Police Officer Peter Salmons , featured on page 28, has participated in local efforts for gun safety, in addition to volunteering with the Providence After School Alliance.
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We had a request for more news from post-2000 classes. Can you share more?
2005
Leah Boch, World Language Department Chair at the White Mountain School in New Hampshire, was a presenter at an AISNE event at the Gordon School this past April, on how schools are using affinity groups to support more inclusive environments.
2006
Rich Bache married Ashley Morais in October in Seekonk (right). Pictured: Richard Bache Sr., Suzie Woodward, Ryder & Willa Woodward, Ryan Woodward ’00, Larry Tremblay, Jill Bache Downing ’03, Willem Van Lancker ’06, Rich Bache, Ashley Bache, Matt Akelman ’06, Laureen Bray ’06, Janet Bache, Karin Morse ’79, Rosie Taam, and Marla and Anthony Lambrese ’84.
2007
Nice timing! Earlier this year, Steve Toro met up with Nick Fede while on the Washington, D.C. trip. By a fun coincidence, Nick was on vacation down there at the same time.
Thank you for a successful 1784-Minute Challenge! In a first-ever 1784-Minute fundraising challenge in May, MB surpassed its goal of 200 donors to reach an incredible 508 donors in just 24 hours! The Challenge included gifts from alumni ranging from the Class of ’44 to current students in the Class of 2026. The 00s made a splash as the decade with the most gifts (30), led by the Class of 2008.
CHAMPION CLASS: 1959 AT 56% The Class of ’59 had the highest rate of giving in 2018-19. Thanks to everyone who supported MB during the 2018-19 school year! TOP CLASS IN EACH DECADE:
30s 1939: 25%
40s 1946: 44%
70s 1979: 28%
80s 90s 1983 & 1985: 25% 1990: 23%
00s 2008: 18%
10s 2010: 16%
60s 1960: 53%
Who will be the Champion Class of 2019-20? Celebrate your class — and invest in the promise of every student — with a gift to The Moses Brown Fund!
www.mosesbrown.org/giving
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Neil Beranbaum ’86, Clerk John Baldwin ’94, Assistant Clerk Brian Panoff ’94, Treasurer Jane Knowles ’81, Recording Clerk George Panichas ’83, Stewardship Clerk Jason Engle ’98, Local Committee Clerk Ahvi Spindell ’72, National Committee Clerk
Gabe Amo ’05 Taylor Rotondi Anderson ’02 Cheryl Schadone Cohen ’81 Joanne Debrah ’97 Alex Egan ’03 Tom Frater ’82 Kate Gorgi ’08 Austin Jaspers ’11
Calling All Classes: MB Connects — Stewardship at MB
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es Brow
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t io
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Todd Machtley ’00 Maggie Moran ’08 David Murdock ’93 David Murphy ’91 Nicole Navega ’89 John Pariseault ’97 Vin Porcaro ’83 Mia Rotondi Puddington ’09
A lu
The mission of the Moses Brown Alumni Association is to foster lifelong relationships with the school and fellow alumni. See individual pages by decade for your representatives on the Moses Brown Alumni Association board and other volunteer roles at MB. We also extend our appreciation to all of the alumni, parents, grandparents, and Friends who give so much of their time and expertise working on behalf of Moses Brown during the school year.
os
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2018-2019 MB Alumni Association Board
A ssoc
ia
Matt Romano ’14 Matt Runci ’64 Miles Rutter ’04 Conal Smith ’06 Glenn Sparr ’85
Interested in sharing your expertise or volunteering to help the MB community? The Moses Brown Alumni Association has launched a new Stewardship program and invites alumni to participate. Consider volunteering on campus, skyping, coaching, or becoming a senior project mentor/advisor. Thanks!
2009 Derek Army ’09 married Jennifer Beneduce last June in Newport. Their wedding was attended by many MB alumni and faculty. Pictured: Nick Fede ’07, Cam Brown ’11, Jeff Church ’07, Mike Beneduce ’12, Ryan Fuller ton ’08 , A lex Sadusky, Jake Jordan ’11, Travis Army ’11, Neil Vasquez ’09, Tim Graul ’12, Ben Lombardi ’12, Brayden Puddington ’09, Mia Rotondi Puddington ’09, Carson Brown ’14, Derek Army ’09, Jeff Maidment, Larry Tremblay, Karin Morse ’79, Clark Donatelli ’84, Katie Denoyelle, and Mark Andrews.
2010
2013
Nice to see Nkosi Anthony here at MB. Nkosi stopped by campus this spring; he caught up with Jared Schott and got to see how the campus has changed since graduation, later touring with Karin Morse. Nkosi is wrapping up his master’s in film production and hoping to move to California to break into the film business in sound, production, or directing. Great to see you Nkosi, keep in touch!
Great to see the Warde family at this year’s True Blue event in the Woodman Center. Stephen Warde enjoyed catching up with his former band director Steve Toro. Stephen is working at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Boston after graduating from Bryant University.
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2014
Ian Maccini ’13, Orrin Starr ’15, Marissa Bamonte ’14, and Tom Rice ’13 reunited in Charleston, S.C. for Charleston Race Week, a sailing event that has evolved to become the largest keelboat regatta in the Western Hemisphere.
Toria Rainey, alumna of Moses Brown Chorus and Versatones, is a member of a professional acapella group. They released an album recently which has won a number of awards, including Best Pop Album (CARA), in which Pentatonix was the runner-up, as well as an Independent Music Award for Best Debut Album. Their album titled Come Around by Birdland Avenue is an interesting listen, says Justin Peters. “It’s by no means your standard scholastic a cappella. Incredible!”
Marissa Bamonte is currently working toward earning her master’s in communication from the University of Charleston. Marissa graduated from the College last May with a BS in International Business and minor in Spanish.
2015
Giving back to MB can happen any time after graduation. Many young alumni are already doing just that, including Austin Jaspers ’11 and Matthew Romano ’14, serving on the Alumni Association Board.
Molly Freeman and the Middlebury College field hockey team became the first to win three-straight NESCAC titles. Congratulations to Alden Taylor, awarded a Yenching Scholarship this past year. A Williams College senior, Alden is joining the year-long program at Peking University in Beijing this fall. A history major at Williams, Alden hopes to become an international lawyer, focused on strengthening diplomacy between the U.S. and China. At Williams, he was the personnel director for the college’s radio station. He also studied international relations at the University of Amsterdam and spent last summer in Washington, D.C., as a legislative intern for Senator Maggie Hassan.
Congratulations to Manya Glassman, who won an award in the Student Film Festival in May at Providence College. Manya is now headed to graduate school at NYU Tisch for film. spring
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Carson Brown and Jake Slovin enjoyed catching up at Reunion (as did Penelope).
Thank you to alumni who returned to speak at MB’s first Senior Seminar Day this year. Alumni who returned to answer questions about the transition to college included Cole Triedman ’17, Elma DeSousa ’18, Caitlin Tucker ’18, Chase Harrington ’18, and Peter McKendall ’16. Seniors also heard from Steve Sweet at Endicott College and Dr. Sherri Nelson at Brown University.
2016 Kieran Harrington (left) says he learned the impor tance of community at MB. See more on Kieran on page 25.
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2018
Congratulations to Jacob Studley, named Rookie of the Year in his first year playing baseball at Wheaton. The Lyons earned a bid to play in this year’s NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament.
2019
Evan Daniels is this year’s MBAA Summer Intern. His enthusiasm, research and photographic ability are already a boon to the Alumni Office this summer. Congratulations, Class of ’19! MB’s newest graduating class reached 87% participation for their Senior Class Gift, the highest level achieved since the Class of 2010 reached 100%!
Congratulations, Lifers! Sixteen seniors in the Class of 2019 spent the most years at MB, starting at Moses Brown in the earliest grades of the lower school. Over the years, all contributed greatly to every division of Moses Brown and now attain membership in the MB ‘veterans’ club. We wish them all the best: Samuel Andelman, Brendan Bonner, Isabella DeAngelo, Jude Goldberg, Zachary Grumbach, Lily Lustig, Arden Madden, Victoria Matson, Jackson Mello, John Max Petrarca, Michael Rawson, Cole Reardon, Jonathan Rosenzweig, Charlee Sparr, Jack Tripp, Jacob Wallack.
Former Faculty & Staff It was nice to see Barry Marshall (upper school) at Ransom Griffin’s Final Master Class in April in the Jones Library, before poet Tyehimba Jess’ evening presentation.
The Alumni Office’s Susan Cordina (second from right) enjoyed the chance to catch up with former colleagues at this year’s True Blue event.
Ji l l Stockman (college counseling) came back to MB as a volunteer at the Blood Drive with the R.I. Blood Center. Great to see your smiling face, Jill, and continuing service to community!
Jeff Cruzan’s MB hat covers miles and memories. “This old hat rode my head on 435 miles of the Colorado Trail, four Colorado trips with MB kids and faculty, 100 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail in Oregon, several summits of the high Cascades in Oregon, many of the 66 summits of Mt. Washington I made while living in the East, and those great trips up Mt. Chocorua with the Middle School gang,” the former upper school teacher writes. “It’s still my favorite, just like the place. I think about you all often and warmly.” Same here, Jeff! This edition of Cupola focuses on service and community, showing how people in our community work for the greater good. We’d love to hear from more past employees. If you’re doing volunteer work in your community, or just want to let us know what you’re up to, let us know or send a photo! (alumni@mosesbrown.org)
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Become a part of MB history! Name a seat in the Woodman Center Fewer than 200 seats remain!
For more information, please visit mosesbrown.org/woodmanseat spring
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commencement
Welcome: The Class of 2019! Investment advisor and Nepalese immigrant Yangchen Lama ’94 delivered the 2019 Commencement address. “Coming to the United States and attending MB was a dream come true,” she told graduates, sharing how sitting quietly in Meeting for Worship taught her valuable skills to get through a challenging moment in her teenage years and over the course of her life. See Yangchen’s inspiring full address at www.mosesbrown.org /yangchenlama.
Heading out into the world!
Best wishes to the class of 2019 heading to: American University
College of the Holy Cross
Bard College
Colorado College
Bates College
Connecticut College
Michigan State University
Smith College
Bennington College
Cornell University
Mount Holyoke College
Southern Methodist University
Bentley University
Dartmouth College
New York University
Stony Brook University
Berklee College of Music
Denison University
Northeastern University
Suffolk University
Boston College
Emory University
Northfield Mount Hermon
Syracuse University
Boston University
Georgetown University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Temple University
Brandeis University
Gettysburg College
Pennsylvania State University
Texas Christian University
Brown University
Hamilton College
Pratt Institute
The College of Wooster
Bryant University
Harvard University
Princeton University
The New School - Parsons Paris
Chapman University 54
Kenyon College
Providence College
The Ohio State Universitycupola
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Rutgers University-New Brunswick Skidmore College
MB’s annual Commencement ceremony moved indoors this year, due to weather, but that did not dampen spirits or the celebration.
The University of Tampa
University of Pennsylvania
Trinity College
University of Pittsburgh
Trinity University
University of Rhode Island
Tufts University
University of Vermont
Tulane University
Vassar College
University of California, Los Angeles
Villanova University
University of Chicago
Washington University in St. Louis
University of Colorado at Boulder
Wheaton College (Mass.)
University of Maryland, College Park
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
University of Miami
Yale University
Keep in touch! Share a note for the next magazine: www.mosesbrown.org/classnote
Give us your email for alumni e-news and event invites: www.mosesbrown.org/alumni Send news / notes / photos
for Cupola to: alumni@mosesbrown.org
University of Michigan
University New Hampshire spring /ofsummer 2019 at Durham
Bold = Two or more students attending
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CONDOLENCES
In Memoriam Robert Claflin, Class of 1941, a Pharmacist’s Mate in the
#8, F. & A.M.; Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs; New En-
U.S. Navy during World War II, served with the Marines, mostly on
gland Association of Fire Chiefs; and 88th Infantry Division As-
Midway Island in the latter part of the war. Returning to civilian
sociation. He also served on the original Lincoln Town Charter
life, he graduated from Brown University in 1950 and worked as
Commission, first Charter Review Commission, Lincoln Budget
a fire protection engineer in Providence, Philadelphia, Columbus,
Board, and the Lincoln Republican Town Committee. (11/28/18)
Ohio, and Kalamazoo, Mich. He served as treasurer and head ush-
er in the churches where he and his wife Janet were members. He
Allan Bellows, Class of 1943, was a fifth-generation fu-
was also a volunteer in the Harmony Fire Department and with
neral director and actively involved, alongside his father, son, and
Habitat for Humanity. He was founding member and director of
grandson, with the Mortuary of D. W. Bellows & Son, Pawtucket,
the Kalamazoo Scottish Highland Games. Bob loved sailing his
Bellows Funeral Chapel, Lincoln, and Roy Funeral Home, Manville
catamaran and ice boating. He loved people, animals, games, and
for over 65 years. He is survived by his wife of 10 years, Lois Tub-
the greater outdoors and is remembered for his sense of humor. He
man, and was preceded in death by his first wife of 55 years, Car-
frequently stopped to help strangers on the street. (9/11/18)
olyn (Waters) Bellows. He graduated from Brown University and
served proudly as a B-17 navigator in the Army Air Corps during
Oliver H.J. Perry, Class of 1942, was a volunteer mem-
World War II. He was a member of the Wannamoisett Country
ber of the Lime Rock Fire Department for 47 years, and served
Club, Rumford, Sakonnet Golf Club, and the Little Compton and
as the Fire Chief for ten years. Following his retirement from the
Pawtucket country clubs. An active member of St. Paul’s Episcopal
Fire Department, he served as Building Superintendent for Lin-
Church, Pawtucket, he served as Senior Warden and was a mem-
coln Center Properties. He was a World War II Army veteran and
ber of its Investment Committee for many years. Allan was active
a member of Lime Rock Baptist Church; Mount Moriah Lodge
in many local organizations across Rhode Island. (2/9/19)
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George Claflin, Class of 1943, entered the U.S. Army Air
in Rotary (Paul Harris Fellow), Holmes Regional Hospital, and his
Corps on graduating from Moses Brown. He trained as a tail gunner
church. For several decades Herrick was involved with storytelling
on both B-17s and B-29s, however did not see combat duty. Follow-
throughout the state and region, as a listener and a teller. (2/18/19)
ing World War II, he settled in Oakland, Calif. as master electrician
in a can manufacturing plant and living off Skyline Drive in Oak-
George Chappell, Class of 1955, was a poet, teacher,
land. George was an inventive sort, building his own gasoline-pow-
storyteller, and a voracious reader. He was always trying to be a
ered go-kart from scratch and giving rides to family and friends. He
better human and friend to people and nature. He was a devoted
enjoyed the outdoors and had a particular fondness for model elec-
loving partner to Frances Mary Vigeant. During his time at Mo-
tric trains. He loved sharing stories of his life and adventures, and
ses Brown he excelled in track, winning the New England Cham-
is remembered for taking care of the people around him. (6/7/18)
pionship in the half-mile. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard,
and graduated from the University of Maine and the University
Arthur Milot, Class of 1951, graduated from Harvard
of Pennsylvania with a master’s in Folklore. He started his own
College, and was active in the Naval Reserves. In 1968 he pur-
newspaper in Turner Falls, Mass. Late in life, he returned to
chased the Brewster Lumber Company, which expanded across
school and earned a master’s in Poetry from Goddard College.
New England during his tenure. He was a director of Industrial
He published three books of poetry in which he frankly preserved
National Bank and its successor Fleet Financial Group. Arthur de-
his view of the world, the people he loved, and his own humanity.
voted himself to many philanthropic causes, particularly the Na-
For years he taught a weekly writing class for veterans. (2/21/19)
ture Conservancy, where he was a board member and fundraiser.
A humble and private man, he worked quietly for the causes he
Peter Kerr, Class of 1956, enlisted in the U.S. Army infan-
believed in. He was especially fond of the cats he rescued, and
try, serving for seven years during the Cold War era, reaching the
was a supporter of Animal Rescue Rhode Island and the Potter
rank of 2nd Lieutenant. Peter then enjoyed a successful career as
League for Animals. Known in Jamestown as “the walking man,”
a New England Life Agent, retiring early to pursue his life-long
he could be seen walking from his home to his office most days,
love of adventure. Peter’s life was full of travel, including 17 years
picking up litter and chatting with passersby. He married Martha,
of motorhome travels, hiking, golfing, skiing, and family visits
his wife of 61 years, and together they raised their family in Prov-
throughout North America. Peter always enjoyed watching New
idence and Jamestown. (1/17/19)
England sporting events with Lynn, his wife of 35 years. Peter was
a very active member of the Tyrian Lodge of the Ancient Free and
Rev. Henry Anthony, Class of 1952, graduated from
Accepted Masons of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, serv-
Amherst College and was a vice president of Smith Barney. After
ing as Master in 1976. He was also a member of the BPOE Lodge
retirement he earned a Master of Divinity from the University of
in Aspen, Colo. Peter always shared his sense of humor and wit
the South and was ordained an Episcopal priest and served par-
with everyone he encountered. His mischievous personality and
ishes in Newport, Narragansett, Barrington, and Providence. He
attitude are sorely missed by all who love him. (11/30/18)
retired from the Church of the Good Shepherd, Lookout Moun-
tain, Tenn. Recently, he had returned to part-time work with Van
Barry Field, Class of 1972, was the beloved husband of
Liew Trust Company. (4/9/19)
Kurt Weidman, with whom he was together 29 years before being
married two years ago. Barry started his law career in the enter-
John Jeffers, Class of 1952, earned a degree in Chemis-
tainment industry, working for Motown and Polygram Records in
try and a master’s in Teaching from Brown University as well as a
LA, prior to establishing his own practice in Boston. Most recent-
master’s in Storytelling from East Tennessee State University. Af-
ly, he was a partner with his brothers in two Gold’s Gym Franchis-
ter working as a chemist, John began a 45-year career in indepen-
es in R.I. He was a GLAD Board President for 11 years and a DNC
dent school education including having been a chemistry teacher
Trustee. He was the loving owner of his dogs, Ziggy and Marley,
at Moses Brown from 1958 to 1963. He then moved to Tampa, Fla.,
and a dear brother of Alan and Michael Field, and uncle to several
and served as science teacher, department head, coach, and Senior
nieces and nephews. (2/24/19)
Master at Berkeley Preparatory School. John, otherwise known as
Herrick, explored a range of interests throughout his life, including
Miles Maiden, Class of 1976, traveled around the world
camping, sailing, traveling, lapidary work, and silversmithing. He
as a young child with his family while his father was on a writing
remained involved in his community and fulfilled through service
assignment. One of his most rewarding years was spent in Jamaica with his wife teaching at a local high school. Throughout his
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life, turning an idea into reality excited Miles. Whether it was a building project, designing a tracking solar collector, or invent-
Kristin Mullin Jaekle, Class of 1989, loved life, the beach, Martha’s Vineyard, HGTV, butterflies, and, most of all,
ing a hand-held water purifier, Miles loved a challenge and was
her family. The daughter of Bill and Linda Mullin, Krissie lived
a tenacious problem-solver. Miles founded several businesses
on campus and attended Moses Brown for 13 years before gradu-
including most recently Hydro-Photon, a company he built with
ating from the University of Rhode Island. She was a fierce com-
dedicated friends and co-workers who helped him develop the
petitor in soccer, basketball, and rugby and was known as a loyal
SteriPEN, a product that earned many patents and accolades in-
friend who was optimistic and resilient no matter the challenge.
cluding Time magazine’s Best Invention of the Year. His happiest
In addition to her parents, Kristin is survived by her loving hus-
times were spent on the water with friends and family, preferably
band Bob and her sons Davis, Maxwell, and Owen, sister Beth
in a remote anchorage at sunset with a summer drink in hand,
Mullin Rosoff ’96 and husband Chris, niece Hannah, and Aunt
aboard his wooden boat Malachi Mudge. (2/5/19)
Barbara Burgess as well as a large extended family. In July, family
and friends with Moses Brown well-represented gathered in Oak
Walter Hanson, III, Class of 1977, served in the U.S. Navy after graduating from the University of Vermont and was
Bluffs to celebrate her life through Kristin Palooza. (10/31/18)
the husband of Beth McGarity. He moved to the Hartford area for a position with the Travelers Insurance Company and worked in the insurance industry the balance of his career. Walter was an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan. He enjoyed golf and cycling, and played league softball in his 30s and 40s. Walter loved animals
former faculty / staff
Irene “Renee” Grimshaw attended R.I. Hospital School of Nursing and Boston University where she obtained a bache-
and his pets and especially enjoyed time spent with his nieces and
lor’s degree in Teaching. She went on to work at R.I. Hospital as
nephews, who affectionately knew him as Uncle Wally. (4/6/19)
a Registered Nurse and in 1964 she became the first school nurse
at Moses Brown where she also taught health class to the sev-
Albert Lepore Jr., Class of 1980, graduated from Suf-
enth-grade classes, retiring in 2003. Mrs. Grimshaw’s office went
folk University and Vermont Law school. He was the loving fa-
from being at the top of the Middle House stairs to the bottom
ther of Sabra, her fiance Ralph Orlandi, and Danae. He was the
level of Burnham House where she was famous for helping gen-
grandfather of Giuliana Orlandi. He was the brother and law
erations of Moses Brown students with a whole host of ailments,
partner of Sheri Lepore, Esq. and her husband, Joseph Iaciofano.
and for generously providing her special cough drops to many.
He was a partner and former President of Coia & Lepore Ltd.,
Renee also had a passion for gardening and was very involved in
located in Providence. Albert was admitted to the U.S. District
the 4H Club and Cub Scouts. (1/25/19)
Court for the District of R.I., U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. Albert’s passion was cheering on his beloved New England Patriots, especially his
Dorothy Patrick was the Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at Moses Brown. She was valedictorian of her high
man crush, Tom Brady, whom he had the pleasure of meeting on
school class in Texas, before graduating from Prairie View A &
a plane ride back from Europe. (1/14/19)
M University, teaching in Texas and New Jersey, and moving to
Rhode Island with her family. Dorothy held master’s degrees
Christopher Capo, Class of 1987, had many talents,
from Montclair State and Providence College and also worked as
everything from restoring houses to fixing engines to cooking
an administrator in the Providence Public Schools (Gilbert Stuart
gourmet meals. He grew up spending summers in Osterville on
Magnet School). She was a member of the Community Church of
Cape Cod and was a fan of all kinds of sports, particularly the
Providence and active in the Providence chapter of Delta Sigma
Patriots, the Red Sox, and March Madness. After MB, Chris at-
Theta Sorority, a co-founder of The Links Inc. Providence chap-
tended Lynchburg College and Providence College. A free spirit,
ter, Chums, the Review Club of Providence, and served on the
he loved traveling and spending time with his family, including
board for the Paul Cuffee School. Dorothy’s life was celebrated at
his wife Nicoletta, parents, sister, brother Anthony Capo ’84, and
a moving celebration on the MB campus where friends and fam-
other family members. (4/4/19)
ily, including son Marc ’89, recalled her positive spirit, contributions to education, and incredible cooking. (6/11/19)
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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stewardship at mb
MB Connects There are unlimited ways to give back, whether you volunteer in a classroom, mentor a student, advise a senior project, talk to a class or student group, or just stop by for story time. Contact Karin Morse — kmorse@mosesbrown.org / 401-831-7350 x191 or Kate Tompkins — ktompkins@mosesbrown.org / 401-831-7350 x258 to learn how you can contribute to MB’s learning community.
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ities that have proven instrumental in my current work in global health. I now work across disciplines and nationalities to dismantle barriers to healthcare access in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions. This work is deeply interwoven with global social justice and advocacy; the inequities that we see are not only avoidable but also unfair and unjust. Perhaps my most important lesson learned is that how we fare in life often has much more to do with the “lottery of birth” than our own hard work and efforts. Where we are born often determines whether we have access to healthcare, education, housing, and many of the freedoms that most of us take for granted. Working in challenging contexts, I realize that seeds of social change were introduced to me at MB over 40 years ago. One experience that affected me deeply occurred in the mid-1970s. At that time, there was a state workers’ strike for better conditions at the former Ladd School in Exeter, a now-closed residential facility for people
Dr. Scott Triedman now works in Rwanda and Haiti with the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Partners In Health; his clinical expertise is helping to build capacity to treat cancer there.
with severe disabilities. While the workers had valid reasons to strike, it left hundreds without caregivers. As a consequence, there was a call for volunteers to assist in care for the residents. In response, an MB faculty member arranged for a group of us to volunteer during the strike. While I cannot imagine that this could happen in our current world of healthcare regulations, this eye-opening experience threw a bright spotlight on a form of social injustice I might have never appreciated otherwise. Such “extracurricular activities” helped me understand that the first step in creating positive change is to understand the systemic factors in play at the root of the problem.
Photographs by Partners in Health
reflection: scott triedman ’78
Community Care
Even as a student at MB I wanted to be a physician, a career that would emulate that of my father, Len Triedman ’45, and grandfathers. In the 1970s, I often tagged along with my Dad on Saturday mornings, observing as he cared for postoperative cancer patients at Providence hospitals. During those “field trips,” I came to appreciate that we all have a responsibility to care for one another and to find ways to contribute to our community. More than a decade later, following my medical training, I returned to Providence as an oncologist and was privileged to spend my next 30 years supporting and caring for people during one of life’s most vulnerable experiences. My approach to patient care was also deeply influenced by my time
One of my mentors at MB, my religious studies teacher Paul Graseck, also helped me understand that equity is about fairness and about making sure that all people have access to the same opportunities. Social injustice may even call for civil disobedience. Dr. Graseck practiced what he preached. I still remember clearly his involvement with the Clamshell Alliance, a grassroots coalition of anti-nuclear activists who were trying to stop nuclear power plant construction at Seabrook, N.H. One day, Dr. Graseck failed to show up for class. We learned that he was one of over 1,400 protesters who were arrested and incarcerated at N.H. National Guard armories for trespassing. This real-life values lesson proved more instructive than studying Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience. After spending my adult life taking care of one patient at a time, it is a whole new experience to be able to contribute to systems change that can affect entire communities. Our passions and potential to contribute are not static. It’s been a privilege to leverage my experience in patient care to work in a whole new context in Africa and Haiti. Partners In Health puts it best in their mission statement where they strive “to bring the benefits of modern medical science to those most in need of them and to serve as an antidote to despair.” It is clear that what I learned about stewardship and helping those in need at MB decades ago has served me well and continues to shape and inform the way I look at our world.
at MB. During those years, I learned compassion and how to appreciate
Scott Triedman and his wife MJ Kaplan are the parents of MB graduates
the “light” or value of each individual. Listening, respecting differences,
Natalie ’08, Lucy ’11, and Cole ’17. “Moses Brown provided a strong foun-
and humility are Quaker values that have served me well. MB also in-
dation for our children,” Scott says, “as it did for me. The model set by
stilled a strong social change ethos and the importance of fairness, prior-
teachers like Dr. Graseck pervaded my whole MB experience.”
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Kate Levesque served on MB’s Board of Trustees from 2010-17, including as the Assistant Clerk of the Board. Continuing the tradition, Shaun became a Trustee in 2017 and is the current Treasurer and Clerk of Budget & Finance Committee.
Kate and Shaun Levesque P’12 ’14 ’17 See Their Bequest to MB as a Multiplier “When we first started looking for a school for our sons,
athletics and other co-curriculars.
we were searching for a school with a strong academic
Top-notch education should be accessible and affordable
program, but also a school with a sense of ethics and values.
for all, but that only happens if all of us help.
The MB mission talks about the inner promise of each student
For us, gifts to educational institutions have a multiplier
and care for learning, people, and place. We believe the
effect associated with them — for each student, educated
education, care for each student, and the facilities offered at
well, and hopefully with a sense of ethics, has such potential
MB stack up against any other school in New England.
to effect change in our world. Ensuring that MB has the
We know the value of education and the difference it made for all five of us. Shaun was a first in his family to go to
resources to educate students for another 233+ years is important to our family.
college. Kate had a great liberal arts education and is now
For us, creating a bequest for MB to support teaching
leading a school in Dedham, Mass. We always talk about
excellence was like the Nike ad, ‘Just do it.’ It takes a little
how well MB prepared Eamon ’12, Will ’14, and Daniel ’17
work with your lawyer, but it is not that complicated, and the
academically and how they were able to find their interests in
reward is infinite.”
If you’d like to learn more on making a bequest or planned gift to MB, contact Perry Buroker at 401-831-7350 ext. 289 or pburoker@mosesbrown.org.
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. 421
For the Honor of Truth
Connect with MB this fall! Come to Expo in October: Thursday, October 17: • Evening Symposium on the Future of Education Friday, October 18: • Harvest Dinner and Bonfire Saturday, October 19: • Homecoming & Open House Upcoming: Thursday, November 7 • MBAA Fall Reception (R.I.) Please watch your email and mosesbrown.org for details.
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 the address.