Pomfret Magazine | Fall 2022

The Academy

This original mystery musical will be a hard act to follow.

Staying Hungry

Inside: Meet Greg Melville ’68 The first eight-figure donor in Pomfret’s history.

FALL 2022

Celebrity chef Ming Tsai serves up some delicious wisdom.

TIM TALK

Anything but Teaching by Tim Richards

04

ON THE HILLTOP Boys Hockey Champs, Costa Rica Trip, College Matriculation, and More

STUDENT VOICES

Ben Bundy ’23 and Mary-Aliya Turay ’23

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT Ellen Browne

CHAPEL TALK

Fear by MK Marshall ’22

CLASS NOTES

Reunion 2022 and Alumni Association Awards

IN MEMORIAM Remembering Those We Lost

Pomfret School

398 Pomfret Street • PO Box 128 Pomfret, CT 06258-0128 860.963.6100 www.pomfret.org

Editor Garry Dow gdow@pomfret.org

Head Writer Corrine Szarkowicz

Copy Editor Tina Lefevre O’Connor

Class Notes Editor

Deb Thurston dthurston@pomfret.org

Design

Jordan Kempain

Contributing Writer

Tim Richards

Photographers

Allegro Photography

Aiden Choi ’23

Jim Gipe (Pivot Media)

Jordan Kempain

Tina Lefevre O’Connor

Lindsay Lehmann

Corrine Szarkowicz

We Want to Hear from You Really, we do. These are your stories and this is your magazine. If we’ve inspired, challenged, or disappointed you, please tell us about it.

Our Mission

Pomfret School empowers students to pursue lives of purpose and meaning.

Winter 2022 Corrections

In “First Female” (Page 5), we wrote that Olivia Raykhman ’21 was the first female from Pomfret to receive an appointment to West Point. Joanne LaComb ’01 was the first. She was appointed by New York Congressman John McHugh.

In “Breaking New Ground” (Page 40), we incorrectly identified the School Building as a National Historic Landmark. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Pomfret Magazine is published by Pomfret’s Communications Office © 2022

Printed on recycled stock by a facility that is both certified by the FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) and is an EPA Green Power partner.

Pomfret School does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, handicap, gender, sexual orientation, age, or national origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid, or other programs administered by the School.

features

Only Connect

For Greg Melville ’68, the first eight-figure donor in Pomfret history, it all comes down to just two words.

Hard Act to Follow

The premiere of this original mystery musical — The Academy — will be a hard act to follow.

Staying Hungry

Celebrity chef Ming Tsai served up some delicious wisdom as this year’s 2022 Schwartz Visiting Fellow.

Anything but Teaching

By Tim Richards, Head of School

Back when I was a bright-eyed, eighteen-year-old freshman at Connecticut College, I was asked to complete a form asking what I thought my professional purpose might be. I looked around. While a few fellow students pondered the question at length, I immediately wrote just three words, all in uppercase, each one underlined. Those three words?

ANYTHING BUT TEACHING

Many of you are familiar with my story, but for those who are not, a little bit of background: During my almost sixty years on this planet, home has always been on a boarding school campus. I grew up at a boarding school. I attended a boarding school. My parents taught and worked at a boarding school. Both of my grandfathers worked at boarding schools.

So by the time I got to college, I was ready for a change. For a while, I thought I might go into business, though I didn’t really know what that meant. Then, in the summer of 1984, headed into my senior year of college, I accepted a job as a teaching assistant at the Andover Summer session, and the rest is history.

The head is important, but so too is the heart. And sometimes the heart knows in an instant what it can take the head years to understand. I would have made a lousy math teacher, or CFO, or accountant. My interests (and skills!) did not lie in the world of numbers. But I was good at French, psychology, and a handful of sports, and that combination of interests and abilities made me a compelling teaching candidate. This is my thirty-eighth year doing what I believed my purpose was NOT.

Pomfret School empowers students to pursue lives of purpose and meaning. It is no coincidence that Pomfret’s new mission statement, which consists of just eleven words, centers on the word “purpose.” But what is purpose, and why is it so important?

Helen Keller once said, “True happiness... is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” In other words, the pursuit of purpose is selfishly good for us. And the research bears this out. Young people — all people, in fact — who have a sense of purpose in their lives are more satisfied and more optimistic about the future.

A recent article in Psychology Today outlined ten benefits of having purpose. These include increased happiness, longer lifespan, better health, better sleep, greater wealth, better relationships, and improved mental health. It would seem that we could all use a little more purpose in our lives.

American writer and humorist Mark Twain once said: “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” But finding a lifelong purpose — your why — is not necessarily easy. I had to overcome my own deeply fixed mindset about what I would do — or not do — in order to discover my purpose. You just have to look around at a world full of despair, loneliness, addiction, grievance, apathy, and isolation to see that purpose is not a given. It may very well be the exception.

I was not surprised to see that the internet is loaded with suggestions about finding purpose. One night, I went down a deep rabbit hole and found dozens of websites sharing the secrets to a purposeful life. Some suggested there were five steps, others twelve. But I really liked the simplicity of a few straightforward suggestions published on a website called Greater Good.

• First, the author says, “clarify your values.” Know what is important to you.

• Second, “know your strengths.”

• Third, “volunteer.” Do something for the benefit of other people. Not only will it also make you feel good, it could help you find your purpose.

• Fourth, echoing Form Dean Louisa Jones, “Say thank you. Say it often, and say it to many people.”

• Finally, the website suggests, do the “Magic Wand” exercise. Take a critical look at your home community, or the wider world, and ask yourself what positive change you want to make. Then commit yourself to being that change.

It is our responsibility to live our mission, which at least in part means we must empower students to pursue lives of purpose. We don’t want to determine any student’s purpose; that is for each of our young people to discover. What we provide are the fantastic and extensive opportunities in academic, extracurricular, and co-curricular programs that allow students to explore. More than ever before, we are striving to increase student agency, to put our young people in the driver’s seat for their own journeys through Pomfret. As they discover new interests and talents, they are lighting the matches that may lead to a burning passion, and perhaps with it, a nascent sense of purpose. Which would put them well ahead of me when I was their age.

This essay was adapted from a speech Tim gave in Clark Memorial Chapel earlier this year. To watch the full talk, visit our YouTube channel.

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”

— Mark Twain

Hanging Around

The cotton candy fibers spun around in the machine’s bowl before getting caught up on the paper cone. The arms of the inflatable game Meltdown rotated in circles, requiring students to jump over or duck to avoid getting knocked out of the competition. The Spikeball rotated in the area before hitting the net, and the volleyball spun in circles as it was knocked from one side of the court to the other. Students hung around the Quad, playing games and enjoying delicious treats at the Welcome Back Carnival organized by Student Activities.

As the night wore on and everyone became dizzy from the fun, mooncakes were served to celebrate the MidAutumn Festival. The treat is traditionally served during the festival in Asian cultures because its roundness symbolizes completeness and togetherness — the same energy felt on the Quad that evening.

Legend and Lore

Mashamoquet Brook State Park, located three miles from Pomfret School, is full of history, legends, and lore. It is where we initially held our field day, aptly named Mashamoquet Day. Though we now host the annual event here on the Hilltop, the name has remained the same. And, much like the park, Mashamoquet Day is full of history, legend, and lore.

Organized by the senior class, the day included traditional activities, like the three-legged race, wheelbarrow races, sack races, and egg toss; and fun new ones, such as T. rex tag, corn hole, and Oreo stacking. The main event was the tug-of-war competition. In the first round, the juniors took on the sophomores. After some back and forth, the juniors dug in and pulled the sophomores across the line. Next up, the freshmen and faculty faced off against the seniors. The upperclassmen ran out of rope and came up short. Tensions were high as the two victors went head-to-head in the championship round. Despite little time to recover from their first match-up, the faculty and freshmen were the dominant team once again, securing the title of tug-of-war champions of this year’s

Investigating Independence

Each year, juniors and seniors have the opportunity to take an independent study to focus on a topic that is of particular interest to them.

Ainsley Wilburn ’22 used an independent study to complete her portfolio and apply to the songwriting program at Belmont University. After spending hours revising lyrics and chords, she submitted two original songs with her application. All the hard work in her independent study paid off when she was accepted into the songwriting program of her dreams.

A group of students took student-centered learning to a whole new level. Ethan Forbes ’22 led a mini class on men’s mental health and sports. His students were three of his peers. The group quickly discovered that they enjoyed learning from one another.

“A mini class or interdependent study is a great way to keep seniors engaged in their last semesters on the Hilltop. It really reignites their enthusiasm for learning,” says Gwyneth Connell, director of the Grauer Family Institute and coordinator of the independent study program.

Is It Cloudy in Australia?

Winter evenings at Pomfret are jam-packed with things to do — which, historically, made it nearly impossible for students in Astronomy II: Nebulae, Galaxies, & Astrophotography to capture images of the constellations and galaxies pinwheeling over their heads each night. Until this year. The only major scheduling conflict the budding astrophotographers needed to worry about was: Is it cloudy in Australia?

During the term, Science Department Head and Director of the Olmsted Observatory Josh Lake and his class rented a SharpStar 140 mm telescope located in Yass, Australia. When the astronomy class met in the morning — and it was a clear night in Australia — they remotely controlled the telescope and collected the data they needed.

Another benefit of utilizing a telescope in the Southern Hemisphere is the ability to see the sky from a different angle than from the Northern Hemisphere. “It was really impressive how you could control something in another part of the world and see a totally different sky,” said one student.

The Rosette Nebula by Nick Ferrucci ’23

College Behind Bars

What is prison for? Who has access to educational opportunities? How can we have justice without redemption? History Teacher Doug Litowitz challenged the School to consider these questions and to address “what can and should each of us do about it?”

Three graduates of Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) who appeared in the Emmy-nominated PBS docuseries College Behind Bars were invited to the Hilltop to help shine a light on the subject. They detailed their experiences, the effects of the criminal justice system on their families, and the inequality in the public education system and programs for incarcerated individuals.

Shane McDonough ’22, Laisha Escalante ’23, and Erin Barbakoff ’22 moderated a panel discussion with the graduates about the transformative power of education, injustice, and race in America. While answering the questions, one of the panelists commented on the thoughtfulness of the discussion. “These were the best questions out of the three-and-a-half years I’ve been doing panels,” she expressed.

Hunters and Gatherers

For the majority of humankind’s existence, we have been hunters and gatherers. Everyone had a role in foraging for wild resources and collecting food. Recently, Advanced Anthropology students tried their hand at hunting and gathering their “next meal.”

Students began by collecting and chiseling branches. They attached arrowheads to make the perfect arrow and built their bow by wrapping twine around sticks. After constructing their tools, they attempted to shoot a deer made of paper bags and sticks. While most students were not successful in their hunt, they gathered an appreciation and respect for the skills and knowledge perfected by their ancestors.

“It was hard to scavenge for the perfect sticks — bendy but not too sturdy — to make our bows. It was challenging but rewarding when we found the right one,” says Maya Shocket ’23. “It made me appreciate how important the hunting and gathering skills are to survival.”

Little Holidays

Students in Honors and Advanced Photography celebrated and photographed the little things — and little holidays — in their 2022 calendar “Little, Unknown Holidays You Should Be Celebrating.” They each selected a lesser-known holiday, such as “National Teddy Bear Day” on September 9 and “Extraterrestrial Abduction Day” on March 20, and captured their images during their calendar shoot.

There was a chef making spaghetti for “National Spaghetti Day” on January 4, and a chicken eating some leafy greens for “World Vegan Day” on November 1. Some students recruited and shot local models. English Teacher Dave Ring was a Steve Jobs look alike and ate an apple while scrolling on his iPhone and sporting AirPods, in front of a MacBook for “National Apple Day” on October 21. Assistant to the Dean of Students Chris Lamothe’s dog, Libby, posed at Chris’ desk for “National Work Like a Dog Day” on August 5.

The whole class got in on the fun while striking a pose for “National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day” on April 19 and having a chocolate fondue party for “National Chocolate-Covered Anything Day” on December 16.

Armed with nets and buckets, students went fishing in the tilapia tanks of Pomfret’s passive solar aquaponics greenhouse. After a successful catch, they learned how to fillet and bag the tilapia for consumption. Fish are just one component of the food produced by the aquaponic system, which has been feeding members of the

Harvesting the fish was the first step in preparing the greenhouse to be shut down and cleaned for the summer. The basil, tomato, pepper, and lettuce plants were transplanted from the gravel beds to a community garden at Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group (TEEG) — giving them a second life.

The five-year-old greenhouse is a part of the Helios Project that originated as a Project: Pomfret project in 2013. Students study, design, and construct ways to improve the greenhouse — including how to build the most efficient growing bed. This spring, Alex Vincent ’23 worked with his classmates to engineer two new vertical growing towers. “Aquaponics taught me a lot of things. It is

Photo by Grace Falci ’22

A Fleeting Fly

Seven birds are flying around in the south staircase of the Centennial Academic & Arts Center. They are a part of the art installation, A Fleeting Fly, created by Cate Gallagher ’22. This could be the only opportunity most students will have to see the feathered creatures because they are all endangered.

The front side of the birds, suspended from the ceiling in the stairwell, were expertly painted from photos Cate researched. The back sides were painted a dark blue gradient and blended seamlessly with the eight-by-six-foot sky backdrop mounted on the wall behind the flock. Each of the birds originates from one of the world’s seven continents.

“When someone enters the stairway, the draft created causes the birds to rotate, giving the illusion of flight,” explained Cate. “When they spin around completely, they disappear into the blue background — a reminder that if we don’t act quickly, they could be lost forever.”

Kindness Looks Good on You

What happens when 365 students and eighty faculty members spend two weeks exploring and investigating something they are curious about? Well, among other things: kindness happens.

KIND.art — one of twenty-one Project: Pomfret groups — learned how to crochet, embroider, print t-shirts, and make beads. Their hand-crafted items carried messages of kindness and were sold to benefit The Hole in the Wall Gang’s initiative to bring crafting opportunities to hospital-bound children.

During Project: Pomfret, a signature program on the Hilltop, students spent ten days on a question that intrigued them and aligned with one of the six domains of our Certificate Program. Some explored the universal language of art, the great outdoors, personal finance, and fitness. The Project: Pomfret period culminated in a two-day project fair where students presented their findings to their classmates, teachers, and families.

By the end of the two weeks, students in most groups created more than things — they created memories and friendships that will last them a lifetime.

On the Road Again

After the pandemic-induced hiatus on travel ended, Pomfret was back on the road — and in the air — traveling to some new and familiar places.

During Project: Pomfret, our Global & Sustainable Development class resumed their annual trip to Costa Rica to survey jungles, beaches, and farms. At the same time, American Studies: Criminal Justice students visited Washington, DC to visit the DEA Museum, National Law Enforcement Museum, and other specialty museums.

Over the summer, students had the opportunity to travel to Europe for two-week intensive cultural immersion programs. In Salamanca, Spain, students received daily language instruction and stayed with host families. In north-central France, some students focused on painting and drawing and held a public exhibition of their work. Others studied French and visited neighboring villages and cities, immersing themselves in the culture and language.

In August, before the school year began, students got back to nature. During a new experiential learning opportunity in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, students deepened their connection with the land, the artists and farmers

they met, and one another. They mountain biked, hiked, swam, and engaged in wellness practices, including yoga and meditation. Off the coast of Maine at Hurricane Island, Marine Ecology and Climate Change students got their feet wet while exploring the changing ecology.

All of Pomfret’s travel experiences offered more than course credit. Students will never forget the experiences they had, the friends they made, the places they visited, and the lessons they learned.

Modeling Diplomacy

Nine Pomfret students participated in the United Nations Association of Greater Boston’s Worcester Model UN Conference. It was a day full of public speaking, diplomacy, and critical thinking. In advance of the conference, students spent months researching, learning, and preparing to represent their assigned country on one of three committees. They discussed animal trafficking and assuring conservation, inequalities heightened by Covid-19, and international cooperation to increase access to STEM education.

Javier Alonso Valcarcel ’22, assigned to represent France, was recognized by the UN Development Programme High School Committee as the best public speaker.

Pomfret Stands with Ukraine

The History & Social Science Department and the afterschool community service group led Pomfret’s response to the Ukraine-Russia crisis. The History Department held open forums to allow students, faculty, and staff to have open, civil, and respectful conversations about the conflict. The community service group designed and sold co-branded Ukraine and Pomfret T-shirts and stickers and donated the profits to UNICEF — raising nearly $800.

“Our world needs informed citizens, and the programs we offered were productive and informative,” said Head of School Tim Richards. “I hope we will all keep those suffering as a result of what is happening in our hearts and minds, as the impact — no matter how long the invasion continues — will be felt well into the future.”

Artwork by Anders Kirkland ’23

Not Your Average Joe

Connecticut Congressman Joe Courtney visited Pomfret this spring and discussed the state of international enrollment at independent schools with Dean of Enrollment Management Susan Mantilla-Goin.

“It was a pleasure to welcome Congressman Courtney back to the Hilltop,” said Mantilla-Goin. “A diverse student body from across the country and the world is central to the vibrancy of our community.” In addition to discussing the evolving landscape of international admissions, they spoke about the life skills students gain from meaningful cross-cultural engagement, including problem-solving, empathy, and respect.

Making an Impact

Students rolled up their sleeves and got to work on Pomfret’s annual Day of Service. Members of the freshman, junior, and senior classes lent a helping hand at twenty-six nonprofit organizations and parks and gave back to the community in which they live and learn.

They pulled weeds, planted vegetable seedlings, spread mulch, and picked up trash. While most spent time beautifying their community, some students had the opportunity to work directly with clients of the local nonprofit organizations.

“The feedback from the organizations that hosted us was overwhelmingly positive,” said Director of Wellbeing Erin Fisher, who organized the Day of Service. “People were really impressed by our students and extremely grateful for our help. We had a tremendous impact on the wider community.”

Open for Business

After months of planning, Pomfret’s food pantry held an official grand opening! Guests streamed into the space created by the Topics in Food Insecurity class, co-taught by Anne Richards and Brenda Bullied and supported by The Rev. Dr. Thomas L. Hanson Jr. Fund. They were hungry to learn about the food pantry and new home of Pomfret Power Packs. Since 2018, this student-driven organization has delivered bags of groceries to local school children (and their families) who are experiencing food insecurity. While the need has fluctuated, the program has supported an average of twenty-five families per year since the inception of the program.

While putting the final touches on the pantry during the winter term, the class also focused on the business aspects of running a community service organization. Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group’s (TEEG) Executive Director Anne Miller taught them the importance of stewardship and cultivating the necessary donor relationships.

During the spring term, the class turned their efforts to planning and executing a fundraiser. They teamed up with Ceramics Arts and Sculpture Teacher Sarah MacLeod’s students for the annual Empty Bowls fundraiser and raised more than $2,000 by selling handcrafted ceramic bowls filled with ice cream sundaes.

FOOD ASSISTANCE FOR LOCAL CHILDREN

50/50

Today, females make up nearly 50 percent of the student body. During Women’s History Month, our students looked to the past and future while examining the issues of gender equity and equality.

50/50, the student group dedicated to gender equality at Pomfret, met with faculty and school administrators to brainstorm ways to improve the experience for female students. The group also held a webinar featuring alumnae Kay Cowperthwait ’87, Katrin Urban ’99, and Kirsten Therrien ’10. They discussed athletics on and beyond the Hilltop, self-discovery through sports, and equality in professional sports.

“I hope all the work we did during Women’s History Month will continue long after we have graduated from Pomfret,” said Sarah Rumley ’22.

The Power of Visibility

During Asian American Pacific Island Heritage Month, the Asian Student Association (ASA) organized a chapel service to share their culture and experiences. The theme of the month was “The Power of Visibility.” Students were seen and heard through musical performances, poetry readings, and personal Chapel Talks.

In her introduction, Wonji Choi ’24 detailed the history of Asians in the Americas. She described how they were known as the “ghost of society” — people who worked hard and followed the rules in silence. “While it will not solve all the problems we face, the stories we share are an important step forward in making a society where everyone belongs,” she said.

Listen

On the Hilltop, the Day of Silence goes beyond taking a vow of silence as a stand against the harassment and bullying experienced by the LGBTQ+ community. It is a celebration of story-sharing and art performances as an expression of support for all members of the LGBTQ+ community, particularly those who feel they need to silence or hide their identities.

Before the vow of silence began, members of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) danced, sang, and recited poetry in chapel to express their experiences as members of the LGBTQ+ community or allyship. During his speech in chapel, Liam Ventresca ’24 said, “Yesterday we were loud. Today we are silent. Tomorrow we will act. And for the rest of our lives we will make change.”

Champs

For the boys varsity hockey team, the phrase “offense wins games, but defense wins championships” was a common refrain last season. To beat Rivers in overtime in the quarterfinals, St. Mark’s in the semifinals, and Frederick Gunn in the finals of the Piatelli/Simmons Small School tournament, Pomfret had to play their best team defense of the year, and the boys were up to the challenge.

In the championship game, the team commanded the corners and the front of the net, filled shooting lanes, and demonstrated a willingness to block shots. Kellen Beauton ’22 — who earned All-NEPSAC West Honorable Mention honors — was a star in the net, making some big saves and giving Pomfret a chance to win.

Pomfret took an early lead in the game with a goal from Nils Forselius ’22 in the first period and another from Jesse Heinberg ’24 in the second. Going into the third period with an even score, the Griffins regrouped. Nils scored his second goal of the game and helped Pomfret retake the lead. With a minute left in the game, Declan Chapman ’22 sealed the victory with an empty-net goal.

“The coaches are extremely proud of the physical, mental, and emotional toughness these boys displayed throughout the Piatelli/Simmons Small School Championship,” said Head Coach Matt Goethals. “They earned something special and made their mark on this hockey program and our school community.”

Photo taken by Aiden Choi ’23

Squashing the Competition

The girls and boys squash teams earned titles at their respective New England Class E Tournaments last winter.

The boys varsity squash team achieved their goal of becoming New England Class E champions at the team tournament. The team bested Trinity-Pawling 6-1 in the opening round, Suffield 5-2 in the semi-finals, and Canterbury 6-1 in the finals.

Pomfret’s No. 4 Lexie Schwartz ’24 finished first in her bracket at the round-robin style New England Girls Class E tournament. She dominated her morning matches with a three-game win over Canterbury and Concord. The final match against Williston was not easy. During the fourth game, she took control, scored crucial points, and continued the momentum into the fifth game. Lexie’s win helped the Pomfret team place third in the tournament.

Wrestling Their Way to the Top

Pomfret’s wrestling team had some impressive finishes in several tournaments during the postseason. At the Western New England tournament, Kellen Horst ’22 placed first in his weight class. Six Griffins also found their way onto the podium and helped the team place sixth out of fourteen teams. The following weekend at the New England tournament, Kellen placed third alongside his teammates Jake Marasco ’22, who finished fifth, and Johnna Romanek ’23, who finished second in the girls division. Assistant Coach Josh Wildes was also named the NEPSWA Assistant Coach of the Year. Kellen, Jake, and Johnna competed in the national tournament, and Johnna finished second in her class.

NEPSAC Honors

Point guard Ben Pearce ’22 was named the NEPSAC Class B Co-player of the Year. During his time at Pomfret, the postgraduate’s play, effort, and leadership were stellar. He was frequently Pomfret’s top scorer, including in the NEPSAC quarterfinal loss, where he scored twenty points. Ben’s tenacious defense forced crucial turnovers in many games throughout the season. Evan Boyd ’22 and Kyle Jones ’22 also received honorable mention from NEPSAC.

Collegiate Athletes

This fall, six recent Pomfret grads started their freshman year at their respective colleges as Division I and II student-athletes. During their senior year on the Hilltop, they signed National Letters of Intent to play at the elite level while pursuing their college education. Grant Maurer joined the Assumption University DII soccer team. This winter, the DII basketball courts will be home to three former Pomfret hoopsters. Mia Fuller will play at Wilmington University, Tyler Dendy at Caldwell University, and Kyle Jones at St. Thomas Aquinas College. In the spring, Ethan Forbes will throw the javelin at the DI level at the University of Rhode Island, and Shane McDonough will play DI lacrosse at Canisius College. Dozens of additional student-athletes from the Class of 2022 will also compete at the DIII level.

All-American

Nate Watson ’23 was selected as an All-American for the New England Eastern Conference by USA Lacrosse. He set Pomfret’s single-season point record with 101 points and the record for the most single-season goals with 81 goals. Nate is only the second Pomfret player to be named All-American as a junior.

In the Colonial Lacrosse Tournament, Nate contributed two goals in the first tournament win over Williston and two goals in the championship round loss against The Frederick Gunn School.

Photo taken by Aiden Choi ’23

Photo taken by Aiden Choi ’23

On Their Way

Each member of the Class of 2022 worked with the College Counseling team throughout their time on the Hilltop. Together, they explored and discovered colleges and universities, applied for admission, reflected on the acceptance decisions they received, and, ultimately, chose the right college for themselves. While each student’s college search is different, we spoke with five former seniors to learn how they reached the next stop on their academic journey.

Kisuq Levy dreamed of going to Ringling College of Art and Design since she was a freshman when she first learned about their gaming art degree — one of the top programs in the world. When she came to Pomfret at the start of her junior year, she began working with her college counselor, Associate Director of College Counseling Sarah Gawronski, to identify other art schools that offered a gaming art degree, but Ringling was the goal. Kisuq also worked with Digital Arts Teacher Anthony Foronda to tailor her art portfolio for each school’s application. Early on, she received some acceptances to great colleges. However, it was not until April 30 that she heard from Ringling — the day before National College Decision Day. “I’m so glad I waited to make my decision before committing to another school,” says Kisuq. “When I received my acceptance, I was so excited, and now I’m a Ringling College of Art and Design student — something I have been dreaming of.”

Alex Navarro knew about Connecticut College since middle school. It wasn’t until he started exploring his options that he knew it was where he wanted to continue his academic career. Coaches and friends from his hometown squash developmental program attended Connecticut College and spoke highly of their team and the school. Alex kept their advice in the back of his mind when looking at schools and ultimately decided on Connecticut College because it was close to home and felt like a “bigger Pomfret.” He worked with Gawronski to apply for Early Decision and was accepted. “I was so excited to get into Connecticut College,” says Alex. “I already know many of the players on the squash team. They have been so supportive of me becoming a part of their community.”

Coco Williams was excited about the community that awaited her at Tufts University this fall. She found her perfect fit after narrowing down her choices. She wanted a school that was not too big or too small, close to a city but not in a city, and had a diverse community. The medium-sized school outside of Boston was everything

she was looking for. “Tufts is dedicated to an inclusive and collaborative environment,” says Coco. “While many schools preach about diversity, I saw real examples of how Tufts has initiatives in place, such as the Africana Center and their array of clubs and organizations.” When applying to Tufts, she worked with Associate Director of College Counseling Art Horst. He helped her finalize her essays and prepare for her interview, all the while instilling confidence in her. When doubt began to creep in as the decisions were being released, Director of College Counseling Bruce Wolanin worked to help calm her nerves. When she finally received her acceptance, Coco celebrated with Wolanin and Horst.

Tais Mota knew just how stressful selecting and applying to colleges could be and was fortunate enough to have the support of the College Counseling team to help her find the right school. Originally from Brazil, Tais came to Pomfret to play soccer. But before she stepped foot on the Hilltop, she learned she needed to have surgery to repair her ACL. Despite being diligent in her sports rehabilitation, she later discovered she would need to have a second reparative surgery. Her chance to be recruited for a collegiate athletic scholarship was dwindling as her senior year began. Wolanin helped Tais identify schools with financial aid opportunities and scholarships for international students. Ultimately, she was accepted to the University of South Florida. “I’m excited to attend a school in a warm climate, have the opportunity to study biomedical engineering, and make some great friends,” says Tais.

Kaya Horvath also experienced a soccer injury that altered his path to college. He planned to play soccer in college, but after breaking his leg only weeks after arriving on the Hilltop as a freshman, he started acting in the school musical and decided he wanted to study theater in college. With the help of Gawronski, he narrowed down colleges to explore and began recording monologues and auditioning over Zoom to supplement his application. He was accepted to Washington College. “Applying to colleges and finding the right one was hard during the pandemic. I did not get to go on many tours, and my focus was on other things,” says Kaya. “But, I found a school that I’m excited about.”

Each student’s college acceptance story is unique, and for many, the journey is full of twists and turns. But in the end, they all found the right college for themselves.

We spoke with five recent graduates about getting into the college of their dreams.

2022 Matriculation

Assumption University

Babson College

Belmont University

Beloit College

Bentley University Boston College Boston University (3)

Bryant University (2)

Caldwell University

Canisius College

Centre College Chapman University

Claremont McKenna College

Clemson University

Coastal Carolina University

Colby College

College of William and Mary Connecticut College (2)

Cornell University

Emerson College

Emory University (2) George Washington University (4)

Gettysburg College Hamilton College (2) High Point University

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Indiana University - Bloomington

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New York University

Northeastern University (2)

Oberlin College

Pennsylvania State University Purdue University Rider University

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Rochester Institute of Technology (2)

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Smith College

St. Lawrence University St. Thomas Aquinas College

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Syracuse University Technische Universiteit Eindhoven The American University of Paris

The New School (2)

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Tulane University

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University of California - San Diego University of California - Santa Barbara University of Colorado Boulder

University of Connecticut University of Denver

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University of Richmond

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University of Wisconsin - Madison

Vassar College

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Washington University in St. Louis (2)

Wellesley College

Wentworth Institute of Technology

Wesleyan University (2)

Williams College

Wilmington University Worcester Polytechnic University

Paddling and Palling Around

The senior class did not let the cloudy and chilly weather dampen the mood on the annual senior trip to Crab Apple Whitewater in Charlemont, Massachusetts. Their pumping adrenaline kept them warm on their twentyfive-mile adventure. Everyone enjoyed splashing around in the Deerfield River’s calm waters before some got soaked while going over the rapids.

Golden Gala

Before heading off to the highly anticipated Prom, juniors and seniors posed for pictures with one another and faculty members at their favorite Hilltop locations. The theme of the evening was a Golden Gala, and many of the dresses and tuxedos had hints of metallic colors.

After arriving at The Mansion at Bald Hill, they enjoyed a delicious dinner. The DJ got everyone out and onto the dance floor, and students had a great time singing and dancing the night away.

All Eyes on Them

One by one, members of the Class of 2022 filed across the Commencement stage and received their diplomas. Before them, more than 500 proud family members, faculty, and friends looked on with wide grins. It was a pictureperfect ending to a picture-perfect day — and all eyes were on them.

Bridget Horst, the selected class speaker, closed her speech by saying, “We all have some pretty great stories from the past four years, and those memories are always available in our minds. We made this place home because of the relationships we built, and those will come with us no matter where we go.”

Kaitlyn “Mak” Curley was named Second in Class, and Shelby Dubitsky earned First in Class honors. The Wendell D. Mansfield Cup, awarded each year to a sixth form student who, by a vote of the faculty, best exemplifies in school life the qualities of desire, drive, and determination, went to Tatum Fisher. School President Javier Alonso Valcarcel received the School’s highest honor — The Founder’s Medal — for his scholarship, character, leadership, and determination.

The Honorable Eric D. Coleman ’69, Connecticut Superior Court judge and former member of the Connecticut legislature, served as the commencement speaker. In his speech, he reminded the Class that democracy is not a spectator sport and encouraged them to enter the world as responsible citizens who drive change. “You’ve passed your written test and your road test. You’re about to receive your official driver’s license,” said Coleman. “Congratulations, graduates. Now, let’s get to driving that change!”

FACULTY & STAFF NEWS

A BUSLOAD OF NEW FACES

Back Row, L-R:

Sydney Stith, Coach, Academic Support Specialist

Dylan-Ernst Schäfer, English Teacher

Marcela “Mo” Gaitán, Director of Athletics and Afternoon Programs

Middle Row, L-R:

Maegan Windus, Science Teacher

Susana Andrade Centeno, Spanish Teacher

Mackenzie Christensen, Music Teacher

Front Row, L-R:

Elvis Ghirdharie, Adjunct Academic Support Specialist

Johan Robinson, English Teacher, Academic Support Specialist

Ronald “Ronnie” Turner, Admissions Counselor

Jeremy “Remy” Hatfield ’13, Mathematics Teacher

Not Pictured:

Chareese Allen, Nurse

Dr. Ruth G. Benet, Medical Director

Ryan Daveau, Groundskeeper

Nicole Garrepy, Gifts Administrator

Brandon Kaplan, Music Teacher

Elizabeth Madzin, Leadership Giving Officer

Shawn MacLeod, Security Guard

Rick O’Neal, Music Teacher

Eric Staplins, HVAC Technician

BABIES “ “ US

On April 29, 2022, Annelise Kristine Gebb surprised her parents, Johanna Mawson (Advancement 2015–present) and her husband David Gebb, by arriving six weeks early — approximately forty-eight hours after Pomfret’s Day of Giving. What a gift!

Jordan Kempain (Communications 2013–present) and his wife Sarah became the proud parents of Stephen Michael Kempain on May 7, 2022.

Charlotte (English 2017–present) and Quinn McMahon (Admissions 2017–present), and big sister Willow welcomed William “River” Porter McMahon on August 1, 2022.

NEW ROLES

The following faculty and staff members stepped into new roles this year:

Brandon Andrzejewski, Grounds Supervisor

Pat Body, Acting Dean of Students

Jackie Deojay, Registrar

Becky Grassi, Manager of Events

Jim Humes, Assistant Director of Facilities Services

Louisa Gebelein Jones, Form Dean/Student Activities Manager

Lindsay Lehmann, Art Department Head

Paul Proulx, Campus Services Supervisor

Jon Sheehan, Data Systems Administrator

JJ Tanguay, Campus Services Manager

Rob Toste, Form Dean

Ryan Vertefeuille, Winter Operations Manager/Small Projects Lead

Josh Wildes, Mathematics Department Head

NEW DEANS IN TOWN

Following the departure of former Dean of Students Wes Jenkins, Pat Boyd is now the acting dean of students. The Dean of Students Office welcomes Rob Toste and the return of Louisa Gebelein Jones. They will join Aijha Clark as form deans.

Stephen Michael Kempain

Annelise Kristine Gebb

William “River” Porter McMahon

WEDDING BELLS

(1) Joel and Corrine (King) Szarkowicz (Communications 2021–present) tied the knot on June 18, 2022. The Communications Department shared in the celebration.

(2) Mary Screen (Science 2016–2021) and Shane Dunphy ’11 (Admissions 2017–2022) eloped in Yosemite National Park on July 9, 2022.

(3) Cazzie (English) Salvo (Learning Support 2021–present) and Seb Salvo (Mathematics 2021–present) were married in Boston, Massachusetts, on August 20, 2022.

RETIREMENTS

After more than 110 years of collective service, Dr. Nancy Austin (Health Center 2001–2022), Susan Lamb (Business Office 2006–2022), Ellen McGloine (Academics 1991–2022), Paul Smith (Facilities 1998–2022), and Andrew Quigley (Facilities 1996–2022) have retired from Pomfret School. Thank you for your work and dedication!

Dr.

Nancy Austin

Susan Lamb

Ellen McGloine

Paul Smith

Andrew Quigley

Always Learning

At Pomfret, our students are not the only ones learning — our faculty are always expanding their knowledge. In April, members of the Teaching and Learning Committee traveled to Helsinki, Finland for The Teacher Leader Fellowship Program Abroad and brought back components from one of the best education systems in the world.

This summer, school leaders from around the country, including some of Pomfret’s own, took part in our five-day, residential Departmental Leadership Institute at Pomfret School, led by Gwyneth Connell, director of the Grauer Family Institute. Participants learned skills to use departmental time effectively, facilitate meaningful and productive feedback conversations, and guide organizational change.

Lifesaver

More than a decade ago, Math Teacher Josh Wildes ’04 joined the Gift of Life Marrow Registry — a database of potential bone marrow and stem cell donors. In the fall of 2021, he received a phone call that he was a match for a forty-four-year-old man battling acute myeloid leukemia. A month later, he flew to Florida and made his donation. “The process was not easy. But it is possible that I added another forty years or more to a man’s life,” says Wildes. “How is that not worth it?” Wildes shared his story with the School and inspired more than sixty students and faculty ages 18 to 35 to sign up for the Registry at a drive he organized on the Hilltop.

Pomfret Hires New Athletic Director

In July, Pomfret welcomed Marcela “Mo” Gaitán as the Director of Athletics and Afternoon Programs. She brings nearly two decades of coaching and administrative experience to the position, having previously served as the associate director of athletics and co-curricular activities at The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. “Her work as a prep school and college coach, accomplishments as an international athlete, and proven track record as an athletics and co-curricular administrator really set her apart from many other talented candidates,” said Head of School Tim Richards.

Bef ore starting at Pomfret, Gaitán competed in her second World Lacrosse Women’s World Championship in Towson, Maryland this summer, as a member of the Colombian team. She has taken the reins from Jon Sheehan, who returns to his roots in the Technology Department as Pomfret’s data systems administrator.

A Q&A

STUDENT VOICES

with Ben Bundy ’23 and Mary-Aliya Turay ’23

Inspired by the leaders who came before them, School President Ben Bundy (BB) and School Vice President Mary-Aliya Turay (MAT) are determined to make every student feel welcome and supported during their time on the Hilltop.

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO RUN FOR SCHOOL PRESIDENT?

BB: I love this school and want to make it the best for students. When I was running for president, my mission was to make Pomfret the best it could be. I have enjoyed my experience in student government. After serving as a form senator and seeing last year’s School President Javier Alonso Valcarcel ’22 and School Vice President Cate Gallagher ’22 in action, I knew I was up for the challenge.

MAT: I knew that I wanted to run for president at the start of my junior year after seeing everything that Michaela Nsubuga ’21 did when she served as the president during my sophomore year. Pomfret is already such a great place, but there are some things we can work on to make it even better. My main goal is for everyone to feel like they belong here and can be themselves.

WHAT ARE SOME INITIATIVES THAT YOU WANT TO IMPLEMENT AS STUDENT LEADERS?

BB: I want to hear feedback from everyone. Whether you’ve been here for many years or just arrived, I want to know what you’re thinking and feeling. I want to begin new initiatives to get that feedback and make Pomfret an even better place.

I also want to focus on mental health and explore the possibility of mental health days. Things can pile up when you are in the thick of it. Students can get swamped and overwhelmed. It would be great to have the ability to coordinate a day off with your advisor to catch up on your work or sleep and get back on top of things.

INTERVIEW by Corrine Szarkowicz

MAT: I agree. The idea of mental health days sounds awesome. I hope we can make it happen. We also need to start having conversations about feeling like you belong and addressing any concerns about inclusivity in advisory groups or School Meetings.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE MEMORY AT POMFRET?

BB: My favorite memory is winning the Piatelli/Simmons Small School Championship this past March. There was no better feeling than that. The win, and my team and coaches, mean a lot to me.

MAT: I have loved the musical performances I have been a part of — even the virtual one in 2021. Working with Mr. Pearson and Mr. Lamb on an original show this past year was so interesting. I have never done that before, and it’s something that I’ll never forget.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPOT ON CAMPUS?

BB and MAT: The Tuck!

MAT: I love hanging out there with all my friends.

BB: I also love the hill that overlooks the turf. I like to watch lacrosse and field hockey games there. It’s also a great spot for sunsets.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE POMFRET TRADITION?

BB: For me, it’s the Sundial ceremony. There’s something special about getting dressed up with friends and classmates and being part of a community tradition. It helps boost your confidence for the year ahead.

MAT: Even though it’s a new tradition, I would have to say Pomfret / Millbrook Day is my favorite. I loved being part of the inaugural year. It was fun to make the posters. It doesn’t hurt that we beat them, too — I’m really competitive.

WHAT CLUBS, ACTIVITIES, SPORTS, AND LEADERSHIP POSITIONS HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN AT POMFRET?

BB: I’ve been a key head for Admissions. I loved interacting with people and giving tours. This past spring, I was captain of the crew team. It was great to get a leadership position as a junior. In the winter, I played ice hockey. I was also a form senator — that was a lot of fun.

MAT: I’ve been a QUEST leader, a part of student activities, and a member of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) and the Black Student Union (BSU). Last year, I co-founded GriFFeelings, a club aimed at destigmatizing mental health.

WHAT IS ONE THING EVERY PROSPECTIVE OR NEW STUDENT SHOULD KNOW ABOUT POMFRET?

BB: There are some amazing people here at Pomfret with many different personalities, ages, and backgrounds. Pomfret is what you make of it — what you put in is what you get out. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and spread your wings.

MAT: Everyone should know the community has your back. As much as you want to stay in your shell, you should put yourself out there and let the community get to know you. That’s something that I wish I’d known when I started at Pomfret.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN YOUR LAST YEAR AT POMFRET?

BB: I’m looking forward to working with Mary-Aliya and others to make Pomfret the best place it can be. It’s going to go by so quickly. In no time at all, there will be two weeks before graduation. Senior year will have its ups and downs, and I’ll be so busy. But, I plan on being present in every moment I can during my last year on the Hilltop.

MAT: I’m excited to continue to put myself out there. When I stepped onto campus my first year as a sophomore, I did not say anything or talk to anyone. Last year, I got out of my shell and talked to more people. My role as vice president will help me become more confident.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO AFTER LEAVING THE HILLTOP?

BB: I want to carry a lot of what I learned and did at Pomfret into what I’ll do later in life. I enjoy being a leader and would like to seek out leadership positions. I’m not sure what I want to study in college, but I’m interested in political science.

MAT: I want to major in pre-med. As a child, I always loved getting a check-up at the doctor’s office. After each visit, I’d wear my dad’s white collared shirt, grab my fake stethoscope, and act like I was a doctor treating my family. When I was in second grade, a new series called Doc McStuffins began airing on the Disney Channel, and I was hooked. The main character, Doc, was a young doctor who looked just like me. There were few characters in the media that I could really relate to. Seeing an African-American character in the medical field only furthered my aspiration to become a doctor!

ELLEN BrOwNE

Math Is Music to Her Ears

By Corrine Szarkowicz

Mathematics and Science Teacher Ellen Browne spent the first twenty-five years of her career teaching music. But her love for playing with numbers and the excitement she gets from math made her swap her violin for a calculator.

In a science lab, Mathematics and Science Teacher Ellen Browne helps Nathan Kikonyogo ’25 — a music-loving student — program a micro:bit, using Python code, to play his favorite song. After a couple of tries, the pocketsized computer chirps the popular tune, “Rewrite the Stars.” The new lesson for her Science by Design class is music to Browne’s ears and combines her passion for music, math, and science. Helping students understand and learn the mechanics behind these projects is what Browne loves to do. It keeps her coming back to the classroom year after year — even after forty-three years of teaching.

W hile she now spends her time in the lab tinkering with calculators and other gadgets, the music room is where Browne started teaching. An accomplished musician who once played

for President Gerald Ford, she can play anything with strings and a bow. She began her teaching career when she was a sophomore in high school. “Someone asked me to teach their child how to play the violin. I still remember the room we were in, the student, and the violin case,” recalls Browne. “But most of all, I remember thinking: this is what I want to do!” Inspired by that moment, she taught music to more and more students, created a summer music camp, and coordinated chamber ensembles. She continued giving lessons once a week while she studied music education at Boston University. After college, Browne taught music for twenty-five years before joining Pomfret’s music department.

S he began tutoring students in math not long after starting at Pomfret. “A student needed help with their math, and I love

playing with numbers. My dad taught math — I guess it is in my DNA,” said Browne. “I can hear music of course — and classical music makes me happy. But, math speaks to me in another way that excites my brain. When I read a math problem, I have to solve it.” Before Browne knew it, she went from tutoring one student to helping all his friends. In the fall of 2003, she volunteered to teach a math class. “It was a week into the fall term, and Pomfret found themselves with an extra math class on their hands,” recalled Browne. “I agreed to do it on a Friday afternoon, spent the entire weekend preparing, and was in the classroom Monday morning.”

S he quickly realized that, unlike music, she could not hear when a student was making a mistake. “When teaching music, I could hear if a student was playing an F sharp that should be an F natural, or if they were holding that half note too long. But, in math, I had no idea if they were solving the equations correctly while I was teaching them at the board.” She quickly discovered some teaching tools through Texas Instruments that helped her monitor her students’ success.

Technology is not the only thing Browne uses in her classroom to help students understand a concept. She often goes back to her roots, bringing in her violin to teach the importance of taking accurate notes and practicing. She instructs her students to carefully observe and notate how she plays “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” After, she asks them to play it back for her. Most are hesitant to try. “It teaches them a powerful lesson that just because you watch the teacher solve a problem and you understand the reasoning doesn’t replace the need to try it for yourself and the importance of practicing the skills and concepts,” she explains.

Her musical wheelhouse is much larger than the simple five-verse song. Outside of the classroom, Browne continues to play in the Willimantic Orchestra and the Northeast Connecticut Community Orchestra — in which she is also the assistant conductor. The Pomfret School community is lucky to have the opportunity to hear Browne play whatever string and bow instrument is needed during the Candlelight service and in special musical chapel services. She considers her performance of “North” by Sleeping at Last with French Teacher Tim Deary ’05 as notable as the time she played for President Ford. “After twenty-five years teaching music, I’m happy just playing and not teaching it. I’ll always play music. It’s a part of who I am.” Being a teacher is also a part of who Browne is. “I’m excited each year for a new group of

students to teach,” she says. “I’ll stop teaching when I don’t look forward to being in the classroom.”

Browne’s musical background also helps her understand the different ways her students comprehend problems. “There’s no one right way to interpret the notes on a sheet of music; there are an infinite number of ways. The same is true with math. I always love it when students think and solve the questions differently,” says she. “I think my open-mindedness and creative teaching are influenced by my experience teaching and playing music.”

In Browne’s math class, students go beyond solving word problems in a textbook. They often use TI calculators and educational robots to test their equations and solutions. “I always tell my students if you ever have to solve for x in your career, please let me know,” shares Browne. “No one has ever come back and done that. I know they will have had to think logically and follow steps to proceed through a problem. It’s why I love to teach coding in math class because it is such a logical way of teaching.”

Her love for coding prompted her to take on a new challenge — engineering. In 2015, she began co-teaching Engineer Your World, an advanced engineering class. From 2020-2022, she also taught the freshman Science by Design class. She helped students build and code automatic dispensers, solar ovens, and self-watering gardens. And sometimes, when she finds a fellow music-lover like Nathan

Fear

You feel it in your heart first. Its beat speeds up and gets louder in your chest until you can feel it in your ears. Your hands start to get sweaty, and maybe you’re shaking a little bit at the thought of what is coming next. Panicked thoughts arise, going over every single possibility of what can go wrong at that very moment. What happens next? Do you run? Do you stay and face it? Moments of fear bring out the best and the worst in people and can provide notes of clarity and peace.

Fear is defined as an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause

pain, or a threat. Fear tends to rule our lives. The “what ifs” and the possibility of encountering something that is nervewracking override any thought or instinct we have until we’re consumed by it. As a kid, everything is scary. Almost everything is new and unknown. The world you know revolves around you and your needs, and combating these fears is mostly focused on how other people can help to alleviate them. Often the reaction is to cry or scream to get the attention needed for help. But shutting down and freezing is another response that seemed to be less prevalent, at least in my childhood.

I was definitel y the child screaming and crying to get one of my parents or siblings to get me out of whatever situation I had found myself in. Usually, these fits occurred when I was left alone in the dark. My imagination would run wild,

Delivered on May 9, 2022, in Clark Memorial Chapel

MK Marshall ’22

coming up with all the threatening possibilities that could be waiting for me. Inexplicably, they went away every time another person entered the room and turned on the light, but I was so certain that they would be back for me as soon as they left again. When I was loud enough to be heard, my mom or dad would come into my room, ease my worries, say good night, tuck me back in my bed, and turn off the light so I could fall asleep. It would be okay for a little bit until the feeling in my chest would start, and my heartbeat became heavier and louder in my head. My cheeks got hot, my hands started to sweat, and I increasingly became more terrified. Then the voice in my head would start. What if there’s something in here? Did mom check in the closet? Don’t move or else it will see you! I would pull the covers over my head and squeeze my eyes shut until the tears and screaming would come. The cycle repeated itself until I either became too worn out to be afraid anymore, my parents let me sleep in their bed, or I fell asleep. The dark was my biggest fear as a child, and anything my family would do to help ease this worry was useless. As I got older, eventually, these fears subsided, and I was no longer afraid to go to sleep at night. The monsters under my bed, however, found a new place to stay. Somehow, they moved outside my childhood bedroom and crawled deeper into my mind to make their new home.

Today, I have many insignificant fears that are mildly inconvenient. I won’t open the mailbox at night in case there is a giant spider inside. Sneezing when I’m home alone freaks me out. And I still run up the stairs after going into the basement. This is coupled with a collection of other odd, mildly embarrassing nuisances. These are mostly things that annoy the people around me; if I forget to check the mail during the day, it miraculously becomes my sister’s problem at nighttime. I wouldn’t say these are what I’m truly afraid of, however. I didn’t learn this until later. Something about change has always left me pretty petrified. I hate not knowing what is coming next, not knowing what to expect, and leaving something and starting all over again. There are big changes you are aware of and can see coming — like going to college or getting a job in a new city. There are changes that go unnoticed, where you don’t even realize that something is different until what you had is already gone. Then, there are the changes that hit you like a truck. No warning — they blindside you and leave you wondering what you could have done to prevent it.

October 15, 2016. It was the perfect fall day. The trees were changing colors, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Sitting under the red and orange oak tree was where I realized that it was no longer the perfect day. The trees were no longer beautiful. And, nothing mattered to me any longer. The feelings that I had felt in previous moments of fear amplified themselves tenfold when I found out that my dad had passed away the night before. The tightness in my chest kept me from breathing. I couldn’t feel my own heartbeat or hear my thoughts over the overwhelming sense of suffocating. Everything had changed before my eyes and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

The world was caving in on me. I couldn’t wrap my head around how someone I had known and loved for all of my life would suddenly cease to be there for me. My dad had been my rock for twelve years of my life. He was my biggest supporter, and I — for obvious reasons — was his favorite child. He never backed down from an adventure or a challenge. He was always in the stands, watching whatever sport I had picked up. He always helped me with my math homework, even if he was busy. Even when he moved away or was on a work trip, he always took the time to send a postcard or call just to let me know how much he loved me. The knowledge that this was gone forever broke my heart into a million tiny pieces. I would never get to see him again. Or go on an adventure with him. He wouldn’t be there to see me graduate. Or play another soccer game. For me, everything just stopped. The rest of the world, to my dismay, continued to move on. The sun rose the next day, and people went to work as if nothing happened, while I was living a nightmare.

As I mentioned before, there are often two responses to fear, most well known as the fight or flight response. In the face of adversity, you either run from it or face it straight on. I chose the former. I folded into a version of myself that I did not recognize, going unnoticed by most. Emotionally, I collapsed into a ball of anxiety and anger. I was angry at the world or whatever I did to deserve it, and feeling intense anxiety about the next change that would come and completely flip my world upside down. It felt as if no one could help me as my parents once had with my fear of the dark. I was pulling the covers over my head as temporary self-defense and preservation, unwilling to come out in fear of everything changing again. But, mirroring what had happened in my childhood bedroom, it was the people around me who showed me that the feelings surrounding that fear were temporary. With the right people, things that once seemed daunting became smaller and less scary. It was the friends that hugged me close when times seemed dark. It was the hours spent driving in the car with my family, blasting music to forget about the world around us. It was the little things people would do for me that created larger impacts on my life. They helped me recognize my fears and learn to embrace them, rather than try to fight them.

I ’ve always surrounded myself with kind, loving people. The people who are always there to check for the monsters under my bed. With patience, compassion, and empathy, those around me pushed me when necessary and were there for me to fail forward. They embody the thoughtfulness my dad had for others, his same readiness to accept a challenge, and his ability to make everybody feel like they are loved. I cannot thank these people enough for being my shoulder to cry on and showing me that facing fears alone is the more difficult path. They’ve provided a source of light in my life that has worked to combat the darkness. In the end, though, this isn’t a speech about my childhood fear of the dark. It’s your reminder that “life is short, and we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us. So, be swift to love and make haste to be kind.”

“The dark was my biggest fear as a child.’’

Only Connect

For Greg Melville ’68, the first eight-figure donor in Pomfret history, it all comes down to just two words.

STORY BY Garry Dow

PHOTOS BY Allegro Photography and Corrine Szarkowicz

This is where you come to contemplate the things that matter most.”

Ireally love this campus,” Greg Melville ’68 tells me. We are standing in the vestibule of Clark Memorial Chapel with his wife Susan Fox. It’s mid-August. The temperature is pushing one hundred degrees — hot and unbearably humid for Connecticut. But inside, the Chapel’s stone walls and marbled floor are cool to the touch.

Just overhead, a wooden sign carved by late faculty member Chris Atwood catches my eye. Inscribed is a quote from the 19th century Swiss moral philosopher and poet HenriFrédéric Amiel. It is how Director of Spiritual Life Bobby Fisher concludes every chapel service. “Dear Friends,” he says. “Life is short, and we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us. So, be swift to love and make haste to be kind.”

Built in 1907, the Norman-style church, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is modeled after a church in Pontefract, England. The construction of the Chapel was made possible by a single $135,000 donation given in memory of George Newhall Clark (1904) by his parents Edward and Lydia after George passed away during his sophomore year at Harvard.

The stone used to build the Chapel was donated by a local farmer, Lewis Averil, who dismantled the stately walls of his beloved Wolf Den Farm and hauled his bounty by oxcart to the top of Pomfret Hill.

On this haz y summer day, aside from us, no one is here. Solitude suits the Chapel. It seems to suit Greg as well. “This is where you come to contemplate the things that matter most.”

Greg’s dad was Pomfret Class of 1940 and would go on to serve as a trustee. “My three brothers and I attended Reunions with our parents several times,” he remembers. “I vividly recall both seeing the beautiful buildings and watching my first crew races. Early on, I fell in love with the School and the idea of attending Pomfret.”

W hen Greg arrived at Pomfret in the fall of 1965 as a wideeyed fourth former, the School already had a reputation for being one of the more progressive boarding schools in New England, if not the country.

The old vestiges of 1950s conformity had given way to something new. In 1965, John Irick became the first Black student to graduate from Pomfret, and in 1969, Naomi VegaNieves became the first female to graduate. “The School was changing for the better,” Greg says.

Greg’s roommate sophomore year was a guy named Gary Seacrest ’68 — a “Cornhusker” from Lincoln, Nebraska. Greg says it was “a real eye-opener” to live with someone from the Midwest. He also remembers Vicente Vento Torres ’68, an American Field Service (AFS) student from Valencia, Spain, with whom he roomed as a senior, in 1967-1968.

Greg grew up in New Canaan, Connecticut. From an early age, his family instilled in him a deep sense of social responsibility. “I learned it first from my grandparents. They donated the land to build the State University of New York at Stony Brook. I remember visiting once and finding a picture of my grandfather breaking ground with Governor Nelson Rockefeller and other dignitaries. It certainly made an impression on me. If you had the resources, it was important to help others with your money.”

Greg’s parents also nurtured his philanthropic impulse. The centerpiece of their giving was the Melville Charitable Trust, a fund they created to help end homelessness in Connecticut. “They believed in using their financial resources to effect real and lasting change.”

“ Vicente, his parents, grandparents, and his siblings had lived in Franco’s fascist Spain, and he’d never heard students or adults openly express political opinions. He became a good friend and returned to Pomfret for our 50th Reunion in 2018. I keep in touch with him and his children to this day.”

In the fall of his senior year, Greg enrolled in an urban studies class. That spring, the school chaplain arranged for a half-dozen students, including Greg, to volunteer at Episcopal parishes in poor inner cities up and down the East Coast.

For a month, Greg worked in Camden, New Jersey, and eventually found himself spending the night at a tent city in Washington, DC. “For the first time, I glimpsed the faces of those who lived in profound poverty. I walked about in a sea of mud and felt for a short time what it was to be part of a community of persons protesting for a better life.”

Just a few short weeks ago, in New York’s Central Park Boathouse, Greg took to the podium before a crowd of two hundred Pomfret supporters to officially launch Amplify: The Campaign for Pomfret School. The campaign is the most ambitious in Pomfret’s history. The goal is to raise $80 million — nearly double the School’s previous record. So far, thousands of donors have contributed more than $60 million in gifts, commitments, and pledges.

At the launch event, Head of School Tim Richards announced Greg as Pomfret’s campaign chair and first eightfigure donor, surpassing Edward du Pont ’52 as the most generous benefactor in Pomfret history.

“Greg’s commitment and support mark a truly transformative and watershed moment for Pomfret School. He is signaling a new era in philanthropy at Pomfret, demonstrating that we are a school with a mission and vision worthy of transformational giving at the highest levels.”

How did I not know? That was the common refrain as the announcement reverberated across the room. How had this unassuming, quiet guy from Hadlyme, Connecticut, whose name appears on no building, manage to give away more than ten million dollars without most people noticing?

W hen I put the question to Greg after the event, he seems almost as surprised as everyone else. “It adds up, I guess.” And then after a short pause — “It helps to have a partner.”

That par tner is Susan Fox, a powerhouse in her own right. Greg met Susan in Cheshire, Connecticut. “We were involved in Senator Chris Murphy’s first congressional campaign. I had a son from a previous marriage, Susan had two daughters, and they were about the same age. We found that we were compatible in both our family life and political thinking.”

These days, Greg and Susan are fully invested in education across the age spectrum. In particular, they are involved in supporting high-quality, early-childhood education through the Friends Center for Children in New Haven, Connecticut, which serves children from three months to five years old. “It is very powerful. Resources at that age can provide a profound and lasting start for a young child,” says Greg.

At Pomfret, Greg and Susan are most interested in growing scholarship aid for students, improving faculty compensation, and providing professional development opportunities. But they have also given generously to capital projects, most notably

For me, it all comes down to something I read in English class here at Pomfret more than fifty years ago. The two most powerful words in the English language: “Only connect.”

Pomfret’s Health and Wellness Center, which opened its doors in the fall of 2018. This $4 million state-licensed facility features four single bedrooms with private baths, a multi-bed observation room, intake and consultation rooms, and three soundproofed counseling rooms.

Back at Pomfret, I ask Greg: Why step out of the shadows now? “This is a really important inflection point in the life of the School,” he says. “With curiosity, the spirit to explore, and the will to learn and work, I wager we’ll never learn the limits of a Pomfret education.”

This is Greg and Susan’s story, but as I watched them climb back into their car and head for home, I couldn’t help but think, it is also Edward and Lydia Clark’s story. It’s Edward du Pont’s story. Michael and Eric Schwartz’s story. Peter and Laurie Grauer’s story. And so many others.

Imagine, for a moment, our School without them. In the snap of your fingers, our most iconic buildings would crumble to the ground, our most cherished programs would vanish, and the bulk of our endowment would evaporate. If a school still existed when the dust settled, it would bear scant resemblance to the Pomfret we know and love. In a fiscal climate where flexible, dependable income is hard to come by, people like Greg Melville and Susan Fox prove that Pomfret’s tradition of giving is still alive and well.

“For me, it all comes down to something I read in English class here at Pomfret more than fifty years ago,” Greg says. “A phrase from the epigraph of E.M. Forster’s Howards End that has guided me ever since. The two most powerful words in the English language: “Only connect.”

With curiosity, the spirit to explore, and the will to learn and work, I wager we’ll never learn the limits of a Pomfret education.”

Greg Melville and Susan Fox outside of the School Building during a recent visit to Pomfret.

FUNDRAISING GOAL

POMFRET FUND

When you support the Pomfret Fund, you are supporting the campaign.

Annual giving allows us to recruit a talented and diverse student body, invest in new programs and initiatives, attract amazing independent school educators, and make critical enhancements to our campus infrastructure. The Pomfret Fund remains the single most impactful way you can make a difference in the life of our School.

In addition to the Pomfret Fund, we have identified three campaign priorities.

PRIORITY NO. 1

Construct a New Science Center

A purpose-built center for science, technology, engineering, and design will help us attract and retain high-quality, mission-aligned students in a critical domain.

PRIORITY NO. 2

Advance Teaching and Learning

More faculty endowment dollars will allow us to recruit, support, and honor our teachers, and improve the educational outcomes of our students.

Hard Act to Follow

The script, loosely based on Steel Trapp: The Academy by New York Times best-selling author Ridley Pearson ’71, went through numerous revisions before the first table read.

Students, faculty, and alumni spent six months — two terms instead of one — perfecting the scenes and musical numbers. Opening night coincided with the highly anticipated reopening of Hard Auditorium. Each performance of the three-night run was standing room only. The original production of the mystery musical — The Academy — will be a hard act to follow.

STORY BY Corrine Szarkowicz

PHOTOS BY Lindsay Lehmann and Corrine Szarkowicz

ACT I: INTRODUCTIONS AND IDEAS

Ridley Pearson ’71 and Theater Director Chip Lamb met in 2011 when a group from Pomfret School attended an offBroadway production of Peter and the Starcatcher — a play based on Pearson and Dave Barry’s book of the same name. The two kept in touch, and in 2019 Lamb got the idea to turn another of Pearson’s books into his third and final original play with a connection to Pomfret School.

For the School’s Centennial Celebration in 1994, Lamb wrote I’m a Master, I Believe about Pomfret’s founder William Peck. In 2013, he staged 70lbs of Books — the story of Pomfret alumn Loring “Ring” Bailey ’63, who died in the Vietnam War — on what would have been Bailey’s 50th class reunion weekend. For Pearson’s 50th reunion, Lamb wanted to adapt the author’s second book in the Steel Trapp series, The Academy, into a play. The young adult novel is set at a boarding school loosely based on Pomfret and includes some of Pearson’s experiences as a student in Clark Chapel and as a head waiter.

W hen Lamb asked Pearson about turning the book into a play, he happily agreed. Pearson contacted Disney, who owns the rights to the story, and they also gave their approval. Then the pandemic hit, and the original production was put on hold. Stuck at home with his book deals on hold, Pearson found himself with some time on his hand, and decided he wanted to become a larger part of the project and write some music for the Pomfret production.

Before he became a writer, Pearson was a “professional” musician. To make a living while performing with his band, he wrote nonfiction before finding success writing fiction novels. Pearson also found the staging of his novel Peter and the Starcatchers fascinating and wanted to be part of the theater world again. Adding a musical component to the production of The Academy was his chance. Lamb was accepting of the idea,

and the two set to work. “I had no idea we were embarking on a multi-year odyssey,” says Lamb. “I had no idea our version of the story would be a musical. I had no idea Pearson would fully embrace this project, put his own professional projects on hold, and spend hundreds of hours writing music, lyrics, and the script with me. I had no idea about his total dedication to our school, a place that changed his life.”

ACT II: MUSIC AND LYRICS

With some help from Jacques Bailhé ’71, Pearson and Lamb created an outline of the story and started drafting the show.

Steel, played by Austin Kendig ’22, and Kayleigh, played by Maya Bullied ’23, get an unfriendly welcome when they arrive as freshmen at their boarding school that bears a striking resemblance to Pomfret. They meet a frightening deputy head of school, played by Brooke Zahansky ’22; a peculiar head of school, played by Anders Kirkland ’23; and ruthless upperclassmen, played by Kaya Horvath ’22 and Lexi Beck ’22. Luckily, they are fast to make friends with Steel’s roommate, played by Nat Kikonyogo ’25, and an upperclassman, played by Mak Curley ’22, in whom they instill their trust when they come face-to-face with a mystery to solve. At the end of the first act, Steel and Kayleigh learn that the school has an underground spy program which they immediately join. They are tasked with their first mission during the second act — to keep tabs on a mysterious janitor, played by Bob Dong ’23. Throughout the play, Steel and Kayleigh suppressed their love for one another but found themselves together in the end.

W hile Lamb and Pearson were drafting the script, Pomfret was working on a space worthy of this monumental project. Built nearly one hundred years ago, Hard Auditorium no longer met the needs of the School — in fact, the entire community no longer fit in the space. The debut of the original production was also set to be the reopening of the yearlong renovation project.

“Having narrowly missed Pearson’s 50th reunion in 2021, the desire to be the first play staged after the renovation of Hard Auditorium motivated us. It established a timeline and gave us a benchmark to meet,” said Lamb. “We were excited to celebrate the reopening of the theater and show off the hard work of so many constituents. The opportunity to get to do something like this is once in a lifetime.”

W ith a deadline to meet, Pearson and Lamb completed the first draft of the two-act mystery musical before the start of the 2021-2022 school year. Students and faculty integral to the production got their first look at the script in November 2021 at the table read in Parsons Lodge. As students read aloud the words Pearson and Lamb had been laboring over for nearly two years, everyone laughed at the jokes and comical moments. They paused to hear rough cuts of the show’s lyrics and music. During a break, students talked excitedly about bringing the

production to life. “The table-read experience was amazing! Working on an original show is every performer’s dream,” exclaimed Maya Bullied ’23.

“I was so thrilled with how animated the students were,” Pearson reflected after the reading. “They put so much emotion into it and made the pages come to life. It gave me a lot of hope.”

The energ y from the table read propelled Pearson and Lamb through casting and into the first rehearsal. Together with thirty students, they got to work fleshing out the script, revising the lyrics, and putting movement to the music and stage direction. During the Project: Pomfret period, the cast dedicated two weeks to perfecting Act One. “I really enjoyed working with Ridley, Dr. Burns [Pomfret’s Director of Music], and Kaya on the songs,” said Lexi Beck ’22. “We got to play with different harmonies. If the words in the song or the dialogue didn’t work, we were able to change them because we want them to be natural.”

They focused on Act Two during the spring term, rehearsing six days a week. In May, they began putting the two acts together. Nine days before opening night, the cast and crew got their first look at the renovated Hard Auditorium. After checking out the state-of-the-art updates (see page 72), they quickly transitioned from practicing in Jahn Reading Room to the renovated theater, with new lights, microphones, and stage configurations. After two challenging dress rehearsals, the show made its long-awaited debut.

ACT III: STANDING ROOM AND A STANDING OVATION

On the night of the premiere, every seat of the newly renovated auditorium was filled with parents, alumni, and members of the School and local communities. Students lined the newly constructed balcony and eagerly watched with their faces

pressed against the glass barriers. As the cast took their final bow, they were met with a standing ovation. “The premiere was arguably one of the best opening nights we could have asked for. The audience was so involved, which was amazing,” said Austin Kendig ’22. “The cast fed off their energy, and everyone backstage was so laser-focused, but also having fun.”

Pearson and Lamb could not have agreed more. “Opening night was a triumph! I was so impressed by our Pomfret company of actors, stagehands, and musicians,” expressed Pearson. “It was both exciting and satisfying for our creative team to see the students’ efforts pay off. The joy on their faces in the final curtain bow said it all.”

The show, years in the making, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that Lamb, Pearson, and everyone involved and in the audience will never forget. It will be a hard act to follow.

Ridley Pearson ’71

Pomfret is where Pearson first learned to write. He got the writing bug in William “Terry” Murbach’s class. Since catching the bug, Pearson has written more than fifty award-winning suspense and young adult novels, including the New York Times bestseller The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer. His books have been published in two dozen languages and adapted for network television and the Broadway stage. W hile at Pomfret and throughout and after college, Pearson was in a folk-rock band called the Big Lost Rainbow, made up of his Pomfret classmates. Robin Pfoutz ’71 played the cello, Adam Berenson ’71 played the piano, Tony Morse ’71 played the flute, Jacques Bailhé ’71 played the bass, and Otis Read ’71 and Pearson played the guitar. While the band never hit it big, on a nationwide book tour a media escort named Kathi Goldmark learned about Pearson’s musical experience and invited him to join a band she organized made up her literary clients.

Pearson found himself in a band with Barbara Kingsolver, Stephen King, Amy Tan, Dave Barry, and the “real” musician, Al Kooper. The band is called the Rock Bottom Remainders. In the book business, a remainder is an unsold book taking up space on a bookstore shelf. The Remainders occasionally performs for literary causes and nonprofits that support First Amendment rights. What they lack in musical talent, they make up for in their written literary works. The band is where Pearson met Dave Barry. The two wrote Peter and the Starcatchers, and in 2009, their book was adapted into a play.

Pearson is a dedicated alum. In 2011, he served as the Lasell Visiting Alumnus and received the Pomfret School Alumni Award. Together with his brother Brad Pearson ’65, they established the Robert Pearson Short Fiction Award, in honor of their father. The award is given annually to the Pomfret senior who writes the best short story.

Photo courtesy of Ridley Pearson.

STAYING HUNGRY with

Photo courtesy of Ming Tsai.

48 POMFRET FALL 2022

Truly successful people are always hungry,” shared celebrity chef Ming Tsai, “There’s always more to learn.”

The 2022 Schwartz Visiting Fellow told faculty and students he is always hungry. “I wake up hungry,” he said. Tsai is hungry to leave the world a better place, spread kindness, and give back. Growing up in Dayton, Ohio, Tsai spent most of his time in the kitchen of his parent’s family restaurant. At age six, Tsai displayed an entrepreneurial spirit by baking and selling Duncan Hines cakes to his neighborhood friends. At age ten, he successfully made fried rice for some unexpected house guests. While at Phillips Andover, he concocted a tasty treat for himself and his friends by experimenting with air fryer popcorn, squeezable vegetable oil, and a hairdryer, and created his first original recipe.

Tsai was always cooking. In between his years studying engineering at Yale, he traveled to France. There he learned French, attended the Le Cordon Bleu cooking school, and served as an apprentice in various kitchens. It was no surprise to his parents when he announced that he did not want to become an engineer — but a chef. They could see that he had a passion for cooking. “You will never be good at anything if you don’t love it. Follow your passion,” encourages Tsai.

Af ter graduating from college, Tsai trained under chefs in Paris and Osaka before earning his master’s degree in hotel administration and hospitality marketing from Cornell University. He worked for numerous restaurants and had some setbacks along the way. After spending six months

Between celebrating Lunar New Year at the White House and cooking for Taste of the NFL at the Super Bowl, Chef Ming Tsai stopped by the Pomfret Hilltop and spoke to our students as the

2022 Schwartz Visiting Fellow. Celebrity chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, entrepreneur, television host, and philanthropist, Tsai lectured about staying hungry and the importance of kindness.

setting up a new restaurant as the managing director — he was summarily fired. Again, after working for two years and putting a restaurant back on the map — getting them a 27 Zagat rating, he was abruptly fired. “You cannot be a success until you truly fail,” imparted Tsai. These setbacks only fueled him to open Blue Ginger, the East-West restaurant outside of Boston. “My wife asked me to stop getting fired all the time. So, I opened Blue Ginger. If you are a chef owner you cannot fire yourself,” joked Tsai. It was a risk to open a city restaurant in the suburbs, but it paid off. The restaurant was soon named a James Beard Foundation Best New Restaurant nominee. In 2002, Tsai was named the James Beard Foundation Best Chef in the northeast — something he considers one of his biggest professional accomplishments.

Another proud moment for Tsai was when he helped raise a million dollars for the victims and survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing. Along with Chef Ken Oringer, the Boston Red Sox, ARAMARK, Massachusetts Governor Deval

“You cannot be a success until you truly fail.”

Patrick, and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, Tsai gathered one hundred chefs in Fenway for the fundraiser and tasting event Boston Bites Back. “It really shows what you can do when you unite and want to do a huge act of kindness,” said Tsai.

This fundraiser was not Tsai’s first act of kindness. Since 2010, he has raised over $10 million for Family Reach, a nonprofit dedicated to removing the financial barriers between cancer patients and their treatment. “One of the greatest things I’ve ever done in my life is getting involved with Family Reach,” shared Tsai, who is now the chairman of the National Advisory Board of the organization. “Everyone can give back. You just need to find your platform.”

Tsai continues to give back and build his platform. He has starred in numerous television shows, including East Meets West, his Emmy Award-winning show Simply Ming — which has been on the air for eighteen seasons, and most recently, Netflix’s Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend. While he was resistant at first, he has accumulated more than 200 million views on his social media channels. “My goal is to build my platform strong enough that I can continually give back. I know that is why I was put on this planet. I’m absolutely wasting my time if I don’t make a difference,” said Tsai. “It’s all about building a brand that can just do more good.”

A new project that Tsai has been working on since 2020 — MingsBings — is all about doing good; it is in their mission, “Eat good. Feel good. Do good.” MingsBings are a plant-based pocket and a unique twist on a traditional Chinese flatbread that originated in the Ming dynasty of China. Made with recognizable ingredients, MingsBings can be found in the freezer aisle in more than 2,000 stores nationwide. Inspired by his frustrating experience trying to find vegan options in the grocery store after his wife’s Stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis, he created the product to be prepared and eaten on the go. A portion of all proceeds benefits Family Reach and the DanaFarber Cancer Institute — a world leader in adult and pediatric

cancer treatment and research and where his wife received her cancer treatment.

W hile promoting MingsBings on morning talk shows in 2020, Tsai reminded people about the importance of giving back, leaving the world a better place, and spreading kindness. While the world was fighting to flatten the Covid curve, Tsai was fighting to raise the kindness curve. He would say, “as long as the kindness curve is steeper than the Covid curve, we will get through this.”

Tsai continues to spread kindness wherever he goes. Before leaving Pomfret, he asked the students to take the #bekind pledge — a pledge to be kind every day. “We can all do this. We have to do this. You are the reason this world is going to be a better place,” said Tsai. In his closing, he also encouraged them to never stop being hungry. “If you stop being hungry, your life stops. We have to always want to be hungry,” he conveyed. “You have to leave your mark. It’s important!”

The 2023 Schwartz Visiting Fellow will be Jessica Bruder. Bruder is a journalist who writes about subcultures for publications such as The New York Times, WIRED, and Harper’s Magazine. She is known for her book Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century, which was adapted into an Academy-winning film in 2020.

Since 1989, world-renowned experts have visited Pomfret School under the auspices of the Schwartz Visiting Fellow Program. This speaker series is the result of the vision and generosity of Michael Schwartz ’66 and Eric Schwartz ’69. Past fellows include animal science professor Temple Gradin, author Bill Bryson, human rights activist Madame Jehan Sadat, historian David McCullough, and journalist, author, and national security analyst Peter Bergen.

“Eat good. Feel good. Do good.”

CLASS NOTES 1938-2022

50s

1952

Ted Robb wrote, “I’m happy to announce that I have finished my memoir, and it includes some fun anecdotes about my time at Pomfret. The Other Side of This Life was published by Luminare Press in December 2021.”

’52

1956

Harry Groome released his latest book, Giant of the Valley, in May 2022. The book contains two novellas, “Giant of the Valley” and “The Witness”. It is available in paperback in local bookstores and on Amazon. ’56

The latest book from Harry Groome ’56

Class notes featured in this issue were received prior to August 15, 2022. Notes received after this date will be published in the next issue. Class notes are appreciated and may be submitted via your Class Agent, the Pomfret School website, or by e-mail to:

Debby Thurston , class notes editor, at dthurston@pomfret.org

We encourage and welcome appropriate news items and photographs from all alumni and friends. Please note that not all submissions are guaranteed to appear based upon subject matter, photo reproduction quality, and space availability. Also, we reserve the right to edit for consistency and style but we will give every consideration to each author’s individual writing style.

A memoir by Ted Robb ’52

Brad Straus ’54 (center) visited with Ginny and Marshall Eaton ’70 near his home in Boston in July 2022.

RECAP

REUNION 2022 JUNE 10-12

WORTH THE WAIT PICTURES BLOG

More than 250 alumni, former faculty members, friends, and family returned to the Hilltop for the first in-person Reunion since 2019. The weekend celebrated class years ending in 0, 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7. It was extra special and — Worth the Wait — for the Classes of 1970–1972, who observed their 50th Reunion, and the Classes of 1995–1997, who attended their 25th Reunion. Everyone had the opportunity to kick back and relax with friends, classmates, and teachers in the place where it all began.

’57

B. Lee Mallory ’57 (left) visited Tom Nichols ’57 in Maine. B. Lee’s daughter, Emily Mallory ’89, was also on the trip and commented, “One of my dad’s greatest strengths and joys is staying in touch with his friends, including those he made at Pomfret. It was a delight to be with Tom and my dad and hear their stories about Pomfret. They reminisced about the sportstheyplayed,theirfriends,andschoollifeontheHilltop. Itwasinspiringtoseetheirfriendshipstillgoingstrongafter meeting over 65 years ago!” Sadly, Tom Nichols passed away a short time later on September 9, 2021.

Howie also added, “Colorado has nearly tripled in population since four 1962 classmates moved out west. Lots of pressure on the natural landscape. I have spent twenty-five plus years trying to preserve open spaces, install trails, and protect small town historic resources. Mo Ewing is researching/monitoring at-risk high-altitude ecosystems. Dave Hard has had a front range bluegrass/country/swing music band for over thirty years, and Mike Jacobs was a professor at Colorado State University until he headed south to Florida, tired of shoveling.”

Sam Tilton wrote, “It was great fun to attend the 60th … too bad more of the class could not make it, but the Zoom call connected those of us there with about a dozen of you. Some of us were able to go up to the Chapel bell tower roof area, and we learned that Bill Boehme’s family foundry (a couple generations back) in Troy, New York made the bells for the chapel and the School Building. After leaving Pomfret, I detoured through Vermont to spend some time with Mike Curtis, who sadly lost his wife earlier this year, and filled him in on all the class news from the Reunion. We welcomed our first grandchild in January 2022 — Charlotte Elizabeth — born in London, UK where our son, Alex, and daughter-in-law, Kyra, have been living and working since the summer of 2020 (not such a great time to arrive with the Covid lockdown in full force!). Mimi and I spent most of the month of May living in a flat down the street from them, visiting often to meet and hang out with Charlotte and the proud parents. In mid-September, our younger son Peter will be marrying his longtime partner, Patrick Knoth, at the Ausable Club in Keene Valley, New York; with everyone staying at the club, it should be a festive and fun-filled weekend. We hope to resume international travel again; a planned trip to Japan was just canceled for the second time, but we hope to be able to try again next year. In the meantime, we have focused on domestic trips, including one to California in February 2023. We spent a few days in Death Valley (not camping out!) and played golf on the 18-hole irrigated golf course. Who knew there was a golf course there, whose claim to fame is the lowest course in the world – 214 feet below sea level.”

Toby Condliffe wrote, “I am sad to report that my wife, Nancy, died on August 1, 2022. We were married for 48 years and have three children and five grandchildren. We will all miss her. She had Alzheimer’s and was well cared for in a long-term care home, but she died of Covid. She had a distinguished career as a hand surgeon.”

1964

1962

Howie Mallory reported, “The class of 1962 60th reunion was a quite successful hybrid gathering with five classmates in person on campus: Ralph Arietta, Bill Boehme, Wally Buschmann, Cai von Rumohr, and Sam Tilton. Ten more joined via a Zoom meeting, hailing from France to Hawaii – for fifteen total in attendance. The in-person five reported that our Class of 1962 Terrace is in great shape and the “go to” place on campus. I also want to acknowledge our class reunion gift generosity with sixteen classmates (52 percent) contributing to the Pomfret Fund – a great showing!”

Barbara Lazear Ascher reported, “In his April 23, 2022 New York Times column, David Brooks wrote about my new book, Ghosting: A Widow’s Voyage Out. In July I spoke about the book at the Sun Valley Writers Conference. If you go to the conference site, you can listen. You can also watch an interview with Elaine Pagels on YouTube –this was recorded at Politics and Prose Bookstore in Washington, DC. Among other appearances about the book was a joint presentation with Peter Duchin at the New York Society Library. Order the book and write a review! You won’t be disappointed.”

Mark Constantian reported, “I closed my plastic surgical practice in New Hampshire at the end of 2021, and we have sold the office and are donating my instruments, exam tables, and furniture to charitable and surgical mission organizations. I continue to teach, run webinars for plastic surgeons, and have research projects in process, though I find it harder to motivate myself to sit down and write than I did ten

years ago. Right now, I am in Wyoming on my way to Montana to a guitar camp that I attended last summer. After that, my wife, Charlotte, will meet me in Phoenix, and we will travel to several national parks in northeast Arizona, after which we will visit the grandchildren in Wisconsin. In September, I will make a mission trip to a Children’s Hospital in Puerto Rico to operate. The best thing about retirement, so far, is not having to watch the time — but I noticed that time disappears just as fast now as it did when I was working!”

’64

Mark Simon '64 announced, “My son, Tom, and his wife, Daliza, had a baby on December 7, 2021 – Olivia Renee Simon. What a cutie!”

1965

Rob Whitman was appointed to the board of trustees of the MDI Biological Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine, in October 2021. According to MDI, he serves as a member of the facilities and real estate committee, where he will help review plans to upgrade and expand professional housing on a portion of the 200-acre campus in Salisbury Cove. Rob views housing as critical to the MDI president’s goals of establishing the institution as an international leader in regenerative medicine and building a robust science and technology sector in Maine. In addition to his interest in science, Rob brings to the position a lifetime of experience in communications and strategic planning, which he will draw upon to help implement the 123-year-old institution’s five-year plan. He comes by his interest in the laboratory through a lifelong association with Mount Desert Island and as a founding member of the MDI Biological Laboratory President’s Cabinet.

L-R: Steve Cook ’64, Joey Moffitt ’82, and Bill Bramhall ’69 were serendipitously seated together at the New York Yacht Club on April 20, 2022. Steve and Bill’s fathers were Pomfret classmates from the class of 1932.

S. PRESCOTT B. CLEMENT CUP

The S. Prescott B. Clement Cup, given in memory of Pres Clement ’40, is awarded to that class agent who has demonstrated exemplary effort in sustaining communication with classmates and maintaining above-average class participation in the Pomfret Fund. This award was established in 2007 to honor a current class agent who exemplifies the spirit in which Pres Clement performed his class agent duties for sixty-seven years, demonstrating dedication to his classmates and Pomfret School.

Cooper has been a class agent since 2019. In that time, he has boosted participation from 28 percent to 41 percent.

Chelsea is a singer, songwriter, and producer with over two billion streams. She has been recognized by Forbes on its “30 Under 30” list. Her sophomore album, When I Close My Eyes, was released in 2021.

ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL

The Pomfret School Alumni Association Achievement Medals are presented each year to alumni who have graduated in the last twenty-five years and have demonstrated outstanding service to society and/or excellence in their endeavors.

2022 RECIPIENT William “Cooper” Hastings ’01

2022 RECIPIENT Chelsea Cutler ’15

ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME

The Pomfret School Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Fame was created in 2009 to recognize those Pomfret athletes, coaches, and friends who have demonstrated throughout their career those qualities which identify them as champions.

2022 INDUCTEE

2009 - 2010 Girls Basketball Team

As NEPSAC Class B champions, this team went undefeated 28–0, beating out the Class A champions, making them the best team in New England. Many of the girls on this team were multi-sport athletes who dominated in other sports.

2022 INDUCTEE

James C. Goodale ’51

At Pomfret, Jim led the football team in rushing, the baseball team in batting, and was tied for high scorer in hockey. Following Pomfret, he attended Yale University, where he was a starter on the Yale varsity hockey and baseball teams.

Coach: Rebecca Brooks Assistant Coach: Ryan Jordan

Alexandra Adams ’13, Megan Calderado ’12, Alyson Chase ’13, Kimberly Derosier ’10, Tristyn Drake ’10, Megan Gaudreau ’12, Maura Hall ’10, Kevalin Hutachinda ’11, Czarina Hutchins ’11, Joddie Iyalekhue ’12, Zenab Keita ’10, Caroline Kozlowski ’12, Jamie Samociuk ’11, Whitney Willingham ’12

1969

Bill Fenley wrote, “I had a good visit with Jackson Townsend late last summer in New Orleans. Jackson is working on a book based on six letters one of his ancestors wrote as a soldier during the Civil War. He is taking some of the references in the letters and expanding on them with explanations, photographs, etc. Jackson hopes to finish the book in a year or two.”

1983

Ingrid Black Burnell wrote, “All is good here in Georgia; my daughter, Lindsay, was recently married in Las Vegas at the Dry Lake Beds. My son, Chandler, officiated their marriage. We are in the process of building our forever home — Sugarberry Cottage — on Lake Lanier. Life as an adoptive parent to our two younger kids (17 and 9) has been challenging and keeps us humble.”

1982

Chris Lufkin wrote, “My wife, Hope, and I recently moved to Amesbury, Massachusetts, and now live on the Merrimack River. Our daughters were both married last year and are currently living and working in Los Angeles. Hope is a successful interior designer and contractor working throughout New England and Nantucket. I am a private business owner (of over 25 years) and manage a small boat manufacturers firm called Maritime Advisors, LLC. We represent boat manufacturers in the boat and marine industry, but also represent and sell both new and used boats for select clientele.”

AndrewSereysky'67(left)andJeffOppenheim'67 enjoyed some time together in the Hamptons in August.

Ingrid Black Burnell '83 (far left) with her family.

Brooke Toni '86 hang gliding on the eastern shore near Painter, Virginia, in September 2021.

90s 00s

2000

Congratulations to Pomfret trustee Esezele Iseghohi Payne, who was a recipient of Charlotte Business Journal’s Women in Business Achievement Award. The awards ceremony, held on February 23, 2022, honored and highlighted the city’s 25 most influential women, a group of trailblazers who are helping to shape the business and civic landscapes in the greater Charlotte, North Carolina region. Esezele is vice president of environmental services and operations at Atrium Health.

2003

’95

HavingfunatPomfret’sholidayreceptioninNewYorkCity last December are (l-r) Carson Baker '95, Barrett and Nick Mettler '95, former faculty member Dena Cocozza O’Hara P '13, '15, '16, '18, '20, and Whitney Cook '95.

Eddie Mears was married to Ms. Kaho Suzuki in Tokyo, Japan in February 2022. Due to the Covid-19 border restrictions in place in Japan, they held off on having their in-person ceremony until May 2023 in Tokyo, but took some wedding photos at Lake Akan in Hokkaidō over the winter to commemorate the occasion. Eddie is currently a senior associate based in the Tokyo offices of international law firm DLA Piper, while his wife, Kaho, is a flight attendant for Japan Airlines.

1998

Congratulations to Brendan Mims, who was named Magnet Schools of America Region I Principal of the Year for 2022. He beat out hundreds of other principals across the country to win this honor. Brendan received this recognition for his outstanding leadership in providing an innovative, theme-based magnet school program that promotes equity and diversity.

1999

Jill Mayer was named to New Haven Biz’s Power 25 Class of 2022. She is the fifth-generation leader of Bead Industries Inc., a Milford, Connecticut-based manufacturer of electronic contact pins and supplier of bead chain. Jill serves as CEO of the business, which was founded in 1914 by her great-great-grandfather.

Joel Ayau reported, “After 11 years in northern Virginia, our family moved to Boston, where I joined the New England Conservatory faculty as senior vocal coach.”

’03

Eddie Mears ’03 and his wife, Kaho Suzuki, at Lake AkaninHokkaidō,Japan

POMFRET SCHOOL ALUMNI AWARD

The Pomfret School Alumni Award is given annually to an alumnus or alumna who has achieved distinction in his or her chosen profession and has demonstrated ongoing interest, loyalty, and commitment to the School.

The

2022 RECIPIENT

The Honorable Eric D. Coleman, a Pomfret trustee, has dedicated his life and career to service and making a difference in the lives of others. He has served as a judge on the Connecticut Superior Court, a legislator in the Connecticut General Assembly, and a lawyer in the public defender’s office.

WILLIAM BEACH OLMSTED DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

Dolph’s service to Pomfret School spans more than three decades, beginning as a student, then a faculty member, and most recently as a class agent and volunteer.

He is currently serving on his class reunion committee for the fourth time.

In 1991, the Alumni Association of Pomfret School established the William Beach Olmsted Distinguished Service Award. The award was created to recognize and honor distinguished, sustained, and dedicated service to Pomfret School. It is named in honor of the Reverend William Beach Olmsted, who served as headmaster for thirty-two years until his death in 1929.

Honorable Eric D. Coleman ’69

2022 RECIPIENT Adolphus “Dolph” Clinton ’92

NEW CANAAN TENNIS

Pomfret alumni and parents gathered in New Canaan, Connecticut for the seventh annual Fairfield County Tennis Event on August 17, 2022. Front row, l-r: Aidan Rosen ’20, Joey Moffitt ’82, Ben Bundy ’23, Christine Marks. Middle row, l-r: Juli Johnson P ’24, Louisa Jones P ’04, Katie Bell Bues ’03, David Marks ’99. Back row, l-r: Vip van Voorhees ’64, Kenyon Clark ’67, Mary Kroll P ’20, Paul Fowler ’64, Cheryl Bundy P ’23, Andrew Sereysky ’67, David Still ’05, Greg Still P ’05, Bill Bundy P ’23, Alex Bues, Director of Financial Aid Pete Anderson, Tom Johnson P ’24.

Greg Osborne announced, “Jen and I welcomed our second child, Matthew Joseph Osborne, in April 2022. Matty’s middle name is in honor of [former faculty member] Joe Kremer and we are hoping he develops Joe’s sense of humor! Big brother Will is obsessed with our new addition.”

Laura Keeler Pierce celebrated five years of Keeler & Co, her Boston-based interior design business, in May 2022 alongside nine employees, including the newest member of the team, her husband [former Pomfret staff member] Vassar. “We are fortunate to be working on a slew of dynamic projects along the eastern seaboard. Rusticator, our design shop located in Seal Harbor, Maine, enjoyed a busy third season. It was fun to see many Pomfret faces pop into the shop throughout the months!”

2004

Josh Wildes was voted NEPSWA Assistant Coach of the Year in February 2022 by the coaches in the New England Preparatory School Wrestling Association. Josh is a mathematics teacher and varsity wrestling coach at Pomfret. ’06

Lizzie Brubaker was married to Randall Frederick on December 3, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana, where they reside. Allison Mann ’03 was in attendance; she runs her own Airbnb and is a wedding coordinator.

Photo credit: Gabrielle Hail Photography

MatthewJosephOsborne,sonofJen& Greg Osborne ’03

’07

Becka and Pete D'Agostino ’07 welcomed their second son, Wells Robert D'Agostino, on June 1, 2022. The familylivesontheUpperEastSideinNewYorkCity.

2008

Steve Harkey has joined the board of directors for the Sage School in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Sage is an independent PK-8 school serving academically gifted children.

Alexandra Crean was married to Alex Bossone on July 23, 2022 in South Kingstown, Rhode Island.

’09

Ginny and Marshall Eaton ’70 (far right) visited with Pomfretalumni(l-r)MayaSpencer'09,AndreNetter '87, and Kaitlyn April '09 in Dorchester, Massachusetts in July 2022.

’08

Pomfret friends shared and celebrated the wedding of Andrea Micci '08 to Matt Grogan on October 2, 2021.

L-R: Steve Harkey '08, Alex Crean Bossone '08, Andrea, Haley Mitchell '09, and Ben Tarlow '08.

Ben Tarlow has opened a new art gallery and vintage car showroom in Greenwich Village. It is located at 16 Morton Street, New York, New York, and is managed by his business, Morton Street Partners.

2010

Amy Diaz wrote, “In June, I took a trip to Nashville and got together with some friends from Pomfret for a fun night out catching up and line dancing! Then in early August, I moved to Nashville and started a new job as a physical therapist assistant. I am looking forward to this new chapter in my life!”

2013

Harrison Schroder reported, “I was married in October 2020 to my beautiful wife Sarah. I now have a stepson, Will (16 years old), and son, Simon (1 year old). I completed my master’s degree in independent school leadership in July 2022.”

2015

Congratulations to Chelsea Cutler, who was named to Forbes’ 2022 “30 Under 30” list in the music category. As a singer, songwriter, and producer, she dropped her sophomore album, When I Close My Eyes, in October 2021 and is currently headlining a North American tour. ’10

L-R: Dana Ouellet '11, Amy Diaz '10, and Jelani Williams '10 having fun in Nashville

Makenna Newkirk ’15, Jordan Lipson ’13, and Kelli Mackey ’14 working at the U15 National Ice Hockey Camp in Minnesota, July 2022

James

Stephen M. Mandell ’80 May 28, 2022 Kelly P. Longe ’07 June 10, 2022

Alexander Jaretzski ’73 November 6, 2021 Dana S. Kirkpatrick ’81 December 10, 2021

We were saddened to share the news that former faculty member Bill Mees passed away on January 28, 2022. Bill taught French at Pomfret from 1963 until 1972, part of a career in education that would span more than 50 years. He had very fond memories of his time at Pomfret, maintaining friendships with former faculty members and alumni long after his departure.

In 2020 Bill reminisced, “I can honestly say the [Pomfret] experience amounted to some of the finest years of my life in education. And even more ironic is that at almost every school at

Our friend and colleague Joe Kremer passed away on March 18, 2022 after a heroic almost-four year battle with glioblastoma. Joe arrived at Pomfret in 2010 as our director of advancement before moving to admissions as an associate director, eventually rising to the level of senior associate director of admissions and international enrollment. Joe truly shined as our varsity boys basketball coach and legendary advisor. He was a fantastic mentor to so many students and worked to address boys’ mental health. Our hearts go out to his wife Julie and their two wonderful children, Nate ’14 and Olivia ’17.

J. William Mees

January 28, 2022

Former Faculty

Joseph E. Kremer March 18, 2022

Former Faculty

See the Lights

A Young 93

The

Hard Auditorium was built in 1929 after the School received a generous gift from Florence Bourne Hard and Anson W. Hard ’04.

Six custom light fixtures with eight Griffins etched in each shade hang from the ceiling.

newly renovated

HARD AUDITORIUM

State of the Art

The upgraded audio visual booth now controls the state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems. The booth can also control the 21 x 12 foot screen that retracts from the ceiling in the front of the house.

A New Level Keep It Cool

To the relief of the performers and the audience, air conditioning was installed during the renovation. Everyone can keep their cool during a fiery debate or a red hot performance.

It’s All in the Details

The new steel and glass balcony wraps-around the entire auditorium and gives the audience a whole new perspective.

The proscenium and decorative trim above the stage and on the walls was preserved during the renovation. Griffin cutouts were added to the top of each window.

Find Your Seat

The auditorium-style seating was removed, and new stadium-style benches were installed, which can be retracted to transform the space into a meeting room to fit the needs of any group.