Moses Brown CUPOLA by Moses Brown School

Moses Brown s um m e r 2021

c up o l a

FRIENDSHIP

KEVIN PERRY, ABBY PHYF E , JAN E KNOWL E S ’81, ALLISON WEITBERG SPURLING ’96, DOMINIQUE AVILA ’11, MAIJA HALLSMITH ’11, THE RUNCI FAMILY ALSO: SERVICE TO COM MUNITY: KEVIN MATSON / CLASS OF ’65 LAUNCHES FOR THE HONOR OF TRUTH INITIATIVE / MB ANNOUNCES S T R ATEG I C PLAN FOR DI V E R S ITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION / MB BELIEVES SURPASSES GOAL

Thanks to the 2020-21 Board of Trustees Gabe Amo ’05 Issmat Atteereh P ’13 ’18 Neil Beranbaum ’86 P ’22 ’24 ’28 Clerk, Alumni Association Maitrayee Bhattacharyya P ’20 Carl Bogus ’66 GP ’30 David Bourns Cheryl Schadone Cohen ’81 Joanne P. A. Debrah ’97 P ’20 Jane Dietze P ’20 ’23 Clerk, Investment Committee Albert Dobron P ’21 ’23 Lisa Donahue P ’21 Clerk, MB Parents’ Association Victoria Ekk 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 Friends Coordinator Kara Milner P ’19 ’21 ’27 Recording Clerk of the Board Stephanie Ogidan Preston ’97 P’22 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 ’24 Clerk of the Board Megan Smith Ahvi Spindell ’72 Ariana Steele P ’26 ’29 Reza Taleghani ’90 P ’21 ’23 Clerk, Governance Committee Stephen Thomas P ’27 ’30 ’34 Dawn Tripp P ’19 ’24 Clerk, Nurturing Friends Education Carlton Tucker P ’18 Matt Glendinning Head of School Bruce Neumann Clerk of NEYM

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Cupola Summer 2021 Letter from Matt Glendinning........................................................................1 News from Moses Brown Today ................................................................... 2 Gifts in Action ............................................................................................. 10 Departing Faculty & Staff.............................................................................12 Friendship, Jane Knowles ’81, guest editor........................................................... 14 MB Alumni News......................................................................................... 24 Class Notes.................................................................................................. 28 In Memoriam............................................................................................... 39 Commencement 2021................................................................................ 42

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

Cupola — A semi-annual magazine for Moses Brown School alumni Editor: Kristen A. Curry Director of Alumni Relations: Karin Morse ’79 Assistant Head of School, Community Engagement: Ron Dalgliesh P ’21

Contributors:

Photography:

Emily Atkinson P ’14’18

David O’Connor,

Jon Gold P ’33

MB Communications

Kate Tompkins P ’28 Designer: Timothy Furman millionsofimages.com Printer: Signature Printing, East Providence, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council

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 If you want to opt-out of the print magazine and just get a digital copy of the next magazine, please let us know — email alumni@mosesbrown.org.

Friendship The Power of Friends A LETTER FROM MATT GLENDINNING, HEAD OF SCHOOL Right around the time this issue of Cupola arrives in your hands, we will be starting a new school year at Moses Brown, and the 788 students who are currently enrolled will be returning to campus. It feels good to write that — returning to campus. A return to learning and working together. The pandemic is not over, of course, and we continue to take steps to safeguard our community’s health, but come September 1, we will be fully in-person on a daily basis for all students for the first time in a year and a half. That’s important, because one thing the pandemic has taught us is that in-person learning is crucial for children’s social and emotional development. Indeed, many of our lifelong friendships are formed during the childhood and adolescent years. I have just such a connection with one childhood friend, David, who now teaches fourth grade at Neighborhood House Charter School in Dorchester, Mass. Despite his family’s move to California during high school, we’ve remained in touch through thick and thin, and now one of the highlights of our advancing middle age is playing soccer together on Sundays in an over-50 league. How many of you have a similar story? A lifelong friend, a relationship started in your youth that has maintained its power through the years? I suspect that most of you reading this could name a few — and that a good number of those would be fellow Moses Brown alumni. This is no surprise, actually; there’s some scientific evidence showing

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that childhood friends are among the best we’ll ever have. As Jennifer Senior explains in a 2013 New York magazine article, childhood — especially pre-adolescence — is a time of rapid identity formation. For a still-developing brain, the people we know and things we experience during puberty have an intensity about them unmatched in later stages of life, thereby leaving an outsize impact on our emerging and enduring sense of self. Of course, adolescence can be a time of hardship, as children try to figure out where they belong in a social hierarchy often based on crude metrics such as looks, wealth, or athleticism. That’s why friends are so important, as they help us develop more meaningful criteria for companionship and self-worth. That’s also why Friends are so important. The community we build at Moses Brown, based on Quaker values, is one that makes space for deep connection and partnership. For Inner Light and collective brightness. And, yes: friendship. That’s what we celebrate in this issue of Cupola; I hope you enjoy its many stories, and I hope you think back to some of those people at Moses Brown who supported you and enriched your life. (Maybe shoot them a note and let them know?) And, of course, I hope each of you can make your own return to campus soon, to start renewing connections and building new ones.

news from moses brown today

Hope & Lloyd

Kudos! Congratulations to: • Vibha Kamath, named a 2021 National Merit Scholarship winner, out of 15,000 finalists. • 22 MB student-musicians accepted into the Rhode Island Music Education Association’s Senior and Junior All-State Music Festival, including three who placed first in the state — Dylan Bean, Rachel Williams and Kazuya Bojarski. • The upper school Ethics Bowl team, which won the New England Regional High School Ethics Bowl and placed in the Elite 8 at the National High School Ethics Bowl. • 14 students recognized in this year’s Rhode Island Scholastic Art Awards. • Five seniors selected as Presidential Scholar candidates this year: Vaibhav Duggirala, Vishwas Duggirala, Vibha Kamath, Elias Reville and Emily Younkin. • The girls’ lacrosse team, winning their sixth consecutive state championship. • Seb Dobron and AJ Coia, Division 1 Doubles State Champions this spring. • Sophia Gorriaran, named High School Indoor Track Athlete of the Year by Track and Field News. Sophia won the Gatorade Player of the Year Award for Outdoor Track and now holds the national sophomore record in the 800m, beating a 45-year record set by Mary Decker. Super Troupers! The MB theatre program staged a successful outdoor presentation of Mamma Mia in the Back Circle this spring, truly giving credence to “the show must go on” with COVID precautions in place. All four shows sold out, with 60 students working tirelessly and collaboratively to make the musical happen. Thanks to the Parent Diversity Committee for creating an MB Community Cookbook this year, filled with favorite recipes from Moses Brown families, faculty and staff. “We wanted to build community in this unique year and celebrate the rich variety of backgrounds making up our community,” says one parent. “In the process, we gained a greater appreciation for our diverse community.” The cookbook raised over $5,800 for scholarships.

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Learning about the health impacts of kerosene lamps during a light energy unit in science inspired second graders to build and sell their own colorful solar night lights. Proceeds from the sales went to support Solar Sister, an organization that helps women entrepreneurs build businesses and deliver clean energy in Africa. Led by second grade, lower school students worked to develop more awareness around autism this year, including hosting a “Walk for Autism” around campus. With masks covering everyone’s faces, upper school substitute Becky Wagner found a unique way to connect with students, faculty and staff. A lifelong artist, Becky began drawing pictures of the people and places at Moses Brown. From portraits to simple moments to favorite footwear, Becky’s drawings captured everyday life at MB during COVID. Becky says, “I was grateful for the opportunity to observe students as they coped with the challenges of ‘the year of COVID.’ I hope that I captured the spirit of this unusual year.” Seniors voted to dedicate this year’s yearbook to Kelly Joseph, upper school humanities teacher.

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Service to Community: Kevin Matson With a view toward community service, not only at MB and beyond, Kevin has served on the front lines of two high-stress positions in this challenging year of COVID.

In this year of adaptation, one faculty member who has experienced the pandemic up-close and in a unique way is Kevin Matson, upper school math. After using a Joseph Olney ’32 sabbatical to become an advanced EMT- Cardiac (AEMT-C), Kevin began to volunteer weekends with the Hope Valley Ambulance Rescue Squad as an Advanced Life Support provider. His squad quickly adjusted protocols to accommodate the necessary safety precautions brought on by the COVID pandemic. As an active first responder, Kevin safely navigated his dual roles and was one of the first MB employees to get vaccinated. Of course, as a math teacher with a practical mindset, Kevin was well-versed in the geometric challenges of social distancing teenagers and desks, and had a unique perspective on the real toll of the virus and the best ways to keep a community safe through careful diligence. Despite the challenges of this past year, both in the classroom and on the ride, Kevin has kept his upbeat demeanor throughout, focusing on service and giving back to the community. As an MB coach, Kevin had taken a standard first aid/CPR course but felt that going beyond would enable him to provide a caring service to the larger community as well as MB students, faculty, and staff. To become an EMT, Kevin trained for cardiac and respiratory emergencies, childbirth, disasters, life support, respiratory emergencies, trauma, vehicle extrication, medication administration, and automated external defibrillators. Kevin is grateful for his Olney Award. After more than three decades teaching at MB, including a stint as dean of students, Kevin appreciated the chance to step out of his comfort zone and do something completely different, saying the EMT course turned into one of the most fulfilling experiences he’s had in years. “I went into the course with an open mind,” he says. “I knew things were going to be different when on the first day of classes, students asked me if I was the professor when I walked into the room!” The majority of Kevin’s EMT classmates were recently out of high school, taking the class before becoming a firefighter or pursuing medical careers. One even recognized Kevin as the MB baseball coach because his team had played Moses Brown. During his sabbatical, Kevin attended lectures or lab 13 hours each week and rode with rescue squads in Cumberland, Hope Valley, and Exeter. “I became totally immersed,” Kevin recalls. “It was a genuine pleasure being on the other side of the desk for a time,” he says, relishing the chance to revisit the role of student after many years as a teacher. Who knew that, not long after completing his training, there’d be such a need in the community for increased community healthcare? With a view toward community service, not only at MB and beyond, Kevin has served on the front lines of two high-stress positions in this challenging year of COVID. He has maintained his focus on the value of teamwork and collaboration, not only on the field but also in the classroom and in his hometown. CUPOLA Thank you, Kevin!

Looking at a single topic from different angles can greatly increase understanding. MB’s seventh grade recently took this approach to the Flint water crisis, developing a seven-week multi-disciplinary unit. The collaboration between English, history, science and drama culminated in a mosaic-style theater production in May. The presentation featured a combination of scenes from the play A Lie Agreed Upon, the memoir What the Eyes Don’t See, the history of Flint, and various TED Talks focusing on the science of water and lead. Middle school students kept The Lighthouse running this year. More than 20 middle schoolers gathered regularly to put out this illuminating publication, meeting weekly to discuss articles, ideas and deadlines. Hot topics of discussion this year included school re-opening, social distancing, sports, books, opinion and humor.

The Search for Truth

Class of ’65 Launches For the Honor of Truth Initiative In celebration of their 55th reunion, the Class of 1965 established an enduring legacy centered on the principle that truth is an intrinsic good and the continual search for truth is part of an exemplary life. Using the school’s motto for inspiration, the Class of 1965 hopes the For the Honor of Truth Initiative will have a profound effect on students for generations to come (see more on page 30). Looking back on the essential lessons of their Moses Brown education, the class designed an initiative to support the nurturing of skills helpful to students in their lifelong search for truth, including reason, a desire for open-minded exposure to a diversity of thought, the ability to distinguish between information which is reliable and unreliable, and the courage to think independently — all cultivated through a broad-based, challenging liberal arts education. Recognizing this effort may be seen as a response to current conditions, the class notes that, “history reminds us that the dehumanization of people to objects of propaganda, the substitution of slogan for thought, and the replacement of reason with emotion, are not unique events or trends. The ever-present willingness of some to dishonor truth poses a continuous threat to society and democracy. We are therefore confident that our Fund will remain profoundly important for as long as the School educates young citizens.” A guiding principle behind this new initiative is that projects and programs must be studentoriented and student-approved. The initiative may support but not be limited to the following: • travel, research or independent study deepening students’ exploration of the truth • public discussions by noted experts holding different views on matters of social significance, moderated by students who have studied the topic • participation in experiential learning programs designed to develop the skills of negotiation, • critical thinking, and leadership • programs for students beginning in the earliest stages of their intellectual development that provide a foundation for a lifelong search for truth • curriculum designed to improve students’ abilities to distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources of information Members of the Class of ’65 have given more than $270,000 to endow this initiative. Additional contributions are welcome. Contact Asst. Head of School Ron Dalgliesh P’21 for additional information at (401) 831-7350 x111 or rdalgliesh@mosesbrown.org. SUMMER 2021

How do we care for each other? After intentional and steady progress in recent years, the school engaged in a year of intensive conversations with its Board, alumni, current parents, students, faculty and staff on issues of inclusivity. The result is a new action plan for diversity, equity and inclusion that represents both a new beginning and a renewed commitment to our mission as a Friends school. Every year, despite Moses Brown’s best efforts, students report incidents of racism, sexism, classism, homophobia, and other forms of bias and insensitivity that mar their sense of belonging in our community. As a Friends school, we promise to honor each child’s Inner Light, celebrate differences, and provide an environment where all feel valued, respected and supported. And yet for some, these values seem aspirational at best. So how can we do better? How can we ensure that caring for people remains absolutely integral to our Quaker model of educational excellence?

Timeline of DEI work

1980s Students form first clubs focused on diversity issues: NCCJ and Minority Student Union

1990s MB students and faculty start Gay Straight Alliance

1990s Moses Brown selects first woman to lead the school, Joanne Hoffman

2012 Trustees set goal to reach at least 25% students of color by 2022

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MB’s Mission Moses Brown, a Friends school, exists to inspire the inner promise of each student and instill the utmost care for learning, people and place.

2013 MB Believes launched with a $15 million goal for new endowed scholarships (24% of students received scholarship at the time)

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2020

2021

Building a stronger community: 38% students on scholarship, 28% students of color, 22% faculty of color

MB publishes A Care for People, Strategic Action Plan for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

2021-22 Luke Anderson joins MB as the new Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to help lead implementation of action plan

How can schools create an environment where everyone feels heard? Can you remember a moment when you didn’t feel heard? What would have changed the situation? What could you say to someone, in the moment, who isn’t hearing you?

Action Plan Summary The full Strategic Action Plan for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is available at mosesbrown.org/DEI, but here are the top-level steps we’re focused on:

Is caring just listening, or does it require action, too? When is our job to listen, and when is it to act? How can we know when someone needs our support? How can we ensure everyone at MB feels valued for who they are?

1. Ensure that we have the necessary leadership and resources. Luke Anderson, our new Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, will provide a new level of institutional leadership, focusing on care for students and upholding our mission in the lived experience of our community. 2. Uphold the health, safety, and dignity of each person in the community. Ensure that respect for each person is omni-present in our practices, policies, and the ways we respond to incidents of bias.

Action and Ongoing Discernment These few pages announce a new action plan that emerged from conversations with many of you. We want these conversations to continue, both with the school — but also with each other. Discernment comes from questioning ourselves as much as others. So we’ve scattered here some questions related to caring; we encourage you to sit with them, wrestle with them, discuss them with your friends and family. If you feel so moved, please share your thoughts with us at alumni@mosesbrown.org. 8

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What does caring mean to you?

How have your life experiences shaped your sense of caring and inclusion? How have your educational, personal and professional experiences shaped your approach to caring for and respecting the dignity of each person? Have your beliefs evolved over time? What’s the most important lesson about caring that you would share with young people today?

3. Ensure that our community includes a vital diversity of identities, voices, and perspectives. Continue building an educational community that reflects the demographic diversity of our region in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status. Enhance training and anti-bias measures in our hiring and admissions/financial aid processes. Ensure our motto, For the Honor of Truth, remains central to the intellectual life of MB, one that fosters a culture of open inquiry, welcomes a diversity of thought, and teaches the difference between facts and opinions. 4. Grow the cultural competency of our community. Bolster our curriculum and program to ensure students engage a wider range of voices, cultures, and identities. Require regular and ongoing DEI training for all faculty, staff, and coaches. Strength-

Each of you spent time on the Friends Hall deck, passed through the hallways of Middle House, reflected in a Meeting for Worship, or spent hours in practice or rehearsal. When were the moments you felt most cared for? When did you need more from the MB community?

en programming for students, parents, and alumni focused on identity, power, privilege, bias, and social inequality. 5. Ensure all members of our community have equitable opportunities to contribute and thrive. Remove barriers to belonging in all areas of campus life, including those related to finances (the total cost of a Moses Brown experience), the physical environment, admissions, hiring, and co-curriculars. 6. Build systems for evaluating programs, communicating progress, and enhancing decision making. Develop new ways to measure diversity, equity, and inclusion at MB; create tools to help leadership track these metrics; and communicate progress regularly to the broader community.

2020 28%

2020 22%

2012 17% 2012

MB is now more diverse demographically than it was eight years ago. What steps should the school take to be both diverse and inclusive? How can we care for each and every individual in our community?

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Faculty of Color

Since the start of the MB Believes Campaign, the endowment has more than doubled to $54.5 million (as of 6/30/21) vs. $22.13 million on 6/30/13.

THANK YOU!

MB Believes Surpasses Goal

$65.69 million raised from 4,139 contributors In recent years our community united as stewards of our school’s mission, values, and people in unprecedented ways. You came together to build buildings, create new educational programs, strengthen support for teachers, and dramatically expand scholarship funding. As importantly, you reaffirmed a centuries-old commitment to excellence — to inspiring each student to find their inner strength and identity — ensuring that young people leave our campus as caring, empathetic problem-solvers committed to seeking the truth. Below, you will find a small part of the story of MB Believes and the ways it has affirmed our school’s bedrock values and transformed the educational experience for this rising generation of students.

2013 — Matt Glendinning challenges our school community to be bold in thinking about the future of education and the world. He hosts 42 Discernment Dialogues locally and around the country, engaging more than 1,000 community members in a process of designing a vision for MB’s future. MB Believes is centered on three big ideas, three trends on the horizon, a convergence of attributes that empower students to live lives of leadership, purpose and fulfillment: Expert Thinking, Global Awareness, and Ethical Leadership. This constellation of values, our so-called North Stars, provide a framework for impactful teaching and deep learning. 10

MB’s first-ever EXPO weekend is held October, 2013. More than 800 people gather in The Grove as the school unveils MB Believes: a Vision for Learning, People, and Place for the first time. Dean Woodman ’46 and his wife, Jane, are in attendance. They establish a new level of expectation and ambition for our school in announcing the largest gift in MB history, $5 million, to realize the dream of the Woodman Family Community & Performance Center.

Dec. 2016 - The Woodman Family Community & Performance Center, connected to a completely renovated Jones Library, is dedicated, creating a new artistic, social, spiritual and intellectual heart of the campus.

Nov. 2017 - MB dedicates the Y-Lab, transforming Alumni Hall into a state-of-the-art 5,000-square-foot engineering and maker space. More than 1,000 individual classes and educational activities take place in the Y-Lab each year.

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New endowed programs in Engineering & Design and Entrepreneurship & Social Innovation, along with enhanced math and coding curriculum and the expansive use of Project-Based Learning, provide a new web of educational opportunities that develop creative problem-solving skills, encouraging students to apply their knowledge to design solutions for real-world challenges.

Dec. 2017 - MB establishes a unique partnership with SquashBusters, an organization that uses squash as a vehicle to transform the education of under-served children, and dedicates the Gorgi Family Squash & Education Center.

Thanks largely to the Carpenter Endowed Program in Teaching Excellence, MB permanently endows the funding that makes it possible to double the annual budget for the ongoing training, education, and professional development of our teachers.

The school makes dramatic improvements to its baseball, soccer, and tennis facilities — and installs a new turf field on Campanella.

To help students develop empathy, cultural competency, and a sense of their place in the broader world, MB establishes a Travel, Research, and Immersion Program (TRIPs), sending students on amazing educational experiences to places as far away as Kenya and Nepal, and as close as northern New England, Washington, D.C., and New York City. Thousands of students have had a TRIP experience in the past seven years, with MB providing financial assistance to ensure that cost is not a prohibitive barrier.

MB makes historic gains in the socio-economic, racial, and ethnic diversity of the student body, enhancing the educational experience for every student. Thanks in large part to $15 million in new endowed scholarship fundraising and the growth of The Moses Brown Fund ($1.25M+ annually), 40% of MB students now receive scholarship support (323 students each year) and the community includes 222 students of color (28% of the student body).

June, 2021 - To complete the story of MB Believes and after raising nearly $2 million in new gifts in the final days of 2020, the school is beginning an $8 million complete renovation and expansion of the Lower School. The new educational home for our youngest learners will open in 2022! SUMMER 2021

departing faculty & staff

MB says thanks and best wishes to longtime employees who departed MB this spring. We will miss you. After 19 years teaching Latin in middle and upper school, Lisa Ardente P ’08 ’09 ’11 ’14 left MB at the end of this year. In her time here, Lisa served in many roles, most importantly as teacher and advisor, sharing her love of classics and a genuine care and concern for her students. She also served as a Discipline Committee member, coach of the Mock Trial teams, co-chair of the World Languages department, and co-clerk of the 2011 NEASC Governance Committee. She was proudest of her students’ accomplishments. Lisa is grateful for the relationships she developed with friends, colleagues, students and families. After 29 years at MB, Anni Barnard retired this year to pursue new interests outside of school. Anni joined MB in 1991, and taught ceramics and yoga for three decades. Anni oversaw the Senior Tile project, founded MB’s GSA club in 1994, and was the upper school diversity coordinator and a class dean. In her Three Oaks studio, students discovered a love of ceramics and an appreciation for the calm, caring atmosphere Anni cultivated. She taught beginning and advanced students alike to trust their creativity. Anni’s interest in health, wellness and nature were readily shared with students and colleagues alike. Laura Bennett P’05 experienced MB as a parent, volunteer and then a staff member. In two decades as assistant to the Performing Arts department, Laura managed the scheduling, work orders and billing for hundreds of events, supported the efforts of parent volunteers for concerts and MB Rocks, handled communication and billing for the private music lesson program, coordinated logistics for out-of-state music trips and outside festivals and performances, and chaperoned numerous band festivals and out-of-state trips, which she says was a great way to get to know students. “My job is a special treat because I have live music all day long,” Laura once said. “I hear the tentative sounds of students playing a selection, then hear their progress day by day, and over the course of years.” For 35 years, Gail Copans P ’91 ’94 taught math in the upper school and was a caring and beloved advisor to many students. Gail was an active community member, participating in many committees and taking on a variety of leadership roles. She served as a department chair, NEASC evaluation co-chair and member of the Discipline Committee. Gail started MB’s Summer Geometry Program, worked in the Learning Center and served as the upper school faculty representative to the Board. She is grateful to have worked with so many wonderful students and colleagues, saying, “I feel so fortunate to have been a part of this great community.”

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Pam DaSilva, accounting/administrative coordinator, came to MB with a considerable business background including an MBA from Babson, work as a stock/legal analyst, and two decades running her own business. Joining MB in 2008, Pam embraced joining a culture focused on learning and the growth of children. “My background in business and finance fit well with my responsibilities in the Business Office,” Pam commented, “but it is my lifelong passion for learning and education that made MB a perfect fit for my working life.” An avid art historian and Francophile, Pam’s colleagues enjoyed her gourmet dishes at staff potlucks, relished her travel stories, and appreciated the welcome she extended to new employees. Also an avid Patriots fan, you might spot her at practices or games at Gillette Stadium. As the school’s Accounts Payable Clerk since 2004, Debra Downey interacted with a wide range of vendors and colleagues across the school; she says they made each day interesting. Debbie exemplified the school’s mission of care for people, from knitting with students in the lower school, to spearheading missions to create handmade blankets for community members in need in her outof-work hours. Deb even helped in the lower school science program for a time. This past year, Deb enjoyed the chance to work directly with MB’s youngest students, walking lower school students to class each morning and listening to their stories along the way. She also lent her creativity and out-of-the-box thinking to help design the Moses Brown Escape Room during the Fifth Grade senior week in May of this year. Cheryl McDonald handled MB’s Accounts Receivable / Student Billing responsibilities in the Business Office for 17 years, executing her work with diligence and detailed care. Cheryl’s tenure at MB was marked by care for her work with family finances and a belief in the importance of integrity and compassion for students and their families. Cheryl was well respected and appreciated by her colleagues, not only for the quality of her work but also for her helpfulness to others and in-depth knowledge of important schoolhouse procedures. In 20 years as assistant to the head of lower school, Kathleen O’Leary supported four administrators and made MB’s lower school a better place for countless colleagues, children and families. Kathie said it best: “Lower school is a place of boundless energy and happiness. I watched our dedicated teachers instill a love of learning in our students and work with them to foster confidence in learning new skills. I enjoyed watching the students grow from little children to confident, graduating seniors, ready to explore new paths. I cannot imagine a better place to have spent the past 20 years. I will miss my work, but what I will miss most are the people who I have had the pleasure of working with at MB.” In her two decades as assistant for Admissions, Denise Winston P ’96 ’05 worked with students, parents and colleagues to help develop and run an outstanding admissions program. She built friendships and strengthened our community by volunteering in many roles, from annual fund chair to Parents’ Association board member. Denise is appreciative of the great sacrifices she saw families make to give their children the benefits of an MB education. She is a true champion of the school, evidenced in her own family’s education — she married an MB alumnus (Ted ’74) and chose MB for their two children.

Please join us in thanking these employees for their years of service to Moses Brown. We wish our colleagues bon voyage and extend thanks for their friendship over their years.

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features

Friendship Guest Editor JANE KNOWLES ’81 “Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow ripening fruit.” – Aristotle Like a slow ripening fruit, my friendship with Moses Brown School began 45 years ago in 1976. Females were being admitted to the school, returning Moses Brown to coeducation, after having been an all-male boarding and day school. As the last of all daughters in my family, it was an exciting time for me when MB went coed and I was able to have the opportunity to attend my father’s alma mater. It never occurred to me how much I would value the friendships and connections to Moses Brown that I’ve made along the way. Joining a new school meant making new friends. I knew no one. Entering eighth grade was scary, considering there were only three girls in my class (Miriam Levin, Jackie Wiley and me) and over 60 boys! Because there were so few girls in Middle School that first year, we were all kept together in Team 1, with the boys in Teams 1, 2 and 3. Along with sixth and seventh grade females in Team 1, we were known as

pioneers! And it was at MB that I established lifelong friendships. My connections to the rest of my classmates and other MB alumni I interact with make the MB bond special. To this day, I continue to connect yearly with Cheryl Schadone Cohen ’81 and Ashley Haffenreffer Wagstaff ’82 through phone, texts and personal visits. Ashley and I have met up nearly every summer since graduation, and Cheryl and I continued our connections through our college days at Wheaton, and now yearly college weekend gatherings. My MB friendships have remained strong thanks to social media and reunions every five years. I love catching up with my classmates at reunions. I feel as though I am reconnecting with relatives I haven’t seen in a few years. Because we grew up together as adolescents, it’s great fun to see how we’ve matured but can still look back on our time together reminiscing about a common bond in a particular class, event or favorite teacher or coach. Even remembering a familiar smell brings back fond memories. Nostalgia takes over and that’s a good thing! I stayed connected with the school right from the get-go. From volunteering at MB Annual Fund phonathons beginning in the 1980s, to helping organize class reunions, participating on various committees, and serving two stints on the MB Alumni Association Board, I have stayed connected to the school and made new friends along the way. I continue to connect with classmates through social media and can

honestly say how proud I am to be an alumna of MB and to have established lifelong friendships at 250 Lloyd Avenue. As you will read in the articles in this issue, many bonds have been established and relationships nurtured among classmates, alumni, faculty, and staff at Moses Brown School. It’s no accident that those friendships began at a Friends school! Enjoy and happy reading!

Jane Knowles '81 wore her late father's (Lewis H. Knowles '36) varsity sweater for her virtual 40th Reunion in May.

A School for Friends “…The subject of the Yearly Meeting’s School has been renewedly brought under my consideration, and believing that a permanent institution for a guarded education of the rising generation will be promotive of their usefulness in society and the honor of Truth. I have for the furtherance of these desirable objects, concluded to give a tract of land on the West part of my homestead farm, containing about Forty-Three Acres for the purpose of erecting suitable buildings for the boarding School thereon; Provided the Meeting should consider it an eligible situation, and conclude to carry into effect the establishment of the benevolent institution thereon. … I conclude your affectionate friend, Moses Brown (Meetings for Sufferings, Providence, 1814)

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Class of ’48’s Legacy of Friendship The annual Class of 1948 Awards represent one of the most significant gestures of friendship on behalf of alumni to the school. This historic class created the ’48 Awards in 1998 in celebration of their 50th reunion. Amanda Harter Fogle-Donmoyer ’99 was the first recipient of a ’48 award, which she used to undertake a photography project of girls in Ghana. Since then, 80 students have used ’48 Awards for projects ranging from study of animation to work for women’s reproductive rights and the number of recipients each year has grown from one to multiple. Over the years, to show their support for this important student work, members of the class have returned to MB annually to hear each year’s student presentations. Last year the four rising seniors selected for ’48 Awards had to be creative and resilient to carry out their plans during the pandemic. Savanna Rust interned with the New York Civil Liberties Union; Quincy Kizekai worked with Community Music Works;

Julia Ruhl (shown) worked with Sakala, a nonprofit that supports youth in Haiti through sports; and Shya Salazar explored domestic violence in Rhode Island, working with Sojourner House. Says Julia, “The Class of ’48 Award offers an outstanding possibility for individuals to follow their passions and interests. It supports students to spread their creativity throughout their community and around the world. However, it doesn’t only benefit the one receiving the grant. It often benefits the outside communities involved who experience amazing changes that result.” The 2021 recipents of the Class of 1948 Awards are Abigail Bayog, Altan Cermik, Meredith Jenkins, Lourdes Nicolella and Sofia Stefanopoulos. Were you a recipient of a ’48 Award? Let us know how your project influenced your post-MB path or just share a thanks/update with MB to pass on to the Class of ’48. Email alumni@mosesbrown.org.

Lasting Friendships In its early years, Moses Brown welcomed boarders to campus, drawing students from all over New England and beyond. The boarding department was a part of MB life through the 1990s, with international students coming to MB to study from around the world. In the 1950s, Moses Brown attracted a broad student body, with students walking or traveling via bus or car from across Providence, and others from further locales, as far away as the Bahamas and Venezeula. Once here, their common bonds of friendship united them. The 1952 Mosaic says it best, describing the universal feeling of time’s passage on a school campus: “After the spring vacation, time passed almost too quickly … before we knew it, we were sleeping through the sermon at the Baccalaureate Service. We had our final fling at the Senior Prom, and the next morning walked across the stage in Alumni Hall to receive our diplomas. We realized that we were leaving some of our best, and most carefree, days behind us. We remembered not only the good times, but also the few little heartaches that had marked our years at Moses Brown. At last, we could look at our instructors in the proper perspective, and we were all grateful for what they had done for us. But above all we remembered the spirit of comradeship which had always been an integral part of our class life, and the many lasting friendships we had formed in the shadow of the elms.” SUMMER 2021

15 Left: The MB golf team, circa 1952: top row, Peter Dunning, Coach Clapp, Pete McLean; front row, Bob Larson, William McInnes, John Dowling (captain), Bill Waring.

The Runci Barbershop Quartet In many families, the generations share a common passion, enjoyed together. Love for the arts, the natural world, or a sport, can help to connect us to parents and grandparents, as we mature and grow. The Runci family’s bond is grounded in their education at Moses Brown School, three generations in 70 years: Matthew ’64, Chris ’88, Alexander ’19, and Harry ’20. Beth Runci, Chris’s wife and Alex and Harry’s mom, taught in Lower School for many years, as well. Though each blazed a singular path at MB, they credit the school for lifelong friendships, and a love of soccer and sailing. Sharing their love for the school has brought them even closer as a family.

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Lorraine Shemesh

The Runci family’s bond is grounded in their education at Moses Brown School: three generations in 70 years.

According to family legend, the Runci connection to MB began the day Matthew was born in 1946. He explains: “My dad, Gus, was at his post at the Alba-Runci Barber Shop at 277 Thayer Street,” he recounts. The shop was famous for its carousel horse in the window, a big draw for reluctant little customers. “A regular visitor came in, L. Ralston Thomas, headmaster of Moses Brown School. As Mr. Thomas sat in the chair, my dad proudly announced that his first child had been born that morning and that it was his hope that his son could one day attend MB.” A few days later, a letter arrived from Mr. Thomas on headmaster’s stationery, confirming that the school would welcome little Matthew at the appropriate time. “Needless to say, my dad took that as a commitment,” Matt recounts. “One Saturday morning in the spring of 1960, I found myself in jacket and tie at the main gate on Lloyd Avenue, where I joined what seemed to be an army of boys filing into Alumni Hall to take the Upper School entrance examination. Fortunately for me, I passed the exam, and four years later — after what was surely regarded by my teachers as a less than distinguished record while on scholarship — I collected my diploma in the Grove from acting headmaster Whit Whittier and the freshly minted U.S. Senator from Rhode Island, Claiborne Pell.” Matt and his wife Laraine welcomed their firstborn, Chris, about six years later, and enrolled him at MB in due time. Chris reflects, “When I stop to think about it, I’m staggered by the impact MB has had on my life. Although my wife Beth is no longer teaching in the Lower School, and our sons Alexander ’19 and Harry ’20 have both graduated, MB connections arise frequently. Recently, I made plans to meet former coach and teacher Phil Gould and classmate Ryan Vaughan ’88. For more than a decade we played soccer together with other alumni, including Matt Widmer ’84 and David Gower ’87, and we’ve been catching up two or three times a year. Beth and I recently shared a socially-distanced dinner with classmate Tim Martin ’88 and his wife Cathy. In July, Tim, Ryan, and I celebrated our 50th birthdays out on Narragansett Bay, then gathered with Ryan’s family, including Brad Vaughan ’91. And Pete Sylvester ’87 played soccer with us for many years and is married to Beth’s sister!” Additionally, Chris and Alexander ’19 love being out on the water together. “Last summer, my son Alexander and I raced on a sailboat every Wednesday,” says Chris, “a passion we both discovered at MB. I look forward to his return home this summer to teach sailing to young Rhode Islanders.” Harry Runci ’20 and his classmates absorbed the full force of the

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2020 coronavirus shutdown in their senior spring before adapting MB’s traditional capstone experiences. Harry’s first months at the University of Rhode Island were dampened by the pandemic. “As a new freshman last fall, I found that social distancing and the limitations on gatherings made the transition more difficult, and at times isolating.” However, Harry found solace in an opportunity that allowed him to return to MB a few afternoons a week, as assistant coach for the boys’ varsity soccer team. “After nine years at MB,” he notes, “I found myself experiencing ‘withdrawal’ from my friends, teachers, and the beautiful campus, along with so many things the MB community offers. Working alongside Coach Eric Aaronian helped me stay connected to the experience I missed the most. It was great to be back on campus, passing by familiar faces, and giving back to a program that had given me so much.” During Harry’s years as a student, Chris strengthened his love of the game while cheering for his son Harry and his teammates. Chris was able to look back fondly and treasure his time on the MB soccer team. After Harry graduated, Chris missed the games. “I couldn’t watch him play MB soccer for the first time in seven years,” he laments, “but I heard his passion for the game once again through his amazing coaching experience under Coach Aaronian.” Harry connected with friends and former teammates Zachary Grumbach ’19, Rio Holzwarth ’18, and brothers Euan ’18 and Logan Smith ’20 over winter break. “We knocked around the soccer ball on the newly renovated Campanella Field,” Harry says. “When the time finally comes, I look forward to reuniting with more classmates, as our senior year was abruptly cut short by the onset of the pandemic. The next alumni soccer game will provide a great opportunity to do so.” Matt Runci cherishes sharing MB memories with his son Chris and grandsons and corresponds with classmates in his capacity as a class agent and board member of the MBAA. “COVID-19 has taken a horrible toll on my communication with classmates,” he admits. “I very much look forward to re-emerging from our cocoons shortly.” Chris says, “It’s clear MB continues to have a significant impact on my life, and the rest of our family. I hope future generations of our family are fortunate enough to experience MB and all that it has to offer, and to begin lifelong friendships.” “In quiet moments,” Matt says, “I imagine the barber-shop conversation between two gentlemen — alongside that old carousel horse — 75 years ago, that started our family connection with Moses Brown School. Remarkable.”

The Time of Their Lives

The Class of 1982

Chemistry PETER RAMSDEN ’82 P ’16 ’19

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 1982

With MB’s return to coeducation in 1976, the 1980s was the decade when students joined together as classmates and friends in the school’s first full decade of coeducation in 50 years. Students forged bonds quickly. “At one point or another, every person in our class shared a class, was on the same team or in the same club,” recalls Sara Ades Goodwin ’82. “Being with one another day after day for 4+ years (some longer) in MB’s close-knit community, it’s impossible not to become friends!” And then there’s all that comes after classes are over, on the weekends and time off. Those shared experiences were what forged friendships for many. Since then, the Class of ’82 has gone in wildly different directions, from Maine to Tortola. Though many go years without seeing one another, when there’s a reunion, the Class of ’82 goes right back to their MB days as if it was yesterday. “It’s a wonderful thing that I cherish and look forward to every five years,” Sara comments. “We had — have — a great class. I have always felt connected and know I can call and count on any of my classmates, if needed. MB is that kind of school. You stay connected, no matter how many years go by.” 18

“As I dredge up memories from my MB days, the word chemistry comes to mind and I am not talking about Jamie German’s class. The class of 1982 had great chemistry. We had so many unique personalities but somehow they all mixed together into a fun and supportive environment. In the case of Tom Gagnon and Walter Capone and other 12-year vets, the friendships literally span a lifetime. But for most of us, the friendships were forged over our four upper school years. As I recall it, we arrived as a particularly cocky class. We had some gifted athletes that almost immediately stepped into the limelight. Bill Baker, Owen O’Neil, Larry Blau and Andy Barrengos in football. Perry Blossom, John Rosen and Ben Rhodes on the soccer field. Owen, Andy and Perry on the track. Tom Cotter and Lee Goff in wrestling. Billy and Mark Janigian on the ice. Tom Gagnon, John Rosen and Billy on the lacrosse field. Don’t forget Ashley Haffenreffer and Sara Ades making their mark on the tennis court, Kristen Murray in softball and Heather Gregg in sailing. Of course, there are others, but I think these leaders out on the field, court, rink and track gave us a real source of pride. With that pride over time, our class grew a real sense of confidence. Everyone seemed to have a part and contributed in their own way. Back then, MB gave us a fair amount of freedom and we certainly took advantage of it. Free periods on Thayer Street and quick drives to Bagels East were very much a part of the MB experience. As it is for most classes, graduation was the pinnacle of our growing class pride. So much growth was achieved in four years and I think we knew we were all on a good path. In some cases (like Rosemary Boghossian and Phil Blazer), we already knew their trajectories would take them far. As I looked around on graduation day, I felt like I was surrounded by friends who would always have my back. Although I don’t ‘test’ those friendships too often these days, I believe they are still there for me.” CUPOLA

Pitch Perfect ALLISON WEITBERG SPURLING ’96

“Joining a group or an extracurricular activity creates an opportunity to be part of something.” “When I signed up for my high school chorus in 1994, I thought I was joining a traditional choral ensemble. I quickly learned that was not the case, and instead had unknowingly embarked on a life-changing experience. Our leader was a young woman with fiery red, curly hair, boundless energy and an infectious smile. Kim Kredich, a Duke University alumna and graduate of the New England Conservatory with a master’s in conducting, arrived at MB and reinvented the school’s choral experience. Having sung in Duke University’s ‘Out of the Blue’ a cappella group, and without a piano accompanist for her program, she used her talents to bring a cappella to MB, creating the co-ed a cappella group ‘Voices.’ “Although it seemed unconventional at the time for a school that only had experience with a formal choral program, we all learned quickly that the music theory, chord structures and composition behind a cappella was the same as the great choral works so many of us had sung before. As we explored this form of singing — experimenting with everything from Stevie Wonder, to Indigo Girls, to the Beatles, to U2 — we soon learned that we were really good! We regularly sang with groups from Brown University, produced an annual album, and took tours down the East Coast to sing with college and high school groups. “Kim created an experience that was not about one person, it was about the collective, with a focus on what we could achieve together. Everyone added something that made them special. Kim had a way of recognizing each of our strengths and celebrating them while also nurturing the aspects of our teenage selves that needed nurturing. As a group, we protected this experience, loyal to one another and aware we were part of something special. Because of this, the music thrived. Kim was invested in us as people first and musicians second. “A cappella is about everyone knowing their parts; it does not work if everyone isn’t contributing. It is the epitome of teamwork. The time we all lovingly poured into the group solidified friendships that have lasted well beyond our years at MB — it’s where I made my closest friendships, met my best friend of 20+ years and even got to experience Voices with my brother during our shared time in high school! “Kim guided so many of us into the professions we have now. It was in a Meeting for Worship during my senior year that Kim spoke about choosing your life’s work. She emphasized how selfish this decision should be, as real happiness is found in doing what you love every day. I knew I wasn’t going to make a career performing a cappella, but I did know I wanted to find something that included its elements of community, friendship and connection. This is what led me to be a teacher. SUMMER 2021

Allie Spurling ’96 — alumna and current faculty member (preprimary) — was inspired by music teacher Kim Kredich, who created an a cappella program at MB. “The way she brought us members together was extraordinary and created lasting friendships through music.” Allie made her best friends through this experience and teaches in the lower school at MB today.

“I have been lucky enough to keep a cappella as a fun hobby throughout my life. I founded ‘The Overtones,’ the first co-ed a cappella group at James Madison University, founded a high school group at the Flint Hill School in Va., and ran an all-female group at Wheeler for many years. Like Kim, I’ve always emphasized connection and friendship first and music second. I still work as a judge for the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella and can always tell the groups who have a strong bond versus those who just sing the music. “Joining a group or an extracurricular activity creates an opportunity to be part of something. It provides the chance to discover passions and form essential connections and from these shared experiences comes the rich opportunity to build strong friendships. We are all forever grateful to Kim for the lasting impression she made on us, the love and dedication she showed us then and still has for us now, and for all the ways she fostered the friendships we have carried through the years.” Currently Kim Kredich lives in Tennessee with her husband who is the head coach for the women’s swim team at the University of Tennessee. She has three young adult sons who are all thriving, talented musicians and swimmers themselves. Kim is a passionate activist as she has turned her energy towards being a full-time volunteer advocate for students with disabilities. 19

Back to the Future KEVIN PERRY, PLANT MANAGER

Overseeing and maintaining the physical plant of one of the oldest schools in the country can be like working in a time machine. Any given day you might find Kevin Perry, plant manager, out on Campanella Field overseeing the new turf installation, talking to a contractor about the pressure in the heating plant, re-envisioning the old coal stack, arranging a new price for oil delivery, checking the painting progress in Middle House or overseeing the renovations at the lower school. And with the historic campus, he often has to guess at the decisions made by plant managers from decades earlier, or even the last century. After so many years, Kevin is comfortable with the physical time travel he experiences every day at MB. But, when the new upper school science center was being imagined in 2007, he was pleasantly surprised with some personal time travel he encountered with the Anderson-Collis family. “When I was 22 years old, I quit college after three years and went to work at Princess House in Taunton,” Kevin remembers, “owned by Charlie Collis.” Kevin started as floor lead in the glass cutting department, then was promoted to the position of owners’ representative for Princess House and oversaw building a new, $13 million glass plant on the site. Kevin next became a shift supervisor, hiring 75 new employees to run the only fully-electric lead crystal glass plant in the U.S. “Charlie never thought small,” Kevin says. When Princess House offered him the opportunity to return to college and finish his degree, Kevin again said ‘yes,’ obtaining his business degree from SMU/University of Massachusetts. Kevin had advanced to production manager of the facility when he left Princess House after 13 years. Fast forward several years to 2005: Kevin finds himself working at Moses Brown. Former head of school Joanne Hoffman and CFO Jim Nagle are discussing needed renovations to the upper school; Kevin is invited along to give some visiting grandparents a tour of the site and explore plans for new upper school science labs. Little did Joanne or Jim know that Kevin was actually coming face-to-face with his influential first boss, Charlie Collis.

Walking around MB with Charlie and his wife Ellen, and her son Frohman ’80, Kevin shared, “I am the person I am today thanks to the fact that I had the opportunity to meet and work for Charlie. My 13 years of working for Charlie in manufacturing set my life in motion. I was able to get my degree and get trained in all types of manufacturing systems, machinery and processes. All of this gave me the confidence to know I could build a plant and run key areas of major companies — and eventually the operations side of campus for one of the oldest schools in the country.” With 25 years of experience prior to coming to MB, Kevin’s career has taken him from glass to seafood to schools. Kevin’s ability to make things operate has truly run the gamut, making for a success story in many ways. “All thanks to Charlie Collis’ life-changing opportunity,” he asserts. Eventually, Charlie and Kevin got to partner on yet another project, this time at Moses Brown. Kevin managed the development of the Collis Science Center, a complete renovation of the upper school science facilities, completed in 2007. Kevin also developed a close working relationship with Ellen Collis, when she served as a Trustee and the Clerk of MB’s Buildings and Grounds Committee. They have continued to stay in contact over the years, maintaining a family and business relationship that started at Princess House more than 40 years ago and has continued at Moses Brown to this day. But Kevin will always most appreciate the early friendship which gave him his start in life and ultimately led him to Moses Brown: “Charlie was hard and firm to work for. He was way ahead of his time in terms of professional development, promoting from within, certification, opportunities, etc. We worked hard and played harder but he rewarded anyone who performed. He is one of the greatest men I have met.” Since starting at MB in 1997, Kevin has been a part of countless other projects that have transformed the campus, including the renovation of Middle House, construction of the Woodman Center, and now the renovation and expansion of the lower school.

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Kevin’s relationship with the Anderson-Collis family dates back more than 40 years.

Charlie Collis (far left), stepfather of Frohman Anderson ’80, Astrid Anderson Womble ’87 and Andrew Anderson ’81, and grandfather of Frohman Anderson ’10 and Ava Anderson ’12, was an entrepreneur and business pioneer. The wildly successful international company he founded, Princess House, got its start in a Rehoboth chicken coop. Kevin Perry also got his start at Princess House when he was 22 years old. Eventually, Ellen Collis P ’80 ’81 ’87 GP ’10 ’12 (second from left) also worked closely with Kevin when he came to MB and she served as Clerk of the Board’s Buildings and Grounds Committee. Ellen was born in Germany and was educated in England and at Heidelberg University. Today, the Collis Family Science Center (above) continues to house the upper school science program.

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Friendship at the Corner of Hope and Lloyd Moses Brown’s stately elms have not only witnessed the formation of many student friendships over the years, but many faculty and staff connections as well. Upper school English teacher Abby (Hertzmark) Phyfe first met former science faculty member Amy (Todd) Newbold when they took an AP prep course together at Taft the summer before Amy joined MB in 2003. Joyce Hooley Bartlett and Jim English had directed them toward one another to connect. “We hit it off immediately,” Abby recalls. When school started, Amy started coaching JV lacrosse and field hockey and met lower school faculty Samara Estroff that way, adding another connection to what would become a tightly linked friendship for the three of them. “Samara and I became friends through coaching together,” Amy recalls. “It’s a long bus ride to and from the Rehoboth field. We laughed a lot!” Although Samara and Amy eventually left MB for jobs out of state, their relationship has continued to flourish and grow; they credit that to a genuine care for one another and commitment to maintaining their friendship. When Samara moved to Minneapolis, Amy and Abby flew out to meet her new boyfriend in her new place to tell her if it was a good match. He was! Samara and Nick eventually married and welcomed two sons. Abby, Samara and Amy have enjoyed planning trips with and without their families and try to see one other annually. What started as a friendship at the intersection of Hope and Lloyd has now taken the trio to Maine, upstate New York, Vermont, Charleston, Minneapolis, and even back to Providence for a weekend. Part of the power of their connection might be that they were all coming into their own as teachers and adults when they first met at MB in their 20s. “Abby was my first friend at MB,” Amy remembers. “I just feel like we made so many transitions together at MB that I couldn’t imagine not staying in touch, and we have all gone through many changes since we left.” Communication is key and they are in touch frequently, often sharing simple text messages to check-in and make sure everyone made it through the week. They find a way to see each every summer and winter, with families and without. “I am learning a little more about Minnesota every time I go,” says Amy. Their different personalities provide balance and push. Amy is outgoing and more likely to strike up conversations with strangers in new places when they need advice on where to go; Samara is adventurous and will come up with travel ideas and inspire them to meet up in

“We challenge and inspire each other, which I think is a key to long-lasting friendships.”

places none of them have been — “we challenge and inspire each other, which I think is a key to long-lasting friendships,” says Abby. All say that friendships with other teachers helped them become better teachers, as well. “Having friendships across departments and divisions has helped me to understand MB as a school better and has given me a better ability to serve my own students by knowing the philosophy and skills of the teachers kids are coming from,” Abby says. “My friendship with Samara showed me why I wanted my own kids to come to Moses Brown and my friendship with Amy showed me the ways I could understand what students were learning in a seemingly opposite curriculum that actually contains overlaps.” All three still teach: Abby in her 20th year at MB, Samara at the Blake School in Minneapolis, and Amy at Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester, Vermont. “We allow each other to be ourselves, providing some of my favorite memories of connection,” Abby reflects. “I think the ways that MB asks kids to go out of their comfort zones encourages students to find new friendships and interests that hopefully will lead to their own long-lasting friendships.” Amy echoes her: “I am just grateful to have people who know me, support me and will be honest with me always. “I am forever grateful to MB.”

[above] Upper school faculty member Abby Phyfe (middle) has maintained a connection to Amy Newbold in Vermont and Samara Estroff in Minnesota, since they all started teaching together at MB in the early 2000s.

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Friends, Indeed MAIJA HALLSMITH ’11 AND DOMINIQUE AVILA ’11 In Quakerism, the use of the term “Friend” is meant to signify respect and equality, a mutual recognition of the presence of the Inner Light in one another. Dominique Avila and Maija Hallsmith, both members of the Class of 2011, are two friends in both the traditional and Quaker sense of the word. What began in Eric Aaronian’s ninth grade Biology class has blossomed into a deep and abiding friendship that endured through college and now lives on in a small apartment on Hope Street where the two live as roommates. Dominique started at MB in kindergarten and Maija came as a new student in ninth, but Maija quickly slid into Dominique’s existing circle of classmates: Sidney Smith, Sam Rheault and Arianna Riva. When Maija began at MB, she “could never have imagined the lifelong friendships that were fostered at MB,” but the crew has remained close. Maija notes that they “met at an important transitional moment in our adolescence,” creating a foundation for genuine friendship and understanding. Dominique and Maija drew support from shared identities: “being minorities at Moses Brown, both racially and economically, there was a mutual understanding that we did not find with a lot of our other classmates.” Maija admits that transitioning from a majority-POC school to MB was challenging, and she credits Dominique, among others, for helping her adjust. She reflects, “I trusted her, stayed at Moses Brown and found a community of people who not only loved me for who I was but valued and highlighted parts of my personality that I didn’t even realize were prominent.”

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The friendship developed as the two found common interests in costuming for the spring musicals, and when Maija convinced Dominique to join her in Karen Lustig’s advisory their junior year, their connection only deepened. Both cite Karen’s advising and teaching as touchstones of their experience at MB. She is “such a committed and honest teacher,” Dominique shares, and Maija adds that Karen “was and still is, a fantastic role model, genuine person, brilliant teacher, and such a delight to be around.” Dominique reflects fondly on the mentorship of Yamil Baez and Yolanda Gonzalez, and Maija extols her experience in Jennifer Stewart’s advanced history courses. Dominique also relished the opportunity to go on two service trips to the Dominican Republic. Unsurprisingly, Dominique and Maija ended up in similar careers. For the past three years, Maija has worked as the program assistant for Graduate School Diversity Initiatives at Brown University and Dominique is the middle and upper school visual art teacher at MB. Dominique loves “being on the other side of the MB community as an educator and seeing how much time and care goes into educating our students.” As to what allows their friendship to continue, Dominique notes that she “didn’t realize how unique it was to stay in touch with my friends from high school...Our friend group was close-knit because we were so diverse (racially and socio-economically) and found ways to support each other in our various identities.” Friends, indeed.

news from moses brown moses alumni brown association today

Alumni News

5K Dash and Donate The 5K Dash and Donate, sponsored by the Alumni Association, was a great mid-winter effort and distraction. Many alumni from around the country ran, swam, hiked, rolled and biked, January 1-31, to raise $3,365 for the Rhode Island Food Bank. Josie Chapman ’97 (left) ran the dash 15 times!

The Pre-Electronic Teaching Era at Moses Brown School In February, Prof. Cliff Brown ’60 shared reflections on the post-war era at Moses Brown, holding his audience for over two hours with incredible anecdotes and historic context. Cliff, Ph.D., Harvard, teaches Government at Union College. His published works include Solomon Northup: The Complete Story of the Author of Twelve Years a Slave, on which the film was based. Cliff also collaborated with historian Frank Fuller and former headmaster L. Ralston Thomas (1924-1955) on the school’s Recollections. Pasta/Gnocchi Workshop with Chef Matt Corrente ’02 Alumni from around the country gathered their potatoes and parmesan and were graciously invited (virtually) into Chef Matt Corrente’s restaurant The Acadian in January for an engaging and interactive cooking workshop. Matt took everyone through the step-by-step creation of gnocchi which was absolutely delicious. The World to MB, MB to the World In January, MB’s leading experts on world affairs shared their insight with an alumni audience. Ambassador Chris Hill '70 was at the forefront of U.S. foreign policy for 33 years, including as Ambassador to Iraq, the Republic of Korea, Poland, and Macedonia. As assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs under Presidents Bush and Obama, he led efforts to end North Korea’s nuclear activities. Chris spoke about the timely topic of "Foreign Policy Challenges for the New Administration,” providing an extraordinary perspective relative to multiple regions of the world. Ambassador Brian Nichols ’83, U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe, delivered a poignant introduction. Brian is now the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs.

Staying Connected Alumni looking for some activities for their children to do over winter vacation registered for free Staycation Kits, filled with fun MB activities and crafts to keep everyone entertained. Some were mailed and many hand-delivered. Andrew Silver ’01’s daughter Caroline enjoyed her winter staycation kit!

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Reunion 2021 A Year Like No Other Head of School Matt Glendinning and members of the Class of 2021 presented A Year Like No Other at this year’s Reunion Welcome Reception. Matt provided an overview of major school initiatives and students responded to questions from alumni about how the year unfolded. Moses Brown also added a special one-year reunion for the Class of 2020 this June.

Athletic Hall of Fame The Athletic Hall of Fame Induction, with Sheila Dobbyn ’97 as moderator, was inspiring, highlighting the impressive accomplishments of this year’s inductees. Congratulations again to: Jamie Munro ’85 (top right) became a 4-year varsity player at Brown University and was a three-time all-Ivy selection and an 1989 All-American. Jamie went on to be an assistant coach at Yale, then head coach at the University of Denver. Neil Munro ’87 (bottom right) was an All-State soccer player at MB and a U.S. Lacrosse Coaches High School All-American. At Brown, he was an All-Ivy selection and team MVP. Neil led his team to an Ivy championship and #2 ranking in the NCAA. Nancy Pasquariello ’91 (top left, 15) earned 12 varsity letters in five sports at MB. Her athletic prowess continued; she was in the top five percent of female finishers in the 2003 Boston Marathon and twice placed in the top 10 female finishers in the Ocean State Marathon. Lara Rosenbaum ’91 (bottom left) was a two-time U.S. National Freestyle Skiing Champion and a member of the U.S. Team. A top American female freestyle skier, she placed in the top five at more than 60 FIS World Cup events and was a member of the 1994 Olympic Team (Lillehammer). Andrew Duffell ’95 (middle left) was a three-time S.E.N.E. All-League quarter-back and baseball player and named runner-up, USA Today R.I. Baseball Player of The Year in 1995. At Harvard, he was a four-year varsity pitcher, two-time All-New England and three-time All-Ivy.

Tea with Faculty Several teachers joined in for lively morning conversation this May, reminiscing with alumni from around the world. Thanks to Tom Andrew, Ransom Griffin, Jean Pennacchio, Laurie Center, Kevin Matson, Emilia Pena-Disla, David Flaxman, Steve Toro, and Tara (left) and George Tsakraklides, for stopping by.

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Congratulations!

MBAA Award Recipients MB Alumni Association Recognizes Award Winners

Clifford Brown, Jr. ’60 MBAA Distinguished Alumnus/a Award Clifford Brown is a political science professor at Union College in New York. His research interests include the U.S. presidency and presidential elections, U.S. defense policy and military relations. He is best known for the book he co-authored, Solomon Northup: The Complete Story of the Author of Twelve Years a Slave, on which the film is based.

Scott Wolf ’71 MBAA Distinguished Alumnus/a Award Scott Wolf has been the executive director of GrowSmart Rhode Island for over 22 years. GrowSmart advocates sustainable economic growth and provides statewide leadership for compact development in revitalized city centers with responsible stewardship of the region’s natural assets. Scott attended MB for 11 years and was editor-in-chief of The Quaker in his senior year. After MB, he headed to Brown to study political science and discovered a love for public service.

Angus Davis ’95 25th Reunion Achievement Award From his days as the youngest staffer at Netscape, Angus Davis has always had a thirst for knowledge and innovation. While still an MB student, Angus was an early employee at Intelecom Data Systems, one of the nation’s first commercial internet providers and web developers. He skipped college to head to Silicon Valley and has been named a “Top Entrepreneur” by BusinessWeek and one of “America’s Most Promising CEOs” by Forbes. Angus was founder of Upserve in Providence and helped establish Rhode Island’s first Teach for America Corps.

MB Alumni: Letting Their Lives Speak Thank you to alumni, interviewed by Karin Morse ’79, who shared their stories of resilience and adaptation with other alumni: Jo Mei ’96 and Ahvi Spindell ’72 Dr. Livia Santiago-Rosado ’90

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Dr. Sheyna Gifford ’96 25th Reunion Achievement Award Sheyna Gifford was a mission specialist on sMars, the longest simulated space mission in NASA history. Sheyna has worked as an aerospace engineer for Berkeley Space Science Laboratories and as a researcher at Berkeley, Brown, Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital. She is a physician in rehabilitation and physical medicine at Washington University, St. Louis, as well as a STEM educator, science communicator and aerospace researcher. Sheyna is a captain in the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary.

Jean Pennacchio, Upper School Registrar Faculty/Staff Member of the Year 2021 Colleagues appreciate Jean Pennacchio’s mastery of the daily schedule; students benefit from her caring. “Over the years here, I have come to appreciate and value searching for the ‘Inner Light’ in people and the importance of community,” she says. “Having the unique opportunity to work with almost every student at some point in their high school career is not only fulfilling, but fun. Helping to guide students in meeting the challenges they encounter and watching their transformation from tentative, young freshmen to mature, self-assured seniors is enjoyable and gratifying.”

Thank you, Neil! Thank you to Neil Beranbaum ’86, outgoing clerk of the Moses Brown Alumni Association. With three daughters at MB since lower school, he will now enjoy his oldest daughter’s senior year at Moses Brown. We thank Neil for all his work on behalf of Moses Brown. He will be succeeded by David Murphy ’91.

MBAA Clerk Neil Beranbaum joined Steve Toro and Jean Pennacchio, recently honored as Faculty Members of the Year 2020 and 2021 by the Moses Brown Alumni Association.

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keeping in touch

Class Notes 1940s

Malcolm Harper has traveled many academic paths, earning his master’s at Oxford, an MBA at Harvard, and PhD in Nairobi, but says that none were as significant as his two years spent at MB, 1940-1942. Malcolm came to Providence as a refugee from England during World War II and lived here for two years. He enjoyed staying with the family of Henry Chaffee ’39, crossing Thayer Street to walk to school. But Malcolm’s most lively memory is of making butter with Miss Woodberry who taught ‘pre-primary’ class. “She was one of the greatest teachers I ever had,” he recalls. “I remember walking round a table taking turns to stir a big jug of cream, feeling how it became firmer and firmer and was then miraculously transformed into butter. I recall the experience with delight, even now. And of all manner of other learning, much of which is I hope still with me, writing letters neatly in squares, playtime in the field outside, and winning a little red badge because I was second in the 50-yard dash. It’s all a very long time ago, but thank you Moses Brown and all for two wonderful first years of schooling!”

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Photos (right) from top: Dance Committee, 1941-2; Track Team, 1942; Varsity Captains, 1941-2

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2020-2021 MB Alumni Association Board

The mission of the Moses Brown Alumni Association is to foster lifelong relationships with the school and fellow alumni.

Neil Beranbaum ’86, Clerk John Baldwin ’94, Assistant Clerk; Clerk, Nominating Committee David Murphy ’91, Treasurer; Clerk, Hall of Fame Committee Jane Knowles ’81, Recording Clerk Jason Engle ’98, Clerk, Local and Awards committees

George Panichas ’83, Clerk, MB Connects Committee Vin Porcaro ’83, Clerk, Communications Committee Maggie Moran ’08, Clerk, National Committee Gabe Amo ’05 Taylor Rotondi Anderson ’02

Cheryl Schadone Cohen ’81 Joanne Debrah ’97 Alex Egan ’03 Jazmine Estrada ’10 Alexa Gold ’04 Kate Gorgi ’08 John Lewis ’09 John Pariseault ’97

Lauren Pelletier ’94 Adam Pennacchio ’01 Mia Rotondi Puddington ’09 Jon Rappoport ’93 Jennifer Reavis ’13 Matt Romano ’14 Matt Runci ’64 Miles Rutter ’04

Bob Samors ’77 Conal Smith ’06 Glenn Sparr ’85 Jamie Worrell ’85 Michael Yules ’10

1956

John (Satterthwaite) Barsotti and his wife are well in Hendersonville, North Carolina. John still fishes for trout in mountain streams and his wife does charity work and plays bridge.

1957

We were pleased to hear from Tom Jenckes last year, writing in after the Then + Now edition of Cupola last spring. “The opening by Matt about the curriculum was illuminating,” Tom wrote. “Also, my mother attended Moses Brown, but then in 1926 she was sent to Lincoln School. That photo of the Main Gate in 1956 brought back memories.” Tom lives in California and has been expanding his family records on Ancestry.com. He recently discovered a French ancestor who received the Croix de Guerre for his bravery in the Franco-Prussian war.

Football pep rally, fall 1958.

From the MB Archives, 1977. Over the years, student work on each year’s issue of Mosaic and other student publications help preserve MB connections and stories for decades to come.

1960

Thank you to Clifford Brown for hosting a virtual MBAA event earlier this year, reflecting on the pre-electronic teaching era. Cliff teaches government at Union College, specializing in theories of international politics, the presidency and presidential elections. His published works include Struggles in the State, Jaws of Victory, A Campaign of Ideas, Serious Money and Solomon Northup: The Complete Story of the Author of Twelve Years a Slave. Cliff also co-authored, with MB historian Frank Fuller and former headmaster L. Ralston Thomas, the school’s Recollections. The MB Alumni Association celebrated Cliff this spring with the Distinguished Alumnus Award; see page 26.

1968

Chris Fortunato is still copyediting books for Kensington and HarperCollins. He also has published quite a few short stories in small magazines, of the psychological thriller variety.

1970

Former U.S. ambassador and assistant secretary of state Chris Hill was guest speaker at a virtual MB Alumni event hosted by the Moses Brown Alumni Association in January. Chris was introduced by Brian Nichols ’83, recently appointed Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs.

1964

We are pleased to share the story of the Runci family’s three-generation connection to MB, starting with Matt Runci ’64 (right). After this year, Matt is looking forward to resuming communication with classmates. “I look forward to our re-emerging from our cocoons shortly as my age group secures vaccination and hopefully reacquires some social confidence,” he writes. See page 16 for more about the Runci family.

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For the Honor of Truth: Timely Support for a Timeless Mission 55 years after graduation, rekindled relationships result in an enduring legacy for the Class of ’65 The strongest friendships are often forged in the fire of youth. Last year, members of the class of 1965 marked 55 years since they left the Grove. Reflecting on this milestone and considering the ways in which his MB experience had shaped his life, John Bartlett ’65 approached some classmates about creating a legacy for Moses Brown that might commemorate the class and also contribute tangibly to the school’s ongoing mission. After an exploratory but supportive phone call with some 20 classmates in the Fall of 2019, John, Chris Kent, Terry Mahoney, Tom Reed, and Eric Schreuder volunteered to meet again to rough out an approach. John’s experience in public policy initially steered him towards the idea of addressing important policy issues, such as climate change, but when Tom suggested that the school’s motto, “For the Honor of Truth,” spoke directly to the current global political environment which seems to have put truth itself on trial, the group quickly agreed. Terry recalls, “We knew right away it was a home run. It’s the essence of education: How do you discover the truth?” As articulated by the five classmates over the next months, For the Honor of Truth, an Initiative Sponsored by the Class of 1965 aims to support projects and programs that nurture the skills students will need in their

own lifelong searches for truth: reason, a desire to encounter a diversity of thought with an open mind, the ability to distinguish between what is reliable and what isn’t, and the courage to think independently rather than blindly accepting popular opinion. “We’re putting a real emphasis on seeking the truth yourself,” says Terry. “How do you respond when you encounter conflicting statements?” From the start, Chris advocated for an overarching focus on students. “I wanted to ensure that the projects were evaluated and determined by students based on their concerns, and on their interests.” Proposals will be welcome from faculty, staff, alumni, or parents as well as from the student body, but they will be selected by a committee comprising a majority of students. Potential uses of the Fund include travel; relevant research or independent study deepening student exploration of the truth; public discussions at the school by noted experts holding different views on matters of social significance, moderated by students who have studied the topic; participation in experiential learning programs designed to develop the skills of negotiation, critical thinking, and leadership; programs/experiences for students beginning in the earliest stages of their intellectual development that provide a strong foundation for a lifelong search for truth; and courses or units of study designed to improve

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students’ abilities to distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources of information. “We see putting students at the center of everything as being in line with the school’s expanded culture of empowerment,” says Terry. Having all gone on to liberal arts colleges, the five have increasingly come to realize the significant advantages Moses Brown gave them in their own journeys towards professional and personal fulfillment, and they wanted to support the school in continuing that mission. Tom notes how this year’s conversations with old friends has made him aware of a unifying thread running from 250 Lloyd Avenue all the way through his career. “I went on to an academic career in literature,” he says. “Teaching Chaucer, I looked at the rise of empiricism, the ways in which logic began to roll back what we’d call medieval superstition. With Victorian literature, I looked at how often the credibility of narrators comes into question, how point of view may differ from reality. My whole career turns out to have been about the importance of truth, how to ascertain it, and the imperative of doing just that. I was surprised but delighted to realize that the life of my mind has been so directly sparked by the MB motto.” Terry adds that learning to discover truth is one thing, but learning to honor it is something else entirely. “It seems that society has stopped honoring the truth. That’s a dangerous situation. If our class initiative can push back on that trend just a little bit, we’ll have made a difference.” It seems fitting that a concern for honoring truth as one of the glues that hold society together should have brought these old friends back into closer touch as they pursued their class legacy. Says Eric, whose experience with charitable funds guided the group, “After more than 50 years

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of separation, I was excited to hear my classmates and friends were interested in creating a legacy that would endure. The most appealing aspect for me was that this project was going to be a collaborative effort which would allow us each to contribute from our particular strengths. I was delighted to jump right in.” Chris says, “It was the current relevance of the Fund’s purpose and the chance to revive old friendships that inspired me to participate.” John adds, “When I was involved in planning our 50th reunion back in 2015, I was impressed with the warmth of every contact I had with classmates. As our 55th approached, it seemed only natural for me to think about creating some lasting legacy of the kind of relationships built at MB.” “I’ve been amazed,” says Tom, “by both the banter on our calls (often driven by John) and by the productivity we tapped when we needed to. It’s been focused, purposeful, and fun. That’s why this initiative has been successful.” Creating the For the Honor legacy fund has brought the Class of ’65 classmates closer together. Says Terry, “Meeting again after decades, it didn’t feel like it had been very long at all. In a funny kind of way, it seems we never really separated.” It probably has something to do with a longstanding and shared commitment to honoring truth, learned long ago as students at MB. Members of the Class of ’65 have given more than $270,000 to establish this initiative. Additional contributions are welcome from all alumni and friends of Moses Brown. Contact Asst. Head of School Ron Dalgliesh P’21 for additional information at (401) 831-7350 x111 or rdalgliesh@mosesbrown.org.

Congratulations to alumni with 2021 graduates in their family this year. Some legacy families gathered for a photo at the Senior Picnic in June, including Alejandra and Nick ’79 Gorham, Vivian and Peter ’82 Morse, Olivia and Vin ’83 and Lisa ’85 Rocchio-Giordano, and Hannah and Heather ’85 (Handrigan) Ross. Congratulations also to the Ballou, Taleghani, Ramos and Calabresi families.

1971

The MB Alumni Association celebrated Scott Wolf this spring with the Distinguished Alumnus Award; see page 26.

1972

Congratulations to David Barrall, MD who recently graduated from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. Thank you to Jo Mei ’96 and Ahvi Spindell who participated in a virtual conversation about actors adapting during COVID and what it’s been like for those in the performing arts this year. The two met several years ago at an MB reception in New York, discovering that they had both gone from the stage in Alumni Hall to Juilliard Drama.

1975

Mark Golberg writes that he splits his time between Cambridge, Mass. and Saunderstown, R.I. and is always happy to hear from old friends and faculty! Michel Marcellot appreciated the adaptation theme of the last issue. “My life is all about adaptation,” he writes. “On my final remedial reading class of my senior year, my teacher said, ‘I think you’re dyslexic.’ Although there were few options at the time (1975), there were some. I figured things out on my own over the next 50 years.” See what Michel is doing now at sevenarrowsfarm.com.

Thank You

Several alumni of color joined with Head of School Matt Glendinning this spring for a virtual conversation about diversity, equity and inclusion. With leadership from the Board of Trustees, the school has spent this past year engaging in community conversation and developing an action plan to strengthen our commitment to upholding the dignity, worth and potential of each child. The voices and perspectives of our alumni of color have been critical in advancing this work at MB. Please see mosesbrown.org to learn about recent progress and the school’s Strategic Action Plan for DEI. We offer special appreciation to Trustee and former Alumni Association Clerk, Stephanie Ogidan Preston ’97 P’22, who passed away in late June. She worked tirelessly to expand access to an MB education and ensure every person finds a sense of belonging (see page 6).

Alumni Relations Director Karin Morse ’79, a member of the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame, interviewed MB’s new Athletic Director A.J. Kizekai earlier this year. Hear more of A.J.’s first impressions and plans in the interview, found on the Moses Brown Alumni facebook page. AJ has also been busy with upgrades to facilities and navigating a challenging year for interscholastic athletics. Follow @mosesbrownathletics on Instagram for updates and team information.

1977

Moses Brown and Friendship Thanks to Kristen Murray Porcaro ’82 P’11 for sharing thoughts on the enduring friendships found in the Class of 1982, as they count down to their 40th Reunion: “As Moses Brown alumni, we are forever tethered to 250 Lloyd Avenue in a myriad of ways. In the fall of 1976 when Moses Brown became co-ed once more, there were merely 16 of us girls in the entire middle school, forging an undeniable unbreakable bond between us. … So many connections have been made in our class including to this day, as classmates continue to connect, no matter how far we travel in the world. We update each other on life’s bizarre occurrences and share hilarious jokes as well as our worst foibles as if no time at all has passed—yet it has been 39 years since our MB graduation.” Kristen relished her MB experience so much that she sent her son, Vincent “Sonny” Porcaro, Jr. ’11 to MB, as well, giving her another reason to once again dwell among “The Shadow of the Elms” and develop additional friendships at MB. Kristen met her best friends as an adult at MB and says, “I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.” Kristen promises additional “tales for another time” for the next Reunion. We will look forward to hearing them next year!

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1977

MB’s alumni team was pleased to welcome a visit from Farhad Zaltash ’77 earlier this year. Farhad was the guest editor for the most recent issue of Cupola and stopped by the MB campus while in Providence, to say a safe hello and chat outside of Three Oaks. Great to see you, Farhad!

1978

In a nod to the Friendship theme for this issue, Bryan Cooper notes, “I have become friends with Doc now that we are both adults. I find it’s also easy to pick up friendships when I see classmates.”

1979

Congratulations to Peter Kilmarx who was recently awarded a Distinguished Service Medal for Infectious Disease Response by the U.S. Public Health Service. Peter was recognized for a distinguished USPHS career responding to HIV/AIDS and other infectious disease threats and building health research capacity worldwide from 1996 to 2019.

1980

Abraham Lincoln scholar Ted Widmer ’80 joined the Literacy Volunteers of Washington County for a virtual event to discuss the life and times of our 16th President. Ted is the author of the book Lincoln on the Verge: Thirteen Days to Washington, which tells the story of Lincoln’s grueling and dangerous odyssey to Washington prior to his inauguration.

1982

Peter Ramsden shares additional thoughts on his class’ experience on page 18 in this issue and sent his own daughters — Haley ’16 and Liza ’19 — to MB as well. “It was helpful to have the perspective looking back on 35 years of MB friends,” he says. “I encouraged them to seek a variety of friends that might view the world from different perspectives. I also emphasized that many of the friendships they make in high school have the potential to last a lifetime. So no matter how busy life gets and where their interests take them, continuing to touch base with the people who have been formative in their lives will undoubtedly pay dividends.”

Thank you to Jane Knowles ’81 for guest editing this Cupola! See page 14.

1983

Lisa Preston has been traveling to Cuba for her photographic work since 2016. In January she published a photo book entitled Team Cayo Hueso that documents the time she spent with a small boxing club in Havana as they trained for a local tournament. Preview the book and see more of her photography at fotoxlp.com.

1987

This winter, several MB alumni, friends, faculty, staff and families “dashed” in support of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, including Janet Dryfoos Hixson ’87, Josie Chapman ’97, Stephanie LaShoto Westfield ’01, Taylor Brown ’03, Connor Friend ’14 and Ben Buroker ’20.

1988

Although COVID made travel difficult, Chris Runci’s family found a shared passion for old cars during the pandemic. Last February, Chris was able to visit with his mom and dad (Matt ’64) in North Carolina and purchase an old BMW of the same year and model as his dad’s. “Since then, I’ve enjoyed trading regular emails and texts with my son Alexander ’19 and dad about ideas, strategies and future projects, and the special time with Alexander as we both learn how to fix (and sometimes refix) things!”

Pandemic Perspective “This has undoubtedly been the most bizarre and challenging year of our lives,” writes Nicole Navega ’89 from Fort Myers, Florida. “Confinement. Isolation. Fear. Helplessness. Uncertainty. Being a licensed clinical social worker for 20 years has taught me many things but the most important lesson has been gratitude. Educating clients on the benefits of mindfulness and gratitude has required me to walk the walk to the best of my ability. Each morning and evening (and any other time I found myself weary and lonely) during this maddening pandemic, I turned to gratitude. I reminded myself of how fortunate I was to have my dream job while I heartbreakingly watched millions lose theirs. I reminded myself how privileged I was to be enrolled in a PhD program (in our beautiful, tropical state) studying traumatic stress in first responders at this crucial moment in history. When the isolation and loneliness hit, I reminded myself of how I was surrounded by such an expansive network of friends, most of whom I’ve known since childhood at MB. “My gratitude is ultimately rooted in the values and friendships bestowed upon me at MB. My touchstone. I know I am extremely biased but the class of ‘89 is a wildly special group of souls, not because of their impressive intelligence and world-class resumes but because of the lifelong bond we’ve built, a bond that kept me feeling loved and connected this year. We have group chats that keep us laughing. We still gather with each other at weddings, birthdays, holidays and vacations. We have sustained old traditions and created new rituals to ensure that we get quality time together. We have spent weeks scuba diving Thailand together, celebrated weddings in Croatia, Newport and other exotic locales. We have fished, cycled, golfed, beached, roasted pigs, laughed, cried, got sober, gathered on Sanibel Island and shared other countless adventures. Unfortunately, we have also gathered to memorialize and say goodbye to too many of our classmates over the years. We lost pieces of ourselves when we lost them. No matter the challenge, be it pandemic or grief, we have leaned on each other. No matter how much time has passed without speaking, we come together with love, laughs and pure joy, as if time had never elapsed beyond the late ’80s.” “This bond is not something we created on our own. This bond was forged in the assemblies of Alumni Hall, on courts and fields, in locker rooms, on buses, in the Jenks Center, Doc’s Italian classes and European spring break trips, treks to Thayer Street, Mr. Baird’s Humanities class, dissecting creatures with Momma J and perhaps the deepest bonds of all were forged during the silent and profound reflections of Quaker Meetings. Sometimes the values were ones written in our motto or in Quaker traditions but most importantly the values of how we cared for one another were modeled for us within our MB family. They became unwritten norms that would follow us for life. We will always be a family. The values ingrained in me and the bonds of friendship from MB have become my autonomic touchstone of gratitude and I am certain my decades of service are nothing more than the ripple effect of Moses Brown.”

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1990

Marc Galletti ’86 and Uday Kumar have embarked on some ventures together and have interacted at conferences and events over the years as they both work in the same industry. “The outreach efforts MB has made under Matt have been helpful,” Uday says, to make connections in the Bay area. They only realized their MB connection after their paths initially crossed. They hope to connect via coffee when things are safe to do so. Reza Taleghani (below) celebrated the Moses Brown graduation of his daughter Nika this past June; his son Dino will be a junior at MB this year.

1991

Adrienne Schaberg Filipov and her husband and three kids recently moved to Scarsdale, N.Y. after 21+ years in downtown NYC. Adrienne still works as the chief human capital officer for Warburg Pincus and theoretically commutes to Manhattan, but the commute has just been downstairs to the home office lately! Adrienne was looking forward to seeing everyone at Reunion.

1995

The MB Alumni Association celebrated Angus Davis this spring with the 25th Reunion Achievement Award; see page 26.

1996

MB preprimary teacher Allie Weitberg Spurling ’96 (above, right) shares about how music teacher Kim Kredich inspired students in Voices on page 19. “The way she brought us members together was extraordinary and created lasting friendships through music.” Allie teaches in the MB lower school today. The MB Alumni Association celebrated Sheyna Gifford this spring with the 25th Reunion Achievement Award; see page 27.

1997

In July, classmates and friends of Stephanie Ogidan Preston gathered in celebration of her life, friendship and incredible positive influence on so many lives.

1999

In a year when homes became sanctuaries, workplaces, and more important than ever, real estate executive Lauren Jezienicki started One Circle Co., an apartment development company focused on wellness living, launched this past fall in Boston. As a real estate developer, Lauren has developed more than 4,000 apartment homes in Washington, D.C. and Boston, and got the inspiration for integrated wellness offerings while on a summer hike in Maine. “It was a moment of clarity for me,” she recalls. Lauren has been featured in The Boston Globe, Boston Business Journal, The Washington Post and Urban Land magazine.

2000

Carlos Andrés Gómez was selected, out of nearly 900 entrants, as one of two recipients of the Brittingham and the Felix Pollak Prizes in Poetry by Natasha Tretheway, 19th U.S. Poet Laureate. He’ll have his work published by the University of Wisconsin Press.

1996

2002

Thank you to Matt Corrente who provided amazing and interactive instruction to alumni in a virtual event on how to make gnocchi. Matt is the chef-owner of The Arcadian in Middlebury, Vermont. Christian Sorensen, a researcher and author focused on the U.S. war industry, recently published Understanding the War Industry.

2004

Congratulations to new dad Anthony Tracy. His son Thomas was born in September. Ellis Singer McCue writes, “I pivoted my company during COVID and grew 250% and am one of the few women in 2020 to receive venture capital funding, and the only woman in my industry (food).”

We are pleased to feature longtime faculty member Kevin Matson in this issue (page 4). Kevin is joined in work in healthcare by his sons, Andrew '05 and Erik '13. Andrew is an orthopedic surgeon for Brigham and Women’s and Care New England specializing in the hand and upper extremity. Erik is pursuing his PhD in Molecular and Translational Medicine at Boston University. SUMMER 2021

1990

2005

Congratulations to Gabe Amo, named deputy director in the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. Gabe will be the liaison between President Biden and state and local elected officials across the country and is focused on building support for the president’s economic recovery plan. He reports to Julie Chavez Rodriguez, the granddaughter of American labor leader Cesar Chavez. “It’s been a whirlwind,” Gabe writes. “I most certainly wouldn’t be in this position without the MB community. One of the first things I did when I started work in person was put my MB pennant up in its rightful place in my Eisenhower Executive Office Building office!”

2007

Graduating seniors and their families, as well as former teachers, enjoyed hearing Nick Gilson (top left) deliver this year’s Commencement address. Nick’s remarks were warm, humorous and inspirational. See page 44 for more.

Congratulations to alumni inducted into MB’s Athletic Hall of Fame at Reunion this spring: Jamie Munro ’85, Neil Munro ’87, Nancy Pasquariello ’91, Lara Rosenbaum ’91, Andrew Duffell ’95

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2008

Elisabeth Jones has lived in Anchorage, Alaska for three years and works as a critical care nurse. She recently transitioned away from her role as a neonatal intensive care nurse and is now a full-time nurse practitioner/midwifery student and Doctor of Nursing Practice candidate through Georgetown online. Lizi is currently researching the incidence of an abdominal wall defect among indigenous mothers and says Alaska has grown her into a biathlete and printmaker (www.wildbraidstudio.com). She appreciated the Adaptation theme of the last issue of the magazine. “In Alaska we are always adapting!” she writes. Of this past year, she writes, “We have the gift of ample fresh air for social distancing; as a friend quipped, ‘I’m pretty sure social distancing is what Alaska was invented for!’” She notes that it’s also always an adventure to live on the front lines of global climate change.

2014

2010

The MBAA is pleased to welcome Jazmine Estrada. Jazmine recently joined the Alumni Association board and has been active on the Local Committee.

2011

Thank you to Dominique Avila and Maija Hallsmith for sharing their friendship story for this issue of Cupola. See page 23.

2014

Nicholas Rocchio-Giordano (top, right) re-joined Moses Brown this year, joining the middle school as a mid-year replacement for Matt Herreid on sabbatical. Nick joined his sister Olivia ’21 on the SPAF stage this past spring. He says he enjoyed the freedom, support, and resources available at MB to teach students math and enjoyed connecting with students. After Boston College, Nick was certified as a math teacher through Teach for America and taught in Clarksdale, Mississippi. During college, he also spent a year in Ecuador where he coordinated a youth music program as a volunteer for El Proyecto Salesiano. “I am excited to integrate what students at MB taught me into my pursuit to one day become a physician,” he says. In October, Marisa Bamonte graduated with a Master of Arts in Communication from the Graduate School at College of Charleston. Congratulations!

2014

2017

The Golf Channel featured Will Dickson who, after struggling and a premature end to the golf season in 2020, spent a number of months in Waynesboro, Georgia, a small town south of Augusta, working on his game. When he returned to Georgia Tech last August, he continued playing, finishing second in GCAA Amateur Series events. Congratulations to Abby Mansolillo, named Miss Northeast Collegiate USA 2021. This summer, Abby will compete for the national title of Miss Collegiate USA in South Carolina.

As part of MB’s commitment to sustainability, we are offering alumni the option to receive Cupola in a digital edition. If you want to opt-out of the print magazine and just get a digital copy of the next magazine, please let us know — email alumni@mosesbrown.org. If you still like your print copy, that’s fine, too. SUMMER 2021

Congratulations to Cole Triedman, featured in a recent issue of the Brown Alumni Magazine, describing his research focused on the role of utility companies in the climate change countermovement.

2019

Congratulations to Jacob Wallack on his Madden 21 Club Championship win!

2020

Harry Runci shares what it’s like to be a third-generation MB family in this issue of Cupola. See page 16 for more. 37

Former Faculty & Staff Former choral music director Kim Kredich lives in Tennessee with her husband Matt who is the head coach for the women’s swim team at UT. Kim has three young adult sons, all thriving, who are talented musicians and swimmers as well. A passionate activist, Kim is now a full-time volunteer advocate for students with disabilities. Read more about her influence on students on page 19. Amy Newbold (far left) has three children — Addie, Thea and Gabe — and lives in Vermont with her family; she is a member of the Bennington Friends Meeting and teaches biology at Burr and Burton Academy. Samara Estroff (right) has two boys, Ellis and Miles, and lives in Minneapolis where she teaches third grade at the Blake School. See page 22 for more on their continued connection, since MB, with Abby Phyfe in the upper school (middle). Peter Tenney (MB ’76-’93) writes that he loves to keep up with MB and read its publications. Peter has moved from New Hampshire to Brunswick, Maine in retirement.

When the lower school’s venerable rubber tree was retired this spring to make way for renovation of the building, woodshop teacher Randy Street shared cuttings with faculty and staff and was prompted to look back on the tree’s story with former colleague, and lower school teacher, Frank Sterrett who originally planted it. Frank joined MB in 1971, teaching in the middle school. He taught Earth Science in the Thomas Building (now replaced by Ross House) and thought it would be a good idea to have something alive in his room. At a nursery in Johnston with a huge and ancient greenhouse, Frank purchased the rubber tree as well as a couple of other tropical plants which he kept in pots in his classroom. After a couple of years, Frank’s classroom moved and so Frank moved his plants to the new lower school garden — eventually following them there as well. For many years, Frank would water the garden in the mornings, nurturing his plants along with the students. Through the years, the rubber tree remained. Eventually, Frank had to start pruning it, even stringing clothesline from the roof girders to support it. At that point, Randy kindly offered his professional expertise. “Thus,” Frank says, “it was controlled from bursting through the roof and making the ‘Shadows of the Rubber Tree.’” CUPOLA

condolences

In Memoriam Lester “Rally” Ralston Thomas, Jr., Class of 1941, served in the U.S. Army. After the war, he graduated from Nichols College and began his banking career in Providence. After retirement, Rally and his wife Ruthie embarked on the adventure of a lifetime traveling North America as fulltime RVers for nearly 20 years. (3/28/21)

Keith Milligan, Sr., Class of 1950, served in the U.S. Army and in underwriting for Amica Insurance. He was one of the eight people who founded the Special Signal Fire Association (Providence Canteen). Keith was a member of the Masons, numerous antique car clubs and of Mensa. (10/1/20)

Robert Breslin Jr., Class of 1946, attended Brown University and studied law at Boston College. He worked for the City of Warwick and the citizens of Warwick until the age of 90, beginning as Warwick’s assistant city solicitor in 1957. Above all, he loved his family, and was devoted to his wife, Carol. Bob was curious, intelligent, opinionated, funny and above all engaged! (1/11/21)

Cameron Rodney O’Connor, Class of 1950, was an accomplished sailor and skillful not only in navigating the waters, but also the world of finance and friendships. Rodney’s professional journey started in Philadelphia, before taking on the Big Apple; he later established his own firm Cameron Associates, Inc. He was a financial supporter of his lifelong friend Edmund Mauro’s charity, Buttonhole, in Providence. (4/16/20)

Leonard Triedman, M.D., Class of 1946, earned his medical degree from Harvard. In the Air Force, he was stationed in Hyannis and delivered babies to the wives of enlisted men, earning the nickname “The Flying Obstetrician.” He cared for generations of Rhode Islanders at Miriam and Women & Infants. A driven athlete with a passion for sports, Lenny was team physician for the Rhode Island Reds and Pawtucket Red Sox and at various times, a ski patrolman, R.I. men’s tennis state champion, and Boston Marathon finisher. (3/19/21)

William Freyd, Class of 1951, was the quintessential entrepreneur. He founded IDC, LLC in 1974 in N.J., growing it into one of the largest fundraising consulting companies in the U.S. Partnering with Yale, Bill developed the phone/mail telecommunications solicitation process which has been used by thousands of universities and medical centers worldwide to raise millions. (8/20/20)

Kenneth Knowles M.D., Class of 1949, was a graduate of Brown University and Tufts University School of Medicine. He served on active duty in the U.S. Navy and retired from the Naval Reserve as a Lt. Commander. He completed his surgical residency at Rhode Island Hospital before opening a private practice in Cranston and Pawtucket. He was affiliated with R.I. Hospital, St. Joseph Hospital, and Pawtucket Memorial Hospital and retired in 1995. (3/9/19)

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Stuart Smith, Class of 1951, attended the University of Rhode Island and was a member of the URI New England championship cross-country team. He began a career as an engineer before switching to a career in education, eventually serving as headmaster of Brooklyn Friends School in New York and working as an interim principal in schools across the country and in education consulting. (5/19/21) Russell Beede, Class of 1953, served as a Lieutenant JG in the U.S. Navy, stationed aboard the USS Casa Grande. He earned his MBA from Dartmouth. Russ volunteered at Emerson Hospital in Concord and served as a board member of several organizations. He had an adventurer’s spirit and was a hunter-gatherer at heart, teaching his children how to catch fish, mussels, lobsters and quahogs. (11/8/20) 39

Arnold Jones, Jr., Class of 1953, graduated from Yale and served in the U.S. Army Reserve-Active Duty. Pat had an abiding love of the sea and his happiest memories were summers on Nantucket with family. He was an energetic, disciplined, loyal man with a wonderful sense of humor, devoted to family and friends. Pat loved military history and had a magnificent collection of miniature soldiers. (8/22/20)

Joseph Mastrobuono, Jr., Class of 1970, was an incredible businessman, beloved boss, and excellent provider for his family. Joseph was an accomplished home cook, interior designer and golfer. He brought home numerous trophies and prizes from the golfing tournaments he participated in. No green did he frequent more often or more lovingly than the Alpine Country Club. (4/18/21)

Bruce McInnes, Class of 1955, graduated from Dartmouth College. He earned his master’s at Yale. Bruce was chairman of the Music Department at Amherst College before taking on roles at Pacific University, the University of Wisconsin, and Sarah Lawrence College. He retired as dean of the conservatory at the Cleveland Institute of Music before moving to Maine. (4/15/21)

Arvo Juhan Virks, Class of 1970, joined Digital Equipment Corp. in 1984 in the early days of the telecom industry, specializing in internet security. He retired from Nokia in 2017. He always loved the ocean. A lifelong surfer, Arvo pursued his passion from Florida to Hatteras to R.I. He also achieved the rank of Sandan in aikido and practiced tai chi daily. (5/11/21)

Arthur Goddard II, Class of 1959, was an electrical engineering graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Montana State University. He worked for Collins Radio and later for Boeing, from which he retired. Art was active in amateur radio and volunteered at the Costa Mesa Historical Society with his beloved wife Mary Ellen and coauthored two books on Costa Mesa history. Art credited Moses Brown as the place where he developed a love of “tinkering.” He established a legacy at MB which reflected his experience and care for students interested in STEM via the Goddard Fund for Student Projects. In conversation, Art always referred to MB as “The Good School.”

John MacDougall, Class of 1971, attended the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, before returning to Groton and the Byles-MacDougall Funeral Home, where he worked selflessly and with great compassion for 41 years. As a father, John encouraged big dreams, drove cross-country at the drop of a hat, and never missed a game. (1/2/19)

Harrison Huntoon, Class of 1960, moved to Houston to work for NASA during the Apollo space program. After working in Texas, Harry eventually returned home to become president of Providence Braid Company. He loved music and served on the board of the R.I. Philharmonic Orchestra and Music School. (4/28/21) John Owen Jr., Class of 1966, attended Harvard and Columbia after MB. He later traveled across Europe on a motorcycle before settling in New York with his family, where he built a successful career in finance. He was an avid reader and history buff with a quick wit and fondness for terrible puns. (5/30/21)

Malcolm Reis, Jr., Class of 1975, known as one of “Doc’s Jocks,” lived in Providence. Malcolm ran for MB for three years, as a member of the track team and captain of cross-country in his senior year. (9/22/20) Frederick Sawyer, Class of 1981, was a member of MB’s Cum Laude Society and earned varsity letters at MB in cross country and basketball. Fred was a field applications engineer in the electronics field. He lived in North Carolina. (3/14/20) David Griego, Class of 1982, was head of the math department at Providence’s Squared School. David was a long-time member of Mensa. He played basketball and baseball at MB, was a talented flute player, and a chess prodigy, winning numerous state and national titles in his teens, including New England Co-Champion. With a record of 44-0 during his time at Moses Brown, he led the team to three state crowns. David earned the title of FIDE Master and held the standard rating of 2355. (1/6/21)

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Mark Miller, Class of 1985, attended Menlo College and Cal State Northridge. He worked at Interconnect Systems and LEDing Edge Lighting. Mark was involved as a trustee in the Bill and JoAnne Miller Charitable Trust and joined the board of directors at Food Share. Mark lived in California. (1/19/21) Daphne Hoddinott, Class of 1994, graduated with her bachelor’s degree in violin from the College of Charleston. She loved playing for the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Daphne was a beloved daughter who devoted herself to caring for her parents and her grandmother. (4/2/20) Beth Brier, Class of 1996, was a graduate of University of Massachusetts (Amherst) and Providence College. She worked in special education in Rhode Island for ten years, before moving to Florida, where she worked in property management and the building industry. (6/10/21) Stephanie Ogidan Preston, Class of 1997 P’22, was a member of the Moses Brown board of trustees, its executive committee, and a former clerk of the Alumni Association. Stephanie was passionate about education; a person of deep integrity, she worked tirelessly to expand access to an MB education and ensure every person finds a sense of belonging. A graduate of Duke University, she was a member of the Track & Field team and served as a long-time alumni interviewer. While raising her three children, Stephanie received an MBA from MIT’s Sloan School of Management. Throughout her life, Stephanie was committed to her community, serving on numerous nonprofit boards. At the time of her passing, she was Director, Chief of Staff to the CFO for Takeda Pharmaceuticals USBU, in Lexington, Mass. Moses Brown is honored that Stephanie’s family asked that memorial gifts be directed to MB to help establish the Stephanie Ogidan Preston ’97 Scholarship. (6/28/21) Brandon Fowler, Class of 2007, was an engaging presence in the MB community in his 11 years at MB, including as a leader on Campanella Field. A great friend, teammate and brother, Brandon is remembered for his welcoming nature and quick smile. Brandon played football for Norwich University in Vermont and worked as a personal trainer. (5/3/21)

Faculty/ Staff Emile Ferrara, Jr., was a prolific artist, outdoorsman, cook and inspirational teacher to generations of art students. Emile earned a BFA from what is now UMass-Dartmouth, followed by a master’s in teaching from RISD. He taught art at Mount Hope High for over 30 years and then at MB. Emile opened a world of creativity and imagination for countless students and provided encouragement and mentoring to many. (12/5/20) William Mullin served as a beloved English teacher, basketball and golf coach, boarding department member and, for a decade, Head of Upper School. Bill genuinely loved students in the best educational sense of the word, interested in their lives outside of school and thoughtful of the needs of teenagers. He showed enormous care, affection and devotion in his work. Bill was honored by the Alumni Association as the 2001 Faculty Member of the Year. Cynthia Smalley worked in the school’s Infant-Toddler Center. She received her nursing degree from URI and spent the first half of her career at Roger Williams Hospital, spending many years as the Nurse Manager of the ICU. Cindy especially loved the time she spent as the ITC nurse at Moses Brown and was a fierce MB hockey mom. She also served as an ally of the Down Syndrome community, including as president of the board of DSSRI. Cindy enjoyed gardening and spending time with her family. (7/6/21) Ruth Whitford was a house parent and integral part of the MB community. Ruth attended Lincoln School, Classical High and Smith College. She graduated from URI in 1974 under the Continuing Education for Women program. After MB, Ruth and Ted were co-directors of Hamilton House, an adult learning exchange in Providence. Ruth served on many boards, volunteered and traveled. She loved learning and was adept at using an iPad even at 102. She loved the Red Sox, reading, music and crosswords. (4/28/21)

Moses Brown’s memorial notes are based on published obituaries. Please forward to Office of Alumni Relations, Moses SUMMER 2021 Brown School, 250 Lloyd Avenue, Providence, RI 02906; fax (401) 455-0084; email alumni@mosesbrown.org.

commencement 2021

Celebrating the Class of ’21 Congratulations to the Class of 2021! In June, the MB community came together for a celebratory and upbeat in-person commencement on Mann Field with 104 graduating seniors and their families welcomed to campus for a beautiful day of graduation, enjoying the simple fact of coming together after a year that started with distance. Nick Gilson ’07’s commencement address encouraged graduates to have real conversation, build community, have fun and work hard. Class of ’21, we wish you all the best in future endeavors.

Moses Brown was pleased to welcome Nick Gilson ’07 as this year’s Commencement speaker. Nick last stood on the MB stage 14 years ago as the president of the Class of 2007. His 2021 address beautifully covered humility, challenge, support, the importance of failure and carving your own path, adapting to change, the importance of people, and just how rigorous an MB education is. Thank you, Nick! See page 44 for more about Nick and view his Commencement speech at www.mosesbrown.org/NickGilson.

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

Class of 2021 Destinations American University Babson College Bates College Boston University Bowdoin College Brandeis University Brown University California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Clemson University Colby College College of the Holy Cross Columbia University Drexel University Elon University Emory University Emory University-Oxford College Fairfield University Fordham University George Washington University Georgetown University Gettysburg College HamiltonSUMMER College 2021

Harvard University Howard University Lafayette College Marist College New York University North Carolina State University at Raleigh Northeastern University Northwestern University Ohio Wesleyan University Pennsylvania State University Pennsylvania State University Harrisburg Pitzer College Providence College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rochester Institute of Technology Skidmore College Suffolk University–Madrid Campus The University of Alabama Trinity College Tufts University Tulane University United States Naval Academy University of California-Irvine

University of California-Los Angeles University of California-San Diego University of Denver University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign University of Maryland-College Park University of Massachusetts–Amherst University of Miami University of Pennsylvania University of Rhode Island University of San Francisco University of St Andrews University of Vermont University of Virginia University of Wisconsin-Madison Villanova University Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) Washington University in St. Louis Wellesley College Wesleyan University Wheaton College 43

moses brown commencement speaker 2021

Nicholas Gilson ’07 “We must intertwine learning throughout our entire lives. In that vein, I encourage you to be kinetic.” Nick Gilson last stood on the MB stage 14 years ago, delivering the student speech as the president of the class of 2007. Moses Brown was pleased to welcome Nick Gilson ’07 as this year’s Commencement speaker. Nick was the perfect choice to discuss challenges and adjusting to change, as MB’s 2021 Commencement speaker. After MB, Nick attended Johns Hopkins, then taught middle school science in Nashville with Teach For America. A need to reach a wide range of education levels in his classroom led Nick to favor handson learning. While discussing invention, Nick referenced his own design as an eighth grader at MB for a catamaran-inspired snowboard to model the scientific process, which proved to be key to his own eventual business endeavors. Today, Nick is the co-founder and CEO of Gilson Snow, a globally-known manufacturer of skis and snowboards. Since its founding by Nick and Austin Royer in 2013, the company has gone on to receive numerous awards and accolades from Wired, Outside, Bloomberg Businessweek, and the Small Business Administration. Nick’s address beautifully covered humility, challenge, support, the importance of failure and carving your own path, adapting to change, the importance of people, and just how rigorous an MB education is. Thank you, Nick!

father’s workshop. Today, our boards and skis look a lot different, and as I chart the course of development over the last two decades, each major innovation in product, and then later in marketing and business development, is defined by a response not to a success, but to an acute failure. Failure is how we got here, and it’s how we run our business today. Do not fear failure. Use it.” Nick’s second story was about rejection. More specifically, rejecting ideas you don’t like. After graduating from Johns Hopkins University, Nick moved to Nashville to teach middle school science.

Nick’s first story was about the role of failure, and it began in eighth grade at MB.

“There was no way one teacher could address all the needs in the classroom. I stopped teaching from in front of the room, and we moved entirely to a hands-on curriculum where everyone was responsible to be both a teacher and a student, myself included. Each individual began their own ‘year-long curiosity project,’ and the only rules were that it had to be school appropriate, and you had to really care. We went from having one teacher in the room to having a room full of teachers, and the level of unity went through the roof. It was amazing to see how attitudes changed when my students took that stupid test later that year. They scored at 88% proficiency, up from 18%, and we achieved our big goal of becoming the fastest-growing science class in Nashville. The school’s program went from being unranked to being amongst the top 4 in the district, and we launched the company out of the classroom.”

At 14, Nick was building a catamaran sailboat with his father.

His third story was all about the people.

“Around the same time, I was sitting in Tony McClellan’s science class here at MB, and it struck me that the nomenclature for H2O solid and H2O liquid looked awfully similar. I now know the connection lacked any real scientific basis, but it did get me wondering why snowboards and skis remained flat on the bottom when all other objects that move through a fluid are curved. I became intensely curious about fluid dynamics in snow, and like any good middle schooler, I tried to get school credit for something I wanted to do anyway. This question became the focus of my 8th grade independent study, and I built the first two prototypes in my

By 2013, Nick had left his teaching job, formed the company, and moved to a cabin in the woods with no running water or electricity.

“You can’t be expected to always be right, but you can absolutely demonstrate that you adhere to honest interpretation of data over hubris, and that builds trust. Trust is the highest currency when building a meaningful culture and team, because it is what allows people to rely on each other in the more challenging moments. Rely on people, and trust them with the hard stuff.” CUPOLA

MB Believes launched in 2015

Join us for EXPO this October! EXPO October 15 and 16 mosesbrown.org/expo You won’t want to miss it! SUMMER 2021

The weekend begins with the return of the Harvest Dinner and Bonfire on Friday, Oct. 15 and then Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 16 which includes athletic contests, student performances, lunch and much more. Families most welcome. More details to follow.

Moses Brown School 250 Lloyd Avenue, Providence, RI 02906 www.mosesbrown.org 401-831-7350

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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.

Something great to look forward to in October...

EXPO

October 15 and 16 mosesbrown.org/expo

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