Up First
Photo by David Fricke
CHALLENGE & CHANGE
Imagine the year 2050.
• What is new and meaningful at Andover?
• What has endured?
• What have we stopped doing?
Consider the questions above to be a preview of a homework assignment that will arrive in your email in the coming weeks (or you can scan the QR code below). As you may know, Andover is actively engaged in a long-range planning initiative to chart its course for the next 20 to 30 years. This effort requires the wisdom and commitment of our trustees, our campus community, and our global family of alumni and parents.
At the heart of this undertaking is our commitment to reaffirm excellence for the next generation of students. We will do this by examining questions around expanding knowledge, revolutionary technology, globalization, and societal divisions. And we will be guided by our founding values—knowledge and goodness, youth from every quarter, and non sibi—which have served Andover so well for more than 246 years.
In addition to the three questions above, I also ask you to consider your own Andover education and how it continues to shape your life experiences.
What skills did you learn at Andover that remain important to you today? How do you use those skills? What experiences did you have as a student that you would like every Andover student to have?
Eagerness to evolve is one of Andover’s defining characteristics, and it is something that continues to inspire my leadership. The ability to tackle challenge and change is also something that alumni frequently cite as instrumental in their own lives. The questions that are coming to your email were recently asked of more than 100 Alumni Council members. Among the skills that they said remain important to them today are things like: “fearlessness in the face of risk,” “intellectual confidence born of rigor and humility,” and “developing my own point of view and having the maturity to change that view with evolved learning.” I look forward to hearing your thoughts and considering how we best tackle challenge and change, focused squarely on securing the strongest possible future for Andover.
Raynard S. Kington, MD, PhD, P’24, ’27 Head of School
this fun photo shoot.
Andover magazine reinforces the special connection alumni have with Phillips Academy and Abbot Academy. Through thought-provoking stories, contemporary design, and inspiring profiles of alumni, students, and faculty, we aim to highlight the school’s enduring values, recognize our unique history, and celebrate the rich diversity of our community.
EDITOR’S NOTE
Have no fear—the print version of Andover magazine is here to stay! Many of you responded to our recent survey that focused on magazine digital content. Although the goal of the survey was to query about our approach to digital content in all its forms, alumni responded clearly: your preference is for print.
“Maybe I’m old school, but I enjoy reading the physical copy,” said one respondent. Another stated, “I enjoy sitting in my easy chair and reading the print magazine cover to cover.” That’s music to our ears!
We also know how much readers enjoy Class Notes. Andover is fortunate to have more than 170 volunteer class secretaries who collectively submit around 200 pages of content every year.
“Juneteenth is not just about celebrating freedom…”
Andover, the magazine of the Phillips Academy and Abbot Academy community, is published four times per year. It is produced by the Office of Communication at Phillips Academy,
180 Main Street, Andover, MA 01810.
Main PA phone: 978-749-4000
Changes of address and death notices: alumni-records@andover.edu
Phillips Academy website: www.andover.edu
Andover magazine phone: 978-749-4677 Email: magazine@andover.edu
Postmasters:
By making strategic changes to the production schedule and shortening the front editorial section, we will now publish Reunion Class Notes in the summer issue instead of the fall/winter issue.
It’s our pleasure to provide you with information about Andover today, to share stories from the past, and to connect you with classmates and faculty. As we look for ways to improve the quality and delivery of this information, your feedback continues to be vitally important.
Allyson Irish Editor magazine@andover.edu @andovermagazine
“The most spectacular aerobatics took place outside the third-story window of my dorm, Foxcroft North…”
RAY HEALEY ’66
92
For the Love of Teaching In their final days at Andover, two retiring faculty members reminisce about memorable experiences and classes.
no place like home. Alumni reconnect and celebrate across Andover’s campus.
Commentary and shout-outs from our Big Blue readership.
Iwas saddened to read about Mr. Joseph Wennik ’52’s passing in a recent issue of Andover magazine, but this triggered warm memories of the German 50 class in Sam Phil 40 years ago.
I recall Mr. Wennik telling me that he was assigned to U.S. Army intelligence work in Germany monitoring ships going up and down the Danube during the Cold War.
With Mr. Wennik, we read Thomas Mann and Bertolt Brecht. That was the last time I studied German. I recall meeting him in Tokyo later [when he was] the Alumni Affairs director. I remember his smile, as the photo in Andover magazine captured.
—KEN UCHINO ’86
Iread in the fall/winter 2023 issue an article about Dr. Chana Sacks ’03, who is doing research on gun violence prevention at MGH.
I am director of the Hennepin County (Minnesota) gun violence prevention department, called Safe Communities, and recently was able to connect with Dr. Sacks in the hopes of partnering with her.
Thank you for sharing alumni stories like those of Dr. Sacks.
—LISA PRITCHARD BAYLEY ’84
With or without a guest editor, I would’ve hoped the recent “Future” issue wasn’t so U.S.-centric. Except for one short description of an Andover course on global agriculture, there were no references to the majority of the world’s population who live in developing countries and face daily challenges of survival.
I realize you had limited space, so I can’t say I was surprised to notice this. I’d hope Andover’s future includes more students who come from developing countries and more graduates who want to address those basic challenges.
—LOUIS BOORSTIN ’77
Faulkner Makes U.S. History with Double Gold
A mere three years after taking up cycling professionally, Kristen Faulkner ’11 shocked the world at this summer’s Olympics winning two gold medals.
With a dramatic break from the other lead cyclists, Faulkner won her first gold August 4 in the women’s road race becoming the first American to win a medal in this event in 40 years. Three days later, she helped her team achieve another gold medal in the women’s team pursuit.
The Big Blue family responded with hundreds of congratulatory messages online.
Faulkner was not the only member of the Andover community competing at the Paris Olympics. As a member of USA Rowing, Liv Coffey ’07 was part of the women’s eight boat that came in 5th place, and incoming first-year student Djenabou Jolie Bah ’28—one of the youngest athletes at the games—represented her home country of Guinea in the women’s 50m freestyle.
“Just amazing. I hope she knows how many of us were watching and cheering! Such strength & power. And that smile!”
“Kristen’s performance in this road race was exceptional. She didn’t overextend herself through the early stages, but saw her moment to get in the break. Her acceleration on that last climb was superhuman!”
MUNKENBECK
Prior to her historic ride, Kristen Faulkner met up with her former swimming coach, Paul Murphy ’84, P’16, ’19, ’22, and his wife, Debby ’86, in Paris.
All School Night Vision
For photography enthusiast Donald Slater, capturing the mid-May Northern Lights was both a challenge and a triumph. Shot near the Siberia athletic fields, Slater’s stunning photo reveals an other-worldly spectacle of color above the Memorial Bell
and surrounding campus.
“These auroras were the most intense to reach Earth in the past 35 years,” says Slater, an instructor in history and social science.
Tower
Bookshelf
All School
ABBOT & ANDOVER AT 50: A YEAR TO REMEMBER
From student and alumni speakers, commissioned artwork, and Heavenly Goo to a modern-day Abbot Bazaar, the golden anniversary of Phillips Academy and Abbot Academy becoming a singular school inspired a year of education and celebration.
the BUZZ
Jean Becker, chief of staff to President
George H.W. Bush ’42, P’64, has penned a new book about her former boss. Character Matters includes stories from a wide array of sources who share their views on “41.” This is Becker’s second book about Bush.
Using the theme of “Then, Now, Next,” the campus and alumni community shared their perspectives on the legacy of Abbot Academy and ways in which that legacy will influence future generations.
During Reunion Weekend, Head of School Raynard Kington announced that four Abbot and PA alumni recently made a gift to support gender-focused initiatives. “Even better,” Kington said, “they have empowered student leaders to direct those funds at their discretion.” Thus far, students have chosen to support Abbot Academy Fund grants, financial aid for female-identifying students, and programs associated with the Brace Center for Gender Studies and the Andover Bread Loaf and PALS outreach programs.
ANDOVER & ( at 50 THEN•NOW•NEXT Watch a video recap of the Abbot & Andover @ 50 year at andover.edu/thennownext
Black
Friend: Essays BY ZIWE FUMUDOH ’10
Abrams
A comedian, writer, and executive producer and host of Showtime’s late-night variety show ZIWE Fumudoh now adds author to her resume. Her debut collection of essays is an “energetic mix of comedy and personal reflection,” according to Publisher’s Weekly. With humor sprinkled throughout, Black Friend: Essays provides thoughtful commentary on identity and pop culture.
Please Stop Trying to Leave Me
BY ALANA SAAB ’12
Vintage Books (Penguin Random House)
In her debut novel, Saab follows protagonist Norma, a young writer who grapples with mental illness. Using metafiction, stream of consciousness, and personal experience dealing with depersonalization/derealization disorder and panic disorder, Saab crafts a story in which the main character edges toward insanity, meets with a therapist, and eventually finds hope to heal.
The Hungry Season: A Journey of War, Love, and Survival
BY LISA M. HAMILTON ’92
Little, Brown & Company
Hamilton describes one woman’s journey from Laos and Vietnam to refugee camps in Thailand to a booming rice business based in California. A photographer and journalist, Hamilton wrote this nonfiction drama while shadowing Ia Moua for six years, capturing the woman’s strong spirit and sense of entrepreneurship and the importance of small-scale farming.
What Napoleon Could Not Do DK NNURO ’05
Riverhead Books (Penguin Random House)
As a Ghanaian American novelist, Nnuro offers a unique perspective on African American and Black immigrant experiences in the United States. In this fictional novel, siblings Jacob and Belinda aim to relocate from Ghana to the United States and face multiple challenges with green cards, overt racism, and cultural differences related to marriage.
This Won’t Help: Modest Proposals for a More Enjoyable Apocalypse BY ELI GROBER ’09
The Experiment, LLC
Grober is a former staff writer for The Tonight Show and an American satirist who regularly contributes to The New Yorker. In This Won’t Help his first book, Grober offers humorous commentary on climate change, voting rights, and the housing market—all topics typically treated with a more serious approach.
Brain Rush: How to Invest and Compete in the Real World of Generative AI BY PETER COHAN ’75
Apress
An associate professor of management practice at Babson College, Cohan explores the emerging generative AI industry. Brain Rush explains how the technology (including ChatGPT) works, the value it offers, and how businesses can achieve success by making informed decisions and taking advantage of opportunities.
Congratulations to Charlotte Kent ’98, PhD, associate professor of visual culture and head of visual and critical studies at Montclair State University. Kent received a National Endowment for the Humanities grant to study and interview global artists on the topic of agency in the creation of art using artificial intelligence.
Shanghailanders: A Novel BY JULI MIN ’05
Spiegel & Grau
Set in contemporary China, Min’s futuristic drama tells the story of a Shanghai family through their struggles and joy—beginning in 2040 and then backward in time to the year 2014. Min, who was born in Seoul and raised in New Jersey, sets her novel in several countries as she explores themes of marriage, relationships, and memories.
Water Finds a Way BY MEGHAN PERRY ’02
Delphinium Books
Can moving to a small town in Maine where she once lived bring Blake Alvares peace after being released from prison? In Water Finds a Way, the protagonist takes a job with a notorious young lobsterman and his 9-yearold son and starts to confront issues of love, home, and belonging, hard work at sea, and the desire to run again.
To be considered for “Bookshelf,” please send a brief summary of your recently published book and a high-resolution image of the book cover to magazine@andover.edu
Students enjoy the Abbot Bazaar (top photo) this spring, and a new art installation/bench by artist Jennifer Cecere ‘69 (above) livens up the Abbot campus.
JILL CLERKIN
All School
Things About Rabbit Pond
BY JILL CLERKIN
Tucked behind the Andover Inn, Rabbit Pond has played a central role in various activities since the Academy’s founding. In recent years, Outdoor Pursuits students have learned paddling techniques there. History classes visit Missionary Rock and biology classes test water quality, assess fish and wildlife populations, and observe the lively gosling hatch each spring.
For many years between 1898 and 1950, the pond served as the school’s varsity hockey rink. In 1942, boards were erected near the perimeter to prepare for competition. At one point, notes an alum, “the boards fell through the ice, as did the horse-drawn plow and mechanized plow, the tractor sent to rescue them, and, on at least one occasion, the puck, at a critical point in the game.” Thankfully, the Sumner Smith Hockey Rink was constructed in 1950.
Aquita Winslow, dean of the Office of Community and Multicultural Development (CAMD), was the keynote speaker at the town of Andover’s Juneteenth celebration. “Equity is the cornerstone of any thriving, inclusive community,” she said. “Juneteenth is not just about celebrating freedom; it’s about acknowledging the long and arduous journey toward equity.”
2The diminutive pond first came of note during the early 1800s when students from the Andover Theological Seminary walked to the area seeking solitude. Facing the pond is Missionary Rock, installed in 1910 at the 100th anniversary of the American Board of Foreign Missions. In total, 248 missionaries were trained at the seminary to carry the gospel “to the heathen world.”
3
At the same time students were praying, cows were grazing. Academy founder Samuel Phillips Jr. intended that all students be well-versed in the art of agriculture and learn to support themselves by growing vegetables. By the 1830s, multiple acres abutting Rabbit Pond—which included a farmhouse, barn, and silo— became the second of three working farms on campus.
The town of Andover’s first nine-hole golf course was created near Rabbit Pond in 1896 by architect Alexander Findley. A golf club—with $5 membership fees for gentlemen and $3 for ladies—formed in 1897, and members soon enjoyed a small clubhouse overlooking the pond. The course, also used by students and teachers, closed in 1909.
Left-handed pitcher Jonathan Santucci ’21 was drafted by the New York Mets in July. Not to be outdone, his classmate Jack Penney ’21, a shortstop from Notre Dame, was drafted by the Detroit Tigers.
Now appearing on Broadway, Chris Stack ’92 is a member of the cast of Stereophonic The play takes its audience inside a 1976 recording studio as an upand-coming rock band records its new album. Stack plays the drummer and de facto band manager.
In her ninth season as head coach of women's lacrosse at the College of the Holy Cross, Amanda Belichick ’03 was named the 2024 Patriot League Coach of the Year. Belichick has guided her Crusaders squad to the most wins since 2007.
According to campus legend, a group of Humphrey Bogart’s friends, incensed at his dismissal from Andover, tossed the innkeeper into Rabbit Pond, thinking he had reported Bogart “for being too attentive to his daughter.” The truth was less interesting—Bogart, Class of 1920, had to leave due to poor academic performance.
These “5 Things” are based on the research and writings of historian Gail Ralston, longtime PA chaplaincy office manager and member of the Andover Center for History & Culture.
Andover-Exeter hockey game, 1921
All School
ATHLETICS HONOREES
Two Abbot Academy alumnae, two Phillips Academy alumni, and a longtime member of PA’s athletic department were inducted into the 2024 Andover Athletics Hall of Honor in June. Pictured from left are Colin Koch, accepting for Randall F. Koch ’74, his late father; Jessica Birecki ’04, accepting for her mother, athletic trainer Kathryn A. Birecki Osborn P’04; Jane Cashin Demers ’73, P’03, ’05; Marla B. Milkowski Anderson ’89; and Henry McCance, accepting for Allison Jennings McCance ’60, his late wife.
Visit www.andover.edu/alumni/alumni-recognition for more information and a video of the induction ceremony.
Reunion is a time for celebration—and impact across generations. Here’s how this year’s classes came together for today’s Andover experience.
1,331 reunion donors $5.8M raised, including bequests 48% top class participation (PA 1964)
50th reunion achieved 42 percent giving
$1.9M most committed by any class this reunion (1984)
74 reunion fundraising volunteers
New Leadership
Trustee emeritus Gary Lee ’74, managing editor of the Oklahoma Eagle, one of the nation’s oldest Black-owned newspapers, recently added another feather to his cap. A respected veteran journalist, Lee was recognized with the 2024 Journalist of Distinction Award from the National Association of Black Journalists.
Christmas is coming early this year for Kevin Olusola ’06 and his Grammy-winning a cappella group Pentatonix, who will star in the upcoming Netflix holiday rom-com, Meet Me Next Christmas. The movie follows Layla, a woman in pursuit of a fairytale romance that leads her on a race against time to secure tickets to NYC’s hottest gig: the sold-out Pentatonix Christmas Eve concert.
At their May meeting, the Board of Trustees voted to appoint five new members, effective July 1, 2024.
Robert Barber ’68, P’03 is an attorney and former U.S. ambassador to Iceland. He has served in various volunteer roles at Phillips Academy, including on the Alumni Council and the Abbot Academy Fund board. Barber has chaired multiple class reunions and currently works as a partner at Prince Lobel law firm focusing on startups and nonprofit organizations. He holds degrees from Harvard College, Harvard Graduate School of Design, and Boston University School of Law. Barber was elected to serve a four-year term as an alumni trustee.
Anna Durham ’78 is the principal of Lekker LLC, which provides executive services for rapidly growing companies. She has held senior roles at General Electric in France and the Netherlands and was the COO of GE Capital France. Durham has served on the Andover Development Board and the Alumni Council and co-chaired the Annual Giving Board and has also contributed to several investment networks and nonprofit boards. She earned a BA from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Columbia Business School. Durham will serve a four-year term as a charter trustee.
Uche Osuji ’91 works at Arctaris Impact Investors focusing on economic development. He has been actively involved with Phillips Academy as a class co-head agent and Alumni Council member. A Duke University engineering and MBA graduate who serves on the Duke Alumni Board of Directors and several corporate boards, Osuji moved to New York to join Bear Stearns. Osuji will serve a four-year term as an alumni trustee.
Henry Smyth ’88 has been the head of school at Gilman School in Baltimore since 2013. He has extensive experience in independent school administration, having held positions at schools in Washington, D.C., North Carolina, and California.
Smyth has been a loyal Andover volunteer and serves on the boards of several local education organizations. He holds an AB from Princeton University and an MA from Stanford University. Smyth will serve a four-year term as a charter trustee.
Kent Strong ’89, P’27 , is the founder and CEO of K12connect, a staffing agency for K–12 education, and the finance and technology director at Sirius Thinking. He received the Distinguished Service Award for his volunteer work at Andover, including roles on the Alumni Council and the Annual Giving Board. Strong also volunteers at Princeton University and advocates for school choice through various organizations. He holds an AB from Princeton and an MBA from Columbia. Strong will serve a three-year term as an ex officio alumni trustee.
The World Comes to Andover
“Seeing
Katie Koh ’05
Psychiatrist
Working for the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program and Massachusetts General Hospital, Koh aims to improve mental health care systems for patients without homes. As a member of the street team, Koh provides clinical care for chronically homeless individuals and emphasizes the importance of building relationships with patients.
people living on the streets has become so widespread and commonplace that we’re anesthetized to it. It’s so important to keep in mind this is not how it has to be.”
Eli Merritt Political Historian, Author
A professor at Vanderbilt University, Merritt researches political polarization, ethical leadership, and demagogues and has contributed to news outlets such as the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Seattle Times, and Chicago Tribune. In 2023, driven by a commitment to defend democracy, Merritt authored Disunion Among Ourselves: The Perilous Politics of the American Revolution.
Curtis Chin
Writer, Producer, Director
One of the founders of the Asian American Writers’ Workshop in New York City, Chin has written for myriad media, including television, magazines, and newspapers. Chin has discussed his recent memoir, Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant, on PBS Newshour, CBS, and NBC. He is now working on a docuseries about the history of Chinese restaurants in America.
Artificial Intelligence Expert
A postdoctoral fellow at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto, Cao focuses on design, sustainability, and emerging technologies, including AI. Her work centers on developing AI systems that support education and advance the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
nature essay collection World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments is a New York Times bestseller and Barnes and Noble’s 2020 Book of the Year.
FOR THE LOVE OF
Phillips Academy’s primary dance choreographer for 29 years, instructor in theatre and dance Judith Wombwell rejoices in fluid movement. Her vision has shone brightly in performances such as The Nutcracker and Appalachian Spring. Elly Nyamwaya, instructor in English, uses the written and spoken word to encourage students out of their comfort zones and expand their perceptions of the world—and ultimately themselves.
These two retiring faculty members, while practicing in disparate fields, both shared a desire to learn and teach, and a commitment to PA’s longstanding mission of non sibi.
teaching
BY NANCY HITCHCOCK
PHOTOS BY DAVE WHITE
Elly
Instructor, English
Years at PA: 17
Attributes: Kind, thoughtful, warm, calm demeanor, positive presence, guiding light, generosity of spirit
Family: Wife Dolly; children Doris ’14, James, and Robbie ’24
Outside the Classroom: Nyamwaya has coached boys’ JV2 soccer, boys’ JV2 basketball, and intramural basketball. Nyamwaya has also been part of several important committees including Working Group of Grading and Assessment, committee on academic advising, and the Andover Anti-Racism Task Force.
Retirement Plans: Along with balancing his time with family in New England and Kenya, Nyamwaya plans to explore new countries.
AS THE STUDENTS DRUM RHYTHMICALLY ON THEIR DESKS, the teacher matches their beat, intensifying the rhythm on an African drum, which signals a student to step forward and recite a poem at the front of the classroom. This is just one scenario of how instructor in English Elly Nyamwaya fosters engagement and a love of learning.
When Nyamwaya first arrived at Phillips Academy in 2007, he brought with him a student-centered teaching approach established while working in Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. “I want every student to find an entry into the discussion,” he explains, talking about the use of student-led discussions and presentations. “You have to create the environment where everyone is comfortable and everyone has a chance to say something.”
Over the years, Nyamwaya has taught a variety of courses, including African Identities in American Literature and American Identities in African Literature, which explore an array of texts and films from both cultures. The assortment of classes, he says, “gave me an opportunity to introduce voices, settings, and experiences that were different from what most of my students had previously been exposed to.”
Nyamwaya is admired by students and colleagues alike for his wisdom, calming presence, kindness, and thoughtfulness. Corrie Martin, instructor in English, praises his mentorship. “Elly has done so much to teach our students to be globally minded thinkers and creators,” she says. “I will continue to be inspired by his love for teaching, learning, and our students.”
Patrick Rielly, instructor in English, notes that students often rave about the transformative experiences they've enjoyed in Nyamwaya’s classes. “Elly’s name has become a byword for the kind of classroom experience that students know will elevate them and bring them closer to their best selves,” says Rielly. “As they move beyond Andover, they know they are better off for having shared classes with Elly.”
WOMBWELL
Judith
Instructor, Theatre and Dance
Years at PA: 29
An Influential Mentor: Chelsea Hu ’24 was so inspired by dance instructor Judy Wombwell that she wrote an award-winning essay, “How to Find Your Balance,” about her that appeared in the New York Times. Another alumna, Sayer Mansfield ’10, “fell in love with modern dance” in 2009 when Wombwell brought the Mark Morris Dance Group to campus. Mansfield is now dancing with the Mark Morris Dance Group at The Metropolitan Opera.
Family: Daughter Natalie Wombwell ’01 worked in the Office of Admission from 2011 to 2020; she is now a licensed therapist.
Retirement Plans: Settled in Western Massachusetts, Wombwell will create origami art, which she often exhibits, and will consider teaching dance classes.
FOR NEARLY THREE DECADES, JUDY WOMBWELL HAS INFUSED the Department of Theatre and Dance with innovation, creativity, and passion. “Gorgeous, just gorgeous,” she says, praising pupils during class in the Pan Athletic Center’s dedicated dance space. Her teaching has inspired countless students, a few of whom have gone on to professional dance careers, including Graham Johns ’14 who joined the Boston Ballet immediately after graduating from PA.
Wombwell’s tenure saw the department expand from primarily ballet to a wide range of styles, including modern and postmodern techniques. And thanks to the Kayden Fund—established in 1970 to bring professional artists to campus—she invited innovative and renowned dancers and choreographers to interact with students and enhance their exposure to diverse dance perspectives. In addition to Kyle Abraham, Bill T. Jones, and Rennie Harris, another memorable Kayden Fund visitor was legendary choreographer Trisha Brown, who prompted students to perform in unique settings, including in the Addison Gallery and on rafts in the pool.
“These have been spectacular opportunities,” says Wombwell. Wombwell came to Andover in 1995 from Memphis, Tennessee, where she was a dancer, choreographer, and lead instructor at Ballet Memphis for eight years. She was the head of Andover’s dance department from 1995 to 2020 and chair of theatre and dance from 2014 to 2020.
For many years, Wombwell produced the beloved community performance of The Nutcracker, which included not only students, but also staff, faculty, and faculty families. “Judy’s work on The Nutcracker engaged the full PA community,” says instructor in English Stephanie Curci. “Her generosity of spirit, patience, and love were visible in each and every performance.”
Collaborations with other departments led to innovative courses and shows, such as Dance on Camera, and student performances at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. Wombwell also directed Appalachian Spring and Dido and Aeneas, cherishing the opportunity to combine live music with dance.
Reunion Weekend
FINIS ORIGINE PENDET
The end depends on the beginning. For thousands of alumni, the beginning was shaped at Andover. Over the course of three fun-filled days in early June, 4s and 9s were welcomed home—and the Class of 1974 became a proud member of the 50-year club. From celebrating milestones to reconnecting with the campus and special friends, Reunion 2024 was a weekend to remember. Scan the code at left for more photos.
Snow Day Magic (and Shenanigans)
BY DR. RAY HEALEY ’66
PHOTO BY JOE SEAMANS ’66
On Sunday, January 23, 1966, an epic nor’easter began blowing through around noon and continued for two days, dumping close to four feet of snow on the Phillips Academy campus.
Andover was all boys then, and the more than 800 of us in residence were thrilled to read the headline in The Phillipian: “Classes Canceled Monday in Unprecedented Decision as Snowstorm Buries PA.”
According to that stunning report, “A long tradition of austerity was broken when Dean G. Grenville Benedict succumbed to nature and canceled Sunday chapel and declared the following Monday a school holiday.”
For those growing up in the Northeast, winters playing in the snow marked childhood with wonderful memories.
The dean added that he could remember no precedent for the event in the school’s history. When the snow failed to relent on Monday, Dean Benedict declared that Tuesday would also be a snow day.
Even more memorable than the storm was the sport that it inspired: snow jumping.
Jubilant students began jumping out of dorm windows and leaping off the roofs of houses.
The most spectacular aerobatics took place outside the third-story window of my dorm, Foxcroft North, where a squad of varsity swimmers and divers and some skiers leaped repeatedly out of a back window into a mammoth pile of snow.
A couple of divers performed flips, but the most remarkable feat of the day was executed by the late Robby Browne ’66, who launched himself into the air wearing only a bathing suit and boots.
Earl Maxon ’66, who lived in Foxcroft North senior year, was one of the shovelers trying to keep the snowpile fresh as photos were being taken from above. And all the excitement even compelled me to make the jump from a second-story window, right down the hall from my dorm room. Michael Tansey ’66, who thought nobody should ever jump out of a perfectly good second-story window no matter how much snow had fallen, remembers promptly leaving the dorm after.
“I was concerned that the ‘fever,’ which seemed to overcome you, might afflict me,” he said.
These days, winters seem to bring far less snow than they used to but, even now, almost 60 years later, whenever a big blizzard hits my neck of the woods, I immediately flash back to that magical day in January 1966—and it still puts a smile on my face. Happy landings!
THANK YOU × 7,535 !
Thousands of alumni, families, and friends donated to Andover last school year. Every gift reveals a story of connection—and sparks a story of impact.
Explore more at andover.edu/vital.
at Andover, MA and additional mailing offices
Diggin’ Summer
Ande Wang of Hong Kong and Aeton Pararas of Marblehead, Massachusetts, screen for artifacts from Samuel Phillips’s Mansion House, just one of a multitude of learning adventures that youth from every quarter engage in during Andover Summer. The course, Dig This: Archaeology in Action, is sponsored by the Peabody Institute of Archaeology and taught by James Jimenez, Katie Lincoln, John Mayock ’84, and MC Post.