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A BB E Y S C HO OL PORTSMOUTH ABBE Y SCHOOL
PARENTS’ WEEKEND 2018
SAVE THE DATE! OCT. 25-27
SUMMER ALUMNI BULLETIN 2018
PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL
SUMMER ALUMNI BULLETIN 2018
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 1,500-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 Rev. Dom Gregory Mohrman, O.S.B. Prior Administrator St. Louis, MO Mr. W. Christopher Behnke ’81 P’12 ’15 ’19 Chairman Chicago, IL Mr. Christopher Abbate ’88 P’20 New York, NY Mrs. Abby Benson ’92 Boulder, CO Rev. Michael G. Brunner, O.S.B. Creve Coeur, MO Dom Joseph Byron, O.S.B. Portsmouth, RI Mr. Creighton O. Condon ’74 P’07 ’10 Jamestown, RI Sr. Suzanne Cooke, R.S.C.J. Washington, D.C. Dom Francis Crowley, O.S.B. Portsmouth, RI Mrs. Kathleen Cunningham P’08 ‘09 ‘11 ‘14 Dedham, MA Mr. Gang Ding P’18 Qingdao, China Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Falvey P’18 ’20 Co-chairs, Parents’ Association Plaistow, NH
Mr. Peter Ferry ’75 P’16 ’17 Republic of Singapore
Ms. Devin McShane P’09 ’11 Providence, RI
Mrs. Frances Fisher P’15 San Francisco, CA
Mr. Philip V. Moyles, Jr. ’82 Annual Fund Chair Rye, NY
Dr. Timothy P. Flanigan ’75 P’06 ’09 ’11 ’19 ‘21 Tiverton, RI Mr. Peter S. Forker ’69 Chicago, IL Mr. Patrick Gallagher ’81 P’15 Providence, RI Mrs. Margaret S. Healey P’91 New Vernon, NJ Mr. Denis Hector ’70 Miami, FL Dr. Gregory Hornig ’68 P’01 West Palm Beach, FL Ms. Cara Gontarz Hume ’99 Hingham, MA Mr. Peter Kennedy ’64 P’07 ’08 ’15 Big Horn, WY Mr. William Keogh ’78 P’13 Jamestown, RI Dr. Mary Beth Klee P’04 Hanover, NH
Mr. Emmett O’Connell P ’16 ’17 Stowe, VT Mr. Shane O’Neil ‘65 Bedford, MA Mr. Peter J. Romatowski ’68 McLean, VA Mr. Rowan G. P. Taylor P ’13 ’17 ’18 Charlestown, SC Mr. William Winterer ’87 Boston, MA Emeritus Mr. Peter Flanigan R ’41 P ’75 ’83 GP ’06 ’09 ’ 11’19 Purchase, NY Mr. Thomas Healey ’60 P ’91 New Vernon, NJ Mr. William Howenstein R ’52 P ’87 GP ’10 Grosse Pointe Farms, MI Mr. Barnet Phillips, IV ’66 Greenwich, CT R
deceased
Front cover: Kaitlyn Soares ’07 is a digital media specialist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a world-leading space robotics lab that builds missions to explore humanity’s most profound questions.
Five Years in a Row! Portsmouth Abbey School thanks the 1,616 alumni, parents, parents of alumni, faculty, staff, and friends who contributed $1,702,090 to the Annual Fund, setting a record for the fifth year in a row. Among this group of generous donors was every member of the Class of 2018, who became the first Sixth Form class to reach 100% participation with gifts to the Annual Fund. Congratulations! Your support continues to ensure Portsmouth Abbey’s position as a leader among boarding schools and helps to fulfill our mission of helping young men and women grow in knowledge and grace each and every day. We thank you for your generosity. A special thank you to all of our volunteers including Alumni Leadership Council members, Decade Chairs, Class Agents, Reunion Committee members, and Parents’ Association leadership and volunteers whose dedication of time, talent, and treasure to the School made this achievement possible.
The Teacher The old cliché has it that those who can’t do, teach. Cynical as this may be, it accurately reflects the low opinion many hold of teachers. On the other hand, public encomiums suggest most Americans heartily agree with the 18th-century English philosopher John Locke’s assertion that, “nine out of ten are made good or bad, useful or not by their education.” Ironically, then, while on the one hand most put their faith in the potentially transformative powers of education, many hold in low esteem those who actually do the teaching. Such paradoxes suggest puzzlement, not only about what education’s all about, but also about what teachers do. Theories of pedagogy and cognitive psychology have proposed conflicting theories about how the brain works and how humans learn, but no matter how sophisticated the models, much remains disputed and mysterious. Suffice to say, the one thing teachers quickly learn is that, whatever it may be, teaching is no science. Better, I think, to call it an art – a practical art – and one fraught with the possibilities for failure. Master it one must, and though all humans at times play the teacher’s part, mastering the intricacies of teaching takes time, and there are classes, days, even years, when one feels still a beginner. Also it is important to keep in mind that teaching is a triadic activity, symbolic in nature and inevitably social. But what, one may wonder, does this mean? Simply put, teachers are manipulators of signs, verbal or numerical, with reference to an external or internal reality (a subject), which hopefully coheres, revealing a “meaning” to a student and resolving the world, like some complex Rubik’s cube into an ordered symmetry. A simple example may help clarify: in her autobiography, Helen Keller recalls the moment of her great epiphany, her moment of awakening consciousness. It’s an often told tale, but one worth recalling. Anne Sullivan, her teacher, had long struggled to prove Helen capable of thought, but up to then unsuccessfully. The breakthrough occurred when Sullivan simultaneously poured and spelled W-A-T-E-R on Helen‘s hand, an act which both startled her and awakened her nascent mind to meaning. Immediately after the incident described, Helen Keller, transfixed, her eyes bright with a new light, turned to Sullivan, asking her her name. By way of reply, Sullivan spelled out for her, T-E-A-C-HE-R: teacher. How best describe what has just happened? Is it not, though only metaphorically, a kind of rebirth, a bringing to life of a girl thought dead to consciousness? And is Sullivan not, then, acting as a kind of midwife? Maybe we would do better, then, to think of teachers as midwives rather than as instructors or as facilitators, words true enough but far too anemic to do justice to this incarnational experience. And isn’t this dramatic agon paradigmatic, the apotheosis of the most profound kind of teaching and learning? A teacher, in this case Anne Sullivan, signs for Helen a word, W-A-T-E-R, signifying the reality of water and conjuring in Helen’s mind a concept. What occurs is the the kind of understanding for which the English poet Gerard Manley Hopkins coined the word the “inscape,” the grasping of the essential nature of a thing. What has occurred, then, is a triadic event, one involving a teacher, a symbol– the word for the reality “water”– and a student, an event of which only humans seem capable.
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Understandably for most teachers, such moments as Anne Sullivan experienced are rare. Sam Pickering, the model for the protagonist of The Dead Poet’s Society suggests that teachers stumble into teaching much as most stumble into marriage. No doubt what Pickering says is a partial truth, but I doubt it is true of those teachers we profile in our School publications. Perhaps the word “calling” no longer resonates with us, but I believe most have responded to a voice, call it a “teacher within,” who acts as guide for all who have a vocation of whatever kind. So, one would not expect those who have simply “stumbled” into teaching, or who have, sadly, been beaten down and soured, to have experienced the joy Sullivan describes. But why does it seem so rare even among those of us for whom teaching is a vocation? Partly, one suspects, because such moments when both the teacher and the student are susceptible to such enlightenment are rare. Essential questions, those that touch the heart or address basic students needs, often times go unasked by teachers or unheard by students. There is simply too much static, too many bright lights and baubles making it difficult for students to escape the traps that make the trivial so attractive and the significant almost invisible. But there is, I think, another reason too rarely discussed: fear. With what was Anne Sullivan seeking to connect Helen Keller? Something other, alien, something she could not understand. Only when Keller had a name for that alien thing, water, could she escape her claustrophobic world. Teaching, like travel, demands that we confront what’s alien and new and potentially dangerous. Maybe that’s why so many of us prefer to travel in cocoons, sightseers who try to avoid too much risk. Teachers and students are also travelers, both in and beyond space and time. And aren’t teachers and students also fearful? Don’t teachers feel most comfortable in hermetically sealed classrooms where they are in control? Don’t most students seem to prefer the familiar and even resent the question that challenges or an assignment where they risk failure? But fear need not be debilitating; it may also be creative. Travelers may sometimes be inhibited by fear, but why do we travel except to encounter the foreign, the new, the unknown? Fear, if not paralyzing, can signal a breakthrough, a moment of real self-discovery, when we, like Helen Keller, find ourselves newly opened to the world. In conclusion, let me return to my metaphor of teachers as midwives. If, as I suggested at the start, laymen often denigrate teachers while expecting them to perform Herculean tasks, is it not possible that teachers do the same? Teachers, it seems, often take themselves too seriously or not seriously enough. How many of us would recognize ourselves as midwives? I think few. More likely we see ourselves, and are seen, as authority figures. Privately we may think such valuations ludicrous, but it’s a burden all accept as a given. Which leads me to a quote of St. Augustine, which is in a vocabulary unfortunately now alien to most. Nonetheless, it seems to encapsulate perfectly what occurred that fateful day between Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan. And, finally, it suggests that no teacher could wish for a greater gift than the gift of humility. “We speak, but it is God who teaches.”
“The Teacher” was written by our late English Master David McCarthy, Emeritus, following his retirement from Portsmouth Abbey School in 2002, where he taught for 31 years.
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in this issue Stay Connected To keep up with general news and information about Portsmouth Abbey School, we encourage you to bookmark the www.portsmouthabbey. org website. Check our our listing of upcoming alumni events here on campus and around the country, and find out more about Reunion 2018, our Annual Golf Scholarship Tournament If you would like to receive our e-newsletter, Musings, please make sure we have your email address (send to: info@portsmouthabbey.org). To submit class notes and photos (photos must be original high-resolution jpegs), please email: classnotes@portsmouthabbey.org or mail to Portsmouth Abbey Office of Development and Alumni Affairs, 285 Cory’s Lane, Portsmouth, Rhode Island 02871.
The Teacher by Faculty Emeritus David McCarthy R
1
Commencement and Prize Day 2018
4
College Destinations
9
A Fond Farewell to Robert and Christine Sahms
10
Many Happy Returns by Director of the Summer Program and Dean of Faculty Kale Zelden
14
Building in the Belluschi Tradition by Matt Walter, Director of Development & Alumni Affairs
16
Dr. Stephen Zins on the New Science Building at Portsmouth Abbey
20
All in the Family: Pietro and Tony Belluschi
21
From the Spring 2016 issue of Preservation Magazine
2018 Alumni Networking Series
26
The Full Circle Effect by Former Associate Director of Admission and Director of Financial Aid Wallace Gundy
27
Portsmouth Abbey 17th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament
28
Faith, Family and Civilization: The Portsmouth Institute 2018 Summer Conference by Executive Director Christopher Fisher
30
The Ampleforth Lourdes Pilgimage and My Experience by Sydney Welch ’17
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Alumnus Profile: Luis Torruella ’84
34
Chris Cooke ’76 and the Harpsichord That Was Born in Portsmouth
38
“Dare Mighty Things” by Kaitlyn Soares ’07
40
The Portsmouth Abbey Launch Club
43
Taking to the Skies - profiles of our four pilots from the Class of 2018
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Director of Development: Matthew Walter
Winter 2017-18 and Spring 2018 Athletics
46
Editors: Kathy Heydt, Amanda Cody
Save the Date for Reunion!
54
Milestones: Births, Weddings, Necrology
55
In Memoriam: Dom Francis Davidson, O.S.B. Christopher Walsh ’70
58 59
Save the Date for the Abbot’s Reception!
60
Class Notes
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Portsmouth Abbey’s 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 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. Headmaster: Daniel McDonough
Art Director: Kathy Heydt Photography: Jez Coulson, Louis Walker, Andrea Hansen, Kathryn Lucey, Marianne Lee, Bill Rakip, Amanda Cody, Kathy Heydt Individual photos found in alumni profiles have been supplied courtesy of the respective alumni.
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commencement 2018
Theodore Philip Evans Anderson
Shujie Hu
Richard (Sung Yup) Ryu
Andrew Patrick Aubee
Kate Harris Hughes
Scarlett Gayeon Shin
Lucia Kim-Eunhee Billings
Karl William Jackson
Arthur Ray Shipman
Sydell Legrand Bonin
Jane Elizabeth Jannotta
Alexander Joseph Sienkiewicz
Thomas Austin Brant, Jr.
Hong Jiang
Austin Patrick Sisk
Joseph P. Breen
Preston E. Kelleher
Daniel Joseph Sliney
Noelle C. Brown
Spencer Robert Kelleher
Gabriel Francisco Sotomayor
Martin Henry Bulanowski
Erika Tess Keller
Ella Rose Souvannavong
Emily Catherine Imelda Byrne
Sungwon Kim
Andrew Daniel Califf
Betissa Aude-Marie Kouassi-Brou
John Greene Phelps Stookey
Carlos Enrique Castillo
Logan Scott Kreinz
Yin Hong Travis Chiu
Gabriela Alejandra Lopez Gomes
Emma Chartreuse Costa
Abbey Sumner Luth
Grace Kathryn Costa
Aidan Robert Lynch
Ryan John Costa
Megan Elizabeth Madden
Foster Zarn Davis
María Maldonado
Samuel Haoxuan Ding
Shane Patrick McCarthy
Ryan Johnathan Donovan
Matthew James McKenna
Maya Catherine Eid
Jillian Kathleen McRoy
Mary Elizabeth Falvey
Michael Thomas Meads
Michael James Griffin
Carl Alexander Miller
Tyler Nattae White
Mikaili Jane Hamel-Smith
Jacqueline Craig Morrison
Henry Borden Wilson
Parker James Harkness
Elizabeth Mullaly
Chuhang Xiang (Jason)
Lauryn Monique Harper
Nkiru Sofia Ogbuefi
Jessica Jihye Yang
Johanna Mary Hausladen
Alicia Madison Ponte
Taylor Hélène Yates
Patrick William Heaps
Ian Summerville Ritchie
Jia Zhao
Jake Ryan Francis Horoho
Daniel Jacob Rodden
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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
Emma Marie Stowe Adam Benedict Suh Felicity Catherine Taylor Thomas Francis Teravainen Nicholas Louis Vallone Benjamin Michael Varieur Emma Marie Ventura Gretchen Kosin Vietor John Patrick Walter Katherine Zhiyun Wang
Music Director Jeff Kerr and Patrick Flanigan ’19 led the commencement procession this year.
Seventy-nine Portsmouth Abbey School graduates gathered on May 27, 2018, to receive their diplomas. They listened intently to words of wisdom from their classmates, from Headmaster Dan McDonough and from guest speaker Following the solemn Mass for the Class of 2018, graduates exit the Church of St. Gregory the Great and head to commencement exercises under the tent.
Dr. Christopher B. Howard, president of Robert Morris University. Music Director Jeff Kerr and Patrick Flanigan ’19 led the procession in full Highland dress, playing bagpipes, into the tent on the Holy Lawn. Following was a blessing from Abbot Matthew Stark, O.S.B., and a greeting from Chairman of the Board of Regents Christopher Behnke, Portsmouth Abbey Class of 1981. Referencing a speech given at Saturday’s Prize Day ceremony by retiring Science Department Head Robert Sahms, Mr. Behnke underscored the importance of “Love God; love others.” He humorously told the graduates that his motto for their future would be, “I will give generously!” Headmaster Dan McDonough recognized Robert and Christine Sahms for their 38 years of service to the School. He then addressed the Class of 2018, noting that they distinguished themselves above many previ-
Commencement Speaker Dr. Christopher B. Howard, president of Robert Morris University
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ous classes and citing their outstanding ability to “take charge, guide younger students, and lead by example.” Class speaker Maya Eid ’18 of Tiverton, RI, urged her friends to remember that though their physical bond was breaking, their emotional bond would last forever. “… you look back into the haze of these past four years, doesn’t everything seems pretty close to amazing?” Arthur Shipman ’18, of Newark, NJ, also a class speaker, noted, “One defining characteristic [of the Abbey] that stood out to me was how accepting people are of others.” He added, “Students and faculty alike welcome newcomers with open minds and open arms. That kind of caring environment allows people to explore and grow into Above: Portsmouth Abbey faculty process from the Winter Garden to the Holy Lawn
themselves.”
Left: Commencement Speaker Maya Eid ’18
graduates, relating personal anecdotes, illustrating
Dr. Christopher B. Howard then addressed the four underlying principles: be yourself, be humble, be accountable, and be courageous. Howard has practiced what he preaches. As a middle-schooler in Plano, TX, he wore a tie to school every day, despite being teased; this, he knew, was being true to himself. “God made you in his image,” Howard said. “Be empowered to be yourself.”
Left bottom: Austin Sisk’18 (left) congratulates Commencement Speaker Arthur Shipman ’18 after his address
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The Kreinz family celebrates with new graduate, Logan. From left, Kim, Drake ’12, Austin ’13, Logan, Ella, Noah and Steve.
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Chairman of the Board of Regents Chris Behnke ’81 (left) enjoys a lighthearted moment with Commencement 2018 Guest Speaker Dr. Christopher Howard
Howard emphasized accountability. “People are looking at you, and I promise each and every one of you in this class that there is a junior, a sophomore and a freshman who has watched you and said, ‘All I want to do, all I want to be in life, is like you.’” A retired reserve lieutenant colonel in the Air Force, Howard spoke about his time as a pilot, referring to a near-death experience while training. After a flight mishap that forced him to eject, undergo knee surgery and six weeks of rehab, he was unsure that he ever wanted to fly again. But the night before he was to report back for duty, he reflected on the Tuskegee airmen who came before him. He thought about his uncle, who had
Top: From left, Chris, Deb, Mary Beth ’18 and Ted ’20 Falvey Middle: From left, Fen ’15, Blake’77, Jillian, Lucia’18, John ’17 and Teresa’20 Billings Left: The Sienkiewicz and Taylor families each celebrate with a graduate in 2018. From left, Frank and Lisa Sienkiewicz, Alex Azer, Callie Taylor ’13, Alex Sienkiewicz ’18, Felicity Taylor ’18, Sarah Sienkiewicz ’13, Pippa Taylor, Julie and Rowan Taylor and Tim Carroll. Frank and Lisa are outgoing Parents’ Association Sixth-Form chairs and Rowan is a member of the Portsmouth Abbey School Board of Regents. Felicity was the recipient of the William Barry McCoy ‘67 Memorial Award.
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been serving at Ft. Benning when a police officer pulled him over and used racial slurs. And finally, he thought about his God. And though he was scared, he knew he had to fly again. “People have been telling you your whole lives that you’re something special. But if you don’t have a modicum of physical and emotional, psychological strength and courage, you are not going to be a leader. Recognize when those challenges come; draw on your reservoir of strength that you’ve developed here at Portsmouth Abbey School to be courageous.” Conferral of diplomas and a reception for graduates and their families followed. From left, Gang Ding and Limin Li celebrate with sons Sam’18 and Peter. Gang is a new member of the Portsmouth Abbey School Board of Trustees.
Commencement 2018 was preceded by Prize Day on Saturday, May 26. After a brief welcome from Headmaster Dan McDonough, the Dom Peter Sidler Awards for Excellence in Teaching were given to Kate Smith, a senior faculty member who has exhibited sustained excellence as a teacher at Portsmouth Abbey School, and Dr. Katie Zins ’04, a junior faculty member who displays superior potential as a classroom teacher. Associate Director of Admission and Financial Aid Wallace Gundy presented the athletics awards to students, followed by retiring Science Department Head and Director of Studies Robert Sahms, who awarded prizes for academic excellence. Longtime favorite teacher Cliff Hobbins announced the six students to be elected to membership in the Cum Laude Society and Visual Arts Teacher Joney Swift presented the character, service and leadership awards. The ceremony con-
The newly elected Cum Laude Society members, from left, graduates Nick Vallone, Hong (Elaine) Jiang, Karl Jackson, Abbey Luth, Sydell Bonin and Sungwon Kim
cluded with nine awards of special significance, presented by Headmaster McDonough. All awards are listed in the News section of the Portsmouth Abbey School website. Photos of Prize Day and Commencement can be found in the media gallery, under School Life, on the Portsmouth Abbey School website. Far left: Matt McKenna’18 accepts the Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps Scholarship. Near left: Jillian McRoy’18 (left) and Megan Madden’18. Jillian was given the Headmaster’s Award (along with classmates Emma Ventura, Adam Suh and Jake Horoho). Megan received the Matthew J. Penney ‘07 Perseverance Award.
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The Class of 2018 will be matriculating at the following colleges and universities:
DESTINATIONS
Recipients of the Dom Peter Sidler Awards for Excellence in Teaching were Kate Smith (left) and Dr. Katie Zins ’04
American University Boston College (5) Brown University Bryant University Bryn Mawr College Colby College College of Charleston College of the Holy Cross College of William and Mary Colorado School of Mines Cornell University Curry College Denison University Dickinson College Eckerd College Elon University Emory University Fairfield University Fordham University (2) Franklin & Marshall College Georgetown University (3) Gettysburg College High Point University (4) Hobart and William Smith Colleges (4) Johns Hopkins University Lafayette College Louisiana State University Loyola University Chicago Marist College Marquette University New York University Northeastern University (2) Northwestern University (2) Princeton University Purdue University (2) Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rollins College Santa Clara University Skidmore College (2) Suffolk University UNC at Chapel Hill Trinity College Tufts University Tulane University (2) University of Chicago University of Illinois at U-C University of Notre Dame University of Richmond University of San Diego University of Southern California University of Virginia University of Wisconsin, Madison Villanova University Virginia Tech Wake Forest University (2) Washington and Lee University Westfield State University Williams College
On Prize Day Karl Jackson’18 and his family celebrated his achievements. Among them were the Excellence in Scholarship Award, the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps Scholarship, the Scholar-Athlete Award, the Poetry Prize in the National Latin Exam, the Classical Studies Book Prize, and the Frank E. Lally History Book Award for Excellence in the Rhode Island History Seminar; Karl was also elected to membership in the Cum Laude Society. Abbey Luth and her family on Prize Day; Abbey was the recipient of the William Griffin Kelley Memorial Trophy, the prizes for Excellence in Biology and Excellence in Medical Physiology, and the Scholar-Athlete Award; she was recognized for service as Red Key Head, and she also received awards for cross-country, ice hockey and track. Abbey was inducted into the Cum Laude Society and the Portsmouth Abbey Athletic Association.
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A FOND FAREWELL Robert and Christine Sahms have been an integral part of the Portsmouth Abbey community for 38 years as teachers, coaches, houseparents, mentors, and more. They arrived at the Abbey in 1980 after Robert secured a teaching position as a biology teacher, and their retirement this year caps off two long and meaningful careers that impacted countless lives – inside and outside of the classroom.
over exploring subject matter. As an alternative he pursued biomedical research at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center; he found it fascinating and loved the work but continued to ponder the idea of teaching. “My experience in the lab helped to make me a better teacher,” Robert says. “I was actually doing real science and applying the scientific method to things.”
During his time at the Abbey, Robert served as head of the Science Department as well as director of studies, director of summer school, science teacher, swimming coach, head houseparent, chaperone head, and advisor. He holds a B.S. in Biology from Elizabethtown College and an M.S. in Biology from Millersville State College. Christine was the School’s study skills specialist and also served as the peer tutor coordinator, swimming coach, Summer Program instructor, Manor House affiliate, member of the chaperone team, and an advisor. She holds a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Rhode Island and a M.Ed. in Guidance and Counseling from Providence College.
When he came across a job posting for a biology teacher and a swimming coach at Portsmouth Abbey School, he knew it was the perfect fit. “Swimming has been an integral part of my life,” Robert says. “I feel that swimming has shaped me and helped me to become the person I am today.”
In many ways, Robert’s path to the Abbey seems predestined. Though his initial goal was to teach science, he found that traditional paths to education prioritized teaching to a test
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So, in 1980, Robert headed to campus for his interview, along with Christine and their three-year-old son, Jacob. They knew almost immediately that they had arrived at a special kind of place. Life at the all-boys prep school in 1980 was, of course, very different from the Abbey today. In fact, Robert taught only boys for his first twelve years at the Abbey. Although Christine wasn’t yet officially working for the Abbey, there were many times she was needed for various duties. When
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Robert, Christine, and Jacob ‘99, Reunion Weekend, June 1981
been very helpful and approachable. I am certain that she has made a lasting impact on both academic and student life here at Portsmouth Abbey.”
girls from neighboring schools arrived for dances, the School needed female chaperones for the invited girls – for guidance and to ensure there weren’t any trips into the dorms! On one such evening, the family was in the dining hall when the girls arrived for dinner before the dance. Jacob Sahms, then about five years old, promptly introduced himself to a group of young ladies, and after chatting with them a bit, offered to show off his room. “So here comes Jacob, followed by a group of girls, through the boys’ dorm,” Christine recalls with a smile. “They of course were not allowed, and the expressions on their faces were very funny.” Initially Christine’s time at the Abbey was spent as a stayat-home mom and faculty wife. In time her years of parenting two children, along with her pursuit of her graduate degree, and her internships at Child and Family Services of Newport and Portsmouth High School, helped prepare her for the position of Study Skills Specialist at Portsmouth Abbey. She continued to find conferences related to cultural differences and learning styles the most beneficial for her work with her students. She says, “Time management and focusing on learning strengths can help any student reach his or her full potential.” Christine always enjoyed the one-on-one contact her position allowed, especially when she saw her students blossom and grow into confident young adults. Part of her position included arranging peer tutors – roughly thirty or so per year – who helped their fellow students with specific subjects. “Working with Mrs. Sahms through the Peer Tutor program has been a very rewarding experience,” says Michael Griffin ’18. “She has always
Raising a family on campus was a huge perk for Robert and Christine, as it is for many faculty members today. Besides having a contingent of trustworthy students to serve as built-in babysitters, their children were able to socialize with students of all ages and cultures and learn from them. Robert recalled a night when there was a terrible hurricane sweeping through campus, forcing 45 people to cram into the common room of the dorm. “Andrea was four or five years old playing the memory game with these teenage boys on the floor of the common room – and she beat them,” he says. “It was a memorable night in many ways.” Father Philip Wilson, who mentored Robert as a houseparent, quickly became an honorary member of the Sahms family. The day Andrea came home from the hospital, Father Philip took a photo of the family, which they treasure to this day. Throughout the years, their family became so close to Father Philip that the Sahms children were invited to the nursing home where his mother was staying. While monastic life on campus has lessened over the years, the values and religious obligations have remained steady. “We all come from a family unit, and that’s what shapes us and makes us,” Christine explains. For students, living at the Abbey is like having a second family, and the entire faculty
Christine, Rob Poirier ‘90, and Robert at Commencement 1990
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Christine and Robert, bell ringers for the Salvation Army, December 2017
takes this responsibility seriously. For faculty kids, like the Sahmses, it’s an opportunity to be exposed to cultures and people whom they might have otherwise missed. “For Jacob and Andrea, it was as if they had 45 older siblings,” Robert says, “each with something unique and memorable to impart.” A key tenet of the Mission Statement of Portsmouth Abbey School is the “responsibility for the shared experience of community life.” For Robert and Christine, that aspect of the School’s mission only strengthened throughout their 38 years on campus. “We approached everything we did here like we were family,” Robert says. “We tell our students, our swimmers, and our kids in the dorm that we are all family and we’re going to behave like it.” This shared community and family atmosphere has been incredibly important to the Sahmses. “Robert has treated teaching as a calling,” Christine says. “I look at it as I have been called to help kids. I don’t think you can work this schedule and think of it as a job. You won’t make it. You have to think of it as something you’re needed to do.” And, as proof, they have nearly four decades of success stories, from swimming championships to passed AP exams and hundreds of requests for college recommendation letters. Their impact on their colleagues has also been tremendous, both as instructors and as mentors. “Robert has been an ideal example of service and faith in his roles at the Abbey,” Dr. Stephen Zins says. “These qualities manifested themselves in his humility. Anything he did was always for someone else, whether a student, colleague, or the School. I would do well to follow his example.” Apart from the introduction of coeducation, there were other milestones for the School throughout the Sahmses’ years
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on campus for which they were not only present, but in some cases, actively involved. A pivotal moment for the School was the reorganization of the science curriculum to offer “physics first.” Previously, the School was offering biology as a first science, followed by chemistry, and then elective sciences. By that point in time, Robert had a hand in teaching Biology, AP Biology, Conceptual Physics, and Algebra 1, so he was well-versed in the different course offerings as well as the skill level of students in those classes. It took Robert approximately ten years to convince the administration to change their approach, but once it was cleared, it became a seminal turning point for both the science department and the School. Today, it has become a major focus of the department. Physics is the foundation upon which chemistry and biology are built; therefore, it makes sense not only to learn in that order but to build upon the scientific method that way. Another change the School has seen in the Sahmses’ time is the reorganization of the performing arts at Portsmouth Abbey. In the past, music and drama were studied at night– after classes, after sports, and after dinner. Oftentimes, students lacked the bandwidth to participate in the arts, and as a result, attendance suffered. Once performing arts were switched to afternoon options, attendance boomed, and the School was able to boast an impressive catalog of plays, musical performances, dance recitals, and more. Both Robert and Christine agree that this change helped not only with scheduling, but in easing some of the burdens of a student’s course load.
Andrea Sahms ‘99, Jacob Sahms ‘95 Christine, and Robert. Jacob’s Prize Day, May 1995
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When asked to identify a highlight of their careers, Robert and Christine took a long pause. One could practi-
Sahms family portrait. (Front row, from left) Christine, Robert, Adam Sahms, and Joanne Sahms. (Back row) Andrea Klement ‘99, Josh Klement, Jacob Sahms ‘95, and Andrew Sahms, November 2017
cally see the wheels spinning as they sifted through the memories of the last 38 years. Christine offered a series of highlights, rather than an individual moment: “When a student comes in to see me thinking he can’t… and then to see him graduating, knowing he can.” These seemingly small “aha” moments in the study room often translate to Abbey students graduating with a confidence and ability to take on college courses that they might not have tried otherwise. Robert feels that his induction into the Rhode Island Aquatic Hall of Fame was a highlight, but not for him personally: “I feel that my induction was more of a reflection of what Portsmouth Abbey School has to offer, not necessarily about me,” he says. “My induction, in a way, served as a highlight for the School.” Robert is also looking forward to another highlight for the School, although he won’t be here to make full use of it: the new science building. “It’s a huge step for the department
and the School,” Robert says. “It’s something we’ve all been working toward for many years.” When reflecting on their years of teaching and living on campus, Robert and Christine offered two key pieces of advice for young teachers just starting out. “Don’t think you’re done at the end of the class day,” Christine said. “Prepare to work.” As for Robert, he put it very simply: “It’s not a job – it is a calling.” This is a theme one hears often from Robert and Christine: they both feel as if they were called to this work. This is how they were able to dedicate so much of themselves to the thousands of students who have walked through their doors. Headmaster Dan McDonough echoes the sentiment: “There are only a few teachers whose longevity at the School is monastic in length, and Robert and Christine’s tenure is certainly in that company,” he says. “Whether they knew when they came to Portsmouth Abbey that the rest of their working lives would be spent here is known only to them, but their stability (in both the lay and the monastic sense) and faithfulness over the decades, through the most tumultuous period of the School’s life, have been something we could all rely on in our daily lives here. Their legacy will extend for many decades to come through the lives they touched.” Robert and Christine plan to enjoy their retirement in good health, but they won’t stray far; apart from returning to visit the completed science building, they have already been asked to write college recommendations for the years to come! It is safe to say that the Sahmses’ presence will remain with the Portsmouth Abbey community for many years to come.
Swim coaches Robert and Christine with Team Captain Sean Buckley ‘12, holding the Boys’ EIL Championship trophy, February 2012
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Many Happy Returns by Kale Zelden, Director of the Summer Program, Dean of Faculty
One of my favorite aspects of running our Summer Program is welcoming back a select group of graduates to staff our Houses as Summer Program prefects. Typically four or five students who have completed their first year of college are selected to assist with the program. As the director, I love having familiar faces back on campus after
heavily on them. The job of forging a community in this
a year away. But they are happy to come back to the old
short amount of time is crucial for our summer program
stomping grounds, too.
students.
Bobby Cloughen, Class of 2015, remarked: “I wouldn’t
When I took over the program a few years back, I wanted
have wanted to spend my summer anywhere else or with
to be sure that our summer program students had an
anyone else. It is so fun to work with the kids every day
authentic Abbey experience: great classes, a sense of
and we really got a good taste of New England summer-
purpose, and real community. The best way to make sure
time.” As a full-time faculty member who lives on campus
this happens is to have outstanding prefects who know the
year-round, I often marvel that the most gorgeous season
campus so well, know the teachers, and feel a responsibil-
of the year here in Rhode Island is the very season our stu-
ity to pass that special Abbey community spirit on to new
dents miss out on. There really is no better place to spend
group of kids.
a summer.
We gather on Saturday morning before the students ar-
But what do our prefects do? Their responsibilities are var-
rive for our opening faculty meeting. Our prefects are in
ied, ranging from afternoon sports, insuring a steady study
for quite an experience. They’ve been gone a year. Their
hall, chaperoning the weekly trips to the beach, and our
excitement to be back on campus is palpable and gives
Sunday excursions. This is the job on paper, and the job is
us year-rounders energy and enthusiasm to start all over
demanding.
again welcoming a whole new group of students. Sitting in
But so much of the job consists of those things that are
the RLH with Mr. Hobbins, who is noshing on donuts and
difficult to put in bullet points.
telling stories about summers past before we begin, must be surreal. “A year ago I’m finishing up my Poli Sci course
They play the role of big brother and big sister. These ris-
with him, and now a year later, here we are, and he’s still
ing 7th-, 8th-, and 9th-grade students come from all over
telling stories!”
the country and the world. They are probably not all that thrilled to be going back to school so early in their summer
But as Cat Caplin ’10 noted: “To be able to sit at the fac-
vacation. And admittedly, the first few days are pretty darn
ulty tables felt like a huge deal, if not a little bit weird at
awkward. The classes, taught primarily by Abbey teachers,
first.” Caplin, the assistant director of the program, started
are vital to the authenticity of our program. But the pre-
eight years ago as a prefect. After several summers, she
fects do all the work outside the classroom, and we lean
graduated to being a houseparent and director of trips.
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No one really knows the program more intimately than Cat, and no one has the knowledge of it from the bottom up. Cat remarked “Coming back to the Abbey as a summer prefect was such a great job to have in college. It was so nice to spend time with the kids from all over the world. We would kayak on the bay, watch fireworks from the gazebo, and go on nature walks.” One of the things we tell the prefects at the opening faculty meeting is just how much the program’s success rests on their shoulders. For the summer students, the prefects are the program. The kids listen to the adults, and are polite. But they love being with the rising college sophomores. And though the younger kids might try one’s patience, the prefects make it all work. “I’ve been working in the summer program for nine years now, and I also work here during the school year and I can honestly say that my summers spent at the Abbey are still among my favorite parts of the year,” says Caplin. We welcomed a new group of prefects on June 23rd, and they have kept this tradition alive.
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BUILDING IN THE BELLUSCHI TRADITION by Matt Walter, Director of Development & Alumni Affairs
In 2013, Portsmouth Abbey School’s Board of Regents selected architect Ellen Watts of Architerra in Boston, Massachusetts, to begin the conceptual design for what would eventually become plans for the School’s next major academic project – a state-of-the-art 21st-century science building. After considering no fewer than six possible locations on campus, including several stand-alone sites, Watts and the Board ultimately decided the ideal location for the new building would be the northeast corner of the Holy Lawn, adjacent to the existing Burden Classroom Building. The selection of this location made it necessary for the new building to be designed as part of the original campus architectural idiom established by Pietro Belluschi in the late 1950s. The following is a Q&A with Watts about this effort. Who was Pietro Belluschi? Pietro Belluschi was a leading American architect of Italian descent who came to national prominence as the dean of the MIT School of Architecture and Planning from 1951 to 1965. In 1972, he received the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal, the profession’s highest honor. Belluschi was one of a handful of architects whose work helped define the Modern Movement of the 20th century. His exceptionally elegant designs conveyed his penchant for strong forms, natural materials and detailing used to decorative effect. He was especially prolific, designing or collaborating on nearly 1,000 buildings. His work is concentrated on the West Coast near his lifelong home in Portland, Oregon, and on the East Coast to which his base of operation shifted after his appointment to MIT. How did Belluschi influence architecture at Portsmouth Abbey? In the 1950s, Belluschi developed the original master plan that gave Portsmouth Abbey its current physical form. He also designed most of the campus buildings between 1960 and 1991, realizing his planning vision. Belluschi sited the Abbey church at the head of a rectangular green, arranging multiple educational buildings around this sacred open
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Ellen Watts, co-founder and principal in charge at Architerra Inc., is lead architect of the School’s new science building. With degrees in architecture, real estate development, and government, Watts offers experience with more than 20 building types, including academic facilities, offices, and laboratories totaling more than three million square feet. Watts earned a B.A. cum laude from Smith College, an M.Arch. from the Harvard Graduate School of Design, and an M.S. in Real Estate Development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
space. He placed the monastery to the east of the church where it benefits from greater quietude yet close proximity to the school. This sensitive master plan took advantage of the natural topography to physically elevate the church, symbolically emphasizing the importance of faith in the pursuit of learning. The overall effect of the plan is harmonious. Each building is distinctive yet rendered in a similar palette so that it resonates with its neighbors. The beautiful Abbey church is visible from a distance and serves as a focal point for the campus-wide composition. Where do we encounter Belluschi-designed buildings in other parts of the world and how do his buildings at Portsmouth Abbey fit in with his overall portfolio? Among mid-century Modern architects, Belluschi stands out for his versatility as well as his mastery. He designed small-scale churches and residences as well as large-scale commercial buildings. His work at Portsmouth Abbey is a leading example of his small scale work on the East Coast where Belluschi is perhaps best known for the Pan Am Building in New York, which he designed in collaboration with Walter Gropius and Emory Roth & Sons. Belluschi also designed such high-profile buildings as Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in New York, the Rohm and Haas Headquarters in Philadelphia, and One Financial Center in Boston. On the West Coast, Belluschi is perhaps best known for dozens of churches including the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco, as well as such large-scale commercial buildings as the Equitable Building in his original home city of Portland, OR. What are some key design elements of a “Belluschi building” in general and specifically at the Abbey? Belluschi favored shapely roofs, natural materials, and expressive details, as can be seen throughout the buildings he designed for Portsmouth Abbey. Copper-clad roofs silhouetted against the sky serve not only a functional but also a sculptural purpose. Exterior walls faced with local stone aren’t just durable but are also decorative. Wood beams and battens give these buildings uncommon visual interest. Belluschi was also apparently very
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interested in achieving designs which fostered strong indoor-outdoor connections and featured native materials and landscape elements. The many site walls he designed in coordination with the buildings lead the eye toward surrounding plantings and evoke the beauty of Narragansett Bay. How is Belluschi incorporated into the new Science Building?
“
Like Belluschi, we used site walls to extend the built environment into the landscape and to define a sense of place.
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”
The new Science Building borrows many of the idioms that appear in Belluschi’s work – copper-clad roof, heavy timber beams, board and batten cladding, and decorative stone base – and modifies them as required for updated building codes, energy efficiency standards, and laboratory planning guidelines. The triple-glazed aluminum windows and integrated solar shading are somewhat different and much better performing than the original Belluschi windows, meeting new hurricane impact resistance requirements while saving significant energy. The link between the new Science Building and the adjacent Burden Classroom Building closely resembles the link between the Burden Classroom Building and the Library, creating a unified ensemble on the north side of the Holy Lawn. Inside, wood beams, paneling and handrails lend warmth to the interiors, echoing Belluschi’s use of wood while keeping the overall interior design considerably lighter and brighter. What challenges did you face in designing this new building to be a “Belluschi building”? One of the greatest challenges was replicating the board and batten cladding and attaching it to a considerably better building envelope than architects were designing in the 1960s. In order to provide optimal thermal insula-
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tion, the exterior walls of the new Science Building are much thicker than those Belluschi designed. We also had to adapt the design of the copper roofs to meet much higher design wind speeds than required by previous building codes. For this reason, the copper standing seams are taller and more tightly spaced on the new Science Building roof. The site also posed a challenge. It looks relatively flat, but it’s not. It slopes a full story from the Holy Lawn to the road that runs in front of the athletic fields. Moreover, we wanted the design of the new Science Building to completely transform the north side of the Burden Classroom Building. We did this through the design of the new terrace and courtyard associated with the new Science Building. Like Belluschi, we used site walls to extend the built environment into the landscape and to define a sense of place. What about this building is distinctive from, or a 21st century-improvement on, a Belluschi design? Like many of Belluschi’s designs, Architerra’s work is distinguished by memorable forms, natural materials, and elegant detailing. In general terms, all buildings are better than they were in the 1960s, and the new Science Building is no exception. Improved codes now require sprinklers and other fire protection measures, energy efficiency, ventilation, higher design wind speeds, seismic design, etc. Advanced building materials and building systems now include triple glazed windows, LED lighting, digital control systems that operate the mechanical systems, etc. Additionally, instructional methods have changed since the 1960s, shifting from lectures to more instruction hands-on learning and independent student projects. The new Science Building reflects its era while respecting the Belluschi legacy.
For more information, please contact the Office of Development & Alumni Affairs or any member of the Science Building Steering Committee: Peter Kennedy ’64 P’07 ’08 ’15, Chair twomanrd2@msn.com Chris Behnke ’81 P’12 ’15 ’19 Chris_Behnke@ajg.com
What about the design of this building distinguishes it from other “Belluschi” buildings on campus? We wanted to feature two amazing views – one overlooking the Holy Lawn and one from the upper level Seminar Room – and for this purpose used triple-glazed curtainwall (structurally self-supporting multi-story glazing) which is common in the 21st century but was just starting to be developed toward the end of Belluschi’s career. For the delight these vistas will offer the occupants of the building, connecting them to views of the Abbey church and of Narragansett Bay, we think Belluschi would be pleased.
d
For more on the history of architecture at Portsmouth Abbey School, visit the “News” section of www.portsmouthabbeyscience.org to read “Art and Architecture at Portsmouth Abbey” written by John Walker P’60, former Director of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. For additional information about the new Science Building, including an interactive digital tour, interviews, and more, visit www.portsmouthabbeyscience.org. For information about naming opportunities and other ways in which you can support the project, please contact Director of Development & Alumni Affairs Matt Walter at 401-643-1291 or mwalter@portsmouthabbey.org.
Devin McShane P’09 ’11 devin.mcshane54@gmail.com Emmett O’Connell P’16 ’17 ejoak@aol.com Daniel McDonough, Headmaster mcd@portsmouthabbey.org 401.643.1240 Matt Walter, Director of Development mwalter@portsmouthabbey.org 401.643.1291 Patty Gibbons, Assistant Director of Development pgibbons@portsmouthabbey.org 401.643.1281 Andrew Rose, Senior Development Officer arose@portsmouthabbey.org 401.643.1280
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Dr. Stephen Zins on the New Science Building at Portsmouth Abbey The following is an excerpt of an interview with Dr. Stephen Zins, new chair of Portsmouth Abbey School’s Science Department. You can watch the full interview in the “NEWS” section of www.
display them in multiple media and materials without taking up classroom or lab space dedicated for teaching. These spaces can also be used for other things like our annual Art and Science Expo.
portsmouthabbeyscience.org.
Exactly. My vision for the department is that we will be a place where our faculty and students are fully engaged in the issues of the day and have the tools necessary to ask and debate the important questions and answer them as best they can. We want them to be able to study and discuss things like bioethics; to understand how the sciences move forward; to understand the philosophical presuppositions necessary to do science and; how to be able to communicate clearly and teach the skills that merge the disciplines instead of being something fully siloed in science. My vision for the department is to engage in those intersecting spaces in order to bring out the truth in all that we teach here.
How do you feel watching the new science building rise from the ground?
As every panel goes up I get a new idea about what we can do with the new resources we will have. I am specifically excited about the possibilities for research that we will be able to do, both as professionals and with our students, that we will be able to break down any silos between departments and work with other disciplines, and about the best and brightest faculty that we will be able to attract who want to teach and still continue their own research work. Can you tell me more about being able to do research?
Absolutely! We are building professional lab space that will rival that which is available at smaller colleges and universities and we will have enough of it so that we can have active research going on side by side with daily lab work associated with teaching high school students. And the work that will be going on there will raise the level of expectation, not necessarily from teacher to student but for students among themselves. They are going to realize what is truly required of a ‘real’ science experiment because they will have the space, time, and resources to do it. And then we will have dedicated space in the student project lab and display area for students to showcase their work. We teach them how to create professional presentations, not just lab reports, and will be able to
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Is that an example of ‘work with other disciplines’?
That sounds very ‘Abbey-like’:
It is. We are absolutely intentional in our desire to be at the cutting edge of science while maintaining the grounding of the Western intellectual tradition and reverence for God and the human person. Portsmouth Abbey School is one of the only schools that is trying to be the best possible at staying grounded to God and grounded to knowledge. Rather than being incompatible as the popular consensus would have you believe, they are things that should not be divorced from each other. Instead they should inform each other. This building, and the work we do in it, is going to transform these kids. When they leave here they will be leaders and innovators. They are going to understand the science as well as the ethics behind the science we do, and they are going to be able to communicate it better than anyone else. It is a very exciting time to be at Portsmouth Abbey.
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The text of this article originally appeared in the Spring 2016 issue of Preservation, the quarterly magazine of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which works to save America’s historic places. Photos by Dina Avila and courtesy of Tony Belluschi
All in the Family: Pietro and Tony Belluschi
Tony Belluschi lived in Chicago for 30 years, and people
In Portland, Oregon, a son safeguards the legacy of his father, acclaimed Midcentury Modern architect Pietro Belluschi.
architect Pietro Belluschi. This time, they could answer yes:
constantly asked him if he were related to John Belushi. The two are not related, and “Belluschi” is pronounced with a hard “ch” that sounds like a “k.” Tony didn’t mind; it was just something that came with the name and the city. But when he and his wife, Marti, moved to Portland, Oregon, three years ago, the pattern changed. Forget about the Chicago-born Animal House star; everywhere they went, people asked if they were related to the prominent Portland Tony is one of Pietro’s two sons. Drawn there by the opportunity to preserve one of his father’s greatest works, Tony returned to Portland after a successful career as an architect designing large retail and mixed-use buildings. And in the process, he found himself becoming a steward of the elder Belluschi’s built legacy.
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In downtown Portland, you can’t throw an artisanal doughnut without hitting a building that has some sort of Pietro Belluschi connection. The Italy-born Cornell graduate came to the city in 1925 to work for A.E. Doyle, Portland’s premier architect at the time. By 1931, the impeccably dressed Pietro was corresponding with Frank Lloyd Wright over his brash, radically stripped-down design for the Portland Art Museum, which had caused alarm among some donors. “My dear Belluschi,” Wright wrote in an encouraging letter, “I think your plan simple and sensible and the exterior would mark an advance in culture for Portland.” (The museum was built as planned, and Pietro designed new wings for it in 1939 and 1969.) Other key Pietro Belluschi works in the heart of Portland include the 1948 Oregonian Building, which housed the city’s major newspaper for 66 years and is currently undergoing a renovation; the 1950 Federal Reserve Bank Building, which was renovated in 2008; and the 1948 Equitable Building, widely viewed as one of the best of the Modernist era. The baby-faced front desk guard at the Equitable (now officially known as the Commonwealth Building) tells me his interest in Midcentury Modernism has grown since he started working there. “I just hate it when people take something apart and tear it down,” he says.
forms of rural agricultural structures. This idea of relating the architecture to the landscape excited him and his fellow Midcentury Modernists in Portland, such as John Yeon and Van Evera Bailey. Together with these and other architects from Oregon, Washington, and even Northern California, Pietro pioneered a distinctive Pacific Northwest Regional Modernism that reflects the area’s unpretentious, outdoorsy culture. During his 22 years in Boston, Pietro missed the Pacific Northwest. In 1973 he and his second wife, Marjorie, bought a house in Portland that he had designed in the late 1940s. The original clients, Dr. Clint Burkes and his wife, Genevieve, had admired Southern California residences by architect Richard Neutra, and asked Pietro for something similar. They wanted a flat roof, which typically doesn’t make sense in rainy Portland. But their thoughtful architect had developed a reputation for listening closely to his clients’ desires. He made the flat roof
This is the effect Pietro’s best work has on people: It makes them like Modernism. It’s not stark or intimidating. Despite its industrial materials of aluminum and glass, the Equitable, built in 1948, still comes across as jaunty and lighthearted, fitting its busy corner like a bespoke suit. “There’s no weight to that building,” I.M. Pei once said, in one of the highest compliments one architect can give another. “It has that very fine Belluschi touch.” The Equitable Building’s success drew international attention to its intellectual yet approachable architect, and in 1951, Pietro was asked to become the dean of MIT’s architecture school. The family, including 10-year-old Tony and his 12-year-old brother, Peter, decamped to Boston. Pietro, always prolific, did some fine work while living on the East Coast – the campus for Portsmouth Abbey School in Rhode Island, for example – but most of his best buildings are still in Oregon. Pietro found as much joy in a windswept Pacific Northwest meadow as he did in a refined architectural detail, and that connection to the natural environment saturates his Oregon buildings – particularly the midcentury houses and churches he designed in Portland and other parts of the state. They use wood in a creative but understated way, echoing the Tony and Pietro Belluschi in the 1970s
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work, with a twine-wrapped drainpipe running up through the living room to catch the rain. Next to it is a matching structural pipe, also wrapped in tan, fuzzy twine. Pietro Belluschi, using what the architectural historian Leland Roth calls his “humane Modernism,” had somehow found a way to make a pair of utilitarian pipes seem attractive. I discover it’s not particularly easy to find the Burkes-Belluschi house, which occupies the end of a cul-de-sac off a steep, twisting street in the hills of Northwest Portland. The trellistopped front entryway, defined with gray-painted cedar walls, doesn’t give much away. It just makes me even more curious about what’s inside – and once there, I’m wrapped in a jewel box of wood, glass, and stone, with an enormous central fireplace warming the space like a primordial campfire. The city of Portland glows below in the late afternoon gloom, and lights from cars crossing the Fremont Bridge move hypnotically through the mist. This alwayschanging city view is the house’s most striking feature, and Pietro clearly planned it so the architecture would defer to the scenery. “There’s something about Belluschi’s houses,” says Peggy Moretti, executive director of the Portland-based preservation group Restore Oregon. “They don’t show off too much. There’s a lack of ego. They have presence, but they welcome.” Moretti wasn’t initially enamored of Midcentury Modernism – her first love was the Arts and Crafts style – but this house helped change her mind. Pietro died in 1994, and his widow, Marjorie, stayed in the house until her death in 2009. The two Belluschi sons inherited it, and Tony decided to buy out his brother’s share and restore the building to its former glory. While its bones were solid, the finishes weren’t. The concrete slab had cracks in it, as did the cork floor above it. Much of the interior wood was badly stained or simply dried out –“thirsty,” in Tony’s words. The project would be a major undertaking, and so would relocating from Chicago to Portland. After graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design and working in Boston and Los Angeles, Tony had run his own architecture firm in Chicago for three decades. (He chose L.A. and Chicago, where Pietro wasn’t well-known, partly as a way of escaping his father’s long shadow.) Marti had built a career there as a respected traffic safety consultant. But if the couple opted to sell the
Burkes-Belluschi house, they ran the risk that it would soon be lost forever. “A realtor told me this would be a great site for a teardown,” recalls Tony, who has the same courtly bearing and silver mustache as his father. “I said I was going to fix it up as good as new, and no one would ever tear it down. He had already replaced the roof in 2008, and just before Marjorie’s death he had started building a 235-square-foot guesthouse on the footprint of an old shed on the property. Before doing anything to the main house, though, the Belluschis hosted members of Portland’s architectural and preservation communities so they could see its condition. “A lot of people wanted to know what we were doing,” Tony says. “It pressured us in a positive way to do the best we could and not take shortcuts. We knew this was iconic.” Over the next four years, a team of skilled local craftsmen helped him make good on his promise. The handpicked
Tony and Marti in the courtyard
crew gently cleaned and sealed every square inch of wood, including the cedar walls and noble fir ceilings throughout the house and the rare woven-wood ceilings in the master bedroom and guest bedroom. Tony had them fill the concrete slab’s cracks and replace the worn floors with new cork, which covers original radiant heating that still works perfectly. They also cleaned the stone around the fireplace, replaced rotting wood details on the exterior, and repainted the cedar siding.
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Along with all the restoration work, the Belluschis made changes that would allow them to live comfortably in the house. They enclosed the carport so it could function as a garage, and put a two-story, 750-square-foot addition on the south end of the house, connecting it to the original via a narrow gallery space. You can’t see the addition from the entry, but it provides space for the grandchildren to sleep and play, and extra storage to make up for the home’s lack of attic or basement. The original, approximately 100-square-foot kitchen has also been expanded, keeping the 1948 brickwork. Tony added more shelves to his father’s old library, mixing in his architecture books with Pietro’s. In the master bath, the couple replaced a plywood ceiling with solid maple and turned some of the open shelves into cabinets. “I thought it was splendid,” says Leland Roth of the Belluschis’ update. Roth knew the elder Belluschi and has
vast majority of the essence of that house has been restored. We do these places a disservice if we don’t allow them to be livable.”
“I said I was going to fix it up as good as new, and no one would ever tear it down.” – Tony Belluschi In 2012, Tony and Marti sold their home in Chicago and moved into the Burkes-Belluschi house full-time. The same year, they collaborated with the Oregon Historical Society on a Pietro Belluschi exhibition that helped boost attendance at the society’s museum by 30 percent. The couple also received an award from Restore Oregon in 2013 for their work on the house. And they’ve opened up the buffed and burnished residence to an interested public many times,once hosting 850 people in a single day as part of a Pietro Belluschi house tour they curated for Restore Oregon in 2014. “Tony and Marti are serious supporters and publicizers, in a really good way, of the value of Midcentury Modern buildings,” says University of Oregon architecture professor Judith Sheine. “They are great promoters of architecture, and they use the house to do it.”
The living room of the Burkes-Belluschi house
spent time in the house before and after its restoration and renovation. “I thought their work in the kitchen especially was extremely sympathetic,” he adds. “I am a preservationist, but not to the extreme of freezing things forever. Especially with private houses – they have to be lived in.” Peggy Moretti agrees. “Maybe a real purist would say don’t change anything, just restore it,” she says. “But I think preservation is about livability, not creating artifacts. The
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They’ve established friendships with several other Pietro Belluschi house owners locally. (There are about 20 total in the Portland area.) Tony even found a preservationminded buyer for the 1938 Sutor house, one of Pietro’s most famous buildings. Originally commissioned by Jennings Sutor, editor of the Oregon Journal, the house had passed by word of mouth from owner to owner (including the swimwear mogul Carl Jantzen, who naturally added a pool). When Tony learned that the most recent resident was interested in selling, he persuaded self-described architecture buff Aric Wood—whose design consultancy is based in the Equitable Building—to buy it in 2012. Wood has restored the Japanese-influenced house with Tony’s help, taking it almost completely back to the original
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The Sutor house around 1975, and the restored Sutor house, originally built in 1938, is now lived in by a family of four.
and living in it with his two children and his partner, Erin Graham. “Our interest was in taking what was here and making it what it was before,” he says. Its signature curved zebrawood living room wall and woven entry ceiling are once again showpieces of wood craftsmanship, and the broadly pitched roof still evokes the barns of rural Oregon. The kitchen, which various owners had renovated and expanded, was returned to its original footprint, but with updated cabinetry and appliances. Other refurbished elements include the grasscloth wallpaper, oak floors and bookshelves, and clear-stained cedar siding. Wood and Graham have also set about restoring the Japanese gardens that cover the 4-acre property. “The house really breathes with the seasons,” Wood says. “In the winter, we nestle around the hearth. In the summer, the portico is the most active part of the house. It feels like a sanctuary, with all these flowering Japanese trees.” Aesthetically inclined Portlanders tend to go into a pleasurable dither when asked about their favorite Pietro Belluschi works. Many put the Equitable Building at the top of their list, or the Burkes-Belluschi or Sutor houses. Others settle on one or more of his churches, most often Zion Lutheran in the Goose Hollow neighborhood of Portland. Built in 1950, it has the natural light and simplicity of a Scandinavian chapel, with streamlined Gothic-style arches, small scattered windows, and delicate violet and golden stained glass. Pietro tried to work with local artists whenever he could, and he commissioned a pair of copper entry doors
for Zion Lutheran from Frederic Littman, one of Oregon’s best-known sculptors. The entire building was beautifully restored in 2015, including its innovative glue-laminated beams. Though Tony wasn’t directly involved, the church made sure he and Marti were regularly updated on the project’s progress. This is the role they’ve gracefully accepted, as the unofficial guardians of Portland’s Pietro Belluschi buildings. They share their knowledge about his architecture and personality in a way only family members can, and they’re doing so in a city that’s eager to embrace his legacy. “Portland’s gotten so hipster all of a sudden,” says Chrissy Curran, Oregon’s deputy state historic preservation officer. “Tony has been a good bridge between that retro focus you see now in pop culture, back in time to a much more sophisticated version of midcentury architecture.”
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2018 Alumni Networking Series In the fall of 2017, the Portsmouth Abbey School Office of Development & Alumni Affairs announced the 2018 Alumni Networking Series. A strategic priority of the Alumni Leadership Council (ALC), a core group of alumni leaders committed to enhancing the relationship between alumni and the School, the Alumni Networking Series is comprised of regional events designed to bring alumni together, build a strong alumni community, and provide alumni with the opportunity to share professional expertise and experiences. “The sense of community and camaraderie we had while we were at the Abbey should not stop when we graduate. It should be carried on through a strong network of alumni,” said Ryan Grabert ’97, member of the ALC. Since this past March, networking events have been held in Boston, New York City, Bridgeport, and Providence. Attendees of these events enjoyed the opportunity to take part in an informal panel discussion with distinguished Abbey alumni, each sharing insights from their respective fields. This engagement in professional dialogue fosters meaningful connections among Abbey alumni, both young and old. A special thank you to each of our hosts, patrons, and volunteers who have helped make this series possible. Please be sure to join us for networking events in Washington DC and Miami this fall! If you are interested in hosting a networking event in your location, or would like to learn more about the 2018 Alumni Networking Series, please contact Assistant Director of the Annual Fund for Young Alumni Justin Connolly at jconnolly@portsmouthabbey.org or at 401-643-1276.
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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
Wallace (second from right) gathers her Manor House prefects and fellow houseparents Amelia Tracy’10 (center) and Caitlin Villareal ’12 (second from left) for a last photo before departing.
The Full Circle Effect When Your Students and Prefects Become Your Colleagues and Friends by Former Associate Director of Admission and Director of Financial Aid Wallace Gundy I arrived on Cory’s Lane a decade ago. A twenty-one-yearold freshly minted college graduate, I was the wide-eyed new assistant director of admission eager to begin this adventure. As a boarding school alumna, I was especially excited about the multi-faceted lifestyle I was adopting and this warm community I had joined. What I didn’t realize, or even consider at the time, was how my ten years at the Abbey would come full circle with students becoming friends and then faculty colleagues. Amelia Tracy ’10 (née Bradley) was one of the very first students I met. She was from “The Cape” and very proud of it. As a Pennsylvania native, I learned quickly about the pride New Englanders feel for their respective hometowns. She was a Red Key tour guide, always eager to share her Abbey story with our visitors. Bubbly and kind, Amelia had a laugh that could be heard far beyond the walls of the admissions office. She had been at the Abbey for two full years and had dozens of friends, but she took the time to get to know me. Amelia didn’t have to since I’d barely been here for two months! But, she did. The next year, when I interviewed potential head tour guides, I knew Amelia would be perfect for the job. And she was! So perfect, in fact, that she went on to become a tour guide in college. Amelia returned to the Abbey in 2014 as an assistant director of admission, and I shared a corner office overlooking the Narragansett Bay with her, one of my very favorite Abbey alumnae. A year later, she moved into Manor House, where I was the head houseparent. Not only were we sharing an office but we shared a floor, “co-parenting” forty girls, and wearing the signature “Manor House blue” to the admission office a bit more frequently. An Abbey student and then alumna, Amelia was now my colleague and friend. Now rewind back to the fall of 2011 – my second year as the head of the Manor House – when an eager, responsible, cheerful, and athletic Caitlin Villareal ’12 started her year as my prefect. Caitlin was one of four prefects, in addition to three houseparents.
Reliable and willing to help at a moment’s notice, she always knew what the Fourth Form girls were up to – an especially vital quality in any prefect! Whether it was teaching a new Fourth Former how to use a washer and dryer for the first time (no, leather is not machine washable), or comforting another who was homesick and miles away from home, or passing a lacrosse ball with a group of girls weeks before the season started, she always knew how to be there for every Manor girl. After four years of college, Caitlin returned to the Abbey to teach and coach, and my personal favorite, to be a houseparent with me. And now she has taken the helm as the new head houseparent of Manor House. One of the most rewarding experiences I have had as a faculty member at the Abbey is working and living with colleagues and friends who were once students during my early years. It is remarkable to see their transformation from teenagers to adults. Most importantly, it is powerful to see them shape a new generation of young women using the values they learned as students at Portsmouth Abbey. For Amelia, Caitlin, and me, some may say our friendships have come full circle – tracing back to where they began. Instead, I think of our friendships like a slinky – you know, one of those insane, circular, spring-like toys. When a slinky rests in your hand, it appears to be a circle. But, when you grab the ends and stretch it out, it looks like a crazy series of circles that go on and on – springy, wild, and fun, but always linked together. I know our Abbey experiences will always link us together, just as they have for these last ten years. And, I could not feel more delighted that Portsmouth Abbey students have strong female role models and mentors like Amelia, Caitlin, and so many others. After 10 years at Portsmouth Abbey as a member of the admission office as well as coach and head houseparent, Wallace is now an MBA candidate at University of Rochester’s Simon Business School.
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On Friday, June 8, Portsmouth Abbey School welcomed 60 alumni, current parents, parents of alumni and friends of the School to the 17th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament at Carnegie Abbey Club. This beautiful, waterfront links-style course offered players the opportunity to test their skills and patience during a best-ball format of play. Competitions were held and prizes awarded for first and second place gross and net as well as closest-to-the-pin and longest drive. At the close of play, competitors joined their dinner guests for a lively cocktail hour and dinner featuring classic New England fare. The spirit of competition continued through the silent auction portion of the evening with bidders vying for luxe items such as VIP Red Sox passes, bespoke getaway packages to The Chanler at Cliffwalk and East Island Reserve, stunning jewelry by a’ jour, and gorgeous leatherworks by Brahmin. Several lucky bidders left with the promise of more great golf at private New England clubs including Misquamicut, Newport Country Club and Point Judith Golf Club. Thanks to the generosity of players, guests, sponsors and friends, the event raised a record breaking $50,175 toward scholarships that help provide a Catholic Benedictine education to students for whom this opportunity would otherwise be out of reach. We are so grateful to those who continue to support our mission of helping young men and women grow in knowledge and grace. Please mark your calendar for next year’s tournament,
Friday, June 7, 2019!
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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
THANK YOU, GOLFERS!
On June 8, 2018, Portsmouth Abbey School hosted the
17th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament
under sunny skies at the picturesque Carnegie Abbey Club. Thanks to your generosity, we are thrilled to report that the tournament celebrated a record-breaking year! With the support of our golfers, sponsors and community, we raised more than $50,000 to support scholarships for students for whom a Catholic Benedictine education at Portsmouth Abbey School would otherwise not be possible. Mark your calendar for the 2019 tournament:
Friday, June 7, 2019.
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Faith, Family and Civilization: The Portsmouth Institute’s 2018 Summer Conference
Concelebrating with Cardinal Dolan are monks from Portsmouth and Saint Louis Abbey, His Excellency Ignatius Kaigama, Archbishop of Jos, Nigeria, and His Excellency Robert Evans, Auxiliary Bishop of Providence.
by Executive Director Christopher Fisher Conference proceedings will be published in print and online in Conversatio, the Portsmouth Institute’s quarterly newsletter. Sign up at www.portsmouthinstitute.org.
The Portsmouth Institute for Faith and Culture hosted its 2018 Summer Conference on June 15-17 at Portsmouth Abbey. The theme of the conference was “Faith, Family, and Civilization.” Below is an excerpt from the opening remarks delivered by Chris Fisher, executive director of the Portsmouth Institute and teacher in the Department of Humanities at Portsmouth Abbey School.
Families are not an end in themselves. Families exist for some purpose outside of the family. For the ancient Greeks like Aristotle, this purpose was for the common good of the city. Aristotle saw the oikos, the household, as the fundamental unit of political life. We should note that it’s from the Greek word oikos that we derive the English word economy. When Aristotle used the word economy, he meant the family household.
What is the family? Why is it sacred? How does the health of civilization depend upon the health of the family? How can we as 21st century Christians cultivate Christian families, and to what end? These are the question we will explore together at the Portsmouth Institute’s 2018 Summer Conference on Faith, Family, and Civilization. Before we answer these questions, we need to set some parameters to our discussion. What do we expect our families to do? In other words, what is the family for? I want to introduce just a very basic and preliminary definition that we can build off of as we embark on our discussions this weekend.
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Cardinal Dolan delivers his keynote address, “The Church in Service to Faith, Family, and Civilization.”
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
Dr. Mary Beth Klee (P ’04, Board of Regents) and her husband, Mr. Javier Valenzuela, talk with Mr. Samuel Casey Carter ’84 and Nancy Dubé during a cocktail reception at Carnegie Abbey.
highlights of the weekend include: ❈ Holy Mass and Keynote Address with His Eminence
Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York
❈
Rhode Island
❈
Panel on Christian parenting in the 21st century featuring
Abbey board members Chris and Debra Falvey P’18 ’20 and Abbey alumnus Andres Valenzuela ‘04
❈
The Christian agrees with Aristotle, but also sees a higher purpose to the family. Yes, the oikos exists for the common good of the city, but the common good is not merely political. It is spiritual as well.
Sacred music performance by the Ensemble Laetare of
Cocktail reception at Carnegie Abbey Club
The Portsmouth Institute for Faith and Culture promotes the renewal of Christian culture in the spirit of St. Benedict. It is an apostolate of the Benedictine monastic communities of Portsmouth and Saint Louis Abbeys. For more information on the Portsmouth Institute for Faith and Culture, call executive director Christopher Fisher at 401.643.1255, email cfisher@portsmouthabbey.org, or visit www.portsmouthinstitute.org.
For the Christian, the family’s highest duty is the salvation of the souls within the family. The Christian family thus ordained has a salting effect on the broader culture, preserving and enhancing civilization.
“Aware that the well-being of society and her own good are intimately tied to the good of the family, the Church perceives in a more urgent and compelling way her mission of proclaiming to all people the plan of God for marriage and the family.” – St. John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio In one of his daily Gospel reflections, Bishop Robert Barron put it his way: “On a biblical reading, the family is, above all, the forum in which both parents and children are able to discern their missions. It is perfectly good, of course, if deep bonds and rich emotions are cultivated within the family, but those relationships and passions must cede to something that is more fundamental, more enduring, more spiritually focused. The paradox is this: precisely in the measure that everyone in the family focuses on God’s call for one another, the family becomes more loving and peaceful.” This will be the guiding principle of our conversations this weekend. The family exists for something outside of itself. It exists for Christ. How can it fulfill its duty? That is the fundamental question we will explore.
Cardinal Dolan celebrates Mass in the Abbey Church with Deacon and Dr. Timothy P. Flanigan ‘75 P’06 ‘09 ‘11 ‘19 ‘21 serving.
S AV E T H E D AT E S !
Portsmouth Institute 2019 Summer Conference JUNE 14-16, 2019
Featuring The Most Reverend William E. Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore and Supreme Chaplain to the Knights of Columbus Details forthcoming. Stay up-to-date with the Portsmouth Institute newsletter. Sign up at www.portsmouthinstitute.org.
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The Ampleforth Lourdes Pilgrimage and My Experience was very small, my questions were unwelcome in the classroom, and by the time I was at the Abbey, I was almost embarrassed to question the fundamental beliefs of the School. How should you go about rectifying doubts without offending all these people who really believed it all? So I tried to look at my Christine doctrine classes as an opportunity to learn why everyone believed it and get to the bottom of why I struggled so much with my faith. When my friends asked me to apply to Lourdes with them, I was very reluctant. As it turned out, I was the only one of my friends to get accepted and to this day I couldn’t tell you why, other than I was meant to be there, and so it was.
IF you know nothing about the pilgrimage, let me fill you in.
Ampleforth Abbey, a fellow English Benedictine Congregation monastery and school in England, hosts a pilgrimage to Lourdes every year. Approximately 300 volunteers travel to Lourdes with about 60 assisted pilgrims (APs) and help them around the city for the week. This help ranges from personal care, to companionship, to tidying rooms, pushing voitures through the domain, and attending various services and Masses, among other things. The volunteers, myself included, go to Lourdes with the primary objective to help the APs. I did not quite understand this when I was accepted to go on the pilgrimage for the first time in 2015. I knew it had to do with church stuff and did not know much else. Obviously, as an Abbey student I knew church stuff. I struggled with it though. I always had since childhood. Religion classes challenged me because I had so many questions, and doubts, and did not want to say anything because everyone around me seemed so keen on his or her beliefs, and so confident in them. When I
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Remember the last time you felt overwhelmed? I don’t mean a bit flustered, I mean full blown, head-spinning, whatthe-hell-is-happening-overwhelmed. Take how you felt in that moment, but now put yourself in a foreign country, surrounded by strangers, jet lagged, and 16 years old. This was my first day in Lourdes. To be completely honest, I had never really interacted with a disabled person, so when I arrived in Lourdes, I was shocked to see so many people with disabilities. It really confused me how all these sick people could have such intense and unrelenting faith when they were suffering so much. It kind of infuriated me. These incredible people were limited by diseases and disabilities and they still believed in a good God. Why? I could not seem to wrap my head around why God would allow so much pain to permeate the lives of these fantastic people. This bothered me so much that one evening I pulled one of the priests aside to ask him about it. He told me that he used to struggle with this too, and that one year he actually talked to one of the assisted pilgrims about it. He asked her how she could believe in God, when she was living in so much pain, and what she said to him really struck a chord with me. She said that if she was not in pain, none of us would travel to Lourdes to help her, and the incredible spirit that exists in Lourdes is the selflessness of the volunteers who go to help the sick. Her pain brings out the best in other people, and allows them to use their time and talents to assist her in a beautiful way. This is love. Pain and suffering brings out
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
by Sydney Welch ’17 love in a way that nothing else does, and God chose her to help bring this love about. What an incredible perspective to have on a challenging situation. I quickly learned that everyone I encountered had thoughts and feelings like this. No one was angry that they were sick, or suffering, or disabled. They were grateful and happy to have help and spend time with the helpers. People constantly were thanking me for the most minuscule deeds that normally go unnoticed. Slowly, I began to understand this attitude and adopt it myself. I began to appreciate smaller things and understand them in a way that you cannot always perceive in a normal situation. I had this fantastic interaction with a boy from another pilgrimage from Italy. He did not speak English, and I do not know a word of Italian, but we were both pushing an AP in a voiture, and he looked as exhausted as I did. We had just run inside from a rain storm, it was later in the evening towards the end of the week, and we made eye contact and exchanged this look of complete understanding that transcended the language barrier. We did not need words to understand what the other was experiencing. This small moment is just one in a myriad of other moments where I experienced compassion, understanding, and love without the need for words. Something as simple as a hug, holding hands, or a look can express that in Lourdes. I will head off for my fourth Pilgrimage to Lourdes this July, and intend to return every year as long as I can. I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve the APs in Lourdes and have made the most incredible friendships while doing so. The nature of the work we do shows the very best parts of everyone. After long shifts of physically and emotionally taxing work, there is no room left to pretend to be anyone but yourself, so you immediately know these people for the most honest version of themselves. It can take years to know someone like that in the real world, but in just days these friendships form and they are uniquely strong. My friends from Lourdes understand me in a way that most people do not, and will never.
from the pilgrimage how he does it, and he said this to me “you know how it feels to really love someone? Love is this fantastic emotion but no matter how you put words together, they will never quite do it justice. People have tried for years, and done okay; you have some fantastic music and poetry and it is all wonderful, but entirely insufficient. That’s Lourdes, too.” I can give you a run-down of our exhaustingly long days, and describe my interactions with the APs, tell you about Mass and the services and say it was special and moved me, but I can never articulate the overwhelming spirit that exists in Lourdes and how it feels when it completely encompasses you. I don’t know what words can evoke the feeling of having your best friend’s arms around you and yours around her as you both cry together while simultaneously comforting one another in the Grotto. How should I phrase what it feels like when you finally get the answers from God that you so desperately needed? No one can put words to something like that and it sometimes feels foolish to even try. The compassion and love that was shown to me in Lourdes allowed me to understand myself and my faith in a way that I could never have imagined, and it is all thanks to an opportunity that I almost did not take. The Abbey constantly offered opportunities to do things that forced me out of my comfort zone, and the more I took advantage of them, the more I grew into the person that I am still becoming.
I always struggle to tell people about Lourdes, because it has had such a profound impact on me, and sometimes you cannot articulate experiences like that. I asked a friend of mine
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Luis Torruella ‘84 As a teenager in Puerto Rico, Luis Torruella ’84 didn’t plan to attend Portsmouth Abbey. In fact, this internationally known sculptor confesses, it was an impulsive act of defiance that took him there. “I made the decision to come to the Abbey about two weeks before the start of my junior year. I was having a little too much fun at my high school and had an inkling that it might not end well, so I self-exiled myself to Portsmouth.”
Tiempo Musical
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For the first few weeks, Torruella reveled in his boldness, then reality hit. “The Abbey was an entirely different environment for me,” he concedes. “I had an uncle and cousin who were alumni of the institution, and I had attended two summer sessions on the campus, but this was different. I’d been living on a laidback Caribbean island and suddenly went from kicking around in shorts to wearing a coat and tie and attending class on Saturday. It was tough.”
Spirit and resiliency are watchwords for Torruella. To make a living as an artist, he explains, you must have a strategy and be comfortable with the ups and downs that characterize the life of a self-employed creative worker. Nevertheless, the decision proved judicious and, in many ways, set Torruella on his life’s path. His time at the Abbey instilled the importance of discipline and determination, he says, qualities that have helped to propel him to his status as a renowned sculptor whose work now appears in exhibitions and collections across the United States, Europe and Asia. The decision also brought him into contact with Donald McGuire, founder of the Abbey’s art program and an early champion of his talent. Indeed, says Torruella, McGuire had an understanding of his creative capacity that he, at the time, did not. “I enjoyed my art classes at the Abbey and Mr. McGuire was great, very encouraging, but I was interested in math.” Nevertheless, McGuire wrote to Torruella’s parents, praising his young student’s creativity and expressing his hope that the boy would eventually pursue a career in art. “It was an amazing letter – it came completely out of the blue and I appreciated it – but I didn’t see art as my calling. He planted a seed, but it took a while for it to sprout,” says Torruella with a chuckle. After graduating, Torruella enrolled at Amherst College, a mathematics major as planned. Everything was going as expected until his sophomore year, when he began taking a sculpture course. “I started that class and it hit me – suddenly everything went from black and white to color and I started thinking, ‘Could I make a living doing this?’” Torruella switched his major to fine arts, and the rest, as they say, is history, albeit with a few footnotes.
For the next six years, Torruella taught art full-time, all the while setting aside money to establish a studio, make sculpture and exhibit. By 1997, his reputation and collector base had grown to such a point that he was able to focus solely on his art. “I
Bolstered by the momentum of several sculpture prizes won
loved teaching, but it took a lot of energy, and I was eager to
shortly after graduation in 1988, Torruella set off to pursue
concentrate on my work.”
his artistic career. He studied at the Johnson Atelier Technical Institute of Sculpture in Princeton, NJ, then moved to Iowa to work for a sculptor. When that opportunity soured, he accepted a foundry job in Trenton, NJ. “It was truly miserable,” he recalls with a rueful chuckle. “The work was dull and the environment was unpleasant – I really wondered what I had done.” But Torruella dug in, telling himself he would give the profession two years and then decide how to proceed. “I moved back to Puerto Rico and began teaching art at a local high school, and suddenly things started to happen.”
And what work it is. Torruella’s vibrant creations – rendered in steel, bronze, and aluminum – pulse with the energy of his island home. His oeuvre encompasses large- and small-scale sculpture as well as functional art pieces such as gates and doors, and is marked by colorful discs, graceful arcs, and sinuous lengths of metal that evoke thoughts of the lively Caribbean culture and island environment is which they are conceived. “Our culture is very colorful – music and dance are important – and we also enjoy strong African influences, which account for the bright palette I employ.”
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Torruella had reached the point in his career that every work-
plain. Artists, and particularly sculptors, are survivors – we find
ing artist seeks, working on a steady stream of commissions,
a way to make things work.”
offering conferences, and participating in individual and group exhibitions around the world. Then on September 20, 2017, life threw a curve ball when Puerto Rico took a direct hit from Hurricane Maria. The Category 4 storm, harboring sustained winds of over 155 mph, swept across the island, taking out 100 percent of the electricity and leaving destruction in its wake. “It was crazy, a worst-case scenario, and very humbling,” says Torruella bluntly. “When the storm was over, life was suddenly incredibly simple. We were in survival mode – we had no electricity, no cell phone service, no Internet, no electronic communication really. It was surreal.”
Torruella hastens to point out, however, that in addition to the destruction Maria wrought, the hurricane also spawned opportunity. “The devastation was incredible, but there were many silver linings to the cloud that descended over the island after the storm,” he asserts. “In many ways, the hurricane tore off the Band-Aid and exposed the problems with the government here in Puerto Rico.” For example, he says, the Commonwealth’s electrical grid – critically damaged during the storm – was already in dire need of replacement. “We need a new grid, so hopefully authorities will be smart about reconstruction and use the storm as a springboard for revamping the entire electri-
In the storm’s immediate aftermath, Torruella focused on simple victories. “Distribution of everything was a problem – everyone was consumed with basic tasks like securing gas or water, and when you succeeded, it was an amazing day.”
cal system and making the island more independent energywise. I would love to see us go green in a big way.” For now, however, residents are working hard to return to some semblance of normalcy. Many in the country’s interior remain without power, Torruella notes, and the island is facing a very real threat of brain drain. “We’re in a tricky period right now – many restaurants and businesses have closed and there’s concern about retaining professionals such as doctors, bankers, etc. on the island.” Yet at the end of the day, he
In the storm’s immediate aftermath, Torruella focused on
insists, the Puerto Rican spirit will prevail. “We live in a beautiful
simple victories. “Distribution of everything was a problem –ev-
place and our spirit is strong. I’ve witnessed amazing displays
eryone was consumed with basic tasks like securing gas or
of community and gratitude in the months since the storm
water, and when you succeeded, it was an amazing day.” Ini-
and have experienced the power of human relationships many
tially, he trained his energy on helping his family and immediate
times over – it gives you hope.”
neighbors. “I’m the president of my building’s home owners’ association, so for the first month, I concentrated on getting a generator in place at the building and getting basic services re-established for my family.” Once things at home began to even out, Torruella turned his attention to his studio. “We live close to a tourist area, so our basic needs were addressed fairly quickly, but we didn’t get electricity back at my studio until November or December, and my three employees were without power for six months.” Fortunately, although the studio and some of its contents sustained damaged, everything was repairable. The months since Maria struck have been spent repairing the building and damaged sculpture as well as working on new projects, says Torruella. “We have a generator at the studio, and although it’s not large enough to run the entire building all at once, it has carried us through. There are many others who are in much worse shape than me, so I have no right to com-
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Cuadrado Anaranjado
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
La Marcha de Las Siluetas
Among those helping to get Puerto Rico back on its feet, notes
an artist, but also a constructor, a business man, and a mar-
Torruella, is composer, playwright and actor Lin-Manuel Miran-
keter. Making art is just the first step – you also have to be able
da, creator of such Broadway sensations as “In the Heights”
to talk about it, write about it, sell it, and protect it.” You learn
and “Hamilton.” (see Class Notes, p. 65) From day one, Mi-
to appreciate and enjoy your successes, Torruella continues,
randa has sought to keep post-storm Puerto Rico in the public
and take nothing for granted. “I’m only as good as my last
eye, he says. “He’s an amazing human being. I had the chance
sculpture. You have to stay in creative shape and use your
to meet him recently – we recorded a commercial for tourism
talents appropriately. You can’t coast.” He also insists that you
in Puerto Rico together – and he’s exactly as you’d expect:
must have the courage to fail. “I know it’s become a cliché, but
warm, down-to-earth, and incredibly energetic. He’s a great
you have to accept that failure is part of the creative process. If
example of the truly special and resilient Puerto Rican spirit
you’re afraid to make a mistake, you’re doomed.”
that you see again and again on countless levels here.”
The ability to persevere in the face of difficulty and remain optimistic is another lesson Torruella says he learned at the Abbey, albeit subconsciously. “The monks had a sense of serenity about them; they were ‘real deal spiritual’ and that had a subliminal impact on me.” As an example, Torruella cites time spent with Fr. Philip, the housemaster of his dorm, who invited students with a certain GPA to watch Masterpiece Theater with him in his home on Tuesday evenings. “Initially, I thought it was laughable – I was kind of a jock and didn’t fancy myself the Masterpiece Theater type – but I came to love it. His kindness and calming energy were amazing, and the experience has always stayed with me.” “I’m a low-key guy and very thankful for the career I’ve been able to build,” Torruella concludes. “Statistically I know it’s
Luis’s studio
crazy – not many people can live off their art. But I also under-
Spirit and resiliency are watchwords for Torruella. To make a living as an artist, he explains, you must have a strategy and be comfortable with the ups and downs that characterize the life of a self-employed creative worker. “I always say that I cannot believe I have the privilege of taking ideas and converting them into metal, but it takes a lot of hard work and no small amount of luck to be successful.” Being an artist also requires a knack for multitasking, he says. “As a sculptor, I’m not only
stand that the whole process is bigger than me – my success is due in large part to to the support I’ve received from my parents, who allowed me to find my joy; my wife; my friends; and my clients. My advice to anyone seeking to make a life as an artist is simple: surround yourself with great people, collaborate, and share.” Learn more about Luis’s work at http://www.luistorruella.com
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Chris Cooke ’76 and The Harpsichord That Was Born in Portsmouth In the summer of 1975 as I was swanning around the Allenhurst Beach Club as a 16-year-old cabana boy, I knew I had two important decisions looming: which universities I would apply to and, more importantly, which would have me, and secondly, what was I going to do for my Sixth Form project? I knew the two might impact each other but little did I know I was about to make a decision which would partially define my life for the next 40+ years. Having always been interested in music but, unfortunately, not very good at seriously playing an instrument, I thought, “What can I do that will capture the music theme but not be too impossible to achieve?” And then it hit me. Build a harpsichord! I had started some initial research on this idea a year prior because of my love of baroque music and knew that the only way to go was to build a Zuckermann harpsichord from a kit. I knew about the Zuckermann factory in Stonington, CT, from my conversations with Father Ambrose who had always been my musical inspiration at Portsmouth and a mentor. On a visit to a friend’s house one weekend with my good pal and housemate Chris Ferrone, we went to the Zuckermann factory on a rainy Sunday without any idea if it would be open. The factory itself is a nondescript two-story building that had been founded as Zuckermann’s second home after it outgrew its original Greenwich Village origins. They specialised in building harpsichords, clavichords and spinets, restoring instruments and devising kits for harpsichord enthusiasts to try their own hand at making. After just a few short years the Zuckermann name because synonymous with the revival of these fabulous keyboard instruments as well as beautifully designed replica kits. We parked outside the building, and several of us peered through the small windows, looking for any signs of life. Then a small face popped up and beckoned us to come to the door. I know I’m embroidering this somewhat but this old gentleman who let us in looked very much like Ben Franklin – fabulous shiny dome with wispy long hair to his shoulders, small round glasses at the tip of his nose. He looked us over and said “How can I help?” I said “I’m thinking of building a harpsichord and knew this was the place to come.” He said “Follow me,” and took us through the showroom with new instruments, and around the design area where they make the kits. He showed us the drawings of the most popular design at that time, the Andreas Ruckers Flemish single-manual built almost to the exact specs of the original 18th-century design, with only the substitution of plastic jacks for the original wooden ones.
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He then took us to the room where they restore older instruments and showed us a particular clavichord from the early 1700s, which he himself was restoring. As he carefully lifted up the soundboard to this ancient and beautiful work of art, he said, “Now look at the writing inside the soundboard and around the inner cavity. Can you see what it says?” It was the signature of the builder, plus brief notes from the builder’s apprentices and friends who had helped him on the project, preserved for us to look at almost 250 years after the soundboard had been sealed into the instrument. We were frozen. It was something truly magical and unexpected, completely unplanned but, for us, a gift to meet this man and see this particular instrument. I decided that summer of 1975 I would approach my parents with this proposal, which naturally needed funding. And, by the way, the cost was not cheap. A kit at that time cost about $600 for a single manual Flemish FATHER AMBROSE WOLVERTON Ruckers design. After some convincing and massive promises on my part to complete the project, and being affronted by their obvious doubts about my being able to carry this off, my parents reluctantly agreed. I had an equally challenging time convincing Father Ambrose and Father Gregory. But I prevailed, promising them I would not leave a pile of wood for the bonfire. I finished that summer job, returning to Portsmouth in the first week of September anxiously awaiting the arrival of the kit. I think I was lounging in the inner courtyard of St. Bedes (now gone!) when I got the call from an out-of-breath Third Former who had run down from the administration building to tell me that my delivery had arrived. Well, we all tore up to the drop-off area, and it was a daunting sight. There must have been 30 or more odd boxes of things lined up on the School’s main drive – all sizes and shapes from six feet to minuscule. Father Ambrose had agreed to allocate a room for me in the music department for the project. With that, several members of the various Forms helped me bring the boxes down the long, dreary basement steps to the music rooms. Those rooms would become my headquarters, if not dungeon, for the next nine months until the birth of the harpsichord. There were moments of joy, moments of strife and moments of sheer madness as I cursed to myself as to how I would get through this project.
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Father Ambrose had insisted that I enlist a local advisor with some experience with this type of project, and together we found CHRIS BUILDING THE HARPSICHORD Glenn Giutarri,a music professor and harpsichord enthusiast who had graduated from Brown (and now heads the Harpsichord Clearing House) and who would provide me with sanity checks and much-needed shortcuts on woodcraft from time to time. But the deal was that I had to hammer every nail on my own to make this creation come to life. I can’t take you through all the stories. I can’t take you with me down to the depths of despair I felt when I found I had installed one of the braces backwards, or when I knew I had to drill more than 400 holes precisely to hold the strings and the pegs so that the jacks would hit them properly, or when I had to do countless other small procedures that my lack of training made even more daunting. But I will tell you one or two anecdotes that have outlived the agony.
CHRIS PLAYING THE HARPSICHORD IN THE WINTER GARDEN
When it came time to put my soundboard in and seal it for its life, I recalled the magical little man from Stonington and the impact of seeing who had written inside that instrument so long ago. I then asked all my friends and classmates who had helped in any way, including Father Ambrose, to write a note in the soundboard. Those notes are still there. We sealed up the keyboard with the nameboard and carried the harpsichord up to the reception rooms in the administration building the night before the project was due. I can remember carrying the completed harpsichord up the long steps that I had climbed so many times dreading what was waiting for me. But now on that warm May evening before midnight l was carrying it with classmates and friends, and it was finished!
During graduation weekend Bill Buckley, the guest speaker and an avid harpsichordist, knocked the hell out of the newly tuned harpsichord with a mind-blowing Scarlatti piece. He pronounced the harpsichord “acceptable, if in need of voicing”! We all breathed a sigh of relief. My harpsichord has been a companion for the last 4-plus decades, during my Georgetown years, and while I lived and worked in the States in the 80s. And did it help with that GU acceptance? Well, I certainly didn’t get in because of my board scores! The harpsichord came with Lesley and me to England in 1990 and has been in our homes in the UK ever since. It’s passage over the Atlantic saw a few bumps, so we’ve had the instrument tightened up and painted black on the exterior now, although you may remember it as red while at Portsmouth. I’ve continued to stay close to music, although as I said earlier, never as a serious player, but now as an amateur promoter instead. The harpsichord has been featured in concerts in my home and local church, mostly played by a wonderful local harpsichordist and music historian, Stephen Devine. It was featured last year in a concert with Emma Kirkby and will be featured again this June at the Cotswold Festival of Music, which I’ve organised here in the Cotswolds to celebrate high end music, mostly from the Baroque period and played in our local churches. I look back at that time in 1975 and 1976 and marvel at the encouragement and guidance I received from people like Headmaster Father Gregory and my mentor, Father Ambrose, and Glenn. I also think about my housemates and friends from Portsmouth in those years and thank them for their unwavering help and support. I could not have finished the harpsichord without them. That harpsichord born in Portsmouth in 1976 is now happily residing in the library of the Old Rectory, which is our house that was built in 1788. It holds a story within it that may be unsealed at some point in the future, but hopefully long after I’m gone.
ABOVE: CHRIS AND HIS SISTER, PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL REGENT SR. SUZANNE COOKE, R.S.C.J., AT CHRIS’S HOUSE, WHERE THE HARPSICHORD LIVES ON.
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“DARE MIGHTY THINGS” by Kaitlyn Soares ’07
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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
Kaitlyn speaks with a collegue in the ‘clean room.’
I work at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a world-leading space robotics lab that builds missions to explore humanity’s most profound questions. The story that brought me here starts in my family’s backyard. My parents bought a telescope when I was a girl and we spent countless nights outside, marveling at craters on the Moon, the red hue of Mars, and Saturn’s rings. Those moments ignited my passion for the cosmos, but until a few years ago, I didn’t realize my childhood fascination would lead me to NASA. My brain is wired to create narratives, so I pursued degrees in communications and advertising. A typical career path for someone with my background would be to join an ad agency, but my heart never felt aligned with that trajectory. Fortunately, my career path changed when I met the digital media team at JPL through freelance work while earning my master’s degree. After learning more about their purpose to inform the public and generate excitement about NASA’s robotic missions, I realized: “This is my calling…I want to tell stories about space exploration!” Shortly after I finished graduate school, a role opened on the “dream team.” I crafted a great application, but the position was offered to a more qualified candidate. Disappointed but still determined, I focused on expanding my space network and honing professional skills that would make me a better applicant for the job. After a year managing social media for Carnegie Hall in New York City, I joined the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum as a digital marketing manager. My work there exposed me to people from various NASA centers (including JPL), developed my leadership skills and digital capabilities, and introduced me to an astronaut who became my mentor.
I visited JPL for a tour while vacationing in California last summer. As I stood awestruck on the floor of Mission Control – a room known as “the center of the universe,” where JPL communicates to spacecraft within and beyond our solar system – I ran into a connection who mentioned the digital media team was looking for a new specialist. I got my materials in order the moment I returned to New York and notified my JPL contacts that I was applying for the position. My heart was pounding as I reviewed my application. I triple checked everything, clicked submit, and waited a week. A request to set up a call appeared in my inbox. A series of interviews resulted in an offer just before Thanksgiving. Within a month, I relocated to Los Angeles and was fully immersed in my new role. The crux of my work is to create and execute digital media strategies to inform and excite the public about NASA’s robotic missions. Every day is different. On Monday, I could be meeting with a famous musician to discuss a music project. On Wednesday, I might be shooting 360° video footage on a launchpad as an Atlas V rocket undergoes final preparation for launch. I have the coolest job in the universe! My team’s biggest project this year is the journey of NASA’s InSight lander to Mars. This robotic seismologist was the star of the first interplanetary launch from the West Coast on May 5. When it touches down in late November, InSight will root itself on the Martian surface and probe the planet to measure for marsquakes and other “vital signs.” By studying the core of Mars and comparing it to Earth’s interior, InSight’s scientists hope to better understand our solar system. What they learn
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could support the search for Earth-like exoplanets, narrowing down which ones might be able to support life. “Dare Mighty Things” is the unofficial motto of JPL; our missions certainly live up to those words. When reflecting on my four years at the Abbey, I find that exposure to a well-rounded curriculum and genuine care from faculty helped me discover where my talents thrive. Father Ambrose’s English class specifically comes to mind. He was truly invested in my development as a writer, taking extended time to explain his edits and advice. He taught me that failure is an opportunity to realize what isn’t working and to open new avenues of approach – a lesson that helped me clear a new path to JPL after my first application was unsuccessful. I am also grateful for the Abbey memories I made while abroad. I was fortunate to attend the Rome Humanities Program in 2007 with my best friends, and I appreciated that the trip was designed to engage us with Roman art, history, and culture. My favorite souvenirs – a chip of marble from Brother Gregory’s sculpting class and notebooks spilling with my words and art – represent the impact that an explorative approach to learning had on my teenage self. Exploration is crucial to the development of anything – space missions, writing assignments, ourselves. My first telescope didn’t lead me directly to NASA, but it got me looking. I encourage anyone seeking his or her calling to be curious, ask questions, and search fiercely for what ignites your soul. You’ll know when you find it.
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The Portsmouth Abbey Launch Club: How Two Students Started a Movement
Left, David Sun ’19 and David Sozanski ’19; above, “Mr. Green” in front of St. Martin’s House
Mr. Green is a scaled-down, household-sized version of a farm methane digester. It converts food waste into gas and liquid fertilizer. The gas can be purified and used a cooking fuel, while the liquid fertilizer can be used for gardens or plants.
IT IS NOT COMMON FOR STUDENTS who have no plans to pursue business to start an entrepreneurship club, but that is exactly what David Sozanski ’19 and David Sun ’19 have done. “It’s good enrichment and really challenging work,” Sun says. “All club members have different backgrounds and that’s what makes it interesting.” The Portsmouth Abbey Launch Club is a student-run program officially sponsored by MIT’s Launch X Club Program. Launch X is a year-long program providing curriculum, programming, resources, and mentorship to enable students to create a real startup. By the end of the year, more than 500 schools submit final pitches to MIT. After applying at the beginning of the school year and assembling a team of dedicated individuals, founders Sozanski and Sun put their heads together to decide on a product. They knew they wanted to focus on environmental sustainability, and after a few spirited meetings, they landed on a product and a business name: Domestic Environmental Solution Corporation – or DES Corp. Each year, the average American wastes between 209-254 pounds of food. This food waste forms the single largest component of solid waste in landfills. As the food decomposes, it releases methane – a powerful greenhouse gas. DES Corp. wanted to offer families a solution to eliminate food waste without releasing methane into the atmosphere, and thus, Mr. Green was born.
The conceptualization and creation of Mr. Green didn’t come without challenges: the size of the club shrank throughout the year; club members absorbed the funds of the prototype; and the work was challenging and intense, especially on top of the regular School curriculum. Despite all that, six members of the club remained active and submitted their pitch for Mr. Green to MIT. “The LaunchX program gave us great resources,” Sozanski says. “Their Powerpoints were really good, and everything we learned, we couldn’t have done in a classroom.” They created a video outlining their product, target audience, potential earnings, and more. Although Mr. Green didn’t take home a win, the Launch Club has already renewed for next year and the members are focused on major strengths and weaknesses. “Our marketing and research struggled,” Sun admits. “Our final meeting will go over the plan for next year to take Mr. Green to the next level.” On board are the club’s other active members: Elva Shang ’20, Patrick Flanigan ’19, Tommy Murphy ’19, and Jason Lim ’19. Sozanski, who plans to study bioengineering in college, and Sun, who plans on studying history, political science, or economics, encourage students with all interests to join the club. “It teaches all sorts of soft skills, too,” Sun says. “We want to have more teams with diverse ideas to enter the competition.” As for Mr. Green, the students hope to build upon the solid foundation they started and take Launch Club to new heights.
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TAKING TO THE SKIES The Abbey might be a coastal campus, but four recent graduates prefer a birds-eye view from the sky.
ANDREW CALIFF ’18
ERIKA KELLER ’18
Dream aircraft choice: Cessna 208 Caravan (a large single-engine aircraft with a turboprop engine and fixed-tricycle landing gear. It transports passengers and freight to remote areas where there is little, or no, surface transportation.)
Dream aircraft choice: A plane with ability to land on islands (Martha’s Vineyard, Block Island, etc.)
Future aviation plans: Obtain necessary licenses to become a bush pilot
Erika was a very involved Sixth-Former this past year, serving as captain for both the volleyball team and varsity girls’ ice hockey. In addition, she was a prefect for St. Benet’s. However, she never took her mind off of her goal: to become a pilot. “Being a boarder at Portsmouth Abbey does make it hard to find time during the school year to fly. As a substitute, I am studying from magazines, books, and my parents’ help,” she says.
Andrew, a fully-licensed FAA Private Pilot, has been flying planes for several years. His first solo flight, as part of his licensing, took place when he was only sixteen years old. In the past three years, he has flown throughout Ohio, New Jersey, and parts of southern New England. He’s performed short-field touch-and-goes on the islands around Lake Erie; dodged presidential airspace around Bedminster, New Jersey; navigated around New York City air space, and practiced landings and takeoffs at night at international airports in heavy crosswinds between commercial airliners. His first solo flight is something he fondly recalls: “My flight instructor didn’t tell me what day I would solo – most don’t,” Andrew explains. “But after several short flights around the airport, he asked ‘How are you doing?’ When I said ‘Okay,’ he told me to do more takeoffs and full-stop landings, and stay in the pattern. Then, he jumped out of the plane. It was amazing – alone in an airplane, climbing more quickly at full power watching the vertical speed indicator numbers rise proportionately with my heart rate. There were no limits.” At Portsmouth Abbey, Andrew has been involved with football, sailing, after-school art, the Human Rights Club, and has served as a staff photographer for the student newspaper, Beacon. He plans to continue to fly and to obtain the necessary licenses to become a bush pilot. With this licensing, he will be able to travel to remote areas of the world as a photojournalist.
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Future aviation plans: A pilot for Delta or other reputable airline
Her parents serve as not only sources of information, but inspiration. Both of her parents, along with her godparents, an aunt, and a grandfather, are pilots. Her mother is currently a first officer on an Airbus 330 for Delta, with plans to switch over to an Airbus 320 as captain. Unlike her peers, Erika hadn’t considered obtaining a license or becoming a pilot until the first time she took controls of a plane with a family friend. “My parents and brothers were there watching my reaction the whole time to see whether or not I enjoyed it,” she says. “When I landed, I had the biggest smile on my face that made my brothers wanted to test it out, too.” From that moment, Erika has worked toward her license, though there is much left to do. However, she is making huge strides in that direction; in the fall of 2018, she will attend Purdue University with a major in professional flight. This major offers more than a typical flight school would: classes range from how an airplane is built to decisionmaking in the airline industry. Students learn by flying in Purdue’s fleet of aircraft and matching simulators, and from aviation professionals with significant industry experience.
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Erika credits her family with inspiring her to pursue this dream. “Coming from a background of pilots, my parents have been more than proud. They never pressured me into becoming a pilot or forced me to study information about airplanes,” she says. “Hopefully, I will one day get to fly beside my mother.”
AUSTIN SISK ’18
GABE SOTOMAYOR ’18 Dream aircraft choice: Grumman Albatross. It’s a twin-engined seaplane that theoretically could be converted into a flying amphibious RV. They stopped making them in the 1950s and are relatively cheap today, about a quarter of a million dollars for a plane with a 100ft wingspan. Future aviation plans: Study mechanical engineering and work with planes hands-on Dream aircraft choice: Beechcraft King Air Future aviation plans: Fly for leisure Austin first became enthralled by planes at age 13. His father’s friend had a plane at Newport State Airport, and on a whim, they went for a ride, and Austin was hooked. From there, he joined the Young Eagles program for a closer look into the world of aviation. Fully convinced he was ready to fly, he worked with instructor Adam Ginn through Newport Aviation. Austin is not yet licensed, but plans to be after three more aspects of the certification process: a night flight, a written test, and a solo cross country, which is a trip in excess of 50 miles. He credits his father, along with the rest of his family, for being so supportive of his goal to become a licensed pilot. When asked how it felt to take the controls of an airplane for the first time, Austin gave a measured response. “It’s an exhilarating feeling,” Austin says, “but not as scary as you would think. It’s almost like driving a car, but there’s a bigger checklist of things to pay attention to.” The more nerve-racking part for Austin was his first solo. “I knew it was all up to me. There was no instructor to rely on.” Austin was a three-sport athlete in soccer, basketball, and baseball. In addition, he was a Sixth Form Class Gift Agent. He plans to study business in college, but will continue to pursue his private license, followed by an Instrument Rated license (IFR).
You might say that flying is in Gabe’s blood; his father is a retired Naval Flight Officer. “Like Goose from ‘Top Gun,’” Gabe says. He first took controls of a plane at 13, when the pilot in an introduction flight at Newport State Airport told him to take over. “I struggled to keep the plane level, but it was the coolest sensation ever, especially when I had never even driven a car,” Gabe says. Gabe’s parents are supportive of his interest and encouraging in his quest to become licensed at a young age, especially in light of his busy life at the Abbey, where he participated in soccer, hockey, and sailing, along with serving as a prefect for St. Aelred’s. The list of clubs he participated in is long and varied, including spiritual committee, investors club, and botball. He was also on a highly competitive robotics team in Middletown called FRC Team 78 AIR Strike. “We have gone to the world championships every year as a team,” Gave says. “Our robots weigh 140 pounds.” Gabe’s interest in robotics and mechanics could potentially sync with aviation. “I wanted to become an aeronautical engineer, but it requires a lot of ugly math and computer simulations, so I’ve decided to study mechanical engineering in college,” Gabe says. “I can still work with planes, and I’ll have a more hands on job.” As a student pilot, Gabe encourages others to test it out and see for themselves. “Flying is an expensive hobby, but extremely rewarding. Being in control of an aircraft is the ultimate freedom. Go to a local airport that offers lessons and try it out. There is no initial investment, knowledge, or age requirement.”
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GIRLS’ VARSITY ICE HOCKEY
ABBEY LUTH ’ 18 AND FAMILY
ATHLETICS Winter 2017-18 highlights
varsity athletics awards
Girls’ basketball improved to 9-4 in the EIL and placed fourth in the league, qualifying for the EIL Tournament. Maddie Burt ‘19 was selected All-New England.
Boys’ Basketball Coach’s Award: Ben Varieur ‘18 MIP: Nick Solomon ‘19 Captains-Elect: Shane Hoey ‘20, Tommy McSparren ‘19, Nick Solomon ‘19 Overall record: 5-16 EIL 4-7, 5th Place
Dan Sliney ‘18 was selected the Holt Conference Player of the Year for his work with the boys’ ice hockey team. Girls’ ice hockey won the EIL Championship for the second year in a row, defeating Berwick 5-4 with a goal from Abbey Luth ‘18 in the last four seconds of the game. Abbey was selected EIL Player of the Year, All-New England, and holds the Portsmouth Abbey School record for All Time Point Scorer with 211 points. Boys’ squash finished third in the Class C Tournament, where Evan Boyd ‘19 and Marcello Oh ‘19 placed second in their flights. Sheila Joyce ‘19 placed first in the 100 free at the Providence Cup Invitational, setting a new Portsmouth Abbey School record and a new Providence Cup record. At the EIL Championship, she won the 50 free and broke the School record. Sheila now holds five individual event School records and is a member of two relay teams that hold School records. Wrestling won their second consecutive EIL Championship. Davey Appleton ‘20 placed third and was named EIL Wrestler of the Year. Owen Brine ‘20 and Richard Ryu ‘18 placed fourth. Davey and Richard also placed 13th Nationally at the Prep School National Tournament at Lehigh University.
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Girls’ Basketball The Pfeffer Cup: Maya Eid ‘18 MIP: Julia Sisk ‘21 Captain-Elect: Maddie Burt ‘19 Overall record: 10-7 EIL: 9-4, 4th Place Boys’ Ice Hockey The Andrew M. Hunt and Carol Meehan Hunt Boys’ and Girls’ Hockey Award: Dan Sliney ‘18 and Jake Horoho ‘18 MIP: Josh Plumb ‘20 Overall record: 3-16-1 Holt League: 2-10 Girls’ Ice Hockey The Andrew M. Hunt and Carol Meehan Hunt Boys’ and Girls’ Hockey Award: Abbey Luth ‘18 MIP: Isabella Hannigan ‘19 Captains-Elect: Alessandra Alves ‘19, Riley Carter ‘19, Isabelle Fournier ‘19, Molly Hoefel ‘19 Overall record: 14-7 EIL: 7-1 EIL Champions
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Boys’ Squash Carlos Xavier Araujo ‘96 Memorial Squash Award: Carl Miller ‘18 MIP: Jason Lim ‘19 Captains-Elect: Jason Lim ‘19, Marcello Oh ‘19 Overall record: 9-6 3rd Place NEISA Class C
Wrestling Coach’s Award: Henry Wilson ‘18 MIP: Ted Anderson ‘18 Captains-Elect: Chris Franco ‘19, Antony Ramirez ‘19 Overall Record:13-6 EIL: 5-0 EIL Champions 2nd EIL Invitational, 11th in NE
Girls’ Squash Coach’s Award: Gretchen Vietor ‘18 MIP: Ashley Breyer ‘20 Captains-Elect: Ashley Breyer ‘20, Faith Cournoyer ‘19 Overall record: 7-9 EIL: 2-5
junior varsity awards
Boys’ JV A Basketball: Matt Walter ‘20
Swimming Coach’s Award (Boys): Adam Suh ‘18 MIP: Patrick Feng ‘21 Boys’ Overall record:4-6 EIL: 3rd out of four teams
Boys’ JV B Basketball: Chris Zaiser ‘20 Girls’ JV Basketball: Casey Motta ‘21 Girls’ JV Squash: Jane Dwares ‘19 Boys’ JV Squash: David Sozanski ‘19 Coed JVB Squash (Boys): Ken Zheng ‘20
Coach’s Award (Girls): Sheila Joyce ‘19 MIP: Eve Loftus ‘19 Overall Record: 3-10 EIL: 5th out of seven teams
Coed JVB Squash (Girls): Sofia Ponce ‘20 Boys’ JV Ice Hockey: Patrick Conlan ‘20 Girls’ JV Ice Hockey: Ines Minondo ‘19
Captains-Elect: Rafael Borromeo ‘20, Eve Loftus ‘19, Sarah Pelletier ‘19
MAYA EID ’18
Co
The Portsmouth Abbey Junior Varsity Award is given to the athlete who best demonstrates the spirit of Abbey Athletics. The award recognizes hard work, individual improvement, sportsmanship and a willingness to do what is best for the team.
Boys’ JV Swimming: Nathaniel Landers ‘20 Girls’ JV Swimming: Delia Filippone ‘21
CARL MILLER ’18
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winter all-league and post-season honors Boys’ Basketball (EIL) Ben Varieur ‘18 - All-League Shane Hoey ‘20 - Honorable Mention
Boys’ Swimming (EIL) Adam Suh ‘18 - All-League (50 Free and 100 Free) Patrick Feng ‘21 - All-League (100 Breast)
Girls’ Basketball (EIL) Maddie Burt ‘19 - New England Prep Class B All-Star and All-League Maya Eid ‘18 - Honorable Mention - All-League Jill McRoy ‘18 - Honorable Mention- All-League
Girls Swimming (EIL) Sheila Joyce ‘18 - All-League (50 Free ,100 Free) Wrestling (EIL) Davey Appleton ‘20 - EIL MVP and All-League Owen Brine ‘20 - All League Richard Ryu ‘18 - All League Henry Wilson ‘18 - All League
Boys’ Ice Hockey: (Holt League) Dan Sliney ‘18 - Holt MVP and All-League Jake Horoho ‘18 - All-League Girls’ Ice Hockey (EIL) Abbey Luth ‘18 – All-New England, EIL MVP, All-League, All-Time Leading Scorer in Ice Hockey with 211 Points Riley Carter ‘19 - All-League Erika Keller ‘18 - All-League Isabelle Fournier ‘19 - All-League Alessandra Alves ‘19 - Honorable Mention All-League
All New England Davey Appleton ‘20 - 3rd Place Owen Brine ‘20 - 4th Place Richard Ryu ‘18 - 4th Place Prep School National Tournament Davey Appleton ‘20 - 13th Place Richard Ryu ‘18 - 13th Place Owen Brine ‘20 - 17th Place
Boys’ Squash (Independent) Evan Boyd ‘19 - 2nd Place New England Class C Tournament Marcello Oh ‘19 - 2nd Place New England Class C Tournament
BEN VARIEUR ’18
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DAVEY APPLETON ’20
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COACH BONIN AND THE GIRLS’ VARSITY SQUASH TEAM
ADAM SUH ‘18
DAN SLINEY ’18
SHEILA JOYCE ’18
MADISON BURT ’18
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MATT MC KENNA ’18
ATHLETICS Spring 2018 varsity athletics awards Baseball The Baseball Coach’s Trophy: Matt McKenna ‘18 MIP: Dean Simeone ‘20 Captains-Elect: Josh Kamen ‘19, Tommy McSparren ‘19, Dan Teravainen ‘19 Overall Record: 12-6 EIL record: 7-0 EIL Champions Girls’ Golf The Dorment Family Golf Trophy: Elaine Jiang ‘18 MIP: Mia Wright ‘19 Captains-Elect: Sylvie Qiu ‘19, Julia Lamarre ‘19 Overall Record: 3-3 Boys’ Lacrosse The Frost Family Boys’ Lacrosse Trophy: Logan Kreinz ‘18 MIP: Josh Downey ‘18 Captains-Elect: Chris Franco ‘19, Tommy Murphy ‘19, Dan Neill ‘19, Nick Solomon ‘19 Overall Record: 13-2 EIL Record: 5-1 2nd Place EIL
JACKIE MORRISON ’18
Girls’ Lacrosse The Girls’ Lacrosse Trophy: Jane Jannotta ‘18 MIP: Ines Minondo Captains-Elect: Maddie Burt ‘19, Alyssa Civiello ‘20, Isabelle Fournier ‘19, Cam Holley ‘20 Overall Record: 10-7 EIL Record: 7-3 3rd Place EIL Sailing The Robert Price Sailing Trophy: Jackie Morrison ‘18 MIP: Ian Ritchie ‘18 Captains-Elect: Evan Boyd ‘19, Faith Cournoyer ‘19, Patrick Flanigan ‘19 Overall Record: 13-9, Ranked 11th in New England
LUCIA BILLINGS ’18
Softball Coach’s Trophy: Lucia Billings ‘18 MIP: Bella Hannigan ‘19 Captains-Elect: Riley Carter ‘19, Bella Hannigan ‘19 Overall Record: 10-3 EIL Record: 7-1 EIL Champions Boys’ Tennis Coach’s Trophy: Alfredo Gonzalez ‘19 MIP: John Habib ’20 Captain-Elect: Emiliano Gonzalez ‘20 Overall record: 5-9-1 EIL Record: 2-4
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Girls’ Tennis Coach’s Trophy: Leah Eid ‘21 MIP: Meagan Dennis ‘20 Captains-Elect: Leah Eid ‘21, Lilias Madden ‘19, Katie Ritchie ‘19 Overall Record: 7-7 EIL Record: 4-4
ELAINE JIANG ’18
Track and Field Boys’ Track Coach’s Trophy: Daniel Rodden ‘18 Girls’ Track Coach’s Trophy: Abbey Luth ‘18 Boys’ MIP: Matthew Liuzza ‘20 Girls’ MIP: Laura Fink ‘21 Captains-Elect: Tiger Farah ‘19, Jason Lim ‘19, David Sun ‘19, Juistine DelMastro ‘19, Malia Mantz ‘19, Diane McDonough ‘19 Overall Boys Record: 11-1 EIL Record 5-1 *2nd Place EIL, 6th Place Division 3 NEs Overall Girls Record: 13-0 EIL Record 7-0 *2nd Place EIL, Tie 7th Place Division 3 NEs
junior varsity awards The Portsmouth Abbey Junior Varsity Award is given to the athlete who best demonstrates the spirit of Abbey Athletics. The award recognizes hard work, individual improvement, sportsmanship and a willingness to do what is best for the team.
LOGAN KREINZ ’18
JV Baseball: Shane Hoey ’20 Boys’ JV Lacrosse: Patrick Conlan ‘20 Girls’ JV Lacrosse: Julia Sisk ‘21 JV Sailing: Carlos Castillo ‘18 Boys’ JV Tennis: John Habib ‘20 Girls’ JV Tennis: Meagan Dennis ‘20 Boys’ JV Track: Jake Gouveia ‘21 Girls’ JV Track: Lucia McLaughlin ‘21 LEAH EID ’21
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spring
2018 all-league and post-season honors
Baseball (EIL) EIL All League: Thomas Brant ‘18, Matt McKenna ‘18, Nick Vallone ‘18, Ben Varieur ‘18 Honorable Mention: Tommy McSparren ‘19, Dan Teravainen ‘19 Mr. Derek Gittus: EIL Coach of the Year
JANE JANNOTTA ’18
Softball (EIL) EIL Player of the Year, EIL All League: Tyler White ‘18 EIL All League: Lucia Billings ‘18, Riley Carter ‘19, Mary Falvey ‘18 Honorable Mention: Noelle Brown ‘18, Diana Reno ’20 Girls’ Lacrosse (EIL) EIL Player of the Year, EIL All League: Jane Jannotta ‘18, EIL All League: Alyssa Civiello ‘20, Cam Holley ‘20, Kate Hughes ‘18, Emma Stowe ‘18 Honorable Mention: Maddie Burt ‘19, Isabelle Fournier ‘18 Boys’ Lacrosse (EIL) EIL Boys’ All League: Ted Anderson ‘18, Dan Neill ‘19, Logan Kreinz ‘18 Honorable Mention: Tommy Murphy ‘19, John Stookey ‘18, Henry Wilson ‘18 US Lacrosse Awards: Logan Kreinz ‘18: All American Ted Anderson ‘18: Academic All American Karl Jackson ‘18: Academic All American Track and Field (EIL) EIL All League: David Appleton ‘20: 3000 Margot Appleton ‘21: 800, 1500, Maya Eid ‘18: Triple Jump Jason Lim ‘19: Pole Vault, Triple Jump, Abbey Luth ‘18: Discus Megan Madden ‘18: Pole Vault, Malia Mantz ‘19: 100,200 Dan Rodden ‘18: 800, 1500
DAN RODDEN ’18
Boys’ Tennis (EIL) EIL Player of the Year, EIL All League: Alfredo Gonzalez ‘19 EIL All League: Emiliano Gonzalez ‘20 Girls’ Tennis (EIL) EIL All League: Laila Fahmy ‘20
ALFREDO GONZALEZ ’19
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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
HIGHLIGHTS ABBEY LUTH ’18
Baseball finished the season 12-6 and 7-0 in the EIL, capturing their first EIL Championship. Nick Vallone ‘18 led the Abbey pitching and won complete games vs. Berwick and Pingree during the regular season. They also defeated St. George’s in the regular season. Softball won their second consecutive EIL Championship. They also defeated St. George’s. Tyler White ‘18 set a school record with 556 career strikeouts and was named the EIL Player of the Year. Girls’ Lacrosse finished the season with a 10-7 record and third place in the EIL. Jane Jannotta ‘18 scored 218 points career points on 140 goals and 78 assists, and was selected as the EIL Lacrosse Player of the Year. Boys’ Lacrosse finished with a 13-2 record and in second place in the EIL. They defeated St. George’s in the regular season. Logan Kreinz ‘18 was selected US Lacrosse All American and Karl Jackson ‘18 and Ted Anderson ‘18 were selected as US Lacrosse Academic All Americans. Girls’ Golf finished 3-3 . In the Girls’ New England 9 hole tournament, Mac Macomber ‘20 finished tied for 11th place.
TYLER WHITE ’18
Boys’ track finished 11-1 and second in the EIL. Dan Rodden ‘18 placed second in the New Englands in the 800 and third in the 1500. Davey Appleton ‘20 finished second in the New Englands in both the 1500 and 3000. Davey holds the third best time at the Abbey in the 3000. Girls’ Track finished the regular season undefeated with an 13-0 record and in second place in the EIL. Margot Appleton ‘21 finished second in the New Englands in the 800 and 1500 and holds the school record in the 1500. Both teams defeated St. George’s! Sailing finished the regular season 13-9 and were ranked 11th in New England. Boys’ Tennis: Alfredo ‘19 and Emiliano ‘20 Gonzalez both finished the EIL season undefeated with a combined record of 11-0. Alfredo was named EIL Player of the Year. Girls’ Tennis: Leah Eid ‘21, Lilias Madden ‘19, and Laila Fahmy ‘20 combined for 21 single victories to lead the team to their best record in three years. They were 7-7 overall and 4-4 in the EIL.
PHOTOS BY BILL RAKIP AND LOUIS WALKER (www.louiswalkerphotography.com/Sports)
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1948g1953g1958g1963g1968g1973g1978g1983g1988g1993g1998g2003g2008g2013
SAVE THE DATE! SEPT. 28 -30, 2018
Calling all Classes ending in 3 or 8 and members of the Diman Club (alumni from all classes prior to 1968) This is your REUNION year! September 28 – 30, 2018 Please mark your calendar for a weekend of fun and nostalgia with your family, friends and classmates. Visit www.portsmouthabbey.org/reunion for more information on the schedule of events, accommodations, golf outings, class dinners and more. Questions? Contact Laura Turner at 401-643-1184 or lturner@portsmouthabbey.org.
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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
MILESTONES
BIRTHS 1985 A girl, Lilah Marie Kenerson, to LuAnn Jones and Kevin Kenerson December 24, 2017 1992 A girl, Elizabeth Rose Scattergood Wallace, to Wistar and Andrew Wallace May 6, 2018 1997 A boy, Adewale Anderson Olorunmaiye, to Jerome Olorunmaiye and
Above: Justin Uhr and Nellie Rainwater ’98’s new son, Alexander Sidney Uhr
Wolguine Stervil–Olorunmaiye October 4, 2017 Above: Silas Edward Spencer, son of Matthew Spencer and Elisabeth LePage ’01
1998 A boy, Samuel Milikowsky, to Matthew Milikowsky and Nicole Eldredge
Left: Sophie Christine Klement, daughter of Joshua and Andrea Sahms Klement ’99
March 28, 2018 A boy, Alexander Sidney Uhr, to Justin Uhr and Nellie Rainwater November 24, 2017 1999 A girl, Sophie Christine Klement, to Joshua and Andrea Sahms Klement May 2018 2001 A boy, Silas Edward Spencer, to Matthew Spencer and Elisabeth LePage May 5, 2018 2004/5 A girl, Maggie Micheletti, to Nicholas and Alassandra DeSisto Micheletti March 6, 2018 Wistar and Andrew Wallace ’92 with their daughter Elizabeth Rose Scattergood Wallace
Juney and Betty Micheletti welcome their new sister, Maggie, into the family.
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MILESTONES
WEDDINGS 1998 Ashley Hart to Ele Meyer on July 29, 2018 2001 Eliza Pfeffer to Ryan Lucia on March 10, 2018 2006 Kate Atkinson to Liam Laird on April 14, 2018 2007 Ryana Barbosa to Bret Carr on May 11, 2018 2010 Amelia Bradley to Christian Tracy on March 17, 2018
Celebrating the Hart wedding from left to right: Eliza Greenman Burlingame ’04, Michael McCarthy ’98, Matthew Kavanagh ’98, Janine Graebe ’98, Sean Walsh Ramn, Ashley Hart ’98, Ele Meyer Hart, Justin Hart ’02, John Jay Mouligne ’01, Kathryn Rooney-Sams ’98, Roberto Kriete ’98, and Alexandra Hart Mouligne ’00
Amelia Bradley ’10 and Christian Tracy were married in Palm Beach, FL, in March.
Kate Atkinson ’06 and Liam Laird celebrating their wedding with the Atkinson family
Eliza Pfeffer Lucia ’01 and her husband, Ryan, with Eliza’s dad, Jim Pfeffer ’69 on the far left and her mother, Jane, on her right
Ryana Barbosa ’07 and Bret Carr on their wedding day in Oakland, CA
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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
MILESTONES NECROLOGY
Consuelo Artadi
Fr. Francis Davidson, O.S.B.
Geraldine Kempton
Grandmother of Patrick Dickinson ’20 and
Former Headmaster
Mother-in-law of James Mulholland III ’79
Nicole Dickinson ’16
of Portsmouth Abbey School
February 11, 2018
Eric W. Auer
April 9, 2018
Charles O. Macsherry ’52
Father of Sarah Auer ’12 and
Samuel A. Francis ’43
Brother of the late Bernard Macsherry ’44
Vivian Auer ’06
August 4, 2017
and the late Clinton Macsherry ’41
March 12, 2017
Kathryn C. Gallagher
February 4, 2018
Crystal J. Barnes ’95
Widow of Cornelius Gallagher ’45,
Timothy R. McHugh ‘66
Sister of Daryl Barnes ’91
mother of Paul Gallagher ’84,
Brother of Thomas McHugh ’71 and
March 19, 2018
the late Cornelius Gallagher Jr. ’79, and
James McHugh ’61
Joseph Gallagher ’77, sister-in-law of the
March 20, 2018
Robert Brown Uncle of Aidan O’Neill ’21, Rory O’Neill ’19, Callan O’Neill ’17, and Ethan O’Neill ’16 May 15, 2018 Anthony A. Caputi Father of Anthony A. Caputi Jr. ’74 April 23, 2018 George Carleu Grandfather of Lillian Carleu ’20 April 21, 2018 Adley Correia
late John Gallagher ’53, the late Peter Gallagher ’47 and the late Fr. Joseph Gallagher ’40 January 12, 2018 Thomas J. Giblin Jr. Father of former faculty member Katherine Stark, grandfather of Margaret Stark ’15 and Michael Stark ’13 April 23, 2018 Maria Bartush Groff Wife of David Groff ’85, sister-in-law of Christian Groff ’82 and Ed Groff ’81
Peter K. Moran Father of Elizabeth Moran ’01 January 9, 2018 Patrick M. Mullin ’78 September 9, 2015 Elizabeth Rooney Mother of Patrick Rooney ’65 and grandmother of Kathryn Rooney-Sams ’98 and Sean Rooney ‘96 January 26, 2018 John Sienkiewicz Jr.
Father of staff member Jennifer Heaps,
March 5, 2018
Grandfather of Patrick Heaps ’18 and
Irving D. Humphrey Grandfather of Emma Humphrey ’21, Luke Humphrey ’20, John Humphrey ’06, and Michael Humphrey ’05 May 22, 2018
and Sarah Sienkiewicz ’13
Marjorie Sharples Humphrey
J. Christopher Walsh ’70
Brianna Heaps ’12 February 27, 2018 Helene Cummings Mother of McLean Cummings ’83, Alexander Cummings ’81, Ogden Cummings ’76, Lawrence Cummings ’72, Amory Cummings ’70, and Henry Cummings ’69 March 8, 2018 Daniel I. Darcangelo Grandfather of Benjamin Varieur ’18 and Jocelyn Varieur ’16 March 19, 2018
Grandmother of Emma Humphrey ’21, Luke Humphrey ’20, John Humphrey ’06, and Michael Humphrey ’05 April 28, 2018 William J. Joslin Father of Richard Joslin ’79 and
Grandfather of Alexander Sienkiewicz ’18 February 26, 2018 Edward P. Vollersten Father of Caroline Vollersten ‘02 January 30, 2018
Son of John A. Walsh ’41 May 15, 2018 James F. Welsh Father of the late Keith Welsh ’94 April 3, 2018
David Joslin ’75 February 7, 2018
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IN MEMORIAM
DOM FRANCIS DAVIDSON, O.S.B.
Fr. Francis Davidson, O.S.B., Benedictine monk of Ampleforth Abbey, and former headmaster of Portsmouth Abbey School, died peacefully at the monastery at Ampleforth on April 9, 2018, at the age of 79. George Davidson was born in Edinburgh in February 1939. He entered Fort Augustus Prep School in Scotland at the age of six and graduated from Fort Augustus Abbey School in 1956. As was customary at the time he entered the Fort Augustus Monastery as a 17-year-old novice. In September 1956 he was sent to study philosophy at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, and then theology at Blackfriars, Oxford, where he resided at Ampleforth’s Permanent Private Hall, St Benet’s Hall. George returned to Fort Augustus Abbey and was ordained a priest in April 1965. Fr. Francis then joined the staff of Fort Augustus Abbey School, where he served as headmaster from 1972 until 1985. In April 1987 Fr. Francis was invited to work in the school at Portsmouth Abbey where he was appointed headmaster in September 1988. In the 1988 Fall Bulletin, new Headmaster Fr. Francis noted, “Any education system, and any school, necessarily embodies a choice of values. No one doubts that education is a good thing, something to be valued, something that is supposed to lead to a good life. How we define that good life is, of course, a crucial question and involves a whole range of judgments. But at the root of them all is a view of what is good for man and society; in other words, a philosophy of man and his per-
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sonal and social ends.” Regarding Portsmouth Abbey School’s mission of reverence, respect and responsibility, he stated, “Here are summarized the religious ideals of the catholic, christian faith, the intellectual standards of the liberal catholic tradition in education, and the social and ethical goals of community life and service which express the former.” The School benefited from his leadership for four years. During his tenure at Portsmouth, Fr. Francis oversaw the transition of Portsmouth Abbey School to coeducation in the fall of 1991. Fr. Francis returned to Fort Augustus Abbey in 1992 and was appointed Prior Administrator in 1998. Fort Augustus Abbey closed later that year, and Fr. Francis moved to Ampleforth Abbey, whose community he formally joined in 2001. For five years he served as parish priest of St. Mary’s Bamber Bridge, and in subsequent years worked in a number of roles, including sub-prior, acting prior, religious superior at St Benet’s Hall, and monastic auditor. Fr. Francis’s body was received into the Church at Ampleforth Abbey on Sunday, April 15, and a funeral mass and burial took place on Monday, April 16. Please join us in prayer for the repose of the soul of Fr. Francis Davidson, O.S.B.
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
IN MEMORIAM
J. CHRISTOPHER WALSH ’70
Massachusetts Representative J. Christopher Walsh died May 2, 2018, after a hard-fought battle against nonHodgkin’s lymphoma with which he was diagnosed during the summer of 2015. Chris was 66 years old. Born in New York, NY, Chris graduated from Portsmouth Abbey School in 1970 and went on to receive his degree in architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design. A Democrat in his fourth term in the Massachusetts House, Chris was first elected in 1992 as a Town Meeting member, after moving to Framingham in 1989. In 2008, he ran for state representative against Pam Richardson and lost. In 2010, he ran again, this time defeating the incumbent Democrat. He was the only architect serving in the Massachusetts legislature at the time. Chris represented the 6th Middlesex District in the House, which was more than half of Framingham, and he served as vice chair on the house committee for Education. Chris wanted to be the City of Framingham’s first mayor. He announced his campaign and then withdrew his name when his lymphoma returned last summer. He was a former elected Framingham Library trustee and a former past president of the Framingham Historical Society. He had also chaired the Historic District Commission for the Town of Framingham. Chris was an ardent advocate for arts and culture, supporting Danforth Art and serving on the board of Amazing Things Arts Center. He was also a strong supporter of the Framingham History Center. “I am deeply saddened by the loss of Representative Chris Walsh. As the past year has shown us, Chris was a fighter and an eminently decent man,” said Massachusetts House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo. “Chris was a friend and colleague committed to his constituents and community,” said House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones Jr. “Above all he was a gentleman of the first order.” The son of John A. Walsh, Portsmouth Priory Class of 1941, Chris is survived by his wife, Cindy, and their two children. The Portsmouth Abbey community extends its prayers and deepest condolences to Chris’s family and friends.
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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
CLASS NOTES
Charles Carroll Carter and his wife, Rosemary, beside a portrait of Archbishop John Carroll (courtesy of the Catholic Standard)
56 I Buck O’Leary, a retired lawyer, reports that he is alive, mostly vertical, taking nourishment and appearing in Scena Theatre’s production of a stage adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center in Washington, D.C. Let’s hope the old boy can come up with his lines.
58 I 46 I Charles Carroll Carter is celebrating the publication of Creating Capitol Hill: Place, Proprietors, and People with co-authors Pamela Scott, William Charles diGiacomantonio, and Don Alexander Hawkins. The book recounts Capitol Hill’s convoluted and fascinating history, told in four essays. A longtime resident of Washington, D.C., Carroll was born in Philadelphia; he is a descendent of three important American families: Carrolls, Carters and Lees. “I learned early on that I had the family name of a most important, and in ever so many ways, singular family in American history: the Carrolls of Maryland. While not generally enumerated as Founding Fathers in the short list of Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Madison, Franklin and Hamilton, the family of Carroll should most certainly be included,” said Carroll. The U.S. Capitol Historical Society publication includes art that has never been published before. The official launch took place in June 2018 in the historical society’s offices on Capitol Hill. An interpreter from Mount Vernon portraying George Washington was in attendance.
Creating Capitol Hill: Place, Proprietors, and People is available for purchase through the historical society and was created through support of individual donors, including Karen Buchwald Wright, president of the Ariel Foundation, and Albert H. Small, founder of The Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection at the George Washington University Museum, among others. In the book’s foreward, journalist and author Cokie Roberts noted, “This meticulously researched tale not only reveals the somewhat hidden history of Capitol Hill, it also sets the scene for the politics of today …. It’s all here – the plans for the city, the story of life in the boardinghouses, the newspaper articles and obituaries, the conflicts and compromises that gave birth not only to a capital but also to a country.”
summer Alumni BULLETIN 2018
60th Reunion
George Cleary writes from Venezuela, “Lately I have some rather more hopeful, though heart-rending, ticks to pass on. My two sons, Frank and Carlos, have now definitely established themselves in Indianapolis and are working to take their families there out of this God-forsaken mess. My daughter, Ana, has now had immigrant visas for her husband and two sons approved by the State Department and expects to move to Miami in July. Sofía, my wife, and I will stay here gathering up the shreds and crumbs of what was not long ago a hopeful life in a beautiful country. May God bless you all, and we hope to see you someday.”...
The new book by Carroll Carter’46, Creating Capitol Hill: Place, Proprietors, and People
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CLASS NOTES
61 I Peter Thieriot sends his kudos to Portsmouth Abbey Latin teacher Lizzie Benestad upon her completion of the Camino de Santiago. “I’m sure she’s all pumped up about having done the trek and is full of inspiration to pass along to her students in the next school year. My wife, Marian, and I did that Camino in 2012, and it so inspired us that we plan to walk the Camino Portugués this coming September/October, starting in Lisbon.”
62 I
Chris Ogden ’62 and his wife, Linda, at the Taj Mahal
Gene Renz, D.D.S ’62, a member of the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center and volunteer gardener, instructing a group of second graders from Pine Point School prior to their planting of seedlings (tomatoes, eggplant and peppers) they’ve raised in the PNC garden on Monday, June 4, 2018 Photo courtesy of The Westerly Sun
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Linda and Chris Ogden sold their Alexandria, VA, home in October 2017 and headed to Europe for a year. They began their journey spending two months in the UK, a former home where son and sole grandson live, followed by a month in Ireland, including for Christmas, and then, in search of warmth raced to India for a few weeks’ respite. They had been to India several times but this was a first visit to Varanasi, which Chris describes as a “don’t miss destination.” They returned for a month in Paris in a flat overlooking the Seine and then headed into their third month in Rome, highlighted by attendance at both Palm Sunday and Easter Masses, celebrated by Papa Francesco. Chris reports that the pasta and gelatos are pretty great too! … As members of the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center, former Priory classmates and longtime friends David Panciera and Gene Renz restored and maintain a 2,800 squarefoot-garden in Pawcatuck, CT, whose production is given to people in need of food. The garden services people in three towns: Stonington and North Stonington, CT, and Westerly, RI. The Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center is geographically located in Pawcatuck a village in the town of Stonington whose theme is “Neighbors Helping Neighbors.” They will harvest peas, potatoes, tomatoes, beets, carrots, kale, chard, lettuce, squash, peppers, eggplant, and beans. You can find more information at: www.thepnc.org.
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
CLASS NOTES
Sam White ’64 (third from right) and family at his daughter Sarah’s wedding (Kristy May Photography)
64 I
66 I
69 I
Fred Conway will be retiring from his position as chair of the Anthropology Department of San Diego State University at the end of the summer. His work as a cultural anthropologist has taken him to fieldwork in Haiti, Chile and Mexico, as well as to other countries as a consultant on development projects. He is looking forward to retirement with his wife, Polly, and seeing their children, Mattie and Luke, who live in nearby Los Angeles…Tom Shevlin was recently elected as the President of the University of Rhode Island Alumni Association… Sam White’s daughter, Sarah Landreth, married David Rossmann on April 28 at Box Hill, the family house in Saint James, Long Island. Sarah and David live in Brooklyn and are expecting twin girls, whose arrival will give Sam and Elizabeth a pair of granddaughters on the East Coast to balance Lucy and Eve, their two Berkeley granddaughters. Life is good!
Jon Gilloon sends a note that the 60s are alive in Shreveport, MS! Jon’s latest excursion to the Deep South was in his ’67 Splitty, VW Campmobile.
Mickey McQuade and his partner, Dr. Cindy Harbaugh, escaped the south’s summer heat by heading to Berkeley, CA, with plans to sell their home in Fairhope, AL. Mickey played in the AL state seniors doubles tennis tourney. They are thankful that their grandson Eli’s leukemia is in remission…JJ Johnson serves as the head coach for France Lacrosse, which joined 46 other nations at the World Championships in July in Netanya, Israel. Even though French explorers in North America gave the sport its name, it is a fledgling sport in France. The team is raising money to get there through a crowdfunding campaign: www.gofundme.com/francelacrosse.
68 I
50th Reunion
Tracy and Mac Regan are looking forward to hosting the Class of 1968 and friends for a 50th Reunion dinner at their home in Watch Hill, RI, on September 28. Class members should mark the date! He is looking forward to touring the new science facility the following day. Mac continues his involvement with the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts where he is involved in alumni education and development activities. He is also working on the post-election version of his book, Global Citizen Patriots. Daughters Caroline ’07 and Alexandra are working in Boston and Santa Monica, respectively.
70 I Chris Walsh died in May after a long battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He was serving in his fourth legislative term as a Massachusetts state representative
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CLASS NOTES
79 I In March 2018, Chuck Ausburn attended the Adobe Summit in Las Vegas and was able to catch up with classmate Jamie Tovar! Jamie, Chuck, and Chuck’s brother, Kevin, shared a great dinner together... John Robinson was coach and his daughter Anne (proposed Portsmouth Abbey Class of 2025) was the most valuable player in the recent Girls Provincial Hockey Championships in Toronto, Ontario, for ten and eleven-year olds. “Our girls took home gold, and it is no small achievement,” John says. Anne is also the niece of Joe Robinson ’74. Jon Gilloon’66 on his latest excursion to the Deep South – in his ’67 Splitty VW, Campmobile
Chuck Ausburn ’79 (left) and Jamie Tovar ’79 meet for lunch in Las Vegas
Worlds Within Worlds: A Father’s Poems and Prayers, a selection of poems by Jamie MacGuire ’70
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at the time of his passing (see In Memoriam, page 59)... Jamie MacGuire shared enjoyable meals with Bill Keogh ‘78 and Bill Brazell ‘86 in New York last spring and was delighted to introduce them to each other. He continued to lecture on his recent book, Real Lace Revisited (www.jamespmacguire. com) and in May, published a new selection of poems, Worlds Within Worlds: A Father’s Poems and Prayers (www.afatherspoemsandprayers.com). The book is dedicated to Jamie’s sons, Pierce ‘10 and Rhoads ‘13. Several of the poems are set at Portsmouth, and three are dedicated to its monks, Abbot Matthew Stark, Dom Paschal Scotti and the late Dom Edmund Adams.
81 I Andrew C. Hill just finished his 20th year as an administrator and teacher at Tampa Preparatory School where he had the pleasure of serving as director of admission, dean of students and, in more recent years as a full-time history teacher. As the school year ends, his wife, Mary Beth and he are trying to adjust to the wonderful (and sobering) fact that they will become grandparents this year and that even their youngest child will be a junior in college next fall. Time truly does march on. Andrew thinks of his years at the Abbey often and credits his time there for his unexpected but truly rewarding career trajectory. He sends his best to all from across the years.
82 I Tim Crowley and his son, Will ’20, shared some oysters post-varsity lacrosse game at the Abbey’s spring Parents’ Weekend with Abbey players Logan Kreinz ’18, Chris Franco ’19 and Foster Davis ’18.
83 I
35th Reunion
Robert Quinn moved to Dallas late last year to run the Southern regional office for NYC based commercial real estate lender Silverpeak-Argentic. Affiliated with hedge fund operator Elliot Capital Management, Silverpeak-Argentic writes fixed and floating-rate mortgages, invests in mezza-
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
Far left: Will Crowley ’20 (with serious eye-black), son of Tim ’82, enjoying oysters after a lax win with teammates Logan Kreinz ’18 (far left), Chris Franco ’19 (second from left), and Foster Davis ’18 (far right)
Luis Toruella ’84 (right) and LinManuel Miranda in Puerto Rico last spring
nine debt and preferred equity on properties across the US. His daughter, Laura, was accepted into the business school at the University of Arizona for this fall. His son, Zachary, will graduate from Clemson University this year and is working as an investment analyst for Colliers International in Atlanta this summer.
84 I After five years as the founding CEO of Faith in the Future and successfully overseeing the turnaround of the Catholic school system for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Samuel Casey Carter is now looking to franchise his school reform efforts across the country. See Carter-Research.com for more details… Marc de Saint Phalle joined Summit Rock Advisors, a $13 billion investment advisor to a select group of families, endowments and foundations. Marc is head of private investments and a member of the investment committee. He lives between New York City and Sun Valley, ID, with his wife, Karen, and two children, Claire (15) and Remy (13). He’d be pleased to hear from classmates passing through either place... Sculptor and Puerto Rico resident Luis Toruella worked with composer LinManuel Miranda on a Puerto Rico tourism promotion in the spring. Read the profile of Luis on page 34.
Coach John Robinson’79 with the Girls Provincial Hockey Champs in Toronto where John’s daughter Anne was named MVP
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CLASS NOTES
87 I After another great year in Australia, Derek Minihane and his daughters, Lauren and Caroline, became Australian citizens. The ceremony was held on Australia Day (January 26) in a local theatre. They had to proceed without Derek’s wife, Susan, as her application was diverted and they risked having to start all over again by waiting for her. The official party will wait until all Minihanes are all officially in.
89 I Sean Spicer has a new book out titled, The Briefing. See sidebar on opposite page for more information.
Derek Minihane ’87 (second from right) and his daughters, Lauren and Caroline, show their Aussie pride after becoming citizens of Australia in January 2018.
93 I
25th Reunion
Matt Stencel is the father to two incoming third formers this fall. Grace and Amelia will be in the Class of 2022!
95 I In July Ron Passaro’s music was featured in a new show of highlights from the Broadwaybound redux “Queen of Mean,” where six-time Tony and Emmy nominated star Tovah Feldshuh revisited her role as Leona Helmsley, at Feinstein’s/54 Below in NYC. You can find out more at www.54below.com.
98 I
20th Reunion
Ashley Hart has been working with Icelantic Skis in Sales and marketing for the past 12 years and lives with his wife, Ele, in Evergreen, CO. Ashley and Ele were married in July at Piney River Ranch in Vail, CO.
99 I Welcome to the Class of 2022, Grace and Amelia Stencel, daughters of Matt Stencel ’93!
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Rodrigo Bichara ’09 and Miguel Bichara ’94 in Iceland
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
Milton Little writes from Los Angeles: “It’s hard to believe it’s been almost 20 years since I graduated from Portsmouth Abbey. So much has hap-
CLASS NOTES
Milton Little ’99 with his wife, Erica, and children, Joi Elise, Miles, and Langston
Sean Spicer ’89 When Donald Trump was formally nominated at the Republican National Convention in July 2016, Sean Spicer was an under-the-radar communications operative and Navy reservist with a conventionally successful D.C. career.
pened in that time and I’m thankful to say I’ve been able to maintain some amazing friends and memories from the Abbey.” Since 2014, Milton has been a member of the Orthopaedic Trauma Faculty at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles “and life has been full of excitement.” He and his wife, Erica, live in Los Angeles with their three children, Joi Elise (6 years old), Miles (5 years old), and Langston (2 years old), with both of their parents nearby. Milton reports, “It’s great to be able to raise our children around most of their grandparents.” He added, “We were grateful to have had the opportunity to live close to Ron Lagman ’99 and Brandon Respress ’98 and their amazing families. We’ve lived on both the East and West coasts with their families, raised our children together and continued to grow our friendships. The three of us continue to stay in close contact with Konah Duche, Cara Gontarz, and Noah Duffey.” About his experience at Portsmouth Abbey School, Miton reflects, “My time at the Abbey had such a huge impact on where life has taken me and I am thankful for making the crazy decision
to move from Los Angeles to Portsmouth, Rhode Island in 1996.”
00 I Patrick Hewett was named the new vice president of advancement for the Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Boston (CCAB). CCAB is one of the largest providers of social services in Massachusetts with an annual budget of $34M, nearly one third of this is provided by private donors. Pat leaves his position as a regional director of leadership gifts at Boston University where he was integral in their nearly complete $1.5B capital campaign.
01 I Eliza Pfeffer Lucia has been teaching in Baltimore City Public Schools for the past 13 years! She is currently the reading specialist at her school, John Ruhrah EMS. She has also finished a certification program in administration and currently holds an assistant principal’s certificate in the state of Maryland. On March 10,
summer Alumni BULLETIN 2018
One year later, on the day he resigned as White House Press Secretary, Spicer had become such a nationally polarizing and pilloried figure that Reuters broadcast a live feed of his front door waiting for him to come home. This is the wild, honest, unbelievable account of Sean Spicer’s tenure as Donald Trump’s spokesman, and the path that he took to get there. With never-before-told stories from the campaign and White House and an all-new perspective on the infamous briefings Spicer became known (and parodied) for, The Briefing is a fascinating ride down the rabbit hole of the White House Press Secretary job in the age of an unconventional president, an outraged (and outrageous) press, and high-level infighting and intrigue.
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CLASS NOTES
2018, Eliza married her best friend, Ryan Lucia, who is currently serving active duty in the Air Force as a Tech Sergeant. “Life down in Baltimore is pretty amazing!”… Paul Yoon and his family continue to thrive in Vermont, despite the unusually long winter this year. Paul’s partner, Jenny, accepted a job at the preschool where their son, Noah (7), went and their daughter, Chloe (3), will be attending next year. They are also enjoying their one-year-old puppy, Daisy. In March, Paul transitioned from his job as an assistant principal in a local middle school to the University of Vermont. He is now serving as the senior advisor for strategic diversity assessment and research to the vice president of human resources, diversity and multicultural affairs. “I am really enjoying the transition and excited about the alignment between what I believe to be my life’s purpose, to passionately pursue justice to make the world a more equitable place,” Paul says, “and the work I have the privilege of doing every day at the university.”
Paul Yoon ’01 and family (and dog, Daisy) in their Christmas photo
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15th Reunion
Adam Robertson sends his regrets that he will not be able to attend this fall’s 15th Reunion. He’s due to become a father in October! Please send him a note if you are “heading over the pond.”
04 I Gretchen McDonough ran a Boston Marathon qualifying time of 3:29 at the Pittsburgh Marathon on May 6, which qualifies her to run in the April 2019 Boston Marathon.
From left, Julia Driscoll ’06, Margaret Power ’08, and Ann Power ’06 celebrating at Kate Atkinson’s wedding
05 I Andrew Coombs started his own firm in Newark, NJ. Coombs CPA, PC, offers tax services, audit services, accounting consultation services, and CFO outsource services. He recently purchased a building in Newark, NJ, where his firm operates. His website is www.cpacoombs.com.
Andrew Coombs ’05 now owns his own accountng firm
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Phil Youngberg ’11 upon completing the Advanced Division Officer Course at the Surface Warfare Officer School in Newport, RI
Kasey Geremia ’09 with fiancé Jordan Jeijo
07 I Ryana Barbosa married Bret Carr at a small civil ceremony in Oakland, CA, on May 11, 2018 followed by a garden party the next day for friends at their home by beautiful Lake Merritt. They look forward to celebrating with family and friends this summer on visits to Illinois, Massachusetts, and the Azores Islands. Ryana just completed her first academic year as an adjunct lecturer at San Francisco State University teaching an undergraduate course, Seminar in Business and Society. Since earning her MBA in 2016, she has been managing a portfolio of grants as a program officer for an education-focused foundation in the San Francisco Bay Area.
R/GA. Her team of coworkers launched an “Ask For a Raise” campaign on Equal Pay Day 2017. Their campaign was highly recognized and received numerous awards including the 2017 Athena Ad Awards in Social Marketing and The One Club Gold award for 2018 Social Influencer Marketing… Kasey Geremia became engaged to Jordan Feijo on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2018. Their wedding will take place in November 2019 in Bristol, RI. Kasey is Jill
Rondeau’s (Zach Allen’08’s fiancée) cousin and they are also each other’s maids of honor! They are excited to be planning their weddings together.
10 I In June, Frank Pagliaro finished his first year of conservatory classes at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. His summer vacation will free him up to see more baseball with Makonnen Jackman, who accompanied Frank to Yankee Stadium for a 12-inning game in forty-degree weather on April 8.
11 I Lucas Adams recently left his job as a machine learning engineer to found an algorithmic crypto hedge fund, which he launched this past June... Abigail Skinner recently relocated to San Diego to start a new job in pharmaceutical advertising… Phil O. Youngberg just completed the Advanced Division Officer Course at the Surface Warfare Officer School (SWOS) in Newport, RI. This summer Phil will be moving to his next command in the Middle East.
08 I Zack Allen propsed to Jill Rondeau, daugher of Anthony Rondeau ’82 and cousin of Kasey Geremia ’09, on December 28, 2017. They are planning a summer 2020 wedding in Newport, RI.
09 I Alaina Andreozzi has enjoyed a very successful year and has been recently promoted to management supervisor with Zack Allen ’08 with fiancée Jill Rondeau
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The Kiski School Varsity Lacrosse team with head coach Chris Spahn ’87 (far right) and assistant coach Charlie Ramsden ’13 (third from right)
12 I Sarah Auer is working as a research assistant at the Yale Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE) in New Haven, CT. She will be pursuing a Master of Public Health degree at Emory University in the fall of 2018, focusing on behavioral sciences and health education…Gabrielle Fontes completed her first year at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. She’s thoroughly enjoying all facets of the curriculum and feels her work at Portsmouth Abbey and Northeastern University prepared her well.
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Gabrielle Fontes ’12 hard at work in her first year of Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
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Charlie Ramsden has enjoying being mentored by Chris Spahn ‘87 in his first year of teaching at a boarding school. Chris works as the athletic director of the Kiski School and the head coach of the varsity lacrosse team. Charlie teaches Spanish and helps Chris as an assistant lacrosse coach. When they are not busy coaching, both enjoy recounting old stories of the Abbey and how much they enjoyed it there…In May 2016, Claudia Trahan graduated from Fordham University with a degree in humanitarian studies – the first of its kind in the United States. Since September 2016, she has been a Youth Representative for an NGO (School Sisters of Notre Dame) at the UN, and in February 2018 was accepted as a youth delegate for the Winter 2018 Youth Assembly at the
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
Celebrating the Tracy wedding from left to right: Cat Caplin ’10, Liz Moffie, Ellie Deutermann ’16, Danny Caplin ’10, Amelia Bradley Tracy ’10, Kathleen Timmons ’10, Grace Popham ’10, Laura Medeiros ’10, and Wallace Gundy, former assistant director of admissions
UN. Since graduation, Claudia has been working as an assistant project manager for social responsibility at an art foundation called Arsenal Contemporary. She has recently accepted admission to the Master of Arts in Human Rights Studies at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
14 I Kevin Jantz has recently graduated from Drexel University majoring in game design and production. His small indie-game team is releasing their game “Groundless” for PC and XBox some time in the summer of 2018! They took their game to PAX East in Boston this year and received some great publicity. For more details on their
game, check out their website at www. root121games.com… Hayden Molinari graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute this May with a B.S. in Computer Science and has accepted a position as a software engineer for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in Portsmouth, RI... After graduating from Tulane University this past May, Miguel Mora-Figueroa plans on pursuing a career in finance at Altamar Capital Partners, a private equity fund in his home town in Madrid, Spain… Chris Sullivan worked at archaeological digs in Rome and the surrounding countryside last year as part of Connecticut College’s Archaeological Conservation Institute program. Sully graduated in the spring with majors in history and classics.
Ethan O’Neill ’16 (center) after winning the Bryant University Fidelity Investments Information Systems Analytics Competition
Chris Sullivan’14 working at an archaeological dig in Rome last year
Kevin Jantz ’14 with his Groundless game presentation
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Bailey Carter ’15 sailing for the Hobart and William Smith College Sailing Team
Doug Lebo 15 and Jee Won Yang 15 on Doug’s balcony in Montreal
Doug Lebo has graduated with a B.Sc. with Distinction from McGill University with a major in biochemistry and a minor in social studies of medicine. In the fall, Doug plans to be working with an NGO in Montreal, doing youth STEM engagement in a Kahnawà:ke school south of the island. He also recently met up with Jee Won Yang in Montréal. She’s been road tripping to Niagara, Toronto, Montreal, and Québec.
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15 I Bailey Carter was named the 2017-2018 Middle Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association Women’s Sailor of the Year. A junior at Hobart and William Smith College, she was also named to her second consecutive all-MAISA Women’s Skippers First Team. To complete her stellar season, Bailey was also named the Ady Symonds ’96 Most Valuable Sailing Award winner at Hobart and William Smith for the third year in a row. Bailey won the ‘A’ division ICSA Women’s National Sailing Championship in May 2018 and was named All-American upon the completion of the finals, the first female All-American skipper in Hobart William Smith’s program history… A Weeping European Beech tree (Fagus Sylvatica ‘Pendula’) was donated by the Class of 2015 to Portsmouth Abbey School in memory of Luc Bandoni. Planted near the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes on campus, the tree will grow 40-50 feet tall. The species originated in England in the early 1800s after which it became popular among gardens in the Newport mansions... Sydney Welch ’16, above, captured mid-brushstroke The mural outside the Glendale, PA, train station, painted by Sydney Welch ’16
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Claire Davidson was awarded a grant from the Laidlaw Scholar Program at Tufts University for her research on “Adolescent Opiod Exposure and its Influence on Adult Energy Metabolism.” Her research will be presented at the Boston Area Neuroscience Group’s semi-annual meeting… Seamus O’Connor earned Second Team All-Landmark Conference Honors in Lacrosse this past season. Seamus, a Drew University sophomore midfielder, tied for the team lead with 14 assists and second on the team with 33 points… Ethan O’Neill and two classmates from Bryant University won the Fidelity Investment Information Systems Analytics Competition. (picture in file)…Christopher Weiss is now in his second year at Mercyhurst University studying sports management and is wrestling for the Lakers in the 141-pound weight class… Sydney Welch painted her second mural at the Glenside, PA, train station by Arcadia University and raised $7,500 to put LED lights on it! This was part of the Entrepreneurship/Gallery Apprenticeship with renowned muralist David Guinn at Arcadia. The Arcadia Public Art Project painted the mural, which was designed with the input of the community to create something that showcased the character of Glenside.
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 1,500-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 Rev. Dom Gregory Mohrman, O.S.B. Prior Administrator St. Louis, MO Mr. W. Christopher Behnke ’81 P’12 ’15 ’19 Chairman Chicago, IL Mr. Christopher Abbate ’88 P’20 New York, NY Mrs. Abby Benson ’92 Boulder, CO Rev. Michael G. Brunner, O.S.B. Creve Coeur, MO Dom Joseph Byron, O.S.B. Portsmouth, RI Mr. Creighton O. Condon ’74 P’07 ’10 Jamestown, RI Sr. Suzanne Cooke, R.S.C.J. Washington, D.C. Dom Francis Crowley, O.S.B. Portsmouth, RI Mrs. Kathleen Cunningham P’08 ‘09 ‘11 ‘14 Dedham, MA Mr. Gang Ding P’18 Qingdao, China Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Falvey P’18 ’20 Co-chairs, Parents’ Association Plaistow, NH
Mr. Peter Ferry ’75 P’16 ’17 Republic of Singapore
Ms. Devin McShane P’09 ’11 Providence, RI
Mrs. Frances Fisher P’15 San Francisco, CA
Mr. Philip V. Moyles, Jr. ’82 Annual Fund Chair Rye, NY
Dr. Timothy P. Flanigan ’75 P’06 ’09 ’11 ’19 ‘21 Tiverton, RI Mr. Peter S. Forker ’69 Chicago, IL Mr. Patrick Gallagher ’81 P’15 Providence, RI Mrs. Margaret S. Healey P’91 New Vernon, NJ Mr. Denis Hector ’70 Miami, FL Dr. Gregory Hornig ’68 P’01 West Palm Beach, FL Ms. Cara Gontarz Hume ’99 Hingham, MA Mr. Peter Kennedy ’64 P’07 ’08 ’15 Big Horn, WY Mr. William Keogh ’78 P’13 Jamestown, RI Dr. Mary Beth Klee P’04 Hanover, NH
Mr. Emmett O’Connell P ’16 ’17 Stowe, VT Mr. Shane O’Neil ‘65 Bedford, MA Mr. Peter J. Romatowski ’68 McLean, VA Mr. Rowan G. P. Taylor P ’13 ’17 ’18 Charlestown, SC Mr. William Winterer ’87 Boston, MA Emeritus Mr. Peter Flanigan R ’41 P ’75 ’83 GP ’06 ’09 ’ 11’19 Purchase, NY Mr. Thomas Healey ’60 P ’91 New Vernon, NJ Mr. William Howenstein R ’52 P ’87 GP ’10 Grosse Pointe Farms, MI Mr. Barnet Phillips, IV ’66 Greenwich, CT R
deceased
Front cover: Kaitlyn Soares ’07 is a digital media specialist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a world-leading space robotics lab that builds missions to explore humanity’s most profound questions.
Five Years in a Row! Portsmouth Abbey School thanks the 1,616 alumni, parents, parents of alumni, faculty, staff, and friends who contributed $1,702,090 to the Annual Fund, setting a record for the fifth year in a row. Among this group of generous donors was every member of the Class of 2018, who became the first Sixth Form class to reach 100% participation with gifts to the Annual Fund. Congratulations! Your support continues to ensure Portsmouth Abbey’s position as a leader among boarding schools and helps to fulfill our mission of helping young men and women grow in knowledge and grace each and every day. We thank you for your generosity. A special thank you to all of our volunteers including Alumni Leadership Council members, Decade Chairs, Class Agents, Reunion Committee members, and Parents’ Association leadership and volunteers whose dedication of time, talent, and treasure to the School made this achievement possible.
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SUMMER ALUMNI BULLETIN 2018
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SUMMER ALUMNI BULLETIN 2018