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Harry Takes a Bow
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Shhh! The Secret Society of Eight Revealed
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Twenty Years of Peddie Olympians
Headmaster Dr. Wilbour E. Saunders works in his office with his secretary, Inafred Hoecker, in 1938. (Turn to inside back cover to see this photo updated.)
Fall 2012
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Harry Takes a Bow Longest serving teacher to retire
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Commencement
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Peddie in the Olympics
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Reunion 2012
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Sports Hall of Fame
Shhhh! Revealing truths about the Secret Society of Eight
Swimmers on twenty-year streak in the Games
Prized Possessions Test your Peddie faculty I.Q.
Athletes and historic teams inducted
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Letters Falcon Feats Center Campus Bookmarks Class Notes
Chronicle Vol. 141, No. 1
Peddie School 201 South Main Street Hightstown, NJ 08520-3349
Executive Editor: Deanna K.G. Ferrante Editor: Wendi Patella Contributors: Doug Mariboe ’69, Patricia O’Neill Design: Carter Halliday Associates Photography: Bob Handelman, Jim Inverso, Jon Roemer Printing: Prism Color Corporation
Tel: 609-944-7501 www.peddie.org/chronicle We welcome your input: editor@peddie.org
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR PEDDIE
To the Editor,
Kudos to the Chronicle’s editors and staff for the enlightening article and wonderful graphics about the school’s chapel, Ayer Memorial. My brother, Don Werner ’51, and I were present at the dedication of Ayer Memorial Chapel, May 13, 1951, as members of the Peddie School chapel choir. Music director and English teacher Len Richardson is shown in the article’s photograph directing the choir. C
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Ayer Memorial Chapel: A Monument to Soldiers
T’s Last Call
Peddie Goes “Into the Woods”
The article cited Rev. Dr. Robert J. McCracken’s remark, “Long may this chapel be at the center of Peddie’s life.” The chapel was an integral part of the students’ life in my four years at Peddie and indeed for many years after. Sunday vespers, 7:00 – 7:30, was a joyous occasion for us. I’m certain the students’ voices could be heard in Hightstown as we sang the hymns we selected. “Jacob’s Ladder” was a favorite! I echo classmate Harold Neiderhoffer’s ’53 remarks in the article wherein he is quoted, “I really love that building and its memories.” The dedication of the chapel to the Peddie boys who served from World War II forward is deserved, appropriate, and to be commended. ROBERT E. WERNER ’53
To the Editor, Not to be one-upped by my colleague Ira Haupt, I can identify a few of my fellow classmates in the chapel photo on page 8. Left center background, the tall guy facing the camera is Lee Manshel; just below and slightly right is Phil Steel. Walking past the camera front left is most likely Gottlieb “Max” Lowenthal, but I’m not absolutely certain; it could be Roberto Kaminitz.
To the Editor: Thank you for the article on Ayer Memorial Chapel. I was a Peddie student when Memorial Hall became Annenberg Hall, and I remember the upheaval and controversy that accompanied this decision. I can’t help but wonder why the memorial purpose of the chapel was not explained to us at the time. It would have brought comfort and calm to the situation. I always knew that “memorial” was a part of the chapel’s full name, but I never knew why, until now. TARA SHINGLE BUZASH ’95
To the Editor, I was very surprised and disappointed to not see the name of Ian Fraser ’43 on the Memorial Gold Star Boys listing. Scottie was one of Wilde Bill Boyd’s boys on Wilson fifth floor South. He was a good friend of Willet Chinnery ’43 and roomed next door. Scottie went to the Naval Academy and became a fighter pilot. According to the Ian Fraser ’43 Naval Academy records, Scottie was killed shortly after World War II ended while trying to land on his carrier. His picture is on the memorial wall of the chapel. Scottie was a wonderful friend of mine. He always was in good spirits and a pleasure to be around. I think of him and Will often. They were both the “salt of the earth.” When Peddie lost them, it lost its finest. LEROY E. HOFFBERGER ’43 Editor’s note: U.S. Navy Lt. Ian Fraser ’43 was reported missing on May 9, 1953 during a routine patrol flight off the coast of Atlantic City, N.J. and later declared dead.
To the Editor,
Kudos for the great tributes to Sandy Tattersall and to the Potters.
Words cannot express what “T” means to Peddie and to me personally. He was my math teacher, my adviser, my therapist and my advocate. I would not have survived adolescence, nonetheless Peddie, without him. While I wish him nothing but the best in a retirement that is well-earned, Peddie will miss his passion, compassion, and enthusiasm.
AL DICENSO ’52
DOUGLAS M. SCHNEIDER, Esq. ’94
The Chronicle welcomes your letters and comments on the stories we offer. We reserve the right to edit letters for space. Send your comments to editor@peddie.org or Chronicle Editor, Peddie School, 201 South Main Street, Hightstown, NJ 08520-3349.
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Throughout this issue, look for this icon for exclusive online content at peddie.org/chronicle
New and returning students band together during Peddie On Campus Orientation prior to the first day of school.
Each school year brings new friendships, new perspectives, and new experiences. Yet some things remain the same. Peddie continues to rely on the loyal and consistent support of alumni, parents and friends to provide the opportunities that shape the Peddie experience.Your generosity ensures that today’s students are able to enjoy the best that Peddie has to offer. Support the Peddie Fund. Every gift counts. All gifts make a difference.
my.peddie.org/give
Strong sense of gratitude at heart of Graham gifts
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an H. Graham ’50, the school’s third most generous benefactor, credits a lot of people for putting him on the path to success — his parents who sacrificed to send him to Peddie, football coach Mickey Shuman who taught him the intricacies of the game, and faculty member Donald W. Rich who became his mentor. “Peddie changed my whole life. I had come from a bluecollar town to this stepped-up prep school,” Graham said. “It turned me around in the right direction.” But while his success is due, in part, to others, Graham’s own willingness to work hard and his pride in a job well done propelled him into a successful entrepreneurial career. When a family friend recommended to his parents that they send him to boarding school, his parents made a huge financial sacrifice to do so, he said. Graham helped pay for his tuition by serving his classmates in the dining room — work that still makes the 81-year-old retired insurance executive proud. “In my first year, I waited on tables and after one year, I became the manager of the dining room,” he recalls proudly. “After only one year, I was promoted to be the big cheese.” Just as quickly as he was promoted in the dining room, Graham earned the nickname “Mighty” on the football field. And he was a mighty force throughout campus: a member of the varsity wrestling and golf teams, secretary of the Gold Key Society, president of his senior class, and student prefect of his dormitory. “I wasn’t an academic whiz,” Graham concedes. “What made me popular was sports.” When he graduated Peddie in 1950, Graham had two offers to play college football: Rutgers University offered him a full
Throughout his life, he remained grateful to the school he says changed his life; he served on the board of trustees and has made lifetime contributions to Peddie that are surpassed only by those from Walter H. Annenberg ’27 and Finn M.W. Caspersen ’59. This spring, he established a $3.6 million charitable remainder unitrust to further support the school’s athletic programs, his largest gift yet. Peddie will hold Graham’s gift in trust until 2019, when the funds become available for immediate use. Graham said he has supported the school in recognition of the important role Peddie had in his life. He and his wife, noted photographer Ellen Graham, split the seasons among Florida, California and New York. The golf he first played at Peddie has turned into a lifelong passion and he plays as much as two or three times per week. “We know it’s a good life,” he said.
“Peddie changed my whole life. I had come from a blue-collar town to this stepped-up prep school. It turned me around in the right direction.” scholarship while Yale asked him to play football on a partial scholarship. “We couldn’t even afford the remainder of the Yale tuition. At the time I was very disappointed, but it was because of Peddie that I got an athletic scholarship to go to college at Rutgers.” After graduating Rutgers in 1954, his old master Donald W. Rich recommended him for a position with the Masland Carpet Company, where he worked for several years honing his business skills. Moving into the insurance business, he soon founded his own company, Ian H. Graham Insurance, Inc., in the niche market of selling liability protection to condominium associations.
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When he returns to campus, as he last did for his 60th reunion in 2010, he is struck by the many changes to campus, but also how there remains a strong sense of familiarity. The changes to the athletic facilities — largely due to his generosity — are the most dramatic. The state-of-the-art Ian H. Graham ’50 Athletic Center was named in his honor after a large gift in 1997. “We didn’t even have an athletic center and the pool was really just a bathtub,” said Graham, who lived in both Wilson Hall and the Octagon House. “But the football field still feels the same.” What more does he wish for Peddie? “The obvious thing is, I’d like to see a winning football team,” he joked.
Board of Trustees prepares for transition to new head of school Head of School John Green announced in May that the 2012–13 school year will be his last at Peddie School.
Members of the search committee are:
The Peddie School Board of Trustees created an 11-member search committee representing a variety of experiences and perspectives including trustees, faculty members, alumni, and parents. The committee, together with Chris Arnold of Educational Directions — the same search consultant that brought Green to campus in 2001 — is in the midst of interviewing candidates. The committee expects to identify finalists by early November and make a recommendation to the full board in late November.
Trustee Michael Armellino ’57
Board of Trustees Chairman Christopher Acito ’85 (chair) Trustee Roger Burns ’63 Trustee Jeff Enslin ’84 P’15 Trustee Wight Martindale ’80 P’16 Trustee Anne Seltzer P’88 Trustee Elizabeth Silverman P’03 ’10 Faculty member Patrick Clements P’03 Faculty member Tim Corica P’03 ’08 Faculty member Marc Onion
To read the search committee’s Head of School Position Statement and stay informed on the latest transition news, visit peddie.org/transition
Faculty member Catherine Rodrigue
5 things you don’t know about John Green After 12 years as head of school, John Green will retire at the end of the 2012-2013 school year. The Peddie community has had plenty of time to get to know Green and his leadership style, but plenty more remains undiscovered about him. Here are five things you (probably) don’t know about John Green.
John Green drives to the hoop during a 1980 Wesleyan University basketball game.
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Green worked in a paper mill. Each summer, Green’s father arranged jobs for each of his four sons. “It was part of our education,” he said. “He found the dirtiest jobs he could for us.”
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Green nearly played professional basketball. During his junior year at Wesleyan University, basketball recruiters from Argentina and Ireland came knocking to discuss professional contracts, but Green decided to remain at Wesleyan to graduate and improve his game. During a disappointing senior year, he suffered a severe ankle injury that hobbled his game for most of the season — and dashed his hopes of playing professional ball.
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Green starred in a play. While teaching at St. Paul’s School, Green was cast in a lead role in Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple.” Which roommate? The slovenly sportswriter, Oscar Madison.
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Green has a voice for radio. In addition to providing the play-byplay for Wesleyan’s football team on the campus radio station, Green had his own call-in sports radio program.
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Green is the second headmaster named John Green(e). The Baptist minister John Greene served as headmaster from 1882 to 1889. Besides the extra “e,” our contemporary Green notes several differences. “He was a reverend. I’m irreverent,” Green quipped. Fall 2012 5
Harry takes a bow Every theater director covets the title of having the longest running play on Broadway, but after 45 years in the Peddie classroom and in the wings of its stage, Jeffrey “Harry” Holcombe can boast that he is the longest serving teacher in the school’s history. When he retires from Peddie next spring, In addition to teaching his students life-long skills Holcombe will have served exactly one year in poise and public speaking, Holcombe also believes more than the previous record-holder, Bill in instilling a love of theater in both the students and Thompson. And he will have taught for adults at Peddie. Every year he has been at Peddie, he nearly twice as long as the longest running has led several bus trips into New York City to take in play, “Phantom of the Opera,” has been on a Broadway show. Broadway. “I think it’s important to introduce kids and adults Teaching drama and public speaking and to the latest Broadway shows. Each trip always includes directing plays at Peddie for nearly one third someone who is experiencing Broadway for the first of the school’s history has made Holcombe part time,” Holcombe said. of the fabric of Peddie. A true lover of both stage and screen, Holcombe has Jeffrey “Harry” Holcombe directed seen 21 of the 25 longest running plays on Broadway; Yet, Holcombe never intended a career in his first Peddie production, teaching. He had just graduated from college the remaining four made their runs before he was born “Romanoff and Juliet” in 1968. in California in 1968 when a customer came — or at least before he was theater-going age. in to his mother’s Long Beach Island antique shop. His mother And for nearly 20 years early in his career, he spent his noticed a “Peddie” sticker on the car, inquired about job summers off from Peddie renting out Geiger Reeves and openings and learned the school needed a drama teacher. producing a summer theater series cast with Hightstown-area Within the month, Holcombe was hired. adults and a full orchestra. Although he always enjoyed directing Holcombe’s contract for that first year of teaching paid him and producing more than acting, he took to the stage in a few $5,000 and included an apartment on the third floor of Wilson summer productions, portraying Frank Butler in “Annie Get Hall. “I couldn’t believe how lucky I was,” he said. Your Gun” and a policeman in “Fiddler on the Roof.” That year, he produced and directed his first play, Holcombe’s influence stretched far beyond the drama club “Romanoff and Juliet,” an updated and comedic version of students. Doug Bryant ’71 is one of many alumni who — despite “Romeo and Juliet.” never acting on the Peddie stage — remains in contact with Forty five years later, he has directed well over 100 plays on Holcombe. This summer, during a family vacation to the Jersey the Peddie stage — including some he has directed more than shore, Bryant brought his wife and son to knock on Holcombe’s once — and worked under five different headmasters. door for an impromptu visit. “I have never had an interest in leaving Peddie and doing “He arrived at Peddie the same year as me and my roommate, anything else,” Holcombe said in his trademark booming voice. Bob Clark, and we all lived on the third floor of Wilson Hall. “I kind of married this place.” We would go and watch television in Harry’s apartment because Peddie’s Director of Theater Elizabeth Sherman said no one else had a TV,” Bryant said. “He was always such a Holcombe’s exuberance for teaching, for the arts, and for gentleman. Harry likes everyone. He gives everyone a lot of students is contagious. respect and he loves talking to everybody.” After so many decades of doing the same job, he never Holcombe said it thrills him that former students remain in approaches a school year by simply going through the motions, touch, or return during reunion weekend for one of his patented she said. campus tours. Other students reach out to him years after “Every fall, he seems like it’s his second year of teaching. He graduation in touching ways. gets nervous, like he’s never done it before. There’s wonder still Leslie Caveny ’80 studied and performed under Holcombe inside him,” Sherman said. “Nothing is drudgery to Harry.” and went on to become a film and television writer and producer, Holcombe himself said every new crop of students is a new including for “Everybody Loves Raymond.” Her published play challenge, and what has kept him at Peddie is love of teaching “Love of a Pig” has been performed in Los Angeles and New teenagers. “High school kids want to be adults. They want to be York City. It bears a dedication to Holcombe. treated as adults, but they still have a little kid in them,” he said. “That made me extremely proud,” Holcombe said. “I love that age group because they’re fresh, they’re excited and “All because of a round little sticker on the back of a car.” they’re interested in learning.” Fall 2012 7
By 1975, Holcombe’s classroom had taken on the poster-covered, couch-strewn appearance it still has today.
WHY “HARRY”? W
he and roommate Bob Clark ’71 came up with “Harry” simply because of the alliteration with Holcombe.
“All the kids wanted to call me Jeff. I was young and I looked the same age as the students and I looked kind of dorky. So I wanted to make it clear that I was the boss,” Holcombe said.
Hunt, for his part, recalls he and Jack Todd ’71 took the name “Harry” off a Ben Hur poster that hung in Holcombe’s faculty apartment in 1968. The lead actress in the film, Haya Harareet, sounded a lot like “Hi ya, Harry,” so the boys began calling their drama teacher “Harry.”
hen a 22-year-old Jeffrey Holcombe first arrived on Peddie’s campus in 1968, he insisted the students refer to him as “Mr. Holcombe.”
While different camps of alumni have been known to debate with passion the origins of Holcombe’s nickname — a skill, ironically, they learned in his required class — what is known for sure is that by the end of his first year on campus, he was known universally and simply as “Harry.” “One year at reunion, Dave Hunt ’71 claimed he started it, but I don’t remember it that way,” recalled Doug Bryant ’71. He said
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“There have been arguments about this during alumni weekends,” said Holcombe, who admits he never minded the nickname. “All I know is I’ve been Harry for 45 years.”
To view a video of Harry’s reflections on the past 45 years, visit peddie.org/chronicle
HARRY’S PEDDIE PRODUCTIONS Don’t Drink the Water
The Crucible
Into the Woods
Oklahoma!
Detective Story
Sparks in the Park
Ah, Wilderness
Father of the Bride
Bald Soprano
Arsenic and Old Lace
Bye Bye Birdie
Actor’s Nightmare
The Front Page
Look Homeward, Angel
Our Town
Oliver
Death Takes a Holiday
Fame
M*A*S*H
Damn Yankees
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Paper Chase
Guys and Dolls
Nicholas Nickleby
Bells are Ringing
Hamlet
The Man Who Came to Dinner
You Can’t Take it With You
The Desperate Hours
Death of a Salesman
Rebel Without a Cause
Romanoff and Juliet
Diary of Anne Frank
Flowers for Algernon
The Music Man
Dark of the Moon
Witness for the Prosecution
Kiss Me, Kate
Brighton Beach Memoirs
No, No, Nanette
A Chorus Line
The Miracle Worker
The Pajama Game
Cabaret
The Children’s Hour
Streetcar Named Desire
Anything Goes
The Heidi Chronicles
Glass Menagerie
Footloose
The Good Doctor
Li’l Abner
The Wiz
Our Country’s Good
The Skin of Our Teeth House of Blue Leaves The Winter’s Tale Metamorphoses Fiddler on the Roof Hello, Dolly! My Fair Lady Annie
Inherit the Wind
Urinetown
Little Murders
The Mouse that Roared
Pippin
Ubu Roi
Up the Down Staircase
The Secret Garden
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Man of La Mancha
Life With Father
Working
Laramie Project
Godspell
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Grease
The Wonder of the World
Once Upon a Mattress
George Washington Slept Here
Thoroughly Modern Millie
Much Ado About Nothing
West Side Story
Shop online at www.peddie.org/store
COMMENCEMENT .....................
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BACCALAUREATE
“Is it any wonder that many of you have made that very difference?” —John Green | Head of School
“We demand much more from you than to acknowledge basic human dignity given the time in which you live and the education you have received at Peddie. We expected you to celebrate the diversity of opinions and backgrounds on our campus and in the larger community. We purposely surrounded you with peers with whom you had nothing in common and everything in common and your very differences became the equivalent of additional teachers. We prepared you to compete successfully in the increasingly pluralistic nation and smaller and flatter world you will soon inherit. We prepared you to bring folks together from different races, ethnicities, and countries to reconcile the challenges of your generation. “Is it any wonder, then, that we believe that you will meet these challenges? ” —John Green | Head of School
“We thought we knew how to swim, how to shoot, how to play the violin or clarinet, how to paint or sing or act. We thought we knew how to write a well-reasoned five paragraph essay, or derive the quadratic formula, or conjugate verbs in Spanish and French. “Then we came to Peddie and discovered that maybe we didn’t know nearly as much as we thought we did. But the thing is, at Peddie we were given a chance to discover what we were really capable of.” —John Orlowski-Scherer ’12 | Valedictorian
“It started with POCO. Strangers at the time, we played childish games, made fools of ourselves trying to heat a frozen t-shirt or pass along a wet sponge, and even went mud-sliding during a vicious storm. It was the last thing you’d expect of your first day at one of the greatest private high schools in the nation. It didn’t seem to make sense, but that’s why it was so great. Outside of the lack of reassurance the dirty laundry provided our parents, it helped us begin to mold as a grade. So freshmen we became, and onward we went, onward to everyday life at Peddie.” —Brendan McSherry ’12 | Student Baccalaureate speaker
“Smile. Laugh. Dance. Sing. Play. Listen to music — it is the soul of life. Write down phone numbers — you might lose your cell. Learn to read a road map — the GPS might not work. Learn to change a tire — help will not always be there. When you have children — remember what it was like to be a teenager. Do not become a prisoner of your computer or cell phone. Think for yourself and make your own decisions. Vote. Everything is not a crisis. Keep a little of yourself for yourself and nobody else. Fall in love — it’s a great feeling. Buy a jean jacket. Once a year, eat a Twinkie and drink a Pepsi. Take time to listen and observe. Go to a Springsteen concert; if you’ve already been to one, go to another. Help the less fortunate. Stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. Above all else, be kind. Be excellent to each other.”
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“We expected you to exert a sense of courage even if at personal risk or loss. We asked you to do the right thing when no one was looking. We challenged you to call your friends out on less than courageous behavior or seek help for them, if necessary. We urged you not to be a bystander. We told you and showed you that one person with courage can make a difference.
—Samuel “T” Tattersall | Faculty Baccalaureate speaker
To read the full texts of all Commencement and Baccalaureate speeches, visit peddie.org/chronicle
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College and University Destinations for the Class of 2012 (with the number of graduates attending) Princeton University 7
University of Notre Dame 2
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1
Lehigh University 6
University of Pennsylvania 2
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 1
The George Washington University 6
University of Richmond 2
Saint Francis University 1
Johns Hopkins University 5
Washington University in St. Louis 2
Seton Hall University 1
Bucknell University 4
Williams College 2
Skidmore College 1
New York University 4
Auburn University 1
St. John’s University - Queens Campus 1
United States Naval Academy 4
Binghamton University 1
St. Lawrence University 1
Babson College 3
Boston College 1
Stanford University 1
Carnegie Mellon University 3
Brown University 1
Stevens Institute of Technology 1
Cornell University 3
Colgate University 1
Stony Brook University 1
Gettysburg College 3
College of Charleston 1
Sweet Briar College 1
Rhodes College 3
Columbia University 1
The College of New Jersey 1
Tulane University 3
Connecticut College 1
University of Southern California 3
Dartmouth College 1
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1
Villanova University 3
Davidson College 1
Barnard College 2
Elon University 1
Bates College 2
Emory University 1
Boston University 2
Fairleigh Dickinson University 1
Colby College 2
Florida Gulf Coast University 1
College of William and Mary 2
Furman University 1
Franklin and Marshall College 2
Hamilton College - NY 1
Georgetown University 2
Haverford College 1
Grinnell College 2
High Point University 1
Middlebury College 2
Lafayette College 1
Oxford College of Emory University 2
Maryland Institute College of Art 1
Rutgers University 2
Mount Saint Mary’s University 1
Saint Joseph’s University 2
Northeastern University 1
Southern Methodist University 2
Oberlin College 1
Trinity College 2
Pennsylvania State University, University Park 1
University of California at Los Angeles 2 University of Delaware 2
Tufts University 1 United States Air Force Academy 1 United States Military Academy 1 University of Chicago 1 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 1 University of Louisville 1 University of Mary Washington 1 University of Michigan 1 University of Rochester 1 University of St. Andrews (Scotland) 1 University of Tennessee, Knoxville 1 University of Utah 1 Vanderbilt University 1 Washington College 1 Wesleyan University 1 Wheaton College MA 1
Purdue University 1
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The Secret Society of Eight reveal themselves at graduation, some with an “8” taped to their gown.
Secret Society of Eight leaves marks on campus Nearly 30 years ago, in the dark of night, beyond the watchful eye of the head of school — or so the legend goes — a small group of faculty members met clandestinely and pledged allegiance to a secret society. In the days that followed, they tapped students and invited them into the inner circle. The Secret Society of Eight was formed. For three decades, countless people have found evidence of the society’s work — never discovering who these secret society members were. Ten years ago, Coordinator of Cultural Events Marilyn Anker arrived to her office one morning to find a note and small gift — a picture frame that still adorns her desk along with a picture of her horse. Then, and now, she had no idea why it was given or by whom. Platters of homemade cupcakes were delivered to the admission office this past March 10 — the very stressful day the staff sent out decision letters to all prospective students. Suzanna Dwyer, dorm supervisor, and Andrew Harrison, arts department faculty member, found a copy of E.B. White’s
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The day Walter H. Annenberg gifted the school $100 million, the society hung a message — signed in the lower corner — on the front gates.
Charlotte’s Web left for them after the birth of their daughter, Charlotte. In the theater, candy and motivational posters have mysteriously appeared in the dressing rooms on opening night. On one of the biggest days in Peddie’s history — the day Walter H. Annenberg gifted the school $100 million — a bed sheet was hung on the front gates with the simple message, “Wow! Thanks, Walt.” No one knew who hung it or when. But a small “8” appears in the lower corner. Last Christmas, science teacher Eva Shultis, in her first year at Peddie, received a stocking full of candy canes to hand out to her class. “Up until that point, I wasn’t even aware that the Secret Society of Eight existed, so it blew my mind that somebody would do all that work to randomly surprise me. I was really touched, and my students were psyched about the candy canes,” she said. While the existence of the Secret Society of Eight is not a secret, its members and activities are one of the most heavilyguarded secrets on Peddie’s campus. What is known is their body of work: three decades of random acts of kindness. Many colleges are known to have secret student societies, including the famous Skull and Bones at Yale University. Although its membership is no longer kept under lock and key (both Presidents Bush were members) its mission, practices and rituals have never been divulged by its members.
“There were no robes or secret handshakes. You swore your allegiance to the society by placing your hand on a map of New Jersey.” — former member
As for the Peddie society members, they routinely reveal themselves at graduation, sometimes with an “8” taped to their gown, other times by exchanging eight pennies for their diploma on the graduation stage, or by handing an “8” playing card to the head of school. Why eight? Former society members said it is a misconception that there are eight members in the society. In fact, in classic New Jersey style, it was named after the turnpike interchange that is Peddie’s home: Exit 8.
“There were no robes or secret handshakes,” one former member divulged. “You swore your allegiance to the society by placing your hand on a map of New Jersey.” One faculty member, who spoke to the Chronicle on the condition of anonymity, said sneaking kids out of the dorms in the middle of the night without getting caught by the dorm supervisor became a game enjoyed by both the students and faculty. When a rival school defaced the soccer wall outside the old science building with spray paint, society members decided the Peddie community should wake to a surprise. “We all met and put on black clothes and hoods and repainted the soccer wall,” a former member revealed. “Every time the security guy came around, we threw ourselves on the ground so he wouldn’t see us. We got away with it.” After three decades of society shenanigans, the tradition renews itself each year as new members are tapped by outgoing members and all attempt to keep their identities hidden. “I don’t think people tried terribly hard to find out who was in the society, because they were afraid if they knew who we were that would break it,” a former member said. “It’s like knowing who the Falcon is. You want to know who is inside that suit, but you really don’t want to know.”
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Peddie swimmers in the Olympics
Burch swam the 100 meter freestyle in Beijing in 2008, and qualified for the 50 meter freestyle this year. In 2011, he moved to North Carolina to train full time.
When Roy-Allan Burch ’04 hit the water to swim the 50 meter freestyle in the London Olympics this summer, he represented 20 years of Peddie swimmers participating in the Games.
Both Burch and Diebel said Peddie pride is strong in the swimming community, even when competitors are swimming for other nations. “It feels good when I see Peddie people at national level competitions,” said Diebel, who is the director of sports marketing for a competitive swimwear company.
Since 1992, nine Peddie alumni have represented their nations swimming in the Olympics, including two American swimmers who brought home gold medals.
He has shared his Olympic experience with Peddie swimmers often, and finds himself pulling for his fellow Falcons during competitions.
Nelson Diebel ’90 won gold medals in the 100 meter breaststroke and the 400 meter medley relay in Barcelona in 1992, while Barbara Bedford ’90 won a gold for swimming the 400 meter medley relay in Sydney in 2000.
At the Olympic trials in Omaha, Neb., this summer, Peddie was represented by seven students and young alumni competing for spots on the U.S. team — the most ever for the school. “Coming to Peddie as a swimmer, you know of the Olympic streak. People know our program instills those kinds of values and hard work,” Coach Greg Wreide ’95 said. “It is extremely tough to make the Olympic team as a high school student these days. But you go to trials and you keep working towards your goals.” Diebel agreed attending trials as a high school student — then returning four years later — was valuable training in itself. “In 1988, after I went to the Olympic trials, I figured out it was realistic for me to consider trying to get to the Olympics. On top of that, I decided it was something I wanted,” he said.
Nelson Diebel ’90 celebrates in the pool after winning a gold medal in the 100 meter breaststroke in 1992.
Barbara “B.J.” Bedford ’90 sports her gold medal at the Olympic podium in 2000.
Chris Martin, who coached both Diebel and Bedford during his tenure at Peddie from 1986 to 1992, was an assistant coach on America’s 1992 team in Barcelona. “The Olympics is the place where you step up or shut up and that makes it just so exciting,” Diebel said. “It’s the single most intense experience to have.” Burch, who swam for his native Bermuda in the London Games this summer, said Peddie was the place where he learned to train hard and where he first set his sights on the Olympics. “Going through Peddie translated to learning to work harder for a longer period of time and it made me a better athlete mentally,” Burch said. “Once I got to Peddie, I was really comfortable with the training. It was helpful knowing that with all the hours that went into training, I could be as good as anybody I was around.”
Given how competitive U.S. swimming is, Diebel said, no one makes it to the Olympics unless they themselves want it. He said those who are swimming for a coach, a parent or anyone other than themselves will only go so far. “Honestly, that’s what makes the difference between the back half of finals and the front half of finals. The last ten percent of the race is all about how bad you want it,” he said. For Forrest Davis ’13, wanting to make the Olympic trials — and the Olympics themselves — is the main reason he came to Peddie all the way from Sun Valley, Idaho. After swimming competitively since he was seven years old, by age 13 he was telling his parents he needed to get better training if he was going to meet his goal. “I decided if I went to Peddie, I could make the Olympic trials,” he said. His parents consented and he has trained under Coach Wreide for three years. This spring, in the last swim possible for him to make a time that would qualify him for trials, he made it. “All the hard work was worth it.” He admits he was disappointed with his swimming once he got to Omaha, despite being two years younger than every other swimmer in his heat. But he is grateful he qualified for trials in 2012, gaining valuable experience under his belt, knowing he already has a specific goal in mind: Rio 2016.
Since 1992, nine Peddie alumni have represented their nations swimming in the Olympics, including two American swimmers who brought home gold medals. 16 Peddie Chronicle
Peddie Olympians
Barcelona 1992
Athens 2004
Nelson Diebel ’90, USA, 100m Breaststroke (Gold medal) and 400m Medley Relay (Gold medal)
Ji-Young Lee ’09, Korea, 200m Breaststroke
Royce Sharp ’91, USA, 200m Backstroke
Beijing 2008
Jen Smatt ’92, Bermuda, 100m Breaststroke
Roy-Allan Burch ’04, Bermuda, 100m Freestyle
Andrew Rutherford ’90, Hong Kong, 100m Breaststroke and 200m Breaststroke
Roy-Allan Burch represented his home nation of Bermuda — and Peddie — in the 2012 Olympics
Chris Martin, head coach of Peddie swimming, USA, Assistant Coach
Atlanta 1996 Peter Wright ’91, USA, 1500m Freestyle
London 2012
Sydney 2000 Barbara Bedford ’90, USA, 400m Medley Relay (Gold medal) and 100m Backstroke
Roy-Allan Burch ’04, Bermuda, 50m Freestyle
Rio 2016 ????
At the 2012 Olympic trials, (left to right) Nelson Diebel ’90 met with Peddie swim coach Greg Wreide ’95 and Peddie Olympic hopefuls Wesley Mullins ’08, Forrest Davis ’13, Brendan Walsh ’11, Annie Fittin ’07, and Connor Signorin ’10. Although not pictured, Matt O’Brien ’07 and Josh Charnin-Aker ’07 also participated in the Olympic trials.
REUNION
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U 1. Rosa and John Kelso ’62 and Bonnie and Vincent DeRosa ’62 celebrate their reunion. 2. Bernie Smith P’88 P’91 always enjoys the Peddie Golf Club. 3. (left to right) Marica Dacey ’07, Kelsey Bair ’07, Jackie Silvi ’07, Sam Sweeney ’07 and Laura Berzins ’07 enjoyed the Good Humor at Reunion Weekend. 4. Linwood Clark ’37 (left) and Gene Sarafin ’54 find a relaxing spot on center campus. 5. Drew Rucks ’02 (right) and his girlfriend catching up with faculty members Melanie and Pat Clements. 6. (left to right) Kevin Shane ’99 greets Kurt ’97 and Heather Drstvensek ’97.
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PRIZED POSSESSIONS
UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU So well-known are some Peddie faculty members to students and alumni that simple belongings are immediately associated with those teachers, coaches and mentors. Test your Peddie faculty I.Q. How many of these prized possessions can you match with a faculty member?
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Fall 2012 21
Answer key: 1. Belt buckle — Harry Holcombe 2. Pashley bicycle — Paul Watkins 3. Campus master keys — John “the Ninja” Lucs ’90 4. Bagpipes — Martin Mooney 5. Revolutionary war uniform — David Martin 6. 1984 Olympic ID tags — Barbara Grudt 7. Bow tie — Pat Clements (also acceptable answers: Brian Davidson, Ray Cabot) 8. “Steady Old Peddie” pin — Mark Gartner 9. Denim jacket — Samuel “T” Tattersall
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Greyserman fired a 9-under par 204 (68-69-67) to capture a one-stroke victory at the AJGA Golf Pride Junior Classic in July at Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C. He holds the 39th position for the Class of 2014 rankings in Golfweek.
Mercer County championship golfers (left to right) Nitis Udornpim ’12, Stefan Cygan ’13, coach Ben Bickford, Max Greyserman ’14, Curren Mody ’15, and Kyle Sterbinsky ’15
Driving for Success Golfers Kyle Sterbinsky ’15 and Max Greyserman ’14 have both added trophies to their already-impressive collection this summer. Sterbinsky, who is ranked 10th in Golfweek for the Class of 2015, won the American Junior Golf Association’s (AJGA) Quad Cities Classic in June at the Short Hills Country Club, a par-72, 6,694-yard layout in East Moline, Ill. In the tournament featuring 96 boys aged 12–18, Sterbinsky trailed after two rounds before charging to a 4-under-par 68 in the final round. He shot a 1-over-par 37 on the front nine and countered with a 5-under-par 31 on the back with six birdies in a row. “Once the first birdie went in, that’s when it became very easy to roll the putts in on the green,” said Sterbinsky, who at the age of nine sank a 150-yard hole-in-one at Pine Barrens in Jackson, N.J.
Sportsmanship trophy serves as athletic director’s legacy When Head of School John Green learned that Peddie once again was awarded the coveted Headmasters Cup for sportsmanship from the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL), he knew it was a credit to Athletic Director Susan Cabot P’09 P’12. Peddie has won the trophy for displaying sportsmanship, citizenship and character for three consecutive years, and in an impressive four out of the five years since its creation. It is given to the most Susan Cabot proudly hugs deserving school based on the her son, Austin Cabot ’12, votes of every MAPL coach in at Peddie’s Commencement. every sport. Cabot — who left Peddie this spring after 26 years — was instrumental in creating the MAPL itself in 1998. “The Falcons have earned the respect of our league coaches and schools. This is truly a great honor and one that I hope 22 Peddie Chronicle
In addition to his impressive win at Southern Pines, Greyserman finished ninth at the 2012 Men’s New Jersey Amateur Tournament at Baltusrol in Springfield and grabbed an eighth-place spot (73-74-71, 218) at the AJGA Puerto Rico Open, Trump International Golf Club stretching 7,198 yards. The field featured 78 juniors from 17 countries and 15 from the U.S., as well as 10 players from Puerto Rico. Collectively, the 2012 Peddie golf team produced an impressive resume of success this spring. • Captured fifth NJISAA Prep A title in the last six attempts • Drew Bergonia ’12 recorded a hole-in-one on the 115-yard par-three third hole at the Peddie Golf Course • Named Mid-Atlantic Prep League Champions • Claimed first place at inaugural Swing Against Cancer Golf Tournament • Won Mercer County Championships by 10 strokes and became the first school to break 300 • Notched lowest recorded score of 174 (6-under par) with Sterbinsky and Greyserman each shooting 4-under par 32s in a tri-meet at home against Hun School and Rancocas Valley • Greyserman and Stefan Cygan ’13 won first-ever Metedeconk Best Ball Prep Challenge • Posted runner-up finish at Garden State Cup Championships
Peddie will continue to carry on for years to come,” said Cabot, who served Peddie as athletic trainer, classroom teacher, dormitory supervisor and director of athletics. “In team sports, unlike other elements of the traditional educational experience, Peddie student-athletes compete together — struggle together, learn to win or to lose together. Those are experiences that you can’t receive anywhere else.” Green said Cabot was a role model to students on distinguishing what is important. “More critical than winning, Sue believes, is the manner in which coaches and student-athletes conduct themselves, especially under pressure, and represent their school,” Green said. Cabot is now serving as director of athletics at Kingswood Oxford School in West Hartford, Conn.
“Remember: we treat opponents with respect, we play with intensity and spirit, we are true competitors. Regardless of the outcome of the day, we will be gracious hosts. Why? Because we are the Falcons. Go Falcons!” — Sue Cabot, as she ended every community meeting announcement
Falcon Feats / Peddie athletes in college action Bowdoin College Women’s lacrosse
Hamilton College Women’s lacrosse
Lauren Gorajek ’09 — Named a Division III Second Team All-American by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association, Gorajek led the Polar Bears in scoring and, at the conclusion of the regular season, finished second in the NESCAC in points (66) and third in goals (48). After just three seasons, she has netted 123 career goals to rank sixth in school history, while her 167 career points stand fourth all-time.
Lauren Sokol ’08 — A four-year defender for the Continentals, Sokol was named a Division III Second Team All-American by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association. In May, Sokol received the school’s Milton H. Jannone Award which recognizes academic achievement, leadership and athletic excellence.
Bucknell University Women’s crew
Michelle Pearson ’09 — As a member of the Radcliffe heavyweight varsity eight, Pearson was named to the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association D1 New England All-Region first team. She was previously named to the All-Ivy League first team after winning the league title at the inaugural championship regatta.
Tatham Dilks ’11 — A member of the varsity eight as a freshman, Dilks and her teammates led the Bisons to their seventh consecutive Patriot League title and received the conference Boat of the Year honors. Kumari Lewis ’11 — Rowed in the two seat for the freshman eight that finished second at the 2012 Eastern Sprints on the Cooper River in Camden, N.J.
Cornell University Men’s diving Thomas Hallowell ’11 — At the 2011–12 men’s swimming and diving banquet, Hallowell earned the Hardest Worker Award for diving, recognizing his great attitude and relentless work ethic.
Duke University Women’s lacrosse Gabby Moise ’10 — Earned Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors for her efforts in the Blue Devils’ victory over Boston College. The Blue Devils (12-7) went 1-1 in NCAA Tournament action during the 2012 campaign, topping Virginia 11-9 in the opening round before falling, 12–7, to Northwestern in the quarterfinals.
Elon University Women’s golf Lauren Lebak ’07 — In her final collegiate event, Lebak carded a 242 (75–84–83) at the 2012 Southern Conference Women’s Golf Championship at the Moss Creek Golf Club on Hilton Head Island. For her career, Lebak competed in 41 events to finish with a 79.98 stroke average in 88 rounds.
Furman University Baseball Anthony Buonopane ’09 — As a redshirt freshman, the right-handed relief pitcher appeared in 11 games and picked up his first collegiate victory by tossing two scoreless innings against Miami University.
Harvard University Women’s crew
Kenyon College Men’s tennis Tim Rosensteel ’11 — Completed his rookie campaign at 18–8 in singles action and played a major role in Kenyon’s deepest run in the NCAA Division III Tournament. His fifth singles victory against Washington University in the semifinals clinched a spot in the championship round. Rosensteel and his partner held on for an 8–6 win in first doubles. Kenyon fell to Emory in the national title match.
Lehigh University Men’s lacrosse Kyle Steifel ’09 — Completed a strong junior campaign, standing seventh on the team with 12 goals. In the NCAA first round contest against Maryland, Steifel scored three goals before his team was defeated by a goal in the final six seconds. Lehigh ended its record-breaking season at 14–3 and ranked ninth in the final Nike/Inside Lacrosse Media Poll.
Women’s track Portia Jones ’08 — For the second year in a row, Jones was named to the Capital One Academic All-America Track & Field Second Team. She amassed her 17th All-America honor courtesy of an eighth-place finish in the 4x400 relay at the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Championship. A four-time New England Track Athlete of the Year, she was named the 2012 New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference Track Athlete of the Year. Jones graduated as the MIT recordholder in 11 different events and was the national runner-up in the 100-meter hurdles last year.
Massachusetts Maritime Academy Men’s lacrosse Adam Palilonis ’09 — Netted four goals and dished out a team-leading 11 assists at attack for the Buccaneers. Palilonis scored his first career goal in a 9–7 win over Becker and had a five-point day with two goals and three assists in a 14–7 victory at Maine Maritime.
Rhodes College Women’s soccer Sarah DiLella ’10 — A member of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Academic Honor Roll, DiLella begins her third year on defense for the Lynx after starting all 19 games last season. DiLella was selected to the SCAC Third Team.
Rider University Baseball Mike Murphy ’09 — Named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year, Murphy was 5–1 against MAAC teams while compiling the best winning percentage in the conference. He registered an overall record of 6–5 in 14 starts with an earned run average of 3.29, fifth best in the MAAC.
MIT Women’s swimming
Stevens Institute of Technology Men’s tennis
Amy Jacobi ’07 — A graduate student at MIT, Jacobi earned an honorable mention All-American nod in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a 14th place finish at the NCAA Division III Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships. Jacobi holds the school’s 50 free mark and has top 10 times in four other individual events.
Chris Rosensteel ’09 — Finished his junior campaign with a 16–9 mark to bring his three-year total to 57–16, fifth place on the Stevens’ all-time singles record book.
Daphne Sun ’11 — Finished ninth in the 200 free at the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference championships with a personal record of 1:57.25 and took 11th in the 500 free.
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SPORTS HALL OF FAME
The Sports Hall of Fame inducted new individual and team members in a ceremony during Reunion Weekend. The Hall of Fame recognizes students, teams, coaches and other members of the Peddie community whose contributions and achievements are extraordinary, have improved Peddie’s reputation, brought credit to the school, or inspired others to their own personal level of excellence. Since 1986, the Hall of Fame has honored 110 individuals, 36 teams and one family. 1941 & 1942 Ice Hockey Teams
Jon Speck ’92
Although Peddie’s ice hockey program had been called “a hopeless enterprise,” Coach William H. Hawley arrived on campus at the start of the 1941 season and captured two consecutive championship seasons.
Wrestling
The 1941 hockey sextet finished the season 9-2, undefeated in secondary school competition. Thanks to rugged goaltender Harland Miller, Peddie recorded shutouts over traditional rivals Lawrenceville and Blair. Captain Joe Harron led the team in scoring with 25 goals, while teammate Robert Field finished in the top spot for assists. Stick-wizard Henry “Hank” Safarik, speedster Philip Brown and smooth-skating William Coleman rounded out Peddie’s dominating first line. Center Willard Davison, along with wings Byron Gates, Ogden Barron and Burton Barysh, supported the starters as members of the second line. The 1942 Peddie stickmen won 10 contests and skated to a draw against a tough Thayer Academy team. Captain and “one-man blitz” Hank Safarik found the back of the net 31 times, setting a new school record for season goals. Behind the nearly impregnable defense of William Bryngelson, Richard Mason, varsity returner Barron and the incredibly stingy Sunny Roe in goal, Peddie again dominated both Blair and Lawrenceville, with combined shutout scores of 13-0. Coach Hawley also relied heavily on second liners Van Bockus, Frederick Warburton, George Bickford and Harold Dow, and reserves Frank Bradley, Henry Bachman, Gregory McCoy, Robert Foss, Willis Eshbaugh and Robert Kohler.
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Four-time All-American and three-time New Jersey State Prep Champion at 171 lbs. and 189 lbs., Speck dominated the mat during his four years at Peddie. Winning the Mercer County Tournament twice, he amassed a record-breaking 133–24–2 career record, making him both Peddie’s and Mercer County’s all-time most victorious wrestler. In 1992, Speck became State Prep School Champion at 189 lbs. and won the National Prep School Championship by a score of 13–1. Speck was the two-time recipient of the Robert. L. Tifft award given to Peddie’s most outstanding wrestler. At American University, Speck was a four-year starter at 177 lbs. and won 70 matches.
Jim Wells ’92 Swimming Two decades after Jim Wells left the Clinton I. Sprout Pool, his legacy lives on. Still intact are his records in the 100-yard freestyle (44.64, 1991), 200 free (1:36.69, 1991), 500 free (4:21.98, National Prep Record 1991), 400 free relay (3:01.87, 1991) and the 200 medley relay (1:31.46, 1992). His 200 free record continues to be the standard to beat at the Eastern Interscholastic Championships. Moving from Peddie’s Sprout Pool to USC’s McDonald’s Swim Stadium, Wells broke at least one USC backstroke record every year as the holder of both the 100- and 200-yard backstrokes and was every bit as good in the 50, 100 and 200 free events. A multi-event finalist at NCAA Division I championships, Wells had the honor of representing the USA in international meets. He claimed a gold medal at the 1991 Pan Am Games in the 800-meter relay and competed in the World University Games in 1993.
Fall 2001 Girls’ Soccer Team
Matt Pustay ’02
The 2001 Girls’ Soccer Team blew past the opposition to finish undefeated and untied at 19–0–0. It was the first perfect season in the storied history of Peddie girls’ soccer. En route to Peddie’s fourth consecutive State Prep A and MAPL championships, the team outscored the competition 83–8. The girls of 2001 left a lasting legacy. They were ranked the number one prep team in America by Student Sports Magazine. Their 18 returning letter-winners extended a 40-game unbeaten streak that began in October of 2000 and continued into midseason 2002.
Baseball
Roster:
Jessica R. Nairn ’02
Brittany M. Besler ’04
Courtney Nasshorn ’02
Danielle E. Collins ’05
Katherine B. Peetz ’04
Whitney S. Douthett ’03
Erica L. Peterson ’03
Andrea B. Duggan ’04
Bridget E. Silvi ’03
Lauren D. Elliott ’04
Lauren N. Silvi ’03
Brittany L. Forrester ’02
Andrea K. Tarnavskyj ’03
Laura L. Giusto ’03
Titi A. Wilson ’02
Seraphine E. Hamilton ’02
Coaches:
Brittany M. Hammer ’03
Ray Cabot
Courtney L. Jackson ’04
Alison Edmonstone
Rachelle C. Levy ’02
Managers:
Jill E. Mansfield ’03
William Eady ’04
Katherine E. Milstead ’05
Jackson D. Kiniry ’02
With Matt Pustay on the baseball team, Peddie won two Prep A state championships, two MAPL championships, and one Mercer County Championship. A four-year starter, Pustay became the ace of the staff during his freshman year. In one of the most exciting games in Peddie history, Pustay won the Mercer County championship game at Waterfront Park against Lawrenceville, earning tournament MVP in the process. His career statistics are overwhelming — he was 26–8 with a sub-2.0 ERA over his four years. He was first team all-state prep three times, first team all-area three times, and was the player of the year in both his junior and senior year. As a junior, Pustay was particularly dominant. On the 2001 team that finished 22–2, he posted a 10–2 record. That year, Pustay pitched an incredible 75 innings, finishing with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of nearly 10–1. As a senior, he pitched another 55 innings, and even more remarkable, walked only three batters for the entire season while striking out 60.
Edward “Skip” Masland ’49 A Special Tribute During the ceremony, the Peddie Sports Hall of Fame honored its founder, Edward “Skip” Masland ’49, who died in 2011. Over 25 years ago, Masland hatched the idea that Peddie should have a Sports Hall of Fame. The charter members were selected in 1986 and the first class was inducted during halftime of the Blair Day football game in the fall of 1987. A multi-sport athlete during his Peddie years, Masland played center field in baseball, was captain of the squash team, and was a half-back on the football team where at 5’8” and 156 pounds he was referred to as a “shifty little ball carrier and consistent ground gainer.” Elected president of his senior class, he was also active in Gold Key, the Glee Club and the choir. Among his many honors, Masland received the Outstanding Alumnus Award in 1989. He served as a member of the Board of Trustees for nearly three decades and was honored with the title of Trustee Emeritus in 2003. Peddie is grateful to Skip Masland for making the Sports Hall of Fame a reality.
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center campus Peddie offers its first online summer courses A few dozen returning students continued their learning this summer by participating with Peddie faculty in the school’s first distance learning classes. Associate Head of School Catherine Rodrigue said the school spent two years researching the feasibility and technology requirements of offering courses online and decided to enroll a small number of students in summer courses this year. In its maiden year, the school offered an online SAT prep course and a creative writing class. Other students who wished to get a jump start on their final academic year were offered the opportunity to complete their honors theses via distance learning this summer. In all three cases, the classes were taught by Peddie faculty.
Rodrigue, who personally supervised summer honors theses, said distance learning required great flexibility to adapt to schedules — even out of the country. One student participated in distance learning from her home in Nigeria, where unreliable connectivity via a generator made it challenging, but possible, for her to get a leg up on the school year. Rodrigue said self discipline is critical for students enrolling in distance learning classes, which can be a challenge for high school students, especially in the summer. During the school year, Rodrigue said, online classes allowed one student transferring in as a junior to continue her study of German with a Peddie advisor who is fluent in that language. Despite the technology that allows for distance learning, Rodrigue said she can’t imagine it ever becoming a large component of the teaching at Peddie. “As a boarding school, we are raising kids in ways that can’t happen in an online environment,” she said.
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New year, new web To kick off the new school year, Peddie School launched a new design of its web site. Visually appealing, with a mobilefriendly design and streamlined navigation, the fresh look provides a simpler way for the community to connect. Clean, crisp and uncluttered, the new peddie.org provides a reliable gateway for current parents to obtain up-to-date information about the school. Prospective students and their families will find stunning imagery and video on pages describing the school’s offerings and easy access to all of the information they need for the application process. Alumni and parents can access all their information from the homepage.
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The updated site incorporates a full page photo design on the home page which is automatically re-scaled to fit any browser, including mobile devices. Originally launched in 2002, the site was built by WhippleHill Communications in conjunction with Peddie faculty and staff. Continuing its relationship with WhippleHill, a leader in web site development for the education industry, Peddie gave the site a “face-lift” this year to better utilize advances in web technology and provide an optimal user experience.
(Left to right) Tabitha McKinley, Allison Schaefer, Kurt Bennett, John Sham, and Will Sodano
New faculty Kurt Bennett | History/English A 2011 graduate of Amherst College, Bennett was previously a humanities teacher, basketball and baseball coach, and residential advisor at Culver Academies. He concentrated in multi-ethnic American literature at Amherst, where he was co-captain of the basketball team, a member of the student athlete advisory committee, and a staff writer for the Amherst Indicator. Tabitha McKinley | Psychology McKinley earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Howard University and her doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Georgia. She most recently worked as a product administrator with Educational Testing Service. Prior to ETS, McKinley served as a statistical consultant at Morehouse College in Atlanta and as a science teacher at Clarke Central High School in Georgia and Glasgow Middle School in Virginia. Tabitha’s research interests include African American acculturation in schools. Allison Schaefer | Spanish Schaefer graduated Phi Kappa Phi from Lock Haven University with a concentration in secondary education Spanish. Raised in Hamilton, N.J., she has been a senior camp counselor at the Hamilton Area YMCA since 2007 and has been a soccer referee for Hamilton Township Recreation. Schaefer, who was a swimmer in high school and college, spent a college semester at the University of Malaga.
Joshua Sham | Biology Sham completed his master’s degree in science education at Syracuse University and has taught sixth grade biology. He is a 2010 Magna Cum Laude graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo, majoring in biomedical science. Sham has worked at Camp Seneca Lake, an overnight camp, for more than half his life. Will Sodano | Assistant Athletic Director A graduate of Tufts University, Sodano has been a Peddie swim coach since 2003. For the past five years, he has been an assistant coach and strength coach for the varsity swim program. In addition to his duties as assistant director of athletics, he will continue to coach swimming in the winter and the summer.
Biology
History Athletics Spanish Psychology Fall 2012 27
BOOKMARKS Lifting the Wheel of Karma By Paul H. Magid ’86 Point Dume Press, 2012
Joseph Connell is a gifted high school athlete, loved deeply by his family, yet tormented by nightmarish visions he can neither explain nor escape. After a horrific accident forever alters the course of his life, he travels to the remote Himalayas of India, in search of a mystical old wise man alleged to possess supernatural healing power. The man he seeks, however, will not so easily reveal what he truly knows, for he alone knows Joseph’s true destiny. Paul Magid ’86 began writing Lifting the Wheel of Karma while a student at Peddie. He is an award-winning screenwriter and independent filmmaker. His autobiographical film, A Life Unfinished, screened at The Hamptons International Film Festival.
Paul Magid talks about beginning his first novel as a Peddie student in a video at peddie.org/chronicle
Crazy Doctor: Mixing Drugs and Mental Illness By Peter J. Dorsen, M.D., L.A.D.C. ’62 Triple A Press, 2012
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Photo by Larry Marcus
In Crazy Doctor: Mixing Drugs and Mental Illness, Dorsen writes about how bipolar illness impacted his life from childhood to adulthood. The book chronicles a painful, personal struggle with bipolar disorder and substance abuse.
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Peter J. Dorsen ’62 is an addiction counselor, motivational speaker and writer. He has authored over 150 freelance and peer-reviewed articles. He lives in Minneapolis.
If you are an alumnus who has recently published a book and would like it to appear in the Bookmarks section, please send a copy of the book, along with the author’s bio and photograph, to: Chronicle Editor, Peddie School, 201 South Main St., Hightstown, NJ 08520. Books cannot be returned, but will be added to the alumni collection of the Annenberg Library.
New Jersey at Gettysburg By David G. Martin, Ph.D. Longstreet House, 2012
The guidebook is an official publication of the New Jersey Civil War Heritage Association Sesquicentennial Committee, containing 18 maps, 70 illustrations, portraits of each New Jersey unit commander and pictures of every New Jersey monument including GPS coordinates. The committee’s mission is to increase recognition of New Jersey’s contribution to the Union cause during the war. David G. Martin Ph.D. is the author of over 25 books on the Civil War and Revolutionary War. He is past commander of the New Jersey Department of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, vice president of the Friends of Monmouth Battlefield, and president of the New Jersey Civil War Heritage Association. He has served on the New Jersey Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission and the Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee.
Images of America: Philadelphia’s Golden Age of Retail By Lawrence M. Arrigale and Thomas H. Keels ’72 Arcadia Publishing, 2012 From the Civil War until Vietnam, Philadelphia’s thriving middle class made the city a mercantile mecca, home to some of America’s largest and most innovative department (John Wanamaker, Strawbridge & Clothier, Gimbels, Lit Brothers, and N. Snellenburg & Co.) and specialty stores (J.E. Caldwell & Co., Bailey Banks & Biddle, Nan Duskin, Blum Store, Jacob Reed’s Sons). Images of America: Philadelphia’s Golden Age of Retail illustrates how these emporia taught generations of Philadelphians the proper way to live. Tom Keels ’72 is the author or co-author of six published books on Philadelphia history. He is a lecturer, writer, and commentator specializing in Philadelphia history and architecture.
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8/3/2012 10:06:43 AM
Head of School John Green works in his office with his office manager, Geeta Torno P’10, in 2012. (Turn to inside front cover to see the original photo from 1938.)
PEDDIE SCHOOL 201 South Main Street Hightstown, NJ 08520-3349
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