285 Cory’s Lane Portsmouth, Rhode Island 02871 www.portsmouthabbey.org Address Service Requested
P ORT S M O U T H
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 3 Portsmouth, RI
A BB E Y S C H O O L PORTSMOUTH ABBE Y SCHOOL SUMMER BULLETIN 2013 SUMMER BULLETIN 2013
MISSION STATEMENT The aim of Portsmouth Abbey School is to help young men and women grow in knowledge and grace. Grounded in the Catholic faith and 1500-year-old Benedictine intellectual tradition, the School fosters: Reverence for God and the human person Respect for learning and order Responsibility for the shared experience of community life
BOARD OF REGENTS Right Rev. Dom Caedmon Holmes, O.S.B. Abbot and Chancellor Portsmouth, RI
Mr. Patrick Gallagher ’81, P ’15 Annual Fund Chair Westwood, MA
Mr. John M. Regan, III ’68 P ’07 Chairman Watch Hill, RI
Meg Healey P ’91 New Vernon, NJ
Sr. M. Therese Antone, RSM, Ed. D. Newport, RI Mr. W. Christopher Behnke ’72, P ’12, ’15 Chicago, IL Dom Joseph Byron, O.S.B. Portsmouth, RI Creighton Condon ’74, P ’07, ’10 New York, NY Dom Francis Crowley, O.S.B. Portsmouth, RI Mrs. Kathleen Cunningham P ‘08, ‘09, ‘11, ‘14 Mr. Tim Cunningham ‘74 Co-Chairs, Parents’ Committee Dedham, MA Mr. Peter Ferry ’75, P ’16, ’17 Fairfield, CT Frances Moyles Fisher P ’15 San Francisco, CA Dr. Timothy P. Flanigan ’75 P ’06, ’09, ’11 Tiverton, RI Mr. Peter S. Forker ’69 Chicago, IL
Denis Hector ’70 Miami, FL
Mr. John Perreira P ’05, ’13 Portsmouth, RI Mr. Barnet Phillips, IV ’66 Greenwich, CT Mr. Robert A. Savoie P ’10, ’11, ’15 Jupiter, FL
Dr. Gregory Hornig ’68, P ’01 Prairie Village, KS
Right Rev. Dom Matthew Stark, O.S.B. Prior Portsmouth, RI
Rev. F. Washington Jarvis Dorchester Center, MA
Mr. Rowan G.P. Taylor P ’13, ’16 New Canaan, CT
Rev. Dom Damian Kearney, O.S.B., ’45 Portsmouth, RI
Mr. Samuel G. White ’64 New York, NY
Mr. Peter Kennedy ’64, P ’07, ’08, ’15 Big Horn, WY
Mr. William G. Winterer ’87 Boston, MA
Mr. William M. Keogh ’78, P ’13 Saddle River, NJ
Very Rev. Dom Ambrose Wolverton Portsmouth, RI
Mr. Edward G. Kirby ’83 Jamestown, RI
Ms. Yanling Xu P ’13 Yantai, China
Ms. Devin McShane P ’09, ’11 Providence, RI
Emeritus
Rev. Dom Gregory Mohrman, O.S.B. Creve Coeur, MO
Mr. Peter Flanigan R ’41, P ’75, ’83, GP ’06, ’09, ’11 Purchase, NY
Mr. Ward Mooney ’67 Boston, MA
Mr. Thomas Healey ’60, P ’91 New Vernon, NJ
Mr. James S. Mulholland, III ’79 Vero Beach, FL
Mr. William Howenstein ’52, P ’87, GP ’10 Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
Ms. Deborah Winslow Nutter Westwood, MA
Cover: Students and chaperones have fundraised and volunteered for the Appalachia Service Project for the past 17 years. On our cover, one of the ASP teams assisted a Jonesville, WV, resident in repairing her home. From left, Kelley Oliveira ’13, the resident, former Abbey staff member Paul Williams, faculty member Emma Stenberg, Tim Tsung ’15, Dylan Bedford ’15 and Jeff Okoro ’14. To see more of our students giving back in various ways, please see page 28.
P ORT SMOUT H ABBE Y SCHO OL ANNUAL FUND Portsmouth Abbey thanks the hundreds of alumni, parents, and friends whose philanthropic participation helped the School reach another Annual Fund benchmark. Your generosity is vital to every moment in the classroom, every lesson learned on the athletic field and stage, and every friendship built in our student houses. Each year, your generous participation ensures the continuation of Portsmouth Abbey's unique campus atmosphere and reaffirms your singular role in the Portsmouth Abbey community. On behalf of every student, teacher and monk, thank you! Special thanks to the class leaders, the reunion fundraisers, the parent volunteers, and the Alumni Leadership Council, whose dedication made this year such a tremendous success.
COME EXPLORE LIFE ON THE LANE!
Frannie Kielb ’13 UMichigan ’17
Allison Bolles ’13 Austin Kreinz ’13 Mo Kouassi-Brou ’13 Harvard ’17 UPenn ’17 Princeton ’17
Fletcher Bonin ’13 Holy Cross ’17
An Abbey student’s life balances tradition and innovation, intellect and athleticism, and spirit and conscience. For your Life on the Lane guidebook: info.portsmouthabbey.org/bulletin
Call or email to schedule your campus visit: 401/643/1248
4 admissions@portsmouthabbey.org
Letter From Dan McDonough, Acting Headmaster students find here: not simply the transfer of knowl-
edge but the analysis of knowledge, not simply an understanding of where we have been---but also where we are going.
I recently attended a talk by a man named Grant
Lichtman, who was an administrator at an independent school in California. He spent last fall on sab-
batical from his school and drove from California to
I’m delighted to write my first note
New England and back, stopping at more than 60
as Acting Headmaster to the greater Portsmouth Abbey
independent schools along the way. During the trip he
Portsmouth Abbey, but I started in 1984, and if you do
to be successful in the future. Here are the 11 words he
here as a teacher and left after three years. Three years
patience, openness, creativity, adaptability, courage,
community. In September I will begin my 27th year at
asked students what skills they thought they needed
the math that doesn’t quite work. That’s because I came
heard most often: persistence, confidence, resilience,
later I came back for one year…that was 23 years ago. I
perspective, empathy, self-control.
Abbey has a way of growing on you.
I bring this up because I’m often asked what it means
I’m sometimes asked what I see in the future for Ports-
the word with both a small “c” and a big “C”. Small
will always come back and say, “I can’t believe you
riety of things, and being all-embracing. As I pondered
a new course or a new wrinkle in the school day. But in
But it is not enough. It cannot be enough. Too many of
manufacturing products but working with people. That
big “C” Catholic Benedictine school, we look beyond
us who live and work here find it to be the best voca-
conversatio, obedience, discipline, humility, steward-
some fear as many politicians and schools try to use
Portsmouth Abbey, and why do so many of you stay in
education, in the mistaken belief that schools are fac-
portunity to be part of a school that offers the best and
sible) from one person to another. If it was that simple,
balances individuality with community. I hope that
right now. The fact is that our strongest yearnings are
to seeing and hearing from many of you during this
found out what most of you already know: Portsmouth
to be at a Catholic school. To me, it means looking at
mouth Abbey. I know one thing won’t change: alumni
“c” catholic as an adjective means including a wide va-
have THIS now!” where THIS may be a new building or
those words, I felt that we could embrace them as well.
some ways the question is mistaken because we are not
these words are about individuals acting alone. As a
kind of work is incredibly demanding, and yet those of
those words to 10 more words: love, prayer, stability,
tion in the world. I watch with some amusement and
ship, hospitality and community. Why are we here at
technology as a substitute rather than a supplement for
contact with us? For me, it is because we have the op-
tories meant to transfer knowledge (as cheaply as pos-
most complete education, along with a culture that
you would all be home curled up with Khan Academy
means a great deal to you as well, and I look forward
for deep human connections, and that’s exactly what
coming year.
SUMMER BULLETIN 2013
PAGE 1
New Members of theBoard of Regents We welcome two new members of Portsmouth Abbey’s Board of Regents: Frances M. Fisher P ’15, and Denis Hector ’70. D E NI S H EC TO R ’ 70
F R A NC ES MOY LE S F IS H ER P ’ 15
A 1985 graduate of Georgetown University, Fran is the mother of Curry ’15 and three other children: Matthew, a May 2013 graduate of St. Paul’s School, in Concord, NH; Regan, a rising eighth grader at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, in San Francisco; and Patrick, a rising seventh grader at Stuart Hall School for Boys, in San Francisco. Prior to the birth of Matthew in 1995, Fran worked as the human resources manager for a marketing consulting firm. She is a former board member of the San Francisco chapter of the National Charity League, a mother-daughter volunteer organization; the Midweeklies, Inc., an etiquette and dance school for sixth and seventh graders; and the Junior Committee of the San Francisco Symphony. She has also held numerous volunteer positions at her children’s schools. Fran is married to Matthew Fisher, an attorney.
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Denis is a registered architect with expertise in structure and the environment. An associate professor, associate dean, and current interim dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Miami, with a secondary appointment in the Department of Civil, Architectural & Environmental Engineering, in the College of Engineering, he is also an advisory board member of the Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy there. Denis received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University, a DAAD Fellowship to the Institut fur Leichte Flaechentragwerke in Stuttgart, Germany, and his graduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania. The editor of Hurricane Hazard Mitigation, Denis has, with engineering colleagues, conducted studies under the auspices of the National Science Foundation on wind hazard mitigation. He participated in the post-Hurricane Katrina Mississippi Renewal Forum Charrette, the Mississippi AIA Building Code Workshop, and the 2010 Haiti Recovery Charrette. He has taught technical subjects in architecture at the University of Bath (England), Columbia University, and the University of Pennsylvania. He currently teaches Building Construction II: Structural Systems and studios with a focus on structure and environment, including recent work with the Zamni Lesante organization in Haiti, both before and after the 2010 earthquake.
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Previously, Denis worked with Buro Happold, in Bath, England, and as a principal of FTL Associates in New York, NY. With his wife, Joanna Lombard, who also is a professor in the School of Architecture at the University of Miami, he has an architectural practice. He is the father of two children, Dorothy Anne and William.
CONTENTS Stay Connected
Letter from Dan McDonough, Acting Headmaster
1
To keep up with general news and information about Portsmouth Abbey School, we encourage you to bookmark the www.portsmouthabbey.org website. If you are an alumnus/a, please visit and join our Alumni Community. Check our our listing of upcoming alumni events here on campus and around the country. And please remember to update your contact information on our Alumni Community pages where you can find out more about Reunion 2013, our Annual Golf Scholarship Tournament, and share news and search for fellow alumni around the world: www.portsmouthabbey.org/page/alumni.
New Members of the Board of Regents 2 Faculty Notes
4
Commencement 2013
8
From the Office of College Counseling by Mary McDonald, Director of College Counseling 14
If you would like to receive our e-newsletter, Musings, please make sure we have your email address (send to: communications@portsmouthabbey.org). To submit class notes and photos (1-5 MB), please email: alumni@portsmouthabbey.org or mail to Portsmouth Abbey Office of Development and Alumni Affairs, 285 Cory’s Lane, Portsmouth, RI 02871.
The Portsmouth Abbey Community: A Feeling of Home by Derek Gittus
16
Home at Manor House by Wallace Gundy
17
The Bonds That Tie by Laureen Bonin
18
Mattie and Kurt – The Cage Guys by Kathy Giblin Stark, Assistant Director, Office of Communications
22
Music Director Jeff Kerr Takes Music Tech to a New Level by Jeff Kerr, Music Director
24
The 2012-2013 Admission Year by Meghan Fonts, Director of Admission 26
The Portsmouth Abbey Alumni Bulletin is published bi-annually for alumni, parents and friends by Portsmouth Abbey School, a Catholic Benedictine preparatory school for young men and women in Forms III-VI (grades 9-12) in Portsmouth, RI. If you have opinions or comments on the articles contained in our Bulletin, please email: communications@portsmouthabbey.org or write to the Office of Communications, Portsmouth Abbey School, 285 Cory’s Lane, Portsmouth, RI 02871.
Community Service at Portsmouth Abbey School
28
Honoring the Past, Nurturing the Future by Patrick Burke ‘86, Assistant Headmaster for Development
30
How Athletics Helps Form Our Community Life
31
Winter/Spring Athletics
32
Portsmouth Institute 2013: Catholicism and the American Experience
36
Milestones 38
Please include your name and phone number. The editors reserve the right to edit articles for content, length, grammar, magazine style, and suitabilty to the mission of Portsmouth Abbey School. Acting Headmaster: Daniel McDonough
In Memoriam
43
Class Notes
46
Correction: In a memorial written in the Winter 2013 Bulletin, we incorrectly reported the date of Chris McCarthy’s death as August 25, 2012. The date of Chris’s death was August 26. We regret the error.
Assistant Headmaster for Development: Patrick J. Burke ’86 Editors: Kathy Heydt, Kathy Giblin Stark Art Director: Kathy Heydt Photography: Jez Coulson, Steve Cho ’13, Nick DeLieto ‘13, Julia Driscoll ’06, Kim Fuller, Andrea Hansen, Kate Whitney Lucey, Louis Walker III, Kathy Heydt, Kathy Stark
Visit our School social media dashboard at: http://www.portsmouthabbey.org/page/7328 Join us on Facebook: Log in and search Portsmouth Abbey Shop online at the Portsmouth Abbey Bookstore: www.portsmouthabbey.org/page/school_life/bookstore
SUMMER BULLETIN 2013
PAGE 3
Faculty Notes
Shane McCarthy (r) accepting the Dom Peter Sidler Teaching Award from Headmaster Jim DeVecchi
Once Again, one can marvel at how many wonderful awards, honors and professional development activities the faculty members at Portsmouth Abbey School achieve each year! This dedicated, lively, engaged group continues to pursue excellence, both inside and out of the classroom. Perhaps it is the full schedule throughout the academic year that propels some to keep the same pace during less busy times; perhaps it is the neverending supply of exciting opportunities that are available that spur some to find the next challenge or mountain to climb. – Dean of Faculty Nancy Brzys Honors, Achievements, and Awards Shane McCarthy and Nick Micheletti ’04 received the Dom Peter Sidler Teaching Awards for excellence in teaching at Prize Day 2013. These awards honor a full-time senior faculty member (Shane) who has exhibited sustained excellence as a teacher at Portsmouth Abbey, and a full-time junior faculty member (Nick) who displays superior potential as a classroom teacher.
Christine and Robert Sahms
Al Brown was selected the US Lacrosse Coach of the Year, Eastern New England Region Prep Schools Division. Elizabeth Benestad ran her 11th and 12th marathons this year; she achieved her best time in her fourth Boston Marathon in April, crossing the finish line shortly ahead of the tragic bombing. Kevin Calisto worked on the Bristol Fourth of July Ball Committee for the second year, adding his graphic design skills to invitations, table settings and other areas where he could assist.
Dom Gregory Havill’s plaster model for the bronze Commedia Medal
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To commemorate the 700th anniversary of the publication of Dante’s Divine Comedy, an international competition has been created by Dom Gregory Havill and Prof. Sebastian Mahfood of St. Louis, MO. The competition will award the best digitally produced rendition of any aspect
of Dante’s poem, employing the latest digital photographic animation and sound technology. The first winner will be announced December 1, 2014, and the Commedia Medal in bronze (created by Br. Gregory for the competition) will be awarded annually through 2021. The Inferno was first published in 1314, followed by the Purgatorio in 1315 and the Paradiso in 1321. Interested persons may log on to http://www.digitaldante.org. Kate Reardon was named the EIL Coach of the Year for Girls’ Ice Hockey. To celebrate their 42nd wedding anniversary, Robert and Christine Sahms traveled to New Hampshire where they saw beautiful waterfalls and a bear, and they went on a moose tour where they saw eleven moose. School nurse Nancy Weida received the ASHE Award for Achievement in School Health Excellence for her decades of dedication to the students of Portsmouth Abbey. Nominated by the School’s Director of Medical Services, Pam Gorman, Nancy was chosen from an original field of 60 nominees from around the country. She received a personalized plaque and a $1,500 cash prize for Portsmouth Abbey’s health services. Nancy, who has been an Abbey nurse for 30 years, began a chapter of Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D.) and has organized dozens of School events – skating parties, sports events, lectures, and a mock car crash with the local rescue departments. She co-founded Teens Leading Children (TLC), an innovative program that pairs high school students with 4th graders to teach children about health-related and peer-pressure issues. She is integral to the Abbey’s Clothe-a-Child program, which, since its inception 20 years ago, has raised over $100,000 for children in need. In addition, she has developed the School’s health curriculum, organizes annual CPR classes taught on campus, and oversees the Alcohol Education program held each year at school, among many other activities. Fred Zilian’s first education essay was published in an online blog at www.whole-
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
childeducation.org/blog/the-big-ideas-box. In addition, Fred wrote the script for a musical theatrical performance called, A Tribute to the Battle of Gettysburg, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of this pivotal battle in the Civil War. Fred, along with the Fort Adams Trust, produced the show on July 26th at the Newport Casino Theater. Former Abbey Director of Music Troy Quinn provided the musical component leading a 40-piece orchestra. Professional Development Aileen Baker attended the national Texas Instruments Teaching with Technology conference in Philadelphia in early March. The three-day conference consisted of a variety of workshops bringing math and technology together. Sessions allowed Aileen to expand her knowledge of the new TI Nspire calculator with immediate application to classes. The conference also provided great opportunities to discuss curriculum and teaching methods with other experienced math teachers. KK Behan ’08 studied in Salamanca, Spain, in July through the URI masters program. KK earned six credits for taking two classes and auditing a third. During the program she travelled to Portugal and other parts of Spain with the URI Salamanca program, which included the Abbey students who went on the trip. Kate Bragan furthered her deep interest in yoga by participating in a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Program through Spirit Tree Yoga. She took the intensive course to learn more about the art and science of yoga (rather than for certification). Spirit Tree Yoga is a registered yoga school with the Yoga Alliance, providing participants the opportunity to deepen their understanding of themselves, “while immersed in the philosophy, methodology and therapeutic aspects of this ancient healing tradition.” Elizabeth Benestad attended the CANE (Classical Association of New England) Summer Institute at Brown University. The theme of the week-long institute was “America’s Founding Fathers and the Classics of Greece and Rome.” Lizzie also completed her second photography course at RISD this past summer.
Janice Brady attended an Advanced Placement Summer Institute on Inquirybased Chemistry in July at Fitchburg State University. This course is intended to assist with the transition to the revised AP Chemistry Exam. Al Brown attended the National Strength and Conditioning Conference in January. Al also directed the NE Top 150 Lacrosse Camp at Portsmouth Abbey, bringing 600 boys and 50 coaches to campus in July. Al also worked at the Badger State Lacrosse Camp in Wisconsin and Camp Cedar Lacrosse Camp in Maine.
Nancy Weida (third from left) with a representative from Magnus Health, Headmaster Jim DeVecchi, and Portsmouth Abbey Director of Medical Services Pam Gorman.
Nancy Brzys attended the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) Conference in July in Providence, RI. The highlights of this conference were the workshops on enhancing classroom teaching using technology and preparing for presentational speaking for the AP French Language and Culture Exam. Last November, Abbot Caedmon Holmes and Blake Billings ’77 again visited our Manquehue friends in Chile, this time joined by Tim Seeley ’77 and Therese Thomas. Tim and Therese toured the Manquehue schools in Santiago, learning more about the structure of the programs offered by this lay Benedictine movement and seeing firsthand some of their Lectio Divina groups. Fr. Abbot and Blake had the opportunity to travel to Chilean Patagonia and visit the beautiful and remote retreat facility run by the movement at San José de Mallín Grande. The four also were able to meet with the Manquehue group that was later to visit Portsmouth for the winter term. Adam Card took a computer programming course at Brown University called, “Data Structures with C++,” which covered data structures using the C++ language. Topics included data abstraction, encapsulation, the use of recursion, and the creation and manipulation of data structures; bags, lists, cues, tables, trees and searching and sorting algorithms.
SUMMER BULLETIN 2013
Kate Bragan
Abbot Caedmon Holmes
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FACULTY NOTES
Allie ’05, Betty and Nick ‘04 Micheletti
Clarence Chenoweth attended “The Dean’s Roundtable” conference at Blair Academy, NJ, in June. Deans from over twenty schools and fifteen states convened to discuss “hot topics” that deans tackle regularly in the independent school world while sharing best practices.
program at St. John’s College in Annapolis, MD. Having already studied Philosophy and Theology at St. John’s, this year they studied the history segment. They read such classical authors as Herodotus and Thucydides and more modern writers including Hegel and Kant.
Roberto Guerenabarrena travelled to Cincinnati for the tenth consecutive year, seven of those as a Table Leader grading the Spanish Language AP Exams. Roberto participated in discussions and workshops concerning the changes that will occur in the 2014 AP Exam.
In April, Kevin Morrissey travelled to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics conference in Denver, CO, which drew thousands of mathematics teachers, educators and researchers from around the world. Kevin attended presentations on the implementation of technology in the classroom, learning from other educators what is working best for them. Additionally, he participated in workshops on AP Calculus instruction, led by members of the College Board who work directly with AP exam development. Kevin learned strategies which he was able to put to use in his classes and said the conference was a great opportunity to share ideas and insights with other educators on how to better serve his students.
Roberto continues to bring Portsmouth Abbey students to the Summer in Salamanca Program for the month of July in Salamanca, Spain. Wallace Gundy attended an AISAP Leadership Summit for Inbound Marketing in Pittsburgh, PA. The program, specifically for independent school admission professionals, focused on effectively using online resources, such as websites and social media, to attract prospects. In preparation for his ordination to the priesthood, Dom Gregory Havill, O.S.B., has completed on-line courses during the past year in Trinitarian Theology, Christology and Thomism. He is currently studying Dogmatic Theology.
Kate Reardon
Kevin Morrissey
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In May, Mary McDonald attended the Fitzwilliam Conference, one of the oldest and most prestigious invitation-only college admission workshops, held in Rindge, NH, that brings together college counselors and college admission officers to explore the state of college admissions. In June, Mary presented at the New England Association for College Admission Counseling’s Annual Meeting and Conference at Endicott College in Beverly, MA. She serves on that organization’s Current Trends Committee as well. In addition, Mary attended the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools Annual Conference at Macalester College in St. Paul, MN, and the annual “Clambake” at St. George’s School, a workshop similar in intent to the Fitzwilliam Conference, bringing together “both sides of the desk” for in-depth discussions relating to college counseling. Allie ‘05 and Nick ‘04 Micheletti completed their second summer of their four-year M. A.
Haibo Qu attended an Advanced Placement workshop on Chinese Language and Culture at Fairfield University in January. Kate Reardon participated in a week-long workshop with ISM on directing athletic programs. Kate also went to Canada for a month with NOLS, an Outdoor Educator program. She backpacked and did whitewater canoeing while learning to lead groups in the back country. Participants discussed leadership and teaching styles as part of this program. Cecilia Schilling began her M.A. degree in International Relations at Salve Regina University in January. Rick Barron and Emma Stenberg both continued work on their M.A. degrees in English at Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School. Both Emma and Rick spent the summer at the Santa Fe, NM, campus. Therese Thomas participated in the 32nd Annual G. K. Chesterton Conference at Assumption College entitled, Education, Economics & Everything Else.
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From left to right, Susan, Shane, Kaely, Keegan, Shane and Meghan McCarthy ’15 in Crystal River before the manatee swim
Young Shane shares the road with a local gator in Shark Valley.
Sabbatical Shane McCarthy, who teaches chemistry and marine/environmental science, was joined by his wife, Susan, an Abbey chemistry and math teacher, and their four children on a sabbatical trip to Florida in March. Here is Shane’s account of the trip: When I was at Juniata College getting my undergraduate degree, my Vertebrate Zoology class took a field trip to the Everglades, and I have fond memories of seeing this amazing world of water, cypress trees, mangrove forests, sawgrass prairies, exotic birds, alligators and snakes. When it was time for my sabbatical, there was no doubt where I would take my family. Obviously the trip was too long to describe every fun and exciting event, but, personally, I was struck by how much I had forgotten. The kids would ask, “What kind of bird, snake, or turtle was that?” and I couldn’t remember. I was armed with every field guide that Peterson publishes, and each night we would sit down to identify these creatures. The Everglades is a natural area of subtropical wetlands. March is the dry season, and because of this, animals all come to the places in the park which have plenty of water. We spent five days in different areas of the park, and there was never a dull moment. Each day we hiked, biked, canoed and kayaked some new area of the park. While there were many highlights and memorable moments of the trip, the two excursions outside of the park were specifically exciting – based on feedback from my children – the snorkeling in the John Pennekamp Reserve and swimming with the manatees in Crystal River. John Pennekamp Coral Reef Reserve is located near Key Largo. We were taken out on a boat, and after about an hour-long ride we were on the
reef and ready to explore. The guide instructed us to swim towards the buoy about 100 yards out to see the reef. We saw amazing fish and corals that reminded us all of “Finding Nemo.” While taking our first break back on the boat, Meghan and Shane whispered so that Kaely wouldn’t hear, “We saw two sharks, but we didn’t want to let Kaely know!” In Crystal River, our whole family, including 4-year-old Keegan, woke up early to swim with the manatees. The weather was absolutely perfect for attracting the manatees to the cool, constant-temperature springs. We learned that manatees are gentle and curious mammals that are also very big (up to 2,000 pounds). After suiting up in wet suits with snorkeling gear, we were taken to a slowmoving river where the manatees and their pups would come and brush up against us and nuzzle us with their noses. After about an hour, this area was becoming overcrowded with tourists, and I requested to be taken to a part of the bay that I remembered from my college field trip. Our guide said that there would be no guarantees of manatee sightings here, but we were pleasantly surprised to be swimming with at least 20 full-grown manatees, and since no one besides my family was here, we had the manatees’ full attention. At one time, Meghan, who was particularly calm, had eight full-grown manatees surrounding her from all sides, and Kaely discovered that the manatees liked chewing on her pony tail.
A manatee kiss for Kaely
Susan and Kaely kayak at the 10,000 Islands Gulf Coast Visitor Center.
Shane and Meghan in the Cypress Dome
Although I had fond memories from my college field trip, nothing could be better than letting my family experience the Everglades, coral reefs, and swimming with manatees. It was a trip of a lifetime. The McCarthys at the Flamingo Visitor Center
SUMMER BULLETIN 2013
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The Class of 2013 Peter Hugh Barlow Shiloh Victoria Barry Laura Jane Baudet Allison Lynn Bolles Fletcher Michael Bonin Melanie Alexandra Camacho Yixian Chen Minjae Cho Sa Uk Brian Chung Coleman Joseph Clark Nicholas Joseph DeLieto Dorothy Carol Dickmann Pinyuan Dong George Andrew Evans Sebastián L. Ferré Steven Joseph Foster Ann Marie Gallagher Catherine Kennington Glosson Claire Lily Gralton Katharine Coulter Haines Caroline Faber Hall Kelsi Claire Harper Hunter Bradford Harries Meredith Clare Horan
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Daniel Joseph-Villenueve Jackson Emily Margaret Kelley Mitchell J. Kelln Jordan Romeo Kenny Isabel Margot Keogh Mary Frances Kielb Annalise Danielle Kirscht Reaves Holton Klipstein Sean Michael Knowlan Marilyn Mossiah Yvanne Kouassi-Brou Austin Lee Kreinz Laura Ashley Lansing Xiang Li Zelong Li Andrew Geoffrey Lowis Anna MacGillivray Rhoads Walker MacGuire Charlotte Elizabeth MacKinnon Michael Francis Madigan Rasaanh Solomon Eulipion Matra J. Hadley Matthews Nicholas Gordon Medley Kimberly Brooke Mehrtens Michelle Tess Mehrtens
Gabriel John Miller Antonio Minondo Stillman Justin Mistikawy Annette Michelle Monheim Hannah Marie Niles Julia Martha Noble Katherine Elizabeth Normand Kelley Nicole Oliveira Francis Giuliano Padula Gabriella Perez Escobar Stacey Joyce Poon-Tip Luisa Posada-Urrutia Rachael Victoria Powers Sarah Nicole Powers Zachary Edward Pray Phillip Alston Wilcox Bacot Purvis Charles Francis Ramsden William Christopher Reynolds Maria Luisa Ruiz Vásquez Fang Shao Erin René Shaw William E. Shaw-MacGillivray Michael Patrick Sheerin Sarah Elizabeth Sienkiewicz
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Julia Janina Slupska Christopher Mark Menchaca Soriano Severin St. Claire Michael Andrew Stark Robert Huntington Sucsy O’Callahan Rebecca Taylor Allyson Rachel Tessier Julia Elizabeth Thompson Lauren Elizabeth Thompson Zackery Michael Tipton Garin Thomas Tracy Claudia Isabelle Trahan Katherine Lloyd Troutman Monica Rocio Urquijo Zobel de Ayala Maria Elisa Vollmer Molly J. Wart Xiaodian Xu Joseph Henry Yates Sang Seo Andrew Yi Xijia Yuan Toby Hyung Seok Yun
T
he Portsmouth Abbey community celebrated the Class of 2013 and its accomplishments on Commencement Weekend, May 25 and 26. Unseasonably cold weather did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the 93 graduates, who were lauded not only for their outstanding academic achievements but for their support of and love for each other. The community also thanked departing Headmaster Jim DeVecchi, who retired June 30 after four decades of service to the School, including 13 as headmaster. An audience of more than 1,000 watched as Dr. DeVecchi conferred diplomas on the graduating class, which, according to Dr. DeVecchi, “… personified the core characteristics of a healthy Benedictine community: obedience, to our Benedictine culture, traditions and values; discipline; humility and kindness, in how you have treated each other; the value you have placed upon each other as individuals while viewing what is common and good among all of you as a community; the hospitality that has been reflected in the much you have done here that was not motivated by personal gain; the love, in the Benedictine sense, you have shown for each other; and respect, which has been an almost-unfailing virtue of your class. The qualities we have seen in your class are what Mrs. DeVecchi and I have valued most in our time here. “We repeatedly have witnessed your appreciation of and joy in the unique gifts that each of your classmates brings to our community,” he continued. “Moreover, by any standard you are a most talented and accomplished group, which shows that at the Abbey, humility and excellence are most compatible qualities. I know you will continue to distinguish yourselves and enrich society in your ‘after-Abbey’ life, not only through what you accomplish, but also through how you achieve those accomplishments.” Dr. DeVecchi was joined on the dais by Abbot Caedmon Holmes, Chairman of the Board of Regents John “Mac” Regan ’68, P ’07, and the 2013 Commencement Speaker, Rev. Dr. Timothy Flanigan ’75, P ’06, ’09, ’11. Dr. Flanigan, an infectious disease physician who recently stepped down as chief of his department when he was ordained a deacon in the Diocese of Providence, told students to “put aside for a few minutes the intellectual pursuit embedded in academia in which you are taught to listen with the ear of the mind, and instead I ask you… listen with the ear of the heart, which is absolutely critical in determining who you are called to be.” From top: Class Speaker Allison Bolles ’13; Commencement Speaker Rev. Dr. Timothy Flanigan ’75, P ’06, ’09, ’11 with retiring Headmaster Jim DeVecchi; Class Speaker Nick Medley ’13; Teacher Cliff Hobbins and Dean of Faculty Nancy Brzys; (left) Chairman of the Board of Regents John “Mac” Regan, III.
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Cristina Mehrtens (l-r) with Michelle Mehrtens ’13, Enjolras Peixoto, and Kimberly Mehrtens’13
Alane Sauder (l-r), Pierce MacGuire ’10, Rhoads MacGuire ’13, and Jamie MacGuire ’70
Dr. Flanigan admitted that being guided by one’s heart instead of one’s head may seem “counter-cultural”; today the focus is so often on “pursuing your passion and seizing opportunity, which can ever so easily center on promotion of self.” The problem with that, he said, is that “Life will throw you twists and turns that you can never anticipate. Because you do not plan these unexpected detours, you, like me, will inevitably be disappointed. But stop…listen with your heart – not with your mind – and expect those detours with an open heart. It will help you deeply.” In his remarks, Regan spoke of “the fires that have been ignited” in the graduates while at the Abbey “in the form of a curiosity, an interest or an inspiration that your teachers, coaches or classmates have awakened in you…interests that can turn into careers and lifelong pursuits. “An enduring community has also been created,” he continued. “As I have found, your Abbey friends, teachers and network of alumni will always be there for you. Most importantly, you have lived in a community that works hard to live its mission. As you
Tara Matthews (l-r), J. Hadley Matthews ’13, A. Brandt Matthews ’16, and Charles Matthews ’84 PAGE 10
look back on your lives 45 years from now, I know that many of your most meaningful accomplishments will track back to the values of reverence, respect and responsibility you have lived here. Use these values to change things for the better.” Regan paid tribute to Jim DeVecchi, recounting Jim’s “vision, passion and focus for 40 years.” He reminded the graduates that they had benefitted from many changes during their four years at the Abbey owing to Jim’s efforts: “So, as we give thanks today for the success of the Class of2013, I ask that we offer special thanks for the leadership of Jim and the constant support of Deb. Congratulations on a job well done and a mission well lived.” He then presented Jim with an Abbey chair, “as a symbol of the comfortable and solid position in which you leave us.” Allison Bolles and Nicholas Medley were chosen by their classmates to give the Class of 2013 addresses, and they delighted fellow graduates and guests alike with their reflections. Bolles, who will attend Harvard in the fall, recounted the many “cringe moments” she and
Reeves Klipstein ’13 with his parents, David and Tara
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Alumna Lauren Bolusky ’11 congratulates Hannah Niles ’13
Rosemary Scully (l-r), Bill Keogh ’78, Isabel Keogh ’13, Andrea Keogh, Cissie and Tom Keogh P ’76, ’78
all Abbey students inevitably endure, stating, “With every recitation…every season when we tried out for a new sport or auditioned for the play, we risked embarrassment.” But, she added, “If the Abbey never made us put ourselves out there, we’d miss endless opportunities; we’d learn so little about ourselves.” Bolles challenged her classmates “to continue trying new things when you leave the Abbey. Get out there and do it, whatever it is. Be vulnerable. You’ve got one chance; don’t waste it on fear.” Medley, president of the Sixth Form, entertained the audience by starting with a humorous and fitting adaptation of the Gettysburg Address. An altar server while at the Abbey, he thanked the monks “for quietly living within our midst with grace and dignity. They have taught me the importance of serving others.” He acknowledged that while the Class of 2013 has “shaped the culture and identity of Portsmouth Abbey, in so many, deeper ways, the Abbey’s buildings, and the community they contain, have shaped us all for the better.” He also paid tribute to St. Bede’s, which will be torn down this summer, and his fellow Bedesmen and Bedeswomen: “Bede’s showed
The Glosson family (l-r), Todd ’80 , Katie ’13, Lindsay and Mair
Stuart Kirscht (l-r), Annie Kirscht ’13, Nikki Kirscht, Caroline Kirscht, and Cristina Kirscht
me what true camaraderie really was. Our Bede’s memories will live on in our hearts, and immune systems, forever.” Medley closed on a more serious note, speaking of “the collective journey” of the graduating students and referring to a fellow classmate’s statement that “no other class I’ve seen has such a strong support and acceptance of each other.” Another said, “I hope that each and every one of you pursues your dream and finds something that you love.” “Every one of us graduating today has his or her list of what they will miss about the Abbey,” concluded Medley. “I am grateful to my class for allowing me to say, on their behalf, thank you to the Abbey for every memory on those lists.” During the ceremony, Dr. DeVecchi recognized Mrs. Geri Zilian, who retired after 20 years in the Office of Admission, including seven as director of admission. He also announced the establishment of two faculty chairs, the Dom Ambrose Wolverton Chair in the Performing Arts, and the J. Clifford Hobbins Chair in
Laurie Nuell, Mary Ann Camacho, Melanie Camacho ’13, Kellie Camacho and Molly Nuell
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History, to honor the many and varied contributions by these two men to the School over many years. Jay Bragan, the School’s current head of Performing Arts, was named the inaugural Wolverton Performing Arts Chair, and Mr. Hobbins was recognized as the first recipient of the Hobbins Chair. Seven members of the graduating class were acknowledged by Dr. DeVecchi for being second-generation Portsmouth graduates: Katie Glosson (Todd ’80); Isabel Keogh (Bill ’78); Anna MacGillivray (Mark ’80); Hadley Matthews (Charlie ’84); Rachael and Sarah Powers (Jim ’79); and Will Shaw-MacGillivray (Steve ’84). Luisa Posada ’13 and Rhoads MacGuire ’13 were also recognized, Luisa for following in the footsteps of her grandfather, Jamie Urrutia ’60, and Rhoads for being the third generation in his family to attend Portsmouth Abbey, after his father, Jamie ’70, and grandfather, Philip ’36. Complete transcripts of all Commencement remarks, Prize Day recipients, photos of Commencement Weekend and DVD information can be found at http://www. portsmouthabbey.org/page/8789. Left top: (l-r) Berkley Behnke, Deborah Behnke, Steve Behnke ’78 Ella Behnke (in front), Mary Anne Behnke, Michelle Behnke, William Behnke, and graduate Shiloh Barry ’13 Left middle: (l-r) Arlene Powers, Olivia Powers, Jim Powers ’79, Rachael Powers ’13, Joanne Halbardier, Sarah Powers ’13, Edwina Powers, Maurice Gauthier, and Patricia Gauthier Left bottom: (l-r) Jim McCabe, Jimmy McCabe, Kelly McCabe, Tom Giblin, Jr., Maggie Stark ’15, Janet Stark, Jennifer Bejtlich, Joan McCabe, Michael Stark ’13, Tom Giblin, Sr., Peter Stark P ’13, ’15, Kathy Stark P ’13, ’15, Annika Giblin, Tom Stark, Tommy McCabe, Gus Giblin, Katie Giblin. Michael is headed to Boston College in the fall. Right: (back row l-r) Jacob Caldwell, Kate Bragan, Paul Bolles-Beaver, William Bolles-Beaver, Emma Bolles-Beaver, Jay Bragan, Stephen Bolles; (front row l-r) Lila Bragan, Gwenyth Bragan, Anne Bolles-Beaver, Nancy Parnell, Allison Bolles ’13, Elizabeth “Bambi” Bolles, Elliot Bolles, Rebeca Bolles, and Morgan Caldwell. Allison was the recipient of the Excellence in Scholarship Award, presented to the graduating Sixth Former with the highest cumulative academic average for the Fifth and Sixth Form years, as well as the William Griffin Kelley Memorial Trophy that was established in memory of a teacher of English and Greek. Through a vote of the Faculty, this trophy is awarded annually to a member of the Sixth Form who has made a most significant contribution to the life of the School. All phases of school life are considered: academic, athletic, and extracurricular, as well as the special qualities of humaneness, humility and sense of humor. Allison will be attending Harvard University in the fall.
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PRIZE DAY Left: Hannah Niles’ 13 with her parents, Timothy and Sarah. Hannah was the recipient of the Headmaster’s Award, given to a Sixth Form girl or boy, who has through his or her goodwill, personal example, and effort been a force for good in the School. Above: (l-r) Jenny Yates ’16, Gail Yates, Joseph Yates ’13, and Ted Yates. Joe was elected to the Cum Laude Society and was the recipient of the Dom Luke Childs Memorial Medal, awarded to that member of the graduating class who best exemplifies those qualities of citizenship which were so prized by Dom Luke: intelligence, virtue, and concern for others. Joe is headed for Princeton in the fall. Right: The Gallagher family, (back row l-r) William ’05, Eileen, Kevin, John ’07, James; (middle row l-r) Joseph, Margaret, Ann ’13, Theresa; (front row l-r) Clare and Bridget. Ann was elected to the Cum Laude Society and was the recipient of the William Barry McCoy Memorial Award, elected by the Monastic Faculty, “for interest and growth in things of the spirit and for influence upon his or her classmates, through Christian attitude and constructive leadership as exemplified by William Barry McCoy of the Class of 1967.” Ann will attend the University of Notre Dame in the fall.
Below: Kathleen and Tim Cuningham ’74, P ’08, ‘09, ’11 with their son, Tim ’14, who was the recipient of the Faculty Form V Award, made by vote of the Faculty to that member of the Fifth Form who qualifies as the “best all-around student” in his or her Form, with special emphasis being placed on high scholarship and character.
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From the Office of College Counseling In his book, The Neurotic Parent’s Guide to College Admissions, JD Rothman offers this curious bit of advice: “Whatever you do, don’t let your kid become the valedictorian! Just about every top college likes to brag that they reject two-thirds of the vals who apply.” Of course, Rothman is speaking tongue-in-cheek, but the purpose of his book is more serious; Rothman aims to shine a light on (while poking fun at) some of the mystery, confusion, and downright bizarre urban myths surrounding today’s college admissions. Reality check: a student’s academic profile (grades, courses, and in most cases, test scores) does count most. The problem arises when there are more academically qualified students than there are spots for them at a particular school. This is when all of the “other” factors come into play: extracurricular activities, talent, legacy, diversity, ability to pay, or to in some other way contribute something that the school needs. The “neurosis” mentioned in the title of the book sets in as parents, students, and other interested parties began trying to “showcase” the “other.” So, what would be the “best” activity to show colleges? First, colleges have super-sensitive noses for resume padding. In the words of an admission officer at one of the most selective of colleges in the world, “If it doesn’t truly interest you, it won’t impress me.”
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So the emphasis should be on what is “best” for a particular student, not what would be “best” for a particular college. Second, colleges look for depth. The “best” activity should be in an area in which the student has shown a clear interest and has pursued over a significant period of time or in more than one venue. How do Abbey students get involved? Examples include a future engineer with a demonstrated interest in green energy who went to South Africa to spend ten days as an intern at a plant that makes wind turbines, then spent the rest of his month installing a turbine and solar panel at an isolated village school that previously had not had electricity. A student planning to go into music production spent a significant part of his summer studying at the Berklee College of Music and producing a CD of his compositions; a young lady fascinated by cultures spent a month caring for Peruvian orphans while studying Peruvian culture and Spanish; a future pharmacist volunteered with a medical team in Haiti; and a young writer participated in an aspiring writers program at the University of California at Berkeley. All of these projects were funded, fully or in part, by a grant from The Haney Fellowship, a program established in 1998 by William “Bill” Haney, III ‘80, in honor of his father, the late William Haney, Jr., established to provide Fifth Form students with a unique educational expe-
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rience during the summer before their Sixth Form year. Another outstanding opportunity is the Ali Sacco ’05 Internship, a program established by Children’s Hospital in Boston to honor the memory of Ali Sacco, an Abbey student who passed away due to a congenital heart defect. Students interested in medicine can apply for the Internship during their Fifth Form year. Recipients spend two weeks in the summer after Fifth Form shadowing physicians and medical staff in the Cardiology Department at Children’s Hospital. Of course, there are a limited number of Haney Fellowships and Ali Sacco ’05 Internships, and the competition is keen. So what is available to other Abbey students? Colleges do take “context” into account; they are interested not so much “what did you do” as “what opportunities available in your school or community did you take advantage of – or fail to take advantage of.” And in particular, what opportunities did you create for yourself? Abbey students are very lucky in this regard; in addition to those mentioned above, there are myriad opportunities open to all students for involvement at various levels in the areas of leadership, music, athletics, drama, visual arts, service, as well as academic activities such as Model UN, math league, and more; and there are numerous supportive adults willing to help you take advantage of available activities or create your own. One recent graduate,
who had been passionately interested in history while at the Abbey, found a faculty member to advise him as he entered – and won – competitions in the region. The Abbey offers students ample leadership opportunities. Students who have proven themselves leaders and role models may be chosen to be dorm prefects, team captains, student directors for a school play, student council officers, Model UN leaders, editors of the school’s newspaper, literary magazine, or yearbook. And because Abbey students receive the support and encouragement they need to regularly win league championships, art competitions, journalism awards, and recognition for service, their involvement is both impressive to colleges and, more importantly, enriching to themselves. A final word. Colleges, particularly the highly selective schools that Abbey students tend to apply to, like to see excellence and/or commitment in several areas and serious excellence and commitment in one. But again, Abbey students are lucky in this respect. The aspiring wind turbine engineer also ran (and captained) cross-country and was involved in multiple drama productions. The budding pharmacist not only excelled in science, she also participated in technical design competitions at the regional and global levels. And yes, she also ran and captained cross-country. A swimmer and soccer player participated in and led the Appalachia Service Trip, an awardwinning leader in our music program wrestled, and a Math League four-year competitor also starred in drama productions and spent three weeks of her summer teaching English to children in the Himalayan area of India. The opportunities are there; seize them!
DESTINATIONS Auburn University
Rollins College
Boston College (5)
Saint Anselm College
Boston University (2)
Saint Michael’s College
Brown University
Sarah Lawrence College
Bryant University
Scripps College
Carnegie Mellon University
Southwestern University
College of Charleston
Stonehill College
College of the Holy Cross (3)
Suffolk University
Dickinson College
The Catholic University of America
Eckerd College
The George Washington University (2)
Emmanuel College (2)
Tufts University
Fairfield University
Union College (3)
Flagler College
United States Military Academy
Fordham University (2)
United States Naval Academy
Georgia Southern University
Universidad de Los Andes (Colombia)
Goldsmiths College, Univ. of London (UK)
University of California at Berkeley
Hampshire College
University of Dallas
Harvard University
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
High Point University (2)
University of Miami
Hobart & William Smith Colleges (3)
University of Michigan (2)
Hult International Business School (UK)
University of New Hampshire
James Madison University
University of Notre Dame (3)
Johns Hopkins University
University of Pennsylvania (2)
Kenyon College
University of Rhode Island (3)
London School of Economics (UK)
University of Richmond
Loyola University New Orleans
University of Southern California
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy
University of St. Andrews (Scotland)
Mount Holyoke College
University of Vermont
New York University
Villanova University
Northeastern University (3)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Northwestern University
Wake Forest University
Princeton University (2)
Washington and Lee University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (3)
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“Here at Portsmouth Abbey, we are all so proud of the supportive community all of our students and faculty have created.” THE PORTSMOUTH ABBEY COMMUNITY: A FEELING OF HOME In 1997, I came to Portsmouth to become a teacher, coach, and houseparent: the “triple threat” of boarding school life. This job of a houseparent is not for everyone, however! First of all, you share a home with dozens of teenagers. When school is in session, you teach your classes until 3:00, you coach your team until 5:30, and your day is just getting started. You establish a good environment during study hall, run a house meeting and prayers, and you are up until sometime after midnight. But I’m hooked – I proposed to my wife at the gazebo, we now have three kids, and we are committed to this school. Here at Portsmouth Abbey, we are all so proud of the supportive community all of our students and faculty have created. We all watched in fascination when St. Martin’s was being built, and now it houses 45 students, three houseparents, three wives, six children, and two dogs. In the past two weeks we have all started to dig that foundation of a small community within the community. Wisconsinites have to be the most nostalgic people in the country. It is no coincidence that “Happy Days” and “That ‘70s Show” took place in the Milwaukee area. Not surprisingly, then, my wife Allison and I often muse about our childhoods. Whether you were in Beaver Dam, WI, (yes, that is a real place), or Smithfield, RI, children safely played with other neighborhood children, needing only cursory adult supervision. We rode our bikes everywhere; we made up games as we went; we investigated small creatures. We occasionally
came home with scraped knees or bloodied noses, but we lived and grew as human beings. Having this new dormitory on campus allows three Gittus children, three Zelden children, along with many other kids on campus, to share in what so many children today cannot: a true neighborhood filled with laughter and exploration rather than strictly organized activities and screen time. St. Martin’s is not only a community and part of a neighborhood… it is a gorgeous HOME for faculty families. Here comes the history teacher in me…. 19th-Century American writer and theologian J.R. Miller said: “A true home is one of the most sacred of places. It is a sanctuary into which men flee from the world’s perils and alarms. It is a resting-place to which at close of day the weary retire to gather new strength for the battle and toils of tomorrow. It is the place where love learns its lessons, where life is schooled into discipline and strength, where character is molded. Few things we can do in this world are so well worth doing as the making of a beautiful and happy home.” I would also like to thank everyone involved in the building of St. Martin’s for giving residential faculty the gift of a community, a neighborhood, and a “beautiful and happy home” for generations to come. Thank you. Derek Gittus Head Houseparent, St. Martin’s House September 21, 2012
Remarks deliverd on the occasion of the formal dedication and blessing of St. Martin’s House PAGE 16
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The Manor House is my home, and it is a perfect one. It was the original schoolhouse at Portsmouth Abbey School (then Portsmouth Priory). It overlooks Narragansett Bay, has a view of Prudence Island, and houses the Office of Admission. And, most importantly, each year it is home to eighteen Fourth Form boarders, four Sixth Form prefects, around fifteen Fourth Form day students, and four faculty members, from all over the country and world. I feel very fortunate to share this home with so many lively, kind, smart, hardworking, and caring teenagers. Part of what I find to be so truly distinctive and enjoyable about living and working at a boarding school is that I am constantly surrounded by meaningful human interaction. Each day, I will open my kitchen door to the sound of chatter and laughter in the common room and will catch up with whomever is sitting there about our days – about that Humanities test Vanessa spent all weekend studying for, or how Heidi played in her tennis match, or what song Mary is mastering at her A Flats rehearsal. And, what is doubly special about these interactions is that the girls ask me about my day, too. “Ms. Gundy, did you interview any prospective students today?” “Ms. Gundy, can
we bake some cookies in your apartment?” “Ms. Gundy, what are you doing over Christmas Break?” When part of a shared living space, you naturally develop a mutual respect, care, and concern for one another, and that is at the core of community. In a world that is becoming increasingly less personal, these common room conversations remain integral to the life and culture of the boarding school experience. House meeting is perhaps the place where the family dynamic is most present in the Manor House. Each night after study hall, we have a quick meeting in preparation for the day to come. We make announcements, congratulate one another on accomplishments, and celebrate birthdays... lots of birthdays. House meeting always ends with house prayers, when we offer a prayer to St. Joan of Arc, our patron saint, and intentions for one another. It is in this moment, regardless of the faith of each person in the house, when we all stop to acknowledge one another, reflect on another day passed, and prepare for the day to come. This is when I feel that community and family is most palpable. After all of the students have taken their exams and left for the summer, the walls are bare once again and the Manor House is still. Yet all summer, as I walk home to the Manor House, I know that soon enough a big new family will be formed once again, of Fourth Formers and prefects and houseparents taking care of one another.
Home at Manor House by Wallace Gundy
On the night before Move-In Day each September, the walls are bare, the house is still, and the houseparents wait with anticipation for the girls to arrive and turn the Manor House into a home once again with their personalities, energy, and heart. In those first few weeks of each school year, a new family is formed once again, with houseparents as moms and prefects as big sisters, caring for and mentoring our Fourth Formers. And, in reality, whether they realize it or not, the Fourth Formers care for us houseparents and prefects, too.
Wallace Gundy (far right in photo) is head houseparent in Manor House, as well as an associate director of admission. She is the coach for girls’ JVB Squash and assistant coach for girls’ JV Lacrosse.
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Working as editor on both The Beacon and The Raven was a privilege that allowed me to hone my writing skills and helped me forge meaningful relationships with my friends and teachers. Participating in discussions, carefully forming opinions, articulating them artfully, and debating the pros and cons, were key aspects of both activities. The Beacon allowed me to analyze movies, books, and current events, as well as interview guest speakers at the School – including comedian Charlie Day and the two FBI agents who helped find and arrest the notorious Unabomber. My friends on the staff were incredible people who shared different viewpoints, providing me with various observations on the legality of the death penalty, the social climate of the U.S., the existence of Santa Claus, and the merits of “Mean Girls.“ Mrs. Bonin, as advisor on The Raven, worked nonstop to make sure our literary magazine was top-notch – inspiring all of us to do the same consistently. My co-editor on The Raven as well as the layout editor, were both talented, extremely funny people; they could make me laugh at midnight while trying to finish a particularly difficult writing assignment. These experiences have made me a stronger writer and left me with amazing friendships (and stories); they have also reinforced my desire to work on publications at Brown University in the fall. Attending the Abbey allowed me to meet and learn from these fantastic teachers and friends. I was able to study in a demanding, yet rewarding, atmosphere that taught me the importance of persistence, initiative, and resourcefulness. The Abbey made me a stronger student because learning, and the love of learning, was – and is – a vital aspect of the School. – Michelle Mehrtens ’13
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THE BONDS THAT TIE Zack McCune ’06. Jamie Cannarozzi ’06. Alley Curran ’07. Adoabi Ibida ’07. Michelle LeMeur ’07. Alex Walgreen ’08. Micaela Adams ’08. Marisa Edmonds ’08. Sara Munda ’10. Kathryn Yao ’10. DohYon (DK) Kim ’10. Emily McCutcheon ’11. Francesca Bessey ’11. Gaby Gutierrez ’11. Taylor Smariga ’11. Jesse Bessinger ’12. Darren Colbourne ’12. Sarah Auer ’12. Siddharth Sharma ’12. Christian Barcenas ’12. Michelle Mehrtens ’13. MinJae (Steve) Cho ’13. Allison Bolles ’13. These are The Beacon newspaper and The Raven literary magazine editors with whom I have had the privilege to work. During my first year as The Beacon’s Faculty Advisor, Zack McCune was my student editor. We would go head-to-head over various submissions in those first few months; he would debate that this was a student publication, and, therefore, these submissions belonged in print. Despite our early differences, I was lucky to have Zack as my first editor. Sometimes I would watch him go home from our afternoon of editing, but then find more work had been done by the next day. Turns out, he would reappear to continue in the wee hours of the morning. He didn’t offer, and I didn’t ask. But the work got done. Under his maverick watch, the publication transformed from a six-page standard-paper sized document into the more professional, larger broadsheet used today. He led the business meeting with Bill Sherman ’07 at The Newport Daily News that would establish it – an actual newspaper – as our official printer. While at first the staff and I worked in the student publication room shared with Yearbook, I found that working out of the dorm where I lived was not only more
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Working at The Beacon gave me perspective on what it means to work hard, and collaboratively. I joined the team during my Fourth Form year when Zachary McCune ’06, the editor-in-chief at the time, took me under his wing and showed me the ropes. He had a great vision for the paper, taking it from a two-page in-house job to a fullspread newspaper printed by the Newport Daily News. Upon Zack’s graduation, the responsibility of editor-in-chief fell into my lap. There was a lot of work to be done; how were we going to get students and faculty engaged in reading the newspaper? This was the challenge Mrs. Bonin and I faced, and we worked countless hours to perfect each and every issue. She nurtured my passion for the newspaper and we worked collaboratively to produce a great product. Beyond the paper, the Bonins were patient in developing my writing skills, advising me on life, and helping to sculpt the person I am today. Without a doubt, I can attribute my success in college – where I worked on the student newspaper, was my fraternity president, and a peer mentor – and as a young professional to the influence and kindness of the Bonin family.
Darren Colbourne ’12 celebrates his birthday with faculty advisor Laureen Bonin.
– Tad “Alex” Walgreen ‘08 Tad “Alex” Walgreen ‘08 returns in 2013 to visit with Beacon faculty advisor, Laureen Bonin
convenient, but created a hub that made the work exciting. Dorm residents and their friends, houseparents and their friends, my children, would all stop to check our progress, thrilled by the fact that they might get to see an issue of The Beacon or The Raven before anyone else did. These visits further informed the publications with fresh ideas and opinions. Alex, MinJae, Christian, Siddharth and Darren had permanent house permission and probably should have been in the dorm photos taken at the end of the year (though given their photoshopping talents, this is still a possibility). As the paper grew in size and scope, it took longer to put together, and meeting deadlines required several very late nights a year. Very late nights. And these are nights I wouldn’t trade for anything. Alex at my dining room table creating layout magic while Jai Crawl ‘08 fried chicken for everyone in my kitchen. Marisa in glasses due to tired eyes, wrapped in a blanket, fretting over a provocative article she had written taking issue with our school retreats. Kathryn, forever smiling, never looking tired at any hour, drinking just mugs of hot water while we noshed on Twix bars and chips. Christian hilariously photoshopping Sid’s head on any number of graphics that were not being used for school publications (I hoped). Jesse always trying to get this more cynical bunch to go barefoot, literally and metaphorically, through life, and even succeeding with one or two. The genius duo of MinJae and Allison in my living room furiously texting sharp-eyed proofreader Michelle at the monastery dinner – how late can an evening with monks go? – not for her editorial duties but because we needed her menu input for ordering food. Francesca’s impassioned furor over “Heard in the Halls” being cut, which would attract others into the room and lead to more inappropriate quotes that we couldn’t use. Editors in love making googly eyes at each other, which only benefitted me as they were in no rush to finish and be separated by their respective dorms. It is during those times where the
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The time I spent working with the publishing team on Portsmouth Abbey’s literary magazine, The Raven, was fantastic. It allowed me to connect with both faculty, in the form of Mrs. Bonin, who has always impressed me with her commitment to students’ creative writing pursuits, and peers with similar interests. I was able to experience so many aspects of editing a literary journal. Watching Steve Cho (’13) work his magic in formatting the journal was unique, and co-editing with Jesse Bessinger (’12) offered an opportunity to critique and select works as part of a team and kept me interacting with someone as interested and passionate about writing as I am. More than anything, though, it allowed me to see fellow students through a completely new lens. Each submitter opened him- or herself up in some way through his or her work, and being able to observe that was an intimate experience. People said more through those submissions and taught me more about themselves than I’d have guessed possible. I currently submit to professional literary journals and websites as well as to Columbia University publications. I’m hoping to work on the editing team for one of Columbia’s journals in the future. The Raven taught me how to interact with editors, and I use that knowledge now when drafting cover letters in my own pursuits. – Darren Colbourne ‘12
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The Beacon staff in 2012 with Dom Luke Childs lecturer Charlie Day ’94. From left, Christian Barcenas ’12, Charlie Day ’94, Jesse Bessenger ’12, Siddarth Sharma ’12, MinJae (Steve) Cho ’13 and Laureen Bonin
The hard part about working with The Beacon wasn’t the late night before a deadline, or the wrangling of the staff writers. The hard part of working with The Beacon was the effort it took not to stop working on the paper and simply bask in the fabulousness that was our team. We all brought our own unique offerings to the table: Steve (Cho ’13), with his brilliance and his wildly contagious laugh; Sid (Sharma ’12), with his surprising and awesome sass; Christian (Barcenas ‘12), with his tech-savvy ideas and inspirations; Sarah (Auer ’12), with her invaluable sarcasm; me, with my free time and cupcakes…and then, of course, there was Mrs. Bonin. Yes, she was our second mom, and yes, she had impeccable taste in clothes, and yes, she wore pearls with sweatshirts, and she made delicious Cuban food and…cake. But on The Beacon, she became more than a teacher or a houseparent or a fashion consultant. It was more than a group of five students and a faculty advisor. The six of us were friends. Mrs. Bonin’s wisdom, experience and patience allowed us to explore our strengths and weaknesses, good ideas and bad, within the parameters of The Beacon and in our own lives. And her sense of humor made sure that whatever happened, we’d all be laughing about it afterwards. Mrs. Bonin was one of the most important people I met during my time at the Abbey, and she’ll be a resource and a great friend for the rest of my life. – Jesse Bessinger ’12
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camaraderie, the teamwork, the talent and my genuine admiration and appreciation for them came to fruition. Pizza, leftovers from my kitchen, cookies, milkshakes, sushi from the Newport place that now delivers, and lots of laughing – this got us through to the early morning hours when we could, exhausted and happy, export final pages to the printer. The detritus from one of these nights made it real, almost professional – all that was missing cinematically was a couple of ashtrays filled with cigarette stubs. The school website can help preserve every article, photo and artwork in my head, but only my heart can recall so many memorable scenes. Something more profound than a newspaper or magazine happened on these nights, though: the essence of what boarding school means for me. Discussing the spectrum of possible topics, proofreading the many articles, sifting through hundreds of photos—these provided opportunity for so many matters to be addressed that might have something – or nothing – to do with school on a personal level: dating dramas, parent issues, college stress, fights with friends, general anxiety. On those nights, the shared commitment, the collaboration, the chats, my trust in them and their trust in me – those nights were the foundation that moved many of those student/teacher relationships into a genuine fondness and friendship that would last beyond graduation. This is why I came to boarding school. This is why I love boarding school. And this is why I stay. And I can’t help but think that it wasn’t so much the writing itself, but this desire to contribute alongside likeminded people who enjoyed each other’s company that led so many of these past editors to pursue journalism beyond Portsmouth Abbey. Alex did PR for Rollins University’s newspaper, The Sandspur. Alley studied broadcast journalism at Manhattan College and is now a production coordinator in film. Marisa was a two-time fellow and writer for Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs as well as the Junior Year Abroad Network while based in Turkey. Micaela was photo and layout editor for NYU’s Gallatin Rag and did graphic design for an advertis-
ing firm, though she now works independently. Emily is a stylist on the staff of Emory University’s Bubble magazine, where she occasionally writes special features and handles some business/model coordination. Kathryn was the national managing editor at Claremont McKenna for the Claremont Port Side, as well as editor-in-chief for the Rose Review and the Inland Empire Outlook. Sara writes/edits Princeton’s Alumni Weekly as well as publications for its Center for African American Studies. Francesca was a writer/assistant editor for University of Southern California’s Daily Trojan, but her distaste for censorship and limitations led her to Neon Tommy, an online newsite of USC’s journalism school, where she writes what she wants as the senior opinion editor. Siddharth was just appointed editor-in-chief, as a sophomore, of the Walsh Exchange at Georgetown. Jesse signed up to write for Cornell University’s Kitsch Magazine. Darren remains a prolific writer, still sending me his poetry and prose from Columbia University. History suggests that the latest graduates may follow suit: MinJae might design pages at UPenn, Allison could very likely edit the Harvard Crimson, and Michelle Mehrtens become a novelist at Brown. Zack wrote for The Mercury, an alternative weekly, for five years after being on the staff of Brown University’s Daily Herald and their Alumni Magazine. He currently lives in the East Village of NYC “bouncing between leftist bookshops, hidden speakeasies, and delightful dives” while freelance writing for the art zine Hyperallergic and a hipster humor blog called Thought Catalog. Embarking on this whole Abbey publications adventure with Zack set the bar high, and since then my editors have awed me with their writing talent, creativity, eye for design, technological skills, work ethic, respect for each other and desire to make the school a better place through their words and pictures. Their ideas taught me plenty about them as people, and plenty about putting out a school publication. Or, as I have since learned, a student publication.
d Top right: Cynthia Holte ’12, Emma Smith ’12, and Siddarth Sharma ’12 brainstorming in The Beacon office. Right: A September 2005 issue of The Beacon highlights a visit with President George H. W. Bush at the Carnegie Abbey Club (from left), editor Zack McCune ’06, Kyle Biddick ’06, President Bush, Sade Solola ’06, and Craig Bazarsky ’05).
During my time at The Beacon, I made some of my closest friends and developed a strong relationship with Mrs. Bonin. When I first met Mrs. Bonin, she was my intimidating English teacher who immediately reminded me of Professor McGonagall from Harry Potter. Since then, we have developed a great friendship that has extended into my time with The Beacon and even into college. I will never forget working in the St. Brigid’s common room late into the night before a publication due date with Mrs. Bonin, Christian Barcenas (’12), Minjae Cho (‘12), Sarah Auer (’12), and occasionally Emmett Conway (’12). Stocked with amazing home-cooked meals, we would simultaneously hammer out headlines while also cracking jokes that literally stopped us for several minutes as we all gasped for air, tears streaming down our faces. Working on The Beacon has given me some of the greatest memories I have from the Abbey, as well as some of the strongest friendships I have ever made. I am now editor-in-chief of the Steering Committee for Georgetown’s new, entirely student-run undergraduate international relations research conference, the Walsh Exchange. As such, I am responsible for all the printed materials for the conference and for compiling all the accepted research submissions into a publication called the Book of Proceedings, for which I must edit all content, and do layout and logo design. Mrs. Bonin wrote a reference letter for me when I applied for the position last spring. – Sidharth Sharma ‘12
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MinJae, with Laureen Bonin and former headmaster Jim DeVecchi, receiving his special recognition the final All-School Assembly.
MinJae “Steve” Cho’ 13 It was September 2011 when I first arrived at the Abbey. I didn’t have any self-confidence. I gave myself an English name, “Steve,” but I wasn’t sure how to go about fitting into the Abbey community. I just did what I thought I should be doing, going to classes, and joining clubs that interested me. The Beacon was one of them.
friends with teachers, because they were authority figures to me. Working on The Raven was amazing, too. I didn’t know what to do with it. I kept an eye out for the layout in magazines, websites, newspapers, books – anything that looked good. I wasn’t sure how I was going to do, but Mrs. Bonin encouraged me.
When I joined The Beacon, I was unaware that the layout was done by students. Once I found out, I sent a brief, carefully written email to Mrs. Bonin with an attachment that contained samples of things, like a poster and a few drafts of the student newspaper, I had worked on at my previous school. I met Mrs. Bonin and decided that I should start working on The Beacon that spring. Meanwhile, I found out that Nick DeLieto ’13 was interested in photography, and we became close friends. We went shooting often, and it became a tradition to go to his house for Easter. I also met Julia Slupska ’13; she changed my life, and I hers. She is still and will be one of my best friends. Mrs. Bonin also showed me The Raven. I wasn’t sure if I could do a decent job, but she convinced me to work on it. So, in the spring of my Fourth Form year, I began the layout work. To be honest, I didn’t like the way it looked before. I wanted to change a few things, make it more modern. I got all excited and wanted to overhaul the whole thing. I asked Mrs. Bonin, who was reluctant to change some of the features that had always been there (I think she outright said “no” to a few things.). She did, however, let me pick the fonts for the title and the byline, and she accepted the redesign of The Beacon’s masthead. She watched me work and instructed me to do things in a certain way during the first few weeks. I liked taking photos and doing the layout. I don’t know why, but I loved working on it. I remember working till very late in the St. Brigid’s common room with the editors, Jesse (Bessinger ’12), Sid (Sharma ’12), Emily (McCutcheon ’11), Taylor (Smariga ’11), Sarah (Auer ’12), Christian (Barcenas ’12), Allison (Bolles ’13), Michelle (Mehrtens ’13); Mrs. Bonin bringing food for us, or ordering pizza, Chinese. I pushed myself to make it look better every time, and I became close with all the editors. Mrs. Bonin began to trust me and gave me more control; she meant it when she said decisions were up to me. She had become a friend; before that, I thought it not possible to become
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I wasn’t working on The Beacon or The Raven for compliments or awards, but I got a lot of that after The Raven came out. Back then, I couldn’t take compliments. I didn’t have any confidence, and I did not expect to win awards for my work. Those awards were really unexpected because I wasn’t trying to win any. I was just doing what I loved doing. It was a nice surprise, it was flattering and it probably marks the change within me that was possible at the Abbey and that I appreciate so much. Through The Beacon and The Raven, I made valuable friends. The publications never became a chore despite the workload; I was always excited to work on them, and they became something I could be proud of, something I knew I was good at. They, both the publications and the people, helped me build self-confidence that I now see I needed so much. Thinking about that last assembly still makes me tear up (Editor’s note: Minjae was presented with a special recognition at one of the final All-School Assemblies for all of his work on School publications.) It was one of the two best moments that I experienced at the Abbey, and I thank Mrs. Bonin, Dr. Bonin, Mrs. Stark, and Ms. Heydt for that. It was truly amazing, and I can’t possibly describe what it means to me. Half of my “activities” included on the Common App were either photography or publication related. It would not have been possible without Mrs. Bonin, Ms. Swift, and Nick (DeLieto) and Julia (Slupska). They accepted me when I reached out, and I still can’t believe how it all turned out. I am glad I was of help to the Abbey, and I’m glad I know everyone I now know. Looking at some of the past issues of The Beacon and Raven, I see many flaws that I couldn’t see before. It’s just like looking back at myself. I’m glad to see myself now as someone better, more confident, more proud than I have been at any given moment in my life. – MinJae “Steve” Cho ‘13 MinJae plans to continue to work on design and photography in student publications when he matriculates at the University of Pennsylvania in September 2013.
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
There was Bonnie and Clyde, there was Lucy and Ricky, and there’s Matty and Kurt: a fabled partnership that will forever be remembered in the legends of ‘The Cage.’ All jokes aside, Matty and Kurt are two special individuals who are, undeniably, staples in the Abbey community. – Ryan Silva ‘10
MATTIE AND KURT – THE CAGE GUYS Mattie and Kurt are by far the unsung heroes of Portsmouth’s Athletics Department. Without them the Abbey’s sports fields would not look half as good as they do now. Any Portsmouth Abbey student who has played a sport, or even taken the time to hang out with the two of them, owes them a lot. – Sheamus Standish ‘11 Of the many individuals who form strong bonds with Portsmouth Abbey students during their four years here, few are as uniformly well liked as Matt Peterson and Kurt Andersen, the men who run “The Cage” in the bowels of the old gymnasium. Mattie, as he is known to students and coaches alike, and Kurt operate like a well-oiled machine behind the scenes, caring for the uniforms, equipment and practice gear for every studentathlete on campus. By their calculations, they distributed 747 uniforms, in all sizes and for all sports, during the 2012-13 school year. Mattie and Kurt can be found in The Cage from 7:30 a.m. until all athletics are over, six days a week. When they are not there, they are likely maintaining the athletics fields or using their considerable coaching skills, Matt with Varsity Football and Baseball, and Kurt as head coach of Girls’ JV Ice Hockey and assistant varsity coach of Girls’ Varsity Ice Hockey. But what so often draws students to The Cage, and keeps them returning, is the easy conversation, ever-ready assistance and genuine interest in each of them shown by Mattie and Kurt.
The soft-spoken duo’s dedication to Abbey student-athletes is legendary, even after they depart Cory’s Lane. Newspaper clippings bearing news of current and former Abbey student-athlete accomplishments adorn the cement walls of the equipment room, and the men follow many graduates who played sports at the Abbey; Matty logs in early each morning to a number of college web sites to see how the former Ravens are faring.
Mattie and Kurt are at the heart of Portsmouth Abbey’s athletics program. Not only do they make sure that every athlete is properly prepared for each game, they are also excellent coaches and friends. Most of the time we go to The Cage just to chat and hang out with Mattie and Kurt. We are lucky to have them at the Abbey! – Ally Tessier ‘13 When Abbey graduates return to school, one of their first stops is often The Cage to see the two men who doled out advice and encouragement, in addition to jerseys and sweats, to any studentathlete in need. Sometimes the name of a former Raven may escape them, “but we always remember the person by his or her jersey number,” smiles Mattie. – Kathy Giblin Stark, Assistant Director, Office of Communications From left, Matt Peterson, Josh Vertentes ’16, Harrison Zambarano ’15, Taylor Lough ’15, Maggie Stark ’15, Kristine McNulty ’15 and Kurt Andersen.
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Music Director Jeff Kerr Takes Music Tech to a New Level
Welcome to the new Music Tech Lab here at the Abbey! One of our responsibilities as a school is to prepare our students for the next level of study, and with almost every discipline connected with computers in some way, many colleges now offer degrees dedicated to sound recording technology (SRT). With our new music tech lab, we are providing the foundation for this field of studies right here at the Abbey. We are at the cutting edge of these technologies, using software that includes Final Cut Pro X, Ableton Live 9, Auralia 4, Musition 4 (yes – the spelling is correct) and Sibelius 7. We now have four iMacs that are fully MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) compatible. What does that mean? Simply put, the computer can talk with the musical keyboard and vice-versa. The lab will be an immediate asset to our current music classes, AP Music Theory and Music Workshop. And, starting in the fall of 2014, it is our plan to launch a music technology class that will provide students with a project-based musical experience. So, what are the programs and what can they do? Auralia and Musition allow students to advance their visual and aural musical skills. Need to know what a G minor 9 sounds like? It’s covered. Need to identify an E flat half- diminished chord in second inversion? Check. Each program allows for the level of difficulty to be set to each of the students’ individual ability levels, and provides reports as to where they are mastering topics and where they need more help.
AURALIA
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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
“All combined, these programs will allow students to tap into creativity… tell stories through music… and above all, express their individuality.”
MUSITION
ABLETON LIVE 9
M-AUDIO AXION AIR 61
What’s that? You’ve always wanted to compose or arrange a piece of music and have it printed as sheet music? Welcome to Sibelius. The beauty of this professional program is that it can record whatever you play and then turn it into sheet music. It will translate what is played on the keyboard and put it into musical notation right before your eyes. After Sibelius records your performance, you can then change it to any sound you want. What was a simple piano line before can now be a guitar lick, or perhaps orchestral strings, all within a few simple clicks. If you happen to be more advanced, you can write an entire symphony and it will play it back for you using studio-quality instrument samples. Ableton Live 9 is for the composer/arranger and DJ within you. It is designed to create and perform live music. It allows you to build sounds from the ground up, one drum and one handclap at a time. If you have listened to any pop or contemporary music, you have heard what Ableton Live 9 is capable of. Add the 12 trigger pads of the new M-Audio Axiom AIR 61 keyboard controllers and you have yourself a sweet little sound studio capable of producing the next pop or R&B hit. Final Cut Pro X is a giant of a program. Final Cut Pro X is a professional video-editing suite with a built-in, high-end sound editor. If you can envision it, you can make it happen. With Final Cut, your home movies can quickly become studio-quality features. Imagine making a documentary about one of your favorite musicians, or even creating your own music video. Both are very possible and will be projects in the Music Technology class that will start in the fall of 2014. In addition to of all of these wonderful programs, the iLife series of Garageband, iMovie, iTunes and iPhoto make each of the music tech lab machines a creative powerhouse. All combined, these programs will allow students to tap into creativity… tell stories through music… and above all, express their individuality. The tools are all here, now all that is needed is you! Jeffrey Kerr, Director of Music
FINAL CUT PRO X
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ADMISSIONS IN REVIEW New Students Enrolled Third Form Fourth Form Fifth Form Sixth Form Boarding Day
37 9 8 4 48 10
Boys Boys Boys Boys Boys Boys
34 6 4 2 31 15
Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls
Countries represented 15 States represented 17 Legacy 11 new students
All important conversion rates (3 - year average) saw an increase or were maintained: Inquiry to Interview
38% (29%)
Interview to Application
97% (98%)
Application to Acceptance
38% (51%)
Accept to Enroll
46% (44%)
p This year our financial aid funds made a Portsmouth Abbey education possible for 126 students, providing them with 3.6 million dollars.
p
Closer Look
This year’s Admitted Student Revisit Program was designed to fully target the student and emphasize the balance between rigorous academics and closeknit school culture. We saw a positive increase in attendance and yield - to - enrolled student: m 74 admitted students attended the event (39 boys/ 35 girls) m 59 of the admitted students were Third Formers m 26 of the boys and 22 of the girls who attended Closer Look have enrolled m 65% of those who attended will be coming to Portsmouth Abbey in the fall. This is up from last year’s 60% yield.
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Our focused efforts on multi-sport athletes allowed us to enroll students who will impact our targeted teams: Football (impact and/or past experience): Boys’ Hockey:
12 total 7 total
Girls’ Hockey: (including 2 goalies) 8 total
We Are at Your Fingertips A growing and active social media presence continued to be a top priority for the Office of Admission. Facebook (fan page “Portsmouth Abbey School”), Twitter (@AbbeyRavens), and YouTube (‘Portsmouth Abbey’) have continued to grow in content, activity,
Showcasing our Faculty, Staff and Alumni
and users. Our Facebook fan page is the Office of Admission’s most popular social media source. m 1,471 fans (as of July 1), from 20 countries
The Abbey Blog was launched in Septem-
ber 2012 as a means of showcasing the
(1,210 from the U.S.)
m an average of four posts are made per day,
encompassing key realms of school life (school
news, athletics, academics, arts, student/alumni
accomplishments). m 13.5% are in the age range of 13-17, that of
prospective students
talents and interests of our faculty and staff. Thirty- one entries have been posted from 27 different faculty and staff members and one young alumna. In total, The Abbey Blog has
m 28.5 % are in the age range of 35-54, that of
reached 3,365 unique visitors and 6,088
visitors overall. These visitors have come
prospective parents.
m During the most popular week to date (April 17-
April 23), the Facebook fan page reached
11,517 people.
from 73 countries, 1,017 cities, and six continents. We saw 1,324 of our visitors came through Facebook. The blog topics have
C A L L I N G A L L A L U M N I – Alumni are invited to volunteer as ambassadors by joining our Alumni Admission Network. Assist one of our admission officers by representing the Abbey at our various school fairs throughout the country, host receptions for prospective families in your home, or help facilitate connections with your parish and parish schools. Please stop in and see us in Manor House during Alumni Weekend in September. We welcome your ideas and recommendations and look forward to your participation (admissions@portsmouthabbey.org).
p UPCOMING EVENTS:
Check out the admission page of the website and social media sites to see where we will be traveling, on-campus events, and news for the Office of Admission.
been broad in range and scope, and some of the most interesting have included: “Why Latin is NOT a Dead Language,” “Sports Schedules: A Lesson in Combinatorics,” “Five Books that Changed My Life,” and “iPads at School: The Best Apps for Students and Teachers.” In the upcoming year, we look forward to further diversifying our blog topics and writers and using more strategy in our posts with keywords and hot-button topics. (all data as of June 24, 2013)
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The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. CO M M U N I T Y S E R V I C E AT P O R T S M O U T H A B B E Y S C H O O L
Students, faculty and chaperones on the Appalachia Service Trip in March 2013 (clockwise from top), Abby Byrne ’14 helping out on the Lourdes Pilgrimage in July 2013, and Kai Smith ’15 teaching at Child & Family Services in Newport. The title above is a quote from Mahatma Gandhi. PAGE 28
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
Students at Portsmouth Abbey are afforded the opportunity to give back in many ways. Pictured are just some of the community service projects to which our students and faculty are dedicated: (clockwise on this page) St. Gregory’s Alms food collection, pie-throwing for Clothe-A-Child, the Clothe-A-Child organizers with their collections, the Bristol Food Bank, Teens Leading Children at St. Philomena School, a balloon party at a local nursing home, and students cleaning the wheelchair of a resident of the home.
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Honoring the Past, Nurturing the Future by Patrick Burke ‘86, Assistant Headmaster for Development
The connection between teacher-student, coachplayer, director-performer, advisor-advisee, and house parent-resident are a few of the numerous ways that students and faculty interact within the Portsmouth Abbey School community. Indeed, these links are fundamental to Portsmouth’s Mission, one dimension of which is to foster “Responsibility for the shared experience of community life.” This 2013 Summer Bulletin highlights the bonds formed between adults and students in Portsmouth Abbey’s distinctive Catholic Benedictine residential community. Commenting on the role of laymen at Portsmouth, as envisioned by the School’s, founder Reverend John Hugh Diman, Dom Peter Sidler, O.S.B., remarked, “Father Hugh always intended to have lay people working with the community... Father Hugh felt that the boys should be in contact with lay people, since most of them would be living in the world for the rest of their lives. Portsmouth was not a seminary. That linked up, I think, with his notion that we should prepare students for the leading colleges in the country.” While college preparation remains a leading consequence of the Portsmouth Abbey School experience, the breadth of Portsmouth’s program offers abundant teachable moments, formal and informal, for today’s students and faculty. These moments provide the substance that remains with graduates years and decades after commencement, allowing them to pull forth memories of Brady, Lally, Acheson, Marcoux, Garman, Harris, Pages, Haney, DeVecchi, McGuire, McCauley, Kreisler, Kennedy, McCarthy, Stebbins, Stevens, Hobbins, Sahms, Brzys, McDonough, Rainwater, Brady, Zilian, Chenoweth, Gittus, Brown, Guerenabarrena, O’Connor, McCarthy, Bonin, Smith, and Bragan, to name only a few of the dedicated lay faculty who have served (and continue to serve) Portsmouth Abbey.
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In recent years, the School, under the leadership of Headmaster Emeritus Jim DeVecchi and Board Chairmen David Moran ’71 and Mac Regan ’68, P’07, has aggressively pursued a course of action to bolster the available resources for Portsmouth’s lay faculty. Primary objectives of the recently concluded Growing in Knowledge & Grace: The Campaign for Portsmouth Abbey School have been the establishment of four endowed faculty chairs and significant increases in faculty housing. Through the creation of the Jenks Mathematics Chair, the Kearney Chair in English, the Wolverton Performing Arts Chair and the Hobbins History Chair, a substantial foundation of permanent endowed support for teachers has been laid down. Furthermore, the memorializing of Dom Andrew Jenks and honoring of Dom Damian Kearney, Dom Ambrose Wolverton and Cliff Hobbins bear witness to a dimension of Portsmouth— “the united work of a religious community with lay people”— that so impressed Dom Peter Sidler when he first heard of Portsmouth Priory in the late 1930s. In the years to come, Portsmouth Abbey School will continue to strive to expand the resources for its teachers. This will include augmenting the recently established faculty chair funds, establishing similar funds in other academic disciplines (particularly science), and growing other faculty professional funds such as The Teachers Technology Fund and The DeVecchi Faculty Fund. The fundamental objective of these efforts shall remain as Dom Jonathan DeFelice, O.S.B., ’65 wrote in the School’s 75th Anniversary book, “We must prepare our students to be men and women of understanding. We must also prepare them to be able to handle life.” At the forefront of this preparation at Portsmouth Abbey have been, and remain, a dedicated cadre of teachers, coaches, directors, advisors, and house parents.
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
Athletics Director Al Brown coaching the boys’ varsity lacrosse team
The 24/7 nature of a boarding school provides a distinctive opportunity for the development of strong bonds, shared experiences and lifelong friendships among students, bonds that Portsmouth Abbey alumni repeatedly tout as among the most valuable aspects of their time on Cory’s Lane. And the special connections created at the Abbey between coaches and student-athletes are among those often mentioned.
The Coach-Athlete Bond
“Boarding school life lends itself well to developing really meaningful relationships,” explained Abbey Athletic Director Al Brown, “and the bonds between coach and studentathlete that develop here often continue well after the student leaves Cory’s Lane.” Brown lived in a residential house, where his wife, Linda, was a houseparent, for several years before moving to a faculty house on campus. As the head varsity football and boys’ varsity lacrosse coach, he has had the opportunity to come to know well a number of Abbey student-athletes. As a result, he makes a point of having at least one adult who is a member of the Portsmouth Abbey community – whether teacher, administrator or staff member – be an integral part of every sports program at the School. “The relationships begin by bringing together like-minded individuals – coach and student– who have similar passions,” said Brown. “Often, the coach and students are together six days a week, between practices and games. There’s a lot of travel, a lot of time together. For most students, your coach may also be your houseparent, teacher or advisor. You see each other in the classroom, in the dining hall, and in the dorm. That time together cultivates ties that can be strong and long-lasting.”
Harry Holden ‘07 agrees. “Being at a boarding school like the Abbey gave me a unique opportunity to form a close bond with Coach Brown. I was fortunate enough to have him as my coach for two seasons a year. Whether it was football or lacrosse season, Coach Brown knew how to bring out the best in his athletes. So much of his coaching philosophy has stuck with me, and I apply it to my everyday life. He is a leader, role model, mentor, and friend, and our friendship was able to grow because of the amount of time I was able to spend with him at the Abbey.” The two have remained close since Holden’s graduation; Holden returns each year to help coach at Brown’s summer lacrosse camp, as do a number of Brown’s former players, and the two spend time talking about their shared passion, fishing. In hiring coaches, Brown looks for individuals who will impart more than just technical know-how and the rules of the game. “I want to find somebody who appreciates what we are trying to do at the Abbey. I am looking for adults who understand the mission of the School; that is the foundation for establishing relationships here. We could hire more knowledgeable coaches, but they have to understand their role: the importance of bonding with the kids and imparting the values and life-lessons we are trying to teach while on the athletics field.
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“To be sure, each sport has its own rhythm, own energy and special rivals,” continued Brown, “but the relationships the coaches have with their respective teams, and the principles and philosophies – about teamwork, respect, commitment, responsibility – each coach instills in his or her team members, are a real part of building that special bond.”
Those principles include demonstrating how to be a leader and role model. Brendan Kinnane ’07, who captained the 2007 lacrosse team, said, “While I credit Coach Brown for teaching me how to understand the game of lacrosse, his greatest impact on me was in my development as a leader and a person. Coach Brown has always been more than a coach. He is really an educator and a mentor.” Kinnane went on to distinguish himself at Union College, both on the lacrosse field and as a post-graduate fellow, working for nearly a year at a health clinic in Uganda. Another former lacrosse player recently stopped by Brown’s office unannounced simply to say how much he valued his time at the Abbey. “That kind of experience, having an alumnus stick his head in my door, years after leaving, to tell me how important his time here was, drives home the significance of what we are doing,” said Brown. “The relationships we as coaches try to build at the Abbey with our student-athletes, at the end of the day, have a lot less to do with sports and a lot more to do with helping them to become aware, considerate and responsible adults… and the amount of time we spend with the students here at the Abbey affords us the opportunity to do that in a way no day or public school ever could.” – Kathy Giblin Stark, Assistant Director, Office of Communications
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COLEMAN CLARK ‘13
winter 2012-13 athletics
Boys’ Basketball Dom Bede Gorman Memorial Basketball Award: Fletcher Bonin ’13 MIP: Jeff Okoro ’14 Captain-Elect: Keith Edwards ’14 Record Overall: 4-16; EIL: 4-12 Girls’ Basketball The Pfeffer Cup: Ann Gallagher ’13 MIP: Tori Costa ’14 Captains-Elect: Amberlee Majewski ’14, Ify Onyiuke ’14, Tori Costa ’14 Record Overall: 5-14; EIL 4-8 Boys’ Ice Hockey The Andrew M. Hunt and Carol Meehan Hunt Boys and Girls Hockey Award: Chris Reynolds ’13 MIP: David Brower ’16 Captains-Elect: Connor Rodericks ’14, Rob Tuite ’14, Tom Biagetti ’14 Record Overall: 6-12 Girls’ Ice Hockey The Andrew M. Hunt and Carol Meehan Hunt Boys and Girls Hockey Award: Ally Tessier ’13 MIP: Rachel Sousa ’14 Captains-Elect: Sally Hoerr ’15, Kristine McNulty ’15 Record Overall: Overall 8-10-2; EIL 7-2-2
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Swimming Boys’ Coaches Award: Nick DeLieto ’13 MIP: Jeremy Slupski ’15 Girls’ Coaches Award: Dorothy Dickmann ’13 MIP: Ellie Deutermann ’16 Captains-Elect: Brooke Kazama ’14, Susana Marino-Johnson ’14, Jake Kim ’14, Sean McDonough ’14, Ryan Quinn ’14 Record Overall: Boys 5-7 Girls 3-10 EIL Boys: 1st of 5 teams; EIL Girls: 5th of 7 teams Boys’ Squash Carlos Xavier Araujo ’96 Memorial Squash Award: Andrew Lowis ’13 MIP: Ander Guerenabarrena ’15 Captain-Elect: Matt Fonts ’14 Record Overall: 4-12 Girls’ Squash Coaches Award: Claire Davidson ’16 MIP: Annette Monheim ’13 Captain-Elect: Camila Fernandez ’14 Record Overall: 9-9 EIL 4-4 Wrestling Coaches Award: Rasaanh Matra ’13 MIP: Rob Sucsy ’13 Captain-Elect: Patrick Ruvane ’14 EIL Record: 2-9
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Winter 2012-13 All-League and Post-Season Selections
DOROTHY DICKMANN ‘13
Boys’ Basketball (EIL) Fletcher Bonin ‘13, Honorable Mention Girls’ Basketball (EIL) Ann Gallagher ‘13 Caitlin Burke ‘15, Honorable Mention Girls’ Ice Hockey(EIL) Sally Hoerr ‘15; Maddy McCann ‘16 Ally Tessier ‘13, EIL MVP Kristine McNulty ‘15, Honorable Mention Lauren Tuite ‘15, Honorable Mention Girls’ Squash Claire Davidson ‘16 Boys’ Swimming Peter Barlow ’13 – 200 Medley Relay Nick DeLieto ’13 – 200 Medley Relay, 500 Free Ryan Quinn ’14 – 200 Free Charlie Ramsden ’13 – 200 Medley Relay Bailey Raposa-Archibald ’15 – 200 Free Relay Tim Tsung ‘15 – 200 Medley Relay, 100 Back
Outstanding Individual and Team Accomplishments: The Boys’ Swim Team won the EIL Championship. The Boys’ and Girls’ Swim Teams won the Providence Cup. Girls’ Ice Hockey continued to improve, finishing 7-2-2 in the EIL and qualifying for the EIL post-season tournament.
Wrestling Rob Sucsy ‘13
Ally Tessier ‘13 was the EIL MVP in Girls’ Hockey, and Ms. Reardon was the EIL Coach of the Year in Girls’ Hockey. ALLY TESSIER ‘13
Wrestling returned to the Abbey, and the team was competitive in its first season. Rob Sucsy ‘13 was selected EIL AllLeague and finished 4th in the New Englands. At the JV level, both Boys’ and Girls’ JV Basketball had excellent seasons.
Junior Varsity Awards Boys’ JVA Basketball: Mike Gibb ’15 Boys’ JVB Basketball: Yuefeng Wu ’15 Girls’ JV Basketball: Grace Jannotta ’15 Boys’ JV Squash: Frank Loughran ’15 Girls’ JV Squash: Helen Nelson ’15 GJVB Squash: Lucy Ferry ’16 BJVB Squash: Andrew Sheerin ’15 Girls’ JV Ice Hockey: Rose Randolph ’16 Boys’ JV Swim: Stark Cai ’14 Girls’ JV Swim: Elisa Lonergan ’14
PHOTOS BY LOUIS WALKER III
www.louiswalkerphotography.com/Sports
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spring 2013 athletics Baseball The Baseball Coach’s Trophy: Sean Knowlan ’13 MIP: Connor Rodericks ’14 Captains- Elect: Tommy Biagetti ’14, Keith Edwards ’14, Rob Tuite ’14 EIL Record: 4-3, 3rd place EIL Overall Record: 10-9 EIL Pool A Championship Girls’ Golf The Golf Coach’s Trophy: Amy Huang ’15 MIP: Meghan McCarthy ’15 Captains- Elect: Amy Huang ’15, Sally Liu ’14 Overall Record: 5-0 Boys’ Lacrosse The Frost Family Trophy: Austin Kreinz ’13 MIP: Ben Wilson ’15 Captains- Elect: Chris Baughan ’14, Will Locke ’14 EIL Record: 7-0 EIL Champions Overall Record: 12-3 US Lacrosse All-American: Austin Kreinz ’13 EIL MVP: Austin Kreinz ’13 Girls’ Lacrosse The Girls’ Lacrosse Trophy: Ann Gallagher ’13 MIP: Rachel Powers ’13 Captains- Elect: Amberlee Majewski ’14, Ari Lowney ’14 EIL Record: 6-3, 3rd place EIL Overall Record: 9-5 Sailing The Robert Price Sailing Trophy: Peter Barlow ’13 MIP: Frank Loughran ’15 Captains- Elect: Hugh MacGillivray ’14, Abigail Byrne ’14 Overall Record 11-5 in New England New England Fleet Racing Championship: 12th overall NESSA New England Team Racing Championship: 1st place overall, Fritz Mark Trophy ISSA National Team Racing Championship – 4th overall Softball The Softball Coach’s Trophy: Callie Hall ’13 MIP: Susana Marino-Johnson ’14 Captains- Elect: Claire Ritch ’14, Brigid Shea ’14, Rachel Sousa ’14 EIL Record: 1- 8 Overall Record: 1-12 Girls’ Tennis The Girls Tennis Coach’s Trophy: Hannah Lynch ’15 MIP: Annette Monheim ’13 Captains- Elect: Hannah Lynch ’15, Julia Boog ’14 EIL Record: 3-5 6th Place EIL Overall Record: 6-7
Boys’ Tennis The Boys Tennis Coach’s Trophy: Andrew Lowis ’13 MIP: Stefan Navarro ’15 Captain- Elect: Tim Cunningham ’14 EIL Record: 4-1 2nd Place EIL Overall Record 5-7 Boys’ Track The Boys’ Track Coach’s Trophy: Fletcher Bonin ’13 MIP: Patrick Carlson ’15 Overall Record: 11-4 Odell/EIL/SENE: 5th place New Englands: 18 out of 20 Girls’ Track The Girls’ Track Coach’s Trophy: Julia Thompson ’13 MIP: Keri Heuer ’15 Overall Record: 9-6 Odell/EIL/SENE: 4th place New Englands: 13 out of 20 Captains- Elect: Sean McDonough ’14, Jason Mercier ’14, Annie Zhao ’14
Outstanding Individual and Team Accomplishments: Sailing finished the season with an 11-5 record, won the New England Championship and finished 4th in the ISSA National Team Racing Championship in Florida, the highest-ever finish for a Portsmouth Abbey athletics team. Girls’ Golf finished its season 5-0, and the team placed 4th out of 26 teams in the Girls’ Independent School Golf Tournament. Boys’ Lacrosse finished the season 12-3 and won its 4th consecutive EIL Championship. Austin Kreinz ‘13 was selected US Lacrosse All-American and Coach Al Brown US Lacrosse Coach of the Year, Eastern New England Region Prep Schools Division. Boys’ Tennis finished 2nd in the EIL. Luca Christian ‘15 and Stefan Navarro ‘15 were undefeated at 2nd Doubles. Baseball finished 3rd in the EIL and won the end-of-season EIL Pool A tournament. Michael Stark ’13 pitched a no-hitter during the regular season against Pingree. Boys’ and Girls’ Track placed 2nd against EIL schools in the Odell Invitational. Girls’ Lacrosse finished 3rd in the EIL and had a 9-5 overall record. Maddie Villareal ‘16 and Kelley Oliveira ‘13 were selected NEPSWLA All-Stars in Girls’ Lacrosse. Hannah Lynch ‘15 was undefeated in EIL Tennis at 2nd Singles.
Visit our athletics photo gallery at www. http://portsmouthabbey.org/page/athletics/photo_gallery
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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
Spring 2013 All-League and Post-Season Selections Baseball (EIL) Andrew Evans ‘13; Sean Knowlan ‘13; Rob Tuite ‘14 Honorable Mention: Michael Stark ‘13; Josh Vertentes ‘16 Boys’ Lacrosse (EIL) Chris Baughan ‘14; Mitch Kelln ‘13; Austin Kreinz ‘13; Zach Pray ‘13; Will Locke ‘14 Honorable Mention: Teddy Fenton ‘16; Chris Reynolds ‘13 EIL MVP: Austin Kreinz ‘13 US Lacrosse All-American: Austin Kreinz ‘13 US Lacrosse Coach of the Year, Eastern New England Region Prep Schools Division: Al Brown Girls’ Lacrosse (EIL) Annie Kirscht ‘13; Kelley Oliveira ‘13; Maddie Villareal ‘16 Honorable Mention: Ann Gallagher ‘13; Amberlee Majewski ‘14 New England Prep School Women’s Lacrosse All-Stars: Kelley Oliveira ‘13; Maddie Villareal ‘16
Girls’ Tennis (EIL) Hannah Lynch ’15, 2nd Singles Charlotte Mackinnon ‘13, Fran Kielb ‘13, Doubles Girls’ Track (EIL) Hadley Mathews ‘13
Junior Varsity Awards – The Portsmouth Abbey Junior Varsity Award is presented to the team member who best exemplifies the spirit of Abbey Athletics. The award recognizes hard work, individual improvement, sportsmanship and a willingness to do what is best for the team. JV Baseball: Alex Barlow ’15 Boys’ JV Lacrosse: Michael Ludwig ’16 Girls’ JV Lacrosse: Alex Savoie ’15 JV Sailing: Sydney Welch ’16 Boys’ JV Tennis: Jerry Lin ’16 Girls’ JV Tennis: Christine Yang ’15
Softball (EIL) Honorable Mention: Jocelyn Varieur ‘16
Boys’ JV Track: Brendan Carlin ’15
Boys’ Tennis (EIL) Sebastian Ferre Vazquez-Figueroa ‘13, 1st Singles Ryan Gallagher ‘16, 3rd Singles
Girls’ JV Track: Natalie Mistikawy ’15 Top: The Abbey Sailing Team after finishing in fourth place at Nationals (l-r), Michael Madigan ’13, Frank Loughran ’15, Andrew Sheerin ’15, Peter Barlow ’13, Graham Kilvert ’15, Hugh MacGillivray ’15, Abby Byrne ’14, Bailey Carter ’15, and James Lansing ’14
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Fifth Annual Portsmouth Institute Attracts Crowds and Commentary
Friday’s concert of American music conducted by Troy Quinn
Over 150 attendees came to Portsmouth Abbey on June 7-9 to attend the fifth annual Portsmouth Institute. This year’s topic was “Catholicism and the American Experience.” In his opening remarks, Institute Director James MacGuire ’70 said, “This is a topic that has acquired heightened urgency in the months since it was chosen last fall,” given rising threats to religious freedom and the election of Francis, the first “American” pope. Professor Robert George of Princeton began the conference on a rainy Friday morning with a presentation on “Religious Liberty and the Human Good.” He was followed in the formal conference opening by Peter Steinfels, former editor of Commonweal and religion correspondent for The New York Times, who spoke on “Catholic Identity versus Catholic Leadership in a Secular America.” Later
in the day there were talks by New Criterion eEArt?”, and, after a beautiful concert of American music conducted by former Abbey music director Troy Quinn, a dinner address by George Weigel of the Ethics and Public Policy Center on “Catholics in an Unfamiliar America.” Peter Flanigan ’41R (Peter passed away on July 29), who was in Newport to celebrate his 90th birthday, introduced Weigel, an old friend and comrade-in-arms. A major article in the Providence Journal the following Monday contrasted Steinfels well-documented depiction of the loss of Catholic identity in the last three decades with Weigel’s more upbeat assessment and call for “The New Evangelization.” Another nonagenarian, many-time Portsmouth Abbey parent and grandparent, former Senator James L. Buckley, attended the Saturday talks and dinner as well, with his son Jay ’73. As the weather cleared Saturday morning, Casey Carter ’84 electrified the audience with his talk on “The Faith in the Future Foundation: A New Paradigm in American Catholic Education.” Casey is the CEO of Faith in the Future, which seeks to rejuvenate the Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Later, biographer Jim Forest gave a moving tribute on “Servant of God Dorothy Day,” a talk which was preceded by Father Damian’s introduction of Dorothy Day as a former
George Weigel spoke of “Catholics in an Unfamiliar America.” PAGE 36
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
oblate of Portsmouth and friend of many in the monastery and on the faculty, including our late art teacher and Catholic Worker, Ade Bethune, who is buried in the monastic cemetery. In the afternoon, Kevin O’Brien, of Theatre of the Word, presented his interpretation of 19th-Century philosopher and Catholic convert, Orestes Brownson, and as the sun shone many took advantage of the opportunities to explore the Abbey grounds and shoreline. That evening, after Vespers and a reception in the monastery garden, Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence spoke on “Evangelization in a Secular Age.” Writing in the National
Catholic Register, Joan Desmond described Bishop Tobin’s message with the headline “An ‘Easy Church’ Isn’t the Answer.” The conference closed after sung Mass the following morning with a talk by Alex Mikulich ‘79 of Loyola University in New Orleans on “Witnessing to Charity in Truth.” The weekend was enlivened by the active participation of Abbot Thomas Frerking, Prior Gregory Mohrman, and four of their brother monks from St. Louis Abbey, continuing the friendship between our two monasteries of the English Benedictine Congregation. The following week William Rooney P ’17 summed up the enthusiastic comments of many when he wrote, “The occurrence of the Institute advanced the cause of Catholicism and evangelization in America…. Thank you for making the weekend a memorable and fruitful one for me.”
d
Above: Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence spoke about “Evangelization in a Secular Age.” Right: Emmett Conway ’12, with Fr. Tom Boufford and Brothers Sixtus and Andrew from St. Louis Abbey Below left: BiographerJim Forest gave a moving tribute on“Servant of God Dorothy Day.” Below middle: Casey Carter ’84 gave a talk, “The Faith in the Future Foundation: A New Paradigm in American Catholic Education.” Below right: Kevin O’Brien of Theatre of the Word presented his interpretation of 19th-Century philosopher and Catholic convert, Orestes Brownson.
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MILESTONES
BIRTHS
1980 A girl, Ellie Virginia, to Erin and John White October 12, 2012 1989 Two boys, Max Benjamin and Otis Afton, to Lin Sorensen and Marc Leandro June 9, 2013 A girl, Audoen Wright, to Thomas McGinn and Kristin Stone April 23, 2013 1992 A boy, John Christopher, to Brigid and James Maloney May 8, 2012 John White ’80, his wife, Erin, and family welcome Ellie Virginia, born in October
Beatrice Chase Dwyer was born to David and Heather (Hawes) Dwyer ’96
1994 A girl, Harper Dylan, to Michael and Carina (Nula) Cohen April 16, 2013 1995 A boy, Pedro Damian, to Dan and Tita (Bacardi) ’96 Christoffel February 22, 2013
Max Benjamin and Otis Afton, twin boys born to Lin Sorensen and Marc Leandro ’89
1997 A boy, Brett Robert, to Brian and Meghan (Cooper) Beaupre July 11, 2012 1998 A girl, Isabelle Grace, to Lauren and Griffin Flynn June 2013
A boy, Darien Ruben, to Paola and Bryan Rodriguez April 26, 2013 1996 A girl, Beatrice Chase, to David and Heather (Hawes) Dwyer May 3, 2013 A girl, Kennedy Yvonne, to Aime Simeus and Adrienne Salomon December 13, 2012
Brett Robert, son of Brian and Meghan (Cooper) Beaupre ’97
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Kennedy Yvonne, daughter of Aime Simeus and Adrienne Salomon ’96
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
Harper Dylan, daughter of Michael and Carina (Nula) Cohen ’94
Elliot Scott, son of Scott and Kate (Elliot) Sedgwick ’98 was born in August 2012
MILESTONES
Isla Friel was born to Edward and Kathleen (Mannix) Grandin ’98 in February 2013
Mylee Britton, daughter of Matthew and Leah (Quast) Cole ’07
A girl, Isla Friel, to Edward and Kathleen (Mannix) Grandin February 27, 2013
2001 A boy, Theodore “Boone” to Ross and Tiffany (Spencer) Behnke May 4, 2013
A boy, Elliot Scott, to Scott and Kate (Elliot) Sedgwick August 3, 2012 1999 A girl, Abigail Ann, to Jessica and Christopher Beer December 21, 2012 A girl, Lily Kathryn to Sarah and Sean O’Higgins October 1, 2012 2000 A girl, Eliza Louise to Susan and Andrew Emerson February 28, 2013
Audoen Wright, born to Thomas McGinn ’89 and Kristin Stone
Theodore “Boone,” was born to Ross and Tiffany (Spencer) Behnke ’01
A girl, Valentina Ada, To John and Karina (Craig) Pinder December 18, 2012 2002 A boy, Grayson Thomas to Mia and Sean Biddick March 31, 2013 2007 A girl, Mylee Britton to Matthew and Leah (Quast) Cole March 20, 2013 FACULTY AND STAFF A girl, Sarah Elizabeth to Aileen and Brian Baker May 21, 2013
Darien Ruben, son of Paola and Bryan Rodriguez ’95
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Abigail Ann, daughter of Jessica and Christopher Beer ’99
Eliza Louise, daughter of Susan and Andrew Emerson ’00
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MILESTONES
WEDDINGS
1977 Timothy J. Seeley to Jill Clendenen March 2013 1991 MacDara K. Bohan to Kristel Railsback July 1, 2012 1996 Jose L. Vicini to Elina Anatole June 11, 2011 1997 Michael A. Anselmi to Emma Simmons June 29, 2013 Colin O’Higgins to Renee Trudeau May 5, 2013 Brian W. Walsh to Phoebe Evans June 22, 2013 1998 Brenna J. Bennett to Matthew Hadfield September 15, 2012 1999 Andrea M. Sahms to Joshua Klement March 16, 2013
Stephanie J. Muylaert to John McMenamy June 1, 2013
2003 Walter F. Zaykowski to Kate Meriwether February 16, 2013 2005 Elena K. Fedyszyn to Stephen Walsh June 15, 2013 Lahna Son Cundy to Joseph Tamburo June 1, 2013 2007 Brendan O’Connor to Elizabeth Grayce June 21, 2013 Helen Heuer to Ryan Memoli December 29, 2012
2000 Linsly G. Boyer to Adam Young September 21, 2102
Elena Fedyszyn ’05 and husband Stephen Walsh on their wedding day
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Lahna Son Cundy ’05 married Joseph Tamburo in June 2013
Colin O’Higgins ’97 married Renée Trudeau in May 2013.
Andrea M. Sahms and Joshua Klement were wed in March 2013.
Helen Heuer ’07 married Ryan Memoli and enjoyed a “tartan-clad wedding reception” at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club.
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
MILESTONES
At press deadline, Portsmouth Abbey learned of the death of Peter M. Flanigan ‘41, P ‘75, ‘83, GP ‘06, ‘09, ‘09, ‘11, ‘11. The School and Monastic communities mourn the loss of a loyal and generous friend, regent emeritus, former chairman of the Board of Consultants and long-time board member. Please look for our in-depth tribute to Mr. Flanigan in the Winter 2014 Bulletin.
NECROLOGY Sarah Almeida Grandmother of Sarah E. Sienkiewicz ‘13 July 1, 2013 Rev. Hébert W. Bolles Father of Paul Bolles ’83 and faculty member Katherine Bragan Grandfather of Allison Bolles ‘13 April 6, 2013 Eldred S. Bonham Father of Harry “Clay” Bonham ‘91 January 29, 2013 Vincent J. Buonanno, Jr. Son of Vincent J. Buonanno ‘62 Cousin of Ronald Del Sesto ‘86 December 2012 Thomas M. Cuddihy ‘45 Brother of Lester ’36 † and John ’39 † Cuddihy October 13, 2012 Jean Daly Wife of Richard F. Daly ‘43 Mother of Peter R. Daly ‘75 April 7, 2013 Michael J. Davies ‘88 February 23, 2013 Ernest E. Fandreyer Former Faculty November 2, 2012
Eileen U. Feeney Mother of John J. Feeney ‘77 Grandmother of Kate (Ferrara) Homes ’00, Susan ’05 and Margaret ’08 Ferrara May 4, 2013
Carmine Iasiello Father of faculty member Pamela Gorman Grandfather of Michael Gorman ‘07 January 31, 2013
Thomas L. Ferry Father of William ‘68 and Peter Ferry ‘75 Grandfather of Lucy ’16 and Oliver ’17 Ferry Uncle of W. Henry Curley ’64 † June 22, 2013
Susan K. Igoe Mother of Matthew Igoe ‘96 June 30, 2013
Louise T. Flynn Grandmother of Griffin ’98, Sean ’01 and Jake ’11 Flynn March 27, 2013
Patricia A. Koelzer Mother of James P. Koelzer ‘89 January 26, 2013 Jean Kriner Mother of staff member Mitchell Kriner Grandmother of Bryan Kriner ‘07 January 22, 2013
Helen M. Galuska Grandmother of Michael Galuska ‘14 April 8, 2013
Thomas E. Lahey ‘43 May 22, 2012
Maria T. Griffin Wife of Craig Mathers ‘79 March 11, 2013
Barbara M. Leonard Mother-in-law of Paul V. Curcio ‘70 January 24, 2013
Robert S. Hickey ‘82 March 6, 2013
Gerald Lima Grandfather of Christopher Correia ‘11 April 7, 2013
Paul J. Hogan Father of Casey ’10 and Devon ’12 Hogan Brother-in-law of Vincent Kirby ‘81 January 13, 2013
Leo E. Linbeck, Jr. Father-in-law of Christopher Granberry ‘85 June 8, 2013
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MILESTONES
Sally W. Logan Mother of Edward F. Logan, Jr. ‘85 March 2, 2013 Jeremy Mack Brother of Christian Mack ‘99 July 2, 2013 John L. MacMillan Father of Stephen ’82 and Kevin ’90 MacMillan January 9, 2009 Norman R. Marcoux Faculty Emeritus April 28, 2013 Andrew R. McElroy, Sr. ‘40 December 24, 2012 Isabella Grace Nannini Daughter of Michael Nannini ‘85 February 11, 2013 Ruth K. O’Brien Wife of Thomas F. O’Brien ’34 † February 20, 2013 Charles W. O’Connor Father of faculty member Peter I. O’Connor Grandfather of Brendan ’07, Liam ’12 and Seamus ’16 O’Connor and Antonia Ambrose ‘16 February 1, 2013 Peter S. Peterson Brother of staff member Matthew Peterson January 11, 2013 Joseph T. Raho ‘72 Brother of Peter S. Raho ’70 † February 14, 2013 Nicholas C. Raho Father of Peter ’70 † and Joseph ’72 † Raho April 6, 2013
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Viola Rurak February 25, 2013 Thomas J. Schuchert Father of Thomas ’74, Stephen ’77 and Matthew ’86 Schuchert Grandfather of Cassandra Schuchert ‘16 February 21, 2013 David Sheahan Grandfather of Seth Cottrell ’99 and Avery Dey ‘16 February 10, 2013 Eleanor C. Simard Grandmother of Michael Galuska ‘14 April 3, 2013 Spryos S. Skouras Father of George Fowler ‘63 January 18, 2013 John J. Sparks Grandfather of Alexandra ’04 and Graham ’06 Sparks February 28, 2013 Roger Stephens ‘60 February 2013 Jehanne P. White Mother of Samuel White ‘64 February 4, 2013 Cynthia Safford Wills Wife of J. Bowling Wills ’45 † October 18, 2012 J. Bowling Wills ‘45 January 8, 2013 Ronald G. Zeffiro Grandfather of Caroline Hall ’13 February 28, 2013
JAMES B. WILLS ’45
James Bowling Wills, 84, of the Class of 1945, passed away on January 8, 2013, in Fort Myers, Florida. “Bow” Wills was the loving husband for 61 years of Cynthia Safford Wills, who passed away on October 18, 2012. Born on February 9, 1928, Bow was the son of Francis Reed and Madeline Hayward Wills. At Portsmouth Priory, he was twice honored as Scholar-Athlete and earned a position as a linebacker on the Rhode Island football team. He attended Yale University, was a member of Berkeley College, and graduated with a B.A. in economics in 1948. Bow served as a corporal in the Army during the Korean War. After leaving the service, he became a vice president at Stuyvesant Insurance, Inc., and later was president and CEO of Eastern Industries, Inc. He subsequently was a successful financial planner in the Lehigh Valley. A lifelong benefactor of many charities, Bow was a member of the national Catholic Committee on Scouting, a board member of Sacred Heart Hospital, and an active fundraiser for The United Way. Bow is survived by his six children, Jim, Cindy, Ted, Reed, Tom, and Mary, and seven grandchildren. The School community extends its condolences to the Wills family.
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
IN MEMORIAM
NORMAN R. MARCOUX
was, Norman maintained a genuine enthusiasm for life.”
Longtime Portsmouth Abbey faculty member Norman R. Marcoux, 89, passed away on April 28, 2013, in Seattle, Wash., after a long, hard-fought battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
The Norman Marcoux Medal for Excellence in Geometry was established at Portsmouth Abbey in 1991 with a gift from his daughter, Elizabeth, to honor her father’s work. The first recipient was Sarah Rainwater ‘95, daughter of Norman’s longtime fellow faculty member Robert Rainwater. Norman retired from Portsmouth in 1991.
Norman was born in Fall River, Mass., on November 4, 1923, to the late Mary Rose and Romeo Marcoux. Following his graduation from Durfee High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and spent two years as a Seaman. He participated in the Navy College Training Program and was then stationed on Ulithi and Guam before being honorably discharged in May 1946. Upon returning home, and through the G.I. Bill, he entered Brown University in 1947, graduating in 1951 with a degree in mathematics and physics. He subsequently joined the faculty of Portsmouth Priory, where he spent 40 years teaching math. While teaching, Norman completed a M.Ed. degree at Bridgewater State College (1954) and a MMat degree from the University of Notre Dame (1962). Norman’s legendary and rewarding career at Portsmouth Abbey was characterized by extremely high standards, an unconventional sense of humor, and the ability to understand where students were struggling and lead them to comprehend a theorem, proof, or formula. He mentored new faculty and continually strove to perfect the art of teaching; served on the committee to develop the math curriculum at the local public high school as it was being planned and constructed in the early 1960s; and was instrumental in advocating coeducation at Portsmouth. Fellow former faculty member Henry Stevens (Classics Emeritus), who taught with Norman for 20 years and remained close friends with him, said, “Norman was something of a character. He knew his mind and wasn’t afraid to speak it. It was a rare faculty meeting that didn’t benefit from his thinking on one topic or another. Norman took real pride in promoting the strongest possible math program for the school. He recognized his students’ strengths and weaknesses; all he asked was that they do their best. “Norman’s vigor and energy never ceased to amaze me,” added Dr. Stevens, describing the “enduring picture” in his mind of Norman cutting and splitting logs for his wood stove during the oil crisis in the 1970s. But “as thoroughly sensible as he
Former Headmaster Jim DeVecchi, then Portsmouth’s dean of faculty and academic dean, said upon Norman’s retirement, “Thinking of Portsmouth without Norman produces many voids: a void in the math office and the math classroom; a void at faculty meetings; a void in our neighborhood on Cory’s Lane; and a void on the campus walks in the evening (Norman would take a constitutional every evening). In many ways, Norman has been a part of the institution itself. For many of us who have lived and worked with Norman at Portsmouth, these voids cannot be filled by anyone else, but simply will remain.” Following his retirement, Norman and his wife, Olivia, relocated to Fall River and then Seattle. He remained active by walking daily, working on geometry problems and reading World War II histories as long as he was able. He enthusiastically received visitors in his later years, said Dr. Stevens, and “was always eager to hear news of the school and about life on Cory’s Lane.” Norman is survived by Olivia Rocha Marcoux, his wife of 64 years, his two daughters, Catherine and Elizabeth, their husbands, and two granddaughters. A memorial mass and burial was held on Friday, June 21, at Portsmouth Abbey. As a tribute to his love of reading and libraries, memorial donations to the Norman R. Marcoux Book Fund to benefit the St. Thomas More Library at Portsmouth Abbey would be appreciated. Contributions can be sent to the attention of Patrick Burke, Portsmouth Abbey School, 285 Cory’s Lane, Portsmouth, RI 02871. We mourn the passing of our dear friend and former colleague and offer our heartfelt condolences to the Marcoux family.
Photo by James Garman, Faculty Emeritus
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IN MEMORIAM
JOSEPH T. RAHO ’72
was simply a means to spending time with your family and friends,” said Tovar. “It was one of many life lessons I learned from Joe.” He recounted Joe’s senior project at Portsmouth – a beautiful, inlaid mahogany side table – that evolved into a lifelong dedication to the art of fine woodworking. Joe was a former faculty member, having worked in the Office of Admission, as a class agent and president of the Alumni Association from 1987-89. He was a dear friend of the late Dom Peter Sidler, who baptized all of Joe’s children.
Joseph Thaddeus Raho ’72, longtime friend of the School, died on Feb. 14, 2013, of pancreatic cancer. He was 58. Born in the Bronx, N.Y., and raised in Scarsdale, Joe was the son of Christina and Nicholas Raho. He cherished his time at Portsmouth Abbey, forging friendships that would remain strong for the rest of his life. After graduating from Boston University, Joe worked at White Cross Laboratories and later founded JTR Chemical Corporation. He lived in Rye, N.Y., and Watch Hill, R.I. Peter Tovar ‘72, who became close friends with Joe as Fourth Formers, said “…football, ‘escapes’ from Portsmouth, including cook-outs in the adjacent woods, Grateful Dead concerts up and down the East Coast, and various and sundry adventures during our shared years in Boston” are what drew them together while students and had kept them close since leaving Portsmouth. While Joe was committed to his work, his greatest passions were woodworking, gardening, sailing, squash, family and, most importantly, his three children. Many of his greatest days would be spent harvesting tomatoes in the heat, sailing in Watch Hill Harbor with his children and his nephew, Nickit, and playing squash with his friends at Apawamis Country Club. “Joe always strived to maintain the right balance and perspective – that earning money
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Byron Grant ‘70, said, “I first met Joe when he came to visit his brother, Peter, who was a new Third Former like me in St. Bede’s. Fr. Hilary had his frustrations with Peter so when Joe arrived two years later he huffed, ‘Oh God. Not another Raho.’ Joe and Fr. Peter loved exploring old barns for reusable lumber before recycling was popular and talking about George Nakashima’s furniture. Joe spent much of his time socializing – in the woods primarily – and continued that throughout his life with his Portsmouth friends. He was a catalyst for getting together at reunions, receptions and informal gatherings and brought together friends from multigenerational classes. I’m not sure Portsmouth had a more enthusiastic alumnus. As his many friends know, when Joe called you had to put your feet up on the desk and settle in for a long talk. Always interesting, usually philosophical. I’ll miss these conversations and Joe, who became one of my closest friends.” Joe’s life was celebrated at a Funeral Mass in February in Rye. Pallbearers included Brendan Kinnane ‘77, Tony Klemmer ’73 and R. Chris Regan ‘73. Peter Tovar was a reader, and Byron Grant eulogized Joe. Tovar eulogized him at a memorial service held in Watch Hill on June 22. He is survived by his children, Nick, Joe Jr. and Emily; his wife, Susan Oliveria, and her son, Colin Bailey; his sister, Mary Julian; and six nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his mother, Christina Raho, and his brother, Peter S. Raho ‘70. Joe’s father, Nicholas C. Raho, died on April 16, 2013. The Portsmouth Abbey community mourns the loss of this dedicated and loyal friend of the School. We offer our condolences to Joe’s family and many friends.
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IN MEMORIAM
PIERCE M. KEARNEY ’44
Charles M. Grace ’47
Pierce Michael Kearney ’44, died peacefully at his home on January 11, 2013. He was 86.
Charles M. “Charley” Grace, of the Class of 1947, died on January 1, 2013, at the age of 86, surrounded by his loving family and friends.
Pierce was born in Mineola, N.Y., in 1926 and grew up in Rockville Centre. While at Portsmouth Priory, Pierce distinguished himself as a gifted athlete, playing on varsity teams (football, basketball and baseball) for five out of his six years and captaining the 1944 football team. He was also a Prefect, the sports editor of The Raven, and a member of the Dramatics Club and the Glee Club.
Charley came to Portsmouth Priory from Manhasset, New York, the son of Joseph P. and Janet MacDonald Grace. Charley’s father and brother both served as chief executive of W.R. Grace & Company. After graduating from Portsmouth, he matriculated to Mount Saint Mary College, where he earned a B.A. in 1951. He later received his M.B.A. from Columbia University. While in New York he met the love of his life, Margaret Vanderpool Grace, whom he married and with whom he had five children.
After graduating in 1944, Pierce enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he served in the Pacific aboard the USS Weigel. Upon his discharge, he attended Brown University and graduated in 1950. At Brown he played on the varsity baseball team and was a member of Alpha Delta Phi. He was an English major and was the sports editor of the Liber Brunens. After college, Pierce joined his father’s homebuilding business, E.T. Kearney & Sons, and, with his father and younger brother, David, he built homes throughout Nassau County, NY. Pierce married Grail Walsh in 1955 and had eight children. Pierce and Grail were lifelong travel enthusiasts, loved to explore the world and frequently brought their growing tribe along with them. Pierce and Grail moved to Washington, CT, following the tragic death of their eldest child, Meg, in 1959. Pierce loved the NY Giants, the Yankees, golf, travel, gardening, listening to sports radio, more golf, Bermuda and opera. He was completely committed to supporting his children in both their educations and their varied interests. In 1977 he and Grail bought a house in Nantucket, which, over the years, was to become the center of countless family vacations and gatherings. In 2005 Pierce and Grail celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, surrounded by their many children and grandchildren. Grail preceded Pierce in death in 2010. Pierce is survived by his seven children, Mara, Grail, Ann, Susanna, Pierce, Alexander and Nicholas ‘86, nine grandchildren, his three brothers, Allan (Dom Damian, O.S.B., ‘45), David ‘50, and Andrew Kearney, and his grand-niece, Margaret-Theresa Ingraham ’15 and grand-nephew, David Ingraham ’17. He was the brother of the late Edward T. (Tom) ’45 and Gerald (Jerry) ’48 Kearney.
While at Portsmouth, Charley was a member of the Boat Club and the Discussion Club, served as a basketball manager and managed the library for three years. Charley was passionate about charity, education, Roman Catholic causes and the betterment of society. In 1965 he co-founded The International Fund for Monuments, now called the World Monuments Fund, for the historic and architectural preservation of historic sites. He also co-founded the California League of Conservative Voters, which successfully championed a ban to protect the California coast from offshore drilling. Charley served as a trustee of The Sierra Club, Fordham University, Mount Saint Mary College and Seton Hall University and was on the President’s Council at Fairfield University and Providence College. He was awarded honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from St. Anselm’s College and LaSalle College. Charley was founder and president of the Charlpeg Foundation and Charles M. Grace Enterprises. Charley’s wife, Margaret, predeceased him in 2009, as did their daughter, Lisa, and a brother-in-law, Jerry Vanderpool ’53. He is survived by a daughter, Maureen; three sons, Charles, Jr., ’74, James ’77 and Joseph; two daughters-in-law; four beloved grandchildren; and a sister-in-law. Charley’s life was described as “full of humor and delight.” The Portsmouth Abbey community extends its condolences to Charley’s family and friends over his passing.
The School community and Monastery offer our sincere sympathies to the entire Kearney family.
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CLASS NOTES
Don’t Forget: Classes of: 1943 m 1948 m 1953 m 1958 m 1963 1968 m 1973 m 1978 m 1983 m 1988 1993 m 1998 m 2003 m 2008 This is your reunion year! Members of the Diman Club (alumni from all classes prior to 1963) Please join us for another memorable weekend! We have a fantastic line-up of events for the entire family! Login to the Alumni Community from the Abbey website for more information on the schedule of events, accommodations, golf outings, class
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Mary Ann Howkins, friend of the Daly family, wrote us to say: “Jean’s husband, Richard F. Daly, graduated from Portsmouth Priory around 1940-42. He loved his time at Portsmouth Priory, and afterwards entered the Navy. He and his classmate, Frank Hurley, came to visit my dad last year and entertained us with stories of their Priory days and of the well-off Irish families they knew as a result.”
J. Timothy O’Reilly helped to build what is now known as the Newport Harbor Corporation, a fourth-generation, employee-owned property and hospitality giant. He recently was cited in Brand RI as the person who “recognized that while the business game had changed in Newport (back in the 70s), the company’s waterfront property gave it the equivalent of seats on the fifty-yard line of the new economy: tourism.” Tim’s son, Paul, is the current president and CEO and is credited with “infusing the company with a set of values that are both pragmatic and idealistic, described in four principles: Employees rule. Customers guide us. Profits matter. Do the right thing.”
46 I John Lewis and his wife of 10 years, Diana, are enjoying their retirement in Vero Beach, FL. John says his golf game is somewhat erratic but his bridge game is a little less so!
51 I Tom Offutt tells us he retired from the Trust for Public Land and several other boards but is still involved with Yellowstone Park. He also keeps very busy with his riding stable in Northeast Ohio and says it is “great fun.” The stable attracts children from dozens of high schools and those with national success in hunter/ jumper competition. Visit www.littleglenstables.com to learn more.
dinners, babysitting and to see who is coming to Reunion 2013! Questions? Contact Julia Driscoll ’07 at (401) 643-1276 or jdriscoll@portsmouthabbey.org
Jaime del Amo ’59
59 I Jaime del Amo is pictured above “in the beach bar, on my 71st birthday the other day, 32 years here (Mojacar, Spain). I never thought it would be so challenging and so satisfying. Drop by sometime; Portsmouth has a special place in my heart.” Tom Offutt’51
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CLASS NOTES Chris Ogden ’62 and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
Keegan Ray Larsen, third grandchild of Jon Gilloon ’66
Christopher Buckley ‘70 dropped by campus this summer to pay a visit to Fr. Julian Stead ’43.
62 I Christopher Ogden wrote: “Strokes and age greatly diminished Margaret Thatcher in recent years, but I had traveled the world with her, interviewed her numerous times and written hundreds of thousands of words, including a full-bore biography, about the former British Prime Minister, so I felt an undeniable sense of loss on her death this spring. A divisive figure in Britain, she was nonetheless the smartest, most principled leader I’ve ever known with a work ethic and spine second to none.”
66 I Jon Gilloon welcomed the newest member of his family, his third grandchild, Keegan Ray Larsen, daughter of Kathryn and Keith Larsen, of Shreveport, LA. “She is a healthy and beautiful girl, now 5 months old.”… Eric Sandeen wrote to tell us that, back in October, he met with his Third Form roommate from 50 years ago, Robert Camargo. They caught up in Toronto, where Robert has lived for many years.
Joseph A. Montalbano ’72, former Rhode Island senate president, was sworn in as a Superior Court associate judge in June.
Father Jonathan DeFelice, O.S.B.,’65
John Millard ‘68, theologian, poses a question at the Portsmouth Institute this summer.
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Father Jonathan DeFelice, O.S.B., writes: “On July 15, I retired as president of Saint Anselm College after 24 years. The coming year will include a sabbatical, probably in New York and Rome.”
Joseph A. Montalbano, former Rhode Island senate president, was sworn in as a Superior Court associate judge on June 24, 2013. Governor Chafee and several state political and judiciary figures offered praise for Montalbano during the ceremony, held at the State House rotunda in Providence.
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Peter Ferry ‘75 and Bill Rooney P ’17 enjoyed conversation in the monastery garden at the Portsmouth Institute in June.
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Tim Flanigan ’75 commented on Peter Steinfels’ talk at the Portsmouth Institute.
75 I Tim Flanigan was ordained as a deacon by The Most Reverend Thomas J. Tobin, D.D., Bishop of Providence, on Saturday, February 2, 2013. Tim also served as the Portsmouth Abbey School 2013 Commencement Speaker in May, giving the graduating class the words of wisdom, “listen with the ear of your heart.”
77 I The 6th Annual Alumni Lacrosse Game was held on May 19, and two brave members of the Cass of 1977 joined their sons on the field. The alumni battled the current varsity team and came up with a victory in the last few minutes. Brendan Kinnane was joined by his sons, Brendan ’07 and Riley ’11, and Chuck Kenahan was joined by one of his three boys, Trevor ’12. It was the first time the Kenahans were playing on the same team, and everyone had a great time!
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Father Robert Hyde celebrated 25 years in the priesthood on Saturday, July 13, with a Mass in Portsmouth Abbey’s Church of St. Gregory the Great… Bill Keogh has joined TigerRisk Partners’ Decision Support Team. TigerRisk is a reinsurance broker and risk/capital management firm. Rod Fox, TigerRisk CEO, stated, “With his years of experience as a top executive at two of the three leading catastrophe modeling firms, Bill will be an invaluable resource
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Jay Aragones ‘80 takes in the proceedings at the Portsmouth Institute this summer.
Bill Haney ’80, co-founder/president of Blu Homes
to our clients. Few people can match Bill’s experience and mastery of state-of-theart property catastrophe analytics.” Bill spoke at the Sixth Form Dinner this year, celebrating the Portsmouth Abbey graduating class and, in particular, his daughter, Isabel ’13… Mark Malkovich IV, general manager of the Newport Music Festival, was back on campus July 10 as the Festival kicked off its 45th season with a concert in the Portsmouth Abbey auditorium. Mark is in his fourth year as general manager and third year in charge of programming. This year’s festival consisted of 62 concerts in 18 days at 12 different venues.
leads two bands and is also active as a solo performer on seven-string guitar. His “Nick Moran Trio” presented a master class and concert to the Abbey community. The Trio worked with the School’s award-winning Enharmonic jazz ensemble on topics such as rhythm, practice and improvisation. In this interactive two-hour session, the students were able to play for the Trio and receive feedback on their performances. The Trio also played and let the student musicians jam along with them. While on campus, Nick visited with Abbot Caedmon, who taught Nick during his time at the Abbey.
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William Haney, co-founder and president of Blu Homes, received Root Cause’s Business Innovator Award. The award is given to those who have led companies to significant success and have demonstrated a commitment to supporting innovation across sectors. The purpose of the award is to draw parallels between groundbreaking business practices and social innovation. Through advanced technology, Blu is working to improve the health, economics, design experience and environmental effects of housing for American families.
Michael Mauboussin recently rejoined Credit Suisse as a managing director and head of global financial strategies in the investment banking division. In his new role, Michael provides thought leadership and strategy guidance to Credit Suisse clients in the areas of valuation and portfolio positioning, capital markets theory, competitive strategy analysis and decision making. He recently authored an inaugural publication for the company’s Global Financial Strategies Group entitled, “Cultivating Your Judgment Skills - - A Framework for Improving the Quality of Decisions.” The report’s goal is to provide investors with tools and guidance to improve decisions on a day-to-day basis… Father John O’Donohue is the parochial administrator of Holy Spirit Parish in Annandale, VA.
81 I Nick Moran returned to campus on May 9 to share his jazz talents and music expertise with Portsmouth Abbey students. A professional musician and composer, Nick
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Abbot Caedmon with Nick Moran ’81 on campus
83 I 30TH REUNION
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Robert Flanigan is the founder of Educate LLC, a company that pioneers innovative ways to drive technology use in school instruction. He is also a member of the executive committee of the Patron’s Program at the Archdiocese of New York. The program creates small groups of alumni and friends to adopt individual inner-city parochial schools. In addition, he is co-director of The Principal Academy, a partnership with The Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn, whose mission is to train a new generation of Catholic school leaders. Bob was quoted in an article entitled, “To Save NYC’s Catholic Schools,” and noted that today’s students have a “…broader range of needs. Principals need to understand legal issues, personnel issues, technology.” Bob also sees a need “to level the economic playing field. The fact that parents in low-income neighborhoods have to pay is a great challenge.”… Jim Garman’s dream of becoming a farmer – a micro-farmer, that is – has finally come true! Jim and his wife, Michelle, consult with local chefs and restaurateurs who like to feature specialty varieties of produce. They take orders! The goal of Garman Farm, as Jim puts it, is to “not just mass-produce the same stuff.” Jim leases 2.5 acres of land from the Aquidneck Land Trust and says, “We can’t keep up with the demand for fresh, local food (by the chefs)!”
Michael Mauboussin ’82 rejoined Credit Suisse as a managing director and head of global financial strategies in the investment banking division.
84 I Lt. Col. David G. Bardorf relinquished his command from the Marine Corps Base Camp at Lejeune, NC, in a changeof-command ceremony held on June 21. David joined the battalion in May 2011 and led marines from a wide variety of work sections. He is a former enlisted rifleman who earned his commission in 1992 through the Enlisted Commissioning Program. He has served with the 2nd Marine Division’s 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, 1st Tank Battalion and 2nd Tank Battalion. He has also served with Headquarters Marine Corps and as an instructor at the Officer Candidate School in Quantico, VA. David deployed numerous times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He will soon head to the Marine Corps War College for a year of training and looks forward to leading marines again in the future.
85 I Olivier Sartor has been named vice president of account services for Nowspeed, Inc. He will be expanding the marketing services agency’s product offering and client base and will continue to head the social media team.
86 I Michael Khouw is the managing director and strategist for business development
SUMMER BULLETIN 2013
of Dash Financial, a member of The Dash Group. In a recent article published by PR Newswire, Michael said, “I am excited to be part of this dynamic group of passionate professionals and to exercise my deep experience in derivatives trading and business development to expand the Dash footprint.”… Leo Villareal was the artist behind the 25,000 LED lights that were installed this past spring to illuminate the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Called “The Bay Lights,” and inspired by the 75th Anniversary of the bridge, his creation will illuminate the bridge for two years. Leo said, “The (light) sequences are presented in a random order for a random amount of time. So, you’re not seeing a loop that repeats all the time. So the pieces end up being very livable.” He notes, “You can have a relationship with them... it’s always going to be new and different. I’m interested in people having an accumulation of experiences with this piece.”
89 I Marc Leandro writes that he and Lin are pleased to announce the birth of their sons, Otis Afton Sorensen Leandro and Max Benjamin Sorensen Leandro (see Milestones, page 50). They were born on June 9, in Norwich, CT, and “we are all back home now in Brooklyn, having a fantastic if slightly sleep-deprived time.”… Michael du Vigneaud is the president and CEO of Envision Resources LTD, in Daniel Island, SC. The company works with customers in the energy
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Matt D’Arrigo ’90, founder of A Reason to Survive (ARTS), with his student, Inocente Izucar, at the Academy Awards ceremony.
95 I Annie (Sherman) Luke and the team at Newport Life Magazine received the Medium Business of the Year award from the Newport County Chamber of Commerce. The magazine is credited with celebrating all that is unique about Newport County and is known for giving “Best of Newport County” awards to local businesses and organizations every year. Annie is the managing editor of the magazine… Rev. Jacob Sahms officiated at the wedding of his sister, Andrea Sahms ’99, to Joshua Klement, in a ceremony at the Faith Alliance Church in Attleboro, MA.
96 I and petrochemical industries to identify opportunities to recover revenues from off-spec products, co-products and byproducts.
90 I Matt D’Arrigo, founder of A Reason to Survive (ARTS), in San Diego, CA, has been mentoring young artists. This year, one of his students, Inocente Izucar, starred in a documentary about her determination to be an artist in spite of her homelessness. The film, “Inocente,” won an Academy Award in February for Best Documentary Short.
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20 TH REUNION v SEPT 28-30
Father Catesby (Chris) Clay writes, “I am moving from St. Lawrence (Church) to St. Paul (Church) in downtown Lexington. It is a bi-lingual parish, so the Spanish I studied at Portsmouth will help me in this new assignment.”
94 I Carina (Nula) Cohen and Michael Cohen welcomed their third child, Harper Dylan, into the world on April 16, 2013 (see Milestones, page 50). They recently moved back to the USA and are enjoying being in Pennsylvania, a bit closer to friends and family.
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Sean Howley is an advisor for Noble Energy, an independent energy company. He also volunteers for Freedom Service Dogs and Outdoors Colorado… Adrienne Salomon writes: “I have finished my fellowship in epilepsy and have a job in a hospital in Orange County, NY. My husband and I also had a baby girl—Kennedy Yvonne Simeus!”… Angus Davis’ company, Swipely, which created a platform that helps local merchants accept payments and understand customers, has completed a $12 million, Series B round of financing led by Shasta Ventures. The funding round, which includes existing investors, will help Swipely expand its network of merchants, accelerate nationwide growth and hire new staff in its Providence office.
97 I Father Benedict Nivakoff, O.S.B., is currently serving as the novice master of the Monastery of San Benedetto in Italy (www.osbnorcia.org)... Colin O’Higgins married Renée Trudeau on May 5, 2013, in Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Abbey grads in attendance were his brothers, Mark ‘92, Brendan ‘93, Sean ‘99, and buddies Pablo Cuellar, Dan Hughes, Simmy Stancioff and Gino Tonetti. Every wedding guest who had attended the Abbey served as a groomsman… Brian Thomas shared this story with us: Brian happened to be near
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the scene of a raging fire in an apartment complex when he noticed an older couple with two small children standing on the side of the road in their pajamas. Brian invited them to take cover at his house, which they did. It turned out that the older man is the liturgical director at the Catholic Campus Center in Lawrence, KS. They began talking, and, of course, Brian mentioned the Abbey. The man was familiar with it and mentioned that the School was fortunate to have Benedictines living and teaching there. Brian offered the family food, blankets, toys and clothing. As the family departed for a local hotel, courtesy of the Red Cross, the man said, “The Benedictines taught you well.”… Janessa LeComte-DaQuay and her mother, Florine LeComte P’97, ’00, ‘10, received certificates of advanced graduate studies from Salve Regina University during its 2013 Commencement Ceremony.
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Kate (Elliot) Sedgwick wrote to tell us that she and husband, Scott, had a son, Elliot Scott Sedgwick, on August 3, 2012, making Bill Elliot ‘72, a grandfather… Jorge Andres Cedron writes that he is legal counsel for Stryker Corporation, a medical technology company with branches in Latin America, Canada, Spain and Portugal.
99 I Kevin Vendituoli put his considerable fishing skills to the test as a contestant in season one of Animal Planet’s new extreme fishing competition, “Top Hooker,” a Discovery Channel production. The show, which debuted Sunday, June 9, pitted 10 fishermen against each other as they tackled a variety of fishing challenges in America’s lakes, rivers, streams and even the open ocean. Kevin, a corporate lawyer who lives in Little Compton, RI, is a lifelong recreational fisherman who loves to spearand surf-fish. He grew up fishing with his father, brother and great-uncle. Kevin did not win the competition but he had a lot of fun trying!... Edward Rhys Stoltenberg received his MBA in 2012 from
Georgia Tech. He has published articles in infantry and armor magazines on technology and training and is now working for PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLC, in NYC.
Rachel Wigton Jastrebsky ’05 (far left), competing as a pro for the first time, finished in the women’s top 10 in the Rev 3 half-ironman triathlon in Williamsburg, VA, in June 2013.
foster care at the Support Center for Child Advocates in Philadelphia.
02 I Andrea Petronello is currently working for General Electric, where she works in GE Capital’s Financial Management Program for Cara Gontarz Hume ’99. Cara was Andrea’s Red Key tour guide when she visited the Abbey during her seventh grade year!
00 I Joseph Sills graduated from Brown University in 2004 and then went to Tufts Medical School. After two years at Tufts, Joe enrolled in the Creative Writing Program at the University of Virginia and received a MFA in creative writing in 2010. His work has since been published in many literary journals, including Columbia University’s. Joe returned to Tufts Medical School and graduated in May 2013 in the top six percent of his class and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He received his first choice of residency programs in emergency medicine and will be in San Francisco for the next four years at UCSF. See ’06 for news of Andy Emerson.
01 I Paul Yoon and his wife, Jenny, and son, Noah, moved to Vermont this summer, where Paul accepted a position as an assistant principal at the Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School in South Burlington. The family has also started building a home
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in nearby Essex, VT, and hopes construction will be complete in October… John Heins finished graduate school online and received his Master of Science Degree in Information Technology Management from Trident University International. He has been putting his degree to good use in the Air Force, where he is a communications officer. Last summer, Paul spent two months in Montgomery, AL, with 800 other captains at the Air Force’s Squadron Officer School. He was designated as a Distinguished Graduate (top 10 percent), for which he gives credit to his Abbey education. John is currently stationed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, in Hawaii. He writes, “Hawaii is amazing! If anyone is heading this way on vacation, I hope they will drop me a line!”… Megan Rok graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in May 2011. She received an award for exemplary pro bono service and was selected into the Order of the Coif, a national honorary scholastic society for U.S. law school graduates. Megan was a legal writing instructor for first-year law students at Penn during her third year of school and worked as a clerk for the Honorable J. Curtis Joyner in Philadelphia after graduation. She is currently a staff lawyer working in educational law for children in
10 TH REUNION v SEPT 20-22
Sophia (Brown) Regan was cast in the indie film “The Walking Tedd,” a heart-warming comedy about a zombie teddy bear that may make you rethink your favorite childhood stuffed animal. From director Sean Willis and writer Derek Stusynski, this original online series is coming soon!
04 I Katherine Morgera received her doctorate degree in osteopathic medicine from the University of New England in Biddeford, ME. She is currently a pediatric resident at Stony Brook University Hospital in Stony Brook, NY.
John Heins ’01 and his girlfriend in Hawaii Paul Yoon ’01
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College of Charleston sailor Juan Maegli ’07 was named the 2013 Collegiate Sailor of the Year.
youth hockey programs… Geoff Marano is a founding member and vice president of Conditions Set, a non-profit organization that assists active U.S. military servicemen and veterans transition into the civilian workplace.
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05 I JJ Rok graduated from Boston College in May 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications and a minor in film. He then continued his studies at Boston University, where he received a certificate in digital imagining arts. JJ has since started his own company, Bangarang Films, and does film editing, marketing films, music videos, wedding videos, and documentaries. He is honored to do the videography for the wedding of his cousin, Brendan Rok ’03, in Brazil this summer.
all proceeds going to charity. Andy, the starting goalie for the lobbyists, recently graduated from the George Washington University Law School and started working with the public policy group at Holland & Knight, LLP. Eli is working as a legislative assistant for Colorado’s 3rd District Representative Scott Tipton and will begin law school at American University in the fall. Riding strong goalie play and an outpouring of offense, the lobbyists won, 11-3. The game raised over $150,000 for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and local
Gus Gleason submitted this class note: “Hello, Abbey Community! Here is a quick update on my life. I am leaving my teaching job at the Saint James School in Maryland to attend Tufts Medical School in August, and I have been offered a fulltuition scholarship by the U.S. Navy to pay for school. I am excited to move back to New England, begin my career in medicine, and serve as an officer in the Navy! We had our Abbey five-year reunion this past September, and it was fantastic to see everyone.”… Helen (Heuer) Memoli wrote in: “On December 29, 2012, I married Ryan Memoli of Port Richey, FL. Our ceremony was held at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in St. Petersburg, FL. Fun fact: Abbot Caedmon’s brother used to be affiliated with St. Paul’s. Our tartan-clad wedding reception (my idea, not his) was held at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. Everything was perfect! As of now, I am an intern at All Children’s Hospital, part of
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Kate Atkinson writes: “In December 2011, I graduated from Pace University in NYC with a degree in philosophy and a minor in marketing. After graduation I landed a job in network sales at CBS Television. I assist in selling ad spots for all national news and late night programs including ‘The Evening News with Scott Pelley,’ ‘The Late Show with David Letterman’ and ‘The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.’ I am currently living in NYC on the Upper East Side.”… Eli Leino wrote that on April 27, 2013, he and Andy Emerson ’00, both former Abbey hockey players, faced off at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., for the 5th Annual Congressional Hockey Challenge. The game pits members of Congress and staff against registered lobbyists, with From left, Anna Buckley ’07, Chris O’Reilly ’07, Ryan DaPonte ’07, Gus Gleason ’07, Caitie Silvia ’07, Lori Rich ’07 and Page Fournier ’07 at Reunion 2012
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Johns Hopkins Medicine, and will graduate with my degree in healthcare administration and integrated health sciences. I am hoping to stay on at All Children’s. My husband, Ryan, is a corporate credit analyst at Raymond James Financial. We met on spring break while attending the University of Florida.”… Kaitlin Rok graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education and a minor in human development from Boston College in 2011. She was the recipient of a Bradley Fellowship and received a master’s in special education from Boston College in May 2012. Upon graduation, Kaitlin was selected to teach elementary special education for Teach for America in New Orleans, where she lives with her cousin, Brianne Rok’08, also a teacher for Teach for America… Juan Maegli, sailing for the College of Charleston, competed in the ICSA/Gill Coed Dinghy National Championship on May 28-30. The top 18 college sailing teams in the nation gathered in St. Petersburg, FL, after qualifying in a semi-final championship in April. Charleston’s solid sailing and consistency in this regatta helped them win the championship and the Henry A. Morss Memorial Trophy. Juan was named College Sailor of the Year and awarded the Everett B. Morris Trophy at the Intercollegiate Sailing Association banquet in May… Caroline Johnson wrote to say that she is in her second year working for Sightlines, a facilities management firm in Connecticut. She was promoted in March to regional account manager. As such, she travels the country while working with many colleges and universities (some private high schools, too). She recently ran into Tracy and Mac Regan ’68, P’07 in Grand Central Station… Emily Kerwin shared the news that she recently passed the CPA test.
08 I 5TH REUNION
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SEPT 20-22
Pierce King graduated from Bowdoin in May 2013 and received the Paul Tiemer Award, which is voted on by players and coaches and is awarded to the player who best exemplifies Bowdoin lacrosse on and off the field. In an email to Coach
Al Brown, Pierce said, “I like to think that you and the Portsmouth community really helped instill in me the fundamentals and work ethic that were exemplified in the award.” Pierce also told us that he has been accepted to the Tuck Bridge Program at Dartmouth for the summer. This is a five-week program that offers a “crash-course” in business and financial analysis. Following Tuck, he will begin a one-year position in Pamplona, Spain, as a research assistant at the University of Navarra. Pierce will be helping a professor finish his doctorate on economic poverty and development in Ethiopia. During his time at the University, he will have the opportunity to travel to Ethiopia... Daniel Bernard tells us, “I graduated with a B.S. in civil engineering from the University of Vermont and then took a month off for a surf trip in Costa Rica. I jumped right into a job in February when I returned as a field engineer for CPM Constructors, a contracting company that primarily builds and repairs bridges, in Portland, ME. This job presented itself to me after an internship I had with the company last summer, an experience I would encourage for any high school or college student before they finish college. I also battle with time on the weekends to keep up my other career as a raft guide on the Penobscot River, where the collared shirt comes off and the adrenaline flows like the river.”… Elizabeth Papi graduated cum laude from Northeastern University in January 2013 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Digital Arts with a concentration in photography… Katie Collins graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and is a first-year student at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine on a Health Professions Scholarship. She is a second lieutenant, but basically lives a civilian life with the exception of military training in Texas during the summer. She tells us that medical school, like the Abbey and West Point, has been challenging academically but worth the effort. The first two years of medical school are mainly academic, after which she will begin clinical rotations in hospitals throughout Philadelphia as well as military hospitals. She will then
SUMMER BULLETIN 2013
begin a military residency in a specialty of her choosing. Katie is currently leaning towards OB/GYN or psychiatry. She said, “I am open to any specialty God leads me to in the future.”… Frank Holbrook, a senior at Wheaton College, was named to the N.E. Intercollegiate Baseball Association’s Third Team and the D3Baseball.com Second Team. Frank posted a 10-0 record last season for Wheaton with a 2.80 ERA. He served this summer as the bench coach for the Newport Gulls, a member of the New England Collegiate Baseball League.
09 I Kristin Harper graduated summa cum laude from the Honors Program at Saint Anselm College, where she earned a B.A. in both philosophy and classics. She is starting her first semester of graduate school this fall at the University of Missouri-Columbia and hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in classics. She also plans to continue her research on an archaeological dig, through Saint Anselm’s, on the Coriglia and Orvieto Excavations at Castel Viscardo, Italy… Monica Hidalgo also graduated this spring from Saint Anselm
Kristin Harper graduated summa cum laude from the Honors Program at Saint Anselm College, PAGE 53
Kathleen Timmons ’10, top row center, celebrates with her Trinity College women’s lacrosse teammates.
College… Peter Wallace graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute… Kasey Geremia just finished her first year at Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College. She is working as a summer intern in the office of Rhode Island General Treasurer Gina M. Raimondo. “Interns are valued members of our team,” said Raimondo. “The daily work they do not only supports Treasury but also provides them with a unique hands-on experience to complement their studies.”… Brendan Buckley became the first Army player to garner Capital One Academic All-American of the Year plaudits in the at-large category. He also repeated as a First-Team Academic All-American honoree. Brendan graduated from West Point 10th in his class of 1,077 cadets, carried a 3.987 grade-point average in engineering management, and will now begin his service as a Field Artillery Officer with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Schweinfurt, Germany. During his time at West Point, Brendan was awarded the Distinguished Cadet Award and the Superintendent’s Award for Excellence, based on his overall efforts in academics, military science, military development and physical fitness. He also spearheaded a cadet mentorship program that included trips to a local elementary school for reading and playing sports with the students, along with being an active member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee… Devin Laviano and Phil Youngberg ’12 were teammates on this year’s U.S. Naval Academy intercollegiate sailing squad… Kyle Moriarty writes, “Hello! Last semester I had an internship position for a TV production company in Montana doing story research and development. Dramatic writing is definitely my passion, and I was happy to direct an original one-act for my theater production class. Although I’m not producing any of my writing academically this semester, I am pursuing some personal passion projects. I’ve started a sketch comedy troupe (we just shot our first video), and am currently writing a feature film and original TV pilot. I’m also acting in a lead role on another short
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film about a college freshman who invents time travel.”... Josephine O’Reilly, a member of Salve Regina University’s Women’s Lacrosse Team, made 11 saves in a 16-6 victory over Simmons College this spring… Kelsey Shea graduated from the University of Delaware in May.
10 I Cat Malkemus, Danny Caplin and Sara Munda spent July on campus, working in the Summer Program as prefects and teaching assistants in classes with Jeff Kerr (Music), Derek Gittus (History), and Kale Zelden (Movies and Culture). They were joined by Maddie Savoie ’11, Emmett Conway ’12, Jimmy Fallon ’12 and James McField ’12… Michael Rhea is a junior at Lynchburg College, where he plays lacrosse. Mike’s stepbrother, Bobby Cloughen ’15, plays hockey and lacrosse for the Abbey… Frank Pagliaro received a fellowship from Williams College to study at the Yeats International Summer School, in Sligo, Ireland, for two weeks in August. The school presents a unique blend of learning, art, and fun in beautiful Yeats Country… Kathleen Timmons recorded 21 points, including 7 goals, as a member of the Trinity College Women’s Lacrosse Team. Trinity finished the year 21-1 and was the Division III national runner-up.
11 I Justin Coleman enjoyed a solid sophomore season on the Kenyon College Men’s Lacrosse Team. As a midi, Justin played in every game and tallied 22 points, including a team-leading 18 goals… Liz Dubovik and Grace Medley were teammates on the Connecticut College Sailing Team… Katia DaSilva competed for Georgetown in the ICSA/Gill Coed Dinghy National
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
Championship on May 28-30 (the same competition in which Juan Maegli ’07 competed for College of Charleston). The top 18 college sailing teams in the nation vied for the national championship in St. Petersburg, FL, after qualifying in a semifinal held in April. Katia and her Georgetown team placed second in this year’s competition… Michael Flanigan has been busy the past few summers building, along with a few sailing and engineering buddies, a 13-foot, 160-pound kayak-like craft named Scout. Its creators (including Mike’s brother, Dan ’09) hope it will be the first autonomous surface vessel to cross the Atlantic, travelling 3,400 miles at approximately two knots. Learn more about this exciting endeavor on Facebook at “Scout – The Autonomous Transatlantic Robot.”… Julia Scanlan reports: “I am currently working as an electrics intern at Saint Michael’s Playhouse, which is an equity theatre. This past year I went to the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, where I competed as a stage manager and was the first person from Saint Mike’s to move on to the semifinal round.”… Abigail Shea started at shortstop in all 38 games for the Skidmore College Softball Team… James Tasca just finished his sophomore year at High Point University and will be attending school in Australia from July 15 to December 1, 2013. He invites anyone who is over there to contact him at jamesttasca@gmail.com.
Abi Skinner ’11 and Jamie Chapman ’12
12 I David Armenta enjoyed a wonderful freshman year at George Washington University with Juan Vicini as his roommate… Matt Brigham had a stellar first year at Bentley University playing attack on the Men’s Lacrosse Team. He started in 9 of the team’s 12 games and had 13 goals and 7 assists, tying for the most points on the team, and was named to the Northeast-10 All-Rookie Team… Jamie Chapman is on the Varsity Rowing Team at Franklin & Marshall College. This spring, at the Kerr Cup Regatta in Philadelphia, Abi Skinner ’11 (attending St. Joseph’s University) and she ran into one another by chance and had a great time catching up on the Schuylkill River... Jeffrey Heath played for the College of Charleston’s Squash Club this year. Charleston won its first national division title in the 2013 Men’s National Team Championships, held at Yale University. Jeff and his teammates competed in the Hawthorn Cup division, with Jeff playing the number-five match against a tough competitor from UCalBerkeley. Jeff came through with a win in the fifth, helping the Cougars to clinch the Hawthorn Cup… Trevor Kenahan and Liam O’Connor had a good year on the lacrosse field at Beloit College. Their team ended the season with six wins and six losses and a four-game winning streak. Liam started in all 12 games of the season, playing attack or midi, and Trevor started in 10 games in goal. A great first season
for the Beloit lacrosse team! Brendan Kinnane ‘07, Harry Holden ’08, Brendan Buckley ’09, Justin Coleman ’11, Morgan Green ’11, Drake Kreinz, Trevor Kenahan, Liam O’Connor, Austin Kreinz ’13, and Zach Pray ’13, all former Abbey lacrosse players, came back to help Coach Brown with his 20th Annual New England Top 150 Lacrosse Camp this summer. The boys helped to coach more than 600 campers… After graduating last year, Fergus O’Farrell took a gap year and traveled the world volunteering. He first spent time at an orphanage in Rwanda and then traveled to Asia where he worked on a conservation project in Nepal. He will start at Brown University in the fall… Jeff Salvatore appeared in all 13 games for Elmira College on the men’s lacrosse team this year. He tallied an assist, 23 ground balls and nine caused-turnovers as a longstick midfielder... Tara Tischio had another great year on the women’s squash team at Colby College. Tara played fourth and won half of her matches… Caitlin “KK” Villareal received a Northeast-10 Conference Award to cap her 2013 season on the Saint Anselm College Women’s
Tim McGuirk ’11 joins the discussion in Bishop Tobin’s session on “The New Evangelization” at a dinner lecture at the Portsmouth Institute.
SUMMER BULLETIN 2013
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Lacrosse Team. KK was named to the 2013 Northeast-10 All-Conference Second Team and the Northeast-10 All-Rookie Team after starting all 17 games and tallying 44 points (37 goals and 7 assists). During the season, she also captured two Northeast-10 “Rookie of the Week” honors and placed on the Commissioner’s Honor Roll for academic excellence... Matthew Jewell-DeMieri sent in an update of his ROTC activities, “After my first year at RPI I went to San Diego, CA, for my first midshipman (MIDN) summer cruise. The purpose of this was to introduce me and my fellow 3rd Class MIDN to the various warfare communities within the U.S. Navy to provide us with an idea of what each community does and which one we would like to be a part of. The first week was spent with the Surface Navy, where we embarked on a Guided-Missile Destroyer, toured the newest class ship in the Navy, the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), and piloted the same LCS in the virtual simulator which is used to train her crew. “The second week was with thesubmarine fleet, where we embarked on a Ballistic Missile (Boomer) Submarine. We were put on radio silence and got to feel what it is like to be a part of the Silent Service, discovering the full capability of a modern U.S. Naval submarine. We were also
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allowed to train in the damage control facilities, used to train submarine crews to fight flooding and fire casualties. “The third week was spent with the Marine Corps, where we were exposed to all elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. We received hands-on, livefire weapons training where we learned to shoot over 15 different types of rifles and machine guns. We also received basic squad and infantry tactics, all culminating in the Infantry Emersion Trainer,
where my squad and I were sent to Somalia (a movie-styled set built in a huge warehouse), where we were ambushed and needed to maneuver to safety and coordinate an attack. “Finally we spent a week with the Aviation Community, where we were able to experience the wonders of flight. We were given tours of many different aviation squadrons and exposure to the major aircraft types. The best parts of aviation week were the flights, where we were
taken up in an SH-60 helicopter and even the T-34, where we did lots of acrobatics and I was even given stick time. “All in all, the month was a great experience, and I made many great friends and have many wonderful memories from it. I now look forward to enjoying the last month and a half of summer on the beach in Hawaii.”
Classes of: 1943 - 1948 - 1953 - 1958 - 1963 - 1968 - 1973 - 1978 - 1983 - 1988 - 1993 - 1998 - 2003 – 2008 This is your reunion year! Members of the Diman Club (alumni from all classes prior to 1963) Please join us for another memorable weekend – September 20-22, 2013! We have a fantastic line-up of events for the entire family! Login to the Alumni Community from the Abbey website for more information on the schedule of events, accommodations, golf outings, class dinners, babysitting and to see who is coming to Reunion ’13!
Reunite ~ Reminisce ~ Celebrate Questions? Contact Julia Driscoll at (401) 643-1276 or jdriscoll@portsmouthabbey.org
P O RT S M O U T H A BB E Y S C H O O L SEPTEMBER 20-22, 2013
MISSION STATEMENT The aim of Portsmouth Abbey School is to help young men and women grow in knowledge and grace. Grounded in the Catholic faith and 1500-year-old Benedictine intellectual tradition, the School fosters: Reverence for God and the human person Respect for learning and order Responsibility for the shared experience of community life
BOARD OF REGENTS Right Rev. Dom Caedmon Holmes, O.S.B. Abbot and Chancellor Portsmouth, RI
Mr. Patrick Gallagher ’81, P ’15 Annual Fund Chair Westwood, MA
Mr. John M. Regan, III ’68 P ’07 Chairman Watch Hill, RI
Meg Healey P ’91 New Vernon, NJ
Sr. M. Therese Antone, RSM, Ed. D. Newport, RI Mr. W. Christopher Behnke ’72, P ’12, ’15 Chicago, IL Dom Joseph Byron, O.S.B. Portsmouth, RI Creighton Condon ’74, P ’07, ’10 New York, NY Dom Francis Crowley, O.S.B. Portsmouth, RI Mrs. Kathleen Cunningham P ‘08, ‘09, ‘11, ‘14 Mr. Tim Cunningham ‘74 Co-Chairs, Parents’ Committee Dedham, MA Mr. Peter Ferry ’75, P ’16, ’17 Fairfield, CT Frances Moyles Fisher P ’15 San Francisco, CA Dr. Timothy P. Flanigan ’75 P ’06, ’09, ’11 Tiverton, RI Mr. Peter S. Forker ’69 Chicago, IL
Denis Hector ’70 Miami, FL
Mr. John Perreira P ’05, ’13 Portsmouth, RI Mr. Barnet Phillips, IV ’66 Greenwich, CT Mr. Robert A. Savoie P ’10, ’11, ’15 Jupiter, FL
Dr. Gregory Hornig ’68, P ’01 Prairie Village, KS
Right Rev. Dom Matthew Stark, O.S.B. Prior Portsmouth, RI
Rev. F. Washington Jarvis Dorchester Center, MA
Mr. Rowan G.P. Taylor P ’13, ’16 New Canaan, CT
Rev. Dom Damian Kearney, O.S.B., ’45 Portsmouth, RI
Mr. Samuel G. White ’64 New York, NY
Mr. Peter Kennedy ’64, P ’07, ’08, ’15 Big Horn, WY
Mr. William G. Winterer ’87 Boston, MA
Mr. William M. Keogh ’78, P ’13 Saddle River, NJ
Very Rev. Dom Ambrose Wolverton Portsmouth, RI
Mr. Edward G. Kirby ’83 Jamestown, RI
Ms. Yanling Xu P ’13 Yantai, China
Ms. Devin McShane P ’09, ’11 Providence, RI
Emeritus
Rev. Dom Gregory Mohrman, O.S.B. Creve Coeur, MO
Mr. Peter Flanigan R ’41, P ’75, ’83, GP ’06, ’09, ’11 Purchase, NY
Mr. Ward Mooney ’67 Boston, MA
Mr. Thomas Healey ’60, P ’91 New Vernon, NJ
Mr. James S. Mulholland, III ’79 Vero Beach, FL
Mr. William Howenstein ’52, P ’87, GP ’10 Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
Ms. Deborah Winslow Nutter Westwood, MA
Cover: Students and chaperones have fundraised and volunteered for the Appalachia Service Project for the past 17 years. On our cover, one of the ASP teams assisted a Jonesville, WV, resident in repairing her home. From left, Kelley Oliveira ’13, the resident, former Abbey staff member Paul Williams, faculty member Emma Stenberg, Tim Tsung ’15, Dylan Bedford ’15 and Jeff Okoro ’14. To see more of our students giving back in various ways, please see page 28.
P ORT SMOUT H ABBE Y SCHO OL ANNUAL FUND Portsmouth Abbey thanks the hundreds of alumni, parents, and friends whose philanthropic participation helped the School reach another Annual Fund benchmark. Your generosity is vital to every moment in the classroom, every lesson learned on the athletic field and stage, and every friendship built in our student houses. Each year, your generous participation ensures the continuation of Portsmouth Abbey's unique campus atmosphere and reaffirms your singular role in the Portsmouth Abbey community. On behalf of every student, teacher and monk, thank you! Special thanks to the class leaders, the reunion fundraisers, the parent volunteers, and the Alumni Leadership Council, whose dedication made this year such a tremendous success.
COME EXPLORE LIFE ON THE LANE!
Frannie Kielb ’13 UMichigan ’17
Allison Bolles ’13 Austin Kreinz ’13 Mo Kouassi-Brou ’13 Harvard ’17 UPenn ’17 Princeton ’17
Fletcher Bonin ’13 Holy Cross ’17
An Abbey student’s life balances tradition and innovation, intellect and athleticism, and spirit and conscience. For your Life on the Lane guidebook: info.portsmouthabbey.org/bulletin
Call or email to schedule your campus visit: 401/643/1248
4 admissions@portsmouthabbey.org