How well do you know your school?
How well do you know your school?
The who, what, when and where of NA
The who, what, when and where NA
How many of you can name all the Newark locations for Newark Academy since its inception in 1774?
How many of you can name all the Newark locations for Newark Academy since its inception in 1774?
The first Newark Academy building was erected in 1774. In 1780 British raiders stole in undercover at night and set the Academy on fire. It was completely consumed by flames.
The second building was constructed on the corner of Broad and Academy Streets and was completed in 1793. The Academy did not maintain school from 1855-1859 and ultimately sold the property to the U.S. government.
A AIn 1857 the Academy purchased its third property at the corner of High and Williams Streets and opened for the fall term in 1859.
The fourth and final location for Newark Academy in Newark was at the corner of Orange Street and First Street and was purchased in 1906. In 1929 the Academy building was constructed and it opened in 1930.
Q Q
The combined headmasterships of Dr. Samuel A. Farrand and his son and successor Dr. Wilson Farrand lasted for how many years?
Samuel and Wilson Farrand led the Academy (but for one decade) from 1859-1935.
Donald M. Austin
Head of School
Lisa E. Grider
Director of Institutional Advancement
EDITOR
Debra W. Marr
Director of Communications
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Stacey Kaplan-Layton
C ONTRIBUTORS
Blackie ParlinHampton Abney
Nancy McGaughanElise Javetski ’12
Marcia Worth-Baker
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
William D. Green ’69 Chairman
Nancy Baird Harwood ’75Wayne D. Kent ’85
Pamela HuttenbergJonathan D. Olesky ’74
Jeffrey J. Silverman ’82 Vice Chairs
Joseph P. McGrath, Jr. ’81Ernest W. Loesser SecretaryTreasurer
Donald AustinRichard R. Redmond ’77
Patricia BudziakAjay Sawhney
John C. Galbraith ’75Andrew Senchak
Leo Gordon ’69Robert Silver
Kim Hirsh ’80Eric Sumner ’73
Tosan LivingstoneEvangeline Tross
David McGraw ’77Joshua Weinreich
Rita Pignatelli-MercuriJane Wilf
Emeriti
Louis V. Aronson II ’41John L. McGraw ’49
Paul Busse ’38Robert S. Puder ’38
Robert Del Tufo ’51Gary Rose
William D. Hardin ’44William T. Wachenfeld ’44
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Leo M. Gordon ’69 President
Van Stevens ’65Lance Aronson ’74 1st Vice President2nd Vice President
Amanda Rubinstein Black ’97 Secretary
John Bess ’69Lauren Jacobs ’98
Patrick Ciccone ’62Mark Menza ’71
Noah Franzblau ’86Adam Rosen ’99
Matthew Gertler ’90Lara Samet ’01
John Gregory ’99Kim Griffinger Wachtel ’85
Thomas Hennigan ’77Art Williams ’81 Art Wynne ’79
Emeriti
J. Richard Beltram ’41William C.H. Stroh III ’48 Richard M. Watson ’50
Newark Academy Office of Institutional Advancement
91 South Orange Avenue Livingston, New Jersey 07039
Telephone: 973.992.7000, Fax: 973.992.8962
E-mail: dmarr@newarka.edu Website: www.newarka.edu
NEWARK MAYOR CORY BOOKER TO ADDRESS NEWARK ACADEMY GRADUATES
Newark Mayor Cory Booker has accepted Newark Academy’s invitation to present the keynote address at the 2009 Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, June 14. Mayor Booker was the first choice of the Class of 2009 as the ommencement speaker, as he epitomizes NA’s core belief in the common pursuit of respect, scholarship, integrity and service to the greater community. For more than 230 years, Newark Academy has been an impor tant part of the educational landscape in the Greater Newark area. Our students are keenly interested in reconnecting with the school’s roots by building stronger relationships with groups and organizations in Newark, and we are honored that Mayor Booker will join us in solidifying this connection. Mayor Booker will address the Newark Academy community at Commencement Exercises, which will begin at 1:00 pm. The graduation ceremony will be followed by a brief reception on the lawn.
“ There are important lessons to learn about where we come from that help us understand the Academy’s enduring core values. ”
“ There are important lessons to learn about where we come from that help us understand Academy’s enduring core values.
Newark Academy’s 235-year history is a remarkable resource. As you will read in this issue of Outreach, the bare facts are frequently interesting, entertaining, and surprising. Chronicling our storied past highlights the sources of our Minuteman pride: the extraordinary accomplishments of students and faculty over more than two centuries. There are important lessons to learn about where we come from that help us understand the Academy’s enduring core values. Finally, in trying times such as those we are living through today, the school’s history shows us how Newark Academy has dealt successfully with adversity in the past.
Since its founding in 1774, Newark Academy has faced hard times of many kinds, but it has always overcome those obstacles and prevailed, frequently emerging stronger than it had been before the onset of the crisis. In January 1780, a British detachment from New York raided the Academy where a group of Continental soldiers were stationed. The British soldiers burned the Academy to the ground. Two years later, the Academy reopened.
During the 1863-64 school year, at the end of the Civil War, enrollment dropped by more than 25 percent from 191 to 143 students, threatening the sur vival of the school. Headmaster Samuel Farrand and Board President
Historical
references cited from “A Widening Sphere of Usefulness” by Suzanne Geissler
Samuel Pennington responded by reaffirming the school’s commitment to high academic and behavioral standards, and the result was a return to robust enrollment that surpassed 200 just two years later
Economic turmoil affected Newark Academy during the Great Depression, when enrollment dropped and unpaid tuition forced trustees to take out a loan to meet expenses. Teacher pay cuts and alumni contributions shored up the school’s finances in the short term. By 1936 the fortunes of the Academy had dramatically improved, thanks to increased enrollment and fundraising.
In today’s challenging environment, our rich history continues to be relevant and reassuring. Staying focused on our educational mission and core values, managing our budget carefully, and above all providing our students with the finest academic program will continue to guarantee the long-term health of this fine, old school.
Donald M. Austin
JONATHAN ALTER, award-winning “Newsweek” columnist, television analyst, author and NAparent, discussed the 2008 election with student and parent communities at Newark Academy last September. Mr. Alter presented a brilliant analysis and colorful commentary regarding this year’s exciting election.
Newark Academy’s director of business and finance, Sam Goldfischer, and humanities chair, Benson Hawk, accompanied 16 Upper School students on a field trip to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) last fall. This thoughtful and intelligent group consisted of students who are active in Newark Academy’s Student Endowment Committee. The group enjoyed a seminarwith the NYSE education director, who offered a comprehensive history of the Exchange, weaving its evolution and workings with his in-depth knowledge.
The trip culminated in a visit to BIDS Trading, a two-year-old start-up company. CEO Tim Mahoney and General Counsel Vivian Maese shared their views and advice on the markets in the current economic environment. This timely and topical field trip offered students a comprehensive look at the stock market and its underpinnings, and was a worthwhile adventure for all involved.
Newark Academy’s 2008-09 Global Speaker Series brought several thought-provoking speakers to the school’s campus. The purpose of this NA community-based program, which launched last year, is to provide a global perspective and inspire global thinking among all constituents.
October: Brooke Gladstone
Acclaimed NPR media journalist Brooke Gladstone addressed students in grades 6-12 on Tuesday, October 21. An expert in media journalism, Ms. Gladstone’s talk was a tour d’horizon of war reporting, past and present.
For most of us, our understanding of armed conflicts around the world is filtered through the media. Ms. Gladstone’s talk gave our community the opportunity to consider issues of propaganda, embedding and placing current practices in a historical context. Ms. Gladstone is currently the editor of “On the Media,” a weekly hour-long radio show produced by WNYC and distributed nationally
November: Rabbi David Forman
Rabbi David Forman addressed the school community on the discord in the Middle East, concentrating on the Arab-Israeli conflict and its historical, political and religious context. He presented a “kaleidoscope” of life in Israel and the extreme polars that shape the Israeli personality. A founder of Rabbis for Human Rights and a regular contributor to the Jerusalem Post’s Counterpoint column, Rabbi Forman possesses a nuanced understanding of the complexity of the issues swirling around the region. He has lectured
internationally on human rights and social justice and was the keynote speaker at the Nobel Institute in Oslo. He also served as a deputy commander in the Israeli artillery corps, receiving a medal for distinguished service.
February: Peter Fisher
NA’s highly acclaimed Global Speaker Series continued on February 23 with a presentation by financial authority Peter Fisher. Mr. Fisher served as Under Secretar y of the U.S. Treasury for Domestic Finance during George W. Bush’s first term in office. Before joining the Treasury, Mr. Fisher spent 15 years at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Mr. Fisher’s timely presentation encompassed the current global economic crisis, including how it began, what it means for the U.S. and the international community, and what we can learn from this crisis to avoid it in the future. The second half of his talk consisted of a town hall style questionand-answer period where students broached topics such as temporary tax cuts, mark-to-market accounting and the permanent income hypothesis.
Mr. Fisher, managing director, is currently the co-head of BlackRock’s Fixed Income Portfolio Management Group. He is a member of BlackRock’s Executive Committee and he co-chairs the fixed income strategy, asset allocation and overall management of client portfolios.
NA Students Win NJIT Design Contest
Newark Academy seniors Andrew Carter (right) and Gerry Manoim (left) placed first and second respectively in the 2008 Virtual Bridge Design Contest sponsored by the New Jersey Institute of Technology. The purpose of the competition was to introduce high school students to pre-engineering concepts and bridge design basics, while honoring their creativity and visualization abilities.
Competition was intense with more than 100 teams participating from high schools throughout New Jersey. Participants were required to design a bridge spanning a river chasm capable of carrying a fully loaded “virtual truck.” Winning designs required many hours of work as participants optimized their concepts. Students had to factor multiple constraints into the design, including site conditions, bridge geometry, load position and material shape and strength.
Prizes were awarded to the five top teams within New Jersey. Andrew and Gerry were awarded plaques and checks in recognition of this great accomplishment.
NA Welcomes Guest Speaker
Mary Alice Williams
During the winter term, Amy Schottland’s humanities class was thrilled to welcome highly acclaimed broadcast journalist Mary Alice Williams. Known for her investigative work on foreign policy, ethics, technology and health, Williams rose to prominence as one of the founding anchors at CNN, served as vice president in charge of the New York bureau, and became one of the highest ranking female executives in American television. Drawing from her vast experience and the challenges she faced early in her career, Williams addressed issues pertinent to women in business today and also provided a historical perspective on women in business throughout the last century in America.
NA’s sixth grade science class participated in an Edible Cell Project. This event was comprised of significant research, modeling and oral presentation components. Students conducted research in class, created cell models at home and presented the final projects in class. The event culminated in a mammoth cell eating party for the Middle School. Who knew Jell-O and cake make great cytoplasm?!
As early as elementary school, Nicholas Szuch ’11 showed a gastronomic flair. “
hen I had creative writing assignments,”
Nick recalls, “I wrote my own cookbooks.” His love of food was nurtured by his family, including his father, Richard Szuch ’80, and uncle, Peter Szuch ’77. Now, as president of Newark Academy’s largest student club, the Cooking Club, Nick continues to focus on food. He proudly points to the 100-plus membership of his club – “That’s a fifth of the student body,” he remarks – now in its second year of existence.
Already, the club has had notable triumphs. Last year, Nick arranged for the head chef and owner of Serenade Restaurant in Chatham to do a cooking demonstration. The club has made two trips to the Kings Cooking Studio in Short Hills for what Nick calls “fully interactive cooking sessions.” NA parent and chef Dolly Rosen taught a Victorian pastry class. Nick’s goal for the club is to “plan events that compel people to come, events that involve the whole NA community.” Most recently, Nick arranged for Ariane Duarte, New Jersey’s own Top Chef contestant, to visit the club. She talked about her experiences, signed cookbooks and demonstrated techniques.
Nick is known for taking initiative. He first began cooking for friends and family in middle school, and made a hobby of teaching himself techniques he saw on television cooking shows. Not yet satisfied with his skills and knowledge, Nick discovered that the French Culinary Institute was pioneering classes for non-degree students. He enrolled and travels into Manhattan regularly to refine his techniques. Nick has taken courses in Seafood, Chicken and Pasta, and learned from master chef Michael Colameco. What he most enjoyed about the classes, though, was meeting fellow aficionados, food lovers “from all walks of life.”
Though he was the youngest in his classes, Nick reveled in the “social” aspect of cooking with others. “It’s a synergy,” he explains, “a shared sense of accomplishment.” While Nick looks forward to a career in business or the law, he foresees that food will always be important to him. “Cooking is a way to discover new things,” he explains. “It’s a global experience. Each culture has a flavor, and food is our common denominator.” Nick looks at food philosophically. “You don’t have to agree about politics and religion,” he says. “But we all have to eat ”
“I was watching Top Chef one night,” recounts Nick, “and I thought I would try to get in touch with her. It never hurts to ask, and she agreed to come to NA.” Indeed,
by Elise Javetski ’12
Newark Academy is once again proving itself as an educational leader through its latest groundbreaking initiative: the Immersion Experience Program. An immersion experience can last from two weeks to an entire semester, and focuses on a theme such as foreign language, foreign culture, community service or a wilderness encounter. As one of the first schools in the country to require participation in this program for graduation, NA aspires to engage students in cultural or environmental exploration, developing an appreciation for and understanding of diverse cultures, peoples and perspectives in the world.
Elise Javetski ’12 fulfilled the immersion experience requirement when she traded in her strappy sandals for a pair of snowshoes and headed to The Mountain School in Vermont for a semester of beauty, restoration and connection with the natural world. Here is her story.
In the spring of 2008, I attended a semester program at The Mountain School (TMS) in Vermont. The Mountain School is located on a 300-acre campus and includes an organic farm, residential and academic facilities, a sugar bush and many hiking trails. Although plenty of my friends told me I was going to a “lumberjack” school, it ended up being a lot more than that. Even though I still attended academic classes, in the end, I learned far more outside of the classroom, out the wilderness.
Since TMS is an operating organic farm, I was able to learnfirst hand about the
agriculture business. I was shown how the production, care and keeping of produce and livestock differs from farm to farm. In the case of organic farms, I was taught the smallest details that farmers must pay attention to in order to remain a certified organic vendor – such as analyzing soil content or the type of grain the herds eat. I also studied “sugaring” or the gathering of tree sap to make syrup. (I was surprised to learn that this is a form of agriculture!) It takes nearly 40 gallons of tree sap to make one gallon of maple syrup! If anything, this proves just how much work and sacrifice farmers put into their jobs – their entire lives. Unlike most of the whitecollar jobs our families may be accustomed to, farming becomes part of a farmer’s life. It’s one of the only unique jobs in which work life and home life are one. Having Mother Nature as a boss is
no easy business, and, through my experience, I’ve come to appreciate the job that seems all too often to be taken for granted.
Additionally, during my semester at TMS, I spent a lot of bonding time with the natural New England surrounds. Not only were a handful of my classes conducted outside, but the students were also able to spend their free time either snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or sledding anywhere on the property. We learned how to identify the different types of trees and other vegetation. We learned the history and backstor y of a piece of land just by examining its composition and tree types. We were taught how to calculate the age of a forest based on the size of the trees.
Finally, we were taught how to live our lives in accordance with nature. Each student went on a three-day camping trip –completely solo! For three days I sat in Groton Mountain State Park with some food, clothes, sleeping bag, some rope and a tarp, which I miraculously made into a shelter! Being out in the woods all alone made me realize just how long a 24-hour day is! But overall there was so much I learned and discovered about random things like the patterns that streams flow in, getting to see a moose for the first time, and using my surroundings to create a homey atmosphere.
The outdoors has a relevant role in our lives. It’s the nurturing source for all the products we take for granted each day. My advice: Don’t make exploring nature just a hobby; make it a part of your life!
IN FEBRUARY NEWARK ACADEMY HOSTED CELEBRATED DANCER AND CHOREOGRAPHER SHANI COLLINSas part of its Artist-InResidence program. Collins is a New York-based performing artist who studied at the American Dance Festival as a scholarship studentand was awarded the Martha Myers Choreography Award. She is the founding director of Eternal Works, an emerging dance experience focused on women’s healing and empowerment.
During Collins’ stay at Newark Academy, she taught master classes to dance students, and made presentations in other related subjects such as humanities, visual arts and photography, anatomy and physiology, health, world cultures and vocal and instrumental music. She also performed at a schoolwide assembly presentation in honor of Black History Month featuring her study of dance anthropology and African dance history, with a concentration on African movement juxtaposed with Western dance.
Newark Academy’s Artist-In-Residence program brings a professional artist to the school each year, for a designated amount of time, to work with teachers and students and to share his or her art with the entire community.
When the 12:25 bell rings on Day 3, Middle School students rush to all corners of the school building and even beyond.
New this year, thanks to a reconfiguration of the Middle School schedule, students in grades seven and eight have one “common” period in every six-day cycle. Sixth grade students, t have study halls, have two such periods.
nown familiarly to the students as “cos,” these 55-minute periods are an opportunity for students to participate in educational activities that are experiential in nature. Teachers propose activities by discipline; in science, for example, eighth graders participated in a “penny boat lab,” where they competed to build the foil boat that would stay afloat longest with the heaviest cargo. When they studied Romeo and Juliet, eighth graders took part in a Stage Combat workshop run by Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey faculty
Middle School Principal Tom Ashburn describes the common periods as being “about skills rather than strictly academics,” and students agree. “I like how we use what we learn in class in different ways,” says Zoe Kay ’13. “It’s interesting to apply what we read or hear about in these activities.”
Seventh grade activities have included pre-election debates, planning sessions for end-of-year trips, and even a memorable visit from “The Reptile Man.” Sixth graders have participated in the St. Jude Mathathon, hosted several parent visits –including a read-aloud session with Head of School (and
sixth grade parent) Don Austin – and visited St. Barnabas for a session with Olympic Gold Medalist and diabetes educator Gary Hall.
“What I like best about the co periods,” explains Ned Harwood ’13, “is that we learn in different groups than usual. We’re not divided by class, and we do things with the whole grade.” Elron Robinson agrees. “It’s hard to choose my favorite activity,” he says, considering the many common periods of the year. “I just like doing interesting activities with my friends. Day 3 is a good day.”
Throughout the Middle School, common periods offer an opportunity for teachers and students to vary the classroom routine and to work together differently. When the Day 3, 12:35 bell rings, and Middle School students rush to common period, it might be educational – and probably fun –to tag along.
Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen visited Newark Academy and addressed the seventh grade with a presentation highlighting over 13 years of his service in the House of Representatives. He spoke about current issues such as the financial crisis and the state of Israel, as well as specific concerns of the Eleventh Congressional District, which he represents.
Frelinghuysen’s discussion was followed by a lively question-and-answer forum where seventh graders inquired about his position on hot topics such as Guantanamo Bay, the stimulus package, illegal immigration and the EPA’s Superfund program.
BY MARCIA WORTH-BAKER
From morning meeting in the Rose Auditorium to the Fitness Center, from the Interactive Learning Center to the Dining Room, Newark Academy students travel the halls all day every day. Often they pause to glance at the faces that smile out of the composite portraits, the senior class photos that line the walls. Some students find a beaming sibling or a parent; others pause to marvel at the fashions of past decades. But the eighth graders have learned to look closely at their predecessors, as those photos have become the focus of activities in both science and English classes.
Science teacher Brenda Start created a laboratory experience that she titles “CSI: NA.” Based on the popular television series, the experiment asks students to become crime scene investigators. Working in teams, students interview witnesses, take fingerprints and measurements, and try to narrow down the list of suspects. The short list of “suspects” includes Newark Academy adults, all of whom claim an alibi. The crime? The composite photo for the Newark Academy class of 1990 vanished, leaving a blank space on the brick wall in the hallway. While the school buzzed about who might have done it, and when it could have happened, eighth graders investigated.By analyzing evidence carefully, and eliminating suspects based on fingerprints, they determined that the culprit was none other than Health teacher Matt Gertler, himself a member of the class of 1990. “Projects like this allow students to apply what they are learning,” explains Start. “And it makes all of us more aware of our surroundings.”
The Writing’s on the Wall English classes travel the same hallways searching less for information and more for inspiration. One popular eighth grade writing prompt asks students to choose a former student at random – some studentsclose their eyes and point at a year – and to write the student’s life story from the day after the photo was taken. Another assignment asks students to choose a name from one year, a face from another, and to make that composite character the protagonist in a short story set in that decade. Alumni might be surprised to find themselves not only the main character of their own life stories, but alien hunters, explorers of distant planets, and doctor-inventors who save hundreds of lives with their inventions. While one objective of the assignment is to introduce a strategy real writers use – choosing names appropriate to the era in which a story is set – another aim is to remind the eighth graders of the world of possibility in which they live. As one student said, “I’m not just in eighth grade, I’m going to be on that wall someday as a future alum. I’m going to make my own story a good one.”
February 27-29, 2009
The Rose Auditorium was full of song, laughter and applause as the 1959 classic musical, Bye Bye Birdie, played to enthusiastic audiences. Director Scott Jacoby said, “All involved in this production, cast, crew, orchestra, faculty, staff and parents, shared a selfless commitment to excellence and worked together toward its achievement.” Student participation in Bye Bye Birdie included more than 50 cast members, a pit orchestra of 20 musicians and 15 stage crew members.
The 2009 winter sports season provided many highlights for all teams.
WRESTLING: For the fourth time in the last five years, the NA wrestling team has won an Essex County Wrestling Tournament (ECT) championship. Accolades to senior James McGann for winning the 130-pound championship. In those last five years, Newark Academy has won seven individual ECT championships, a remarkable effort for a school of our size. James McGann also won the 130-pound championship at the District 14 tournament held at Livingston High School on February 20-21. Brian Knierim ’10 finished third at this same meet, which qualified him for regionals.
BASKETBALL: The boys basketball team completed their season with a commendable 17-10 record. The boys reached the quarter-final round of the North II Non-Public B sectional championships. Their record included a victory over Pingry on February 18, which secured their fourth straight Colonial Hills Division Championship in this final year of the conference’s existence. The girls basketball team is presently sporting a record of 7-10. Although this is still a fairly young and inexperienced team, they have a great future ahead. With an undiminished spirit, they look forward to their goal of finishing this season at the .500 level.
SWIMMING: The boys swim team is sporting a stellar undefeated season to date and is gearing up to compete in the NJSIAA State Tournament. They are set to challenge Pope John, Sparta in their first-round opener on March 19. Good luck to all of our young men. Both the boys and girls swim teams qualified to compete in the Prep championships, where the boys finished a strong third and the girls a respectable sixth. A note of special recognition goes to Allie Swanson ’09, who broke her own school record in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:04.44. Congratulations Allie!
FENCING: The boys and girls fencing teams both competed hard at the Princeton Day School Prep Championships on February 18, with the boys team reigning victorious and securing the win! Our boys foil squad of Jesse Dashefsky, Robert Iverson, Andrew Carter and alternate Devon Amin has qualified for the Boys Squad States fencing championships on March 1. Congratulations and good luck gentlemen! Also, Andrew Carter and Anisha Mukherjee have qualified, in their respective foil class, for the individual state fencing championships to be held on March 14! Congratulations to both Andrew and Anisha.
1,000 POINTS
JUST TWO MINUTES INTO THE FEBRUARY 27 GAME AGAINST VERONA TO CLOSE OUT THE REGULAR SEASON, SENIOR ANDREW DELCOLLE REACHED THE 1,000-POINT PLATEAU. With this achievement, DelColle not only realized one of the ultimate goals in any fouryear career, but he also became the fifth member of the 2005-2006 Minutemen to achieve this milestone.
DelColle has earned a reputation as one of the best all-around basketball players this winter in the Colonial Hills Conference. His unlimited range and sharp accuracy have helped the Minutemen clinch the conference title for the fourth consecutive year, while compiling a commendable 17-10 overall record.
DelColle joins 10 other former NA players who scored at least 1,000 points: Eric Williams ’75, Rubin Sinins ’87, Tomas Zita ’93, Bobby Lynch ’99, Brad Greenman ’01, Donny Platner ’02, and former 2005-2006 teammates Danny Petrillo ’06, Mike Mahoney ’06, Ryan Keur ’08 and Mike Cutri ’08.
JOSEPHINE ALLOCCA (Science) traveled to London, Cambridge and Grantham, England, to visit sites related to Isaac Newton and other scientists such as Thomson, Rutherford and Faraday. The Royal Society, Westminster Abbey, Cambridge University and Woolsethorpe Manor (ancestral home of Isaac Newton) were some of the sites she visited last summer. The trip was very motivational, inspiring fresh ideas for her chemistry and physics classes. She is very grateful to Newark Academy for the sabbatical experience.
SAM GOLDFISCHER (Humanities) was recently invited to serve on the board of the National Business Officer’s Association’s (NBOA) Financial Officers. NBOA is the definitive professional resource and leading advocate for independent school business officers. Through programs, online tools, and research on emerging issues, NBOA helps to develop solutions for effective and sustainable operations in independent schools.
BETSY BARBATO LAPADULA (English) has enjoyed numerous personal and professional successes this year. In addition to marrying John LaPadula in December 2008, she was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in December and was selected to attend a prestigious poetry workshop in Key West with former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins in Januar y Betsy has also published a number of her literary works, including a poem in the anthology Eating Her Wedding Dress: A Collection of Clothing Poems, and a poem in Crannog, a publication in Galway, Ireland. Her chapbook, Elpenor Falls, is due out in August 2009 from Dancing Girl Press.
Betsy LaPadula with former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins
KATHLEEN SIGRIST (Admission) and her husband, Matt, are proud to announce the birth of their second daughter, Anna, on February 16. She joins big sister Katie (2).
JEFF VINIKOOR (Humanities) was recently accepted to Columbia University’s Klingenstein Center for Leadership Academy for a two-summer master’s degree program. The applicant pool for the Leadership Academy program is very competitive, with applications submitted by a diverse and experienced group of independent school educators from around the world.
February 21, 2009
The Park Avenue Club • Florham Park
The Newark Academy Parents Association honored Blackie Parlin’s 50th year of teaching at Newark Academy at their annual gala on February 21, 2009. Blackie is a beloved faculty member, alumni parent and alumni grandparent, and has spent his years of service at Newark Academy teaching by example how to live life with integrity.
Blackie joined Newark Academy in 1959 and quickly established himself as one of its leading faculty members. A distinguished U.S. historian and a world-class photographer, he has also taught myriad courses in humanities and served as assistant headmaster and dean of faculty. In addition to his teaching schedule, Blackie also serves as the school’s archivist. His years at the Academy have stretched from Newark to Livingston, from the all-male school of the ’60s to the co-ed campus of today.
Blackie’s legendary status at NA derives not only from the length of his tenure, but from his extraordinary teaching skills, his unmatched commitment to the school, his penetrating mind, the breadth of his interests and the depth of his concern for students and colleagues. He is truly Newark Academy’s “Renaissance Man.”
Congratulations to Blackie on a happy anniversaryat Newark Academy, and, moreover, congratulations to Newark Academy for the good fortune to have known and loved such a remarkable man for 50 years!
In the spring of 2000, Newark Academy was selected as one of only three independent schools in the United States to receive a $2-million endowment grant from the Malone Family Foundation. The endowment provides scholarship aid for students with outstanding academic achievements and extraordinary talents, but limited financial resources. The following fall, Odette Rodrigues ’05 became Newark Academy’s first Malone Scholar, and she is now set to graduate from Harvard University this spring.
Since the program’s inception, Newark Academy has designated one student each year to receive 50-to-100 percent funding in tuition aid for the duration of their career at the school. Six Malone scholars are currently enrolled at the school and five have graduated and are attending universities including Harvard and Stanford.
... Newark Academy is empowered to perpetually fund scholarships to motivated top students based on merit and financial need.
“We are overjoyed that the Malone Scholars Program has been such a huge success at Newark Academy,” said Cathie Wlaschin, Administrator for the Malone Family Foundation. “Newark Academy was among our first three independent school partners who were selected through a rigorous research process back in 2000, and it is truly rewarding to see its scholars succeed so admirably.”
In its current effort to broaden their geographic footprint to reach students throughout the country, the Foundation adds three top-level independent schools to the Malone Scholars family each spring. The Foundation’s long-term goal is to fund an endowment similar to Newark Academy’s in one school in each of the 50 states.
“It is an honor to have been chosen as one of the first schools to receive Malone funding, and it is truly a privilege to have the capability to offer students who are motivated to excel, but lack the resources to fund an education at Newark Academy, the means to do so,” said NA’s Head of School Don Austin.
Because the $2-million grant to create the Malone Scholars program is an endowed contribution, Newark Academy is empowered to perpetually fund scholarships to motivated top students based on merit and financial need. This program allows Newark Academy to enroll significantly more students whose financial situation requires scholarship aid.
“I can’t tell you how deeply the Malone Scholarship program has affected my life,” said Odette Rodrigues. “I am so grateful to the Malone Foundation and to Newark Academy for giving me the chance to truly fulfill my potential. They will never be able to know how much I appreciate their generosity.”
Since graduating from Newark Academy in 2005, Odette Rodrigues has thrived in the challenging atmosphere of Harvard University. An economics major with a secondary in Spanish, Odette’s classes included several in sociology and economics, social problems, Latin American economy, and everything ranging from an Islamic architecture class to happiness in Revolutionary America.
Outside of the classroom, Odette served as vice president and political-action chair of Fuerza Latina, the pan-American Latino organization on campus. (She credits this as her most memorable experience at Harvard.) Through Fuerza she became a member of Candela Hip-hop, a dance group and Latino business connection. She also ser ved as domestic
In June 2009, Newark Academy will graduate its sixth Malone Scholar, Andrew Binger. Andrew has enjoyed numerous successes at Newark Academy, and looks forward to continuing his education at the college level this fall.
While the financial circumstances in Andrew’s family were sometimes bleak, he never gave up hope that he would be the first member of his family to attend college. Thanks to the generosity of the Malone Family Foundation, Andrew came to Newark Academy in seventh grade, and is now stepping through the door toward his college career.
While at Newark Academy, Andrew literally found his voice. He is a member of NA’s select, all-male acapella group, Vigoroso Singers, and has always been a participant in the winter musicals and, more recently, the fall dramas. This year Andrew
policy forum leader at the Kennedy School of Government, as well as an analyst in consumer goods as a member of the Smart Woman Securities investment board, a student-run investment group.
In Odette’s rare free time, she worked as an assistant teacher in an ESL program called Harvard Bridge for Literacy and Learning, a worker education program open to all hourly employees and to members of the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers.
When Odette graduates from Harvard thisspring, she has a position waiting for her at Barclays Wealth in asset management.
Congratulations to Odette on her many achievements!
truly shone as rock star Conrad Birdie in the hit musical Bye Bye Birdie
Andrew’s raw talent coupled with his determination and dedication to the dramatic arts made him a prime candidate to work with the Middle School as a teaching assistant for the drama program. Three days each week Andrew prepared lessons and taught seventh and eighth grade students the finer points of acting. It is Andrew’s hope to continue acting in college as a major or minor, and his goal for a future profession is to teach.
“Perhaps the best thing about my Newark Academy experience has been growing into myself,” Andrew reflected. “To sum it up, what I really love about Newark Academy is how it is designed for students to find something they are passionate about, and then allows them the space, time and chance to explore it fully.”
Good luck to Andrew on his exciting future ahead!
After 10 years as Newark Academy’s Chairman of the Board of Trustees, William D. Green is stepping down from this leadership position and stepping forward to a new life in South Carolina. His retirement marks the end of an era for the Newark Academy community, and it is with a bittersweet sigh that we say a collective goodbye and wish him luck on his new roadahead. And, although Will has met our praise with good-natured eprimands in the past, we just couldn’t let him go without bidding him a fond farewell and touting his accomplishments one last time.
Will Green has supported Newark Academy with passion and dedication for more than 32 years. He graduated from NA in 1969 and began his ser vice to the school as an elected member of the Alumni Association’s Board of Gover nors in 1976. In 1982, he was invited to join the Academy’s Board of Trustees, and has served as its dynamic and influential chair since 1999. During his tenure, Newark Academy has experienced tremendous growth – in programs, enrollment, philanthropy, financial strength and academic reputation.
“Will’s legacy of wisdom, work, wealth, and wiring on behalf of Newark Academy is unmatched by any single individual in its storied 234-year history,” remarked fellow trustee Jeffrey J. Silverman ’82. “Will’s wisdom has ensured that the school’s mission – ‘to contribute to society thoughtful and compassionate citizens who embrace their responsibilities as ethical, intellectual, and civic stewards in the global environment’ – is known and supported by all those in leadership roles at NA. His work on behalf of this school is extraordinary. He has spent countless hours fundraising, in turn transforming the Academy’s campus and growing its endowment to unprecedented levels.”
As chairman, Will championed a new focus for the board, one that highlighted strategic planning and fundraising. Through his leadership, the Board of Trustees has provided direction and philosophy for the school, establishing the core
values and making sure they are effectively communicated to all constituencies. Moreover, the board has considered it a priority to ensure that the Academy has the facilities and the capabilities to achieve those core values. To this end lie two of Will’s greatest accomplishments: campus construction and endowment growth.
His most recent success exceeded expectations by surpassing the $20-million fundraising goal of Newark Academy’s “Light the Way” Endowment Campaign (an extraordinary accomplishment for a school that had an endowment of only $2 million just a decade ago). Will’s charismatic leadership was a key component in developing a strong volunteer base of alumni, parents and friends to drive the campaign and cultivate potential donors.
Even with these great accomplishments in mind, it is Will’s stanch dedication to supporting the faculty by which most members of this community will remember him. Enhancements in salary and benefits, professional development and immersion experiences through travel were some of Will’s top priorities.
“Will loves the faculty of Newark Academy and is in return beloved by them. He credits his teachers here for influencing and guiding his life, and feels a strong sense of urgency to give back to those who have given so much to him,” said Head of School Don Austin. “His face is as well known in the hallways and classrooms of the school as it is in the boardroom,
If you thought that Will’s tenure at Newark Academy couldn’t get any sweeter, then you should guess again. Will was recently selected as the recipient of the 2009 Seymour Preston Award by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). The Seymour Preston Award is presented annually to one independent school trustee who is selected from a national pool of applicants for his or her exceptional commitment and leadership in developing voluntary support for their institution.
A crystal award was presented to Will at the 38th Annual CASE Independent School Conference on January 11, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. Family, friends and esteemed colleagues, including Head of School Donald Austin and former Head of School Penney Riegelman, were in attendance for this momentous occasion.
CASE is one of the largest international associations of education institutions, serving nearly 3,400 universities, colleges and independent schools in 60 countries. It is the leading resource for professional development, information and standards in the fields of educational fundraising, communications and alumni relations.
and the faculty here can say that Will has literally touched their lives and changed it for the better.”
During Will’s tenure, an ad-hoc committee of the board of trustees was created to assess and enhance the faculty experience at Newark Academy. As a result of the committee’s work (which is now a standing committee of the board), the Academy has achieved top-tier status in salary and benefits, and its professional development program is without a peer in the New Jersey independent day school community. The crown jewel in the program is the summer sabbatical and mini-sabbatical component that encourages faculty members to submit proposals for travel experiences that support innovation in teaching.
Will’s fellow classmate, long-time friend and President of the Board of Gover nors Leo Gordon ’69 reflected, “Numerous campus improvements, substantial growth in the school’s endowment and the overall quality of the educational experience are all part of Will’s legacy. Yet, his greatest gift to Newark Academy is less tangible – and that gift is leadership. Will’s commitment to best practices in independent school governance has resulted in a balanced, effective, and trusting partnership between the Board of Trustees, the Head of School and the faculty. That partnership is built upon a simple philosophy that is used as a guide for all decision-making at Newark Academy and is oft repeated by Will himself: It’s all about the kids.”
Will Green has been a role model in his support for the school, affirming Newark Academy’s philosophy that great things can happen when a good mind is infor med by an even better heart. His loyalty, vision and exceptional generosity have made a deep impact on the school, and his easy sense of humor and spirited determination are respected throughout the Newark Academy community
The 2008-2009 school year marks Will’s final year as chair of the Newark Academy Board of Trustees, but his legacy will continue through the school’s strategic plan, which contains
two important components: striving to bring together the ideal student community, and recruiting and maintaining the most outstanding faculty. Additionally, the school will continue to further Will’s vision of developing a global perspective, increasing environmental awareness, and instilling community service and citizenship for years to come.
Newark Academy owes Will Green a debt of gratitude for his vast contributions to advancing the school and inspiring us to reach our goals and soar to new heights.
AS WILL SETTLES INTO LIFE IN CHARLESTON, South Carolina, he will continue to do what he loves most (no, not play golf!) –help young people achieve their potential.
Will’s longstanding work with the “I Have a Dream” Foundation began many years ago when he and his father organized a venture to shepherd 78 young, disadvantaged elementary school children in Florida through their school years. Sixty-eight of those children successfully completed high school, enabling them to receive full college tuition support.
Will and his wife, Barbara, are now establishing the “I Have a Dream” program on Daniel Island in North Carolina. Their “dream” is to empower selected children in this low-income community to achieve their “dreams” of higher education, and to assist them in acquiring the skills they need to succeed in college and beyond.
In an earlier column I described Art Nelke’s story of a family trip in Spain during which a deceased aunt had to be strapped to the car to be carried to proper authorities. Arthur M. Pittis e-mailed his recollection of the Nelke story:
It appears probable that the NA-Pingry football rivalry ended with last fall’s contest. New conference alignments will preclude a continuation of this long rivalry. Our records, sparse as they are, note that NA was victorious in 1894 by 36-0, again in 1895 by 26-6, again in 1896, 16-14. I am too committed to NA to report the 1897 score. The February 1899 Polymnian refers to the 1898 team as a source of “great disappointment (and) chagrin.”
The 1894 game was not NA’s first football game. TheNewark Sunday Call, October 17, 1886, reported a 10-6 victory of NA over the Brick Church team on the East Orange grounds.
Now, I am going to vent here a great source of annoyance that I have. Who was it that said that MKA is our big rival? No. It’s Pingry. NA blood should boil at the mention.
Those who attended NA on First Street in Newark will understand. We had one pitiful athletic field which was either dust or quagmire. At the end of the summer one or two scraggly weeds would come forth, but within days of the start of football all would be dead. Then we’d go over to Hillside to play Pingry. The grounds were spacious and green. The football field had actual grass. We’d have to explainto the NA team what they were seeing. (Pingry even had a grounds crew.) The sense of inferiority cultivated by the grounds was exacerbated by the snubs we received from the fans.
Since those pre-1964 days, there have been many games of sweet revenge by NA. It is sad that a grand rivalry has ended.
“I am a graduate of the Class of 1969 and have a partial answer for Mr. Parlin about Mr. Nelke’s macabre journey with the corpse in Spain. Mr. Nelke told us the story back in 8th grade ancient history or maybe 9th grade English history; it must have been the ’65-66 or ’66-67 school year. Having received an excellent education at NA, I am left with a very vivid impression of that piece of micro-history.
The way I remember it is: The family had to strap the dead woman to the fender, not the roof of the car, but so what. Each time they passed through a village, the local authorities (and this was in Franco times) would stop them and put them through some pretty stiff questioning. No one seemed to call ahead, so they had to go through the questioning time after time, and each time all the villagers flocked out to see this most extraordinary sight of a dead American tourist strapped to a car. We boys figured the trip must have been in the summer, and that it must have been pretty hot, leading to the dead woman’s smelling pretty ripe pretty soon. It all made sense, of course. Why should the authorities need to phone ahead, even if they had a phone? If the wind was behind the car everyone would know they were coming.
Mr. Nelke told the story in the most captivating manner; and just like he told history, he gave it wonderful dramatic pauses with puffs on his ever present pipe (teachers smoked in the classroom back in the mid-’60s). It was as exciting as the beheading (and) the pouring gold down the throat of that greedy third member of the triumvirate. Now whatever was his name?”
My recollection is that Arthur was responsible for one of the grand, hyperbolic accounts of student life. Arthur, as I remember it, was on an Outward Bound expedition in Maine in which each student spent 24 hours solo on an isolated island off the coast. Arthur searched his island carefully and could find no shelter, no vegetation, no food. But he was within shouting distance of another Outward Bound isolate on another island who communicated to Arthur that his island was a veritable cornucopia of luscious, ripe strawberries.
No exaggeration, Arthur, the straight story. Is this accurate?
We’ve come up with a few questions –through the decades – to get you thinking about your days at Newark Academy. We hope you enjoy the memories they conjure up, and the old friends and classmates they bring to mind. Answers to the questions appear on page 40 (no peeking!). So test your knowledge, have some fun, and learn more about NA in the process!
1 What was the nickname given to Headmaster Farrand because of his ability to sneak up silently behind students?
2 Name one year during the ’30s and one year in the ’40s when the NA football team was undefeated.
3 What did Mr. Hampton throw at students for minor transgressions...what did he throw for major ones?
4 Who rolled a bowling ball down the aisle during morning chapel?
5 Name Miss Drucker’s signature dessert.
6 Who played Herbert in Big Hearted Herbert?
7 Who taught declamation?
8 In the 1948 Class Prophecy, who was the Governor of New Jersey?
9 Which Minuteman editor in the
1 Pictures of which two iconic pop stars decorated the Academy’sChristmas tree in 1959?
2 How were the most serious student transgressions punished?
3 Who were the “Four Horsemen” of the 1961 NA football team?
4 What was the name of NA’s first rock ’n’roll musical group organized by the members of the Guitar Club in 1965?
5 Which NA music teacher became the renowned general director of both the Houston and San Francisco operas?
6 What was the quotation in Coach Hendrickson’s office?
7 Who were the intramural football champs of 1958...w hat was their team name?
8 Who starred as Finian in NA’s production of Finian’s Rainbow in 1969?...name other cast members.
9 Who was known as the “Wonder Boy” on the 1965 basketball team...h w many points did he score that season?
bk Who was president of the Student Council and editor of the Minuteman in 1956? 1950 s AND
Last spring, NA’s alumni relations office invited graduates from the years 1933 to 1962 – those who attended the school when it was an all-boys academy located on First Street in Newark – to share their reflections of Newark Academy’s storied past. Here are a few citations highlighting how the notorious characters, revered teachers and comedic pranksters of Newark Academy’s First Street days are remembered.
...It was a 12-hour day for me traveling by train and bus, and walking to and from school. That was travel education. Then there were the two-to-three hours of homework. A great mid-day meal was the break of the day. For four years after classes I was on football, basketball and baseball teams. An empty swimming pool in the two-story building reminded us of depression-era budgets. Then, a moment of glory took place in 1937 when the undefeated football team won the State Class 4 Championship!
Dr. Farrand, the headmaster, earned his nickname, Pussy, when he silently appeared looking over my shoulder one day when writing at my second form desk. His white walrus mustache was an ancient connection with history.
He was born before the Civil War, almost a century after the start of Newark Academy in 1774.
Mr. Mattoon sat on a platform for his observation in the third-to-fifth form study hall. After returning from chapel, he would sound out ten words, which every student wrote on paper. The sheets were returned and errors were corrected from our dictionaries, and thus we learned spelling. It became a lifelong love of definitions and words for me.
Mr. Mattoon also corrected throwing paper airplanes.
The basic education was respect for duty. The entire four years was a rigorous, great experience.
...My upper intermediate year was under Mr. Hampton, remembered as prone to throwing chalk for minor transgressions – and dictionaries for major ones! Fortunately, our desks and seats were of one-piece construction; the desk part had a built-in glass inkwell in the fixed upper right corner and a tilted hinged writing surface with a place for book storage beneath. At signs of a barrage, all lids hinged up, with students crouched behind!
Everyone’s day began with a short chapel service in the auditorium with hymns accompanied on the piano by Mr. Scammon. Mr. Mattoon led with Old Testament readings by Mr. Davis. Announcements were made by the headmaster. My cousin, George Knecht, who preceded me at the High Street location, got in trouble for rolling a bowling ball down the aisle during morning chapel! In remembrance, my working knowledge of both favorite hymns and the Old Testament came from morning chapel
rather than attendance at Sunday school.
We all ate lunch in the basement cafeteria operated under the supervision of Miss Drucker, a white-haired, uniformed dietician. I have fond memories of her prune whip dessert. After lunch, there were snacks to be bought under the stairwell to the basement, and in winter or in bad weather, table tennis was played in the basement rec room.
There were, of course, many schoolboy pranks over the years. Each spring for about three days – or until the water pistols were either confiscated or hidden – there were water fights augmented by water-filled balloons dropped from upper windows upon the unsuspecting below. At the start of school, inkwells were left on desktops to flood when lifted. And somehow John R. Harden was imprisoned in his wall locker; his attempts to free himself brought George Pearson, the Latin master, to his aid.
...From the lower school I progressed each year through the intermediate and upper forms where Mrs. Lynham taught us arithmetic. I remember her as a tough disciplinarian and having a strict attitude, yet a strongly winning respect and a motivating pedagogical technique. She was addressed with a combination of fear and affection.
The most humorous incident I recall is when in cold winter months we discovered what we presumed were butterfly cocoons. We took them back to the classroom and hid them in the heaters. Months later when we walked into our classroom, several walls appeared gray when they had been white the previous day. Closer inspection disclosed that the walls were covered and coated with tiny newly liberated praying mantises! We laughed at our poor teacher who tried to remove them, and reminded him that they were a protected species and that heavy fines could be imposed for harming them.
The culture of the City of Newark was ideal. Police were friendly and helpful; the citizens were polite and affable. You walked the streets, rode the buses or trolley cars without fear. There were parks with ice-skating, rowing, softball; movies and restaurants were an extraordinary treat. You could ride your bike fearlessly to a friend’s house – and there were lots of friends! It was a wonderful place and a wonderful time to live. The war was on, but no one was afraid. Bomb drills and soldiers were common. Food and gas rationing were annoying, but little encroachment on our lives. My father and uncle were fighting in Europe, but I received V-mail and got defense and war bonds for birthday presents.
Newark Academy impacted my life very favorably. It gave me a love of learning and a needed discipline; it provided a fund of knowledge, giving me pride and inspiration to learn more.
...My first homeroom teacher was Mrs. Catherine Lynham. Her enthusiastic welcome on my first day more than offset the cool reception my classmates gave this mid-term new boy. She was truly an outstanding teacher and a no-nonsense disciplinarian; but at the same time – with her white hair and engaging smile – she was a warm-hearted, almost grandmotherly, woman. A dynamo of energy and enthusiasm, she – along with her teaching duties and her long daily commute from New York City – devoted additional time to coach the midget football team!
Mrs. Lynham started almost every school day with a rapid-fire math exercise such as, “Nine times six, divided by two, plus eight, divided by five, times twelve, divided by six… answer, anyone?” It was weeks before I would be the first to come up with an answer, but unfortunately, all it resulted in was a, “Close, Edward, but no cigar.”
Each day began with a chapel service, which was held in the school’s large auditorium. Attendance was mandatory. The auditorium’s main floor was filled with row upon curved row of fold-down chairs – each having a rack hymnal on its back – sloping downward toward the stage. On the stage in front of a closed maroon curtain were a lectern and four captain’s chairs, two of which were always occupied by the headmaster and the venerable Albert T. Davis who taught public speaking and served as the librarian.
Chapel began with the headmaster’s greeting and his announcement of the number of the opening hymn.
Then the entire student body would rise and sing, accompanied on the piano by the music director, Mr. Nelke. Following the hymn and after we were seated again, Mr. Davis would deliver a prayer – noteworthy for the fact that each of his morning prayers was original. Never, in the memory of any student, was one repeated.
After the prayer and a few announcements by the headmaster about such things as that day’s sports event or meeting of organizations like the drama club or the student council, the students sang a closing hymn and filed out to return to their homerooms before heading out to their classes.
From my first autumn there, when I went out for the light J.V. football team, it was obvious that sports would be an intrinsic part of my Newark Academy experience. Then there was the ultimate joy of making the varsity football team and playing under legendary Russ Monica, who was not only a revered coach, but, to many of us who played for him, a friend and advisor long after our Academy days were over...
And... I was selected to go down to Princeton early to try out for the freshman football team. On the first day of contact, the coach humorously chided me for appearing so frequently at the head of the line in a blocking drill. “What school did you go to?” he asked. “Newark Academy, sir,” I replied. “Ah,” he said turning to one of his assistants. “That figures... one of Monica’s players.”
Then addressing me again, he said, “Keep up the good work, son.”
1 What was the first play produced in the auditorium at the Livingston campus, and in what year?
2 Who played J. Pierpont Finch in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, went on to do Listerine commercials on television, and was in the cast of the first Police Academy movie?
3 Which French teacher and former Radio City Music Hall Rockette choreographed variety shows and musicals in the ’60s and ’70s?
4 Who played the role of Charlie Davenport in Annie Get Your Gun and later played the same role on Broadway?
5 Who was the director of athletics who played a cigar-smoking God in the first act finale production number in a variety show?
Submitted by Hampton P. Abney
6 Which faculty father and senior son played Adam and Eve in the first act finale production number in a variety show?
7 What was the first musical produced at NA and in what year?
8 Which faculty member and former Olympic fencer danced a role in a senior boy/faculty ballet spoof entitled Brawn Lake?
9 Which baritone sang solos in several variety shows, played the role of Curly in Oklahoma!, went on to sing at radio City Music Hall, and was in the Los Angeles production of Les Miserables?
bk Who is the athlete/singer who had to relinquish the male lead role in Finian’s Rainbow because his nose was crushed in a basketball game?
1 Who was the commencement speaker at the 1974 graduation...and at the 1980 graduation?
2 Where did the Class of 1976 spend their “Senior Day?”
3 What was Joe Borlo’s signature phrase in his German classes in the mid-’70s?
4 Was Jockie Himmelstein a staff member, a faculty member or a coach?
5 What year did the Stanley Cone tournament start?
6 Who holds the most NA swimming records?
7 Who was the headmaster between Dr. Bradford and Dr. Strand and how long did he serve?
8 Who were the “Blues Brothers” of 1985?
9 When Bruce Goddin was soccer coach, two of his players got lost on the way to an away game...Name them and the team they were on their way to play.
bk NA had its first girls soccer team in what year?
1970 s AND 1980 s
1 Which varsity team “borrowed” the school’s canoe?
2 Which famous pop singer was rumored to have applied to Newark Academy?
3 Name all four members of the record-holding 400 freestyle girls relay team.
4 What did Penney Riegelman give to Blackie Parlin in honor of his 40th year?
5 Who were Homecoming King and Queen in 1991...who were the Junior King and Queen at Homecoming 2004?
6 Which esteemed faculty member had an unwavering passion for frogs?
7 How many members of the Class of 2003 were lifers?
8 In what year was the wrestling team Parochial B Division State Champs?
9 Who taught you to drive?
bk Which administrators “outpranked” the Class of 2002?
Connectivity is the priority for the Board of Governors. Our efforts center on connecting alumni to alumni, alumni to Newark Academy, and Newark Academy to alumni.
Foremost in these efforts is the creation of networking and mentoring opportunities for alumni as many navigate the turbulent business and professional job markets. We held our inaugural networking event in New York City where more than 85 alumni came together to share experiences, ideas, and opportunities. The Board of Governors will be expanding its networking activities over the next several months.
In the coming year, the Board of Governors looks forward to seeing you at alumni events, renewing old friendships, and communicating with you about interesting developments at the Academy
Leo M. Gordon ’69, PresidentBOSTON — Azure November 13, 2008
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Monocle January 29, 2009
November 29, 2008
Next Year: Saturday, November 28, 2009
Are you an author? ... Newark Academy is hosting a “Meet the Authors” event during Homecoming. If you are interested in participating, contact Nancy McGaughan, director of alumni relations, at 973.992.7000, ext. 367 or e-mail nmcgaughan@newarka.edu.
Visit the NA alumni page at www.newarka.edu for more information about these and other upcoming events!
Be a part of this milestone event, and come out and play with your friends, business associates and NA classmates. All proceeds from the event go to the Alumni Fund for Faculty which provides assistance to the beloved NA faculty for education and professional development. It’s a great day for a great cause!
To register for the event or to become an event sponsor, please contact Nancy McGaughan at 973.992.7000, ext. 367 or e-mail nmcgaughan@newarka.edu.
THURSDAY,JANUARY 8, 2009
The next Networking Night in New York • June 4, 2009
Brian Zucker ’84 Managing Director, Deutsche Bank
Matt Miller ’99
Producer and Content Manager, IMG
Beth Rasin ’75 Attorney and Executive Director, PowerPlay NYC
Nihal Mehta ’95 CEO, buzzd
Stacey Bradford ’89 Associate Editor, Smartmoney.com
Newark Academy alumni spanning five decades came out to The Penn Club in New York City for the first NA Networking Night on January 8.
The evening began with a panel discussion featuring advice and personal career history from five distinguished alumni:
After listening to the panelists’ interesting stories and sound career advice, alumni were free to network and connect with their fellow NAers. For those just starting out, it was a wonderful opportunity to speak with experienced professionals and to connect with people with whom they share a common bond. For older alums, it was a great chance to see the wonderfully talented and engaging people Newark Academy is graduating today. Everyone agreed the evening was a tremendous success, and we look forward to more networking events every year.
Economic headlines may not be painting a very pretty picture lately, but Newark Academy alumni have found a ray of hope and a positive outlook in Henry Lesher ’62.
As a leading career coach and founder of Career Advancement Services, Henry has reconnected with NewarkAcademy to reach out and assist the alumni community in these times of uncertainty. With more than 30 years of experience in career coaching and outplacement, he brings new life to career advancement, networking and navigating the job market.
Henry earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Upsala College and has worked in many different capacities and in many different levels of senior management as executive vice president and CEO in companies such as Mainstream Access, Merrill-Adams, National Religious Broadcasters, Career Advancement Systems and Henry M. Lesher Realtors. Among other roles, he has represented a broadcasting trade association in fighting to expand freedom of speech for broadcasters and increase revenue and membership in trade associations. He also participated in the founding of the Employment
Throughout his business life, Henry looked at the people he was working with and realized that a positive self-image was just as essential to success as ability or experience. With a belief in oneself, Henry believed, people could advance themselves and find the jobs that truly satisfied and challenged them. He created Career Advancement Services to address these issues and to make career advancement a proactive process for those seeking new or better jobs. His formula of self-assessment coupled with personal marketing proved to
Henry Lesher ’62
be extremely successful. In recent years, Henry has directed major outplacement and downsizing projects for several major companies and has an excellent track record, placing 90 percent of these displaced employees in record time.
What makes Henry Lesher stand out from others is the philosophy that guides his company and his life. He believes deeply in the value of each individual and in their ability to change personal dissatisfaction into dynamic new opportunities. For Henry, success is a choice one makes, and he firmly believes that no one’s past should dictate their future. He goes on to saythe greatest tragedy and cause for personal dissatisfaction is the choice not to compete. He focuses on the marketable aspects of an individual’s work history and develops both immediate and future goals, creating objectives and salary expectations for the job search or campaign. Henry believes strongly that interviewing, negotiating and selecting the right prospective employer is integral to any successful career search, and that each individual must market himself as the “creative solution” to a potential employer ’s needs, whether they are seeking an executive or entry level position.
He believes deeply in the value of each individual and in their ability to change personal dissatisfaction into dynamic new opportunities.
The passion Henry feels for his work is immediately evident in his enthusiastic delivery and presence. He is a man who believes in the power of each of us to shape our own destiny, and to live a life that includes a fulfilling career. He
challenges people to really look at the decisions they have made and to analyze the reasons behind those choices and then move forward in a new and more satisfying direction. We are all deserving of success, according to Henry; when that belief is internalized the result is assured. An organized job search action plan will do the rest!
Although Henry ended up transferring from Newark Academy after his tenth grade year, he credits the education he received at the Academy during his primary years as preparing him not only for college, but for the rest of his life. He has very fond memories of Catherine Lynham and Headmaster Butler, and he looks back wistfully at his decision to leave NA for boarding school. The opportunity to get reconnected with the
community which had meant so much to him presented itself in the NA Networking Night, held in January 2009, where he met and talked with so many outstanding alumni. Helping them is one way Henry feels he can repay the school which nurtured and educated him during his formative years, and he is confident that the Newark Academy alumni community is extremely qualified to excel in any job market.
There are hard times ahead and the employment situation may even get worse before it gets better, but there are jobs and opportunities to be had if you believe in yourself and are prepared to go after them. Last but not least, Henry would like alumni to know that nine out of ten in our work force are employed, not the reverse. Any of us who can demonstrate to a potential employer that they can either add revenue, save them money or solve a problem will find a receptive audience – and remember, new jobs open each and every day.
Don’t miss the next NA Networking Night on June 4, 2009 with featured speaker, Henry Lesher ’62. For more details, check the website, the Newark Academy alumni Facebook page, the alumni online newsletter and your mailbox!
ith more than 12 years experience in marketing technologies through three successful startups to date, Nihal Mehta ’95, currently co-founder and CEO of buzzd, Inc., is a noted expert in the emerging Gen X/Gen Y adoption of wireless technologies for media properties and consumer brands.
Nihal, who graduated from the University of Pennsylvania ready to begin work at Goldman Sachs, launched his first start-up company with his college roommate after being inspired by his parents’ entrepreneurial spirit, and by the frenzied dot.com atmosphere of the late ’90s. The result was the founding of Urban Groove Networks, Inc. (UGN) in 1998. Nihal helped the company to grow into one of the largest networks of youth- oriented, independent city guides online.
Constantly seeking new technologies and innovations to reach out to young audiences, Nihal spun out a new company from UGN in 2001 to pursue what he felt was an emerging sector: youth interaction through SMS (short messages). This venture evolved into “ipsh!” (which stands for “instant power single-handed”) and was originally created as a service that allowed event managers to selectively summon individuals based upon their preferences, location and area code. This service quickly achieved cult status, and was widely recognized as an effective marketing tool to mobilize young people and alert them to events that occurred after the official closing of traditional establishments such as concert halls, bars and nightclubs.
Today, ipsh! maintains a strong standing as the U.S. leader in mobile marketing with over 2,000 total mobile marketing/
advertising campaigns implemented since its inception in June of 2001. R anging in brands from Madonna to Budweiser, the firm has transformed lifestyle marketing through offline/online youth events into a multi-million dollar, full-service mobile marketing agency. Nihal grew the company from his bedroom to more than 40 employees today, and sold the cutting edge mobile marketing agency to Omnicom Group, Inc. in October 2005, making Nihal the youngest CEO within Omnicom Group until, of course, he felt the “itch” to start something new.
His company, “buzzd” (http://www.buzzd.com), represents Nihal’s latest innovation, and sprang from his desire to “always know what was going on.” Combining the business-to-consumer lifestyle brand of UrbanGroove with the mobile usability and knowledge learned at ipsh!, buzzd is a location-sensitive city guide and social network on the mobile device.
“Your city, in real time,” buzzd allows people to know what’s happening at any venue right now, to rate events and
to connect with friends and people in their area. The company which is based in Tribeca, New York, had their U.S. launch in February 2008 followed by Asian and Indian premieres. It already has about 4 million users monthly across the globe with plans to grow into a true mobile global community.
Nihal’s work has earned him distinction as one of AdAge’s Top 20 Marketers in their 20s as well as profiles in The Hollywood Reporter, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, The Financial Times, and Tech-TV, among others. He frequently speaks at numerous marketing and advertising conferences, such as Ad-Tech, CTIA, 3GSM (Barcelona), Billboard’s MECCA, the Mobile Marketing Association, and Kellogg’s School of Business and Future-M at UC Berkeley. In April 2006, Nihal was awarded the National Association of Minority Media Executives’ (NAMME) Catalyst Award for New Media, which recognizes and encourages the contributions of individuals whose actions and leadership have advanced diversity in the media industry. In August 2006, he joined the prestigious group of Madison Avenue’s Who’s Who, and in November 2006, BusinessWeek named him one of ten “New M-Commerce Barons.”
Nihal credits his many successes to a lot of hard work and to the belief that there is a whole other world out there just waiting to be created.
Nihal credits his many successes to a lot of hard work and to the belief that there is a whole other world out there just waiting to be created. He fondly remembers his teachers at NA encouraging this belief, and especially recalls Mr. Borlo, Mr. Blaskopf and Mr. Ball who taught that anything was possible through hard work and ambition. He firmly believes that with a good vision and real determination you can control your own destiny, and that being afraid of failure should never stop you from trying something new.
“What’s the worst that can happen? You fail, and then you try again.”
1. Pussy
2. 1931, 1937
3. Chalk...Dictionaries
4. George Knecht ’28
5. Prune whip
6. Duke Noyes ’37
7. Albert T. Davis
8. Bob Hogg ’48
9. Robert Lentz ’47
10. Albert T. Davis; “America the Beautiful”
1. Elvis Presley and Ricky Nelson
2. Saturday detention
3. Class of’62: Pat Ciccone, Ralph Pellechia, Whitney Russell, Mickey Yeager
4. The Rejects
5. David Gockley
6. “I don’t care how much you know until I know how much you care.”
7. R. Lowenstein ’60, R. Moscowitz ’58, R. Christiansen ’60, M. Horn ’58,
R. Soare ’59, N. Schott ’60 and J. D’Angelo ’59. The Packers.
8. Arthur Pittis ’69
9. Steve Kaplan ’65; 300
10. Mark Krupnick
Drama Club
1. My Three Angels, 1965
2. Brant von Hoffman ’72
3. Mary Burg
4. Peter Slutsker ’76 (professional name: Peter Marx)
5. Robert Hendrickson
6. Bruce Goddin and son Scott ’74
7. Oklahoma!, 1968
8. Gerry Cetrulo ’59
9. Wayne Scherzer ’68
10. Jeff Gerhold ’69
1970s and 1980s
1. Brendan Byrne...Vincent Price
2. Breakneck Ridge
3. Schnellar, fellar!
4. None of the above. There is no employment record for Jockie Himmelstein on file.
5. 1984
6. Chris Jacobs ’83 (a free-style swimmer who garnered 3 medals at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea)
7. David Stokes. He served for six months.
8. David Lichterman ’85 and Mark Hinson ’85
9. Rich Perl ’71 and Dave Richards ’71
10. 1987
1990s and 2000s
1. Ice Hockey, 1999
2. Britney Spears
3. Kilcullen ’06, Scala ’08, Macrides ’06, Swanson ’09
4. A Farmall Cub tractor
5. Matt Miller ’92 and Tina Alzadon ’92; Mattie and Dickie Redmond ’06
6. Hampton Abney
7. 21
8. 1997
9. Jeff Kacur
10. DiBianca and Ashburn
Newark Academy alumni and their families are invited back for Homecoming and Reunion on Saturday, October 17, 2009. Come for a day of NA sports and a schoolwide tailgate party with music, food, fun and family friendly activities. Then join us in the evening for the Alumni Award Ceremony and Reunion Dinner in The Simon Family Field House.
Celebrate the achievements of our 2009 Alumni Award Honorees
Fulton McArthur Award
John Rubinstein ’64
Alumni Achievement Award
Susan Cohen Panullo ’79
Michael Ravin ’74
Athletic Hall of Fame
Jerry (Royal) Davis ’46
Heather Poole ’99
Distinguished Faculty
Raymond Cruitt
Class representatives for Reunion years can be found in the class notes section or on the alumni page of the NA website at www.newarka.edu. For more information, please contact Nancy McGaughan, (973) 992-7000, ext. 367; nmcgaughan@newarka.edu
With the opening of the new Visitor Center at the U.S. Capitol Building and the recent additions to the Kislak Collection exhibit at the Library of Congress, visitors in record numbers are enjoying Exploring the Early Americas, featuring rare maps, documents and art donated to the library by Jay Kislak Like the Kislak Collection, the permanent exhibit offers glimpses into the complex story of early American history and culture. On April 29, 2009, the Library of Congress presented the annual Kislak Lecture, delivered this year by Yale professor and archaeologist Michael D. Coe. In addition to the exhibit and lecture, Jay Kislak’s gift to the nation is supporting an ongoing program of research and public programs. http://myloc.gov/Exhibitions/Early Americas/Pages/Overview.aspx
Jerome Bess is very impressed with the quality of Newark Academy’s Outreach magazine. After spending 40 years in the advertising business in New York City, Jerome moved to Arizona. He spent one year enjoying golf and the sun before starting a magazine with a friend, Native Peoples. It is still going strong so Jerome appreciates the work and expense associated with producing Outreach.
Bob Crecca wrote that it would be “great if ’42 remnants would check in with a short note.” He is living in a retirement community in Mystic, Connecticut, after 51 years in California. He moved back East so his wife could see her family more often.
1944
Go to www.navy-wwii-memoir.com to learn more about Edward Atkins’ book, Flight Deck: A Pictorial Essay of a Day in the Life of an Airdale.
Ted Hagios is still on the New Jersey Colonial History lecture tour with one slight variation. When the Hindenburg crashed in 1938, one third of the passengers survived. The last survivor died last year. Now it has come to light that Ted is one of a handful of people left who can honestly say he was a guest of the skipper, Dr. Hugo von Eckner, a few flights before the tragedy. Von Eckner was a friend of Ted’s father and personally escorted Ted through the ship.
When Ted entered the Navy in 1946 he was sent to the naval weather school in Lakehurst, followed by 16 months of ser vice in the wester n Pacific as the lead
man in a five-man weather crew. Ted travelled to 16 battlefields, including Guam, Pearl, Saipan and Wake. What an experience for an 18 year-old from a farm!
1946
Richard Grimley has nothing new to report other than the enjoyment of living in Florida, especially in the winter!
Donald Holtzman’s grandson, Gregory Holtzman, is currently a senior at Newark Academy and will graduate in June 2009.
1949
60TH REUNION
Ken Baum (301) 946-4831
John Pannullo reports that life is good in the Brunswick Islands of North Carolina. He manages to stay active walking with his chocolate lab, writing for the community newsletter and volunteering with an animal rescue group and the Republican Party. He and his wife hosted a fundraiser in their home during the last election with Bob Dole as their special guest.
Having worked with NASA since 1997 and chairing the Bone Research Team for the National Space Biomedical Research Institute, Jay Shapiro had his research protocol involving medication to
Commencement • June 14, 2009
W Whhoo:NA graduates of 50 years or more!
W Whhaatt: : Special recognition at Commencement
W Whheenn: : 11:00 a.m. – A reception for you and your families
12:15 p.m. – A presentation of commemorative medallions
12:30 p.m.– Academic robing
1:00 p.m. – Commencement exercises
W Whheerree: : The Eberstadt Room at Newark Academy
Newark Mayor Cory Booker will deliver the Commencement address.
For more information about this exciting new tradition, please contact Director of Alumni Relations
Nancy McGaughan at (973) 992-7000, ext. 367.
decrease bone loss tested on the February 2009 shuttle launch. In six months he will see how it all worked out. He sends his regards to classmates.
1950
Bill Housh is 77 years old and his wife, Margot, is 80. Unfortunately, he reports, “We are big users of Medicare.”
1951
Mercer Blanchard stays busy volunteering at the Maine Maritime Museum which celebrates the history of ship building in Maine from 1607 through the present. He is also president of his class at Williams College and a member of the executive committee of their Society of Alumni.
George Gering entered NA in 1944 in the upper primary class with DelTufo, Ginsberg, Parkinson and Muer. Their teacher was Mrs. Blakesly. George has two daughters
who graduated from Newark Academy, Linda Kreisberg ’77 and Margery Feinberg ’78. His grandson, Louis Feinberg, graduated in 2008, and grandson Nathan Feinberg is a current NA student. Nate is keeping an eye on his grandfather’s class picture as it slowly moves down the hall toward the men’s room.
Bill Van Winkle and his wife, Beverly, of Little Silver, New Jersey, enjoyed two weeks on their lobster yacht, Prime Time, last August visiting Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Cape Cod, Block Island, Shelter Island and Essex, Connecticut. They followed that trip with two weeks in Portugal and Spain in early September. A highlight was a visit to Fatima in Portugal where worshippers crawl on stone a long way to the shrine in fulfillment of their “commitments.”
The Flamenco dancers in Spain were also fantastic.
1954
55TH REUNION
Henri Gordon (512) 476-0900
1956
Michael Shusteroff wrote to tell us of the passing of his dear friend and classmate Mark Krupnick He wrote: “Mark was one of the smartest students to graduate from the ‘old school.’ He was also a member of the varsity basketball team and editor of the school newspaper.” Mark, a University of Chicago professor, was considered to be one of the nation’s leading scholars of Jewish-American intellectual life. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Har vard in 1962, and earned an M.A. and Ph.D. from Brandeis University.
1957
Ted Sabarese lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he is in the restaurant business.
1958
John (Barr y) Phelan invites anyone who knows him to contact him. He would love to hear from you.
1959
50TH REUNION
Doug Slade Dslade542@aol.com
Bob Heyer is a member of the Joint Strike Fighter Program Airframe and Manufacturing Team building the F-35 family of aircraft for the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force and eight partner nations. He is coordinating four robotic drilling cell projects for the program office. Bob is also
still coaching boy’s soccer and serves as a referee adult to youth soccer games. To date, he has refereed more than 3,000 games.
Don Knight and his wife, Suanne, have been living a very hectic life since July 2008. Their home in Flanders, New Jersey, is on the market and they have completed construction on their new vacation/ retirement home in Palm Coast, Florida. After all the dust settles, Don will report on their children and 11 grandchildren.
George Gamba has been retired from dentistry since 2000. He now devotes his time to classical piano, art, sculpture and trick water skiing. He married for the first time in June 2008.
1962
Bud D’Avella reports that he and his wife are the proud grandparents of Bernard J. D’Avella IV (Ben), born on February 24. They also plan to take an African safari this fall with Ken Fischer and his wife, continuing their trek around the world.
Henr y Lesher has written a book with a very talented co-author titled The Insider’s Guide to Finding Great Jobs in TOUGH Times.
Ralph Rosamilia has been named chairman and chief executive officer
of Chatham Wealth Management in Chatham, New Jersey. They are a privately owned investment management firm which caters to more than 80 clients in the United States. Their clients include both individuals and pension plans. Both Ralph and Bud D’Avella became first time grandfathers this year. Ralph’s grandson, Scott J. Readlinger, was born in November
Richard Thaler appeared on the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer on PBS in October 2008 as an expert on economics. Dick is now a professor at the University of Chicago, and has written several articles in scholarly journals. He has also authored three books: Quasi-rationalEconomics, The Winner’s Curse: Paradoxes and Anomalies of EconomicLife, and Advances in Behavioral Finances.
1964
45TH REUNION
Michael Yogg
Michael_Yogg@putnam.com
Bob Flaws and his wife had two great weeks hiking in Bhutan last October. He returned to the United States to direct a large conference within his industry (acupuncture/ Chinese medicine) in San Diego where he announced his retirement from teaching both in the United States/Canada and in Europe. Previously, Bob was away from home
typically two weekends per month and is happy to be removingthat stress from his life. In June, he and his wife will be spending nearly three weeks in Mongolia riding horses. They will also be stopping off in Seoul, South Korea, to see their son who teaches English there. Otherwise, Bob continues to put in 30-hour weeks in the research and development and editorial departments of their company, Blue Poppy Enterprises, Inc. Although he still enjoys riding and building motorcycles, his main interest for the past 40 years is practicing Tibetan Buddhism.
1966
Ron Leir completed 37 years as a reporter at the Jersey Journal in Jersey City in February 2009 and plans to continue indefinitely as long as his brain and computer stay active. He will also continue to act on small stages in New Jersey.
Jeffrey Rubinstein was once again named a “Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers magazine.
1969
40TH REUNION
John Bess jhbess@msn.com
Leo Gordon Gordon43b@aol.com
Paul Bontempo is the co-founder and partner in MBI-GluckShaw,
A. Martin Krementz, Jr. ’27
January 30, 2009
Robert Krum ’39
October 2008
William V. Irvine, Jr. ’41
October 7, 2008
Robert Tankoos ’42
November 25, 2008
James Ogg ’48
June 16, 2008
Edsall Johnston ’49
October 10, 2008
Mark Krupnick ’56
March 29, 2003
(see Class Note from Michael Shusteroff ’56)
Martin Klebanoff ’68
January 29, 2009
Todd Marsh ’79
January 24, 2009
which has become New Jersey’s largest government relations firm. Their main office is in Trenton. Paul’s daughter, Christina (19), is a sophomore at the University of Illinois.
Members of the Class of 1969 had their annual golf outing in Phoenix in February. Participants were Bill Green, Paul Parker, Dave MacNaughton, John (aka Rocko) Kver nland, Eleby Washington and Eric Lederer. Also participating were Bob Hendrickson, Bruno Tomaino, and Eric’s son, Jeremy, among others. Jeff Taylor joined the group for dinner one evening. The group gets together each year, usually in Arizona, where the golf is excellent and it’s where the “Coach” lives.
Currently, the biggest thing in Arthur Pittis’ busy life of teaching and administrating is preparing for a full-scale musical production of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, for which he wrote the play and lyrics in coordination with a local Austin composer. The musical will be produced next fall and is composed for a full high school production, involving all 100 students at the Austin Waldorf School. With a wink to vanity and showmanship, if any old Minutemen have the weekend to attend the performances next November 20-22, drop him a line and he’ll reserve you a great seat.
Thomas Travisano is the editor of Words in Air: The Complete Correspondence Between Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell.
Richard Perl was married on November 29, 2008. He and his wife, Nancy, reside in Caldwell, New Jersey. Nancy is a guidance counselor at DeWitt Clinton High School in New York City.
Joel DeFabio was a finalist for Most Effective Criminal Lawyer of 2008 by the South Florida Daily Business Review for winning the only acquittal out of seven defendants in the Liberty City Seven terrorism trial in federal court in December 2007.
Thirty-six years after graduating from Newark Academy, Clyde Mitchell finds himself married for 14 years to an exotic Southeast Asian woman, practicing business law on Wall Street, dabbling in several ventures as a founder, and avidly windsurfing for more than a decade.
He invites classmates to e-mail him at clydemitchell@gmail.com.
Sangram Sisodia was recognized as a Fellow at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting. Sangram is the Thomas Reynolds Sr. Family Professor of Neurosciences in Neurobiology, and the Director of the Center of Molecular Neurobiology at the University of Chicago. Sangram was recognized for his extraordinary contributions to understanding the function and dysfunction of APP and Presenilin 1 in cellular and animal models of Abeta amyloidosis in Alzheimer’s disease.
35TH REUNION
Lance Aronson lancetrezevant@aol.com
Larry Belkoff has been elected president of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons. He is chairman of the Department of Specialty Surgeries and the Division of Urology at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Larry is also the associate director of the Urology Residency Program at Hahneman University Hospital. He lives in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Sherri, and their three children.
Dennis Doros has recently been elected to the board of directors of the Association of Moving Image Archivists, a nonprofit professional association established to advance the field of moving image archiving by fostering cooperation among individuals and organizations concerned with the acquisition, description, preservation, exhibition and use of moving image materials.
In order to reach out to and connect NA alumni, it is necessary to have updated information. Please take a few moments to fill us in on what you are doing professionally and become part of our new, dynamic alumni community. You can go to www.newarka.edu and update your profile, write us by using the envelope enclosed in this magazine, or send an e-mail to Nancy McGaughan at nmcgaughan@newarka.edu with your current business information.
DON’T BE LEFT OUT OF THIS EXCITING NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY.
Michael Martino lives in Plymouth, Minnesota, with Carrie, his wife of 27 years. They have three children: AnnaMarie (18) will be a freshman at Bates College in the fall; Anjelica (16) is a sophomore at Wayzata High School; and Joseph (10) is in fifth grade at Minniehaha Academy. Michael is a first vice-president with Morgan Stanley and has been a financial advisor for 25 years. He is in regular contact with Jeffrey Beckerman and Alex Matturri, and of course with his brothers, Nick ’77 and Steve ’80. Steve’s son, Nicholas, is a student at Newark Academy and will graduate in 2015.
Jim Garofalo and his family enjoyed the Colorado and Rocky Mountain skiing last winter with trips to Vail, Breckenridge and Jackson Hole. He and his wife are looking for ward to a summer of hiking with their children, Jessica (6) and Lauren (4).
Dillard Kirby is delighted that Blackie Parlin was honored this year for his 50 years of making a difference in the lives of NA students. Dillard still remembers his senior class with Mr. Parlin dissecting The Grapes of Wrath The book and Mr. Parlin’s teaching had a profound impact on him. Referring to Blackie, Dillard writes, “He opened us up to the hidden symbolisms and clearly made us
think of a world much different than our own. He was a wonderful teacher for a struggling student at that time.” Dillard sends his best to Blackie and reports that he is well, and blessed, during a challenging time for us all.
Margie Gering Feinberg was hoping to see her classmates at their 30th Reunion last October, but was attending her son’s Parents’ Weekend at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She extends her congratulations to Pamela Dennis on receiving the Alumni Achievement Award. Margie saw Pam and her husband, Andy Rothstein ’76, at a Newark Academy fundraiser where Pam had generously loaned the couture for the senior NA girls to model. She also congratulates Anne Herbst on the release of her poetry book, Line by Line. Margie was saddened to learn about the passing of three of her classmates, Willie Drobner, Denise Gallagher and Michael Sutton. She sees or hears news of many NA alums while shopping around town, traveling, reading, visiting camps, or attending doctor’s appointments, and enjoys the connection.
Doug Teiger wanted to share the success of the Kelly Residence, a project which reflects the style and creativity of his firm, Abramson Teiger Architects. The residence was
highlighted in the February issue of Trends
Michele Smith Blackwood has recently been named the director of Breast Cancer Services at St. Barnabas Medical Center. She hopes to integrate a multi-disciplinary team to treat breast cancer in each patient individually.
Carole Allen Brimberg lives in Greenwich, Connecticut, with her husband, Frederick, and their daughter, Taylor (13). Frederick spent 30 years on Wall Street and now manages his own international fund. Carole has spent the last several years chairing their club’s junior sailing program and various other committee activities. Taylor enjoys working hard in seventh grade, racing her laser on the sailing team and playing field hockey.
John Rees is happily living in the Silicon Valley in Saratoga, California, with his wife, Maria, and their daughters, Kristina and Elena. He is president of Doubleknot, Inc., a company specializing in on-demand software for nonprofit organizations.
1980
Mark Kalkus writes to tell us that the Kalkus family had a wonderful trip to Galapagos and Macchu
Pichu last summer through Natural Habitat, a travel company founded by Ben Bressler. Mark’s daughter, Wendy (19), is at Stanford University and on the ski team. Trevor (17), Kira (15) and Kevin (11) are still at home and tolerating it. Mark still works on real estate investments with shopping center workouts. They live in Colorado.
Susan Karlin spent some time in Taiwan, Israel and Jordan late last year. The highlight was staying with Bedouin friends in Petra.
Andy Mulvihill was very happy to reunite with Ben Bressler ’80, Mac Harris, Peter Szuch ’77, Rich Szuch ’80, Peter Mulvihill ’77, Michael Davis ’77, Art Williams, Cassie Coggeshall ’05 and Molly McGaughan ’05 at the Grasshopper in Morristown for some post alumni soccer game review. After careful analysis of game play, Bressler prescribed an old Irish remedy to smooth out the rough spots. Led by an inexperienced but determined Molly McGaughan and Cassie Coggeshall, the remedy was applied quite effectively. Big plans were reached for assured victory in 2009. Mac Harris was kind enough to provide designated driver services
Jaryn Bloom has been the retail president of Michael Kors since October 2005.
Jonathan Ressler is living in Cary, North Carolina, with his wife and three children and is working as a sports agent. He currently has 32 players in the NFL and is working diligently to break into basketball and baseball this year. Cary is right in the middle of Duke, UNC and NC State and is a hotbed of college sports, not to mention that it is a great life for his wife and kids. Jonathan speaks to Larry Nichter all the time and hears from other NA friends periodically. “I love it down here in the pseudo-South, against all odds. The people are nice, the weather is great and the quality of life is unmatched. I could not be happier.” In his spare time, Jonathan serves as the president of Apex Sports Authority which is a youth sports organization in the area that runs football, lacrosse, cheerleading and wrestling. He is also on the board of directors for the 1 in 8 Foundation, a charity which raises awareness for early detection of breast cancer.
Stacey Kent earned a Grammy nomination in the “Best Jazz Vocal” category for her critically
acclaimed album, Breakfast On The Morning Tram (Blue Note / EMI) at the 2009 Grammy Awards. Stacey and her husband, Jim Tomlinson, collaborated with novelist Kazuo Ishiguro on four of the songs for the album. Stacey and Jim are currently living in the Rocky Mountains while they work on their next recording project.
Bill Markstein wemarkstein@yahoo.com
Eli Hinson and his family enjoyed a week’s vacation in Crested Butte, Colorado, in February 2009. The snow was fantastic, the restaurants great, and they all had a blast.
Nicole Cur vin is pleased to announce the birth of her daughter, Thalia Pearl Wygmans. She was born in December 2008. Nicole and her family live in Jersey City, and Nicole works at The New School in New York.
Amanda Grashof Mott and family have moved again. This time, it is back to the Philadelphia area –Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Fortunately, they were in time for the Phillies World Series win.
Amanda is still with AstraZeneca, but has transitioned from being one of the company’s lobbyists in Washington, D.C. to the managed markets brand director for their mental health drug, Seroquel. Amanda encourages her classmates to touch base if they are ever in the mushroom capital of the United States at mottlink@yahoo.com.
After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2004, Michael Weiss dug deep within himself and decided he could either let MS control him, or he could be the one in the driver’s seat. For the past five years, Michael has been the captain of his local National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) chapter’s walk team, and together they have raised more than $60,000 for MS research. Michael has a passion for helping other newly diagnosed MS patients learn more about the disease and how to best manage it through proactive methods. “Living a full and active life means that, as patients, we owe it to ourselves to take ownership of our MS, be proactive, and always work to put ourselves in a position to be successful.” Despite a full and busy lifestyle, Michael, father of two, continues to find time to be active in the MS community and looks forward to helping others realize you can manage MS with a positive
attitude and support. “My advice to others is to talk to your neurologist – or find a neurologist that will talk to you – find a therapy that is right for you, start, and stick with it. When I started on a daily therapy, I was afraid of self-injecting – now it empowers me.” You can help support the cause by visiting Michael’s website at www.myMSteam.com.
Wendy Genet Kaplan loved seeing so many old friends at their 20th Reunion. She is living in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, with her two children, Myles (6) and Lucy (3). Wendy has a business with her sisters called 3SistersNY that keeps her really busy. She also has a market research recruiting business called WGK Market Research.
Joey Rae Kenjorski reports that 2008 was the best year of her life. “After finally finding and marrying the man of my dreams in February 2008, we are now awaiting the birth of our first child due in July 2009. We have never been so excited in our lives.” Joey was sorry she had to miss Reunion and hopes everyone else is doing well with their lives, and that their dreams are being fulfilled.
Sandra Baptista moved from the Washington, D.C. area to begin a postdoctoral research position in New York City at Columbia University’s Earth Institute.
Peter Diehl has recently been promoted to sales manager for AVI, a large window, door and millwork company serving the metro-Atlanta area. His daughter will be seven this year (going on 20).
David Simon writes, “I continue to battle tumors in my colon, liver, lungs, kidneys, adrenal glands and brain. It’s something to do. I enjoy milking my condition for maximumsympathy on my blog at davidsimons.wordpress.com.” Through Facebook, David has connected with his old NA friends and even made a few more. He is learning to play guitar and hopes to torture an ear or two at the Reunion in October 2009.
Although writing about hopefulness in Vermont winter is a challenge, Phinn Sonin has always tried to stay positive. His business, Junktiques, has been thriving for five years, and he is entering his eighth year performing original theater with the Spielpalast Cabaret. Their shows are the last three weekends in May in Burlington, Vermont, if anyone
is interested in vaudeville, burlesque, or political and social commentary in theater. He has just returned from a trip to Central America where he fell in love with the region. Phinn is still, however, having a wonderful time living in Vermont where his daughter, Esse (11), is the lead in her school play. Phinn encourages classmates to contact him and hopes to see many of them at Reunion in October
Donny Stroh and his wife, Tracy, welcomed their first child, Ryan Stephen, to the world in January 2009. Both mom and baby are doing well.
After a career in television production working as a news producer for MSNBC, Shakira Brown transitioned to public relations eight years ago. As a
publicist, she has earned 12 industry awards and recognitions for her work. Currently, she is director of corporate communications and marketing for a regional accounting firm headquartered in New York City. She is also a partner with Branding4Newbies, a New Jerseybased marketing, public relations, branding and web strategy consulting firm that provides services to small and emerging businesses. Shakira also contributes advice on the firm’s blog, branding4newbies.com which recently won a Gold Hermes Creative Award for best blog. Shakira has been quoted this year providing business and marketing advice in Plastic Surgery Advisor magazine, Crain’s Chicago Business, and Lowesforthepros.com. She also contributes to her blog, Retail Secrets for Savvy Consumers (retailsecrets.blogspot.com), a retail shopping advice blog for
frugal living. Shakira’s retail shopping advice was recently quoted on SmartMoney.com, AOL Money & Finance, Creditcards.com and in Woman’s World magazine. In May 2008, she visited the NA campus with her son to enroll him in NA’s summer session. It was her first time back since graduation. She was surprised to see her senior class photo on the wall and how much the campus has expanded. She would love to hear from NA alumni at sbrown@branding4newbies.com.
Brian Feldman and his wife, Jordana, are pleased to announce the birth of Naomi Josephine Feldman in February 2009. Naomi joins big brother Gabriel (2).
Barbara Soriano Gillespie sends greetings from down South. Her family has settled in the Durham/ Chapel Hill area of North Carolina where her mother has also retired to be near her Tar Heel grandchildren, Alexa (5) and Nicholas (3). Since finishing her nephrology training at Duke University, she has worked at Quintiles as a medical advisor for nephrology clinical trials and has covered a small local dialysis unit a few times a month. Barbara’s husband, Mike, is a cardiologist in a Raleigh private practice group. Barbara claims she is not hip enough to be on Facebook yet, but would love to hear from NA friends at BarbSGillespie@hotmail.com.
Andrew Morrison coaches a small, home-grown youth hockey team in southern Oregon which swept the entire Silver Stick Pacific District Regional Championship Tournament and walked away undefeated against the best teams from the West Coast. Because of their unprecedented win, they will be southern Oregon’s first youth
hockey team to represent the Pacific region in the annual International Silver Stick Hockey Championship Finals in Ontario, Canada. Andrew’s son, Paiute, played a vital role in the championship as the team’s goalie. He finished first in the tournament for all goalies in his age group. Andrew is very proud of the team’s accomplishments and has a website at www.southernoregonsmiracle.com where you can read more.
Alexander Nemiroff was named partner in the law firm of Archer & Greiner, P.C. which is among the 10 largest law firms in New Jersey. Alex practices labor and employment law. He lives in Voorhees, New Jersey, with his wife, Elisa, and their sons, Aidan and Zachary.
Beth Ritter is married to Andrew Nydick and has two sons, Jack (6) and Maxwell (4). The family lives in Livingston, New Jersey.
Robyn Abeles Silver man earned a Ph.D. in child and adolescent development in 2004 from Tufts University. She is now the creative director for her character education firm, Powerful Words, which she runs with her husband and marketing director, Jason. They provide character education curriculum to after-school programs worldwide. They have enjoyed success through coaching, writing for industry magazines and presenting at national conferences.
“Dr. Robyn,” as she is called by the kids and educators in these industries, is also writing a parenting book on girls and body image in America based on her years of research and inter views. The book will be published in 2010 by Harlequin Books. But the best news is that Robyn and Jason welcomed their first baby in Februar y 2009 through the amazing process of open adoption. It’s a girl! Robyn is thrilled to be reconnecting with so many of her NA friends on Facebook after so many years.
J. Alexander Hamilton is the public affairs officer at the United States Consulate General in Shenyang, the administrative capital of northeastern China. He welcomes Newark Academy alumni to visit this beautiful and historic area, formerly known as Manchuria. He and his wife, Jessica, would be more than happy to give you a tour
Sandy Salmon is working in the special education department at Livingston High School. Her sons, A.J. (9) and Ryan (7), are doing well. Sandy is getting married in October and recently purchased a new home in Madison. She keeps in touch with Juliet Costa Seymour and Jessica Brief Handsman
Kaleem Witcher (D.J. Kaleem) has been dubbed “Your D.J.’s
Favorite D.J.” naming him as a key player in the future of music and entertainment. He has performed for Nike and EA Sports, and was a featured mixer on The Michael Baisden Show
Pamela Helfant Vichengrad pamelavich@hotmail.com
Lauren Erlichman-Gottlieb and her husband Steve Gottlieb welcomed baby Sophie Mae on August 26, 2008.
Chloe Yelena Miller recently moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, with her fiancé, Hans Noel. She is teaching writing online for Fairleigh Dickinson University, and she continues to write poetry and edit for the online literary magazine review Portal del Sol. She also writes
personalized wedding poems as gifts, and would love to connect with anyone in the Ann Arbor area.
Jayne Polan Shapiro’s product, Shampowder, was recently featured in The Knot Magazine, on page six of the New York Post, Teen Magazine and InStyle Beauty (Germany). Jayne is proud to share that Shampowder is used and loved by the chief hair stylist on the CBS show CSI Miami. You can vote for Shampowder in Allure’ s Best Beauty Innovations at www.allure.com/go/breakthroughs.
Alison Litt Andelman is an attorney living in Boston with her husband and son, Zach (2). She recently got together with her good friend Amanda Blaskopf Deaner and her son, Julian.
After three years in Miami, Ted Leng and his wife, Jody, will be moving back to the Bay Area. Jody will be starting her anesthesiology residency at Stanford University and Ted will be finishing up his ophthalmology training with a retina fellowship. They are very excited to be moving back to California.
Reena Shah was the speaking voice of Sita and was rotoscoped for a dance sequence in the awardwinning animated feature Sita Sings The Blues, while her husband, Todd Michaelsen, composed the original score and original songs for the film. Reena also traveled to Deauville, France, to perform at the Women’s Forum for the Economy & Society where Diane von Furstenberg presented the documentary play Seven, which was hosted by Vital Voices. In Seven, Reena played the role of real-life gang rape victim
Mukhtaran Mai, whose harrowing story grabbed headlines across the world. Instead of taking the traditional route of committing suicide, Ms. Mai brought her rapists to justice, built schools to improve the condition of women, and became an advocate for education in her country. Reena also performs with her husband in their band, My Pet Dragon, and she can be seen in the upcoming independent film Ashes, which was directed by Ajay Naidu. Her website is www.DancingReena.com.
Evyan Lieber man Tur ner is excited to report that she and her husband, Ryan, had another girl! They welcomed Charlotte Davis in November 2008. She joins big sister Vivian (3). Evyan reports that they are all doing ver y well
After leaving UBS in May 2008, Andrew Slutzky worked on the launch of Anchor Street Mortgage, a residential mortgage company located in Parsippany. Anchor Street provides mortgage lending solutions with the highest level of integrity and professionalism. Andrew welcomes hearing from anyone within the NA community who is purchasing a home or looking to refinance.
Ryan Howard is engaged and will marry his fiancée, Stephanie Hecht, on June 27, 2009. He is teaching and coaching freshman football at Phoenixville Area High School in Pennsylvania. This year his team finished 8-1, losing their last game to another 8-0 team.
Erica Baitler Berger and her husband, Daryn, had a healthy little girl, Maisie Ella Berger, in October 2008. Maisie has enjoyed meeting many NA friends, most recently Jamin Mendelsohn and Katie Dimiero who traveled from New York City in a snow stor m to visit.
Priya Pradhan was married to Victor Karkar on August 31, 2008 in Randolph, New Jersey. Newark Academy alumni in attendance
included Lisa Shah Sen, Naveen Reddy ’05 and Vishal Reddy ’08 Priya and Victor live in the Boston area where Priya is leading the private equity/venture capital fund of funds research group at Cambridge Associates, an investment advisory firm. The couple plans to relocate to the San Francisco Bay area in the next few months and would love to connect with any NA alums in the area.
Asha Talwar
Asha.talwar@gmail.com
John Gregory Jcg681@gmail.com
Adam Rosen
Adam.Rosen1@gmail.com
In October 2008, after six months of independent consulting at Newsweek, Mark Forscher started full time as creative director of Newsweek Digital in New York. On election night he was in the office updating the electoral map as the results came in for each state. Since then, Mark has focused on expanding the design team, rolling out new site features and planning for a site redesign.
Jackie Ko became engaged to Greg Dillon last December. She works in consumer marketing and was recently promoted to account supervisor at her company, Javelin
Direct. Greg is a graphic designer. The couple lives in Edgewater and both work in New York. They are excited for their wedding in June and can’t wait to start a family.
After a fast paced career in motor sports serving as a race strategy engineer for a high-profile NASCAR team and winning multiple events, David Mazer switched gears to the financial services industry where he now works as manager of U.S. consumer card risk for American Express in Manhattan.
Evan Nisenson is currently working toward a master’s degree in entertainment business at New York University where he works full time in the office of development and alumni relations. He also works very closely with Warren Adler, author of such novels as War of the Roses and Random Hear ts. Evan lives in
Hoboken and is involved in numerous creative projects. He invites everyone to read his daily blog, Evan Almighty, at www.evanlucas.blogspot.com.
Ten years after graduating from Newark Academy with dreams of someday becoming a star of magic, Brad Ross is now living his dreams Currently in his fourth consecutive year touring the world on Disney LIVE Presents Mickey’s Magic Show, Brad has appeared in more than 25 countries and performed in 15 different languages. Brad continues to climb the ladder of success, never settling, and working toward realizing new dreams. Highlights of his touring this past year have included command performances for royalty in Dubai, UAE; a record breaking, 11-city tour of Spain; as well as appearances on highly rated television programs in Italy, Spain and Malta.
Andrew Weisel is now working at Macquarie Capital in midtown Manhattan. He is a stock analyst, covering the utilities sector. His future plans include moving in with his girlfriend, Susan, who also works in finance in corporate development at JP Morgan. Andy frequently sees Matt Wurgaft and Mike Prasad.
Rachel Klinghoffer Bender had a solo art exhibit unveiling two series of landscape paintings at Kate Robinson Fine Art in New York City last January.
Noah Gold will be clerking for the Honorable Deanne Wilson at the Superior Court of New Jersey in the Civil Division of Morris County beginning in September
Katie Hawkins currently holds the position of director of creative development at an international marketing distribution firm called Thane Direct. She has been at the company for almost two years and has worked on several international campaign launches. In addition, she is working on a project called “The New Face of Family,” which is a photo collective to promote marriage equality and awareness
by presenting LGBT families in traditional family portraits. It is hoped that the portraits will illustrate that families are not defined by law, but by love. Katie came up with the idea as a reaction to the passing of Proposition 8 in California (http://cargofolio.com/newfaceoffamily). Her first preview exhibit was in Los Angeles.
Lianna Iccolari is engaged to Doug Hildebrand of Great Meadows, New Jersey. They will be married at Disney World in Orlando in September. Good friend Shaunna Khurdan is engaged to Asher Banning. They are set to wed in July 2010.
Yair Reimer moved to Los Angeles and quickly jumped into the city’s entrepreneurial scene. He is part of a small start-up team developing mobile phone platforms and tools for college students and university
alumni, and wears several different hats as he tries to build a new and innovative business. Yair spends his free time as an over-the-hill midfielder for Omega FC of Los Angeles, a men’s soccer club that competes locally. He enjoys spending time with his little brother who lives down the street.
Andaiye Taylor is currently living in downtown Newark in a restored historic building wedged between NJPAC and the Prudential Center. She is an account manager at MediaMath (located in Manhattan), an interactive media shop that places and optimizes display advertising online for top-tier companies. She is also working hard on a blog that she started named OpenSourceRepublic.com. The blog explores the implications for democracy of unprecedented interactivity and uses real-life, real-time examples to illustrate
the phenomenon. On January 20, Andaiye attended the inauguration of Barack Obama, and describes it as the most miserable and exhilarating one-day experience of her life.
Zoe Feldman graduated from Columbia University with a master’s degree in public health in socio-medical sciences. She is currently working on the global nutrition and public policy team at Pepsico and plans to return for her doctorate degree in sociology and social policy. Zoe recently went to Los Angeles to visit Jeff Goldfarb who is in his second year of law school at UCLA. Her brother, J.B. Feldman ’98, is also living in Los Angeles and is working toward a master’s degree in film directing at the University of Southern California.
Ashley Inserra teaches autistic children at the Somerset Hills Learning Center in New Jersey. She has a dual certification master’s degree in education and special education.
Christina Paler mo joined the NYC Teaching Fellows last summer and has been teaching English language arts to sixth graders in the Bronx at the Urban Institute of Mathematics. Christina reports that the experience has been “eye opening and thoroughly challenging!”
Lyndsey Scott is the first model of color to land an exclusive with Calvin Klein. She appeared in the Calvin Klein runway show during fashion week, and joins the ranks of other models who have launched successful runway careers from an association with the designer.
Charlotte Koeniger is the director of admissions and communications coordinator at The School for Ethics and Global Leadership in Washington, D.C.
Harold Liss is in his second year living in San Francisco working as a front-end engineer for Yahoo! Profiles.
David Mandelbaum is a brand manager at an entertainment based marketing agency called Brand
Asset Group. The agency is a joint venture between Warner Music Group and Chris Lighty of Violator Management that specializes in creating pop culture solutions for corporate brands and developing brand extensions for celebrities.
Nisha Suda is busy pursuing a master’s degree in policy analysis for health care at Cornell University where she is also the assistant coach of the Cornell Varsity Women’s Tennis Team.
Danielle Grunebaum grunebad@tcd.ie
Louise Ball louisehira@gmail.com
Tim Hwang is spending his first year after college as a researcher with Harvard’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society where he investigates the mechanisms behind large-scale cooperative
activity online. In his free time, he continues to plan conferences and events, the most recent –ROFLThing-NYC – collected various web celebrities, including the inventor of the font Comic Sans and the founder of Reddit, to talk about Internet culture. Tim is currently working on a book on the changing face of the geek community and its implications for technology and design online. His project to explore dinosaurs in pop culture continues, and he is in the
This all-inclusive trip includes eight days of fun and sightseeing in the cities, rainforests and beaches of beautiful Costa Rica. You will snorkel, sail, ride horses, experience the zip-line and take boat toursin a natural reserve. You will also visit San Jose, the Cloud Forest Reserve, Arenal Volcano, Hot Springs and much more!
The cost for each traveler is approximately $2,000 (to include round trip airfare, 3-4 star accommodations, all meals, private transportation and tour guides). Check the website for further details. To inquire or to reserve your space, call Nancy McGaughan at (973) 992-7000, ext. 367.
process of watching all 14 movies in the animated series The Land Before Time. He will be attending law school in the fall.
Sarah Lipsey was married to her longtime love, Yuval Brokman, in a beautiful ceremony in Livingston on January 4. Emily Nowacki and Simma Reingold were bridesmaids, and she thoroughly enjoyed catching up with Hillar y Dixler and Ashleigh Davidson Sarah and Yuval will be in Israel for the spring while he completes his master’s degree in international business. Emily Nowacki graduated from Rutgers in 2009 and has applied to an array of Ph.D. programs in industrial and organizational psychology. Hillary Dixler has been working as a casting assistant in Seattle, but has her eyes set on a less rainy venue. Ashleigh will graduate with honors from the Boston Conservatory in May and will move to New York City to continue her professional acting career Simma is also graduating in May with a master’s degree in health administration from Cornell and plans to move to Madison, Wisconsin, to work for a health IT firm.
Jayson Uppal is now working at Emergent Energy Group, a renewable energy consulting and development firm of which he isa founding partner. He lives in Boston.
Ryan Adeleye was a starting defender for the mighty University of North Carolina Tar Heels soccer team in their championship game against the University of Maryland.
Sam Bir nbaum’s Carleton College soccer team finished up the season as the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champions for the second year standing. As the nationally ranked number 7 team, according to the final regular-season NSCAA/Adidas poll, the Carleton College Knights advanced to the NCAA Division III sectional semifinals. At a game held at Stevens Institute of Technology, their most successful season in the school’s history came to an end with a 0-1 loss to Middlebury College.
Jason Cali is set to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania in May. He will move to Washington, D.C. this summer so he can be ready to start his two-year commitment to Teach for America in the fall. Jason will come out of the program as a certified teacher with a master’s degree in education. He hopes to see many of his fellow teammates at NA’s alumni lacrosse game on May 30.
Dan Deraney is a senior at the University of Albany, majoring in political science with a minor in sociology/psychology. Dan intends to attend law school in the fall and
is looking at Rutgers University, Seton Hall, Fordham and St. Johns, among others. He currently works at the first “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” restaurant in the capital district called Creo. Dan traveled to Dublin, Ireland, and other places in Europe during his spring break, and will return to New Jersey after graduation to relax. He also plans to rent a house on the Outer Banks in North Carolina during the summer with some friends.
Christine McKeon spent six weeks in Tanzania last summer with Cross Cultural Solutions helping native teenagers with various projects including introducing them to computers and the Internet.
Eva Olesky will graduate from Cornell University in May with a degree in government. Eva was captain of the field hockey team, president of the student-athletic advisory committee and was involved in the co-ed business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi. After graduation, she will work for Barclays Bank in sales and trading. Eva is looking forward to reconnecting with other NA alums in New York City next year
Justin Silver is graduating from Tufts University where he studied psychology and Russian. He spent his junior year in London and will work for Morgan Stanley after graduation.
Nina Suda is completing her final year at Columbia University and is captain of the women’s varsity tennis team. She had two of her research papers published in Cell and in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
in addition to having her work highlighted in the New York Times
Davika Daga took a semester off to intern at TOMS Shoes in Santa Monica, California. TOMS is a shoe company that gives a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair that is purchased. She works in the finance department and lives with 14 other interns in a familysized home. Devika reports that it is a lot of fun and she is learning a lot about social entrepreneurship.
After spending several months at sea training aboard United States merchant vessels, Derek Day returned to the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York, where he is a student. All students at the academy spend part of their sophomore and junior years at sea gaining practical knowledge about the performance and operating characteristics of various types of
merchant vessels, and become familiar with the ocean trade routes of the world. Derek was nominated to attend the Merchant Marine Academy by Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen.
Last September, Molly Dunn performed with the Staten Island Philharmonic in On the Town. She is in the Gallatin program at NYU studying sustainability and theater Her brother, Jake ’03, is working in Jersey City for Merrill Lynch and Avi ’05 is an economics major at Johns Hopkins.
Jen Errico was elected president of her sorority of Alpha Chi Omega at Bucknell University in December 2008 and will serve in her leadership role for 2009.
Adam Wangner was elected short fund manager by the McIntire Investment Institute at the University of Virginia. This is an entirely student run long-short
You can now catch up with your old NA friends on the Internet networking sites Facebook (profile name: Newark Alums) and LinkedIn (group: Newark Academy).
portfolio valued at $500,000 which invests in domestic and international equities that are researched and presented by student analysts and managers.
Anna Birnbaum is a coxswain on the Trinity College freshmen men’s crew team. Anna participated in a number of regattas over the fall with the highlight being the Green Monster Head Regatta hosted by Dartmouth College. The team won the regatta, besting a host of competitive Division I schools including Harvard, Yale, Northeastern, Boston University, Dartmouth and Holy Cross.
Melissa Bryson made the dean’s list and earned a 4.0 GPA in her first term at Wake Forest University. She is a Screamin’ Demons fan which means she is in the fan section of both the nationally ranked football and basketball teams. Melissa is also a founding member of Alpha Delta Pi at Wake Forest. Over winter break, she enjoyed skiing in the town of Lech in the Arlberg Mountains of the Austrian Alps with her family.
Matt Richards is doing great at Lehigh University. He sends his regards to all his old teachers.
It’s a great way to reconnect, share your news, find out about alumni events and network. If you have any questions about how to join our groups, please e-mail Nancy McGaughan at nmcgaughan@newarka.edu.
SEE YOU ONLINE!
It’s not too late for you to double your impact on NA’s Annual Fund. Thanks to a generous donor, gifts to the Annual Fund may be matched between now and the close of NA’s fiscal year on June 30, 2009!
In these times of economic uncertainty, Newark Academy needs your support more than ever. While you’re probably reconsidering how you use each dollar, it’s good to know that your donation will have twice the impact on the future of the school.
that’s twice as nice! Now that’s twice as nice! Visit www.newarka.edu and make your gift online today!
There’s something for everyone at Newark Academy this summer!
JUNE 29 TO AUGUST 7
Summer Session offers courses for advanced credit, enrichment and skill development. Classes taught by talented faculty provide an excellent academic experience.
Visit our websiteat www.newarka.edu and click on “Summer Programs”
Newark Academy
91 South Orange Avenue Livingston, NJ 07039
Phone: 973.992.7000
Fax: 973.992.8962
www.newarka.edu
E-mail: outreach@newarka.edu
Return service requested
Parents of alumni: If this publication is addressed to your child and he or she no longer maintains a permanent residence at your home, please notifythe alumni office, 973.992.7000, or send an e-mail to nmcgaughan@newarka.edu.
JUNE 22 TO AUGUST 7
Summer Sports Institute teaches the skills and fundamentals of a sport in an atmosphere which is fun and enjoyable. Campers are taught by a dedicated staff of coaches and counselors.
Baseball I Basketball I Soccer I Fencing I Lacrosse